His Saving Grace

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A Muggle Experience







Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table feeding Grace a bowl of rice cereal with a rubber tipped spoon. She laughed as Grace would bite down with her gums every time she tried to withdraw the utensil, and then smiled around a mouth full of food causing it to dribble from her mouth and onto the bib protecting her clothing.





“Look at you, Gracie; you are going to have to learn some table manners.” Hermione chuckled, reaching out with a cloth to wipe her face. The baby’s eyes went to the doorway and her little dimples appeared as she smiled at her Daddy. Draco was laughing, his eyes darting over a piece of parchment in his hand.







He stopped beside the highchair and leaned down to kiss Grace on the top of her head before settling into the chair across from Hermione.







“What are you laughing at?” She asked, wiping Grace’s hands and setting the bowl of cereal and the soiled cloth aside.







“Harry left a note.” Draco said chuckling as he slid it across the table at Hermione.









Draco and Mione,





Enclosed you will find the instructions for a very powerful silencing spell. We aurors use it during interrogations. Please, I am begging you both; place it on your room. Its permanent, no need to recast the spell again. I need sleep!! No offense, Mione, I love you, but you could break glass and Draco, you bellow like a bloody dragon.





Harry











“Oh my god! Draco, he heard what we were doing last night!” She said, her face flashing to crimson in a heartbeat.







“Apparently he has heard us more often than just last night.” Draco laughed, reaching for a muffin sitting on a plate in the center of the table.







“I’m so embarrassed!” She cried, shaking her head.









“Not me.” He said, smiling smugly. “I don’t care if the whole world hears you screaming for me, love.”









“You really are Slytherin to the core.” Hermione said, frowning briefly before her expression softened and she fixed him a cold glass of pumpkin juice.







“Why aren’t you getting ready for work?” Draco asked, noting her simple khaki trousers and white shirt, not the robes she was required to wear as a ministry employee.







“I have to take Grace to the pediatrician in London today.” She said, gathering up the dirty dishes and putting them into the sink and casting a spell for them to be washed.







“A muggle doctor?” He asked, his lip curling slightly. “What on earth for? She isn’t sick is she?” He asked, looking at his daughter who was smiling and banging her hands on the highchair tray.







“No, she isn’t sick, but she moves between the two worlds, Draco, I want her protected from muggle diseases as well as wizarding. She needs her checkup and her vaccinations.” Hermione said.









“Well when are you going?” He asked, looking down at his watch.







“In an hour.” She said, lifting Grace from the highchair.









“Let me run to the house and change and I will go with you.” He said, bending down to kiss Hermione softly.







“You don’t have to do that, I know you aren’t comfortable around lots of muggles.” Hermione said, shifting the baby on her hip.









“No, I want to go; I want to be a part of everything concerning Grace…well except for nappy duty, that was just…awful.” He said, shuddering and getting a soft giggle from the baby. “You think that’s funny don’t you, Princess? You nearly made Daddy pass out when he pulled back the nappy didn’t you?” Draco tickled her under her chin and thought her laughter was the most beautiful sound in the world. “Daddy will be right back.” He said before leaving her and Hermione reluctantly.







“Oh Gracie, what is Mummy going to do about Daddy?” She sighed. Gracie just smiled and clapped her little hands.





**** ****** ***** ****** ***** ***** ***** ******





“You know, some babies just aren’t cute.” Draco said, staring at a woman sitting across the waiting room with her toddler on her knee.







“Draco, all babies are beautiful.” Hermione said, watching him bounce Grace on his knee.









“Not that one. It looks like a troll.” Draco said, staring at the little boy, at least he hoped to all that was holy it was a boy. “It’s bald except for that weird tuft of hair right at the front and it’s got a creepy smile, look at him.”









“Draco, you can’t make fun of a baby!” Hermione whispered harshly.









“I’m not making fun of it, but come on, love, look at it!” He said laughing.









“Stop calling him it!” Hermione said. “Some babies take awhile to grow into their features is all.” She said, she looked over at the little tyke and hoped she was right.









“Not my Grace, she’s stunningly beautiful, look at her, she’s absolutely perfect in every way!” Draco said, beaming with pride as he looked at his lovely child. “Look at her, all that pretty blonde hair, dimples and big blue eyes, she’s perfection!”







“You have to say that, you are her father.” Hermione said, laughing. Draco frowned and looked over at the woman seated across from them.







“Ma’am, excuse me, but isn’t this the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?” Draco asked the woman. Hermione just shook her head and smiled. The woman looked at Draco, admiring the handsome young man who obviously adored his daughter.









“Yes, she is absolutely beautiful.” The woman said, smiling.









“See, I told you.” Draco said, winking at Grace and bouncing the happy, smiling baby on his knee a little more.







A nurse dressed in pink scrubs opened the door and looked down at the file in her hand.







“Grace Malfoy?” She called. Hermione gathered the diaper bag and Draco followed her with Grace in his arms. The nurse led them down the hall to a small room where she instructed them to undress the baby so she could be weighed and measured. Hermione wrapped Grace in a blanket when the nurse left, telling them the doctor would be in shortly.







Draco walked around the small examination room curiously, opening drawers and cabinets to see what was inside. He looked up guiltily when the doctor came in and he frowned. The man was short and scrawny with glasses so thick they rivaled Professor Trelawney.







“Hello, Ms. Granger…I see Grace has a surname now, very good.” The doctor said, looking up at Draco. “Oh, hello, I’m Doctor Hildebrand.” He said, extending his hand to shake Draco’s. Draco looked at his hand for a moment before accepting it, frowning at the man when he didn’t appear to be looking directly at him.







“I’m Draco, Draco Malfoy, I am Grace’s father.” He said, straightening to his full height which was quite formidable. He was built like his father, long, lean and well muscled. Hermione rolled her eyes at the rather ridiculous demonstration of machismo.







“Nice to meet you finally, Mr. Malfoy.” The older man smiled. “Let’s take a look shall we?”









Hermione sat Grace on the examination table and let the doctor look her over. Draco peered over the man’s shoulder the entire time, scowling. His eyes narrowed when the doctor pulled her nappy open to check her bottom and Hermione had to put her hand on Draco’s shoulder to calm him.







“Well, the two of you have a perfectly healthy little girl here.” Dr. Hildebrand said, refastening her diaper. “Let’s see, she is just six months old so she needs vaccinations today.” He said, running his finger through her file. “Alright, give me a moment and I will get what I need. Go ahead and get her dressed, Ms. Granger, just make sure to leave her legs accessible.” He slipped out the door closing it behind him.







“Why was that idiot touching my daughter there?” Draco snarled at the closed door.







“Draco, he has to check her from head to toe, including her bottom to make sure she is developing normally.” Hermione said. “You need to check your anger.”







“No man should be touching my daughter there, ever.” He said.









“Draco for heaven’s sake, she’s only a baby! What are you going to do when she grows up and starts dating?” She asked, pulling a little cotton dress down over Grace’s head.









“She won’t be dating.” Draco said simply.









“You are being ridiculous.” Hermione laughed, fastening the buttons up the back of the baby’s dress.









“No I’m not, I was a teenage boy, and I know what teenage boys want. Hell, she’s the result of what teenage boys are like!” Draco said. “I swear I will kill anyone who even thinks of….” Hermione slapped her hand over his mouth.





“Don’t you dare, Draco! You swear a wizard’s oath and you will ruin her chance to fall in love.” Draco was mumbling something behind her hand and she slid it away.









“Fine, but you can believe she won’t be going anywhere alone with a wizard, ever. Even if I have to go everywhere with her.” He said. Hermione laughed and turned her attention back to Grace who was sitting on the table smiling at her parents.







“Poor baby, you are gonna be followed about by your Daddy and Uncle Harry and a whole army of Weasleys for the rest of your life. School will be your only freedom.” She said, fighting the baby into her shoes and socks.







The door opened and the doctor re-entered, followed by a nurse carrying a covered tray in his hands.

“Alright, Grace…this will only hurt for a moment.” He said, directing the nurse to hold the baby still. He pulled the cap from the syringe and after wiping a spot on her leg with an alcohol pad he unceremoniously jabbed Grace with the needle. Her little brow furrowed, her face began to turn red as her lower lip quivered before she opened her mouth and began to howl. Big fat tears began to roll out of her eyes and down her cheeks as she screamed.







“Why that….” Hermione saw Draco reaching for his wand and she grabbed his arm.







“Draco, no! She will be fine, this is normal.” Hermione whispered softly, her fingers biting into his wrist to prevent him from withdrawing the wand.









“He made her cry, he hurt her!” Draco hissed, glaring at the doctor’s back over Hermione’s shoulder. The nurse was smiling at him, she had seen more than one father react badly to baby shots.





“There we go, all done!” The doctor said, putting small flowered bandages on her legs. Draco stormed over and snatched Grace into his arms, cuddling her close to his chest.







“It’s alright, baby, Daddy has you now.” Draco said, glaring daggers at the doctor who was making notations in Grace’s file.







“Alright, bring her back when she turns a year.” He said, closing the file and leaving the room. Hermione gathered the baby bag and she led Draco out into the hall. Draco cooed at the baby, running his hand along her back soothingly as he waited for Hermione to check out and schedule another appointment.





He saw the doctor walk by and slid his hand into his pocket for his wand. He smirked as he flicked his wrist, wordlessly sending a hex. The doctor’s legs gave out and he grabbed hold of the counter, holding on for dear life as he tried to get his footing. Hermione glanced back at Draco and shook her head, she knew he had cast the jelly-legs hex.







“You are incorrigible.” She said, shaking her head as they left the office.