Unforgettable Season- Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.

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Hermione sighed, frowning at the seemingly endless pieces of paper which covered every inch of the table before her. She had been going over finances, and her head was throbbing from reading so many numbers. Charlotte was asleep, Draco was at work, and in retrospect it was the perfect environment for Hermione to concentrate, but nothing seemed to be working out.

She was trying to figure out whether or not she could quit her job to look after Charlotte full-time. Of course, that was not an ideal situation for Hermione, but if it needed to be done, then so be it. Her and Draco still weren’t entirely sure whether or not they wanted some hired help to look after the baby, but he had left the final decision up to her, knowing all too well that there was no way he could leave his job.

Lifting another piece of paper covered in calculations, Hermione let out a groan. The thought of not working was terrible in her eyes. She needed something to occupy her, something to stimulate her mind, and staying home looking after the baby all day definitely wasn’t top on her priorities. With her mind trying to process the numbers, Hermione let out another sigh, this time one of defeat, and pushed away from the table, standing up quickly.

Her eyes glanced at the clock and she smiled to herself. Draco was meant to be home in a few minutes. He had been coming home earlier ever since Charlotte had been born and Hermione was enjoying spending more time with him, even if it was just curled up on the couch together talking. She heard the tick of the clock as it struck seven o’clock, and precisely on time there was a crack outside and the front door opened, revealing a rather tired looking Draco.

“Hey,” she said quietly in greeting as his arms pulled her to him, his lips finding hers.

“What’s all of this?” he asked, eyeing the messy table.

“Just stuff about money,” she said, waving her wand so the papers flew back into the bookshelf.

“Have you decided anything yet?” he shot at her over his shoulder as he put his briefcase down before taking her hand and pulling her to the sofa.

“There’s just so much to think about!” she cried exasperatedly. “I mean, I don’t want to be one of those mothers who never sees their child, but I can’t not work. I need something stimulating, and to be honest looking after Charlotte won’t do that for me. But then I think, with the baby the house is going to become a mess, so maybe I should quit work because there’d be more for me to do here, but I loathe cleaning, even with magic.” She finished with a dramatic sigh and an unintentional pout which made Draco grin.

“I see what you’re saying. If you want my opinion, then I think we should get someone in. You were never going to be the girl that gave up her dreams for a family. You need your work, and I need what’s best for you. If money is an issue, then there is something that I have been considering,” Draco prompted, and Hermione’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And what would that something be?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “When I inherited the manor after my mother passed on, we were, at the time, in the possession of four house elves. As I had no need for them, I sent them to Hogwarts to wait for a time when their presence may be necessary. There was a particular house elf who helped raise me when I was a child, and she would be more than happy to help with Charlotte as well, I imagine,” he explained.

“Draco,” she began, “you know how I feel about house elves. It just isn’t fair on them!”

“I know, love, but they don’t mind working. They love it. It’s just what they do,” he reasoned, ignoring her frown and sounds of protest at his words. “How about we just try for a little while with a house elf? If you think it isn’t working out, then we can send them back to the kitchens at Hogwarts. The other options are we pay for help or you quit your job.”

Hermione frowned again and opened her mouth to retort, but came up with nothing. She had to admit, it was a good idea. She couldn’t see herself not working, and she knew that some more help around the house wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“I suppose. But if I say the house elf has to go, then they go, okay?” she clarified, and Draco nodded.

“Tully!” he announced, and there was a crack as a small figure appeared, dressed with a sheet wrapped around her body like a toga. The house elf, Tully, turned and looked up at Draco, and Hermione watched the creature carefully. She looked similar to Dobby, the main difference being large blue eyes taking over the majority of her face instead.

“Master called?” the elf asked, bowing low.

“There will be no need for you to bow,” Hermione said kindly and the elf straightened up immediately.

“Tully, this is my wife, Hermione,” Draco smiled, and Tully’s already wide eyes widened even further.

“Master got married? That is good news! Is Miss Hermione Tully’s new mistress?” the elf questioned, tilting her head slightly to the side.

“Yes, yes she is,” Draco said before Hermione could even open her mouth to answer. “Now, Tully, Hermione had a baby two months ago. Her name is Charlotte. Hermione needs to go back to work in a few days, and when she does, we need you to stay behind and look after her and the house, okay? When Hermione or myself are home, you can go back to Hogwarts, and we will look after Charlotte. Do you understand?”

Tully nodded her head once. “Does Master need Tully to look after baby Charlotte now, or shall Tully go back to Hogwarts?”

“You can go back to Hogwarts now, and when we need you we will call,” Draco dismissed the elf, who disappeared with a loud crack just as Hermione heard Charlotte cry from her room. Hermione swept from the room, returning a minute later with Charlotte in her arms, now silent and observant, reaching out to Draco as they approached him.

Kissing the soft blonde locks atop the baby’s head, Hermione gave Charlotte to Draco who accepted the child with open arms and a broad smile.

“She’s always so happy to see you,” Hermione said, and Draco couldn’t help but notice the twinge of annoyance in her voice.

“It’s just because she never gets to see me most of the time and you’re home all the time. Isn’t that right, Lottie?” he cooed to Charlotte, and the sight made Hermione giggle. “What?”

“Draco Malfoy, melting in the eyes of a baby,” she sniggered, and Draco rolled his eyes. “It’s just cute.”

Draco sniffed, and then made a face. “Me melting may be cute, but that is definitely not cute,” he scrunched up his nose, and Hermione followed suit as Draco made to stand up with the baby who seemed totally oblivious to the smell coming from her diaper as she gurgled happily.

Laughing at Draco’s expression, Hermione reached forward and took Charlotte from him, and he visibly relaxed at the absence of the smelly baby. Turning on her heel, Hermione marched towards Charlotte’s nursery, cooing at the baby the entire time until she got to the changing table. Reaching for the baby powder, Hermione heard a new voice coming from the living room, and she frowned. She hadn’t heard anyone enter. Tempted to put the baby in her crib and go and investigate herself, she heard Draco respond wearily and then him approach the nursery.

“Something’s come up with work, so I’ve got to go. I’ll be back in a few hours,” he said regretfully.

“Do you have to go?”

“I’m sorry, love, I don’t have a choice. I’ll see you in a little while,” he kissed Hermione’s cheek softly before turning from the room and leaving the house, walking into the crisp air of early autumn. Making sure that there were no muggles around, he turned on the spot and disapparated with a loud crack, reappearing in front of the wrought iron gates that opened to reveal the path leading towards Malfoy Manor. Without a moment’s hesitation he walked straight through the gates which rippled like smoke around him, striding up the drive quickly.

“Ah, Draco. I’m glad you got my message,” welcomed Nott once he had stepped into the light of the manor, and Draco addressed him with a sharp nod. “Please, take a seat,” he added, indicating the large armchair to his direct right, the one on his left occupied by Rose who eyed Draco apprehensively. He quirked a brow in her direction but she looked away hastily at his attention, and he frowned as he sat.

“Now that we have all gathered,” Nott began, and silence flooded the room at his voice, “I am able to inform you of the plans that have been organized by myself and my dear Rose.” Draco stifled a gasp at this, turning it into a loud cough. No one at the Ministry knew that Rose had been planning with Nott. “Thanks to some work done by Goyle and Rose, we have obtained some top secret information from the heart of the Ministry itself, including a way in which the premises can be entered without knowledge of anyone working there. Using this, we will send some of our best members in to gather more information, and get some officials under our control.”

A murmur of approval went through the group.

“When?”

“Soon, Avery, soon. In two weeks time we will gather again, and that will be the night before we shall strike. Until then, stay out of trouble. We do not need to lose members before our first course of action,” Nott warned, and everyone nodded before moving away to disapparate back to their homes.

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