I do not own Harry Potter
Thank you to my beta, blueskyshymoon-olgameisterfunk, for her outstanding ability to catch my many mistakes.
(Edited December 19, 2009)
(Hermione's POV)
The snow covered the ground, giving the image of endless winter. The lake was frozen, the ice shining with the glimmering rays of the distant sun. It was dead quiet, just like I liked it. I craved for this time in the morning; when no one would bother me with inane questions or personal problems. The pristine time where I could breathe in the crisp air, and fill my lungs with the fresh scent that the pine trees released.
I closed my eyes, feeling the wetness of the snow as the tiny particles touched my face. The blanket that I had brought with me to fend off the cold was proving to be useless, but it didn't matter. The sun was slowly starting to rise, warming my freezing body for a moment, before the wind rushed past and had me shivering again.
Without opening my eyes, I started to walk toward the tiny house that was home. Hogwarts had been the first place where I felt like I could be myself and call it "home," but when I first saw the small house with blue shutters and the rose garden, my heart had soared at the sight of it. It was perfect, and I had to had it. With its well kept kitchen and spacious master bedroom, it was a sight to behold.
"Hermione!"
The loud voice to my right was unexpected, yet welcomed. I hadn't seen Harry in over a month, his Auror duties constantly taking him away from the lives of those close to him. He and Ron worked as partners, therefore leaving me feeling lonely and melancholy at times. It's not that I was dependent on them, but I didn't have other friends that I trusted with my entire life.
Harry grabbed me from the waist and twirled me around before setting my feet on the ground and giving me a tight hug. I felt safe in his arms; the muscles and hard skin felt familiar, secure. I pecked his cheek before disentangling my body from his and grabbing his hand to lead him into the house.
"How have you been Hermione?" His voice held an air of excitement. Concerning what, I didn't know.
"Oh, you know the usual. Work, eat, more work." I smiled warmly at his rolling eyes.
"That's all you do Hermione. You should do something fun once in a while! You know, let yourself go from all the stress in your life."
"But I do have fun! Work is fun."
"Sitting behind a desk and looking over papers is not considered mind-blowing, in my book."
Although it seemed to be a logical decision, I had not taken up a position as an Auror. Harry had often asked me why, but to me, it just didn't feel right. On the other hand, I loved my place at the Ministry. I was head of the Department of Muggle Relations, and was helping the entire magical world by reaching out and opening up the eyes of those unaware of how Muggles really functioned. After all, who was better suited to the job than me, a muggle-born, raised in a muggle environment when growing up.
"Well, I say otherwise. But tell me, how is Ginny?"
Ginny and Harry had married a couple months ago. The wedding was held at the Burrow, with the entire Weasley family looking dashing in their black tuxedos. Poor Ginny had been a wreck, getting worked up a few hours before walking out to the altar.
"But what if he realizes I'm not the one for him? What if halfway through the ceremony he spies a really exotic and beautiful woman sitting among the guests and decides to run off with her? I can't do this! I cannot do this, Hermione," Ginny sniffled through her well used handkerchief.
"Look at me Ginny." I patted Ginny's hair soothingly. "Harry is not going to doubt his feelings for you. He loves you, and you know it! You know that he will not run off with somebody else, nor will he ever think of anyone but you. You are intelligent, brave, kind, and beautiful. And that is why Harry loves you."
I wiped the tears from Ginny's face before hugging the girl one last time.
"Now, are you ready to get married, or as your Maid of Honor, am I going to have to call it off? Because you know I will."
"No, I'm ready."
Harry sat down on the sofa; his face had a smirk plastered on it. He looked a bit goofy with the expression, but I decided not to mention it.
"Well? How is Ginny?" I asked again, getting a tad bit impatient.
"She's pregnant." His voice rang out and echoed in the small living room. "We found out yesterday, and that is why I came. I had to tell you before I could tell anyone else."
I was speechless. Ginny was pregnant. My best friend was going to be a father. This was great news, yet all I could think of was how alone I was. All I could think of was how everyone in their life was moving away from me, becoming extremely happy in their new lives. Everyone. Even Ron had moved on after I broke up with him and was currently happily dating Pansy Parkinson. I would have never thought Ron and Pansy would hit it off, yet there was love written all over their faces.
Molly had invited me to the Burrow for Sunday lunch, and I had accepted without a second thought. It had been a few weeks since I had seen all of the Weasley family together and I couldn't wait to catch up and hear all of the wild stories George and Fred had to offer. I rang the doorbell, all the while fixing my clothes.
"Hermione, you're finally here! I can't wait for you meet Ron's new girlfriend. She is just the biggest dear!" Molly whispered excitedly as she grabbed my hand and dragged me inside the house.
I smiled, glad that Ron had been able to move on. I had been worried that he was going to take it hard, but ended up proving that he had matured when he calmly stated that he understood. After all, we had been drifting apart for some time.
We entered the dining room, and was I fully expecting to see Hannah Abbot or Luna seated next to Ron, but was faced with the back of a brunette's head. I raised an eyebrow, wondering who the girl was until I heard the distinct voice of Pansy Parkinson.
"Ron, stop it," came the giggling response of Pansy, after Ron had started to trail kisses all over her face. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. I had thought that it wouldn't affect her, but her flaming cheeks said otherwise.
"Hermione, you finally came." I turned my head to see George's smiling face, his identical brother standing up to give me a hug. I laughed as George joined in, effectively squeezing the life out of me.
The clearing of someone's throat caused the twins to move to the side. "Hermione, I'm sure you already know her, but let me introduce you to Pansy. My girlfriend."
I forced a smile before facing the brunette. "It's nice to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise." Her voice had a sweet undertone to it. "I know Ron is very fond of you, and I simply had to meet you. Well, get to know you, for a better term."
Lunch was eaten in a comfortable atmosphere, with me constantly being prodded with questions of how things were going in my personal life. I would not have minded any other day, but I was too focused on the way Ron was holding Pansy's hand, or the way Pansy would run her fingers through Ron's hair. It was a bit unsettling, watching the way they cared for each other. Not because I still had feelings for him, but because I suddenly felt like I was intruding by just sitting across from them. They clearly cared for each other, and I couldn't help but feel happy for Ron. He deserved to have someone that loved him, and the thought made me smile.
I was alone, with no one to look forward to waking up in the morning for. I had no one and wondered if I ever would.
"Oh Harry, that is just the best news. I'm so happy for you," I said sincerely.
"Thank you, I still can't believe it myself. I'm going to be a dad." Harry stood up from the sofa and started walking towards the white kitchen. "Do you have something to drink? I'm parched."
"Yeah, just open the fridge. There should be something in there," I said following him. It surprised me how, even at six in the morning, Harry always managed to raid my fridge due to his unstoppable hunger.
"So, there is also another reason why I came here."
"Other than to empty the contents of my kitchen?" I snickered when he glowered at me.
"Yes, other than that." Harry leaned against the counter, getting comfortable. "I got an invitation last night from Malfoy."
"Malfoy? For what?"
I hadn't seen Draco Malfoy since the end of the war. Our paths hadn't crossed, even though he worked for the Ministry as well. On the other hand, Harry constantly saw Malfoy since their position in the same department sometimes caused them to work as partners.
"Well, he invited me to the annual Christmas party that is always hosted at Malfoy Manor."
"Really, then why are you telling me? I thought he had invited you for the past four years too."
"Yes, he has. But, the difference is that this time, I want you come with me."
I narrowed my eyes. "And why do you want me to go with you?"
"Blimey, Hermione. I just told you that you never have any fun. You never go out! So, I decided that I should get you out of the house."
"But, what about Ginny? Isn't the invitation for only you and a guest? Not to bring the whole bloody family and friends."
I exhaled a deep breath, running my hands through the wild curls that hung over my shoulders. I didn't feel like telling Harry that I was afraid of what they might say about me once I stepped into Malfoy Manor. I still felt that even though the war was over, blood was still an issue for those like the Malfoys. I didn't want to relieve the times when I was called a Mudblood; just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
"I already told Ginny that I wanted you to accompany me, and she agrees with me. I know how stubborn you can be, but I'm not taking no for an answer."
I mulled over my options.
I could go to the party and maybe have a bit of a good time. Who knows whom I might see and meet there? Or, I could say no and hurt Harry's feelings, but avoid the possibility of getting humiliated. I looked at the expression on Harry's face and could only think of one answer.
"Fine, I'll go." Harry smiled before taking a bite out of the sandwich he had just made. "But, if I'm not having a stupendous time, I'm leaving."
"Yeah, sure. As long as you hold out to your end of the deal." I shot him a glare, to which he raised his hands to signal his surrender. "I have to go, but owl me when you want me to pick you up."
I nodded my head, walking with him to the front door. "Oh, and the party is tonight."
He Apparated before I could hit him with my shoe.
Tonight? How was I supposed to get ready for the event? I figured I at least had the weekend to go shopping for an appropriate outfit before I had to worry about attending. But it was tonight!
My day just had a great start.
I swept my hair up in a loose bun, drawing the eye to my slender neck. After panicking for a few minutes before going to work, I determined that I deserved some time off and decided that I could leave work a few hours early to go find a dress. It had been hard to find something, considering that it was a few days until Christmas and the stores were packed with customers who were doing some last minute shopping.
I placed my pearls around my neck, admitting that even though I never wore them, they made a very nice attribute to my outfit. I had chosen a black dress that reached up to my calves, the material soft and silky to the touch. It fit my figure well, not too tight but not too loose either.
I checked my watch, realizing I only had a few minutes before Harry showed up at my door. I deemed my appearance presentable, and therefore decided to wait in the living room; Harry always seemed to be early and I didn't want him to have wait for me.
I felt my wards being trespassed and smiled; maybe I would have a good time tonight.
We Apparated outside of Malfoy Manor, my eyes taking in the splendor of the house. It was extremely large, with a million flowers surrounding the front lawn. The angelic light shining through the windows made it seemed unreal, like a fairytale.
The doors opened up to let us in, a house elf taking our coats before we could advance further into the house.
"Thank you." My voice reached the elf's ears, receiving a wary look from the creature.
The main room was filled with people- their eyes felt like they were sizing me up, the feeling lasting until they turned away. I felt my breath leave me; I hadn't noticed I was holding it in.
"Come on, Hermione, I see Blaise sitting over there by himself. Let's go sit with him."
I spotted the wizard with the olive complexion and smiled. Blaise Zabini always managed to make me laugh when I talked to him, which was always welcomed, taking into account I wasn't in the best of moods lately.
"Hey there, Potter. And who do we have here, but the lovely Ms. Granger."
He took my hand and lightly kissed it. I blushed, feeling silly, since he always greeted me the same way. He smiled his dashing smile before standing up to pull out the chair for me. He had always been a gentleman, and I was grateful that his charming ways always made me feel special.
"So how are things at the Ministry? Potter tells me they can barely get you out of the office."
I smiled, before glaring at Harry. "Things are going very well, thank you for asking. Although things have been slow due to the holidays."
"Yes, well that is expected." Blaise ran a hand through his perfectly combed hair and offered another smile. "How are things with your love life? Remember that my offer still stands about knowing somebody who would be perfect for you."
He wiggled his eyebrows and I slapped his shoulder playfully. Blaise had offered to find someone for me when I broke up with Ron five months ago, saying that it wouldn't do good to have me single. Every time that I happened to meet with him, he repeated that he knew someone who might be interested in me. I knew he was playing around, but maybe one day I might take up his offer.
I was about to reply with a witty remark when I felt something hug my legs. Startled, I jumped before looking down. Blond hair and mercurial grey eyes looked up at me, a sheepish grin in place. The child could not have been more than five, and I couldn't fathom what he was doing clinging to my legs as if his life depended on it.
"Hello there. What are you doing down there?"
The blond boy only seemed to hold on tighter to my legs, making them a bit numb. I looked at Harry and Blaise before motioning down.
"Hey there, buddy. Why don't you come out of the table? We won't bite," Harry said, fighting back a laugh at the way the child only shook his head and nuzzled my legs.
The day had been hard enough without a child being difficult about disentangling its body from mine. I had never really dealt with small children; I didn't think they liked me much. I sighed before touching the head of the blond child, running my fingers through the soft hair. I felt his body relax, and looked down to see him staring at me.
"Would it be too hard to tell me what the problem is?" I tried my best for my voice to sound tranquil, something that could maybe calm down the child.
The blond hair was swept out of his face by his tiny hands before he stood up from his crouching position. He kept looking at me, as if he had found something that had been lost, and it made me feel a bit odd. No one had ever looked at me that way, especially not a mere child. He stuck out his hand in mid-air, still looking at me intensely. I smiled, understanding that he wanted me to shake his hand. When I touched him my hand seemed to swallow his, and it gave me an unwanted pang in my chest.
"Hello, my name is Adrian." He took back his hand, still looking at me. It surprised me how well mannered he was, and I wondered who his parents were.
"Hello Adrian, I'm Hermione." His mouth moved to sound out the name, frowning. "Now, can you tell me what you were doing under the table? I promise I won't get mad."
The blond child finally stopped his staring to turn his head and look around the ballroom. He nodded his head, signaling his compliance to my question. "I was hiding from the evil lady."
His serious remark caused Harry and Blaise to snicker. I sent a deadly glare to both of them- they shut up instantly.
"And who is this evil lady Adrian? Do I know her?"
Adrian shrugged his shoulders before motioning for me to get close to whisper the name. His breath smelled like sweets and it tickled my ear. "Daphne Greengrass."
I held in the urge to roll my eyes. Daphne Greengrass. I hadn't heard that name in years.
"Oh, she is an evil lady, Adrian." He nodded his head, agreeing with me.
"Can I stay with you?"
The question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected for the child to want to stay in my presence. What harm could it do if he stayed? I couldn't think of anything so I nodded my head.
"But what about your parents. Don't you think they would mind if you are with me?" Adrian shook his head.
"No, my dad wouldn't mind." He smiled before sitting down next to me in the vacant chair.
I learned that Adrian was four, but soon to be five in a couple of months. He was surprisingly well mannered, saying "thank you" when I gave him a plate to eat, and even offering to dance with me. It was charming, the way he seemed to go out of his way to impress me, and it was working.
"You are a very good dancer, Adrian!" I couldn't help but laugh when a slow dance began and he hugged my legs before starting to sway side to side.
"My grandma Cissa tells me the same thing."
"Well, your grandma must be very smart," I said with a giggle.
I hadn't felt like this in a long time. It was as if all my worries were gone, and all that was left was pure enjoyment. I hadn't gone out of my house just to have a little "me" time in months. It was gratifying, forgetting about work and all the problems that were attached to it.
"Do you want to go rest for a bit? Your outstanding dancing has left me parched."
I ran my hands through his hair, an action that was becoming a habit in the past couple of hours. He nodded his head and took my hand before leading me to the table. We sat down and I fell into an easy talk with Blaise, all the while keeping an eye on Adrian.
"Adrian! There you are." The shaky voice had me turn my head to left, the blond man who was none other than Draco Malfoy, coming into focus.
I gasped inaudibly. Malfoy had changed in the six years that I hadn't seen him. The once sharp features that made up his face had softened and made him very, as much as I hated to admit it, handsome. Too handsome, maybe even considered beautiful to some. His eyes shone in the light, the gray and blue mixing together like an angry ocean before a storm. Even though he had a suit on, I could tell that underneath, a well-toned and slightly muscular body was hidden. I felt the blood on my face, giving away the blush that was slowly forming as he approached the table.
"Daddy!"
Adrian jumped out of his seat and covered the few feet left between him and Malfoy to hug his legs. Malfoy's face relaxed from the slightly wary expression he held, into the blank air that I associated him with. The elder Malfoy fixed his eyes on the table before coming to meet my gaze. I felt a slight jolt when our eyes connected, further darkening the blush on my cheeks.
Draco Malfoy was the father of Adrian. The world was a tiny place.
A/N: Thank you for reading. Please let me know if you liked it or not.
