Pastel Skies

Chapter 13

"This was lovely, Draco" Hermione said as she kissed his scar goodnight and snuggled up closely to him.

"It really was," he said, kissing her hair.

"I'm glad you get along with Harry."

"He's easy to get along with. We'd seen each other a few times over the years."

"With Scorpius and Albus being friends, no wonder."

"It's never been this relaxed, though. Must be you."

Hermione smiled to herself. "I'm glad you had a good time." After a minute she added, "did Ron give you any more grief?"

"Nah. He wouldn't dare, I don't think. He seems a bit... jealous to be honest."

"Jealous? No way. Not after all these years. He's just protective."

"Protective. Right." Draco kissed her shoulder and listened to her breathing slow, watching her fall asleep.

They had returned to her flat shortly after midnight, went about their bathroom routine and gone to bed filled with contentment and happiness about new friendships made and old ones confirmed.

Draco and Hermione woke to another beautifully sunny day in the Highlands.

There was a knock on the door to Hermione's flat, when they were having breakfast, which turned out to be Cho wondering if they'd join her in the gym for a few laps in the pool.

They met up later, swam and on the way out found Neville in his usual place by the weights. Draco hadn't seen him in some years and upon some initial reservations, but with Hermione's reassurance, they soon chatted easily.

"Seamus is going to be here next week," Neville threw a telling look at Cho, whose eyes went wide. "We should get together!"

"Cool, he helped me with Scorpius' flat in London. Yeah, it'd be nice to see him again." Draco told him. He looked inquiringly over to Hermione. "We've got no plans yet, have we?"

"No, nothing so far." Hermione smiled and caught Cho's excited grin.

The rest of the Sunday they spend visiting with Narcissa and Lucius at the Manor and Draco showing her his own house on the Estate. Quite a bit smaller than the Manor, but still much too large for Hermione's taste, the home featured four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and a Master Suite of such excess, that it made Hermione's stomach turn. It was kept dark, in charcoal hues and chrome accents. The house-elves had removed all traces of Astoria though, which she was quite grateful for at this particular moment, as she surely would have vomited in the centre of the huge room. The tall windows were covered in opaque crisp white ceiling to floor curtains topped by heavy, nearly black, light-blocking curtain panels. There was nothing homey or cozy about this room. To Hermione it felt cold and unloved.

"I haven't been in here in ages," Draco confessed quietly.

"It doesn't seem to suit you. Did you like it?"

"I didn't care, honestly. I only slept in here. Not for long time, though, now."

"Who decorated it?"

"She did. Can't you tell?" He was silent for a minute before saying, "She actually re-did it a few years back. Ripped out all of the old wood flooring, removed anything that had charm and warmth."

"What did you need all these bedrooms for? Were you planning on that many children?"

"Well, initially, I thought it'd be nice for Scorpius to have siblings. But we soon didn't share the same dreams anymore. Which was odd, looking back now. She used to want more children. After Scorpius, she was just – done. Never mentioned it either. She just didn't get pregnant. And I guess I didn't force the issue. Didn't bother to ask. And then it quickly became just as well."