Author's Notes:
Here's Chapter 125 for you!
The First Chapter of 2021!
Happy New Year!
I've got a lot of plans this year, I'll write then at the end of the chapter.
PS Enjoy x
The cell door to Lucius Malfoy's cell opens unexpectedly on the morning of the twenty-eighth of February. Lucius doesn't think it's a special occasion that warrants a visit from his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, but that's who enters, dressed rather smartly.
"To what do I owe the pleasure," he asks, standing up from his bed. "I wasn't expecting you until the next week." He admits as they try to visit him once a month, and their last visit had been the first week of February.
"I'm afraid we have some disappointing news. I'm not sure you would have heard about it." Hermione vaguely tells him.
His interest is piqued but places the thought aside, opening his arms for his grandson. "He's grown in the last three weeks." He comments as Hermione hands him over.
"In the last two weeks, we've introduced porridge into his diet," Draco explains.
His relationship with his son was far from fixed, but in Scorpius, they had found common ground. They both loved the young child more than life itself, and both enjoyed talking about how much they loved the young child.
"He's going to be quite strapping," Lucius cuddles his grandson. "A fine quidditch player."
"Absolutely not," Hermione interrupts, having been watching from the side.
Draco laughs, "I'll win her over in the next ten years." He smiles at his father.
Lucius' eyes widen as he returns the smile. "Good luck," he jokes, lightheartedly.
Hermione frowns at her husband, duplicating Lucius' desk chair, so they each had a place to seat.
"I'm afraid we can't stay long; we're throwing a birthday party today for Pansy's twins and Blaise's daughter," Hermione explains.
Lucius perches on his bed, sitting Scorpius on his lap. "What is this disappointing news then?" He asks, gently running his fingers through his grandson's hair.
"I'm afraid it's to do with Minister Shacklebolt," Hermione begins.
"What has he done now?" He sighs.
"You're not aware of how bad the economy is right now; Luna doesn't write about it in the Quibbler, but a few international governments are refusing to renew their contracts in our trade markets," Hermione explains.
"Has the Minister done anything good for this country?" Lucius asks rhetorically.
"Not a thing," Draco answers anyway.
"This is all due to the new Death Eater movement. The ICW wants us to declare a state of emergency. Still, the Minister believes he has everything under control since there's been no new attacks or uprisings since December," she continues. "The Ministry is under the belief that, if there is a new Dark Lord, they're an old Death Eater or one that laid low during the war but was an integral member to the organisation." She explains.
"There are many that come to mind, that would have had to gall to take over from the Dark Lord himself," Lucius nods in agreement.
"Who?" Draco leans closer.
"There were many that came to mind, but very few would have had the brains to take over," he clarifies. "Augustus Rookwood, Mulciber, at a push, and then…" He pauses, looking nervously between the two of them.
"Who?" Draco asks again.
"You must promise never to speak of this to anyone else, if you must, to clear their name, tell only Harry Potter, do you understand?" He asks them, eyes shifting around the room.
"We promise," Hermione nods, keeping an eye on her son as Lucius become agitated.
"Perseus Parkinson."
"I knew it," Draco laughs.
"Pansy's father?" Hermione frowns.
Draco seems to realise the implications. "Pansy! She's always sworn her father wasn't a Death Eater."
"He wasn't, never took the mark, but he did privately work with the Dark Lord on specialist projects. He is quite the potions maker." Lucius explains.
"This will break her if she ever finds out." Hermione sighs.
"She must never find out," Lucius' eyes widen.
"We won't tell her," Draco promises.
"But we will pass it on to Harry, along with the other names. We have to if it will help bring the new organisation down." Hermione tells him. "The Minister has written a new decree, going into effect at midnight tonight. All former Death Eaters and their partners are being placed on a watch list. Harry said they've had the watch list ready for a while. We're going to be tracked to ensure our loyalty is to the Ministry, and not to the Death Eater movement." Hermione explains.
Lucius frowns, "This is deeply worrying." He looks to his son. "You testified against me to protect your mother, and in doing so, were pardoned and promised your freedom. This doesn't sound like freedom to me. This is just one more way for the Ministry to control its citizens and ensure they're doing as they're told." He shakes his head as he realises. "You won't be able to visit me for a while then?" He asks.
"I'm afraid not," Hermione confirms. "The decree is due for a review on the first of May, the start of the new tax year and when those trade contracts need to be renewed. It's no coincidence, Minister Shacklebolt wants the new Death Eaters, and I guess everyone else too, to be quiet until then, so he can boost the economy, then focus on taking down the Death Eaters." She explains.
"It all sounds delightfully political," Lucius says sarcastically, lifting Scorpius above his head, and cooing at him. "But I understand. As a former Death Eater, and his wife, if anyone in the Ministry discovered you were visiting me here, there could be dire circumstances."
"We'll figure something out," Hermione assures him. "I know where the Azkaban Department is within the Ministry. I'll ask Mr Ahmed if he'll pass along letters and pictures until we can come to visit. I trust Mr Ahmed, more than most Department leaders within the Ministry." She suggests.
"As do I," Lucius agrees. "He called me his friend last week."
"Really?" Draco asks in disbelief.
"I called him a fool for considering me as such," Lucius adds.
The cell door starts opening again.
"We have to go," Draco announces.
"We promised we would be quick. He's swamped." Hermione collects her son. "I promise we'll keep in contact."
They all stand up, and Draco removes the two extra chairs while Hermione hugs her father-in-law for the last time in who knows how long.
"Keep yourself well," she tells him, bidding him goodbye before stepping out of the cell with Scorpius and Draco.
"You're both doing the right thing," Rasheed Ahmed tells them as they walk down the five flights of stairs to the lift. "If anyone else in the Ministry finds out about your visitations, the Minister might be forced to revoke your access to avoid being accused of taking bribes."
"We were wondering if we could send you letters, to pass on to Lucius, until we can return?" Hermione asks him.
Mr Ahmed thinks while they wait for the lift. "I'm not sure that would be wise. I apologise, but I could lose my job."
"No, it's fine, Mr Ahmed. We completely understand. We were too busy thinking about ourselves. We'll figure something out." Hermione apologises.
They say goodbye to each other in the foyer. Draco also takes the time to bid goodbye to Kurt and Owen, the two Ministry Officials he enjoys playing games with while Hermione is usually visiting Lucius. Over the past eighteen months, they have become friendly with a few of the Officials in Azkaban. Hermione is saddened that she doesn't know when she will get to speak to them, or her father-in-law, again.
Lucius was right; she knew how it would look, her and Draco have publicly caused trouble within the Ministry. If their visits were leaked to the Daily Prophet, she knew the Minister would not hesitate to throw them under the bus to protect himself.
At home, Draco takes Scorpius into their living room for a nap in his Moses basket. In the kitchen, Hermione finds Mitty starting to bake a cake for the adults of the party to enjoy, and so she joins and start baking the cupcakes for the children. They had visited the Manor two weeks ago, on the house-elf's birthday, the 15th of February, and asked if she would like to move in with them. They posed the question as needing some extra help taking care of such a large house, as they knew Mitty enjoyed working and wouldn't want to move in and not help out. She had accepted with much excitement, and flooed home with them that night. Draco, Hyperion and Alarte had renovated their double garage into a small flat for Mitty, wanting her to have her own space return to on a night. Also, so she didn't have to hide in the basement when they had muggles over.
In the past seven weeks, since moving into their new family home, Hermione and Draco had hosted a few dinner parties for both sides of their families. Hermione's grandparents had been very impressed with the property. Emily had hugged Draco tightly and whispered her thanks to him for providing her granddaughter with such a beautiful. Draco had to chuckle as he assured Emily that Hermione was the one providing him with everything he ever wanted. Hyperion's family had spent the weekend, helping to plant some flowers, and fruit trees in the garden, while Hyperion taught Draco and Alarte how to build vegetable beds.
Draco joins them in the kitchen, sitting at the kitchen island and watching while Hermione and Mitty chat about the plans for the day. He interjects with a few suggests here and there until Scorpius starts crying only thirty minutes after being put down for his nap.
Hermione stops mixing the batter to take her son into her arms for a cuddle and kiss on his forehead. Draco dips his finger in the icing, earning himself a light smack on the hand with the mixing spoon from Mitty.
"Mitty teach Draco better." She tells him.
"I'm sorry," he rubs his hand.
Hermione laughs, "I'm glad you're here, Mitty. He seems to listen to you." She places her son in his highchair. "You're setting a bad example," she warns her husband as Scorpius reaches his chubby fists towards the bowl.
"Mitty make Scorpius oatmeal," Mitty announces. "Scorpius too small." She adds.
"Scorpius," Draco coos excitedly, opening the fridge to collect the small bowl of oatmeal. "What's this?"
Their son's head whips around at the sound of his name.
"Draco!" Hermione exclaims. "He recognises his name."
"Scorpius," Draco calls again, and their son giggles, slapping his hands on the tray of his highchair.
"You're growing up too fast," Hermione sighs.
"He's not even six months old yet, Hermione. We're still in the baby phase everyone tells us to enjoy before he reaches the toddler stage." Draco presses a kiss to his son's cheek, pulling out a kitchen stool to feed Scorpius his oatmeal.
"I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts," she kisses his other cheek, laughing when he closes his eyes, rubbing his cheeks. "Okay, I think he's hungry." She goes back to helping Mitty with the cakes, while Draco feeds their son. The rest of their guests would be bringing plates of buffet foods for the party, so the responsibility wasn't solely on them.
They've both finished around half-past eleven, and Hermione places Scorpius in his playpen with a chilled chew ring to soothe his teething pains. One of his bottom teeth had started to push through his gums in the last week. She then joins Mitty in tidying the kitchen. Draco fills the kettle up in preparation for the arrival of their first guests.
"I'm sorry you have to stay in your rooms, Mitty. One of the downsides of living in the muggle world and having muggle friends is we need to hide part of ourselves from the world." Hermione apologises.
"Mitty happy in rooms. Hermione gives Mitty playing cards."
Hermione smiles, "Have you won a game of solitaire yet?" She asks, having taught her how to play a few days ago.
"Not yet, Hermione." She looks disappointed.
"Keep trying; you'll get there," Hermione assures her.
From outside, there's the sound of a car horn.
"Mr Blaise," Mitty announces, suddenly disappearing, presumably to her rooms.
Hermione opens the back door, waving out to where Benjamin is parking his car. Blaise and Cara are climbing out, waving.
"Hi, Hermione," Blaise rushes over, pulling her into a massive hug. "How are you?" He asks as Cara and Benjamin join them.
"We're great, thank you, glad to finally be settled in here."
"Well, it definitely looks impressive on the drive up." Benjamin smiles politely.
"Thank you, Benjamin. Come in, Draco's just making us some tea." Hermione guides them through the back door, into the floo room, where there are also shelves for shoes, which she asks their guests to remove.
"Weird place for a fireplace," Benjamin comments as they enter he removed his boots.
"Was it there when you moved in?" Cara asks, placing her heels on a shelf.
"Yes, it was." Hermione agrees, guiding them through into the kitchen, pointing out the downstairs bathroom on the way.
"Welcome, to our humble abode," Draco greets them.
Blaise scoffs, "Humble?" then pulls his best friend into a hug.
"How was the drive down here?" He asks, making eye-contact with Benjamin.
"Great," the man shakes his head, rolling his eyes. "There was hardly any traffic." He adds.
Draco and Benjamin had become better friends since Blaise and Cara's engagement. They had exchanged phone numbers at a get together where they had spent most of the time in the kitchen, drinking and complaining rather harshly about Cara. They rarely texted each other, but when they did, it usually consisted of 'Guess what Cara said?' or about something the woman had done.
"Can I get anyone a tea or coffee?" He asks, handing Hermione her cup.
"I'm fine, thank you," Cara answers.
"I'll have a coffee, please, it was a long drive," Benjamin says.
"When is Luna arriving?" Blaise asks.
"Everyone else is arriving at midday," Hermione tells him.
"We've missed having Pandora around," he explains.
"Yeah," both Cara and Benjamin agree, sending each other a look while Blaise chuckles.
"Once we're done with drinks, I'll take you on a quick tour," Draco tells them, handing Benjamin and Blaise their cups of coffee. The tour was the perfect excuse to keep Cara and Benjamin away from the Floo room, giving everyone else time to arrive.
Draco starts the tour while Hermione washes up, chatting to Scorpius in his highchair, and waiting for more guests to arrive. When she hears the Floo fireplace light up, she dries her hands on a nearby tea towel and opens the kitchen door to find Ron, with a twin in each arm, and Pansy, with two plates, exiting the floo room.
"We're not too early, are we?" Ron asks.
"Not at all, Draco's just taking Blaise, Cara and Benjamin upstairs for a tour." She answers. "You can join them if you want, they've just gone up." She suggests.
"I'll wait for Harry to get here," Ron says bluntly, removing his shoes by kicking them to the side of the room since his arms are full.
"I can't believe he invited both of them," Pansy sighs, balancing against the wall to remove her black strappy heels, placing them beside Cara's.
They follow Hermione into the kitchen.
"Hey, Scorpius," Ron greets him, placing his own children down on the couch.
Pansy places the two covered plates on the kitchen island. "We brought cheese and baby sausages." She sits on the kitchen bar stool.
"Baby sausages?" Hermione chuckles.
Pansy frowns, "Is that wrong?" She asks confrontationally.
Hermione shakes her head, "I've just never heard them called that before; it's cute." She teases.
Pansy huffs, straightening the cuffs of her dress. "Have you seen the outfits my parents bought the twins for their birthday?" She changes the topic, leading her over to her children.
Hermione feels cold at the mention of Pansy's parents. She wonders how much her mother knows about her fathers Death Eater involvement. She also wonders, if deep down, Pansy is aware of her father's secret, and it is why she used to protest so much when people brought it up. Hermione shakes her head, trying to forget about it, at least for today. Both, Philip and Phoebe, are wearing matching white shirts, while Phoebe is wearing a grey pinafore dress, Philip wears a pair of grey shorts.
"Oh, look how pretty you two are, and on your birthday," Hermione gushes, collecting her camera from the Kitchen counter and snapping a picture.
They both giggle and laugh together. Philip climbs off the couch, wobbling over to the middle of the room and just starts spinning around.
"Since he started walking, he never stops spinning," Ron laughs at his son as he makes himself dizzy and falls over laughing.
Phoebe claps her hands, laughing along with her dad.
"My children are idiots," Pansy smiles, pulling Phoebe onto her lap for a cuddle. "They're both going to be Gryffindors."
"Hey!" Ron snaps, albeit lovingly.
"Hello!" Harry calls out.
"We're in here," Hermione calls. "Take your shoes off please!"
"'Mione!" Teddy shouts, running into the kitchen, shoes still on, and leaping into her arms. "Hi, where Draco?"
"He's upstairs with Blaise," she answers.
"Bye," he struggles out of her arms and runs off towards the stairs.
"Careful on the staircase, Teddy," Ginny calls. "Don't worry about the shoes, they're new, and he hasn't been outside in them yet." She assures her.
"We've got food," Harry announces, a platter in his hands. "An assortment of sandwiches." He adds as his goddaughter runs over and hugs his leg. "Hi Phoebe," he greets her. She raises her hands to be lifted up, so he pulls her up in the air, spinning her around. "Happy birthday," he laughs. "Where's your brother?" He asks, calming down.
She points over to where he's hiding behind Ron, laughing. Ron picks up his son, throwing him up and catching him in his arms. "Here he is?" He pretends to throw Philip over to Harry.
"Ronald, be careful," Pansy chides him, taking her son from him.
"Where's everyone else?" Ginny asks. "I thought we were all supposed to be here at midday, so the muggles don't suspect anything."
"You were supposed to be here at midday," Hermione checks the clock on the kitchen wall. "We have a few more minutes. Megan is probably waiting until the stroke of twelve."
"Speaking of Megan, have you heard?" Pansy asks, leaning against the kitchen island, drawing them all in for her gossip. "Shacklebolt is sending her back to the States, without Gregory and Augusta, for two months to help sort this trade contract out."
"Can he do that?" Ginny asks. "I don't think I could go for two days, never mind two months, without seeing my boys."
"He's the Minister for Magic; there's very little he can't do." Harry sighs. "It's why he'll never declare a state of emergency. There's not much more governmental power he can receive; it would just damage his political standing." He adds.
As predicted, Megan and Gregory, with their daughter Augusta, arrive right on the stroke of twelve o'clock, followed quickly by Luna and Pandora, the third birthday child. They all pretend they weren't just discussing the Goyle's predicament, and happily greet them.
"Luna, how are you? I haven't seen you in months." Pansy asks quickly.
"I'm very well. How are you?" She smiles, placing her daughter down on the floor, where she waddles off to explore.
"I'm great. How are you?" Pansy repeats, staring at Luna, trying to hint at something. "You know, with Blaise?"
"Oh," Luna laughs, understanding. "I'm so happy he's found happiness with Cara. She such a sweet woman and she loves Pandora; how can I complain?" She explains.
"You could try," Pansy sighs, disappointed with the lack of drama.
"How were your last travels, Luna?" Megan asks, not having seen the other woman for months either.
"We have made some great progress in our exploration, and some great friends. We met up with Charlie just after the new year, just for a few days," she says to Ron. "He said your parents were planning a visit."
"They're in Romania now. It's the only time Dad could get off work; otherwise, Mum would never have missed her grandbabies first birthday." Ron explains.
"It's didn't stop Molly crying and kissing them a thousand times before they left on Monday." Pansy laughs.
"And here's the kitchen," Draco announces. "Where we started. We have our office, the dining room, then the living room down there." He gestures towards each room. "Are we all here?" He asks, looking at Hermione.
"Yes, we are, I can do the next tour." Hermione offers.
"I want to see this famous view since it's all you talk about." Ginny smiles.
"I show you," Teddy takes Ginny's hand, leading her towards the stairs.
Hermione follows amusedly after them, motioning for Megan, Gregory, Harry, Ron and Pansy to follow.
"Dada," Pandora comes waddling out of the living room, where she had been playing with some of Scorpius' toys.
"Hey, baby," Blaise grins, kneeling on the floor, his arms wide open as Pandora walks into his arms.
"Da, da, da," Pandora chants, rubbing her face against his soft jumper.
"Hello, Pandora, did you have a fun time with Mummy and grandpa?" He asks.
"Mama," she turns to look at Luna, who waves back at her. Her eyes scan the rest of the faces in the room, instantly widening in pure joy. "Baba," she reaches over Blaise's shoulder towards Benjamin.
Blaise turns around, "Oh, do you want Benji?"
"Baba," she struggles against her dad's grip.
"Hiya, Dora, come here," Benjamin takes her, a broad smile on his face. He had long since grown fond of his flatmate's daughter and would be deeply upset when Blaise moved out of their flat once he is married to Cara. Hopefully, his friend wouldn't forget about him and would visit with his favourite little flatmate.
"Baba," she repeats, giggling.
Cara waves at the young girl, "Hello, Pandora."
Pandora looks over at Cara, then back to Benjamin before settling on Blaise again. "Duh, Duh."
"She's trying to say, Dora," Luna explains, after spending three weeks with her daughter. "I'm sure the only people who call her 'Dora' are her grandaddy and Benjamin."
"I've never been told not to; if it's an issue, I can stop." Benjamin offers.
"No, it's fine, Benji," Blaise assures him. "She loves you; you can call her what you want."
Benjamin smiles. It's not lost on him that Blaise is the only person allowed to call him, Benji.
"It looks like there's a good spread of food," Cara announces, scanning all the plates on the kitchen island. "Blaise, didn't you bring our plates in from the car?" She asks, unable to find theirs.
He pauses to think, then shakes his head, running back outside to collect them.
"He would forget his head," Cara jokes, and Benjamin politely chuckles, while Draco and Luna exchange a clueless glance.
"If it wasn't screwed on; attached to his shoulders," Benjamin clarifies.
Draco smiles his thanks, looking forward to catching up with the man on what occurred during the car ride.
"You're looking beautiful, Luna, have you been somewhere warm, you've caught a tan?" Cara asks, politely.
"Nowhere in particular, but we do spend a lot of time outside in the sun." Luna answers.
"Is that you and your father?" Cara asks.
"Yes, and Pandora and some of the friends we make along the way." Luna nods.
"I bet Miss Dora loved her travels," Benjamin coos, tickling the girl's tummy as she giggles.
"She did; it was lovely to see her out on the trail. Daddy loved carrying her in the wrap. Usually, we focus our travels on work, but we took a few days off when we reached the coast and enjoyed a time on the beach." Luna smiles.
Draco is glad she's enjoying spending time with her daughter after having some self-doubts before her and Blaise's divorce.
Blaise returns with the plates, placing them with the rest of the food.
"Can daddy have a cuddle?" He asks his daughter, holding his arms out.
Pandora almost leaps from Benjamin's arms to her father.
"You're really good with her, Benjamin." Luna comments.
"Thanks, she's an easy child, though. Nothing like my niece and nephews." He shakes his head. "They put me off wanting kids of my own, but now I'm pretty sure the parent's nature affects their children. My sister is very stubborn and high-strung, which has rubbed off on her kids. Dora is so chilled out, and carefree. She definitely gets that from you two. She's a delight. I won't mind having a kid of my own if they had Dora's temperament." He admits.
"That would be difficult," Cara comments.
"Not particularly," Benjamin says. "Draco, you promised to show me this bar of yours." He turns, staring intently at him.
"Of course, right this way," Draco leads him to the dining room. "How are you doing?" He whispers once they're inside.
"She's infuriating." Benjamin groans, eyes scanning the alcohol on offer. He pours himself a shot of vodka, downing it.
"Aren't you diving back?" Draco asks.
"It's one shot, and I'm a part-time bartender, my tolerance is high." He winces. "It's all these snide little comments she makes that really gets to me, and Blaisie doesn't seem to notice!" He mocks their friend's nickname. "The drive down here she kept going on about Pansy's decision to hold the party on a Thursday, instead of Saturday, because she's had to close her cafe. Also, Saturday would have been better because its between the two birth dates." He mimics her voice.
"Sounds truly awful," Draco grins, feeling like Pansy, high on the drama of it all. "At least you can find solace in the knowledge Pandora likes you more than her."
Benjamin's face lights up. "She really does." He agrees.
Hermione opens the dining-room door. "I leave you alone for ten minutes, and you're hiding in here." She shakes her head, disappointedly. "Don't think I don't know what you were doing either." She adds, mouthing 'be kind' to them both.
"Sorry, Hermione," Benjamin apologises.
"Don't worry; I don't blame you," Hermione smiles.
"It was his fault, he asked to see the bar," Draco defends himself.
Benjamin gasps in indignation, following them into the kitchen.
"We've got the living room set up with toys and music if we want to head in there," Hermione gestures towards the room.
Slowly, their guests shuffle into the living room. The children run around on the rug in the centre or play with some of Scorpius' toys. Mitty must have set them out while they were out visiting Lucius. Ginny, Luna and Megan sit on one couch together, catching up on their lives. Draco, Gregory, Blaise and Benjamin are stood near the back window, chatting about the exciting things they saw on the drive down. Harry and Ron were lounging on the rug with the children, playing a game with some of the wooden animals and the barn set that Hermione's grandma Emily had bought for Scorpius. Hermione wanders between the kitchen and living room with bottles of non-alcoholic drinks for her guests.
"Hermione, would you like any help setting up the buffet?" Cara asks, following her into the kitchen.
"Oh," Hermione glances at the kitchen island were an assortment of plates, still covered up to keep the food fresh. "Sure, thanks." She hadn't been planning on arranging them in any way, but if it kept them both busy.
Cara smiles, "Thank you,"
The two women start unwrapping the plates and placing them in groups, savoury at one end, sweet at the other, and drinks in the middle.
"Thank you for being so kind to me here," Cara mentions. "It's difficult with Luna being here too. We were becoming quick friends before her and Blaise's divorce, and I would hate her to think I'm trying to replace her. I can feel everyone's eyes watching me and judging me." She sniffles.
"Cara, no," Hermione pulls Cara over to the kitchen couch. "No one is judging you. Luna is one of the kindest people I know, and she holds no ill feelings towards you. If she ever found out someone was treating you differently, she would be first in line to defend you." She explains, handing her a tissue from the box on the table.
"She is lovely," Cara dries her eyes.
"As you know, everyone in the living room went to school together, beside Benjamin, and we've gotten very close over the years. I understand it can be nerve-wracking to be thrown in at the deep end. Once you're ready, come into the living room and sit beside me. I'll make sure you're included." Hermione tells her.
"Thank you, so much, Hermione," Cara hugs her before she leaves.
Hermione enters the living room again, sitting beside Pansy and Megan. "Cara's coming in soon, can we please include her in the conversation, for Blaise's sake?" She whispers.
"Has she said something?" Pansy asks, a smirk and twinkle in her eye.
"No, but she's excluding herself. She's marrying Blaise and is going to be coming to our get-togethers more often, so we might as well involve her." Hermione explains.
"Fine," Pansy sighs.
"I've only met her once, she's a little strange, but I'm sure if I got to know her better, we would get along," Megan admits sweetly.
"You're just saying that because you're leaving for two months." Pansy retorts.
"Please, don't remind me," Megan sighs, demoralised.
"Hello, do you mind if I join you?" Cara asks, interrupting at the wrong moment.
"Of course not, squeeze up, Pansy," Megan brightens her face, shuffling down the couch, making room.
"You're Megan, right?" Cara asks.
"Yes, we met once, when Blaise proposed." Megan nods. "Have you made any wedding plans yet?" She asks politely.
"We've got a date; the invitations will be going out at the weekend." Cara grins.
"How exciting!" Hermione smiles. "I love weddings." She says, realising Bill and Fleur's and Harry and Ginny's were the only weddings she has been to, not counting her own. She'd had fun at both at least.
"Do you have a dress yet?" Pansy asks as the more fashion-forward one out of the three of them.
"Not yet, my Mum, sister and I are going shopping next weekend. I'm looking for something big, like Princess Belle's ball gown, but in white, of course." She laughs.
"Why white?" Megan asks curiously.
Cara frowns, looking at Hermione in confusion, "Well, white is traditional and pure."
"Oh, of course, tradition." Megan nods, blushing slightly in embarrassment. "Gregory and I didn't keep to tradition much. I wore purple." She explains.
Cara's face stiffens slightly at the lack of keeping to tradition. "I'm sure the purple looked very beautiful with your auburn hair."
"It did," Gregory comments from behind their couch, their daughter in his arms. "I'm taking Augusta for a change." He tells them.
"I'll show you to the downstairs bathroom," Hermione stands. "Actually, everyone, it's probably time we ate." She announces to the room. "There are plates at the end of the kitchen island, so help yourself."
Hermione leads Gregory, with Augusta, out to the bathroom, while the rest of their guests steadily followed into the kitchen. It seemed to have been silently agreed that parents would be at the front of the line, to make a plate for their children, before the adults made their own.
"We've set up a picnic area outside, with some heaters, if you want to make yourself out into the garden," Draco announces when Luna and Pandora reach the end of the buffet line.
"I'll grab you a plate, Luna," Blaise tells her, as she looks back at the food herself.
"Thank you, Blaise," she smiles at her ex-husband.
Draco and Benjamin share a smirk when Cara glares at her fiancé.
"Do you want your son back?" Benjamin asks, Scorpius wrapped in his arms.
"I'll take him; you get something to eat," Draco takes his son, having not noticed he'd been missing. Scorpius yawns, snuggling his head against his father's shirt.
Hermione joins them as Benjamin leaves for the buffet line. "Is he getting tired? It's been an exciting afternoon so far." She presses a soft kiss to the top of her son's head.
Draco scoffs in dissatisfaction, using his free hand to lift his wife's chin, so her lips can meet in a sweet kiss.
"Get a room!" Harry laughs as he leaves the kitchen for the garden.
"This is our house," Hermione chuckles as they break apart, but he's gone.
When Gregory returns with his daughter, he and Megan collect their plates, then join the rest of their friends.
"I guess it's our turn now," Hermione grabs two plates, for herself and Draco, since Scorpius has only just started on his oatmeal.
Draco points out what he wants as they make their way around the kitchen island, and out into the garden, where all their friends are sat under the gazebo. They had moved their two picnic tables underneath. They created a closed-off area, underneath a heat lamp, for the children to play after eating, so the adults can enjoy their own food in peace.
Hermione notices a few of her friends glancing around their garden in awe. Thanks to mainly Draco's family, the garden had really come together over the past month, with colourful flowerbeds, their vegetable patch and their greenhouse over in the back corner. Hyperion and Neville had also helped them put up a children's swing set to prepare the party. She could see Teddy pulling on Ginny's dress sleeve, then pointing over to the swings, most likely begging to have a go after lunch.
Half an hour later, the children are thoroughly bored with being under the gazebo. The older ones have complained enough that Harry, Ron and Blaise are running around the back garden with a trail of toddlers following. As assumed, Teddy is sat on the swing set, happily being pushed by Ginny.
Hermione joins her friend, a napping Scorpius in her arms. "Are you having fun, Teddy?" She asks, sitting on the swing beside him.
"Yeah, lots of fun." Teddy giggles as Ginny pushes him higher.
"Hold on tight, Ted." She instructs him, turning to her friend. "This garden is massive. You could play a full team of Quidditch out here." She comments.
"That's an exaggeration,"
"'Mione, you have broom?" Teddy asks as his swing comes to a stop, and he jumps off.
"No, we don't. I don't like flying." She tells the child, who looks back at her like she said ice-cream', Teddy's favourite treat.
"Why?" He asks.
"It's dangerous," Hermione explains. "You could fall and hurt yourself." She adds.
"I hurt leg," Teddy throws himself down on the grass and rolls his trouser leg up to reveal a scab. "Not 'llowed pick, though." He tells her.
"Oh no, what happened, Teddy?" Cara asks, having come over to join their conversation after Blaise had left her alone to play with the toddlers.
"Fell off broom," Teddy answers before Hermione or Ginny can come up with a Muggle worthy excuse.
"You fell off a broom?" She repeats, confused.
"Yeah, I love flying." He stands up and starts running around, a pretend broom between his legs.
"Harry and Ginny have just finished reading him 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl." Hermione quickly recovers.
"I haven't read it." Cara states.
"It's a good read," Ginny nods. "I better go see where he get to." She starts jogging in the direction he ran off in.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Hermione asks Cara, as the other woman takes the swing Teddy had vacated.
"I am, thank you," Cara nods, slowly swinging back and forth. "It's been nice to speak to Harry and Ginny, although Ginny was a little quiet."
Hermione laughs, "Sorry, she can be a little shy around new people." She lies in amusement.
Cara nods, "Harry was nice, though, and Megan and Gregory have been lovely." She looks around then leans closer. "Is there something the matter with Pansy though? She's a little strange." She asks.
Hermione shakes her head. "Probably just the stress of organising her twin's birthday," she suggests.
"Did she organise anything? I get the feeling it was mostly you and Draco who planned everything." Cara states.
"Yes, well, with Pansy working, and Luna out of the country, I didn't mind taking care of everything. I'm off work on parental leave, and it's not like my time is occupied with much else." She jokes.
Blaise jogs over with a cup of wine for Cara, and Hermione takes her cue to leave, allowing Blaise to take her swing. Back over at the picnic tables, Megan and Luna are chatting, so she joins them.
"We want to start a new column, something that will work beside our travel photographs, but we aren't completely sure of anything yet," Luna says.
"What's that?" Hermione asks.
"Daddy thinks we have too many travel photographs in the Quibbler since we've been travelling a lot more often than during the war. We're trying to decide on a column to break up the photographs a little." She explains, a small frown on her face before an idea comes to mind. "Is there anything your father would like to read?" She suggests.
"Your dad reads the Quibbler?" Megan asks her. "Isn't he a muggle?"
Hermione struggles to break eye contact from Luna's burrowing stare. "Oh, yes, he does." She grins, understanding that her father doesn't, but her father-in-law does. "Luna, you're a genius. What about letters from some of your reader?" She suggests. "Perhaps, since it'll be between travel photos, letters of recommendations for where people could go on holiday?" Hermione adds.
"I like that idea," Luna nods. "Would you write the first recommendation? I remember you discussing your holiday to France in the Quidditch stands during one match. It sounded beautiful."
"Of course," she hugs her friend. "If you excuse me, I need to tell Draco."
Hermione finds Draco chatting with Harry and Gregory, leaning against the house's side as they keep an eye on the toddlers running around.
"Draco, I need a word," she smiles, raising her eyebrow to indicate the importance.
Harry wolf whistles at them as she leads him away.
"Head out of the gutter, Potter." She chides him.
In the living room, Hermione places Scorpius in his Mose's basket to continue his nap.
"What's this about?" Draco asks, pulling her down beside him on a nearby couch.
"I know a way we can keep in contact with Lucius." She whispers, in case there are any eavesdroppers. "Luna suggested we write a letter to the Quibbler."
"You told Luna about Lucius?" He frowns.
"No, of course not," she shakes her head. "But I wouldn't be surprised if she knows." She adds. "She is starting a new column, and I suggested we write her letters 'recommending holiday destinations'." She tells him.
"For Lucius?"
"Yes, we'll use code words and just keep him up to date with the goings-on, I'm sure all he'll care about is hearing how the three of us are doing anyway," Hermione explains.
Draco nods, "Sounds foolproof."
Hermione can sense his hesitation. "Come on, Draco, no one reads the Quibbler outside of our friend group anyway. No one in the Ministry who cares will figure it out." She convinces him.
"Okay, fine, but you're in charge of all this." He tells her.
She rolls her eyes, "Yes, I know. You barely speak to him in person; I wouldn't expect you to write him letters."
A short knock on the wooden archway into the living room grabs their attention.
"Hi, I'm not interrupting, am I?" Megan asks. "I wanted to speak with you, maybe now is a perfect time?" She suggests since everyone is outside.
Hermione nods, they had meant to meet up to discuss information they had gathered and events that had happened between them and the Minister while Megan had been in America. Perhaps the other woman wanted to have a conversation before the Former Death Eater Decree came into effect tomorrow. They were both wives of a former Death Eater, and to be seen conversing may be suspicious to the Ministry.
"Sure, we can go to our office." Hermione stands. "Fewer windows."
"And Draco too?" Megan adds when he doesn't stand to follow.
Draco collects Scorpius from his Mose's basket, not wanting to leave him alone, and joins his wife and Megan in their office.
Megan and Hermione sit on the two-person couch in the bay window, while Draco perches on the side of his wife's desk, Scorpius still asleep, in his arms.
"You've heard I'm going back to America for two months?" She states. "I leave tomorrow, to assist Angela West in getting MACUSA to sign these damned trade contracts." Megan continues.
"You just got back," Draco comments, having not been there for the earlier discussions.
"Yeah, I know. Minister Shacklebolt was not impressed with my liaising now he's been better informed of the situation. It's all gone downhill since the new Death Eater movement started up and the murder of Tabitha Penn. He parents are a very influential family, so that hasn't helped. I've made friends throughout the Congress, so he's sending me back, just me." She clarifies.
"Just you?" Draco frowns. "Gregory isn't going with you?"
"Nope," Megan pops, starting to tear up. "If we could have afforded it, I would have quit my job when he ordered me back there."
Hermione hands her a tissue. "I'm not sure he can actually stop Gregory and Augusta from going with you."
"The Ministry provided our house over there, because of the whole Marriage Decree. This time I'm staying with Angela in an apartment. It's for the best. Shacklebolt thinks they're a distraction, and we've just started to settle into our life here. Augusta's in a nursery, Gregory has his job. I wouldn't want to mess everything up." Megan explains.
"They're your family, not a distraction." Draco states.
"What's done is done. This isn't what I wanted to talk to you about." Megan dries her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I sent a letter to President Harris in MACUSA, and she requested a meeting with the two of you. I called her office on the Floo, and apparently, she's read all about you two protesting the War Anniversary dinner, and also some private arguments you've had with the Minister." Megan smiles, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"How many moles are in the Ministry?" Hermione rhetorically sighs.
"Many, I'm one of them, discreetly, of course, for MACUSA but I didn't know about what you've been up to in my absence. Many people are against the Minister and are trying to ensure he isn't re-elected in 2005. It's a long time to go, though, isn't it? Anyway, I told you at Blaise's dinner that MACUSA isn't happy with Minister Shacklebolt. They were planning on distancing themselves from the Ministry but…" Megan takes her wand out, casting 'Homenum Revelio' at the door, checking for any eavesdroppers.
"What are you doing?" Draco asks.
"If this gets out, I'll be in serious trouble," Megan whispers.
Both Hermione and Draco lean closer, to listen to the next piece of information.
"President Harris wants a meeting with you two because the ICW has asked MACUSA to assist them in taking down the Minister." She explains.
"Take Kingsley down, as in… remove him from the government?" Hermione asks, feeling a cold shiver down her spine at the thought. "This is getting serious." She admits.
"President Harris actually wrote an essay in the Congress Times, not that we ever got to read it over here, the Minister put a stop to that. She wrote about how 'the British Marriage Decree took away their citizens' basic human rights and took away a woman's right to her own body'. It was a fantastic read, but it turns out, The Ministry broke some ICW laws when they enacted the Marriage Decree. They've been putting a case against Shacklebolt since it was announced in January 1999. It's been slow work, but as I said, MACUSA have recently been put in charge, and they're making great strides. They just need some people on the inside, and not just the inside of the Ministry, to help." Megan finishes.
Hermione and Draco glance at each other.
"We could agree to help them and ask President Harris to sign the trade contract under some specific conditions that would prevent the Ministry from enacting another Marriage Decree. This isn't the first time a Marriage Decree has been signed, why should we believe it would be the last." Hermione says to Draco.
"Sorry, what? There have been other Marriage Decrees?" Megan asks in dismay.
"We wanted to talk to you about it. We received access to the Ministry's archives. We discovered a whole vault dedicated to banned books, which included books on Marriage Decrees." Hermione explains.
"We also discovered how they paired us together," Draco adds.
"What do you mean? We had out finger pricked at the ceremony." Megan says.
Hermione shakes her head. "The only questions that mattered was the number of children each person wanted and their sexuality. Then Ministry Officials paired people together bases on those requirements. Draco and I were paired together as a bet between two of them. They thought it would be funny." Hermione states, still angry about the whole thing, despite all the happiness she had received from their marriage.
Megan's hands are shaking in her lap. Hermione thinks she's upset until she says, "I'm so angry right now, I just can't- can't think about that, but that is definitely information MACUSA needs to hear from you, will you come for the meeting?" She asks.
"I think if we can help make our world a little bit better, then we should," Hermione says to Draco.
"I will do anything to bring Kingsley Shacklebolt down," Draco smirks.
"Great, I'll let President Harris know when I arrive tomorrow. The meeting might not be until April, we've got a lot of other work to do first, but I'm sure it'll give you plenty of time to collect your information." Megan mentions.
"That's fine," Hermine nods. "Ooh, Draco, we can make a holiday out of the trip. I doubt the meeting will take any longer than half a day," She excitedly starts, and Megan nods. "We can visit New York. I've never been to America." She admits.
"It's before the end of the new Decree, the subsections state we have to receive permission to leave the country," Draco reminds them, his jaw clenched in anger.
They had spent hours analysing the subsections of Former Death Eater Decree, getting themselves worked up over the lack of freedom they suddenly were going to have to injure for the next two months, at a minimum.
Megan smiles, "Yes, permission from a Minister of the Ministry. My boss is Gideon Johnston, the Minister for Foreign Policy, mention my name and he'll sign for you."
"I guess we're going on holiday," Hermione smiles at her husband.
The Marriage Decree 2021 Goals
- I want to upload twenty chapters this year. My plan is to write every day, for at least 15 minutes.
- I want to record an audio version of The Marriage Decree, although I don't know where to post the audio and my accent in northern English (like Plumbella - the Sims YouTuber). I guess I can practice a more stereotypical English accent.
- I'm going to continue rewriting The Marriage Decree. I've done the first chapter and I'm really proud of it. The plan, as mentioned last year, is to rewrite some scenes, delete some scenes and just write completely new scenes. I've decided to upload the new chapters as a new story, as people have mentioned that want the original chapters available for rereads. However, I'll need a new title, as not to cause confusion, any ideas welcome.
You should follow me on Instagram (delilah . wise) to find out when the next chapter will be uploaded.
Thank you so much for reading.
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