Disclaimer:- I do not own HP or any characters etc
There was a pregnant pause, time stood still for a second, all eyes were on the group. Harry and Ron with their mouths wide open, Draco couldn't help but smirk at their faces.
" WHAT?" The two yells, both snapping back to reality at the same time. Harry wasn't sure if he was shocked or angry or both, Ron's face had surpassed the colour of his hair, turning into a dark shade of red.
The audience that they had, was already gossiping, Rita was looking just as shocked but her quill was scribbling away on the floating pad next to her, with her hands clasped together waiting for the next response. Astoria cringes as she hears people whispering around her about how Draco 'tricked' Hermione in marrying him, she almost wanted to yell at them but remembers that she was with her son, it didn't last long until Ron was starting up again.
" You married MALFOY?" He angrily shouts pointing a finger at Draco
" What did he do? Did he blackmail you? We can help, you should have come to us!" Harry yells, his hand twitching for his wand.
Pinching the bridge of her nose with her eyes closed, taking a deep breath, this wasn't how it was supposed to go today, she knew they wouldn't take it well, she knew that people would start gossiping, but what she didn't comprehend was that they would make a scene in public, but then again, she should have known, Ron wasn't the type to keep his anger down and Harry...well he does what he always does, take his best friend side.
" You okay love?" Draco asks with concern in his voice, bringing his free hand cupping her face to look at her.
" Yes, I'm fine Drake" Taking another deep breath and smiles at her husband
" Get your hands off her you git" Ron yells out launching himself towards Draco, he wasn't as fast as Blaise slides over standing in front of him with one of his hands on Ron's chest to stop him. Harry pulls Ron back, trying to stay composed, he wanted to do the same as Ron but he could see that Hermione wasn't exactly struggling where she was.
" Draco I really hate to get them involved but can you send a patronus to your parents to take the kids back, I don't want them witnessing more than they've already seen" Hermione asks her husband quietly
" Of course" He replies without hesitating and pulls his wand out, to send a message to his parents.
Ron was still seeing red and Harry was talking to him in hushed tones to try to calm him down, it didn't look like it was working. Ginny hadn't moved from where she was standing with her children, but she was clearly giving Hermione daggers stare. Hermione didn't care, all she wanted was to have a nice day out with her friends and getting their children's school supplies, it would have been a lovely memory but it seems that it was too good to be true. It didn't take long after the message was sent when Lucius and Narcissa had arrived at the scene. Narcissa looking worried and Lucius didn't have an expression on his face.
" Draco, Mia? What's happening? Are you's okay? where are the children?" Narcissa practically ran towards them, with Lucius striding behind her and sneering at some of the people that were whispering a little too loud.
People were either scared and backing away slightly or whispering loudly about seeing the two Malfoy's. They didn't seem bothered by any of it, as they were more concerned in how their son and daughter-in law were.
" We're fine mum, we've just ran into a slight confrontation, can you take the kids back to the manor for a bit, we'll pick them up as soon as we're done." Draco replies
" Lucius!" Harry's voice calls out, making them all turn to look at him, he was gripping his wand tighter and grinding his teeth together
" Mr. Potter" He nods at Harry and turns back to the others
" What the hell are YOU doing here?" Harry ignores Lucius's reactions and carries on yelling
Turning back round, it seems unavoidable to not be involved, however he could see the children was already coming out of the café and Astoria was walking over with her son, sighing out loud, before he could reply his daughter-in law answered for him.
" He's here because I called him, now if you make this any situation any worse in front of my children I will not hesitate to contact the minister himself" Hermione says in a furious tone without raising her voice as her kids was now next to her, he raises an eyebrow at Hermione who shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
Everyone watched as Hermione spoke to her children quietly but with a softened face, giving them both a kiss on the head and a hug, with Draco doing the same, they were shocked as they witnessed how Draco interact with their children lovingly.
" I'm so sorry to have brought you both into this" Hermione apologising to her in-laws
" Don't worry Mia, we're here if you need us" Narcissa replies with a warm smile giving her hug and a squeeze before letting go, as this was not shocking enough, several people had to pinch themselves as they saw Lucius talking to Hermione.
" Are you sure you want to do this pet?" He had a hand on her shoulder and bent down a little to face her
" I'm going to have to do it anyway, might as well get it over with now, we'll be fine, Draco will be here" She gives him a sincere smile, which he gives back.
He gives her shoulder a small squeeze and pats his son on the back before taking Clayton, before leaving he whispers to Blaise,
" If anything happens contact me immediately, I will not tolerate them bunch of idiotic animals harming Draco or Hermione" He was still a Malfoy after all, and walks off with Narcissa who was holding onto Cassie's hand and the three boys walking along side them.
As soon as they see them walk far enough to not be in ear shot Hermione turns back round and sees Harry and Ron glaring at them, Astoria now was standing closely by with Theo and Pansy was next to her husband Blaise. Ron couldn't hold his anger any more, Hermione could tell that any moment he would burst.
" Shall we try, and talk like civilised human beings now?" Hermione asks but they all knew it was rhetorical.
Hermione sits down with Draco, Pansy and Astoria, Blaise and Theo decides to stay standing by them. They watched as Harry and Ron argue in hushed tones, it wasn't hard to notice that Harry was wanting to sit down and listen to what they have to say after he had calmed down, but unfortunately Ron just wasn't the type to sit and talk, he was more of an act now talk later type of person. Ginny had walked over by now with her children and although no one could really make out what they were saying, they could see that the female red-haired woman was telling her brother off. They all turn round and walk over to the table and takes a seat silently. Ginny telling her three children to sit at the table next to theirs so that she can keep an eye on them.
" All right people, show's over, move along" Blaise shouts out waving the crowd away.
" Ms Granger, Ms Granger, just a few questions" A voice cries out barging through the mass of people.
Hermione groans out loud recognising the voice immediately, Draco looks at Blaise and nods letting him know to handle the situation, Hermione sees Blaise nodding back, knowing what he was going to do, she decided that it was just best to keep her mouth shut, she has a lot to deal with already.
" Mrs. Malfoy will not be answering any questions today, if you wish to discuss the possibility of having an interview here are the details to owl" Blaise stands in front of Rita Skeeter holding out a business card. Hermione couldn't be more pleased in how professional Blaise handled the matter.
" Oh it's just a couple of questions Mr. Zabini, I won't be a bother at all" She replies with a fake smile
" Ms Skeeter, I suggest you leave us alone. As Mrs. Malfoy's lawyer I warn you not to press on this matter" He replies sternly
Rita looked at with her mouth gaping open, she quickly snaps her mouth closed, snatching the business card out of his hand and walks away in a huff calling her photographer to follow. Knowing full well what Rita was capable off, Blaise had started to cast muffliato around them. She smiles at him with appreciation, and he returns with a wink before standing behind her. He is just as protective of Hermione as Draco was, to him she was the sister he never had, and would do anything to protect her. It was true what Pansy had told Hermione earlier, they do not stray from friends, and the group was very tight knitted. Ever since Hermione came into their lives, they had never imagined them without her, they were a family.
" So...Hermione, how are you?" Ginny decides to ask after a minute of silence, she was still trying to hold in her temper from Draco's comment earlier.
How dare she Draco had thought, she had some nerve in asking that question. Ginny was the last person that they all wanted to see. Pansy grunts unlady like but Hermione had already shot her hand over to Pansy's under the table, gripping it hard, Pansy knew that Hermione wanted to yell, scream and shout, but was trying to remain as calm as possible. She knew that Draco's hand was probably nearly broken by her holding onto it so tight, she understood that her friend is going through a difficult a situation and probably going to get worse.
" What the fuck is going on? What HAPPENED?" Ron bursts out before Hermione could reply.
Hermione tilts her head towards the table next to them where the children was sat at, Blaise picking up on what she meant he quickly casted another muffliato on them so that they couldn't hear what was happening. They may not like the three that was sat in front of them but it didn't mean that they didn't respect the fact that there was children around and it seemed like Ron couldn't hold his tongue.
" Well Weasley, we came out with our kids to get their school supplies and decided to have a coffee minding our own business, and our afternoon then you Pothead came along and started yelling and ruining our afternoon." Draco replies as if it was an obvious answer. Ron slams his hand on the table standing up but Harry pulls him back down to his seat. They missed Hermione jab Draco in his side with her elbow for the comment to Harry.
" What Ron meant was, how did you marry Malfoy and what has happened all these years?" Harry bites out and looking at Hermione as if the other Slytherins weren't even there, he may be sitting down but he was holding back a lot.
" I married Draco-" Hermione started to explain but was cut off once again
" DRACO is it now?" Ron yells across the table nearly spitting, Theo rolls his eyes at the comment
Hermione leans back a little from Ron's reaction and scrunches her face while Draco pretends to wipe off spit from his face.
" It's been Draco for years Ronald, it is his name!. As I was saying, I married Draco 15 years ago, I bumped into him in Italy then we started dating about half a year after. I met Blaise and the others through him, and then decided to study there, I graduated and got my license to be a qualified lawyer, after a couple of years I opened my law firm with my business partner then got married and had children. That's the short version of it all" She explains giving Draco a smile who smiles back warmly pulling her hand up and giving it a gentle kiss.
Knowing that it was far from over, they stay sat and waited for the reaction from the three in front of them.
" Are you serious? They've turned you into one of THEM" Ron spits out
" How could you do this, they're the enemy, how can you hang out with them, let alone marry one. Don't you remember what they did, and what Lucius did, and now you're all chummy with them, I can't believe that you did it from your own free will" Harry yells at her
She was trying to keep her temper in check, it was becoming more difficult. It soothed her that Draco was still holding her hand and subconsciously drawing circles with his thumb. She had prepared for these questions but it still hurt. She mentally counts to five before answering.
" They were never the enemy Harry. Things change, everyone grew up. Yes I remember what they did and I've forgiven them for it, Lucius was in Azkaban for years and he came out a better person." She says calmly, still holding onto Draco's hand, suddenly remembering that her other hand was still gripped onto Pansy's tightly, Pansy smiles at her and gives her hand a light squeeze to let her know it was okay.
" Not the enemy? They killed my parents! They don't change, Lucius should have never been let out of Azkaban! You should know better Hermione, I thought you were smart!" Harry yells
Hermione was now clenching Draco's hand so hard her nails was digging into his skin, he winced slightly. He knew that Hermione was more angry now, not only did they insult her intelligence, but they had insulted Lucius. His wife and his father has a weird relationship, they may still bicker a lot, but deep down, they both really cared for each other. Sometimes, he would catch them both talking and laughing at something. Hermione had actually went to Lucius several times to rant or ask for advice.
" Listen Potter, you don't kn-" Pansy was cut off by Hermione putting her hand on her shoulder, shaking her head to let her friend know that she didn't have to do this, Pansy couldn't help but want to defend her best friend but crosses her arms and slumps back in defeat, glaring at the three in front of them.
" Voldemort killed your parents, not Lucius or any of my friends. You forget that my parents were also killed during the war, you're not the only one that had losses Harry, you're not the only one that went through pain. And I will not let anyone talk badly of Lucius, he is not the man he use to be!" Hermione replies angrily
" THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY DRUGGED HER OR SOMETHING, WAS IT A POTION? OR DID YOU IMPERIO HER?" Ron yells out, he had stood up so abruptly that the chair had fallen over behind him, he was pointing at Draco once again.
" Ronald Weasley! Do NOT accuse my husband of anything so horrid. YOU may not have changed after the war, but some of us have, stop acting like a child or I will throw you out of this conversation!" Hermione yells at him, now standing herself. The other four were slightly afraid of what Hermione would do, they were aware of how she is when someone pissed her off too much, they've all had friendly duels with her, and most of the time either she or Draco would be the last one standing.
" You're so stupid, can't you tell that they're just using you! They were death eaters and probably still are and you''re just letting them have their way with you!" Ron yells back
That did it, Blaise didn't know whether to step up to defend his surrogate sister or not, Draco had already stood up growling, but he sees Hermione holding onto Draco's wrist to stop him from doing anything. He looks at Theo who looked like he was about to murder someone but before either of them had time to react they hear her yelling.
" Have their way with me?! What is that supposed to mean Mr. Weasley? For your information Blaise and Astoria was neutral in the war, Theo and Draco never even used a damn unforgivable and Pansy didn't even get the dark mark! I've been with them for over 15 years, what could they possibly be using me for huh? They have helped me more than you have in my entire life!" She cries back, she wasn't going to cry, she wasn't even close to tears, but she was sure pissed as hell.
" How can you even say that!? WE'RE your friends Hermione! We've known you for longer! How can you throw that all away and side with them" Harry now yells standing up with Ron
" Friends? Is that what you call us? I feel sorry for your friends if this is how you treat them. We haven't spoken in nearly 20 years, they've been in my life longer, we may have known each other longer but none of you were a friend after the war, I didn't throw anything away, you just never tried" She yells back, she was huffing now because of her anger, ' I will not cry, I will not cry' she chants to herself in her head.
" Hermione, why are you doing this? Is this to get back at Ron? Because it's a low thing to do, even for you. I'm not sure how you did it Hermione, but there's no way that they would want to even be friends with you, you're a mudblood, they're all pureblood, you will never be good enough for them" Ginny finally blows up slamming both her hands on the table. The group gasps as they hear her use the word mudblood.
" GINNY!" Harry yells at her
" Don't even start bitch, because I can lay all your shit out right now, don't think we forgot what you did! And let's not forget your time in Hogwarts" Pansy snarls at the red-headed woman.
Ginny looked pale from Pansy's comment and couldn't think of a come back. Hermione was so close to showing tears but Draco was holding her hand again, Blaise puts his arm around Hermione's shoulders and asks " Are you okay sorellina? Vuoi lasciare?"
Taking a few deep breaths and counting in her head once again she turns back to Blaise to answer him but her husband had already spoken,
" Andiamo, lei è passato attraverso un sacco" Draco says trying to pull Hermione, but she stays standing in the same spot
" No sto bene!" Hermione says calmly once again, and pulls Draco back next to her, Blaise still standing behind her. They were all standing at this point, no one budged.
" What is this? Talking in code now? What are you hiding?" Ron spits
" We were speaking Italian you brainless twit" Draco growls
Sighing out loud Harry was rubbing his hands under his glasses, he wanted to know what happened, he wanted to know why things changed so much, but he couldn't bare the fact that one of his best friends was now not only married to a former deatheater but calling all the people they once hated family. He knew that there was no way in getting anything out of Hermione if they carried on yelling. He had no choice but to try and calm the two red heads next to him so that they can get their friend to talk. The other thing that was bothering him, what were they talking about with Ginny? What happened when they were Hogwarts? Yes she had admitted that she had a couple of relationships before him, but he never pressed on finding out who they were, he'll have to ask her later. Finally he takes the seat that he was sitting at before.
" Gin calm down and sit, Ron sit down and for the love of god keep your mouth shut!" He yells at them both. They gape at him for his reaction but Ginny sits and crosses her arms showing that she was not happy with the situation, Ron was about to yell again but Harry gave him a look to shut him up. He growls and takes the seat next to him.
The five Slytherins with the one Gryffindor all look at each other and decide to sit back down slowly, par from Blaise and Theo who were still standing. It was getting near evening, the streets were not as busy as before but there were still people standing at a distance watching their every move. Sensing that this was going to take a little longer than she expected, she calls the waitress over and orders her friends and herself coffee. Harry takes the lead from the two and decides to order them a drink too, this doesn't look like it will end well..
Translation of Italian sentences: -
Are you okay sorellina? Vuoi lasciare? - Are you okay little sister? Do you want to leave?
Andiamo, lei è passato attraverso un sacco – Come on, she's gone through a lot
No sto bene! – No I am fine!
( If they are incorrect I apologise as I used google translate)