A/N: Real life sucks, and shit happens that simply make you feel like, well, shit. I'm sorry I didn't post earlier, I was just too preocupied with other things and RL just kicked my muse into hidding. I have the purpose of finishing this within the weekend, mostly because I know exactly what happens next and what not... So, yeah... Sorry again.
I owe nothing.
Twenty-Nine – Tasty Ones
"So, what kind of grand business your Granny left you?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow to the boy, she was still cross with him but apparently that was not making him any less happy to be sipping his chocolate milkshake. "Tasty ones."
Harry mimicked her raised eyebrow. He had apologized, he had promised not to do it again, yet the brunette was clearly angry. He did not really care; she was going to be happy again in no time… she was finishing eating a rather big slice of cheesecake after all. "That's not an answer."
The female Gryffindor took a bite of her cake and repressed a moan. The cake was marvelous, and Harry was paying, so maybe she could be a little more polite. "They are not that great, really. Myka takes care of the importing ones while H.G. is in charge of the culinary ones."
"Huh?"
"My Grandmama travelled a lot in her youth and she always liked the things the world had to offer her, especially food. I have business that import several products form all across the world to sell in different parts of Europe, though we mainly work in England and Ireland. And I'm also the owner of six restaurants, all here in London, that offer different kinds of international cuisine. They are not that big, but are rather famous in certain circles."
"So you basically sell exotic things and food, right?" He said before finishing his tall milkshake rather loudly.
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, more or less. We trade different things, not just exotic ones, though." She took another bite. "I also have some investments in different small businesses. I don't work those, my money does."
"Nice." He smiled. "That's why you are so good at cooking." It was not a question, more than a statement.
"Yup." She popped the 'p' as she licked the last of the cake on her fork.
"You need to cook us something one day, something different." He was a rather competent cook, but he kneeled at the witch's feet when she cooked. He had seen Hermione cook on two different occasions, one at Hogwarts and one at the Borrow, and on both times he had begged for seconds, then thirds, she was just so good at making edible things just from scattered items around a kitchen.
"I will, I promise." She smiled, no longer angry. Maybe she had been a little harsh, but they had given her a scare. "Ready to go back?"
"Yeah." The boy got his wallet as he stood up and deposited enough money on the table to pay for their things. "Do you want me to take her?" He asked gently, knowing his friend was rather protective of Luna.
Hermione looked down to her lap, where the blonde's head was nestled, napping peacefully and sucking her thumb like she always did. Her face was rather pale and tearstains marred her soft cheeks, her little frown making her the perfect picture of any small kid sleeping after a rather heavy crying session. After getting lost for an hour Luna had learned her lesson at not wandering around and Harry had learned not to lose someone Hermione had trusted on him.
She sighed. She had left her meeting with Myka and H.G. only to find a distraught Boy-Who-Lived-Twice and a Nowhere-To-Be-Found-Luna. Luckily she could cast a discreet Point-Me that had allowed them to search the area quicker and more efficiently. Unluckily, they had found a panicked thirteen-years-old five streets down where she was last seen, crying frantically and in custody of a rather ugly cop. The female officer had been doing a poor job of finding the girl's parents and was only scaring the girl more and more with every passing minute.
It had then taken them half hour to make the dumb woman believe their story that their cousin had run off from them and that they had been looking for her for hours while the woman had insisted on having the kid's parents called. Finally Hermione wandlessly had put a compulsion on the woman to believe them and she had then proceeded to chastise the blonde second year into next week.
Harry, being Harry, had suggested they stopped for a snack before returning to school and had chosen a nice looking café where Luna had instantly settled in a boot at the back of it. She was still crying when the orders were placed and, as the boy was asking for forgiveness at his poor job of keeping the younger witch safe, she had curled up into Hermione and let her eyes drop, her head falling on her lap, and she was out in a minute.
"Nah, I'll take her." She gently picked up the girl in her arms, glad that Luna had chosen to wear pants today, and slowly got out the booth with the blonde wrapped all around her. "Could you take her cake?" She asked him. Luna had ordered with them, but she had fallen asleep before she could even take a bite.
"Sure, Mione." He said as he gathered the packed cake and the several bags they had managed to acquire in their short time at London.
"Thanks, Harry." She grunted softly as she repositioned the girl in her arms, making sure her sucking thumb was not seen. Thank Merlin for featherlight enchantments and petite sized blondes. "Come on, I want to buy one last thing before going home."
The boy looked at the bags he was carrying with him as they exited the cafe. They were at least a dozen of them and only four were his. What else would Hermione want to buy with a sleeping girl in her arms? "Where are we going?" He asked truly intrigued.
Hermione only smirked wickedly. "I owe Luna a harness." She said simply while Harry just laughed.
XxXxX
Draco lay in his bed, trying to gauge if everything his mother had told him was true. His mother had told him so much about the Black family, about the First Wizarding War. She had told him about the Dark Lord and his aunt Bellatrix. Then she had told him about the baby, the way she was supposedly killed by her own other and the recent revelation that she was still somehow alive.
He frowned. His mother had known since late January and it was almost March… why would she not tell him sooner?
He sighed. He knew why. He had seen the truth in her eyes, the same emotional eyes that had led her to so much trouble with his father. She was guilty. She was ashamed of abandoning his cousin, for believing that her sister had actually killed her and for being too weak as to no search for any evidence of the toddler's demise.
So now he had a cousin and had lost the Black heritage. He did not care about the latter, he had never care about money or status, no, that was just something that his father had made him want. So it did not matter that he had lost both the title and fortune of one of the most ancient and powerful lines the wizarding world had. What it did matter was that he had a cousin somewhere around, that could possibly know who she was and was hiding, or could possibly believe she was someone else.
He groaned. This was all fucked up. His cousin could be anyone in his year or a year up, if, and that was a big if, she was attending Hogwarts. She could easily be attending any other magical school or she could be hiding in the shadows, training on her own. Or she could be waiting just the right moment to reveal herself and take what was hers by law.
He groaned again. Any female in his year or in sixth year could be his cousin. What if it was Millicent Bulstrode or Pansy Parkinson? Those two were the ones making his life miserable in the dungeon with Snape's help. Or what about any woman in the castle, really? He could not really wrap his head that his family had spurted another family member so suddenly.
He let his eyes close, willing the sleep to come. There was no reason for him to worry about it. He had a cousin now and he had to deal with it. He smiled, tomorrow he would write to Hermione and ask for advice, yes, that would be smart. The brunette would be able to calm him and listen to his rants… they had not seen each other since a week before the end of last term, a visit to the Astronomy Tower was really overdue.
XxXxX
"I'm sorry." The soft voice came from the entrance of their bedroom.
Hermione sighed as she put her book down, looking at the pajama clad girl that had clearly just woken up. "I know, Little Moon, but you still scared me."
Luna blinked back tears as she sat on the older witch's lap, circling her waist with her arms. She sniffled softly and burrowed her face on the crook of Hermione's neck. "I'm sorry."
The brunette let the younger girl melt in her arms, hugging her fiercely. She wondered if her fear was the same kind of alarm she always made her Mama have when she was doing something stupid or reckless. If it was so she owed her mother a thorough apology. "I know." She kissed the top of the flaxen locks. "Next time, though, you are wearing a leash."
Luna smiled through the silent tears that were starting to soak Hermione's soft cashmere sweater. At least the older witch was open to take her again to London and was not too angry at her. When she had scolded her in front of Harry she had thought for a second she was going to be spanked in the middle of the street and was going to be dragged to the school by the ear. Fortunately for her Harry had been the one to calm her Neenie and made sure her hide stayed as pale as ever.
"And next time you are staying with me the whole day, even if you get bored at my meetings, got it?"
The blonde laughed relieved. She had not screwed up so badly. "Yes, Neenie." She stopped hiding in the older witch neck in order to peck her plump lips, feeling better after her long day. She cuddled into her friend arms and sighed as she eyed to parchment the girl was writing. "What are you doing?" Her small hands started playing with the now ever present old circular pendant that was unusually out the confines of the brunette's clothes, prompting a smile from Hermione.
"I'm writing a letter, love." She replied softly, wondering if it was wise to let the girl know one of her many dirty secrets. Luna and she shared everything in their day to day life, but she still had her share of mysteries that nobody, not even her Mama, knew.
"Viktor or Fleur?"
"Neither."
"Then who?" The girl asked confused. Hermione had no relatives and she was certain she did not have that many friends either, specially not some out of the school, just those two 'exchange' students she sometimes wrote to. She had written to her form time to time during Christmas break, but she was here with her, so it was not a letter for the blonde. Harry had also spent most of his time with them for the last week and she was sure Hermione wrote to him only if they were apart and in speaking terms. So who she was writing to?
The older girl sighed. "A friend, love." She finally decided to be at least halfway truthful. She watched carefully for any signs of jealousy in the blonde's face. Seeing none and only a little of curiosity she continued. "He and I can't see much of one another, but I really like him. He is my very best male friend."
Luna smiled slightly. So this mysterious person was the brunette's best male friend. "So who is your best female friend?"
Hermione laughed at that. Fortunately after last week's episode the girl was more comfortable with the thought of sharing her. "I don't know, Luna. I'm debating between Lav and Vati… though both are really loud, so maybe I'll choose Hannah, she is nice and quiet… but not that funny. What do you think? Who should I choose as best female friend?"
The younger witch pouted before smirking cutely, playing along with the teasing she was being subjected to. "I really think Ginny should be it. She's fierce and loyal. She's also fond of you."
The older girl chuckled, at least Luna was confident enough of their relationship to tease and joke about it. "You, love, are my best female friend." She pecked the girl sitting in her lap on the lips. She chuckled again. "He got slightly jealous of you, you know?"
The other girl blinked owlishly at that. Had she made someone jealous? No, that was not possible, she was the jealous one, she was not the one to get someone jealous. But then again, that boy, or man, could be also the jealous type. "Who is he?" She asked what could possibly be the greatest mystery in her life. It was obviously not Harry… Harry… "Hey, what about Harry? Isn't he your best friend?"
Hermione laughed out loud. "That's what he said too, that Harry was my best male friend, but as you know Harry is more like a brother for me." She ruffled the flaxen locks amused. "You two would easily be friends."
Luna frowned confused. "Who is he?"
The brunette then knew she was not going to lie to her so she answered with all honesty, if only to see the shock in the younger's face. "Draco. Draco Malfoy."
It took the Gryffindor almost an hour to make the suddenly catatonic blonde witch to start responding again.
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