Apperances Can Be Deceiving

Christian stretched idly on Hermione’s bed, smiling slightly as he ran his hand down her swollen belly, his fiancé was 8 months pregnant and he couldn’t be happier, he loved her more than anything in the world and the fact that she was carrying a piece of her inside him made him love her even more. He loved her since the first day he had seen her, all them years ago.

It had all happened so fast, she had met this tall, dark and handsome wizard in the newest wizarding club to grace Diagon Ally, Hedonistic was owned by Lucius Malfoy and her future fiancé and was the hottest spot on the bustling ally.

So it was that night when Hermione had gone to drown her sorrows after her break-up with Ron, that she stumbled across this wizard who had turned her world upside down, made her feel things she had never felt before, a man who could set her soul on fire with just a single touch.

What intrigued Hermione the most about her fiancé was that he claimed to have gone to Hogwarts in the same year as her, she thought this strange having never seen him in any of her classes before, although he claimed to have been in most of them, along with his housemates, he was Slytherin of course.

He claimed he was neutral during the war, going away while the trouble waged and the war was fought by the light, who claimed victory over the now dead Dark Lord, life was good now and Hermione really didn’t want to dwell on the past.

What surprised Hermione the most about Christian was that he had a strong ally in Lucius Malfoy, who he seemed to rely on for all manners of advice, he would go to Lucius when they argued and it looked like to all who dared look closer, that Lucius had took Christian in as one of his own, Christian claimed that Lucius was like a father to him after the death of his own family, reminding her of another certain blond, this brought Hermione back to Draco Malfoy.

The Slytherin Prince as he was called among many of the girls at Hogwarts, Hermione never being one of them of course, had gone missing after Dumbledore was killed by Snape after his failed attempt. Hermione had never told anyone about her fears for Draco, she knew deep down inside he was good person, corrupted by a power hungry tyrant whose beliefs devastated so many lives.

Christian was always very evasive when talking about Draco Malfoy, which caused Hermione to think he knew more than he was letting on. He always said it was Lucius’ business and no one else’s and we would do well to stay out of it. That was her told then.

~*~

It was no surprise that when Hermione went into labour Lucius was there, supporting his honorary son, who was whispering sweet words of encouragement to his fiancée, who in turn was shouting obscenities in his direction. Christian simply laughed and kissed her sweaty forehead.

It was when Alexander Lucius Dresden was born with grey eyes and soft blonde curls, Hermione knew something was wrong, the way Lucius was looking at her newborn son was so unlike a Malfoy, the way his eyes shined with unshed tears worried Hermione, why would he be so emotional over a baby that wasn’t even related to him?

“What’s going on?” she asked shakily.

Christian looked to Lucius for support who in turn shrugged his shoulders.
“Hermione, when I tell you this, promise me you wont freak out or take my son away from me?” he said as he fought the urge to cry.

“Christian, I love you, nothing could change that.” she said as she placed her hand on his.

“I think I should take it from here, son.” said Lucius, which scared Hermione even more.

“Son?” she gasped.

Lucius shushed her softly.

“When Draco was taken to safety by Severus all those years ago, he was forced to go into hiding to protect himself and out family. But he found it hard to be away from us, away from the wizarding world really. Just before Potter defeated the Dark Lord, Severus and I concocted a potion that would alter Draco’s appearance to that of his mothers family, she was after all the only blonde Black.” he said with a slight pause.

Hermione couldn’t believe what she was hearing, this had to be a joke.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” she cried.

Christian placed his wriggling son in his fiancée’s arms and walked out of the room, tears streaming down his handsome face.

“Yes Miss Granger, Christian is Draco.” he admitted.

“Oh god!” she cried, “I’m engaged to Draco Malfoy!”

Lucius smiled and stroked the fine blond curls on his grandsons head.

“Draco could have stopped taking the potion whenever he wanted, but he met and fell in love with you, then you fell pregnant, and he felt that he couldn’t ever put you through knowing who he really was. I told him repeatedly that the Malfoy genes would overpower yours, but he wouldn’t listen. This my dear is the newest Malfoy heir.” he said as he played with the little boys fingers.

“I cant believe it!” she said.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that he is undeniably so in love with you neither would I.” he stated.

“Does he really love me?” she asked.

“Oh yes, he was willing to stay like that forever, if needs be I think he still will.” he admitted.

“No! I could never stop him being who he wants to be!” she said.

“But the question is, are you willing to love him as his true self?” he asked.

The door creaked open and the fresh faced form of Draco Malfoy looked in.

“Could you leave us alone for a minute?” Hermione asked Lucius.

“Certainly.” he said with a smile.

As Lucius left the room, he took a moment to congratulate his son, who beamed with pride at finally having made his father proud.

Hermione reached over and placed the baby in its warm incubator before turning back to Draco.

“Hermione, I’m so sorry.” he said softly.

“Draco, you silly silly boy! Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“I was scared of your reaction, I love you so much and I couldn’t bear to lose you.” he admitted.

“How could you ever love me, Draco?” she asked.

“How could I not?” he asked with a smile, “ I’ve loved you since third year, I’ve watched from afar, always wishing I was with you, wanting to touch you, to taste you, knowing you would never ever let me. When I saw you that night in the club I had to have you, I knew it was my only chance to ever get to love you for real and the only way I could ever have a chance at you loving me.” he said.

She breathed out and a trickle of tears fell from her eyes.

“I thought about you, when you left with Snape, I worried about what may happen to you, I knew you weren’t a murderer Draco, I knew you were a good person really. After everything that happened between us in school, I still cared about you. I never stopped thinking of you or where you where, I don’t know why, but I felt empty not seeing you everyday, not seeing you sneer and then secretly smile in potions, or the way you used to look at me in the great hall when you thought I wasn’t looking. I always knew Draco.” she said.

“Can you ever forgive me?” he asked.

“We’ve made a family, Draco, I need you just as much as you need me and Alexander needs his father.” she said.

“That doesn’t answer my question.” he said.

“Yes, Draco, I will forgive you, because you love me and I know despite everything that you’ve done, that no one would ever make me as happy as you make me.” she said.

“But could you ever love me?” he asked.

She laughed softly.

“I already do.” she said.

~*~

Five years later….


As the sun shone brightly over the gardens of Malfoy Manor, the sounds of splashing water filled the air.

Alexander Malfoy stood proudly at the edge of the pool under the watchful eye of his Grandfather, waiting for the right time to splash his Grandmother who was sunning herself, unaware of her Grandsons plotting.

He watched as she turned on her front and he ran and jumped into the pool, causing the water to splash all over his outraged Grandmother.

“Alexander Malfoy apologise this instant!” shouted Hermione.

“Sorry Grandma.” he said shyly.

“You naughty boy Allie!” said a little voice.

Alexander sighed.

“Shh, Little baby.” he said.

“I’m not a baby anymore am I Daddy?” asked the little voice.

Draco swooped in and picked up his little princess, Ruby Malfoy was now three years old and his crowning glory, he was the only Malfoy male in two hundred years to create a girl and she was beautiful, she had his glorious features and her mothers temperament.

Ruby wriggled from her father grip and he set her on the ground and she ran to her grandfather, who sat her on his lap as he played idly with his long blonde hair.

Draco smiled as he watched his daughter with his father, he still couldn’t believe his luck, he had been cleared of all charges by the Wizengamot after they had viewed memories from Dumbledore’s pensieve, he had taken over his fathers duties at Malfoy Industries and he had a beautiful wife and family, he couldn’t possibly ask for more.

“Draco?” asked Hermione as she sat down in between his legs.

“Yes darling?” he answered.

“I love you.” she replied.

“Ive loved you since the very first time I saw you my little Gryffindor, I just didn’t realise it.” he said.

“Forever and ever?” she asked.

“Always.” he said with a kiss.