Death and Happiness
Part 10 of The Severus Snape Saga
A/N: My muse, Maggie, is simple girl. All she likes are plot bunnies and reviews. So be kind to Maggie and feed her review cookies please.
Big thanks to my beta Lbandoly for her hard work. She has spent countless hours editing and providing plot help for my stories. She makes my writing possible.
No copyright infringement intended. All characters are the property of JKR, Scholastic, and any number of other companies with more money than I've ever dreamed of seeing. I didn't make any money off of this, so please don't sue.
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Draco found Hermione sitting on the window seat in the room she shared with Ginny when the youngest Weasley visited. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."
Hermione looked up and smiled. "Just reading my mail; Mum and Da are home from Paris."
"Did they have a nice time?"
"It sounds brilliant. Mum went on and on about their trip to the Louver and about some holiday play they saw."
"Sounds like they had a lovely time."
Hermione turned and looked back out the window pensively. After so much time spent together he was beginning to understand her moods. She might be glad her parents had had a good time but he could clearly see she was missing them.
"So, you said they are home. Do they live in London?"
She turned back to him and nodded. On the other side of the city from us yes."
"Tell me about them. Tell me about where you grew up?"
She shook her head, "You wouldn't want to know. It's all terribly boring."
Draco smiles slighting, "I'm finding out nothing is ever boring with you Hermione."
She blushed and looked back at him. "Okay," she conceded. "They are both dentists."
"I don't know what that is."
"Muggle healers who make sure people's teeth are clean, no cavities, that sort of thing."
"Ah," he said still a bit confused at why muggles needed a healer just for their mouths. "Go on."
"Our house, well I guess it's their house now since I don't really live there much anymore."
"It will always be your house. You grew up there didn't you?"
"Yes. As I was saying, it's not large. Not nearly the size this house is. It's just three bedrooms; my parents, mine, and the guest room. There is a kitchen and sitting room obviously. We have a fairly good sized backyard considering the size of most in that area. It's nothing grand to be honest, but it was always home you know."
Draco nodded not willing to tell her that the home he grew up in felt less like home than Hogwarts ever did. In fact Grimwald was the first place he had ever felt himself truly at home in.
The conversation died off as Draco took a seat on the end of the window seat.
"Mom asked if I would have a chance to visit before we return to Hogwarts for next term," Hermione said suddenly.
Draco looked shocked. "You didn't tell her we didn't go back last term?"
"I didn't have the heart to tell them. They've always expected the best from me. Before I got my Hogwarts letter I always heard them say how I would grow up to be just like them; the perfect dentist, with the perfect practice, the perfect home (preferably three blocks down the street from them)… then later on the perfect family. My Hogwarts letter came and everything changed. Suddenly it was how I would be the perfect witch. I've always worked to live up to that. I couldn't just tell them I was leaving school before I even graduated. I didn't know the headmistress would allow us to continue our education away from the school. So I just didn't tell them."
"Then what did you tell them in all those letters?"
She looked up sadly, "Mostly lies. It was easy. I just regurgitated everything I've ever written for the past six years about how classes were going, the gossip that Ginny would write in her letters to us, complaints about the replacement potions teacher who didn't know his cauldron from a soup pot. Those sort of things mainly," she said as she turned away, "A bit about you."
"Oh," he said quietly. "So are you going to go?"
"I want to."
"Then do it."
"But Harry? I need to be there for him. He's going this weekend you know."
"He said he didn't want us there. He didn't want us to see that."
"But what if?"
Draco silenced her with a shake of his head. "Don't think that. It won't happen. He's got Severus, Lupin, and Pomfrey, and even McGonagall. He'll be fine. His dad would never let anything happen to him. Go while he's at Hogwarts. Try to forget what he's doing. It'll be easier on you if you do. It's got to be better than sitting around here worrying yourself to death over it."
"I can't abandon him Draco. He's my best friend."
"You're not. He's giving you an out. He already told you he doesn't want us there. Don't give him more to worry about than he's already got 'Mione. Go home, visit your parents, and let Harry have the peace of mind of knowing that you are happy while he's doing this."
"Are you going?"
"To Hogwarts?" he asked.
"Yes."
"No. I already told him I wouldn't. We've done the whole make peace thing even. Not that I think he needed to. He'll be back here bright and early Monday morning complaining about transfiguration homework."
Hermione laughed. "Since when are you the optimist?"
"Since you made me into one?" he teased.
She smiled. "Glad to be of service." Quietness once again engulfed the small room. "Would you go with me?" she asked shyly.
"To your parents' house?"
"Yes."
"I…I don't know. I've never really been around muggles. Well not really. The few we met on the hunt don't count. I never had to actually talk to them. You and Harry did most of the talking when we were around muggles if you didn't notice. You let Ron and me off easy on that one."
"I noticed. It was the few times Ron was quiet," she joked. "It would be fine you know. They would know you're a wizard and that you don't know a lot about muggles. I think they are fairly used to it by now to be honest. Though I've never been able to practice magic at home before so it's not like they've really seen me as a practicing witch; it would probably be more of a put out for them than us. After all, aside from what they have seen in Diagon Alley they haven't really seen much if you don't count moving pictures and flossing Stringmints."
"I still don't know Hermione."
"Please. I would like them to meet you."
Draco looked up and saw the sincerity in her eyes. "You would?"
She nodded. "I would. I just know they'll love you."
Draco laughed. "You know this entire conversation is a bit surreal for me don't you. A year ago I would have cursed you for saying something like that."
She shrugged. "A year ago you were a different person. You've grown up Mr. Malfoy," she said with a mirthful smile.
He nodded, smiling, "Yeah I guess I have."
"So will you go?"
"How long are you staying?"
"For the weekend maybe," she said uncertainly. "They won't get off work till six tomorrow. If we go over in the afternoon we can be there in time for dinner out with them. Every Friday night they visit their favorite Italian restaurant down the street from our house. I'm sure you would love it. We could stay with them tomorrow night, spend all of Saturday with them, and then come back here Sunday before Harry gets back Monday.
He thought about it then began to slowly nod his head. "Yeah okay, as long as Severus doesn't have too large of an issue with it. Sure, I'll go. You promise they won't want to kill me or something? I know you must have told them some nasty things about me over the years."
Hermione blushed again. "Yeah I have. Sorry. But now they know you've changed. I keep my parents informed. You can't stay safe if you don't know what you're facing. They are at risk if for no other reason than they are my parents."
"I'll go ask Severus then."
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
"For what?"
"For going with me, I know you still don't really care for muggles."
"I'm getting past it. They aren't all bad I guess. But like Severus says I'll never know one way or the other if I don't interact with them."
She laughed. "He's right you know."
"Yeah I know. The smug bastard normally is," he said with a grumble.
"You really shouldn't call him that."
"I didn't mean anything by it Hermione."
"I know.
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"So what are you two doing this weekend? Hopefully not planning to hang around here doing homework the entire time we are…well you know," Harry said.
Hermione shook her head. "No, this is a homework free weekend for all of us. Well for us three anyway. I doubt poor Ron will be so lucky. He makes it sound like his mum's been awfully hard on him about studying."
"More so than you have been for the past six years?" Harry asked with a laugh.
Hermione huffed. "That is just not nice Harry. I'll have you know I only pushed you because I knew if I didn't neither one of you would have taken the time to do anything besides quidditch and getting into trouble."
Harry looked thoroughly put in place while Draco laughed. "Is there ever really anything else to do," the blonde asked knowing it would set his girlfriend off on yet another tangent about the importance of learning.
Hermione started to begin her speech when she noticed the smirk Draco was giving her. "You're just baiting me, you foul git."
Draco and Harry burst out laughing once again. "Of course I am," Draco replied. "It's what I'm best at after all."
"There are days I wonder about how this relationship even works."
"Pure nerve, a lot of patience, a healthy dose of understanding, a dash of forgiveness, and more than a little bit of attraction," Remus said from the doorway with a smile on his face. "It's highly entertaining for the rest of us to watch if that helps."
Draco groaned and Hermione blushed at the comment.
"What are you lot up to tonight?"
"Not much of anything. I was just asking them what their plans for this weekend were since I asked them to not go with us to Hogwarts."
"Ah," the graying man replied.
Harry turned back to them. "So what are your plans?"
"We're going to visit my parents," Hermione said quietly.
"Is that so?" Remus asked.
"Yes it is."
"Hermione has never taken Ron or me to visit her parents," Harry said with mock outrage. "Where is the fairness in that?"
"Well I didn't mean anything by it. I would love for you to go visit my parents with me."
As she began to ramble Harry cut her off. "I was just joking Mione. I know you didn't mean anything by it. Just don't let the muggles eat Draco," he said with a sly grin. Harry turned and dashed from the room quickly as Remus looked on laughing.
It took a moment before either Draco or Hermione realized what he had said. Draco looked shocked and more than a bit frightened at the concept.
Hermione flushed red, "Harry!" she exclaimed as she dashed out of the room after him.
Remus looked at Draco, still laughing. "He really was joking Draco. The muggles won't eat you. I'm certain Hermione's parents are just lovely. I've met them once myself when I went to pick her up earlier this summer. They seemed very nice to me."
Draco wasn't so sure who to believe so he settled for a blank look of indifference before heading off in search of his girlfriend.
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"Did Hermione and Draco get there okay?"
"They did," Severus replied. "The Grangers seemed extremely excited to finally have one of Hermione's friends come visit. It seems she's put them off for sometime. The famous Harry Potter syndrome seems to have hit them.
Harry groaned as he pushed the door to the private ward open. Severus followed him in finding Remus already there with Madam Poppy Pomfrey and the headmistress.
"Hello Harry," Remus greeted him.
"Hi Remmie."
"Mr. Potter you just can't seem to stay out of my ward can you? Not even a student here and still I find you taking up a bed in this hospital."
Remus coughed in a poor attempt to cover the chuckle in the back of his throat. Harry grinned. "What can I say Madam? I love it here."
"Sure you do young man. You love it here as much as Albus loved going a day without sherbet lemons, Minnie here going a day without a nice pot of tea, or your father going without his brewing. You may tell that tale to someone else sir."
"Yes ma'am," the young dark-haired man replied with a laugh.
"Well now, robes off. Shirt and sleep pants only please. Then get in the bed and cover up. Did you eat this morning?"
"No ma'am."
"Good. Well I'm going to gather the last of the supplies. I'll be back in just a moment."
Harry nodded and removed the robes he had worn to cover his sleep clothes he had worn over from Grimwald. Severus and Remus gathered near the bed as he crawled beneath the covers.
"So, you ready for this?" Remus asked.
Harry looked around the hidden ward of Madam Pomfrey's hospital wing, "As I'm ever going to be."
"Harry, you don't have to do this if you're not ready. We have time. There is still time to look for another correction to this," Severus said.
"No Dad, we don't. You know it. I know it. The bulk of the wizarding world probably knows it. Time's drawing nearer. An end must come. This either takes care of the last horcrux or it doesn't. Either way something will be accomplished today," he said quietly.
"Harry…"
"You don't have to say it. I know. I love you too, Dad. I have for a while I guess." Seeing the look of awed wonder on his father's face he grinned, "I should have picked a better time to tell you huh?"
Severus sat by his son's bed with a slightly stunned look on his face. Remus laughed lightly before walking away giving the two some time together. Severus gathered his wits. "There is never a bad time for that Harry. I…I…"
"You don't have to say it," he again reassured his father. "I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way."
"No Harry. It's just that I've not had a reason to say that to anyone since…"
Harry cut his father off. "Since Mom; its okay I understand. I miss her too," he said with a sad smile.
"You are one amazing young man Harry. More and more everyday I see a bit more of her in you. Sometimes it's almost too painful to realize. But never for one moment think that I don't love you. I have since the very moment I allowed her to tell me that you were mine. Even when I had to show such hatred for you, I loved you. I hated myself, but I loved you Harry. You are my son. Nothing, I mean nothing, can ever take that away from us." Silent tears once again tracked down his pale face. For the forth time in his life that he could remember he allowed someone to see him at his most vulnerable. For the second time in front of his son, Severus cried. Severus clutched Harry's hand in his and held it tight, willing his love to flow through that touch. Harry smiled his own eyes teary.
From the back of the ward three faces were looking at the father and son, tears of their own silently tracking down their faces. "Well I never thought I would see the day," Minevra said to no one in particular.
"Both of them deserve someone to love them," Pomfrey said as she swiped the tears from her cheeks with a linen handkerchief she pulled from her robe pocket. Remus nodded in agreement.
Straightening herself, Madam Pomfrey walked to Harry's bedside. "Well young man if you still insist then it's time to get on with this. Do I need to tell you again what we are going to do?"
Harry shook his head, "No ma'am. I'm certain I remember."
"You know how risky this is? Mr. Potter I'm serious. There may not be any coming back from this."
"I know ma'am. Can we just get this over with?"
Minevra laughed. "Always so impatient Mr. Potter, one day you are going to have to look into fixing that."
Harry smirked in a way not at all unlike his father's patented smirk. "It's all part of my charm."
Remus burst out laughing. "Harry there are no words."
Harry smiled then looked to his father, "You're doing this right?"
"Most of it," Severus replied.
Harry nodded. "Then let's do it."
Severus stood and reached for a vial of dark potion. Hesitantly he removed the cork from the bottle and passed it to his son. "Drink it all. You'll get sleepy. Allow yourself to go to sleep. It's up to us after that."
Harry tipped the vial to his lips, drinking it all with a grimace. "It could taste better," he said with a grin.
"It's probably best that it doesn't."
"Yeah probably," he said just before he yawned deeply. "Love you Remmie. Love you Dad."
"I love you too Cub. See you in a couple hours."
Severus grabbed a second vial from the tray on the bedside table and lifted it to his son's mouth. "Drink Harry,"
Harry sleepily drank the contents, not voicing his typical complaint about taste.
Severus placed the vial back with the other on the table. "I love you Harry. Have a good rest. I'll see you in a few hours." His voice was choked and strained with the tears he was holding back.
Harry nodded slowly and closed his eyes. Sleep took him almost instantly. Madam Pomfrey cast a spell over him from the foot of the bed. "Erectus," she said clearly. "When his heart stops we'll know." The group gathered around Harry's bed murmured their acknowledgements.
Within minutes Harry's deep sleep allowed his breathing to hallow out to a raspy wheeze. His color quickly paled out making him look more like Severus with his deeply sallow skin tone.
Severus sat heavily to Harry's right side clutching the hand of his only son. Remus moved to Harry's left and mimicked Severus' action.
Harry took one last ragged breath before the charm alerted the group that his heart had stopped. Minevra tried but was unable to stop a sob from escaping at the sudden shrill sound.
As if hit by an Imperious curse, Severus moved from his seat. He grabbed the three remaining potions from the bedside table. "Tilt his head back Lupin." Remus moved up from his seat and did as he was told. Severus tipped the first of the potions into Harry's lack mouth. He rubbed his throat, forcing the liquid down. He repeated with the last two potions before allowing Remus to settle Harry back to a normal position. He lifted his wand from the side of the bed and began a series of incantations. He never once wavered from his task. At the foot of the bed Madam Pomfrey was doing the same with a series of medicinal charms. "It's now or never Severus. I can't keep holding him. The veil wants him to pass."
The man nodded swiftly as he cast the beginning of his final spell. At the last snap of his wand a dark almost oily presence poured from Harry's open mouth and nose. It swirled manically in the air above him before Remus cast one final spell. "Expecto Patronum." His silvery patronus sprung forward towards the oily darkness. It enveloped the presence and in a brilliant flash both the patronus and the dark presence disappeared.
"Move," Madam Pomfrey ordered as she shoved Severus further to the head of the bed. She cast several charms meant to restart Harry's heart. "Now is not the time to be stubborn Mr. Potter," she muttered to herself. Just when the mediwitch began to lose hope the heart alert charm dinged. Then once again it dinged. Slowly, but steadily the ding repeated until its pace increased. "Thank Merlin," she whispered. "He's back," she announced. The group visibly relaxed at the mediwitch's pronouncement.
"How long to you think he'll remain asleep?"
"I can't begin to say," Poppy replied. "His heart's beating strongly and his breathing is nice and deep so it looks like his body has processed the counter potion for the poison. I don't fear any relapses from that. It's a matter of waiting for his brain to reconnect I would suspect. It could be a few hours at the best before he wakes or never at worst."
Minevra nodded silently. No one argued with Severus when said he wouldn't be leaving his son's side till he woke or till Severus literally dropped dead from exhaustion. Minevra returned to her office and Poppy to hers leaving Remus standing beside Harry's bedside while Severus sat on the opposite side. "He'll be fine. He's too big of a fighter not to be."
"I know," Severus replied in a clipped voice.
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"So Mr. Malfoy, our daughter tells me you are the godson of Harry's long lost father."
"Draco sir and yes I am."
"Sounds absolutely interesting."
"It's had its moments," Draco replied cryptically.
"I'm sure it has," Jane Granger replied. "You'll excuse my husband. He's trying to exercise some of his fatherly right to interrogate Hermione's boyfriend. She's never had one that was around for him to bludgeon with questions before."
"It's quite all right. I'm fairly certain that's one thing muggle and wizarding father's share in common. Only a wizard might well hex first and ask the questions later."
Jane laughed heartily. "Not so different. He threatened to go purchase a hunting rifle to meet you at the door with."
Draco shook his head. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that item."
Hermione wiped her mouth with her napkin. "They're weapons. You have a metal ball or cylinder shaped projectile filled with an explosive powder (gun powder) inside a chamber. The person pulls the trigger releasing the hammer that strikes a sensitive portion of the projectile, which forces the material inside the projectile to ignite, and the powder explodes. The projectile is shot out the end of the barrel at extremely high velocities. When it hits it can be very dangerous often fatal if it hits a human. The size of the projectile and the type of gun used to fire it are large factors in the speed at which the bullet (the projectile) moves thus how much damage it does. That's just how the basic revolver works. There are many forms of guns, each as deadly as the next."
Draco gasped. "That sounds utterly barbaric; hardly a step higher than bow and arrow."
"More painful than those perhaps but equally barbaric no doubt. Granted some of the more dangerous hexes we employ are hardly considered humane."
"Touché."
Jane took a sip of wine from her glass before steering the conversation elsewhere. "So Hermione, how long are you planning to stay. The next term must begin soon."
"It does. We were thinking through Sunday morning. Enat breakfast then meet back up with Harry and his dad around lunch."
"That sounds lovely dear," Jane replied.
"Your mother cleaned out the guest room last night. Though I'm not certain I consider moving it from there to my office cleaning."
Hermione laughed. "Thanks mum."
"So, Draco was it, are you enjoying your dinner?" Mr. Granger asked.
Draco nodded. "I am. I find it's a nice change of pace. Mr. Lupin, Harry's godfather," he said as he looked at Hermione for confirmation, "is a wonderful cook. As is Severus' cooking. Even Harry and Hermione aren't too bad in the kitchen. But well it's been a hectic week. The meals have been less than stellar."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're just upset because the roast I tried to teach you how to cook turned into beef jerky because you forgot about it when you got caught up playing chess with Harry."
"How was I supposed to know that it would do that if you left it in a bit too long?"
"Well the 'Draco don't forget to check it in two hours' should have been a clue."
David laughed. "Don't worry, nearly twenty-five years together and I still can't cook anything other than microwavable popcorn and boiled hotdogs. I would either starve or live off of take-out if it wasn't for Jane."
"Microwavable popcorn and hotdogs?"
Hermione smiled. "I'll show you later. That would be a lot easier than trying to explain it to you." Draco nodded and returned to his dinner.
A petite woman in black pants and a pressed white oxford with a black apron came to the table. "Will you require anything else?"
"No that will be all Ellie. If you could," David said as he passed the waitress his credit card.
"Of course sir."
Jane hurriedly swallowed. "Actually Ellie, could we get half of one of your famous Amaretto cheesecakes to go as well. Hermione and her friend are going to be with us for their weekend away from school. They might enjoy a slice or two while they are here."
"Of course Mrs. Granger. I'll bring it back with your card."
"Thanks ever so much dear."
Silently the waitress slipped away.
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The light moan from the boy on the bed next to him was just enough to rouse Severus from the light sleep he had allowed to over take him. When the second moan came it was stronger. Severus sat up straight in his chair and scrubbed his hands over his face. The lantern by the bed cast shadows over the slightly moving form of his son.
"Dad?" Harry's voice came in a light whisper.
"I'm here."
Harry turned his head towards the sound of his father's voice and cracked his eyes. "Hi."
"Welcome back."
Harry nodded into his pillow. "Did it work?"
"Like a charm," Severus said with a smile.
"No problems destroying it?"
"Not a one. Remus had an impressive patronus. It overtook the soul fragment and destroyed it with little more than a call of his voice. A brilliant example of the charm actually."
"You sound really pleased," Harry said with a smile.
"Of course I am. This could have gone far worse than it did."
"I told you, you can't get rid of me that easily."
"No I fear I'm stuck with you forever," Severus said in jest.
Harry laughed lightly then allowed his eyelids to once more fall closed.
"Are you still tired," Severus asked.
"No energy. Sort of exhausted I guess; like I've gone twelve hours on the quidditch pitch and still no snitch in sight."
"Sounds horrifying," Severus said in a cross between mocking laughter and true concern.
"Nah. I'll be fine after I sleep." Harry opened his eyes and realized it was dark around the ward. "What time is it?"
Severus cast a quick tempest charm. "Just have three in the morning. We should wake Poppy to have a look over you before you go back to sleep."
Harry didn't argue. He just nodded his head and waited for his father to fetch the matronly witch.
Moments after Severus left the room he returned with the witch in tow. "Well Mr. Potter you do look a sight better than you did some twelve hours ago. Now let's have a look and make sure everything is as it should be."
The mediwitch cast several medicinal charms over Harry, tutting quietly to herself as she worked. She left the room and returned with two vials of potion in hand. "You, young man are severally depleted." She passed him the first vial. "Drink; it's for your natural vitamin and mineral levels. I suspect the poison then the antidote is to blame for such low levels of the more basic nutrients not being present in your blood. Nothing a good potion can't cure I assure you. As for this one," she said as she passed him the second vial and taking the first, "this one is to help you build back up some energy while you sleep. Get a more quality rest this time around so you don't wake up feeling like a flobberworm next time. I would normally give you a spot of sleeping potion, but after the overdose you had of it this afternoon I don't believe that would be very wise so you'll just have to count sheep or have Severus here fetch you a cup of warm milk if you have trouble going back to sleep." The witch grabbed the second empty vial from the young man. "Now off to bed, both of you. Yes Severus, I mean you as well. You've sat vigil by his bedside all day. It's time for you to rest as well. I expect closed eyes and soft snores out of both of you when I make my morning rounds," she said briskly as she moved out of the room. "I mean it Severus," she called over her shoulder as she walked out the door and pulled it closed behind her.
"That woman," Severus muttered to himself.
"Cares about you," Harry said. "She's a mediwitch Dad; don't expect her not to worry over you. It's her job after all."
Severus looked at his son. "When did you get so smart?"
"When you killed me," he replied with a smirk and a laugh. Severus's face turned blank. "Dad I was just joking. It worked. You did what you had to do. I'm fine. No lasting harm done."
"It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life Harry."
"I know Dad. I'm sorry I had to put you in that position."
"You didn't. The Dark Lord did Harry. Even if he is unaware of it. I'll seek my revenge against him in time."
"Dad I plan on seeking revenge for a lot of people, myself included."
"Not by yourself. You will not stand alone Harry. I swear it, so long as there is breath in my body, I'll do anything I can to help you win this fight."
"Thanks Dad."
"No need. It's what a father does for his son Harry. We stand up for our sons and fight."
Severus gave his son's hand one more squeeze before dropping it back to the bed. He moved from the chair to lay down on the bed beside Harry's. "Good night Harry."
"Night Dad."
Harry smiled. Life was good. The last horcrux was officially destroyed. He had three very good friends if you counted Draco who he knew he could trust with his life. He had a father. A father; the novel concept just seemed to amaze him even now. His eyelids drifted shut and a smile graced his face. Yes life was definitely looking up for Harry Potter.
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Hermione, Draco, and Hermione's parents all gathered in the living room with Hermione and Draco's bags by the door. "Thanks again Dad. I just love this," Hermione said as she pointed to the fine cashmere sweater she was wearing that her father had given her for Christmas.
"I'm glad you like it. You know how much I detest going shopping with your mother. So here she has me traipsing all over Paris with my credit card in hand just waiting to spend, spend, spend. She drags me in this shop and there it was. It just reminded me so much of you that I had to buy it.
"It's beautiful Da."
Jane smiled and enveloped Hermione in a hug. "You stay safe dearest. I know things aren't too settled in your world right now. Keep us informed. You know we'll do anything to help you that we can. I might not be able to do magic, but I can cook or something."
"Thanks Mom," Hermione said with a smile.
"Mr. Malfoy, I expect you to take care of my daughter. She's the only one I have. I plan to keep her if you don't mind."
"Not at all sir; I plan on the same thing to be honest," he said quietly to Hermione's father so she wouldn't hear him.
David nodded. "When you decide that for sure, come see me. We'll have a bit of a talk about it."
"Yes sir," Draco replied.
The sound of a taxi horn outside broke the group up.
"Draco we need to go."
"I guess we do." Draco turned and bowed slightly to Hermione's parents. "It was lovely to meet you both. I hope we are able to do so again."
"Well aren't you just he most debonair thing," Jane said to Draco. "We'll see you both again sometime soon I'm sure. Term won't last too much longer. You'll have graduated before you know it. Now go on before your cabbie leaves you. Have a nice term sweetie, Draco."
The group walked out of the house onto the front step. Hermione wrapped her arms around her mother then her father for one last quick hug before grabbing her bag from her father's hand. "Love you Mum. Love you Da."
"Love you too Hermione. Be safe," her father called as she dashed down the walk behind Draco to the waiting cab.
David wrapped his arm around Jane as they watched the two young people get in the cab and pull away. "I do believe that young man is going to marry her," he said to his wife.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they eloped before the end of term myself," Jane said with a wistful smile.
"My daughter would not do such a thing."
Jane laughed. "Just like we never did such a thing David?"
David Granger looked at his wife, kissed her on top of the head, and smiled. "No you're right, she's just like us. They may make it to the end of term unmarried but I suspect they'll be married before Bonfire night this year. Let's hope they at least refrain from making us grandparents till their war is over."
"Indeed," Jane replied.