In-Laws

In-Laws
By: Tassana Burrfoot


Chapter Four


Draco heard his door click open before a guard threw him a bundle of clothes, a towel, and a washcloth. "I'm taking you to the showers, Malfoy. On your feet," the guard ordered.

The Slytherin stood from his position on the bed before following the guard out. He was led down the dark and dank corridors into a small showering area. Once he stepped inside, the door was shut and locked.

He began to carefully place his clean apparel on a small chair when he realized there was a difference. The guard had given him black robes. Confused, Draco rapped on the door. When the guard opened it slightly, Draco expressed, "I think you gave me the wrong clothes."

The guard huffed, "You have visitors coming, Malfoy. The Minister requested that you be presentable," he explained. He handed Draco a toothbrush and toothpaste. "Forgot to give you those. You have fifteen minutes. Shower, dress, and be ready."

The door slammed shut again and Draco heard the lock click into place. He quickly stripped and stepped into the shower. As he bathed and brushed his teeth, he couldn't help but wonder who was coming. He hoped it wasn't Weasley again.

(II) (II)

Hermione sat nerviously in the waiting room with Narcissa. She couldn't believe her luck! Harry had indeed been able to convince the guards to allow Lucius and Draco to keep whatever Hermione and Narcissa gave them, provided it wasn't anything magical. And, of course, it had to be safe.

"Stop fidgeting," Narcissa reprimanded, holding two baskets full of sweets.

Narcissa had gone with Henry and Amy Granger after dinner to the drugstore. She had decided a gift or two wouldn't hurt, even if they were Muggle things.

Two guards walked into the waiting room. One of them, a short, burly man, said, "We were given orders to allow you to set up before the prisoners entered. You may do so now."

"But, you will not be allowed your wands," the second, a tall, skinny guard, informed them. "We are sorry, madams, but it's just too dangerous."

Hermione pulled out her wand and handed it to the tall guard. "We understand. We appreciate everything you are doing for us."

The guard just huffed as Narcissa handed her wand over as well. She did not seem pleased by these circumstances, but she was willing to take what she could get. She would do almost anything to see her family again.

They carried their bundles into the visitor's room and set them on the table that was provided. Hermione went through the gifts and placed each card with the appropriate gift. Once everything was straight and in order, the two women allowed the guards to escort them out of the room so Draco and Lucius could enter.

(III) (III)

As Draco stepped into the visitor's room, his eyes widened by what he saw. Several packages adorned the small table. Each package was wrapped in shiny paper save two large baskets.

Even better, Draco's father was escorted into the room right after Draco. The guards removed the hand shackles from both Malfoys. "It was requested that the two of you remain unbound," the guard explained. "We will leave the shackles on your feet, however. If we hear anything inappropriate, we will return immediately."

In other words, be on your best behaviour, Draco thought. He waited for the guards to leave before he glanced at his father again.

The older man was thinner and looked as though he hadn't shaved in a really long time. His pale blond hair was dripping from, what Draco surmised, the shower he had taken. Though he stood with dignity, Lucius looked like a shell of his former self.

Lucius raised an eyebrow at the table. "What is all of this?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Gifts," answered a soft feminine voice Draco thought he had imagined.

Both males looked to see their wives standing in front of the door. Draco's heart melted at the sight of them, the two women he loved more than life itself.

"Hermione," he whispered as she sprinted to him.

She crashed into his body with such force he nearly fell backwards. Planting his feet firmly into the stone floor, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. He knew it was unseemly for a lady to act as Hermione had, but he didn't care.

He pressed his lips against hers feverishly. He drank in every bit of ambrosia she offered, tasting her sweet fruit with his tongue and lips. He never wanted to break contact.

Hermione ended the kiss by breaking away with a laugh. "Your beard is itchy," she complained playfully pouting.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "I have nothing to get rid of it, darling," he told her.

Her smile turned mischievous as she glanced at his parents. "I don't think you have to worry about that anymore," she responded.

He had no idea what she meant, but he turned his own gaze at his parents. He missed them both so much. "Mother? Father?" he called gently, interrupting their kiss.

Narcissa smiled at her son as she and her husband approached the younger couple. She embraced her only child as though they had been apart for years. Draco could feel the longing and sorrow within her embrace.

Hermione stepped apart from the family as they hugged one another. She felt uncomfortable, as though she were an intruder upon a happy occasion. She wondered if she would ever feel differently.

Draco couldn't remember the last time he had been embraced by his father. At first, it felt awkward to feel the hardened Death Eater's arms wrap around his body. Then, it felt comforting, it felt right. A childish memory played in Draco's mind as he returned the hug.

Draco stepped away from his parents and turned back to his wife. He didn't quite understand the sad look in her eyes. He took her hand into his as he asked, "What's wrong?"

She gave him a soft, sad smile as she stepped closer to him to wrap her arms around his waist. "Nothing, darling. I'm just so happy to see you," she told him. She gave Lucius a meaningful look, "Both of you."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "What is all of this?" he questioned suspiciously. "Are we being released?"

Hermione shook her head. "Sadly, no," she answered. "We were able to gain a visit with you because... well, because of Harry. We've been working on your cases, trying to see if we can get them thrown out."

"Did you get us a trial date?" Draco asked, gazing down at his wife.

"According to Potter, your trial is set for next year," Narcissa replied for Hermione. "However, Lucius is still 'pending'."

Hermione was quick to add, "That doesn't mean we aren't trying to get a trial date. Ginny and Luna have both been at the Ministry everyday as well as Harry. Kingsley has been working on it as well."

Draco sneered, "I'll bet he has. Doing everything he can to keep us locked up."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "The only one trying to keep you locked up is Ron... Well, and the Aurors. Kingsley believes my side of the events. And with Harry..."

Draco pushed her away suddenly. "How is Weasel, by the way?"

Surprised, Hermione knitted her eyebrows. "What?" she asked, not understanding.

"You heard me. Been keeping correspondence with him? Snogged him lately?" he growled.

"Son, what are you talking about?" Narcissa questioned.

Draco waved at Hermione. "The day the Dark Lord was defeated, I caught Hermione snogging Weaselbreath. A few weeks ago, that arse visited me and informed me they had picked up their relationship."

Hermione's eyebrows flew into her bangs in shock. Narcissa came to her defense, "I don't know what that freckled-face pauper told you, but I assure you she's done no such thing. She's rarely left the house since the Dark Lord's death. When she does leave, it's always in company."

Hermione was angry. "Even if I did have such time, do you really think I'd want to rekindle a relationship with the man who put my husband and his father behind bars? Which, by the way, he's managed to add yet another charge to the list, as if I haven't enough work to begin with. I have worked day and night diligently to get you and your father released, Draco. I want you home where you belong. Not locked up in some cell paying for crimes you couldn't help commit," she explained.

Draco looked at her curiously. "What other charge?" he asked.

"The attempted murder of Katherine Bell," Narcissa answered with a sneer.

Lucius was curious as well. He looked at Hermione and asked, "Why are you working on my case? I wouldn't think a Mudblood like you would care."

She stood straight and stared into his cold grey eyes as she responded, "You are family, Lucius. When I agreed to marry Draco, I agreed to accept you as well. We may be from different worlds with different beliefs, but we both hold the same family values. I love Draco with all my heart and soul. I do what I do for him and for the extra family I have gained in marrying him."

Draco decided that the most awkward moment of their visit had not been the hug he and his father had shared, but rather the silence that followed Hermione's proclamation. He was proud of her, for he had heard the test in Lucius' question.

Draco walked over to the table that held the packages. "What are these?" he asked in an effort to dispel the moment.

It worked. Hermione smiled brightly as she joined her husband. "Gifts," she answered with a smirk, "from your admirers. We hoped to cheer you up a bit."

Draco's eyes caroused over the brightly coloured packages until they rested on a peculiar envelope. He picked it up. "This says 'Lucius,'" he commented, giving his wife a curious glance.

She nodded merrily. "Of course. You didn't think they were all for you?" she teased.

He looked over to his father who shared a confused look with him. His mother, however, was just as pleased as Hermione about the gifts. "The baskets are from me," she explained. "Everyone else bought you silly little trinkets, but I thought you'd appreciate some chocolates."

Hermione nodded and added, "And my mum fixed you both plates of stroganoff. She hates the idea of you being here and is under the belief that you aren't getting fed properly."

Draco's eyes lit up as he sought out the plate of food. He found the one with his name on it wrapped in aluminum foil. He snatched it up and opened it. Mrs. Granger had even been thoughtful enough to include a plastic fork. He quickly armed himself and dug into his meal.

"Draco Malfoy!" his mother scolded. "Where are your manners?"

As he swallowed a bite, he apologized, "Mrs. Granger was right, Mum. All we get to eat is soup or stew. I haven't a decent meal since Hogwarts."

Lucius perused the items on the table while his son ate. His own interest was evident, but he was much more guarded about the Muggle food. He cautiously picked up his own plate and, upon opening it, he sniffed at the contents. "It's still warm," he observed.

Hermione shrugged. "The guards allowed me to place a warming charm over the plates to help keep them fresh until the food could be eaten," she explained. She saw Lucius' disdain and wrinkled her nose. "It's not poisoned," she added a bit more haughtily than she had intended.

Draco smiled proudly at his wife. She was handling his parents quite well, in his opinion. Then, a thought occurred to him. "How's the Manor?" he asked.

Narcissa shook her head slightly. "We wouldn't know. I had returned only long enough to gather some clothes and personal effects. I locked and sealed it up tight. I haven't been back since."

"Blaise goes over there to check on it," Hermione informed them. "He makes sure the wards are still up and no one's broken in."

Lucius almost dropped his plate. Had it not been for Hermione's quick reflexes, he would have. The looked he gave the Muggle-born made her almost regret being so close to him. "You have my wife staying at those Muggles' house?!" he snarled.

Hermione set the plate on the table and met his icy glare with one of her own. "You can insult me all you want, Mr. Malfoy," she hissed. "But don't you dare insult my parents. Your wife asked to come stay at our house. No one forced her."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Hermione, darling," he said, "you do realize that the Manor is your home now? I mean, since we are married..."

She turned to look into her husband's eyes. All colour drained from her face as she realized he was not jesting. She felt herself go weak and quickly sat in one of the four chairs.

Alarmed, Draco set his own plate down and rushed to her side. "Darling, what's wrong?" he questioned, concern written on his face.

She took a few moments to compose herself before she answered, "I'm sorry, Draco. I just... I can't return to that... place. It gives me chills just thinking about it... To live there..." She shook her head. "You can't ask that of me."

Draco decided to let the matter drop for now. He understood his wife's fear and knew it would take some time. He looked at the items on the table and picked up an envelope with his name on it. "What is this?" he asked, flipping the envelope over to see it sealed with wax and a large "Z."

Hermione smiles through her tears. "It's called a card. The girls thought it was an interesting idea," she replied.

"Girls?" he questioned as he broke the seal. "That's Zabini's seal, if I'm not mistaken."

He took the card out and nearly laughed at the sight of a watercoloured fairy. "May all your dreams and hopes come true," he read. He opened it up and continued, "Best wishes from the two of us to you. Blaise and Padma."

His smile turned into his typical smirk. He turned to the gift they had given him and opened it. He didn't quite understand the black frame until he read the note. "To place the one you hold dear. Love, Padma and Blaise."

"She wouldn't tell me what the note meant," Hermione told him. "She said you would know."

He nodded briefly before looking up at her. "Make sure you thank them for me?" he requested.

Hermione did not understand the sudden emotion that had overcome her husband. She glance over at her in-laws to see Lucius going through the basket his wife had given him.

Draco picked another card up to see a Ravenclaw seal plastered over the back of it. He opened it and pulled out the card. There was a still photograph of a black and white kitten hanging on a branch on the front of the card. The inside held a simple message, "Hang in there," and it was signed, "Yours truly, Luna Lovegood."

Another smirk played on Draco's lips as he began to open the gift. His smirk turned into a puzzled look as he held the heavy object in his hands. It was a glass ball held up by a green porcelain base. The base had leaves carved all over it to represent treetops. Inside the ball was a golden eagle suspended in mid-flight. Water and glitter also filled the ball. Draco looked at his wife curiously.

She smiled as she turned the small brass key underneath the base. As glitter flew around the eagle, a sweet melody played from the base. "The song is called 'Greensleeves'," Hermione told him. "Luna thought it was fitting."

Draco nodded slowly. He placed the ball next to his picture frame and reached for the next envelope. This one was sealed with the Gryffindor coat of arms. Draco wrinkled his nose, but broke the seal anyway. "You didn't have to seal it with that symbol," he commented.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "That's not mine," was all she said.

Curious, Draco pulled the card out. The picture was that of a beautiful sunrise. Words were written across in gold. The front of the card read:

"Journeys may be harsh,
Winters bitter,
Life may be tough,
Strong are the rivers.

"As the day ends,
You'll find night to bring,
Darkness and fear,
Covers everything.

"Do not lose hope,
Do not be afraid,
For as one day ends,
Another day comes
Proud and brave."

He opened the card to find, "Fear not the darkness for a new dawn shall arise from its ashes. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."

Draco looked up from the cryptic message and stared into the soft honey eyes of his wife. She handed him the small gift bag. What he found in the package confused him for a moment. "What is..." he read the label on the can of shaving gel and laughed. "Potter bought me a razor?"

Hermione shrugged. "Actually, Ginny picked it out. She thought, since you can't use magic, a good razor would come in handy."

Draco shook his head as he laughed. Mr. Granger had shown him how to use a razor a year before. Back then, Draco had been appalled by the strange object. Now, he was grateful. "You'll have to show me how to use it," he told her as he set it aside and reached for his next gift.

Unlike the other cards, this envelope was sealed to itself. Draco had to carefully rip the envelope to get to the card inside. The front was an oil painting of a quaint little cottage with a beautiful tree in the yard. In blue letters, it read: "To our beloved son-in-law..."

He opened it and read: "May this card find you in good health and bring you cheer and joy. We miss you. Love, Amy and Henry Granger."

He gave a soft smile as he took the presents and unwrapped them. He raised an eyebrow. "Books?" he questioned.

Hermione giggled. "The first two trilogies of Dragonlance. They are my father's favourite series. He thought you'd like them because of all the magic and enchantments within."

He just stared at her. "He bought me books," he stated.

"Well, if you don't like them, we can bring them back," she commented, not liking his attitude.

He pulled the books away from her. "No," he said.

Her smile was smug as she handed him the last gift. "I didn't get you a card. I didn't think it was necessary since I was going to see you," she explained.

He opened it and gave a little laugh. "See? I expected something like this from you. Books with word problems."

She nodded. "And a hand-held video game," she said, pointing to the small game. "It's battery operated and should be fine to play around here."

"What the bloody hell is this?!" Lucius demanded suddenly, drawing the young couple's attention away from one another and towards him.

They peeled over in laughter. He had opened his gift from Ginny and Harry and had been examining it. Lucius Malfoy was covered in shaving gel.

(IV) (IV)

One hour and several insults later, Hermione had managed to clean away all traces of shaving gel from Lucius. She had also demonstrated the proper uses of the razor, the gel, and the video games. A shaved, yet not-so-pleasant Lucius glared at his daughter-in-law as he ate the stroganoff her mother had fixed.

Hermione ignored the looks and mutterings of her father-in-law. She knew he was angry and while she didn't blame him, his insults were childish and petty. She refused to let him get to her. Instead, she focused her attention on her husband.

"I don't understand," the young Slytherin was saying. "Why doesn't my father have a date yet? And why is mine a year away?"

Hermione thought on it for a moment. "My guess is they want to keep you in here as long as possible. If we have enough evidence that the two of you are innocent, the cases would be thrown out and you'd be released."

"Do you have enough evidence?" he questioned, taking a bite out of a chocolate bar.

She sighed, "It's going to be hard to prove anything. If Bellatrix or Voldemort were still alive, the cases might be easier. I know it would be a hell of a lot easier if Snape or Dumbledore were still alive. Especially Snape."

Lucius scowled, "What good would Snape's testimony be?"

"He could prove your innocence," she answered. "Remember what Harry said? Snape belonged to Dumbledore. More than that, Snape was a close family friend to you. He saw how Voldemort was treating the three of you. He knew of the threats against your lives if you didn't bow down to the whims of a madman. His testimony would be the final nail in this case. The prosecutors would have no case."

"But you have Luna," Draco stated. "She was there."

"For some of it," Hermione pointed out. "And then, only a brief moment. She's agreed to testify. So has Harry."

"Potter's agreed to testify?" Lucius questioned, surprised.

Hermione nodded. "Though, he can only really testify for Draco, I think. He was on the tower the night Dumbledore died."

"Where?" Draco asked. "I don't recall seeing him."

"Of course you don't," she explained. "He was wearing an Invisibility Cloak. It was something he had inherited from his father."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "So, Potter testifies on my behalf. They see the truth and set me free. That still doesn't help my father. Even if I were to testify, they'd think I was lying or something just to help him."

"I'll testify," Narcissa said suddenly, drawing the attention of the other three. "Even with Potter's testimony, it still might not be enough. However, I was there when the Dark Lord gave Draco his 'task.' I was also there when my husband lost his wand and fell prey to my sister and the Dark Lord. I watched as that monster nearly destroyed my family."

"I won't let you," Lucius said, taking her hand into his. "I'm not going to let you relive those awful memories."

She snatched her hand away from his and hissed. "Let me? Since when did I need your permission, Lucius? This is my choice to make. I will not stand idly by while my husband and son, the two men I love more than life itself, sit in prison. I want you out! I'm tired of the Muggles. I'm tired of wearing a mask. I want to go home, but I refuse to return without you."

Lucius stood and pulled her into an embrace. He kissed her gently on the lips before whispering against them, "I just don't want to watch you be fed to the lions, my love. They are dangerous and ravenous. Snake venom alone will not be enough to drive them off."

Narcissa pulled back slightly and smiled. "You're right. Snake venom won't be enough. It's a good thing we have our own pair of lionesses," she observed, gesturing to Hermione.

The three purebloods gazed at the Muggle-born. She threw a sheepish smile and nodded. Draco then added, "We have something else they don't have. We have Harry Potter."

---

Author's Note: It seems I've taken forever to put up an update, doesn't it? Well, there you have it. If you haven't had a chance to check out my profile yet, please do. I've made some updates to it, including a list of recommendations to other stories that many of you might like. Also, any new stories in the works, I'll be posting about in my profile.

Also, I realized after I wrote the last chapter and this one that wizards and witches do know what cards are. However, I really don't feel like going back through and rewriting it all. Besides, I enjoyed the whole scene in the Muggle pharmacy. So, we'll just pretend they didn't know. :)

Thank you all for your reviews and votes. You know I love ya!