Raise Me Up

A week later ….

Hermione had regained most of her memories; thank Merlin for that but the growing sense of disquiet was following her everywhere. A black cloud was approaching, the trial…

Today was the first day in court, Blaise had managed a stay order until Hermione was fully recovered but now she had to do what she had been dreading since escaping him…. Meeting Ron… today was the first day she was going to see him after what he did to her. There was a hollow feeling in her belly and her hands kept opening and closing; clenching into fists like she was trying to control her fear. As she looked out of the window she felt restless, it was three in the night and both Draco and Scorpius were fast asleep but Hermione couldn't bring herself to close her eyes because every time she did she saw Ron's smirking face taunting her, Ginny disgust, Molly's fierce anger and it was like a punch to the gut; hard and merciless.

She could think of no better time to tell Draco about Astoria, she decided it would be this morning. But till then Hermione had to keep a check on herself because she knew that one slip would send her straight looking for a bottle of liquor to numb out these unpleasant thoughts.

She was exhausted; she wanted this to be over. Merlin knew it had gone on long enough…. It was time he was put away in a cage like the animal he was. Depraved, mongrel abusers deserved cruel, merciless punishment.

Honestly she didn't know where and what had gone wrong that he had turned out like this. Hermione had hoped that he would redeem himself, that there had to be some basic humanity left in him.

She would have forgiven him… she still felt like that, she had to be the bigger person to be the one who took the first step. It was not in her nature to be vengeful and to hold grudges, she may never look at Ron the same way, never feel what she once felt for him but she could forgive him because it was the decent thing to do, the right thing… maybe sometimes all that's needed to change a person is a little care, she didn't want Scorpius to grow up in a world so full of deceit and hate, she wanted to show him that sometimes a little faith was all that was needed. So many bad things in the world could be avoided if people just forgave sometimes or if they swallowed their egos or if they just showed a little kindness to someone.

Hermione was a firm believer in the old adage, 'To live a fulfilled life one must do a good deed a day.' This could be her random act of kindness; her way of thanking the universe for giving her in bounty what she so desired… a loving family. It was true that life had not always been kind to her but she could not bear to pass on that kind of bitterness to her son. Ron would go to jail, he would suffer there and she had no reason to not forgive him.

Her mind settled and peaceful she made her way back to her and Draco's bedroom; the moonlight filtered down from the thin curtains and highlighted her beloved husband's face in comforting repose.

He had been through so much with her she thought gently running her hand through his springy blond hair; he had stuck by her in even the most trying of times.

There were times when she had expected him to leave her and let her fall flat on her face but he had stood by her.

She always doubted that Draco could change, he had been dealt a bad hand early in life and it was ignorance for people who thought that just because he was rich he had no right to be unhappy. Money is never enough, especially when you have a cold and abusive father and a mother who is so terrified to show affection to her son whilst his father is around lest she get beaten for her insubordination.

If someone had asked her a few years back if Draco Malfoy could ever accept a child of his who was less than perfect she would have answered in the most negative fashion but Draco had changed, Scorpius had changed him, just as the little boy had changed her.

He was strongly perceptive, it was like Scorpius instantly knew if there was tension or bad vibes in the room. It was something like a sixth sense; since he couldn't communicate with them through his words he did so through his actions. Hermione never made the mistake of believing that just because Scorpius was challenged he didn't understand what was happening around him.

That made this even more important. She needed to teach Scorpius that nothing was solved by all this anger and hate. That being said she also needed to teach Scorpius not to bend down and take abuse; this was a huge mile stone in her life and she'd be damned if she let this one go wrong.

Tomorrow she decided finally…. Tomorrow she would tell Draco everything about herself and Astoria.

"Come on lads… come get your breakfast!" chirped Hermione cheerfully, cringing at the falsetto, her voice had risen almost an octave because of her nervousness. Draco walked out of the bathroom carrying their son with him, his face crumpled into a concerned frown.

"Hermione? Sweetheart its okay to be scared, we are going to be with you every step of the way." He said soothingly, stepping closer to his wife and wrapping his arm around her waist and dropping a kiss onto her soft shoulder. Hermione sighed and felt the tension drain out of her body for the first time in a few days and turned into her husband's embrace; resting her head against his muscular chest and feeling his steady heartbeats.

"Oh Draco…" she whispered, catching one of Scorpius's little flailing fists and kissing it gently, "I don't deserve you." Came her whisper as a treacherous tear made its way out of her eye.

"You have it all wrong… I'm the lucky one." he said gently, "Now stop crying sweetheart and tell me what the matter is?"

"You won't forgive me…" Hermione said sadly.

"Before I ask what it is that you have been hiding from me I want to know… do you regret your decision? Whatever this secret was…. Was it worth it knowing that I probably wouldn't forgive you when I found out?" he asked her quietly.

"It was in a way…. Draco I have been in touch with Astoria!" she blurted out in a rush. "Since I was in the hospital when I was rescued from Ron; I got in touch with this rehab facility that I knew about and I sent her there. Draco she really wants to get better! And I have been visiting her and stuff since then…" she said hesitantly because Draco's eyes had turned dark and his face looked like a thunder cloud was looming over it.

"Who knew about this?" he said in an ominous, cold voice.

"No one… I was doing it secretly." Hermione hung her head in shame. "I wanted to tell you but I feared your reaction…"

"Did she have any contact with Scorpius?" he said in the same chillingly cold voice.

Hermione shook her head, indicating that she didn't.

And Draco exploded angrily, "You little fool! What were you thinking!? You know she literally sold to Ron for cash to get her drugs right!? ARE YOU FUCKING SUICIDAL?! What is wrong with you!?" he yelled infuriated, Hermione flinched back in fear and Scorpius began to cry loud gasping sobs scared by his father's sudden outburst.

"Dadda!" he protested in high sweet baby voice when his father clutched him tighter.

"Gods Hermione! I never thought you would be this irresponsible!" he said furiously, putting he baby down gently and massaging his temples as if he had a head-ache.

"Draco she wanted to get clean! And I knew I had to help!" Hermione said imploringly, trying to make him understand.

"And pray tell me why would you want to help someone like Astoria Greengrass!?" he hissed, slamming one massive fist onto the table top shattering the crystal glasses laid out on top.

"Because we are more alike than you think!" Hermione cried out.

"I can't breathe… Merlin Hermione… what the fuck were you thinking?" Draco said coldly, his voice dripping in sarcasm and hurt that she had not told him earlier.

"Draco you wouldn't have helped her!" Hermione explained.

"NO I WOULDN'T HAVE! Because I know Astoria Greengrass, Hermione…. I was married to her for four years. And most of those years she spent getting high and then wanting to get clean again, it was like it was a game to her… that's why I knew what a waste of time it was trying to get her to stop using drugs. Merlin she did drugs when she was pregnant! Gods you are so naïve…. Please tell me you didn't give her money?" Draco said harshly, glaring at his wife.

Hermione didn't have to say anything… her guilty look confirmed it all.

"Draco… Plea…" she said reaching towards him.

"Save it Hermione; I don't want to listen to what you have to say. Not now and not about this. You know what I felt about having her near either you or Scorpius and yet you defied me… I'm trying to protect you woman!" Draco said frustrated.

"Draco I HAD to help her!" Hermione protested. "Please listen to me…"

"No! I don't want to hear it." Draco said holding up a hand to stop her speaking.

Draco scowled and walked out of the room coming back a few minutes later changed and carrying Scorpius's bag with him.

"I'm going out for a bit…" he said emotionlessly, "I'll be back soon. We'll talk then…" he said, scooping up his son and walking towards the door.

"DON'T WALK AWAY DRACO!" shrieked Hermione to the sound of the slamming door, "Don't walk away from me…" she whispered, collapsing on the floor, her knees hitting the cold tiles as tears blurred her vision and loud sobs tore out of her throat….

A/N: Hello peeps, well here we have the first fight between Draco and Hermione… God knows where this will lead.

Don't forget to review and those of you who like stories like Raise Me Up; I have just started another story called Listen to the Words I Cannot Speak where Scorpius Malfoy is deaf.