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"Come on. Have you seen yourself in a mirror lately? You're handsome, rich, and a reformed bad boy. It's like a fucking trifecta. What would a guy like you want with me?" |
"First off, you think I'm handsome?" He grinned and waggled his eyebrows at her. |
"Shut up Malfoy," she said turning an interesting shade of scarlet. |
"Second, I told you yesterday that I thought you were beautiful. You don't seem to believe me, so let me put it bluntly for you. You are beautiful. I have thought you are beautiful for almost twenty years. You are the smartest person I know. And you're so fucking good, the rest of us lesser mortals just hope to bask in your light. Now there's a fucking trifecta." |
"And third, what would a guy like me want with you? Everything." Draco continued before she could comment. |
Her mouth hung open. He might have said too much too soon, but he couldn't just sit there and let her think that about herself. Was she blind? Had no one ever told her she was beautiful? |
"I don't know what to say. You can't mean it. Twenty years? You were so awful to me." |
"I meant every word. You know thirteen year old boys are idiots and I was the king of them. Did Weasley never tell you that you were beautiful?" |
"No, not really. He said I was pretty once in a while." |
"Then he's a blind idiot and it's a good thing you're rid of him. He can't have been much of a challenge intellectually for you. What did you see in him anyway?" |
"He wasn't, our conversations were usually very dull. He was my best friend though." |
"So was Harry and I didn't see you running off to marry him." |
"He was in love with Ginny. I guess it was just easy being with Ron. We all went through so much and it was just easy being with him." |
That explained it. He couldn't fault her for choosing someone easy and comfortable after the war. He'd done the same thing. Astoria was his parents" choice and after Hermione married Weasley, he had done the easy thing too. |
"Tell me about the jar," Draco said changing the subject. |
Hermione looked grateful for the change of subject. "I trapped Rita in a jar at the end of fourth year for writing all those lies about Harry. I let her go after we got off the train. I blackmailed her a few times over the years too." |
"So you figured out she was an animagus then," he chuckled. |
"Yes, it was your fault really. I saw you talking to her one day. It looked like you were talking on a walkie talkie, but I knew those didn't work inside of Hogwarts. It took a while to put together, but that's what started my suspicions." |
"They don't call you the brightest witch of our age for nothing." And he toasted her with his coffee. Hermione laughed at that and toasted him back. |
"My mother sent a note saying that she will be coming over for tea today and refused to take no for an answer. You don't have to join us if you don't want to." |
"Oh, I'm glad she's coming, at least I won't have to go out to meet her." |
Draco was a little astounded by her response. "Meet her?" he asked. |
Hermione looked at him sheepishly. "Your mother and I meet at least once a week for tea. We've been doing it for years," she quietly informed him. |
Draco was flabbergasted and speechless by this announcement. "When did this start?" |
"She sent me a note about a year after the war, inviting me to tea, wanting to make amends. I think she was just released from house arrest. I agreed to meet her and told her there was nothing she needed to apologize for. She felt guilty for what happened at the Manor. Wanted to apologize for what Bellatrix did." Hermione rubbed the spot on her arm where the scar was still etched into her skin. "I told her there was nothing she needed to be forgiven for, but she had it unconditionally, if she needed it. We started meeting every week for tea after that." |
Draco reached over and took her hand in both of his. "Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me that you would do that. To meet with her and forgive her. Then be a friend to her. She was so lonely and depressed and haunted by what happened in her home. None of her "so-called" friends wanted anything to do with her. She seemed to pull out of it after she was released from house arrest. I thought it was just from being able to leave that place, but now I know it was because of you and your kindness. Thank you. You gave me back my mother." Draco brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. He set her hand back on the table, a little embarrassed by his outburst. |
"I'm glad she wrote me. She became like a mother to me. I hope you don't mind that," Hermione said. He caught her rubbing the knuckles he had kissed, gazing down at her hand. |
"I could never mind something that makes you both so happy. But what about your own mother or Mrs. Weasley?" |
"I lost my parents in the war. I obliviated any memory they had of me and sent them to Australia when the Death Eaters started attacking Muggle-born families. I knew they would be a target because of me. I hoped to be able to reverse the spell, but I didn't understand then how much children make up so much of who you are. I wasn't able to reverse the spell without damaging their minds, so I left them be. They seem happy at least. As for Mrs. Weasley, I knew that though she may love me, her love wasn't unconditional and we butted heads a lot. Your mother was just always there for me to listen and offer advice, but she never pushed me to take it." |
He'd had no idea that she had lost her parents and that she had been the one who had taken them away from her. She had sacrificed herself to keep her parents safe. He understood the sacrifices you made for family. He had sacrificed a part of his soul to protect his mother. "You are amazing. I hope you know that. Willing to sacrifice so much just to protect those you love. Willing to forgive when no one would have blamed you if you were vicious to those who were a part of the war." |
"I have a feeling you made a similar sacrifice. I've seen the legislation that you've put through over the years. You've been leading the way to bring about change. Whatever choices you made in the past, you're a good man now." |
"Thank you, Hermione," he said quietly. |
They fell into silence then and continued to eat their breakfast. Draco was astounded by everything she had just told him. She had seen the work he did. She thought he was a good man. She thought he was handsome. He had to fight to keep a stupid grin off his face. |
He would have been content to love her from afar for the rest of his life if that incident on the platform hadn't happened, but he had to admit he had enough Slytherin in him to take advantage of the opportunity that had presented itself. He would make her his and make sure she never regretted it. He would gladly take the gift that Weasley so willingly threw away. |
"Why don't you make a list of the things you would like from home for you and Rose and I'll go get it for you." Draco said as they finished eating. |
"Thank you. I know it's cowardly but I don't think I could face Ron right now." |
"It's not cowardly. Take the time you need. You don't need to be around him right now anyway." |
"Who got the things that were in my room this morning?" |
"I sent Tansy over last night to grab you both a change of clothes." |
"Think nothing of it." |
His mother came for tea at two. After greeting him with a kiss on the cheek, his mother told him that his presence was neither needed nor wanted. Feeling bemused about being unceremoniously kicked out of his own drawing room, Draco went to check on Rose and Tansy before he left to get their things from their home. He found the two in the kitchen making cookies and chattering like magpies. |
"Hello Mr. Malfoy. Where's my mummy? |
"Mr. Malfoy is my father. You may call me Draco. Your mummy is in the drawing room having tea with my mummy." |
"Is it called a drawing room because you draw in it?" |
"No, but you can if you want after you've finished baking your cookies. I'm sure our mummies would like to try some." Draco gave Tansy a look and she nodded. He knew that she would check to make sure everything was okay before they went in with the cookies. |
"I'm going to go to your house to pick some things up for you and your mummy for your stay here. Was there anything special you needed?" |
"Could I have my unicorns and my dolly and my coloring books and my crayons? How long are we going to stay here, Draco?" Rose said in a rush. |
"I will get all those things for you. You and your mummy will stay here as long as you want, princess." |
"That's good. I like it here. I like Tansy and mummy doesn't seem as sad. Who were those people and why did they seem to make mummy sad and mad at daddy?" Draco struggled to answer the question. He knew it wasn't his place to tell her what was going on and how do you tell a child that their father was hiding a secret family from them. "Mummy got a shock is all and she was sad to see your sister leave for school, but we're going to help mummy feel better alright. Can I count on your help?" |
The girl nodded, seemingly appeased by the answer for the time being. If she was anything like her mother it wouldn't hold her off for very long though, even if she was only five. |
"I'm going to let you finish your baking while I go get your unicorns, dolly, and coloring books and crayons." |
"Thank you, Draco." She held out her hands for a hug. Her little hands were covered in cookie dough and flour but he didn't even hesitate. He gave her a hug and planted a kiss on the top of her head. |
"You're welcome, princess." He left the kitchen, not even caring that the back of his sweater was covered in flour. Draco grabbed a backpack that had an undetectable, extendible charm on it out of the closet and used the fireplace in the study to Floo over to the Potters" house in Godric's Hollow. |
Albus came running through the room as he appeared. "Mummy, someone's at the fireplace," he yelled without even stopping. |
Ginny appeared in the room a few moments later. "Oh, hello Draco. What's brought you by?" |
"I thought Harry could go with me to get a few of Hermione and Rose's things." |
"Oh, I'll go too. I don't think you'll be comfortable handling their undergarments," she offered. Draco had forgotten about that and was relieved she had offered. Ginny would probably know what Hermione and Rose would need better than Harry and Draco. |
"Thanks. She made a list and Rose gave me her own." |
"You only brought a backpack?" |
"Extendible charm," he said with a shrug. |
"Good, you'll need it. How's she doing?" |
"I think as well as can be, given the circumstances." |
"I just can't believe Ron would do something like this. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it. Mum saw the paper this morning. Flew into a rage," Ginny shook her head. "I'll take Albus to mum's and be right back. Harry's out back if you want to let him know you're here." |
Draco made his way outside and found Harry carrying 2 broomsticks out of a small shed. "Care to get some air while Ginny is out?" Harry asked. |
Harry and Draco had made their peace with each other shortly after the Battle for Hogwarts. The time for schoolboy rivalries had ended. The choices Draco made in the end showed Harry that Draco wasn't a bad guy, but one who had made bad choices out of love for his family and struggled with his conscience over those choices. Harry had told him he couldn't fault him for that. |
Draco had proven to Harry over the years that he wasn't that same boy anymore. Draco had worked diligently with the Wizengamot to bring about change. He had helped Harry navigate the political world. Harry had struggled with being pulled into politics. He was too emotional and truthful. He had also never liked the fame that came from being the Boy Who Lived or the Boy Who Destroyed The Dark Lord. Draco showed him that sometimes you had to be a little devious and willing to use fame to get things done. |
Harry and Draco kicked off and soared around the field next to Harry's house. They hovered side by side after a few circles around the field. |
"So, how's she really doing?" Harry asked. Draco looked at Harry thoughtfully, gauging how much to tell him. |
"I know Ron's my friend, but I don't think I'll be able to forgive him easily for this. She wasn't the only one he kept this from and I know it's not the same, but I thought I knew him. I don't know the man who kept this kind of secret from me for twelve years." |
"This isn't about you, Potter. He betrayed her. He kept a mistress for years and had a family with her. You feel betrayed. It's nothing compared to what she feels right now. She feels like a fool for not knowing something was wrong before the proof was staring her in the face. And now she's worried about what she's going to do with the rest of her life and how to tell her girls. What you're feeling is nothing compared to what she's feeling right now." |
Draco left Harry and went back to circling the field, trying to find a way to help Hermione find herself again. She seemed to have lost herself during her marriage to Weasley. He just couldn't believe that she didn't know how amazing she was. He would make it his mission to remind her that she was an amazing, powerful witch. In school, she was the brains of the Golden Trio. She had always been a force to be reckoned with. The war probably would have gone very different if not for her. |
Draco, Harry, and Ginny used the fireplace to Floo over to Hermione's house. Weasley wasn't there, thankfully. Draco was relieved. He didn't think he would have been able to keep himself from beating the shit out of him. Draco gave Ginny the list Hermione made. Ginny took the backpack and walked down the hall to what he figured was the master bedroom. Draco and Harry stood awkwardly in Hermione's living room. Draco had never been here before. |
Her living room looked cozy and inviting. There was an overstuffed, taupe sectional and cream throw pillows sitting in front of the fireplace with a mahogany coffee table and end tables. There were lanterns with candles sitting on the end tables and a stack of books on the coffee table. The room was very Hermione. |
"So, Rose asked me to get some things for her," Draco said. |
"What did she ask for?" Harry started laughing when Draco told him. "I hope you brought more bags." |
Draco was a little puzzled by his reaction but followed Harry down the hall to Rose's room. Harry opened the door and stood back so Draco could look inside. Harry burst out laughing again at the look on Draco's face. |
"How many unicorns does she have?" Draco asked. There looked to be twenty unicorns of all different sizes in the room, even one that looked big enough to ride on. Draco started shrinking the unicorns so they would fit in the bag. Harry went to grab the backpack from Ginny and they started packing the unicorns inside. Draco found Rose's doll on her bed, shoved that inside the bag, along with her stack of coloring books and box of crayons. |
Ginny came in with a pile of clothes and put them in the bag, then started packing clothes for Rose. Once they had finished, they went back out to the living room. Draco stopped by Hermione's office and grabbed all her Ministry files. He had all the books that she had sitting on her desk, so he left them. He took the bag from Ginny, placed the files inside, and slung the backpack over his shoulder. They all left and made their way back to the Potters" house. Ginny left to go get Albus. |
"Thanks for your help. Tell Ginny thanks too." Draco said as he left. |
"Give Hermione our love and tell her to take her time. We'll head everyone off until she's ready. Take care of them for us." |
Draco decided he would make a stop before he went home. Time to spoil Rose just a bit. After that he headed home, glad the trip wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Tansy met him at the fireplace. He gave the bag to her and filled her in on the surprise he had planned for Rose. |
They walked up the stairs together to go to Rose's room. The staircase divided the house. Scorpius's and Rose's rooms faced each other with a loft in between the two and another two bedrooms along the third wall, opening into the loft facing the stairway. The four bedrooms and loft were meant to be the children's area of the house. When he expanded the house, he had hoped for all of those rooms to be occupied, but with the death of Astoria those dreams had never come to fruition. |
On the other side of the landing were two master suites, also facing one another. One was Draco's and, for the moment, the other was Hermione's. He hoped that one day it would go back to being a guest suite and those extra children's bedrooms would be filled, but that dream would take time and patience. |
Draco and Tansy worked together to unpack and redecorate Rose's room. Once they were both satisfied, Draco left to go see how Hermione and Rose were doing and see if this mother was still here. Tansy went to go unpack Hermione's things. |
They were all still in the drawing room, chatting and eating cookies. Rose was lying in front of the fireplace drawing while Hermione and his mother were chatting with each other and talking with Rose about her drawings. It was a very domestic scene and Draco found himself wanting to see it more often. Hermione looked a little more at peace after her talk with his mother. She had been crying, but whatever his mother said had helped Hermione feel better. |
"Draco, don't just stand there lurking in the doorway. Come in, sit down, and have some cookies." his mother said. |
"Hello, Mother. Hello, Hermione." Draco walked into the room, stood behind the sofa. He squeezed Hermione's shoulder as he leaned over the back of the sofa to kiss his mother on the cheek. |
"Hello, Rose." He said as he walked by her to take a seat in one of the wing chairs beside the sofa and snagged some cookies before he sat down. |
Rose came over to Draco with all her drawings and crawled into his lap to tell him about each one. Draco slipped her cookies when he thought no one was looking. There were drawings of herself, Hermione, and her sister standing outside their cottage, without Weasley, which he thought odd. There were also drawings of her and Tansy in tiaras and tutus, unicorns, and even pictures of him and his mother. He tried reaching for more cookies, but his mother slid the plate out of his reach. Apparently, he hadn't been fooling anyone. He looked up to find them both smiling at him. |
"Would you like to go hang your pictures up? I have something to show you, too." Draco said to Rose. He escorted them all back upstairs to the children's loft where they stuck Rose's drawings on the wall with a sticking charm. |
Draco looked at Hermione sheepishly and started rubbing the back of his neck. "I redecorated a room for Rose and I kind of went overboard. I hope you don't mind." Then he opened the door and they all went inside. |
Rose immediately started squealing in delight and running around the room. Rose's unicorns were placed around the room. Her bed in one corner looked like Cinderella's carriage, all silver and shimmery with a pumpkin roundness to it and a pink bedspread. Sitting on the bed was Rose's princess dolly with a new addition, a green stuffed dragon. |
The walls though, they were the truly magical part of the room. They were a living mural, enchanted to look like a magical forest with a lake. Animals wandered out of the forest to take drinks at the lake. A herd of unicorns was running around one side of the wall. There was a baby dragon, similar to the stuffed one on the bed, flying around the trees of the forest. |
"Draco, this is beautiful," his mother breathed out in wonder. |
"Draco, you did all this? It's wonderful, but you didn't have to go through all the trouble. And how's she supposed to sleep with all this going on?" |
"Oh, well it wasn't any trouble. All the walls were already enchanted. I just needed to come up with a picture for them and it changes depending on the time of day. At bedtime, the wall darkens and there are stars on the ceiling. I didn't know if Rose was scared of the dark. Do you like it? It is okay?" |
"Yes, it's beautiful, Draco. Thank you." |
"Thank you for my room, Draco. It's the bestest room in the whole world." |
"You're welcome. Every princess needs her own special room." |
"You hear that mummy. I'm a princess!" |
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