The Marriage Decree

Chapter 106: A Cloudless, Blue Morning

Hermione heaves a sigh as she sits down on a nearby bench, pushing her sunglasses up on top of her head and rolling the sleeves of her linen blouse up to her elbows. When she had booked the cottage in Devon, as part of Draco's Christmas present last year, she hadn't planned on being eight months pregnant when the holiday eventually came.

"Come on, we need to get back to grandad's for lunch." Kyla, Neville's youngest daughter, tells her, pulling on her hand in an attempt to get her to stand.

"I just need a little rest," Hermione mutters, mopping her brow with a floral handkerchief that Narcissa had sent her a few days ago, along with a note wishing them a happy holiday. "You should catch up with your Mum," She tells the child.

Kyla hops onto the bench beside her, swinging her legs beneath her. "When's your baby gonna get here?" She asks, looking up at her.

"It's not long now, another five weeks and the baby will arrive," Hermione tells her.

"KYLA!" Joelle shouts from further down the path. "MUM SAYS TO HURRY UP!"

"Go on, go catch up with your sister. It won't be long." She assures the young girl who jumps down and runs alongside the river to where Joelle, her mother, aunts, and cousins are walking Hyperion's new dog, Millie.

Hermione spends what she thinks is a few minutes watching a mother duck with her ducklings swimming under a footbridge and along the river. It's not until Draco sits down beside her that she realises she's been there longer.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, handing her a bottle of water.

"I'm rather tired." She admits with a smile, sipping at the refreshingly cold drink. "I think I better go for a lie down after lunch." She tells him.

"Well lunch is ready at the house," He smiles. "We made sandwiches, a salad, then there's some crisps and a fruit trifle."

"You have been busy," She kisses his cheek. "Help me up, please." She sighs, holding her hand out.

Draco stands, pulling her gently up into an embrace. "Not long now." He kisses her forehead. "Five more weeks."

"Five more weeks," Hermione sighs, resting her forehead against his shoulder, enjoying the comfort.

"Let's walk back to Hyperion's before all the food has gone." He jokes, taking her hand as they walk along the side of the river and up a slight incline to Hyperion's house.

"Lovely for you to join us, dear," Sarah says, setting up a plate for Hermione. "Would you like a side of cheese and onion crisps?" She asks.

"I'd love some, thank you, Sarah." Hermione sits at the dinner table with a sigh of relief.

"How are your ankles doing, Hermione?" Danielle asks, popping a grape in her mouth with one hand as she feeds a small piece of cheese to Annabella in her highchair. "My ankles got so swollen I could barely walk to the toilet in the last month," She smiles at her daughter.

"I can't believe she's a year old," Hermione says.

"I know, it goes so fast, I'm warning you now," Danielle stares at Hermione and Draco. "Saviour every moment. I miss when she would wiggle around on her stomach. She's getting ready to walk now." She admits proudly.

"For our baby's first year, we have parental leave and will spend every moment with them," Draco says, leaning against the back of Hermione's chair as he steals a lettuce leaf from her plate.

"Draco, if your hungry, make your own plate, dear, it's rude to take food from a pregnant woman's plate." Sarah chides him, handing him a spare plate.