Their Greatest Mistake
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
19
Views:
38,024
Reviews:
132
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
3
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
19
Views:
38,024
Reviews:
132
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
3
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 9
Draco watched Hermione and Ginny hurry down the corridor after Geoffrey, and within a few moments had lost all sight and sound of them. Not to say it was silent, though, for it most certainly was not. The hustle and bustle of the house was quite evident as the various servants prepared for that evening’s dinner party, and it was impossible for Draco to be alone in the corridor with all the people running in and out of rooms to prepare.
Obviously the entire manor would not be cleaned and prepared, as only a few rooms would be needed. Hermione had given strict orders that the Green Sitting Room (the one with the fireplace connected to the Floo network), the Red Sitting Room (one used for smaller gatherings), the Blue Sitting Room (one used for larger gatherings), the Informal Dining Room, the Ballroom, the Formal Dining Room, and a few of the guest rooms be prepared for the party.
When Draco had asked why so many rooms needed to be prepared if they were not going to use them all, Hermione had simply raised her eyebrows and responded, “Draco, if we are going to be giving a tour, we need to ensure that the rooms we show are clean.”
Still confused, he questioned, “Yes, but doesn’t your extremely large maid staff continuously clean all of the rooms, even the ones we don’t use on a regular basis?”
Hermione had given him a pitying smile, one that he had learned usually foreshadowed some great Woman Mystery that he would be enlightened on, before saying, “These are the thorough cleanings that simply must occur in order for a party of any kind to happen. When we have our wedding party two weeks from tomorrow--” for they had decided to throw the largest party ever seen to Wizarding kind the Saturday before they left for Hogwarts, “then the entire floor that the Ballroom is on will need to be cleaned. Of course, that will be at Malfoy Manor, so things will be a little different.”
Just thinking about the wedding party made Draco shudder at the horrors that he, and his manor, would be enduring. To make Narcissa happy, Hermione had allowed her to create the first round of the guest list, and then she and Draco went and added those who were not on it (the Weasleys and Harry, for example, as well as a few other friends from school) and got rid of those who they absolutely refused to invite, which was really only one person, Albus Dumbledore, who had gotten them into the mess in the first place.
To appease her new daughter-in-law, Narcissa allowed that she could create the plans for decorations, meal, and music, as long as she, Narcissa, could have the final word. The invitations were sent out the day before, so as to give more than two weeks notice but less than three, and already R. S. V. P.s were pouring in.
Draco sighed at the thought of how many people were actually going to be at the party; four hundred had been invited, and it was absolutely terrifying. Before, he had been Draco Malfoy, heir who was not necessarily required to remember every single guest. Now, he was Draco Abraxas Malfoy, the head of the Malfoy family, the richest wizard under one hundred years old, and the Duke of Windsor, who was required to know – and be civil to – every single one of his and his wife’s guests. It was going to be a very trying evening.
“Almost as trying as tonight,” he said aloud to himself once he was safely back inside his and Hermione’s rooms. He had to admit, he rather liked Saxe-Coburg Manor more than his own, if only because it was a fresh new house without the feeling that someone was hiding around the corner planning to murder you.
The rooms were large and airy, with plenty of space as well as light, happy colors. The Master Suite had a color scheme of light blue, light green, as well as white, and featured a small sitting room that had three doors off of it, as well as a fireplace. One door led to the actual bedchamber, which consisted of a four-poster bed, Hermione’s vanity table, and two walk-in closets. Another door led to the master bath, which was, actually, the size of his own at Malfoy Manor. (Hermione had confided to him that she had never seen most of the rooms of the house, including any bedrooms other than the one she had stayed in when visiting.) The third door led to a large balcony that overlooked the estate, and the bedroom connected to the balcony and the bathroom, as well as the sitting room.
Draco surveyed the sitting room, looking for something to do while he waited for Blaise to arrive. It quickly became clear, though, that the staff had other plans as they came in and began the daily cleaning routine of the master suite, so he left and decided to pick out a guest room for his mother.
(She had found it too painful to stay in Malfoy Manor, but would be remaining in England until Draco and Hermione returned to Hogwarts in order to help Hermione, Ginny, and (probably) Molly Weasley in the planning of the party, so Hermione had offered her a room at Saxe-Coburg Manor. Sunday evening, she and Draco would be returning to Malfoy Manor in order to prepare for Hogwarts and the wedding party, although they would be at Saxe-Coburg Manor frequently.)
However, Draco had barely made it out of the master suite before he was bowled over by Geoffrey. “Your Grace!” the teen cried as he helped his employer off the ground. “I am so sorry! I can’t even, I mean, I just, I’m sorry!” he said nervously, looking abashed.
Draco shrugged, although it pained him to do so. “Don’t worry about it, Geoffrey. But why were you running so fast in the first place?” he admonished, frowning down on him, as he was taller than the older boy.
“Mr. Zabini is here, sir, and Ben let him out onto the back patio,” he replied uncharacteristically professional. Draco thanked him and made his way towards the patio, mentally rehearsing his speech that he had prepared the entire way.
* * *
Blaise Zabini was a good looking young wizard who happened to be a very close friend of Draco. His mother was an African princess who had been thrown out of Africa by her tribe for falling in love with and getting pregnant by an Italian-British wizard at the age of fifteen. The couple had returned to England, but by that time she had lost the baby and it was clear that she was an untrained witch, so her new husband immediately hired private tutors to distract her from the loss of her unborn child, and in the following three years she (essentially) went through the first six years of Hogwarts.
Her husband died in the first war with Voldemort in 1976, leaving her an extremely large fortune and several admirers. She married one a year later and got pregnant again at the age of nineteen by this new husband, although with his death at the hands of Death Eaters she lost the baby (her second miscarriage). When she became pregnant by her third husband, she was sent to the Continent and away from the Wizarding world to save the baby (Blaise), and it was only upon his birth was she told that the baby’s father was dead.
In honor of her first husband, the child was named Blaise Giovanni Zabini, as she still carried her first husband’s surname and he was the only one she had ever truly loved. As husband after husband died, Muhnashkietahl Zabini began studying charms and curses in more depth, specifically those of her the tribe that had disowned her, and she discovered that there was a curse on her: any man who loved her physically, mentally, and emotionally who tried to make her his would die a gruesome and premature death.
Blaise had been gifted with his mother’s coloring and overall beauty, and anyone who met him would immediately call him a very pretty young man, but not necessarily handsome. High cheekbones, short black hair, and dark chocolate colored skin caused many a girl to swoon in his presence, and the fact that he had his father’s blue eyes and broad shoulders only made him more of a mystery.
When Draco silently stepped out onto the patio, it was to see his close friend and advisor standing at the railing that overlooked the orchards and the pond observing the land, his feet a little less than shoulder-width apart, his arms linked behind his back. He wore tailored black trousers and a deep red button-down shirt, so red it was almost black, and Draco shook his head at how Muggle his friend could be.
When Blaise did not turn around after a few moments, Draco began to clear his throat, only to be interrupted by Blaise. “Hello, Draco. Or, should I say, Your Grace?” came the calm, quiet voice that was Blaise. Draco had always marveled at how no matter how upset or passionate he got about something, Blaise always had a calm, quiet voice that made people want to stop talking just to listen to him.
Draco did not respond, and instead sheepishly looked at his feet until Blaise turned around. “And how, my friend, did this come about?” he questioned, gesturing to the estate, although Draco had a feeling that he already knew. Blaise was like that.
Avoiding his eyes, Draco replied, “Er, shall I show you the garden? The orchard? The staff is cleaning the house for the party tonight.” In order to gain a response, Draco had to look up to see the slow nod from his friend, and in the process, linked eyes with Blaise’s baby blue orbs.
In one brief jumble of memories, Blaise knew everything thanks to being an expert at Legilimency. “He might even be better than the Dark Lord,” Draco had explained to Hermione the night before when they had been discussing their various friends, and he fully believed it to be true.
“The pond is the best place for contemplation,” Blaise said vaguely, bringing Draco back down to earth.
For once, Draco was thankful for his friend’s Legilimency skills. It enabled him to not have to say aloud the grave mistake he had committed by getting married while drunk just a week ago.
**
Woohoo! Chapter 9! I’m on a roll. Right now, I’m away for the weekend and I don’t have any internet connection (this is on Saturday), so I’m going to continue writing. Who knows, maybe by the time I get internet connection I’ll have a bunch of chapters for you! We’ll see . . . *snickers*
But I’ve got the entire story planned out now, from what’s going to happen to when it’s going to happen. And if the past nine chapters are any indication, it is going to be a long journey. It will be fun, though, and soon, smut-filled.
Oh, and at least one person has asked for email updates, but, well, I kind of need your email address for that. So, yeah.
xx
Suzz
Obviously the entire manor would not be cleaned and prepared, as only a few rooms would be needed. Hermione had given strict orders that the Green Sitting Room (the one with the fireplace connected to the Floo network), the Red Sitting Room (one used for smaller gatherings), the Blue Sitting Room (one used for larger gatherings), the Informal Dining Room, the Ballroom, the Formal Dining Room, and a few of the guest rooms be prepared for the party.
When Draco had asked why so many rooms needed to be prepared if they were not going to use them all, Hermione had simply raised her eyebrows and responded, “Draco, if we are going to be giving a tour, we need to ensure that the rooms we show are clean.”
Still confused, he questioned, “Yes, but doesn’t your extremely large maid staff continuously clean all of the rooms, even the ones we don’t use on a regular basis?”
Hermione had given him a pitying smile, one that he had learned usually foreshadowed some great Woman Mystery that he would be enlightened on, before saying, “These are the thorough cleanings that simply must occur in order for a party of any kind to happen. When we have our wedding party two weeks from tomorrow--” for they had decided to throw the largest party ever seen to Wizarding kind the Saturday before they left for Hogwarts, “then the entire floor that the Ballroom is on will need to be cleaned. Of course, that will be at Malfoy Manor, so things will be a little different.”
Just thinking about the wedding party made Draco shudder at the horrors that he, and his manor, would be enduring. To make Narcissa happy, Hermione had allowed her to create the first round of the guest list, and then she and Draco went and added those who were not on it (the Weasleys and Harry, for example, as well as a few other friends from school) and got rid of those who they absolutely refused to invite, which was really only one person, Albus Dumbledore, who had gotten them into the mess in the first place.
To appease her new daughter-in-law, Narcissa allowed that she could create the plans for decorations, meal, and music, as long as she, Narcissa, could have the final word. The invitations were sent out the day before, so as to give more than two weeks notice but less than three, and already R. S. V. P.s were pouring in.
Draco sighed at the thought of how many people were actually going to be at the party; four hundred had been invited, and it was absolutely terrifying. Before, he had been Draco Malfoy, heir who was not necessarily required to remember every single guest. Now, he was Draco Abraxas Malfoy, the head of the Malfoy family, the richest wizard under one hundred years old, and the Duke of Windsor, who was required to know – and be civil to – every single one of his and his wife’s guests. It was going to be a very trying evening.
“Almost as trying as tonight,” he said aloud to himself once he was safely back inside his and Hermione’s rooms. He had to admit, he rather liked Saxe-Coburg Manor more than his own, if only because it was a fresh new house without the feeling that someone was hiding around the corner planning to murder you.
The rooms were large and airy, with plenty of space as well as light, happy colors. The Master Suite had a color scheme of light blue, light green, as well as white, and featured a small sitting room that had three doors off of it, as well as a fireplace. One door led to the actual bedchamber, which consisted of a four-poster bed, Hermione’s vanity table, and two walk-in closets. Another door led to the master bath, which was, actually, the size of his own at Malfoy Manor. (Hermione had confided to him that she had never seen most of the rooms of the house, including any bedrooms other than the one she had stayed in when visiting.) The third door led to a large balcony that overlooked the estate, and the bedroom connected to the balcony and the bathroom, as well as the sitting room.
Draco surveyed the sitting room, looking for something to do while he waited for Blaise to arrive. It quickly became clear, though, that the staff had other plans as they came in and began the daily cleaning routine of the master suite, so he left and decided to pick out a guest room for his mother.
(She had found it too painful to stay in Malfoy Manor, but would be remaining in England until Draco and Hermione returned to Hogwarts in order to help Hermione, Ginny, and (probably) Molly Weasley in the planning of the party, so Hermione had offered her a room at Saxe-Coburg Manor. Sunday evening, she and Draco would be returning to Malfoy Manor in order to prepare for Hogwarts and the wedding party, although they would be at Saxe-Coburg Manor frequently.)
However, Draco had barely made it out of the master suite before he was bowled over by Geoffrey. “Your Grace!” the teen cried as he helped his employer off the ground. “I am so sorry! I can’t even, I mean, I just, I’m sorry!” he said nervously, looking abashed.
Draco shrugged, although it pained him to do so. “Don’t worry about it, Geoffrey. But why were you running so fast in the first place?” he admonished, frowning down on him, as he was taller than the older boy.
“Mr. Zabini is here, sir, and Ben let him out onto the back patio,” he replied uncharacteristically professional. Draco thanked him and made his way towards the patio, mentally rehearsing his speech that he had prepared the entire way.
Blaise Zabini was a good looking young wizard who happened to be a very close friend of Draco. His mother was an African princess who had been thrown out of Africa by her tribe for falling in love with and getting pregnant by an Italian-British wizard at the age of fifteen. The couple had returned to England, but by that time she had lost the baby and it was clear that she was an untrained witch, so her new husband immediately hired private tutors to distract her from the loss of her unborn child, and in the following three years she (essentially) went through the first six years of Hogwarts.
Her husband died in the first war with Voldemort in 1976, leaving her an extremely large fortune and several admirers. She married one a year later and got pregnant again at the age of nineteen by this new husband, although with his death at the hands of Death Eaters she lost the baby (her second miscarriage). When she became pregnant by her third husband, she was sent to the Continent and away from the Wizarding world to save the baby (Blaise), and it was only upon his birth was she told that the baby’s father was dead.
In honor of her first husband, the child was named Blaise Giovanni Zabini, as she still carried her first husband’s surname and he was the only one she had ever truly loved. As husband after husband died, Muhnashkietahl Zabini began studying charms and curses in more depth, specifically those of her the tribe that had disowned her, and she discovered that there was a curse on her: any man who loved her physically, mentally, and emotionally who tried to make her his would die a gruesome and premature death.
Blaise had been gifted with his mother’s coloring and overall beauty, and anyone who met him would immediately call him a very pretty young man, but not necessarily handsome. High cheekbones, short black hair, and dark chocolate colored skin caused many a girl to swoon in his presence, and the fact that he had his father’s blue eyes and broad shoulders only made him more of a mystery.
When Draco silently stepped out onto the patio, it was to see his close friend and advisor standing at the railing that overlooked the orchards and the pond observing the land, his feet a little less than shoulder-width apart, his arms linked behind his back. He wore tailored black trousers and a deep red button-down shirt, so red it was almost black, and Draco shook his head at how Muggle his friend could be.
When Blaise did not turn around after a few moments, Draco began to clear his throat, only to be interrupted by Blaise. “Hello, Draco. Or, should I say, Your Grace?” came the calm, quiet voice that was Blaise. Draco had always marveled at how no matter how upset or passionate he got about something, Blaise always had a calm, quiet voice that made people want to stop talking just to listen to him.
Draco did not respond, and instead sheepishly looked at his feet until Blaise turned around. “And how, my friend, did this come about?” he questioned, gesturing to the estate, although Draco had a feeling that he already knew. Blaise was like that.
Avoiding his eyes, Draco replied, “Er, shall I show you the garden? The orchard? The staff is cleaning the house for the party tonight.” In order to gain a response, Draco had to look up to see the slow nod from his friend, and in the process, linked eyes with Blaise’s baby blue orbs.
In one brief jumble of memories, Blaise knew everything thanks to being an expert at Legilimency. “He might even be better than the Dark Lord,” Draco had explained to Hermione the night before when they had been discussing their various friends, and he fully believed it to be true.
“The pond is the best place for contemplation,” Blaise said vaguely, bringing Draco back down to earth.
For once, Draco was thankful for his friend’s Legilimency skills. It enabled him to not have to say aloud the grave mistake he had committed by getting married while drunk just a week ago.
**
Woohoo! Chapter 9! I’m on a roll. Right now, I’m away for the weekend and I don’t have any internet connection (this is on Saturday), so I’m going to continue writing. Who knows, maybe by the time I get internet connection I’ll have a bunch of chapters for you! We’ll see . . . *snickers*
But I’ve got the entire story planned out now, from what’s going to happen to when it’s going to happen. And if the past nine chapters are any indication, it is going to be a long journey. It will be fun, though, and soon, smut-filled.
Oh, and at least one person has asked for email updates, but, well, I kind of need your email address for that. So, yeah.
xx
Suzz