Happenstance

Later that night, Hermione slid out of bed and tapped her alarm clock. The soft insistent beeping so familiar from her childhood worked better than magic to rouse her while Draco slept through unperturbed. They had gone to bed together out of habit. That did not sound romantic but as she belted her dressing gown and padded out of the room, she smiled.

They were in his bed. She joined him there because it suited her. He was not permitted to invite himself into her bed. That was her private space. She changed in her room then they tucked themselves in together. It was nice. She slept better with him in the bed.

Hermione walked quietly to the nursery. Suki was there watching over the babies and she gave the house elf a smile as she sat down in the fat bolstered chair. According to the schedule, Lind and Jon were first. She settled her daughter, who fussed if she did not have everything as she liked it but would nurse happily once arranged. Her younger son was more fractious. He was slow to latch on and would get bored halfway though, either falling asleep or crying. Hermione smoothed his hair with her fingertips until he suckled freely.

She had consulted a paediatric nurse at a clinic in London, as a private patient not through the NHS. She wanted to limit her children’s Muggle medical records until they were cured. The nurse had weighed and measured and reassured. The triplets were growing very well. They would be alright, so long as she ensured they got plenty of protein and was mindful of possible anaemia. That was her own research which soothed more worries. Other than a tendency to turn into wolves, her children were perfectly healthy.

Louise wanted to show them off at the Granger Christmas party on the 22nd and as it was a week after the full moon, Hermione had agreed. It would mean more lying to relatives but that could not be helped. Their family had given her parents a lot of support. Obliging them with a happy occasion was the least she could do.

Draco had sworn on his wand to be on his best, most mundane behaviour. It would look very good for him if he could boast of attending a Muggle party. And his presence avoided a lot of awkward questions.

Jon started to fuss. He was tired of his midnight snack. Hermione swapped him for Alek, who was easily amused with food. Suki sang to the baby and he settled, returning the nursery to tranquillity. He might be small but he could make his displeasure heard loud and clear.

She was flushed when she returned to Draco’s bedroom. Hermione had not realised how much of a sensual experience breastfeeding would be. The books she had read on the subject had glossed over that aspect or perhaps because of the magic used on her to restore her body everything was extra sensitive.

Had she been alone, she would have taken matters into her own hands. The weather was icy enough to discourage the other traditional method of a cold shower. However, Draco was awake when she returned to bed. Hermione rather suspected he had an alarm of his own to wake him when she had finished nursing. She could have called him out on it but what was the harm? She had grown out of her urge to prove herself right all the time.

He watched her with hooded eyes as she removed her dressing gown and pyjamas. Draco turned the blankets back for her so she could join him on his side of the bed. He was already hard and quickly rid himself of his nightclothes. She climbed on, he put his hands on her breasts then they just moved against each other until they were moaning. It was so wonderfully simple.

Afterwards Hermione lay with her head on Draco’s shoulder and his arm around her. She smiled as she drifted off towards sleep, thinking idly that life was funny sometimes. Slumber claimed her before she could expound on that thought.

Morning happened too soon. Hermione went through her routine half-asleep, lamenting the absence of her morning coffee. Hot carob was not the same but she perked up in time for the early Acquisitions meeting and gave an efficient briefing to the Department staff. Their jobs were safe, at the Minister’s personal promise. The office tension level sank as though the dam burst.

Hermione took in the expressions of almost manic relief. It had not been an easy year and it was in her purview to give everyone a half-day. She did so, adding that Saturday was also a Departmental off-day, meaning anyone who had applied for early holidays got to start them Friday night. Those who took their Yule holidays in January, mostly the non-parents, rejoiced at the free weekend.

Her feeling of self-indulgence eased at the obvious relief of her co-workers, Hermione tidied her desk, sent off correspondence and took herself back to the Manor. She usually Apparated back for the triplets’ noon feeding but being a little early was unlikely to cause offense to her host. Hearing Draco’s voice as she entered the house, Hermione breezed into the front parlour in time to see Pansy Parkinson’s breasts before the witch hastily closed her robes.