Chapter 2:
Hermione hung on with all of her might when she landed in the middle of an alleyway. She had Teddy firmly in her arms and Draco was holding onto her waist, steadying her from the sudden apparition. She looked up at Draco and handed him Teddy before she turned around and started throwing up the little amount of toast she had in her system. The orange juice burned her throat coming back up and her ribs clenched together as her stomach heaved what little was in her system and Draco had the mass of her hair in his hands and out of her face. With her hands on her knees she took a couple gulps of breath and straightened herself out, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She turned and gave him an apologetic look.
"I am an embarrassment to the Wizarding community." She sighed.
"Apparition sucks, I've thrown up plenty of times before from it."
She eyes him up and down, realizing she was a complete slob. She had her hair everywhere, knots still in it from sleep, a plane tank top, a pair of old jeans and dirty sneakers. She looked like crap next to him. He had on a nice pair of black slacks with a white T-shirt that was buttoned only partially and his sleeves rolled up to his elbow, he always looked better than her. It was just a reminder of how different their worlds were.
"Whatever." She mumbled, waiting for him to guide the way but he didn't move. "Can we go?" She huffed.
"No." He stated, rocking Teddy in his arms tenderly.
"Why not?"
"I need you to knock it off." He said, frustrated.
"What did I do?"
"Those thoughts you are having are lies. You look relaxed and comfortable and I like this look for you the best. So get over it. Stop pushing me away." It was a new development in their bond, he could sense her thoughts more than read them but he was certain that if he tried enough he would be able to hear her thoughts in his head with perfect clarity.
"I am not pushing you away and you don't like me like this the best. I remember the way you looked at me on our first date, I was all dolled up thats how you want me to look." She growled, beginning to walk away, but Draco grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.
"You will stop this nonsense right now Hermione." He warned, angered. He would give anything for her happiness but her bashing herself and pushing him away was not going to solve anything, and he was sick of it. Yes he had changed for her, he had grown kind and dealt with things he normally wouldn't have in a million years for her; but he was still Draco with anger problems and this was pushing it.
"Let go of me right now." She snarled through gritted teeth.
"Stop!" Draco yelled, pulling her wrist so she was right in front of him. "I will not have this happen to us. You will stop pushing me away, you will talk to me and you will understand that I love you. Got it?"
"Or what?" She pushed.
"We are done." He lied.
Hermione released a cold laugh, "You know you can't leave."
"You know I can. We've talked about it. We have mated, we could separate. It would just kill me."
"Which is why you wont leave." She stated, even though she was on the verge of tears.
"Its not like I am very alive around you as it is. I might as well be dead." He hit a nerve, the exact nerve he had wanted to hit. The nerve that made her realize that she was so lost right now that it was as if Draco was dead like all of her friends, and her thinking of him being dead was what was going to bring her back to him.
Hermione's blood went cold and images of Draco's cold and lifeless body went through her mind over and over again. She shook her head to clear it but only for it to be replaced by a bloodier version of Draco, and him looking up at her with those sharp silver eyes void of life. She breathed heavily,reaching for something she didn't realize she had grabbed a hold of. Her hand was clasped firmly at the base of his neck and little black dots threatened to make her lose herself in sorrow.
"I am not dead Hermione, nor will I be. I am here and will remain here; you need to realize that." He brought her to him, kissing her head and cheek as his own tears threatened to fall overboard. "I will never leave. I miss you so much."
"I'm never going to be me girl you miss is dead." She said, her voice distant.
"You will be. It will take time, I've seen traces of your old self. Just let me help you." He felt her head nod in agreement against his chest, and his grip on her tightened. " Why don't we come back tomorrow?"
"No," Hermione sniffled and pulled away. "We came all this way and we are going to see your father."
Draco smiled, seeing the stubborn fire light in her eyes again. He handed Teddy to her and placed his arm protectively around her shoulder as they walked out of the alleyway. They walked a little ways down the street, passing simple minded muggles who had given them warm smiles at their little family; some muttered how cute the baby was as they walked by them even. It made Draco's heart swell with pride.
After two and a half blocks Draco slowed down in front of what looked to be an old condemned department store. The brick red walls were faded some, the title Purge and Dowse Ltd. were in big, faded gold letters above a black door that had the paint cracking. The windows were large with a fine layer of dirt coating them and you could barely make out the mannequins that were within. They donned old fashioned clothes that looked moth eaten, and Hermione watched curiously as Draco leaned casually against the window.
"I am here to see my father." He spoke calmly and assertively. Hermione watched the mannequin nod with agreement, before Draco grabbed her hand and walked her through the wall, reminding her of how she got to the Hogwarts Express.
"You looked mad talking to that mannequin," She laughed. "We were getting strange looks."
"They won't remember." He smirked,guiding her through the halls.
Hermione walked in wonder, the halls were completely silver and white. The floors sparkled with white tile and the walls were silver with spaces for floor to ceiling windows. There was a front desk and a zig zag silver staircase to the left of it that kept going all the way up to the top of the building and let off every now and then for a new floor. There was three lifts to the right of the front desk, filled with Doctors and patients alike who were going to their rooms or to be inspected.
The waiting room had white chairs and were filled with patients and family members, silver tables next to them full of Witch Weekly, the Daily Prophet and the Quibbler were there. There was a charming little child playing section full of toys that were floating away or chasing after the children and a fish tank that kids could look at. Watching closely Hermione saw a little girl stick her hand through the glass of the fish tank and to the water, playing with the fish inside. Hermione thought the set-up rather brilliant, and slightly disgusting with all the bacteria in the water.
"I've never been here before. Its beautiful for a hospital." She sighed, shaking a whimpering Teddy.
Draco nodded in agreement and walked up to the front desk while Hermione looked around for a moment longer, seeing the staircases eventually change direction and she briefly wondered if all large buildings were made in such a way. Then she joined Draco's side, caressing Teddy's cheek and leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Its my father." Draco pleaded.
"I'm sorry Mister Malfoy but I can't give you consent." The man said full of disdain. "Why they let your family go is beyond me." He muttered under his breath.
Hermione perked up and looked at the man behind the desk. It was a tall, lanky man with greasy black hair and a pointy long nose. "Excuse me, I would like to see my soon to be father in law." She stated, straightening up to her full height (All 5'2 of it.)
"Ms. Granger? Oh good heavens I am so sorry. Right away Miss." He said looking very ashamed. He looked through the papers and found Lucius's room number and cleared his throat. "Ah, yes. Room 445." he looked up with a smile. "That is on the fourth floor. I am so sorry Miss, if you need anything let me or the staff know and we will assist you."
Hermione nodded and turned to leave but before she did she turned back towards the man with a glare in her eyes, "I will have you know that Draco Malfoy is as guilty as I am."
"I didn't mean to offend Miss. I only meant that he is a Death Eater and they are all lock-"
"Not by choice." Hermione snarled, raising her left arm to reveal her own fading mark. "He aided in the killing of Voldemort, he was along Harry, Ron and my side the entire time. Next time I suggest you realize appearances can be deceiving and you don't know all the facts.
"Yes Miss, of course." He bowed his head full of embarrassment.
"Have a good day." She said, and she meant it but she was quite livid about his behavior towards Draco.
"Have I told you," Draco whispered in her ear, leading her to the stairs, "That I love you?"
"Maybe once or twice." Hermione smiled.
"You were conniving back there. My own little Slytherin." He beamed.
"It seems as though you are rubbing off on me." Hermione giggled lightly.
"See. You will come back to me in no time." He kissed her temple and took Teddy from her.
It seemed they were fighting over who could hold Teddy the longest, they couldn't go very long without holding the little child. It made her smile and forget the anger she held for the man downstairs. Hermione thought that perhaps she could write a book on what really happened in the war and get it out once and for all, it wouldn't work out any other way unless someone had the nerve to actually talk about it and everyone knows that war isn't something people want to talk about and revealing the truth is scary enough in itself.
Releasing a heavy sigh Hermione reached the last step and her foot fell gently on the white tile of the fourth floor, she grabbed Teddy out of Draco's arms laughing at his look of displeasure. But Draco stayed silent and let her kiss his cheeks and blow in his face, she looked happy and if that was the case he was gonna let her do whatever she wanted. There was a sign hanging from the ceiling that said in fat, black and bold letters :Mental Ward.
Hermione flinched knowing that Neville's parents were here on this level due to being under the cruciatus curse for a long period of time, and a shiver ran through her spine knowing she could have ended up here. Then a pang of hurt hit her as she remembered Neville jumping in front of her and Draco, taking the curse that was to be her end. She pictured his dead body in her grasp, how she had shaken his body and hoped he would wake up laughing in his awkward way. She never meant for that to happen, she wasn't even awake for the funeral; to pay her respects for a friend who paid his life for her. Hermione could scream at all the rage and sorrow she felt, but she knew she had to hide it or else people may think that she too was losing her mind. They wouldn't be wrong of course.
She walked passed the main desk on level four, nodding a hello at the women who were standing their dumbstruck; obviously goggling Draco, and continued down the hall. Despite Draco's status and all the confusion women knew he was handsome and they would do anything to get with him, the thought made Hermione angry but she knew that they wouldn't dare cross that line and if they did; well Hermione wasn't exactly above inflicting pain. Okay maybe she was but they would regret it.
Draco kissed her in an act of comfort as they walked down the halls, but Hermione stopped and turned back to the desk quickly. "The Longbottoms?"
"What about them?" The brown haired one asked.
"They are here still, right?"
"Yeah. They are a bunch of loons. One minute they make perfect sense the next they are out the door spewing nonsense."
"What room?"
"Are you family?" She inquired, leaning forward to look Hermione squarely in the eye.
"No. But their son risked his life for me, and they deserve to know that he is dead even if they don't understand. Room. Number. Now."
"That's Hermione Granger," the red head whispered in awe. "Room 493. They are on their morning walk now ma'am."
"Thank you. I'll come back some other time." Hermione didn't know when but she would, when she was ready to face her demons she would come back. She turned around and took Draco's hand in hers, he felt rather proud of how far she had come today; he half expected her to break down the second her foot touched the memory ward.
They strolled in silence until reaching the room that had Lucius Malfoy written underneath plaque that read 445. Draco knocked once before touching the cold knob and turning the door, entering. Narcissa sat stiffly in a chair next to the hospital bed, holding Lucius's hand that was strapped down to the side of the bed. Her face didn't show signs of sadness but rather plain old distress as she eyed her husband.
"Mother." Draco swooped in and gave her cheek a kiss. He was quite the mama's boy although he would never admit such words out loud. "How did this happen?"
"I found him drinking poison in his study Draco." She whispered. "I never knew it would have been possible. He has been quite changed since the Dark Lords death."
" people attempt to kill themselves daily, its their own personal demons and there is nothing you could have done to prevented it. You mustn't blame yourself."
Hermione wouldn't ever have thought that she would have gotten along with Draco's mother but she did; almost as if she were her own. They talked about things like literature and politics, things she would have talked about with her own mother if she had known where she was. They never got personal with each other, just talked about the meaning of certain books, the authors and what they must have been thinking. They didn't know anything about each other but there was an understanding and they actually got on quite well. They even smiled at each other, which was weird in itself.
"That's not it dear," She sighed, eyeing the bundle in Hermione's arms. "It should be impossible for him to do such a thing."
"Why?"
"My father has Veela blood," Draco explained. "His reason for living is my mother, he would never desire to leave her no matter how miserable he was on earth. He has her and thats his whole existence. For him to go and try to kill himself doesn't make sense whatsoever."
" It has to be Dark magic." Narcissa said dully. She was done with all of this nonsense by now, she had lived with it for years and had wanted it behind her so badly.
"You can stop talking about me, I am right here." Lucius's voice cut through the soft silence, it was without malice and when his eyes opened he didn't look at Hermione with hatred for once. He looked kind. They had gotten along better too, not arguing every other second over blood purity and nodding simple hello's in the mornings but in the past two weeks she had not seen him around the house, something must have been up and she felt foolish for not noticing.
"How are you feeling dear?" Narcissa questioned.
"Like I got knocked off of my broom by a dragon." He groaned sitting up. "I am not sure whats happened, nor do I care to know at the moment." Then he laughed and looked at Hermione and the little thing in her arms. "Is that my grandson? Draco you didn't tell me you and Hermione had procreated. Bring him here!" He said with glee.
It was slightly obvious that Hermione and Draco hadn't gotten pregnant, as was Veela law that they couldn't until they married and they weren't even engaged. And Teddy was already four months along, Hermione would have had to have been pregnant around July of last year and her and Draco weren't even speaking back then. But he looked so happy Hermione couldn't bring it to herself to break the news to him. Just as Draco was about to she stepped forward and sat on the bed with Teddy, setting him on Lucius's lap. Draco looked at her compassion and was frozen by what was going to transpire next.
"You did a wonderful job dear girl." He held her cheek in one hand before tickling the baby's stomach. "You'll have to forgive me but I do not recall his name."
"Edward. Edward Lucius Malfoy. But you've called him Teddy since he was little." She said softly, her hand resting on his thigh. "Here." Hermione reached over and unbound his hands so he could hold Teddy properly.
Teddy giggled at Lucius, his little fists grabbing his hair and playing with it. "Look at that, he likes his papa."
Hermione looked at the old man carefully. He didn't look like the elder Malfoy that she was used to seeing. He didn't have the angry lines around his eyes, or the clean shaven face. He looked happy and as if he was in his own world, Hermione wondered if this is what he would have been like had he not taken the mark and gotten himself wrapped up into this. She looked at Draco and saw that he had tears in his eyes, no doubt feeling the sorrow of never having a father like the one in this bed in his life before. Hermione almost felt guilty, but the man was obviously loony. Something hadn't clicked with the man in front of her and Hermione felt that if he had not gotten to see his 'grandson' he would have broken into a sobbing mess.
"He looks just like Draco." He laughed. "Has your eyes though Hermione." That was the first time he had ever used her name, he had referred to her as many things. All the way from Mudblood to an It, but he had never actually spoken of her like a human being and when they had decided to coexist he didn't even call her anything, she was just always there. Hermione only saw Lupin in Teddy and wondered what Lucius saw instead.
"Could I hold him?" Narcissa asked Lucius,standing up and leaning over. "Just for a moment."
Lucius looked at his wife and kissed her cheek before handing her the baby, the room was quite shocked at the open display of affection; Narcissa herself was surprised. Not that she disliked it, she loved it, it had just been a long time since he had shown his love so openly for her in front of people. She sat back on the chair smiling, and rather liking the man in front of her right now, it was the old Lucius, the one she had married so long ago when they had first fallen in love. Not that they weren't now, but dark times caused a vast distance between the two.
"Father." Draco cleared his throat. "Do you know where you are?"
"St. Mungo's of course." He said.
"Do you know why?"
He sat still for a moment, thoughtfully and Hermione watched as something dark gleamed behind his eyes. He shook his head refocusing but the dark gleam kept coming back, his eyes searched the room as if looking for something. Then his eyes landed on Hermione, full of sorrow and confusion.
"It's you." He whispered.
"What?" Draco said, taking a small step forward.
"She is the carrier. She will do the evil bidding."Lucius closed his eyes tightly. "Not on purpose. Not on purpose. Not on purpose!" He shook his head vigorously, getting more wound up, his eyes snapped open and locked onto Hermione's. "Who knows what's going to happen to you." Then he laughed, loud and sinister, before he suddenly yelled with all the force in his body. "Evil will return!"
Lucius snatched out his arm and took hold of her left forearm, covering the Dark Mark with a cold hand that soon burned. Hermione shook her arm, trying to get free before she started screaming. Memories burned her alive, she felt Voldemort's grip on her arm again as he cursed her to kill her friends, she remembered the burning she felt when she had taken the Dark Mark. She closed her eyes against the memories, against Lucius's nails digging into her arm, breaking the skin. She vaguely felt Draco try to peel his father's fingers off of her but it was no use. She let out a final scream before she felt the release of Lucius's grip on her arm, the force she was using to pull herself away from him turned on her as she flung backwards and her head cracked against the cool tile. Darkness enveloped her as the words 'Evil will return' played in her head.