From Venice with Love

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The next Saturday, Mrs. Wesley brought Harry, Ron and Ginny over to see the baby. Hermione felt much better by now, and was sitting in a chair in the living room when they arrived. “Hello!” she grinned broadly at them as they came into the house.

“Hermione, how are you?” Harry said, grinning just as wide. “Everyone’s talking about you, especially Lavender and Parvati. They send their best.”

“Tell them hello.” Hermione put down the book she was reading and got up to hug her friends.

“You look thinner already,” Ron said, hugging her awkwardly.

“Where is the baby?” Ginny asked.

Hermione pointed to the corner of the living room where she had placed another bassinet. Draco had given Mrs. Weasley money to buy lots of blue baby clothes and more baby items, so Dante was dressed head to toe in blue. “There,” she said.

Ginny, Harry and Ron went over and looked in the bassinet. Dante was awake and stared back at them with large grey eyes.

“Bloody hell, Hermione, he looks just like Malfoy,” Ron said. “He’s even making a nasty face at me,”

“Oh, he’s just going to the bathroom,” Hermione giggled. “He always makes that face when he needs a nappy change.”

“He’s beautiful, Hermione. What’s his name?” Harry asked.

“Dante. Dante Abraxas Malfoy,” Hermione said.

“That’s a mouthful,” Harry said, still staring at the infant.

“Yes, well, Draco wanted a family name to be included.” Hermione busied herself with getting the supplies to change Dante.

“Speaking of Malfoy, where is he?” Harry asked. “I needed to speak with him.”

“He’s upstairs. Why? What do you need to speak to him about?”

“Just a quick question,” Harry called as he went up the stairs.

“Are you hiding something from me?” Hermione asked. Ron shrugged and Ginny looked uncomfortable. “Stop treating me like I’m fragile!” Hermione snapped. “If it involves me or my family I want to know.”

“That’s up to Harry,” Ron said, looking away as she changed Dante’s nappy.

Hermione finished the change and went upstairs after Harry. She opened the bedroom door to find Harry and Draco deep in conversation. They looked up as she came in. “What is going on, Harry? Tell me the truth,” she demanded.

Harry looked uncomfortable. “Hermione,”

“You will tell me, Harry Potter!” she snapped. “Now!”

“Lucius is searching for Malfoy,” Harry said. “Demanding to know why he’s not at school. We’re not sure how he knows that he left-“

“Parkinson,” Hermione broke in.

“Maybe. We think Lucius must be sure that Malfoy is the father now. We’ve told people that you’ve had a girl but apparently there are ways for Lucius to find out, through magic, if it’s really a boy, so we must assume that Lucius knows.”

“How could he tell?” Hermione asked.

“There’s a new Malfoy heir now,” Draco told her. “He’ll be able to tell. We have an enchanted tapestry at the Manor. All male blood relatives born appear on it, Dante will have been added.”

“You should have told us sooner,” Harry snapped at him.

“I didn’t know we were having a boy or I would have,” Draco snapped back. “There’s nothing you could have done even if you had known so shut it, Potter.”

“We could have been better prepared!”

“There’s no use arguing about it now,” Hermione cut Harry off. “We’re here, safe. He can’t get to Dante.”

“You cannot leave this house for any reason,” Harry warned. “Either of you. Hermione, we’ve moved your parents as well. We believe Lucius will do anything to get rid of any impure blood in the Malfoy line.”

“You think he’d hurt my parents?”

“We think he’d try to exchange them for the baby,” Harry said. “Also, Professor Dumbledore has gotten an owl from Malfoy’s mother to him asking if the baby is his.”

“Sounds like they already know anyway,” Hermione said. “What’s the harm in telling her she has a grandson?”

“Would she tell your father?” Harry asked Draco.

“Depends. I need to see the letter. I’ll be able to tell if he told her to write it or not,” Harry handed Draco a piece of parchment, which he quickly read. “What owl brought it?” he asked.

“Your owl,” Harry told him.

“My father doesn’t know she wrote this,” Draco said. “I’ll write her back.” He crossed to the desk in their room and began writing a reply. Hermione looked over his shoulder as he wrote. “Had to get away, am having loads of fun in Rome, I’ll write again soon.” was what she saw written.

“Code?” she asked.

He nodded and tapped the parchment and it said, “Yes, you have a grandson. I hope one day you will welcome him into the family. I’ll keep in touch, Draco” He handed it back to Harry. “Give it to my owl. He’ll know not to deliver it if my father is at home.”

Harry nodded and put the parchment into his pocket. “I’m not sure that you should come back for your N.E.W.T.S.”

“What? Are you insane? Of course we’re coming back for our N.E.W.T.S. Draco?” Draco shrugged.

“I don’t care about them; I wasn’t planning on going back.”

Hermione stared at him in shock. “Well, I am,” she said. “It’s only Hogwarts, it will be safe. It’s 6 weeks away in any case.”

“They will expect you to come back, Hermione. It would be an easy trap.” Harry said. “Professor Dumbledore thinks-“

“It’s not up for discussion, Harry,” Hermione said with finality. “I will be there. Lucius Malfoy will have 6 weeks to calm down.”

“I think that you are under-estimating my father,” Draco said, but Hermione shook her head.

“No more discussion about it. However, you must promise me that if something were to happen, you would never give up Dante, no matter what is done to me. Promise me,” she said as neither Harry nor Draco responded.

“I promise,” Harry said, and Draco nodded.

“Good, it’s settled,” Hermione said briskly.

“Hermione?” Ron called from downstairs. “The baby smells again,and something gross came out of his mouth! He’s glaring at me as well, can you come get him?”

Hermione sighed as Draco laughed. “What a good boy I have.”