Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
DMHGDMHGDMHGDMHG
Hermione Granger was officially done. Walking tiredly home from the ministry the 22 year old witch let out a breath of frustration, she had fought a war to be equal only to hit a wall of ministry idiots. She is getting closer to a park, when a cold chill hits her skin. Hermione feels herself being drawn to a wall, after a moment of touching the bricks she feels the strong wards and breaks through them without pausing. After the wards dropped she could feel the dark magic soaking the air, a soft whimpering caused her heart to hammer. Looking into the alley that had been hidden her eyes met a large man with wild hair pointing his wand at a writhing figure making choked sounds as they curled around themselves. She looks back to the attacker, sees his face and blanches, it is Rodolphus Lestrange.
Her senses hone-in she sends a powerful body-bind before sending ropes to bind the fugitive along with a few powerful stunning spells. As she runs towards the collapsed fugitive and victim she gathers what had happened, a small wallet was spilt revealing a large amount of gold spilling around it. Before looking at the victim on the ground she secures Lestrange and adds five more hexes, just to be safe before looking to the man that had been tortured.
Her heart jumped at the familiar face of Draco Malfoy, he was curled on his side with his blond hair dirty from the ground and a cloak around his body, but it was him. She remained frozen before quickly sending a patronus to the Auror's office with their location and a heads up to the bound fugitive Lestrange and a victim. More whimpers reach her ears as she looks at Malfoy's back, a black cape is draped over most of him but is damp and sliced. She looks to his face again but sees he is unconscious still and his breathing even, pulling the cloak from his right arm and front, Hermione's heart froze.
Curled in Draco's body is a small boy, his sniffs were muffled and only his curly blond hair peeked out from his father's protective hold. Hermione couldn't stop her sob as her wand revealed two broken ribs with cuts and bruises covering Draco's arms, back and head, he had been kicked and beaten with his son curled in his arms for protection. Once the ribs had been set, the cuts sealed and the bruised beginning to fade Hermione rolled him onto his back. The small boy was still trying to hide by his father's side, she gripped her wand to examine the boy and sighed in relief, he was physically alright.
"Hello," she cleared the roughness from her voice, "I am Hermione, it's safe now, help is coming for your father."
The blond boy looked up to her with dazzling blue eyes, he whimpered daddy causing her heart to once more throb, her arms seemed to be pulled to the boy. Her hands were softly under his arms and lifting him with ease, time seemed to slow as he floated into her embrace. The dark magic faded from the air as the alley let the afternoon sun warm it, Hermione felt alive, like she had when trying her wand for the first time. The breath was forced from her as time resumed with a spike of magic under her skin, her body hummed as the boy's small arms wrapped around her neck.
His hands immediately began pulling her hair from her twist until his hands could clench at the strands. His wet cheek was pressed to her left cheek and hair as he whimpered in her ear, she held him closer and rubbed his back. The boy's cries softened as she spoke comforting words to him, she thought he had peeked up to see her eyes but she wasn't positive. She settled the young Malfoy on her lap as his arms remained tightened around her neck.
The older Malfoy was breathing steadily, she waved her wand to scoop the money into the wallet before floating it back onto Malfoy's person. There was a dark green stuffed dragon in the alley a few feet from them, she cleaned the dirt and blood from it before shrinking it inside her robe pocket. She also cleaned up Malfoy and the boy in her arms, though he didn't allow his front to be removed from her she was able to straighten his blue collared shirt, black vest and small black slacks.
Just as she began to become impatient, five Aurors entered the alley with their wands up. She turned and stood so they could see her face fully, one of the older men recognized her first. The boy peeked from her neck as she straightened, at the sight of the robed men he began to cry again accompanied by warm moisture seeping into her jacket. Three of the men went to Lestrange while the older man and the other approached her and Malfoy as Hermione rocked the boy. She began to hum to him and rub his back, after a few moments the boy was back to hiding in her neck and hair.
Before they could address her, Hermione cast a special silencing charm she had perfected around the Malfoy boy's ears so he could only hear a soft piano being played, Harry coined the name kidmuffs for the spell. She spoke once they were close enough, "I felt a disturbance and broke the wards Lestrange had cast. With the money previously on the ground I assume Malfoy was ambushed and forced into the alley by threat to his son and himself. When I entered the alley I saw Lestrange standing over Malfoy with his wand drawn, the child was being held by his father for protection." Hermione held her wand to her head extracting the memory, the older man produced a vial. "I will follow you to St. Mungo's for Mr. Malfoy's recovery, his parents and wife should be informed."
The older man nodded looking more like a new recruit as he followed her orders, once the man had disappeared with Draco, the other tried to grab the boy who began to scream. Hermione turned from the man with a glare, "I have him," she removed the kidmuff charm from his ears. "He is going to the hospital where they can make your father better, would you like to go there too?" She spoke in a soft voice as his face burrowed in her neck and hair, his hands began to feel her hair again.
It felt as if they were alone as the small boy leaned away from her, his hands rested on her shoulders with her hair still trapped in his fists gently. The sad blue eyes that starred back at her held her captive, she felt he was looking directly into her soul and making a deep connection. Hermione blinked and the noise around them returned, his face was quickly hidden back in her neck and hair as his hands resumed tugging shakily through her hair, repeating daddy.
She placed her arm more securely under his bottom before quickly drying and sanitizing herself and the boy, he seemed embarrassed at his accident. Hermione unconsciously rubbed his cheek and soft curly blond hair, after combing it with her fingers the boy was asleep in her arms with his head against her collarbone. The thought of setting the boy down disturbed her so she held him more tightly as she placed the kidmuff charm on his ears before apparating to St. Mungo's.
The hospital lobby was noisy, many people were moving around, she spotted the other Auror who had begun to approach her. "Miss Granger, the healers are treating Mr. Malfoy as we speak, I have been informed to wait with you until my superior arrives."
"Do you have any other information?" Hermione questioned in a bossy tone.
"Not at this time," he looked over her shoulder, she turned to see the older man was now behind her.
"That's all Abbott, Miss Granger, my name is Ross please follow me." He turned and walked to the lifts, they arrived in a private waiting room. He gestured for her to sit, she gladly did and leaned back to allow the boy to be comfortably draped over her torso. "We have attempted to contact Narcissa Malfoy but she is currently out of the country, the Malfoy house elves are informing her as soon as she is located." He made it sound as if she had been avoiding the law instead of most likely just being on holiday. "Lucius Malfoy is unfit to collect Scorpius Malfoy as he is a patient in the long term care here. The mother's name has been removed, his father has full custody and no one but Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy is listed as a trusted guardian for the boy."
"His name is Scorpius…" she mumbled this to herself and the boy's curly hair, of course a Malfoy had perfect curls. "I will stay with the boy and care for him until his father is fit to take him or his grandmother arrives." She said this in a strong tone as she looked to the older Auror Ross.
"Very well, you are authorized until Draco or Narcissa Malfoy inform us otherwise, Mr. Malfoy will be moved to his recovery room. The hospital as been informed of your presence and will accommodate you if you wish to remain with Mr. Malfoy."
She wanted to leave and sleep in her own bed but the small breath on her neck stopped her from running. "I will do just that, you know where to find me if you need anything else. Also… would you inform Harry Potter-"
"I've already informed him, Mrs. Potter said she would be sending some items for you and the child, evening," he gave her a nod before disappearing.
Hermione debated setting Scorpius down but felt how tangled his hands had become in her hair. A nurse directed her to the room Malfoy was in, his muscles jerked but other then that he was asleep. The nurse informed her Malfoy was in a magical coma for the next 6 hours to allow him to heal before waking on his own.
The nurse looks over Scorpius who stays asleep before giving the all clear and leaving the room. Hermione ignored the curious looks from the nurse as she refused to set the boy down or allow the nurse to remove him from her arms.
The room had a sitting area with two long couches and four chairs, it was finely furnished. Everything looked clean and expensive, Malfoy lay on a bed in the corner, close to his bed was another that was lower to the ground. She released the kidmuff charm a final time before jostling Scorpius in her numb arms. Hermione was seconds from collapsing on the bed and sleeping when Harry and Ron came into the room with a leather bag.
She held her finger to her lips before setting Scorpius down, Harry produced pajamas without being prompted. After the boy was magically changed she cast a silencing spell over the beds containing both Malfoys. "I trust you read the report," Hermione broke the silence casually.
Ron's mouth was hung open and his ears red, Harry was looking curious and spoke first. "We saw the memory, flawless work as always, but-" He looked at Ron uncertainly, though Ron was not an Auror he still hung around looking for something to excite him.
"Was he helping his uncle, he could'a been meeting him for some kind of deal," there was a glint in Ron's eyes, Hermione narrowed her own.
"Ronald Weasley," her tone was venomous, "you do not take your son to meet with a crazed criminal. Honestly," she shook her head in disapproval.
They had broken up soon after the battle at Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione were now friends of Harry more than a friend to the other. Hermione was more comfortable treating them both as her brothers and often took a mothering tone, one that only Harry smiled at. Ron had become a little unbearable after their breakup, he was overprotective and jealous while Harry and herself shook their heads and continued on. She felt even Harry was tired of Ron's whining attitudes and obsession with the spotlight. A position she and Harry were glad to fade from, Ron soaked it in and walked so reporters could not miss him. Currently Ron was helping George with his shop when he wasn't womanizing and sharing stories in different pubs.
Hermione looked back to Scorpius who was sleeping under the blanket, the sun was now set. She looked to Harry to see him looking at her curiously again, he smiled softly before giving her a strong embrace. She relaxed and let the air she was holding out, Ron was now pacing towards the door while Harry spoke.
"Malfoy just returned from Paris with his son Scorpius," Harry was repeating the facts she craved in a soft tone. "Scorpius's mother and Malfoy's ex-wife, Astoria Greengrass previously Malfoy, left shortly after he was born. Their marriage agreement was for one son to be born, she has refuted all claim and responsibility. Malfoy was seen leaving the Ministry after arranging his family title to be transferred to him. Lucius Malfoy is finally in treatment for his rumored mental break and Narcissa Malfoy is traveling, she has entered the muggle fashion district and not been reached as of yet."
"Thank you Harry," she gave him an appreciated smile for the detailed information before letting her exhaustion show.
Harry rubbed her arms before letting her go and handing her the leather bag, "Luna grabbed a few things from your flat and some of James's clothes." After the battle Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter were changed people, her long term crush had faded as she spent most of the summer preparing for a career in Quidditch. Before her seventh year had started and after Ron and Hermione had called it quits, Ginny and Harry also gave up instead of forcing their wants on the other person. After her last year Ginny started a successful career as a quidditch chaser and even helped the distracted Luna and shy Harry to go on a date. Harry had told her it was awkward because Ginny had been the one pushing for them to date but he found he and Luna settled into comfortable conversation.
Luna gave him new insights and continued to see things they couldn't, Hermione had learnt to go with the flow a bit better from Luna's influence and Harry looked more at peace with the world. Ginny had been a bridesmaid and Molly and Arthur stood in for his parents after they saw how excited Ginny was for the marriage. That night she revealed Oliver Wood and she had been dating since her seventh year, Oliver who was attending received a brotherly hug from Harry and death glares from every Weasley male.
Once Molly had finished dramatically crying and talked to Oliver, the whole family and matron Weasley embraced him as part of the family.
Hermione was snapped back to the present as Ron gave her a clumsy hug, "be careful, we're going to take care of Lestrange."
"The Ministry has called in court for a quick trail before his sentence, this is a huge win for us today." Harry clarified before giving her another lopsided grin.
The three said their goodbyes before Hermione changed into dark blue linen pants and a loose but concealing gray blouse. She wore the flats Luna had packed for her and returned the green stuffed dragon to his previous size. It made her curious when the dragon held no movement or sound like most magical toys did, it could have been a muggle toy.
The room was almost too silent as Hermione's brain continued to work as she laid down over the covers. Half of her expected Narcissa or Draco Malfoy to pop up and demand she doesn't touch the small boy. His breathing is soft but troubled, his face and nose are still red and his hair plastered to one side of his face. He still looked like a peaceful angel with his light hair and round face though. She was able to finally forget the pale beaten face of Draco Malfoy, in its place was the sleeping face of Scorpius Malfoy.
It was dark when she woke next, small panicked breaths were coming from the shaking boy that was now closer to her with a tight grip on her shirt. A whimper escaped his mouth before she reached down and began to stroke his hair and back, soon he was calm again after she began to hum. Hermione looked over to see the pale face of Draco Malfoy, he was sleeping and looked a little healthier, though he was still too pale.
_()_
He had been changed into faded blue hospital pajamas and was positioned on his back, his face was sharp but handsome. His hair looked light and soft, it was clean and washed falling around his head and forehead in a relaxed manner. She was observing how long his body was laid out when a small voice brought her back to Scorpius.
"I'm hungry," he sounded grumpy and tired, before rolling away from her and crawling to the side of the bed towards his father. "Daddy," he sounded unsure, "wake up daddy," Hermione heard the hints of hysteria in his voice.
"He is sleeping for now, would you like to go to the cafeteria with me?" She sat up and moved closer to where Scorpius was crouched.
"Daddy said I may wake him up, always," he turned his blue eyes to her before looking back to his father, "DADDY!"
Hermione was shocked by the loudness of the small boy, "he needs to rest for now." She stood and stretched before smoothing her clothes and hair, walking to stand between the boy and Malfoy she did the same for him before charming their shoes back on. After the boy was ready Scorpius insisted on kissing his father's cheek, "I always hug daddy before leaving."
She lifted the boy up to Draco where he patted and hugged his father before giving him a small peck on the cheek. Hermione's eyes stung when the boy pressed his forehead to his father's lips, Scorpius patted his dad's head one last time before trying to climb off the bed.
He began to struggle once in her arms, she felt hurt even though she had only just met the boy. "I can carry you," she offered softly.
Scorpius shook his head wildly, "I'm too old for that!" He held up four fingers, "I turn five in April and almost a man," he looked smug now as she set him on his feet and smoothed his clothes. He would turn five in about 3 months but still seemed too small for his age. "You will hold my hand," he declared before offering his with a small bow, "my name is Scorpius Severus Malfoy." His motions and the name seemed to be practiced and perfected, his pronunciation and grammar were outstanding.
"I am Hermione Jean Granger, you may call me Mione though," she figured this would be easier for him to say.
"Hermione," he said slowly without mistake before thinking, "Mione is better, you call me Scorp." When he spoke slowly he could say everything perfectly, but once his voice sped Hermione had to focus a little more before understanding what he was saying.
She smiled at his bossy tone, "nice to meet you Scorp, shall we go?"
"Don't forget Vinny!" He pointed urgently to the green stuffed dragon, she walked back to the bed to collect it before putting it in his arms. He turned to Draco after grabbing her hand, "I'll be back daddy, don't leave please!"
Hermione was surprise at the cheerful way he pulled her from the room, while Hermione tried to look for signs Scorpius pulled her down the hallway to their right. He guided them towards a private dinning room in their ward where she placed two bowls of mac'n'cheese in front of them.
Scorpius eyed the food for a moment after deeming it edible he placed his napkin on his lap before digging in with excitement. The nurse that had checked over Scorpius was now eating a salad down the long table and benches. He glanced at Hermione throughout their meal, smiling uncertainly a few times.
Hermione broke the silence, "I like your dragon Vinny."
Scorpius grinned before patting his mouth with his napkin, "thank you, he's my friend since I was a baby. Daddy got him after he named me!" He was very excited about this and held the dragon tighter. "He is a dragon like daddy and my favorite, do you have a favorite dragon too?"
She laughed at his smile, "I don't, but I once saw a baby dragon named Norbert."
A gleeful laugh left Scorp, "Norbert! I have a dragon named Norbert! Daddy got him in New York," he seemed to speed up but Hermione understood each word. "Before we move to London where granny and grandpa live, we go to Am-er-ica and visit caves and the ocean and beaches and forest. We camped like dragons and sleep outside, daddy showed me stars, we have con-stel-la-tions, oh and the toy shop I got to pick out Norbert!"
After he was finished telling her about a dragon larger then his dragon he buried his head into her lap and stomach. His body curled before he pushed his way onto her lap with Vinny in tow in a similar fashion of a cat. He rubbed his eyes before beginning to pout that he was tired.
"Are you ready to go back?" She questioned gently rubbing his back unconsciously.
The nurse was finished and now standing looking curious, "don't know how you could understand that kid, he switched to French halfway through."
Hermione blinked, she had learnt French but always was aware of the language change but she had not picked up on the boy changing languages. She was even more curious and interested in the bilingual boy who loved dragons. The nurse made her exit as Hermione's focus was back onto Scorp.
He nodded his head against her chest before wrapping his arms around her again, "daddy." Hermione increased her soothing rub as the boy continued to ask for his father.
"Let's go back and see him," Hermione stood and began to walk back, Scorpius stayed awake but didn't protest to being carried. The night staff's eyes followed the pair curiously whispering about the famous Hermione Granger with a child in her arms. She ignored the whispers before closing the door to the private room, Scorp had raised his head and was looking at his father. Setting him on the bed, it took him no time to curl into his father's side before placing Malfoy's arm over his smaller frame.
Hermione had to look away from the heartbreaking scene when her eyes landed on Malfoy's chart. After seeing Malfoy still sleeping and Scorpius dozing she flipped the cover open and felt faint.
Lestrange had not only beaten him physically but also hit him several times with the cruciatus curse and a mysterious hex that had caused his blood to burn. He had been placed in the coma to make sure he remained at a steady temperature until the hex weakened and could be removed fully. His magical core had been so depleted his body couldn't even breath without charms to assist the organs to function, casting a lumos would have been his death in that alley. Hermione had just put the chart back when a nurse and healer entered the room, they bustled around and spoke quietly after she removed Scorpius back to the bed.
He had woken again and clung to her shirt, she sat on the bed with him on her lap as they watched the two work over the sleeping Malfoy. After they confirmed he was mostly healed and no longer needed to be in the coma they reversed the spell and left the room. Hermione almost expected him to wake up then but he continued to sleep peacefully. She thought of the owls she should send to let them know she would not be into work tomorrow but the child clutching his dragon in her arms stopped her thoughts.
"Ready to sleep? I bet when you wake up your dad will be ready to wake up too," she nodded encouragingly when Scorpius sighed.
"Will you read to me please?"
She looked around for a book but saw only gossip rags and the paper on the table for reading. Luckily Luna had packed a few books for him, after he banned the 'children' books Scorpius had her read from The Tales of Beedle the Bard. After Scorpius politely insisted upon The Warlock's Hairy Heart, instead of falling asleep he repeated some of the lines from memory as she read.
Though the story ended in a gruesome manner Scorpius added, "never do magic that harms your heart." He touched his chest before looking back to his dad, "that's me and daddy's-" he paused. "Daddy and I," she grinned at his correction while he soaked in her smile as praise. "That's our favorite story, read The Fountain of Fair Fortune next!" He won her over when he added, "please!" During this story Scorpius curled on her lap so he could see the book before falling asleep against her.
The book slipped from her hands onto the bed and her legs as her eyelids closed, the sleeping witch missed the sad gray eyes watching her and his son.
_()_
At 6 am Draco woke up a second time, this time he was able to control his body and sit up while calling a nurse. Hermione and Scorpius where now laying down under the blanket, he guessed she must have woken again once he had passed back out. Yesterday he had accepted his death, his only regret was being unable to get Scorpius to safety. To say he was grateful for Granger's assistance would be an understatement, but that was nothing compared to how she had read to his son last night. The sweet tone in her voice had made is own heart ache, he had heard the added statement Draco had told Scorpius. Though his eyes would not open yet he heard Granger's soft laugh, if he hadn't been in so much pain he would have believe he was dead and having some strange hallucination. But upon opening his eyes he saw Scorp sleeping in Granger's lap while she read before the book of tales slipped from her hands as she too fell asleep.
The nurse entered and gave him the daily prophet and a pain potion, he felt much better until he began to read the top story.
Yesterday afternoon, Draco Malfoy divorced wealthy father, recently returned from France and son Scorpius Malfoy, abandoned by mother shortly after birth. Was seen entering the Ministry to take the reins of the crumbling Malfoy name from his father, Lucius Malfoy dangerous mental patient at St. Mungo's.
Upon leaving divorcee Draco Malfoy was attacked by the crazed Rodolphus Lestrange, Death Eater fugitive for almost 6 years. Death was eminent after offering his son, Scorpius, and money to the mad criminal, when none other then war hero Hermione Granger arrived at the scene!
Our source in the Auror's office informs us the ministry witch subdued Lestrange before saving the child from harm and possibly death. War hero Granger has now taken the child into her care due to his unfit parents. Can she help the boy and save him from the Malfoy name? Your devoted servant, Rita Skeeter will find more answers others attempt to hide!
Draco saw red, he was back for a single week and already his son and he had been sneered at, ignored and now blatantly attacked in the paper. He would need to inform his mother immediately so she could handle the vile reporter. It used to be Potter being torn apart in the papers, now it was death eaters and purebloods that received the abuse. How any one still believed the paper provide the unbiased facts must obviously be an idiot.
He could move his legs but felt frozen watching the soft sleeping face of Hermione Granger, she had grown up well and had a warm aura surrounding her. His son was sleeping soundly tucked into her chest, he felt foolishly jealous that his son was sleeping next to someone else so comfortably. As much as the image warmed his heart he felt the crushing void left in their lives without a mother for Scorpius. Draco had hated it, but he was honest and open with his son why he had a grandmother but not a mother like Draco and other children.
A chill ran up Draco's spine, before he could make sure he was presentable his mother came bursting into the room. Her eyes lingered on Granger and Scorpius before she hurried to his side, "oh Draco my dear! I have been worried since I heard, I just thank Scorpius was unharmed."
He gave his mother a smile, she had obviously cornered a nurse and demanded to know everything before coming to greet her son and grandson. Draco was about to look at the pair to his left when his mother jerked the paper from under his arm.
"Rubbish," she burnt the paper after it was crumbled.
"You should take care of your little bug," he gave his mother a meaningful look.
She scoffed and waved her hand, a small match box appeared in her hand before disappearing in her sleeve. "She has been contained, though we need to select a new reporter for damage control, Robinson retired." Narcissa floated around the room until she stood next to the bed where Hermione and Scorpius were curled upon. She watched them with a cold but curious face while Draco watched his mother's face soften the longer she looked.
Finally Narcissa returned to his side and spoke softly, "Lestrange has already been given the kiss, I understand I have Miss Granger to thank for my family's life."
The strong woman began to break after locking the door, Draco pulled his mother to sit on the bed before patting her back. "We are safe mother, Scorp is fine and I am fine, we are not leaving you."
She scoffed again before laughing softly, "being a father has greatly improved your ability to comfort, though it is I that comforts you." His mother seemed to grow wider as she rested his head against her shoulder.
Draco tried to stop it but the sob was already escaping his mouth as his body trembled. "I shouldn't have taken him with me mother! He was in danger and I let him get hurt!" He tried to muffle his voice to assure Granger and Scorpius remained sleeping during his weak moment.
"Shh, you couldn't have known Draco, you kept him safe, I know you did all you could. They told me your magical core had been weakened considerably, you must have been doing all you could to escape with Scorpius."
He accepted her comfort before sitting straight again, "thank you mother, should I wake-" Draco looked to the still sleeping pair, only then did he realize his mother had placed silencing charms around them.
"Let them sleep dear, Mr. Potter sent Kreacher to locate me, I should not have indulged myself and allowed you to return here alone. Luckily the old bat remembered my favorite hideaways and was able to find me, the elves at home have been worried sick over you-" If Narcissa was a bird her feathers would be standing up at the moment, "to think I wasn't there for my children."
His mother straightened before standing, "officials are waiting for your statement before our morning interview with a reporter named Creevey, he will be with the Aurors as well at my request. Rita hates the boy," she seemed to cackle at her choice, "get dressed dear." She held out his black attire with distaste though she wore all black as well. After he took the clothes and stood to go to the washroom Narcissa pulled a curtain around her grandson and the sleeping witch he was clinging onto.
No governess or nanny had been allowed to hold Scorpius, he chose only his father or herself to hold and touch him. She was conflicted on how she felt about the trauma her grandson had experienced to cling to a stranger instead of his father like he preferred. Narcissa sighed at the sweet sleeping boy before securing the curtain with a silencing charm and a light sleeping spell that would hold for at least an hour.