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 55
"Wrapped so Pretty"
Later that afternoon, after the Weasley's said their goodbyes and after Hermione had fallen asleep, Narcissa sat outside in the warm afternoon sun and tried to sort out her thoughts while she enjoyed a cup of hot tea. She tried to not remember the solid feel of his warm body curled around hers at night, but it came to her anyway. She even laughed to herself at the way he always made their bed the wrong way.
Her Lu was right. He'd lost the girl he'd married so long ago, but she was wiser than to think it was the girl he wanted back. It was himself he wanted back, the way he had been before Voldemort had come back into rise a second time in their world. He wanted back the reign of power he'd lost after the war, to still lye in front of him.
As for her so much had changed her, so who was she now? A woman who loved her family, that was certain. She took joy in her new home and she needed these mountains around her as surely as she need air to breathe. There's something in the land here that made her forget about her old life in London. She was also a woman who could no longer live there. She was a woman that could no longer accept second hand love from the man she'd loved since she was fifteen.
But she knew Lucius was overly proud and stubborn. He never made idle threats, if she didn't resume their marriage, he would give her the divorce, That's the way he was. Stubborn was his fault, just like his son. Her problems with Lu, went back more than three decades, but what about Draco? She could imagine the hurt to learn that your husband sided against you. That he would plot against you, but use another's hand to harm you. She shared that exact pain with Lu, only it was his own mother, not some hired attorney.
As a young child Draco had been raised in a loving home as best as she could provide to him. Didn't he want that for his own child. Competition was always such a big deal with him. To be on top, or one step ahead of the next fellow. When he was born, she'd been little more than a child herself. She remembered teaching him how to play wizard's chess well before he could even read the direction on the case. He'd been her life companion as well as her son. She'd roll the chess pieces out onto the game board. At the time they had been living in Lu's mother old estate, and she'd never forget the sight of that little bottom lip caught between Draco's teeth, all his boyish concentration so focused on beating his mother.
Narcissa smiled. "Its inevitable," she said. "That baby of theirs is going to be one smart little witch."
But it wasn't good for a child that special to grow up all by itself. Look at how being an only child traumatized Hermione. And Draco as a child was just as isolated. He often hid his intelligence from other children, he wanted to fit in so badly, to be normal. But he was too clever to be just a normal little boy. Sometimes, the way his mind worked at such a young age, worried her. "Merlin knows that child is going to need a brother or sister." she said to herself. She had always wished her son could've lived with the joys of a playmate, to share his life with a younger brother or baby sister. But with their every waking day under the ruling of Deatheaters. Living their lives to mainly support their cause, another child could not ever happen, and it became unthinkable to her as the years crept by.
It was nearly nine o' clock and the usual nightly chill was coming down from the mountains.
Hermione had pulled on a grey sweater from her closet. It was not hers, it was Draco's, but some how it must have gotten mixed in with her packing so hastily.
She walked out into the wide opening of the castle's courtyard and stared up at the stars. The fragrant sweet smell of morning glories, opening their delicate petals, were starting to fill the night air under the rays of the moon's light. Her baby gave several strong kicks as she walked beneath the joining archways, with their vigorous twining vines of cardinals. The cosmic, red night bloomers, crawled along the arches wall. By morning its heavenly smelling nectar will be a morning feast for humming birds.
The sound of something approaching through the darkness broke her concentration. She thought it to be an owl, but knew better. Then she remembered the sound of a pentagram, as it took flight or descended to a landing. Fear escaped her. Had something happened to their protection? How could anyone have found them at this hour? She relaxed and began to hope that it was Mr. or Mrs. Weasley returning for some reason.
As it came to a stop, it glided downward and landed in the center of their lawn. I didn't belong to the Weasley's. She couldn't believe it, as Lucius stepped closer to her.
His long graceful strides took up a large amount of distance quickly. He was smartly dressed, and if Hermione was not mistaken the clothing, newly tailored. His cloak ends were smooth and not raveled, which often happens after a few wears. His long silvery blonde hair was pulled into a tight black ribbon, and the mane fell loosely behind his back. His favorite cane, with it's silver snake head glimmered in the moonlight, like his hair. He was without a doubt a stunning Casanova, directly from the deep pages of some erotic novel.
She should have expected to see him soon. Draco would have talked to him by now, and the prospect of his grandchild arriving soon would give him reason to seek her out, for his son's sake. She braced herself for his wrath and wished that Draco had not sent his father to fetch her as if she were some sort of pet or trinket that had gone missing.
He came right up to her and gazed down at her, taking in the sight of the woman holding his first grandbaby. For a long time he said nothing—he merely studied her—but when he spoke, there was an odd formality in his voice. "I hope I didn't frighten you showing up here so late my dear."
"Oh, its alright. As you can see, we're both still awake." she motioned a hand towards the back of her, where the lights from several of the lower rooms could be seen glowing warmly.
His eyes followed her hand, and he smiled at the lighted windows. He dropped his gaze for a moment, before he found her again. "Would you be so kind, to tell Cissy I have come to call."
"Cissy!" she stared at him. "Oooh, you mean Mum."
"W-well yes I-I suppose I do," His voice faded, there was an unusual and odd feeling with the name the younger witch used. "Would you please be so kind, as to tell your mother that I am here, Hermione."
He shifted his weight as he waited nervously. The only time he could recall his confidence being this shaken was when he feared for Draco's life, following Dumbledore's death. He clasped his hands together and then immediately dropped them to his sides when Narcissa's form appeared in the entranceway.
"Yes?" She asked, waiting for his conversation on how she was cruel, and how badly he wanted her back, to begin. But he seemed frozen to the spot. "Arthur visited me this morning, he delivered your letter. . . . And when I refused to read it, he took the honor upon himself." she said.
Lucius looked at her and then he spoke. "I'm sorry, you must be speaking of another suitor. You see, I'm new here. And in fact, I've rented a cabin here for a spell."
Had he lost his mind? "Lu, what's wrong with you."
He shifted his weight again, trying to push forth, he swallowed hard. "Well, to be honest, I've gotten myself into a horrible state and lost my wife. Our marriage was on the rocks. I've been pretty depressed about it, and instead of taking to the bottle. I thought it might help me if I found someone to help lift my spirits. . . A companion. . .a female, a female friend companion. He drew a deep breath. "I heard in town that there was a nice lady living up here, and I thought maybe I'd stop by and see if that madam would be so kind at to accompany me to dinner some time. Or anywhere, what ever you wanted would be just fine with me." A flicker of amusement caught at the corner of his mouth. "That is of course if you're accepting of dating a married man."
He laughed lightly. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
Behind an open window Hermione's heart overflowed with joy for them, yet at the same time it shattered all over again, when she realized that his visit had not been influenced by Draco. That his reason for arriving had nothing to do with his son. She closed the window then, and gave the two their privacy as she returned to her room.