I do not own Harry Potter.
Ch. 3 Silent Tears
I apparate home from the bookstore, going straight to my closet to find something to wear tonight. I don't really feel like dressing up, but I know that if I don't Ginny will never let me live it down. I shuffle through the clothing and come across a dress I wore only once so long ago I forgot I even had it. It is a beautiful shimmering dark emerald green, a halter type top that is fitted to my waist with a bow just under my breasts, then flares to where it stops about mid thigh. I slip on some gray three-inch platform pumps that give me a much needed boost to my short height. Flicking my wand to add a cushioning charm so that my feet won't hurt, then slide in a pair of silver wing drop earrings.
I grab my cloak and handbag and floo to the restaurant in Diagon Alley to meet Harry and Ginny, a pretty low-key place that opened not too long ago. I step out of the floo and see them already there, so I bypass the host and head their way removing my cloak as I go. Thankfully it is not super crowded in the restaurant, as I'm starving.
"Hey guys." I wave as I approach their table, Harry stands and I hug him tightly my mind going back to the book I had been reading to Scorpius. I could have lost my best friend so many times during the war it is still hard to think about it.
"Hey, why the rib crusher?" His voice is soft as he pulls me back to see my face.
"I've been reading a children's book about Voldemort's downfall." I answer quickly, he nods and smiles at me before hugging me again then releasing me so I can hug Ginny.
"Hey Gin." I greet her. then rub her belly, "How's the little one?" I question smiling at her belly.
"We are both good, though super hungry." She laughs and I smile up at her.
"Me too! Lets order some appetizers and get this little one fed." I smirk at her and she laughs again.
"So what book are you reading?" Ginny questions as we sit down.
"Actually this is an interesting story." I stop as the waiter comes to our table. We do indeed order a few appetizers and drinks then I continue once he leaves. "A few days ago, a little boy came into the store, and asked me to read him a book, he was all excited to find out what happens next, so I told him to go grab the book and I'll read to him." I stop myself again and shake my head, "Actually I should back up a bit." I chuckle. "This boy actually ran away from his father and came to my store."
Ginny gasps and Harry's eyes go wide, "What? Why?" Harry sputters looking shocked, it would tear him up inside if one of his boys ran off, he would be sick with worry.
I shake my head again and start from the beginning to tell them everything about Scorpius up to when Draco shows up.
"So who is the father?" Ginny exclaims her voice carrying as the waiter comes with our appetizers and to get our orders.
I flush at the out of context comment and Harry laughs. We order and once the waiter leaves, Harry comments, "Next newspaper article is going to have something about 'Mione being knocked up and not knowing who the father is." He laughs heartily and Ginny smacks his shoulder. I smile at them as Ginny turns to me and says, "Well?"
"Well, it turns out that the father is." I stop as I see someone out of the corner of my eye and I turn to look fully seeing none other than Draco Malfoy and Scorpius. Scorpius sees me at the same time and drops Malfoy's hand to run towards me.
"Mione!" He exclaims forcing others to turn and look, he launches himself into my lap, luckily I had scooted my chair back when I saw him notice me, figuring he would either wave or do as he just did. He wraps his hands around my neck and squeezes, I notice he is without his dragon tonight.
I look across the table where both Harry and Ginny are staring wide-eyed at the scene that just played out. "Hello, Scorpius." I mumur quietly and he leans back to kiss my cheek grinning all the while.
"Dad and I are having a guys night out." He states proudly then frowns, "But you should eat with us." I chuckle a bit at his child like attitude.
"Scorpius." Malfoy's voice is stern as he has come to stand next to us. I look up and he looks uncomfortable looking around a bit and trying to ignore Harry and Ginny, while not making a bigger scene by yanking his child off me and leaving.
Scorpius looks up at his dad quickly and says "Hi." Apparently oblivious to his father's mood, then turns to me expectantly, "You look pretty 'Mione, doesn't she look pretty, Dad?" He says looking expectantly back up to Malfoy.
Malfoy looks at me as if actually considering the question, he clears his throat as his eyes linger on my legs, then answers, "Ah, yes Scor she does." I feel my face heating up in embarrassment.
Thinking to get his mind off trying to get me to join him and Malfoy, I say, "Well, ah you see Scorpius, I am eating with my two friends here." I say and gesture around him to Ginny and Harry. Harry is looking shocked between Malfoy, Scorpius and I while Ginny is smiling at Malfoy's obvious discomfort.
"Oh." Scorpius says seemingly disappointed. "I'm your friend too, though." He points at himself looking hopeful.
"Yes, of course you are my friend, this is another one of my friends Harry, and his wife Ginny." I look over at my friends and say, "This is Scorpius, Malfoy's son." At the same time both Harry and Ginny's mouths drop open as they figure out the story I had just told was in fact about Scorpius and Malfoy.
"Harry?" Scorpius is looking at Harry as if trying to see through to his soul his eyebrows furrowed.
"Would you like a couple more chairs?" The host asks coming to stand next to Malfoy, and Scorpius forgets his study of Harry and jerks his head up to his father.
"Please, dad." He looks so sweet, "Can we eat with my 'Mione? You did say another time when she couldn't go to lunch with me the other day." He's looking up at Malfoy who looks like he would rather fight a dementor than say yes to his son. Actually he looks like he is fighting a dementor and I realize that he would never invite himself, and his son, to intrude on someone else's dinner it isn't 'Something a Malfoy would do'.
I glance over to Harry who looks ill but Ginny is nodding her head at me slightly, so I make a decision and speak up, "If it doesn't spoil your evening to eat with us, then you are welcome to join us." I say directly to Malfoy as Scorpius bounces happily in my lap as if it is already settled even before Malfoy acquiesces.
Malfoy looks quickly over at Harry and Ginny, then back to me where he scowls slightly. I smirk up at him and he sighs then turns to the host. "Yes, could we have two more chairs." His voice is quiet and the words tumble out as if the faster he says it the easier it is.
Then Scorpius pipes up, "Please." As if reprimanding his father and I bite my lip in order not to smile. Ginny looks down and covers her mouth while Harry smirks though still looking a bit ill.
"Yes, of course, please." Malfoy repeats as the host turns to fetch two more chairs.
After both Malfoy and Scorpius settle themselves, one on either side of me, and have given the waiter their orders Ginny speaks up. "It is nice to meet you Scorpius."
Scorpius beams at her and then looks at Harry where his smile dims and bit and his brows furrow again as if doing multiplication in his head. "You're Harry?" Harry fidgets a bit.
"Er, yes. I'm Harry." He sends a questioning glance at me, but I shrug.
"Scor, what are you staring at?" Malfoy lowers his voice. "It is rude to stare."
"Sorry, father." Scorpius looks down at his plate.
Nobody says anything for a couple seconds then I break the silence. "Scorpius, do you want some chips?" I had ordered fish and chips as an appetizer.
"Sure." He happily reaches for the chips and that breaks the spell, both Harry and Ginny tuck in to their appetizers, Malfoy still looks uncomfortable shooting me glances and then looking down at his son.
I lean over towards him a bit and quietly say, "You can have some too, if you want." I say and he looks at me and grimaces. I feel myself getting angry at the way he can't even put aside our petty, well petty to me, differences and act like a normal person. I glare at him and turn away so as not to have to look at him and get angrier. I focus instead on my fish.
"So um, yeah Malfoy, what do you do?" I roll my eyes at Ginny's question waiting for some snotty comment about her being a blood traitor.
"My dad is a Healer." Scorpius speaks up and I see out of the corner of my eye Malfoy smile at his son who sounds so proud of him.
"Yes, I am a healer at St. Mungos." Malfoy answers Ginny. "I have been working there for almost five years now."
"Really?" Harry's voice is doubtful, I cringe waiting for a verbal assault from Malfoy.
"Yes, really Potter." Malfoy shoots back only sounding a bit haughty as Ginny says, "Harry." Scolding him sounding just like Molly and I smile a little.
"Potter?" Scorpius says a chip half way to his mouth and clearly forgotten.
All of us look at him and he is looking at Harry is mouth open, and then he slowly turns his head to look at me. "Harry Potter?" It sounds half like a question half shocked. "Like in the book?"
The waiter comes bringing us our food and after he leaves, I look over at Malfoy who looks confused and I glance at Harry who is bright red and Ginny who is smiling at Scorpius. I look back to Scorpius and nod slowly, "Yes, like in the book." I answer and he looks like he is concentrating again then asks.
"So is it Harry that is in the book?" He points at Harry and Malfoy finally looks like he understands and fidgets in his chair glancing at me with a look on his face I can't place.
"Ah, yes Harry is who they wrote the book about." He looks back at Harry in wonderment.
"You're Harry Potter." He says in a loud whisper leaning in towards Harry causing all of us to chuckle, even Malfoy who I look at in shock, never having heard him laugh before even if it is only a chuckle. His face completely changes when he smiles he looks nothing like the cold haughty rude little boy from Hogwarts.
"The one and only." Harry says then leans forward and whispers loudly, "You're Scorpius Malfoy." Which causes Scorpius to laugh. "You know I have a son that is around your age, he could tell you all about me being Harry Potter." Scorpius looks shocked.
"You have a son?"
"Yes, actually I have two." Harry then smiles at Ginny, "We are also having a little girl in a few months." I gasp.
"A girl, you're sure?" I clap my hands together once in excitement. "That's fantastic." I say happily and notice Malfoy looking at me with a confused look on his face as if something he thought was, wasn't. I wonder what he is thinking but force the thought away.
"Wow. That's neat." Scorpius sounds surprised at Harry having kids. "What are their names?"
"James Sirius Potter and Albus Severus Potter." Harry answers and then even as Scorpius' mouth drops open, he adds, "We haven't decided for sure on our girls' name yet."
"That's my middle name." Scorpius sounds completely astonished.
"What is?" I glance at Malfoy who is now looking at Harry in confusion.
Scorpius looks at me, "Severus." He then adds lifting his chin like he did the first time he told me his name in the bookstore. "He was a headmaster at Hogwarts."
Tears spring to my eyes and I nod my head, "Yes, he was." I smile at him, "He was one of my professors in school." I look up at Harry who is looking at Malfoy.
Malfoy is looking at me and I blink quickly at the look on his face as Scorpius catches my attention again. "You knew him?" He questions and I nod again.
"All of us went to Hogwarts." I gesture around the table.
"Dad, you went to school with Harry Potter?" He asks in astonishment and Harry, Ginny, and I laugh at the question knowing how not friendly those days were.
"Well, yes." He looks pained and then turns from looking at Scorpius to look down at his food.
"Wow." Scorpius' brow furrows again concentrating. He looks at Harry again before looking back at me, "You are the 'Mione in the book." He states looking at me oddly.
I hesitate, then nod without saying anything, Malfoy is watching me again as if he wants to ask me a question.
Instead he looks at Scorpius and asks, "What book do you keep talking about, Scor?"
I answer when Scorpius doesn't and explain to Malfoy the book Scorpius wanted to read at the bookstore the other day. He nods that he understands and looks over at his son again. "What's the matter Scor?" I turn to look at Scorpius too.
He is staring at me and then he looks down at his plate and shakes his head. "Nothing." He mumbles and I look over at Malfoy but he just shrugs.
"So, Potter what do you do?" Malfoy completely changes the subject and Harry nearly chokes on his food, taken aback by the question.
Harry clears his throat, "I'm an Auror." Malfoy nods his head.
"I heard you played Quidditch for a bit after school." He says to Ginny and she nods her head. "So what is the other third up to now?"
"Ron lives in France with his wife, he works for the ministry." I answer Malfoy wondering if the easy atmosphere will continue throughout dinner.
"I'm surprised you didn't marry him Granger." He smirks at me, and there goes that idea I think to myself but before I can bite out a response Scorpius cuts in.
"Dad who is Granger?" Scorpius asks innocently. Harry and I laugh as Malfoy looks at his son in disbelief.
"Her last name is Granger." He gestures to me answering simply and Scorpius' nose scrunches.
"I think you should call her 'Mione." He says decidedly and Ginny, Harry and I laugh as Malfoy chokes on his soup. "She told me her friends call her 'Mione." He adds as if that makes it all okay.
Ginny saves Malfoy from having to answer or explain we really aren't friends, "So Scorpius, are you having desert tonight?" Scorpius takes the bait and says he wants pudding.
We finish desert, while Scorpius talks non-stop about anything that comes to his mind. As we all stand to go home, Malfoy leans in to me and says, "Scor sure does like you."
I turn to look at him in confusion, "I'm sorry?" I say waiting for him to say something cutting about my blood status, then before giving him a chance I shrug keeping my voice down so that Scorpius can't hear I say, "I guess you can't keep him away from every mudblood, there are quite a few of us." He scowls at me but not giving him a chance to agree I kneel down to Scorpius.
"'Mione, can I come to your work, and you can read to me again?" He asks sweetly and I hear Ginny say 'Aww' under her breath.
"You can come anytime you want and I'll read to you." I add for Malfoy's benefit, "As long as you never run away from your dad again."
Scorpius' eyes go wide and he shakes his head back and forth quickly, "I promise!" He exclaims then leans in to hug me squeezing tightly. "Love you 'Mione." He says in my ear and I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath to keep myself from melting into a puddle because of his sweet nature.
"I love you Scorpius." I whisper back and he squeezes me even more. I wonder what his mother would think of this and then I remember his father is standing over us and I glance up at him.
He has a look of utter wonderment on his face and he is staring at us as if he has never seen us before. Scorpius isn't loosening his grip on me at all so I lean back and get my feet under me and rise with him wrapped around me. I feel him shudder a bit and I realize that he is silently crying. Malfoy must notice this too as sadness sweeps across his face and his eyes become haunted as he frowns. Not wanting to just shove an obviously troubled kid off to his dad then wave and say 'see ya 'round, I turn to Harry and Ginny who are looking at Scorpius in concern.
"We'll catch up with you on Sunday at the burrow, yes?" Ginny says and takes Harry's arm to manoeuvre them over to the floo.
I nod and smile at both of them as they step into the floo and are gone in a flash of green flame. I turn back towards Malfoy and nod my head to the door of the restaurant. "Fancy taking a stroll?" I suggest and gesture to the weeping child attached to my neck, figuring they would both rather be outside and not have a captive audience seeing this.
Malfoy looks at me with that same odd look that something isn't quite right to him on his face then looks quickly down to his son and nods, "Of course, that sounds lovely."
I am a bit stunned by his choice of words, but I shake the thought away as he takes my cloak from me lays it over his arm, puts his other hand on my back and guides me to the door. Scorpius has loosened his grip a bit but still hasn't let go and he has buried his face against my neck partly under my hair so I figure once outside I can coax him into at least looking at me.
"So, ah, Hermione, I am curious are you married , do you have kids?" Malfoy asks as we start walking slowly along the sidewalk.
I feel a jolt go through my body as he says my given name, realizing that is indeed the first time he has ever said it. I then feel another almost slap against me when he finishes his question. I feel Scorpius tighten his hold a bit with my first jolt and I take a deep breath trying to not say something I would regret in front of the small boy.
"Ah, no." I answer truthfully, and then glance over at him feeling cool air against my slightly damp neck from Scorpius' tears and ask, "Why do you ask?"
"Um well you are so good with." He breaks off and I look over at him again and see him gesture to Scorpius, "I just wondered if maybe you were married and had you know." He looks slightly troubled and confused.
I smile slightly then answer simply, "James and Albus."
Comprehension settles on his face and he nods, "So how long have you worked at that bookstore?" He attempts to change the subject.
I look askance at him with a small smirk on my face, "Well, I purchased the building about eight years ago I believe." I smile fully at his look of marvel.
"You own the book store?" Disbelief clear in his voice, and I chuckle then realizing that Scorpius' breathing has deepened and he is only loosely holding onto me now.
I nod in answer to his question, then stop walking to face Malfoy, "Ah I think this guy is tuckered out." I watch as Malfoy's face contorts with sadness. "What's wrong?" I question softly as I take a step towards Malfoy unconsciously.
His gaze shifts from Scorpius to me and his eyes soften, his lips move into a half smile, "Can you ever forgive me for how I treated you when we were at Hogwarts?" He questions softly and my eyes widen in incredulity, as my lips part to suck in a short gasp, "You have a huge heart and my son is lucky to have found a friend like you." His eyes still soft but completely open and honest, I can hardly get my mind to wrap around what he is saying, before he shatters all thought in my mind by bringing his finger up to lightly skim it across my cheek to my jaw.
I swallow thickly and moisten my lips as his touch makes my mouth go dry, then as Malfoy's eyes zero in on the movement and lock onto my mouth, a few things happen at once.
I realize we are standing very close together, the only thing separating us is Scorpius who decides to take that moment to snuggle against me more bringing his hands from around my neck to tuck in between his body and mine, while making a sound of comfort. This snaps Malfoy out of whatever daze he was in and his eyes shoot up to mine, as a bright light flashes somewhere next to us on the sidewalk. Draco glances over then shuffles us around and wraps his arms around both me and Scorpius.
As Malfoy's arms settle around me I feel my body go tense, even as my heart beat kicks up a notch or three, Malfoy ducks his head down and whispers quickly his lips moving against my ear "Hold on, I'm going to apparate us to my flat, where you can put Scor down, he won't wake this way and then we can also get away from that git with a camera." He finishes but waits for me to nod slightly before I feel myself being apparated away.
We reappear in what I assume is Malfoy's living room as there is a sofa off to my right. True to the prediction of Scorpius staying asleep Malfoy drops one arm from around me once we are both steady and then with the other that is still around my waist he directs me down a short hallway to a doorway.
We enter what is clearly Scorpius' room, the walls are painted a dark red and there are bookshelves on two walls, he has a toddler bed in the shape of a boat, complete with rigging. I quirk an eyebrow at that and make a note to ask about it later. There are various toys in a corner as well as a desk, dresser, and a door most likely leading to a bathroom. There are brooms painted on the walls and as I look I realize they are slowly moving around some doing flips and dives and other seemingly floating along. Along with the brooms there are multiple golden snitches zooming around and winking out of existence only to appear in another place on the wall.
I feel Malfoy slightly nudge my back and I realize he is standing behind me just inside Scorpius' room as I look around. I shake myself and walk toward his bed to lay him down, Malfoy flicks his wand and the covers pull back, I whisper "Goodnight." In his ear and slowly ease him down being careful to not wake him.
Once I have him lying on his back, I reach down and slip off his shoes and set them on the floor, I straighten and step back half turning to Malfoy and whisper, "P.J.'s?" He nods then flicks his wand and Scorpius' cloths transfigure into a red shirt and pants that look soft, I pull the covers over him and catch myself before I lean in and kiss his forehead.
I straighten quickly feeling embarrassed then after a moment I turn and run smack into Malfoy. I teeter in my heels for a moment terrified I'll fall backwards on to Scorpius so I reach out for Malfoy just as he reaches his arms around my waist and pulls me up against him. I latch my hands onto his upper arms and close my eyes letting out a huge breath almost sagging in relief that I didn't fall onto Scorpius. Then after a bit of breathing to steady myself I realize I am still gripping Malfoy, and he is flush up against me his strong arms locked around me.
My body flashes into awareness, as I feel his body against mine. I slowly tilt my head back and raise my gaze to Malfoy feeling my heart race in my chest. I'm glad that the only light in the room is coming from a small dim globe the size of a snitch hovering on its own in the corner of the room a wizard version of a muggle night light so that he can't see my blush. However, it is more than possible he can feel my blush as my body feels like its on fire. Even in my heals, I'm quite a bit shorter than Malfoy so once my head is tipped almost all the way back I finally see Malfoy's eyes which are looking down at me with an intensity that stirs something in me. What I'm not sure, but something.
"Sorry, about that." I whisper my mouth goes dry again as his eyes lower to my mouth. I can feel his thumbs rubbing slow circles on my lower back and I shiver at the touch.
"Don't be sorry." He whispers back and I watch paralyzed as his head slowly lowers toward mine knowing full well he intends to kiss me.
I don't know what to do, I want him to kiss me, but this is Malfoy. Before I have decided on forcing my body to either go with it or resist, Scorpius makes some noise shuffling slightly in his bed, Malfoy tenses, he snaps his head up and over a bit to look down at his son. Relief crosses his face and he closes his eyes for a moment before taking a step back bringing both of us away from the bed. Then he loosens his arms from around my waist and I drop my hands when he steps back a couple more times leaving a foot of space in between us.
I shuffle my feet, embarrassed and a bit hurt that the relief on his face was probably from Scorpius saving him from kissing a mudblood. I lower my head so he can't read my thoughts, and I quickly move around him walking out of Scorpius' room and back down the hall to the living room. I can feel Malfoy's presence behind me but I continue until I am back to where Malfoy laid my cloak on a chair in the living room. I snatch up my cloak feeling stupid, and frustrated. Without looking at Malfoy I mutter, "Thanks for ah, well good night." Then without waiting for a response, I spin and apparate away.
Okay, so this chapter is a bit long, but I had to progress my story a bit more, because like I said this is going to be a short fiction. I don't have kids of my own, but here is my thought process (feel free to tell me if I am way off base) If someone is extra nice to my child, and treats them with respect and love no matter what has happened in the past with me, I am more likely to feel something positive towards the person. So therefore, Draco is seeing how Hermione is with Scor and well now he is looking at her differently. Next chapter we get to 'meet' Lucius again, and for those of you who don't know, I love writing him. Anyway, please please review, and let me know what you think. I do so love reviews!