I'm a bad person. I know. Sorry.
Chapter 7
"Firstly, I want to know how you know what The Daily Prophet is and, secondly, you need to tell me how you know about the Wizarding World, Scorpius. I was so cautious in you not knowing about that part of your life. You grew up with Quidditch because your Grandfather insisted but I... What else do you know? How do you know?", Hermione asked her son, as Draco watched how the pair interacted with one another. Scorpius seemed to think through his answer, as if he was questioning if he should reveal something life changing to his mother and the father he never knew. He sighed in defeat, though no such emotion was evident by his expression. He finally relented but he was speaking to his mother directly, nobody else.
"When I was about 7 and Grandfather and Grandma visited for your birthday, Grandfather pulled me into an empty room and showed me. Just a few simple things but, at the time, it was amazing. Bright lights shooting from his hands and wand... it was, well,extraordinary. Magical", Scorpius chuckled at his own small pun, "He told me about the world you kept hidden from me. I thought I hated you for a bit. But I realised it was for me. Not you. Everything you've ever done has been for me. Though I can't for the life of me understand why. After all, I've always been a burden on you." Hermione was in a mix of emotions. Should she be enraged at Lucius for revealing a huge secret to her son? Proud at the maturity Scorpius held at the tender age of 7? Or upset at the fact he thought himself a burden? This whole week had been a dizzying week of mixed emotions. She just hoped she would have complete sanity at the end of it.
"Scorpius," Hermione's voice cracked at the word so she cleared her throat and proceeded, "you have never been a burden. You are the biggest blessing Merlin has bestowed upon me. You'll always be the best thing in my life.", she ended with a watery smile. They seemed to have forgotten about Draco who was stood less than a foot away from Hermione, he was listening carefully to the exchange and decided that he'd question Hermione about several things later on. He also didn't miss the part about his son being the best thing in Granger's life and that his parents were in attendance to her birthday parties. The second baffled him to no extent. The first warmed his heart. Slightly.
Draco remembered a question she'd asked minutes prior, "How did you get the Daily Prophet?", they both looked at him, suddenly remembering his existence. He felt like an intruder in a family home. But in some way there was truth in that saying. He had no stand or say in anything here, despite being now one of the most powerful men globally.
"Well after I was told about the Wizards and such, I did some research and subscribed to the Daily Prophet, though I used Grandfather's Gringotts vault number.", Hermione smiled with a raised brow whilst Draco smirked. "What?!", He said, "I didn't steal. He gave me the number. For emergencies.", now it was his turn to raise one tip of his lips.
"Naturally.", Draco chuckled. "But why would you want to see the Wizarding news?", Draco asked, aware of the unsavoury stories about himself.
"Why? Got something to hide?", Scorpius countered whilst Hermione just sighed.
"Of course not", though he did look slightly guilty as his eyes were downcast and his lip being bitten slightly.
"Hmmm", Hermione imputed, "I think we have a liar", she joked, trying not to think of what he was lying about.
"I know", Scorpius said, Draco sensed that there was something that wasn't being said by the youngster but before he could say anything Scorpius did, "Anyways I think it's time for me to go back to my room.", and he just got up and left before either could stop him. Which gave Draco the perfect window to question Hermione.
"Granger," Draco started, "why were my parents here for your birthday?", Hermione looked perplexed for a moment, seemingly not expecting that question. Nevertheless she replied, like he expected.
"They've always known about Scorpius", she muttered quietly whilst avoiding his eye. She fidgeted in her feet, seemingly unaware of if Draco had been informed of his parents… Indiscretions. He had. And he was angry but shocked she hadn't received the memo. Mr Fisher must be losing flare the thought, amused. Though before he could say a word, she did, "if there's anybody to blame for you not knowing…", she seemed to change her mind and caught her tongue, "it's me." She finished leaving Draco gobsmacked.
"Why didn't you want me to know?", he asked, voice strained. He didn't want to lash out and have her throw him out, especially since he was finally getting somewhere.
"Reasons", she replied vaguely. It was obvious she was withholding something, or things, from him and he wanted to know what and her reasons for doing so but it'd have to wait. He exhaled loudly, not knowing where the conversation should go until an idea struck,
"Hermione," he broached the topic with a delicate fines, "you don't have to tell me, though I really would appreciate it if you would, but how did, was", he amended himself, "Scorpius… Conceived.", If anyone had seen Draco's expression at that moment they'd be sure he'd consumed an infamous bogey flavoured Bertie Bott's every flavour bean.
"I… Don't remember", she said, voice cold and devoid of any emotion, "well, it happened on graduation. That much I'm sure. So my only guess of how is alcohol, especially if you have no inkling yourself", she sighed, " I only knew Scorpius was yours until after he was born."
"Oh.", Draco said, his hopes diminished. He wanted something epic. Something, at least, good or even mundane. He felt dejected. He wouldn't ever know if it was satisfying for, which, in the grand scheme of things, seemed quite unnecessary. Yeh, he still wanted to know. "I guess that's best", his voice also emotionless. Truth be told, he wanted to remember. Yearned to remember, but the never would. Unless… No, he banished the idea from his mind before it had taken full form. He couldn't do that.
There was nothing yet everything to be said. Words lost in the air and lodged on their throats. How to continue something that was uncomfortable and seemingly sensitive? Simple answer, some may say the cowardly answer, you don't. You leave the conversation.
"I should be off", Draco said, looking at his watch though his statement was false. He was his own boss now. There was nobody to tell him to do anything. There was no Lucius and he was relieved at the thought.
"Yes, you should.", she replied, though neither seemed to move a muscle. Draco mouth opened to resonate at least a syllable but was interrupted by another voice, a smaller, colder voice.
"Don't! Stay for breakfast. Please?", Scorpius started strong. But finished weakly.
-xXx-
sorry for the lateness.
Just wanted to say, if anyone has a story of theirs that they'd like me to check out please just pop me a message and ask, I'd love to thank you all in anyway :)
