Muggle Marriage Law 51599

Cap 8

He stirred as he heard the chirping of birds outside. He breathed deeply, another morning, he thought. He turned towards the open balcony doorway. He was surprised to see her still there.

He watched her as she stirred a little. He peered at the muggle wristwatch that she had given him for his birthday. It was five minutes past eight. She was always up and out of bed by the time that he woke up for work.

“You’re letting yourself go, Granger,” he muttered under his breath as he pushed the covers off himself. He pulled his pajama bottoms on and turned back to her.

His breath caught in his throat for a moment. Pushing the covers off himself exposed her right shoulder and backside. He had a glimpse of his handiwork. She stirred again and lay on her back. She turned her cheek slightly. This time Draco couldn’t keep from gasping. The hair around her right temple was matted. The blood from a laceration on her head had dried.

He picked up his wand. His hand shaking slightly, he whispered the cleaning spell, scourgify and a simple yet effective healing spell. The blood and bruises disappeared. She stirred a little. She turned back on her side.

He looked up to the ceiling before heading to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He turned the water on and splashed some water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror and nearly wretched. ‘I have to get us both out of this,’ he said to his reflection.

* * *

Hermione, for once, had slept in until ten. She looked around the room that she called home for the last three months. She knew Draco was at work by now. She slowly got out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take a long shower to start another day.

* * *

She sat in the garden and breathed in the air. She shut her eyes for a moment as she thought of the last three months.

“Hermione,” she heard her name.

Hermione turned and stood as she saw her mother-in-law. She smiled at her. “Hi, Mom.”

Mrs. Malfoy smiled. “Enjoying the outdoors?”

“Yeah,” Hermione said smiling slightly.

“What’s wrong, Hermione?” Mrs. Malfoy looked at her.

“I was just wondering,” she began. “Well. Would it be okay if I went into the muggle world for a little while?”

Mrs. Malfoy studied Hermione’s face sincerely. Hermione looked down.

“I haven’t . . . I’d like to visit my mom and dad. I won’t take that long,” Hermione almost seemed like she were whining.

“Hermione,” Mrs. Malfoy held her daughter-in-law’s hands. “You’re free to leave the grounds.”

Hermione looked up at her. She blinked back tears.

“Hermione, did Draco?” she began.

“No, Mom,” Hermione said. “I just.”

“Hermione, you should go. It’s good to honor your parents.”

Hermione hugged her mother-in-law. “Thanks, Mom,” she said as Mrs. Malfoy led her back to the manor.

* * *

“Congratulations Malfoy,” the tall black man extended his hand.

Draco looked at the hand of the former Gryffindor. He hesitated a moment and then shook the newly promoted lead inspector’s hand. “Congratulations to you, too, Thomas.”

“You and Hermione going to celebrate your promotion?” Dean Thomas asked as they walked out of the large conference room on the 51st floor of the Ministry building.

“Uh, I don’t know, maybe,” Draco answered truthfully. “How ‘bout you?”

“Gotta find the girl first before I can celebrate,” Dean said as they both shared a laugh.

“I saw you eying the Weasley girl last night,” Draco said as he pushed the down button on the lift.

Dean blushed. “I don’t think Ginny sees me that way, Draco.”

“Hmm,” Draco looked at his former classmate, “You never know, Dean. Stranger pairs have happened.”

Dean smiled as they both entered the lift.

* * *

Draco apparated home for lunch. He walked into the library in their wing. He looked around the room. Hmm, he thought to himself. He headed for their bedroom. Not there either. His face started to flush anger. Where the hell was she?!

He wanted her to be the first to know about the promotion. He took a breath. He looked at the watch she had given him for his birthday; 2:30 p.m. Maybe she’s having a late lunch downstairs, he thought. He peeked into the dining room. Nobody.

Gardens? He asked himself. He headed out to the back yard. His pace quickened as he reached the luscious gardens. The smell of roses starting to bloom wafted in the air.

“Mother,” Draco said as he approached the older witch.

“Ah, Draco,” Mrs. Malfoy said as her son gave her a kiss on the cheek. She gave him one of the yellow roses she had been pruning, “What are you doing home?”

“I was looking for Hermione,” Draco said smiling at her.

“She’s not on the grounds, Draco,” his mother said watching his face turn.

“Is she at St. Mungo’s?” he asked.

“Draco, she went into the muggle world for the afternoon.”

“You let her go,” he shouted.

“Calm down, Draco,” Mrs. Malfoy said calmly as she grabbed onto his upper arm before he could leave. “She’ll be back later on this afternoon.”

“Where did she go?” Draco asked slightly raising his voice.

“Malfoy Manor is not a prison, Draco.”

Draco looked at her mother and breathed in. “Where is she?”

Narcissa Malfoy returned her son’s look. “Hermione is your wife, Draco.”

“My wife?!” Draco threw his arms in the air. “I would have never chosen her.”

“Sometimes life puts you into situations like that, Son. You have to deal with it the best you can. She’s trying, Draco. You should, too.”

“Mom, she and I both know that we shouldn’t be together,” Draco’s voice hitched. “It’s a wonder we haven’t killed each other, yet, knowing our history. Mom, I can’t change the way I am towards her. She . . . She pushes all my buttons.”

“And I’m sure you do hers,” she said.

He let out a laugh. “Where is she, Mom?” he asked softly.

“She’s visiting her parents,” she said.

Draco took in a big breath as she nodded at him. Draco took his leave.

* * *

He stood in front of the two marble headstones, arms crossed underneath his invisibility cloak. He read the epitaphs on both the stones. He brushed the leaves off the tops of them as he waited for her.

* * *

Hermione exited the small café with a box lunch, a can of iced cold Diet Coke, and a one-liter bottle of water packed in a plastic bag in one hand and a bundle of fresh cut flowers in the other. She smelled the flowers deeply and smiled to herself oblivious to the overcast clouds rolling in. She also hadn’t noticed the cloaked figure whose narrowed eyes followed her down the road.

‘Who the hell gave you those flowers,’ he thought, slightly coloring. He felt the same pent up rage he had felt the night before in the ballroom as he watched all those other wizards take their turns whisking the Gryffindor lioness around the dance floor.

His pace quickened as he followed her down the street. His eyes softened as she turned into the little cemetery he had just left. ‘Of course, the flowers were for her parents,’ he thought to himself as he watched her run her palm over her father’s name on his headstone.

He made his way behind the two headstones. He watched her as she poured equal parts of the bottled water on both headstones, effectively rinsing them off. She walked to the spigot a couple of yards away to refill the bottle. He watched her face as she returned to her tidying up task. She poured the water into each of the sunken vases in front of each of the stones. He watched her place half of the bunch of flowers into each of the vases.

She sighed before taking a seat on her mother’s grave, with her back leaning against the headstone she had just cleaned. He did the same thing, leaning against the back of her father’s headstone so that he had her in his line of sight. She opened up the foam box lunch and breathed in the teriyaki smell of the chicken. Draco also breathed in the amazing smell and quickly placed a hand over his stomach, as he was afraid she had heard it rumbling. He watched her intently. She ate quietly as she savored each bite.

She had only finished half of the plate. She burped aloud. Draco smiled to himself. She took a sip of her soda. She leaned her head back against the marble stone and shut her eyes for a moment. He watched her take a breath.

“I’ve got some news to tell you, Mom, Dad,” she said keeping her eyes closed. She took a deep breath. “It’s not as if you guys don’t already know from up there.”
She touched her wedding band, pulled it up to the knuckle and twirled it before returning it to rest at the base of her finger. “I got married.”

Draco shut his eyes. He rested his head against the stone just like how she had done moments earlier.

“You know him. You actually met him a few times at Hogwarts,” she said turning to face both headstones. Draco was slightly afraid that she had known he was there. She looked right at him for a moment.

“You remember Draco Malfoy,” she began, “the blonde haired wizard. You know the salutatorian; I only beat him by a couple of points.

“We danced at the Graduation Ball as Head Boy and Head Girl.”

She took a deep breath. She turned back again and leaned her head against the cold stone. “I know what you’re thinking,” she looked down at her palms in her lap. “We fought like cats and dogs growing up.

“It’s different now,” he heard her say softly. “He’s older now, a little bit more mature.

“Any other witch would probably kill to be in my shoes.”

He took in a breath and hoped she didn’t notice. He turned to face her profile. “He isn’t as bad as you may think he is. He’s smart, funny at times. He’s got a great smile when he doesn’t think you’re watching,” she said, blushing.

“Dad,” she said turning to her father’s headstone. Draco stopped breathing for a moment, afraid that she had caught him. “I gave him your watch for his birthday. I know Mom had given it to you as an anniversary gift that year I got into Hogwarts. It still works.

“I’m sure he’ll care for it as well as you did,” she said as Draco looked down at the muggle timepiece. He turned his head in time to see her wipe her cheek.

“I wish you guys could have been at the wedding,” she said bringing her knees into her chest. “It was a very small ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave me away. Mr. Weasley was a good stand in for you, Dad. Oh, I wish you could have been there.”

Draco suddenly felt ashamed. He turned to face her. He wanted to wipe the tear that rolled down her cheek. He stood up quietly, making sure not to rustle anything.

He took in a breath. She deserved her privacy. He pulled out his wand. He walked a few feet away from her and apparated.

“All the girls swooned for him at Hogwarts,” she breathed in. “He was quite handsome at the wedding.

“Mom, I” she paused as if hoping for motherly advice, “I think I’m falling in love with him.”
The day had already been a long one. She rested her eyes. She didn’t know when she had fallen asleep.

* * *

She had awoken to claps of thunder. She shot to a standing position. She was already soaking wet. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath as she looked at her watch. It had read 7 p.m. Even with the summer days upon them, the sky had darkened with the high grey cumulus storm clouds above. She sprinted out of the cemetery and down the street.

No one was fool enough to be out on a night like this. She ran towards the wizarding bar. She ran straight through past all the drunkards watching her zip by. She exited out of the Leaky Cauldron and ran up the Wizarding street. By the time she hit the servant’s entrance to the back of the Manor, Hermione was out of breath and doubled over.

She entered the kitchen, soaked. All of the chef elves turned and looked at her with wide eyes. She breathed hard.

Krank had taken the situation in stride. He smiled at the trembling witch. He took his wand out and knew exactly what to do.

Her clothes dried quickly as did her hair. She still trembled. “Thanks, Krank,” she stammered.

“They’re halfway through with the entrée, Missus,” the head chef said.

She shut her eyes. She sighed again.

“You can always eat in here, ma’am,” the chef said offering her a plate.

As much as Hermione wanted to accept the offer, she couldn’t. “I’d better not,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “They’re expecting me.”

* * *

“I lost track of time,” she said as she took her seat next to Draco, avoiding his eye contact.

“Is this going to be a trend, Ms. Granger?” the older Malfoy had asked in an icy tone.

She took in a breath as she began to cut into her steak. “I really am very sorry, Sir.”

“In the real world, you don’t have Time Turners to get you out of trouble,” he said as she chewed the piece of steak in her mouth. She gulped. “You don’t have professors backing you up, either.”

“Father, give it a rest,” Draco said calmly. He took a bite of his mashed potatoes. “She was only fifteen minutes late.”

She gave him a sideways glance. She took a deep breath and returned to her food.

Mr. Malfoy was stewing. Mrs. Malfoy hid a smile. Draco kept eating, avoiding her eye contact. She did the same.

“So, it’s almost been three months,” Lucius said looking at the young Gryffindor. “Am I going to expect an heir any time soon?

“Or is she not performing,” he looked straight at his son when he said this. The younger Malfoy colored slightly.

“Oh, Lucius,” Narcissa said smiling at her husband. “Such language at dinner. Can’t we table this until afterwards? Or better yet, let the two youngsters work this out.”

“This is all your doing,” he said to his wife. “There were others that could have fit the bill effectively.”

“Lu,” Mrs. Malfoy said curtly.

Hermione wiped the corners of her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she said, apologizing for nothing in particular. She shrugged her shoulders and gulped. “If you will excuse me, I’m really not that hungry.”

She excused herself from the table. Mr. Malfoy was fuming. Mrs. Malfoy just shook her head. Draco watched Hermione exit the dining hall.