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Chapter 21

"They all think we're mental, right?"

"Well, we both think it's completely crazy, so I hope they do too."

Hermione squeezed my hand and bumped me with her shoulder. "I'm surprised Draco didn't have you committed."

My son and daughter-in-law had been surprised when we told them what we'd decided. They had some questions as to why we had made such a commitment that was, in reality, little less than marriage, but refused the actual legal commitment. Hermione explained why. Her nervousness at not having an escape option made Draco laugh. Her abridged version of her abuse brought tears to Katie's eyes. They had sympathised with her, had asked a few questions, but in the end had been exceedingly happy for us both.

Her friends needed no explanation. They accepted our decision, no questions asked. Harry and Ron gave me what I could only call the big brother speech. The one where they threatened to remove parts of my anatomy if I hurt her. Pansy and Ginny simply responded with some filthy innuendo, but their expressions of joy told me they were so incredibly pleased for their friend.

So pleased, in fact, they organised an impromptu celebration, insisting Draco and Katie join us and invite my friends. All of whom — much to my concern — were now waiting outside the restaurant as we approached.

"You didn't have to wait out here," Hermione told them, but I instantly knew something was wrong.

"Actually, we did," Corban said with a tight smile. "Narcissa is inside. She's on the other side of the restaurant, but she's here."

My heart sank. Of all the restaurants she could be in, why did it have to be this one?

"I didn't see a problem," Hermione said with a shrug.

"Hermione, darling—" I began but she held up her hand.

"We can't cancel the reservation when we're standing out here. That would be rude." She nodded towards Draco and Katie. "Draco can be polite and go over and say hello, and we can enjoy our night like we planned to. If she comes near us again, then we can do something."

"Are you sure?"

I had relayed the conversation I'd had with Draco, and she'd been rather nonchalant about it. She was certain Narcissa couldn't hurt her — Hermione Granger's reputation within The Royal Ballet was of the highest regard, and anything Narcissa said or did wouldn't be taken seriously; they didn't take kindly to petty grievances. I'd insisted, however, that she allow me to speak to the directors and explain the issues with my witch of an ex-wife.

Hermione had been right, of course.

She'd already warned the ballet company of Narcissa's pettiness following our first date. She hadn't told me because she hadn't wanted to worry me; I also hadn't known her full history at the time. And I once again realised just how resilient and strong and independent she was.

"I'm sure," Hermione assured me. "We didn't know she'd be here, and vice versa. And she's not going to ruin our night."

"She'll know why we're all here," I pointed out.

"I don't care. She'll find out anyway." Hermione straightened the knot on my tie. "Besides, my friends are already inside."

"This is why we adore you," Regina said, moving to stand beside us and looping her arm through Hermione's. "And if you walk in there with me, it'll infuriate her more."

"I'm beginning to think you're trying to steal her from me," I reluctantly relinquished my hand from hers as Regina headed for the door.

"The Evil Queen has already seen her with you," Lana piped in. "She'll be furious to know we love this incredible woman as much as you do."

I shook my head and laughed. My concern, however, still lingered. My friends weren't privy to her story, and provoking my ex-wife may not have been the wisest plan. I didn't want to make a scene and force an explanation, so I shoved my concern aside for the time being and followed our party inside.

"Are you sure this will be okay?" Draco asked in a low voice. "Mother will most likely protest to her solicitor."

"I honestly don't know. This is a completely innocent situation, but she is your mother."

"Time will tell, I guess." He reached for Katie's hand. "Best we say hello, perhaps that will keep her satisfied."

"I doubt it," Katie muttered with an unimpressed eye roll.

"What should we tell her?" Draco asked. "She'll want to know why we're such a large group."

"Tell her we're celebrating. That's all she needs to know."

"She'll be even more of a nightmare after this," Draco complained under his breath.

"I'm not sure that's possible," I answered, squeezing his shoulder. "Don't let her bother you, Draco. Say hello, and leave it at that."

"Yeah," he grumbled.

"We'll just be a minute," Katie assured me. My ex-wife was perhaps her least favourite person on the planet. She had caused Katie no small amount of grief when Draco first introduced her to us. Narcissa had never thought Katie good enough for our son, wanting someone blonder and less intelligent and who would simply be arm candy for him. Draco hadn't ever been especially close with his mother, and her dislike of his chosen partner drove them further apart.

I watched them reluctantly head towards Narcissa, whose scowl must have been hurting her face. The woman had a resting bitch face like no other. The thought made me smile, despite my frustration, and I returned my attention to our group.

And since this was the first time our friends would be together, Hermione was making introductions.

"We're so pleased he has finally found someone who makes him smile," Lana was saying as I sat beside Hermione. "Our fears of him becoming a cave-dwelling recluse have been gratefully thwarted."

"We're glad our girl could help him out," Pansy said. "She's quite flexible when it comes to knowing exactly what cave-dwelling recluses need."

"Less than a minute," I noted and Hermione laughed.

"You owe me ten pounds."

"You made a wager on… what exactly?" Antonin asked.

"That one of these four—" I pointed at Pansy, Ginny, Lana, and Regina in turn, "—would make an inappropriate comment in under a minute."

"It's usually a safe bet with my wife," Harry said.

"It's usually a safe bet with our wives," Corban told him. "They rarely let us down."

"Your life would be a miserable bore without us," Lana retorted, flapping her hand dismissively at him before returning her attention to Pansy and asking about her pregnancy.

Any concerns I might have had regarding Corban and Antonin and their interaction with Harry dissolved immediately when they all laughed and continued the conversation. Some guilt at my own actions still lingered, which had in turn prompted me to explain to them both the familial link. Neither had been too bothered. Their respect and admiration for Severus remained, but their ability to put the past behind them far outweighed mine.

"Hey," Hermione whispered, her hand pressing gently against my thigh. "Stop worrying. Harry doesn't hold any ill-will towards any of them."

I kissed her temple and smiled, marvelling once again at just how well she could read me.

"I know," I whispered in reply. "I'm just on edge with her here."

Her hand moved higher on my thigh, and she scrunched her face into an adorable smile. "Don't worry about her either. She can't sit over there and stew in her own jealousy at what she's lost. Because I'm loving what I've gained."

She kissed me quickly before joining the conversation, but her hand remained on my leg. My insecurities had lessened with her, however the presence of my ex-wife was stirring them up again. Hermione's delicate fingers pressing gently into my thigh was the reassuring anchor that she instinctively knew I needed.

"Two minutes with her and I'm ready to stab my own face," Draco muttered as he and Katie rejoined the group. "She's my mother, but…" He exhaled a long breath and looked at me. "She's hard fucking work."

"And we're not discussing her again tonight," Katie insisted with a tight smile. "We're here to celebrate your father and Hermione."

I winked at her across the table. I had always loved my daughter-in-law's tenacity, and her ability to ignore Narissa's vitriol towards her continued to make me smile.

"And we'll need wine," Katie added, glancing around for the waiter.

"Already sorted, darling," Regina told her. "This evening is completely taken care of."

"No," Hermione began but Antonin held his hand up, stopping her protest.

"The two of you have decided to remain unmarried, so we have decided you will un-gift us with this celebration, instead we will gift it to you both."

"It really is unnecessary," I protested half-heartedly, knowing full well I wouldn't win the argument. My friends adored Hermione and had repeatedly remarked on how positive her influence on me had been, so their gift of a celebratory dinner had only been slightly unexpected.

"It is completely necessary and you will accept our gift without another word of protest," Lana told us both.

"Thank you," Hermione accepted gratefully, her eyes blinking back her tears.

"I'm not sure we can compete with that, it's much nicer than our gift," Ginny commented, and I couldn't help but smile. Blaise was sitting beside her, his arm stretched across the back of her chair, and looking absolutely smitten.

"I don't think I want to know." Hermione winced and leaned against me as if bracing for the worst.

"Oh, it's just a stripper pole for the living room," Ginny answered with a smirk.

"Ohmygod!" Hermione groaned then pointed an accusing finger at Blaise. "You told her?"

"It might have come up," he replied, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Stripper pole?" Corban asked, his grin almost as wide as Blaise's.

"Mr Zabini thought he'd try to embarrass Hermione and ask if she was an exotic dancer," I said, dryly. "It had the opposite effect."

"A stripper pole," Lana chuckled. "Lucius Malfoy, I never thought I'd see the day."

"They better not have bought one," Hermione muttered, glaring across the table at Ginny and Pansy.

"Oh, come on," Pansy teased. "You can already put your feet behind your head, a pole would make life for you both all the more interesting."

A chorus of laughter followed Pansy's teasing and I slipped my hand into Hermione's.

"She makes my life interesting enough," I said, lifting our joined hands to kiss her fingers. "I don't need anything more."

Hermione gave me a look that told me she felt the same, and for a moment the laughter and chatter and ex-wife and frustration all disappeared, leaving only her. It had been little more than a year ago that my life was still wholly miserable, and becoming a recluse had been a real prospect. Then she came along and my life became full of light. I had fallen in love at the exact moment I hadn't expected to, and I had to constantly remind myself that she had fallen equally so. And while we had informally exchanged rings and spoken simple vows, being here, celebrating in the company of my son and our friends gave those small, private gestures a feeling of depth and importance.

The clearing of a throat broke through my thoughts and I glanced around at our friends. They were all smiling knowingly at us, and I found myself suddenly content with how easily they all fitted together. The generational gap was non-existent, and I could see a future where this dinner would be a common occurrence.

"So," Ron began from the end of the table. "Hermione is our family, not because of blood but because we've known her forever and love her because we have to." He grinned at Hermione's eye roll. "She's brilliant and makes us all feel inadequate, but we also know she's been waiting for the right bloke to turn up." He nodded at me. "And the constant smile you've brought to her face… she's definitely found the right bloke." He lifted his glass into the air. "Hermione and Lucius. We know your lives will never be dull, and as happy as you both are, we're just as happy for you."

A collective cheer of hear, hear and raising of glasses followed Ron's toast, and Hermione blew a kiss in his direction. I'd not spent the same amount of time with him as I had Harry, but his family had taken Hermione in when she was at her lowest, which only served to heighten my respect for the Weasleys.

I raised my own glass and tipped it towards him. "Thank you. And I appreciate you all for trusting me with your girl."

Hermione squeezed my hand, smiling sweetly before turning her attention to my son.

"And thank you, Draco, for not being weirded out by all of this."

Draco laughed and shook his head. "My father is a happy man. And if he's thumping walls with the woman he loves, how could I possibly find that weird?"

"I think Pansy and Ginny made two new friends," Hermione said from the doorway of the bathroom. She had changed into the Rolling Stones t-shirt she had claimed as her own and as always when she wore it, my smile was inevitable.

"Lana and Regina appeared to be rather impressed with them both," I agreed.

She moved into the bathroom, lifting herself to sit on the counter, watching as I brushed my teeth. Her foot grazed lazily against my leg while she fiddled with the hem of her t-shirt.

"It was a good night," she noted and I nodded. "Everyone got along so well."

I hummed my agreement. Dinner had indeed gone swimmingly. The odd mash-up of ages and interests and careers wasn't even a concern for anyone, and the conversation and laughter had been constant.

My friends had accepted hers without hesitation, and that fact alone assisted in relaxing me. The wine and scotch had also helped, mellowing everyone with the exception of Pansy, who bemoaned her pregnancy and her inability to celebrate properly, which had caused much sympathetic laughter. Lana and Regina were already firm friends with Hermione and Katie, and I knew Pansy and Ginny would be welcomed into their circle without hesitation.

But…

"You're still concerned about Narcissa."

I leaned forward, spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing my mouth. She handed me a towel and I pressed it against my mouth, nodding slowly.

"I am," I answered, running my fingers absently along the inside of her knee. "She's petty and jealous, and will be absolutely raving mad that everything in my life is perfect and that I'm happy. My greatest concern, however, is you. You are beautiful and young, and exceptionally talented, and I fear she will try to harm you in some way just to spite me."

"She doesn't know where we live—"

"She knows you're with The Royal Ballet," I interrupted. "I made sure she knew when she turned up on our first date. I thought I was being astute. In hindsight, I should have refrained from bragging."

"I don't think she'll harm me, Lucius." She urged me to stand between her knees. "And I've dealt with this sort of situation before now."

"This is completely different. She's spoiled and vindictive, and she won't be happy until I'm miserable. And she won't care how she achieves that goal." I ran my palms along her bare thighs. "Do you understand why I'm so concerned?"

"I do, and I love you for it. But I know I'll be fine. I'm either here or at work, and with the exception of my commute, you or one of my friends are with me. Also, I'm certain Narcissa is far too elitist to use the Tube."

"No, she definitely wouldn't be seen riding a train," I agreed, frowning at her former statement. "You're never alone?"

"Rarely. I'm with you more and more, but before you came along, and while they did give me a certain amount of space, my friends ensured I was safe all the time. And as I said, it's really only my commute that I'm on my own now, and as suffocating as it might seem to everyone else, I appreciate the knowledge that you all keep me safe."

She shifted forward on the counter, her hands curling around my hips.

"I don't care if she comes after me, Lucius. I'm prepared for her and anything she can throw at me. I'm not scared, and I certainly won't allow her to destroy us."

I held her face in my hands, brushing my thumbs over her cheeks, and losing myself to her just a bit more.

"Every time I think you're at your most incredible, you surpass my expectations." I kissed her gently. "But, just to ensure your safety and lessen my own paranoia, I have had my solicitor add you specifically to the distance clause in the divorce agreement."

"And she's agreed to it?"

"Not yet. But, if she doesn't, I'm hoping the clause the way it was originally written covers you anyway."

"Did it mention mad ballerinas?"

I laughed, "Unfortunately, it didn't. But it did use the term any future associates. I had to cover myself legally for any future relationships, but Narcissa wouldn't have signed it if we had worded it as such. So, my solicitor used associates, in as much as it covers many different options, and that she wouldn't necessarily understand those options."

"Hmm, very sneaky," Hermione mused. "But, I wish you didn't have to do all this."

"Unfortunately it was inevitable. It wouldn't have mattered if it was you or someone else, she would do everything she could to make my life hell."

I stepped back and let her slide off the counter, before taking her hand and leading her into the bedroom. We both climbed into the bed, Hermione curled herself into my side as I wrapped my arm tightly around her shoulders.

"She does understand that she's the cheater, right?"

"In her mind, I don't think that matters. I'm certain she feels like she was wronged, especially since she no longer has access to my money."

"Wasn't her family rich?"

"Yes, but with her lack of restraint when it comes to spending, she would have blown through her inheritance in just a few months after I left."

"Jesus," Hermione cursed under her breath. "How can someone be so shallow?"

"Her father spoiled her," I said. "And I wasn't much better."

She sighed, relaxing deeper into me, and kissing my chest.

"I don't care about her or what she might do. I refuse to live in fear, Lucius. I've already done that and I won't let it happen again."

"When you're with me, she can't come near you. I don't want to crowd you or make you feel like you have no freedom, but I do want to protect you though."

"You already make me feel safe."

I tucked my chin over the top of her head and admitted, "It never feels like enough."

"You are enough. This is enough. I like this simple life we have. I don't need trinkets and baubles, or pretty, shiny things."

"I'm not a pretty, shiny thing?"

She laughed and kissed my chest. "Oh, you're the prettiest, shiniest thing I've ever known. You're why I don't need more."

I reached for the lamp and switched it off, plunging the room into darkness. My ex-wife still caused a niggling feeling in my mind, but the comfort I felt right here with this tiny firecracker of a woman told me I should trust her lack of concern and allow myself to not get trapped in the what ifs.

Pulling the covers around us, I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with her scent. Her hand came up to rest over my heart as I exhaled slowly.

"I love you, Lucius."

I covered her hand with mine.

"I know."