Disclosure Hp belongs to Jkr. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

The Marriage Broker.

Hermione wondered what was happening. She was no so sure she liked Basil's eagerness. She was probably worried about losing her efficient PA. It felt strange, not pleasant. She was acting weird; she already liked Draco, so what was happening?

After Fleur and Hermione's emotional greeting, Basil leashed JD before leaving, "Nicole, darling, do you want to walk JD?"

Nichole nodded eagerly.

Draco winked at Hermione, and she nodded. She was glad for Nicole, but, but what?

As soon as they were gone, Draco told Hermione, "Basil is sweet on Fleur. I know she is divorced, she told me. She is a second cousin, from her father's side; Fleur's mother is the Veela. Bill ran around, and Basil is a straight arrow. Thus he might be right for her." Draco told Hermione.

"I know, and I agree." She sort of did but wasn't so sure.

"Did you notice how she reacted when she saw Emile? Emile has a reputation, but he is also an honorable wizard." Draco added, thinking, Maybe Fleur will take both of them. He wanted Hermione in his life; the need had taken hold of him. He only had to close his eyes to feel her body against his back and her hands on his body. He had not stopped thinking about her for a minute since the first moment he saw her. He remembered when they met at the restaurant.

He saw her as if for the first time. She looked like a part of a pastoral painting with the mountains and blue skies behind her. Her loveliness made him want her; he was hard at once.

Yes, he'd wanted Hermione since that first moment, but Astoria's betrayal still stung. He had loved Astoria; he knew it. Strangely, that love had ceased suddenly; he couldn't say at what precise moment, but it had. It was hard to comprehend how easy it was to care for Hermione. There was no denying it, Draco wanted Hermione in his life, on his bed; moreover, he knew he wouldn't be happy without her. Perhaps, he'd married the wrong which.

Hermione finally answered, "Yes, I did. Fleur told me recently she had poor judgment and made terrible choices. She mentioned missed opportunities for going after Bill. Now I am wondering. Let me think; I just had an idea." Hermione wanted to ask Emile if he knew what Basil had promised her mother, soon as she saw him next time. She also wanted to know about Fleur. She only hoped that Fleur was staying away from Bill, who wanted a second chance.

"How are you?" Draco sat on her bed and moved the hair away from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "What two days, I am so sorry about Theo, I didn't wish that for him. Astoria was at fault, I am sure. I know Theo might have wanted her, but she is, never mind, not worth talking about it. I divorced her. Better said, the marriage was nullified. Though I wish I had not found out about all her betrayals, that is all."

Hermione could see he was sad; best to be stronger. She dried her tears, "I was mad at Theo, but we all make mistakes. Murdered, Theo was murdered; it makes me angry. I know you didn't kill him; I saw…" she turned bright red.

Draco looked at her with great interest; the sadness evaporated, and the snake was awake, "You were saying? What did you see? I want to know." He was amused. Draco wasn't particularly shy, and thinking that she had seen him when he was pleasuring himself, he was|| hard as steel. Now he wanted to touch her sex, slide his fingers, and see if she felt the same. He didn't notice when he took her hand, caressing her pulse with his thumb. He sat closer.

Hermione didn't know what to say, desire taking hold of her. "I saw you asleep next to me," she lied. She blushed harder; right away, Draco knew she was lying. His cock was about to explode, throbbing. He had to control his breathing.

"I see. You do something to me; something I cannot understand. My father arrives tonight with the bid for your hand; I asked him to prepare it. Basil talked to me earlier. He informed me that anyone bidding for your hand needs to submit a formal request. He gave me a scroll sent to everyone who submitted a bid." Draco saw she was shaking her head and grinned.

"A prenuptial is required to make sure your fortune belongs to you. Your grandmother left many conditions, and one is to spend at least one season per year at your ancestral home. Basil is an army of one. Father says he is a kitten compared with his father or with his best friend. I heard an interesting fact about the proper Alltag. Father says Basil's parents are on a triad with their best friend; there was an official ceremony, but not many know. Basil calls him uncle. Father knows for sure. He had a friend look in the Registry at the Mom." Draco grinned, pulling her hand close to his face.

Draco didn't add that his father had warned him to watch out for Basil; after all, many rumors were floating around. Draco didn't want to compete with him for Hermione; he didn't stand a chance. Hmm, Draco thought, grab the proverbial bull by the horns. Draco was a Malfoy, he could see angles, and he had just seen one.

Basil had already informed Hermione about the conditions, but she was sure Draco was wrong about Basil's parents. "No, his parents are as straight-laced as they come, no way. I've been overwhelmed and have not seen my ancestral home. I was angry when I found out I was not a Muggle." Hermione stopped, trying to calm herself. Having Draco sitting by her was, reassuring; it was a relief talking to someone.

"Go on, and I am listening," Draco pressed her soft hand on his cheek.

"Thanks; I am upset about not finding out that I had grandparents until they were all gone. Douglas and Jane Granger are my adoptive parents. No, they aren't; they didn't legally adopt me. It was a sham. They were paid to keep me, though they say they love me. According to them, they couldn't adopt me; my grandparents refused their request. They are distressed at my anger, but I will eventually forgive them." Hermione sighed, drying more tears.

"They reported to my grandmother twice per month, sometimes more often. The worse is how my Gryffindor friends have behaved since the news came out. The Weasley hold me in contempt but gladly accepted a gift I made to them. Others give me the cold shoulder; and even my professors are reserved, all but Hagrid. It turns out several professors recognized me but kept silent because Dumbledore asked them to do so." Her voice was but a thread.

She looked at their hands, "But the worse pain was Theo's betrayal. He was ashamed because he thought I was a Muggle," she couldn't say more. She was sobbing for Theo.

He moved closer and held her, caressing her back gently. Hermione quit crying. She lifted her eyes, and in the mirror, she saw Theo holding a little blond witch with curly hair, just for an instant, "Theo, who is that?"

"What?" what did you see?" Draco asked.

Daddy, she saw us, how?

I don't know. She wasn't looking at us. Theo answered.

Hermione felt light-headed, "It was Theo, in the mirror, holding up a little golden and curly hair witch. I didn't imagine it."

Draco tightened his hold, "Shh, be calm. Before Basil makes an appearance, would you consider my offer? I know you will have better; almost all have zero baggage. Basil shared some of the names. All I have over most is money; and you don't need mine. But I have the feeling we share a mutual attraction."

After those words, he lifted her chin and kissed her lips softly. Just the touch made him moan, but he remembered they were not really alone. On the balcony, he saw a guard sitting and looking around.

Hermione answered, "Let me think."

There was a loud knock. Hermione recognized the voice, her favorite pint-size Wizard.

"God-mommy, open, quick, it is me, your baby!" Teddy Lupin yelled while Lucius and Andy were trying to hush him.

"The door is open," someone said; Hermione asserted, "Come, my love."

Teddy entered like a tornado. With his agile strength, he leaped onto the bed and crawled to Hermione and hugged her tight. "Uncle Lucius said that you are sad because," he lowered his voice, "the nasty, ugly witch married to my cusin made your Theo deader. I will catch her and take her to the Arors. Maybe you can marry my cusin? My grandma and uncle said so."

He said it all in seconds. Draco guffawed, and Lucius and Andy turned red.

Teddy kicked his shoes off, and laid his head on Hermione's chest. He wrapped a hand around her hair and sucked his finger. In two seconds, he was asleep.

Draco stood up and covered the young wizard with a deck.

"Let's hope that King Basil doesn't get upset." Draco teased her.

Andy went to Hermione's bedside, "Hello, my dear; I am so sorry. We had a few arrangements to make. Teddy is tired, no nap today, but he wanted to come."

"I am not tired, just resting my eyes, " Teddy said, trying to open them. Lucius said that, often, Andy giggled and Draco grinned.

Teddy opened his eyes bigger, "Who are you?" Teddy asked, staring at nothing.

"I am Teddy," his hair turned golden and curly, "my God-mommy will be my real mommy when she marries my cusin." He nodded his head empathetically.

He blinked and stood up quickly. He sniffed the air, looking puzzled.

"Who was she? Where is she?" Teddy asked looking all around.

"Who?" Hermione asked.

"The pretty girl, she looked like you, but wasn't too nice. She stuck her tongue out; grandma says that is most ruder."

"She did?" Hermione wished she could see the little girl.

"He saw me; she is not his mommy; she is mine. He is ugly," Hermione's baby, Alice, after Hermione's mother, told her father.

"Darling, his parents were murdered, " Theo tried to appease her.

"I don't like him. She is my mommy, not his. I'll tell him next time." She stomped her foot.

Theo laughed; she had Hermione's temper so sweet. He took his daughter's hand and went to look around the hotel. They saw a nasty looking man, checking into the hotel. Theo stayed by him.

The man asked for three rooms, but they were fully booked. Then, he asked the desk clerk if a Miss Dagworth was checked in, "You see, I am a friend of the family."

"Sorry, I cannot say one way or the other, hotel's policy." The clerk was curt. He had been briefed. The rich clients had booked half of the hotel for days so their comfort and security came first. The clerk dismissed him.

The man put his hand on his pocket but changed his mind when a crowd came in.

Outside, two others waited, "Sorry, they have no lodging, though we need to stay as nearby as we can."

"Daddy who are they? They look bad." She told Theo.

"Look there," she pointed at a car. Astoria was there, in the car.

"Darling, if Teddy sees you, tell him two men and a woman are asking about your mommy. And Astoria is here."

"Let's go." Theo told Alice.

Teddy was asleep, so they had to wait for the next day.

"My lady," Basil said.

"Call me, Hermione, please; it feels too strange."

"Why is this child in bed with you?" Basil asked.

Teddy half woke up and threw a giant fit over going to bed elsewhere. "I take care of my God-mommy. what if Astora makes her deader." Teddy sat on the bed.

Hermione grinned; she had slept with Teddy many times; the smallest of noises would wake him up.

When they were getting Teddy ready for bed, Draco whispered. "I will keep you company."

Hermione grinned. "Sounds nice, but Basil would kill you."

Basil wanted the door between the rooms closed. Though Draco pointed out he could help guard. Basil decided to go for gold, "Good idea, will set a cot next to the door to the living room. Master Teddy can stay with you, excellent idea." Basil also grinned.

The next morning when Teddy woke, Basil was already making sure all was in order.

Teddy asked, "Who are you?" He looked at Basil with great interest. His hair changed to Basil's, "I like your hair. You look nice. I am Teddy; my parents were made deader by the dark ones."

Basil was going to say something but instead messed Teddy's hair, "I am Basil, nice to meet you."

Teddy looked past Basil, "You are most ruder."

"Wait, she says bad people are looking for her mommy, and they saw Astora outside." Teddy talked very loud.

"Who are you talking to?" Basil asked.

"To Alice, pretty but most rude. Yes, she'll be my mommy, you can share. My parents are deader, and I love her. Alice said, my God-mommy isn't my mommy." Teddy shook his finger.

"I don't like you too." Teddy's hair stood up.

JD jumped onto the bed and started licking the air.

"Wait, where is she," Teddy jumped down from the bed and sniffed the air.

Hermione asked, "Alice?"

"Uhu, she said she is your baby, and I am not. Am I not? You say that I am your baby." Teddy climbed on the bed and hugged Hermione.

"Yes darling, you are." Hermione kissed Teddy's head.

Basil was speechless. "What is going on?"

"He sees Alice, my baby. I saw her as well." Hermione answered.

"Alice?" Basil asked.

"Yes, like my mother.

"Son, tell me, who is Astora?" Basil asked Teddy.

"The nasty witch married to my cusin. She made Theo deader." Teddy explained.

Basil believed him, he sat, and hugged Teddy. Teddy hugged him back ,"You could marry my mommy and with cusin Draco, then, you can be my daddy too. That way I have the most daddies."

Hermione chuckled, "Meet Teddy my marriage broker. Mr. Alltag, could you add Basil Alltag to my list of hopefuls, at the top." Hermione joked, kinda.

"What is a list of hofuls?" Teddy asked.

"Sweetie, it is a list of Wizards who hope to marry me." Hermione explained.

Teddy thought for a few minutes, tapped his lips, "Then Mr. Basil makes a list with two names only, cusin Draco and Mr.

Basil's." He declared.

Basil grinned, "I like that, approved. Tell your mommy the list only has two names, mine and Draco's. We will send a scroll to the other ones in the list. I will check outside." Basil called an elf.

When the elf Pop, "Pleas take Master Teddy and get him dressed, we are going for a walk, and to eat breakfast."

Basil's day had improved, and now he had an ally.