Broomsticks and the Big Apple

Broomsticks and The Big Apple

Chapter 14

“With just two days ‘till Christmas and Hermione wracked with pity. Draco took the family out of the city.”

Hermione was discharged from hospital, her wounds mostly healed, but her voice completely gone. When she awoke and tried to address her husband, who was sleeping at her bedside, only squeaks came out of her mouth and Hermione’s eyes became wide with fear. Draco held her in his arms and rocked her until she was able to accept the fact that her once articulate voice, was now gone. The medi-witch gave her some parchment and quills and told her to write down her thoughts for the time being, until she and everyone around her, including herself, were able to come to grips with her new handicap. For someone like Hermione, resigning herself to the fact that she was indeed handicapped, was no easy task. She continually tried to stretch her vocal chords, sure that sheer will alone would be enough to heal her ability to speak. When it didn’t happen, she got angry and threw things.

“Darling, will you be throwing the Cleopatra collection as well? I rather liked that particular vase, and I believe it was a gift from the Egyptian Minister,” Draco said with a sense of sarcasm. Hermione didn’t find his humor remotely funny. She rolled over in her and Draco’s luxurious bed and turned her back on him. Draco crawled in behind her and embraced his wife, wrapping his arms tightly around her body. “I told you Sweet pea, Luke and I are working on it. You have to get up and out of bed though. It’s almost Christmas and I know you have a mountain of gifts that need wrapping. The closet is overflowing with presents. Come one babe, I’ll help you into a bath.” Draco tried to pick her up, but she kicked him hard and then threw the covers over her face. She wanted to sulk a while. Why couldn’t he understand that? Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? She wanted to yell at him and tell him to go away, but she couldn’t, so she screamed in her head instead. There was suddenly a knock at their bedchamber door and Draco looked scrambled for his trousers, finding them and pulling them on. When he opened the door he found a trembling Scorpius standing before him. He was holding a letter in his hands with an intense look on his face.

“What is it son?” Scorpius passed the letter to Draco. He read it and then led his son out of the bedchamber and into the living room. The two Malfoy men stood facing each other and to the untrained eye the two looked more like twins then father and son. If Scorpius had donned an expensive wizard’s suit and a few distinguished wrinkles around his eyes, he could have passed for Draco, that’s how much the two Malfoy’s looked like each other. “What are you going to do about it Scorpius?” Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief when his father said that. He had expected Draco to tell him to forget about Persephone, since her stepfather had picked up and moved his entire family out of the city. He expected the ‘there are other fish in the sea’ speech, but when Draco merely asked him what he intended to do, Scorpius suddenly felt like a man, for the first time in his life.

“I’m gong to bring her back here Father.”

“Do you want my help?” Draco asked but turned, looking back to the bedroom, knowing that his place was here, with Hermione. She needed him and he would not let her down.

“I have to do this on my own. I’ll be back soon.”

“Scorpius…I have something planned for the family this afternoon. I’d like you to be there. I think it will lift Hermione’s spirits.”

“I’ll be there…and so will Persephone.” Scorpius was dressed in his flying attire, his long robes flowing down his regal physique. He responded to the owl that was sent by his girlfriend, stating that she was heartbroken and that Dale Peppercorn had moved them to some small village in upstate New York. Scorpius made his way out onto the terrace and then released the owl. Draco watched as his son followed the owl with the letter. In a flash, Scorpius was gone, his blond head darting through the skies until he was only a speck in the New York City skyline. Draco smiled, knowing that he had just witnessed Scorpius’s transformation from a boy into a man. He had to do this on his own and Draco knew that. After this, he knew he would support whatever decisions his oldest son made in regards to his life. He wanted him to finish school, but Scorpius was never the academic…Luke was.”

“Father? Here’s the finished product. I tried the Japanese beetle wings in it, like you suggested. I still think we are approaching this all wrong, but it’s worth a shot, right?”

“Luke? Can your Dad get a hug? You don’t know how much it means to me, you working on this potion. I know we’ll get it right too. You really are the best potions master I’ve ever known, and that’s saying a lot, since I’ve known some brilliant potions master’s in my time.” Severus Snape came to Draco’s mind. The man who had taught Draco everything he knew about potions. Luke looked uncomfortable, but he set the potion down on the table and moved closer to Draco. Draco pulled his son in close and squeezed. He kissed the top of Luke’s head and Luke slowly wrapped his arms around his father. The two Malfoy men stood in an embrace as Lucius walked into the room, wearing a blood red smoking jacket and fuzzy slippers. Both Draco and Luke broke apart and laughed at the wizard in the strange attire.

“What? Narcissa got them for me! I’ve always wanted slippers like these. I guess perhaps they are a trifle silly on an old man like me, but they are warm and comfortable. I’m keeping them!” Lucius said curling his lip and plopping down on the couch with his tea in hand, and The Strip Street Journal newspaper, tucked under his arm.

“Why don’t you give Hermione the potion Luke? Spend some time with her. She needs something to cheer her up and I dare say you are just the one to do it.”

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“Mum? Are you awake?” Luke crept into Hermione’s room, careful not to disturb her. She rolled over and pulled the covers back for Luke to sit on her bed next to her. He carefully sat down and handed her the potion. She immediately chugged it back and then waited.

“Try to say something Mum. The potion is instantaneous.” Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but she chirped instead. She quickly covered her mouth. Luke laughed and Hermione giggled, though bird song came out of her mouth instead of human laughter.

“Don’t worry Mum. I know how to counteract that.” He handed her another potion and Hermione drank that too, completely trusting and then she was back to the same ole quiet Hermione.

“I’ll get it Mum. Father is working with me too and he’s really brilliant. We kind of share the same brain, when we are in the lab together. It’s surreal really. It feels like we are thinking together and I just know we will fix your voice Mum. Don’t give up hope. I …missed you Mum.” Hermione threw her arms around Luke and cried. Luke wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad, but he hugged her regardless. She looked content as she embaced her son for what seemed like an eternity, with Draco watching from the door. It was so good to see Luke back. He suddenly remembered something and he ran to his desk and scrawled his name on a check. When Luke left Hermione to rest, Draco stuck out his hand to Luke, handing him something.

“What’s this?” Luke asked.

“It’s your paycheck. I almost forgot. You earned it, son. I really was going to give you a manager’s job, and that was before I knew you were a Malfoy who stands to inherit his hotel anyway.” Luke held his head up high. It felt wonderful receiving a paycheck for all his hard work. He had never actually earned any money in his whole life. He liked the feel of earning money and he knew he wanted to stand on his own in the future, rather then relying on the Malfoy fortune.

“Father, can I go? There is somebody I need to visit.” Draco reluctantly nodded. Truthfully, he wanted Luke to never leave the penthouse again. Having him back was wonderful and his family was complete again, even if Hermione was injured, his family was together. He knew though, that Luke was an independent kid, who needed his space, so he allowed him to leave, without even asking where he was going.

“Be back by the early afternoon. I have something special planned for the family,” Draco announced before Luke left.

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“Yeah, it’s a pocket floo! You can floo anywhere you want and it comes with personalized floo settings. My pocket floo, is pink with lime green bricks and it plays my favorite muggle song when I floo. You can have whatever you want and the best part is, it’s only on hundred fifty galleons!” Drew Weasley was quite good at sales and the witch who stood in the Joke Shop with a small army of children, bought an entire box of the Pocket Floo’s. When she made her purchase and left the store, Luke stepped up to the counter. Drew blushed in his gazes.

“May I help you?”

“You may. I bought this Christmas gift for a girl that I’m quite interested in. I was wondering if you could take a look at it and tell me if I made the right choice?” Drew exhaled slowly. She frowned slightly at hearing Luke mention another girl. He looked so hot and her heart had flipped and flopped when Luke Malfoy walked into the store. She had noticed him immediately, but had pretended not to see him until he broached her counter. Whom was he dating? Her heart sunk at the notion. She wanted to be his girlfriend. She wanted his affections and his attentions. She would just have to be nice and hope that he came to his senses and dumped the young witch, whomever it was, for her, if she had her way.

Luke pulled out a small box and handed it to Drew. She looked up into his golden eyes and was lost in the sparkling puddles that glinted in the fluorescent lighting of the Joke Shop. How could a boy be so hot? She opened the box and there lay the most exquisite bracelet she had ever laid eyes upon. It was a charm bracelet and it had a variety of different, jewel-encrusted charms dangling from the chain. A silver lion, a diamond wizard with a sorcerers hat, a ruby owl, a sapphire wand and the last charm was of a boy and girl kissing.

“It’s gorgeous Luke…Whoever the girl is, she is going to love it. If she doesn’t, then she isn’t good enough for you. This is priceless Luke. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Luke smirked and turned to leave.

“Happy Christmas, Drucilla.” When Drew realized what had just happened, that the charm bracelet was for her, she nearly leap- frogged over the counter to catch him, before he exited the store.

“Wait! Luke…You got this for me? I didn’t get you anything yet. I was waiting for my paycheck.”

“You don’t have to get me anything. I just saw it and thought of you, so I wanted you to have it.”

“Thank you so much! What does this mean though?” Drucilla asked and Luke felt like the cute, freckle-faced girl, was beating around the bush. He decided to have some fun with her, before ultimately giving in and answering her.

“Huh? You lost me Drew. I dunno what you mean. I saw it; it was pretty so I got it for you. It’s not like I sat there and thought about which charms reminded me of you and which ones would match your eyes and your skin tone and your hair.” Luke said and Drew blushed again.

“Of course not. I mean if you did all of that, one might think you….like me…as more then a friend. Right?”

“Exactly. I picked it up and paid for it without so much as a passing thought,” Luke smirked again and the girl frowned ever so slightly.

“Luke? Can I kiss you?” Drew said biting her lip nervously.

“No.” Luke was smirking so wide now, that he had to remind himself to stop.

“No? Okay…well thanks for the bracelet that you put zero thought into.” Drew began to walk away, annoyed.

“I said no, because I’m going to kiss you first.” He spun her arm around and pulled her in to his chest, where he planted his kiss squarely on her pouty lips. The girls arms went around his neck and her hands were stroking his luxurious light brown hair. Luke’s on hand was at the base of her neck, his other squeezing her arm still. His tongue dipped and swirled in her mouth and Drew sucked on it, wanting to taste him forever. She was moaning into his mouth when Ron walked from the back of the storeroom and cleared his throat. The pair didn’t stop, spurred on by mutual attraction and teenage animal magnetism. Drew matched Luke’s intensity and then they heard Ron yet again, coughing, and then hands were on both of their shoulders prying them apart.

“Luke Malfoy, right? Do me a favor and take Drucilla out on a proper date if you want to give her a kiss. You were a Gryffindor like Hermione and I, right?” Ron said raising an eyebrow. Luke smiled and nodded and Ron’s face relaxed. As long as his daughter had to be kissing a boy, he should at least be a Gryffindor. Ron’s logic was skewed, but at least he wasn’t mad at Luke for kissing his only daughter. He had heard that he was a brilliant student from Hermione, who had stopped in on her way to school that fateful day she was attacked. Luke had a bright future and he seemed to care for his daughter, so Ron had agreed that should Luke come back home and should he want to date his daughter, he would be alright with it, so long as he followed a few rules. Not kissing until the end of a date was one of them and Ron explained that to Luke. Luke smiled and nodded and then asked Drucilla out for New Year’s Eve party. The Ministry was having a swanky party and anyone who was anyone in New York City, was invited. Drucilla accepted with an ear piercing squeal and Luke swaggered out of the store feeling pleased with himself.

“Oh, Luke? Happy Christmas. You just made mine the best Christmas ever!” Drucilla murmured and Luke found himself bouncing on air, as he walked down The Strip, with Drucilla’s pouty lips and sultry kiss swirling in his head.

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Dragon,

I don’t want to go out in public. I’m a stupid git, who can’t talk! Just leave me alone and let me sleep.

Hermione

“Getup Malfoy. Right this instant! You are going to get up and shower,” Draco threw back the covers and heaved Hermione out of bed. Hermione kicked and grappled with Draco, catching him in the eye once and that’s when Draco had had just about enough of his brooding wife. He flung the bedspread over her head and captured her in his arms. He carried her into the bathroom and set her down on the toilet seat. Draco ran a tub full of cold water and then removed the cover, to see a scowling and enraged Hermione underneath it.

“You look like you want to hex me. Do you Sweetpea?” Hermione nodded and then lunged at him once again, but Draco caught her arms, as he laughed at her. “Darling, I’m not into this sort of sex game. Can’t you keep your hands off me? Really, Hermione. I didn’t know you were such a minx and into such sadistic games. There is time for that later, but right now, we need to wash you off. You are starting to smell like a mangy dog and I like my women smelling fresh and clean. It’s that prissy side of me you see. Draco threw her over his shoulder, laughing the entire time, as Hermione slapped his back and kicked her legs. He smacked her arse playfully and pinched her in the bum and Hermione slapped him again. With a flick of his wand Hermione was nude. He lowered her into the water and Hermione’s eyes went wide as she clung to Draco’s neck with a deathgrip. He tried to release her arms, but she wrapped her legs around his waist, as he stood at the side of the tube leaning over her body. She was immersed in the cold, frigid water (Draco thought a cold bath would wake her up) and with one heaving tug of war pull, Hermione dragged Draco into the tub with her. He howled at the chill of the cold water and Hermione was now smiling as she gazed up into her man’s silver eyes. Her face became serious and so did Draco’s as they lay shivering in the cold bath. He pressed his lips to hers, in a sweet and sensual kiss. Before they knew it, they were writhing in each other’s arms. Draco reached for his wand and cast a warming charm over the water and Hermione relaxed under his hard body. Her hands were roaming down his backside, squeezing his arse and pushing him into her. He positioned himself between her legs and slid into her.

“I will hear you call out my name again when I make love to you, Hermione. It won’t be long babe. Now come for me.” Draco said quickening his pace and filling Hermione with his deep thrusts. They came together and Draco swore again, that he would make her better. They spent the next hour cuddling in bed. Hermione felt so needy in her condition, but Draco seemed to understand that need and didn’t mind that she was clinging to him, wrapping her whole body around him, needing to be held and comforted. He had made love to her again, this time sliding into her from behind and once again, he brought his wife to orgasm with his long, deep strokes into her womanliness.

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“As soon as Luke and Scorpius are back we will leave.” Draco addressed a now clothed Hermione and Lucius and Narcissa. Dress warm everyone. Winter parka’s, gloves and hats and scarves. You will need it, where I’m taking everyone. Bring a change of clothes too. Two or three days worth.” Draco was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and a pair of Levi’s. Lucius huffed and went to change, when he realized that a cape and dress slacks with Italian loafers were not appropriate for Draco’s surprise outing. Narcissa was pressuring Draco to tell her where it was he was taking them all, when Scorpius and Persephone landed on the terrace on Scorpius’s Firebolt. He opened the French doors and escorted his bride through the double doors.

“I want you all to meet my wife, Persephone Malfoy.” Every jaw dropped in the room and with a pop Luke materialized in the living room. The fact that he had successfully apparrated at the age of thirteen was lost on the fact that Scorpius had just dropped a bombshell on the family.

“Hello? What did I miss? Why’s everyone’s mouths open? Did anyone just notice that I apparrated?” Luke said and Hermione pulled her son in next to her and wrapped her arm around Luke, in order to steady herself. Draco smiled and Luke and complimented him on apparrating and then nodded to Scorpius, as if expecting this announcement.

“Welcome to the family Persephone. Run and borrow some of Hermione’s clothes. Hermione can you show her to your closet? She needs warm clothes.” Draco said this as if the marriage announcement was no big deal. Hermione did as he asked and took Persephone into her closet. She couldn’t believe that Scorpius had married at fifteen. She knew that most wizarding wedding chapels didn’t care what age the couples that came to them were, so long as they had the galleons to pay for the service. Like it or not, Persephone was Scorpius’s wife, as noted by the plain gold ring on her finger.

“I know it’s sudden and I wish everyone could be there, but it was just something Scorpius and I needed to do alone. We really love each other and I intend on being the best wife I can be to your son.” Hermione nodded, tears lining her eyes.

When everyone was dressed, they left. Draco popped back and forth, apparrating the family to a remote destination then returning to the penthouse to get he next person. Finally, the entire Malfoy clan, along with Scorpius’s new wife, stood on a snow covered mountain. The air was cold and crisp and new snow began to fall.

“It’s just this way.” Draco led the family through the woods, a protective hand snugly clasped in Hermione’s petite and feminine fingers, the snow crunching under their feet. Hermione was suddenly reminded of their hikes to Hogsmeade, so long ago. She smiled, thinking about the snowball fight she had gotten into with Draco, when Harry had hidden under the Invisibility cloak. Draco smirked at her as if knowing what she was remembering.

“Don’t even laugh. That was bloody traumatizing for me,” Draco said putting an arm around Hermione as they walked over the snow-blanketed ground, twigs cracking under foot every so often. Seeing Hermione smiling, was all Draco needed for Christmas. She looked happy and at peace.

“Well, this is it. This is where we are spending Christmas. What do you think?” They all stood before a great A frame cabin in the woods. Hermione could see a fire blazing inside the fireplace, through the frosted pane glass windows. She hugged Draco so tightly, laying her head on his chest and rocking gently in her husbands arms. They could see each other’s breath in the winter chill and for a moment Draco and Hermione’s lips hesitated, only inches apart. His silver eyes bore into her chestnut brown eyes. His hair fell down over one eye, so alluringly and Hermione felt like a school girl again. How could she be so lucky to have such a fine specimen for a husband. A husband who showed them to a quaint little cabin the woods, with a spectacular view of the valley below. She kissed Draco like it was the first time. His lips were warm and soft and his hand danced over her cold, rosy cheeks.

“I love you so much, Malfoy. I want this to be the best Christmas ever.” The others had already gone inside, but Draco and Hermione lingered outside, the snow falling down over them. A snowflake fell and stuck to Hermione’s eyelash and Draco blew gently, the snowflake melting under his warm breath. “Come on Malfoy, let’s join our family.” Draco shoved his hand in Hermione’s back pocket of her jeans and Hermione did the same as they trudged up towards the house. The door flew open and Luke was standing there.

“You set up a potions lab in one of the upstairs bedrooms! This is so awesome Dad!”

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Scorpius told the story of what happened when he went to find Persephone. Apparently, Dale Peppercorn had tied his two daughters up in their bedrooms. He had rented a flat in a tiny town called Rochedore. Rather then, go in wand’s blazing though, Scorpius had stopped by the local Auror’s office and had brought two Auror’s with him, before he went and rescued Persephone and Serena and their mother. The mother was chained to a radiator and she had suffered burns to her wrists. Dale had gone off the deep end when his business failed and none of them had eaten for two days. Fracka and Serena were taken to a battered witch’s shelter, where they were being fed and housed and counseled. Scorpius made sure that the witches at he shelter knew about Draco’s offer to let them stay at the Dragon Witch until they were back on their feet. This way Serena could still attend Westwitch Academy. Serena had cried and thanked Scorpius for saving them and apologized to both he and her sister for interfering with their relationship in the beginning. After him and Persephone left the shelter, he took her to a muggle diner where they dined on ham, eggs, tea, and toast. It was there that they decided to marry. There was a small wizarding chapel, just down the way and Scorpius and Persephone married. An elderly couple resided over the wedding as their witnesses and Minister. It was tacky and fast, but it was perfect.

“Promise me you will have a grand wedding Luke. Will you do that for your Grandma Cissy?” Narcissa said. “Why can’t a Malfoy man have a coming out party and a grand ceremony with friends and relatives? Draco and Hermione did virtually the same thing and I never got to properly see my son off. To some of us, these things are important you know!” Narcissa moaned and Draco and Hermione looked each other, snuggled up together on the love seat and kissing passionately at the memory of their own lightning nuptials. Scorpius finally stood and yawned and stretched. His arm fell around Persephone, who stood at his side.

“Well, it’s late, and it’s been a long day. Persephone and I are going to retire for the night.” In the way he said it, Draco knew that he meant that they were going to retire together. Being that they were indeed married now, he didn’t protest, though Hermione scowled a bit as the two married teens scaled the spiral staircase leading to the upstairs of the cabin.

“Don’t keep your new bride up all night! We have to go chop down a Christmas tree tomorrow!” Draco shouted and heard Scorpius groan in protest. Draco tucked Hermione into bed safely and then retreated to the back bedroom, where Luke was hard at work on healing potions. Draco grabbed a lab coat and sat down next to Luke.

“I was thinking Luke… What if the answer lies not in healing potions, but in something a little darker?” Draco said hesitantly.

“What do you mean, Dad? I want to try adding two drops of honey to the potion. Honey has healing properties and singers are always adding honey to their tea, to sooth a sore throat or what not,” Luke explained.

“Yes, you might be onto something with the honey…but…Charles Stratton strangled my wife. What if we could reverse that?” Draco said thinking aloud.

“You mean make a reversal potion? Forget about the healing aspects all together? You are talking about playing with some dark magic, Dad.”

“Yes, I am. Is it dark though, if it’s done for good?” Draco said.

“I’m game if you are. We will need scrapings from his fingernails though. Wasn’t Charles Stratton given a proper Minister’s burial?” Draco cringed at the thought. Stratton had indeed been given a proper burial, which irritated Draco to no end. The person didn’t deserve it. He was a lousy Minster, who only blocked bills from passing, but never came up with any ideas of his own, or if he did, they were warped and twisted. In fact, after his death the WWWA categorically told Draco that his bill to free the squibs had zero chance of passing. That in death, Stratton had become quite popular and both the Australian and the Canadian Ministers, fearing backlash from their homeland constituents who supported Stratton, withdrew their support for Draco’s bill. The whole rape incident was covered up by the American press as not embarrass them before the entire wizarding world. Apparently money and prestige can buy anything and Draco was angry over it all. He had his wife back though and his family, so he had concentrated on them. After all, they were more important than anything else was anyways. Lucius, came in and shut the door.

“So what is my brilliant grandson creating this time?” Lucius asked with interest, sitting down across the room from Draco and Luke, who were busy mixing potions. There were cauldrons bubbling and brewing allover the room.

“Father, you are just the person I wanted to see. What can you tell me about reversal spells?”

“I can tell you that Voldemort played with them quite a bit. I myself though, don’t know much on the subject. You know…the person you need to ask is sitting in a jail cell back in the city,” Lucius stated as a matter of fact. “He knows more then I, about the Dark Arts. He is your source for something like that.”

“Nathaniel?” Draco asked. He could almost taste the bile in his throat as he said the name. He knew what he had to do and he wasn’t looking forward to it.

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