Author's Note: Ok, I've finally finished with the next two chapter's I have to say this one took some time, and who know's, there are probably still errors!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my imagination. I was inspired by another romance novel i read and J.K. Rowlings wonderful world. Enjoy!
Chapter 46
"Wrapped so Pretty
They decided to stay in for the day. Hermione placed a large order for new dressings and blankets to their bassinet and crib. She thought of passing the old nursery blankets and decors to some one who could make use of them. But, no one came to mind, so instead she went searching for her old beaded handbag, the very one she had used years ago, during the search with Harry for the missing horcruxes. Undetectable Extension Charms were surprisingly useful for baby storage as well. It took a great deal of effort, but with Draco's assistance, together they manage to strip the room in time for the new order's arrival.
An hour later he was kissing her again, Hermione had stretched out across the bed for a short nap. She was awoken when he cupped her breast, and then they were both breathing so hard she did want him to stop. Just this morning, she had told herself that they would have to lighten up with their sex. But, Draco's appetite seemed uncontrollable since her return home. He reached his hand under the hem of her blouse and began to undress her.
Late afternoon, he lay nude beside her, smiling and kissing her. He wanted to make love again, but didn't want to exhaust her.
There was a soft rapping at the bedroom window. He inched her blouse up higher, Hermione moaned from both the new freedom as the fabric from around her chest and from the warmth of his palms gliding across her nipple, but the rapping was very persistent and ruined Draco's mood.
He groaned. "What in the blazes is it this time." he said looking up and out the window to see his father's eagle owl, Blakiston, his long and broad wings spanned nearly the length of the window, flapping in mid flight as he tapped upon the glass with his beak.
"It's your father's." she said rising up and lowering the hem of her blouse. "I'm sure you should let him in, or he'll just sit there all day. I received one from your mother too, yesterday, over there." Hermione nudged her head a bit and motioned in the direction of her dresser of drawers where she had placed the parcel after reading it.
Again the owl tapped, demanding either his or her's attention to receive his delivery. Hermione got up and went to the bathroom. Giving him his privacy. Afterwards she made her way to the kitchen and as she walked by, Draco was still sitting on their bed reading the letter.
Draco was slipping his wand into his cloak pocket when she returned with an ice cold glass of pumpkin juice.
"That was from my father."
She knew that much, but didn't express to him how obvious the news was. "How is he doing today? Is everything alright?"
She noticed Draco didn't answer straight away, but held a rather leaden look about his face as he busied himself with changing shoes. "He and Mum are meeting for lunch in Damengletscher today. I hope he can convince her to put an end to this craziness and move back home. I can't believe she's being this way with him."
"There are two people involved in that marriage." Hermione stated shyly.
"Yes, and one of them are behaving as stubborn as a stone, this little game has gone on far enough."
Hermione had given up at that. It was clear that he was convinced that his mother was at fault in his parents' seperation because she was the one who'd moved out.
Damengletscher, Hermione knew the name and the place, she had visited there only once before starting her training as a healer. It lay south of Grindelwald valley where the the glaciers ran low and clear just before crossing the Devil's Bridge. Hermione also knew it to be very hoarse there, surrounded by a farmland of ice and snow as far as the eye could see. An isolated place, but this was in their nature, witches and wizards, harboring in locations around the world unlikely to be explored by muggles.
Damengletscher was not easily accessible and was best reached by portkey or by floo. To a muggle traveling it would be the most dreary and deadliest of struggles, with miles and miles of enormous hills of ice and stone. Not even the greatest of wizards would take the journey by normal means. Damengletscher, also known as The Witches Glacier, it also held an old and famous noble resort, that had been since 1799.
"Do you recall the brunching we had with Harry, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley? Well I spoke to your mother about it, and how nice a time we had. . .since then, your mother and Mrs. Weasley have been . . . er. . .well. . .talking, just a bit really. Mum says she's been a great confidant -having someone of equal age to talk to and all." She lifted her brow, waiting for his response. "I had no idea they were once childhood friends, ages ago, your Mum says. Did you?"
Her face twisted, with thought and mixed curiosity. "It seemed odd to me at first. I recall how much your father despised the Weasley's and. . ."Her talking dwindled into a buzzing blur -No, he hadn't known that his mother and Molly were friends. But it would seem likely possibility, if there was any truth to the picture his father painted about his mother's life as a young witch. How her family barely had enough money for anything, food, education, a decent home, her family's only remaining property on Grimmauld Drive had became little more than a massive overaged shack, like the Burrow, held together by magic.
Draco became aggravated, he wondered if Hermione knew as much about his mother's past as he did. I doubt it, because she never questioned him thus far, so he felt safe in saying no, that she did not know. Hopefully his mother spared him that embarrassment. Because like his father, he didn't like certain discreditable portions of his life being exposed. This was partially the reason he whisked Hermione away so suddenly. He was afraid Rita and her gang of ghoul reporters would find a lead into their horrific birthday fairytale, and turn it into something shameful.
"You should both mind your own business when it comes to their affairs Hermione and that goes double for Molly Weasley." he said cutting her sentence mid way.
She gazed at him shocked, there was a definite shift in his mood now. His face looked troubled as he stood up to check his cloak pockets.
She too wished that Narcissa and Lucius could settle their differences, not only for themselves, but for their son. Hermione loved Narcissa and now addressed her as Mum, or as her own mother. She couldn't share that same endearment with Lucius Malfoy, but she knew Draco loved both his parents, and this estrangement was painful for him.
She sat quietly in the middle of the bed holding her juice when Draco released his father's owl back through the window, before he, himself left the room.
Once again she wondered what could have happened to the two. For years they had managed to survive so much. She was sure the life of a Deatheater's wife couldn't have been a enjoyable one. But together they had made it out alive, even after Lucius' dark and double-life lead him down a path of lies and dishonesty; even after his imprisonment to Azkaban and through all the things Voldemort surely held them victim too. Why had they separated now? What had caused her so much pain she no longer loved or wanted her husband. Hermione couldn't help but feel sorrow consume her, a feeling that was then followed with a dreaded thought. . . would she and Draco ever end that way and how would she bare the day that she had to stop loving him?
Lucius strode into the elaborate entrance of Damengletscher's hidden resort.
Among the wizarding world this exclusive isolated castle stood eleven stories high. One of the most famous of hotels. It was not to be confused with the Leaky Cauldron, which for Lucius' taste, The Leaky Cauldron was a hubble for low-lifes and bums, a rat hole held high due to its incriminating long history of harboring felons and nothing more.
This had always been one of Narcissa's favorite places, and he'd asked her to meet him here for lunch. Perhaps its pleasant atmosphere would soften his stubborn wife's heart. The entire hotel had been constructed at the turn of the 18th century, built and designed to cater the wealthy. Built into the side of a mountain-size glacier made from solid crystal and gallium. It was a splendid sight, and one his family had shared for several holidays.
The Dining hall of Reise Durch, like the rest of the hotel, was invigorating to the eye. Draco, his son, told him that the Hogwarts' staff once attempted a poor mimicking copy of it for their Yule Ball. Lucius laughed at the idea, but he was sure with Albus there to assist them, the image was fairly suitable for children.
Here the walls were alive with movement from larger than life size portraits. Massive paintings of historical lands and buildings from their world. Each moved with life upon the walls, capturing that precise moment in time forever. He walked up several steps that lead to the higher dining area and spotted Narcissa sitting at a table, positioned by a wall fountain that flowed into a pond of golden koi. He drank in the sight of her.
He had ran into Arthur during a meeting at the Ministry, who had immediately started in a conversation about the lunch meetings that Molly and his wife had been sharing.
It was a moment too late before Arthur was aware that Lucius had no idea of the two ladies were meeting at all. It took a great deal of persuasion on his part, but he manage to stress his dire need to get a message to his wife before it was to late. Thankfully, Arthur agreed to talk to Molly in his favor. His wife however still refused to allow him visits. He would often write to her or watch for her when he knew she'd be coming to Grindelwald to deliver her flowers. He made excuses to drop by every Wednesday when she would arrive by apparation just beyond the stream of the Veranda's lot.
For her part, she seeemed to do her best to avoid him. She began changing her delivery times so that she wouldn't run into him. He was desperate and went to both Molly and Arthur for help a second time. He had been relieved when she'd agreed to meet him today.
His pleasure at the sight of her faded into irritation. None of this seem to have change her, while he felt bruised and older because of all this, and he barely managed to build the desire to shave, even to meet her. She wore the loosely woven lavender-and-cream cloak and cape that he always like. It was a 18th century paletot that once belonged to her mother. Along with it a pair of her favorite silver earrings. As he approached her a heavy metal chair appear before him. He pulled it out, and he tried to convince himself that those were marks of sleeplessness he saw under her eyes, but they were probably only shadows cast by the light coming from the pond beside their table.
She gave him the same cordial nod she used to greet strangers. What had happened to the enchanting young witch who'd giggled uncontrollably and decorated his dinner table with wild dandelions?
The waiter approached, and Lucius ordered two glasses of their favorite wine, only to have Narcissa request a glass of water instead. After the waiter left, he regarded her inquisitively.
"I've been watching my intake lately, I've gained five pounds," she explained.
He smiled at the musical sound of her voice. "You have to expect weight gain at this age darling, I've put on a few pounds myself." It was a lie, he couldn't have possibly gain weight, he often had to force himself to eat even the most divined meals.
"It's not that; it's from all those cooking lessons that I've been taking at the Veranda. If something doesn't come with a load of pasta or heavy cream, they don't think it's edible."
"It's just an idea, but I propose that the best way to lose a few pounds would be to come home, at least we could share all those delectable dishes you've learned together."
She paused for a moment before she spoke. "I plan to return home as soon as our meeting is over."
He felt as if a cold draft had blown across the back of his neck. He shook his head, wanting her to hear him and to understand. "I'm talking about your real home Cissy. Our home."
Instead of responding, she picked up the menu and began to study it. The waiter delivered their drinks and took their order. While they waited for their food, Lucius spoke of a meeting he had attended the week before at the Ministry, an opera that he hoped to see, and asked if she would accompany him. She spoke of her most recent meeting with her own attorney and of some new construction that was taking place at the Gringotts Bank and said no to his offer. It made him ache inside. This beautiful woman who used to speak only from her heart now never did.
She seemed determined to avoid anything personal, but he knew she wouldn't be able to avoid talking about their son. "I speak with Draco often, in fact I've delivered an owl just this morning about our meeting today. He seems a bit put aside with all this."
Concern furrowed her brow. "You shouldn't have done that. He's not a child anymore Lucius, he's a man now with a family to deal with. He has a life of his own, I don't want him or Hermione worrying about us."
"Yes. He often tells me of his joy with the child on the way. I'm sorry, I didn't know my confiding in him would upset you so."
Her anger was visible. "Well of course you did. It's the very reason you do it. You know that I'm happy for him, I want you to leave them alone. Hermione has told me of the letters you've been sending and how much that seem to affect our son. That's the only reason I've agreed to meet with you today."