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Granger's Cafe Chap 23

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Chapter Twenty-Three: A Shopping Trip</i>

Draco walked away from the fridge after gazing at it for the umpteenth time that evening. He tugged his shirt over his head as he stepped in through the bedroom door. Harry smiled as Draco's face came back into view. "What were you doing?" he asked casually putting his new laptop on hibernate and setting it to one side.

Draco's small smile was all the answer Harry needed. "I was looking at the baby" he admitted almost shyly as he crawled into the partner side of Harry's double bed.

Harry turned to face Draco, lacing his arms around the blonde. Draco nestled against Harry's chest, watching as Harry's fingers absentmindedly trailed over the blonde's bandaged forearms. "It's a cute baby"

"I cannot wait to meet it" Draco breathed. "I just ... I'd prefer if it was not Father's"

Harry nodded against Draco's head. "I know love but there are potions for that, aren't there?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, there are. But we would both have to discuss this with Astoria. After-all it is her baby. Her decision-"

"Draco" Harry cut across the rambling blonde in a soft tone, "I thought she had already decided this"

Draco nodded, "I know but ... she could always change her mind"

Harry pressed small kisses all over Draco's pale skin; his jawbone, his soft neck, his earlobe, and his high cheekbones. "The baby will be beautiful"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it'll look like you, a beautiful little baby"

Draco flushed at the compliment and cuddled into Harry's chest. "I l-love you Harry"

Harry felt his heart stop. He tightened his grip around Draco's waist. Tears were swirling in his eyes. "I love you too, Draco, I'll always be here for you alright? Night or day"

Draco curled against Harry's body and sighed contently as Harry's fingers stroked through his hair. Harry smiled as Draco crooned into his caresses. He did understand why Draco was uncertain about the baby that was swirling inside Astoria's stomach. He wondered if he could be a dad to someone else's baby. He knew he could but he was still uncertain. There were many things to consider. "Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you going to do the afternoon shift?"

Harry pondered this for a while, his fingers stroking Draco's scalp. "I suppose I should. But we can work together and then go out in the evening if you like"

Draco turned on the bed to look at Harry's serene features, "like a date?"

Harry chuckled, the sound rumbled through the wall of his stomach, causing Draco to wriggle. "Yes, Draco, like a date" the blonde blushed making Harry's heart swoon. He mentally wondered what he could do to cheer Draco's troubled mind.

~O~

Hermione was bored. She never thought that she could be such a thing, but she was so incredibly bored out of her brightest-witch-of-her-age brain. She sighed as she flicked through the television channels. She drummed her fingertips on her swelling stomach and mentally could not wait for any paper work Ron or Mona might bring back that evening. She wanted something to do, but what? She rubbed her eyes feeling suddenly too tired from doing nothing. An abrupt knock on her front door startled her back into the bleak reality. She pushed herself up off of the sofa and shuffled to the front door in her dressing gown and slippers. When she opened the door she was startled by the white haired woman standing dominantly in her doorway. "Good morning Narcissa, what can I help you with? There's no a problem at the cafe, is there?"

Narcissa flashed a bright smile. "We're taking you out shopping. We both have baby shopping to do"

Hermione smiled warmly, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to finally leave the house. "Alright, I'll go and get dressed-"

Narcissa waved Hermione quiet. "I'll come with you. We must be looking smart for London" Hermione smiled brightly. She hadn't dressed up in a while. Ron always insisted she looked pretty, but what did he know? He was a man after all.

Hermione led the way upstairs and Narcissa followed close behind, her superior air dominating the atmosphere. The perfume she wore was thrilling and Hermione made sure to ask the elderly woman what brand she was wearing. They entered the main bedroom which was decorated in a rich red color, the color of blood. Narcissa frowned at the color choice. Hermione noticed and shifted slightly, "I lost a baby. Two years after the war, I fell pregnant and lost the baby at six months. There was so much blood ..." she trailed off, the grief ripping through Narcissa's own tortured heart.

"I had no idea" Narcissa sympathized.

Hermione nodded. "Not many people know"

Narcissa licked her lips and nodded. Snapping herself out of her stupor, she straightened up. "Alright, Ms. Weasley, it's time to reboot ourselves with some ludicrous spending of my husbands account" Hermione cracked a small smile as her eyes began to tear up. She wiped at her eyes.

Hermione sat down on the end of the double bed and stared as Narcissa put together a gorgeous outfit of loose fitting smart black trousers, a thin, white roll-neck jumper, with a smart-casual black jacket over the top. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror once she was dressed. Narcissa gently guided her in front of the dresser and brushed her hair into smooth brunette waves. The white-haired woman then tied the brunette hair into a sleek bun in the top of Hermione's head. "Oh my" Hermione was struggling not to cry at her reflection. "Thank you, Narcissa, you've made me look amazing"

Narcissa smiled at the compliment. "Don't thank me, dear, I merely gave the silver an extra polish"

Hermione flushed and grabbed her purse that was nestled upon the dresser. "Ready?" Narcissa flashed a bright smile, touched Hermione's shoulder with a gentle squeeze, and apparated to the mouth of a dark alley in Central London. "Merlin, where did I apparate us to?"

Hermione scanned the high walls for a road sign. "Oh, it's fine, Narcissa. We're in Oxford street. It's one of the best places to shop"

Narcissa cocked an eyebrow, "are you certain?"

Hermione let out a harmonious laugh. "I'm positive"

The first shop they ventured into was called 'PRIMARK' it sounded like such a strange name to Narcissa. She scanned the sign as she followed Hermione into the large double doors that opened of their own accord. But muggles did not have magic ... did they? Hermione smiled and as they walked through some aisles started explaining about 'electricity'.

~0~

"Thanks for coming with me" James flushed as he toyed with the hem of the cover he was sitting on.

Eli frowned, "whatever for?"

"To my dads over the holidays" James stated.

Eli nodded, "oh, well that's alright then. What time is it?"

"7.06pm"

"Good another four minutes then and this potion will be out of my system. That's the last time I do a detention with you, Mister" James blushed and ducked his head. The time soon ticked away and then a finger tilted James' head upwards.

"It's nice to see you looking like yourself again, Ted"

Teddy Lupin, naked as the day he was born, knelt in front of the under-aged wizard and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "It feels good to be me again, Jamie" the younger boy flushed and allowed his body to be embraced by the older boy.

~0~

"Narcissa how many do you have there?" Hermione asked as she saw the tall white-haired woman slide around the corner of the aisle she was in, arms laden with baby-grow's.

"Oh I know it isn't enough, is it?" the elderly woman cast longing eyes at the romper suits. Hermione let out a small chuckle, "what's so funny?"

Hermione could only smile endearingly, "I think all of the Weasley's could live through those rompers, but I suppose it is nice to have more than enough baby-grow's, and we have not even started on the play things yet"

Narcissa's eyes grew wide with excitement, "oh wow we get to pick everything?"

Hermione looked up at the white-haired woman, "did you not get a chance to do this when you were pregnant with Draco?"

Narcissa's eyes became downcast. She had not gotten the chance to do anything with Draco except carry him in her womb, even as a little infant the house elves had played with her baby boy whilst she cast over him longingly and sewed in the neighboring room. As soon as he could walk and talk he was whisked away by Lucius to be molded into their perfect heir. She looked up to see Hermione still looking at her, "uh ... No, I did not get that chance"

Hermione rested a hand on Narcissa's forearm. "It'll be alright Narcissa, you will have another beautiful grandchild to look after now that Draco is residing over my cafe. He'll need you now more than ever"

Narcissa nodded and then smiled at the prospect of her unborn grandchild, "as will you Hermione, I am sure I'll be happy to help if you ever need it. I know you also have Molly and your own mother, but still. The offer is there"

Hermione could not deny the kindness of the elderly woman, and she supposed Narcissa would need the company almost as much as Astoria, Draco, Harry and she would need her help. "Thank you, Narcissa. Now come on we'll look around for a few more things and then go and have coffee, yeah?" Narcissa smiled and allowed Hermione to guide her down the many aisles and various shops of London.

~O~

Draco rinsed his hand in the sink feeling the hot water scald his hands. He had cleaned the bathroom floors and the toilet seats and everything else, and now he felt the germs that had crawled along the scrubbing brush and onto his long, pale fingers. He needed them to be clean so that he could stroke Harry's skin. Harry would not like him dirty. "Draco?" The blonde dropped the bar of soap and spun around looking sheepish as he lent back against the kitchen sink. Harry frowned, "what are you doing?"

"I ... I was washing my hands"

Harry frowned deeper, "Draco, that's almost the seventeenth time this afternoon"

Draco flushed. He knew that. He had just hoped that Harry had not known that. "I ... I know"

"Draco do you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?"

Draco shrugged a shoulder awkwardly, "a little I guess" Draco squeaked when he felt Harry pull him over into a hug and smooth his blonde hair down against his head.

"It's alright, sweetie, just don't over do it, you might loose layers of skin, and that's not good, is it?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "I am not a child, Potter"

Harry pressed a kiss to Draco's temple. "Come downstairs, sweetie"

Draco looked up and frowned, "why?"

"It's a surprise blondie" Harry took Draco's hand in his own and gently guided him to the front door of the blonde's apartment. Harry was glad he had left the flowers downstairs. Draco would not have noticed them otherwise. The stairs creaked underneath their weight. Harry had offered his next over-time pay check to the other occupants of the apartments, so that he and Draco could have the place to themselves for the night. Thankfully he lived with lovely people and they had all agreed. "SURPRISE!" he chimed as they entered the dining area.

Draco looked around and felt his eyes widen in amazement. "Harry you're such a charmer"

Harry flushed and hugged Draco from behind, "I aim to please"

There in the middle of the dining area, was a small two-person table, with a white lace table-cloth on the top, the finest China and dishware placed out and a bottle of Pinot Grigio 1984. Draco felt his heart skip a beat. Nobody had done this for him before. "What exactly are we having for dinner?"

Harry flushed, "I have something in the oven?" he stated as he poured Draco some wine.

Draco's mouth dropped even further, "you ... you're cooking for me?"

Harry nodded, "I hope you like Italian"

Draco wrung his hands in his lap. "It's ... it's my favorite ... but how did you know?"

"I've been watching you for years, Draco, I can pick out a few things of what you really like every now and then" Draco flushed as Harry disappeared into the kitchen. He felt nervous, like on a first date as a teenager. He gnawed his lower lip. What could he possibly do to make Harry as happy as he was making Draco right now? He listened as Harry shuffled about in the neighboring kitchen preparing their dinner. As he waited, his mind wondered off into the future, if there was one, and whether or not he would get the chance to cook for Harry after a hard day at work? Would Harry be working all day long? That was another thing to consider. Draco would be a stay-at-home-dad, he knew that much. But what would Harry do? More importantly, what about all of their other kids? Damn the Weaslette for crapping out so many children. Fertile whore. Astoria had struggled enough to concieve Scorpius and Merlin knew how many potions she had to take for this second baby. He frowned, his appetite waning. "Draco, love, dinner's ready"

At this simple statement, Draco's stomach growled and his heart fluttered. He watched as Harry placed down two bowls of piping hot spaghetti with a rich creamy sauce with the spice of wine mixed in along with plump juicy mushrooms chopped up delicately and mixed in. Draco's eyes swam with tears. Harry worked so hard to make this for him? He was touched, there were no words for how much he loved the brunette there and then. He unfolded the napkin and placed it on his lap, watching Harry through the soft candlelight. He looked beautiful. His stomach grumbled again so he started to tuck into his richly flavored food. He moaned low in his throat with pleasure, Harry was an amazing cook! "Harry, why didn't you ever take this up as a profession?"

"I never really had the time to do it" Harry flushed as how much Draco was enjoying his food. "I'm glad you really like it. I made it all myself ... the muggle way"

Draco almost sputtered his wine, "oh now I feel bad, what could I ever do for you?"

"Well" Harry lent over so that the candles flames reflected in his glasses, "well I did find those little gingerbread versions of us, I think they were really sweet, they tasted great too. You should make more"

"Like personalized gingerbread's or something?" Draco asked sarcastically.

"Why not?" Harry grinned.

Draco hummed in thought. Why not? It would give him something else to do, something more to focus on and distract him from Astoria and the unborn baby. He looked up at Harry, "sounds like a great idea but could you ... talk to Hermione for me? She sort of scares me"

Harry laughed sweetly at that. "Of course, hun, Hermione is a softie at heart"

Draco smiled serenely over the candlelight at the brunette. "Thank you, Harry"

Harry inclined his head with a bashful smile of his own and reached over the table and took Draco's dainty hand in his own. "Sleep with me tonight? I don't want to be alone"

Draco entwined their fingers together and gave Harry's hand a squeeze, "you'll never have to be alone again, Harry, not with me by your side"

Harry could only smile. All the words had been said.
Finally the next chapter is up x
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DRARRYLOVR4ETERNITY's avatar
THIS IS SO VERY LOVELY