Rights belong to J.K. Rowling.
Thanks belong to camnz.
Chapter Two- New Ideas
Draco and his wife were led to their secluded table by the maitre d' at Sertrini's. They had a lovely view of the city lights below. Hermione's lips twitched at the heads that turned in the posh restaurant. She would absolutely never get used to being this attractive. Even though she was pregnant and pushing forty, Astoria's height and coloring lent an illusion of ethereal slimness. The Malfoys looked nothing if not regal.
Hermione had finally found a Muggle clothing designer whose fashions were soft and comfortable while maintaining the svelte sophistication that Draco seemed to prefer. As long as Hermione could comfortably curl up on the couch or sprawl on the floor with her children, she was reasonably happy in designer fashions, but jeans would always be her preference.
"So," Draco began as they sipped their wine (non-alcoholic wine in Hermione's case since she was pregnant and careful about these kinds of things), "Tell me about your agenda for the Malfoy family."
"Draco," began Hermione. "I want the kids to begin Hogwarts with alliances in other houses besides their own. I want them to see the wizarding world as a whole, not as 'us against them'. Think how our own stories would have been different if we could have put aside not just blood purity, but also house loyalties."
"You don't want them to be loyal to their own house?"
"Well, of course I do. I mean that I also want them to be accepting of others. And I want them to learn to make friends."
"You do realize that you are training our children to be Hufflepuffs," accused Draco.
Hermione's eyes widened, and she took a breath. "Do you think so?"
To tell the truth, Hermione had been worried about the same thing. Was it normal for children to be so compliant and loving towards one another?
"Actually, I don't really care," Draco surprisingly acknowledged as he looked into her eyes. "Hermione, our children are happy. I am happy. I've never experienced family like this before, and I like it. If they all end up in Hufflepuff, so be it." His grimace made Hermione laugh. Draco's face was disapproving, but his eyes were smiling.
"Really? So we can pursue friendships with Harry's kids?"
"Just one question. Are you sure this is about the kids and not you? Do you miss your friends?" Draco's voice was kind, but now his eyes were shuttered. He was afraid, Hermione realized. Hermione reached for his hand and stroked it lightly to reassure him.
"I do miss them, yes. I miss being Hermione and living her life, but that's gone for me now. You and the kids are everything to me. I would never have even been able to have children if it hadn't been for becoming Astoria. Draco, I can be happy without Harry and the Weasleys. I only want to try this if you are okay with it."
"I'm fine." Draco's eyes warmed up as she stroked his hand. "Let's hear your plan."
"I see three options. One, we can go through Harry. We can just ask him to set up time for us to meet his children. He can work it out with Ginny. Two, we could go through Andromeda. The children can meet their aunt and then connect with the Potters. Three, Astoria could get to know Molly Weasley. All the Weasley grandchildren end up playing at the Burrow, so it would be the perfect place to meet. I could hire Molly to do daycare one day a week or something like that."
"I am not ready to handle the Burrow; nor am I ready to throw my children to the weasels so to speak," replied Draco with distaste. "Let's try the Harry option first."
They ordered their food, and Hermione beamed at her husband. The genuine, happy smile looked out of place on Astoria's regal face, but Draco no longer saw Astoria. When he looked at his wife, he saw Hermione. Astoria had made his life miserable. Hermione had brought joy to his life.
"Do you have more items on your agenda?" inquired Draco as they sampled their dinner. He smirked, "I'm thinking of suggestions for certain conjugal activities for husband and wife to engage in when they return home?"
Hermione blushed, and Draco still loved that about her. He was disappointed when she led the conversation a different direction.
"Draco, I really want to make a difference in the world. You know that about me. If I can't change it as Hermione Granger, then it will have to be as Astoria Malfoy. What does Astoria Malfoy care most about? Her children, right? So, I want to begin a parenting magazine for witches and wizards. I've already thought of a title: Magical Parenting Today."
"And how would that change the world?" Draco raised his brows skeptically.
"Well, magazines are driven by fashion, and I would create new fashions for parents."
Draco knew his wife. He knew her proclivities. He knew her passions for freedom and equality, not fashion. He knew her hatred for Pureblood traditions. His stomach wrenched, and he began to have a bad taste in his mouth.
"Tell me more."
"Great." Hermione enthusiastically sighed. She hadn't really expected his support in this endeavor and should have tread more carefully, but her glee outweighed her caution.
"Oh, Draco, this is going to be fantastic. It will be a monthly magazine featuring a different wizard family each issue. There will be an advice column for child rearing and preparing for school, of course we'll have a column on children's books, articles on holiday celebrations and family vacations. Fashion will sell the magazine, Draco, so it will have clothing fashions, nursery and playroom décor, the latest toys, etc. Flourish and Botts, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and A Little Magic, you know, the new children's shop in Diagon Alley? Those businesses will likely want to advertise and sell our magazine in their stores. This magazine will benefit business, Draco."
"And?" Draco sipped his wine and waited. His eyes smiled at her glow-from pregnancy? Or was it enthusiasm for her latest project?
"And it will benefit families, Draco. It will help families think about different ways to raise children. It will challenge purebloods to put their children's happiness before their bloodlines. I want to challenge arranged marriages. I want to challenge pureblood superiority. I want to challenge the idea that women should submit to their husbands. It will help Muggleborns to know what the Wizarding world has to offer. And here's the kicker...There will be a column on what the Muggle world has to offer."
"Hermione..."
"Draco, can't you see? The magazine will share all that we have learned together as a family for the last ten years so others can experience the happiness that we have. It's a mission. Finally, I get to do something worthwhile."
Draco froze. His eyes narrowed and became cold. He put his fork down and spoke quietly but harshly. "Your job is raising the children. You are doing the most worthwhile work there is. Everyone is happy right now. Nothing else matters. Listen carefully, Hermione: Forget this project."
The light faded out of Hermione's eyes. She withdrew and became the very picture of Astoria.
"You are right, of course. Family is most important." She lowered her eyes from Draco's and began to eat delicately. Her mouth was set in a grim line as she struggled to master her temper and disappointment.
Why did this magical world have to be so far behind the times? Hermione agonized. Muggles got this! They set their women free to pursue their dreams! Muggle women could work, be champions of the underprivileged, and have a family as well. Being a wife of a Pureblood wizard was like living at the turn of the 20th century. Disapproval toward women who wanted to drive, but a few work opportunities for high achieving women. However, wizarding marriage laws...Hermione fumed. Pureblood marriage law was like going back to the Middle Ages.
The Pureblood wife submitted to the husband. Hermione always thought that Draco was different from other Pureblood wizards because their marriage worked so well-until something like this came up. She breathed slowly and carefully to control her rage while staring at her plate. A part of her wanted to burst free from her cage. But the other part knew it was a cage she had chosen and would never willingly leave.
Draco immediately missed the warm glowing Hermione. Was he right to squelch her enthusiasm? Did he really think he could keep Hermione Granger tied to Malfoy Manor forever? She was a bundle of energy and enthusiasms, always on the lookout for a cause to support. If she hadn't died ten years ago, Hermione Granger would most likely be the Minister of Magic today. He sighed, thinking how different everything would be if she hadn't ended up in Astoria's body. No. He did not want to dwell on that possibility. Hermione was his own personal miracle. He had to find some way to work this out.
"Let's take some time out from round one before starting round two. I need to think this over. You are a brave and talented woman, Hermione. I know that whatever you do will be successful. But.."
"There's always a 'but'," grumbled Hermione bitterly under her breath.
"However, I don't believe the wizarding world is ready for this. A magazine like this with your ideas and purpose could be very contentious politically. I can't have my name attached to this, and I don't think it would be safe for our children to have yours attached either."
Hermione spluttered with anger. "Here you go, thinking of politics, propriety, reputation and other Slytherin ideals when this is a chance to influence justice, equality, and education for tolerance. A Gryffindor would say this is a worthy goal no matter the cost to safety or reputation."
"You don't mean that, Hermione. You wouldn't put our children in danger solely because of your idealism."
"I don't believe they would ever be in danger. The world is changing. I just want to help it along."
"You are wrong. The world is not changing. It's growing more dangerous for the Muggleborn. You have been isolated with the children at the Manor the past few years, and you haven't heard the politics at the latest dinner parties. You haven't been to the Ministry of Magic in awhile. Things are different, Hermione. Your idea is a good one, but now is not the time."
"It's just a magazine, for Godric's sake. But, if things are this bad, then all the more reason to fight," replied Hermione with a deadly gleam in her eye. Their voices were quiet, but Hermione was beginning to hiss.
Draco needed to diffuse the situation quickly. "Let's both think about this and talk again later. Now, if you are finished eating, would you like to dance?"
Hermione rose sullenly, but melted into Draco's arms fairly quickly once the music started. He stroked her back, kissed her hair, and frowned at the unsettling fear nagging at him. Everything was perfect right now; Draco did not want to see anything change.
Really, he should have never discouraged Hermione from freeing their house elves.