23 December, Friday, 2230 GMT
Hermione pulled the kettle of hot water from the stove and poured the hot water over the loose tealeaves in the teakettle. She peeked at her wristwatch as she heard the doorbell ring. 'Who would be calling at half past ten?' she thought to herself as she stirred the brew before covering it to allow the leaves to bloom. She sighed before heading to the front door.
She paused for a moment in front of the nursery peering in to check on the infant. She continued her trek to the door. She peered through the peephole and then did a double take.
She opened the door. She took in a breath, composing herself. "Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said, "Please, come in."
The platinum blonde wizard nodded as he entered the one story home. He looked at the humble surroundings as Hermione closed the door behind him.
"I was just about to have some tea, Sir," she began, "Would you care to join me?"
He just nodded. She hesitated for a moment before walking past him into the kitchen. He followed her.
She poured out two cups of tea and pulled some freshly baked shortbread cookies from the cookie tin. She placed everything on a tray and brought it to the table where Mr. Malfoy had already taken a seat. She took a seat as well. They both sipped their tea in silence.
"This is good tea," her father-in-law commented.
"It's green tea," she said, not knowing what else to say, "full of antioxidants."
Mr. Malfoy nodded as he turned one of the cookies in his hand, a little hesitantly as if he worried about the morsel being poisoned. He slowly took a bite out of the cookie. He smiled to himself. He looked up at the young woman across from him.
"Let's get straight to the point, shall we," the older wizard said as he wiped the corners of his mouth with his paper napkin.
Hermione felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She studied the older man's face, a slightly older version of her husband's. She took a deep breath. "What would you like to discuss, Mr. Malfoy?"
"What sort of spell have you placed my son under?" he asked icily.
Her hand trembled as she placed her teacup back on its saucer. She hesitated for a moment. "I don't know what you mean, Sir."
"He seems to think that he's in love with you," he said disdainfully. "Have you been spiking his tea with some sort of potion?"
She didn't know what made her stand up suddenly. Her father-in-law was somehow casting her marriage in a false light. What scared her most about this was deep down she also wondered why Draco had settled for her. She stepped away from the table and started to head out of the kitchen.
"I will not allow this sham of a marriage to a Mudblood sully the Malfoy name!" Mr. Malfoy followed her out of the kitchen.
Hermione turned suddenly. She felt her knees buckle. She took a deep breath as she felt as if the room were spinning slightly. She knew something was definitely out of sorts. She leaned against the back of the sofa fronting the television.
"It's getting late, Mr. Malfoy," she said slowly. "I'm sure you can show yourself out."
"How much will it take?" he asked as he pulled something from his robes.
She watched him place the tip of a self-inking quill on a piece of parchment. It was the Wizarding equivalent of a Muggle checkbook. Hermione began to tremble. She hoped the older Malfoy had not noticed.
"How much?!" he asked sharply. "One million galleons? Five?"
"Make it ten and I might just consider it," she said incredulously. Her eyes grew larger as the pen coursed over the parchment.
"Done!" Mr. Malfoy said as he tore the check from the checkbook. He handed it over to the Muggle-born witch.
She looked at the one followed by the seven zeroes. It would have made for a hefty college fund for Drew. She felt a tear fall onto her thumb. It slid down onto the signed check. She shut her eyes for a moment as she tried to compose herself.
She looked up into the blonde wizard's face. His eyes were the same grey colored orbs as her husband's as well as her daughter's. Her own eyes fluttered. "Am I so wrong for your son, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked softly.
"My son's choices have been quite questionable this past year," he said narrowing his eyes at her.
"I don't need your money, Mr. Malfoy," she said softly, handing him back his check. She heard Drew whimper. She looked up at the older wizard. "Please excuse me."
She left him where he stood as she entered her daughter's room. Hermione's eyes fluttered. She reached her daughter's crib as the young infant stood up grasping at the slats, crying. Hermione's legs wobbled. She needed to grab hold of the crib to steady herself.
She patted the child's back. "Sh, Drew," she said as she pulled her into her arms. "Everything is going to be okay."
o-o-o
Mr. Malfoy stood looking down at the check the young lady had returned to him. He was fuming. 'How dare that Mudblood decline his offer,' the blonde wizard gritted his teeth. He thought it was quite fair if not more than sufficient a settlement.
He heard the loud thud come from the room that the Muggle-born witch had entered. It was followed by a crying sound. Mr. Malfoy hesitated before he walked into the small room. He gasped as he saw the small child crying at the Muggle-born witch's side.
Mr. Malfoy dropped the small rectangular parchment. He walked swiftly to the fallen witch's side. He noticed blood trickling from her nose and right ear.
"Ms. Granger," he said as he glanced at the small infant. The child looked like her mother: brown wavy hair, freckled nose and the large size of the child's eyes. He took a breath as he noticed the grey.
"Drew," the young mother said dazedly.
"Ms. Granger," Mr. Malfoy said sharply trying to get her attention. She looked in his direction. She took a deep breath. Her lower lip trembled. Her eyes began to water. She stifled a sob.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Malfoy," she said weakly. "I never meant to hurt your family."
Mr. Malfoy took in a breath. He touched the blood trail that seeped from her ear. He felt her neck for her pulse. It was beating way too fast. He patted her face, trying to keep her conscious.
"Ms. Granger," he said. "I need you to calm down. I need you to take deep breaths."
Hermione was dazed, her breathing remained quick and short. Mr. Malfoy gently shook her shoulder. "Hermione," he said sharply. Hermione's eyes snapped to look at the older wizard.
"Everything is going to be alright, Hermione," he said as he took hold of the young witch's hand. "But I'm going to need you to slow your breathing down a little."
She tried to concentrate on his face. She consciously fought herself from speeding up her breaths. She knew for herself that her heart rate was through the roof; she needed to calm down. She felt the remnants of the blood trickle down her neck and she tasted the metallic taste of her own blood from her nose. She gulped.
"Mr. Malfoy," she paused, her lower lip trembling. "Tell Draco to take care of Drew, please."
"Hermione, listen," Mr. Malfoy began as the little girl laid her head on her mother's shoulder, silently crying.
"Tell him I love him," Hermione said pleadingly up at her Father-in-law.
"You can tell him yourself," he said, touching her cheek gently. He pulled the infant into his arms. The small child stiffened for a moment, then whimpered. The older wizard aimed his wand at the fallen witch. "I'm taking you to Hogwarts."
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