Chapter 9

The Parents

"Hermione has your friend Mr Weasley still not accepted Draco yet?" Narcissa sat back opposite of Hermione, they were having a lunch date at the same restaurant where Draco and Hermione had gone for their first date.
A year ago already.
Hermione and Narcissa had lunch once a week since about six months prior. Narcissa insisted on it, but Hermione didn't complain, they had actually developed a close bond.
She sighed and rubbed her brow before dejectedly answering Narcissa.
"No Narcissa, in fact he doesn't even accept me anymore. Whenever we have forced contact or interaction he still keeps it politely formal. I miss my friend honestly, yet I feel free from him. And then I don't know whether I should feel guilty because of it or not."
Narcissa sat in thought for a moment before carefully answering.
"I do not think you should feel guilty. The rest of the Weasley family is fine with Draco, they even include him now in the family circle."
Narcissa wrinkled her nose at that, she was still a typical aristocrat, Hermione smiled at that.
"Even Lucius accepts you, yes it's hard for him, thus he struggles to develop warm feelings for you, but he does accept you. And I mean my dear, if Lucius can work at it and accept things, then anyone can. So if Mr Weasley can't, then I do believe the problem is with himself and no one can take responsibility for that."
Narcissa smiled kindly at her, Hermione felt the truth of her words. Ron's issues were above and beyond her, if he couldn't accept her decisions, then maybe he was not a true friend to begin with? Hermione smiled back at Narcissa, she felt better after this conversation.
"Thank you Narcissa, I actually do feel better about it now." Hermione stood up and bend over the table to peck her cheek in gratitude.
Narcissa smiled back and patted her hand over the table.
"Narcissa, I want to get a gift for Mr Malfoy for his birthday, but I want it to mean something. I know we are not close and our relationship is only civil, but I do want to try from my side. Can you help me?" Narcissa looked intently at Hermione, the cock wheels turning in her head.
"Well dear, Lucius accepts you, and deep inside he likes you, un admittedly, but I know my husband, we need something that will make him realise its okay to like you. As I like you. You make my son very happy, and Lucius knows that. We need to brainstorm in this. It must be something special yes. Something that will force him out of his comfort zone of not admitting that he likes you as a person, regardless of your blood status."
The two women sat frowning and discussing ideas, but by the end of the date they were no closer to a solution than when Hermione brought it up.
So the two women hugged and said goodbye an hour later, with Hermione still puzzling over what to get Lucius for his birthday.

Hermione aparated into the apartment, she glanced to the kitchen to see it empty. Draco was still at the office most likely.
They had moved in together eventually six months earlier, it was just easier since they anyway spend all their waking non-working time together. And then found a bigger apartment three months later.
Draco came from wealth, and oh boy, he liked his wealth.
The new apartment was in a posh neighbourhood, in a modern new building. They had the top floor. Or more accurately, the penthouse. Hermione and Draco had spent weeks arguing, she was for cozy middle class, and he was for posh and uptown.
Eventually they compromised, his choice apartment, her choice decor.
She obviously went for cozy and warm. Lots of wood and cream colours. And lots of books.
In fact she had a whole room that was revamped to be her own personal library. The outside wall was floor to ceiling and wall to wall window, the other three walls were floor to ceiling and wall to wall book cases. Except for where the door was and where the fireplace was. In front of the fireplace was a love seat with a fluffy rug and a small coffee table. And that was the only furniture.
It was her favourite room. And the only room she didn't decorate.
The room was a Christmas gift from Draco.
Draco had never actually said the words 'I love you', but he showed it. Every day. Hermione didn't feel that she needed to hear it, she felt loved. She knew that for him to put feelings into words was very difficult, he was an action man. Not a word man, and she preferred that, words can be empty and meaningless, but deeds and actions say everything.
Hermione really loved her library, it was one of those deeds that said I love you so much better than the actual words.
It was where she was sitting and reading when Draco returned an hour after her arrival.
"Afternoon love, how was lunch with mum?" Draco leaned over and kissed her on the lips, and then dropped down on the seat next to her, dropping his head back on the seat back.
Hermione placed her hand over his on his leg and intertwined their fingers.
"It was nice, as always. We are trying to think what I can get for your fathers birthday."
Draco glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and smiled.
"Love don't sweat it, dad wouldn't expect anything from you." Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled.
"But that's why I feel I have to love, I want him to actually eventually like me also, instead of just accepting me." Draco leaned over and gently kisses her.
"That's why you are my one and only Mione, you just really care, about everyone, even us unfortunate Malfoy's who tortured you."
Hermione smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.
"If I didn't care about you Malfoy's, who will Draco? I find it my biggest joy now, caring about you 'unfortunate' Malfoy's. You are all so much more than what the world has given you credit for." Draco smiled, she was truly one of a kind. And she was his.
He hugged her close and kissed her forehead, he was well aware of what he was going to do that Friday at the Second Malfoy Family Freedom Ball. And he knew it was the best decision he ever made when he decided two weeks ago.

Hermione glanced at the report in her hand again. It was the monthly feedback report on her parents. They were living in Australia, along with their adoptive daughter, Sophia. Their memories were still very much lost.
Hermione had tried to return them after the war, but her obliviate spell was apparently too good. She had to content herself with reports from field agents of the ministry, who was doing her a favour, or more accurately, they were doing Harry the favours.
So she at least stayed in the loop of their lives. She intervened when necessary, having saved them jobs and even their lives on occasion, she just wanted them alive and well.
The latest report had nothing different, they were happy and living their daily lives.
Harry had more than once carefully suggested she stopped the reports and let them go, but how do you let your parents go?
Even if they didn't even know of a daughters existence.
Draco surprisingly didn't intervene, but she knew, if he thought for a moment that this was causing harm, he would intervene
So she let it be, as long as he didn't intervene, she knew it was because he didn't see any harm, which meant it was safe.
Draco had some killer instincts when it came to Hermione, he would literally kill to protect her.
He would sense if she was upset or if some form of harm was approaching even before she would know, and he would do bad things to protect her.
She sat back and closed her eyes, smelling the scent of the roses on her table, one year later and he still send her roses every week.
Hermione smiled at the thought, and then made a decision.
Her parents were living their life, they had adopted a child and were creating a future.
She will do the same. It was time to let them go.