Chapter 9

The Critic

"You did wonderfully with Scorpius this evening, Michelle."

Draco and Michelle were talking together in his room – she sitting on the bed, already in a nightdress; and he standing by the bathroom door unbuttoning his shirt.

"Thank you, Draco," she replied. "Children are usually difficult for me to handle…"

Draco smiled at her, finally having undone all his buttons and shrugging off his shirt.

"Do you think he likes me?" she asked suddenly.

Draco thought for a moment.

"Yes, I believe he does. He's much more welcoming to new people since Hermione came along."

"He does seem quite taken with your governess," she noted.

"He is, indeed. She's more of a parent than I ever was to him."

Michelle stiffened a little.

"I didn't mean it that way, Michelle," he said, stepping over to the bed and sitting next to her. "I just mean that, since Scorpius has never had a mother, Hermione has been able to show him the woman's love and care that I never could."

Michelle sighed.

"You know that I someday hope to make you the rightful mother to Scorpius. Hermione has just been a good start for him."

"I know, Draco," she said, smiling slightly and looking at him. "I only hope that I can measure up."

Draco smiled back. "I know you will."

He leaned in and kissed her gently, which she readily returned.

"I love you, Michelle."

"I love you too, Draco," she murmured into his lips, and leaned into the kiss even more. Draco growled hungrily and slowly lowered her down onto her back. They had made love many times before, but never in the manor. He was eager to fix that.

Hermione awoke the next morning and tried to rid her stomach of the slightly sick feeling that lingered there. It was the same feeling she always got after she'd had a rough night the day before, whenever something so dreadfully awful had happened that she'd wished it were only a dream. She took a deep breath and slowly got out of bed, determined not to let anyone know that she was anything less than well.

Her stomach felt still sicker when she remembered that "anyone" now included Michelle.

Hermione couldn't understand why she felt such a bond to Draco. They were nothing more than friends. Friends who'd had an accidental sexual encounter. It happened all the time, right? There were plenty of cases of sexual tension between friends.

Not with me, she reminded herself. I've never let that happen before.

Trying to reason with herself that there was a first time for everything, she got herself ready and made it down to the dining room at precisely eight o'clock.

The monster in her stomach squirmed a little when she saw Michelle sitting at Hermione's usual place at the table on Draco's left side.

Determined to ignore the monster, she smiled warmly when she entered the room and took the seat on Scorpius's left.

"Good morning, everyone," she said. She got a chorus of "good mornings" in reply, but an especially bright one from Scorpius.

"What are we learning today, Hermione?" he asked her. She smiled at him.

"What would you like to learn about?"

"Hmmm…" he said, thinking. "Potions?" he suggested.

For some reason she was relieved he hadn't said French.

"Certainly. We'll do Potions first then," she said. He beamed at her, and then Dmitry and Davius appeared in the room.

"Coffee?" the first offered, pouring mugs for everyone but Scorpius.

"And for breakfast this morning, we have excellent spinach quiche!" declared the second, putting an individual-sized pan of it in front of each person.

"Spinach?" cried Scorpius.

"Scorpius…" said Draco warningly.

"I promise it won't taste a bit like spinach," Hermione assured him. "Eat up and maybe we can skip one of our lessons today!"

Scorpius humphed and stared at the dish in front of him.

"If you don't eat it then I'll give you double lessons today," she warned. "Breakfast is very important and you should eat what's put in front of you. Dmitry and Davius work very hard on the meals they prepare for us."

"Right…" Scorpius said, staring at the dish a little more. "I guess I can eat it…" he finished, and slowly started eating it in tiny forkfuls.

Draco was staring at Hermione in awe.

She just smiled and began eating her quiche.

Scorpius was running about in the back gardens that afternoon while the three of them sat on the patio having afternoon tea.

"So Draco," said Michelle, "Do you host many parties here? Your home is so beautiful and just built for entertaining."

No, Hermione thought. He doesn't host parties because he's never home – he's always away visiting you!

Shooing that atrocious thought away, she pasted on a smile and waited for Draco's answer.

"No, actually," Draco replied. "Not much of a social gathering type of person… and having Scorpius makes it difficult."

"Of course," Michelle replied, as if she'd been considering Scorpius as a factor all along. She paused, then said, "Well, now that you have lovely Hermione here, perhaps you can host a party or a ball and Hermione can look after Scorpius?"

Hermione tried not to be offended. She was, after all, the governess of Malfoy Manor and looking after Scorpius was her full-time job.

Draco glanced at Hermione before answering.

"I don't know, Michelle. Scorpius will wonder what all the fuss is about, and I don't like excluding Hermione…"

"But Draco, it would be a perfectly delightful way for me to meet all your friends and family!" she cooed.

Hermione felt sick again.

"Yes, I suppose that's true…" he conceded. "Would you like me to host a ball in your honor next weekend?"

"Oh, that would be just lovely!" Michelle exclaimed. "Will you, Draco? Will you?"

"I suppose so, yes," he said. He then switched his gaze to Hermione. "Of course I'll need to you look after Scorpius… but once he is in bed then you are more than welcome to join the festivities. You are just as much a part of this household as anyone."

Hermione was taken aback.

"Are you sure, Draco? I wouldn't want to impose."

"Absolutely. You are welcome anywhere and at any time in this house."

She tried to keep her smile modest. "I'm honored, Draco. I will join the party shortly after eight once Scorpius is asleep."

Michelle kept her smile even.

"How lovely!" she said. "Oh, it will be such fun. I am so excited!"

Draco smiled at her, but Hermione knew he was less than thrilled. Draco had never been the center of popularity even in school. He didn't like a lot of attention – that's why he'd stayed at Malfoy Manor. It was secluded, out in the country, away from the rest of the wizarding population. Outside the expansive Malfoy property there were only a few Muggle farmers, and they hadn't a clue that Malfoy Manor even existed. There were many protective charms around the Manor – much like the ones at the Quidditch World Cup Tournaments – that kept Muggles from even going near the place.

Michelle had him absolutely wrapped around her little French finger, and Hermione was less than pleased about it.

But why?

Draco may have been her friend, but he was foremost her employer. Her superior. She had absolutely no business wandering about in his personal affairs feeling righteously offended on his behalf and attempting to protect him.

She squirmed uncomfortably in her suit. She had donned the green and black one she'd gotten free from the clothes shop today. She wasn't used to spending her days dressed up this way, but after noticing that Michelle dressed impeccably all the time – her nightdress probably even had buttons and lace, she thought – she decided that she didn't want to embarrass Draco in her usual jeans and cotton button down attire.

Today, Michelle was sporting a cream colored satin dress. It had spaghetti straps and came down to her knees. A bold brown sash and brown heeled sandals completed the ensemble.

Hermione had no earthly idea how the woman stood such uncomfortable clothing in the summer heat. She didn't seem to be even perspiring at all.

Even Draco had added some style to his dress. She rarely saw him in anything beyond his typical black slacks and white oxford shirt, but today he wore those and added to them a striking silver patterned vest with a black and silver tie. His usual 40-galleon black shoes finished it off.

He was so wonderfully handsome that she could hardly stand it.

Meanwhile, Draco was feeling the pressure and heat just as much if not more so than Hermione. He never wore a vest and tie just lazing about the house. He mentally cursed Michelle's French background. Damn the French and their need to be always on the up-and-coming, tip-top-of-the-triangle of style. He lived in the country for a reason – many reasons, but one of which was so that he did not have to be under the scrutiny of the public eye.

It was only because he was in love with this particular eye from the public that he conformed at all.

He felt so badly for Hermione. She was plainly just as uncomfortable as he was. She kept moving around and fiddling in her seat. He noticed her often looking over at Scorpius as he played. He would follow her glance every once in a while. The boy had such a fascination with rabbits, he wondered if it was unhealthy. Hermione had told him of how many times Scorpius would chase them, catch them, freeze them, and then release them.

Speaking of which… he thought, as he looked closer at Scorpius.

It appeared he had caught a rabbit again.

"Hermione…"

"Already on it, Draco," she said, standing up. He watched her as she removed her blazer, revealing a silk tank top underneath.

"I apologize," she said, motioning to the blazer, "but I don't want to ruin it," she explained, and then dashed off into the garden.

He'd had to swallow painfully when she removed the jacket. Her arms were toned and strong and the silk top was low cut and revealed just enough of her chest to jog his memory.

"I'm so incredibly jealous," Michelle said, breaking the silence and drawing Draco's attention back to her.

"Of?"

"Of her… her ability to work so well and seemingly unhindered with Scorpius… I wish I could have that kind of talent."

"You are talented in everything else, my love."

Michelle sighed.

"I know, but children… they are such a simple joy. To possess the power to commune with them as Hermione does is enviable. I fear that Scorpius may grow to love her more than he would love me."

Draco paused. That was a thought he hadn't considered.

"I'm sure he will not. The bond he has with Hermione is purely a governess-student relationship. One day if you become his mother, that bond will certainly be stronger."

He wasn't fully convinced of this, but he said it to placate Michelle anyway. He watched as Hermione waved her wand over the rabbit and it hopped away. Scorpius was looking longingly after it and Hermione lightly tapped him on the head with her wand. He could only imagine what she must he saying to him…

"Why did she need to go to him?" Michelle asked.

"He… likes to chase rabbits. His magical core is powerful, he already has access to magic, though he still doesn't know how to use it. So… whenever he chases them, he often accidentally freezes them. Hermione has been trying to teach him how to control his magic without the use of a wand, but it is very difficult for a child."

"How very curious," Michelle replied. "I rarely even find a need to use magic anymore."

"Oh?" Draco asked.

"I find that, with being waited on hand and foot, using magic becomes entirely unnecessary."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"So you'd say that all your years at Beauxbatons were useless?"

"Well, no, of course not! Without my education I never could have gotten my position in the French Wizengamot. I need the knowledge of magical theory for my career."

"But someday when you retire?"

"Then yes, I would say that my years at Beauxbatons would be rendered entirely useless."

Draco could only imagine that Hermione would be having a heart attack if she were hearing this. Draco, too, was often waited on hand and foot but the ability to use and practice magic was an ability granted to very few by the Powers That Be, and he wasn't about to waste them. He used magic whenever he could. He was not about to commentate any of this to Michelle, however, and decided instead to shift the conversation back to Scorpius.

"Scorpius promises to be a very powerful wizard, I think," he said.

"Is that so?" Michelle asked.

"I believe so. Hermione has even pointed out that his abilities are advanced, and why wouldn't they be? I have a fair bit of magical power, and Isabella was very powerful."

"You're both pureblood, then, I assume?" Michelle asked. Draco's insides squirmed a bit.

"Yes, we both came from a long line of wizarding blood. Hermione also, however, is extremely powerful. I've seen her do things other witches could only dream of. It's why I think she is such a perfect governess for Scorpius."

"She must also come from a powerful family, then?"

Draco sighed. "Well, no, not really."

"Is she a half-blood?" Michelle asked curiously. "I've heard of rare occasions of half-blood wizards and witches inheriting recessive magical genes."

Draco knew the conversation was about to take a bad turn. He hadn't realized Michelle's prejudice against non-pureblood wizards. The topic had never come up before, as both of them were pureblood. Draco's personal hatred for anyone not of a pureblood line had begun to decrease while he was still in school, at the end of his sixth year. The Dark Lord's assignment for Draco to kill Dumbledore had opened his eyes to a lot of things that he didn't like about all of the intricacies of Voldemort's regime. After Voldemort's death, Draco had had more and more proof over the years of wizards and witches of muggle descent that were exceedingly powerful, and everything he had stood for growing up had fallen apart before his eyes.

"Actually… no," he admitted. "Hermione is a muggle-born witch."

Michelle was speechless. Draco was eager to return Hermione to a positive light.

"I'm sure you remember the story of the Dark Lord's downfall eight years ago," he rushed on.

"Of course," Michelle replied. "As I lived in France I did not hear many details, but it was wonderful news to hear that he had finally been defeated by that Potter boy… truly amazing story… But he came from highly powerful parents, I heard?"

Draco knew that Potter's mother had been muggle-born but he figured now was not the time to bring that up. He also didn't want himself getting brought into this, as Michelle didn't know just how involved Draco had been with Voldemort and his followers.

"Yes, powerful parents. It took him years to eventually manage to defeat him, but he had a lot of help."

"Well I'm sure," Michelle said. "No one could undertake such a thing alone."

"You're quite right," Draco said. "Hermione, actually, is the same Hermione Granger who was Harry Potter's best friend through all of it… without her, I'd venture to say that Potter may not have made it out alive."

Again, Michelle was speechless for a moment.

"Draco, you cannot be serious. A muggle-born witch? Governess to your son? Accomplice to the wizard boy who destroyed the Dark Lord?"

"We were in the same year at Hogwarts," Draco assured her. "I have known them both personally since I was eleven."

Michelle looked very calculating.

"I should think you would invite such a hero as Harry Potter to this ball you are having for me. You are, after all, one of the most important wizards in England… he would be honored to attend."

Draco could think of more than a few adjectives that Potter could be described as if he were to receive an invitation to a ball in Draco's home, but 'honored' was definitely not one of them. Irritated, angry, hostile, or murderous, perhaps… but definitely not honored.

He gave Michelle an ambiguous smile.

"I think Harry Potter has better things to worry about than trifling with mundane balls at Malfoy Manor."

She huffed. "If you say so."

They were silent as Hermione led Scorpius by the hand back over to the patio.

"Scorpius, we really need to try to get a handle on this… this is getting ridiculous…"

"But Hermione!" he whined. "I don't know why it happens!"

"I've told you. You're a natural born wizard, Scorpius. You possess magic in you already, and a lot of it. When your emotions aren't in check, it can display itself. We need to work on keeping you level headed and even tempered, and keeping you away from rabbits, for heaven's sake…"

Scorpius groaned and gave his father a pleading glance.

"You know she's right, Scorpius," he said. "I have a feeling you'll be very successful in school if you can learn to channel your magic properly."

Hermione glanced at the graying sky.

"It looks like a storm is coming, Draco, and it's after four o'clock already. I think it's time we go inside for dinner before we all get soaked," she suggested, and grabbed her blazer off her vacated chair with the hand that wasn't holding Scorpius's and led him inside.

Draco glanced heavenward for a moment. The storm clouds looked ominous.

"I believe she's right, dear," Draco said. "Let's go inside and see what the delightful Dmitry and Davius have prepared us for dinner tonight."

She gazed at him for a moment, then got up and followed him inside without a word.