Authors Note: Thanks to my beta for editing this. I hope it comes up to expectation.
Chapter Ten
"You're nuts!" Harry gasped, staring at Hermione, incredulity written all over his face. "I mean, that'd be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. No, there's got to be another way. Ron, Ginny, we need to think of a plan and fast. This can't be allowed to happen. It's madness!" Jumping to his feet, he began to pace the living room of his and Ginny's house, raking agitated fingers through his untidy hair.
"Actually, it's the only rational way forward." Ginny replied serenely, turning to face him. "To be honest, I'm surprised you held out this long, Hermione."
"Rational? You call Hermione agreeing to marry that… that…git rational? It's the most irrational thing she could've done!" Harry's eyes were blazing with anger as he spoke.
Ron cleared his throat nervously and said, "To be honest mate, she didn't have much of a choice. It was either that, or he would've made her and Aurora's lives hell. See, it's difficult, society being the way it is."
"Society? Who gives a stuff about society?" Harry retorted, glaring now at Ron.
Hermione bit back a sigh from her position on the window seat of the large bay window. This was going as badly as she had feared it would. The only difference was that instead of Ron blowing up, it was Harry. She supposed this was mainly due to the fact that he had not been brought up in the Wizarding world, and like her, found their petty restrictions and rules worse than ridiculous. But while she had been forced by circumstance to accept them, he was still railing at the injustice of it all.
"Harry, I didn't have a choice-" she began quietly, only to be cut off.
"People always have a choice about such things, Hermione, can't you see that? Of course you had a choice; everyone has a choice in these things. All you had to do was to tell him to go to hell and stay there. Surely that wasn't too difficult?"
At these words, Ginny jumped up from the cushion on which she had been lying, patches of angry colour staining her cheeks. "Okay, know-it-all, let's say for a moment that Hermione had said no and told him to go to hell. What do you think he would've done? Sat back idly and accepted it? Nodded sagely and agreed to leave her and Aurora be? Not even you would be stupid enough to think that he would have agreed to that."
"Well, no, but…" Harry stammered in response, clearly taken aback at his wife's anger.
"I'll tell you what he would've done; he would've used any and every means he could to claim Aurora as his own. Maybe you think that Hermione should just let her go?"
"No, of course not," Harry spluttered, backing away from her glare.
"Ginny, be careful," Hermione warned, watching her friend in concern. "Your blood pressure could do without being raised because of me."
Ginny ignored Hermione's words and glowered at Harry. "Then get your head out of your arse and wake up. Hermione has no choice but to marry him. I trust you're aware that he had threatened to take her to court?"
"Of course," he muttered, not looking at her. "I just thought that…"
"That's just the problem, Harry, you just thought. You didn't look at anything else; you just thought, and, as usual, jumped to conclusions," Hermione said flatly, getting up and walking across to where Ginny still stood, glaring angrily at her husband. Taking her arm, she forced the younger woman down into an armchair before resuming her own seat once more.
"Hermione, I didn't mean to offend you," Harry turned to her, "it's just that marrying him…well, it's just a big step and for what?"
"Security for my daughter, Harry," she replied quietly. "I'm marrying him to ensure that my child is never ostracized in the Wizarding world. Yes, I did have the choice not to marry him, but in taking that choice, I would have risked, first losing her, but if not, alienating her from Wizarding society. Do you honestly think I could do that?"
Harry sighed, the anger drained from him. "I know, but Hermione, marriage is for life. You seem to have forgotten that point. What if you meet someone else? You won't be able to do anything because you'll be married to that git. How will you feel then? Anyway, what kind of marriage will it be? You like Malfoy about as much as Ron and I do; how are you going to tolerate him? That's a high price to pay for Aurora's security."
"If I remember rightly, your mother paid an even higher price to ensure that Voldemort didn't kill you," she answered calmly.
"That was completely different," he argued. "Any normal mother would have done the same in her position."
"I think you'll find that any decent mother would do the same in my position as well."
"Harry, there're some things that you can't fight against no matter how much you try," Ron explained, looking relieved that Harry had regained control of his temper. "Single parents are frowned upon in the Wizarding world, and their kids take the brunt of this prejudice. That's always been the case, and, knowing society always will be. Yes, it's wrong, but it's there, and trying to defy it, is like fighting an incoming tide. It's not Hermione who'll suffer inasmuch as Aurora. As she gets older, people'll hold her parentage against her. Do you really want that?"
Hermione blinked in surprise. She hadn't known that Ron possessed so much common sense.
As though reading her thoughts, Ginny said, "Blimey, Ron, at this rate you'll start acting your age. Then what will we do?"
Ron scowled in response. "Well, it's true," he retorted. "You know that as much as I do. Family and background matter, whatever people say."
"So how do Muggleborns cope then?" Harry asked, with the air of one grasping desperately at straws. "I mean, it's perfectly possible that a Muggleborn with only one parent goes to Hogwarts. How do they cope later in life?"
Hermione watched as Ron and Ginny exchanged uneasy glances, and suppressed a mirthless smile. She had asked Ginny this very question soon after Draco's reappearance in their lives and even now, the answer filled her with bitterness.
"Well," Ginny floundered, "it's different. You see, people from Muggle backgrounds are raised with different values, and Wizarding folk may not know they even come from single-parent families."
"So, basically, it's okay for Muggleborns to come from single parent families as Muggles don't know any better, but the moment they come into the Wizarding world, they have to live by Wizarding rules, is that it?" Harry scowled.
"Don't have a go at me," Ginny defended herself. "I'm only telling you what the general population believes, that's all."
"And you're okay with this Hermione?" Harry turned to her, disbelief written all over his face.
"I've no choice but to accept it," she replied, a bitter tinge creeping into her voice. "After all, I'm now a part of the Wizarding world, and if I want Aurora to be accepted, I have to live by Wizarding rules."
Harry stared unseeingly out of the window facing him. Then he ground out, "It's bloody wrong, that's what it is. After all this time, after what we've all been through because of Voldemort, something as basic as whether your parents were married or not still has the power to make or break you in the Wizarding world. So much for getting rid of prejudice towards Muggles."
Hermione nodded in agreement.
In an effort to change the subject, Ron asked, "Have you set a date for the ceremony, Hermione?"
"No; I only decided to go ahead with it yesterday, and even that was after a long talk with your mother. I'll sit down with Malfoy later on during the week and work out the details."
"What kind of details?" Ginny eyed Hermione with interest as she spoke.
"Oh, just this and that. I've decided to lay down, certain, shall we say, stipulations, and these need to be discussed," Hermione told them in an airy voice.
"You're not going to…I mean, you can't…" Harry's voice tailed off, and he stared at Hermione as though he'd never seen her before. "A marriage in name only? Huh! He'll go ballistic when he finds out."
"Oh no he won't," she replied grimly. "He was the one that suggested it, actually."
"Excuse me?" Ron spluttered.
"You didn't tell me this!" Ginny exclaimed, ignoring Ron. "Why?"
"He wants Aurora, and if that means he and I have separate bedrooms, then he's happy." Hermione shrugged.
Harry and Ron were both sniggering heartily now, wearing identical grins.
"I didn't know you had it in you," Ron laughed. "Hermione, you're becoming as cunning as a Slytherin."
"Needs must, Ron. I'm determined to have some say in this sham of a marriage. If I'm going to go through with it, I may as well do it on my terms."
"Next you'll be telling us that you intend to divorce him after a year or so," Harry smirked.
Hermione didn't answer but stared determinedly out of the window.
"No way, not even you would do that, Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, staring at her.
She shrugged in response. "We'll see. Let's put it this way: I haven't ruled it out."
"He'd never allow it," Ginny shook her head. "I can guarantee you that he would do something to prevent that. Divorce in the Wizarding world is practically unheard of; he'd never allow the scandal to sully the Malfoy name." She rolled her eyes and grinned.
"As I said, we'll see. Anyway, who cares about scandal? By that time, Aurora will have his name and that'll be all the security she needs." Hermione didn't look at the other three as she spoke. "At any rate, you're jumping the gun; I haven't even married him yet."
"You're as cunning as they come," Ron told her, grinning broadly. "Malfoy won't know what's hit him."
"Oh, I think he will; he'll be prepared for these things. If Malfoy's anything, he's cunning, and no offence meant, Hermione, but you'll never be able to match cunning like his in a million years."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ginny," Hermione responded dryly.
"How about the press?" Ron frowned. "Have you thought about them, Hermione? I mean, you and Malfoy are both well known in the Wizarding world, so this'll generate a lot of interest."
"Well, neither of us wants too much press attention if we can help it. That's something else I'll have to discuss with him."
"Yeah, well, as long as he doesn't milk it for all it's worth, which, knowing him is perfectly possible," Harry put in.
"I don't think so," Ginny piped up. "He's as eager as Hermione to keep things as low-key as possible to spare Aurora, if for no other reason."
"That's what I think too," Hermione agreed. "Ah well, I daresay I'll find out soon enough."
"I don't want to break things up, but I have to be off," Ron yawned as he got to his feet. "I've an early start tomorrow so I had better head home for a decent night's sleep. Hermione let me know how things go with Malfoy."
She nodded and he carried on, "And you, Ginny, don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, okay?"
"You'd think I was five years old by the way you talk, Ron. I'm not made of porcelain, you know."
"Still, you're six months gone now and should be taking things easy," Ron responded stubbornly.
"You sound like mum," Ginny grumbled, getting up. "You'd think I was the only woman in the world who was pregnant."
"Cheer up," Hermione consoled. "At least they're not trying to stop you from Apparating. When I was only four months gone, they started haranguing me to stop Apparating and to use the Floo instead, as if that's any safer."
"Of course it's safer," Harry jumped in. "We've been arguing about this for the last few months, but Ginny won't listen."
Ginny frowned in annoyance. "For the last time, both of you, I'm perfectly safe Apparating thank you very much. Yes, I do have to be more careful, but if St. Mungo's and Hermione are okay with it, then who are you to disagree?"
Both Harry and Ron opened their mouths to retort, but Hermione beat them to it. "Look you two, it's perfectly safe. No harm will come to the baby if she Apparates. In fact, I'd say that Apparating is safer than using either the Floo, or a broom."
"Women," snapped Ron. "What do they know?"
"A lot more than you." Ginny glowered at him. "Now, unless you want to be on the end of my Bat-Bogey Hex, I suggest you get moving."
"Okay, okay, I'm going," he said, scooping up his wand from the coffee table and pocketing it. "See you all later." With that, he strode across to the fire, grabbed up a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the fire. With a cheery wave that was at odds with his scowl, he departed in a whoosh of green flames.
"I'd better go as well," Hermione said, getting to her feet and stretching.
"Why? What's the hurry? I thought that Aurora was spending the evening with your parents," Harry frowned.
"Yes, she is, but I've still got loads to do. The ironing awaits me and it won't get done on its own," she grimaced, scooping up her handbag from the table beside her.
"You'll let us know what happens with Malfoy?" Harry asked, eyeing her with concern.
"Yeah, don't let him get the better of you," Ginny chipped in. "Play it your way, and if he doesn't like it, he knows what to do."
"I won't, you can be sure of that," Hermione reassured them. "I think I'll Floo home; I really can't be bothered to walk to the edge of your garden to Disapparate." Crossing the room, she grabbed a pinch of Floo powder, scattering it into the flames. With one last wave, she disappeared.
XoXoXoXo
Hermione sat at her desk, fiddling nervously with a pen while her eyes tracked the progress of the minute hand of the clock on the wall opposite her. She felt tense and hoped this meeting would prove fruitful. She glanced down at her neatly written notes, checking them for omissions for what felt like the fiftieth time that day. She was on edge and even now, questioned the wisdom of having the meeting in her office. But then, she reasoned, it was better here, on neutral territory, than in her flat or Malfoy Manor.
On the stroke of 2:30, there was a knock on her office door. She called," Come in," in what she hoped was a confident voice.
The Door was pushed open and Draco Malfoy strode into the room, shutting it behind him with a decisive click. As always, he was dressed in impeccably tailored robes, with not a hair out of place.
"Hermione, how are you?" he asked, smiling.
"Very well, thanks," she replied in a constrained voice, standing up and gesturing to the chair opposite her desk. Once he had seated himself, she too, sat down.
"I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to discuss a few things, away from prying eyes and ears," she began, resisting the impulse to glance down at her notes for assurance.
"Certainly," he sat back, looking completely at ease. Then as though he couldn't help himself, he asked, "Have you told Aurora about the marriage?"
"No, I thought I'd wait until we had a few details ironed out. I don't want to cause her more aggravation than strictly necessary; she's only a child, after all."
"Sounds sensible to me. So, what was it that you wished to discuss?" He leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out beneath the desk.
"Various things to do with this marriage," she responded, fingers toying nervously with the parchment on her lap.
His eyebrows rose in what she assumed was surprise, but he said nothing, and waited for her to continue.
Glancing down at her list, she went on, "I've given this a lot of thought, and feel that the smaller the ceremony, the better for all concerned. After all, we don't want the press there. I thought a quick trip to the registry office should suffice."
Draco eyed her thoughtfully before shrugging. "I can't say I'm thrilled at the thought of such a small wedding, but if that's what you think best, then who am I to disagree? You'll be hard pressed to stop someone from the Prophet finding out, though. Our best bet is to allow one of them into the ceremony on the condition that they leave us be afterwards."
Deciding to ignore his lack of enthusiasm for a small wedding, she frowned in thought. He did have a point; they were both well-known in the Wizarding world and the announcement of the marriage had raised a lot of interest.
"I suppose so," she agreed, "but who says they'll leave us be afterwards?"
"Oh, they will. I'll make damned sure of that." Draco's words were quiet and Hermione could sense the determination behind them. She had no doubt that the Prophet would keep their side of the bargain. The steely glint in his eyes said as much.
She carried on in a business like way. "Good. Now that that's settled, I thought that we should limit the guests to a few on each side. Ron, Harry and Ginny will be there of course, and my parents. Is there anyone you'd like to invite?"
"Well, my mother and her husband, and my aunt Andromeda, Uncle Ted, and, if she can manage it, my cousin as well. That's all."
Hermione smiled. So far this was going better than she had dared to hope. He was certainly complying with all her wishes. Resisting the urge to tick the items off her list, she once more looked across the desk at him. "I haven't thought of a date. Have you any preferences?"
Draco turned to study the calendar mounted on the wall to the left of the desk. After a few moments, he turned back to her. "The sooner the better I think. The press is still sniffing around for news and it would never do to expose Aurora -- however unintentionally to that. At least, if we marry as soon as possible, she'll be protected by my name. The Daily Prophet won't dare to come near her if she were at the Manor."
Resentment rose in Hermione like a tide, but she forced it down. This was no time to be arguing over his implied disparagement of her living arrangements. Instead, she looked down at the parchment on her lap to give herself time to mask her feelings. Then in a cool voice which gave no hint of her simmering anger, she said, "In a few weeks then. I think that should be ok."
"A few weeks?" he questioned incredulously. "No, what I meant was in a week or so. There's no need to wait such a ridiculously long time." His eyes had narrowed with displeasure.
Biting back a smile, she responded in a calm voice. "But surely you need to give your family some warning of the date? If I'm correct in my assumption, your mother lives in America. You can't expect her to drop everything and come here at such short notice. I would never ask such a thing of my mother, and I don't feel it's right to put yours in such an awkward position." She wanted to laugh out loud at the look on his face; it was a mixture of disgust, anger and frustration.
Draco sat for a moment staring at her, while an inner battle raged within him. Finally, in a voice of forced calm he said, "The thing that all parents want is to see their children settled. To that end, I know that my mother and yours too, won't mind the short notice at all. In fact, they'll be glad that we're getting on with things. For what reason is there to wait?"
"Oh, lots of reasons," Hermione countered sweetly. "I need to arrange things at my end, then there's Aurora to think about. It'll take time for her to get used to the idea."
"What do you need to arrange that'll take so long?" he shot back. By the look of it, this was one battle he was determined to win.
"Oh this and that, my outfit, various things to do with the flat… You know odds and ends." Hermione knew she was grasping at straws but had no intention of rushing; she had plenty of time to put up with him after all, once they were married.
"That can all be taken care of," he dismissed. "As for Aurora, she'll be delighted at the news. I doubt whether it'll cause her the anxiety you envisage."
Unfortunately, he was right about that. Aurora would be more than pleased to learn that she would have a Daddy to gloat about. Although she had not mentioned it of late, the incident with Annabelle Mullings, Jack Creevy, and Alex Zabini at Andromeda Tonks's nursery had shaken her to the core, and she had jumped at the chance when Hermione had suggested that she join the infant school located near their flat. No, the child would be far from unhappy by the news, but Draco Malfoy need not know that.
"She's a child; of course she needs time to get used to the new arrangement. For as long as she can remember, it's just been the two of us - your introduction into our lives will take some getting used to."
His expression hardened at these words, but his voice was mild enough. "Well, put it to her and the rest of your family this evening, and see what they say. I'll do likewise and we'll discuss it again tomorrow. Now, was there anything else?"
Hermione had to admire his grit in the face of her attempts to goad him. He must really want this marriage to take place as swiftly as possible, or else he would never have let a comment such as that pass. Now for the tricky and less comfortable part of the discussion. She took a deep breath before saying, "We need to discuss living arrangements after the marriage."
His eyebrows rose in surprise at these words. "Living arrangements? Hermione, you and Aurora will be moving into the Manor. I thought I'd made that clear."
"What I meant was our living arrangements. That is yours and mine."
He frowned in puzzlement, and then his expression clearing, he asked, "Oh, you mean, you wish for us to have separate bedrooms?"
Relieved he had grasped her meaning, she nodded.
"That's not a problem; my parents had separate bedrooms as well. All the Malfoys have done so for as long as anyone can remember. We're great believers in preserving our own personal space."
Hermione resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. He wasn't making this any easier.
"Well that's good," she answered with a brittle smile. "However, you're missing the point. What I mean is this marriage, it'll be a marriage in name only." She didn't look at him as she spoke, preferring to focus on the parchment on her lap instead. Years of being a healer had rid her of any shyness regarding sexual matters, but as she was quickly realising, it was one thing to discuss such things with strangers when she could be clinically distant, and another altogether when it involved her personally.
Draco's jaw tensed and his eyebrows were threatening to disappear into his hairline as he regarded her from across the desk.
There was a long pause and then he said, "I see." His voice was clipped, and Hermione couldn't tell what he was thinking.
Raising her eyes to his now impassive face, she carried on. "We ought to have that included in the marriage contract. You know, just to finalise it."
His lip curled in disdain and in a voice of honeyed sweetness he drawled, "What, and have someone in the Ministry read the contract and realise? Imagine the scandal! I think not. Anyway, there'll be no need for that; I look for specific attributes in my bed mates…." He left the sentence hanging, but his gaze raked over her in the most insulting way she had ever come across.
She felt her face colour and looked down to hide her expression. There had been no need for him to finish his sentence; his expression had said it all. Obviously, she was not good enough for him, and would therefore be quite safe. Stamping down the mixture of feelings his revelation had provoked within her, she forced her eyes up to meet his, and continued. "Is your reputation all you care about? Who cares if people find out? It won't be the end of the world."
"For you, maybe not, but for Aurora, it'll be a disaster."
She sighed. He was right of course; if the Daily Prophet ever got wind of the fact that the marriage was just a sham, there would be endless speculation and all three of their names would be dragged through the mud. She couldn't care less about herself or Draco, but Aurora could never be subjected to that kind of slander.
"Fine," she scowled. "All I ask is that you be discrete about your liaisons with other women; it wouldn't do for the Daily Prophet to hear about such things either. If, one day in the future, one of us wishes to break off the marriage, we will do so without rancour and minimum fuss. After all, it's nothing more than a formality to protect Aurora."
She didn't see the tautening of his jaw as she spoke, nor the way his hand clenched into a fist. "One step at a time," he responded in a tight voice.
"But you agree it's for the best, if one of us does meet someone else later on and wants to settle down?" she persisted, leaning forward. It was imperative that she get his agreement on this one factor.
"I think we should take things one step at a time. You're forgetting Aurora - it's her happiness that must come before all else."
"I'm well aware of that, thanks, I just thought-"
"If it doesn't impinge on her wellbeing in any way, then yes, I agree it will be for the best," he interrupted her, his tone biting.
Relieved, she nodded as she glanced down her list of matters to be resolved. "I will, of course, retain my own name. It'll be easier all round if I do that."
To her relief, he shrugged in a bored manner. "As you wish."
"Now the only thing left to do is decide on a date. I'll talk to Mum and Dad this evening and see when they're next free. "
"Be sure to impress the urgency of the situation upon them. I'm sure they won't mind the short notice at all when you explain the state of affairs. Also, please inform Aurora as well this evening. The earlier she knows, the longer she'll have to get used to the idea. After all, it's going to be a big upheaval for her. I'll speak to my mother this evening and we'll discuss this again tomorrow."
"As I said, it'll be rather short notice and they're very busy with the practice and all that. I'll see what I can do though," she said, attempting to dispel the tension that had sprung up.
"One more thing," Draco drawled with a slight twist to the lips. "What exactly do you intend to do with your flat?"
"I'm not sure. I've thought about maybe selling or renting it, but haven't quite made up my mind." It was true; she had spent a lot of time over the past few days trying to decide what to do with her flat. The thought of selling didn't appeal to her as it was so final. Anyway, she might need the flat at a later date. Then there was the possibility of putting it up for rent. This would ensure the flat was still hers, as well as provide her with an income from it - but did she really want strangers in her home?
"The property market's flourishing at the moment. You'd get a good price for it, especially if you sold it to a witch or wizard." Draco smiled, having apparently got over his earlier anger. "Tell you what - I'll arrange it all for you. I know an estate agent who'll be more than happy to sell it for you. It's in a nice location and in excellent condition. People would pay good money for such a place." His eyes gleamed with enthusiasm, and Hermione felt a dart of unease go through her.
"That's true," she agreed noncommittally.
"Right then, that's sorted. I'll get on to Angus-"
"No, I didn't mean that I wanted to sell it. In fact, I'm seriously considering letting it," she interrupted hurriedly.
Draco's smile vanished. "Why? Letting's more hassle than it's worth; you're better off selling and getting it off your hands."
Standing up, Hermione walked across to the window. Turning to face him, she shrugged. "As I said, I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet."
He looked for a moment as though he may argue, but then a look of indifference came into his eyes. "Whatever you like." He stood up and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"To make this convincing, you and I need to be seen together in public, and soon," he drawled, smirking at her from across the spacious office.
She felt her heart sink. "I don't see why."
He smiled, "Oh yes you do. Now, as there isn't much time, maybe we can arrange a trip into Diagon Alley? That should be public enough."
She scowled, and reluctantly agreed to meet him in the heart of Wizarding London in two day's time.
"Excellent. We'll finalise the date tomorrow and be seen in public the day after that. See you then." Grinning, Draco strode from the room, robes billowing out behind him.
Hermione stared out of the window at the lush green fields of the Devonshire countryside laid out below her. The day was breezy with white clouds floating along high above, and the sun was visible between them, its rays picking out the shapes of the trees in the meadow below. It was a beautiful view and at any other time she would have enjoyed it, but now that her feelings were in such turmoil, it was difficult to think straight. She wasn't sure whether she felt relieved the meeting had gone so smoothly, or angry at the veiled insults and innuendoes that had been directed at her.
Her fingers fiddled with the catch of the window as her mind churned over the last hour, trying but failing to make some sense of it. Draco had been difficult to read, mostly displaying a mask of cool indifference, but now and then, strong emotion had overcome this façade, giving her a glimpse of his feelings. It was clear that he was anxious that the marriage take place, and soon, and she wondered not for the first time exactly why. Yes, he wanted Aurora, that was more than evident, but an instinct she could not name warned her there was more to it than that.
She knew she would have to talk to her parents that evening to see when they would next be free. Both had been deeply shocked when she had first told them of her decision and what had prompted it, but had reluctantly agreed that it was the best thing to do when she had explained her reasons for the marriage. She had not been specific about the date of the wedding, and wondered how they would react when she told them of Draco's plan. Her father had not been convinced when she had explained the happenings of the night of Aurora's conception, and it had taken her over an hour to justify her reasons for going ahead with it. Her mother on the other hand, had been much more accepting, but then she had always been one to see the good in any given situation.
Glancing at the clock, Hermione sighed - she may as well get it over with; there was no time like the present to talk to her parents. Both would be home from the practice, it being Thursday and early closing, and she still had over an hour before picking Aurora up from school. Anyway, she knew that she would not get any work done in her present frame of mind, and decided it was best to get on with things, rather than to stay there and let her mind twist itself into knots.
XoXoXoXo
"It's an extremely rare fabric," Madam Xensore encouraged, nodding at Hermione. "Not every young woman can wear such a colour you know."
"She's right, Hermione," Ginny agreed, fingering the French silk. "You do look lovely in it. Go for it."
"I don't know. It's rather extravagant, don't you think?" Hermione looked critically at herself in the full length mirror and frowned. "I mean, this is only going to be a small affair. Surely there's no need to go to such lengths?"
Madam Xensore's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Well, my dear, people only get married once, so why not? Anyway, you'll surely want to look nice for Mr. Malfoy? They're a very old family you know, and steeped in tradition. You must do him proud."
"I agree," Ginny chipped in. "Anyway, he's paying for it so what does it matter? If it were me, I'd buy the most expensive thing in the shop just to annoy him."
Hermione studied her reflection closely. It was true that the amethyst shade did bring out the colour of her hair, and that the silk felt weightless against her skin. The fabric was unlike anything she had ever worn before; light and shimmering, reminding her vividly of the texture of water. She turned round and winced as one of the pins holding the material together, jabbed her in the waist.
"Shall I have the robes made then?" the shop owner asked, watching Hermione. "Believe me, you'll look lovely in them as befits a Malfoy bride."
"Oh yes Mummy, you'll look like a queen!" Aurora exclaimed happily, surveying her mother through wide eyes. "You never get anything new for yourself so I think you should get those wobes. "
Hermione felt her face burn and turned away from the intent gaze of Madam Xensore. Typical, Aurora would have to pick now of all times to reveal this piece of information in front of the highly curious shop owner. Why did children have to blurt things out like that? She frowned across at her daughter who stared back determinedly.
"Well it's true, you never buy any clothes for you, only for me," the child protested undeterred.
Pretending she couldn't hear her, Hermione mused, "Well I suppose-"
"That's settled then." Ginny got awkwardly to her feet, and turning to the shop owner she asked, "Could both outfits be ready for next Saturday? "
"Of course," the woman reassured them, beaming now. "I'll supervise the making of them myself, you can be sure of that."
Having made the final arrangements, the three of them were soon ready to leave the shop for the bustling street outside.
"Where did Malfoy say he'd meet you?" Ginny asked as they stepped out into Diagon Alley.
"By Quality Quidditch Supplies," Hermione answered, as she tightened her grip on Aurora's hand.
"Ouch, Mummy! You're holding me too tightly," the child complained loudly, trying to tug her hand from Hermione's grasp.
"Well, you don't want to get lost, now do you? It's very busy here and we can't take any chances. Come on, there's lots to be done." With these words Hermione moved into the line of people moving past the small boutique, Ginny behind her.
"Hermione, I'm off," Ginny called, moving to stand beside the other woman. "I'll disapparate from that alleyway over there." She indicated to a small aperture between two shops with a nod of her head. "Good luck, I hope everything goes alright."
"Thanks for coming," Hermione smiled, "I couldn't have chosen the robes on my own."
"No probs," Ginny grinned. "At least you've got something decent to wear now for the big day. Merlin though, those robes really will be something once they've been made up."
"Yeah well, he's the one paying for them, not me."
"Yep, hence the reason you had to get something nice. They're much finer than anything I have. Maybe I should patronise Madam Xensore's shop in future."
"I don't think Harry'll appreciate that. Anyway, you'd better be off, standing about in Diagon Alley won't do you much good," Hermione grinned.
"Bye Aunty," Aurora chipped in, and turning, Ginny gave her a brief hug before crossing the cobbled street to the alleyway. Waving one last time, she disapparated.
"Come on then, let's find-"Hermione stopped, not sure how to carry on, but Aurora finished her sentence for her.
"Find Daddy you mean?" she piped up. "Let's go then."
Hermione stifled a sigh at her daughter's words. She had taken the news of the upcoming marriage with alacrity, and her eyes had shone with eagerness at the thought that Draco Malfoy would fill the previously vacant role of her father. She had certainly lost no time in telling everyone she met that she would have a new Daddy, 'just like everyone else', and delighted in addressing him as such when talking to people. Hermione doubted Draco would do anything to discourage this. She said nothing as they moved off down the crowded street. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and the twisting narrow street was packed with shoppers. This was indeed a good time for her to be seen in public with Draco Malfoy; no doubt it would be in tomorrow's Daily Prophet as they had planned.
It was Aurora who spotted him, standing by the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, eyes fixed on the merchandise on display. His hair caught the sun's rays, making it gleam. Hermione noticed a gaggle of teenage girls standing not far off, all eyeing him with great interest. She frowned in irritation; didn't they have anything better to do with their time rather than stand around and ogle people?
"Daddy!" Aurora called in a loud voice as they drew closer.
He turned and his face broke into a smile as he spotted them. "There you are! You're early; I wasn't expecting you for a good ten minutes yet."
"We had to go and choose our clothes for the wedding," Aurora told him importantly as she reached his side. "Silly Daddy, you should've known that."
Draco's eyes lit up as she spoke, and in spite of herself, Hermione felt herself returning his smile. For a moment their eyes met and a look she could not identify, crossed Draco's face. Was it gratitude, or hope, or maybe a mixture of both? Then the spell was broken and he was scooping Aurora up into his arms and hugging her tightly.
"If you keep growing at this rate, you'll be too big to be lifted," he grinned.
"You could always use your wand to pick me up," she suggested hopefully, while entwining her arms round his neck.
"Hmm, yes, but then I couldn't cuddle you as I'd be too busy holding you up using magic and that'd never do." He gave her a mock serious look as he spoke, hugging her more tightly.
"Shall we get moving?" Hermione suggested uneasily.
"Of course." Draco lowered Aurora to the ground as he spoke, taking her hand. "Hermione, where do you need to go?"
From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw a flash bulb go off across the street, and felt her heart sink. It certainly hadn't taken the press long to catch up with them.
Draco too, had seen the flash, for he stepped swiftly in front of Aurora, screening her from view. Hermione, taking her other hand, also moved in front of her.
"Let's go into Flourish and Blotts. There's a book I need to pick up," she said tensely, as they moved down the street, keeping a wary eye out for photographers who may be lurking about.
Draco nodded. "Good idea. We can get lost amongst the stacks of books," he smiled reassuringly. "Relax Hermione, everything's going to be okay, I promise."
"I know, it's just…well-"she broke off, not knowing how to continue.
"They won't be able to get any clear shots of her in this crowd. Why do you think I chose Diagon Alley?"
"Who's going to shoot who? Can I watch?" Aurora asked with interest as they reached the bookshop.
Draco grinned. "No one's going to shoot anyone, it's just an expression," he explained, as they entered the busy shop.
Aurora had lost interest and was glancing round her in fascination. "Oh wow, can I have a book please, Mummy? One where the pictures move?"
"You have lots of books. You don't need any more," Hermione reproved gently. "Maybe when you've learned to read we can get a new one from here, but for the time being, you've more than enough books to be getting on with. Remember the nice books grandma and granddad got you a few weeks ago?"
"Yeah, but none of the letters move like they do in those books." She pointed to a brightly coloured display of children's reading books, on the covers of which letters and pictures were moving around to spell different words.
Hermione sighed. Aurora loved books, and she would have liked nothing better to get her one of these which would have been a great aid in helping the child to read, but knew for the next week at least, she wouldn't be able to afford it.
Draco, as though sensing her dilemma, turned to Aurora and said, "Tell you what Princess, if you're really good while we finish our shopping, then we'll see about getting you one of those books, okay?"
Aurora nodded and asked, "Can I choose the book I want then?"
"We'll see," Draco replied noncommittally.
"I just need to collect one book. I shouldn't be long," Hermione said, joining the queue of people waiting at the customer service desk.
"We'll wait over here." Draco nodded to the display of children's books at one side of the shop. Aurora's eyes lit up as they turned away.
Ten minutes later, Hermione had collected her book, and they were making their way out of the busy shop, a disgruntled look on Aurora's face. She had obviously not got her book, and Hermione felt relieved that Draco had not given into the child's wiles.
She couldn't help noticing the stares they were attracting though; people kept glancing at them before quickly looking away. By the slight tightening of his mouth, she knew that Draco, too, had noticed the glances. Several people were shooting curious looks at Aurora, and Hermione drew the child closer to her.
"I'm hungry," Aurora announced, looking up at her mother. "Can we eat something?"
Draco glanced at his watch before turning to Hermione. "What else do you need to do in Diagon Alley?"
"Nothing much, I just had to pick this up from Flourish and Blotts." Hermione indicated her pocket in which she had placed the book she had bought.
"In that case, let's stop off at that café next to Ilops. It's quiet and has very nice cakes."
"Oh, yes, please!" Aurora nodded and Hermione smiled down at her.
They crossed the street and entered the cosy looking café. The bell on the door tinkled as they pushed it open, causing the owners, a plump middle aged couple, to look up from where they had been standing at the counter chatting with a customer. The woman's eyes widened as she looked at them, and Hermione turned Aurora away from their intent gaze.
In the next moment, the woman was hurrying round the counter. "Mr Malfoy, and… Healer Granger?" Her eyes were wide as they travelled over the wizard, witch, and child.
"Um, we'd like a table for three," Hermione explained, glancing round her.
Before the woman could answer however, another voice interrupted. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Hermione Granger, soon to be Hermione Malfoy. This is a surprise!"
Turning around, Hermione came face to face with Rita Skeeter, who stood smiling at her, the false jewels on her glasses winking in the evening sunlight.
"Oh, and why is that?" Draco had stepped forward, a steely glint in his eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, you're here too! A family outing, how lovely!" If possible, Rita's smile grew even wider.
"Isn't it indeed," Draco drawled in a bored voice. "Now if you'll excuse us."
Rita glanced quickly around the quiet café before lowering her voice. "I was actually hoping that you may consent to a little interview, for the Prophet. After all, it isn't every day that two such well-known people decide to get married."
Draco shot her a long, penetrating look before shrugging. "Fine, but make it quick, we don't have all evening!"
She nodded enthusiastically in response. "Oh no, just a few questions, that's all. Shall we sit down? It'll be much more comfortable."
Shooting her another piercing look, Draco led them to a corner table, pulling out Hermione's chair for her. Sitting down, Hermione pulled Aurora onto her lap and glared across at Rita Skeeter, who had seated herself opposite them. Draco slid into the seat beside Hermione, looking supremely bored.
"What would you like to eat, Angel?" he asked, turning to Aurora. She nodded at a cream bun in a display of cakes on one side of the long counter.
Beckoning the plump shop owner over, he placed their order before turning back to an eager Rita Skeeter, who was watching them with wide eyes. Hermione noticed that she had not taken out her famous Quick Quotes Quill, but simply sat watching them avidly.
"Adorable child," she commented, staring at Aurora. "How old is she?"
"Just over four and a half," Hermione responded through stiff lips, as Draco threw a casual arm across her shoulders.
"She takes after you in colouring," Rita said, ignoring Hermione's scowl, "I wonder, has she inherited any of her father's features?"
Hermione supposed it was inevitable that she would be asked this as she tried, unobtrusively, to shift Draco's arm off her shoulders, but without success.
"Some," she replied guardedly.
"According to the Prophet, he died in the war. No one knew that you had been married before." Rita's words, although bland, held an undertone of accusation as she studied Hermione's face.
"Ah Rita, I'm sure you'll agree that everyone's entitled to a bit of privacy," Draco smiled across at the reporter, while stretching his legs out beneath the table. If Hermione didn't know better, she would have said he was enjoying this.
At that moment, their tea arrived, and there was a pause as the tea things were set out. Finally, when the curious waitress had moved away, Rita resumed. "Oh, of course. But still, we had no idea that you had been married."
Hermione stifled a sigh as she added sugar to her tea. She may as well get the worst over with, by the looks of it, Rita was intent on getting as much information as she could about Aurora's supposed muggle father, and that which she did not find out, she would no doubt make up.
"Well Ian and I had known one another for some time, and when I completed my training at St Mungo's, we decided to get married." The well rehearsed story tripped easily off her tongue. "It was all kept very quiet because of the war and all that. Unfortunately, Ian happened to be one of those on the Ferry that Voldemort decided to sink, which killed over four hundred muggles." She shuddered, remembering the incident; it had been one of the worst muggle killings in Voldemort's reign of terror, and was not easily forgotten.
From the look on her face, Rita, too, clearly remembered the tragic episode, for she winced and took a hasty gulp of tea. Draco shot Hermione a thoughtful glance but said nothing.
The pause was broken by Aurora, who, swallowing a mouthful of cream, announced, "This is yummy! Can I have another bun when I've finished this one?"
"No," Hermione told her, "otherwise you'll be sick."
Aurora looked as though she was going to argue the point, but thinking better of it, shrugged and resumed eating. The tension however was broken and Rita focused once more on Hermione.
"I'm sorry to hear that. So when did the two of you meet?" she resumed eagerly.
"A few months ago," Draco answered with a lazy smirk. "We met at Hanwell's in the course of our work and one thing lead to another and here we are." He smiled at Hermione as he spoke.
"A few months isn't very long," the curious reporter persisted, leaning forward and watching him intently.
"No, maybe not for most couples, but then you forget we knew each other from Hogwarts, so we weren't complete strangers," Draco replied coolly.
"Ah, but if my memory serves me right, you didn't exactly get on at Hogwarts."
"No, but people grow up and when we met again at Hanwell's, we found that we had a lot more in common. You know interests and so on, plus we weren't hampered by old school rivalries." He took a sip of tea, leaning back in his chair, looking as though he didn't have a care in the world. .
"I see." Rita's eyes moved to Aurora, who was busy finishing the last of her bun. "Giving someone else's child your name is certainly unusual after such a brief acquaintance." She changed tack at the speed of lightening, and Hermione stiffened. This was the bit she was dreading, but then she reasoned if anyone could sound convincing, it was Draco.
He merely shrugged carelessly in response to the question. "Not really. The child needs a father, and as Hermione and I are marrying, it's only right."
Even to Hermione's ears, this sounded like a lame comeback. The day Draco Malfoy did something because it was 'only right', would be the day that she played Quidditch for England.
Rita Skeeter seemed to be thinking along the same lines for her eyes narrowed in scepticism. "But Mr. Malfoy, it isn't common practice as you know. Why, I don't think that it has ever been done in your family before. The Malfoys usually marry debutantes straight out of school. Your Great Grandfather married a widow it is true, but she was his second wife and had no children.
Hermione had to admire the woman, she had obviously done her homework regarding the Malfoy family.
Draco didn't answer for a moment, but leaned over and wiped a dollop of cream from the corner of Aurora's mouth with his handkerchief. Turning back to Rita, he smiled. "Well, as I said, it's only right. It wouldn't do to exclude her, after all. As for my marrying a widow, I wasn't aware there was a law prohibiting this."
"In the case of most people, no, but the Malfoys have never been known to subscribe to the same laws as the rest of us. There must be a good reason why you're giving this child your name."
Draco merely shrugged in a bored manner in response. Clearly he had no intention of explaining his actions.
Hermione felt herself tense, he was doing nothing to allay the speculation in the reporters eyes, in fact, he seemed to be encouraging it. She frowned at him.
"And your mother? How does she feel about this?" Rita asked with barely concealed frustration.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Draco beat her to it. "Oh, she thinks it's a wonderful idea. Mother's a firm believer in forward thinking. She can't wait to have a child in the family to spoil."
Rita's sharp eyes travelled between Aurora and Draco, and Hermione could almost see the speculation in them. This was not good. Not good at all. He couldn't be doing this, not after they had agreed on what they were going to tell the press. Swiftly, she cleared her throat, putting down her barely touched cup of tea.
"We should really be on our way, Draco, we've still got lots to do," she said tensely, pushing back her chair and lifting Aurora off her lap.
"Of course," Draco stood, and turning to Rita, drawled, "It's been a pleasure Rita, as always." He had the look of a man well pleased with the way things had turned out.
"You too!" The reporter smiled broadly while collecting her things, eyes shining. She seemed to have forgotten the frustration of earlier and Hermione was sure that she was even now putting two and two together, as only she could.
Not looking at her, Hermione took Aurora's hand and made her way out of the café, a feeling of disquiet taking hold of her insides.
"I'll see you in the apothecary," she threw over her shoulder at Draco. He nodded while settling their bill.
She felt slightly annoyed as they emerged on to the street. How could she have not seen this coming? She knew that Draco wanted to acknowledge Aurora as his biological child, but had thought that he would have at least kept up the pretence until after the marriage. Clearly, she had been mistaken. He had done nothing to dispel the curiosity in Rita Skeeter's eyes when she had asked why he was giving Aurora his name. If anything, he had fuelled it, and purposely.
It didn't take a genius to work out why he was doing this. He had been openly contemptuous about Aurora's supposed Muggle father and wanted, however subtly, to imply that she was his. Also, he wanted to ensure that she, Hermione, could not back out of her decision to go ahead with the marriage, by implying to the press that Aurora was his. There would be uproar if she so much as thought of backing out. What was worse, he would be perceived to be the injured party, and if it got to a court of law…No, she couldn't think like that, she couldn't!
She sighed as she and Aurora entered the cramped apothecary. This marriage was proving to be more aggravation than it was worth, and she would be glad when it was all over. Maybe then would things go back to a semblance of normality. She just hoped that she was doing the right thing for Aurora by going ahead with the marriage. Both Draco and Aurora seemed excited; she only wished she could share in their optimism.