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A Week in November	By : TempestLore Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 8838 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter Universe and I make no profit from it

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Chapter Thirteen

     He crumpled up the parchment and then zapped it with his wand. Harry’s owl contained no new news. “Hey Snodgrass, are you sure there weren’t any other owls for me today?” Draco asked, hoping to hell that Hermione would have written. It had been three long weeks and he was wracked with worry over the safety and wellbeing of his beloved wife and son. Deep down he knew they’d be safe at the Weasleys, with so many accomplished witches and wizards about to protect his family, but that didn’t mean that he had to like it.
     “Sorry mate, only the one owl for you,” the wizard whose job it was to deliver the daily mail said as he shuffled through his stack of envelopes but came up empty.
     “Hey Malfoy?” It was dark in the cave so Draco relit his wand.
     “Zabini?” he said in shock when he saw his former friend Blaise. The Zabini family, like the Malfoy family had walked the tightrope with the Ministry. They were guilty as sin for their part in the war but the Ministry didn’t have half the evidence they needed to convict them. Draco couldn’t complain though because his family was in much the same boat and he walked free. Of course he gave up names to earn his freedom and it was rumored that Blaise Zabini had as well.
     “Hey mate, long time,” Blaise replied.
     “Surprised to see you here.”
     “Why? I’m an upstanding citizen now, just like you Draco,” Blaise laughed and Draco smirked.
     “Well I’m busy so I best get a move on,” Draco said and he turned to leave.
     “If you have a minute, I’d like to have a word,” Blaise said and he sounded serious. Draco sighed and then against his better judgment he sat back down on one of the large boulders that lined the cave. “Word is you’re searching for a vamp, one in particular.”
     “Who told you that?” Draco asked and he grew suspicious. True, Blaise was a former friend, but he didn’t trust him. Hell, he’d never trusted him.
     “Your father told my mother. I’m here to help you nab him,” Blaise said. “Our families are allies again.”
     “Why should I trust that?”
     “Because Barnabus turned my older brother Roderick. Word is the vampires are going after Purebloods.”
     “Rubbish,” Draco said. “My son is a half-blood and fuck you for even making me talk about blood status again,” Draco hissed.
     “Yeah, but he was the Malfoy heir. To Barnabus that gives him control over the family money. He’s going after all the pureblood family heirs, at least the ones with sizeable fortunes.”
     “That’s bullshit. My son isn’t the Malfoy heir, I am.”
     “But he was when he was bitten.”
     “What? So you’re telling me that my son was bitten instead of me because I turned down being my Father’s heir? If this is true why didn’t Lucius tell me himself?”
     “Because he didn’t know until he found out what happened to my brother.”
     “Which is what aside from being turned into a blood sucking vampire?” Draco asked.
     “He turned on us, on all of us. He cleaned out the Gringott’s vault that had our entire family fortune in it. The Aurors had to kill him when he tried to turn my mother,” Blaise said somberly as he cast his eyes downward. “Staked right through the heart.”
     “Damn, I’m really sorry Blaise.”
     “Yeah, so when we found out that you were here to get Barnabus, I offered to come and help you. The only thing I ask is that I’m the one to drive the stake through his heart.”
     “So long as one of us does it I’m good with that,” Draco said and then Blaise Zabini extended his hand to Draco.
     “Mates again?”
     “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but allies for sure,” Draco said with a smirk but he shook the man’s hand.
     “I overheard some of the guys saying there’s a nest of them on the cliffs that overlook the river. I want to have a look, you with me?”
    “Lead the way,” Draco said as he followed his former friend out of the godforsaken cave.

__0__

     “I want my Daddy,” Edmond said and he folded his arms and pouted.
     “I already told you, Daddy is busy healing people and when the war—er—when he’s done then he will come home,” I said delicately to Edmond.
     “Come on Edmond, I’ll give you a ride on my broom,” Ron said and Edmond shrugged but then hopped up and took Ron’s hand.
     “Don’t fly to high and stay away from any trees,” I warned but in all honesty I was thankful that Ron was willing to fill in for Draco. In a short amount of time Edmond had grown close to his father and it was heartbreaking to listen to our young son include Draco in his prayers each night. He often asked for his father to be brought back to him, and yet I was the reason that he was gone.
     “Sad about Harry and Luna,” Ginny said and I turned my attention to the redhead. “Sad it took this long for him to come to his senses. Ron and I have been waiting out that marriage for bloody ages,” Ginny laughed. “Still, now that it’s happened I feel a bit guilty for pining over him for so many years—Ron too.”
     “What do you mean Ron too?” Oh it was widely known that Ginny still carried a torch for Harry, but what she said about Ron left me flabbergasted.
     “He’s always had a thing for Luna. You didn’t know?”
     “No, I hadn’t a clue, but up until recently I didn’t even remember Draco, unless you count the memories of him being a first class prat back in our Hogwarts days.”
     “If you ask me he never deserved your affections Hermione,” Molly commented as she sat on a rocking chair and knitted a hideous sweater.
     “Mum, please,” Ginny rolled her eyes. “Draco is one fine piece of eye candy, it’s not hard to see what ‘Mione saw in him.” I smiled at Ginny. She was right, but there was so much more to my husband than just his handsomeness. A lot more. I miss you Draco!
     “Hermione was happy when she thought Ron was her husband. They were meant for one another, I’ve always thought so,” Molly quipped.
     “No, Molly, that’s not true. Ron and I fought like cats and dogs. As a friend though, I couldn’t ask for better. He and I were not compatible, in or out of bed.”
     “Certainly you don’t mean that,” Molly said, looking down at her knitting.
     “Mum, of course she does! If they were great in the sack then Ron wouldn’t have had to use one of George’s X rated gag gifts in order to please Hermione.”
     “What have Fred and George done now?” Molly said and Ginny covered her mouth. We both ignored the obvious reference to the deceased Fred Weasley. It wasn’t the first time either. I even asked Ron if Molly was doing alright because she had more than once confused the past for the present. Ron said she had been a bit depressed because Arthur had been gone so long. Apparently Charlie was injured taming dragons so Arthur went to stay with him until he was fully healed. Molly stayed back to watch over the rest of the Weasley brood.
     “I’m sorry, I swore I’d never divulge that. Oh shite, Ron’s going to kill me.”
     “Kill you why?” Ron asked as he strode back inside the house with Edmond on his hip, this after a thrilling broom ride.
     “I accidentally spilled about the Love of Your Life Erotic toffee. Oh George is going to have my head too!” Ginny said when Molly scowled. “Please don’t harp on George about this Mum, you won’t will you?”
     “Ginny, you have a big mouth,” Ron said with gritted teeth and I became alarmed.
     “Ronald, I need to speak with you. Immediately!” I said and I rose from my chair and gripped him by the ear as I pulled him into the kitchen.
     “Ow, damn it Hermione, I hate when you do that to me,” Ron scolded.
     “Out with it. Now,” I said and I threw my hand on my hips. He gulped and then I became really worried.
     “Uh, it’s not my fault first off. It’s Mal-Draco’s fault so blame him.”
     “Explain Ronald. You’re trying my patience,” I said with a raised eyebrow.
     “It’s not natural! You don’t ask friends to make love, especially when one is a married woman.”
     “What are you talking about Ron?”
     “I’m talking about me and you. After your accident when the whole bloody charade began, Draco was worried about you not being able to express yourself…sexually speaking…Er…Do you get me?” he asked nervously.
     “Are you saying that he asked you to make love to me so I wouldn’t be alone?”
     “Yes. Thank you ‘Mione. That’s a much better way to put it,” the redhead said and he let out a relieved sigh.
     “That was really sweet of him, to think of me like that,” I said and my heart was overwhelmed with a sense of tenderness only reserved for Draco. “Still, I wish he wouldn’t have done that.”
     “Me too,” Ron admitted. “You’re going to be really mad at me and I’m sorry. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sleep with a married woman, no matter how much you needed it,” he confessed.
     “Ron, we slept together many times,” I stated.
     “Er—No, we didn’t. Not exactly.”
     “What do you mean not exactly? I have memories of us doing it. It wasn’t pleasurable at all and I never got off but I guess I should thank you for trying,” I replied feeling a tad bit uncomfortable with the subject matter myself.
     “George has a whole room in the back of the Joke Shop. He has an entire adult line, in fact, that line is a major money maker and makes up two thirds of his profits. It’s behind the curtain in the back. You can look at it yourself if you don’t believe me.”
     “Just spill it Ron. I do not like where this is headed.” Ron gulped again.
     “I might have given you a toffee, a time or two or maybe more. The Love of Your Life toffees create a sort of experience for the person who eats it. It uh, gives you the experience of having sex with the one that you desire. I’m really sorry ‘Mione.”
     “It seemed so real,” I said. “Frustratingly so.”
     “Yeah, it does seem real, that’s why George sells so many of them. I had to stop buying them though, I was becoming addicted to Luna’s touch.”
     “What? Luna? You didn’t?” I said and I covered my mouth.
     “Yeah, I did. Many times.”
     “Does Harry know that you fancy his wife? And what about Lavender? I thought you were engaged.”
     “No and please don’t tell Harry! Once I heard that Luna and Harry were calling it quits, I sort of chucked Lavender. She was a slag.”
     “You have to tell Harry. I’m not going to do it, but you are. Does Luna return your affections?”
     “I think so. I mean she always smiles at me and even blushes sometimes. Her and Harry were not meant for each other. Luna wants a rack of kids and so do I. I could give her that family that she wants so badly, in fact I’d enjoy doing so,” Ron confessed. I nodded, perhaps he was right but he needed to confront Harry with it. That’s when it dawned on me and my stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies.
     “Wait-So we never once, made love?” I had to ask. I had to hear it from Ron.
     “No Hermione. It was just a spell, which is probably why you never came.”
     “That’s not why I never climaxed Ron. I didn’t get off because I wasn’t in love with you.”
     “Is that still a problem for you? You know I read that some women just don’t orgasm and it’s not your fault.”
     “You read that? Hmph, well wonders never cease to amaze me,” I chuckled to myself at the thought of Ron reading something other than Quidditch. “Ron, I assure you that I have no problems in that arena. Draco can make me come in ten seconds flat.”
     “Really? How does he—I mean..How?”
     “You really need to learn about oral forms of pleasure, especially if you’re going to marry Luna one day. Ronald, I could kiss you right now I’m so happy!” I said and then I did just that. “I never cheated on Draco! This is the best news all around. I need to thank George for the toffees!”
     “Well you could thank me. I’m the one who slipped them in your food when you weren’t looking,” Ron chuckled and I whirled on him and gave him the evil eye before I eventually fell into a fit of laughter.
     “You need to help me and Harry get together,” Ginny said making her presence known. “I’m sorry but I was listening.”
     “Harry doesn’t like butch girls, I told you that,” Ron said to his sister.
     “I am not butch for the last time! Just because I play professional Quidditch it does not make me any less a woman. I still scream when I see spiders!”

__0__

     He felt like he was sinking in quicksand. Each new lead on the vampire Barnabus’s whereabouts turned up empty and yet there were several reports circulating that he was indeed fighting in the war. Two more Pureblood heirs joined Draco and Blaise after Barnabus made his rounds, biting and turning both the heirs to the Flint and Avery fortunes. Every attack followed a pattern that ended with dead heirs and fortunes being stolen from their perspective families. Barnabus was a ghost and a chameleon at the same time. He somehow managed to get by without detection. Draco heard through the grapevine that none of the goblins at Gringott’s could even give a good description of the vampire which led to the idea that Barnabus was using glamors or mind control on his victims. That worried Draco. He had nightmares about his own beloved son killing his wife in her sleep so he knew that time was of the essence. He had to find and kill Barnabus before the temporary spell that healed Edmond and prolonged his transformation wore off. He corresponded daily with his father, Lucius, who assured him that the spell would last at least another month, but as the days went by he grew more and more depressed.
     Hermione hadn’t bothered to write him, and that weighed on Draco’s mind enormously. He stopped shaving, stopped caring about a great many things and he spent all his time tracking down leads on the vampire. Things had quieted down with Janet but her letters kept arriving, sometimes three times a day. He never wrote her back. In her delusional mind they were a couple and were in love. She spoke of Effie and how once they were reunited they could take posh vacations together and finally be a family. Draco was glad for her letters, for only one reason. If she was caught up with him then she wasn’t a threat to his wife and Hermione would be safe. He also received frequent updates on the daughter he barely knew so for that reason he kept reading Janet’s letters. She was apparently open to the idea of Draco having Effie for Christmas, now if he could just get his wife to bloody talk to him before Christmas arrived, they could somehow salvage the holiday for his whole family, Effie included.
     “Bloody hell this time we’ve got him,” Marcus Flint said and he socked Draco in the arm to rouse him.
     “Right,” Draco said sounding very much deflated. Each time he’d got his hopes up that a lead would pan out they were proven wrong and he began to lose hope.
     “Did you hear me Draco?” Flint said.
     “Yeah, I heard you. So what is it this time?” he asked but he was barely listening.
     “We got one of his son’s, least we think it’s his son, he’s kind of young. A vampire named Boris.”
     “I want to talk to him. Take me to him,” Draco said with conviction and he literally leapt from his bunk.

__0__

     I crumpled up the parchment and tossed it in the rubbish bin. The bin was full of letters, letters I’d written to Draco and then pitched. I missed my husband more than words could say which is why each time I tried to write to him my words fell flat. I loved him, that hadn’t changed, and my immediate reaction to finding out that I never actually slept with Ron at all, was to tell Draco, to share with him the good news. But then he had cheated on me, and I couldn’t tell him the news. What if my revelation upset him? He was fighting in a war which was hard enough and I knew my husband enough to know that he would be upset that he cheated on me when I didn’t cheat on him. It would upset me at least. In the end I still hadn’t come to grips with the fact that Janet mothered a child for him, a beautiful little girl at that. I couldn’t find malice in my heart for the girl, it wasn’t her fault at all, but I wasn’t entirely sure that I could forgive Draco for the indiscretion, even if the whole affair smelled of foul play. I had no doubt that Draco was tricked by Janet, perhaps even bewitched into sleeping with her. I hoped that time would heal the wound put there by that snake of a woman and that Draco and I could resume our marriage. I had doubts though, and that’s why I went to talk to a barrister. I just wanted to find out my options, not that I was serious about divorcing Draco. I knew there was no other man out there who was more right for me, but I also had to face the realization that I might not be able to ever forgive him. It was a distinct possibility, and pretending that I did and then acting out in passive aggressive ways, such as when I called him a rat, wouldn’t be fair to me or to Draco. I either had to forgive and mean it with every fiber of my being, or I had to divorce him and let him go. As I sat in the wizard divorce attorney’s waiting room I pondered these very things.
     “Mrs. Malfoy, barrister McTartar will see you now,” the secretary with the cat eye glasses said and I gripped my purse nervously in my fingers and made my cautious way into his office where I closed the door.
     “I already have all of your assets here in front of me. I like to be thorough,” he said and then he began to read off a list of shared assets that Draco and I owned together. All of it felt wrong. “The Graylady Estate is worth the most on this list. We can ask for it if you’d like. It’s worth a try, but you may want to sell the estate and then split the profits,” he said and I leaned forward to gaze at the deed to the property.
     “Can I get that address and perhaps a key? I’d like to go there, just to survey the property myself,” I said and the attorney scrawled the address down on a piece of parchment and he passed it to me.
     “There’s a password on the door lock, so I wrote that down with the address. Now, you just need to sign here and I can start the proceedings. With so many years spent apart, this divorce is an easy one. You could leave here today a free woman. Normally I’d need the wizard’s signature too, which if the bloke doesn’t want a divorce it can hold things up for a long period, but because you’re separated I can fast track it.”
     “Come again? You can end our marriage just like that and all I have to do is sign that parchment?” I asked, horrified. How could a marriage that meant so much to a person be ended in such a short order? It didn’t seem right and I started to feel ashamed that I was even there talking to the lawyer to begin with. I loved my husband and I couldn’t imagine signing the bloody parchment and ending my marriage.
     “I’ve made a dreadful mistake in coming here. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to divorce Draco, I love him still.”
     “Oh dear,” the man said and he looked worried.
     “What’s wrong?” I asked.
     “Your intentions were to divorce, and those intentions have already been relayed.”
     “Relayed how and to whom?” I asked, and I became alarmed.
     “To Mr. Malfoy of course. By law I have to alert all parties to the impending divorce, so when you made this appointment a letter was written informing your husband of your intent to divorce him. It’s a simple automatic letter sending charm, I had no part in sending it myself, but it is the law.”
     “Well stop the letter!” I shrieked.
     “I can’t. The owl left with the letter the moment you entered my office. That’s how the charm works. You can check with my secretary just outside this office, but sending the letter is office protocol. Dear or dear,” the attorney shook his head and frowned.
     “Merlin! He’s going to read that letter and think I wish to divorce him. I have to do something. How can you send out a letter with my intent to divorce when I haven’t signed a single thing?” I was stark raving mad.

__0__

     “Draco,” Harry Potter said. “You really shouldn’t be here.”
     “Why not?” Draco asked and he peered around Potter to get a look at the vampire that was tied and bound and writhing on the floor of the cave. Torches lit up the small alcove in one of the dead-end chambers of the cave and limestone stalactites fell down in spikes from the ceiling. “I need to talk to him. We might be able to get some information about his Master.”
     “Yeah, this is no longer your problem to deal with. The Aurors are on it. I was officially assigned to the case this morning. I’m not allowed to divulge the details, but let’s just say that Barnabus has made his rounds to other Pureblood families.”
     “I know all about it already. Zabini,Flint,Avery and my son. I need to question him,” Draco said and he tried to go around Harry to get to the vampire.
     “Draco, you can’t be here, and when I say here I mean France. We raided an encampment, the place where we found him,” Harry said pointing to the vampire known as Boris. He looked like a teenage kid, with blond hair like himself and pale skin. “We found a list and your name was at the top of it. We believe it to be a sort of hit list of notable Pureblood wizards from both France and Britain. It’s not safe here, not for you. Tomorrow night we are going to lead a scouting party. This boy here, er—vampire, told us where to find Barnubus after we did a little coaxing. Still, he seems pretty confident that his side will win this war, so he hid nothing.”
     “That’s because you’re probably walking into a trap,” Draco quipped putting two and two together.
     “Yeah, we know, but we want Barnabus, so what choice do we have?”
     “Can I just have a moment with him?” the blond asked and Harry reluctantly nodded. Draco made his way to the teen vampire and when he neared the writhing figure on the floor the vampire turned to face him where he hissed like an animal.
     “Good day to you too,” Draco said standing at a comfortable distance from the vampire boy. “Barnabus bit my son. I want to know why?”
     “Why would I tell you, Draco Malfoy?” the vampire snarled.
     “So you know who I am? Why is that? I don’t know you.”
     “You’re Edmond’s father.”
     “That’s right. Edmond is my son. What do you want with him? For that matter, what do you want with me?”
     “You’re nothing but a means to your fortune,” the vampire Boris sneered with his nose in the air.
     “I see, so Barnabus wants me so that he can have my Father’s galleons? Fair enough. What of Edmond? Seems strange that he would want a child. I thought it was…frowned upon…to make a vampire that is so small and can’t fend for themselves?”
     “What do you know about vampire law?” Boris hissed and cursed.
     “Just what I said, that any noble and respected vampire would not prey on the weak and defenseless, like a child. It goes against vampire politics and what is morally acceptable to your kind and to my kind.”
     “You know nothing, wizard! We can feed upon any creature we wish, including children!”
     “Yeah, I suppose so, but my son was not used for a meal by Barnabus, was he? No, he would have finished him off if he were. But your Master turned him instead. Here’s a small piece of information you may not have had, but my son was never the Malfoy heir. I was and am,” he lied. Edmond was for a time the Malfoy heir but he hoped to anger Boris and in his fury perhaps he would divulge something about his son.
     “Money isn’t everything! Barnabus had other uses for the boy.”
     “I don’t think so. I think your Master just made a mistake. Tsk tsk, not a very wise or intelligent vampire,” Draco taunted.
     “Liar! The Prince never makes mistakes. Mistakes are for humans, not exotic creatures of the night like Prince Barnabus,” Boris said and he smoothed his pale hand through his straight, shoulder length hair.
     “He made a mistake, admit it! He thought my son was heir and that he’d turn him and then steal the Malfoy fortune and he would get Edmond to do it for him because he’s too much of a pussy to show himself and risk being caught!” Draco shouted.
     “Just wait until Barnabus takes you. He will toy with you, torture you, prolonging your death until you cry out for your own demise. My Prince will make you watch as he takes your child son as his companion. Oh yes, I was once his age too and Barnabus taught me well how to please him! Edmond is lucky to have the love of the Prince.” Boris howled, his voice deep and frightening.
     “Hmm, I don’t think I like that,” Draco said with his finger on his chin as if he were pondering the idea. So Barnabus wants to rape my son and turn him into his slave? No, I definitely don’t like that.”
     “Too bad! It’s not up to you!” Boris said and at that the teen vampire snarled. His binds broke clean in and half and he rose to his feet. Draco pulled out his wand to defend himself as the vampire reared up into an attack formation.
     “Avada kedavra!’ Draco chanted and he pointed his wand on Boris.
     “Draco, no!” Harry shouted, but it was too late and Boris was disintegrated into a mound of black ash.
     “I hope you were done with him, I certainly was?” Draco said coolly as he stuffed his wand back into his pocket.
     “Yeah, we were. He gave us the location of their base. I just—strange the killing curse worked, isn’t it? It usually doesn’t,” Harry said perplexed. “We would do so much better in the war if the killing curse worked.”
     “It’s because Draco got him angry first,” Blaise Zabini said who was unbeknownst to them standing in the darkness behind Harry Potter. Harry whirled on him, wand in hand.
     “I didn’t see you there,” Harry said lowering his wand.
     “Sorry to give you a scare Potter. Draco made the vampire angry first, that’s why the killing curse worked. I mean I don’t know it for fact but it makes sense. If you can distract them well enough to get them to take down their guard, our curses will have the full potency on them, versus working only sometimes or not at all. It would sure be better to piss them off then to go on using stakes. Nobody wants to get that close to one of these monsters, it’s risky and the stakes make it so we have to fight them right up in their grills,” Blaise said and Draco nodded in agreement.
     “I think he’s right,” Draco said. “As a Healer I am all for less casualties and safer combat.”
     “It’s worth a try. Right then, I’m going to tell the General. Perhaps he can come up with a sure fire way to anger the vampires. I mean what do you say to make them angry, ‘You really need a tan?’ ‘You smell like a rotting corpse?’” Harry chuckled in amusement at his own joke. “Draco, you might have found a new tactic to fighting these blasted vampires.”
     “Well I wasn’t trying to do all that,” Draco said. “I just didn’t like the way in which he spoke about my son.”
     “Yeah, well, I don’t blame you for that, but if the General asks, just tell him that you killed him because he tried to attack you,” Harry said and then he left.
     “Didn’t he?” Draco smiled. “You’ve really changed since school. It’s as if you threw out all respect for the rules and joined the dark side,” Draco smirked and Harry laughed a little.
     “I never really played by the rules, not when the rules didn’t make sense. Next to you though, I really am a Saint,” Harry said and then he sauntered away. Nobody, will ever hurt my son, not ever again and I will kill you where you stand when this is all said and done, Barnabus. Then I will just have Janet to deal with. The bint.

     “Letter for you,” Snodgrass called out to the blond and Draco turned in anticipation and reached for the letter. He was disappointed when it was not word from Hermione. Instead it was from a lawyer. He figured it was something to do with his occupation as a Healer. It wasn’t uncommon for the families of patients’ to file a motion against the Healer when their aging relative passed on from natural causes. It was just part of the job, so he wasn’t overly concerned about receiving a letter from a wizard barrister. There wasn’t much that could shock a former Deatheater like himself, that was until he read the letter.
     This is to inform you, Mr. Draco Malfoy, on this the fifteenth day of December, that your wife, Mrs. Hermione Malfoy has entered into a binding contract reflecting her will to divorce herself from the current marriage that she is engaged in with you, kind Sir. I regretfully inform you of this sad fact, but I look forward to working against you in this matter.
Sincerely,
Wizard Barrister, W.B. at Law
Festus McTartar

     “Bloody hell! Oh no you’re not Hermione,” he said and he leapt up and called for his Firebolt.

__0__

     Molly promised me that the second their old owl, Busby, came back that she would mail my letter to Draco. I thanked her and then I fed Edmond and bathed him and tucked him soundly into bed. I was anxious after my trip to the lawyers and I’d looked at the address of the Graylady Estate a hundred times. I thought I’d wait till morning and then go check it out. I was so curious though and I felt some level of anxiety about it. It was as if something was calling me to go there, to not wait for morning and to just go. I don’t know why I did it, but I told Molly where I was headed and that it couldn’t wait till morning. She didn’t like the idea of me being alone out there after dark but I dismissed her worries. I did not want Ron with me and besides which Ron was too busy to go as he sat and wrote love letters to Luna in hopes that she would fall madly in love with him. Never mind that Harry and Luna’s divorce wasn’t even finalized yet and that he hadn’t so much as asked Harry would he even mind if he dated his wife once she became an ex. No, I would go alone. In fact, I wanted to go alone. I hoped that something would trigger a memory, so I set off for the Graylady Estate.

__0__

     “I know she’s here, so if you will just go and get her,” Draco said as he stood at the door to the Burrow.
     “I’m sorry, but she isn’t here,” Molly Weasley replied.
     “Look, I know you don’t like me and that’s fine, but this is quite important, so if you please tell Hermione I’m here,” Draco continued.
     “Come back in the morning, perhaps you can see her then,” Molly said and she attempted to close the door.
     “I—I can’t do that. It has to be right bloody now,” Draco said and he stuck his hand in the door frame so that she couldn’t close the door on him.
     “I may be old but I can still take on the likes of you Bellatrix Lestrange!” Molly shouted and something had definitely snapped in the old woman. “Now get your hand out of my door.”
     “Hermione?” Draco shouted through the crack in the door, but he kept his eye on Molly Weasley.
     “You can’t have my daughter. I won’t let you do it, I’ll kill you first!” Molly shouted back at the blond. Shit, she’s having a flashback of the final battle at Hogwarts, the Healer Draco said to himself and he became alarmed when he saw the wand in her hand. With his right hand wedged in the door jamb, there was no way he could beat her on the draw, he couldn’t even reach his wand unless he moved his hand.“You’ve left me no choice Bellatrix,“ Molly said and she slammed the door, hard on his hand.
     “Fuck! I’m not Bellatrix! I’m Draco and Hermione is my wife,” Draco shouted as he removed his now broken hand. “You stupid—for fucksake just let me talk to my wife! She’s trying to divorce me. Fuck, my hand hurts. I’m a Healer you know, I rather need this hand,” Draco shouted. He pulled his wand out just in case. “Look, you’re having a flashback. None of this is real,” he said rationally and calmly.
     “You can’t have Ginny, you bitch! Crucio,” Molly shouted and Draco saw the green bolts but it was too late as he landed on his back on the stoop where he writhed in agonizing pain.
     “What’s all the fuss?” Ron said when he staggered to the door, yawning.
     “It’s Bellatrix Lestrange and she’s trying to force her way inside!” Molly yelled and she continued holding her wand on Draco. Green light lit up the night, casting a ghoulish glow over the Burrow.
     “Who is? Bellatrix is dead, Mum,” Ron said from behind the door and Draco howled out in pain.
     Suddenly the door flung open.
     “Merlin Mum, stop it, stop it! It’s Draco not Bellatrix!” Ron gripped his aging mother’s arm and the curse ricocheted off the old, red barn before the poisonous, green light finally ceased. Draco was panting as he lay in a heap on the front porch.
     “Malfoy, I’m sorry, but Mum has episodes sometimes. Merlin, I’m really sorry,” Ron said as he extended his hand and helped the blond up. Draco was shaking and every muscle in his body ached. The Cruciatus curse was the spell that kept on giving even after it was over and Draco knew that he’d be feeling it for several hours. It wasn’t the first time he’d experienced that particular curse. The Dark Lord himself had used it on Draco at least once after he disappointed him when he failed to kill Dumbledore. His stomach was on fire and in knots all at the same time and his head was throbbing so badly that it made him feel nauseous. He promptly leaned over and wretched, right there on the porch.
     “Damn, I’m really sorry Malfoy, I really am. Let me get you some water,” Ron said and he flung the door open. “What are you doing Mum, it’s Malfoy is all, you know Hermione’s husband? He’s a friendly, Mum, not a baddy, not anymore at least,” Ron apologized for his mother who was standing in the kitchen holding her wand in one hand and a frying pan in the other.
     “Is she going to hit me with that?” Draco asked and Ron turned.
     “Which one, the wand or the pan?” Ron asked and Draco was growing impatient. Do not curse the old bag, she’s mentally ill, remember that, Draco told himself but everything in him wanted to hit her with a nasty hex in order to repay the favor.
     “Mum, put those down. Malfoy’s cool, it’s alright.” Ron removed the wand from her hand just in case and stuffed it into his pocket.
     “I need to see my wife, it’s an emergency,” Draco managed to say through the intense waves of pain that wracked his body like an aftershock after an earthquake.
     “Yeah, Malfoy I’m just real sorry about Mum. Some days she still thinks she’s back in the war and you’re the enemy. Bit senile I reckon,” Ron explained.
     “There are potions for that. Take her to a Healer,and don’t wait. Do not bring her to me though! Now, my wife?”
     “She may be upstairs, but I thought I heard her leave a bit earlier. Let me ask Mum,” Ron said but Draco didn’t wait for an answer as he took off up the winding stairs, staggering as he went. He didn’t find Hermione, but he did find his sleeping son. He paced to his bedside and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was out of breath and he winced in pain. He ran his good hand through his son’s hair and then leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. For good measure he checked the site of the bite marks and was relieved to see that they had healed over. By all accounts Edmond had no signs of vampirism. He was standing to leave when Edmond awoke and launched himself into his arms.
     “Daddy!” Edmond said gleefully and he flung his little arms around his neck. “You look sad,” he said and he pulled on the beard that Draco had inadvertently grown while he was away. “Are you coming back to me and Mummy s-s-oon?”
     “Yes, soon, son. Just as soon as I can,” he said and he laid him back in bed and covered him up. “Now get some sleep, and before you know it I’ll be back for good. I love you,” he said and then with a heavy heart he backed out of the room.

     “Nearest I can tell Hermione went to your house,” Ron said when Draco made his way back down the stairs.
     “My house? Which? You mean Malfoy Manor, or the Apothecary on Diagon Alley or the cottage I bought for you and my wife, or the GrayLady Estate? Please answer quickly, my hand really hurts and so does, well, everything else, and my patience with all things Weasley is growing thin,” Draco admitted. “Hermione?” Draco said but all he wanted to do was hit him square in the jaw right at that moment, except he didn’t because he knew Ron was just being Ron.
     “The Graylady Estate is what Mum said.” Draco flew out the door before Ron even finished his sentence. He turned only to say one thing.
     “I’m taking my son out of here just as soon as I’m able to lift my fucking arms again. If you don’t take your Mother in to be seen by a Healer, I will press charges. You can count on that.”
     “Thanks, Malfoy. I will take her in tomorrow I swear it. Are you sure you’re going to be able to fly?” Ron asked, but his voice trailed off as Draco kicked his wobbly way into the air and sped off into the night.

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     “Slytherin is the best,” I whispered at the lock and I rolled my eyes. It didn’t take a genius to figure out just who had chosen the password for the door. The door creaked open. I pushed the heavy door with the antique knockers open all the way and then I gaped in awe at the grand foyer. I stepped inside and closed the door and then gazed up at the crystal chandelier that hung high from the ceiling. The house had hardwood floors and Muggle light dimmers on the wall that I fiddled with until the place was lit up. Out of habit I waved my wand and the door closed itself. The house was gorgeous; there was no doubt about that. The furniture was covered with thick, white sheets, probably to keep the dust off of them. The kitchen had a large bay window that probably overlooked the grounds but it was dark and I couldn’t see much so I proceeded up the stairs.
     The first room I came to nearly brought tears to my eyes as I stepped into the nursery. It was blue with fluffy clouds painted on the walls and a bassinet and child’s bed that had a Slytherin colored bedspread. There was a mountain of supplies, still in boxes like nappies and bottles and blankets. I cringed when I realized that Edmond never slept in the beautiful room that Draco and I had probably slaved over in order to make it comfortable for our son. Draco, that’s what is missing from this picture. It just didn’t feel like home without him at my side. I padded into the Master Bedroom and then I covered my mouth. I was going to cry it was so perfect. The fluffy white duvet with matching curtains and the dark wood furniture were simply divine. It was the bedroom I always wanted. I sat down on the fluffy mattress and kicked my shoes off as I lay back in the king size bed. Gods it was comfortable. I yawned and stretched and then I turned on my side. That’s when the picture caught my eye. I reached for the frame and I stared at the moving images. That was it and tears streaked down my cheeks when I saw the handsome blond in the photograph. It was taken on our wedding night and it was a classy but rather naughty picture of the two of us. I was wearing a long lacey veil, the sort that draped over your head and that fell down your back all the way to the floor, and that was all that I was wearing. Draco’s shirt was unbuttoned and his lean, toned chest peeked out as I trailed a finger down and down until it stopped at his belt buckle, which was already undone. We were cuddled up together with me on his lap, wrapped in the white veil. It was tasteful in that it hid all of my lady bits but still showed quite a lot of leg. Draco looked so handsome as he gazed into my eyes in such a deep and profound way that I felt my heart flip and then flop in my chest. “Draco, what am I going to do with you?” I said and I stared at the image of my husband.
     “It seems you already decided that when you opted to divorce me,” a man’s voice said and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
     “Draco! Merlin, you frightened me. I didn’t hear you come in,” I said holding my hand over my chest and rising to my feet.
     “Why? Is this what you really want Hermione?” he asked and he looked upset. I barely recognized him in his army fatigues and with the dark blond scruff on his face. I’d never seen him in any way other than clean shaven and I just gaped at him. Even with the beard and sporting a rugged, masculine look he was still gorgeous. “You’re bloody divorcing me?” he asked and he held out the letter from my attorney in his shaky hand.
     “There should have been a letter after this one,” I said weakly. “You didn’t get another letter, one from me explaining about the first letter?”
   “Hmm let me think,” Draco said sarcastically and angrily. “I’ve been gone for three weeks and not one damn letter from my wife. Does that answer you?” he said with a raised voice.
     “Just calm down,” I murmured and I stepped forward and planted my hands on his chest. His gaze followed my hands and he went rigid as if my touch were a disease. “I’m not divorcing you, alright? It was a stupid form letter—I couldn’t go through with it.” He seemed to relax at that and I saw the relief wash over his face.
     “I wanted to be the one to bring you here,” he mumbled and then he dropped his medical bag and I watched in shock as his eyes rolled back into his head. I moved to steady him but it was too late and he collapsed completely. He fell into my waiting arms and thankfully we hit the bed, otherwise I would have dropped him as his whole weight fell upon me. He was out cold and a swathe of my hand across his forehead told me that he was burning up with fever. That’s when I noticed the scorch mark on his abdomen where his shirt had been burnt. In my experience that could only be caused by a spell, and a nasty one at that. I reached for his hand in order to pull him up better onto the bed and that’s when I noticed his hand. I gasped when I saw it, his whole hand appeared to be crushed and at least one of the bones in his fingers was bent back in the wrong direction, obviously broken.
     “Oh my God, Draco, who did this to you?”

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A Week in November