Broomsticks and the Big Apple

Broomsticks and The Big Apple

Chapter 17

Draco’s sweet mutterings made Hermione blush and giggle like a schoolgirl. He cradled her in his arms and spoke of her unparalleled beauty and his devotion to her and Hermione was in sheer heaven.

“They have muggle skiing on the other side of the mountain. Perhaps sometime just the two of us can come back here.” Draco kissed Hermione on the nose as they snuggled under the gazebo, a heavy quilt covering their naked bodies. Draco went in for a kiss once again, Hermione’s lips swollen and tingling from all the snogging, when Draco heard the crack of a twig. “Did you hear something? Perhaps we should get dressed.” Draco said, but Hermione snaked her arms around his neck and plunged her mouth over Draco’s. She maneuvered her body against his and Draco slipped easily inside her again. He leaned up on his knees and brought Hermione up with him. She straddled him now, the blanket wrapped around them both, as she moved over top of her husband, taking his length into her. They bit and sucked on one another’s necks and Draco’s breaths were coming in short gasps as his wife took him to fantastic heights. He felt her wetness engulf his manhood and the magic Hermione could only feel with her husband, was upon them as she threw her head back and moaned to herself, Draco’s quick thrusts slowly subsiding. Hermione’s head fell so far back during her intense climax, Draco’s strong arms holding her around the back, that Hermione could see the trail that led to the gazebo. She thought she saw movement and then the heads of Scorpius,Luke,Nathaniel,and Lucius popped through the trees.

“Wow look at this view!” Scorpius said before noticing his parents in a lascivious embrace, naked and wrapped in a blanket.

“Scorpius, you idiot. I told you we shouldn’t have taken this trail when we saw the footprints,” Luke said. Hermione buried her head in Draco’s neck, hiding her eyes from the embarrassment she felt. Draco was laughing though, clearly reveling in his son’s discomfort.

“I didn’t know,” Sorpius said shielding Persephone’s eyes from the view.

“Happy Christmas, Brother. Enjoying the view?” Nathaniel snickered under his breath. Draco nodded, looking at Hermione and smiling. Hermione had her back to everyone and was biting her bottom lip, hoping they would just go away.

“It’s okay, we are all family here. Nobody cares that we were shagging out here. They are probably jealous that they didn’t find the spot before I did.”

“Hi, I’m Gazella. Nathaniel has told me all about you! I met you once, Draco, in the Glamours store. Remember?” Draco nodded at the friendly witch with the hook nose and stringy hair. He had purchased the French Poet’s outfit from her. She had some makeup on this day and looked miles better then she did that day in the store.

“Scorpius and I saw the perfect tree, just down the path a bit. Can we chop it down, Dad?” Luke asked and Draco nodded, thankful that his kids would be leaving. Scorpius more then Luke, looked to be in embarrassed shock at seeing his parents in such a compromising position.

“Come on boys, Grandpa Lucius will help you. Let’s leave the lovebirds alone.” Lucius curled a lip at Draco and sniggered under his breath.

“See you at the house brother,” Nathaniel mumbled whilst escorting his girlfriend back down the path. Hermione cringed and buried her face into Draco’s neck, pulling the blanket up around her.

“Thank Merlin we finished, huh? I’d have been really put out if our delicious orgasms had been ruined by our family,” Draco said with more then a hint of sarcasm, and Hermione gave him an incredulous look, but then broke into silent laughter herself.

“The potion! I have to go babe!” Draco flung the blanket off himself and then howled at the frigid temperatures, while he threw his trousers on. Hermione sat with an introspective gaze, watching her husband dress and longing to able to tell him how sexy and adorable he was. He finally took her by the hand and stood her up. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he stared off at the sweeping majestic views.

“I think we should get married in the Spring, right here. I feel like this is our gazebo and our view. It’s beautiful, just like my wife.” A tear rolled down Hermione’s cheek and she kissed her husband once more.

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It was evening now and Draco was still hard at work in the lab. Every time he felt like he was getting close, he would find himself stumped. There was always one missing ingredient. He couldn’t tell anyone (except perhaps Luke) how he knew it was missing something, but he knew nonetheless. Then it finally hit him. He fumbled through a book on love potions. He remembered back in his Hogwarts days, playing with a particularly nasty and strong acting love potion. At the time, he and Pansy Parkinson had been slated to marry after graduation. This was at the beginning of his fifth year, before Voldemort had forced him to kill Dumbledore, and before that night at the Ministry, where Lucius had been sent to Azkaban. It was during a time that Lucius’s ego had been bolstered by Voldemort’s return. Mr. Parkinson and himself had pushed the teens together, in hopes of extending their good graces with Voldemort by combining the pureblood bloodlines of the Malfoy’s and the Parkinson’s. Pansy was to have a baby, with Draco providing the seed to achieve their means. Eventually, Lucius would fall out of favor with Voldemort and the whole notion of the pureblood union would be forgotten, but back then, Draco was scared and worried about having to marry a witch that he couldn’t stand to even be in the same room with, let alone would have to make love to. Feeling not the slightest bit attracted to the Slytherin witch, Draco set about to make a love potion. He had found a book in the restricted section of the library at Hogwarts and had set about brewing the potion. It was a difficult potion to make and it called for a thimble full of Draco’s own blood. He was about to drink the concoction when Snape caught him and poured the potion down the sink. Snape warned, that Draco should not be playing with such a powerful potion and that the potion had never gained favor amongst the potions committee of the times, when it was first concocted. It was a bit of a blank slate, in that no formal documents existed on the reactions the potion garnered upon use. Snape did say that the potion could only work if he already had loving feelings towards the girl and he eventually brewed him a simple spell that guaranteed an erection. Snape also warned Draco, that a potion that called for ones blood in the mixture was dangerous business and shouldn’t be brewed and drank lightly. The potions name in itself was Malagant’s Binding Hearts Love Potion. Under the description it said, “Brings about the union of man and woman so that the afflicted will be able to perform within a binding contract of love.” When a fourteen-year-old Draco, saw that description he assumed that it meant he would be able to get an erection in order to fuck Pansy Parkinson in a marriage situation. Snape explained to him that what it was actually meant for, was quite different. If either a man or woman in a loving and true romantic relationship, was afflicted with some disease or condition that prevented the pair from fulfilling their binding commitment to each other (marriage for instance) then the Love Potion would heal the afflicted.

Draco closed the book and thought for a moment. Hermione couldn’t speak. It hardly prevented them from loving each other though. She could still perform her wifely duties in the bedroom and everywhere else for that matter. She couldn’t however, marry him again. She couldn’t take vows because she couldn’t repeat them. Could this qualify as being unable to fulfill their marriage contract? Excited, Draco began preparing the potion. The potion was an ancient potion that was rarely used if at all anymore. Nobody would have seen it for the healing potion that it really was, because it was archaic in its means. Draco looked up Malagant’s Binding Hearts Love Potion, in one of the many reference books he had at his disposal. The first three books he checked, did not have any mention of the potion. The fourth book he thumbed through, did. He read aloud:

“Malagant’s Binding Hearts Love Potion, was concocted by a well known and respected, if not slightly eccentric wizard. The potion was tested before the sorcerers committee and found to be weak in its finished state. Upon testing on a panel of thirteen witches and wizards, it was found to work on none of the participants. The wizard who concocted Malagant’s Blinding Hearts Love Potion, Ainsley Malfoy, campaigned for its acceptance until the day died. He claimed to have healed his wife after the tyrannical leader, Malagant, spurred on by rejection, mutilated Ainsley’s wife’s genitals, after she refused Malagant’s advances. The witch, Paradisus Malfoy, who had been a forced advisor to Malagant the malevolent leader, claimed that her heart belonged to her husband, Ainsley Malfoy. Malfoy spoke out against the magical potions committee stating that none of the panel were in love, so therefore the potion could never work. Malfoy was eventually killed by Malagant and his wife taken captive by Malagant. Malagant himself admitted, that her genitals had indeed been restored to their original pristine condition. The committee gave the Binding Hearts Love Potion credence, by including it in the potions books of the time, but gave it the name Malagant’s Binding Hearts Potion, as a warning to witches and wizards everywhere. Because of the fear of Malagant himself, the potion was never a popular brew and Malfoy never received credit for his potion. This potion is not recommended. Too many variables must be set in place, for the potion to work. Generic love potions like the popular Hearts and Minds potion, work for every witch and wizard, not a select few, that meet the criteria, such as Malagant’s Binding Hearts potion requires in order to work.”

“Ainsley Malfoy huh? This can’t be coincidence.” Draco leaned back in his chair and without thinking, reached for a cigarette and lit it up. He puffed on it and then stomped it out when he realized what he was doing. He would definitely have to brew some of the anti smoking potion again. “So Ainsley, do you think your potion would work on my Hermione, just as it did on your Paradisus Malfoy?” Draco tapped his fingers on the table before deciding that he would brew the potion. Draco worked through the night. By Christmas morning, he was midway through brewing the difficult potion.

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Hermione watched her family open their gifts with a smile on her face. Draco’s gifts were still under the tree, unwrapped. He had poked his head over the loft, looking down at his family and wished them all a Happy Christmas and then had returned to the back bedroom. Hermione had made breakfast for the hungry Malfoy’s and was resting with a blanket and a book Luke had given her called, Famous Witches and Wizard’s. Hermione got a kick out of reading the blurb about herself and about Draco. They had gotten many of the facts wrong, stating that Hermione was a halfblood even. It was still an interesting read though and she thanked Luke for spending his paycheck on gifts for his family members.

Hermione thought she saw something move outside the cabin. She looked up to see a blonde head bob across the yard and then there was a knock at the door. Hermione ran to the door and threw it open, to see Luna Lovegood standing there, with three little kids in tow. The two boys were twins, and then there was an adorable little girl with blonde hair and light grey eyes. Hermione ushered them in.

“Hermione, I heard about your accident. Westwitch Academy is full of scarfbloated fowls. I bet one of them crawled into your voicebox and nipped at your larynx. No worry though, next summer the hooded winkies will be at the school, and they will chase all the scarfbloats away.” Hermione clutched her throat, disgusted by the visual she had of some creature eating at her voicebox. Luna was the anti-Hermione in every way. Luna believed in everything on blind faith alone, and Hermione believed in the tangible, what she read in books and what she could see, touch, taste and smell. While she was Hermione’s friend, she tended to get on Hermione’s nerves to an extent. She had learned to dismiss Luna’s nutty claims, but sometimes, like now, she wanted to just tell Luna to shut up with all of her blather. Hermione’s posture sagged at the realization that this was Draco’s sister and that they would probably be seeing a lot more of Luna in the future.

Hermione handed gifts to Luna’s kids and the boys tore into the gifts, while the toddler girl hid behind Luna’s legs.

“She’s a bit shy, but I was too at her age,” Luna said. Luna then turned her attention to Lucius and Narcissa as they began to catch up. Hermione gazed up at the loft, wishing that Draco would join the family. He had been up there for so long and it was Christmas. Suddenly there was a loud BOOM and Hermione started up the stairs to make sure Draco was alright. She was stopped when Draco appeared at the overlook.

“I’m okay, have no fear! Just added a smidgeon too much gunpowder to the mix.” Hermione eyes grew wide. What on earth was he using gunpowder for? She opened her mouth to speak but then remembered that she couldn’t and closed it.

“I’m kidding Sweetpea. The potion was supposed to do that. Hopefully, not much longer.” He closed the door behind him again and Hermione heard the door lock. She slumped against the wall, a sour expression marking her face. It just wasn’t Christmas without Draco. No snarky comments, no beautiful jewelry wrapped in zillions of boxes to disguise the fact that it was more jewelry. No edible underwear, or sexy lingerie or bondage toys for Hermione , from Draco. She was delighted to be in the cabin with all of her family present, but without Draco it all seemed dreary. The men went out to play quidditch in the yard, like they always did after opening gifts and Hermione was left with Narcissa and Luna and Persephone. Persephone looked nervous, so Hermione moped down the stairs again and plopped down on the couch.

“He loves you Hermione. Try to remember why he isn’t here, dear.” Narcissa said picking up on Hermione’s mood. Hermione was grateful for Narcissa. She could relate to her in many ways and over the years the two women had formed a tight bond with one another.

“I have to say that I was quite surprised to find that Draco was my brother. He never liked me back in school. He used to call me Loony. Can you believe that? Bit strange if you ask me.” Hermione was laughing hysterically inside. Everyone called her Loony back in school. Draco just said it to her face, whereas others were more sinister, Hermione included, and said it behind her back. Narcissa curled a lip and smiled and winked at Hermione.

“Yes, Draco was a tad brash as a youngster. He said what he thought and never held his tongue. I quite admire that about him, though he could have used a little more tact.”

“Tell me about my mother Cissy?” Luna said, reaching down to pick up her daughter. The girl refused a glass of pumpkin juice and the Christmas cookie, that Hermione tried to give her. The boys were out in the yard having fun, in carefree manner, but the girl was a basket case, shy and withdrawn.

“Your mother was…my best friend. She and I got up to quite a lot of fun together back in the day. She and I once…On second thought I shouldn’t tell that story,” Narcissa blushed.

The snow began to fall again outside and Luke stormed through the door, stomping the snow from his new dragon skin boots that Draco and Hermione had gotten him for Christmas.

“Mum, care to take a walk with me? It’s snowing and I know how you like to take walks in the snow.” Hermione jumped from her seat, her face all a glow. A walk in the snow with Luke was definitely at hand. She dressed warmly, with a cashmere hat covering her bushy hair and matching scarf snug around her neck and left with Luke. They walked down one of the trails for a while in silence until Luke finally spoke.

“I apologized to Father already, but I think I owe you an explanation.” Hermione took her son’s gloved hand in her own and looked in his eyes with a sense of curiosity and patience.

“I…never meant to hurt you Mum. You probably think that I ran away because of something you did wrong with me. Didn’t you?” Hermione nodded and teared up. She believed that she had coddled him to the point of suffocation. That he needed to break away from an overbearing mother. “It wasn’t anything you did Mum. Is there something wrong with me if I say that I enjoy going to the library with you?” Hermione smiled and wiped her tears away and nodded a resounding …no. “I’m really proud to be your son and everyone has always said how much I’m like you, so they can’t all be wrong. I was supposed to be just like you Mum, but you are a far better person then I. I wasn’t always honest and good, like you. I see now that I have a bit more of Dad in me then I thought. I mean, I’m smart like you and I love books and I look a bit like you, but I’m not above cheating on a test if I forgot to study or spiking a fellow classmates potion and ruining it, in order to exact revenge. I’m not as good as you. I know now, that some of me is you, and some of me is Dad and still some of me…is just me, and I’m happy with that. I like myself more now.” Hermione threw her arms around Luke and hugged him. She broke away and collapsed into the snow on her back. She made a snow angel in the freshly fallen snow and then stood up admiring her handiwork. She reached for her wand and words began to form above the snow angel. Luke read them aloud.

“You are no angel, Luke Malfoy…But I love you anyway.” Luke laughed and Hermione smiled and brushed the hair out of his face before giving him a noogie on her much taller boy’s head, just as if he was still a little boy. Luke put his head on Hermione’s shoulder.

“Can we still go the library together and then discuss what we read, over tea and cookies like we used to?” Hermione patted his face and nodded yes, her heart leaping for joy at having her son back where he belonged. The pair walked side by side back towards the cabin. “Can I get coffee though? I think I like American coffee now.” Hermione punched her son in the arm playfully and he bent down and picked up a snowball, tossing it lightly at his mother. Hermione crouched and packed a tight snowball in her hands and threw it at Luke and so another war began between, this time between mother and son.

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The sun was setting and Scorpius and Luke were embroiled in a bitter rivalry of wizards chess. The doorbell rang and Hermione jumped to her feet once more.

“Happy Christmas, Hermione!” Luke shot a glance at the doorway when he heard the voice of Ron Weasley. George was with them and so was Drew. Luke’s heart began to race, when he saw the freckle-faced girl shake the snow off her dark hair as she removed her coat and hat. She smiled at Luke and he felt the temperature in the room escalate.

“We’re used to big gatherings at Christmas. I guess I still miss the Burrow. I hope you don’t mind us barging in on your Christmas like we did. The Dragon Witch Manager told us that you were here. We can leave if it’s bad timing,” Ron said thoughtfully but Hermione waved him off. She was thrilled to see her friends. It helped make up for the gaping hole in her heart at having Draco missing from the festivities.

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Laughter filtered upstairs and under the crack in the door as Draco listened to the voices of his loved ones downstairs. He was almost finished. One more stir and then the final ingredient and the potion would be complete. He stirred the potion carefully and then set the stir stick down. With a sigh, he picked up a pocketknife and held his hand over the bubbling cauldron. He pressed the knife to his palm and then with a word of hope he sliced his hand open. The blood dripped into the cauldron and with a flash of light the cauldron boiled and swirled, its hue now a bright pink. He wrapped his hand in a towel as his blood continued to flow and with a ladle, scooped the bubbling liquid from the pot. He poured it into a champagne glass and then stood up to straighten his shirt. Deciding that he desperately needed a shower he entered the bathroom and stepped into the hot stream of water.

“This has to work. It’s going to work.” Draco dried off and dressed in a tailored white button down shirt and a pair of black trousers, that hugged his body in all the right places. He combed his hair and conjured a rose. With a rose in one hand and the champagne glass in the other, he exited the bedroom and made his way down the spiral staircase to be with his family. George was entertaining people with his latest jokes from the Joke Shop and the kids were all laughing. He noticed Luke and Weasley’s daughter, were no where to be seen. Hermione seemed to have not noticed their departure, as she laughed with Ron and Luna. He stood there for a moment taking in the scene. He had created this. This was his family and he was proud at what he saw before him. Scorpius and Persephone were laying behind the Christmas snogging, with tinsel draping over their bodies and lovesick expressions on their faces (but fully clothed). Narcissa was sitting on Lucius’s lap smacking his hands way when he’d get too fresh. Nathaniel was standing in the kitchen with his arm snaked around his common law girlfriend, watching George perform before the crowd. Luna’s eight year old twin boys, were playing with a train set that looked just like the Hogwart’s Express, the tracks running all the way around the living room and into the kitchen. Then Draco noticed a little girl with blonde hair and silvery grey eyes and his heart nearly stopped. She was hiding under the chair that her mother sat in. She saw Draco and with a frightened expression, she leaned forward just a bit. Draco set the glass and the flower down on the small mail sorting table at the bottom of the stairs and squatted down in his expensive Italian loafers. He held his arms out to the little girl and the girl crawled out from under the armchair where Luna sat. She cautiously tiptoed over to Draco and then leapt into his arms. He cradled the little girl in his arms and at that very moment, he realized what was missing from his life. He wanted a little girl of his own. Since he didn’t have one, he would just have to settle for hugging his niece, and he did so tenderly.

“Do you know who I am?” Draco said to the little girl. She nodded, but remained quiet.

“I’m your Uncle Draco. You are a big girl and so very pretty.”

“You Draco.” The little girl said, poking a finger into Draco’s chest. His smile faded though at what the flaxen haired girl said next. “And I, Jessie. I a squib.” Draco tried to hide his surprise. Draco distracted the girl. To announce that she was a squib made Draco wonder, if that was the reason for her shyness.

“Did you know that I have a present for you, Jessie?” Draco pulled his wand from his back pocket and conjured a doll for the girl that looked strikingly similar to the toddler. He handed it to her and she looked at it, before hugging it tightly to her chest and kissing the doll’s face. He flicked his wand again and presents filled the living room. Seeing the presents suddenly materialize Hermione jumped form the couch, her eyes falling on Draco and a warmth filling her heart.

Review!?

So looks like one more chapter left. If it goes long, I may have to split it into two. Have to wait and see. Let me know how you liked this chapter!