Matched

SYGNUS - Doc said not to try the St. Johns for another week or so, but she is in favor of holistic medicine and said I could consider a counselor, not sure about that. I do not like the fog either, but I only take 5 mg so it makes me go to sleep but allows me to get up with the baby and still be able to function in the morning. So its all good LOL











Last Chapter before the Epilogue.........







CHAPTER 27: Life Goes On





Lucius was glad to be home. He loved the old drafty manor house and wasn’t quite comfortable anywhere else. Hermione had welcomed him back with open arms, though she still seemed a bit concerned that he would snap and run away at any moment. It had been almost six months since Severus had kicked him in the ass and made him see what a bastard he was, six months since he discovered that he was to be a father again.



He wasn’t sure at first how he felt about it. After all, he was old enough to be a grandfather, and he never expected to father any half-blood children. However, it didn’t deter his happiness. After all, Severus was a half-blood and he was one of the most powerful wizards Lucius had ever known.





Of course he couldn’t deny that his wife blossomed beautifully. She was rosy cheeked, her belly and breasts round and perfect. He might just have to keep her pregnant for years to come. He rubbed her feet and listened to her moan. She had a few weeks left before the little ones were due and her feet were swollen and aching almost all the time. He offered to carry her wherever she needed to go, but she wouldn’t hear of it.



“You really should stay off your feet, darling.” Lucius said as he pressed into the arch of her foot.



“I can’t, I still have to get more clothes, nappies, and I haven’t ordered the cots yet, those bassinets won’t hold them forever. We haven’t even picked names yet Lucius, we can’t call them thing one and thing two.”





“I have no idea what you are talking about, why would we refer to them as things?”





“Never mind, just suffice it to say I have a lot to do yet.” She closed her eyes and sighed, he was a very adept foot masseuse.





“Fine, I will take you to Hogsmeade and we will order the cots and buy the remaining clothes and whatever we need, get a couple of baby books on names and then you rest for the remainder of this pregnancy. Deal?” Hermione chuckled, Lucius was trying to learn to negotiate instead of demanding but he wasn’t very good at it. It still came out more like a demand.



“If that will make you happy my love.” She shifted her legs off of his lap and slipped them into the little black ballet flats on the floor in front of the sofa. Lucius stood and helped her to her feet, giving her a moment to steady her unbalanced frame before letting her go. “Can we go to the school and see Severus? I miss his weekends.” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t start in with the whole jealousy thing again.





“Of course we can. His weekends will begin again before you know it, I promise.” Lucius led her to the foyer and gathered their cloaks. He wrapped her fur lined winter cloak around her shoulders and tugged the matching fur cap over her head before pulling on his own cloak, hat and gloves. He reached for his cane and slid his arms around her ever increasing girth and disapparated them to the edge of Hogsmeade Village.



“Now, I suppose the first stop will be….”





“Food, I want food, sooner than later.” Hermione said, rubbing her swollen tummy.





“Alright, food it is then. Where would you like to go?” He asked, putting his arm around her shoulders and guiding her waddling frame down the sidewalk.



“I don’t care, as long as they serve food I will be happy.” Lucius led her into a small restaurant and into a booth near the restrooms; he had learned his lesson on that one. He laughed when she ordered enough food for a small army and happily ate all of it.



“Better now?” He asked in amusement.





“Much. Now help me up so I can go pee, I think I’m stuck in the booth.” Lucius laughed as he helped her extricate herself from behind the table and walked her to the loo. While she was doing her business he paid the bill and gathered their things. “Now, off to the baby store?” She smiled as she returned to the table. Lucius once again took it upon himself to bundle her into her coat and hat. She let him do it, because he seemed to gain some sort of comfort from fussing over her.



“Lucius Malfoy, is that you?” A shrill voice cooed from behind Hermione. Lucius looked up and put on what she had come to recognize as his “Oh shit, I don’t really want to talk to you but must be polite” smile.





“Hello, Athena, how….nice….to see you.” He said politely as he continued to fasten Hermione’s cloak.





“I haven’t seen you in ages! Rumor has it you married a mud….”





“Watch what you say Athena.” He said low as he turned Hermione to face the woman he was speaking to. “This is Hermione Malfoy. Darling, this is Athena Goyle, I believe you remember her nephew and brother.”





“Oh, yes of course, how do you do?” Hermione said politely, though she did not offer her hand. Athena stared openly in shock at Hermione’s enormously pregnant belly.



“Oh, should I congratulate you on….that?” Athena waved towards Hermione’s over large tummy.



“Of course you should, we are thrilled to be expecting twins within the next two or three weeks.” Lucius smiled, resting his hand against her tummy and smiling when his babies kicked and pushed against him.





“And how is Draco?” She asked, clearly appalled that Lucius seemed so thrilled with his half-blood offspring.



“Ah, he is currently living in Tuscany and running Malfoy Industries. But we see him at least once a week and I suspect we will see him more when the little ones come. He is ever so excited and can’t seem to resist buying every toy he comes across for his little brothers or sisters.” Lucius loved bursting her little pureblood superiority bubble. He knew it was painful, it hadn’t been that long ago that his own had been ruptured by his little muggleborn bride.





“How….sweet. Well, I suppose I will let you get back to your day. Pleasure to meet you, Madam Malfoy.” Athena said her name as though it left a nasty taste in her mouth. “Good day to you Lucius.” He smiled and inclined his head as she turned and walked away.



“Well, wasn’t that fun.” Hermione said, a bright, obviously fake, smile on her face as Lucius put her hat on her and handed her gloves to her.





“Yes, delightful.” He drawled as he led her out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk to a shop that specialized in baby things.





Hermione handed a basket to Lucius and began walking through the store. She tossed several articles of baby clothing into the basket, unisex colors and themes since she did not know what they were having. She ordered two cribs and several cases of nappies to be delivered to the house. Lucius paid for the clothing and arranged for it to be delivered as well.



Once on the street Lucius wrapped her in his arms and apparated her to just outside the Hogwarts grounds. They walked through the gate and in through the main doors. Minerva McGonagall looked at them with wide eyes when they entered.



“Oh dear me, Hermione and Lucius!” Minerva wrapped her arms around Hermione’s shoulders and hugged her tight. “You are absolutely glowing!”



“She wanted to see Severus, she misses him.” Lucius rolled his eyes as he removed her cloak and tossed it over his arm.





“Oh, I think he’s in his office. Do you remember the way?” Minerva asked.





“Of course I do!” Hermione said, turning and waddling as quickly as she could down the corridor in search of Severus.





“When did she get so attached to him? If I recall she couldn’t stand the man in school.” Minerva looked up at Lucius who was smiling as he watched his wife.





“Severus spends time with us over school breaks. You know we’ve been close for years. He and Hermione have grown quite fond of each other as a result.”





“So you don’t torment her the way you tormented everyone here in your younger days then?”





“No, we torment her.” He smiled. “I think she was so used to Ron and Harry’s antics that she just blows us off as well. Though she did get pretty mad when she caught us dueling.”



“Surely you two aren’t still doing that at your age!”



“Oh yes…..late night Quidditch as well.” He said, smiling.





“Don’t even mention Quidditch in the same sentence as the two of you. I still haven’t forgotten about the snitch incident.”





“Well, I better catch up, not that it will take me long at the pace she walks….or waddles these days.” He gave Minerva a pat on the shoulder and rushed to catch up with Hermione before she attempted to maneuver the stairs into the dungeons. He caught up to her and took her arm as he led her down the stairs, praying that they would not change and set her off balance.



She practically ran down the hall towards Severus’s office, causing the students in the halls to stare at her in shock. It wasn’t common to see a pregnant woman running through the dungeon corridors. A small group of Sytherins were standing just inside the potions classroom when she barged in and headed straight for Severus.



“Hello, love.” Severus laughed as he wrapped his arms around Hermione and hugged her tight. “Wow, you are absolutely huge!”



“Stop it!” She slapped his arm playfully before hugging his neck and kissing his cheek. Lucius stood at the back of the classroom with the other horrified Slytherins and watched in disgust as the normally rude and snarky potions master fawned over Lucius’s pregnant wife. “I haven’t seen you since Christmas and I missed you.” She pouted at him.



“I doubt it, from the looks of you there wouldn’t even be enough food to keep me alive during my visit.” He reached out and rested his hand on her stomach. He laughed when he received a hard kick to his palm. Lucius felt a faint stirring of jealousy that she was so happy to see Severus, but he squashed it quickly, she loved him and he knew that.





“Don’t be mean. Are you coming for Easter?” She asked, flopping down into his desk chair. The students gasped at her daring. Severus heard them and turned to the back of the room, the familiar glare in place as he eyed the students.



“Are you still here for a reason?” The students scattered and fled and Severus once again turned his smiling face back to Hermione. Lucius sat on the edge of his desk and shook his head.



“How can you go from being a complete besotted idiot over Hermione to a complete asshole and back again in seconds flat?”



“Easy, I’ve had lots of practice. And the answer is yes, if you want me there for Easter, then I will of course be there.” He smiled.



“Are you going to do everything she asks? Because she’ll have you changing nappies and breastfeeding soon.”





“If it makes her happy.” Severus turned to Hermione and smiled. “Speaking of happy, there’s a party in my pants, and I’d be happy to have you come.”





“If I say you have a wonderful body, would you hold it against me?” Hermione laughed.



“Not again….where do you two come up with this nonsense?” Lucius frowned and shook his head, but he couldn’t hold back the laughter.