The Marriage Decree

Chapter 94: I'm Just Being Silly

Draco and Hermione are walking, hand in hand, around Diagon Alley on a Saturday morning, two weeks after Lucius' birthday. Draco had needed to but some rare ingredients for a potion he was going to be showing the seventh-year students the next week, and the only place in Wizarding England he knew where it would be stocked is Knockturn Alley. He had wanted Hermione to stay behind in Diagon Alley, which had made her laugh with a scoff as she told him she's been down Knockturn Alley before and led the way. After making his purchase, he had quickly guided them back into Diagon Alley, where he felt much safer with his pregnant wife.

"Should we have lunch before we go?" Hermione asks as a café comes into sight when they turn the corner near Gringotts.

"Are you allowed to eat before?" Draco asks. "What did our Healer say?"

"Just that I need to drink plenty beforehand or it wouldn't work as effectively." She tells him.

"I see no harm then." He nods, and they walk toward the café they had spotted.

It had only opened a few months ago, and they had heard good reviews from their friends, particularly Blaise, who had suggested to Draco that they visit the establishment during one of their early morning breakfast get-togethers, which now occurred once a fortnight since they were both so busy with either work or their child.

Their most recent breakfast date had been the previous Wednesday, the only morning of the week in which Draco had a free period first thing. Blaise had brought Pandora with them in a little chest carrier that clipped into place behind him. He'd told him it was something from the Muggle world that his friend Benjamin had told him about. Draco hadn't been aware that his best friend was still in contact with the bartender from Harry's stag night all those months ago, and he was a little jealous. He hadn't been able to spend much time with Blaise recently with Draco working five days a week, Blaise preparing for the birth of his child, and then also spending time with their families, but he was glad his friend had another friend to hang around with. Draco wasn't so selfish that he didn't want Blaise to have friends outside their friendship group, so he'd asked Blaise how Benjamin was doing, and that was about as far as their conversation on the man went before Pandora gained their attention again. As usual, Cara, the quaint café owner, had been her usual cheerful, too friendly self and had offered sit and hold Pandora whilst the two men ate their breakfast. Blaise had thanked her, passing his three-week-old daughter to the woman along with a bottle to feed Pandora. Draco had felt awkward during the entire breakfast, unable to talk freely about work or Lucius in front of Cara and so he listened to Blaise tell him about his most recent visit to Toulouse to visit his Mother and Step-father, Alberic, who both instantly fell in love with their granddaughter. It was hard not to with her curious, light brown eyes that watched the world go by around her, and her mop of curly, light brown hair that stuck out around her head like a halo, especially after she'd been sleeping. It was difficult to know whether she looked more like Blaise or Luna since she had features from both of them, making them a beautiful family.

A family that was currently walking towards them as Hermione and Draco neared the café.

"Draco!" Blaise grinned, gently giving him a side hug so not to disturb Pandora in his chest carrier. "Enjoying the weekend?" He asks.

"Yes, we were just going for lunch in that café you mentioned." He gestured to the café not far from where they're stood.

"Oh, it's lovely. I recommend the butterbeer coffee." Luna tells them.

"Why don't you join us?" Hermione offers.

Luna and Blaise glance at each for a few seconds, seemingly having a conversation through their eyes, before smiling at them.