A/N: Hey all… yes chapter ten brought out why Merle went home sick that time in the café… and yeah… well thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them all!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything other then the characters I create plus the plot!

Chapter Eleven: Visiting The Dursleys.

Draco signed the letter and walked to the cage beside his bathroom door. He opened the cage door and reached his arm in for his owl to climb onto. After pulling his arm out he tied the letter to it and told the owl where to go and who it was for. The owl hooted softly and took off out the open window. Draco sighed and walked over to his bed and lay down with a deep sigh.

"I am giving you till the end of July to end this relationship with her Draco. If you haven't done so, I will be the bringer of bad news and hatred from her too you."

Never in his life had Draco hated his family so much. It was one thing to try and run his career and have complete control over his child hood, it was another to make him stop seeing someone he was falling in love with. He sighed again in frustration and sat up. How was he going to tell her? Next month was all he had with her and now this was going to be hanging over his head. Draco stood up and walked to the window starring out at the rolling green meadows of other pureblood properties. When the time came Draco had a feeling he would know what to say… but for now he wanted to savoir every moment he had with Hermione.

O

Hermione closed the file on her desk she had to look over for Michael and grabbed her purse and wallet and exited her clean office. She handed the file to Luna saying goodbye before apperating away to St Mungo's. The woman at the sign in desk smiled at her knowing exactly who she was.

"Afternoon Linda. How is married life going for you?" greeted Hermione politely.

"Wonderful. Thankyou once again for planning such a beautiful ceremony Hermione," grinned Linda tucking her dark red hair behind her ears, "Are you here to see a patient or do you have an appointment?"

"Here to visit someone today. Ahh her name is Merle Tompkins. She was brought in by Harry Potter from the Aurour department earlier today."

Linda scanned over the list in front of her and nodded, "Yes… this floor ward 26. Go past the elevators till you come to swinging doors. Go through them turn left, past the staircase to the reception desk there. A nurse will guide you from there."

"Thanks Linda. Tell Bruce I said hello," smiled Hermione before hurrying off towards the swinging doors.

After passing the stairs Hermione spotted the reception desk and walked over to it. The female nurse smiled at her kindly creasing her wrinkles more.

"Can I help you dear?" asked the nurse.

"Yes. I am looking for ward 26," replied Hermione.

"Do you know Miss Merle Tompkins?"

"I'm her boss. I am paying for her treatment and case."

The nurse nodded, "Around the corner, the third door to the left."

Hermione thanked her and hurried off down the corridor. She turned the corner and saw two Aurour's outside a ward. Hermione walked closer and saw that the Aurour's were Ron and Dean.

"Hello Hermione," greeted Dean hugging her friendly like, "Here to see Merle I assume?"

"Yeah I am. Hi Ron," replied Hermione.

"Hello," he mumbled, "Go on in."

Hermione smiled at him and walked into the ward. Merle looked up at her from the bed showing her now partly healed face. She smiled a little at Hermione and directed her to come over. Harry stood up from where he was sitting and smiled at Hermione.

"Ron seems quiet," commented Hermione to Harry, "Is he still angry with me?"

"Yeah. But give him time. He is still as stubborn as he was at Hogwarts."

Hermione sighed, "Well I will be having a word with him after my visit with Merle. Merle how are you going?"

Merle smiled again, "Okay."

Harry sighed, "Merle, Hermione is your boss. She is paying for all this. I think she deserves to know the truth."

"They have charged Emery with assault… and apparently a case of hospital negligence is going against him too."

Hermione nodded, "Have they done assessments on you?"

"As soon as she arrived they were done," spoke up Harry, "She had all the actions of a person who has been through domestic violence. As well as someone… sexually assaulted."

Hermione's mouth fell open, "Oh Merle! Why didn't you come to me? I know I am your boss but I also am your friend!"

Merle wiped away a tear, "I know… I just felt dirty and ashamed."

Hermione walked over to her and hugged her, "Don't you worry. I know someone who will take care of you through all of this and while I am gone."

"Gone?"

Hermione pulled away from Merle, "Didn't you know? I a, moving to Australia after Harry and Ginny's wedding to open a wedding planning place over there."

"Oh… I see… who is it you know will take care of me?"

"My very own mother. Anne Leah Granger. She is a muggle but she helps me out all the time and will want you to stay with her through all this and until you feel confident enough to live on your own again."

"Oh Hermione you are too kind… but I will find someone."

"Merle your parents are dead and you have no family in England, Ireland, France. Any European country. My mother will care for you, I know she will. Beside's, she is as stubborn as I am… where else do you think I get it from?"

Merle smiled a little and hugged Hermione, "Thankyou Hermione."

Hermione hugged her back and pulled away smiling. She turned to Harry who was smiling also, "hen can she leave?"

"Now. But she must come back every day for more healing and further assessments. I will escort her to those or Ron will."

"Okay, well Merle you change and I have too spoken with someone."

Hermione left the room and turned to Ron outside the room, "I need a word with you. Now."

"Fine," muttered Ron following Hermione to a nearby vacant ward. She shut the door and applied a silencing charm before turning to Ron looking serious.

"This has gone on long enough," she started, "I am sick of looking like a… well… like a bitch around you. Yes Ron I know I broke your heart and I am sorry but I couldn't be unhappy just to make sure you were happy. It just wasn't fair on both of us. Now, I can understand why you don't want to talk to me but being… cold in front of others while you are doing your job is just bad. One because I look bad in the process and two because it makes Harry look as though he hires arseholes, which you aren't and he doesn't."

"You lead me on Hermione."

"I know Ron. I know I did and it was wrong of me too do. But I ended it before things got too far."

"Too far? This did go to far! I got engaged to you!"

"I KNOW!"

"So what do you expect me to do around you?"

"Try to be more civil. I know things will take a while before we can be friends again, but Ron you know I am sorry and I can't say anything else other than that. But can things at least be more civil before I move to Australia?"

"Australia? Since when were you heading down under?"

"Since I got a letter saying I have the opportunity to open a store there."

Ron nodded, "Okay fine. We can try to be friends again."

Hermione smiled, "Great. Well I should go. Merle is waiting."

Hermione removed the silencing spell and left the ward followed by Ron. Thankfully Hermione had left the blinds up so people could at least see they were talking privately and not doing anything else. Merle smiled at her and Harry gave her a look plainly asking if things were any better between them.

Hermione returned the look with a pleasing nod and then led Merle towards the entrance.

"How will we get to your mothers?" asked Merle.

"We'll apperated to my place and use my muggle way of transport. It's only a twenty minute trip," replied Hermione, "I got my muggle transport licence and vehicle for certain circumstances. Also my mother doesn't have fireplace and port keys are too much of a hassle."

Merle nodded and held onto Hermione's arm as they apperated to her apartment.

O

Draco entered the reading room where his mother was. She looked up at him coldly and pointed for him to sit down. Draco sat down stiffly and looked his mother in the eye, wearing the same cold look on his face.

"I have decided, Mother, that I will inform Hermione of Destinee at the end of the month. But I am making no promises to stop seeing her when I return. I know deep inside I will not feel for Destinee what I feel for Hermione and I personally do not care what you think or what your opinion is on my decision. It is my life and I will live it my way, even if that means not having any form of sexual contact with Destinee to make an heir for the Malfoy blood line," Draco spoke coolly and calmly, "Run to Father and tell him all you want," Draco stood up, "It's my life and my choices. Either live with it or throw a hissy fit Mother. No other family is as screwed up as this one."

Narcissa watched mouth opened as Draco left the drawing room still wearing the cold stony face as he passed his father at the doorway whom had returned from the Parkinson's to hear Draco's comment just in time.

Lucius walked over to his stunned wife and knelt down in front of her, "Are you okay?"

"Our son… he just literally told me to get out of his life for good… what have we done?" whispered Narcissa.

Lucius took hold one of her hands and kissed it, "We wait and see how things go with Destinee… if they go bad we leave him be… perhaps it is time the Malfoy's dropped the arrange marriages tradition once and for all."

Narcissa nodded, "I never meant to push Draco away, Lucius. He is our only child seeing as it would be fatal if we had another child."

"I never let Draco get close to me Narcissa so I do not understand the pain you are going through… but I regret not knowing it."

Narcissa leaned forward and hugged her husband before kissing him lovingly on the lips, "There is still time Lucius."

Lucius smiled, which was a rare thing to those outside the Malfoy family but not to Narcissa. Strange as it was, the Malfoy's were a loving family.

O

Merle starred at the dark blue Holden SS in shock. Hermione chuckled and opened the door for her to get in. Merle slid into the seat and jumped when Hermione slammed the door shut. She watched as Hermione walked around the front of the vehicle and opened the door across from her and slid in.

"See this?" asked Hermione pulling a strap thing across her body and clicking it into a lock like thing beside her seat, "It is a seatbelt. Yours is beside you. Do it up for safety and because it is law to wear one when driving these things or riding in them."

Merle nodded and vaguely did hers up. She screamed when Hermione turned the key making the car start, "It's alive!"

"That's the engine inside. It makes the car work and move."

Merle nodded and remained silent as Hermione reversed out of her drive way and began driving down the road towards her destination.

O

Twenty minutes later like Hermione said the car was pulling into a cement driveway outside a two storey white wooden building. Hermione undid the seatbelt, which Merle copied and opened the door to get out. They walked to the front door, which Hermione opened without knocking. Merle followed her in closely, staying silent.

"Hello, Mum!" called Hermione, "Mum, I know your home, the front door is unlocked and you have the washing machine going in the laundry."

Merle was stunned to see a woman with Hermione's eyes and smiled enter the room and hug her daughter happily.

"Oh my!" she cried taking notice of Merle, "My dear… what happened?"

"Domestic abuse," replied Hermione, "She needs a safe and caring place to stay with during her court case and until she feels confident enough to be on her own."

Anne instantly hugged Merle and led her into the kitchen; "Sit down I am going to take care of you until you are healthy and all better again."

"I take she can stay here then Mum?" grinned Hermione following them in.

"Of course!"

"See Merle. I knew my Mum would care for you. You can have my old room… clothes… you need clothes!"

"Emery ruined all of mine," said Merle quietly.

"I have clothes in my old room still… still fashionable and too your size I think. If not a bit of magic will do the trick. Oh Mum, Harry will be by everyday to take her to hospital. As for work you will be taking a week off to heal and used to things around here."

Merle smiled and stood up to hug Hermione again, "You really are the best Hermione."

Hermione smiled, as did her Mum who commented, "My daughter is always caring for others as well as herself."

Hermione smiled, "Well I should get going. Merle make yourself at home, Mum I'll call you in the next day or so."

Her mother smiled and both her and Merle said goodbye before Hermione headed out the door to drive back home.

O

Draco stood up from his bed. He had been in his room for an hour going over everything he had said to his parents. He'd made the right choice and couldn't change what had been done. All he could do now was wait and see if the outcome in the end was the one he was hoping for. Only time would tell. With a sigh he closed his eyes and was gone with a crack.

O

Hermione pulled into her driveway and drove the car into the open garage she'd used her wand to open for her. Once the car was parked and inside the garage she apperated inside to her house and dropped her purse and key onto the table beside her telephone and slid her shoes off. The kitchen door swung open startling her, but she calmed down when Draco appeared smiling at her. She smiled and walked over to him for a hug and a kiss.

"You scared me," murmured Hermione looking up at him.

"Sorry. I have only been here a few minutes. Normally you were already home," replied Draco as they sat down on the lounge together.

"Oh well I would've been but… you remember Merle, the girl I was at the café with that day you sat at my table?"

Draco nodded.

"She was in an abusive relationship with Emery Flint. He raped and beat he everyday… now all she has to do if go through a court case against him to get him locked up at Azkaban."

"Well that bastard deserves to die in my case."

Hermione looked at him stunned, "Why?"

"He is he reason Pansy is no longer pregnant! Pansy demanded to see me and he wouldn't let any of the nurses or doctors alert me! By the time my shift started… it was too late."

"Oh Draco, that's awful!" cried Hermione, "I thought he was a complete and utter bastard for what he did to Merle but now he truly does deserve the Kiss… I mean yes what he did to Merle was terrible and deserving a torturous life in Azkaban but that was an innocent unborn baby he let die!"

Draco nodded, "Now he is facing a negligence case and I'm the one who put the matter forward so no doubt I will be going to court to testify on behalf of the hospital, the workers and Pansy if she isn't up too it."

"When will the case be heard?"

"Not until October."

Hermione nodded, "I-I won't be here to support you… sorry."

Draco nodded silently.

"But I'll be thinking of you of course."

"I know."

Hermione leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips, "I mean it Draco."

Draco smiled and held her close never wanting to let her go.

"Umm… I need to go to the toilet," chuckled Hermione, "Personally I would rather use the toilet and not the lounge."

Draco laughed and let her go running off to the toilet. As soon as the bathroom door closed and he let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. She was leaving; he was going off to meet his soon to be wife in just a few weeks. He still had to break it to her or his mother would do it, which would make matters worse.

The sound of a flushing toilet broke him from his thoughts and a few seconds later Hermione was humming as she walked back into the lounge room.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" asked Hermione looking at Draco.

"Sounds like plan."

"Okay… well I have romantic ones like Titanic, The Notebook, A Walk To Remember and action ones like S.W.A.T, ummm… actually I think that's the only action one I have. I do have horrors like The Ring, Dawn Of The Dead, Saw… all different ones."

"S.W.A.T sounds okay."

Hermione nodded and turned the television onto the DVD channel and slipped the disc in before snuggling up next to Draco to spend the next few hours watching the movie.

O

Hermione stretched out yawning and in the process hitting Draco in the cheek.

"Ouch… thanks for the morning wake up," mumbled Draco rubbing his cheek.

Hermione rolled over and kissed him on the lips, "Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you… I was stretching."

"Been taking lessons from Crookshanks huh?"

Hermione smiled, "Maybe I have. So you have to work today?"

Draco nodded, "Start at midday and finish at 1am. My longest shift for this week."

"Maybe I'll hurt myself with a Spell just to come and keep you company."

"That would be nice but who says I'd be your Doctor? You might wind up with someone else caring for you."

"Not if I demand for you."

"True."

They both fell silent and soon Hermione was sitting up to go shower and dress for another day at work.

"I should get home," said Draco before yawning while Hermione was in her cupboard choosing that day's outfit.

She exited the cupboard with a knee length tan skirt and a white ¾ sleeve shirt. Draco walked around to her after grabbing his clothes and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

Hermione smiled and murmured a goodbye before heading to the bathroom. Draco watched her leave before dressing. He knew it would kill him to tell her about Destinee when the time came.

O

Hermione walked over to Luna grinning, "Merle is safe. My mother is going to look after her while the case is going on and until she is confident enough to live on her own."

"Oh great. Did you hear about the other case Emery has got against him?" replied Luna.

"The hospital one?"

Luna nodded, "He really is an awful man. Causing a woman to loose her unborn baby just because she wouldn't let any other doctor treat her apart from the one she demanded."

"I know. I hope he gets the Dementors Kiss. He deserves it."

Luna nodded, "Oh Ginny is here to see you as well."

"Okay. Thanks."

Hermione took the file from Luna and headed into her office. Sure enough sitting in the clients seat was Ginny.

"Good Morning Ginny," grinned Hermione taking her seat, "How long have you been waiting?"

"Morning Hermione and not long," replied Ginny, "I just came for a chat. Nothing urgent about the wedding seeing as everything is nearly planned."

"Okay, but could you confirm something for me?"

"What?"

"Have all the invitations been sent?"

"Every last one."

"Any replies?"

"Three so far. My Aunt Mindi, my Parents and Fleur, Charlie and Jonathon."

Hermione nodded, "Okay well two weeks before the wedding I need that list to confirm the dates."

"Oh well… we did get a letter back from Harry's aunt and uncle."

"And?"

"They aren't going. This is what I need to speak to you about. See I know Harry never got along with them but even though he tells me its okay I know the fact his aunt and uncle won't go to his wedding is hurting him. He went to Dudley's out of respect… and here they are not returning the same respect to him."

Hermione sighed, "I'll go pay them a visit. Perhaps it is time I friend of Harry's knocked some sense into their dense prejudice minds."

"Thanks Hermione," replied Ginny glancing at her watch, "Oh well I better go. I have a check up at the hospital about the baby."

Hermione and Ginny stood up and walked out of her office together.

"Good luck at the Doctors and I am going to visit the Dursley's. Won't that be lovely?"

Ginny chuckled, "Oh definitely! See you later Hermione."

"Bye Ginny," smiled Hermione walking over to Luna with the file, "I have a visit to make. It's to do with Harry and Ginny's wedding so I should be gone for an hour or so."

"Okay. Nice top Hermione. Muggle clothes are nice… I wonder if Spirits do wear what I wore to Enchanted?" murmured Luna off in her own world.

Hermione shook her head in amusement and was gone with a crack.

O

Hermione looked at 4 Privet Drive in silence. The garden was neat and tidy with a silver shiny car parked in its driveway. The number plate read: THEDUD. Dudley was visiting with his wife.

"Perfect," murmured Hermione walking up to the front door. She ran a hand over her outfit to make sure she looked tidy.

"Hermione!" came a voice behind her.

Hermione turned and smiled when she saw Harry running over to her, "Morning Harry."

"Morning. I went to your office and Luna said you were here… why?"

"Ginny came to me Harry. I know they won't go to your wedding and I think it is time someone other than yourself tries and knock some sense into their head. Come on. We can do this together."

"No Hermione it's fine."

"No it isn't Harry. You went to The Dud's wedding… how stupid is he? His number plate is just telling everyone how much of a dud he is."

Harry cracked a smiled, "I know. But Hermione just forget about this."

"No," replied Hermione ringing the doorbell.

Harry cursed under his breath and waited for the door to be answered. Seconds later a thin Aunt Petunia with greying hair opened the door.

"Good Morning Mrs Dursley. I am Hermione Granger, Harry's bestfriend and wedding planner. We both have a few things we wish to discuss with you, your husband and son," greeted Hermione politely.

Aunt Petunia looked at Harry who merely smiled. Petunia stepped aside and let them both in only saying, "Follow me."

She led them to the lounge room in silence where Vernon sat talking to his son who was literally the spitting image of his father these days and Dudley's thin wife with blonde hair and a nose more pug like then Pansy's.

"What does he want?" asked Vernon rudely at the sight of Harry and Hermione.

"Actually I am the one doing the talking today, Mr Dursley," replied Hermione just as rudely, which shocked Harry so much he had to sit down, "My name is Hermione Granger and I am Harry's bestfriend and wedding planner. Now I understand Dudley that Harry attended your wedding out of respect, seeing as you are related and it is the polite thing to do."

"He did," replied Dudley smartly.

"Don't get cocky with me. I am a muggleborn witch. Just like your sister was Mrs Dursley. So I have a muggle mother and muggle relatives. But none of them act as rude as you three do. They accept my abilities and my life. Unlike you lot they aren't scared of something they can't do."

"Will you keep your voice down!" hissed Vernon.

"Oh calm yourself. All your windows are closed and your neighbours aren't even home. Now listen to me good. Harry is a wonderful young man who has achieved more in life than you three ever have or will. He is already head of his own Aurour squad, is going to be a father in November and a husband in September. Quit being magicphobic and accept your nephew and cousin for who he is and what he can do. Mrs Dursley, I know you loved your sister and miss her terribly. You are just afraid to admit it because your husband wants your family to be normal. Well, Mr Dursley, I have a sudden news flash for you no family is normal. Nothing can be defined as normal… I mean come on your son's number plate has The Dud written on it. Dudley change it, it makes you look like a real dud. Harry has done everything you asked of him. He appreciates the fact you took him in when he was a baby and brought him up. All he wants in return is for you three… and your wife Dudley, to attend his wedding on the 21st of September at Godric's Hollow's church. The same church your sister got married at Mrs Dursley. Tell me Dudley, what would you do if you have a child and it turns out that they were magic and got accepted into Hogwarts?"

"That will never happen to us," replied Dudley's wife.

"It could. You can't predict the future… unless you are magic."

Dudley's wife glared at Hermione coldly causing Hermione to smile, "Well I hope you all can make the wedding. Harry would appreciate it and Mrs Dursley; it's okay to miss your sister. She was your little sister and looked up too you, I am sure."

Hermione headed for the front door and exited, listening to Harry saying goodbye before following his bestfriend out onto the street.

"Wow Hermione… I didn't know you could do that," said Harry in awe.

Hermione smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "I hope it helps."

"Well find out I guess. Hey how about we go get a coffee at the café in Diagon Alley?"

"Sounds like a definite plan to me!" grinned Hermione apperating to the café with Harry for a relaxing drink and a chance to catch up.

A/N: There we go. Another chapter. Hope you all enjoy. I'm aiming for this story to be about 15 chapters and then I will write the second one up. By the way I am back at school and the compter at my home that is the main interent one is having problems so it may take me time to update until everything is sorted out.

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!