All rights belong to J.K. Rowling and thanks to camnz. I appreciate every review! You are so positive. I'm glad readers recognized the reference to the Weasley clock. Thanks for pointing out an error in the last chapter. I fixed it right away.
Chapter Eight- The Granger Home
"Where are we going today, Mummy?" asked Cassie.
"Can we go to the zoo?" begged Orion.
"Yes, the zoo!" yelled Leo.
Scorpius rolled his eyes and waited by the fireplace ready to floo when the family was ready. Hermione stepped carefully downstairs and checked each of the children. This would likely be their last family day together before the baby was born. To tell the truth, she always felt a bit flustered on these trips. Knowing that Draco disapproved of the Muggle world added to her stress. If anything at all went wrong on the trip, he might put an end to their adventures. She compensated by becoming ultra-organized, a bit bossy, and excessively cheerful.
"Coats? Hats? Gloves? It might be chilly in London today. Scorpius, we are not wearing robes; please change."
Scopius unfastened his robe to reveal Muggle jeans and a t-shirt underneath.
"Right, I suppose that works. You do need a coat. Let me check my bag to be sure I have everything." Hermione peered into her extendable bag with her wand lit inside. There was a good deal of shuffling before she announced, "I'm ready to go. Where's Papa?"
"Papa!" shrieked Leo as he ran to his father. Draco picked up the four year old and held out his hand to Orion.
"Let's see what Mummy has in store for us today!" said Draco grimly. To tell the truth, he rather enjoyed these expeditions into Muggle London, but hid it carefully.
The family flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, and then stepped outside the door to the cold, bustling Muggle London streets. Scorpius took off his wizard's robes and pulled on his jumper. Hermione pulled out four small backpacks out of her tiny extendable bag. Each bag contained water, a snack, a cell phone, and contact information. She checked all the phones.
"Now, you are ready to go. Stay with Mummy and Papa, but if you do get lost, call us on the phone. Everyone check your phone and make sure you know what buttons to press. Practice now!"
When all was organized, they walked to the tube and found the one that would take them to the suburbs. Today they were going to Hermione Granger's house to play.
Hermione had found her old home for sale on the internet. She asked Draco to buy it for her. When he balked, she practiced what she thought were Slytherin tools of manipulation.
1. Fear: You know, Draco, this house could be a safehouse in case of emergencies. The Wizarding world is a dangerous place, and no one who knows the Malfoys would ever to think to look for Malfoy children in Hermione Granger's old house in a Muggle suberb. Remember how long it took for you to find Astoria in Muggle London?
2. Practicality: We could use this house to practice living in the Muggle world. I could teach the children to cook in my old kitchen! It will give us a home base or a place to rest when we get tired of sightseeing.
3. Pride: It's okay, Draco, if you can't afford it. I don't need such an expensive present.
4. Sex: This could be a getaway for you and me, Draco. Think of all the fun we could have in a home away from home. You could sleep with me in Hermione's old bedroom, Draco.
Eventually, Draco agreed, although Hermione was secretly surprised. The property wasn't an important asset. Maybe Draco realized that Hermione needed this one connection to her past.
They took the bus to the Granger home. Painted white with gleaming windows, it was large for a Muggle middle class home, but not pretentious. Draco looked unimpressed, but Hermione was bouncing in excitement. Scorpius eyed the trees; they might work well for hiding, climbing, or building a tree house. Everyone got a chance to unlock the door with the key, even Draco.
When they stepped in, it was a bit unlike the home Hermione had grown up in because after all, it had been twelve years since her parents had passed away. Hermione had arranged for it to be updated and furnished comfortably. She led the six Malfoys to the family room and showed them how to start a fire in the small fireplace, too small to use as a floo. While Hermione made popcorn in the microwave, the kids and Draco chased each other all over the house, investigating. The family played with the light switches in every room. Hermione showed her family how to turn on the furnace. Eventually, everyone sprawled on the couch, floor and comfy armchairs laughing away at a movie playing on the TV: The Incredibles.
"Muggles certainly do have vivid imaginations," Draco murmured in her ear. "I like the banter and wit, but do you think all this arguing is good for the kids to see?"
"It'll be okay, I promise." Hermione whispered back.
"Mummy, are these people wizards? Is this magic?" asked Cassie.
"Well, technically, they are superheroes, so no, they don't really have magic, just special powers," replied Hermione. Then, "Shh! Listen!"
After the movie finished, Hermione cheered, "Time to make dinner!" Draco looked up in horror, but Hermione grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen. The children followed. "No elves, no magic, so everyone has to help!"
She had Leo set the table, Orion butter the French bread, and Cassie shred the lettuce for the salad. She showed them how to turn on the stove, then put Scorpius to work frying the sausage. Draco helped Hermione prepare the spaghetti sauce. They cooked the spaghetti and chopped veggies for the salad. Cassie grated Parmesan cheese and searched the fridge for drinks.
"See?" Hermione teased Draco, "He who is excels at potions can excel at cooking."
As the family sat down to eat, Scorpius asked which super hero each person liked and what special power they wished they had. Hermione was impressed with the question and listened intently to their answers. It seemed that the Muggle movie had captured her family's imagination. Everyone had something to share.
"If I had Violet's superpower, I wouldn't ever need an invisibility cloak. Being invisible is the best superpower."
"Harry Potter had an invisibility cloak," Hermione contributed to the conversation.
"Ha! So that's how he got away with so much!" Draco and Scorpius both looked interested in hearing more, but Cassie intervened.
"Mummy, can you make me an invisibility cloak so I can pretend I'm Violet?"
"I want to be Frozone! He's so amazing!" shouted Orion.
"Use a quiet voice at the table, Orion," Hermione said somewhat sternly.
"Can our family have superhero suits?" Leo asked. Draco snorted and Hermione giggled.
"I like the wife's flexibility," murmured Draco to his wife.
Hermione nodded with innocent eyes and agreed, "Me too. Perfect for motherhood."
She recalled Harry's boneless arm experience when Lockhardt had tried to heal his broken arm and wondered if being stretchy was similar. Draco and Scorpius began a deep discussion about flying without brooms.
Washing dishes is fun if you've never done it before. The floor and counters were soaked by the time they finished, but the dishes were clean and put away.
"What do we do now?" the children asked Hermione. Draco checked the time and looked like he wanted to leave. Maybe he wasn't having fun, Hermione worried.
"We could leave now..." Hermione began, "...or we could have a... DANCE PARTY!"
She dashed to the ipod in the living room and turned on loud music. The speakers boomed. Then she grabbed the children's hands and began dancing wildly with them. Draco had to laugh. Crazy dancing made his children happy. His beautiful, pregnant wife looked ridiculous shaking her booty with the children. He was very glad that his parents weren't here to see this. Hermione pulled Draco onto the "dance floor" with her, and Draco obligingly moved to the beat. Muggle music was...interesting, to say the least.
The truth of the matter was... Draco had seen right through Hermione's rather unexceptional attempts to use Slytherin manipulation. He had intended to give her this home from the first. Knowing that Hermione could at any time completely disappear into the Muggle world with his children in tow scared him to death. This home provided a safe connection to both worlds, kept Hermione happy, and relieved some of Draco's fears for his family.
"Hermione," Draco began that night in the privacy of their suite back at the Manor. As they slipped between their silk sheets, he kissed his wife deeply and pulled her close. She snuggled in and stroked his cheek and white blond hair, so grateful to him for letting her share the Muggle world with their children.
"Hmm?"
"Do you like your new house?"
"You mean my old house? Yes, thank you, Draco, I do. When I became Astoria, losing Hermione's flat was one of the hardest things for me. I couldn't get in because I wasn't Hermione anymore. And then all my books and clothes and treasures were packed up or given away, I suppose. I don't know what happened to my cat. Malfoy Manor didn't feel like home to me, and I felt lost at sea, like an unmoored vessel."
"How about now?"
"The Manor is very much home now. I bloom where I'm planted, and my roots are sinking in, growing deeper every day. Did you like my Muggle house today, Draco?"
"Mmm. You don't have to try so hard, Hermione. You don't have to prove anything to me."
"I don't? But Draco, you don't really like the Muggle world."
"No, but I trust you, and I want you to share your world with us. I wonder though, don't Muggles lead quiet lives too? Is everything about entertainment with them?"
Hermione blinked as the truth hit home. To date, every visit they had made to the Muggle world had indeed involved entertainment. Muggles did enjoy more entertainment-based technology than Wizards. Perhaps she had better rethink her ideas for Christmas presents.
"Draco," she breathed. "I need to consider this. You may be right. Am I spoiling our children? Not with toys, but with entertainment? "
"Not at all," Draco reassured her. "Tonight was fun. And the pleasures were simple. I liked it. We could just go to the Grangers' home and have a quiet weekend together without getting all feverish about having fun."
"Ah, I get it. We can visit the Muggles as long as we are proper Malfoys with proper manners. Is that it?" Hermione teased him. "And I bet you want to bring some house-elves along too, right?"
Draco smiled sheepishly. "House-elves would be nice."
"NEVER!" squealed Hermione as she very improperly attacked her husband.