6 June 2008
The vault was considerably emptier than when they began this project almost a year ago. Within the three Malfoy legacy vaults, the gold had been transferred to two, and one had been crammed, floor to ceiling with the artifacts.
The first time Draco saw all that had to be gone through, his knees buckled and threatened to give way. His father had managed to get out of all inspections post-war. Hermione couldn't move forward with her dreams until they were done. His children would be burdened with the same task if he gave up…
So he shoved it all away, forcing it into the recesses of his mind, burying it as deep as it would go. Resentment and anger began to manifest as apathy, as the effort took everything from him.
He'd been forced to drop the pursuit of the Potions mastery and sacrificed time with his new child to deal with Lucius's last gift of a burden.
But he would do it, sort through it all, clear their names once and for all.
It took its toll on him, having lost a stone in weight and sleeping poorly between having a newborn and the old nightmares being brought to the surface once more. It took from his relationships with his friends, making it impossible to summon the energy to reach out to them.
The darkness spiraled more, feeding on his marriage. They had moved past arguing into begrudging silences and sharp stilted conversation about only the necessities of two people living together.
On the tenth anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, they'd had their worst fight yet. Hermione maintained they had to attend the obligatory functions; it was important to be there for the families of those who were lost and to set an example for the next generation. Draco had insisted they had done enough, and if she really wanted to go, she could, and he would stay home with the children.
"How would it look to the rest of the Department if I went without you all?"
Later he could have admitted he lost his temper but in the moment…
"Are those the only people you care about? The fucking DMLE?"
They fought as they never had before, and Draco had been sleeping in the guest room since.
The task of sorting through all the artifacts in the family vaults was nearly complete, but he wasn't sure if his marriage had survived it.
His mother had done her best to help, but being a pureblood who made an acceptable match, most of the artifacts did not alert at her presence like they did others.
Bill Weasley, the curse breaker assigned by Gringotts, was nearly strangled by a necklace when he touched it even after having scanned it. His half-blood assistant was still out from a concussion when a huge book had thrown itself from the shelf to attack him. Draco had eviscerated the entire bookshelf to ash afterward.
But now, his mother was smoothing out her robes and taking one last look around. "I thought you'd be happier to have finished here."
He picked up a non-descript-looking urn to avoid her eyes. "I am. I'm not completely done, though, but at least it should be safe enough to have Lyra with me sometimes."
"Oh yes, with that ...muggle... baby attachment device."
"It's just a carrier, mother, but that's the general idea. Circe knows she won't let me hold her any other way...is this getting warmer?" He looked down to see the jar turning violently red in his hand, starting to whistle like a tea kettle. "What the -"
A tiny ghost of a figure floated out of the urn. "BLOOD TRAITOR!" a woman's voice shrieked as the container leapt from his hand and connected with the bridge of his nose. Draco yelled in surprise at first, then in pain. His eyes watered as he covered his nose with his hands turning away from his mother's insistence to help.
"Draco, let me fix it ...oh be quiet! " She blasted the still shrieking urn with a non-verbal spell."Do you want to see a Healer?"
"FUCKING….fuck...No...I don't want to see a fucking Healer. I'm a grown man. I don't need my mother to fix it for me either." He grappled for his wand inside his robes, still mumbling under his breath. " Episkey."
Nothing happened.
A small hand rested on his shoulder, demanding his attention. "Episkey," Narcissa said quietly and firmly. When his vision cleared, he could see the pain in her blue eyes reflected back at him. Lucius dying had been a profound change for her life as well. Her face was more lined, and gray hair streaked subtly with the blonde.
While any true love had evaporated between them a decade ago, they had been companions for thirty years. For the first time in her life, Narcissa was free to do whatever she pleased, a liberating and terrifying prospect.
"Thank you," he mumbled, tearing out of her grasp.
"Did you talk to Hermione yet?" it was a quietly spoken question yet insistent its way. The unyielding pressure on his thoughts put into words. He shook his head in response. "Not even yesterday?"
"We didn't do anything yesterday; she forgot." He siphoned the blood from his robes with his wand, deftly avoiding the scowl on his mother's face. "I didn't bring it up."
Narcissa didn't even have to say anything. She just threw him a look to convey her anger. "She forgot? Or deliberately ignored it?"
"Forgot. Some big...meeting...and Lyra was up cutting a tooth last night, we picked Rose up from Weasley's—" he shrugged again. "I don't care."
Her features soften. "You should have said something. I may have only raised you, but I grew up with two sisters, and I remember how... chaotic …it could get. Go home and try to talk to her."
Chaos was an apt word. As soon as he stepped through the Floo, the haggard-looking nanny shoved a wailing Lyra into his arms. She then explained that Rose was making things levitate and Evelyn could slam the door with wandless magic now.
Lyra cooed happily in his arms for all of five minutes before she realized his presence wasn't accompanied by her mothers. The lady with the food attached to her chest. Evelyn accosted him with a laundry list of sins committed against her that day but suddenly forgave the trespasses when he said they could get out the muggle video game box Hermione kept out of reach.
Tilly started on dinner while he rifled through his potions cabinet, looking for the fever reduction potion for Lyra. Gone, and the key ingredients expired. He slammed the door to the cabinet so hard all the glass bottles clinked together.
He coaxed the baby into a bottle as she glared at him for having the audacity to suggest such a thing.
The evening passed in a frustrating blur. Lyra refused to settle but didn't want to be left alone either. Rose and Evelyn fought about everything but scoffed when it was suggested to do separate activities.
With Tilly's assistance, he managed to get his daughters into their beds for the night. He now understood the Elf's previous dire warnings about needing the help, wondering if the tiny creature was part Seer.
He was on the sofa, too tired to do anything but stare into space. Hermione apparated directly into the room, relief coloring her features when she saw him.
"We need to talk, please." her dark eyes were beseeching something from him, sitting next to him.
"The vaults are finished," he announced without preamble, feeling hollow at what should have felt like an accomplishment. "They'll pass inspection at least."
"That's…that's amazing.Thank you, Draco. Really." She approached him slowly, as if unsure if she was allowed to. "That gives us two things to celebrate tomorrow."
"What do you mean?"
"It's the fourth...which means tomorrow…"
"Today is the sixth."
Hermione glared at him and fished her mobile out of her pocket. Her face fell as the screen lit up and died. "Oh my god, that explains so much." She rubbed at her face before looking back at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"It's not a big deal."
"It is to me! I want to celebrate your birthday!"
"I didn't want to go out with the DMLE anyway."
"That! That is exactly what we need to talk about. We're both ambitious people and got distracted by new goals. I can't help you like this...it feels like since we had Lyra, we've drifted. But I can't help you if I don't know what wrong. Come back to me, please." She took his hands in her small ones, searching him for answers he knew she wouldn't be happy with. Something seemed to light up in her eyes anyway. She reached up to stroke his fringe away from his face, and instinctively he leaned into her. "Come back to our bed. I can't sleep without you."
He did, wrapping around her, head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat. Tension seemed to melt from her the moment they were settled. Hermione tried to think of the last time they were like this and her heart ached at long it been. They'd been in the same bed...but wrapped in each other like this? Weeks, possibly months. She took a deep inhale of his scent.
"Are you ready to talk?"
He nodded while she continued to wait.
"I'm afraid to say it."
"Try.Please."
"I miss my father. Or rather, I miss the idea of him. That he couldn't change his ways and now there will...never be a chance." he braced himself for her anger that never came.
"That's understandable." She paused and then spoke very quickly. "I think you need grief counseling, Draco. I know what you're going to say….but losing a parent is hard, and your relationship with Lucius was complicated. I'm worried about you, and I knew I pushed too hard about Remembrance day. I'm sorry."
"I am too. I'll go to counseling."
"Good. That makes me happy to hear that. I'll try to find the balance between work and here. Just...talk to me. Even if you don't think I'll like it, or even if you know I'll hate I'd rather hear it from you. Please."
"I will."
"There's just one last thing…"
"What's that?"
"We didn't have sex on our anniversary or your birthday. How do we remedy that?"
He huffed out a laugh. "I don't think we can. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. We've always been ones for the unconventional." He lifted his head to kiss her, slowly, savoring the newfound connection. Magic hummed between them, encouraging them to kindle the bond again.
In the early morning hours, they laid entwined and exhausted, braced for the sounds of life outside the walls to separate them.
Lyra's wail came through first, amplified in their room to keep a better ear out for her.
Then Rose's voice. "Get a bottle, Evi. I'll change her; Aunt Ginny showed me how without magic."
"Shouldn't we get mummy?"
"Nah. We can do it."
Hermione put her hand over her heart, smiling.
"Besides, if she stays asleep, we can get more Mario in before she takes it away again."
Hermione's face fell and became slightly cross. Draco grimaced. Lyra babbled happily, apparently thrilled to be a part of the scheme.
"I can't believe we had it all night. I bet if we're quiet, we can get it all day too." Evelyn plotted. There was a shifting sound like she was in the closet looking for clothes.
Draco tried to get out of bed, but Hermione grabbed his arm hard.
"Your dad back in the right room? They done fighting yet?"
Hermione let go.
"Yeah.Which means he'll sleep, so if you'd just hurry up -
"I think it's backward-"
" Rose!"
"Evelyn."
There was a real cry from Lyra and more panicked squabbling from the older girls.
"Let's both go," Hermione whispered. "They can have the video games for one more day."
Draco sat on the floor, book floating in front of him, hairbrush between his teeth, looking from the moving illustrations to his daughter's curly hair.
Lyra sat with a board book in her lap, pointing to pictures at random, babbling to herself, at the various brightly coloured cats and numbers.
Carefully, he gathered the curls into one bunch and charmed a tiny ribbon around to hold it in place. Immediately curls sprang free in all directions.
Draco looked from the pictures to the results, flipped the book on its front cover and mumbled, " You should expect my very strongly worded owl tomorrow."
After a few more minutes, he managed to pull most of it back into a passable bun before the almost-tot had enough of sitting still. He held her up to see her fully and mused, " Gods, I make cute kids." Lyra squealed back in excitement, clapping her hands.
Hermione's legs appeared next to him. " We made a cute child. You shan't be making anymore if I have anything to say about it. Zip me, please." She held her hair over her shoulder as he moved to stand next to her.
"You could have just charmed...oh hello...what is this?" he stroked an emerald green bra strap with his finger. "Cheeky little minx..."
"Zip. I'll show you when we get home. It's another birthday present. Could you please summon Lyra's overnight bag?"
"Did you forget you're a witch? Wh-" He stilled as the bag hit him upside the head. "Overnight? But you're still- "
"No, I decided it's time to start weaning her. I took a potion to help earlier today. My parents are thrilled to take her for the night."
"Weasley took Rose even when it wasn't his weekend. Pansy suddenly wanted to take Evelyn shopping...you did all this, didn't you?" Draco's face broke out into a delighted grin. "Someone's eager to make up for the lost time ."
"I've been orchestrating it for weeks." She ran a finger up the center of his chest, then tugged at his tie."Now we're meeting everyone at the restaurant, so we need to hurry. It's Muggle - "
"I'm driving….I'm driving. Me. Accio keys . You go too slow."
"Fine, but if we crash, you'll never get to meet the green thing!"
July 2008
Helen Granger tipped her baby granddaughter's chin back, smiling widely. Lyra copied, looking apprehensive.
"Yup, she'll have teeth like yours, I'd bet anything." She announced to Hermione, swaying the baby on her hip.
"Oh no. I'm so sorry, Lyra; my teeth and my hair." Hermione frowned, glancing out of the front window. "Mum, there are a bunch of women coming up your drive."
Helen passed Lyra off to Hermione and held open the front door. It looked like a small parade of women led by the Granger's closest neighbor.
"Tilda! What are you doing?" Helen called.
"Oh, I just saw Hermione's car out here and thought I'd pass on this book she might be interested in." She handed Hermione a well-loved copy of a book about "Love languages" over her mother's shoulder. It looked as though she had just grabbed the first book she could dig up."Would that husband of yours happen to be around, Hermione?"
Helen scoffed. "Tilda, I told you to stop ogling the poor man."
"I'm not ogling I'm just being polite, is all. Is he here?" All the women seemed to be eagerly waiting for the answer as well.
"He's around back with dad," Hermione answered, knowing he was actually (technically illegally) helping their privacy hedges grow taller. "I'll tell him you looked after him."
"You wouldn't be talking about me, would you?" Draco's voice floated from behind. He picked up Lyra from Hermione and the gaggle of women "awwwww'd" as one. Lyra started to cry from all the extra attention and hid her face.
Hermione sighed, trying to hide her laughter as Helen started to close the door. "I'll see you at book club, alright? Buh bye."
"Something just ... magical about him, I swear there is." Tilda was heard saying through the door.
August 2008
"Dadada." Lyra smacked Draco in the face with the stuffed orange cat she'd received for her first birthday. It had reminded him so much of the half-kneazle that followed Hermione around Hogwarts; it seemed destined for her smaller version.
So, of course, it had accompanied them to tea at the Manor.
And, of course, he became obsolete as soon as his mother came back into the conservatory. The tot made grabby hand motions and was granted her non-verbal request immediately.
Narcissa cooed and smothered Lyra in kisses as she settled back into the seat opposite Draco. From the corner of his eyes, he saw two ancestors slide into one portrait, whispering and pointing towards the baby.
He flipped them off out of his mother's eyesight. But she was still so busy fussing over the child she hadn't noticed anything. Draco cleared his throat twice; his mother stopped and looked up at him.
"Yes, hello to you too, my son. I'm so glad you could join me. Though I must say, I was disheartened that Hermione and the other children couldn't join us." She picked up her teacup and sipped while Lyra gnawed on a chocolate biscuit in her lap.
"She took them out for some shopping and a movie. I...I didn't...well, I offered to stay with the baby instead." He couldn't bring himself to say, 'The thought of going out made my skin crawl.' Or 'I didn't even want to get out of bed.'
Grief, as it turned out, was not a linear experience. It was a series of waves, high and low in indistinguishable patterns. It was twist and turn, entwining itself into other events, easing but never letting up entirely. Counseling was merely learning tools for coping. Today, what would have been his father's birthday, was a day for learning to say no and prioritizing his limited energy.
Hermione had simply kissed him and said she understood. It was one of those moments where he truly appreciated her.
Narcissa didn't push the issue. "I have something to share with you. Next year, Andromeda and I will be traveling. Teddy will stay with the Potters until he starts Hogwarts in September. We've decided it's time...before we get too old to enjoy it. I'll set the Manor to go dormant while I'm not occupying it." Her blue eyes met his, watering slightly. "I'll write, of course. And send gifts. But his house...it's just too…"
Draco nodded. "I understand. It's...difficult. And you've done so much for us."
"You and Hermione have built such a wonderful life together. I'm sure she'll take good care of you all." She swiped at some tears and gathered herself. "So what's this I hear about you not pursuing your mastery?"
September 2008.
Hermione basked in the sun on what might be the last warm day of the year. Evelyn read next to her while Rose and Draco were up to some kind of shenanigans on brooms. Lyra was in the carrier on her chest, snoring softly, having worn herself out with her newfound ability to run.
"Mummy! It's your birthday month!" Rose announced with the fervor children get about birthdays. "What do you want? Flying lessons? You should get flying lessons."
"Oh, no thank you. Actually, I'd like a trip, please. Italy if at all possible. Can you manage that, Rose?" Hermione called. Rose shook her head, hair flying around her head. Draco chuckled quietly, landing behind her.
"I think flying lessons are a brilliant idea, Rose. Might help her get over the fear."
"I am not afraid -"
"So you claim."
Evelyn looked up from her book. "There is nothing wrong with being afraid of heights."
"No, there's not." Hermione agreed."But I'm not afraid I just don't see the appeal in zooming around like a maniac with no point."
"Prove it." He summoned the broom up without a word. " Don't use the baby as an excuse either; I'll go slow enough for both of you."
"Draco Malfoy, you've never gone slow a day in your life." She scolded, eyeing the broom before straddling it carefully.
He slid her hips closer to his and mumbled in her ear. "Whose always saying ' faster Draco, more, please.'"
She swatted his arm. "You're terrible. Okay, I'm ready... no! "
Draco had made like he was going to kick off the ground hard but they only lifted about 6 feet off the surface, his hands covering hers to steer. "Here, you drive. It's effortless; it's a racing broom. You just need a soft touch. There you go." He held onto her hips to demonstrate how much to turn in an easy loop around the yard. "You really want a trip?"
"Yes. To Italy. Florence, all of us." She nodded, mostly reassuring herself. "It'll be good for us, and I have such a hard time not getting sucked into work if we stay in England."
"As long as you pretend to be surprised."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to put a Malfoy twist on it."
"I was going to pack you a suitcase of only duplicates of the green thing. But sure, I'll find a way for everyone to get a surprise." He hissed in pain at another swat.
"What has gotten into you?" She giggled.
"It's a beautiful day, and I'm starting to feel better." He splayed a hand out over the carrier and kissed her cheek.
Chapter 24: Daring, nerve and chivalry...
Summary:
Hermione is the alpha bitch and isn't afraid to show it. Tiny pet dragons. Molly apologizes.
Notes:
Have I told you all how much I adore TalonWillow ? I truly do.
Chapter Text
January 2009.
Hermione had loved her holiday in Florence. The trip was presented to her on her birthday in September as a combination birthday/ family Christmas gift: to be taken until December. It wasn't till later that she learned its timing was strategic, so she couldn't baulk at the outrageous cost of the whole affair.
They went to as many museums as Rose could tolerate. Climbed the steps of the Duomo Cathedral, ate too much gelato, and spent Christmas morning with just the five of them.
And, of course, Draco booked a personal tour guide to whom he paid a ridiculous sum of gold to attend to their needs. Which included getting a connection with a nanny to Italy's most elite wizard families so that he could whisk her away on a date night for the two of them.
But it was so much more. Things money couldn't buy.
Draco provided a detailed itinerary of his plans so that she could look them over and then look at maps of the buildings. Which had anti-apparition wards? Would there be a way out of each one should the main exit be blocked?
It still seemed so paranoid; she knew it did. But her nightmares were always the same; she was in a restaurant, and the gaunt face of Bellatrix Lestrange would appear in the crowd, that terrible wand raised at them. Or in a beautiful medieval church surrounded, decorated with high stained-glass windows when Greyback and the snatchers would kick in the door, and she had to get them out, all of them.
He understood and never pressed the issue. They had both come so far and put in so much work...but maybe only time could heal some wounds.
So they took their thoroughly planned family vacation for the Christmas holidays and had a beautiful time.
But now, this also felt good. To be back in her element, to truly be the head of Magical Law Enforcement all on her own. Finally, in a position to enact the changes that she really wanted to see in the world. Professionally she was right where she wanted to be, and personally, over the course of the winter, she and Draco had reconnected in a way that they hadn't been even as newlyweds.
All was right with the world, and they could face anything.
Even Harry Potter. With an ominous look on his face, he twirled a thick letter between his fingers, looking thoroughly worse for wear. There was soot on his face, and his Auror robes were still smoking slightly.
"Rough night?" She prompted, pushing a fresh cuppa into his hands in exchange for the letter.
"Raid went sideways. I just want to go home and sleep for a few hours until I'm back here again, but someone insists I be at the annual department heads meeting." He chugged the tea as if it were the elixir of life. "That is from Molly. She wants to apologize. We missed Rose at Christmas."
"You are Head Auror; you need to have an idea of what's happening within the Ministry. I would think you'd want to be informed." Hermione shook the letter for emphasis. "We weren't away to spite Molly; we were away on holiday as a family. We're Rose's family just as much as they are. Ron and I are civil, hell even Ron and Draco are civil, which is strange -"
" 'Mione, I'm just the messenger. And Ron and Draco are civil because they conspired to get Evelyn one of those tiny dragons like from the Triwizard Cup. If it thrives, the shop is going to start selling them. Malfoy funded the research, so he got first dibs." He chuckled quietly at the look on her face. "Now you can be angry at them too."
Hermione fumed about what kind of havoc a miniature dragon as a pet to her seven-year old would bring upon her life before circling back to the bigger issue. "I will think about what I have to say to Molly."
Harry threw his hands up in mock surrender. "That's all I ask. Did you hear there's a new head of Magical Transportation too?"
The curly-haired witch frowned, gathering up her things for the meeting. "No, that must have happened while I was in Florence."
"I thought it was just gossip. Suppose we're about to find out." Harry said, ushering her down a corridor of meeting rooms.
They soon learned that Marrietta Edgecomb had taken over the department of Magical transportation and that she planned on promoting Floo safety and biodegradable Floo powder...
And that she absolutely still hated Hermione for the whole ' Sneak ordeal. The blemishes could still be seen behind her fringe. Throughout the entirety of the meeting, Hermione could feel the other witch's loathing roll off her waves.
After the meeting, Hermione hung back and waited to catch Marietta alone.
"What do you want?" Is how the former Ravenclaw started things off.
"To offer an apology. I shouldn't have charmed that paper with something so permanent. That was short-sighted of me, but I was a teenager. All the same, I'm sorry." Hermione nodded once to punctuate her statement and waited.
Instead, Marietta's lip curled into a sneer. Hermione had to note she looked more like Crookshanks trying to work up a hairball than the condensing aristocratic look her husband would dawn.
"Do you really think that's going to make a difference at this point? Because it doesn't. Everyone thinks you're so special and so brilliant. But I see you for who you really are. Mediocre in looks and talent. Willing to take the credit for Potter's accomplishments. Marrying a Death Eater just for the money," the redhead flicked her dull brown eyes up and down Hermione's form. "And having all those kids isn't doing you any favours."
Hermione refused to be rattled. These were all things she had heard over the years already just compiled into one statement. But she had learned a thing or two from Draco over the years. Tossing her hair over her shoulders so that the constellation pendant caught the light, she returned a cold stare.
"Well, Marietta, I'm sure you must be terribly busy changing the oil on the Knight bus or watching people's Floo calls, but I've got a lot of work too. I see we won't come to any kind of mutual understanding today. I trust you can see your way back to Transportation?" She waited, unmoving, as the other witch gaped at her like a fish out of water.
"You have some nerve-"
"I do. As a matter of fact, I am quite the Gryffindor. You see..." Hermione lowered her voice to a deadly whisper. "I don't care what you say about me; it means nothing really, but you will leave my husband and children out of this. Go back to your office before you embarrass yourself further."
Holding her ground, Hermione watched Marrietta's face flushed nearly plum before she snapped her jaw shut and walked away.
January 2009
Lyra's wails were heartbreaking as she wrapped her tiny fists in Hermione's blouse. The toddler was cutting molars and making sure everyone in the house knew it.
"I know love Daddy's coming." Hermione soothed her daughter, bouncing her in circles. She could hear Draco's footsteps coming from the hall as she walked laps around the Nursery.
"Dada."
"That's right, sweetheart."
Draco appeared in the doorway with yet another bottle of a calming draught of the lightest sky blue.
"No, she's already had one." Hermione handed Lyra over so Draco could take a turn in holding her.
"Poor thing must have my high potion tolerance. We can re-do the spells on the cat for tonight." He saw the tension flit across Hermione's face instantly. "It won't hurt. Trust me on this one, Granger...this is how I got through...Evelyn…"
"I do...I do trust you. Alright, I'll do it." Hermione picked up the long-abandoned orange cat stuffed toy and reapplied the soothing charm. Offering it back to Lyra, she clutched it just as tight as anything, and her eyelids began to droop.
"That's better." Hermione cooed, rubbing Lyra's back. "I don't know what's worse; your high tolerance or my low." The toddler's eyes closed, and Draco gently dropped her back into her cot, the cat still firmly in hand. "But just think, this is the last time either of us has to do this stage."
"Yeah. This is it." Draco reaffirmed. "Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Things happen."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "We have had enough things, or anything a synonym of for one lifetime."
"You're right. Besides, if there we're going to be more of us, we'd as well go for seven. Magically powerful, you know…"
"Malfoy, your grip on reality is tenuous at best. Come on, it's time for bed."
February 2009
The tiny Antipodean Opaleye had managed to escape again. It was now attacking Hermione's Valentine's day rose display on her kitchen table.
No matter how many enchantments they put on the creature's terrarium, it seemed to find its way out.
She really wished she had yes to the Krup puppy instead.
"Evelyn! Please put Falkor away!" The dragon hissed in response and tore another petal off. It snapped at Hermione as she tried to move it but reluctantly crawled into Evelyn's cupped hands, making a content noise as she stroked its head with her finger.
Hermione banished the mess right away. Molly Weasley was supposed to come through the Floo any second now for tea. Draco had taken Lyra with him to Rose's Youth Quidditch practice. Evelyn was still reluctant around the Weasley matriarch and had opted to stay in her room with her tiny pet.
Molly came through the fireplace, looking lost without a gaggle of people to greet or orders to give. No doubt, this amount of quiet was scarce for her. But tea was polite enough as they covered all the usual small talk topics.
But then conversation faltered and smiles slipped from faces. Then Molly brought up a topic that Hermione never imagined they could civilly discuss.
"Purebloods are very old-fashioned, but I'm sure you've learned that by now. Growing up, I just didn't know anyone who got divorced and certainly never with children involved. But looking back on it ... I suppose you and Ron could have never worked. We were all just trying to...recover from what we lost." Molly smiled weakly, which Hermione returned, knowing that was as good as she would get on that front. "But then you went with...Draco...who I had just assumed was Lucius Malfoy all over again -"
"You were wrong." Hermione cut her off.
"I know that now. I know it now. But you must admit it seemed like a highly unlikely match. Then to learn he had a daughter, who I had assumed would be the same as her father and grandfather. Then on top of all that, which was strange, to begin with, you wanted another baby before you were even married. To a Malfoy! Hermione, I didn't know which way was up when it came to you." Molly paused to let Hermione have a say.
"I had always felt like… Ron and I got married because it seemed like it was the right step to take. Not because we loved each other enough, and then Rose was the supposed next step. I didn't think I wanted to be married again, not until Draco and I were living together. But I did always know I wanted to be a mother again, and that never changed. I was lucky enough to get to do twice more with Evelyn and Lyra. They are amazing children, and I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't want to be in their lives."
Molly flinched, but Hermione had meant for that last part to sting, but the redhead witch recovered quickly. "I apologize for assuming the worst. It's wonderful to see how far we've come since the end of the second war. Even as tolerate as the Prewitts still p preached that there were just too many biological differences between pureblood and muggleborns."
"I'm sure there are some." she pointed to herself. "I don't tolerate potions as well as -'' something rattled inside her mind. "Molly, would you say you need more or less potion for it to be effective?"
"Oh more, much more. Contraceptive potions never worked at all, obviously." She said with a soft laugh.
Hermione summoned a piece of paper and pen and scribbled furiously for a moment, mouthing quietly to herself.
Draco mastery idea
Potion tolerance amongst blood status.
DLM needs x2 amount of recommended dose.
HJG-M - 3/ 4 recommended dose to avoid side effects.
Standard potion scale to be updated?
Molly cleared her throat when Hermione suddenly remembered she was in the room.
"I think something decent may become from it now ." Three folded sweaters landed neatly in front of Hermione from Molly's handbag.
A maroon one with an "R", an emerald one with an "E", and a small black one with a white "L" in slightly glittery yarn.
"I was thinking like a night sky. I know I've done too much to ever be close again, but I do care about you and your family, Hermione. "
March 2009
Draco stared up at the chalkboard. Which was filled with equations, notes about genetic sequences, a rough outline of his family tree with forgotten names labelled "probably another constellation" or "this fucker", and at the bottom the summarization of all the whole thing.
Granger- Malfoy theory
Potion disruption and tolerance are not equal amongst magical genetics (i.e. blood status.) Previous lack of awareness due to assumed two magical parent testers.
More magical parentage = higher consumption rates- toxicity - declined birth rates?!
Muggle-born = adverse side effects, prone to overdose/misuse.
Stop excluding muggle-borns in your research groups, you utter shitebags.
He'd fix the spelling and grammar after he slept. Sleeped? Used the sleep. That sounded right. It had been at least three daytimes since he had done it anyway.
But he didn't need sleep; he needed a Mastery. And in order to be awarded such a thing, he needed a brand new potion or theory. And this, this was a hell of a theory, and it looked like it was working. A potion's mastery would prove he was worth something, worth being married to Hermione Granger, war heroine, recipient of an Order of Merlin for...that arse.
He chuckled and swayed slightly. He'd run the whole thing by Theo In the morning, then compile the entire thing to be sent by owl to the Masteries board in Switzerland. Sweden? Norway? No, definitely Switzerland.
He really needed to use the sleep.
Leaving his makeshift lab that had sprawled over his entire kitchen and dining area, Draco snuck upstairs and into their bedroom, ignoring the fact that Falkor had escaped again and was tearing up the carpet.
The bed was full of children. His children, which was weird to think about...wasn't there a tapestry somewhere that should have had their names on it? Somewhere in the manor…
Evelyn's eyes popped open. She wiggled around and held up the blanket for him to get under. Right. The sleep. They would reinforce the dragon's cage and make rules about sleeping in your own bed after he did that.
April 2009
Hermione had rarely ever felt such contentment. Usually, her high drive for perfection put her on edge, feeling as though if she faltered for a second, failure was imminent.
But this felt as if she had already won.
The gala was an annual fundraiser for St. Mungo's pediatric unit, a cause Hermione happily embraced her celebrity for. After some perfunctory dances with others, she'd got to spend the whole night dancing with her fit husband and drinking champagne.
Draco had been unusually quiet, but now as he held out his arm to twirl her, a smirk flitted across his features.
"What?" She asked, turning back into his arms.
"We're being watched by an angry witch with terrible fringe."
"Oh, that's Marrietta. She was in the year above us...Ravenclaw?" He shook his head. "Anyway, she's the head of Transportation, and she hates me. Her former plan of awful office gossip about me didn't work, so tonight, she was going to try and frame you for something." Hermione was still beaming, letting her arms rest on his shoulders.
"I've been with you the whole night." He pulled absently at a curl that had sprung free.
"I know. I'm not worried about it. She tried to sneak up on me in the loo a few minutes after we got here…"
"No…"
"Yes." Hermione pulled on the constellation around her neck. "But this little guy registered her as a threat, so she ended up in a stall, taking the door with her. Made quite the scene. I think she's trying to come up with a different angle than getting one of us alone now."
"You seem oddly pleased about that."
She shrugged. "As I said, I'm not worried about it. I feel like we can handle whatever the world wants to throw at us. We're stronger than ever, and I have everything I want."