Chapter 34

Aftermath

The next few hours were complete chaos. Hermione still felt like there was a fog in her brain. The medi-wizard called to the scene told her she had been hit by the spell that had been used on Draco and that it would gradually wear off.

She was in the kitchen, on a stool, wrapped in a blanket surrounded by the large group of people who had arrived to help, including medi-wizards, Magical Law Enforcers, the children and various members of staff, including Pippa and Clem.

Draco was on the sofa, being told to lie down and tended to by a medi-wizard. Luca, Max and Aria had been making copious amounts of tea, fetching and carrying for Draco and generally fussing over herself and Eva.

Eva was also perched on a stool with a blanket around her. Her beautiful face was pale and drawn, her eyes huge in her face. Hermione knew she was putting on a brave face because of the children but she must be completely devastated by the turn of events.

She hadn't quite got all the facts in order in her still fogged up brain yet, but she had a rough idea of what had happened. They had caught Toby, who was Leo's first cousin, in the local village. He was insisting that he was only involved because Leo had threatened him but Hermione didn't believe him. She had caught what Leo had said, something about not knowing you could even sell dragon blood until Toby was doing it.

Leo, on the other hand, was insisting that he was only introduced to the blood selling scheme when Toby told him about it. They'd been keeping in touch because Leo was trying to secure the dragon painting commission. Hermione still couldn't believe that Leo thought that Draco would give him that given that he had run off with his wife! How arrogant did you have to be to think that would ever happen!?

Evidently both Toby and Leo had run up huge debts on another crazy scheme that involved copying new potions and passing them off as their own. The dragon blood sales were being used to clear this debt.

Hermione shook her head. She thought she had known both these men well. She'd lived with Leo and she knew his faults but she would never have imagined him doing anything like this. As for Toby, she had really liked him. He seemed kind and naïve, someone who you could trust.

A cry of pain from Draco broke into her thoughts and she turned round to look over at him on the sofas. The medi-wizard was manipulating his arm and speaking soothingly to him.

"That doesn't look good," Eva's gentle voice came over to Hermione who turned to face her.

"No, it doesn't," Hermione answered. "I went over to him and was sent away so we will have to put our trust in the medi-wizard."

"I can't believe this has happened," Eva's eyes filled with tears. "I'm in shock, I think. I can't believe I didn't know him at all and yet I thought I knew him so well."

Hermione shrugged her blanket off a little and reached over to touch Eva's arm. "Funnily enough I was just thinking that exact same thing about myself."

"Of course you were," Eva nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Neither of us should be sorry! They should be sorry!" Hermione said angrily.

"I'm sorry that what Leo and I did hurt you and Draco." Eva's large eyes held Hermione's and they were full of sincerity.

"I think, after today, we are even. I don't know how I'll ever thank you, you saved both me and Draco."

"I was just in the right place at the right time." Eva gave Hermione a small smile. "I hope with time, you can forgive me and not hate me."

Hermione wanted to hate this woman but she couldn't. For a start, she couldn't hate the children's mother and if Hermione had met her in different circumstances, she knew they would have got along.

Luca came over and looked at them both. "Are you both okay?"

"Yes, darling," Eva touched her son's arm affectionately. "I'm supposed to be looking after you! Not the other way around!"

Luca shook his head. "No – doesn't work like that any longer, Mother." He gave her his lovely smile and she gave a laugh.

"I guess it doesn't!"

"You didn't have any idea?" Luca asked. "About Leo?"

Hermione watched Eva's face darken. "He's been acting strangely for a few weeks now. Sort of distant and then in the last couple of weeks he's been like a different person." She took a gulp. "Secretive, aggressive when I questioned him…that's why I followed him today….." Her eyes filled with tears again and she wiped them away angrily. "Sorry, I will not cry over him, he's not worth it!"

"He fooled me too," Luca said.

"How are Max and Aria?" Eva glanced over at her younger children. "Are they upset about Leo?"

"They're okay, Mom," Luca nodded. "Honestly, we are all old enough to cope with things like this now. Obviously, it's upsetting but we will be fine."

Eva took Luca's hand and gave a shuddering breath and put her head down. "I really messed up!" she said almost to herself.

Hermione nodded towards Luca. "How can say that when you have such amazing children?"

"Exactly!" he agreed, enthusiastically and Eva managed a smile.

"Thanks – they are amazing, you're right," she said.

Aria arrived with two cups of tea. She looked at Hermione's face, which was still bruised and cut, the medi-wizard's having been busy dealing with Draco.

"Shall I fix that for you, Hermione?" she asked.

Hermione tried not to look horrified at the thought but before she could answer, Clem interrupted.

"Nice offer pipsqueak, but I think Hermione would like to have her nose and eyes still in the same place after she's fixed," he teased Aria, who crossed her arms across her chest and looked up at him indignantly.

"I'll have you know I've fixed lots of faces!" she said.

"Have you?" Hermione looked at Aria. "Why?"

Aria waved her hand at Hermione.

"A couple of fights at school and I help with the Quidditch team injuries."

"Very impressive," Clem acknowledged. "But probably best you practise a little more before trying a full-on repair like Hermione's."

Aria nodded, sulkily. "I guess."

Clem pushed Hermione back to seating position, none too gently. "I'll do it. Sit down and keep still," he instructed.

"I think you need to improve your bedside manner!" Pippa commented, coming to stand behind him.

Hermione laughed and moved to look at Pippa.

"Which part of 'keep still' didn't you understand?" Clem asked Hermione and she tried not to giggle at his expression. She kept her face still as Clem concentrated intently on her, his face very close to hers. It was quite an amusing situation and she could see Pippa chuckling as she watched.

It would appear that she had mis-judged Pippa by quite a long way. She had acted strangely around Hermione lately and she needed to know why that was but her loyalty to Draco seemed unwavering. She now knew that Toby had fed her insecurities about Pippa on purpose and she doubted that Pippa had said or at least said it in the way that Toby had told her. That didn't mean they didn't need a conversation to clear the air.

Her eyes met Clem's, who were only inches away and they locked briefly. She knew that Clem was a good guy and the look he was giving her was warm and kind and it made her want to hug him.

"There you go, good as new!" He stood back to observe his work nodding.

"Thank you, Clem," Hermione said, touching her face delicately. "And not just for fixing my face."

Clem waved his hand dismissively. "Shush!" He turned to Eva, examining her face without asking permission, the expression on Eva's face making both Hermione and Pippa chuckle. "What about you Eva? I think I'll fix that cut over your eye."

"Nice to see you again too," Eva quipped with a grin and Clem drew back and smiled.

"It's actually lovely to see you," he said and he pulled her into a hug that she returned.

"Will we move back here now?" Aria asked and Eva turned to her daughter. "Will that mean that Hermione will have to leave?"

"I'll have to leave anyway," Hermione interceded. "I'm only staying until the family portrait is done."

Aria shook her head. "No, Father said he was going to ask you to stay."

Hermione shot a glance at Eva but she wasn't showing any reaction.

"I have my own place, Aria."

"You can sell that."

"Aria!" Eva admonished her daughter. "This isn't your business."

"She can't keep her nose out of anyone's business," Max commented as he joined the group.

"At least I take an interest in other people!" Aria snapped back.

"Implying what exactly?" Max glared at his sibling.

"That you're ignorant!" Aria looked at her brother challengingly.

"I am not ignorant!" Max glared at Aria.

"Mrs Malfoy?" The elderly medi-wizard approached the group, silencing the children. "I've tended to Mr Malfoy now – he should rest completely for at least 48 hours. He will feel the affects of the spell for at least that long and it won't leave his system unless he convalesces properly."

Eva looked slightly awkward, obviously not sure it should be herself who was being given this advice but she nodded.

The medi-wizard continued. "His arm was a broken again. I did think we may have had to take him back to hospital but I've managed to do it. It was rather painful for him but the protection spell should have helped a little with that. He must keep it in the sling for at least ten days – then he needs it checked again before we decide what he can and can't use it for. If he doesn't do this then I'm not sure the arm can be fully repaired again – even with magic."

Eva nodded again. "Thank you – we will make sure he does as you say."

"Good luck with that!" Pippa commented with a grin which Eva returned.

It was early evening and everyone had left except Eva, whom Draco had asked to stay tonight, and the children. Hermione had showered and changed and Max had cooked them all a simple meal which turned out to be delicious.

It should have felt weird sitting eating with Draco, his children and his ex-wife but it didn't. It was as if they were all just grateful to be here and to do something as normal as eating a meal. Hermione took some glances at Eva during the meal, she was a beautiful woman. Sat next to her ex-husband and helping him cut up his food because he couldn't use his arm and was in lots of pain, they made a stunning couple.

Hermione felt a pang of something. It wasn't jealousy because she knew whatever had once been between them was gone. It was envy at their obvious connection – one that only being married and having a family with someone gave you.

After they had eaten, Hermione offered to clear up, partly because she was still feeling a little fog brained and partly because she wanted to let them have some time without her. She took her time despite using magic and could hear them chatting quietly behind her.

She had so much in her brain that she was having trouble organising it into some sort of order. It was no good denying one thing though – when she thought Draco might be dead it had been devastating. It was like nothing mattered if he wasn't here. She stopped waving her wand at some particularly dirty plates for a second and let that thought sink in.

"I'll come and tuck you all in," Eva was saying to the children and Hermione turned and laughed when she heard their reaction to this.

"Tuck us in!" Aria gasped. "I'm nearly thirteen!"

Max said, his voice full of scorn. "I'm bigger than you are Mother, I hardly need you helping me to go to bed!"

"I think she might be winding us up," Luca said with a chuckle.

"Of course I'm teasing you!" Eva said, holding her hands up. "Nevertheless, let's all go up together and say a proper goodnight. After the day we've had, I would like a hug and chat with each of my very grown-up children."

Luca put his arm around his mother's shoulder. "Of course – come on you two."

Eva glanced over at Hermione. "Goodnight Hermione, I hope you feel better in the morning."

"Thank you – I'm sure I will. Try and get some sleep," Hermione's good wishes were entirely genuine. Eva was obviously a good person, which explained why the children were so nice. She did sincerely hope she could pick herself up again after such a terrible thing happening.