Dragon in the Lions' Den
Notes: Thank you to my great reviewers. I haven't heard from you in a while, and I miss you terribly! As my gift to you, here is a new chapter. This is the last complete chapter until Draco and Hermione begin telling their story... Just thought you might like to know! Also, if you are a fan of slow moving, but good Dramione fics, give That Fateful Summer and it's sequel a read. It's great!
PS - I am not JK Rowling. In case you hadn't figured that out yet.
#4 For the Love of the Golden Trio
Hermione stood in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place and surveyed the room quietly. She'd lived in this house off and on since 6th year, and was comfortable in every room of Harry's home. Harry had even given her free reign to remodel the kitchen, library, and her room, for which she was exceptionally grateful. Since Hermione was doing dinner tonight, she decided to make pasta, Caesar salad, and garlic bread; her favorites. She took her wand and conjured the appropriate ingredients, adding her own personal touches on the sauce. Soon, the whole house was engulfed with tomato, basil, and garlic. To compliment the sauce, Hermione decided that some red wine would be perfect and called on Dobby.
"Mrs. Malfoy called on Dobby?" the elf asked.
"Hermione, please Dobby. Draco has some excellent red wines in the cellars at Malfoy Manor. Can you bring at least 5 bottles over for dinner? I'm not sure who will be dropping by later." She asked the small creature.
"Certainly, Ms. Hermione. Would you like Dobby to make dinner?"
"Dinner is already taken care of, Dobby" She explained. When the elf looked crestfallen, she added "How about some desert? Something chocolate would be lovely."
Dobby nodded, and with a small 'pop', he was gone.
Hermione went to the cupboard above the refrigerator and grabbed the new bottles of fire whiskey. She also took 3 glasses from the cabinet, then a 4th before taking everything to the table. She poured herself a healthy glass of the liquid and drank it in one gulp, the familiar warmth gliding over her body. 'Hopefully, it will give me the courage for the discussion with Harry and Ron' she thought sadly. The fire whiskey had been a tradition between the three of them, and was adopted by the other members of the Order. It started while they were hunting for horcruxes, and carried on as an after battle event. Usually, it was a time for great celebration, but was also a standard when mourning a fallen comrade. They had often mused about the celebration they'd hold after Voldemort was defeated, and it always began with a jovial toast in the kitchen and grew from there. Hermione didn't think that the boys would forgo their tradition, but it certainly wouldn't be the raucous event that they'd imagined… at least not for today. 'Or, perhaps never, depending on how they take the story' she thought.
She poured out 3 glasses, and left the 4th empty for Draco, until he joined them for dinner. She glanced at her watch, and expected Harry and Ron any minute. Her stomach was churning, and she fought herself mightily not to turn and run away from her best friends. Within moments, two loud "pops" announced their arrival in the parlor, and foot steps headed towards the kitchen. She took a deep breath and waited.
Harry and Ron walked into the kitchen, battle weary and dirty. Harry ambled over to the table where Hermione was sitting, and pulled her into a tight embrace. He might be angry with her, but she was still his best friends, and they'd defeated Voldemort, together. Ron stood in the doorway watching their embrace, as Harry pulled away and sat in a chair next to Hermione. She looked at her raven-haired friend and gave him a small smile as she handed him his glass. They turned to Ron, who was still fuming. Hermione looked defiant, and raised her chin slightly and waited. 'I'll be damned if I beg him to join us' she thought angrily. Harry looked at the young woman beside him, feeling the tension growing between his two best friends in the world. He also noticed how Malfoy had been rubbing off on her, a quiet arrogance crackled around her. He didn't know why he just noticed it tonight, but it was clearly there all along.
"Hermione.." he whispered pleadingly, and she met his eyes, her face immediately softening. "Ron, sit down. Tom Riddle is dead. No matter what else is going on right now, we won, and we're going to celebrate."
Ron reluctantly walked to the table and sat down, glaring at Harry. Hermione passes him a drink, and they sat in silent repose. Taking his glass in hand, Harry raised it up.
"To the friendship that was dubbed 'the Golden Trio', there isn't anything that we can't overcome together" Harry said emotionally. He met Hermione's eye again, trying to make sure she caught his hidden meaning.
"To friends" said Ron gruffly, tears in his blue eyes as he glowered at Hermione.
"To family" she added, giving loving glances to the other men in her life.
"To Love" Harry said. "The power that gave us the strength to win"
"To life" Ron smiled.
"To us" Hermione sobbed.
"To us" Harry and Ron whispered. They raised their glasses together, meeting with a soft 'clink', before they drank the whiskey at once. Harry gathered both of his friends in his arms, and they shared a powerful hug, emotions overwhelming each of them. They stayed in the embrace for several minutes before sitting down once again.
Unbeknownst to the trio, Draco was watching from the hallway, awakened by the sounds of the young men coming home. He was worried about how they'd react once they got here, so Draco wanted to make sure that he was there to step in to defend his wife if necessary. He didn't expect this scene, though. He'd spent enough time around the trio during the war to have participated in the after battle shot, and it was generally a fun moment. This, however, was private and very emotional between 3 long time friends that had been through life and death together. Draco knew he owed it to his wife and her friends to leave them to their moment in peace. He walked to the library and sat quietly with a book, reading until his love needed him.
The Trio sat in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts.
"Look guys," Hermione began, her voice still thick with emotion. She was instantly interrupted by Harry, his hand grabbed hers.
"We have a lot to talk about, Hermione, and we will. Right now, let's enjoy a drink together like old times, and revel in the defeat of Riddle." Harry said, eyes brimming with tears. "Ron and I will take showers and get cleaned up. Merlin knows he could use one."
"Sod off, Harry. You're just as foul smelling as I am" Ron shot back, fighting a smile. "I'm starving though."
"As if that's new" Harry teased, rolling his eyes. "Although, something does smell good."
"Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes" Hermione explained to her ravenous friends.
"Pasta?" asked Ron, smiling at Hermione despite himself.
"Garlic bread?" added Harry, his eyes shining in anticipation.
She nodded, "And Caesar salad."
"My favorite!" the young men yelled together. They bolted from the table, fighting their way up the stars towards their respective rooms and showers. Hermione couldn't help but laugh. At 80, those two would still act like starving teenage boys.
"Harry!" yelled Hermione. Harry's head peeked around the door jam.
"Yes?"
"What about Ginny?" she asked.
"Bollocks" he muttered. "She's at the burrow. Charlie took here there earlier. Do you need her?"
"Yes, don't worry Harry, I'll take care of it." She smiled at her friend. "What about the rest of the Order? Will they be over later?"
"I said suggested that we get together tomorrow, that we needed this evening to ourselves." Harry explained, somewhat sheepishly. "We'll have an all day get together tomorrow to celebrate. Do you mind?"
"No" she laughed. "I'm dying for a party. Plus Molly and Ginny will help. Her face turned serious for a moment. "We'll want Remus and Minerva over later, though."
"Why?" Harry asked, confused.
She looked down at her left hand briefly. "They can confirm that Draco will tell you."
Harry's smile faltered a bit, but he nodded, moving to go back upstairs when he turned back to her.
"Are you happy, Hermione?" He asked his friend. She didn't seem surprised at his question.
"Yes, I am," she replied. "A bit stressed by this whole situation, for a number of reasons, but I am happy."
"Do you love him?"
She smiled at him. Rather, she beamed; a bright glow surrounded her and extended outward. If she didn't say a word, the smile would have been enough for him. "Yes, Harry. I really do." She paused, and looked at him.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the lies, for not being able to tell you the truth about my task during the war. If anyone can understand, it's you. I'm not sorry for loving him, though. If I hadn't worked with him, trained with him, I wouldn't have gotten to know the amazing man that he really is. I wouldn't have found the love that we have. There are so many things that happened, and it was just the two of us, trying to cope with things we couldn't control. I regret that I couldn't share it all with you then, and I truly regret not being able to have you and Ron at our wedding, Harry, more than anything."
"I know, Mione. It's all so strange, seeing you with him. I mean, Merlin… he's supposed to be dead!" Harry yelped.
"I'm not married to a ghost, I can assure you." She laughed a bit. "Just promise me that you'll listen to everything we have to tell you with an open mind.'
"I look at you, and I see my best friend; and then from another angle I see someone I don't recognize, Hermione" Harry confessed. "It worries me, this whole secret life you have."
"That makes two of us" she said softly, looking directly into his eyes. "But even that will make sense soon."
Harry nodded, and went up to his room.
Hermione scribbled a couple of quick notes to Ginny, Minerva, and Remus.
"Hedwig" she called out, and Harry's snowy white owl flew in through the window and landed on the table.
"Hello, girl, Looking beautiful as usual" she said, stroking the owl affectionately as Hedwig nipped lightly at her fingers. "Can you take this note to Ginny at the Burrow? And these to Remus and Minerva?"
Hedwig hooted and took off out the window. Hermione slumped into a chair and poured another shot. She put her hands in her head, trying to clear her mind.
"That went well," a familiar voice drawled from the doorway. Hermione looked up and smiled, filling the 4th cup with whiskey and placing it on the table. Strong arms pulled her up from behind, and a deep voice whispered in her ear.
"Mmmmm. Do I smell pasta sauce and garlic bread?" Draco nuzzled her neck, reveling in her scent.
"Of course," she laughed.
"My, my, my Ms. Granger. You sure do know how to take good care of the men in your life" he said, sitting down next to her. "I love your pasta sauce,"
"And I love you. Now, shut up and drink, Malfoy." She smiled as he took the glass, giving her his trademark smirk and downed the fiery liquid. She poured him another once he put his glass down, and he eyed her questioningly.
"You need to catch up" she said arrogantly. Never one to back down, he slammed the second back as well. Hermione poured again.
"Gods, woman. Again?"
"Now we're even" she responded. Draco stood up and walked to the stove, tasting the sauce.
"Where did you learn to cook so well, Hermione?" he asked delightedly.
He knew she cooked well, as she'd taken care of him off an on for almost 2 years, and he always loved it when she took care of meals. Even sandwiches were a work of art with her. He took great pride in the fact that his wife was a great cook, figuring it would transfer well when they finally moved back into the Manor and could open it up for large events again. He wanted nothing more than to be able to redeem his family name in the eyes of the public, and with the help of his wife, her skills, looks and intelligence, he would finally achieve the proper respect in the public's eye his father destroyed with his obsession with power and dark magic.
"My mother, Molly, and a plethora of cook books I've perused." She explained. "Plus, I stumbled upon this American cooking channel on the telly that I just love."
"Have I told you about the kitchens at the manor?" he asked her, his eyes glowing as he spoke about his family home, a place he hadn't been to since their 6th year at Hogwarts. "You'd love them."
"Kitchens? You mean more than one?"
"Yes. There are two. The main kitchen is where Mother normally prepared lunches for the two of us when Lucius wasn't around. There is a small bar inside where we'd eat, and it is attached to a smaller formal dining room. The second kitchen was mainly used by staff for formal events." He closed his eyes, trying to remember the house he loved. "I wish I knew what condition it was in, if Lucius took care of it after Mother left."
"We'll find out soon, love. Now that Lucius is dead, the house belongs to you and your mother." She said softly, as they hadn't spoken of his father's death at all.
"Would you mind living there with Mother?" he asked her, ignoring any reference to the man he hated.
"I'd be happy with you anywhere, Draco, as long as we're together." It was a simple statement, but meant the world to him. "If you want to live in the Manor, that's where we'll make our home. You know I love your mother, and I'd love to share your home with her."
"To my beautiful wife. I don't deserve a woman like you in my life, but I will spend the rest of my time on this earth making sure you know how special you are." Draco raised his glass to honor his love.
"To us, my love, my life, my wonderful husband," she whispered as she drank the liquid. He pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I promised you we'd have a huge reception as soon as this bloody war was over, to take place of the one we never had. Let's start planning it as soon as we can. The biggest party you can imagine… it's not every day the Malfoy heir marries Hermione Granger, war hero, best friend to Harry Potter, and White-lighter." Draco praised her. "I'm sure that it's just the thing the wizarding world needs now, something to celebrate."
He kissed her deeply, his love and desire conveyed as they touched. She wasn't sure how long they were kissing, or when he bent her over the table when..
"Ahem!" Draco and Hermione pulled apart slightly, only to find Ginny Weasley in front of them. She smiled at Hermione until she saw who she'd been kissing.
"Malfoy!" she hissed, wand drawn.
"It's ok, Ginny," Harry's voice preceding him into the kitchen. "Malfoy. Well, Malfoy is…" He seemed at a loss for words as he looked up at his friend.
"He's my husband, Ginny." The look on the younger woman's face was one of surprise, dread, and curiosity. Ginny moved into Harry's arms, kissing her boyfriend lovingly, before she turned back to Hermione.
Hermione pulled the necklace from her neck to reveal a ring, an emerald, and a snake charm. She laid the necklace on the table in front of them. At the same time, Ron bound into the kitchen.
"Dinner ready?"
Hermione nodded, and took charge to getting things set up.
"Harry, open some wine and bring glasses to the table. Ron, get the dishes. Ginny, please grab the salad. We'll meet you in the formal dining room."
Everyone went about their tasks, ignoring Draco who followed Hermione with the dishes of food. Hermione grabbed her necklace from the table and shoved in into her pocket. The five of them dished up their meal in silence. When everyone was settled, they waited for someone to make the next move. Hermione looked at Harry as if to say "you're the host, this is your home." Harry nodded.
"To the first day of the rest of our lives," he said, raising his glass of wine.
"Here, here" said the voices around the table, raising their glasses as well.
Never one to let tension continue to build, Ginny decided to take things into her own hands to get the information she wanted.
"So, Malfoy. How long have you and Hermione been married?"
"It will be two years in June," Draco replied, smiling.
"Really?" Ginny seemed surprised by his answer, suddenly doing the math in her head. "But you were.."
"Dead?" He smirked, chuckling softly. Ginny's face contorted to a look of confusion.
"Minerva and Remus will be her soon, Ginny, and they'll tell us the whole story." Harry said simply. This wasn't quite good enough for Ginny, though.
"Why?"
"Why do people normally get married?" Draco answered, face hard. "I love her, she loves me."
Hermione reached out her hand to his, and grabbed it gently, and his face softened. She fished her necklace out of her pocket again, and Draco took of his as well. While Hermione's had three items, Draco's necklace held a ring only. Ginny, Ron, and Harry all recognized the emerald on Hermione's chain, as it was a gift she was given at Christmas during their 7th year by her boyfriend Drake Callahan.
Suddenly, Minerva and Remus entered the dining room.
"Mmmm, Hermione, did you make your pasta?" asked Remus enthusiastically.
"I did. Grab a plate and join us," Hermione said as she got up to get some drinks for their new guests. "We were just getting started with the rings."
Once everyone was seated, Draco and Hermione continued what they were doing. The removed the rings from their respective necklaces, placed them together, and waved a wand over them. Once this was done, they put their rings on each others' finger. The two bands bonded with the glowing bands on their hands, and started to glow a brilliant gold. Draco grabbed her hand, and displayed two identical platinum bands, set with an emerald overlayed by a silver M. The outside of Hermione's ring was engraved, but they were unable to read the words. Hermione noticed Harry and Ginny trying to read the words on her ring.
"It says 'Amoris Insum Draconis'. It's Latin, and the basic translation is "love belonging to the dragon'," Hermione explained. "Draco's is ring is also engraved."
"Amoris insum leaena. Translated to 'love belonging to the lioness'," Draco smiled slyly. "Always did like that whole 'lioness' thing!"
"What are they?" asked Harry. "What's with the 'lion', Hermione?"
"Later, Harry." Hermione said.
"Malfoy family rings," was the answer Draco gave. "Given in birth and in marriage."
"I suppose everything is safe now, in this company, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy?" said Minerva McGonagall softly. All eyes in the room turned to her.
"You knew?" asked Harry. She nodded. "And you? Did you know?" Harry asked Remus.
"Yes, Harry. We were there the day they got married. As witnesses, I suppose you could say. Anyway, you are the secret keeper, Minerva."
The four of them, Hermione, Draco, Remus, and Minerva all joined hands as Remus broke the spell. Hermione then took the snake charm from the necklace, and fingered it gently before she uttered an spell over it. The charm changed into a beautiful diamond ring. It, too, was platinum, with a large emerald cut diamond, flanked by deep green emeralds. It was elegant, and looked to be an heirloom of some sort, obviously a Malfoy family tradition. Draco took the ring in his hand, kissed it, and after Hermione took off her wedding band, he slid the stunning bauble on this wife's hand.
"For my wife," he whispered. "Now you can wear it proudly, Mrs. Malfoy."
They both remembered the word Narcissa Malfoy had spoken to them several years ago when she gave Draco her ring for his new wife. It brought tears to her eyes, and she looked forward to seeing her mother-in-law again soon, now that the war was over.
"Today, tomorrow, and always."
