Author Notes: And now we trek ahead. Always so diligent our little witch is, isn't she? Hopefully, you all aren't too sour with me for this next short snippet. I want to give a thank you to those reading and commenting. Without you, my Potterheads, I would surely not exist. Just a little writer with so many things to say and no platform. Lots of love for you all. Anyways, on with the show!
It was like the ease of tensions despite what Draco had done. Somewhere between the goodbye that Hermione gave the Malfoys at the apparition point and the next couple weeks; things became like clockwork. The ministry witch would come over in the mornings. They all would have breakfast and she would start in on really talking with Narcissa and Draco about the foundation of them moving forward. Lucius had little interest but sat in the room nonetheless.
After a good bulk of the mornings were done, Hermione would blend into the background and take notes or read a book. She saw changes in them and even potential. However… that all being nice and said with a pretty bow, there was something missing. None of them really spoke about the war. They swept it under the rug and curtailed any furthering the conversation. Hermione grew frustrated with it. She was the last person who wanted to talk about those times, but it had to be done.
She was lounging on the sofa in the library as Scorpius and Draco were working on some project together. Lucius was sitting in his armchair reading, and Narcissa was glancing over a new way of styling dresses with an enchanted starry appearance. Hermione stirred just enough to eye the older Malfoy.
"Lucius," Hemione declared, and the man arched an eyebrow without looking up.
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Can we speak frank?" she sat up as he set down his book.
"About what, dove?" he said with a sly smile.
"Why did you hate muggles so much?" The room grew silent and she exhaled. "I have been reading some of the old texts you have in here. Just because they are in Latin doesn't mean I cannot read them. They are littered with disdain for muggles and muggleborns. I know you don't retain these views any longer, but I am curious to find out why you felt that way."
He tilted his head and met her gaze with a focused one. "I grew up around a House of purebloods who were the crème de la crème of purists. Almost as worse as the Black family. One does not ask why the branches twist and grow; we only ask why the fruit isn't as sweet."
"Magic is magic, how does anyone decide that there is no evolution beyond pureblood?" Hermione inquired; her expression remained neutral.
"We often hate what we don't understand. We covet. We bolster. We bathe in ignorance," Lucius declared and waved his hand toward her. "You, my dear, were seen as fraudulent of my former associates because it made no sense that your magic was there."
Hermione's lips curled to one side, and she shrugged her shoulders. "I was the best in my class."
"Exactly. Which never made sense in the logic of our world. Magic never just springs up."
"Which my counter argument would be this. What if by nature we all carry the same capacities, but some are more passive than others in traits. Who's to say that your son could have been a squib? It has happened many times over in the Black tree and they were disowned for a simple attribute defect. In looking at that, we can say that quite possibly the same effect of muggles. A passive trait that exists and only becomes dominant if key features are enhanced." Hermione finished and tapped her chin. "It is all in theory of course."
Lucius arched an eyebrow and glanced at his son approaching. "She was like this at school?" he asked and Draco bobbed his head. "How exhausting. Do you make yourself dizzy with your pondering?" He returned his attention to Hermione.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I have wondered for decades why I was special enough to be a witch. What made me so different from my parents? What caused that part of me to spring to the forefront? These are the questions of all muggleborns. It is a gift, but a confusing one. I even spent a great amount of time in the archives to hunt down any sign of possible ancestry and nothing came out of it truly conclusive. By the standards of magical properties at hand, I should not exist."
Narcissa placed down her book and arched an eyebrow. "You have done quite a bit of research, my dear."
Hermione bobbed her head. "Which is why when I ask what is so wrong with me, I mean it. What did I do to the wizarding world that I was less effective as a witch than yourself?" she asked Lucius, and the wizard shifted uncomfortably.
"It was never a concern on where it came from, my girl. It was a concern on how to keep it. Magic is powerful. You either harness it or you are defeated by its diminishment. Many believed that muggleborns were the start of such a demise."
Hermione nodded slowly. "I can understand that fear."
"Are you claiming that evolution was at hand with muggleborns?" Draco asked as Scorpius joined the small group.
Hermione rolled her shoulders and smiled lightly. "If your bloodline is rinsed and repeated so many times that cousins are marrying cousins to keep it pure, then who's to say your families didn't create such a thing? Magic is just as flexible and affecting as an environmental change. Who's to say that lack of growth in bloodlines did not spur a recessive trait in muggles?"
"Are you suggesting more… creative pairing for the future?" Lucius asked, and Hermione laughed with a nod.
"Of course. Not a prime example of good, but your former leader was the most powerful dark wizard there was. No question. He was only a halfblood and he was more entuned with his magic than any of his followers." Hermione said; she nearly choked on the example, even if it was a perfect one.
Narcissa glanced at Lucius who shared the same expression. What the young witch spoke was entirely true. "Do you feel at a deficit for not being aware of magic before Hogwarts?" Narcissa questioned.
Hermione exhaled and held her arms up next to her with indecision. "I wouldn't know what anything else feels like because that was my life. I know that regardless of how it changed me, I am this now. I am a witch regardless of my upbringing."
"Do you plan on marrying a wizard?" Narcissa inquired, and Hermione blushed lightly.
"I don't see myself making that a factor of love and future. If he is a wizard, fantastic. If he is a muggle, well then that is wonderful as well. It would be quite the conversation starter if I ended up marrying someone who knows nothing of my world. I can see the difficulties and intricacies of such a task."
Draco hemmed. "Sounds like more trouble than it's worth."
"Harry had no clue he was a wizard or anything about his heritage prior to Hogwarts. If a wizard can be unaware since birth without exposure and come out the most powerful wizard of his time, I am sure there is less to do with exposure and more to do with the application." Hermione voiced while rising from her seat. "As lovely as this has all been, I do have an engagement tonight and must be going soon."
"But, Hermione!" Scorpius huffed. "I don't want you to go yet."
She reached for him and bent down to hug the boy. "I will see you after the weekend, lovely." She muttered, and he clung to her.
"But wait. I want to read that book again," he retorted, and Hermione giggled.
"We will. I have to go home and take care of Teddy. He needs me too," Hermione reminded him, and the boy pouted as she let him go.
"Don't be so hasty and let me walk you out, Granger," Draco grumbled, and she motioned agreement.
"Alright."
She bid her goodbyes to the matriarch and patriarch before they started their journey through the house. It was quiet and comfortable; pretty usual for them. They hardly spoke after their outing. Neither of them touched on the kiss. There was a silent agreement not to mention the mall transaction either. Each of them was guilty of hiding it and brushing it under the rug. It was not something normal each of them concluded on their own.
"Hot date?" Draco asked.
"Something like that. I heard that you are inviting Romilda over for dinner. That's good," Hermione replied softly.
Draco snorted and swiveled his eyes. "Scorpius hates her."
"She will grow on him," Hermione mumbled, and they stopped at the front door.
"You think Teddy is going to like the mystery wizard you are seeing?" Draco questioned with a tilt of his head.
Hermione's cheeks glowed with subtle coloring. "I don't know. I find it queer that you knew about that."
Draco smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Word gets around. Romilda told me about him. Her- well- friends, I suppose. They know someone who knows him."
"Of course, they do. We all went to school together," Hermione sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.
"It's good," Draco mumbled and a curve barely touched his lips.
"Yes, it is. Just like you and her, I suppose."
He scowled at her and bit back resentment. "Yes, it is. Everyone needs someone to shag." He growled. "After all, we can't be alone forever. It isn't natural as my mother has said."
"I never said I was shagging him," Hermione snapped.
"Then what are you seeing him for? Does he apply well to your plans for world domination via peace and love?" He retorted with a grimace. "The concept does not apply when you are courting a Quidditch star. Unless that is your objective this whole time. Can't ride a broom well so you just shag those that can."
"You have some bloody nerve, Malfoy. At least I am not shagging a gossip queen," Hermione hissed, her cheeks now blotchy with red.
"No, just another broom humper," he taunted. "I guess you can almost cross off all your checkboxes for this one. At least he was captain at school. Hopefully, this one sticks, eh?" He finished with a sneer.
She did not retort; she slapped him roughly across the face. "You are a bloody wanker, Draco Malfoy!" Hemione left swiftly and he just stood there staring at the slammed door.
Suddenly, Draco had little urge to have dinner. He was a complete wanker…