Hermione barely saw Draco that day which was odd. He usually hovered and made her bend backward for him. It was almost pleasant as she got to spend time going over the finances of the new company they were about to absorb at the turn of the year. She had started making her own notes and number crunching involved with the absorption. Draco never complimented her work, but he never scolded her for it either… she would take the prior to the latter any day.
The woman checked the screen and yawned. "I wonder if Charlie is here yet," she murmured to herself as she noted it was five minutes to five.
Cleaning up the desk and fixing the furniture, she closed off the office. Her limbs were tired, and she wanted to soak in the tub once she got home. Descending the stairs, she glanced around and heard it. Teddy's laughter. It was coming from the dining room. So the woman walked through the creepy hallway to the location of her son.
"Draco, you are too funny!" Teddy exclaimed with a clap.
The woman was taking in the scene. Narcissa, Charlie, Teddy, and Draco were all sitting at the table. Draco was making utterly stupid faces at the boy. Charlie was chuckling and sipping on a glass of what could have been iced tea. Andromeda was writing on a piece of paper and smiling at the child's happiness.
"Good evening, Granger," Draco said with a bright smile.
Hermione glanced at him and then Charlie. "I see you have met," she remarked quietly.
Charlie slapped Draco on the shoulder and chuckled. "This guy, you didn't tell me you worked with a moron." He snickered, and the Malfoy scowled.
"I like to consider myself Intelligently Challenged, Weasley," Draco retorted and Hermione bristled.
"You both, you're getting along?" she asked before chewing her bottom lip.
"Sure, we were trading work-out regimens. Flint has him on one tight routine. Some of the stuff I am going to have to put into my own," Charlie declared and then she saw it.
They were indeed more similar than she thought before. That made her stomach turn. "That's lovely. I am glad you could get along with him. Someone needs to," she said with a dismissive tone.
Draco snorted and flung his hand in her direction. "You are a party pooper. Speaking of parties, Charles, you are going to escort her to the birthday party we planned for her, aren't you?" Draco asked, and Charlie chuckled.
"Of course, Malfoy. Someone has to bat her fans away," Charlie declared and Hermione smiled.
"I don't have fans, hero," she responded and finally sat down next to Teddy's free side.
"Hero? He gets a nickname, but your boss doesn't?" Draco asked with a scowl.
"Mum calls you dunderhead, is that a nickname?" Teddy was trying to keep up with the conversation.
Narcissa snorted and stifled laughter. "That indeed is a nickname, Edward. Maybe not the one he was looking for." She murmured and put down her pen.
"Dunderhead?" Draco asked with an accusing tone.
"Among other things," Hermione sneered, and Draco chuckled.
"Fair enough," he responded while scratching at his chin. "Weasley, do you know how hard it is to see if she is joking without sight? I am sure she has helluva a poker face, however."
Charlie barked laughter and shook his head. "She has the worse poker face, Malfoy. I would take her for her money and knickers if we played."
Hermione pursed her lips, folding her arms. "Charlie, I am a darn good poker player, thank you."
"Mum, what is poker?"
Charlie leaned across the table and smirked at the boy. "Something, your Uncle Charlie, is going to teach you to play so you can make some real pounds in school." He told the boy.
Narcissa arched an eyebrow, gazing at Hermione. "You have your hands full, Hermione. His two male role models are an ambitious Anguis and a mischievous Gryphem."
Teddy grinned and nodded. "Draco is Daredevil, and Uncle Charlie is Wolverine. I already drew a comic book about them and me." He confirmed, and Hermione leaned over and kissed his hair.
"You are too cute, son," she sighed, and Draco chuckled.
"If I get the costume for Halloween, we will go trick or treating around here. They give better candy. Rich hotty totty crowd." Draco declared, which made Hermione blush.
"Love, if they are superheroes, who are you?" she asked the boy, and he nodded.
"Ironman, mum. Uncle Harry is Batman, Aunt Ginny is Catwoman, and you are Wonderwoman." He said definitively with a nod.
"Wonderwoman? My god, are you going to get the costume?" Charlie asked with a sneaky smile.
Hermione was now the color of cherries. "Um, a conversation for later."
"Oh, I like this idea. I can order it custom made if you like," Draco offered, and Charlie snorted.
"You wouldn't be able to see her in it," he reminded him, and Draco snorted.
"Doesn't mean I wouldn't imagine it. I remember what she looked like in school. I can get the gist." He retorted, and Charlie folded in laughter.
Hermione cleared her throat. "We should probably go soon, Charles," she urged.
Honestly, she wasn't expecting them to get along so well. She was planning for tension and possible insult throwing. Draco was pretty vocal about his disgust toward the Weasleys and to see him enjoying her- well, Charlie's company, was unnerving.
Charlie took Draco's hand and pulled him in for a half hug. "Alright, brotha, I will see you Saturday."
Draco hemmed with a giant smile. "Of course. Also, make sure when she takes the car to check the oil. It hasn't been used in quite a while." He declared, and Hermione tilted her head.
"Take what car?" she asked, and Teddy threw his hands up.
"Draco said you were going to drive his car until you buy a new one, mum!" Teddy declared, and Hermione frowned.
"He has a beautiful Aston just sitting there rotting. It needs to be driven a bit, so he offered," Charlie clarified with a bright smile. "I am going to drop you off tomorrow and check the car, give her a bit of a bath and then take Teddy to Gin's for some cousin time." Charlie finished, and Hermione rubbed her arm.
"Thank you, Draco," she murmured, and the Malfoy nodded.
"I cannot expect you to get to work without a car. I have one sitting in the garage. It makes sense," he said and shrugged his shoulders.
"Come on, sweets. Let's go have dinner at that nice place just outside of London before we head home," Charlie declared and patted Draco's shoulder before standing.
Hermione nudged Teddy who got up and hugged his great-aunt. Narcissa held him tightly and sighed. "It is such a joy to have you in my life, Edward."
"I love you, Aunt Cissa. You remind me so much of Grandmother," he said fondly, and she stifled a laugh.
"I am so glad you think so," she replied and he released her.
He went up to Draco and tapped his arm. Draco turned and embraced the boy. "You take care of your mum, kid." Draco declared, and Teddy nodded against him.
"Of course, I always do," the boy responded and went to his Uncle Charlie.
Charlie took his hand, and they walked around to meet Hermione on the other side. They waved and murmured farewells before walking down the hallway. Draco listened for the door and exhaled slowly. He pinched his brows together and scrubbed his face.
"Draco," Narcissa declared.
He did not answer right away as he composed himself. He didn't want to like Charlie. He wanted to hate him, but he could hear how much the man protected and cared for Hermione. The Malfoy couldn't loathe a man who only wanted her happiness; he did too.
"Draco, you really do care for that girl," Narcissa mused.
"It doesn't matter, mother. She is pleased with Charles Weasley. He is everything she could want and need," he responded and lounged in the chair.
"You don't see how she looks at you," his mother whispered, and Draco snapped his face in her direction.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think I have ever seen Hermione so torn before."
Draco felt like she punched him in the chest. "Mother, no. Don't say those things to me. Don't fill my head with more complications than is already there."
"I am just informing you what your eyes cannot see for yourself. That girl is fighting having feelings for you. Try to be kinder to yourself. She has seen you at your worst and still knows you are a great man. If I were you, I wouldn't envy the man she is with… he doesn't move her the way you do."
"I hate that I cannot see these things for myself," he grumbled and slumped over his elbows on the table.
"Just keep doing what you are, Draco. Call it mother's intuition, but I believe she will see it in turn." Narcissa declared, and he heard her stand up. "I am going to go enjoy a soak in the spa. If you need anything, I told Ramsey to listen for you."
"Mother, can you help me out to the pool? I will go get on my suit, but I think I want to enjoy a swim tonight."
She gasped and clapped. "Of course, Draco."
He climbed out of the chair and nodded. "I will be down in ten minutes." He said and left to go get his swimsuit.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Hermione was lounging in the water and sighing to herself. Her eyes were closed, and she was running her fingers listlessly. She ran her hands over her body and sighed, it was nice to be relaxed. Her mind assaulted her with a blond man's smirk, and her abdomen tightened. The woman jerked her hand away from her submerged skin and gasped.
"Bloody hell, I need help," she grumbled and sat up.
There was a knock at the bathroom door, and Hermione closed the curtain. "Yes?" she asked.
"It's me, sweets. Can I come in?" Charlie asked, and she made a sound of agreement.
He came in, pulling back the curtain. "You want a backrub? Teddy is in his room reading before bed."
Hermione smiled at him and nodded. "You would be my hero."
Charlie sat on the edge of the bathtub and started running his rough fingers over her shoulder. It was a deep rubbing, and she released sounds of enjoyment as he kneaded at her sore body. The Weasley worked silently for a few moments before kissing her neck. "Hermione, when were you going to tell me that you had a fetish?" he breathed against her skin.
"A fetish, Charlie?" Hermione murmured, and he hummed.
"Yes, a fetish for blindfolds and handcuffs," he whispered, and she snorted.
"What made you come to that conclusion?"
"Because you are with me, sweets. I am a very," Charlie paused and ran his fingers over her neck gently. "Very naughty man."
She made a sound of agreement. "I am up for trying anything once," Hermione sighed and he chuckled.
"When Teddy goes to bed, shall we see how quiet you can be?" he murmured and nipped at her neck.
"Quite a possibility if you keep touching me like that," She replied as his hands moved further down her back.
"Fair enough. I am going to make you fall asleep satisfied, my sweets," he said and kissed her hair.
Hermione was starting to warm to this. Him being here. Charlie taking care of her. It was in that moment that she realized, it was going to end. Nothing this grand happens to her without reality announcing that it wasn't anything but a dream. Things weren't that simple, were they? She could fall for Charlie easily in another life, but something just felt missing from it. It was out of focus and hazy. Why did she feel like she was torn at the middle?