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“Narcissa, why in Merlin is our son escorting Hermione Granger through our gardens?” Lucius’ heart was racing. He had not run in years, but when he saw the curly haired muggleborn witch, Hermione Granger, with her arm linked through Draco’s out over the terrace balcony where he was drinking his afternoon tea, he had run to the library with added haste where Narcissa was spending her afternoon reading. However, he had to admit her hair was rather well tamed since the last time he saw her, but that was a few years ago.
“He is courting her,” Narcissa’s voice hissed, urging him to be quiet and telling him he was being rude just in one tone. It was scary how bold and determined she was.
“What do you mean courting? She’s a muggleborn, not a pureblood.” Lucius reminded her, his tone matching her quiet hissing. Was she becoming delusional? Their family motto was Sanctimonia Vincet Semper, purity will always conquer.
“Lucius Malfoy, you will leave this alone or you will be the first Malfoy in history to be divorced.” She stood from her chaise, placed a bookmark to hold her place before setting the book on an elegant 14th century table, before coming toe to toe with him. “Since the war, the Malfoy name has meant nothing. No pureblood families want anything to do with us, which is why the Greengrasses ended their marriage contract.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she gave him a look that dared him to do just that. Instead he shut his mouth and she continued on.
“I want grandchildren, Lucius. I want the Malfoy name to continue on. A name which is currently shamed. I want Draco to be happy, in love, and I do not give a damn to whom that witch is as long as she is a witch, understood?” She glared at him. He knew the threat was valid. No matter how much she loved him, Draco’s came first since the war ended.
He remembered her cussing him out about how much trauma we put our son through and how enough was enough. When the Greengrasses ended the contract, she threatened divorce then too if he dared to get another contract with another pureblood family. She had told him that Draco deserved love and to find his own wife. He was fine with it then, but six years had gone by and their son had not had a single date or interest in a witch until today.
“Besides, she is the smartest witch of their age. She has an Order of Merlin, First Class. If anyone has a chance of digging the Malfoy name out of the dirt, it is Draco courting that witch.” She picked up her book, became comfortable on her chaise, and began to read. Her voice turned threatening, “Leave it alone, Lucius.”
His mouth was hanging open, he could feel it. The ridged back bone this woman had strengthened since the war ended. It was strong before, it turned unbreakable afterwards. Nothing could stop her from what she wanted now. Salazar, he loved this brilliant witch and she was his wife, bound together for enteritiy. He would do nothing to risk losing her and she knew it too.
He turned away from her and rushed back to the terrace. If he couldn’t stop their courting, he was going to supervise it. He reached the terrace to see his son and Miss Granger sitting on a bench. Draco was talking animatedly, gesturing his arms around, before laughing. Miss Granger held his forearm and laughed with him.
He was startled, he had never seen his son laugh since he was a child riding his broom. It did something to him, cracked his heart open a little. He truly did want his son to be happy, but in the proper way with a pureblood witch by his side.
He pouted; it was fine, no one was around to see it happen. He watched his son laughing and talking with this witch like he was a stranger. This version of Draco was a completely different wizard then the boy he had raised in this very house. He was carefree, happy, and besotted with this witch.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Narcissa said from the open doorway behind him. He was startled, but if anyone said he jumped from his wife surprising him, he would deny it. He pulled back his pout and molded his face to a stern facade.
She moved to sit on the bench next to him by the railings edge, giving them both a direct view of their son and Miss Granger. “I watched for a long time the first time I saw them together like that too. It’s magical to see him happy…. In love.”
He rolled his eyes before rejecting that idea. “He cannot be in love with…” He stopped abruptly, his back went rigid and his eyes widened in disbelief. “Is he… Narcissa…. Is he really doing that… now?”
Her response was matter of fact and sure, “He has been courting her for twelve weeks, Lucius. He picked a ring from the vaults last week. He wanted her to have a happy memory here.” She said gently, while placing a hand on his thigh. “It will be happening whether you support it or not.”
Lucius couldn’t pull his eyes from the scene in front of him to look at her. He watched in shock as his son knelt on the dirty ground while holding a shining antique diamond ring that he vaguely remembered seeing in their family vaults. Gone was the laughing playful couple before. He could see the stress and the tension in Draco’s furrowed brows as he spoke, too far to hear any spoken words, and he saw a single tear slide down Miss Granger's cheek with whatever words Draco was telling her.
He was an observer in this moment. It was obvious that Draco and Miss Granger were in their own world right now and had no idea that he and Narcissa were watching it unfold before their eyes. He stayed silent. He knew if he made a single noise in protest during this moment that Narcissa would go through with her threat.
Miss Granger leaned forward, placing both of her hands on each side of Draco’s neck, holding the base of his skull. She was speaking for a brief moment before they both leaned forward in a kiss. Draco’s arms wrapped around her as stood up, lifting her from the bench as he twirled them in a circle. Their lips never parted, both of their lips curled up into a smile as he slowly lowered her back to the ground gently.
His son was engaged to Hermione Granger, Order of Merlin, First Class. His son was happy. In that moment he vowed to himself, for his son, he would learn to love and protect Miss Granger like she was his own.
“Lucius, are you smiling?” Narcissa’s voice seemed startled with that question.
“We are going to have the smartest Slytherin grandchildren that have ever attended Hogwarts.” He turned to face his wife with a smirk.
“Yes, we will, dear.” She smiled brightly at him, before turning to observe the gardens once more. He placed his arm around her and tucked his wife into his side. A soft smile on his lips as he enjoyed his son’s happiness.