August 2005
It seemed as though life would never cease to catch Draco off guard as he looked into the face of this very Weasley looking child and felt nothing but love like he felt for his own daughter.
It was strange to be sure, but there was no time to wax poetic about fatherhood now. There was Quidditch to be played.
"You're going to be fine, Rosie." He said, tightening the purple elbow pads on her arms again.
"You've said that six times."
"It's more for me than it is for you, kid. Don't tell her, but I'm afraid of your mum." He tilted the matching helmet around her head to make sure it was correctly fitted.
"It's okay, lots of people are. I'm not, though. James is taking his helmet off again." Rose pointed at her cousin.
"Potter -" James hastily replaced his helmet at the uttered threat.
Grumbling, the Malfoy heir got to his feet and went down the line of kids that were standing along the edge of the field as their parents took the benches or conjured chairs of their own.
"Issac, you're on keeper," he said, pointing to the miniature Zabini, who did a little dance. "Teddy, you're Chaser with James today. You can be Keeper next time." (The league only called for two chasers). His little cousin whined and kicked at the ground. "Stop, or I'll tell your nan that name you called me earlier." Teddy silenced himself at once as Draco shook himself out of a small flashback from his own mother's anger, knowing Andromeda must be cut from the same cloth.
Next down the line was the newest banes of his existence. Twin boys that had been adopted by Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan. They were well-loved and care for to be sure, but that wasn't the problem -
"Cody - " Draco pointed at the first boy, hoping he wasn't getting them mixed up again.
"Connor." He corrected.
"The fuck you are! You've still got that bruise from running into the tree last week! You're both beaters today anyway."
"DRACO SAID A BAD WORD," yelled Teddy excitedly. "NOW, WE CAN ALL SAY BAD WORDS!"
"Teddy I swear- "
"Yeah, you do!" Isaac yelled, sticking up his middle finger at Teddy who did it right back, being cheered on by Cody, Connor, and James chanting "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT." Rose watched but remained silent, shaking his head and clutching her broom.
"POTTER- "
Harry jogged across the field from where he was talking to the other team's coach. "My god Malfoy what'd you do?! BOYS knock it off. It's time to start anyway." They usher the kids out of their little corner and properly onto the field.
The field was an old tennis court with the concrete and net gone, replaced with grass instead. At either end were 3 hoops, the tallest in the center being 6 feet off the ground, and the others being 5ft. The whole field was contained in fence 30 feet long and 15 feet wide with a 10 feet tall wall ( that marked a shield charm that wouldn't let the kids fly any higher)
Mature trees lined the whole property along with a mix or repelling, and concealment charms kept any wandering eyes from investing the excitement.
Today was the Purple team versus the Blue team.
The seekers took to the center-field where Draco held up the snitch which had been enlarged to the size of a grapefruit, meaning it moved a lot slower too. The Bludgers and the Quaffles were muggle footballs with cushioning and anti-gravity charms. The blue team's coach opened the trunk to let them out, and other players took to their brooms.
Draco looked the other team's seeker over. He looked like he could be a first year even though the league age limit was 8. Maybe he should demand proof of age before letting Rose play against the oversized brute-
" LET IT GO MALFOY- " called a voice, a huff, he released it and stepped back as the seekers took off.
As per usual, the chasers were reluctant to let go of the ball, refusing to toss it until the very last second, where they usually dropped it and then ran it along the field again. The beaters rarely ever hit the intended target, and most of the time, if they did it just bounced off the fence. The kids do a lot of flailing and shrieking while Potter screamed plays from below. Draco walked along the perimeter, strategizing, and observing.
Hermione was standing stock still next to her father, who was overjoyed at getting to witness the sport up close. He waved a purple flag and screamed, " GET THE SNITCH ROSIE! GO PURPLE TEAM GO " while Hermione started to lose color and clutched his arm.
He was at her side in a second. "It's okay. She's okay, that looks about as high as she can go. She's a natural Hermione, really." Draco peeled her off Rob's arm and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. It wasn't a lie, Rose had Hermione's strong concentration skills and a natural knack for flight despite her young age.
Hermione just nodded vigorously, turning her wand in her hand. Despite her eyes being hidden behind sunglasses, he suspected they hadn't stopped tracking her daughter, even for a second.
Movement in the field beyond the fence caught Draco's eye. Albus Potter was wrestling a white English rose off a hedge without getting poked by the thorns with Evelyn looking on patiently. When he managed it, he presented the flower to Evelyn with a proud grin. She took it and smiled back.
"Potter…" Draco growled, low enough so only Hermione could hear. She tore her eyes away from the match to snort quietly at Draco's disapproval. "Go take care of that, please? We've got this, it'll be a while…"
"Fine…" Hermione shook her head, but he could tell she was secretly glad to be given a task to take her mind off Rose.
"Malfoy, are you paying attention?!"
"YES!" He lied, letting Hermione out of his arms.
The next stop was the Zabinis. Daphne's pale cheeks were pinker than usual already, and she was blowing a stream of cold air from her wand directly in her face. Blaise was grinning from ear to ear, cheering on Isaac.
"Okay, Daph?" Draco asked, still facing the children.
"Yeah… just hot and ...don't tell anyone but pregnant too. " Draco turned to his former sister in law and saw she was smiling even more than Blaise was now.
"Congrats, then!" The witch pulled him down for a hug. "Issac's going to be thrilled, too, you know."
"I know. And I'm so happy you and Potter started this, and he's made a little friend in Teddy and ...and look how happy these kids are! " She sniffed and swiped at her eyes as the grin fell off of Blaise's face. "I'm sorry… I'm just…" Fat tears rolled over her cheeks. Blaise shot him a death glare over Daphne's head. " Oh, stop its just hormones."
"Go inside and cool off. There we go…" Draco pointed them up the hill.
A whistle blew, and he found the source at once. Connor….or he guessed it was Connor was whacking the other teams Beater with his own foam bat. Seamus stood up and was yelling something too, which sounded like, " We WILL go home!"
Blue teams went up for their free shot for the foul. The Keeper missed by miles, and the match kicked back on at full speed. There was a gasp from the crowd and some pointing. A blur of orange and purple was plummeting towards the field, the oversized snitch hovering a few inches above the ground.
"DIVE ROSE DIVE!" Potter yelled at the top of his voice, but Draco whacked him in the back of the head with his clipboard roster.
"She's not strong enough to dive yet, you idiot! She's going to fucking fall!" Draco yelled, abandoning all coaching thoughts and panicking for his daughter. "PULL UP ROSE!"
Rose, however, had made up her mind. Aiming straight at the ground, she tried to use her legs to grip the broom, but she still didn't have the core strength required. She fell only a few feet off the ground, grabbing the snitch with her right hand and trying to break her fall with the other.
Sitting up, she held the golden ball above her head triumphantly as the crowd exploded into cheers. All her teammates dismounted and crowded around her. Rob was on his feet, whooping and clapping with everyone else.
Harry and Draco parted the sea of children to get to Rose. Draco took her left wrist in his hands and saw a nasty looking purple bruise blooming on the skin. Rose took a look at her new injury, and her face crumpled into tears.
"It's probably just sprained, we can fix that-"
"Malfoy….Hermione is going to kill us- "
"She's going to kill you for yelling at her to dive I swear to Merlin-"
"Well, that was a good a game, but me and the boys will be off before Granger kills us all- " Seamus announced over the chatter.
"Where is Hermione anyway?" Potter asked, looking around nervously.
"Dealing with your little Romeo." Draco pulled out his wand, relieved he'd brushed up on healing spells. "Ferula." Bandages and splint formed around Rose's tiny wrist. "All better. "
Rose sniffed. "Make these purple, too, please." Draco obliged with the tap of his wand, just glad she stopped crying.
Harry sorted out the rest of the parents and the clean up as Draco and Rose started the walk home.
Up the terraced stone steps, past the garden to the top of the hill. The modest 6 bedrooms 2 story house that had once been owned by a muggle tennis enthusiast that Draco had bought immediately upon seeing….well, that was a story for another time…
Upon stepping into the open kitchen and dining room, Draco felt as if he'd stepped into a trap. For a split second, he even thought about sprinting back down the stairs -
Helen Granger, Andromeda, and his mother were all standing around the large kitchen island. Daphne and Evelyn were seated at the table, where a dozen hastily picked roses laid out on the table.
"Oh Draco you're just in time, Evelyn was just announcing her engagement. " Narcissa laughed as Evelyn stuck her chin up proudly.
"Daddy, I'm marrying Albie when I'm older. He picks me flowers and likes books too." The dark hair tot announced proudly.
Draco felt his eye twitch violently as he stilled in disbelief at the words. "Absolutely not. I'll deal with that later. Where's Hermione?"
Right on cue, the witch in question came around the corner, glass vase in hand. She looked at Rose and zeroed in on the splint, eyes widening, then sliding up to Draco.
"Okay, Daphne, let's take Evelyn down to the other kids, shall we? " Andromeda asked, holding out her hand to her niece. "Helen, it was nice meeting you, Cissa, you coming down too?" Andromeda gave her sister a significant look. The blonde witch just stared back.
"No. I'm content right here. "
"Me too." Helen agreed.
Hermione took a deep breath and narrowed her cinnamon-colored eyes at Draco, nostrils flaring. "Well, what happened?"
"It's just a sprain. What did you tell Evelyn that it was okay to start dating?"
Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. "It's just a crush Draco besides, they are practically cousins. It won't last. Did she fall?"
"No, she tried to dive because she's got more Gryffindor than sense. "He snapped, finally reaching the end of his patience.
"I don't know what that means," Helen whispered to Narcissa.
"He shouldn't have said that," Narcissa whispered back at the same volume.
"Then maybe she shouldn't have been up there at all! I said she wasn't old enough, and look, I was right!" Hermione's voice was rising rapidly. "I guess we're done before something worse happens!"
Rose started to wail. "I won't dive anymore, mum! I won't! I won't even play seeker. I'll play something boring like Keeper! Please please- "
"I SAID NO!" Hermione snapped, setting Rose down. " You need a bath, come on -"
Before she was up the stairs carrying a howling Rose, Draco was slamming the back door shut and stomping down the steps.
"Well, you're alive...that's surprising. " Harry muttered, as the last of the visiting team, took there Portkey out.
Draco grunted inn response, summoning the rest of the equipment into a trunk. "Says no more Quidditch for Rose, though."
"No. " Harry shook his head. "I'll talk to her. Probably just worked up right now. I mean, look at this place, Malfoy! " he held out his arms to showcase the expansive garden. "Built for it! And all yours, so we don't have to grow through so much Ministry bunk. A brilliant move by the assistant to the head coach !"
"Assistant head coach- "
"Assistant to - Where's Albus...oh there he is…" The youngest Potter was coming down the steps, looking downtrodden.
"I wanna go home, dad. Evi says I can't marry her. I'm gonna be alone forever!"
Draco couldn't help but actually laugh at the look on Harry's face.
"I said no. To be fair, I meant it across the board." Draco offered an explanation.
"Fair enough. Sorry, Al. Let's find your brother and get out of here."
Hours passed slowly through the thick tension in the Granger - Malfoy household. Rose and Draco sat on the two-seater couch, the child's eyes were heavy with sleep with the small amount of pain potion she'd been giving to help get through the night. Draco had his chin on his fist staring at the television but his mind clearly elsewhere. At her side, Evelyn sat up coloring in on a piece of paper, occasionally lifting her eyes away.
Hermione wanted to be mad at Draco, it would be easier just to be mad at him, and Quidditch, to take her anger on out on the things she could control.
In truth, she was more upset that none of the Weasleys had shown up to the match, including Rose's own biological father. She was upset that after carefully orchestrating her life so that her parents and the elder Malfoys never met, she'd found her mother and Narcissa rummaging through her kitchen, giving Evelyn a load of outdated advice. And then the icing on the cake was Daphne Greengrass floating in, in all her gorgeous well put together glory mumbling " sorry, pregnancy makes me so sensitive to the heat."
They had only been trying to a few months anyway. And not even trying trying...just not preventing.
But these things were out of her control, so it was fruitless to be angry at them. Then her fiance had wandered in with something should control, something she could yell about.
Draco, who'd snapped up this gorgeous house the day it was available and proposed in the front doorway, ( again because they couldn't manage to anything in any sort of standard order). Who whisked them off to a holiday at Brighton Beach for a week, dealing with her constant fretting and mantra of "Let's go home." and who had constructed a whole team just for Rose to play on...
Hermione snapped her book shut, no longer able to concentrate.
"Rosie, when your arms healed, you may Quidditch again, even seeker if you like. You just need to be more careful." Hermione carefully avoided Draco's eyes and looked only at the redhead, which gave a sleepy smile.
"Yes! I knew you'd give in!"
Draco cleared his throat. "Evelyn, you can marry whoever you want when you're older, much older."
Evelyn puffed out an angry breath. "That's forever, daddy. I'm going to be like...ten. But fine, I can wait."
She couldn't help it this time, Hermione met his grey eyes from across the room with a smile playing on her lips. He ran his fingers through his hair and slowly, his smirk returned to his features.
"I'm sorry." she mouthed to him across the sitting room. He nodded and mouthed the words " I know " back to her, earning him an eye-roll. He pointed to the ceiling above them where the bedroom was and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Incorrigible." She mumbled and then, more loudly, said. "Time for bed, girls!"
The proposal part two.
June 2005
"You bought a house...without telling me..." Hermione's work heels clicked on the beautiful polished wood floors.
"I saw our home that I knew would go fast and put in an offer well above asking price, yes. " Draco confirmed, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking around fondly.
Hermione turned slowly to take in the large estate. Well lit with loads of built-in bookshelves and an impressive marble staircase, the space felt regal but not overwhelming. She spied a sunroom already stocked with plants and shelves that she already itched to curl up with a book in. Through those windows, she could see a terraced back garden with a huge fenced in tennis court on one level.
"Were only 45 minutes from your parents I already checked. Thats only 15 minutes more than now. We can Floo to work..." Draco was fidgeting with something in his pocket. "It's perfect, Hermione, we aren't going to find something like this for a long time."
"Okay...okay...if we get this place...I can see myself here...lets just not..." she turned on the spot back to him. Draco had a ring box open with a glinting diamond against the black velvet.
"You didn't think I was just going to just let you have all the fun, did you, Granger? Honestly. " He snorted and rolled his silver eyes. "My turn, do this properly. "
"Ok but don't get on one knee- "
Draco sighed. " Why not?"
"Because I'm not some poor peasent maiden who needs you to pledge your lands and protection to me. We're equals." Hermione wrung her hands in anticipation.
"Merlin. Okay fine. " He stepped towards her holding out the ring. "Marry me, Granger? It's my birthday, so you have to say yes. "
It was Hermione's turn to sigh. "Yes Draco, I'll marry you, but only because it's your birthday."
Notes:
I need minor OC names! If you'd like to volunteer your name please comment below ( if you have a preferred house say so too ;) )
Chapter 10: The engagement party
Summary:
An engagement party at Malfoy manor that goes bad! Drama! Angst! Intrigue! The Office and Princess Bride references!
Notes:
I'm so sorry about the delay I didn't mean it ;_;
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hermione loved her job, for the most part. As assistant Gawain Robards, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she got to see every part of the largest department in the Ministry of Magic. She got to be in courtrooms for criminal hearings and Wizengamot meetings, meet with other heads of departments. Best of all, she knew it was because it would be hers one day, and she could be in a position to bring the changes about she so desperately longed for.
The best part of the day to day aspect was offering to take something or another down to the evidence department. Across from the cavernous room that held files and shelves of bits of physical evidence, was Draco's potions lab. He was solely responsible for presenting findings on any related cases and creating new antidotes for new poisons that Aurors were always discovering emerging on the black market.
Solely responsible because he was impossible to work with. And though he liked to complain that everyone else's lack of competence left it all to him, she knew he liked working alone and receiving all the credit when things went right.
Draco had transfigured the door into a Dutch-style, where the bottom half stayed in place, and the top half opened if someone wanted to talk with him, after an incident in which someone had come in for a file, and he'd come back to find his quill encased in jello.
Most of the time, she'd just take a peek in and watch him, skilled and confident.
Sometimes if he'd caught her, they'd catch up…
Sometimes she'd unlock the door and leave it open just to annoy him…
Sometimes she'd unlock it, slip inside and quietly lock and silence it behind her…
"Come get lunch with me. Better yet let's bring it back here and go for -"
"Do not say round 2 Malfoy. I'm still mad about my knickers…
"Are you? You certainly didn't look mad a few seconds ago."
"I'm having lunch with Pansy anyway. Where's my other shoe...when did my shoes come off?"
"Here it is. Hold still...there's an Occamy feather in your hair from when we hit the shelves…"
"Thank you. How do I look?"
"Thoroughly fucked."
"...why am I marrying you again?"
"My money and my arse."
"Sounds about right. I'll see you at home."
Pansy Parkinson was sitting alone in a booth of the crowded lunchtime spot in Diagon Alley. The witch wore impeccably tailored black robes with silver details. Her French bob was cut sharply around her jaw, and keen hazel eyes glanced around the restaurant. Her whole appearance made Hermione somewhat nervous for what was supposed to be a "getting to know you" type of lunch. She knew the other witch was an in-demand event planner, and it was strange she cleared her time for something like this.
They ordered and made polite small talk for a few moments before Pansy signed heavily.
"Granger. I wanted to meet with you today...to ask you something. But before I ask, I just want you to know I'm on your side. That is, you and Draco's. You're good for him, and I'd never thought I'd see him so...domesticated. That's a good thing, that's normal and healthy, unlike the type of hell we grew up in where fathers disappeared for "business" for weeks." She sniffed and swiped at her fringe as if just the thought was upsetting. "I wasn't...I wasn't around for Draco's first wedding. It wasn't anything personal...I was in a bad place, and I couldn't handle it. I left the country and missed everything until he sent me an owl to tell me Astoria was pregnant...I felt very guilty. I was hoping… Can I plan your wedding for you? As a gift? I've accommodated even the snobbiest purebloods I'm sure whatever you want to throw at me, I can handle."
Hermione felt her mouth fall open. That was the last thing she was expecting. "Oh. Yes, of course. It's just that my mother will want to be involved, and I'm certain Narcissa will too. "
Pansy tilted her head to the side in thought. "I've never worked with a muggle mother...should be an interesting challenge. Oh, don't look so surprised, just because Draco was running around hurling slurs around at 12 doesn't mean all of us were taught that." She sipped her drink, grinning at Hermione briefly before her face fell. "But there's something else I need to tell you."
"Go on…"
"I had tea with Narcissa just the other day. Apparently, dear old father, in the utmost secrecy, has been in contact with several other families of eligible witches, just waiting for your relationship to fall apart."
Hermione thought her eyes were going to fall out of her skull; she rolled them so hard. "Because having a Mudblood in the family is such a shame…"
"This issue has a lot less to do with you being Muggle -Born and more to do with Lucius still wanting to have all the control. But I think before you get married, you need to stage a coup. Overthrow the monarchy and claim the kingdom for your own. Bring the rebellion right to Lucius's doorstep. Let's have your engagement party at Malfoy Manor, and I think you should wear this. " Pansy pulled a full-size garment bag from her tiny black handbag and pulled down the zipper down about halfway to reveal a scarlet dress with draping sleeves and a clinging material.
Twirling her fingers in the silver chain of the constellation necklace Draco had given her for Christmas. The metal that held the diamonds in place was pleasant warm beneath her fingers and oddly comforting.
"What's that?" Pansy asked, pointing to it.
"Oh...it was a gift. I don't usually wear it around the house, but I wear it to work." She held up the pendant in the light so Pansy could get a better look at it. "I haven't seen it in action yet, but I think there are protective enchantments in it. "
Pansy scrutinized it for a moment, touching the pendant. "That's his magic, alright. Must have been exhausting."
Hermione nodded in agreement, tucking it safely back in her cleavage.
"He really loves you."
"He does."
"And you? You can't just half this Hermione,that's not fair."
Pressing her lips together, Hermione traced a pattern in the wood of the table, internally debating on how much information she wanted to give away. "I've known for years now. I knew when I trusted him to take me on that weekend away...I couldn't even do that with Ron. Pansy, I know it so well that we've been trying for a baby. It doesn't matter to me if we're married." She shrugged, "We did that all before, and it just...fell apart. Months ago, I decided life was too short to wait. If we both want one, we'll have one. So yes, I'm all in."
The dark hair witches mouth fell open. "Are you pregnant now?"
"No, not yet. "
"Oh, damn...I want to see Lucius's face when you tell him."
"We don't have to do this. Any of this. We could elope tomorrow, and I wouldn't care. Or better yet, we could all assume new identities and move to another country." Draco threaded the last cufflink through the hole and shook out the sleeve. "Italy could be fun."
"I don't speak Italian, and neither do you. Knowing a few dirty jokes doesn't count. Besides, I don't think Ron would like that. " Hermione stuck one last pin in her hair and prayed for it to stay tamed just for one evening.
"Point still stands; we don't have to do this. Gods, I love that dress. Why haven't you worn that before?" Draco came behind her and wrappings his arms around her waist, kissing along the back of her neck.
"Stop, you're distracting me from plotting against the current monarchy. And you can thank Pansy for the dress. She's going to be there, by the way, she wants us to pick a month. I was thinking April but where is the real question -"
Draco's hands stopped wandering up the hem of her skirt, and his eyes narrowed. "Now, you're trying to distract me. Which monarchy are you overthrowing tonight, Granger?"
She flattened his jacket, lapels affectionately. "I brewed illegal potion in a toilet at 13 years old to fight and an unknown monster out to kill Muggle-Borns. I'm not afraid of anyone." She strode out of the room down towards the fireplace.
"I know you're not, but I AM...GRANGER...are we overthrowing a government?!" Draco followed her out of the room, grumbling to himself. "Absolutely mental...wouldn't be surprised if we are…"
This was, by far, worse than the worst-case scenario Hermione could have imagined.
From the moment she stepped through the Floo, Lucius had started in on the disparaging remarks.
"Ms. Granger, look put together, what a surprise. Tell me, did you leave any sleakeazy's for anyone else?"
Her response was to smile politely and bite back her retorts.
Then they sat down for dinner, and the wine came out. Lucius sat at the head of the table, Draco and Hermione, to one side and Narcissa and Pansy on the other. It wasn't so much a party as it was just an extremely uncomfortable formal meal.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the house-elves peeking in through the double doors and motioning to each other. Every once in awhile, she swore she saw money change hands.
Evidently, in there, newfound financial freedom the Malfoy house elves had taken to gambling...
Draco's movement was so stiff and unnatural that if Hermione didn't know any better, she'd guess that he was under the imperius, but occurred to her she'd just never seen him actually nervous in a long time.
Pansy and Narcissa kept desperately trying to steer topics of conversation to the wedding. It was a valiant attempt, truely.
"Ms. Granger, rumor has it you're advocating for a piece of legislation called the 'Remus Lupin accommodation act ' which allows werewolves to apply for employment without disclosing their condition."
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, it's something I feel rather strongly about. Having employment is the best way to keep werewolves from being marginalized by society."
"That reminds me, Hermione- " Pansy said, picking up a quill and jotting something down in a notebook by her side. "Are you hyphenating again or- "
Lucius stopped mid-chew.
Narcissa's glass stopped halfway to her lips.
An ancient house-elf dug into his ear to hear better…
"You know I'm not sure. I may just not this time. Hermione Malfoy sounds rather melodic, doesn't it?" She had every intention of hyphenating her name again, but watching Lucius look as though someone had heaped dragon dung on to her plate was worth it.
Draco squeezed her thigh under the table in warning, but she ignored him. His face looked as though he was trying to Occluded himself into a coma.
Pansy smiled weakly. "Alright, then."
A few more minutes of strained silence, then the dance began again.
"Where are the children this evening?" Narcissa asked politely. "I was hoping to see them. Rose is so darling. "
"I have to -" Draco started.
"No, you don't. " Hermione grabbed his elbow. "They are spending the evening with my parents." she gave a fake laugh. "You know how Evelyn is about new people, but I think they managed to bribe her with biscuits before we left."
Narcissa returned the laugh. "Yes, Draco was the same way, sweets and all."
Lucius mumbled something like "wouldn't want to be left with Muggles either."
"Sorry, I didn't catch that, Mr. Malfoy."
"Nothing."
The silence settled in again. The house-elf brought out a bottle of wine, watched them all start to drink, and came back with two more.
No one spoke until dessert this time.
Narcissa practically jumped with excitement when she remembered something. "Hermione, I saw a gorgeous dress, perfect for spring or summer." She summoned a magazine with her wand from a room somewhere deep in the manor.
Pansy saw it before Narcissa could pass it over. Draco's eyes met her, and in some unspoken long time best friend language, he made to stand up again, but Hermione pulled his arm so hard the chair squeaked in protest.
It was a form-fitting mermaid style, with a sweetheart neckline. But there was no room to breathe, let alone grow a baby.
"That is beautiful, Narcissa, but I'm thinking of something a tad more flowing and um...er...loose…"
"Really? Do you...do you think that would be...necessary? " The older witch's eyes were shining with joy, missing nothing in Hermione's tone. She took the magazine back as the corners of her mouth lifted.
Draco finally emerged from behind his empty wine glass. "Excuse me -"
"SIT down, " three voices chimed in unison.
"Run, Draco run," Pansy mumbled.
A house-elf took her wine glass and put water in its place, shining Sickle still in one hand.
"I'll be on the lookout for something more accommodating then...if you think you'll - "
"I just like to be prepared for all kinds of weather." Hermione slid her eyes to Lucius's, and she knew right away that he hadn't missed anything either.
"Tell me something, Draco…" Lucius said coldly, running a finger over his cane, the snake's eyes glinting maliciously in the low light of the evening. "Have you lost your mind?"
Draco blinked and ruminated on an answer before falling right back to sarcasm. "Yes. Why?"
"Oh...I need to go..right away...I have an ...appointment...good night everyone." Pansy stood and practically sprinted from the room. "Thank you, Granger, and good luck."
"TRAITOR! THIS WAS YOUR IDEA!" Draco yelled into the sitting room before the Floo went off.
Lucius's lip was curled. "This isn't a game. It's not a joke Draco. You are old enough to know better, you can not just impregnate a Mudblood - "
"Lucius!"
Draco stood so fast he knocked his chair to the floor. "We're leaving. Good night Mother-"
Hermione remained seated but did grip her wand nervously. "No, Draco, let your father finish. And then what Lucius? Can't impregnate a Mudblood because? Would it sully your precious line? Every time you look at your grandson, the heir to your name; you might see my features in him? Evidence of my dirty blood? Or is it because you wouldn't be able to brainwash them into your beliefs?" Amber eyes stared hard into the icy grey ones. For years she thought Draco, the spitting image of his father, but in this moment all their differences came into sharp relief, and she no longer saw them that way.
Lucius said nothing, only his face contorting into more rage than she'd ever seen. Standing and wrapping her arms around Draco's one, mostly to try to hide how hard she was shaking, she never dropped his gaze. "Now we can go home. "
Draco nodded once and guided them out to the sitting room. A cold trickle shot up her spine, and she turned just in time to see Lucius raise his wand in a violent upswing.
And an unknown curse came hurtling towards them. On instinct, she shoved Draco away, but once he realized what was happening, refused to be moved. Her arm was already raised to disarm, but the pendant around her neck burned white-hot, and a powerful shield enveloped both of them, sending the curse ricocheting back at Lucius. The force of the magic shook the room, and the chandelier rattled dangerously. The older wizard was thrown back against the wall.
Narcissa had rushed to her husband's side. Draco was shouting something over the sound of the riotous portraits screaming in outrage, on whose side it was impossible to tell.
Hermione was too stunned to move. The constellation pendant was hot against her chest, but nothing like the scorching temperature it had just been. All the sounds in the room were muted in her ears, even as Draco pulled her through the Floo.
Back in their sitting room, he checked her over though she mumbled she was fine the whole time. He put a shaking hand on either side of her face, running a thumb along the crest of her cheekbones. His very being seemed ready to collapse in on itself.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Draco shook his head and took a shuddering breath in. "This is when it all goes sideways, isn't it? How it ends?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not surprised at all your father hates me though I could do with the attack behind my back." Hermione had to swallow a laugh at the absurdity of it all.
"But I couldn't do anything, again, in the same bloody place- "
She fished out the silver pendant of her dress. "That wasn't my shield, that was yours. Your magic chose me, even in your family home, against your father. "
"I couldn't handle it if something happened to you. I needed to know you were safe, it doesn't matter who or what, even if it drained me of everything- "
"I know...I know...I here...I'm ok, really…"
Draco let out a ragged breath out and wrapped her into a crushing embrace. "God's you stupid, beautiful, brilliant, swotty, witch you just had to bring up the - wait- " he pushed her back and his eyes roamed downward.
"No, still nothing. As a matter of fact, I really just want to get out of the dress and into those joggers you hate so much- "
"Damn. All right, fine. But you're wearing this dress again." Hermione hummed in agreement, slipping off her heels and sighing in relief. "You go take a shower, and I'll get the DDD -"
" DVD"
" DDE- "
"Still not right-"
"Muggle movie box thing! Playing that movie with the princess Buttercup and Weasley-"
"Westley - "
"Whatever."
"Could you also bring me some tea too please?"
He lifted her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "As you wish."
Helen Granger would consider herself well versed in the ways of children, having spent a good part of her practice in Pediatric Dentistry. She'd seen children of all types in her chair and now was delighted to get to spend her time being a Gran and not the scary lady with all the tools.
Though Hermione was surprised at Rose's rambunctious personality, Helen hadn't been the least bit shocked. Most children were not as bookish as Hermione but that fire she carried...well that was just genetic.
So when they had dropped both the girls off, Rose hadn't spared a glance back at either adult, heading straight out to the back garden demanding her grandfather come with her before the sun finally set, Helen had turned her attention to the new child.
She'd only spent time with Evelyn in her own home when she was distracted or within reach of her father at all times.
Whereas Rose had come screaming into the house in a stained tee-shirt, threadbare shorts, and 2 different shoes on, it hadn't caught her eye at all. Evelyn was hovering behind her father's legs in a pristine blue summer dress with a little white cardigan on her shoulders, eyeballing a packet of biscuits on the table but not venturing out from her hiding spot.
When it was time to say goodbye to her father, the little girl hadn't shed a tear but did take up a vigil in the front room window arm tucked around a stuffed white dragon.
"Evelyn...would you like a biscuit?" Helen asked, opening the package and showing her. She didn't even turn back but answered, in what had to be the poshest accent she'd ever heard on a toddler.
"No, thank you though. Malfoys don't eat sweets before dinner."
"Oh love, I've seen your father around a tray of cupcakes and know that not to be true," Helen replied, putting the biscuits away in case Rosie the tornado came running back through. "As well though, I'm just going to open this box of chocolate truffles and read my book, your welcome to one if you'd like."
Evelyn's head turned slightly at that one but kept her spot. A few minutes later she sighed deeply and climbed down, approaching Helen seated in the sitting room, very cautiously. She reached into the truffles box, unwrapped one and examined Helen's book, the dragon still tucked tightly under one arm.
"The picture doesn't move." Evelyn pointed to the cover.
"No, I'm afraid it doesn't."
"Can you keep a secret?" Evelyn pulled herself up on the two seater, as Helen lowered her book.
"Yes, I suppose I can, unless the secret hurts someone."
Evelyn met her eyes very seriously. "My daddy is a dragon, it's even in his name, but not many people know that."
Helen kept her face carefully blank. "Oh is he?"
"Yes, and dragons are very good at protecting their treasures. My daddy is very good at protecting me and Rosie. Rosie gets herself hurt because she can't stay on the ground that's on my daddy."
Helen waited to see if Evelyn had any more to say but the child just chewed her chocolate as primly as she could manage, a ring forming around her mouth.
"That's very good then."
The toddler watched her carefully, reaching for another sweet very slowly as if she moved to fast she'd be told no. Helen nodded at her to take another and she did, shoveling the whole thing in her mouth. After she swallowed, she continued her thoughts. "But I don't know who's supposed to protect the dragon...so I've decided that's my job."
"Oh?"
Evelyn nodded. "We were out shopping, daddy is also very good at shopping, mummy is not. We were out shopping, and some man hit my daddy's shoulder on purpose and said lots of rude words. So I gave him a very stern look like my grandmother does. " She squinted her eyes and shook her finger in a demonstration. "He laughed but I'll get better at it."
Helen sat in the quiet for a moment, thinking. It didn't sit all that well with her that Draco was being threatened while out in public. She knew he had a less than stellar past but if it could effect Hermione or Rose…
But then again, hadn't Evelyn just said he was protective...maybe it was necessary because of who he was... Wasn't that always the type, smooth and handsome like…
"What are you reading?" Evelyn was looking at the pages of her novel, taking her from her thoughts.
"Just a story. Would you like me to read some to you?"
"Yes please." Helen motioned for Evelyn to sit in her lap. When they settle Evelyn mumbled "You're a very nice witch."
"I'm afraid I'm not a witch, love."
"Oh. Well, that's alright then."
Well, maybe he wasn't so bad after all if Evelyn was any proof.
It was dark and thunderstorming by the time Draco came through the Floo, outer work robes slung over his shoulder.
Hermione heard him mumble something to Tippy the house-elf about not being hungry and then heard the elf bid him goodnight ( Tippy only worked on weekdays, was paid and took up residence in the magically expanded cupboard under the stairs, at her own insistence ).
Rose gave a hiccup in her arms, stubbornly trying not to cry. "I'm not afraid of the lighting, I just don't like it." she mumbled again. Hermione was sat on the floor watching out of the window for the storm to pass as Rose buried her face in her shoulder. Evelyn, who could sleep through anything as long as she had her dragon was fast asleep on her small cot, oblivious to the storm.
"Can I go talk to daddy and I'll be right back? " Rose nodded her head and pushed herself up and sat back on the bed watching the storm out of the window.
She caught him right as he made it up to the second floor, putting a finger to lips, gesturing to the girls.
He nodded, pulling his tie free of the knot then whispered, "Sorry I'm so late, I feel so far behind after this morning. Gods what a fucking nightmare."
"What was all that about anyway?" Hermione wrapped her arms around herself. The DMLE had been all up in arms about a raid conducted the previous night but her day had kept her away from the inner circle of gossip of what had come from it.
"Found a new drug. It's like Amortentia but without the sheen, which only makes it easier to slip into a drink. They want an antidote but there's not an antidote to standard Amortentia let alone this brand new bastardized version."
A bright flash of lightning cracked hard on the ground and Rose let out a loud whimper.
Draco stepped forward towards it but Hermione stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Go rest I can -"
"Let me." He handed her the outer robe and tie and went to the open door at the end of the hall.
"I'm not afraid I just don't like it -" she could hear Rose repeat to him. Hermione watched as the shadow in the shifted, Draco moving from the sleeping Evelyn to the floor in front of Rose's bed.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Rose's voice became slightly more muffled as she shifted against Draco's chest. "How was work?"
"Boring. Too much paperwork and not nearly enough Quidditch. "
"But -" the toddler yawned. "You get to come home to your own stuff. So that's good." Hermione moved as quietly to the door. She could see Rose blinking heavily, head resting on Draco's shoulder as he stared out over the garden.
Something unnamed grew in her chest. A whirl of emotions that all was impossible to tell when one stopped and the other began. This was it, there was no question about it. As strange as it was that Draco Malfoy, her childhood bully, Hermione was absolutely just as sure that it was him.
She started the counting again,
Draco was one, Rose two, Evi three...
Four?
Still not here yet, but she would be.