Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my plot.
A/N: Here's chapter 2! I am soo terribly sorry for taking so long to update. We had midterms and my parents were constantly on my back to study and be off the computer. And it doesn't help when I've been drowning myself into a pit of music. It's amazing how much it soothes me….Well back to the tests, I am filled with joy now that they have passed and mad because the school secretary only continues to piss me off. I just get the urge to either yell obscenities or just smack the lady, lol. I can't help it! I've had a somewhat fun birthday. It wasn't the best but it was good nonetheless. I'm also sorry that the chapter may be short. All my ideas have been drowned by the fact of studying and I have to make a habit of writing them down on paper instead of just keeping it buried into my horrible memory. So enough of my blabbering and lets get on with the story…Remember to review and tell me what you think!!
Bittersweet
Chapter 2: Malfoy Manor
The scent of death was clearly in the air. Screams could be heard over and over. Blood was scattered throughout the cleaned white polished floors. Grey eyes were seething with anger.
The constant staring of icy grey was not only penetrating but unnerving. The screams only grew louder. It had the sound of fright and shock, as though they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Breathing began to get slightly harder as realization struck like a hex. The stare from the lifeless body looked shocked but angry too, almost triumphant. The blood on the floor was now a small pool. Only hate and death resided in it.
Draco blinked hearing the shrieking yelp once more. The once icy eyes were now blinking at him. The body of his dead father moved in resurrection. He shook his head disbelievingly.
The scream came again causing his eyes to search for the source. His breathing now stopped. He could see the frame of a female figure. He could see her long brown wavy hair. Her face that now looked too good to be true.
Draco now felt like screaming. He could see blood seeping through the abdomen of his love. It seemed she had a horrible injury in which the cause was unknown. He soon saw the figure of Hermione move about. Her shrilling scream came once more as visible pain escaped her now frail body.
He budged to move. He had to help her. His eyes widened in shock. He now noticed the chains around him, locked extremely tight to prevent any way of escaping. His attention came back to his now very alive father.
Lucius seemed to be smirking as if he'd won a bet. Now, Draco heard the cry of a baby. His eyes saw the small figure of a baby next to Hermione. The baby looked like him. Draco's grey eyes began to fill up with unshed tears.
"Look at the son of your filthy Mudblood," Lucius' voice was colder than it ever was. "He deserves to die just as much as you and your sorry excuse of a girlfriend."
Draco tried to speak but noticed his voice was gone. Lucius grinned in a winning manner once more. Draco watched as his father pulled out a wand and pointed it at the baby and Hermione.
Draco shook his head violently and only saw the smirk grow wider on his father's features.
"It's over Draco," Lucius' voice repeated over in his head only to be followed by a curse that now stopped his heart.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Lucius bellowed and Draco now spoke.
"NNNOOOOO!"
Draco instantly woke up shaking all over. He could feel the cold sweat dripping down on his soft skin. His blonde hair now stuck to his skin. His cheeks felt the warm substance fall from his eyes. Draco was crying.
Throughout the months of planning with Alexa and others his sanity was slowly fading. He was now starting to have constant dreams of his father resurrecting and seeing Hermione die helplessly in her own pool of blood. But now there was a new addition to his dreams.
His son was now included. He shook his head again trying to forget the thoughts and wiped the tears off his face. He felt ashamed to be crying, especially if it were for the death of his only loved ones.
It was only earlier in that day that he spied on Hermione in Diagon Alley. He was supposed to be heading over to Pansy Parkinson's house. He had to head over to discuss the plans of the following day. A plan that was based on doing a raid in the Ministry.
He had to get information on some of the strongest wizards alive. To make things more difficult, he had to get the information on the old followers of Voldemort. He had to get them if they were dead or alive. Inside, he felt that it was an absurd mission. Now with some Death Eaters still on the loose and even with Voldemort gone, Draco knew the Ministry would have stronger security.
That meant there were more Aurors to guard where he needed to go. His destination just had to be the Department of Mysteries. He remembered about what happened there from stories he heard. He knew that's where his father was arrested and sent to Azkaban. He definitely knew there were more than one obstacle to go in. This only made matters worse.
But with the constant nagging of Alexa and now the nagging of almost all of his former Slytherin mates he couldn't back out. Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were in the little "deal" that Alexa had in mind.
Draco hit the bed with such force there was a small trace of his handprint still there. He was so close to talking to her. So close to touching her. Oh, how he longed to feel the pure soft skin Hermione had. He wanted to look and drown into her eyes. He wanted to kiss and protect her until death. Keep in mind, this was only in his dreams in his manor. The good dreams at least.
He stood watching her walk with the small carriage in Diagon Alley. A true smile came when he saw the child. Blazing grey eyes and the small wisps of silver blonde hair. Not to mention the pale skin that played on his features. This was his son. Hermione gave birth to his child.
Draco had the constant feeling of just walking over to her and his son. He wanted to kiss her rosy colored lips longingly. He wanted to hold his son in his arms and protect him just as much as his mother.
He sighed and looked away when he felt his eyes water with desperation. Draco hated to cry. It wasn't in his criteria. Unfortunately with the aftermath of the war and the reality of his dreams, he was losing the emotional battle with himself. He wasn't happy about that one bit.
His eyes looked back at his former love. He stiffened as she turned quickly to face him. He noticed one hand seemed to stay in her pocket. Draco noticed how Hermione's expressions went from angry, to curious, to now hopeful.
"Damnit," Draco muttered to himself quietly.
He gave a sad smile as he turned and started walking in the opposite direction. He now felt the stares being burned into him. He was sure he heard a small whimper but didn't look back. He couldn't look back.
After receiving lessons from Alexa, he Aparated from Diagon Alley to Pansy's house. He walked up the three steps and knocked on the old fashioned looking door.
"Draco! Where have you been?" Pansy squealed and hugged him tightly causing his hood to fall off.
"I was checking up on something," Draco replied annoyed.
"What were you checking up on?" Pansy asked curiously.
"Business Pansy, I'm here for business, not my personal life," Draco snarled and Pansy scowled.
"Fine, make yourself at home," Pansy said closing the door after Draco walked in.
"No thanks," Draco leaned on the wall and Pansy addressed him to go to her living room.
As he walked in he watched her pull down a long parchment. She then walked over to her table and unrolled the parchment. Draco's eyes widened at this.
"How did you get this?" Draco asked looking at the map of the Ministry of Magic.
"Let's say I got this by doing my own way of buisness," Pansy giggled and blushed.
"How sad," Draco frowned shaking his head.
"It got me this though didn't it?" Pansy smirked and walked over towards him. "Maybe it could get me this too."
Draco felt arms snake around his wait and soon felt a hand grab his manhood. He turned instantly only to feel Pansy's lips connected with his. The kiss felt so empty, her lips didn't feel as pure as Hermione's or even Alexa's. He could sense the times Pansy used herself for attention and it disgusted him. He pushed her off with such force she fell on the floor with a soft thud.
"What was that for?" Pansy frowned. "I thought you would like that."
"Well, you thought wrong," Draco snapped and rolled up the parchment. "I got to go."
"Go where?" Pansy asked in a whimpering voice.
"Anywhere but here," Draco growled and looked over at Pansy. "Don't even dare try that again. Ever, or I swear I'll kill you faster than you can say magic."
Draco muttered curses as he remembered what happened in the previous day. He then slid off the bed. He shivered as his feet touched the cold surface of the floor. The echoes of his footsteps followed him as he walked towards the bathroom.
He walked in and turned on the light, which blinded him at first. He turned on the water of the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His blonde hair now reached shoulder length, his skin was still pale as ever, his eyes were grey yet had dark circles from less sleep and were red from crying. He looked stressed and tired. That was exactly how he felt.
As he stared into the mirror another reflection placed his, Lucius' reflection. He cupped his hands under the faucet and threw the cold water into his face. He used to admire looking at himself in the mirror. Now the sight made him think of his dead father.
"Draco?" Alexa spoke quietly peering into the room.
"Hey," Draco said quietly.
"You couldn't sleep?" Alexa said more in a statement then a question tone.
"No and what are you doing up?" Draco asked sighing.
"Demitri woke me up," Alexa gave a soft smile. Demitri was her newborn son. Or shall he say their son.
Demitri wasn't like Hermione's child. Hermione's son had the complete features of Draco, Demitri didn't. Demitri had his mother's features. Brown hair, tan skin color, same smile and facial features.The only thing Demitri had that resembled Draco was his eyes. They had the shade of grey but of a very dark color.
"I put him back to sleep though," Alexa yawned.
"It looks like you should go to sleep too," Draco said quietly.
"Can't. Thinking too much about tomorrow. That map Pansy gave us will help so much with what we need," Alexa leaned on the wall watching Draco.
Draco looked back into the mirror and thought about the raid in the Ministry. With a map and all it still sounded too risky. His reflection gave a curt nod and Draco let his thoughts flow out.
"I'm not going," Draco stated with a stern voice. Alexa's eyes grew dark with anger.
"What do you mean you're not going?" Alexa said in a deadly cold voice.
"I'm not going," Draco repeated himself. "Having a raid in the Ministry is riskier today Alexa."
"Why? How? We can sneak through," Alexa growled.
"Too many reasons for why and how, I thought you'd already know some," Draco said bitterly.
"Just because your father was arrested was Potter's fault, don't start thinking it'll happen again," Alexa snapped.
"It can happen again, and no it wasn't Potter's fault. It was my own father's fault for following such a stupid mission. A mission that's about to repeat itself tomorrow," Draco snapped back.
"So you're not going to go along with it eh?" Alexa crossed her arms.
"No, get Blaise to do it. He can be just as sneaky as me," Draco shrugged and walked over to his room noticing that it was already morning.
Draco looked over at his clock and saw it showing 7:05 in a bright neon green color. He was just about to open his window when he heard a loud snapping sound just below him.
"Alexa," Draco whispered and she walked over to him. "What time was Pansy and Blaise supposed to come here?"
"At nine, why?" Alexa asked and looked out the window.
"Go get Demitri and go to the secret chambers...now!" Draco growled with anger and Alexa stared at him.
"Draco what are you-" Alexa started but stopped when he pulled her out of his room harshly.
"OW!" Alexa yelled and Draco threw her up against the wall.
"Unless you don't want to get caught I suggest you shut up!" Draco said sharply and Alexa nodded with wide eyes.
"Go get Demitri and hide in the secret chambers. They won't find you there," Draco looked in the hall but saw no signs of life but was hearing rummaging in the living room area.
"What about you?" Alexa stood there watching him.
"Forget about me, just go," Draco snapped and Alexa ran towards Demitri's room.
The "secret chambers" was something he and Alexa made while in hiding. It was like having another house, just that it was below the manor. It was soundproof and the only you could get in was by going through a tapestry in Demitri's room.
Draco saw shadows at the end of the hallway and he ran into his room and grabbed his wand. He then ran into a dark spot into the hall and quietly cast an illusion charm.
"I'll check in here," Draco heard a familiar voice close by. He heard footsteps walk into his room checking everything in sight. He continued to hear his papers being thrown about and even heard some things being broken.
Draco's eyes widened when he saw the person who destroyed his bedroom. It was no wonder why that voice sounded so familiar. The image of the person said it all. Messy jet black hair, bright green eyes, and a lighting bolt shaped scar. The person turned in his direction. Harry Potter was now staring straight through him.
Draco stood like a statue not to break the charm. He soon began to think the charm didn't work from the way Harry looked at that one spot. He looked shocked.
"Find anything Harry?" A female voice came from the and soon appeared in the hallway. She had short hair with a very bright shade of pink. She looked as young as Harry compared to the others who were standing in the hall.
"Harry?" The female asked and Harry turned abruptly. "I've found nothing. Everything looks as though it's just been used recently though."
Harry sighed deeply and looked disappointed. "I did find a cloak though, but a cloak isn't going to do me any good."
"I know what you mean," the female then walked into the study room. Draco closed his eyes knowing exactly what she could find. He should've known better than to leave it out in the open like that.
"Harry look at what I found!"
Draco opened his eyes knowingly.
"What is it?" Draco watched as Harry walked up to her.
"It's a map of the Ministry. Someone was here because this is the new map too!"
"How did they get this?" Harry muttered out loud. "The only one who knew where this exact map was the Minister of Magic himself."
Draco stared at Harry in shock. He knew the Minister of Magic. It shocked the hell out of him when he first heard who it was…Neville Longbottom. "Pansy must've really bribed him," Draco thought to himself.
Draco almost jumped when he heard two more loud snaps enter the hall. All the Aurors and Ministry workers turned in surprise. Draco watched as Harry just glared at the two.
"Potter?!?" Pansy screamed in surprise.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Blaise's voice sounded extremely angry.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Harry shrugged. "I'm certainly not here just to hang around and thrash every damn thing I see. The real question that should be asked is what are you two doing here?" Harry replied stating to sound just as angry.
"We uh- we were-," Pansy stammered.
"Going to do something we should have done a long time ago," Blaise spoke. Draco then watched as the fight erupted in the hall. Jinx's and hexes being thrown at each other. Draco was extreamely grateful that no one or no spell hit him or his illusion charm.
"Impedimenta!" Harry yelled and Draco watched as both Pansy and Blaise stopped in their tracks.
"Why would you two out of all people be here?" The female asked rubbing blood off of her cheek.
"We'll find out soon Tonks," Harry said taking a final look in the hall. Soon Draco saw more Aurors enter the hall.
"We got nothing Harry," One Auror said looking angry. "I still say we should burn it down."
"Burning down the manor will solve nothing. If anything it could destroy any secret items in here," Harry waved his hand in the air as though dismissing the idea. "We've been here for a while already. I say we call it day. I'm not in the mode to continue breaking things when I can't find anything."
"Right like always," The man said shrugging. "Come on guys lets go and interrogate these two. I think it would be interesting to see how you've got this," He waved the map in the air and then a series of loud snaps erupted in the hallway. The only two who stayed were Harry and Tonks.
"Poor Hermione," Tonks said quietly and both Harry and Draco looked at her in surprise. "She was really hoping that we found what we came here for."
Draco's heart began to beat faster at the mention of this. He saw Harry turn back to his direction.
"She won't be happy with what happened, but I think she'll be pleased with what I tell her," Draco was sure Have gave a nod in his direction. He gave a slight nod himself and Harry turned back to Tonks.
"Let's get out of here," Harry said and Tonks nodded. Within a minute later the two were gone. Draco sighed with relief as he broke the illusion charm.
"You better tell her something good Potter," Draco muttered as he walked towards Demitri's room. He walked up to the tapestry that had a serpent engraved on it.
"Pure Paradise," Draco whispered and the tapestry revealed a door. Draco twisted the handle and walked inside.
As he continues to walk down the corridor he heard Alexa humming a soft tune and walked in seeing her cradling a slumbering Demitri. She gave a soft smile and he walked up to them giving Demitri a soft kiss on the head.
"Something went wrong," Alexa sighed. "Didn't it?"
"They got the map," Draco stated clearly and he watched Alexa tense up.
"Shit," Alexa snapped quietly. "Is that all?"
"Nope," Draco stood up and stretched relaxing all of his muscles. "They got Pansy and Blaise too."
"Those idiots," Alexa too stood up. She walked over to Draco and handed Demitri to him. She began to walk across the room thinking to herself.
"I wasn't going to use any force," Alexa looked at her hands. "I don't want violence to gain power. But it seems that's the only way you can get it."
"No Alexa," Draco spoke up. "We're in enough trouble as it is."
"I know. That's why I'm going to owl Millicent, Vincent and Greg," Alexa's spirit seemed to lift up. "They're good with all the dirty work, though you can give Potter a run for his money with the magic you have."
"I'm not killing anyone," Draco looked down at Demitri's peaceful face.
"Did I ever mention anything about killing someone?" Alexa asked and Draco stayed slient. "Didn't think so. All I'm going to do is have them bring Pansy and Blaise back. They may use any force they need to."
Draco rolled his eyes. "You know, it sounds like you just swear everything is so simple. It's not at all, so I say we wait a few years. Then we strike when it's most unexpected." His heart tugged at this statement. "Hell I'm even willing to put myself as bait."
"As bait?" Alexa's eyebrows raised. "As what?" then a smirk came onto her face. "Ah I have the perfect idea! Go back to Granger. I believe she works at the Ministry. You work her on enough and we could get what we need."
"That wasn't what I was planning for," Draco snapped.
"Well it is what I am looking forward to," Alexa said and frowned. "I know that's not what you want to do. You don't want to hurt her. I don't want to hurt you but it's the only thing we could do. Plus I think if you gain her trust, and most importantly Potter's along with the Ministry, it'll be perfect."
"No Alexa," Draco shook his head. "I'm not putting her in this."
"Heh, Draco," Alexa scoffed. "She's been in this ever since you made that deal with me."
Draco knew she was right. He only began to hate himself even more.He closed his eyes as he spoke, "Go owl them then, I bet you don't want to waste any time."
"How right you are Draco," Alexa game and gave him a soft kiss. "How very right you are."
A/N: Ok, there's the end of that. I hope you all liked it. Poor Draco, hejust walked himself into that one didn't he? Now lets move on to thanking all my lovely reviewers…
sapphirechrystal1438: Thanks! I love Dante too. He's just so cute! :-)
Krazy Monkey: Thanks! Hope you had a good xmas…
oreo69not96: Thanks, glad you love the sequel. Lol, sorry Alexa hasn't been killed off yet.
t.s.g: Thanks, glad that you like it.
LaGau: Thanks, lol, yeah I know. As for the name of Dante, it took me about a month of picking names and deciding which ones to keep and let go. The one I liked most was Daniel. But everytime I said Daniel Granger, son of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, it never clicked right with me. So when school started I met a lot of people and one of my friends name is Dante. I fell in love with the name instantly and I always thought about the story whenever I heard it. I also searched it up and it means "enduring." I also liked the way that clicked with everything. Then Nathaniel came out of nowhere and it sounded right with his name too. So there was the birth of the name…Dante Nathaniel Granger. Wow, I almost wrote another fic just explaining his name, lol. As for the name of Demitri, my best friend (the real Alexa) wants to name her son that, so I gave her the honor in the fic.
cookiemonstr!: Thanks, glad you liked it, lol.
Dracos-Queen-3003: Thanks, hope you like the update.
eLvEnWiCca: Thanks, happy that you love it!
InuYashasgal: Thanks!
sugar n spice 522: Thanks, time has been going pretty fast though. February is already here and I just remember it being xmas, lol. HBP will be here before we know it!
ToXiC-SeOuL-FiRe: Thanks!
Melissa: Thanks, glad youlove both the previous one and this one!
schoolqueen: Thanks, lol. The end of the previous story went perfect with the title didn't it? I agree when you say Alexa being an animagus is annoying, lol.
kiaroxmysox: Thanks, glad you love it.
Alenor: Thanks, glad you like it. Yeah, lets hope Draco ends up with Hermione. ;-) As for your other question, I think the chapter answers it for you.
Hermy-luvs-Draco: Thanks so much! That was really nice of you to say that! :-) Lol, and I hope you didn't hurt yourself for having to wait so long for me to update.
Kim: Thanks! I was going to make the child Ron's ::hides from any attackers:: lol. But I went against it because I wouldn't have liked the outcome of it. Plus after a lot of thinking I didn't want Hermione having a little Ron so I made her have a little Draco and I'm more than glad she did. As for the Hermione-Draco reunion, you never know, it could be sooner than you think…or maybe not. Only time will tell…
MelMalfoy: Thanks! Uhm yea I admit that I have a slight writers block and that's my own fault for now writing anything down on paper. ::smacks self in the head:: ouch.
melissafelton-622: Thanks, glad you like it!
Also I would like to give a big thank you to the people who reviewed my one-shot Shattered to Pieces! Thanks a lot! Love you all!