Disclaimer: I am but a poor girl with nothing but this PC. Do not make me cry please, by suing me over this stor-ee! :). (I own nothing at all in correlation with Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Bloomsbury (or scholastic), or Warner Brothers!
Humongous thanks to Lain for taking time out of her life to edit this story! Love you!
I hope you all like this chapter, I struggled terribly with it, and it took me ages to write. Got a horrible case of writer's block and I did promise you all I'd update before New Years, so here it is!
Again, hope you all like Lysander, I personally love him! He's my new favourite character. Cyber cookies to anyone who correctly guesses where his name is from, Think Literature! ; ).
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Chapter Eighteen: Meet the Grangers.
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After a good few minutes of sobbing, Hermione gently wiped her eyes dry with copious amounts of pink toilet tissue. Sniffling every few seconds, Hermione just kept contemplating things in her mind. She did not understand why Rob had become so obsessed with her. 'It's not like I'm extraordinarily pretty or anything!" she thought. Hermione sighed softly as she stood, and smoothed down the crinkles in her clothing. Unlocking the door, she left her sanctuary. She walked numbly over to the sink, and had to bend her knees a little, due to the sinks being far too low for someone of her height. This was a children's bathroom after all. She turned the tap on, and splashed cold water onto her blotchy face, immediately feeling slightly refreshed.
Several moments later, Hermione left the bathroom composed, her head held high, and her complexion flawless. However, if someone were to look closely then they would see her red, bloodshot eyes and slight quivering lower lip. Hermione was sure that if she were to see Rob again soon, then her carefully constructed façade would break and she would flip at him in a frenzy. She heard the school bell ring numbly, the sound sounding foreign to her ears. Hermione forced a smile unto her bruised lips as small children began to swarm around her, laughing happily and wishing her a good afternoon in a carefree attitude that Hermione suddenly envied.
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Thankfully Hermione did not see Rob at all for the rest of the week. He seemed to be wisely keeping away from her. Hermione assumed that he was probably scared she would tell someone about his actions on Monday afternoon. Today was Friday and it was the day of breaking the news of her engagement to her parents. Draco had been most merciful in his agreement to meet her parents. But, despite his apparent change of beliefs, he was still slightly wary of muggles, simply because he knew very little of their ways. But, Hermione wished for him to come, so he would. She had been looking very exhausted these past few days and Draco knew that he would do anything she asked of him.
For her part, Hermione was extremely relieved, for the Easter Holidays had just begun. Term at Wands Way had just ended, and she would not have to confront Rob again for at least another two weeks. Plus, despite her first apparent reaction of dislike towards the impending skiing holiday in Switzerland, Hermione was actually immensely looking forward to spending some quality time with her family. And, her mother would not be able to try and set her up with men whom she immediately disliked, but who her mother always argued were "charming" men, perfectly suited to her. Unconsciously Hermione smiled widely, eyes focused on her engagement ring. Yes, perhaps this holiday would be good for her. She could use the relaxation.
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At the moment, Hermione was sat at the table in the kitchen, clutching a blue biro and scribbling a letter to Ginny, mainly centred on the younger witch's pregnancy. Ginny only had around four months of pregnancy left, and Hermione could not contain her excitement at the thought of a little Potter being born.
The kitchen gleamed around her, the spotlights casting shadows into the corners. She could hear the angered shrieks of the twins in the next room. They were fighting again. Hermione grumbled and stood up, then marched into the living room, furious.
"LEO!" she shouted, seeing Leo perched above Libby and pulling at her hair tightly. Libby, always one to defend herself however was at Leo's neck with her nails, crafting vicious red marks into his tanned skin. "STOP IT THIS INSTANCE!" Hermione shouted as she roughly pulled Leo off Libby. Holding one child at either side of her, Hermione ordered them to explain. All she received where dark glares aimed at either twin. Hermione sighed and placed each twin on either sides of the couch. She kneeled between them on the floor.
"What's this all about?" she asked softly. Again she received no answer. The twins simply started at their lap, their arms folded. "Why were you fighting?" she asked. She noticed Leo shuffled slightly, a sign that he wanted to tell her something but aware that Libby was there. "Liberty, go and wait upstairs" she said as nicely as she could, hoping not to sound accusatory. Libby rose and trudged up the stairs, mumbling the whole way up, her face downcast.
Hermione focused her attention upon Leo, and smoothed down his glistening hair. "What's wrong baby?" she asked softly, "Why were you and Libby fighting?". Leo looked up at his mother, his eyes suddenly shiny. "Libby said… she said that daddy is gonna" here he choked, and tears began to slowly spill down his cheeks, "she said that daddy is gonna to leave us like Rob did!" he said his voice high pitched. He threw his arms around Hermione's neck, his tears falling onto her blouse. "He's not going to, is he mum? He's not! I told her he's not" Leo declared confidently, his hands curled into fists in her hair.
Hermione's eyes widened at what he told her, and her heart stopped beating for a second. 'Oh my god, Is this really what they think? What I have done to my babies? Things have moved too fast… They don't understand what's happening, dear Merlin, what am I going to do?' Hermione thought worriedly, on the edge of hysteria. Regaining control over her mind, she shifted herself and Leo, so that her son was in her lap. She pulled Leo closer and tried to vainly console him, smoothing his hair with her fingers, drying his tears. "Baby, daddy's never going to leave you or Libby. He loves you, you're his children" she whispered to him, desperate for him to believe.
A noise attracted her attention. Libby was stood on the stairs, looking ashamed, and her blue eyes wide, reminding Hermione of a deer caught in headlights. Hermione held out a hand to her daughter and beckoned her forward. Libby hesitated for a second but then came quickly running into Hermione's embrace, curling her arms tightly around her mother, begging for her comfort. Together they sat on the floor, one child either side of Hermione, curled tightly into her embrace. She pulled them even closer, whispering to them.
"I love you. Both of you equally" Hermione told them in a no-nonsense tone. "And I'll never leave you" Hermione promised. "But you must know that your daddy does love you, he loves you an awful lot, even if he doesn't tell you it. You know that, don't you?" she asked. She received no answer, just slight sniffling. Hermione sat there and contemplated everything. Had things moved too fast between her and Draco? She was finding it hard to believe how she could have been so selfish. She had children to think of, this wasn't a simple romance between two teens. She promised herself something, there and then. She realised something she had always known about her children. 'They come before anything, including Draco'she thought 'they're the most important thing in my life' she concluded 'I'd do anything for them', and as she sat their on the floor, the most precious things in her life curled around her, Hermione knew that she would do absolutely anything to make them happy, even if that meant sacrificing her relationship with Draco.
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Silence. It reigned in the car. There seemed to be some unspoken agreement not to speak between all four occupants. The only noise that penetrated the surreal silence was that of the radio, turned down low, and softly playing a song by a new band called 'Freefaller'. Leo, sat in the back, nodded his head in tune with the music, his blond hair flopping all over his head; his finger's posed as if he were strumming an electric guitar. Draco watched him through the side mirror outside of the car, with an amused eye. He fought down a chuckle when Leo began to mouth the words, his eyes closed, his fingers still strumming. He looked hilarious. Libby simply stared at him, one slender eyebrow raised, a quite unreadable expression adoring her pretty face. Hermione seemed completely oblivious to her son's antics and stared out black tarmac of the busy motorway. Her hands were tightly gripping the steering wheel, and she looked immensely strained. Draco was quite worried about her, and decided to question her later. Perhaps she was merely worried over what her parent's reaction to him would be.
Around five minutes later, they arrived outside of a normal, two story house, with a red door. Hermione pulled up, and parked her little car on the pavement outside of her childhood home. A few seconds later, as she walked up the smooth concrete path, Hermione smiled at the familiarity that washed over her in immense waves. The detached house stood in front of her, was fairly large, made entirely out of stone, and had wonderful bay windows and a high sloping red roof. What was left of the sun was shining softly onto the roof, its rays bouncing off, giving the illusion that the roof was glowing. Hermione loved its character; it always reminded her of a large farmhouse. Sighing, Hermione pushed the doorbell, a rich vibrating noise emitting from the small device. Leo and Libby stood in front of her dutifully, oddly quiet. Draco was stood behind her, extremely close, and Hermione could feel his hot breath on her naked neck. She shivered with delight involuntary, goose bumps springing up on her neck.
Draco, who witnessed the reaction of Hermione's neck, smirked and quickly swooped in, kissing her neck softly, his lips tickling her skin, his hot breath was making her shiver. Hermione shuddered, and her knee's felt oddly weak. The door swung open and Draco quickly straightened, extracting his mouth from her neck. She frowned at the loss of contact, her skin feeling bare.
"Um, Hey mum" she greeted meekly. "Hermione dear!" exclaimed her mother warmly. "Come in, come in!" she told them all, standing aside. They filled in, one by one, Draco still standing exceptionally close to Hermione. Her mother, Anne, was talking to the twins, as she removed them of their brightly coloured cloaks. "Gramp's is in there" she told them as if it were a great secret, pointing at the room on their right. As soon as they were free, they both scrambled into the aforementioned room. Not even a second later, they all distinctly heard the muffled "ommppphhh" of someone from within. Hermione smiled and shook her head, knowing that her children had just attacked her father; no doubt they had pounced upon him.
"Hello Ma'am, I'm Draco Malfoy" Draco said formally, holding out a hand for Anne to shake, effectively shattering the uncomfortable silence. Anne Granger grasped it, a smile framing her pretty, but aged face. "Hello Draco dear, I'm Anne, and you'll be meeting my husband Sean as soon as he can free himself of the twins!" Anne told him, smiling serenely, her tone friendly, but inquiring. "Can I take your coat?" she offered both her daughter and Draco, smiling genially, her eyes, so much like Hermione's sparkling. Hermione answered by shuffling out of her cloak and giving it to her mother, Draco quickly emulated her.
"Oh, Hermione, Lysander wants to speak to you dear" Anne told Hermione, still clutching their cloaks, "He's been looking forward to seeing you again for ages". "Lysander?" Draco asked, confused. "Hermione, please show Draco into the sitting room love" she asked, still smiling her brown eyes alight with love. Anne hung up their cloaks next to the twins, and excused herself, vaguely muttering something about dinner burning.
"Lysander?" Draco asked yet again, a blank look adoring his aristocratic face. Hermione smiled, "My fifteen year old brother" she answered dryly. As it is Murphy's Law, Lysander, or at least Draco assumed it to be Lysander, exited the room of which the twins had entered five minutes prior and inflicted his company upon the couple. The teenage boy stood directly in front of Draco, had spiky brown hair, with small tints of dark blue evident in it's depths, dark eyes, a strong jaw line and nose, and looked to be about five foot six. He had the exact same skin tone, as Hermione.
He wore baggy faded demin jeans, held up unsuccessfully by a thick black belt. The buckle of this belt had a skull and bone design etched into the metal. His black t-shirt fit him tight, displaying his muscles well, and the slogan "I Hate You . Com" was slapped right in the middle, in bold white letters. Black converse trainers were on his feet, and black sweatbands were wrapped around his wrists, each sporting the same design as the one on his belt buckle. Draco thought that he looked a lot like Hermione, the same colour hair, and skin etc.
"Hey dude" Lysander greeted, eyeing Draco up and down, a look of great dislike evident in his eyes. As if satisfied that he could take him out if need be, he turned to Hermione, deciding to simply ignore Draco for the time being. "Sis" he said with a nod of the head, smiling greatly. "Nice to see you again, beginning to think you'd forgotten where we lived!" he muttered sarcastically.
"Shut it Ly!" Hermione said, as she rushed forward and hugged her brother. "You need to stop growing" she commented when she barely grazed past his eyes in the height stake. He laughed but seemingly ignored her comment. When she pulled away, he winked at her as if he knew a secret that she didn't. She eyed him, eyebrows raised in question. As if deciding that he did know something that he wasn't disclosing, she barked at him, "Out with it Ly or I'll show Amy those photos of you nude!" she threatened. "Amy's long gone!" informed Ly, before adding "its Lauren now!" he told his sister with a hefty wink. Hermione simply rolled her eyes at him and stuck her tongue out immaturely. "Cough-Cough-Child!" Ly retorted as childishly as Hermione, but at least he had a good excuse, he was still underage, therefore a child. Hermione laughed richly, the first time since Rob's deranged attack.
Lysander cleared his throat. "Well…" he began, "I just had the most interesting conversation with my favourite nephew Leo, and he divulged some fascinating information" Ly said slyly. "What did he say?" inquired Hermione in a dangerous tone. "Well, I did promise not to say anything, and how could I break the trust of an innocent child, whom ador" he was rudely interrupted by Hermione. "I'll give you ten pounds if you break your promise" Hermione said, digging round her jean pockets, and then brandishing a slightly rumpled ten pound note. She knew she had just bribed her brother to break the trust of her son, but she was too curious to care at that precise moment. Just what did Leo tell Ly?
"Deal!" agreed Ly, reaching forward and swiping the money. "You know me too well" he commented wryly as he pocketed the crumpled note. Hermione smirked at him, a trait she had picked up from Draco. Ly cleared his throat again, before beginning. "Leo told me that you" again Ly was interrupted, this time not by Hermione but by his mother who had returned to where she had left Hermione and Draco, near the front door. She seemed very surprised to still see them standing there.
"Hermione!" she scolded reprovingly, "what are you still doing out here?". She did not however; wait for a reply before announcing that dinner was done. Anne then ordered Hermione to show Draco into the dining room, and asked Ly to wash up before eating, in a bossy commanding tone, that all mothers use.
Before Ly slipped up the stairs to wash up as his mother had ordered, he whispered into Hermione's ear, rather loudly: "Nice ring, Mrs. Malfoy" in a rather detrimental tone, leaving Hermione standing in the entrance hall, her mouth agape, looking rather like an unattractive fish. "Close your mouth Mione; you don't wanna catch flies now do you?" Ly commented dryly and most succinctly, before running up the heavily carpeted stairs two at a time.
Draco himself was feeling incredibly dejected. He had been bluntly ignored during the conversation between Hermione and her brother. He didn't believe he had been intentionally ignored, but it still annoyed him. The look of loathing present in the teenage boy's eyes always greatly unnerved him. Another thing that bugged him was the fact that he knew nothing of Lysander's existence until only a few minutes prior. He did not know that Hermione even had a brother; he had been under the illusion that she was an only child, just like him. How many other things did he not know about his very own fiancée? Hundreds of things most probably. This revelation did nothing to improve his already tenebrous demeanour, and he stood in the stubborn stance of his younger years.
Hermione shook her head, as if trying to erase Ly's obvious comment of her engagement. Her chest ached, and she felt overwhelming guilty as she remembered the hurt evident in his voice when he had made his biting comment. Remembering her mother's orders, Hermione reached forward and grasped Draco's hand. It felt oddly clammy and she sent him a questioning look at which he ignored. She leaned forward and aligned her forehead with Draco's, pressing lightly on the top of his head. Her lips formed a pout, and she stared at Draco, her eyes asking him to tell her why he was acting so… rigid. His intense eyes clouded over with something unreadable. Hermione sighed and placed a gossamer kiss on Draco's soft lips. This small kiss, soon turned into an even bigger kiss, and they were pretty much making out in the entrance hall of Hermione's parents house.
"Aw man! My eyes!" came the slightly hysterical, disgusted cry of Lysander. Hermione pulled away from Draco, but found that he would not release her fully. She gave up, and a smile graced her lips as she was pressed up against Draco's solid chest. "Get a room!" Ly told them, as he shielded his eyes and finished his descent down the carpeted stairs, his belt failing miserably to do its job. "No one should have to see their sister making out, especially with someone like that!" he mumbled as he shuddered. "Pull your pants up Ly!" called out Hermione, "I can see your arse!" she told him, laughing. She received no response other than that of Ly's middle finger pointing up towards heaven. "Does that mean I'm number one?" she asked innocently, as Ly disappeared into the dining room.
Hermione turned to Draco; her eyes alight with mischief, laughing solidly. No one could make her laugh as much as Ly did. She was glad that he had seemed to have forgotten all about his earlier remark. That was one of the best things about Ly, he forgave and forgot easily. Still laughing, Hermione rested her head against Draco's chest, and was immensely pleased to hear the rich baritone voice of his, laughing along with her.
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Five minutes later, everyone was seated around the fairly large oval dining table, which was set out very prettily. Draco had been formally introduced to Sean Granger, a 40sih something man, with a strong lined face, hazel eyes alight with intelligence, and rich chestnut hair streaked with lines of grey. He wore thin wire rimmed silver spectacles which only seemed to complement his persona of intelligence, and when he shook Draco's hand, he had stared levelly at him as if he were staring at his soul. Frankly, Draco had been immensely intimidated by Sean Granger, a mere muggle. For some reason, Draco seemed to respect the middle aged man from the moment he had first set eyes on him, despite the intimidation. It was incredibly rare to be respected by a Malfoy, the leaders of Wizarding upper society, but Draco knew that Sean knew nothing of his position in the Wizarding World. Draco cut his thoughts short when he heard Hermione's voice asking something to her parents.
"How's the surgery been Dad?" she asked curiously, as she helped herself to some boiled potatoes. The twins were seated on Hermione's left, he was seating on her right. Lysander was sat next to Draco, Anne next to him, Sean next to her, and Libby next to her Grandfather.
"Oh it's fine" came the unconcerned response of Sean. "There's been an increase in the amount of young children needing fillings and all sorts lately. I blame it on all this junk food! Too much fizzy drinks and sugary sweets" he sighed resignedly. "Glad to see you've been keeping my grandchildren's teeth healthy though dear!" he told Hermione proudly. "I had a look at their teeth earlier! They've got the pearliest whites I've ever seen!" he told them all, winking at the twins. Rumbled laughter came from everyone at the table, except from Draco, who did not have the foggiest idea what they were on about. 'Pearly whites?' he thought baffled.
"How's Hogwarts Ly?" Hermione asked, her voice laced with interest. This question sure sparked Draco's interest too. "You're a wizard?" he spluttered most unrefined, and he almost blushed when he realised everyone was looking at him. "Of course I am!" Lysander told him most indignantly. "Why the hell wouldn't I be?" Ly almost exploded, his voice dangerously low, his dark eyes glaring at Draco heavily. If looks could kill, Draco would've been dead.
"I don't know…" Draco fired back, shrugging his shoulders. "What house are you in?" Draco asked, wanting to break the silence surrounding the table. "Gryffindor?" he asked, a slight smirk framing his lips. "No" Lysander sneered, his dark eyes becoming intense, "Slytherin" Ly said now completely uncaring at what Draco's reaction would be, and shuffling steak into his mouth, chewing slowly.
Draco simply sat there, his eyes wide, his food going cold, oblivious to the idle chit-chat taking place around him. Lysander was a Slytherin?!? Turning again to Lysander, who was sat opposite him, he told him he was once a Slytherin.
"I know" came Ly's response. "You're the infamous Draco Malfoy, muggle hater extraordinaire!" Lysander sneered sarcastically, his lip curling in distaste. "You're just like the bastards who tormented me, calling me a mudblood when I was younger. Last person to call me a mudblood ended up in the hospital wing with broken bones, not by magic either, the pure blooded pansies" Ly sneered again, his face all but blank, except for the pride that seemed to have etched itself upon his face. As Lysander's cutting words pierced his hearing, Draco' hung his head in shame. No-one seemed to have noticed the verbal war between Lysander and Draco; all were too pre-occupied with their own conversations. Hermione was talking most absorbedly to her mother, and Sean was talking extremely animatedly with the twins. The noise level in the room was nearing that of almost unbearable.
At the sound of Ly's voice, Draco lifted his head again, his eyes boring into Ly's dark orbs. "Which begs the question, Draco, why are you here, with my sister nonetheless?" Ly inquired, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "She's a muggle born, in case you've failed to notice" Ly said dryly, twirling his cup in-between his fingers, the liquid inside sloshing about.
Lysander received no answer, other than that of Draco's intense aqua eyes boring into his own dark irises. Lysander stared levelly back, refusing to be the first one to break the stare-off. As Ly stared into Draco's eyes, he couldn't help but think of their familiarity. They looked so familiar… So frightfully similar to someone else's eyes, someone else you, try as he might Lysander couldn't place at this moment in time.
A high pitched laugh interrupted the silent stare-off between Lysander and Draco. Looking around the table for the culprit, Ly's eyes landed on Libby, his niece. Her aqua eyes were alight with laughter, her blonde hair tousled. Libby caught Ly's eyes and stuck her tongue out him. Ly laughed at her, and then abruptly stopped.
"Oh my god" was the whispered outcry that left Ly's lips, as he stared at Libby, then at Leo, and finally at Draco. The same hair, the same eyes, the same noses, they were practically all identical; it was like looking at a flipping live growth chart!
'How did I not notice this?' His mind cried out at him, it was so obvious now he had spotted their similarities, and he mentally scolded himself for not seeing the blatantly obvious earlier. He vaguely wondered if his parents knew, just who this man sat at their table was, and just what he had made Hermione suffer. Ly swallowed heavily on his potatoes, gritted his teeth in a mixture of frustration and anger. He didn't think he could sit here for much longer. He quickly polished off his dinner and excused himself roughly from the table. On his way out, he glared at Draco in pure hatred. Not even twenty seconds later, the sounds of heavy metal music poured down from Ly's room and into the dining room.
Hermione sighed heavily, and wondered what was up with her brother. "I don't have the foggiest what's eating him!" declared Anne suddenly. Sean reassuringly patted her hand, "its probably stress-related love. He'll be fine later, after he goes out and has a good time!" he told his wife, "Don't worry about him love, he's a big boy now" said Sean lovingly to Anne. Anne sighed, which revealed to everyone that she would still worry about her only son.
"Where's he off?" Hermione asked curiously. "Some rock club thing, Barfly I think it's called" Sean told her, smiling genially. "He's offered to take some friends from school there". Anne tutted, "I don't like what goes on there" she disclosed to Draco and Hermione. "Something to do with mosh pits, remember that time he came home with a broken nose?" she asked Sean. "Scared the living daylights out of me, he did!" Anne said, as she placed a hand over her heart dramatically. Sean laughed richly, his eyes crinkling behind his glasses. Anne glared at her husband, and then turned to Draco, pointedly ignoring Sean's laughter.
"So what do you do, Draco dear?" Anne asked him kindly. "Oh, well I work at Wands Way with Hermione, I teach science" Draco told them all, sipping his wine, his posture perfect. "Do you enjoy it there my dear?" Anne inquired. "Oh yes very much" he said, smiling charmingly at Hermione's mother.
"Nana?" Libby inquired, looking up at her grandmother. "Mmm, Dear?" Anne asked, smiling gently at the small girl. "Can me and Leo please be excused?" Libby asked, her eyes pleading with her grandmother. Leo was sat in his seat, polishing off the very last drop of orange juice, left in both his and Libby's glasses. "Of course you can dearies, no need to ask, and its Leo and I, not Leo and me!" Anne told, laughing slightly. "Off with you!" Sean called jokingly, grinning when the twins both scrambled up and bolted for the door.
"We'll be in Ly's room, mum, dad!" Leo called out, as Libby dragged him out into the entrance hall, obviously completely unaware of what they had just caused. The door slammed shut heavily behind them, the loud heavy metal music, still pounding inside the large house.
The silence that followed Leo's last statement was immense. Draco's mouth was agape. "Oh" was Hermione's declarative comment, as she looked at the grim faces of her parents.
"Why did Leo call you 'Dad'?" asked Sean, face composed, voice oddly calm. Draco quickly looked over towards Hermione. She nodded her head timidly. Draco looked at Sean, and said in a civil, calm voice; "Well Sir, Leo called me 'Dad', simply because that's what I am, his father." The silence lingered for a few seconds longer, until it was mercifully shattered by Anne. "Biologically?" she asked, curious. She did not wait for a reply.
"It's all coming back now" she declared looking at Draco and Hermione with something unknown in her eyes, "Draco Malfoy… the father of our grandchildren. You did tell us Hermione, albeit years ago, but you did tell us he was the father. We simply forgot…" Anne trailed off, smiling slightly at the couple before her.
"I promise that now I know my children, that I will not leave them. I would have played an active role from the very beginning if I had only known of their existence," Draco told them, a wry smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "I've only known them for a few weeks, but already I love them so much… I mean it's incredible that they're a part of me, that I created them…" Draco told them all, his eyes alight with pride.
Hermione was so happy, she thought she would burst. Fortunately she did not burst, but she did however cry. She burst out crying, the emotions she had been keeping bottled up inside, poured out in a great leak of water. Draco, on his part looked incredibly alarmed, and he awkwardly patted her back, vainly trying to console her.
"Hermione, dear are you okay?" asked a concerned Sean. "I'm fine dad, honestly" answered Hermione, dabbing at her eyes with a paper napkin. "Don't know what came over me" she mumbled, before brightly smiling at her parents and Draco. She sniffled, and Draco wrapped his strong arm around her tightly. Her parents shared a small smile, unbeknownst to the couple.
"Mum, Dad?" Hermione asked voice suddenly small. "Um, Draco and I have something to tell you both" her voice was practically shaking now, "we're engaged!" she announced, dropping her head onto Draco's shoulder, mentally preparing herself for her parents angry diatribe.
"Oh my!" came the quiet but undeniably shocked response from Anne. Her hand had flown up towards her mouth, and Hermione thought she saw a tear leaking out of her mother's pretty brown eyes.
"Hold on, you're not pregnant are you?" her father asked her shrewdly, his intelligent face almost purple. Draco looked extremely affronted, whereas Hermione looked incredibly embarrassed, her face tinting a deep red.
"No Dad!" she finally choked out "I can assure you that I most certainly am not pregnant!"
"Good, you had me worried then love. Well I daresay a Congratulations is in order then?" Sean asked, a wide smile framing his aged, yet timeless face. The small group laughed amiably as they all raised their flutes of wine high, and toasted towards a happy engagement, jubilant smiles mirroring other's faces.
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A/N: Hiya everyone! Hope you all had a great crimbo! Hope you all have a fantabulous new years too!!! ) Oh, where's everyone from? I'm curious, and it's slightly surreal to think that people continents away could be reading this! I'm British, and I live in Wales, which is next to England… Anyone else reading this Welsh???
I didn't have my operation in the end… I spent a day and a night in hospital, but the anaesthetist did not want to operate on me, because I had a cold. This cold quickly escalated into a horrible bout of influenza, but I'm okay now! The anaesthetist deemed the operation "too dangerous to carry out, as if there are any complications I would struggle to breath through my blocked airways". This makes perfect logical sense, and the poor guy was only concerned about me, but for some incredulous reason I began to cry. Looking back on it, it's so embarrassing, but yea I cried… Lol, I blame it on my emotions, and my cold… (",). My operation will now take place (if I'm not ill for surgery), sometime between the middle of January, and the beginning of February. So Yey for me!
But anyways, thanks to everyone who wished me luck with my surgery, even if he didn't happen, I still feel touched by all of you who were truly concerned! Aw, I love you guys! ).
I have started a live journal account! It's only got like three, incredibly boring entries, but yea, for those of you who are insane enough to check it out, the link can be found on my profile. Click on the homepage button.
Cya next time I update!
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Personal Responses
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Slytherin Ice Princess: Lol, ditto, if a guy did that to me, I'd have kicked him where it hurts ;). Rob's manic obsession! I agree it is kind of scary… We haven't seen the back of Rob yet I believe! (I'm not sure yet, as I may change my mind) ). Anyways, thanks a zillion for your review (you were the very 1st!), and I'm still smiling!!!!
Medau Callous: Lol, it's still bugging you! ). I would say get over it, but I don't wanna be offensive or anything. Hope you like this chapter better! But, Draco's very old fashioned, and is an ex-slytherin, who if I remember correctly had no girls in it's Quidditch team, so therefore, this may have unconsciously influenced him in the buying of his son a broom, and his daughter a bracelet. Aw, never mind. Lol ).
NeoAddctee: Heehee, "Strangely Mental", I have no idea why, but that cracked me up laughing, in fact I'm laughing now! Lmao! The chapter content could have been loads longer! ::hangs head in shame::, but this chapter a whole lot longer!! Like ten pages longer! I don't particularly like this chapter, but I guess I'll see what everyone's response is… Thanks a million gazillion for your review Rachel! You Rock! )!
Alenor: Hope you had a merry Christmas (mine kinda sucked for no particular reason), and I hope you have a happy new year too! Thanks for the concerns bout the surgery, shame they weren't needed though (damn anaesthetist ) lol! I think I may have royally messed up Mione's parents reactions… Don't think I want into detail… ::sighs::, thanks for your review!! Love ya!
Caboodle: Hiya Hun!! How're you?? ), hope you had a good x-mas! Operation was to straighten out my knee, as my knee not entirely straight, it slopes out a bit in the inner knee, nothing major. Doctors just wanna correct it in case it bothers me later in life. Anyways, yup Rob's is an annoying git!! Lol! I got a new favourite character: Lysander! Not sure how people are gonna react towards him, but, yea! Thanks for your review, it brightened up my dismal day! Cya!
Blonde brain: Hiya! I'd be happy to tell that too some of the guys you know lol! Blondes are cleverer than they seem! ::pokes tongue out at blonde brain::. Here's ya update, hope you had a wicked Christmas, and hope you have a great new years!!! Bi xxx
XxXbloody nekoXxX: Lol, too much homework? I sympathize greatly :(. Teachers seem to think we have no lives!! (Well the latter is true for me, but still!), hope you did well on all your homework! I've been procrastinating with mine! I got four days to finish a complete piece of coursework, it's gonna take me a-g-e-s! Lol. Thanx for the review Sierra! Love Ya! (Interesting name btw!)
Insane maniac: hhahahaha!! It was all an evil plot! Crazy people can seem very normal ya know! (me, for an example here). Lol, thanks for your review, ya made me laugh with the whole 'hmpf' thingy!! ::smiles widely::
Smay: Rob is really, really mean, huh? Lol! ), I'll check out your friend's story as soon as is humanely possible! Don't worry, you haven't already asked me, I'd have remembered! D. Thanx for your review!! Love ya!
Marmalade Fever: Yup, they both equally want to be with one another, ah such a strange thing love ::daydreams:: n-e wayz yup it is great!!! )! Lol, thanks for the concern over the surgery, and thanks for your review!! Love ya!
Erin kite: Rob's deranged attack on Hermione wasn't planned lol, it was one of those spur of the moment thingy's. His attack went a lot further, but my beta, Lain, advised me not too that far with it, so I didn't! ). Here's another wonderful addition!!!! Hope you like it! )
Ginny-and-Draco-Fan: Lol, I've been contemplating whether or not Draco should get him back… I'm gonna leave that space open. If it does happen it will be good ::rubs chin in thought:: hmmm… ) lol. Thanks a bazillion for your review! Ya Rock!
TomIsMyMan: Will she tell Draco?? To be completely honest I'm not sure yet… She may, just have to see what happens! Lol, I can't tell you sorry, coz it'll ruin the plot!! Plus, everyone else will know and won't wanna read my story no more (! Thanks for your review!!! (",).
Kel: Dude, concerts are fun! ), I love em!! I was at one last night, n it rocked! So much awesome fun! Lol, I hope I haven't set up a standard for myself in the twists and turns thing! Can't guarantee they'll be many!! Hope you had a great Christmas! Hope you have an even greater new years!
Finally-defeated: Course I want your opinion! You're a GREAT authoress! The ultimate cliché eh? Lol, "OMG you're cheating on me, with him!!" Nah, I decided that wouldn't work, it's just not too plausible, plus Draco was supposed to be teaching, so alas. Infatuation ::Sighs:: Love ::sighs dreamily:: Lol. Loving SE, especially Hadrian biting remarks, such as:
Hadrian: "Having an affair already are we? Traditionally they don't begin until after we're married." Lmao, that cracked me up laughing something silly! ::giggles stupidly::, good to see every things not butterflies and daises in the SE world! Poor Ginny!! And Poor Blaise!! Bless him. He's torn between his loyalties and his love ::sighs::. Winter Holz almost over now ::sniffs:: damn, school for me starts on the 4th! I'm all depressed now!! Lol, thanks for your review, review again? Love ya!
Honey-gurl808: Whoa! Your review was so amazingly detailed! )! Ron and Harry, yup, they play the role of overprotective brothers well!
Draco and Mr Weasley, well lol, I can't see the similarities either, it was my pathetic attempt at humour ::grins owlishly::
Lol, I didn't notice the whole Draco, pop tart thing, but now you come to mention it, he did act like a pop tart! (I love pop tarts, especially the cookies n crème ones! Yum). When girls talk personal stuff, boys get incredibly uncomfortable! There's this boy at my school, and all you got to say is the word 'period', and he turns bright red and walks away!! Lol. Kind of immature actually, but I guess that's him.
Rob's freakishly obsessed with Hermione; I don't think we've seen the last of him either. Other than me, you're the only one who's felt sorry for Rob. I sympathize with him, coz he does truly love her, but now he's gone and scared her away forever. ::sniffs sadly::
Draco beating the crap out of Rob… hmm, it paints a good picture, but I'm not too sure yet. Perhaps it could be arranged. ).
Hope you had a wicked x-mas, and hope you have a fantabulous new years!
Sw33tdohtee: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Lol, the McDonalds response lmao! I must confess, I'm guilty of plagiarism! I have stolen the McDonalds pun!! I hope you forgive me???? ::pulls puppy dog eyes::
Thanks for the concern with the operation, it means so much ). Lol, I guess I'll agree with your second statement, simply because your nice to me, great minds do think alike! But…. Fools seldom differ!!! Thanks for your review, Love ya loads!!!
Amethyst rose: Ah, the ring, so pretty! I want it too! ), and I want to be proposed to like that by Draco, even though he's fictional! I should sell the designer to a jeweller and get rich! Lol. Paintball fights!! So much Fun!!!! I'm up for it!
Demongirl12000: Yey!! The Killers are AWESOME! Love em to bits! And they're British! Are you British? (it doesn't say on your profile).
The Singing Hippo: OMG!! You know someone like Rob? I feel for you. Thanks for the drugs advice!! ;-), I'll remember that for next time! Glad the appendix surgery went well, I still have mine… I hope I never need it out! Thanks a million zillion for your review! Love ya ).
ChloeLass9: Lol, I'm blushing! An ingenious story huh? I don't know if I'd have gone that far, but thanks! Good idea by the way, the whole award for motivation thing! You have my support!
Bout the racist thing, in a sense Draco was being racist, as he was being discriminate to Hermione, purely because of her blood. This is technically no different from someone being prejudiced against someone for the colour of their skin. At least in my twisted mind anyway lol. Thanks for your review!! ) You rock!
And again, thanks to absolutely EVERYONE who reviewed! I'm sorry I didn't include you all in my personal responses, but THANK YOU! I live for you, and I write for you!