Author's Note: Thank you all for the patience with this chapter! The good news is, no more delays, as the rest of the fic is completely written! Yay! The plan is to post twice a week, so the fic should wrap up on Sunday, September 27th.
The next chapter will be posted Sunday, September 20
February 2009
"You're sure? You're absolutely positive?"
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy, I'm positive. A woman with the last name Rowling checked out this morning but she didn't say where she was going."
"Alright, thank you, sir."
Hermione walked away from the reception desk and took the lift back to her room. The door clicked open and Draco sat on the sofa, making toy Quidditch figurines float around the room, entertaining Scorpius.
"It was definitely her that I saw leaving the hotel, same last name but a different first name," she explained.
"So another dead end?" he asked, letting the toys come to rest on the floor in front of their son.
Nodding, she went to the attached bedroom and sat on the bed, her head falling to her hands. Draco followed, taking a seat next to her on the mattress.
Frustration bubbled in her chest and she tried to suppress it, not wanting to have an outburst with their son in the next room. "I don't know how much more of this I can take. It's been two years since anyone has seen Skeeter, and Rowling feels more like one of those creatures Luna and Rolf chase than a real person."
"Hermione, it's okay if you don't find them."
"It's not, though," she said, her voice cracking. "We can't go out in the wizarding world anymore without people asking us questions, and when we venture into the Muggle world, there's Harry Potter things everywhere. Scorpius is going to start wondering why 'Draco Malfoy' is associated with darkness when he's been told all of these stories about his daddy being good and light. How do I explain that to him?"
Draco placed his hand on the small of her back, rubbing soothing circles into her skin. "Scorpius will ask questions and we'll tell him the truth. Those Muggle books are just stories, fiction. They aren't real."
Tears fell as her emotions took over. "They are real, though. So much of it is real. Even if some of the details are wrong, the events actually occurred. I just wish Rowling would have made it all fiction if she felt that she had to tell our story."
"It's alright—"
"It's not!" she cried. Lifting her head to look at him, she could see how hurt he was by her outburst, but emotions flowed through her freely. "It's not, because it's another thing I can't fix! I couldn't get my parents' memories back, I couldn't save Ron or your mother. I couldn't save you from Lucius—"
"I wasn't yours to save—"
"But I stood by and watched it happen! I saw the bruises and scars and heard the nightmares and I didn't do anything! I couldn't stop any of it." Hermione stood with her fists pressed to her eyes, tears running down her cheeks. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I can fix this. I can — I can do something. Research. Something productive. I can't sit back and do nothing again."
Draco stood, wrapping his arms around her and crushing her to his chest. "You haven't done 'nothing'. You've been travelling to places that she's been, you've been reading all of the articles written about her, and you're looking out for Skeeter, too. And that doesn't even include all of the work you've been doing with the Foundation. Hermione, it is not your job to save the world."
Feeling drained from her outburst, she sank into him, her arms snaking around his waist. "I'm sorry. I just want to see something happen for her leaking our secrets. Some kind of consequence."
"Stop apologising," he soothed. "I want to see her brought to justice, too. If we can find out who she is, the Ministry might be able to charge her for breaking the Statute of Secrecy, even if the Muggles don't realise it."
She nodded into his chest. Her tears had all but stopped, leaving wet streaks on her cheeks. She let his warm embrace ground her as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heart against her ear and matched her breathing with each beat.
"Mummy?"
Wiping her face quickly, Hermione stepped back from Draco and turned to crouch in front of Scorpius, who was standing in the open doorway.
"Mummy, are you okay?" he asked again, his eyes wide. He stuck his hand out, a little Quidditch figurine in his fist. "Aunt Ginny will help."
Choking out a laugh, she held her palm open for him to deposit the toy version of her best friend. The miniature Ginny stood, shoulders back, in her Harpies uniform, a broom in hand. She gave a thumbs-up to Hermione before mounting her broom and flying in small loops over her palm.
"See, Mummy? Aunt Ginny helps."
"You're absolutely right, Scorp. Aunt Ginny did help," she replied, holding open her other arm to pull him in for a hug. Placing a loud kiss to his cheek, she relished in the giggle that erupted from deep in his belly, his tiny body squirming to escape her hold.
"Yuck! No kisses!" He dragged his hand down his cheek. "Daddy, come play with me?"
"Alright, why don't you go get the game ready and I'll be out in just a moment?" Draco suggested.
Scorpius nodded his head furiously, the short blond curls bouncing. "Okay!" He took the Ginny figurine and ran back to the other room.
Pulling her to her feet, he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "Let's put Rowling and Skeeter behind us, just for the rest of the weekend. As soon as we're home, we can go talk to Kingsley together, make sure he's completely aware of everything and what information you've been able to gather. I don't imagine he's immune to it all, but I highly doubt he knows as much as you do."
She hummed in agreement, bringing her hands to her stomach where a small bump was forming. "And when we're done, we'll go to St. Mungo's and find out the gender? Or do you want to wait?"
"Let's wait," he said, his hands drifting down to her belly. "We found out with Scorpius and I think I'd like this one to be a surprise. If that's alright with you?"
"Of course it's alright. They're going to be so loved regardless."
A loud huff came from the next room. "Daddy!"
Draco laughed and then sighed. "That's my cue. We're going to have to watch that, or else he'll be calling me all through school to complain."
"If there was ever any doubt that he's your son, I think there's our proof that he is, indeed, a Malfoy."
April 2009
"Hermione, Draco, welcome. I hear congratulations are in order," Kingsley said, shaking each of their hands and gesturing to Hermione's swollen belly.
He led them over to his desk, gesturing to the two seats across from his. As they sat, he summoned three glasses and filled them with water, sliding one across for each of them.
"Thank you, Kings," Hermione said, taking a sip of her drink. "We were hoping to keep it quiet a bit longer, but you know how the papers are when they get a hold of something. At least this time their big pregnancy announcement was actually correct."
"Oh yes, Merlin knows they love to print whatever will sell, even if it's not one hundred percent true." He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to be able to meet with you. With the Wizangamot elections coming up, we've been very busy."
"I noticed," Draco mumbled, annoyed. Hermione's foot collided with his ankle and she shot him a disapproving look.
Turning back to the Minister, she continued, "The newspapers are actually why we're here. I'm sure you've heard of the latest Muggle book series? The Harry Potter ones. They've been in the Muggle world for over a decade, but they never reached our shelves until two years ago, conveniently right after Rita Skeeter quit her job at the Daily Prophet." She levelled her gaze. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Minister?"
Kingsley sat up straight, a quick look of shock flashing over his features before he composed himself. "Of course I've heard of them. What exactly are you insinuating, Mrs. Malfoy?"
Draco sighed at the switch in Kingsley's mannerisms. Hermione was going to eat him alive.
She leaned forward, steepling her fingers on the solid wood desk. "I'm not insinuating anything. Rather, I'm pointing out that the Ministry allowed Rita to publish completely fictional information for years — targeting children, I might add — and your staff allowed it to happen. Rita is an unregistered Animagus who is using this to her advantage."
"And you think she's behind this series?"
"I think it's awfully convenient that she disappears off the face of the earth the day before the final book is released."
"Even if I knew where she was, and I don't, what do you expect me to do?" the older man asked, resigned.
"She broke the Statute of Secrecy! She—"
Draco placed his hand on Hermione's knee. He could see sparks of magic shimmer at the ends of her hair, and he knew that if Kingsley wasn't careful, he would be on the receiving end of her pregnancy-induced accidental magic.
Her eyes flickered down to her lap and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The shimmering faded until all traces of magic around her had ceased.
"Kingsley," she said, her voice calm and level once more. "We all live by the same set of rules — don't let the Muggles find out that magic is real. Why is Rita getting a free pass at telling the entire world about us? Why aren't you outraged?"
Thinking for a moment, Kingsley finally asked, "Do you have proof that Rita is the author of those books?"
"Well, not exactly but—"
"Do you know where she is?"
"No, but she's been spotted—"
"Then I'll ask again. What do you expect me to do? Send a full team of Aurors to one of these possible locations where she may have been spotted? Hermione, you know as well as I do that I can't pull those kinds of strings. Bring me proof that Rita is in fact J.K. Rowling and her location, and I promise I'll take care of it." He stood from his desk, effectively ending the meeting. "Until that happens, I suggest you take comfort in the fact that I'm not looking too closely at some of the things those books said about you. Even if you were a minor, you still kept a human being in a jar."
Hermione stood up, huffing. She grabbed her things and marched over to the door. "I'm not done with this, Kingsley. My family and I aren't able to leave our house without being accosted by nosey people and I won't rest until someone is held accountable."
Still standing by the desk, Draco watched as his wife left. He sighed and reached out to shake the Minister's hand. "She's not wrong and you know it. Someone from the Muggle world is going to figure out that this is all real, and then what? Are you prepared to expose our entire community?"
"I won't let it get to that," Kingsley said.
"I sincerely hope you're right. People won't be happy if everything goes to shit and you could have stopped it."
July 2009
"I'm not going," Draco said, leaning against the doorframe of their bathroom. He had his hands shoved in the pockets of his trousers, his grey eyes looking at her intently.
Hermione rolled her eyes, exasperated. She swallowed the mouthful of pregnancy tonic her healer had prescribed, the powdery texture coating her throat. "You say that every year. Every year. I don't think a single film has come out and you've been excited to see it, yet every year you go and you love it."
"Right, but this one is different," Draco protested. "This is sixth year. You know, the year I don't remember?"
She closed her eyes, guilt flooding her system immediately. "I'm sorry, I can't believe I didn't think about how much harder this one would be for you to see."
"Reading about it was tough enough," he said quietly. "I'm not sure if I can handle seeing Katie or Ron injured because of me."
Stepping away from the sink, she crossed the room and took his hands in hers. He kept his eyes down, looking at the small imprint of a bum at the top of her belly.
"It's alright to not want to go, Draco. I should have realised it sooner. No one will blame you for not going."
"And you won't be mad?"
Hermione shook her head, one of her hands lifting to touch his cheek. "I could never be mad at you for this."
He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers. She tried to deepen it but he broke the kiss quickly, his face twisted in disgust.
"Your mouth tastes like chalk."
The Floo roared to life, green flames flickering, pulling Draco from his book. He slipped his reading glasses off his face, tucking in the arms and placing them on the end table.
Hermione stepped out of the fireplace, walking over and dropping a quick kiss to his lips. She plopped herself down on the sofa next to him, her legs curling up under her and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Long film?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her.
She nodded her head, stifling a yawn. "Yes, and this one wouldn't stop kicking me the entire time."
Chuckling, he brought his free hand to her belly and rubbed the spot where he knew his future son or daughter was likely to be curled up. The fireplace lit up again, spitting out Ginny and Harry, who made their way over to the other sofa.
"So?" Draco asked. "What's the verdict?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "They messed it all up," she grumbled. "That Ginny character, if you can even call her that, is so one dimensional! She barely said five words the whole film. You should have seen that monstrosity they called a first kiss."
He looked over to Harry with a lifted brow. "What did they do to make it so awful?"
"The real first kiss was in the Gryffindor Common Room after a Quidditch match that I wasn't able to attend because of the whole Sectumsempra incident," Harry explained, a red tinge rising to his cheeks. "In the film, we're in the Room of Requirement after hiding the Half-Blood Prince's potion book. It was… uncomfortable to say the least."
"That's how I feel about watching you kiss now," Draco quipped. "What else did they mess up?"
Hermione chuckled beside him, her body shaking slightly. "Lavender. Oh gods, they messed up Lavender." She brought her hands to her face and giggled. "I mean the books made her pretty awful to begin with, but she was just so annoying in the film. So many tears and dramatic faces."
"You're one to talk about tears," Harry added. "Your character practically cried anytime Ron was in the same room!"
Draco eyed her, smirking. "Really? She just cried the whole time? About Ron?"
"They're setting it up for the end of the series when they paired her with him," Ginny snickered. "You know, when she marries Ron and has two babies and you marry Astoria Greengrass."
"Whatever happened to Astoria?" Hermione asked Draco.
"I haven't spoken to her in a while but the last I heard she and Blaise had moved to Italy together and eloped," he said. "They started dating a few years ago."
Harry's brows pulled together in confusion. "I thought Blaise was dating Pansy? Didn't they come to your wedding together?"
"You mean seven years ago? This is Blaise we're talking about. He's dated at least four other people since Pansy. And besides, she's living in Paris now."
"Good for her," Hermione murmured. "She deserves a fresh start."
Draco let out a humourless laugh. Running his hand up and down her arm, he pulled her in tighter. "You hate Pansy. You only tolerated her at our wedding because it stopped Blaise from getting too out of hand."
"Just because I strongly dislike Pansy doesn't mean I can't be happy she's off living in another country."
"Whatever you say." Turning his attention back to the other couple, he asked, "What else? There had to be more than just awkward kisses and Hermione crying all the time."
"You're asking about you?" Ginny waited for him to nod his head before continuing. "Honestly, the appearance was fairly accurate. Even if you don't get Imperiused in the series, they sure make it look like you did. You wore these pompous suits all the time though. It was like the film creators just decided that we stopped wearing uniforms altogether."
"My suits are not pompous," Draco muttered.
Hermione patted his hand and grinned. "Of course they aren't, but you also didn't wear them during school."
Ginny stretched, her arms reaching above her head and releasing a loud yawn. "We should head home," she said. "You know the kids are going to have us up early tomorrow. They don't seem to care that Mummy and Daddy were out late."
"Goodnight," Hermione replied, snuggling into Draco and showing no sign of getting up to say goodbye properly.
As soon as the flames settled behind Harry and Ginny, Draco waved his wand, closing the Floo and warding it for the evening. Scorpius had been curious about the Floo from the moment he could crawl, immediately forcing them to set up protective charms on anything that could hurt him — including blocking the Floo so he couldn't accidentally send himself somewhere.
He leaned down and kissed Hermione gently, lacing his fingers with hers. "How was it really?"
She hummed for a moment, thinking. "It was hard to watch some of the things I had only heard about, like the Sectumsempra incident and Dumbledore's death. Even if the events didn't happen exactly like the book or film portrayed them to be, they still happened." Her hand lifted to trail the pattern of his scars over his shirt. "I think you made the right choice to stay home."
"That's good to know. Scorpius and I had a lovely evening tonight. We read The Little Dragon that Could before bed. Six times."
"He needs more books," she joked. "Clearly the full library of options at his disposal aren't good enough."
"You just want to go to Flourish and Blotts, don't you?"
"Yes, and I'm pregnant, therefore we have to go. It's the rules."
August 2009
"You're doing great, Hermione. Just one more."
"Deep breath. Ready? Push!"
"You're amazing."
"She's here. It's a girl."
Hermione felt her entire body relax. Just hearing those words, and the subsequent cry from her daughter, was enough. The healers would take care of the rest.
A warm hand pushed the hair off of her forehead, a set of lips pressing against her skin. Draco's head rested against hers and she could feel the dampness of his cheeks as the tears hit her scalp.
He was such a sap.
"Are you ready for her?" the healer asked, coming to stand beside them carrying a swaddled pink bundle. Hermione nodded and her daughter was placed in her arms.
Draco sat on the bed next to her as the healers finished casting a few spells and clearing their supplies. The room was emptied out quickly, giving Hermione time with her husband and new infant before contacting everyone else.
"What should we name her?" Draco whispered, his hand coming to rest on their daughter's tiny frame. A small set of fingers wrapped around a single long digit and Hermione could feel him melt at her touch.
"You know what I want," Hermione replied.
"Narcissa, I know." He was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "What about, Stella Narcissa?"
"It's perfect. She's perfect. We make perfect babies."
"We really do," he agreed. "It's half two in the morning now so I'll contact Harry and Ginny when we wake up. They can bring Scorpius here after they've had breakfast."
Humming an incoherent response, Hermione nestled closer to Draco's side, Stella snuggled between them. She knew that even if she fell asleep now, he would be wide awake until morning, watching their daughter sleep, forever protecting her.
Just as she began to drift off, she heard him whispering to Stella, telling her all about the strong women in her life, and how she was destined to grow up to be just like them.
September 2009
Hermione pushed through the throngs of people at King's Cross Station, holding Scorpius' hand. She couldn't remember it ever being this crowded; it felt as if people were just standing around waiting for something to happen, though what that was, she wasn't sure.
"I know I typically didn't have to use the barrier, but it was never like this, was it?" Draco asked as he followed behind, his hand resting on her lower back.
"Definitely not. And there used to be people milling around to help first years find their way, but now I can't see a single one."
Draco leaned in close, his breath brushing against her neck as they waited for a large group of Muggles to pass. "If our kind was there helping first years, how come Harry had so much trouble?"
She shot him an incredulous look. "Do you honestly think he was well prepared for his first day? While I had tea with McGonagall prior to getting my letter, he was approached by a half-giant with a squashed birthday cake. I don't think anyone told him who to look for."
At barely a month old, Stella was strapped to Draco's chest using one of the Muggle slings Hermione had purchased from a baby shop in London. If she had known it was going to be as busy as it was, she would have put her in a pram instead. It certainly would have helped clear their path better.
"How on earth are we going to be able to get through the barrier with all this attention?" she said, casually elbowing a man that almost stepped on her son.
An older man dressed approached them, a shiny pin with the Hogwarts crest pinned to his chest. There was a glimmer of magic around the crest, indicating that he was there to help first year students make their way to the train.
"Good morning ma'am," he said with a wink. "Looking to get to the platform?"
"Yes, thank you. I can't even see platforms 9 or 10."
As much as she hated being recognised as Hermione Granger — or Hermione Malfoy, depending on who was talking to her — it had its perks in moments like these. The school aids weren't to approach families unless they were certain they were going to Hogwarts, and having two young children was not typically indicative of that.
"We've had to move things around a bit in recent years. Those Muggle books have drawn quite the crowds," the man explained. "See that closed off section at the end of platform 11? The red door will take you straight to the platform. There are charms around the area so Muggles don't even know the platform extends that far."
Draco looked at the man, concern written all over his face. "How long has it been like this?"
"We noticed more people in 1999, but there was a real surge in popularity around 2002; that's when we changed the barrier. People are coming to take photos of themselves pretending to run through the wall between 9 and 10. A few people have actually tried to cross the barrier, which of course meant a trip to the hospital. It's like they don't understand magic."
"It's been like this for that long?" Hermione asked, shocked. "How did we not know about this?"
The man shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "We've ensured that every Hogwarts letter contains proper instructions. Whoever you're meeting must have forgotten to mention it."
"Right, thanks," Draco said. He turned to Hermione. "We should hurry up if we're going to make it on time."
Hurrying away, they pushed through the crowds once more until they were standing in front of the closed off section of Platform 11. It wasn't even a section between 11 and 12; just plain old Platform 11. A small part of Hermione panged for all the new students that wouldn't know the thrill of running head first into a brick wall and seeing a whole new world on the other side.
Yet another reason for her to find Skeeter and Rowling.
Hermione turned the knob and the door swung open, revealing the shiny red steam engine she had grown to love. Quickly moving through, she caught sight of the Potters, Teddy, Tonks, and Andromeda.
"I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you about the platform changes," said Tonks, after hugs had been given out.
Hermione smiled politely, knowing how stressful the day must have already been on the other woman. "It's alright, an older man was able to point us in the right direction. At least now we'll know where to go when James starts school in five years."
Ginny pulled James close to her, squishing his face against her hip. "I'm not ready for my little boy to go to school."
James groaned and tried to squirm away. "Muuuuum, let me go. It's Teddy's turn, not mine." He freed himself of her hold and ran to stand on his father's side, out of Ginny's reach.
"Train's going to be leaving soon, are you all ready?" Tonks asked her son. Even at eleven he was nearly the same height as her, clearly taking after his dad in that department.
"Yep. My trunk is already packed away. Can I go now? I want to see Victoire."
"Before you go," Draco started. "One last talk?"
Teddy nodded quickly, walking away with Draco and Harry by his sides. Since the war had ended, both Draco and Harry had taken the boy under their wings, telling him all about his father and what it meant to be part of the Black family, not that it truly mattered anymore. They took him to Quidditch matches and taught him how to play, much to Tonks' excitement. It gave her some time to herself, as well as the promise of being able to watch Teddy play when he inevitably made one of the house teams.
"What do you think they're saying?" Andromeda asked, watching the three wizards talk privately.
"They're giving him the map," Ginny said simply. "He has a few years to use it before James starts school and it might as well get some proper use."
Hermione watched as Draco smirked at the younger boy, causing the metamorphmagus' hair to turn a bright shade of pink, the colour matching his cheeks.
"And Draco just told Teddy which alcoves are the most hidden," Hermione sighed.
"Draco Malfoy!" Tonks shouted. "Stop telling my sweet baby boy where to take girls! He's only eleven!"
Most of the platform turned to look at the interaction, including one Victoire Weasley. She, along with many of the other students eavesdropping, giggled. Teddy threw his hands over his face in embarrassment.
"There we go." Tonks smiled, her voice returning to a normal level. "I've embarrassed my son thoroughly enough before sending him off to school. I think I've done parenting right."
The three boys returned to the group and everyone started saying goodbye.
"Go make Slytherin proud," Draco said with a smirk. Andromeda looked over at him smiling and nodded in agreement.
"What? No way!" Tonks protested. "He's going to be in Hufflepuff."
"No no, he'll be in Gryffindor," Harry added. "His dad was a Gryffinfor and he's spent so much time with us."
"But I'm a Hufflepuff and—"
"Bye!" said Teddy, interrupting the bickering. He hurried off to the train, waving at the group of teary-eyed adults. "I'll owl you tonight, Mum."
Andromeda wrapped her arm around Tonks, pulling her close to her side. "Remus would be so proud," she murmured. "You've done a wonderful job raising him."
Hermione gestured to the others that they should leave and let the two women have some space. She could only imagine how hard it must be on Tonks to send her only son away to school.
As they crossed back to Platform 11, Hermione lifted Scorpius in her arms, not wanting him to be trampled by the crowds. Harry and Ginny must have had the same idea since they sandwiched James between them.
"Why is it so busy all of a sudden?" Harry complained. "What possible exciting thing could King's Cross have for Muggles besides a bunch of trains that have always been here?"
Draco turned and eyed him. "Really? You have absolutely no idea?" he drawled.
Placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, Ginny smiled. "They're here for you, darling. They all want a chance to experience the same magical feeling you had that first day."
"Impossible," he murmured, his features softening. "I don't think anything compares to that day."