His Saving Grace

CHAPTER SEVEN: The Last Word







Hermione was surprised when she followed Draco from the hearth and into a bedroom. She looked around the richly appointed room in confusion before turning her attention to Draco.





“Why are we in a bedchamber?” She asked, shifting the bag on her shoulder.







“No reason you should worry over.” He laughed. “I just thought you might want a moment before joining my parents.”







“Expecting it to be that bad?” She asked.









“I’m not sure what to expect. To say that my father was upset would be an understatement.” Draco said, adjusting Grace on his shoulder.







“I would imagine the M-word was tossed about a bit.” She said, laughing softly. “Becoming a mother has softened me some, Draco, but it has not reduced me to mush. I am not afraid of your father and I am perfectly capable of handling myself.”







“I have no doubt about it. I hope our daughter grows up to be just as strong.” He said, reaching for the bag over her shoulder and tossing it into a chair near the door. “Well, no use delaying it, the longer you leave the dragon pacing, the hungrier it becomes and more likely to attack.”







“Well, that sounds appealing.” Hermione said, following Draco from his room and through the maze of corridors that made up the monstrous ancestral manse. He paused for a moment outside a set of large cherry doors and rolled his head on his shoulders. He kissed Grace’s cheek softly.



“I’m sorry if this upsets you.” He whispered into the infant’s ear. He reached back and to Hermione’s surprise he clasped her hand before whispering a spell that opened the doors.







Hermione allowed him to pull her along beside him into the large parlor. Lucius Malfoy stood near the fireplace, his cane in one hand, a drink in the other. She saw his brows quirk when he noticed their joined hands. Narcissa stood and stared, her eyes fixed on the baby resting over Draco’s shoulder. She pressed her fingertips to her lips and gasped softly.







“Mum, father….I am sure you remember Hermione.” Draco said. Lucius smiled, though it did not reach his eyes, they remained cold and without expression.







“Welcome to our home, Ms. Granger.” Narcissa said softly as she glided across the room to stand before them. Draco moved Grace from his shoulder to cradle her in his arm so his mother could see her.







“This is Grace Elizabeth Malfoy.” Draco said, proud to introduce his beautiful child to his mother. Hermione reached over and untied the bonnet covering her head and pulled it off. The disturbance caused Grace to awaken; she immediately looked up at Draco and smiled, as she had every time she saw him.







“Oh my goodness!” Narcissa’s eyes filled and she couldn’t fight the bright smile that graced her perfect features. She looked up at Hermione, her blue eyes glistening. “May I hold her, please?”







“Of course you can, Madam Malfoy, she is your granddaughter.” Hermione said, taking Grace from Draco’s arms. It seemed important that it be Hermione who handed her over, to show that she was willing to accept them into Grace’s life. “Grace, meet your grandmother Malfoy.” Hermione said softly as she handed the baby into the other woman’s arms.





Narcissa stared down into the pudgy little face and she was instantly in love. Soft blonde curls and silver blue eyes marked her as a Malfoy. She looked just like Draco had as an infant, with the exception of the dimples that now showed themselves as she smiled.







“My goodness, look at you!” Narcissa gushed. “Aren’t you just the prettiest little half-blood I have ever seen?” Draco sputtered at his mother’s words, choking with embarrassment and worry that Hermione would be offended. “Draco, what on earth is wrong with you?”





“Draco, she wasn’t insulting the baby.” Hermione said, laughing. “She is the prettiest little half-blood in our world if you ask me.” She stepped up close to Draco as Narcissa turned and walked across the room to stand next to Lucius. “Don’t fret so much, Draco. Your mother is already in love with her, and I’m sure your father will be too, just give it time.” They watched as Lucius looked down at the baby briefly, then he quickly averted his eyes.







“I’m not so sure, Hermione.” Draco said, disappointed to see his father snub the baby, even though he expected it. It hurt, he had never been good enough and had felt somewhat rejected by his father all his life, and now his daughter would be treated the same.







Hermione could see the hurt in his eyes and her heart ached for him. Lucius could be a cold man, but she also could see that he had to force himself to look away, he wasn’t as unmoved by the sight of his granddaughter as he appeared to be. She slid her hand into his and twined their fingers, squeezing gently to reassure him.







“It’s going to be fine, Draco.” She whispered softly. He turned his head and their eyes met. It was the same look she had in her eyes a year ago, that mix of concern, confusion and perhaps… want.







“Why are you so…good? Where does it come from?” He asked, unable to tear his eyes away from her.





“You aren’t bad no matter what you may have been taught.” She said, smiling at him.







“If the two of you are finished canoodling over there, dinner is ready.” Lucius said, sneering slightly. He looked somewhat disgusted seeing them together. Hermione wasn’t bothered so much by it; she simply pressed closer to Draco and smirked at Lucius.





“We’re finished…for now.” She said. Draco was a bit surprised to see her baiting his father. Lucius narrowed his eyes and with a toss of his hair he flounced from the room.







“You two…can I ask what is between you?” Narcissa asked, cuddling Grace and rubbing her cheek against the downy curls on the baby’s head. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and they both flushed bright red.





“Um….we uh….” Draco stammered, he had no idea what was between them other than Grace. Hermione remained silent; she didn’t have an answer for once in her life.







“I see…I think I will just take this little one to the nursery, I had it prepared for her visit this morning and hired a nanny to mind her while we dine.” Narcissa stopped at the door and looked back over her shoulder. “The two of you really should talk about it; figure out how you plan to manage this little family you have made for yourselves.” She slipped through the door, leaving them alone.







Draco turned to face her, their hands still clasped. She was biting her lower lip gently as she stared up at him. Was the passion they shared just a momentary thing? A flash fire fueled by a moment of weakness?





“Hermione…” Draco reached out and pushed a stray curl from her forehead as he tugged her a bit closer to him.







“Oh for Merlin’s sake, I would like to eat at some point if you don’t mind!” Lucius spat from the doorway. “Hasn’t your wayward libido gotten you into enough trouble, Draco?” He turned on his heel and disappeared into the hall.





“We should go to the dining room.” He said softly. He released her hand and offered her his arm. She took his arm and he led her down another long corridor to the dining room. Lucius was sitting at the head of the table, looking exceedingly bored as he waited for Draco to seat Hermione.





“Ms. Granger, Grace is such a beautiful child!” Narcissa gushed as she opened her napkin and laid it in her lap. “And so happy, I have never seen a baby smile so much.”







“Thank you, Madam Malfoy, and please call me Hermione.” She said, smiling softly.







“And you may call me Cissy, everyone does. I can’t get over how much she looks like Draco.” Narcissa said, smiling. “Though the dimples are very much her grandfather’s legacy, though you would never know it since he seems to have an aversion to smiling.”





Lucius offered his wife a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, only hinting at the little marks near his mouth. He glared at Hermione over the rim of his wineglass as she stared boldly back at him.





“Tell me, Ms. Granger, how are you supporting yourself and the child?” Lucius asked.







“I work in the Ministry library, sir.” She had expected to be interrogated.







“Surely that doesn’t pay you well enough to raise a child. Who cares for the girl while you are working?” He asked.







“I also have a small inheritance I can draw from when needed, sir. I live with Harry in the old Black house at Grimmuald Place and Molly Weasley cares for your granddaughter, her name is Grace in case you missed it.” Hermione said. Narcissa smiled at the young witch in approval.





“As impertinent as ever I see.” Lucius drawled, cutting more forcefully into his roast beef than he really needed to. “Care to tell me why you set out to trap my son?”







“Lucius!” Narcissa snapped, glaring at her husband.







Hermione could see Draco’s eyes narrow and his hands fisting on the table in front of him. She laid her hand on his thigh beneath the table, squeezing gently, letting him know she had it under control.







“Why Mr. Malfoy, I just couldn’t help myself.” She said, her voice saccharine sweet as she smiled at him across the table. “There I was, all alone, trying to figure out what to do with my life when along comes Draco. And suddenly the answer was so clear! Sleep with him, get pregnant at the age of eighteen so I can skip college and work full time to raise a child!”







“You can stop with the sarcasm, Ms. Granger.” Lucius said, trying to hide his amusement. “Do you seriously expect me to believe that you haven’t set your sights on Draco’s fortune?”







“No, I don’t expect you to believe it because you seem to think that your money is the only reason people value you, Mr. Malfoy, and that makes me sad. I have not asked Draco for anything, all I wanted was for him to know that he had a child. I let him decide what role he wanted to play in her life. Now, is there anything else you would like to know?” She asked.





Lucius sat back in his chair and stared down his nose at the little witch. He intimidated most people, but not once had this girl backed down from him, not even in the heat of battle. He respected the girl, begrudgingly.





“As a matter of fact, there is an issue I think we should discuss.” He said, reaching for his wine glass and swirling the ruby liquid in his glass. “Malfoy’s do not bear children outside of marriage, even mud…half-blood Malfoy’s, as far as I am aware Draco is the first to do so.”





“Father, what are you talking about?” Draco asked, clearly confused.







“Not only are you the first to dilute the Malfoy bloodline, but you are also the first to bastardize it. What I want to know is when you plan on marrying the girl and legitimizing the child.” Lucius felt an extreme sense of satisfaction when their faces paled and the young witch was rendered speechless. It was always good to have the last word.