Sorry for the delay. I had some personal things to work through. I won't be abandoning this fic. Thank you for the support. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you to my beta mychellefennell!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As Draco stepped out of floo he could not stop thinking about the Greengrass file. The files had to be there unless there was something they were trying to hide. He shook his head as if to push the thought from his mind as he walked up the stairs into his suite.
He undressed and washed up. Getting ready for bed. Though he still could not get the thoughts out of his head. His mind could not wrap around the idea that he had married Granger and had twins. Nor could he believe that Astoria could be hiding something. His forehead wrinkled and his brows joined together in frustration. He shut his eyes and sighed. Flipping onto his stomach to fall asleep.
The next morning as he got out of the shower his hair still wet and hanging over his eyes a silvery otter flew towards him. He quirked his brow.
The otter opened it's mouth and began to speak in Hermione's voice "Malfoy, I've already informed Kingsley that we would be doing the research. He wants us to get on it today. Meet me at the Hogs Head after work so we could get started." With that it disappeared.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. Her patronus suited her. He thought. He chose a navy blue oxford and black suit and hand made Italian dragon hide shoes. Looking at himself in his overly ornate mirror he smirked at himself as he brushed hair out of his eyes.
Going down stairs to breakfast his mother was already there sipping delicately at her tea. He walked up to her and pecked her on the cheek," Good morning mother." He sat down on the other side facing her. A house elf already made tea and a bowl of oatmeal with fruits in front of him.
"What have you been working on so much Dragon? " Narcissa asked. Malfoy set down his tea. " It's confidential mother. You know that."
Narcissa eyed him carefully. Ever since their conversation about Bellatrix she had questions of her own. Malfoy avoided his mothers hard suspicious stare as he took a spoon full of his breakfast. "Whatever it may be Dragon, be careful." He looked up from his bowl. His mother's concerned expression conveying more than words can express. Her eyes searching him.
"I always am Mother." He finished his tea and made to stand up. "When Bella got pregnant and Andromeda ran away. " Narcissa spoke, he turned to see his mother staring out ahead unseeingly. "Your father and I married quickly at your grandfathers insistence as to avoid the shame they brought to our family." Malfoy sighed ," Mother you don't need to explain."
He walked over to her , kneeling beside her chair putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. Narcissa put a hand over his and leaned onto it. "For me it was more to protect them from the back lash that I knew was coming to them."
She patted his hand and helped him up off his knees as she stood as well. "I'm sorry if keeping secrets had caused trouble for you Dragon." She stroked his cheek gently.
"No trouble mother. I'm glad you told me." Malfoy could see Narcissa was worried and suspicious. Sooner or later she would find out wether on her own or by way of him. Narcissa smiled," Off you go then Dragon. " he sighed in relief as he did not want to be questioned when he knew he had little by an answer. His mother was still giving him a searching gaze as if waiting.
Malfoy pecked her cheek and an elf appeared to hand him his briefcase. As he stepped into the floo his mind wandered back to the pair of platinum blondes back at Hogwarts and the swotty know it all creature that he apparently had them with.
Back at Hogwarts. The teens were restless. They played wizards chest, exploding snap, Cassie even figured out a way to make their cellphones work inside the castle. They projected music into the common room and transfigured one wall into mirrors, each of their family crests decorating them and the floor into shiny stained wood.
"It looks like our dance studio back at home." Scorpious walked over to Cassie throwing an arm over her shoulder. Cassie smiled, "Thats what I was going for." Day dreaming to the days where life was simpler.
Back in their time they were performers. Singing and dancing in front of large audiences. They started young, enrolling in dance lessons at a studio. They had their mothers help in convincing their father to let them join. It wasn't because it was a muggle studio but the type of dance they were teaching did not suit fathers pureblood tastes.
Their mother was reluctant at first but seeing them so happy and in their element she gave in. Two years in after watching the twins performances, their family friends, the Notts, Potters and Zabinis had enrolled their children at the studio as well.
"Let's do this!" Althea ran over to the twins and dragged Cassie away flicking her wand in the air to get the music going.
They spent most of their time this way. It reminded them of their time, in days where the only things to worry about were wether they would pass classes at school or remember their steps for performances.
They brought the room back to normal as they sat around the common room exhausted but exhilarated and sweaty. Drinking ice cold water from her emerald green bottle Cassie sighed. "Maybe we should ask if we could spend some time outside." Althea smiled, jumped up to sit next to Cassie grabbing her arm ,"That would be fun. We could go to Diagon Alley." Her eyes twinkling in excitement.
"How? We would stick out too much. No one has ever seen us before." Albus took off his glasses to wipe them on his shirt. "It would be too risky Thea." Alex chimed in. James nodded in agreement. Althea frowned her grip on Cassie loosening.
"We could disguise ourselves." Theo said patting his sister on her knee. "It wouldn't be safe." Alex countered. "We could ask for a body guard?" Scorpious looked to Cassie. "Brilliant idea Scorp! We could ask Dad and uncle Harry to go with us. We would be disguised and so will they to avoid questions." Althea looking hopful to her brother and Alex.
Alex sighed," We could try. Cassie would have to be the one to talk to the headmistress." Cassie smiled and nodded as Althea clapped in excitement. The mood in the room brightened as they talked about what they would do once they got to go out. They hoped they could convince the adults.
After work Draco flooed directly to the Hogs head. Work was slow today and he was glad to be able to get a drink. People were just coming in probably for the same reason. He dusted off the soot on his clothes and walked towards the counter to order a drink. He turned around and saw Granger seated at one of the booths in the back. She was already taking out the files from her bag. Rolling up the sleeves of her white blouse she caught his eyes. She nodded in acknowledgment.
Draco sighed and grabbed his drink as he walked towards her. As he slid into the booth sitting in front of her. Granger cast a mulffato. "The files are disillusioned to look like tombs so nobody will see them." Hermione wanted to get to work and get it done. Hopefully without any hexes being thrown before the night ends. She didn't want to see her childhood bully more than was necessary. He nodded and reached for a file.
She studied him for a second. Noticing how he sipped from his glass, his fingers long and slender but strong combing through his thick platinum locks. Hermione wondered if it was soft to the touch. She caught herself in her thoughts. Her stomach fluttering and her shoulders tense. Straightening her blouse unnecessarily and started perusing the files.
They worked in silence. Malfoy looked up suddenly to notice Granger nibbling on her full pink tinted bottom lip with her brows knitted together in concentration. Her dark brown hair seem to glisten and strands of curly hair fell from the bun falling to the side of her face. He wished he could smooth down her bottom lip and reach out to brush her hair back. He suddenly went tense. Where the hell did that come from? He shook his head and grabbed his drink realizing it was empty. He cleared his throat instead.
Hermione looked up. Chocolate and honey brown eyes caught in a icy silver whirlpool. Neither said anything for a moment. Hermione blinked breaking eye contact," You could order another drink if you want. We need a break anyway." She hated how her voice trembled. She felt mesmerized looking into his eyes and the fluttering in her stomach came back.
"I don't need permission to get a another drink Granger." His voice was flat and lacked the usual bite. He turned around to signal the bar tender. Hermione rolled her eyes in response remembering why he was a git. "Have you found anything?"
He shook his head in response. "I'll talk to Astoria and Pansy soon. Thats our only lead. I don't think we can find any thing else in here."
She nodded. Not wanting to stay any longer as the awkward tension surrounding them was suffocating. She started putting the files back in her bag. "See you at the next meeting." He nodded again not looking at her. Hermione headed towards the back of the counter to the floo. Shaking her head and massaging her temples at the uncomfortable feelings she took a deep breath before heading home.
