The Marriage Decree

Chapter 116: She was American

"Magnus Maddox, round two," Ron sarcastically announces as Hermione enters the Ministry of Magic's interview waiting room on the eighth floor.

Hermione smiles, sitting beside him, Scorpius on her lap. Draco had gotten him dressed half an hour before she left, and she was surprised to find her husband had dressed their son in one of the Christmas jumper's her grandma Emily's church knitting circle had gifted them. He had chosen the green jumper with Rudolf the reindeer on the front.

"Mum had the same idea," Ron nods at Scorpius' jumper, gesturing to the twins, asleep in their double pram. Phoebe is dressed in a green and red tartan dress with a red bow in a small tuft of her hair, and Philip is wearing a waistcoat and trousers in a matching pattern, with a red bow tie tied around the collar of a white dress shirt.

"They are adorable," Hermione coos at the seeping children. "Molly has outdone herself."

"Yeah, until you see I'm wearing a matching tartan bowtie," he sighs, opening the top bottom of his winter cloak.

"Oh, wow, all you need is Pansy wearing a tartan dress, and you've got yourself a Christmas card," Hermione jokes.

"I don't get all the tartan," Ron admits. "We're not Scottish, and it reminds me of McGonagall's tartan dressing gown. We saw that thing far too much."

Hermione laughs, "That's not a good thing; it shows how often we were out after curfew." She checks the time. "Where is Harry?" They had five minutes until their interview was due to start at three o'clock.

"Harry said Ginny would be dropping the kids off at his office at quarter-to-three; he should be here soon," Ron says.

"He's been so busy recently, since the attack last week." She sighs.

Ginny had visited her and Draco a twice during the week with Teddy and James for a cup of tea. She had complained about how little she had seen Harry. He had been working nearly sixteen hours every day, and Ginny trained eight hours every day. Often, Ginny had told them, Harry was asleep in bed by the time she had picked the kids up from the Burrow, and then gone when Ginny woke up in the morning.

"I'm not late, am I?" Harry asks, bursting through the doors, James on his hip and Teddy gripping his hand.

"No, you're fine, we've got three minutes," Hermione assures him, rechecking her watch. "I'm surprised Maddox isn't here already." She admits, handing Scorpius to Ron.

Harry slumps down into the nearest chair, beside Hermione, with James on his lap. Teddy runs over to the double pram next to Ron, eager to see his little cousins.

"Harry, sit up properly," Hermione chides him, pointing her wand at his face.

Harry's eyes widen, leaning away from her.

"No offence, Harry, but you look awful. Maddox will want pictures for the article, and you don't want him to write some snarky comment about how tired you look." She explains, casting a few make-up charms to brighten his appearance and hide the dark circles under his eyes.

"Thanks," Harry frowns, feeling conflicted. "I guess."

"How do I look?" Ron asks, smiling at his friends. "I can't be the only one looking rough. I got it worse than you two last time."

Hermione rolls her eyes as she casts a few charms on Ron too.

"What's the point in asking us to bring our children but not our spouses?" Harry questions. "He said it was a family-themed article, right?"

"Pansy wouldn't have come," Ron states, handing Scorpius back.

"I would love to see Draco interact with him," Hermione smiles.