In the confused aftermath of the battle Draco quickly established that only
three others had survived Layla's terrible attack. Snape hadn't been
present at the incident and had instead been patrolling the corridors;
McGonagall had survived because Layla's magic was no match for the powers
of the head teacher's power and experience. Ron Weasley had survived for
the simple reason that he was still a chicken. He had fainted in fear when
Layla had started cursing people and Layla had mistaken him for being dead.
However the greatest surprise was from the person who saved Draco from
certain death. Albus Dumbledore had somehow known that Draco and his
beloved school needed help and he'd come even although he had always
disliked Draco and had long since retired from the school.
Strangely enough Draco couldn't grieve for his daughter. He just felt anger with her for murdering all of those innocent people. No, Draco grieved deeply for Hermione. The girl who had despised him until a few months ago yet she was the one he missed the most. Ron assured him, through his own tears, that Hermione was happy now.
"She's never been properly happy, not since she broke up with Harry in their last year of school. She's finally content with her daughter now."
It had taken a long time but eventually Draco found himself convinced of this.
Perhaps the hardest thing for Draco was explaining everything to Estelle's inconsolable parents. For some strange reason Draco's life had to get worse and worse before it would get better. He nearly fell off of his chair when he realised that Estelle's mother was Paula Sullivan. The same Paula that he had loved all of these years. After telling Paula exactly what had happened he realised that he didn't love her anymore. He didn't even remotely like her after the way she reacted. He understood that she was upset and angry that her daughter had been stolen from her but he couldn't understand why she had turned on him and tried to kill him. It wasn't Draco's fault that Layla killed Estelle. There was no excuse for what Paula had tried to do. He was just lucky that Paula's husband quickly stopped her from what she was about to do.
McGonagall and Dumbledore had arranged for the school to close a month early due to the fact that there was only five teachers and masses of students. Not even the most capable teachers could have dealt with that many students so they sent them home. McGonagall tried to send Draco home as well but he refused to go. He couldn't face the thought of going home without Layla, clearing out her room, not going on holiday with her. All in all it was hell not having his darling daughter with him. He knew Erik felt the same. Despite all their fights and his usual mask of disliking his irritating little sister, he knew that Erik loved Layla hugely and he was lost without that infuriating little girl that he had looked out for since she was born. Soon the only children left in the school were Gabrielle, Daniel and Erik, only because their parents were still in school. Hermione's step children had been sent home to Dean as soon as it was established that she was dead. Lili and Hannah Potter were still in school because their parents couldn't be traced to send them home.
Ron was left terrified of his own shadow after Layla's vicious attack. He would peek cautiously around corners and detested being alone in the school. Daniel and Gabrielle took great delight in scaring their father senseless by jumping out at him from behind statues and from doorways. They always paid for it later but the fun seemed greater than the punishment for their actions. Lili was too busy being miserable about the apparent disappearance of her parents which was not unusual for her but she couldn't even relax enough to enjoy the early start of her holidays. Hannah was the direct opposite. She couldn't care less about her parents' and instead spent her days with Gabrielle and Daniel.
Lili and Erik spent a lot of time together but everyone suspected they were simply crying and being unhappy together. Draco believed that it was good for his son to be with Lili but Ron and McGonagall thought it best to separate them as soon as possible. It was easy enough for him to ignore their advice as McGonagall was far too busy interviewing prospective new teachers to pay proper attention and Ron was too busy being the scatter- brained fool that he really was. No one knew or cared what had happened to Snape. It was three weeks after the attack that anyone noticed that he disappeared and reappeared constantly. McGonagall questioned him about his strange behaviour but she refused to relinquish the story, simply saying that Snape was working for the Ministry and was not to be disturbed.
Dumbledore had gone back to his peaceful retirement after everything had gone back to normal. He had carefully made sure that McGonagall had a full set of staff and everything was back in order and left the school in her capable hands.
Three days before the school should have broken up, Professor McGonagall announced that all business was dealt with and everyone could go home. Ron and his children left the school as soon as they managed to pack their things. McGonagall had traced the Potters and made them come to get their children so they left moments after the Weasleys. Draco slowly and carefully packed his and Erik's things, crying throughout, wishing he could be packing Layla's things as well. The train ride home was unbearable. The usual noise and chatter was missing as was the loud, cheerful laughter of his daughter. Erik was quiet the whole journey and Draco was extremely grateful when he fell asleep.
Staring at their front door without Layla nearly broke his heart again but true to the vow he had taken on the train, he proceeded inside and took care of his son in the way that he knew he should. The housekeeper had kept everything perfect for them. He could tell that she was also grieving for the little girl that she had looked after for years. In fact Francis had looked after the children for about six years - ever since they started excluding Pansy and everything fell apart. That night Draco went to sleep feeling more miserable than ever before and in the morning he chose to stay there.
Strangely enough Draco couldn't grieve for his daughter. He just felt anger with her for murdering all of those innocent people. No, Draco grieved deeply for Hermione. The girl who had despised him until a few months ago yet she was the one he missed the most. Ron assured him, through his own tears, that Hermione was happy now.
"She's never been properly happy, not since she broke up with Harry in their last year of school. She's finally content with her daughter now."
It had taken a long time but eventually Draco found himself convinced of this.
Perhaps the hardest thing for Draco was explaining everything to Estelle's inconsolable parents. For some strange reason Draco's life had to get worse and worse before it would get better. He nearly fell off of his chair when he realised that Estelle's mother was Paula Sullivan. The same Paula that he had loved all of these years. After telling Paula exactly what had happened he realised that he didn't love her anymore. He didn't even remotely like her after the way she reacted. He understood that she was upset and angry that her daughter had been stolen from her but he couldn't understand why she had turned on him and tried to kill him. It wasn't Draco's fault that Layla killed Estelle. There was no excuse for what Paula had tried to do. He was just lucky that Paula's husband quickly stopped her from what she was about to do.
McGonagall and Dumbledore had arranged for the school to close a month early due to the fact that there was only five teachers and masses of students. Not even the most capable teachers could have dealt with that many students so they sent them home. McGonagall tried to send Draco home as well but he refused to go. He couldn't face the thought of going home without Layla, clearing out her room, not going on holiday with her. All in all it was hell not having his darling daughter with him. He knew Erik felt the same. Despite all their fights and his usual mask of disliking his irritating little sister, he knew that Erik loved Layla hugely and he was lost without that infuriating little girl that he had looked out for since she was born. Soon the only children left in the school were Gabrielle, Daniel and Erik, only because their parents were still in school. Hermione's step children had been sent home to Dean as soon as it was established that she was dead. Lili and Hannah Potter were still in school because their parents couldn't be traced to send them home.
Ron was left terrified of his own shadow after Layla's vicious attack. He would peek cautiously around corners and detested being alone in the school. Daniel and Gabrielle took great delight in scaring their father senseless by jumping out at him from behind statues and from doorways. They always paid for it later but the fun seemed greater than the punishment for their actions. Lili was too busy being miserable about the apparent disappearance of her parents which was not unusual for her but she couldn't even relax enough to enjoy the early start of her holidays. Hannah was the direct opposite. She couldn't care less about her parents' and instead spent her days with Gabrielle and Daniel.
Lili and Erik spent a lot of time together but everyone suspected they were simply crying and being unhappy together. Draco believed that it was good for his son to be with Lili but Ron and McGonagall thought it best to separate them as soon as possible. It was easy enough for him to ignore their advice as McGonagall was far too busy interviewing prospective new teachers to pay proper attention and Ron was too busy being the scatter- brained fool that he really was. No one knew or cared what had happened to Snape. It was three weeks after the attack that anyone noticed that he disappeared and reappeared constantly. McGonagall questioned him about his strange behaviour but she refused to relinquish the story, simply saying that Snape was working for the Ministry and was not to be disturbed.
Dumbledore had gone back to his peaceful retirement after everything had gone back to normal. He had carefully made sure that McGonagall had a full set of staff and everything was back in order and left the school in her capable hands.
Three days before the school should have broken up, Professor McGonagall announced that all business was dealt with and everyone could go home. Ron and his children left the school as soon as they managed to pack their things. McGonagall had traced the Potters and made them come to get their children so they left moments after the Weasleys. Draco slowly and carefully packed his and Erik's things, crying throughout, wishing he could be packing Layla's things as well. The train ride home was unbearable. The usual noise and chatter was missing as was the loud, cheerful laughter of his daughter. Erik was quiet the whole journey and Draco was extremely grateful when he fell asleep.
Staring at their front door without Layla nearly broke his heart again but true to the vow he had taken on the train, he proceeded inside and took care of his son in the way that he knew he should. The housekeeper had kept everything perfect for them. He could tell that she was also grieving for the little girl that she had looked after for years. In fact Francis had looked after the children for about six years - ever since they started excluding Pansy and everything fell apart. That night Draco went to sleep feeling more miserable than ever before and in the morning he chose to stay there.