Disclaimer: This is JKR's world. I only play in it. Please don't sue me.
This chapter is dedicated to the following reviewers, for being faithful! You guys rock my world! I wuv you!
Sw33tdohtee, honey-gurl808, Marmalade Fever, TomIsMyMan, Finally-defeated, NeoAddctee (the most faithful one!), Alenor, Caboodle, Blonde-Brain, XxXbloody nekoXxX, The Singing Hippo, Amethyst Rose, Smay, Evil Penguin Slayer!
Congrats to all who knew Lysander was a character in Shakespeare's "A Midnight Summer's Dream." I thought that seeing as Hermione's namesake is from a Shakespeare character in "A Winter's Tale", then her brother should have a similar namesake! :-). Ly is pronounced like Lie btw, and it means "one who is freed".
Chapter Nineteen: Scandal!
-Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten –
(Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten).
The motorway was decidedly slow. Hermione was unsure why, but they were stuck in a horrid traffic jam. Hermione assumed there must have been some sort of accident ahead. The twins were both asleep in the back seat, a simple fleece blanket that Hermione always kept in the car, thrown over them. They must have been tired out by the day's events. Ly had got them playing tunes on his guitar, then chasing him round the house in an avid game of Hide and Seek.
Draco was sat next to Hermione, subdued in his thoughts. "So, what did you think of Ly?" Hermione asked, wanting to shatter the thick, strangely uncomfortable silence.
"He's alright, I guess" Draco said, not telling Hermione how her brother had been cold to him the whole night long. "Can't believe he's a Slytherin though", he voiced, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yes that was a bit of a shock" Hermione said lightly, with the air of one discussing the weather. "But Ly, well he's incredibly ambitious, always gets his own way" she said, laughing slightly. "He told me the hat considered Ravenclaw and Gryffindor too, but he asked to be placed in Slytherin, for some insane reason!" she said laughing, her hands gripped round the steering wheel, even though they weren't moving.
"You too seem so… different!" Draco exclaimed quietly. "Really?" Hermione asked curiously. Draco nodded emphatically.
"I don't think we are, I mean Ly is like he is, with a tough exterior and his punk rebel attitude, simply because he is rebelling against everyone's beliefs that a muggle born shouldn't be placed in Slytherin. Ly's doing what I did, only differently. He's proving he's as good as the purebloods with his attitude, his fists, whilst I proved myself my always beating them academically. He's trying to prove he's as tough as everyone else" Hermione said simply, eyes watching the blue SUV in front of them.
"I never thought of it that way" Draco said, eyes crinkled in thought. Hermione smiled at him. "But, now you've explained it I guess you're not that different after all".
"Hermione…" he asked hesitantly a few seconds later, "I was wondering, that now the twins know that I'm their father, shouldn't they have my surname?". "I've been thinking about that too" Hermione shared, "and I think that, yes they should have your surname. It's only right."
Draco grinned ecstatically over at Hermione, his white teeth glinting in the dim darkness. "You know, this means we'll all be a proper family, especially when were married!" He sounded so happy, and Hermione found herself smiling along with him. He was so optimistic… and she was being so pessimistic earlier.
The blue SUV in front of them began to move. Hermione sighed in relief. She hated being stuck in traffic jams. She speed up, though they were still moving achingly slow, and glanced over at Draco quickly. He was starring at the dashboard intently, as if he expected to quizzed upon it sometime soon. Hermione briefly wondered what was up with him, before returning her full attention to the road. One lane had been blocked off, but the other one was open.
A few kilometres ahead, they passed the wreckage of two cars, surrounded by flashing police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Police Officers sporting luminous yellow jackets and wielding neon glow sticks waved to the incoming traffic to sped up and pass by the accident scene. As Hermione gazed sadly at the wrecked pieces of metal, a heavy sense of deja-vu struck her. Her eyes watched the image playing in front of her, as a paramedic appeared to trying to resuscitate what looked like a young girl. She sent a silent prayer heavenward as they drove by silently.
"Suddenly don't feel so safe anymore" Draco whispered, his voice sounding hoarse, his finger's tugging at his seatbelt.
"Yea" said Hermione softly, her voice choked. It was terrifying to think that if they had left her parents house just a few measly minutes earlier, it could have been them in that crash. It could have been Libby or Leo sprawled out on the harsh tarmac of the road, fighting for life. She forced down the lump of bile rising in her throat and determinedly eyed the road in front of her. Her children sleeping so innocently in the back seat could be killed in this car if she didn't concentrate. If that ever was to happen, Hermione doubted that she would be able to live, even if Draco was there. Her children were her world. It was that simple.
It was Saturday morning, and Hermione was sat at the kitchen table, Draco next to her (he had spent the night), and the twins opposite her. The twins were destroying their bowls of cereal, and Draco was lightly nibbling a piece of toast. Hermione started at the buttered crumpet in front of her. She didn't feel like eating it.
She and the twins were off to muggle London today to get some things for the impending Ski Trip. Draco was off to the Ministry of Magic, in order to change the surnames of the twins. Only if they agreed it to it though, they were planning on asking them how they felt about it first. Then they were all going to meet up in the Leaky Cauldron for a spot of dinner and some magical shopping.
Hermione was roused out of her tedious thoughts by the sound of Draco's deep voice. "I want to know if you two would mind having my surname instead of Granger?" Draco asked the twins nervously. He was biting his lip very hard. He was obviously readying himself for rejection.
"Really?" Libby asked her eyes wide. "So I'd be Liberty Malfoy?" Draco nodded emphatically, releasing his lip from underneath his lower teeth. "Cool!" Libby said smiling, "I'm all for it!" Draco sighed audibly with relief, but tensed again when he realised Leo hadn't said anything.
"Leo?" Draco questioned quietly, eyes boring into his son's lowered head, the sunlight bouncing off its pure blondness. Leo raised his head slowly, his intense aqua orbs meeting Draco's almost definitely.
"I kind of like my name already" he said, stirring his spoon around in his empty bowl of milk.
Hermione watched as Draco bit his lip again, his finger's curled tight around the edge of the table. "B-but" Draco began stuttering from a mixture of emotions, "your my son!" he said almost challengingly. Hermione reached under the table and groped around for his hand, fingers interlacing with his once she found it. She gave it soft squeeze of encouragement.
"I know that" Leo answered calmly, "I just like my name, I'm used to it" he said, continuing to twirl his spoon around in his empty bowl. "Leo, just take his surname" Libby said harshly to her brother, poking him in the abdomen. "It's not that big of a deal! Honestly!" she informed her brother, as she peeled open a banana.
Draco coughed slightly, clearing his throat. "How about I just add Malfoy to your name, so you'll be Leo Granger-Malfoy?" Draco asked almost pleadingly.
It seemed that Leo needed a few minutes to think over this proposal. He sat still stirring his spoon around, his head propped up on his left arm, his brow contracted in thought. The atmosphere in the kitchen was tense, although it seemed Libby was unaware of it. She just sat there, starring out of the window eating a banana, effortlessly daydreaming.
"Ok" Leo said simply, shattering the tense silence. He rose and left the room, muttering something about getting dressed, Libby following her Leo, clutching his arm.
Draco sat there a little dumbfounded, a little shocked. "I don't think he likes me very much Mione" Draco whispered sadly. "Yes he does Draco, he's just a kid, a confused kid" Hermione tried to explain. "He doesn't really understand what's going on with us and how it's going to affect his life… That's why I think this holiday will be good for him" Hermione said gently.
"I guess" Draco replied hesitantly, his lower lip jutting out. Hermione smiled and kissed him tenderly. Draco pulled her up into a standing position, one hand around her waist, keeping her pressed into his chest, the other lightly tracing her cheekbones. Draco poured every emotion that was currently coursing through his mind into that kiss. When the need for oxygen became too great to ignore, they pulled away, Hermione's head resting in the crook between Draco's neck and shoulder.
"I love you Mione" his voice gently whispered into her ear, his breath causing her skin to shiver involuntary with delight. He kissed her earlobe softly, and Hermione shivered her skin prickling. "I love you too Draco" she said really slowly, as if it cost her something big to say those five little words. Draco sighed in elation as he nuzzled his head closer to Hermione, her smell intoxicating him. "Draco…" Hermione murmured contentedly as she felt his warm lips on her neck, kissing it tenderly.
Muggle London was very busy, Hermione decided, as she struggled her way through the crowd, bags dangling from her hands, the twins closely in front of her. Hermione always became paranoid when in a crowd with the twins; it would be so easy to lose them. Shaking her head Hermione directed them into the nearest shop, which happened to be 'Animal'. She grinned to herself. Hermione loved shopping for the twins, and now she had an unlimited amount to spend, since Draco had given her a massive sum of money for their children.
An hour later, Hermione left the shop arms laden with bags of clothes and other such things for all three of them. That was a good shop; they sold heavy clothes, perfect for the icy temperatures of which they were heading. So far the twins were being extremely well behaved, but how long would it last?
Three hours later and the twins were being absolute brats, and Hermione was at the end of her tether. They were currently in 'Accessorize', trying find some new gloves, scarf's and hats for their trip and the twins were not co-operating one bit. Libby was off in her own world, standing near the jewellery section, eyes wide with want and was Leo being his usual stubborn self.
"This one?" Hermione asked holding up a blue and green knit scarf. "No" Leo said petulantly. "Why not?" Hermione asked resisting the urge to strangle him with the aforementioned scarf. This was the 15th time in one hour he had said no. "Just don't like it" was his response. "Tough" Hermione said, throwing it into the small basket perched near her feet. She heard Leo growling and smirked. She was now so annoyed she didn't care what the twins thought about what she was buying them, she was just throwing random things into the basket.
"Libby over here!" she called as she joined the queue at the tills. Libby trotted over to them, clutching some sort of necklace. "Can I have this?" she asked, wielding it. Hermione glanced at it, and said "No". She was determined not to spoil them. "Please?" Libby asked.
"No!"
"Please Mummy?" she asked again lips forming a pout.
"No" Hermione said determinedly.
"Mum I want it!!" Libby said crossly, her face red, her eyes all squinty. Before Hermione could stop it, her daughter's powers had been unleashed and various items in the shop were flying off their shelves and either landing on the floor or hitting the confused customers. Hermione sighed.
"Fine give it here then!" she barked at Libby, hurriedly snatching it from her hands and throwing it into the overflowing basket. "Thank you mummy!" Libby thanked, her little magical episode over, eyes looking innocent. She heard Leo snickering in the background, and momentarily shut her eyes searching for solace.
When she opened them she was met again with the confused, frightened muggles faces, who were convinced something paranormal had caused the flying off the shelves incident. She mentally questioned why she had brought the twins along with her today; they always did something like this.
Hermione was sat at a table in the Leaky Cauldron, her head resting on the table, only lifting up to sip her small shot of firewhisky. The twins sat opposite her, the picture of innocence, playing I Spy, occasionally lifting their glasses of orange juice to their lips. 'That was one severely stressful afternoon!' Hermione thought as she sat waiting for Draco to brighten up her day. She had shrunk all of her bags into small objects, roughly about the size of an average crisp, and placed them in her pockets.
She felt someone's presence behind her, and spun around. She was greeted with the wonderful sight of Draco. He leaned over and kissed her softly, ignoring Leo's horrified splutters.
"Good day?" Draco asks kindly. "No" Hermione answered, but did not elaborate. Draco chuckled, and proceeded to tell her that the twins were now officially known as Liberty and Leo Granger-Malfoy. He then called Tom the bartender over to order dinner, since he was starving and he knew the twins and Hermione were too.
After a delicious dinner, the foursome left the Leaky Cauldron and entered Diagon Alley, deciding to simply browse.
Approximately two hours later, they were stood back in the Leaky Cauldron, ready to floo home. Libby had acquired a new broom, identical to that of her brothers, Hermione had got some books for all three of them to read on the plane and Leo had picked up a huge variety of sweets for him and Libby to share.
Hermione arrived home to the ultimately tedious task of packing three suitcases ready for tomorrow's flight. The day just kept getting worse and worse for her. She had a horrible headache; the twins were being especially rambunctious and were trying to fly around the house on their brooms. Draco was doing absolutely nothing to stop this behaviour, which Hermione found incredibly annoying; didn't he know how dangerous it was?
When Hermione had voiced this to him though, he had retorted with: "You think this is dangerous Mione? And your going to let them slide down snow covered mountains soon?" This had effectively shut Hermione up for the evening, and had reduced her to glaring darkly at the broomsticks her children were riding.
That evening Hermione collapsed into her bed, Draco right behind her. She curled up into his strong defined chest, as he lazily wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'm going to miss you" he told her softly. "Me too" Hermione answered sleepily nuzzling her head further into Draco's chest. Draco kissed the top of Hermione's head and shut his eyes, falling into a peaceful dream of his family.
Hermione awoke to the indignant hoots of the owl that delivered her Daily Prophet. She blindly groped for her bedside table drawer, and then pulled out a few sickles, placing them inside his little money pouch. He nipped her hand gently in thanks, hooted and flew away.
Hermione unfolded the Daily Prophet glanced at the front page and then discarded it. Her eyes widened suddenly and she picked it back up, eyes glaring at it, her body shaking, her blood running cold. The bottom half of the paper was what had attracted her attention. The bold headline read:
"Scandal of Secret Malfoy Heirs!"
Below that was a picture, a moving picture of Draco, her and the twins. It must have been taken yesterday, as they were all in Diagon Alley, and Libby was clutching her new broomstick. "Oh my god!" she whispered heavily, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she read the article.
Authors Note: Yes! I Live! I am so sorry! The length of time I made you all wait for this chapter is ludicrous! Twenty days I believe…. I do have a good excuse though! My computer has decided it doesn't want to co-operate with me, and hasn't been working properly. It was properly fixed yesterday, so… And um, I'm lazy, and bogged down with schoolwork! Please forgive?
Have you all heard about Prince Harry donning a Swastika? Its big news over here and it's being hailed as an outrage, especially seeing as the Holocaust memorial is so close! I think it has been blown way out of proportion, but he should have had enough sense to know that seeing as he's third in line to the throne, he can't go about in Nazi regalia. The idiot lol. People are blaming it on his German heritage, which makes no sense to me… So, what's your opinion on the matter?
So here's some Personal Responses and once again, thanks a bunch for your reviews!!
Mrs.HarryPotter12: Congratulations Lain!! Lysander is from a midnight summer's dream!! :: pats Lain on back! ::
Blonde-brain: No probz, course I'd stand up for you! I agree, guys are way self absorbed! Their even more image conscious now than some of us girls! You live in New Mexico? Wow! That's miles away!! I'm guessing the climate's brilliant? Lucky!
Caboodle: Hiya! Hope your friend's op went well! Two ops on her feet? Ouch. Hope you had a happy new year too!
Alwaysremember: Actually, I haven't got a clue what Midsummer's is about…. :: blushes :: lol, but I may read it. It sounds complicated, with it's love triangle and stuff! :-) Hope you like this chappie!
Sw33thohtee: Lol, I know your not giving reviews just coz your nice, but you are nice! You always give lovely reviews! :: blushes :: Yea, Ly is so much like Draco, that's why they're not really going to get on, coz their too similar! N yup, I will be having the operation, and I'd wish they'd hurry up and send me a date. :-). Hope your cold's gone now, they're horrible. Sorry I kept you waiting for this chapter!
Emma.M: Hey my new found fan!! A 10.0? Wow!! Thank you! Lol, hope you enjoy this chappie just as much as the last!
Hogwartsstollaway: Omg! Your review was just amazing! I love you! What site did you find the link too? Wow I can't believe someone posted a link to my story! That's so surreal…
I'm not that talented lol. Other writes are so much better than me…. But thanks for the compliment ::hugs:: Britain isn't all its cracked up to be lol! Kansas always reminds me of The Wizard of Oz! I like your rambling! Please ramble on again on your next review?? :-).
P.S: I love your name! I'd love to be a Hogwarts stow-away!
Kel: I came up with the name Lysander coz it's a Shakespearian name like Hermione's. I thought perhaps her parents had an obsession with Shakespeare! :-).
I'm part Irish too! Lol and my mum has some Swedish in her. So you're very European in your heritage! I'd love to live in America! Hope you like this chappie!
SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03 Lmao! I loved your review; it was officially one of my favourites! Yup it's 2005! It's gone so quick, I can remember seeing in the Millennium! I'm better now lol, thanks!
I'm so envious! You like in California! I so wanna live there! Near the beach too!! :: eyes turn green!:: Thanks for your review!!! Ciao!
Evil Penguin Slayer: I LOVE your name! It's hysterical! :-D
Finally-defeated: Lol, teenish? I guess that's the right word. Typical teenage rebel, basically. Yup when I say Ly, it's pronounced just like Lie. Lol I've stopped with the bolds, well almost stopped! They were a bit distracting… I just got a bit bold-happy! Isn' authoress a word? Oh well lol.
My dad's an atheist, and I wish I was one too. But alas my mum had me baptized when I was too young to protest… :: sigh :: And I wholeheartedly agree, Good Charlotte do rule! As does Hadrian of course! Thanks for your review!!
Honey-gurl808: I guess it was a lot more dramatic than previous chapters. And your right, Rob won't be ignoring Hermione for much longer. Children are complicated creatures, I come from a rather medium sized family, and have three young siblings, and trust me, they need to be constantly re-assured of people's love for them. I don't think that Leo or Liberty fully believe Draco loves them yet, that's going to take a lot of time!
I think I explained why Ly's all punk in the chapter. I don't think that they are all that different, but that's just my opinion lol. All the bands you listed are all bands that I love!!! I've seen Simple Plan and Blink 182 in concert and on the 3rd Feb I'm going to see Green Day live too!!! I can't wait lol.
Not all parents want to kill their daughter's fiancée lol! Some are really accepting, and Hermione's parents are educated, sophisticated people, I couldn't really see them chasing Draco out of the house. :-). Thanks for your review (it was the most detailed!), review again?!
Lucharachan: Irish! Lol, I'm part Irish! So where in Central Europe do you live? Father Ted lol, I don't really watch it, but I have seen a few episodes. It's hilarious :-). I wish all of this would happen to me too, with the exception of raising twins on my own lol, I don't think I could cope :- ). Thanks for your review!!
The Singing Hippo: Lol, I know, I've blamed it on the drugs to all my friends. Finals are exams aren't they? Exams are the bane of my existence. Thanks for understanding! I love you!!:- )