The Surrogate - A Dramione Fanfic

Chapter 11 - Week 10

*knock knock knock*

Hermione quickly rushed to the door and pulled it open with a large smile "Astoria! Draco!" she stated as she gave Tori a hug and invited the Malfoys into her home "Well... welcome to my humble abode" Hermione chuckled nervously... it was the first time having them both over to her apartment... usually they either met at the Malfoy's, Harry's, at the appointments, or they would just pick her up

Astoria smiled as she entered, holding up a bottle of sparkling cider "I brought some bubbly"

"And I brought the ketchup" Draco stated, holding up the large plastic bottle "surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to find once I found the muggle grocers"

Hermione laughed as the tension suddenly eased "Thank you both" she greeted as she took both bottles to the kitchen, smiling at the care of her friends as she pulled out three wine glasses to pour the sparkling white grape juice

... Draco couldn't take it "Okay, seriously, what IS this ketchup stuff anyway? Like, I've searched all over Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and not a single witch or wizard has even heard of it... I've even reached out to Zambini in France, Parkinson in Italy, Knott in Germany... and they didn't even know... is it safe? Is it poisonous? Are there chemicals? Should I be worried for my son's health? It was a little too easy to find... it's not a drug, is it?"

Hermione and Astoria both laughed at his look of slight panic

"Have you been holding that in all week?" Astoria smirked... Draco blushed as he avoided eye contact

Hermione giggled as she handed each Malfoy a glass and directed them to sit at the waiting table "I can promise you, it's not poisonous... Draco, it's tomato"

"Tomato?" Draco asked in shock

Hermione nodded "as well as some sugar, some salt, and a few other ingredients with large scientific names, but I can assure you... it's not poisonous. Just as Dr. Cruise said, it's quite popular with muggle children, so of course it would be easy to find... have you ever seen a toddler who refuses to eat any meat without it?"

"That would mean I've actually come across a muggle toddler, seeing as how it's obviously not well known in the wizarding world, Not to mention the fact that James is the first toddler I've even seen since I, myself was one."

Hermione smirks as she stands, turns on the oven, grabs out a cooking sheet, goes to the freezer, grabs a purple bag, pours its contents onto the sheet, places them in the oven, and sets a timer before bringing the rest of the bubbly out to the table with her to refill her glass

"What was that?" Draco asked with slight concern

"You'll find out in about fifteen minutes" Hermione smirks "Anyway, back on topic... Draco... you said you didn't want your son poisoned. While I can understand this, I just want to make sure... would you accept a daughter then?"

Draco's breath caught as he took time to consider the idea of having a little girl... a little girl with brown curls... and blue eyes... teaching her to walk... her first words... her giggles from getting tickled... her tears from scraping her knee or from her first heartbreak from her first crush... him promising to Avada the boy if he comes anywhere near her... teaching her to dance... walking her down the isle... holding his first grandchild... his heart squeezed

Meanwhile, Astoria was busy imagining a little blonde-haired, brown-eyed princess playing tea party, twirling around in her mother's dress and shoes while playing dress-up... coming in covered in mud from playing in the puddles during a rain shower... going on mommy-daughter dates... going shopping together... pigging out on ice cream just for the heck of it... going to the spa every year for their birthdays, Christmas, or even just for randoms sake... she smiled softly with faraway eyes