Chapter 6
Draco felt someone followed them out. He looked around and saw his Aunt Andromeda. He knew her of course, he saw her once in his mother's photo collection and she and his mother finally reconciled after the war. She had all the kids behind her.
Draco smiled at her. "Aunt Andy." He greeted and she smiled back at him. "Hello, Draco."
He let Rose and Hugo get wild with the other kids because just after they pulled him out, they remembered that they have left their toy Quidditch Team in their flat.
"Why are you out here?" He asked.
"Ron seems to confront Hermione." She answered. He was going to ran back in but she put a hand on his arm and shook her head as a sign that he shouldn't interfere.
"You trust her aren't you?"
"I do."
Andromeda smirked. "Then let her be there and stay here and let your aunt catch up about all this."
He told her about their encounter in Diagon Alley and how he helped and asked her in a date. Andromeda was amused to hear that his voice sounded somewhat happy and his smiles when he says Hermione's name did not went unnoticed.
"That was a good idea." She commented.
"We're Slytherins of course, grabbing chances and claiming it was our thing."
"Does Cissy know?"
"Of course, I told her when she was with me on my business trip last week."
"How did she took it?"
"She told me about you and Mother was thrilled."
"I bet she was. She's traditional but when it comes to people she loves, she adjusts."
"And I am grateful for that."
Andromeda looked at him. "I have another question in mind." She said cautiously.
Draco looked at her, "What is it, Aunt Andy?"
"You're not using her, aren't you?" She asked, "We both know that your family despite the respect people still have in you, some are still untrusting. You're not using her to regain your royalty, do you?"
His reaction will be surprising if she wasn't aware that this man in front of her was a son of her sister, one of the sensible Blacks she knew.
He chuckled at amusement. "Mother asked the same thing. I will answer you the same way." He paused and brought his gaze back to the kids playing Tag. "I am not using her. Never. This may sound absurd but she already got my attention back at Hogwarts, I just realised that lately."
"At what year do you think did it start?"
"Mother and you looked like you share one brain. She asked that exact thing."
"Don't be too amused."
"Fine. I think it started at Third. She punched me and she broke my nose. Feisty, she really is. It grew into something more, I think, on our Sixth Year."
"What happened?"
"She fed me." He smiled at the thought.
"Mind to elaborate?"
"I was hungry and went to the kitchens and saw her cooking, we did some verbal sparring but I won. She gave me some and, Salazar! The soup she made was heavenly. I complimented her and she told me that her friends didn't do it like I did. That made me feel some pride? That I am more than her famous Weasley? I am not sure."
"She made you feel special, you did the same to her." She murmured. "Now I see." That she said loud enough for Draco to hear.
Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "See what?"
"Nothing."
Both Draco and Andromeda heard the backdoor opened, they looked at it and saw the older Weasley Twins emerged out of the house.
"Hey, Andromeda." George greeted.
"Hullo, Malfoy." Fred smiled.
"What happened?" Andromeda asked. She knew Draco wanted to ask but she was aware that Draco wasn't close to any of the Weasleys.
"Ronniekins fumed—"
"—as always, and Hermione—
"—was an epitome of Gryffindor—"
"—lioness." George looked at Draco. "She put up a good argument for you, Malfoy—"
Fred went to Draco and draped his arm across his shoulders. "—you better be good to her."
"I will."