A/n. Sorry yet again for the sporadic updating, I promise to get better at this.
Hope you Enjoy!
"Bryony Jean! You better not be still playing with Crooks. You need to be ready, they will be here in 5 minutes." Hermione called out of her room to her daughter. Draco wouldn't tell her where they were going, saying he wanted it to be a surprise. All he would say was to dress warm because its outside. Last week she and Ron had had dinner with Bryony as a family to explain that they were each seeing someone else. It had gone surprisingly well.
On some level she knew her parents relationship wasn't like the others around her. The next day she had dinner with Ron and Katie. Everyone had reported back to Hermione that it went great. Bryony had already known Katie from the shop so it wasn't hard for her to adjust to the idea of Katie being around more.
Meeting Draco was going to be different though. She didn't know him and he was brining Scorpious as well. Taking one last look in the mirror Hermione took a deep breath then went to find her daughter. She was indeed playing with Crookshanks in the living room but she was also dressed so Hermione took that as a small victory. Her daughter had her former familar held up to her chest and while his squished orange face looked throughly unimpressed Hermione knew he was happy to be held by his person. After Bryony had been born Crookshanks had taken to her right away. He hated to be away from his girl so much that he had even taken to following her through the floo back and forth to Ron's flat. Hermione was standing in the doorway watching her daughter when she was startled by the doorbell.
Upon opening the door she saw a very sexy looking Draco in black trousers, a dark green button up with coat and matching Slytherin scarf. Next to him stood his perfect mini me. Scorpious was dressed almost identically down to the scarf. His platinum blonde hair was cut short but spiked on top and the amount of gel used reminded Hermione of Draco in first year. He looked slightly nervous but mildly intrigued.
"Hello gentlemen, come in." She said opening the door. As they stepped in she turned back to the room and called Bryony to join them. She came into the entry area carrying Crookshanks with her. They made the introductions and then Bryony introduced Scorpious to Crookshanks. Malfoy saw the familiar and his lip twitched, "I didn't realize that monstrosity was still around." He whispered into her ear as the kids started laughing at Crookshanks trying to get out of her arms. "Don't let her hear you call him that."
"Alright guys, are we ready to get going?" Draco asks.
"Ya, where are we going Mr. Draco? Mom said its was a surprise." Bryony answered as the cat finally jumped away from her.
"Well since its a surprise I can't tell you can I?" He replied while Hermione grabbed both of their coats and handed Bryony hers. Looking at her daughter she couldn't help but laugh when she saw she was wearing jeans with red and gold embroidery and a red blouse to match. When all of them looked at her she explained, "I feel like I should change. I'm the only one here not sporting house colors." Draco smirked but before he could comment Bryony jumped in, "Mr Draco were you in Slytherin?" He nodded, "I'm going to be Gryffindor! Everyone in our family's been a lion."
"You can be wherever you want," Hermione started as Draco opened the door for them to head back outside.
"I know. Uncle Harry told me he chose to be in Gryffindor. The hat lets you decide. He said it wanted him to be in Slytherin but he asked for Gryffindor." Bryony answered as she went out the door.
"Potter was almost in Slytherin? " Draco asked raising an eyebrow as Hermione followed her daughter. That information was going to be filed for later use, Hermione knew. She obviously wasn't thinking or she wouldn't have been surprised to see the SUV sitting in her driveway. The silver Lexus was a surprise and yet it seemed to fit perfectly for Draco.
"Cool we're riding in car!" Bryony exclaimed as soon as she saw it. She jumped into the car as Draco opened her door for her then went around to the other side to put Scorpious into his car seat turning to Hermione, "I hope it's okay, I forgot to mention Scorpious doesn't do well with apporation."
"Its fine. She loves riding in cars and feels the same about apporiating. So where are we going?" She asked with a wink as he opened her door.
"Its a surprise." He smirked closing the door.
As he got into the other side she turned to confirm Bryony had her seat belt on, "sorry dear, he won't tell me either." Turning to Scorpious, "what about you Scorpious, do you know where we are going?" He giggled as Draco began backing down the drive and said "its a surprise!"
"Hmpf, cunning Slytherins, I don't think we are going to learn anything from these two." She said turning back towards the road.
"Thats ok. I like being surprised. Hey Mr Draco, it sure is quiet, can we listen to music?"
"Absolutely," he answered looking at Bryony in his rear view mirror. "Would you do the honors? Whatever you like is fine." he asked Hermione.
She leaned forward to the radio, quickly turning it to the local pop hits station.
She'd never ever feel rejected
Little miss apprehensive
Said ooh, ...
"Mummy I love this song turn it up!"
"It is loud enough."
"please..."
"No"
Suprise, its time
To feel whats real
What happened to Miss Independent?
"Bryony, you stop that right now!" Hermione said over the music looking back at her daughter.
Goodbye, old you
Draco raised his eyebrow and mouthed "accidental magic?" "No, she's doing it on purpose."
When love is true
"Now stop or I'll have Draco turn us around and take you back home. You can stay the night at your fathers while we go out without you."
Miss gaurded heart
Miss play it smart
Miss if you wanna use that line, you better not start, no... 1
"Thats better, now don't do it again." She glared at her daughter while Draco shook his head trying to hide his smirk. After a rather uneventful 20 minutes later they pulled into a parking lot and Hermione began laughing as she saw where they were.
"The fair? Really? I haven't been to one since I was a little girl." Hermione smiled as she saw the bright lights from the rides behind the food trucks. "How on earth did you come up with this?"
She asked turning back to him. She knew he did more in the muggle world but this was, well, definitely not something she could picture the rather stoic man doing.
"I must admit, I did ask my muggle secretary for ideas. This was her first suggestion. Of course I had to then look it up to see what it is but I think she was right." He said with a smile as he turned off the engine and began to get out. As he opened Scorpious' door the little boy looked up and saw the lights on the farris wheel, "oh daddy! Look at the lights! Can we ride that? Please?" The boy was so excited it took Draco twice as long to get the squirming child out of his seat. On the other side of the car Hermione was trying to corral Bryony who was reacting the same.
As they began the walk towards the ticket booth the children both bounced around talking a mile a minute about all they wanted to do. Draco paid their entrance and then bought wrist bands for all for unlimited rides. Again surprised Hermione bite her lip to keep from saying anything. This posh, everything must be crisp, neat and clean man was going to ride these old rusted out rides? This she had to see.
They went through the gates and the children were drawn towards the petting zoo. As the children were distracted by the lamas Draco questioned Hermione about Bryony's control of her magic, "Seriously she knew what she was doing?" Hermione nodded, "thats amazing, to have such control at such a young age. How did she even learn it? Have you been working with her?" The children moved on to see the goats playing and head butting each other.
"No, although I'm afraid I did plant the idea in her head. After her first obvious bought of accidental magic scared her I explained to her that it was normal and told her how I would find the volume changing on the radio or TV. Or how books on the top shelf would come to me when I couldn't reach them. I told her how it confused me and my parents because they didn't know anything about magic. I then explained that it was perfectly normal and that she would learn how to control it as she got older." Hermione shrugged following the children as they moved on to the bunnies, "I guess she took it as a challenge because a few weeks later we were driving somewhere and the music started getting louder. After the song ended the volume dropped. I tried to pretend not to notice because I didn't think she knew what she was doing. A few minutes later a song she didn't like came on and I heard her say 'nope, I'm not in the mood for this today.' And the station changed. I asked and she explained that she had been practicing controlling her magic. When we got home she was so proud to show me she could turn the lights on and off. She does still have moments of uncontrolled magic. Most recently she and Victorie got into an argument at the Burrow and Victorie's doll ended up in a tree. She was so devastated that she lost control. I had to explain again that it was normal. She finally calmed down, turned back to the tree and purposely summoned the doll back to her then handed it to her cousin, apologizing. I have never heard the Burrow so quiet as all the adults present stared at my daughter, mouths hanging open."
"Wow, thats.." he shook his head again looking back at the kids now taking turns petting a sheep, "wow"
"I know, she's brilliant."
"Just like her mother."
"Even beyond me I think. I knew I was different but it wasnt until I was about 8 that I accepted it. Then I was about 9 or 10 before I even attempted to control it. She was 4 1/2 when she first showed me her controlled magic. I think I'm in trouble when she turns 11 and gets her wand." The children finished with the petting zoo and set their sights of the Midway. Hermione smirked at the dashing blonde, "so, you think your ready for this?"
His face showed a moments hesitation before he smirked, "after you." First up was a huge slide that children rode flour sacks down. Both eagerly asked to join the line then waited (somewhat) patiently for their turns. Once at the top Scorpious began to look afraid but Bryony turned to him and gently coaxed him into going down at the same time on the other side of the slide. Once both hit the bottom laughing they begged to go down three more times before agreeing to move onto the next ride.
The next ride was the one Hermione was most looking forward to, the Tilt a Whirl, a favorite from her childhood. She knew neither child was tall enough to ride alone so both adults would have to ride. As they walked up Bryony began begging to ride right away and after only a moments pause Scorpious joined in. Draco looked... hesitant... but upon seeing the look on Scorpious' face agreed. When it was their turn Hermione and Bryony quickly jumped into the first available cart, Draco and Scorpious gabbing the cart just behind them. Turning to wink at her daughter Hermione asked, "ready?"
"Yeah!" She giggled as the ride started to move. Hermione reached forward and grabbed the turning wheel, "hold on tight!" She called out and began spinning. They laughed as the spun faster and faster. Each time they spun past Draco he looked at them like they had lost their minds. Finally the ride came to a stop and everyone jumped out with Bryony begging to go again while Draco grumbled something about their car having been broken. Winking again at her daughter Hermione agreed to go again. "How about this time Scorpious and I ride together, that way you can show Mr Draco what to do?" They ride again, this time with both carts squealing with laughter as the carts spun faster and faster.
Next was The Thunderbolt, which both Draco and Scorpious both looked relieved to see that he was to short to ride. The ever fearless Bryony had to ride it at least once before moving on. They came to the more kiddy rides next, the ones that looked like cars or motorbikes and moved in a slow circle. Both children rode once just to say they did then got distracted by the ride Hermione was least looking forward to. MThe Ferris Wheel. It was the ride they had seen from the parking lot that they had both said they wanted to ride. She knew it was coming but it still didn't calm her nerves any. They got into line and as they waited her anxiety grew. Speed she could handle. She loved it really. The Tilt a Whirl and The Thunderbolt were her favorite rides. Heights though? That was another story. Seeing her hesitation Draco whispered in her ear, "Granger are you scared? I thought you lived for danger?"
"Danger, I laugh in the face of danger, haha ha!2" She said to his challenge, at the look on his face she explained that it was a line from a Disney movie. Hearing her explain Bryony looked stricken, "you don't know The Lion King? Really?" Hermione just smiled, murmered something that sounded suspiciously like 'purebloods' then suggested a movie night to 'educate' the Slytherins. With a still scandalized look on her face Bryony agreed that it would be necessary. Thankfully all of this passed the time as the wheel was being filled up and now it was slowly turning continuously. As long as she didn't look down Hermione was ok but still her stomach was in knots the entire ride. As they were getting off Draco turns to offer her his hand, "Repeat after me," he pauses to confirm he has her attention, "Hakuna Matata."
"What?"
"Hakuna Matata, it means 'no worries'"2
2 hours later after riding almost every ride again and exploring the food vendors they finally left the fair. Hermione was quite proud of Draco. He had rode every ride, oh'd and aww'd at each side show as expected of him and even pet a Llama when they went back to the petting zoo. However his reaction to fair food was priceless.
"What is that? " he asked eyeing a corn dog on a stick.
"A corn dog."
"And what pray tell is a corn dog?" He asked unable to hide his snear reminding Hermione of Snape.
"A hot dog dipped in batter then deep fried."
"Uggg, and that smell?"
"Oil from the fryers"
"Is everything fried?"
"Pretty much" Hermione quipped as his eye started to twitch. As he looked around completely lost, trying to hide his revulsion she decided to give him an easy out, "it's getting late, how about we head back to my place, picking up takeaway on the way?"
"Sounds fantastic." he breathed a sigh of relief.
Hermione convinced him that they couldn't leave without getting cotton candy to take to the Burrow the next day and some kettle corn for a movie night sometime during the week. Now they were halfway home listening to Bryony and Scorpious compare their favorite rides,
Come on
Is it worth it? Let me work it3
"Not appropriate" turns the dial,
Is this just fantasy?4
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
"Mummy! Please, you have to turn it up! Its Queen!"
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Turning to look at Draco she sees he is completely lost. However, her daughter is right its Queen and Freddie must be shown the proper respect which means volume up and you must at least attempt to follow the lyrics. Anything less would be an insult to the late, great artist.
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightening-very very frightening me
Galileo, Galileo
Galileo, Galileo
Galileo Figaro- magnifico
By this point Draco looked like he was scared for the ladies sanity and even Scorpious looked concerned. But the music goes on...
Oh mama Mia, mama Mia, mama Mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me
Forr meeee...
"Beelzebub? What kind of nonsense is this?" Draco mutters, thankfully not loud enough for Bryony to hear. He's made a good impression so far but a comment like that could undo all of it in just a second.
Anyway the wind blowssss
"You guys didn't sing along" Bryony points out as the song finishes fading away.
"No, I uh, don't think we know that one" he answered after seeing Hermione shake her head at him.
"Not know Bohemian Rhapsody? How? It is quite arguably the greatest rock song of all time. It is the best known of all of Queen's songs." She paused as a look of horror passed over her face, "wait, please tell me you know Queen? Freddie Mercury? You know, the rock legend?" He shook his head no before Hermione could stop him, "I'm sorry Mummy but I don't think this is going to work. I could understand not knowing The Lion King but this, " dramatic sigh, "this is to much." By this point Hermione is silently giggling trying not to encourage her daughter.
Draco turns to her, "did your daughter just break us up?" He asked shaking his head in amazement. Scorpious is just looking at everyone in turn trying to figure out what just happened.
"Dear, not everyone listens to muggle music, we will just have to educate him, thats all." Hermione says taking Draco's hand.
"Ok, I guess." closing her eyes as she lays her head back against her seat, "Its a travesty." She sits a moment then dramatically looks at Scorpious, "stick with me Scorpious, I'll teach you all about great music."
A/n:
Obviously some credits due here
1. Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson, 2003
2. The Lion King, Disney 1994
3. Work it by Missy Elliott, 2002
4. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, 1976
Sorry I've been out of school a few years so my citation skills are rusty but you get the idea lol
Also this has been the planned meeting for the kids since the very beginning but it wasn't till I started researching my favorite rides that I realized that at 4 and 5 they probably wouldn't be big enough to ride most rides mentioned so just pretend they are tall for their ages please?
Next ch we head to The Burrow and then meet Narcissa... this could get very interesting...
As always much love to all, and thank you for all the reviews, likes and follows, until next time, Hufflehugs to all!