So let me just start off by saying how sorry I am for not updating sooner. I have had so much going on lately and hit a bit of a wall with my writing. I also registered as a Beta and have been helping with some other works.
Thank you for all of the reviews that were left. I love reading the feedback so many of you give and it really helps with future chapters.
I know some of you are itching for another lemon, but I didn't see how working one into this chapter would make sense. HOWEVER, I got inspired by a writing prompt and wrote a one shot called 'A Life With You' that has a lemon in there.
As always, hope you enjoy and please continue leaving those reviews!
-x-
Hermione stood in her bathroom as she finished applying her normal subtle make-up. She donned a simple black cocktail dress with capped sleeves, it formed to her body but flared a bit at the waist down to her knee's. She moved to her wardrobe and pulled out her pair of black peep toe heals. She steadied herself using the wall for support as she slipped each heel on. Her attention was drawn to the doorway when she heard the sound of her floo.
"Granger?" he called out.
She smiled to herself at the sound of his voice. "Be right out." She called.
She stole one more glance of herself in mirror. Satisfied with her appearance she dropped her wand into her clutch and made her way out to him. He was standing in the kitchen leaned against the counter. He was wearing one of his finer black suits, despite it reminding her of his appearance back in their days at Hogwarts, she found him to look rather handsome in it.
"Hey." She greeted him and she pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
"Hey. You look beautiful." He offered. "You're sure you're alright with going to my mothers?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked.
He looked down to his feet. "It's just...well you've only been there one time. I didn't think you would really want to-"
"Draco. I have seen precisely one room in the manor. Judging by the size of your mothers home, is it safe to assume that we will be able to steer clear of it?"
He nodded "Mother sealed it off right after the war ended, no one has been in it since."
"Then I will be fine." She gave him another kiss before reaching for his hand. "We should go, I am rather looking forward to seeing your mother."
He gave her an incredulous look as he allowed her to lead him to fireplace. "You can't be serious."
"I am very serious."
His eyebrows rose with surprise. "Well then, shall we?" He said as he gestured towards the fireplace.
After calling out their destination, the two of them stepped into the living room of Malfoy Manor. She was caught off guard momentarily at how inviting and warm the room was. The walls were tan, with a deep mahogany wood bordering the edges. Cream colored curtains hung from the windows, and as the sun set, a soft glow of candlelight illuminated the room.
Draco watched her as she took in the surroundings. "Mother redecorated the entire place after the war."
"A much needed and welcomed change if I do say so myself." The Malfoy matriarch said as she entered the room. She offered them both a warm smile. "Draco dear. Right on time."
He placed a soft kiss upon her cheek. "Mother." He said.
"Miss Granger. I am so pleased you accepted my invitation to dinner this evening."
Hermione smiled brightly at the older witch. "Of course Mrs. Malfoy. Thank you for inviting me, but please, call me Hermione. I don't see a need for such formalities."
She stepped forward linking her arm with Hermione's. "You are quite right, and please call me Narcissa." She gave a gentle pat on Hermione's hand. "Dinner should be just about ready. Draco, why don't you lead the way."
He shook his head at his mother, turning on his heal so that the pair could follow.
"I must say, you looked absolutely radiant in the pictures from the Gala that the Prophet put out. Although, I do wish my wonderful son here would have told me about you two sooner."
Hermione's eyes grew wide. She slowly shifted her gaze to the man in front of her before turning back to Narcissa. "Draco, I do hope you apologized to your Mother for allowing her to find out that way."
He glanced over his shoulder at them before shrugging his shoulders.
Hermione jerked her head in his direction. "What is the matter with you?"
Narcissa chuckled to herself. "Oh I like her." She said. "You see dear, Draco seems to think I'm a bit...what's the word he uses...overbearing."
"Well of course you are. You're a parent. That's your job." Hermione said. "My parents are as well, but it didn't stop me from telling them."
Draco turned around, walking backwards as he addressed them. "You told your parents about us?" he asked.
"I told them weeks ago Draco. The only reason we haven't gone there yet is because they've been away on holiday touring most of Europe. Although they cannot wait to formally meet you."
"You see Draco. I'm not the only parent vested in their child's life." Narcissa commented.
He rolled his eyes, turning around as they reached the dining room. The dining area was more elegant than inviting. The walls were a rich emerald color, accented with greys and blacks. Not surprising to find the Slytherin house colors, certainly at least one room had to be adorned with them.
Draco pulled out his mothers chair first, following after with Hermione's. Dinner was served and Narcissa and Hermione held most of the conversation. Draco scowled every so often as his mother told stories of his childhood, Hermione laughing heartily at all of them. They spoke of Narcissa's garden at length, and she had been more then eager to learn about Hermione's thriving business. She spoke of how she would have loved to do something like that in her youth, but pureblooded woman were expected to remain in the home.
Draco informed Hermione how his mother had taken a liking to muggle poetry to which launched the pair into a lengthy discussion of different authors. After dinner, they had retired to the sitting room for coffee. Their conversation remaining lively. Sensing the evening was coming to an end, Narcissa turned her attention to her son.
"Draco, before I forget, some post arrived the other day for you. I left it in the study."
He gave his mother a suspicious look. "I do believe I was here just last night Mother. You said nothing of any post."
She gave him a cunning smirk. "Must have slipped my mind."
"Yes Mother. I'm sure that's it."
"Why don't you go and have a look at them. All this talk of books, I would love to show Hermione here the library."
Draco chuckled to himself. 'She's good.' He thought. Her knowing full well that Hermione would be eager to see their families vast library. "Very well Mother. I will come and find you two when I'm finished."
Draco made his leave and Narcissa led Hermione through the corridors of the sprawling estate.
"Can I make a confession to you Hermione?"
She crossed her arms in front of her, somewhat nervous about what the older witch might say. "Of course."
"While I was a bit disappointed that Draco didn't tell me about you two sooner, when I saw those pictures, I couldn't help but feel...relieved."
Hermione furrowed her brows. "Relieved?"
"Yes. You see, after the war, Draco shut himself off. He became somewhat disconnected from the world. He felt so guilty for everything that happened. No matter what I would say, I couldn't pull him out of it. "
She paused, but Hermione could sense that she wasn't finished, so she remained silent as the kept their slow pace towards the library.
"Despite our reputation after the war, there have still been an abundance of young witches who have had their sights set on him as a husband. You see, these women are not after him for anything more then his fortune, which he is well aware of. I was beginning to fear he may have chosen to marry one of them sooner or later. If he had done that, it wouldn't have been for love, and he never would have pulled himself out of this place he's been in."
"Why would he marry someone like that?"
"That may be my doing. Draco had been betrothed to Astoria Greengrass. The two of them are actually wonderful friends, but neither one of them wanted to be married. The betrothal was his father's doing, and after he was out of the picture I called it off. Astoria's heart belongs to another man, and we certainly were not going to take that away. I wanted that for Draco, I may have pushed a little too hard on him to try and meet someone. I think there's a chance he would have married one of them thinking it would have pleased me.
Hermione nodded, not sure what else to say.
"He's different around you. As if, when you're together, he let's go of some of the burden. He seems genuinely happy with you. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that."
"You don't need to be Narcissa. I appreciate it, I do, but he deserves it. He's not a bad person, and I think he is slowly starting to believe that."
"I think so too. I feel I should warn you though, now that your relationship is out in the open, Draco is the head of the Malfoy family now. With that name, comes obligations and responsibilities amongst the pureblooded families and wizarding communities. He is expected to hold himself to a certain standard, and I should warn you that you may face a great deal of scrutiny from others."
Hermione halted her pace to look at the woman standing before her. Subconsciously she moved her one hand to her forearm where her scar resided, the action not going unnoticed by Narcissa . "I thought...Draco said you didn't hold those views anymore."
Narcissa released a quiet gasp as she reached for Hermione's hand.
"Merlin no. No darling. I did not mean your birth origin. I am so sorry if that is how this came out. Draco was not misinforming you. I did...we both abandoned that ideology long ago. I was referring to something else entirely. You see, as the head of the household, Draco is expected to attend a wide array of gala's, charity events, and ceremonies. As you two are now public, you will be expected to be with him at a majority of these events. With his past, I'm afraid there are quite a few reporters that may speak ill of you solely for being with him. I just wanted you to be aware."
The tension she had felt disappeared as quickly as it had come. She offered a timid smile. "I think I can handle a few pesky reporters. As much as I dislike attending those sorts of things, your son seems to make them a tad less daunting."
Narcissa rose her hand, giving a motherly stroke to Hermione's cheek. "I truly am sorry for what happened to you...in this home at that. But I want you to know that no harm will ever come to you under this roof again. I know how much it pains Draco, myself as well."
Hermione gave her hand a small squeeze. "The only two people that are accountable for what was done to me that night are dead. As I told Draco, neither one of you owes me an apology."
Narcissa pulled her into a gentle hug, lingering for a moment before pulling away. "My Draco is a lucky man to have you in his life." She said.
"He is." She laughed. "But I'd like to think I'm just as lucky. You raised a good man Narcissa."
She batted away a tear that had threatened to spill from her eye. "Well then, the library is right up here." She motioned to grand double doors at the end of the hall. "I've cleared out a decent section. It is high time that we add something new. I was hoping you could help me with it?"
"I'd be happy to, what did you have in mind?"
"Muggles dear. I want to fill it with the very best muggle literature."
She smiled brightly. "I think we can manage that."
-x-
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