All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.
(Each title is derived from a song that, I believe, complements the overall narrative, if not the individual chapter.)
Somewhere on the edge of London, 25 July 1997
Hermione's Point of view
Something was tickling the back of my body all the way down to my feet, but I was still too sleepy to worry about it. Then I felt the mop of my curly hair being pushed off my face, and his hand came to rest against my cheek, making me smile with my eyes still closed.
"Hello, my wife," I heard him say, and my smile grew. That was going to take some getting used to. I struggled to blink my heavy eyes open, but when I did, I saw him looking at me with exultation on his face.
"Will you be totally offended if I say I never want to have sex again?" I asked with a grin, but I was absolutely serious right now.
"Maybe later," he agreed, but his hand was still on my face, and he didn't lose that look.
"What?" I whispered, still sounding sleepily but feeling incredibly happy too.
"I was just admiring the irony of fate. Only a month ago, I thought I had lost you, and now I get to keep you forever," he said.
"We really are married, aren't we?" I marvelled. I could feel that it was true, right to the very core of me. "You're my husband," I said, and that word sounded so weird. He smiled smugly at me in satisfaction.
"For this life and the next," he agreed. Jomny popped into the area and bowed low to us. I was glad I was lying on my side with my arm over my breasts in the extremely long grass I had finally noticed had grown up around us. He had seen quite enough of us, to my embarrassment.
"Lord and Lady Malfoy, I have a bath ready for you," he told us, sounding very formal. I felt sticky and dirty, but my breasts were getting painfully tight.
"I think I should feed Aiden first," I told him.
"Let Jomny get you both into your bath, and Jomny will bring the little master to you," he told us.
"That will be fine, Jomny," Draco told him. Then we were popped into a bathroom I had never seen before, still laying on our sides on cold tile. Draco and I shared a questioning look, but Jomny was already gone. Draco stood and pulled me up onto my feet. He got into the bath first, and I followed him, sitting in front of him with a sigh of contentment. He wrapped his arms around me as I settled against his chest, my muscles already starting to feel soothed.
Draco took my right arm and held it in the light. I gasped as I saw a tattoo there that I hadn't noticed before. He extended his left arm and showed me his Dark Mark tattoo. It had changed. He made a sound of disappointment.
"I hoped it would be gone," he said. A silvery grey triskele adorned the skull's forehead. Flowers of pink and white jasmine and red roses hid the black snake and skull in places. A large silvery grey infinity symbol angled across his forearm behind them.
"Yours is different," he said, tracing his finger over the tattoo on my arm. The infinity symbol glowed silver and ran along my right forearm. A large, shimmering silver triskele lay in the middle. My flowers of pink and white jasmine and red roses sprouted from the symbol with decorative leaves. Only when leaning close could you see the tiny Death Eater tattoo of a skull and snake trapped in the triskele's centre.
"It's beautiful," I said, looking down at the tattoo and proof of our bonded souls.
"Yes. All except the small spot of black in the centre," he agreed, and I could hear the frown in his voice.
Jomny popped back in then, with Aiden ready to get in the bath. He was making a little face of displeasure that made Draco and I laugh. He didn't like the water at first, but as soon as he latched on me, he seemed to relax in the warm water. I had been worried he wouldn't want me after he had been having the bottle for over a day, but I was glad to see I was wrong.
Draco washed him gently with the soap he gathered on his hands while I supported his little body against mine and got cleaned a little as well. It was as I looked down at my feeding baby that memories of the last day came back to me in snippets.
"Did you…?" I started, and the tone of my voice must have been enough because Draco chuckled and kissed my neck.
Then, into my skin, he said, "Yes, but it was in self-defence. You were making quite a mess of us." I covered my mouth in mortification.
"I think I'd like to find a place to hide now, please," I told him in a small voice, sounding as embarrassed as I felt. His chest vibrated with laughter, and he wrapped his arms around Aiden and me tighter.
"It was surprisingly nice, actually," he replied with amusement.
"Can we please never speak of it again?" I begged.
"No promises," he said unrepentantly, and I huffed. Aiden finished feeding on that side, so I gently moved him to the other. Draco started washing my hair for me, and it felt delightful. His fingers against my scalp were fantastic. It took a bit of manoeuvring not to get water in Aiden's little eyes and get the soap from my hair, but we managed.
When Aiden was done and asleep again, we reluctantly called Jomny to come take him. He looked so peaceful and content in our arms, and it was hard to part from him after so many hours away. I refused to think about how I was going to feel when it was longer.
When we were both clean from head to toe, we got out of the bath to find our wands sitting with clean towels as well as my toiletries on the long bench sink. I was incredibly glad of that. Even after using the teeth-cleaning and fresh-breath spells, I was dying to brush my teeth. Draco took the toothbrush I gave him with a put-upon sigh, but I knew he rather liked the way brushing made his mouth feel.
We left the bathroom to find ourselves in a hotel room. It was spacious and elegant, with a large bed. We had no idea why we were here, but we were glad of it. We had been going to encourage my parents to leave the house today anyway after seeing the news lately. It was terrifying and heartbreaking. I even recognised some of the families being terrorised as being Muggle-borns. They were my classmates and neighbours within Hogwarts; a couple of them I was even friendly with. And they were being hunted down by Voldemort and his Death Eaters; there was no mistaking that.
"Jomny has that item for you, Lord Draco," he said, popping back into the room and handing him a little box. "Jomny has also stored the Grangers possessions in the Malfoys main vault," the little House Elf told him, bowing low. He was being very formal tonight, and I hoped it would stop soon. I much preferred him to be more relaxed with us.
"That's fine," Draco said. I noticed Aiden wasn't in the room with us, so assumed he must be in with my parents again. I used my wand to see that it was 3:03 AM on Friday. I was still a little tired, so I climbed into bed with one towel around my body and another on my head. The sheets were soft and warm, and I snuggled into them.
"May Jomny dry your hair, My Lady?" He asked me. I frowned, still not comfortable using him to do everything, but I also didn't want the pillow to get wet. I nodded and took the hair towel off. He clicked his fingers, and my hair fell in perfect curls around my head.
"Was everything alright at the house?" Draco inquired of Jomny. He sat on the edge of the bed with the towel around his lean hips, his white-blonde hair still damp, until Jomny snapped his fingers and dried his too. Draco placed the box on the side table as if he hadn't even noticed Jomny's actions, but I knew he was simply accustomed to it.
"Jomny only had to get rid of the Muggle law enforcement twice, and then Jomny put all your neighbours to sleep," Jomny said proudly, his large blue-green eyes shining in the dim light. I scoffed a laugh and shook my head. Draco turned to smirk at me.
"No other problems?" Draco asked, turning back to him.
"Only the Death Eaters," Jomny said without concern, but my mouth dropped open. I saw Draco pale a bit, his lips tightening.
"When?" He asked, his voice sharp.
"Just a few minutes ago. Jomny was putting everything to rights in the yard and collecting the magical grass for you when they arrived. The clippings are in stasis in your vault. Jomny also doesn't believe they saw him," he replied calmly. He seemed unfazed by the encounter, but Draco and I shared scared looks. Draco reached for my hand and squeezed it gently.
"Thank you, Jomny. How about you go get some rest? You have been awake a long time," Draco told him, sounding subdued.
"Thank you, Lord Draco," he said, sounding relieved, and popped away. I wondered where he planned to sleep. Draco stood and removed the towel, and I couldn't help the hot look I gave his nude body. He smirked at me as he pulled the blanket back.
"Still sleepy?" He asked me, pulling me against his body for a hug.
"Yes. And no," I admitted.
"Can I give you something then?" he asked me.
"Only if it has nothing to do with sex," I told him, and he laughed loudly.
"I think my cock would fall off in protest," he admitted, but he reached for the little box. I heard him open it with a soft click, but when he turned back to face me, the item was concealed in his hand. He released me and sat up, then reached for my left hand, and I gave it over freely, feeling a rise of curiosity and anticipation.
The ring he slipped on my finger was heavy and cold, but I felt a touch of magic as it sized itself perfectly. It was a large rectangular emerald and silver ring that went down the length of my finger to the first joint, covering most of my skin. The emerald was surrounded by oval-shaped diamonds of various sizes. It looked like a priceless heirloom, something that belonged in a museum.
"This could cause damage," was the first thing I said, half-joking, half-serious. Draco didn't laugh or smile; he just watched me expectantly as I stared down at the beautiful but over-the-top ring. I swallowed and refused to consider how much something like this must have been worth. I twisted it a little on my finger and wondered if I could get used to it.
I looked back up at him, and what came out was a breathy, "Thank you." He grinned and kissed me hard; his lips were warm and insistent. I pressed the hand with the ring against his face and kissed him back, feeling stubble against my skin that he never usually allowed to grow this much; it was just as blonde as the rest of him.
"I always loved this ring, from the moment I saw it in my family vault," he told me happily, breaking the kiss. His eyes were shining with love and pride.
"Is it old?" I asked, looking down at it again. It looked ancient and timeless, like it had witnessed many generations of Malfoys.
"I honestly don't know how old it is," he said, wrapping his arm around me again and pulling me into his side once more. He kissed my hair and nuzzled my neck. "A generation or two, without doubt. My mother's ring was new. She wanted something different from the traditional Malfoy style, and it was part of my parents wedding contract. I hope you don't mind having one a previous Lady Malfoy wore?"
"Not at all," I replied honestly while still admiring it. He kissed my neck again, and I shivered at the feel of his breath on my neck. The ring made me feel connected to his past, if I was honest. "I love it," I said sincerely, surprised by how true that was. I was honoured to wear it. "I didn't even think to buy you a ring," I said, as I still studied the one now on my finger.
"Wizards don't wear wedding rings," he told me, his voice soft and warm. He brushed the fingers of one hand through my hair, making me sigh.
"You are wearing a ring right now," I said, pointing to the one with the black stone he never took off. He frowned down at it as he twisted it around his finger with his thumb, making the stone catch the light.
"This is my heir ring. It'll be Aiden's when he turns thirteen. I should have had Jomny bring me the Lord's ring. That is, if it is in the vault. I have no idea what happened to it when my father died, but magic should have returned it to the vault," he explained, still frowning. I leaned up and kissed his cheek, as I often did when I didn't want him to be sad.
"Well, I am going to get you a wedding band, and you will be wearing it. That way, all those witches who still have designs on you will know you are taken," I told him firmly, but also so he would smile. He smirked down at me.
"So, it's a sign of ownership?" he asked, teasing me back.
"If that is what you have to tell yourself, so you wear it," I replied with dead seriousness. He pulled me into a tighter hug as he laughed.
"I am gladly owned by you," he whispered in my ear, making me shiver again. We both fell silent then and just laid together in the soft light of the hotel room. Sometimes I felt like I would doze, and then a thought would pop into my head.
"Merlin, but you were a spoiled child," I said into the quiet of the dark room. I remembered, as though I were him, all the extravagant birthday parties and some of the more ridiculous gifts. He was quiet for a long moment, and I wondered if he was asleep. But then I felt him laugh silently, his chest vibrating against my back. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
"And you have just reinforced that I can have anything I want. Besides, was there ever a bookstore your parents didn't buy you a book from?" He whispered, sounding sleepy.
"That is hardly the same thing," I responded, snuggling closer to him. I felt his warm skin against mine and realised my towel was gone. I didn't remember taking it off, but I didn't mind. He kissed my shoulder softly, making me sigh.
"Perhaps not," he chuckled. We fell silent again. I don't know how long it had been when he suddenly asked, "I can't believe you asked your mother once if some people are made of chocolate." He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I was four, and I thought those people were beautiful." I defended myself with amusement. "I had been very sheltered until then and didn't realise people came in different colours."
"You were sheltered your whole life from my perspective. Who knew a person's darkest secret was wanting to know if a black man tastes like chocolate? Something you will never find out, by the way," he told me seriously. It was my turn to snicker.
Roughly ten minutes later, our conversation had turned towards Hogwarts. "I must admit, I had no idea that Slytherins were so unfairly treated. We Gryffindors despise the favouritism Snape shows to your house, yet I hadn't considered the imbalance it might be compensating for. It's disheartening to learn that other teachers barely gave your house points or that there's a presumption of guilt placed upon you all simply for the same reason," I told him.
"We are all made aware of these facts from the very first night, and so we collaborate as a whole in an attempt to accumulate points in any way we can. I acknowledge that the Gryffindors felt particularly slighted by Sev's treatment of them, perhaps some people even more than others," he conceded, "but I assure you he was just as hard on the other two houses. They merely do not kick up the fuss that Gryffindors do," he informed me.
"I never would have pegged fraternity as a characteristic of Slytherin."
"One of the first lessons of the house is that we all stick together. The older students are very helpful to the younger ones. Even if there is a problem within the house, no one outside of it is ever aware of it. It is one of our strengths," he stated with a nod. "Had you been in Slytherin, you never would have felt so alone or been ostracised."
"But I would have never been a Slytherin simply because of my blood status," I reminded him.
"True," he admitted, giving me another kiss I knew was in apology for something that was beyond his control, but I still appreciated it.
"Gryffindor's are left to find their own footing," I told him, my brow furrowing in thought. The sentiment didn't entirely sit well with me, but upon reflection, I realised that I, too, had followed a similar path. Looking back, I realised I hadn't gone out of my way to assist younger students until I became a prefect. Even then, I maintained the same level of interaction that I had experienced.
Unlike the Slytherins, we Gryffindors didn't convene as a house for regular meetings. Perhaps that was our downfall. The Slytherins, organised and united, seemed to function seamlessly. Their impressive track record in the House Cup over the centuries—despite the prevailing prejudice against them—made perfect sense now. They operated like a well-oiled machine, each part contributing to their success.
A little while later, I said softly, "I am truly sorry you lost your dad like you did." Tears came to my eyes because I had experienced the love he felt for his father, knowing that in those brief last minutes they shared, he felt as though he had the father back that he hadn't seen in the last few years. I saw the whole traumatic event, and even worse for me was seeing how casually Voldemort had lashed out at Draco while telling Snape it was his punishment.
Draco hadn't been surprised at all and was even accepting of it. That horrified me. I didn't even want to mention all the other horrors I had witnessed in his memory—the torture, the humiliation, and the fear—but I couldn't hold back the tears. And I knew they were both of ours.
"Thank you," he whispered with strain, already hoarse. I leaned up and kissed his cheek again, feeling his stubble against my lips, and then he cried for a while too. The grief and pain were fresh again. He was so good at pushing away his emotions, but it had only been a few weeks ago.
I rolled over and held him close to me, stroking his hair and whispering soothing words in his ear, trying to comfort him through my own horrified tears. He snuggled into the valley of my breasts, and I felt his heartbeat slow down against my waist. We fell asleep again, clinging to each other in the darkened room.
Around an hour later, I said with disbelief, "I really did not need to have that image of you and Pansy in my head. I can't believe somebody can be so bad at... that!" We had woken again, and the curtains were lightening with the coming sun. "I also wish I didn't now know it was more than once."
"You must give the witch credit for her persistence. She truly believed that I was the one in the wrong on how to do these things," he explained.
"I really don't! But maybe she witnessed the same scene I did of you and that Ravenclaw girl in the broom cupboard. I'm embarrassed for you," I said with disgust and jealousy and petulantly crossed my arms, which just made him chuckle and pull me closer to him until I had no choice but to relax and hug him once more.
"I had no idea what a witch really looked like down there then. Not my fault," he defended. I grinned at his discomfort. He had made a mess of himself before things had gotten very far at all in that encounter.
"You realise, though, that I will now become a murderess, and it will be your fault," I told him seriously, jealousy gripping me hard, and he laughed again.
"No, you won't," he disagreed. "Nobody got all of me before you." I harrumphed.
"Nobody got anything from me at all before you," I said with annoyance.
"I know," he said smugly. I smacked his stomach, making him flinch, but he grinned down at me. "Violent witch," he told me.
"You provoke me," I responded, biting my lip to hide a smile.
"Maybe," he agreed.
A little while later, I said with a bit of awe, "The Slytherin Common room is beautiful." It's not at all as Harry and Ron described; I considered silently. They saw it as cold and dark, and to an extent, I could see their point. Yet they missed the warmth of the grand fireplace that held back any chill in the large room, and the view from the vast round window into the black lake was truly magnificent.
"I'm honestly surprised that I find I like how inviting and comfortable the Gryffindor common room is. The colour scheme, however, I still find distasteful," he replied, making me chuckle. He smiled at me.
Jomny brought Aiden to us at seven. Our baby boy was wailing pitifully. We kept him with us then, telling the still-tired-looking House Elf to get more rest.
"You were terrified and so damn courageous as you rode that thestral. Even I would have struggled with riding something invisible. I at least enjoy flying, but you're afraid of heights," he said impassionedly as he let Aiden suck on a finger as he looked up at his dad. He was lying between us after being fed and changed again.
"I'm sorry you could see them by then. No one should be made to witness death, especially not in the way that you did. Death should be peaceful and dignified, not something for people to gloat over," I said to him sadly. I saw him swallow as he continued to stare down at Aiden.
"I don't want this to be the world Aiden grows up in," he replied softly, then glanced up and met my eyes.
"We are going to make it safe for him," I said, touching his face with the hand that wasn't yet used to the weight of my wedding ring. The look in his eyes told me he was thinking of me leaving soon, before his eyes dropped back down to watch Aiden.
Half an hour later, I said, "I'm sorry you felt so slighted by Harry on the train, but you really were obnoxious in Madam Malkin's." He gave a grunt.
"How was I to anticipate that he would take such offence to the things I said? Everybody I was acquainted with at the time spoke like that," he told me.
"I know, but you also insulted the first adult who had ever shown him kindness," I replied, but grinned at his annoyed look.
"How could I possibly have known that? Even I had never seen anyone as huge as Hagrid," he stated.
"And calling him a servant?" I asked but couldn't help but continue to grin at him.
"He is a servant," he replied with a smirk. I shook my head at him.
"Hagrid is a gentle, kind wizard who loves animals…"
"But he is a dreadful teacher," he cut in.
"I think part of that was also your fault," I told him. He shook his head and looked back down at Aiden.
Some more time passed before he was teasing me and saying, "I had no idea that it was you who came up with that harebrained plan to get into the Slytherin common room. You Gryffindors certainly like to make things hard for yourselves, but I thought you had more common sense."
"Truthfully, I was just so excited after finding the Polyjuice Potion recipe that I really wanted an excuse to try it. Unfortunately, in hindsight, I can see how I allowed my common sense to fly out the window," I admitted with a sheepish smile.
"A Slytherin would have exploited what was already at their disposal, and nobody at that time would have suspected that Potter owned an invisibility cloak. He could have simply staked out the common room entrance and bided his time for someone to utter the password. Once he had that, he could have infiltrated and lingered around under the cloak to uncover what he desired to know. After all, you all assumed I would be broadcasting my grandiose schemes as the heir of Slytherin," he said with a chuckle.
"You did boast about it on multiple occasions, so you can hardly fault us for thinking it," I responded.
A half-grin formed on his face as he looked back at me. "I may have been vocal, but I wasn't the only one who made the claim. Though, I'll concede, perhaps I was the most... conspicuous," he admitted with a self-deprecating laugh.
I shook my head at him. "Well, at least you're aware of it. But honestly, Draco, sometimes I think you enjoyed the attention just a bit too much."
Draco's smirk widened into a full-fledged smile. "Perhaps." I rolled my eyes at him, and he leaned over Aiden and kissed me, chuckling against my lips.
We talked about all the random things that popped into our heads, laughing about some and holding each other tight at others with Aiden secure and safe between us, until there was a knock on the door at nine AM. It was my parents asking if we wanted to go down to breakfast with them.
"I still can't believe Daniel Smith cheated off you on that spelling test and then got rewarded. It's simply outrageous," he told me with all the seriousness I had felt when I was in fifth grade. I was still laughing when we got to the hotel restaurant, and Draco kissed my cheek.
My mum beamed at us, while my dad simply looked curious. We spent days then, stopping to exchange amused, confused, and sometimes disturbed looks as memories of the others' lives filtered through our minds courtesy of what had been revealed to us during the ritual. We would make random remarks to each other that would baffle my parents, but they did look happy for us. I even thought my dad was warming up to his new son-in-law.
Draco's Point of view
I made every effort to conceal my terror of losing Hermione from her. She was due to depart in a matter of days, and the uncertainty of whether she would ever return home to me was unbearable. The fear intensified now that I understood what they were pursuing and the fact that the Dark Lord was essentially immortal. I wished I could join them in their quest to destroy the Horcruxes that would free this world of that monster.
I recalled the dread that had consumed me as I ascended those stairs on my final day at Hogwarts. Having reviewed my notes since then, I felt as if a spectral version of myself was in pursuit, whispering that it was now Hermione who might never return. How I detest the powerlessness I felt in being unable to be with her as she went out and faced danger with only Potter and Weasley to guard her.
However, I was determined to make these remaining few days count and endeavour to show I supported her decision, but the truth was, I wanted to selfishly tie her to the bed and block every access in and out of the room so she couldn't go anywhere. Unfortunately, sharing her memories and emotions for those two ungrateful prats meant I also understood the loyalty she had to them.
They were her first friends, and they had been through a lot together. They hadn't always been as good to her as I would have liked, and they relied on her too much, which was also the driving force behind her need to help them now. It infuriated me that their poor academic skills could endanger my son's mother. But they had risked their lives for each other many times. They shared a bond that was deeper than blood, and I hoped it would persist for the near future, for her own sake and safety.
I also hadn't enjoyed the unflattering things I had learnt about myself when seen from her perspective. How often my arrogance and rudeness hurt her. I recalled those times from my own memories and felt ashamed that I had ignored the impact of my words on her when all I wanted was to provoke the Weasel and Potter. Other times I deliberately insulted her blood status and branded her a know-it-all; I had either been showing off or jealous over her academic excellence.
But the very worst was when I saw her crying alone in her bed, unable to understand why people were so mean, after I hit her with the Densaugeo Hex by mistake. I had been aiming at Potter, but it didn't change the fact that it had hit her, making her teeth grow rapidly. She was in pain and humiliated, and I had laughed, then Sev had been cruel on top of it. She had had nightmares for a long time of me laughing at her, which shamed me greatly. I couldn't fathom how she forgave me for that, let alone the many other things. Even then, she hadn't felt true hatred for either of us.
She has such a kind heart that she can hardly bear to hate anyone, even those who deserve her scorn. Even the hate she feels for Sev now is so pale compared to what I was cognizant I was capable of feeling, I was astounded by it.
I wished I could share her gentle outlook, but my Slytherin nature told me it was a naïve attitude to live with and a dangerous weakness. All I could do was strive to be the better person I had promised her I wanted to be. A promise that was not always easy to keep, especially when jealousy and insecurity clouded my judgment. The only thing that gave me solace was the fact that she truly belonged to me now, thanks to the soul bond.
We had discovered some interesting things as a result of our soul bond over the past few days. The first, of course, was the shared memories of our lives before the bond, which would enter our minds without warning. The second was that we constantly touched each other, even without realising we were doing it. Neither of us had a problem with that, but it meant we were always brushing an arm at the very least or spontaneously planting a kiss on a cheek, while at other times we would find our hands linked together without any conscious decision to do so.
It also meant that our no-sex stance that we had taken that first morning was short-lived. By the time night fell, we were all over each other. Thank Salazar, the potions had healed our bodies, or we would have been in a lot of pain. Not that it would have stopped us, I was beginning to believe.
I'd risked going to Diagon Alley one day, despite being fully aware of the danger. Voldemort was taking over the magical world, and the Ministry of Magic was too weak to resist him. Diagon Alley had lost its charm and liveliness. Most of the shops were closed, and the ones that remained open appeared grim and fearful. The streets were empty, except for a handful of witches and wizards who, with an appearance of fear, rushed to finish their errands.
The only place that appeared to defy the dark times was Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop owned by Fred and George Weasley. They had opened it a year ago, after leaving Hogwarts with an impressive display of magic that even I had admired at the time, and it was thriving.
The shop was full of fun and creative products that witches and wizards of all ages appeared to enjoy. I was cognizant that if they weren't Weasleys, I would have had no trouble respecting them for their spirit. But they were so typical of Gryffindor—so rash and defiant—that they didn't care about the danger they were inviting from the Dark Lord.
I had made the decision to visit the alley because I had important tasks to do that Jomny couldn't do for me, no matter how loyal and trustworthy he was. It was necessary that I officially claim my vaults and ascertain that Hermione was added to the Malfoy accounts as the new Lady of Malfoy. It was an essential step to secure our family's future and protect her from any legal challenges.
I made a 'donation' to the goblins for a period of confidentiality regarding the changes within the family at this time. I also had them add Aiden's name to the Heir vault and reluctantly handed over the blood sample I had brought as evidence of his lineage. My mother got a dowager vault set up, which I was fully aware she was going to despise, but there was no helping it.
I acquired a money pouch that could convert Galleons to Muggle currency and vice versa. The lordship ring had also been in the vault, and I had swapped my heir ring with the more ornate silver ring with the black stone. The only real differences were the size and the Malfoy crest on either side of the silver setting that held the stone in place. The crest featured a snake and a chimaera, representing cunning and pride, respectively.
The ring fit comfortably on my right middle finger, precisely as it had on my father's finger following the demise of his own father when he was twenty-six. My grandfather was one of the many who died in the Dragon Pox epidemic of 1979.
I felt a wave of magic coursing through me, connecting me to my ancestors and my legacy. It was a symbol of the Malfoy family's power and prestige, passed down from generation to generation. I wished it was something I could feel proud of at this time, but my views of my family's attitude were vastly changing.
I also discovered that my father wasn't the complete coward I had thought him to be in recent years, and I regained some of the respect I had held for him when I was young. He had set up a separate vault with a large enough portion of our funds in it to appear as the Malfoy fortune, concealing the main vault even as he continued to be the Dark Lord's loyal follower. It was where the funding for Voldemort was coming from.
I was aware we were not the only family financing him, but we were one of the largest contributors. He had risked deceiving the Dark Lord himself. I pondered what instigated it but was relieved regardless. The funds in the vault Voldemort had access to were depleting rapidly. I grappled over whether to keep it open or close it. I opted to let it be for the time being solely because I was conscious that my mother was still alive at this time and didn't want to give the monster further incentive to change that.
I attempted not to waste much time in the alley, simply buying what I thought was necessary. I didn't allow anyone to perceive my underlying nervousness, but I kept my wand close to my hand, merely as a precaution.
Glancing again at the closed shops, most of them boarded up or damaged by the Death Eaters' raids, I found myself pondering how many of the shopkeepers had died or suffered for defying the Dark Lord. I felt a pang of guilt as I recalled how I had once gazed down upon them with disdain for being mud-bloods or blood traitors. I realised now that they had more courage and loyalty than myself and my family, but I hoped that with Hermione's help, that would all change.
I managed to get more potion supplies and chanced upon a clothing store that was still open. The witch behind the counter had watched me with fear-stricken eyes as I purchased self-adjusting clothing for Aiden, designed to adapt to his growth until he reached two years of age. Along with these, I acquired a multitude of other items that Hermione, her mother, and even Jomny had assured me he would need over the next few years.
I had then ventured into Knockturn Alley, where business appeared to be doing better, yet the level of paranoia was palpably higher than ever. I completely understood.
I was intent on ensuring Hermione had a keepsake with her that would remind her of her family. I also stumbled upon something I found amusing and hoped I could do something with it to make it Hermione's birthday present.
In another shop, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a children's book from my youth. I loved it when Hermione and I read to Aiden. While she liked to read him Muggle stories, some of which I was not impressed with, I wanted my son to be as connected to his magical heritage as his Muggle. I'd wager there wasn't a child in the magical world unfamiliar with the stories of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard.'
The most unsettling tale she had read him was simply titled 'Hansel and Gretel'. I listened in horror as she told what was ostensibly an innocent story about children outsmarting an evil witch.
When I explained that the story was in reality about squib twins named Hansel and Grethel, who were infamous mass murders in Germany in the sixteenth century, Hermione was suitably appalled and promised never to read Aiden that particular story ever again.
I explained how their reign of terror was primarily aimed at witches and wizards, including their own parents. Their monstrous spree was brought to an end when they murdered the proprietor of a confectionery shop known as the Gingerbread House, gruesomely dispatching her in a large oven.
When I got back to the hotel that afternoon, it was unmistakably clear that Hermione was near, simply because my tattoo tingled pleasantly, and then we were in each other's arms and almost made love right in front of her parents, but her father's loud throat clearing of disapproval brought us to our senses. Hermione was incredibly embarrassed.
The Grangers, Hermione, Aiden, and I went out shopping one day in London. Hermione bought me a silver wedding band and appeared equally pleased to slide it on my finger as I had been to put the emerald ring on hers. She also dragged me to do more clothes shopping, thankfully for herself, which I found frustrating.
She'd worn those uncomfortable blue trousers she had wanted me to get when she took me clothes shopping on my birthday, and while I had appeared and felt ridiculous in them, on her, they accentuated her figure, making her all the more desirable. It was something many men agreed with as we walked along, and they would glance back to regard her backside, making me scowl at them.
"Let's burn these before you leave," I suggested seriously and with disgust, picking up the offending trousers from the stool she had placed them on while she tried on other clothes. The Grangers had Aiden with them because his pram wouldn't fit in the dressing room with us, and I wouldn't leave Hermione's side, not wanting to miss a moment of being with her.
"Why? I like them," she told me as she slipped into a different style of trousers that appeared equally dreadful. Or attractive, depending on one's perspective.
"But We… people will notice you in them," I voiced, with a flare of jealousy as I thought of the red Weasel. She turned a smirked on me.
"They do make my butt look good, don't they?" She teased.
"Bloody hell, yes!" I replied heatedly. "In fact, we should burn all your clothes," I said, recalling all of the things I had seen that she owned. Those 'leggings', as she referred to them, that she had worn when she was still pregnant were indecent and left little to the imagination. I was positive I would gouge Weasley's eyes out if he saw her in them.
"And what would you propose I wear?" she queried as she tried something else on. I gave her naked skin a hot gaze.
"You could borrow some of your mother's clothes," I told her, liking that idea. Her mouth dropped open, but I made myself sit still and not attempt to fill it with my tongue or any other body part.
"You can't be serious. She wears conservative business clothes most of the time."
"I'm aware," I smirked. "Weasley will hate it. I, on the other hand, will still find you delectable."
"Are you telling me that you think my mother dresses better than me?" She questioned.
"I am merely stating that I discern where you inherited your figure from, and she appears quite elegant in the more conservative outfits," I responded with sincerity. In my world, nobody wore such tight-fitting clothes. Even when a witch wore a dress, she would wear an open robe or cape over it.
"Uh huh. I'm going to buy more jeans," she declared with annoyance and went to walk by me. I grabbed her arm to stop her, and she smirked at me again. Had she always smirked this much? I pondered irrelevantly, then dismissed the thought.
"I hate that you will be gone and appearing so damn sexy while away from me," I said, feeling that pit of dread in my stomach grow. She touched my face tenderly; it was the hand that her wedding ring now sat on. The silver was warm from her body heat.
"Draco, I live daily and hourly with the fact that you are sexy and gorgeous, and every female we walk past wants to know what it is like to sleep with you," she told me. That was all it took. I stood, taking her mouth in a hard, possessive kiss. She jumped into my arms and wrapped her legs around me. I pressed her back against the cold mirror and ground against her. She ripped her mouth away and whispered, "I need you."
I put her down so she could remove the trousers and knickers she wore, and I unbuckled mine and freed my cock with a grin. I didn't even care that the walls were incomplete and there was only a curtain separating us from the people walking past. I picked her back up and slid into her easily, making us groan louder than we meant to.
I took her mouth in another kiss so we could smother our cries as I pounded into her, but occasionally we had to take breathing breaks, and I noticed the walls were moving. I didn't care. I needed to fuck her like I needed air, and I was glad she appeared to feel the same way. Someone rapped on the wall, attempting to distract us, yet I ignored them, and Hermione didn't appear to even notice.
It was only as I came deep inside of her that I remembered that we hadn't used the Contraceptive Charm. I chose not to say anything for now and hoped nothing would come of it. I held the belief that my family curse would provide us protection, yet I wasn't one hundred percent certain.
A male guard was frowning at us with his arms crossed as we emerged from the area, and we were urged to leave. I was only upset because Hermione was embarrassed, and then her parents were furious and appalled by our behaviour. I wasn't disappointed that she couldn't buy any more 'jeans.'
Then the morning of the thirty-first was upon us, and Hermione paced the room, clutching our son to her chest. She avoided my gaze a few times, but I could discern the tears she was holding back. I wanted to tell her not to go or plead with her to remain with me and Aiden, but I was painfully aware that wouldn't be fair. She felt she had little choice in going, and I was acutely aware it would only intensify her guilt if I were to broach the subject.
I didn't mind in the slightest when she would come over at random moments merely to kiss me, as if endeavouring to compensate for the time we were about to lose. I kissed her back, longing for her to linger in my arms and forget about everything else.
I was acutely aware that if she hadn't been cradling Aiden, there would have been more. Yet she appeared incapable of setting him down, clutching him as if he might vanish into thin air. Even with him in her arms, she double and triple checked that she had everything in her bag she would need, especially the breast pads that would ensure Aiden always had her milk.
We had both studied the rune scheme that joined the breast pads and bottles, and it was a much more simplistic version of what I had had to work with when repairing the vanishing cabinet. Literally, nothing else could travel through the spell, and it was only a one-way connection. She also inquired of Jomny repeatedly about the extra milk he had stored, the quantity of the supply available, and any other question that came to her mind. Jomny was patient with her but sad that his mistress was leaving us.
Around an hour before her intended departure, she put forth a query to Jomny. Something I had never considered.
"Can you bond with Draco and me so we could be joint masters?" She gazed at him with hopeful eyes. I had never heard of such a thing.
"It is rarely done, My Lady. Not only can Jomny receive conflicting orders that Jomny would then try to meet, but it would also mean Jomny would be sharing power with both of you. For you, that would not matter, but lesser House Elves have blown up when they couldn't contain the power or had no way of purging some of it," he explained. Hermione blanched.
"We won't do that then," she said quickly, shaking her head. She glanced at me with a sad smile, as if apologising for her idea.
"Just a minute, Love," I said to her, not willing to give up so easily. I then turned to regard Jomny. "You said lesser House Elves. Does that mean you consider yourself capable of accomplishing it?"
"Jomny has been fortunate to have powerful masters, which has made Jomny more powerful. My Lord and Lady are very similar in power level. Jomny also knows that you both accept my reasons for defying some orders, and though Jomny still feels he must punish himself at times, Jomny would not willingly allow himself to blow up just to do that. Jomny also believes he could go to Hogwarts, and the House Elves there will help him purge excess power as often as Jomny needs," he explained to us.
"How often do you suppose that would be?" I inquired of him curiously.
"Jomny would need to leave at once, My Lord; if we were to do this, Jomny would not be able to be summoned for up to a day, Jomny believes. After that, it would depend on how well Jomny's body holds all the magic," he explained, sounding unconcerned.
"Would you like to be bonded to both of us?" I questioned carefully, making certain it was not an order.
"Jomny would like that very much, My Lord. He would always know where his masters are, and he would worry less about their safety," he said proudly. I turned my attention to Hermione, where she stood holding Aiden, who was sucking on his little hand, as he gazed up at her. She met Jomny's hopeful gaze and nodded slightly.
"Alright," I said, getting up from the bed where I had been sitting. "Let's all sit on the floor. This is going to be different than what I did, and I believe it would be better if we were all touching."
Nodding, Hermione came over to join me, Aiden held tight to her. Jomny happily sat with us as I explained to Hermione what I thought was required. She appeared self-conscious, I thought, at the use of her altered name, but nodded again and turned her face to him. He leaned towards us as we both placed a hand on him.
"I, Lady Hermione Jean Malfoy, wish to share my bond to you with Lord Draco Lucius Malfoy. Do you accept?" she inquired. His expression was one of sheer elation. I could relate to that sensation. Hearing her refer to herself by our shared name was one of the best things I had ever heard.
"Jomny does," he replied, and Aiden jerked his little arm, touching Jomny in the same moment, and the whole room burst into white, blinding light. The little Elf screamed in pain, and Aiden cried out loudly. The light faded as Jomny disappeared. Hermione let out a terrified scream, and I pulled them both into my arms, striving to capture Hermione's attention.
"I killed him," she cried out in horror. Aiden was still crying, so I quickly unbuttoned what I could of her shirt, opened the nursing bra, and removed the pad, hoping Aiden would quiet down that way. It took a few long seconds to get his attention, but he only really calmed down when he was pressed tightly and securely between our bodies. I think he was more startled than anything, possibly also reacting to the stress his mother was feeling today.
"Hermione, listen to me," I said, holding her face in my hands when Aiden was settled.
"I killed him," she repeated, tears streaming down her face.
"No, you didn't. You should be able to feel the bond. Take a few deep breaths to calm down, and then search your magic. You will feel him. He is in pain at the moment, but he is alive," I told her. She stared at me hopefully and then did as I said. I could discern she had found the bond when her shoulders relaxed in relief.
"I shouldn't have suggested that," she uttered sadly, her brown eyes shiny from the tears that still lingered. "Do you think Aiden is alright?" she inquired, gazing down at him. He had fallen asleep, his chest rising and falling softly, with her nipple still in his mouth.
"I'm uncertain of what happened, but I'm confident he isn't part of the bond," I told her reassuringly.
"Promise me you will make sure he is alright," she said, as she ran her hand over his little head but was staring into my eyes.
"I promise that the first sign of anything being wrong, I will take him to St. Mungo's, no matter the danger. He is more important than my safety," I told her. She frowned again and didn't respond at all to that.
"I love him so much. I didn't know it was possible to love this much, but between you and Aiden, my heart feels like it could overflow with the emotion," she told me.
"Yes," I agreed, feeling warmed as I always did when she said she loved me. I loved them more than I could possibly describe. I leaned closer and kissed her softly, then hugged them both close to me.
The bloody contraption she referred to as a phone rang then, and she paled even more. Her time was truly running short. I stood and walked over to pick it up, mimicking her earlier actions; she swore it was not powered by electricity, and I heard a voice announcing the time.
The connection was then cut off, and I replaced it on the form the earpiece was attached to. When I turned my attention back to her, she was gazing at Aiden with tears pouring down her face again. "You don't have to do this," I murmured gently, fully aware of the futility of my words.
"Yes, I do," she sobbed. "He's so tiny." He had finally released her nipple, and she bent down to kiss his little head. "Mummy loves you, Aiden. I love you so much." I turned away and summoned my Occlumency, so I wouldn't betray my own feelings of anguish. I couldn't bear that she was really going through with this. "Will you take him to my parents now?" she inquired from where she still sat on the floor. I turned back to her.
"Will you still be here when I get back?" I questioned; the chill my tone had taken on was unmistakable.
"I am not leaving without saying goodbye to you. I wouldn't do that," she told me softly. I simply nodded and strode over to take Aiden from her. I left the room, crossing the joint living area of the hotel suite, and knocked on the door of the room the Grangers were using. Emma Granger opened the door and smiled at me warmly, like she always did.
"Hermione was hoping you could tend to Aiden for a while. She isn't feeling the best," I lied to her smoothly.
"Of course," she replied at once, taking him easily into her arms. "We were about to go out and get some lunch. Would you like us to bring you something back?" She offered, not expecting me to leave Hermione's side. I truly didn't want anything, but that would appear suspicious.
"That would be great," I drawled, sounding casual. She nodded and then closed the door. I returned to our room and realised that Hermione would have to pass through the living area to retrieve Potter's miserable owl, which was sulking in its cage.
Aquila was once again out hunting, preferring to keep her distance from the other owl. The few times the two had been in the same room, they spent their time bickering at each other in angry and offended owl hoots that spoke to their mutual disdain.
Back in our room, I saw Hermione sitting on the bed, obviously naked, despite her having drawn the sheet over herself. I leaned against the door and regarded her. I wanted her with an intensity, but I didn't want our time to be over, and I was painfully aware that she would depart as soon as we finished. This struck me as particularly cruel, and it mattered little to me that I had done the same to her not so long ago.
"Won't you make love to me one more time?" She implored, sounding unsure, as I merely watched her, my expression blank. I cracked my neck and let go of some of my Occlumency shield. I swallowed and then went over to the draw I had been using since we had been here. I took out the necklace I had taken to be modified. I took it with me to the bed, sat down, and handed it to her.
"Is this the locket my parents gave me for my birthday?" She inquired with confused curiosity as the oval locket with its heavy chain rested in her hand. I nodded.
"Don't open it now, but I had some pictures added. I hope you don't mind that I had the yellow gold transmuted into white gold. I thought it would complement your wedding ring more appropriately this way. It also has a Malfoy seal on it now. Only one of us can open it. Swear to me you will wear it and keep us close always," I said.
The alchemist I had taken it to added nickel and zinc to the existing gold, grumbling the whole time about a certain famous wizard who wouldn't share his formula for the philosopher's stone that would have allowed him to change the gold more easily.
"I will," she agreed, pulling it on over her head. It came to rest below her breasts. "Will you kiss me now?" she inquired, and tears were fresh in her eyes again. I was selfishly pleased to witness them. I wanted it to hurt. I wanted her to regret leaving us, even if I understood the reason.
But then those tears began to fall, and I found them unbearable. I placed my hand on the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. I came to my senses before I allowed myself anything further, however.
"Did you use the Contraceptive Charm?" I queried as I freed my wand from my wrist holster, performed the charm on myself, and put it down on the bedside table next to the container of lube cream I liked to use.
"Yes," she said as she watched me. I then stripped down and wished I didn't feel sick to my stomach. Even my cock wasn't at his best. I was certain he'd catch on soon, however.
I climbed back on to the bed and wrapped my arms around her as I kissed her, and she kissed me back the same way. It was sweet, and I didn't want sweet. I wanted savage and rough so she would still be aching for me days from now. I tore my face away from her and felt a sneer grace my face that she watched with curiosity.
"You are not leaving this room until I have fucked every part of your body," I swore.
"Thank Merlin for that," she said, lifting her hand to pull me into a hard kiss. She bit my lip, making me hiss. She really did want it hard. I forced her legs open even as she held on to me, pushing her tongue into my mouth, licking the cut on my lip as I drove into her without warning right to the hilt, and then pounded hard until she screamed my name. I gritted my teeth and refused to cum yet.
She was barely done when I flipped her over and pulled her ass into the air. I launched myself at the lube, impatiently coating myself in it, and then shoved myself into her arse. She cried out again, and it wasn't in pleasure. I froze for a moment but then reached around and rubbed her nub, hoping to get her going and comfortable again quickly, but I became impatient and pulled out again.
I pushed her onto her side and lifted one of her legs over my shoulder, straddling the other, before shoving my fingers into her pussy and rubbing the nub. When she was writhing again, I shoved my cock back into her arse, and this time she didn't react badly at all, as she moaned loudly.
I began to move slowly, but the more she whimpered and writhed, the harder it became not to speed up. Very soon I was fucking her arse just as hard as I had fucked her pussy, even as I continued to finger-fuck her, and her orgasm was so huge I felt it tightly around my cock and fingers.
I came hard and long, even as she continued to scream my name. Cum came drizzling out of her arse, and it still wasn't enough. I coated myself in the cleaning lube again, feeling the tingle of it before slamming into her pussy again.
She twisted around and pulled herself up into my lap, and I didn't believe she even noticed she was riding me, something her overactive mind usually hindered her from doing. We both came again, each other's names on our lips, and her nipples began to leak milk.
I leaned down and tongued the first until milk started to spray and then took it into my mouth, drinking her down even as I made her keep fucking me by lifting her up and down with my arms. She didn't need much encouragement.
When one breast was empty, I began to tongue the other, licking the drops of milk off and encouraging more before I had to suck that one down too. I didn't mind the taste of the sweet milk at all. I was crazed, a fact I was acutely aware of as I pushed her back down on the bed and took my cock in hand, preparing to mark her, making certain no wizard would dare touch her.
"No," I vaguely heard her say, and suddenly her mouth was wrapped around me. I grabbed the back of her head and fucked her mouth. I was aware I was being too rough and choking her, but I couldn't stop. My cock hit the back of her throat, and she swallowed me down, making eager sounds, and then I was cumming again.
When I withdrew, I attempted to take myself in hand again, but she hit my hand away. "No," she repeated.
"Yes," I said, taking my cock in hand again and began to pump.
"I love you, Draco," she uttered wretchedly, and I blinked down at her in confusion through my craze. "Stupefy," she said, her wand suddenly in her hand.
I woke to find myself tied to the bed, my trousers on, and the door to the living area closing. "Hermione!" I screamed towards the closing door. She didn't come back. "I love you, too," I yelled loudly, hoping she was still close enough to hear me. Then, as if a dam had broken, tears cascaded down my face, and I felt my heart split in two.
Authors Note:- Thank you, ARandomGirlInRavenclaw, for your comment on the last chapter.