1Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is in this story, except the plot, and any characters that you do not recognize. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling!

Yankee Accents

Chapter Eight: Meeting the Malfoys

Written By: Auburn Lily

After Hermione left the inn (upon finding that Draco had already paid for their rooming, in which she had thought 'at least he still respects women somewhat'), she had apparated to Ginny's flat in London. Ginny was there, lounging on the sofa in front of the tellie, with Crookshanks spread across her lap and half of the next cushion.

"Hey Ginny," Hermione called, slipping her shoes off and setting her purse on the kitchen counter. "Sorry I couldn't pick up Crookshanks two weekends ago. I went to visit Molly, and then went out to dinner with Harry, and Ron and his family."

"It's okay. I went out with Carter that night anyway, after you didn't show for an hour or so," she replied, clicking the remote and yawning widely. Crookshanks pawed his way off her lap, and after stretching his back and every other muscle that you might think a cat will have, curiously made his way over to Hermione. She bent down to retrieve him, and, upon recognizing her scent immediately, leapt into her arms. She was barely able to stand under his weight.

"Merlin Ginny, what've you been feeding him?" she gasped.

"Tuna, liver, raw steak, basically whatever he wants. He's quite spoiled, you know." She replied, standing up with a patchwork quilt draped around her shoulders. "Is there anything you wanted to ask me?"

"Actually I wanted to talk to you about, well, a few things I guess," she answered as she searched through Ginny's pantry for something to feed a mewing Crookshanks. She took a large tuna can out, and after opening it set it on the counter top next to her purse for him to eat out of.

"Sure, lemme just go and get some shoes and a jacket; we can get some coffee, and maybe do a little shopping?"

They got their coffee at a small coffee shop a few blocks down from Ginny's flat, and then window-shopped as Hermione told her all about the Christmas Reunion party incident, and then the little escapades that they had taken part of just last night. After she was done, Ginny thought for a few minutes before saying, "Well, I'm not in the least bit surprised, you know. It was bound to happen, kind of like fate or something cheesy like that. As much as I hate to admit it, you two are meant to be together. It 's quite unfortunate circumstances."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the insinuation that Ginny had made and retorted with, "Ginny, first we got incredibly drunk in a bar and then, in a grimy, dirty inn-room, we had repetitive sex, in which we didn't know who the either was."

"Thanks for the graphic imagery," Ginny muttered sarcastically, taking another sip of her coffee as they walked through the archway to Diagon Alley. "Besides, there's something you need to-"

"I also wanted to talk to you about Harry," Hermione cut off as they continued their window-shopping. "Every time we see each other, he looks at me really quite oddly. It's almost like he still can't believe I'm back. And he keeps trying to persuade me to teach with him at Hogwarts."

Ginny, forgetting about what she had been saying earlier, replied with, "That's because he's still in love with you, Hermione. I don't know how bluntly I can put it. I remember telling you before you left, too."

"Ginny-"

"No, Hermione, you need to listen to me. You know he stopped playing Quidditch a few years after you left and purposefully took up teaching, so in case you came back, he would look impressive to you? And this leads me to telling you something about Malfoy that you didn't know," she slowly trailed off, as Malfoy himself appeared in front of them.

"Hello, Ladies," he said politely, clasping his hands behind his back. For some inexplicably strange reason, after Hermione and he had gotten married, he had turned civil towards all of the Weasley's and had even become chummy with Harry.

They were currently in Flourish 'N Blotts and after exchanging formalities, Hermione and Ginny turned to exit. However, at that precise moment, a small, black-haired, gray-eyed little girl decided to make an entrance.

"Daddy, Daddy," she was saying, running up to Draco. "Can I get this book?" which was entitled 'Analytically Realistic Runes.'

Draco chuckled, and took the book from the girl's tiny hands, before riffling through the pages.

Hermione eyed the girl suspiciously, while Ginny suddenly turned to another bookstand, seemingly incredibly interested in a bunch of books inscribed with the title, 'Divination for Diviners' crafted by the late Sibyl Trelawney.

"Draco," Hermione started, wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue. "Is this little girl you're-"

"Daughter?" he interrupted, looking up from the book and arching an amused eyebrow at her. "As a matter of fact yes, she is. One of four, might I add. Third oldest. Her name's Zenden. She's five." He answered shortly.

Hermione's jaw dropped, shock, incredulity, and misery etching themselves all over her face. Ginny began tugging on Hermione's sleeve and Hermione, getting the idea, smiled uncertainly and half-heartedly at Draco and Zenden, though tears were beginning to sting the corners of her eyes. She sidled towards the exit but Draco called after her.

"No Hermione, Ginny, I would like you to meet my wife, and three other children."

Hermione gulped and sub-consciously shook her head. But nobody else saw, and for some reason her feet were bolted to the ground, even though Ginny was trying to drag her out of the shop.

"Who would you like us to meet?" asked a rich, venom-sweet voice infused with an accent Hermione couldn't quite place. A tall, thin woman took her place behind Draco. She had sleek, ebony-black hair, which reached to the small of her back, and charcoal-green eyes peeked out from behind tan skin. Behind her collected three other small girls, all with the same black hair and gray eyes as the first one. Hermione could see Draco's eyes on all of the girls. She knew he was telling no lie.

"Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley, of course," Draco replied jovially and out of character. "Hermione, Ginny, this is my wife, Auset. She's Egyptian, and these our other three children, Lotus, Alarica, and Nabiyre."

Hermione squeaked but made no other audible noise. Ginny however, stepped forward and thrust her pale hand into Auset's brown one and shook it forcefully.

"Nice to meet you," she said fakely.

Auset however, was eyeing Hermione. "Hermione… Hermione… Hermione… Draco, weren't you just telling me of her earlier?"

"Yes," He replied.

"Ah yes, you're my husband's mistress," she replied, smirking quite evilly.

"No Ma'am, I think that you must be mistaken," Hermione replied quickly.

"No, no, no, I don't think that I am," she replied, narrowing her eyes oddly. To Hermione, she almost appeared to seem pleased about the whole situation. "And I want you to keep being his mistress." She declared.

Draco smiled in triumph, and Ginny screwed up her face in a confused sort of expression.

"Excuse me? How dare you suggest such a thing. What right have you-" Hermione sputtered.

"He seems to have gotten much enjoyment out of it, something that I was never able to provide him with." She interupted simply. She spoke as if what she said was law and not open for argument.

Draco grinned seductively at Hermione, whose jaw had currently taken new residence on the ground. 'Something's not right here,' she thought, as she eyed Auset and the rest of his Egyptian pureblooded family. 'I'm missing something. Maybe this is all a dream.'

"Well, I do hope to be seeing more of you frequently, Hermione," Draco said, as Auset took to leaving the store.

Hermione just stared after them as they took their exit, uninterrupted by anything, Ginny right alongside her, slack-jawed once more.