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"What about you? Are you just going to forgive him and take him back?" Minerva asked. |
"This sort of thing is different between a husband and wife. We will have to find a way to move past it and get along for the sake of you and Rose. But I won't be taking him back. I wouldn't be happy and you and Rose deserve parents who are happy. Does that make sense?" Hermione said. Minerva nodded. |
Scorpius and James came over and pulled her away from the group of adults. The children were running around chasing one another, lobbing sprays of water from their wands. |
Hermione sagged against him as Minerva ran off. He ran his hands up and down her arms trying to offer her some comfort and calm her. The other couples were talking quietly among themselves, surreptitiously glancing at Draco and Hermione, waiting for them to finish. Hermione straightened after a little bit and Draco dropped his hands. She took a deep breath and mouthed "I'm okay" to him. |
"Harry, you're going to need to start taking up your seat on the Wizengamot." Draco said to cut through the chatter and bringing them back into the group. |
"Why? You know I hate that political crap." Harry responded. |
"He's campaigning for all of us to come back," Blaise said, "Save yourself the headache and just give in. Believe me." |
"Harry, it's your responsibility. You need to take it more seriously. I'll need your support when I file my petition to divorce Ron," said Hermione. |
"Divorce though Hermione? Are you sure?" Harry asked. |
"Yes, Harry. Divorce. Seriously, Harry! You want me to go back to that. After what he's done, I'm never going back to him. You saw the way he was just now. Do you honestly think I deserve to be treated that way," Hermione snapped at Harry. Harry looked like he wanted to argue. Draco didn't think Harry had any strong opposition to divorce. Maybe he was just having a hard time letting go of the "one big happy family" picture that he knew Harry had. |
"They don't know the whole story, Hermione. I thought maybe they should hear it from you, so I didn't tell Harry when he came to see me. I think they'll need to hear it. You know how Harry is," Draco said |
"Right. Come on then. Let's go for a walk." Hermione used Draco's knee to push herself up. He helped steady her with his hands on her waist and she walked off with Harry and Ginny with a determined stride. |
"What's going on between the two of you?" Blaise asked as soon as they walked off, "I didn't say anything last night but she's not here now, so spill." |
"We're friends. That's all that's going on." Draco said evasively. |
"For now," Theo murmured quietly. Draco shot a glare at him. |
"I saw those pictures. I have eyes. Whatever was going on just now, is not "just friends'." Blaise said. |
"It's our business, Blaise." |
"Fine. I'll just say this though. We like her. Wouldn't mind seeing more of her. So whatever this thing is that's going on or not going on between you two, don't mess it up and chase her away. You both deserve to be happy and if that's with each other, then I say go for it," Blaise said. |
"Thanks, mate. Way too soon to be thinking about that though. You saw how she was last night. She's not ready for a relationship," he said, leveling a stern "don't push it look" at his friends. |
"She was talking about wasted time and being with someone who loved her," Tracey said. |
Draco looked over to where Hermione was talking with Harry and Ginny, "She's not ready for that. Stop trying to play matchmaker and give her some time." |
Headmistress McGonagall walked up to their picnic. "Hello children. I hope you're enjoying your visit. I was hoping to speak with Mrs. Granger but I see she is otherwise occupied. You'll do, Mr. Malfoy. Let's go for a walk." |
"Yes ma'am." Draco got up and offered his arm to the aging headmistress. She looked surprised by his politeness but took his arm and they walked off in the opposite direction from Hermione, Harry, and Ginny. |
"I'll not beat around the bush. Is what I'm seeing in the papers true?" |
"Depends on what you're reading, headmistress. I didn't know you kept up with the gossip columns," Draco said with a smirk. |
"Don't sass me. Out with it," Headmistress McGonagall said in a tone that meant she expected him to fall in line. |
Draco told her about what happened on the platform. Then what happened at her cottage and about Fred being Minerva's half brother. He also let her know that Fred was setting himself up to be this year's bully and was targeting Scorpius and Minerva. |
"I never would have believed Ron Weasley could turn into such a scoundrel. How's she handling all this?" she asked, shooting a worried glance up at him. |
"She's doing better everyday. She's been really depressed and angry. She seems a little freer today than she has all week. I think the unconditional support that she's gotten has really helped. He really did a number on her. I think she's forgotten who she is over the years," he answered. |
McGonagall pursed her lips together, "And what exactly is your part in all this, Mr. Malfoy?" |
"Just a friend," he said with a shrug. |
"You weren't friends before this, I don't think," she said with a hint of suspicion. |
Draco stood up a little straighter and answered nonchalantly, "Maybe not, but things change." |
"See that you don't make things change for the worse for her," McGonagall said as she walked off. |
Draco walked back over to the picnic and sat down. Hermione, Harry, and Ginny walked up just as he sat down. Hermione sat down beside him again. Harry flopped down beside them, still red in the face. Ginny was wiping her face. |
"You have my vote and I'll start going to council meetings. Whatever she needs to get away from him, she's got it," Harry said, still fuming. |
Draco nodded his thanks. Hermione turned to look at him. "What did McGonagall want?" |
"To ask about you. I told her. I figured it was okay to tell her and she should know so she can keep an eye out for Minerva. I hope it's okay with you that I told her," Draco said. |
"Yes, it's fine. I'm getting exhausted having to repeat the story so many times. I know I'm going to have to repeat it many more times before this is over," Hermione sighed. |
"I'll try to do what I can to take the burden from you," Draco murmured to her. |
"You've already done so much. You've been a great friend to me. I'm glad that it was you that stepped up and helped me that day on the platform. I would probably be huddled in a ball in my pajamas right now if it wasn't for you," Hermione said. |
"I doubt that. You're too resilient to let anything knock you out for long. I'm glad that it was me too, even though I would have loved to see you hex Weasley's balls off." |
"Cunning snake," she said playfully. |
"Fearless lioness." |
The children came back from playing in search of more cookies. Their parents dried them off with bursts of hot air from their wands. The children related their stories of being sorted. James and Minerva told them about asking to be put in Slytherin despite the hat wanting to put them in Gryffindor. |
The sun started to set signaling the end of Parents" Day. They all packed up the remains of the picnic. Draco took Scorpius aside to say goodbye to him privately. |
"Goodbye, son. I'm glad you've made some good friends and you're happy here. I love you." |
"Don't worry about me dad. I'm doing great even if Fred is awful. I really like Minerva and James. I love you too." |
Draco hugged Scorpius to him one last time before walking with him back to the rest of the group. All the children ran around hugging adults and saying goodbye. Draco even got a hug from James and Minerva as well as the Baby Snakes. |
After saying goodbye to their children and friends, Draco lifted Hermione into the boat to take them back across the lake. Hermione had promised Hagrid that they would take the boat back to the boathouse. The setting sun reflected across the lake casting the castle of Hogwarts in hues of purples and blues. The wind blowing across the water caused a chill in the air. Draco took his jacket off and draped it across Hermione's shoulders when he saw her shiver. |
"Oh, thank you," She burrowed deeper inside his jacket, "Do you feel like there is something going on between us?" |
"What do you mean?" |
"Never mind," Hermione said, staring at her hands in her lap. |
Draco tipped her chin up forcing her to look at him. "No, tell me what you mean." |
Hermione bit her lip and answered, "I'm not sure exactly. I've always felt this pull to you, even when we were children and you were awful to me. It's why I argued for you during your trial. I couldn't bear the thought of you being in Azkaban and why I started having tea with your mother. It's why I left with you that day on the platform. Do you feel it too?" |
He sighed in relief to know that it wasn't one-sided, "Yes. It's why I urged you further into the forest after the Quidditch World Cup and didn't identify you when you were brought into the Manor. You've always been a magnet to me. I've always been drawn to you." |
"It's the same for me too." |
"How does that make you feel?" He held his breath waiting for her answer. |
"I feel comfortable and safe with you. I like the way things are between us, but I'm not ready for a relationship. My life's a mess. I need time before I'll be ready for that. I don't think it would be fair for either one of us to jump into something yet." |
"I know you're not ready. I'm not going to try to push you into anything you're not ready for. I told you that in the dining room when you came back to let me apologize. We both know that it's there. We don't have to ever be anything other than friends if that's what you want." |
The boat docked at the boathouse. Draco climbed out of boat and held out his hands to help Hermione out. She held onto his hand as they walked to the train station where he apparated them home. |
September 20th to October 19th |
Draco settled into a routine with Hermione and Rose. During the week, they ate breakfast together and left together for school then work. Draco would pick Hermione up for lunch. Sometimes the Snakes or Harry and Ginny would meet them at a café. Most days they went home together. There were times Draco had to stay late and would meet them at home for dinner. |
Hermione and Ginny went out with Tracey, Daphne, and Helena for a girls" night at his club the Friday after Parents" Day. When Hermione wasn't home by ten, he got worried and went over to check on them. He found them dancing together on the dance floor. Hermione looked stunning in an amethyst, spaghetti strap, v-neck dress that hugged her curves. The slit up the front gave an enticing view of her thigh. Her hair was swept up off her neck with curls framing her face. Ginny had smirked at him when he saw them coming down the stairs before they left for the night. |
He stood near the door watching her dance with the girls. Her cheeks were flushed now with alcohol and dancing. She spun and swayed with the music. She threw her head back and laughed at something Daphne said to her. She looked like the carefree witch he'd been hoping would emerge from the sadness. |
"Busted!" Ginny said when she caught sight of him. He made is way over to them since he'd been spotted. |
"Hey! It's girls" night. No men allowed," Daphne told him, her words slurring slightly. |
"I'm not here to ruin your fun. I just got worried since it was so late. Just pretend I'm not here," Draco said to them, holding his hands up in surrender. |
"Yes, but I'm sure our husbands aren't far behind you," Helena said. Sure enough, Theo, Blaise, and Greg walked in the door moments later, looking for their wives. |
"We'll be at the bar. You ladies go back to your dancing," Draco placated them when Hermione pouted that she wanted to dance more. |
Draco led the men over to the bar where they sat down for a drink. A half-hour passed with them laughing and joking around about the girls" antics. Harry walked in the door obviously looking for Ginny. He spotted Draco at the bar and walked over to him. |
"They look like they're having fun," Harry said by way of greeting. |
Draco looked over to the girls dancing together in a group. They were starting to get a bit carried away. Ginny had started slow grinding against Hermione. "Yeah, they've been dancing since I got here around ten. I don't even want to think about how much they've had to drink." |
Harry sat watching his wife. Draco thought he caught a hungry look in Harry's eyes as he watched Ginny dance with Hermione, "Since Ginny has her shoes off, I'm going to go with a lot. I caught her dancing like that with one of her teammates during a victory party when she was playing the Harpies. That's how we got James," Harry chuckled, "You know, I think I'll go get my wife." |
"TMI, Potter!" Draco called after him. They all watched as Harry walked over and picked up Ginny's shoes and purse. He said something to Ginny then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, swatting her backside playfully. Ginny grinned mischievously and waved bye as she and Harry disapparated from the club. |
"Potter may have a good idea. Drunk sex is awesome and my wife is wearing a killer pair of fuck-me heels. See ya," Blaise said. The lure of sex was more than Theo, Blaise, and Greg could resist and shortly they apparated home with their wives, leaving only Draco and Hermione left at the club. |
"I guess girls" night is over," Hermione said as she walked up to him at the bar. She grabbed his drink out of his hand and drained it before setting it back on the bar. |
He put his hand on her waist and drew her to stand between his legs. "I blame Harry. He put the idea of drunk sex in Blaise's head and that was pretty much it for the guys." Hermione laughed at that. "Are you ready to go?" he asked her. Before she answered the Draco heard the opening chords of "You And Me" by Lifehouse. "Dance with me, Hermione?" he asked, holding out his hand for her. |
She nodded and he led her out onto the dance floor. He twirled her around then settled his hand back at her waist. Her hand came to rest on his shoulder. He led her through the familiar steps of a waltz as the crooning voice of the lead singer started to sing. Her chocolate eyes met his, making him feel like he was drowning in their depths. He tightened his arm around her waist pulling her closer. |
This song had always spoken to him where she was concerned. The years went rushing by him, all the times he had watched her across the Great Hall at school or in the hallways, all the times he saw her after the war wanting to speak to her but not able to find the right words. People had always surrounded her but his eyes always found her in the crowd. He never understood the hold she had on him. He had never known until that day on the boat that she felt the same. |
"Happy birthday, Hermione," he said quietly, staring down into her smiling eyes. |
"You knew?" she asked, her expression unfathomable. |
Draco shrugged it off, "Of course I did. I wanted to throw you a party but Ginny said you didn't like celebrating your birthday anymore." |
"Not since I lost my parents, but thank you for wanting to." They both fell silent as he spun her around. She twirled back into his embrace and rested her hand on his chest, leaning her cheek against him. |
"Take me home," she said as the song ended. He twirled them around once more as they disapparated from the club into the foyer of his home. She stood on tiptoe in front of him. He felt her soft lips graze his cheek, feather light across his skin. Her enticing scent enveloped him as she brushed against him. "Goodnight, Draco," she said before she was gone up the stairs. He placed a hand to his cheek as he watched her walk up the stairs and disappear into her room. |
A picture of them appeared in the paper the next day. He watched the moving picture show them waltzing across the page over and over again. They both stared at each other as they glided along. He saw the expressions on their faces and wondered if that was really what they looked like when they looked at each other. |
Hermione had a meeting with on Thursday with Shacklebolt. She stormed into his office afterwards in a tearing rage. Draco got up and told his secretary to cancel his appointments. He then locked and silenced his office. It wouldn't do to have the whole floor hear her raging. "I take it you aren't a newly freed witch." Draco said as he lounged against his desk. |
Hermione glared at him, clearly not liking his levity of the situation. "No, obviously. I told him I wanted to be granted a divorce from Ron. I told him about what happened at he cottage. I even offered to let him inspect my memories. He refused to listen to me. He wouldn't even hear me out." |
"I did try telling you it was pointless to try to get Shacklebolt on your side. He's not the same wizard the Order decided to put in power at the end of the war," Draco said. It would probably be one of the few times he would ever get to say "I told you so," though he hated being right about this. |
Hermione started pacing his office from the windows along one wall to the bookcase along the other wall."You haven't even heard the worst part," she said, gesticulating wildly, "He told me that wizarding folk don't divorce, that the magical bonds of matrimony are not meant to be severed. If they make a poor choice in their spouse, then they must find a way to live with their decision. I tried arguing with him. I tried convincing him that Ron had abused me psychologically. He told me that I would have to find a way to live with it and to cut out all my nonsense about running away. He even had the nerve to tell me that as Ron's wife, I was his to do with as he saw fit, like I was nothing more than a piece of property." |
"So, do I need to get Theo so we can hide the body?" He was only partially joking but he wouldn't really be all that surprised to find out something nasty had happened to the Minister. Some people just had no sense of self-preservation. Shacklebolt must have been out of his mind telling Hermione Granger that a wife was the property of her husband. |
"Har,har. Do you think this is funny?" she said, poking him in the chest, looking like she was about to hex him. |
"You know I don't," he said, making a grab for the hand that had been poking him and missing. |
She spun away and started pacing the room again, "This can't be allowed to continue. We're in the twenty-first century and we're still following archaic laws that treat witches as nothing more than chattel. Witches have more than proven that we are the equals of wizards. How many witches are there in our world that are stuck in loveless, abusive marriages?" |
"What do you suggest we do about it?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. |
She turned in her pacing and looked at him like he was being dense, "Make new laws. It's time to take the Wizarding World out of the Middle Ages and into modern era." |
Finally, he thought to himself. He'd promised her he wouldn't push her after their argument in the dining room. He just bided his time, waiting for her to decide when she was ready to start tackling the issue of her divorce. |
They took Rose to the park for a picnic and to spend the day in the sunshine before the weather turned. Rose exhausted herself running around and fell asleep on the blanket after lunch. Draco lay stretched out on the blanket. Hermione had lain down perpendicular to him, her head resting on his chest. She was reading a book aloud to him. He had worked the elastic from her braid and was unraveling it with his fingers while he listened to her story. |
She stopped reading and turned her head to look at him. "Why do you do that?" |
"Do what?" he asked, playing dumb as he continued to toy with her hair. |
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