Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. I've been without a computer since Christmas. I'm back online now. This is only part of the next chapter. I decided to post it to let my readers now I'm back. The rest of the chapter should be posted by the end of next week.
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"Color your hair red, and you'd look just like your Mummy," Hermione cooed to Lyra.
Ginny poured her friend a cup of tea as Hermione placed the baby back into her pram. "My mum must have shown you my baby photos. She's been showing everyone."
"I haven't seen your mum. Denny told me," Hermione replied, and then with surprise in her voice, she continued. "He said Draco's been showing the photos around the club."
"He's a little excited," Ginny lovingly beamed. "I think Draco's happier than I am that we had a little girl."
Hermione put down her tea. "He appears to be happy that she resembles you."
"He is happy. I know you'll never believe it, Hermione, but Draco loves me. It thrills both of us to see each other in our children." Ginny picked up a biscuit. "Thuban may look like Draco, but he flies like me. We also favor the same foods."
"How do Lucius and Narcissa feel about Lyra's appearance?" the bushy-haired witch asked.
"Narcissa puts on a good show. She loves Lyra, but secretly she was hoping for a copy of herself, I believe. I can't blame her. She wanted more children but couldn't have them."
"Where is she? I thought she was spending a couple of weeks with you." Hermione questioned.
"Lucius came home a day early," Ginny smirked. "They were so happy to see each other that they forgot themselves. The boys caught Lucius cupping Narcissa's bottom.
They kept making eyes at each other throughout breakfast."
"The Malfoys caught showing intimacy! Merlin forbid," Hermione joked. "Remember how cold they were at the World Cup before my fourth year?"
"Their formal behavior does come off as cold. But you've seen them at the beach house. They love their family deeply. I had fun teasing Lucius yesterday," Ginny smirked. "A year ago his sneer frightened me, now I find it amusing."
"You may be able to, but I still find the man untrustworthy," Hermione interjected.
Ginny took a bite of her biscuit, and then a sip of her tea. This conversation was heading the wrong way. She needed to change the topic before they started to ague. At times like this, Ginny realized why she and Hermione hadn't been close friends at Hogwarts. They were both strong willed and always had to be right. "How's everything going with you? Are you still thinking of leaving Hogwarts?"
"I'm going to take next year off. I love teaching, but it takes too much time. I don't have enough time with the twins. Plus, when Denny wins a Parliament seat, I'm going to be one of his aides. Elf rights are number one on my list."
"They didn't seem to be at the top of Denny's list in his speeches," Ginny stated.
"I'm not happy about that, but I'm sure he'll change his mind once in office," Hermione informed her friend. "I'll make Walden understand the importance of Elf right."
The redhead rolled her eyes. "I think Denny's speeches are on the right track. There are more pressing issues to be addressed."
"I didn't expect you to understand. You own slaves. What would you do if you had to cook, clean, and watch your own children?" Hermione hissed back.
Ginny took a few calming breaths. "My elves are very happy. They enjoy working for us. You really need to get to understand them."
"Dobby wasn't happy with the Malfoys. There have to be others," Hermione countered.
"Not living in Black Hall or Malfoy Manor. Dobby had always been different. Lucius never liked Dobby and give him every dirty job. It's best to let some elves go. Of course Lucius was too prideful to do that twenty years ago. The last war changed him. After returning from the States, he gave clothes to every Manor elf that wasn't happy."
"So you believe it's fine, the way all elves are treated?" Hermione questioned.
"Hermione, there are bad masters. And I don't agree with all that Draco and Lucius do to our elves, however we have bigger problems in our society. Humans aren't treating other humans properly. We need to fix that first. Plus no law will make wizards treat elves with more respect." Ginny paused. She motioned for her friend to look out the window. "Have you noticed the house elves watching the children?"
"What about Tipsy and Nan?" Hermione replied.
Ginny grinned. "They're not Tipsy and Nan. That's Nan and her daughter Peppa. Nan is teaching Peppa to be a caregiver for the children. She has been training her for years. That's what elves do; they train their children to serve wizards. Nan's eldest son, Samtin, was trained by his father to be Lucius' personal elf. "
"You breed Elves? So you can have more free labor? That's wrong, Ginny. It's wrong!!" Hermione angrily stated.
"You can't force elves to have children. They have to find their soul mates. Little is written about them." Ginny's eyes lit up as an idea came to her. "Hermione, house elf research, that's what you can do. There aren't any books written about them. You can research them and write a book. You can't come along and change someone's whole world. You need to study it first, then figure out how to change the environment.
"Educating wizards is your best chance to change things. I'll let you research Sumtin and Nan. They will be at the Hogsmeade house after Serpens' birthday party. That house only needs the two of them. In September they will be moving to the beach house, there will be three other elves there with them."
Hermione gave her friend a questioning glance. "Why are you offering this to me now? Why are Nan and Sumtin moving around so much? Why the beach house after the summer is over?"
"You said yourself that teaching at Hogwarts is more time consuming than you can handle with your twins. I'm sure you could sell a book about house elves. It will have to be interesting with Nan expecting another child in October," Ginny stated.
"You are banishing her because she's having a baby?" Hermione hissed.
"There you go jumping to the worst conclusion." Ginny couldn't help but snicker. "We leave house elves at all of our properties. The workload is easier on the elves at these houses. We're sending Nan and her husband Sumtin to Hogsmeade so they can have time alone. They're moving to the beach house in the off season so other elves will be around to help when the baby comes. They will stay at an empty property until their newest child is five." She paused. "When Nan told me she was expecting, I started asking around about elf babies." Ginny looked straight at her friend, surprise clearly displayed in Ginny's eyes. "I couldn't find a wizard who had ever seen one. There were plenty of rumors about them. So this would be a wonderful time for you to research them. You can ask the elves any question you'd like. I'll order them to be completely honest and cooperative with you."
The sound of a male clearing his throat caused the witch to turn. Draco stood at the doorway to the family parlor, a concerned expression displayed on his face. "What's this about our elves?"
"It's nothing really." Ginny got up, kissed his cheek, led him to the table and poured him some tea. "Hermione has decided to leave Hogwarts this summer. We were just discussing other things she could do. She's always been interested in house elves, I think she should do some research and write a book. She can use our elves. I'll let her have complete access to the Black Hall elves. You can give her complete access to the Manor elves."
Draco stiffened in his chair. "Limited access maybe. We need to discuss this, Gin."
"What's the problem, Malfoy? Still into the Dark Arts?" Hermione turned to Ginny. "I told you."
The blond sneered. "Granger, the elves are with us numerous hours. They overhear personal moments. House elves aren't intelligent enough to know what shouldn't be said."
Hermione glared at the wizard. "I understand. You wouldn't want your elves telling me about bribes to Ministry officials or contacts with hit wizards."
"I have nothing like that to hide," he hissed. Draco stared into Hermione's eyes. "The Hogwarts elves told me many things because Dumbledore allowed students unlimited access to them. You used to study in your trunk at night."
"You arse! You had your elves spy on me." Hermione spat.
"No, when allowed to freely speak, elves are natural gossips. Maybe it comes from years of working at tea parties." Draco placed his hand on Ginny's leg, and she lovingly caressed it. "Hermione, I'm sure we can allow you time with the elves."
"I'll discuss it with Nan tonight," Ginny added.
Draco raised a brow. "We have plans for this evening, Love."
Ginny smiled. "What are our plans?"
"It's a surprise," he whispered.
The couple lovingly gazed into each others eyes. "Is it a romantic surprise?"
He softly kissed the tip of her nose and gently squeezed her thigh. "Of course."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Hmm… There are some things I really don't want to see."
The couple turned to their guest. "Sorry, Hermione," Ginny stated as she blushed.
Malfoy smirked. "Speaking of things one doesn't want to see, how did Denny get those scratches on his back?"
Hermione blushed and looked at her watch. "Look at the time. Thanks for the tea, Ginny. I'll see you at the Burrow on Sunday?"
The redhead nodded, and Hermione Disapparated.
"Will you two ever get along?" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"We were getting along."
"What was the comment about Denny?"
Draco laughed. "Oh. Friends joke with each other. I saw Denny at the club this morning. He was getting ready to take a swim when I noticed his back."
"Draco!" she exclaimed.
"She owes me really. I charmed the marks away before anyone else saw them. The Prophet photographer was in the pool area. Could you imagine the stories they would have come up with if I hadn't charmed the scratches away?" he told her. Draco kissed her cheek. "Blaise will kill me when he finds out. A good scandal on Walden would have put Zabini ahead in the election."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "There are six Parliament seats, and Blaise has always been first or second in the polls."
"You know Blaise, Love. He always wants to be first," Draco leaned over and kissed his wife. "I was trying to be polite to your friend, but I'm happy she left. I'd like to get in a little time with you."
"Daddy! Daddy!" Serpens and Leo shouted as they entered the room through the patio door.
"Damn," Draco whispered to Ginny.
"We'll have tonight," she whispered back.
The blond wizard hugged both of his sons. Patting their bottoms, he instructed them to go with the elves and wash up for lunch. Once the boys were out of sight, he collected Ginny into his arms. "We've got time for a quick snog."
She leaned into his chest. "Where are we going tonight?"
He smiled. "It's a surprise. Mother will be collecting Lyra, Serpens and Leo after lunch. Father will pick up Cam and Thuban after school."
"We should have my parents watch them, Draco. Lucius just returned-"
"And Father wants to spend time with his grandchildren. Besides, I spoke with your parents, and they have plans," Draco replied.
"Plans? My parents wouldn't have plans on a Monday night."
Draco shrugged, "Floo them and ask. Now, please be quiet, and let me snog you."
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