Married by Law

Chapter Twenty Five: Sweet talking.

Quickly the weather changed, slowly going from hot to warm then mild to cool. On the brink of Autumn fell Hermione and Audrey's birthday. Hermione was turning magic number twenty one and Audrey was having her first birthday! Draco met in secret with Harry, Ron, and Ginny for nearly a month planning the extravagant combined birthday of his two favorite girls. Finally, it was the day before the surprise party.

"Mia darling? Are you going to visit your parents today as planned?" inquired Draco, poking his head into Audrey's nursery. Hermione sat on the floor with Audrey in between her legs. Using her pointer fingers, she held the nearly twelve month old up. Audrey's blonde curls bounced as she giggled.

"Mumumumum." cooed Audrey. Hermione laughed before turning to her husband.

"Yes Draco. But, can you watch Audrey while I do so? Because I'm going to pop into work afterward." said Hermione. Draco's mouth opened to protest, but her stopped. He couldn't say no, because then Hermione would be suspicious.

"Sure, I'll take her." sighed Draco. Hermione smiled brightly.

"Alrighty then. I have to go now though. She just got changed, so she's good to go. Work on walking with her while I'm gone! Foods in the fridge, including bottle. Give her the two jars next to the bottle for lunch, not the ones behind it. Oh and if you leave don't forget her blankie and pacifier. Bring some toys...and a jacket it's cold out!" rambled Hermione. Draco silenced her with a kiss.

"Mia?"

"Yes?"

"Go." laughed Draco. Hermione herself giggled before turning on her heel and disapprating.

"Guess it's just me and you?" smirked Draco. He hoisted his daughter up onto his hip. She babbled in her sweet baby talk all the way down into the kitchen. He set the babbling toddler in her high chair and looked into the refrigerator. "Uhm..."

Of course, being a stereotypical male he was not listening to his wife when she explained which baby food Audrey got to eat. He saw three bottles, all with milk. Beside the bottles were four jars, two on both sides.

"Hmm..." contemplated Draco. He picked up two of them and held them out to Audrey. "Which one baby?"

"Dadadada." cooed Audrey, pointing to the one of chicken. Draco set the other one down and popped open the lid. Using the gummy spoon he fed her a bite of the orange goo.

"This is foul." murmured Draco. Audrey turned her head, her face turning stormy.

"No!" shouted Audrey.

"No." mimicked Draco. "Now come on Aud. Mmm, its good."

To prove his point, he shoved the spoon in his own mouth. It tasted nothing like chicken, that's for sure. His face puckered into a grimace.

"Y-yum." spat Draco. Nonchalantly he spit the offensive baby food into a napkin. He tentatively tried to feed her another bite. "I feel like a sadist."

This time, as if mocking him, Audrey ate the food happily. Draco poured some of her baby puffs onto the tray. She enjoyed those a lot more than the chicken and rice, that much was obvious.

After lunch, the clock struck one. It was time for Draco to meet up with Lucinda, the party planner. He dressed Audrey in a cute blue jacket that matched her shoes. He hoisted her up and flooed to the party hall. Outside stood Harry and Ginny.

"Why do you have Audrey?" inquired Harry. Draco frowned.

"Hermione wanted to go to work." laughed Draco.

"Only her." laughed Ginny. She reached her arms out for Audrey. "You two go inside. I'll occupy the little one."

Draco and Harry did as told, and entered the ballroom. It was decorated lavishly already. Hundreds of workers scrambled around doing this and that. Harry spotted Lucinda in the far corner, barking instructions for those who would listen.

Lucinda Ray was a tall, skinny blonde. She was in her early twenties and was the best party planner in all of muggle and wizard London. She was known for always drinking Muggle energy drinks that she added wizard health potions too. True to the rumors, she was drinking from a large can labeled Rockstar.

"Lucinda!" greeted Draco, kissing her cheek. She smiled at the pair.

"Hello boys. How's it looking?"

"Amazing." gushed Harry.

"It really does." replied Draco honestly. Lucinda grinned.

"So, the catering is all taken care of. But you said that who was it.., er Molly Weasley was going to help?"

"Yes, she's like Hermione's second mum and Audrey's Grandmum." explained Harry. Draco nodded in agreement.

"Cool. Now scram. I've got a party to pull of." laughed Lucinda.

The next morning Hermione woke up in an exceptionally good mood. It was the day before her birthday and she fully expected Draco to have something planned. However, she hadn't a clue what it was going to be.

Will it be extravagant? Will it be small? Who will come? Where will it be? What will it be?

"Mia? My mother just owled. She wants you over for tea? You and Audrey. Er, she said there is a dress on your vanity that she requests you wear." Hermione sighed and walked over to her vanity. Sure enough, a salmon pink strapless dress was floating there.

"My my my." mumbled Hermione, slipping on the dress. She found a pair of matching heels with it.

"How should I do my hair?" screeched Hermione, applying a light gloss.

"French twist." called Draco. Hermione snickered as she did as suggested. Truly, she did look marvelous.

"What time should I leave?" asked Hermione as she dressed Audrey in a frilly white dress.

"Uh, Mum left a portkey. It's to leave at noon." The clock struck eleven thirty. Hermione sighed.

"Okay."

"But, in the meantime I must go. Emergency potion explosion at work." Draco's face darkened as he uttered the words. He kissed his wife and daughter goodbye before slipping out. Draco's face broke into a grin as he apprated to the ball room.

"Come on Aud. Let's go to Nana Narcissa's." sighed Hermione. The old hairbrush glowed a bright blue.

Hermione held her daughter's hand too the brush. A tug at the navel sent them spinning away. They arrived in a dark room. Hermione finally guessed it. It was a surprise party for her!

"Hello?" asked Hermione, unable to mask her excitement. No one said anything. "Lumos."

The room was aglow, but not with a party.

"Hello Hermione, nice to see you again." hissed a cold, familiar voice. Fear trickled down Hermione's back as she turned around.

She gasped. "-