Thank you to each and everyone of you for your kind reviews, I am still looking for a beta so I ask of your patience, I have been running around after my 3 year old son and 1 year old niece all day so I am absolutely cream crackered -Vampire Searcher
The brightness of the sun seeped through the lilac curtains in Hermione's bedroom making her wince in her sleep. Groaning she flung the duvet covers -also lilac-, off of her body and sat bolt up. Having her morning routine shower she then got dressed in simple jeans and red blouse combo before searching out her morning comfort of coffee.
"He'l be good for you" Hermione frowned at her fellow housemate, already used to her weird and outrageous comments.
"I have no idea what it is you are going on about Luna"
Luna and Hermione lived in a plush pad in Muggle London city. Hermione, in her spare time or whenever requested, helped Severus Snape with anything that he needed procuring in his apothecary shop in Hogsmeades. Luna, after the war studied rare animals both in the muggle world and the wizarding world before taking up a column in the daily prophet, researching such animals.
"You have a glow, I have not seen you glow since you first got with Ronald, I hope whoever he is, knows how lucky he is to have you" A small blush crept up onto Hermione's cheek.
"I do not have a bloke Luna, I met an old … well he brought his son to my book signing and we went for coffee, there is no us" Luna flashed her all so ever knowing smile.
"Fine, I have to go to work anyway, there is no rest for the wicked" Luna flung her cloak of her shoulders and opened the door.
"For all its worth, I always thought he had changed too Hermione" And walked out of the apartment leaving Hermione completely gob smacked to how she might have found out.
Meanwhile the bright morning in Wiltshire brought another meaning of jolly to Malfoy Manor.
"Daddy wake up" Scorpious Malfoy jumped up and down on his Father's bed, ignoring Draco's efforts to pull the covers tighter around his body.
"Scorp, Daddy is tired" Draco groaned and pulled his son inside the duvet with him.
"Do you think we can go to Miss Hermione's house?" Scorpious asked eagerly out of the blue, turning in his Father's arms to see his reaction.
"Um, I am sure Miss Hermione will be extremely busy today son, we will see her tomorrow though wont we?" Scorpious face fell as he nodded feebly.
"Come, Daddy needs his morning coffee fix and your stomach is growling louder than any dragon could in all the land" Draco threw his son over his shoulders and ran throughout the manor to the dining room.
"Glad you could finally make an appearance boys" Lucius Malfoy drawled from the head of the table
"Don't take no notice of him, he has just crawled his lazy bum out of bed too" Narcissa smiled encouragingly at her son and grandson to approach the table.
"How was coffee with Miss Granger, you was very vague on details" Narcissa probed placing her white china cup on the table.
"Well, better than one could ask for, I thought she might have hexed me in the book store for asking such things of her, I never knew her in school nor wanted to, so why do I feel a pull towards her now Mother?" Draco was always one to have a hold of his emotions, so when he didn't such times confused him to no end.
"Dear I think we should explain everything to him now" Lucius nodded and scraped his chair back to join the rest of his family at the other end of the table.
"Many many many Malfoy's ago, Constantine Malfoy fell in love with another's husband, they ran away together much to his wife despair. She cursed all Malfoy's from that day onwards. The curse entails no female Malfoy's will go to full term in their Mother's stomach unless her parents were bounded together by the gods in heart and soul, she has to be your equal in everything, intellect, appearances, eloquence and far most she must love you " Draco frowned in his cup.
"So unless I find my one true love I cannot have a daughter?" Lucius nodded
"But that's not all, if you do not find your one true love by your 30th birthday then the curse is not broken and will live on throughout further generations" Narcissa continued where Lucius left off.
"But you and Father love each, how come you had were never able to have a girl?" Draco's parents clasped hands tightly together in silent encouragement.
"I love your Father with all my heart as he does me, We decided between ourselves that it was easier to stop trying for children after we had you, giving birth to you my dear son nearly killed the both of us, curse or no curse your Father could not lose the two of us and we apologise profusely for being selfish enough to let the curse live through you" Draco nodded in acceptance of his Mother apology trying to get his head around everything.
"Why was my marriage contract cancelled between Pansy and I when in Hogwarts?" Draco finally asked wiping his son's mouth of syrup.
"Pansy, what a sweet girl she was, but in light of things, we didn't think she was your one and right we were, if she was your own you would feel …. A tug of your heart towards the girl" Draco realised what his Mother was getting at, why she had always wanted him to be nicer to the Granger girl in school.
"How long have you known?" Draco asked a little concerned to why they hadn't told him sooner.
"When we first met her in the bookshop, she was with her parents and the Weasley's at the time, I came over to introduce myself to Potter for the first time and she was there, the spark that stood between the both of you was undeniable, but, to your sweet innocent eyes, it could easily be mistaken for hatred and not lust" Draco looked at his Father like he had all of a sudden grown a second head.
"You can try and ignore the pull Draco but it will happen, you will become as one, it is undeniable and the more you pull back the more it will hurt I assure you"
"So why in the name did you make me marry Astoria" Draco had his hands tightly clamped over his son's ears as he whispered harshly to his folks.
"The Greengrass girl, although your equal in the looks department is not your equal in intelligence as Hermione is. Her parents refused to cancel such agreement off, only thinking of their own wealth and happiness in the end. Why do you think myself and Grandmama Malfoy dressed head to toe in black for your wedding? We tried to get you out of it son" His Mather patted his hand in a mother like manner and accepted the letter the house elf brought in with a 'pop'
"It is addressed for you dear, Vanilla and Strawberry if I am not mistaken"
He removed his hands from his son and reached out far to eagerly for the parchment. The scent was all over the letter setting Draco's skin alive with one touch.
"Draco,
Don't find me terribly forward, but I have no work on today and I find myself rather at a lost with what to do with myself , if you are not busy today how would yourself and Scorpious like to accompany me for some ice cream and then to a local park? If you are busy I can totally understand. I have borrowed Noir and she is under strict instructions to wait for a reply.
Yours, Hermione Granger."
"Can we go dad, can we?" Scorpious sat back down in his chair after reading over his dad's shoulder.
"I have to go to work today mate sorry" Scorpious placed his face in his hands and sulked.
"Take the day off Dray, I am sure we won't need you" An unfamiliar twinkle appeared in his Fathers eyes as he dismissed his son.
"Go get dressed Scorp, I have to reply to Hermione's letter" Draco waited for his son to run from the dining room before calling the bird down.
"Is that Severus's eagle?" Draco lifted the bird's wing up to identify the birds tag before giving a nod to his Mother.
"I'l release the eagle love, you go get spruced up … and quick" Draco kissed his Mother's cheek in thanks before doing very much the same thing he's son did, ran straight from the room in an excited manner.
"Do I look god dad?" Scorpious appeared in his Fathers room dressed in red chinos, black converse, a simple white shirt and a grey cardigan.
"The girls won't keep their eyes off of you mate" Scorpious smiled and picked a black shirt from the bed.
"This will look better dad, I assure you" Scorpious sense in fashion scared Draco sometimes but with only his Grandmother to play with his toys during the day it was obvious to which subjects came up the most.
"Have fun boys" The Malfoy Patriarchs called from the parlour room.
Hermione paced up and down the apothecary once Noir had flown off in the distance with her letter.
"Do sit down before you wear holes into the stone flooring" Hermione whipped her head around to stare icily at her former potions master.
"This is a bad idea, I shouldn't have sent the letter, he only invited me for a coffee to thank me for staying longer to sign his child book" Hermione fretted wringing her wrists in the process.
"You always did wear your heart on your sleeve, this is my godson we are talking about, if he invited you for a coffee that doesn't always mean there was an another motive" Hermione scoffed
"Because he is your godson, that alone means there was more to it than just a coffee, we barely said a nice word to each other in the years that we have known each other and now I have sent him a request to see him again" Hermione started pacing again much to Severus's dismay.
"He has a son you know" Hermione stopped and frowned at her mentor.
"I know … I signed his book" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"If this turns into something between the two of you, you will effectively be known as the child's Step-Mother, could you handle that?" Selfishly Hermione hadn't thought about that.
"I think I could, yes" Hermione finally answered, breathing a sigh of relief when Noir came through the window and perched up on the shops desk. Severus took the scroll from his beloved familiar's foot and tossed it in Hermione's general direction before leaving to go into the back with familiar in tow.
"Hermione,
We shall meet you at Severus's shop shortly.
Yours curtly, Draco and Scorpious Malfoy."
"Hope were not too late" No longer had Hermione placed the scroll in her bag had the shop door opened.
"Miss Hermione" The little blonde ran straight to Hermione's leg and held on tight, reminding her very much of Albus Severus.
"Good morning Scorpious" Hermione scooped the little Malfoy up into her arms.
"Daddy says were going for ice cream and to a park" Hermione nodded and thanked Draco for holding the door open for the two of them.
"We are, now can you tell me what your favourite ice cream flavour Scorpious is?" Hermione placed the little boy down onto the floor and held onto his out stretched hand.
"I like vanilla but I think blueberry is my favourite Miss Hermione" Walking down diagon alley the trio got stared, pointed, and gossiped at by other patrons of Hogsmead. Not that any of them were paying attention. Hermione was too conversed with the younger Malfoy to realise anybody else was around and Draco's heart was swelling at seeing somebody being so kind to his son.
"Here we are Scorpious, Floreans Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour" Draco held the door open allowing them to enter first before closing the door behind himself.
"Can I have a tub of Blueberry with Vanilla sprinkles, A tub of Mint chocolate chip and … Hermione" Hermione looked at each of the flavours before deciding.
"Can I please have strawberry ice cream with Vanilla sprinkles" Draco nodded and repeated the order to the elderly Florean Fortescue.
"Let's go sit down and wait for Daddy, ok?" Scorpious nodded and steered the little boy over to a table in the corner. After seeing the little boy struggle to sit in the seat, she picked him up and placed him snuggly on the leather chair.
"Here we go guys" Draco placed the tray down and handed out the ice-creams.
"I see you stay true to your school house colours" Hermione pointed out with a smirk on her face.
"Mint chocolate chip has always been my favourite, I like eating the chips first" Draco announced proudly no matter at how childish he sounded.
"Fair enough nobody can argue with your motive, if you eat the ice cream first you are left with a lump of chocolate chips in the bottom." Hermione smirked and ate her ice cream with a content feeling rising up into her stomach.
"Stop playing with your chocolate chips dad, I want to go to the park" Scorpious moaned, In all fairness to the little guy, Draco was showing the ice cream tub a lot of his attention and eating very slowly, it must surely all of melted by now.
"Scorp" Draco raised an eyebrow as the little boy retreated slightly at the scolding.
"Finished" Draco helped Scorpious with his hat and coat whilst Hermione took the try back to Florean in thanks.
"Finally were ready" Hermione huffed playfully and accepted Scorpious's hand for her to hold.
"Miss Hermione which park are we going to?" Scorpious looked up expectedly after passing Hogsmeades Park.
"It's a little past here, not many people go to this park you see, so there's more for you to play with" Hermione had already thought about what Draco had said the previous night 'I was hoping someone would forget what had happened in the past' obviously meaning many people held a grudge towards the Malfoy's, extending it to Scorpious Malfoy which in Hermione's eyes was ridiculous, children are innocent whoever their parents may be.
Scorpious looked at the smaller park noticing not many children were here, with a push from his Father he hesitantly walked towards the playground.
"I kind of invited somebody here … don't be angry" Hermione held her hands up in surrender
"Who?" Draco's eye brows furrowed in suspicion.
"Daddy I made a friend" Scorpious cried coming over with a familiar little boy.
"Aunt Hermione, Scorpious is my new best friend" The little boy changed his hair colour to platinum blonde and sat next to Hermione.
"Oh poop" Hermione had the decency to look ashamed.
"I totally forgot about your history with Andromeda, please don't leave or take it out on the kids, I just see her as Tonks and not belonging to the house of Black"
"That is because I do not Hermione dear" Andromeda came from the left and kissed her cheek.
"Draco" Andromeda nodded her head stiffly, she had her reservations of coming today knowing who Hermione was bringing, but she wanted Teddy to know other children his own age apart from the Potters and Weasleys.
"Aunt Andromeda" Draco stood and kissed her gloved hand and allowing her to take his place on the bench before being dragged of by the boys.
"It is a shame he looks like his father, a rotten boy he was as a child, Cissa through a hissy fit when she realised what our parents had conjured behind her back, we were brought up with the Malfoy's and he was a rotten egg, always had been … is he any different" Andy asked looking over at Hermione.
"I am afraid I do not Andy, they came to the book store last night and that is the first time I have seen any of them since the trials"
"You have a soft spot for the two of them do you not?" Hermione glanced over at Andy, knowing full well she looked like Bellatrix more so than Narcissa, fortunately it didn't scare her as much as it once did.
"I think I do, we are … acquaintances I guess, not so close to be called anything else"
"The way he looks at you girl, is more than acquaintances"
Hermione ignored Andy's constant staring at her face as she watched Draco play with both Teddy and Scorpious.
"I took some of your Gryffindor courage and wrote to my sister before we came, I hope she sees the end of the war for us to build old bridges" Hermione laughed slightly
"You cannot just simply steal some of my courage Andy" Hermione smirked as Andy waved it off as if she could.
"Does Harry know you're seeing Draco"
"I am not seeing Draco, although I might have to warn him, I am looking after all the kids tomorrow afternoon, whilst they go out for a few hours. I invited Draco and Scorpious to come around with us"
"I think it is time I get this one home" Draco came over with a sleeping child in his arms and Teddy holding Draco's hand.
"Aunt Hermione" Teddy raised his arms as Hermione picked him up.
"If you and Draco are together does that mean I can call him Uncle Draco?" Hermione started to protest.
"Of course you can dear, but right now it is time to get you home, come come" Andy interrupted taking Teddy from Hermione, smiling appreciatively at the two before disappearing in circle with Teddy in her arms."
"How Potter looks after Teddy 24/7 I have no idea, he has more spirit than I have known any other child to have" Hermione giggled to herself thinking how tame Teddy was compared to James and Albus.
"Look, my parents want you to come for tea on Sunday, they have the insane idea that I am courting you" Hermione raised an eyebrow up in amusement.
"And if you were courting me, how would I know?" she asked cheekily watching the blush appear on his cheeks.
"Well, I would take you to my parents for dinner, to introduce the three of you and have ice tea on our porch, maybe take you out for date or two, but only after asking your Father's permission. I would take you out to the poshest restaurant where I would wine and dine you. If I was lucky enough to walk you home I would wrap my arms around your waist and maybe give you my jacket if it was too chilly. If I thought the date had gone well I would risk giving you a cheeky kiss on your cheek before taking my leave"
Hermione smirked inwardly at his old ways.
"I'm afraid I cannot do Sunday evening" She watched his face fall slightly before he carefully guarded his emotions back up.
"Buuuuut ... if you allow, I will be at the manor at 1 on Sunday and we can have lunch with your parents, but then you have to come to the Burrow with me on Sunday for tea, to meet my surrogate family"
"Great through me into the lion's den" he smirked playfully letting her know he was only messing.
"I shall come around 3 tomorrow afternoon" Carefully picking her hand up to his lips he placed a gentle kiss on her smooth skin before turning in a circle home.
"You have fallen for him" Luna looked at Hermione upside down from the sofa she currently took up.
"Do not" She whispered almost childlike.
"I have left you some chicken stew in the oven … it's ok to like him you know, I won't judge you" Hermione shrugged her coat off and joined Luna sitting upside down on their couch. This was one of the good things she liked about Luna, she knew no matter what she wouldn't judge her decisions.
"It's weird, how I almost feel comfortable in his company, he has announced we are courting" Hermione pronounced the last bit in a posh voice, looking to Luna whom was pathetically trying to stifle a laugh, after a moment the two burst into fits of giggles about both of their antics.