A Parisian Wedding and an Impromptu Birthday Holiday: A Surprise Encounter
Summary: Ginny and Pansy's elopement is followed by Draco, Hermione and Scorpius spending some time together in France leading up to Draco's birthday.
The Eurostar ride to Paris was possibly the most exciting thing that had ever happened to Scorpius if his facial expression could be believed. Draco thought for sure that his son would fall asleep on the ride, but Scorpius' eyes were glued to the scenery as it sped by.
Hermione had pulled out an old copy of "This is Paris" from her book collection and Scorpius was enthralled with the Muggle book's brightly rendered illustrations.
Draco's heart panged as he realised that he hadn't taken Scorpius to France since his condition had been discovered. Yet another way that he was failing as a father.
He too stared out the window as the witches across the aisle from him chatted animatedly about the plans for the elopement. The first class seats were very plush. He thought that even his mother would approve. He ate his berry parfait and sipped his red wine with pleasure. Scorpius sucked at a box of juice loudly and Draco tried not to cringe. Draco hadn't even realised that Muggles stored juice for children in shiny paper boxes.
He looked over at Hermione.
Muggles truly created the most amazing things.
...
The way that Draco's lips ate the parfait off the spoon was positively indecent. Hermione kept catching herself staring at him, at the peak of his tongue as he made little hums of pleasure.
She wanted him to make those noises while tasting her.
Pansy made a noise and Hermione realised she hadn't been paying attention to the wedding plans.
A blush coloured Hermione's cheeks.
"Alright there Granger?" Pansy smirked knowingly.
"Fine," Hernione choked out. "You were saying?"
...
Pansy and Ginny had surprised Draco and Hermione by having everything well arranged once they arrived in Paris. A car was waiting for them at Gare Du Nord, the uniformed driver standing there with a sign that said Weasley/Parkinson led them to a limousine outside the station. Draco looked at home in the elegance despite clearly never having ridden in a limo before. Scorpius and Hermione were equally excited and the three Purebloods watched them with affection.
The Muggle hotel had three adjoining suites for them. Hermione was awestruck at the opulence, but she supposed she shouldn't have been. Ginny did well as the star chaser on the Harpies and Pansy was doing even more successfully with her multiple businesses. She had a fashion line in both worlds as well a Muggle modelling career and a very upscale perfume that she'd custom designed - Hermione suspected that she'd used some magical ingredients as well as the perfume was sold in the tiniest quantities for exorbitant prices. The suite choice clearly had Pansy's fingerprints all over it.
Ginny stole Hermione away to see where the wedding would take place the following evening at sunset on the hotel's rooftop garden that overlooked the city. The view took Hermione's breath away. The Eiffel Tower was right there.
"Gin, the pictures are going to be gorgeous."
"Well of course they are. My wife-to-be and I are crazy hot." Ginny laughed. "So I'm wearing a suit tomorrow and I wasn't sure whether you'd like to wear a suit or a dress, so I got you both. They are in the closet in your suite. We have hair stylists and makeup people coming after lunch tomorrow and we hired Dennis as the wedding photographer."
Hermione laughed. "Doesn't he still work for the Daily Prophet? Won't your photos be leaked?"
"Absolutely," Ginny grinned, gripping the rail and staring out at the city's twinkling lights. "That's part of the plan. Firstly, Pansy gets to choose which photos they use, and secondly, Dennis has to wait until after we get back from our honeymoon in three weeks to publish anything, mostly because Pansy wants to be home when the howlers start rolling in."
Hermione choked back a laugh, trust Pansy to want to arrange public outrage to fit her schedule. "What will the Harpies do without you?"
Ginny shrugged. "It's just training now, so they have to deal with it. Alyx took three months off when she got married last year so I think that they are grateful that I'm only taking a month."
...
Hermione decided to wear the suit after looking at the deep plunging neckline of the dress that was one of Pansy's designs. If it wasn't going to potentially be on the front page of the Daily Prophet, Hermione might have considered it, but the last thing she wanted to do was upstage her two best women friends as they married. If she showed that much of her skin, Rita Skeeter would definitely make a big deal about it. And besides, the suit was just as gorgeous.
After she was all dolled up by the makeup artist and hair stylist, she watched as they worked on Ginny. She was keeping her redheaded friend grounded while Draco was doing the same for Pansy on the other end of the suites while Scorpius ran back and forth with love notes and messages for the two brides.
He was on his third pass with the same napkin that the girls kept adding hearts to when a tray of breakfast pastries was delivered.
"Oh, Aunt Gin and Her-me-knee, I'm so hungry! Can I eat too?"
"Some patisserie for my little Malfoy muffin? Of course, sprout." Ginny smiled. "And I have a really important job for you during the wedding. Do you think you could be our flower boy and toss flower petals for Aunt Pansy to walk on so she feels so very very special on our important day?"
Scorpius' eyes widened. "Can I? Daddy said weddings is your special-est day. I wanna help!"
"Wonderful!" Ginny smiled, ruffling his hair. "Now eat up, then we'll help get you into your special wedding clothes."
...
The wedding was stunning. Ginny and Hermione stood at the front with Ginny in a white suit and Hermione next to her in black. Ginny's red hair was loose down her back, adding a feminine touch to the suit and light makeup. The Muggle officiant was a stunning woman in a grey gown. Dennis was doing an excellent job switching between Muggle and Magical cameras. The harpist that they'd booked began to play a traditional wedding march and then there came Scorpius.
The boy was so excited at first that he forgot to toss the flower petals so Hermione mimed to him what he was supposed to be doing.
"Uh oh!" the little boy cried and ran back to the beginning of the aisle and began liberally tossing petals everywhere. Ginny and Hermione couldn't keep their chuckles in, but soon the bride's breath was stolen by Pansy appearing on Draco's arm. Pansy was a vision in an elegant and clean silk gown, even Hermione could admit that, but it was Draco that she couldn't pull her eyes from. She saw as his eyes widened when he saw her suit, but his face didn't screw up in distaste. If she had to define the look he shot her way, she'd have to call it longing. But he was Draco Malfoy…he couldn't possibly? Could he?
Hermione wasn't able to focus on a single word of the ceremony watching the brides hold hands and Draco holding Scorpius on his hip as Ginny and Pansy vowed to spend their lives together. The sun set on Paris as they stood there together, casting the wedding party in pinks and golds.
Draco wiped away tears at one point and Hermione wanted to touch his face so badly that she clenched her fists and focused back on Pansy and Ginny just in time for the two women to kiss each other deeply.
...
Pansy and Ginny had stayed with them in Paris for three days, but that morning they'd left for the villa in Santorini where they planned to spend nearly a month enjoying the Greek island. Hermione kissed them farewell and Scorpius asked to come too and was disappointed as only a small child could be when they told him that children couldn't come on honeymoons.
"But why?" He cried.
"Because that's the way it is, sprout," Ginny said, hugging him close.
"Have fun in Paris with Hermione and your dad okay?" Pansy smiled, giving Scorpius a hug as well.
"And you two, be careful," Pansy added to the adults.
"Yes mum," Draco smiled.
...
The balcony of the muggle hotel where they were staying was spacious with seats interspaced with outdoor fire pits with flames dancing over black stones. Hermione was a little cold, but she sipped her gin and tonic and stared at the twinkling lights of the tower.
"My birthday is next week," Draco said somewhat out of the blue, as he sat with Scorpius asleep on his lap. The little boy's face was pressed into his neck, and Draco was rubbing circles on his back. Hermione took another deep swig of her drink rather than tell Draco how utterly sexy he looked in that moment.
"Really?" She managed to squeak out, annoyed with the high pitch of her voice.
"And I was wondering, would you like to stay in Paris for another week? And we could celebrate here? I don't fancy spending my birthday trapped in my flat with Aurors guarding the stairwell. I understand if you can't of course. I'm sure you are busy at work."
"Actually, I got put in for leave while they ruled out that I wasn't in fact the target. I do get death threats pretty often and the last thing they want is someone murdering me in my office. The Ministry is actually a lot less secure than they like to pretend."
"What?" Draco hissed.
"I mean everyone carries wands and there are about six different departmental offices on my level. All it would take is a couple of Unforgivables. An Imperius and an Avada and anyone could be eliminated. "
"Gods above and below Hermione, how are you so blasé about that?"
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know how else to be about it. Constant vigilance didn't end with the war after all."
Draco nodded. "So do you want to extend our stay at this hotel, or there are a few wizarding ones in the second arrondissement."
"I think that I like this hotel. Especially considering whoever tried to kill one of us was certainly Wizarding world affiliated. I'd prefer to stay in the Muggle world as much as possible if we do an extended holiday. There are a couple of Muggle day trips that I wouldn't mind doing if you are interested."
Anything you want to do, Hermione. Draco wished he had the courage to say those words aloud so he only nodded, shifting Scorpius to his other side as his arm was starting to fall asleep.
"I'd like another drink, can I get you something from the bar?"
"A glass of the Rosé please," Draco returned her smile and as he watched her walk towards the glass doors, he hoped that this week was a success towards his goal of making Hermione Granger into his witch.
...
The week leading up to Draco's birthday was spent doing Muggle touristy things around Paris, many of which Draco had no idea even existed. The Grande Galerie De L'evolution had absolutely enthralled Scorpius, despite all the animals being stuffed which Draco found a bit chilling. Muggles were a bit bloodthirsty, his father hadn't been exaggerating entirely about that. Placard after placard discussed Muggles hunting animals to extinction.
The three of them had a picnic outside of the museum and Scorpius vibrated in excitement when a little bird hopped onto his hand to steal a bit of bread and cheese.
"I'm pretty sure brie isn't good for birds, Scorp," Granger had laughed, looking more beautiful than Draco had ever seen her. her. A little brown bird landed on her outstretched hand stealing some of the seeds that she had picked out of her bread.
"Dad," Scorpius whispered. "Her-me-knee is a Dih-ney princess." Draco bit back a laugh, but only nodded solemnly and adored the way his son's eyes grew wide at his serious confirmation.
He didn't think that he had ever been so happy.
Was this kind of joy sustainable?
Draco really hoped that he got the chance to find out.
...
Draco hadn't made any particular plans for his birthday. He figured that he, Scorp and Hermione would just do some more exploring of Paris. Even if they just visited a gelato shop and took in the scenery that would be more than enough for him. Spending quality time with his son and Hermione Granger at the same time was Draco's newest addiction. He couldn't get enough of it. He was dreading returning to London and real life.
Of course, Hermione took the reins of what they were going to do for his birthday, arriving at the breakfast table with train tickets the morning before his birthday.
"Alright, I need you two to pack a small bag for a couple of nights because we're going to take a little train journey." Hermione smiled in self-satisfaction. "Not that Paris isn't amazing, but there's a museum in Nantes I've been dying to see and I've booked us a couple of nights in a little holiday apartment. We need to be at Gare Du Nord this afternoon as our train leaves at three."
"A museum, Granger, but there are so many here in Paris," Draco asked, surprised that she had taken it upon herself to make plans for his birthday.
"This one is something special," she grinned.
It must be because she was nearly bouncing in her seat, her smile wide. He loved her like this.
Who was he kidding?
He loved every version of Hermione Granger that he had seen since they'd reconnected in the lamp shoppe.
...
Scorpius did fall asleep on the train this time. The three and a half hour ride through the French countryside lulling him. He slept through the taxi ride to the holiday rental that Hermione had booked as well and Draco tucked him into the bed in the smallest bedroom. Hermione was in the kitchen opening a bottle of wine that had been left by the rental company.
"The fridge is stocked too," she remarked. "I was thinking about just making a cheese platter and slicing up this baguette since Scorpius is already down for the count."
"Even if he wakes up, going out to eat is probably a terrible idea," Draco agreed, sitting down and taking a glass from her. "He'd probably have a meltdown over the shape of the pasta or some such and that's never fun."
Hermione laughed.
"It's hilarious in theory, Granger, but in practice, it's an absolute nightmare."
"I don't doubt it. I remember your strops back in school. No one tantrums like a Malfoy." Hermione threw a smirk over her shoulder at him as she sliced the bread.
He wanted to kiss that expression right off her face. "And don't you forget it," he said instead, saluting her with his wine glass.
Her laughter made him feel warm in his soul.
...
Scorpius surprised exactly no one when he woke up before dawn the next morning. Draco woke to a tiny body launching itself onto him and squeezing.
"Happy birfday, daddy!"
"Hey thanks, buddy." Draco hugged his son tightly, until the little boy wriggled away giggling.
What did surprise Draco was Hermione in the kitchen with cups of coffee that must have come from the cafe downstairs along with multiple take away boxes.
"I've got six different flavours of crepes," she grinned, hands on her hips. "Sweet to savoury and everything in between. So try whatever you like and then we need to get ready to head out. We have early tickets to the Les Machines de L'ile." She smiled as though she had a secret, Draco desperately wanted to kiss it out of her.
He nodded as though he had any idea what the machines of the island were.
...
Hermione got the three of them tickets to ride the tram, a smaller version of the Muggle trains, to Chantiers Navals station, then they crossed the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge. At the south end of the bridge Draco was surprised to see his Aunt Andromeda and Teddy waiting for them.
"Happy birthday nephew," Andromeda smiled, throwing her arms around him.
"Aunt Andromeda," Draco said, freezing in surprise. "How are you here?"
"Hermione invited us," the older witch smiled at Hermione, who had taken Scorpius and Teddy by the hand.
"I thought it would be nice to have Andromeda and Teddy join us," Hermione smiled back. "I hope it's alright?"
"It's wonderful," Draco replied, finally returning his aunt's hug. "Just unexpected." Then he looked up and saw a twelve metre tall mechanical creature with giant tusks lumbering towards them. "As is that! What is it?"
"It's an olyphant!" Scorpius cried. "Can we ride on it Her-me-knee?"
"Why yes we can. I've actually already gotten us tickets. Let's go queue up." She led the two small boys who were skipping along. Teddy's hair was bright blond today making him look even more closely related to Scorpius.
Draco offered his aunt his arm, which she took. "Shall we?"
"Such a gentleman," she tapped his arm lightly.
...
Draco was amazed at the giant mechanical creatures that filled the indoor museum and the elephant. He rode on a carousel with Scorpius who sat on a frog with wings. The entire place was like something out of a storybook. He watched Hermione as she managed both of the boys with confidence, and Andromeda watched him with a knowing look on her lips.
He was grateful that they had come early because as his birthday continued the crowds and heat continued to grow. By mid-afternoon, the boys, including Draco, were all eating shaved ice and ready to head back to the holiday rental. It turned out that Andromeda and Teddy were in the flat nextdoor and Draco found himself unsurprised by Hermione's coordination.
As they sat on the tram with Teddy on Draco's lap and Scorpius on Hermione's, Andromeda suggested that she keep the two boys with her tonight and Hermione and Draco go and have dinner like real adults.
"You are the birthday boy after all, Draco dear. We can watch some cartoons and eat food that will appeal to the little ones. And they've had a long day already." Teddy's head was on Draco's shoulder despite his continual announcements that he wasn't tired. "What do you say to a sleepover, Scorpius? With me and Teddy?"
"Can I, daddy? I've never had a sleepover before!" Scorpius almost jumped off of Hermione's lap in his excitement.
"Are you sure, Andromeda?" Draco asked, wondering if the elderly witch knew what she was likely in for.
"I'm positive. You deserve a little adult time for your birthday. Consider it my gift." Draco couldn't miss the mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"I didn't bring anything especially fancy with me on this jaunt," Hermione sighed.
"That's fine Granger. I don't need to go somewhere especially posh."
"But it's your birthday," Hermione pouted.
"And it's already been one of the best birthdays that I've ever had," Draco smiled reassuringly.
...
Draco and Hermione wandered around the neighbourhood where they were staying until they found a restaurant that looked promising. The facades were all wide open to the warm French night.
Hermione ordered a bottle of wine and a cheese and fruit plate for the table and the two of them took their time, eating and talking about their time in France.
"I'm surprised that you aren't tired of us yet, Granger," Draco quipped as he thought about how many days the three of them had spent together. She hadn't had so much as an afternoon alone since they'd gotten on the train in London nearly two weeks previous.
"I've been really enjoying spending time with you and Scorpius." Hermione smiled. "I can't think of anywhere else that I would rather be."
Draco's heart skipped a beat. Did she really mean that?
...
After their long dinner, Draco gave Hermione his arm as they strolled back to the holiday rental.
"I have one last birthday surprise for you," Hermione announced as they entered the flat.
"Hermione, you've already done so much."
"Nonsense Draco, it's your birthday!" She opened the large heavy curtains in the sitting room and revealed a large outdoor space with a hot tub overlooking the city. "Here just let me turn this on and go change into my bathing suit."
Draco watched in confusion while Hermione fiddled with several nobs and something kicked to life making a low rumbling sound.
"What is it?" Draco asked in confusion.
"It's like a miniature prefects' bath with bubbles. Go put on something you'd swim in." Hermione laughed good naturedly.
Draco wondered what he should put on, he usually swam nude although that had been years ago with Blaise and Theo and Greg on vacation in Italy. He didn't think that Hermione meant for him to be nude. He went to his bedroom to survey his options.
...
Hermione had lifted the lid off the hot tub and was sitting it off to the side as Draco emerged wearing only his trunks. He stared transfixed at Hermione who was barely covered. She was wearing a tiny piece of fabric across her breasts and a pair of matching knickers.
Was that what Muggle women wore to swim?
His body was definitely fully focused on the immense amount of skin that he could see before him. He knew that he was staring but he couldn't seem to look away.
"Ah, there you are!" Hermione turned and picked up two flutes and an open bottle of Champagne. "Are you ready to celebrate your birthday with bubbles while we soak in bubbles?"
"Yes," Draco choked out, stepping forward.
