Previously on Returning To His Roots: Chapter 84
That was enough. Theo had his answer and his witch. Tilting Anna's face upward, he kissed away her tears. "We have a date for dinner tomorrow. Tonight I'll leave you as I have in the past. However, tomorrow night I plan to spend a lengthy period of time in my witch's flat. Get used to having Theo Nott around. Down the road, we'll discuss you moving into a flat closer to the Nott house."
Putting a finger to Theo's lips, Anna sat him down to tell him about Hermione's offer and what she planned to do with the extra galleons. Theo was even more impressed with his witch as he sat listening to her plans even as he knew he would never let her spend money for things he was more than willing to give her.
Rocking Anna gently, Theo didn't interrupt her thoughts. He would simply show her as they moved down the road together.
"It's very late love. You need your sleep as do I. Walk me to the door and share a few more of those kisses. Tomorrow we begin."
"Alright Theo. Tomorrow we begin."
He had one more remark to make. "Keep your mobile on."
"Wanker." She called out softly to his back.
He turned to give her a saucy wink. Then he was out the door.
/*/
When the door closed behind her new wizard, Anna rested her back against the wall once again thanking Merlin for all the favors he had bestowed.
/
A/N: Yesssss
Returning To His Roots: Chapter 85
/*/
It was late but Theo landed in the house humming accompanied by a few out of the blue dance steps. He was happy. In fact, he was happy, excited, and thankful. He was all of it. The witch who had caught his fancy was his. Not Clarke's. Not Wil's, his. He thought about how loudly Anna had shouted after he had shown his arse.
"She's feisty."
"Who's feisty?"
Theo turned to see Conor staring at him with a puzzled look on his face. "Didn't mean to startle you Theo. I actually thought you were in your rooms asleep. I've given Cassie a sixty minute break from all this manliness while I gather up a few things. I'll be out of your way in no time. Who's feisty?"
"Never you mind who's feisty. Just get about your business."
Conor laughed. "There he is. The real Theo Nott. The humming and dancing were to throw off any thieves that might be in the house."
Theo was in a good mood. He laughed at Conor's nonsense. "I'm going to my rooms right now to concentrate on my business. I suggest you finish gathering up the shite you're taking with you and get on your way before you do meet the real Theo Nott. Goodnight Conor."
"Goodnight Theo. Oh, by the way. Cassie will be visiting her parents this coming weekend. Do you mind if I spend some time with Declan?"
"Coordinate with Reg. He may have plans for Declan."
"Will do. Thanks Theo."
/*/
Theo sat on the side of his bed…
"Well done Theo. She's the one for you and Declan."
Theo jumped up. The voice of Padma was speaking to him. "Padma love. You're gone and I miss you, but I've followed your advice. I can't be with you, so Declan and I will be with the witch you set in front of us. Thank you for that."
The voice responded in a trembling voice with a hint of a sob. "You're welcome my love. You're on the right path so this is the very last time I'll be able to communicate with you. Our time is over. Your new life is about to begin. I love you Mr. Nott. I'm happy you'll live your life."
Silence.
"Padma. Padma." Theo called out, but there was no response. The voice was gone.
"I loved you Padma. Thank you for what you've done."
Theo sighed. Somehow, some way Padma had set Anna in front of him. He, Declan and Anna would move forward with his deceased wife's blessing. He could look forward to a nice life with a wonderful witch, but still…
/*/
Hermione was watching Draco's breathing. It wasn't his regular sleep breathing. He was awake pretending to be asleep because he obviously didn't want to face what she'd just said. She would take the ring, but….. But she wasn't ready to be… What wasn't she ready to be, a wife, a mother? How would being engaged or married change her? She leaned her head back against the headboard and sighed. Draco hadn't asked her to be a mother. He hadn't even asked her to be his wife yet and here she was projecting. She was being silly. She and Draco had sex at least five times a week sometimes more and she hadn't become pregnant. She hadn't become a mother. Why? Because she knew spells that kept a witch from getting pregnant. What was her hesitation? She loved him. He loved her. Why did she think they weren't ready?
Hermione let out sigh after sigh. Reaching over, she gave his shoulder a shake.
"Draco. I want to talk."
Forgetting he was supposed to be in deep sleep, Draco answered immediately. "It's late Hermione. Let's talk tomorrow."
"I'd like to talk now Draco."
It was Draco's turn to sigh. "I'm not trying to be obtuse love, but I really think you expanding on why we shouldn't move forward can wait until tomorrow."
Hermione ran her hand up and down Draco's arm. "I've been thinking…."
Draco sat up. "I know. I could hear your heavy breathing."
Hermione chuckled as she pinched his arm. "Git."
Draco turned so he was gazing at his witch. "And yet, you love me."
Hermione shifted so she could reach Draco's lips. "I do love you. I was sitting here wondering why I made the statements I made."
Draco was now listening to each and every word coming out of Hermione's mouth. It sounded as if…. "Which statements would that be? You've made a lot of statements tonight."
"The statements about how we're not ready for marriage and babies."
"Oh, those statements. I remember them well. There's no need to rehash."
"I'm not rehashing Draco. I'm trying to explain."
Draco shifted so he too was sitting straight up against the headboard. "Explain away my love, although I think I have the gist."
Hermione turned back to face Draco. "Don't make me take a page out of Anna's book and shout the house down."
Draco laughed as he reached over to grab Hermione's hand. "One shout down a night is enough love. Proceed."
The first words out of Hermione's mouth made Draco's heart almost stop.
"I believe you're right. I believe we've come a long way and are ready to move forward. I was thinking about having this illustrious career in telecommunications and becoming a shining star. The long and short of it is I can still be everything I want to be as Mrs. Hermione Malfoy. We don't have to start a family the minute we're married. We both can have the careers we want. We'll just have them under the same roof with the same last name."
Draco was startled. This was a three hundred sixty degree turn. Not forty minutes ago she was ticking off why they should slow down. Now, if he understood Hermione right, she wanted to move forward. "What are you saying Hermione?"
"I'm saying I would love to marry you. Now ask me right."
Draco was trembling as he summoned his wand. If his witch meant what she said, he was ready. As soon as the wand touched his hand, Draco accio'd the ring from his inside pocket. Hopping out of bed, he walked around to Hermione's side of the bed and got down on one knee and opened the blue, velvet box.
Hermione let out an involuntary breath as she gazed upon the ring in Draco's hand that was sparkling so brightly she thought she might have to shield her eyes.
Draco asked right. "Hermione Jean Granger my love, my light. With this ring, I'm asking you to be my witch, my wife, my forever companion, my lover for life. Will you marry me?"
With tears running like a faucet, Hermione lifted her left hand so Draco could slip on the ring.
Kissing Draco all over his face while holding her hand in the air so she could look at her ring, Hermione accepted Draco's proposal. "Yes my wizard, my husband to be, my forever companion and my lover for life, I'll marry you."
Draco wrapped his arms around his fiancee and hugged her to him. "Thank you Miss Granger for accepting me. This is our time and our place. I love you. Suddenly, I'm not tired. Let's have a toast to our engagement."
"Okay engaged boy. Can you turn white wine into champagne?" Asked Hermione.
Draco grabbed Hermione by the hand. "Tonight, right this minute. I can do anything. Besides, if I can't, I'll buy some first thing in the morning and we can do it all again. Come on Mrs. Malfoy to be let your husband to be surprise you with his wand work."
Following Draco to the living room, Hermione sat down on the couch to watch her fiance turn white wine into champagne while unbidden thoughts ran through her head. Thoughts like how were Lucius and Narcissa going to take the engagement news and would she be alive after they found out.
Suddenly, her brilliant fiance was nudging her and handing her a glass of champagne. "A knut for your thoughts love. Your amazing fiance has turned wine into finer wine. Let's toast."
Pulling Hermione up, Draco wrapped his arm around hers and gazed into her eyes as they hoisted glasses.
"To us. Thank you for accepting me. Happy engagement."
"To us. Thank you for asking me. Happy Engagement." Echoed Hermione.
/*/
As they sat there savoring their life event, Hermione questioned if they should share their news tomorrow. Without hesitation, Draco replied they should wait until after they told his parents.
It was out there now. The subject was fair game.
"Will I be accompanying you to Malfoy Manor when you share our news?"
Draco thought for a second, and his answer surprised Hermione. "We have a perfectly lovely house here. With a little sprucing up, it would be perfect for having your future mother and father-in-law over for dinner where we will announce our plans."
Hermione grabbed Draco's head and whipped it around and crushed her lips down on his. "If I wasn't already your betrothed, I'd propose myself. You are amazing. We can invite them for as soon as Friday evening."
Draco hesitated for a moment. "You know what. This is an important step in their son's life. They should be informed as soon as possible. Let me check with my father. I'll try to set a visit for tonight or tomorrow night. How does that sound?"
Hermione cringed just a little bit. She really didn't care for either option wanting instead to meet the dreaded parents on neutral ground. However, the Malfoys could be as unwelcoming as they wanted. She was engaged to their son and that was that. "Sounds fine Draco. I just hope they'll be happy for us."
Turning so he had Hermione by the hips, Draco nuzzled Hermione's breasts. "Food for thought. I've never known Lucius Malfoy to be happy about anything unless it revolved around galleons, but we shall see. It's very late. Let's get to bed so I can sleep with my fiancee. I'd ask for a shag, but you've done enough."
Hermione giggled as she followed Draco back into the bedroom. "That doesn't bode well for our marriage if you're already turning down shags."
Draco stopped in place. "Really Granger, using revere psychology on me? That's so muggle. If you are giving, I'm definitely receiving. Take off those clothes."
"You mean the ones on the floor?"
Laughing, Draco stepped out of his pajama bottoms and lovingly climbed on top of his fiancee.
/**/
Wednesday morning, Theo woke in the best mood he'd been in for a long time. He, Declan and Anna were on the right path.
Wednesday morning, Anna woke in an exuberant but emotional mood. She had a wizard, a fine, handsome, irritable wizard who would be coming to dinner and planned to stay a lengthy amount of time.
Wednesday morning, Hermione woke excited and ready to face her first day as a fiancee hoping the meeting with her in-laws to be would go well.
Wednesday morning, Draco woke as excited as Hermione knowing he had caught his witch but hesitant because he had to face his parents.
Wednesday morning, Blaise woke with a smirk covering his face thinking about the whispered conversation he'd had with Draco Tuesday evening. Theo had been ready to hex someone. What else was new?
Wednesday morning, Severus woke anticipating a productive meeting with Wil Baker and Thomas Clarke.
Wednesday morning, Conor woke wrapped around Carrie wondering what had made Theo so happy.
Wednesday morning, Declan woke happy, but a bit sad as well. He would be getting a new mother, but Mother Padma was gone for good.
Wednesday morning, Thom Clarke woke thankful he hadn't had to feel the sting of Theo's wand vowing to stay away from witches who were talking.
/*/
When Hermione arrived at WCS, Jean was in the building. She stopped by Hermione's department to say good morning, leave a compliment on Hermione's good work and say she was looking forward to interviewing Anna Grace on Thursday. At one point, although she didn't mention it, Hermione was sure Jean had seen her engagement ring. Hermione surreptitiously turned the diamond inward not wanting to share anything until after she and Draco spoke to Lucius and Narcissa.
The next to come through was Nils who came through to pick up four bundles of mobiles. He and Hermione were going over the list when he asked a strange question.
"I hope you don't think I'm out of line, but I'm wondering what has gone wrong between you and Gloria?"
Hermione was surprised by the question. Why would Nils think something was wrong between her and Gloria? "Why would you ask something like that. I haven't even seen Gloria in a while."
Nils became flustered. "It's nothing. Forget I mentioned it."
"Alright Nils. I'll forget you asked but I might need to stop by the Ministry to find out what I've done to Gloria. I am too busy, as is everyone else, for sniping."
Nils was feeling stupid and tried to clean up his faux pas. He had spoken on something that had been discussed in a private conversation that might just come back to burn his arse. "I don't think anyone is sniping Hermione. It's just that you and Gloria used to work together, go out for drinks, visit with each other before coming to WCS now nothing. Just a boyfriend's curiosity. Nothing monumental."
Hermione watched Nils as she handed over the bundles. He was lying. More than likely Gloria was whining about not being asked to interview for the assistant position. Whatever. Gloria could just keep crying on Nils' shoulder because she wasn't coming back to WCS. At least not as an assistant in the Transition Department.
"Okay Nils, if you say so. It actually all boils down to me being fairly busy here. I'm usually knackered when I get off work. I don't do a lot of socializing."
Nils shrunk down the bundles. "As I said. It's no big deal. I have the mobiles. I'll be on my way. Have a good day."
"You have a good day as well. Give Gloria my regards."
Nils didn't bother looking back. He simply said he would. Once outside, Nils was kicking himself for even bringing up Gloria's name. Whether Hermione wanted to admit it or not, something had gone wrong between her and Gloria. It wasn't what Hermione said it was the tone she used when saying it. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Anyway, he was more than glad to comfort Gloria when she felt down.
/*/
Blaise was in early specifically to find out what else had gone on the previous night. Yes, he was a nosy bastard, but it was Draco who had called him in a panic. Blaise found his target sitting at his desk going through case materials.
"Good morning Draco. You're still alive. I imagine Mr. Nott calmed down."
Draco put both hands behind his neck and leaned back in the chair. "The shite was scary Blaise. I thought Theo was going to take everyone out. If we didn't know how serious he is about Anna, we know now. I do have to give kudos to Theo because he was willing to remove himself instead of killing someone outright."
Blaise laughed out loud. "The way you were whispering, I got the gist of it."
Draco smiled. "Yeah, there's that. My intent was to warn you that you might be needed to come help me bind our mate."
"Hahaha. As if. Theo would have killed us both then ate our bones."
"Yes. Luckily for us, Anna is a determined witch. She shouted so loudly she stopped Theo Nott in his tracks. It was a thing of beauty. I told Hermione that Anna shouted so loudly it appeared Theo was about to fold. You know Hermione. She reminded me in no uncertain that Theo Not has never folded over anything. Of course she's right. "
"I would have loved to see it, but Ginny Weasley was in an amorous mood. Need I say Ginny Weasley trumps murder any day. Enough about last night. Do we have any cases going up to Finch-Fletchley?"
"I believe we do. Let me check with Donald and Brian. We'll have cases on your desk very shortly."
"Thanks mate. I'll speak to you later."
/*/
Draco remained in his chair for a few more minutes thinking about things. He was engaged. He was supposed to contact his father. He was procrastinating. He loved his parents, but no matter how they felt he was going to marry Hermione. They could accept it or not. With that thought in mind, Draco gathered pen and paper to send a message to Lucius Malfoy.
Hello Father,
I hope you and mother are well. I'd like to set an appointment with you to discuss something of great importance. I'm hoping I can see you tonight or sometime Thursday. My request impacts my future. If you agree to see me, I'm advising you Hermione Granger will be accompanying me.
Looking forward to your reply.
Draco.
Draco read the message over then hand carried it down to Ministry Owl Services. It was now all up to Lucius.
/*/
Draco looked up to find Donald at his door. "Good morning Draco. Brian and I have the Morton case all tidied up. We'd like you to have a look before we pass it on."
Getting up from his chair, Draco followed Donald to the workroom. It was time for him to get his mind on OTS. "Okay Donald. I trust you and Brian, but I'll have a look anyway."
Donald rolled his eyes. "We expected nothing less."
/*/
When Draco entered the workroom, Brian gave him a wave and a smile. "Good morning chief. Are we in or are we out? An interesting case has turned up in Swindon. If we're quick, we can get there and back before 5:00."
"Draco acknowledged Brian. "Good morning mate. Thanks for the information. Let's get the Morton case to Blaise then we can be on our way."
Donald intervened to make a statement. "The Morton case is on Blaise's desk. We are free to move ahead."
Draco nodded in Donald's direction. "Thanks Donald. Alright men, Swindon it is."
The three wizards gathered their cases and headed out.
/*/
Jean had something on her mind so she stopped back by Severus' office before leaving for the Ministry. Her wizard who was busy making notations when she turned up at his door looked up.
"Hello love. I thought you'd be at the Ministry by now. What's up? You look worried. Are you still stressing over a Gloria Isles? I suggest…."
Jean cut him off. "No Severus. I'm not stressing over Gloria. Something else has come up."
Severus put down his pen to give jean his full attention. "Something else? We have too much on our plates for insignificant things to be catching your attention. You know that."
Jean huffed, Her wizard was sometimes so arbitrary. "I know we have a lot on our plates Severus so please don't treat me as though I'm so young, dumb thing that has just arrived."
Severus smiled. "Some young, dumb thing? Your vernacular leaves something to be desired. Have a seat and tell me what's on your mind."
"Jean came right out with it. "I stopped by Hermione's department to leave my regards and see what was going on."
Severus waited.
I stopped by Hermione's…."
"You've already said that Jean. Sitting here with a days work in front of me waiting for you to expound on what you think is important is annoying me. Please get on with it or save it until we are at the house."
Jean may have been procrastinating a bit but she didn't like Severus' tone. Jumping up from the chair, she acquiesced. "Never mind Severus. My information could not be as important as whatever is in front of the Messiah. I need to get to the Ministry. I'll see you at home."
Severus flicked his wand to close the door. "You are overwrought Jean. Sit down and tell me what it is you have to tell me."
Jean remained facing the door. "Get on with your work Severus. It's not important. I'm making too much of something I'm not sure of. There are two strangers outside your door. I imagine they are the Swiss fellows here to meet with you. I'll see you at home."
Severus released the spell so the door would open. "Alright Jean. We'll talk at home. In any case, please wait a minute. I'd like to introduce you to Wil Baker and Thomas Clarke." Opening the door to his office, Severus stepped up to shake hands. "Wizards. Thank you for coming. This is my right hand Miss Jean Bradford. Jean, I'd like you to meet Wil Baker and Thomas Clarke fellows from Switzerland."
Both Wil and Clarke acknowledged the introduction. "Nice meeting you Jean. It's a pleasure to be here."
Jean nodded as she started to walk away. "Thank you for coming. I need to be getting to DMTS. It is a pleasure meeting you Wil, Thom. I'll speak to you later Severus."
Severus didn't have time for Jean's nonsense. It was time to get down to facts. "Wil, Thom. Please come in and have a seat. We have things to discuss."
/*/
Draco, Donald and Brian arrived back at OTS by 3:30. While Draco and Donald got things settled in the workroom, Brian went to check the mail. He came back with two pieces of mail for Draco, one for Donald and a few for Blaise. Handing Draco and Donald their mail, Brian went to deliver Blaise's.
Draco glanced at the two pieces in his hand. One was from Hermione and the other from his father. He read Hermione's first.
Hello fiance;
Just a quick message to let you know I love you and am thinking about you. Jean was by earlier this morning. I think she saw the ring. Our secret might not be safe. How about some takeaway Chinese tonight? I would have rang you up, but my mobile is at the house. I know, silly me. You shouldn't blame me for being scatterbrained though as I've recently become engaged. I'm allowed. Ring me on 020 7946 0664 if you can.
Hermione.
Draco put Hermione's message aside to see what Lucius Malfoy had to say.
Hello Draco;
One would think his son would utilize the device he has interest in. However, that's not the subject of this missive. In the past, you've never felt the need to preface a visit to Malfoy Manor with a request. Neither your mother nor I understand what is different this time. Be that as it may. You are welcome in your own home any time you wish. Because you have mentioned bringing Miss Granger, I believe I have some idea what this is about. Your mother thinks otherwise.
Your mother and I are free tonight. Dinner is at 7:00. Please be prompt.
Lucius.
Draco sighed as he folded Lucius' reply. The letter did nothing to assure him the visit would be welcoming. Excusing himself, Draco headed to his office to ring Hermione to notify her they were expected at Malfoy Manor by 7:00 pm.
Lucius Malfoy had spoken.