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Muggle Sang the Blues

Chapter 3

"Matilda and The Magic Toy"

The weeks went along wonderfully with her mother there. It gave them so much time to catch up on all the things she had missed of her granddaugther's first year. Hermione, showered her mother dozens of pictures. A few of them were shots of her and Draco, with the baby. But some where strictly of Matilda. Hermione used a charm to produce more copies for her to take home to her father when she returned. A Wizard's photo couldn't very well just be marched into your local photo shop for duplicates. Mrs. Granger's favorites were those taken only a week before her arrival. They were of the baby's first birthday, and a bright face little girl, with icy blonde hair crawled into the center of her cake.

There were more of course some professionally taken, with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, several were of Matilda's first doctor's visit where she and Draco shared a delightful pose together; Matilda was tugging at his hair. But, Hermione's favorite had always been her first photograph, the day she was born. It was held in a gold picture frame. Her little sunshine lite up her world, for the rest of her life on that glorious day.

She was only a day old in this portrait. Hermione was holding her wrapped in blanket, and when she looked up, into the camera with those beautiful blue eyes and smiled with a grin so bright that said I'm here mom!

Matilda, sat on the carpet floor of their living room wearing a bib and playing with several toys all at once. A soft plush dolly, large plastic blocks and a four-side, electronic toy that would light a tune when she pressed the shapes. At the moment she was becoming tired and frustrated. It was well past her naptime, but she refused to go to sleep.

It had only been a week into the visit, and Hermione's mother had begun to spoil her so badly, that Matilda would not fall asleep without an evening lullaby anymore.

She sat on the floor hitting at her toy, when it would not play her winning tune she liked. "Honey you're not doing it correctly Matilda, You can't get upset," said Hermione, when Matilda started crying after banging so hard against the toy she hurt her fingers. "Oooo...come here, let mummy show you ok!" said Hermione with a sweet tone, hugging her bobo.

The baby stretched out in front her play pin in a fit of tears. Hermione decided this was one of those moments when she would break her own promise. The promise she had made to herself months ago. The promise, that she would not use her wand around her daughter. If Matilda was by chance not born of magic, Hermione didn't want to hurt her little girl further, with seeing her own mother do things with a wand, that she would never be able to do. It was, Hermione suppose a sense of concealing the hard truth, but it was best, and an act of pure love.

"If you can figure this horrid device out before I do darling, then do let your mother in on it's secret." said Hermione she began shaking the toy, even checked the batteries. Everything seemed in place.

Hermione began pressing down on the buttons. First the red circle, the blue square and the yellow star, all in order. Finally Hermione gave up, took out her wand and gave it a flick. The toy became air-borne, levitating an inch off the floor. She gave it a tap with her tip and it dazzled into color, playing musical notes.

Matilda stopped crying instantly,smiled, got up, and began bouncing on her little legs, but not at all in tune to the music. She was so lovely when she was happy, and laughing. "Where's daddy, honey? hum… do you know? where's daddy…..?"

Matilda just danced. Hermione grew silent. Draco wasn't a bad father, but his visit when they came, in truth were getting shorter now, and fewer. Hermione didn't want to pick a fight with him anymore, perhaps things would mend themselves if she just gave him time.

Her mother was not here strictly for a visit. She had been sent by Hermione's father, in hopes of convincing her to return to Bristol, her hometown.

There was a knock at the door, and Hermione froze. She knew who the knock had come from. She closed her eyes and with much despair, she said a prayer and went to open the door. Sure enough it was Mrs. Millions, her landlord. The most uncanny, unkindliest old bat she'd known since Professor Umbridge. In fact, she was so keenly like Delores, Hermione thought once of investigating the woman's familytree to see if perhaps the two were related by some means.

Hermione opened the door wider, and there she stood dressed in a floral house robe, with worn-out trimmed lace. Her hair in bright pink and green rollers. A thick, cloud of cigarette smoke floated above her, she was outwardly smiling, but inwardly fuming.

Hermione knew what she thought, she was positive she was going to have the last laugh. But little did she know, that Hermione had the rent, this month, all of it. Even the portion that had not been paid for last month. She wouldn't have money for the fare to or from work, not until her next paycheck atleast. But, that was an easy fix, she would just have to apparate with her wand until then. There was an vacant alley, just a block from The Blue Vanguard where she worked, it would most likely be safe enough to use for a short while.

Mrs. Millions stood at the threshold saying again for the hundredth time this week, that Hermione was one hair from being tossed out on the streets. Hermione had no energy for battling with her. Matilda was screaming again. Hermione had to stop using magic on her toy when she answered the door. She couldn't risk a muggle seeing her using magic. Not that she wouldn't mind using an obliviating charm on the old goat.

Mrs. Millions ran the place the way she saw fit. She often reminded her, and the other tenants, that she was allowed to choose who stayed and who got tossed out on their thush. She seemed to fill her rat invested building with single women that had been left by men and were struggling with little ones. The rent was cheap, but still too much for the horrible conditions of the place.

Hermione handed her the white envelope and said goodbye. She slammed the door and plaster fell from the ceiling tile. Matilda let out another wale of a cry and kicked at her lifeless toys. The place was a slum. Tears filled Hermione's eyes, she was to ashame to admit to anyone she hadn't found anything better. When Draco planned visits for her and Matilda, He would often rent a pricey hotel room somewhere other than this side of town. He would never pay a visit this far into town, and he had no idea she was in such a bad fix.

It was money well wasted to be honest, because he would only visit, there was never talk of them mending anything for the sake of their daughter. And he seemed fine with the idea that they always held their visits in a rented room, far away from the busyness of the muggle city.

It had been five months since their parting….she wasn't sure, and hated to admit it out loud, but her mother was right. He simply didn't love her anymore.