Disclaimer: I do not own any original Harry Potter characters. Sniff
sniff.
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *********************************************************************** After his father had died in the Final Battle, Draco had been quiet and subdued. His former stuck-up, self-absorbed, muggle-born-taunting self had vanished, to be replaced with this ghost-like nature. His mother had died too, at the hands of his father, but that was all Hermione knew.
Most of the surviving students had stayed at Hogwarts over the summer. They had all wanted to be around people who had been there, who understood. Hardly anyone had wanted to go back to parents who tried to comprehend what they had been through, to watch replays of the battle all over the news again and again. Hermione had stayed, wanting to be with Ginny and Ron. But Draco had gone home. He had returned, as Head Boy, in September. He hardly spoke, never contributed unless asked. And then, after Christmas, he was just gone one morning. Hermione hadn't seen him since. But here he was, standing in front of her.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked, his voice quiet. There was none of the malice and hatred in his trademark Malfoy eyes.
"Of course not. Take a seat." Hermione said. The year that Draco had been Head Boy, she had been Head Girl. Draco had spent most of his time locked up in his study in their private quarters, not making any noise.
"How have you been, Hermione?" he asked.
"Great, thanks. I trained for law school but I didn't like it so I changed to medicine and I'm a Healer now."
That sounds interesting. Which hospital?"
"Angelina Johnson Memorial. I work in research with Lavender Brown. We're looking at a cure for the werewolf bite."
"Impressive."
"Thank you. So, how have uyou/u been?"
"To tell the truth, I'm not sure. Some days I'm great, others I'm not." He replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have a significant other?" she asked. Immediately cursing herself for being so stupid. She sounded like a desperate student trying to pick up rich guys.
"Well, there's my son." Draco said. Hermione was taken aback.
"Wow, you have a son? How old is he? What's his name?"
"Max. He turns two in September."
"Max?" Hermione was surprised. Max was a fairly Muggle name, and she had never really thought Draco would get over his muggle-hating.
"Short for Maxmillian. Would you like to see some pictures?" he asked.
"Sure. I'd love to." She replied. Draco flipped open his wallet and showed her a string of wizard photographs. They all showed the same small blonde boy; eating, playing, laughing, sleeping.
"He's adorable. He looks just like you." Hermione said, fascinated.
"I think so too."
"What's his full name?"
"Maxmillian Xavier Black."
"Black? Not Malfoy?" Hermione asked. Draco was full of surprises.
"No, not Malfoy. The name Malfoy is forever tainted so I gave him my mother's name. It will make life a lot easier for him."
"I thought the Malfoy name portrayed the image of wealth and power?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, but it also portrays the image of death, torture, and association with Voldemort." Draco replied.
Was she hearing correctly? Did he just say 'Voldemort' as opposed to 'The Dark Lord'? Was this really Draco Malfoy? The same Draco Malfoy that had teased and bullied countless people, Hermione especially, for the first sixteen years of his life? This kind, gentle man who obviously doted upon his young son? Hermione looked at the photographs again. One depicted a blonde woman holding a baby Max, Draco beside her. The two were laughing and looked very much in love.
"Is that Max's mother?" Hermione asked. Draco's eyes grew slightly colder. He nodded.
"My ex wife. She left when Max was a month old." He answered shortly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking you all these things-"
"Don't worry about it. If I didn't want to answer, I wouldn't have." Draco replied. Hermione racked her brains for something to say, but what could she say? To this lost, sad man who was older than his age, and had probably been through more than anyone knew.
"So, do you work here on the Island?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No, I don't work. I care for Max. We live here, in the Residential Third."
"It must be great to live here all year round."
"Yes, I suppose it is. It's nice to walk along the beach at night; it helps clear your mind. Very peaceful."
"Aren't there people out on the beach at night?" Hermione asked.
"Not usually. It's quite a lonesome place after about two a.m." He said. The next thing he said was so low that Hermione knew she wasn't supposed to have heard it.
"Then again. Us Malfoys are always lonely."
A/N:: Greetings, all! Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I won't be able to post after this for a while, since I'm going back home today and school starts soon. I hope you like my little encounter with D/H. I know it's probably not exactly what you were hoping for, but my portrayal of Draco is different to most. I think. I'll try to answer any questions, just ask in your reviews. And look out for the next chapter!!
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *********************************************************************** After his father had died in the Final Battle, Draco had been quiet and subdued. His former stuck-up, self-absorbed, muggle-born-taunting self had vanished, to be replaced with this ghost-like nature. His mother had died too, at the hands of his father, but that was all Hermione knew.
Most of the surviving students had stayed at Hogwarts over the summer. They had all wanted to be around people who had been there, who understood. Hardly anyone had wanted to go back to parents who tried to comprehend what they had been through, to watch replays of the battle all over the news again and again. Hermione had stayed, wanting to be with Ginny and Ron. But Draco had gone home. He had returned, as Head Boy, in September. He hardly spoke, never contributed unless asked. And then, after Christmas, he was just gone one morning. Hermione hadn't seen him since. But here he was, standing in front of her.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked, his voice quiet. There was none of the malice and hatred in his trademark Malfoy eyes.
"Of course not. Take a seat." Hermione said. The year that Draco had been Head Boy, she had been Head Girl. Draco had spent most of his time locked up in his study in their private quarters, not making any noise.
"How have you been, Hermione?" he asked.
"Great, thanks. I trained for law school but I didn't like it so I changed to medicine and I'm a Healer now."
That sounds interesting. Which hospital?"
"Angelina Johnson Memorial. I work in research with Lavender Brown. We're looking at a cure for the werewolf bite."
"Impressive."
"Thank you. So, how have uyou/u been?"
"To tell the truth, I'm not sure. Some days I'm great, others I'm not." He replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have a significant other?" she asked. Immediately cursing herself for being so stupid. She sounded like a desperate student trying to pick up rich guys.
"Well, there's my son." Draco said. Hermione was taken aback.
"Wow, you have a son? How old is he? What's his name?"
"Max. He turns two in September."
"Max?" Hermione was surprised. Max was a fairly Muggle name, and she had never really thought Draco would get over his muggle-hating.
"Short for Maxmillian. Would you like to see some pictures?" he asked.
"Sure. I'd love to." She replied. Draco flipped open his wallet and showed her a string of wizard photographs. They all showed the same small blonde boy; eating, playing, laughing, sleeping.
"He's adorable. He looks just like you." Hermione said, fascinated.
"I think so too."
"What's his full name?"
"Maxmillian Xavier Black."
"Black? Not Malfoy?" Hermione asked. Draco was full of surprises.
"No, not Malfoy. The name Malfoy is forever tainted so I gave him my mother's name. It will make life a lot easier for him."
"I thought the Malfoy name portrayed the image of wealth and power?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, but it also portrays the image of death, torture, and association with Voldemort." Draco replied.
Was she hearing correctly? Did he just say 'Voldemort' as opposed to 'The Dark Lord'? Was this really Draco Malfoy? The same Draco Malfoy that had teased and bullied countless people, Hermione especially, for the first sixteen years of his life? This kind, gentle man who obviously doted upon his young son? Hermione looked at the photographs again. One depicted a blonde woman holding a baby Max, Draco beside her. The two were laughing and looked very much in love.
"Is that Max's mother?" Hermione asked. Draco's eyes grew slightly colder. He nodded.
"My ex wife. She left when Max was a month old." He answered shortly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking you all these things-"
"Don't worry about it. If I didn't want to answer, I wouldn't have." Draco replied. Hermione racked her brains for something to say, but what could she say? To this lost, sad man who was older than his age, and had probably been through more than anyone knew.
"So, do you work here on the Island?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No, I don't work. I care for Max. We live here, in the Residential Third."
"It must be great to live here all year round."
"Yes, I suppose it is. It's nice to walk along the beach at night; it helps clear your mind. Very peaceful."
"Aren't there people out on the beach at night?" Hermione asked.
"Not usually. It's quite a lonesome place after about two a.m." He said. The next thing he said was so low that Hermione knew she wasn't supposed to have heard it.
"Then again. Us Malfoys are always lonely."
A/N:: Greetings, all! Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I won't be able to post after this for a while, since I'm going back home today and school starts soon. I hope you like my little encounter with D/H. I know it's probably not exactly what you were hoping for, but my portrayal of Draco is different to most. I think. I'll try to answer any questions, just ask in your reviews. And look out for the next chapter!!