Baby Names

The second half of term had just started, and although Hermione would have rather been studying for her N.E.W.T.s, she was lying in a hospital bed waiting to find out the genders of her babies. She was excited, of course, but she thought this could have waited till the weekend. She had essays to write and books to read. The ease of the term, having not to plan a wedding on top of that, was starting to show. 

"Think dear that you are soon going to know what you are having. And then you will be able to go back to studying," Madam Pomfrey was looking through another book. She hadn't performed this magic in a long time, and she didn't want to mess it up. 

Hermione closed her eyes and started thinking about all the names there were to choose from. She and Draco hadn't discussed it, but it seemed like they should. At least soon. 

"Sorry I am late; I lost track of time," Draco was filthy and holding a broom. Hermione rolled her eyes but put her hand on the bed signaling for Draco to sit down. 

"Ready then?" Madam Pomfrey made her way to the bed and held her wand over Hermione's growing stomach. Hermione didn't know what to do. She just looked at Draco; she wasn't sure she even wanted to know anymore. 

Draco's eyes lit up, and a smile formed on his face; Hermione started to tear up. At least he was happy. 

"Look," Draco said gently. Floating above Hermione were three little balls of light. Two were blue, and one was a soft pink. 

"Those are our babies?" Hermione knew it sounded strange, especially to her. Of course, they weren't the babies, but somewhere inside of her, she felt like she should hold the balls of light and rock them to sleep. 

"Looks like you are your daughter are going to be outnumbered," Madam Pomfrey smiled and walked back to her book, shutting it gently. Soon the light faded, and Hermione felt the tears running down her face. 

"Are you alright?"

"I just want to meet them," Hermione whispered. 

"Not yet, dear, they are still far too little. Plus, if you meet them right now, how are you going to study?" 

"I couldn't possibly study now; they need names," Hermione looked at Draco as if he was crazy.

"Well, of course, they do," Draco didn't dare fight with this logic, "Let's go make some dinner, and we will talk about it," Draco helped his wife out of bed and thanked Madam Pomfrey before leading her back to their apartment. 

"Hermione and Draco had learned to make dinner with one another in silence. Draco smiled the entire time. He was going to be a father. 

They sat down and started eating, but Hermione could only think of one thing, "Have you thought about names?"

"A little," Draco smiled at her. He knew she wanted to be the best mother she could, and he knew she would be. It was all so sweet to him, "Do you want to talk about it now?"

"Yes," Hermione sat up straighter, and Draco was preparing to hear about how much she had thought about this and all the names she loved, but she just looked at him.

"Have you thought about it?" Draco looked at her closely.

"No," Hermione whispered, and Draco watched the tears start to run down her face.

"Hermione, that's alright. We can think about it together now," Draco reached out and took her hand, rubbing the top of it with his thumb.

"I don't even know where to begin," Hermione sighed.

Draco laughed, and Hermione gave him a slight glare. She didn't think this was funny.

"With a book," Draco said it like it was the most obvious answer, "Muggles make baby name books. I figured you had one," 

Hermione sighed again and started to smile. Of course, there was a book. She had gotten books on everything else to do with babies. Why hadn't she thought about that? 

"Well, until we get one, would you like to just talk about it some?"

"Of course, dear," Draco smiled and started thinking about all the names he had thought about naming his son. This was the first time that the Malfoy family would have more than a single son in a very long time. 

"Well, what do you like then?"

"Well, I am sure that you know that my family has been named after constellations, or stars, or galaxies,"

"Yes," Hermione raised an eyebrow. He really wasn't about to suggest three constellation names. That would be outrageous. 

"I really like Scorpius," 

"Oh. That's nice," Hermione was surprised when he only said one name. 

"I've never thought of more than one name. Malfoy's have one son. That's all. Until now," Draco smiled at Hermione and got up and went to her, "I can't wait to meet you," he said towards her belly.

"Well, not yet; you said they need some more time," Hermione joked with Draco, and he kissed her softly. "I like it," She added.

"Well, there is one name," He clapped his hands and went back to his seat. He started eating again when he felt her eyes on him. 

"We are having three children, Draco. We cannot name them all Scorpius,"

"Well, your turn to pick," Draco really didn't have any other ideas.

"Well, how about Ara?" The name just popped into her head, and she really liked it.

"As in the altar?" Draco was surprised by the constellation name, "We don't have to name all our children after constellations,"

"Well, we cannot have one constellation name and then two normal names. That would be ridiculous. I thought at first three constellation names would be bad, but now I think it would be sweet. I am sure your mother would approve."

"I am sure she would. I think I like it,"

"So now we have to think of another boy's name," Hermione was thinking out loud, but nothing was coming to either of them.

"I really don't know," Hermione was stuck, and that bothered her. Ara had come so easily, but this last name wasn't coming as easily.

"How about Orion?" Draco said eventually.

"Orion..." Hermione said it a couple more times. It was growing on her, but she wasn't sure she loved it.

"You don't like it?" Draco didn't know why she just kept repeating it.

"I don't love it," Hermione frowned. It was a perfectly good name.

"Well, how about Hyperion?"

"I have never heard that name before," Hermione was curious; she liked how it sounded.

"He is the son of Uranus and Gaia. It is part of a Greek myth,"

"I love it," Hermione smiled. They had chosen, what seemed to be easily, names for all three of their children.

"Now, did you have anything in mind for middle names?" Draco looked at his wife, curiously. Hermione frowned again. She didn't, but then the frown slowly disappeared because perhaps she did.

"Well, for Ara, I would like to have her middle name by Jean, after my mother," Hermione looked hopefully at her husband. She wanted them both to love the names.

"Ara Jean," Draco smiled. It was pretty, and he knew if Hermione could do this for her mother, perhaps she would start to heal, "I love it,"

"Really?" Hermione smiled and started to cry again.

"Yes," Draco smiled back at her and thought about the other middle names. They would be a little harder. He wanted Hyperion as Scorpius's middle name. Now he was going to have to choose one of his sons to have his name.

"Scorpius Draco or Hyperion Draco?" He finally said.

"Do you like either of those?"

"No," Draco laughed. He really didn't.

"How about Scorpius Aiden?"

"Scorpius Aiden Malfoy. Is Aiden a muggle name?"

"Yes," Hermione laughed.

"I like it."

"Okay, just one more," Hermione started to think hard again.

"How about Zander? I've seen that used before," Draco wasn't really sure about the name at all.

"I hate it," Hermione didn't care if he liked the name; she hated it.

"Alright, I wasn't sure about it anyway," Draco laughed a little.

"I like Levi," Hermione said.

"Hyperion Levi Malfoy," Draco smiled. They had given their children names.

"Now, would you like to study?" Hermione stood up, and Draco started to laugh. That was exactly what he was expecting. 

"Are you happy with their names?"

"Yes, Scorpius, Hyperion, and Ara. I love them."

"I love you," Draco said. 

Hermione smiled and blushed; of course, Draco couldn't see. 

"I love you too, Draco," Hermione smiled even wider.