The Malfoy Baby

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters belong to JK Rowling. Not mine. Just borrowing.

Hugs to Southern_Witch_69 for being an awesome beta!

Chapter 3: The Malfoy Baby

She ran and ran until she finally reached the Leaky Cauldron, afraid that he might have followed her. She didn't stop at the Leaky Cauldron though; she headed straight for Diagon Alley and dashed into Madam Malkin's shop, knowing that it would be the last place Severus Snape would find her in if he had indeed followed her.

Breathing a sigh of relief when it was obvious that he wasn't after her, Hermione took in her surroundings. There were many robes of different size, colour and material. A few of them were hung on the plastic models, placed on the shop display window, and turning magically in a manner like a real model would on a catwalk.

In one corner, a piece of silk was being stitched together by magic. It would make a great dress someday, Hermione thought. Just as she was admiring the silk fabric, Madam Malkin came out of her office.

"Hello, dear," she said, "anything I can help you with?"

"Hello, Madam Malkin," Hermione returned politely as she turned around.

"Oh, Hermione, you're back!" The old lady enveloped her in a hug.

"My, you have grown even more beautiful!" Hermione blushed, but she instantly sobered when Madam Malkin said, "Now, where's that husband of yours? He should be lavishing you with diamonds, pearls, gowns and gifts; you certainly deserve it, dear."

Oh, he had sent her gifts, lots and lots of them, she had wanted to say, but somehow her mouth wouldn't comply. She didn't know what to do with them. It would seem rude to send them back to him, but she also didn't feel comfortable wearing them. She thought it felt like she was some sort of trophy wife with the amount of expensive jewellery he'd sent her. Even if you wouldn't admit it, you've been reading too many Harlequin romances in your free time, she chided herself.

She gave a small smile and changed the subject. "Madam Malkin, do you happen to have any shawls for sale?"

"Oh, yes, dear, come over here." She waved Hermione over to the middle of the shop. There upon the wall were several racks, which held many shawls of various styles and materials. Although Hermione was not one who usually fawned over beautiful clothes and makeup, she nevertheless believed in making oneself presentable. But the shawls in Madam Malkin's shop really did catch her eye. Along the rack was a royal blue shawl – it was made of silk and was rather translucent, but it was quite shimmery, like stars sparkling in the dark sky.

It would go perfectly with the dress for the ball, Hermione mused.

The Malfoys would be holding a ball after the naming ceremony, and typical of a Malfoy, Draco had announced with a smug smirk that no expenses would be spared for celebrating the new addition to his family.

Having then paid for the shimmery royal blue shawl, Hermione looked at her watch and almost yelped aloud when she realized that she only had two minutes till her meeting with Luna.

Stepping back out into Diagon Alley, she Disapparated with a pop and reappeared on a path in Wiltshire.

Up ahead was Malfoy Manor in all its glory – the mansion was enormous to say the least, but its previous generations of occupants always gave it a dark, foreboding aura.

Draco had not returned to the manor until after his wedding to Luna, but once they returned, they set to rid the manor of all its anti-Muggle charms, jinxes and everything that contained Dark magic. Drapes and curtains were pulled open to let the morning and afternoon light in, making the manor look and feel more like a home rather than a previous torture chamber for unfortunate Muggles or for those who had incurred the displeasure of either Lucius Malfoy or Voldemort himself. The only things that were undisposed of and could be called Dark were the books on Dark magic, and much to everyone's surprise, it was Luna who said they should keep them (locked under multiple, complex protection and warding charms, of course). Luna reasoned that they should keep it for future reference in creating antidotes and counter-curses just in case another Dark Lord would rise.

Just as she was about to knock on the front door, it opened to reveal not a house-elf, but the master of the house himself. He opened the door with a flourish, and with a mock bow, he drawled, "Welcome to my humble abode, Your Majesty."

Hermione rolled her eyes and batted Draco on the arm not so gently. "'Your Majesty,' my arse!" Hermione huffed.

She joked, "Did you finally have enough of your house-elves and dispose of them, Draco?" Hermione raised her brow and smirked. "Never thought I'd ever see the day of you opening your own front door. Now, where's your darling wife?"

"In the sitting room with the baby," he replied.

Hermione had often wondered why it was that a bundle of squirming, screaming infant could reduce women (and to Hermione's horror, some men as well) into a bunch of mushy, gushing and cooing-unintelligibly messes.

She found her answer when she stepped into the sitting room and saw the baby held in Luna's arms. "Hey, Luna," she greeted.

The baby girl was fast asleep in her mother's arms, content in her mother's embrace; she shifted to snuggle up to her mother's bosom. The baby had the longest blonde eyelashes, and her head was covered lightly with soft, blonde hair. Her tiny hands were curled into fists, moving slightly as she turned her body in her sleep.

Hermione marvelled at the sight. Such a tiny creature. An angel. She really wanted to reach out and touch the tiny hands, feel the soft baby skin. She placed her index finger on the baby girl's palm and almost gasped out loud when the tiny fingers curled around her finger. She looked up to find a pair of big, round, bright grey eyes watching her with an air of curiosity, almost as if the baby was studying her.

Hermione heard cooing sounds, and she blushed profusely when she realised that it was she who was making the sounds. Luna just looked on, amused.

"She's so beautiful," Hermione whispered.

"Yes, she is," Luna replied and asked nonplussed, "So when are you going to have one yourself?"

Hermione sighed wistfully as she looked at the now awake baby girl. "When I find someone who loves me as much as Draco loves you, Luna."

A voice in the doorway drawled, "And here I thought you are a married woman, Lady Snape."

Luna gave Draco a you-shouldn't-have-said-that-so-now-you're-in-big-trouble look and said, "Lord Malfoy, if you will please excuse us ladies, as we have some delicate matters to discuss."

"As you wish, my lady," Draco replied graciously and gave a mock bow before leaving the room. Luna rolled her eyes.

Hermione giggled. "Have I been sucked into some alternate universe? This is like some Regency movie!"

Luna's butterbeer earrings jiggled as she laughed with Hermione, and the baby in her arms looked curiously at the two adults before she too gave a chortle and proceeded to move her hands together as if to clap.

"Seriously, you are only staying for a week?" Luna asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, one week at the most."

"You should come and stay with us. We have so many rooms here. Why on earth did you insist in staying at Muggle London?"

"I really don't want to impose on you and Draco. What with the baby, you two must be running yourselves to the ground. Plus, I don't want to intrude on your family time," Hermione said, smiling.

"Well, I can definitely tell you the advantages of you staying here. One, you don't have to travel so much just to get here. Two, we can find time to have girl talk," Luna said with a grin, "and last but not least, you can be our temporary nanny!"

Hermione smirked. "You mean so you can have so private time with Draco, hm?"

Just then, the fire in the sitting room's fireplace turned green. Hermione turned to see who was Flooing and found herself face-to-face with the tall, imposing form of Severus Snape yet again.

"Good afternoon, ladies. Mrs. Malfoy, may I inquire as to the whereabouts of your husband? There is an important matter which requires his assistance."

"Oh, good afternoon, Severus. I'll go get Draco for you," Luna greeted. She then turned to Hermione and said, "Can you hold her for me please? I'll be right back."

Although the sitting room of Malfoy Manor was as spacious as they came, Hermione felt her cheeks heat up at the notion of being alone in a room with Severus Snape. Holding the baby securely in her arms, she walked to one of the French windows, turning her back to him, and looked out onto the grounds, trying to find anything that could keep her attention away from the man.

And for the second time of the day, she failed to notice that he had come to stand behind her until she felt his hot breath on her neck. He began to place kisses on her neck. Startled, it was pure luck that she didn't drop the baby in her shock.

The baby girl waved her little arms instead, her eyes crinkling at the corners and her mouth opening to emit a happy laugh. Moving slowly and speaking in a low voice so as to not upset the baby, she hissed, "What are you doing here?!"

He didn't stop kissing her neck though; rather, he trailed his mouth up to her ear and murmured huskily, "Aren't you glad to see me, Mrs. Snape?"

Her frustration showed on her face when she realised that she didn't have any hands to push him away with. But deep down, she couldn't help but feel the tingles that kept racing down her spine, making her toes curl.

She grimaced.

Merlin, help us all.