Hermione felt sweat on her brow as she lowered her wand exhausted and drained.
"I don't know what the hell it is, but her memory isn't exactly tampered or erased. It just seems, I don't know how to explain it…..almost like a transparent glassy quality to it." Hermione sighed shaking her head as Valentina lay on the examining table, knocked out. "Her story seems to check in with her memory. I mean there are memories of her swimming, canoeing and hiking….."
Harry pursed his lips as he eyed her warily. "And Draco? The veritaserum interrogation?"
"She said everything that Hermione has seen with her memories. Swimming, canoeing, hiking….she's admitted to all of it. Nothing to do with Rodolphus Lestrange." Draco said his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"It doesn't fit. None of it. How can she be perfectly unharmed and have no memory of Lestrange taking her? Her memory is fine although the quality is strange, her statements to the truth serum all check in. It's so absurd." Harry said shaking his head. "There has to be something else."
"But we have no choice." Hermione murmured also studying Valentina. "We have to release her from Ministry custody. She's done nothing and she will go to Hogwarts and teach because her story oddly does check in.
"At least we can check in on her, there too." Draco said tightly. "I'll leave her with some aurors to release her."
"Do you remember our last year at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked once some aurors wheeled Valentina out. "How strange things always managed to happen despite all the security? The dragons, the death eaters? Rookwood didn't know how any of that happened?"
"Under Veritaserum he admitted it wasn't him but some people he associated himself with, whom we can only guess are death eaters. But how, is the question." Harry said his eyes snapping to her. "And the man...in your apartment...he looked oddly like the man in the muggle security cameras."
"We can assume Rookwood was obviously in league with Lestrange." Draco said, his eyes dark as the three recalled the memories from years ago.
"I have to go check in with Ron. He's setting up the security for Hogwarts." Harry said leaving the two alone.
"We have to figure out how all that happened in our last year at Hogwarts. And now what the hell is the deal with Valentina and Thalia." Hermione said more to herself than to him as she fingered her wedding ring. "Last time, it was Rookwood but apparently not just him with all the stuff at Hogwarts. Now with the disappearances, we know it's Lestrange."
Draco walked next to her and pressed her close to him. She inhaled his scent and rested her ear against his heart. His arms came around her, creating a shield between her and all the rest of the world. She sighed as she stepped back, smiling up at him.
"You doing okay?" he asked becoming serious. He cupped her face and stared intently into her eyes. "With all this?"
She nodded pursing her lips and avoiding his disbelieving stare.
"Ever since this case began, you've had so many more nightmares. I can't even begin to tell you how horrible they've become. Like I told you, we can arrange for you to-"
"No, Draco. I can handle it." she said firmly pecking his lips before exiting the room and heading to her office.
Draco did not believe for a minute that this case was helping Hermione get over the traumatizing war. She was clearly distressed at night with the reoccurance of nightmares and it tore at his soul to see her scream like that again.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration as he studied the large chart with their two victims pictures and Lestrange in the center.
He really hoped this case would be over in a less than 6 months because he did not want Hermione heavily pregnant and still dealing with the case. And heaven forbid, the baby to be born and the case still drawing on.
Draco would be lying if he said that Valentina Simmons acting the way she was, wasn't rubbing Draco the wrong way. She just seemed completely off….as was her memory. Just wrong, all wrong.
Draco remembered how much stress Hermione had been under when the death eaters were sending him threat mail and when they managed to always get into Hogwarts undetected. He hope never in their lifetime, would she be under that kind of stress again.
So that, drove away all guilt as he knocked on Harry's office door and walked in.
Harry's desk was a sight to behold. There were papers everywhere. Mugs laying around and clipping cut and stuck on a big bulletin board to the side of the room.
"Draco," Harry greeted removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "Is everything okay?" he asked.
Harry and he, had built a good friendship over the years and remembering Hermione's stress and distress every night, he sat down opposite Harry and pulled out an envelope.
"I want to talk to you about something." he said fidgeting with the envelope.
Harry leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "What?"
He wordlessly handed Harry the envelope and Harry took it, reading it out loud.
"Malfoys,
Well congratulations on your wedding! But boy, believe me when I tell you I was surprised when I heard a Malfoy was engaged to the Mudblood. Your father would be rolling in his grave boy!
Anyways, I wanted to give you a….late wedding present. Meet me at the old meeting place at 1 o'clock am tomorrow. Don't be late and come alone. If you have any tricks up your sleeve or don't come, I can promise you Ms Gordon will not live very long.
And I'm glad the Ministry is oh so busy with all the action I've provided them. You are truly, truly welcome.
All my best congratulations to the Malfoy family and a happy belated birthday to the Mudblood. Uncle Dwaco, I mean Nephew Dwaco, 'Mione looks pwetty doesn't she?
~Yours truly"
"Bloody hell." Harry whispered dropping the letter and looking up. Draco had his head in his hands and was gripping his hair in his fists in frustration.
"How the fuck does he know all that? He was nowhere near us when all that happened! He shouldn't know that exact line James said to me on her birthday! He shouldn't know it was her birthday and he should not know the Ministry is so busy!" Draco roared punching the nearest wall.
"Your right mate." Harry said standing and walking towards Draco. "This is….freaky."
"Do you think I should divorce Hermione?" Draco asked his forearms braced against the wall and his forehead dropped on top.
Harry studied Draco then eyed the fist sized hole in the wall. "Mate….I can't...I can't tell you what to do. Bloody hell, this is really messed up. But as her best friend, I can tell you that if you divorce her, she will be wrecked. She will be all alone through the pregnancy and it will kill her. I know you love her and that's why it even occurred to you, but you don't have to do this alone." Harry said leaning against his desk.
"I just wish she wasn't dragged into all this again." Draco said his voice cracking.
"What's done is done. But listen to me Malfoy." Harry said forcefully. Draco lifted his head and eyed Harry. "Divorce her don't divorce her, she will always love you and you will always love her. Think of it this way, face this together or face it alone. It won't be pleasant either way but together wouldn't destruct either of you."
Hermione couldn't remember a time where she was more glad to be at home. She left work at 5, completely swamped and all but kicked off her heels and threw her bag on the couch before entering the kitchen and grabbed an apple. She went into the bathroom and turned on the fancy tub, inhaling the fresh water scent as well as the soap she prefered. She finished the apple and began undressing before she sank into the welcoming bath water. She felt her tight muscles sigh as they loosened in the water.
Around 5:30 Draco came home and wandered into the bath and smiled tiredly down at her.
"That looks wonderful." he yawned loosening his tie as he kneeled beside the tub.
She grabbed him by the tie and drew him in closer.
"You look pretty good too, Malfoy." she grinned letting her breath tickle his neck. He shuddered as he reached for her, grabbing the back of her neck to bring them closer. His lips descended on hers and a low masculine growl escaped as he began attacking her lips. Draco suddenly stood up, taking Hermione up with him.
She yelped as the water dripped everywhere but Draco continued to assault her neck as he carried her towards their bed.
"Your work robes are all wet." Hermione breathed as he hovered over her on the massive bed.
"Who the hell cares?" he asked capturing her lips again in a searing kiss. She hastily unknotted his tie and began ripping open his shirt. She moaned loudly as his fingers wandered about her body. She quickly removed his pants and wrapped her legs around his hips.
"Not so fast…" he chuckled, trailing his tongue around her breasts.
"Draco-" Hermione pleaded bucking her hips in desire. "Make love to me."
Draco trailed kisses on her breasts, as his fingers nearly brought her over the edge before he conceded and entered her in one swift motion.
"Fuck…." she panted as he began moving in and out. "Faster….Faster Draco."
Draco moved at a teasingly slow pace, as she squirmed beneath him. Before he released, he sped up his pace allowing her to get her orgasm before relishing in his.
"Well my day just got better." Draco smiled, his grey eyes melting hers. She curled over on her side as he pulled out and she wrapped a leg around his hips and rested her head on his chest. "Hermione, you're making me hard again."
Hermione laughed and gazed up at him. "We have to shag while I'm still at a shaggable size. Once our baby's grown, I'll be too crabby for sex."
"Not with me you won't." Draco winked playing with a curl of her hair. "And shaggable? Don't worry Mya, you are always shaggable." he assured.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat up stretching. "I'm going to start on dinner."
"Why can't we just spend the evening and night here?" he asked dancing his fingers up her bare back, leaving a ghost of his touch wherever they landed.
"The baby has to eat." she reminded rubbing her stomach fondly. "First priority."
"You two are always going to be my first priority, you know that right?" he asked sitting up and touching the back of his hand to her face. She grasped his hand and touched their foreheads. "I swear, nothing will harm you or the baby. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Hermione felt herself melt in his intense gaze and nodded smiling. She laughed shakily and stood up. "That was out of the blue." she grinned as she pulled on some sweats and one of Draco's old quidditch jersey's. It was a very sweet comment, and she knew Draco meant it, but it made her uneasy. She couldn't fathom why but the look on his face when he said, made her uneasy. It was almost like he needed for her to know he did, no matter what.
"I think you should wear my clothes more often." Draco smiled entering the kitchen and taking the pan out of her hand. "It makes you look even more sexy." he added pulling out some chicken.
Hermione grinned and began setting the table as he marinated the chicken.
"I'm cooking tonight." he decided nodding for her to sit down. "You just relax."
"I am perfectly capable of helping." she said even though she sat down gratefully and smiled as she watched his strong arms move around. And his beautiful eyes read everything over carefully.
"You're more than capable of anything you want to do. But I think 'A man should worship and love his wife on a daily basis. But a wise man loves his wife ten times more when she's carrying a part of you.'" Draco recited as he ladled some soup into a pair of bowls.
Hermione felt tears prick her eyes as she watched Draco carefully prepare their dinner as he recited the quote. Merlin, could this man be any more perfect? "Where'd you get that?" she asked wiping her eyes hastily. Draco glanced up and dropped the spoon with a clang when he saw her tears. He blinked in surprise at her tears causing Hermione to laugh as she wiped her eyes.
"I read one of the pregnancy books you have." he muttered his cheeks becoming pink as he wiped up the spilt soup. Hermione walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his middle and kissed his cheek.
"That's really sweet love," Hermione murmured grinning at his embarrassment.
He peered down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her closer. "You know I love you more than anything right?"
She nodded looking away briefly before glancing back up. "Of course. And I love you too." she said staring hard at him, making sure he knew.
He smiled dryly and motioned for her to sit down again before he brought over the food.
Dinner was light hearted as the pair chatted about everything from work to their new baby.
"I think the room closest to ours would work for the baby." Hermione said as she rinsed out the dishes much to Draco's annoyance. He took the clean plate and dried it before placing it in the cupboard.
"Probably best, but the baby will probably sleep in our room in the beginning." Draco replied yawning as she turned off the tap.
Hermione rested her hand on her stomach in bed later that night and stroked it lovingly. Her little bud, in just 6 months would join them and become a new love in her life. 6 months couldn't be longer.
Draco paced back and forth at 7 in the evening the next day, in Harry's office. "Let's go over this one more time." he said his hands clasped behind his back. "I meet Lestrange at Malfoy Manor alone tonight to see what he wants for the sake of Thalia Gordon's life. There will be backup however. Of only four other aurors. You and Weasley under the invisibility cloak as well as Kingsley and London McCusker with powerful disillusionment charms. I will meet with Lestrange and pretend to leave when you four attempt to overpower him. Hopefully he's caught otherwise, we pray there's no harm done. Not a very thorough plan if you ask me." Draco rambled.
"You already sound like your wife." Harry grinned lightly, wincing at Draco's glare. "Look, we don't have much time. The meeting he requested is tonight and we can't risk someone's life. We already are by bringing backup and by you telling me." Harry reasoned also disliking the idea and it's lack of preparation.
"I wonder what his wedding present is." Draco muttered darkly as he paused in front of the fireplace, gazing at the leaping flames. "Probably some bloody dark object that will kill a person at the touch."
"You better get home or Hermione will suspect things. And no sex tonight, it will make you late." Harry joked as Draco rolled his eyes but flooed home, his mind reviewing their horrible plan over and over.
"You're late." Hermione said as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace. Draco avoided meeting her beautiful big brown eyes that seemed to read his mind. If she got wind of what was going on, he would fail to carry out the plan.
"I know….I got caught up at the ministry." he murmured entering the kitchen where she had dinner prepared.
He chanced a glance in her direction. She had her arms crossed and her lips were pressed in a thin line. He dropped his fork and walked over towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and tilted her head up to meet his eyes.
"Are you alright love?" he asked trying not to let the guilt of hiding this from her show on his face.
She licked her lips and leaned heavily on him and exhaled sharply. "Yeah, just tired." she said smiling weakly. Draco was about to point out she did not look just tired, but she lead him to the dinner table and her stew distracted him fast.
As he ate, he studied her in those brief moments where she was too lost in her own head, as she picked at her food. She did look tired, but her face was blank although it was obvious her mind was whirling with thoughts as usual.
That evening the pair climbed into bed drained. Hermione was quiet as she curled towards him and pressed herself close. She wrapped her arms tight around him and rested her head on his chest. She draped a leg in between his and closed her eyes. Draco kissed her forehead and wrapped an arm around her waist holding her close. He watched as she slept, her brown curls splayed around her, creating a crown. The space between her eyebrows finally smooth and not creased with worry. Draco knew that he would do anything to protect this woman. She was his world, and he knew it. He doubted there was a thing on this earth that anyone could name that he wouldn't do, if she asked him to.
He listened to the calming sound of her breathing, before he glanced at the clock and seeing that it was 12:55, he slowly slipped out of her grip and exited the house. He took one last glance at her sleeping form before apparating to the manor he had prayed he would never have to return to.
He held his wand out, tightly in his grip before entering the familiar manor. Not a home, it could hardly classify as a home. A prison, was a better word for it.
He braced himself, waiting for Lestrange but no sign of anyone came. He cautiously entered and exited each room, scanning it carefully. He had no time nor patience to scour through the entire manor so he stood in the entrance hall and shouted.
"Lestrange? What do you want?" he said loudly. No response came and he felt anxious as he called out again. "Hello?" he said his eyes darting around.
A sudden, blood-curdling scream came from a room a little ways down the hall. A very familiar scream - Hermione's scream.
He tore down the hall and skidded to a stop at the main hall, his only purpose now to get to Hermione.
He tried the door and it seemed to be locked as Hermione released another painful scream. He attempted to alohomora the door open but nothing seemed to work. He pounded against it, shouting in a panic but the only reply was Hermione's agonized screams.
He lost all sense or logic as he began throwing himself against the door, to no avail to force the door open with brute strength. He could feel his shoulder bruising but he continued to slam hard against the door. He cried out for Hermione desperately but the door remained firmly shut. With one massive check against the door, he heard bone crunch but the large door swung open.
Draco stumbled inside and gazed in horror as he watched Hermione scream and writhe on the ground. He started running towards her despite the painful throb in his shoulder when he was blasted back.
He cursed as he hit the wall and slid down. He felt his vision flash in and out as he forced his eyes to focus.
He felt himself unable to move from his spot at the bottom of the wall as he continued to shout himself hoarse. After what seemed like forever, Hermione slowly….faded. She disappeared in a wisp like she was never there and in her place stood Rodolphus Lestrange grinning madly as he stared at Draco.
"You are a disappointment aren't you?" he asked almost sadly as he paced back and forth. "I told Bella you were not strong and you wouldn't please the Dark Lord. But no, she believed you could. And I was right, you are a pathetic coward." he sneered. "I told you to come alone tonight and have no tricks up your sleeve, but just like your mudblood wife, you didn't listen."
Draco's eyes widened as Hermione appeared on the opposite side of the room panting hard and clutching her chest, heaving up and down. Tears were streaming down her face as she gazed up in surprise to see Draco sitting there.
"This, is a clear warning!" he called loudly as if speaking to a large crowd. "I am more powerful than you could imagine. I have wielded magic to it's greatest forces and discovered new things no wizard has ever uncovered! I fooled both of you to come and meet me, and you proved me right. You're weak, you both are blinded by love and that will destroy you! I have the power to rule this world, that much can be said by how easy it was to trick you. Beware, for I am coming."
With that Lestrange disappeared and suddenly, Harry, Ron and Kingsley appeared, their eyes wide and their hands and feet bound tight.
Hermione got up shakily and pulled out her wand and unbound the three men as she sped towards where he lay.
Draco stood too, wincing at the sharp splinters of pain shooting up his arm. "What are you doing here?" he asked catching her in his embrace.
"I could ask you the same thing." she replied sounding disapproving as she eyed his injury. "Episkey," she murmured and he cursed as he felt his shoulder right itself.
"A little warning next time," he grumbled using both arms to squeeze her hard against his chest. "Merlin, I thought…...I saw you-I heard you….were you actually…" he murmured touching their foreheads and breathing her in. He wiped away her drying tears with the pads of his thumbs, before his hands trailed down to her stomach and kneeled down to kiss her stomach. "Thank goodness you and the baby are okay." he whispered hugging her around her waist.
"Are you both alright?" Harry asked as Draco stood and pressed Hermione close.
"We'll live." Hermione smiled weakly. "But I would like to know what the hell is going on."
"Let's head back to the ministry." Kingsley said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the room. "It's safer."
The five apparated to the ministry and headed into Harry's office and sat down, Hermione gripping Draco's hand with a vise grip.
"Draco what were you doing there?" Hermione asked.
"I think I've pieced together most of it. Draco came to me with a letter, from Lestrange requesting to meet tonight. We formed a quick plan to enter with backup and Draco would pretend to leave and then we would try and capture Lestrange. On our side, we were outside the Malfoy Manor at 12:30, staking out, and at 1, London McCusker our fourth backup member still wasn't here. She's a very dependable and awesome auror but she didn't show. We entered anyways and as soon as we entered through the back, we were tied and bound to sit in the main hall." Harry explained, his forehead creased as he stood in front of the fire.
"From what I gather, Hermione you also had a similar story and you headed for a meeting of sorts too with lestrange." Harry said pausing to watch Hermione.
Draco gaped at Hermione who looked at her hands and nodded. "I got a letter telling me to meet him at 1:15 tonight at Malfoy Manor or Thalia would die. And in the letter….my God, he knew stuff….things he shouldn't know…"
"It sounds like you had similar letters." Kingsley observed, his hands clasped behind his back. "You didn't tell anyone Hermione?"
"I was going to tell Harry but his secretary told me he was out so I went to one of his trusted aurors, London McCusker and she said she, Harry, Ron and Kingsley would come as backup as I met him and the rest is the same as Draco's plan." she sighed.
"London never told any of us about that." Ron said, his arms crossed on a stool. "We only came thinking we were backup for Draco."
"This is confusing and all but I have to ask," Draco interrupted turning to face Hermione. "Were you being tortured?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the office. Hermione's brown eyes watered and to his relief she shook her head.
"When I arrived, I heard screaming and bloody hell Draco it was you screaming. I followed the screams and entered the main hall to see you screaming in pain. And when I raced to you, I was blasted back." she answered. Draco felt his heart contract as he watched a lone tear slip from her eyes and he pulled her close.
Draco then explained in turn, what he saw which was a mirror of Hermione's story but their roles as victim and bystander were switched.
"This is all also so damn well planned." Harry said in frustration. "He knows you both so well. He sent letters to both of you, nearly identical I'm assuming. He somehow knew you wouldn't tell each other about it and then when you arrive for the meeting, almost the exact same things happen."
"That is very disturbing," Hermione agreed. "But the message, what he said. A warning, he claimed he was powerful and knew magic no one else did."
There was a brief silence where everyone digested this. A warning, no doubt for the ministry. Beware, for I am coming.
"We'll have to see to this more in depth tomorrow. Boys, we are going with the hit team tomorrow to Malfoy Manor to do a full search for Lestrange." Kingsley said. "Thank you all for coming. I shall see you tomorrow."
"Hermione, Draco." Harry called as they were about to leave. "I'm going to ask a ward specialist to place special wards on all of our houses. I just feel really unsafe about all this." he said tiredly.
Draco nodded and apparated away with Hermione back home. As they climbed into bed to get as much sleep as they could before work again the next day, Hermione turned on her side and faced Draco.
"Why didn't you tell me about your letter?" she asked staring hard at him.
He sighed and rested a hand on her waist. "I suppose the same reasons you didn't tell me." he murmured watching her eyes lower. "I didn't want to worry you. I knew you would freak about another letter, especially with all the stuff he seems to know, again."
"This can't be happening again." Hermione said her throat burning with unshed tears. "It's been years and….how is it even damn possible that they're still there? Out there, making this world darker and shit, I just want to scream."
Draco's whole being hurt to see Hermione like that and it was precisely why he didn't want to tell her about the letter and why he didn't want to involve her in all this. He drew her in so she was flush against him. "I swear, nothing will harm you or the baby. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Hermione sniffled and rested her palms on his chest sending a burning fire throughout him, warming him instantly. "I'll do whatever it takes too. First priority." she murmured her hand drifting to rest on her stomach.
"First priority." he repeated placing his hand over hers. "You have to know, it was so difficult to lie to you about all this. And maybe if I hadn't, Lestrange would be caught."
She looked up at him and the familiar blaze in her eyes was back. "You can't possibly blame this on yourself. I didn't tell you either, for the same reasons. It's as much my fault."
"Love made us blind." he murmured kissing her temple.
"Love's a bitch." she replied snuggling closer as her eyes fluttered shut.
Hermione had drunk 3 cups of coffee already and it was only 10:30 in the morning. Draco and Harry had gone with the hit team to search for Lestrange, leaving her anxious as she waited for their return.
She was watching her team work, as they tried to figure out where Thalia Gordon went this time. Valentina Simmons who had returned strange was already teaching her 3rd day at Hogwarts. Yes, because Hogwarts needed another strange crazy professor, she thought.
Anthony had returned from touching the nasty glass and was now talking to Terry as they scribbled on notepads.
Susan and Ernie were now watching Valentina's interrogation taking notes and bickering about something.
Cho and Brianna were hunched over the black glass, poking it with short wooden sticks. They still hadn't uncovered what the glass was but it was obviously dangerous and deadly. Hermione was hoping they would find out what it was so they could trace it back to places where someone could get the glass and find out more.
Her thoughts drifted to last night at Malfoy Manor. Not only was she uncomfortable with going back to the place she was tortured but she was forced to sit and watch as Draco screamed on the ground, writhing in pain. It was one of the most horrible things she had ever seen and she was so grateful it wasn't real.
And then there was another well thought out plan by Lestrange. Planned to near perfection. The similar letters sent to both of them, the strange illusion played to make both think their lover was being tortured. Then the very intense warning, delivered and received loud and clear.
What disturbed her most, was how he knew all this information he shouldn't have known. The tiny details and word for word phrases Lestrange had no way or right to know. And how well he knew both her and Draco, was unnerving and wrong.
She returned to her office for a quick lunch before she dove into her work.
At 3 in the afternoon the search team returned sans Lestrange. She entered the main auror office and Harry called out to her. She walked over to where he stood in his office and shut the door.
"Nothing?" she asked plopping down into an armchair.
"Nothing." Harry confirmed sounding disappointed. "I wanted to make sure you were okay." he said softer sitting on the edge of his desk.
"Head auror hat off?" she asked wringing her hands together and avoiding his eyes.
"Best friend-sibling hat on." he responded. "Hermione, look at me." he said not unkindly. Hermione looked up at his startlingly green eyes and felt a shaky breath escape her lips.
"How are you? Really?" Harry asked sincerely. How did he always know?
"Bloody creeped out that Lestrange knows all this, angry that I didn't see it coming, frustrated that this case has escalated a great deal, vengeful for what he's done, worried about Draco and how the hell he's dealing with all this, fear for all of us because it's happening again Harry! He's doing things….things that Rookwood did too! And the death eaters and Voldemort! He knows too much Harry and it's scary, it's so scary and I just….I want it to end." she blurted out, in one breath and paused to glance up at Harry.
"How can anyone say so much in one breath?" Harry asked cocking his head to the side.
"Harry!" she exclaimed throwing her hands up and standing to glare at him.
Harry laughed and smiled at Hermione, and she begrudgingly returned it. "Feel better?" he asked crossing his ankles.
"Yes." she conceded. She hugged him tight and he wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you Harry."
"You know I'm here, Hermione. To talk to, to ramble to, but usually in your case, I am the listener." he teased.
She rolled her eyes and hit his arm. "I don't talk that much."
"Yes you do." Harry argued handing her a mug of coffee, she gratefully snatched. "And grabby." he said sipping his coffee. "And bipolar. Bloody hell, there's two of you. You and Ginny. Two bipolar woman….quick, somebody give me a death eater instead."
She laughed and sat back down, kicking off her heels. The pair talked for a while, enjoying the opportunity to be like normal people again.
Before she left, Harry invited her and Draco over for dinner that night. "James and Ginny would love to see you." he said walking her out.
"I'll see you tonight." she smiled. She returned to her office in a much better mood and left soon after, apparating back home.
She showered quickly before pulling on faded jeans and a plain t-shirt. Draco arrived not long after and dropped down next to where she sat on the couch.
She closed her book and turned to face him. "Well hello there," Hermione grinned pecking him on the cheek but he pulled her towards him and drew on the kiss full on the lips. His lips were soft as they moved against hers. She locked her hands around his neck and gripped his hair. His hands travelled down her body, one hand resting on her hip while the other slipped under her shirt and began tracing circles. She arched her back and moaned as she sat perched on his lap. He angled her better so that she was straddling him.
They broke apart breathing heavily. Hermione swung her legs off much to Draco's annoyance and she turned to grin at him. "Sorry to get you all aroused but we're heading to the Potter's for dinner."
Draco groaned as he shifted uncomfortably. "A quickie?"
"No, Draco we're late." she smiled. "Go take a cold shower and get changed so we can get going." She yelped as he picked her up bridal style and ran up the stairs, two steps at a time.
He quickly stripped both of them of their clothes and pulled her into the shower. "If I'm having a shower, you're coming too." he smirked at her bewildered face and before she could protest, he urgently lifted her and pressed her back against the cold tile wall. She shivered as the water began pouring down over them. His hands roamed all over her body causing her to groan his name. She felt his member hard against her and proceeded to wrap her legs around his waist. Draco's lips descended on hers and kissed her hard while he positioned himself and pushed in. She gasped in pleasure and her head dropped back as he began thrusting in and out. Within moments, they both had their release as they cleaned quickly and was out the door and apparating into the Potter house.
"You're late." James said as the pair stepped into the living room. "Mummy's going to be mad at you…." he said a fond grin spreading on his face.
"Uh oh…" Draco said feigning fear as he crouched down and picked up James who squealed happily. "Your mummy is very scary isn't she?"
James nodded seriously and continued in a low voice. "Daddy's scared of her too! Even right now, he's hiding in the basement."
"I better go join him." Draco said winking at James before heading down to join Harry.
"Where's your mummy?" Hermione asked ruffling James's hair.
He pointed to the kitchen, where there was the smell of delicious food being cooked. Hermione kissed his cheek before entering the kitchen.
Ginny was viciously chopping vegetables with a dangerous look on her face. Her knife came down sharply each time, causing Hermione to wonder what the hell Harry did this time.
"What did those poor vegetables ever do to you?" Hermione teased. Ginny raised her head and smiled wryly as Hermione washed her hands to help Ginny.
"Harry Potter did things to me." Ginny muttered darkly. "Like scare the bloody fuck out of me when he disappeared in the middle of the damn night." she raved. "No note to explain, no explanation prior, no sign of where the hell he went! What the hell was I supposed to think?" she shrieked, bringing the knife down so hard, it chipped the cutting board.
"I'm going to take this from you now…." Hermione said warily as she took the knife out of Ginny's hand and continued cutting more calmly.
Ginny sat down breathing hard as her fiery eyes glared at the clock on the wall similar to the one the Weasley's had at the Burrow. "I nearly screamed when I couldn't find him anywhere in the house. I then contacted your place and obviously now that I know, there was no response. Then when I'm about to send an emergency patronus to the ministry like 'Oh hi it's Ginny Potter, my idiot husband Harry Potter is missing, do you by any chance know where that dolt head went?'" Ginny mimicked, rolling her eyes. "Anyways, then I see the clock and it shows Harry at the ministry before disappearing to unknown. And then I call everyone on my contact list."
Hermione smiled sympathetically at Ginny. "James knows too?"
"He only knows I'm mad at Harry. Nothing else. I won't let my son become aware of what's going on, it's just too scary, even for me to register. There's no way James is knowing." Ginny sighed massaging her temples. "I was so bloody scared."
Hermione placed down the knife and moved around the counter to hug Ginny.
"He should have at least told you." Hermione agreed, as Ginny leaned on Hermione her chest heaving. "But he probably thought he'd be back before you woke up and he probably didn't want to worry you."
"And look how that turned out." she grumbled. Hermione laughed as the pair continued to chat and prepare for dinner.
"She's really pissed yeah," Harry sighed clearing up some of James's toys.
"You could have told her mate," Draco said inspecting a miniature quidditch figurine set with curiosity.
"I know. But I didn't expect to take that long. And I didn't want to worry her. Besides telling her more about what's going on would make things seem more real." Harry said sounding exhausted.
"I know what you mean but your wife is pretty damn scary. She's also tough. So she could handle it. And you need someone to talk to more instead of keeping it quiet. She gets it and I think she would rather face the harsh truth than find out like that in the middle of the night." Draco advised.
"I suppose you're right." Harry said tossing some balls into a bin.
"I'm always right." Draco drawled dropping onto the couch. Harry eyed him warily and grinned knowingly.
"You sound so much like your wife." he smirked stacking some blocks before joining Draco.
Draco rolled his eyes and Harry laughed summoning some firewhiskey and handing one to Draco. "She's making me sleep on the couch." Harry said.
Draco nearly choked on the burning substance as he burst out laughing. "You've got it bad mate,"
"Like I need the reminder." Harry muttered.
"Just talk to Ginny, she'll come around, she's just worried." Draco reassured as Harry turned on the telly to muggle soccer. Draco watched intrigued and Harry began explaining it to him.
After dinner they went into the backyard for some tea as James showed Draco and Hermione his wicked skills on his new toy broom.
"You watch yourself there Mr. Potter! If I see anything fancy and you break your neck…." Ginny warned. James smiled at his mother before continuing to fly around.
"Go talk to Harry." Hermione whispered to Ginny. The girls turned to see Harry watching Ginny almost out of habit before turning away quickly. "You'll both feel better." she urged. Ginny pursed her lips before she reluctantly got up and walked over to where Harry stood under the large tree.
Draco watched as Ginny moved towards Harry and moved so he sat down where Ginny had just been and took Hermione's hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.
She smiled warmly at him as her left hand rubbed slowly over her slightly protruding stomach.
"In a few months, we'll have a little mini us running about." Hermione whispered smiling fondly as she peeked at him.
Draco smiled back and pulled her closer so she was sitting on his lap. He whispered in her ear, enjoying seeing her breath hitch and hairs rise. "Can you still spot where Scorpius is?" Draco breathed.
Hermione glanced up and scanned the sky before pointing to the correct constellation.
"Correct as usual." Draco chuckled nuzzling her neck with his nose.
"And there's Ara and Lyra." she pointed leaning back against him. "Oh and look at that weird one all by itself. Oh wait….it's Draco." she grinned.
Draco smirked and tilted his head atop of hers. "Well I don't see any constellation named after you."
Hermione rolled her eyes and was about to speak when Draco silenced her with a kiss. She grasped his shoulders and pulled him closer as his hands cupped her face. He felt her tongue swirl with his as they began their playful continuous battle of tongues for domination. Draco was about to let her win, because she was just so cute when she got competitive and when she was in control when someone groaned loudly.
"Why are all of you kissing?" James Potter asked crossing his little arms in irritation, a look that matched Ginny's very well. Draco cocked his head and saw Harry and Ginny break apart from underneath the tree.
"Looks like they made up." Hermione chuckled seeing Ginny move her hair to cover a spot on her neck.
"There is a 3 year old here." he huffed. "Besides, kissing is yucky."
"Our children will have to deal with their parents kissing." Draco muttered grinning at Hermione.
Author's Note
Sorry for late posts. Here's a longer one :) Thanks for all the support!
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