Hermione 21 August 2017
I think I shut her up. Okay her fears at least. As any mother would, they worry over their children at all times.
Astoria Malfoy was no different. She worries that I will look at her son with the same love and caring as I look at my own children.
I made a vow to her that I would. Nothing like the unbreakable vow, but still I promised her that I will always be there for her son just like I would my own children. I know Slytherins have a different opinion of family, but mine is that of a Gryffindor and we love each other, blood or not. Honestly, some of my closest family is not blood.
I must say, after the cumbersome introductions, the lunch went nicely. Even Hugo made friends with the Zabini children - Fabian and Jadis.
Pansy nudged me more than once when she saw the interactions between our children. And the two of us chatted it up like old friends along with Ginny. I feel like I am in an episode of either Dr Who or the Twilight Zone. Astoria was focused on her son and his excitement for school.
Harry, Blaise and Draco chatted it up they have been close since first year, not only about 2 weeks now. Because Harry walking in on Draco and I in Rio can make any close relationship distant in an instant. If it weren't for Ginny and her informing me of their bedroom antics, I think I would have lost my best friend that day.
After lunch the Zabini family and Astoria left.
"That went better than expected," my husband sounded obliged. "I half expected Pansy to lose it and attempt to hex you. Which just would have ended bad for her - between you and Ginny - she'd be a goner."
I laid my head on his shoulder before we left the semi privacy of the restaurant, "she wouldn't do anything to me while I held her baby. Holding Esme was somewhat of a security measure." His arm went around my shoulder and his head leaned into mine.
"Somewhat?" I see a swirl of colors in his eyes and in the end they held a softness to them. "We are really doing this." It was more a statement than a question. "It's working too. I don't know how I deserve this, but darling, I'm grateful."
"We do have one more hurdle love - the Weasleys. And I may have - um - not given you an out on this one."
Terror strikes his face as suddenly a mask appears that controls all emotional muscle response. "I'm dead. I'm just dead. Well all my affairs are in order, Scorpius will be taken care of. Yeah I'm ready to die."
"You're more dramatic than Harry was when he had to face Voldemort in the forest. When your mother saved him" I remind him that he and his family were not all bad that day. They helped all of us, in their own way. "They're helping me move. I told them that I need some extra hands to help move into our new place and I have all these wonderful brothers in law - well except Percy. He's expecting me at work tomorrow."
"Yeah his tent is going to be a beautiful shade of chartreuse and a mustardy-orange when he goes to any Quidditch World Cup matches. The suck up prat."
We finished the children's school supply shopping, and I have no idea how we did it. Scorpius and Rose both wanted an owl, but Draco and I convinced them that their cell phones would suffice in contacting home. If they needed to contact anyone else, they could use a school owl.
We had the luck of running into the Headmistress herself as we made a second round in Flourish and Blotts.
"Some of my new first years, I presume?" the elegantly dressed, as always, McGonagall stated looking over myself to the three 11 year olds running a slight muck throughout the store.
"Ah Minerva, I needed to talk to you about a couple of pending matters," my husband states in his coolest, calmest voice.
"Really Draco, I thought that reviewing the security plan with Theo Nott, we had everything covered."
I look at him and then straight to the floor admiring the excellent craftsmanship that laid the ancient stones we now walk on.
"That and have you seen the addendum? There is an additional student involved." She shakes her head, yet for the life of me I cannot meet her eyes. "Well it is Rose Weasley. Just as a precautionary measure. Now Headmistress, may we talk somewhere a little more private?" as he takes her arm and leads her to the second floor which has much fewer people. "Hermione, come on now. Where is that courage you kept touting for years." I chuckle as a linger behind, slowly following.
"Just keeping an eye on the children Draco." I lie. Flat out lie.
"Yes because their faces are imprinted in the floor tiles," his words may sound stern but his tone was jovial and comical. "Now Headmistress, there is a secret that we need to let you in on. It is closely guarded, as long as we can. But it affects the children you should be aware. And with it we request a favor."
"We? Draco, who are you including in the 'we' you speak?"
"Are you coming Hermione? Sometime today? Please." His eyes show such intense, passionate, caring love. Those eyes that I lose myself in all the time.
"Minerva," I begin, "Draco and I were very lucky to reconnect recently and in a positive manner."
He snorts a laugh. "'Mione, that makes it sound likes we had a cup of tea together." He rolls his eyes overly dramatically. "Minerva, we eloped. We are working to keep it out of the press as much as possible for the children. We are planning an announcement party to let it finally go public, once the children are more accepting and situated in the new chapter of their lives. And we wanted that families involved. I know what a reduction in the student body that would include, so we wanted to talk about possible dates that it would minimize the disruption in the children's schedules."
The headmistress and dear friend looked between the two of us and then a slow smile curved her lips.
"Draco," she sounded scolding, "what is your real reason for keeping this out of the Prophet? I can tell there is something more."
He sighs, probably realizing that having him for seven years as a student she still can read him. "Yes there is more, I fear the fallout of this. For Hermione. Me, I don't care. Her… She deserves everything she worked so hard for."
She nods. "I will talk to the professors. I assume you want your nieces and nephews to attend, Hermione?" I nod, still not able to find my voice. "Potters too?"
"Of course Minerva. Harry and Draco are becoming more than sociable."
I think I heard her mumble something like 'hell has frozen over'. "Like I said, I will discuss with the professors and come up with a list of dates that will work. And make sure it doesn't interfere with the quidditch schedule. If you," she addresses my husband, "and Harry are on civil terms, I think I might see the two of you at one or more matches."
"Expect us at least at the Slytherin/Gryffindor match. My son wants to try out for the house team this year too, so we" he nods to me, "might be there for more than one."
"Still hold house pride Draco?"
He nods, "and I'm not the only one. It is getting interesting to watch our two houses start and attempt to mingle civilly."
"Would you mind a minute with your wife?" The headmistress requests; receiving a nod of agreement from Draco. Once he leaves and catches up with the remainder of the family, she turns her attention solely to me. "Dear, how are you holding up after Ron's disappearance? I've been terribly worried about you and you haven't returned any of my owls."
"I apologize Minerva. It was very hard for a very long time. I dove into my work and tried my best to keep my family together. Everything reminded me of him." It is really the first time, since Draco and I, that I am opening up about everything. "It hasn't been easy at all. And there is a lot that I only recently have been privy to, and none of it makes it any easier."
"And Draco, how does he fit in?"
"He's been there at my lowest point, at the hardest times. He's let me cry on his shoulder, and he's carried me through nightmares. We really are clicking. He worries about me constantly. And Scorpius, his son. He's been the smile when I needed it the most. He's been the warm arms and caring heart that I've missed for more than months Minerva, I've missed all this for years. I never really knew that I was missing it until he found me."
"This doesn't surprise me. You two were so proud as students, you could only see the few negative parts of each other. Now you are older and more mature, you can see past the bigotry you both harbored and find each other. I just wanted to make sure."
"Minerva, I don't know how much you know about what happened in Manila recently," she shook her head, "there was someone thinking on the lines of what we fought against. He kidnapped me and a Malfoy Industry employee that he loaned to me for the trip. Harry pulled in Draco and he went undercover. I wouldn't be here without Draco and Theo Nott. They brought us food and water, kept our spirits up, and honestly infiltrated and broke the organization before it got any real support. I am proud of Draco, not just with the empire he's built, but as the man he's become."
"You have my blessing then Hermione. I also expect an invitation to this party you are having. And you better have one Professor Slughorn. He seems to have claimed Draco as one of his own recently."
"Noted. Thank you for your blessing. It means a lot to both of us."
Our next stop, with our shopping complete, was our new home and our first real family dinner.
He brought us via the floo network from the Potters. I was the first one through and the moment I stepped inside I knew this was home. It was comfortable, meant for a family. There were picture frames waiting to be filled with memories that we make together. There were soft fabrics and warm colors there was a flow to the house that was welcoming and inviting. My first stop was the living room which was right off the front door and the magical floo entrance. There were floor cushions that invited game or movie nights. Opposite the hearth was a set of stairs that I can only assume led to the second floor and the bedrooms. I peek around, adjacent to the muggle front door to find a closed door that seems to be calling my name.
"Not that door yet my love." I hear him calling over the excited voices of our children. "You can explore everywhere else, just not there yet."
"Draco Malfoy do you have something dangerous behind this door? Like a dragon or something?"
"Now dear, how would Padfoot feel having to compete with a dragon?"
I turn and head the opposite way from where I came, passing the hearth and going towards the dining room. From there is a set of French doors that lead straight outside to a formal garden area with smooth gravel paths, intertwining flowers and herbs and magical plants. Do I see mandrake? Where did Draco get mandrake from? There are benches and lounge chairs throughout the garden giving an inviting and relaxing feel.
"Knowing you, you'll have a favorite spot picked out before the week is through. Someplace where the lighting is just right and the perfume from the plants calm your nerves to read and relax."
Yeah, somehow he knows me better than I expected him to. I turn to see him in the kitchen making dinner the way Muggles do.
"What are you making darling?"
"Fresh pasta; with a basic tomato, garlic, and basil sauce; caprese salad and there's fresh bread already baking. I have to say I cheated and had Blaise get tiramisu from our favorite bakery. He gave it to me at lunch today."
"Do you need any help?" I look at this man, covered in flour, playing with it like it is playdough.
"No I have everything under control. Why don't you go upstairs with the kids. I think Hugo and Rose might want a little help with their rooms." He leans over and without covering me in flour wraps his arm around my shoulder pulling me into a deep kiss.
"Draco, this look - it's really sexy."
"I'll take note of that Mrs Malfoy." And I feel our foreheads caress each other as a smile dances on my lips. "Oh and I also have pumpkin cream cheese muffins cooling for tomorrow."
Those little things, that he remembers and personalizes for me, things that Ron never even noticed. Yes, I am proud of the man Draco Malfoy has become. I am proud to be his wife.
Wandering upstairs, I hear the children louder with each step. Scorpius has music blasting from his room, which is the furthest from my bedroom. Directly across from our double doors is Rosie's room. It has a shelf that encompass the whole top of the room, by the ceiling for her many books. "Mum, it's enchanted. I have put 20 books at least on this shelf and there's still room. I don't know what Draco did, but this is something I want in my home when I finally move out."
"It's a little early to think of those things, darling. What do you think about the rest of the room? I think Aunt Gin did a good job."
"She did a brilliant job mum! I love it. Everything is perfect. And I like that I can hear the music from down the hall but it's not too loud."
"I'm glad sweetheart. Your uncles will be here tomorrow to get our stuff from the house and bring it here. Just make a list of everything you want - just don't worry about the books and clothes and such. That's a given."
"On it mum! This is actually really cool. I like this house. It is like our old house but with a different vibe."
"I think that's what we are all going for." I give my daughter a kiss on her head as I check on the boys.
I see Hugo looking confused at his room like something wasn't right, but he couldn't figure it out. The one think that was noticeable was the picture of Ron and Hugo taken a couple weeks before the disappearance that was on the bedside table. For my husband to acknowledge that this boy needed something of his father, so close, meant a lot to me.
"Hugo, you look lost, like you're drifting in space somewhere."
"I don't know. I can't put a finger on it. It isn't right."
"Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Feel the room around you. Now face what doesn't feel right." He follows my instructions perfectly. He puts his hand out to feel what is wrong and it is the picture. "Does it need to be somewhere else?"
"No it doesn't belong here. It feels weird, like it belongs somewhere else."
I think to myself, it is part of the old house, the old life. It really doesn't belong in a new house with a new life ahead of us. I take it from my son before he opens his eyes.
"Put it outside mum. I feel it behind your back." I step outside and put the picture across the hall.
"How is the room now Hugo?"
"Mum it feels good." He pulls out his diary that he started when Ron left us, writing at incredulous speed. "Yeah, that is what was wrong," he commented as he briefly looked up from the book of memories.
I don't know if I should be happy or upset about it. I understand this is a house for new memories, but we can't forget all the old memories that make us who we are. I know some of those frames downstairs will be filled with pictures of us - our family - moving forward, but there are also pictures from the time of the war; when Ron, Harry, and I were at the bottom and at the top. That time made us. It destroyed us. It rebuilt us. And we became new people because of it.
The same goes for Draco. His time as the Death Eater that had no choice defined him for a long time. It broke him. I remember his eyes at Malfoy Manor. His gut was wretched as he was torn between protecting himself and his loved ones and doing what he knew was right.
I glance down at my scar. It doesn't define me. It reminds me. It reminds me to stand strong to my beliefs and fight for what I love and what is right.
I may have been a mental noble know-it-all, but it formed who I am today.
I look into the last room occupied by one of the kids - Scorpius's room. I hear his music and I notice he's playing a guitar, humming along.
I linger in the doorway just listening to the ballad playing and the emotions falling from his lips. It isn't a sad song, nor a love song. It is just a song of life changing around you, growing up, and letting go. It is a song of fathers and sons, of heartbreak but joy.
I notice the raw talent in the young man. He has his father's talent on a broom, and the predetermined Malfoy stunning good looks and charm. From what Draco has told me, he is destined to be an accomplished wizard too. But his music sets him apart. It is the escape of the emotions that Draco bottled when he was in school. I wonder if he had an outlet for his emotions would he be the same man he is today, or would he have followed a different path?
Then I remember my daughter saying she liked hearing the music.
Why do I feel that they are destined for each other, no matter what we do. Like McGonagall said about Draco and I - we could find each other when we looked past the bigotry. They don't have the hurdle that we did, so are their stars aligned to be together? And would it be all that bad?
I see him look up slightly, in a dreamy haze, from his guitar.
"It was lovely. You have quite a talent."
"My mum never really appreciated it. Especially when it is Muggle music I sing, but there are times that they say what I feel better than I can."
"You just need the life experience, dear. You can't write about love without feeling that emotion as it soaks into your being and wraps itself around your soul."
He smirks, the Malfoy smirk, "you can write the lyrics then. When did it hit you?"
"The next day. The day after we were married. Your father was determined not to tell me and I knew something was irking him, but I thought it was just me. We didn't have the best time in school and all." I rub my arm again, he doesn't need to know about that yet. He still has a bedroom at the Manor. "But he was so kind, going out of his way to help me. Now that I think about it, he wanted to spend time with me and I think he believed I would figure it out on my own. I may be the brightest witch, but when I'm tipsy - yeah I'm hopeless at remembering things."
"Can you tell me about it. Dad didn't go into details, but I am one of those people that - well I'm told I obsess over details by Aunt Pansy."
"Where do you want to start?"
"First time you met dad."
"On the train to Hogwarts. I was looking for Neville's - well now Professor Longbottom's - toad Trevor."
"Was he really a prat? And did you slap him?"
"Yes and yes - third year."
"Would you have been interested in him back then?"
"I don't know. We saw the Headmistress today, she was one of our professors. She said that we had to get past the hate we had for each other - and yes it went both ways - but it didn't surprise her. So I think there was something then, we just were blind to see it."
I can see him studying me. "Why did you marry Ron Weasley? Did you love him?"
"Looking back I don't know if I did or if it was what everyone expected. I did care for him, but it isn't the same as with your father. It is like if fire and ice combined with every touch. Every kiss fireworks explode each nerve ending. It is a passion and a want; a need and something that you long to give. It is a battle of the primal and the elegant. And one day I hope you find it. But take your time."
"Yeah you should write lyrics. If that is what love is like, no wonder no one gets it right."
I chuckle, "well the reason I came up was not to discuss love and lyrics, but to see what you thought of your room."
"Dad knows me. I have a wall for each of the things that matter to me. My music, quidditch, family, and one blank one that represents the options for my future. The three walls, they support me. But the blank wall" I notice it's the one with the large window, "it is the hope for the future. And it having a window signifies that I am free to choose. It is something dad always stressed with me. I have the freedom to choose my destiny. He will support me in my choice, but he won't pressure me. He can advise me, but he won't force me."
"That dear is because for so long growing up, he felt he had no choice. Everything was dictated to him from how to dress, how to act, how to think. It is very metaphorical. You just need some life experience and then you can write your own lyrics. Don't have me put words in your mouth. Find your own voice and use it."
"Would you hate it if I called you mum? My mother, she never was a 'mum' she was a proper Mother with a capital M. You are more a mum."
"I would love it. But like I said, don't let me put words in your mouth."
"Nope. Don't worry mum. This is all me."
