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"Oh, look at the time. Draco, why don't you walk me down?" His mother interrupted whatever protest Hermione was about to make. |
He could see it on her face. Draco left Hermione and Rose in Rose's room. Rose was chattering away, pointing out everything that caught her eye. Hermione was looking on with a smile. He looked one last time before he closed the door and walked his mother out. |
She said goodbye, kissed him on the cheek. Her last words before she left astounded Draco. "You have my approval you know." And then she was gone. |
Tuesday, September 3, 2013 |
"I'm going to go talk to Ron today," Hermione announced as she came into the dining room on her third day staying with him, "would you mind watching Rose for me? I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm not comfortable taking her to Ginny or Molly right now." |
"Normally, I would be fine watching Rose, however you won't be going to see Weasley alone, so I am otherwise occupied. I'm sure my mother would be happy to come over to watch Rose," stated Draco, closing the morning paper to give Hermione his full attention. |
"What do you mean I'm not going alone? I can talk to Ron on my own. I'm not helpless. Besides I don't think it would make the situation better if you were there lurking about," argued Hermione. |
"I don't lurk and you're not going by yourself," Draco stated calmly. |
"I am perfectly capable of confronting my pathetic excuse of a husband about his mistress and brood of children on my own," Hermione was getting angry at his insistence. She had abandoned getting breakfast to glare at him. He loved to see a little of her fire reemerge. |
"You are a perfectly capable witch, but you're still not going on your own," he replied as if he were talking to a recalcitrant child. |
"Why?" she came up to where he was sitting and started poking him in the chest, "You haven't given me one good reason. And why are you acting like an overbearing caveman about this?" |
"Sit down and I'll tell you why." |
Hermione grabbed a plate of food and sat down in the chair he held out for her. She was mad at him and his caveman attitude, as she put it. She would have to find a way get over it. He was sure that Weasley was going to try something and he wasn't going to let her go in there alone. |
"Explain," she said once she was seated. |
"It was something you said the first night. You asked how you could've not known anything about this?" |
"Yes, well it did come as a shock." |
"That's just it though. You're the smartest person I've ever met, witch or wizard. So I find it a little hard to believe that the brightest witch of our generation had no idea that her husband of thirteen years had a mistress and a pack of kids," Draco told her. |
"You don't believe me. You thought that it was what, all a show? Something we just made up for a laugh." |
"Now hold on just a minute. I'm not saying that I don't believe you." |
"Then what are you saying? What other explanation could there be?" |
"Come on, Hermione. You're too smart not to notice something was going on. You're not the type of witch to just ignore that sort of thing. And Weasley doesn't strike me as the type that would be able to sneak around that well for that long. So taking those things into consideration, what is the only other possibility available?" |
"No. No, it can't be. You're wrong. He wouldn't. He just wouldn't. You can't seriously expect me to believe that on top of everything else, my husband would also obliviate me," Hermione protested disbelievingly. |
"I don't expect you to just take my word on this. I know you well enough to know you're going to have to hear it from the Weasel's mouth. I spoke with my mother about my suspicions. I thought she might be able to tell me I was wrong." |
"Of course she told you that you were wrong. There's just no way, Draco. You're being paranoid." |
"Will you let me finish? She said that you had brought up some concerns in the past about Weasley being gone a lot and that you were going to confront him. Then the next week you would have no idea what she was talking about. She said it happened quite a few times but she wasn't sure what was going on or how to help you or even if you needed help. Once apparently, you told her you thought he was cheating. Then the next week everything was fine. She thought maybe you were turning a blind eye for the sake of your girls." |
"What? I don't remember any of this." |
"That's what I'm trying to tell you. That's why I'm not letting you be around him by yourself. He can't be trusted." |
"So, you're just gonna sit there by me on the couch and expect him to tell us that he's been stealing my memories for the last thirteen years?" Hermione asked. |
"No. He's not likely to open up if he knows I'm there. I'm very adept at vanishing spells. We'll get there early and I'll vanish while you wait for him. If he looks like he's going to try anything, I'll stun him," Draco informed her. |
"I can take care of myself. I don't need you dashing in like some knight errant," she replied grumpily. |
"So, now I'm a knight errant. Earlier I was an overbearing caveman. Which is it? And you're still not going by yourself. Get used to the reality that I'm going. You may be willing to risk it but I'm not." |
"What makes you think you get a say in this?" |
"I get a say because I'm the one who took you away on that platform. I get a say because I've held you in my arms while you cried about that idiot. I get a say because if I hadn't put it together, you'd be going to meet him and get your beautiful brains obliviated again. I get a say because I'm not willing to risk your safety so that you can have your way. And lastly, I get a say because you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you and Minerva and Rose. No matter what, no matter when, and no matter where. I'll always be there for you and your girls. So get used to the idea because it's not going to change," his voice rising until he was practically bellowing at her by the time he was done. |
"Fine. You can come since I'm obviously not going to be able to stop you. You know I've realized something about you. There are times where you're so chivalrous and kind. Then there are times where you're an overbearing, overprotective caveman. And times like now where you're both and I don't know whether to be elated or frustrated with you. Do you really mean it?" she replied huffily. |
He was delighted by the idea that she might elated with him. He liked frustrating her too. It was always entertaining. |
He grinned at her, "Every word. You're not alone anymore. Since you've decided to see reason, eat up. It's going to be a long day." He went back to reading the paper and passed her the sections he had read before she got there. |
She huffed at him, but ate her breakfast and read the paper, studiously ignoring him. He smiled into his coffee. He didn't think she realized that she didn't think about the coming confrontation with Weasley because she was thinking about him. He was going to win her. It would take time, but he knew it would be worth it. He had waited this long for her. Waiting a little while longer wasn't going to kill him. |
"You have a letter from Minerva." Draco handed Hermione the letter that had been delivered with the morning post. Hermione drank her coffee as she read the letter, then set it down. |
"Apparently, our children have met and are already best friends. Minerva and James asked the Sorting Hat to put them in Slytherin with Scorpius because they liked him and didn't want to be in the same house as Fred Brown, Ron's son, I assume. The Sorting Hat also knew he was a Weasley, so now Minerva wants to know how he's related to her. I guess I'll have to tell her on Saturday. Did you hear from Scorpius?" |
"Yes, he wrote to inform me that he's in Slytherin with the Baby Snakes and made two new friends. He had a run in with Fred too. Fred called him "Death Eater Scum" and James stood up for him. Then he caught Minerva when Fred tripped her in the Great Hall. It seems they're already watching out for one another." |
"I'm not liking what I'm hearing about Fred. He's Minerva's brother and probably knows it, yet he's bullying her to the point that she doesn't even want to be in the same house as him. I'm glad she has James and now, Scorpius. What are the Baby Snakes?" |
"You'll meet them on Saturday." |
He fire called his mother and had her come over to watch Rose. Hermione questioned her about what Draco had told her and found that Draco hadn't exaggerated. |
They left for her cottage at half past one. Weasley wasn't there. It didn't look like he had been staying there either. He cast the vanishing spell on himself so they wouldn't be caught unawares. |
"Where are you going to be? Where are you now? This is weird. I feel like I'm talking to myself," Hermione babbled nervously. |
He grabbed her hand and held it. "I'm right here still in front of you. I will be behind you the whole time. It would help if you were seated though. Your pacing and propensity to launch yourself at people could make it difficult to protect you, so please don't do that." |
He led her over to the smaller seat on the sectional and sat her down so that her back was in the corner of the chair. He walked behind her soundlessly and touched her shoulder to let her know where he was. The angle gave him a good view of the living room and left his back protected against a wall. |
"I want you to try to sit like this when he comes. I can see the whole room from behind you. Don't turn your back on him, don't let him touch you, and don't get up and start pacing. He'll be here soon. Do you have any questions?" |
"What if he comes to the door?" she queried. |
"Open the door wide and don't block the doorway." he replied. |
At that moment, the fire in the fireplace turned green and Ron walked into the room brushing ash off his shoulders. "Ah. Hermione you're here early." |
"As are you. You're five minutes early. Have a seat." she said stiffly. |
Ron sat down on the sectional. He tried to scoot close to her but she stopped him with a glare. "I'm sorry Hermione about the train station. I didn't mean for you to find out about Lav and me." |
"That way or at all? Did you think you could just blithely keep running around behind my back with her and I would never find out?" |
"Well no, but I...." |
"Were you ever going to tell me?" Hermione interrupted. At this Weasley blushed scarlet. "I take that as a no then. Tell me what happened. When it started and why it started. And what exactly you expect as far as our relationship is concerned." |
Draco placed his hand on her shoulder, silently giving her his support. He hated that she asked those questions. The answers, whatever they were, were going to hurt her, badly. He knew that she would need the answers, no matter the hurt it caused. It would eat at her, the not knowing. She wouldn't be able to move past the hurt until she knew the truth. |
"Well, uh...it, umm started after we had that argument after I quit Auror training. I left the house and went to The Boar's Head in Hogsmeade. Lav was there and we were drinking and talking. We got roaring drunk and one thing led to another and we ended up in bed together. |
I didn't see her for a few months after that. I didn't have any intention of seeing her again, but she sent me a letter saying she needed to speak with me. I met her at her townhouse. She told me that she was pregnant with Fred. I was going to go home and tell you, but then you told me you were pregnant with Minerva. |
I started playing with the Cannons after that. I lied to you about how much I made, so that I could also take care of Lav. You had a good job and you were good at managing things. You didn't really need me. You fought with me about everything. It was just easy being with Lav. She thought it was great that I was playing for the Cannons. She didn't complain that I had to be gone. She made me feel like she needed me. |
You always seemed mad or disappointed in me. I enjoyed being there with Lav and Fred, but I knew I needed to be there for you and Minerva. I was torn. They were both my children. Lav said it was okay, that I could come as much as I wanted. I had already cheated once. Didn't really see any point in denying myself. I wanted her and she wanted me. Then Lydia, Arthur, and Daniel came along. |
I don't see why anything should change. Lav's been fine with it for twelve years. You were fine, too. It's not like you have anyone else, since your parents are gone. You can bring Rose home and we can get things back to normal." |
Draco had to grab onto her arm to keep her from lunging at him. "You have got to be kidding me! You expect me to stay married to you and just accept Lavender as what, my sister wife! You've been cheating on me for twelve fucking years. There is no way I'm staying with you. Get out of my house! Get out! We are done!" she screamed at him. |
"You don't have any choice but to accept it. You're married to me and that's not going to change. Couples don't divorce in the Wizarding World. I don't care what the Muggles do. You can accept this willingly or not but it's not changing anything. And it's my house too! I'm not going anywhere until I damn well feel like it." he yelled right back at her. |
"You are out of your mind! How many times do I have to tell you this? I. AM. NOT. STAYING. WITH. YOU. End of story. I will find a way to divorce you. There is no force on Earth that will stop me from ridding myself from you." |
Ron stood up with his wand in hand, "Hermione, you leave me no choice. OBLIV..." |
Ron went flying over the couch. The knick knacks on the sofa table crashed to the floor and Ron hit the floor behind the couch, sprawled out unconscious. Draco had hit him pretty hard with the spell. He was so angry he had trouble keeping himself under control. Draco lifted the vanishing spell on himself, stepped in front of Hermione, and tipped her chin up so he could see her eyes. They were glistening with unshed tears, but her eyes weren't clouded or dazed from an obliviation spell. |
"He really meant to take my memories away." She broke down and started crying. |
Draco knelt down in front of her and pulled her into his arms. They knelt on the carpet in front of the fireplace holding onto one another. He had almost lost her. If he had been seconds slower, he shuddered at the thought. God, he wanted to kiss her, he was so relieved that she hadn't been harmed. |
"We'll figure something out. We'll find a way to get you a divorce from him. You'll never have to deal with him again," he whispered to her as he stroked her hair. |
"Get me out of here. Please," she begged him. |
Draco picked Hermione up bridal style and apparated them back to Spinner's End into his study. His mother heard the pop when he arrived and came into the study. "How did it go?" she said as she walked into the room, then came rushing toward Draco when she saw that he was carrying Hermione, "Is she injured? Did he hurt her?" |
"As if I would allow him to injure her. But no, it didn't go well." Draco sat down on the sofa with Hermione on his lap. His mother sat down in the armchair across from him. Hermione still had her arms around his neck and her head curled under his chin. He rubbed her back soothingly and gripped her knee with his other hand. He couldn't stop touching her. He had to keep reassuring himself that she was here and safe. "You're safe. I've got you," he whispered to her. |
"It was so much worse than I thought it would be." Draco started to relate to his mother, "Weasley got there early. I think he was hoping to obliviate her as she came through the fireplace to avoid the whole confrontation. Then came the biggest load of horse shit I've ever heard. He blamed her for cheating. Then for getting pregnant and keeping him from that slag and her brat. And as if that wasn't enough, he tried telling her she was just going to have to get used to him having a mistress and another brood of kids, because he wasn't going to give her a divorce. He tried to obliviate her when she told him off." At this he pulled her closer to him to comfort himself as much as her. |
"That bastard! The gall of the man. You are not to blame for his actions. Do you hear me, Hermione? The fault is his and that woman's and we will find a way to get you a divorce. Now I don't think you should go back to your cottage. You won't be able to ward it against him, since you bought the house together. You and Rose can come live at the Manor with me." |
"They're staying here, Mother. Rose is already comfortable and would miss Tansy." |
"Oh, well if that's what Hermione wants. Is that what you want, dear?" his mother asked. |
Hermione seemed to become aware that she was curled in Draco's lap in front of his mother and being spoken to. She stood up awkwardly, red faced with embarrassment, and unsure what to say or do. Draco looked up at her, "If you're getting a drink, would you mind getting me one too, please?" |
Hermione nodded and crossed the room. He watched her as she poured some scotch into a glass, slammed it down, refilled the glass and poured another one for him. |
She walked back over to them and handed Draco his drink and sat on the other end of the couch. "I'll be fine now. Everything that happened was a bit more than I expected to have to deal with today. Thank you for your kind offer, Narcissa, but I agree with Draco. We should stay here. Rose seems happy here." |
"Well, good. I will rest easier knowing Draco is nearby to keep you both safe." |
Draco expected more of an argument from his mother. He was pleased though that given the choice, Hermione had chosen to stay with him. |
His mother agreed to join them for dinner. They all gathered around the too large dining table. Draco was at the head of the table, as usual. Hermione was on his right and his mother on his left. Rose and Tansy were seated beside Hermione. Tansy helped Rose put food on her plate as the dishes levitated around them. |
"I think I should return to work tomorrow and Rose has school starting tomorrow." Hermione said. |
"You're starting the primary school on a Wednesday?" his mother asked. |
"Yes, it gives the students time to learn the hang of things and the teachers get an idea of who's going to need more or less help with the curriculum. I took your suggestion not to start the school year immediately after the older students left for Hogwarts. I thought maybe a few days in between would be good." she replied. |
Hermione, as Head of the Department of Magical Education, had started a primary school for magical children to learn necessary skills before they went to Hogwarts. It also gave children a chance to socialize with other children their own age before they were sorted into houses at Hogwarts. |
Draco had been following her progress ever since she made the proposal to the Wizengamot. He had backed the idea, forced his friends on the council to vote for it, and then funneled money into the project when funding was slow in coming. He made sure she never knew how much he was behind her success. She had done the work. He had just made sure that it was possible, but he thought she wouldn't see it that way if she knew. |
"What time are you leaving for work in the morning?" Draco asked. |
"I'll drop Rose off at 7:45 and go to work after I'm sure that the school is running smoothly on its first day." |
"I'll go with you. I haven't had a chance to check the school out yet." |
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 |
Rose was dropped off at school for her first day. They walked around the school, meeting the teachers, administrators, and parents. It looked like it was going to be a great success. The school was busy with students and parents. Draco watched as Hermione spoke with the teachers. People listened when she spoke. Everyone seemed to gravitate toward her. She didn't seem to notice any of this. |
Hermione and Draco each went to their own offices once they arrived at the Ministry. As a Malfoy, he had a hereditary seat on the council and unlike other wizarding houses with seats he took his responsibilities seriously. Draco used his position to ensure the past never repeated itself. He didn't want children to have to fight and die in another war that old men dreamed up. He didn't want his son to have to live in a world where the worth of a witch or wizard was determined by the purity of their blood. Hermione had shown time and again that blood purity didn't mean anything. |
Theo Nott was one of his few friends who also took his responsibilities seriously. They worked together on the council and had lunch together most days. Today they decided to go to a Muggle restaurant in London so they could have a conversation without being recognized. Draco was still a person of interest to the Daily Prophet because of his involvement in the incident on the Hogwarts platform. |
Theo and Draco talked for a while about cases and bills that were coming before the Wizengamot. Draco knew that Theo was working up to ask him about what he really wanted to know. Theo was also the only person who knew the depth of his feelings for Hermione. He knew his mother guessed but he had never actually told her. |
Theo idly mocked Hermione one day in their fourth year after he had caught Draco watching her during lunch. He was trying to get a reaction out of Draco and his efforts got him a facer. Draco was horrified by his reaction and Theo used his guilt to get Draco to tell him what was going on. Draco had confessed everything to Theo. |
Draco had developed a crush on Hermione in the third year when she knocked his block off. At the Yule Ball in fourth year, he fell in love with her. She had become more to him than just a know-it-all Gryffindor. Draco struggled with his feeling for her all through third and fourth year. His father taught him that people like her were beneath him. How could she be beneath him when she bested him at everything except flying and Quidditch and that was probably only because she had no interest in those things? He seriously started questioning his father's beliefs after that. Then the return of Voldemort and war had left too much strife and devastation for him to make amends and he did so much during the war that he never felt worthy of her love. |
"How's she doing?" Theo finally asked. |
"As well as can be expected," Draco gave his standard answer. |
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