Broomsticks and Bedfellows

Broomsticks and Bedfellows

Chapter Seven

Hermione closed the book and laid it atop the stack of books on Vampires and Elizabeta’s Bathist’s family.

“Bingo!” Hermione said and Draco smiled in relief. He and Hermione had been sifting through the books in his Father’s library all morning, looking for something that would tell them the whereabouts of Nathaniel. Three-fourths the way through Lucius and the Malfoy family library she had hit pay dirt. An old yellow scrap of parchment had fallen from the book Hermione was thumbing through. It had a name on it and underneath that was Nathaniel’s name. It seemed like a place to start. “So we need to find someone named Cornelius Blackstone.”

“We don’t have to look far. I sent him to Azkaban last year, after he brutally raped and killed every member in his cult. They were a strange lot. Worshipped trees and such. Heinous was the massacre. Don’t you remember the case at the Ministry? Oh nevermind, you were on maternity leave during that time. You looked so pretty when you were pregnant. Have you ever thought about having more kids, babe?” Draco had that smitten expression playing across his face. Hermione blushed and then plopped down in his lap. With her arms around his neck, she allowed herself to enjoy kissing her husband. Indulging in moments like this were what it was all about and Hermione loved the way Draco kissed her, with so much passion.

“Good to see you kids kissing again,” Narcissa had tiptoed into the library to gather a stack of books for Scorpius. “I never thought I’d admit it, but Hermione, you really are the perfect match for Draco. I couldn’t have chosen a better wife for him if I had chosen her myself.”

“And you did try to do just that,Mother. But thank you mother. Mother, have you been crying?” Draco could tell that Narcissa was upset by the way she sniffled every other second. Hermione stood from Draco’s lap and made her way over to her mother in law.

“What’s wrong? Is there anything that we can do?”

“I bought these for Scorpius on my last trip to Diagon Alley.” She held up a pair of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, extendable ears. Hermione let out a chuckle. The thought of Narcissa Malfoy shopping in the joke shop must have been a sight to see. Draco was pale though when Hermione turned around to face him, the color completely drained from his face, and Hermione suddenly had reason for worry.

“I heard everything you and Lucius said this morning. I’ve asked Lucius to leave the Manor. He will be living at the country house in the French Riviera. The thought of him and my sister Bellatrix, well, I thought I knew your Father better, Draco.”

“Mother, it was long ago. You can’t seriously make father leave. What will he do without you?” Draco found this news painful. His parents had always been a united front. As messed up as some might think their marriage was, they both truly loved one another and Draco felt like the rug had been ripped out from underneath him.

“We had a pact Draco. No indiscretions. None! He fathered a bastard child with my sister and that monster tried to kill my grandson! That should be enough for you Draco. Now, no more talk of it. I made my decision and your father gave me the respect I deserve and left The Manor. You can’t treat your wife in this way Draco. I hope this is a lesson to you. You’d best love Hermione and be a good husband and father. Keep your dick in your pants,Draco, because if you don’t then bad things like this happen. Your father will have a nasty surprise when he showers. I wish I could see the look on his face when his willy starts to itch and burn. He won’t be enjoying those cool Riviera summer nights for a good long while!” Narcissa left, slamming the door to the library at that.

“Wow, your mother… who knew?” Hermione wanted to laugh at the hex she put on Lucius, but Draco looked absolutely petrified.

“Yeah, who knew. Hermione, you wouldn’t curse my…you know…my dick would you? I mean after what I did.” Hermione fell into a fit of laughter at that.

“Just don’t give me any reason to Malfoy. At least I know who to go to if I ever need a curse like that.” Hermione laughed again and Draco swallowed hard at the thought. He didn’t find it even remotely funny, but he tried to force a smile at Hermione.

“Come on, let’s go meet Harry and Ginny.” And with that Draco’s day just got worse.

“Where are we going?”

“To Azkaban of course. You’re the Minister of Magic. You can get us to talk to Cornelius Blackstone.

“Hermione. Why don’t just you and I go alone? I don’t see why we need Harry and Ginny along. In lieu of recent events I can’t imagine it’s going to be a pleasant afternoon.”

Hermione smirked and then held her husband’s face in her hands.

“I love you Draco, but Ginny was my best friend. She and I have things to hash out, and I’m sure Harry will want to talk to you. I set up a lunch date. We are meeting them at that new restaurant in Diagon Alley. I’ve been dying to try their cuisine. What’s the matter Draco? You aren’t nervous are you? One little lunch date is all.” Hermione looked at her watch.” Time to go, Dragon.” Draco threw a jacket over his white button up and reluctantly wrapped his arms around Hermione. She apparrated them to Diagon Alley.

The new restaurant that had just opened was run by two of Hermione’s former schoolmates, Pansy Parkinson and Parvati Patil. It was the trendiest restaurant in all of wizard Britain, boasting fine dining and private rooms for parties of four or more or banquet rooms for wizard business meetings, engagements and anniversaries. Hermione and Draco entered the establishment and were nearly bowled over by the exquisiteness of the place. It was gorgeous, with waterfalls and flying parrots and other exotic birds from the jungles and rainforests. In the center of the room there was a show going on. Zues and Thor and Aphrodite, along with Merlin and Arthur and other famous magical beings from history, were putting on a play on a stage. Balls of flames shot from the side of the stage and rain fell lightly over the crowd seated below, but never touched their heads. Thunder clouds and lightning cracked ,adding special effects to the show. Hermione pointed and Draco pulled Hermione into him, blowing on her neck. It felt good to do something normal with Hermione, like going out to lunch. They were always greeted warmly by coworkers and the general wizarding public. Amidst all that was happening in their lives, Draco was still a prominent and respected Minister and it was not uncommon for a young witch and wizard to ask him to bless their marriage or newborn baby. Hermione loved how Draco treated everyone the same, with politeness and even warmth as he shook hands with his constituents.

“You look dashing Draco.” Hermione blushed in his arms. It felt like dating allover again and she welcomed the way Draco had his hands allover her again, just like he did when they were newly married. Rita Skeeter was leaving the restaurant just as they approached the hostess booth. She asked if she could take a picture for the society page and Draco and Hermione obliged.

“Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy! So good to see you both again,” Parvati Patil said with a wide smile. “I haven’t see you both in ages. Welcome to The Four Pea’s. It’s a play on me and Pansy’s name. Both of us have four P’s in our name and…”

“I get it Parv. Catchy. The place is divine, and from what I hear the food is spectacular.”

“Draco!” Pansy came running towards the front, throwing her apron off and hugging Draco. Draco cringed, knowing that running into Pansy, today of all days, after the whole Ginny situation was probably not a good thing, so he was shocked when Pansy turned and hugged Hermione tightly against her. Pansy had grown up a lot since the incident with Millicent in the Forbidden Forest. Making friends with Ginny was only the first step in her transformation. From what Hermione had heard, most of her friends now were former Gryffindor’s. She even stopped dressing like a whore and wore normal clothes for witches now.

“Have you all heard the news? Nevy darling, it’s Draco and Hermione. Come say hello!” From the back of the restaurant, a man alone at a table waved and stepped between the tables, making his way towards Draco and Hermione.

“Longbottom?” Draco said in confusion. Neville was dressed in fancy navy blue robes and Italian leather boots. He was either using glamour charms to improve upon his appearance or he had invested in a home gym because he looked handsome. Hermione squealed and hugged Neville and then congratulated he and Pansy on their upcoming nuptials.

“I finally found true love. I never knew it would be with Pansy Parkinson, but she’s great Hermione. I’m in love,” Neville said pulling Pansy into his chest. Hermione’s head was spinning. Neville and Pansy, it seemed all of their friends were moving on.

“Did Ron tell you Hermione? We are engaged too! It’s going to be a double ceremony! Isn’t it exciting!” Parvati flashed a modest size diamond on her left hand and Hermione smiled again. Good for Ron she thought.

“Well, I think our friends are waiting for us, here somewhere.” Hermione said looking around the crowd while Draco talked about quidditch with Neville, who had suddenly become a quidditch buff, as odd as it was.

“Harry and Ginny, yes. We put them at our best table. Right this way, let me show you your table.” Draco and Hermione followed Parvati up a moving staircase. The upstairs was tastefully decorated with white muggle Christmas lights and potted ferns and sparkling jewels that hovered in the air above the patrons heads. Finally they entered onto a an oversized balcony where Harry and Ginny Potter sat, staring into each other’s eyes and holding hands, while they sipped a glass of wine. The waiter was leaving and Draco caught him by the arm and told him to bring more wine for him and Hermione. He knew this was going to be a long afternoon. Harry was already glaring at him.

“Enjoy your lunch!” Talk about uncomfortable. The atmosphere was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

“Harry and Ginny…pleasure,” Hermione said narrowing her eyes at her former best friend. Talk is talk and while Hermione meant what she said to Harry about Ginny not really being completely responsible, seeing her and reliving the visions of her mouth and body pressed up against Draco’s body, was not a vision she wanted to have with her lunch. Sensing this, Draco squeezed Hermione around the waist and whispered into her ear how beautiful she looked. He found himself biting on her neck and wishing they could just leave and spend the day alone together. Hermione mentioned seeing Pansy and Neville and Ginny jumped at the chance to talk to Hermione about it. She was trying really hard to make up for the incident at the Manor, but Hermione was still behaving chilly towards her. They all opened their menu’s, Draco hadn’t said a single word since they arrived, figuring he would just screw it up and better to be quiet, plus the daggers Harry was staring at Draco didn’t make him feel real open and airy.

“The Bloody Backstab Barbeque sandwich looks good, doesn’t it Ginny?” Hermione said. She couldn’t help herself. The vision of Ginny under Draco was burning an image in her mind that infuriated her. She tried to remind herself that she and Harry thought this would be a good idea, since both of them had more or less forgiven their spouses. Perhaps it was too soon for this lunch, but they were here now, so they may as well make the most of it. They used to be her and Draco’s best friends, so this was all terribly confusing and nearly traumatizing.

“I don’t know Hermione, I hear that dish isn’t very good. I was thinking of getting the Cheddar Melt All Your Troubles Away burger. How about you Harry, what looks good to you?” Ginny said with her upper lip trembling.

“Why did you just look at Ginny, Malfoy?” Harry said to Draco.

“Excuse me Potter?”

“I saw you look at Ginny. Are you sending signals to each other?” Harry seethed.

Parvati entered once again and clapped her hands over their table. A spread fit for kings and queens lay before them.

“This is on the house. It’s a new dish and I wanted you all to be the first to try it.” Salad and steak, pudding and peas, the whole meal looked delicious. "Of course you can order whatever else you would like from the menu, but I’d love to get the Minister’s opinion on this dish. We are thinking of naming it the Minister’s Munchable Meal.” Parvati bowed and excused herself, leaving the couples alone again.

“I think Potter should get the Paranoia Perch with a side order of Angry Asparagus,” Draco said smirking across the table.

“Or maybe, I would prefer the, I could have lost my job when I used two Unforgivable curses but Harry Potter saved my arse, only so I could turn around and try to fuck my wife, Combination Platter!” Harry stood from the table and Draco followed.

“Sit down!” Hermione yanked on Draco’s sleeve and he slowly sat back down. Harry too took his seat through gritted teeth.

“Marvelous idea, Hermione.” Ginny said gulping her wine down. The waiter suddenly appeared at the table and asked if anyone wanted a refill of their wine. Four glasses raised in the air as the waiter filled them as quickly as he could.

“Fill it up to the top, and bring us a bottle of Wyld Turkey.”

You know Ginny…I can’t believe you just said that to me. I mean, it wasn’t me telling Harry how hot he was whilst writhing like a total slut, on your dining room table.”

“Slut? You wanna talk about sluts, do you? So you didn’t have your tongue in Harry’s mouth, sitting on my sofa?” Draco threw his napkin down and stood up, ready to lunge at Harry.

“Sit down Draco. It was innocent, alright. We had to see something.”

“See what Hermione? See how good Harry kisses?”

“Something like that. None of it would have happened though, if you hadn’t tried to SEDUCE MY HUSBAND!”

“Seduce your husband? As I recall, he is the one who kissed me first. Maybe he isn’t getting enough at home from his wife.” Their voices were beginning to carry and Harry tried to quiet the girls down.

“I can’t believe you touched my wife, Malfoy.”

“Trust me, I wish I hadn’t!”

“Just what do you mean by that? Are you insulting Ginny now?”

“No you stupid wanker. I’m sure your wife is just fine in the sack,” Hermione stood now and threw water in Draco’s face.

“I’m sorry darling. I don’t know what came over me,” Hermione said sitting back down. Draco scooped a pile of peas onto his fork and then flung it at Hermione, hitting her between the eyes. Ginny laughed and Hermione now took her spoon and flung a globule of vanilla pudding at Ginny, smacking her right on the cheek. Draco gave Hermione a high five and then Harry flung his entire steak at Draco, hitting him in the chest and sliding down his white designer button up. Before long they were immersed into a full on, raging food fight. Hermione dumped the carafe of red wine over Ginny’s head, claiming that her roots were showing and it would be an improvement. Draco plucked one of the meat eating plants that was the centerpiece of their table and flung it at Harry, the plant catching him on the nose and biting down, as Harry screamed out. Ginny was throwing the cherry tomatoes from her salad at Hermione now, as they splattered over her peach colored sundress. By the time Pansy and Parvati showed up, after being alerted to what was going on by the waiters, the balcony floor was covered with food and Draco and Harry both, were now competing over who could hit the most passerby’s with the after dinner mints, on Diagon Alley, and laughing with each other like nothing had ever happened.

“Just clean it up, when you are done!” Pansy shouted and then closed the doors to the balcony leaving the four cut off from the rest of the restaurant as their voices carried.

Finally Hermione broke down in laughter as she passed the bottle of Wyld Turkey to Ginny.

“Hermione I’m so sorry. I feel like rubbish over what I did to you. I never meant to hurt you though, you have to believe me. I love you.”

“Yeah well it did hurt. A lot. I love Draco. He’s my Draco. He’s my Dragon…”

“I know he is and I love Harry. Can we ever get past this?”

“I’m sure we can, but it was silly of me to think we could do it in a day. Let’s just take it one-step at a time. Deal?” Ginny got up and ran to Hermione, hugging her tightly and crying into her shoulder. When Draco and Harry turned around, both girls were crying in the food mess.

“Don’t cry Hermione. I can buy you a new dress,” Draco said sincerely. Hermione and Ginny burst into contagious laughter.

“Hey! Isn’t that Nathaniel down there?” Harry pointed to a man staring up at them from outside Olivander’s.”

“Don’t look at him!” Draco pulled Harry down. He could feel his heart pounding.

“We have to go after him. Are you with me Potter?” Draco held his hand out and Harry clasped it, as they shook hands.

Review!?

Tomorrow I will try to update Merlin's Coven for those reading that story too.