The Child's Atrocity 6
"Well…so this is your villa, huh?" Hermione asked with interest, surveying the large and comfortable looking villa. It's vanilla scent and rich colors set off a very Spanish and very nice appeal.
"Yes. If you've any complaints you are more than welcome to leave," Malfoy replied sardonically.
She hated that slimy little… loser. She really did. So what the hell was she doing on vacation with him? What was she doing here? Oh, yeah, it was all for the kid. She was sacrificing too much for that boy…
But she might as well be honest. "No complaints, Malfoy. Where's my room?"
"Some guest you are," he muttered, but led the way to her room, which happened to be right next to his.
"I'd rather not be in such close proximity…" she began, but he gave her a wolfish smile.
"You're welcome to have the couch in the living room, Granger. If you haven't noticed, this is my vacation home. It's only got four bedrooms. One for me, one for you, one for Ivy, and one for your son."
"Where are their bedrooms?" Hermione asked inquisitively.
"You ask too many questions," he scowled, but nevertheless led the way down a different hallway and into two children's bedrooms, one evidently done for a girl and one done for a boy.
"I had the house-elves clean this place up," he smirked, waiting to see her reaction.
To his disappointment, the outrageous yelling and screaming didn't happen. Instead, Granger's features took on a sad look and she sighed. "Poor things. I just wish…but no one ever listens."
"Pity," he clucked happily.
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Ivy gleamed at Chase. "I'm so glad we pulled this off. I thought it would be impossible."
"I know, considering the fact that my mum absolutely detests your dad," he laughed.
"And vice versa," Ivy giggled. "I did my research, did you?"
"Of course. I'm not her son for nothing. Apparently they've known each other since they were eleven. He was in Slytherin; she was in Gryffindor."
"He hated her friends; she hated him because he hated her friends so much. And he called her the M-word."
"He did?" gasped Chase. "How awful!"
"He's changed," Ivy reassured hastily. "I mean, I've never heard him use the word. Maybe it was the first time he heard it or something, and he wanted to try it out."
Chase looked dubious. "Okay, well, let bygones be bygones, I guess…Okay, what else? He was head boy in seventh year and she was head girl. Didn't get along at all. In fact she wouldn't spend the night in their joint suite, ever. Always slept in the Gryffindor dormitory."
"He was jealous as hell of her good grades," Ivy smirked. "Asked my grandpa. He freaked out when I informed him of this and said if he wasn't under house arrest everyone better watch out. But he can't move, poor guy."
Chase snickered. "So basically… it comes out to…they've always hated each other. Well, that's obvious, from the way they're behaving now. Do you think they know that we know?"
"I dunno. I told my dad your mum seemed awfully nice and he should go out with her," Ivy giggled.
"He didn't like the idea, did he?" Chase asked worriedly.
"Of course not. Don't worry, Chase, it's going to be fun and harmless. The worst thing that will happen is that they'll get incredibly upset with us. But what's new?"
The children laughed diabolically and decided to go out and explore.
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Hermione was pretty sure Draco wasn't exactly about to give her a tour of this place, so she took one by herself. It was pretty large and roomy. She particularly liked the living room; it was cozy with a nice set of books in the corner and a large sitting area.
She sank into a couch and pulled out one of the books. Finding her groove, Hermione eagerly began to read.
Draco entered his living room and found his blood boiling at the sight of Hermione Granger relaxing on his couch and reading his book. He knew it was really silly of him to get worked up over something simple, but it irritated him to no end that she was enjoying the pleasures of his house. Childishly he decided to disturb her.
"Hermione," he stressed gleefully, knowing she probably hated him calling her that.
"Malfoy," she replied coldly, not even looking up from her book.
"How did you find the house?" he smirked. He was pretty sure she hated to be disturbed when she was reading and therefore this was a perfect opportunity.
"Lovely. You really do know your style," she mumbled, still not looking up from the book.
"Hey, Hermione," he said in frustration, and grabbed her book, "no reading allowed."
"Excuse me?" she scowled, annoyed, and he finally felt good.
"Yep. You. Can't. Read. My. Books."
"You selfish prat!" she exclaimed. "I would think that after all these years, especially after having a daughter, you would grow up a little, but I'm horrified to find that you are still the same arrogant prick that you have always been!"
"I'm hurt, Hermione," he grinned, his mood getting better and better. "Truly devastated. In fact I think I'm going to need some alone time. So move."
"Fine!" She got up in a huff and stalked towards the door. "I'm going shopping!"
"Hey!" he called after her. "Take Ivy too! I hate shopping and she likes it…so…"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "What makes you think that I would do you a favor after your rude display earlier?"
"This is for Ivy," he pleaded, smirking to himself. Women could never resist children.
And he was right. "Oh, all right," Hermione snapped. "We won't be back soon, so don't even bother. And why don't you take Chase somewhere, too? It would only be fair," she grinned.
Drat, Draco thought miserably. Why was he so rash sometimes?
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"So, Ivy," Hermione began placidly, wondering what kind of child Ivy was, "you like shopping?"
Ivy nodded. "Yeah, I enjoy it but can't go often… dad won't let me go with other people and he hates it, so…"
Hermione laughed. "Your father is so overprotective," she smiled. "I never would have thought that he would have turned out that way."
"So you knew dad then?" Ivy asked with a smirk reminiscent of her father's.
"Knew?" Hermione's expression turned dark. "Oh, believe me, I knew him. He was your average teenage boy… mean-spirited teenage boy…although; I must admit my opinion is biased, because we didn't get along well. He seemed very…mischievous. I'm sure he made a good friend," Hermione said warmly; her attitude of there's-something-good-about-everybody even applied to Malfoy. And after all, she was talking to his daughter, she had to be nice.
Ivy giggled. "Yeah, he's the loyal type of guy. OH, ZARA! I LOVE THAT STORE!" she yelled suddenly. "It's the best store ever!"
Hermione laughed again. Ivy was truly amusing. "Okay, Ivy, no need to yell…anyway," she frowned, "I thought that Zara was a muggle store?"
Ivy smirked. "That's what you think, eh? No way. They have totally cool stuff in there. Enchanted t-shirts and these adorable cute short skirts that always ruffle…and the latest robes, just in case you're a traditional robe-wearing witch," Ivy hastily added.
Adaptations of muggle-like clothing had become all the rage in the wizarding world. Of course, the pictures on the t-shirts moved and the clothes might glow different colors and the shoes might be enhanced with short-distance flying mechanisms, but still, they were takes on muggle clothes. "Oh, no," Hermione reassured her as they stepped into the well-lit store, "I'm not traditional at all."
Together they went through mounds of singing shorts and flashy skirts and even plain old glowing shirts… as well as the sexiest in robes and stilettos. "Wow," Ivy grinned. "You have a good sense of style; how come you don't wear these kinds of clothes?"
Hermione smiled sadly. "I'm too old for it," she explained.
Ivy's eyes lit up. "Look, I know the best store ever, for people like you. Trendy and modern, but still works for people in their…how old are you, thirties? It's great. Come on!"
First they headed to the counter so Ivy could make her purchases and then exited the store and went straight into a brick wall. Hermione soon found that said brick wall was a lot like platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross, because they just went on through. "Here!" exclaimed Ivy. "Dolce and Gabbana!"
"That's a designer muggle brand," Hermione remarked, confused. "Don't tell me…it's not muggle after all," she grinned.
"Actually, Dolce was the wizard, Gabbana the muggle. They have separate branches. Come on," she dragged Hermione into the store and shoved her into the hands of a saleslady.
"How can I help you ladies?" she asked demurely.
"Can you get her some fashionable clothes?" Ivy smirked. "Just do what you want. I'm going next door, okay, Ms. Granger?"
"Call me Hermione!" Hermione called back in response.
"Will do!" came Ivy's yell as she exited.
As Hermione tried on outfit after outfit she decided that Malfoy's daughter was much sweeter and much nicer than her father. She was a nice, normal teenage girl… nothing like her father.
Nothing at all like that heinous, heinous man.
Well, truthfully, he wasn't all that heinous. He wasn't exactly evil incarnate. And he had maintained a damn good figure (something she was not jealous of… okay, she was. Desperately).
"Buy this one," the saleslady was gushing. "It is so stunning, darling."
Hermione glanced in the mirror. It was an ordinary, floral print dress with an uneven hem and a dipping neckline (although it still looked very elegant and not risqué)… but somehow, it did become stunning. "It is," she breathed. "It's so…normal, but it's still beautiful!"
She smiled as she walked out of the store, having bought said floral print dress along with other elegant creations to update her wardrobe. The first mission of her vacation had been accomplished. "Come on, Ivy, let's go," she called as she stepped out of the store.
The younger girl bounded up to her. "Okay, I bought three pairs of shoes. Dad won't be too mad, will he?"
Hermione had to chortle. "Depends. How much did they cost?"
"200 galleons," Ivy looked down, and at Hermione's astonished expression, hastened to add, "But they were so cute!"
Hermione shook her head and mumbled something about glad-it's-not-my-money. "These are the times," she enforced firmly, "that I am glad I have borne a child who takes no interest in shopping."
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Draco didn't know how the Hermione-and-Ivy bonding session was going, but the Draco-and-Chase bonding session didn't seem to be going well. Namely, he couldn't think of a thing to do with the boy.
"So," he asked for the third time, "what do you want to do? We can do anything you like."
Chase looked bored. "For the twelfth time," he exaggerated, "I don't care. We can do anything you like."
"You're lying," Draco said in amazement. "When I was your age, I would surely not have hesitated to tell you exactly what I wanted to do and exactly how I was going to do it."
"Well," Chase began timidly, "er, I've always wanted to do this one thing…"
"Well, what is it?" Draco asked impatiently. He was seriously getting tired of this.
"Mum hates it, so please don't tell her…"
Draco smirked. This made it even better. "Just spit it out, Chase."
"Can we go to a proper Quidditch game?"
Draco's jaw dropped. "You're telling me you've never been to a proper Quidditch game?" he gasped. "But…"
"I know," Chase said miserably. "Okay, I have gone to a few with my dad… but he's always playing in them, so it's not like the real experience 'cause I always feel obligated to watch him."
Draco sputtered. "Your father plays Quidditch professionally?" And then as an afterthought, "You're Viktor Krum's son. Heh."
"Yeah, well, so what?" Chase looked angry. "Every time I mention that people all say the exact same thing. Oh, can I have his autograph? My dad's so bloody old now; I don't see how anyone could still be interested."
"He was awfully good," Draco explained. "All right, come on. I happen to know that a Cannons v. Beaters match is on today."
Draco felt strangely excited as he quickly secured a portkey to the game (just a few calls to the Ministry had done it; boy, he loved having connections). It had been a while since he'd been to a Quidditch game; he usually went to a few when Ivy was at school because Ivy was not interested in Quidditch. He didn't know how she could not be. Quidditch was in the Malfoy blood!
And Lisa Turpin had liked it.
But he'd rather not think about her, otherwise he might hex anyone in close proximity. Tugging Chase roughly he bought them tickets in the top box and sat down. "Here," he handed Chase his omniculars. "You can use them, since you've never really seen a Quidditch game without your dad."
"And of course the school ones," Chase added.
"Well, those don't count," Draco started… "Wait, you are on the Quidditch team, aren't you?"
Chase looked down and Draco could see he was very, very touchy about this subject. "Aren't you?" he repeated.
Chase shook his head. "I tried out for the team, and I mean, I got in and stuff, I'm supposed to be a Seeker… just like dad, I guess…but mum wouldn't let me."
"Are you kidding?!" Draco was truly dumbfounded. "How could she not let you be?"
Chase became angry. "Because she's bloody scared of Quidditch. Doesn't mean that I am. I'm just so…sodding mad!"
Draco cracked a smile. Sure, he wasn't going to let Ivy get away with cursing, but another kid? Especially Granger's kid? No problem. "So do it anyway and don't tell her," he suggested.
Chase looked dubious. "You don't know her… she can find things out really easily. That would be crazy difficult." Just as Draco was about to agree that Granger did have her sneaky, sneaky ways, Chase continued, a whole lot brighter, "Hey! Maybe you can… talk to her, right? She likes you, doesn't she?"
Any thoughts that Draco had previously had were wiped off. What the hell? "She does not like me," he scowled fiercely. She better not!
"Of course she does, Mr. Malfoy," Chase reassured.
"Draco," Draco said, irritated. "Call me Draco. And she hates me. And you better make sure she hates me!"
Chase smiled infuriatingly. "I don't think she can help the way she feels. And if she doesn't hate you, she doesn't hate you. She'll listen to you… please let me play Quidditch next year! Please ask her. Please…Draco."
Just to get him to shut up and enjoy the game, Draco muttered a grudging "maybe" and diverted his attention to the game. As the professionals played, Draco constantly kept up an educated chatter, showing Chase the Wronski Feint and other such amazing moves. When the game was over, Draco was surprised to think that he had really enjoyed it. Nothing like enjoying a good game of Quidditch, even if it was with your enemy's son.
He was nothing like his formidable mother.
Nothing at all like that boorish, boorish woman.
Well, truthfully, she wasn't that boorish. She had been polite, and…hey, she didn't look that bad. And maybe with new clothes she'd look downright…he hated to use the word, it was demeaning…okay, hot. He didn't care if he demeaned Granger. At all.
As the game ended, Draco motioned to Chase. "Come on, let's go," he began. "The ladies are probably waiting."
Chase snickered behind him. Oh, yeah, Ivy, this is going to be a lot of fun…
A/N: I hope this chapter was much better than the previous. Thanks for your reviews. I hope to make this a short, cute fic that's hopefully at least halfway through, but we'll see. I never stick to my plans! Anyway, thanks, and tell me what you thought of the chapter.