A/N: Thank you to CygneRouge for the French translations in this fic!


Chapter 14 (part 1): The Morning After

Rays of light hit Hermione's face, rousing her from her blissful sleep. She groaned and rolled over, burying her head in her pillow. What had she done last night? Her head was pounding heavily, as if it was trying to bury her into the Earth. She also had a sour taste in her dessert-dry mouth.

She wasn't a frequent drinker but she knew the symptoms of a hang-over. And she most certainly had these symptoms.

Hermione felt her stomach churn and she leaned over the side of the bed. Conveniently, a small bin was placed within her reach and she immediately emptied her stomach's measly contents in it.

When she was done, she found a glass and a pitcher filled with water on her bedside table. She quickly reached for them and had downed the half the contents of the pitcher in no time. Hermione fumbled for her wand and cleaned up the vomit and its horrid stench.

Suddenly, she heard it. It rang loud and clear through the pounding pain and hazy state of disorientation. The volume of it shook Hermione's insides and made her already churning stomach turn into tightly wound knots. Her heart rate accelerated to unhealthy proportions. Fear sipped in.

Silence.

Hermione struggled to focus in her weakened state and strained her ears for a sound. Not a creek or squeak. No barks, no telly noise and, most importantly, no Sophie.

Hermione shot out of bed and landed in a heap on her bedroom floor. She clutched her head and squeezed her eyes tight, fighting off the dizziness and willing the room to stop spinning. She felt her bedside table, almost knocking down the glass, for her wand. She cast a weak spell for her excruciating headache.

When she was able, Hermione started to slowly stand up and walk toward her door. She pulled open the door. "Sophie," she called with her raspy voice. It was scratchy and seemed like she hadn't used it for a couple of days. Speaking of days, how long had she been asleep? Hermione knew from Harry and Ron's hang-overs that they could sleep for almost a whole day. And they were experienced drinkers. Merlin's beard! What if she had slept a whole week!

"Sophie!" Her voice was still raspy and scratchy but she needed to find out if her daughter was alright. The silence that answered her was deafening and it shot pure fear and panic through the young mother. As fast as she could, Hermione ran, or rather stumbled, to Sophie's room. She opened the already ajar door. Everything seemed in place. The bedding was still fixed, the toys were all in their places, the books and photo albums were in order except for one that was lying on the floor beside the bottle of Firewhiskey, clothes were- Firewhiskey?!

"Sophie!"

Why was there Firewhiskey in her baby's room!

Why was Firewhiskey in her house!

Damn it!

How could she let herself get drunk and forget about her daughter! Her daughter! The most important person in her world! And while there was a custody battle going on! "Sophie!"

"Stop the bloody screaming, Granger." The familiar drawl came from behind her. Hermione abruptly turned around and nearly toppled over. His face was covered with a towel he was currently wiping his face with but the pale-blond locks and the all-too-familiar drawl left no doubt as to who it was.

There stood a half-naked Draco Malfoy wearing only a pair of dark jeans and was barefooted. Her eyes wandered to his exposed chest, correction, his pale very well-muscled, very lean chest with sculpted abs that belonged on a magazine cover of some naughty witch magazine. There were fine blond hairs leading down his stomach and onto the forbidden.

"Second time you've ogled me, Granger. I might get the wrong idea." He went toward the kitchen where there sat on the island counter a mug of steamy coffee and her newspaper. He sat on the stool and opened the newspaper, ignoring her and acting as if he owned the house and she was an annoying guest that stayed.

Hermione's brain went into overdrive. Where was Sophie? Why wasn't she there? Why was Malfoy, of all people, there? What happened last night? Hermione tried to still the questions flying through her head, it was adding to her already growing headache. The scent of coffee reached her nose and instantly drew her in. But before anything else, "Where's my daughter?"

Malfoy looked over the newspaper at her and raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

Hermione flushed. "I don't remember anything from last night."

"Tsk, tsk. That isn't good parenting," he chastised and shook his head at her. "Poor little girl, left somewhere by her irresponsible mother."

Hermione glared at Malfoy's too blond head and willed it to burst into hellish flames. "I would never put her in any situation that she could possibly be caused harm. I love my daughter, contrary to your belief, and I would never ever put her second."

Malfoy looked at her with thoughtful eyes. "Indeed." He then righted the newspaper and went back to reading and ignoring her.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy? I wouldn't think I'd invite you in." Hermione crossed her arms, feeling uncomfortable and awkward with Malfoy's obliviousness to his half-naked state.

"Oh but you did." She could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"I highly doubt that."

Malfoy folded her newspaper and leaned forward, his elbows on the counter. Hermione's eyes wandered to his arms, his very well toned arms. "You don't remember anything from last night, so," he slowly raised an eyebrow at her and his voice turned low, "how would you know?"

Hermione shivered. In disgust, she assured herself. And the explosion of butterflies in her stomach she attributed to panic.

"A man and a woman, alone in an empty house," he continued, causing more stomach-aching panic to twist inside her. He stood up and slowly walked toward her. "Both getting drunk with Firewhiskey. She feeling sad and alone reveled in the feel of him being there with her. Wanting to lift away her sadness and loneliness."

Hermione backed up when he didn't halt his steps. Her lower back hit the kitchen counter but he still didn't stop. When he was merely an inch from her, he braced his hands on the counter on either sides of her waist, effectively trapping her. His smirk was positively devilish and his eyes gleamed with mischief and heat. She resisted squirming under his gaze. He was toying with her, she reminded herself. He just wanted to see her squirm like a blushing virgin she bet he still thought she was. She was a grown woman. She had a child for Christ's sake! She wasn't going to be intimidated by his hard, masculine body almost but not quite pressing into her soft, flushed one.

He was so close to her and she could feel the heat radiating off of him. Hermione resisted the urge to place her hands on his chest to push him away. She felt that if she placed her hands on him they would be burned. But it seemed he still wasn't done making her uncomfortable and the lack of space didn't seem to faze him, he leaned his upper body toward her, causing her to lean even further into the counter.

He smelled of the soap she uses, floral and with a hint of vanilla. He stopped when Hermione couldn't lean any further and their bodies and noses were almost touching. She must have looked absolutely ridiculous and pathetic to her inner-Gryffindor but she didn't care. Her earlier resolve of not appearing intimidated crumbled as the distance between the continued to deteriorate. "Both inebriated and both have lost rational thought. Primal instincts take over." He leaned further to breath at her ear. "Imagine the possibilities."

Hermione whimpered despite herself. They couldn't have! It was wrong and uncharacteristic and...and...unimaginable!

He pulled his head back and Hermione met his silver gaze. Her breath caught in her throat. His eyes still held that teasing glint in them but there was also something that she couldn't, or rather, didn't want to decipher. It made her heart beat faster and made her thank the counter was there to support her. She fought back the blush of heat that threatened to appear in her cheeks.

His eyes flew to her lips and she unconsciously followed his lead. Gone was the smirk but what took its place was far worse.

A smile.

His pink, slightly plump lips formed a sensual, smoldering smile that gave her a teasing peek to his pearly white teeth. Hermione unconsciously licked her dry lips. He chuckled and it drew her eyes to his again. "Toutes ces possibilités, Granger (All those possibilities, Granger)," he whispered before he pulled away and turned back to his stool.

Hermione's eyes never left him. All those possibilities.

Bloody, blasted Firewhiskey.

The familiar sound of an incoming floo call rang through the house. Hermione immediately went to answer it; dying to escape the stifling atmosphere Malfoy had created but didn't seem to be affected. Arse.

"Hermione!" It was Emily's voice and Hermione breathed a sigh in relief.

"Emily! Is Sophie with you? Where is she?" Hermione asked immediately, kneeling before her fireplace.

Emily looked at her in confusion. "Of course she's here. You asked me to look after her last night, don't you remember?"

"Uhm, not really," Hermione said sheepishly, looking away.

"Hermione Jean Granger, what did you do?" Hermione flinched at her accusatory tone.

"I...uhm...I," Hermione stammered but was saved from answering by a voice calling Emily.

"Je viens mon chéri! (Coming, sweetheart!)" she called back and turned to face Hermione again. "Écoute, Mione, est-ce que tu peux t'occuper des enfants aujourd'hui ? Je suis désolée de t'imposer ça, surtout que tu as l'air assez fatiguée, mais je dois absolument aller à la boulangerie. Je viens de recevoir une grosse commande et Anton doit aller au bureau (Listen, 'Mione, can you take the children in for the day? I'm really sorry to do this to you, cause you still seem pretty out of it, but I really need to be at the bakery right now. I just got a big order and Anton's needed in the office)."

"Oh! Bien sur! Je suis vraiment désolée! (Oh! Of course! I'm so sorry!)" Hermione got up from her kneeling position and started to head to the bathroom to fix herself so she could pick up Sophie and Adrien. "Donne moi juste une minute (Just give me a minute)."

"Je les envoie par Cheminette (I'll floo them)," Emily answered and a moment later Emily went through the green flames and into Hermione's living room, holding Sophie, who held Sebastian in her little arms, in one hand and Adrien in the other.

"Mummy!" Sophie ran to her mum and Hermione knelt down to hug her child. Hermione buried her head in Sophie's red curls, breathing in the smell of baby powder and soot, assuring herself that Sophie was well and letting her daughter's presence ward away the fear and panic.

"Auntie 'Minnie!" Adrien soon joined the two and Hermione hugged him as well. When the two pulled back they instantly went into story-mode and proceeded to tell her how their sleepover went at a speed that only children seemed capable of when talking.

Hermione smiled, even if their loud voices added to the agonizing headache she was having. She was merely happy to know that Sophie was fine. Hermione heard someone clear their throat and looked up to find Emily staring intently at her, arms crossed. Hermione excused herself from the two speed-talkers, telling them to go ahead and change their soot covered clothes. When the two children left the room, Emily pointed to the sofa.

On it was a blanket, a pillow, and a black shirt. Hermione's eyes widened, remembering that Malfoy was still in her house and feeling puzzled at why he had slept on her sofa, instead of just going home. Emily picked up the black shirt and held it out, holding the sleeves up so that they could see it clearly. And clearly it wasn't a female's shirt.

"Monsieur Hero!" The two mothers' heard the squeal of their children coming from the kitchen. Hermione's eyes widened as Emily's narrowed into accusatory slits.

"I can explain," Hermione said and winced at the cliché statement and hoped it didn't make her look guilty. Emily ignored her and went off toward the kitchen and Hermione followed. They peered in and saw that the two children had cornered Malfoy and were bombarding him with questions. Malfoy looked utterly speechless, helpless and at a complete loss at what to do. Hermione smirked. Who knew that her revenge would come in the form of two innocent, little darlings?

Hermione was suddenly pulled from watching Malfoy look like an idiot and was faced with a mad Emily. Her eyes were still in dangerous slits and Hermione swallowed. It looked like her friend was going to explode at any second. And she did.

"What the hell is he doing here?!" Emily whisper-screamed, flailing her arms for emphasis.

"I-uh-I don't know?" Hermione cursed herself for letting her answer come out as a question, making her look even more guilty.

"You don't know?! What do you mean-" Emily was cut off by the sparks coming from her wand. Emily cursed and pointed a finger at Hermione. "We are not done here, Hermione Jean Granger."

Emily then proceeded to the living room and toward her fireplace. "I will get details," Emily said menacingly before disappearing in green flames.

Hermione blinked several times before she exhaled all the air in her lungs. Oh she was in deep trouble with Emily. Speaking of trouble... Hermione glanced down at her sofa and the evidence of Malfoy spending the night was still very much present, which begs the question: why did he stay? There was only one way to find out.

"M. Héros, qu'est ce que tu manges (Mr. Hero, what are you eating)?"

"M. Héros, pourquoi tu ne portes pas de vêtements (Mr. Hero, why are you not wearing clothes)?"

"M. Héros, pourquoi tu es dans notre maison (Mr. Hero, what are you doing in our house)?"

"M. Héros, tu es le mari de Tata Minnie (Mr. Hero, are you married to Auntie 'Minnie)?"

"M. Héros, est-ce que tu es mon nouveau papa (Mr. Hero, are you my new daddy)?"

"Bark!"

Stop all the bloody noise! Draco squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wanted to hex these two brats into the next century but very well knew the consequences of doing so. He fleetingly thought it worth it. It was bloody lucky he didn't have his wand with him.

The two children were still not done with bombarding him with ridiculous and inane questions, making his headache even worse. He tried to get away from them by slowly moving around the children, a pained smile on his face, lest he scowl and they cry, torturing him with even more noise. When he was finally at the doorway, he said a quick goodbye and made a hasty retreat.

He just entered the living room when something, or rather, someone bumped into him. Out of instinct, he reached out and grabbed the person's arms. He looked down and saw Granger's big, brown eyes looking up at him in surprise, her lips parted and small puffs of air escaped. Coming back to his senses, he let go of her but insulted her first, of course. "You reek, Granger. Take a bloody bath."

That seemed to snap her out of it. "You didn't seem to have a problem with using my bathroom, in my house."

"You're such a horrid host, Granger. A guest should be allowed to use the facilities in his host's home. You should do to remember that the next time you invite someone in your home." Draco shook his head in mock disappointment. "Bad, bad Granger."

She looked positively livid. And red. "And who invited you here anyway? I don't recall ever inviting you! Nor any have any reason to!"

"Yes, one of the many powers of Firewhiskey. The power to forget." Draco flourished his hand in her direction. Draco smirked thoroughly enjoying her ire.

"Did you make me drink Firewhiskey?" She narrowed her eyes accusingly at him.

Draco rolled his eyes. "You were plenty drunk when I arrived, Granger."

"And why were you here then?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

"A favour."

"For w-" The doorbell interrupted Granger and her brows knitted in confusion. The brats raced toward the door, yelling "Un visiteur! Un visiteur! (A visitor! A visitor!)" Granger went after them. Draco took his wand from his jacket. He flicked it and the blanket and pillow tidied themselves.

"Hermione! Darling, oh, how have you been? I was worried about you last night when Emily floo-ed, telling me to check up on you. Sadly, I wasn't feeling well and sent my son instead. I hope he wasn't unbearable last night. Are you well?" Narcissa grasped Hermione's arms and looked her over. Hermione stammered a reply, saying that she was fine.

"Splendid! I have a surprise for the children!" While she was talking, Narcissa entered the young witch's home and went straight to her living room, a basket swinging in her arm. The children followed Narcissa, repeatedly asking her of their surprise.

Narcissa stopped in her tracks when she caught sight of her son putting on his shirt, surprise evident on her face.

'My, my, what has occurred here?' Narcissa gleefully thought. Things were moving quickly and it seemed like her plan had made an enormous leap forward, and maybe a grandchild.

She had always, since their re-acquaintance in Paris, admired Hermione as a person and mother. Her admiration for the young witch grew as she got to know her better. Since then she had fancied Hermione to be her daughter-in-law. Setting up her son and the young witch had long been an ambition for her.

But her pale blue eyes landed on the couch and saw the folded up blanket and pillow. Narcissa's eyebrows rose. Draco stayed but they didn't have sex? Interesting. But then her grandchild has been put on hold.

Don't worry, darling, granny Narcissa is working on it. I'll have your parents conceiving you in no time.

"Draco! Oh how wonderful! We're all here. Children, my surprise is...we're going to the fair!" Narcissa exclaimed excitedly. The children erupted in squeals of joy and had started jumping up and down. Narcissa turned to Hermione and put on her best surprised and apologetic face. "Oh dear! I completely overstepped! Hermione, I deeply apologize. I've forgotten to consult you about this. I just got so excited when I heard there was a fair in town and thought of the children! Oh, I hope you understand." Narcissa looked sadly at her. Hermione, being the kind-hearted woman that she was, smiled softly at her and said that it was fine, and that the children would have tons of fun.

Narcissa clapped her hands once and smiled brightly, her agenda going smoothly, even without the grandchild she was melancholic about. No matter. Soon.

She told Hermione and the children to get ready so they could leave before the fair got crowded. The three did as asked. Narcissa turned to her son expectantly. "And you'll be coming along with us, yes, Draco?"

Her son looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"To the fair, darling. You'll be coming with us to the fair," Narcissa said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I can't. I have work to do," he answered and quickly put on his coat. "But you have a wonderful time." He pecked his mother on the cheek and proceeded toward the door. Toward his escape.

But Narcissa wouldn't have any of that. "No need, darling. I have it all taken care of."

Draco turned to face her. She pulled out a stack of parchments from her basket and showed it to Draco. "I've collected all parchments that were sent to your flat, your keys and your planner. I've also owled Dominique, telling her to handle all of your affairs today, since you'd be spending it with us."

Draco narrowed his eyes on her. "You're trying too hard, Mother. So what, I would join you at the fair?" Draco crossed his arms over his chest. "What are up to?"

Narcissa was surprised. Merlin's graying beard! She was rusty. Subtle, Narcissa, subtle. If this kept up she might need a partner. She covered her surprise with an expression of hurt. "I wanted to spend some time with my son doing something other than eat." And it was true. All she and Draco ever did together nowadays were have dinner together. Eat and talk.

"You couldn't have asked me first?" Draco asked.

"Since I asked a favor of you last night, I thought I could take care of your appointments and such. You're working too hard and too long. I wanted you to have a break." That too was not a lie. Narcissa did think that her son was a workaholic, and the amount of workload she had seen on his desk and in the stack of mails worried her further.

Draco always worked to get what he wanted, risking everything to gain that which was most important to him. And he was working too much.

"It would have been nice to be consulted first before you re-arranged my schedule and went through my work documents." Draco had yet to uncross his arms and he still had that disappointed and affronted look upon his aristocratic features.

Narcissa's head fell in shame. It was a tad bit too far but she didn't know of any other way to force him to get away from his work besides work itself. She handed him the stack of parchments. "I apologize. I only wanted what I thought was good for you."

For a long time silence had reigned upon them. Draco had yet to take the letters or speak. Narcissa thought for a moment to apologize again when she heard him sigh.

"Fine. I'll go with you. For today." Narcissa looked up at him with hopeful eyes, holding back the smirk that was threatening to emerge. "It isn't as if I have anything else to do since you've already cleared the day for me."

Narcissa smiled brightly at him and hugged him. "Thank you, Draco."

"Of course, Mother. Anything for you." She heard him say and Narcissa was tempted to ask for a grandchild but bit her tongue and settled for a smile instead.

Draco pulled away. "I have to get back to my flat and change. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Oh, no need, Draco! I have everything you need right here so you wouldn't have to leave." Narcissa rummaged through her enchanted basket and pulled out a small bag that contained Draco's bathroom essentials and clothes.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You went through my closet?"

"I wanted to save you the trouble of traveling back and forth." And risk the chance of you finding another excuse and getting away. "You really should get rid of those offensive reading materials, Draco. It is not becoming to be seen with such dirty magazines," Narcissa reprimanded him.

Pink touched his cheeks and the suspicious look returned. "No one was supposed to go through my closet except for me. And it's not a big deal to apparate back and forth. I think I'd like to shower in my own bathroom."

"Nonsense. Hermione's bathroom is perfectly functional. You can bathe here." Narcissa crossed her arms across her chest.

"You haven't even asked me if it was alright! Hell, you didn't even ask her!" Draco all but shouted. Narcissa gave him a warning look and Draco composed himself and said in a much calmer voice. "I am going home to shower and change."

Narcissa thought for a moment then said, "Fine. But I demand to go with you." Narcissa left her basket and began walking past him toward the door.

"What? Why?" Draco asked, flabbergasted.

"Ms. Greengrass might be there again for another one of her 'surprises'. A night of debauchery is very tempting to a young man as yourself and I'd like to be there to be rid of the temptress." Narcissa stubbornly walked out of the wards on Hermione's house and onto the street.

Draco shook his head in disbelief and resignation. He muttered something under his breath that she didn't catch. Then he called out to her. "Alright, Mother, you win. I'll change here."

Narcissa smirked as her son disappeared inside the house. So far, so good.

Now, she tapped her index finger against her chin, who can I get as my partner?


A/N: Sorry for the long wait but here it is! So, what do you guys think? Who can be Narcissa's matchmaking partner? ;) Review! Review! Review!