THE MALFOY MARRIAGE MEMOIR

Chapter 3

A Blast From The Past (and other miscommunications)

The next morning found Draco and Hermione asleep for a lot longer than usual, and they were startled awake by the blaring ringtone of Hermione's mobile phone, harshly interrupting the blissful slumber they'd both been in.

'Hello?' Hermione asked groggily, wondering who on Earth was calling her this early in the morning, nudging Draco awake with her elbow as he tossed and turned in irritation, hovering between the stages of fully awake and not quite awake.

'Oh, no James, I've not forgotten,' Hermione huffed into the phone after a second, pushing her hair out of her face and stifling a yawn. 'Yes. Yes, I'll be there at eleven. Goodbye.'

She disconnected the call and noisily kept her phone back on the side-table, then stretched her arms above her head, easing out the cricks in her upper body.

'Draco,' she said, prodding at her still-sleeping husband's back rather forcefully with her index finger. 'Get up, will you? It's nine already. God, it's a wonder Leo hasn't woken up yet.'

When he gave no reply, she rolled her eyes, because she was well aware that he could hear everything she was saying, but was a lot more interested in sleeping.

'I know you're not sleeping,' she sang, and reached over to retrieve her scrunchie from where it'd accidentally fallen to the floor last night, causing the sheet covering her to drop down to her waist. She hastily tied her bushy hair into a ponytail and started whacking Draco with her pillow.

'For fuck's sake, Hermione, let a man sleep,' Draco grumbled, and snatched the pillow from her hands, throwing it carelessly across the room, all without opening a single lid.

But she was having none of it, and using all of her strength, she turned him around so that he now lay on his back, and expertly straddled him, caging his neck in a death grip.

He simultaneously let out a chuckle and a groan, and unwillingly pried open his eyes, wincing at the bright sunlight streaming in from the floor length windows that took up the greater part of their east-wall.

'Morning, sunshine,' Hermione laughed at the grumpy look on his face.

'You're gonna be the death of me,' he mumbled, bringing his hand up to toy with the ends of her ponytail, while the back of his other hand brushed against the skin of her bare shoulder, causing her to gasp.

'Your hand's really cold,' she said, bending down to press a chaste kiss to his mouth, one he returned pleasantly.

'You have morning breath,' he smirked, and she groaned and made to move off the bed to go about her morning necessities, but he held on.

'I like it,' he whispered, and brought his head forward to capture her lips with his again, his thumb caressing her cheek and she sighed. They kissed slowly and languidly, in no hurry to do anything or get anywhere – just two people kissing as though it were about to go out of fashion the very next day.

He pressed his hips up and she smirked against his mouth as she felt his awakening member against her stomach, but before they could proceed any further, the door to their bedroom was kicked open by none other than their son, who squealed an automatic "Mommy!" at the sight of his mother, causing Hermione's head to whip up and Draco to groan at the timing of it all.

She pushed herself off of him in record speed, and somehow managed to entangle the sheet in such a way that it caused her to tumble down from her position on the bed onto the floor rather comically and Draco couldn't help but laugh as his son rushed forward to see what had happened to his mother.

'It's not funny,' Hermione chided, glaring at Draco from the floor, as she gathered her sheet around her tightly, but Draco couldn't help but disagree, his shoulders shaking with uncontrolled abandon.

'Oh, shush, you,' she said, as she pressed kisses to Leo's cheek and tickled his sides, which had him squealing with delight, writhing about in her arms, asking for Daddy to help.

Draco's chest constricted when he looked at the both of them, but he didn't want to get all sappy about it, so instead he worked on getting out of bed, patted his son's head, and went inside the washroom to brush his teeth.

A moment later, Hermione appeared in the doorway of their bathroom and leaned her weight against the doorframe.

He winked at her in the mirror, and she smiled, shaking her head and reaching for her toothbrush. They brushed together in silence for a while, with the occasional battle for the possession of the spot directly before the mirror, which resulted in Hermione winning, and crescent shaped marks on Draco's forearms which oddly resembled Hermione's nails.

Draco spat out the froth into the sink and chuckled, 'I don't know about you, but our son is officially the biggest and best cock-block I've ever encountered in my life.'

Hermione gasped and swatted him on the arm angrily. 'He's your son. Have some decency!'

He grumbled under his breath and rinsed his mouth, patting it dry with a towel afterwards. 'Wanna take a shower?'

Hermione shot him a look that meant "Obviously" before she understood his implication and huffed. 'Honestly, is that all you men think about?"

'No, we also think of food and sleep.'

'Incorrigible.'

'Oh, come on,' he whined, going behind her and encircling her waist with his arms, pressing kisses to her neck.

'Not now, Draco,' she said, moving out of his grasp dexterously.

'Ugh, fine,' he muttered, stripping down and stepping under the shower. 'Be a killjoy.'

'I have to go to Sweet Water at eleven, you prat,' she rolled her eyes, stepping out of the washroom to find Leo sitting on the floor, surrounded by Draco's socks. 'And your son is now attempting to drown himself under your dress socks. Fantastic.'

'Sweet Water?' Draco called out from the shower. 'That's today?'

'Yes, I'd told you it's on Wednesday.'

'I thought you meant next Wednesday.'

'No, it's today. So I guess you'll have to wait with Leo till I get back?'

'Can't – today's interview day. And I thought you were gonna be there for that.'

'You said that was on Thursday!' Hermione replied, walking back to the bathroom. 'I clearly remember, because then I'd said, "Great, I'm free on Thursday, so I can be there". I guess we'll just have to leave him at Narcissa's.'

'Can't do that either,' Draco said, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a fluffy towel around his waist. 'Mum's out of town.'

'What? Where?'

'Some antique hunting expedition she's gone on with Aunt Andromeda.'

'Well, then, can't you reschedule the interview?' she asked, following him to their room and looming over him as he almost tripped on his strewn socks and held on to her hands for balance, all the while attempting to get into a pair of jeans he'd bought on his last visit to Muggle London.

'No, are you crazy? Come on. I rescheduled last time also, because you weren't free.'

'I can't put off going to Sweet Water again, Draco, you know that. I ditched them the last time, and there very well is no use for a SPEW meeting if its President isn't there to oversee all that's happening, is there?'

'Can't Ginny look after him for a bit?'

'She went on tour today itself, Draco. I had told you that as well when I told you that the meeting was on Wednesday. God, this is just like you. Would it kill you to pay a bit more attention to what I say?'

'I'm sorry, I didn't do it deliberately, now can we quit squabbling over this like children and figure out what to do?'

'I don't know, call the nanny service?' Hermione offered, sidestepping in time as a sock came flying for her face.

'Witches for the Supervision of Unattended Toddlers? No, thank you. The last time one was here she put on the telly and started talking to her boyfriend via floo-call, and I came home to find Leo lying naked in front of the TV, watching a documentary on the mating habits of rhinos, while Marie Presley or whatever her name was had floo-sex with her boyfriend!'

'Oh, my God, this is not the time to nitpick over the dastardly babysitters the service sends over, Draco. '

'I don't care. I'm not leaving my son in the care of some weird drug abuser from that nanny service, and that's final.'

'Well, then I'm sorry, but beggars can't be choosers. If you can't remember to clear your schedule or inform me of it beforehand, you most certainly don't have the right to stand there and crib about the uselessness of the nanny service.'

'Why are you blowing this out of proportion? I messed up the dates, big fucking deal? It's not like-'

'Don't swear in front of Leo, you foul-mouthed savage! He's at an age where he picks up words like those at the drop of a hat! The last thing I need right now is him sashaying about in his Falcon's underwear and spouting profanities for no particular reason!'

'You're giving me a headache with all this screeching.'

'Good. Take an aspirin. I don't care. But come up with someone with whom we can drop Leo off, because I don't have anyone in mind.'

'How about Molly Weasley?'

'Are you absolutely kidding me right now? The woman barely has time to take care of her own grandkids and you know how sick Arthur always is. It would be incredibly selfish of us to just drop off Leo at her place without any prior notice whatsoever.'

'Fine. I'll drop him off at Pansy's,' he growled.

'Well, okay! I mean, Delilah bullies Leo to no extent, but we don't really have any option now, do we?'

'Then it's settled.'

'Yes, and we wouldn't have had to get into a screaming match if you'd just learnt to be more responsible.'

'God, are we honestly at this again?' Just then, Draco tripped on a green sock, gifted to him by Molly for his 26th birthday along with a matching green jumper, and landed on his butt. 'FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LEO, PUT MY RUDDY SOCKS AWAY!'

Leo's eyes welled with tears, and Hermione groaned, reaching down to take him in her arms before the wailing ensued.

'Don't be a d-i-c-k to your kid just because you're in a bad mood,' she spat out, glaring at him, as she walked out of their room, cooing to Leo, as Draco glared right back from his place on the floor, surrounded by black and grey socks, the green trouble-maker sticking out as an eyesore.

-X-X-X-

Draco was in a foul mood when he rounded the corner to the store, and as a result, didn't even bother to nod his head in acknowledgement when the florist who sat right outside the shop grinned in his direction.

'I need coffee, Alisha, and I need it now,' Draco ordered as he entered the bookstore that had now become both his and Hermione's.

'And good morning to you, too, boss. I see lady boss is yet to arrive. She said she'd be there for the interviews, right?'

Draco sent a glare her way and she instantly understood that her employers had gotten involved in the usual sort of tiff and scurried away to get him a cup of strong coffee.

'When are the candidates going to arrive?' Draco asked the spunky twenty-three year old girl of Indian and German descent who manned the till of the store.

'Around ten, boss. Here's your coffee. Bitter, like you on a warm sunny day.'

'Ha-ha,' Draco bit out spicily. 'Did you get a call from Mr. Devereaux yet?'

'About the medical-magical tomes?' she enquired. 'Not yet. But it's only Wednesday. He isn't supposed to deliver until Friday.'

Draco nodded, surveying the receipts from the previous day. 'Say, how long did Rick say he'd be gone for?'

'Um, he says a year, but I don't know. Cancer takes time to heal, and his mum's all the way in New Jersey, so I hardly think he'll be popping in and out anytime soon.'

'Then we better make sure someone efficient is chosen to fill in Frederick's position,' he shot her a pointed look.

'Excuse me, boss, but is that a dig at my lack of professionalism?' she gasped.

'Indeed, it is.'

'Well, then it's a good thing I don't give a damn,' she retorted cheekily.

'You know, Alisha, it's a good thing I find you amusing, or you'd be out of a job real soon.'

'I dream of the day I don't have to work anymore, boss. But all in good time,' she sang, and he chuckled.

Just then, the overhanging bells chimed to signify them that they had a visitor, and Draco's breath caught when he saw who it was.

'Hi,' she said, nervously tucking a strand of her wavy, chin-length hair behind her ear. 'Draco, you probably don't remember me, but we met at Tracey's-'

'Sugar, wasn't it?' Draco smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. 'I do believe you've broken your promise.'

She laughed, and Draco had to admit that she looked just as he'd remembered her.

'I'm sorry,' she replied, an infectious smile gracing her sunny features. 'But it is kind of urgent.'

'Of course, I was only kidding. Do tell me, what can I do for you?'

'Well, not for me, exactly,' she winced, gesturing to a young and petulant-looking girl who was standing outside the store with a grimace on her face. 'It's my niece – Darla McKinnon. She, um, needs a job, and – come in, Darla! – well, I saw an ad in The Prophet, and I thought of her, and I think she'll be great for the one you're offering!'

Draco nodded, and smiled at Darla, who had just entered the store. 'Hello, how do you do? I'm Draco Malfoy.'

She nodded and muttered a "Fine, thank you," before sullenly looking down at her neon trainers.

He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, turning to her aunt instead. 'And how have you been doing, if I'm allowed to ask?'

'Of course,' she blushed prettily. 'All that we'd agreed on that day seems so silly now. Anyway, I've been doing great! Opened another bakery – that's what I do for a living – in Paris. Actually, that's where I spend most of my time now. It's such a lovely city. But I've been back in London ever since this one graduated from Hogwarts,' she gestured towards Darla. 'And I do believe she needs a job to kind of ease her in to the whole thing.'

'I see,' Draco nodded. 'So, Darla, are you interested in organising and alphabetising?'

Darla shot him a "Are you kidding me?" look.

'I thought so. It's a temporary job; we can only keep you on until Rick – who you'll be replacing – comes back from New Jersey. And if you want the thing, I suggest you make yourself familiar with both organising and alphabetising.'

Darla turned a pleading eye towards her aunt who was having none of it.

'Thank you so much, Draco!' Sugar gushed. 'I knew you would-'

'Hang on. I haven't given it to her just yet. She's hardly said a word up until now! Say, does she even want the darn thing?'

'Darla, speak,' her aunt glared.

'Yes, I do, because otherwise my Aunt won't shut up about it,' Darla said icily.

'Now, you listen here, young lady, and you listen well. If you want to work here, you will learn to say polite things, and you will learn to arrange the books and oversee any orders or deliveries in case Alisha – that's who you'll be reporting to – is not around. You will have to greet the customers, offer them help should they need any, and stay up-to-date on the latest Muggle and Magical book releases. Is that clear?'

'Crystal.'

'Good. And lose the attitude. Which Hogwarts house were you in?'

'What?' she asked astonished.

'House. Which house were you in?'

'Um, Gryffindor. Why?'

'That explains it. My wife would love this.'

'Your wife?' Sugar piped in. 'I'm sorry, I didn't know you were married.'

'Oh, it was the wedding to be at, honey,' Alisha volunteered. 'Draco Malfoy marrying Hermione Granger? Scandalous!'

Draco rolled his eyes, while Darla's aunt nodded in understanding, shooting him a tentative smile.

'Anyway, one last question, Darla,' Draco asked, dead-serious. 'Who is your favourite author?'

'I mostly read comics –what, are you fainting- but my favourite just so happens to be Stephen King, thank you very much.'

Draco beamed. 'Oh, yes, Hermione would love you. You can start from tomorrow.'

After having received some more specifications and instructions regarding the job, both Darla and her aunt took their leave, but before they could go, Draco interrupted.

'Hey, Sugar?'

'Yes, Draco?'

'I hardly think Sugar is your real name, now, is it?'

She smiled. 'Elena. Elena Sanders. But my friends call me Lena.'

'Okay then, Lena, it was nice to meet you again.'

'Likewise, Draco,' she smiled, and turned.

'Hey, Lena?' Draco called out again.

'Yeah?'

'Tangerine still look that good on you?' he asked, mischievously hinting at their previous meeting.

'Oh, I don't know,' she smirked. 'Maybe. To be continued?'

'To be continued,' he nodded, smiling at her. 'Take care!'

He was still smiling a moment later, when he noticed Alisha staring at him, with one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in disapproval.

'Tangerine still look good on you?' she mocked, making a face. 'God, I felt like I was in a teen movie.'

'She's just an old friend.'

'And old friend you just found out the name of?'

'Shut it. And cancel all other interviews,' Draco said.

'Ex-squeeze me?'

'What – we don't have a vacancy anymore.'

'Yeah, but that's because you gave "Sugar's" sullen niece the bloody job! Don't you think we should have one back-up ready? You know, for when the rude little chit flakes?'

'She won't flake,' Draco huffed.

'Because she's darling Sugar's niece?' Alisha crossed her arms. 'Face it, boss, you're heading into uncharted territory. Flirting is the one lane you should very carefully avoid while you've still got a ring on your finger, but if the ruddy lane must be entered, you've got to do it like you're entering Knockturn Alley, which, I'm pretty sure, isn't the same as doing it with your new undeserving employee's hot but off-limits aunt. And you know I've got a point, because this thing popped up on my radar. And I don't even think twice before encouraging people to divorce their spouses – why, I'm pretty sure I had a hand in my parents' divorce too!'

Draco shuddered, and then proceeded to ignore her. It wasn't flirting, and he didn't see the harm in interacting with Elena. So what, he pondered, if he had noticed that she looked beautiful in her yellow sundress and white shoes. He prided himself on being a fashionable man, and he was just appreciating her sartorial sense. It was nothing more than just a harmless bit of curiosity, perhaps.

-X-X-X-

A/N – Many thanks to ALL those who reviewed, I can't tell you how much your feedback means to me.

For more details about Sugar – check out The Draco Date File, Chapter 4.

Do leave a review!