text stringlengths 0 57.5k |
|---|
"I don't know, Hermione. I don't think you're right to want to give the governance of our community to the people." |
"You think it's right to allow our government dwindle away until there's only a few people in power left? How will that protect our children and grandchildren from going through what we went through?" |
"I don't know, Hermione. Why are you wasting your time in an education department?" |
"It's not a waste of time." |
"It is a waste of time. That department is a joke, especially with someone of your talents and intellect." |
"What do you expect me to do? I lost my parents. I fought a war. Instead of jumping into the government like everyone pushed me to do, I finished school. I suffered too. I may have been on the winning side of the war, but that didn't mean my life became all sunshine and daisies once the war was over. I was tired. Tired of running and fighting and being scared all the time. I took the easy way. I let them put me in a go-nowhere, joke of a department because I was tired of fighting." |
"I'm sorry for what you had to go through Hermione. I'm sorry for what we all had to go through. If we're going to keep the past from repeating itself, you're going to have to stop taking the easy path." |
"I've given enough to this world. What more do you expect from me?" |
"I expect you to lead. You were meant for bigger things than just the head of a department." |
"How exactly am I supposed to do that?" |
"I don't know, Hermione. I'm all out of ideas on how to fix this problem. We need you. We need your sharp mind, because you know as well as I do that there are no laws allowing for a magical divorce. So if we don't come up with something, you're going to be stuck married to that asshole for the rest of your life. And our governing body is going to continue to diminish." |
"I just found out my husband has cheated on me for years, has four illegitimate children, and obliviated me multiple times. And now I can't even divorce the bastard without changing the whole legal system. So do you think I can have a little time to fucking process all of that before you make it my responsibility to fix the Wizengamot too?" Hermione shouted at him as she got up and stormed out of the room. |
"Hermione wait!" Draco called as the door to the dining room closed behind her. "Fuck!" Draco swept the dishes in front of him to the floor. They landed with a crash and the sound of china breaking. "Stupid, fucking asshole!" |
He was an insensitive idiot. She found out about Ron three days ago and here he was pressuring her to do something she clearly didn't want to do and unloading all of his emotional baggage on her. She didn't need that shit. Some fucking friend he's supposed to be. He slammed his fists onto the table and sank down into his chair with his head in his hands. |
"Are you going to keep destroying the room or are you going to come apologize to me?" |
A Lioness Among the Snakes |
Friday, September 13th, 2013 |
"Get dressed. We're going out," Draco told Hermione on Friday night as he walked into the study. |
Nine days had passed since their argument in the dining room. Draco gave her the space she asked for. She had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with him. She went to work and came home, played with Rose, and walked around the park with him. Every night she sat in front of the fire reading in her pajamas or wandering from room to room aimlessly. She never went to visit her friends or had them over. He had offered several times to invite Harry and Ginny over. He told her anyone she wanted to invite over was welcome in his home. She always declined. |
Hermione was curled up on the sofa, reading in her pajamas again. Rose had just been put to bed. "What? You can go out if you want. I don't feel like going anywhere," she answered distractedly. |
"Which is exactly why you're going. I'm not going to let you sit around and wallow in misery. You need to socialize with people other than me, so go get changed or I'll throw you over my shoulder and drag you out in your pj's. What's it gonna be?" Draco said as he pulled the book from her hands, marked her page, and set it down on the coffee table. |
She looked so comfortable there on his couch. He felt he needed to take her out though. She had become too isolated. She seemed to be retreating into herself, becoming more and more depressed as the days wore on. |
"I don't want to go out," Hermione said, her voice so sad and dejected he wanted to give in and let her go back to reading. He sat down beside her on the sofa and took one of her hands in his. |
"I know, Hermione. Please, just humor me. I think you need to get out of this house and socialize with people who aren't Rose, Tansy, or me. Just try and if you don't like it, we can come back home," he pleaded with her. |
"Fine. Where are we going?" Hermione said resigned. |
"The Dragon's Den. Heard of it?" |
"No. Really, The Dragon's Den? What kind of name is that?" Hermione laughed at him. |
"It happens to be the name of a club I own. Now go get dressed," Draco said smiling, pleased to hear her laughing even if it was at his expense. |
"Figures you would name a club after yourself. The Malfoy ego knows no bounds," she said as she grinned up at him. It was the first smile he had seen in days. |
"Go get changed before I decide that you're going in teddy bear pajamas." Draco growled at her. |
Hermione came down a half hour later in a simple black cocktail dress with silver vines embroidered into the v of the neckline. The dress was knee length and showed off her legs. She had chosen to complement his silver dress shirt and black slacks. |
"Beautiful, as always," he said, as he helped her into her jacket. |
"Silver-tongued snake!" she said smiling up at him, "Let's go." |
He grabbed his own jacket and apparated them to the city center of Cokeworth, just in front of his club. The sign above the club read "The Dragon's Den" in silver letters and had a silvery-blue Swedish Short-Snout dragon emitting bright blue flames illustrated underneath. |
She took his arm when they arrived and he escorted her inside. The main part of the club had a bar along one wall facing the stage where a band was playing. In the middle was a large dance floor littered with dancing couples since it was a Friday night. Arranged along the sides were small tables and chairs. A half wall separated the dance floor from the more private area of the club. Large, rounded booths in black leather surrounded the walls. This area was more for people getting together for drinks to chat. The lighting was low and intimate. Silvery-blue wallpaper covered the walls above the booths. |
The hostess recognized Draco and led them over to a booth where three other couples were already seated, Blaise and Tracey Zabini, Theo and Daphne Nott, and Gregory and Helena Goyle. The Goyles scooted over to make room for Hermione and Draco. Draco took Hermione's jacket and his and handed them to the hostess. |
"What are you drinking, Hermione?" Draco asked as the waitress appeared. |
"Whatever you're having is fine." Hermione answered him. |
Draco ordered them scotch. Hermione seemed to have developed a liking to his favorite alcohol. They shared a glass every night after Rose was put to bed. He didn't get her drunk anymore. A glass after dinner was fine but he knew from experience that it would be too easy to drown your sorrows down a bottle of booze. Draco slid into the booth beside Hermione. He draped an arm over the back of the booth behind Hermione. It was rather crowded now with eight of them seated around the table. Hermione was pressed up against his side. |
"We were wondering if you two were going to make it," Theo commented once they got settled. |
Draco had vented his worry for Hermione on Theo and Harry. Harry was no help. He was still too upset with Ron and grieving himself. Theo suggested that maybe Hermione have a night out with people who were sympathetic but not as close to the situation as Harry, Ginny, and the Weasley clan were. |
"Well, Draco sprung this on me forty-five minutes ago, so if we're late it's his fault," Hermione responded drily. |
"You would've found a way to not be available if I'd told you ahead of time," Draco said to her. |
"We're glad you came Hermione. I love that dress by the way," Daphne said, "You know everyone except Helena there beside you." |
Helena turned, held out her hand, and introduced herself. Helena was a stout woman with curly, black hair, cornflower blue eyes, and a slight overbite. "Hello, I'm Helena. I'm a Muggle, so that would be why you don't recognize me. But I have heard a lot about you and it is nice to finally meet you." |
"Nice to meet you as well. Goyle, you married a Muggle?" Hermione asked in disbelief, leaning around Helena to look at Greg. |
"Yes, Hermione. I, Gregory Goyle, son of a Death Eater, married a Muggle woman. I saw her in a department store in London and it was love at first sight. Well, for me at least. She took a little convincing," Greg replied. |
"Well, I'll be damned. Congratulations. I'm happy for you. Do you have children? Will you all being going to Hogwarts on Saturday for Parents" Day?" |
The rest of the table chuckled when Hermione asked about their children. Greg and Helena had a daughter who was the same age as Minerva and Scorpius. |
"Why are you lot laughing?" Hermione demanded. |
"Well, Hermione. You will be happy to know that you have one more namesake among the dozens of others I'm sure you already have," Greg responded. |
"You named your daughter after me. Why on earth would you torture her with a name no one can properly pronounce?" |
"Everyone can pronounce "Hermione" now. You and your friends came back and saved us. You could've let Draco and I burn that day, but you didn't. You risked your own lives to save two people who had never said a nice thing to you. I don't know if I would've done the same so naming my daughter after you was the least I could do. If there's ever any way my family or I can help you, you only have to say the word. All of us are here for you to help you through this difficult time," Greg answered her. |
"I'm honored that you would name your daughter after me. I will forever be eternally grateful that we came back for you both that day. Oh, thank you, Draco." Draco had handed Hermione his handkerchief and she dabbed at her eyes. |
"You have more people than you know who care about you and only want to help you find a way for you to be happy again." Draco whispered into her ear. She looked into his eyes and smiled. He smiled back at her. |
"I had a letter from Drake yesterday. He told me all about his housemates. Apparently, the children of the Golden Trio are all in Slytherin," Theo commented. |
"Scorpius corrupted them on the train ride. Offered them cookies to join the dark side." Draco joked. |
Hermione elbowed him in the side. "Actually, one of my husband's love children made an ass of himself on the train. He picked on Minerva and Scorpius and tripped Minerva before the Sorting. I got the impression that James and Minerva decided it was better to cavort with snakes than run with lions. I can't say that I blame them." |
"So, the Prophet actually reported something close to accurate?" Blaise asked. Tracey elbowed him in the side. "Ow, what is it with you ladies and your well-aimed, sharp elbows?" |
"Dammit, Blaise!" Draco said. |
"Hermione, it's none of our business. You shouldn't feel you need to tell us anything," Tracey said. |
Draco slid his arm down so that it rested around her shoulders. She relaxed against his side. Damn Blaise for bringing up that rag sheet. "I'm sorry. I told them not to start questioning you about Weasley. We can go if you're uncomfortable. I'll even hex Blaise a bit if you want." |
She laced her fingers through the hand that was on her shoulder. "No Draco, I think it might be time I start talking about it. What I've been doing hasn't helped," she said quietly. Then addressing the rest of the table, "Ron has had an ongoing affair with Lavender Brown for most of our marriage, has four children with her, and obliviated me to keep me from finding out. He would have done it again if not for Draco. No, I'm not going back to him. Yes, I plan on getting a divorce somehow. Yes, I know it's not done in the Wizarding World, but I don't give a damn and I deserve better than being forced to stay married to that two-timing bastard." Hermione related the story succinctly. |
The rest of the table erupted. Everyone spoke at once. |
"What!?" Blaise yelled. |
"That bastard!" Daphne cried and pounded the table with a fist. |
"Let me kill him," Greg growled. |
"Divorce the bastard. He doesn't deserve you," Helena said a little more calmly than the rest. |
"All true, I'm afraid and no you can't kill him, Greg. Thanks for the offer, though. |
"How are you handling all this, Hermione?" Tracey asked. Tracey had always been the more sensitive one of the group, a good balance to Blaise's brashness. |
"I don't know. It's hard. He was my husband. I'm angry and hurt because he cheated and lied all those years. I keep thinking that there's so much of my life that could have been different if he'd just been honest in the beginning. I would've let him go if he had just told me that he wanted to be with her. I'm so angry that he manipulated me into staying with him all those years, not to mention using a memory spell to do it. He knew what it cost me to save my parents during the war, and to use the same spell to manipulate me, it's unforgivable. I could forgive the cheating and lying eventually. I wouldn't have stayed with him, but I would've forgiven him for the sake of our daughters. We weren't happy together. I just don't understand why he would hang on like that when we were miserable together or why he felt he should be able to have both of us. I knew we were miserable together but I didn't understand until this happened why I stayed with him. It's sad that this is what our relationship came to. I loved him. Maybe not in the way I should have. He was my best friend. He was someone I felt safe with. I'm so sad about all the wasted time I spent being miserable with him. I could have been with someone that loved me. Now what am I? The pathetic, jilted wife of a man who cheated and abused her for years." |
Hermione turned and buried her face in his chest. Draco wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. She had finally given voice to the feelings that had plagued her for days. Maybe now she could purge those negative feelings and start the healing process. |
"You aren't pathetic. You've been so strong," he said against her hair. |
"I'm really sorry this happened to you, Hermione. You didn't deserve it. I don't think anybody does, but I hope that in the end it's okay that it did. You deserve to be happy and if being with Ron didn't make you happy, then it's good that you found out. You get a chance to make a happier life for yourself," Daphne said. |
"We're here for you though, Hermione. We're glad that you agreed to come out with Draco tonight. Being around people is good for you. So anytime you need girlfriends, we're here for you. Bring Ginny too. I know she's probably having a hard time with this too," said Tracey. |
"I think I've been a terrible friend though. I haven't even talked to Harry and Ginny. I haven't even thought about what they must be going through," Hermione said, drying her eyes. Draco let go of her and she settled back against his side. |
"They don't blame you for taking time for yourself," Draco said. Hermione looked up at him curiously and he shrugged a shoulder, "Harry comes to see me every couple of days to see how you're doing." |
"Thank you." Draco nodded and went to pull his arm off her shoulder and settle it back on the edge of the booth but Hermione held onto the hand that she was holding, so he stopped and let her have her way. |
"So, I think we should all get together tomorrow and have a picnic by the lake with the children. Blaise and I will bring dessert." Daphne said, trying to change the subject to less serious topics. |
"It's a good idea. I have an outdoor blanket with an extendible charm on it. We can also bring the sandwiches," Hermione volunteered for her and Draco. |
"We'll bring the drinks," Tracey said. |
"That leaves us with sides," said Helena. |
"Great. That's settled. Helena did Hogwarts send you a visibility charm?" Hermione asked. |
Hogwarts was invisible to Muggles in order to keep the secrecy of the school and the existence of the Wizarding World, however exceptions had started being made after the war. It had been decided that it wasn't right that Muggle-born children wouldn't be able to have their parents come see them at school while wizarding parents were able visit. |
"Yes, I got a necklace in the mail with "Mione's letter," Helena answered Hermione. |
"Greg, you should take her on the boat across the lake her first time over. See Hogwarts the same way we all did the first time," Hermione suggested, leaning forward to look at Greg. |
"Ooh, good idea Hermione," Daphne said, looking excited. |
"What do you think, Helena?" Tracey asked. |
"Sounds magical," Helena replied. |
"It really is, especially if you didn't grow up surrounded by magic. I'll send a letter to Hagrid so he can have a boat ready for you," Hermione offered. |
"Head's up. Rita Skeeter is headed this way," Blaise said suddenly. |
Draco straightened and reluctantly took his hand off Hermione's shoulder but kept his arm draped across the top of the booth behind her. Rita Skeeter walked over in garish, green robes, purple, jeweled glasses and a blue hat with bright red feathers sticking out of it. |
"Interesting that you're already out on the town with another man so soon after learning that your husband cheated on you for years. Care to comment on the state of your relationship with Ronald Weasley? How are your daughters taking this news? Are you and Draco Malfoy in a relationship?" Rita said nastily. |
"I have a comment for you, Rita. Beetles are easily squished," Hermione said maliciously, pointing her wand at Rita. |
Draco burst out laughing at Hermione's comment. Blaise escorted Rita out of the bar with terse instructions that she not ever be allowed back inside. |
"Beetles are easily squished? Have you gone mental, Hermione? What kind of comment is that?" Blaise asked as he returned to the booth. |
"Rita is an unregistered animagus. Hermione trapped her in a jar at the end of fourth year and has blackmailed her over the years about it," Draco said still chuckling. Some of them already knew about Rita Skeeter publishing lies during with some help from Draco. He related the story to Helena and Hermione's part in getting back at the woman. |
"Are you sure you got sorted into the right house, Hermione?" Theo laughed. |
"Well the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw before it decided on Gryffindor, but I'm sure that's not what you meant," Hermione replied with a bland smile. "I also sent centaur figurines to Umbridge when she got sentenced to Azkaban," Hermione added deviously. |
"Why?" Helena asked. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.