Disclaimer: I live in Texas, not Scotland, so I am obviously not JK Rowling. I'm just playing with the wonderful characters that she created. I promise that I will put them back the way I found them when I'm done!

AN:Here's the next chappie!! Thanks to all who reviewed. As always, please R&R. My muse loves the attention.

Visited Upon the Son

© SparkyCSI

10. What's in a name?

The day after their successful first date, both Hermione and Draco awoke feeling pleased. Hermione was surprised that during the entire evening she did not once think about Lucius. Draco was surprised because Hermione had let down her guard a bit.

Rising from his bed, Draco carefully got ready. He looked around his room and found a book that he had been reading on transfigurations. He picked it up, studying it. It was an original copy of a manuscript written by Rowena Ravenclaw. Huh. I wonder if Hermione would like to borrow this. This seems to be just what she would love to read.

With a grin on his face, he picked up the book and made a hurried plan to bring her breakfast in her quarters.

Meanwhile, Hermione was stretching luxuriously in bed. She felt well rested. As she opened her eyes, to get up, she made a realization. Hum. I didn't have a nightmare last night. Trying to figure out why, she was puzzled. Finally, after lying in bed for thirty minutes, she decided to get up.

After taking a soothing bath, she got dressed in a simple pair of jogging pants and a sweatshirt. She decided to begin her letter to Ginny, to fulfil her promise to Owl her as soon as she awoke after the date.

Smiling her herself, she pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write. As soon as she had written her salutation, there was a soft knock at the door. Putting down the quill, she padded softly to the door, opening it to see a smiling Draco standing there, holding a covered tray.

"Good morning," he said softly.

Hermione smiled, heat rising to her cheeks. "Good morning."

"I brought you some breakfast. Are you hungry?"

Hermione nodded as she motioned for him to enter. "A little. I just got up and haven't had a chance to eat yet," she replied whilst they walked to her small breakfast nook.

Draco set the breakfast down, and whipped the lid off with a flourish. He grinned as Hermione's eyes opened wide with the variety that she was presented with. "I had the elves make your favourites," he said shyly.

Hermione looked at the selection varying from fruits to porridge. "Thanks. This is so thoughtful," she said with a smile.

Draco shrugged. "I also have a gift for you," he said as he handed her the manuscript. "Although, I do want it back at some point."

Hermione looked down at the book, a look of shock overtaking her face. "Is this really…" she trailed off at a loss for words.

Draco nodded. "Yeah. An original manuscript by Rowena Ravenclaw. The language is a bit archaic, but I think that you of all people will be able to make it out. I've read about half of it and it is fascinating."

Hermione was unable to contain her excitement and she threw herself at Draco, wrapping him in a hug. "Oh Merlin, Draco. This is fabulous," she whispered.

Draco tightened his arms around him, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. "You're welcome, 'Mione," he returned whilst giving her a small kiss on the cheek.

Hermione stiffed immediately at the use of her old nickname. Guilt running through her, she removed herself from Draco's arms.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Draco asked in concern.

Hermione looked at him, seeing the concern and tried to respond as the tears welled up in her eyes. "I…um….Please don't call me that."

"Don't call you what? Hermione?" Draco asked, confused.

Hermione shook her head. "No. 'Mione."

Draco furrowed his brows. "I thought that was your nickname? Why can't I use your nickname?" he asked, his voice becoming edged with anger.

Hermione swallowed hard. "It's not my nickname. I haven't been called that in five years. No one…nobody has called me that since Ron and Harry were killed," she said, trailing off in tears.

Draco mentally kicked himself, feeling like a git for bringing those memories back to her. Quickly, he wrapped his arms back around her, slowly running his hand up and down her back as he tried to soothe her. "I'm sorry. I didn't think." He thought for a moment. "That's why Minerva calls you Mia, isn't it?" He felt her nod. "Okay. Is it okay if I call you Mia?"

Hermione drew back, starting to calm down. "That's fine," she muttered. "I'm sorry. Even after all this time, losing them still hurts." She sat down at the table and stared into the fire, watching the flickering flames.

Draco sat opposite of her, also staring into the fire. He thought back to his mother, who had been killed by the Dark Lord minutes before Harry had killed him. "I think I know what you mean. Every once and a while, something will remind me of Mother and the pain is almost crippling."

That quiet statement brought Hermione out of her daze. "Did Voldemort kill her?"

Draco continued to stare in the flames as he allowed himself to think of that fateful day. "Yeah. From what I found out, he was displeased that he was losing the war and he blamed my father, whom had already been killed by Weasley. So, he tortured and killed her moments before Potter confronted him. For years afterwards, I burdened myself with what ifs. Eventually, I had a long talk with Andromeda and managed to put it behind me. For the most part."

Hermione smiled softly as she laid her hand on his. "I know what you mean about the what ifs. I still sometimes think that if I had just changed one thing, then Harry and Ron would have lived. It's like torture, isn't it?"

Draco nodded in his understanding. "You know," he started. "It's nice to talk to someone who understands the guilt."

Hermione laughed a little. "Guilt? I have that in spades. I was the brains of the so called "Golden Trio" and I am the only one that survived. I let the entire Weasley family down. Not only did they lose three members of their family, but they also lost Harry, whom they regarded as another son."

"Mia," Draco said earnestly. "You can't blame yourself. We were kids, battling a megalomaniacal arsehole. We were all caught up in something that was out of our control."

Hermione looked into his warm silver eyes. "How did you get out? I know you didn't fight in the final battle."

Draco sighed, picking at his food. "After that whole debacle with Dumbledore, Snape took me into hiding. I lived like a Muggle for close to a year. It was there that I really began to understand them. They're not so different from us. When the Final Battle was upon us, Snape brought us back to the Order. Minerva offered me protection in exchange for any information that I had on my father."

"What was your father like?" Hermione asked.

"Before he got involved with the Dark Lord again? He was strict, but I saw glimmers of the love he held for me. After the Dark Lord came back, he changed completely. He constantly pushed for perfection, disciplining me if I got even one thing wrong." Draco laughed wryly. "I must say, you made my life a living hell. Your scores always beat mine and Father didn't understand why I couldn't best you in them."

Hermione smiled. "Maybe you should have studied harder."

Draco laughed. "I don't think I could have. As much as people didn't believe I studied, I was always up until the wee hours of the morning, doing my homework, reading ahead. Doing anything I could to try and beat you."

"Really? I never knew that. I worked so hard to keep my grades up and it was so hard with all the extracurricular activities that we got up to." Hermione rolled her eyes. "We were always out after curfew. If it hadn't been for Harry's cloak, we would have been expelled so many times!"

Draco looked at her, noticing that her face was lighting up with the good memories. He felt a heaviness enter his chest, feeling jealousy at her good memories of school. His memories consisted of trying to be the Slytherin Prince. The epitome of perfection, charm and Pureblood royalty. He shook the feeling off and smiled at her. "Why don't you tell me about it?" he asked, wanting to hear more of her exploits.

Hermione settled back in her seat, her eyes lighting up. "Well, it all started in our first year," she began.

AN: Okay. So sorry to make you wait...But yeah! I finished chapter 16 and am just waiting on my beta to get it back to me. (:D) Thanks for all the reviews!

christy86 - Thanks! Here you go. (:p)

KlingonGal - Thanks so much! I hope you keep up with the story.

blaire08 - It is very sad that Ron and Harry had to die, but I just couldn't write this story without them being dead. It becomes important in later chapters for how some events played out. Thanks for the review!

LosingTrack - Thanks! I'm glad you're liking it.

HotKat144 - That was a fun chapter to write. Alas, things are going to get bumpy for them!

Bella1992 - I love Neville and Luna together, too. I've actually got a couple of chapters of a Neville and Luna story written, but my muse has no inspiration for that, so hopefully I can finish it soon! Thanks for the review!

crystal stardust - There will be...it will be awhile for them since I have to deal with Hermione actually telling Draco what happened to her. Things get a little dark for a while, but I love happy endings, so it will have a happy ending! Thanks!

woaivampireboys - Here ya go! I do update weekly (either Thursday or Friday, depending on how much I'm working), so I promise regular updates!