My Constellation--Dramione

Part 10

When she woke up, Hermione found a little body curled up beside her. For some reason, she had it in her mind that she was safely tucked into Draco's side. Thesun was shining in her face like the blissful mornings she shared with him when they woke up together. She was closer than she realized.

Ginny was sitting in the armchair at her desk, stifling an "Aw!" at the sight before her.

"Gin, what's he doing in my bed? Why isn't he with Bill and Fleur?"

"Bill is back at work again and Fleur is resting. She doesn't get much sleep with him. He started crying fifteen minutes after you left him there. I said I'd watch him and thought that if you spent the rest of your nap together, your bond would strengthen. I hope I did a good thing," she added hesitantly.

"I don't mind, I was just surprised, that's all. Thank you, though."

Archie stirred beside and and she tickled his outstretched tummy. "Hello my little star. How are you this afternoon?" she cooed between feathering kisses over his face.

He responded by smiling widely, showing off tiny teeth on his lower gums. He laughed jovially, earning playful giggles from both his mum and aunt.

"He is too cute," Ginny coddled.

"I know."

"Gin, Mum needs your help with—what are you doing?" George inquired.

The two girls smiled sheepishly. "Just hanging out with the baby," Hermione fibbed.

"You've been spending an awful lot of time with  him. Someone might accidentally get the wrong idea that he's yours," he bantered.

Ginny nervously laughed, "You have no idea. Okay, I'm off to help Mum with whatever she needs. 'Mione, don't let him pester you too much. You can always threaten him with a good hex. I always do."

"Thanks, Ginny. He's not gonna be a problem," she countered. George wiggled his eyebrows and earned a playful nudge from both of them.

Ginny disappeared from the room, leaving behind Hermione, her son, and the jokester. A possibly dangerous combo.

"Now that I've got you courted," she scoffed at his flirty remark, "what does the brightest witch of her age think about my little nephew here?"

"I think he's very handsome."

Archie unintentionally blew a bubble made from his saliva, which made George chuckle again.

"Yeah? And what do you think about his parents? Mum is raging about how awful it is to leave a baby behind in the midst of a war."

"Yeah, I agree. But I also know a few things about Archie and his family."

"I'm all ears," he froze. "Well, ear."

Hermione found strength to give a wry chuckle. "Archie's mum and dad were students at Hogwarts. Not members of the Order, just students."

"Yikes."

"Uh-huh. I'm not sure how to tell you—well, what do you see when you look at him?" She raised Archie up for "Uncle George" to hold him.
He cautiously took the baby and held him with arms extended to full length.

"I see blonde hair and grey eyes. In all honesty, Ron was kinda right in saying he looks like the ferret."

She gave him an expectant look. "Well?"

His eyes enlarged simultaneously with his jaw dropping. "Oh, Merlin!" She pursed her lips to keep from laughing. His reaction was priceless and a lot more entertaining than Harry's. But this was George, after all. "You're joking!" She shook her head. "This is Malfoy's kid?"

Archer wriggled his feet in midair to let his uncle know that he wasn't entirely secure. Thankfully his mother came to his rescue and brought him back into her safe embrace.

"I mean, I'm not surprised since Ginny's told me about his reputation with the ladies, but I can't imagine... who'd want to smash that blonde toothbrush?"

"Well..." She cocked her head to the side and rested her chin on Archie's little head.

George dropped his hands in disbelief. "In everything that is good and pure in this world—'Mione, tell me you haven't done it with him!"

She smiled guiltily and held her son up so their cheeks were pressed together. "Surprise?"

"He's yours? Oh my—"

"—Shh! Only Professor McGonagall, Ginny, Harry, and, now, you know."

"My mouth is shut! But Christ, 'Mione! It makes sense—well, sorta. It explains why you've been so sensitive and why you're always near him." He sighed. "I don't know how you did it—I don't believe I want to know—but for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"But Malfoy?!"

"What about Malfoy?" Ron poked his head in Ginny's room to find his brother and best friend conversing.

"George!" Hermione shouted over gurgling noises from Archie's end.

"You gotta tell him."

"You know what?" She stood, a surge of confidence striking her, as well as annoyance. "I think I'll tell everyone, thanks, George."

She squeezed past Ron and he gave a questioning look at his older brother. "What's going on?"

"Apparently, she's going to tell everyone." George followed Hermione's footsteps and brushed shoulders with Ron as well.

"Tell us what?" he asked no one.