A Woman's Wrath
Standing outside the Leaky Caldron, Hermione brushed soot from her robes. While the Floo Network was accessible, it was not her favourite form of transportation. Her cream blouse had streaks of soot on one side and her hair was a tangle. Sighing, she motioned for Harry to scourgify her blouse while she pulled her hair back into a low bun. She muttered a charm that would smooth out some of the wildness and simply hoped for the best.
“Why isn’t there magical travel that doesn’t leave you wanting to puke at the end?” Harry’s face was slightly green as he bent over. “I wish we could just use brooms,” Harry laughed as Hermione mimed retching. Flying had never been her favourite. She was better at it now, but she would not be flying at the World Cup anytime soon. It had become a joke between the friends that Hermione would have to marry the person who convinced her flying was fun.
As the two laughed, a small body wrapped around Harry’s leg, causing him to jump. The small boy squealed with delight at scaring his godfather.
“Teddy! Where is– Ah, there’s Gran.” Harry reached down to untangle Teddy Lupin and hoisted him up to his hip. The eight-year-old grinned at Hermione. Andromeda comes up next to the boys and talks to Harry.
“Do you see! Look!” He screeched at her, sticking his tongue through the gap where his left incisor should be. “Eugenia found Harry’s bludgers!”
Hermione grimaced as she bent in to inspect his mouth. Too often, Teddy reminded her of the twins and she was not sure if that was something she was excited about. This may have been the first tooth he lost due to reckless shenanigans, it was not the first injury. That honour would belong to the arm he broke when Henry Rosier had dared him to walk the bannister of the third floor at six years old. Between Teddy, Eugenia, and Henry, Harry had no hope.
Hermione reached out and ruffled his mop of mousy brown hair. Once he had realised he could change it at will without consequence, Teddy would change his hair repeatedly when the impulse struck, usually when someone who caught his attention passed by, or to make the kids at Grimmauld laugh. Some days it caused an ache behind her ribcage thinking back to being squeezed between Ron and Harry during dinners with the rest of the Order shouting over one another, Molly hollering at Fred and George, pink hair and pig noses, and the uncontrollable laughter that hurt her stomach until it was time to trudge up the stairs for bed.
“Well, that is something that deserves a little bit of ice cream, don’t you think?” Harry stepped into the conversation, giving Hermione a chance to blink back the tears that had suddenly surfaced with the memory. Teddy gave a cheer as he wiggled out of Harry’s grip and launched himself down the street. After bidding goodbye to Andromeda, who had begged off a trip for ice cream with an easy “Thank you loves, but I let Ross in charge and you know how the younger ones like to rile him up. Eugenia is probably on the roof.” They all chuckled as the older woman left with a hug to them both.
Hermione and Harry trailed behind Teddy as he darted between shoppers.
“I know we still have a week to go before the new term starts, but I am going to miss the chaos I think.” Harry smiled sadly as Hermione looped her arm through his.
“You don’t grow up in the Burrow without finding comfort in the chaos. They aren’t all leaving. Ross will be returning for his final year, Scarlett and Nora. That leaves,” Hermione mock counted on her fingers. “A full house still. That Bobbin girl and Teddy will give Fred and Geroge’s legacy a run when they start.”
“Why does that actually make me feel better?” Harry held the door open for her as they entered the ice cream parlour. Teddy was already bouncing up and down at the counter to try to see the flavours offered. His hair was a white blonde dusting his shoulders this time, reminiscent of his distant family. Hermione came up behind the boy and scooped him up higher. She knew he would pick the cookies and cream before he told Harry his choice. Teddy may change his appearance whenever he liked, but he was very much a creature of habit. She knew that during a full moon, Teddy would be in the attic, as close to the moon as he could be; She knew that when his hair was blue and full of spikes he was ready for bed but would be stubborn about it. She knew that after a shower, he would run to Andromeda with a brush so she could brush it the muggle way. Hermione’s gaze softened on the boy, who was an amalgamation of many hands of love.
Teddy kept a running stream of chatter while they ate. Harry smirked at Hermione when Teddy insisted he liked his ice cream to be soup when she reminded him to eat before it melted. When he had run out of things to say, he slurped up his melted mess, ice cream across his face as much as it was getting into his mouth as he began another story. She had tried to distract herself from their meeting with Kingsley, but she could not help but be reminded every time Teddy brought up one of the other kids. His voice slowly faded to background noise as Hermione contemplated another solution if the Ministry was unwilling to help.
“Hiya, Ted!” An animated voice dragged Hermione from her thoughts as she looked up at Neville Longbottom's bright face. “Hermione, Harry.” Neville nodded at both of them, but his full attention was on Teddy. At the shortened version of his name, Teddy sat up taller. Neville was the worst offender of doting on Teddy, and the two had an amazing bond.
“Neville, how are you?” Hermione barely got the words out before Teddy launched into recounting his adventures with Eugenia and the bludgers. Neville laughed in the right spots and admonished enough that Hermione was confident that the youth would think twice next time, especially if his second favourite person told him to be careful.
“Sorry this is so short, but I’m breaking some news to Draco and Theo so..” He trailed off as loud voices echoed off the surrounding bricks. Her attention was quickly pulled towards Malfoy and Nott, both standing shoulder to shoulder watching Neville. Malfoy’s face was twisted into his patented sneer as Theo attempted to distract him.
“S’rry, but I should–” Neville let his words trail off as he ruffled Teddy’s hair, which Hermione now realised he must have noticed Malfoy’s perfectly coifed platinum head. Neville hurried away without much of a goodbye as he moved to intercept the small group shouting at his friends.
“Is it still weird that he is mates with those snakes?” Harry leaned over into her space to whisper, glancing at Teddy to make sure he was still engrossed with his milkshake in a bowl.
“Well, we all kind of connected that year. Over the war, and the trauma…especially Pansy and Neville. Gosh, that was strange to watch the two of them dance around each other all year.” Hermione grinned but it slowly slid from her face as she watched Dennis Creevy draw his wand.
Dennis, Zacharias Smith, and two burly men Hermione did not recognise were jeering at Malfoy and Theo. Malfoy’s shoulders were pulled back and she could see his sneer from the distance. His lean build was angled away from her, but the tension in his body was visible.
“What’s going on? Where’d Nev go?” Teddy attempted to see around Harry, who had positioned himself in his line of sight.
“He had to rejoin his mates, but how about we see about going to get Hermione another milkshake? Her’s looks a little bit low.” Harry shot Hermione a meaningful look before his eyes darted towards the standoff between Malfoy and Dennis. She gave him a small nod as Harry directed Teddy back into the shop.
As the glass doors closed behind the pair, Hermione rushed towards the men. She kept her eyes on Dennis and his group as they made their way across the Alley into Malfoy’s space.
“Oh those gits!” Hermione shook her head as Dennis brandished his wand. She was too far away to hear what was being said, but as Malfoy stepped out from behind Neville, she knew she was going to need her wand.
✧✧✧
“--Broad daylight, with children on the street!” Creevy’s punch had disoriented him enough not to notice Potter and Granger approaching, but that shrill voice, reminiscent of Professor McGonagall when he would be caught out after curfew, brought his cloudy vision into focus. Granger stood, left hand on hip, wand raised outward, a repello charm pushing the parties away from one another. Chairs behind her were scattered as if a rough wind tore a direct path to the fight. Her chest heaved (Draco tried not to notice) and Potter stood a few steps behind her hiding behind Granger’s righteous wrath as always. However, if Draco focused on Potter a little more, a mop of mousey brown hair could be seen behind the man. Potter must have noticed because he stepped a little to the right, concealing the child fully again, stupid green eyes hard as he stared Draco down. Draco returned his gaze to the mess in front of him.
Smith had a swelling lip and the Nott’s cheek was already sporting a bruise, but the other two of Creevy’s mates looked the worst as Longbottom smirked at them. One had blood down his chin, dripping to his robes and the other was sitting on the ground, a dazed look in his eyes. Draco felt his admiration for Longbottom rise even higher.
“Dennis would be ashamed of you Colin.” Draco had no time to gloat as Granger turned on her heel, facing Draco with a vicious twist of her lips that would make Pansy proud.
“And you! You…still have not outgrown Hogwarts it seems! Starting something you could just walk away from!” For some reason, she sounded like she was… disappointed. Draco had no time to dwell on that observation as she advanced on him. With each sentence, Granger pressed her finger into his chest, enunciating her point. Her breath came out in a huff as she shook her head, a few curls falling loose. Draco traced the whisps with his eyes as they grazed her face and neck, his fingers twitched to twist themselves into the tangles.
“Astounding that none of you have the common sense to maintain some form of decorum in a public street!” Longbottom was nodding his head as if he had not just used his bare hands to break a man’s nose. Granger must have noticed as well because she turned her ire on him next. The longer she carried on her tirade, the more curls fell from her bun, giving her a wild appearance. It reminded Draco of their school days.
“Oh, don’t you start Neville! You are a teacher for Godric’s sake! Teddy was right there!” Granger continued for a few more moments before finally releasing the men from whatever spell she had hit them with. Longbottom had the decency to lower his eyes, but the smile still tugged at his lips.
“Didn’t realise you were a death eater slag, Granger.” Creevy’s voice trembled with rage. “No wonder you made sure to insert yourself at his trial. Gushing about everything Draco Malfoy could have bee–” he was cut off as Neville lunged at him, the only thing stopping him was Granger’s small frame standing between the pair.
“Dennis, I would estimate you have a few more seconds before the DMLE shows up. You don’t want to have to explain how you instigated a fight,” She paused, looking Creevy up and down slowly. “and lost.” Granger stood her ground, her stern voice was one she had heard her use with Potter and the Weasel many times. Creevy and his goons flashed pointed fingers at Malfoy, but Creevy’s parting words were for Granger and Longbottom.
“Let a Death Eater between your legs and all morals go out the window. Some Gryffindors you all are.” Draco gave an undignified snort. As if Granger would ever touch a Slytherin. Her exploits with lovers have been in the paper for years; Weasley, Krum, McClaggen, that muggle who went missing for two weeks, a coworker or two, but never once a snake. Creevy was barmy if he thought the Golden Girl would stoop so low as to dirty herself with them.
Draco noticed movement out of the corner of his eye and he reached out casually to grasp Theo’s wrist, gently aiming his wand back to the ground. Theo pouted at him but didn’t say a word as he returned his wand to his thigh holster.
Granger allowed her shoulders to relax once Creevy was gone, but her eyes were steel when she turned on Malfoy. Before she could impersonate a Howler, Draco raised a hand.
“No one asked for your help, Granger. We had it handled.” He sneered down at her. Had he ever noticed that she barely reached his shoulders? Her hands were on her hips again, though absent of her wand this time. “I didn’t even have my wand out. Surprised you didn’t hex him there at the end though, I would have.” Draco raised an eyebrow, remembering how quick-tempered Granger was in school. He had thought hotheadedness was a required Gryffindor trait.
“Unlike you Malfoy, I am not a child. I allowed myself to grow up. Maybe you should give it a go sometime. I do not need to rise to every taunt that has no foundation in truth.” Granger’s face went crimson when Draco allowed his eyes to roam from the loose tendrils of curls escaping her bun, down the front of her blouse, letting his glance linger a moment before scanning the rest of her body lazily.
“My apologies Granger, of course, there is no basis of fact in Creevy’s insult. Your partners would rather have a broomstick between—” Draco was cut off as a sharp pain erupted from his arm. Draco turned towards Theo with a menacing snarly. Longbottom quickly drew Granger’s ire with a hand on her shoulder. He glared at Draco as Granger started to dig into Longbottom.
“Draco.” Nott hissed, angling his head towards the young Lupin, his ears covered by Potter’s hands. Draco dropped his head as a nip of shame pulled at him. He remembered the barbed comments his father had made in his presence at that age. He did not want to follow those steps. Draco grimaced as Potter directed a look of unadulterated fury at Draco.
“Well, as fun as this has been. I see Auror Smith heading this way. And that man despises me, best not give him any more reasons after the owl droppings incident. Ta!” Theo looped his arm through Draco’s and grabbed Longbottom as they passed him and Granger. She was all lioness, raging into Longbottom’s space, chastising a wayward cub, not giving any space.
Before they reached the apparition point, Draco just heard Potter’s low-class drawl, he knew it was all too much for Potter to stay quiet the whole time.
“Hurry home Malfoy. I can’t wait til your mother hears about this.” Draco attempted to turn on his heel but was held back as the hook in his stomach pulled him through space.
✧✧✧
As Draco strolled through the manor wards, he could feel his mother’s rage in his bones. Somehow, she already knew about the fiasco in Diagon Alley. The wards shivered with untapped magic as he entered the front foyer. Fidel was pacing the black floor, wringing his hands together. His shoes were shinier than the marble and Draco briefly smiled knowing how Granger would react to know that each of the elves in Malfoy's employ probably made more than she did working at the ministry. Fidel’s wide blue eyes expanded further when Draco removed his outer robes.
“Master is home! Finally, yes. Come now. Mistress is waiting. Oh, she is a waiting!” Fidel had been with the Malfoy’s for a few years now, one of only two that had decided to stay when The Ministry freed all the house elves in 2003. At first, Draco had felt irritated knowing that Granger most definitely had a hand in the new mandate but he could not argue that productivity was higher around the manor now that those in their employ were not terrified of his father. His thoughts lingered on Lucius as Fidel drug him into the reception room. It had been 8 years since Draco had any physical contact with his father. Lucius was in confinement without visitations but was allowed owls for the first five years of his sentence. Draco had written a book to his father in the following years. He missed him terribly.
“Draco! What were you thinking!” His mother pounced on him as soon as Fidel disappeared with a crack. Draco smiled down at his mother, she now had to look up at him when she was trying to intimidate him. Her lips were drawn into a thin line and her blue eyes were zeroed in on him with an unflinching stare until he cast his eyes to the floor. Narcissa Malfoy could simply look at a person to make them feel inferior.
“We have rules and schedules for a reason, Draco! We have discussed this and I thought we agreed. There is no reason for you to be going into crowded wizarding locations without a guard or some way to contain the bigots.” Narcissa’s voice was cold fury. Draco knew she would be irate, but could not comprehend the frigid woman in front of him. Her shoulders were drawn back so she stood at her full height. Her blonde hair was pulled back into an elegant knot at the base of her neck, causing the sharp features of her cheekbones and jaw to be more prominent.
“Mother,” He picked up a piece of lint on his shoulder and lazily dropped it to the floor. It disappeared with a gentle buzz of magic; one of Bristel’s best bits of house-elf magic.
“If you need something send Fidel or Bristel. Owl the shop and have it delivered. Or if you must, go into muggle London and procure your shopping necessities that way.” Narcissa continued.
“Oh, I can just galavant around muggle London purchasing brooms, can I? Well, to hell with the Statue of Secrecy, I say! Maybe I can just ride my broom home then.”
Narcissa opened her mouth to continue but closed it again. Her eyes narrowed, but then she let out a soft sigh. Draco knew the tone alone would draw his mother’s attention enough to hinder her tirade.
“You sound just like him.” Her voice softened to wistful. “Your father would also push against the things I have asked you to endure…” Narcissa turned away from him. Draco wanted to reach out to her when he saw the quick rise and fall of her shoulders.
Maybe I should not have used Father’s tone. I wanted to distract her, not make her cry.
Before Draco could move towards her, his mother twisted to face him again. He pretended he could not see the shine of unshed tears as she faced him again.
“What if–” She had to clear her throat with a gentle cough, “What if they had hexed you? A few syllables and you could be dead in the street.” Her voice was thick, the tears threatening to spill over in a flood.
“No worries there Mother. Saviour Potter and the great war heroine Hermione Granger were present and made sure no harm came to us.” He pulled his mother into his arms as she quietly sniffled into his chest over what could have been. “Plus, your favourite son was there. Longbottom would have never allowed me to disappoint you by dying like a commoner in the dirt.” He smiled into her hair as she gave a watery laugh.
“Oh, I do adore that boy. Theodore too.” When Narcissa pulled away from her son’s grasp, her eyes were dry, ever the proper lady. “Sadly, Draco darling, you are my third favourite.” She patted his cheek as he sputtered in indignation.