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The worn front door of the Weasley household was silently mocking Draco. He can already tell how the stupid door was daring him to run away screaming from all the ugliness beyond it like a little girl. But he didn't let it faze him in the least, he just squared his shoulders, glared at the ugly piece of wood and tightened his hand around Hermione as she once again knocked.
"Maybe they aren't home, love." he whispered with glee.
"No, no! they're here I'm sure of it. Maybe I just didn't knock loud enough. Maybe you should knock since you have a bigger fist."
"Hermione, love, Let's just go back some other time."
"Ok." Hermione sniffled, "Can you at least give one last knock to make sure."
"Of course, love." Draco assured her with a small kiss to her temple as he knocked a couple of times on the stupid door just to humour Hermione.
"Oh well, I guess that's that - " Draco started as he gently led Hermione away from the door. They weren't a few steps away when they heard the loud creak of the heavy door opening.
"Hermione?" Molly Weasley's voice cut through the crisp morning air, making both Hermione and Draco turn back around.
"Good afternoon, Molly." Hermione replied nervously while wringing her hands together, not knowing how Molly was going to act around her and Draco now that the news of their relationship had broke and was all over the wizarding world.
"Oh come here! Where have you been?" Molly gushed as she made her way to hug Hermione. Draco stepped a bit to the side as he watched how Molly Weasley fussed over Hermione like a mother hen.
"And this must be Draco Malfoy."
Draco stiffened at Molly's statement and geared himself for a verbal fight about him not being good enough for Hermione.
What he didn't expect was the huge hug that Molly Weasley gave him without even a second thought.
"Oh Merlin you have such nice arms! No wonder Hermione finds it hard to leave you for brunch!" Molly chuckled.
"I - uh thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Draco blushed making Hermione giggle.
"Call me Molly, dear." she replied with a smile.
"Well come on then! Help me prepare the food for later. You gotta earn your food around here, young man." She gently chided Draco.
Without wasting any more questions, Molly took each of their arms and led them into the burrow, leaving Draco no room to question or doubt his decision before he found himself led into the most peculiar house he had ever been in.
Draco awkwardly stood beside Hermione, shifting his weight between his feet while taking in the small room with trepidation. It was a very strange house, that was for sure. The roof was only slightly over his height which means that his head needs to be bent at a certain angle once and a while whenever he needed to walk from one place to another. Not that there was a lot of space to go to. The room was already small and the fact that there's a huge magical stove, oven and counter in the middle of the room only made it seem smaller. The walls were painted a horrible shade of yellow and most of it was already peeling. Draco could only imagine how long ago it was when it was last painted. It was such a far cry from his manor that Draco couldn't believe that this small place could actually churn out food for more than 10 people. His house elves would probably break down and die at the very sight of this house.
Hermione on the other hand, had no idea that Draco's mind was experiencing the shock of a lifetime. She was having so much fun laughing and exchanging jokes with Molly and Ginny to really pay him a lot of attention. One of her hand however is still tightly clutching on to one of his all throughout everything. Once and a while, she would feel Draco's hand squeezing hers as if asking for reassurance. She would take a few seconds from her conversation with the Weasleys to look at him from time to time, only to find his eyes exploring the room. She would then meet Molly Weasley's questioning eyes, her motherly stare radiating care and concern not only for her but also for Draco who hadn't really spoken to any of them, except to Hermione the whole time they've been in the burrow. She was still squeezing Draco's hand when the door leading to the yard opened and made way to a wheezing Arthur Weasley.
"That was some traffic in the floo network today! Everyone's just bustling to get home for the weekend. Phew!" Arthur exclaimed while taking off his battered jacket. It took him a couple more seconds to turn around and finally see Hermione and Draco.
"Oh Hermione dear! What a wonderful surprise." Arthur exclaimed while bringing in Hermione into a huge hug. "And Mr. Malfoy how do you do?" he asked as he offered his hand out to Draco.
"I'm doing good, sir." Draco replied while giving Arthur's hand a firm shake.
"I trust that the two of you will be joining us for lunch with the family?" Arthur asked the two of them.
Hermione smiled a huge smile as Draco only nodded.
"Yup, we'll be here!" Hermione replied, "That is if you'll have us."
"Oh nonsense, Hermione! Of course the two of you are welcomed here, isn't that right, Arthur." Molly interjected.
"Yes of course, Hermione. You didn't even have to ask." Arthur replied with a genuine smile.
Ginny only rolled her eyes at Hermione, "That is such a stupid question, Hermione, really. Malfoy, tell your girlfriend she's being silly."
"You're being a silly girlfriend, love." Draco smirked.
"No I'm not." Hermione huffed, sending her free hand to smack Draco's abdomen earning a small snort from Draco before he took her hand and pressed it to his lips.
Molly and Ginny both let out a small squeal of delight making Draco once again smirk and Hermione to blush. Arthur was also sporting a huge grin while looking at the two of them, his thinning red hair horribly clashing with the yellow peeling wall.
"How about your little man? Where is he?" Ginny asked Hermione and Draco.
"He's at preschool. Draco's friend will be keeping him company until we get back."
Scorpius had been so excited when they told him that he would be spending the rest of his day with his Uncle Blaise that he repeatedly asked Hermione and Draco if he could just skip his preschool and go to Blaise's house instead. Hermione of course was appalled and had lectured him about the beauty of learning, Draco on the other hand just smiled and let Hermione handle it since he was oh so tempted to tell Blaise to play hooky and get his son out of the horribly painted preschool the Looney owned.
"Oh! He's more than welcome to be here, dear. I'm sure everyone will be happy to have a child around the burrow again. It's just not the same once your children don't need you to change their stinky nappies anymore." Molly reminisced.
"Mum that's just gross." Ginny said, crinkling her nose in distaste making Hermione laugh.
"Bring the little bugger over! I'm sure he'll have fun with all of us here." Arthur said with a smile.
Hermione looked at Draco, gauging his reaction.
"I - uh - maybe some other time." Draco replied awkwardly.
The two of them had already talked about it even before coming over to the burrow. They wanted to make sure that everything was safe and peaceful before they bring in Scorpius into the mix. Scorpius will always and forever be their number one priority in everything.
"There are a lot more times to bring him over for sure." Molly replied with a kind smile.
Draco only nodded his head and squeezed Hermione's hand once again. Feeling a bit more at ease for the first time since they've entered the ugly door.
The day progressed on with Draco meeting more of the Weasley clan one by one. Their reactions ranged from pure disbelief to fear upon seeing Draco Malfoy sitting or standing wherever Hermione was.
Bill and Fleur had been uneasy at first but warmed up to Draco's presence within the passing hours. Although Bill's werewolf side still refused to leave a pregnant Fleur anywhere near Draco in an understandable act of protectiveness. Percy had gone up to them and shook Draco's hand like he was meeting a boss of his, all the while babbling about what an honour it was to meet the Draco Malfoy who owned a myriad of business ventures and companies which are key contributors to the wizarding and muggle economy alike. Draco had uncomfortably listened through Percy's comparison of his job as a magical law enforcer to Draco's multi million galleon empire. Hermione had slipped out of Draco's grip a couple of minutes after Percy cornered them. This of course didn't go unnoticed by Draco who glared at her, his silver eyes promising retribution once they're alone. Hermione only stuck her tongue out at him and ran to join the other ladies outside who are now preparing the table.
The twins on the other hand literally bumped into each other at the entrance of the kitchen with their mouths gaping open upon seeing Draco. Their surprise was however short-lived as their faces quickly transformed with their matching mischievous smirks making Hermione's stomach flip with worry for Draco's safety against dung bombs and patented charms.
The biggest surprise out of all the Weasleys was Charlie who had approached them without a care in the world and had chatted up Draco like they were old friends. And until now, right after their brunch, Charlie and Draco were still talking, this time their topic was about Draco's collection of leather shoes which he accumulated in wizarding and muggle stores.
"I think you got some bit of drool on your chin, Hermione." Fred joked while placing his long arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"I think that's Malfoy's drool, Fred." George interjected with a smirk.
Hermione chuckled and slapped Fred's arm away, "Will the two of you stop it!"
"I don't know, Hermione. Malfoy hasn't been welcomed to the family properly yet." George replied while rubbing his palms together like a cartoon villain.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Please don't tell me you planted a dung bomb below his chair."
"Dung bombs? Do you think we're amateurs?" Fred replied, faking an appalled and disgusted look on his face.
Hermione only looked at the twins suspiciously, "Just please promise me you aren't planning on doing anything harmful to him."
"Now Hermione -" Fred started.
"Please." Hermione repeated again, this time with a gentler tone and a bit of a pout. "You guys know how important it is for me that Draco will be able to feel at home with us."
Fred and George looked at each other and simultaneously gave out a sigh.
"Alright, not today." Fred acquiesed.
"But we ain't making any promises." George leered.
Hermione just smiled and hugged the both of them at the same time, earning half hearted attempts from the twins.
"You're wrinkling my new jumper."
"You're worse than mum."
Hermione ignored them and only hugged them tighter.
After a few hour with the Weasels in their habitat, Draco had to admit that it was pretty ok. Of course their things aren't as lavish as the ones he owns and their house looks like a bunch of rocks piled up together, but even Draco can see the love that binds the whole Weasel family together. He might not understand how they survive in their living conditions but he can sure as hell understand loving someone amidst all odds because of Hermione and Scorpius. And because of that, Draco found himself harbouring respect to the Weasel family.
Not that he'd admit that out loud of course.
Potter the wonder boy was also in the burrow, being his usual wonder boy self. Once and a while they would exchange curt nods and go about their business. Charlie Weasley was the only Weasley that Draco was comfortable talking to, for surprisingly, they actually had a lot in common. They both have travelling as a huge part of their jobs, they are both interested in Dragons, and they both understand what it's like to leave your family because of work. They had managed to talk about a lot of things and Charlie even invited him, Hermione and Scorpius to come visit him in Romania to see some real dragons whenever they felt like it. Draco of course pounced on this request and had also extended an invitation to Charlie to come around the manor or maybe to his office for a drink some time in the near future. Charlie's stories about his work as a dragon keeper had really interested Draco for he was actually looking into buying a real dragon to guard some of his offices which housed most of his valuable belongings.
"Well, if you're looking for a very common low maintenance dragon, then the Common Welsh Green would be perfect. It's fierce and loyal but not as barbaric as the Hungarian Horntail. It also has very luminescent green scales which I think will be perfect for you slytherin lot." Charlie said with a friendly leer.
"That does sound perfect." Draco smirked, now only half listening to Charlie as his eyes were trained on Hermione who was being forced by Ginny to mount a broomstick and play quidditch with them.
Hermione's eyes met Draco's with a silent plea for him to come and save her from Ginny's pestering. Draco of course, immediately excused himself from their conversation and coolly made his way to the two women.
"Draco! Please tell Ginny that I really don't want to play quidditch. I refuse to get on that death trap they call a broom." Hermione's breathless voice caught up to him even a few meters away.
"What? The great Hermione Granger doesn't know how to do something? Is the world ending?" Draco mocked.
"Draco you are not helping at all!" Hermione huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.
This move of course, drew Draco's eyes to her chest, making Hermione huff some more. Draco only laughed and drew Hermione in for a hug, "Sorry, Weaselette. I haven't taught Hermione yet how to fly a decent broom. Maybe in a few weeks we'll get back on your offer after I give her a private lesson." Draco smirked.
Ginny smirked back and was about to reply with a quip of her own when her eyes suddenly widened and focused on something behind Draco and Hermione. Draco distractedly turned his head a bit to the side to see what Ginny was looking at when he heard Hermione whisper a soft, "Oh no."
How did you guys like the way I've written the Weasleys? Do you want to take a wild guess as to what was behind Hemione and Malfoy? Tell me through a review!
Thanks for reading!
Love lots,
The Malfoys
