Tuesday
After Draco left, Hermione lay back in bed, pulling his pillow to her face, and fell asleep instantly, not giving a second thought to the fact she should be up and getting ready to go to work.
When she finally woke up, near eleven a.m., Hermione had an early lunch and only then got ready for work.
She walked into her office at the Ministry half past noon and let her assistant, Victoria, know she had arrived through the floo and was available to work on whatever was necessary.
As Hermione sat in her office alone, she couldn't stop her mind from replaying all that had happened the previous night – from Draco's first visit to the second to the both of them falling in bed.
He had apologized, and she partially understood his actions – emphasis on partially – but she was finding it hard to shake off the belief that Draco had preferred their hidden status for he was ashamed of her blood-status.
Did she still love him? Of course!
Did she feel she could stand proudly beside him? No.
As she was lost in her musings, her office door was opened and Hermione was surprised to see it wasn't Vicky.
"Good morning, Pansy."
"Do you mean good afternoon?" Pansy arched an eyebrow.
Hermione blushed, "Yes. Sorry. Good afternoon, Pansy."
"Hmm." The beautifully dressed, short-haired witch smiled. "I believe for some of us it is a good afternoon. Are you wearing a concealer charm?"
"What? Oh I bumped against a cabinet door this morning." Hermione touched right over one of the hidden bite-marks she had on her neck.
Pansy snorted loudly. "Sure, Hermione. Sure. Cause you're tall enough to hit your kitchen cabinet doors with the curve of your neck... Anyway, I just came by to check on you and the babies. I was worried when you didn't show up this morning."
"We are all fine, Pans. I just overslept."
"All right then." Her dark eyes showing she could pretty much guess what had happened to cause her to oversleep. "I'll be going now." She turned to the door.
"Pansy, wait." Hermione looked a bit uncertain as she spoke. "You'll find my next question weird, but I need to know: what happened at the Yule Ball?"
A frown marred Pansy's face at the unexpected question but it soon turned into a smirk. "So... you heard about that eh?"
Hermione nodded, "I was told to never ask you about it."
Pansy laughed and sat on the chair in front of her desk, "Oh, well, lucky for you I'm all for sharing friends' embarrassing situations." She crossed her legs and looked at Hermione. "As you know, Draco and I were dating at the time, so we went to the Ball together. He was excited to go, but something changed in his demeanour as soon as the Champions walked in. And then he wouldn't shut up about how stupid Krum was – which was weird, for just that afternoon he worshipped the guy." She smiled. "It took me a few minutes to realize it was because of you. He saw you walking in with Krum and he changed. We ended up leaving the Great Hall early and as soon as we were alone in the Room of Requirement, Draco asked me to curl up my hair and suck him off. Guess whose name he moaned when he came?"
Hermione blushed.
Pansy looked at her with a concerned expression, "Look, I don't know what happened last night but... is he forgiven?"
"No."
"But you fucked him."
"Yes." Hermione admitted.
"Hm."
"Hm what?"
"Nothing." Pansy sighed, getting up from the chair.
"Draco said I made him question his own self when we first met." Hermione said quietly.
Pansy stopped half-way to the door and turned to her. "In a way we were all surprised by your existence, Hermione – well, Blaise wasn't. But Theo, Draco and I, we were raised to believe muggles were inferior, not worthy of magic. Yet there you were beating all of us in every class."
"That's what he said."
"So you two talked?"
"You could say that. He apologized, I refused it. He apologized again..."
"Does he know about the twins being his?"
"Yes. I told him."
"So you're not marrying Charlie?"
Hermione let out a heavy sigh, "My plans haven't changed, Pans."
Pansy gave her a concerned look. "You know I agreed to that plan since its inception, Hermione. But I hope you have fun saving Charlie's life, for Draco will not let him claim you and the twins now that he knows the truth." Pansy went to the door and left.
And Hermione knew her friend wasn't just trying to be funny.
Later that night, already at home, Hermione walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe to be surprised by a letter on her bed.
She approached it carefully but when she recognized the elegant handwriting she stopped.
I'm sorry. – it was written on the outside.
She picked it up and sat on the bed, hesitating a moment before opening it.
Hermione
It's been just hours since I saw you last and I already miss you.
The two months I've spent away from you have taught me many things, my love, but above all it made me certain of something I've always known: I don't want to be without you.
'I've never wanted to hide you, my love. I want the world to know that the brilliant Hermione Granger is mine. That she loves me. That she's carrying my heirs. That she'll be my wife. My Lady.
The feeling of waking up with my arms around you this morning, my hands on your belly where our children rest and grow inside of you, has accompanied me and kept me sane during this long stressful day.
I hope yours was a better one.
On your bed, beside this letter, I asked Eli to leave you a photo of one of the moments we spent together that I most cherish.
I'm not – nor have I ever been – ashamed of you, of us.
I'm sorry I ever made you think that.
I love you.
Your servant,
Draco
PS: I'm aware you asked Pansy about the Yule Ball. Know that I've already apologized to her for that night years ago. It was as pathetic as she described it.
Hermione couldn't stop the smile that formed on her lips as she read that letter.
She looked around her on the bed for the photograph he mentioned and let out a small gasp when she saw it.
Château du Prince Royal – it said on the bottom of the muggle-style picture, above the date: October 10th 1999. Draco had both arms around her, his chin on the top of her head and they both smiled at the camera.
She remembered that trip, the first trip they took together after finishing Hogwarts.
FLASHBACK
"Here we are." Said Draco as they finished portkeying to France.
But Hermione had leaned forward and didn't raise her head, "Give me a minute, Dray... I fucking hate portkeys." She took deep breaths.
Then she felt his arms around her and he was pulling her to him, making her lay her head on his chest.
"Better, love?" he whispered after a moment.
"Much." She pulled his face down for a brief kiss and looked around the deserted beach, the sunset in the horizon reflecting on the water, giving it a soft orange hue. "It's beautiful here."
"We own that house over there." Draco pointed at a large building. "So it's safe to portkey here."
Hermione just nodded, taken by the beauty of that place.
"Let's go, love. We have a lovely tour waiting for us."
"A tour? Where?"
"In a castle."
Her honey-coloured eyes sparkled. "That sounds interesting."
"It is." Draco took her hand. "C'mon, my beloved know-it-all. Let's feed that brain of yours some history."
She playfully shoved him and they walked out of the beach, seeing a large black SUV by the sand, a few meters in front of them.
"Monsieur Malfoy?" the uniformed chauffeur asked.
"Oui. Et ma fiancée." Draco noticed the surprise in Hermione's face, he continued: "Nous sommes prêts à partir pour la visite du château, s'il vous plaît."
"Tout de suite, monsieur." Replied the chauffeur as he opened the door to the back seat for them.
Draco let Hermione enter the car first and he followed her in, sitting beside her and smirking at the look of surprise on her face.
"Did you just call me your fiancée?"
"Yes. Surprised, love?"
"A little bit." She tilted her head, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "So, do you known how to say mudblood in French?"
Draco gaped and stared at her for two seconds before laughing and pulling her closer, a hand fisting in her curls while the other caressed her waist.
"You're fucking twisted, Granger."
"So, do you?"
"I do." He nodded. "I'm versed in bigotry in more than one language, yes."
She chuckled and bit her bottom lip, smiling mischievously as she lowered her hands to his trousers.
"Stop it, love." Draco held her hands and motioned the chauffeur with his head.
"Does he know who you are?" She asked. "Could this cause us trouble?"
"He knows my surname but not me per se. And no, I don't think this would cause us trouble."
"So let him watch." She whispered over his lips.
"Fuck." Draco groaned as he let go of her hands and she resumed unfastening his trousers.
He glanced at the chauffeur and the man seemed to have an idea of where things were going on the backseat for he kept stealing glances at them through the rear-view mirror.
"Yeux sur la route!" Draco ordered him and the man quickly looked at the street.
Hermione pulled her boyfriend's half-hard cock out of his underwear and lowered her head to his lap, running her tongue around the mushroom head before sucking it into her mouth.
"Fuck, love."
She felt him hardening quickly and hummed, sucking him harder and deeper.
"Sale petite sang-de-bourbe." He snarled. "You filthy little mudblood."
And she went crazy in lust, inhaling sharply through her nose and deep-throating him.
"Oooh, fuck!" he groaned, fisting both hands in her hair and feeling her choke on him.
She let him slip from her lips and gasped for air, running her tongue on his length as she got ready to deep-throat him again, her eyes heavy with lust when she looked up at him.
"Tell me what you want." He demanded.
"You know what I want." She moaned, sucking him into her mouth again
"Yes, suck it. You want my sang-pur cum to fill your filthy mouth?"
She hummed affirmatively and had him going down her throat again.
"Fuck, my sang-de-bourbe. I'll fuck your throat now." He held her head firmly and moved his hips up, fast, watching drool drip down her chin as he chased his climax.
"Swallow, mudblood, you wanted it- now, swallow!" and he was cumming down her throat, slipping half-way out to fill up her mouth.
She licked him clean, giving him one last suck before putting his dick back into his underwear and fastening his trousers.
"You're filthy, Granger." Draco spoke lovingly between breaths.
She smiled at him, looking smug.
He kissed her lips, tasting his own seed in her mouth. "I'll have to punish you later for this, love."
"Do your worse, Monsieur Malfoy."
A minute later the car stopped in front of a beautiful castle and they got out.
"What is this place?" Hermione asked looking at the large stone building.
"A historic castle that I thought you'd like to visit."
"I can't wait." She replied excitedly.
He put a hand on her lower back and guided her into the castle where a group of tourists already waited for the guided tour to begin.
"Those are muggles!" Hermione whispered surprised. "How do you even know about this place?"
He pointed at a brochure on a stand and she recognized a symbol on the bottom of it. "Malfoy Enterprises owns it."
He nodded, "We aim to create awareness about the witch trials, in the hope that nothing similar ever happens again."
She looked at him with widened eyes.
"Hello, everyone!" exclaimed a young woman, her uniform letting the know she was a tour guide. "I'm Mel and I'll be your guide this afternoon. Welcome to Château du Prince Royal. Records show this palatial home already existed in 1398 so it's believed to have been built around the 1320s. Despite its name, this was not the home of a Prince but of a Lord and his family and it still, to this day, belongs to that same family. Follow me, please." The guide led the group through a door to the right of the entrance hall, into what looked like an office. "Lord Estiene Malfoy and his Lady wife Maëlle lived happily here with their five children."
They stopped in front of a large painting of the family. And, immediately, a lot of curious glances were sent Draco's way, since the similarities between the man in the painting and him were hard to ignore – from the height and built, to the bright blond hair and grey eyes.
"The family" continued the guide, making everyone look at her again, "raised their kids in wealth but also humility. They made their fortune by selling medicines – or what would then be called Potions. But gave doses for free whenever a poor family couldn't afford them. Many lives were saved by them in a time when diseases as simple as the flu killed many."
Draco saw Hermione smile, a realization in her eyes.
"They were-?" She whispered to him, tightening her hand in his.
"Wizards? Yes."
She smiled and continued listening to the tour guide.
"As their Apothicaire was famous," the guide was saying: "many others tried to copy them, but with unsuccessful results."
"For muggles can't brew Potions." Hermione whispered, recalling Snape explaining that.
"For that reason," continued the guide, "the family was accused of Witchcraft."
Low groans were heard all around the group, as they all imagined what had happened next:
"Out of their five children, only two survived, and only because they weren't here when the Inquisitors arrived. The property was then forgotten and we only have records of family members moving in here a century later."
"As you can imagine," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear. "It wasn't forgotten, it was put under a notice-me-not spell."
Hermione nodded.
The group moved to the next room but Draco held her hand, "Come with me." And he led her down a corridor she hadn't notice it was there before. "Only a third of the castle is available for visitors. The rest is still used by the family."
She seemed surprised and when he opened a door, Hermione gasped at the beauty of the drawing room that was revealed. It was bright, with tall windows and high ceilings, comfy-looking furnishings, sturdy classic sofas, armchairs and tables; lavish rugs on the dark wooden floor and large paintings on the walls depicting green bucolic prairies and horses.
It was a place befitting of a castle.
"I grew up playing in this room." Said Draco.
She laughed. "What a playroom, love. Perfect for a little Lord." Her tone playful.
He winked at her.
"But really, Draco, beautiful room."
"C'mon." He pulled on her hand. "There's more to see. And I assure you, you will appreciate my tour more than the other one."
"Why is that?" she asked, already imagining where his tour would end.
Draco wrapped her in his arms, "Mine ends only tomorrow morning, breakfast in bed included."
Hermione sighed into the kiss, "I already love it."
Draco opened a door and led her down the corridor, "I used to run up and down this hallways, made mom crazy. Lords don't run, she used to shout. And I replied: Ladies don't shout."
She gasped, "You talked back at your parents?"
"Up until an age, yes." He let out a heavy sigh. "After eleven, I was barely afforded an opinion though, much less talk back."
She frowned, "You never voiced your thoughts then?"
"Not inside the house. I could discuss things with Theo and Blaise, but I knew I had no choice when it came to what my parents wanted me to do."
Hermione seemed clearly upset about that, albeit not surprised. "I can't imagine growing up without choices..."
"Tu es mon premier choix." Draco whispered before kissing her again. "You are my first choice."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again, sensually.
But he stopped her. "As much as I'd love to skip to the bedrooms part of the tour, we have a lot more to see, love."
So Hermione let go of his neck, "I'll behave."
He chuckled and they continued the tour, reaching the gardens after many gorgeous sumptuous rooms.
There was a round garden table already set for tea waiting for them in a covered patio, and Draco pulled out a chair for her at the table.
"My Lady."
She sat and waited for him to sit in beside her before pouring the tea for them.
"So, do you like it?" he asked as he sat down, a hint of apprehension in his tone.
"Are you kidding me?" She exclaimed. "What's not to like? This place is amazing, Dray."
He smiled, seeming relieved. "Out of all the properties my family owns, this is my favourite. I'm glad you like it."
Hermione put her hand on his on the table, understanding that he had wanted her to like the place that was precious to him.
"I love it." She reassured him.
"I dream of raising my family here." Draco said with flushed cheeks.
Hermione smiled at that. "Really?"
"Yes. There's a good kindergarten and a prestigious primary school nearby, the University is close too."
Her heart jolted at his words – even though she knew it was unlikely he was proposing to her. "Are you trying to tell me something, Draco?"
He touched a hand to his hair in a clear sign of nervousness, but kept smiling, "Imagine it, love, five kids running around this large yard-"
"Five?" She nearly choked on her tea. "You were doing so well- five kids? Are you mad?"
"How many would you want?"
"Two."
Draco tilted his head, "How about three?"
Hermione laughed, "Are we negotiating that right now?"
"We could meet in the middle, but we can't have half a child. So three seems perfect."
She looked at him, feeling so utterly taken by him and all the trip he had planned for them – and maybe it was that perfect feeling of belonging that she always felt near him, but she nodded, "Alright, Dray. Three."
He smiled broadly and picked up her hand, bringing it to his lips. "I love you, my Lady."
"And I love you, my-" she stopped, wrinkling her nose. "Nope. I cannot call you my Lord."
Draco snorted. "No. Please, don't."
END OF FLASHBACK
Back in her room, still wrapped in just a towel, Hermione brought the picture to her chest. They had gone out for a walk around town and dinner that night – in public.
Then they had returned to the castle, where he pleasured her for hours; and, in the morning, he served her breakfast in bed as promised and they spent the day enjoying the beautiful town.
That picture they took at the souvenir store, before leaving on Sunday.
Draco wasn't embarrassed of them during that whole trip, she realized – quite the opposite really, they had walked hand-in-hand though the town and had had dinner and lunch together in public spaces with enough PDA to leave no doubts they were a couple.
Hermione put the picture on her nightstand on top of the letter and went to her closet to get dressed.
She caressed her lower belly, looking at her reflection in the wall-mirror.
Your dad is a sneaky Slytherin, making me remember the château trip...
She had some thinking to do.
