It was nearly 1am and Hermione was sitting at the large island in Malfoy Manor's kitchen drinking another glass of wine while she ate handfuls of chocolate covered raisins. They had decided to stay at Malfoy Manor after Narcisa insisted they not apparate or floo while because they had been drinking.
Draco was asleep in his old bedroom with Cassie. Theo, Luna and Blaise had taken the blue guest room while Marcus and Adrian were left with the red one. Hermione hadn't even been to bed yet so she hadn't chosen where she had wanted to sleep. She was still dressed in the same clothes she wore to Hogsmeades.
She placed her empty wine glass in the sink and stood still. Her hands gripped the edge of the counter tightly and she bowed her head down, her hair circling around her face. After her conversation with Marcus she thought that she would be happy, she should be overjoyed with emotions but instead she was confused. She didn't know what to think or how to act upon her feelings.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now," Narcissa Malfoy said startling Hermione. She walked into the kitchen dressed in a silk black robe decorated with cherry blossoms and her hair laying down flat against her back. It was abnormal for Hermione to see her dressed down so much, then again, she hadn't stayed the night at the Manor since before Cassie was born.
"I couldn't sleep," She explained sheepishly.
Narcissa smiled before perching herself on one of the bar top stools, "What's troubling you?" She patted the seat beside her inviting Hermione to sit down.
"Will people think I'm a bad mother for falling in love with another man?" She finally asked.
Narcissa looked at her sympathetically, "Love is something that is completely unpreventable. No one can tell you who or when you can love someone. It just happens. It's not your fault that your heart wants someone. You love Draco, I know you do but the love you have for Draco is nothing like the love you are starting to develop for Marcus. Those are two completely different feelings.
"Draco will always be the father of your child, no matter what. You will always have Draco in your life. But just because you have a child doesn't mean you yourself can't be happy with another man. For others to expect you to never find love is selfish of them. Those who ask you to do that don't really care for you. If you want to be with someone you are allowed to be with them."
She brushed a piece of hair behind Hermione's ear, "Cassie knows you and Draco are not together. That's the first thing she tells people when she meets them, well it comes right after she tells them who her father is." They both laughed.
"If you want to be with Marcus then be with him darling, he'll treat you right. He already has you on the highest of pedestals. He treats you like you're a delicate flower. Just by watching him try and comfort you earlier regardless that he was in a room full of people, Lucius and I both knew he was the one for you. You deserve to be happy Hermione. So be happy."
"But what if thing's turn out badly?" Hermione cried.
"You can't live your life thinking of the "what if's" love, you just have to let things take their course. A life full of "remember when's" is a much better life than those filled with "what if's'." With saying that Narcissa kissed Hermione on the cheek and left her alone.
So, she sat there and thought in silence.
X
"Be good for Uncle Theo okay?" Hermione pleaded as she kissed her daughter on her cheek.
"I'm always good for Uncle Theo," Cassie corrected.
She looked at Theo, "Do not let her talk you into not making her nap. When she doesn't take a nap her whole routine is off the remainder of the day and I don't want to wake up at 4 in the morning because my child fell asleep at 7 the night before."
He held his hands up in surrender, "Got it. Nap time, even if I have to bribe her."
Hermione shook her head as she giggled, "I swear the lot of you spoil her."
"Have I told you how very smashing you look today?" Theo smirked. Hermione blushed before playfully slapping him on the shoulder.
Her hair tumbled in soft curls down her back. Her ensemble consisted of a pair of cream form fitting pants, with a cream tank top and a light charcoal colored quarter length blazer. On her feet sat a pair of strappy charcoal grey heels.
"Goodbye you two," She called before apparating. She never apparated but because of the color of her pants today she chose not to ruin them with soot. She wasn't even at her workplace two seconds before being completely ambushed.
"Miss. Granger, the Italian Prime Minister keeps continuing to owl," Her first assistant Esmerelda declared.
"And how many times have I told you that she has absolutely no time in her schedule this week to meet with him?" Her second assistant Harvey retorted.
"This crisis is to be handled between the two of you. Esmerelda, you are in charge of taking the letters for requests of meetings and Harvey is in charge of booking the meetings. If I am booked this week than the Prime Minister can just wait. I've just spoken with him nearly two weeks ago, we don't need to speak again this soon. Now is there anything else we need to discuss? As Harvey stated I have a long day ahead of me and I need to start on a few things from last week as well."
Esmerelda looked at Harvey, "There is one more thing."
"Well what is it?"
"There's a package for you in your office," Harvey explained.
"A package for me?" She asked.
"Well there isn't another Hermione Granger in this office, is there?" Harvey scoffed playfully.
She smiled, "No, I guess there isn't."
"What are you waiting for? Go see what it is!" Esmerelda insisted.
Hermione gave Harvey her coat and purse and moved her hands in a motion that made them go back to their desks. With excitement in her eyes she walked into her office and smiled. On her desk sat a large bouquet of a dozen white roses with a single pale pink one placed perfectly in the center. She found that the card was pinned to the pink one.
Dinner at 7
-Marcus
She couldn't help but laugh at how nervous she now was. Now that she was thinking about it she had so much to do to prepare for the night and such little time. Running over to the floo she threw a small handful into the fireplace and waited for Blaise and Luna to answer.
It was Blaise who finally answered after what felt like minutes. He had clearly just woken up.
"What do you need this bloody early witch?" He grunted rubbing his eyes.
"I need you to watch Cassie tonight at 7," She announced.
"Where's Draco?" Blaise asked.
"France."
"I thought he was done traveling."
Hermione glared, "Draco will never stop traveling if it's good for business. But stop asking so many blood questions, will you watch Cassie, yes or no?"
"Why can't Theo or Adrian do it?"
"Theo is watching Cassie while I'm at work like he and Adrian always do. And Adrian has family matters, that's why he isn't with the two of them right now." She explained.
"Hermione," Blaise whined.
Suddenly, a hand came flying from behind him and smacked his across the back of the head. "Blaise Zabini you will watch Cassiopeia tonight with no complaints."
He rubbed the back of his head, "That bloody hurt woman."
"What else do you need Hermione?" Luna asked, pushing Blaise aside.
"I've got nothing to wear!" She exclaimed.
"Don't you worry I'll find something for you and it'll be perfect!" Hermione and Blaise both watched as she scurried away.
"Thanks for that, she was just about to make me breakfast."
"Do it yourself Blaise. Goodbye!" She hung up the floo and walked over to her desk to write a quick response to Marcus to thank him for the flower and confirm their date tonight. She tied the note to her cherry colored owl and handed her a treat so that she would get it there in double time.
X
Marcus sat at the large desk in his office reading over some last-minute paperwork he needed to have signed and finalized by noon today. Adrian had had these documents for nearly two weeks and decided to give them to Marcus last minute before he headed off to deal with him families dilemma. He hated when he did that.
Suddenly, there was a tapping at one of the windows in his office. He opened the small glass paneling and allowed the birds to fly into his office. He watched as the bird sat at Marcus' desk waiting for him to untie the letter that was attached to his foot.
Pulling the parchment open Marcus smirked, it was a response from Hermione. By the looks of her handwriting Marcus could tell she was flustered. He had no understanding as to why she was flustered though, she had nothing to worry about.
He knew she didn't need a response so he reached into his desk gave the beautiful looking bird a small treat and a simple pat on the head before watching him fly off.
Tonight, was going to be perfect.
X
The rest of the day for Hermione flew by quickly. Before she knew it, the time was already 5 o'clock and she needed to get home as fast as she could. Once she had finally gotten there Luna was already in her bedroom with a white dress bag in her hand.
"I'm going to like this, right Luna?" Hermione asked as she began to undress in her bathroom.
"Yes, I promise you're going to love it." Luna exclaimed. Not even taking a second glance Hermione pulled a small black piece of fabric over her body and gasped once she looked in the mirror.
It was a satin material long sleeved dress that fell to her knees. It was form fitting everywhere and in the front, there was a dramatic V neckline. She would have tried to explain her back, but there was nothing there the material had vanished until you reached the small of her back. Hermione nearly screamed.
"Luna!" She cried emerging from the bathroom. "I can't go in this dress! I look bloody ridiculous, what will people say?"
"I think they'll say that Hermione Granger is the sexiest witch alive and that any man would be lucky to have her," She stated.
"Shouldn't I dress a little more modest, I mean it is our first date?" She implied tugging at her knees while she tried to pulled the top up more.
"That's like saying you can't shag on the first date. That's a totally archaic mindset Hermione," Luna scoffed tossing her a pair of heels. The shoes weren't awful, they were a pair of black sandals with only two straps, one over her toes and one around the ankles.
After she strapped the buckles Luna placed her on the footrest at the bottom of her bed and made her sit as she fidgeted with her hair and makeup. Hermione normally didn't wear makeup except for a light layer, she liked her natural beauty but tonight was different. It was a special night.
Before they knew it, the time was already 7 and Marcus would be here any moment. She began to get extremely nervous all of a sudden.
"There is nothing to worry about Hermione, I promise," Luna reassured.
"Mum," Cassie called from the outside of her bedroom door.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Yes honey?"
"Marcus is here," She informed pushing the door open. Her face lit up once she saw her mother, "Wow mum, you look pretty, like a princess."
She knelt down to her daughter, "Thank you sweetie. You promise to be good for Luna and Blaise, correct?"
Cassiopeia nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, I promise."
"Now go," Luna instructed.
Taking a deep breath Hermione opened her bedroom door and walked down the vast hallway to the living room.
Marcus heard her heels clicking against the hard wood floor and this is what told his body to turn around. The sight in front of him was breathtaking, he was at a loss for words.
Hermione tried to scrutinize his expression, "Do you not like it?"
He was taken back at her words, "No, no, not at all. In fact, you look stunning, breath taking actually."
She blushed, "You look pretty handsome yourself."
He was dressed in an all grey suit with a simple white shirt and greyish-blue tie beneath. His hair looked as if he had been running his fingers through it all day but it was still sexy as ever she thought. All she could think about at the moment was how she wanted to run her fingers through it for hours.
Marcus extended his arm out towards her drawing her attention back to the man in front of her, "Shall we go?"
"Yes," Hermione answered nodding her head happily. And with that they apparated away.
