After he had paid, they went to the aquarium. Since it was still early in the morning they weren't in a rush to make it to the wedding on time. Hermione couldn't stop smiling. This was exactly that kind of couple stuff, she has always wanted them to do. Sure, they were both busy, but sometimes it was just nice to take the time and do something together.
She took his hand and held onto him. This was her husband and she liked to show it, at least among muggles where no one would ask difficult questions.
They got lucky and managed to arrive just at the right moment to see the feeding of the penguins. Lucius had his arm around her, as they watched the non avian birds swallow the fish in whole.
After the penguins, they moved one to the mammals. The biggest of the harbor seals were bigger than Lucius and much heavier. It was fascinating to watch such a big animal swim so elegantly.
The females were smaller but still impressive. As elegantly as the creatures moved in the water, the more hilarious they looked on land. They wabbled over the ground in a caterpillar-like motion. It looked quite interesting.
The Californian sea lions were even bigger than the harbor seals, but their bodies were more slender. The elegant creatures looked almost cute with their whiskers which were also called vibrissae. The females had a lighter brown coat than the males. Mothers and babies were screaming to find each other. It was heartwarming.
Hermione pressed herself against him and Lucius protectively swung his arm around her. She sighed, this was exactly what she had hoped for. And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
She was weirdly excited about seeing the otters. While it wasn't their main attraction, the Georgia Aquarium housed different species and they were the animals her Patronus had taken shape of.
The Asian small-clawed otter was the smallest species of otter, weighing only 2-5 kg. The brown animals had a lighter patch of fur on the throat and they were so cute. Hermione just wanted to cuddle them, but that wasn't a good idea.
As carnivores, mainly feeding on mollusks, fish, frogs, and crustaceans, they had sharp-pointed canines and strong molars. Hermione didn't want to get her fingers between those teeth.
The southern sea otter was with 1,2 m in length, quite big. The species is mostly known for its use of rocks and other hard materials to crush shells on their chest and stomach. They didn't get to see any of the otters engaged in that kind of behavior, but in captivity, being regularly fed, there was probably not a lot of need for that.
Southern sea otters have a high metabolism, about 2,5 times faster than the one of terrestrial mammals, to maintain their body temperature. They are considered a keystone species that helps maintain the kelp forests as a single male can eat up to 50 urchins a day.
"You really like otters?"
"They're my Patronus, just seeing them makes me happy," Hermione explained.
"I thought it worked the other way around."
"Once you've cast a Patronus often enough the association of happiness to the animal that gives form to a corporeal Patronus is strong enough to work the other way around as well."
Lucius didn't say anything.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." It was inconsiderate of her to talk about casting a Patronus as if it was the easiest thing in the world when Lucius, as a dark wizard, couldn't.
He had been exposed to darkness and Dementors for such a long time, he could use a friendly animal companion probably better than anyone else yet he couldn't summon one.
They skipped the Beluga whales and the bottlenose dolphins on purpose. Hermione didn't like the idea of such intelligent animals in captivity, forced to perform tricks for entertainment. She had heard horror stories of dolphins captured alive in Japan. The pretty females are sold to shows, forced to eat dead fish and the others are slaughtered and land on someone's plate. It was probably silly, but she still didn't want to be a part of it.
As they walked through the exhibition, watching all kinds of fish, Hermione got more and more excited about the sharks. Not that the turtles weren't interesting, but the fact that she would actually get to see a whale shark was mind-boggling.
Taking Lucius' hand, she increased the speed. She was dragging her husband through the aquarium, stopping in front of each of the small tanks, she impatiently tries to spot all of the animals that were supposed to be inside.
Hermione started suspecting that not all of the creatures the signs said were inside were actually inside. There were a few brightly colored ones that neither she nor Lucius have found. Maybe they haven't updated the signs regularly.
Walking through the long tunnel that was leading through the main tank, they saw a whale shark swimming right over their heads. Stopping in the middle of the tunnel they watched with awe. All they could see was the white underbelly, but it was massive.
"Are whale sharks whales, sharks, or a hybrid between whales and sharks?"
Hermione stared at him. He was serious about it, wasn't he? She had forgotten for a brief moment just how different their upbringing was. They literally grew up in different worlds. For a wizard, that question wasn't that awkward. There were a lot of weird magical creatures with the features of various animals and there were also a lot of hybrids, like Flitwick who was half-goblin, or Hagrid who was half-giant.
"Whale sharks are sharks. They are fish, unlike whales that are mammals. Mammals have lungs and so whales and dolphins need to go to the surface from time to time to breathe. Whale sharks feed on zooplankton, similar to the way a lot of whales do with filtration and they are ovoviviparous. That means that the embryo grows in an egg that is still hatched in the mother's uterus. It's quite interesting. Sharks are the first genus of animals that have invented sex."
Standing in front of the big window they got to see the animals in all their grandeur. She liked the big mouths they had to filter out their prey. No two whale sharks had the same pattern on their back, it was as unique as the fingerprint of a human. Each individual had different white dots on their dark backs.
The manta rays floated elegantly through the tank. There was a tasseled wobbegong lying still on the floor. It had a weird bear to obscure its shape. As an ambush predator, it was hard to see.
There were humphead wrasses and zebra sharks swimming through the tank. They could stand there and watch the sharks and rays forever, there were so many animals she had never seen before.
"We still have a wedding to attend to."
Hermione let out a frustrated groan. She could barely take her eyes from the magnificent creatures. But he was right, they head obligations and whether she liked it or not, she was his accessory while he talked to some Yaxley about his money.
On the other hand, with a roof that needed fixing and a baby on the way, she could use a lot more financial stability.
Hiding herself behind the hat, she placed her hand in the crook of his arm and they walked to a service way. Shielded from prying eyes, he cast a notice-me-not charm upon her and they disapparated.
They were standing in an entrance hall, a staircase was leading up and a pair of winged doors were wide open. Noises were audible.
She followed him outside to the garden. Standing on the veranda, she took a deep breath. Hermione hated walking over the grass in high heels. It was just so much more strenuous and she had to be careful where she stepped onto.
Lucius scanned the area for familiar faces. He spotted Reginald in one of the hind rows. Hermione was still behind him. Without acknowledging her in any way he approached Reginald.
"There, tiger."
To his surprise, Hermione actually sat down where he had pointed out without complaint. Lucius was quite pleased, but he didn't show it. He couldn't look like he couldn't handle his witch.
Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to talk to Reginal before the string sextet started plying. The last witches and wizards rushed to their seat, before the groom and the bride arrived. They were standing on the veranda between two of the massive pillars that carried the roof. The yellow building looked stately, standing on the green grass.
Once the ceremony was over, most of the guests stood up and cluttered around the buffet. Hermione wandered off and he was finally alone with Reginald.
"I've invested 10.000 Galleon into a herbology business in Moldavia. Hear me out, they produce great quality herbs, you should see their dittany and with such a high investment, you can easily use the produce once Malfoy Medicals picks up in sales again."
"What is the damage?" Lucius asked.
"The good thing is that you aren't burning money, but your sales numbers in Britain are at an all-time low and I had to let go of a few employees," Reginald said, "it's getting better since the war has ended. The need for certain potions exceeds the offer of other companies and independent potioneers, making it hard for people to boycott. Cosmetics is doing well though."
Dortha and Mavis joined them.
"How are things going?"
"I'm about to graduate from Durmstrand," Mavis said, "I want to make it as a beater."
"You're going to look out for my brother, aren't you?" Regionals asked.
"I do what I can," Lucius said.
"Who was that witch by your side?" Dortha demanded to know, "Where's Narcissa?"
"I wasn't aware that you were friends," Lucius said dryly.
"Are you…"
"I am happily married and so are you." Wiping over his robes, he brought some distance between them.
Dortha huffed and rushed off.
"She's frustrated," Reginald explained, "It's actually Andrew's uncle who owns the estate."
Letting his gaze wander over the crowd, he spotted a familiar face. Taking to Dortha and Mavis' mother was Vasilica Borko. She had been his father's first wife. They had separated after the death of his half-sister, who went to school with the Dark Lord. Borko was doing well-selling houses, but that was what he had last heard.
She had spotted him. Borko didn't give him a nod, she just stood there and watched, ready to draw her wand. She walked away, approaching Hermione. Lucius didn't like that, but there was a lot he had to cover with Reginald.
"Where is your better half?" he asked his younger business partner.
"Marc is at home with the children," Reginald explained, "He doesn't like those big events and the kids can't be still."
Hermione was hovering over the buffet. After all the fat, she was craving something light and green, but looking at the salad options, she was out of luck. She just wanted something fresh that wasn't too oily. She wanted to cry. She was tired and worn down and didn't get to eat what she wanted. How much worse could it get?
"If I were you, I would run away as far as possible."
Turning around, Hermione saw an elderly wizard, no, it was a witch, standing behind her. Her hair was rather short and she had a very compact body-build.
"Huh?" Hermione had not a clue what the witch was talking about.
"You are here with the young Mr. Malfoy, I would stay away from him, he's going to ruin you."
"I can take care of myself."
"That's what we all say. I can tell you in less than a year there won't be a body left of you to be found." The older witch left leaving, a very confused Hermione behind.
Are all purebloods so melodramatic, Hermione rolled her eyes. She couldn't suppress a yawn and stretch herself enjoying her she wasn't left alone for long.
The bride was sneering at her. The invitation said plus one but that doesn't mean that whores are welcome."
A burst of anger flashed through her body and Hermione sent a wandless stinging hey at Dortha. Shrieking loudly she jumped back and stumbled. Falling to the ground, her white dress got stained.
She hadn't meant to lose her temper, but she had been up for such a long time and she was getting hungry again.
She should feel bad, she had just humiliated the bride in front of her guests at her own wedding, but she didn't. She had it coming.
Dortha had angry tears in her eyes. She drew her wand and pointed at Hermione. Reginald went in between them. "Now we know why she is called tiger."
Laughter went through the crowd. The party went on as if nothing had happened and Hermione noticed her grumbling stomach. Luckily, there was a lot of deep-fried food offered.
Reaching out, she grabbed a piece and ate it. The rocky mountain oysters had a very interesting texture. It was chewy and has a stronger flavor. Hungry and being apparently the only one interested in the dish, she grabbed the entire plate.
There was no one here, Hermione had wanted to interact with and so she spent the time snacking on the deep-fried meat. Standing a little behind Lucius, she listened in to his conversations. Most of them were as dull as she had always made high society out to be, only the talk about finances caught her interest. Hermione was new to the field and she could use a few hints.
Lucius turned to her and raised his brow as he watched her eat. "You are aware of what rocky mountain oysters are?"
"Of course, deep-fried bull testicles." Not letting his awkward questions stop her, she shoved another bite into her mouth.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw the other men in the circle take a step back.
"I'm tired," Hermione said, licking her fingers clean once the last piece was eaten.
Lucius made his rounds saying goodbye to everyone. Hermione was dragging behind her. She was probably drained, they had been awake for quite some time and he was starting to miss their bed as well.
But the longer she slugged behind him, the more worried he became. What if it had something to do with Borko? What could she have possibly told her?
Lucius had always thought that Hermione already knew the worst of him, but maybe his family history was too much for her. He suspected that she wasn't all that enthusiastic about bearing his name and knowing about his family was just too much.
