Freedom

A/N: Ergh! Some people wanted more torture, some thought that the chair leg was a bit too much. So I hope you're all happy on how I compromised. :-/

Chapter 14

Yesterday had been perfect, Charlie thought sadly. How the fuck had it all gone downhill so fast?

Besides Hermione scaring them nearly to death, the reward of being able to finally exact their revenge against the little redheaded bastard that had treated Hermione so badly for six years had been amazing. Charlie had barely been able to watch when Draco had come back in with the chair leg—it was unpleasant to see, but even more unpleasant to hear. It was like he wanted to stop watching, but he just couldn’t turn away.

When they had finished with that, they had eaten dinner and floo-ed up Neville, who came to the flat to heal Ron’s broken bones. Harry then joined them in breaking them all over again.

After another hour or so of that, and with his bones still broken, they finally had Hermione say the words that would send the bastard to Azkaban. Harry left, Jamie was in bed, the three of them were alone.

Charlie and Draco had then decided to take a shower where Draco, still on his power high, had pushed Charlie against the tile wall and taken him roughly against it. Then, with him having the libido of a fifteen year old, Draco had gone back in the bedroom to fuck Hermione well enough to give her multiple orgasms.

And now, less than twenty-four hours later, Charlie was sitting alone in their bedroom with a note from Hermione saying that they were staying at Malfoy Manor overnight.

And it was all because of Draco’s fucking father. How could they not see that Lucius Malfoy only wanted the children that Hermione was carrying? How could they not see that he had not cast the pillowing charm to save Hermione, but to save what she was carrying? How could they be so naïve, how could they be so trusting, so willing to go into the snake’s den?

Charlie would not have it. When Draco had said something about having dinner at the Manor with his parents, Charlie had immediately refused. He would not have a normal dinner with the man who had disowned his son because he wouldn’t have an heir, and only came back seven years later because he found out that his son would be having an heir after all. Draco, on the other hand, seemed to find it fit to forgive his father. He understood where his father was coming from. Charlie couldn’t believe it. He would think that Draco of all people would know what a bastard Lucius was.

And Hermione of course was so ecstatic about Lucius saving her life that she had agreed to go. And now Charlie was by himself. He had made up a lie about having to stay at the reservation overnight just so Hermione wouldn’t feel guilty, but really he was sitting on their bed, alone. He had hoped that they would come home, but apparently Lucius had gotten into their good graces enough to have them stay the night. Or perhaps, it was Lucius’ ploy to get Draco to agree to practically giving up his children just to have the Malfoy fortune back.

And Charlie knew that he would get it. Draco would forgive his father. Draco would be reinstated with the Malfoy fortune. He would start spending money frivolously on Charlie and Hermione and he wouldn’t think a thing of it. Charlie hated it. Until now, they had been equals. They had always had the common link of having to work and being able to pay the bills and such. Now Draco was going to change, and Charlie didn’t like that idea at all.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

“So let me get this right,” Draco said. “You don’t care if they go to the Royal Academy. But you still want to give me access to the family fortune?”

“I know that you’ve always wanted to open your own business, Draco. I just want to give you enough money for the chance to do that. Then all the money that you make will be your own. It won’t be like I’m buying your affection back. We’ll call it a loan.”

“So you’re still disinheriting me?”

“It seems as though that’s what you want,” Lucius said with a slight smile.

“I think that is what I want,” Draco said.

“Then I will pass the fortune onto your children, and give you enough to start up your own business.”

Draco smiled.

“So where is your husband?”

Draco sighed. “To put it lightly, Charlie hates you, father.”

“Yes, I figured as much,” Lucius said.

“I don’t blame him at all though,” Draco smiled sweetly.

“Draco, that’s no way to talk to you father,” Hermione threw in. His father had just been so generous, after all.

“Hermione, you know that the only reason he saved you was for the children you’re carrying,” Draco said, looking at Hermione. “Don’t think for a minute that he did it at all to save you.”

Hermione dipped her head. “Actually, technically he did save me,” she said. “You saved the babies.”

“What?” Draco asked.

“Well, I was trying to figure out how the fall could have broken three of my ribs, but not hurt the babies at all. I landed on my stomach, you know.”

“But I wasn’t even there,” Draco said. “I should have been there,” he admonished himself.

“No, remember that last night with Ron, when I asked you to put the charm on me,” Hermione said. “You never took it off.”

“The impermeable charm?” Draco asked.

“Yes,” she smiled. “You saved them.”

Draco smiled as well. He felt like sticking out his tongue at his father, but he knew that that would be more immature than what he had already said.

“Have you decided what to name them?” Narcissa asked out of curiosity.

“Scorpius,” Draco said, looking at Hermione. They hadn’t really talked about names much yet. Mostly they had decided that if it was a boy then Draco could name it and if it was a girl then Hermione could name it. Now they would both get what they wanted.

“Rose,” Hermione said, smiling.

“Scorpius and Rose?” Narcissa asked. “Those are lovely names.”

“Scorpius? Are you serious, Draco?” a different voice was heard from outside of the dining room.

Draco stood up immediately, almost knocking his chair backwards in the process. “Blaise?” he asked.

The dark-skinned man walked around the corner of the doorway with a bemused smile on his face. “Your father said that you would be here, I couldn’t miss a chance to see you.”

Draco walked over to him and shook his hand heartily. “I haven’t seen you since your wedding! How’s Pansy?”

“I would be much better if my husband would help me,” came a voice from further down the hall. Draco looked and saw the woman that had once been his best friend. He had fallen out of contact with most of his friends from school when he had left the pureblood social circle, but it was amazing seeing these two again, who had been his two best friends in school. Pansy looked great. She had grown out her hair so that it was to her mid-back, black and wavy. She had a baby in her arms, and a toddler connected to her leg.

“Oh, Merlin,” Draco said. “You have kids and you didn’t tell me!”

“We tried to get a hold of you,” Blaise said. “But nobody that we talked to knew where you had disappeared to. That’s why we were so happy that your father had found you.”

“I’ve been in London,” Draco said. “It’s not like I moved away.”

“Cara, come here,” Blaise said, motioning towards the little coffee-coloured toddler with black, curly hair. The little girl, who was probably about Jamie’s age, walked slowly over to her father, and Blaise picked her up. “Cara, I’d like you to meet your godfather.”

Draco smiled. “She’s gorgeous.”

“Of course she is,” Pansy said, now walking up to them. “What with us as her parents,” she smiled at her husband.

“I hope she has the modesty of her mother, of course,” Blaise said with a laugh.

“So where is Hermione?” Pansy asked. “And…Charlie?”

“Hermione!” Draco called out, looking at the little girl in Pansy’s arms.

“This is Annabel,” Blaise said.

Hermione walked into the doorway where Draco was being reunited with his best friends. He looked so happy. Looking between his best friends and their two daughters.

“This is Hermione,” Draco said, putting his arm over her shoulders.

“We know who she is,” Pansy said. She gave Hermione a one-armed hug. “I’m so glad you’ve made Draco happy.”

Hermione smiled a little awkwardly. It was strange enough to be liked by Lucius, but by Draco’s two friends from school who had never had anything to do with her, it was also weird.

“And this is?” Pansy asked, putting her hand on Hermione’s stomach. Hermione jumped back at the touch. “Sorry, I’ve had people with their hands all over my belly lately,” Pansy said. “Habit, I guess.”

“It’s all right,” Hermione said. “This is Rose,” she said, putting her hand on one side of her stomach. “And this is Scorpius.” She put her other hand on the other side.

“Oh, you’re so lucky to get them both out at once!” Pansy said.

“Well, this is my second pregnancy,” Hermione said.

“Oh yes, that’s right,” Pansy said. “Where is the third part or your trio?”

“Charlie and my father don’t get along,” Draco said. “So he refused to come tonight. He’s up at his Dragon Reservation in Scotland.”

“And Jamie is with Harry and Ginny,” Hermione said.

“Really, Draco?” Blaise said. “Consorting with Weasleys and Potters? A lot has changed in seven years.”

“Yes, it has,” Draco said. “Sweet Salazar, I feel like we have so much to catch up on.”

“Well, I didn’t drag these two out here for nothing,” Pansy said. “We’re staying the night here. Of course, you will as well?” she asked.

Draco gave Hermione a pleading look. “Of course,” Hermione said. “I’ll just have to send Charlie an owl.”

Draco smiled widely and walked with his two best friends, their two children, and his pregnant girlfriend back into the dining room. His life was finally starting to get back on track.