Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Love and Forgiveness	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 16328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Author�s note � To each of you who reviewed, you made my day each time
you did and I look forward to more of them. Thank you all. I will update again
on Friday as promised.

CHAPTER 28

�And, don�t forget, I put everything you need on the top shelf of the
refrigerator. I know you are a fully capable person, but please don�t try the
stove or anything until I get back, okay?�

Narcissa nodded at Hermione, �Dear, you really shouldn�t worry so much. I will
be fine. Now, go, before you are late to work.�

�I�m sorry. Okay, I�m going. You remember how to use the phone like I showed
you? And, I put the numbers right beside it. Promise you�ll call if you need
anything, okay?�

�Yes,� Narcissa laughed. �But, you do remember that I am a witch? Even without
a house elf, I can conjure up anything I need. Now go.�

Hermione blushed because in her worry, she had forgotten that little bit of reality,
�Okay. Sorry. Again. I�m leaving. Bye. See you at
four.�

Narcissa smiled and waved goodbye as Hermione apparated away.

With a laugh to herself she conjured a cup of tea and reached for the remote,
�Now, how do I find that talk show? I so wonder which young man was indeed the
child�s father.�

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

�Has she called you?�

Draco laughed at the worry in her voice and shifted the phone to his other ear,
�No, Mi. I�m sure she�s fine.�

�I can�t even concentrate,� she sighed. Then she laughed at herself, �I just
keep having all these horrible visions of getting home to a burnt down or blown
up apartment building.�

With a grunt he said, �Well, that actually makes two of us. I actually arrested
a guy today and instead of listening to his story, I started telling him about
Mother being all alone in our place.�

�Oh, Draco,� she laughed softly.

�Yeah, it was quite embarrassing,� he admitted. �Especially
when my partner interrupted to say we weren�t there for a therapy session.�

�Ouch.�

�Yeah,� he sighed. �So, you want me to call her?�

She nodded even though he couldn�t see her on the phone, �Would you? I�d feel
better just knowing she�s not getting into anything.�

Draco laughed and she asked, �What�s so funny?�

�I was just imagining the look on her face if she snooped and saw what was in
the top drawer of your bedside table,� he chuckled.

�Oohhhh,� she groaned. �She wouldn�t would she?�

�Relax, love, your toys are safe. Mother�s not one to look into other people�s
private things.�

She grinned at the word toys and teased, �My toys? Who was the one reminding me
we needed to recharge some batteries the other night?�

He laughed and then said, �Okay, let me give her a call to check on things.
I�ll let you know.�

�Thank you. Love you,� she answered.

�Love you,� he said back.

Nothing bad had happened as Narcissa had spent the entire day engrossed in the
television. When Hermione got home she got to hear about almost every second of
the shows Narcissa had watched. She was highly amused to hear Narcissa go on
and on about how strange it was to have a show called All My Children
that seemed to have nothing to do with children. By the time Draco was due home
from work, the two were gabbing like old friends as Hermione filled Narcissa in
on the life and times of the people of the fictional town of Pine Valley.

�But, how did you manage to keep up with it all?� Narcissa asked. �With school,
The Fall, University, and well, everything, how did you keep track?�

�Well, there are magazines and such and there�s a recording device called a VCR
that lets you record shows and watch them later.�

A short while later, Narcissa was so engrossed in trying to figure out how to
get Lucius to accept a television and VCR in their home, that she barely greeted
Draco when he apparated home. He smiled at her when she simply kissed his cheek
and mumbled, �Must remember to get that eleclickty
installed somehow. Maybe he won�t notice.�

Draco then listened to the two of them for about ten minutes before he shook
his head and went to change.

Dinner was uneventful, but the show was a slightly different matter. Draco and
Hermione had both spent time explaining muggle theater to Narcissa and then
given her a brief synopsis of the show, so she would know what to expect.
Things had been fine until the intermission. Hermione and Narcissa went to the
washroom to freshen up and Narcissa had shocked several women into silence with
her little speech.

Initially, their conversation had been quiet, but then Narcissa had blurted out
quite loudly, �I just don�t understand why muggles think we�re like that. I
mean, honestly, green! How trite! No witch worth her salt would go around
looking like that!�

Hermione had glanced around to see several people staring at them and tried to
remind Narcissa to be quiet, �Narcissa, maybe we should��

�And, what�s with those wires and such? All they had to do was get a real
witch, for goodness sake. It wasn�t even realistic. That poor girl doesn�t even
know how to properly sit a broom!�

Hermione�s face was flaming as she took Narcissa�s arm and led her quickly past
the gawking women.

Draco saw her and asked, �What happened?�

Narcissa seemed to finally realize her mistake and laughed a little in
embarrassment, �Well, I might have spoken a little more loudly than I intended
in there.�

Hermione finally relaxed enough to laugh with her, �Your mother just told a
room full of women that Elphaba can�t sit a broom
properly.�

Draco looked shocked at first, but then laughed with them. �Good thing most
muggles don�t believe in magic.�

The next two days passed in much the same way, except with different activities
in the evening. On the night Draco took them to have dinner and play games at Dave
and Buster�s, Narcissa was more thrilled to get to put on her first ever
pair of jeans and look around, than play any games. But, they eventually got
her to join in the fun.

On Friday morning as she left for work, Hermione couldn�t shake the feeling
that Narcissa was up to something. It wasn�t anything she said or did, but more
the look in her eye. It reminded her of Draco�s look when he was trying to
surprise her. But, as she couldn�t think of anything to make her worry, she
left and bid the older woman a good day.

As she walked back into her classroom after lunch, she found out what Narcissa
had been up to that morning. Hermione stood in the doorway and blinking rapidly
in hopes that she was having a vision.

Narcissa stood by the windows talking animatedly to the school principle and
the teacher Hermione worked under. She gasped when she heard her boss speak.

�Well, Mrs. Malfoy, you do us an honor just being here. Your generous offer of
a donation that large is simply amazing. I can�t thank you enough.�

Narcissa smiled benignly at the short, balding man, �It is the least Lucius and
I can do, with our dear Hermione working here.�

Hermione�s jaw dropped, but before she could announce her presence, Narcissa
continued haughtily, �We understand she is still doing her training, but I am
sure by the time the new school year starts, she will have a classroom of her
own.�

�Of course, of course,� he answered while nodding rapidly. �We love her work
here with the children. She is a blessing to have. And, our school has never
seen such a high number of requests for admittance.�

Hermione could take no more and stepped into the room. She tried to keep her
voice polite as she said, �Hello, Mark, Mr. Hadley. Narcissa, I didn�t know you
were coming by today.�

Narcissa smiled a little and said, �I thought I would surprise you, my dear. I
remembered Hadley here from back when we were in school together and thought
since I was here, we could catch up. We just had a lovely lunch. Then he
brought me here to see the facilities.�

�Oh, well,� Hermione�s mind raced with all the things she wanted to say, but
she smiled politely and answered, �That�s nice.�

Mr. Hadley smiled at both of them and gestured to the door, �Shall we, Mrs.
Malfoy? It�s time for the children to get back to their lessons and I want to
show you the rest of our facility.�

Narcissa nodded regally at him and then turned to Hermione, �I will see you at
your apartment later then. Have a lovely day, my dear.�

Hermione held her smile and nodded back to Narcissa and Mr. Hadley as they left
the room. She then turned to see her immediate boss staring at her.

�What, Mark?� she asked uneasily.

He looked at her for a moment before he shook his head, �You never mentioned
that you had friends with that kind of influence, Hermione. You always seemed
to want to earn your place here.�

�It�s not like that. I didn�t know she was coming here. I would never do
something like that, buy my way in!� She glanced at the door Narcissa had left
through and added softly, �I just don�t think the Malfoys know any other way to
do things.�

Mark nodded and accepted her answer, �She must be one powerful woman. She had
Hadley eating out of her hands.�

Hermione groaned, �How long was she here?�

�No idea,� he shrugged. �I got here just before you did and only heard her
suggesting, strongly, that you succeed quickly here.�

�Great! Now, I need to find another position,� she sighed unhappily.

�What? No you don�t!� he said to her.

�Mark, no matter what I do from here on out, everyone will believe any
successes I have were paid for.�

Mark smiled at her, �Hermione, no one who has ever met you would doubt you
worked for and deserved anything you�ve gotten. Hell, woman, you helped save
our world!�

�You almost did,� she reminded him.

He had the grace to flush a little, �Well, it was a bit of a shock with her
standing there being all demanding and regal and beautiful all at the same
time, was all. I know you would never be that kind of person. And, so does
every person who works here.�

She still looked doubtful, but she nodded.

�Okay, so let�s get back to class, shall we?�

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

�But, Narcissa, that�s just not the way things are done here!� Hermione tried
to explain for the third time.

�Fine. I apologize for upsetting you,� Narcissa finally conceded. �But, I
honestly don�t think there was any damage done, Hermione. Hadley already
respected your work, as he should, and he knows what a boon having you work
there is to his school. So, I don�t really see the harm in making sure he gives
you everything you deserve.�

Hermione was at a loss. There was no way to make Narcissa understand that money
and threats were not the way to go. She had spent too much of her life living
and believing a certain way and just couldn�t understand Hermione�s distress.
Hermione decided to let it drop. She wasn�t upset any longer really, as no one
at work had acted differently around her. And, truth be told, a tiny part of
her was secretly pleased that Narcissa would go to bat for her, even if she had
done it the wrong way.

As it was her last night with them, Hermione helped her pack all the things she
had bought throughout the week, and personally charmed and shrunk the new
television and VCR for easy flooing. She still wasn�t
sure how Narcissa planned to explain them to Lucius. And, how did she plan to
get new tapes?

When Draco got home they shared a light dinner and went to the movies. Narcissa
seemed to enjoy herself immensely and giggled like a school girl every time she
reached into the popcorn box, ate a few pieces and then licked her fingers, before
cleaning them neatly with a napkin.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Hermione filled Draco in on the events of
her day and he promised to have a talk with his mother. He then proceeded to
put a silencing charm on the room and smirk at her.

�It�s been forever, I need you, Mi,� he said, his head buried in her chest, his
tongue seeking her nipple.

She laughed softly, her hand burrowing into his soft hair, �That�s what you
said last night.�

�Forever,� he moaned against her fevered skin.

Neither had another coherent thought for a while after that.

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

It was very early the next morning when Draco stood in front of the fireplace,
pulled Hermione close, and gave her a slow, thorough kiss. She stood in her
bathrobe and slid her hands up his chest and into his hair, to hold him close.
This was the day she had dreaded, the day she would spend alone with Narcissa.
They were to bake cookies for Narcissa to take home with her that evening.
Meanwhile, Draco would spend the day with his father, handling family business
and getting some errands done. They planned to meet at Harry and Ginny�s for
dinner and then they would stay the night there before going to see her parents
Sunday. Last, they had to pick some things up at Diagon
Alley before they returned home.

Hermione felt like she was giving up her lifeline with him going and leaving
her alone and held on tight during the kiss.

He broke if off and smiled gently down at her, �Stop worrying.�

�I know,� she whispered back. �We�ll be fine.�

As it was only four in the morning, neither expected, nor noticed Narcissa step
out of her room to join them.

Hermione�s eyes flickered back to his still wet lips and then back up to his
eyes. They darkened slightly as he lowered his head back to hers. Both got lost
in the kiss and Hermione felt a familiar thrill slide down her spine when his
hands slid from her waist to cup her bottom and pull her up against him.

Narcissa didn�t want to see much more, so she coughed quietly to alert them to her
presence. She laughed softly when her son shot her a look, and Hermione
reddened and let her head drop to Draco�s chest.

�Sorry to interrupt, but I didn�t want to miss saying goodbye,� she chirped
brightly as she crossed the room to them.

Hermione stepped back to let her have her goodbye with her son.

�Thank you for allowing me to stay the week,� Narcissa said as she looked up
into her son�s face. �I truly enjoyed spending time with you two.�

Draco looked down at his mother and saw in her eyes the love he�d always known
from her. �I�m glad you came, Mother. It was�fun.�

�Fun. What a word for such excitement, but appropriate, I guess,� she laughed.
Then she looked to Hermione and back at him before adding thoughtfully, �I
needed some fun in my life, as did you. And, I am glad you have finally found
some. You grew up much too fast, my son.�

Draco didn�t want his goodbye to his mother to be a sad one, so he strove to
lighten the moment, �What�s done is done. You must let it go, Mother. We have.
Now, you need to concentrate on only three things today.�

Narcissa nodded and smiled up at him, �And, what pray-tell are they?�

Draco laughed, �First, not burning down the building as you learn to make those
cookies of yours. Second, relaxing and having fun with Hermione, and last,
figuring out how to explain the TV and VCR to Father.�

When Hermione laughed behind her, Narcissa turned and reached out a hand to
her, pulling her into their tight circle.

�Now, now children, I know how to handle my husband. I just need to get
Hermione here to show me that charm she used to make it play Quidditch
matches.�

Hermione smiled at her, �Consider it done.�

Draco leaned forward and hugged his mother, �I should get going. Father expects
me at 9:30 London
time. I will see you in a few weeks, Mother.�

�Tell your father I will see him tonight,� she hugged him back. �And, don�t
tell him about the other things.�

�I won�t,� he promised. Then he tugged Hermione�s hand until she fell against
him, �Love you. See you tonight at Potter�s.�

�I love you, too. Have fun,� she smirked up at him.

He leaned down to kiss her one last time and winked, �You, too.�

Both women stepped back as he smiled at them and flooed
away.

Hermione stifled a yawn and looked over at Narcissa�s expectant face. She
stopped her sigh as realized she wouldn�t be going back to bed.

�How about some coffee or tea before we get started?�

Narcissa smiled and nodded, �That sounds lovely. May I heat the water?�

Hermione laughed at her enthusiasm and gestured toward the kitchen, �By all
means. Have at it.�

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

Draco stepped out of the fireplace and quickly cleaned the dust off of his
body. He left his overnight bag near the fireplace and then went in search of
his father. Knowing his father as he did, he went up the stairs to his father�s
private study.

As he neared the door, he heard his father�s voice snap from inside, �Took you
long enough. Are you going to stand there all day or come in?�

Draco rolled his eyes once before he straightened his face and his shoulders
and pushed the door open to step into the darkened room.

�I apologize for being a bit late,� he said in way of a greeting.

His father didn�t look up from The Daily Prophet, but waved a hand at
the small table of tea and biscuits, �No matter. Have a cup. We have a few
minutes still.�

Draco moved to the tea and made his cup. Then he sat down in the chair across
the desk from his father and looked around.

He just can�t let go of it all, can he? Who on earth would keep all of these
awful books after all that�s happened! And, why in his study for all to see?
The Ministry could come at any time and�No, they wouldn�t. That time has
passed. It�s just him and his friends, I guess. They can�t leave it and move
on. It�s his history, I know, but must he display it as if he�s proud of it? I
hope he doesn�t still study them. Man, am I glad Hermione never saw this room.
How did I live like this for so long?

He shuddered at the thought of her reaction and glanced back at his father. He
blinked to see his father watching him intently.

�Allowing our emotions to show now are we?� his father asked with a slight
sneer. �Must be the company you keep.�

Draco automatically and habitually cleared his face and his mind before he
answered, �Mother said to tell you she would see you tonight and would bring
cookies.�

He had the pleasure of seeing his father�s face contort in disgust for a moment
before his impassive look once again slid across his features.

Now, who�s showing emotion? ha ha ha

�She�s serious about this laboring in the kitchens then?�

Draco nodded and allowed a smirk to form, �Serious as an Imperious. I would
dare say excited even. You, Father, have lots of sweets to look forward to in
the future.�

Lucius shook his head slightly, but then glanced at his watch. He stood and
beckoned Draco to follow him.

�May I ask what exactly you have planned for the day, Father?� he asked as he
stood and put down his tea cup.

Lucius continued from the room and said over his shoulder, �We have several
meetings scheduled. And, we are going to be late if you continue with these
tedious questions. So, to expedite things, we are headed to Gringotts,
then to Barrister Simmons, followed by lunch with the Parkinsons.
Afterward, I promised your mother I would take you to buy new formal robes as
yours, according to her, are out of season.�

He stopped his long strides to pin his son with a glare, �Any more questions?�

Draco had plenty of questions, chief amongst them, why lunch with the Parkinsons, but the look on his father�s face stalled them.
�No, sir.�

�Good. Now, we must get to the apparition point. We are due at Gringotts at ten.�

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

�And, when it says t s p, I use the little spoons and when it says t b s p, I
use the big ones.� Narcissa answered.

Hermione smiled at her and nodded, �Exactly! I think that�s it. Are you ready?�

�I am,� Narcissa nodded.

Hermione stood to wash her hands and heard Narcissa move to follow her. When
both had cleaned their hands, they got to work on the first two batches of what
Hermione assumed would be several batches of cookies. It was several hours
later when Hermione realized the day had passed with ease.

This has been fun. There�s that word again. Tee hee
hee Narcissa is a very interesting woman. Who knew? I
sure as hell wouldn�t have guessed it. I mean, all week, well except for that
stunt yesterday, she�s been fine. I certainly understand more about how Draco
ended up the way he did. She�s bright, reserved, but warm, and when she lets her
guard down, quite amusing. I don�t think we�ll ever be as close as she wants,
but today has been a leap toward me calling her at least an acquaintance. If
only she didn�t have to go back to that awful, horrid man. Wait! No. Then she
would stay here. NOT! Ha ha I just don�t get what
they see in each other. I mean, how different can he be when they�re alone that
she would stay with him, hell love him, after everything he�s put his family
through. What am I saying, Draco�s the same way. He still loves his father
after everything. But, Narcissa could sure do a lot better than that freakish git! Well, maybe the sex is good�UGH! I DID NOT just think
that about him! Ewwwww Oh crap, is she talking to me?

�I�m sorry, what did you say?�

Narcissa laughed, �I asked what was going on in that head of yours. You were
very deep in thought and your expressions were changing so quickly you made me
curious.�

�Oh, well, uh, I was just thinking about how much fun this week has been with
you,� Hermione said truthfully.

But, she felt her cheeks flame when Narcissa smiled, but said, �Not near the
end you weren�t.�

Hermione glanced around the kitchen for something to do to ignore the question.
They had finished the last of the cookie dough, cleaned up already, and the
last batch of cookies were in the oven. In the end she found her eyes resting
once again on her someday, possible, mother-in-law, the other woman�s
expression open and questioning, and couldn�t hold back her question.

Her eyes dropped away and her hands twisted together in her lap as she asked
softly, �Why did you stay with him?�

Narcissa looked at her for a moment before she decided the question was asked
without malice. She saw the girl�s nervousness at having asked the question,
but admired her inquisitive nature and directness. For this one person, the
question deserved an answer. But before that she had some of her own.

�Let me ask you this first. Why did you forgive Draco? After all he did to you,
all our family put you through. You still let him into your life and forgave
him. Why?�

Hermione shrugged and looked at Narcissa, �I honestly don�t know. I mean I know
why I finally forgave him, but why I even gave him a chance I�ll never know. If
anyone had asked me the day Draco and I met again if the two of us could ever
happen, I probably would have hexed them into oblivion once I was done
laughing. But, that night, there was something about him. He was different,
more open. It was in his eyes. And, he apologized. Over and over again. Before
I knew it I loved him. The forgiveness came first, but the rest fell into place
so quickly after that, it�s hard to tell when it wasn�t there.�

Narcissa prompted, �So, you forgave him for love?�

�I guess, kind of,� Hermione nodded. �I never really hated him. I didn�t like
him all that much, that�s for sure, but there was never any real hate on my
part. And, I remember wanting to talk to him after everything that day in the
Great Hall. I don�t know why, but I did. I saw the three of you and I almost
approached you. You looked so sad and scared, Narcissa, and Draco so lost and
confused. Even after all he�d done to me, to my friends, it made me hurt for
him to see him so broken.�

�I wish you had approached us that day,� Narcissa sniffed, a tear escaping in
memory. �What stopped you?�

Hermione�s eyes flashed, �Malfoy!� Then she remembered to whom she was talking,
�Sorry. But, as much as I felt badly for the two of you, the look of pure,
unadulterated hatred in his eyes stopped me cold. I guess that�s why I keep
wondering why. You and Draco are so different from him. Yet, you both stay with
him. I just don�t understand it.�

Narcissa reached across the table and took Hermione�s hand.

�I know your past with Lucius, with us is�tumultuous. And, I understand that a
relationship between the two of you will always be difficult, but you will do
it, for the same reason I stay. The same reason Draco comes home now and then.
The same reason you forgave a person who didn�t really deserve forgiveness.
Love.�

Hermione�s gaze met Narcissa�s as she said, �I love him. He can be hard,
sometimes cruel, often a bit�let�s just say snappish to the world, but not to
me. Never to me. That�s not the man I know, live with and love. That�s his
shell, but not who he is. I know you and your side lost many after The Fall,
but the man I married, and raised a child with, lost everything, his entire
identity. Every belief he had was destroyed, every pride smashed, even his own
son turned on him. You will never know the meaning of broken until you have
seen a once too proud man, crumble at your feet in despair and loss. I know you
don�t believe it, I can see it in your eyes, but trust me, Lucius has feelings.
He hurts and bleeds like any other wizard. He just doesn�t let others see it.
Ever. Just me. And, sometimes, Draco. He can�t let anyone else in. That would
be the final thing to break him. For someone to see how truly broken he still
is. They would pity him and that is something he refuses to accept from anyone,
even me. He lost his pride, a vault or two of his family money, his stature,
and in many ways his self worth. But, as long as he acts like nothing is
changed, then to him, everything is okay. The man you know is not who you think
he is, Hermione. And, that man is the one I love. Very much. The one I chose
and choose to stand by until we die.�

Hermione looked away uncomfortably, but nodded her understanding. �Thank you
for telling me.�

Narcissa smiled at her and said, �Thank you for listening to me. There�s never
been anyone else I felt I could trust enough to tell.� When Hermione looked
over at her, she added softly, �I do so like you.�

Hermione smiled, �I like you too, Narcissa.�

�And, just so you are prepared for it, I should add, one day, should you give
Draco a child, you may be added to Lucius� list of people who get to see him
with a little less control. He is quite feverish for a Malfoy heir, you know.�

She laughed out loud at the look of shock mixed with fear on Hermione�s face.
But, before either woman could comment further, the stove�s timer interrupted
them and both women jumped a bit at the sound. Hermione forced herself to relax
again and turned the conversation back to baking. Narcissa allowed the change
and they shared more laughter as they finished the baking and wrapped the
cookies for Narcissa to take with her.

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

CHAPTER 29

Draco�s day was much different. He spent a good deal of it shocked into
silence, too upset to speak, shouting at his father in disgust and disbelief,
or so angry he had to bite his tongue to keep his comments to himself.

The start of it had been the meeting at Gringotts.
Draco had assumed he was accompanying his father to move some of their funds
around. He had done so many times in the past, and always dreaded the long
process. The goblins didn�t trust the funds to be moved magically, so they
manually moved the money from vault to vault, recounting it on each end. It
took forever and as the Malfoys had 23 vaults in Gringotts
alone, could take them half a day if Lucius had a lot to move.

Draco was struck dumb when he heard his father announce that he did indeed want
to transfer funds, but not to another vault. His father explained that he
wanted half of the money from the Black family vault #2564 and half from Malfoy
vault #1635 to be exchanged into muggle money and transferred to account
#78574938 in the American Bank of Wizards in Draco and Hermione�s names. He
listened in shock as his father explained that his wife had set up the account
the day before, so all should be in order.

It wasn�t until they stood outside in front of the bank an hour later that
Draco finally found his tongue.

His voice was quiet, but forceful as he said, �Father, I can�t believe you just
did that? Do you have any idea how much money that is?!�

Lucius looked down his nose at his son, nodded once and answered, �I did as
your mother asked, Draco. Do you have some objection to accepting your family�s
money?�

�No, but Father�.�

Lucius started down the steps as he asked, �And, is there something wrong with
your mother wanting to make sure you can live comfortably, in the manner you
choose?�

�No, that�s not the�� Draco began, but was once again cut off.

They reached the street and Lucius stopped to stare into eyes so like his own,
�Well, then I suppose this is about her? Why should she have an objection to
sharing your money, when she shares everything else with you?�

Draco knew no way to explain it, but he knew Hermione would not be pleased with
the situation.

�Father, I am sure Hermione will be very thankful of your generous offer, but
she is rather independent and well, she may see this as, well, as a way of
paying her to��

Draco was shocked to see his father�s face cloud in derision and what seemed to
be insult, �Draco Lucius Malfoy, we are most certainly not buying the chit for
you! We are simply showing our acceptance of this situation. Your mother feels
you should have more comforts open to you and this will allow that. If Hermione
Granger can�t accept your family�s money, then she can�t really accept you, now
can she?�

There was no good answer to that and Draco knew it. He thought over the
millions of dollars his parents had given them and knew that in their own way,
this was them showing not only acceptance, but in his father�s case, love for
him. He also knew Lucius kept bringing Narcissa into the conversation as a way
to cover his own part in the entire thing. It touched him to know that
regardless of how his father felt about his choice of partner, he accepted it.
He accepted them.

�You are right, as always, Father. I was being ungrateful and I do apologize.
And, I thank you. I am sure Hermione will be delighted, as well.�

Lucius� face didn�t change, but his snort gave away his thoughts on the matter.

�Come. We are already late to see Simmons.�

Draco started to ask what they needed to see a lawyer about, but his father had
already walked briskly away toward the building next door.

As soon as they entered the building a pretty young witch hurried over to them.

�Misters Malfoy, welcome. Barrister Simmons is ready for you. Please follow
me.�

She turned and led them to an elevator where she pressed a button and they
moved sideways across the building to come to a stop in front of Simmons� outer
office.

�May I take your cane, Mr. Malfoy?

At his look, she backed up a step and stuttered, �Oh, okay, I�ll just announce
you then.�

Draco almost allowed a smile as he watched her trip backwards across the room
to the lawyer�s door.

Minutes later they were seated comfortably in the barrister�s office.

�Is everything ready to be signed Simmons?� Lucius asked in lieu of a greeting.

�Oh yes, just as you asked. We have all the papers here for you and young
Master Malfoy to sign.�

�Well, let�s get this done then. We have a lunch meeting in half an hour.�

�Of course, of course, let me just get a quill,� the nervous man said. �There
you are.�

As Lucius bent over the papers to make sure everything was in order, Simmons
seemed to let out a pent up breath now that the man�s cold eyes were off of
him. He turned to the younger Malfoy.

�If I may say so, Master Malfoy, you are looking well.�

�Thank you, Barrister Simmons. I am quite well. And how are you and your lovely
wife?�

Both men chose to ignore Lucius� indelicate cough. The picture on the desk of
Simmons and his wife showed a little toad of a women who reminded Draco of
Dolores Umbridge with black hair.

�She�s fine as ever, thank you for asking. Away for the week, visiting her
family in��

�I think everything is in order,� Lucius interrupted. �Draco, sign here, here,
here and here, so that we can go.�

Draco was used to following his father�s orders, but had been taught better
than to sign his name to anything he hadn�t read. He slid the papers in front
of him and began to read. The more he read, the more his face drained of color.
By the time he was done, he looked much like a ghost as he stared in horror at
his father.

�I can�t believe you thought I would sign this!� he hissed at his father.

Lucius merely raised an eyebrow at him, �Draco, there is absolutely nothing
wrong with��

Draco cut his father off as he stood up. There were so many things wrong with
it, that he couldn�t think what to say first.

His smoothed his face and kept his voice as calm as he looked at the lawyer,
�Barrister Simmons, I will need some time to read through these thoroughly
before signing. I assume you have another copy.�

Simmons nodded as he stared at the young man, whose eyes had, in an instant,
become exact copies of his father�s.

�Well, then. Thank you for your time. We will see ourselves out.�

Not another word was spoken between the men until they stood in the lobby once
again.

�Draco, I��

�Washroom,� was all Draco said. They turned and walked to the washroom where
Draco cast a locking and silencing charm as he stared at his father.

�How could you?!� he finally exploded.

�Now, you listen here, you ungrateful, little��

�No!� Draco said over his father, �This time you will listen and hear me well
for this is the last time I say this.�

Draco straightened the papers he had balled in his fist and began.

He ripped off the first page and waved it at his father as he said loudly, �If
and when Hermione and I get married, it will not be for political or monetary
gain. For us, nor for you! And, you have no right to dictate that she leave
teaching to work in the ministry after our marriage.�

�Draco, your mother and I feel��

�Don�t you dare!� Draco roared. �Do not bring her into this. I know she
wouldn�t have had any part of this.�

He ripped off the second and third pages and continued, his voice gaining
strength with each word he bit out.

�And, if you ever suggest that Hermione might be unfaithful to me again, I will
personally see you feel the pain of it.�

�Listen, Draco��

But Draco had already thrown the first papers to the floor and balled the
remaining few in his hand as he spat, �And, hear me clearly when I say that my
future children will be of no concern to you, EVER, if you try to pull this
lowly shite again! To suggest that there would be
greater worth and wealth given to boys over girls and magical over non-magical,
when they would be your own flesh and blood is ridiculous, rude, disgusting,
and insulting! I didn�t see a preference for blondes over brunettes, Father.
Or, did I miss that along with eye color?! I know you have no love of Hermione,
but I thought you gave a shit about me!�

�I was only trying to protect you,� Lucius sighed.

�No, you were not! You were purposely aiming to hurt and humiliate Hermione.
Look me in the eye and tell me this travesty of a legal document would have
been drawn up had I fallen in love with a pureblood witch!�

When his father merely stared at him, Draco continued, �I thought not!�

Both men stared at one another for a long moment, before Draco dropped the
remaining pages and set fire to them. Lucius watched the pages burn and
disappear and then looked back at his son. Draco was so angry his hands shook
slightly and his breath was ragged. Lucius hadn�t seen him lose control of his
emotions like that since the day the Ministry had shown up at their door. The
loss of control in his son he could deal with. The anger he could take. But,
the look in his eyes, disbelief, insult, rage, and most of all hurt, he
couldn�t. Above all, he loved his son.

�Draco, listen to me,� he said quietly in a voice Draco hadn�t heard in a long
while. It was filled with sorrow, apology, and just a touch of shame. Things
Lucius very rarely showed outside of the privacy of his bedroom with his wife.
His heart skipped a beat when his father added, �Please.�

He knew how much that one word cost his father and nodded for him to continue.
He watched his father�s eyes slide away from his as Lucius� head lowered
slightly.

�I lo�love you. And, I want nothing less than the world at your feet. Things
have not always been easy for you. For us. I know my incorrect choices led to
some rather�difficult years. But, through it all, I only ever wanted you to be
happy, powerful, and successful. To you that document was an insult, but that
truly was not my intent. I thought it a good way to better secure your future
that is all. I know you are with Ms. Granger, and I believe it to be a rather
permanent arrangement. What you saw as a punishment of sorts for having a
non-magical or girl child, I saw as nothing more than additional praise for
having a magical boy to carry on the Malfoy name. I did not look at it from
your point of view, nor hers. For that I�I do apologize.�

Draco stared at his father in shock. In one speech he had managed to say
everything Draco had ever wanted to hear. He had proclaimed his love, admitted
his stupidity in siding with Voldemort, and apologized, something Draco had
never heard him do. Not even to Narcissa.

�Father, I�I don�t know what to say,� he finally managed.

Lucius straightened his back and lifted his chin once again, �Say nothing. It
is done. We will forget it happened.�

Draco nodded and his father turned to the mirror to straighten his robes, �And,
although I will only say this to you, I have come to have a sort of�respect for
her. She�s a very capable witch, who has chosen to not stand in the limelight
after all that happened, and despite the circumstances of her birth, seems to
be a perfectly agreeable person. She�s pretty enough to be at your side and has
finally proven her intelligence in choosing to be with my son.�

Draco had to clench his jaw to keep it from dropping. He almost asked if his
father was under some curse, but stopped himself.

�Thank you,� he said quietly instead.

Lucius met his son�s eyes in the mirror and allowed a ghost of a smile to grace
his features for a moment. Then with a nod, he put his fa�ade back on and swung
toward the door.

�Will you please lift these infernal charms,� he demanded haughtily. �We are
late for our lunch.�

�Of course,� Draco answered and then followed his father out of the door.

� � � �
� � � � � � �
� � �
� �

Hermione laughed with Narcissa at a story about Draco�s first potty experience.
Even as a small child his privacy had been precious to him, and he had refused
to go with others staring at him. His stubborn streak had landed him in St. Mungos with belly pains as he held it so long he had passed
out.

Narcissa laughed at the memory, as she munched on her small fruit salad, �It�s
funny now, but just imagine how it feels to rush a two year old to the hospital
and then explain he�s there because he won�t go to the bathroom. Quiet scary
and embarrassing, I assure you. They doubted both my sanity and my mothering
skills!�

�I believe you,� Hermione giggled. �You poor thing.�

Narcissa glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. �Oh poo!
It is time. I promised Lucius I would be home by three. We have a party to
attend tonight and he wants to spend some alone time together before we have to
go.�

Hermione didn�t stop the wrinkling of her nose, but laughed, �Too much
information, Narcissa.�

�Oh, I am sorry, dear, but just imagine you and Draco in twenty years. I can�t
believe you would let the passion fade.�

�Okay, stop! I am not talking about this with you,� Hermione said as she
blushed to her roots.

Narcissa looked shocked, �Why ever not? We�re becoming friends and girlfriends
talk about such things.�

�Yes, we are becoming friends, and I am very glad of it. And, we can talk about
almost anything, but this. You�re his mother! I don�t talk to my own mother
about things like this, and I surely can�t talk about him with you, Narcissa.�

�Such a prude,� Narcissa tsked with a laugh. �Okay, I
will let the subject drop for now. Now, get your things and let�s go.�

While Narcissa was headed home, Hermione was going straight to Harry and
Ginny�s. Draco would meet her there.

In front of her fireplace, Hermione smiled warmly and returned the hug given to
her. Her eyes opened wide in shock when Narcissa leaned forward and gave her a
light kiss on her cheek. And, she felt her eyes tear when Narcissa spoke
quietly.

�I am very glad Draco found you again. Thank you for loving my son. And, thank
you for this week. I think I needed you in my life, Hermione, almost as much as
my son did. Good bye for now my new friend.�

�Goodbye, Narcissa,� she answered softly with a wave as Narcissa stepped in and
disappeared in a flash of green.

� � � �
� � � � � � �
� � �
� �

�Honestly, guys,� Hermione smiled as she sipped her tea in the Potter�s living
room, �it was actually kind of nice.�

Ginny laughed and pulled her feet up under her and settled in closer to her
husband on the sofa, �I just can�t picture it. You and Narcissa Malfoy�friends.
Blows my mind completely.�

�I have to say, I agree, Mione,� Harry nodded as he put his cup down and put
his arm around his wife. �It�s weird to say the very very
least.�

Hermione shrugged and laughed, �I know. It�s weird for me, too. I think she�s
lonely for female companionship. And, she seems to honestly like me. Of course,
I know half of it is that I�m with Draco, but we spent a lot of time alone
together and she�s actually very nice. And, she�s honest. I didn�t expect that.
Actually, she�s too honest sometimes, but whatever. It was nice. She can be a
bit much in her exuberance about everything sometimes, but it�s oddly
endearing.�

�So, what about Malfoy?� Ginny asked. There was no need to ask to who she
meant. The sneer on her lips confirmed that she was referring to the father.

�Still an ass,� Hermione shrugged. �But, he seems to at least tolerate me now.
Freakish, insensitive, controlling, egotistical, pain in the ass.�

Ginny laughed, �Tell us how you really feel, why don�t you?�

Hermione grinned at them and then burst out laughing.

Harry finally asked, �Okay, what�s the joke?�

�I was just imagining the conversation where Narcissa explains to him that they
have to have electricity installed in the manor.�

Ginny and Harry looked at her in confusion, so for the next few minutes she
filled them in on Narcissa�s new addiction to American soap operas and talk
shows. When she got to the part about having shown Narcissa how to charm the TV
for Quidditch games to win Lucius over, Ginny doubled over in laughter.

Harry had been laughing, too, but then his eyes drifted over to the TV set as
it played quietly providing them with background noise. �Mione, can you do that
to ours, too?�

Ginny added, �Yeah, that would be so cool!�

And, Hermione nodded, but rolled her eyes at them playfully. She would simply
never understand her friends� fascination with the game.

For the next few minutes she told them more about her week. She had just
finished telling them about Narcissa�s visit to her job when Draco apparated
into the room. He looked around at everyone as he moved toward Hermione.

�Hi, Draco,� Ginny smiled.

Harry nodded, �Draco.�

�Hello, Harry, Ginny,� he smiled. Then he reached Hermione and leaned down to
kiss her lightly, �Hey you.�

She smiled up at him, �Hey. You�re late, what happened?�

Before he could answer, the boys, having heard the pop, ran into the room and
jumped on Draco.

�Hi, Mr. D!� yelled Teddy. �Are you ready?�

Draco reached down, pried a screaming Albie off his
leg, put him on his hip and then stooped down to look into Teddy�s anxious
face. �Ready for what Teddy?�

�You promised to show me how to beat Daddy at Wizard�s Chess, remember? I
already set up the board.�

Draco smiled at him, �No, I didn�t forget, but I just got here. Maybe we can
wait until I�ve had a cup of tea and said a proper hello to your parents first,
okay?�

Teddy looked disappointed, but nodded and mumbled, �Okay.�

He didn�t like to see the boy look sad and figured he knew a way to cheer him
up. It was hard to look serious with Albie jumping up
and down on his side, but he kept his face straight.

�But, guess what?� Draco said softly as he leaned in conspiratorially.

�What?� Teddy mock whispered.

�You remember my big secret?�

Teddy�s eyes flew to Hermione before he turned back to Draco and nodded. Then
he said quickly, �I haven�t told anybody.�

Draco ignored Harry�s attempt to cover his laugh with a cough and smiled, �You
were a very good friend for keeping my secret. Thank you. But, you don�t have
to keep it a secret anymore. I told her.�

�You did!� Teddy shouted. He then put his hands on his little hips and shook
his head sadly, �I�m so sorry, Mr. D.�

Draco looked at him in confusion, but was beat to the question by Hermione, who
had been trying to hold back her laughter at the whole scene, �What for Teddy?�

�Because, now all you�re going to want to do is kiss him and stuff, like Mommy
does to poor Daddy. And, that�s icky.�

Harry laughed, �Well, Teddy, Daddy doesn�t mind all that much. And, I�m pretty
sure Drac�uh, Mr. D will be okay with it, too.�

Teddy looked unconvinced, but nodded, �If you say so.� Then he turned to his
younger brother, �Come on Albie, let�s go play until
Mr. D. is ready.�

The adults watched the boys leave and only when they heard their bedroom door
shut, did they let the laughter out. Harry accioed
Draco a cup of tea and sat back to hear more about their week.

Hermione and Draco shared the telling of the story. Ginny and Harry found
themselves laughing at the stories, but also watching the easiness and comfort
between the two. For Ginny it was a nice thing to see. For Harry it was
unnerving as usual, but also nice and a bit reassuring. If he was going to put
his friendship with Ron in jeopardy over it, it had better be real.

Hermione sat comfortably next to Draco and carried on their conversation, but
she also watched him out of the corner of her eye. Something was wrong, not
that he did anything specifically, but she knew him and felt it. She saw it in
the tenseness of his eyes, the grip he had on his cup, and the way he held
himself. As she carried on their laughing conversation she wondered what had
happened with his father to upset him.

With the understanding girls have with one another, she silently let Ginny know
they needed a moment alone.

Ginny stood and stretched, �Mmmm, I need to go put
dinner on. Be back in a few. And, Harry, would you check on the boys, please?
They�ve been too quiet.�

Harry nodded and got up, but seemed reluctant to leave Hermione and Draco
alone. First, it was rude to leave guests alone, and second, he still didn�t
fully trust Draco. He was coming to like him slowly, but he still wasn�t
completely comfortable leaving the man alone in his house.

Hermione laughed up at him, �I promise we�ll be good. Go check on the boys,
Harry.�

He had the decency to blush a little, but laughed, �Be right back.�

As soon as Harry disappeared around the corner, Hermione put a silencing charm
on the sofa and turned to Draco, �What�s wrong?�

Draco laughed at her perception and leaned over to kiss her deeply. When they
broke apart he sighed, �I needed that.�

�Okay, but that doesn�t answer the question. What happened today? You�re
tense.�

�There�s too much to tell you in the few seconds we have left before Harry
comes back to keep watch over you. But, I�m okay. It was just a long day. I�ll
tell you all about later tonight, okay?�

�Are you sure you�re okay?� she asked softly and put her hand to the side of
his face.

He leaned into her hand with his eyes closed for a moment as he took a deep
breath. Then he turned his head and kissed her palm, �I�m much better now,
love. Thanks for worrying about me, though.�

�I love you,� she shrugged.

�Thanks for that, too,� he smiled at her.

�I never realized how weird that looked,� Harry�s voice interrupted them.

They jumped a little and looked over at him. He stood with his arms folded
across his chest and leaned against the doorjamb smiling at them.

Since they looked confused by his statement he laughed, �Seeing two people
having a silent conversation in ones living room and hearing nothing but
buzzing, is strange indeed.�

He saw Hermione�s, �Oh!� and then the buzzing stopped.

�Thanks,� he laughed, �I don�t think I�ve ever been on the other side of that
before.�

�Sorry about that,� Hermione said.

Draco looked uncomfortable and Harry still wasn�t used to seeing him with
emotions. It unsettled him, so he thought it best to let it go. �Gin?� he
called.

Ginny poked her head out of the kitchen, �Yes?�

�Dinner ready? I�m starving,� he whined.

She shook her head at him, but looked to Hermione, �Soon. Wanna
come help me set the table Mione?�

Hermione nodded and squeezed Draco�s thigh before she got up to join Ginny in
the kitchen.

Harry watched her go and then looked to Draco. �You guys okay?� he asked
softly, not meeting the other man�s eyes.

Draco looked startled by the question, but swallowed his initial snarky retort.
He still wasn�t quite used to Harry being nice to him or being nice in return.
It was strange learning to have friends, other than Blaise, after so long.

�Better than ever,� he finally responded after a pause. �I just had a long day
and she was�sorry about shutting you out in your own home.�

Harry accepted the apology with a nod, but felt he needed to ask, �Anything you
want to talk about?�

Draco again looked at him oddly and shook his head, �No, but thanks, Harry.�
Then he looked away and sighed, �Just spent the day with dear old dad and argh!�

Before Harry could say anything Draco jumped to his feet and started pacing as
he began to spill the whole story. He hadn�t planned to confide in Harry. It
just happened; he just needed to get it off his chest. And, Harry was just in
the right place at the right time and got to be his audience. And as Harry
listened to his ex-enemy describe his day, he realized he never really knew the
Malfoy family the way he thought he did.

�He wanted her to do what?!� he interrupted Draco�s rant on their time in the
barrister�s office.

�I know!� Draco said as he plopped back down on the sofa. �That was my
reaction. But, wait, it gets better.�

Hermione and Ginny had been down the hall in the kitchen
talking when they heard Harry yell. They both jumped up and ran out to see what
had caused the commotion.

They arrived in time to hear Draco say, �So, if that wasn�t
bad enough, he just stops like nothing happened and tells me it�s time to go
have lunch with the Parkinsons!�

�You saw Pansy,� Hermione said from the doorway, her voice filled with
understanding and just a little fear.

Draco turned to see Hermione and Ginny standing together in the doorway and
nodded. He held out his hand to her and she walked toward him.

�Yeah, but that wasn�t the worse part of the day. You missed
all the good parts of the story,� he laughed a little.

Harry shocked himself when he asked, �So, what happened when you got there?�

My word! I am actually asking Draco
Malfoy about his day with his father? When did this happen? When did I start to
give a flying fig about him? Or, his screwed up relationship with his family?
When Hermione began to I guess. Who would have thought we would all end up like
this?

�So, we sit down and they�re all there. Even Pansy�s brother.� He heard
Hermione�s sharp intake of breath and took her hand, �Yeah, I was pretty
shocked, too.�

Ginny growled at the thought of the Parkinson family, but interrupted him to
say, �Hold on, I want to hear this, but dinner�s ready. Come on, we can
continue this in the dining room.�

Draco got up when everyone else did and headed to the dining room. He glanced
over at Harry and it hit him.

I am almost friends with The-Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-A-Pain-In-My-Ass. How the hell
did this happen? When? When I fell for Hermione. Shit! Next thing you know,
I�ll be playing cards with the Weasel. But, it did feel good to talk to someone
about things. I can�t believe I just let it all pour out like that though. I
must be more stressed out than I thought. I�ve never done that with anyone
other than B and Mi. Wow. Well, in for a penny, as they say.

� � � � � � �
� � �
� � � � � �
- 9
- 10
- 11
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Love and Forgiveness