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11 pm, February 14th
Hermione stared at the computer screen as the metal ringing rang through her head. She rubbed sleepily at her eyes as she waited and waited for the connection to the other computer to finally go through. Finally, as if answering and hearing Hermione's prayers, the connection came through and Draco's face appeared in front of her. She had never felt relief like it. He had only been away for a couple of days but she really missed him. The children had really missed him. The Manor didn't feel right with him gone. Her heart was empty. The house felt empty. Hermione could help it when tears started prickling sharply at the corners of her eyes as she stared at his gorgeous but tired face. She had always seen him exhausted after work but she had never seen him /this/ exhausted before, they were clearly working him hard up in Scotland.
"Hey, love." Draco yawned as he leaned closer towards the computer screen, smiling lovingly at Hermione. "Are you doing alright? Sorry, it took me so long to answer." Draco continued speaking as he stared at Hermione's face. She rubbed at her face, covering her yawn as she tried to keep herself awake. "I can let you go to bed if you're tired, my darling," Draco muttered.
"It's fine, don't worry, it's really fine. Scorpius and Lyra are really missing you though, it's almost like they are homesick, that is the closest way to describe the way they are feeling right now. And baby pea is being very active at night so I haven't been sleeping very well." Hermione yawned once again. "The bed feels very empty without you." Hermione giggled quietly, her hand resting on top of her baby bump. Baby pea had become a nickname within their family very quickly for this third pregnancy as Hermione had the weirdest craving for eating anything related to peas. "We all really miss you, love. I wish you could be at home. We could connect our Floo network with the hospital Floo." Hermione suggested, sighing heavily.
"I can ask the bosses about it, but I won't be too sure they will agree. The staff apartments are already connected to the hospital's Floo network but I promise that I will ask about it." Draco replied as yawned. They should really schedule the calls to be earlier in the evening but both of them were so exhausted. "I have a few hours free between shifts tomorrow, so I can always come home for a late Valentine's celebration," Draco promised as he and Hermione both yawned at the same time.
"Sounds good." Hermione nodded, rubbing sleepily at her eyes as she yawned once again. She had never felt this exhausted before and she should probably hang up to go to sleep but she missed him. "We should probably sleep, my love." Hermione smiled sadly as she stared at her husband. "But I miss you and I love you so much, baby." Hermione restated the words as they finished their short call and hung up for the night. Hermione instantly placed the laptop away and scurried herself underneath the duvet cover, allowing the old Crookshanks to snuggle up with her. He was a blessing during these days that Draco has been away so far.
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11 am, February 15th
Hermione rolled out of hers and Draco's bed, rubbing at her face as she cast a wandless cleaning charm quickly over herself before moving downstairs towards the living room. She could hear Scorpius and Lyra running around in the garden with one of the house elves. Dippy and Olly were probably the two that were playing with the twins, they were usually the ones that played around with Scorpius and Lyra. Hermione carefully sat down on the sofa, her hand instantly resting down on her rounded stomach as she stared out the window, watching her children. Just as she felt herself starting to fall to sleep on the sofa, the Floo network in the corridor set off and she heard footsteps moving through the Manor into the living room. She shot up from the sofa and was suddenly wide awake as she stared at her husband standing in front of her.
"Are you actually here?" Hermione shuffled closer, her hand shakingly reaching for his face. "Or, am I dreaming right now? Please, please tell me that you are really here." Hermione's voice shook as she couldn't help but stare at him. "I don't want to be dreaming right now. I want you to actually be here right now." She was now just spewing out random words but Draco wasn't answering, he was just standing and staring back at her.
"Granger, if I kiss you, will you shut up? If I kiss you, will you then believe that I'm here?" Draco stepped closer, wrapping his arm around Hermione's waist to bring her closer. He leaned down and kissed her strongly, passion shooting through his body as well as Hermione's. Draco groaned in her mouth as she kissed back, cuddling herself closer. "I love you so, so, so much. I have missed you, my love." Draco kissed the words against her lips.
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