This scene happens shortly after Act Four Scene Twelve or Thirteen, but back in normal time. Delphiʼs been delivered up to the Aurors and the protagonists return home.
With Albus nestled in her arms, Ginny sank into the nearest seat while Ron and Hermione settled down opposite her. With a sigh of relief, Draco dropped Scorpiusʼs limp form on a seat on the other side of the aisle before collapsing himself next to his son. Harry gave Ginny one reproachful glance before he took the seat facing his former arch-enemy.
Muggles settled down in compartments around them and Harry quickly put his jacket on the free seat next to him though the train was not even half full – a fact that greatly relieved Harryʼs conscience from taking up the extra-space. Ron leant back and closed his eyes, taking Hermioneʼs hand, who watched him with silent amusement. Albusʼs head dropped on his motherʼs shoulder and Ginny softly rocked him to and fro. Draco smiled down at Scorpiusʼs peaceful face, cradling the boyʼs head in his lap. Harry stretched out his hand across the aisle and caressed Ginnyʼs arm, making her turn.
ʻWhat?ʼ she asked, snatching his hand in hers, continuing to rock Albus.
ʻNothing,ʼ answered Harry, smiling weakly. ʻI just needed to know youʼre here.ʼ
ʻHas your eyesight deteriorated so suddenly?ʼ said Ginny with a smile before she had to let go of Harryʼs hand to allow a Muggle to get past them.
ʻTheseʼve been some stressful hours,ʼ mumbled Harry, but Hermione put a finger to her lip and pointed warningly at the surrounding Muggles. Harry nodded to her, slightly annoyed at her lack of trust in his common sense.
ʻRon would subscribe there, wouldnʼt you Ron?ʼ asked Ginny, treading mockingly on his foot.
ʻBeing but a little sister, I refuse you the right to speak up in front of your elders.ʼ
ʻRon!ʼ
ʻReally,ʼ said Ron, opening his eyes to witness Ginnyʼs amusement and Hermioneʼs reproach. ʻThere a poor old man is driven through the most mortal perils and all he gets as reward are heartless sneers.ʼ
ʻPoor little Ronniekins.ʼ
Draco sniggered what caused Ron to look a bit more outraged at Ginny than he would usually have done. ʻDo you have any idea how serious this business has been?ʼ he asked, glaring at his sister. ʻHow high the risks were? We could all have died! If it had not been for me and Weasleyʼs Wiz-ʼ
ʻShhh,ʼ hissed Hermione. ʻWeʼre on a train.ʼ
ʻYes, yes,ʼ grumbled Ron. ʻBut the idea that the Aurors will make a mistake and the second we arrive in London the whole Ministryʼll sweep down on us because she escaped, committed a mass-murder-ʼ
ʻVery impressive, I didnʼt know you possess any imagination, Weasleyʼ cut in Draco, looking up for a second from his son to sneer at Ron.
ʻIf you think thatʼs a laughing matter-ʼ began Ron, but Hermione put a hand on his arm.
ʻPlease,ʼ she said. ʻCanʼt we behave like grown-up people.ʼ
With an angry snort, Ron turned his back on her and glared at the few people on the platform as the train slowly started to move. Hermione smiled and shook her head before she turned to look at Draco instead, who was again focused on his son. She hesitated a moment, then got to her feet and stood next to Harry, leaning over to contemplate the sleeping boy. Draco tore his eyes from him to look questioningly at Hermione.
ʻYou know,ʼ she said, ʻIʼve heard of him from Rose and this didnʼt really prepare me for the real person.ʼ
Draco shrugged. ʻScorpius says that Rose is witty, charming and brave. What did you hear of him?ʼ
Hermione chuckled with slight embarrassment. ʻThat he was a weepy, little coward. But I think that was after he got better marks than she in History of Magic.ʼ
Draco caressed his sonʼs hair. ʻHe learnt reading with Bathilda Bagshotʼs A History of Magic. And the first thing he ever wanted for his Birthday was a copy of Hogwarts. A History─ʼ
ʻHorrible,ʼ muttered Ron, earning himself a kick against the shin from Ginny.
ʻThanks,ʼ saluted her Draco.
ʻMy pleasure.ʼ
Rolling her eyes and trying not to grin, Hermione staggered back to her seat. After a moment of silence, she carefully looked around, drew her wand and pointed it at the Muggle passengers.
ʻMuffliato!ʼ
She observed the aisle for some seconds to make sure that no one payed them any attention, then turned to her companions. ʻNow,ʼ she said decidedly. ʻWe are still left with some questions.ʼ As the others gaped at her in silence, she sighed. ʻA couple of them Delphi should be able to answer for us. For example, how did she know about the Time-Turner. Did she have any accomplices, for example where is Rodolphus Lestrange. Or─ʼ
ʻOr for example, why has her cousin been unaware of her existence,ʼ cut in Ron, turning from the window and looking sharply past Hermione at Draco.
Slowly the others turned to Draco too, who looked thoroughly taken aback. ʻMy cousin...ʼ he repeated.
Hermione frowned. ʻSorry Draco, but Ronʼs got a point. She said she was born at your house. How could your parents not have noticed. Why didnʼt you notice, you were there for the Easter holidays.ʼ
ʻYes, because Aunt Bellatrix was so someone to cuddle up to,ʼ spit Draco, glaring at her and causing Scorpius to slightly stir in his sleep. Ron already opened his mouth for a furious retort, but a look of Hermione silenced him. Draco looked around at the puzzled to (in Ron's case) hateful gazes that were directed at him until he added defensively, ʻYou didnʼt discern anything as well.ʼ
ʻI beg your pardon, but we were a bit preoccupied,ʼ hissed Ron back. ʻProbably it escaped your notice, but Hermione was being tortured nearly to death.ʼ
ʻStop it,ʼ cut in Ginny. ʻItʼs a bit late now to come up with charges.ʼ
ʻI didnʼt-ʼ
ʻRon!ʼ exclaimed Hermione, patting his arms. ʻAs Ginny and I are the only people present who have any experience with being pregnant, we should mention that it is indeed not especially difficult to hide this with magic. With some background it is also relatively unproblematic for a witch to deal with child birth by herself-ʼ
ʻReally?ʼ said Harry and glanced at Ginny. ʻThat sounded an awful lot more difficult when the midwife explained stuff to me.ʼ
ʻI didnʼt say itʼs advisable, only that itʼs possible. Concerning magical children, there can arise certain complications-ʼ
ʻThatʼs not that important now, is it?ʼ interrupted Ginny. ʻPoint is, it would have been possible to have a baby without anybody noticing, but to clarify this: do you think your parents knew, Draco?ʼ
ʻIʼm...ʼ he started. ʻI canʼt believe... I suppose Father didnʼt. He would have reported it, I think, he couldnʼt have had any interest in sparing her... Mother, Iʼm not sure... She was... not exactly close... Motherʼs relationship with Bellatrix was... I never really understood... but she might still have felt loyal to her... I do remember that Bellatrix was far less tortured than the rest of us when you escaped from the manor. But I just thought that was because she was more important... she was also the only one who got a wand again... Probably Lestrange will be able to say something and the people she grew up with-ʼ
ʻWhat troubles me much more,ʼ cut in Hermione, massaging her forehead, ʻis, why would Voldemort want a child?ʼ
ʻYes, Iʼve been wondering this too,ʼ said Harry slowly.
ʻProbably to have more influence by someone else helping him to rule,ʼ suggested Ron.
Harry shook his head. ʻThat doesnʼt make sense. Why would he want to share power, that is just not-ʼ
Ginny sucked in breath harshly.
ʻWhat?ʼ said Hermione.
ʻWell,ʼ she said hesitantly, looking strangely timid. ʻHe would only have to share if he hadnʼt been quite certain of Delphi being enough a part of him...ʼ
ʻWhen youʼve stopped being cryptic, please inform us,ʼ said Ron testily.
ʻNo, Ron,ʼ said Hermione, her eyes starting to gleam. ʻIf Delphi had not only been his daughter, but really a part of Voldemort─ʼ
ʻYou canʼt be implying that Voldemort would have wanted a child to make another Horcrux?ʼ said Harry, straightening up quickly. The mere idea made him feel sick and judging from Dracoʼs and Ronʼs expressions they were equally disgusted.
ʻWhy not?ʼ asked Hermione, her enthusiasm jarringly contrasting with the otherʼs nausea. ʻHe long knew the diary was destroyed. Would it be so strange if he wanted a substitute? He already had turned Nagini into a Horcrux, so he had experience with using living beings. He would have wanted the baby ready for when he finally killed you.ʼ
Harry stared at Hermioneʼs solved-riddle expression, not managing to mutter anything but, ʻThatʼs sick.ʼ
ʻWell, we arenʼt talking about the wizarding worldʼs sweetheart are we?ʼ said Ron, finding his good humour again. ʻHa, Delphi should be grateful we saved her from such a fate.ʼ
ʻShe looked mad enough to covet it,ʼ interjected Ginny, nose wrinkled.
ʻWe will certainly question her accordingly,ʼ said Hermione. ʻBut I donʼt think Voldemort would have communicated his plans of needing the child for a Horcrux if this had really been his plan. He told nobody about them, after all. And speaking about questioning her. The Aurors are now placing her in Azkaban, but she has – like everybody else – a right to be properly tried and convicted. And I am sorry, but Albus as well as Scorpius will have to testify in the trial.ʼ
She looked first at Albus, sleeping on his motherʼs shoulder, but Ginny mouthed ʻLaterʼ and Hermione nodded in agreement. When she looked at Scorpius, his father had already shaken him awake. The boy sat up, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
ʻWhat?ʼ he muttered.
ʻYouʼll have to witness,ʼ said Hermione. ʻAgainst Delphini Lestrange.ʼ
ʻOh,ʼ said Scorpius, blinking as his eyes focused on Hermione. ʻIs that her real name?ʼ
ʻYes,ʼ said Hermione soothingly. ʻShe said so when talking to Harry. Sheʼs your great-auntʼs daughter.ʼ
ʻWeʼre... related?ʼ Scorpius looked up at his father, his eyes widening in horror.
ʻWho claimed this imbecile is intelligent?ʼ grumbled Ron.
ʻYou,ʼ stated Hermione.
Ginny did her best not to shake too much with giggling so as not to disturb Albus while Harry had an equally hard time keeping a straight face at his friendʼs expression.
ʻYou compared him to Hermione when we were discussing the historical details of the attack on my parents,ʼ he pointed out, earning himself a look of utmost betrayal from Ron.
ʻAnd I do hope you consider me intelligent,ʼ Hermione said smugly, adding ʻWhatʼs the matter Draco?ʼ when he shook his head.
ʻItʼs just so surreal to be proud to have my son compared to you.ʼ
ʻThe comparison is completely in favour of Hermione.ʼ
ʻRon!ʼ
ʻItʼs still better to be compared to her than to be but her appendix,ʼ hissed Draco.
ʻI take pride in being Hermioneʼs appendix.ʼ
ʻDonʼt the Muggle Healers cut that thing away?ʼ
Hermione wrung her hands and looked deploringly at Ginny while Scorpius seemed to be in extreme danger of dislocating the bones in his neck by constantly turning from his father to Ron. After some deliberation, Ginny kicked Ron again which silenced him long enough to enable Hermione to turn to Scorpius.
ʻI heard youʼre taking Arithmancy. How do you like the subject?ʼ
The rest of the journey, Harry and Ron spent most of their time exchanging looks of increasing annoyance as Hermione and Scorpius emerged deeper and deeper into theories neither of them understood and they were sitting too far apart for any other conversation while Ginny and Draco seemed completely happy with gazing at their children. When the train finally reached London, Ron sighed deeply.
ʻI canʼt wait to be away from that nightmare. Where is a troll when you really need one?ʼ
ʻWould you like to use our chimney?ʼ forced Harry himself to say to Draco whose hand had ominously twitched towards his wand at Ronʼs words.
ʻWhy donʼt you stay with us until the boys return to Hogwarts?ʼ said Ginny cheerfully.
Draco looked undecidedly between Harry and Ginny. ʻYou know,ʼ Ginny continued as she got to her feet, ʻAlbus and Scorpius need some sleep and weʼve got more than enough bedrooms. And theyʼll both need new wands, you reach Diagon Alley more comfortably from Grimmauld Place.ʼ
ʻTo be honest, Harry,ʼ cut in Ron. ʻI wouldnʼt say no to a glass of your mead. We can shut up Hermione and Scorpius in Kreacherʼs old cupboard and have a fine little feast.ʼ
ʻVery funny, Ron,ʼ grumbled Ginny, bending over Albus to wake him up. ʻBut I suppose I couldnʼt get rid of you without losing Hermione. So, are we agreed?ʼ
ʻTo Grimmauld Place?ʼ asked Hermione.
ʻTo Grimmauld Place,ʼ confirmed Harry. ʻCome, Albus, letʼs get off this train like civilised people.ʼ
Albus smiled weakly and led the way to the platform of Muggle London.
A/N Well, I think thatʼs it, at least for the moment (I might make some additions later, so if youʼre scandalized because what you were waiting for never happened, PM me). Thanks for reading, favouriting, following and reviewing. Iʼll put up next a short story (+5000 words) about Hermione visiting Malfoy Manor when Scorpius is around nine, so I hope youʼre interested.