Bleed II

Disclaimer: Don't own it. I do own the plot though.

Summary: Hermione and Draco meet again once more, due to Narcissa. However, if they want to be together, they both must make the ultimate sacrifice: death.

*

"Cissa! How many times have I told you - not to play with Mother's wand? How many times, Cissa?" Hermione scowled at the small four year old that was looking down shamelessly toward her knees.

"Seventeen times."

"You kept count?" Hermione asked, amazed. Cissa looked up at her, blinking.

"Of course. I knew you were going to ask me this question, it's only logical," she said, raising an eyebrow, giving a small smirk at her mother. Hermione found the smirk oddly familiar, but drew her attention away from it.

"Go take your bath, Cissa."

"Yes mother," Cissa prompted, forward to the bathroom.

Hermione Granger busied herself by going upstairs and picking up the scattered toys in Cissa's room, and then going to her own for a rest. Locking the door behind her, she leaned against it, taking a deep, shuddering breath, and then opening her eyes once more when a owl hooted. Blinking, she managed a smile and politely took the letter away from the owl and opened it.

Dear Hermione,

How is Cissa? I have wonderful news, of course! I tend not to bother you at these times, but I am getting married once more. Don't worry, I am in complete, true love. He's that wonderful Scottish man I told you about, remember, last Thursday at tea? He is simply gorgeous, and I know you'd like to meet him. But warning: He's taken. Wedding invitations will come soon. I would like to speak with you, tomorrow? That is, if you are not occupied with one of the Ministry's hazardous plans once more. I don't know why you bother - you could've been anything you wanted, but an Auror is a very dangerous job for a mother.

Please send news.

Love,

Narcissa.

P.S. Draco sent word he will be in the wedding.

Draco. The name settled in her throat, but she could speak it, in fear. As Cissa developed, Hermione was horrified to see that she had silver hair that curled about her small, apple-shaped face. Her eyes were a deep grayish blue, however, she had managed to receive her mother's intelligence and accuracy, not to mention a tendency to get into trouble and find new, solid adventures. But sometimes, Cissa truly drove her crazy. The main thing she had inherited from Draco was that annoying smirk - it felt humiliating that her own daughter could remind her of an old lover she once had. She shuddered, aware that she was thinking about him again. How could she - after all that happened?

She stepped toward her dresser drawer, and turned a simple picture frame into her view. It had a smiling, messy-haired boy with twinkling green eyes, and a thin, shaped scar on his forehead.

"Oh Harry," she whispered. "What do I do now?" The boy in the picture only frowned back at her.

*

Draco slicked his hair back, looking at the mirror uneasily, while he was sporting a gray tux. It didn't look as good as hair going down his forehead, and he reminded himself to get a small trim later on before the wedding.

He knew he wasn't going for his mother - he hadn't spoken to her for several years after her divorce to his father but - there was an impulsive instinct, urging him to go there. Perhaps it was because he was feeling more refreshed than ever; he was a successful trade dealer for Gringotts, and he made such good money that he was able to keep his old father's mansion. He had asked for several house-elves to assist him on cleaning the mansion, and making his father's room as a small library for his enjoyment. He hated his father's presence, and it would be equally creepy if he was living in a manor that was unfurnished, left with his father's death hanging about the air.

He frowned, his lips quivering a bit. The thought of his mother, who still looked young in her twenties, was getting remarried again made him flinch. However, he had promised himself to be polite to his 'new addition' to the family. He wouldn't be able to see him, anyways. After the wedding, it would be back to his own life, and meddling in Gringott's affairs.

A silver owl, his own, Coren, flew through the window, awaiting itself on his bedside, with a letter.

He reached out and tucked it away from him, and saw that it was a formal invitation. So, it had come. It was elegant, with a white gleaming envelope that wrote in cursive, 'N.M. & C.O.'.

He knew his new 'father's' name was Christopher, and with slight reluctance, he opened the invitation, his eyes pouring over the details of the date of the wedding. He scowled slightly. The wedding was in less than two weeks, and the rehearsal dinner the next day! His mother was awfully eager. Of course, she had already been that way. He put the invitation carelessly on the bed, looking into the mirror again.

*

It was the day of the rehearsal dinner. Since Hermione had been asked by Narcissa to be one of her bridesmaids, she graciously accepted, and now she wished she hadn't. She had absolutely nothing to wear for the rehearsal dinner, let alone the wedding! Of course Narcissa had insisted that she would buy a gown for her, but Hermione had refused foolishly.

She scurried clothes from drawer to drawer, and found a shade of blue peeking up from one of her shirts. She picked it up, and found herself staring into her graduation gown. Several memories appeared themselves into her mind, but she brushed them away. She couldn't act like this - she had to forget everything that had happened. Everything had to be forgotten.

She put the robe away, and to her relief, soon found a red, flowing cocktail dress that had been given to her from Ron in Christmastime.

Hermione settled into the dress, and applied light makeup. She didn't want to look too desperate, so she applied a soft shade of red on her lips, blush, and eyeliner, and sprayed perfume behind her ears to only give away a nearsighted fragrance to only people who were close to her.

She checked her muggle clock, which rested on the wall, and decided apparation was the fastest and easiest way. She wanted to be early so she could get it over with.

"Cissa!" she called. "Come on, it's time to leave!"

Cissa entered her mother's bedroom cautiously, dressed in a small, serenity colored skirt and matching, silk shirt.

"You look lovely," Hermione commented, beaming down at her. "Now, Uncle Ron is going to take you, because I need to apparate, alright?"

"Alright."

I must be crazy, Hermione thought, leaving a four year old alone.

"You be smart and keep the door closed at all times. Uncle Ron will be here in a few minutes."

"Okay. Can I watch you apparate?"

Hermione sighed, finally nodding. Pointing the wand at herself, she apparated, and found herself plumping into something soft.

"Who's there?" a female voice shrieked.

Hermione opened her eyes, and found herself looking at Narcissa. She looked beautiful, with a gray colored dress that was strapless, and her hair tied into a French twist in the back.

"Oh, Hermione! You scared me! You needn't have come so early."

She grinned. "Then I wouldn't be me, right?" She got up from what seemed to be a couch, and gave Narcissa a welcoming hug.

"Does this look alright? Chris didn't want me to dress up for the rehearsal dinner, but I couldn't help it. I only invited people part of the wedding, my sister, and some of my other relatives. You look great - who gave you that dress?"

Hermione smiled. "Ron. For Christmas."

"Well, it's very nice. Why don't you go downstairs? That's where they're serving the food. Draco came early too -"

"Draco?" Hermione questioned, her eyes widening.

"Well of course, he's Chris's best man. Of course they don't know each other well but..."

"Narcissa...you knew about this, didn't you?" Hermione asked, exasperated.

"What?" Narcissa blinked innocently back at her bridesmaid.

"Never mind," Hermione mumbled, heading downstairs. With each step, her heart kept lurching - she hadn't seen Draco in years, and wasn't quite too sure if she wanted to. Finally, she entered the room, her eyes averting to the sight of silver-haired man with his back to her, sipping a small drink...

"Hello," she found herself saying. Draco quickly raised his head, and seemed to be tantalized at the sight of her.

There was an awkward silence. "Granger..." he drawled.

"Hello," she said again, 'wittily'.

"Where's - err -?" He didn't finish the question. His eyes wandered over her body, and she found herself folding her arms across her chest.


"Cissa?"

"Yes."

"She'll be here with Ron in a few moments." Hermione gulped slightly. He looked handsome as always, his blonde hair slicked over his forehead, and if he sat up, she was sure he would tower over her. The way he was looking at her restrained her from shivering.

"Oh no, Weasley's coming?" He smirked at her, his eyes still plastered on the bare skin of her bosom.

"Well, yes. He's my guest. He won't be able to make it to the wedding of course but..."

"What a shame," Draco interrupted sarcastically. She glared at him, but the intensity of the moment seemed to freeze, because a small, male voice cried out,

"Daddy! Daddy! Gran says we'll have shrimp for the..."

Hermione stared, as a small, flame-haired boy came out, and stopped talking as he caught the sight of Hermione.

"Hello," the boy said.

"H-hello," Hermione stammered, eyeing him curiously.

"Granger, meet Cole," Draco interrupted.

"My son."

*

Oh. My. God. I cannot believe I wrote a freaking sequel to Bleed! I never thought it would happen! I mean - I don't know why I did it! But when I read the last chapter of bleed again, glancing at it, I just felt so much pain thinking there was no happy ending for Hermione and Draco. Forgive me if it isn't up to it's usual standards.

I feel weird. I'll probably have a seizure soon.

Well, anyways...

remember to leave a review.

*wink*

Love,

Court.