Lucius Malfoy pushed open the door to Malfoy Manor, holding it open for his son, who was staring at the ground, walking slower than normal, his thoughts on what he had just done to his wife. Lucius shut the door behind him, turning and walking past Draco who was now standing in the foyer, face void of all emotion. "Cissy!" Lucius yelled into the house "Draco's going to be staying with us for a few days!" Draco glanced up to look at his father, still saying nothing.
"Draco!" Narcissa said happily, her arms stretched out to pull him into a hug as she went to him. "How are you?" She smiled, kissing his cheek and pushing his hair back, much like she did when Draco was a small boy and his short bangs fell into his eyes. "Where are Isabella and the children? Will they be along soon?"
This set off a small fire inside of him, his eyes now meeting his mother. "I... I could have killed her." To Narcissa, he probably sounded insane, but all he could think about was Izzy, laying on the ground in her wolf form, crying and whining because of him. "They're going to hate me now. The kids. Just like..." Draco's eyes slowly trailed over to Lucius. His kids would hate him just like he hated his own father.
Narcissa's eyes met Lucius' briefly before turning her attention back over to Draco. "Draco, what happened?" She laid her hand on his cheek, and shifted his head so Draco would have to look at her.
"She wanted him gone." Draco spat, looking at the ground. "She tried to protect the kids, and instead of me listening to her, I protected the one person in the world who I owe nothing." Draco backed away from his mother, advancing on Lucius now. "I hurt my wife to defend you! She probably hates me now! My kids hate me!" The small fire inside of him had finally erupted.
"I asked you beforehand if it was alright for me to come visit the manor. You're the one who insisted I go today, even though I mentioned it might have been too soon to do so." Lucius sighed, "I'm sorry she was injured, but you can't blame this on me Draco. I didn't come off as threatening. In fact, your sons' were more eager to be rid of me, so don't blame me for what happened." His face forming a scowl as he was arguing right back, defending himself from being accused of a crime he didn't commit.
"You started this over ten years ago!" Draco yelled back, feeling his hand shaking at his sides. "Why couldn't you have just accepted the person I choose to be with!?" He took another couple steps towards his father. "She told me I was turning into you and it took me until just now to realize that she was right! I hated you, HATED you my entire life! And now my kids are going to hate me too!"
Lucius didn't seemed phased by his comment and shook his head with disapproval. "Hate me all you want Draco. But if it weren't for me. You'd all be dead right now." With a glare directed at his son, he said, "You think the dark lord would have let your little wife live if you hadn't taken the dark mark?! Think you would still be alive?! Think any of us would be standing here if it weren't for me?!"
"Don't give me that shit! I decided to take the Dark Mark! You didn't make that decision for anyone! You were going to kill Izzy, and if it wasn't for me convincing you, LYING to you about really being on your side, you would have! You did nothing but rot away under the shadow of an evil man! When I was locked here in the manor, Isabella risked life and limb to come get me, you didn't save me! And when mum was locked in the dungeon to be put to death by Voldemort, you didn't save her either! Did you want to know who did save her!? Isabella's father!"
"That's not true. Payne wouldn't save one of us. Not after what we did to his little brat." Lucius scoffed, and rolled his eyes. "Payne ransacked the house and took many of us into custody, some killed. One of the other Aurors, saved Narcissa. It wasn't Payne, and nothing you say is going to make me believe you."
"Well you did nothing!" Draco snapped through his teeth. "Nothing! Even if it wasn't Dexter, at least he put you away." Draco couldn't take it anymore. "You told me you wanted to change, but so far you haven't been able to call my family anything but names! My wife: Payne's little brat, her name is Isabella Malfoy! And whether you like it or not, she's your daughter in law! And my sons, their names are Scorpius and Tyler and they are your fucking grandchildren!"
"Draco, son, please calm down." Narcissa placed her hand on Draco's shoulder, gently prying him away from striking his father; which is what he seemed like he wanted to do. Her tone of voice was soft, and gentle.
Draco pulled away from his mother. "I can't stay here. I can't stay under this roof, not as long as he's here!" He pointed a finger at Lucius. "You stay the hell away from me and my family. I don't ever want to see you again!"
Draco turned away from his father, turning to his mother and placing a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry mum. I love you." He said, shooting anther glare at his father before starting to head for the door.
"Sweetie, do you need anything?" Caroline asked and nodded her head as she listened over the receiver.
"Alright, call me if something comes up. And I'll be over later to check on your mum. Don't worry, it will all be alright, Scorpius. Watch your sister, and be nice to her." She smiled. "I love you guys. Bye." With that she hung up the phone, shaking her head and running her hand through her hair.
"What the hell is going on in Malfoy's head?"
Draco Malfoy stood outside of the Zabini Manor, staring at the door for a few seconds before knocking. He knew that while Blaise was his best friend, he and Caroline would side with Izzy. He didn't blame them. Hell, he even sided with Izzy. But he had nowhere else to go.
"He's already done?" Caroline asked herself, stepping to the door. "Knowing Blaise, he probably forgot something." She chuckled, and pulled the door open, her smile dropping, and now laced with anger.
"You have a hell of a lot of nerve showing your face around her, Draco! What the hell is wrong with you?! What in your mind possessed you to do that to Izzy!? Do you have any idea how the kids are feeling right now?"
"I-I know... I'm sorry." He looked down at the ground nervously. "I wasn't thinking. I was just trying to defend my father. I made a mistake and was more than stupid. I didn't realize I was making the biggest mistake of my life."
"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Last I heard from Scorpius, you left with Lucius."
He looked back up at Caroline. "I know you're on Izzy's side in all this, and that you probably hate me right now, but I can't stay with my father. I was wrong about him. I... I don't have anywhere else to go, Caroline. I need a place to stay."
She let out a sigh, and her crossed arms fell to her side, as she moved out of the way, and allowed him gateway inside the house. "Come in." She said, staring out into the opposing wall. "You can use one of the guest rooms. I'd wait a while before going over and apologizing. It took me forever to try and calm Scor down over the phone."
"Thank you." Draco said stepping in. "Is- is Izzy alright? I mean, I didn't hurt her that bad. Did I?"
"I'm not sure. I'm waiting for Blaise to come back and let me know what's going on. Scorpius told me that Blaise was in the room with her, when I called." She shrugged, "But from what he told me, Blaise had to carry her up the stairs because she couldn't walk without crying."
Draco felt his breath hitch in his throat at hearing Caroline's words. He shook his head, falling down onto one of the chairs in the foyer, his hands falling into his head. "I could have killed her." He mumbled, his voice shaking, tears starting to form in his eyes.
"Do you want me to get you something? Some tea? Or maybe a pastry? You're a bit pale. Paler than usual anyway."
At her mentioning how pale he looked, he realized how broken he really was. He was falling apart. "Some water. Please." He needed to calm down. He would give Izzy and the kids a couple days and then make it up to them somehow. Freaking out about everything now wouldn't help him at all.
Caroline nodded and went off into the kitchen; filling a glass with water and handing it over to Draco. "I'm sure she's alright Draco. We've both seen her go through a lot worse than this. She'll bounce back and be up on her feet in no time."
"Yeah..." Draco wanted to say that she shouldn't be hurt and she shouldn't have to bounce back, because he never should have done anything to her. But he felt like a broken record, and right now, he just wanted to be alone. "Thanks for the water, Caroline. And thanks for letting me stay here. I think I'm going to go lay down."
"Feel free to take any room you like. Petrie will bring some dinner up to you later if you're hungry." She forced a smile at him, and gave his shoulder a soft squeeze before leaving him to his thoughts.
Draco glanced at her, wanting to give her a thankful smile, but wasn't able to even force it. He made his way into the first room he saw, falling face forward into the bed after placing his water on the bedside table. He told himself he wouldn't feel sorry for himself, but in the silence of the manor, he couldn't help it as his thoughts went to his family.
"Hey, how is she?"
"Better. I've got her pretty heavily sedated with potions. I gave them to Tyler so he could continue to give them to her." Blaise said, setting his bag down on the table, and going straight for his liquor cabinet, pulling out some whiskey and pouring it in a tumbler. He leaned up against the counter, taking a sip and looking exhausted. "She broke a rib and bruised her back, but she should be up in about a week, two at the max. Knowing Izzy though, we'll see her, a lot sooner than that."
"There's something you should know. Draco's here."
"What? Since when?"
"Pretty much after you left. He came, said he got into an argument with his father and asked if he could stay for a few days."
Blaise took another sip of his drink and nodded, "When are you going to the Malfoy's?"
"Right now, actually. I was getting some things ready to spend the night there and watch the kids." Caroline said, lifting her small suitcase off the ground.
"Alright, call me if you guys need anything. I love you." He kissed her right before she went into the fireplace, using the floo network and vanishing into a flash of green flames.
"I didn't do it on purpose, Blaise." Draco peered around from the corner of the hallway. "I know you and Caroline... and Izzy... and the kids, probably all hate me right now, but I just need someone to believe me when I say that I didn't mean to hurt her like that. I would never..."
"I don't hate you Draco." Blaise had his back turned to him, as Draco approached him. Knowing his best friend, he grabbed another glass out of instinct and filled it for him with whiskey. "Here, take some. It'll help with the stress." He slid it over to the other end of the table, drinking some more from his own glass.
Draco grabbed it. "Thanks." He said, taking a sip and then lowering it back down from his lips again. "How are the kids?" He asked. "I know they probably can't stand me." He sighed. "You should have seen the way they looked at me."
"Do you really want to know?" Blaise asked, somewhat absentmindedly, staring at the liquid swirling around in his glass. Turning around and leaning against the table.
Draco nodded. "I'll find out eventually anyway. I need to make it up to them." He brought the liquor back up to his lips, taking another, longer sip.
"I've never seen Scorpius so pissed. And Tyler was no different, yet, he handled the situation a lot better than I thought he would have. He's been very mature. He could easily be a healer one day." He smiled, "What did surprise me was what they told Sophia."
"What?" Draco asked quickly. "Oh, Merlin, I couldn't stand it if she hated me." He brows furrowed in concern, looking even more upset than usual. "... My little girl."
Blaise sighed, "Draco. She doesn't even know that you were involved in the accident. The boys told Sophia that Isabella fell and hurt herself while you were at work. Then they went ahead and said you were on another business trip and didn't say when you would be back."
Draco couldn't help but smile slightly, some hope building up in him. "They don't hate me." He laughed slightly, taking another sip of his drink. "She told me I was turning into him, Blaise. And I didn't even realize it until just then. I'm a horrible father."
"Tyler's exact words were:
'Sophia is innocent in all this, and she shouldn't have to suffer if we can have any say in the matter.' "
Draco shook his head, grinning. "Think they'll all eventually forgive me for everything I've ever done?"
"Draco." Blaise paused, setting his drink down and crossing his arms over his chest. "You've been through so much with Izzy over the past decade. If she's still with you after all that, then I'm sure they'll forgive you. Just be ready for Isabella to yell at you and possibly beat the shit out of you for what happened."
Draco laughed, nodding his head. "I know Izzy will forgive me. We always forgive each other. But the kids... they've never seen me like this. They've never had to. My father was always in prison. He was never in our lives until now." Draco took another sip of his drink. "He told me none of this was his fault. And it made me think... what if it isn't? Is that crazy?"
"We all want to forgive the ones we care about Draco. Which is why I feel you gave him a second chance. It doesn't make you crazy, it makes you human." Blaise shrugged, giving Draco a clap on the back, and forcing a smile.
Draco smiled over at his best friend. "Thanks, Blaise." He took a sip of his drink. "That really means a lot to me. I only wish Izzy could see that too." He sighed, knowing it was going to take a miracle for his wife to ever forgive him for what he did.
"Uncle Dom! Uncle Dom!"
Dominic groaned in his sleep, turning away from the Malfoy who was nudging his arm and shaking him.
"Uncle Dom! Wake up!"
"Not now, Tyler. Can't it wait?"
"No, Uncle Dom. Please, it's important." Tyler pleaded.
Dominic rubbed his eyes and groggily turned to face him. "Alright, Tyler, what's so important that it couldn't wait. And couldn't you get Caroline to help you with this?"
Tyler shook his head, "I can't tell her, its kind of private." He sighed and nervously twitted with his hands. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone but-I think that my friend needs help."
Dom perked up at this sudden bit of news. "What's wrong Tyler? Who needs help?"
"Umm..." He glanced down at the ground, not wanting to admit his secret. "If you knew someone who was getting hurt and you couldn't do anything about it yourself, but you're not supposed to tell anybody, what would you do?" He finally looked up at his uncle, his eyes showing how worried he really was.
"Tyler, who exactly are we talking about?" Dominic sat up from his bed in the guest room completely and placed his arm on Tyler comfortingly. He glanced over towards the direction of the master bedroom where his sister was resting after the 'incident'. "Tyler, is your mum the person we are talking about?" Rage suddenly building up inside him, but keeping his calm face on the outside.
"No." He said quietly, shaking his head. "You can't tell anyone, Uncle Dom. You can't. I don't want Rose to hate me." He was pleading now, scared to lose his friendship.
Rose? Was his little Lion Cub in trouble?
He knelt down in front of Tyler, "I promise I wont tell anyone, but if you tell me I'll try to help Rose in any way I can without letting her know you told me. Tell me Tyler. What's going on?"
He gulped, looking his uncle square in the eye now. "It's Rose's dad. He's hurting Miss Hermione. Rose said Miss Hermione has bruises all over and that Rose saw her dad hitting her mum the other night."
Dom couldn't believe what his nephew was telling him; the rage was overflowing and his eyes blackened. "Tyler, dont worry. I'm going to go and help Hermione ok. You did good in telling me." He forced another smile, over his angered expression. "Caroline will cook you breakfast, ok? Watch your brothers and your mother. I'll be back later."
Hermione was running around like a mad woman, having just dropped Rose and Hugo off at her parents house so she could do some much needed cleaning around her own. She pushed her hair out of her face and let out a sigh, her hands falling on her hips as she studied the book shelf she had just dusted, smiling at it proudly.
That was when the door was laced with heavy and angry knocks. Shaking the apartment fiercely, one after the other.
Hermione nervously glanced at the door, fear pulsing through her. That could only be one person. She walked over to it, staring at it, not bothering to pull it open, fear holding her back. "Wh-Who is it?"
"Hermione! Open the bloody door! Now!" The angered voice yelled, as he continued to bang on the door with force and impatience.
Hermione felt her breath hitch in her throat as she turned the door handle, her heart racing against her chest. She pulled it open, immediately backing away from the door. "Ron, what's wrong?"
"Explain to me, just how long you've been with that fucker!? Or did you just now decide to make it public?" Ron growled, shoving her back as he stepped inside the room.
"Ron, please!" Hermione begged, tears starting to form in her eyes. "I've only been seeing him for about a week, I swear!" She was holding her hands out in front of her, trying to protect herself.
"You lying Bitch!" Ron's fists shook and he raised his hand, and his breathing was ragged as he aimed a blow at Hermione. Shutting the door loudly, Hermione's cries being the last thing that was heard as the door closed, silencing the world from what was occurring behind shielded walls.
Ron walked into the Weasley joke shop; the job he had taken up after his brother had passed away, feeling the need to help George run the company. He pulled his sleeves down as far as he could onto his hands, covering up the bloody knuckles. He smiled at some of the customers as he made his way over towards the counter where his brother was standing behind, making a sale.
Without even hesitating, Dominic burst into the Weasley Joke Shop, and grabbed Ron by the scruff of his collar like a rag doll and threw him to the ground, letting his head slam against a pile of Merchandise and having it fall on him. "You Bastard! How dare you harm her!? How dare you lay a hand on her!?"
Ron pushed the product off of him, his head pounding as he looked up at the person now assaulting him, not even knowing where the person had come from. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Your worst nightmare, you son of a bitch!" He roared, leaping to the floor as he began beating Ron mercilessly, his fist hitting his body; and with every blow he threw, Dominic could hear and feel bones cracking as they collided against his hardened knuckles. Though in his blind rage, he couldn't see reason and instead put all his anger into making Ron suffer for putting Hermione through that type of torture. No one deserved to be treated like that, especially a woman. But for Ron's sake, he would make an exception.
Ron made an attempt to stop him, trying his best to throw his hands up to protect his face. Sure, Ron was strong, but Dom was stronger than he was.
"You're an idiot, Toretto!" Ron yelled through the punches, finally able to get his hands on Dom's chest and push him away. "Not only for assaulting me, but for being with her! She'll never love you!"
"So you think she'll love someone who beats her instead?!" Dom yelled, as he stared at the Weasley; his lip seeping blood. With all the strength he had in him, Dominic tacked Ron yet again and threw him against the window, causing it to break and send Ron shooting through and into the street, the shards of glass embedded in Ron's clothing. He was now bleeding in numerous places, as he laid in the street, spectators stopping in horror as one of the trio of the war heroes of the wizarding world was attacked.
Ron groaned, making an attempt to move, but finding himself just slowly starting to fall into unconsciousness. "She's still in love with me." He mumbled as the world around him started going blurry, coughing up blood. "Why else do you think she lets me do what I do to her?" He was able to force out before his body went limp in the cobbled street, breaths coming out unevenly.
"He's crazy! Someone stop him!" A woman shouted, clutching her children away from the crowd as Dominic stormed out of the joke shop, hungry for more.
"You're dead Weasley!" He shouted.
George ran at Dominic, not wanting to watch another one of his brothers get murdered.
"Dominic! Will you stop!" He grabbed onto Dom, pulling him back, now standing in front of Ron protectively. "What the fuck is the matter with you?! You trying to kill him!?"
"He deserves that and more! The bloody bastard!" Dom spat, staring down at Ron. "Step aside George! This is none of your business!"
"No, actually, this is my business. He's my brother. You're going to leave him alone or I'm going to call the authorities and have you arrested."
He took some steps towards Dom, speaking quietly now. "Going off of what you said, he does deserve what you did to him, but he doesn't deserve to die. And if you keep attacking him, that's what going to happen." He paused. "You're my friend, and I don't want to call the Aurors."
"I'm warning you George; if he goes near Hermione again-I will kill him. Same goes if he touches Rose or Hugo. Keep that in mind." He said, as he stared down at the pathetic body below and stormed off, the crowd making a pathway for him as they all stepped aside in shock at what had occurred.
Hermione let out a painful moan and she lifted up her shirt, staring at her ribs. Ron had broken one of them, and she had never cried so hard in her entire life, and although she had fixed it with magic, it was still bruised, and it still hurt. There was an obviously bruise across her cheek, the shape of a hand, and her right eye was slowly starting to turn black. She let out a whimper as she stared at herself. Ron had never hurt her as much as he had tonight, and it made a tear run down her cheek just at the thought of it.
Another visitor arrived at Hermione's door later on that afternoon. Though this knock was a lot softer, and after a few moments, another plea to open the door was created.
Hermione walked over to it, limping slightly, trying to be quiet. She didn't want to open the door. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. But she couldn't let something be wrong with her kids and not do anything about it. Slowly and as quietly as she could, she looked through the peep hole in the door, cursing silently at who she saw. She bit her lip, falling against the wall near the entry way, remaining quiet, hoping he would go away and think she wasn't home.
"Hermione. It's me, Dom. Can I come in?" He asked, turning the knob a few times. "Please let me in. I just want to talk." He feared she wasn't home after no response was emitted from the other end of the door. He knocked again, "Hermione, you there?"
She bit her lips together, her pity getting the best of her. She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh before reaching for the door and pulling it open, happy that at least her visible bruises were hidden under a simple spell.
"Hey, can we talk?" He asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind her, slightly out of breath, his hands now in his pockets, as he pleaded for an audience with her.
"Umm... yeah... I suppose." She looked at him nervously. "Is everything okay? Why do you look so out of breath and... nervous?" She raised an eyebrow at him,
"Just answer me first? Are you ok? Are you hurt or in any pain?" He was making this obvious but at this point, he could care less.
She looked at him like a fish in water, her mouth opening and closing. No... He couldn't know, could he? "Of course I'm fine. W-Why would I be in pain?" She was trying to play dumb, but found lying to Dom suddenly hard.
He didn't take no for an answer and glanced over at her, and took his hands in hers, shaking out of his control, most likely from adrenaline rush. "You promise you're ok?"
She nodded her head, ignoring the pain in her side where she had broken ribs not half an hour ago. "Dom, I'm fine. What could be wrong with me?" It was then she noticed blood on the collar of his shirt. Curiously, she grabbed onto it, studying it. "Merlin, Dominic, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Dominic insisted, using his own hands, that were caked in blood, and gently lowered them. "I just wanted to make sure you were ok." He forced a smile at her.
She quickly took notice of his hands, and grabbed onto them. "Oh my god, Dominic! What in the hell happened to you?" She looked up at him, worry in her eyes.
"I accidentally got my hands scratched by an owl as it was making a delivery when I was leaving a shop, getting meds for my sister. You know after the 'incident'." He shrugged, playing it off as it were something simple. "I'll be fine. None the worse for wear."
She didn't believe him, not fully, but trusting him, she slowly nodded her head. "Alright... Well, at least let me clean you up." She started pulling him towards the kitchen, grabbing one of the towels and wetting it in the sink, gliding it over his hands and picking up all the blood, going carefully over his cuts.
"Honestly, you're making a fuss about it. Trust me, I'm more than fine." He smiled at the way she worried over him; it reminded him of Molly, his second mother, and how she liked to put everyone over herself. "Where are Hugo and my little lion cub? Are they hiding around here somewhere?" He glanced about the house, searching for a sign of a giggling child.
"They're at my parents." She said with a small smile, still staring at his hands as she cleaned them up. "They wanted to sleep over and my mum can never say no to them." She chuckled slightly, immediately regretting it, as it sent a sharp pain threw her side. She turned away from him, washing the towel, hoping he didn't see her in pain.
"Hermione?" He called, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at the back of her head.
She closed her eyes, cursing silently to herself, her back still to Dom. "Yes?" She asked, still washing the blood out of the towel.
"Just how long are you going to keep lying to me?"
She turned to face him, her eyes not meeting his, her hands going to his again, continuing to clean them up. "I'm not lying to you. I'm fine. You, however, did not fight with an owl." She looked up at him. "So just how long are you going to keep lying to me?"
He pulled them out of her grasps, "Answer the question, Hermione?" He scoffed, "Were you seriously going to let me just sit there and continue to let you get beaten, and not do anything about it?"
She sighed, dropping the towel on the counter and starting to walk away from him. "Honestly, Dominic, it's none of your business." She didn't want to talk to him about it and it still stunned her how he came to know. "I don't know how you found out, but if I were you, I'd just forget about it. It's nothing you need to get involved in. I'm fine."
Dom grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. "This is my business! You're my girlfriend. It's my job to protect you from anyone who even thinks about making you suffer. Whether that be mental or physical. And I'll be damned if you even think that you're fine."
Hermione stared at him, wanting to pull her arm away from him, suddenly putting two and two together. "Dominic... How exactly did you hurt your hand?" She didn't want to believe it to be true. It couldn't be... Ron couldn't know that someone else knew about what he was doing to her. She would lose everything.
Dominic sighed, "I only wanted to protect you. It-"
The phone suddenly rang, cutting him short, and he was thankful for the interruption.
Hermione stared at Dom for a few seconds before walking over to the phone, picking up the receiver and putting it to her ear. "Hermione Granger." She said into it, glancing over at Dom as she did so.
Dominic leaned on the counter of the table, watching Hermione, taking notice of her eyes suddenly widening.
"He's what?!" With a gasp, she now glared over at Dominic. "I'll be right down. Thanks George." When the phone was hung up, Dominic knew that Hermione had found out what he had done.
"I have to go to the hospital now, thanks to you." She spat. "I can't believe you would do that to him! This was none of your business, Dominic!" She grabbed her purse, throwing it over her shoulder. "Do you have any idea what you just did!?"
"I did what I had to do. He was abusing you, Hermione! I couldn't continue to let that go on. He had what was coming to him. You can be angry with me all you want, but he deserved everything and more!" He shook his head, "Why do you continue to let him hurt you?"
"Because he'll take my kids away from me!" She cried, fighting back the tears in her eyes from the thought of it. "He told me if anybody ever found out about what he was doing to me, he'd take me to court! He'd fight me for full custody of Hugo and Rose! And he'll win!" A tear ran down her cheek. "I can't let him win. I can't let him do this to them!" She lifted the enchantment concealing her bruises, holding them out so they were completely visible to Dom. "I can't lose them."
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Dominic carefully examined every bruise and mark left upon her by her ex-husband. "You need to see a healer. I'm taking you so St. Mungos and I don't care if you don't want to. Someone has to look at you."
"No." She snapped, backing away from him. "I'm not going anywhere with you. I have to fix this now. I have to go and apologize to Ron and make everything better before he tries to take my kids away from me." She glared at him, fighting back the tears. "I have to go and fix this, and you need to go home and leave me alone. This is all your fault. I didn't ask you to do this for me."
"'Mione, please. Can we just talk about this?" He pleaded, reaching out to take her hand.
She yanked her hand out of his grasps, backing up towards the door. "No!" She shook her head at him. "You spoiled everything, Dominic! Everything!" She turned away from him and stormed towards the door, throwing it open and slamming it hard behind her, making her way as quickly as she could to the hospital.
The constant ringing of phones and door opening and closing echoed through the halls. Along with people bustling in and out, stretchers roaming around the hospital, some on their own and some with the assistants of healers and nurses. St. Mungos was busier than usual for a weekday, especially the fourth floor, as witches and wizards were rushing about, talking to each other in code.
George Weasley sat right outside the room his brother was taken into, staring down at the ground and grasping his fingers nervously.
Hermione walked quickly down the hall of St. Mungos towards her ex-husband's room, her visitors pass in her right hand as her hair moved behind her in the wind. She started to slow down when she saw George, letting out a small sigh. "George... how is he?" She asked as she started to approach him.
"They have him in observation." George sighed, running his hand through his hair. "The Healers got him to wake up a little while ago, but he passed out again soon after. He's in bad shape, Hermione. Really bad shape."
Worry filled her, and she lowered her head to the ground, pushing her hair behind her ears. "D-Do they think he's going to be okay?" She asked, glancing back up at George.
"The Healer's said if he manages to show improvement by tonight, that he should be ok." He forced a smile, "Mum and Dad were already here, along with Ginny, and Percy. Charlie said he was going to try to come by with his girlfriend as soon as he could. Said, he didn't want to leave her alone back at the house."
She nodded. "I didn't know he even had a girlfriend..." She looked over at the door where Ron would be staying. "When is he supposed to get back from Observation? He's not mad, is he?" She let out a sigh. "I'm so pissed at Dominic for doing this."
"They'll let us know in an hour or so. That's what his healer said." George shrugged. "Honestly, right now, Ron is too loopy from all the potions to even understand human emotion right now. He's as happy as a Hippogriff."
Hermione fell down in one of the seats sitting across from George, her head falling in her hands. "He won't be when he remembers what happened." All she could think about was how he was going to act towards her now. She had to stay here, she couldn't leave this spot. No matter what, she couldn't lose Hugo or Rose.
"Ms. Granger?"
Hermione's head perked up at hearing her name being called. She spotted a healer staring at her and quickly stood up, approaching him with her arms crossed against her chest. "Yes, that's me. Is everything okay?"
"He's doing a lot better, and most of his medication has worn off. He's on pain killers, but he should be able to reason and communicate normally." Ron's chart was in the Healer's hands and he gave a nod in the direction Ron was currently residing in. "You can go and see him now."
Hermione nodded, forcing a smile at the healer. "Thank you, so much." She turned away from the Healer and made her way into Ron's room, pushing open the door and then closing it behind her gently, slowly turning her attention towards the bed, staring at Ron nervously. "Ron... I-I'm so, very... very sorry." She said softly, taking a couple steps towards the bed.
"Ninny?" He seemed to mumble, "Is that-" Ron's eyes were slowly beginning to open, and as he glanced over at the person now standing beside him, his lips turned into a frown. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your new lover?" he spat.
"Ron... I'm sorry. I-I don't know how he found out. I didn't tell him..." She nervously licked her lips. "How... how are you feeling? I'm happy that you at least seem to be okay on the inside." She forced a smile, hoping to cheer him up slightly.
"Oh of course you didn't. Just like I didn't get thrown out of a fucking window, and cracked my skull. Stupid bastard."
Hermione stared at him, mouth open slightly. "He... he threw you out of a window?" She bit her lips together. "Ron, I really am sorry. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you..."
"There is one thing you can do-" He glared at her, "Talk to my lawyer, because I'll be seeing you in court, Granger."
Hermione heart beat against her chest harder than she ever thought possible. "Ron... please..." She could feel her hands shaking at her sides. "Please don't take them away from me..."
"You're unfit to care for them anyway. I'm not having a brute like that raise my kids. Tell it to the Wizengamot. Plead your story to them. I could care less what you have to say."
She could feel tears coming to her eyes, and she shook her head. "No, please..." She took another step towards him. "Ron, please... I didn't tell him... I don't know how he found out! Please, I'll do anything."
"You've done enough." He growled, shooting daggers at her, whilst keeping an eye on the door. "Oh and don't worry about your little boyfriend. I'm pressing charges against him for attempted murder. He's lucky if they don't give him a lifetime in Azkaban."
"Ron, you don't have to do this. You're just angry right now, high on the medication they gave you." Maybe she was trying to come up with excuses for him, and maybe she was just being hopeful. She didn't really know.
"Yes I do. That bastard is going to regret coming into my life. They've already ruined my brother's life, and now he's ruining mine. I'm not going to stand for it anymore. Now you can be civilized about this and just hand the kids over to me, or you can go to court. It's your choice, Granger."
Her voice was shaking, but she could feel her Gryffindor courage coming through. "I'm not giving you the kids. I'm not. You won't win." She took a step back from Ron, ready to make her exit. She couldn't fall apart in front of him, not over this. "I'll tell the court what you do to me. I'm not going to let you treat them the way you treat me. You don't deserve them."
"Tell them what you want. No one is going to believe you." He was chuckling now, very sure of himself. "I am winning this case. There is no doubt about it, so do as you wish. I was promised a victory and I am fully confident in my people."
She shook her head at him, turning away and sprinting from the room, past George and out to the front of the hospital, tears running down her face. After everything she went through for them, she was going to lose them. It was all for nothing. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew Ron was right. He had more influence in the Wizarding world then she did... he would win.
A pair of strong arms suddenly caught her as she was escaping.
"Hey, what's wrong? You ok?"
His calm and soothing voice was one she recognized all too well.
She pushed him away, or at least tried to, too weak to escape them. "This is all your fault!" She cried, tears still running down her face, pounding her fist into his chest. "He's going to take them away from me! I'm going to lose my kids!"
"Who's going to take them away?" Dominic asked, speaking in soothing tones, his attempt at calming her down.
"Who do you think!?" She cried, still fighting to get away from him. "He's going to file for full custody! And he's pressing charges against you! He's going to try and get you for attempted murder! I'm going to lose everyone!" She was slowly starting to fall into his arms, her defenses quickly falling as more tears fell down her face. She would lose everything and everyone all at the same time.
"Hey." He called, pulling her into his chest and softly caressing her hair. "You're not going to lose anyone. Not on my watch. Everything will be fine. Don't worry." Dom rested his head atop of hers after placing a gentle kiss on it. "Everything will be fine." On the inside, he was wondering just how he was going to get out of this mess he threw himself into.
She allowed her head to fall onto his chest, still crying softly. "He has more influence in the wizarding community then I do." She said softly. "He'll win... and I'll lose my kids. Even if I tell them everything."
"Hermione, look at me." He whispered.
She could barely manage to look at him, didn't really have the courage to, but forced herself to anyway. "What am I going to do?"
"Do you trust me?" His voice ringing with honesty, and his eyes pleading for her to respond.
She nodded her head, slowly, not knowing what he could possibly do to fix this. "I-I do."
"Then believe me when I say that I will fix this. I will fix everything, just trust me that I will. He's not taking them away. That you can be sure of." He glanced up towards the top floors of the hospital, slightly glaring. "He's going to pay for all that he's done."
Draco pushed open the door to his home, the first time stepping inside since the accident where he had hurt Isabella. He let out a sigh as he shut it, holding a massive bouquet of flowers in his right hand, almost every type of flower sitting inside of it, nicely fixed to look amazing together. He knew it wouldn't make everything better, and that he would still have to give Izzy some time, but he couldn't stand not being home. It had been 3 days, and it felt so good to finally be back in his manor.
"Daddy! Daddy!" The chipper and enthusiastic little voice of Sophia came shouting out. When she at last saw him, wearing her favorite little shirt with the kittens on it, and yellow rain-boots, along with a pink tutu; it became apparent that Izzy wasn't the one who had dressed her that morning.
"Hey, sweetie!" He yelled, a huge smile appearing on his face as he placed the flowers down on a nearby table, bending down and picking his daughter up in his arms, kissing her on the cheek. "How have you been since I went away?"
"I've been having a lot of fun, daddy! Aunt Caroline plays dollies with me, and Uncle Dom lets me do whatever I want, as long as I clean up afterwards!" A huge grin on her face, and her breath smelling of sweets, fingers sticky.
Draco laughed, shaking his head slightly, glancing down at her hands. "Why don't you do daddy a favor, and go wash your hands, alright?" He gently put her down on the ground, grabbing the flowers. "Where's mummy at, Soph?"
"Upstairs. She might be sleeping, daddy. Mummy fell and hurt herself, and Uncle Blaise came to make her feel better. He gave her lots of drinks with pretty colors and they make mummy sleepy." She smiled up at him.
Draco nodded, forcing a smile at his daughter. "Everything's going to be fine now, sweetheart. Daddy's going to take care of you guys now that I'm back." He bent down and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Go clean yourself, now. I'm going to go see your mum."
"Ok Daddy." She skipped off to the kitchen, giggling to herself, her curly blond hair bouncing while she hurried off.
Draco laughed, watching her leave before heading up the stairs towards his and Izzy's bedroom. He knocked on the door before opening it slowly, his eyes going over to the bed, flowers held tightly in his hand. "Izzy?"
It shouldn't have been a surprise that Roxy was with her. Just like the last time when she was just a puppy living with them in Canada. Her tail wagging slowly as he walked in; Isabella fast asleep, with Roxy curled up near her stomach.
Draco smiled at his dog, walking over to her and running his hand through the fur on her head. "Hey, Rox." He turned his attention to Izzy then, his smile falling at seeing her laying in the bed. This was all his fault... He sat down on the edge of the bed, slowly and gently bringing his hand to her head, running his fingers through her hair. "Izzy, I'm so sorry."
"Tyler, mummy appreciates you coming again but go and play with Scorpius. Mummy's tired." Isabella mumbled, with her eyes still shut.
Draco couldn't help but smile at her. "Izzy... it's me. It's Draco." He pulled his hand away from her face, his hand finding her thigh instead.
Her eyes flickered open, the hazel finding the grey. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back with him?"
He frowned, his eyes falling off her and landing on his lap. "Izzy... I'm sorry. And I really truly mean that. I've never been more sorry in my entire life." He slowly looked up at her. "You were right. I was turning into him. I'm done with my father. Completely done with him. I'm sorry."
"You say that every time Malfoy. And every fucking time, I end up screwed in the crossfire! What's next? You try to kill me? Again?"
He licked his lips nervously, staring at her with pleading eyes. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know what you want me to say. I realized too late that you were right. I never had my father, not like how I did a few days ago. I wanted so bad for him to be good, to be everything I ever wanted in a father. But I was wrong."
"And it only took what? A few attempted murders, hours of agony and a few broken ribs?" Her sarcasm flying out of her mouth. Draco would have to be doing quite a bit of groveling to get on her good-side now. Her children had gotten in the middle of it, and she wasn't giving into his apology so easily.
He nodded his head. "I'm sorry." He stood up from the bed, placing the flowers down on the bedside table. "I don't know what you want me to say. I messed up and I know it's going to take a lot to gain your trust back and for you to forgive me. I'll be downstairs if you need anything."
"Daddy! Daddy!" Sophia jumped and grasped onto his legs, and held him tight. "Daddy, I washed my hands! Look it, they're all clean!"
She then caught sight of her mother. "Mummy! Mummy, you woke up! Mummy, Daddy came back! He's back from his trip!"
Isabella only nodded, her attention on Sophia while she spoke. "Yes, sweetie. I know."
"Daddy, I think Mummy should get a kiss because she missed you. Do I get a kiss too, Daddy?"
"Of course you do, sweetheart." He picked Sophia up off the ground, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "What do you say we let mum rest and go find your brothers, huh?"
"I know where they are. Come with me Daddy, I'll show you." She pipped. "If you listen, you can find Tyler and Scorpius." She held her hand over her father's mouth, "Be quiet Daddy, so we can surprise them." The soft sound of musical notes coming from the music room near the library. Its gentle keys being played upon. Tyler and Izzy's one love: The Piano.
Draco pushed open the door to the music room with Sophia still on his arm and smiled as he watched Tyler trying to teach Scorpius a simple tune. He stood in the doorway, watching them, not able to help how amazed he was by how much Tyler was like Izzy and Scorpius was like himself.
"Okay, so you do it like this?" Scorpius asked as a few keys hit sour notes.
Tyler shook his head and smiled, "Curl your fingers Scor. It makes it easier." He played a few notes, slowly to show his brother how it should be done. "Now you go."
Scorpius tried it again, going smoothly until he hit one wrong note.
He groaned, and slammed his hands on the keys. "I suck at this. I'm never going to get this right."
Tyler smiled, placing his hand on Scor's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's probably me. I'm a horrible teacher, but I bet when Mum's feeling better, you'll catch on in no time."
"I think Scorpius has my musical talent." Draco chimed in, placing Sophia down on the ground and taking a couple steps towards his sons. "Which is nothing." He smiled at them. "You'll find something you're talented at.
"What are you doing here?"
"Yeah, aren't you supposed to be elsewhere with more important matters?" The two asked, looking both angry and surprised to see their father back so soon.
"My important matters are here now." He forced a smile at his sons, not wanting Sophia to know the truth. "I think it was about time I came home. Besides, I never got to congratulate Scorpius on his first bit of magic." He gave him a smile. "Have you done anything else since I left?"
Scorpius crossed his arms, as he and Tyler still sat on the piano bench. "I can make a table break on its own when I'm mad."
Draco took a couple steps closer to Scorpius, bending down in front of him when he was a couple feet away. "You know when I first did magic, my father bought me a present. He was proud of me, like I'm proud of you." A small grin grew on Draco's face. "Do you want to know what he got me?"
"What?" Scorpius drawled, "A pair of socks?" He scoffed, and shook his head. "Thanks but no thanks."
"Why don't you go look in your room anyway." He raised his eyebrows at Scorpius. "I bet you'll change your mind..."
"Fine, if it will get you to leave me alone." Scorpius stood up and went to his room, his sister following close behind.
When at last Draco and Tyler were alone, he turned to his father. "Why are you really back? Did he throw you out of his house or something?"
Draco sighed, still remaining bent over to talk to his son. "Tyler... do you honestly believe I'm a bad person? That I would hurt your mum like I did on purpose?"
"I don't know who to believe anymore except mum. Bad men hurt women, simple as that." he shrugged.
"Tyler!" Scorpius shouted.
Tyler's head perked up and he ran out to find his twin. "What?! What is-" His eyes suddenly widened. "Is that-"
"You bet it is! My very own broom!"
Draco stood up, crossing his arms over his chest and watching his kids amazement over the broomstick. "You're going to need to be careful at first until you get used to it. You can thank your Grandfather, Dexter. He was able to get me one of their new models."
"Can I ride it Scorpius? Please?"
"No Sophia, it's too dangerous for you. You might fall." Scor glanced over at Tyler. "Come on, we can fly it outside."
They were just about to exit when their mother stopped them dead in their tracks, moving slowly towards them. Her hand wrapped around her ribs. "You aren't going outside, flying that thing without supervision."
"Oh, come on, Izzy, they'll be fine." Draco took a couple steps forward. "I'll go outside and watch them. Go ahead boys." Draco nodded towards the exit, giving them his permission. "I'll be right behind you."
The three ran off as quick as their tiny legs could carry them, giggling with excitement and ran down the stairs and out the back door.
"Are you trying to buy them now?" Isabella placed her free hand on the opposite wall to help keep herself standing as she followed them, wanting to keep them safe. Being careful while she made her way down the steps.
"When I did my first bit of magic I was six, and my father bought me a broom too. It went twice as fast as that one does, and I'll never forget how excited I was. I wanted Scorpius to feel the same thing." He held his hand out. "Come on, stop being stubborn and let me help you down the stairs."
"No, thank you. I've been doing this on my own these past few days, and I certainly don't need any help going down these ruddy stairs." Holding on to the railing, she was walking sideways, to keep a better grip, better traction.
Draco sighed, knowing it might take months for her to forgive him. He quickly changed the subject though, not wanting to constantly keep apologizing. "When Tyler shows his first sign of magic, I think we might have to buy him something other than a broom, though. Don't think he's going to be the quidditch player of the century."
"No, I don't think so. Tyler should do what he wants to do, and explore his options beyond magic. And quidditch wouldn't be his best option right now."
Draco slowed down his pace slightly, staring at Izzy curiously. "Wait... what do you mean 'beyond magic'?" He asked curiously.
"You really were an idiot bringing that broom here, Draco. Could you be any more stupid?" She groaned, avoiding his eyes and pressing on forward, now upset.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, moving in front of her and stopping her from walking, forcing her to look at him. "It's just a broom. What did I do wrong this time?"
"How much more did you want to hurt your son? You're just rubbing this whole matter in his face." She sighed, and checked to make sure the children weren't within listening distance. "I took Tyler to a Healer, Draco."
Draco stared at her, confused. "Why? He seems fine to me." He ran his hand through his hair. "Why in the hell would you take him to a healer if nothing's wrong with him?"
"He is fine. And a brilliant and wonderful child whom shouldn't be treated or thought of otherwise."
"Izzy, I still don't understand what you're trying to say."
She sighed again, "How do you think he's going to feel once he finds out that he won't go to Hogwarts when he comes of age like his parents did and his siblings will?"
"Izzy, what in the bloody hell are you talking about?" He turned around, making sure the kids still weren't there, eavesdropping. "The only way that's possible is if..." It suddenly hit him. "Is if Tyler's a squib. Which he's not."
Izzy didn't say a word, but her look of seriousness was more than an answer for him. With another sigh, she pushed past him, going towards the door that lead to the back yard.
"Izzy, wait, talk to me." He grabbed onto her hand, stopping her walking away from me. "What did the healer say. He isn't... I mean, he can't be... Nobody in my family has been a squib. Nobody."
"Well you aren't the one who is a halfblood are you?"
Draco shook his head, his stubbornness coming out. "No. No, I don't believe it. He is not a squib. My son is not a squib." He pointed out towards the door. "He is a pureblood, a Malfoy. He is going to Hogwarts. He's just a late bloomer is all."
"We have to be realistic, Draco. There is a possibility that he is." She pulled her arm out of his grip and glared at him. "Regardless of his magical status; Tyler is still my son and I will love him until the day I die. If you truly loved him as he is, you wouldn't react this way. All this stupid pure-blood mania that was drilled into you as a child, has rotted your brain."
"Isabella-"
"So what if Tyler is a squib; that doesn't make him any less human, and you should love him as such!"
"Of course I still love him! He's my son! But a squib..." He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Pureblood's don't have squibs. They just don't!"
And shielded his face, "Our family is going to be the laughing stock of the wizarding community." He finished off quietly, staring at the ground in thought.
"Laughing stock of the wizarding community?! Are you fucking kidding me, Malfoy!?" She groaned quietly, holding onto her ribs as they ached. "That's all you care about?!"
"All I care about!? All I care about is this family! Everything I've ever done since I was 16 is care for you! I've risked my life more times than I can count for you! And then two years later, my life became about caring for you, Tyler, and Scorpius! You five are the only things I care about on this planet!"
"If you really cared about this family, then you wouldn't give a shit what others think about us! I could care less what others think or say about the children. I'd know that they were wrong." She shoved Draco as hard as she could in the chest, throwing him a scowl. "I guarantee that if I was muggle, you would hate me too!"
Draco allowed her to shove him. He knew he was being selfish, but he felt like he had a right to be. After everything they had been through, this wasn't fair. To any of them. "Yeah, because I really hated you when everybody else was trying to kill us for being together over ten years ago. My fucking partner is a muggleborn!"
He dismissed her with his hand, walking past her and starting to head outside. "You should go lay back down. You don't look good. I'll go watch the kids." He snapped.
"Oh, go fuck yourself Malfoy!" Isabella spat, reaching for his shirt and pulling on it with the tips of her fingers, bringing him back over to where she stood. Growling and pushing past him, slamming the door in his face, watching the children outside, resting her back against the wall.
Draco turned away from the door, storming to his office, slamming his fist into a vase sitting on one of the tables in the hallway and allowing it to smash, storming past it and continuing on his way. He needed to get away... and he had just gotten back. Nothing every seemed to go right anymore.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Sophia yelled, running up the stairs with haste an hour later.
Draco let out a sigh, looking up from his desk, quill still in his hand, watching as his daughter appeared in his doorway. "What is it, Sophia?" he asked, trying to hide his anger from the fight he had had with his wife.
"Daddy, come with me! I can't wake up mummy. And she's outside in the grass." She ran to his desk, pulling at his arm and urging him to follow. "Hurry Daddy! Scor and Tyler can't hear me. They're far away in the fields with Roxy." Her lip pouting and quivering while she spoke.
"She's what?!"
Draco stood up right away, grabbing Sophia and holding her on his hip, running outside and immediately seeing Izzy laying on the ground, not moving.
He placed Sophia on the ground, running over to her and kneeling besides her. "Isabella, sweetheart, wake up."
"I tried that Daddy. She doesn't want to wake up." Sophia sniffled, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists as tears started to form.
"Is mummy dead, daddy?" She cried through choked sobs.
"No, sweetheart, she's fine." Draco placed his fingers on her neck, feeling for her pulse, relieved when he found it. "She just passed out from when she hurt herself before." He turned to look at his daughter. "Do you remember how to call Blaise, honey?"
"Yes, daddy." Sophia nodded her head. "Mummy says just press a number and it calls Uncle Blaise and Aunt Caroline."
"Alright, go do that for me, please." He smiled at his daughter, trying to comfort her. "Tell him what happened. But don't worry, everything's going to be okay." He gently brought his hands up and under Izzy, picking her up bridal style.
"I'll tell him everything that happened!" Sophia ran straight into the sitting room and took the phone, dialing Blaise, while her father took care of her mother.
Draco walked her up the stairs gently, knowing she had broken bones, and gently placed her down in the bed, throwing the covers over her bottom half and running into the bathroom, grabbing a towel and wetting it, coming back over to her and running it over her face, trying to get her to wake up. "Isabella..." He stared at her with worry in his eyes. "Merlin, I'm so sorry."
"Daddy! Uncle Blaise said he was coming right away. and he said to-" She thought for a moment, tapping her foot and staring at the ground. "-To keep her warm and-check for any purple spots on her skin, that were pretty colors with red and green."
"Thank you, Sophia. Do me another favor and go get your brothers, alright?" He started examining Izzy, pulling her shirt up and looking at her stomach, wishing Blaise could be there right now. He blamed himself completely for this...
"Draco?" The door to Draco and Izzy's master bedroom opened a crack, as Blaise poked his head in. When he saw Draco attempting to wake her, he stepped in the room, shutting the door behind him. "I came as fast as I could. From what Sophia, told me, Izzy just collapsed out of nowhere while she was talking to her."
"I-I was in my office when it happened." He turned to look at Blaise, licking his lips nervously. "We had a fight. It was all my fault. I'm an asshole." He turned back to look back at Izzy, still running a towel over her forehead.
"Well not completely. The potions I gave her, are pretty strong." Blaise pulled his wand out of his pocket, and rummaged through the potions that were laced by her nightstand. "Are those from you?" He asked, gesturing over to the flowers that were towering over the small vials.
"...Yeah." He glanced back over at him, his eyes not meeting him completely. "Not like they did much good." He went back to running the towel over her face. "I can't do anything right with her. She told me that Tyler might be a squib. I acted no different than my father."
"Draco." Blaise sighed, working on Isabella while he spoke. "I was the healer Izzy took him to and I hate to be the voice of doom but it's a big possibility Draco. I didn't say that he didn't have a chance of not being a wizard; all I said were that the chances were slim."
He lowered his eyes to the ground, letting out a sigh, arms slowly falling down onto Izzy. "What am I going to do?" He turned to look at Blaise. "I know it's selfish, and that I'm probably a bastard for saying it, but I can't have a squib for a son."
"You can't think like that. Just keep hope Draco, best thing you can do is support Tyler. Imagine having your own father hating you for something you couldn't control." He sighed, pulling a vial out of his pocket and mixing a few different colored potions together in small increments. "I never knew my biological father, and Izzy and Dom don't really know theirs either. It's not a pleasant experience for anyone to go through."
"I love Tyler. With all my heart. I really do. I would do anything for my kids. But... if he's a squib, he won't be able to survive in the wizarding world. He'll have to go to muggle school, live a muggle life. I don't know anything about that. How am I supposed to raise a muggle? Let alone find things in common with him. He'll feel like an outcast of the family." He let out a sigh, shaking his head.
"Tyler's a smart kid. Smarter than a whole lot of us to be honest. Even if he is a squib, he'll go far in any world he chooses. I mean look at him; he's a prodigy at only 8 years old. He can speak Italian, play piano, his vocabulary still stuns me by far, he's great with animals, and the little guy has your smarts, and Izzy's fearlessness and attitude. I wouldn't worry about him."
Blaise held the potion to Izzy's lips, letting a few drops fall into her mouth and waved his wand. "Wakey wakey, princess. Come on, up and at 'em." He smiled.
Draco bit the side of his lip, staring at Izzy, however, his eyes distant. Blaise was right, even if he didn't want to hear it, and he needed to stop being such a selfish bastard. "Izzy, love, wake up." Draco ran his hand over her head, pushing her hair out of her face. She would hate him for weeks, and he would spend all of them making it up to her.
"What happened?" Isabella asked groggily, struggling to open her eyes. She groaned, feeling like she had just gotten run over by a carriage. "Blaise? Draco? What are you doing here? And why am I in bed? I was in the garden with Sophia."
"You passed out." Draco said simply, letting out a sigh. "I was in my office and Sophia came and got me. I carried you up here and had her call Blaise. You don't remember anything?"
Isabella shook her head.
"What happened to her?" He asked, turning to glance at Blaise.
"She over exhausted herself. I told her she shouldn't be out of bed for a few more days." Blaise shook his head, slipping his wand back into his pocket. "She's fine, just collapsed. This potion is pretty strong, knocks you out for a good amount of the day. But she shouldn't have dropped so sudden." He now pursed his lips. "Izzy, are you feeling ok?"
"I dunno. I've been feeling really dizzy and sick to my stomach all week, and it's only been getting worse." She held her head to her hand and groaned. "Everything suddenly went fuzzy and then everything went black."
Draco nervously looked from Izzy to Blaise. "W-What does that mean?" He was responsible for this in every single. He had hurt her to begin with, forcing her to bed ridden and had started the fight that forced her to feel like she needed to watch the kids.
Blaise gave Isabella a glance, curiously raising his eyebrows. "Have you eaten very much this week Izzy?"
Izzy shook her head, and looked down at her lap. "Not really. I seem to have nausea and everything seems to make me sick."
Draco put his head in right hand, staring straight ahead and letting out a sigh. "Is it me, or does this seem like a bit of dejá vu?" He turned to look at Izzy, raising an eyebrow at her.
"What do you mean, dejá Vu?" She chuckled, taken aback by his sudden comment. "Are you going off your rocker there, Draco?"
"Your body acted like this right before we found out you were pregnant with Sophia." He paused, thinking himself. "Unless of course... this is from the medication..." He turned to look at Blaise, wanting conformation.
"Uh-" Blaise exchanged looks with the couple. "It shouldn't be. All this does is make you sleepy, so your body can rest and heal faster." He couldn't help but snicker, "Another Malfoy in the making there, Draco?"
Draco turned to look at Izzy, his eyes slowly falling on her abdomen before coming back up to look at her in the eyes. "I-Is there?" Deep down on the inside, he was hoping there wasn't. Sure, he loved his kids... to death, but four kids? He never, ever, imagined it. Not him.
Isabella opened her mouth to speak and quickly closed it.
"This is my cue to leave." Blaise packed up his things, excusing himself and turning around instructing Draco which potions he should give Izzy and what to do, should this happen again. "See you guys later. Feel better Izzy."
To say that the silence in the room was awkward was an understatement. You could cut the tension in the room with a butter knife. "Draco. Please say something."
He glanced up at her, running a hand over the back of his neck. "What do you want me to say?" He asked. "If I tell you what I'm really thinking we'll just get into another argument."
"I'm not even sure if I am, Draco. I thought we had been using contraceptive spells, but I guess we may have missed one." She sighed, looking up at him with saddened eyes. "Are you angry?"
"No." He answered truthfully, walking over to her and sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's just... four kids." He let out a sigh. "That's a lot. We can barely handle the ones we have now."
"If I am-" She gulped, wetting her dry throat. Her voice suddenly falling to a whisper. "Do you want me to rid myself of the problem to make it easier on you?" She was against this idea in every possible way she could think of, but had the feeling it was what he wanted, and even though it would kill her to do so; had to ask him.
Her question caught him completely off guard, and he stared at her for a few seconds, almost in shock. "O-Of course not." He grabbed her hand, shaking his head at her. "If you are, we'll... we'll make it work." He forced half a smile at her. "And we should probably start looking at muggle schools... for Tyler. You know... just in case."
"Are you serious?" Her voice picked up a decibel and she couldn't help but smile at him. "You mean all that?"
He nodded his head. "I don't like the idea of it. But he's my son, and I need to support him in everything. And you... you're my wife. I love you with all my heart and I'm here for you, too. No matter what comes our way." He gave her a small smile. "I'm an asshole. I'm sorry. For everything."
"There is one way you can make it up to me." Her soft hands curled around his own, squeezing his hand gently, and subtly pulling him towards her.
He smiled at her, full hearted, and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips. "I love you so much, Isabella." He whispered against her lips, kissing them one more time.
Izzy let out a quiet yawn, running her hand along his face, lovingly. "Keep me company in bed. Just stay with me. I need you here."
He stood up, walking over to the other side of the bed and laying down next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer into him, kissing her on the side of her head. "I don't know how long this is going to last." He said, glancing up towards the door, waiting for one of the kids to run through any second. "Hopefully that broom will keep them occupied for a few hours."
"Tyler. Scor. Is your dad around?"
"I think he's upstairs with mum. Scor and I, were just out flying his new broom."
"Its wicked Uncle Dom!" Scorpius beamed, fawning over his new possession, being careful with it, considering he was rough with his toys.
"Thanks boys." Dominic smiled, ruffling both their heads as he quietly trudged up the stairs. When he got to Izzy's room, he knocked on the door before entering. "Draco? Are you in here?"
Draco poked his head up at hearing Dom's voice coming from the doorway. He glanced down at Izzy to see that she was fast asleep and held his finger up to his lips, telling Dom to be quiet as he climbed out of the bed slowly, careful not to wake up his wife. As he reached Dom, he pointed out towards the hallway, shutting the door behind him. "This is a surprise." Draco said, giving Dom a puzzled look. "Is everything okay?"
"How is she feeling? Any improvement that you've seen?" Dom licked his lips nervously, one finger pointed at his sister while he whispered.
Draco let out a small chuckle, not wanting to have to explain to Dom just exactly what was going on with Izzy. "She's fine. She's getting better. Blaise just saw her today. She just needs a few more days bed rest is all. Did you want to go talk in my office?"
"Yeah, if you got a minute." Dominic asked, slipping his hands into his pockets, smiling down at the image of his sister sleeping blissfully in her bed. It gave him some comfort that she had someone to protect her from harm, though the fact that very cause of her injury was standing before him, left him conflicted. He restrained himself from breaking his nose in for now.
Draco led the way into his office, shutting the door behind him and Dom. "Do you want a drink?" Draco asked, pouring himself some firewhiskey into a tumbler.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks." He wasn't sure just exactly how to put what he wanted to say into words. Part of him felt like he was betraying Hermione, but he wanted to keep her safe from harm and needed as many as he could backing him up when the trial began.
Draco poured him a glass, handing it to him and taking a sip of his own. "So what's up, Dom?" Draco asked, leaning against his desk, drink still in his hand. "You look worried about something..."
"I need your help Draco." He replied, taking the firewhiskey in his hand and swirling the drink around in his glass. "It's about Hermione."
Draco stopped in the middle of bringing his drink to his lips. "Are- Are you guys alright? Is she okay?"
Dominic shook his head; he wasn't sure whether he should be feeling sad, angry or helpless, but his mind ended up creating a mixture of all three emotions as they swirled around his thoughts. "Hermione's been through hell. Her bastard of an ex-husband beat her for quite some time, and now, after they've been divorced, he wants to take her kids away. I was hoping you could help me with winning this case, and sending Weasley as far away from her as possible. Can you help her?" He pleaded.
"Wait a second. He's been beating her?!" He placed his drink down on his desk harder then he meant to. "And now he wants to take away her kids!?" He shook his head. "Why are we not out there beating the shit out of him?"
Dom scoffed, squeezing his glass tightly. "He's lucky I didn't kill him. He's in the hospital Draco. I put him in there."
"Weaslebee's in the infirmary?" Draco smirked, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a sip. "Well done, Toretto."
With a sigh he looked over at Draco, "That's another thing, He's trying to put me in Azkaban for attempted murder, but I don't care about that right now. I only care about Hermione. Her happiness is everything to me. I know I'm probably screwed but, is there anything we can do for her?"
Draco let out a sigh, staring at Dom, just imagining Izzy's face when she found out that her brother might go to Azkaban for quite some time. "I think I know what to do. Potter. If anyone can talk some sense into Weasley or even help Hermione by at least being on her side during trial, it's him." He glanced down at his drink. "I'll talk to him tomorrow at work. I can't promise anything, but I'll try. And I'll be there for you too. Izzy's going to freak out if she finds out you're going to jail."
"Don't tell her anything. At least not yet." Dom doused the rest of his drink rather quickly, setting the tumbler back on the table. He gave Draco a smile, at least he had hopes of winning the case for Hermione, her chances had improved, for now. "Wait until she gets better, then break the news to her gently. I don't want her to panic and go all mental."
Draco nodded. "You have my word." Her stood up from leaning on his desk, walking over and sitting down in his desk chair, grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill. "Here." He scribbled something down quickly, standing back up and handing it over to Dom. "It's my personal lawyer. Just tell him you're my brother." Draco gave Dom a small smile. "He's your best chance of coming out of this thing without any jail time against you. He's the best."
"I'd never thought I'd be saying this but-Thank you Malfoy." He smiled at the small bit of parchment in his hands, quickly stuffing it into his pocket. "If Hermione comes out of this unharmed, I am in your eternal debt." Dom stretched his arm out to Draco, offering his hand, a silent thank you.
Draco shook it back, smiling at Dom. "Hermione's my friend too. And Weasley's an ass. She'll be fine. No judge or jury is going to take kids from their mother and hand them over to their abusive father." Draco was confident in what he was saying. He couldn't see Hermione losing her kids, but Dom on the other hand... his case would be more difficult.
Here's a sneak peek of next week's chapter, just for those of you who have stuck with us for this long:
"Looking unsure, Mr. Weasley? We can always withdraw your charges." A man in a crisp, clean suit watched out the window, standing with his arms behind his back.
"No. No." Ron replied, sitting in a chair before a desk. "I want that son of a bitch to pay for all he's done to me. And if I can harm his family in the process, I'm perfectly fine with that." An evil grin creeping on to his face.
"Oh, rest assured I can very well help you in that department. Making Malfoy suffer would be the icing on the cake." The gentleman standing before him, turned around, his blue eyes gleaming over his desk as he moved a few files of paperwork to the side, now crossed his arms at the individual standing before him. "That prat has something I want." He smirked.
"Do you actually think I have a chance at winning this case?"
He smirked over at Ronald Weasley, chuckling to himself. "I can guarantee that you will win this case. You can count on that."
Ron smirked. "Good. And as for my ex-wife," He spat out, eyes narrowing at thinking of her. "She doesn't deserve those kids. They are mine. And I'm going to have them. Even if Harry is now on her side..."
"Potter is only collateral damage. I doubt he's going to change anything, even if he is Head of Magical Law Enforcement." His lawyer spat, "We will win, and you will get your children."
"Good." He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at the man in front of him with a smirk on his face. "We make a good team." He said, thinking out loud. "We work together on this... we'll both get what we want."