Title: Enough
Category: Books » Harry Potter
Author: Scorpio219
Language: English, Rating: Rated: M
Genre: Romance/General Contents

Disclaimer: I am not and therefore never will be J.K. Rowling; and as such the story I shall post consists of my own plot, and borrowed Characters from J.K.

Previously:

Draco glanced towards Scorpius, "And yes Scorp all the children can sleep in your tree house if you want" to which Scorpius' smile brightened as he gave his father his thanks.

Chapter 36:

-DMHG-

-2 hours later-

"Hermione you remember Theo don't you?" Hermione surveyed the lanky man who stood to greet her. He was just a touch taller than Draco and much like the blond he was wearing a Muggle tuxedo, his dusty blond hair was short unlike Draco's and a pair of designer spectacles settled high on the bridge of his nose.

"Theodore, how are you?"

"I'm very well Hermione, I don't know if you know her, but this is my wife Mandy" he signalled to a woman sat down next to where he was sat, a woman who by the looks of it was either heavily pregnant or expecting twins.

Reaching over to shake the woman's hand Hermione's eyes drifted to her midsection to which the woman smiled, "Twin girls due in three months"

"Congratulations!"

"We are a far way behind for the rest of our year in terms of having a baby, but we felt it was the right time." The woman smiled as she glanced up at her husband, linking her hands with his.

Hermione turned to find Draco at her side, his hand resting lightly at the curve of her spine as he leant in towards her, "I was thinking would you like to head off soon?" Hermione nodded as she shifted unknowingly towards the warmth he was emanating. "I invited a few of the guys back to mine to stay over, it used to be a bit of a tradition, the kids can all go into Scorpius' tree house and we will stay up chatting." He watched as her face turned to slightly apprehensive features, "I hope you do not mind"

"You know I don't want to throw a spanner in the works from what you would usually do, so yes I think it would be nice."

"You can invite the Potter's if you want?"

"Honestly Draco," she touched his arm, "I'll be fine with your friends you don't have to think about me all the time."

"I just want to make sure you are comfortable with everything" he smiled lightly.

"Thank you then." She glanced around the room, "I'm going to say goodbye to a few people and then we can go" Draco nodded watching as she sashayed across the room, bringing a smile to his face.

"She's a strong woman" Pansy announced standing next to him, "I like her"

Draco smiled a genuine smile as he turned towards his good friend "I never thought I would see the day where you would accept Hermione in any way shape or form," he nodded his head still smiling, "You mean a lot to me Pans, so this means more to me than you may think." Feeling the conversation was going to take a bad turn as this acceptance was a new concept for Pansy, Draco pulled her to a secluded corner as he remembered the photographs he had shoved into his inside pocket before telling her what Dennis Creevey had relayed to him earlier.

Pansy nodded as she took in all the information, "Have you asked her about them?" Draco shook his head, "I suggest asking her tomorrow, and let her enjoy the remainder of the evening- as bad as it started off for her I think it made a good headway for the pair of you"

The blond glanced back towards where Hermione was stood talking to Neville Longbottom and a few others before his smile brightening as he observed her throw her head back at something Longbottom had said.

"You love her don't you?" Draco snapped his attention to where his best female friend stood, taking note of her furrowed browline as she stared at him.

"I-" Draco pursed his lips together, "I-, I d-"

Pansy held up her hand interrupting the blond, "It's okay, you don't have to tell me, it's written all over your face" She snorted through her nose, "It was never Astoria was it, it was her."

This time it was Draco's turn to furrow his eyebrows "What do you mean?"

"You said the other day that your brooding self, both at the time and in final year was never about Astoria, it was about Granger was it not?" Not trusting his voice Draco nodded, which caused Pansy to take a deep breath before letting it out slowly, "How did it happen?"

Draco shrugged before saying, "Can we talk about this another time?" quickly glancing towards Hermione again who was dancing in circles with her daughter, before catching sight of Lord Ardenbrook and his old Professor who were watching him watching Hermione.

Deciding he needed to speak to the pair before they left Draco made his way over, letting Pansy know they would be going as soon as Hermione had finished her rounds talking to different people and saying her farewells.

"Lord Ardenbrook, Professor McGonagall please forgive me for my abrupt exit earlier" he immediately said once he was within earshot of them, allowing the pair to turn towards him before he spoke again. "I had some pressing matters to attend to"

Harry smiled, "Draco my boy it is no problem, I am glad it was you who reacted I fear I would be in the dog house had I done the same thing." Draco chanced a glance at his old Professor who had a stern look on her face, a look that had it been directed at him would have frozen him with fear, but Lord Ardenbrook seemed unfazed. "I have one question for you though Draco"

Draco looked at the elderly man with a questioning look painted on his face, "Why have you not asked Hermione to dance? She loves to dance and not once has she stepped foot on that dance floor without young Rose forcing her to"

Looking slightly perturbed Draco glanced from his boss to the floor before glancing at Hermione as she twirled her daughter around.

"You're a good dancer yourself Mr Malfoy" his Professor voiced, as if also wondering the same thing.

"She said no" Draco rubbed at the back of his neck, "I asked her earlier, after the incident, she said no." He sighed before adding as an afterthought, "I've not pushed the subject".

As if sensing that Draco was slightly stung by the scenario Minerva placed a hand on Harry's arm as he went to say something else, "Draco." The blond glanced up at his old Transfiguration lecturer, "Hermione is a very complex woman, and if you want any chance of being able to have the relationship I know you have craved then you need to do these little things" If Draco was honest he was confused as to what his professor meant but listened as she continued, "Make her see it is what she wants as well- insist she dances with you"

It was at that moment that the true relationship between Minerva and Hermione came to Draco's attention, McGonagall in all her infinite wisdom knew Hermione as well as the back of her aging hand. In regards to Hermione she knew everything that Draco needed to do to win her over, so Draco took what she said on board with a nod of his head.

Having took two steps towards Hermione Draco paused, back tracking slightly before speaking to the couple, "I have invited a few of my old school friends back to my manor as an after party kind of thing, and I feel I need to speak to you both a bit longer, and I know Hermione would love to have some people she has more of a connection with there. So would the pair of you like to join us?"

Lord Ardenbrook, who was usually always seen as the decision maker turned towards Minerva as if seeking her answer, when she gave a single nod Harry smiled, "We would be delighted Draco" Draco nodded once more before striding back towards Hermione.

When he got within arm's reach of the brunette he stretched out his arm before saying, "May I have this dance?"

Hermione glanced up at him shocked to find him stood there and Draco could tell from the biting of her lip she was about to reject him again when Rose's small accented voice spoke up, "Go on mum, you've not danced at the ball for years" as she placed her mother's hand into the upturned palm of Draco's much larger hand before running off to join her cousin Lily as they stared at Hermione and Draco waiting for them to take their first steps to the dance music.

-DMHG-

Draco held his breath patiently waiting for Hermione to place her hand into the correct position on his body.

He watched as she shook her head, "I really don't want to dance Malfoy"

The blond sighed, "I thought you would say that, but I really want to have this dance- with you- you promised we could have the first dance, and as we are leaving soon it can also be your last"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Why do you have to sound so spoilt, isn't it enough that I came to this stupid thing, went through that whole shambles of an embarrassing encounter earlier and I just want to go home now" she hissed not realising what she had said at the end of the speech.

"Perhaps McGonagall was wrong" he stated as he let go of the hand he was holding onto. He dragged a hand through his hair before saying "We are all ready to go when you are" And with that he turned slightly away from Hermione glad that they weren't in the centre of the room to put on a show but rather further to one side, with no one bar Rose, Lily, as well as maybe Lord Ardenbrook and Professor McGonagall watching them.

"Draco-" Hermione attempted to speak to him but he shook his head, his squared shoulders hinting that he didn't want to speak to her.

"How about I take the guest back to the Manor and when you are ready and finished with your goodbyes you can join us"

"Draco, I-"

"It is fine Granger" he turned on his heel and walked away without another word to the curly haired witch who watched him go with a frown on her face as she bit her lip.

-HGDM-

Hermione, Rose, Harry Ardenbrook and Minerva all arrived at Malfoy Manor roughly ten minutes after the others had all gotten back. Rose immediately ran to meet to the other children in Scorpius' tree house, which was basically a three bedroom granny annex placed not far off the ground between two of the large oak trees in the Manor gardens, waving her goodbyes to the two people she deemed surrogate grandparents, before she was gone around a corner.

When the trio reached the room housing the party Blaise, who was stood behind a makeshift bar asked what their preferred beverage of choice was, before making the desired drinks passing them out. Before signalling for Hermione to come a bit closer to him, placating him Hermione got within ear shot of him before he decided to speak, "Naturally I am used to his brooding self, but now you're here can you speak to him, he's killing the party vibe" Blaise pointed towards Draco who was nursing a mostly diminished glass of firewhiskey.

"Hermione!" Theo's voice erupted once he noticed her stood with Blaise, which of course caused Draco's eyes to snap up towards her heart shaped face.

His eyes, Hermione noticed, didn't leave her face even as she spoke to Theo before she was walking over to him sat in the single padded leather chair of the room.

She crouched down in front of him, much as Pansy had done a few days prior, "Can we talk?"

Draco swallowed thickly downing the small remainder of his drink as he nodded his head, to which Hermione stood extending her hand towards Draco as she pulled him through the crowd, "Hermione!" Theo's voice spoke out again, "Are you taking Draco to a secluded corner so you can snog that broodiness off of him?"

Of course Hermione simply rolled her eyes at Theo as his wife purposely snatched his drink out of his hand, and Draco did a very Muggle hand gesture in his direction.

The blond allowed Hermione to pull him through his well-appointed house until they were alone in the kitchen. She rounded on him, her features slightly annoyed and apprehensive all at once, and he knew immediately where this was going, "Draco I wanted to apologise" she rushed out.

Draco shook his head in the next instance, "Not this bullshit again. Just leave it"

"You know I can't" true he conceded that, she was as stubborn as him perhaps even more so. When Draco didn't say anything else Hermione stepped closer to him, reaching up on her tip toes to place a light kiss on his lips. He thawed slightly as his shoulders stopped being tense, "I did, do want to dance with you, just that wasn't the time nor place. I didn't wish to go to his level and flaunt you about" Draco refused to look in her eyes as he nodded, "I know it upset you, and that's what I want to apologise for. I just hope you come to realise that I didn't mean you any harm"

She sighed breathing heavily through her nose as she went to step around the counter top back towards the rest of the house when Draco grasped her wrist spinning her back around. And within seconds she was lip locked in one of the most sensual kisses she had ever encountered, a fire lit in her stomach as she eagerly reciprocated the kiss, arching her back as he began bending her backwards over the kitchen worktop. Only when the third moan found its way up her throat did Draco curb his pressure as he began standing to his full height his lips still lightly connected to Hermione's as he pulled her up by a hand on the small of her back.

"Apology accepted" he smirked as he took in the flush overcoming her skin. "I have been dying to do something similar to that all night, since first seeing you in this ravishing slytherin green dress" he fingered the material of the dress near where his hand still lay on the small of her back as his other held gently onto her hip. Sensing his mood still wasn't fully gone Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck looking into his eyes as they snapped to hers at the contact before she began swaying ever so slightly, rocking her hips from side to side.

Draco's response was to rock to her rhythm holding on as he leant his lips closer to hers, partaking in a chaste kiss before he rested his forehead to hers.

"I don't dance anymore" she admitted. Sensing she needed to talk Draco allowed her to continue, "When I was younger I loved nothing more than dancing around to any and everything that had a sort of beat" she laughed a hollow chuckle, "I guess I got used to not dancing at events, Ron never really was the sort to jump at the opportunity to spin me around on a dance floor."

"It's his loss then" Draco announced as his thumb ran soothing circles around Hermione's back before he proceeded to pick her from the floor and place her on the kitchen counter.

The action caused a squeak of protest from Hermione "Draco!" she hit at his chest, which caused his smirk to widen.

"My neck was starting to hurt being bent down trying to look in your beautiful honey coloured eyes"

"Smooth" she rolled her eyes as she went to jump back down to her feet.

But Draco didn't budge an inch, leaning forward to pin her where she was using his arms as restraints. His eyes travelled from her eyes to the lips that were oh so close, before he began leaning forward however seconds before his lips made contact with hers Theo's voice sounded out, "Oi Malfoy do you have any more whiskey? Mandy's stolen mine off me!"

Hermione's head dropped towards his chest somewhat hiding herself from Theo's gaze while Draco sent a murderous look over his shoulder towards his friend, "I think you've had enough Whiskey Theo, at least tone it down to mead or something"

"Drake mate, you look pissed off or something" it was then Theo noticed the legs straddling Draco's waist, "Hermione is that you?" Hermione squeaked again giving Theo his answer, "I apologise… I didn't mean to interrupt the pair of you"

Draco watched his tall friend leave the room before he turned back to Hermione, lifting her chin up so that he could look in her eyes as he leant forward to kiss her again. A firm push on his chest paused him and Hermione spoke, "Can you let me down please" Nodding his head Draco didn't argue as he moved to one side offering his hand to help her down from the height, which she accepted, "I'm going to go freshen up" she excused herself from him, rushing out of the room and upstairs.

-HGHG-

Hermione snapped open, before quickly shutting the door to the bathroom attached to the room she was staying. She held onto the sink as she stared at herself in the mirror.

'What am I doing?' she queried her sanity.

She knew the whole situation was absurd, confusing and frustrating. But she also knew it wasn't a simple case of emotions being shared and thus now they would be together. Much like life this situation was far from one-dimensional. There was their children, their friends, their families, her ex to name but a few of the hurdles they had to jump over.

Hermione knew she was throwing mixed signals around, asking for time, practically throwing herself at Draco in the next instance- what was she to do? She knew that if he asked her to sleep with him that night she would gladly do so, there was something different when she was with Draco in a sexual context, she felt calmer, loved, cherished, wanted- and if she truly thought about it, that is what she craved most the feeling that she was wanted.

Staring back at herself after patting some water on her face Hermione realised she had to make a decision, and stop being off and on with Draco.

'Sort it out!' she reprimanded herself.

A timid knocking at the door broke her out of her thoughts and when she called for the person at the door to come through she was mildly surprised to see Pansy poke her head around the oak door.

"Draco sent me up to check on you" she clarified

"He need not worry, I'm fine"

Seemingly unconvinced Pansy stared at Hermione's reflection in the mirror, "Are you sure?

Coming to her conclusion about what she was going to do Hermione nodded more confidently, "I am. I actually am."

Raising her eyebrow the raven haired woman continued to stare, "That is the Hermione Granger has just made a decision face"

Hermione simply nodded, "I've decided that it's Draco I want to be with" she shrugged as she turned to face the other woman a spring in her step as they walked out of the room.

As they reached the apex of the landing Hermione noticed Draco's mother down the other wing as she exited what Hermione assumed was the elder Malfoy's bedchamber. Both Hermione and Pansy waited until Narcissa got closer so they could walk down all together.

"You feeling okay Mrs Malfoy?" Hermione asked as she glanced at the older woman.

Narcissa smiled a tight lipped smile as she nodded her head, "Just a minor headache, I have just taken a pepper up potion to try and relieve it"

-DMHG-

Draco's eyes snapped to the entranceway when his mother, Pansy and Hermione all came back to the soiree, and he noticed Hermione seemed light on her feet a smile constantly on her face as she began speaking to the ex-slytherin's and her old Professor dotted about the room.

"Draco my boy, have you had a chance to speak to Hermione about the Weasley Wizard Wheezes?"

Draco shook his head as he turned towards his boss, "We've not really had the chance, life has been a bit hectic" Raising a curious eyebrow Draco asked, "Why do you ask?"

A knowing smirk found its way onto Lord Ardenbrook's face, "Because between myself, Hermione and Minerva we own a sizeable stake in the business"

Draco's jaw dropped unceremoniously open, "What do you mean? How?"

"I own fifteen percent of the business, because Mr Weasley required funding for the expansion of the business and Hermione sent him in my direction- I also purchased another five percent for tee of Hermione. Minerva owns herself a simple two and a half percent in return for students being able to use the items from the joke shop but not during class- I told her it would lift spirits up after the war. And I believe when they originally opened the store Hermione gave the twins some money in return for twenty percent of all profit margins- she's not daft- and has a true business head on her shoulders." Harry smiled fondly about his adopted daughter, "Though from what I gather her ex-husband knows nothing of this nor anyone else it's just between myself, George and Hermione, oh and naturally Minerva knows as well."

Totting the shares up in his head Draco came to the realisation that between them they owned nearing half the company, and earlier in the evening George had insinuated that he would be willing to sell a further ten percentage share to Draco for the right price.

"Hermione's ex also owns ten percent," Lord Ardenbrook continued, "As I'm sure you realise he is a greedy son of a bitch, so I have been planning to buy him out of the business, and now that they are divorced I plan to give him extra money for the shares and to make sure he never bothers Hermione for anything ever again. I want him to disappear from her life." The older man paused sizing up Draco, "I need a devious partner who cares nearly as much as I do about Hermione, if not slightly more." Harry stared intently at Draco, before leaning closer to the blond, "That means you."

The older man narrowed his eyes a look in his eyes that Draco had never seen before, "That man tore her apart from the inside, to leave her as a shell of her former self. I want him to suffer. I know you know he has a problem with gambling, and I am aware that Hermione does not know of it- I also know you know ways to extract money out of him, so I'd like you to do that to him and give it to Hermione."

"She knows about his gambling," Draco informed the older man "And yes I know ways, and have already extracted some money out of him with the help of my friends" at this point Draco signalled around the room. "But I promised Hermione I would not partake in any ploy without her knowing" Draco shook his head as he looked towards Hermione briefly. "That is a promise I intend to keep"

"Okay then if she must know tell her"

"Also I do not wish to do anymore without my Father he knows how to get these things done cleanly"

"What do I know how to do Draco?" Lucius' haughty voice spoke up from behind the pair holding steadfastly onto his cane.

Looking around the room again, Draco signalled to another doorway, "Shall we discuss this elsewhere?" the elder men followed Draco into the drawing room passing them each a scotch before gesturing for them to sit down. "Lord Ardenbrook wants me to take apart Weasley's financial standing"

"What for?" Lucius narrowed his eyes, "Or should I ask for whom? The mud-" Lucius stopped himself from saying the term at seeing the other men in the room eye's narrow. "Her?"

"I want Hermione to have a clean break from her ex-husband" Lord Ardenbrook acknowledged.

"I was not aware you were close to the Muggleborn?" Lucius sneered.

The elder Slytherin turned his head to one side before speaking, "Naturally I was brought up just like you Lucius, and how you brought up young Draco, to believe that her type were beneath me. I sneered just like you do at the mention of her name, but not anymore. I met her, Minerva informed me that I would adore her as much as she did, and I saw exactly what she saw in her." He smiled fondly at Draco, "She has a heart of gold, she's loyal as any Slytherin, and she has the intelligence of any Ravenclaw. But most of all she stands up for what she believes in because she's brave enough to challenge anyone." He paused as he thought of another tactic "The qualities that Hermione possesses are the exact same as your Narcissa, a little less refined in the old ways and traditions but the only main difference between them is the purity of Hermione's blood. But I ask you Lucius to look at the pureness of her heart and you will see no difference."

"She makes your Draco very happy" Harry appealed to the Senior Malfoy's love of his son.

Lucius looked towards Draco at that comment, and watched as his son met his eyes, something he had always struggled to do, "Is it true Son?"

Draco swallowed hard, "It is Father"

Nodding his head Lucius turned Lord Ardenbrook "What do we get out of what you are asking?"

"Nothing. Nothing gained personally for you. Just the satisfaction. Anything stripped of him gets given to Hermione"

"No!" was Lucius insistent reply. "I am doing what is best for my family, if we gain nothing it is not worth the hassle"

"But fath-" Draco was stopped as Harry grabbed his arm stopping him from rushing into a monologue.

"Okay Lucius, we shall give you time to think about it" Lord Ardenbrook gave the younger blond a stern look, "Why don't we invite the rest of the gentlemen in here, and allow the women to natter to their hearts content?"

Lucius agreed walking towards the door to shout the rest of the men into the room. "We could have persuaded him" Draco hissed at Harry, "He was close to accepting"

Harry shook his head, "Let him brood over it Draco, your father will pick what he thinks is right for his family, he always has done" He let the sentence hang in the air as Theo, Blaise and Terence joined them.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed, let me know what you think :)
Also I ummed and arred about the whole dance scenario and the characters told me to not allow it. And no that's not a sign of losing it- though if I was mad I would say that anyway hmmm. Anyhooo I really hope you enjoyed.

I'm currently loving writing again, and this story always held a special place in my heart and now that my inspiration for it has had closure I felt it was time for me to continue.