|::| In Your World |::|
Draco started working as an auror after Hermione's death and lived in a decent flat in muggle-London. Scorp lived with Narcissa at the manor. Draco visited them every weekend and whenever his could squeeze out some time on weekdays. He introduced Scorp with the muggle world knowing that Hermione would've wanted their child to know the world she was from. His work limited his time with his son but he managed and he had planned that when Scorp was a little more older, he's going to bring Scorp to live with him as well.
Before Hermione's death, he and Hermione both worked for the Magical Law Enforcement as lawyers. That's where they fell in love. But since her death in childbirth, he felt suffocated working there. Her memories were everywhere. For the first year he locked himself in manor while his mother took care of Scorpius. Draco accused himself responsible for his wife's death. He got her pregnant after all. The healer told them she wasn't fit to give birth to another life a that point. But Hermione insisted. She was so desperate to have this baby that she got herself depressed but he shouldn't have given in. He should've been stronger and damn he failed. He failed as a husband.
Then one day he remembered that, after the death of a Malfoy, a portrait of the person who died, magically appeared on the wall of the long corridor towards his father's study. He practically sprinted there in the corridor and at the dead he found it. The portrait. His Hermione's portrait. He couldn't touch her but at least could talk to her. He made his way in front of the portrait and with immense love and adoration touched her face and slowly slid his fingers down her chin and removed his hand.
"Gods Hermione," he broke into tears and his legs trembled. He covered his face with his hands and heartbreakingly sobbed till his eyes felt sore.
"How could you leave me like this? How do you think am supposed to take care of Scorpius? Hermione, our son needs you, I need you. Hell! Even Potter, Weasley, mother.. we all need you." He stood there in silent for a few minutes with his eyes downcast on the expensive carpet beneath his feet. That was when she spoke.
"Destiny Draco. We can't change it. We don't have that power in our hands."
His eyes shot upwards as her soft voice echoed in his ears. "You can take care of him. Our son that is, with a little bit help from Narcissa. You're going to raise him exactly the way we thought we'd do together."
"I failed Hermione. As a husband. I couldn't protect you and I'm sorry. And I'm going to fail as a father as well. I told you remember? I don't wanna be like Lucius."
"Oh Draco!" she exclaimed, "Don't say that. You didn't fail, love. It wasn't in your hands. And no matter what, you are not Lucius. You have a heart full of love and Scorp will do just fine. He's going to have the best dad ever. But you must get a hold of yourself first, for him, for your mother. They need you now."
"H-how? I never had imagined that I'd have to live a life with you not in it. It's harder than you can ever imagine," he said. His voice hoarse.
"And you're stronger than you care to admit Draco. I trust you. I'm here with you, always. Alright?" She smiled at him weekly. "Now go and get yourself cleaned up. You look like shit. Gods! You look like you haven't taken shower or eaten anything for days?"she frowned.
"I love you, more than anyone ever cared to love someone else."
"I love you too." Her eyes twinkled as she saw him walk away.
.
Present time
Tarika sat on the same window seat she had occupied the previous day. Through the glass window she could see people walking in a haste towards their destinations. As she took a sip from her coffee she saw that blond man again. He came in the cafe and sat on the opposite table. He placed his order and looked around the cafe casually when he saw Tarika. He smiled at her and she returned the gesture. After she finished her coffee and scorns she went to Draco's table. He was reading the newspaper and when she stood across his table he looked up and saw the curly-haired-girl smiling at him.
"Hi!" she greeted.
"Hey," he said politely. "How are you doing Miss Tarika? Have a seat."
"Thanks! You can call me Tarika," she said, sitting on the opposite chair.
"Sure. So? You come here regularly?"
"No no. I'm actually not from here. I'm from India. I was here for a conference, and well, after the conference ended I sort of.. squeezed out a vacation for myself. Its really beautiful city and I am looking forward to visit a few places on the outskirts of town," she supplied. After she finished she looked up and found Draco with a musing expression and she blushed.
"Sorry! I talk a lot," she muttered.
At this he laughed. "You just reminded me of my wife. She talked a lot too and when she realized that she had been blabbering she used to say the same line you just said,"
Wife! The word made Tarika's forehead cease. "Used to?" She asked, tad confused.
"She..she's dead." He grimaced. This was the first time he had to tell anyone about her death. Everyone in wizarding world knew about her departure. She was the war heroine, Harry Potter's best mate, Gryffindor Princess and most importantly Draco Malfoy's wife, after all. He sighed.
"I'm..sorry. I didn -" she was interrupted by him, "It's alright."
"How did..I mean if you don't-" she paused and looked at him expectantly.
"I never usually..talk about it," he said and a frown ceased his forehead.
"I'm sorry again." Tarika tried to give him a hesitant smile. "Okay then. See you around. I best be going." She stood up and he followed her action. "I'm done as well. I'll be going too."
He paid the bill and came out to find a hesitate looking Tarika standing. He walked to her and said, "You needed something?"
"Uh-" she stuttered, "Care to join me for a walk? Which way are you heading?"
"Towards Pirate Castle. You?" Draco asked, plastering a forced smile on his face.
"Same way", she smiled and added, "Why Pirate Castle?"
"My son. He's visiting there with my mother. Just going to pick 'em up," he gave a genuine smile this time.
"Son!" His words had taken Tarika in surprise. "You have a son?"
"Well..uh. yes. I have a son." He mused at her expression. "You look surprised? Well even though I know for a fact that I look awfully good to be considered as a dad but still," he chuckled.
"So how old is he?"
"Six. Well not yet but he'll be next week."
"What's his name by the way?"
"Scorpius," he said.
"That's an unusual name," she frowned thoughtfully.
"It indeed is. It's our family tradition to name the children after constellations."
"Oh.. I see. I'd really like to meet him," she smiled. "Sure!" was only what he said and they walked beside each other in silence.
.
When they reached Pirate Castle, Draco stopped on his tracks and bade Tarika goodbye and walked through the entrance. Just when he was about to enter he heard a female voice calling his name. He stopped and turned back to see who it was and well as suspected, it was Tarika.
"I'm sorry Draco for bothering so much but I actually don't know anyone here and you're the only one I know and-" Draco interrupted her. "Tarika, you're rambling." He gave a smile. A genuine one and added, "And you're not bothering at all. It's quite alright. Really."
"So is it okay if I ask you to join me for dinner this evening?" She asked.
"Today's not possible. Sorry." He saw her face flustered and said,"Tomorrow perhaps?"
She smiled. "Sure." A few moments later she spoke,"Can I have your contact number then?" She hesitated.
"Sure." He repeated her earlier response. And within a minute both of them headed in two different direction.
.
The next evening in the decided restaurant, Draco was waiting for her. He was in his usual crisp-black-formals and was wearing a slight frown.
This girl Tarika had a slight resemblance to someone very dear to him. Those curly hair and those muggle cloths she wore. Also the way her curiosity had the best of her, even if it wasn't any of her business, she had to poke her nose. The way she talked to much and blushed when she realised her blabbering. He felt an unreasonable pull towards her.
He had an awful lot of time in his hand as he ran the family business now. He'd merged the business with a muggle-born businessman and it was now associated with muggles nonetheless. He just had cracked a very beneficial deal with another muggle contraption agency. This expanded his name and business in both worlds immensely. It was not like he didn't work with purebloods and half bloods, but he had his ethics and morals and if his business associates disagreed with them then he severed all sorts of ties with them. He had grown into a very strong man. Not just physically but emotionally as well. Hermione made him the person he was.
Draco had a few days off after having dealt with so much work-load. Thus, he agreed for this dinner with her. 'Poor girl didn't even know anyone' - he thought.
Five more minutes passed when the door of the restaurant opened and she emerged. He was dumbfounded for a minute. She looked..different. Different from the girl he'd met earlier, twice.
Tarika wore a plain ivory off-the-shoulders-and-knee-length dress which was hugging her curves just in the perfect places. She wore a pair of pearl earrings and draped her curls on her right shoulder. And a minimal makeup finished off the look.
She looked around and marked Draco's blond-head and headed towards him. She took a seat in the opposite chair and apologized for being late.
"It's okay. You're just twelve minutes late." He said politely and she rolled her eyes. By then the waiter approached and asked for their order.
After placing the order they looked at each other and smiled.
"So?" Tarika smiled as she spoke.
"So?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"You know? Small talks. How was your day and all," she explained with a huff and he chuckled.
"'Kay! So, yeah, my day went plesant. I had quite some works done and now have the week off. What about you? How was your day?"
The waiter arrived with a bottle of champagne and poured it in their glasses and left after offering them a polite smile. After he left Tarika began.
"I went sight seeing," she added with a childish glee,"- all by myself."
"Such a brave child you are!" Draco teased, not with malice.
Wait. What? Teased!
'Why on earth am I teasing her? Maliciously or not. I barely know her.'
"You there?" She waved her hand in front of him.
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry I..zoned off," he shook his head.
"That I realized. How's Scorpius?" Tarika smiled and took a sip from her glass.
"Scorp! Uh.. yeah, he's quite alright. Thank you," he replied awkwardly. Even he didn't know the reason of his sudden awkwardness.
"Do you have any picture of him?" Tarika wanted to know as she cupped her chin in her palm.
Of course he had a picture of Scorpius with him. And of Hermione's as well. But he couldn't very well show her any magical properties now, could he?
"Not really," he said, uncomfortably.
In the mean time the waiter arrived with the food and Draco sighed in relief.
A/N: Tarika might be a bit out of character but that's sort of required for this story. Thanks for reading. Leave a review if you liked it.
Love
xx