Author's Note: I know I've been missing for a long time. I'm back. Work has kept me busy 24/7 and I haven't had much time for writing. The perils of being a business owner. But I'm here. And I appreciate the messages I've gotten from those of you who asked about me; I'm sorry to make anyone worry. I'm still here, and back to writing again.
Chapter 52: Scandalous
Burke was right, and it didn't take Draco long to pack up the flat. Everything was faster with magic. He was surprised to find mixed emotions as he looked at what he was taking, and what was being left behind. The bed was his. The couch—lumpy as it was—was staying. He'd gotten used to it. Most of the dishes went with the flat, but all the food was going over to Hermione's. Not Hermione's. Their place.
In short order, everything was packed and and taken over to Hermione's flat; the bed was miniaturized with a shrink spell. Burke took Draco's keys and offered him a grim goodbye. He couldn't resist a parting shot as Draco handed over the keys. "Not going back to your Manor after all this time?"
"I think not. Goodbye, Auror Burke."
At last, Draco was free to collapse on the sofa in his and Hermione's flat. He took his wand out of his sleeve, and summoned a drink. Hermione curled up beside him on the couch, tucking her feet under her.
"How long do you think before your mother realizes you're not coming back?"
"It's hard to say. She's sharp, but if she doesn't want to know something, she can ignore it pretty thoroughly." At some point he'd like to go back for his broom, his best robes…some of his home comforts. But there was no rush. He was free to do what he wanted. And what he wanted was to sit here with Hermione. At least for a little while.
She kissed his cheek. "We can start making plans. Have you decided what to do about the library?"
"I've had my magic back for all of an hour…we'll plan soon. Well, we've got all the time in the world now." They'd need to find a place to live. He'd have to decide what to do about the library. All his robes were going to be at least a year out of fashion. And Salazar, he missed flying. There were a thousand places he wanted to take Hermione.
"Skeeter's lost her exclusive. What do you think she's going to do? We need to be ready."
They sat in silence for a while. Short of tracking down another journalist and getting them to write something for tomorrow's paper about Hermione and Draco's star-crossed romance, there was little they could do, but brace themselves. Any slim hope they had that Skeeter might not retaliate went up in smoke when there was a tapping noise at the window.
Draco got up to open it—not even thinking about the fact that he could now have done the same with a flick of his wand—and an owl with pink painted talons flew in. It dropped an envelope on Draco's head and left without waiting for an sort of response. He grimaced as he opened it and read the contents.
"Well?" Hermione said, getting up to have a look.
"It's from her. It's the article she says she isn't running tomorrow."
Muggle No More
As the Head Wizard announced the council's decision, young Draco Malfoy had tears in his eyes. Not only was he deemed worthy to return to the wizarding world a better person, but he was finally free to give his heart to the witch who'd caught his eye.
Who would have ever imagined that what started out as a schoolyard rivalry would someday simmer to love and understanding?
Draco didn't bother to read the rest. What was the point? It was an article that said almost nothing bad about Draco or Hermione. Whatever was going to come instead…it would be bad, and he knew who was going to bear the brunt of it. It wasn't him.
Hermione noticed the stricken look on Draco's face. "We knew we were dealing with a double-edged sword. She can hardly say anything worse than she's said before."
He growled. "I have my magic back, and the first time someone threatens you, I can't do anything."
"I blackmailed her and kept her in a jar, Draco. She's been itching for the chance to come after me again. The one thing you can't do is go down to her office and threaten her and risk getting arrested. They won't go easy on you again. That's probably why she made a point of sending this today instead of waiting for the article to run tomorrow. She's trying to bait you." She took the parchment and tore it in half. She didn't need to see whatever else it said. "She may not even follow through. All we can do right now is move on."
It rankled Draco to sit and do nothing while the woman he loved was being threatened. But there was noting for it. All he could do was wait. He wished the Malfoys still had a journalist in their pocket—it would have been a simple thing once—but there was no help for it. The name didn't carry the weight it used to, and neither did the purse. "Muggle London. We'll go see that Eye thing. And have dinner.
Hermione chewed her lip. "If her exclusive is already gone…maybe we ought to celebrate in the wizarding world. Where everyone can see us. It might put less weight behind whatever she writes tomorrow. If you're up for it."
It wasn't exactly top on Draco's list. He'd made such a point about wanting to slip quietly back into the wizarding world at his own pace. It looked like it was going to be a little late for that. "We need to go by the joke shop. Spend some time at the Leakey Cauldron. Have they reopened Fortescue's? Gringott's. And maybe Madam Malkins." He started strategizing where they ought to be seen. It wasn't how he wanted this to go. But dammit, they'd do what they could. A short while later, they were dressed in good looking Muggle clothing and had made their way to Diagon Alley. Hermione felt like she stood out like a sore thumb in a yellow sundress (transfigured for the occasion), but that was the idea. Slacks and a button down shirt made Draco stand out far more than robes. They wouldn't exactly go unnoticed.
Strolling from the Leakey Cauldron to Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, they did their best to ignore passersby. Hermione's fingers were twined with Draco's. George was serving in the shop front, cajoling the customers and entertaining. "Didn't expect to see you two in here today."
"After all the stir the magic mirrors created, I thought today would be the perfect day to show Draco around the shop, let him see how he's helped revolutionize the wizarding world."
"Yes, sorry about that, I've brought the curse of mobile phones on us all," Draco said, not sounding apologetic at all.
George studied her for a moment, knowing that she knew that an August Saturday would be an absolute maelstrom in the shop. He sized up the situation and gave a nod before breaking out in a grin, turning back to the milling crowd. "Ladies and gents, we've got a treat in store for you today. As brilliant and handsome as I am, I couldn't have brought you calling mirrors all on my own—well, I could, but it would have taken a little longer—so I want to introduce you to my partners in creation, the incomparable Hermione Granger, and Draco Malfoy, whose a bit of a tosser really."
"Hermione Granger…like the Hermione Granger?" asked one boy, who couldn't have been more than twelve. He was wide-eyed.
"I'm the only Hermione Granger I know." They stayed in the joke shop for some little while before disentangling themselves and starting back down the street. They had a number of places to put appearances in at. They needed to be old news by morning, hardly worth a glance.
Draco gritted his teeth and did his best to be friendly. The worst part was that his mother had been right. Trying not to orchestrate his own re-emergence in the wizarding world had given someone else the opening. These things were best done yourself. He'd never admit it to her.
Hermione woke with an ache in her legs. They'd walked around London for hours yesterday. First Diagon Alley, and then a bit of Muggle London—in the end they had gone to the Eye after all and walked around for ages beyond that. And there were shopping bags. After a trip to Gringotts, Draco may or may not have gotten himself fitted for a new set of robes, and stopped by a shop for some of his favorite hair care potions.
Though neither Draco nor Hermione was subscribed to the Daily Prophet, a copy turned up on Sunday morning. They considered not reading it for about the space of a breath; it was better to know what you were up against. The good news (relatively speaking) was that Rita's article hadn't made the front page.
The front page was split between an article about an outbreak of dragon pox that had hit the region, a major Quidditch accident, and an article covering the Ministry proceedings surrounding Draco's hearing.
The bad news was they found Rita's article on page 3.
Hermione took the front page, and started reading. The headline was promising. It didn't touch too closely on the details of Draco's agreement, or even Draco himself.
Rehabilitation vs. Incarceration, Success Story?
By P. Clearwater
The Ministry held a special session on Saturday to evaluate the success of having returned a long unused rehabilitative punishment in place of incarceration. Studies have long proven that incarceration, rather than leading to positive changes, only reinforces negative behaviors and attitudes when someone is released.
Due to peculiar circumstances all coming together, while many other Death Eaters are still sitting in cells in Azkaban—no doubt feeding their anger as they were after the war just a few short decades ago—one young man was given a chance to pursue rehabilitation rather than bleak confinement in a cell.
It's undeniable that the young man in question did commit some atrocious crimes. He was also a minor, and acting under duress, and, when push came to shove, he had a moment where the war could have ended very badly for those who stood for equality, and he defected from the Death Eaters instead. Had his former allies realized this, it would have cost him his life.
At an urging for mercy from Harry Potter, the Wizengammot agreed to suspend this young man's incarceration in favor of a supervised year of probation—without magic. Given the young wizard's Pureblood background, this went beyond merely being an inconvenient way to live his life for the next year. It would have been absolute culture shock, to a degree that only those of you readers who were born in the Muggle world will truly understand.
Some people have lauded the decision—presumably someone who has lived and worked alongside Muggles will have a greater understanding of them and be less inclined to believe their lives have no value, that they're disposable. The number of Muggle deaths recorded during the War are only an estimate. It's believed that far more were tortured and likely killed than we have documentation of.
Others believe that thrusting unwanted members of wizarding society into Muggle populations is unfair to unsuspecting Muggles. After all, shouldn't we handle our own problems?
And yet others believe that there are only two suitable options for those who break our laws—Azkaban or death.
While removing someone's magic may not be a proper punishment for all offenders, or even all who have committed the same crime, might walking in someone else's shoes not create a better understanding? Is there a chance it could change the minds of some of those with deep seated prejudice that have driven our world to War? And if this is a useful rehabilitation tool, should others be pulled out of their cells and brought onto the streets?
Only time will tell the wisdom of this first case, but it appears we'll know shortly whether the apparent change of mind and change of heart is long lasting. Already, Draco Malfoy appears to be building bridges instead of walls.
There was a small photo at the bottom of the article, but it was enough to make out Draco and Hermione walking hand in hand. Oddly, it wasn't from yesterday. It was from weeks ago. Apparently, Rita Skeeter hadn't been the only one paying attention to them.
"Well, he took a long time to say not much of anything," Draco said. He scanned through the article again. The reporter marginally looked to be on his side in general theory, without being to committed.
"She," Hermione corrected. "I'm pretty sure this was written by Penelope Clearwater. She was a Ravenclaw some years ahead of us. This really could be a lot worse. It's front page, and proposing the idea that the way your case was handled was the right way to go about it. I'd say from the photo here that she's been keeping track of you since before we made any arrangement with Skeeter."
Draco pressed his lips together, wondering how the witch had found him, and what could have flagged her interest in reporting on him. At least she wasn't a sensationalist gossipmonger. That was something. "Ready to read the other one?"
"Let's sit first." They'd been standing together by the window all that time, and pulled out seats for themselves at the table. Draco took the paper and turned back to page three. "Oh Salazar's teeth."
"What?"
"Painfully horrible alliteration." He started to read.
Heartless Harlot Hermione Strikes Again
By Rita Skeeter
Is there anything this witch won't do to lock lips with someone famous? Or perhaps notorious is the better word in this case. Hermione Granger's previous notable conquests include famed Quidditch player Viktor Krum and The-Boy-Who-Lived himself, the one and only, Harry Potter. Not content with one wizarding hero, after the War, Granger had a whirlwind romance with her longtime friend, Ronald Weasley. When asked about the relationship, Weasley's family refused to comment.
Their relationship came to an abrupt end last summer when Weasley died in obscure circumstances.
Never one to resist the male allure long, Granger set her eyes on a new prize. Perhaps she was looking for forbidden fruit? Or maybe she's just run out of Gryffindor classmates to tangle with, but whatever the reason, she set her claws into longtime Slytherin prince, Draco Malfoy. Granger has never been content with just a little—as a rule she chooses famous, good looking wizards with wealth and power. While the Malfoy family may not have the influence it once had, the temptation was just too ripe for her, and she pounced.
How long will she dally with him before she becomes bored? Who knows.
I had the opportunity to speak with the young Malfoy's mother, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears for her boy, anticipating the broken heart she knows will come. Attempts to gain commentary from young Malfoy's father were unfortunately met with iron resistance, as the Ministry doesn't support a free press and refused to allow me entrance to Malfoy senior's current residence of Azkaban. Had I been allowed in, it's possible that the news I brought concerning his son might have put me in danger. I wouldn't want to be Narcissa Malfoy and have to break the news to Lucius if wedding bells are on the horizon.
The air could have crackled.
"She crossed a line." The newspaper was crumpled in Draco's fist. The rubbish had gone on for another couple of paragraphs, wondering if Hermione might try to woo Harry back when she lost interest in Draco. "I saw her speaking to my mother at the Ministry. I should have—"
"It doesn't look like she got anything from her. If she'd said anything that could have been interpreted as a strike against you or me at all, Rita would have used it. It looks like all she got from your mother and the Weasleys was no comment. I don't understand how the editor lets her get away with writing this dribble. Or why he'd publish it. Or she. I'm not sure who the editor is these days. But this is trash." She took the paper from Draco's hand and immediately put it where it would be most useful—lining Athena's cage. She took a breath. "Should we go see her?"
"Skeeter? I don't want to see that woman until I can afford to buy her paper and fire her." The thought floated across his mind that he wouldn't make that kind of money at the library. Returning to the wizarding world might be inevitable. But maybe there were other ways to destroy her. If there was one thing to blackmail her about, there would be others. People like Skeeter didn't just have one secret. They had dozens.
Hermione's voice was gentler than he'd have expected. "Not Skeeter. Your mother. May as well get it over with."
"I need a plan before I walk in there. We need a plan."
"She's your mother."
"I know." He sighed.
"What about just telling her the truth? We're planning to be together, and she can either be part of our lives, or not."
Draco rubbed his temples. Just the thought of going to see his mother gave him a headache. He couldn't see her until he'd made some decisions. Until they'd made some decisions, could he? He knew how she'd wheedle and exert pressure on the points that made him squirm.
"We go, we collect the rest of your things—if you want them, and we give her the option to accept us or not. Unless you think more time for her to adjust would actually be useful?" She looked at him; she didn't doubt him. Not now. Not after everything. But there were changes coming. They'd find a place that was theirs. No metaphorical ghosts in the corners. They had a life to build.
The blonde sighed. He had letters to send now that his owl was free to do so again. "We'll go this afternoon."
