Previously on A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 71
By the time Hermione got back, Emilio and Matt had formed a plan. Him, her and Scorp would have dinner with Ilaria and Emiliano, chat for a bit then meet Matt and Mila here for drinks about 7:30 pm.
Hermione gave Emilio an eye roll which caused him to smile. "Not happy then?"
"It's not that I'm unhappy Emilio, but I'll tell you out front. I'm not going to eat and run. I suggest we go a little earlier than planned so we spend time with your parents in front then we can leave early without looking like idiotas."
"Ooh. I love it when you speak Italian. Makes me want to bend you over the bed rails."
Hermione started giggling and couldn't stop. When she finally gathered her composure, she told Emilio he should stop trying to find ways to make a baby because he wasn't getting one."
"Ever or just this moment?" He replied teasingly.
"If you don't stop, it will be ever. You use the bathroom in our room. I'll use the one upstairs. Dress nicely Mr. COO because you are going to use your members only card at Luxx Club London to take me dining and dancing. Perhaps we'll run into Helen Mirren."
"Our room. I like the sound of that. Actually, I'd like it better if our room was the one at 4 Tudor Lane. However, your wish is my command love. Let's say we leave here at 9:00."
"Deal. Give me a kiss so I can go have a shower." Hermione remarked, sliding into Emilio's arms.
"Yes, I can do that. Kisses now lots of loving later. I love you Mrs. Hermione."
"Love you more Mr. Lozier."
/
A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 72
Hermione and Emilio were dressed and ready by 8:50. Hermione had to growl at her fiance to get him to stop fawning over her lavender colored, second skin dress. By the third time she had to push him off her neck, Hermione threatened him.
"Keep it up Lozier and I will leave you sitting here while I visit the Luxx Club alone."
Stepping back from his delightful smelling fiancee, Emilio offered a bow and an apology. "I can't get enough of you love, especially when you look and smell so good. You are absolutely gorgeous in lavender. Actually, you are absolutely gorgeous in every color. I'll end this bit of a soliloquy by saying the last thing happening tonight is you leaving here without me. With all that out of the way, take my arm so we can have our dinner and some dances."
With a smile back on her face, Hermione reached out to take Emilio's arm. "That's better Mr. Lozier. We'll now begin our night in a calm and reasonable manner. I hope your money belt is full because I intend to spend a ton of galleons."
Emilio grinned. "Promises, promises. If you continue speaking roughly to me, I will ring Ilaria and have her come stand up for her son."
"Here's a thump for being an arse." Hermione remarked as she gave Emilio a knock on the arm. "I know where I stand with my mother-in-law to be. Ilaria's line of succession is thus. She'll stand for Scorp, then me, then Celia, then Emiliano. You bring up the rear, so by all means, call her. You'll get nothing but those Lozier feelings hurt."
Emilio risked another thump as he leaned in, kissed Hermione on the neck and softly whispered a nonsense reply. "Fine. I'll ring Scorp. He will always stand up for me."
Hermione smiled as she snuggled up against Emilio's arm. "Now we have that settled you have five minutes to get me to Luxx Club to begin our night where you will feed me, dance with me then tell me all about Matt's new friend Mila."
Emilio glanced at Hermione before turning them both into Apparition. He would be glad to disclose the little he knew about Mila. The rest of it would be Matt's story to tell.
/*/
The evening out at Luxx Club was enjoyable. Hermione had a lamb dinner while Emilio had veal. The lamb was so good Hermione suggested they have it as a menu option for their wedding dinner. Even though he thoroughly enjoyed his dinner as well as a taste of Hermione's, Emilio thought lamb and veal were a tad bit exotic for general tastes.
"I don't want to get into a dispute over wedding fare but lamb and veal may not go over all that well with guests who are most familiar with chicken, beef or pork. We may want to be a bit cautious with our offerings."
"Why?" Hermione asked, glancing at Emilio with deeply furrowed brows. "Is it too expensive? Are we out of money?"
Emilio was surprised by Hermione's response. He'd made a simple statement and received a somewhat stinging reply. Determined to keep the conversation civil, he clarified what he'd said. "It was a simple statement love which is only an opinion based on what I've noticed during my years in London. However, if lamb and veal seem like viable menu options, by all means put them on the menu."
Hermione smiled at Emilio. She hadn't meant to come across so forcefully. Reaching out, she laid a hand on Emilio's arm. "Your suggestion has been duly noted love, but I'd like to offer our guests more than the usual, especially dishes cooked this well. It's not like we'll be foisting strange foods on our guests. Lamb and veal have become quite mainstream. Anyway, it's all about choices. If guests don't care for lamb or veal, they'll order another option."
Emilio glanced over at Hermione nodding his head in agreement. "You're right in one love. It's all about choices. I've heard that the bride and groom often have disputes. I'm glad ours was a simple one easily remedied. We'll offer as many different choices as you wish."
Pulling a wide grin on her face, Hermione pursed her lips sending Emilio an air kiss. "See how easy it is to please me. We make a formidable couple. Me always winning and you always acquiescing."
Emilio covered a chuckle with his napkin before making a cheeky reply. "I find myself in the unfortunate position of having taken the wrong fiancee to dinner. My wife to be would never expect to always come up the winner. She loves me and wants our marriage to be fair and equitable. She'll have my arse if she ever discovers my faux pas."
Hermione lifted her glass. "She'll only have that arse at the end of my wand. Cheers."
With a wink and a smile, Emilio lifted his glass as well and spoke a toast. "To my faux pas never being discovered. I love you madly Mrs. Hermione even when we disagree. In fact, let's have our dances so I can get you home and disagree with our clothes off."
Extending her hand to Emilio, Hermione returned his cheeky wink while pulling him up from his chair. "Yes Mr. Lozier. Let's have our dances."
/*/
As Emilio held Hermione tight on the dance floor, he happened to look over into the eyes of none other than Leanne Moon. After a nod in Leanne's direction, he leaned down to kiss Hermione on the cheek. Emilio didn't know why he suddenly had the urge to kiss his witch but he had. Then as he and Hermione moved around the dance floor a strange thought crossed his mind. A long ago thought from the night he first met Hermione's friends at Harry's party. Hermione had been so pissed off at him she'd left the party in a snit. The night he had just about broken into Draco Malfoy's flat. The night… The night he thought Hermione had been with Draco. A slight burst of anger which he tried to hide flared up, but his witch was a quick witch.
"Everything alright Lozier? You seem a bit tense."
"Nothing monumental love. Seeing Leanne brought back an unwanted memory."
Leanne Moon? For a second it didn't register with Hermione. Then it did. Hermione turned her head in Leanne's direction giving a slight nod. It had been Leanne Moon's comments and attitude that had driven her into Draco's arms even though she was dating Emilio. Hermione exhaled softly. Leanne Moon hadn't driven her anywhere. She'd gone on her own accord. All she had to do was push Draco away and leave his flat, but she hadn't. She had let Draco touch her intimately as well as put his mouth on her. She had cheated.
Laying her head against Emilio's chest, Hermione made a decision. When they got back to Malfoy Estate, she would explain her indiscretion.
Each lost in their own thoughts, Hermione and Emilio finished the dance in silence.
/*/
At her flat, Mila was searching through her closet in a frenzy for an outfit she thought worthy of impressing Matt Lozio. Matt Lozio one of three wizards she'd ever been intimate with. The first two intimacies had happened before Matt and never after. Even when Matt was being his most willful, she hadn't turned back to either wizard. Matt Lozio had been her choice. For years they had played cat and mouse without coming to any permanent terms. She had been understanding when Matt explained he wasn't ready for a permanent relationship. She had comforted him with her loving when his grandfather, mother then father died. Mila often thought Matt wouldn't make their relationship permanent because she had seen him at his lowest so many times. It had been such a surprise for Matt to find out he was heir to a fortune. It was at that point she believed they could build a relationship. He had means. Of course that wasn't what happened. Matt went to Milan and met Kim Reina. Suddenly, he wasn't coming to Belgium or when he did, it wasn't to see her. She'd been particularly devastated after a trip to Milan where Kim had exercised her authority as the witch in Matt's life. Shortly after that visit, Davy had informed her Matt was engaged to be married. She had cried and raged to both Davy and Pat but raging hadn't changed anything except her mindset. In fact, it was at that time she, Davy and Pat had vowed to find a way out of poverty, and they had.
Mila snapped out of her reverie with her hand on a walnut colored, mid-thigh length, embroidered silk dress. This was the dress.
"Yes my lovely. You are the one. Together you and I will dazzle Mr. Lozio."
/*/
Once she had decided on her attire for the night, it took Mila all of twenty minutes to get ready. At the end of her routine, she glanced in the full length mirror to see a thing of beauty.
"Hahaha. I'm being a complete arse. I'll have to let Mr. Lozio decide if I'm a thing of beauty."
As Mila was putting the finishing touches on her makeup, a text from Matt came through. He would be at her door in five minutes. With one last look in the mirror, Mila judged herself ready.
/*/
Before leaving to pick up his date, Jake/Pat had given the three lads Apparition instructions for Le Rabassier Restaurant in Brussels as well as the Zodiac nightclub.
"My date and I will meet you lads at Le Rabassier by 9:00. See you in a bit."
Matt was next to excuse himself. "The lovely Mila is waiting. We'll see you at Rabassier."
/*/
With almost an hour to kill, Seth and Sal had another drink with gave Seth time to regale Sal with some of the shenanigans he, Matt and Pat had gotten up to. It also gave Seth an opening to ask why Matt called Pat Jake.
Seth explained.
"It's simple. Back in the day we were all mates but Matt and Pat were the closest. Matt affectionately calls Pat by a shortened version of his last name which is Jacobs, hence Jake."
Sal was nodding and sipping. "That which didn't make sense now makes sense."
Finishing the last of his drink, Sal pulled out his wand. With several well placed swish and flicks, he cleaned up and cleared away. "Are we ready mate?"
"As I'll ever be." Sal replied, adding a very cheeky statement. "I hope we don't run into Chloe Knight."
Seth guffawed as he re-checked Apparating instructions. "If we do, it's my turn. I'll be sure to wash her up good."
Sal gave an extreme eye roll before turning into Apparition.
Seth was right behind him chuckling as he waved his wand for Apparition.
/*/
After their last dance, Emilio paid the bill then grabbed Hermione by the hand guiding her out the door. Hermione was quiet because she had made the decision to tell all and it was weighing on her. Emilio was a bit quiet because he had allowed ugly memories to interfere with their night.
As soon as they landed, Hermione excused herself to the bathroom while Emilio went straight to their bedroom pulling off his tie as he went. In the bathroom, Hermione whispered to herself in the mirror.
"He's going to be my husband. I have to tell him everything. Why? No one else knows. No one else can ever divulge my secret. What if I tell him and he…..? And he.."
Knock, knock.
"Hello in there. You have a wizard out here who is holding in a pee."
Pulling a smile onto her face, Hermione opened the door. "Come in git. I wouldn't want you to have an accident even though there is a perfectly good loo ten steps away."
"Yes there is. However, I want to use this particular boys room on the chance I get to see that lovely thing you will be giving me in the next five minutes. My prerogative."
Stretching so she could kiss Emilio on the mouth, Hermione softly whispered. "We'll see."
Emilio unzipped and had his pee wondering what his wife to be meant by we'll see.
/*/
Hermione was procrastinating. She removed her makeup, slowly. She removed her underwear, slowly. She put on a night dress, slowly. So slowly, in fact, Emilio had questions.
"What's going on love? Underwear hard to remove? Shall I come in there to assist?"
Hermione sighed. She had made a decision and might as well get on with it. "Be right there Emilio."
Emilio sat up and put his feet on the floor. Something in the way Hermione had said his name. She hadn't said, git, love, or some other endearing term. Something felt a bit off. However, whether something felt off or not, he didn't have any more time to reflect on it because Hermione was almost to the bed. When she reached him, instead of climbing into bed, she sat down beside him laying her head on his shoulder.
Something was not right.
Taking Hermione by the hand, he inquired. "We've had a lovely night out. We should be happily preparing to have sex and yet we are sitting here side by side as if contemplating our first coupling. What's wrong love?"
Hermione inhaled before replying in a low voice. "We're engaged to be married."
Emilio spoke before Hermione could continue trying to interject a bit of humor. "Yes love. I'm the groom to be so I do know that."
Hermione knew what she had to say really didn't warrant humor so she ignored Emilio's wit.
When he didn't even get a small smile, Emilio turned all the way on his right side so he was looking directly at Hermione. "Talk to me Hermione. Your manner is making me wary."
Staring into Emilio's eyes, Hermione spoke two words. "Leanne Moon."
Because of the unbidden thoughts he'd had when he saw Leanne, Emilio felt guilty even though he was totally innocent. "What about Leanne Hermione?"
Hermione turned her head away as two tears slipped down her face, but Emilio cupped her chin with his hand and turned it so they were looking at each other.
"What about Leanne Hermione?"
"It has nothing yet everything to do with Leanne."
All kind of things began running through Emilio's head as he used his thumb to wipe the tears from Hermione's eyes. Was the love of his life fretting over some long ago entanglement of his? "You're talking in riddles. It has nothing yet everything to do with Leanne. What it?"
"The night of Harry's party."
Emilio stiffened but remained silent. Did he really want to hear this?
Hermione grabbed the hand he'd used to wipe away her tears and held on tightly.
"The night of Harry's party Leanne made some stupid remarks which I should have taken in stride. Instead, I puffed myself up and went running from the party like a wounded Kneazle."
Emilio was holding his breath thinking he was going to hear something he'd rather not.
Hermione continued. "I have never explained the rest of what happened that night and probably never would if we hadn't renewed our relationship. We are going to be married so I don't want any secrets between us."
If Hermione had stopped right there never uttering another word about that night, Emilio could have gone the rest of his life denying what he suspected was true. However...
"When I ran out of the party, Draco accosted me at the floo and intentionally flooed me to his flat claiming he only wanted to help me calm down. While there, instead of offering me a drink or a calming draught, Draco professed feelings for me."
Emilio stiffened even more. No. No. No. He didn't need to hear this. Even so, he remained rigid and silent.
Hermione saw the pain on Emilio's face and lost her resolve. She had admitted enough. The rest would remain locked inside of her for the rest of her life. Emilio didn't need to know she had allowed Draco to put his fingers in her and his mouth on her or how she had spread herself wide and would have allowed Draco to shag her if he and Harry hadn't burst into the flat.
"I left as soon as I could extricate myself. I felt foolish and embarrassed as well for running away like some stupid Fourth Year and getting myself into that predicament. I know I should have confided in you, but tensions between you and Draco were already so high I didn't want to cause any more problems. Seeing Leanne tonight made me realize I didn't want to keep secrets from you. I'm sorry for letting myself be caught out like that. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Please don't think badly of me."
By this time, Hermione was silently crying with tears dripping onto her nightdress.
It was out there now. What Emilio had imagined had happened. Draco had spirited Hermione away. Perhaps he and Harry had just missed her by minutes. He was feeling… Actually, Emilio couldn't put a name to what he was feeling, but he loved this witch. A long ago escapade wouldn't change what he felt for her. Taking Hermione in his arms, he summoned a wet cloth to wipe her face while murmuring his love. Draco Malfoy was dead. He and Hermione would be married the coming year. Life would go on.
Emilio gave Hermione's face one last gentle swipe before tucking her in. He excused himself to the bathroom where he stared at himself in the mirror while letting his own set of tears fall.
Although he had accepted Hermione's explanation, it took him more than a minute to get over what she had shared.
/*/
Walking quietly into the bedroom, Emilio told Hermione he felt like having a last Guinness before bed and headed out of the room. Hermione began to cry in earnest holding her face in the pillow trying to stifle the sobs. Had she ruined everything? Did her champion now think less of her?
For what seemed like hours, she laid there chastising herself for dredging up old matters. Why did she have to tell him? Why? Why? Suddenly the door opened and her husband to be, her groom, her champion climbed into bed and took her in his arms kissing her tear stained face.
"I'll tell you this Hermione and we won't have to discuss it ever again. You've forgiven me for things done while I was under the blood curse. Mistakes all. You chose not to bring them up. You chose to forgive me. While not on the same scale, I choose to do the same. All secrets have been disclosed. Let's just move forward. There is one, small caveat. If some wizard comes sniffing around you, I ask permission to hex him where he stands."
Snuggling into her fiance, lover and champion, Hermione spoke a soft reply. "You have my permission."
"Good. That's settled. Suddenly, I'm hungry. Perhaps we should have taken a to go box of lamb and veal."
Poking Emilio with her elbow, Hermione responded with a bit of cheek. "Not lamb and veal. Aren't they too exotic?"
"For a wedding, yes, but not too exotic for a hungry bloke lying in bed starving."
Hermione let out a soft chuckle. "Go to sleep you git. Before you know it, your someday son will be ringing the mobile asking why you haven't come through yet."
Stifling a yawn, Emilio admitted that he looked forward to it.
"I love you Mrs. Hermione."
"And I love you Mr. Lozier. Sleep well.
/*/
As she dozed off, Hermione remembered she hadn't asked about Mila. Then, just as her eyes closed, a long ago memory surfaced. If it was the same witch, she had met Mila on at least two occasions when she'd come to Milan to visit Matt. Before Hermione realized the memory was nothing more than a shadowy figure, she was asleep.