A/N: Alpha love as always to TriDogMom! We've gone over this chapter so many times to make sure everything makes sense, I'm happy to be able to finally post it and hopefully it answers some questions!
If anyone does have any questions — pop them in the comments and I'll try to answer without giving anything away!
The rest of the week had passed slowly, much to their delight, neither Draco or Hermione were particularly looking forward to returning to reality. The final hurdle they had to face— before everything back home— was Narcissa Malfoy.
It was the reason Draco was driving Blaise's new Aston Martin Vanquish along the winding French roads. Blaise needed it back in the UK and Draco humbly offered to take it for him, as long as he could stop off and visit Narcissa en-route. The fact that Draco adored the car had nothing to do with it.
As they sat together in an easy silence Hermione's thoughts strayed to the small ways in which their relationship had progressed since the Malfoy ring first graced her finger. Draco was freer now with his affections, as was she, and nothing could stop his hands wandering hungrily over her body, learning her and feeling the changes the twins were bringing. His touch never ceased to electrify her skin, and on more than one occasion Hermione had to pull back from their kisses due to lightheadedness.
As if he was reading her thoughts, Draco moved one hand from the wheel to place it on Hermione's leg, stroking the patch of exposed skin where her dress had ridden up in small circles. Peeking to his left, Draco met Hermione's eye as she puckered her lips together and blew him a kiss, with a laugh Draco returned his gaze to the road ahead of them recognising that they were only a short distance away from his mother's home.
"Are you nervous?" Draco asked Hermione as he turned off the main road onto a quieter one. They had discussed at length how his mother may react and whilst Hermione was prepared for the bombardment of questions and prying into their relationship, Draco was also very aware that this may be difficult for Hermione. Although the war had passed, and the emotional scars had been somewhat dealt with, there was the possibility that this meeting could bring old memories to the surface, specifically the memories of that night at the Manor. Draco hadn't mentioned his concern to Hermione, not wanting to put those thoughts in her head, but he would be on the lookout for signs of her discomfort.
"In a way, I suppose I am," Hermione began, placing her hand atop Draco's as he slowed the car down to navigate the turn onto the driveway. "Your mother cuts an intimidating figure, I never had to impress Molly, I'd grown up with her in my life, but I sense Narcissa will have certain expectations of me."
"You'll do brilliantly," Draco assured her with a kiss to her knuckles, stopping the car in front of his mother's home. It had been years since Draco had last visited and the tall imposing building didn't seem any smaller.
"I hope so," Hermione answered quietly, her eyes peering through the windscreen at the grandeur as Draco walked around the car to open her door, holding her hand as she stepped onto the gravel driveway.
Taking a step away from the car, Hermione looked up at the building. It screamed a stately simplicity. With the sun beating down onto the white facade, the blooming pink roses stood out in sharp contrast as they framed each of the six windows, the perfect picture of a countryside retreat. This was balanced by the lack of fuss on the first and second floors, their floor to ceiling windows commanding attention in a understated way.
But, none of that compared to Narcissa Malfoy. With her now graying hair held back in an elegant updo and a light summer dress floating behind her as she swept through the double doors, all Hermione could do was wish for that level of grace and sophistication.
"Draco! My darling, I've missed you!" Narcissa greeted, hurrying round to their side of the car to embrace Draco before turning her attention to Hermione. "And, Hermione! You look positively radiant! Carrying the Malfoy heir certainly agrees with you."
Hermione's heart faltered as she replayed Narcissa's words before quickly turning to Draco, who looked as confused as she felt.
"Mother," Draco began slowly, curling an arm around Hermione's waist so they stood together, "how do you know that the babies are mine?"
"Oh! Babies!" Narcissa shouted, her hands clapping in delight before they came to rest over her chest. "You're having twins?" she asked, her gaze flitting quickly between the two of them.
"Y-yes," Hermione stammered, quickly looking to Draco whose jaw was now hanging open, "we are, Mrs Malfoy, but, how did you know they were Draco's? We only found out ourselves before we left the hospital."
"Someone must have taken your records, Hermione," Draco spoke, finding his voice as his hand tensed around Hermione's waist. "Some Merlin-be-damned, bastard, broke into St Mungo's and stole your records. It'll be all over the papers. I swear to Salazar… someone is going to pay—"
"Hush, my Dragon," Narcissa began, stepping forward so she could place a reassuring hand against Draco's cheek before turning and placing that same hand against Hermione's bump. "No one told me, the records are safe, I figured it out."
"How? Mother?" Draco sighed, pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head so he could pinch the bridge of his nose. They were mere minutes into their formal introduction and things were already deviating from Draco's carefully considered plan.
"Come inside," Narcissa suggested, turning away from the couple so she could lead them back into the library room, "I'll show you." Little did they know, Narcissa had been researching since visiting the pair in the hospital after Hermione's accident, something about Draco's description of the cave and the runes found on the floor had been niggling at the back of her mind, a certain familiarity driving Narcissa to search through all her old tomes for the answer.
As Narcissa walked ahead, Draco paused and turned to Hermione, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know she knew and I don't—"
"Draco," Hermione spoke softly, her hand reaching up to smooth the crease lines from his brow, "don't worry yourself, it's fine. Now, let's go see what your mother knows."
"Okay," Draco acquiesced, kissing Hermione's cheek before leading her through his mother's bright and open home to the library, where Narcissa sat patiently waiting for them with a cup of tea in hand.
Narcissa sipped her tea delicately as she watched Draco fuss over Hermione, her heart bursting with happiness. The pair of them together were adorable and they didn't even seem to realise it. Once Draco had made sure Hermione was seated comfortably, he poured her a cup of tea and then one for himself, before settling next to her on the love seat, his arm slung casually across her shoulders. Internally, Narcissa beamed, the only thing she wanted from her life now, was for her son to be happy and it seemed that with Miss Granger, he was getting everything she'd ever wanted for him.
Before she could get too lost in her daydream, Narcissa inched herself forward, her free hand coming to rest over a gilded gold and green book, its intricate design sparkling under the sunlight.
"This," Narcissa spoke softly, her fingertips tracing the delicate pattern as she looked over at Hermione, "is how I knew that my Draco had sired your child— excuse me, children."
"What is it?" Hermione asked, her voice quiet as her heart continued to beat to an irregular staccato. The anticipation of learning how Narcissa figured out the babies were Draco's had Hermione leaning forward in her chair, patiently waiting. Hermione had found, throughout her school years and working for the Department of Mysteries, that whenever she was on the cusp of a breakthrough, time seemed to slow and everything got quiet, as if, any sudden noise would scare off the new piece of knowledge as it teetered in front of her.
"Is that the book you used to read to me as a child?" Draco asked, his voice jolting Hermione slightly.
"It is indeed, my Dragon," Narcissa answered, smiling at her son before she turned to Hermione, "this is a book on ancient Norse gods and goddesses. It tells their stories, myths, legends, whichever you wish to use, are you familiar with the goddess Frigg?"
Draco nodded, not yet understanding how this explained his mother's knowledge as Hermione recited, "Frigg was married to Odin and therefore the Queen of Asgard, she was the goddesses of love, motherhood, family, marriage and prophecy."
"Exactly," Narcissa agreed, smiling indulgently as she continued, "and do you know who her handmaidens were?"
"I don't recall their names," Hermione admitted, as Draco rubbed her shoulder, he knew how she hated not knowing everything.
"No matter," Narcissa replied quickly, "we're only concerned with Frigg's handmaid, Lofn. It is said that Lofn was given permission by either the All-Father or Frigg to arrange unions between men and women, even if earlier offers had been received and the unions banned. They say Lofn is the Goddess of Forbidden Love."
At his mother's statement, Draco gulped, was she trying to tell them that somehow, he and Hermione had invoked the will of an ancient Goddess? Had he done something to bring about the end of Hermione's marriage? Had his endless pining for Hermione drawn Lofn's attention and she had somehow brought them together?
"The Goddess of Forbidden Love?" Hermione muttered, her hand stilling as it rested against the swell of her stomach. "I'm not sure I follow."
"Well," Narcissa continued, pulling forward a different book, this one looking much older and weathered. "You see, this book details all the sacred sites of the Gods and Goddesses from the Norse stories and when Draco told me of your living arrangements and how the two of you, ahem, came together? Shall we say? I was intrigued, Draco told me of the magic he felt during your coupling, and it screamed to me that there was something more there, so I set myself to researching."
Hermione sat back in her seat, her mind racing with the possibilities, was it possible they had stumbled upon a long lost sacred site? Had she inadvertently built her home, her sanctuary, inside a cave where ancient people went to have their unions blessed? It seemed too far fetched, too unbelievable but yet, the more Hermione thought about it, the more the knowledge felt right. There were so many things in the world that existed without anyone knowing about them, hell, up until the age of eleven she herself hadn't believed in real magic. Yet, here she was, a fully fledged witch.
"What are you saying, Mother?" Draco asked, feeling himself start to panic. Everything he had with Hermione seemed so natural, so perfect, he didn't want their relationship to be the result of ancient magic. That night they had chosen each other, Hermione had chosen him, it was the first time in his life someone had chosen him and Draco wasn't ready for that to be taken away.
"I believe that Hermione has been living in the cave where ancient peoples would go and ask for Lofn's blessing," Narcissa began, opening the old book as she spoke and pointing to a spot on an ancient map. "If you look here, there is a copse of trees and pathway leading to–"
"My cave," Hermione breathed, her heart pounding as she looked over at the map. Just above where Naricssa was pointing was the stone circle known as Stonehenge, with the Avebury henge and earthworks further up again. This is what Hermione had been looking for, before she had even moved into her cave, she had hypothesized that it was important, it was too much of a coincidence that the magic the Ministry detected within the cave wasn't linked to the ancient sites which surrounded it.
"Exactly," Narcissa said, beaming as Hermione moved forward again to look at the map in further detail, "legend has it when the first peoples settled near Stonehenge a young couple were refused a blessing by Frigg. Disappointed, yet determined, the couple sought to invoke the will of Lofn."
Pausing, Narcissa flipped open her book to the passage she knew so well and handed it to Draco who took it with a nod of thanks. "Together, they discovered a cave with a natural waterfall. In an attempt to summon Lofn they carved runes into the pool floor and returned every night waiting for Lofn to appear. Then, on the eve of the summer solstice Lofn appeared before them and praised them for their dedication to her and one another."
Picking up her tea, Narcissa refreshed herself before continuing, "as a reward for their dedication, Lofn bestowed upon them her blessing and united them as one. They were marked with a viking knot in a band around their finger and Lofn advised them to drink the water before consummating their union on the shore."
Looking down at his empty finger Draco pondered his mother's story, "how did you get from what I told you in the hospital to Lofn?"
"I may have spoken to Blaise and Daphne," Narcissa confessed, having the good grace to blush as she acknowledged her prying into Draco's personal life.
"Mother," Draco sighed, allowing his head to fall back against the chair as he dragged a hand across his face.
"If I may," Hermione said, leaning into Draco to look at the text, "Draco and I didn't ask for, or receive, a blessing. How are you so sure this is my cave?"
"Draco mentioned something about runes," Narcissa replied, summoning another book from the bookcase, "and between Blaise and Daphne, I figured out—"
"Can we focus on the runes?" Draco interrupted, eager for his mother not to divulge anything Blaise or Daphne had told her.
"Certainly," Narcissa agreed, making Hermione wonder just what Draco was hiding, "Hermione, do you remember the runes you found carved into the pool floor?"
"It's impossible to forget them," Hermione answered with a side glance at Draco, "I've been studying them for weeks and I've only translated one."
"Draco," Narcissa instructed as Draco's eyes lifted to meet hers, "please turn to the next page."
Following his mothers orders and turning the page Draco couldn't help the expletive as it crossed his tongue "fuck." There, laid out on the page before him were the five runes Hermione had found on the pool floor all that time ago.
Unable to curb her curiosity, Hermione leaned into Draco and scanned the page for herself, her mind racing as she studied each rune and it's meaning. "Berkano for birth, fertility, growth and new beginnings," Hermione mumbled under her breath, "Ingwaz for male fertility, gestation and internal growth and then Fehu for fertility, again, as well as creation, foresight, energy, luck, wealth and abundance."
"I still don't understand how these runes told you I was the father," Draco queried, looking to his mother for explanation.
"Well," Narcissa began, returning her teacup to it's saucer and sitting primly back, "it is said that the water is enriched by the runes. Which is why those blessed drank from the waters before sealing their union," at the blank stares she was receiving from Draco and Hermione, Narcissa pressed on. "I believe even though you weren't blessed, the water still had an affect on you both."
"Draco," Hermione whispered, turning to him as memories flew through her brain, "we've swam in that pool so many times! What if that knocked out my contraceptive potion?"
"I suppose it's a possibility," Draco said, looking between Hermione and his mother.
"I think it's more than a possibility, Draco," Narcissa responded, "you forbid yourself from acting on your feelings for Hermione and then spent an extraordinary amount of time with her in Lofn's cave."
"Mrs Malfoy?" Hermione questioned quietly, her mind reeling as she tried to absorb all this new information.
"Please dear, it's Narcissa."
Flashing a smile in Narcissa's direction, Hermione continued, "do you think the magical influence would extend beyond the cave?"
Knowing exactly where Hermione's mind had gone, Draco placed the book down upon the table and pulled her closer. He knew initially Hermione had struggled to accept the chain of events that led to her pregnancy, but if the magic had knocked her contraceptive out, in another life, she could have easily been carrying Ron's child.
"I couldn't say for sure," Narcissa began, sensing the shift in atmosphere, "however, with your extended exposure I would assume that yes, the magical influence would be prominent even away from your home."
Hermione felt the air whoosh out of her lungs. She could have just as easily fallen pregnant with Ron, it seemed it was all a matter of timing. She had slept with Draco first, therefore, she was having Draco's children. Unsure of how to really process that, Hermione concentrated on the feel of Draco's arm around her, grounding her to the here and now.
Draco looked up at his mother, silently asking for a moment alone, smiling in thanks as she rose from her chair and vanished off down the hall. Using his free hand, Draco turned Hermione's face to his, searching her eyes for a hint of how she felt.
"It's all my fault," Hermione whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from Draco's. "I should have done more research, understood what the cave was doing to me, how could I have not known?"
"How could you have known?" Draco countered, "no one knew why your cave was emitting a magical signature, it was your job to find out. We both placed our trust in your contraceptive potion working."
"I was just so eager to get away from home," Hermione continued, seemingly ignoring Draco's words. "I couldn't wait, I needed the space…"
"Hermione," Draco spoke sternly, "stop this. This may not be what either of us planned but I'm happy, I thought we were happy?"
"I am, D-Draco" Hermione stumbled, "it's just, everytime I think I've come to terms with what happened something else comes up."
"None of this is fact," Draco reminded Hermione quietly, his own mind racing, "sure it seems to fit but you need to remember this is an old legend." Draco wanted it to only be an old legend. He chose Hermione that night in the cave and Draco liked to think that Hermione chose him too. He liked the idea that their timing had been perfect enough for Hermione to fall pregnant, it obviously wasn't the ideal, but he wanted their relationship to be natural.
It felt wrong to even be considering the possibility that some other influence had caused the conception of what would surely become his pride and joy. Despite his belief in the old stories, Draco solemnly wished for this one not to be true.
Feeling mollified by Draco's words, Hermione felt her heart rate slow and her mind become clearer. "I need to do some more research."
Laughing, Draco leaned in and pecked Hermione swiftly on the lips, "when do you not need to do more research?"
Batting at his arm, Hermione missed Narcissa's return to the room, carrying a tray of drinks and sandwiches.
Draco quickly rose to his feet and relieved his mother of the tray with the click of his fingers. "Where would you like this?" he asked, looking around the room for a table large enough that wasn't covered by books.
"How about out on the terrace?" Narcissa suggested, breezing past Draco to open the patio doors, "it's a beautiful day and we really should make the most of it."
"Hermione?" Draco questioned, standing between the two women.
"That sounds wonderful," Hermione agreed with a smile, following Draco out onto the sun drenched terrace and seating herself opposite Narcissa again.
"Superb," Narcissa said, as she watched Draco place the tray down with ease, "now, help yourselves to anything you want and there's more in the kitchen if needed."
Feeling her stomach rumble at the sight of the food in front of her, Hermione leaned forward to pick up a slice of the soft French bread, chewing on it happily as she helped herself to a mountain of fruit with her free hand. Smirking at Draco as he smeared some soft cheese onto his own bread, groaning as the full flavour hit his taste buds.
"My, my" Narcissa chided with a laugh, watching the two youngsters gorge themselves silly, "have you two not eaten?"
Hermione giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as Draco spoke for her, "well, Hermione is eating for three now and I just adore these cheeses."
"He really does," Hermione agreed, her head bobbing furiously as Draco smirked at her, "he's charmed the boot of Blaise's car to stay cool so he can take loads home, it's going to stink! I don't know where he's going to keep it when we get back."
"Speaking of home," Narcissa interjected, spying her perfect opportunity to wiggle some information out of both of them, "what is your plan for when you return? Are you going to continue living with Draco?"
"Umm, we haven't really," Hermione began trying to answer without choking on her food, and failing miserably. When she finished, she looked over to Draco who was waiting attentively for her answer, "discussed it. Everything has been so hectic, I assume I'll still have the cave but I'm not sure how much time I'll be spending there now I don't have my magic and with any luck my house is on the market now, following the divorce."
"You'll be staying at mine, Hermione." Draco stated, how she thought he'd even allow her to go back to the cave after everything that happened there baffled him.
"But that won't be forever, Draco," Hermione started, wishing more than anything that they weren't having this conversation for the first time in front of his mother, "I'll need more space once the babies arrive."
"Ah, yes!" Narcissa interjected, saving Hermione from whatever Draco's next words were going to be, Narcissa had watched as his jaw set and his eyes became determined, knowing her son as she did, Hermione would not have been able to walk away from that conversation without her interference. "When are my darling grandbabies due?"
"Late December," Hermione hurriedly answered, grateful for the change in conversation, "but my Healer doesn't expect me to carry to the full forty weeks. So, it's more likely they'll be born mid to late November, depending on how healthy we all are."
Watching his mother's eyes glaze over, Draco softened slightly, this was why they were here. To share their news with his mother, even though she ruined the surprise of telling her that he was the dad. "You'll be a Grandma by Christmas." he said softly, smiling when Narcissa's breath caught in her throat and she made some kind of noise between a sob and a hiccup.
Narcissa reached out and took Draco's hand, watching as he mirrored the movement and took Hermione's. Needing to feel connected to the pair of them, Narcissa also reached over and took Hermione's other hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before she let out a shriek of surprise and jumped to her feet.
"Why didn't you tell me!" Narcissa cried, her hands clapping together in the same way they had when she had found out about the twins, completely missing the look of bemusement on both Draco and Hermione's faces. "When are you two getting married? Can I put an announcement in the Prophet? Oh, you simply have to let me put you in contact with this French dress designer I know, you'll look stunning in one of her gowns."
"Mum," Draco said, his voice even as he tried to ignore the pang in his gut, he wished he was marrying Hermione and seeing how happy that would make his mother, well, that hurt a little, "we're not getting married."
"But..." Narcissa began, looking between the two of them in confusion, before grabbing Hermione's hand and waving it in front of Draco's face, "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Sorry dear," Narcissa hastily added, returning Hermione's hand to the table.
"We're not getting married," Hermione started tentatively, she had already forgotten that she wore Draco's ring and hadn't even considered what Narcissa would think when she saw it. Hermione felt a little sad as she burst Narcissa's bubble, but she was only telling the truth. "Draco and I, we're committed, but not getting married. I can't, not after–"
"It's ok," Draco said, reassuring Hermione with a kiss to the hand he still held, "Hermione's ex husband almost killed her and whilst marriage is something I want, I understand that it's not something Hermione can give right now. Even thinking about it is painful."
"But you're not Ronald Weasley," Narcissa started, her eyes silently imploring her son to do the right thing.
"No," Draco confirmed, his eyes hard as he thought of the ginger bastard, "I'm not but, that also means not forcing someone into something they aren't ready for."
"So," Narcissa began to ask, retaking her seat slowly and she tried to compose herself, "if Hermione decides she does want to get married again…"
"I'll marry her in a heartbeat," Draco replied quickly, peeking at Hermione as she sat with her eyes carefully averted, "but not until she's ready and I'll still be there if she's never ready for that again."
"I'm sorry, Narcissa," Hermione said, "I'm sure it's difficult to comprehend, but Ron hurt me in so many different ways, it's going to take some time until I feel whole again. I don't think it's fair to only give Draco less than what I'm capable of."
"That's quite all right dear," Narcissa acknowledged, her eyes lingering on the Malfoy crest as it glimmered in the mid-day sun, "I'll just focus on my grandbabies."
The rest of their lunch passed by easily, conversation sticking to the lighter subjects and, as Draco caught up with Naricssa, filling her in on the progress Malfoy Enterprises was making, Hermione felt her mind wander.
Narcissa's comments about their living situation and relationship were niggling at her. It was obvious she expected Draco to propose and whilst Hermione was grateful for the fact he quickly leapt to her defence and explained why he wasn't pushing it, Hermione hadn't missed the look mother and son had shared.
Had Draco actually considered proposing? It very much sounded like it was something he wanted, yearned for in fact and Hermione couldn't help but find herself surprised. Rolling her thumb over the smooth surface of the Malfoy ring, Hermione considered his words from that day again. Draco had stated the ring wasn't a proposal but had he wanted it to be?
Unsure of how to process the thought that Draco was much further down the road of their relationship than she was, Hermione turned her mind to their living situation. She honestly hadn't given much thought to what would happen when they returned home and Hermione was surprised at herself. It was so unlike her not to have a plan, did she subconsciously feel so secure with Draco that she didn't feel the need to plan?
However, there was one thing she was sure about. When Monday rolled around and they both made their returns to the public eye, they would be under constant scrutiny. Hermione had no doubt the story of her disappearance with Draco had made the front page at some point and the wizarding community would have made up its own sordid story as to how her marriage fell apart.
It was with great reluctance Hermione accepted Draco's offered hand and walked with him to the front of the house. After hugging Narcissa goodbye and promising to keep her updated with news of her grandbabies, Hermione settled herself in the car, wishing more than anything for just a little more time to process her thoughts and feelings.