Chapter 2

Draco was seething inside. She dismissed him and on top of that, he let her dismiss him! Malfoys don't get dismissed by uppity little potions professors. Now, he had to make his way to McGonagall's office and see about supper with Phin. And what in Merlin's name is going on with Phin?

As Draco approached the Headmistress' office he noticed a firstie sitting on the bench and sitting beside the unknown boy was a boy who looked very much like his wayward son. The boy looked up and then stood.

"Father, what are you doing here?"

"What I'm doing here is none of your concern. What I'd like to know Phineas, is what are you doing out of class?"

Phineas looked at his feet and shrugged. "I was dismissed from Charms because of a scuffle with Perrin."

Draco looked over to the bench's occupant and surmised that the boy who had been sitting next to Phineas was Perrin.

Draco gave his son a stern look and asked, "Why were you and Perrin fighting?"

"We weren't fighting. We just got into a heated discussion and we may have shoved at each other. No fists or curses where thrown."

"Phineas," Draco's tone dropped low and serious, "What were you two discussing that caused such uproar?"

Phineas swallowed hard. He knew his father mean business and he had better make him even more upset. "Father, I'd rather not rehash the subject again, here. Can we talk in private?"

"Funny you should ask that Phin. I'm just going to go ask the Headmistress if you can accompany me to Hogmeade for supper. Wait here."

Draco took the spiral staircase up to the Headmistress' office knocking twice, the door opened allowing him to enter.

"Ah! Lord Malfoy. How was your meeting with Professor Kennedy?"

"It was, strange? A little shocking and disappointing? It goes without saying that finding out that 'Professor Kennedy' is really Granger was slightly annoying and then finding out that your son is struggling in a subject that he should be excelling in made the entire meeting surreal."

"Indeed." Who took Malfoy and replaced him with this jabberwocky, that's what McGonagall wanted to know. The real Malfoy would never blurt out such unguarded information. "How can I help you Lord Malfoy?" The Headmistress asked before her face gave away her shock."

"Granger-"

"-Professor Kennedy," McGonagall interrupted. "You must afford her the respect she has earned, Lord Malfoy."

"You're right, of course Headmistress." Draco offered apologetically, and then continued. "Professor Kennedy informed me that Phineas is struggling in potions. I don't understand why as he's been my little shadow in the lab since he could walk and talk. By my estimation he's at a fifth or sixth year level, so this news is shocking. I'd like to find out why. May I have your permission to take him to Hogsmeade for supper in order to have a quiet, private conversation with him? I'd like to find out what's causing him distraction in this subject area."

"Yes, that would fine, Lord Malfoy. Have Phineas back before curfew, won't you?"

"Yes Headmistress."

The Headmistress gave Draco her sternest stare and then said, "There is one other item I need to address. Phineas and Mister Kennedy entered into a shoving match in Charms today. 'Quite shocking really, as the faculty has observed a fast friendship emerge from the two. Neither boy will discuss what preceded the shoving match. They both were docked house points for conduct. Could you please try to discuss this incident with Phineas as well?"

Draco nodded his head in confirmation. He then bade the Headmistress good day and left her office. When he exited the moving spiral staircase he found Phineas and who he supposed was Master Kennedy (Granger's Master Kennedy!), still seated on the bench outside the office staircase. When Phineas saw his father exit the staircase, he stood up to greet his father and take his punishment.

Much to his surprise his father made no mention of punishment but invited him dine with him in Hogsmeade that evening. He was to meet his father at the castle's front doors one half hour past dismissal. Phineas' father then ordered him back to class. Phineas picked up his book bag and strode off towards his next class leaving Perrin Kennedy alone on the bench without a backwards glance.

"Well, Mister Kennedy, we've not been introduced. My name is Draco Malfoy, I'm Phin's father. Would you care to share with me what caused the two of you to get into a shoving match in Charms?"

While Draco had been talking, Perrin Kennedy stood and accepted the hand that Draco had proffered, bowing his head in respect as he said, "Please to make your acquaintance Lord Malfoy," and then Perrin said no more.

"Ah..right," Draco was slightly taken aback that Perrin knew of his title and that he'd completely ignored his question about the Charms incident. "You're Professor Kennedy's son, is that right?" Draco tried to nudge the child into a discussion with a bit of friendly banter.

"That's correct, Sir."

"Well, I hope that whatever happened between you and Phin blows over. I wouldn't want to see your new friendship falter."

"I'm sure we'll work it out, Sir."

"Right" Well, that wasn't going to work, the child was like his mother. Not one to spill secrets. "Well, it was nice to meet you Perrin. See you around."

"Good day, Lord Malfoy."

Draco turned on his heal and strode away and out the front door to the school's grounds. The first thing he saw was Dumbledoor's tomb; a silent sentinel by the Black Lake. During Draco's seventh year, he never dared go near the marble structure. Anyone seen milling about the tribute to the fallen and much beloved Headmaster was just inviting a Crucio session with one of the Carrows. Draco made his way to Dumbledoor's final resting place and sat on the stone bench that was to the tomb's right. This perch provided an unobstructed view of the Lake and a peaceful place for quiet contemplation.

Draco had a lot to digest. His father resumed sitting on the Hogwarts' board of governors six or seven years ago. Not once did he ever mention that Granger was a professor at the school. How long had she been back? His father knew about his involvement with Granger during his sixth year. The day they buried Astoria he'd made a drunken confession about his feelings for her in his father's study. He sat in Lucius' study and proceeded to get ever so quickly sloshed on 150 year old firewhiskey. (The timing and irony was not lost on either man.) He told Lucius how he'd fallen in love with Granger. How he still loved her but she was lost to him. He'd heard she'd married a US Auror and was settled in The States. Was Granger here when he's made that sickening confession? Merlin, what a pile of shite this was, he thought.

His feelings over Astoria's death were a confusing mess. He'd never loved Astoria. She was a disappointment. She'd been a top student while at Hogwarts but the war had taken a toll on her too. During what would have been her fifth year, she and a few of her classmates took to escaping the escalating tension in the castle by hiding in alcoves and passing a bottle of firewhiskey between them. By the time Draco and she were married, she was sixteen year old drunk. Merlin, had he really married a sixteen year old girl? Where was his head back then?

During the first two years of their marriage, Astoria hid her problem from everyone in the manor…Well, almost everyone. Maybe she didn't hide it well…It didn't really matter. Draco was barely home enough to notice her or any self destructive habits she may have had. He only discovered her vice because one of the house elves had the temerity to defy his mistress and tattle on her. The family sent Astoria away to dry out and when she returned, she seemed to have put herself back together. Almost immediately upon her return, she became pregnant and she remained sober until Phineas' first birthday but shortly thereafter, the shenanigans began. They tried to be happy during that time. He did grow to care for her.

Astoria discovered vodka and would hide it in her beverages. The signs didn't take long to see and everyone knew what she was doing. Fed up with her games, Draco gave up on her. The entire family ignored her problem. The Malfoy heir was secured and unfortunately and oh so very unkindly; Astoria wasn't a priority any longer. In retrospect, Draco could see everything that happened between he and Astoria was wrong and unhealthy. His behaviour toward her was neglectful, bordering on abusive. He hated himself for letting his own weakness – his own inability to say no to his parents when they bullied him into marrying her as the lynch pin in all this sadness. Marrying her when he was just getting out from under other life threatening obligations caused him to spurn her, neglect her, and almost hate her. It wasn't her fault she was born and raised in a pureblood family and basically sold into the Malfoy home. It wasn't her fault that she spent her teen years in fear and tyranny. He should have had more compassion. Granger would be ashamed of him. He was ashamed of his actions. Merlin, would he never stop paying for being a son-of-bitch for the first half of his life?

Then, there was Granger. If it was possible, she was even more beautiful. She'd filled out again. Her Professor's robes were expertly tailored and showed off her matured frame. Her hips were a little wider and her breasts slightly fuller but she was still a tiny thing, he stood nearly a foot taller then her now. Her skin was still peachy, with very few lines and her hair had lustre like polished mahogany. He itched to run his hands through her tresses. While he was in her office it took all his strength to remain seated. The urge to pull her over the desk and snog her senseless was practically overwhelming. Learning that she was single…Ok, a widow sent his libido into overdrive. His brain kept repeating, "Go for it, she's free, you're free and she's here!"

But he knew why she was cold to him. He'd married someone else. He had declared his love to her but then married someone else and not just anyone else, a pureblood. He knew she not only felt betrayed on a romantic level but it also appeared that he had rescinded his change of heart with regards to pureblood doctrine. What she didn't know was that it was worse than that. He'd been a coward, again. He took the easy way out and not fought his parents' demands, despite the changes in his mind and in his heart. He'd abandoned her and he'd abandoned his new found conscience. He couldn't forgive himself for being such an arsehole. How would she ever forgive him?

What was he going to do about Phin? What in Hades was going on with his son? And why was he fighting with his new found mate? His son was everything to him. Astoria may have been a train wreck but she gave him a beautiful and bright child who was so much more generous and kind and self aware, than he was at age eleven. He'd let his child down by not taking better care of his mother. He had to do right by her and see to it that he didn't get lost in the flotsam and jetsam of Hogwarts' competitive house rivalries. Phin was much more sensitive than he ever was; his Slytherin traits were hard to see sometimes. He was almost a Hufflepuff, gods forbid! Well, he'd get to the heart of the matter tonight.

Draco decided that was quite enough naval gazing. It was nearly time to meet Phin. He rose from the bench and made his way over to the tomb. Leaning over he gave the marble a couple of taps and said, "I hope you've been looking after her, she sacrificed a great deal – gave up some personal goals to help Scarhead and Weaselbee survive and concur the Old Snake. She deserves your watchful eye." As Draco turned to walk back to the castle, he got his answer as a gust of wind suddenly came up and sent him tumbling down the hill.

"Thanks, Old Man", he muttered.