The Alchemy
Hermione-The Alchemy
Hey you, what if I told you we're cool?
That child's play back in school
Is forgiven under my rule
I haven't come around in so long
But I'm making a comeback to where I belong ...
So when I touch down
Call the amateurs and
Cut 'em from the team
Ditch the clowns, get the crown
Baby I'm the one to beat
Cause the sign on your heart
Said it's still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
It had been a few days since Halloween and Hermione had begun her plotting. Truly it wasn’t much work since she’d already upped her wardrobe due to her and Theodore’s frequent shopping trips. She was confident in her looks too, if she was being vain. No, her plotting was mainly preparing herself to hold a flirty demeanor. To be frank, Hermione Granger did not flirt, not intentionally at least.
Ronald had begged her to be with him, she hadn’t had to pursue him at all. And he wasn’t the teasing or particularly playful type that she had quickly noted Draco was. That isn’t to say she never tried to be playful, saying witty remarks and funny insults throughout her relationship with Ron, he just got butthurt easily. He would get mad at not picking up on one of her jokes, or automatically assume she thought she was better than him at making a remark of some insignificance. And if Ronald was upset, everyone around him was going to feel it too.
It was mind boggling to her now how she had put up their wilted relationship for so long. She had been locked down, and not in the fun way muggles used the saying either. Tying a bow on the top of her head, Hermione took a final look in the mirror and smiled at herself. She wasn’t handcuffed to a man who didn’t care for her anymore, she was free now to do as she pleased.
“Hermione, if you stare at the mirror anymore, we’re going to be late” Theo huffed from her doorway. With a quick flash of her wrist watch she saw that they would in fact not be late, Theodore just wanted more time to ogle his boyfriends arse in quidditch clothes.
“Didn’t you see Harry in a seeker's uniform less than a week ago?” she questioned, watching him pout in her mirror.
“Once you see an arse like that, it’s never too soon to see it again. Plus this time I get to stare at Draco’s too” Hermione had been leaning forward to finish putting on some lip liner and she was very glad she had yet to set the pencil to her lips otherwise she’d look like a clown with how fast she whipped her head to look at Theo.
“You stare at your best friends arse? Isn’t one enough?” she asked, turning back to finish her liner.
“You don’t? Because you should” Theo flopped onto her bed, causing Crooks to hiss before bounding out the door.
“Eww Theo, Harry’s like my brother. And why’re you staring at Draco’s, you’re practically married” She shuddered at the thought of checking Harry out. She knew he was an objectively good looking man, but she’d never really considered looking at him romantically once and the thought of doing it now made her feel squirmy.
Hermione put the lip liner down and gave herself a final nod, she was ready. “Is that jealousy I sense Mrs.Granger? And by the way, Harry said I’m allowed to because he stares too” Theo explained as if it was the most sound logic in the world.
Hermione had slipped one shoe on, but stopped before putting the other on and looked at Theo instead. “Harry stares at Draco’s arse?” she said, quirking a brow. There was no way she would’ve believed that sentence five years ago.
Theo stood too, giving her a mischievous smirk that she was learning meant pure trouble. “Just wait and see Granger, you’ll be upset you didn’t listen to me and let us leave sooner”
Walking to the doorway, Hermione waved her wand, turning all the lights out. “It’s a ministry picnic and pick up quidditch game Theodore, not a strip club” It was just Hermione’s luck that the first Friday of every November, the French Ministry hosted department quidditch games. Today would be the first day she’d get to initiate her plan.
“We could make it one” Theo quipped before Hermione’s hand met the back of his head. Though she was now more curious than ever to catch the blonde former Slytherin in quidditch pants. Maybe they’d make an agreement, she’d watch quidditch if he was playing and he could watch the ballet if she was dancing. If Draco’s arse was as good as Theo was hyping up then it seemed like more than a fair trade.
“Did you hear me, Granger?” Theo elbowed her as they made their way to the floo, planning to floo into a cafe similar to the Leaky Cauldron, so they could apparate to the park.
“Huh? Wha’d you say?” She asked, her imagination apparently running wild. Theo threw powder into the floo, calling for their destination and taking her arm.
“I said we get to see our favorite blonde twins today, though I’m starting to think you’re rather taken with another blonde instead” Theo said as they walked through the cafe, his tone teasing but Hermione knew the man had been sorted into Slytherin for a reason.
“My lips are sealed, Mr.Nott. Now lead me to my favorite boys” Hermione said as they apparated to the park, eyes searching through the crowd of French witches and wizards. It didn’t take long to catch the sun beaming down on three blonde heads, along with a head of dark strands of hair shooting in every direction.
“Sterling! Scorpius!” Hermione cooed, almost more excited to see the boys more than anyone else. They were quickly becoming her favorite people, her heart not putting up an inch of a fight. Both boys were running to her quicker than a niffler after a coin and she giggled at watching their little legs go.
Hermione bent down, opening both arms for a hug that made her heart feel like it was growing three times in size, just like the Grinch. “Mini!” they chorused, it was when she pulled back that she saw both boys were wearing quidditch jerseys. However while Scorpius wore a blue one with the name Malfoy on the back, Sterling wore a red one with the name Potter.
“Harry, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I’m looking at two Malfoys, not one Malfoy and a Potter” she said as her best friend and Draco (she would admit she had a crush on him but she would not be using that word!) walked up to her and Theo.
Harry beamed as he explained, “Well you are wrong” Hermione scoffed, “I see one Malfoy” he pointed at Scorpius, “Two Malfoy” he then hooked a thumb at Draco, “and a Potter” Harry then bent down and picked up Sterling.
“Potter here is a sore loser and needs someone to console him after he loses, so I let him have Sterling for the day” Draco said, coming to stand by her while Scorpius made little ‘uppy’ hands at her. Well she wasn’t going to deny the boy!
“You can’t loan out children, Malfoy. I am having my godson root for the right team, isn’t that right Sterling” Harry bounced the boy and it was then that Hermione noticed the jerseys matched his and Draco’s uniform colors.
“I recall someone else being a sore loser. Someone who would ferret their way into causing extra penalties for an opposing team” Hermione said nonchalantly, her eyes catching Harrys.
“Hey! I was deeply injured by that” Draco said from beside her, sounding slightly incensed but more annoyed.
“Yeah, he suffered from a deeply injured ego” Theo laughed, causing the twins to join in.
“Actually Theodore, I broke three ribs. Fucking Crouch” Draco narrowed his eyes and Hermione felt some horror wash through her at the statement. She’d never thought of the aftermath after the Moody incident, but now as an adult it was horrifying to look back on a teacher transfiguring a student. She clutched Scorpius a bit tighter and thought of a way to lighten the mood.
“I can kiss it better if you need be” Hermione said in an imitation of the drawl in which Draco typically said things. Without another word, Draco bent down and tapped his cheek. Her heart lept in her throat at the movement, but she wasted no time laying a blazing kiss on his sun kissed cheek. She felt her own cheeks heat up as she pulled back, her eyes meeting his. Gods she was going to have to watch her heart around this man.
In turn, Scorpius leaned over and kissed Draco’s other cheek, making her even more of a goner. Draco gave his son a smacking kiss on the cheek, making him squeal. “Daddy, kiss too!” Sterling called from Harry’s arms, which the man holding him leaned down and gave him a quelling kiss on the forehead. She watched as Draco stepped forward and gave Sterling a matching kiss to Scorpius’.
Seeing an opportunity, Hermione’s eyes flickered down to the tall blonde’s arse. Gods damn it! Theo was right, it was a fantastic arse, possibly even better than hers. She looked up to find Theo grinning like a mad man at her. In a sneak attempt, Hermione readjusted her hold on Scorpius, putting a middle finger on his back.
“Hermione, not that he doesn’t deserve it, but why’re you flipping off Theo?” Draco called, both he and Harry looking at the two curly haired brunettes with confusion.
A faint whistle blew and Hermione jumped on the noise, “Well it looks like they’re calling you to line up ! What luck the aurors get to play first!” She made a fist and lightly punched Draco in the shoulder, “see you up there, champ”
Draco choked a little on a chuckle, “Champ?”
“Don’t bother trying to question her, she’s just being a weirdo like always. Com’on I’m ready to beat you again” Harry said, handing Sterling to Theodore and tugging on Draco’s arm a bit, trying to lead him to the pitch.
Luckily Draco Malfoy would never not take a chance to insult Harry Potter. He scoffed and said, “As if Potter. Just admit that you’ve been losing your touch more, or should I say sight” Draco said, waving goodbye to their small group. Harry said some insult back, but turned and winked at Hermione before they were both fully out of hearing range.
xXx
Hermione carded her hand through Sterling’s curls and took a bite of a strawberry. The small boy was laying his head on her lap while his brother's back was aligned against her other thigh. Her and Theo had laid out a blanket a little ways away from the pitch before the game had started, the two adults and two children feasting on a large feast of fruits and finger sandwiches (and some Halloween candy stores that Theo had hidden in his pocket).
The twins had had the time of their life cheering for Daddy and Uncle Harry, but when they realized that Daddy and Uncle Harry played the most boring position(sorry boys) both children had passed out from all the previous excitement. Theo on the other hand had fled Hermione and the children to go cheer on the sidelines with all the other quidditch fans.
It was rather peaceful and Hermione found herself wishing she could join the boys for their afternoon nap. The weather was quickly on its way to winter temperatures but for today it was nothing that a light warming charm and a jacket couldn’t solve. Older ministry employees and guests such as herself milled about the park, striking up conversations.
Hermione couldn’t help but wonder if this is what Harry had been hiding all along in Paris. And while she had originally been pissed, starting up an argument that she had not won, she understood Harry’s side now. She didn’t want anyone intruding on this either. It felt so special, her time here in Paris, and it was something she knew Ronald would have ruined in an instant.
While the game rolled on, she took a second to reflect even further on how everything had worked out. It was astonishing how far they had all come from their childhoods. It brought a small smile on her lips as she remembered how snot nosed and sassy Draco had been, how reckless and judgemental Harry had been, how self righteous and swotty she herself had been. They had all grown up though, child’s play completely forgiven.
As she could see it, Harry had found his family now. And maybe, if the stars were in her favor, she had too. Hermione looked down at the blonde curls and felt a pain in her heart for Astoria, how proud she should be of growing such sweet, beautiful children. As the boys snored beside her, Hermione promised herself that if she was successful in her plans, in blatant pursuit of Draco Malfoy, she would not replace Astoria.
Even though she was still properly peeved at Theo for dosing her with Veritaserum, she had told the truth when she said any woman should be honored to help raise the sleeping boys beside her. Hermione would be an idiot to not want that title herself, but she would be an even bigger idiot to not know all the responsibility to come along with it.
It was early for her to even entertain such thoughts as these, but she couldn’t help it. She had admitted to herself that she’d never fully gotten over eighth year and she didn’t think Draco had either. There was clearly chemistry there now, so who was she to fight it? These would be things that had to be thought about, so why not do it now before she jumped Draco’s bones?
And so as the boys roused and cheers were chanted, Hermione promised herself that she wouldn’t let Astoria be forgotten. The announcer’s excitement picked up as he commentated on the two seekers, now fighting it out for the snitch. Hermione stood, fixing both toddlers on her hips so they could see their father and uncle.
She would be loath to admit that after over a decade of friendship with a quidditch mad best friend, she still couldn’t tell what was going on. But as Theo ran back to her and the boys, he gave her a play by play. Apparently Harry had spotted the snitch first, but Draco had done a cut off maneuver, keeping both men from the golden ball, allowing it to fly off elsewhere. However, it had only been a mere minute later that Draco had now spotted it, but Harry was closer.
Both men dove for the winged trophy, but Harry had put his hand out too early, causing him to slip. In an absolutely insane move that Draco would get a lecture about later, he flipped his broom upside down. His only point of contact keeping him safe on his broom were his legs and one hand, the other closing around the snitch.
The twins cheered and so did Hermione as the teams landed, this was a win-win game for her and their neutral parties. Draco wasted no time finding her and the rallying boys, running up to them with a wide smile lighting up his face. Maybe it was because she had both boys and it was easier, or maybe it was because somewhere in his own heart he had saved a spot for her, Draco wrapped his arms around all three of them.
When he pulled back, his smile was still dazzling. “A prize for my favorite lady” he said, presenting her with the now still snitch. Sterling wasted no time snatching the prize up. “Thanks you!”
Hermione laughed at the boy and her stolen present. Draco joined her in her laughter, drowning out anything that was not in their small bubble. Yes, he was definitely feeling the same way she was. And honestly, who were they to fight the alchemy, they were wizards and witches after all.