Author Notes: I just want to throw out the absolute gratitude I have for you all for reading and reviewing my story! It has been a blast to write so far, and that is one of the reasons I am writing so very much! I love the story and am glad everyone else is loving it too!
The unusual sound of different voices filled the houses as he poked his cane around and listened for the turn to the pool room. He wanted to go and listen to all the children playing in the water. He wasn't dressed for a party as his trunks rustled against his skin. The shirt he picked out was plain... all in all, he was going to just take a backseat for entertaining.
His cane prodded the door, and he smiled as he opened it gently.
"Uncle Harry! Look!" a small voice shouted.
"Look me too, dad!" another declared.
There was splashing and then giggling. "Draco bloody Malfoy," a soft voice murmured as he entered the room. The talking around the pool quieted, and he felt a small hand on his arm. "Would you like to me walk you over to where we are sitting? Its Ginny Potter," she announced, and Draco nodded slowly.
"Thank you, the pool has never been easy to gauge for me," he replied as she slowly tugged him along.
She led him over toward the other end from what he thought was the edge of the pool. His cane soon hit the stone with a thud, and Ginny's hand pulled him down on the stone bench. "Who am I sitting with, I cannot see," he said and pulled off his sunglasses. There were gasps, and he stifled a smirk. "Harry Potter?" Draco inquired.
"Yes, Malfoy. Ron is here as well as Lavender and Fred," Harry's voice entered the space.
"Ah, good, the start of a good party," Draco snickered.
"Draco Malfoy, you best behave yourself," Hermione's voice sounded across the area.
Draco jerked and smiled. "Is she wearing the dress I bought her?" he asked in a whisper to where Ginny sat next to him.
"The green one?" Ginny questioned.
Draco nodded as he heard footfalls approaching behind him. "Good afternoon, Granger. Did my mother show you the garden yet?"
He felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Yes, it is lovely, thank you." Hermione murmured gently.
"You're welcome. Where is your boyfriend? I wanted to show him my theatre," he declared, and she laughed.
"He is out in the garden with his mother and father. Your mother is giving them the tour." Hermione replied, and he smirked.
"How she loves to show off. She is such as my father said. A beautiful white peacock," Draco sighed, and Hermione hugged his shoulders.
"I am going to get something to drink. Did you want something, Malfoy?"
"A glass of that Moscato my mom has for the party please?" He questioned.
"I will be right back. Try not to embarrass yourself," Hermione warned as her body pulled from him.
He heard her footsteps fade and a voice cleared. "So, anyone notice her eye-fucking a blind man?" Fred snickered, and a snort followed.
"Shut up, Fred. She is shagging our brother." Ginny snapped.
"Oh, are you sure she wasn't just trying to figure out which one of you is going to fling curse words at me first?" Draco retorted, and someone poked his back. "Which child is poking me?" Draco asked.
"It's me, Cousin Draco. I was wondering if you would show James your cool superhero eyes?" Teddy's voice sounded, making Draco turn to it.
"Blimey! Can you really read minds?" another child asked.
"Minds!" a second child shouted.
Draco ducked closer to where the children's voices came from. "If I can, you best behave. I might tell your mum you were planning on throwing your cousin Victoire in the pool when she gets here." He hissed, and the boys gasped together.
"See I told you!" Teddy exclaimed. "We will be back," Teddy declared, and the boys scampered off on the tile.
"Hey, how did you know that?" Ron asked sharply.
Draco turned back to the table with a stretched smile. "I hear very well now, Weasley. They were planning it while we were walking over to the table." A small delicate pair of footfalls was heard. "Ah, Astoria, darling. I was wondering if you were going to make an appearance." Draco declared, and he heard her giggle.
"Hello, Draco. What a nice party," she told him, and he reached for her.
"You come sit and tell them all the fantastic news. I am going to hunt down Granger and my drink," he told her.
"Stay to the left, darling. Three feet and twenty paces to the door," Astoria declared.
Draco stood up, and she helped him untangle from the stone bench. He listened to her directions and tapped the tiles until he heard the familiar clunk of his cane on the break near the stone bench. The blind man was able to map himself back toward the door with more ease. Opening it, he heard footsteps coming toward him.
"There you are, Malfoy, I was just going to bring you your drink," Hermione's voice entered the hall.
"Take a walk with me?" he asked, and she paused.
He could hear her tense up. "Well, certainly," she said, and he held out his hand.
His wine glass went into it and her arm wrapped around his upper arm, leaving him free to sip still if he liked. Draco was quiet and enjoyed her presence as they traveled back toward the central part of the house. "Can we go out the garden?" he questioned, and she hummed.
"Yes," she replied.
"You look beautiful this afternoon," he declared, and Hermione let loose a throaty laugh.
"Did you grope me without me knowing? Last I checked you couldn't tell through hearing my voice," she retorted, and his lips twitched.
"If I did, don't you think you would have noticed? It wouldn't be subtle," he murmured, and she snorted, squeezing his arm lightly.
"Granger, you are too sober for your own party. Drink," he ordered.
"My son leaves for school tomorrow, I cannot drive drunk nor be hung over," she told him.
They turned and walked through the hallway; he could hear the shift in the floor. "I asked Charlie to bring Teddy's stuff for school here. You are staying the night," he declared, and she gasped.
"Draco, what were you even thinking?"
They approached the table, and he thumped his cane after sipping his wine. "Guzzle down your drink. You are getting another right now," he commanded.
A snort sounded her displeasure, but then he heard her softly gulp a few times. The thud of glass on the table was the next clank. "There, happy?" She asked, and he chuckled.
"Tickled pink, Granger."
She tugged him lightly, and they walked toward where he knew the back door was located. The door opened, and she helped him through the threshold. He could smell the sweetness in the air and inhaled deeply.
"Tell me what it looks like in detail?" he asked her and she giggled.
"Well, the garden has lanterns hanging from the railings. There is a lovely tent over tables on the lawn beyond the flowers. The peacocks are down by the pond dancing. There are lights strung from the house in dangling loops near the gazebo. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful sunset because the clouds in the distance are mingling with the skyline." She finished, and he sighed.
"Thank you; I wish I could see it, Granger," He whispered, and she walked him down the stairs.
"Well, I wouldn't be of any used to you then," she teased as he sipped his glass.
"You are seriously underrating your company value," he told her.
Her grip on his arm loosened gently. "You must be joking, Draco Malfoy."
"Dove, did you want me to help Mr. Malfoy where he was going?" An older man's voice entered their conversation.
"No, it's quite alright, dad. We are just taking a little walk," Hermione declared, and Draco sipped his glass again.
"Arthur Weasley?" Draco asked, and someone grunted.
"Draco Malfoy, don't you make her work on her party," A female voice sounded.
"Ah, and there is Molly Weasley. Good afternoon to you both," Draco responded.
Hermione sighed heavily. "We are just taking a walk. I am not working, mum."
"Miss Granger, do you mind if we take a walk instead?" Regulus's voice sounded.
Hermione tilted her head in his direction and saw him let go of his grasp on Severus's arm. She turned to her companion, and Draco leaned to her ear. "Go ahead, I have a feeling your second parents are going to kill me with their shooting glares if you don't," he whispered, and she giggled.
Pecking his cheek in a friendly way, she released his arm. "I am going to take a stroll with your cousin. I will return."
Molly and Arthur were wearing puzzling stares when she pulled away from him. Hermione sent them a warning expression not to pester the Malfoy as she walked toward Regulus. He offered his arm and the regal looking man led her down the stone path away from the house.
"Can I ask you a question, Miss Granger?" he finally asked softly.
"Yes, sir?" she replied, and he chuckled.
"You can call me Regulus outside of work," he told her as they strolled past the hedges.
"What was your question, Regulus?"
He twitched his lips and scratched his chin with his free hand. "I have a problem. My interests have always been on the more masculine side leaving little room for else on a domestic front. My brother never procreated himself, and that is grave with news of my cousin's inability to procreate." Regulus paused and tilted his head.
"What do you mean I am not following?" Hermione was scowling deeply by the time they got to the tents.
Regulus arched an eyebrow. "The child Astoria Greengrass is carrying is not Draco Malfoy's child. Which leads me to my question; Would you like to raise a Black?" He finished, and she shuddered in the weight of the conversation.
"What? You want me to raise… your child?" Her chest was pounding, and he turned entirely to her.
Regulus's focus was stern. "Yes. However, I don't want to get in your way of rearing. I want you to do so, and I will care for you handsomely for it." He said, and her lips parted in shock.
"Why me, I am not noble, and I am confidently not something you would have chosen years ago." She whispered, and he exhaled.
"You are intimidating for anyone. You are strong-willed, ambitious, witty and heartfelt. My cousin has spoken to me about his beguilement with you. I want you in my family and to raise my lineage. I will give you anything you desire for doing such. You are raising Edward with a charming and unwavering joy." He paused, and her eyes grew. "If anyone could raise my bloodline, it will be you, Hermione."
Hermione shifted away from him, and she glanced around before returning her gaze to him. "Is this a joke? You want me to raise two children on my own?"
Regulus smirked and folded his arms across his chest. "You really think you wouldn't live better than the queen if you did this?" he asked, and she chewed her lip.
"Why, Regulus?"
He leaned closer to her and his smile softened. "Because, Hermione, you are the only woman I could see being the matriarch of our future. If I die in twenty years, I know that you will masterfully control the state of affairs for my heirs. I will give you time to think about such, but you will receive what you give, darling. The world will be at your feet."
Hermione's frown grew. "Whose idea was this?"
"Draco's, surprisingly enough," he said, and Hermione jerked.
"Why?"
"People make mental motions when they care deeply for someone, Hermione," Regulus declared, and she exhaled roughly. "I would not ask you if I did not think you were the perfection we need to revive the House of Black."
She nodded slowly. "I will think about your offer, Regulus. What you are asking is a life change. You are asking me to bore a child. One not from love, but duty." She murmured, and he bobbed his head.
"Yes, but it is from love. You love my family. I see it in you. My family loves you very deeply. Narcissa sings your praises and tells me how much she wishes you would marry her son. Severus speaks of your kindness and gentle nature. Draco yearns for you to want for nothing. I believe you feel the same exact way for them," he finished, and her eyes grew to the size of baseballs.
"I have to ask, why does Narcissa want me to marry her son?" She said with a pointed tone.
Regulus lips quirked to the side with a smile. "If you have to ask me, you aren't paying attention." He stopped and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You think it over, and we will talk at more length about it. I want you to think about what you want, Hermione. What would be beneficial for your happiness? If it is only to raise Edward and work with my cousin until you are gray, I will never ask this of you again."
His gray eyes evolved to a warmer hint of mischief much like his brother used to bore. "However, if it is family and a yearning to be settled amongst those that praise ambition and family… you will have to dig deep and decide. I am not pressuring you to do this. I am taking the opportunity where I see fit to offer you more than a position in my company."
Hermione's expression turned into amusement. "You want me to become an inheritor and the only way you can do that is if I raise your children. Meaning my stake in the company and the family is higher than if I just worked for you…" she trailed off, and he nodded.
"You would become by noble acknowledgment, the highest rank below me in the Black fortune. I would be, in essence, making you the sole beneficiary of anything I don't bequeath to my domestic partner. Severus and I have spoken about such, and he agrees with me. You would be best suited to do the job."
"So this is business then?"
"In blunt terms, yes."
Hermione finished her drink and bobbed her head. "I will think about this at length, Regulus. I understand you have always been keen on your decisions and always look at the importance of them before acting upon them. I expect you let me do the same."
Regulus took her hand and kissed the top of it gently. "Of course, Hermione. Just know, there is no need to rush. I will not hassle nor condemn you for any decision."
"Okay, I'll ponder it seriously after Teddy is off at school."
"Thank you, I appreciate the time and thought placed into this." He replied and shifted his head. "I want to show you the pond. It isn't often I get to see the peacocks up close. Would you mind?" he inquired.
"Not at all. By all means, please do," Hermione replied warmly and retook his arm.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Draco meanwhile as the distance conversation of a lifetime was finishing up, was stuck. He was mercilessly placed between two Weasleys who were not happy with him at all. "You cannot expect us not to worry about her, Draco. Her family worries for her." Ron's voice growled at him.
"I haven't done anything to her that would be deemed as holding her captive, Weasley. She is paid handsomely for her work, and she is family in a way. Teddy is a relative and by just the simple fact that she is his mother, is family as well." Draco said through teeth; he promised her he would behave.
"How do you even expect her to have a family if she works all the time!" Lavender exclaimed.
Draco was going to explode… "I am not the keeper of her interests. Besides, she and Charles seem to have a romantic relationship, do they not?" he asked as his pulse was spiking.
"Malfoy, come with me and let these two finger each other's arseholes. We need to have words," Charlie's voice entered the landing.
Draco exhaled and smiled. "Thank you, Charles." He replied and felt the firm grip of the man's hand on his shoulder.
"Charlie you can't be serious!" Ron shouted, and Lavender made a whining sound.
"I am as serious as a funeral, brother. Now, I have business, and you are a bloody pest." Charlie retorted, and Draco was being led by him back inside. "Where can we speak in private?" he asked once the door was shut behind them.
"I imagine the only solace from interruption would be in my wing," Draco declared, and the man hemmed.
"Alright, let's go then, you lead the way," Charlie said merely and let the blind man from his grasp.
The walk was quiet, and Draco was starting to wonder if maybe she had told him about the incident yesterday. If that were the case, the Malfoy knew he was in for his arse beaten to a pulp. He was not going to strike at the man who apparently had every right to hit him for what was done. When they finally got to Draco's floor, he opened the door and headed straight for the office.
The sound of the lights being turned on followed him in as he went straight to the desk. He waited a moment, and Charlie cleared his throat. "It is far different in here than I thought. You both work in here?" The Weasley questioned.
"Yes, five days a week. Nine o'clock to five o'clock," Draco responded with a smirk.
"Well," Charlie sighed, and Draco could hear the scratchy sound of facial hair being rubbed.
"Alright, what can I do for you, Charlie?" Draco inquired as he turned around.
"Tell me something, are you in love with Hermione?" he questioned, and Draco's smooth expression dropped.
"What?"
"Fred told me what you did for him. He told me that Astoria is going to be able to marry him because of what you did. Now, are you going to tell me if you are in love with her or not?" Charlie growled, and Draco gulped.
"It is not because I am in love with her that I did those things, Charles," he declared, and Charlie grunted.
"I know, but I need to know before I leave that she isn't in love with someone who doesn't love her back. I have known Hermione a long time, and she doesn't look at anyone else the way she looks at you." Charlie admitted.
Draco felt like someone tossed a spear through his gut. "She is in love with me?"
"She could be if she let herself. I love her plenty, Draco, but I will never be in love with her the way she deserves. The things she wants and desires do not fit with mine. When she told me, she wouldn't come with me because of work; it wasn't work keeping her here, it was you. I just need to know if you are going to take care of her." He said simply, and his footfalls closed their distance.
The Malfoy's face scrunched. "She deserves far better than me, Charlie. I cannot even see!" He spat.
"Love is blind, brotha. If she has even a remote chance of loving you, I would thank my lucky stars if I were you." Charlie finished, and the substantial weight of his hand landed on Draco's shoulder.
"How do you convince Hermione Granger that it isn't my disability talking?" Draco asked with a sharp tone.
"You don't convince her. You let her decide. Stop trying to put her in a pretty box on the shelf that is marked, 'too good for me,' and grow a pair of ballocks. I want her happy, and if I cannot be it, then I am going to make sure her 'it' actually gets out of his own way."
"I- well- Charles- I," Draco sputtered.
The other man let out a hearty stream of laughter. "I am leaving tonight. I packed up my bags at her place and will text her Sunday to let her know I am staying with my parents until I have shipped out. Do me a solid and take care of her. She will be a bit sad I am sure, but don't get all Malfoy on her and boss her into your bedroom. Care for her heart. I know you do," Charlie declared, and his hand fell away. "I am glad she has someone who cares for her as much as she cares for everyone else. Treat her right, Draco. I have said my peace and I am going to rejoin the party now."
Charlie's footsteps headed toward the door. "Charles," Draco murmured.
"Yes, Draco?"
"Thank you for loving her. She needed you when I couldn't."
"No problem, champ. It was fun and gave me the chance to know what I really want. Now, fuckin' handle it."