DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The storyline, all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property. Glorioux
A/n inspired after listening to a song. About the choices we make.
Bitter Ice Cream
Draco wanted coffee ice-cream, just a simple pleasure. Something to remind him of good times gone by. He came here many times with the witch that he still loved but had treated shabbily.
He stood by the counter of the Gelateria in the renewed section of Diagon Alley.
Someone was ahead of him, a couple with their young child in a perambulator. The wizard wore tailored robes over indigo Muggle trousers. He held his witch by her waist, his hand not still, moving up and down the back, a little too low. He leaned to nuzzle her neck.
She leaned onto him. They were clearly in love. She turned sideways to accept a tiny peck on her lips. A behavior not normal in public places like this.
That was when he recognized the witch. His heart twisted painfully. She was the one he was too much of a coward to marry. He used her, there was no better way to put it. He'd decided the easy way, and married the one chosen for him. He hadn't dare to ask her what he'd suspected, better that way.
He heard her words, "I love you much."
The wizard chuckled, "You still cannot eat coffee ice-cream, you are pregnant, and the healer said is a no-no."
She giggled, "I thought it was worth a shot."
"Papa pick up," the child asked and lifted the arms, knocking the hood covering the head.
Draco's word spun around him. It revealed a headful, of curly locks, of Malfoy hair.
He looked at the wizard. No, it couldn't be. "Draco, hallo, we are visiting. How is your father?"
"Henri?"
The Malfoy wizard grinned. "Who else, didn't your father tell you? He sent an owl excusing you all. He said your wife was pregnant and couldn't travel." His smile was unfriendly.
He needed to know, "When did you marry? I heard nothing."
Hermione was pale, "Henri, darling, let's go. I am not well."
She didn't give Draco a second glance.
"Later, we must go." Henri paid for the cones and bent to give the child a small cone. Draco saw the face, a little witch, two to three years old. He couldn't breathe.
"Let's go cherie." He looked around, and a young witch came, "Laurie, push Sarah. Mimi isn't well."
He barely said goodbye, and they were gone.
Lucius and Narcissa met them by the door. Henri just nodded hello, Lucius did the same. Narcissa looked at the little witch longingly.
Draco stood frozen in place for a few seconds. He walked to his father, "Hope that you are happy because I am not."
He stood by the door and saw the couple climbing aboard a Muggle car. Henri's father got out to help Hermione, looking concerned. His mother picked up the little witch and covered her with kisses. Lucius' cousin nodded and looked at him with disdain.
The car door closed, and they were gone. Hermione was happy without him, but it wasn't over for him.
the end?