J.K. Rowling gets the credit for birthing a wonderful world.
Camnz gets the credit for the fascinating prequel.
Reviewers get the credit for leading me to reorganize a difficult chapter.
Chapter Nine- Hermione's Return
Hermione had a brain that worked overtime. She had been planning Magical Parenting Today for months; the first three issues were basically written. She had a team. Next on her agenda was to find a photographer who could capture life as well as fashion. She intended her magazine to be about real people, not perfect people.
The photo shoots of the Malfoy children showed a charming Leo who was dwarfed by a sullen Orion. Cassie was gorgeous, but she produced fake smiles and moved her head from side to side as she posed and preened for the camera-like Astoria would have? Oh gods, no. White haired Scorpius glared like a smaller version of his father. Hermione's eyebrows rose as she examined Scorpius' sneer in the picture. It was the very image of the snobbish annoying prat she remembered from Hogwarts! Oh, dear. Will others write off her son like she had Draco during their school years? Friendships must be established soon, she thought to herself.
Jane Creevey's proofs brought a smile to her lips. Brilliant. Jane had captured the Malfoy white blond hair. It glistened. Some of the children's eyes flashed gray as they glanced at the camera. There was her sweet boy Scorpius conversing wryly with a more natural looking Cassie who luckily, seemed unaware that the camera had caught her brief chuckle and the swing of her silvery blond curtain of hair. Orion and Leo were lively, jumping, grinning, wrestling on the floor. And Jane had caught a look on Draco's face that Hermione didn't think she had ever seen before. As Draco stood behind Astoria, he breathed into her hair and closed his eyes. He looked serious and vulnerable.
My husband is a very sweet, loving man, Hermione thought. She had known it, of course, but this precious magical moving photograph was proof.
Jane Creevey was hired.
Her right hand woman was a Muggle born journalist named Anna McGuire who loved Wizard and Muggle fashion. She was bubbly, enthusiastic, and internet savy, which was necessary for keeping up with Muggle fashions. After all, why re-invent the wheel? She recommended her Hogwarts schoolmate Roy Thomas as graphic designer. If the venture took off, several more journalists would need to be added to the staff; Anna knew a few.
Gloria Van Duzen was another obvious choice. She had experience working for Witch Weekly. Gloria knew the business and could get Magical Parenting Today printed, on the stands, in the stores. She had important Slytherin connections to pureblood families, but didn't seem opposed to the idea of introducing a bit of Muggle culture into the magazine. Hermione thought she would be a decent sounding board, a representative of traditional wizarding values.
One small problem: Her team was young; none besides Hermione (and Molly) were actually parents. Maybe Draco's secretary, Mrs. Gray could help out. She was retiring soon and could be a valuable source for working mothers and grandmothers. Hermione would give Mrs. Gray a floo call.
Hermione tried to imagine toting her baby to the MPT office and nursing her infant during team meetings. It sounded doable, but the wheels needed to be set in motion for independence in case she needed more time at home. She hoped the team would become self-sufficient, able to produce the magazine without her if necessary.
Astoria presented her team with the outline and articles for the first three issues.
"I'd like to see a column from healers at St. Mungo's. I think parents would be interested in hearing from the experts." Anna mentioned to Astoria and Gloria.
"We could substitute the Muggle articles with a couple of articles by healers and move the Muggle articles to the next two issues, " Gloria suggested. "That way we can keep the Muggle influence small for the first issue, so we don't scare off our readers."
Hermione agreed, "Draco will like that idea. He also wants me to use a pseudonym to protect our family's privacy."
"Really? I think the Malfoy name will be a draw for the magazine. Your family is mysterious, and readers will want to know more about you. Malfoy popularity will drive up sales."
Hermione snorted, "Notoriety, more likely. No, seriously, the Malfoy name will not be available. I'll think up a pen name."
Astoria was honest with her team about her vision for Magical Parenting Today. Number One: Educate parents and help children. Number Two: Lay the groundwork for building a more tolerant society, specifically toward Muggleborns. Number Three: Empower women by subtly questioning some traditions.
Everyone took copious notes.
Dear Molly,
Should I leave my children home alone with a house-elf? My husband had a house-elf for a nanny, so I know they are capable. What do you think?
Uncertain Mum
Molly Weasley lifted her gaze to the window.
"I don't think I'm qualified to answer this question," she murmured.
"Of course, you are," encouraged Hermione. "What would you tell your children if they asked? What would you tell Harry and Ginny?"
"Oh, that's different. No, I would never recommend leaving a Weasley child with a house-elf. I just don't think I can answer for someone else."
"Why not?"
"Because everyone has a unique situation -social, economic, cultural, personal. There are differing opinions on the intelligence and capabilities of house-elves. I really can't tell someone else what to do. For instance, my ways would not be acceptable in a upper class Pureblood home."
This was going to be more difficult than she had thought.
"Okay, let's start there. How about, I can't make decisions for your family, but personally, I would limit the time an elf is in charge of the children?" Hermione suggested, thinking guiltily of the times her children had been left with Penny, the children's nursery elf at Malfoy Manor.
"Mmm. That might work. What if we base our reply on the the question Whom do you choose to influence your child? That's easier to answer and won't be as directly offensive to families who use house-elves. The choice should be left to the parents."
"Brilliant, Mrs. Weasley. See? That's why you are right for this job. Now, tell me more," Hermione smiled. Ah. Molly's advice column for Magical Parents Today was about to be written! She readied her quill to take notes.
Astoria Malfoy and Molly Weasley were in the midst of discussing parent-child bonding when Ginny Potter popped through the floo into the kitchen, followed by her two youngest children.
Astoria froze and compressed her lips. Her eyes narrowed at Ginny Potter, and she paused, quill in hand, waiting for the expected tirade.
"Mum," greeted Ginny Potter calmly. "Mrs. Malfoy."
"Mrs. Potter," acknowledged Astoria with a cool nod.
"Mum told me you would be here with your kids, so I brought mine along to play while you worked."
Molly beamed, while Hermione's jaw dropped. Hermione had given up hope that Harry and Ginny would want to be friendly with the Malfoys. A tear came to her eye, and she blinked rapidly to keep more from falling. She took a breath, but didn't speak. She gazed at Ginny for a moment and turned her eyes to devour the two small Harry Potter look-alikes that stood by Ginny's side. Molly spoke for her,
"The Malfoy children are in the other room playing with the Quidditch action figures. I'm sure Albus and Lily would love to join them."
As she left the room, Ginny said casually, "I'll go with them so you two can keep working. Don't get up, I've got it." Then she added as she passed the clock, "Mum, look! The clock says that Hermione is home! Weird!"
Astoria froze. Her eyes drifted to the clock and then widened. She glanced back at Molly Weasley. Molly smiled and took her hand.
"Harry told me who you are, Mrs. Mal-um, Hermione. I noticed the clock the last time you were here and bothered him about it until he confessed. Ginny heard me, so she knows too."
At this, Hermione truly began to weep.
"I'm sorry. I don't usually cry like this. Pregnancy hormones, most likely."
She covered her face, and Molly pulled her into a comforting Weasley hug, whispering how much she had missed her and how glad that she was back.
Hermione flooed home to the Manor with the children in tow. Scorpius and Cassie filled Draco in on their impressions of Albus and Lily. Orion and Leo talked incessantly of the Quidditch action figures. Hermione thought they might be a good Christmas present-for Draco.
"Papa, we made new friends," began Cassie.
"Albus was the boy my age. He's going to go to Hogwarts too," added Scorp.
"Lily is a year older than me, but she was nice. They have a huge family with lots of cousins. Papa, do we have cousins?" asked Cassie.
"No, no cousins," answered Draco. And thankfully, none with red hair, he thought to himself.
"Yes, they do too have cousins, Draco. Teddy Lupin is a cousin and my sister Daphne has son." Hermione corrected with a smirk.
Scorpius watched his mother. He noticed that she wasn't as excited about Daphne's son as she had been with Harry Potter's children. It seemed as if the Potters and Mrs. Weasley meant more to his mum than the Greengrasses who were family. He filed that away for future reference. Watching her carefully, he said quietly,
"Mum, Albus asked who our parents were, and Orion told him that our mum was named Hermione."
Silence.
Hermione looked at Draco.
"But I told Albus that 'Rion was wrong since our mother's name is Astoria," laughed Cassie.
"And Granger." contributed Leo. Orion looked worried.
Draco raised his eyebrows at Hermione. Scorpius watched both closely.
"Yes, well..." began Hermione. "Astoria Greengrass was my maiden name before I married your father. Now it is Astoria Malfoy. Sometimes your papa calls me Hermione, but... it's just a joke. Hermione Granger was a friend of Harry Potter's, you've heard the stories I've told you, but she died." Her lips curved as she gazed at Draco helplessly. Was this the right time to tell them? Scorpius narrowed his eyes, but he said nothing.
Draco ushered the children into their nursery suite and told them to dress for dinner. Then he returned to Hermione to get the full scoop.
"Ginny brought her children over to play, Draco. She and Harry changed their minds. I am so happy!" She gave Draco a kiss and spun around. "My little dream came true. I hope it happens again soon."
"I must say, the Weaslette surprised me," Draco smiled at Hermione as he watched her remove her clothes and reach for dress robes. He enjoyed seeing his wife's unclothed body, especially the very round belly holding his child and the full breasts ready to suckle the new infant. Too bad they were so quickly covered up.
"Yes, well, she found out who I am, Draco. Molly figured it out, and Ginny overheard."
So, in one day, the number of people who knew about Hermione living in Astoria's body had doubled. Once the rest of the Weasley clan knew, the entire Wizarding world would know. Draco didn't like that idea at all and frowned.
While they were changing for dinner, she filled Draco in on her visit with Molly Weasley and the new team heading Magical Parenting Today.
"Draco, I need money to fund the magazine. I have my staff ready to go and need to pay them this week. Then I'll need to have funds available for production costs. I think we are close to publishing the first issue."
Astoria had her own money, of course, but Hermione never remembered that fact. She seemed to consider it all Malfoy money. Hermione had no problem spending Malfoy money on the children and their education, but the magazine was a business venture and a different story.
Draco took a breath.
"Hermione, I don't want our names associated with this. If I fund this venture, I want to see the magazine and give approval before it goes public, and I want its association with the Malfoy family to be concealed."
Hermione looked mutinous. "Yes, I agreed already to all that. But Draco, I want you to remember that I lost my life. I lost my name. I lost my future. Now, I have a chance to build a life, a name, and a future as Astoria. I know that Hermione Granger is dead and buried, but why should Astoria Malfoy be the same? I would like to use her name."
"Absolutely not. I forbid it. If Astoria's name is used for your pursuits, it puts Hermione Granger's stamp on Astoria. Whatever you do will reflect on her name, her family, her reputation."
"Astoria didn't care a fig about her reputation. Look how she treated you!"
"Don't be too sure. Astoria cared about Pureblood society. Introducing the Muggle world to her friends is a bloody red flag. They won't believe this project is Astoria's. They might even believe that Hermione Granger is behind it all."
Hermione swallowed and thought while she brushed her hair and used her wand to style it. "Okay, Draco. I'll use a pseudonym as promised. And you can fund the magazine with whatever sneaky Slytherin under-the-table funding methods that you want. Thank you, Draco." She bestowed a kiss on his cheek, seeming to assume that Draco had agreed to her request. He turned his head to capture her mouth with his.
All Draco had to do was deny Hermione the funds for the magazine and this problem would go away.
But would it really? Hermione might find another cause to fight for, more public even than this one. Draco was uncomfortable with his involvement. But he recognized that Hermione would never be the pureblood high society witch that the Malfoys expected her to be. She would always be herself, and if he didn't support her, he knew she might act without his approval. He took a breath and fervently hoped that the parenting magazine would die a quick and quiet death.