Special Delivery
Have you ever been laughed at because you attempted to buy Harry Potter stock with fifty cents? Don't do it unless you want the stock manager to fall off his chair laughing. Sadly I can't even manage to buy a little bit of rights to the Harry Potter world so I still own nothing (;_;)
On another note...Harry and Draco wanted Hermione to be cool and smart so they made me make her special...don't worry though...Hermione pays Harry back at breakfast (^_^) -Yes that is a wide smile...
Oh dear...Please heed the M warning too. Hermione's tongue loosens some in this chapter...bad Hermione! Though we all know Lucius will agree with his witch anyway :p
Draco smirked, "So you slice the petals, not cut them?"
"Yes," Harry replied absent-mindedly. "The best way to slice is to sharpen your blade the muggle way, magic is just too...Oh Merlin, I'm sounding just like 'Mione!" His head fell into his hands. Draco and Lucius chuckled.
LoVe*lOvE*LoVe She's a What Now?! lOvE*LoVe*lOvE
Entertainment in the Malfoy's safe house was never lacking with Harry and Hermione. Hermione had just been released from the hospital, and put on five days bed rest. Harry took this time to argue the point that Hermione should not be travelling alone while searching for her parents in Australia. He had every right to be worried, but ultimately it was Hermione's decision whether to include him in her travels or not.
"No Harry! As I have explained before, I have to do this on my own!" An exasperated curly haired witch tried not to shout.
"'Mione I can't let you do this on your own, not after what happened!" Harry argued.
"Harry," Hermione was getting a headache, "the war is over, no one is going to jump out and stun me out of nowhere, There are no stray curses or hexes that I will have to be ducking, rolling, or even jumping over obstacles!"
"Yes 'Mione, but there are gangs! Those thugs have guns, knives, anything they hold becomes a weapon to them even a bloody lead pencil!"
"Harry, you act as if I plan on running through the bloody streets in the dead of night yelling 'Here I am! Come kill me! Voldemort didn't get me, maybe you can!' I am not that bloody stupid Harry!" Draco chuckled, while Lucius hid a smirk behind a book, and Narcissa coughed into her hand to keep from laughing.
Harry knew Hermione was getting upset when she started using 'bloody' and the words would get worse from there the more upset she got.
"Hermione please? It doesn't even have to be me that goes, maybe Draco wants to see Australia. Do you want to see Australia Draco?" Harry tried to get someone on his side.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Hermione yelled, startling all occupants of the room, "YOU FIGHT YOUR OWN BATTLES, YOU PICKED THIS ONE, AND I INTEND TO FINISH IT! I AM PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN RIGHT NOW! Fuck. Off." Hermione hissed in a dead whisper, her wand whipped out of thin air and directed right in Harry's face.
Harry gulped. He'd never gotten Hermione this mad, never. It was best to back away now while she still hadn't hexed his to bits to pieces.
"Yes ma'am," Harry whispered backing away slowly, and when he was far away enough, he turned tail and ran.
"Hermione-," Lucius began, but was cut short, as Hermione's wand was now aimed directly at him.
"I suggest you run Mister Malfoy!" Harry called from the furthest part of the entry hall, but kept Hermione in view. Lucius frowned and snatched her wand right out of her hand. Big Mistake Number One.
"Oh no!" Harry whispered, eyes comically wide. "What have you done?! Mister Malfoy follow my directions. Lay her wand down very slowly.
"Never take your eyes off her own, do not look away, don't even blink. Then back away slowly showing her you are not a threat," Harry instructed.
Lucius rolled his eyes, "Really Mister Po-Hmph!" Hermione dropped Lucius Malfoy in the smoothest most graceful sweep of her leg anyone in the room had ever seen...well except Harry.
"RUN CISSA, DRACO RUN!" Harry shouted already making his way towards the nearest exit. Narcissa backed away slowly making her way towards the edges of the room till she reached the exit then promptly made her swift escape. Draco was not so lucky. While his mother took the advice to back away slowly and never let your eyes leave her, Draco sprinted straight for the exit.
The Second Big Mistake. Hermione leapt to the sofa, used the momentum to fly gracefully across the room, and brought Draco down with a simple twist of her body that flipped him once before he hit the ground with an audible thud and "Omph! Merlin!"
"HARRY FUCKING POTTER, YOU GET YOUR FUCKING ARSE BACK IN HERE THIS INSTANT BEFORE I FUCKING AVADA YOUR BALLS OFF!" And then the blessings of all blessings...Hermione collapsed.
Doctor Bennett had a lot of work that day, repairing pulled and strained back muscles, and delivering a dreamless sleep potion. All inhabitants of the Malfoy safe house insisted she really needed that potion, so the unwilling doctor complied. After all they knew what caused Hermione to collapse.
He warned them that she needed rest, the poor stubborn girl probably tried to do everything herself and let everyone know she was all right. The doctor sighed. Some people just never learned. Never learn indeed.
"Mister Potter," Lucius called Harry into the drawing room. Poor Harry. He fell for the trap. As soon as he entered the drawing room Lucius magically locked the doors and Harry found himself fixed with an ice-cold, spine shivering glare of not one, but two Malfoys, and a Black. Harry was promptly backed into a corner of the parlour room with no hope for escape, but hope for the mercy of the Malfoys and Black.
"Mister Potter, I highly advise you to NEVER push Hermione Granger. Like. That. Again. Your life just may depend on it, and I do not mean me threatening your life," Lucius gave a cold heartless chuckle, "I mean that of our dear Hermione following through on her threat to...What was it again?...Oh yes...to Avada your balls off. Never. Do. That. Again. With any one of us in the room except yourself. Do I make myself clear?" Lucius finished, his voice drowning Harry in ice cold water, making him shiver at the Arctic temperatures.
"Yes, Mister Malfoy," Harry shuddered. "But in my defence, I did warn you sir."
"Yes, you did Mister Potter, but I do hope you take my advise to heart," Lucius gave his cold chuckle. Harry could see then how Lucius Malfoy was the right hand man of Voldemort. Then again Hermione could easily rival Lucius Malfoy. She sure did have the moves, intelligence, and wand skill. Lucius unlocked the door and they let Harry go.
"Before I forget Mister Potter," Harry paused at the sound of Lucius's voice before exiting the drawing room. "Where did Hermione learn how to move like that?"
Harry nervously chuckled, "She...uh...since she was five she has been...uh...she'sablackbeltinkarate." Harry blurted out and ran. Poor Harry. Where had his Gryffindor courage gone?
Lucius figured out his last sentence in all of two seconds. "POTTER!" He bellowed. Narcissa swore you could hear his voice echoing through the mountains. She just prayed he didn't wake Hermione from her dreamless sleep.
"Father! Don't wake Granger!" Draco hissed. Narcissa couldn't have said it better herself as she made her way to the nursery to soothe the wailing baby Seeley.
Hermione did in fact wake up. Though it was not on account of Lucius's bellow that happened to wake the local wolves up near the base of the mountains. No, it was on account that the dreamless sleep potion had worn off. Oh how she was ashamed when she remembered the events of her first day back from the hospital.
The Malfoy men and Narcissa did not deserve to see her at her worst, especially after doing everything they could to help her become accustomed to motherhood. She would have to apologise. First things first...she would make Narcissa her own special blend of tea. This required a short trip outside.
Crisp mountain air would do her good she decided, so she grabbed her wand and transfigured a blouse into a comfy thick jumper to keep the biting cold away. Luckily, winter was giving way to spring, and she felt certain she could find all the ingredients for Narcissa's special bled of tea.
Lucius was sleeping rather soundly in the drawing room with a fairly good book in his lap when Hermione made her secret trip through the house, and out into the Idahonian landscape beyond the front doors of the colonial style home. The soft echo of the front door softly closing and echoing through the dead silence still did not awaken his blissful slumber.
HeArt*hEaRt*HeArT Dancing with Mister Wolf's Pack hEaRt*HeArT*hEaRt
Fresh ginger root! She finally found it. It was about two hours till sunrise, Hermione figured the best way to apologise to the Malfoy men was to spoil them with a generous variety of breakfast dishes. It had been forever since she had pancakes, they would probably love her french toast, some scones, and *biscuits with white gravy, bacon, sausage links, crepes, omelettes, eggs, Narcissa would like fruits, so a fruit platter.
It was not till Hermione twisted the knob of the front door, that she heard the low growl. Hermione sighed, at least safety was right in front of her, right on the other side of this door. The growl became more menacing. She knew she had to act fast.
She could just slip through the door. She couldn't throw it open, it would leave too much of an opening for the beast to slip through. By the way what kind of animal was growling? Hermione slowly turned to face a pack of nine muggle wolves.
After a few short hours of soundless sleep, what finally woke Lucius up was the dull thud of a fairly good book that had fallen from his lap. He searched his person for his wand to avoid bending his slightly sore, but healing, back muscles. Ah, yes. He set his wand down on the table in the entry hall. Picking up the book the manual way could not be avoided.
Just before allowing sleep to overcome him again he heard it. The growling of a beast ready to attack. Lucius made his way to the entry hall just as Hermione flung the door open just enough to slide inside unharmed, but not close it fast enough for the leader of the wolf pack to wiggle his front paws and head in the open doorway taking the wizard completely by surprise. Hermione was just full of surprises, not to mention that danger followed her wherever she went.
Perhaps Potter had a viable argument in not wanting Hermione to seek out her parents on her own. 'Well, enough thinking Lucius. Hermione needs your help right now', he internally sighed. At least it was a non-magical animal. Those were easier to stun.
He picked up his wand from the table and cast a stunner at the wolf in all its snarling glory, surprising and alerting Hermione to his presence. Finally she was able to whip out her own wand, move the stunned animal out of the way, and was able to secure door. She slumped against it completely tired from the adrenaline rush.
"Hermione!" Lucius rushed to her side. "What where you thinking going out this time of night?!" He hissed at her, and took her in his arms holding her tight.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to surprise everyone," Hermione managed to pout.
"Well you sure as hell surprised me!" Lucius managed not to shout. He pulled Hermione to her feet and half dragged her to the drawing room. "What were you thinking Witch?!" Lucius hissed in a whispered shout while rocking Hermione like a child, though more for his nerves than hers.
Hermione looked up into Lucius's steely grey eyes, "Just that I wanted do something for you, Narcissa, and Draco. To ask for your forgiveness for letting Harry get the better of me, and showing you all my worst. For physically hurting you." Lucius looked back into those warm honeyed eyes and felt his heart completely melt for this witch.
"Oh, Hermione," his breath hitched. Hermione ran her hand through his hair lightly scratching his scalp, and slowly pulled him down to brush her lips against his, and finally press their lips together for a chaste kiss.
"Lucius," Hermione gently pushed him down into the chaise. She pulled a potion out of her beaded bag, "Lucius, I want you to take just a small sip of this," Hermione instructed. Lucius raised an eyebrow, but complied.
"Oh you sly Slytherin," Lucius mumbled while trying to fight off the effects of the dreamless sleep.
"Lucius?"
"Hmm, Yes?"
"Just so you know, you are the only one I have ever been with," Hermione whispered, her lips brushing against his ear. And that was how Hermione sent him into the happiest dreamless sleep with a smile on his face. She took a Pepper Up potion, and got to work on her 'Please forgive me' breakfast, and figuring a perfect blend for Narcissa's new special tea blend.
Two hours later found Lucius waking up to the most delightful smells of breakfast to tickle his nose in forever. He made his way down the hall to find Hermione, head resting on her arms. He gathered her into his arms and whispered, "You naughty witch!"
"So you do remember," Hermione smiled with her eyes closed. "Go on eat breakfast before it gets cold. I did not work this hard for that to happen," Hermione smiled and looked into his eyes.
"You are supposed to be on bed rest!" His brows furrowed as he became more worried.
"Don't worry," Hermione kissed him. "I will be just fine."
"I should not indulge you. I should forbid everyone from eating this breakfast!" Lucius exclaimed.
"You wouldn't!" Hermione became alarmed. Lucius picked up Hermione's letter and read.
"Hmm, a 'forgive me' breakfast...I will allow this. Just this once. Only because you feel you have done something wrong. But you have been hurt Hermione, you need to understand that. We are all worried about you, and want you to fully recover. Doctor Bennett put you on full bed rest and that is where you will stay until you are relieved. Am I clear?" Lucius spoke sternly.
Hermione looked past his cool exterior into his cool grey eyes. He was truly concerned. "Yes Lucius." Hermione leaned over him and laid a kiss on his cheek, "Thank you very much."
"Thank you very much for a delightful breakfast spread," he smiled truly. Draco walked into the kitchen and looked like a kid on Christmas morning when he spied all the breakfast dishes Hermione could think of making. Then he saw and read the note from her.
"Thank you very much Granger. I'll forgive you if you show me a few of those moves you know," Draco smirked.
"I can definitely show you a few," Hermione grinned evilly.
"I'd run now if you can Malfoy," Harry said entering the kitchen. Hermione uncovered a plate for Harry with eggs, bacon, and a *biscuit.
"This is for you Harry," She slapped his hand away from the other dishes.
Harry pouted, "Why?" The Malfoy men looked on, knowing they would be getting their daily amusement.
"Because Harry. While it is not completely your fault for setting off my temper, you still share most of the fault. Therefore, I made this plate for you asking your forgiveness, but only this plate. If you are still hungry after I advise you to make your own breakfast, as this spread," Hermione motioned to the other breakfast dishes she made, "is for the true victims who did not deserve to witness my temper."
By then Narcissa had taken her seat at the breakfast table and was eyeing the fruits, but all eyes seemed to be on Harry to see his reaction to not being allowed to eat anything else besides what was on his plate. As soon as Hermione's back was turned at the stove, Harry reached for a sausage link. All were surprised when he suddenly pulled back and smacked himself across the face!
"Oh, and Harry," Hermione gave her evil grin as the others failed horribly at hiding their mirth at Harry's misfortune. "The other dishes are charmed to do that too. Thought you might like that warning." All at the table couldn't help but continue to laugh at poor Harry.
"Hermione!" Harry pouted looking hurt.
"Oh all right Harry. Here is one link and a tip," Hermione gave him a twisted smile. "There is one other dish at this table you are allowed to touch."
"Really?" Harry's face lit up, "Which one 'Mione?"
"I believe you will have to figure that one out for yourself Harry Potter," Hermione gave her evil grin. Harry's face fell a little, but was still lit up at the idea of being able to eat another of Hermione's dishes.
"This food is amazing Granger!" Draco kept piling food onto his plate.
"I'll bet it is," Harry grumbled.
"Mmm, this is better than the house elves' cooking," Lucius smiled as he scooped more of his favourite dishes, and some new favourites, onto his plate.
"You are absolutely right!" Narcissa exclaimed. "Where did you learn to cook like this Hermione?"
"François LeRose," Harry mumbled, then his eyes lit up.
"No!" Narcissa's eyes went wide. Draco and Lucius were surprised at her reaction and wondered who this François person was.
"Every summer for a month since she was 10 with the famous French chef, and she spent her whole summer completing a home schooling program just to have a muggle graduation certificate. You're looking at a witch who was accepted to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Princeton here in the States, but turned them all down. They still crawl on their knees begging to have her enrolled. They're convinced she can be the next Prime Minister!" Harry bragged hoping to win brownie points with Hermione. Everyone at the table was speechless.
"Harry! That was not polite, and it is rude to brag," Hermione chastised. "And this is me you are talking about, you know I do not like information like that being spread around. No offence," Hermione said to everyone else, "I know you all don't spread gossip, but Harry, I thought better of you!"
"I'm really sorry Hermione," Harry blushed.
Hermione kissed his cheek, "Sometimes you really do let your stomach do all the talking Harry. I am sorry for being cruel with the food, but really, you should have known better."
"What's your punishment Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione frowned, "I have been confined to my room for the remainder Doctor Bennett's orders." She pouted, and served everyone a bit of her newly blended special tea.
"Mmm, Hermione! This tea is absolutely marvellous!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"Do you really like?" Hermione asked, and blushed because she just finished chastising Harry for the same thing.
Narcissa smiled, "Yes, it really is the best I have ever tasted. I think this beats your other blend."
Hermione handed Narcissa her note. Narcissa sniffled and threw her arms around Hermione after reading it, "Thank you so much Hermione, it really is the best and most thoughtful gift I have ever been given."
Hermione placed a lovely tin engraved with roses next to Narcissa's plate. "I wrote down how I blended, and brewed as best I could. It's yours now."
"Thank you so much, again Hermione," Narcissa sniffled.
Smack!
"Ugh! Hermione!" Harry complained as he rubbed his red cheek. Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"Hermione, I believe it is time to we follow through with your punishment," Lucius smirked.
"Just a few more minutes," Hermione tried not to pout.
"You look very tired Hermione, the doctor's orders are bed rest." Hermione let her pout show at those words.
Harry adopted Hermione's evil grin, "Mister Malfoy, I believe you should know Hermione is in possession of my Invisibility cloak."
"Harry!" Hermione dived to smack him, but succeeded in knocking them both to the floor.
"Ow 'Mione!" Harry rubbed his shoulder. "'Mione?" Harry was looking across the floor at a very pale Hermione.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry, I should not have dived at you," Hermione rasped as tried to pick herself up, but couldn't.
"She needs the Healer," Harry tried not to look worried. Everyone was up from the table in a flash.
"Draco call Doctor Bennett," Narcissa ordered. "Lucius, Harry carry Hermione carefully upstairs. I'll pull down the sheets." Narcissa was gone in a flash. Leaving Lucius and Harry to carry Hermione. She was light enough for one of them to carry up the stairs, too bad they didn't figure that out till she was safely tucked away in bed.
Poor Harry lol...but he wanted Hermione to be cool and Hermione refused so Harry made me sneak that karate bit in there ;-) We all know now how she retaliated hee hee hee...Oh! The dish that Hermione allowed Harry to touch without smacking himself was Narcissa's fruit platter (^.^)
*American biscuits and British biscuits are not the same. What Americans call cookies, British call biscuits...biscuits and gravy is a Southern dish in the U.S as far as I know, but the biscuits can be eaten without gravy and spread with butter instead, or butter and jelly/jam.