The redhead was rifling through her pantry as Hermione stood there with a glass of wine. It was two in the afternoon and entirely out of character for the woman to drink this early, let alone at all. Ron had blathered on for the last three days of Hermione's conversation with Zabini, so Ginny knew something happened.
"How did your interview with Zabini go?" Ginny murmured, debating if she wanted to toss or condense the crackers.
Hermione quaffed her wine before answering. "Good, Regulus was charming, much like we remember Sirius being." She said, but a hint of too false happiness was in her tone.
"And Draco?" Ginny questioned which Hermione ran her hand through her curly hair.
"I see him tomorrow," the curly-haired woman replied.
"So, you are standing at my counter drinking wine at two in the afternoon like Sirius Black because?"
Hermione groaned and rubbed her face before pinching the bridge of her nose. "He is a terror from the way they make it sound. An awful shell of a man and worse I am sure than in school. The only benefit is he can't see my face if he hurts my feelings now," she muttered then tossed her head back with a groan. "I have to go work at his house!"
"And the money?" Ginny pulled her face from the pantry to look at her entirely.
"Astronomically high. I am making more than Harry," Hermione sighed and tried for a smile.
The redhead's face manipulated and skewed. "That sounds to me like they either really want to keep you, or he's really that much of an arsehole," she snorted.
"Probably both. Regulus seemed-" Hermione paused and exhaled. "He seemed like he was through with his cousin's pity party."
"So, he's going to be miserable to work for," Ginny grumbled and opened the fridge. "What are you going to do?"
"What I always do, Gin. Grin and bear it. Even if he is the biggest arsehole on this side of the planet- which let's face it, he is Draco Malfoy. I am still going to do the job. Regulus made it pretty clear that he wants me to move up."
"Under Draco?" Ginny snickered as she pulled out a carton of juice.
Hermione groaned and waved her off. "He'll have bigger fish to fry than to bother me if that were ever the case. Besides, Regulus gave me a working name. An alias so that there isn't any mocking from his side. He won't have a clue who I am because- well- he is blind." She finished the drained her glass.
Ginny gasped loudly, and the carton was set down with an audible thump. "That. Is. Evil," she paused, and her grin grew maniacal, "I love it! Was that Regulus's idea?"
Her curls bounced as she agreed. "Yes, and he told me to enjoy it. There were reasons I'm sure he was an Anguis. A slithering snake that one," she told Ginny who waved her along.
The redhead walked out into the dining area, "You boys come get some juice," she told the kids who were making a block fort in the living room.
"Make faces behind his back," Ginny snickered, and Hermione gasped.
"Don't you listen to your aunt, that's wrong," Hermione told Teddy who grabbed his half-full cup.
"Yep, mum," Teddy murmured.
James, however, had different plans and started making silly faces while Albus clapped. "My sneaky little boys. You do that to daddy when he gets home, alright?" Ginny said with a bright smile.
"I will never understand you, Gin," Hermione laughed, and the redhead bobbed her head.
She paused and lifted her finger. "You said that Draco and Regulus were cousins?" Ginny questioned with a tilt of her head.
Hermione frowned. "I suppose so, that's what Regulus said."
"I wonder how," Ginny murmured while scratching her head. "That is a curious thing. I never knew Sirius was related to the Malfoys. You think that would have been something he would have told Harry."
"Let's not forget. He ran away from home because of his family. Maybe it was just the easiest way for him to leave it be. Probably the only people who knew his past were his best mates," Hermione sighed slowly and nodded. "Enough of this sad prattle. Let's get into your football mom van and go to the shops. I need some new work clothes," Hermione declared with a smile.
"Why? It isn't like he is going to see it anyway," Ginny snorted, and Albus laughed.
"They are for me," Hermione sneered, and Ginny snorted annoyingly loud.
"Again mummy!" the toddler clapped, and his mother snorted even louder.
The kids started to mimic her, and she beamed at Hermione. "The bright side is you could be wearing polka-dotted knickers over your clothes, and he wouldn't know the difference," Ginny told her, and Hermione groaned.
"I don't care, Gin. I want to look nice. It is a job," Hermione retorted, and the redhead shrugged.
"Oh! You should tell him you are an absolute bombshell if he asks about your appearance," Ginny teased and playfully touched the woman's chest. "Big tits and arse, men would write sonnets about!"
Hermione's cheeks bloomed, and she yanked away from the redhead's grip. "Stop that. It isn't like I am dating him. I am working for him. I will have you know I don't plan to describe myself at all." She responded sharply.
"Mum starts her new job tomorrow," Teddy told his cousins with a nod.
"Yes, she does! We are going to make sure she survives her first day working for Draco bloody Malfoy!" Ginny shouted with a broad smile.
Hermione groaned, scrubbing her face roughly. "Yes, working for Draco bloody Malfoy…" she trailed off.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Draco felt the sweat dripping from his nose as he finished his set. "Good, Malfoy. Now drop and give me fifty. We will finish with a run on the treadmill," Flint's voice carried in the gym.
The Malfoy enjoyed the work. He loved feeling the way his body craved the activity. He was tired of being housed by limited sight and needed an outlet. Flint had been working with him for the last three years as his personal trainer. It made sense. He couldn't very well lift weights without a spotter most certainly now. Flint's expertise came in handy from the very beginning.
"Brisk run. Tell me if you want me to increase the speed," Flint told Draco as the trainer hooked the safety cord around his shirt.
"Lets- go," Draco huffed and patted the bar.
Glorious sweat. He could feel it dripping down his spine and being absorbed into his shirt. Draco could describe the feeling in detail. It was like the venom of the last few days was seeping from his skin and being released. He had so much anger. Cripple. Useless. Not good enough. Just like your father. So many things that drummed against his mind and were slowly being released through the energy used.
"Alright, we are gonna have you run for a mile, then we will slow to a cool down," Flint told him, and Draco bobbed his head while feeling the track increase.
This was another activity he had to get used too. It took Flint awhile to learn how to train Draco. Trial and error, but this last year they found out the perfect communication and regimen that worked. The Malfoy didn't like to talk while he was in this room. It echoed and threw him off. He was quiet and absorbed the sessions. It was his therapy as his mother said. Nothing like his father; yes, he liked that.
"Slowin' down, mate," Flint murmured, and the track below him lagged.
Draco found the pace and panted as he strode. "That time already?" he asked quietly through breaths.
"You have been dominating today. Who got your knickers in a twist?" Marcus questioned, and Draco waved his hand.
"Astoria," he huffed.
Marcus hummed, and Draco could hear him scratching his face or head- some sort of hair. "That bit about the Weasley then, eh? Zabini told me at our session yesterday that she let him dip the nib," he responded, and Draco groaned.
"Of course he would," Draco retorted and exhaled. "What would you do? I threw her out, but that is six years I would be throwing away if I did not let her apology mend fences," Draco murmured.
Draco knew that Flint wasn't keen. He was smart about physical fitness and possibly even routine behaviors, but he did have an edge on the Malfoy. Flint has been loyal and married to the same woman for years. He brags extensively about Daphne and her beauty when the men are cooling down in the pool.
"Well, to be honest," Marcus said after a pregnant silence. "I think you should let her redeem herself. She loves you very deeply. Just yesterday she was over at my flat crying to her sister. Now, I don't get into female matters, that is her business, but Astoria did seem very frazzled." He finished, and Draco heard the beep of the machine. "Hop on off; we will head down and cool off."
"Text message from, Zabini the Wanker. Shall I read it?" his feminine computer system announced.
"Alexis, read the text," Draco announced as he maneuvered off the treadmill.
"Text reads, 'Change of plans, wanker. We are going to pick you up for dinner,' shall I write a reply?" Alexis asked.
"Yes, reply, 'I don't want to go to the bars. Just dinner.' Send the message," Draco responded and reached for where he set his towel down.
"Message sent," Alexis declared and Flint chuckled.
"Can you imagine your life without a slave woman sending your texts?"
Draco was toweling his face off in thought. "No, I don't think I can without being able to see," he replied and tilted his head. "I will think on what you had to say, Marcus. I don't know if I can forgive her, however. That was the one thing she promised never to do without talking to me first. I don't mind her having her flings, but we always communicate who we see outside of each other. Honesty. I am not my father," he declared and reached around for his cane.
He heard Flint shuffle and the tool entered his hand. "Yes, I can understand that. Lucius was an absolute cad, you aren't anything like him," the trainer declared and Draco felt the weight from the man's hand. "Come on, let's cool down. You were going to tell me what happened with this Kelly girl."
Draco threw his towel over his shoulder and shook his head. "I didn't interview her. Regulus did," Draco growled and started tapping around for landmarks.
He soon found purchase on the corner of the door and recalled what part of the room they were in. "That is different. Do you think she went to him?" Flint questioned and Draco groaned.
The distant smell of chlorine was in the air as they wandered down the hall. "No, I think Blaise found a cute woman he wants to shag and make his little pet from the sounds of it. Some bloody nerve," Draco growled.
"Ten paces then left," Flint reminded him, and Draco bobbed his head. "Well, sounds like tomorrow is going to be interesting. Should I not stop by for a session then?"
Draco turned and his cane met with the door. He reached up and unlocked it before they stepped inside the room. The air was always heavier in here, but when the skylights were open, it was almost like being outside. He tapped around for the stone bench and started to shed his clothes. "I think it would be a fantastic idea. Then I will have an excuse to leave her be for a couple of hours and find out if she is going to keep things neat," he hissed and Flint chuckled.
The last of his clothing fell to the ground, and he reached for his tool. It clicked on the floor as he sought the bars to the pool and the ringing of it hitting metal was soon reverberating through the room. He could hear Flint stripping his clothing and wondered if he would care about the man skinny dipping with him if he could see. The likelihood of Marcus Flint ever sitting in a plunging pool with him was slim he was certain.
The cool water felt great and made his skin tighten as Draco slowly sunk down the steps. He tucked himself against the wall and set down his cane on the stone that surrounded the pool. Flint's splash was heard in the distance and Draco tilted his head. "How is the water today?" He shouted and Marcus laughed.
"Bloody fantastic! It is a shame you don't like to swim anymore, Draco." He replied and the Malfoy listened to the man swimming in the larger, more extravagant pool.
He was spoiled when he was a child. That pool sat there for years and he rarely showed interest. Now, he wished he enjoyed swimming. His fear got the best of him after almost drowning the first year of his disability. That was when his mother put in the plunging pool. The spa was on the other side and overlooked the estate, but this was accessible without having to walk near the unknown distance of the pool.
"Hey, if you do get back with Astoria, you should throw a party. Have us bring the kids and invite some of your coworkers. It would be a really good way to celebrate how wonderful the summer has been," Marcus said as his voice carried closer; he must be walking toward Draco by the sound of his feet on the tile.
"Yes, possibly. Let me get through this week and see if this Kelly girl is worth a shite. If she is then I might be able to relax some," he grumbled and the water swished about at Flint's entrance.
"It would be good for you. It is time to let it all go, mate. Just like we are chiseling your body, time to chisel your mind a bit. It could be worse, you could be blind and dumb," Flint snickered and Draco chuckled.
"Yes, I could be you but blind," he retorted, and Marcus belted out laughter into the room.
"But I still get shagged daily," Flint replied with an exhale. "Gotta shape up, Draco. Body and mind."
Draco ran his wet hands over his face and nodded. "Alright. I cannot promise much, but I will try."
"That's a good man. We wouldn't want you to end up like your dad. Drinking and cheating are recipes for the shite he put you through."
"When did you become a therapist?" Draco snarled and Flint snorted.
"When you started lifting almost as much as me. You have too much strength to get angry now, ya fuck. Save it for what really matters." Marcus paused and water splashed at Draco's face. "Get married, have some fucking kids."
"Last I checked you weren't my older brother," The Malfoy snickered, and pushed his hands forward to spray Flint.
"You're right, you wouldn't pay your brother to train you," he retorted and Draco laughed.
"Too true because he wouldn't train me unless he could get something. He would have more money than the Queen so he wouldn't need mine."
Flint was quiet a moment and Draco enjoyed the lapse between conversation. There were few people that just understood his abrasion and fortunately one was Marcus. "Draco, I mean it. This shite with Astoria isn't going to go away. You should either make up, or go and seek out pretty women who want to lick the sweat off your abs. Do something that is about making you feel worth it again."
"Alright, Marcus. After this week I will decide what I want to do," He replied and they lulled into the silent relaxation of the cooldown from his workout.