A/N: Thank you for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter! I am so glad that you guys were surprised and liked this turn of events. Huge thanks to lanamarymack and Angela 007 for alpha/beta reading this chapter! You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty-two and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-three soon!
Despite not being one of the oldest families this side of the Channel, the Malfoys' annual Yule party was a social event that was highly anticipated by many influential witches and wizards - both those aligned politically with the Malfoys and not. Abraxas's grandmama had started the tradition decades ago, happily continuing the planning of the event until her death, when Abraxas's mother then carried it on.
His mother was not as interested in planning parties, though, not when she could be traveling to warmer climes during the cold, dark months, and had happily given up the job to Aurelia as soon as she and Abraxas were settled in their married life.
It was a task that was well suited to his wife, who enjoyed socializing and showing off how amazing it truly was to be a Malfoy. And the beautiful Aurelia had outdone herself this year, with each and every inch of the Malfoy ballroom decorated beautifully. She flitted from this person to that, gracing each of them with a smile and remembered details of their lives.
Aurelia was absolutely gorgeous in her black robes and her honey blond hair in an artful updo, showing off the pale column of her neck. Abraxas shouldn't be able to keep his eyes off of her.
But instead, his attention was captivated by the witch he'd come to disdain. The witch who had somehow weaseled her way into a circle that had been impenetrable unless you were a Slytherin wizard born into a particular year. His pale blue eyes narrowed seeing her stand next to the massive fireplace, chatting away animatedly with Nott, wondering how someone so uncultured had managed to charm so many of their numbers.
At least with Alfie it wasn't really that hard to figure out - she was just about the only one tedious enough to spend her spare time reading arcane and dangerous curses like he did. Abraxas could imagine that they were probably discussing some sort of Hungarian Entrail Expelling curse in all its vicious glory. Alfie seemed to delight in getting her to wax lyrical about the most diabolical topics, while she saw it merely as an academic discussion.
If only she knew, Abraxas was sure that she would be running for the hills.
Still, even if she was discussing the fifteen ways to resect someone's bowels, she was the picture of radiance. The robes that she wore were gold and shimmered in the light of the roaring fire. They were daring, with almost no back to speak of, and clung to every curve of her body. She wore holly in her wild hair, hinting at the private ceremony that would occur later in the evening. Abraxas was certain that he was not the only wizard who's eye had wandered to her over the course of the evening.
Tom must have seen where his gaze lingered and found himself unable to resist commenting on it. "She's glowing, isn't she?" Tom asked with a teasing smirk. "She does quite well here with this lot."
Abraxas was forced to admit that she did. That wasn't to say that Tom didn't, too, in his smart black robes, adorned with just a simple tie pin. There was no suggestion that he was merely a shabby shopkeep when he was standing tall among the politically important people that Abraxas had gathered. With his dark hair, perfectly styled, he had caught the eye of several witches as well.
"Yes, you make quite the pair," Abraxas admitted, bitterly. Abraxas knew that Tom was enjoying flaunting his relationship with Hermione, knowing how much it irked him. He just couldn't understand how a mudblood could turn the eye of someone as serious about pureblood tradition as Tom was. Though, he was just a halfblood...maybe there was something in him that was off, too.
"She's pregnant," Tom said, hiding his smirk behind a coupe of champagne, flown in from France for this specific occasion.
The blond felt his stomach drop, nerves and fury roiling together when the admission sunk in. "You got her pregnant?" he hissed, absolutely furious. Didn't Tom have any idea of the implications of such a thing? "What the hell were you thinking?"
"There wasn't a lot of thinking involved," he answered, wearing that infuriating smirk once again.
"Ugh," Abraxas muttered under his breath, involuntarily. Did Tom delight in disgusting him?
"She inspires something primal in me - a desire to continue my line that I've never had before. But, we both know that I am the Heir of Slytherin," he explained, his eyes never leaving the radiant witch, whose own coupe of champagne remained untouched on the fireplace mantle. "So, it only makes sense that it would happen eventually.
Abraxas seethed. "Surely a more suitable witch could have been chosen for that endeavor?" he demanded, leaning in closer to Tom so that they wouldn't be overheard. "Perhaps someone who isn't muggleborn. Who wouldn't taint the line of Salazar Slytherin."
Tom shook his head, obviously pleased with his choice. "Hermione's not going to taint anything. She has more magical power than Rafe and Emeric combined," he quipped with a laugh. "No, she is the only witch who would do for me. She understands me in a way that few can."
The blond rolled his eyes at Tom's love struck words. Hermione certainly had figured out a way to utterly capture Tom in her web, with breathless questions and brazen sexuality, if their pregnancy was any evidence. He'd been sure that his ploy with Dumbledore was going to be enough to pull the blinders off of Tom's eyes where the witch was concerned.
But, he'd obviously failed.
"This is a bloody disaster," he whispered, his eyes finding Hermione Granger once again. She was beautiful, there was no denying that. But, her presence had already caused too many changes to the man that everyone de facto assumed would lead them all to a return to glory. He was even willingly compromising his principles for her.
"Don't be like that, Brax," Tom chided him. "It's not a total disaster. After all, the people will be more comfortable with a family man as the Minister for Magic."
For the second time that night, Abraxas found himself completely stunned by Tom. He'd thought that Tom was never going to attempt to become Minister, if only because it was him who had come up with the plan in the first place. Tom always seemed to detest playing the game to amass power in the traditional way, through political dealings, despite Abraxas's robust arguments to the contrary. All the changes that they had planned would only be more legitimate if they came from an elected government. To hear that Tom was finally willing to consider running for Minister, well...maybe Hermione wasn't a complete disaster after all.
"Are you serious?" he asked, unable to believe that everything was finally coming together.
"It's time for me to take a more traditional path," Tom agreed. "What good is studying dark magic in Albania? It's not going to help me gain what I want."
What Tom wanted was still a bit mysterious and mercurial, but for once they seemed to be in agreement that it was taking control of the Wizarding World while they could.
"Well, I have to say that this is good news," Abraxas said, still feeling a bit stunned. "When is the wedding going to be?"
"I don't know," Tom said, looking at Abraxas in confusion. "I suppose that I would have to ask her first."
Malfoy rolled his eyes at his obtuse friend. "Of course you will ask her. And of course you will marry her," he said forcefully. "How can you be a family man if your family isn't recognized by our society? Unless you are having second thoughts about your witch."
"Never," he said, forcefully. "And why should I need anyone's approval? Hermione and I are happy the way that things are."
"You can't have a child out of wedlock and be Minister of Magic, Tom," Abraxas said, forcefully. "You will already be facing an uphill battle. You are young and you've never held office before. I think we can convince the Wizengamot that you are the right wizard for the job, but please don't make it harder than it needs to be. She's already a muggleborn. Our people will already have a lot to say about that."
"What do I care what any of those ancient fucks think about me?" he demanded, his face suddenly going very serious. "No one is blind to what they get up to themselves. How frequently does it happen that first sons are born suspiciously early?"
"It's an unspoken rule," Abraxas agreed, knowing how hypocritical some families were. Salazar, the Blacks were currently trying to convince everyone that a twelve year old had fathered a child, conceived while he attended Hogwarts! "But, so long as you are married before the baby comes, there is less to whisper about it."
"For all they know, Hermione and I could have chosen handfasting," Tom said, his gaze drawn to his witch once again, his face softening when he looked at her. "Maybe that will be my first order of business - to recognize marriages done in the old way."
"And maybe they would love that. But we do need them to vote for you. We can't simply blackmail everyone," Abraxas explained, gently. "So, do the right thing and ask her. Aurelia and I can help with the details."
"Fine," Tom agreed, though it seemed he was still not entirely happy about the idea. "If it will satisfy the rest of you."
"Good," Abraxas agreed, knowing that it was the right choice in the long run, even if he didn't particularly agree with Tom's choice of witch. "Well, I for one am excited about this."
Before they could talk more, Hermione and Alfie were walking over to them. Hermione, noticing that Tom's glass was now empty, slipped her own still full glass into his hand. She stood at Tom's side, looking regal and serene. Abraxas's eyes could not help but slide down the curves of her body. As of yet, there was no hint of the child that grew inside of her.
"I understand that congratulations are in order," he said, keeping his face neutral. While he was glad that Tom was finally taking politics seriously, he was still not excited at the reason why.
Hermione looked up at Tom for a brief moment, waiting for his confirmation, and then nodding shyly. "Yes, we are rather excited," she said, leaning into the tall wizard at her side.
"What are you talking about?" Alfie wondered aloud, not able to read through the lines.
"Hermione is going to have my child," Tom said pointedly, without any shame at all in his voice. In fact, there seemed to be a bit of pride at the thought of having snagged a witch like her.
"What?" Alfie said, surprised and uncharacteristically excited. "We've been talking all night and you didn't even tell me once? It's a crime that Abraxas should learn first and not me. I'm a much better friend than he is."
The brunette couldn't stop her laugh, but quickly covered her lips with her hand. There was no love lost between her and Abraxas. "I thought that Tom was going to tell everyone tonight at Yule," she revealed. "I thought everyone would learn at the same time."
"I couldn't resist, seeing you across the room," Tom teased, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her against her side. "I will still tell the rest tonight."
"Good," Hermione said, pleased with the decision.
"Won't you be at the ceremony tonight?" Alfie asked, obviously surprised that it wasn't suggested that they would tell the rest of the Knights.
Truthfully, Abraxas was a bit pleased to hear that she wouldn't be invading their Yule celebration for a change. Her presence had made each any every ritual different, though he wouldn't necessarily say it was for the worse.
Tom shook his head. "Despite her arguments to the contrary, Hermione has come to agree that she cannot attend tonight," he explained, giving her a look. "It's too dangerous in her condition. And I won't chance anything happening."
Pity, Abraxas thought meanly. Maybe a dunk in the freezing cold water would do the mudblood a bit of good. He was sure that she would be annoyed at missing out, though.
"Yeah, well, no one wants to see Antonin's naked arse anyway," Alfie said with a snort. "It's not that exciting, I promise."
"Next year we will celebrate," Tom promised, holding Hermione's hand tightly in his, a promise of permanence clear in his voice.
Well, Abraxas thought to himself, it seemed that the mudblood was here to stay. And Merlin be damned if he wasn't going to use her to her full potential to get Tom to do just as he'd always planned.
