Chapter Text
Draco and Hermione discussed the various ways to disclose their little secret, and both agreed that they would first tell his parents before their friends. Hermione didn't want to wait, because she knew they would also have to meet with her parents as well to break their whirlwind relationship to them as well, but that was a problem for another time.
Draco suggested that they just come out and tell his parents with no fuss as he knew that they would be happy, but about their friends, they decided that they should probably get them all together.
“I could send an owl to the boys and have them meet up for dinner tomorrow at Theo and Blaise’s flat since I’m sure Narcissa will have me sorted with a healer by tomorrow morning.” Hermione said as she adjusted stood in front of the mirror looking to see if she looked any different…..she didn’t.
It felt surreal that in a few weeks she would see physical changes, “or you could just send a patronus, it would be faster” Hermione said still inspecting her nonexistent bump.
When Draco didn’t answer, she turned to look at him, noting and feeling his quiet demeanor.
“Draco” she said walking over to him, “what’s the matter?”
Draco hadn’t’ meant to dampen the mood, but he was thinking of how he hadn’t been able to cast a corporal patronus. Sure he had happy memories, but they had simply produced a white mist because when he had given Hermione up and then left the wizarding world, he hadn’t had much to truly make him happy, but now he thought now he was unbelievably happy, he had Hermione back in his life, she was his wife, and now she was going to give him a child. There was no shortage of happy memories for him to choose from, and although he hadn’t practiced big spells, he suddenly felt nervous.
“Draco my love it’s okay, I can send the patronus” his smart beautiful wife said, of course she knew exactly what had caused his silence.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that it’s been a while since I even attempted to cast one, and the last time I tried it was just mist, but I also didn’t have happy memories.” Draco said morosely.
Hermione walked over to where he had now sat on the bed and hugged him to her, “and now do you think you have enough happy memories?” she asked quietly.
Draco shuddered releasing a breath and answering, “yes my love.”
At his admission Hermione also released a breath she hadn’t know she was holding, she thought about how much she loved him, he was hers, she felt the possessiveness, and felt his momentary pain at what they had endured, anger at the thought that they had lost five years of their time, but also hope that they were now together and she would do everything in her power to ensure that Draco knew just how much she loved him.
“Do you want to try to cast one now” she asked timidly as she cradled his face in her hands looking at him.
Draco looked at his wife standing before him and knew he would be able to do it, and with how sincere she was looking at him, the chocolate eyes swirling and love radiating from her, solidified his reply, “yes.”
Hermione smiled and kissed him before stepping back to give him the space he needed to cast.
“Do you want me to try first” she asked again the smile not leaving her face.
Draco retuned the smile knowing she hadn’t meant nothing by it and wanted to give him a moment to gather himself, “no love I can do this” he said resolutely knowing that even if he couldn’t’ manage it there would be no judgement.
Draco closed his eyes and searched through his memories settling on the one that made him happiest. He had attempted the spell before Hermione had come back into his life, but he hadn't been able to cast a fully corpeal form, and he was sure that today would be no different. Draco steadied himself by taking a deep breath and releasing it then cast the spell. Draco’s arm twisted with the correct motion and spoke aloud, EXPECTO PATRONUM clearly before the white mist swirled from the tip of his wand and began to move around Draco excitedly.
Hermione moved in closer watching the mist begin to shift and change before it began to take a solid shape of a large male river otter.
“He’s beautiful” Hermione gushed as she watched the otter move around him as if finally glad to have his form before it began to move around Hermione.
Draco had remained rooted to the spot in sheer awe that he had finally been able to produce a fully corporal patronus.
“He’s an otter like mine Draco” Hermione said before lunging into him.
Draco reacted quickly and opened his arms and held her tight, “I did it, I finally did it” he said excitedly as the otter continued to move around them happily.
“I knew you could do it Draco” she said going up on her tip toes and reaching to pull him down to her for a kiss.
“I’m so proud of you” she murmured in-between kisses, before she took a step back drew her wand and cast her own patronus.
She waited expectantly for her otter, but when a larger mist fell from her wand and continued to grow, she was a bit baffled.
Instead of her little otter, there was a large dragon, and she had to admit it was magnificent as I expanded its wings taking her and Draco in.
Draco’s otter who was still happily moving around them began to circle the dragon and the began a chase.
“How could this be” Hermione asked aloud watching the two patronuses moving in sync.
“I have read that a patronus can change with a significant event, and you and I love have had quite a few of those lately.” Draco said as he watched the dragon circle his otter. “She’s beautiful and fierce.”
“She?” Hermione asked.
“How could she not be when her owner is as such, beautiful, fierce, deadly, and protective of that she loves.” Draco said drawing her back into his arms, “she is like you Hermione.”
Hermione thought of what she had vowed before at the sacred cenote the day of their wedding, to always love and protect him, and even to her recent thoughts that were a bit possessive and then let a small laugh escape, with the realization that she was indeed like her new patronus. While her husband was indeed the namesake like her dragon, it was she who displayed those qualities and smiled satisfactorily.
“Shall we send mine or yours” Draco asked mischievously as he looked at her.
They settled on sending Draco’s patronus to Harry and Pansy because she did not know how to explain her dragon, and she knew that Pansy would ensure that everyone would be at the flat at the designated time. With their friends settled, they headed down to the shop where Hermione handled a few of the orders before Benson had popped in and assisted her.
“Love do you think we should hire you an assistant or two?” Draco asked from the wingback chair where he had been sitting watching her work.
Hermione looked up at that moment contemplating his words.
“I don’t mean you have to give this up Hermione, simply that our lives are about to change and having some help would be nice.” He said trying to reassure her.
“I know but it’s hard to think of giving any part of this up even for a little bit, I built this on my own” she said.
“I’m sorry I really didn’t mean it like that, of course you don’t have to give anything up, but promise me that you will consider it, I mean now we have to find a home, and I’m sure that father will make arrangements for us to look at properties soon especially after we share our news, so I just thought that if you hired someone they could help as we adjust to our new normal, and Benson is happy to assist” Draco continued as he watched the smartly dressed elf sort though orders and organize them.
Hermione bit her lip, she knew he was right, he wasn’t asking her to give anything up, and their life was changing rapidly. She knew they had to move but was still reluctant. “I’ll think about it.” She promised.
Draco smiled, “thank you, now it’s almost time to head out.”
Draco watched as Hermione conferred with Benson as he nodded committing her instructions to memory. Benson seemed truly at peace and ease in the shop, while the little elf certainly enjoyed serving the Malfoy’s he seemed to thrive at the shop and because Stella and Boone tended to be with his parents, Benson came to the shop, he was happy that Benson was helping warm Hermione up to the idea of hiring some more help. Her shop stayed relatively busy as she also did restorations as well as sales, and with Benson she had thought to take on more restorations. He knew that if Hermione asked Benson to join her full time, that he would and that his parents would be okay with it, but that would be a discussion for another time.
=^.^=
When Hermione finished her work at the shop, she walked over to him so that they could make their way to his parents’ home, she was a tad but anxious but overall knew that it would be good.
They appeared in the same room as when they had returned from their honeymoon, where Stella was waiting for them.
“Here is some tea for the young mistress” Stella said waiting for Hermione to be settled. Hermione wasn’t sure if she could stomach it but thanked Stella, nonetheless.
“We is having food ready for you in the dining room” the little elf said before popping away to finish preparing.
“Have you noticed that Stella has been a little too overprotective of me, she was like that towards the end of the honeymoon and even once we arrived” Hermione said before taking a sip of the tea, a lovely ginger blend that did help with her queasiness.
“Do you think she knows that I’m pregnant” she asked looking at Draco.
“It’s possible as elf magic is different, they may be free but still tied to the Malfoy’s, so I suppose that she feels it, but wouldn’t dare say anything until you were ready.” Draco said his mind working to figure it out.
“I supposed it makes sense” she said.
“What makes sense my dear” Narcissa said walking into the parlor and moved to embrace Hermione in a tight hug, before kissing her cheeks and then greeting Draco.
“Oh, um just that elves are quite smart, and their magic is vast, thus they know things.” Hermione said trying not to look guilty of almost exposing their previous conversation.
“Yes, I am sure had the war been left to them, it would have ended much sooner, but they are fiercely loyal and don’t like to intervene unless there is direct threat to their charge.”
Hermione’s mind was swirling with the new information, and wondered if Bensn would answer some questions for her.
“Come now dear let us join Lucius for lunch, I am sure your famished, you look a little pale, are you well Hermione.” Narcissa asked looking at Hermione.
"I'm well" Hermione said vaguely.
“Lead the way mother” Draco said giving Hermione a quick reprieve from having his mother pepper her more on the subject.
Narcissa looked between them but let it go, turning and leading them towards the dining room.
They made to the dining room where Lucius was seated but rose as they entered, and walked over to greet them.
They had managed to have good conversations while avoiding the glances when both she refused wine and mercifully Draco declined his so that she wouldn’t give much away. Lucius and Narcissa inquired about the shop and how Benson was very much enjoying helping around and even Draco mentioning that Hermione was thinking of getting help at the shop.
“It would be lovely to get some help, especially since I assume you will be ready to move soon into a proper home, and also because I received an offer for Nova today about a potential movie soundtrack deal.” Lucius said.
“Really so it’s a go then” Draco asked curiously.
Hermione felt some of her anxiousness seep back in, they hadn’t discussed their plans and now there was going to be a baby, and while Draco had been adamant that he was ready to leave it all behind, she could see the spark in his eyes as Lucius described the offer.
Hermione remained silent listening as they discussed certain particulars, feeling the dread grow steadily, and Draco sensing this placed a hand on her thigh comfortingly.
“We’ll have to discuss this of course as a band and Hermione” Draco said looking at her lovingly.
“Yes, yes of course” Lucius added.
“How are you settling in dear, I am sure it feels good to be back in your shop, which is quite lovely by the way.” Narcissa asked Hermione distracting her from the boys conversation.
Hermione smiled, “it has been nice, and Benson has been great, he seems to like it there.”
“He does indeed, and we have told him that should he want to spend his time there helping you, that he is more than happy to do so. You know although they are free, they do not wish to part from House Malfoy so working with you still fulfills that for Benson.” Narcissa said smiling.
Hermione smiled knowing that she did appreciate having Benson’s help at the shop.
“We’ll there is something we wanted to share with you” Hermione said drawing Draco’s attention back to her.
This was it she thought, it's better to just get it over with. Hermione looked at Draco and he squeezed her hand with encouragement.
“Draco and I would like to share that we are expecting.” Hermione said calmly.
Narcissa and Lucius sat frozen contemplating what she had just revealed.
“Mother, father?” Draco said when his parents remained silent.
Hermione bit her bottom lip worried that they weren’t happy, before Narcissa unceremoniously rose from her chair and pulled Hermione into an embrace.
“My dear sweet daughter, you are amazing and thank you, thank you this is the best news ever” Narcissa said as she held onto Hermione, while Lucius had moved to take Draco into a hug.
“Congratulations son, you will undoubtedly be a better father than me” Lucius said with no malice behind his words, but true happiness and pride.
“You are a great father” Draco said with tears in his eyes.
They all hugged and spoke of the future happily, and when they called elves, Stella had hugged Hermione’s legs so tight confirming a but that she already knew and happily exclaimed that she was happy to help with the newest addition. She talked about how Draco was such a wonderful child and had no doubt that the newest Malfoy would be any less perfect.
They parted ways, with Narcissa promising to have a healer for Hermione tomorrow and Lucius talking about properties that would be suitable for the newest Malfoy's, "only the best for his future grandchildren" he had muttered.
Stella had made her way back to the flat to ensure that there was an abundance of ginger teas, toast and crackers for Hermione, while making her promise that she would be able to move with them to any home they had.
Overall, it had gone well, and Hermione and Draco felt lighter, now they just had to tell their friends.