Part X: The Red Carnation
"I can't do that," I said, horrified.
"You can't let him get away with manipulating you like this," said Ginevra pressingly.
"Luna, what do you think?" asked Bill.
Until now, Luna had sat on my left observing. She turned on me, baring her crooked teeth. "I think? I think you should have listened when I warned you! He's fake, all the way through. Your child will be fake and it will spread like cancer from there. And when he leaves, as I know he will, you'll be stuck in a phony life with a dragon-child."
"I'm sorry," I said as I stood up. "I thank you for your efforts and for your research, but I do not thank you for your solution. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I thank you for your hospitality. Goodbye."
I Apperated back to Malfoy Manor. It was almost five, according to the tall grandfather clock. I went up the stairs to my room and changed out of my green Healer's uniform and into a plain set of black and light blue robes. I looked around but could not find Draco, which was just as well.
Crookshanks took to sniffing my shoes-- I'd been to Egypt after all. I left him chewing the boot laces and rolling on the floor. I checked an address in my little book and decided to pay an old friend an unexpected call. He hadn't been at the Anniversary Celebration, so I hoped he would be home. I took my chances and Apperated there and rang the bell.
I stood for a good three minutes waiting, fearing he wasn't there. But then I heard a shuffling inside, and the door swung open. "Miss Granger," he said, sounding surprised.
"Hello, Professor Lupin," I said. His hair was streaked with more grey now than when I had last seen him. The left arm of his patched knit cardigan dangled limply; an everlasting reminder of the effects of the Last Battle. "Can I discuss something with you?"
"Please," he responded and gestured inside with his remaining arm. I stepped inside gingerly and we made dull small-talk as he prepared a kettle of tea: "Did you hear about your old friend Neville Longbottom and Letitia Pye?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Miss Pye has taken on an Apprenticeship with Poppy Pomfrey."
"I know."
He set the teacup down in front of me. "Well, I'm afraid I don't have any other scintillating bits of gossip. Your turn." He took a seat in a worn-looking armchair.
I sighed and sipped my tea. "Have you ever heard of the Pureblood's curse, Professor?"
"Ah," he said. "I'm a half-blood myself, but Sirius told me about it after his brother Regulus died. And I've read Errol Lovegood's memoirs, of course."
I thought for a moment. "Wait. . . Sirius was the last pureblood heir of the Blacks and he died without a grave. The curse applies to him as well as Draco."
"So you know the conditions of the curse?" I nodded. "I know what you're thinking-- but no. Sirius promised he would stay dead. But what of Draco Malfoy?"
I explained how I had broken the code and found Draco and what had happened up until the meeting in Egypt. "I can't kill him," I said in horror. "I don't know if I can trust him, but nonetheless. . ."
"You're in love, Hermione?" Lupin's voice was soft and consoling.
I nodded hopelessly. "Is it true? Is he only using me?"
Lupin said nothing for quite a while, but then he told me, "Drink your tea. You'll feel better."
I pulled my glasses out of my pocket and blinked valiantly to hold back foolish tears. I gulped the tea as instructed and felt better, as he had said. "What should I do?" My voice was barely a whisper.
"Murder is out of the question?" I gave him a baleful look. He smiled faintly. "This is a bit of a hard question. Do you really want to be with Malfoy and bare his heir?"
"I'm just starting to build my career-- I can't be a mother," I said. "But I'm in love with him, I cannot deny that."
"So tell him that. If he's willing to wait for you, he's sincere. If his only purpose for coming back to life was to get you knocked up-- which is what the Weasleys and Zabinis seem to think, I'm afraid-- force might be one of your choices."
"He's very weak," I reminded. "He gave up his magic and soul in exchange for his life. It's all a little like Doctor Faustus, but the devil's not involved as far as I know."
"The best I can tell you is to trust yourself. You seem to have clearer goals than he; use that to your advantage."
"Thank you Professor Lupin," I said. "I'll try. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"You are welcome to turn up on my doorstep any day, Hermione," he smiled. "Leaving your abandoned children on my doorstep, on the other hand. . ."
"Stop that!" I exclaimed. "Goodbye."
"I'm glad I could try and help you. Goodbye."
I left feeling rather better than when I'd left the Weasley residence in Egypt.
Author's Note: So I've returned, 3 months later. I'm afraid I don't have any more written down after this point. I don't know if I'm going to continue it, so I thought I'd give you what I have.
