His Saving Grace

CHAPTER ELEVEN: When No One is Looking







Draco and Hermione left Grace in the company of her grandparents while Draco showed her around the manor. Lucius sat behind his desk looking over accounts while Narcissa sat in a chair with her needlepoint and five month old Grace lay on her tummy in the middle of the floor babbling at a teddy bear. Lucius still ignored the child for the most part, at least it appeared that way to anyone watching. The truth was that when the child was visiting he had a hard time not looking at her.







He was peering at her through hooded eyes as she reached out for the teddy bear. She shoved onto her hands and knees, rocking back and forth before finally lunging forward, flopping onto her belly and still several inches away from the prize she sought. Lucius flicked his finger in the bear’s direction and it slid the few inches necessary so that Grace could grab hold of it.





“I saw that, Lucius.” Narcissa said, smiling as she continued with her needlework. Lucius harrumphed and sat up straighter in his chair.





“She would have started caterwauling soon when she couldn’t reach it, I just didn’t want to listen to it.” He said. Narcissa smiled and glanced down at the baby, happily chewing on the bear’s foot.





“Of course, Lucius, whatever you say.” Narcissa said, amused by her husband’s denial.







“Where is Draco? I need him to look over these terms for the Copper Cauldron Inc. takeover.” Lucius asked.







“He is taking Hermione on a tour of the house, I’m sure they will be down soon.” Narcissa smiled. “Unless they get sidetracked.”







“Sidetracked? How do you mean?” Lucius asked, looking up from his files with a frown.





“Come now, Lucius, don’t you see how they look at each other?” She asked, setting her needlepoint on her lap and staring at her husband.







“Well clearly he is attracted to the girl, else the little one on the floor wouldn’t exist.” Lucius said, fighting a smile when the little one in question looked over and smiled in his direction.







“It’s more than that, Lucius. She makes Draco happy, can’t you see the changes in him since they came into his life?” She asked. “I think he may love her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to marry her.”







“Marriages aren’t made for love, Narcissa, they are made for the betterment of a family.” Lucius said, pushing up from his desk.







“Maybe it is time for that to change, everything else has. Draco is happy Lucius, for the first time in nearly two years he is smiling and laughing and it is all because of that girl and that child. You will not stand in his way.” Narcissa said softly, threat evident in her hushed tones.







“You are supportive of a match between the two of them?” Lucius asked, staring at her in stupefaction.







“I don’t care if he marries a house elf ,Lucius, if it makes him as happy as he has been these last few months. I love my son, and my granddaughter enough to look beyond an impure bloodline.” Narcissa said. “Besides, pure blood does not carry the weight it once did.”





“But Cissy….” Lucius was cut off when she raised her hand.





“No buts, Lucius. Leave them be.” She said, her pale blue eyes clearly stating that there would be no negotiating and no argument, her word was final.





“Fine!” Lucius snapped, causing the baby to jump and making Lucius feel terrible for scaring her. She rolled onto her back and smiled up at him, waving her little hands in the air as though hoping he would pick her up. Lucius had yet to hold his granddaughter. He covertly waggled his fingers at the baby and then stalked from the room.





Narcissa laughed softly and set her needlework aside to pick up the baby.





“Oh, Grace you darling girl, you are going to win your Papa over yet aren’t you?” She said, watching the bright smile spread across the baby’s face, almost as though she understood every word her Nana was saying.







*** *** *** *** *** *** ***



Hermione was following behind Draco as he led her through the mammoth house. She was tired and her feet ached horribly from walking so much in heels.





“Draco this house is ridiculous!” She said as he pulled her through another door at the end of a long hall.





“It has been in my family for as long as anyone can remember.” Draco said. “This is my father’s suite.” Draco said, illuminating the room by lighting the sconces.







“I don’t think I ever considered being in Lucius Malfoy’s bedroom.” Hermione laughed as she looked around the room. Dark grey walls set off by black, plush carpeting and large ebony pieces of furniture. The bedding and draperies were black velvet as was the upholstered pieces of furniture. Silver and pewter statuary and other various nick knacks littered the room. “He has a fondness for black and silver doesn’t he?”







“He has a fondness for anything dark. Come, I think you will get a laugh out of this.” Draco pulled her through another door and into a large open room lined with folding doors and tall floor to ceiling chests of drawers. In the center of the room was a large, round ottoman like piece covered in black velvet.







“What is this?” She asked, looking around the strange room.







“Father’s wardrobe.” Draco said, smirking as he opened a set of doors to reveal over a hundred pairs of men’s shoes and boots.







“Oh good grief! Why on earth would one man need so much?” She asked, sitting on the round, cushioned seat with a sigh of relief.







“He doesn’t, but he likes to flaunt his wealth, as you can tell by this house.” Draco said, kneeling at her feet. “Your shoes are bothering you?” He asked, caressing her ankle.







“I’m not used to them.” She said softly, watching Draco remove her shoes one at a time and massage her aching soles.







“Then why do you wear them?” He asked, looking up into her caramel colored eyes.







“Your parents expect me to dress for dinner, that means dress robes and nice shoes.” She said, moaning softly at his touch. She stared down at him and she couldn’t help but smile. Every time she looked into his eyes, the same silvery blue of their daughter she felt a tugging on her heartstrings. He was officially Grace’s father in every way, legally she was a Malfoy. He came to visit every night when they ended their workday and he made it a point to tuck Grace in every evening. He would then spend the rest of the evening showering his attention and his affection on Hermione.







“You don’t need to impress them.” Draco said, pressing into her arch and laughing when she rolled her eyes back and groaned. His hands slid up over her ankle and began to gently knead her calf.







“I’m not trying to, your mother sets a formal table and I respect that she would prefer people attending to dress appropriately.” Hermione said softly.







“I appreciate you trying so hard, making the effort to let them see Grace.” Draco said, his fingers trailing ever higher, his intentions quickly moving from helping her to relax to eliciting another feeling altogether.







“They are her family, Draco. What are you doing?” She asked, shivering as his fingertips feathered over her knee, pushing her skirt up slowly.







“Helping you to relax.” He said, smiling, “Now just lay back and let me take care of the rest….” He said, leering at her. He had touched her time and time again and she had touched him, but they had not gone any further than some snogging and heavy petting.







“Last time I did that I ended up with a swollen belly.” She teased.







“I’ll be more careful next time, I promise.” He said, baring her thighs and climbing up between them to lay over her. He slid his hands beneath her bottom and shifted her more towards the center of the round seat so he could get his knees onto the cushion. “Now, that is better.” He said pressing his lips to hers.





“You are incorrigible, Draco, but I’ll forgive you if you kiss me again.” She said, laughing softly. Draco obliged her happily, he loved being close to her, tasting her lips, feeling her come alive beneath him. He longed for the day when he could be with her fully but he promised he would wait.







“You are growing addicted, witch.” He laughed, kissing her again and again, reaching between them to tickle her ribs.







“Oh my god! Draco!” She squealed, writhing beneath him as his fingers danced over her ribcage.







“What is the meaning of this?” Draco stopped tickling Hermione to look up at his father standing over them. Hermione arched her head back and her face heated.







“Hello father.” Draco said. “Is everything alright?”







“What in the world are you doing in my wardrobe?” Lucius asked, tapping his cane against the side of his shoe.







“I was showing Hermione the house.” Draco said, looking down when Hermione shoved against him to move him off of her. “Oh, sorry, love.” Draco said, moving over and pushing her skirt back into place as he helped her to her feet.







“Well, you might want to rethink a career as a tour guide if this is how you show a body around, Draco.” Lucius drawled. “At the rate you are going I’ll be a grandfather a dozen times over before it is all said and done.”







“You don’t even notice the grandchild you have now, why should I think you’d notice a dozen?” Draco asked. He felt Hermione grab his arm.





“Enough, Draco.” She whispered.







“I have documents I need you to sign, Draco. When you and your witch are finished, join me downstairs.” Lucius said, his eyes cold as he turned and left the room.







“That was uncalled for, Draco.” Hermione said quietly.







“You are going to defend him?” Draco asked incredulously.







“No, but you should not bait him either. You don’t see it, but he is softening towards her, don’t push him away, she needs her grandfather.” Hermione said. Draco frowned for a moment, then gave an exasperated sight and pulled her against his side, his arm around her shoulders. He kissed her temple softly.





“You are too good for me.” He whispered before escorting her from the room and back to where his family waited.