Chapter 6

'So when you said you weren't posh.' I gesture towards the gates we're rapidly approaching.

'Harry likes to tease because he knows my history, but it's not what you'd consider posh Malfoy I assure you.' she rolls her eyes, not even scuffling her shoes on the uneven terrain.

'Enlighten me, from where I'm standing I'm open to your definition.' I gesture to the huge house that's only just become visible now that we're at the gates. It looks as big as the black family property in France.

'Come on, I'll explain on the walk up.' she grabs my hand so that the wards will let me through and i feel the ripple of magical energy at my back, powerful family wards.

'We could always apparate, save us the journey.' the walk looks about a mile long as it is.

'You can't apparate in my wards, Harry has blood access and even he can only apparate into the floo room. Plus you have no idea what my house looks like and seeing as you won't allow me, the only person with unrestricted access to apparate you, it looks like we're walking.' she shakes her head but she isn't angry, more bemused than anything.

I scowl at the thought of Potter having blood access and compare it to the fact that i might as well have a visitors pass, scoffing i let her lead me up the driveway, noticing the tasteful gardens on either side of us, the stones that all seem to be symmetrical under my feet. The warmth of the hand she's kept wrapped around mind is a brush of comfort across my senses as we walk in the brisk air.

'You were explaining.' I prompt, turning my head slightly to take everything in, the hedges at the edge of the property obscure my sightline slightly but I can still take in the gardens, the large and rather diverse gardens.

'My grandmother was called Catherine Douglas -' she sighs wearily '-she was the Duchess of Queensbury and she married Richard Granger -' i feel my eyebrows creep up in shock '-my father, upon her death accepted the title of Duke, he was named after his father and so became Duke Richard Granger and my mother became Lady Jean Granger…'

My feet actually freeze, stopping working without any notice from my brain, 'You're Lady Hermione Granger, you're a member of the aristocracy.' a Lady by birth and yet she'd been ridiculed at school for her parentage, my cheeks heat, how that must have chafed.

'I'm actually Dutchess Hermione Granger now, not that i've had much to do with all that since before the war.' she gives another of those sighs, something distinctly uncomfortable in those chocolate eyes of hers.

'Why have you never said anything?' it's such out of the blue information i'm actually struggling to get my head around it.

'I'm still a muggleborn Malfoy, I could be the Queen and in our society it wouldn't matter for absolutely anything at all.' an unimpressed look as she stresses the word muggleborn.

'That's actually very untrue -' i grin at the fact that i know something she doesn't '-did you know that back in the 1600's witches and wizards were being caught and murdered by muggles, the aristocracy knew about the secret at the time and would intervene wherever possible. To the extent that they actually started to intermarry with us to increase our numbers and provide us with security? Even my mother wouldn't dare to insult a duchess, magical or otherwise. I'd put good galleons on you having magical blood in your family tree.' i can't help but grin at the utter absurdity.

She gapes for a minute clearly processing before rapidly steadying herself 'I can trace my family history for decades Malfoy, there was a witch about 14 generations ago -'

'-so roughly the 16th century then' i grin.

'-she had one magical son who then sired three children, two died in infancy and one was a squib, there hasn't been magical blood in my family in over twelve generations.' she raises an eyebrow as if to say i told you so!

'Regardless this changes things, you have a higher title than i do, our child could inherit it.' i feel myself gape mentally at the fact that Granger has been a bloody dutchess this entire time.

'A muggle title Malfoy, and it's not something I brag about, it's not something i care about -' she sees me open my mouth to reply and quickly interrupts '-even if i were suddenly to be concerned our child couldn't inherit, we aren't married.'

I frown when i realise the truth in her words, we'd have to be married for either of us to give the baby a title. Oddly the thought of it being thought of as a bastard isn't comforting.

I suddenly realise we're standing outside the house just arguing with each other, Granger waves her wand, the lights come on and the door creaks open.

'Come on i'll give you a tour.' clearly still distressed from our conversation about titles and inheritance, Granger barrels into the empty house forcing me to follow behind her.

A grand staircase sits in the middle of the entryway, it's made of a dark cherrywood that wraps around and up onto a small balcony. As we walk towards it I notice the marble under my feet, swirls of grey and gold breaking the pattern of white every now and again like starbursts of colour.

Ascending the stairs I noticed three sets of doors on the ground floor, a big double set behind the stairs and two single doors on opposite sides of the main entrance. Granger leads me down the balcony to the right to start off with, using her wand to open doors and show me the inside.

'Guest room, guest room, guest room…' she flicks her wand and cleaning charms start on no less than four doors, flicking the dust off the furnishings and opening the windows to sweep it away, she turns and leads me back to the balcony this time to the left '...storage is in the attic, paintings and heirlooms not considered valuable enough for the vault but too valuable to throw away-' she gestures to a little hatch in the ceiling and I stare up at it amazed.

'Spare family rooms..' she does the neat little trick with her wand again and two more doors fly open, a third that she points out as a family bathroom in between them.

She hesitates near the bottom of the corridor, only two doors left, one single and one double set.

'My room.' she doesn't wave her wand this time, opening the single door and stepping inside.

As per all the other rooms there's a grand four poster bed in the middle, pale blue linens covering it, there are large built-in cabinets for clothes that take up a big chunk of the opposite wall but even so there's plenty of space. Books litter a particular corner, the huge wooden bookcase resting against the wall unable to keep up with the growing demand until the owner had resorted to neat little piles. Big windows sit on the only other free wall in the room, a giant set of curtains settled between them.

A little misty eyed Granger picks up a soft teddy that's been left on the nightstand. Feeling out of place I wander a little curiously looking around. I open a door to find a little en-suite, a hair encrusted hairbrush still resting near the sink. I smirk at the thought that Granger's hair has always been so incredibly difficult to tame, grateful to see that Granger has lost the woeful look.

'Want to see what my favourite part of my room was growing up?' she gives a slightly watery smile rising from the bed and putting the bear back down.

I nod and she leads me over to the big set of curtains, waving her wand to pull them back revealing huge french doors leading to a small balcony.

'I thought I was spoilt but even I didn't have a balcony.' I follow her out onto the smooth tile, following her line of sight to the scenery beyond. It's mostly fields, a few cows graze in one and a few horses in another, yellow flowers dominate the sight but a still blue lake sits smack bang in the middle, a few miles away, but no less beautiful.

'This was my favourite place to read.' she takes a deep breath, letting out the first true smile she's had since we've been here.

'It's stunning Granger, why you'd live with Potter when you could stay here is beyond me.' i can feel myself relax just standing here, it's quiet and peaceful in a way i haven't felt since i was young, before the war, before the pain.

'There's lots of good memories here, but there's also some bad. Some that are hard to see past...' she takes another of those fortifying breaths '...come on one room left.'

Hesitantly i follow her out, logical deduction says that the last room is her parents and we've both carefully avoided the subject of them until now.

The double doors swing open and again i have to admit the room is stunning, a giant bed rests in the middle with two side tables bracketing it. All made of that deep dark cherrywood, a darker shade of blue makes up the linens with the same cream carpet that looks baby soft as is in all the other upstairs rooms.

There's no built in cabinets in this room, just another set of bigger curtains from floor to ceiling and two doorways. Granger catches me looking around and actually lets out a smile.

'They had a dressing room rather than cupboards …' She leads me through one of the doors and into a room not much smaller than the bathroom. A long chaise longue rests in the middle in that same shade of blue and on either side there's empty clothes racks and spaces for shoes, draws for cufflinks and watches.

I open a draw curiously, noticing the felt lining for jewels '...so when you said you had plenty of money of your own -' i slide the drawer back away '-you really meant it.'

She giggles and i feel like a king for inspiring the sound 'No one but Harry really knows about all this, i don't like to brag about having all this money that i didn't even earn -' her grins dies slightly '-i sent a chunk off with my parents to Australia but i couldn't send too much and have the authorities get suspicious, the rest just sits in the bank collecting money, it's rather uncouth really.'

I can't help but laugh 'Only you would ever hide coming from money, everyone else would be out buying the latest broom and enchanted magical jewels.'

She leads me out of the dressing room and past the other doorway, the master bathroom greets me and it is stunning. A huge freestanding tub takes centre stage, looking out of floor to ceiling windows over the same view you'd been able to see from Granger's balcony. A glass screen stands over to one side, dual showerheads resting against a stand on the wall and running down onto the bare stone floor, a slight dip the only way you'd notice the drain against the wall.

Twin sinks sit on the wall next to the shower, greeting you as you come in with a cupboard underneath them. A small toilet sits off to one side behind a slight half wall.

'I was never allowed to bath in here, i wasn't really supposed to come in here at all really, it was the one place my parents claimed just for themselves and i couldn't really resent them for it.' she wanders to a large cabinet next to the door, opening it to reveal towels and waving her wand to get rid of the dust coating them.

'I wasn't even allowed to step foot in my parents wing without written permission.' i offer watching her eyebrows shoot up before a resigned expression paints itself onto her face, it's almost sympathetic.

'Sometimes if i was excited about something like my birthday or christmas i'd jump into bed with them, we'd all snuggle as they tried to catch a few more minutes of sleep. One Father's day I knocked orange juice everywhere and we laughed, all of us soaking wet as we'd stripped off the sheets.' she gives a bittersweet smile and leaves the bathroom to head for the curtains, giving a fond look at the bed on her way.

'I don't have any memories like that from childhood, the best I can offer is the time Theo, Blaise and I convinced one of the elves to give us each an entire tub of ice cream.' her eyes light up at the words and I let out a relieved breath.

Following her out onto the larger balcony i recount the story, watching her mouth curl into a smile as she laughs at the image of the three of us, sticky faces and dreamy expressions.

There's a little two person cast iron table with matching chairs on this balcony, and Granger invites me to sit so that i can finish the tale.

'It's really beautiful here.' my eyes don't leave the grassy hills or big oak tree's on this side of the property, there's even a little fountain a small way from the patio.

'I miss them' she breathes the words so softly I almost miss them.

'They sound wonderful' i have nothing else to offer so i just have to hope my words are enough.

'They really were' a sad beautiful tear trails down her cheek and she doesn't even bother to try to swipe it away. We sit there for a while, until the sky is a slightly different colour and Granger's tears have finally dried.

Eventually she gets up 'You haven't seen the library yet.'

We don't talk about the moment of utter mourning she'd had upstairs as she shows me around, i learn that the big double doors open into a huge living room, three giant sofas and two squishy armchairs dominating the cavernous room, a blazing fireplace that's easily as big as a person in the centre.

Two sets of huge french double doors dominate either side of fire, curtains neatly pulled into clips on each side to show the patio and furniture leading down to the grass. The kitchen isn't really something that i've ever taken trouble to notice but Granger's seems nice enough, it's got a big island in the middle and a table just big enough for six sitting off to one side.

The whole house is bright and airy, full of natural light. With great reluctance Granger shows me what she calls the formal dining room. Situated behind one of the single doors on the ground floor had been what she called a formal receiving room, and shortly off that the formal dining room. Oddly reminiscent of the dining room at Nott manor the large cherrywood table would easily be capable of seating at least twenty people.

'We never used it unless we were entertaining people who liked all the pomp and circumstance, we'd always just eat outside with friends or even in the kitchen.' she shrugs it off and i seriously worry that if i get any more information my brain might very well explode.

Finally Granger leads me behind the only other single door, and the only room i haven't seen yet. The Library.

The first thing i notice are the gaps, presumably books sent away with the Grangers, there simply aren't enough books for a library this size, not nearly enough. Nonetheless bookcases line the room from floor to ceiling, comfy leather chairs carefully arranged around the cosy fire make the room. A sideboard sits off to one side, a couple of crystal decanters and matching empty tumblrs situated on it.

Granger catches the direction of my gaze, casting a few cleaning charms until the place is spotless and pointing her wand to light the fire before throwing herself onto a leather settee.

'Part of this room used to be my father's study, but we wanted a bigger library so he knocked it down to expand.' her gaze travels to the sideboard again.

'Didn't he miss having a study?' i let myself sit down next to her, noticing how few books i recognise in here.

'He promised he'd be fine, but a few weeks later a construction crew arrived and it turns out he'd had a little summer house built. On entering it looked remarkably like a study.' she smirks obviously remembering.

'I have to say this isn't what i was expecting.' i look around once more, as if i could see the house anew from this position.

'I'd forgotten how much i'd missed it here, i think my parents would have liked it that i'm going to raise their grandchild here, they always wanted more children' she gives another of those awfully bittersweet smiles, looking around with wet eyes as she rubs her stomach.

'So you've decided then?' i probe gently.

'Yes i think so, as much as i love Harry he deserves his own space, for him and Ginny to be allowed to relax. I think i'll move in by the end of the week, maybe sooner if i can't recruit Harry for some help with the cleaning before his training starts.' the last part is said more to herself than to me.

'I'd like to offer my assistance Granger, it's not good for you to tire yourself out in your condition. Allow me to help you, i'll even bring Sunni, she's constantly complaining that she doesn't have enough to do.' it's a tease designed to put Granger at ease about the elf named for her cheerful disposition.

'Are you sure Malfoy? Don't feel like you have to.' she gives me a hopeful glance but all i can notice are the circles under her eyes, smaller than yesterday but still not small enough.

'It would be my pleasure, with my help you can get properly settled in before we have to get back to school. You'll feel better if you don't have the added pressure of decorating.' i'm already mentally cataloging how much owl post i'll have to send off tonight to free up my day, a letter to mcgonagall needs to be sent imminently.

'It'll be weird to live alone again, I don't think I've been apart from Harry for more than a few hours in a long time.' she mumbles to herself, it only makes her relationship with Potter seem more suspicious, how on earth does his girlfriend not mind and why did she sleep with me if she was in love with him.

Too late i realise i've forgotten to properly occlude 'He's my brother Malfoy, we went through something horrific and we were all we had, especially now that Ron's moved to romania permanently.' She raises an eyebrow angrily and I feel properly chastised.

I offer an apology in the form of reassurance 'I went from living with family to living alone, you adjust, especially with good friends.'

'It'll be odd but I have this gut feeling that this is where I'm supposed to be, and I won't be alone for long the baby will be here soon' a happy smile for her stomach alone.

'Speaking of the baby, I have a request, one you are well within your rights to say no too.' I rush to get my words out when she sits up slightly at my abruptness nodding for me to continue.

'I was wondering if when the baby is born you might consider...well possibly just think about… letting me stay in a spare room, hear me out Granger -' she hasn't started screaming obscenities her expressive face oddly blank so i power onwards '-you and Potter are close, i'm not trying to get in the way of that..' finally her brow furrows slightly '...i just want to be the first person you turn to with things you need, i'm the father and i want to take responsibility for both of you rather than letting Potter step in when he doesn't need too.'

I can feel my palms sweating as she remains silent, no doubt that massive brain of hers thinking my offer over.

Finally she replies. 'You're right Malfoy..' a decisive look '...it's actually a really good idea, i need to learn to trust you like i trust Harry, if for nothing else than our child's health and happiness.'

I'm so buoyed by her reply I miss the calculating look in her eyes 'You won't regret it Granger…'

'...you should move in.' she interrupts before i can tell her what a good house guest i'd be and i feel myself gape in a completely un-malfoy way.

'Sorry I think I've misunderstood.' I cough to clear my throat as I take in her utterly serious expression.

'It makes sense Malfoy think about it, yes we're having a baby together but i don't actually know much about you as a person. I don't know what your favourite food is or what you like to do to relax, i don't even know your favourite colour-' her face gets animated, hands moving as she rushes to explain '-if we lived together, even if it isn't permanent, you'd be around to help me with the baby and we could get to know each other better. Plus this house is huge, you'd have plenty of room to do whatever it is you want to do, i wouldn't hold you to being around to see me.' She gives a happy grin obviously pleased with her plan and I can't help but sit back reeling.

Live with her?

See her every morning and every night and not kiss her the way i've been dying too?

'It seems as though you've worked it all out, i'd be honoured -' she lets out a beaming smile that makes me even more sure of my decision '-i only have one condition?'

She waves her hand telling me to get on with it.

'You let me bring Sunni, she'd never forgive me for abandoning her or sending her away.' I school my face to let her see that the condition is non-negotiable.

'As long as she's happy and consents to come here of her own free will i'm sure we can find a room for her, does this mean you're up for it?' an excited grin punctuates the words.

'When do you want me?' i let my own grin seep onto my face, her excitement contagious.

'Well it needs a fair bit of cleaning to be liveable, I'll probably be moving back in on Friday so any day after that will do nicely.' she beams getting to her feet.

'I'll be here Saturday, that gives me a few days to have my owls re-routed and to pack my things.' I stand to join her.

'I'll be here probably everyday cleaning and organising, feel free to pop over whenever suits you, if i'm not here i probably won't go far, just to Harry's and back for my things.' she smirks suddenly, dousing the fire with her wand and grabbing my arm. Suddenly we're once more beyond the gates.

I glare at her furious.

'Don't give me that look Malfoy the return trip would have tired me out far more than a tiny bit of apparating, i'll see you on saturday?' a smile that's only slightly distracted, what with all the planning going on in that bushy head.

'Tomorrow Granger, i'll be here to clean.' and then I'm gone, wondering how angry my mother will be when she finds out I've agreed to live with the witch who's pregnant out of wedlock with my child.

Oh well, at least she can't disown me.

With a smirk i apparate home, dusty and hungry for more than just food.

Granger might not know it but she's given me an opportunity here, one that i couldn't call myself a Slytherin if i squandered.

….

After lots of owling, a conversation with my suddenly buoyed elf about packing and moving, making sure to emphasise how much cleaning was to be done, I'm finally ready to apparate to Granger's house.

I'm only standing outside for a moment when she appears with a crack next to me, giving a welcoming smile to the little elf at my side.

'Hello Malfoy, Hello Sunni.' a warm smile, completely ignorant of the clump of dust in her hair and the ashy quality to her clothes.

'Hello Mistress, Sunni is most excited to get started, Master Malfoy creates nearly no mess mistress, if he could cook he might not even need Sunni anymore!' the elf looks despondent at the thought.

'Please feel free to go on ahead, I have a little surprise for you but I need to give Malfoy proper access to my wards first.' she waves a hand towards the large house and without a backwards glance my faithful elf has abandoned me.

'I told you Granger.' i feel a smirk curl on my lips.

'Hold out your hand.' an unimpressed glance as she whips out her wand.

'I didn't think you'd give me blood access, are you quite sure you want too?' It's a very formal way of extending access to someone's wards, magical access would work just as well for letting me come and go as I please.

'It seems only right, I can revoke it at any time and your blood will be living here soon enough, the wards probably would have taken matters into their own hands if I didn't.' an easy shrug as she scores a line over my palm with her wand, holding it against the invisible barrier in front of me and watching it suddenly ripple as I feel the acceptance of the magic ripple over me.

Granger smiles shivering slightly.

'It's always the strangest feeling.' she shakes it off and i can't help but wonder what it is she's feeling, i'd never had control of the manor wards to this extent and on the other less protected properties there'd definitely been a tingle when someone new was added to the wards, but nothing like what Granger had just experienced.

'I've got a gift for your elf, i even checked with Kreacher to make sure it was suitable. Harry's had to make one himself now.' laughter in her eyes as she retells the story.

'Now you have me intrigued.' i gesture for her to lead on and she grabs my hand, whisking both of us to the garden.

I notice the summer house that must have been her father's study, neatly tucked off to one side to the extent i'd never noticed it before. Next to it sits a miniature version that looks brand new, almost like a little Hagrid's hut.

'Will you call her?'

'You know now that we're living here she'd respond to your summons as well.' it seems strange that the brightest witch of our age could possibly miss that fact.

'It occurred to me that it would be impolite.' a haughty look that could easily rival my mother's.

'Sunni.'

She appears with a crack, beaming and covered in dust 'Master was right there is lots to do, Sunni thought she would start with taking the linens off the beds to be cleaned and performing some deep cleaning charms on the mattresses. I have almost finished the first room Mistress.'

'That sounds wonderful Sunni but if you could take a small break Granger has a present for you.' i nod at the gobsmacked witch to continue.

She collects herself 'I thought you might like a place of your own, for your days off and so you have somewhere to relax.' she walks towards the little hut and bids the elf to follow her.

'Sunni has Sunday's off Mistress, Sunni hopes Mistress will not make her take anymore, Sunni gets quite bored.' a pleading look as her large ears seem to quiver.

'Of course not, please go inside, we can always change things if you'd prefer more rooms or different colours.' the little elf hesitantly opens the elf sized door, gently stepping in.

Five minutes later and she's back, throwing her arms around Granger's legs with abandon.

'Thank you Mistress!' i've never heard her so happy.

'You're quite welcome.' with a cautiously glance at my shocked face she gingerly pats her head.

'Sunni will bring her things over today when Sunni has finished all her cleaning.' a decisive nod and the the elf has disappeared.

Granger looks around suddenly 'Well that went well.'

I shake my head and lead her back to the house, eager to be put to work.

Hours later and long after the sun has set me and Granger sit in the lounge thoroughly exhausted. With Sunni's help the beds had been cleaned and charmed, remade with fresh linens. The floors had been swept and scrubbed, the cushions beaten and the shelves scrubbed. Silverware dusted and glasses cleaned, there are even fresh towels in the cupboards. The only dirty things left in the whole house have to be me and Granger, both of us covered in dust. Sunni had apparated away a few minutes ago, informing Granger that she'd get started on the attic in the morning, apparently it had needed a finer hand.

'It looks like i might be moving in sooner than i thought.' Granger looks as tired as i feel, no surprise with all the heavy wand work we'd had to do.

'I can come back to help you unpack your things? I can ask Theo and Blaise for help if you're in need of it?' an exhausted offer, i'm barely able to move from the deliciously soft sofa.

'There's no need i honestly don't have that much, although you should probably pick a room, i'll be moving into the master bedroom so my old room is free if you'd like it. If not you're free to pick from the others.' she looks like she's fighting to keep her eyes open.

'Yours will work nicely, what about the baby where will he sleep?' i force myself not to succumb to exhaustion.

'In my room, at least for a while, i'll need to do more research. What little information i have comes from Fleur, and Victoire is three months old and still sleeps with them.' it's surprising information, i wonder if i ever slept in the same room as my Mother.

'Come on Granger i'll apparate you home, a shower and something to eat is in order.' with strength i didn't know i possessed i pull myself to my feet, using her hands to pull her to hers, the fact that she doesn't protest in itself shows how tired she is.

Once we're safely in Potter's floo room i let her go, she seems steady enough on her feet, grabbing me before i can apparate away.

'Before i forget, i was going to have Harry and Ginny over for dinner on Friday, if you wanted to move in early you're more than welcome to come and you're free to invite Theo and Blaise if you want too.' a happy smile and then she's gone, disappearing into the rest of the house.

Bloody Granger.