Chapter 11

Draco shifted uncomfortably where he stood. The memories presented to him has struck a feeling of loss inside of him as he witnessed it one after the other, flowing by him without pause. Sure, he didn't have feelings for Granger; the two of them had discussed as much several times already.

It was something else entirely. It was the loss of the life he could have had; not just with Granger, but the family he seemed to have gained in that future. Seeing himself such at ease with the others had been slightly hard to watch, because he had to come to terms that he probably wouldn't have that anymore.

It seemed to him that the family he actually had was currently severely decreasing. He hadn't talked to his father since his imprisonment; there had been too much damage done for Draco to bother enough to try and keep the connection alive. It was always the same with Lucius Malfoy; the same 'You're not good enough' and the same 'Disgrace to the family line'. At one point it had strongly bothered him, and he had been desperate for his father's approval, but he had slowly realized that it would probably never happen. His father needed someone to blame when something went wrong, regardless of whether it was actually his fault or not.

And he had all but nearly just cut his mother out of his life for not accepting Scorpius. Not that he regretted it; he cared too much about his child, despite only having the boy in his life for a short time, to expose him to that sort of negativity. A few years back when he started thinking about his future, he had vowed that if he ever had any children, that he would love them unconditionally, something which he never had.

He knew he still had a family in Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott, two men who had similar upbringings to him. While Blaise never had a father dismiss his every actions, he had an absentee mother. And Theo's father all but blamed him that his mother had died during child birth. It was a sad thing to bond over, but it was something, and despite the two not knowing about his child, they were rather close.

But it didn't stop the longing he felt while watching the scenes. It didn't seem to bother his other three companions, seeing as they had gotten use to the familial dynamic they possessed between them. It was something he had picked up during his temporary residence in Grimmauld Place, as he noticed that Hermione and Weasley hadn't even seemed a slight bit out of element while staying at their friend's home. They both had clothes and belongings in the house, leading Draco to assume that it was probably a regular occurrence for them. Neither Harry nor Ginny seemed a bit out of routine either with the house guests.

Logically, he knew that as long as the children were with them, they would continue with the type of life they had in place.

He sighed, deciding not to place anymore stock in the notion as he watched the next memory materialize in front of him.

'Did you read this article?' Hermione said in a scared voice. She was wearing a slightly short muggle looking night dress, as she handed Draco the paper over the breakfast table.

Draco craned his neck over to see what it said, as Hermione joined him.

Mystery Leader of Cult Says Society to Revert to Old traditions

'The paper is in support of the group's ideals,' Hermione summarized. 'Draco, it seems like more and more people are starting to agree with them and what they stand for. I was in Diagon Alley and I heard a bunch of witches talking behind me about how they support this, and that they would happily do whatever it took to get this to happen.'

Scorpius looked back and forth between his parents this time. Draco estimated the boy to be about three here based on his height, and the way that he was properly using a set child utensils to eat his boiled egg. While he knew the boy currently had impeccable manners, he should have guessed that it would have happened early on in life.

'I thought after Voldemort, no one would ever let anything like this ever happen again,' Hermione said softly.

'Maybe that's why this is happening,' Draco said softly. 'Voldemort targeted muggles and muggleborns, but that was because he believed them to be inferior. When I was younger, I found a history book in our library that mentioned a time before wizards and witches had to go into hiding. Those with hereditary powers welcomed those with new-born powers, or muggleborns as we call them now with open arms. What if that's the society they're trying to bring back?'

'It would make sense why it appeals to others,' Hermione mused, 'But why do they need a cult for that? They could do that without death and destruction.'

'Because cults like them usually have ulterior motives,' Draco said grimly. 'And whatever they're planning won't be good.'

She shuddered slightly, 'What if we can't stop them this time?' she whispered.

'We have to,' Draco said in a grim voice. 'Because if we don't, it might just be worse than anything that has happened historically to date. Especially now that they have so much support, and whatever is helping fuel their magic.'

Draco noticed Hermione looked intrigued at that. She had looked intrigued over quite a few of the things that had happened, but at the same time looked slightly shy over others. He couldn't help but wonder what she thought about all of this, and if it affected her either.

The memory started to fade out, and as the new one came into focus, Draco could see a dark nature surrounding the memory. It probably belonged to James, as neither Hugo nor Scorpius were able to fully comprehend negative events.

Molly Weasley was sobbing uncontrollably into her husband's arms, while Luna Lovegood silently had tears streaming down her face as she held Hugo into her closely. Hermione's arms were wrapped around her tightly, as the rest of the Weasley family stood by them, with the exception of Harry, who was sitting in a wheelchair. Lying in a casket a few metres away from the family was a body lying still as Bill spoke.

'Ronald, you were a man of honour and compassion. While there was a large age gap between us, I often felt responsible for you in a paternal way. You were a brave man who fought for your family until the very end; fighting in two wars to make this world a safer place for the rest of us. You weren't just a fallen knight who sacrificed yourself, you are a fallen king. Your memory will forever be remembered, and we will make sure that your death was not in vain. So rest now, brother, for your fight is over. Be at peace and know you did well.'

Ron's face paled as they watched his apparent future, and Draco couldn't say he blamed him. It was rather overwhelming to watch your funeral and hear the things others said. Draco knew that his death would one day come, but he hoped it would be after several long years and he would pass away due to old age.

Hermione placed an arm over Ron's shoulder, to comfort him, as Harry stared at his future self in that chair. Draco couldn't help but wonder why he needed on in the first place. Most ailments were curable, so what had happened to his partner to put him in that chair?

The Weasley men surrounded the coffin, as they closed it with their wands, and slowly proceeded to use their wands to lower it into the ground.

'Daddy?' Hugo asked. 'Mommy where are they putting Daddy? Mommy make them bring Daddy back!' Hugo started, getting upset at the sight, causing Luna's sobs to get louder.

'Daddy loves you so much Hugo,' Hermione said, as she bend down to the boy's level. 'You and your Mommy were everything to him. But remember how Uncle Fred had to leave his family to go to Heaven? Daddy had to go there too.'

'Why?' Hugo wailed. 'I don't want Daddy to go. I need Daddy. Aunt Mione please bring him back.'

'I'm so sorry sweetheart. I would if I could. I miss your Daddy too; we all do. But he's gone now.' Hermione said, voice breaking.

Hugo cried into his mother's arms, and Hermione couldn't hold her tears in anymore.

Draco wrapped his arms around her at that, and she buried her head into his chest. 'It isn't fair. Ron should still be here, Draco.'

'I know, Hermione,' he said in a sad voice. 'We will get the bastards who did this; one way or another.'

The memory faded again, and he could see Hermione shaking slightly, effected by what she had just seen. He moved to place a hand on her arm and she gave him a sad smile, before moving slightly closer to his touch.

'I can't sit back and let this keep happening!' Harry sat at the table and he exclaimed.

'What would you even do?' Ginny argued back. 'You, Ron, and Draco had the last confrontation planned out to every last detail, and look how well that turned out for the both of you!'

'I want revenge!' Harry said angrily as his eyes flashed. 'I want them to pay for everything they've done! I want to find the bastard in charge and take everything from him and make him hurt like he did to me.'

'You don't even know if it is a he,' Hermione said with a shaky voice.

'I don't care!' Harry yelled at her. 'Does that sort of thing really matter right now, Hermione?'

'Don't speak to her like that!' Draco snapped in an annoyed tone. 'I get it, you're hurting, Potter, we all are. But that doesn't give you the right to act like an ass.'

'Oh yeah, and when do I get that right?' Harry sneered.

'For Merlin's sake, Harry, Ron's dead,' Ginny exclaimed. 'Your best friend is dead, my brother, and you're stuck in that wheel chair for ever. And I thank Merlin every day that you survived, because I don't think I could stand losing you too. But I refuse to sit here and listen to you talking like this. We will get these people, but you sit back and let us do this. And so help me, I love you, but if you try and put yourself in danger, I will leave you.'

That seemed to sober him up, 'I'm so sorry, Ginny,' he said in a soft voice. 'And you too, Hermione, I shouldn't have snapped at you. I just hate everything about this so much. I hate that I don't have use of my legs any more, and I hate that I can't do anything. It's always been me who fought against everything, and I don't know how to do the whole sidelines thing.'

'Welcome to the club,' Draco said wryly. 'It's been driving all of us crazy, sitting at home all day, not being able to do a single thing.'

'I just wish we didn't have to stop working,' Hermione said softly. 'At least that would give us something to do, instead of thinking about it every single moment of every day,' her voice shook slightly, and Draco hugged her into his body.'

She held her husband tightly, as she tried to calm herself down.

'It will get better eventually,' Ginny said softly. 'I just hope we don't lose anyone else. I thought after Fred we wouldn't lose any other family members for any war related thing; I thought it would be all natural deaths from here on out. I never thought Ron-' she stopped mid sob.

Harry rolled his chair closer to his wife and pulled her in tightly.

'Has anyone talked to Luna lately?' Hermione asked, 'I try to floo her, but she hardly ever responds.

'I think she just needs some time,' Harry said softly. 'I'll try to call her later today. It hasn't been easy for either her or Hugo; the poor boy still barely understands what happens and keeps asking for his father. It's making it hard on Luna.'

Hermione shook her head, 'I can't imagine what Hugo is feeling right now.'

Harry nodded, 'At least for me, I never had a chance to know my parents, so I always felt sad for what I never had; not what I had, remembered, and lost.'

The memory faded as the room grew quiet, and Draco couldn't help but feel bad over what he had just witnessed.

As the next memory came into focus, he braced himself slightly.

'Hermione!' Draco's voice yelled out through the house, 'Hermione!'

'I'm in here,' Hermione spoke out as she sat in the parlour, cuddling Scorpius into her body. The young boy looked as if he were about to drift off, but woke up at the sound.

'Thank Merlin you're safe!' Draco said softly as he came into the room and sat beside her on the sofa. He placed an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

'Me?' Hermione said incredulously. 'I was on the edge when it all happened! You were right up there in the middle of it. I didn't know if you were okay. I didn't know if you were still alive.'

He cupped her face, 'I'm fine, Hermione. I promise. Just a few cuts and scrapes, but nothing you can't mend.'

She nodded softly, 'I can't believe the Ministry fell, again,' she said.

'Neither could I. They killed Kingsley and took the Ministry by force. No one saw it coming; at least they didn't,' Draco told her gently.

'Not Kingsley!' Hermione exclaimed. 'I can't believe they got him too. I feel like we keep losing all the good people.'

Draco held her tighter, 'I know. I don't know how we're going to keep fighting this war. It seems like we're fighting an impossible battle.'

Hermione nodded, but was silent for a few seconds. 'Draco, I need to tell you something, and I know the timing is terrible, but I just found out.'

'Is everything alright?' Draco asked her, sounding worried.

'I'm pregnant,' she blurted out. 'I cast the spell this morning when I missed my monthly, but I figure I'm about two or three weeks along.'

'That's amazing!' Draco said with a wide grin. He planted kiss on her lips softly, as she sighed into him. 'I know it's not the most conventional time, but we'll make it work.'

'And raise them in what kind of world? Both Scorpius and this child. I just want them to be safe,' Hermione said, tears threatening to fall down her face.

'I don't know,' Draco admitted. 'I really don't. But we'll find a way to keep them safe, one way or another.'

The memory collapsed into a smoke like substance as the new one se in around them. Draco felt a sick feeling in his stomach. It didn't take a lot for him to connect that while the future Hermione had been pregnant, that child didn't make it back to the past with them.

Did it count as losing a child if he never had it in the first place?

He glanced over at Hermione and saw her jaw tighten, as her hand subconsciously rested over her stomach, clearly feeling a similar loss to himself.

Scorpius was sitting in the middle of both Hugo and James as the three boys played with a set of Quidditch action figures.

There was a loud bang noise, followed by the sound of a commotion. James' face grew worried as he pulled Hugo and Scorpius into him tightly.

The three boys looked up in surprise when they saw Hermione stumble into the room. She had a large gash on her chest, and she looked rather faint. She was holding a vial of something in her hands as she approached them.

'Are you okay, Aunt Mione?' James asked, sounding worried.

'I'm fine, James,' Hermione said in a falsely positive voice. 'I don't have a lot of time to explain, but the three of you are going to go on a little trip, okay? We need you to go back to the past and stop all of this from happening.'

'Are you coming with us?' James asked her carefully.

'No,' she said with a shake of her head, 'I need to stay here. But I need to cast a quick spell on the three of you, okay?'

The boys nodded, looking scared, as Hermione used her wand over them silently.

'Where's Daddy?' Scorpius asked in a small voice. 'Mommy, are the bad people here?'

Hermione looked distraught as she sadly nodded, 'Don't worry about your Daddy, baby. We'll be okay. Now I need the three of you to be brave, okay? You've done so well so far, just keep holding on, alright?'

The boys nodded solemnly.

'James, look after them,' Hermione instructed the elder child. 'Your cousins look up to you and respect you. Keep them safe.'

'I will, I promise,' James said in a brave tone. 'I'll protect them.'

Hermione patted his cheek softly. 'Your parents would be so proud of you. We're all so proud of you.'

There was a large crash from a little down the hall and Hermione paled considerably. 'Drink this now, boys. I need you to swallow it, no complaints, okay?'

She handed each of them a vial of the potion she had been holding and watched them carefully as they drunk it. She hugged the boys into her body tightly and pulled away as the sound from outside the room grew louder, as it approached.

'I love you three,' she said as she turned away from them, and drew her wand.

A figure appeared in the room, but it was faint, as the boys vanished from the spot, and the visitors from the memory found themselves being ejected from the pensieve.

A/N: You have no idea how painful this set of memories was to write; Ron's funeral nearly killed me. (So hopefully the future won't repeat itself, right?) Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and see you next week!