Chapter 20

November 27th, 2017

Hermione couldn't help but sit in her office and reminisce. Her lunches with Luna a few days ago had sent her into dreamland. She couldn't keep her thoughts from drifting to those years before her marriage and the events that led up to their present situation.

May 2001, Dinner with Harry and Ron

"I'm seeing someone."

"YOU'RE WHAT?!"

"Boys, I'm a girl; I go on dates. I see men on these dates. It's how the whole romance thing works."

"Who?"

"I don't want to jinx it …"

"You mean you don't want us to jinx him."

"That too."

July 2001, George's apartment

"I like him."

"Yes, but does he like you?"

"If the moans are enough to go by …"

"Oh dear gods, Hermione!"

August 2001, Lucius' lunch with Hermione and Teddy

"Is the boy sleeping through the night soundly again?" Lucius asked concernedly.

Hermione nodded, relieved, and looked at Teddy lovingly. "Yes, it looks like you were right. He just needed to acclimate to his magic."

Teddy grinned and levitated a fry to his mouth in response, he loved lunch with 'Uncle Luc' because he always got to do something fun like fly or go to the zoo or each French fries.

September 2001, Teddy's monthly playdate with Bill and Fleur Weasley

"Unca Luc! Me wants Unca Luc," Hermione looked desperately at her troublemaking ward and then up at the shocked face of Bill Weasley.

"Unca Luc?" Bill and Fleur both gasped the name out and then, "Oh, Hermione …"

October 30, 2001, Lucius' Manor

Hermione stood up from their cozy spot in front of the fire, aware that they had been dozing for the past few hours after some rather vigorous activity.

"Teddy is with Potter for the weekend, isn't he?" Lucius drawled from the floor where he watched her firelight body search for her strewn clothes.

"Yes," she murmured distractedly.

"Why don't you stay here then?" The words quietly drifted over a suddenly still Hermione.

Thunk "What?" She stood, mouth agape, staring at him.

"You dropped your shoes." The smirk was back on, full blast.

"I know," she waved a hand to shoo away the words, "what did you just say?"

He chuckled, "You dro-."

"No! The other bit." She almost growled out the words.

"Stay here. Stay for the weekend." He said simply

"…" Hermione didn't know what to say. What does this mean? Where are we going? Does he know how big a step this is?!

"If you do-."  He certainly didn't sound hesitant, but the haughty tone was back in his voice, making Hermione smile and push her questions to the back of her mind.

"O.K."

November 2001, Hermione's house

"I think he's asleep," Hermione whispered lovingly as she watched Lucius pick the little boy up from his lap and tuck him under the blankets on the bed.

Lucius placed the book he'd been reading on the bed-side table and walked quietly out, smirking.

"Do you want your bedtime story now?"

She giggled, "Oh yes please!"

They missed the sleepy little eyes that followed the embracing couple as they left the doorway.

Annual Christmas Party, Malfoy Manor 2001

"Unca Luc sleeps with Mimi, no let Teddy in." Hermione felt the blood rush into her cheeks as her secretary mockingly mouthed, 'Unca Luc?'

She missed the glare Madame Smattery shot her.

January 1, 2002, Malfoy Manor 2001

"Happy New Years, Lucius Malfoy." Hermione, dressed in a flowing gold empire-waist gown, whispered quietly. The shimmery golden chiffon layers of her dress swirled around the couple standing on the balcony, and also gave Lucius, who was dressed in his own finery of a black velvet, a tempting glimpse every moment or two of her slender legs through the somewhat sheer layers. She leaned up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips, clinking her glass with his own. "Did you make a wish?"

He smirked and pulled her closer to him, "She's standing in my arms."

February 2002, Foyer after dinner at Malfoy Manor

"Why Teddy and Mimi no stay wif Unca Luc?" Hermione glanced at Lucius as he mouthed out his previously unknown nickname.

"Hmmm…" was all the astonished man could muster.

March 2002, Lucius' bed

"Teddy had a point, why don't you two just move in with me? It would make far more sense." He ran a hand through her hair, stroking it as it lay on the pillow beside him.

She raised herself off his chest and looked down at him with concerned eyes, "I can't just give up Andy's house, Luc."

He shrugged. "Don't sell it. You can keep it up as a meeting place for Potter and them if you like." He pulled her back down to his shoulder, missing the familiar weight.

She tucked her head under his chin and let his heart beat soothe her own for a few minutes before asking softly, "Do you really want us here?"

"You have to ask?" He never replied with a straight answer, she had found.

May 2002, Hermione's Office

"You weren't home last night."

"How observant of you Ronald."

"Where were you then?"

"I don't know, Harry. Is this any of your business?"

"It is if Teddy isn't getting to bed on time."

"Out."

"What?"

"Get out. Both of you. You have no right to question what I do with Teddy. None whatsoever."

"I'm his godfather."

"You're his bloody babysitter when it's fucking convenient for you. When you decide that you want to potty train him and teach him how to talk and how to deal with the world, let me know and we can talk about my parenting methods."

Slam

"That was a bit harsh, Hermione."

"Sod off, Ron. Don't you have someone to go cheat on?"

Click Slam

July 2002, Lucius' bed, post-moving in

"What are we doing, Lucius?" Hermione was drawing circles on his chest, both relaxing in a post-coital haze.

"Well …"

"You know what I mean." The circles stopped.

"Enjoying each other's company."

"Yes, bu-"

"For as long as we both desire, and I desire that to last a while. Capiche?"

"Alright."

August 2002, A Local Starbucks

"Who're you seeing?"

"None of your business, Harry. Don't you have something to do with Ginny?"

"Nope."

"Ron then?"

"He's with Lavender."

"Lucky her."

"Herm-"

"Don't bother. How're you and Ginny?"

"We're doing jus- hey, you're avoiding the question."

"Yes, I am."

"Fine. How's George, then?"

"He should be doing pretty damn wonderful considering last night."

She missed Harry's raised eyebrows and smirk, so lost was she in the reflection of the meal she had made George to cheer him up the previous night.

October 2002, Lucius' Study

"Do we need to worry about protection?"

"No! Stop bloody asking that every time."

"I don't want you regretting something!"

"Are you sure I'm the one that'd be regretting i- Dammit where are you going?!"

"You're implyi-"

"I'm implying nothing!  I know you don't want another child, as you've said plenty of times before, 'Draco was enough.'"

"Fine. As long as you understand it's not the you part of it that I'm afraid of. I'm just … over that part of my life."

"Fine. Fine. Now get back here and finish what you started!"

November 2002, The Manor's Greenhouse

"Mimi, Unca Luc haf a ke-kestun for you."

"And what's that sweetums?"

"Wiwl you mawwy him?"

Thump

November 27th, 2017

Two owls soared into Hermione's office, startling her out of her reverie.

"WHAT?!"