Disclaimer: Anything you recognize I do not own.
Well... it's been a long time and I apologize for that. Things got pretty hectic with summer vacation plans, my job, getting ready to take the GRE, finding out my dog had a malignant growth, and getting ready for my last semester as an undergrad. Thankfully though, I took the GRE a week ago, my dog is fine for the moment, and I'm moved back in at school for the semester. However, since this is my last semester and I have applications to do as well as finishing my degree, I cannot guarantee speedy updates. As I said before, I will do my best to finish this story; it just may take longer than I originally bargained for. Thank you to all of you that have stuck with it; I do see your reviews, favorites, etc., I just haven't had time to say thank you!
Monday April 30, 2007
The last few weeks had been deceptively happy go lucky with the debate over baby names and watching the children enjoy their new play fort. He had also continued his streak of not having wet dreams about Hermione. It seemed that cuddling with her at night did wonders to prevent the potentially embarrassing situation. While he did still wake up with a morning wood, which was inevitable as a male with a soft feminine body next to him, Hermione was an early riser and never noticed. Things had been so nice around the house that Draco had almost allowed himself to forget about Astoria's unfortunate arrival back into his life. And of course on the day he was sure he had finally decided on a name he liked best Astoria rudely pushed her way back in to the forefront of his mind.
It was a quiet morning at the office. Draco was between cases at the moment and decided that today was a good day to straighten up his desk and file papers that should have been put in their proper place over a month ago. He was in the middle of doing that when Blaise barged into his office without a knock and a desperate look on his face.
"She's back."
Draco's brow wrinkled in confusion, "Who is back?"
"Astoria, and she's found someone to defend her case."
Draco scoffed, "They have no case."
"I think you'll find that they won't need much of a case when I tell you who her lawyer is."
"Who the bloody hell could prove that Astoria is a better parent than me after she abandoned her own son?"
"Alejandro Rodriguez."
"Bloody hell."
It was a well known fact among the lawyers of the wizarding community that Alejandro Rodriquez was the most persuasive, charming, and thus successful lawyer in all of Europe. Thankfully he had kept his business in Spain, his home country, but for some reason he had decided to invade Britain with his dashing good looks and charming accent that would set the court room to sighing with only one syllable.
"Why would he come to Britain? I've heard he detests the weather." Blaise mused.
"Come on Blaise, there's only one obvious reason. Even Rodriquez will know that I have this case won already, but he's willing to try and that's all because Astoria spreads her legs for him."
Blaise smirked, "Then it's our job to prove that. Harold and I are on this case, Draco, and we also mean to find out what other motive Astoria has besides you raising Scorpius with Hermione. In the mean time you and Granger need to go out in public with the children to show just how good of a Father you are."
Draco nodded his agreement and was about to say something when a very high pitched and annoyingly familiar scream filled his ears. He and Blaise dashed out of his office immediately and to the front of the office space where Astoria stood next to the Spaniard staring in horror at Hermione's belly, which happened to be displayed today in the silk blouse she had worn.
Astoria's horrified gaze shifted to him as he came up behind Hermione, "Now you're going to have a halfblood? And you think yourself fit to raise our son, the purest of purebloods?"
"I think you just proved how unfit you are to raise Scorpius." Draco stated simply before turning his gaze to Rodriguez. "Go ahead, Rodriguez, and try to win this case. But I think you'll find that all your charm and persuasiveness will not work here in England where I am married to one of the Golden Trio and have proved to be a better man than I once was. And just because I have no reason to hate you, I'll give you some advice. Don't waste your time on what is between her legs; she'll desert you for the next best thing—that is if she doesn't have someone else going at the same time."
With a huff and a glare, Astoria grabbed Alejandro's hand and dragged him over to one of the fireplaces. The crowd of employees that had gathered watched as just before she stepped in the fireplace she spun around, looked Draco dead in the eyes and said: "This isn't over yet, Draco."
Xxx
"Bloody hell, I still can't believe that you're married to Draco and having his baby and now you want me to be a character witness?" Harry said in exasperation.
Hermione had left for her class early and had used that extra time to swing by the Potter's, leaving Draco alone at home with the children. Using Harry as a character witness had been Blaise's idea; he figured that with the backing of two of the remaining golden trio Rodriguez's case, no matter how charming, would be ineffective. However, Bliase wasn't the one who had to convince Harry to do it; he had asked Hermione to do that job.
"Harry," Hermione sighed, "all of your personal feelings towards Draco aside, he is a good father."
"Yes, I will give him that." Harry agreed grudgingly. "And next to Astoria he is a paragon of what a parent should be."
"No doubt about that." Ginny chimed in from where she was taking care of dinner dishes with well practiced wand flicks. "Besides that, Harry, like it or not Draco is Hermione's husband and therefore, by default a friend."
"I wouldn't go that far, Gin." Harry sighed. "But since you are my best friend, Hermione, I will testify to his skills as a father and husband. That is if he has been treating you right of course?"
"Of course he has, Harry." Hermione rolled her eyes. "And thank you; I know this has been a lot for you to swallow—what with the pregnancy and then the shotgun wedding—but I want you to know that I don't regret any of it."
"Yet." Harry chuckled. "Just kidding; if you're happy, I'm happy."
Xxx
When Hermione slipped into bed later that night, Draco was waiting for her, propped up against the headboard, consulting the list of baby names. She had already decided what name she liked best, but she did not have the sole vote in the matter and was eagerly awaiting Draco's choice. Hopefully they could compromise.
"I've decided what name I like best." Draco announced as Hermione fluffed her pillow.
"I have as well."
"Perfect, you go first."
"No, you go first."
Draco quirked a brow, "Really Granger? Fine, I'll go first. I like Madeline Narcissa Malfoy best."
Hermione's eyes widened, "Seriously?"
"Yes, why?" Draco frowned down at his wife's face.
"I was expecting the two of us to have to compromise, but that was the name I had decided on as well."
Draco grinned, "Well, then that matter is solved."
Hermione nodded, "Which just leaves us with Astoria."
Draco sighed and slipped down in bed, turning on his side so he was facing Hermione as she was him.
"Harry agreed to be a character witness for you." Hermione offered. "Honestly, I don't think this trial is going to be all that difficult. The judge is not going to be an idiot; he'll see what clearly is going on."
"I know, I just thought I had cleaned my hands of her years ago. Thankfully Scorpius is still too young to know or understand what is going on right now."
"And we'll do whatever it takes to make sure she doesn't try to drag him into the courtroom."
Xxx
Tuesday May 1, 2007
The house was quiet with the children in bed, and the only sound to be heard at the late hour was the sound of the large Grandfather clock ticking in the hallway. Draco was sprawled out on the couch waiting for his wife to come home, a romance book in one hand and his other hand down his pants.
Just as he was getting to the good part where Lord Hardman was about to put his hard man in his lady wife, the fire place ignited and in walked his wife, her eyes widening at the sight of his tented pajama pants and the hand that was stuffed down in them. Draco looked like a child with his hand in the cookie jar, desperately wanting to pull his hand from his pants, but frozen at being discovered. However, Hermione only grinned and made her way over to him on the couch, her hips swaying provocatively.
"Somebody missed me." She said, her voice husky as she worked on the buttons of her blouse.
"You have no idea." Draco replied, finally pulling his hand from his pants only to use the same hand to shove those pants down around his ankles, leaving him bare to his wife's hungry gaze.
"Good thing I've missed you just as much." She replied as she moved to straddle him on the couch.
Just as Lord Hardman had been about to find his pleasure in the romance novel, so was Draco; just another inch and…
Draco started awake, very aware of the throbbing going on his groin area and the stiff feminine body that was cuddled in front of him. Shit! She had felt his erection! How could she not, with her body pressed so close to his?
"Um Draco?" Hermione asked hesitantly, her cheeks burning.
She knew men experienced morning erections, but so far in their marriage she had not experienced waking up to one poking her arse. Of course she had seen evidence of his morning arousals before without his knowledge, but even then they were nothing compared to the flag he was flying at the moment.
Draco shuffled away quickly, his own cheeks turning red in embarrassment, "Right, sorry about that…I'll just…"
He decided not to finish that thought and instead made a beeline to the bathroom where he immediately turned on the shower, completely bypassing the hot water valve. His luck had ended; it wasn't simply enough to be cuddled against her all night anymore. He needed more; he needed her. And in order for that to come about he needed to woo her just as Blaise had suggested. Problem was he thought he had been wooing her in his own way; taking care of the children, doing chores around the house, but it was obvious he needed to step up his game if he was ever going to get release before she was too pregnant.
Xxx
"Woke her with a stiffy did you?" Blaise laughed, not caring that his best friend was scowling at him darkly across their bistro table. "Okay, okay, I can see that you don't find it as funny as I do. But it's like I told you before, you need to woo her. Take her out on a date; court her."
"What do I do until I succeed at that?"
Blaise took a bite of his sandwich and contemplated his best friend's options. The whole situation was awkward. The two were married, shared a bed, but didn't have a physical relationship at all besides cuddling at night. So how was Draco going to keep his wet dreams at bay?
"Sleep on the couch?"
"No."
"Well, Granger was married before, I'm sure she's used to the morning woody."
"This is a little different."
Blaise sighed, "Yes, I know. I don't know what to tell you, Draco. Don't cuddle so closely? How bad was it anyway? Did she say anything?"
"Not directly."
"She probably has already forgotten it, so don't even worry about it Draco." Blaise stated evenly. "Anyway, I've employed one of my guys. You know one of those Knockturn Alley guys."
Draco quirked a brow, "Which one?"
"The one that likes to be paid in Firewhiskey."
Draco nodded his approval, "He's the best. Did he know anything to begin with?"
"I gave him the background and he had a good idea of where to start his investigation; Greece."
"Greece?"
Blaise nodded, "Apparently Astoria made a trip to Knockturn Alley the other day, purchased an item, and had it sent to an address in Greece."
"Interesting. Well, knowing Astoria its probably a man."
"My guy will find out and then we'll be closer to getting this bloody mess over with."