Three
Hermione and Draco walked side-by-side down the corridor until they approached the door to their new living quarters. Opening the packet, Hermione fished out one of the keys inside of it before inserting it into the keyhole and unlocking the door. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, Draco following and shutting the door once they were both inside.
"Wow," Hermione whispered as she entered the living room. "This is beautiful."
"Yeah, it's nice," Draco agreed. The room was neutral. There were no Gryffindor or Slytherin colors in sight, there weren't any house colors at all. Draco liked that.
"So, shall we sit and read our letter?" Hermione asked, moving to sit on the sofa. Hermione pulled up her legs and tucked them under herself, waiting for Draco to come sit beside her before opening the letter.
Dear Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger,
Welcome back to Hogwarts. Due to the recent baby boom, our department has sought it important to add a new, mandated class for all seventh years. This new class is known as Parenting 101. During this class you will learn what it takes to be a parent by taking care of your own child or children. Seventy percent of your grade will be solely determined on how well your child or children are taken care of, the last thirty percent will be based on an essay you will each write about your experience and what you have learned during it. During class tomorrow, Ms. Granger will take a potion that will give her symptoms of pregnancy. While a normal pregnancy is typically nine months, these potions have been fast tracked to only last a week. After the week is up you will receive your child or children and your assignment will have officially begun. Headmistress McGonagall will explain more tomorrow during your class, but if you do have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. We wish you the best of luck on your journey!
Sincerely,
The Department of Child and Family Services
P.S. You're having twins! Congratulations!
Hermione put the letter down after she finished reading it aloud. "Twins."
Draco smirked. "Scared of having three of me instead of two, Granger?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, it'll just be more work having to take care of three of you."
Laughing, Draco stood and offered her his hand. "Should we go take a look at the nursery?" Hermione smiled and took his hand, allowing him to pull her up. The feeling of his hand in hers felt nice, albeit a bit weird. It was warmer than she thought it would be, though also very calloused. She supposed it was from all those years of playing Quidditch.
The two walked toward the door that they figured was the nursery since the other two doors were opened and showed a more grownup looking bedroom and what looked like a children's bathroom. When Hermione opened the door she had to fight back the tears in her eyes.
The nursery had two cribs, both were a white color but one crib had a pink blanket while the other had a blue. The room itself was a neutral color, just like the rest of the living quarters. Between the cribs was a changing table along with storage spaces for diapers and other necessities that would be needed for the babies. In the corner was a lamp and rocking chair with a shelf full of children's books.
Whilst they were looking around the room, Draco had been absentmindedly rubbing his thumb up and down the side of Hermione's hand, causing her to blush when she noticed what he was doing.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
The next morning, the pair decided to stay in for breakfast instead of going to the Great Hall; giving themselves some time to talk about the class and the children they would soon have.
"How are you feeling about all this?" Draco asked, whilst fixing a plate of toast for himself.
Hermione was sat at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. She swallowed what she had in her mouth before responding to his question, "I don't know, I mean, I'm sure we'll get along fine. We have been for the most part already. I just don't know how it'll go with children added into the mix, plus my friends don't really like you and your friends don't really like me."
Draco nodded in agreement. "Well, McGonagall knows what she's doing, so I'm sure it'll all work out for the best. The only reason we're paired together is because she wants to create house unity and I don't mind it at all. I'd rather my child, when I do have one for real, go to a school where he won't be bullied for my mistakes."
"I respect that," Hermione said, looking up at the man in front of her thoughtfully.
Draco sent her a small smile before clearing his plate of any remains and flicking his wand, washing the plate magically.
"I'm going to get ready for class," Draco spoke. "Would you like to walk together?"
"Sure, why not." Hermione responded, getting up to go change as well.
Once they were both ready, they grabbed their bags and, once again, made their way down the corridor side-by-side. Thankfully the new parenting ward wasn't too far away from their quarters. The two separated once they reached the classroom, both going to join their respective friends. A few moments later, Headmistress McGonagall entered the room.
"Good morning, students. I hope you all had a peaceful sleep," McGonagall welcomed the seventh years. "Now, please get up and sit by your assigned partners. We'll be beginning right away."
Hermione stood up and moved to sit in the previously filled seat next to Draco, sending him a smile. She could hear Ron muttering from the other side of the room when Pansy sat next to him, slamming her own books onto the desk in front of her. Harry and Ginny looked as happy as ever to have been paired up together, as did Neville and Luna. Blaise and Lavender didn't seem to have a problem with each other either.
"The potion in front of you is what each of you ladies will drink to start the symptoms of pregnancy. Now, please don't sm-" Before McGonagall could finish what she was saying there were two groans and then the sound of bodies falling to the floor. "Smell it," McGonagall sighed.
Lavender Brown and Neville Longbottom were laid on the floor, completely passed out.
"Leave it to Longbottom and Brown to not wait for instructions," Pansy joked.
"Right then, I'll be right back," McGonagall said, levitating both of the bodies. "Don't touch anything and whatever you do don't smell the potion. Oh, and Mr. Zabini, Ms. Lovegood, you two will be paired for this project now as Ms. Brown and Mr. Longbottom will be out of it for a while."
When McGonagall returned, she continued with the lesson.
"As you have seen, this potion has a major consequence if you straight up smell it. So, ladies, please do not smell the potion when you take it."
McGonagall watched as they each took the potion, keeping a close eye to make sure each girl plugged their nose.
"Great! As you know, the potion will give you symptoms of pregnancy. It will also change your body like you're going through pregnancy, and, at the end of the week, you will get to know how to feels to go through labor. Once here, the children will age quicker than normal. You will have one week with them in the newborn stage and after that you will have one month with them at each age, starting at age two. Once they turn ten you will only have a few weeks left with them before they transfigure back. After they're gone, you will then have two weeks to write your essay on your experience and what you have learned. I expect it to be at least two pages but you're always welcome to write more. Any questions?"
Hermione raised her hand, gently shoving Draco when she heard him mutter swot under his breath.
"Yes, Ms. Granger."
"Headmistress, you mentioned the children being transfigured. What exactly are we going to be taking care of?"
McGonagall walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a baby doll. "Once the time comes, these baby dolls will be transfigured into your children using you and your partner's hairs."
Hermione nodded, biting her lip as she looked at the dolls curiously.
Once she was sure there were no more questions, McGonagall released them to do as they pleased before their next class.