Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. I just use them for own amusement and often make them do things JK Rowling would hate me for. Alas I thank her for letting me have my fun. I make no money off these stories. It's purely entertainment and no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Post war. Hermione is 23, young and carefree. At least in her spare time. She leads a double life, hiding her true self from her friends and colleagues at work. Deep inside, she's still struggling over the aftermath of the war, the loss of her parents, and a failed romance with Ron. She meets up with someone she didn't expect to meet, who is also fighting their own post war demons. None other than Draco Malfoy. What will happen between them? Can two enemies come together or will they still bear grudges over the past?
Authors note: This story is somewhat similar to another story I started but sadly lost the muse and did not finish. I wanted to tell a somewhat darker tale about loss and self destruction and finding oneself when the world as you once knew it no longer exists. I wanted a story about two people who are in pain and self loathing, coming together in mutual self destruction. I know it might sound terribly depressing, but I do like a happy ending. But I think these two characters need to work for it. So this story is what I really wanted to write. It won't leave my head, so I hope I can stop letting the romantic in me take over and do the story the proper justice. Rated M for a reason. No actual smut, but plenty of sexual situations. Mentions of rough sex and non consensual sex, but no actual non-con takes place. Bad language, drinking, smoking. It's a dark world, but I still believe in redemption. And that's what this story is ultimately about. Lyrics by Alanis Morissette, Three Days Grace, Poe, The Perfect Day, Lifehouse, Simple Plan, Kelly Clarkson, Richard Marx, Brad Paisley and the song Draco sings is by Ben Folds. Additional lyrics by Lower Than Atlantis and Muse.
Draco decided in his mind that he really wanted to marry Hermione. Not that this idea was new to him, but with all the excitement of Harry and Ginny's wedding coming up, and all his talk of being a house husband, had made him want to do it soon. Now in fact. He just had one small matter to attend to first. And that was the get the ring. His first instinct was to purchase an outlandish ring that Hermione might faint over. But on further thought, he realized he really wanted his Grand mum's wedding set. Now he'd never been particularly close to his father's parents. But when he was a boy he remembered them spoiling him with sweets. They passed away when he was young, but Lucius had told Draco the wedding set was for his bride someday. Only during his rebellion from his family he'd rather die than take those rings. But now everything seemed different, and he was getting along okay with his parents now. He felt it was only fair he be given the rings. He just had to ask for them. So he set off to do just that one day when Hermione was at work. He popped in unannounced to his parents manor. He walked in the front door and announced his presence.
"Mum!" he called out quickly so she'd know it was him.
It didn't take long for Narcissa to appear in the foyer and greet her son.
"Draco! Darling! What are you doing here?" she asked as she rushed over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I've come to visit. It's been awhile. I brought a photo album of our trip to America with me. And I wanted to speak to Father. Is he here?" he asked, knowing full well his father never went anywhere anymore.
"Oh lovely! I'd love to see the photos. And yes, your father is upstairs in his study reading. I'll fetch him," she said happily as she hugged Draco again before departing.
Draco went to sit in the lounge to wait for them. It was past time he should have come over, but he'd been very busy with things around the flat and going on Auror missions and all of that. He hoped his father would understand. His mum was always just pleased to see him. And when his father arrived in the lounge he seemed happy to see him too for once.
"Draco."
"Father."
"It's been an age. I rather thought you were never gracing us with your presence again," Lucius said calmly as he went over and poured some brandy into a snifter and sat down with it.
"I'm sure Draco has been busy, dear. But we're so happy you're here now," Narcissa beamed at her son.
"I'm sorry I've been so absent. The trip took a lot out of me. And then I actually went to work for a day with Harry Potter. I was an Auror! Can you believe it?" he said excitedly to them.
"An Auror? What on earth do you mean?" Lucius wondered, taking a sip of his drink.
"Harry took me along on a mission. I was pretty good at it too. But don't worry, I'm not getting a job or anything," Draco assured them.
"Right because that would be a bad thing," Lucius said with a slight roll of his eyes.
"Do you want me risking life and limb on daily basis? I rather thought you'd be worried for me if I did that," Draco said.
"I would be worried. I'm sure your father would be too," Narcissa said giving her husband a look.
"I was merely stating that a job would be good for him. I don't know about an Auror, but anything at this point. What do you do all day, boy?" his father wondered curiously.
"I keep busy. What do you do all day, Father? I wager we both keep ourselves occupied," Draco sighed.
"I'll have you know I still do work. I oversee charities and holdings and financial dealings. I just do it from home now. I still have to make money somehow," Lucius informed him.
"I'm not here to talk about work. I just thought it was a spot of fun that I was Harry bloody Potter's sidekick for a day. Don't you think that's funny?"
"I rather thought you were friends with him now. Given that ridiculous album of photos you showed us previously. Kissing him and such," Lucius said distastefully.
"Right. I forgot I showed you that," Draco said, shaking his head. "Well, anyway, this album has pictures of our holiday to America. You might enjoy it better than the last album."
He handed it over to his mother first and let his father walk over and peer over her shoulder. They had never been to America themselves so all of this was foreign to them. Especially things like Disneyland. They didn't understand the appeal of taking pictures with people dressed as mice or mermaids, but they humored Draco and said it was lovely.
"You two look very happy," Narcissa noted with a grin.
"We were happy. It was a brilliant holiday. And Hermione is brilliant. Which is kind of why I'm here," Draco informed them.
"What do you mean? Are you getting married? Did you get married already and not tell us?" his mother asked.
"Don't be crazy, Cissy. He didn't get married. There are no wedding photos. Besides he knows that would literally kill us if they got married without telling us. He's not married," Lucius said firmly. Then to Draco, "you better not be married!"
"I'm not! Relax. We didn't elope or anything. But I want to marry her. Soon. And I want your blessing and Grand mum's rings," he said mostly to his father, but he glanced at his mum too.
"Oh my. You want to get married? For real? Oh Draco, that's lovely!" Narcissa said jumping up to give him a hug.
"Married eh? To the Mudblood?" Lucius sighed.
"Father! Do not use that word. I've told you a million times not to!" Draco scolded him.
"I'm sorry, Draco. But that's what she is. I know you think you love her, but how could you want to marry her? That's forever. And the children won't be pure! And you want my mother's rings?" Lucius was irritated with his son and made no show otherwise.
"Father, you like Hermione. You said so yourself! You and Mum both like her. And she's a brilliant witch. So what if the children aren't pure? No one even cares about that anymore except you and your stuffy friends that aren't in prison rotting away. Which there aren't that many of you left!"
"No fighting! Lucius, leave Draco alone. He's right, you know. Who cares anymore? Who are we trying to impress?" Narcissa asked her husband.
"I'm not trying to impress anyone. I merely thought Draco would tire of this dalliance and choose a proper wife someday. I don't dislike the girl. She's merely not what I'd choose," Lucius explained.
"You don't get to choose who I marry, Father. That's my job. Maybe you didn't get to choose Mum, but I get to choose my wife. And if you don't like it, you don't have to be there. And you can shove your rings up your—"
"Draco! Stop! No! Your father is just being stubborn. Let me speak to him alone for a minute, please?" Narcissa begged Draco.
"Fine."
Draco walked through the house into the kitchen where he knew more alcohol resided and he figured he'd pilfer a bit of his father's whiskey while they talked. He wasn't really anticipating his father to put up a fight like this. He really thought they liked Hermione a lot, despite her background. But he should have known better. He just wondered what his mother was saying or if she could really get through to him.
For her part, Narcissa was going to talk sense into her husband if it killed both of them to do it. She looked at him sternly.
"Do not frighten Draco away from us, after all we've done to get him back. And do not make him uninvite us to his wedding! Do you hear me?" she barked at him.
"Cissy, you said he might not marry the girl. It was the only hope I had! And now he wants my mother's rings? It's ridiculous! This was supposed to be a dalliance we allowed so Draco would speak to us. It was never meant to be so serious!" Lucius barked back.
"Please. You knew where this was headed a long time ago. You only hoped it wouldn't. But you knew! Draco told us in not so many words that this was what he wanted to do someday. How can you begrudge him happiness? Did you see the photos? They were a lovely couple!"
"Fine, fine. So I knew it may come to this. But NOW? Why now? Couldn't they wait longer?" he relented.
"And more time would change her blood status? I think not. She's a Muggleborn witch. And we have to accept that. But thank God she's still a witch! He could be marrying a bloody Muggle. Then how would you feel?" she asked her husband.
"I'd never allow it!"
"Well then be glad she's one of us. Because she is one of us. Just not pureblooded. But she's magical just the same, which means their children will be too."
"If they aren't bloody squibs."
"Shut your mouth! Don't jinx them!"
"Alright, alright. I can see that you've been brainwashed into thinking this is a good idea. I'm outnumbered. I'm the only one who cares any more about blood purity. I'm old fashioned. So forgive me for not jumping for joy immediately," Lucius sighed.
"So then you'll give your blessing and the rings?" Narcissa prodded him.
"Yes! Okay? Yes. I won't have us shut out of our son's wedding day," he finally gave in defeated.
"Good. Now I better go make sure Draco hasn't disappeared never to be seen again," she said as she took off towards the kitchen where watched Draco run off to.
She found him standing at the sink with a glass of whiskey in hand. He was agitated and angry and it showed.
"If you're not in here to say something nice to me, then don't bother saying anything at all. I don't want to hear it," he told his mum.
"Draco I told you I'd make your father come around and I did. You can stop drinking yourself to death," she chided him as she took the glass from his hand.
"I wasn't drinking myself to death. I was calming down. There's a difference," he sighed. "I really thought you and Father liked Hermione."
"We do! We really do. It's just your father is a stubborn old mule. He thought you'd change your mind, but I knew you wouldn't. I saw how in love you were with her. And I think she's lovely. So your father can piss off with his ideals. He's giving you the rings too," she told her son with a smile.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You actually got him to cough up the rings too and not just a halfhearted blessing?" Draco was amazed.
"I suspect he's fetching them now. So let's go back to the lounge and wait for him, shall we?"
"Alright."
He followed his mother through the kitchen and into the lounge and his father was nowhere to be seen. So they sat and waited and he finally emerged with a ring box in his hands.
"Before I give you these, I want a promise from you Draco," Lucius said seriously.
"What's that?" Draco asked.
"I want to be at the wedding and I want to see my grandkids regularly. No more of this months and months between visits. If you don't come to us, we'll come to you. Often. And unannounced. And you will hate us. So I suggest you do as I say," Lucius said with a small smirk on his face.
"That's what you want? Regular visits and a wedding invite? That's all?" Draco was surprised.
"Yes, that's all. Your mother made me realize it could be worse. You could be marrying a Muggle. Then we'd have to disown you," he sighed.
"Would you really?" Draco asked curiously.
"No, we wouldn't. But we'd be disappointed," Narcissa piped up.
"Speak for yourself. If he married a Muggle I would disown him. But that's not the case, so it's moot. He's marrying a witch and that's all there is to it. So what of her blood? We'll just never speak of it," Lucius said with slightly turned up nose.
"You're still a piece of work, you know that? But whatever. Can I have the rings, please?" Draco said rolling his eyes at his father's stubborn and bigoted nature.
"Yes, you may have them. I just hope this Hermione appreciates them. They've been in the family for over a century. They're priceless antiques as well as having rather large diamonds in them. Don't let her lose them."
"How many women ever lose their wedding sets? I'm pretty sure she'll be wearing them all the time. And she's not daft. She won't just toss them in a bin for the hell of it," Draco groaned.
"Fine. Here you go then." Lucius handed over the green box and Draco opened it up.
Inside was a gorgeous solitaire diamond ring with a white gold band. Along with a wedding ring etched with diamonds and emeralds in a crisscross pattern. They were stunning. And now they belonged to Draco. And soon they'd belong to Hermione. He looked at his dad.
"Thanks for these. I really mean it. I know you're wishing I'd marry some girl you chose, but I love Hermione. And she loves me. And we're gonna be very happy," Draco assured him.
"Just so you know, despite what you think, I don't necessarily believe a man can't choose his own wife. I chose mine. Your mother and I were not arranged," Lucius admitted to his son.
"What? I always thought you were. You said your families wanted you to marry," Draco was confused.
"Oh they did. But we met before that. We were sweethearts in school. I knew the minute I laid eyes on your mum that she'd be my wife someday. It just worked out well because our families were overjoyed. But yes, I know what it's like to be head over heels in love and want to get married. I was once like you."
"Is this true, Mum?"
"I'm afraid it is. Your father and I were smitten with each other the moment we met. It was just a bonus that everyone else thought it was a great match. And I guess we always let you believe we were arranged to marry so one day you might let us have a hand in your own marriage. But now I see that's a huge error on our part. And I think, or rather hope, he sees that now."
"I do. I see it. I'm not demented in some way. The boy is in love. And who am I to stop him?" Lucius sighed.
"You both are kind of crazy, you realize? Making me believe something my whole life just so I'd go quietly when my time came to marry?" Draco was disbelieving.
"It seemed a good idea at the time!" Lucius said defensively and Narcissa nodded along with him.
"I trust you both see how stupid that was now."
"We do," Narcissa said and Lucius agreed.
"Do I get a hug and a congratulations at least?" Draco wondered to his folks.
"Congratulations Draco. I hope she says yes!" Narcissa said, giving him a huge hug that he could barely breathe from.
Then he looked at his father, stoic as ever. Draco stuck out his hand so they could shake. Lucius reached out and shook Draco's hand and then quickly pulled him into a hug and then let him go just as quickly. It was the first time he'd really hugged Draco as a man and not a small child. Lucius wasn't much of a hugger. So it meant a lot that he tried and Draco smiled over it. His parents were impossible snobs sometimes, but they did love him. And he loved them. He just wanted to smack the crap out of his dad once in a while. But he'd gotten the rings and their blessing and that's all he could ask for. He was a happy man. But he'd be even happier once Hermione said yes.
"So when Hermione says yes to me, I promise we'll come back over to celebrate. Okay? And you two promise to welcome her with open arms," Draco told them.
"Of course we will. Right Lucius?" she looked at her husband pointedly.
"Yes, right. Of course. Good luck Draco."
"Thanks Father."
And with that, Draco decided it was time to go back home. He had to hide the rings in a spot Hermione would never look. And he had a good spot for that. It was a magically locked box he stored under the bed and it contained a journal from his school years and some mementos and would soon contain the wedding rings. Hermione didn't even know the box existed as she'd never seen him put it under there. And even she couldn't get it open if she tried. It was magically sealed with a spell only Draco knew. It was a little trick his father taught him that actually was useful. Security charms were his father's specialty. At least when it came to good magic and not dark magic. Draco didn't even want to know all the dark spells his father knew and used to practice. Those days were long over, he hoped. He didn't fancy his father going to Azkaban again for doing something stupid. But it seemed Lucius learned his lesson the last time. From here on out, it was just good magic only. And no more dark artifacts. Draco was pleased because his children would know an entirely different Lucius Malfoy and they'd never have to suffer through the things Draco went through as a boy. That was important. He wanted his children to have a better life than the one he had. Not that it was bad, mind you. He never wanted for anything. But the darkness surrounding the family and the prison stints and the Death Eaters were all things Draco wanted his children to know nothing about. He wasn't sure how he'd explain his Dark Mark to them someday, except it was fading into a scar now and he'd just tell them he'd done something foolish in his youth. They'd never have to know the truth. Because he didn't want his children knowing what their father was forced to be because of their grandfather's allegiances. Draco walked away from the house feeling happier than when he'd arrived. He wasn't sure what he was going to be met with inside when he told his parents his plans. But all's well, that ends well. And that's the best he could hope for right now.
To Be Continued….
Just a short chapter this time. But the next one will be longer! This was just a scene that I wanted to do really bad. I think Draco's family would pass rings on because they're such traditionalists. Thanks to everyone who is reading and commenting and following me! Please keep the comments coming as they feed the muse. And this story is nearing the end soon. Help me to finish it! Thanks again!