CHAPTER 10

Much to her promise, Hermione returned the following day for a check up on Scorpius. She had just stepped out of the Malfoy fireplace, when she was warmly greeted by Ippy, whom then lead her straight to Draco's study. And then she was with her back pressed against the highly impressive book case as Draco kissed her feverishly again. Of course it was with much reluctance that he had walked her to the fireplace last night so she was able to floo back home, but he did leave her with a lingering kiss and a promise of more too come.

Trapped between the books and Draco's lean body, she felt his right hand grab hold of her waist firmly while his left firmly but gently cupped her cheek. Hermione moaned into the kiss as both were overcome with an insatiable amount of need. As Hermione began to tip her head to the side to allow Draco more access to her neck, they both heard the slight "pop" and Draco pulled away to see Ippy standing before them. Hermione pushed herself away from Draco and went to stand on the other side of the desk. Draco cleared his throat and looked at the house elf expectantly.

"Sir, the young master is awake and looking well," the elf stated. "Shall Ippy set breakfast up then?"

"Uhm... Yes thank you Ippy, and let Scorp know we'll be down to see him in a minute." Draco said finally managing to regain his composure.

"Will Miss be joining us?" Ippy asked turning towards Hermione.

Hermione shook her head slightly declining the offer politely. She really had only come to check on Scorpius and then hoped to make more progress with her research, however Draco was not about to part with her so soon.

"Naturally Ippy." He answered calmly, ignoring the look Hermione gave him. With that Ippy bowed and was gone with another "pop".

"Draco there's really no need for me to stay for breakfast, I have quiet a bit of research I need to start and I was ho-…"

"Hermione" He stopped her through her ramblings. Merlin knows the woman could go on forever. "I'm sure Scorp would love if you stayed for breakfast and so would I. Besides… I was hoping to tell Blaise today after breakfast."

He had moved to the other side of the desk as he spoke and had once again successfully trapped her against another piece of furniture. This time his desk stood firmly behind Hermione while he stood towering over her. She looked up at him, and understood what he meant. Yet she remained silent, imploring him to continue.

Sighing Draco placed his hands on the desk on either side of Hermione. "Please stay and help me explain this to Blaise. I may not have all the answers he needs. And after being kept in the dark for so long, he rightfully deserves all the answers we can give him."

There was very little space between them and Hermione reached up and tentatively placed her hand on his cheek. She nodded her understanding of what he was asking her and she saw the slight relief that passed through him. Draco realised just how close they were standing and with Hermione's hand still on his cheek he hope to take full advantage of it. After all he was a Malfoy. Smirking a true Malfoy smirk he lowered his head to hers and just as he was about to reclaim her lips, the door to his study burst open and was followed by a screeching "Daaaaddddy!" as Scorpius flew through the door, stuffed dragon trailing behind him.

Draco swore under his breath as Hermione shoved him away… again and turned to smile brightly at his son.

"Miss Hermione!" he exclaimed in surprise and his smile only grew bigger as he ran towards her and flew straight into her open arms.

"Morning sweetheart!" she chuckled as she looked him over. He looked in perfect health but she would have to accurately determine that in a moment.

Draco smiled as he saw the gentleness with which Hermione treated his son. Were all healers this kind and gentle or was it just her? It did say a lot that she had initially decided to help especially after all the past bad blood between them. But here she was kneeling with his son in her lap, the two having a conversation as if he wasn't even in the room.

"Oh sweetheart, I was thinking, perhaps it would be easier to just call me Hermione?" she suggested.

The young Malfoy finally looked to see his father standing behind Hermione. He looked expectantly for an answer from him, to which Draco could only nod slightly while a small smile played on his lips. Scorpius wrapped his arms around Hermione as he answered her. She smiled and then carried him over to the desk, seating him at the edge while she took a seat in Draco's chair.

Draco leaned against the desk with his arms across his chest as Hermione brought her bag around the table and started pulling out her healer equipment she proceed to check him, making small notes on a note pad she had originally taken out the bag.

Once she was satisfied, she waved her wand and everything was packed neatly back into her bag. She then turned to Draco to explain while Scorp entertained himself with the small novelties that were on his father's desk.

"Well as I explained last night, it was just a minor flu. And as is expected, it was flared up with his yet untouched magic." She said. "However because he is …well sick for whatever reason I feel we need to take a few precautions." Sensing the worried look that Draco gave her she stood up and placed her hand on his forearm.

"I'm simply saying that I'm going to be leaving a few vials of an all purpose flu potion. It will help with the fever and pain that he felt last night. It will make him slightly drowsy so the best thing is to make sure he takes it and ensure he gets lots of rest."

Draco nodded slowly and then looked over at Scorpius who was making his dragon fly while making 'roaring" sounds.

"He's fine Draco" Hermione said softly, as she ran her fingers through the little Malfoy's blonde hair. "I promise, for now I suggest he get a little more rest and perhaps a smaller dose of the flu potion to clean up the last bit of his fever."

At that moment, the door opened and Blaise walked in taking the sight of what he was sure would look like the happenings of a very special and very happy family, to anybody that didn't know them. He chuckled to himself, once again taking note of just how bad his best friend had it for the beautiful healer. Hells even the littlest Malfoy was taken by her. He pushed the door open further and walked in, watching as Hermione and Draco spoke quietly but also that while Hermione's attention might have been on Draco, Scorpius was not forgotten. She continuously ran her fingers through his hair in that most motherly way and every now and then gently rubbed the back on her fingers against his cheek. Clearing his throat he made himself known to the trio in the room.

"Is it too early for my check up?" he joked looking at Hermione, "Seems everybody's getting attention here but me!" Hermione blushed furiously at this.

"Good Morning Uncle Blaise!" Scorp said with his sweet smile as he got up and walked across the desk to the other side where his godfather stood, almost kicking ink all over the neat stack of parchments that lay to one side.

"Scorp, be careful," Draco gently reprimanded his son while moving the ink out of his way.

"Good morning little man," Blaise answered smiling and then turned to Hermione, "though I daresay it's far better than good, now that I hear Hermione will be joining us for breakfast."

Hermione blushed slightly as Scorpius got excited over what he had just heard. Shaking his head at the Italian's antics Draco was about to suggest they all head down to breakfast when Blaise asked Scorpius to escort Hermione down to the table, and before his sentence was even complete, Scorpius had made it to the other side of the table where Hermione helped him down. Then they both walked out of the room with the young Malfoy chattering animatedly with Hermione.

Draco narrowed his eyes at his best friend, as Blaise took it upon himself to grin broadly in the most infuriating way.

"What?" Draco asked.

"Nothing," Blaise responded nonchalantly. Naturally Draco didn't believe him.

"Blaise… out with it already."

"It's nothing really just wondering when you'd notice this little... uhm crush you have on Granger." He said, that annoying grin still plastered on his face.

Wondering whether to play dumb or concede to Blaise statement, Draco choose the former.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ooh, you know exactly what I mean…" and before Draco could respond Blaise turned and walked towards the door, "Come on Draco, I do believe your son and the women you claim to not to have the biggest crush is waiting for us…oh and you have something right… there!" he laughed pointing to a lipstick mark that had been smudged onto the collar of his white shirt from his and Hermione's earlier activities.

Draco said nothing, as he took his wand to remove the mark, rolling his eyes as he followed the laughing Blaise out the room.

Breakfast was an enjoyable affair. While Hermione thought it would be odd and somewhat awkward, it was pleasant with Scorpius offering them all entertainment as he rambled on about all sort of things. He had insisted that she sit next to him, and so it was Draco at the head of the table with Blaise to his right and Scorpius to his left. She was surprised at the light mood that took over the table, as Blaise and Scorpius joked back and forth and every so often, both would take a jab at Draco who took it good naturedly.

It was while Ippy was clearing away the plates that Draco turned to Blaise and said with a slightly serious tone, "Blaise, I need to speak to you about something please."

"Sure Draco, but can it wait? I have that meeting with the distributors at -"

"No Blaise it's rather important and I would prefer if I spoke to you sooner rather than later… I've delayed long enough."

Sensing the seriousness of the unknown matter, Blaise nodded and both men got up from the table. Draco looked at Hermione expecting her to follow.

"I'll be there in a minute, I'm going to make sure he gets the correct dose of the potion" she said motioning to Scorpius. Draco nodded at Hermione and then bent down to kiss his son on the forehead before both men walked out the room towards Draco's study.

After making sure Scorpius was comfortable and leaving instructions with Ippy to watch him closely she made her way back to the study. She found Draco seated behind his desk and Blaise occupying one of the chairs in front of the desk. While Draco explained the happenings of Scorpius' sickness, and shared with Blaise the little information they had, Hermione noticed the Italian becoming more and more worried. Finally when Draco concluded with Hermione's promise to help them cure Scorpius, Blaise looked straight at Draco and asked, "This is why you've come back?"

Draco nodded and Blaise let out a deep breath.

"And you have no idea what's making him… sick? None at all?" Blaise asked, again Draco nodded, this time more sombre.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner mate?" he asked, with a little more anger to his voice.

"I didn't want you to worry over nothing. Besides I don't even know what is wrong with him. I…" Draco found himself at a loss for words. Apart from not wanting Blaise to worry for nothing Draco didn't exactly have a good reason for not telling him sooner.

"I'm his godfather Draco! It's my job to worry!" he said now standing up, "you gave me that responsibility and didn't even give me the chance to be a good godfather! How can I do my job and be there for him when you won't even let me know something as important as this!"

However Hermione thought it would be a good time to interject.

"Blaise, for whatever reason Draco chose not to tell you, that's not important now. What is, is that you know now. We need your help, to help Scorpius." She said but noticed she wasn't exactly convincing him so she stood up and walked to the front of the desk. "You may not have had the opportunity to act you part as a godfather and look after him earlier but you do now. I'm sure when Draco had decided not to tell you it was because he thought he was protecting both you and Scorpius."

Blaise nodded, calming down as he grasped the meaning of Hermione's words. She was right…naturally. There was no point getting angry over it now. That wasn't going to help his godson. He turned to her as asked her the only question that mattered.

"Can you save him?"

Her heart broke a little as she comprehended the weight of the question. But nonetheless she answered with what she believed to be true. "Don't worry Blaise; we're going to find out what this is. I've already eliminated a large number of possibilities, which will help us narrow down the search." She sighed dejectedly as she realised he was only half listening to her. Placing her hand on his arm she said, "You can't give up now, Scorpius needs us all to be strong for him. Draco believes that you can help us and so do I. So please …" she trailed off looking at Draco.

He had gone awfully quiet and for a moment Hermione wondered if she had over stepped her place. He smiled softly at her then stood and walked around the desk towards Blaise.

"Blaise, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I honestly don't know why I didn't. Perhaps I was protecting you or maybe I was not willing to admit just how sick my son is. But I can't afford to do that anymore." He said and then placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, "Hermione's right, you can't give up just yet. We will find a way to save him. I cant… no wont let anything happen to him. You more than anybody know what Scorp means to me."

Blaise nodded his understanding and Draco continued, "So you'll help us then?"

At this Blaise laughed a little and replied, "of course! What sort of godfather would I be if I didn't take care of my godson?"

Draco smiled and grasped Blaise's shoulder tighter as he brought his other to shake hands with his best friend.

Blaise then turned to Hermione, "You, Miss Granger need to fill me in on everything you do and don't know."

Hermione nodded as she said "off course I will…oh and it would be much simpler if you called me Hermione." With that she smiled at the two Slytherins before walking out the room.

Draco went to check on Scorpius while Hermione went to fetch all the files of information she had and Blaise cancelled all his meetings for the rest of the day.

"It's not much," she said walking back into the study, "but it will help us determine where to go from here." She then stood in front of Blaise as she went on to explain Scorpius condition, "from what I've gathered, the most likely conclusion I could say with definitive confidence, is that it's no modern day illness so we can exclude those. It's possible it could be a near extinct disease that hasn't been heard of in the last century which then makes finding it that much harder. As I've explained to Draco because of the nature of the family's history we can't really exclude anything at this point." She saw that Blaise understood what she meant, with the extent to which the family had been involved in dark magic in the past, anything was really possible.

"So what do we look for then?" Blaise asked knowing the mammoth task they had in front of them.

"Well, we start by trying to match the symptoms to anything we find in these old tomes and some of the files I managed to pull from St. Mungo's" Hermione answered pointing to the boxes and books she had brought in. At this both Draco and Blaise looked at her expectantly.

Blaise nodded and reached for the files. Hermione reached forward and grabbed the latest tome she had started scouring through. Draco mirrored her actions taking a book that contained information on the more disturbing diseases.

"I know it's a very broad spectrum but what we're essentially looking for is, anything that would explain the fainting spells, vomiting, fevers and not to mention the loss in complexion" Hermione said and then continued hesitantly, "there is something else we need to look for."

Sensing her hesitation, both Draco and Blaise stopped and looked at her, "At the time of his most recent fainting… episode, I monitored Scorpius' condition and noticed the slight drop in his vital organs. So we'll need to consider this when looking through all of this."

"What do you mean drop in his vital organs?" Draco asked trying to grasp just what it was that Hermione was trying to tell him.

Sighing Hermione saw that he looked more scared and shocked than anything else and perhaps a little angry at her for not telling him sooner.

"I know I told you back at the hospital that he was perfectly healthy and that all the tests we had done came back negative, well that part is true… it's just shortly after Blaise had brought him to St. Mungo's, while we were monitoring him that I noticed the slight decline in his vital organs functioning. Luckily it wasn't his heart but his lungs that were battling…" Hermione answered nervously. She didn't want Draco to think she had purposely kept information from him, and seeing this very question in his eyes she walked closer to him before speaking again.

"I didn't purposely keep this from you, I just didn't want to scare you anymore by giving you information that I myself didn't properly understand. My job is to make sure that your son is okay and for the time being he is." She said placing her hand on his arm.

Draco slowly nodded realising what she said. She was right, of course. It would have done him no good earlier worrying about something neither could explain. Considering the vast amount of research they had to comb through, Hermione was right to tell them about it now. Instead of worrying about it, they could use it to gather more information.

Draco felt himself go into shock slightly. He should have been used to knowing that Scorpius was not well, but he wasn't about to resign himself to the fact that he couldn't save his son. He felt the warmth radiate off Hermione's hand and looked down at her. He stood about a head taller than her and when he looked down, he was looking into her deep chocolate eyes. He saw the faith that she had promised not so long ago, emitting from them. He smiled slowly and would have leaned to kiss her had Blaise not coughed to remind them of his presence in the room.

Hermione blushed and moved away while Draco shot Blaise a glare to which Blaise simply smirked.

They worked in compatible silence, with questions about strange medical terms aimed towards Hermione. Ippy had brought up lunch and it was shortly after that Hermione was called away to St. Mungo's on an emergency. Blaise stood and shook hands with her before she turned to Draco and saw that he was waiting to walk her down to the fireplace.

She stopped by Scorpius' room and saw that Ippy was tentatively watching him and would often run and pick up after the little Malfoy. She bid her goodbyes to both Ippy and Scorpius, whom engulfed her in a tight hug, to which she happily returned.

Draco walked her to the fireplace and just as she was about to step into the fireplace, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back before placing the most gentle kiss she had ever received in her life on her lips. She somewhat tumbled into the fireplace, her lips and mind still blazing from it.

Draco walked back to the study, not before stopping to get Scorpius. With his son in his arms, Draco returned only to see Blaise waiting for him with that annoying smirk on his face. Draco walked around his desk and took his seat, as Scorpius reached out once again to play with the novelties on the desk.

"Don't" Draco warned, before the other Slytherin could even open his mouth. His smirk growing even more, Blaise took a seat across from Draco's chair.

"Don't what?" Blaise asked feigning ignorance.

"You know what… just don't" Draco threatened his eyes narrowing towards his best friend. He was hoping to not have this conversation in front of Scorpius. Merlin knew the kid had bat like hearing.

"I have no idea what you're going on about…" Blaise continued playing dumb. Blaise always took pleasure in messing around with Draco's head. Only because he was one of few who actually understood what Draco was most likely thinking. So naturally he took full advantage of this as the devoted best friend.

Draco chose to ignore him, knowing full well what Blaise was up to. Instead he looked down to see Scorpius scribbling away on a piece of parchment. "What's that you're drawing Scorp?"

"A broom." He answered and then stopped and looked up at his father with all his innocence in his silver eyes before asking, " dad when can we play Quidditch again... it's been aaaaages!", he said exaggerating the last word causing both father and godfather to laugh.

"We'll go flying soon, I promise." Draco answered.

"And maybe you can take that healer you're so very smitten with Draco. I'm sure she'd love that." Blaise added teasingly. Draco shot Blaise another glare. Scorpius's interested peaked at this.

"Is Hermione going to coming flying with us too?" Scorpius asked not missing a beat. Blaise snorted and Draco was left with the expectant look of his son.

"I highly doubt that son." Draco answered and then looking for a change in topics, Draco asked him whether he had been enjoying school.

Shortly after they had moved back, Draco enrolled Scorpius into a preschool run by Luna Lovegood. While he had reservations about leaving his child in the care of "looney Luna" as she was dubbed at Hogwarts, Scorpius was immediately taken by her and so his mind had been made up for him. However he wasn't so ready to separate from his son for such long hours so Scorpius was only at the school till 12 then Ippy would pick him up. Considering he had been sick the past few days, Draco had decided he was going to keep him at home.

Having asked about his school had been a smart move as Scorpius rattled off about the latest endeavours 'Aunt Luna" had them do at school. It was no surprise that Luna was completely taken by Scorpius. The kid was a charmer with the women. Something he definitely picked up from his father. And it came as no surprise to see the close bond that Scorpius had formed with his healer. He was going to break many hearts one day that much was for sure. Blaise chuckled as he thought about this watching Draco listen intently to his son.

Blaise himself had been a little taken with the preschool teacher. She wasn't as loony as most people thought… though he'd never admit that to Draco. Merlin knows the git won't let him live it down.

He zoned back into the conversation to hear Scorpius tell them that Aunt Luna warmed them to be careful of the nargles when they were going home.

"Do you think that's why I was sick yesterday dad? Are the nargles eating my brains?" He asked frantically scratching at his head.

Draco laughed and replied that he highly doubted the existence of the nargles let alone their ability to eat someone's brains out.

"You don't believe in the nargles?" Scorpius asked in horror. Good lord that woman was doing a number on his son.

"What makes you think the nargles are real son?" Draco countered.

"Aunt Luna said they're real, so they're real" he answered simply.

"But Scorp, you can't just believe someone because they say so, you need proof." Draco explained softly.

"But... But dad you didn't asked Hermione for proof when she said I was fine…" he responded. Both Draco and Blaise were shocked into silence. Damn that bat like hearing of his. Draco hadn't thought that Scorpius was actually listening to their conversation earlier.

Draco ran a hand over his son's blonde hair before answering, "Because… I can't believe that you're anything but fine…" Draco said looking into Scorpius' little silver innocent eyes.

"So… so you believe I'm fine?" he asked uncertainly. Scorpius was too smart for his age, had he knew that something was wrong. But in his childhood innocence, he couldn't understand the severity of it. Not that Draco would tell him something that serious. It wasn't for Scorpius to worry about that, all Draco wanted for him was to enjoy being a little boy. And that was something he was determined to see through.

Smiling he answered, "of course! If you weren't, would I be able to do this?" and then proceeded to tickle Scorpius. Who then started squirming, squealing and laughing in delight in his father's arms.

Once the tickles subsided, Scorpius reached up and gave his father a hug. While holding his son, Draco looked up to Blaise and an unspoken promise was made between them. They would not give up; search every possibility, every wild theory until they solved this. With that in mind, Blaise started forming a plan and realised he was going to need the help of one very special preschool teacher.

A/N: I am so very sorry for the late update! I kind of hit a stump with this chapter. I do hope you like it though! I'm personally loving little Scorpius! I know it may seem like not much is going on in this chapter, but its more a less a build up to something far greater... I am currently working on the next chapter , so here's hoping there will another update very very soon!

To all those who have added this to their favourites, are following and took the time to review , I say THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU! Without you, there would be no story!

And a very big thank you to AshElm15049, I'm deeply honoured that you love this story so much! your review most certainly made my day!

Katy, once again thank you for your badass editing and for helping with the development of this chapter ! You practically wrote this chapter really! I love you to bits! What a disaster this story would be without you!

I'm always looking forward to hearing what you have to say, the good and the bad! So please don't be shy, drop a review and let me know. Is there anything you don't like, or do love ? I can guarantee the more you review , the sooner you get chapter 11 !

enjoy !

xoxo