A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! They really mean so much! I can't believe it, but this story only has ten chapters left! Don't worry, though, I have lots of other stories planned. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter eleven and be on the lookout for chapter twelve soon!
The morning after the dinner with the rest of their co conspirators, Hermione's mind was whirring with possibilities at how to take care of Lucius Malfoy. She didn't know much about the man, other than he was married to her friend Ginny and seemed interested in continuing a pure blood line.
It did seem a bit disconcerting to Hermione that Ginny had gotten pregnant so quickly, and Hermione was grateful that Antonin hadn't tried something similar with her. He'd been very respectful with her, even that first night together, and she'd been enjoying the gradual increase in affection between the two of them.
She hadn't told him, but one of her favorite times was in the mornings when she'd wake up to his fingers running through her messy curls, or the barest press of his lips against the back of her neck. She wondered if he even realized she knew he was doing this. By the same token, she loved falling asleep every night, her head pressed against his broad chest, his firm, insistent heartbeat lulling her to sleep.
Hermione hadn't been exposed to many men while she was at the Home, but she couldn't deny that she was attracted to her husband. He was more rough than Rabastan or Reuben, scruffy and wild. He was obviously strong and powerful and the thought that he was all her's did send pleasurable shivers through her body. Even though she wouldn't act on it.
The more she thought on her good fortune, the more Hermione became convinced that Ginny could not be pleased with a man like Malfoy. He was cool and looked down on those he considered lesser than himself. Hermione was sure that Ginny could be convinced to help them, if she was approached delicately.
"I have an idea about Malfoy." Hermione said, once she'd cleaned up after breakfast.
Her pronouncement startled Antonin. His wife had been quite engrossed in her own thoughts all morning and he worried that she might be second guessing their little plan. Or, he could dream as much. He would do everything in his power to keep Hermione out of harm's way. "And what is this brilliant idea?" He asked, tentatively.
Hermione sat back down across from him. "Well, you see, my friend Ginny was selected by Malfoy." She nibbled her lower lip. "I know that she can't be happy with such an awful individual as Malfoy. She is much too sweet. I think she could be convinced to help us."
Antonin slapped his hand on the table. "Absolutely not, Hermione. We are already taking a big enough risk bringing so many people into this little plot. I know she is your friend, but we cannot trust someone so close to one of the targets."
"But, Antonin." Hermione whined. "He got her pregnant right away. He's treating her like a brood mare. Just please, trust me on this. I have a good feeling." She wasn't sure why she was so confident in Ginny's actions, but she was. They hadn't known each other long, but they were already fond of one another.
"No, and I won't be swayed on this." He put his foot down. "I am sure that if you asked Luna she wouldn't even agree with your plan." Turning a bit too quick, he hissed at the pain in his side, grabbing at the healing scar.
Hermione instantly winced, before peeling up his shirt to look at the mending flesh. "It looks much better today. I'm sure you will be feeling better soon." She blinked back tears. She didn't like see him so hurt.
"Why do you cry?" He asked, gently grabbing her chin so that she couldn't look away from him. Her light brown eyes were so expressive, it was almost like reading a book.
"I just...hate that you got hurt because of me." Hermione said, swallowing the thick lump in her throat. She felt so guilty about what had happened to him, even though he was going to be okay. "And, I wish I had been able to help you more."
He smiled softly at her. "Nonsense. You helped me more than you know." He didn't want her to feel guilty when what happened was not her fault. "Don't blame yourself, it was all that mongrel Greyback."
Seeing her flinch at the name, Antonin bristled. "I wish you would tell me what he said to you." He prodded. "I promise that I will keep you safe from him."
"I...it's nothing, Antonin." Hermione tried to deflect. "He was just being an awful man to me."
She could see that her placating words did little to sooth him. "Tell me Hermione." He insisted. How could he keep her safe if he didn't know what he was up against? She must know that this was not just a matter of pride to him.
"He said...it's unfortunate that you are too possessive of a man to share me." Hermione started, shuddering, glad that Antonin wouldn't debase her like that. "But he also said, because you have such a hot head, you are likely to be killed one of these days. He promised to look after me when you were gone and that I would bare many...cubs for him."
Fenrir's words were not wrong on the count that Antonin was both possessive and hot headed. Hearing the things that he'd told his wife had him wanting to charge the werewolf down and fight him again. If only he wasn't so sore, he probably would. "Bloody werewolf." He swore under his breath.
"Werewolf?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Yes, he's a werewolf." Antonin said off hand, only to be surprised by Hermione's shocked gasp.
"Werewolves are real?" He asked, panic in her eyes. She couldn't believe that she was living in the same village as a werewolf. What on earth did he do during the full moon?
Antonin laughed, a deep rich laugh. "Merlin, if I ever track down those witches who taught you at the Home." His mood was completely lightened by Hermione's absolute naivete in certain areas of magic. "How you had seven years of schooling and they never taught you about dark creatures.." Really, he was annoyed at them for stunting Hermione's growth as a witch.
Her mind on other things, the threats that Fenrir had made seemed to drift from her, though Antonin promised himself he wouldn't forget. And he'd get even later.
Some days later, Hermione received a bit of mail from the owl post. Antonin was highly suspicious, and forced himself to let her read it without any interference. A broad smile came over her face. "Ginny has had her baby." She said, looking into his eyes. "She's invited me to come meet him."
Antonin couldn't imagine that meeting the spawn of a Weasley and a Malfoy would be a particularly fun afternoon. Just knowing the temperaments of the two families, he was likely to be an exceptionally fussy thing.
"Well?" Hermione prodded. "Can I go meet him?"
It was surprising how eager she was. Of course the topic of children had never come up between them. Of course she hadn't fallen pregnant after the first time. The only time. He would know by now. Did she want a child of her own? With him? "I suppose you could go." Antonin couldn't think fo a good reason to hold her back.
She nibbled her lower lip. "Now would be a good time to see if Ginny could help us." She started. "She is sure to be a ball of emotions. She'll tell us if it's what she wants."
"Hermione, we've talked about this. Absolutely not." He said, wanting to be firm. It was not wise to include another member.
"Please just let me feel it out. I promise that I will be so subtle. Just get her feeling on Lucius." Hermione pleaded.
He sighed. "You are going to do it no matter what, aren't you?" He asked, knowing that she was too stubborn to give this up. Feeling his shoulders sag, he knew that he was going to give in to her whims. "Fine, but just see...how she feels about him. Do not breathe a word about the plan."
He was rewarded with a bright smile. "I promise. I won't disappoint you."
Before he knew it, he was walking Hermione over to the plot of land where the Malfoys lived. Lucius had had the first pick of land and already had a large house, with a little barn off to the side. This was exactly the reason why others didn't like Lucius. He only cared about himself, and would step on anyone to get his aims.
Hermione knocked on the door and Ginny opened the door excited. They began chatting and Antonin thought he might go mad from the inane conversation that they settled into, only to hiss when he felt a pain in his arm. Turning to Hermione, he got her attention. "I'm being summoned. I will return for you later."
He pressed his lips against hers in a quick kiss, before he apparated away from Malfoy's house to the town square.
When he arrived, it seemed that almost everyone had been assembled, but there wasn't anything obviously wrong. Finding Thorfinn Rowle looking bored not far away, he walked over to his frequent partner. "What's going on here?" He asked, annoyed at having to leave Hermione on her own.
Thorfinn gave him a smirk. "Seems that Lucius can't keep track of anything these days. Someone broke into the dry food stores last night. They are trying to figure out who it was."
That was truly bad news, Antonin thought. They didn't have much when it came to dry stores and it would be weeks before a new shipment could be organized from across the Atlantic. Still, it gave him pause. It was unusual that two things Lucius was meant to manage had been sabotaged. First the tax building and then their food stores. And it seemed he wasn't the first person to realize is, if Thorfinn's words were to be believed.
Did someone hate the colony so much that they thought if they sabotaged it, they would be sent home? It wasn't as though them being there was exactly volunteer service, and they were told not to expect to return home when King Voldemort had sent them over.
"Who was guarding last night?" He asked, wanting to get to the bottom of this. He would need to start preparing if they didn't find the food. The winter before had been brutal, and he didn't fancy living through it again, but this time without provisions.
"I heard that it was Goyle." Thorfinn said. "Though I am not sure. It's not as though I have the schedules memorized."
Antonin wanted to roll his eyes at his partner, knowing that he was being particularly difficult, though Antonin supposed Thorfinn was just as displeased to be called here without warning.
Lucius stood in front of the assembled Death Eaters, a tight smile on his face. "Well, we know that someone has stolen from the food stores after Goyle was attacked while on watch last night."
"He was probably sleeping!" Someone from the crowd shouted, drawing a small laugh from the crowd, but Lucius was displeased, sending a stunner at the man who had shouted it.
"If you took the food, we just want it back. There will be no punishment." Antonin thought it looked as though it was killing him to say this. "However...if the food is not returned by sundown tomorrow, the offer of clemency is off the table."
He looked over the crowd, shrewd grey eyes appraising each and every man. "And, if you should know any information that helps us locate the food...you will be handsomely rewarded." He finished, perhaps hoping that one of the Death Eaters would roll on his brethren.
Thorfinn made a noise of disgust to his right and Antonin thought that he must be thinking on the same path as he was. "I can't believe he called us for this."
Antonin was inclined to agree. He didn't like leaving Hermione alone in an unknown place, especially when he knew that she was going to be treading into dangerous territory.
"That was precious." Ginny said with a sigh, after Antonin had popped away. "Glad to see that you are warming up to him. At your wedding you looked like you would rather kiss a toad than kiss him."
Hermione smiled at her characterization. She supposed a lot had changed between Antonin and her. He was nothing like what she expected, and he'd already helped her so much. He'd taught her so much about magic, their society. Hell, he'd even made her a wand. Shaking her head, a fond smile on her face, she turned to her friend. "Come on, I want to meet your son."
Ginny had Hermione sit in the parlor while she went to go retrieve the little boy. Hermione looked around the room while she was gone. It was obvious that the pair of them were very well off. For one, they had an actual house and it was lavishly decorated. Before she could think on it much more, Ginny waltzed back into the room.
"Here is little Arthur." She said. The baby was pale with pointed features, but with a shock of strawberry blond hair on the top of his head. He looked very annoyed, but sleepy, as though he'd been roused from a nap.
Hermione couldn't wipe the smile from her face. "Oh, look at this little gentleman." She cooed, slipping the tip of her finger into his tiny fist. He grabbed onto it, causing her heart to clench. Even if his father was a rude man, this little baby was precious.
Ginny surely looked proud as well. "Lucius let me name him after my father. But, I let him choose the middle name. Arthur Brutus. Apparently it was his grandfather's name." Hermione wondered what Antonin's grandfather was called. Hopefully it wasn't something like Brutus. "Would you like to hold him?"
The brunette eagerly agreed, wrapping him in her arms. He was so tiny. "Was it hard?" Hermione asked. In her adult life, she had never met a woman who had given birth before and it seemed tremendously difficult.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever done." Ginny said seriously. "But after I saw Arthur's little face, I knew that I would do it again in a heartbeat." Hermione nodded, knowing that there weren't many options to witches to prevent pregnancy. It was highly likely that Ginny would do it again.
"What does Lucius think of it?" Hermione asked, wanting to ease the conversation towards the blond man. She was incredibly curious about their relationship. They seemed to come from completely different backgrounds.
"Well, he dotes on Arthur." Ginny said, her voice low. "But he isn't around much. Still, I wouldn't give it up. He gives me whatever I want, if he can, and it's so nice to live in a proper house! My home in England was barely standing. It's just so nice to have...well, nice things for a change."
Hermione was disappointed that her friend was so shallow that she'd been swayed by a house and a few trinkets. Didn't she want to love her husband? He sounded like he was barely around. Still, she waxed lyrical about all the nice things that Lucius had gotten her and what a joy it was to be a real society wife for a change.
She wouldn't burst Ginny's bubble by saying that this was hardly society, and it wasn't likely that she would have the same life back in England. Instead, she just smiled and nodded and oohed and ahhed over the new fine china plates that Lucius had gotten her, or the large emerald broach celebrating Arthur's birth.
When Antonin popped back and knocked on the door, Hermione couldn't deny that she was happy to see him. She wanted to get away from Ginny and her bragging before she lost her mind. Ginny was no longer the girl she'd met on the boat.
Saying goodbye to her friend, Hermione let Antonin apparate them back to their cabin, each trip getting easier and easier and she could tell that he was eager to hear what she'd gleaned. She just gave him a disappointed look and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I was wrong. Ginny fancies herself in love with Lucius...or, in love with his money anyway.
He wasn't surprised, but it wasn't as though he was so heartless that he would rub it in her face. Instead, he just gave her a sorry look. He was certain that her day had been worse than his. "I am sorry." He said, awkwardly. "We will just have to think of something else."
Luckily, the growing thought that Lucius was incompetent would only help their matters along. Honestly, how did you lose so much food? Where would it even have gone. If he was in charge, Antonin would be searching each and every house.
Hermione nodded listlessly. "I suppose." She smiled then. "Lucius let Ginny name the baby after her father, if they could use his grandfather's name for the middle. Arthur Brutus Malfoy." Hermione said, thinking that the name was rather unfortunate. Arthur wasn't bad, but Brutus...
Antonin smiled at that. "I wonder who would be more upset with that...Arthur Weasley or Lucius Malfoy?" It was no secret that the Weasleys and the Malfoys didn't exactly get around. Hermione giggled even if she didn't know the history.
For a moment, she wanted to ask him if he had any grandfathers who he would want to name his children after, but then she realized that they had never even spoken of the possibility of children and she didn't want to make him worry needlessly. Hermione thought of her own father and realized that he would never get to meet his own grandchildren.
Just feeling a bit sad, Hermione decided it was time for her to head to bed. She gave Antonin a quick kiss and goodnight, before heading up the ladder to bed.