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"Mama!"
Draco was leaning on the wall, his arms crossed and his heart beating quickly. Hermione was laying in the hospital bed, still and sick looking. He had brought Nathan here, against his initial hesitation. But now, it seemed as though the catalyst event was about to begin.
"N-Nathan," Hermione croaked.
Nathan nestled himself in the crook of her arm, pressing his face in her shoulder. Briefly, Draco felt as though he was interrupting a personal family moment. That familiar tug in his gut returned, followed by the original anger toward Granger regarding her selection of the truth.
"Malfoy?" gasped Hermione. She forced herself into a sitting position, wincing as she did.
Hermione's head was swimming with both pain and confusion. What the bloody hell was Draco Malfoy doing in her hospital room, with her son? Then realization crossed her mind like a comet, streaking across with sparks showering. He knows, she thought.
"Granger," acknowledged Draco coolly.
She pushed a few strands of hair out of Nathans face and watched as he closed his eyes. The clock on the wall said it was nearing nine thirty, around the time she usually put him to bed. The two adults lapsed into silence for a few minutes, before Hermione heaved a sigh. It was time that she face what she had been avoiding for the past five years. Her heart rate sped up and Hermione felt her stomach whirl. She bit her lip, a nervous habit, and said:
"I suppose you have a few questions..."
One week later, Hermione was ready to leave the hospital. She had a roster of potions to help fight infections, headaches, and other odd ailments. Waiting for her in the lobby were Harry, Ginny, and Ron. She half expected Draco to be there with Nathan, but it was a school day and Draco would not come alone.
"You ready to go home?" asked Harry, kissing her forehead.
Hermione offered a small smile. She felt alright and honestly just wanted to go home and watch a movie with her son. However, that was where the issue was. Draco had reluctantly agreed to bring her-their-son back to the Granger residence, but he was adamant that he would be heavily involved in his life. Draco had even said something haunting, "I've already contacted my lawyer to come up with an agreement that I feel content with."
Hermione had narrowed her eyes, but bit her tongue. No way in hell was Draco taking her baby from her.
Once home, Harry asked Hermione several times if she wanted him to stay with her, just in case, but Hermione quickly shooed him out.
"Harry, I feel fine. Just a little tired. I'll floo you if anything is wrong, and Ginny is stopping by in an hour for lunch." said Hermione, hugging her best friend.
Harry was unconvinced but agreed to go back to work at the Ministry. He disapparated in her kitchen, leaving Hermione alone. She walked back to the couch and flipped on her muggle television. She turned on a medical drama and watched at the characters had sex and performed surgery, an odd yet somewhat enthralling combination. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Hermione could not believe that she has been in a coma for longer than a week. It was a confusing thought to process. She pulled the blanket over her lap and sighed. Hermione's mind was wandering to Nathan. The poor boy was probably scared beyond anything living with the Malfoys. She rarely spoke about Draco, only telling Nathan that his daddy was not a nice man. It was horribly confusing for the child, she was sure. Of course, what was to come would be infinitely more absurd.
Draco was sitting at his desk, in his office, across from Granger's thankfully vacant one. He pushed his chair back and moved to the cabinet nearest the window, where he kept a bottle of firewhiskey and a few tumblers...just in case. He poured himself a small amount and knocked it back, enjoying the fierce burn that seared his esophagus. Draco took the crystal tumbler and pressed it against his throbbing temple. Sweet Merlin, this was about to get messy.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Trudy called timidly. He saw her silhouette from outside his office door.
"I'm busy," he snapped agitatedly.
"T-There's someone here too-" She was cut off.
"Honey I'm ho-o-ome!" A sly voice called.
Draco's head shot up so quickly his neck cracked. There she stood, in all her glory after nearly a seven month absence. "Pansy?"
The devilish beauty grinned wickedly. "In the flesh," She chuckled, throwing her expensive handbag onto a vacant chair. She was wearing a tight plum colored dress that contrasted with her snowy skin and long, black tresses. Draco stood up to embrace his oldest friend, besides Blaise who was in Italy for the next week. Pansy had changed inexplicably since Hogwarts, growing into her face and body almost miraculously. She went to model in Milan, Paris, and other wizarding communities around Europe. She had been in Greece for the past few months, helping design a spring line or something like that.
"How are you?" She asked, settling down into a chair and crossing her thin legs, after helping herself to his alcohol.
He barked out a humorless laugh. "Oh, I'm fine. Guess what, Pans? I've got a five year old son!"
She choked, spluttering and jerking forward. "Excuse me?" She rasped.
He shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Pansy regathered herself and managed to not make a disparaging remark. She simply asked him to explain.
"Apparently, a one night stand with none other than Hermione fucking Granger led to the procreation of life. Said life is currently four years old and at school right now. I have to pick him up in about forty five minutes."
"Wait, you're being completely bloody serious?"
"Yes. Granger got into an accident when we were hunting a dark wizard, which is how I found out about him." Draco explained. He rubbed his forehead. "And now the fucking witch is healthy and wants her son back."
"And?" prompted Pansy, draining the rest of the whiskey. She flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder and pursed her cherry red lips.
"And, I don't know if I want to give him back." He sighed. "I hate to admit it but I've grown a little attached to the lad, he's quite wonderful. Furthermore, it's clear she's been a fit parent but it's the fact that she fucking kept him from me for five years, Pansy. It's wrong and I feel like I deserve something here but once he's back in her arms, she will never let him near me."
"Have you talked to a lawyer?" asked Pansy, uncrossing and then recrossing her legs.
Draco had, but the lawyer was not exactly skilled in family matters. The Malfoy family lawyer was more skilled at dealing with money issues, fraud, and publicity. This issue was unprecedented.
"Yes, but it was not much help. Havens is not fully equipped to deal with this issue. I was going to ask around the Ministry."
Pansy sat up a little straighter. "What about Nott? You remember Theo, I'm sure. He's a lawyer now."
Draco furrowed his brow, then nodded. He reached into his desk and pulled out a clean sheet of parchment and quickly scrawled a letter to his old acquaintance. As he gave the letter to his owl, Falcon, Pansy asked where Blaise was.
"Italy visiting his mother. I have to go pick up Nathan from school, but would you like to join Astoria and I for dinner this evening?"
Pansy nodded. "I heard about her pregnancy, are you excited?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Well, considering I just found out I already have a child, I'm just pleased she informed me."
Pansy offered a laugh. She slipped her coat on and slung her handbag on her arm. Pansy bid Draco farewell until later, leaving him to his thoughts. He sighed and realized his headache had only increased. Just before Draco was about to leave to pick up Nathan, his owl returned with a response.
Malfoy,
It appears you're in luck, as I have studied family law in addition to monetary. If you request a consult, I'm willing to meet with you outside of office hours, as friends first. Give your wife my regards.
Sincerely,
Theodore Nott
Magical Attorney at Law
He folded up the parchment and shoved it in the pocket of his black work robes. Draco apparated to an alley nearby the school. He walked into the small lobby, where a few children and their parents were walking out of the classroom.
"Daddy, today was awesome." Nathan chirped, running forward with his backpack bouncing.
"I'm glad to hear that, mate. You can tell me all about it over ice cream."
Miss Lauren approached him quietly. "Mr. Malfoy, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Draco hesitated, then asked Nathan to wait for him. "Yes?"
"I know it isn't my place exactly, but I do wish you remain in Nathan's life. At first, I know he was timid about the situation but he seems to have grown very fond of you recently. I would hate to see any more turmoil in his life."
Draco was unsure whether to be angry toward the woman for inserting herself into his business or thankful because she could ultimately help his case against Granger. He thanked her politely and took Nathan out into the warm spring air. They got ice cream and Draco delayed himself until five o'clock. He had received a letter from Granger saying she was getting released from the hospital and wished to have Nathan back at her apartment around dinner time. He had reluctantly agreed, because all Nathan kept talking about was how much he missed his 'mama.'
Draco walked up to Hermione's brownstone, Nathan's tiny hand clutched in his own. The house was picturesque, with a white picket fence, a flower box, and a white door. Nathan let go of Draco's hand, and he subsequently felt an absence.
Nathan threw open the front door, frightening Hermione inside. Before she could react, she heard him yell for her. Draco came up behind Nathan, resting his hands on his shoulders. Hermione appeared, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She was wearing a simple pair of black stretch pants and a crewneck that said Chicago.
"Malfoy," She smiled hollowly. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she looked much healthier.
"Granger," acknowledged Draco, forcing a smile. He felt an unwavering sadness at the thought of Nathan leaving him.
"Would you like to, er, come in?"
He checked his watch briefly. Pansy was expected around six thirty, dinner respectably being at seven, so he had a small amount of time. Reluctantly, he stepped into the foyer. He frowned at the fresh flowers in the vase to his left. Of course Granger would have a meticulously well kept home, even while in a coma.
"I'm in the middle of dinner, spaghetti if you would like to stay?" Hermione offered, all while crossing her fingers and praying he would say no.
"Sorry, I have guests this evening." replied Draco curtly.
Hermione nodded and he followed her farther down a hallway, into a large stainless steel kitchen. Nathan had disappeared to be reunited with his toys, no doubt. Draco had only seen the upstairs of her house and he was pretty sure she did not know that.
"So, I've contacted a lawyer," said Draco, leaning against the door frame.
Hermione moved to the stove and stirred a bubbling sauce. She paled visibly. "Oh?"
"However, if you wish we can perhaps work something out, without him." Draco felt like that would bite him in the ass later, but it seemed like the safest option.
"What did you have in mind?" Hermione replied tightly. She bit her bottom lip anxiously.
"I just want to see him, Granger, maybe a few times a week and on some weekends?" His offer sounded generous to his ears. After all he could sue her for all she's worth and take her son.
She was silent, her mind racing. Honestly, all she wanted was Nathan all to herself. How difficult would it be to push Draco out of his life, go back to the way it used to be? But Hermione was rational and understood that would never happen completely. She sighed.
"I think we can manage. You can pick him up from school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other weekend."
Draco flattened his lips in a tight line and reluctantly nodded
A/N: Hey guys! So summer is in full swing. I'm tan and happier than ever. I'm also writing more, I have the next two chapters written after this one. So since I'm about to go get blackout drunk, he he, I decided to give you all a gift of this chapter. So, Pansy? Thoughts?
xoxo
