A/N: TWO UPDATES IN A DAY! So, why don't I tell you why I updated oh-so-quickly. It's because of someone's review, who said that this was the best dramione fanfiction she (I'm assuming that you're a girl, and you know who you are.) read. THANK YOU! You absolutely made me tear up. So, on with the chapter!


DISCLAIMER:

Harry Potter has been belonging to Joanne Kathleen Rowling.

Present Perfect Progressive. Done in the past, happening in the present and will continue in the future. (Unless she decides to hand over copyright to me, which will never happen.)


Chapter Eight: For The Sake of Goodbye

Hermione woke up the next day to find a note from Ron.

Dear Hermione,

Aiden called me for an emergency Quidditch training. I didn't want to wake you up so I just left a note. I think I'll be in Surrey when you read this. Hugs and kisses to you and Aries.

-Ron

The witch sighed and prepared for the day. She went to Aries' room afterwards. The child was still sound asleep. Careful not to wake the child up, Hermione sat beside the kid.

Aries looked absolutely peaceful. Her brown-blonde hair was obscuring her face slightly, and Hermione brushed them away. Looking at her child fondly, she thought of all the lies she had to tell the child. She sighed. It's for her own good, said a rational voice in her head.

She still has a right to know, argued the motherly voice in her head. Yes, but not now. The kid is currently at peace. Why ruin it? Retorted the rational voice. Hermione sighed audibly.

"Mummy?" said Aries, obviously woken up by Hermione's sigh.

"Yes sweetheart?" replied Hermione.

"Would you let me fly on Daddy's broom again?" said Aries.

"Daddy's away. Quidditch practice." Replied Hermione.

"Too bad. I was wondering whether I could try out Wronski Feint." Replied the child sitting up.

"Wronski Feint? Do you know how dangerous that stunt is?" replied Hermione.

"How'd you know? Ever tried it?" countered Aries in the same manner as Draco nearly a decade ago.

"No, but-"

"See, Mum, you can never know how dangerous something is unless you experience it."

"Who told you that?"

"Viktor."

"Krum?"

"How many Viktors do we know?"

Hermione faintly remembered the very same scene back in their fifth year with Ron. According to the redhead, she was writing a 'novel' to Krum.

"Okay, you win. Now get up." Said Hermione, ruffling Aries' hair.

"Watch it!" said Aries, finger combing her hair.

"You're so vain." Said Hermione. "What do you want to wear?"

"Green." Replied the kid, getting off her bed.

"Sure?" said Hermione, now taking out garments from her kid's extensive wardrobe.

"Positive." Aries started to tiptoe out of her room.

"Go back. Make your bed." Said Hermione, not even looking back. Aries groaned, but fixed her bed all the same.

I swear she'll say 'Now, go in the bathroom and fill the tub.' Thought Aries. The girl has memorized this routine since she was four. It only changes when it was Ron who takes care of the child (or as Aries says, 'Daddy Days').

"Now go in the bathroom and fill the tub." Said Hermione, emerging from the mini walk-in closet of the child and held out a white dress, a green jacket and hat, the white socks and shoes. "This okay?"

Aries smiled knowingly then squinted at the clothes. She flashed a thumbs-up at her mother then made her way to the bathroom.

"Oh, and Mummy I want my hair in braided pigtails today." She said.

Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor…

Scorpius slipped in his father's room and climbed on the bed. With a sharp intake of breath, he started to jump up and down the bed.

"Father! Father wake up!" said Scorpius while jumping up and down on the bed.

Draco opened one eye and sighed. What made this kid so ecstatic this early? He thought. Then suddenly having an idea he grabbed the kid with one arm down on the bed, making him squeal in delight.

"What makes you so enthusiastic at seven in the morning, young snake?" said Draco.

The kid sat up, then faced his father. "I don't want to a snake. I want to be a lion. Rawr!" said Scorpius, his hands imitating lion's paws.

Draco raised an eyebrow. Seems like he's a Gryffindor by heart.

"Okay, okay. Young lion." said Draco.

"Sounds better." Replied the kid, getting off the bed. "Get up."

"It's seven in the morning for Merlin's sake." Said Draco.

"Father, you have an appointment with the American Wizards about the shipping of the newly produced Silver Arrow 700 at nine o' clock." Said Scorpius in a tone that was so reminiscent of Hermione. It particularly reminded Draco of the weekly prefect meetings in their seventh year.

"I do?" said Draco.

"Yeah. Speaking of brooms, can you buy me one? Please?"

"No. I told you, no brooms till you're eight."

"Ten more months!" whined Scorpius.

"By that time, the Firebolt 2000 is out. As far as I've heard it outstrips Silver Arrows by miles." Said Draco, getting off his bed as well, and with a wave of his wand, he made the bed up. "Great wizards wait, Scorpius."

"But without wands, wizards are very vulnerable." Countered Scorpius. Draco smirked.

"Nice try." Said Draco. "No wands until you're eleven."

The kid groaned. Draco chuckled.

"Get ready. I'm bringing you to the Ministry today." Said Draco, making the kid glow with excitement. A moment later, Scorpius was out of the room.

"Twit!" said Draco, and a faint pop revealed a house-elf.

"Yes, Master?" said Twit.

"Go and make sure Scorpius doesn't hurt himself."

"Right away Master." With a pop, the house-elf disappeared.

Back to the Weasleys…

"Aries, come on." Said Hermione, and the girl obediently ran to her mother, then grabbed her hand.

"Three, two, one…"

The house quickly melted away, and then replaced by the magnificent walls of the Ministry of Magic.

"Wow." Said Aries, looking around.

They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were panelled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh. On the right-hand side, short queues were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart.

Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of their wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblins hat and each of the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of the Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode towards a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall.*

"It's your seventh time here and you still say wow." Chuckled Hermione, which was ignored by Aries. Passing the fountain, the young girl dropped seven Knuts.

"Where are we going anyway, Mum?" asked the child.

"International Magical Trading Standards Body." Replied Hermione, leading the child to the lifts. "I need to propose a Trading Ban for Kneazles. I've been seeing an awful lot of them nowadays."

"Level Five then." Said Aries.

Soon, they reached their destination. Hermione just about the turn left when Aries suddenly stopped.

"Scorpius!" said Aries, waving at a boy in a red shirt not far away. A blonde man (Draco nonetheless) was holding his hand, while a black haired lady in a slightly skimpy dress held Draco's hand possessively.

Hermione recognized the lady at once. It was Pansy Parkinson. Hermione felt a pang of jealousy when she saw Draco and Pansy's hands intertwined. Scorpius turned upon hearing his name and waved back excitedly when he saw Aries. He impatiently pulled at his father's hand, much to the displeasure of Parkinson.

"Fancy seeing you here, Aries." Said Scorpius when they reached Aries and Hermione. Pansy scoffed inaudibly.

"Good morning Granger." Said Malfoy.

"It's Weasley." Replied Hermione.

"I suppose you've met my fiancé, Pansy Parkinson?" said Malfoy, gesturing towards Parkinson, who smiled too sweetly.

"Scorpius said you aren't very nice to him. If you are going to be his mother should be nice. Because if you're not, I might as well call you a scarlet woman." Said Aries innocently. Pansy flushed and Hermione squeezed Aries' hand. "What? I'm saying the truth."

Scorpius caught Aries' gaze and drew a finger across his throat. The girl realized her mistake and mouthed 'Sorry.' Pansy glared Scorpius behind Draco, but no one saw it.

"Well, we should on our way." Said Pansy, steering Draco away from Hermione. The kids bid goodbye to each other rather sadly. As soon they were out of earshot, Aries burst into chatter.

"I don't like that woman at all." She said.

"Tell me about it." said Hermione, leading her child to a less frequented hallway.

"She's a gold-digger."

"A what?"

"Gold-digger. Someone who uses sensuality in order to gain money."

"Who told you that word?"

"Viktor."

"Krum?"

"Well, duh. Of course."

"And to whom did you learn 'duh'?"

"Viktor Krum!"

"I am so having a talk with that man." Said Hermione, then crouched to be at eye level with her child. "I don't want you to say 'gold-digger' and 'duh' again, understood?"

The child nodded meekly.

"Oh, 'Ermione! Zer you are!"

The two turned around to see a frantic Fleur running to them.

"What's the matter Aunt Fleur?" said Aries in perfect French.

"It's Ron. You ought to come… It's vairy 'orrible.. 'Orrible." Replied Fleur.

"What happened?" said Hermione.

"I can't tell you. Please, come with me." Said the Part-Veela

"Okay."

Fleur grabbed them both, then Apparated to St. Mungo's. Leading them to the same room where Mr. Weasley was confined in Hermione's fifth year. Inside, the Weasley's were crying, except the twins, who just seemed totally shocked. Even Mr. Weasley and Percy were crying. Ginny who was never the weepy sort, silently cried.

"What happened?" said Hermione in a very nervous tone.

"He's gone." Said Ginny.

"Who's gone?" asked Hermione.

Aries slipped away towards a bed in a corner. There was someone laid on the bed covered from head-to-roe. The girl pulled down the blanket only to see her 'father' laying there motionless.

"Daddy?" said the kid, shaking Ron. "Daddy, wake up!"

Hermione looked at her child, then to the motionless Ron.

"You don't mean him right?" said Hermione desperately. The Weasleys didn't answer, but Mrs. Weasley's louder sobs confirmed it.

"Mummy, Daddy's playing a game. He won't wake up." Said Aries innocently. Hermione's eyes welled up, then slowly, slowly… She walked towards the bed. She rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"He's not playing a game." Said Hermione, forcing back tears. Those were the least that she needed. Tears.

"How come?" asked the child.

"Because he's with Lupin, Sirius, James, Tonks, Lily, Hedwig, Dumbledore, and all the others who… who…" Hermione's tears flowed down her cheek. Aries loked at her mother.

"Daddy's not dead. He's feinting sleep, he's playing a game." Said the child determinedly, putting her ear on Ron's chest. As if on slow motion, comprehension dawned on the girl's face. Tears slowly formed on her grey eyes.

Why do you have to die now, you stupid weasel? Why bring the child, why bring us pain? Thought Hermione angrily. She wiped her tears away. Looking down at her child, she noticed that the information has already sunk in the young girl's mind.

"Mum, when is Daddy coming back?" said Aries, still clearly hoping that Ron would come back like the ghosts she read about. People who died and instead chose to come back as a ghost, as an imprint of their former lives.

"He would have gone on like brave people." Replied Hermione.

"When will I go on to see Daddy again?" asked the child innocently.

Hermione crouched down the child, holding her shoulders.

"Don't ever say that. Don't ever say that you'll go on, I don't want to lose you as well." Said Hermione in a stern motherly voice. The child nodded, and then hugged her mother tightly.

In the following days, the Weasleys mourned and Hermione arranged Ron's papers for a proper burial, which took place a week later.

Throughout the ceremony, Hermione wept silently. She barely understood what the Minister was saying. Aries, on the other hand, took in every single word.

"Today, we gather to remember a brave man who fought alongside his friends in The Battle of Hogwarts, his faith and loyalty never wavering. He who experienced pain and love, he who bravely blocked Quaffles from soaring in the ring, and he who gave every ounce of his love to his family. I, of course, is talking about Ronald Bilius Weasley, First Order of Merlin, Keeper of Chudley Cannons, son to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley, brother to William, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ginevra Weasley, husband to Mrs. Hermione Weasley, father to Aries Weasley, bestfriend of Harry Potter and a friend to us all… This day, we mourn for this terrible loss, and we all wish him eternal peace. Rest in peace, Ronald Weasley, rest in peace."

At the back, a certain blonde was forcing back tears. Father to Aries Weasley… Those words have stung Draco's heart more than anyone could imagine. Here he was, watching his only daughter mourn for someone she knew as her father, whereas her father is a mere meter away, crying tears of pain and anger, not of sadness and loss. He wanted to yell the truth. He wanted to announce to everyone the whole truth, but can't. He won't. He shouldn't. Things like these are better kept secrets. Kept in the dark. No matter how deep they wound someone inside. No matter how painful it gets.

Beside Draco, Scorpius was watching his father. Most would say that Scorpius is too young to understand these things, but he isn't. Age doesn't matter. Scorpius has seen things a seven-year-old shouldn't see. Heard what he shouldn't hear. Experienced things that not even his father would dare do to him. Scorpius knows how to keep secrets, and he knew that his father's ballad of emotions should be kept as one. Sighing inaudibly, he turned his gaze to a certain six-year-old girl in front.

Aries was crying, but not as hysterical as Mrs. Weasley or as silent as the usually reckless twins. Her shoulders shook at certain intervals, tears running down her cheeks. Physically, Aries looked more than okay. She can smile and laugh whenever and wherever she wanted. But, emotionally, Aries is a very downtrodden girl. No one else knew what happened in the bathroom nearly three years ago. No one can understand what she is feeling right now, accepting that this is real, yet hoping that it's a practical joke. She is very hurt to see her Daddy die, yet she was in doubt whether this man is her father at all. She is young but she is not stupid.

A few seats away, Danielle was looking around, looking for a certain blonde in the midst of mourning black. The one she was looking for was easy to spot; he was there, between his father and soon-to-be stepmother. Danielle is too young to admit this feeling to her elders, but not too young to admit it to herself. She's falling in love to that certain blonde, and feeling jealous with the sudden closeness of Aries to Scorpius. She's used to being Aries' only friend, the one who understands her taste of play, and then… And then this Scorpius turns up, immediately being in Aries' good books when the girl hates boy presence. Worse, Danielle feels something new and strange about this boy, something out of her grasp.

The casket was down, everyone have dropped their daisies into the rectangular hole. The mourner's left as soon as they dropped their flowers. Danielle dropped hers in, and behind her were Draco and Scorpius. The girl felt a flutter in her stomach. Scorpius dropped his daisy in, not even noticing the young redhead. Draco was next, and before the daisy reached the bottom, Draco muttered three words.

"Good riddance, Weasel."


A/N: Opposite to my mood, this is a slightly sad chapter. SOMEONE DIES! I don't really feel that Ron's a valuable character here so I *imitates Sirius blasting off a name in the Black Family Tapestry* him. I hope you don't hate for that! Tell me what you think; your reviews keep me going! Also, if you spot a typo or a mistake, please let me know. I need some critics too ya know. :D

Oh, I am in cloud nine today.

Drop by my profile to see my review replies, okay?

Take Care!

-Nessa

P.S. I'm planning to post another story, still a Dramione. Should I or should I not?