Lies, Buried and Bound - A Dramione Story

Part Twenty-Seven

Eight months later.

This chapter of Hermione's story wrapped up far more pleasantly than she could've asked. She had been reclusive, overly-protective, and yet she had people in her life who knew that no person could punish Hermione Malfoy née Granger more than herself. No one could possibly hate her more for what she'd done than herself.

Of course, she would live the rest of her life with this guilt etched in the back of her throat. It would seem that everyone believed this was punishment enough.

Hermione told the Weasleys of her daughter and her child's father. Initially, it wasn't received well, but with friends like Harry, Ron, Luna, and Ginny and their unwavering support, tensions between the Weasley and Malfoy families eased astonishingly quickly.

Construction at the Malfoy Manor was underway almost immediately after Draco learned of Charlotte. From that day forward, he always strove to be the problem-solving father he never had, starting with a warm home for his new family.

Construction was completed within three months. The walls were either warm oak wood or ivory marble. Any essence of the dark building that used to house the Dark Lord was forever absent. Draco made sure of that. Heavy black drapes were replaced with a cream-coloured semi-translucent curtain or a fiery red. Mahogany was used for almost every piece of furniture, and stainless steel for all appliances. It almost made Hermione miss the dark oak.

But this was Draco's most expensive gesture to make amends.

He was trying to help her repair her psyche, which arguably needed the most care. The two of them slept in the same bed from then on, but nightmares were never truly erased from their new home. After all, who didn't suffer from terrible dreams once in a while?

Draco and Hermione orchestrated a healthy meeting between Mrs. Granger and Narcissa Malfoy. The two ladies hit it off right away. They would meet in the muggle world every Tuesday for morning tea with Andromeda Tonks. Narcissa was henceforth "Nana" to little Charlotte and it immediately gave her baby fever on Hermione's behalf.

The only room that went untouched by Draco's renovations was the Master's Study. If Lucius Malfoy was insistent on wallowing in his miserable self, they would leave him to it. The manor was big enough that Hermione would never have to step foot in that room if she so pleased.

Lucius Malfoy was charmed by Charlotte Granger from the moment they met. And though it was slow, he too began relieving himself of his life as a sheltered hermit. And it was all thanks to his granddaughter's annoying presence that he oddly enjoyed.

Hermione and Luna served as co-maids of honour at Ginny's wedding in the Weasley barn. No animals were present, of course.

It was a warm evening in May, and Hermione was in the kitchenette of her new family cottage on the beachside of Plage du Loc'h. This was her first holiday with Draco and Charlotte as a family. Ginny and Luna were helping her unload new porcelain dishes from boxes filled with styrofoam masks for each dish, cup, and layers of bubble wrap.

"Harry's taking me to Greece in the next few months. Or so he says."

Snap.

"That sounds like mounds of fun! You better take pictures for me," Hermione said.

"I will," snap, "Harry's even teaching me to use Muggle cameras. They're so simple and," snap, snap, "Luna!"

The two girls turned around with smiles, stretching their lips to find the blonde-haired witch sliding her fingers down the air pockets of the bubble wrap. "This is so amusing! How come there aren't any of these gadgets in our world?"