Apple Pie
Six o’clock, the floo in the foyer flared green and Hermione stepped out. She waved her wand from her head to her shoes, to clean away any soot left from the fireplace. Expecting to see Mopsy, she looked around and was met by two very handsome wizards. Black hair, blue eyes and a brilliant smile. Platinum hair, storm grey eyes and a tentative smile.
“Hello Granger. You look lovely.” Theo said. She was wearing a black pencil skirt and an emerald green blouse matched with her black kitten heels.
“Hello Gentlemen. Thank you for having me over again. I brought dessert. Apple Pie, I found some lovely tart apples at the farmer’s market today and thought I would bake them into a pie.”
The wizards looked at each other and some unspoken communication passed between them. Hermione wasn’t sure, but she got the impression she had done something wrong. Draco walked over to her and took the pie. He smelled it and his eyes lit up. He smiled. Oh. Sweet. Salazar. His smile made something in her core tighten.
“Thank you Granger. I’ll take this to the kitchen. Theo, why don’t you both go to the game room. Everything is still in there. I’ll join you in a moment.”
Theo took her hand and put it in the bend of his elbow and led her down the same hall that Mopsy had the night before. Draco turned left down a different hall. “So Granger, two things I didn't know about you, One you look great in green and two you cook. Nice.”
“Nott, if this group is to work, I’m sure we will learn a lot about each other. Believe it or not, green is actually one of my favorite colors. Yes, I love to cook and bake.” She smiled as they reached the game room.
Theo chuckled, “Draco’s sweet tooth will love to hear that.”
Just as Theo was pouring her a glass of wine, and getting Draco and he each a firewhiskey the blonde came into the room. “Well, Tipsy is properly put out about the pie. I instructed her that Granger’s pie was to be served in place of any dessert that she may have made.”
Hermione worried her bottom lip, “Did I do something wrong? I did ask if I could bring something. We don’t have to eat the pie. I should go and apologize. I didn’t know that it was against the rules to bring…”
Draco stepped in front of her and grabbed both of her hands, “Granger. Breath. Tipsy is fine, she is just overreacting. You did nothing wrong. We just have never had a guest bring food to dinner. Besides, it smelled so good, I was tempted to taste it as soon as I got to the kitchen. Is it a muggle thing to bring food to someone else's house when you are invited to dinner?”
“Well, yes, I guess so. My mother always insisted that I not go anywhere empty handed. I was always to bring either a dish or a hostess gift. I kind of brought both.”
“You brought a gift for my mother?” Draco inquired.
“Yes.” She looked shy as she answered this question. “But I would like to wait until after we go over our notes before I give it to her. Shall we begin gentlemen?” With that she took her seat around the table with all of her books, notes and quills.
Theo sat to her left and Draco to her right. They both pulled out parchment and Theo began. “What are the steps to this program? Do we just ‘jump’ on you and if the baby has black hair it's mine and if it has blonde hair it's Drays?”
A soft chuckle came from the other side of the room as Narcissa walked in. “Theo Love, you have such a way with words. I can see how all the witches would be swept off their feet by you.” Both wizards stood as Narcissa approached them.
“Sorry Mum.” He looked properly embarrassed.
“Hello Ms. Granger. You look lovely. I’m so glad you could join us tonight.”
Hermione responded, “Good evening Mrs. Malfoy. Thank you. You look lovely yourself. Will you be joining us? I'm sure you have questions about how this program is going to work.”
Draco brought a chair to the table for his mother. Theo headed to the bar, “Mum would you like a glass of wine?”
“Yes. Thank you Theo. Thank you Draco.”
Hermione looked confused. “I’m sorry. Theo calls you Mum?”
Narcissa smiled and accepted the wine from Theo and held his hand. “Yes. I’m Theo’s godmother and he is a son to me. After his mother died it fell to me to help guide his upbringing. Sadly, I failed him in many ways.”
Theo held tight to Narcissa, he knelt next to her. “Mum, you have never failed me. The fates were not always so kind, but you have always been there and loved and protected me. You are the only mother I can remember.”
Hermione felt her heart skip a beat. Draco watched the scene and smiled. The spring at her core tightened further. These wizards were nothing like she had imagined.
Narcissa kissed Theo’s cheek and smiled at Hermione, “So how does this program work?”
Hermione cleared her throat and began, “Well if the group is acceptable to all involved. We begin the ‘foundation phase’. The three of us will get to know each other individually and as a group. It seems this stage is already a fourth of the way complete. With Draco and Theo already well acquainted. I will need to get to know each of them and then the three of us together.”
Draco added, “This phase could take up to six months according to the guidelines set forth by the Ministry.”
“Yes.” Hermione responded. “We can take less or more time depending on how the chemistry is within the group.”
Theo said, “So dating it is. Granger, have you ever dated a Slytherin?”
“No.” she answered tentatively.
Narcissa smiled and said, “Oh my girl you are in for a treat.”
Both wizards smiled and got a glint in their eyes. Yep, that spring was wound and about to snap.
They talked for a while, then Mopsy popped into the room and announced that dinner was ready. Narcissa stood and took Theo’s offered arm. Draco stood and offered his arm to Hermione. As her hand touched him a tingle seemed to shoot through her causing her cheeks to warm. Embarrassed that she was blushing, she lowered her gaze, causing her hair to hide her from Draco’s eyes.
“I felt it too.” was all he said as he escorted her to the dining room.
He pulled out her chair and then took the seat to her right. Narcissa was across from her and Theo was to her left. Tipsy popped into the room, not making eye contact with Hermione or Draco. “Mistress, Tipsy has made your favorite. Mushroom risotto. Hippy gathered some lovely mushrooms today and I used the herbs from the greenhouse garden. Tipsy will serve salad first.” With that simple statement a beautiful green salad with heirloom tomatoes, sweet onions, english cucumbers candied pecans and goat cheese appeared in front of each of them. The dressing smelled very sweet.
Hermione said, “Tipsy, this is beautiful. The dressing smells sweet, is it raspberry?”
Tipsy finally looked at Hermione and nodded. Then she popped out of the room.
“I really hope I did not offend her. I have had a lifetime of misunderstandings with house elves. I really had hoped after Hogwarts, I could get a clean slate.”
Theo laughed, “Oh I almost forgot about your crusade to free all the house elves from Hogwarts.”
“Please don’t bring that up. I came from the muggle world. I didn’t know that some house elves chose their loyalties and some were enslaved.”
Draco said, “Ours were enslaved. After the war, after I took over as head of house. I freed them. They had the choice to stay on as employees or I paid them each a five year severance package and they started living their lives for themselves. Mopsy, Tipsy, Tulip, Hippy and Jack chose to stay.”
Narcissa asked, “Is Tipsy upset with you Draco?”
Hermione answered before Draco could. “I think I overstepped. I baked an apple pie and brought it for dessert. I didn’t know that it would upset Tipsy. I told Draco to throw it out, we don’t have to use it.”
Narcissa laughed. “My Dear. Tipsy is very emotional. She’ll be fine. It was very thoughtful of you to bake a pie and bring it over to share. Apple pie is Draco’s favorite.”
Hermione blushed, “I know.”
Draco’s eyes shot up to her and she lowered her gaze. Theo could not help himself, he whistled and asked, “Well Granger, what is my favorite dessert?”
Not expecting an answer, he was completely flummoxed when she said, “Strawberries and sweet cream. Unfortunately strawberries are not in season at the farmer’s market yet. As soon as they are, I will make you a dessert.” She then took a bite of her salad.
Theo had no words, he was completely thrown that she knew his favorite dessert. How did she know that he loved strawberries and sweet cream? He didn’t say anything, just watched her eat her salad.
A little while later, Tipsy popped in to clear the dishes and a beautiful bowl of mushroom risotto appeared in front of each of them. It smelled woodsy, the mushrooms looked scrumptious, The cream sauce was smooth and shiny.
They all began eating, Hermione did something that had never been done at the Malfoy dining table, with her eyes closed, she moaned her delight at the taste of her dinner. Three sets of eyes widened and looked at her. Completely oblivious to their shock she took a second bite and again moaned. “This is the most delicious thing I have ever had in my mouth.”
“Glad you like it Granger.” Draco smirked and dug into his meal.
When all the dishes were cleared, Mopsy popped into the room with the pie that Hermione brought. She cut and served it to each of them. After the exquisite meal, she was feeling foolish for bringing a simple pie. Sure that Tipsy would have served something much more sophisticated.
Draco, Theo and Narcissa all smiled and took a bite. For the second time ever in the Malfoy dining room a moan was heard. This time from Draco. “This pie is the best I have ever had. You really made this? Whatever charms you used, please give them to Tipsy.”
Smiling, Hermione said, “I didn’t use cooking charms. I made it the muggle way. No magic.”
Once again three sets of eyes stared at her in wonder.
Draco said, “Tipsy” and the little elf appeared. “Tipsy, please cut a piece of pie and eat it.”
“Tipsy is not hungry.” she responded and crossed her little arms.
Draco, knowing that the little elf was still perturbed about the dessert knew that a challenge needed to be issued. “Well, if you are worried about Miss Granger baking a better pie than you...”
“Tipsy is not worried.” With that statement, she cut a piece of pie and took a bite. The little elf looked up at Hermione and said, “Miss must be part elf. Your cooking magic is delicious.” Then she popped out of the room, with her piece of pie.
All four diners laughed. When everyone was done Narcissa stood and said she was going to retire for the evening. Draco offered to walk her to her rooms. She declined his offer and insisted he stay. Both Draco and Theo kissed her on her cheek and she bid Hermione a good night. Once again thanking her for including her in their discussion and for the exquisite pie.
Just as Narcissa turned to leave the dining room Hermione stopped her. “Mrs. Malfoy, if we have decided to join as a group,” she looked for confirmation from both Theo and Draco. Both nodded their heads and smiled. “I would like to give you this book. It's something that I always thought I would share with my mother, but…” Her words caught in her throat. Continuing, “Anyway, I would like you to have it. So you know that you are very much a part of this process.”
With that explanation she handed Narcissa a book, a muggle book, ‘Grandma’s Sharing Journal’ “It's a journal that will allow you to write messages to your grandchild, impart wisdom and experiences, and tell stories and memories of Draco’s childhood. I suppose I'll get you another for Theo’s child.”
Narcissa smiled and walked over to Hermione and accepted the journal. She had tears in her eyes. Completely forgetting that she was a noble pureblood, she embraced Hermione and kissed her cheek. “I am so very glad you have chosen to join together with my boys. You are a treasure to be sure. Good night my dear. Please come soon for tea with me.” With that she hugged the journal to her chest and left them.
Draco and Theo were hugging her in an instant. Both were saying words but she was so lost in the feel of both of the wizards that she only heard a few of them, “...lovely ...kind ....wonderful ...beautiful” Wait. Wait. What is happening?
Looking up, both wizards had very large smiles on their faces. Draco said, “Can we take you out on a date Granger?” She grinned at both of them and nodded her head.
It was getting late and she had to be at the Burrow for Sunday brunch. So she said she would owl them in the evening with her schedule. With that they walked her to the floo. When they reached the floo, Even though both wizards had hugged her in the dining room, Draco asked if he could hug her and kiss her cheek. She agreed and once again the tingle shot through her. She then turned to Theo who also kissed her cheek and hugged her. Yep, there’s that tingle. The spring that had been tightening in her core all night snapped. She stepped through the floo and both wizards leaned against the fireplace mantle and looked at each other. Theo said, “Mate, I think I could love her.”
Draco responded, “Me too. Plus I think Mum may already love her. That gift was.. Mum cried. And that pie. Tipsy may never make me another apple pie.” They laughed as they headed to the game room.
_____
Hermione stepped through her floo into her living room. She dropped into the chair and touched both of her cheeks and smiled. Oh boy was she in trouble. She could definitely love those two.