A/N: JKR's notes about who Draco married had not come out by the time I'd gotten this going, so unfortunately he marries someone quite different … but I think we all realize I've varied from her plans a bit too.
Chapter 12:
November 11th, 2017
Hermione woke slowly. The warmth emanating off the body next to her kept her in the lovely, sleepy lull that one can only attain in the minutes just before the alarm goes off after a luxurious night's sleep. She cracked an eye and took note of her rather sprawled position on top of her husband. Not unusual, she had always been an odd sleeper, she lay half across his chest, one hand entwined with his own and one leg thrown across both of his. She hummed in contentment, enjoying his peaceful, rhythmic breathing for the last few minutes before another stressful day.
She pressed light kisses to his collarbone, licking at the morning shadows present on his jaw and neck. She grinned to herself, no matter how hard he tries to disguise it – he's only human. She loved the slightly scruffy look he always sported in the mornings; to her it meant that he was completely at ease in her presence and knew that he didn't have to make himself out to be anything other than what he was.
Under her hand she felt his pulse quicken slightly, alerting her to his return to reality. She rose up slightly and brushed her lips softly over his, murmuring, "Good morning, love." She ran her other hand through his hair, scratching the scalp lightly.
He purred softly and turned towards her voice, eyes barely open, replying, "Must you wake up this early? I had a lovely dream of us simply sleeping in one morning – Merlin forbid …"
She grinned, "Hup, hup sleepy head. You can stay abed as long as you'd like, but I promised Luna I'd meet her for lunch." She rolled off his chest and took a deep breath while gazing at the black silk canopy above them. He snuffled at the loss of warmth and reached to pull her back to his side. She grinned and swatted his arm, "You were the one that called her, plus we went to Draco's last night – which means that I've got to talk to George today. D'you think Draco will contemplate the proposal?"
Previous Night – Draco's dining room
"Athena, this is absolutely magnificent. I must get the recipe from you." Hermione felt she'd found a new friend in the sharp Greek woman that Draco had married and was excitedly picking her brain.
Lucius rolled his eyes at his son and took another spoonful of the salad that his daughter-in-law had prepared, silently in agreement with his wife.
"Of course, Hermione. I shall have it ready for you before you depart tonight," answered the other witch demurely, eyes dancing at the possibility of a friend in the strange new country. She glanced around the large room decorated in cherry-wood and dark reds, pleased with the design, even if it wasn't the home she had lived in for the past thirteen years.
Draco's dining room was well-sized, seats enough for 20 if the need had arisen, but as there were only 4 in attendance, the table had been shrunk to suit the company – each man next to his wife and across from the other female.
The raven haired Athena was a striking contrast to the two blonde Malfoy men, or so Hermione felt as she glanced happily around the table. Lucius raised an eyebrow at her smile and she merely shook her head, unwilling to voice her content that the two had reconciled.
Draco caught the glance and decided to spice the conversation up a bit, praying he would avoid his wife's inevitable elbowing, but also knowing her curiosity would get the better of her. "So, Hermione," he turned her way, catching her as she sipped the last bit of a leaf into her mouth, "however did you avoid having one of the wondrous Weasleys as your spouse?"
Hermione choked a bit and swallowed quickly, not seeing the glare that Lucius shot Draco. Catching her breath, she responded brightly, "Luck I suppose. No, really I love the family and Molly has been a mother to me for years; but Ron and I weren't meant to be. Not that he figured that out immediately …" She glanced towards the window.
Draco coughed to bring her back to the conversation, "Do tell, I'd love to hear what a fool he was." Leaning across the table, Draco made a pleading face and put on a ridiculous smile. Hermione scoffed, "Oh stop it, I have no problem airing out his dirty laundry, and goodness knows it probably needs it."
Draco's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands, "Oh goody, story time!"
Athena interrupted before Hermione could start however, and commented dryly, "Perhaps this would best be done in the drawing room where we can relax and enjoy another's misery?"
Hermione nodded and as Lucius and Draco went to smoke their cigars, she helped Athena take out the dishes and send them to the kitchen, chattering the entire way.
"And who is this Ron?"
"Well he was one of my best friends in school, which of course is what Draco remembers. Anyways, we got together not long after the Final Battle and really everything just went downhill from there." Hermione gestured wildly, continuing, "He cheated on me, I wasn'tin the relationship enough, blah blah blah. Ends up, his mistress gets pregnant and well we broke up – can hardly blame me, can you?" She set the dishes on the counter and looked at Athena questioningly.
"Merlin, no! I'd rip him a new pair if it had been me!" Athena answered excitedly, she loved stories about old lovers and the minute twists of relationships; and if she got an explanation for how Hermione and Lucius got together, then she would listen!
Hermione laughed and was about to respond when she heard Draco's voice carry into the kitchen, "I know you're spilling the whole story Granger, but I'll make you retell it again if I have to!"
Athena shook her head and pulled Hermione towards the drawing room muttering about impatient husbands.
Moments later, Hermione was tucked into Lucius' arm and under a warm blanket while Athena and Draco listened with open ears. She had reiterated the break up with Ron and had just finished talking about the move in scene with Andy. "So, I suppose the next time I really heard anything about either him or Lavender was at lunch with Ginny Weasley, Potter now. Unfortunately she told me that they had miscarried and both were rather upset." Hermione turned to Lucius, "You remember this was about a week before your annual Christmas party – the day I came into my final internship meeting all flustered and out of sorts?"
He nodded and grinned a little, "Not that was an unusual state for you my dear."
She giggled, "Yes, well … I think you've said many times that my insanity was what made you keep coming back."
Draco cleared his throat again, "I really don't need to see this, thanks! So what happened after that, Granger?"
She blinked and thought for a moment, "Well, the next time I saw him was at the party actually. I was out on the balcony for a smoke and he came out, drunk as a skunk. Broke down in sobs and pretty much apologized for being alive," Hermione rolled her eyes, "I gave him a nice slap and told him to go be there for his girlfriend and to stop being such a ninny."
Draco chuckled and Athena growled at him, "That poor thing, I hope they are ok?!"
Hermione nodded at her, "Married with two young ones, I believe you saw them when you were at the station?" Lucius stiffened against her and she knew to tread lightly.
Draco raised an eyebrow, "I did see Potty and the Weasel, Granger, but I saw you with them, not Brown. Haven't you been keeping track of her, Father?"
Lucius raised his chin, "I have no need to do so, and she told me beforehand that she was going to help Mr. Weasley get his driving license before going to the station. As she was on time to our meeting afterwards, I have no doubt that anything untoward occurred."
Hermione felt under the blanket for Lucius' fist and wrapped her own, warm palm around it, attempting to soothe his frustrated feelings. "Hush love, he was only trying to get a rise." She pinned Draco with a glare, "I'm sure that Draco has had some trouble living without spiteful comments for so long."
Athena, too, was glaring at her husband, "Yes, and he'll keep his mouth shut if he wants to be able to speak again in my presence." Draco looked rather abashed at this comment and bowed his head towards Lucius and Hermione.
Hermione waved her free hand at Draco, "Old habits die hard. However, I did have an ulterior motive in coming tonight. Draco, you mentioned maybe going into the potions business again?" He nodded and she grinned, "I might have a friend who is looking for a potions partner."
Draco looked at her skeptically, "Any of your friends, Granger, would not have been one of my better friends at school. Who is it and do they know of me?"
Hermione's face clouded slightly, "Well, he knows I have someone who is above decent at Potions and welcomed the idea of help. I didn't want to say it was you until you had agreed to it."
"That doesn't answer my question Granger." His eyes hardened slightly.
Her own eyes pierced his, "George Weasley could use a partner in his WWW chain. He's running four different shops now and simply can't keep track."
Draco sank back into the couch, "And you think a Weasley would welcome me into his business with open arms?"
"He didn't throw me out when I married your father, so I don't see why not - with the right persuasion, of course."
Draco eyed her carefully, "You've been married to a Slytherin for too long."
Hermione smirked, "Don't I know it."
Hermione swung her legs off the bed and pulled off the covers, shivering slightly as the cool air hit her nude, warm skin. "I know he and George haven't much of a history, but George needs a decent brewer and Draco needs somewhere to work his magic – pardon the pun." Lucius sniffed and pulled the soft, downy pillow over his head, the black sheets contrasting magnificently against his pale skin and hair.
Hermione huffed and continued to prattle, knowing it was the only way to get her husband out of bed before dinner, "I think they've both changed enough that perhaps it will work. Who knows – it's useless if Draco doesn't agree to meet with him, and of course if George doesn't like what he sees when they do meet … well …"
Lucius drawled sleepily, "Darling, I'll talk to him – now shut up and go take a shower."
Hermione pretended to huff, but beamed at how perceptive her husband was. She jumped on the bed, smacking a kiss on his available cheek and then pranced into the bathroom, humming.
Lucius groaned and rolled over, enjoying the dark quiet once more.
Until, of course, Hermione decided to sing an aria in the shower.
Lucius' eyes flew open, his mouth gaping at the closed bathroom door. He mumbled, "Witch," and then swung himself out of the bed and ambled slowly over to the bathroom.
He shoved the door open and was hit with a blast of steam that contrasted severely with the cold air in the bedchamber. He swung open the shower door, caught the smirk of Hermione's and swiftly cut the water to cold. Closing the glass door quickly, he was rewarded with a shriek and a resulting thump as his wife hit the floor in her scramble to leave the icy water.
"Lucius!" He ran, summoning his dressing gown as he sprinted out the door.
Chuckling he dodged down the different flights of stairs, darting in and out of various rooms on the second floor. Breathing swiftly, he came to a halt at the breakfast room's doors, aware that he had lost his wife a few rooms and a staircase back. He pulled a door open quietly and then suddenly a wand was at his throat.
"Damn."
"I swear you're more predictable than Crooks." She huffed and smacked him lightly on the arm. She prodded him once more with her wand and then pulled away to sit down at the table.
Spooning some yoghurt and fruit on to her plate, she motioned him with her other hand to his own place opposite her. "You are a cruel man, husband - a cruel, cruel man."
He cocked an eyebrow, "Wife, this is hardly a revelation for you. You continue to admonish me for it," he preened slightly, "but I'm beginning to think you're just attracted to it."
She huffed and popped a grape into her mouth, "Of course I am, but that gives you no right to freeze the damn water on me. Hmph!"
He laughed, "I was merely returning your favor from that first Christmas when you poured ice on me."
"That was an accident! I told you …"
He interrupted, "I know love, and I'm now rather glad it happened. I got quite a view of you that night," he smirked, remembering Hermione in the white dress with black accents that had turned sheer with the water from the ice bucket.
He had caught her out smoking, passing Weasley as he left the balcony, and made a rather snide remark about the youngest male Weasley – earning a bucket of ice from an enraged witch.
"Ugh, that Christmas was horrible. Do you remember Smattery? She looked like some horrible old Christmas stocking." Hermione sneered softly, "I hated that woman."
Lucius grinned, "It was only because she tried to kiss me under the mistletoe two years later."
Hermione grouched, "and what right did she have to do that?! Hmph, those Ministry Christmas parties are always trouble; and you enjoy it!" She waved her fork at him, "Don't think I haven't figured that out after seventeen years of watching you throw them, mister."
He smirked, "I merely enjoy watching all of the straight-laced politicians lose all sense of control – it provides wonderful blackmail my dear."
"Oh I know," she responded lightly, "how do you think I got that law about vampires passed?"
She stood up, touched her lips to his in a light kiss and summoned a House-Elf to get her coat. "I'm off! I'll see you later love. Shall we do dinner at Triannon?"
He stood to help her into her coat, pulling her forward to button her coat. "Dinner, my dear, would be lovely. I shall see you tonight." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a deep kiss, growling lightly as she stepped away regretfully and apparated out with a quiet pop.
A/N: I'm sorry I was so late on this update. My husband was in an auto wreck in London and I had to fly over to be with him. However, he's just been released back to the states and so I'm now living at a new hospital and decided to bide you all over. Just be patient with me, and I promise that I'll finish the story.