A/N: Sorry for this taking longer than expected however, this is the longest chapter I've wrote so far. Thank you for the reviews and like and follows. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 9 – The Mum's Are Back Pt.2: Telling them
The plump ginger woman was casually reading her daily installment of 'Witch Weekly' when the fireplace alerted her of an incoming visitor.
Jumping to her feet, she quickly flattened her tattered robes and waited patiently as she accepted the call, waiting for the arrival of Professor McGonagall.
Scenario's rushed vividly at the forefront of her mind, Ginny in the hospital, Ron setting a potion's classroom on fire, Ron knocking someone out on purpose, Ron being a dickhead as per usual. Why are the majority of Ron, and of being Ron's fault?
Something was wrong with that boy. She knew it. Arthur knew it. All of his siblings knew it. And only 1 of his siblings still lived at home with him and saw him regularly. Something was wrong with him. Seriously wrong with him. She just couldn't pinpoint it.
It broke her heart that day when she heard Hermione screaming at him. She just couldn't believe what her son could do. Had done. That poor, innocent girl.
Hermione was an amazing and intelligent girl who had suffered so much because of that damn war. Her son was so selfish hat he wouldn't even go with her to try and retrieve her parents, to fix the memory charm.
And when that didn't work, he didn't comfort her like a boyfriend should comfort his significant other. It was wrong.
Mrs Weasley was under the influence that Ron would be skipping the family holiday to Egypt for that reason and was in complete support of it. But no. He had lied to her.
And then the revelation of him cheating on Hermione with that skank, and the reason's why?! Mrs Weasley couldn't stand the girl before she started dating Ron, and was only civil because it seemed no-one else in her family and social circle had a problem with her She always thought soothing was off about her.
AND THEN! When Ron introduced her as his girlfriend. Mrs Weasley fumed. She told Ron that she would never step foot in the Burrow unless it was for a wedding, his or someone else's.
"Mrs Weasley that is why we have decided… Mrs Weasley? You ok Molly?"
She met the tall witch's eyes and sighed.
"I'm sorry Minerva, I'm just out of it a lately. Something's wrong with that boy…" And with that she broke down and told Minerva every last detail, her worries for him, how he'd changed, how he is changing.
"Oh, dear, why don't we apparate back to my office, have a honorary lemon sherbet and then YOU can go and sort out your son, we'll discuss further punishments if you wish afterwards."
Her kind eyes glinted at Mrs Weasley, as she held out a comforting hand to the plump woman so she could side-along back to the office.
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/
"Son what is all about."
Shit. Shit. ShittyMcShitface.
"Hermione?"
Her faced perked up, snapping her out of her trance.
"Yes, Draco." Her voice raw.
"Do you mind giving me and my mother some space whilst I explain why she's here?"
Her eyes welled up at that. Why did they well up at that? I said nothing wrong.
"You've already told me this story, or did you not tell me the truth is that it?" She protested, her tears spilling over, as she stormed out.
Draco ran his hands through his hair, he would have to sort that out later. He ran a calloused hand through his soft ruffled hair as he contemplated how he was going to tell his mother. Everything.
He made an internal promise to tell his mother everything. And then grovel to Hermione and maybe tell her. He didn't know what to do about telling Hermione. Maybe he should ask his mother?
"Mother," he started gently, "would you like a cup of tea, this is going to take a while."
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"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY" The matriarch's voice boomed and echoed throughout every inch of the castle's walls and grounds.
Shit. Shit. ShittyMcShitface. Ron thought.
He stood before his loving mother, with wide questioning eyes.
"Whatever is the matter mum? Is dad alright? What's happened that makes you come to castle." He tried to make his voice sound innocent, and the smile on Mrs Weasley's face made him believe he'd succeeded. Until she turned on him like a vulture, her eyes eating up his soul.
"Sit down."
He complied.
"Whatever is the matter mum?" She mocked, "WHATEVER IS THAT MATTER? Ronald, let me make you aware of what is the matter. You not only cheated on Hermione, and yes, I know the exact reason why. Because YOU couldn't keep it in your pants and wait until she was ready. No, I'm not done," she declared when he raised a finger to try and argue.
"You then, IN ONE OF THE MOST USED CORRIDORS IN HOGWARTS WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS NOOKS AND CRANNIES SO ANYONE CAN LISTEN IN ON CONVERSATIONS, publicly humiliate her. And she could hear it. What you said wasn't even remotely true as well! How dare you. HOW VERY DARE YOU! And you know what if I see Draco Malfoy before I leave, I'm going to congratulate him, praise him, and invite him to the Burrow for a dinner one night in the upcoming Christmas Holidays." She added with extra chirpiness.
Ron looked up with a burning rage in his eyes, yet calmly stated; "That's fine mother, I'll stay at Lavendar's for Christmas."
At the disturbingly calm face his mother was showing he decided to ask the question that has been burning in his mind since summer.
"However, before you proceed, I do have one last question."
"Yes son?" She questioned back, annoyed immensely now she just wanted to hear what punishment McGonagall had in store for him and then give him some of her own.
"Why was Malfoy at the Burrow two days before we came back to school, I distinctly remember walking back from the quidditch pitch me George and Ginny had set up and saw a sickly pale lad with blinding white hair stood with you, dad and Professor McGonagall. Then as soon as dad saw us approaching the lad apparated. Any idea who it was and why they were there."
He looked up and saw that McGonnagaol had made her way into the common room as well.
He smiled sweetly up at the two adults who seemed to be connecting on some telepathic wavelength and having an unspoken conversation. That was all the confirmation that Ron needed.
"No Mr. Weasley I was there as you mentioned, and the only other people present were your parents. Anyway, we are here to inform your mother of your punishment and to see if your mother has any disagreements with it."
After informing Mrs Weasley of the selected punishments, to both Ron's and the Headmistresses shock, she turned around and said, "In all due respect professor, no I am not alright with the aforementioned punishments. Along with the detentions, I want my son stripped of all prefect duties and Hogsmede trips in the foreseeable future. Now, I must be getting back, have a great time in detentions Ronald."
And with that, she stepped into the Gryffindor fireplace and flooed home.
/
*
/
With Narcissa seated and Hermione doing… well, something Hermioneesque.
"Mother, what I'm about to tell you will be the biggest shock to you, so please don't interrupt until I'm done, is that something you can do for me?"
When his mother nodded, he continued,
"Before I took the mark, at the end of fifth year. Dumbledore approached me and told me he knew it was likely that I will be more than likely pressured into taking the dark mark. When I confessed, I had no interest in becoming a death eater he gave me a sad smile and told me I had options should I need to take them. I told him that I didn't need to bother with taking any of the options, and that under no circumstances was I to become a death eater. He told me that was ok, but the offer would always stand as long as he was head of the order. Anyways, as you know, when I came home I was greeted by good old daddy and his best pal Voldy.
That Summer I took the mark for three reasons. To protect myself. To protect you. And to protect the woman who I love. I was scared. Dad and Voldy found out that I would only join for those three reasons. They increased the talks of slaughtering muggles and muggleborns. And of course you were there favourite persuasion toy to hang above my head because they didn't know which girl had caught my eye. Or at least I thought – I'll get more onto that later. Anyways, as soon as I got back to Hogwarts I fled to Dumbledore. I didn't know what to do so I told him I wanted to know what my options were. 1) I could flee the country and stay in a safe house under the order's protection. 2) Do nothing ad continue on the death eater's regime. Or 3) Become a spy for the order and fight for the order when the time came.
Well it's probably pretty obvious as to which one I chose. Number 3. Dumbledore did however request the names of people I wanted protecting should things go South. So I did I relayed the two names. Narcissa Malfoy. Hermione Granger."
He heard his mother gasp and gave them both a minute to comprehend what he just said, and let him prepare the next part of his speech.
"Dumbledore appointed me to Mrs Weasley, she was who I was to communicate with if I couldn't reach Snape or Dumbledore. Mrs Weasley was so kind and sweet by the way, I've added her and Mr Weasley on the list of Christmas gifts and letters. Hope you don't mind. Anyways back onto the story. I continued being a spy for the order and I thought all was well. Until we went on our first revel.
Dumbledore gave me a weapon which cleared my conscience. A draught which gives muggles a second chance if you will. I always had to arrive at the site first and cast a spell which protected all muggles against the pain from the crucio, make them fake an imperio, and stuns them when hit with an avada. None of them know what had happened because even if they don't feel it, it makes their bodies react how they should. Before I leave, I give them the draught which relieves them from whatever state they're in. However, if they are taken from the site or surrounding areas of the revels, the spell will wear off so the only thing I could do then was to cast silent protection and healing spells.
Then the year continued and Dumbledore helped me create a plan on letting the death eaters into Hogwarts. Neither of them told me about the unbreakable vow that you and Snape made. Trust me it was quite a shock when Uncle Sev offed the old bloke. Everything was explained of course. I had watched a series of memories, read an abundance of journal entries.
And then panic hit me when I didn't know if you and Hermione would still be protected. I started contacting Mrs Weasley then, as she was to be my confident for the order. Everything seemed to be going ok. I was telling the order everything I could when possible until that night. I still hear her screams you know.
When Hermione, Weasel and Scarhead came through the manor's doors, God help me I could've ripped the snatcher's apart. It killed me watching her go through that. But I did know a spell that could help her. Along with endless protego's and healing charms, I casted a special healing spell "salutem et alligate". It literally translates to "Bind our health together" in Latin, so for as long as I was casting the spell, we would share health, I would take some of her pain while she took some of my health.
It leaves a pull towards the caster from the person it was cast on that will fade when they make a full recovery. That's why I couldn't watch. That's why I helped them escape. That's why my arm hurt so fucking much. That's why I couldn't stay in that house any longer."
Narcissa stared at her son in amazement she's never felt prouder of him then in that moment, "My dear boy…" She started but Draco quickly cut her off.
"I'm not done just yet. So anyway, that's why Mrs Weasley testified for me at the Wizengamot and why I had to visit her in the summer. I wanted to thank her for everything she's done for me. Everything was going fine and dandy. Then the letters started. Dear old daddy wants to start a new death eater groups. He found out the reason's for me joining the death eater's in the first place. He's been blackmailing me. Threatening you and.. and. Hermione."
"No?" Two female gasps were heard.
Narcissa and Draco turned around as all three pairs of eyes were met.
/
/
Of course he doesn't trust me, why would he? Hermione's mind was spinning. If he wasn't going to tell her, she was going to try and find someone who would.
Begrudgingly, she made her way down to the dungeons and waited under a dissalusion charm until the four people she needed to see were there. After around 15 minutes, Blaise, Theo, Pansy and Daphne came around the corner.
It's now or never.
Removing the charm she rounded on the four and startled them so much so they all just stared at her in silence.
"Umm, look I know we aren't friends but…"
"Understatement of the year." Pansy muttered under a breath.
Hermione shot her a look but continued anyway.
"What did Draco do for me in the war. I only know the basics and he won't tell me anything. Not about why he did what he did, why Narcissa is now in our dorm room for protection reasons…"
All four of them paled at that, knowing the reason. Hermione took note of this.
"And why I feel this pull towards him. Please can you just tell me what's going on. I have to know."
She could feel her eyes welling up but couldn't be bothered trying to hide them. So instead she let the tears tumble down her cheeks.
The four Slytherin's felt bad for her. How could thy not? They knew what it was like to be in her position, and she had it worse because Draco loved her.
They couldn't be the ones to reveal it. Draco had to do it.
Blaise reached his arm out and put a comforting hand on her arm whilst Pansy gave the girl a tissue to wipe her eyes.
Theo and Daphne looked at each other. Finally, Daphne said,
"Hermione, we know you're hurting, and trust me when I say this. We all know what it's like to be in your position. We've all been there at some point or the other. But we can't tell you. Draco has to do this. It wouldn't be fair on him for us to tell him."
Daphne gave Theo a glance, and he took over from her.
"Until he tells you. It might be best for you to stay out of his way for a bit. Let him come to terms with what he needs to tell you and how he's going to do it ok?"
With that Hermione turned and fled back to her dorm. Her mind was blank as she silently crept into the living room. She could hear Draco and his mother talking, so she decided to hide behind one of the curtain's and listen before she made her presence known.
"It killed me watching her go through that. But I did know a spell that could help her. Along with endless protego's and healing charms, I casted a special healing spell "salutem et alligate". It literally translates to "Bind our health together" in Latin, so for as long as I was casting the spell, we would share health, I would take some of her pain while she took some of my health.
It leaves a pull towards the caster from the person it was cast on that will fade when they make a full recovery. That's why I couldn't watch. That's why I helped them escape. That's why my arm hurt so fucking much. That's why I couldn't stay in that house any longer."
Narcissa stared at her son in amazement she's never felt prouder of him then in that moment, "My dear boy…" She started but Draco quickly cut her off.
"I'm not done just yet. So anyway, that's why Mrs Weasley testified for me at the Wizengamot and why I had to visit her in the summer. I wanted to thank her for everything she's done for me. Everything was going fine and dandy. Then the letters started. Dear old daddy wants to start a new death eater groups. He found out the reason's for me joining the death eater's in the first place. He's been blackmailing me. Threatening you and.. and. Hermione."
"No?!" She gasped and realized that they could hear her.
Narcissa and Draco turned around and all three watery eyes met.