Hermione Malfoy, Chapter Six
A/N: Thank you for reading this story and I hope you continue to enjoy it. The following are responses to a couple reviews that made me scratch my head for awhile:
Ashley—It IS their last year and YOU are a moron. Read the story before you come to me with this stupidity, it makes me sad for humanity. Truly. Please do not procreate.
Anonymous—You complained about description and characterization. So I will just say that I hate description, if I can sum up something in a word, I will. I did. I will do it again. If you want flowery detail, read another story, it's a waste of my time. On the subject of characterization, I explained that Draco doesn't hate mudbloods anymore, so if you could read the story, that would be excellent. Also, sure, Hermione hates him…passionately. And she has to kiss him…would she get into it? Let's see…she has passionate feelings about him and he's a hot, good kisser. Yes. She is going to like it. This is the nature of a D/Hr story, my friend. They will be attracted to each other, it happens. I know that Ron has a temper, but using one of the books as an example, knowing I haven't READ them, is ridiculous. I don't particularly like Ron and Harry. But at this point, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are not complete morons. Sure, they're mad, but what are they going to do? Attack Draco? He's their best friend's husband. If you really think they would do that, why do you read the books? They're retards.
Anyway…enjoy the story:
Absolute horror radiated through Draco's body at his young wife's revelation. How could anyone never have had an…
His eyes narrowed and met hers, a smirk covering her those naughty lips of hers as the implication hit him full on.
HE couldn't get HER off?!?
Oh, he'd get her off in the bloody hallway… Draco glared, stalking forward.
"Haven't had one," he growled. She'd be singing a different tune when he was done with her. Screaming, actually. Draco smiled.
"Draco, darling!" a voice called out behind him and he swallowed, turning from his intended target with slow deliberation, trying to deny his instinctual recognition.
The woman waved joyfully and ran into his shocked embrace.
"Oh, Draco, it's been forever!"
"Mother," Draco coughed, pulling away before she cleaned his face or something equally humiliating. Not that her arrival wasn't enough.
**
Hermione and her friends stared at the reunion.
"Was he there the whole time?" Ginny hissed, her face flushing to clash horrendously with her hair.
Shrugging, Hermione turned away, but Ginny grabbed her arm, "So you were just messing with him for eavesdropping, then?"
Hermione threw her a wink, "Don't tell."
Chuckling, Ginny backed away, "Shattering your husband's confidence between the sheets," she grinned, "That's the Hermione I know and love."
"Hermione!" Draco snapped, interrupting their discussion.
Swallowing, Hermione took a shaky step toward them, "Yes?" she squeaked.
"This is my mother, Narcissa Malfoy," he gestured to the woman in front of him, studiously picking the lint off his robes.
Lips twitching at the woman's behavior, Hermione stepped toward them.
"Mother," Draco caught her attention, batting her hands from his robes in obvious annoyance, "This is my bride, Hermione Gra…formerly Granger."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am, Draco's told me so much-"
"The mudblood?!" Narcissa's eyes widened as she stared from Hermione to Draco in shock. "You got MARRIED?"
"Mother!" Draco snarled as Hermione took an unconscious step back from the woman's anger.
**
Furious, Draco snaked a possessive hand around Hermione's waist, pulling her against his side. How dare his mother, of all people, not respect his wife. She would have to get along with her for the rest of their lives…as far as she knew!
"I naturally expect you to apologize to my wife, mother," he told the woman tightly.
Narcissa's lips thinned, but she turned to Hermione, offering her hand, which the girl took with understandable hesitation. "My apologies, young lady, I meant no personal slight, I was merely shocked that a son would not inform his mother he had gotten married." His mother sent him a glare throughout her little speech, letting him know she was not finished him.
Let the harping begin. How could he contain his excitement?
Throughout his entire life, his parents had treated him strangely. In general, he preferred his mother, being that she never hit him, hadn't encouraged him to destroy the world and never suggested the drinking of muggles blood. He rather adored her for this.
However, if, for once in his entire life, she didn't stop treating him like a five year old, he could not be responsible for his reactions.
For ultimately, though his father had encouraged extreme violence, only his mother drove him to the point of insanity where he would consider it.
On himself, for the most part.
"…just perfect," his mother was speaking and he tried to block her out as he normally did. "…losing my husband and now my son!"
"My getting married has nothing to do with father's trip to prison," Draco snapped in annoyance. It actually did have a great deal to do with that, but it shouldn't and if he could prevent it, his mother would certainly never find out.
Narcissa's eyes widened, "You don't know!"
Draco swallowed, "What don't I know?"
"There was an incident in the prison, Draco. Lucius is dead."
**
Hermione gasped at the revelation as Draco's face hardened. He didn't move at first, but nodded. "It would have happened eventually. If you'll excuse me, ladies. Mother, I believe you need to check in with Dumbledore."
He turned on his heel and Hermione caught his arm quickly. Their eyes met and for a second, she thought he'd throw her arm off him, but he just stared at it, as though he wasn't sure what to do with her comfort.
Draco's hand covered hers and he removed it slowly, squeezing tightly for a second before letting it drop and stalking away from them.
"I'm sorry about Draco," Hermione turned back to Narcissa, "He's just-"
"You don't have to explain my son to me, Miss Granger," the older Mrs. Malfoy spat.
Hermione shook her head, "Of course not, I'm sorry." What had she been thinking in the first place? She didn't understand Draco any more than anyone anyway. Other than his theory of Draco Malfoy: all around sexy beast, she wasn't privy to his thoughts. And that one in particular wasn't going to rock the headlines of the Daily Prophet.
"No," Narcissa sighed, "I'm sorry. I have had quite the shock this week, I-"
"I understand," Hermione said quickly, unsure why she wanted to put her temporary mother-in-law at ease in the first place. She obviously didn't like her and they wouldn't have to see each other after this. So she could just tell her where Dumbledore's office was and be done with this.
"How did he propose?" his mother asked softly, eyes flickering to the large diamond decorating Hermione's finger.
"Why don't you come in for tea and I can tell you about it?" Hermione smiled, leading her mother-in-law up the stairs as her mind searched frantically for something to tell her.
His father was dead.
The bastard that spent his life torturing him had died in prison because of him.
Draco wasn't entirely sure what to think about that, so he avoided it, reflecting on his mother's presence instead.
She wasn't allowed to stay at the school, thank Merlin. Just having her there was strange, especially with Hermione there.
His lips thinned as he recalled his mother's immediate rudeness and the look on Hermione's face. She was getting the worst end of this strange bargain, but in the end, she would simply do it because it would help. The newest Hermione Malfoy was just too bloody nice to survive in this world.
He'd have to train her better in the future.
***
Hermione left Draco's mother resting when she went to dinner.
The usual suspects were gathered at the Gryffndor table and Ginny and Ron were laughing.
"I can't believe she said that with him standing right there!" Ron smirked, "Go Hermione. So how'd he react to the truth?"
"What stories are you telling, Ginny?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at Ginny as she sat down.
Ron grinned at her for the first time, "You know, Hermione, I'm sure there are plenty of men that can show you a better time than Malfoy, don't worry."
Perversely, Hermione was irritated. Malfoy was hers to insult. "Oh, get over it, Ron, I was just messing with him for being a prat and listening in on the conversation."
The smile on Ron's face died and he shook his head, "What happened to you, Hermione? You used to hate Malfoy."
"What do you really want me to say, Ron?" Hermione raised her eyebrow, "Do you want to know how many times I've REALLY-"
"EATING!" Harry interrupted quickly, almost desperately.
Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to her food.
"Not fair," Ginny muttered, "I do!"
Everyone ignored her.
"Harry! Sweetie!" a familiar voice interrupted them and it took all Hermione's jaw muscles to keep her mouth closed as Pansy lowered herself into Harry's lap and kissed him in abandon.
***
"Bloody hell," Goyle muttered, elbowing Draco.
"What?" Draco snapped, annoyed to be disturbed from his brooding.
"Look at the new couple," Goyle told him, gesturing to the Gryffndor table.
For a split second, Draco didn't want to look, didn't want to see which one of Hermione's friends she'd decided to go back to. He told himself they had a deal and forced his eyes to follow Goyle's finger.
Relieved laughter broke out of him at the sight. Pansy and POTTER? It was too perfect.
Goyle nodded, "I know."
Draco shook his head. Nothing could surprise him anymore. He was married at eighteen, his wife hated him and his father just died.
Somehow, in the insanity of the world around him, Pansy and Potter made perfect sense. His eyes flickered to Hermione and some of the glee inside of him died. She was clearly in shock, but beyond that, he could read her.
Was she jealous? Appalled? Disgusted? Amused?
His lips thinned and he got up, crossing the room quickly.
***
"Well, that's not something you see every day," Hermione's husband interrupted her thoughts.
"What?" Ron snapped in annoyance, "A Slytherin making out with a Gryffndor? It's more common than you might think. Though it still turns the stomach every time," he grimaced.
Harry and Pansy pulled away from each other with an oddly triumphant look on their faces.
"See you later, baby," Pansy grinned, standing up.
Draco snorted and the new couple glared at him.
"Problem, Malfoy?" Harry snapped.
"I'm sure I can find a spell to purge the image, Potter, but I appreciate your concern."
Pansy crossed her arms, "Jealous, Draco?"
He smirked, "Well, far it be from me to disparage your taste, Parkinson, but rather think my Gryffndor is prettier than yours."
Bloody better be, Hermione tapped her foot in annoyance.
"So what's to be jealous of?" Draco was clearly enjoying himself and slid onto the bench next to Hermione.
"You'll miss the days when you had a real woman," Pansy glared at him.
"Sure, if I ever lost her," Draco smiled, raising Hermione's hand to his lips and turning his head to send a wink in her direction.
His eyes danced and Hermione couldn't stop the matching grin she sent back to him.
"Not going to join the battle of wits, my love?" he asked, his low voice raising goose bumps on her skin as he slid closer.
Hermione flickered a glance to Pansy and back to her husband, "My love, what a cruel suggestion. You know she's not armed."
TBC