Draco 2 August 2017
It wasn't hard to get my tired bride - though it's obvious she doesn't remember that - to have lunch with me and go for a drive to see Luna. I look over to her, as she's looking out the window absentmindedly, with a wave of happiness that I don't think I have ever felt.
Certainly not with Astoria. But that is not a pretty picture in the slightest from the beginning. The only good thing that came out of our marriage was our son.
"Granger, how are your kids? You have a daughter going to Hogwarts this year, right?"
"Rose, yes. We all agree she's going into Gryffindor, like well almost everyone." She smiled. "She's the kind of kid that makes the whole family proud." She glanced my way,
"Yeah, being a Granger and Weasley both, she is bound to be like you." He looked quickly over at the passenger seat, "what about the boy?"
"Hugo. We've got a bit with him. He's, well, very much Ron's son."
I chucked. 'Of course he is.' I think.
"What about you Draco?"
"One son Scorpius. He's a better, more understanding, version of me. He'll give Rose a run this next year. And let her know, if he gets out of line to tell me. He knows he's not allowed to pick on others, especially due to their - um - status."
"I don't think you'll have any problems with him Malfoy. Where do you think he'll be sorted?"
"Really? Is there any question?" I laugh.
"You never know, Malfoy."
"Yeah," I feel down when I think about what is coming out of my mouth next, "there are some things you really can't change though Granger. I just hope his house doesn't see him as the Malfoys of old, but more his own person."
"They will, give them time." She patted my hand gently. I couldn't help but smile, not smirk but a genuine smile at this one small gesture.
"Close your eyes, get some rest. We have a long drive ahead of us." I push a couple of buttons on the console and some gentle, quiet music comes on. "If you need, I can log you in to the wifi in the car."
"No. I think I'll rest. Thanks."
Out of the corner of my eye I see her look out in the distance with a slight smile brightening her tired eyes.
Push a couple more buttons and my phone is connected to the car's bluetooth, just in case.
Half way-ish I hear my cell go off. Looking at the console it's Blaise.
"What did you get mate?"
"Well I talked to Potter for you."
I chuckle, "Um I have a guest right now, she's asleep but I don't think she'd appreciate knowing the details of you contacting her best friend on my behalf."
"I just gave him your number. If he calls it's on you to be your slick self around her."
"Thanks mate."
"What have I missed that she's asleep?"
"I went to the World Cup meeting in lieu of Simpson. He caught something and I sent him home. Then we had lunch. Trini will scream when she sees the bill. Have her put it on my personal account. Even though it was a business-ish meeting."
"What the hell did Simpson catch that you sent him home?"
"Nothing really, I just took it off his duties for awhile." I couldn't help the smirk that came out when I looked to the beautiful witch next to me. "I needed an excuse to be in that meeting. He can still do a lot of the legwork, just keep me fully apprised of everything. As long as he doesn't allow the tents to look as bad as they did last time. Astoria had a meltdown."
I listen to him on the other end laughing. "Does she know about you and Astoria?"
"She asked and I was honest that our divorce was finalized 6 months ago. So yeah."
"And that she still lives in the manor?"
"That I left out. But it really is for Scorp more than anything. Plus, let's be honest, I'm in London more than the manor." I pause getting tired of his third degree inquisition. "How's Zabini baby watch?"
"She hasn't moved yet. I am going to her appointment tomorrow."
"Tell her to get that kiddo out, I can't wait to be a godfather." I remember something, "also when you talk to Potter next, have him set a time when I'm back to meet with Teddy."
"Teddy? Who's Teddy?"
"Teddy Lupin. My late cousin Dora's son."
"Why would Potter set that up?"
"Teddy is his godson. He grew up as a Potter."
"Oh joy… a Black family member raised by a Potter."
"Hell if Sirius didn't end up in Azkaban, Potter would have been raised by a Black."
"You can't call that nutter cousin of yours a real Black."
"He wasn't a nutter, but he's as much of a Black as I am. He was still mother's cousin. And ultimately on the right side. Honestly the rest of the family - especially Bella - are the nutters."
"She's having an influence on you Draco."
I look over knowing exactly who he's talking about.
"So off my personal life, anything I should know about at HQ?"
"Board was pissed about you missing the meeting, nothing I couldn't handle."
"Tell them I'm taking a very public role in our participation in the World Cup. An email will suffice. Tell them it is good PR for the company."
"I can work with that. I'll run it by PR and maybe even a press release."
"No press releases yet. Tell the board that I want this to be an honest attempt and having it go to the press this early will make it look insincere. But you know the real reasons. I don't want any of this getting out, not now. Remember she's still tapped for Minister."
"I'll bite my tongue then. I'll run it by Trini."
"Oh hell. She doesn't know. Give her the basics only, not the real reason." There's going to be some explaining to her. More than to Blaise, more than to Astoria. I'd better be prepared to be cursed or at least rubber banded.
"That is on you. I'm bringing popcorn." Blaise was laughing, I know.
"Yeah, I gotta go, you still have work to do before you go on paternity leave." I say with a laugh.
"I have to work so you can have a vacation. Or should I say honeymoon?"
"Shut it Blaise." I hang up and put some more lively music on as we go through the jungle here to see her friend Luna.
This drive is really relaxing, just listening to her sleep. At one point, her hand found my leg and it didn't move. I couldn't bring to move it myself, so I just held hers in mine.
"Granger, dear, I wish you could remember last night. It would make everything so much easier." I say out loud. I know if she does remember, there's a chance that what we had last night would be over. A pretty darn good one. If I have her see what I've changed into, the man I finally grew up to be, maybe it won't be over. But with each of those options, there's a chance that Weasel shows his useless face back.
How the hell could he have left her and their kids for over 6 months? From what I gathered, he and Potter had a fight during a mission and when they were to meet at the Burrow, Weasel never showed. A team went out immediately but no one found anything. And Potter was the one to break it to her.
Weasel is a rat's arse for leaving her like that. Just disappearing. No word, nothing. She was hopeless and full of pain, because of him.
After 6 months they presumed him dead. Burial and everything. It didn't make the press because how bad she was, how much pain, how tired, how hopeless. It's why neither Blaise nor I knew about it. I really want to send Weasel's bloody arse to Azkaban for the pain he caused her. It was worse than any cruciatus curse, and she had survived the worst of that at my aunt Bella's hand. It's been 8 months since his disappearance, 2 since his mock funeral, and still she is dying inside.
I just need to be beside her, helping her heal. Helping her remember that I love her, broken or not. I need her to remember the vows we made to each other last night.
I wake the console to make sure I'm on the right path (can't call these roads for sure) and once I'm comfortable that we are going the right direction. I decide to take my fate.
"Malfoy Industr"
"Trini."
"Draaaaaccccccoooo? Is that you? Calling in already? On your vacation? Or is it?"
"Blaise told you I see." Cutting her off for the second time in this call.
"Not enough apparently. What do you need?"
"Mrs Hermione Granger Weasley is staying in the Presidential Suite. I need a size -" her tag is sticking upright, "6 green gown delivered to her. State that it's for dinner, and there is no discussion."
"If you did anything remotely stupid, you're going to have the other two thirds of the Golden Trio all over your ass."
"Trini, that is why I love you dear. And I wasn't stupid. Maybe a little reckless. Fly by the seat of my pants. Not stupid."
"Oh dear gawd did you really say 'fly by the seat of my pants'? Tell me you didn't with a married woman?"
"If I did it would be because she's my wife."
"She's married to Ron Weasley."
"He's presumed dead."
"WHAT!?"
I hit the silence button for a minute or so while I know Trini reads me the riot act.
"Trini can I talk now?" I say meekly.
"Fine."
"She's sleeping next to me, so if you start screaming again, I'll have to hang up on you."
"Fine."
"Now about the dress."
"Now about Weasley."
"What about him?"
"Are they sure?"
"No one is Trini. That is a complication."
"I'll send out our investigative team, I need the details."
"I'll email them to you Trini."
"Draco, anything else I should know?"
"She's the one. She always was."
I hear her sigh. "What else do you need?"
"Her schedule from here and excuses to be at the same places."
"Not hard. Next?"
"The dress, investigative team, reasons to follow her around the world. Um a hotel reservation would help. I don't think she's ready for me to wake up in her bed. Again."
"Oh hell. Did you two?"
"No Trini."
"At some point you have to."
"At some point I have to get her ring back on her finger first."
We finally came up upon the magical creature sanctuary run by Loony - Luna. Her name is Luna. She is a bit odd - but her name is Luna.
"Granger. Hi. We're here. Did you have a good nap?" Looking over I watch as her eyes flutter like butterflies, before opening. Her eyelashes are long and curved framing her large chocolate colored eyes with a certain delicate elegance.
"Thank you Malfoy. For letting me rest." She has such a cute embarrassed blush on her cheeks.
"Watch your step getting out, the ground is sticky muddy. Wait…" I wave my wand over her feet, putting them in a bubble. "Can't have those shoes get covered in mud." My eyes probably lingered on her feet just a little too long, but they could be in sandwich bags and still be sexy to me. "Just a minute Granger, I'll get your door." She is strong willed and independent. I guess Weasel didn't woo her after they were married. Who knows how much he did when they were married.
I give the lady my hand, helping her out of the car. There's that blush again. So gentle against her tanned porcelain skin. "Thank you" escaped mousily out of her lips.
"Hold my hand, like I said it isn't really wet but sticky here."
I walk her up to the office, after she grabbed her bags. I wonder if there is some trouble here. Entering the office it is such a fire hazard. And considering they have some dragons here, that worries me. There are boxes with files haphazardly strewn about the office, some five or six high and leaning at an angle that makes the tower of Pisa look stable. Mental note: send a couple members of our org team down here to help Luna. Before the games of course.
Feeling my phone vibrate and watching the two ladies bond over a hug made for three maybe, I step aside and see the urgency of the text.
Potter: Malfoy, what is the meaning of sending a thug to my office?
Me: Potter, not intended. Blaise is my 2nd at work, and I'm on a business trip. I just ran into Granger and am worried about her.
Potter: Where the hell are you?
Me: What is that concern for me Potter? Flattered. I am, right now, at a magical animal sanctuary.
Potter: Stay away from Hermione, Malfoy.
Me: Uh can't right now, we have to survey a couple of sight for the World Cup hemi-finals. And I need to get her back too. Since I drove her here muggle style and all.
There was a long pause. I could tell Potter had typed and retyped something at least 4 times now.
Then I look over and see Granger typing on her phone. Nevermind… he was texting her.
Potter: Fine, just keep it professional. Hermione has gone through hell recently.
Me: I get that. I'm worried about her. At the meeting this morning, she wasn't her annoying know it all self. She didn't even know that Malfoy Industries was the contracted supplier. At one point when we were talking about the captains' and coaches' housing, she shut down. I probably was the only one who noticed since well we've known each other for years, but it wasn't like her.
Again a drawn out pause. I look out the window as Luna is showing Hermione around. And there it happens again, she's typing on her phone.
Potter: When you get back to London, we'll sit down for lunch or something. I'll explain then.
Me: Bring Teddy. I'd like to meet my cousin.
Potter's pauses are quite annoying really. I don't think he realizes that I have better things to do than sit waiting for his response. But right now I don't, so I clear off a chair from it's inhabitants - nothing more than more files - and put my feet up on one of the boxes.
Potter: Talked to Ginny, she talked to Teddy. Dinner instead of lunch at our place. As long as you're civil and before the kids go off to school.
Me: My son is going off this year for the first time also. I'm not going to miss it.
And I wasn't. I don't know if I should be offended at the statement, or that he probably doesn't know that I have a kid off to school this year. For anything in the world I would be there for Scorpius to board the Hogwarts Express for the first time.
Potter: I know. Call me when you get back and we'll finalize the date.
Me: Thanks. That's all I ask.
Damnit Potter. But at least that was quasi-civil.
I had just put my phone away when it vibrated again. Damn thing is annoying.
Trini: Draco, sent dress. I hope it meets your standards. It isn't this year's runway style, but I think it works.
She attached a picture and a link. My eyes nearly pop out of my head. Dark green, floor length, mermaid style, beaded, with an illusion neckline and a leaf-like pattern around going to sleeves and down the low cut back. The link went to a Rami Salamoun 2014-15 winter collection.
Me: You've outdone yourself. That is stunning. Why did you never find anything like that for Astoria?
Trini: You never looked at Astoria like you look at Granger from what Blaise says. I had to step up my game a bit.
I'm laughing; Trini step up her game? That is like a Krum, LeBron, or Tom Brady improving. It is hard to improve on near perfection.
Me: Thanks. Oh anything on a hotel room for me? And dinner reservations? Or should I call the concierge?
Trini: You're across from Mrs Weasley. Don't blow it. I already made reservations and reserved a car for 7:30.
Me: I won't, not with her. And when I get back I need to clear my dinner calendar. Tentatively schedule a dinner under 'Potter'.
Trini: As in Harry James or Ginevra?
Me: Both. And my cousin Teddy Lupin.
Trini: Understand. Draco, I can't have my #2 and #1 both on paternity leave in one year. No getting in the family way Draco.
Me: No intents. Honest. Talk later.
I tuck my phone in my back slack pocket, lace my fingers behind my head, and close my eyes. I know when it is girl time, and this is it. So just sit back and relax.
