False Pretense

Author's Note

Ah! I really enjoyed writing this and hope you all did too. We all know how stubborn Hermione is but she really wouldn't be Hermione if she wasn't stubborn!







“I will not paint the nursery green and silver,” Hermione grunted, leaning against the wall of her new cottage that sat at the edge of the sea.

She had moved from her hovel of flat at the end of the school year and because she refused to move into Draco’s parents’ house, Draco purchased a small cottage by the sea. Of course, his version of small was about three times the size of Ron’s house and about four times as large as the Burrow.

Why they needed six bedrooms was beyond her but she accepted the new home upon seeing the sun set. It would be beautiful to raise Altair in.

Draco had indeed followed up on his word and was involved in every aspect that was a parent to be. She had a feeling he attempted to make up for the five months he missed by constantly fretting over Hermione; even going so far as to cut her chicken up into bite size pieces and stare at her when she woke up in the morning, holding her vitamin potion.

It was infuriating and sweet all rolled into one.

Surprisingly enough, her friends took to Draco immediately. Something about male bonding over their children made everything much simpler. Draco went out of his way to befriend Ron; which took some getting used to when they returned from the World Cup acting as if they were friends forever. Harry got annoyed when Draco began offering him fatherly advice upon discovering that Ginny was expecting; but they hashed out their differences via a physical brawl.

As for his parents, neither was happy about it and Narcissa went so far as to blame a lust potion or Imperio. Lucius said nothing but grunted throughout the whole reveal. Draco later told her that when he told Lucius that it was a boy, he seemed far more chipper than usual and offered to set up tutoring sessions when Altair was right out of the womb.

Hermione declined his offer.

Draco turned from the wall he was currently charming a light shade of emerald, “And why not? Altair will most definitely be in Slytherin.”

“Over my bleeding dead body,” Hermione replied, waving her wand to change the color to a light crimson.

“Red?” Draco groaned, “Honestly, woman. Haven’t you read anything about babies? Red makes them anxious. We need something soothing and mellow.”

“Like a scary serpent green would soothe the baby,” Hermione said, flicking her wand as the colors of the wall changed to a light bluish green.

“That’s a lot better,” Draco nodded, “Still Slytherin enough for me.”

“Don’t make me change the colors back…” Hermione warned, watching Draco transfer the colors to the other side of the wall.

His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his muscled forearms with the Dark Mark faded over. Draco moved several pieces of furniture while Hermione held onto her stomach, attempting to help. Draco extended his hand to stop her, pressing onto her belly.

“Back off, Granger before I hex your feet off,” he flicked his wand at the rocking chair and brought it forward, “Sit and do nothing.”

Hermione frowned but listened, sighing with relief as the weight was lifted off of her toes. She rocked back and forth for a little as Draco finished setting up the nursery. He caught her stare out of the corner of his eyes and turned slightly, grinning at her.

“What?” he asked, resting a hand on the window ceil.

“Nothing,” Hermione said quietly, smiling at him.

“Mhm,” Draco hummed, striding over to her.

He brought his hands to the arms of the rocking chair and leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. Hermione leaned up and kissed him back. She hissed and pulled back, rubbing her stomach.

“He needs to stop kicking. I’m not a bloody punching bag,” Hermione complained, watching Draco remove her hand to place his over her stomach.

“That’s my boy,” he laughed, receiving a punch from Hermione, “You show the woman who’s boss!”

“Oh shut up,” Hermione smiled, extending her arms for Draco to help pull her to her feet, “I have a craving for apple sauce and pickles.”

“Odd,” Draco squinted, “Disgusting and odd.”

“I hope Altair doesn’t inherit your horrible sense of decorum,” Hermione mumbled, wobbling toward the door with Draco by her side.

“And I hope he doesn’t inherit that bush you call hair.”






“Oh gods,” Hermione doubled over as a sharp pain hit her stomach.

“Hermione?” Draco called from the study, clearly dropping everything he was doing to rush into the living room.

“I…think my water just broke,” she breathed, staring at Draco who had gone white.

“Shit,” he said, rushing around the room, “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.”

He grasped onto the waiting suitcase by the door, threw his coat on, Hermione’s draped over his arm, and managed to shove Crookshanks outside. He opened the door and vanished.

“Draco!” Hermione growled, hearing Draco pop back and curse

“Sorry, love,” he said quickly, grasping onto her elbow.

“Just calm down,” she warned, “It takes awhile ya know.”

“I know….I’m just,” Draco began as they made it outside.

“Scared?” Hermione asked, watching Draco nod, “Don’t be, we’ll do fine.”

“You mean you’ll do fine,” he breathed, “I left my pregnant girlfriend behind while I Apparated to St. Mungos.”

“I could’ve managed without you,” she said matter-of-factly, feeling the world around her slip away as they Disapparated.

“True,” Draco continued as if their conversation hadn’t paused, “Hi. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Her water just broke. She’s having a baby. My baby.”

“Yes,” the medi-witch said quietly, “We only heard that about a minute ago when you popped in without her.”

“Record time then,” Hermione laughed as the medi-witch looked at the clock on the wall and ushered Hermione into another room.






Draco paced the room, his hair mussed up from having run his fingers through it a million times. The doors to the hospital broke open with the swarm of Weasleys, Potters, Longbottom, and of all people Professor Snape. Draco was quickly surrounded by voices asking how Hermione was, how far along was she, how the baby was.

He honestly didn’t know, considering they ushered him out of the room because he was shouting at the medi-wizard for not adhering to proper protocol when it came to washing his hands; making him rewash a total of twenty times. Hermione was the one to told him to leave or she would hex him into the next year. He left willingly when she shot him the death glare.

Ginny sat with a heavy sigh, her own stomach bulging. “Everyone, just calm down. Hermione is fine.”

The room exploded after a moment of silence, causing Ginny to roll her eyes. Draco argued with Ron about whether or not they were going to keep the Malfoy name while Harry and Snap exchanged heated glares.

Silence filled the air when the medi-wizard walked out and was nearly trampled by the group of wizards and witches. He held his hands up and looked over the crowd, noting the Draco standing in the middle of the crowd.

“Mr. Malfoy,” he called, “You can see her now. Only you!”

The crowd groaned as Draco shoved his way through and slowly walked into the room where Hermione was. She laid back against the bed coddling a little bundle in her arms. Her face was flushed, sweaty with hair stuck to her forehead and face.

“Draco,” she said quietly, smiling as he approached slowly, “He’s…”

Draco peered over and smiled, “Beautiful.”

Little Altair snuggled against Hermione a pink bundle of flesh and blond hair. Draco sat slowly in a small chair beside Hermione and brought his hand to the back of her head, stroking her hair softly.

“Want to hold him?” Hermione asked, watching Draco stiffen and nod slowly.

She held out Altair and watched Draco gingerly grasp onto him, pushing him against his chest. Draco’s eyes swam with emotion as he stared at his son.

“How many are out there?” Hermione asked, with a sigh.

“Just about everyone. Even Snape,” Draco replied, nonchalantly.

“Well, he should be here,” she said, watching Draco turn his attention to her. “He’s the god father after all. Well one out of six.”

“What…” Draco’s jaw dropped but closed, “Better have at least another Slytherin. Might not be able to handle the whole Gryffindor smothering of my son.”

“He’s going to be in Gryffindor,” Hermione said with a grin, “I just know it.”

Draco snorted, “Over my dead body, isn’t that right Altair? You’re going to be in Slytherin just like daddy.”

Altair gurgled and opened his tiny eyes, a pair of dark cobalt blue eyes stared back at him. Hermione smiled as Draco let out a small cheer of joy. He turned to Hermione and rose slowly.

“I guess I better say this before I forget, or you run off with Longbottom,” he said, handing Altair to Hermione.

She fussed over her son but halted when Draco leaned over and captured her hand. Her eyes widened as he clipped open a box.

“You’re going to be my wife,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“Excuse me?” Hermione quirked an eyebrow as Draco placed the ring on her finger, “What kind of proposal was that?”

“I already knew you’d say yes,” Draco shrugged, kissing her lightly.

“Rubbish, I could’ve said no,” she replied, leaning back from the kiss.

“Would you rather I do it properly?” he asked, watching her nod in the affirmative, “Too bad.”

“Urgh, you’re impossible,” she groaned, leaning up to kiss him again.

“Marry me,” he breathed against her lips, “Hermione.”

“Mmm,” Hermione moaned into the kiss, “Alright.”

Draco pulled away, “Alright? That’s all I get?”

“You basically told me I was going to marry you, so I don’t see why….” she paused when Altair began fussing, both parents looked down at him.

“See, even he wants a real answer,” Draco laughed, resting his hand on the top of Altair’s head.

“Fine,” she smiled, looking to Draco, “I will marry you….and annoy the hell out of you for the rest of our miserable lives.”

“I’m counting on it,” he grinned, pausing when the room exploded with people.

“I tried to keep them out!” the medi-wizard breathed as the Weasley, Potters, Longbottom and Snape barged into the room, surrounding the bed.

They were instantly quiet. In awe of the small infant cradled in Hermione’s arms. Altair Severus Malfoy.