Hermione had just finished up in the restroom with an excellent shower. She hated feeling so gross, but this month was near hellish for her. First, she was late, and now this sluggish bleeding was killing her. It brought back memories of all the times Ron used to rub out her soreness and her heart twisted. No use dwelling on the past. Nodding, she yanked on her tank top and pulled her sweats around her hips when there was a knock at the door. Frowning, she opened it to see Andromeda with a look of caution. "My dear, there is someone here to see you."
"Who? It is near midnight," Hermione muttered with a furrowed brow.
"Some girl who said she was a schoolmate of yours. She doesn't seem very happy," Andromeda responded.
Hermione sighed and followed the older witch to the sitting room. Hermione wasn't expecting to see Romilda Vane standing on the maroon rug. The witch had puffy eyes and a pout, at least the pout was there until she saw Hermione appear.
"Romilda, what's wrong?" Hermione questioned as she stepped toward her.
The witch didn't answer. She closed the gap between them and slapped Hermione as hard as she could. "You swotty bitch," Romilda snapped as Hermione nearly fell over from the hit.
"Young lady, you need to leave!" Andromeda snapped as she helped Hermione steady on her feet.
Hermione rubbed her cheek and frowned. "What was that for?"
The furious witch yanked out a piece of parchment and threw it on the ground in front of them. Andromeda fetched it and snorted loudly. "I believe she is listening to that Rita woman's rubbish gossip." The older witch announced handing it to Hermione.
It was a pre-published article about Draco. Hermione scanned it and saw the picture of them offering each other ice cream. The writing was typical Skeeter trash; going on to explain how recovering from her break up with Oliver, she decided to seduce Draco.
"You are upset at me over this? Just know that this awful reporter will say anything for a juicy story. Draco and I never have nor will ever be an item, Romilda," Hermione huffed and rolled her eyes. "I have no clue why you are upset at this and no clue why Rita Skeeter would be sending you a copy of it."
"Because Draco broke it off with me, officially yesterday, Hermione. She may write gossip, but I know when two people are shagging. Look at you both!" Romilda shouted with a snarl.
"We are friends," Hermione exhaled.
"Friends don't eye fuck each other," Romilda snapped and shook her head. "You could have anyone you want, and you had to have him? You didn't even wait for the Quidditch pitch to dry, did you? He told you we broke up and you dragged him to bed."
"Merlin, why does everyone assume the worst," Hermione snapped and threw her arms in the air. "I haven't had sex in years, and everyone under the sun just assumes I am going to jump in bed with a man I despised up until a couple of weeks ago. Does anyone else have anything they want to scream at me about?" Hermione shrieked, and that made the angered witch drop her expression with shock. "Well, I don't need you accusing me. I don't need Lucius bloody Malfoy trying to get into my knickers, and I don't need Draco fucking Malfoy either! Get out," Hermione finished with her chest rising and falling slowly.
"Hermione, I am sorry I j," she stopped when Hermione reached for her wand.
"I said get the fuck out. I don't need this," Hermione snarled as she pointed her wand at Romilda.
Andromeda gingerly reached over and helped Hermione lower her wand. "Just a misunderstanding, darling. Breathe," she softly spoke.
"I am sorry," Romilda murmured again.
Hermione dropped her hand to her side and exhaled. "I understand you are angry that Draco broke it off with you, but you don't have a right to take it out on me." She declared causing Romilda to motion agreement.
"I suggest you go. Hermione is not feeling herself right now," Andromeda voiced at the young witch.
Romilda just nodded and waved gently. "Good night, I am sorry I disturbed you." She said and left with a swift stride.
Andromeda listened for the door and helped Hermione to sit on the sofa. Hermione sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head. "I need a drink, Drom. This is going to be another shite show tomorrow."
The older witch sat down and chewed her bottom lip. "Hermione, I have a question for you."
"Mhm?" Hermione replied as she remained in that balled posture.
"Did you and Draco sleep together?"
Hermione's vision snapped to her, and she snorted. "You too?"
She waved the young woman's testiness off and hemmed. "I mean it. Or was it you and Oliver?"
"Drom, I have been wizard free for years, you know that. If you accuse me of being pregnant, I might curse you. It is all in working order down there. I am just going through a hellish monthly."
Andromeda scratched her face and patted the young woman's shoulder. "It might just me being overly protective, but it doesn't seem like it."
Hermione's eyes softened, and she smiled. "It is. I would have told you if Draco and I did anything. If only for the fact that it would have been completely out of character for me."
Tilting her head, Andromeda was thinking and profoundly by the lines on her forehead. Hermione noted the woman was recounting something and grew uneasy; whatever she was going to say was going to be difficult to hear. "Do you think it could have happened without you realizing? Anything to indicate that maybe you two just… did something? Or Oliver? Your health is all I care about regarding this, Hermione. I am with you daily, I know your reactions, that was not in character, Hermione."
"I will satisfy your curiosity. If I still feel awful next week, I will go to the doctor. I might have an imbalance, or quite possibly I caught whatever hysteria your sister's husband has. If I still feel out of sorts, I will make sure it isn't serious. There is not a chance I am pregnant. You know that. I know you are hopeful, but it isn't possible."
Andromeda kissed Hermione's temple and sighed. "My girl, you are so stubborn. Take care of yourself, please?"
The young witch leaned into the older woman's embrace and sighed. "I will. I am just having a hard time. It will be over soon, and then we can go back to our insane normal. Teddy will be off to Hogwarts, and you can come with me on my worldly trips. It will be so much fun," Hermione murmured, and Andromeda nodded against her head.
"We still will be seeing Narcissa and Draco when we are home. Is that going to be a problem for you?" Andromeda questioned.
Hermione yawned shaking her head. "No, not at all. Draco will be so busy with the Wizengamot and purebloods it will be great."
"Draco?"
"Mhm, I told Kingsley to instate him for the seat. Lucius would be a poor choice due to his deep seeded prejudice. It would only cause more notoriety for them. He is going to tell them after the party next month."
Andromeda stroked her hair as the younger witch yawned again. "That is a bold move against him. He may not forgive you for it."
"That man will never change, Drom. I am not concerned with his pride being wounded."
"Will you miss him?" Andromeda asked, her tone was gentle.
Hermione knew there was no lying to her about it any longer. "Yes, plenty. However, there will never be a reality that would accept it. Some people just live different lives. I am satisfied to know he will be happy and feel useful after so long of feeling like his life ended when his wife died."
Andromeda kissed her hair and patted her shoulder. "Alright, lovely. Go get some rest. You have work tomorrow and then Harry's party on Saturday."
Hermione sat up and stretched. "Yes, I best hop to it." The young witch rose and smiled down at Andromeda. "I love you. Thank you for taking care of me."
Andromeda reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I love you too, Hermione. You have been my miracle. Never forget your worth, dear."
Hermione took her leave, and her smile dropped as she chewed her lip. Her feet propelled her to her bedroom, but her mind was racing a mile a minute. What if she was right? Could that drunken dream indeed be memories of the night before? If that was the case… what the hell was she going to do about the outcome?
Closing her bedroom door, she paced to her dresser and yanked open the top drawer. Sitting in a small box of random pins and bobbles was a silver button. She didn't think much of it when she stashed it away after finding it in her tent; maybe a shirt of hers lost a button at home. Now, she was worried it was something more ominous.
Pulling it from the box and shutting the drawer, she sat down on her bed, staring at the object. "Shite," Hermione murmured and exhaled.
What in the bloody hell was she going to do?
Hermione walked up the walkway as usual, and her heels were loud against the stone. The witch was exhausted, and most of that was due to sleep deprivation. She couldn't get away from her own fears last night and now her day was going to feel three times longer due to it. Walking inside, she headed to the dining room. Lucius was pacing around the far end of the table as Narcissa sat, sipping her tea. Draco was hidden behind the Daily Prophet as Scorpius was eating his toast.
"My favorite part has to be the bit about the illicit use of a love potion. Granger, you are just wicked aren't you," Draco snickered before putting down the paper and smiling at her. "Good morning."
"Glad to see you have retained your humor about this, Draco," Hermione sighed, and his smile faded as he noted her appearance.
"What's wrong? Why do you look so off-color?" He asked, alarm clearly in his voice.
Hermione waved him off and slumped in an empty chair. "I didn't sleep well last night. It seems your ex-girlfriend thought that gossip was real and came over. Rita sent her a lovely copy. She slapped me," she groaned as she reached for the tea tray.
Draco's brows furrowed and he stood up. "She did what? She hurt you? I have the right mind to send her a howler," he snapped, his cheeks turning rosy.
Hermione snorted as she dressed her teacup. "I scared her half to death when I turned my wand on her. I was in quite a fury about her accusation myself."
Lucius eased at the conversation and reluctantly sat down at the table. "Well, she obviously was an ill fit," he mused.
Narcissa shot him a glare and huffed. "That girl is entirely insane. Whoever believes that rubbish that woman writes is clearly deranged."
Draco exhaled and sat back down, glancing down at the paper. "I do however like the picture. She caught you smiling." He finished and folded the paper before showing Hermione.
"How many love letters did you receive today?" Hermione asked him with a smirk.
Draco chuckled and bobbed his head. "A few…" he trailed off.
"Well, I had three howlers before I left home. Andromeda promised to dispose of them before I get home from work along with any others."
"Doesn't it feel so good to be bad?" He teased with a grin. "You don't even have to shag me, and you are the envy of the world."
"Somebody didn't fall off his high horse today," Hermione grumbled before sipping her tea.
"We have a horse?" Scorpius questioned, finally catching up with the conversation.
Hermione laughed, shaking her head. "Figure of speech, Scorp."
"Dinkly," Draco announced and the house elf popped into view.
"Yes, Master Draco? Dinkly is here." The elf said, bowing deeply next to him.
"Get Hermione some breakfast please?" Draco questioned.
"No, it's fine, I'm not hungry," Hermione sighed.
He glared at her and thinned his lips. "Granger, you are going to eat."
The house elf bowed and within a blink was gone again. Hermione was looking down at the contents of her cup and avoiding his stare.
"Hermione, dear, did you want to go home and lie down? You seem to be out of sorts today," Narcissa offered, trying to cure the thick silence in the room.
"I am fine, really," Hermione sighed and smiled over at her.
"That is a fine idea, mother. We can have breakfast and make an unscheduled visit with Aunt Andromeda. Hermione can take a nap while we visit." Draco declared with a nod.
"You are just going to ignore me?" Hermione inquired with a pointed tone.
"I will start listening when you make more sense. Right now you look like you are going to fall over in that chair. If there is anything I won't stand for, Hermione, it is negligence about personal wellbeing." Draco paused as the house elf cautiously put the plate in front of the woman. "Now you will eat your bloody food and go get some rest, or I will throw you over my shoulder and drag you home. Am I clear?" He finished with a narrow glare.
The other Malfoys in the room seemed surprised as his sharp tone. Even his son sat straighter in his chair and started eating his eggs. However, Hermione glowered at him and set her teacup down loudly. "Crystal, Malfoy," she hissed.
"Good," he responded and relaxed in his chair when she started to eat. "Mother, send an owl over and let her know? I would hate for her to be completely stunned when we walk in."
Narcissa cleared her throat and nodded. "Of course, son." She responded and rose from her chair.
The older witch disappeared from the room in quick haste, but Lucius lounged in his chair. "He does get my temper," he snickered at Hermione.
"No, father, that would be mother's temper. She never had to raise her voice to scare the wits out of me as a child," Draco mused and lifted the paper again. "Ah, look at that, George and Angelina finally announced their pregnancy," He murmured.
Hermione didn't realize just how hungry she was until half her plate was empty. Part of her hated that he was right, but the part that was fond of the blond Slytherin was relieved. She listened to the mild conversation of the Malfoys as she emptied her plate and yawned. She didn't remember placing her elbow on the table and leaning against her hand, nor did she really plan on nodding off to the sounds of Draco talking to his son and father.