Fic: Going Home: Part Sixteen
Title: Going Home: Part Sixteen
Author:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alisanne
Word count: 1100
Rating: PG
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Narcissa Malfoy.
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
slythindor100/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
slythindor100's 25 days of Christmas, Day 16 (traditional): Mistletoe.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Beta(s):sevfan and emynn.
Authors Notes: Part 16 of Going Home (LJ/IJ/DW).
~
Going Home: Past Sixteen
~
After they had all helped themselves to bandy and pudding, Draco turned towards Hermione. “Now, what’s this about Weasley drugging you?”
Hermione took a sip of brandy and sighed. “Ron and I have been discussing our future,” she said. “He has one view of the direction our lives should go, and I have…another.”
“Yes,” said Draco, sounding impatient, “but about the drugging—”
Tossing back the brandy, Hermione poured herself another serving. “He’s been insistent about us trying for children recently, and then I discovered he’s been dosing my morning tea with Fertility Potion. And since I’m on Infertility Potion— ”
“That fucker,” Draco growled, reaching out and taking Hermione’s hand. “He could have killed you!”
“Draco,” murmured Narcissa. “Language.”
“Mother, did you not just hear—?”
“I did.” Narcissa sighed. “And I’m not saying I disagree.”
Hermione smiled wanly. “I doubt it would have killed me, but it could have made me quite sick. Anyway, long story short, I confronted him in public, we both said awful things, and now he won’t answer my messages.”
“How many have you sent?” asked Draco.
“Two so far.” Hermione wiped moisture from her eyes, her expression more angry than sad. “I can’t believe he’s avoiding me!”
Harry coughed. “Well, in his defence—”
“No,” snapped Draco. “There is no defending this. He drugged her, Harry! What the actual fuc—?”
“Draco,” snapped Narcissa. “The will be no more profanity at this table.”
Draco groaned. “Mother!”
“Hermione,” said Harry gently, leaning forward, “I know it looks bad, but I really think you’re right about your Molly theory. And I will support you no matter what you decide, but think carefully before you throw away a five-year marriage, okay?”
Draco’s eyes narrowed. “What Molly theory?”
Hermione drank some more brandy; her eyes seemed to be going glassy. “As I’m sure is not a surprise to any of you, Molly’s always been pushy about kids. She’s made no secret of the fact that she wants more grandchildren, specifically Ron’s. And I honestly think he’d be okay with me continuing to work after we have children, but Molly doesn’t like it, she doesn’t think it’s proper, so Ron’s been dropping hints about—” Hermione paused, shaking her head.
Narcissa, sipping her own brandy, cleared her throat. “Let me guess. He thinks you should leave your work at St Mungo’s and stay home to tend to those children, and you are not predisposed to that approach.”
Hermione waved her hand in Narcissa’s direction. “Yeah, what she said. Anyway, like I’ve been saying to him, I do want kids, I just don’t want as many as his parents had, and I wanna keep working. I mean if I don’t, I could turn into an overbearing bitch like Molly—” Clapping her hand over her mouth, Hermione gasped.
Harry bit back a smile. “I don’t think any of us are going to disagree.”
Hermione hiccupped. “I think I may have had a bit too much,” she said. “I should probably lie down.” She tried to stand, but immediately fell back into the chair. “Oops.”
Narcissa, her eyes dancing with amusement, nevertheless managed not to smile. “My dear Healer Granger,” she said smoothly. “You have had a traumatic day. May I have my elf show you to a guest room where you can rest for a while?”
“Tha’ would b’great,” slurred Hermione, swaying in her chair.
Narcissa clapped her hands. When Bippy appeared, she said, “Please take Healer Granger to the rose bedroom. Have Hangover Potion bought to her as well for when she awakens.”
Bippy bowed, clasped Hermione’s limp hand, and a moment later they were gone.
“You are being a lot calmer than I thought you’d be about this,” Draco murmured to Harry.
Harry scowled. “Trust me, I’m not calm. When I find Ron, he’d better have a really good explanation for all this.”
“Yes,” said Draco, his tone as hard as Harry’s. “He’d better.”
Narcissa cleared her throat. “It’s getting late, gentlemen, and the weather is beginning to turn stormy. Are you planning on staying here in the Manor tonight, or are you returning to your home?”
“We’ve been staying at a cabin in the mountains, actually,” said Harry. “This is our holiday week.”
Narcissa bit her lips. “We interrupted your holiday? I am so sorry.”
Draco waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine, Mother. The real question is, are we staying here tonight or attempting to go back to the cabin.”
Rising gracefully from her chair, Narcissa inclined her head. “I’ll leave you alone to discuss it. Do let me know your decision.” And with that, she left.
Once the door closed, Draco turned to Harry and clasped his hands. “What do you want to do?”
Harry laughed ruefully. “What I really want to do is go back to the cabin and forget today even happened. But, since that’s not an option, I think we should stay.”
Draco smiled. “Are you sure? I know the Manor’s not exactly your favourite place in the world.”
“I’ll be fine.” Harry leaned in, kissing him lightly. “After all, you’re here with me. Plus, I think Hermione’s going to be out for a while, and I would never forgive myself for leaving her here alone.”
Draco frowned. “I’m pretty sure my mother would never—”
“Oh, I know.” Harry cupped Draco’s face in his palm. “That’s not where I was going with that. I’m actually beginning to like your mother.”
Draco snorted, his expression relaxing. “She can be charming when she tries, and right now she’s trying very hard.”
Harry smiled. “Yeah, I figured.” He sobered. “No, what I meant was, even though it’s been years, Hermione was tortured here, so—”
Draco sucked in a breath. “Shit. You’re right. No way we could leave her here alone.” He sighed. “So we’re staying?”
Harry nodded. “Apparently so.”
“Right, I’ll go tell Mother.” Draco began to stand but immediately ended up back in his chair. “What the fuck?”
Harry looked up over their heads. “I think I know the problem.”
When Draco looked up and saw mistletoe floating above them, he shook his head. “The things I do for you,” he murmured, leaning in.
Harry laughed against his lips. “Kissing me’s such a sacrifice, I’m sure.”
“Good thing it’s one I’m prepared to make.” Draco pressed closer, deepening the kiss, and Harry wound his arms around Draco’s neck, moaning into his mouth, and they were so preoccupied with kissing, that when the mistletoe floated off, neither man noticed.
~
Continued in Going Home: Part Seventeen (LJ/IJ/DW).
Author:
alisanneWord count: 1100
Rating: PG
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Narcissa Malfoy.
Challenge: Written for
slythindor100/slythindor100's 25 days of Christmas, Day 16 (traditional): Mistletoe.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Beta(s):
sevfan and emynn.Authors Notes: Part 16 of Going Home (LJ/IJ/DW).
~
Going Home: Past Sixteen
~
After they had all helped themselves to bandy and pudding, Draco turned towards Hermione. “Now, what’s this about Weasley drugging you?”
Hermione took a sip of brandy and sighed. “Ron and I have been discussing our future,” she said. “He has one view of the direction our lives should go, and I have…another.”
“Yes,” said Draco, sounding impatient, “but about the drugging—”
Tossing back the brandy, Hermione poured herself another serving. “He’s been insistent about us trying for children recently, and then I discovered he’s been dosing my morning tea with Fertility Potion. And since I’m on Infertility Potion— ”
“That fucker,” Draco growled, reaching out and taking Hermione’s hand. “He could have killed you!”
“Draco,” murmured Narcissa. “Language.”
“Mother, did you not just hear—?”
“I did.” Narcissa sighed. “And I’m not saying I disagree.”
Hermione smiled wanly. “I doubt it would have killed me, but it could have made me quite sick. Anyway, long story short, I confronted him in public, we both said awful things, and now he won’t answer my messages.”
“How many have you sent?” asked Draco.
“Two so far.” Hermione wiped moisture from her eyes, her expression more angry than sad. “I can’t believe he’s avoiding me!”
Harry coughed. “Well, in his defence—”
“No,” snapped Draco. “There is no defending this. He drugged her, Harry! What the actual fuc—?”
“Draco,” snapped Narcissa. “The will be no more profanity at this table.”
Draco groaned. “Mother!”
“Hermione,” said Harry gently, leaning forward, “I know it looks bad, but I really think you’re right about your Molly theory. And I will support you no matter what you decide, but think carefully before you throw away a five-year marriage, okay?”
Draco’s eyes narrowed. “What Molly theory?”
Hermione drank some more brandy; her eyes seemed to be going glassy. “As I’m sure is not a surprise to any of you, Molly’s always been pushy about kids. She’s made no secret of the fact that she wants more grandchildren, specifically Ron’s. And I honestly think he’d be okay with me continuing to work after we have children, but Molly doesn’t like it, she doesn’t think it’s proper, so Ron’s been dropping hints about—” Hermione paused, shaking her head.
Narcissa, sipping her own brandy, cleared her throat. “Let me guess. He thinks you should leave your work at St Mungo’s and stay home to tend to those children, and you are not predisposed to that approach.”
Hermione waved her hand in Narcissa’s direction. “Yeah, what she said. Anyway, like I’ve been saying to him, I do want kids, I just don’t want as many as his parents had, and I wanna keep working. I mean if I don’t, I could turn into an overbearing bitch like Molly—” Clapping her hand over her mouth, Hermione gasped.
Harry bit back a smile. “I don’t think any of us are going to disagree.”
Hermione hiccupped. “I think I may have had a bit too much,” she said. “I should probably lie down.” She tried to stand, but immediately fell back into the chair. “Oops.”
Narcissa, her eyes dancing with amusement, nevertheless managed not to smile. “My dear Healer Granger,” she said smoothly. “You have had a traumatic day. May I have my elf show you to a guest room where you can rest for a while?”
“Tha’ would b’great,” slurred Hermione, swaying in her chair.
Narcissa clapped her hands. When Bippy appeared, she said, “Please take Healer Granger to the rose bedroom. Have Hangover Potion bought to her as well for when she awakens.”
Bippy bowed, clasped Hermione’s limp hand, and a moment later they were gone.
“You are being a lot calmer than I thought you’d be about this,” Draco murmured to Harry.
Harry scowled. “Trust me, I’m not calm. When I find Ron, he’d better have a really good explanation for all this.”
“Yes,” said Draco, his tone as hard as Harry’s. “He’d better.”
Narcissa cleared her throat. “It’s getting late, gentlemen, and the weather is beginning to turn stormy. Are you planning on staying here in the Manor tonight, or are you returning to your home?”
“We’ve been staying at a cabin in the mountains, actually,” said Harry. “This is our holiday week.”
Narcissa bit her lips. “We interrupted your holiday? I am so sorry.”
Draco waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine, Mother. The real question is, are we staying here tonight or attempting to go back to the cabin.”
Rising gracefully from her chair, Narcissa inclined her head. “I’ll leave you alone to discuss it. Do let me know your decision.” And with that, she left.
Once the door closed, Draco turned to Harry and clasped his hands. “What do you want to do?”
Harry laughed ruefully. “What I really want to do is go back to the cabin and forget today even happened. But, since that’s not an option, I think we should stay.”
Draco smiled. “Are you sure? I know the Manor’s not exactly your favourite place in the world.”
“I’ll be fine.” Harry leaned in, kissing him lightly. “After all, you’re here with me. Plus, I think Hermione’s going to be out for a while, and I would never forgive myself for leaving her here alone.”
Draco frowned. “I’m pretty sure my mother would never—”
“Oh, I know.” Harry cupped Draco’s face in his palm. “That’s not where I was going with that. I’m actually beginning to like your mother.”
Draco snorted, his expression relaxing. “She can be charming when she tries, and right now she’s trying very hard.”
Harry smiled. “Yeah, I figured.” He sobered. “No, what I meant was, even though it’s been years, Hermione was tortured here, so—”
Draco sucked in a breath. “Shit. You’re right. No way we could leave her here alone.” He sighed. “So we’re staying?”
Harry nodded. “Apparently so.”
“Right, I’ll go tell Mother.” Draco began to stand but immediately ended up back in his chair. “What the fuck?”
Harry looked up over their heads. “I think I know the problem.”
When Draco looked up and saw mistletoe floating above them, he shook his head. “The things I do for you,” he murmured, leaning in.
Harry laughed against his lips. “Kissing me’s such a sacrifice, I’m sure.”
“Good thing it’s one I’m prepared to make.” Draco pressed closer, deepening the kiss, and Harry wound his arms around Draco’s neck, moaning into his mouth, and they were so preoccupied with kissing, that when the mistletoe floated off, neither man noticed.
~
Continued in Going Home: Part Seventeen (LJ/IJ/DW).