I have so many of you to thank for this story happening. To each and every one of you that read/favourite/follow this story, this chapter goes to you my fellow Potterheads. :D
"Then Lucius I have to thank you for gathering such a potion for our weak young minds"
Hermione's steps faltered as soon as they step foot into the parlour. Draco was running a hand up and down his wife's arm, whispering something into her ear to make her giggle like a school girl. She wanted nothing but to hex them both apart. It reminded her of … No, she couldn't think of that right now.
"Are you drinking" Severus eyed Hermione's glass in hand suspiciously. Severus hadn't seen her drink since ...
"Geez Sev, lighten up. It's one glass, I'm not working tomorrow, I have nothing to get up for and I have no commitments" Severus still glared at his ward, it wasn't like her to let her hair down so loosely.
"I think it is improper of a lady to drink so early in the evening" Astoria straightened her back properly.
"Well I think it is improper of a lady to slurp her tea, but hey we are all entitled to our opinions are we not Ms Greengrass?" Andromeda retorted before Hermione had the chance.
"Oh we are indeed" Her eyes sized Hermione up with disgust.
"Remember your manners Ms Greengrass" Lucius's eyed the witch dangerously under his gaze.
"I do think I am behaving impeccably well thank you Lucius" Hermione smirked at her stupidity.
"Tori do be quiet, your giving me a terrible headache" Draco rubbed his temples vigorously if by magic the headache would disappear.
"Yes Draco, can I get you anything Draco? A pain relief potion perhaps might be best?" Bringing her glass up to her lips so she could hide her snigger, Hermione couldn't help but wonder how far up her head went?
"Got anything to add mudblood" Raising a newly plucked eyebrow Hermione's hand twitched in instinct towards her wand.
"Oh plenty, but I am having dinner with friends and people I call family so I hardly think now is the right place nor time Greengrass" Severus inwardly glowered at the maturity shown by his ward.
"Draco, are you really going to let the help speak to me in that way, I am above her" She all but screeched.
"Ms Greengrass, I have just had about enough of your cheek towards my guests" Andromeda –for the first time Hermione had met the witch- raised her voice above her normal tone.
"I don't even know why we are here, you just as low as she is" Astoria focused some of her anger on the host.
"Leave" Cissy stayed relatively calm, compared to the anger that was soon to be eroded.
"I said LEAVE Astoria, Leave and I will deal with you later" She allowed some of the malicious to seep through as she eyed the witch leaving via floo.
"I apologise for my wife's behaviour Aunt, it is completely out of order and will be dealt with … sufficiently." Andy smiled affectionately at her nephew.
"It's honestly not a problem my dear child, come dinner should be ready" Looking around she realised Teddy was walking side by side with Scorpius towards the smell of food, Lucius was obviously escorting his wife and Draco was just approaching Hermione.
"May I have the pleasure?" Shivers tingled down her spine at her lovers husky voice.
"Of course, Thank you Severus" Andy stood and allowed him to place her hand in the crook if his arm.
"Can I escort you into the dining room my lady?" Draco bowed low, making a very tipsy Hermione laugh.
"What was that with Astoria earlier?" She hadn't meant to sound so harsh … technically none of it was her business.
"Hermione, she is still my wife I have to make her believe I still love her"
"Are you sleeping with her?" Draco's eyebrows disappeared under his fringe.
"No ... No definitely not, but if I don't play along she will think something is up"
"You know, your wife needs a good slap" If she hadn't drank her whole wine glass she wouldn't have the courage to say such a thing.
"Not now Hermione, please allow me to enjoy what little time alone I have with you" Unknown to the two, Andy and Severus had closed the door behind them giving them some needed privacy.
"What am I to you" She finally allowed him to pull her up.
"Your my …" Shaking her head at his reluctance she took a slight step back away from him.
"You're my everything, the Mickey to Minnie, Mr Darcy to Elizabeth, and Romeo to Juliet" Tugging her back so she fell into his embrace he swept the hair from her eyes.
"I am falling for you Hermione and I am afraid, so afraid at what I am feeling."
"You're falling for me?" He nodded with a smile.
"But you're still married" His eyes down casted but he still nodded his head.
"Then I am nothing to you, nothing but your Son's nanny" Her heart broke, was he denying his wife still stood by his side, she waited impatiently all week for news of … well anything. Draco had stayed distant and only spoke to her if it was about Scorpius's schoolwork, nothing else.
"Are you two going to stand in here all day or are you going to let your dinner get cold" Lucius drawled from the doorway.
"No, we're coming Lucius." Hermione quickly wiped her tears away and left the two dumbfounded Malfoy's behind.
Closing the door Lucius turned around and eyed his Son with suspicion.
"Care to explain why she is in the state she is Son?"
"I have no idea Father"
"You're lying, try again" Lucius demanded, his fingers stroking the snake head on his cane.
"She's trying to define our relationship Father, what would you have me tell her? Oh sorry Hermione the thing you didn't want to be most is the thing you actually are, a Mistress." Settling back down on the sofa he rested his head in his hands.
"The problem with you two is patience; Hermione impatiently wants you and you impatiently want Astoria out of the picture. Patience my boy is the key to everything and I expect you to apologise to Hermione as soon as dinner is over. Now come Andromeda has set out a lovely dinner and you will miss it if you sit here and self-pity yourself."
"Are you ok Hermione?" Severus obviously concerned asked aloud.
"Fine, hormones I guess" One word gets the whole male population away from a subject. 'Hormones'. But of course the females know better and watched the witch throughout dinner.
Hermione spoke when only spoken to and ignored all eye contact with Draco when possible.
"Hermione leave the dishes, it will make my evening more entertaining" Andy tried to laugh her loneliness off, in fact she had become extremely lonely when Ted and Nymph had died. But Severus was slowly but surely relighting her life back up. Teddy kept her busy –sure- but of course he had to spend time with his godfather.
"I be back shortly, a trip to the little girls room calls" Hermione excused herself and left the room, a shared look between the two former black sisters and Cissy followed shortly after.
"Ok what in the name have you done to Hermione?" Severus glared across the table to his godson.
"Absolutely nothing Sev, she asked me what she is to me and then she got all sentimental on me" forgotten memories emerged in the former Potions Professors head, sending unpleasant shivers down his spine.
"You have no idea just whom you are messing around with, Hermione has been through so much and if it wasn't for your Father's word and your promise to return to her side after she has gone, I would have had you hung drawn and quartered by now boy" Severus whispered harshly hoping the two boys at the other end of the table was too engrossed talking about dinosaurs that they wouldn't be listening.
"What exactly has she been through Sev?" Leaning back into his chair he rubbed the back of his neck and allowed Andy to stroke his arm in comfort.
"I can only tell you what I know. Just after the war and exactly the day after she was officially made my ward she met a charming young man by the name of Adrian Pucey. Perhaps you know him?" Of course Draco knew Pucey; he was the one to always bring the fire whiskey into Slytherin dorms for the younger years.
"Hermione was smitten with him, head over heels in love with him, thought the sun shone from his backside. I however saw different, I saw the real Pucey; I taught him at school and remember what a conniving little chit he was even back then. One night he had arranged to pick her up for an evening out. Hermione looked beautiful, had her hair put up in a bun, a lovely dress and heels sombre on and Mrs Potter came around to finish her make up off. Anyhow she met with Pucey at the arranged destination where he was with his friends … hammered out of his head. He dragged Hermione off to a corner … and anyway it wasn't nice.
Luckily she still kept an item on her presence she used to contact Harry with during school. She called for him and he brought the Auror's. Mrs Potter had also expressed her deepest worries towards their relationship. He always looked at her through those predatory eyes.
Once Hermione was realised from St Mungos she came home with me, Andy –with the help of Mrs Potter- had made sure her room was comfortable enough for her to call her own. She slipped into a deep depressed state, the nightmares returned, and her body weight plummeted to a dangerous level. Nobody could get through to her but Andy and I think that is why she feels so close to you" Severus glanced at his love and stroked her palm with his fingers. Silently thanking her for everything she had done.
"The trial came and went within a week, she couldn't face him alone. I … we all went along to give her Dutch courage. Pucey was only sentenced to 15 years in Azkaban, not enough … not enough by a longshot. As the Auror's escorted him from the podium, he turned to Hermione and said. 'You was just another little bed warmer my sweet mistress, but be warned to keep eyes in the back of your head when I am out my pretty'. She fainted in the docks … in my arms. Hermione now finds it hard to trust anyone so if you're just messing her around stop whilst you're ahead, I do not care if you're my godson if I find out you have hurt my little girl you better run to the far ends of the earth boy for I shall find you" Draco recoiled slightly at Severus's protective tone, of course he had heard Pucey had been slammed into Azkaban for what he had done, but the Prophet didn't name the victim.
Hermione was just coming out of the bathroom when Cissy caught up with her
"Are you ok my dear?" Hermione plastered her most convincing smile on and nodded her head with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
"I'm fine Cissy; this last week has just been emotionally draining is all. Thank Merlin for the weekend is all I can say"
Cissy smiled along; of course she didn't believe a word the younger witch said. It wasn't hard to see she was very quickly crumbling inside. But over what?
"I want you to know if you can't turn to anyone, I would hope you could come to me. I know you can confide in my older sister and I am hoping someday to have a great relationship with the two of you"
Hermione audibly gulped and again nodded her head.
"Of course Cissy, but honestly I am just emotionally drained"
"Shall we then?" Cissy started down the stairs with Hermione soon following.
Hermione opened the door to Severus's threat.
"Now now Severus, no need for the over protective Father speech" She smirked and returned to his side to kiss his cheek.
"Andy thank you for inviting me for dinner but I am afraid I have to cut my visit short" Severus frowned at the back of her head.
"Of course my dear, you go home and get a good rest" Andy rose elegantly from her seat and kissed Hermione in goodbye.
"Severus I need to nip over to the flat before I go home …. Yes I have my keys on me" Hermione couldn't help but feel …. Loved by Severus, he really was like a Father to her.
"Aunt Hermione are you going already?" She looked down to the two sad little boys, a tear fell from her eyes much to the confusion of everyone.
"I am darling. But I promise to see you real soon. Ok?" She smiled a watery smile and pulled the two in for a tight cuddle.
"Remember your Hermione's favourite boys ok?" The two nodded and returned for the playing.
Before anybody could comment on her emotions, she apparated her arse out of there to her and Luna's apartment.
It was quiet … to quiet for Hermione's liking. Even at this late of evening someone was always watching television or singing on the karaoke systems. Twiddling her wand in hand she swallowed her fear away, Hermione opened the door to be only pressed up against her hallway wall losing the wand to the carpet floor. A hand pressing tightly against her mouth and a body pressed flushed on hers.
"I missed you my pretty" Hermione screamed into the hand.