Chapter 8 - Sad News
*~*Previously*~*
"Oh Draco," she began, sobbing, "My mom's sick. She might even die and I don't know what to do. I'm so scared, Draco. She can't die. What about Emma? She's only a few weeks old. She'll be lost without my mom. It's not fair!" She sobbed harder into his shoulder and he did all he could to sooth her and comfort her.
"Shh! Mione, relax. It'll be ok. I'm sure she'll be fine. She wouldn't die and leave you, your sister, and your father. She'll be fine, don't worry. Shhh! Calm down, babe," he told her, rocking her back and forth as she sobbed.
the next morning
She saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny playing a game of Exploding Snap in the center of the common room, by the fire. She smiled and walked over to them.
"Hey guys," she greeted them, sitting down in a chair by the fire. Harry and Ginny stopped playing and looked at her with concern in their eyes.
"How're you doing today, Herms?" asked Ginny as she and Harry sat down in the chairs next to hers.
"Yeah, I'm fine I guess," she said with a sigh, "Better then yesterday that is."
At that moment, Draco burst into the common room, holding a letter in his hand. "Mione, this came for you," he said, handing the letter out to her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shaking Hermione took the letter out of Draco's hands and opened it. She saw her father's handwriting and knew it could be either good or bad but it was definitely about her mother. She opened the letter and read its contents before holding it in front of her so Ginny could take it. Ginny read it and looked at Hermione with tears in her eyes. By now, the tears that had been threatening to fall in Hermione's eyes had fallen. She was sobbing. Ginny put an arm around her best friend while handing the letter to Draco. It read:
Dear Hermione -
Well, sweetheart, I have some more bad news. You're mother is getting worse and she's close to death. I've arranged with Headmaster Dumbledore for you to come and see her. Why don't you bring that boyfriend of yours. What's his name? Draco? Well anyway, whenever you want to come, just go to the headmaster's office and he'll give you something in order to get here ok? I love you Hermione, so does your mother. Hope to see you soon.
Love, Dad
He looked at Hermione, who had stopped crying slightly, and handed the letter to Harry and Ron before enveloping her in a hug.
He looked her in the eyes and quietly asked, "Do you want me to come with you to see your family?"
She nodded and leaned on him. Her crying had died down a bit and she was calming down slowly.
"Mia, why don't we go pack for your house and then go to Dumbledore and leave? Sound good?" Draco questioned her softly.
She nodded and got off of his lap and said goodbye to her friends, who each gave her a hug. She grabbed Draco's hand and they walked through the portrait connecting Hermione's room to the Gryffindor common room. Draco helped Hermione pack and then went to pack himself. When they were finished, they shrunk their stuff and put it in their pockets before walking to Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizbees," Draco mumbled as the stone gargoyle moved aside to let them onto the staircase and up to Dumbledore's office.
"Good morning Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you today?" greeted Dumbledore, giving Hermione a sad smile as they walked into his office.
Draco handed Dumbledore the letter and stepped back as he read it. A few seconds later, he looked up and spoke, "Ms. Granger, I'm terrible sorry. Here, take this portkey and it'll take you to the hospital that your mother is staying in. Send your family my condolences. Take good care of her, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco nodded in reply and they both took hold of the portkey, which happened to be an expensive looking pen. They felt the familiar pull behind their navel and reached their destination within seconds. Draco pocketed the portkey and took Hermione's hand before heading for the information desk.
"Hello, can you tell me where Laura Granger's room is?" he asked the receptionist.
"How are you related to her?" the receptionist questioned, looking at them.
"This is her daughter and I'm her daughter's boyfriend," replied Draco, coolly.
"Room 615," the receptionist told them, turning back to her paperwork.
Draco thanked her and led Hermione to the elevator. He pressed the button labeled with the number 6 and the elevator jumped to life. Pretty soon it stopped on the 6th floor and the couple got off and walked down a long corridor lined with rooms. They found Mr. Andrew Granger pacing in front of Room 615 with an upset look on his face. Hermione dropped Draco's hand and ran to hug her father.
"Mione," he said, "I'm glad you came. Your mother wanted to see you."
Hermione nodded and asked, "What exactly is wrong with her daddy?"
"She has a lung problem and had surgery to get rid of it," he replied, looking grave.
"Cancer?" questioned Hermione.
"No, but something just as bad," he answered, looking away from her.
Again, Hermione nodded and then entered the room slowly. She saw her mother lying on the bed with her eyes closed. She looked paler then ever and had bags under her eyes. Tubes were coming out of her arm and she had some monitor hooked up to her chest to make sure nothing bad happened to her lungs. She looked deathly sick. Hermione sat down in the chair next to her mom's bed and took her mother's hand, waking her up.
"Mom?"
"Mione," her mother breathed, smiling sadly at her daughter.
"Oh Mom," Hermione said with a sigh and carefully gave her mom a hug, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too Mione," her mother, Laura, replied, "Have you seen your sister yet?"
"Not yet mom, but I want to. Where is she?"
"She's outside with your father."
"Ok, I'll go see her later. Would you like to meet Draco?"
"Of course sweetie," she replied, smiling as Hermione went out into the hallway to get Draco.
"Draco, this is my mom, mom this is Draco," Hermione said, introducing them.
"Hello Mrs. Granger. How're you feeling?" asked Draco sitting down in a chair beside Hermione's.
"I've been better," she replied, shifting in the bed, "It was nice to meet you Draco."
She shifted again in the bed and all of a sudden her eyes closed and she collapsed against the bed. Alarms started going off and Hermione and Draco were ushered out of the room as a few doctors and nurses ran in. Hermione started crying again and Draco led her to a waiting room a few feet down the hallway, where they saw a car seat placed on the seat next to Hermione's dad.
"Dad, the alarms went off and mom collapsed onto the bed. I don't know what's wrong," cried Hermione, running to him. He hugged her and ran off towards his wife's room calling out behind him "Watch your sister."
Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and picked up an awake bundle from the car seat. She held it carefully in her arms and smiled.
"Hey Emma, I'm your sister, Hermione. This is Draco, see? Aw, Draco she's so little," spoke Hermione, looking up at him with the baby still smiling in her arms, "Wanna hold her?"
"Sure," he replied, holding out his arms to accept the baby. He took the smiling baby in his arms and held her. She smiled up at him and he looked at Hermione, who was smiling sadly. Draco put the baby back in the car seat and sat down on the bench next to it. Hermione sat down next to him and buried her head in his chest. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she wiped them away and closed her eyes. She sighed and fell into a deep sleep. Draco soon fell asleep as well, his arms wrapped around her and one hand holding the car seat so it wouldn't fall.
About an hour later, Andrew Granger walked back into the waiting room, looking forlorn. He saw his daughters and Draco asleep on the benches of the waiting room. He saw one of Draco's arms wrapped around Hermione and the other resting lightly on Emma's car seat. He smiled to himself and walked over to Hermione and Draco.
"Mione, Mione wake up," he whispered, shaking her gently. She groggily opened her eyes and looked at him. When she realized who it was, she jumped up.
"Dad, how's mom? Is she gunna be ok?" Hermione questioned, yawning and rubbing her eyes before looking at her father for an answer.
"Mione, I'm afraid I have some bad news," he began, leading her to a seat a little ways away from Draco and Emma.
"She's still alive isn't she?" asked Hermione.
Her father shook his head, "She died about ten minutes ago."
"No...no she cant be dead, she can't," protested Hermione, whispering.
"I'm sorry, Mione, but she is."
"But what about Emma? She has to grow up without a mother, now. That's not good."
"I know, Mione, I know, but we'll get along as best we can without your mother. It'll be ok."
"No it won't. It won't be ok. Mom was everything to this family and you know it," argued Hermione, waking up Draco in the process. She stormed down the hall and collapsed onto the floor by the nurse's station, sobbing. Draco caught up to her and wrapped her in his arms, rocking her back and forth to calm her down.
"Mia, you're dad told me what happened. I'm so sorry," he whispered. When she just nodded, he continued, "It'll be ok, Hermione, it really will. You're dad will take car of Emma and I wont let anything, or anyone, harm you. I promise. Ok?"
She nodded and he picked her up in his arms, leading her back to the waiting room.
"Draco?" she began, looking up at him about halfway back to the waiting room.
"Yeah?"
"I wanna leave. I can't stay here anymore. Can we go back to Hogwarts? Please?" she asked, still looking into his eyes.
"Sure," he replied, continuing to the waiting room to say goodbye and get their stuff.
"Dad, we're gunna leave. I can't stand being her anymore and knowing that mom won't be coming back anymore. I love you," Hermione told her father, before hugging Emma while Draco said good bye to Mr. Granger. They then grabbed the pen and were portkeyed back to Hogwarts.
*~*Previously*~*
"Oh Draco," she began, sobbing, "My mom's sick. She might even die and I don't know what to do. I'm so scared, Draco. She can't die. What about Emma? She's only a few weeks old. She'll be lost without my mom. It's not fair!" She sobbed harder into his shoulder and he did all he could to sooth her and comfort her.
"Shh! Mione, relax. It'll be ok. I'm sure she'll be fine. She wouldn't die and leave you, your sister, and your father. She'll be fine, don't worry. Shhh! Calm down, babe," he told her, rocking her back and forth as she sobbed.
the next morning
She saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny playing a game of Exploding Snap in the center of the common room, by the fire. She smiled and walked over to them.
"Hey guys," she greeted them, sitting down in a chair by the fire. Harry and Ginny stopped playing and looked at her with concern in their eyes.
"How're you doing today, Herms?" asked Ginny as she and Harry sat down in the chairs next to hers.
"Yeah, I'm fine I guess," she said with a sigh, "Better then yesterday that is."
At that moment, Draco burst into the common room, holding a letter in his hand. "Mione, this came for you," he said, handing the letter out to her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shaking Hermione took the letter out of Draco's hands and opened it. She saw her father's handwriting and knew it could be either good or bad but it was definitely about her mother. She opened the letter and read its contents before holding it in front of her so Ginny could take it. Ginny read it and looked at Hermione with tears in her eyes. By now, the tears that had been threatening to fall in Hermione's eyes had fallen. She was sobbing. Ginny put an arm around her best friend while handing the letter to Draco. It read:
Dear Hermione -
Well, sweetheart, I have some more bad news. You're mother is getting worse and she's close to death. I've arranged with Headmaster Dumbledore for you to come and see her. Why don't you bring that boyfriend of yours. What's his name? Draco? Well anyway, whenever you want to come, just go to the headmaster's office and he'll give you something in order to get here ok? I love you Hermione, so does your mother. Hope to see you soon.
Love, Dad
He looked at Hermione, who had stopped crying slightly, and handed the letter to Harry and Ron before enveloping her in a hug.
He looked her in the eyes and quietly asked, "Do you want me to come with you to see your family?"
She nodded and leaned on him. Her crying had died down a bit and she was calming down slowly.
"Mia, why don't we go pack for your house and then go to Dumbledore and leave? Sound good?" Draco questioned her softly.
She nodded and got off of his lap and said goodbye to her friends, who each gave her a hug. She grabbed Draco's hand and they walked through the portrait connecting Hermione's room to the Gryffindor common room. Draco helped Hermione pack and then went to pack himself. When they were finished, they shrunk their stuff and put it in their pockets before walking to Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizbees," Draco mumbled as the stone gargoyle moved aside to let them onto the staircase and up to Dumbledore's office.
"Good morning Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you today?" greeted Dumbledore, giving Hermione a sad smile as they walked into his office.
Draco handed Dumbledore the letter and stepped back as he read it. A few seconds later, he looked up and spoke, "Ms. Granger, I'm terrible sorry. Here, take this portkey and it'll take you to the hospital that your mother is staying in. Send your family my condolences. Take good care of her, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco nodded in reply and they both took hold of the portkey, which happened to be an expensive looking pen. They felt the familiar pull behind their navel and reached their destination within seconds. Draco pocketed the portkey and took Hermione's hand before heading for the information desk.
"Hello, can you tell me where Laura Granger's room is?" he asked the receptionist.
"How are you related to her?" the receptionist questioned, looking at them.
"This is her daughter and I'm her daughter's boyfriend," replied Draco, coolly.
"Room 615," the receptionist told them, turning back to her paperwork.
Draco thanked her and led Hermione to the elevator. He pressed the button labeled with the number 6 and the elevator jumped to life. Pretty soon it stopped on the 6th floor and the couple got off and walked down a long corridor lined with rooms. They found Mr. Andrew Granger pacing in front of Room 615 with an upset look on his face. Hermione dropped Draco's hand and ran to hug her father.
"Mione," he said, "I'm glad you came. Your mother wanted to see you."
Hermione nodded and asked, "What exactly is wrong with her daddy?"
"She has a lung problem and had surgery to get rid of it," he replied, looking grave.
"Cancer?" questioned Hermione.
"No, but something just as bad," he answered, looking away from her.
Again, Hermione nodded and then entered the room slowly. She saw her mother lying on the bed with her eyes closed. She looked paler then ever and had bags under her eyes. Tubes were coming out of her arm and she had some monitor hooked up to her chest to make sure nothing bad happened to her lungs. She looked deathly sick. Hermione sat down in the chair next to her mom's bed and took her mother's hand, waking her up.
"Mom?"
"Mione," her mother breathed, smiling sadly at her daughter.
"Oh Mom," Hermione said with a sigh and carefully gave her mom a hug, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too Mione," her mother, Laura, replied, "Have you seen your sister yet?"
"Not yet mom, but I want to. Where is she?"
"She's outside with your father."
"Ok, I'll go see her later. Would you like to meet Draco?"
"Of course sweetie," she replied, smiling as Hermione went out into the hallway to get Draco.
"Draco, this is my mom, mom this is Draco," Hermione said, introducing them.
"Hello Mrs. Granger. How're you feeling?" asked Draco sitting down in a chair beside Hermione's.
"I've been better," she replied, shifting in the bed, "It was nice to meet you Draco."
She shifted again in the bed and all of a sudden her eyes closed and she collapsed against the bed. Alarms started going off and Hermione and Draco were ushered out of the room as a few doctors and nurses ran in. Hermione started crying again and Draco led her to a waiting room a few feet down the hallway, where they saw a car seat placed on the seat next to Hermione's dad.
"Dad, the alarms went off and mom collapsed onto the bed. I don't know what's wrong," cried Hermione, running to him. He hugged her and ran off towards his wife's room calling out behind him "Watch your sister."
Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and picked up an awake bundle from the car seat. She held it carefully in her arms and smiled.
"Hey Emma, I'm your sister, Hermione. This is Draco, see? Aw, Draco she's so little," spoke Hermione, looking up at him with the baby still smiling in her arms, "Wanna hold her?"
"Sure," he replied, holding out his arms to accept the baby. He took the smiling baby in his arms and held her. She smiled up at him and he looked at Hermione, who was smiling sadly. Draco put the baby back in the car seat and sat down on the bench next to it. Hermione sat down next to him and buried her head in his chest. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she wiped them away and closed her eyes. She sighed and fell into a deep sleep. Draco soon fell asleep as well, his arms wrapped around her and one hand holding the car seat so it wouldn't fall.
About an hour later, Andrew Granger walked back into the waiting room, looking forlorn. He saw his daughters and Draco asleep on the benches of the waiting room. He saw one of Draco's arms wrapped around Hermione and the other resting lightly on Emma's car seat. He smiled to himself and walked over to Hermione and Draco.
"Mione, Mione wake up," he whispered, shaking her gently. She groggily opened her eyes and looked at him. When she realized who it was, she jumped up.
"Dad, how's mom? Is she gunna be ok?" Hermione questioned, yawning and rubbing her eyes before looking at her father for an answer.
"Mione, I'm afraid I have some bad news," he began, leading her to a seat a little ways away from Draco and Emma.
"She's still alive isn't she?" asked Hermione.
Her father shook his head, "She died about ten minutes ago."
"No...no she cant be dead, she can't," protested Hermione, whispering.
"I'm sorry, Mione, but she is."
"But what about Emma? She has to grow up without a mother, now. That's not good."
"I know, Mione, I know, but we'll get along as best we can without your mother. It'll be ok."
"No it won't. It won't be ok. Mom was everything to this family and you know it," argued Hermione, waking up Draco in the process. She stormed down the hall and collapsed onto the floor by the nurse's station, sobbing. Draco caught up to her and wrapped her in his arms, rocking her back and forth to calm her down.
"Mia, you're dad told me what happened. I'm so sorry," he whispered. When she just nodded, he continued, "It'll be ok, Hermione, it really will. You're dad will take car of Emma and I wont let anything, or anyone, harm you. I promise. Ok?"
She nodded and he picked her up in his arms, leading her back to the waiting room.
"Draco?" she began, looking up at him about halfway back to the waiting room.
"Yeah?"
"I wanna leave. I can't stay here anymore. Can we go back to Hogwarts? Please?" she asked, still looking into his eyes.
"Sure," he replied, continuing to the waiting room to say goodbye and get their stuff.
"Dad, we're gunna leave. I can't stand being her anymore and knowing that mom won't be coming back anymore. I love you," Hermione told her father, before hugging Emma while Draco said good bye to Mr. Granger. They then grabbed the pen and were portkeyed back to Hogwarts.