Chapter 14
They apperated into a rather small but cozy living room and Draco made sure Hermione had her balance before he let her go. Hermione looked around the room with a curious gaze. She noted the rather large T.V. opposite of the rather comfy looking couch and the large bay window that had the curtains pulled shut on it.
"Welcome to the honeymoon suite." Draco looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes. He looked like he was trying to puzzle her out and Hermione felt uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny.
"Where are we?" Hermione walked rather stiffly to the couch as her feet screamed in protest from wearing the heels.
"Somewhere in Montana. It's my mother's cabin. She said we could use it if we needed." Draco stood back and Hermione felt his eyes on her as she tried to remove her shoes.
"Bloody high heels!" Hermione seethed at the inanimate objects that were torturing her feet. Once again Draco was there and he slowly removed the blue pumps and rubbed her feet slightly. Hermione leaned back. "Thank you. I don't know why Luna insisted I wear those things. They are torture on the feet!" Draco got to his feet before plopping down beside Hermione on the couch.
"I know. Why woman do that is beyond me." He loosened his collar and Hermione watched the movement with tired eyes. She couldn't find the will to look away as he slowly undid the first few buttons of his shirt. Hermione swallowed quickly.
"It's beyond me and I'm a woman." She gave a small smile and stood up. She pulled the veil out of her hair and all the pins. She pulled her hair off to one side and bent down. "Can you unclasp the lace? I know I can't reach." She smirked at Draco's long suffering sigh.
"Fine, why not." Fabric rustled as he moved forward on the couch, his knees on either side of Hermione's waist. She felt him try and undo the clasp as he started muttering. She smirked as he fiddled with the small clasp holding the lace behind her neck together.
"Don't let such a tiny clasp be the end of you, Malfoy. Be smarter than the clasp." Draco grumbled something unintelligible at that.
Hermione was chuckling after the fourth try and had to stifle a laugh at his seventh. Finally the clasp unhooked and Draco gave a small muffled cry of triumph. Hermione went to stand up when Draco's arms wrapped around her waist and his chin came to rest on her shoulder. The warmth of his chest seeped into her slightly chilled back. It had been exposed since five and Hermione hadn't been given anything to cover it.
"What do you want to do now? It's only nine." His warm breath brushed her ear and a large smile burst across Hermione face.
"I know just what we are going to do. Now let me get out of this dress." Hermione felt Draco stiffen.
"Wotcher, Granger?" His voice sounded strained and Hermione laughed.
"Nothing yet, Malfoy. Nothing yet." She managed to escape his arms and ran off to find the nearest bedroom.
"I don't understand this. There's a mass murderer in the house and she's gone off by herself to look to see if he is inside? She's an idiot." Draco looked down at Hermione, who had a large bowl of ice cream in her lap. Hermione laughed as the woman was stabbed in the back and had an overly dramatic death.
"Exactly. These aren't supposed to make sense. I watch them for the terrible graphics and the terrible acting." Hermione looked up at him and Draco smirked at her.
"You're right about both things. In fact, we have watched three of these already and I still want to keep going. It's rather strange." Draco looked down at her and she smirked at him.
"It's addicting. Just like this!" She shoved a spoon full of the ice cream she was eating, into his face. Draco jerked back slightly and stared at the spoon.
"The only good kind of ice cream is vanilla. I'm not going to eat that monstrosity. It has flecks of... stuff in it." Draco scowled at her and Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"Heavenly Hash is not a monstrosity! It's a perfect blend of vanilla and chocolate. Those 'flecks' are small bits of chocolate and nuts. It's the perfect combination. Try it." Her spoon bumped against his mouth. Draco shook his head frowning at her.
"No, Gran-" He managed to get half out before Hermione shoved the spoon between his lips. Draco was shocked at her audacity before the ice cream spread across his tongue. Draco closed his eyes and nearly let out a small moan as the flavors swirled in his mouth but he caught himself just in time. He opened his eyes to see Hermione's smug face. He swallowed the ice cream. "It's passable."
"Uh huh. That's why you got this look of extreme pleasure on your face when you tasted it." Hermione gave herself a big spoonful. She swallowed with a smug smile. "You're right. It is... passable." Draco scowled at her before snatching the ice cream bowl out of her lap.
"Hey! Give that back!" Hermione went after the bowl and Draco held it close to his chest. He held his other arm to prevent her from getting the bowl
"No. I happen to like this Heavenly Hash. So, no more for you because you will eat all of it." Draco narrowed his eyes at her and Hermione rolled her eyes before standing up.
"Fine you eat the passable Heavenly Hash and I get the mint chocolate chip." With that Draco watched her rush to the kitchen.
"Bring me back a spoon." Draco called out after her.
"Get your own bloody spoon! I'm not a slave." She sounded indignant and Draco smirked with a small chuckle.
"Please? I'll give you some Heavenly Hash." Draco swiped some ice cream up with his finger and sticking the cold treat into his mouth.
"I don't want any Heavenly Hash. I want my mint chocolate chip and I want to watch my movies." Hermione reappeared with a small tub of green ice cream and two spoons. She tossed one at Draco who snatched it out of the air, smirking at her.
"Thanks, wifey." Draco looked over at the green ice cream with a small contemplating smile.
"Don't even think about it, hubby." At her voice Draco looked up at her face. She pulled the small ice cream tub closer to her chest. "This is mine." Draco shrugged and turned to the movie.
"Thunder and lightning? How clichéd is that?" The heroine of the movie moved towards a small shed that the killer stayed in. Draco leaned forward. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you." The woman let out a blood curdling scream and took off running when the killer popped out from behind the door. Draco just shook his head.
"I warned you, didn't I?" He ate a spoon of ice cream and Hermione elbowed him in the side. Draco jerked away with a glare.
"Stop. It's a movie. They can't hear you." Hermione scowled at him and Draco ate another spoonful of his ice cream.
"Someone's peeved." He watched as Hermione took a bite of the light green ice cream.
"Am not." She smirked at him. "I happen to like mint chocolate chip. So, keep your Heavenly Hash. I don't need it." Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Can I try some?" He looked pointedly at the ice cream tub in her hands. She nodded and took another spoonful. Draco smirked and leaned forward before kissing her. She gave a small gasp and Draco seized the opportunity to swipe his tongue along hers, catching the taste of mint and chocolate and something that was strictly Hermione. She responded slowly and Draco carefully removed the tub of ice cream from her hands and set it on the coffee table. Draco smirked inwardly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. A bloodcurdling scream filled the air and Draco broke the kiss to glare at the television set. Hermione's arms slowly dropped from his neck and Draco smirked.
"Not very romantic is it?" He motioned to the movie and handed her back the green tub of ice cream. Hermione shrugged before licking the back of her spoon and taking another bite. She looked straight at him and smirked.
"How was the ice cream?" Her tone hid something and Draco shrugged.
"It was passable." A pillow caught the side of his head and Hermione laughed as she jumped off the couch, ice cream and pillow in tow. Draco set his ice cream down slowly and looked at her with a tilt to his chin. "Mrs. Hermione Malfoy. That wasn't nice." Hermione smirked at him as she backed towards the kitchen.
"It wasn't supposed to be." She looked at him with a small smile. "Now let me put the ice cream away before you retaliate." Draco swept his hand to give her permission and Hermione pulled her wand from the band of her lounge pants and flicked it at the ice cream tubs. She never looked away from him as he watched the ice cream fly into the kitchen. After a few seconds he heard the sound of the fridge shutting. A predatory smile crossed his face and he watched as Hermione slowly set her wand on the side table.
"No wands, Mr. Malfoy. Wands are cheating in this game." At her words Draco pulled out his wand and walked over set his wand beside hers, crowding her personal space. Hermione bolted and Draco chuckled but followed in a rousing game of Catch Me If You Can.
Several hours later, Draco looked down at Hermione who was sleeping in a blanket nest on the floor of the living room. Her curls were once again wild and everywhere and she had a small smile on her face. Draco brushed some curls off her face and leaned close to her ear.
"Thanks, Granger." Draco lay back down as she murmured something in her sleep. She rolled over and curled up next to his side with her cold feet pressed into his legs. Draco scowled at her but yawned. It had been a long day but had a rather interesting conclusion. Draco rolled onto his side and slid Hermione's tank top strap back onto her shoulder before pulling the blanket up to her chin. He let his left hand rest on her waist as he closed his eyes.
Images of the day flashed in front of his eyes. He had to admit that Hermione had almost made the wedding fun. She had a great sense of humor and had changed since Hogwarts. Less judgmental, more eager to forget the past instead of dredge it up every chance she had. She had managed to learn to listen instead of fill up silence with meaningless chatter. She wasn't a stickler for the rules or loud like she used to be. She didn't have Potter or Weasel hanging around her 24/7. If there was an award for most changed since Hogwarts, Hermione Granger would win hands down. She had married him, Draco bleeding Malfoy, for Merlin's sake. If that didn't scream change, than Draco didn't know what did.
Hermione let out a contented sigh and moved in closer to his chest. Draco unconsciously tightened his arm around her and finally drifted off to sleep.
"Grandma, why haven't dad and Professor Granger come back yet?" Scorpius from the large grandfather clock to his grandmother. Narcissa smiled at the boy.
"Because, they are on their honeymoon, Scorpius. They might not be back for a few days." Narcissa turned back to her book just as the floo flared up.
"I'm not telling you! So, stop bothering me! Gods you are just like Ronald." Hermione's voice was a mere hiss as her and Draco landed in the study. Scorpius jumped to his feet, Narcissa's eyes went wide as she jumped up and ushered the poor boy out of the battlefield. Draco looked murderous and Hermione's face was frantic.
"Don't compare me to that Weasel! I'm concerned, Granger! You wake up screaming and you refuse to tell me what is going on. How the hell does that put me at fault?" Draco followed Hermione across the study as she walked away from him. He grabbed her arm and Hermione whirled on him. Narcissa watched the two with wide blue eyes.
"Don't push this, Malfoy! You don't want to know what it was about! You won`t like where it ends." Her brown eyes flashed and she jerked out of Draco's grasp. "I don't want to talk about this." Draco set his jaw stubbornly.
"Obviously you need to. It's bothering you, talk about it." Draco's grey eyes were like steel with anger and Hermione's chin trembled slightly, her brown eyes pleading.
"I don't want to." Her voice was low and Narcissa watched Draco's eyes go from angry to concerned within a second.
"Granger, tell me. What's bothering you?" His hand went up and he touched her shoulder gently. Narcissa slowly opened the door and slipped through.
"It's about Bellatrix-" Narcissa shut the door with a jerk at the name. Her blue eyes filling with tears. How could she have forgotten already? The poor girl had been tortured by Bellatrix for hours. In this very manor. Sure, Draco had refurbished it completely and removed that very study and enlarged the library beside it. But the past hung around the whole house like a dark cloud. All the bad things that happened there seemed to linger even after fourteen years.
"Grandma? Why are they fighting?" Scorpius looked up at her with fearful grey eyes and Narcissa gave him a small smile.
"They weren't exactly fighting, Scorpius. It was more of a discussion. Hermione had a bad dream and didn't want to talk about it." Narcissa grasped the boy's shoulder and led him away from the door.
"What kind of dream did she have?" Scorpius waited patiently and Narcissa avoided looking at him. Her eyes were full of tears.
"A dream about the war, Scorpius. About what she had to go through." Narcissa swallowed against the lump in her throat.
"Did she get the worst? You know, because she's a muggleborn?" Scorpius looked up at Narcissa and the older woman avoided his gaze but nodded.
"Yes, she did, Scorpius." Narcissa pulled Scorpius to a stop and kneeled down rather rapidly. "There are people who will judge you because of what me, your father, and your grandfather have done. The name Malfoy carries a lot of resentment. People judge us because of the war." Narcissa took a deep but shaky breath in.
"There were people in our family who have done bad things to good people. Hermione was hurt by my sister in this house." Narcissa felt her lip tremble as she tried to explain to Scorpius about the history of the Malfoy family. The grey-eyed boy was shocked and hurt by what she was saying. Narcissa grasped his upper arms gently. "I've tried to forget what Bellatrix had done to this family, what she dragged us into but I can't. I hate thinking about what I stood by twenty years ago. About what this family did to people like Hermione." Narcissa sniffed and wiped at some tears.
"It hurts me to think that she can put the past away and forgive me… us. When I can't even forgive myself." Narcissa buried her face in her hands and Scorpius hugged her tightly.
"It's okay, Grandma. I promise to do things right. I promise to never hurt, Professor Granger or anyone like her." Scorpius patted his grandmother's back and Narcissa sniffled, wiping at her tears.
"I'm sorry, Scorpius. Grandmums shouldn't cry in front of their grandchildren." Narcissa slowly stood up and pulled a handkerchief from her robe pocket. She wiped her eyes and nose delicately.
"Where is he?" A loud and screechy voice filled the manor. Narcissa narrowed her eyes and Scorpius jumped with wide eyes. "Draco!" Astoria Greengrass moved closer and Narcissa quickly ushered Scorpius back into the study where she had left Hermione and Draco. Another shouted sound and Narcissa made a face before shutting the study door, none too quietly.
"Mother?" At Draco's voice Narcissa whirled around. Draco was sitting on the lounge chair beside Hermione who was discreetly wiping her eyes with a white handkerchief. Draco's arm was on the couch behind Hermione and he raised an eyebrow. "Who is shouting their head off out there?" Narcissa gave him a rather tight-lipped smile.
"Astoria. Although her name should be Screecher from the way she is acting." Narcissa walked over and sat beside Hermione who discreetly handed Draco back his handkerchief. Draco smirked and leaned against the back of the couch, pulling Hermione beside him on the way. Narcissa raised an eyebrow at his action, she remembered Lucius doing that to her right after they were married. Right after the honeymoon if she remembered correctly. Draco turned his head and whispered something into Hermione's ear. Narcissa tilted her head to hear what was said but she heard nothing but a murmur. Hermione nodded and gave Draco a radiant smile.
"Well, the whole family is here. So, let's all say hi." Draco motioned for Scorpius to come and sit on the couch with everyone else. Hermione wrapped her arm around him with a smile.
"Sorry, you had to see that, Scorpius. Your father and I didn't realize anyone was in here." Hermione smiled and Narcissa tilted her chin proudly at the woman. There really was no better woman to help raise Scorpius.
"Draco! Come to me now!" Astoria's voice was slightly muffled through the door and Narcissa watched Draco smirk.
"She certainly knows how to be annoying." Draco smirked slightly as Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. The door flew open and Astoria in her dyed blonde glory stomped in.
"I'm here to take Scorpius!" Furious blue eyes rested on the group on the couch and she froze as if she had been the victim of a body-bind hex. "What the bloody hell is the mudblood doing here, Draco? Why is she here?" Astoria's face was murderous and Draco kissed Hermione's forehead with a large smirk. He winked at Narcissa who gave a small nod of approval.
"Oh my manners are atrocious. Astoria, meet my wife."