Author Notes: Thank you guys so much! All the reads and reviews are really making me enjoy writing this ten times more! The plot thickens? Only one way to find out. Enjoy!
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Hermione was flustered after their walk to the stables. Draco was such an arse about things, and he embarrassed her in front of Teddy. He told the boy that he needed a father to teach him all of the boyish things. How dare him! She was doing the very best she could. Hermione sent him to a boy's camp and had for the last four summers. Two weeks camping and doing boy things.
Now she was standing in front of four exquisite swimsuits, and she couldn't feel more affronted. She doesn't wear these things! Why was she even entertaining this? His excuse was bland. Zabini was coming over with Marcus who was bringing his twin girls. There was a knock at the guest room door.
"Helen?" Narcissa called through the door.
Hermione turned and opened the door. "Yes?"
The matron's expression was empathetic. "Can I help you? I brought you some wraps. I know what it is like to feel a bit more conservative about what to wear."
Hermione stepped aside, and Narcissa came in with a bundle of clothes. "I- well- I am not used to this," she admitted and the older woman nodded.
Narcissa frowned at the suits and sighed. "My goodness, my son might have lost his sight, but his tastes have not changed. Miserable and flashy," she grumbled.
The women went to work and decided on a throw that went over the simple black suit and looked very appealing. When Hermione came out of the bathroom, Narcissa clapped and giggled. "That looks lovely and tasteful. Do you feel comfortable?"
Hermione glanced in the mirror and smiled with a nod. The suit peered through the peach dress and really brought style to the holy garment. "Thank you so much," she murmured, and Narcissa nodded.
"I don't want you to feel mortified around those boys. Draco may not be able to see the vulgarity of a small suit anymore, but they will tease you mercilessly."
Hermione exhaled and bobbed her head. "I didn't even want to do this," she admitted, and Narcissa bowed her head.
"I know, but I don't remember the last time my son had voluntarily taken time off of work since his accident. I would say it isn't very professional, but this might be the start of his real recovery, Hermione," the older woman responded.
Hermione gazed wide-eyed at her. "You knew as well?"
"Yes, of course, I did. My cousin tells me everything," she declared and waved her along. "Let's go have this dip in the pool. I won't go in myself, but I will dawdle with my plants out there."
Hermione followed Narcissa down the stairs quietly and absorbed what she had said. It was down a long hall and passed a windowed gym with weights, a few machines, and a yoga ball. She could smell the familiar scent of the pool before they reached the large door. When the Malfoy opened it, Hermione gasped. It was absolutely spectacular.
The massive pool was surrounded by curved natural stone. It had a waterfall to the side of it where a spa overlooked the estate through windows. The sunlight peered through the ceiling with decorative skylights that looked to open. Hermione noted the metal at the top of all the windows, which was likely to seal it off in case of storms. To her left, she saw the smaller pool where the Anguis were chatting and drinking from bottles.
"Mum! Look it's magical!" Teddy shouted from across the room.
He dove into the pool, and she clapped and smiled. "Very good," she called out when he surfaced.
Two blond girls followed him into the water and Hermione stifled a giggle. They might have been around Teddy's age, and she thought it was cute that the girls were laughing and trying to get his attention.
"Kelly, are you going to stand there the whole time?" Draco called out.
Hermione wandered over to the men, two of which were eyeing her. "Seems Mrs. Malfoy helped you cover up that exquisite body," Zabini purred, and Hermione huffed.
"I am not eye candy, Zabini and I refused to be treated as such. I only agreed to this insanity because my son begged me," she retorted and flipped her brown hair from her shoulder.
"What suit did she pick? Was it the green or the black suit? I had a feeling it was going to be between them." Draco commented, and Hermione groaned.
Marcus chuckled and tilted his head. "Black, but your mum gave her a peach cover."
Hermione waved them off and walked toward the large pool. She slowly disappeared below the water and approached the splashing children.
Draco was tilting his head and listening to her talk to the girls and introduce herself. "She sounds like she would rather talk to children than you both," he remarked, and one of them huffed.
"I wish I could give you my eyes for today, Malfoy. I am going to bang that enchanting woman so hard," Zabini teased, and there was a jostling. "God, Flint what the fuck," he growled.
"Leave her alone, Zabini. I actually like this one, and you don't need to scare her off," Marcus hissed sharply.
"What does she look like?" Draco questioned now amused by their bickering.
"Curly-hair, big doe eyes, curves for days. A bit of innocence on her face and skin that looks edible," Zabini declared, and Draco arched an eyebrow.
"She sounds like your type," he retorted, and Zabini chuckled.
"She is. Well, not usually. I like bad girls," Blaise murmured with a sigh. "It is true; I would ruin her."
There was splashing, and he heard firm footsteps approach. "Are you all just going to sit in this pool all day?" Hermione questioned, and Draco tilted his head.
"I don't go in the large pool," he told her.
She hemmed and tapped her barefoot on the tile. "Get up," she ordered.
"What?" Draco questioned, a bit stunned at her tone.
"You got me in this overpriced suit, ordered me to come down here, now you are going to climb in the pool. Even if you stay in waist deep, you are going to get in the other pool." She commanded.
Draco could not see the frown on her face and the way the other two men had gaping mouths at her abrasive tone. The Malfoy was now glowering up in her direction. "You have some nerve, Kelly."
"No, I believe in compromise. I did not argue with you about doing this. I didn't even argue about this god-awful suit. Now, if you want me to help you get into the other pool, I will be more than willing, but you are not going to sit on your laurels, Draco Malfoy." Her tone was direct, and his eyebrows crawled north to his hair.
"Kelly-" Zabini started, but Draco waved him off.
"Alright, Kelly, I will entertain you today," the Malfoy declared. "You want to help me then you are going to make sure I don't drown," he spat and grasped at the metal bar near him.
Hermione waited for him to find his bearings once he was out of the water and he reached out. She took his hand and led him slowly to the bar at the shallow end of the pool. The other two men gathered up the bottles and Draco's cane, placing them at the stone table before watching her help the man get into the pool.
"There, not so bad," Hermione snickered as he walked into the three-foot water.
Draco shook his head. "I look ridiculous," he growled, and she giggled.
"A little, but only because you are glaring in the wrong direction," she teased, and he snorted.
"Uncle Draco!" one of the girls swam over. "You got into the pool!" she shouted, and Draco laughed.
Zabini jumped into the water, and Marcus soon joined them as they waded over. "Sugar, don't be so loud, you are going to hurt your uncle's ears," Marcus reminded her.
Teddy swam over and grinned. "Mr. Malfoy, can you do what Daredevil does?" he asked, and Draco snorted.
"No, unfortunately not, Teddy," Draco responded.
There was a chiming sound, and Hermione gasped. "Oh, my phone!" she declared.
"Don't worry, Kelly, we are here," Zabini snickered, and she waved him off.
Hermione walked toward the stairs and shuffled from the water to grab her phone from her bag. Teddy had brought it down for her earlier. She grabbed out her cell and saw Ginny was calling.
"What's going on, Gin?" Hermione questioned as she connected the call.
"Thank god you answered! Could you do me a huge favor?" Ginny questioned, and Hermione made a sound.
"Of course, what is going on?"
"I am not going to be able to leave until later tonight. Dad's procedure is running late, and Lavender has to meet up with her family for dinner. Could you drop by and get them? You can do take out if it is easiest. Harry said he would get off early, but he is so close to his promotion I don't want to jeopardize it."
"Yes, tell her I will be by at five thirty to get them. We will go to that pizza place they like, and then I will take them over to your house." Hermione told her, and Ginny groaned in relief.
"Thanks, you are a lifesaver a million times over. I am sorry, but this thing with my dad has made me lose my mind." Ginny admitted, and Hermione made a calming sound.
"No, you are fine. Just take care of your mum. I know she is absolutely batty by now. Tell her I love her, and I will see you tonight," Hermione declared.
"I love you, girl!" Ginny exclaimed, making Hermione giggle.
"I love you too. Please drive safe," she said, and Ginny agreed before hanging the phone up.
Hermione turned back and saw that Narcissa was watching the kids and men playing a game. "Uncle Draco, you can always be Marco because you can't see," one of the girls shouted, and Draco belted out laughter.
"That isn't fair," he said as he waded around with his hands out. "Marco," he called out.
"No cheating wanker, your eyes are open!" Zabini teased.
They all were in the shallow water and swishing around trying to avoid the blind man. Teddy was hiding and giggling behind him. Draco pivot and tagged him. "There, now I have a helper. Go get them, kid!" Draco growled, and Teddy belted out a stream of wicked laughter.
Teddy swam at the girls who screeched and floated off. The children started splashing each other in the deeper end, and Hermione walked over to the edge of the pool. Draco turned his head and snorted. "How are we going to play a game if your kids are completely disinterested after two minutes," he scoffed.
The woman climbed down to the edge and slid into the water. "That is children in general."
"Hey, Kelly, are you going to have any of your own?" Zabini asked, walking closer to the woman.
"Oh, I don't know. I don't think about that," Hermione declared, and Marcus arched an eyebrow at her.
"Why not, you have obviously done an excellent job with your son. He is a good kid," Flint declared, and Draco sounded agreement.
"I like him. He is witty. Probably would be an Anguis if he went to Hogwarts," Draco mused, and Teddy groaned as he approached.
"No, Mr. Malfoy. I am Gryphem like my father; he was super brave. My mother was a Melis, and she always was proud of that. Grandmother was an Anguis though, but that was a long time ago," Teddy finished and all the adults who could see, looked at the smirking kid.
"Teddy, go to the spa with the girls, alright?" Hermione asked him, and he nodded; she could see this was information that stunned the room.
"Alright, mum. Did you know Penelope and Diana are Anguises too? I didn't even know I went to school with them," he declared and waved as he left. "Wait for me," he hummed at the girls who were playing with the foam animals they brought.
Zabini and Marcus were glaring at Hermione. "Whose kid is that?" Marcus growled, and the woman gulped.
"Why do I feel like everyone thinks I am hiding his identity? I never once avoided talking about his family," She snapped and folded her arms.
"Helen," Narcissa said, and Hermione turned to see her gazing down with bright eyes. "Is that Andromeda's grandson?" she asked quietly, and Hermione paled.
"Yes, why what's wrong? Did she do something horrible to your family? The Tonks were always kind to me," Hermione murmured and approached Narcissa with an expression of guilt.
Narcissa started to tear up and exhaled a shuddered breath. "Helen, he is my sister's grandson," she nearly collapsed to the ground when Hermione climbed out of the pool and helped her to a chair.
"Your sister? Was Andromeda your sister? Oh, my…" Hermione trailed off and gasped. "She said her family cut her off for marrying a carpenter instead of her cousin. Your parents disowned her? She was a Malfoy?"
Narcissa took the woman's hand and shed a few tears. "No, dear, she was a Black."
Hermione's skin grew taut, and her lips parted in shock. "Oh, my stars," Hermione whispered, and Narcissa's tears splashed her gray dress.
"I never knew what became of my sister or her family aside from hearsay every once and awhile. She moved from the country, and I hated her at first. I knew little of Nymphadora, but I knew that she was a Melis and married a man who my cousin went to school with. I never got to see her before she passed away." Narcissa admitted, and Hermione squeezed her hand.
"She never spoke ill of you. She spoke kindness when talking about her sisters, no matter how much Bella ruined her life."
Narcissa nodded, and Hermione jerked when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Kelly, let me sit with my mother," Draco murmured, and she turned to see that Marcus helped him over to them.
Hermione shifted, and Draco sat down next to his mother on the lounging chair. She clung to him and cried harder. "We found him, Draco!" she wept, and Draco nodded against her.
"I know, it's alright. He is safe and has been well taken care of," He murmured, and Narcissa nodded.
Hermione gulped and took a few steps back. "Mum, is Mrs. Malfoy alright?" Teddy asked.
She twisted to her son and smiled. "Yes, she just is so happy she is leaking, love."
Narcissa pulled away from her son and smiled through her tears at the boy. "Edward, how would you like to come in with me and get some ice cream?"
He nodded, but then glanced up at his mother. "Can I, mum?"
"Yes, I think Mrs. Malfoy could use some ice cream," Hermione muttered, and Teddy gasped while clapping.
"This has been better than camp! Thanks, mum!" he shouted and paced towards the girls still in the spa. "Penny, Anna, we are getting ice cream!" he told them, and they scrambled from the spa.
The kids took the towels from the chairs and Narcissa stood up. "Thank you," she whispered and took Hermione's hand. "You have given me peace, today," she murmured and waved at the children. "Come along, ladies and gentleman. Let's have some extra chocolate chip ice cream." The matron declared, and the kids followed her from the room.
Hermione hugged her arms as the men scrutinized her. "I swear I was not hiding any of this. I had no clue he was related to the Blacks," Hermione murmured, and Draco laughed.
"My god, this is perfect. My cousin is an arsehole. He didn't call you to tell you? That snaky fuck paid for Teddy's schooling when he found out he was a Black by relation," Draco declared, and Hermione gasped.
"He did what?" she shouted, and Zabini chuckled.
"He must have looked up your information and did some research. I heard him pay for Teddy's schooling in full a couple of weeks ago," Blaise responded, and Hermione turned scarlet.
"How dare him! I can take care of my son, myself!" She howled, and Draco's face scrunched up.
"My god, Kelly. What is wrong with you?" Draco snapped and stood up, towering over the damp woman.
She glared up into his frosted eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "I don't need charity. Everything in my life I earned myself," she snapped, her breathing heavy in frustration.
He decreased the distance between their faces; his lips parted in a sneer. "Then fucking earn it, Kelly. Don't get self-righteous because you need to prove something to the world. That child, whether you like it or not, is my relative and he fucking deserves the world. I haven't heard my mother this happy since before my father tried to kill us both," he ended with a deadly low tone.
Hermione blinked a few times, and his hand snaked to her shoulder. "Don't take offense. We more than ever like to keep our family close and taken care of," his voice softened, and her breath hitched.
"Okay," she exhaled, and Draco smiled.
They stood close like that for a moment longer than Draco thought he should, but he liked her fire. There was something attractive about a woman who holds her own. However, sometimes they are whirling dervishes and what Draco liked the most is she released her stubbornness because of heart, not logic. Helen Kelly was not someone to be fucked with, but he enjoyed that she wasn't icy and had warm blood in her heart for family.
"Well, this was so fun, but I think I should either ask you to strip for me, Kelly or make you get back in that water," Zabini finally ended the silence, and the woman pulled away from Draco.
Hermione rubbed the back of her neck and walked over to her bag. "I have to get dressed and finish up work for the day," she said flatly.
"How about dinner, my place? I am sure we can find you a sitter," Blaise snickered, and Hermione sighed heavily.
"I have an engagement after work. A family engagement," she responded, and Marcus shoved the darker Anguis in the pool.
"Don't listen to him, Kelly. He likes that your dress is see-through now that it is sticking to your body," Flint teased, and Zabini wiped his face and nodded.
"I have to get cleaned up, Astoria will be over after work," Draco said flatly, and he heard footsteps that crossed the room.
Hermione wasn't sure why, but that bothered her beyond belief. She hemmed and rubbed her arm as she grabbed a towel. "Zabini," she murmured, and he climbed from the water.
"Yes, darling? Princess of the ocean, goddess of the moon?" he purred and walked up to her.
"You like sushi?" she asked, and he grinned brightly.
"Yes, I do, very much, Kelly."
Hermione shifted her damp hair from her neck. "Good, get a reservation for Saturday," she murmured and grabbed hers and Teddy's things.
She was at the door before Blaise could respond. "A date or work function?" Marcus had handed Draco his cane and was glaring at her.
Hermione quirked a smile at Zabini as she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I suppose you will have to figure that out." She said and left the pool room.
"Fuck yeah!" Blaise shouted, and Hermione heard it through the door.
She pressed her back on the door and gasped. Did she just ask someone out so cavalier? What the hell? Hurrying off, she contemplated her sanity. She asked out someone she thoroughly despised from her school years. For what? My god, what was Ginny going to say to her? What was Harry going to say? Hermione contemplated these things several times over as she got dressed and finished up her work day.