Previously on A Tale Of Two Wizards: A Fruitful Week
Hermione got back to her office at 5:20. Carmela's note lying in the middle of her desk served to remind Hermione of her behavior. She had time to think while she was down in the warehouse. Yes, she was excited about getting this settled, but she had acted like an arse because Draco hadn't immediately agreed with her plan. She had been way out of line with the way she spoke to him, especially in front of Carmela.
She got up from her desk to go apologize to Draco. She knocked on his door, but didn't get an answer. She opened the door only to find the office empty. Draco must have gone home without her. Hermione went back to her desk, grabbed her purse and jumper and headed to the floo.
She was home in five minutes, but the house was empty. Now she didn't know what to do. She and Draco were always together, so she didn't have any idea where to look for him outside of home. She didn't think he would be at Carmela's because Fausto had to be at Ministry Services for extended periods of time, but she had to check. Hermione threw a bit of powder into the floo and called out for Carmela. When Carmela stuck her head into the floo, Hermione asked if Draco was there. Carmela said she hadn't seen Draco. Hermione thanked Carmela and wished her goodnight.
Hermione took a shower then tried Draco on his mobile, but the phone just rang and rang. She fixed herself a sandwich then didn't have appetite enough to eat it. All the excitement and elation from earlier was long gone. All she felt was foolish as she got herself ready for bed. Just as she was about to drift off, it came to her that this was the first night she and Draco had slept apart since they became engaged.
Chapter 26: Brothers
Draco sat in his office staring into space. Hermione had absolutely taken him by surprise with the way she had addressed him in front of Carmela. They were a couple who didn't always agree, but he thought they had an understanding where they would keep their disputes away from other people. And then. What was that at the lift? She had dismissed him as if he were some prat on the street. He had originally bristled wanting to wait for her to come back upstairs to finish the conversation. He had then decided that arguing with the witch he loved would serve no good purpose. Besides. She was only looking after his best interest. Hermione had pulled off something not many witches would be savvy enough to have done. She had possibly found the Lozio relatives they needed to finish this thing.
He still wasn't going to take all the blame for the argument. Hermione could have handled it better even though Draco knew once Hermione had her teeth into something she wouldn't let go until it was finished. Truthfully, Hermione was fighting for their life together. She wanted this curse, blood feud thing solved so they wouldn't always be looking over their shoulders to check if Lozier was around. Draco loved this witch more than anything in life. From her actions, he was sure she loved him the same way.
Draco heard Carmela walk to his door. She neither knocked nor sought entry. Draco was glad, because as much as he respected Carmela, he didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. An idea was forming in his mind. He didn't want to lose its thread. He had sat there for another five minutes before making his decision.
With his plan solidified, Draco left his office to get on his way. He glanced into Hermione's office as he passed by. The office was empty. She still hadn't come back upstairs, so he left a note telling her he had to go out for a bit and would see her at home. Draco placed the note in the drawer next to her wand where she would be sure to see it.
Then he headed over to the Travel area. He looked through all the open portkeys until he found what he was looking for. An Open/Turn Around portkey to Belgium. The portkey to Belgium was designated as an Open/Turn Around because it could be used as a regular portkey or could be used to come and go on the same day. Draco set the destination for the Portkey Office closest to East Flanders and went down to the departure room to begin his journey. It was a spur of the moment thing. Hermione had done her part so he should do his. Besides. Hermione had snapped at him to do what he will. That's what he was going to do. Draco only hoped Matt and Seth would be willing to meet with him.
Draco landed in the Portkey Office at 5:30 exactly. He checked in as a Turn Around Traveler and asked directions to Rte 515, East Flanders. With the coordinates in hand, Draco Apparated directly to the home of his Lozi relatives.
/*/
Matt was out back doing a bit of what he had been doing a lot of for the last twenty four hours. Staring at the sky. Seth was a little worried that his normally laid back brother was somehow falling apart. Matt was the elder brother who basically took care of everything, but it seemed as though a part of him had given up. Seth thought he knew why. Matt's mood had something to do with the ad set by Hermione Granger. Why it would bother Matt was another question entirely. Seth had watched as his brother read almost every piece of parchment their mum had saved. Then Seth had watched as his brother turned into a sullen, unhappy wizard he did not recognize.
Seth was on his way out back to call Matt in for supper when someone knocked on their front door. He turned on his heel and headed to the front door wondering what git showed up at suppertime without invitation. Then he remembered it could be any of their friends as they were all talking about the ad in the papers trying to find out what it meant. Seth decided he would send whoever it was packing.
Seth swung the door open with rude words on his lips only to find a stranger standing there. A stranger who resembled him and Matt and had their eyes.
The stranger stuck out his hand. "Hello. I'm Draco Malfoy. I'm looking for Seth and Matt Lozio.
/*/
Draco knocked on the door of what was supposed to be the home of Seth and Matt Lozio. He didn't know what to expect, so he was on his guard. What he hadn't expected when the door opened was to be looking into his own eyes. For a second, Draco thought. No bloody way. I'm standing here looking at a version of me.
He said. "Hello. I'm Draco Malfoy. I'm looking for Seth and Matt Lozio."
The wizard in the door was equally surprised, but managed to stammer. "Hello. I'm Seth Lozio. Please come through and have a seat. Matt is out back. I'll get him."
As soon as Draco sat down, Seth had almost run out back to fetch Matt. "Matt. Come in the house. There is someone here you have to see. Come on. He looks just like dad, like me, like you, like us. His name is Draco Malfoy. I think he is the relative we never knew existed."
Matt got up out of his chair and followed Seth through to the living room. Seth had been telling the truth. This bloke was almost an exact match to their grandfather, father and themselves. Except for the hair. His hair was almost white blonde where theirs was a darker blonde, but they all had the same eyes. Eyes his mum used to call devil eyes.
Matt stepped into the room with his hand held out. "Good to see you. I'm Matthias Lozio, but you may call me Matt."
Draco shook Matt's hand. "I realize I'm a stranger imposing on you. Let me introduce myself. I am Draco Malfoy, descendant of Louis Malfoy father of Caleb Lozi. We are related. Glad to meet you."
Matt looked at Seth and Seth looked back at Matt before Matt quipped. "I have no doubt that we are related. I am glad to meet you as well. I hope you will join us for supper."
Draco smiled. "I most certainly will join you. Perhaps we can talk a bit while we eat."
Draco removed his jumper and was shown to a seat. The meal was a simple one consisting of meatballs with celery in tomato sauce and mashed with carrots. It looked delicious. The three talked as they ate with the relatives getting to know a bit about each other.
Draco told them a little about himself. "I was born in Britain, but currently reside in Milan. Hermione Granger is my fiancee. It was she who took the ad out to find Louis and Caleb's descendants. You spoke of parchment in your letter. I was hoping to have a look through them if you don't mind. If you are the descendants we are looking for, Hermione and I need your help."
Matt interrupted. He wasn't angry when he spoke. It was more as though he was resigned to hear what Draco had to say. "I sort of figured there was a reason you would be looking for us after all this time. We've been right here for generations. Right here in East Flanders. I knew it couldn't just be because you wanted to find Caleb's descendants to say hello. That would have been much too easy. So what is it you need from us?"
"There's no need to be rude Matt. We always have the option of saying get the hell out of here and leave us alone. There's no need to do that before we hear what Draco has to say."
Draco sat back in his chair unsure of how to proceed. It was clear Matt was angry at the intrusion. Should he forge ahead or should he just leave Matt and Seth to themselves. As he sat there thinking, he could hear Hermione saying loud and clear. I did all of this and you're just going to give up. I think not.
Draco smiled to himself and pushed ahead. "I understand your hesitation. If you'd like me to leave, I will. However, I have to tell you that Hermione will probably be next at your door. I think she'd be able to help you understand. What will it be guys? Me or Hermione?"
Matt got up from the table asking Draco to come have a seat in the living room. "We'll take our chances with you Draco. Witches can be tough."
All three wizards laughed.
/*/
Seth and Matt had all their mum's parchment laid out on a table as though they had been going through them.
Matt volunteered. "Some of the documents are quite faded. We had a hard time deciphering them, but others are as clear as if they had been written yesterday. I used to tell my brother that all this was a bunch of old wives tales that my mum and grandmum kept around to account for the fate of our family. Are you here to tell us that this load of rubbish is true?"
Draco picked up an old, faded piece of parchment which he made out to be a simple birth record. He could just make out some of the words if he held it a certain way.
Birth Record: Matthias Caleb Lozi
Date of Birth: illegible
Mother: Mary (Grant) Lozi
Father: Caleb Lozi
"I am here to tell you just that," said Draco. "There isn't anything rubbish about these parchment. They are a history of the Lozi/Lozio/Malfoy families. Hermione has done some research. This birth record I hold in my hand is proof of your connection to Caleb Lozi and by extension to me. Have you ever heard of portraits who can communicate? While they were researching another subject. My fiancee and her good friend discovered a very old portrait hidden away in the deeper recesses of my family home. It was the portrait of Louis Adrian Malfoy. He was a descendant who had brought shame down on the family name and had therefore been banished from the family. There were tons of parchment hidden away with Louis. After many false starts, Louis unraveled a family history I knew nothing about. The long and short of it is that Louis had a witch named Ida Lozi whom he planned to bring before his father in anticipation of marrying her. However, as sometimes happens. Louis and Ida became familiar with each other and Ida got pregnant. Louis knew his father would not accept any witch into the family who came before him pregnant, but Ida insisted Louis tell his father about her. Ida and Louis went back and forth. One night, in an attack of madness, Louis tried to kill Ida who then ran to her father for protection. As any father would do, Edmund Lozi went straight to Louis' father to demand Louis marry his daughter. Patriarch Malfoy laughed at Edmund and threw him out of the manor vowing that Louis would never marry a cheap harlot who couldn't keep her knickers on."
Both Seth and Matt were hanging on Draco's every word.
Draco continued the story. "From all accounts. Edmund Lozi was furious and began to malign the Malfoy name. Patriarch Malfoy wasn't going to allow that. He paid off a great many people to refuse to do business with Edmund Lozi or use his services. It all came down to Edmund not being able to make a living or support his family in Britain. He picked up and moved family, including the pregnant Ida, to Belgium where he vowed to get even with every last living Malfoy starting with Louis. Ida died given birth to Caleb. Louis Malfoy died mysteriously the same day his son was born. It is said Edmund used the blood from Ida, Caleb and Louis along with his knowledge of the black arts to set a blood curse on the Malfoy family. When Patriarch Malfoy found out Edmund had put a curse on Louis, he removed all mention of Louis from the family rolls and let it be known Louis was no longer welcome. Perhaps he thought if Louis wasn't around, the curse would follow Louis skipping the family. By that time, the curse had been set in blood. It was set on the head of every Malfoy son. We have recently found out that even though the Malfoy family would not recognize Ida's son as a Malfoy. They secretly kept tabs on him. Who knows why. They were probably frightened Caleb would someday come and take vengeance on them. We are glad some Malfoy decided to keep tabs on Caleb because it has given us records of what really happened."
Matt and Seth were looking at each other unable to digest what they were hearing. Matt went to the kitchen and came back with drinks for the three of them.
Draco could see the brothers had questions, but he asked them to hold on for a bit longer because he had more of the story.
"There's more?" Seth inquired. "If you keep talking Draco, you'll have us caught up to yesterday."
Draco laughed. "Not quite. The rest of the story is not nice. The Malfoys wouldn't have anything to do with Caleb which I can almost understand. But his own grandfather didn't want him either. Edmund felt the bastard child was the reason his only daughter was dead. He treated Caleb more like a slave than a grandson. When Caleb came of age, he was thrown into the streets to fend for himself. The little bit of information available on Caleb's life is not good. He lived a poor life where somewhere along the line married Mary Grant and had three children. Matthias, Aya and Alice. Caleb lived for a bit in Walloon, but at some point moved house to East Flanders. His daughters remained in Walloon, but his son Matthias moved to East Flanders with Caleb and Mary. That is quite a bit to digest. But there you have it."
"That is so bollixed up. I understand we are the descendants, but what do Seth and I have to do with anything? Why do you need us?"
Draco sighed. "Remember the curse I spoke about? Well Edmund set it in such a way that the males of his line would be able to interfere in the love life of any Malfoy of that male's generation. Edmund's curse against the Malfoys even crosses the scent barrier that is established between a witch and wizard who fall in love and have given themselves to each other. According to the curse, Malfoy males are not allowed to fall in love and marry without interference from a Lozi/Lozio/Lozier of their generation. We think it has to do with Louis not accepting his responsibilities regarding Ida. Hermione and I are experiencing this problem with Emilio Lozier. In order to break the blood feud curse. Louis and the oldest living Lozier must make amends to the oldest living relative of Caleb Lozio. There are other things that must be done, but they don't have any bearing on the curse. What it all comes down to is Matt as the eldest living relative of Caleb Lozi must willingly accept from Louis Malfoy and Emiliano Lozier a freely given apology. We don't know exactly what will happen when the apology is given and accepted, but we believe it will end the blood feud and break the curse."
The room was quiet for several minutes with Draco sipping his drink and Seth and Matt lost in their own thoughts. Draco looked at his Wonder Wizard Watch. It was going on 10:30. Hermione would be pissed off beyond compare that he hadn't made it home.
Draco stood up to thank Seth and Matt for their hospitality. He took a piece of parchment out of his pocket that had Hermione's address, the address of DLM and both he and Hermione's mobile numbers on it and handed it to Matt. "We are in a bit of a time crunch, but we can't force you to do anything. All we can do is ask for your help. Think it over. If you decide to come to Milan, it won't cost you anything. I will see to everything. By the way. If a beautiful, tiny witch with a head full of bushy hair and a determined look shows up at your door. That will be Hermione. Thanks again."
After shaking hands with Matt and Seth. Draco headed to the door.
"Thanks for coming Draco," said Seth. "One way or another. We'll be in touch."
/*/
Hermione woke up briefly around 10:30 to use the bathroom. Draco hadn't come in. She was nervous she had driven him to do something unthinkable and fretted for a few minutes. But as soon as her head touched the pillow again, she was asleep.
/*/
Draco Apparated back to the local Belgium Portkey Office, picked up his portkey and landed back at DLM ten minutes later.
When Draco reached home, he went directly to the bedroom to kiss his witch.
Hermione woke up and looked into the gorgeous eyes of her fiance and hugged him with everything she had in her. "I was so stupid. I'm so sorry Draco. We can discuss what to do next. I will behave myself. Now tell me where you've been until this time of night before I hex you blind."
Draco laughed as he rubbed his mouth over Hermione's breasts. "You'll need to get up and have a wine while I tell you this. Come on. Get that lovely arse up and come into the living room. Just so you know. You owe me a lot of sex which I will be collecting."
"I would think you've had your fill of sex by now."
Draco stopped in mid stride to look at Hermione who quickly backtracked. "I'm kidding love. It was a joke. If I thought you were sticking that big dick in anyone other than me, you'd have a problem."
Draco wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist all but dragging her into the living room. He pulled her down on his lap running his hands between her legs. "I missed you."
Hermione slapped Draco's hands telling him to get on with what he had to tell her.
"I've changed my mind," Draco said nipping Hermione's ear. "I want to make love. I want to be inside you and I want you wriggling beneath me. Come on. Just one little shag. Then we'll talk."
Hermione jumped off his lap laughing. "You bloody git. There'll be no shagging until you tell me what was so important you had to be out without me until 11:00 pm."
/*/
Draco called out to Louis. "Louis. If you can stop huffing for half a second, you might want to listen to this as well. It'll save me from having to repeat myself. When you left me standing by the lift this afternoon. I was at a loss to explain what had turned you into a raving lunatic, so I sat in my office for a bit thinking it over. I realized you weren't angry at me. You were only trying to get this whole thing sorted as quickly as possible. I formed a plan and acted on it. So my darling. I took a portkey to Belgium to meet with Seth and Matt Lozio. They definitely have some Malfoy blood running through their veins. You'll see what I mean when you meet them. I've been with them since I left DLM this afternoon. Matt is the older of the two. He is a little more jaded than Seth, but they both listened to the entire story of what we know. I told them about the curse and our need to have them accept an apology from Emiliano and Louis to make this thing right. I did not mention their lineage or the fact they will be accepted as Malfoys."
The room was quiet when Draco stopped speaking. Louis had listened to every word Draco uttered. It was he who broke the silence with an exasperated. "Finally. Thank you Draco."
Hermione was excited once again. "How did you leave it Draco? Are they coming here? When will I meet them?"
Draco grabbed Hermione by the hands and kissed her on the mouth. "I love it when you get passionate, but I need you to calm down. I don't want to be told off twice in one day."
Hermione grinned. "Don't be a prat Draco. Tell us everything."
"That is everything. I told them the whole story then left it to them to decide if they would help us or not. I'm hoping Seth can convince Matt to help us. I left our addresses and mobile numbers as well. The one unnerving aspect to this whole thing is that I am officially related to Lozier by blood. Distant blood, but blood all the same. Merlin help me."
"You've done very well Malfoy. I'm thinking I might just shag you until the sun comes up.
Louis huffed. "Hermione please."
Hermione laughed as she apologized for her inappropriate remark. Draco just smirked.
"If Seth and Matt are going to help us, shouldn't it be before Emilio goes on trial," questioned Hermione. "Breaking the curse may cause changes in Emilio and bring him back to the respectable wizard he was in Britain. Well. The respectable wizard he was before you two crossed paths."
"That's a good point. We just have to wait and see what Seth and Matt will do. They seem like wizards of their word. They have agreed to contact us whether they intend to help or not. Another thing. I don't know how far back it goes, but I got the impression that generation after generation of Caleb's family lived a meager life. Seth mentioned that his mother was pregnant five other times with girls. None of the girls made it to birth. All the pregnancies left their mother weak and sickly. It seems like the curse Edmund set may have backfired on his own blood. I did mention if we didn't hear from them, they might hear from you. That's all I have. Now I would like to retire to the privacy of my bedroom so I can make love to the most beautiful and brilliant witch in the wizarding world."
Hermione stood up and grabbed Draco by the hand. "Come on love. Let's get up to some mischief."
/*/
Once she had dragged Draco into the bedroom, Hermione slapped his hands away as he tried to undress himself. She wanted to undress him. And she did. She was also the one to do the licking. She licked Draco across his stomach and she licked him across his mouth only pulling away when he tried to capture her lips with his own.
Hermione had Draco moaning as she moved closer and closer to his dick. She played with him with her hands as her mouth slid up and down his erect member. Draco was breathing fast and heavy until he had cried out. "I can't hold it baby. I can't hold it and he had cum all over everything. Hermione called for her wand as she fell back onto the bed breathing heavily herself.
Draco took her wand from her hand after she cast a quick Tergeo over them both pulling her beside him. "That was amazing. You are so sexy you scare me. May I reciprocate?"
Looking into Hermione's eyes, Draco hoisted himself over her. "You make me feel invincible when you're throwing this pussy to me. There can be no question that I will be the only wizard ever to make you cum." Then he pushed into her and they were making love.
After the sex, Draco took Hermione's hand telling her he loved her, but she better not ever scream at him in front of Carmela again.
Hermione started giggling and couldn't stop. "You git. We just had amazing sex. You're bringing up something that happened at work. Don't make me hex you."
Draco grabbed her in his arms holding her down. "I love it when you get all passionate. Now can we go to sleep?"
They both had fallen asleep with huge smiles on their faces.
/*/
Friday afternoon found Fausto and Xavier in very chipper moods. James Wooley had sent them the information they needed to confront Emiliano Lozier. They were waiting for their agents to bring him up from his cell.
"Shall I do the talking Fausto?" asked Xavier.
"You do the talking. I'll bring everything to a close. I have the binding contract ready. As soon as he agrees to our terms, I'll have him sign it. The bloke is lucky Hermione and Draco need him for something. Otherwise, I'd strip him of everything he holds dear. I'm still happy that even if Lozier, Sr. doesn't serve any prison time. He will have lost most of his backing including his position as power broker."
There was a knock on the door and an agent ushered Emiliano Lozier into the office.
Lozier nodded in the direction of Fausto and Xavier. "Maida. Cross. Why have you summoned me? I have nothing to say to you. Once I am out of here, the tables will have turned. Perhaps you will be the ones summoned."
"Please wait outside in the hall" Xavier ordered the agent. Turning to Lozier, Sr., Xavier growled. "You don't want to threaten us Emiliano. We know where the bodies are buried. Now sit down."
"I'll stand."
"Fine you arse. Stand. It has come to our attention that you have been up to illegal activities even while in custody. Is it true you sent bribery money out in order to better your chances of getting out of detainment? Think carefully before you answer. We have been onto you from the beginning. Is it true?"
"I don't have any idea what you are on about. Bribes? Emiliano Lozier doesn't have to bribe anyone."
Xavier pulled out copies of the notes and instructions Emiliano had sent and laid them on the table. "Look at these then. Tell us what they are."
Emiliano took a seat. He pulled the parchments toward him wondering how Ministry Services was in possession of his private messages. The more he read. The more he realized what deep shite he was in.
I'm used to getting out of tight corners. I'll get out of this one. Glancing from Xavier to Fausto and back down at the evidence, Emiliano sniped. "This is nothing."
Xavier laughed. "Play it off as you will Lozier. This information may be nothing to you, but it is more than enough to earn you some real prison time. You're a smart wizard. Do you think we called you up here because our evidence counts as nothing? We have you Lozier. You're going away. We just thought you might want to help yourself and come clean about things. We will be picking up Galluzzo and Matteri. How do you think they're going to like being detained on account of you? Your dominoes are falling one by one. I suggest you listen to what we have to say."
Emiliano realized Ministry Services was going to snatch up the last two wizards he could count on. He would be left on his own to face whatever charges were thrown at him. He knew if he didn't work with Ministry Services now. They could work it so he was locked up for a very long time. He'd had enough of being locked up. He would willingly give evidence against whomever they wanted to stay out of prison. "What is it you want from me?" He asked Xavier.
Fausto took the chair closest to Emiliano. "In order to save yourself we first want you to give details regarding the death of a certain supplier and how he was pushed out of business. We also want to hear how you and your group framed the owner of DLM. In addition, there is a piece of business regarding your family we need to discuss."
"I'll do what you want if it will curry me favor with the judge or magistrate. Here is what I know."
Emiliano Lozier, frightened of losing the way of life he had come to know had spoken for thirty five minutes giving away all his group's filthy secrets. Everything he said was magically recorded as evidence.
Emiliano appeared completely drained after he finished his recitation. That was when Fausto moved in. "Thank you for being so forthcoming. I also have something I'll need you to look at. If you consider this, we will consider speaking to the court in your favor. Read it. If it is agreeable, sign it. Be aware that it is a binding, magical contract. Once signed you must adhere to the terms. You will be called upon at a later date to fulfill the terms."
Emiliano read the contract. It was simple and to the point. Even better. Nothing in the contract took anything away from him or accused him of anything. If this would help him, he would sign willingly.
Emiliano was not allowed a wand, so he spoke his signature and his agreement of the contract. At 7:45 on Friday, 10/22, Emiliano Lozier willingly agreed to meet with certain parties at an unspecified time to apologize for transgressions against their family.
With their business concluded, Fausto called the agent back in to have him escort Emiliano back to his cell.
"Thank you for your assistance Mr. Lozier," remarked Fausto. "We will speak to the magistrate to see if we can have your trial moved up. You have done the decent thing."
As soon as Emiliano was taken out of the office. Xavier and Fausto shook hands and grinned at each other. Fausto was happy to exclaim. "It's been a good day! Everybody seems to have gotten what they want. I'll notify Hermione and Draco first thing tomorrow morning that all systems are go."
Xavier laughed. "Been watching those Muggle movies there Fausto?"
Fausto nodded. "Yes I have mate. All systems are go."
/*/
Seth and Matt had gone back and forth for hours after Draco left. Seth was all for following up. Matt felt as though Draco and Hermione only wanted to use them for their own purposes. The brothers had talked and talked. It had finally come down to Seth telling Matt he had agreed they would do it together.
Matt sighed. "You're right Seth. I did agree and I will keep my word. One trip to Milan can't hurt anything. Lock up and pack a few things. I'll see to a portkey. We're going to Milan."
With the few items they were taking shrunk down, the brothers put on their jumpers, checked they had their wands and Apparated to the portkey office. Matt had reserved a portkey for 10:00 am which was ready and waiting when they arrived.
The witch at the portkey window noticed their names and their destination. "Are you the gents they are looking for in the paper?"
Seth smiled. "We think we are."
"Well good luck then," the witch replied as she finished up their paperwork.
Seth nudged Matt. "We're famous Matt."
"Only in your mind," grinned Matt.
/**/
Hermione and Draco had languished about until 9:30 on Saturday morning deciding what they should do. When they finally sat down to breakfast. An owl was pecking at the window.
Draco got up to retrieve the message. Hermione thought it might be from the Lozio boys and was trying to look over Draco's shoulder. Draco teased her holding the message up out of her reach. Hermione finally went to sit back down at the table, but not before telling Draco how much of a prat he was being.
Draco smiled as he handed the message to Hermione. She read the message and jumped into Draco's arms. "Thank Merlin. It's almost settled. We are on our way to being a normal couple."
Draco stared at Hermione causing her to stammer. "I mean… well we are a normal couple. I just meant a couple who didn't have to worry about some git crossing their scent barrier."
Draco laughed as he took Hermione in his arms. "I know what you meant love. I've lived it."
They were still kissing when there was a knock on the door.
Louis cleared his throat. "Perhaps you two could save that for the proper time. There is someone at the door."
Draco strode to the door calling out. "I am aware that someone is knocking Louis. Perhaps you could keep your thoughts about what is proper to yourself or I will help you do it."
Draco opened the door to find two pairs of the so called devil eyes staring at him. Matt and Seth Lozio had come to Milan.
Draco smiled as he stepped back to let the brothers enter. "Come in please. This is a welcome surprise. Welcome to our home and welcome to Milan."
Matt and Seth followed Draco into the living room as he called for Hermione. "Hermione love. Come into the living room. I have a surprise for you. Actually, I have two surprises for you."
While they waited for Hermione, Draco introduced Matt and Seth to the portrait of Louis Adrian Malfoy.
For once, Louis was at a loss for words. He looked from Seth to Matt and back again before exclaiming in his best Malfoy drawl. "My family. At last."