Chapter 17: Another Second Chance
"I just got a letter from Scorpius, our kids wanted to meet with us tomorrow?" Draco asked, not looking totally convinced, his head in the green flames of her office floo. Hermione heard the man and looked over her shoulder smiling at him.
"Hey there, stranger." She said, walking over to her own fireplace and settling in to talk to Draco.
"Oh, right. Hey, Granger." Draco said, shooting her a smile that melted her heart. "Did you hear me though?" He asked, the panicked look coming back over his face.
"Yes, I heard you, Mila sent me a letter as well last night. I was going to call you later after I was done working. She said there was something they wanted to tell us and asked to get Scorpius permission to leave the school for it too." Hermione was explaining while adjusting her knees on the plush mat she kept in front of her fireplace to help keep her comfortable when she was on a call. She'd been in the middle of writing up a progress report when Draco's call had interrupted her, but frankly his disruptions since their last memory recovery session were becoming a daily occurrence and Hermione didn't mind a bit.
"I can let Pansy know I'll be taking him for the day," he said, "but they just saw us at career day. What do you think could be so important that they'd want to see us again so soon?" Draco's eyes went wide as a thought crossed his mind. "Do you think they know about us? Do you think we were too obvious at lunch with them? We didn't even sit next to each other!" Draco's panic was making Hermione roll her eyes in his direction.
Honestly, the blonde was too much some days. Since Draco's memory session just a few days prior when they'd kissed, the pair had been working on starting to evolve their relationship from working together and being co-parents to seeing if there was still a flame for a romantic relationship between them. So far, things have been progressing nicely and although Hermione was still hurt over their breakup, she now knew that Draco had been in love with her and had wanted to marry her. She didn't know what had caused him to break up with her, maybe he'd been threatened or maybe someone had threatened their family, but she knew that he'd truly loved her.
Besides, during career day when they'd snuck down to the empty potions lab and snogged until Hermione didn't know her own name, they'd been fairly tame with the intimate part of their blossoming relationship. Hermione had to admit that kissing Draco while he was working at a cauldron had been one of her more persistent fantasies, and when the blonde had dragged her down to the dungeons she didn't even pretend to protest.
They'd agreed that they would keep their blossoming romance to themselves for now. No need to involve the children in the beginning stages, and if things worked out, well then, they worked out. Hermione had to admit, to herself at least, that she was still struggling being able to fully open herself up to trusting Draco again. Regardless of what his reasoning for ending things with her had been, he should have come to her and talked it over with her. They had been partners in every aspect of their lives; he should have been able to trust her enough to know that she would have helped him figure out a solution to whatever problem there had been.
Sighing, Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco's worry, "I can assure you, if Mila believed anything was happening between the two of us, she'd have sent a howler." Hermione told him, making Draco's brow raise.
"Somehow, I'm not entirely surprised Mila sends howlers." A noise in the background took Draco's attention as he turned his face and was speaking to someone Hermione couldn't see. "Hey Granger, I've got to cut this short, but yeah I'll go to Hogsmeade tomorrow. I'll have to go up to the school to get Scorpius, but then I can meet you at the Three Broomsticks in one of the private rooms?" he asked. Hermione agreed before Draco apologized for cutting their conversation short and disappeared from the hearth.
Sitting back on her heels, Hermione could hear Janet clearing her throat from the doorway, bringing the unspeakable back from where her mind had been wandering with her thoughts of Draco. "Ms. Granger, you have 'lunch with Harry' written in your appointment book and he just sent a memo that you better not try to skip again, so I suggest you get a move on before he gets special permission to come down here and drag you from this office…again." The elderly woman told her with a knowing smile on her face.
"Thank you, Janet, I'll be right along. I just have a few more things that I need to finish up here. That call was unexpected."
"You were supposed to meet with Mr. Potter twenty minutes ago, I suggest you head on up now and come back to your work after you're fed." Janet told her before turning away and walking back to her desk. Hermione could see the elderly woman collecting her tote before she stood up and looked at Hermione watching her and let out a huffing breath. "Well, come on. You're not going to make an old woman walk by herself now, are you?"
With that, Hermione snapped back to her thoughts and grabbed her own belongings and joined Janet in the lift. She had a department meeting this afternoon, so she had to go to lunch now or skip it all together. Hermione knew that she hadn't gotten to catch up with Harry enough recently about the ongoings of her life.
There was a special lift that took DoM employees straight to the atrium, really helping keep the mystery in the department. Hermione was stepping off with Janet, where she found Harry arguing with the security guard at the DoM lift. "I'm Harry bloody Potter, if I have to get clearance to drag Hermione Granger out of her bloody office then that's a waste of resources."
"I'm sorry sir, but unless you have an appointment with Unspeakable Granger, then I just can't let you pass." The man, who was clearly annoyed with Harry at this point, was saying.
"Sorry, Bernard, please ignore The Chosen One," Hermione said, walking up and resting her hand on the security wizard's shoulder.
"Always do Unspeakable Granger. You have a nice lunch." The man said, tipping his hat towards her before standing up straight and looking ahead.
Taking Harry by the hand, Hermione directed him towards the exit and onto the street. While typically they didn't have a problem with eating the ministry food, Hermione was hoping for a little bit more privacy with her best friend. As soon as they'd reached the little muggle Cafe where they'd occasionally get lunch, Hermione took off to their normal seat and settled in while Harry went to place their order. While waiting, Hermione kept looking around remembering that this was where they would come for every lunch break after she'd first started working at the Ministry with him. Over the years, this place had become a place of comfort and security that she craved when she felt like her life was drifting out of control.
Just like Harry always was. No matter what life had thrown at them, they'd stayed close, even raising their children together.
When her raven haired friend came back to her, he was adjusting his glasses on his nose and carrying two cups of tea with him. A smile told her that even though they hadn't really gotten to spend much time together the last few months, that was nothing to lessen their bond. "I've missed you," he said, setting her cup down in front of her and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"It's been too long, you never told me, how was the Veela convention or whatever it was that you had to do with Izzy." Hermione said, accepting the drink and taking a sip, finding it perfect as always.
"Oh, it was interesting. Gabrielle and Fleur did something with their grandmother and Izzy had to do some stuff." Harry said, waving his hand around as he gave a very vague explanation.
"You have no idea what happened, do you?" Hermione asked, trying to hide her laugh behind a cough.
"Absolutely not a clue." Harry confirmed, the sheepish grin spreading across his face. "So how about you, how was your holiday? I saw you and Malfoy getting on at Hogwarts, so you had your dinner or whatever with him then?" Harry asked before taking a sip of his own tea.
"Oh, I never told you. We had to actually spend the entire holiday at the manor." Hermione said, causing Harry to choke on the drink that he'd just taken. "Ron, being the vindictive little prick that he is, released doxies into the house and it took an eternity to clear them since some of them were expecting." Harry continued to choke on his tea and began pounding his chest trying to clear his airway.
"I'm sorry, that was a lot of information in one sentence. Could you clarify a few things really quick?" Harry asked just as a waiter brought their club sandwiches over. They smiled and thanked the man and waited until he was gone again before Harry turned his attention back towards her.
"Ron released pregnant doxies into your house." He asked, lifting his sandwich and taking a bite.
"Yes, just before the holiday. Mila, extended an invitation to Draco for Christmas Eve dinner, as you know." Harry raised his eyebrows at the use of 'Draco' instead of 'Malfoy', but Hermione continued without a pause. "Well, Ronald came over and he was gathering the rest of his belongings when he released a case of Doxies into the house. I had to clear everything out and wrote to the children to let them know that they needed to stay at Hogwarts. Of course, they didn't, and Mila got us invited to stay at the manor for the holiday instead." Hermione finished, lifting her own sandwich and taking a bite. After her mouth was cleared, she continued. "It was nice being back there. I hadn't gotten to see much of it after I helped Draco with the plans for the remodel and Theo and Penny did an amazing job."
Nodding his head, Harry didn't interject anymore, giving Hermione the opportunity to finish relaying all the information. "Oh, Narcissa is still a right cow. She popped in on Christmas, believe it or not, and insulted me in front of the children." Harry chuckled and shook his head. Even though he had testified for Narcissa and kept her from joining her husband in Azkaban, Narcissa had only ever shown slightly less hostility towards Harry than she did Hermione.
"She's always a treat, reminds me so much of her aunt sometimes." He joked, and Hermione had to chuckle along. The portrait of Walburga always did slightly remind Hermione of her children's paternal grandmother. "Anything else you have to report before I try to finish my lunch? I'd rather not be taken out by a turkey club after surviving Voldemort and his fan club all these years."
Hermione realized that it was now or never to tell Harry. Her and Draco had decided to not tell the children yet, but they hadn't said anything about keeping their budding romance a secret from their friends. "Draco and I are giving things another go." Hermione said, after clearing her throat and sitting up straighter.
To his credit, Harry didn't immediately start lashing out. Instead, he sat with his mouth gaping like he was a fish out of water. Rubbing his fingers on his temple and closing his eyes, he let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, but you're doing what with Draco?" He asked, making Hermione feel a bit stiffer in her seat.
Due to the nature of her work, Hermione wasn't permitted to give out details about it to anyone. The only loophole being if it were for an investigation, therefore, she'd yet to tell Harry that she was working with Draco. "Yes, there are a few things-" Hermione started to say before she was cut off by Harry holding up his hand stopping her.
"You can't be serious right now! Hermione, for the love of Merlin," Harry exclaimed, tossing his napkin onto his plate and half eaten sandwich. "He threw you out while you were pregnant with his children and then got engaged right afterwards."
"Harry, you don't understand…" Hermione began again, but Harry cut her off.
"You remember Oliver, and how the second go around at a relationship with him had a lawsuit against you for ruining his Quidditch career? Because you 'emotionally damaged' him and he had a shit season." Hermione nodded, but when she opened her mouth to speak, Harry started again.
"And Zacharias Smith actually landed you in St. Mungo's after you ended things with him after you gave him a second chance." Harry said, pointing his finger at her. The reminder of her physically abusive relationship with Zacharias making her shutter a bit.
"Now this mess with Ron, and you just told me that he infected your house with bloody Doxies to get back at you. Why can't you just leave the past in the past and move on, Hermione. You keep letting these men back into your life after you already know what they're capable of."
Hermione looked down at her sandwich that was mostly still whole, fiddling with her napkin. "Look at how Malfoy left you last time," Harry continued, "and now you want to let him have another go. Seriously, Hermione, I'm not saying this to be mean or because I want you to be single forever, but as your brother, please don't do this again." Harry reached his hands out, covering hers.
Looking up, she met his gaze, tears brimming in her eyes. "Please Hermione, just let the past go. You can co-parent with Malfoy, but that doesn't mean you need to be with him." He pleaded, his green eyes shimmering with his own unshed tears.
"I love him, Harry. I always have." Hermione whispered, sheepishly looking back down, flipping her palms up so she could hold his hands. "It's different, Harry. He was going to propose all those years ago and something happened with Winston Greengrass. I know he's not going to hurt me again, Harry. You just have to trust me." She pleaded with her dearest friend.
Harry let out a sigh and dipped his head and it sounded like he was saying a prayer under his breath before he looked back up at her. "I'm not supporting this relationship, Hermione." He said, making Hermione's heart fall before he let out another breath and continued. "But I'm going to support you, because you never left me behind, even when I didn't listen to you." Hermione couldn't stop the smile that began to spread over her face as Harry shook his head at her.
"Godric help him if he hurts you again. I'll come up with the most absurd charges and tie his entire company up so that it'll take him years to overcome all the legal troubles that go along with it." Harry warned, and Hermione knew that it wasn't an empty threat. Case in point, Zacharias Smith's law office going under after he'd hurt Hermione. "Now, why don't you tell me more about your suspicions with Greengrass."
Hermione shot Harry a smile and then went on to give him the edited version of Winston Greengrass and how he'd been trying to sell Astoria off to be married. Harry sat and listened, nodding at all the right places and seemed utterly appalled as Hermione described how Greengrass had essentially been Astoria's owner until Draco had married her.
After their lunch, Harry agreed that this was disgusting behavior and asked what Hermione wanted to do with this information. "I think I want to open a criminal investigation against him, Harry." Hermione whispered, looking up at her friend who's eyebrows raised into his hairline.
"That's heavy Hermione, and you know without evidence or because it would just be putting a lot on the twins and Scorpius by going this route. It's you and Malfoy, it's going to be very public and it's going to be messy." Harry warned her, and Hermione could only nod.
"I understand, Harry, but this is something that I believe needs to be investigated." Meeting his eye again, Harry seemed to understand what Hermione was saying now.
"It involves your work." Hermione nodded, "and you think that Winston messed with Malfoy's memories. You know I don't know what you do, but if this involves the DoM, then I can only imagine how complicated this case is going to be." Again, Hermione nodded her head, "Malfoy's going to have to be cooperative." Hermione actually chuckled at this, trying to picture Harry and Draco working together without getting on each other's nerves.
"I understand Harry, but we have to do this. Like I said, there was more to our breakup and not only for our closure, but for the safety of our children, we need the answers." Hermione told him. Hanging his head, Harry let out one last sigh, before looking at his watch and cursing.
"I've got a meeting this afternoon, and I want you and Malfoy to discuss this case over the weekend. See me on Monday and we can move forward from there." Harry said, standing up and offering a hand to Hermione to help her up.
As they made their way back towards the Ministry, neither spoke as they were lost in their own thoughts. The cards were now being laid out and sooner rather than later Hermione would have all the answers, one way or another.
A/N: Oh hey, sorry about that extra break in updates. Life has a way of well. Anyway.
This story is close to wrapping up though, we're on the way to the final climax and everything being out there... What will happen?! A little calm before the storm if you will. I asked for mother's day to have the entire day to myself instead of getting like a few stolen moments to write. If that happens (big IF) then I'll be able to get this story pretty much done. Looking at an end of June, early July ending date.
I have a couple new stories if you want to check those out, Closer is newly completed and a Vikmione story, no smut, past abusive relationship, kidnapping, Hermione in NYC. The Pedicure is a Pansmione one shot comedy based on a real-life experience that was too funny. Finally, I've just posted up the first 2 chapters of Athena of Starlight, going to be a novel length Dreomione, accidental pregnancy, Hermione on the run, Draco and Theo looking for her...
ANYWAY, Next update will be this coming FRIDAY, the kids are meeting with Hermione and Draco to tell them what they've found out... Tell me your predictions! Reviews/Comments are always appreciated!