42. Chapter 42 (2/2)

/*/

anthony gave hermione a little wave as he and gloria stopped to hand her a tea.

"free tea miss granger. courtesy of miss isles."

hermione thanked them and they moved on to the next person. when all the cups had been handed out, gloria thanked anthony for his time and help. anthony accepted gloria's thanks then walked away smiling.

the only one not smiling was terry who felt he'd missed out on a very nice chance to flirt.

/*/

it was getting close to the end of the friday workday and hermione was mentally going over the contents of her closet. she was ready for a night out. her mental search stopped at her cute, body hugging, black, mid-thigh shift. she was in the middle of pairing it with her black and red striped heels when she looked up to find justin standing in her doorway.

"got a minute hermione?"

"of course. have a seat."

justin cleared his throat before sharing what was on his mind. "i'm not one to be nosing about."

"very true justin. you're not. this sounds serious."

justin smiled at his superior. "not serious at all boss, just puzzling. do you have any idea what's going on between terry and gloria?"

"terry and gloria," repeated hermione in surprise giving justin a side glance. "i really haven't noticed anything amiss."

"that's just it. there isn't anything amiss. they're chatting and laughing as though they've been lifelong friends when they were almost at each other's throats the beginning of the week. it's great that they're getting along, but…."

"but what, justin?" questioned hermione.

moving closer to hermione, justin looked furtively around as though there were eavesdroppers in the area. "but, i think there is something more going on, especially on terry's part. i think he's trying to chat up gloria."

hermione held up her hand. "stop right there justin. you know how i feel about gossip. whatever gloria and terry are doing has no bearing on either of us. however, i think you're off the mark there. terry is dating della."

justin was embarrassed. he'd taken the chance to share his thoughts but had been told to mind his business.

"you're right hermione. i do know how you feel about gossip. i should have kept my thoughts to myself. please forget i mentioned it. gloria and terry are grown. i'll be getting back to my desk. have a good weekend."

hermione wished justin a good weekend as well. she was slipping. she hadn't noticed the interaction between terry and gloria after their staff meeting. shuffling a few papers around on her desk, hermione hoped gloria had more sense than to fall for any bull shite coming out of terry's mouth. although terry wasn't a bad guy, he was known for making some inappropriate moves. the lovely della might be in for trouble.

rather than go back to mentally raiding her closet, hermione gathered up her things, said goodnight to the remaining staff and headed to the lifts. it was time for her to get home and get beautiful.

/*/

draco and donald finished out the day, but instead of heading for the lifts to start their weekends, they sat down to write up a report for blaise. it had taken them quite a while to get everything in order because donald couldn't stop joking about their pink teammate. draco grinned right along with donald for the first few jokes, but it was getting late and he wanted to get home. he had promised hermione a date night.

"alright donald, that's enough. let's get this report down right so we can get out of here."

donald cast a side long glance at his superior. "no need to get annoyed draco. the report is fine. you sign it. i'll sign it then we'll be out of here."

draco reread the report before adding his signature, then handed it to donald.

"that's done," said donald after adding his signature. "you have a date. go home. i'll see that it gets onto blaise's desk."

draco gathered his things. "thanks mate. enjoy your weekend. i'll see you

ight and early on monday."

"good weekend mate. i'll give

ian your regards."

"you do that," draco replied with a grin. "remind him to stay home on monday so blaise doesn't beat his arse on sight."

donald gave a nervous laugh as he carried the report to blaise's office. draco might not be too far off the mark.

ian might not be the only one scheduled to catch hell from the boss.

/*/

between cleaning and cleaning again, esther had spent the day wringing her hands and fretting. it was down to a matter of hours when the child who would not be her child would come walking through the front doors. esther had washed all her clothes and cast a sweet smelling charm throughout her rooms and surrounding areas. merlin knows she wanted everything in order for declan's arrival, because the last thing she wanted was to upset an already anxious theo.

/*/

cely had been following esther around until disappearing with a pop after a sharp word from esther. esther felt a bit ashamed for chastising the elf knowing she was only trying to help, but not ashamed enough to summon cely back. it was time for her to stand on her own two feet. time for her to become a great aunt.

after a relaxing soak, esther climbed into bed praying for the strength to carry out theo's plan.

/*/

esther wasn't the only one worried. even though theo had everything in place, he was a nervous wreck. declan would be arriving early in the morning to meet the father he never knew he had. theo knew if he could get past those first few hours, he could make everything else fall into place. still pacing up and down, theo summoned a bottle of ogden's and a glass and made himself a drink even as the items hovered in the air in front of him. finally giving in, theo grabbed the ogden's out of the air and took a seat. the drinks served their purpose. after two drinks, theo was feeling much more relaxed.

declan's room was ready. his closet was ready, and his menus had been set. there wasn't anything else to be done. tomorrow would be there before he knew it.

/*/

in ireland, declan cobb was experiencing a mixed bag of emotions while getting the last of his things together for his first and permanent trip to london. according to his uncle conor, he was going to meet the father who never knew he existed. declan was only seven years old, but he wasn't stupid. all his life he'd lived with the fact that he'd been sent to live with grandmum because no one in england wanted him. suddenly, he wasn't an unwanted child. he was a lost child. declan wished his uncle mick was there to relieve some of his confusion. had his uncle been pulling his leg all these years? a young, inquiring mind wanted to know.

with his last few things added to the bags that had been sitting against the wall for the last week, declan closed the bags and plopped down on the side of the bed. there was no getting out of it now. the die had been cast.

/*/

conor knew declan was in flux, but didn't want to play into the anxiety. instead, he was trying to make the night seem as normal as possible.

"declan lad, it's time for supper. i've fixed your favorite lamb and vegetables. come to the table."

"fixing me lamb are you? joked declan. "seems like you're trying to butter me up for something."

"what did i tell you about that fresh mouth declan? remember your place. i'm your uncle. i don't have to butter you up. i figured we would have a nice meal for your last night in ireland. now get your ass to the table and sit down."

declan walked meekly to the kitchen table and sat down. "why are you so angry? it was a joke uncle. i should be allowed a joke seeing as this is my last night in this house."

conor sighed. his words had come out more harshly than intended. "you're right declan. you should be allowed a joke. i guess i'm just a little on edge. mick said he'd try to get here for our last meal together, but probably got held up. no matter though, because mr. nott has assured me that mick and i are welcome to visit you. you haven't seen the last of our asses."

declan smiled at his irreverent uncle. "you're going to have to watch your mouth when you come to london. i think mr. nott wouldn't approve."

conor winked at his nephew even though he knew there probably wouldn't be too many visits to london. the invitation had been offered, but it was one conor knew theo nott hoped would never be used.

/*/

uncle and nephew ate in silence until the front door banged open. "it would seem you dirty bastards have started without me."

declan jumped up from the table and ran to the husky wizard standing in the doorway grabbing him tightly about the waist. "uncle mick. you made it. i knew you would. go wash up then get to the table. by the way, you'll need to be watching that mouth. uncle conor may be a dirty bastard, but i'm a fine, young wizard."

laughing at declan, conor jumped up to hug his

other. "nice to see you

other. pay no mind to the little pissant. he needs a slap across the butt, and i'm the uncle who will do it."

"i'm just following orders," replied declan softly.

"no problem lad," mick replied ruffling declan's hair. "sounds like some bullshit your uncle conor has been spewing. now move over. i'm as hungry as a hungarian horntail."

/*/

declan kept stealing glances at his uncle mick. there were things he wanted to know, but hesitant to ask.

mick finally gave declan a soft cuff about the ears asking what the hell was he staring at.

not one to be cowed, declan replied in a voice almost as loud as mick's. "i want to know a few things."

"do you now? well, stop staring and start asking before i give you another cuff."

"alright, i will. is it true my father didn't know he had a son until now? you've always told me that no one wanted me and that's why i landed with grandmum. mr. nott, my father, says different. have you lied to me all these years?"

mick gave conor a quick glance as he laid his fork down and turned in his chair to face declan. "it was my belief that your father didn't want anything to do with you. i have since learned better. i'm sorry for telling you stories that had little truth to them. i now understand that your father is a decent man who is anxious to be united with the son he never knew he had."

declan gave mick's face a searching look before picking up his own fork to finish the piece of lamb still on his plate. "thank you. i was beginning to think you were a big, fat liar."

conor and mick both smiled at their favorite,

ash little lad and continued their meal even with the lie still hanging from mick's lips.

/*/

after supper, mick shared a bit of good news. "i asked conor not to say anything in case i couldn't make it, but i'm here, so obviously i made it. i've rearranged my schedule and will be accompanying you and conor to london tomorrow, if that's alright with you."

"are you balmy uncle? of course it's alright with me. right, uncle conor?" asked declan glancing over at conor.

"i'd expect nothing else," answered conor. "we have to show theo nott we have his son's best interest at heart. which of course we do."

"good," replied declan in a trembling voice. "it's been decided. both my uncles will see me to my new home. i like that."

conor and mick heard the tremor in declan's voice, but said nothing. if life had turned a different way, their nephew would never have heard of theo nott and definitely wouldn't be getting uprooted to go live in london. but life had turned another way, so it was what it was.

/*/

hermione was listening to draco explain about

ian as she dressed. for once, she didn't interrupt, but as soon as he finished she began to question the team's behavior.

"you were in charge draco. what were you thinking? that's why there are rules. i would have thought you knew better. luckily,

ian wasn't badly injured. it could have been so much worse. has anyone contacted blaise? what does he think of all this?"

what started off as a light conversation had turned into something else. something draco didn't care for, so he walked into the bathroom closing the door with a snap. he had been trying to share news of his day, but suddenly found himself bombarded with negative criticism which annoyed him to no end. hermione meant well, but sometime she could be a bit much. figuring he had procrastinated in the bathroom long enough, draco walked back into the bedroom to find hermione sitting on the edge of the bed eager to finish her assault.

"you could be written up for that you know," she continued as though he hadn't walked away. "blaise will probably…."

"alright hermione. i get the gist. i made a mistake. it won't happen again. can we just drop it?"

"we can drop it, but it wasn't just any mistake. it was a bloody, stupid mistake. the rule is…."

draco

istled. he despised the word stupid which he felt was insulting as well as demeaning. "i know the rule hermione," he replied sharply, cutting her off in mid sentence. "rest assured, i'll try to be less stupid next time."

folding her arms across her chest, hermione glared at draco. "there's no need to get huffy. i was simply trying to impress on you that actions have consequences."

"well, you've impressed me. you've been going on about it for the last fifteen minutes, so this stupid wizard thinks he finally understands. our reservations are for 8:00. we should be going."

hermione balked as she shot back an answer. "i'm not going anywhere if you plan to remain in your current pissy mood. i can easily stay home and read a book."

"fine. you and your supercilious tone may do as you wish," remarked draco coolly as he ripped the tie from around his neck. "even as stupid as i am, i believe i can find my way to dinner on my own."

/*/

hermione could feel the anger building as she watched draco change into a more casual jacket before storming from the house without a word. what the hell just happened? he had obviously walked out because of her constructive criticism. but why? they were having a simple conversation, then they weren't. she thought draco was being a complete arse over something he'd done wrong. perhaps he'd think twice before putting himself and his team in danger in the future.

angrily, she accio'd a glass of wine which ended up spilling all over her lovely, black dress because she had applied too much power for a simple summoning charm. jumping up, hermione countered the spill with a tergeo. the wine spill disappeared, but the smell lingered. mumbling to herself, hermione stepped out of the dress and threw it aside.

during the mumbling rant, it suddenly occurred to hermione where it had all gone wrong. she had used the dreaded s word. draco had explained many times how much he detested the word stupid, in any context, because he and his parents had heard it so much from voldemort.

hermione sat there half angry and half remorseful letting out sigh after sigh. she'd been so eager to give draco her opinion of his mistake, she'd overdone it. she shouldn't have used the word. on the other hand, draco really didn't have to storm out of the house like some child who had been chastised over bad behavior.

/*/

hermione was in the middle of her twentieth sigh when she looked around to see draco standing in the doorway with a sheepish grin on his face.

for several seconds, they just looked at each other. finally, draco spoke.

"where are your clothes? we have a date night planned. i apologize for walking out. it was stupid."

hermione strode across the room and threw herself into draco's arms. "i accept your apology and counter with one of my own. as for my lovely outfit, i spilled wine on it. it will take me a minute to find another." pulling away, hermione headed for their bedroom, but turned back halfway across to blow draco a kiss and offer a bit of cheek. "you, mr. malfoy, are sexy as hell when you're contrite."

smiling appreciatively at hermione's backside as she walked away, draco mumbled that he'd have to be contrite more often.