fortune just to be able to hold 'his witch' , would she really just accept him?
8 minutes before the original bonding ceremony:
Hermione landed on the steps of 12 Grimmauld Place. She knew she should feel less forlorn about her wedding to Draco but she simply could not find the willpower to feel anything but numb. She would miss Lucius, she already did but she could not bear the thought of being in the same house with him every day and never being able to touch him again. She leaned her head against the door of the ancient dwelling and sighed, she had to summon that courage she knew she possessed in spades in order to keep from returning to find him.
He told you no last night, Hermione, just go inside the house before you embarrass yourself again…
The creaking of the door as she opened it should have raised goose bumps along her spine, even years later she hated this house but now, it felt like a comforting balm, a hideaway from her own treacherous thoughts. The once-dreary and cold entryway was now warm and inviting, the house that had once been owned by the blackest of the Black family had been transformed into a home for Harry and Ginny Potter.
Hermione slowly walked toward the drawing room that once held the locket of Salazar Slytherin, the vile Horcrux of Voldemort that nearly made Harry, Ron and herself go mad, now it held a beautiful brown leather couch and eggshell painted walls; gone was the screaming portrait of Walburga Black in the foyer, she had been blasted off ages ago, and in its place hung a portrait of Harry and all of his family in a frame that was eerily identical to the Mirror of Erised. He had truly chased the darkness from this house turned home, she was glad for them.
If Hermione had not been already on alert, the clinking sound of ice hitting crystal would have immediately caused her to be so. She grabbed her wand more firmly and crept quietly toward the door to the drawing room, her mind already thinking of a barrage of hexes she could use to stun and disarm whoever was breaking and entering into Harry's home.
VII
"Astoria?" Draco called as he stepped out of the floo into the stately home he had so often frequented, the sound of crying could be heard echoing in the eerie silence. This is not what he wanted to happen, he had broken her heart now he had to fix this.
"Tori.." He saw her sitting on the plush sofa he had so often fantasized about making love to her on, crying her eyes out.
"Go back to your bride, Draco." He smiled at her dispirited tears indulgently as he swept her into his arms.
"I am with my bride, Tori if she will have me that is. See I have fallen head over heels with a beautiful black haired Goddess by the name of Astoria Greengrass and I have it on good authority that she is also head over heels in love with me." Astoria placed her head on Dracos shoulder, her wracking sobs quieting to a mere hiccup.
"Draco, the contract is binding, isn't it? I mean, I assume there is a betrothal contract all Pureblood houses use them, how can you possibly say I will be your bride? Even if she didn't read the entire contract I am sure she read the most basic form somewhere, she neverstopsreading." Astoria replied bitterly.
"Tori, don't blame, Hermione, without her, Father and I would both be dead, she is a remarkable woman and a formidable witch and while I do love her, I have come to realize I am notinlovewithher,thatwillalwaysandonlyeverbeyou.Yes, she knows what is in the contract but my dear old Slytherin father made a clause that if I refuse to marry he will marry her instead so that being said, father has asked for you and Lord Greengrass to meet us at his office as soon as we can. Well, that is if you will agree to marry me, Tori."
"I don't know, Draco, you haven't actually asked me." A slow smile crept across his face as he watched her begin to pout. Sliding to the floor on his knees and taking her hands in his own, Draco stared up at the beautiful blue eyes staring back at him. Merlin, he loved this woman.
"Miss Astoria Greengrass, would you do me the most amazing honour of becoming my wife?" Astoria beamed at Draco, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. Words eluded her at that moment, she simply nodded and threw her arms around his shoulders and buried her face into his neck
_
Hermione dropped her wand and threw her hands over her mouth when Lucius came into focus. Tears began to cascade down her face and she tried to stay silent, but a sob escaped her before she had a chance to stifle it. Lucius spun around and saw the first glance of Hermione in the beautiful white dress and long veil.
He sat the crystal tumbler on the table he picked it up from and walked toward the distraught witch. His hands were itching to bury themselves into her long luscious hair and kiss her until she couldn't stand, but he needed answers and he knew he wouldn't get them if he gave in at that moment.
"I can't do it, Lucius. I just...can't. So, if you are here to try and convince me to go back-to marry Draco- I will flat out refuse."
"No, Sweetling, I am not here to convince you to marry Draco. I am however here to convince you to marry me…"
"You?" The simply word held as many questions as it did answers, but he said the night before he wouldn't do anything to hurt Draco, so why the sudden change of heart?
"But-but you said- Lucius, explain yourself!" Lucius chuckled despite the confused look on her face.
" Draco has left the Manor and declared himself in love with another witch, just as you have confessed your feelings towards me, my Dear, effectively breaking the fidelity clause in the Betrothal Contract. However, you are still bound by the contract until it is transferred or you are compensated. So, Miss Hermione Granger you have two choices, you can marry this old man and make me the happiest man in the world or you can inherit a ton of money and leave me behind." Hermione stared at him like he had grown three heads.
Was he daft? She poured her heart out to him only eighteen hours before and he was asking her if after three damn bloody years she wanted to marry him! Instead of dissolving into the blubbering mess Lucius assumed she would she punched him in the abdomen and before he could even step back or grab his abdomen she pulled his head down and kissed him. She kissed him as if she were starving of thirst and only he had enough water to quench it.
His arms immediately grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, pain be damned! She was finally in his arms and he wasnevergoing to let her go again. She broke the kiss first, his arms still wrapped around her she laid her head on his chest.
"You stupid, beautiful man-just completely mental, Lucius. Why in Merlin's name would I ever leave you behind when not even a full day ago I told you I love you, Ineversay that lightly. I can count on one-hand the number of people I have said 'I love you' too, I never even said that to Draco! " Lucius stood still as a statue holding his breath and simply listened to her. He was one of the lucky few who had earned her love, he swore to himself in silent benediction he would show her everyday loving him wasn't a mistake.
"Am I too believe youwantto marry me, Hermione?" He said cautiously.
" Isn't that what I just said!?" She was exasperated, and her emotions going crazy after so many roller coaster events had done little to alleviate the headache building across her temples.
"You have to say it for the contract to transfer, Hermione." He chuckled
"Yes, Lucius I want to marry you." She said clinging to him tighter than she had before. Lucius had only dared hope that what Harry had said was true, even after her confession the night before he had been too distraught to believe her, but here-now he finally had her and she had all but shouted yes at him.
'I love you as well, Little Witch and I want to marry you so badly the thought of never putting my ring onto that beautiful hand of yours makes me ill. Take that one off, by the way, I have one for you that belonged to my grandmother. No one other than her has ever worn it, not even Narcissa." Lucius released her and they stepped away from each other. Hermione removed the solid diamond engagement ring Draco had given her and held it in the palm of her hand, looking at it. Lucius gently removed the other ring, placing it into his pocket and slipped a diamond and sapphire ring where the diamond one had been.
"Oh Lucius, it is breathtaking!" She exclaimed admiring the cut of the sapphire.
"It is your birthstone." He explained, " My grandmother, she was also a Virgo born in September, you are much like her, she was also an extremely formidable witch.
"I am sure I would have admired her immensely."
"She would have loved you, My Dear, not as much asIlove you though." Lucius ran his fingers up Hermione's arm, her downcast eyes slowly ascended to look him in the eyes.
"We have to go back to the Manor, dear, Draco should be arriving with Miss Greengrass and her father, shortly."
"Draco is in love with Daphne?"
"Oh, no, Astoria, Daphne's younger sister."
"I am happy for him, truly Lucius, I am. We are ill-matched, and he is more like my brother than my lover or husband."
"You do not believe us ill-matched, Hermione?"
"No, Lucius I don't."
Draco, the Greengrass's and Harry were inside of the foyer when Hermione and Lucius stepped through the floo.
"Hermione?" Draco sputtered, he nearly spit the fire-whiskey he had been sipping when Hermione in a wedding dress and Lucius in dress robes stood before them holding hands. He had harboured absolutely no expectations that his father was going to convince her to marry him but the brilliant smile on both of their faces finally made him believe.
I missed so much…
"Draco, Astoria, Lord Greengrass, Harry" Hermione nodded to each of them. Harry rose from the settee he had been perched on and walked to Hermione's side, he placed a kiss on her cheek.
Harry leaned into her side and whispered in her ear.
"I am here, Mione. I am not going to leave you no matter what." Hermione untangled her hand from Lucius and pulled Harry into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Harry."
"Anytime."
"Lord Malfoy, what is this meeting about? I was under the assumption that Draco was to marry Miss Granger today." Lord Greengrass reached out his hand to shake Lucius's proffered hand.
"Draco and Miss Granger have decided to part ways, she has agreed to marry me in Draco's stead. Draco has informed me he is quite smitten with your daughter and has chosen to extend a new Betrothal contract to include your daughter Astoria if you will allow it."
"Is this who you choose, Tori?" Lord Greengrass asked, she smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Father I love him very much."
"Very well, have the contract drawn up Lucius, we will be back to sign it."
Hermione, walked up to Astoria and embraced the dark-haired witch. "I wish you all the happiness in the world." She whispered.
"Thank you, Miss Granger." Astoria, while clearly stunned gave her an awkward hug back.
Hermione let go of Astoria and embraced Draco, he like Astoria, wasn't expecting her to be this amicable to the idea.He was expecting curses and hexes, flaring tempers and possibly a worse punch to the nose than she had given him in their third year at Hogwarts.
" I am sorry, Hermione…"
" No, Draco please don't apologize; I left before you did. You see, I have been in love with Lucius for nearly two years, I just didn't want to break your heart, but not saying something was breaking mine and his as well. Last night, watching him try and become a martyr just to insure your happiness cemented that I couldn't marry you. I wouldn't have made you happy anyway as clearly you are very much in love with Astoria. Just know that I will always be here when you need me, if ever you just feel like talking."
"Thank you, Hermione. Just don't expect me to start calling you mum." They both smiled and he gave her another small smile before leaving with Astoria and Lord Greengrass through the fireplace.
Twelve years later:
Platform 9
"Mum! When is Draco going to be here?"
"Cassiopeia, he will be here when he gets here, be still and let me put on this jumper your arms are freezing."
"Cassie, I said I would be here!" Draco chuckled as he walked up to his little sister, her blond curls just beginning to clear the head of the jumper her mom was forcing her into.
"Drake!" She squealed and jumped into her brothers waiting arms. At five years old, Cassiopeia Jean Malfoy had her brother and father wrapped around her little finger. Hermione as well, if truth be told, although she was the disciplinarian out if all of them Cassie could and would get away with murder.
"Where's Tori and Scorpius?" Cassie was pouting again, and Draco smiled.
"They are home, Cassie. Tori and Scorpius are sick, princess. We will be by the Manor in a few weeks I promise."
"Promise?" Cassie stuck her pinky out for Draco to swear on.
"I promise." Draco grasped her pinky with his and gave it a shake. He was used to the odd Muggle customs Hermione had introduced to the Malfoy household; pinky promises were just the cutest custom, and an absolute favorite of Cassie and Scorpius.
"Where is Leo?" Draco asked Hermione, "Where is father for that matter?"
"They are on the train, he had to help Leo get his trunk off the platform, I think he brought every book we own with him."
"Why didn't father cast a featherweight charm? Or simply levitate the damn thing?" Draco asked perplexed as to why his father would use brute force instead of magic.
"Ooooo, Drake you're in trouble! You said a dirty word" Cassie scolded.
"Sorry, princess." He laughed and kissed the top of her platinum blonde curls.
"You know how your father is, he wants Leo to rely on him more. Leo is fiercely independent but I think he enjoys Lucius doting in him now and again. Especially since he was sorted into Gryffindor, Lucius is under the assumption he is slipping away."
"He is, Dearest." Lucius said petulantly as he stepped off the train. "He is sitting with a Potter, Weasley and a Lupin, you can't get more Gryffindor than that."
"Oh Lord, the Marauders united, thank Merlin rat face didn't spawn any children." Draco looked positively disgusted.
"Oh Lucius, it doesn't matter what house he is in he is still a Malfoy through and through." Hermione grabbed his hand and gave it a small squeeze.
"Draco, a Potteranda Weasley saved your life, be grateful he isn't around the ones who tried to kill you!" Hermione scolded and slapped his arm for good measure.
"Dammit woman, why are you always hitting me! First my nose, now my arm, what's next my manly bits?"
"Keep it up and Scorpius will be an only child!" Hermione threatened.
"He still could have at least been a deadlock or something, but no he is all lion and no snake."
"His name fits him, Love."
"Yes, well, we should have named him Salazar then." Lucius frowned.
"Oh, absolutely not! I am proud at least one of our kids in like me, Lucius. If you would have named him Salazar I would have called him Sally just to toughen him up!" Lucius's scowl deepened at Hermione's proclamation.
"No son of mine willeverbe called Sally!"
"I'm going to be a Slytherin like you Daddy!" Cassie proclaimed loudly.
"Yes, baby you will be a snake-like Daddyandbrother." Hermione giggled when she saw Lucius's face soften as he took Cassie from Draco's arms and placed her on his hip.
"Well, I guess you can have one." Lucius scoffed.
"Well, perhaps two honey, you never know what will happen nine months from now.
"Nine months what..." Draco started and then his face drained of colour. "Merlin and Morgana, at the rate you two are going there will be more Malfoys than there are Weasleys!"
"Now, wouldn't that be a wonderful sight." Lucius beamed like a proud peacock.
"Malfoy's and Potter's," Hermione corrected. "Ginny and Harry are working in baby number '3' as well."
"Well, we have managed to make baby number '3'." Harry laughed as he walked up to Hermione and gave her a hug.
" Uncle Harry!" cassie squealed launching herself at Harry and plastering his face with kisses.
"Hello there gorgeous, you missed me that much?" Harry chuckled squeezing Cassie in a tight hug
"Bunches! Youandbrother. You never come to see me." Cassie said looking between the two once rivals.
"I promise to come see you soon, and I will bring James and Albus and make them play with you." Harry promised, and just like with Draco Cassie stuck out her pinky. After all a pinky promise is much more efficient than a wand oath.
"Cassie whatever you do, donotdate a Potter!" Draco said half-jokingly. "They are super bad news, always getting into trouble just like their dad."
"Eww, boys are gross! James picks his nose and Albus eats broccoli!" Cassie exclaimed with a disgusted sneer in her face.
"Yes! Keep that attitude! Boys are gross and all of them pick their nose and eat broccoli!" Draco said between peals of laughter.
"I am never getting married, I am going to be Minister of Magic!" Cassie yelled.
"That'smygirl." Lucius beamed hugging his little miracle girl just a tad bit tighter.
"But I guess I can bring Albus with me when I become Minister, Daddy. He gives me chocolate."
Harry, Draco and Hermione and Lucius laughed in earnest.
Not so many years ago, the war that nearly decimated the entire world had broken them all. There had been no laughter, no love but somewhere along the way the broken, sad and lonely that overwhelmed even the strongest of men, gave way to more love and happiness than can ever be reproduced, duplicated or sold in a hundred lifetimes. Old prejudice gave way to tolerance, rivals became friends and a Pureblood fell in love with a Muggleborn.
And just imagine for a moment that it all began with a cup of coffee and an ear willing to listen in a coffee shop on Charing Cross Road.
The end
This story has been completed for a few years why I never published it I have no clue. I hope you enjoy.
Arendora
