In-Laws

In-Laws

By: Tassana Burrfoot







Chapter Five





Harry had arranged it so that Hermione and Narcissa could see their husbands once a week. Hermione worked with a fever on the two cases while Ginny and Luna fought for Lucius\' trial date. The days soon turned into weeks, the weeks into months. Without warning, Christmas started approaching.



Ginny moaned as she plopped onto the Grangers\' couch. She pressed her fingers to her temple to dispel the headache that she could feel.



"What is it?" asked the haughty voice of Blaise Zabini.



Ginny glanced at the dark Slytherin and shook her head. "We were turned down again," she answered. "We were told they wouldn\'t be able to set a trial date until 2000. And that\'s only if we are lucky."



"2000!" he exclaimed, sitting up in the recliner. "That\'s two years away! They can\'t expect us to allow him to remain in Azkaban all that time!"



Ginny shrugged. "What choice have we got?" she questioned. "The Wizengamot doesn\'t want Lucius free and they know we have enough evidence to do just that."



Blaise argued, "If we have enough evidence, then I don\'t understand the delay. We should just have the case thrown out."



Ginny understood the man\'s plight. Between Padma and Narcissa, Blaise rarely had time to himself. Not only that, but Lucius\' innocence was apparent. There was no way the prosecutors would win the case.



Ginny stared at the Christmas tree. She still marveled at the Muggles\' abilities to create something so beautiful without the benefit of magic. Hermione had blushed when Mrs. Granger had added the ornaments Hermione had made as a child. Ginny thought they were sweet and had contemplated doing the same for her own children one day.



The entire house was decorated for Christmas. The fireplace had stockings hung along the mantle with holly along the top. A beautiful poinsettia wreath was hung on the brick above the mantle. Tall, ivory candlesticks sitting in brass bases adorned either end of the mantle.



The Christmas tree stood tall and proud next to the fireplace. Many colours lit the tree as decorations of every type hung from its branches. There was no singular theme to the tree. Porcelain Santa Clauses danced next to Christmas elves and reindeer. Porcelain children, which Mrs. Granger had called "Precious Moments," were placed delicately by a framed picture of Hermione\'s first Christmas. A large brightly lighted star topped all of it.



Cinnamon and sugar cookies scented the house. Even Blaise and Narcissa were affected by the beauty and grandeur. Just the day before, Blaise had helped Mr. Granger and Harry put the Christmas decorations in the yard. It was a time honoured tradition for the neighbourhood. There was even a contest to see which house was decorated the best.



"I think I\'m going to try to talk to Harry into buying us a house like this," Ginny contemplated out loud. "Grimmauld Place is nice, but I want my own home. Something sweet and warm."



Blaise raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with this case?" he inquired.



Ginny smiled. "Absolutely nothing," she replied. "It was just a thought that occurred to me."



The Italian rolled his eyes. He had gotten lost in his own thoughts. He had been surprised when the Weasley had voiced what had been similar to his thinking.



He and Padma had been together since last year. At first, they had become friends due to their mutual interests in Draco. As time passed, they had grown to love each other.



Love was an entirely new concept for Blaise. Though he had seen it all the time with the Malfoys, he had never really experienced it himself. His mother, though she had tried, failed miserably at loving him for she didn\'t quite understand the concept herself.



Blaise did not blame his mother for her failures. He simply accepted them and her. He understood her needs and never complained when a new Mr. Zabini graced their doorstep.



Padma was a different matter. She introduced Blaise into the arms of a love he never knew existed. She was kind and passionate. She went beyond the common concept of love and reached out to the intimate most parts.



Blaise slipped a hand into his robes and touched the small ring. He knew it was about time to ask her. He just wanted to wait for the perfect moment: Christmas morning.



He followed Ginny\'s gaze to the Christmas tree. Though the house was awfully small, in his opinion, he had to admit there was a certain homey feel to it. For Muggles, the Grangers were nice people who apparently adored their daughter.



"Perhaps you\'re right," he said suddenly. "This house it a bit quaint, for a Muggle home. A few magical touches and I believe a house like this would be a perfect summer home."



Ginny wrinkled her nose at his snobbery, but did not rise. She knew he was trying to compliment the house, but the rich always did a poor job of that. To her, the house was incredible, with or without magic.



"You do realize Luna and I are working as hard as we can to get Lucius a trial date?" she inquired. "We aren\'t going to let them keep him locked up."



Blaise nodded. "I know. It just seems so hopeless. Those idiots are determined to keep him locked up. And, yes, I add your brother to that list."



"So do I," she admitted. "Thankfully, my mother, Bill, and Charlie agree with me. I think George does, too, but he\'s staying out of it. Father\'s been looking to put Lucius away for years and isn\'t thrilled at the idea of letting him out. Percy\'s always been a prat."



Blaise shook his head in amusement. "The Weasley family divided by the Malfoys," he observed. "How interesting."



Ginny rolled her eyes.





(II) (II)



Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek and laughed. "However did you manage it?"



He just shrugged. "I told you before; Shacklebolt is on our side. It didn\'t take much to talk him into it."



Narcissa walked into the room and looked at the friends curiously. "What\'s going on?" she asked, making it a point to stare at their close bodies.



Hermione caught the glance, but she didn\'t care. She hugged Harry closer as she spouted the good news. "We\'ve been given permission to spend some... intimate time with our husbands. Harry says it\'s Shacklebolt\'s Christmas gift to us. But, I know it was mostly Harry\'s doing."



Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "His Christmas gift to me is a chance to shag my husband?" she questioned slowly.



"You don\'t have to shag him," Harry answered, pulling a face. He did not need that mental image. "You could just spend some private time with him, if you like. You could talk or do whatever you wish. It will be unmonitored, though you\'ll be checked thoroughly to ensure you\'re not hiding anything in your robes. Also, you\'ll be allowed to bring Christmas gifts to them which will be exchanged in the main visiting area."



"I\'ll get to see my son?" the older Malfoy asked.



Harry nodded. "You\'ll get to see your son for a bit. Then, you\'ll be escorted to a private room to spend time with your husband."



Hermione was smiling from ear to ear. "Shacklebolt suggested we keep to Muggle things for gifts, as well. So, Mum agreed to take us to the mall to go shopping," she said.



"And how do you plan to pay for it?" Narcissa asked. "Wizard money doesn\'t work in the Muggle world."



"Wizard money?" Hermione questioned, confused.



Narcissa scowled, "You\'re a Malfoy. Surely your husband gave you access to the family vault? Our money doesn\'t work here. Your parents had to pay for those baskets because the clerk wouldn\'t accept my money."



Hermione\'s eyes widened. She hadn\'t realized she had access to the Malfoy fortune. Not that it really mattered to her. She was content with her own bank account. Pulling away from Harry, she went to her purse. She took out two credit cards and handed one to Narcissa.



"We can use these," she offered. "I know they don\'t have my married name on it yet. I sent it in, but haven\'t gotten the replacements yet. I have you, your husband, and Draco listed as approved buyers."



"Why on Earth would you do that?" Narcissa asked, turning the card around in her hands. "What is this thing anyway?"



Hermione smiled. "It\'s called a credit card," she explained. "Basically, it\'s plastic money. You hand them this card and your ID when it\'s time to pay. They swipe it, return the card to you, and then you have to sign a piece of paper, and you\'re done. I\'ll show you the first few times, but it\'s pretty simple."



Again, Narcissa seemed confused. "What\'s an ID?" she asked.



Harry and Hermione shared a look. Teaching the pureblood witch was going to be difficult.



(III) (III)



Hermione received help from her parents as she and Harry brought, not only Narcissa, but Ginny, Padma, and Luna to the DMV and Gringotts. Harry had given Ginny his credit card after calling the credit card company and putting her under his name. Padma and Luna decided to exchange some of their own money into Muggle money. Narcissa wanted to do the same, but Hermione insisted that it wasn\'t necessary.



"If you really want to pay me back, you can just put the money into my Gringotts account," the younger Malfoy suggested.



Narcissa scoffed at the idea, but had a hundred Galleons added to Hermione\'s vault. "When the men get out of Azkaban, you\'ll have to add your vault with ours," she said scathingly.



Hermione did not comment, but she knew she had a fight on her hands. She wanted her own account.



(IV) (IV)



The moment they stepped into the mall, Hermione secretly wished they were back at the drugstore. At least there, if someone wandered off, they were easily found. The mall was an entirely different story.



Again, Hermione had to thank her parents for being there. Ginny went off with Harry. The Grangers took Narcissa with them. That left Hermine with Padma and Luna.



The Ravenclaws were fascinated by the various shops and merchandise. They gazed incredibly at all the Muggles who bustled about in their effort to catch those few, last minute items.



Hermione had to stifle several laughs. Unlike Diagon Alley, Padma and Luna couldn\'t levitate their packages. So, they were stuck carrying them.



"Merlin\'s beard!" Padma exclaimed suddenly, drawing looks from several shoppers. "They actually sell that here?!"



Hermione glanced at where Padma was pointing and couldn\'t help but laugh. She forgot about Victoria\'s Secret. She could only imagine what Narcissa said when she passed the store. The girl made a mental note to ask her parents.



"Would you like to go in?" Hermione asked once she calmed down.



Sheer curiousity led the three girls into the store. As they entered, a saleslady handed them each a shopping bag. They perused the undergarments and lingerie.



"Who wears this stuff?" Padma asked, picking up a red corset and wrinkling her nose.

---

Author\'s Note: "Oh my god, Tassana, is that a new chapter?"



"Why yes, I do believe it is."



"What\'s taken you so long?"



"Well, a lot of things, really. And I really do apologize to all my wonderful fans who have been patiently waiting for me to post something. Sadly, life has managed to get in the middle of getting everything together here."



"I\'m sorry to hear that, Tass. I know how much you really adore us. Is there anything we can do?"



"Well, just be patient with me, I suppose. I\'m going through a real trying time in my life right now. Things are difficult and I cannot promise when I\'ll be able to post the next chapter or whatever."



"So, who beta read this chapter, anyway?"



"Actually, it still hasn\'t been beta read yet. I\'m waiting for my beta to read it, but I\'m sure she\'ll get to it as soon as she can. Like myself, she\'s got a lot of things on her plate at the moment."



"So why post it without being beta read?"



"Well, because the chapter was complete and I didn\'t wish to keep my fans waiting for much longer."



"Honestly, Tass, you really are too kind. I\'m sure the rest of your fans would have understood."



"I suppose, but what can I say?"



"Do you have any more chapters waiting to be read?"



"Well, I have the next chapter currently in works, but it\'s not ready to be read yet. I\'m going to try to start on Chapter Seven as soon as the next chapter is complete."



"And are you going to post Chapter Six before or after it\'s been beta read?"



"Well, now, that\'s really up to my fans. Would you rather my next chapter to be beta read or are you impatient enough to want the chapter as soon as it\'s completed?"



"Is the next chapter good?"



"Oh, yeah. There\'s a fight scene and a lovely scene. And I\'m pretty sure it\'ll draw some sniffles."



"But is it perfect?"



"That remains to be seen. Like I said, it\'s all up to my fans."



"Is there anything else you would like to say?"



"Yes."



Thank you all for being so patient with me. I know it\'s very trying when there\'s a really good story going and it seems like the story has been placed on the back burner. Like I\'ve said before, this story is already complete on paper. It\'s just a matter of typing it up. Please, try to be patient with me. My life has been extremely trying for the past couple months and I\'m pretty sure it\'s going to become even more difficult in the near future.



I WILL NOT ABANDON THIS STORY. Though I can no longer promise a chapter a week, I do promise to finish it. I apologize for the long wait and I hope all of you will bear with me as I continue to complete this wonderful sequel to Heart and Soul.



Thank you for your reviews and votes.