Authors Note: Hey y'all! Sorry it took so long for this story to be put up. I had to move to school- I'm a junior at a Uni- and I just finished my first week at school. My beta just started school as well, so she has not been able to beta this chapter yet. Because of this, please excuse any misspelling and grammar issues for now. I will update this chapter again once it has been beta-ed. I didn't want to keep y'all waiting any longer. so here is chapter three and four is in the works! emma
P.S. this is the only time that i will put on here that these are my characters.
Hermione tried to obtain Hugo and Rose's attention as she attempted to make dinner. Rose and Hugo could have cared less at the moment as to what their mother was going to make for dinner as they were fascinated by Draco. The three were sitting at the kitchen table, locked in a heated staring and silent contest. Hermione shook her head at them then started to make Sheppard's pie for dinner.
After about five minutes of the stalemate between Draco and the two brunettes that Rose finally spoke up. "Why is your hair so white? And your eyes so grey? They look funny. My daddy has red hair and blue eyes. He looks funny, too. Why don't you smile? It's fun to smile. I know, why don't I tell you a joke!" Rose was talking about sixty kilometers a second and Draco was having difficulty keeping up. Before he could even process what Rose had said to him, Rose was already at full speed again telling her joke. Rose allowed no time for Draco to answer the joke either. She answered her own joke immediately and was giggling hysterically leaving Draco completely in the dark. Draco assumed that the child would want some sort of recognition for her "brilliant" joke and so began to laugh along with her. So far, Draco thought, everything is going fine.
Even though things seemed to be going well so far, the fact was that children were a hold new experience for Draco so when Hugo asked if he would come play, Draco's slight confidence started to dwindle. He turned to Hermione for guidance on the matter and received a non-verbal queue to follow the children into the living room. Hugo ran over to the wooden trunk that looked oddly like an old Hogwart's school trunk and started to rummage through. After a minute of frantic searching, Hugo emerged with three toy wands. His sister's face lit up with excitement as if a secret message had had been communicated between the two about the game they were to play.
"We are going to play Aurors and Death Eaters. It's our favorite game. Rose and I are going to be the aurors and you can be the Death Eater." Draco tried to smile at the children but was somewhat shocked and upset with their game. However he would not show the children this and took the offered toy wand. "Mommy has made some rules though. She says that we can't use any unforgivables and that we have to give the person playing the Death Eater a chance to say why they chose to be a Death Eater." With Hugo's revelation about his mother's rules Draco became a little confused. Why would Hermione have her children ask for a reason behind the "Death Eaters" choices? Draco shook it off and decided to play with the kids.
With the nod of Draco's head the game began promptly as both children pointed their wands at him. Hugo began to run towards Draco, so he dodged Rose's pretend spell and began running from Hugo. Similar scenarios continued to play out for about fifteen minutes until Draco finally allowed the children to catch him. However, Draco became uncomfortable with the idea of a "reasoning trial" from the "aurors" and decided to instead tackle the boy and girl to the ground. Hugo and Rose began laughing and squealing immediately as Draco tickled them. A few minutes of rolling on the floor evolved into the three sitting crossed legged on the floor playing a children's matching game. Hugo and Rose told Draco about the events of their day with Aunt Ginny, often spouting into random little stories like children do. As the time passed, Draco became more relaxed and found the two quite adorable.
When an hour playing had passed, a call came out from the kitchen declaring supper to be ready. At the promise of food, the two children jumped up and dashed into the dining room. Draco had a smile on his face as he watched them run off. 'Who knew I had a soft spot for children' thought Draco as he too headed towards the table.
Dinner went really well considering who the two adults were. In fact, it was almost like they were a real family. As the night progressed, this image of the perfect family continued while Draco helped ready the two for bed with Hermione. He assisted in bath time and when it came time for the bed time story, the children asked him to read it. Draco had not been expecting to like the children as much as he did, seeing as whose offspring they were, but he found that he liked their energy and inquisitive natures very much. When the children were all tucked in and sleeping, Hermione walked Draco to the fireplace. They made a quick list of their activities tomorrow and then said an awkward goodnight.
The next morning found Hermione and Draco once again running into the other on the lift to their floor. No one else had hopped on with them, so they a had a brief moment to converse before the acting began. It was agreed that not too much affection would be displayed between them at work; they would only display enough to make it obvious they were now a couple. As the lift came to a stop, they each took a deep breath and walked out the door grabbing the other's hand.
With smiles on their face, they walked into the auror bullpen. They talked about their evening together the day before loud enough so the others in the room could hear and ask what was going on between them. As they made their way to their desks, Draco wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist and kissed her cheek before he went to his seat and she went to hers. They were getting looks form everyone in the area until Harry Potter walked over to their joint desks. He gave the other workers a tight look before slapping papers on both Hermione and Draco's desks. He tilted his head towards his office door and made a quick about face. The two exchanged glances before getting back up and following Harry to his office.
"I'm not going to ask what is going on between the two of you, at least not here. However, I need you both to begin to research and investigation on the man in that paperwork." With Harry's words Hermione and Draco looked down at the paperwork in their hands. The papers had a picture of a red head, freckled faced man. In bold print next to the moving picture of was written "Ronald B. Weasley". Hermione looked up at Harry with a quizzical look. "You left your letter open on your desk yesterday. I noticed the Ministry seal and thought it might be an official issue. I read it and decided you needed help. So, I want you to do all the research you can on his life since your divorce to use against him in court."
Draco reached across his chair and grabbed Hermione's hand. Hermione let a fleeting smile show on her face before she became serious again. "Harry, you're his best friend and his brother-in-law. Why are you allowing me to do the research on him at work? Why are you helping me stop him from taking my children? You have never taken sides between us before. Why now?" Hermione was a little glad that Harry allowed her research to be a work assignment because now she would not have to take time away from her children. She was curious to know how Harry could choose to help her over Ronald.
"Hermione, my reasons are simple. No man should try to take a woman's children away from her, especially for no reason. He might be my best friend, but something hasn't been right with him for a while; he just isn't the same man. I want you to keep your children and I will help as much as I can. As for you and Malfoy are concerned, expect a floo call from me soon. I want to know what is going on."
Hermione and Draco could tell that their meeting with the auror was done so the two stood and began to head to their desks again, hoping that maybe they could actually start on some work. They spent their day looking through all of Ron's expense history and all the newspaper clippings they could collect from the Prophet's achieve and magazine articles. When it became eleven-thirty, the two slowed down and began to discuss their plans for lunch. They decided that Hermione would have lunch with some co-workers. By doing this, they hoped that their friend's would ask questions. She was prepared to answer their many questions they had, but she was worried about Draco's meeting with his mother. With a reassurance conversation from Draco, the two hugged and Draco kissed her cheek before separating for lunch.
Draco walked towards the restaurant he was to meet his mother. He had sent an owl to his mother the night before asking her to choose a ring from the Malfoy vault for him and to bring it to the Dragon's Layer at noon. He had also started a small rumor before work telling of his planned meeting with his mother and the nature of the gathering. He hoped that the Prophet would get wind of the get-together and write an article about his engagement between him and Hermione. As he walked into the five star restaurant, he became slightly nervous of his mother's reaction.
Upon walking into the restaurant, the host quickly sat him at a private table that was always reserved for his family. He was poured a small glass of the most expensive wine available. It was going to be a stressful lunch break, so he took a healthy swig of his wine. As he sat his glass down, Narcissa Malfoy walked through the front door, regal looking with her tailor made robes and long blonde hair. He quickly straightened his clothing and stood up to greet her. A quick peck on each cheek was his greeting as he pulled out her chair. She sat down and gave her son a sweet smile as he took his seat across from her. "How are you today, Mother," Draco asked.
"I'm doing well, darling, but let us move on to the matter at hand if you do not mind. I would like to know the reason you asked me for an engagement ring even though I do not know your intended. I want to know the whole story, Draco." Narcissa Malfoy gave her son a stern look, but in her eyes was a hint of joy brought on by the knowledge that her son had fallen in love.
Draco gave his mother an apologetic look for not having told her sooner about his lady and began to give her the story he and Hermione had produced not a day before. With each word Draco spoke, Narcissa's face began to show the joy that had at first only been visible in her eyes when Draco had finished his tale, Narcissa had a smile on her face that was almost unseen on an aristocrat's face.
"Draco, that is wonderful! I'm so glad you're happy. However, love, you forgot to mention the lovely girl's name." At his mother's words, Draco's face faltered. He had never been nervous about his mother's approval of his marriage. He was nervous of her knowing who his wife to be actually was. With a refusal to let her see his worry, Draco cleared his throat and declared, "Hermione Granger, mother, is my wife to be. That is who I will be marrying whether you approve of her or not. I love her." As Draco looked across the table though, he found little reason to be worried. Narcissa's smile was from diamond earring to diamond earring.
"Draco, that is wonderful! I'm so glad you have found someone, and your love story is lovely sounding. Darling, it does not matter to me who she was in the past or who she is born from. Though, Draco, did she not have children with a Mr. Weasley in a previous marriage?"
"Yes, Mother. She has a son and a daughter. They live with her. They are quite delightful children and they will be moving in with me when their mother does. Mother, this is my decision and if you do not like what I am doing with my life, then you will lose a son." Draco was not going to let his mother rule his life. He loved her, but he had let his parent's control his childhood and young adulthood far too long. He had worked hard to get his life on the right track again. She was not going to ruin what he had started.
"Draco, darling, you do not have to explain yourself to me. It is your life. What you choose to do is fine with me. I will stand by you like you stood by me when it cost you your childhood. Plus, I have wanted grandchildren ever since you have been old enough to have children of your own. Now, I will not have any more negative arguments. Now let us order and you may collect your ring for your new fiancé."
When lunch had finished and Draco was waiting at his desk for Hermione to come back from her lunch break. He felt closer to his mother after their lunch. He was even more conflicted in his decision to help Hermione and her children. He was ready for the afternoon. He waited for the rest of the department for about five minutes and once everyone else arrived, work began on the Weasley case immediately after a quick hug to Hermione.