50"Why do I feel like I'm about to face an inquisition?" Draco breathed out as he and Hermione stood in front of Potter Manor a few days later.
His hands felt clammy, and she had never seen him this nervous before. Who knew that the usually cold and distant Draco Malfoy could be frightened by the Potters? It had taken her a few days of convincing him, but finally, he had relented and agreed it was better to face the firing squad rather sooner than later. If only he knew that Molly had invited him round during the Yule holidays after Ginny announced to the whole family that Hermione and Draco were dating and the youngest Weasley sibling was ready to cash in her earnings from their betting pool.
"Because you're being silly," Hermione scolded him, kissing his cheek. "It's just Harry and Ginny. You've never been scared of either one before." She quirked an eyebrow at him teasingly.
"That was before I started secretly dating their sister," Draco mumbled. "Potter will have me skinned alive and hung on the wall if I dare look at you wrong. He was already halfway there during sixth year."
Hermione nearly winced at the reminder of Harry using the Sectumsempra spell on him. She was surprised that the curse hadn't left any scars on the blond next to her, remembering how Harry had described the cuts and the bleeding after using the unknown spell on his schoolyard nemesis.
"He won't. He knows me well enough to let me pick my own fights when needed. Besides, if he dares raise his wand at you, I will be there to protect you."
Draco snorted. "I'm sure if I pissed you off, you would stand right beside your brother to blast me into the wall."
Hermione could see he was teasing her and quipped back, "Better be on your best behaviour then, Malfoy. I'm not planning on nursing you back to health if you offend Harry or me."
She knocked on the door and the wizard next to her leant over to her. His breath tickled her neck, sending a trail of goosebumps down her skin. "But I would love it if you nursed me back to health, Miss Granger."
Blushing, she was about to give him some witty retort until Teddy suddenly opened the door, reminding her that they were standing in front of her family's home.
"Aunt Mione! Cousin!" the blue-haired boy greeted, a smile plastered on his face as the door flew open with a bang due to his enthusiasm.
"Err. Hello," Draco awkwardly said as he took in the ten-year-old boy in front of him. "Nice to meet you."
Teddy stuck out his hand. "Edward Remus Lupin. But all my friends call me Teddy."
Draco bent down to shake his hand. "Draco Lucius Malfoy."
As soon as the two cousins touched, Teddy changed his hair to the same pale blond, and his eyes turned to stormy grey. Something he always did when being introduced to someone new. As if taking on part of their appearance could give him a sense of who he was dealing with.
"Love the hair," the boy said as he pulled a hand through his own. "But it's weird running around with my eyes being their original colour."
"Ah yes. The famous Black eyes. A gift from our mothers."
Hermione noticed how his eyes softened at the thought of Narcissa, and she put her hand on Draco's elbow.
"Aren't you going to invite us inside, Teddy?" Hermione asked the boy.
"Oh. Right. Please, come in. Welcome to our humble abode!"
Teddy ran off to the living room, making Hermione chuckle as she hung both her and Malfoy's cloaks. "Little spitfire, just like both of his mums." She shook her head, smiling.
"He looks like my grandfather," Draco mused. "Even if I can see some of Professor Lupin in him, he looks exactly like a Black."
"Strong genes," Hermione winked. "But apparently not as strong as the Malfoys', seeing as you didn't end up with the famous curly dark hair all the other Blacks have."
"Noticed that did you?" Draco smiled, but it didn't seem to touch his eyes.
Now that she thought about it, Draco did have a peculiar hair colour. The only people she knew to have such pale blond hair were himself, Luna, and Fleur's little sister Gabrielle.
She frowned at the back of his head as he adjusted the collar of his dress shirt. Could he have a veela ancestor or- No. That's preposterous. Lucius Malfoy had always been a proud proclaimer of their blood purity and Sacred Twenty-Eight status. There was no way that Draco had a drop of creature blood in his veins. Perhaps, it was just strong genes after all.
"Mione, stop snogging in the hallways and bring him in!" Ginny yelled from the kitchen.
Draco rolled his eyes at Hermione, as she started leading them to the living room. "Weaslette hasn't changed a bit, has she?"
To Hermione's surprise, Andromeda was sitting on one of the sofas in the living room. Harry hadn't told her that she would be invited too, but it wouldn't have surprised the brunette if Andromeda had requested to be here when Draco visited.
The elder witch's eyes softened as she took in Draco, who stiffened in response. Perhaps he too had noticed the uncanny resemblance between Andromeda and her sister Bellatrix. It had taken Hermione quite a while to be able to look the middle Black sister in the eye after the war, her features so similar to those of the woman in her nightmares.
"Draco, dear," she began as she got up and walked over to the pair, her eyes taking in her nephew.
Draco cleared his throat. "Aunt Andromeda. It's lovely to meet you, finally."
Mrs. Tonks chuckled as she opened her arms and hugged him closer to her. "Do not be silly, boy. Do you really believe this is the first time I've seen you? That your mother never snuck you with her when you were just a toddler? How much you've grown."
A feeling of longing and mourning fell over Hermione, and she couldn't help but wonder if Draco was projecting his feelings through his magic. None of the others seemed to notice, however, even if Ginny and Harry did seem to realise this was a tender moment and hovered in the doorway for a second before returning to the kitchen.
"I'm afraid I don't remember," the blond said, lowering his head. "And mother never told me, after the war, before she-"
Hermione took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. He never liked talking about his mother.
"Your mother was a snake, just like you and me," Andromeda smiled, squeezing his shoulder. "Her scheming would not easily be caught. Not even by your father, the bumbling idiot." She scoffed then, remembering Lucius. "Hermione has told me you don't live at the Manor anymore?"
"No… I- I couldn't bear to live there anymore after what happened during the war."
"At least you did well by casting out your father as Lord Malfoy. Cissy was very proud of you after that. Even if she never told me exactly why you did it, I cannot blame you for doing so. The world is better off with the elder Malfoy rid of his political power."
Hermione's eyes widened. "You- what? Draco, I assumed he'd given you the title since he was confined to his own home. You never told me you had forcefully taken it from him."
"I see that you still have much to learn about pure-blood politics and customs, Hermione dear," Andy smiled at her. "Lucius Malfoy would never give up his title or his power to anyone. Draco had to challenge him for it. And he won."
"You duelled your father?" Hermione gaped at the man standing beside her.
Draco shrugged. "We got into a heated argument one evening. Mother was on my side, of course. And then he… He threatened someone very precious to me, and I just, well. Challenged him. It was the first step towards getting out from under his, and all of his cronies' thumbs."
"So, if you challenged Harry right now, you could-"
"He wouldn't win." Her brother grinned as he walked out of the kitchen, Albus on his arm, the toddler watching the unknown wizard in the room with a sense of curiosity. "So don't worry, Hermione. All of my houses are safe with me."
"Want to test that out, Lord Potter?" Draco smirked, raising his eyebrows.
"After dinner, perhaps, Lord Malfoy." Harry grinned back.
"Boys," Ginny warned them, holding a wooden spoon threateningly in a manner that reminded Hermione of Mrs. Weasley. "I will not have any duelling going on in my home. Besides, I rather like being Lady Potter."
"See, even your wife thinks you couldn't beat me," Draco noted, a hint of mischief in his voice, as Hermione led him to the dining table and waved a hand at one of the chairs next to her, indicating he should sit.
"That's because she's the one who had to patch me up after you wiped the floor with me during your auror training, Malfoy," Harry mumbled, putting Albus in a highchair at the head of the table, right in between himself and Ginny so it was easier for them to keep an eye on him. "If you're still aiming for the position, I'm sure that you could get in once our new Minister is in place."
She smiled tightly at him, trying to keep up her occlumency. What was Draco doing? He'd never been this bold before. And now he was throwing innuendos at her left and right, trying to rile her up.
"Don't let Teddy hear you say that," Harry whispered, unaware of what was going on between the two of them. "Called me an old man just last week."
During dinner, Hermione was surprised at the ease with which Draco fit in at the table. Even if there were some sarcastic and snide remarks between him, Ginny, and Harry, the rivalry she'd once known between them at Hogwarts seemed entirely gone, replaced by banter instead. Perhaps Teddy's, Andromeda's and her own presence had made the blond wizard next to her not feel as defensive and cold as he usually did.
Even if she could see his occlumency was up during the entire night, she also noticed when it slipped and he showed his true feelings. And those slip-ups were no longer just aimed at her.
"I understand now why you warned me before we went to the Burrow," Draco sighed as he let himself fall back on Hermione's couch a week later, stretching his arms and neck before settling down comfortably. A sigh escaped his lips as he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his white dress shirt and closed his eyes, clearly drained. "Like Mrs. Weasley said. They are a rowdy bunch."
Hermione smiled at him as he relaxed and made himself at home. "I'll make some tea before bed."
He reached out with his left arm, gracing her knuckles with the tip of his fingers. "That sounds splendid. Thank you, love," he murmured, already drifting off.
After she put on the kettle, her thoughts drifted back to earlier that evening. They had all been invited to celebrate Yule at the Burrow, Molly insisting that she bring Draco with her. He'd been apprehensive at first. It had only been a week since he sat down with the Potters, and now he was about to spend the rest of his evening with the extended Weasley clan. The people his father had taught him to despise. Drumming her fingers on the kitchen counter, she closed her eyes, going over their evening.
- Earlier that night, the Burrow -
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Draco asked. He was holding her hand tightly as they stood in front of the Burrow. The apprehension was clear on his face as he studied the peculiar home in front of them. She knew he wasn't comfortable, and yet… He was doing this for her.
"None of them will say anything to the press if that's what you're worried about," she answered. "Even though they gossip among each other, they know when to shut their traps."
The blond scowled at her. "That wasn't what I meant, Mione. Are you sure none of them will stick me to the wall and chop off my balls for daring to touch you?"
Hermione laughed and shook her head. "Is that what you're worried about?"
He squeezed her hand and hung his head. "No. I'm worried that-" He sighed deeply and raised his head again, his occlumency in place. "Never mind. Let's go."
Something tugged at Hermione's heart at that moment. The ice-cold mask she had seen gracing the halls of the Ministry ever since the end of the war, did not suit him any longer. With a pang of regret, she realised that when Voldemort died Draco had switched out his death eater mask for another one. But instead of inspiring fear, this one inspired loneliness and sadness within her.
Draco's eyes found hers, and he quirked an eyebrow at her. "What has gotten you so melancholic?"
"I'm that easy to read, am I?" she said, nudging him in his side as they walked towards the front door.
"You've always been an open book to me, Mione."
His confession hung in the air between them, but before she could respond, the door opened, and they were greeted with the sounds of happy conversations and laughter.
"Draco, dear. How nice of you to join us," Molly said as she waved them inside, hugging the blond wizard close to her in her usual motherly fashion, taking the man beside her off guard.
"Malfoy, welcome to the lions' den!" George yelled from the background, grinning wickedly while he was holding a butterknife in his hands.
"Please don't mind them. They're a rowdy bunch," Molly said as she patted the blond wizard's shoulder. "Find a seat, dear."
"Is she always so… Welcoming?" Draco whispered in Hermione's ear after Molly had hugged her too and ran back to the kitchen.
The blond was looking uncomfortable, even if he had his usual blasé attitude about him due to his occlumency. Perhaps, Hermione too was starting to see through his mask if she could grasp how he was feeling, despite the walls between them.
"She's Molly," Hermione shrugged before taking his hand in support and leading him towards the two only empty spots at the table. The Weasleys had prepared to grill him apparently, considering they had put the two of them in the middle of the table.
The excitement of having Lord Malfoy in their midst quickly died down, however. The Weasleys noticed his discomfort and kept their questions to a minimum. Hermione smiled at her magical family gratefully.
Soon, bowls and plates of food were starting to appear on the table, and she could see the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at Draco's lips when he noticed one of the desserts was apple cake.
"You told her?" he whispered to Hermione.
"I might have." She winked back at him and smiled, seeing some of the unease leave his body as his shoulders relaxed.
Once she finished her dinner, she offered to take Albus so Ginny and Harry could eat in peace for a few minutes.
"You like to play with marbles too?" Albus seriously asked Draco after Ginny handed Albus over to Hermione.
"Err, I like to play quidditch," Draco awkwardly answered the toddler, who seemed to consider his answer.
"Mum said you could play with us," Teddy said from a few seats over, having overheard his answer. "You better than my dad?"
Draco smirked. "I could wipe the floor with your dad."
"We'll see about that," Harry piped up as he bottle-fed Lily in his arms.
Draco winked at Teddy, who changed his hair to the same pale blond again before his head whipped to the door excitedly. "Vicky!"
"Sorry, we're late!" Bill called from the doorway not a second later as his three children ran inside, Vicky immediately taking a spot next to Teddy who grinned at her. "Someone had to throw a bit of a tantrum before we left." His eyes lingered on Dominique, who was giving her dad an innocent smile.
Hermione blinked, realising that Teddy had felt Vicky's magic approaching before anyone had realised Lord Prewett and his family had even entered the home. Were they already that attuned to each other, considering-
"He felt her coming," Draco whispered, low enough for only her to hear. "So that is why you were so interested in veelas and their offspring. There is a soulmate bond between them. My cousin… And a veela."
The blond shook his head in disbelief and chuckled before digging into some more apple cake. As soon as he was about to pierce a piece of apple with his fork, however, the table magically lengthened itself and two chairs popped up in front of them.
Fleur and Bill smiled politely at him when they sat down, but Hermione could see that Draco was shifting uncomfortably under Fleur's gaze.
Bill attempted to make small talk with Draco, but Hermione noticed the quarter-veela studying the wizard beside her intently. At one point, she'd even tilted her head and squinted her eyes at him, as if she was trying to solve a puzzle.
"Darling." Bill cleared his throat and grasped her hand in his. "Your allure is showing."
Hermione blinked, not having been aware of Fleur using her powers, and she could indeed see the men at the table gaze at Fleur with a soft smile on their faces, all of them caught in her trance. A quick glance at Draco made it seem as if he was completely unbothered while he was finishing another piece of cake. His eyes were cold as steel, and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if he'd been protected by his occlumency.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Fleur said as the magic suddenly retreated to her, making everyone in the room breathe a sigh of relief. "I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately. It's harder than usual to control my powers."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at her. Fleur had been sick multiple times over the years, but never had she actually lost hold of her magic. Was she alright? Even Bill seemed to be unsure as he eyed his wife warily.
The evening had progressed as usual after that, banter and jokes filling the room, the occasional stern glance from Molly keeping her family in check. At one point, Draco told her he needed some air and went outside, but he returned five minutes later looking refreshed and… Mischievous. What had he been up to now?
When it was time to open presents, Hermione was surprised to learn that he'd quickly apparated home and had gotten a gift for Teddy. The two descendants of House Blacks whispered to each other in hushed tones, not showing anyone exactly what the present was, and Harry looked at Hermione in horror when his godson smirked exactly like Malfoy did. She couldn't help but giggle.
Draco slipped down next to her again. "I got him something to gift Victoire," he whispered in her ear conspiratorially.
"Playing matchmaker, are you?"
"I have to help out my fellow heartthrob, now don't I?" he winked at her teasingly.
Not five minutes later, Teddy went up to Victoire and gifted her with a small golden bracelet, a charm made of rose quartz dangling from it.
"A proof of unconditional love," Hermione whispered, knowing the meaning of the stone.
"It was one of my mother's bracelets," Draco confessed. "Aunt Andromeda will probably recognise it when she sees it. Seeing as she was the one who gave it to her little sister when they were young."
Hermione's eyes softened and she reached for his hand under the table, entwining their fingers.
"Be careful, Draco. Or the Weasleys may discover how kind you truly are."
He chuckled. "Never. Only Andromeda and you know the history of that bracelet. And I'm sure neither one of you will spill the beans."
As it was getting late, and everyone started trickling out of the Burrow, Draco and Hermione also got up and prepared to leave after everyone had given and received some presents.
The blond thanked Molly profusely for the warm welcome and wondered if she could perhaps owl him the recipe for her delicious apple cake, when Fleur approached Hermione and pulled her aside, casting a silencing charm around them.
"Mione," she began. "Have you… Done any more research on what we talked about that day Teddy broke his arm?"
Hermione shook her head. "I have only read a little bit about veela origins and their powers. With the preliminaries and now Yule coming up, I haven't found the time."
"Please do," Fleur urged her on.
"I will." Hermione frowned, uncertain why the French witch was so insistent. "Is everything alright?"
"I… I think it will be," the French witch smiled at her. "But I want to be sure. And for that, I need you to read up more about those like me. Could you do that?"
"Of course. I was planning on starting with some more research after the holidays anyway."
"The sooner you begin, the better," Fleur stated as she waved her hand and undid the silencing spell.
"I never noticed how good you are with wandless magic," Hermione mused as Draco was eyeing the pair with more than a hint of curiosity.
"It's a perk of being quarter-veela," Fleur shrugged. "Because of the creature blood running through our veins, our magical core expands when we come into our inheritance. I have a lot of magic to spare. I assume it is much the same for other descendants, even those further down the line, once they find their… You know."
Hermione nodded. Fleur was not about to tell the whole Burrow that soulmates existed. At least not yet. She would have to, at some point, if Teddy and Victoire truly had a magical bond between them.
"Are you ready?" Draco asked as he handed Hermione her coat, still eying Fleur warily.
"Yes, thank you," she smiled, unsure why he felt so apprehensive around the quarter-veela.
"Such a gentleman you've found yourself, Mione," Fleur smiled, eyeing Draco as she did. "Not that it is such a surprise, considering your… Heritage."
"Indeed. My mother always taught me to take care of a lady," he answered tersely. "It was lovely meeting you again after all these years, Lady Prewett."
"Likewise, Lord Malfoy. Although I am sure, we will be seeing more of you in the future."
The tiny click of the kettle, notifying Hermione that the water for her tea was boiling hot, brought the witch back to the present. She wondered why Fleur had suddenly been so insistent on her research on veelas. And why she and Draco had seemed to dance around each other so awkwardly the entire evening.
"Magnolia or Chamomile?" Hermione asked, unsure if Draco had fallen asleep yet or not.
"Chamomile," he answered sleepily. "Even though I'm not sure if I will be needing it tonight."
By the time she'd put the cup in front of him, the blond's breathing had slowed down, indicating he was nearly asleep. Hermione snuggled next to him, tucking her feet under her, and sipped her tea slowly, enjoying his company.
It was then she noticed it. A letter. Right in front of her fireplace, as if it had travelled by floo. It was addressed to her. The handwriting looked eerily familiar, and she could swear it looked just like Draco's.
"What's this?" she murmured. "Are you writing me love letters now?"
Draco opened his eyes slowly. "What do you mean, Mione? Why would I be writing you a letter? I haven't spent a night apart from you for the past two weeks. Not that I'm complaining."
He grinned at her as she put her cup of tea down, and he finally took a sip from his. She got up slowly and studied the letter on the floor.
"But it's addressed to me. And it's in your handwriting."
Draco frowned and rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes. His eyes lingered on the envelope as her fingers started reaching for it.
"Mione!" he yelled. "Do not touch-"
Fear gripped her when her fingertips brushed the letter, and something tugged at her stomach. Port-key was all she thought as Draco reached forward, his cup falling to the ground, trying to grab onto her. But he was too late.