A/N: This is the last chapter of fic…No more after this…please don't flame me for stopping writing or just because you don't like the ending.
When they arrived at the hospital, Draco wasted no time in getting to the reception desk (or whatever they are called.) The woman behind the counter told him that Hermione had been rushed immediately to the OR. She showed him to a waiting room where they could wait for any news.
Draco, Max, Michelle and Victor sat in the waiting room for what felt like an eternity. Not much talking was done by Draco. He just sat in a chair by himself in the corner. He occasionally paced back and forth.
After waiting for about 1 hour, a nurse walked into the waiting room. Draco immediately ran over to her.
"Mr. Malfoy, can I speak to you outside for a moment please?" the nurse asked, walking out by the door. Draco followed her. Michelle was watching intently as the nurse talked with Draco. Michelle watched as Draco buried his face in his hands. She got up and walked out to him.
"Daddy what's wrong?" Michelle asked, putting her arms around Draco.
"She's … gone…," Draco said between sobs.
"Who's gone?" Max asked, walking out of the waiting room.
"Mom lost the baby," Michelle said, turning to Max.
Draco shook his head. "No."
The nurse spoke up. "Mrs. Malfoy had complications when she went into labor. She was slightly stressed, but the main cause is still undetermined. She gave birth to a baby boy, but sadly, Mrs. Malfoy didn't make it."
Michelle and Max's eyes both went wide and filled with tears. Michelle hugged into her father and cried into his chest. Max couldn't believe it.
"No, you must have made a mistake," Max said to the nurse, a little louder than he meant to.
"I'm so sorry to have to tell you that, but there is no mistake," the nurse said sympathetically.
Max walked back to the waiting room, and sitting on the couch, folding his arms, tears streaming from his face. His anger was boiling up inside of him, getting ready to explode any minute. Victor seen him sit on the couch and he walked over to him and put a sympathetic and comforting arm around him.
"Max, what happened?" Victor asked. Max finally lost it. He kicked the end table that was in front of the couch, knocking it over and storming out the door and out of the hospital.
"Max," Michelle called after him. Max continued to run. He had so much anger built up in him. He refused to believe that his mother was gone. It couldn't be true. He didn't know where he was going to go, but he had to leave that hospital. He ran to a nearby park and sat on a park bench, putting his head in his hands and crying. He heard footsteps come up from behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder before seeing Victor sit next to him.
"Max," Victor said, taking his hand in his. Max just broke down and cried into Victor's chest.
An older woman that was walking by stopped when she seen the two.
"You two should keep your public displays of affection a little more private. This is a public park for god sake," the woman said. Victor got up, which startled Max.
"Listen here you old hag, I'm trying to comfort my friend when he needs to be comforted. He just lost him mother and he's in pain. And even if it was a public display of affection, who gives a shit? We're allowed to be gay if we want to be," Victor said, walking back over to Max as the old lady walked off with her nose in the air.
"C'mon Max, we should get back to the hospital. Everyone was worried about you when you stormed off like that," Victor said softly to Max. Max stood up and slightly nodded. They walked back to the hospital, Victor comforting Max as best he could. When they walked back up to the waiting room, Max noticed that someone must have called Harry, Ron and Pansy because they were sitting in the waiting room. Draco and Michelle were nowhere to be seen.
When Harry seen Max, he immediately went over to him and hugged him tight. "How are you holding up?"
"Alright I guess," Max said, just above a whisper.
"Draco wants you to go and see the baby," Harry said. "He's in that room over there." Harry pointed to the room that Hermione had been put in. Max nodded and walked towards the room. When he entered the room, he heard the nurse talking to Draco.
"There are options for people in your situation you know. Some people decide to give the baby to a family member of close friend to raise, and there is also, of course, adoption," the nurse said.
"There is no way I am giving that baby to anyone. He is my son and I intend to take care of him. He's the only part of my wife that I have left and I'm not giving him up for anything," Draco said, raising his voice slightly at the nurse. As soon as he stepped inside, he seen his mother lying there on the bed, her skin slightly blue. He ran over to her side and took her hand, crying.
"Why did you have to leave me?" Max said. Draco walked over to his side and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Michelle walked over and hugged Max. They stood, comforted in each other's embrace for a minute or two.
"Max, I wanted you to name the baby," Draco said, breaking the silence.
"Why me?" Max asked, still hugging Michelle.
"Because you were really close with your mother and I'm sure she would want you to be the one to name him," Draco said, leading Max over to where the sleeping infant lay.
"Joel David Malfoy," Max said, not hesitating to name him.
"I like it," Draco said, smiling.
"Me too," Michelle agreed.
Over the next few hours, people started arriving at the hospital after hearing the news of Hermione's death. Max tried to avoid everyone by sitting in a corner. As a woman in her mid-30's that Max didn't know approached him and asked him how he was doing, Max lost it again. He stood up and yelled.
"Will everyone stop asking me how I'm doing! How the fuck do you think I'm doing? My mother just died while giving birth to my step-brother. I wish everyone would just leave me the hell alone," Max said. He didn't care that he just swore in front of Draco, Harry or any of the other adults. He walked over to Draco. "I'm going home."
Draco nodded as Max left and went home. When he got there, he slammed the door as hard and he could and stomped down the stairs. He went to his room and slammed that door as well. Turning his stereo up on blast, Max sat on his bed and cried. He knew that they were only trying to help him and be there for him, but he didn't want their sympathy. He wanted his mum back. They couldn't bring her back, no one could bring her back.
Victor walked in the room. He had followed Max home from the hospital. He turned down the music and sat next to Max on the bed. He put his arms around Max and Max just cried into his shoulder. Victor leaned against the headboard and Max rested his head on Victor's chest. Max didn't know what it was about Victor, but he always felt secure around him. Victor ran his fingers through Max's hair.
Max closed his eyes and snuggled closer to Victor's warm body. Victor kissed Max's forehead as Max closed his eyes and fell asleep. Victor sat there and watched Max sleep peacefully. It was the first time he looked peaceful since he found out that his mother died.
An hour later, Victor started to dose off when he heard the door open. Michelle walked in. She looked at Max and smiled.
"How long has he been asleep?" Michelle asked Victor.
"Probably an hour or so, why?" Victor responded, smiling down at the sleeping figure on his stomach.
"I was just wondering. Dad and I are home now and I think that the people from the hospital are gonna be coming over too. When Max wakes up, tell him that if he doesn't want to see anyone, he should stay in here and lay low. I overheard my grandparents talking and I think it's gonna be like this for a couple of days," Michelle said.
"Oh, ok. I'll tell him," Victor said. Michelle started to leave, but stopped at the door and turned around.
"Victor, I'm sorry about the whole making out thing. I really am," Michelle said.
"It's ok Michelle. It was an accident made on both parts. We're cool. Don't worry about it," Victor said. Michelle smiled, nodded and left. 20 minutes later, Max lifted his head and rubbed his eyes.
"How long was I asleep for?" Max asked.
"I dunno, probably an hour and a half," Victor answered. "Oh, Michelle told me to tell you that they are home now, but all the people from the hospital will be over after so if you didn't wanna be around people, if would be best if we stayed in your room."
"Are they here yet?" Max asked.
"Not yet."
"Ok, cause I'm hungry," Max said, his stomach rumbling. "I'm gonna go and get something to eat. Want anything?"
"Sure, I'll come out with you," Victor said. Max and Victor got up and went to the kitchen. Michelle was taking the baby out of the carriage seat on the table. Draco was sitting on the couch. As soon as he seen Max leave the room, he got up and walked over to him.
"I know that you are sick of people asking you how are you and stuff, but I have to ask you how are you holding up?" Draco asked him.
"Alright I guess, grieving, but we all are," Max replied.
"Yes, I know that you were really close to Hermione. If you ever need to talk, you can talk to me. You know that right? I mean, I know I'm not your real father or anything, but I still care about you just as much as he does Max," Draco said.
"I know you do Draco, thanks," Max said.
"What did you want to eat?" Victor asked Max, getting some bread from the cupboard to make himself a sandwich (A/N: this might seem weird that he is helping himself or whatever, but remember from above that Victor lives there now).
"Umm, I'll probably just have a ham sandwich, but I can get it," Max responded.
"No, it's ok. I got it," Victor said, making Max a sandwich then making himself one.
"Thanks," Max said, eating his sandwich. "So, when is everyone supposed to be getting here?"
"Probably an hour," Draco said. "Why?"
"Well, I don't really feel in the mood for socializing or being around a big group of people right now. I was wondering if…" Max started, but Draco cut him off.
"It's ok Max. I understand. You don't have to be out here with everyone. You and Victor do whatever you want," Draco said in a kind, understanding fatherly tone. Max nodded. Joel started to cry and Michelle picked him up carefully and started rocking him. About 5 minutes before everyone started to show up, Max and Victor went to Max's room to keep away from everyone else.
They mainly sat on the bed and talked, Victor comforting Max when he needed to. Around 9 o'clock, Michelle knocked on the door and walked in.
"Hey, mind if I join you guys?"
"Nope, c'mon in," Max said. "I wouldn't wanna be out there with all of those people either."
"Yeah, there is a lot of people out there," Michelle said. "So, what have you guys been doing in here?"
"Not a lot of anything really. Just watching TV," Max answered. Michelle went and sat on Max's bed with them and they watched some TV.
AROUND MIDNIGHT TWO DAYS LATER (A/N: Don't kill me for that)
Max woke up. He couldn't sleep. Then he heard a faint crying. It sounded like Michelle, so he quietly crept into her room. Michelle was sitting on her bed, in her pajamas, hugging her pillow. It looked like she'd been crying for a while.
"Michelle, are you ok?" Max asked. Michelle looked up at him.
"No Max, I'm not ok. I'm tired and pissed off," Michelle said.
"How come you are pissed off?" Max asked her, sitting on her bed.
"You haven't noticed that I'm the only one that's been taking care of Joel?" Michelle asked him.
"Not really…," Max said.
"Well dad hasn't taken care of him since he's been home. I've always been the one caring for him. Changing him, feeding him, bathing him and I'm sick of it. It seems like I'm his mother or something. I've even been doing all the house work and stuff. Dad spends all his time in his room. I know he's grieving and stuff but so am I. And I still do everything around here. No one is helping. I'm doing everything by myself and I just can't take it anymore Max!" Michelle said, starting to cry again. Max hugged her.
"Michelle, I'm sorry. I really didn't notice that you were doing everything by yourself. I promise I'll help you from no on. And if you want, I can talk to Draco about taking care of Joel," Max said, comforting her.
"Thanks Max. I'm just sick of looking after him all the time. I mean, I kinda figured that with mum gone and all, I would have to care for him some of the time, but I didn't think it'd be all the time like this. I miss her so much Max," Michelle said, crying into Max's shoulder.
"I know Michelle, I miss her too," Max said, tears starting to build up in his eyes. "Well, I'm here for you when you need me and you know that right?"
"Yes, and I'm here for you."
"Ok, well, we're here for each other. You can always talk to me if you need someone to talk to. We're going through this together," Max said, smiling weakly at Michelle. Michelle smiled back.
"Are you gonna be alright?" Max said.
"Yeah, I'm gonna be fine. Thanks Max," Michelle answered. Max got up and walked over to the door when Michelle stopped him. "Hey Max?"
"Yeah Michelle?"
"Could you come and sleep with me tonight?" Michelle asked, looking really innocent. "It'll be just like when we were younger. Remember?"
"Yeah I remember," Max said, smiling to himself. "Ok, move over." He walked over to Michelle's bed and laid down as she lifted the covers for him. He laid down and she put an arm over his stomach and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks Max," Michelle said, smiling
"No problem," Max said smiling back.
The next day, Michelle woke to the sound of Joel crying. Max was already up and out in the kitchen making breakfast. Michelle gut up, wrapped her robe around her and walked out to Draco's room and took Joel out of his crib and began to rock him. She walked out to the living room and sat on the couch. Joel continued to cry.
"What's wrong with him?" Max asked, looking up from the frying pan to Michelle.
"I dunno. Maybe he's hungry," Michelle said, walking over to the fridge and taking out one of the baby bottles filled with milk. She put it in the microwave and warmed it up and tried to feed Joel. Joel refused to drink any of the milk and just continued to cry.
"Does he need to be changed?" Max asked.
"No," Michelle said. Joel continued to cry for 20 more minutes and Michelle was starting to get a bit worried.
"Maybe you should go and get Draco," Max suggested.
"Good idea," Michelle said, walking to her father's room and shaking him awake.
"Huh? What? What's wrong?" Draco said, sleepily.
"Dad, Joel is crying and he's been crying for over 20 minutes. I've changed him, tried to feed him and rocked him and I can't get him to stop crying. Can you please see what's wrong?"
"Alright, just give me a minute," Draco said, getting up. Michelle left and Draco put on a robe and walked over to Joel, who was still crying. He gently picked him up and Joel immediately stopped crying.
"I guess he just wanted to be held by his father," Max said.
"Probably," Draco said, holding Joel. "Michelle, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Michelle asked, not knowing what her father was talking about.
"Well, I was thinking about it last night and I realized that you were the one always taking care of Joel and I haven't taken care of him at all since we brought him home," Draco apologized.
"It's ok dad," Michelle said.
AT THE FUNERAL
As the minister ran through the process, Max, Michelle and Draco were all crying. As the casket was lowered into the ground, Michelle hugged Draco and Draco squeezed her tight. Max was crying into Victor's shoulder. They were now just realizing the harshness of reality. Hermione was gone forever. Nothing can bring her back. Not even magic.
THE END (Finally!)
A/N: Sorry for the shitty ending…I wanted to get this over with and I know you probably hate it and I'm sorry for that. I don't think I will be writing any Harry Potter fanfiction any time soon, but I will be writing others. Review.