The Muggle Project

A Break

The next day just after noon we set out to the greater London area so Draco could try on suits for the dances. I didn't have to get any dresses since mine would be specially made, plus I didn't feel like trying on dresses when I was pregnant.

The first store we went into was full of suits of all types, even outfits that I had only seen in pictures of Kings. I sat in an over plush chair watching a woman bustling around the store attending to Draco. I rubbed circles on my stomach as I began to feel kicking and smiled. After a few minutes a blonde woman came over to me with a tray that had a bottle of water, finger sandwiches and an assortment of macaroons laid on it.

"Would you care for some, ma'am." She greeted. I took a finger sandwich and thanked her. She set the tray on a small side table beside me and walked away.

I had just taken a bite from my sandwich when Draco came out of a dressing room wearing a sleek black suit and a top hat, walking with a cane. I felt my face blush as I looked at him.

"You look very... dapper." I said to him.

Then the blonde lady was back. "You look dashing in that," he fingers pulled at the seams just under his ribs and then again at the inner thigh of his jean, causing him to blush. "Mmm, could be a little tighter just here," she pointed, taking her time to trace down the seam to his ankle. "Making it a little form fitting would give you length."

I cleared my throat and she turned to look at me.

"Would you like me to find your sister a dress of some sorts. I am sure we have extra large." She said to Draco, not bothering to address me.

I gasped from offense and placed my hands on my hips. "I'm not his sister you daft woman, I'm his-" Draco quickly cut me off.

"Wife..." He said, "She is my lovely wife."

I felt my face blush. It wasn't from embarrassment or being shy but from the idea that this woman now saw me as Draco's wife. I stood up taller and turned my nose up to her slightly. Draco was obviously of money and like he had mentioned before people of money are snobby on a general basis so I had to be extra snobby since she had obviously offended me.

"Exactly, he is my husband. So if you don't want to be begging on the street I would suggest you take your hands off of him or I will have you fired." I said with a fierce attitude.

The woman looked at me and then to Draco before walking off.

"Wow..." Draco said as he pulled me into his arms and kissed my neck. "I didn't think something like that could ever come out of that mouth of yours." He teased.

I felt my cheeks blush. "Hormones." Was all I managed to say. I felt ashamed of the words I had spoken to her. Then again, when I think of the way she touched him... flirted with him, it makes me feel like I should have done more - like rip her head off.

He grinned as he turned towards the three-point mirror to look at his reflection. He turned this way and that and sighed. "It is nice, but not like those I already purchased at the start of the year from the shop in Diagon Alley." He disappeared back into the changing room only to come out a few minutes later in his clothes. "Let's kick this joint and get some lunch." Draco said and then took me at the waist escorting me from the shop.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, towards the food plaza down town. We came to a little quaint bistro and decide this was as good a place as any. We picked a table near the back for privacy but nearest the window to give us a bit of a view and then we waited for our waitress.

"So, back there," Draco glanced up from his menu, "the wife comment. Why did you tell her that I was your wife, why not girlfriend?"

Draco reached across the table and took my hand into his. "If I said you were merely my girlfriend she wouldn't have given up. She would've tried to replace you. Now, being my wife is more permanent." He raised his eyebrows and then dropped them.

I grinned at his cleverness. "You shock me sometimes, Draco." Suddenly a sharp pain hit me causing me to gasp and bring my hand to my stomach.

"Hermione?" Draco said as he leaned across the table.

I focused on my breathing, doing my best to focus. After a few seconds it went away.

"I'm fine." I said to him. "Just a gas pain, probably."

This seemed to ease his mind a bit. The waiter came and took our order and within fifteen minutes we were digging into our plates. After I finished eating I stared out the window and watched the people walk by.

"London is boring." I said. "I miss school."

"Yeah, old London has sure lost her touch. Luckily they are letting those that had their appointments on the first two days leave tomorrow. We can go if you like?"

I ran my fingers through my hair. "I'd like to go back to Hogwarts. We can get a start on the nursery."

"You mean, I can get a start on the nursery. You need to get off your feet and rest."

I sat back in my seat, crossing my arms. "I don't need to rest. I am fine."

"I am not an i***t, Hermione. I know that pain wasn't a gas bubble. I know that pain isn't good because my mother had them before she lost my sister."

I felt my stomach clench. I never knew Draco had lost a sister.

"Well... the pain is gone now."

"If you so much as even try to push yourself I will tie you to the bed." He wasn't joking, I could see it in his eyes as he spoke those words. "Please don't make me tie you to the bed because that means I will have to untie you every five minutes so you can pee."

"Fine." I said, complying with his wishes. "I'll do something useful, like watch."

Draco finished his food and we paid and left. As we made our way back to the hotel we ran into Neville. He had a slightly panicked look on his face.

"Hey mate, you okay?" Draco asked as he placed his hand on Neville's shoulder.

"Luna, she is extra sensitive today. I understand it is just the hormones, but Luna... she is fierce."

I couldn't even imagine it. Luna being anything other than happy and content just seemed impossible.

"What is it that you need to make things better?" Draco asked.

Neville stuck his hands into his pockets. "I need this project to move into the next stage. I think once the baby is born Luna's personality will be return back to its normal cheerful self."

"So... you basically want Luna to sleep for the next month?" I chuckled.

"Don't be silly, things are never that easy." Draco replied. "But they do get better." He added once I shot him a glare.

"Oh, and since I ran into you I should tell you about the dine in at the hotel. Hogwarts has booked the banquet hall they are having a dance. Dinner starts at 5." Neville said. He glanced down at his watch and his eyes widened slightly. "I gotta go and grab a new shirt, Luna vomited on it while she was helping me try it on."

"Where am I supposed to get a dress in time for the dance, and your suit?" I asked.

"Well, I know where to get my suit. You, on the other hand, I'm sure we can figure something out. Muggle hotels have concierge services and they can take care of the running around for us so you can rest." Draco wrapped his arm around my waist and we continued walking. Thank goodness we were just a few blocks away because I was exhausted and I was sure my feet had begun to swell.

I was so relieved when we entered into our room. I went straight to the sofa and sat down to get off my feet.

"Do you need anything?" Draco asked me.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine thank you." I paused for a moment as the feeling of needing to relive myself started growing strong. "On second thought, you can help me to my feet so I can use the loo." I grinned.

Draco laughed as he carefully brought me to my feet and walked me down the hall. After I went to the bathroom I went outside to our balcony and took a seat at the garden table. It was a nice day, the sun was shining bright and warm with a slight overcast that brought with it a gentle breeze. On the streets below, everyone was dressed for the fall weather. Light jackets and jeans were a popular choice in attire.

Ten minutes had passed when Draco joined me, with him was a woman in a classy suit with her hair pulled back and a pair of designer glasses.

"She is our concierge, she is going to be doing our shopping for this evening and needs to take your measurements." Draco explained as he helped me to my feet again.

I patiently stood still while she measured me and then took a seat so she could measure my feet. Afterwards she asked a few questions about the style we were looking for when it came to my dress and took the name of the store Draco had tried on that suit and then she left.

I was eager for the dine-in that was happening tonight. It was going to be fun, a dance with my friends and Draco. Everything was going to be perfect.

Around 3:45 Luna and Neville came over. The concierge had brought our things just half an hour before. Draco took his ensemble and him and Neville went back to the room that he shared with Luna to get ready. This left Luna and myself to get ready. We had an hour and a half.

"Let's see what you will be wearing." Luna said as she opened the box that my dress was in.

I brought my hand up to my chest as I stared in awe at the dress Luna held out in front of her. It was the most amazing dress I had ever seen, even more beautiful than the dress I wore to the Yule ball and Bill and Fleur's wedding.