Hi all! This is the updated version of chapter 20 which means that I've revised it and corrected some of the errors. I'm not going to lie, I was cringing the whole time I was revising it hahaha! This chapter had so many errors it's embarrassing! I am so grateful that my writing has improved a bit from the past years. I am so sorry you had to endure my horrible writing lol
Read and tell me what you think!
"…Lest the pot cast off its slipper, and begin to hop once more." Hermione closed the wizarding fairytale book quietly as she read the last sentence of The Wizard And The Hopping Pot aloud to Scorpius who was now slumbering quietly. She gently eased out of his hug and carefully slipped out of the huge green bed overflowing with silky covers and huge pillows.
"Nothing but the best for a Malfoy." She whispered to herself.
"What was that Granger?" Draco interjected from across the room.
Hermione let out a small squeal, quickly covering her mouth with her small hand.
"Merlin! I didn't notice you there Malfoy. How long have you been skulking in the corner?"
"Skulking Granger? Seriously? I was sitting on the couch the whole time you were reading that horrible story to my son."
"It was not horrible! I would let you know that what I just read was a classic fairytale! Even Dumbledore would agree." Hermione countered indignantly.
Draco only chuckled while holding his hands up in a manner of surrender as he continued to laugh at how insulted Hermione looked just because of his small retort over a piece of children's book.
"Shhhh!" Hermione reprimanded him. "As you can see Malfoy, your son had very much enjoyed the story and is now asleep. So will you please stop laughing!"
This in turn made Malfoy laugh even more. Only covering his mouth and reducing into a fit of coughs when Scorpius' tiny body shifted a little bit under the sheets causing Hermione to look at him condescendingly as he tried to reign in his laughter.
"Okay Granger you win. Come now and let's leave our little Dragon to sleep." Draco replied as he made a wide sweeping gesture with his right hand and cupping the small of her back with the other. Hermione didn't even retort as she let herself be lead out of the large room into the hallway, trying to hide her blush as her mind was still wrapping itself around how Draco had called Scorpius 'their' little dragon. Not to mention his warm hand planted solidly on the small of her back. Draco closed the huge double doors behind them and faced Hermione in the soft light of the manor's hallway. For a moment no one spoke. They just stared like it was the first time they truly saw each other. Like nothing ever went wrong in the world. No war. No childhood rivalry. No traumatic experiences. Just two people being aware of each other for the first time in what felt like forever. It was like everything was falling away. Even their concepts of reality we're being blurred, and all that matters was that they have each other.
Hermione caught herself out of the daze and shook her head slightly. She had zoned out a lot of times these past couple of days. She'd always convinced herself it was the stress and definitely not because she was thinking of Draco.
Yeah right, stress. Then why does it only happen when you're with Malfoy huh? Her evil subconscious sneered.
"I….well Malfoy, thank you for inviting me to Scorpius' birthday. I'll be going now." Hermione whispered, hoping to Merlin and all other gods out there that Malfoy didn't notice how her voice was shaking.
"Right." Draco answered curtly. Already walking ahead of her towards the grand staircase leading into the huge front doors.
Hermione followed close in his wake as they descended the carpeted steps, noting the intricately carved balustrade. She shivered in fright and anger as she thought of how Voldemort could've walked the same stairs just a few years ago with his wand poised, Ready to kill anyone who might come his way. Draco waited for her patiently beside the door with her coat in hand. Hermione made a move to take it from him but he only smirked and opened up the coat for her to simply step inside the circle of his arms and into the coat. She blushed an embarrassing red as she quietly put on her coat with Draco's help.
"Thank you, Malfoy. Bye." Hermione bid goodbye awkwardly as she hurriedly swung open the huge door only to be greeted with the sight of heavy rain and lightning.
"Oh no." Hermione almost screamed in frustration.
How am I supposed to clear my head and get away from Malfoy now?She thought desperately
"Maybe you ought to stay here for a while. The apparition point is still a distance away from the manor and the dirt paths can be dangerous at night, especially now that it's raining and all the floo networks have been closed ever since Scorpius' unplanned visit to the healers' lounge. So yeah maybe you can just let the storm pass at least?" Draco offered.
Hermione turned around slowly, She doesn't really know what and how to answer him. A part of her doesn't want to stay in the creepy old manor and be forced to remember every detail of her tortured past. And yet a part of her, which seemed to be larger, wants to stay here with Draco and Scorpius.
After taking a deep breath she finally found the courage to look at Draco. What Hermione wasn't ready for was Draco's smile as she turned to face him. It was such an innocent yet sultry smile that Hermione couldn't help but stop and stare. Draco Malfoy, a death eater? With that smile? It's kinda hard to believe.
He looks a lot like Scorpius when he's smiling, Hermione thought offhandedly.
"Well, what do you think Healer Mione? Do you mind keeping a lonely rich boy company for the rest of the stormy night?" He winked.
Hermione blushed even redder than before if that was possible.
This is so wrong. This is so wrong. This is so wrong, her mind continued to chant.
"Just until the storm has passed." She replied with conviction. Mostly for her own sake more than his.
"Okay then!"
Draco moved behind her once again as he helped her out of her coat.
"Popsy!" Draco bellowed as a small house elf appeared beside him.
"Yes Master Malfoy Sir" The creature replied with a low bow.
"Prepare us some refreshments and maybe some cakes from the kitchen. We'll be in the parlor in a couple of minutes."
"That's no way to talk to a living creature, Malfoy." Hermione puffed as the elf was about to leave.
"Fine." Draco replied with a loud sigh.
"Please, Popsy would you kindly prepare us some refreshments and cakes? We'll be up in the parlor." Draco addressed the elf. "How was that?" He asked her.
Hermione giggled out a response at Draco's amused face, "Better, thank you."
Draco smiled in return, causing Hermione to stop her giggling and for her expression to turn into that of apprehension.
"What's the matter? You don't like cakes?" Draco asked upon noticing her sudden change of mood.
"No, no. cake is fine. Wonderful even. It's just that…. The parlor…."
"Oh" Draco his throat he once again addressed Popsy.
"Change of plans Popsy my sweet, we will be having them inside Master Scorpius' room. Would you find any trouble in that Popsy?"
"No Master Malfoy. I will do Master Malfoy. Now Master Malfoy."
Popsy presented another low bow and disappeared with a loud crack.
"Well, now that everything seems to be taken care of. How about we go up once again and check on our little Dragon."
Before Hermione could even fret, Draco already had his hand on the small of her back once again as he lead her up the stairs and into Scorpius' quarters.
Hermione's spinning mind seemed to have finally found peace as she entered Scorpius' room for the second time that night. She looked at the boy's small sleeping form and tucked him in tight under his silk sheets.
"Here Granger, why don't you sit on the couch while waiting for our coffee?" Draco offered as he closed the door.
Hermione nodded and tiptoed gently towards the soft looking green chaise longue. Draco almost snorted at how ridiculously cute she looked as she tiptoed around his son's bedroom. Shaking his head, he opened the small lamp farthest from Scorpius' bed and sat next to Hermione.
"Do you really have to sit so close to me Malfoy?" Hermione said in a breathy voice.
"So we're back to 'Malfoy' now? I believe I already told you to call me Draco."
Hermione sighed, More of amusement than annoyance.
"Draco." She retorted with a fake overly sweet smile to piss him off. "There, are you happy now?"
"Well, that wasn't so bad now was it Granger?"
"How come you get to call me by my surname?" Hermione pouted.
"You will always be Granger to me." He answered with a laugh.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh along with him. Who was this brazen girl flirting with Malfoy and what had she done to the real Hermione Granger?
But before she could question herself even further Popsy was already serving them coffee and a huge chocolate cake. Hermione's eyes almost popped out of its sockets as she watched the elf cut the decadent chocolate cake into small portions. She immediately grabbed the slice of cake the elf was offering to her, almost tearing off Popsy's hand in the process. For the nth time that day, Draco couldn't help but laugh at how adorable Hermione was. It seems like everything she does was captivating to him. Hell, all she had to do was breathe and he'd still find it adorable.
"Would you look at that, Hermione Granger the chocolate fiend."
Hermione let out something between a groan and a grunt as she continued gobbling the chocolate cake.
"Where in the world did you get this cake?" She asked in between bites.
"The house elves make everything around here from scratch. Nothing but the best for a Malfoy." He winked.
Hermione laughed again. She couldn't quite remember how long it had been since she laughed this much. Maybe before the war? When they were still in Hogwarts and she was still innocent? She doesn't know for sure. And as incredulous as it may sound, the person who's making her laugh now was Draco Malfoy.
They spent hours talking side by side on the chaise lounge. They talked about how much Hermione loves her work and how Draco despises his. They also talked about Scorpius and how he's growing up to be such a fine young boy. Not once had it crossed Hermione's mind that she was in the dreaded Malfoy Manor or that she was talking to a former death eater. Somewhere along the night, Draco asked Popsy to fetch them a couple of bottles of firewhiskey from the cellar which only fueled their conversations as they stayed well past midnight. Neither of them seemed to remember the storm and Hermione's promise to leave after it had passed.
"I swear I saw McGonagall and Filch going at it one time in one of the rooms!" Draco laughed, silently thanking Hermione for casting a silencing charm around them as to not wake Scorpius up by their boisterous laughter and slurred swearing.
"How about Hagrid and that lady from Beauxbatons! Uhhh what's her name? Maxie? Madame Maxie was it?"
They laughed together as they exchanged stories. Getting to know each other even through little things such as these. The chocolate cake was almost finished with only a lone slice left. Hermione didn't even bother with a plate anymore. She just ate the cake straight from the cakestand with Draco sneaking in a few mouthfuls from time to time. Draco couldn't help but smile at Hermione's chocolate stained face.
"Granger you're worse than Scorpius." Draco said as he wiped Hermione's face with a towel.
"I am not! And it's not my fault this chocolate cake is just soooooooo good." Hermione replied, giggling as she shrugged off Draco's hands.
"Stay still Granger!" Draco laughed.
"No!" Hermione replied, childishly sticking her tongue out at Draco.
"Oh, that's how you want to play?" Draco asked menacingly, making Hermione giggle even more. Draco suddenly took both her small hands in one of his large ones and started to clean her face, making her wiggle and laugh.
"Stop it Draco!"
"Not unless I have you all cleaned up Granger."
This only made Hermione wiggle more as she tries her best to escape Draco's strong hold.
"Stop it Granger, you're making it really difficult for me right now."
Hermione mockingly stuck out her tongue once again.
"Make me."
Draco made a small pause then replied.
"Maybe I will."
Right before he dove in and captured Hermione's plump lips as he had imagined many times before in his wildest dreams. Hermione went as stiff as a board as she felt Draco's lips pressing against hers. Her eyes were wide open, looking straight into Draco's closed eyelids. She can feel his long lashes brush against her cheek. To say she was in shock was an understatement. Her mind is telling her a hundred things all at once and she doesn't know which one to listen to. Alarms were going off in the deepest parts of her mind and everything seemed to be falling away and she doesn't even know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, and the most frustrating thing for Hermione Granger is not knowing something. She just really has to know things so she can guarantee herself that she's making the right decision. Especially now.
But as she felt Draco's lips move, she decided that for once in her life she wasn't going to think or gather facts. She's going to do and feel.
Someone in the reviews ( I think it was a guest?) asked me why I chose Scorpius' room as the setting of their kiss and why they had to do all that inside Scorpius' room. Frankly I never really thought about it that much since I wrote it, but I guess I just wanted to make sure that their first kiss would happen in a place where Hermione was relaxed and comfortable. And since one of the things that can truly calm them both down is Scorpius I thought it kinda made sense that their kiss would happen in his room with him nearby (although he was asleep and has no idea what's going on). It also builds up the notion that Scorpius was the reason of their union from the very start.
This chapter has been a long time coming and I finally found the guts to write it down! Hahahaha! Review and tell me what you think!
Love lots,
The Malfoys