Draco 5 August 2017
She didn't need me there, she wanted me there. She wanted me to be there to show her friend that she wasn't nutters, that we really are married and in love. She put him in his place, in a way that only she could.
I just sat there proud. Proud of the beautiful, strong warrior that sat next to me and carried my name.
It was, so to say, an exciting dinner. Ginny Potter was crying at the other end of her phone, asking all the girly questions: is he the one?, do you love him?, have you 'made it official' - that one caused my wife to blush profusely and Potter to get nauseated. She also gave me the 'if you hurt her, I won't be afraid to kill your ferret-y arse' speech. Which her husband just replied, 'there will be a line Gin.'
"Honey," I asked when we got back to our - singular - suite, "I know Potter is the Chosen One and all, but he's more like the Clueless One. He does know where babies come from right?" The discussion on our marital affairs made him very uncomfortable.
My beautiful bride was laughing, such a melodic sound, "yes he does. He has three kids of his own remember?"
"I was just wondering, because he seemed a little lost on the mechanisms of the whole thing. I was thinking his wife had gone to the baby Gringotts and took a withdrawal."
"I don't which is creepier," she called from the bathroom, "that image or the idea of my two best friends having sex."
"That's for you to decide." I look over in the corner of the living area, where Padfoot is curled up. There sits my luggage. In the morning I return to London for more-or-less a week, a week without the lovely lady that has stolen my heart. Tonight will be the last night that I can go to sleep with my wife and wake up with her next to me, hopefully in the same state of undress as we woke this morning.
I can't seem to take my eyes off the luggage though. Being away from her, again. This time it feels worse than during any holiday from school or even when we graduated. I had a feeling that she would amount to great things when we left Hogwarts; I was in band-aid mode fixing my life, my family's reputation, and our family business, and in no real place to be in love with someone like Hermione Granger.
Never would I have thought that in Rio she and I would find each other and rekindle any little spark that there was at school. Neither of us knew about that spark when we were there. But looking in her eyes, it was eternal. It was always there. It was just finding it and fanning it into the fire of love that neither of us can deny anymore.
She turns the radio on in the other room, to hear 'I Won't Give Up'. Tonight it is killing me. I will not and cannot give up on her. Ever.
She peeks her head out of the bedroom, I don't even need to look I just know. I turn and take her in my arms holding her like tomorrow is goodbye forever.
My heart is aching just thinking about being away from her, even for a few minutes. I take her and dance around the living room, and it feels like we are walking on clouds.
I don't realize that tears are coming down my cheeks and landing in her hair.
"Draco, please." Her voice is tainted with pain.
I look at her, her tawny eyes, caressing her cheek, "I am terrified it's all a dream. When I get back to London, everything - all of this - would never have happened." I rest her head on my chest, "I want this, have wanted it for so long."
"Draco, it won't. I want this too. I never thought magic like what we have even existed. I didn't know it was you, but I wanted it. I needed this. I need you."
I lift her up and carry to our bed, I will have her remember this night for as long as we are apart.
When I open my eyes in the morning, they start welling up again. 'Mirrors' is playing somewhere in the background. She is the other half of me.
'Get ahold of yourself Draco' I can hear my father chiding me. I wish I could have shoved his bile back down his throat. Maybe then I would have had this witch as mine in school. I would have married her upon graduation if that was an option. If there was a chance that my family would have accepted her, if there was a chance that my father wasn't the evil bastard that he is, if we hadn't put all our faith in something intrinsically wrong; I would have married her the day we left school and made every single day of her life happy.
Now I have to make up for a lot of lost time.
I kiss her cheek, admiring her body one last time before I have to leave.
I slide out of bed, trying not to disturb her, grab my clothes that were - um - everywhere. I silently chuckle. Need to remind myself to give the maids here a raise. I head to the bathroom, where my travelling clothes are, but I can't seem to be moving this morning. I just stand with my back against the door in a gut wrenching pain that has fully engulfed me. Another song I hear in the background has me damn near crying.
I know I have to leave.
I know I will be back in her arms in a few days.
I know this is real.
I'm afraid that I am happy. And I don't deserve to be.
Dressed and packed, I can't find another reason to linger other than to see her smile one more time. I kneel down alongside her side of the bed, just watching her sleep in peace.
"I love you Hermione Malfoy. I promise I won't hurt you. I promise I will be there for you. I promise to be the man you need and the one you want. Today, Tomorrow, and Forever." I whisper before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep sweet my bride. My beautiful bride."
With that I leave a note for her, make sure a basket of muffins and a bouquet of flowers are waiting, and take my leave to return to London.
"Blaise Zabini, tell me that baby is out of your wife yet! Because Merlin help me if I left my bride's side any earlier than need be…" I yell as I walk into our suite of offices and see his office door open and a light on.
"Pansy's fine, thanks for asking," he belts back. "The baby, Esmeralda Samantha, is fine too. She probably wants to meet her godfather. That is if he calms his arse down."
"Sorry, wound up today. Last night we told the Potters." I drop into one of the chairs and prop my feet on his desk, earning me a distasteful glare. I nod to his firewhiskey, hinting that I need one of them too.
"Oh really? How did that go?"
"I'm still alive aren't I? And trust me, I have all my bodyparts. And if you don't trust me, trust my wife."
"So I assume the future Minister is still happily married and knows it completely."
"Of course." I give a smirk. He knows me better than probably anyone.
"And the groom?"
"More than happily. Other than I had to leave her early this morning."
"After a long night I presume." I just give him a knowing look. "Huh. Maybe another baby Malfoy will make an appearance. This time, damn the kid will be something for sure! Smart. Attractive." He pauses. "Hope for another son mate. Daughters are scary."
"Is that why I'm godfather to all your daughters?" I sip my firewhiskey.
"Would you believe me if I said I didn't plan it that way?"
"Not one single bit, mate."
"See, you're as smart as Granger."
"Malfoy, you mean. Her name's Malfoy."
"Just so you know, I want rights on the exclusive with the Prophet."
"Not happening. Remember I know how much your salary is." I chuckle. As much as I hate being away from her, I needed some Zabini time. "I still have some things on my to do list from this trip - getting Hermione the iPhone, remodeling and soundproofing the hotel, and give the maids a raise at the hotel. Don't ask. " I stop for a minute. "CRAP! I need to call someone from downstairs. Is Christina Rosemond still in charge of property acquisitions?"
"Yeah why?"
"Uh… need a new house, mate. Her's is tainted by Weasel, but I won't have her sell it. My flat isn't really ready for 3 kids and a wife. Astoria is still in the Manor, and I doubt she'll ever leave. Anyways, I doubt that Hermione wants to live in the Manor, with all her bad memories of it."
"I'll call down for her. Do you know what you're looking for?"
"Not a clue. I mean really, this all has happened in less than a week. My world has become a dream, one I've been dreaming since as long as I can remember, in a week. And nothing's gone wrong. And I really don't think it will."
"Karma is finally smiling on you. Now do you want to see your puggy?"
"Oh hell, she looks like Pansy?"
"Nah, she's all my daughter. She's beautiful."
"You're supposed to say that mate. You're her father."
"And you're her godfather, so get used to it."
I take about a dozen or so pictures of Esme Zabini - also known as puggy - and send a few to my wife. "Can't wait for you to meet her. She's actually pretty cute. Hopefully you won't hold a grudge against her for taking me away from you. Love DM"
Shortly afterwards, "Missed you this morning. Thanks for the muffins and note. She is cute, for being Pansy's kid. Can't wait to meet her. Come back soon. Love HG-M"
I'm saving that text for life. She's mine. This dream is perfect.
I just dread when she gets home and it hits the Prophet. I just want the kids to know before it hits. So we have 2 weeks and a day to keep it quiet.
Tonight it really hit me. Scorp is still at the Manor, my new bride is somewhere in the South Pacific - Manila I think she said. There was an outbreak of magic/anti-magic rioting. I guess some moron wizard showed himself in front a big futbol match. After that the Muggle government is trying to get all the wizards and witches exiled. So Hermione is working to find the moron and work with the Muggle government to come to a peaceful co-existence or at least find a new place for the magical refugees.
That's my wife. She is a kick butt diplomat. A hot kick butt diplomat. My hot kick butt diplomat.
I am squishy soft now.
It is early evening when I hear next from her: "Draco, why did someone from Cupertino California USA come and claim my phone for most of the day? For a data exchange? And now I have an iPhone? Was this your doing? Love HG-M"
Finally she got her new phone! One thing off my to do list.
"Honey, yeah, there's a story about that. I got it for you the morning after we eloped Your alarm was going off and I couldn't turn it off. It's the iPhone 8 that comes out in October. The guy from Cupertino works for Apple and he did the exchange as a favor to me. FYI if you want Rose to get a 7S for Hogwarts, I can get one for you that works there. Love you - DM"
I put my feet up and sit down to a simple dinner spaghetti a la bolognese. Something I lived off of for about a year when I lived in Italy.
I get an urgent text not much after dinner: "Malfoy, needed at the Ministry, high priority. Give them my name when you get here. Potter."
I just heard from Hermione an hour or two ago. What could be so important that Potter needs me? I had sent Trini on with Hermione, as help and as my direct liaison for anything MII related. Plus she's giving me real updates on my wife, because she knows I'll apparate out there immediately if needed. I text her, hoping to get any information.
I practically run into the Ministry, at the reception desk I ask "Potter. I'm supposed to see Harry Potter."
She looked at me absolutely confused. "Malfoy? Draco Malfoy?"
She looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. "Yeah, have we met before?"
"First year at Hogwarts. I was a Ravenclaw. Martina Hornsby. Well now Hornsby. I was Easton then. You were…"
"An ass I know. Sorry. I need to see Harry Potter though. He sent me an urgent message."
Martina looked down at a parchment, "He is in with the Minister of Magic."
Directions in hand, I practically run to the Minister's office where I have another secretary that interferes with my mission to talk to Potter. Finally tired of this run around, I bellow out "POTTER!"
And the scarface pops his head out of the office. "What the hell took you so long?"
"Found a Ravenclaw from our year who wanted to know why I of all people would be looking for you. And then this secretary." I looked at the Minister, "I can have Trini teach your secretarial pool some customer service and common courtesy if you'd like. She's probably the best witch administrative goddess anywhere."
"I've met her on my many visits to Malfoy Industries. She is quite remarkable Draco." Kingsley Shacklebolt reminds me in his deep baritone voice. "I might take you up on that. How long can you free her?"
"She's with Hermione right now. So I guess you can say I'm loaning her out to the Ministry." I smirk. "But can we wait until Blaise comes back from paternity leave?"
"Pansy had the baby?" Potter looks at me confused.
I glare, "It's the only reason I'm not in South East Asia right now." But my eyes tell him that if he breathes the information we trusted him with, I will murder him. "So what was the big emergency?"
"I have to tell him Draco."
"WHY!? She told you no and we both explained why." The look terrified me. "What the hell happened?"
"I can't tell you unless you let me tell him."
"Potter you are getting on my last bloody nerve."
"We can trust him to tell no one."
"These walls have ears. Go to my loft. I'll tell him there."
"Let's go now, this is urgent." Potter has a fear in his tone.
"You've been there Minister, I'll take Potter." And I really debate dragging by his ear or his balls, but for my bride I grab his arm and side apparate to the foyer of my loft. "I would say get comfortable, but I don't think is really a social call."
He doesn't mince words, "Draco tell him," nodding Shacklebolt's way.
"Hermione and I eloped in Rio. We haven't told the kids yet so we are waiting for her to be home and the kids be together before going public." I glare over at Potter, "There I said it. Now what the hell is going on?"
"Harry, you believe him?" Kingsley looked at his head auror.
He nodded, "Their rings are heirlooms, it isn't something the two of them take lightly."
"And Potter here walked in on my wife and I being intimate shall we say."
Potter cringed so it had the desired effect, "Something I am still trying to get out of my mind. Thanks Malfoy."
"Trust me, I'm going to keep reminding you. For a long time." I turn my attention off my classmate and my wife's best friend, "What has happened, please Minister."
He comes up to me, putting his hand to try to console me. "She's fine, we just have her on lockdown. We are sending an auror team to her for protection."
"Potter, what's the real story?"
He looks at his boss, "Told you he wouldn't buy it."
"The wizard that began this mess, he conjured something similar to the Dark Mark."
My face doesn't show any fear, but inside my stomach is turning. "I'm coming with you Potter. You're good, but remember I have specialized training shall we say."
"Draco no. You're staying here. No questions. If you and Hermione want to keep this quiet, you have to stay."
I roll up my sleeve showing my faded Dark Mark. "Do you have one of these? No you have a bloody scar on your head. You were on the good side, but I know how the other side operates. And I can stay hidden. I am not going to sit on the sidelines when my wife is in danger."
"She faced you aunt and survived. And she was there when we fought Voldemort. She saved"
"Your sorry ass more than once, I know!" Who does Potter think that I am not going to be there? I am pissed and right in his face. "But if she can avoid being hurt AGAIN, I'm going to do everything I can. Remember we all have our own scars. What if this demented wizard has a pureblood mania? What is on her arm? It spells out that she's a Muggle born. And that and her ranking in the Ministry here, she's a target."
Potter is ready to fight me on this and it is written across his face. "And you? You're one of the most influential wizards in the world just by being the head of the single biggest business. You will make that target only bigger."
"Give me 15 minutes Potter and I will show you that I can hide in the spotlight." I mutter accio father's cloak. It will take that much time to get here from Malfoy Manor. "I still have some tricks up my sleeve. Literally and figuratively. Now while we wait, how about a drink Minister?"
"Draco I must agree with Harry." Kingsley thinks he is going to convince me out of this while I am already at my wet bar pouring 3 large firewhiskeys for us and pass them out. "I can't guarantee your safety."
"Minister, with all due respect, I can find a reason to go there if you deny me access and I will just need to confer with Trini for days. Potter, you're good but you are a Ministry pawn. I'm better and have fewer restrictions on me."
"Kingsley I told you. It is going to be a pain to keep him here."
"Harry, you can always send him to Azkaban."
I just laugh at that idea, "my attorneys will have me out before I get out of the Ministry offices. The only reason my father is still there, is because I want him to be there."
"He's right," Potter resigns as he takes a large drink. "As much as I want him to stay, I don't think there is any way to prevent his coming."
"Thanks Harry." It's the first time I use his first name tonight, if ever.
It isn't long before two things arrive: my father's Death Eater cloak and my son's owl. I get a glare from the other two men as soon as it arrives.
"Potter you have your father's cloak, I have mine. I can hide with this, or pull a Snape."
"How did you know about my father's cloak?"
I chuckle, "it was one of the worst kept secrets at school. Now was the map real?"
Now it's his turn to laugh, "You know about the map too? Well now all my school time secrets are exposed."
"Your dad and Sirius made it right? I heard about it from my mother's side of the family, Aunt Andromeda."
"I keep forgetting your mother was his cousin. Now where have you hidden that thing?" Potter looks surprised that I have it. Like I ever was a Death Eater.
I know I look grim, "It's father's. I keep it to remind me of the mistakes of the past and that I have to work twice as hard because we have fallen so very far. Never thought I'd put the evil thing on though. If I can avoid it, I will."
I open the letter the owl brought: 'Dad, what was with grandfather's cloak leaving the Manor? Is everything alright? I had a weird dream of you dancing with someone other than mother the other night. I haven't seen you this happy, ever. Now that grandfather's cloak is out. I am worried. Let me know that everything is fine. Dad, I love you. Scorp'
"Damn… how did he… well Trelawney is going to have a fun time with him." I mutter to myself.
"What was that about Malfoy?" Potter looks at me invasively.
I smirk, "Scorpius. He saw my father's cloak leave the Manor. But I guess he had a dream of me dancing with someone other than his mother. The other night, Hermione and I were having a private rooftop dinner where we danced late into the night. No one was there to tell him. Just thinking he seems to be more reliable than that loon that taught Divination."
Potter is laughing, "You and 'Mione might just might work. She would rant forever about Divination."
"Not many of us didn't. I remember having to take it for two years. I would have prefered anything to Divination, but Trelawney thought I had 'something special'," I say complete with air quotes. "Wrong generation, nutter. Now Potter, back on the real topic: When do we leave?"
He looks over at his boss, who just nods. "In the morning. I would recommend getting some sleep."
"You don't know me do you? The woman I love may be in danger. I won't be able to sleep."
"I need you at your best, Malfoy."
"I always am Potter. Don't worry about me."
Harry looks for anything to change the subject, because he probably knows I'm right. He looks around my flat. "Maybe next time I'm here it will be on a more social occasion. It's a nice place but not Hermione's taste really."
"I know. It was meant as a bachelor type pad or a glorified man cave for Scorp and I. No lady has stayed overnight here. And my wife will be the first, if she wants. Otherwise I have acquisitions looking for something more family friendly."
"Why not the Manor?"
"What part of 'family friendly' did you not comprehend Potter? And Astoria is still there."
"You two also have two kids off to school this year, so it will be only one at home."
"Yeah, tell that to any mother Potter. I'll make the popcorn."
Kingsley is watching the banter between us. "I'll take some popcorn now if you have any Draco."
"Sorry no." I laugh. I look at my phone to text Scorp that it was me that summoned the cloak and not to fear but I see Trini never texted back and it is unlike her. "Men, is there any reason that Trini wouldn't text me back?"
After an awkward, stressful pause "Are you sure you want to wait until the morning Minister?" Potter looks more concerned.
"Get them ready. I'll have the portkey waiting for you at the office." He turns to me, "Draco, next time I hope for better circumstances. Adieu."
"Get packing, we're leaving tonight."
