Married by Law

Chapter Twenty Three: La La Land

"Come on Audrey." sighed Hermione, lifting her daughter out of her crib. Her blonde hair was matted down and she stared at her mother with her chocolate colored eyes.

"Mmmm." gurgled Audrey. Her fat, tiny fists reached out and clasped onto Hermione's earring.

"No Audrey! Bad Audrey!" moaned Hermione, gently tugging her hand away. "Come on baby girl, we're going to go see your cousins! It's Uncle Harry's birthday!"

As if she understood, Audrey stopped tugging. She obediently let Hermione dress her in a cute little pink sundress. Audrey crawled around on floor while Hermione pulled on her own white lace sundress. Hermione pulled out her wand and used to it smooth her dirty blonde hair. Finally, after applying some makeup, she deemed herself presentable. She lifted up her daughter and the diaper bag before apprating away.

"Hi Harry!" chirped Hermione as she walked into the Potter's backyard. The scent of barbeque hung heavy in the air. "Smells good!"

"'Ello Mione," greeted Harry, kissing her cheek. Audrey clapped, reaching for her uncle. "And hello my sweet princess."

"Where's Gin?" asked Hermione. Harry's shrugged nonchalantly.

"On an errand."

Ginny Potter strode into the lobby of the ritzy muggle hotel, on a mission. She stopped at the front desk, clearing her throat noisily.

"Excuse me? I need to find someone's room number." said Ginny, fake smile on her face. The snooty man behind the desk wrinkled his nose.

"Hotel policy prohibits me from divulging that information." sneered the man. The fake smile slid from her face, replaced by a frown.

"Fine. I didn't want to have to do this, but Confundus."

The mans eyes went unfocused. He typed something into his computer and handed her a key. Ginny erased his memory and ran from sight. Draco Malfoy was in room number...512. Room 512 was on the seventh floor. Ginny stepped into the brightly lit elevator and punched the number. It soared up and Ginny practically sprinted out. Contrary to most belief, she was frightened of those particular muggle contraptions. Ginny shook the thoughts as she walked through the maze of halls, following the numbers. 508...510...512.

A smile found its way onto the young redheads face as she slipped the key into the slot. The light flickered green and she opened the door.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy." shrieked Ginny. The blonde haired man jumped up from his spot on the bed. The television remote clanked to the floor.

"Ginny! Merlin! You scared the-" stuttered Draco. Ginny cut him off.

"Enough. You're coming with me. End of story, end of discussion. Let's go."

"Harry? When's Ginny coming back? Molly wants to start dinner." said Hermione. Harry glanced around.

"Any moment now..." sighed Harry. He flipped a burger on the grill.

"I'm here! I'm here!" shouted a voice. Ginny shoved someone inside the gate.

"Oh hell no!" screeched Hermione, her face contorting.

"Oh sod off." sneered Draco, crossing his arms. Harry and Ginny glanced at each other.

"Alright you two. Inside, now. MOLLY! Start dinner, Gin and I will be out in a minute." shouted Harry. He gave the couple a nudge toward the house. Reluctantly they walked through the kitchen into the living room. Harry sat Hermione on one couch, Draco on the other. Hermione was doing a good job of avoid Draco's piercing eyes.

"Alright while you two are in La La Land, the rest of us adults have had to put up with your fighting. We are sick of it. So, Ginny and I are staging an intervention. She's charming this room you two cannot leave until you've made up. Understand?"

"Harry, that's hardly fair. What about Audrey!" gasped Hermione, standing up. Harry pushed her shoulders.

"Sit. We are watching her. Now, we're leaving." explained Harry. He quickly ran out of the room, Ginny giggling behind him.

"You're friends are a piece of work." mumbled Draco.

"They're your friends too." replied Hermione loftily. She took focus on the coffee table.

"How's Audrey doing?" inquired Draco, breaking the awkward silence. Hermione folded her hands.

"Fine. If you were home you'd know that." sneered Hermione.

"You might as well have pushed me out of the door." shot back Draco. Hermione threw her hands up in the air.

"Are you kidding me!"

"No! You kept screaming at me to leave. You're so fucking bossy, I was sick of it!"

"Bossy? At least I'm not a coward!"

"You know what Hermione? No wonder the fucking ministry paired us together. They knew I'd dump your ass once the year was up and you'd be done!" screamed Draco. Hermione deflated.

"Oh really? It had absolutely nothing to do with our leveling personalities?"

"Humph, of course. In the face of a fight you turn to intelligence."

"Its better than resorting to low remarks." replied Hermione.

"You're nuts! You just called me a coward, I retort, you play the victim card. How does that add up!"

"It doesn't. But then again, neither does Draco and Hermione. But we work...kind of." reasoned Hermione. She sighed.

"Look Draco, I'm sick of the fighting. But all of the fighting is results from our different upbringings. Draco, you and I are equals. Believe it or not. Treat me like it, and I'll give you the same respect."

"I guess that's do able." sighed Draco. He got up and enveloped his wife in a hug.

"I've missed you Mia."

"Missed you too Dragon."

"You're not supposed to call me that in public!"