Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.
Chapter 31
Ky's POV
"-and then of course she got the part! Mary Aldridge, with her microscopic mini skirt and décolletage all the way down to her knees!"
"Mother!"
Mi snapped as her mother laughed cynically at the memory, her powder blue eyes bordered by fine wrinkles that if anything added to her beauty. She and Mi were identical in features, except for the eye and hair colour, where Mi's mane was light brown and curly, Aunt Jean had a cropped do that sat fashionably and unnaturally darker atop her head.
"Of course I was cast as Emilia." Aunt Jean stated the name with distaste, crinkling her dainty nose at it, "The hand maiden!" She said aghast, "She had four lines; I think it was, right darling?"
Uncle John winked at his only daughter as she had just been pleading with him to make her mother stop reciting how exactly she came up with the name Hermione.
"Six, sweetheart." His chocolate eyes so much like his daughter's were misty with the memory.
Aunt Jean batted the answer away with her hands nonchalantly, placing down her glass of wine, "The only time Leeds University stages a production of The Winter's Tale, and I get cast as the hand maiden! And Mary Aldridge cast as Queen Hermione, my favourite Shakespearean character of ALL time."
"Well everything happens for a reason dear, I mean that's what caused you to change your major from drama to dentistry and if you hadn't I might not have met you and been blessed to cast you as the queen of my heart."
I giggled into my plate as they gazed lovingly at each other from across the table as Mi groaned from the seat next to me.
"You're right Jonathan, everything does happen for a reason, and sometimes that reason is that you're sleeping with the director." Aunt Jean muttered into her wine glass and Mi let out an exasperated sigh, but I could tell it wasn't genuine; she had missed this family banter.
I decided to stay at Mi's house this Christmas break, considering my present feelings towards Harry, the Burrow was no place that I should be, and I doubt Ginny wanted me there either. Who would want their boyfriend's ex living with them?
The Grangers were ecstatic when Mi wrote to say that I would be joining them and I was really having a pleasant stay. Mi's house may not be as lively as the Burrow but I didn't want lively right now, I was perfectly happy just spending my vacation with Mi. Well I missed Nessie, but it wasn't like I could see her, she had left for New York a week ago, to represent Thorncorpe at a number of festive obligations the boys usually tended to…speaking of the boys…they wrote two days ago saying that they couldn't make it for Christmas, but they would try and get to me by the New Year. Of course they couldn't say why…this would be the first Christmas that I would not see them…
There was a rapping at the door and I snapped back to the present as Uncle John excused himself to see who it was.
"Just imagine honey, you could have had an actress for a mother!"
Mi laughed, "No, because Granddad would have murdered you before you even had the chance to bear children. He wouldn't even let me watch telly when I used to stay over, said something about killing brain cells and shrinking eyes. I can't believe he even let you do a year of drama."
She smirked, "He didn't know! Thought I was doing Dentistry the whole time. The poor man, bless him, thought Leeds had a nine year dental programme right till the end. Speaking of your grandparents, your Nan would roll in her grave at the state of your hair; it really is getting too long dear, same goes for you Ky."
"Mum!" Mi gasped and Aunt Jean raised her hands defensively.
"I'm just saying, look at all those young celebrities, long hair is so out." She smiled in self-satisfaction at her use of the hip reference, "Oooh I could make us appointments tomorrow, we can make a whole day of it."
"How mum, tomorrow is Christmas, who would be open?"
"Oh, I forgot!" She sipped her wine, "Ky Honey, you sure everything is OK, you've been awfully quiet."
Before I could answer, not even knowing what I would say to explain my unusual silence, I was interrupted by Uncle John's return to the table, "Look who I found, mulling around on the doorstep!"
For a fleeting moment a face splitting smile graced my face, they were here! I knew they would never miss Christmas! The smile fell just as quickly as my eyes spotted the guests that Uncle John was gesturing at and specks of juice hit my face as Mi sputtered out her fruit cocktail juice.
"Hermione!" Aunt Jean chastised, patting her daughter on the back and smiling at the guests as she rose to her feet, "That's no way to greet our…guests?"
Teddy strode forwards, holding out his hand confidently, "Theodore, Dr Granger, you can call me Theo. Or Teddy. Whichever you prefer?"
"Theodore is a lovely name," She smiled up at him, "No need to shorten it. And please, call me Jean. And you are?"
Draco's eyes flittered to mines and I recovered from the surprise, a huge smirk unashamedly gracing my face at his obvious discomfort, "Draco." He easily took Aunt Jean's proffered hand into a soft handshake. "Pleasure." He added stiffly at the end, but Aunt Jean couldn't have cared less, she had a mega watt smile on her face as she took in the two boys.
Teddy wore a black pair of jeans with a light green formal shirt which made the green in his eyes more pronounced; Draco wore a snug dark grey sweater with black slacks. They did look the epitome of class and understated style and their looks didn't go unnoticed by Aunt Jean who was looking at us wide eyed without even trying to hide the implication in her bright blue orbs.
"They're friends of Hermione's from school dear." Uncle John added with a smile, clapping Teddy good naturedly on the back, the brunette smiled at Uncle John, a good natured, open and sincere smile that had Mi narrowing her eyes to tiny dots in suspicion. "Said they were in the area and decided to pop by and say hello to the girls. Sweet, isn't it?"
"Oh how very!" Aunt Jean said, staring up at Teddy's smiling face.
"In the area?"I inquired, as Mi still seemed to be recovering from the shock. "Why?"
Draco glanced at me, a small glint of annoyance making an appearance at my question to which Teddy of course had the answer, "We were visiting Draco's grandmother. She lives in the area."
Oh so they had a cover story, "Where?"
"Smith Street." Teddy answered with a smirk which was much more suited to his face.
"Well that's only a few roads from here. What's your grandmother's name?"
Uncle John smiled at Draco but Teddy responded, "Well we call her Nan, but you might know her as Tabatha Woodhurst."
Uncle John's eyes widened, "Old Mrs Woodhurst! A witch! I would never have guessed."
"Especially considering her late husband was a pastor and all that." Mi finally regained the use of her voice and began aiding me in the interrogation, but her comment seemed to slip by her parents as they stared at the two boys.
"Oh my goodness! Where are our manners! Please, come, sit, join us for dinner."
Draco held up his hand, a forced polite smile on his lips, "Thank you Mrs Granger, but we will have to be leaving. We just stopped by to say hello, Nan-" His eyes flickered to Teddy as he said the unusual word, "Will be waiting for us."
"Well not really." Teddy contested Draco's words, "I told Nan we would be dining out at Tiago's tonight, didn't want to worry the old bird and make her cook. We better get going, I made reservations for seven."
"Restaurant food!" Aunt Jean gasped out, "On Christmas Eve! No! I insist, you have to join us. John fetch the boys some plates, there is more than enough for everyone."
Draco opened his mouth to protest but Teddy smiled in appreciation, "How can I say no to that offer."
"Easily." Mi muttered as she sipped her juice, Teddy happily sat down in the seat oppose Mi's whilst Uncle John sat back down at the head of the table, Draco looked paler than usual as he mechanically took the seat opposite me and some sadistic part of me really enjoyed how uncomfortable he was.
"We sure are lucky John, three of Hermione's friends over to dinner!" Aunt Jean spoke as she filled the boys' plates with a sizeable portion of everything on the table, "We were beginning to think our baby was embarrassed of us."
"Nonsense Dr Granger, Hermione talks about you all the time. Just the other day she was saying how she missed your Tuna casserole."
"Really!"Aunt Jean's face was glowing at her daughter who was glaring at Teddy as he tucked into his food, "Well fish does prevent gum disease, not that you need it, did you have braces as a child?"
Teddy shook his head, a grin on his face and Draco looked like he wanted to knock out the pearly whites he was flashing at Aunt Jean.
"So you boys are in the same year as our girls." I smiled at Uncle John's kind words and Teddy nodded as Draco busied himself with cutting his meat.
"And how is our little Pickle at school?"
"Dad!" Mi gasped as he used his nickname for her and Teddy's eyes widened in curiosity.
"Pickle? That's a peculiar nickname?"
"It's actually a funny story. When Hermione was three-"
"Oh John don't embarrass the girl in front of her…friends." Aunt Jean smirked at us knowingly. "Back to my husband's question," She looked at Draco as he was closest to her, "How is our little girl at school."
Draco cleared his throat, glancing at Mi who was holding her fork and knife in a threatening way, "She's…very smart."
"Well I can tell that from her school report!"
Draco placed his fork and knife down, "She's…bossy."
"Get's that from her mother." Uncle John chuckled.
"She's actually bossy bordering on violent." Draco seemed to grow more confident and comfortable at the prospect of picking on Mi.
"I am not!" Mi shouted at Draco who turned to her, cocking a brow.
"You punched me in the face in our Third year."
"Hermione!" Her parents gasped in unison and she floundered around for words to defend herself, looking to me for help.
"He…he…wanted to kill a hippogriff!"
"No I did not!" Draco scoffed, "I would never want to do that."
I rolled my eyes, knowing he was talking about the actual act of killing Buckbeak rather than having the death of an animal on his conscious.
"Well I am very sorry Draco, we definitely did not raise Hermione in such a manner, but I am happy to see that she apologised and you can now regard each other as friends." Uncle John smiled at his daughter who busied herself with pouring more juice, her face red with anger.
"Actually she didn't."
I thought the jug would burst if she gripped it any tighter at Draco's words and Aunt Jean gasped,
"Hermione! How can you…I just can't believe. Apologise to Draco-"
"Mum! I-"
"Hermione." Aunt Jean lost all the semblance of light heartedness and Mi huffed out at her mother's strict look.
"Sorry." She muttered and the blonde boy's smirk grew. She narrowed her eyes at him in response.
"You know mum, you have met Draco before. In my second year. His dad and Ron's dad got into a fight in that book store, Flourish and Blots. I can't seem to remember what that was about, do you Draco?"
He placed a piece of chicken to his lips, a thoughtful look on his face, "Funny thing, neither can I." Mi glared at him, considering the fight was between Lucius Malfoy and Mr Weasley, it had to have been about their difference of opinions on anything and anyone muggle related.
"Well that's not exactly dinner table talk Hermione." Draco smirked as Aunt Jean chastised her. "On the topic of parents, what do yours do Draco?"
His face paled slightly at the question, obviously not wanting to go into talk of his dad.
"His father is a businessman." Mi answered and his silver eyes flickered to hers in shock, and she sighed, she obviously was trying to placate him into not telling any more of her secrets, or was just compassionate to the fact that his father was in jail, and that can't be an easy topic to broach. She really was the epitome of the 'bigger person'. "Your mother is something of a socialite, right?"
Draco nodded slowly, still contemplating Mi's agenda.
"That sounds… glamorous." Aunt Jean chuckled; she leaned forward to look questioningly at Teddy who placed his cutlery down to answer her question.
"Oh my mother is dea-"
"Late." Mi interrupted him; Teddy had the inappropriate habit of sometimes being too blunt, and therefore forgetting niceties and coming of as crass. I was quite shocked that he was handling the situation of meeting Mi's parents so well so far.
"I am so sorry to hear that." Aunt Jean's eyes glazed over in sympathy, "And your dad?"
"Oh my dad's a death-"
"Organizer." Interrupted Mi and Teddy winced as I smiled into my plate, I could practically feel her kick him under the table. "It's what we call the Funeral Services in the Wizarding world." Mi added as her dad nodded at her in understanding.
"Well…that sounds…interesting." Uncle John added, "I suppose it must be the same sort of confusion hearing that we're dentists… that must be strange for you to try and understand."
"Speaking of professions," Aunt Jean cut in and Mi let out a deep sigh next to me, "What do you wish to become Theodore?"
"A potioneer specialising in healing potions." Teddy said effortlessly and Uncle John's brows rose, impressed.
"That sounds awfully a lot like a…pharmacist?"
"I think it's more of a scientist in this world, a medical one. Researching cures for diseases and such."
Mi's mouth was hanging open, obviously shocked at the new information, Teddy could be quite irresponsible with important matters, it was a surprise that he had his future planned out whilst most of us were still undecided. "That's seems like an interesting career. And you Draco?"
I looked across from me, meeting his silver eyes before they glanced to Uncle John, "I'll have to take over the family businesses."
Uncle John nodded with an understanding smile, as Aunt Jean looked at the boys impressed.
"Businessman and Potioneer. Both sound very reliable and commendable jobs. Now Hermione-"
"Mum." She stated sternly and Aunt Jean shrugged her shoulders innocently at her daughter.
"I just don't see why you wouldn't want to become a Healer first, and then go do that animal rights-"
"They're not animals!" She snapped, "They're not humans either." She corrected herself, "It's different." She explained in frustration.
"It just seems like a…well a career path that's not for you. Equal rights activist, that sounds awfully like someone who's got an art degree and much too much time on their hands."
"Mum!" She snapped, "Who was the one that wanted to be an actress."
Aunt Jean sighed, "Well it's different, it's not like you have a GCSE to fall back on, you should choose a sturdy career path Hermione, you have to make it work in the Wizarding World, you don't have-"
"Jean darling." Uncle John stated unsmiling, and Aunt Jean stopped speaking. "Pickle, mum's just worried that you don't have much to fall back on, and we can't advise you like other parents might." He squeezed Mi's hand, "We think we might be failing you."
"Don't worry Uncle John." I smiled, "Mi doesn't need any back up plan, whatever it might be, she'll succeed, and if not, they are plenty of people she can fall back on in the Wizarding World." I smiled at him in a comforting way and he returned the smile with appreciation at my words.
"Plus she's known as the brightest witch of our age." Added Teddy, "I think that she's pretty much destined for greatness. And healers are overrated." Uncle John smiled and Mi blushed at our words.
"It's not that bad a job." Draco muttered, "I thought you of all people would like something like that."
Mi's brows twitched in surprise at being addressed directly by Draco, "I did consider it. I just don't think it's for me."
"I guess we just have to research the field you want to get into a little more; I think we liked the Healer option because it was the only one we really understood." Aunt Jean admitted with a sheepish look on her face, "I mean, we haven't even seen you use that wand before, how would we know what you can do with it. Least of all make a profession out of doing that."
"You haven't done magic for your parents! Even though you're of age?" Teddy exclaimed and Mi reeled back slightly.
"Of course, it's illegal to perform magic in a muggle area." She stated defensively.
"This house isn't." Draco added, "You're a witch. This is your residential address. This isn't deemed a muggle area whilst you inhabit it. They changed the law a few months ago."
She raised her brows, "I had no idea."
"Oh well you have to now." Uncle John added in excitement, "Come on, Pickle."
She smiled up at her dad, "Fine…I really don't know…Ky!"
She snapped as the occupants of the table flinched as I flung my now empty plate onto the floor and it shattered on contact. "Well this helps what spell to use, right?"
She shook her head in disapproval at my antics, directing her wand at the pieces of glass, "Fictilem reparo."
The pieces floated above the table and magically joined together. Uncle John pulled his daughter into a hug as Aunt Jean clapped at the magic trick.
"It's a simple spell." Mi added, her face flushed red, "First year level really."
"Why don't you introduce your parents to your little friend?"
She glanced at Teddy, smiling as she toyed with his idea in her head; her parents looked on in interest.
She smiled, closing her eyes momentarily and pointing her wand at the table, "Expecto patronum."
There was a gush of silver smoke that slowly amassed together, gathering luminescence until there was the distinct shape of an otter, whose nose twitched slightly as it took in its surroundings, it's large eyes inquisitively peering about. Uncle John had tears in his eyes at the feat, staring at his daughter in amazement as Aunt Jean launched off her chair, pulling her daughter into a tight hug.
The otter suddenly took off as the bowl of mash potatoes crashed to the floor and the familiar orange fur that was Crookshanks clawed her way over the table and after the patronus.
"Crookshanks!" Mi shouted as Draco and Teddy shoved their seats back and jumped to their feet as the jar of juice and bottle of wine followed the bowl of mash potatoes, with Mi distracted the patronus disappeared and Crookshanks hissed at the spot where it was not moments ago. He straightened out of his predatory stance and casually walked out of the dining room with a flick of his tail, as if she didn't just drench the boys with a mixture of fruit cocktail juice and wine and upset most of the contents of the table.
I bit back a laugh at the look on Draco's face as Aunt Jean fussed with cleaning them up, handing them paper towels as Uncle John ran upstairs to fetch more towels.
"I am so sorry boys."
"It's quite alright Mrs Granger, nothing a little Skowzers can't fix up." Teddy reassured her as Aunt Jean patted his chest with a paper towel.
"We actually should be going. Thank you for the meal, Mrs Granger." Draco added, not bothering to clean himself up as he pushed his chair in, hasty to make his retreat.
"Oh you kids can't mean to head over Smith street at this part of the night? John will drive you. We insist." Aunt Jean added sternly as Uncle John re-emerged with towels.
"Of course, it would be no problem at all." Draco glanced annoyed at Teddy at Uncle John's response, and I stifled a smirk, I bet he was wondering how the hell they were getting back home from Smith Street wherever that was. Teddy stopped dabbing his shirt and patted his jeans pockets, digging in them as if searching for something.
"What is it?" Aunt Jean inquired as his face glossed over with stress.
"I can't seem to find…oh no. I left the house keys at Nan's." Teddy gasped out at Draco, the blonde's face remained stern, obviously unsure how to react to that statement and his confusion deepened at not knowing where Teddy was going with this…but I did…I smirked,
"Well it's half ten…wouldn't Nan be sleeping?" I asked, feigning concern.
Draco's eyes narrowed as he began to catch on, "She's a light sleeping. She'll hear us knock."
"Oh well that's not right!" Aunt Jean gasped, "You can't disturb her sleep! You boys must stay the night, we already have the spare room ready for Ky, she can just sleep with Hermione-"
"No!" Mi and Draco chorused together, they glanced at each other, surprised they were in agreement as Aunt Jean and Uncle John frowned at the outburst.
"It's just that…"Draco began and Mi cut in,
"Wouldn't Nan worry if you don't return home tonight? We don't want to worry the poor woman."
"Granger's right, she does have a weak heart…" Draco added, "Stress won't be good." Mi nodded in agreement.
"All the more reason to let her rest, sleep is very important at that age." Aunt Jean added knowingly, "But we don't want to worry her either."
"You could send word with Aella." I added helpfully, biting back the smirk that was itching to cross my lips, "That's Draco's owl. She would just leave the note so no need to wake Nan and she'll find out you boys are safe when she wakes up in the morning. It's win win."
Draco glared at me as Aunt Jean and Uncle John smiled at each other as the problem was solved.
"Well…" Mi started, gulping as she clutched at straws, "They don't have pyjamas. We wouldn't want them to be uncomfortable."
"Well lucky we have a legal witch in our presence." Teddy smiled at Mi, "I do believe that you are quite proficient in transfiguration, best in our year she is." He added with pride as her parents cooed in agreement, she glared at him behind her mother's back.
"Well that's settled!" Aunt Jean added in excitement, "Hermione, Ky, show the boys to the spare room, John you come help me get those extra duvets out of the top cupboard, it's a bit nippy." Now we know where Mi get's her bossiness from.
Mi sighed and walked ahead and I followed with a smile as the steel eyed boy glared at my back as we ascended the stairs. Draco Malfoy…living in a muggle house…well there are such things as Christmas miracles after all!
"What were you thinking!" Mi burst as I followed her into her room, she grabbed her hair in frustration, finally able to express her emotions as her face reddened with anger, "DRACO MALFOY! Sleeping in MY house!"
"I know." I added with a chuckle, "It's surreal."
"It's a nightmare, that's what it is!" Her nostrils flared at me, "And as for Theodore…oh he planned this from the start didn't he…ohhhhh!" She growled out as I giggled at her frustration, Mi could be so over the top sometimes.
There was a soft knock preceding the door opening and Aunt Jean flounced into the room, she gave us a conspiratorial smile, "You little rascals. Hermione! You should have told me you had a boyfriend."
"Theodore is not my boyfriend mum!" Mi snapped, Aunt Jean rolled her eyes in response.
"Of course he isn't! It's Draco! The way you two fight, it's so obvious! Your dad and I were just like that when we were young! Well when he was young, I'm still young." She laughed as Mi looked on horrified at her mother's words. This night kept getting better and better. She opened her mouth but her mother cut her off.
"Look, I can't be long. I just got the boys settled in and your dad's waiting for me. You know how he can't get a wink of sleep unless I'm in bed too. I know you lot are going to sneak out-" Mi opened her mouth but Aunt Jean silenced her with a raised hand, "I was seventeen once too. So I don't want you guys climbing out any windows, here's the spare key! Don't tell your father. You know how he is."
"Mum I-"
"Shhh." Aunt Jean winked at us as she backed out of the room, tossing the set of keys that Mi didn't even attempt to catch as she stared at her mother in shock. With the click of the closing door she was gone and her daughter turned on me.
"I cannot believe…she just…he…Draco…ugghhhh!" She ended as she seemed to have lost her coherency.
There was a second knock on the door, "Pickle?"
She took in a deep breath, "Come in dad."
Uncle John poked his brown head inside, smiling at us both and then entering. "Well I can't be long darling. You know your mother can't sleep if I'm not in bed. I just came to give you these."
He held out a set of keys to which Mi took tentatively, "Car?"
He winked, "I know you lot are going to sneak out and I don't want you to walk around at this part of the night. Just don't go far! And stick to the speed limit!"
"Daddy." Mi closed her eyes, trying to keep her nerves in check, "I can't drive."
He rolled his eyes, "Of course not, I know that. Theodore said he could earlier."
"He did." She added in a deadpanned voice.
"Hmm. Now, don't tell your mother, you know how she get's. Enjoy."
I waved as he left with a wide smile.
"I can't believe this." Mi whispered in awe, "I'm like…from a dysfunctional family. You spent a week…just a week here…and you managed to break my parents!"
I laughed, "I didn't do a thing. I barely said a word whole night. Look, I think they're just excited you're living a little. I would be happy if I were you."
"Happy! My parents just gave me permission to sneak out with my boyfriend and take the car! My boyfriend who they think is Draco Malfoy! Draco Malfoy! I should be flinging myself from this window, that's what I should be doing."
Just as she gestured to the window there was a sound of stone on glass and I ran towards the transparent pane with a huge smile on my face, Mi grumbled towards it but her grumbling stopped when she reached the window…I glanced away from the scene and to my best friend as the stress and discomfort of tonight physically left her body as her features softened and her eyes grew bright…
"Still want to fling yourself from this window."
She gave me a watery smile and nodded, "Anything to get nearer to him…"
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Kalina