Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters, places and themes belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and Scholastic.
Chapter 7
"And then Uncle Fred told me that they would change your hair colour! Can you believe that? So Anthony and I tried it out and my hair turned brown! Just like yours Aunty Hermione!"
Hermione nodded slightly, after dinner she would have a severe talk to Fred as to what exactly he was feeding her daughter. But right now, she was more afraid as to what reaction her own mother would have to her daughter and to Draco her co-guardian.
"I bet you looked ten times prettier than Aunt Hermione, Aria." Draco added a smirk on his face as he squeezed Aria's hand which was in his. He then turned to Hermione awaiting her scathing response only to receive none.
"It's all right Hermione, not all of us can be blessed with blonde hair." Draco remarked lightly, hoping to draw Hermione out of her contemplative mood. She had grown progressively quiet as they started to approach her mother's house, having had to walk from the legal apparation point. They could not floo as there were other muggles in the house at that moment apparently.
"It's all right not all of us take being brunette a curse." Hermione retorted evenly a smile playing on her lips. "Aria, would you rather be brunette or blonde?" Draco questioned his daughter innocently, despite the telltale warning signs Hermione was shooting him.
Aria deeply contemplated the question. "Well, being blonde is fun…I have been blonde all my life…" Draco grinned and shot a smirk at Hermione who pouted her lips attractively.
"But being brunette was fun too because Tony said that I looked like Aunt Hermione…" Aria added shinning her winning smile at her guardian. Hermione grinned back and wiggled her eyebrows at Draco in amusement who raised his own in return.
"But on the whole… I think I'll have a lot more fun if I was a red-head like Uncle George and Uncle Fred. Red heads always get to have so much more fun!" At this point Hermione burst into laughter, more so because she was reminded of Ginny's insistent complains of how horrible her hair was and how it always clashed with any nice dress she picked up.
Draco on the other hand whisked his daughter onto his shoulders, berating her for her betrayal of all blonde folk, much to Hermione's further amusement. It was in such a state that the three of them finally reached 24 Ferriby Walk.
Still smiling, Hermione rang the doorbell before it was wrenched open by a tall blonde girl.
"See she's blonde too." Draco uttered but it was lost as the girl launched herself at Hermione with a sudden cry of recognition.
"Bridget?" Hermione uttered finally gaining her footing and holding the younger girl at an arms length from her. "What are you doing here?" She questioned in amusement as she stepped into the parlour, Draco and Aria following behind her.
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Bridget was Hermione's cousin. Their small age difference of a year caused the girls to be very close, both having grown up together. On all fronts Bridget reminded Hermione of Ginny, both had that impulsive streak and were known to cajole Hermione into activities which were entirely out of her norm. Though of course Ginny had somewhat mellowed after being married.
"You're mother invited me over for dinner tonight." She replied leading Hermione into the sitting room. "Goodness, don't tell me she's having a party. Did she redecorate again?" Hermione questioned in wonderment as she walked into the newly adorned sitting room. Bridget giggled, a refreshing light sound, "Of course, it's been a year Hermione, this time it's Bohemian. Or something along those lines." Both of the women shared a look before bursting into laughter. Hermione's mother like Hermione, was a very independent woman. After her husband's death eight years ago, Hermione became more acquainted with her mother's impulsive side, something which her mother had revealed that her husband had always kept in check for her.
"Oh! And Mrs Lynden is here." Hermione pulled a face which would have made Ron proud. But of course she had reason to do so. Mrs Lynden was her next door neighbour, and seemed to think that this gave her an all access card to Hermione's own life. She seemed to have taken a personal obsession to sprightening up Hermione's love life or lack of thereof.
"But you have nothing to worry since you brought …" Bridget looked around to see where the man who had accompanied Hermione in was. She found him lounging in the arm chair, a young girl in his lap.
"She can't criticize you Hermione, no way. He is HOT." Bridget uttered to Hermione a slow grin on her face. Hermione raised her eyebrow in annoyance as she too turned to observe the said man. As if knowing that they were talking about him, Draco turned his face up to them, a lazy smirk placed across his face and winked softly at her. This caused Bridget to sigh with such eloquence that Hermione turned to look at her in shock.
"He's a looker Hermione, you lucky child!" She uttered and Hermione was about to point out that Bridget herself never seemed to be short of "lookers" as well.
"Bridget who was at the door?" and Hermione almost clenched her teeth to hear Mrs Lynden's voice echo through the house. Bridget gave Hermione a winning smile before running off to the back patio no doubt to spread the news of Hermione's arrival.
"Talking about me weren't you?" Draco muttered softly and Hermione turned sharply as she felt his breathe on her ear. She relaxed at the easy smile on his face and took Aria's hand in hers.
"Awfully conceited aren't you. We've got better things to do." Hermione added as she started to walk towards the garden.
"She said I was hot didn't she." Draco added the smile growing on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes, "You're ego is insatiable isn't it?" She uttered in retort and pulled open the back sliding door, spilling all three of them into the garden.
"Hermione!" she smiled as she recognised her mother's voice and seconds later then older woman had wrapped her in a warm embrace. "How are you holding up?" She questioned in concern pulling her daughter's face down to hers, such that she could observe her better.
"I'm fine mother, nothing to worry about." Hermione replied smoothly, wondering how she could explain everything to her mother. Her mother was known to be just as calm and collected as she herself was, but with such an unpredictable scenario it was hard to say.
"Ahh Draco, glad you could make it!" Hermione inwardly gasped as her mother brushed past her and approached Draco. She did let out a cry of exclamation as her mother pulled Draco into an embrace. That was certainly startling, Draco Malfoy, allowing a muggle to touch him, let alone hug him. Maybe she really did not know him as well as she thought, as he had suggested earlier.
"Ahh and is this the precious one?" Hermione turned as she watched her mother embrace Aria and give her an affectionate kiss on her forehead. "Come, I have made some cupcakes especially for you." That was just like her mother Hermione thought wryly as she watched her lead her daughter away, before she turned questioningly to Draco.
"What exactly did you tell my mother?" Hermione questioned softly, her sincerity echoing though her words. It seemed that all her worrying had been for not, as her mother had already known about Aria. He looked down at her in amusement.
"Why do you find it so hard to believe that I told her the truth, Granger." He echoed. Watching as a myriad of emotions floated across her face. "You will find that your mother certainly knows more about you then you think." He uttered softly before stepping away from her.
Hermione let out her breathe. When did Malfoy of all people start offering her advice? She questioned herself in amazement. But nonetheless he did save her a lot of trouble and a lot of embarrassment.
"HERMIONEEEE is that you?" speaking of embarrassment, Hermione cringed as she heard Mrs Lynden's voice echo across the garden. Seconds later she was up by her side. To Hermione's disgust, she found that she had dragged her nephew along with her. Her nephew whom she had made no secret of trying to force Hermione to go out with, it was apparently her life long obsession to see the two get together, after, according to her, it was obvious that Hermione was not going to get married.
"You remember Julius don't you, you two used to play together when you were just wheee toddlers. Right here in this backyard, oh those were the good days. But of course, now Julius is practicing medicine, what is it that you do again Hermione?"
Hermione nodded politely to Julius, who had not changed since she had last seen him. Sure, he was not that horrible a person, in fact, he was quite a charming man rather much like Seamus or the other school chums which she had. And he reminded her of Ron with his lanky frame and messy mop of hair, though it was more brown than red. Perhaps that was the reason why she never saw him more than a good friend.
"I'm an ambassador." Hermione uttered evenly, hoping her dry and monosyllabic answers would give little fuel for a conversation. However, apparently Mrs Lynden could make conversation out of nothing, and was now expounding on Julius's traits. Julius himself rolled his eyes, before catching Hermione's and the two shared a friendly smile.
"Rachel! My, why don't we leave these two youngsters alone then." Hermione almost thanked her mother aloud as she approached them to draw her friend away. Unfortunately at that moment, Mrs Lynden also spotted the young girl who was sprinkled with flour and clutching Mrs. Granger's hand.
"Annie, who is that delightful girl?" Hermione bit her lip as Mrs Lynden bent down to approach Aria. Aria frowned at the large woman towering over her and looked to Hermione for reassurance. Hermione nodded her head once but before Aria could introduce herself Mrs Lynden let out a cry of exclamation.
"Hermione! Is that why you never come around here anymore, because you have a daughter? My goodness! And you're not married! How horrible! This is despicable, Annie don't tell me you knew all along. You poor thing, to have such a brilliant daughter make such a disgraceful mistake!" Hermione clenched her teeth and swept Aria into her arms. Mrs Lynden's cries of indignation were heard by most of the people gathered and many were approaching her looking at Hermione in mortification.
"Is there a problem here?" Hermione bit her lip as she heard Draco's voice echo over the crowd and in a few seconds he was by her side.
"And you are dating now?! What a disgrace! I'll tell you young man that-"
"Rachel that is enough!" Hermione's mother's voice echoed through the crowd and Mrs Lynden promptly shut her mouth. Hermione watched as Julius tried to lead his aunt away but she was strongly resisting him.
"I believe you had something to say to me." Draco uttered softly but was heard by everyone. Hermione turned to flash her eyes at him, hoping beyond measure that he would not embarrass her even further. Hurriedly she made eye contact with Bridget who came swiftly to her side and took the confused Aria from her arms, carrying her up to the main house.
Mrs Lynden realising that Draco had given her permission to speak, promptly shrugged herself out of the hold of her nephew and held her head high.
"Yes. You should not date a woman...a woman who is not of pure stature. And Hermione has obviously not- "
"Enough. You should think about the consequences of your words before you utter them in front of my daughter. Is that clear?"
Mrs Lynden realising that she had made a mistake, or in her eyes thought that she had made a mistake, hurriedly backed down and nodding once to Hermione and to her mother she had the dignity to quietly leave the party through the back door.
"Well! Now that that is settled, how about some prawn crisps, Mathilda brought them over and they are the most delicious things I have ever eaten." Mrs Granger's voice echoed across the garden and soon enough everyone had forgotten about the encounter, tucking into the good food provided.
Hermione let out a breath that she did not realise she had been holding. "And you wonder why I hate muggles." Draco drawled. Hermione turned and rolled her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Yes, and we hate wizards because they are power crazy megalomaniacs." She uttered her brown eyes dancing.
"That's one Granger."
"Exactly" She uttered before she caught his eye once again and pulled her face down. "Thank you." She whispered softly, her hand reaching up immediately to twist her curls. She had worn them down that day.
Draco did not reply immediately but nodded his head once to show that he had heard her.
"Hermione, I am sorry about just now, my aunt can be a bit melodramatic-" Hermione turned as she saw Julius approaching her.
"A bit? You got to be kidding me, that woman is a menace, thank goodness Aria was half asleep and did not hear the ruckus she made!" Hermione watched as Bridget stormed towards them her blonde hair flying haphazardly out of her ponytail.
"Bridget, it's not Julius' fault-"
"You should keep that Aunt of yours on a leash!" Bridget uttered her blue eyes flashing.
"Bridget!"
"I tried but she bit it off." Julius replied a smile playing on his face. "I even have the scars to prove it." He added rolling up his sleeve to reveal supposed scars.
"Oh." Bridget's mouth remained in its attractive pout as she eyed Julius before her.
"Hi I'm Bridget, Hermione's cousin." She uttered suddenly, sticking out her hand. Julius grinned and nodded once to Hermione before leading Bridget away, a smile on his face.
Hermione watched the two of them walk away the bafflement evident on her face as she tried to processes how her cousin and childhood friend had suddenly seemed to have hit it off so well after a conversation such as that.
"Confused yet again Granger?" Draco questioned as he observed her, a lazy smirk on his face and a plate of food in his hand. Hermione frowned at him before her eye caught the large plate of food he had picked out for himself.
"Taking a liking for muggle food?" She baited a growing smirk on her lips.
Draco shrugged nonchalantly but continued to eat the apple pie which Hermione's mother had prepared.
"Must be a change from, what was it we had last night? … Ah-Rolomph baked rice." Hermione uttered pulling a face as she recalled the dinner the three of them had been served at the manor.
"Refined taste, Granger." Draco uttered and Hermione snorted. "You really should learn to cook from your mother Hermione." He added taking another bite of the quiche.
Hermione grinned taking another quiche off the platter for herself. "Why don't you take lessons as well Draco, I know the house elves and the rest of us would certainly benefit from the lack of complains at the dinner table."
Draco pulled a smirk, his eyes dancing as he looked beyond Hermione. As she turned to see who he was looking at, he called out, "Mrs Granger, I do believe Hermione was just telling me how she would be delighted to come and learn cooking from you."
Hermione growled softly as she watched her mother approach with Mathilda by her side. "And Madam you're prawn dippers are exquisite." He added smiling at the other woman. Hermione almost snorted as she watched Mrs Reed blush deep red.
"Yes, Draco here said that he was dying to learn the recipe from you. He just loves to cook. Can't keep him out of the kitchen if you know what I mean." Hermione added smiling at Mrs Reed, feeling Draco's glare directed at her.
Mrs Reed reached out and took Hermione's own hands in hers. "Of course dear, you lucky child, having a husband who would love to cook for you, God knows the numerous attempts I tried to get Timothy to cook." Hermione frowned slightly, but at least everyone thinking that she was married was much better then thinking that she had a illegitimate child. And then she frowned deeper at the realization that every attempt she made to insult Draco was flipped around and dragged out as a compliment.
Draco smiled in triumphant as Mrs Reed continued to prattle onto Hermione about the benefits of having a husband cooking, before he felt Mrs Granger's gaze directed upon him.
"Led her right into that one didn't you?" she uttered a soft smile on her face. Draco shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, Mrs Reed will go on for quite some time, so why don't you go get something to eat. Need to build up your appetite, because I know that once she's done, Hermione is going to come after you." Annie added with a beaming smile on her face and directed him towards the food spread, stopping now and then to introduce Draco to a guest or two.
Indeed, much to Draco's amusement, Mrs. Granger was right. Hermione did come looking for him with a suspicious glint in her eye.
"Enjoying yourself aren't you?" she questioned a slow smile on her face as she eyed Draco take another bite into the almond jelly dessert. Draco became slightly suspicious, perhaps Annie was right, Hermione would come back with some sort of revenge.
Outwardly he showed no sign of his thoughts, swirling his wine glass slowly. "Couldn't say that I didn't, amusing lot over here."
Hermione snorted once causing Draco to regard her warily. "Shall we go home then, unless you want to be amused more?" Hermione questioned the glint once more appearing in her eyes.
Draco hurriedly placed his wine glass on the counter and nodded in agreement to her. The faster they left, the less opportunities Hermione would be presented with to seek whatever petty revenge she wished to undertake.
Even then, the process of leaving was long drawn out. Everybody embraced Hermione, whishing her well and making small talk. Then there was an elaborate goodbye where Bridget threw herself at Hermione and Draco making her promise that she came more often. It was no surprise that she still remained in Julius's company.
Of course after the series of goodbyes Draco and Hermione still had to walk up to Hermione's old bedroom where Aria was sleeping. Throughout the entire journey it seemed like Hermione was formulating her said revenge, almost driving Draco to a sense of paranoia that was unbecoming.
The last of the goodbyes were made, the final one with Mrs. Granger. Where she made Draco promise that Hermione would come more often, though why she thought such decisions were up to him still remained unknown.
Finally during their stretch to the apparition point Draco turned to Hermione and questioned in annoyance, the paranoia driving him to the brink of irritation. "Merlin Granger, just do it." Hermione startled out of her reprieve looked at him questioningly. "Do what?" she uttered eyeing him warily.
Draco switched Aria into his other hand, "Revenge." He uttered slowly looking down at her in wonderment. Hermione raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Revenge? For? …I think you've drunk too much." She uttered slowly, taking Aria out of his hands.
Draco frowned slightly not noticing Hermione take Aria and apparate home. "Bloody hell!" he cursed under his breath. Of course, Hermione would not take revenge over something petty like that, hell she had yet to feel the need to take revenge on the numerous times he had ridiculed her in school. He growled softly. Annie, probably said so to give him a scare and to make up on Hermione's behalf. Shaking his head slightly, Draco apparated home; Mrs Granger was very devious and very Slytherin. They would certainly be paying her another visit he thought with a smile.
a/n: I love Annie. She is modeled based on a good friend of mine. Perhaps that's why I love her.
