Never the Twain Shall Meet
She was warm and comfortable and wasn't sure he was asleep, but his breathing was rhythmic and his body still.
His tight hold around her waist hadn't eased, so she wasn't sure.
He spoke suddenly making her startle in surprise, "Did Pucey take you shopping?" he asked his voice whispered.
"Yes. It was fun, but he got twitchy at the end so I took pity on him and we left. I got lots of shoes and some cute outfits and he helped me buy a dress for tomorrow's lunch." She said her hand rubbing his stomach.
He shifted.
"Are you looking forward to lunch?" he asked
He could feel her eyebrows furrow, "I don't know. Kind of. I don't' think I understand why they invited me. I know Daph and Asti will be there, but I have to wonder if they think I will be able to run interference with Molly and Ginny." Her voice full of speculation.
He moved his head to look at her, "Or maybe they like you." he said simply.
She made a face that relayed concession, "I do like Cissa and Blaise's mom, but I don't know Mrs. Greengrass that well, I've met her once or twice and Molly hates me."
He frowned, "Why? I thought you practically lived over there during the summer."
"She was a little too relieved when Ron and I didn't work out. I overheard a conversation where she basically said she would like to continue the blood line; after that it just went downhill."
"oh." He said and trailed his thumb over her bare hip.
Nothing more was said as they drifted off into a comfortable sleep. Marcus woke at dawn and stretched.
He untangled himself from his witch gently and pulled his shirt and shoes on; giving her a kiss on her temple he disapperated to his flat to get ready for work.
***Brunch
She was met by the same little house elf wearing the same lilac tea dress as before, "Mistress Malfoy is specting yous."
"Thank you." she said and looked up when she heard the click clack of heeled shoes.
The beautiful and graceful blonde came gliding down the hall way wearing a Navy Blue hard silk skirt with a cream colored silk shirt and a matching Navy Blue blazer that emphasized her small waist, narrow hips, long legs and ample bosom. Sapphire earrings and bracelet finished the look off with a classic end.
"Wow Cissa you look lovely." She said immediately hating that she was so easy to give compliments.
Cissa smiled and looked the younger witch over with an eagle eye, "your outfit is appropriate and flattering, young lady, but let's take your hair down. It looks too severe. You're young and pretty… a maiden if you will." She said all this while standing in front of Hermione pulling out the clasp and running her fingers through Hermione's almost dry hair.
Hermione stood still while Narcissa stood back and eyed her work. Someone snickered and Hermione shifted her gaze to Draco's tall form leaning against the library entry way. She stuck her tongue out at him and he snickered more.
"Children, do mind your manners." Narcissa chided.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Draco and he silently stuck his tongue right back, but sucked it back in quickly when his mother, who seemingly had eyes in the back of her head, snapped at him, "Draco!"
He ducked back into the library and the two women followed.
Blaise Lucius and Draco stood when the ladies entered the room. Lucius walked to his wife and placed his hands on her shoulders kissing her cheek, "you're radiant as usual, love." He said.
Hermione didn't hear her response because she was currently turning a lovely shade of pink as Blaise stared at her intensely.
Draco cleared his throat and Blaise shifted walking towards Hermione. He stopped directly in front of her and tilted his head to watch his fingers comb through her silky waves.
Draco cleared his throat again and followed that up with a word, "Blaise." He said firmly.
Before he moved or pulled his hand from her hair he whispered, "Voi siete così bella, Tesoro." Looking straight into her eyes.
He stepped away and Hermione let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
Draco pushed Blaise with a glare and looked at a still blushing Hermione, "It'll be fun, Mya, just don't let the Weasley's get to you."
She smiled at him and looked for Narcissa who was waiting patiently. She held a book in her hand and held it out.
"No floo?" Hermione asked
Narcissa crinkled her nose, "Too messy."
They touched the book and disappeared.
Lucius and Draco both turned to Blaise making him back up a step, "I know, I know." Blaise said holding his hands up in surrender.
Draco wasn't letting his friend get off that easy, "You're married and she is seeing Marcus. You can't do that to her, it's not right. …Besides, Marcus will break you in half if you touch what's his." The younger Malfoy added.
Blaise nodded miserably, but knew they were right.
***Guillome's
The two witches arrived on the corner next to the restaurant. Narcissa shrunk to book/port key and put it in her purse.
They walked in, the host holding the door for both ladies of course, to Molly Weasley hissing at the hostess about seating.
Narcissa frowned and Hermione, being Hermione cleared her throat, "Mrs. Weasley?" she called softly.
Molly twirled around and focused her eyes on the young witch who called her name, "Hermione." She said, "I thought this restaurant was … selective." She huffed.
Hermione blushed scarlet at the comment and Ginny gasped in surprised.
Satisfied, Molly turned to Narcissa, "And Narcissa Malfoy, What are you doing here?" she asked.
Narcissa, ever the gracious socialite, said, "Why we're here to dine, like you I imagine." She responded while she daintily removed the gloves from her hands and placed them, together, in her purse. That done, she looked at the hostess, "Narcissa Malfoy and Hermione Granger for Alexandra Nott et al."
"That's where we're going!" Molly cried.
The hostess shot the loud woman a glare, "follow me please."
They arrived at the table a few seconds later; Hermoine immediately met the happy eyes of Daphne and Astoria. She wanted to sit by them, but wasn't sure if it was rude to not sit by Cissa.
"Go dear its fine." Narcissa urged reading the young witch's thoughts.
The elder women stood and greeted one another with air kisses and tight embraces; Hermione waited patiently before greeting Alexandra Nott, "Hello dear."
"Hi Mrs. Nott, thank you for inviting me." she said
Alexandra smiled and looked over to greet Molly and Ginny, motioning to make introductions, "Mrs. Weasley. Ginerva. Thank you for coming. Let me introduce you, Molly Weasley Please meet Ellen Greengrass and her daughters Daphne and Astoria." Each woman tipped her head in acknowledgement.
"Elizabeth Pucey and you know Narcissa. Ladies, please meet Molly Weasley and her daughter, my daughter-in-law, Ginerva Zabini."
Hermione wanted to giggle at the way Molly's face contorted when Alexandra said Ginerva Zabini. Astoria nudged her to behave.
"Mya, you know everyone except Elizabeth Pucey." She said looking at the strikingly beautiful sandy haired woman.
"Mrs. Pucey, it's a pleasure to meet you." Hermione said tilting her head respectfully.
"The pleasure is mine dear."
"…and Ellen Greengrass."
Hermione smiled, "Yes ma'am we've met, it's nice to see you. How have you been?"
Ellen preened and smiled sweetly back at Hermione, "I'm well thank you, Mya."
They ordered afterward and conversation was stilted and forced until Elizabeth Pucey, who had been eyeing Hermione asked a question, "Mya, You know my son, Adrian?" she asked.
Hermione stopped giggling with Daphne and Astoria to focus on Adrian's mother, "Yes ma'am."
"Did you know he quit his job?"
Hermione didn't know what to say to that, no doubt the woman knows the goings on in her son's life, but she didn't want to tattle, "Yes ma'am."
"Did you have anything to do with that?" Her tone of voice was turning more motherly by the second and Hermione felt duly chastised.
"Yes ma'am."
Elizabeth apparently felt put out by Hermione's short answers and frightful expression so she huffed and rolled her eyes, "Dear gods girl, I'm not going to eat you! I just want to know what's going on. Adrian says the same thing – yes ma'am/ no ma'am. I want to know details!" she said making Narcissa and Alexandra both laugh and nod in agreement while Ellen glared at her two daughters as they did the same thing.
Hermione smiled warmly, relieved and opened her mouth to spill it, but Molly beat her to it, "That's too bad, you know. I am aware of all of the going on in my children's lives. You have to keep at them constantly ladies. Take it from me, I raised six boys and a girl." She said
Hermione bit her tongue, so you knew and condoned countering a contraceptive spell and tricking someone into marriage? She thought.
The women smiled placatingly and looked at Hermione, "When I found out what Marcus and Adrian majored in I realized that they were exactly the right talents I needed to complete my goal. To provide a service for clients from subject matter experts, practitioners of the master level; you can't that kind of expertise from the Ministry. So I asked Pucey first and then together we convinced Marcus."
Elizabeth gave her a curious look and cleared her throat, "Are you aware that both Marcus and Adrian had a significant amount of trouble with wizarding careers? Are you certain your business will not fail purely because of the negative reputation that both names hold?" she asked the look in her eyes were worried for both boys.
Ginny connected the dots first and spoke (out of turn), "You think just because you partner with them that people will hire you!" she fairly shouted in disbelief.
Hermione took a deep breath, "I do."
Molly snorted, "Their fathers were brutal death eaters and even you – muggleborn extraordinaire- can do nothing to erase the past."
Hermione gritted her teeth and Astoria squeezed her hand in support, "we don't need to erase the past, Mrs. Weasley, we only need to prove that Adrian and Marcus are not their fathers. Wizards and Witches are more likely to give them the opportunity to do that if I'm associated with them." Elizabeth looked at her proudly and nodded, "thank you, Mya. He's been so bored and lethargic at home, but yesterday I saw a little bit of my son and it's because he was excited about … Cornerstone?" she asked.
Hermione nodded.
Their food arrived and after a few minutes of silence Ellen turned to her daughters, "Are you girls planning on keeping in touch after graduation?"
They all nodded, with the exception of Ginny, "Pansy and I are getting our certification in child care and development so we can open a daycare and preschool for little wizards and witches prior to Hogwarts." Daphne said proudly.
Hermione grinned at her; they had spoken before about Blaises daughter attending when she was old enough, but they didn't want that spoken in mixed company.
"Ginerva, what are your plans, dear?" Alexandra hoped it wasn't 'live off of Blaise for the rest of my life'.
"I spoke with the manager for the Harpies, since Ron was interviewing with the Canons, the Harpies manager took my floo call. I've decided not to return to Hogwarts next year. I start training right after the baby's born. They've signed me as a reserve seeker and part time chaser."
"Are you sitting for your NEWTs at least?" Hermione blurted
Molly stepped in, "She doesn't need her NEWTs, missy, she'll do just fine without them." She snapped.
Unfortunately Hermione doesn't like to be snapped at when she's in 'help mode', "Pardon me, Mrs. Weasley, but you're condoning irresponsible behavior and enabling codependency! What if she's injured early in her career? Then what? Go back to the burrow?" she asked incredulously.
Narcissa motioned for the waiter, "Would you bring a bottle of your house red, please?" she asked.
"Mya, I'm sure Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Zabini will figure out something." Narcissa soothed with a compassionate smile.
Hermione nodded her head and looked around apologetically, Alexandra winked at her.
"I'm sorry Ginny." Hermione said softly, but Ginny was way passed forgiveness, "you're sorry?"
Hermione nodded.
"You have wormed your way into every aspect of my life since yours and Rons second year! 'Mione this and 'Mione that! Ron couldn't take his eyes off of you and truth be told neither could Harry! Always you who has the answers. You took Harry from me! He won't even look at me now!..." She didn't get to finish her tirade as Daphne quietly stepped in to share her thoughts, "Harry won't look at you because he can't walk ten meters without running into someone you've banged."
Gasps around the table, but no one said a word.
Daphne continued, "Did you forget you are a married witch? Married to the man you tricked into fathering a child…" Daphne huffed so angry she couldn't finish, so Astoria picked up where her older sister left off, "You practically delight in your lack of education and then have the nerve to complain about the wealthy. Have you thought that if you hadn't popped out so many babies, you would be better off?"
Molly was stuttering and Ginny's head looked like it was going to explode, "such disrespect!" They pulled back from the table and walked out.
They all looked at each other and burst out laughing, Narcissa poured wine for everyone except Astoria, who pouted in response.
"I'm so sorry about that." Hermione said.
"Don't be, this has been the most fun we've had in an age!" Elizabeth said taking a healthy swallow of her wine.
