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Hermione rubbed at her eyes and yawned as she stumbled through the floo and into the receiving room of Malfoy Cottage. It wasn't so much a cottage as it was a small mansion residing on the grounds of a much larger, grander, and storied manor house. A petite house elf appeared as she started thinking about dusting the soot off her clothes, and vanished the soot with the snap of its small fingers.
“Good evening Mistress. You have worked a long, long day today. You are tired. Would you like tea? Warm milk? Hot chocolate?”
“Just my family, Tootsy. But thank you for your concern.”
“Master is in your bedroom. He is putting the children to bed.”
The elf said this with a little sniff of disapproval. That either herself or Draco took on such menial tasks as child care was a bone of contention between them and the elf. But Tootsy knew she wouldn't win the argument, and Hermione smiled at the creature indulgently. She offered to pay Tootsy for her child care services the last time the argument was broached, and that had ended the discussion.
“Thank you Tootsy.”
Hermione handed the elf her cloak and beaded bag, and left her shoes by the floo, then padded down the hall towards the stairs in her socked feet. She passed the detritus of a house that contained three small children as she went up the front stair case - thankfully there were only two staircases in the cottage - and down a long wide hall towards the master bedroom. She picked a ball up off the staircase, a doll that would be missed very shortly off the floor in the hallway, and ignored the set of knights and wooden dragons that were spilling into the hall from the playroom door. If she tidied those Tootsy would have her hide.
As she approached the bedroom she could hear Draco’s deep, smooth drawl, soothing as he read the children their bedtime story.
“Elizabeth was a beautiful princess who lived in a castle, and had expensive princess clothes. She was going to marry a prince named Ronald… A very bad idea if you ask me.”
Hermione smirked, and rolled her eyes.
“Unfortunately a dragon smashed her castle, burnt all her clothes with his fiery breath, and carried off Prince Ronald. Elizabeth decided to chase the dragon and get Ronald back. She looked all over for something to wear, but the only thing she could find that was not burnt was a paper bag…”
When Hermione reached the partially open double doors to the master bedroom and peered inside her heart melted. Draco was sitting against the headboard of their large, four post bed. He was still in some of his office attire, his long legs stretched out before him still clad in grey slacks, and a white oxford, with the top four buttons undone and sleeves rolled up, covering his broad torso. A pair of dark tortoise shell glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose, and his fair head was bent towards a book. In his lap, wrapped securely in a swaddle, was their youngest son, Altair, his head of bright blond, curly hair gleaming against the grey slacks. Tucked under one arm was Draco’s miniature, their oldest, six year old Scorpius, with his head lying on his father’s chest. Tucked under his other arm, her head lying over her father’s heart, was their daughter, Perdita, her impossibly straight brown hair cascading down her purple nightgown.
Hermione leaned against the door, out of sight, unwilling to disturb the peaceful scene as she listened to Draco reading, with a wide smile on her face. As the story continued and Elizabeth worked to outwit the dragon Draco gave the dragon a high pitched, posh drawl that reminded Hermione so much of what he had sounded like as a teenager that she almost snickered. Instead she bit her knuckles and held in her laugh as her two oldest giggled at the voice, and then at Draco blowing in their ears as he pretended to be the dragon breathing fire.
“Elizabthe whispered very softly, ‘Hey, dragon.’ The dragon didn’t move at all. She lifted up the dragon’s ear and put her head right inside. She shouted as loud as she could, ‘Hey, dragon!’”
Draco's fake shout made the children laugh again, and then cuddle closer into him as he continued with the story.
“The dragon was so tired he didn't even move. Elizabeth walked right over the dragon and opened the door to the cave. There was Prince Ronald. He looked at her and said, ‘Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled, and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you're dressed like a real princess… Ronald is being very rude, children. You should never be rude when someone saves you.”
Draco turned the page and continued with the story.
“‘Ronald,’ said Elizabeth, ‘your clothes are really pretty and your hair is all neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.’ They didn't get married after all.”
By this point little Perdita’s eyes were closed and she was sleeping soundly on Draco’s chest. Draco wrapped his arm around her little head, and ran a finger through her hair. Then he looked up over the book, catching Hermione’s eyes, and smirked.
“Would you like to know what happens next Scorpius? It doesn't say so in the book, but your Daddy knows the real end of the story.”
Scorpius nodded his head and yawned.
“Elizabeth was a very smart princess. She kicked Ronald out of the cave, and decided to stay there herself. Since the dragon had burnt up her castle she figured the least he could do was give her somewhere dry to sleep. When the dragon woke up he was so impressed by how she managed to out smart him that he told her a story. The dragon explained that he was really a knight, cursed to look like a dragon and burn up castles until a brave princess came to rescue him with a kiss. So Elizabeth kissed him, and he turned back into a knight. She scolded him a bit for burning up castles instead of simply asking for help. But then they built a new castle together, got married, had a beautiful family, and lived happily ever after.”
Hermione beamed at his addition to the ending and laughed quietly as she entered the room. She reached the bed, leaned over, and pecked him on the lips, taking a moment to appreciate the little flutter seeing the glasses perched on his nose still caused in her stomach. Then she picked Altair up from his lap.
“Mummy, you’re home!”
Scorpius’ voice was excited but sleepy.
“I'm home, sweet boy. Can you go get into your bed, and Mummy and Daddy will come give you kisses and tuck you in once we put Altair and Perdita down?”
Scorpius wrapped his little arms around her waist in a hug. Then he wiggled down off the high bed and trotted off towards his bedroom without argument. Both his parents watched in shock, not expecting his easy agreement, instead of the usual bedtime fight.
“He must be tired.” Draco laughed.
“He had a busy day. When I dropped them at The Burrow this morning before work James and Albus were there. I would bet he spent most of the day flying and eating.”
Hermione walked down the hall with Altair snuggled in her arms. When she reached his crib she kissed his forehead lightly. Then she buried her nose in his blonde curls for a moment, savouring his magical baby scent, that she knew would disappear far too quickly. She held her breath for a moment as she placed him gently into the crib, saying a silent plea that he wouldn’t wake up. When he scrunched his nose a bit, but stayed asleep, she exhaled and exited the room as quietly as possible, casting a white noise and monitoring charm as she left the room.
She met Draco at the door to Perdita’s room. The toddler was asleep still, tucked into her little bed, but Draco was quietly and frantically searching the room on his hands and knees.
“I can't find Princess Elizabeth,” he said in a panicked whisper.
Hermione held out the doll that was still tucked under her arm and smiled.
Draco breathed a sigh of relief, took the doll from Hermione, and tucked into bed beside the little girl. He stood and they both left the room quietly, moving on to Scorpius. They each took turns tucking him in, one pulling up his sheet, and then next his comforter, and they each placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
“Sweet dreams little guy.” Draco whispered as he shut the door quietly behind them.
In the hallway Hermione sighed, and then quickly walked into Draco’s open arms, and buried her face in his chest. He wrapped one arm around her, and smoothed one hand down over her hair.
“Long day, love?”
“Mmmmm. Yes. A few auror injuries this afternoon. Always takes it out of me, waiting to see if it’ll be you or Harry on a gurney...”
“And you worry about the rest of the team, too. I know you.”
Draco tightened his arms around her, and then, after a few moments of holding her tight, one hand traveled into her curls. He pulled her head back softly, and bent over, covering her lips with a searing kiss.
“I love you.”
She snuggled back into him when he let her lips go.
“I love you too.” She struggled to get the words out around a yawn and Draco chuckled.
“Sounds like I need to put you to bed too.”
Draco laced his finger in Hermione’s, and dragged her back towards the master bedroom.
“No. Bath first.”
Draco smirked, and waggled his eyebrows, making Hermione laugh.
“Anything you want princess.”