Last week had been a time for wallowing. This week…well, there was still plenty of that but it was a different kind. Hermione was no longer confined to her bed, but spent an obscene amount of time in the suite's library reading. She found it unnerving to be near the bedrooms knowing what they were used for. Draco limited his time with Blaise and only spent an hour at most with him. He made sure to be home before Hermione attempted to go to bed. "Attempted" because she no longer had access to her sleeping aids due to his protective mother. That said, she could only sleep when he was there and it was minimal at best. She often woke up from horrible nightmares and he was the only person who could calm her down.

Regular visitors helped. There was a slew of them this week considering that last week she had banned anyone from seeing her unless said person lived in the Manor. It was interesting, Hermione couldn't help but admit, that in her time of desperation Narcissa was preferable company than anyone outside of her husband. She had a feeling it had something to do with her mother-in-law's flippant behavior. She had a way of caring about you without actually caring. Only a Malfoy could pull off something like that. It was utterly unbelievable.

But this week she was opening up, and today she had her parents for company while Draco was off at the Ministry with Harry.

"How are you doing, Hermione?" Her mother asked. Hermione took a deep breath and shrugged.

"Better. I'm not ready to go dancing or anything, but I'm better than before."

"And you've been to a Healer this week?" Mr. Granger questioned. She nodded.

"Yes, yesterday. They've confirmed that for me to carry a child would be impossible -at least for right now. They want to try removing the curse or counteracting it with Healing Charms. If possible, it'll take time. The curse is quite active and keeps the damaged area as such.

Her parents nodded gravely before her mother threw out another idea.

"Have you and Draco considered surrogacy?"

"We've talked about it. If it's a no-go with curse removal then it's definitely an option. Either that or adoption. Oh! We've also contacted someone named Dr. Lonnegan. He's a squib working as a muggle doctor. Who better to help us try to circumvent magical problems the muggle way?"

"You've certainly given this a lot of thought." Mr. Granger smiled. "I'm glad it's not all shot to hell."

"So am I." Hermione replied with a deep breath. "Whoever did this… They thought that they had ruined our future, but they haven't. We won't let them."

"That's my girl." Mrs. Granger said with unfallen tears in her eyes. "Always fighting. Always pushing through. I hope Draco knows how lucky he is to have you."

"He does. Now let's get going. I promised you that I would show you the most beautiful garden you will ever see in your life."

"I wanted you to know before it came out in the Daily Prophet tomorrow."

Draco could sing. He could skip, trot, hell, he could free all of his mother's house elves. They were in Harry's office and he had just given him the best news possible. And it had come two-fold. For one thing, his suspension was over and he could go back to being an active Auror as early tomorrow. As for the other, Auror Warren -or rather simply Warren -was no long the Auror Head or an Auror at all.

"You're going to have to stop being so good to me, Potter." Draco said with an unusual springiness to his tone. "I might start to think we're friends."

Harry snorted. "Merlin forbid. And because I know you won't care, but Hermione will, I'm taking the Auror Head position."

Yes, this was information more for his wife than for him, but Draco, much to his utter dismay, was a bit...happy...to know that he'd be working under someone much less vile than that Warren. Now if only Draco could pitch himself off a building without dying for having such a feeling that would be great.

"I've also got some more news." Harry continued. "This time it's a bit good and bad."

Draco's face turned serious and he sighed. "Is it about Hermione's case?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Something turned up while Lydia was undercover. She's terrifyingly good at her job."

Draco smiled a little. "Sacred Twenty-Eight, Potter. So? What did she find?"

"A lot of hearsay, but hearsay that could be backed up. That said…" Harry hesitated. "We found out who sent Hermione that painting."

"Who was it?" Draco demanded.

"The person isn't involved in the other cursed object cases." He piled on, hoping to calm the throbbing in the blond's neck if he prolonged things. "But he must know who did it or can tell us how to get into contact with him or her-"

"Who was it?"

"...It was your uncle, Tiberius."

Draco's blood ran cold at that, and Harry, knowing from previous experience what to expect from the blond, braced himself.

"Was it really?" Draco asked calmly.

"Yes." Harry replied. "And conveniently he's been travelling since your wedding. We haven't a single clue as to where to begin looking for him. We were hoping that either you or your mother might."

Draco stroked his chin gently as the wheels in his head began to turn. "There are a few homes of ours where he might be. But I'll do you one better. My Uncle Tiberius has an interesting, and perhaps a bit inappropriate, attraction to my mother. I could have her invite him to the Manor for the weekend while Hermione's spending time with your wife or even Weasley. You and your team can arrest him there on Sunday."

"Sunday?" Harry furrowed his brow. "Why not the moment he gets there?"

"Because as far as you're concerned, he arrived at the Manor on Sunday." Draco said darkly. "Do you understand?"

Harry could just imagine the sinister things the man before him was plotting. It was just radiating off of him -his rage, his sense of revenge. "Malfoy-"

"Hermione and I can't have children because of him." He cut him off. "Don't think for a second that you can talk me off this ledge like you did when it was Theo."

Harry wanted to fight him, but he looked far less persuadable than he had the first time revenge was at his feet. Instead he frowned and shook his head. "I can't bring him to the Ministry a broken, bloody mess you know."

"Not a problem. We Malfoys have a knack of doing things you might suspect, but can never prove."

Hermione was grumbling as she haphazardly threw clothes into a small suitcase. Draco watched in amusement as she went and even heard a curse or two slip past her lips.

"I hate this." She was saying. She eventually stopped and placed her hands on her hips. "Why do I have to leave?"

"I already told you," Draco replied as he reached into her suitcase on the bed and began folding her clothes. Despite it only being for a weekend, he couldn't stand to see them just thrown in there. "With everything that's happened and knowing how members of my family feel about you it's better this way until my mother and I can get a handle on them."

Hermione groaned and rolled her eyes. "Utterly ridiculous,"

"I agree, however necessary it is."

She huffed and tossed in something else. Draco immediately went for it and folded it neatly. "Who's coming?"

"My Uncle Tiberius," he replied, trying his hardest to keep the hate out of his tone.

"Oh yes," she nodded in recognition. "The charming gentleman who couldn't fathom that a little muggleborn like me could have an influence in politics."

Draco smirked. "That's the one."

"Why is he coming anyway?" Hermione asked. She slapped away her husband's hand from her clothes and closed her suitcase.

"He's been badgering my mother for a visit for weeks. She's finally decided to let him come and get the horrid stay over with."

Hermione scowled. "He seems quite persistent."

He shrugged. "He likes my mother."

"I feel quite sorry for her then."

"Indeed,"

Hermione sighed and crossed her arms. "Alright then. I guess that's it. How long is he staying again?"

"Coming tonight, leaving Sunday morning."

Draco suppressed a laugh as his wife grimaced again and picked up her suitcase. She led the way out of their bedroom and into the living room where she grabbed a handful of Floo Powder so she could be on her way to Harry and Ginny's. She was planning to make it a two-trip affair, spending tonight with the engaged couple and then Saturday night with Ron.

"For what it's worth," Hermione said before stepping into the fireplace. "I hope your uncle has a terrible time."

Draco kissed her before she left and stared at the place where she was just seconds ago. "Don't worry, he will."

Hours seemed to tick by slowly. Hermione had left at noon while Draco's uncle would be coming around six for dinner. He began to get dressed at around five and he seemed to grow angrier with each piece of clothing he put on. Eventually he found his face fixed in a scowl so menacing that he had almost frightened himself. It wasn't because the facial expression was new. It had been in his repertoire for so long that he could make it in his sleep. It was because there had been no need as of late to make a face so displeasing. He hoped after tonight he'd never have to make it again.

Draco sighed, relaxed his face as best as he could, and went to his mother's suite. He entered after she said it was okay and stopped in his tracks. His mother was wearing one of her more refined and elegant dinner dresses -a red one that his father had loved to see her in. Modest makeup had been applied and her hair was gracefully piled into a bun on the top of her head.

"Well?" Narcissa asked as she stood from her vanity mirror. "How do I look?"

"Like bait,"

Narcissa smiled broadly at the term and picked up her wand. "Perfect. Let's make our way down to the parlor room. We will wait for Tiberius there."

"I don't know if I can do this, Mother. The dinner," Draco clarified. "I don't know if I can sit there and pretend that everything is fine when all I want to do is curse him to hell and back and to hell again."

"Oh, darling," Narcissa sympathized as she stroked his cheek. "I completely understand. And this is where your classic, Malfoy stoicism comes into play. Uncontrolled rage never does anyone any favors."

That was quite the true statement. And so Draco took a deep breath and nodded just before their house elf, Daisy, appeared by their feet and told them that Tiberius had made it to the Manor.

"Bring him to the parlor room and we'll be right along." Narcissa told the elf. She looked at her son once the elf was gone before leading the way from her suite down to the parlor room. It wasn't the same one where the unfortunate incident with Hermione had taken place. That particular stain on their history had been warded off so that it couldn't be opened. And, unknown to her daughter-in-law, charmed in such a way that should she go near it she would promptly be turned around and wouldn't even notice that she had.

"Tiberius," Narcissa greeted once she saw the man.

Draco's hand itched for his wand on reflex, but he didn't go for it. Instead he cupped his hands behind his back to keep them from throttling his uncle. He also watched as he kissed his mother on both cheeks and felt his insides squirm.

"Draco," Tiberius smiled at him. "Good to see you. You look just as dashing as you did on your wedding day."

"Thank you, uncle." The young blond gritted out while still sounding polite. "You look quite well put-together as well."

"Yes, well, Malfoys are hardly ones to have a less than impeccable presence." He replied smugly before smiling maliciously and adding, "And speaking of less than impeccable presences, your wife appears to be missing, Draco."

That alone was enough to make Draco whip out his wand and do unspeakable things to him, but he didn't. His mother had promptly cut his uncle off with a disapproving tut.

"Now, Tiberius, that's hardly a way to speak." Narcissa playfully scolded. However, Draco wasn't one to be fooled nor to miss the subtle and quick dangerous flash of her eyes. "My daughter-in-law has had a serious misfortune befall her."

"I know, I heard." Tiberius shook his head in faux solemness. The bloody man was hardly sorry at all. "So terrible what happened. I assume she's alright?"

"Not really, no." Draco replied. "The curse has rendered her capability of giving me an heir nul."

He hated the phrasing he had used, but it was done on purpose. He (and he assumed his mother too) noticed the smirk the man before them was trying and failing miserably to hide.

"That's horrible news." He tisked. "Tell me, Draco. Have you begun making arrangements then?"

Draco tilted his head some. "Arrangements?"

"Of course." Tiberius insisted. "The direct Malfoy line ends with you, you know. If your wife can't continue it, you'll simply have to find someone who can."

Draco's eyes narrowed to slits and the itch for his wand hand had returned. "Are you insinuating that I get a divorce and find a new wife?"

"Naturally,"

Narcissa was afraid that her son would lunge at Tiberius for such a remark, but to her utter surprise he had remained relatively calm. Although, the throbbing vein in his neck was indicative of a disastrous outcome if she didn't intervene.

"Let's not sully our evening with negative talk, shall we?" Narcissa said. "Come. Dinner should be ready."

Dinner was painstaking. Draco had contemplated several times whether or not to have one of the house elves poison his uncle's food. As much as that would satisfy him, his Uncle Tiberius couldn't wind up dead -and certainly not on their property. Everything was and needed to remain on his head, not theirs. And so he damaged his teeth by grinding them and cut off blood flow by holding his dinner utensils too tight. He only got a moment's reprieve when he saw his uncle's head droop towards the end of dessert. Draco watched in amusement as the man's eyes grew heavy and his head sway until he couldn't hold it up anymore and it fell with a thud to the table.

Narcissa laughed to herself. "Oh my. I might have had Daisy put just a tad too much Sleeping Draught in his dessert. What a happy shame..."

Draco laughed right along with her. Sometimes he forgot how ruthless his mother could be. "Daisy," he called for the house elf. "Please take my uncle to the dungeons and restrain him."

Daisy nodded and obediently did as he said. Once they were both gone Draco let out a sigh of relief.

"Shall we get going then?"

"Oh no," Narcissa said with a gentle shake of her head. "You will be going to see your wife."

Draco blinked twice. "I'm sorry?"

"Your wife, Draco." She repeated. "I want you to go see her and you won't come back home until Sunday morning."

"Mother, I… I can't let you do this alone."

"Yes, you will. You'll do it because Hermione thinks the world of you. I won't have her looking down on you for Tiberius' treatment nor will I have your conscience burdened by it." Narcissa smiled and rose from her chair. "There will be justice for the three us, I promise you. Don't forget that my chances of getting a family was threatened as well."

Draco sat in awe of her. There was very little to say -or to do for that matter. Instead he took a deep breath as he also got to his feet. "Make me proud, Mother."

"Always,"

And with that Narcissa walked along, humming a charming little tune -a key indicator at just how much she was looking forward to her plans for tonight as well as tomorrow. Draco was still hesitant on leaving. Not because he didn't think his mother could handle herself. She was very capable of that. He just felt like he should be doing something.

Regardless, Draco set his feelings aside and headed to his suite. He packed a bag much like Hermione had, but he was in no way intending on spending a night in the Potter house. He would probably find a hotel for them to stay and take their minds off of things while his mother was busy.

When he was finished and his belongings shrunken to an easy-to-carry size and in his pocket, Draco stepped into the fireplace and called, "Potter residence!"

He tumbled out in a dignified manner right in the middle of a conversation between his wife, Ginny, and Harry. The latter seemed horrifically surprised to see him.

"Draco," Hermione greeted happily as she got up from the couch and hugged him. "What happened to entertaining your awful uncle?"

"Yes," Harry said from where he sat. "What happened?"

"There's only so much of that man I can take." Draco told his wife. Then his gaze lingered on Harry when he added, "My mother's taking care of it."

Harry wasn't sure whether to feel alarmed or soothed by this, but he tried for the second option although he was still nervous. Draco, on the other hand, felt calmer being away from the Manor. He sat down next to his wife and joined in whatever conversation the three of them had been having before he arrived. Everything was fine, although he and Harry shared periodic glances full of unspoken things that had been missed by the redhead, but not by the brunette.

"I'm going to go raid your kitchen for something to drink." Hermione announced as she got up. "Draco, can you help?"

"Sure,"

He followed her out of the living room and through the door that would lead to the kitchen. Draco was waiting for her to head to the refridgerator, but she did no such thing. Instead a hand was on her hip and the other with her wand.

"Alright," Hermione said once she had cast a Silencing Charm around them. "What's going on between you and Harry?"

Draco's heart quickened, but he didn't let on. "Sorry? I don't know-"

"Don't insult my intelligence, Mr. Malfoy. I saw you. You two keep looking at each other. Not to mention the odd behavior with you both. Now, normally I'd rip into Harry about something like this, but seeing as you're the one I'm sleeping with, I'll leave it to you. So? Are you going to tell me on your own or do I have to drag it out of you?"

Draco didn't want to tell her. The conversation between him and Harry when it was Theo in the hot seat was ringing in his ears. Even his mother had acknowledged that Hermione might think less of him concerning this.

His stomach was in absolute knots.

"Potter found out who cursed you."

Hermione's face fell. "He…he did? Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't you? You know that I would've wanted to know."

"I know." Draco said as he took a tentative step towards her. "I know and I'm sorry, but there's a reason for keeping you in the dark."

"It damn well better be a good one."

"It was my uncle. Uncle Tiberius,"

Hermione's face had already fallen, but now her jaw had gone slack and fell open. "B-but he's at the Manor!"

"Yes," Draco nodded. "And that's why you had to leave. So that my mother could get revenge for us –for herself too."

His wife snapped her gaze to him quickly at that and he immediately felt even more guilt-ridden by his confession.

"You can't kill him."

Draco sighed. "We would have liked to."

"And you'd be a fool if you did." Hermione said firmly. "To kill someone who's bound to be arrested. That means whatever blame on him would get turned around on you for lashing out."

"Hermione-"

"That means whatever Narcissa does –whatever you've allowed her to do… It won't be enough."

Draco had been fully prepared to hear the rest of her scolding when he stared at her in shock. Her face was set in a distant stare, and her stare itself was…cold. And then she turned to him. It was evident that she wanted to cry, but she was holding back. Or better yet, she more angry than sad to actually shed tears.

"It won't be enough." She repeated. "Whatever you to do him will never be enough."

Draco closed the space between them and pulled Hermione into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his midsection, and he held her close, his chin resting gently on the top of her head.

"You're right." He replied as he cradled her. "But if I say that what she's doing will finally let you sleep well at night, will that help?"

"...I think so, yes."

Author's note: Not "Auror" Warren, but still someone we should hate lol. Certainly not the reaction Draco was expecting from Hermione, but one's mindset about things can definitely change in the face of tragedy.

-WP

Replies to Guests

Guest: "I love how..." Thank you! I'm glad that the balance works :)

MrsGinPotter: I'm glad that you liked the chapter :). I feel like Blaise is the epitome of a good friend. He suffered in silence for the sake of someone else. I just love him. Narcissa was my favorite in that chapter with just how she dealt with Hermione. She minced no words, and even when she was gentle she still had this "Malfoy-ness" about her. And yes, hopefully Hermione and Draco can still have children of their own. But they'll be great parents no matter how it happens.

Cookies: First off, I love your penname so much lol. Thank you! I'm so happy that the first chapter captured you so much. Draco and Hermione are just THE epic couple. It's hard for me to find another that even comes close.