"Here you two are I was through this whole house looking for you, I was about to send the dogs out on a search for you."
Pulling themselves from the book, the two Grangers looked over at the stairs where Draco stood a playful smile on his lips. Hermione stretched her hands over her head and stood as Lucas placed the book down and stood by his mother looking at Draco with a raised eyebrow.
"You don't have any dogs,"
Draco chuckled and walked over to Lucas kneeling down on one knee. "That's because their invisible."
Lucas' eyes widened. "Nah uh, your fibbing."
Draco stood and folded his arms over his chest. "Hmm you're way to smart Lucas, I think you spend way to much time with your mother."
"And you didn't spend enough time with me," said Hermione looking at Draco a small spark of laughter in her eyes. "That's why you were second smartest in school."
"Very funny Hermione but I could have been first if I wanted to. I was just a gentleman and let you be first."
"Oh, so I suppose you were a gentleman and let Harry win all those Qudditch games hmm?"
Draco ran a hand through his hair a true smile on his face. "He was lucky."
Hermione just nodded smiling remembering those many school matches against Slytherin and watching the defeated Seeker sulk off the pitch. He would mope around the castle for weeks staring daggers into the Gryffindors.
"Anyway it's near lunch time and the Elders are never late, so there's grilled cheese sandwiches downstairs," said Draco changing the topic quickly before Hermione could throw something else at him.
"Really?! I love grilled cheese," said Lucas running by Draco and down the stairs.
Draco laughed at the boys enthusiasm over a sandwich, Hermione just shook her head and turned to the books on the floor picking them up and pushing them back into their spots. Draco watched her noting the smile on her lips and the slight color in her cheeks.
"He's really something isn't he?"
She turned to Draco her eyes looking up for a second at the high ceiling noticing the painted ceiling. It was like a church with clouds and the babies with white fabric wrapped around their waists. It was beautiful.
"Lucas is the only reason I wake up every morning," she said still looking up. "He gives me life, to smile and laugh even through the hard times. Without him there is no me."
"I can see that," said Draco putting his hands in his pockets. "Ever since I have been, well, watching over you two. I've notice that you need him as much as he needs you, he's very lucky and so are you."
She nodded her thanks. "Can you explain this room, it's so artist. The ceiling, the windows."
He smiled looking over the room. "Before I came here I traveled a bit, these windows are my favorite places I saw. I took pictures and had a glass painter do them, then I minimized them hoping I would find a place to put them."
He walked over to a window at the far end and placed his hand on it. "The Great Wall of China. It was beautiful, the culture there is really something."
Hermione watched as he smiled at the glass his long fingers running over it. She looked t the other glass windows pointing out Mount Fuji in Japan, there was the Taj Mahal in India, and one of the Alps. She was amazed that Draco had seen all these places and had brought them back so he could look upon them.
"And as for the ceiling, I fell in love with a lot of ceiling art and couldn't decide which I loved best so I designed my own. It took awhile to transfer from the original painting I had made, onto the ceiling. I laid on my back for weeks with my wand transferring the color, texture, figures everything." Draco was looking up now smiling. "I think it was worth it."
"I think so too," said Hermione looking at Draco.
He looked at her his smile still in place, her brown eyes were soft the first time he's ever seen them like that. As he looked at them he preferred them that way instead of them dark and filled with hate that he was so use to getting from her. Even after baring a child she still looked good, he wasn't ashamed or surprised that he thought it. It was the truth Hermione Granger was beautiful.
"Hermione there's something I want to say," he started looking out the window then back at her. "I know we, you and me, haven't ever been on great terms. And that you if you had the choice wouldn't be here right now but I want to tell you that I…"
"They're here." Looking over Hermione's shoulder he spotted Blaise at the top of the stairs.
He looked back at Hermione but she spoke before him. "I guess we should go." She turned and walked past Blaise going down to the main level.
Draco moaned and pounded a fist to his forehead. "Blaise you idiot."
Blaise looked at Draco his eyebrows raised. "What the heck did I do now?"
Draco walked past Blaise shaking his head, ignoring his friends questions. They descended the stairs side by side Blaise watching Draco from the corner of his eye, wondering what he had interrupted. They fell in step next to Hermione who seemed to be taking her time on getting to the entrance.
When they reached the top of the stairs Hermione stopped dead, down below were a group of at least ten elderly people all dressed in red robes. Their hoods were removed to show heads of graying hair only two still had a bit of color. There was one person in particular her eyes fell upon, he was a large man. Big chest, broad shoulders, his grey hair was shaved down and his bread was in a salt and pepper stubble. He was standing in front Lucas who was looking up at the gorilla sized man. Hermione was about to smile when the old man reached into his robes and pulled out his wand.
Hermione wasted no time, she ran down the steps jumping two at a time and quick stepping the entrance hall. She stepping in front of Lucas and pulled her hand back swing a curled hand at the mans jaw. It made contact and he staggered back two steps. He looked at the young women in front of him his eyes burning with rage.
"You, you…."
"Shut it," yelled Hermione her hands in tight fist at her sides. " I don't care who you are but you do not pull a wand on my son."
"You don't throw punches at the people who protect you, you ungrateful witch," boomed Xavier.
"Well thank you for noticing I am a witch you big brute," said Hermione her brown eyes flaring.
"I'll teach you to call names," Xavier said raising his hand.
Before anyone could react to what the elder was about to do Draco bounded down the stairs and pushed in front of Hermione throwing his own fist into the mans face. Blaise was next down the stairs coming to stand next to Draco. Both men side by side became a shield in front of Hermione who had Lucas behind her.
Xavier took a step back letting his hand trace under his nose, he looked at his fingers and found blood. His face turned red and a vain started to pulse in his left temple, his eyes darkened drilling into Draco's enraged face.
"You. I knew you were no good, is this how you repay me?"
"No this is how I stop taking your crap," said Draco his voice cold.
Xavier opened his mouth but it was not him who spoke. "Xavier I believe it would be best if you went outside. The cold breeze should cool you down."
All eyes turned to the eldest elder, Jonathan. His arms were in either sleeve as she stepped forward, nodding his head toward the younger men to take steps back. They did. Jonathan stood in front of Xavier, if not for the power that Jonathan held it would have been funny to see them stand face to face. Xavier stood a wondrous six foot three and was all muscle, Jonathan was a mere five foot nine and was more bone then anything.
"I think it would be best for you to sit this meeting out," said the Elder calmly.
Xavier seemed about to disagree but huffed before turning in his heel and storming out of the house. Jonathan sighed and turned to the younger audience, his face held no emotion, his blue eyes grazing over the young faces. He first turned to Draco.
"Now young Draco, I must say I didn't think you had it in you to do such a thing to old Xavier. I suppose you've grown a bit, but I am a bit disappointed that you lost your temper so quick after so much training."
Draco dipped his head. "I'm sorry Elder Jonathan it will not happen again."
"I will surely hope not," said Jonathan looking next to his young student. "Blaise Zambini I presume?"
Blaise stood tall squaring his shoulders. "Yes sir."
"Your quick to defend your friend I see, a fighter is deep within you but it must be tamed. I will talk to you later, before I leave." Blaise nodded and looked to his feet.
Jonathan tapped the young men on their shoulders and they stepped to their sides as the elder took a small step to come face to face with Hermione. He was silent for a while, taking in her image, then he chuckled.
"She's got the Gryffindor fire in her eyes, it's not hard to miss. A lioness defending her cub from a predator. Miss. Granger you have caused quite a stir in our attempts of getting you to safety but of course it was out of protecting the young one I assume?"
"Yes," said Hermione relaxing under the old man's stare.
"I think we'll keep you around after all you were the one to surprise Xavier with such a hit."
Hermione smiled. "I am sorry, but it frightened me."
"Nonsense my dear, the old brute, as you so put it, had it coming sooner or later," said Jonathan giving a little wink. "But where is this young cub you have been protecting so hard."
Hermione side step revealing a upset looking Lucas, he looked up at his mother with big blue eyes of hurt for leaving him in the open to these strange people in red robes. She nodded her head to reassure him but doubted it helped.
"Young fire cub Lucas," said Jonathan kneeling down slowly to the boys level. "I have heard lots about you young man. You're a smart little one, with a mind for knowledge that a book may not hold. But you have the heart of a free spirit."
Lucas blinked a few times, then raised an eyebrow at the old man. "Mister you do know I'm six right, so I don't know what your talking about."
There was silence in the room, Hermione wanted to tap her son on the back of his head for being rude but only frowned at him. Jonathan was silent then blinked and let out a loud chuckle. "My dear boy, you are a spark."
Hermione relaxed as the old man ruffled Lucas' head and stood back up, he clapped his hands and gestured for everyone to enter the meeting room. The Elders entered first, then Blaise followed, Lucas seemed interested enough so he followed suit. Draco was going to follow but Hermione stopped him, pulling him to the side.
"You shouldn't of down that," she said looking at him.
He shrugged. "Elder Xavier hasn't been the best toward me I've always been looking for a reason to hit him. You just happen to be the reason."
Hermione gave a small smile. "It's becoming a habit of yours to be defending me."
"I don't mind to tell you the truth, it's like my sorry for all those years at school."
"A simple I'm sorry would of done fine," said Hermione reaching out and rubbing his good arm.
They shared a smile, looking at each other and for the first time since they met up again they found the new person in each other. Hermione was more open, putting differences a side and Draco forgetting blood lines and the years at Hogwarts and becoming someone new and better.
Draco took a step forward not knowing what he was about to do, but he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes kept contact with hers, he was close enough to see her freckles on her nose. They were cute he had to say. He swallowed hard noticing they were almost nose to nose now. He was about to do it, to do something he never thought he would ever do….
"Draco, we're waiting dear,"
He closed his eyes and stepped back looking over at Elysia. "I'm coming, just one sec."
Elysia nodded and returned to the room. Draco turned to Hermione again giving a crooked smile. "I..I…"
"It's okay Draco, we'll talk later," she said turning away from him and walking into the meeting room.
Draco let his head fall looking down at the wood floor, What are you thinking? You can't do this, or only protecting them that's it nothing else. He stood straight pushing his hair back and stepping into the room.
The Elders were already seated in their regular spots, Blaise was sitting in Xavier's seat which he thought amusing. He spotted Lucas in the chair next to Elysia which was his own and found an extra seat next to that on. Hermione had walked over to Lucas and was placing him in her lap as she sat down. So Draco wandered over to the seat next to her, as he sat down Lucas' face lit up instantly.
"You and mom were brilliant," he said smiling over at the blond.
"Lucas!" Hermione hissed.
"Now, now," said Elysia smiling. "Xavier has never thought before he acted. I think it was right that you what you did. Hopefully it knock some sense into him."
Hermione had to laugh, the Elders weren't as bad as she thought. See looked at Draco who was smiling as well, he seemed so at home among them. His eyes seemed to shine when they looked over the many faces. She could understand why he felt so at home, these people had housed him when he had no where to go. They him hope and another chance at life and it had opened him up to the good around him.
Jonathan stood clapping his hands together to silence the room. "Welcome, fellow Phoenix's , we have called ourselves the Shadow Phoenix's for we live in shadows away from the world. We live in shadows for the crimes we have done in the past and away from those who do not trust us anymore. So here we gather in our new lives to become something and to put our past behind us so we may help and protect the wizarding world and muggle world from the evil that has washed over us."
"Shadow Phoenix," the room said together.
"This meeting is one to remember," Jonathan started raising a hand toward Hermione and Lucas. "Owen Farrell's child is here for our eyes to see, safe from the one that has cast darkness upon us once again. But now we have an advantage without the boy the Dark One is nothing but a man with a wand."
"Hermione Granger the mother, is willing to stay as long as the protection we speak of is the truth. And I assure her it is the truth, if not may Merlin strike me now," Jonathan fell silent as if waiting for Merlin to actually strike him. When nothing happened he went on. "There is someone new among us, I was skeptical at first to trust this young man but when Young Draco told me of want he has done I felt hope. Hope in that the bad will see the light and come to fight, Blaise Zambini has proven that could happen. So I believe it best to welcome this young man into our organization."
A round of applause pierced the room as the closet Elders to the black young man clapped him on the shoulder congratulating him. Jonathan let them go for a minute before silencing the room once again.
"And last but not least, Draco. A boy not so long ago that came looking for shelter, safety and a new life. And we gave it to him and in return he has brought us Lucas, which I so name young fire cub for he has his mother's fire. They are safe and sound and we shall repay Draco with welcoming properly into the Shadow Phoenix's."
Again the room was filled with clapping, he received a peck on the cheek from Elysia and even blushed thanking her. Jonathan smiled at him, his sharp blue eyes filled with love for the young man that he remembered so well showing up in the small village just a few miles away from the house. He was proud of Draco though he would never let it show fully in front of the other Elders. He diverted his gaze over at the young women at his side, he watched her closely the corner of his mouth twitching.
Hermione was smiling her teeth gleaming in the afternoon light as her brown eyes sparkled looking at the blond beside her. A gentle hand was rubbing his shoulder congratulating, he was smiling back saying thank you. Lucas had left his mother's lap and was now in Draco's talking none stop. Draco just smiled listening to the boy's quick sentences nodding now and then. Jonathan tilted his head to the side getting a new look at them, the three of them looked like they belonged like that. Smiling. Draco hadn't smiled in a long time, and he knew for a fact Hermione hadn't either other then in the company of Lucas. As he watched them he felt something in the making.
Jonathan soon had the room settled down again and continued with the meeting all the while glancing at the four young faces at the table. Things were going good, the way he wanted them to go. The darkness was not going to last long this time.