Never the Twain Shall Meet

Zamora Alexis Zabini was born at midnight; the moon was fully and her mother exhausted. Ginny promptly fell asleep her last words refusing her daughter her breast.

The medi-witches huffed with disapproval and handed Blaise both his dauther and a bottle of formula to which he happily accepted and sat down to feed her.

Draco and Mya sat on either side of him like book ends cooing at their Goddaughter, which barely gave Alexandra Zabini enough room to watch her granddaughter appraisingly.

Molly had snorted earlier when she was able to get a good look at the little girl who was the spitting image of her grandmother, dark curls, olive skin – just a tad lighter than her fathers- and eyes dark as night. The red headed matriarch had decided that was just as well that baby Zabini didn't have any tell tale Weasley or Prewett characteristics.

"Blaise don't hog her, give her here," Hermione chided holding her arms up so she could hold the bundle of sweetness.

Blaise smiled and set her small form in her Godmothers gentle grasp, "Hey little girl, I'm Mya your Godmother and we're going to be very close. You'll learn to favor me over your Godfather… he's the blonde haired guy sitting on the other side of your father," she told Zamora.

"Hey! Give her to me, Granger, she needs to hear the truth," Draco said making a move to stand and take Zamora.

Hermione held her closer and shook her head no while smiling at the baby.

Alexandra stepped in and took her granddaughter from Hermione, "No fighting over the baby," she scolded the two, "besides, I'm the nana, so I get to hold her the longest," she told them in a sweet voice intended to woo the baby girl.

After Draco had pouted, huffed and practically stomped his foot, he finally got to hold Zamora and much to Hermione and Alexandra's chagrin, the little witch coo'd back at Draco, "she recognizes the Malfoy charm. Doesn't matter how old a witch is, it always works," he said smugly.

***The months ahead

They got a nanny house elf to help care for the little joy, who hardly cried and basked in the warm glow of her admirers; none of them her mother.

Ginny had moved to France and begun training.

They already had tons of pictures of Zamora sleeping in the arms of her father, her Godmother or laying peacefully playing with her feet while Draco instructed her on the basics of flying a broom.

Zamora was completely enamored with the deep voices of Marcus and Harry and always reached out to 'pet' Pucey. They all adored her and as she grew her aunts Pansy, Daphne and Astoria would often steal her away for lunch with the girls or shopping.

The Prophet reported on many of the engagements resulting from the marriage law and it was Harry who brought up the question to his blood-sister.

"Have you and Marcus talked about… you know, the marriage law?"

They were walking in the park with Zamora in the carriage gurgling happily to herself, "No," she replied.

It sounded like it was the end of the conversation, but Harry was not one to be deterred, "Do you want to marry him?"

She sighed, he waited squeezing her hand in support and silently reminding her that he just wanted her happy, "Like I've never wanted anything else in my life," she said softly and then quickly added, "But I don't want to be the one to push. I don't think he's ready for that yet. We're just getting our business started; I have another month of apprenticing before Meggers signs his approval.

I just …. You know, I just don't know. I want to spend my life with him, but I don't think he feels the same, Harry," she whispered smiling at Zamora.

Harry smiled inwardly, but outwardly he just looked straight ahead and held her hand as they walked.

So lost in thought, she didn't see Harry fiddling with his cell as he, by memory, hit the letter 'D' and 'B' then 'she does. Dsn't tink MF wnts 2'.

Blaise's phone chimed and Draco's phone buzzed; they flipped it open to see 'H' on the caller ID, they read the message.

Draco smiled; Blaise remained stoic and looked across the table at Marcus and Pucey.

"So Flint, What are you going to about the marriage thing? You only have a few months left before the Ministry picks a witch for you to marry," Draco asked casually.

Pucey eyed the younger wizards while Marcus swirled the ale around in his glass, "I … uh, I'm not sure," he said honestly.

Blaise's temper flared, "You're not sure?" he snapped at the large wizard.

Marcus clenched his jaw, "No, I'm not sure," he replied in controlled tones.

Blaise was flaggergasted, "What are you not sure about? The fact that Mya is gorgeous? Or maybe that she's freakin' brilliant, Does that intimidate you? Perhaps it's the way she accepted you with all of your flaws? How could you even think to let the Ministry pair you with someone other than her? How could you just let her go like that?" he was beyond angry. He didn't understand how someone couldn't love her like he did.

Marcus blew up slamming his fist down on the table, sloshing the drinks around making them spill, "I do love her and I do want to marry her, you prat, but I don't want it to seem like she was the last resort or that someone made me propose!" he reached into his pocket and threw a small leather box across the table, "I've been carrying that around for months, months before the marriage law. I knew I wanted to marry her from the first time we…" he stopped, he was pretty sure Hermione would not be pleased if she knew he was telling everyone about their first time together.

Blaise was silent, he had lain awake at night fantasizing about her, how he would be gentle, soothing. Talk to her in low tones, stretching her – hearing her gasp in pleasure.

He opened the box revealing Marcus' mothers' wedding ring, as tradition for them to be passed to the eldest son upon his coming of age.

Draco cleared his throat, "knowing Mya like I do, I would imagine that since you've waited, she already feels like you don't want to marry her. You'll need to do something soon, Marcus, before she finds a solution on her own… and if that happens, you can be certain that your status will fall into the 'the one that got away' category, instead of the 'husband' category," he told his friend.

"You'll need something spectacular," Pucey chimed in only to be interrupted by Blaise and Draco each shouting, "NO!"

Adrian held his hands up in surrender, "I didn't say ostentatious; I said spectacular… quietly, spectacular," he amended.

Blaise and Draco nodded and Marcus sighed in relief.

"Where is the lovely witch anyway?" Adrian asked

"Harry and her took Zamora for a walk in the park," Draco answered and then looked at his watch, "I have to go, I need to sleep before my shift starts."

Blaise nodded and the two stood bidding good bye.

Marcus moved to sit across from Pucey, "So what kind of spectacular?" he asked.

*** The party

It was Zamora's first birthday and Hermione and Alexandra were flitting around the cottage like it was the event of the season.

The aunts were there as well, preparing the cottage and chatting with the other witches.

Daphne and Pansy had just opened Wee Magic. It was a toddler care, preschool and elementary for magical children. They had contracted with Hogwarts in order to take advantage of the notices that went out to 11 year olds, so now instead of Muggle borns getting the surprise of their lives at 11, the families were notified a week after the first incident of accidental magic, which occurred between 18 months and five years old. The children could now be raised around magic and enter Hogwarts prepared and in tune with the rest of the student body.

At least that was the hope, since this was the first year the school was opened, it still needed to be proven.

They were all crossing their fingers.

Zamora would start next year, when she turned two.

The day was wonderful, with Blaise helping his daughter blow out candles and Draco and Hermione casting a fireworks show that spelled her name, the butterflies Hermione charmed to constantly fly around her making her laugh and sigh with glee also went over well and Mya glowed with pride as the little beauty slobbered kisses all over her God mothers face, Draco huffed loud enough for Zamora to notice and she wobbled over to him with sticky fingers and tugged on his hair so she could rain kisses on his cheeks too.

He was left with cake in his hair and something gooey in his eye lashes, Hermione was quick with the camera and caught him grimacing and then chasing after Astoria to share the frosting in his hair with her.

After everyone had gone, Zamora was asleep and the house clean Hermione lay in Marcus' arms enjoying the security and warmth she felt when they were together.

"What're you thinking, love?" he asked quietly.

"Not much really, just what a nice day it was," she said shifting her head to look at him.

He sighed, "Hermione, I want to marry you," he whispered.

She stiffened, waiting for the 'but'

Instead he squirmed and pulled out a small box, "I've wanted to give you this for a year, but never thought it was the right time. Pucey and I even planned out this elaborate situation where I would propose, but I really just wanted it to be us… I'm babbling," he said sounding annoyed with himself.

Stunned she opened the box and gasped at the beautiful ring resting inside, she startled when he jumped out of bed and knelt at her side, "Hermione, I love you. I can't see myself ever being without you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

He took her hand and she sat up. Her mouth opening and shutting.

He smirked, "I even want you when you're doing your best fish impersonation."

She giggled and looked at him with tears in her eyes, "Yes, Marcus, Yes," she said and he slipped the ring on her finger.