Moonlight Sonata

As it was, she was also rather nervous – it was her first dinner back home since they had left for their honeymoon. Being a Malfoy had its perks, she had to admit – they had gone to three countries, and had stayed either at a getaway owned by her husband or in a high class hotel, in each. She was a bit disappointed that Japan hadn't been one of those countries, but in a way, she was glad as well. Going to Japan would have been like staying in Britain. It was home to her, in its own way.

Narcissa and Lucius had been making conversation for the past seven minutes, while they went through the first few courses of dinner, but Hermione had to admit she hadn't been paying much attention. So when her mother-in-law cleared her throat in a way that definitely meant to draw attention, she almost jumped. Fortunately, she had gotten very good at controlling her reactions, and managed to tone the jump down to a very rapid blinking, as she looked quickly to Narcissa.

“So. When should I expect grandbabies?” The blunt and quite light tone of Narcissa's voice sent Draco into shock, while his father started choking on his wine. Hermione stared blankly at the woman, watching as her pleased look began to slowly darken. “...you had better not be telling me you've been taking precautions. After all, that was the entire point of the Law, was it not? Raising birth rates?”

“Mother!” Draco finally managed, in the process of drawing his wand to keep his father from choking to death. “Is this really the time?!”

“Is that a yes or a no, Draco Malfoy?” Her eyes narrowed upon him, before turning to Hermione, blinking as she noticed the girl's flushed face. “Are you pregnant, then, Hermione?”

“Well...I'm not...exactly comfortable with talking about such things at dinner...but I...” She blushed even deeper, if possible, before looking down at her plate.

“She mentioned it on our way home, Mother.” Draco grumbled, reaching over to squeeze his wife's hand in comfort. “We aren't certain yet, and she would rather wait a few more days before testing-”

“Oh, nonsense!” Narcissa beamed to Hermione, all right in her world with this news. “We can do the spell later tonight, just so she doesn't have to fret.”

“I...I would like that, Narcissa.” Hermione's blush faded, and she looked up to the woman with a small smile. “I was going to ask you later, since the spell must be done by another woman.”

A few hours after dinner, Draco found himself kicked out of the sitting room while his mother and Hermione performed the spell, his father looking amused as he stalked into the study.

“They refused to let you watch, did they?” Lucius chuckled a bit. “Don't worry, son, they'll be in here soon enough with the news. ...Are you worried?”

“Not really.” Draco looked to his father, a small smile on his face. “We talked about it on our honeymoon. As much as I would enjoy spending more time with just the two of us, the idea of our children...it's a good one.”

“I was terrified when I found out your mother was pregnant...” The smile was one Draco rarely saw on his father's face, contented nostalgia, really. “...she almost killed me when she realized I was afraid of an infant.”

“Oh?” Before either man could elaborate or deepen their bonding, the door swung open to reveal a positively delighted Narcissa, and a blushing, but pleased, Hermione.

“Twins!” Narcissa squealed. “They'll be having twins, Lucius!”

“Oh gods.” Lucius whispered, before his head fell to his desk, no doubt thinking of the Satoshi girls and their husbands. “We're all going to die.”

“Lucius!” The fond scolding tone made Hermione smile at her mother-in-law, but she was distracted as the woman turned back to her. “Do twins run in your family, Hermione?”

“Well...not exactly.” The arched brow she received in reply demanded elaboration, and she moved to sit down before she went on. “Not in my born family. But due to my adoption by the Satoshi clan, my acceptance into it, there is a chance that the magic involved changed that.”

“Oh, who cares about the why, really.” Narcissa said suddenly, her eyes aglow. “We'll have two grandbabies, Lucius! Two!”

“Have I mentioned my mother is a sucker for babies?” Draco murmured, moving to settle into the sofa beside his wife, pulling her closer.

“Really? I never would have guessed.”

The next evening was the dinner party to which Severus had been invited, along with the Satoshi twins and Pansy, as a family affair. Unfortunately, it was also decided that they would invite a reporter from the Daily Prophet to break the news that Hermione was pregnant. When Hermione saw who it was, she was hard pressed not to snap.

Sitting directly across from her, almost entirely unchanged, was none other than Rita Skeeter.

The dinner passed smoothly enough, as Narcissa, recalling Hermione's rabid hatred of the woman and that her blackmail was now useless as Rita had registered herself as an Animagus some years ago, kept the woman so entertained that she had yet to break out her quill and parchment. Severus hadn't opened his mouth once, busy surveying the group very carefully, and counting on the beozar in his pocket should anything he eat be poisoned.

Except the evil twin was eyeing him at random intervals. Every time she glanced at him from his left, he twitched slightly. He knew for a fact the woman was evil – she was the only other person in the world who could have sixth years quailing with only an entrance.

Unfortunately, that entrance had been into his potions class, as she had been given permission to observe it as one of the ambassadors from Mahoutsukai. They had not spoken then – or ever – but if she could keep Slytherins silent with a single glance, not even a glare, just a simple glance, that was all he needed to confirm his belief.

When dessert came around, and Narcissa cleared her throat, he found himself waiting for the explosion – Hermione Jane Malfoy had tensed, and that meant something unpleasant was coming. That woman never tensed except before doom.

“We have wonderful news to share with you all.” Narcissa said brightly, before looking to Hermione. “My wonderful daughter would like to tell you herself.”

“I'm pregnant.” Hermione said easily, a bright smile on her face. Still, Severus noticed her eye was prepared to start that strange tic she got when she wanted to kill something. And she was eyeing that foul Skeeter woman. And then he saw it, and knew.

The foolish woman had brought out parchment and her Quick Quotes Quill. It meant only one thing, and he knew it as certainly as he knew just what to say to send a student into irrational spasms.

They were all going to die.

Author's Note:

Not much to say, just thank you to all of you, and let's hope I can keep going on this one. ::Cackles.::