Hogwarts Reunion
Chapter 13 - A Week at the Malfoy Manor
Hermione woke to the sun shining on her face and the remains of a good but disturbing dream in her mind. She had been sitting in the library and she was older and so was Draco and together they were sitting and reading together and when he looked at her and she at him she could feel the love between then, and that was perhaps the most disturbing thing!
The kids waking up and the usual morning routine drove the dream from her mind and she was busy thinking of what to teach the kids for the day, and in fact for the rest of the week.
"OK, kids today we are going to start with muggle jobs and their magical counterparts. Get into you partners so that we can start." Hermione had decided that the best way for the younger and the older kids to learn was to pair them up so that as soon as the older kids grasped the idea they could help teach the younger kids, so far the system seemed to work.
"Draco, you can work with me, ok?" Draco nodded at Hermione, and the lesson began.
*****************************************************************
They settled into a routine and for the remainder of the week they took class in the morning and in the afternoon they would play outside in the sunshine or explore the old Manor. Hermione was happy, really happy because deep down she knew to any outsider looking in, they did look like a family. Draco and the children, while still wary of each other began to grow comfortable with the others presence and Hermione knew that once they went back to Granger house that the kids would miss Draco and Draco would be very lonely in the large Manor all by himself.
*****************************************************************
Hermione was watching the kids play outside with Draco chasing after them, it was Saturday and tomorrow she and the kids would return home. A part of her was happy to return to Granger house but a larger part of her was sad that she was going to leave Draco and the Manor.
As Hermione sat in the sun, a pitch-black owl soared through the air and landed on the armrest of her lounge chair.
"Hello, and who do you belong to?" Hermione asked the owl as she took the letter from its outstretched leg.
Dear Hermione,
It is me Hannah, I know that you are only going to be at the Manor for another day but you did invite me to visit, so if it is ok with you and Draco, Blaise and I will come past at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. It will be good to have a chat with you.
Please send your reply via Blaise's owl Spartacus.
Hannah.
"Draco." Hermione called, Draco was now playing British Bulldog with the children and Hermione laughed at their antics. When he heard her call, Draco trotted over to where Hermione was sitting in the shade.
"Yes my lady?" Draco asked.
"Hannah has just sent an owl asking if she and Blaise could visit us this afternoon, what do you think?" Hermione asked hopefully looking up at him. Draco was a bit hesitant, he knew that Hermione would enjoy seeing Hannah again but this was going to be their last night together at the Manor before Hermione and the kids returned to Granger House and he didn't really want to share them with anyone. However, he could not disappoint her.
"Of course Hermione, if you want them to visit send them an owl and invite them to dinner." Hermione smiled brilliantly up at him and instantly scribbled a note back to Hannah. Hermione promptly attached the note to Spartacus's leg telling Hannah and Blaise that they would be happy to have them come to visit and they should stay for dinner. Hermione was excited, while she loved spending time with Draco and the kids, she was looking forward to seeing her new friend, and besides there were things that Hermione wanted to discuss with her.
The time between the sending of the letter and 3:00 p.m. flew and in no time, there was the sound of twin 'cracks' and Hannah and Blaise appeared on the gravel driveway that led to the front door.
"Hannah!" Hermione called and ran to greet her friend.
"Mione!" Hannah greeted back and they gave each other a warm hug.
"You would think that the two of you haven't seen each other in years instead of just a few days." Blaise said dryly, but he was smiling.
"It is good to see you to Blaise." Hermione smiled up at him and gave a quick laugh.
"Blaise, good to see you," Draco extended his hand and the two men shook hands.
"And you Draco." The men smiled at each other and Hermione and Hannah instantly began to catch each other up on the week that they had had.
"Blaise, do you know anything about Hide and Seek?" Draco asked.
"Hide and Seek, no. What is that?" Blaise asked confused.
"Well I guess I better get the kids to show you come on, I'm it you can help me find them," Draco led Blaise down one of the paths that led to the garden where the children were hiding and the women followed at a slower pace talking a mile a minute.
*****************************************************************
"Hannah, I'm nervous, I know that the kids are going to tell Draco and I that they don't mind us getting married."
"That makes you nervous? I thought you wanted their approval." Hannah said concerned.
"I did, I mean I do, I'm not nervous about their decision, I'm nervous about the fact that I am going to marry Draco Malfoy." Hannah laughed at Hermione.
"You're nervous because you are going to be marrying the sexiest man that we went to school with? Well apart from Blaise that is!" This time they both giggled. Hermione had never considered herself a giggler, especially when she had been at Hogwarts perhaps that was because she had never had a real girl friend when she was at Hogwarts, because there was something about talking with Hannah that made giggling seem appropriate.
"Look Hannah, I am going to tell you something, and I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anybody, besides I don't want to have to put a memory charm on you," Hermione said this with an evil grin on her face.
"Oh that sounds serious ok, I swear not to tell!" Hannah and Hermione giggled again before Hermione got serious.
"Draco and I are only getting married because Draco has to other wise he wont get his inheritance and I only agreed to marry him because it is the only way that I will get to adopt the kids." Hannah sat back and regarded Hermione intently.
"That isn't the only reason you are marrying him," Hannah said seriously. Hermione's eyebrows drew down, because she was confused.
"What do you mean that isn't the only reason, of course it is!" Hermione said.
"No it isn't, I watched you and Draco, over the week we were at Hogwarts and today; the subtle glances that you cast at him and the ones he throws at you when your not looking. Hermione, admit it the only reason you agreed to marry him is because you love him." Hannah looked at Hermione and laughed quietly when she saw the look of disbelief on Hermione's face. "For a smart witch Hermione, you are incredibly slow!" Hannah said her smile evident in her voice.
"No, I don't love Draco, I mean I can't love Draco. It doesn't feel anything like what I felt for Ron and I know that was love." Hermione denied.
"Of course it isn't going to feel the same, what you felt for Ron is different from what you feel for Draco because you are different, Hermione you have grown up a lot and gone through a lot since Ron died. So it makes perfect sense that you don't feel love the same." Hannah said wisely, she sat back in her chair again and studied Hermione and the changing emotions that were flying across her face until finally realisation dawned on her.
"How in Merlin's name did I let that happen?" Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am in love with Draco. what a disaster!" Hermione said mournfully.
"And why is that a disaster?" Hannah asked confused, she thought that if she finally got Hermione to admit her feelings she would be happy, but the realisation only seemed to make her upset.
"Draco and I have been writing letters to each other for years, and we know every thing about each other, and one of the most important things that I learnt about Draco was that he believes that he can't love people. He didn't have a happy childhood, and because of the way he was treated he never saw love around him and so now as an adult he feels that he is incapable of loving people and being loved in return."
"That is nonsense! Hermione, look at Blaise, he was just like Draco, you know how similar they are! But Blaise learned to love, in fact he has learnt so much that he asked me to marry him! That is why I wanted to come here today I wanted to share my good news!' Hannah's smile was wise and her eyes shone with happiness and Hermione jumped out of her chair to give her a hug.
"My Merlin! That is FANTASTIC! Congratulations! I can't believe it! But I knew that it was going to happen eventually!" Hermione gushed and the two witches squealed with delight.
"So do you think that Hannah told her were getting married?" Blaise asked Draco.
"No, I don't think so at all." Draco said sarcastically before smiling at the girls.
"I am so glad that you came over to tell me! That is amazing news! Tonight we celebrate!" Hermione declared.
*****************************************************************
After Blaise and Hannah had left and the kids had gone to bed Hermione and Draco sat in the violet room, quietly watching the fire.
"Hermione I don't want you to go back to Granger House tomorrow." Draco said quietly not looking at her, but instead at the flickering flames. Though it was quite warm still Draco had lit the fire more out of comfort than the need for its warmth.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"I like having you here, and I really like having the kids here. In this past week, the manor has actually felt like a home and not just a building that I happened to live in. There has actually been laughter in the halls, something that I am sure has never happened before and I don't want that to stop." Hermione was looking at him intently trying to read beneath the surface of his thoughts.
"Tomorrow we are going to ask the kids what they have decided, and to be honest with you I think that the odds are in our favor of them agreeing for us to marry, but Draco we haven't thought about the future." Draco looked up at her.
"What do you want to discuss, I think that now is the time for it." Draco said, and Hermione picked through her words carefully, trying to decide what the best way to word her thoughts was. Her talk with Hannah had opened her eyes to many things today and she knew that Draco was not ready to hear some of the things that she discovered, so she had to be selective with what she told him. Hermione though back to what Hannah had told her after they had clamed down, after the wedding announcement. 'I have to show Draco with actions and besides I have ten years to show him, and even Draco can't take that long to come around.
"I think that it is important that we go over the conditions again, we will marry for no less than ten years and we will have at least one child," Hermione looked over at Draco for his approval, which he demonstrated with a nod. "However, I told you that if we have kids we have to wait until they are at Hogwarts before we decide what to do with our marriage." Hermione looked over at him and then decided to wait to see if he wanted to add anything.
"I think that after the kids go to Hogwarts then we sit down and evaluate our relationship, because things change we may decide that we can't stand each other and don't want to live together anymore or we could do the opposite and decide that we want to remain married, so I think that we should be open to all options, what do you think?" Draco asked.
"I agree, but we are going to have a little time before we get married, so if we have any more thoughts or questions there is still plenty of time to ask, right?" Draco nodded.
"But I don't want to wait to get married, I mean there is the will to consider." Draco said.
"Of course, but what I mean is that we aren't getting married tomorrow so we still have a little time to get the details sorted out."
"Yes we do. come on it's late and we should be getting to bed, because before you know it the kids will be up and jumping all over you!" Draco said with a laugh.
*****************************************************************
As Hermione got herself ready for bed she could help but feel that she was betraying herself, and Draco by not telling him that she loved him, but deep down she knew that he wasn't ready to hear that she was. She would tell him that she loved him. when the time was right. for the both of them.
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A/N: Hey guys! I hope that you like this chapter! I have to give a VERY big THANK YOU to Trinka! She is my Beta Reader! *Claps* Thanks so much :):):) Thanks for helping with the changes! I think that it sounds better, and I hope that I put your suggestions to good use, things that I didn't changer were meant to be that way because it is the way that I say it, get me? Anyway much hugs and thanks to you!
As always, if you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to send them to me, I welcome them! You should know my e-mail by now or you can tell me in a review, whatever you decide! :)
This chappie is dedicated to all those lovely people who reviewed.
Scholz03 - Thanks for the review, I can't wait to read your new story!
Summergurl - Thanks for the review!! I hope that you like this chapter as much!
Jenny - Hey! When I read your review you freaked me out! Because some of the things that I had though about putting in my story you mentioned in your review, and I am not going to tell you what because I don't want to spoil the story for you or others, but are you psychic?????
Hallie Walker - Thank you!
Captain Oblivious - Lol, good point!
Snowbear - Romance will be soon, I have to set a couple of things up first.
Hufflepuff1324 - Thanks!
iLoVeDrAcO15 - Shucks! Thanks! :)
DanceChic0869 - Thanks :)
Skittles713 -Thanks so much for all of the reviews!! I love reviews, they make me smile!
Meg - Thank you as always!
Alexa - Glad that you thought it was funny! It doesn't matter that you made a mistake and you can read it as many time as you like, in fact the more you read the happier I am! :) I'm pleased that you think I suck. sort of! Lol!
Gamegirl3 - I would be honored if you dedicated a chapter to me!! I can't wait to read your new story. It makes me happy to know that you like my story so much!
Azn-Sweetie - Shucks!! Lol!
Sweet-77-thang - Thanks very much! :)
HELLS ANGEL - Thank, I did add you to my list, hope to chat soon, lol!
Danika - Hide and seek is a good game, and you can never be too old to play it! Hehe!
Br*tney - I hope that you like this chapter.
Serpena - good too se your not late again, and I must admire your dedication to be reading fan fics at 2 in the morning!
And last but not least.
Stormy Phoenix - I hope that this chapter was a little more romantic for you, there will be more but all in good time!
Chapter 13 - A Week at the Malfoy Manor
Hermione woke to the sun shining on her face and the remains of a good but disturbing dream in her mind. She had been sitting in the library and she was older and so was Draco and together they were sitting and reading together and when he looked at her and she at him she could feel the love between then, and that was perhaps the most disturbing thing!
The kids waking up and the usual morning routine drove the dream from her mind and she was busy thinking of what to teach the kids for the day, and in fact for the rest of the week.
"OK, kids today we are going to start with muggle jobs and their magical counterparts. Get into you partners so that we can start." Hermione had decided that the best way for the younger and the older kids to learn was to pair them up so that as soon as the older kids grasped the idea they could help teach the younger kids, so far the system seemed to work.
"Draco, you can work with me, ok?" Draco nodded at Hermione, and the lesson began.
*****************************************************************
They settled into a routine and for the remainder of the week they took class in the morning and in the afternoon they would play outside in the sunshine or explore the old Manor. Hermione was happy, really happy because deep down she knew to any outsider looking in, they did look like a family. Draco and the children, while still wary of each other began to grow comfortable with the others presence and Hermione knew that once they went back to Granger house that the kids would miss Draco and Draco would be very lonely in the large Manor all by himself.
*****************************************************************
Hermione was watching the kids play outside with Draco chasing after them, it was Saturday and tomorrow she and the kids would return home. A part of her was happy to return to Granger house but a larger part of her was sad that she was going to leave Draco and the Manor.
As Hermione sat in the sun, a pitch-black owl soared through the air and landed on the armrest of her lounge chair.
"Hello, and who do you belong to?" Hermione asked the owl as she took the letter from its outstretched leg.
Dear Hermione,
It is me Hannah, I know that you are only going to be at the Manor for another day but you did invite me to visit, so if it is ok with you and Draco, Blaise and I will come past at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. It will be good to have a chat with you.
Please send your reply via Blaise's owl Spartacus.
Hannah.
"Draco." Hermione called, Draco was now playing British Bulldog with the children and Hermione laughed at their antics. When he heard her call, Draco trotted over to where Hermione was sitting in the shade.
"Yes my lady?" Draco asked.
"Hannah has just sent an owl asking if she and Blaise could visit us this afternoon, what do you think?" Hermione asked hopefully looking up at him. Draco was a bit hesitant, he knew that Hermione would enjoy seeing Hannah again but this was going to be their last night together at the Manor before Hermione and the kids returned to Granger House and he didn't really want to share them with anyone. However, he could not disappoint her.
"Of course Hermione, if you want them to visit send them an owl and invite them to dinner." Hermione smiled brilliantly up at him and instantly scribbled a note back to Hannah. Hermione promptly attached the note to Spartacus's leg telling Hannah and Blaise that they would be happy to have them come to visit and they should stay for dinner. Hermione was excited, while she loved spending time with Draco and the kids, she was looking forward to seeing her new friend, and besides there were things that Hermione wanted to discuss with her.
The time between the sending of the letter and 3:00 p.m. flew and in no time, there was the sound of twin 'cracks' and Hannah and Blaise appeared on the gravel driveway that led to the front door.
"Hannah!" Hermione called and ran to greet her friend.
"Mione!" Hannah greeted back and they gave each other a warm hug.
"You would think that the two of you haven't seen each other in years instead of just a few days." Blaise said dryly, but he was smiling.
"It is good to see you to Blaise." Hermione smiled up at him and gave a quick laugh.
"Blaise, good to see you," Draco extended his hand and the two men shook hands.
"And you Draco." The men smiled at each other and Hermione and Hannah instantly began to catch each other up on the week that they had had.
"Blaise, do you know anything about Hide and Seek?" Draco asked.
"Hide and Seek, no. What is that?" Blaise asked confused.
"Well I guess I better get the kids to show you come on, I'm it you can help me find them," Draco led Blaise down one of the paths that led to the garden where the children were hiding and the women followed at a slower pace talking a mile a minute.
*****************************************************************
"Hannah, I'm nervous, I know that the kids are going to tell Draco and I that they don't mind us getting married."
"That makes you nervous? I thought you wanted their approval." Hannah said concerned.
"I did, I mean I do, I'm not nervous about their decision, I'm nervous about the fact that I am going to marry Draco Malfoy." Hannah laughed at Hermione.
"You're nervous because you are going to be marrying the sexiest man that we went to school with? Well apart from Blaise that is!" This time they both giggled. Hermione had never considered herself a giggler, especially when she had been at Hogwarts perhaps that was because she had never had a real girl friend when she was at Hogwarts, because there was something about talking with Hannah that made giggling seem appropriate.
"Look Hannah, I am going to tell you something, and I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anybody, besides I don't want to have to put a memory charm on you," Hermione said this with an evil grin on her face.
"Oh that sounds serious ok, I swear not to tell!" Hannah and Hermione giggled again before Hermione got serious.
"Draco and I are only getting married because Draco has to other wise he wont get his inheritance and I only agreed to marry him because it is the only way that I will get to adopt the kids." Hannah sat back and regarded Hermione intently.
"That isn't the only reason you are marrying him," Hannah said seriously. Hermione's eyebrows drew down, because she was confused.
"What do you mean that isn't the only reason, of course it is!" Hermione said.
"No it isn't, I watched you and Draco, over the week we were at Hogwarts and today; the subtle glances that you cast at him and the ones he throws at you when your not looking. Hermione, admit it the only reason you agreed to marry him is because you love him." Hannah looked at Hermione and laughed quietly when she saw the look of disbelief on Hermione's face. "For a smart witch Hermione, you are incredibly slow!" Hannah said her smile evident in her voice.
"No, I don't love Draco, I mean I can't love Draco. It doesn't feel anything like what I felt for Ron and I know that was love." Hermione denied.
"Of course it isn't going to feel the same, what you felt for Ron is different from what you feel for Draco because you are different, Hermione you have grown up a lot and gone through a lot since Ron died. So it makes perfect sense that you don't feel love the same." Hannah said wisely, she sat back in her chair again and studied Hermione and the changing emotions that were flying across her face until finally realisation dawned on her.
"How in Merlin's name did I let that happen?" Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am in love with Draco. what a disaster!" Hermione said mournfully.
"And why is that a disaster?" Hannah asked confused, she thought that if she finally got Hermione to admit her feelings she would be happy, but the realisation only seemed to make her upset.
"Draco and I have been writing letters to each other for years, and we know every thing about each other, and one of the most important things that I learnt about Draco was that he believes that he can't love people. He didn't have a happy childhood, and because of the way he was treated he never saw love around him and so now as an adult he feels that he is incapable of loving people and being loved in return."
"That is nonsense! Hermione, look at Blaise, he was just like Draco, you know how similar they are! But Blaise learned to love, in fact he has learnt so much that he asked me to marry him! That is why I wanted to come here today I wanted to share my good news!' Hannah's smile was wise and her eyes shone with happiness and Hermione jumped out of her chair to give her a hug.
"My Merlin! That is FANTASTIC! Congratulations! I can't believe it! But I knew that it was going to happen eventually!" Hermione gushed and the two witches squealed with delight.
"So do you think that Hannah told her were getting married?" Blaise asked Draco.
"No, I don't think so at all." Draco said sarcastically before smiling at the girls.
"I am so glad that you came over to tell me! That is amazing news! Tonight we celebrate!" Hermione declared.
*****************************************************************
After Blaise and Hannah had left and the kids had gone to bed Hermione and Draco sat in the violet room, quietly watching the fire.
"Hermione I don't want you to go back to Granger House tomorrow." Draco said quietly not looking at her, but instead at the flickering flames. Though it was quite warm still Draco had lit the fire more out of comfort than the need for its warmth.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"I like having you here, and I really like having the kids here. In this past week, the manor has actually felt like a home and not just a building that I happened to live in. There has actually been laughter in the halls, something that I am sure has never happened before and I don't want that to stop." Hermione was looking at him intently trying to read beneath the surface of his thoughts.
"Tomorrow we are going to ask the kids what they have decided, and to be honest with you I think that the odds are in our favor of them agreeing for us to marry, but Draco we haven't thought about the future." Draco looked up at her.
"What do you want to discuss, I think that now is the time for it." Draco said, and Hermione picked through her words carefully, trying to decide what the best way to word her thoughts was. Her talk with Hannah had opened her eyes to many things today and she knew that Draco was not ready to hear some of the things that she discovered, so she had to be selective with what she told him. Hermione though back to what Hannah had told her after they had clamed down, after the wedding announcement. 'I have to show Draco with actions and besides I have ten years to show him, and even Draco can't take that long to come around.
"I think that it is important that we go over the conditions again, we will marry for no less than ten years and we will have at least one child," Hermione looked over at Draco for his approval, which he demonstrated with a nod. "However, I told you that if we have kids we have to wait until they are at Hogwarts before we decide what to do with our marriage." Hermione looked over at him and then decided to wait to see if he wanted to add anything.
"I think that after the kids go to Hogwarts then we sit down and evaluate our relationship, because things change we may decide that we can't stand each other and don't want to live together anymore or we could do the opposite and decide that we want to remain married, so I think that we should be open to all options, what do you think?" Draco asked.
"I agree, but we are going to have a little time before we get married, so if we have any more thoughts or questions there is still plenty of time to ask, right?" Draco nodded.
"But I don't want to wait to get married, I mean there is the will to consider." Draco said.
"Of course, but what I mean is that we aren't getting married tomorrow so we still have a little time to get the details sorted out."
"Yes we do. come on it's late and we should be getting to bed, because before you know it the kids will be up and jumping all over you!" Draco said with a laugh.
*****************************************************************
As Hermione got herself ready for bed she could help but feel that she was betraying herself, and Draco by not telling him that she loved him, but deep down she knew that he wasn't ready to hear that she was. She would tell him that she loved him. when the time was right. for the both of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Hey guys! I hope that you like this chapter! I have to give a VERY big THANK YOU to Trinka! She is my Beta Reader! *Claps* Thanks so much :):):) Thanks for helping with the changes! I think that it sounds better, and I hope that I put your suggestions to good use, things that I didn't changer were meant to be that way because it is the way that I say it, get me? Anyway much hugs and thanks to you!
As always, if you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to send them to me, I welcome them! You should know my e-mail by now or you can tell me in a review, whatever you decide! :)
This chappie is dedicated to all those lovely people who reviewed.
Scholz03 - Thanks for the review, I can't wait to read your new story!
Summergurl - Thanks for the review!! I hope that you like this chapter as much!
Jenny - Hey! When I read your review you freaked me out! Because some of the things that I had though about putting in my story you mentioned in your review, and I am not going to tell you what because I don't want to spoil the story for you or others, but are you psychic?????
Hallie Walker - Thank you!
Captain Oblivious - Lol, good point!
Snowbear - Romance will be soon, I have to set a couple of things up first.
Hufflepuff1324 - Thanks!
iLoVeDrAcO15 - Shucks! Thanks! :)
DanceChic0869 - Thanks :)
Skittles713 -Thanks so much for all of the reviews!! I love reviews, they make me smile!
Meg - Thank you as always!
Alexa - Glad that you thought it was funny! It doesn't matter that you made a mistake and you can read it as many time as you like, in fact the more you read the happier I am! :) I'm pleased that you think I suck. sort of! Lol!
Gamegirl3 - I would be honored if you dedicated a chapter to me!! I can't wait to read your new story. It makes me happy to know that you like my story so much!
Azn-Sweetie - Shucks!! Lol!
Sweet-77-thang - Thanks very much! :)
HELLS ANGEL - Thank, I did add you to my list, hope to chat soon, lol!
Danika - Hide and seek is a good game, and you can never be too old to play it! Hehe!
Br*tney - I hope that you like this chapter.
Serpena - good too se your not late again, and I must admire your dedication to be reading fan fics at 2 in the morning!
And last but not least.
Stormy Phoenix - I hope that this chapter was a little more romantic for you, there will be more but all in good time!