Chapter 5

Hermione and Lucius had headed back to her room. The spell from earlier broken by the interruption. Hermione now felt more nervous than anything and plainly wrong-footed with him. She did not know what to say; apparently, neither did he because Lucius spoke, not a word on the way back. His stony silence made her all the more uncomfortable and unsure where to go with them.

Lucius, on the other hand, had been mulling this over. He knew he desired Hermione very much still, that much had been apparent when he practically mauled her in her sitting room. If the owl had not come when he did, they might have been in the process of making a sibling for Leo at this time.

Lucius did not want to give her that impression of him. What must she think of him? Nothing good, I am sure. She probably thinks I love them and leave them kind of wizard. I did it before, why she would think to give me a chance now.

The couple showed up far too soon to the door that housed Lucius's past paramour and his hopeful future all too soon for his taste. When she turned to go inside, Lucius stopped her with a gentle hand on her elbow. She turned to look back at him, a hopeful gleam in her eye that he might say he wanted to come inside and further what happened earlier. Lucius would have to disappoint her because he did not know if he could be up to anything tonight.

"Hermione, may I come back and see Leo tomorrow?"

Hermione felt crushed, but she tried not to show it. Of course, Leo, he only wanted Leo, earlier had been a mistake, and he came to his senses. "Yes, of course." She spoke in an all too bright way. It even sounded fake to her own ears, but he did not seem to catch on because his smile showed his delight at hearing her agree to his request.

"Wonderful. I will stop by about noon, is that all right with you?" Hermione could only nod, not trust her voice not to crack if she had to respond in any way. Lucius bid her good night. He then spun around and left the doorway to head to his bed for the night. Not realizing he left a heartbroken witch staring after him before she too entered her chamber for the night.

As soon as Hermione got on the other side of the door and in the safety of her room, she let the tears fall. Beebe came out of the baby's room and seeing the sobbing witch on the floor. She rushed over to try to console her.

"Oh, mistress Hermione what's you crying about. There's, there's don't cry. You's will see nothin is as bad as all that's." Little Beebe patted the witch on the back comfortingly.

Hermione wiped away the tears she had been shedding for the man who walked away, holding her heart. Thankfully, a piece of it still lay in the other room with her son, or she feared she would not have any of it for herself because it had been split in two and divide up between them both. One knew it; the other apparently did not.

Hermione sniffly slightly than tried to give the little elf a watery smile. "Thank you, Beebe, you have been wonderful to us since we got here." Hermione watched the little elf blush. Or at least she thought she blushed because her skin turned a darker green around the cheeks.

"It is Beebe's job to take care of mistress and baby. Headmistress said so." She looked proud and embarrassed all at the same time. Even if what she said was true and it was just part of her job, Hermione felt grateful non the less. Picking herself off the floor, she walked over to the bedroom where Leo lay sleeping, sighing at the view of her beautiful little boy before heading to bed herself.

Hermione slid on a nighty that was silk and short. Ever since her night with Lucius years ago, she had never been able to give up the feel of the lingerie on her skin. It reminded her of that time, and it had been a memory Hermione cherished dearly. So, she indulged her fetish regularly by buying new lingerie of all kinds.

Granted, she never wore it for anyone else other than herself. Still, she considered of no importance because she knew someday someone would come along that she could show off for, Hermione had rather hoped it would be Lucius, but he did not seem to wish to be with her after all.

She slid under the covers. She laid dreaming of the man who had given her so much. Hermione felt that things might not be the same between them now that he knew he had a child buy her. Could he and would he forgive her for keeping it from him for so long. She just did not know.

Closing her eyes, eventually, Hermione drifted into a dream world of mingled past, present, and future.

Meanwhile, Lucius had gone to his room. It had taken all his will power not to throw her over his shoulder, march into her room, and have his way with her. He did not want her to think that is all she could be useful for. To him, she is so much more now. The mother of Leo, a beautiful sexy witch, a collogue. Lucius knew she wanted him, but if it is only for Leo and possible sex, he did not think he could live with that.

Just then, his floo roared to life and out stepped his heir and first son. Draco took one look at him than whistled lowly. "Whoever she is, she must have done a number on you because you look like hell."

"Gee, thanks Draco, what do I owe to the pleasure of your company?" Lucius sniffed distantly, all the while making his way to his port under a cabinet. He offered his son a glass as well. Draco took it gladly. Than sat properly in the settee his father owned.

"You know I work in the mysteries department at the ministries, and there have been some developments as of late that have the ministry up in a tizzy."

Lucius cocked his head while lifting a brow at his son's direction. A smirk was playing at his mouth as he took a sip of his drink. Lucius let Draco have a fortifying drink while he sat back against his favorite chair.

"Oh, do tell. I was always one that enjoyed gossip. I also have news as well." He waited until he had Draco's undivided attention. His son returned the familiar eyebrow raise. No one could do it better than Severus, though. That man was an expert at giving just one look, and you knew what he thought by raising his eyebrows. Lucius sighed inwardly, missing his old friends.

"I will tell you mine if you tell me yours?" The boy said, somewhat tauntingly. Lucius smirked outright, this time taking the bait. He waited till Draco took another sip but had not swallowed yet. "Hermione Granger showed up with a baby that happens to be mine. Congratulations, you have a brother." Lucius tried not to out and out laugh as his son choked on the port that slid down the wrong tub causing him to cough and sputter helplessly.

"I am sorry, what did you say." He asked through wheezes and gasps. "Brother! Baby? When the hell did you sleep with Granger to have a baby?" Draco had gotten his breathing back under control well enough to start shouting. Lucius did not even react. He knew when Draco got like this that he needed to get it out and not have a reaction from Lucius, or it would make it worse. They had gone to counseling sometime back after the war, and the counselor had told them how to handle everything that they had gone through. It had helped them deal with not only the trauma of the war but also past abuses from his family as well. Lucius had learned a lot of himself, and that is when he had turned over a new leaf.

Draco eventually calmed down when he realized he would get nothing from Lucius until he did. Draco sat back down pouting. "You slept with Granger. I can't believe it, father she is the same age as me."

Lucius just shrugged, not making excuses for himself. "Be that as it may, the deed is done. If you would like to meet him, I am sure I can have it arranged with Hermione. Besides, she works here as a Professor to so you will see her at some point. His linage is pretty definable, so I thought it best to hear from me rather than you bump into them by accident."

Draco nodded than seemed to remember why he had come. "Oh yeah, that reminds me speaking of bumping into people you might know. Well, that is the thing I came to tell you about. Today in the department of mysteries, something weird happened that has never happened before."

Lucius looked at his son expectantly, his face telling him to go one. Draco did not disappoint or keep him waiting long. "One of the new members was fiddling around with an old wand that had been confiscated decades ago because of its magical possibilities. We were told it belonged to an old blood family. The rumor is that it can resurrect the last heir that died within twenty years or so well one of the new members did not believe it would work, so they shot it at the veil, and someone came out of it."

Lucius could feel his eyes go wide at hearing this bit of news. He thought he needed another drink, so he got up to get another glass of port. While his back had been turned, he heard his floo chime. Curious as to who else could be, he turned back around to see.
The glass fell from his numb fingers only to crash onto the ground, utterly unnoticed by Lucius Malfoy. He could not believe what his eyes were seeing. Lucius knew he had not gone to bed, so he is not dreaming. He stared into eyes that he thought he would never see again. Eyes that had been long gone.

"Severus?"

He gripped the cupboard of his drink station, going exceptionally pale as he looked on in disbelief that his good friend is once more amongst the living. Lucius even reached up and pinched himself just to make sure he had not indeed fallen asleep and was not dreaming all this. Nope pinch hurt.

Severus stepped out of the floo, looking Lucius over in his familiar way. His patinated smirk on his face. "It has been some time, Lucius, it is good to see you again, my old friend. How are you?"

Draco snorted behind him on the couch than piped up. "Apparently, knocking up Hermione Granger is how he is doing." Lucius glared over in Draco's direction. Sometimes he just wanted to kick his son right in the bottom.

Muttering a Repero charm so he could get his crystal glass back into his hands. "I think we all need a drink." He growled no to anyone in particular just out loud. Reaching over, he handed one to Severus.

"So, tell me what happened, and what do you remember? Does anyone else know you are alive? Lucius rapidly fired questions at him. Severus just shook his head as he took a seat.

The only ones that know are you, Draco, and a very unfortunate new mysteries department member who fainted dead away when I stepped through the void. Apparently, the wand worked. Draco explained the wand and what had happened while disillusioning me so he could sneak us out of the Ministry and to here. He told me to give him a few minutes so he could prepare you so you would not try to hex first and ask questions later." Severus smirked, knowing his friend would do just that.

"So, Granger, huh? How did that happen?"

"Yes, father, I would like to know as well." Draco had finished his glass then got up to get another before sitting back down. They both looked at him with twin expression stating spill it or else.

Lucius sighed. He then went into the story of how he had run off a young man at the castle. He told them how he had been visiting the dungeons to pay his respect to Severus after the war. On his way back, he had seen a young man he did not recognize from the school go into a room. Lucius went in and scared the wizard off only to have Hermione Granger come in, not moments later. She dropped her coat only to be wearing lingerie underneath red ones at that.

Both wizards whistled, impressed that the witch would be so bold and confident. Lucius continued telling them what was needed than ended it with what happened today at the school and finding out he had a son.

"I think I am going to head to bed now. I have to recover from two shocks today, and I do not wish for any more, or I might not recover." Lucius stood up to head to bed. Before leaving, he told Severus he had a spare room if he wished to use it. Severus nodded than said ado to Draco, who saw himself out heading home to the lonely mansion he now resided in since Lucius worked at the castle.

Stumbling into the manor, Draco could not believe all in one day he managed to gain his uncle Severus back but now as well a little brother. Will wonders never cease. What next? Am I going to have a love of my life drop into my lap? He looked around furtively to see if it had occurred. Nope, still alone.

That moment there came a knock at his door. Draco told the house-elf Triffy to answer it. The little elf nodded than disappeared. He began the task of opening mail that had come while at work. Suddenly he hears a commotion out in the hall, voices raised as they came closer and closer to his study.

Suddenly his door bust open and, in the doorway, stood panting and gasping red-faced Auror Bloody hell, what is he doing here. Draco's mind screamed as he stared in complete shock.

"Malfoy, you have some explaining to do, and you had better do it now!" Draco's mind began to panic as the Auror walked steadily towards him in a long graceful, gate that spoke of confidence and casualness. Draco knew he had to be anything but causal by the timber of his voice. He tried to pretend to be nonchalant with the other wizard. Instead, saying a bored drawl as if he had not been affected in any way by the other, but inside his heart started racing.

"What can I do for you, Auror Neville Longbottom?"

Draco Malfoy's attitude or coolness had not put off Neville. After the war and with the help of defeating the snake, Nagini Neville had come into his own. Now broad of the shoulder with dark wavy locks and smoldering green eyes, he could be counted as devastatingly handsome. So much so that seeing him day in and day out at the ministry had become an exquisite pain to him.

Draco could never tell him, though. Turning back to his mail, he began opening it once more while answering him. "You are going to have to be more specific there, Longbottom? I do not know what I need to explain?" Before Draco could react or understand what was happening, Neville had grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him back around to face him.

"Today. The wand, department of mysteries ring a bell?" Draco kept his face placid and blank. "Oh, what happened there? You will have to remind me. I am a little fuzzy after visiting my father and having a few glasses. Draco knew this to be a lie, but he wanted to see how much Neville knew.

Neville lifted an eyebrow at him, giving him a slight sneer as if to say, "really drinking after hours so quickly." Now Draco felt like he is on the familiar territory. Barbs back and forth that I can handle. His pouty lips drawn up in a sneer is familiar. I don't have to think of how much I want them against me and around me. "Aw jealous that I have someone to drink with, and you do not, eh Longbottom?" Draco returned his sneer for a sneer turning away once more to head to his desk. Neville's words stopped him cold in his tracks.

"Wouldn't you like to know who I drink with Malfoy. I am not here for a Tit for Tate, though. Supposedly a new member, the DoM reported seeing a man come out of the veil while you were in there, and an old wand was being examined. He said the man was tall with long black hair and pale skin. Sound like anyone we know?" His deep voice purred smoothly behind Draco, making him shiver. Draco could only hope the other wizard would not notice his reaction.

"Sounds like a few people that come to mind. You will have to be more specific." Here Neville growled, finally coming to the end of his patience with his old enemy from school.

"I am talking about bleeding Severus fucking Snape Draco; stop being a prat and just tell me, is he alive or not." Draco could only curse softly. He turned around and heaved a deep sigh.

"Yes, Neville Severus fucking Snape, as you so eloquently put it is alive."

"Shit." It seemed to be all he could say as his eyes went round. Neville walked over to the nearest chair to sit down in a state of complete shock. He had never expected Draco to confirm it. Neville had thought Draco would laugh, lie, or even call him nutters for suggesting such a stupid thing. Now here he was admitting that yes, their old professor is indeed alive once more.

Draco laughed mirthlessly as he dropped another bomb on Neville needing to spill his other new on someone so that it would then feel real.

"Oh yeah, and my father had a baby with Hermione Granger. So, congratulate me, I have a baby brother." Neville looked up at Draco in even more shock. "Well, fuck! Who knew Hermione had it in her. That is why she left England so quickly. I always thought it had been that boy she had been raving about for over a week, Randle something."

Draco blinked at Neville at hearing that name. It sounded familiar somehow. Where did he know that name from? Placing a finger to his chin, he tapped it in thought than something clicked suddenly. "Neville, you do not mean Randle Witshire, do you?"

Neville's eyes lit up. "Yes, that is it. She kept going on and on about him for a week back in the 8th year. I assumed she met up with him then left to do her apprenticeship." Draco looked at the other wizard before shaking his head negatively. "My father drove him off before she could and took his place. Besides, there is no way Randle Witshire could get anyone pregnant."

Hearing Drace say this, Neville got an adorable confused look on his face. His brow creased, and he bit his bottom lip in concentration. It made Draco want to slide in his lap than pull it out with his mouth. Shaking his head, he tried to focus on the conversation at hand. Instead, he went to explain his words in depth.

"Randle Witshire does not exist. It is a name that one of our Slytherin used to meet witches and to get together with because they could not do it normally."

Here Neville's eyebrow shot up once more, a completely baffled look on his face now. "Why ever not." Draco sighed before placing a hand against the bridge of his nose to stave off a headache.

"Because Randle Witshire is really Pansy Parkinson in a Polyjuice form."