Disclaimer: I don't own the wonderful world of Harry Potter… Enjoy!
Three hundred sixty-five days following the funeral.
Hermione looks out her kitchen window. The sun shines and birds are singing. Taking a long sip of her coffee she sighs. She heads to her bathroom and takes a long hot shower. She pulls on a pastel pink blouse and black pencil skirt with a pair of matching pink flats.
After drying her curls, she twists them up into a neat bun at her neck. Swiping on eyeliner and lip gloss, she checks her reflection. With a nod, she pulls on a black robe and walks out her front door after grabbing her wand and a beautiful bouquet of white lilies and a wrapped present for Scorpius.
Spinning on the spot, Hermione sees Malfoy Manor's front gates. Sending her patronus to Draco, she waits patiently for him to arrive. He arrives shortly with Scorpius on his hip. With a sad smile, she hands the bouquet to Draco and motions for Scorpius. As Draco places Scorpius in her arms, he eyes the lilies.
"Happy Birthday little man," Hermione coos. "I have a present for you, cub. Want to open it?"
Scorpius giggles in her arms as he shakes his head yes. Hermione follows closely to Draco as he leads the way to the gravesite. Helping his little fingers, they open the present. A dragon falls out of a box into Hermione's free hand. Hugging Scorpius, she taps the dragon with her finger and the figurine floats out of her hands, wings flapping vigorously. Draco looks up as Scorpius' shrieks of laughter break the bubble of silence surrounding them. The smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Hermione tips her head against Scorpius and hugs him close. They walk a little further and reach Astoria's gravesite. Hermione takes the lilies from Draco as he takes hold of Scorpius again. Hermione places the lilies at the base of her headstone. Taking her place next to Draco, they stand in silence for a moment.
"When Astoria and I first got together," Draco says, voice husky with emotion. "It was all arranged. But, I still fell for her. She was this dark fairy that just made me crazy. We didn't plan Scorpius. We had been out and drinking. He was our little surprise."
Hermione places a hand on his shoulder.
"She wouldn't terminate the pregnancy," he mutters. "There wasn't a guarantee that terminating the pregnancy would stop the progression of the bloodcurse."
Hermione squeezes his shoulder gently. Draco tucks his face into Scorpius. "I didn't push her into any decision. I couldn't if I tried. How do I tell Scorpius his mother chose his life over her own? How do I tell him his birthday is also a day of loss?"
"You celebrate her life by celebrating his," Hermione murmurs.
Draco nods as he nuzzles into Scorpius' neck while taking a deep breath.
Hermione smiles sadly at the pair. Moving back to the headstone, she kneels down. Placing delicate fingers against the lettering of Astoria's name, she looks up to the clear blue sky.
"I didn't know you," Hermione says. "But I see pieces of you already in Scorpius. If that's just a glimpse of who you were in life, you were a beautiful person." Bowing her head, she tucks her chin to her chest.
Touching the petals of the lilies, she twists her wrist and they weave themselves into a wreath. She pushes to stand up and moves away from Astoria's resting place. Placing her hand on Draco's arm for strength, she walks back to the gates. She steps outside the wrought iron and disapperates to St. Mungo's.
With love,
Kaleigh