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Rennervate!

Chapter 8:

Days passed by, and everything seemed to be changed in the Manor. It seemed to become gloomier than ever. The occupants of the Manor were trying to be a tad bit cheerful whenever Scorpius was around. He still didn't know what was happening around him, but there was some tension, he felt it whenever his father and Hermione were in the room. The tension would build up ten folds when Blaise would come over to check on him, and whenever he would tell what the result was, Binky would come and collect him living behind the adults who would talk about him, behind his back.

Hermione knew that Scorpius was already suspecting them that they have kept a secret away from him, but she didn't have a heart to tell him about it. Blaise told them that it was getting worse; the cancer ball was getting bigger as the days past. He explained them, that due to the heat of the weather it would encourage it to swell up.

"No cancer likes the heat," he stated bluntly to Hermione who always wanted for Scorpius to wear warm clothes, even if it was hot summer day.

"But-" started Hermione.

"No buts, Granger," cut Malfoy's voice threw the air. He hardly spoke whenever Blaise had to give them the results. "You heard what Blaise said. They don't like the heat, so buck off." And stormed out of the room.

Hermione looked anxiously at the door from which Malfoy had just left, she turned to Blaise and asked. "When are we going to start the treatments?"

"Whenever Draco signs the papers, we will start. I should go now. Good day, Granger."

Now Hermione didn't know what to do. Malfoy was mostly kept himself in his office, not talking to anyone, or seeing anyone, well occasionally, it would be Hermione who would go to his office and see him. To add to the stress that Hermione was feeling like sending her mum a letter; with bad news.

Dear Hermione,

How have you been? I'm doing good, but not your father. He is getting worse day by day. The doctor's say he has a week or so. I don't even know what to do now. I can't take the pain easily if something should happen to your dad. I know what you are thinking at the moment and don't you dare to come back home. I will be fine. I will go to your grandma's home and stay with them.

How is work? How is the guy with you? And the kid? You said there was something happening to the kid, but never told me what? What is it? Is he showing some magical things? Like you did when you were little yourself? I hope his dad is proud of him, like we were.

I'm telling you once again: do not come back home.

With love,

Your mum.

'He is getting worse day by day' it felt like the whole air has left Hermione's lungs and she collapsed on near couch staring at the letter her mum had sent to her. She was on Malfoy's office, checking on him when she received the letter from her mum.

Her breathing started to come out in gasps, her eyes started to moisten and she didn't know what to do. She felt numb. Her dad was going to die and she was far away from them. It wasn't good. Not good at all. She felt someone's presence in the office. Malfoy.

"Granger?" his voice was too far away, she couldn't understand what he was saying. "Granger? Are you alright?" He was asking if she was alright, but it felt like her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth. She tried to nod, but in vain.

Draco was looking at her from distance; she looked like someone had died. Frowning he stood up from his desk and walked towards the couch where she was sitting. She was breathing hard and her eyes were filled with unshed tears. He took the letter from her numb fingers and read it quickly. He sighed, put the letter on the coffee table and looked at Hermione, who was losing a battle of wills with her. Draco bit the inside of his cheek, than hesitantly rested his hand on her shoulder. The damn broke. She shook violently with sobs.

Draco never knew how to look after a weeping girl, he was always the one who would cause the tears, not comfort them. He awkwardly gave her a one-armed hug and she, thankfully, leaned into the warmth of Draco's side and cried on his chest. He knew that his shirt would be soaked-wet from her tears, but…he realized he didn't care at all. She could be on his side and cry on his chest as much as she would like. He couldn't help, but put his chin on the crown of her head and bringing his other hand and cupping her chin in a soothing motion. Her sobbing turned into a hiccupping. Good, she'll come back to her senses now.maybe, thought Draco and looked down at her face. His breathe caught. Despite the fact that she looked like she had a cold, her eyes were red and wet from tears, her nose was red as well…she looked beautiful. He averted his eyes from her face. He was breathing hard. Something seemed to snap in him the moment he looked at her face. Why?

"Granger, everything will be alright, ok?" said Draco, his voice a whisper, he tightened his hold on her, when she lightly shuddered.

Sniffing she pulled away from him and said, her voice hoarse, "I'm sorry for all this….I just…."

"No, no," said Draco softly, with the back of his hand he wiped a single tear that rolled down her reddened cheek. He looked into her eyes and said, "You were there when I needed a friend. Now it's time for me, to be there for you when you need a friend."

Hermione tried to smile at him, but it was forced. Draco sighed and took her hand in his, looking down at her small fingers, while saying.

"You know, if you want to go home, I'll let you go."

Hermione blinked and stared at him. She cleared her throat and winced, it hurt a bit. "Thank you Malfoy, but I don't think it will be wise of me to go to my parents, now. You and Scorp need me here. And don't deny it." After a little hesitation she added, "It's not like you and Scorp have the best relationship in the world, you know?"

Draco nodded, frowning. She was right, of course. She was always right; she knew what to tell people and to make them feel bad or good. At the moment he didn't know how to feel. She was like a rebel to him; maybe it was because he had never talked to her face-to-face in the past? Or maybe just because she was a puzzle, which needed to be built? He was at the loss of words.

Her hand felt right, in his hand. He had never felt like this with Astoria, to just sit around and not to talk for hours. Matter of fact they never would sit with each other, beside the dinner times or while changing clothes. It was like a robotic day; wake up, breakfast, work, dinner, sleep. That was it. No holding hands, no cuddling, no nothing. Their night together was as cold as the day. He would never hear her moan or make a noise at all; she would only sigh and quickly go to sleep.

But now holding some other woman's hand in his, and the said woman was Hermione Granger, was something else entirely.

He looked from her hand to her face. She seemed to regain a control over her emotions, and was looking right back at Draco. She blinked ones or twice and slid towards Draco.

Her hand was trembling a bit when she smoothed back his blond fringe on his forehead. She leaned in and put her forehead on his, sighing deeply, her eyes closing. Draco's breathing started to get heavy when she leaned in first. He thought she would kiss him, but she only put her forehead on his.

"This feels good," Draco heard himself whispering.

Hermione smiled slightly, not opening her eyes, still in the same position, "It does…." She whispered back. "What if I will make this feel…not only good…but great?"

"I will welcome it…no matter what it will be…I will welcome it with open arms…as long as…." He trailed off not knowing to continue or not. He wasn't pretty sure why he was talking like this, but he felt like he had to tell her something….

"As long as what?" she asked in a whisper.

He took a deep breath. Not believing he was actually going to say that. But she asked, and he wasn't going to lie to her….he would think of his marriage later, he would think of the damage, that he will cause, later. What mattered to him was now and here. Here we go, "As long as you'll be there, with me." With that said he leaned in and sealed their lips together.