Chapter 11
A week later Hermione had found the perfect house. It was a beautiful cottage that sat a few miles outside of the town Godric Hollow. It was a little big for just her and her daughter, but nevertheless it was perfect. It was two stories, the outside was a light blue color with white shutters on each window. The front door was bright red and had a beautiful front porch, large enough for a porch swing, some chairs and a table. The inside was even more beautiful, it had a very outdated but large kitchen with an open living room and dining area. There was a bedroom and bathroom downstairs. The stairs led up to a large area that broke off into four different bedrooms, one master with its own master bath, two bedrooms shared a bathroom and the other was a large room all on its own. Hermione envisioned bookcases lining each wall from floor to ceiling, a comfy reading chair next to the fireplace and maybe a smaller chair for her daughter when she was older.
The backyard was her favorite part about the property though. She had about an acre of land in the back, all fenced in. She could picture a garden filled with all sorts of fruits and vegetables, a greenhouse to hold various magical plants that she could use for potions. Once her daughter was old enough she would put a playground out there for her, maybe she could get a dog once her daughter was a little older since her yard was fenced in. She had endless possibilities and that made Hermione beyond excited.
Once the papers were signed and the cottage was officially hers, Pansy had dragged her shopping for furniture. The first stop was a children’s store, they bought her all the necessities, a crib, changing table, a large dresser and of course her very own bookshelf. Pansy went off on her own and came back with four bags full of dresses and shoes she just couldn’t resist buying, that earned her an eye roll from Hermione but Madi just giggled and babbled on. Over the week Madi had begun to be more comfortable around Pansy and Blaise, not quite Malfoy level, which still baffled everyone, but Madi was getting there.
They spent the next few hours shopping for her bedroom, the living room, dining room, got two beds for the guest bedrooms and she found the perfect wood for her to build her own bookshelves. She wasn’t completely sure how to build them but she knew she could figure it out, or find someone to help. Once they got back they enlarged the furniture they had shrunk down, starting with Madi’s room first so they could put her down for a nap, then they got to work on the rest of the house. Three glasses of wine, two hungry women, one grumpy 8 month old and two hours later her furniture was all arranged. Pansy was about the head out to get them some dinner when they heard the floo come to life. She knew it was currently only connected to Pansy and Blaise’s French and London home so she knew exactly who it was. What she wasn't expecting was his blonde companion gliding in and swooping up her daughter all while she giggled. Hermione couldn’t look away.
“We brought substance ladies!” Blaise held up two large bags full of food.
“I hope there’s cutlery in there because that is not something we thought to buy today.” Hermione said laughing as she followed Blaise into the kitchen. He laughed along with her.
“Of course Mione, who do you think I am? I always come prepared.” Blaise set out the Chinese along the island along with the chopsticks and a fork for Draco, since supposedly he had yet to master the chopsticks.
Hermione grabbed her Kung Pao Chicken along with a small thing of fried rice and sat herself on one of her new chairs in the living room. Pansy and Blaise followed with their food but Draco remained on the floor with Madi rattling one of her noisy toys in front of her face.
“So now that you're back, what do you plan to do for a job?” Blaise asked.
“Well I’ve been owling back and forth with the head researcher at St. Mungos and he offered to let me work from home as long as I went into the office once a week for a few hours. I’m not looking to work full time right now, trying to spend as much time at home with Madi. I’ve also been looking into some daycares to put Madi in so that one day I have to go into the office she's taken care of.”
“Why can’t she just stay with me?” Pansy said.
“Well I wasn't going to assume you would watch her and I felt bad for asking. You’ve already helped me so much. I just didn’t want to add to the stress of everything.” Hermione said, already feeling bad for putting her best friends through so much of her life drama already.
“Oh pish posh Mione, I would absolutely love to watch her for you, and doesn’t just mean that one day a week, if you ever need time for yourself all you have to do is ask, right Blaise dear.” She swatted his arm and all Hermione could do was laugh. She was almost finished with her dinner when Madi started to get fussy. Hermione went to the kitchen and made her a bottle, grabbed her from Malfoy’s arms and excused herself from the group to take her upstairs. By the time Madi was fed, changed and asleep her living room was empty. She made her way to the kitchen to clean up the mess but noticed Malfoy was leaning against the island eating his chicken and rice with a fork, Hermione internally laughed. He hadn’t noticed her yet so she softly cleared her throat. He turned around quickly, almost spilling his food on the floor.
“Hey, Blaise and Pansy said something about an early morning so they decided to head out, but Pansy told her to expect her tomorrow around noon for more shopping.” Hermione groaned which made Malfoy smirk.
“Oh great I simply can just not wait.” Hermione said sarcastically.
“Looks like you two got a lot done today though.” Hermione nodded, she was honestly exhausted and with the knowledge that she would be doing more shopping tomorrow already had her tired for then as well.
“Yeah, we got all the main furniture, now I just need kitchen items, some things for the living room, maybe some paintings for the walls and a book on how to build bookshelves.” Draco laughed, threw his head back and laughed and Hermione thought it was a pleasant sound.
“Of course Hermione Granger would need a book to figure it out herself. Why don't you just hire someone to build it for you?”
“I wanted it to be something I did for me, my little piece of sanctuary. But if I start and realize it's too much for me I will definitely be bringing in someone else. And by the way, there is nothing wrong with learning from a book Draco, you should try it sometime.” She sent him a wink and smirked when she saw his cheeks color pinken some.
“I could always help you? It’s not like I do much with my days except run my company, but even then it doesn’t take up too much of my time.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind helping me?”
Draco rounded the corner, directly facing her with only a few inches between them. He lifted his hand up to cup her cheek and gave her a small smile.
“I really would not mind Hermione, I like spending time with you.”
She felt blush rise up her chest and cover her cheeks as she felt his feather light touch to her face. “I like spending time with you too, Draco.” Hermione looked up at him and pulled her bottom lip between her two teeth. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him but also knew that it was inappropriate and too soon for her. He seemed to think the same about the kiss because his eyes glanced down to her lips and back to her eyes. He leaned down into her, pausing when his lips were centimeters from hers, so close that he could smell the spearmint toothpaste she used. He took a deep breath in and closed the space between them. He pushed his body into hers and wrapped his arms around her, her hands rubbed up his arms around his neck and dug into his hair, tugging on it as he deepened the kiss.
Draco pulled back from her mouth and went to leave sloppy kisses along her jaw and down her neck, he hit a sensitive spot as Hermione whimpered when he sucked just under her ear. He snaked his hand under her shirt and was about to cup her breast when she suddenly pushed him away. He thought she had never looked more beautiful than right then. Her chest was rising and falling fast as she tried to catch her breath. Her lips were red and swollen and she had a love bite on her jaw and neck from him.
“I’m-I’m sorry Draco it's just too fast too soon.” Hermione looked down, afraid that he would be upset for pushing him away, but knew that she was not in the right headspace for anything intimate with anyone yet.
“Hey, look at me Hermione.” She slowly lifted her head and saw that his eyes were on her. “I’m not upset, you don’t want to go too fast and I’m sorry for pushing. This is on your terms, your pace. You let me know what you’re ready for and what you’re not.” Hermione knew she had no reason to get emotional but couldn’t help the tear that escaped. Draco lifted his hand and used his thumb to gently wipe the lone tear off her face.
“Thank you Draco, that means more than you know.” She whispered. She wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her tight against his chest. It took a few minutes but her breathing leveled out and she felt much calmer than before. “I would still like for you to come over and help with the library if you’re up to it?” Draco bent his head down and laid a soft kiss to her curls.
“I would love to Hermione, just tell me when to be here and I’ll show.” Hermione backed away from the hug, reached up on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss to his cheek.
“I will. It’s getting late and I should head to bed. Are you going to apparate from outside or do you want me to connect your floo to mine?”
“I wouldn’t mind if you connected our floos, it would make it easier.” Hermione just nodded, walking side by side to the floo, adding his place, Draco’s Penthouse, to her floo so he would be able to come over when necessary. Draco gave her one quick kiss to her forehead and left through the floo. Hermione had a lot to think about that night in bed. She was finally getting back to her old self, figuring out life with a daughter and without Matteo. She really liked the new Draco but wasn’t sure if she was ready for anything other than friendship right now. She was even more confused the longer she laid there. Finally at almost three in the morning, sleep finally took her.