Chapter 7

Death is Final

Here it is.  Last chapter.  Over and done with.

Standard Disclaimer applies.  Sue me, I dare you!

Whole thing is in Draco's POV.

            I didn't know what day of the week it was.  I didn't even know what time of day it was. All I knew was that my father had kept me prisoner for a long time now.

  Jacob had found a muggle book during a raid that told of torture in the medieval times.  My father had gotten a hard on as he read each page to me, showing me each of the pictures like I was a child.  His mild grip on sanity was getting weaker every day that I saw him. 

            Today we were on the chapter that was nothing but water torture. At first he had enjoyed dumping buckets of water over me while I was chained to a wall, my mouth pried open.  It had progressed to a chair that was held over a large pool of water.  The chair was attached to a long handle.  He and Jacob took turns dunking me into the pool, only bringing me up before I drowned.  They were getting ready to drop me into the water yet again, when there was a large explosion that seemed to come from above us.  Then we heard the shouting.  Father and Jacob both grabbed their wands and headed out of the dungeon.  I was still strapped in the chair.   I was unable to see what was going on.  All I could here was crashing and screaming. 

            Then I heard nothing.  The silence was intense. Weak from the constant torture, I dozed off.

            I awoke and I knew that hours had passed.  I heard whispers and quiet footfalls.  I didn't recognize any of the voices, but I didn't think I would.  Whoever it was didn't know their way around the dungeons.  I opened my mouth to call out, but my voice was gone.  I waited for whoever it was to find me.  I didn't have to wait long.    The door opened, and a voice quietly called out "Harry, is that you?"  I looked up, into the eyes of Ginny Weasley.

            She walked over towards me, wand outstretched.  Two other wizards came through the doorway, then three more.  Ginny was closer to me now, and looked up into my face. 

            "No, it's not him."  She turned around and starting walking away from me.  She spun back towards me, her face filled with bewilderment.  She walked even closer, dropping her wand.  She reached up and touched my face, suddenly recognizing me.   A hint of a smile crossed her lips.       

            "Draco Malfoy, is that you?"  I managed to nod ever so slightly.  A cup of water appeared in her hand almost instantly.   She raised it to my lips and helped me to lift my head so that I could drink. 

            I sipped at the water, trying not to cough as it hit my throat. 

            I gave her a faint smile, and a faint 'thanks' came out of my mouth.  It didn't even sound like my voice.  I had given up screaming and pleading for my life so long ago that I couldn't remember the last time I had talked voluntarily.  Ginny looked into my eyes again and said "You know, don't you?"

            I managed a nod.  "He's dead."

            She looked relieved that I knew.  "Yes.  Moody killed him.  We think all of the death eaters that were here are dead.  Moody's checking to make sure there isn't any hiding here in the dungeons.  But we need to know something.  Is Harry here?"    

            I swallowed and spoke my voice cracking.  "If he is, I haven't seen him.  Ginny, how is Hermione?"

            She turned and addressed the other wizards in the room. "I'll take care of him.  Can the rest of you help Moody and the others?  I like to make sure we do a thorough search."  The others left the room and Ginny pulled out her wand again.  She didn't want to answer my question.

            She helped me out of the chair and onto the floor.  A bowl of water and some various bottles and rags appeared from a bag at her side.  She began to tend to my numerous wounds.     

            "Draco, she's ok now.  But you have to understand something.  We were told you were dead."  She paused, letting the news sink in and then continued.  "You've been missing for almost a year and a half.  Harry made it back with Ron and left him with the mediwizards.  As soon as he knew that Ron would live, Harry returned to get you.  He tried for weeks to get in and bring you back.  Your father had so many charms and hexes set up around the house that it was nearly impossible.  Then after one attempt to rescue you, your father came out and told us that you had died.  You had accidentally been killed in an escape attempt.  Your father never produced a body, and there were some that never gave up hope.  But as time went by it looked like your father had really been telling the truth.  Harry was devastated that he broke his promise to Hermione.  We were all so worried about her for the longest time.  She didn't eat, she didn't sleep.  She didn't talk for weeks.   Harry promised her that he would avenge your death.  Harry and Dumbledore planned for a huge battle.  It went on for days.  Dumbledore killed Voldemort, and then your father killed Dumbledore.  Harry didn't return from the battle and his body was never found.  We all assumed that he had been killed.  And then, a few weeks ago we received word that Harry was still alive and being kept in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor by your father.  Those of us who were left decided that the best way to do it would be to launch an all out assault.  We knew your father wouldn't be expecting it.  That's probably the only reason we were successful.  That and he really thought he had killed all of us who supported Dumbledore." Her voice faltered as she spoke his name.  She had been cleaning my injuries and bandaging those that needed it.  She muttered a few spells towards me, and I felt a warmth pass through my body.  I had energy and I felt stronger than I had in months.  She handed me a few pieces of chocolate, the cure-all of wizards all over the world.            

            "You should really be checked out at St.Mungo's but I don't think you'll go willingly."  She smiled at me and handed me an envelope.  "There's a portkey inside. It will take you to the hill that overlooks our house.   Hermione's been at the burrows since you left.  She's been helping Ron get back on his feet."  She grabbed my hand and squeezed it.  "Hermione is going to be so happy to see you Draco.  Tell the others we'll return as soon as make sure we've searched the entire house."

            I nodded, and she left the room.

            I knew I looked terrible and probably looked nothing like myself.  I wanted to take the time to make my appearance more presentable, but my desire to see Hermione was stronger and I ripped the envelope open.  Inside I found what Muggles call a paperclip.  My hand surrounded the small piece of metal and for the first time in a year and a half, I was out of the manor. 

            The air was fresh and it felt wonderful.  From my surroundings I knew it had to be somewhere late in the fall.  Many of the trees were bare, and the few trees that still had leaves were very dark browns and oranges.  In a different time I might have been chilled but being in captivity had changed me a lot.  My legs were still weak from such little use that walking was almost a challenge.  I saw the house without even looking and slowly started walking towards it.  Not much had changed in my absence.  It still looked the same, for the most part.  As I got closer, I noticed that there were two people sitting on a bench on the front porch.  They hadn't seen me yet, and I wasn't sure that it was who I thought it was. 

            And then suddenly time froze.  In the instant that I knew it was her; she turned and saw me limping towards them.  Her face was suddenly filled with a million emotions, and then he saw me too.  They both looked at me as I continued toward them.  Almost as if in slow motion, she rose and began walking towards me.    It was just like my dream.  Feeling a sudden burst of energy at seeing Hermione, I began to run.  She ran towards me, and I could see the tears that filled her eyes.  She jumped into my arms, almost knocking me down.  Every bone and muscle ached with the weight of her on me but I didn't care.  It felt too real and too good.  The feeling of her in my arms was everything that I had imagined it would be.  It was the only thought that had kept me alive for so long.            

            "Draco!  Oh my god Draco!  I don't believe it!  I thought you were dead.  They told us you were dead."  I silenced her with my lips on hers.  Her lips were warm and pliable and she kissed me back with the same passion I remembered.  Our kiss went on for what seemed like hours.  She pulled away from my lips, and put her hands on the side of my face and looked deep into my eyes.  Her eyes were wide and full of a million questions. 

            I smiled at her and told her "If you let me sit down, I'll tell you everything.  Then you can tell me how much you missed me."  She beamed at me and began to lead me over to the bench that Ron was still sitting at.  He moved to stand up, and held his hand out to me when I was close enough. 

            "You saved my life.  You have no idea how guilty I felt when they told us you were dead."  He shook my hand and smiled at me.  "Thank you." 

            "My father had laid the trap.  I didn't want him to kill an innocent person because I pissed him off.  I only wish that Harry was here too.  Somehow I hope that he's still found."  Both of their eyes fell when I said this, and I knew that they had come to the same conclusion that I did.  He wouldn't be found. 

            "I don't even want to imagine the pain that you must have gone through all this time.  I was only with you father for a few days.  The nightmares are still so strong that I have to take a dreamless sleep potion every night.  The physical scars have almost completely healed.  I've only been able to walk for a few weeks, and I'll probably never get my eyesight back in my right eye."  Ron swallowed, as he looked at my body.  He only knew a fraction of what I felt.

            I sat down next to Hermione and took her hand.  I retold my story to both of them.  How he had killed my mother, how the two of them had tortured me senseless more times that I could count.  I tried to keep the more gruesome details out of it, but I knew I was still shocking both of them.  I told them of my rescue, of my father being killed and Ginny sending me back to them.  

            Neither one of them spoke, so I looked at both of them.  "So what else had been happening in the world?"  Hermione opened her mouth to speak, when the cry of a child broke the silence.  Both Ron and Hermione sat up, and Hermione quickly stood. 

            "I'll be right back."  She told me.  In just a few seconds, she returned with a child in her arms.  A beautiful baby boy with Hermione's eyes and beautiful chestnut hair.  The boy saw Ron and held his arms out to him.  Ron smiled and took him into his arms.               

            My heart dropped in a matter of seconds.  This was obviously Hermione's child, and it was in Ron's arms.

            Hermione looked at me and smiled awkwardly.  "We all thought you were dead, so I'd never really rehearsed what I wanted to say.  So I'll just come right out and say it."  Her eyes filled with tears and she took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.  "I'd like you to meet Bastian Albus Malfoy." 

            I was so destroyed that Hermione had moved on to a life without me that I hadn't heard what she said at first.  After a few moments it sunk in.  She sat and patiently waited, knowing that I had just heard the biggest news of my life.  And then all of a sudden, it did sink in.  Malfoy?  

            "Malfoy?  Did you say Malfoy?  He's …..He's my son?"  I looked into her eyes and they were filled with tears like mine.    She smiled at nodded. 

            "He was conceived the night you left.  When I heard you were dead, I was ready to end my life.  I was ready to kill myself and then I found out only a few hours before I was going to do it.  Knowing that I was carrying your son, that small part of you was enough to keep me alive.  He's so much like you sometimes it made me miss you that much more." 

            I looked at Ron's lap at my son.  I had a son.  Ron looked at me and looked at Bastian.  "Would you like to hold your son?"  I nodded, a little unsure of myself.  I looked at Hermione and she smiled and nodded.  He handed him to me, and I clumsily took him in my arms.  His brown eyes stared into mine and instantly he stopped fidgeting.

            Hermione looked at our son in my arms.  "Bastian, this is that guy I was telling you about.  This is your Daddy."  He stared up at me and I smiled at him through my tears.  Suddenly he began to smile too. 

            "Well guys, that's the story of how your mom and I met."  Bastian and Toby smiled at me.  Of course, I left out a lot of the details, but the main story itself was always their bed time story request.

            "That's always been my favorite story dad."  Bastian told me.  Almost 7 now, he still looked exactly like his mother.  Toby, his younger brother had just turned 5 and looked more like me.  They both had my stubborn streak, but it was obvious that Toby had gotten his mothers brains.  He could already read and write better than anyone his age.  Bastian was a little more mischievous.  He was pretty talented on a broom, and would rather practice flying than do his homework.

            "Daddy, can we go visit Uncle Ron and Aunt Tina tomorrow?  Molly wants to show me her new racing broom."

Toby asked me.  I smiled at him and said "We'll see.  It depends on how your mom is feeling."

            "What about how I'm feeling?"  I heard Hermione's voice behind me.  "I'm feeling just fine, except for when your sister sits on my bladder."  She was talking to the boys now.  Our boys.  I turned and looked at her.  Her belly was so big now.  Our first daughter would be born in just about a month. 

            We tucked both of the boys in, and shut off the lights.  We walked down the hall towards our bedroom.  The house elves had started a fire in the fireplace. 

When we had first moved into the manor, it had almost seemed too big.   But now with our growing family it would quickly be full of children.  Hermione and I both had jobs at the ministry that we loved, a fantastic house, and a beautiful family.  We had been married for almost 6 years, getting married 2 days after I was found.  

There had been no sign of Voldemort returning.  It was believed by most of the wizarding world that he really was 'dead' this time.  No one had ever seen Harry either.  Some people kept up hope, but even after 6 years Ron, Hermione and I had all said goodbye in our own way.  I had always felt a tremendous amount of guilt over the fact that he had never been found.  If I hadn't been taken, I wondered if he would still be alive.  But the only one who knew my father's plans was my father, and he was dead.  We had buried his remains in the backyard.  He never had the decency to bury my mother's body, but I had still put a gravestone in our small backyard cemetery. 

I was overlooking the cemetery thinking about some happier moments with my mother when Hermione came up behind me and began to massage my shoulders.            

"Let's go to bed dear."  We both pulled ourselves into bed and snuggled up against each other. 

I knew that I had everything I had ever wanted in my life, and I was finally happy.

Fin

Sorry it took so long!  Maybe if I get some reviews for these last chapters, I'll post one of the other stories that I've been working on.   I'm happy with it, I hope you enjoyed it!