A/N: Finally, it's here, I'm sorry about the delay. There was a lot of re-writing to do, and it is the longest chapter yet. I hope it's not too long, but the words just kept coming.
Thank you for all my reviews, you guys are truly fantastic! And thank you to everyone who has read/favourited/added me to your story alerts, I appreciate the support :)
xBx
**WARNING** The rating has changed to an M for this chapter...which is probably a bit of a spoiler for the chapter too ;)
~ Chapter 22: The Point of No Return ~
The next week Hermione spent most of her day with her head in her books, working an equal amount on her studies and figuring out the finances of the family business. Yet while her daytimes found her surrounded my mountains of papers, parchments and textbooks, her evenings were devoted entirely to her family and friends: On the evenings that she spent with Harry, he happily refrained from discussing Hermione's engagement with Richard and her growing closeness to Draco – though this may have had something to do with the fact they were almost always joined by Ron and Ginny – instead they spent hours in preparation for the New Years Eve party that would be happening at Grimmauld Place.
With regards to Richard: Hermione had been able to smooth over their disagreement from Christmas Eve, despite how galling it was to simper to him – she truly felt more like a people-pleasing Hufflepuff, rather than the defiant Gryffindor she was. She consoled herself that she was merely playing a part to ensure her victory further down the line, which was more the cunning Slytherin, as opposed to the well-doing Hufflepuff. Though when she realised that this thought made her feel better about herself, she had to question her state of mind: since when was a Gryffindor happy to think themselves as more of a Slytherin than a Hufflepuff? Sweet Merlin, I'm having a severe identity crisis and loosing my mind all in one go! Hermione thought to herself.
Yet despite appearing as the perfect happy couple to outsiders, Hermione still felt there was an underlying tension still running between her and Richard, but she resolved to ignore it until it Richard decided he wanted to confront it - it was just easier that way.
By the time New Years Eve arrived, Hermione had done most of her homework, but she was still struggling to get a real thorough grip on the finer points of accounting. Her parents her gone down to London the day before, as they did every New Years that the family remained in England for the holidays, but Hermione had decided to stay behind and make the most of the empty office to get to grips with the most recent figures, which were still on her father's computer. After spending hours trying to get to grips with trend analysis and forecasting, Hermione glanced at the clock on the computer screen and did a double take: was it really seven-thirty?
"Crap!" She croaked, having not used her voice all day. She was supposed to be at Grimmauld Place in thirty minutes to welcome guests at Harry's side. Leaving the books where they were, and switching off the monitor, she dashed upstairs to shower and change.
Forty minutes later Hermione stood in front of her mirror, making sure she was good to go. She was wearing a simple white, A-line dress, with capped sleeves, that fell to her mid-thigh. She wore knee-high, brown leather boots, and finished the outfit with a matching coloured, wide belt that emphasised her small waist and complimenting curves. With her hair, she had simply pinned the front half back, allowing for the rest to tumble around her shoulders, and the whole ensemble had a slight country feel to it, the only thing missing was the hat. She wore the earrings Draco had given her a week ago, but left her engagement ring in its box in her dresser – for tonight her fiancé didn't exist; Hermione was intending to enjoy a night of freedom and block out all her Muggle worries.
She slung her overnight bag over her shoulder, and picked up her jacket ready to leave, but frowned: she felt she was forgetting something incredibly important.
"Drinks!" She realised almost immediately, and sighed. She was already ten minutes late, and this necessary trip down to the cellar would put her back another five minutes, Harry was going to kill her as the first guests would be arriving any minute. She walked through her sitting room, toward her door, but just as she was reaching for the handle, there was a knock from the other side that caused her to freeze. She held her breath, knowing full well the only person it could be, and knowing likewise that she wanted to avoid him right now.
As if intending to confirm Hermione's suspicions, Richard's voice travelled through the wood: "Hermione? You in there?"
Yes, she was. But she wasn't about to shout it out. Frustrated that she was already ridiculously late, she silently cursed Richard for blocking her way and making her even later. And then she remembered, in the form of an old memory and the frustrated tone's of Ron's exasperation: Are you a witch or not?!
Hermione grinned to herself and turned on the spot, appearing a moment later down in the cellar, where she perused the shelves looking for the perfect bottles to take. Grabbing a bottle-carrier from the corner, she took a couple of Muggle red wines, and a bottle of champagne to drink at midnight. She ignored the selection of Wizard wines and liquor, knowing Harry would have an ample supply of those, but went to the bar to collect the limes, tequila salt, and a bottle of gold tequila – she had mentioned tequila slammers to Ginny earlier in the week and she was know regretting the conversation, no doubt she would regret it even more later on.
She ascended back into the kitchen, intending to ensure Richard was off the premises before she locked the door and disappeared, when she almost ran headlong into Richard himself.
"There you are!" He smiled, "I was hoping to catch you, but I thought I may have missed you."
Hermione forced a smile, "Technically, you should have. I should have left about twenty minutes ago." She told him, sidestepping him and continuing up to the entrance hall, adding: "And shouldn't you be at the bar?"
"I'm on my way there now," Richard's voice answered from directly behind her, "But I wanted to call here and persuade you to change your mind and spend the night with me, instead."
Hermione sighed impatiently, "You know I'm going to Harry's party, it's been planned since before Christmas, I don't know why you're bringing it up again."
"Because it's New Year's Eve," Richard stated, "You're supposed to want to spend it with the man you're going to spend the rest of your life with, not Harry bleeding Potter."
"Oh good god!" Hermione turned to face Richard, getting more impatient by the second. "I don't have time for this! And are we seriously going to have this conversation? I spent Christmas Eve with you, here, at the tedious soirée. I was there at the bar on Christmas afternoon, and I've changed my plans around so that every time you have been here for dinner, I have been her also. What more do you want? I have hardy seen Harry and the Weasleys over the holidays, not to mention my Godson – these people are my second family, and I am bringing in the New Year with them, whether you like it or not." Hermione told him.
Richard changed tack immediately, "Is he going to be there?" He demanded.
Hermione raised her eyebrows, "He?" she repeated, "Forgive me, but there will be a number of males present, I believe you will have to be more specific." She told him coldly.
"Draco Malfoy." He stated, echoing her tone.
Hermione gave an incredulous laugh, "Unbelievable," she muttered, thinking of Melissa and Richard's blatant double standard. "I have no idea, and does it really matter if he is?" She asked, "Regardless, I'm still going to the party, preferably this instant."
Richard refused to get the hint, and continued, "So another holiday passes where I wont see my fiancé." He stated.
"Are you for real?!" She asked, rather loudly; Richard was one comment away from breaking Hermione's calm and unleashing her temper upon himself. "Did we not just say I spent Christmas eve and Christmas afternoon with you? And even if I was there tonight, you would be working, and shmoozing your key customers and clients, while I would be sat in the background, bored out of my mind. Why would I do that, when I can be having fun at a party where I know and like everyone?"
"We spent Christmas Eve in the same house, but I didn't see you." Richard pointed out, ignoring the rest of Hermione's speech. "As soon as Draco Malfoy entered the room, you were lost to me."
"He was there at my invitation, he knew no one in the room. It was therefore my responsibility, as a good hostess, to introduce him around the room. It's not my fault you didn't follow!" She snapped,
"You didn't give me a chance!" He retorted, his anger finally beginning to show, "Further more, you told me you would come and find me! And instead you disappeared for an obscene amount of time, with another man!" he accused, his voice raising toward the end his accusation.
"I left the party early! There's a difference-" Richard began to interrupt her, but Hermione held up her hand to stop him, and continued to talk over him, her voice raising to the point of shouting.
"When I left the party to go downstairs, I said 'goodbye' to a couple in the hallway, and then in foyer another group were just leaving the house! The party was beginning to come to end by the time I left the room. You on the other hand: for your information, I did intend to find you, but when I cast me eye around to find you, you had disappeared! So had Melissa, surprisingly enough, and you were gone for a fair while! Appearing an obscene amount of time later, in the middle of the god-damn party!" Hermione yelled, "So don't you dare lecture me about my decorum, when you are so clearly lacking in it yourself!"
"So he told you then?" Richard spat, with venom, and Hermione scowled.
"By 'he' I assume you mean Malfoy? Well if you must know, he didn't say a word." She told him in a dangerous whisper that was just as frightening as her yelling, "I have a perfect pair of eyes of my own, and so I saw for myself! But if he noticed, chances are others noticed as well. It's time you learn discretion or you need to desist because I will not be made a fool of! I promise you now, another stunt like that and you will pay for it dearly!" Hermione threatened.
Richard, it seemed, did not appreciate being spoken to in such a way, nor did he take too kindly to being threatened by a woman.
"I think you've been spending too much time with these friends of yours, and clearly their having a negative influence on you. I don't want you going to this party tonight, you need to come with me." He stated.
Hermione looked fit to explode with anger and indignation – Richard's demands had caused her to bypass angry and head strait to exhibiting the wrath of hell: "How. Dare. You! We may be entering an arranged marriage, but this is not the sixteenth century! You do not command me! I am not a dog, who comes when she is called!" Hermione practically screamed in his face.
Richard sneered, "Yes, an arranged marriage." He admitted, "And while I do still care for you, I won't deny our parents have had more of a say in this than we two have. But perhaps you should remember that fact – as I understand it, this marriage is mutually beneficial: I have a lot of hard cash, apparently you could use some."
Hermione's eyes flashed at the presumption – it may be true at the moment, but Hermione was certain there was an alternative, and Richard didn't need to know the full truth.
"I don't know where you heard that from, but you should readjust you opinions." She told him in a dangerous quiet, she knew full well her mother and father would not disclose financial information to the Aldens, no matter how close friends: Richard's comments were purely speculation, trying to gauge from Hermione's reaction how the land lay. But Hermione knew this game inside out – unlike Richard, her family had played this game for generations, this was in her blood.
"But I won't deny, your freely accessible cash is your main attraction, despite the fact we can go without it. However, you should remember that you get more out of this union than I do. Do you think you would be on speaking terms with even half of those who attended here last week, if we weren't engaged? Your family are still classed as pretentious upstarts, with 'new money', and if it were not for our fathers being good friends, you would struggle to get the introductions you have so far received." She reminded him,
"If you are to continue in this circle, you need me: you need to attach yourself to my family's name, history and heritage – I tell you now, I will remain Hermione Roseby-Granger, and my children will take that name as well. The name 'Roseby' still means something, but 'Alden'? Nothing. So you would do well to remember that in future, and now I think it's time for you to leave."
Hermione finished, in a tone that allowed no argument, and Richard, seething with indignation, sidestepped around her and stormed out slamming the door behind him to ensure Hermione knew his displeasure. Hermione locked the door behind him, before turning on the spot and finally making it to 12 Grimmauld Place.
When Hermione walked through the front door, she was greeted by the sound of a party in full swing. Glancing at the grandfather clock down the hall Hermione realised she was now over forty-five minutes late, having never been late for anything in her life this caused Hermione to scowl – another reason to regret not hexing Richard's balls of. On second thoughts, hexing was too clean: surgical castration, veterinary style, was the way to go, without anaesthesia. Hermione allowed herself an evil smile, just as Kreacher popped up beside her.
"Miss Hermione!" the elf squeaked, in obvious relief, "I is beginning to worry, Master Harry has been asking for you." He declared, and Hermione grimaced.
"I'm so, so sorry, Kreacher. I got held up. Would you do a me favour ant take these-" she held out the bottles, which Kreacher obligingly took, "Upstairs for me and tell Harry I will be there in a moment, I just want to drop my bag and coat in my room."
The elf nodded, "Kreacher will do that for miss." He declared before vanishing with a pop.
Five minutes later, Hermione entered the dining room and smiled, Harry and Kreacher had done well. The large table had disappeared, and had been replaced by a long trestle-table covered in a cloth, and displaying drinks, snacks, glasses and plates. A couple of chairs and a coffee table had been brought in from the adjoining drawing room, and placed around the fire at the end of the room, gathered around which was a healthy-sized group of guests. Music was coming from somewhere, but Hermione didn't have time to figure out where as Harry placed himself in front of her.
"Finally! Where the hell have you been?" he asked in greeting, sounding more relieved than angry.
"I'm sorry," Hermione apologised, "It's a long story, I was ready to leave at about ten-past eight, but then-" she hesitated, not wanting to dwell on what had happened, "I got held up." She finished lamely.
Harry frowned, "You look murderous. Does this have anything to do with Richard?" He asked shrewdly.
Hermione scowled, "Yes, unfortunately. But it's done, I'm going to forget about it: for tonight he doesn't exist. I'm going to get a drink, and start enjoying this fabulous party." She stated, attempting to side-step Harry and make her way to the table opposite her, but Harry stopped her.
"Oh no," he smiled, "You look like you're going to down an entire bottle. That, or smash someone over the head with one. Now, while the former would be amusing, and would certainly get the party started in spectacular fashion, I don't think you would like waking up tomorrow and reading the headline: Hermione 'party-girl' Granger – war hero turned drunk." Harry said with a smile, and Hermione gave a small laugh in spite of herself.
"You might want to save that for later, after certain people have left, like Kingsley for instance: You don't want to embarrass yourself in front of our Minister now, do you? Also, the head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is here, and I know you're thinking of a career there, so I would refrain from drinking too much in his presence as well."
"Fine," Hermione conceded.
"Good. Now, go through there-" he indicated to the double doors thrown wide, opening into the formal drawing room, "Andie is through there with Teddy, I know our Godson will make you cheerful again. I think Ginny is through there as well, hiding form her parents." He added. Hermione nodded, and went in the direction she had been pointed, knowing full well Harry wouldn't refrain from dragging her if she resisted too much.
She saw Andie immediately after stepping away from Harry, she was stood beside the grand piano, Teddy in her arms talking to someone Hermione couldn't full see. But when Andromeda shifted, Hermione's step faulted as she recognised the woman sat at the piano with long blonde hair. She recovered instantly, remembering that of course Andromeda wouldn't be here if Narcissa wasn't able to come also. And if Narcissa Malfoy was here, it was highly likely that her son would be here, somewhere, too.
As soon as this thought entered her mind, Hermione's heart rate accelerated and her stomach was a mass of anxious butterflies. What on earth was she going to say to him? This would be the first time she saw him since kissing him – sure, the Firewhiskey was partly to blame for such a blatant crossing of boundaries, but she was well aware of what she had been doing, well aware of where it was leading, and well aware that she actually wanted it go where it was leading.
Ignoring her discomfort, she smiled at the two women as she approached them and when the pair noticed Hermione's approach, they turned their smiles onto her: Andromeda smiled widely, while Narcissa's seemed a rather nervous smile.
"Hermione!" Andromeda called in greeting, smiling wide, "It's good to finally see you."
Hermione smiled, and tried not to roll her eyes at the 'finally'. "It's good to see you," she said, before turning her attention to Teddy, "Hello beautiful boy," she cooed, as Teddy held out his arms toward her. Hermione grinned as Andie passed him over.
"He's gotten so big!" Hermione said, slightly awed, "Is he walking yet?" she asked.
"Nearly," Andromeda said, "but he's into everything, as it is, once he's mastered walking there'll be no stopping him." She laughed, "You know my sister, of course." She added, bringing Narcissa into the conversation.
Hermione swallowed nervously, but smiled at Malfoy family matriarch, "We haven't been formally introduced, but yes. How are you, Mrs Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"Please, Miss Granger, call me Cissa, or Narcissa at least. Mrs Malfoy was my mother-in-law, and a bigger bitch never breathed." The blonde declared, bluntly, and Hermione gave a shocked laugh.
"Ok," Hermione managed to say, after her initial shock. "Then you should call me Hermione." She said, absently tucking her hair behind her ear. Narcissa gave a tiny, knowing smirk when she noticed the earrings dangling from the brunette's ears.
"Those earrings look lovely on you," she commented, rearranging her smirk into a smile. Hermione couldn't help the blush that crept into her cheeks – she forgot she was wearing what could be deemed Malfoy-heirlooms in her ears.
"Thank you," Hermione said consciously, trying not to give over to nervous laughter. They were spared lapsing into an awkward silence by the arrival of Draco, carrying two drinks.
"Nice of you to finally show, Granger," He smirked. "We began to think you'd bailed."
Despite the flutter her spirits had been sent into due to his proximity, Hermione managed a scowl, "Has Harry been bitching about my absence to everyone?" she asked.
The two women raised their brows at Hermione's less than lady-like statement, wile Draco snorted. Hermione mentally kicked herself for her choice of words. "Sorry, I meant: Has Harry been voicing his concern over my lateness to everyone?"
"He might have mentioned it," Andie smiled, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I was supposed to be here about an hour ago," Hermione admitted, "But something happened and I got held up." She said evasively.
"Oh yeah?" Draco smirked, "Parents? Or a really good book?"
Hermione glared, "My parent's are spending the night here in London, as they do every year, except when we're skiing in France. And while I may have spent longer than I intended reading about accounting," she admitted, "it wasn't actually that which delayed me. I had a rather irritating visitor, but it's of no significance." She finished with a growl, before deciding to change the subject.
"Two drinks, Malfoy? Either you're really thirsty, or you have a bit of a problem?" She smiled sweetly.
"Change of subject duly noted." Draco nodded, "And only one drink is for me, the other is for you. I noticed Potter didn't let you near the drinks when you got here, and it seems your 'non-significant visitor' put you in a foul mood, you look like you need the pick-me-up." He cocked his head to the side, and grinned mischievously, "You drink Firewhiskey, right?"
For the second time in five minutes Hermione felt the heat rise to her cheeks, "Thank you," she said, not meeting his eye, and trying to ignore the shrewd looks from the two women shrewdly watching this exchange.
They weren't the only two paying close attention to Hermione and Draco: unbeknown to Hermione, Ginny and Blaise were sat on a couch at the other end of the room, watching their two friends closely. Teddy was also paying a certain amount of attention; he had been contemplating Hermione's hair and had turned his own into a replica shade of brown, with curls to match, and when he heard Draco's voice (to which he had obviously become accustomed to) he smiled and his eyes changed from the green they had been to a steely grey.
Ever the most observant, Ginny was quick to point this out to Blaise, who grinned wickedly and the pair chose that moment to join the group gathered around the piano, coming up to them just after Hermione had thanked Draco for the drink.
"Hermione," Ginny said, "You took your time getting here."
Hermione sighed, "Should I expect that from everyone this evening? Because so far, that's the only way I've been greeted. Zabini." She added, greeting the Itallion, earning a nod in return.
Blaise then looked at his friend, "You two work fast, we didn't realise you had a kid." He mocked and Ginny sniggered. Both Hermione and Draco looked confused, so Ginny looked pointedly at Teddy, to whom everyone then looked at, and Hermione sighed.
"Oh Teddy, really?" She whined to the child, "You need to stop mixing my traits with those of males: first Harry, now Draco Malfoy, Seriously? You're going to get me into trouble one day."
Teddy's response was a cheeky gurgling laugh that had Hermione laughing in an instant: he was just too cute to stay mad at – it was probably a good thing Andromeda had the main parental rights, Hermione would let Teddy get away with absolutely anything.
Andie gave a sly smile, "Well, at least we have some idea what your children will look like, if you ever have any." She said, to which Ginny and Blaise laughed while Hermione and Draco, both avoiding each other's eyes, stood there uncomfortable and mortified.
"Okay," Hermione said, handing Teddy back to Andromeda, "You take him, and I'll take this," she took the drink from Draco, still not looking him in the eyes, "And now I'm going to escape the awkward conversation this has turned into, and go mingle."
True to her word she disappeared back into the crowd, Ginny and Blaise followed her instantly and Draco only stayed long enough to drain his glass and say:
"Thanks for that, Aunt Andromeda," He grimaced, "You two are terrible when you get together. Please at least try to not embarrass me like that again." He pleaded, and his mother smiled indulgently.
"I've been on house-arrest since August, this is my first time out. Don't I get some leeway?" Narcissa smiled innocently.
Draco turned and walked around muttering something about 'not enough alcohol.'
When he was at a safe distance, Narcissa looked up at Andromeda with a significant expression, "Did you notice the earrings?"
"Exactly as you described, I saw." Andie nodded, "But more than that, did you notice the tension?"
Narcissa smiled, "Something's going on, undoubtedly." She agreed, "Should we stir?"
Andromeda looked wary, "I don't know, perhaps not. Just observe for now."
Hermione made her way through the crowd, stopping here and there to talk to every Weasley (at which point Blaise mysteriously disappeared.), catching up with Kingsley, and starting up an acquaintance with Nick Carmicheal from the Creature department. She finally found Neville and Emmy, who were sat around the coffee table with Dean, Seamus and Ron (At this point Blaise mysteriously re-appeared, this time in the company of Draco).
"Hermione!" Seamus called, vacating his seat, into which Blaise and Ginny immediately fell. "It's been ages! You leave your hat at the ranch?" he joked, taking in her appearance before giving her a brief hug. Draco, who had perched on the arm of the chair Seamus had just vacated, noticed Seamus' appraisal of Hermione, and didn't like the hungry look in his eye.
"Don't mock my outfit, you're just jealous your legs can't pull this look off." She smirked, taking a perch on the arm of the couch, next to Ron.
Did Hermione just flirt with the Irishman? Draco liked that even less, and then she sat next to the Weasel, Draco actually hated that. He watched with narrowed eyes as she fell effortlessly into conversation with the comic-relief third of the Golden Trio: whatever he was saying had Hermione laughing and in no time at all her remaining anger had dissipated and she looked as care-free as the rest of them.
Draco was roused from his thoughts by Blaise's snigger, and Ginny's laughing voice.
"Could you want her more?" she asked, a ridiculously huge grin spread across her face.
Draco cleared his throat and took a drink, "Don't know what you're talking about." He muttered, tearing his gaze away from the brunette, and looking down at the couple in the chair.
Blaise snorted, while Ginny shook her head. "Honestly, mate," Blaise said, "You have to do something, otherwise you're going to end up even more pathetic than you are now."
Draco glared, but his muttered curse went unheard as Ginny called Hermione's attention to them.
"Hermione!" Ginny called, and the brunette looked over with a smile, "Tell us about your party on Christmas Eve. I never did get to hear all the details." She said with a smirk.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, but instead of answering Ginny, she turned her eyes toward Blaise and smiled, "Hey, Zabini? You met Ginny's parents yet?" she asked, and Draco chuckled at his friend's obvious discomfort.
"Not yet, I've been avoiding them." He admitted, and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Clearly courage is not in the Slytherin repertoire," the redhead drawled.
Hermione, however, grinned wickedly, "Ooh, good! I get to watch the show."
"You had a party and didn't invite us?" Emmy chimed, "I'm hurt." The accompanying smile told Hermione she was joking.
Hermione smiled, "My parents had a party, not me." She clarified, "I was just there to smile and entertain."
"Speaking of your entertaining," Draco smirked, "Do we get a showcase this evening? There's a rather fine instrument in the other room."
Hermione glared at him, while Ginny exclaimed: "I didn't know you could play the piano!"
"She does," Draco clarified, "She sings as well."
"You have to play for us." Ginny demanded, in that tone she had inherited from her mother, which brook no argument.
"I actually hate you a little bit right now." She said to Draco, who simply smirked in that annoyingly attractive way of his. Despite how intently Hermione had avoided his eyes, she had been completely aware of his presence and had followed his movements out of the corner of her eyes. But now that she had finally made eye contact she was finding it increasingly difficult to look away and her mind was full of the memories from Christmas Eve, and all she could think in that moment was how much she wanted to kiss him again, and wrap herself around him.
Thankfully, a well-timed distraction arose in the form of Harry followed by a couple who looked slightly uncomfortable and nervous and who were eyeing the crowd warily.
"Guys," Harry smiled, completely unaware of what he was interrupting. "This is my cousin, Dudley." He introduced, and the young man smiled nervously, "And this is his girlfriend, Beth."
As everyone exchanged their 'Hi's and 'How are you?'s, Hermione shifted over to the arm of the chair occupied by Neville and Emmy, Ron taking Hermione's original seat as Dean and Seamus moved over to create room on the couch for Beth. Dudley perched on the arm of the couch next his girlfriend, and Harry moved around the coffee table to lean against the fireplace.
To avoid the awkward silence beginning to ensue, Hermione looked at Beth, "Don't look so nervous, we're all nice people here, we just have a strange quirk." She said, and Beth laughed nervously,
"I'm sorry, this is just a lot to get my head around. And this house, is kind of weird. No offence," she said looking apologetically at Harry, while the others laughed.
"She's got a point Harry," Seamus said, "The place looks great and all, but the elf heads lining the hall walls are a little creepy."
Harry grimaced, "Permanent sticking charm, can't do anything about them. The house has an…interesting past." He told Beth.
Draco snorted, "What Potter is trying to say, Beth, is that the Blacks were a crazy family – I'm talking certifiable crazy."
Taking in Harry's frown, Draco added: "Oh come on, I'm not saying there were all psychotic, but even you have to admit, a lot of them weren't all there."
"Well that's what happens when purebloods all intermarry," Hermione smirked, "The crazy genes start to multiply. You purebloods should perhaps take this as an example: maybe it's time to let the prejudices slide, and open up your hunting ground a little more – it's not all about pedigree."
Draco laughed at that, and gave her a significant look, "The words: pot, kettle and black, spring to mind Granger." And Hermione knew he was thinking of what he witnessed at her home – only those of their social set had been invited; there was no mixing ranks there. Maybe she was being a little hypocritical, but she wasn't going to admit it.
"That is completely different: I'm talking about the purebloods not wanting to associate with anyone less than a half-blood." Hermione defended.
"Right, and that's in no way similar to how Muggles with old distinguished families, that stretch back generations, dislike associating with those with 'new money', now, is it?" Draco retaliated with a smirk. "Face it Granger, there is as much prejudice in the Muggle world as there is in the Wizarding."
"But it's less to do with blood-status, and more to do with money." She countered, everyone in the group had gone quiet now, watching the argument progress, turning their heads from side to side, as if they were watching a tennis rally.
"Is it?" Draco questioned, "Really? Isn't heritage and bloodline one and the same, when it really comes down to it?"
Hermione wasn't sure what to say: she thought of what she had said to Richard earlier, about how she had practically told him that she was better than he was because of her heritage – wasn't she basically telling him that she had better blood than he did?
"Are they always like this?" Beth asked Ginny quietly, who nodded, and then Beth asked: "How long have they been together?"
Ginny burst out laughing, unable to control herself, "Oh, boy." Ginny grinned, "Even the newbie realises what's going on, before those two."
"I'm going to go get a drink," Hermione said standing up, deciding to avoid the awkwardness that would undoubtedly start, by running away. Harry followed her to the drinks table; now that she seemed to have calmed down, he intended to find out what had angered in the first place.
"What happened earlier?" Harry asked quietly, so they wouldn't be overheard. "What did Richard say to anger you so much?"
Hermione sighed, "Harry, I really don't want to get into right now. We argued and my anger got the better of me. Let's just leave it at that."
"What happened to the happy façade you were trying to keep going? I thought you needed to keep him happy until you could dissolve the engagement properly?" He asked, with a small smile and Hermione scowled.
"I do," She admitted reluctantly, "But he's making it extremely difficult."
"You need to smooth it over: start the New Year as you mean to go on, and all that." He told her, "You need to call him an apologise-"
"I didn't do anything that requires an apology! I just told the truth!" Hermione hissed indignantly, trying not to draw attention to them, but feeling Draco's gaze on her non-the-less.
"I know, but you still need to resolve the argument." Harry said calmly, "And you know I'm right, I can see it in your face."
Hermione glared defiantly for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Fine," she mumbled, "I'll go through to the other room."
Harry frowned, "Erm, you do know there's no phone here?" He reminded her.
Hermione gave him a scathing look before reaching down to pull her Blackberry mobile hidden in her boot, "I keep this with me just in case my parents need to get me in an emergency." She glanced at the screen, "You get a surprisingly good signal here." She added, before making her way through to the drawing room.
When she was over by the window, her back to the room, she scrolled through her contacts and found the number for the bar. After a couple of rings, Matthew, the Bar-Manager answered.
"Hi, Matt, It's Hermione," She said in a falsely cheerful voice, "Happy New Year. Is Richard available to talk?" She asked.
"Hey, Hermione. He's not here at the minute," Matthew explained, "He left about an hour ago, I think. Said he was only going to be a couple of hours, he wants to be here at midnight. Do you want me to get him to call you when he gets here?"
"No, that's okay." Hermione said, "It's not important. Goodnight." She hung up the phone with a frown and scrolled down to Richard's mobile number. She hesitated before dialling, deciding to block her number before placing the call – Richard would be more likely to answer a private number just in case it was something to do with business.
After five rings, just as Hermione was getting ready to hang-up, someone answered but it wasn't the voice she was expecting. Her eyes widened and she pulled the phone from her ear to look at the screen. She had definitely dialled Richard's number, but it was Melissa's voice that came through the speaker.
"Hello?" Melissa repeated, and Hermione ended the call immediately. She took a deep breath, she could feel herself extremely close to losing it and knew she needed to get out of this room.
"Hermione?" Andromeda called to her, "Is there somewhere we can put Teddy down to sleep, where he wont be disturbed?"
Hermione turned around, "Yeah, erm, his cot is all made up in Harry's room, I'll take him up if you like." She tried to smile, but Andie frowned.
"Hermione, are you alright? You look upset." She asked concerned.
Hermione gave a shakey laugh, "I'm not upset. Believe me 'upset' is not what I'm feeling right now. Furious, yes, but not upset." She took another breath and managed to smile more naturally, "I'm going upstairs for five minutes anyway, calm down before I start getting questions and saying something I regret. See that picture frame behind you?" She pointed to the photo of teddy on the sideboard, "It's the baby monitor. I'll set it up when I get up there and you'll be able to see and hear Teddy in that. I'll but a silencing charm on the door as well, so if someone comes upstairs they wont disturb him."
Andromeda nodded, and handed Teddy to Hermione, still looking concerned, "Are you sure you're alright."
Hermione smiled at the concern, "I'm fine, honestly." She said, turning to escape to the hallway through the drawing room door, completely unaware for the first time tonight that Draco had been watching her every move from the piano, where he stood talking to his mother.
When Hermione had settled Teddy, she took her wand that was hidden in her other boot, and set up the monitor before leaving the room, closing the door quietly before silencing it as promised. Returning her wand to her boot, she then realised she still had her phone in her hand. In a sudden fit of rage she hurled the phone across the hallway, where it smashed against her door and fell to the floor.
"Wow," said a voice from the stairs, causing her to whip around in surprise, to see Draco looking wary, "Downstairs you looked seriously pissed off, now you look positively murderous. I'm seriously reconsidering coming to find you now, I feel it might be safer to just walk slowly away."
Hermione scowled, "It's not you I want to murder, don't worry."
Draco advanced up the final steps, "I feel a little bit better knowing that," he said, coming closer, "What happened?"
Hermione looked away from him, but didn't answer, making him step closer and put his hands on her arms, "What happened?" He repeated again.
Hermione shrugged out of his grasp and walked over to her phone, "It doesn't matter, its nothing." She told him, bending down to retrieve the now broken mobile, "Great, I broke it."
Draco sighed, followed Hermione and pulled out his wand, "Reparo," he muttered at the object in her hand, "There, now your Muggle… whatever it is, is fixed you can answer my question."
"I took Harry's advice, and it turned out to be a stupid thing to do." Hermione ranted.
"Understandable," Draco said, "But that still doesn't explain the mood."
Hermione contemplated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth, "Richard and I argued earlier this evening, he provoked me into saying some things that were completely true, but apparently not very nice." She admitted.
Draco smirked, "What did you say?" he asked.
"I called him and his family pretentious upstarts. And I told him he needs a connection to me if he wants to continue socialising with certain people." Hermione said, causing Draco to laugh.
"It's true!" Hermione defended, "Once the public know this engagement is over, he will be knocked down a few steps of the social-ladder. Over half the people at that party last week would not associate with the Aldens if they were not our family friends. I also confronted him about disappearing with Melissa." She added, a dangerous look crossing her face.
"How did that go?" Draco asked warily, noting the change of tone.
"I told him he needs to learn discretion or he has to stop. He didn't appreciate being told what to do. I called him to try and smooth things over, and it was Melissa who answered the call." Hermione said
"So, you're saying…" Draco started, and Hermione finished his sentence,
"I pretty much caught them in act, yes." She clarified.
"But this is good," Draco said, "You have proof, you can call this ridiculous engagement off properly now."
"Are you for real?" Hermione asked incredulously, "No way, not yet. Oh the engagement is over, no doubt about that. But I'm not going public with it yet. This engagement does not end because an Alden made a fool out of a Roseby-Granger." Hermione said heatedly,
"Hell no! This engagement ends because an Alden," Hermione almost sneered the name, "is not good enough for a Roseby-Granger. And I intend to make sure that is common knowledge when the dissolving of the engagement becomes public." Hermione declared. She then noticed the strange look Draco was giving her; it was a mixture of impressed admiration, and... lust?
"Why are you looking at my like that?" she asked warily.
"I've been used to the Gryffindor witch Hermione Granger, who can sometimes be a little annoying. But this Muggle Hermione Roseby-Granger has a vindictive Slytherin side, and it's incredibly hot." Draco stated, before closing the distance between them, putting his hands on Hermione's cheeks and crushing his lips to hers.
Hermione melted instantly, but just as she was about to wrap her arms around Draco's neck she changed her mind and instead placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away, shaking her head.
"No," she gasped, "I'm not going to stoop to his level." She said, but Draco didn't want to take no for an answer, moving his hands on her waist, he proceeded to gently kiss along her neck and collarbone, causing her to melt all over again.
"Correct me if I'm wrong," he spoke in between kisses, "But didn't Richard tell you he still has feelings for you?"
"Yes, he did." Hermione confirmed, sounding slightly breathless and Draco smirked against her neck.
"And he still willingly cheated. Yet you have told him no such thing. You've never accepted this engagement; you don't care for him in that way and you've continued to see yourself as single. In which case, you would be stooping to his level." Draco continued.
"For some bizarre reason, your logic actually makes sense." Hermione admitted.
"Good." Draco said, before crushing his lips back to hers. This time Hermione had no second thoughts; she brought her arms around his neck, pulling him closer so that he was soon pushing her up against her bedroom door.
Without really thinking what she was doing, she reached behind her and turned the door handle and they fell back into her room. Hermione turned Draco around; their lips still locked together, and shut the door behind them, automatically turning the key in the lock with a resounding click. At some point she also dropped her phone on the floor, though she had no idea whether that was in the room our out in the hall way, but at this moment she couldn't care less.
Without hesitation, Hermione's hands travelled from Draco's hair down to his chest where she began to unbutton his shirt. Taking his lead from her, Draco removed the belt she was wearing, discarding it a second before she discarded his shirt, and then proceeded to slowly unzip her dress, his fingers trailing her spine causing her to shiver and move closer into him. Stepping backwards, Hermione pulled Draco toward the bed, and when her dress pooled around her feet she stepped out of it as Draco gently pushed her down onto the four-poster. Hermione leaned back into the covers as Draco knelt at her feet, trailing kisses down her thigh as he unzipped her boots, one at a time, and tossed them to the side. When he went to remove her right boot he chuckled softly as he pulled out her wand.
"I swear to Salazar, you keep your wand in the strangest places." He told her, holding it out to her. "You don't want to lose that."
Hermione giggled, and covered her face with one hand, taking her wand with the other. Knowing full well where this was leading, and knowing she didn't want to stop, she quickly cast a contraceptive charm while Draco finished removing her final boot, and tossed her wand onto the nightstand. Draco trailed his mouth back up her thigh, over her hip and onto her stomach. As he continued the trail upwards, Hermione pushed herself up, so that she was sitting by the time Draco's lips found hers again. Wasting no time, Hermione began working on removing Draco's trousers, Draco lifted her onto his hips and Hermione instinctively wrapped her legs around him pulling him closer and feeling his arousal pressing into the apex of her thighs as he moved them both into the middle of the bed.
As Hermione fell back against the pillows, Draco pulled back slightly, and looked her deep in the eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, slightly breathless, his eyes completely unmasked for the first time, and Hermione could see he wanted this just as much as she did. "We're about to go past the point of no return." He added, when Hermione didn't speak right away, unaware she was mesmerised by his eyes.
Hermione nodded, "This isn't fuelled by revenge, if that's what you're thinking." She told him honestly, breathless herself and her voice thick with the want she was no longer troubling to hide, "And I think we past that point when I locked the door." She added with a lustful smirk.
Draco laughed, returning a similar smirk, before bringing his lips down to her throat, kissing delicately and then biting lightly in turns, his hands running all over her body: from her neck, down her arms, skimming her breasts, her stomach, her hips, eliciting the most delicious moans that made Draco need her even more.
Hermione's hands followed a similar path: from tangling in his hair, she raked them over his chest, feeling the definition of his abs, and the twitches of his muscles in response to her caress. She stoked down his arms, and ran her fingernails up and down his back, pulling him closer to her, not hard enough to leave long lasting marks, but giving enough pressure to cause Draco to shiver and nip at her neck with a moan, where he had been trailing kisses just a moment before. Within seconds their last pieces of clothing were discarded, Draco ran his hand back down Hermione's side, raking her thigh and hooking under her knee, he pulled her leg up over his hip and pushed inside with a deep need.
It was passionate, it was intense, neither had realised until that moment just how much they had wanted – how much they had needed – the other. The spark that had been ignited a week ago had turned into a raging inferno and now they moved together, moaned together, gasped together, with a desperate need they never knew was in them. Draco could feel himself close to climaxing, but he held back his pleasure, wanting Hermione to reach her peak before he let himself go. He fought hard to keep control, but Hermione's hands were in his hair, curling into fists, pulling him closer; her back arched, her head thrown back into the pillows, and he felt her tighten around him, and then she called his name in a sigh of pleasure, at which point Draco lost all control. He brought his lips to her shoulder, and called out her name in a strangled moan of pleasure as they climaxed together, finally getting the release they had been craving for what felt like months.
Hermione kept her hands twisted in Draco's hair, holding him close as their heartbeats slowed and their breathing calmed. Draco allowed some of his bodyweight to rest on Hermione, but he held himself up with an arm resting at her side, while his other hand gently cupped her cheek. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment before kissing her gently on the lips in act that was almost unbearably sweet that it took Hermione by surprise.
Draco gave a contented sigh, before rolling gently to Hermione's left side. He brought his right arm under Hermione's neck, around her shoulders, and pulled her gently to his side. Hermione lay there quietly, pressed against his side with her head resting on his shoulder and absent-mindedly running her fingers up and down a long scar running across his chest.
"You seem thoughtful," Draco said eventually, softly, into her hair. "What's on your mind?"
"How did you get this scar?" She asked, equally soft, still running her fingers across his chest.
Draco gave a low chuckle, "I'm not surprised you don't know." He muttered, "I got that in sixth year: it's Potter's handy-work." He told her, watching her face carefully for her reaction.
"Sectumpsempra!" she whispered in understanding, at which Draco frowned.
"He told you what he did?" Draco asked, slightly incredulous.
Hermione looked up at him, "Of course," she said, "We never had any secrets, that's why our bond was so strong. He was horrified at what he'd done; I've never seen him in such a state. I believe he truly hated himself at that point. He didn't know what that spell did – if he did, he would never have used it on you."
Draco frowned, and opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione stopped him, "Don't start on the stupidity of using an unknown spell, I gave him that lecture at the time." She told him, and Draco laughed. As Hermione had been talking, Draco had began running his hand up and down her right arm, but he stopped with a frown as he reached her shoulder,
"This scar," he started.
"It's a burn," Hermione told him.
"It's warm." Draco stated, "warmer than the rest of you."
Hermione grinned, "It's a dragon burn."
"How?" Draco asked, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Come on, you must have heard the story of how we broke out of Gringotts on the back of a dragon?" she told him.
"Of course," he said, "but I wasn't sure it was entirely true. I mean, how the hell did you break in there in the first place? It supposed to be impossible."
Hermione shrugged, "It was difficult, and we wouldn't have had a chance without a goblin on our side. But we had to, so we did." She said simply.
"Why?" Draco pressed.
Hermione sighed, "You're not going to let it drop are you?"
Draco shook his head, "Not until I get the full story, no."
Hermione thought for a moment, then began, "Do you remember me telling you that while she was torturing me, Bellatrix inadvertently gave me significant information?"
"Yes," Draco whispered, as his arms tightened around Hermione, as if to try and protect her from the memory of that night.
Hermione smiled slightly, and continued, "She was terrified that we had been in her vault; terrified we had taken something else – she kept screaming 'what else did you take?' There is only one person who could strike fear in that woman, to that degree. Voldemort had something hidden in the Lestrange vault, and naturally we were curious." Hermione shrugged.
"Curious?" Draco repeated, shaking his head, "Curiosity killed the cat, you ever heard that saying?"
"Of course, but despite how stupid and dangerous this was, we had to do it." Hermione reiterated, "We planned it thoroughly, like I said we had a Goblin on board, and Griphook was a huge help – despite the fact he tried to kill us at the end. When we had our strength back, we hit. There was only enough Polyjuice left for one use, so Harry and Griphook went under the invisibility cloak, we used a series of glamour charms on Ron, and I had the honour of taking the potion. We needed a Lestrange to enter the vault, and Bellatrix was rather…" she thought for a moment, "enthusiastic about her torture, I was covered in her hair."
"You actually became her?" Draco asked, sounding shocked, and Hermione looked up at him in confusion, "After everything she did to you? She tortured you to within an inch of your sanity: How did you even have the strength to do that?" He asked, awed.
Hermione smiled sadly, "She tortured me to within an inch of my life." She admitted, "I could feel myself slipping, but I survived because I knew I had to. And I found the strength to become her, because I had to." She simply, "No one else was going to do it, no one else knew what needed to be done. It was up to us, and we did it, despite the fact that, like our plans, it started going wrong from the start. We didn't even make it into the bank before we hit a hitch," Hermione laughed.
"But you succeeded? You broke into my aunt's vault and got what you wanted?" Draco clarified.
"Yep, and escaped on a dragon." Hermione grinned, "Obviously, the Goblins aren't too happy with us – we did the impossible and they are never going to forgive us, I know that much."
"I'm curious," Draco asked, looking down at Hermione with a smirk, "Have you returned to Gringotts since?"
Hermione grimaced, "Yes. It was awful," She laughed, "I honestly thought they were going to try and kill me." Hermione sighed, and then seemed to realise just what she had been saying.
"I can't believe you've got another story out of me," she said shaking her head, "I have told you way too much, you can never repeat a word."
"Fine," Draco agreed, "But doesn't it bother you that no one knows just how much you went through? I mean, you truly are an amazing witch, to go through all that and still be so strong and confident, and not crazy – it's incredible."
Hermione smiled at the compliment, only barely registering how strange it was that these things were being said to her by Draco Malfoy: the boy who had continually called her a mudblood throughout their entire schooling.
"Hermione?"
The pair in the bed froze as Harry's voice drifted through the door, accompanied by a knock, "Are you in there?"
"Yeah," Hermione said automatically, "What's wrong?"
"You came up to put Teddy down over an hour ago. It's nearly midnight, people are wondering where you are." Her called back.
"I'll be down, give me five minutes." Hermione called back. She waited to hear Harry's footsteps walking away, but heard nothing. Instead Harry's voice travelled through the door again:
"Also: Malfoy, your mother is looking for you." He stated, and then Hermione heard his footsteps retreat.
A/N: So, there you have it. I'll get to work on the next chapter later this evening, hopefully I will be able to update quicker this time.
Thanks for reading, please review - good or bad, I would love to hear your opinions :)
xBx