Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Let There Be No More Curse	By : lexiatel Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 61015 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 10
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to Jk Rowling, I do not make any profit in writing this story what so ever, I am just having some fun.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
"And... they're back to hating each other again," Goyle announced as Zabini and Marietta finally returned to the table that they had been sitting at before the dancing had started (after thirteen dances that Hermione had physically counted).
"Yep," Draco muttered, merely to acknowledge his friend's statement.
How do they do that? Hermione wondered, watching the two, in turn, each order up a few drinks. She just couldn't wrap their sudden mood changes around her head. "It can't be the drinking," she spoke out loud. They both had drank a fair share before they joined in on the dancing, and they had danced amazingly well for the amount of liquor they had consumed too. "It's like... they have a high tolerance of alcohol..."
"With as much as they drink, they probably do," Goyle reasoned.
"Not quite," Draco said. "They order plenty of Sober-Up potions."
"The pains of being an alcoholic." Goyle shook his head. "I know the feelings all too well, took a good many of those potions myself."
Draco sipped his drink. "Aye, same here," he admitted grimly.
"Who didn't?" Hermione grunted. The two wizards nodded their agreement.
Zabini and Marietta made their way to where Goyle, Draco and Hermione were standing after finishing their drinks.
"I'm thoroughly enjoying myself, Draco," Zabini told him. He sent Draco a smile before turning his attention to Hermione. "The eye candy you provided is just exquisite. How beautiful you look tonight, Miss Granger. As radiant as ever." His smile grew wide at Hermione's stunned look. She couldn't believe he'd say such a thing to her. All the while, with his own wife standing right next to him!
"Don't be jealous of me now, Blaise," Draco teased.
Zabini's smile immediately fell from his face. His eyes shifted from Hermione to Draco and back again. "Yes, some of the less deserving folks have all the luck, don't they?" he said, cocking his head at Draco. "How do you do it, mate?"
"You've had too much to drink, dear," Marietta hissed under her breath, looking a bit uncomfortable with Zabini's behavior.
"Like your opinion matters at all," Zabini snarled at her.
"I'll agree with her," Hermione said quickly, sending him a dirty look for the tone he had used to address Marietta.
"And I didn't ask you for your opinion," Zabini retorted bluntly. "So why don't you hush your pretty little mouth."
Hermione fists clenched angrily. How dare he talk to her like that! "Excuse me, you slimy, good for noth—"
"Blaise," Draco cut in warningly, and stepped between she and Zabini before a fight could break out, even though he looked about ready to rip Zabini's head off.
Hermione had to give Draco a great deal of credit for keeping his cool. She took a step back to give them space, allowing him to handle his rude guest.
"Perhaps you have had a bit too many drinks," Draco said firmly, with a no nonsense tone to his voice.
Zabini straightened himself with a sniff, insulted. "I've not," he said arrogantly. "I still see quite well. I've enough when my vision is blurry."
"Yet, in a sober state of mind, you'd never speak to a girlfriend of Draco's like you've just done," Goyle pointed out. "Nonetheless, a Gryffindor one; Miss Granger, specifically. We all know the strength of her spells. Pretty bold move, if you ask me."
"As thick as it was," Draco sneered, curling his lip up darkly. And, even if she could take care of herself without his help, Hermione felt good that Draco was standing up for her. She knew from having been pulled into his memories that he would do all he could to keep her from harm's way, but seeing it in reality (though, she'd admit she wasn't in any real danger) put it into perspective. She had felt the same way when Ron and Harry had defended her throughout the years of their friendship. Having Draco do it just brought tears to her eyes. Tears she hastily had to blink away in order to see what was going to happen next.
"Oh, please don't fight," she whispered to the men. She glanced around the room, noticing that everyone had stopped what they were previously doing to watch them.
Zabini looked at each of his friends, thinking over their words. He nodded after a moment. "Yes, I suppose you're right..." he agreed distantly. "My apologies, Draco. And you too, Miss Granger." He tipped his head meaningfully at her. "I think it would be wise if I took my wife home now before I say anything else that I may not mean."
"Swell idea, Blaise." Draco relaxed his posture some, letting out a breath of relief. "Thank you for coming."
Zabini smirked. "Anytime, mate. Good night to you all— Marietta, we're leaving now," he announced as if she hadn't been standing there, witnessing the whole episode.
"I know that already," she grumbled.
"I wasn't too sure— You often ignore half of what I say."
"Well, if half of what you said was actually relevant, then I'd find that listening to you wouldn't be a waste of my ruddy time!"
A few more horrid exchanges were made before the two were out of hearing range from Hermione. She felt awful for them. Their relationship was an utter mess. She did not see the point in a couple being together if they were so miserable in each others company. Their presence alone depressed her, and she found herself grateful that they were no longer around— selfish as she was for feeling that way.
"You alright?" Draco asked, touching her arm.
She nodded, biting her lip. "I just feel... privileged."
"Why?"
"Because I know we'll never be like that."
He smiled, taking her hand. "If I ever talk to you like that, I permit you to hex some sense back into me, but I am sure you're right. I love you too much, and I promise never to treat you in such a way ever again."
Hermione crashed into him, hugging him tightly. A tear slipped from her eye, both happy and sad. Happy that she had Draco to go to for comfort now, and sad because of Zabini and Marietta's poor life.
Everyone should be able to live a life full of love.
The day before Christmas was two days later. Hermione thought things were going better than she had originally expected. Even Mr. Malfoy didn't seem as bad as he usually was. Maybe it was the holiday season. Or it could have been because she was avoiding him, not wanting to start a childish squabble with him in front of her son. Sometimes it was just best to ignore things. Lucius Malfoy spent most of his time in his telly room anyway. Hermione thought he was better off in there.
On this day, Draco and his father were engrossed in an extremely close match of Muggle hockey, setting them on the edges of their seats, cheering when their chosen team scored, and cursing obscenities when their team was losing.
Hermione wasn't interested in many sports (especially contact ones), so she went searching for Mrs. Malfoy to see what she was currently up to.
Draco's mother was constantly doing something. Hermione wasn't sure if she was having a midlife crisis or just liked to keep busy. In the past few weeks, she had learned that Mrs. Malfoy liked to try new things, seemingly going through a list to find something she enjoyed doing. Perhaps all done in search for a new hobby. Hermione had suggested knitting, as she enjoyed doing that a little bit here and there herself, but Mrs. Malfoy had told her she tried that already (along with quilting, crocheting, etc).
"I'm just not artistic enough for anything like that."
Hermione found Mrs. Malfoy in the oversized dining room that the Malfoys ate most their meals in. Staying here at the Malfoy Manor felt like living in a royal palace. She knew the Malfoys were rich, but they didn't even use ninety percent of their "home". She didn't understand the point in living in a place that would take you a week to walk to every room, floor, and wing. As it was, the place she and Draco lived in was too big for her taste, but it was a medium ground for them— a compromise.
Mrs. Malfoy was slightly leaning over the long dining table, busy stuffing an abundance of different items into a cloth bag. A House-elf was helping her on the opposite side of the table, also filling her own bag with things. Lots of things were scattered around the table in large, neat piles that were stacked high above Mrs. Malfoy's head. There were assorted kinds of foods, including salted meats, fresh produce, and canned goods. Among the foods, there was also a long list of non-edible things, like winter socks, gloves, scarves, and hats, stuffed toys, and muggle batteries (this puzzled Hermione the most).
A pile of bags had been stacked in the corner the room, all sealed closed with a string.
"Hello, Miss Granger," Mrs. Malfoy greeted when she noticed Hermione standing at the entrance, observing the scene in interest, trying to figure out what she was doing.
"Ma'am," Hermione returned, stepping in hesitantly, not wishing to bother the woman.
"Rahrun!" Scorpius burst out, waving at one of the House-elves. Pippsy was the elf's name. She was Mrs. Malfoy's personal one, and Hermione had discovered that the two were very close. Like Draco was with Toogy.
"Oh, Little One!" Pippsy squealed from her spot, pausing just long enough to wave back to the baby, making Scorpius gurgle happily.
"Time for a break!" Mrs. Malfoy announced, turning toward Scorpius. "Grandmother needs her kisses!" She held out her arms to take Scorpius from Hermione. Scorpius leaned into his grandmother's arms and burst out into a squealing laughter while Mrs. Malfoy loudly kissed his cheeks repeatedly. "You sweet, sweet little baby!" she said, hugging the boy. "Grandmother loves Scorpius so much, doesn't she?!"
"Gah!" Scorpius replied and gave her a kiss back.
Hermione beamed at the scene, finding it absolutely adorable. If only she had Draco's ClickCap with her. She should really buy one of those devices, now that she had Scorpius.
Mrs. Malfoy sighed. "Well, back to work then. Sorry, baby." She gave the baby a pout before handing him off to a smiling Hermione.
"So, what are you doing anyway, Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione asked quietly. She felt incredibly out of place, even if she had spent the last four days here. Everything had such an awkward feeling to it. Obviously, she didn't belong in the Malfoy Manor. The castle sized home, the over rich food, and priceless objects just didn't fit in with her lifestyle.
"Oh, yes, this," Mrs. Malfoy said, as if she just realized that Hermione had discovered a big secret of hers. She put a hand up to her mouth, covering it up. "I've been so distracted lately to say anything to you about it." The elder witch went back to bagging up the items, frowning slightly. "I do this every year," she explained. "Well, for the past five years anyway. It's for the unfortunate Muggles; the ones with very little money."
So Draco wasn't the only one doing charity. Well, this explained his twist of philanthropy. It made perfect sense. He must have gotten the idea from someone, and for many reasons, Hermione didn't think his father did very many good deeds, if any at all.
"That's really nice of you, Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione shifted Scorpius to her other hip. He was getting heavier and heavier everyday, and holding him for extended periods of time was getting shorter. "Would you like some help?"
"I would very much like that— grab a bag."
Hermione set Scorpius on the floor so he could crawl around. Before she started helping with the packing of the charity bags, she blocked a few things to keep Scorpius from them. Like the pile of ready to be shipped bags, and the doorways, so he couldn't wander out of the room.
Keeping an eye on her son, Hermione listened to Mrs. Malfoy as she instructed her on what to do. "And what are these for?" Hermione asked, holding up a packet of batteries.
"Don't Muggles use them for their own magic? To make things move and work on their own?"
"Yes, for devices such as remote controllers and flashlights."
"That's what I thought. I've added them in for the little children. A lot of toys need those things, and they cost money."
"Right." Hermione laughed at her thoughtlessness. "I should have remembered that. I hated it when I was little. Nothing came with batteries! And many times my parents didn't realize this."
"I've bought a massive amount," Mrs. Malfoy assured her proudly. "There's going to be a thousand happy little ones tomorrow morning." She was shining with happiness.
"It's a brilliant idea, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione complimented. "I think it's nice of you. What does your husband think about it though?"
Mrs. Malfoy grinned faintly. "He doesn't know."
"You're hiding it from him?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"I'd rather not hear him cavil about it," she said stiffly.
"But why not just... you know, tell him off, like you've done before?"
"Do you think I like speaking to my husband like that? I love him, with all my heart. I hate it when I have to scream and threaten him. I only do it when I find it necessary. And this is definitely not a necessity."
"Oh..." Hermione could relate. She hated it when she fought with her friends, and had learned to button her mouth, keeping her opinions to herself when it truly didn't matter. "Does Draco know?"
"Yes, he does. I have him help me when he wants to. He helped pick out a few things from this lot."
"How have you kept this all a secret from Mr. Malfoy?"
"Oh, you've seen him," Mrs. Malfoy said nonchalantly, waving it off. "Set him down in front of that Muggle contraption and he's glued to his seat for several hours. Lazy bum he's become." She chuckled in amusement. "But enough about me; when are you and my son going to get married?"
"Married?!" Hermione choked out. "What in the world brought that up?!"
"You are going to do it, aren't you?" Mrs. Malfoy's eyebrows raised up as she asked the question.
Hermione dropped her eyes to her working hands. "I... well... I haven't given it much thought..." She had barely adjusted to the idea of Draco being her boyfriend, and now his mother was asking about marriage? Gosh, she didn't want to rush things... Hermione felt that she and Draco still had a lot of things to sort out. They argued over many things. The most important one being what to spend money on (both had very different ideas on what they needed).
"The bond has sealed your fate with him already," Mrs. Malfoy said candidly. "May as well make it official."
"He hasn't even... asked me..."
The older witch scoffed. "That boy will be fifty before he actually does it! I say, it's a new era, my dear, maybe you should ask him. I'm sure that he'll accept."
Hermione chewed the inside of her lip. Mrs. Malfoy was right about the bond. Magically, they were a married couple, but she just didn't think they were ready to make it official quite yet...
"I'll think about it..."
*/*
"You and Granger have been smooth sailing these last few days," Father spoke up when a commercial break came on.
"Yes," Draco said, waiting for him to make his point. Father didn't usually bring up Granger in a conversation unless it was to fish for information.
"I think you're failing horribly in converting her lifestyle."
Or if he felt like he wanted to poke at Draco.
What was it with this man? Draco never met his father's parents, but they must not have praised him enough. "She loves the caldarium," Draco informed, choosing to ignore his father's jab. "Adores it. She won't admit it though. I think she's afraid of enjoying the luxuries in life."
Father's mouth quirked to the side a bit. He summoned up his House-elf, and ordered up a case of beer and some pretzels. "Are you two on common ground with Scorpius?"
Draco leaned back into his chair that sat next to his father's. He looked up at the ceiling, admiring the sage green colour of it. "For the most part," he answered. "She can't seem to grasp that Scorpius is not the average baby..."
Father's refreshments arrived then, and he instantly shooed off Slinky, not wanting his House-elf in the room while he spoke with Draco. Draco leaned forward to take a handful of the tiny bread snacks from the coffee table that sat between their chairs.
Father took a thoughtful sip of his beverage before he asked quite curiously, "When are you going to ask for her hand?"
Draco gasped for air suddenly. His father's question caused him to swallow too soon and his airway clogged up. He coughed deeply, covering his mouth. When he was able to breathe again, he saw his father was smirking delightfully, clearly enjoying the reaction Draco had given him.
"Merlin!" Draco hissed. "Why would you ask me such a question?! Why would it matter to you at all? You already got the heir you wanted!"
Father's attention went back to the telly. "A man can wonder, can he not? Have you confessed your love to her yet? They don't tend to refuse your offer after doing so."
"You're pathetic!" Draco rolled his eyes and opened himself up a bottle of beer. "You think I don't understand the relationship you have with Mother?" he asked. He quickly chugged a few gulps of the drink, allowing it to wash the left over chunks of pretzel from his throat. "As much as you like to pretend that you have a leash on your wife, you don't, so stop expecting me to have the same!"
Father turned his head to briefly look at him. His eyes flickered back to the screen an in effort to not miss out on anything important with the hockey game they were watching. "I'm only expressing how you spoke about women before you got yourself tangled up in the bond," he said innocently. He pursed his lips. "You bloody idiot!" he hissed to the telly. "Tranelly was right there! Learn to pass, you imbecile!"
"Hermione is different than those other woman!" Draco insisted.
"Very much so," Father agreed. He sighed. "You kids these days do everything so arse backwards! Sex first, have the baby, get a house together, then date, confess your love, and marry last?! It's ludicrous! First comes love, then comes marriage, and the rest comes after all that." He shook his head in disapproval. "And that is all thanks to the Muggles. I can prove it to you! In my day, we were much more sensible."
Draco snorted. "Speak for yourself, Father. You're just a prude, and you know it. We've been having sex before marriage for decades—"
"And we took precautions! Or at least... we used to!"
"I did take that bloody potion! The bond interfered with it!" Draco practically shouted in his defense. How could his father think that he had been that foolish? Sleeping with Hermione had been stupid, but he knew better than to not take precautions. He wanted to have children with someone he deemed worthy, not with some one night stand.
"I know..." Father softened. "I was speaking about people your age in general..."
Draco set his half finished bottle of beer on the table. "Blaise, right?" Obviously, the other night had gotten many people to think about his friend's marriage. He couldn't help regretting sending them an invitation.
Father gave a single nod. "I took him to be a much smarter man."
"They would have been better off if they had not married..."
"But that's not the case with you and Miss Granger," Father said, keeping his eyes on the hockey game.
"Father..." Draco addressed slowly. "Are you saying that you would approve if I married her?"
Father said nothing as he leaned forward into his seat, watching the telly intently. His eyes narrowed in excitement. "Yes!" he grunted under his breath as the team he supported scored a goal.
"Father...?"
"Quiet, Draco," he scolded gently. "I don't want to miss this."
Later that night, they all joined together in one room to decorate the tree that Mother had instructed the House-elves to leave bare. It was a family tradition to trim the tree on Christmas Eve. They had all sorts of Christmas decorations to decorate with, including some antique ones that had been in the family for centuries.
After showing Scorpius how to hang an ornament, Draco held him up in the air so the baby could help. "Slip the branch through the loop of thread, chomper," he said encouragingly, lifting up the boy a bit higher so he had a better reach.
Scorpius paused to watch Hermione work next to him. She sought out a perfect place for the icicle she had been given to hang. He wrinkled his forehead in concentration and made to copy his mother. "Gahney!" he shrieked out happily, letting Draco know he was finished.
"You got it, Scorpius?" Draco peaked around his son's body, seeing that thread was barely on the branch. He placed Scorpius at his hip and pushed the thread further on. "There we go. We got it now."
"Ah!" Scorpius cheered and clapped. "Derbla!"
"Want to do it again?" Draco asked.
"Gah!" Scorpius turned his head to his Grandfather, who was untangling decorations and passing them out. It was a job that Father liked doing most of all. Which was fine by everyone else, since they'd rather not bother themselves with the frustration of it.
"Here's the one you got for your first Christmas." Father handed the trinket to Draco.
"Oh, let me see!" Hermione rushed to Draco's side. She wrinkled her nose after she got her look of it. "Charming," she said politely, thoroughly unamused with it.
Draco laughed. The trinket was a plastic green and silver striped, ghoulish looking snake with a blond infant saddled on it, riding the serpent as if it were a horse.
"Severus got him that," Mother informed Hermione with a sad smile. "Lucius made the mistake in offering the job to him. Oh, but he was so excited to be a godfather though, wasn't he? Took it seriously, he did."
Father nodded a reply, putting on a blank face, no doubt, remembering the loss of his best friend.
"Professor Snape, excited?" Hermione's eyes widened in doubt. "I wouldn't have thought that would ever be possible."
"I know, right?" Draco chuckled and handed the item to Scorpius. "Careful, son, that's a priceless item now."
Scorpius clung it to his chest until Draco approached the tree. "Ah?" He pointed high above his head, stretching his arm out near the star that Father had previously placed at the tip of the tree.
"Right under the star?" Draco asked to confirm Scorpius's suggestion.
"Gah," Scorpius said, nodding. He then held the ornament in front of Draco's face for him to take.
"Thank you," Draco whispered to the boy and took the item with his free hand. He kissed the Scorpius's cheek before standing on his tiptoes to place the treasured decoration in the spot Scorpius had chosen for it.
Scorpius beamed proudly, and giggled when Draco wiggled a finger under his chin. "Bah!" he shrieked between his giggles.
"Mumma's baby." Hermione came up behind them, smiling at Scorpius. "You're so cute!" She held up Draco's ClickCap for a picture of Scorpius who was looking over his father's shoulder. "Big smile for Mumma, Scorpy!" Hermione said.
Scorpius cooed at his mother's attention and Draco heard the device click, capturing the moment.
"Alright, one of me too, Mumma!" Draco exclaimed, swinging a laughing Scorpius up to the back of his neck for a ride. He turned around, smiling so wide, it was too goofy and made Hermione laugh. She managed to take a picture though.
"Now with Grandmother!" Mother said, gesturing Draco to give her the child. Mother hugged Scorpius as tight as she could without hurting him, and Hermione captured an image of her kissing the baby. "And Grandfather too!"
"No, Narci," Father hastily said. "Not right now, I'm busy with this." He held up a chain of tangled Christmas baubles. An eyebrow of his rose up as he assessed the mess, clearly not knowing where to start.
Mother didn't care though; she plopped Scorpius onto the sofa, right next to Father. She then asked Hermione for the ClickCap and took a few photos. "Go and give Grandfather a great big kiss, Scorpius!" she told Scorpius.
Father sighed. "Dear," he spoke softly as Scorpius climbed up to his feet. "I can't— AH!" His eyes widened as the baby gripped a fistful of the man's long, silky hair to pull himself up higher so he could reach his grandfather's cheek. "Scorpius!" he hissed out in pain. Mother burst out into laughter and rapidly took pictures of Father's discomfort.
"Someone get him off!" Father pleaded as if he was being attacked by some vicious monster.
Hermione snickered next to Draco as his father tried to pry the boy's hand from his hair. Draco laughed himself before he went to help the man out.
"Merlin, that boy has an iron grip!" Father said, rubbing his sore head. "Leave my hair alone, boy!" he scolded Scorpius, shaking a finger at him. "Never touch Grandfather's hair! Never!"
Scorpius hid his face into Draco's shoulder. "Derbla..." he sniveled.
Draco rubbed his back. "How did you expect him to react?" he asked Scorpius, murmuring into his ear. "One's hair is very sensitive. Or rather their head is, really..."
He then went to a round tin container for some blue tinsel. "Want to try something fun?" He took a handful of the shiny material and shook it in front of Scorpius's face. "Ooh, is that pretty," Draco drawled, watching his son's mouth form an 'O' shape at the sparkling shreds. "This is easy. You just stand in front of the tree and give it a good toss." He demonstrated the movement, and Scorpius twitched around in his arms with excitement.
"Gah! Gah!"
Draco then allowed him to grab his own handful to throw at the tree. "Great job!" Draco said when the pieces clung to the tree. Not a one fell to the floor. "Keep that up and you may just be the next Lavin McCardin."
"And who's that?" Hermione asked, over hearing Draco.
"The best Chaser in the league right now," he announced with a grin.
"Draco has a man crush on him," Father spoke up without taking his eyes off his task of unsnarling the decorations, having had returned to it after Scorpius had been removed from him.
"I do not!"
Father took a second to raise his eyes up to Hermione. "Really, it's worse than the one he used to have on Harry Potter."
"Lucius!" Mother scolded. "That's not nice!"
Father smirked. "Oh, he knows I'm only joking!"
"Although, you were pretty obsessed," Hermione teased Draco gently, bopping him on his nose with a finger and giggling when he chomped his teeth playfully at her.
"Yeah, whatever," Draco said, rolling his eyes. That was a part of his life that he didn't really want to think about anymore.
Even if it was in a joking matter.
"What Christmas traditions did you use to do with your parents, Mione?" Draco questioned hours later. She was snuggled next to him while Scorpius sat in his lap, skimming through a book called "The Polar Express".
Hermione's eyes glazed over with a hollow sadness, looking at the litten tree the family had finished decorating that evening. He felt her press closer against him for comfort. "We didn't do much," she said, sniffing a moment later. "They were very busy people, but they tried making time for me. And on Christmas Eve, every year, we would camp out in our sleeping clothes for the entire night, reading to each other until we just fell asleep."
Draco reached around her, and tucked an arm under the blanket that was draped over her. "That's a real lovely way to celebrate the holiday, love," he said, leaning down to plant a kiss in her nest of sweet, smelling hair. "We should do that. Tonight. Right here."
Hermione sat up to look at him. "Really?"
"Well, only if you want... I wouldn't want to bring back sad memories for you..."
"I want to!" she gasped out emotionally, and leaned toward Draco, hugging him. "Thank you," she whispered, near tears. "You have no idea how much I miss them...
"I can only imagine..." His lips twitched in his sadness for her loss of parents. His strong Gryffindor... How she had managed to go on after everything she had been through, he would never know.
Together, they made beds on the floor, near the base of the tree where some wrapped gifts had been placed at. They lay down with Scorpius between them, taking turns reading to their son, and when Scorpius had finally dozed off, they read to each other until neither one of them could keep an eye open for a moment longer.

Review Responces Since the Last Update:
cpetnm: Yeah, I'll warn you now, you won't learn about them for a while :D I'm really mean!
NoahElijah: I do apologize for the errors, I try to fix them when I see them. I also have a beta, but erm... well she's busy, lol! Glad you like it though!
sheedy: Haha, there's lots more heading your way! :)
Nichole-Hermione : Well thank you! :)
ssdawning: Wanted to give a bit of background :)
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Let There Be No More Curse