Against All Odds

Chapter Nine – Break The Silence

Oh, Draco, if only you knew what a difficult mission you gave me! Breaking a silence of ten years is one of the hardest things in the world. Telling your son who his father is, after refusing to do so when he asked you to, is even harder.

Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. It was already 10 P.M., and it was a school night – Daniel would have to go to bed soon, and she hadn't even started telling him.

Maybe I'll tell him tomorrow, she told herself. For a moment, it was a relieving idea, but then she pulled herself together: I have promised to do it tonight, she thought. I cannot back down now.

Daniel was reading a book on the couch. Hermione looked at him and her heart sank. She was about to make him hate her, for the rest of their lives, like Draco had been angry with her. And the worst thing was, she knew she deserved it.

"Daniel," Hermione said hesitantly.

"Yes, Mom?" Daniel raised his eyes from the book.

Hermione went over slowly and sat in front of him. She examined his face to see how tired he was. He didn't look exhausted. A little tired, perhaps.

Hermione took a deep breath. It was time.

"Daniel, sweetheart..." she began, "do you remember what you asked me five years ago?"

Daniel looked at her with his big, blue eyes and didn't answer.

"About... about your father," Hermione said.

Daniel's heart immediately started thumping so hard, he was afraid it might burst out from his chest. He knew what was going on. His mother was about to tell him. She was about to tell him something really important, the thing he had been longing to know for so many years. She was about to tell him... it was happening here, right now.

"Daniel... five years ago I told you not to ask me about your father, ever again. I know how hard it must have been for you. It's not easy to grow up without a father, because having a dad is one of the main things in every child's life. And yet, you never asked me again. I know it wasn't because you weren't curious to know, but because I had asked you not to, and you saw it was hard for me. You were so thoughtful, Daniel," his mother's eyes filled with tears. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate you for that."

Daniel smiled weakly. His heart was still thumping like crazy.

"But it's time now," his mother said and closed her eyes for a moment, gaining strength. "It's time for me to tell you the truth about how you were born, and who is your dad."

"Why now?" Daniel asked. "Why is it time now? Why wasn't it the time five years ago?"

"You were too young," his mother answered, "but I will explain everything in a few minutes."

"I'm listening."

"Twelve years ago, I was sixteen," Hermione began. "I was in Hogwarts, and my best friends were, as you already know, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. At the end of our 6th year, Voldemort was killed by Harry. You've heard the story – we have told it to you and the other kids a lot of times.

"What we didn't tell you, was that since the beginning of our first year, there was one boy we hated more than anyone else in Hogwarts. He was a Slytherin, and was used to make fun of Harry, Ron and me. His father was a Death-Eater, and we were sure this boy was going to be a Death-Eater one day as well, because he was definitely mean enough.

"People change, however. They really change, though it took us time to believe it. And though it was hard to believe, after Voldemort had been killed, and the boy's father had been killed as well, this boy changed. A lot. I was Head Girl at my 7th year, and he was Head Boy. We shared a dormitory, and I realized he really was a different person. We fell in love."

Hermione was smiling now, drowning in memories. "I was happier than I had ever been before in my life," she went on. "I loved this boy – this guy, actually – so much, and he loved me too. We had so much in common, more than I had ever imagined I could have with someone. We spent hours and hours just talking and laughing. We were never tired from each other's company. You're only ten, Daniel, but one day you'll understand – there is nothing more beautiful than first love. Its magic power is stronger than any power you can do with a wand.

"After we had graduated from Hogwarts, I started working in St. Mungo's. The guy started working, too. Then I got pregnant. I was very young and scared. I was going to tell the guy, I really meant to tell him. But that night, the same night I found out I was pregnant – he told me he had been offered a very good job abroad. And he was going there. Forever."

Hermione stopped for a beat and studied Daniel's face, trying to see if he was beginning to realize. He wasn't. She went on:

"I was shocked, and broken, and upset. I wanted to cry, I didn't know what to do. I loved him more than anything, and I was about to have his child, and he was going to leave me and never return. He begged me to come with him, but I couldn't leave England – my job, my friends, my family, everything was here."

"So you never told him?" Daniel asked quietly.

"Never," Hermione said in a quivering voice. "I don't know why I did this. I guess I should have told him. After all, he was going to be a father, and the baby was going to be his just as it was going to be mine. But I didn't tell him. At the time, I thought it was because he was happy about this job, that I couldn't take it away from him. Today I realize, I was probably too scared. Everything was happening so fast. And I was so hurt that he was leaving me like this, that I couldn't tell him.

"I decided I would have this baby and raise it on my own. I was scared, but in a good way, because I knew I was doing the right thing."

"And this is how I was born?" Daniel asked in a low voice.

"Yes, honey," Hermione said, sat next to him and hugged him tightly. "This is how you were born, my darling." She kissed the top of his head. "You were the cutest little baby ever. I was so happy with you. Every day with you was like a celebration..."

"Mom," Daniel said, still in that low voice, "please tell me more about my dad."

"Yes," Hermione sighed, "you're right, of course. Well, I decided I didn't want you or the father to know anout each other. Never. And so, I made everyone swear to secrecy. Your grandparents, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Luna – everyone swore they would never tell you anything. Nor will they tell the father, in case he ever returns.

"My plan seemed to work very well, until... until very recently. Your dad is back now. And he found out about you. Since he is a clever man, he figured out the truth. Now he demads – and he's absolutely right – that you'll know the truth as well."

Daniel raised his eyes again.

"Do you understand now, Daniel?" his mother asked in a very soft voice. "Can you guess who your father is?"

Daniel swallowed hard. "I think I might. But please, tell me, Mum. I want to hear it from you."

"Yes, dear," his mother said, nodding. She then gave a small smile, and her voice was still quivering and shaking when she said, almost in a whisper: "It's Draco Malfoy."

Daniel stared at her.

Hermione waited for his reaction, but when he didn't react, she went on softly: "I know you must be shocked and angry – when I didn't tell Draco about my pregnancy, I took away your chance to be a normal boy, and forced you to grow up without a father. But believe me, sweetheart, I never meant to hurt you. I was almost a child myself, and I was brokenhearted."

"Mom," Daniel said, and his voice changed, "can I think about it alone for a few minutes?"

Hermione gazed at him. "Sure, honey, but I can't leave you like that... I have to know if you're all right."

"I'm fine, Mom," Daniel said quickly. "Don't worry. I'll be okay."

Hermione she nodded, her eyes welling, and kissed his forehead. "I'll see you in the morning, Daniel. Good night." Then she went to her bedroom and closed the door.

Daniel stayed alone in the dark living room, staring straight forward, thinking...

He had been longing for a father all his life. Sometimes, when he lay in bed, unable to fall asleep, he was wondering what his father was doing now, and asking himself: why, why doesn't he ever come to see me? Doesn't he care he has a son? A boy who thinks about him and misses him and aches his absence?

But now he understood everything... His father did care. He had simply never known he had a son. He had known nothing, because his mother hadn't told him, and he had no way to find out.

Daniel went to his room, turned the light on and turned to look at himself in the mirror. He had done that for so many times in the past, wondering who he resembled, where he had gotten his blond hair and blue eyes... Now he knew. He resembled his father. His father, Draco Malfoy.

And as he thought that, he closed his eyes and tears of happiness slid down his face... He had a father, and the most wonderful father one could ask for. This father was right here, in England, in London, and he loved him and cared about him and wanted to hear him call him 'Dad'... Everything he had ever been dreaming about had now come true, in this man, Draco Malfoy, who was his dad.

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A/N: I know it was short, and I'm so sorry for lack of updates, but today was my history final and now I have much more free time! So I promise, I'll update much more often from now on. Promise! :-D And next chapter will be longer, too! Enjoy and please review!

Love

Roni Black.