Hey! Final chapter up! I hope you like it. I know its not much but anyway, here you go. Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine. This is just a story I thought up based off of the characters which don't belong to me.
Please read and review.
She had heard him. She knew, deep down, that on some level he was right. For her, this time, she didn't have much of a choice. Either way she chose, she would have suffered, her choices affecting not only her but also those who depended on her. She couldn't let those she loved suffer because of her mistakes. Besides, Ron loved her. She had made it her duty to try and give him everything he wanted. However, the one thing he wanted, the one thing he could never have, was her heart, which would forever belong to someone else.
She found no words this time to comfort him, to consol him or even to grieve for him. Fate, instead, decided She would show him. A small, young girl began to run towards Hermione. She couldn't have been any older than 4. She attached herself around Hermione's legs in pure joy, muttering one word over and over again. Mummy. His eyes widened as Hermione bent down to scoop the child into her tender, loving embrace, kissing the child softly on the forehead.
Draco paused in order to study the child closer. Shoulder length hair, wild curls. Yes, definitely her mothers child. Pure, creamy white skin. No freckles, he has assumed there would be freckles. Especially with Ron as the father freckles would definitely appear. Her hair was not the trademark bright ginger that he had suspected any Weasley child would have. It wasn't brown like her mothers hair either. No, this child had pale blonde hair. Malfoy hair. And her eyes? Her eyes were a perfect replica of her mothers; bright hazel, wide eyes. Beautiful. His eyes widened in recognition as the child heaved a dramatic sigh, which oozed attitude. No, it couldn't be. Did Hermione's child have the Malfoy attitude?
As Hermione fawned over her child, she couldn't resist peeking quickly at the man she once called her soul mate. He was shocked, obviously, and she could tell straight away that he knew the child was his. She knew, now, that he would understand why she had no choice. Being a single mother in the muggle world was hard enough, but a single mother in the wizarding world where Pureblood beliefs about family values still tended to get mixed up in everyone's business, well, that would have been damn near impossible. Even for Hermione, brightest witch of her age, and world famous war hero.
Once her young daughter was content enough in her arms, she turned her full attention back to Draco. "Arae Carina Granger," she stated quietly, gazing sideways at her child, unable to look him in the eyes, "You were named after a constellation. I thought I'd do the same for her. It's Ara for short."
He blinked. He had so many questions; he felt so much need to be Ara's father. Yet, he couldn't. Once more, the Weasel had taken something else of his. He felt so angry, but not at Hermione, no, he was angry with himself. He has abandoned him family. He had walked away from the love of his life, who unknown to him, was carrying his child, Arae Carina Granger. Granger?
"Granger?" he croaked, only half caring about the answer. He was far too mesmerised by the small child, who was playing with her mothers pearl necklace.
"Yes, she's not his daughter. She's yours. She's mine. She's ours. It would have been Malfoy but, let's face it, we both know the Malfoy name shouldn't be tainted by a Mudblood, let alone her daughter." Her reply was cold and bitter, but he knew it wasn't directed at him. No, this angry was directed at his parents, as she parroted their own words back to him, all these years later. They were the reason he was forced to walk away from the only person who had ever truly cared for him.
He stepped forward so as to give her the slightest bit of comfort.
"Hermione, I-" His sentence was stopped short by a big meaty hand that suddenly appeared on his shoulder. Ron.
Hermione's eyes widened in fear at the sight of her husband. Of course she'd be scared. She had just been caught talking to his 'enemy'. She had every right to be terrified of Ron's reaction, but she needn't have been.
"Mia," He said softly, his hand still remain gripping Draco's shoulder hard, "Does he know?"
He was talking about Arae. Hermione nodded meekly, unable to speak. Draco noticed how much pain this was causing her, he wished, for her sake, that he had never had come. Ron, however, noticed how her feelings for Draco had no diminished within the past 5 year, if anything they had grown. Both men's hearts were breaking, slowly and painfully.
Ron let go of Draco's arm and reached towards Hermione, gently forcing her face to look up and into his eyes. "Go with him."
Three words. That is all he had to say. He could see Hermione wasn't happy. He had noticed her reluctance to touch him in any romantic way. He had noticed how she always slept as far from him on the bed as she could. He could tell she didn't love him. All these years he had been selfish enough to keep her trapped in a marriage with him.
"Ron…" Her voice sounded pained, she didn't understand why he was letting her go so easily. She didn't know that he always carried the divorce papers around, just in case. He knew this day would come. Draco would have eventually seen her again, or vice versa. Love always finds a way.
"Hermione, just leave, okay? He came back for you. He loves you. Love like that doesn't come around too often, so when you do you cannot let it go. This hurts me to say it but you deserve to be loved, and I can't love you like he can. I also deserve to be loved. And you can't give me that, can you?"
She didn't need to answer him, they both knew the answer was no. Instead she slipped off her wedding band and carried Arae away, to get their things. Draco turned to follow until Ron grabbed his arm and held him back.
" Look after her, okay? Love her and care for her. Don't cut me out completely. I love Arae. She never called me father, she knew who you were. I made sure of it," He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Draco, " Get her to sign these, then make a decent woman out of her. Or I will kill you. She deserves the best. Now leave my house, please. I am loosing my energy."
Draco left, slightly bemused. It was very unlike Ronald to not hex or swear at him. All thoughts stopped, however, as he saw Hermione standing by the gate with Arae. Each with a single suitcase, presumably Hermione had shrunk everything. Clever witch. His witch. He took her hand and smiled.
This is what love really is. It's not the fairy tale love, where two people gaze adoringly into each other's eyes. No, real love is when you stare out, into your future. Together.
Okay, well that's this story done. Read and review please.
I have another story underway. It's being handwritten first. I prefer it that way. But the first chapter is almost done and I promise it will be a proper long one.
Let me know.