Author's Note: I am beginning to try and wrap up this story. I have the next 3 chapters started and hope to post at least one more chapter this weekend. There will probably be 5 to 6 more chapters so that I can get everything ended nicely. I am still hoping to be done before July 16th! Hope you enjoy. Redfrog
Chapter 61: New Malfoy's
Hermione spent the next few days with Severus and Jade exploring things in her snake form. She had convinced Severus to take her and Jade to the park and they played together in the grass. Her favorite part was when a young mother was trying to control her toddler son. The boy was having fun throwing everything he could reach and the poor lady looked like she was at the end of her rope. Hermione and Jade had slithered off from the shade tree Severus was sitting under and before Hermione knew the little boy had picked her up. "Please don't throw me!" She hissed in alarm and was surprised to hear the little boy laugh and then he set her down gently.
"Funny snake!" He told her and she was further surprised to her the lady tell the boy not to hiss and then scream when she saw Hermione. She realized the boy was a parseltongue and that made him magical.
"What's your name?" She asked the boy as the mother was too scared of her to move.
"Jacob Alexander Crowder," He told her proudly, "I'm two!" He said holding up two pudgy fingers. He was such a cute little boy with platinum blonde hair and stormy grey eyes. He looked nothing like his mother who had red hair and brown eyes.
"Such a smart boy," she told him with a snake laugh. "You must take after your daddy."
"No daddy," he told her with a pout, "Just mommy."
She was unable to ask him any more questions because Severus walked over to find her and Jade. He was shocked to see her conversing in parseltongue with the boy and saw that the mother was getting over her fear of the snake. "There you two are," he commented. "I hope my pets did not bother you, they are usually well behaved."
"I don't like snakes very much," the woman told him. "But my son loves them; if I didn't know better I would say he could talk to them. He always starts hissing around them and they never seem to mind. I always thought snakes were scared of humans."
Severus realized that the woman was a muggle and had no idea that her son was magical. "Does he do any other strange things like talking to snakes?" He asked her curiously.
"He has a tendency to make things shatter when he is unhappy." She told him with a frustrated sigh. "We were kicked out of our third flat this year because he shattered all the windows and I couldn't afford to pay for them to be fixed."
"That must be hard for you," Severus commented. "Do you watch him while his father works?" He asked her as he sat down and Jade crawled up his arm and Hermione settled into his lap.
"There is no father," she told him with a shudder. "I was attacked by a maniac almost three years ago and I was left with Jake here. He's a good boy and I love him but he is such a handful sometimes and it is so hard to raise him off my waitress salary."
Hermione had slithered off behind a group of bushes to transform so she could join the conversation. They needed to inform the mother what to expect with her son and she knew he would need her help. "Severus there you are," she told him with a smile at the mother and son. "Hello," she told the woman and sat in the grass next to him. "I'm Hermione," she told her. "Your son is very cute."
"Thank you," she said, seemingly more relaxed with Hermione's presence. "He can be a little terror a times though."
"You pretty!" Jake squealed happily and crawled into Hermione's lap. "Lots of pretty colors!"
"You can see my colors?" She asked him with a shocked smile. "Which one do you see best?"
"Purple!" he yelled out with a smile at his mum. "Mommy no colors!"
"What colors do you see on Severus here?" Hermione asked pointing at him.
"He green," the boy giggled as the two realized the boy could see magical auras.
"Do you know anyone else with colors?" Severus asked him, knowing the mother was going to start questioning them soon.
"Green snake is green and red," he told them looking around for the other snake. "Black one pretty like you!" he said to Hermione with a big smile.
They spent the afternoon explaining magic to the woman, who's name is Abby who was both shocked and then relieved that there was nothing wrong with her son. They decided to bring her back to Harry's to talk to Albus and figure out what to do with her son who was obviously quite powerful as he was manifesting two rare powers so early in life.
Albus was impressed with the boy and Hermione enjoyed watching her parents struggle with explaining how it felt to have a magical daughter with no magic of their own. She figured they deserved it for lying to her for so long. Ginny was very taken with the little boy and was the first to voice what everyone had been thinking, "He looks like a Malfoy."
Albus had been thinking the same thing and had been probing the woman's thoughts for when she was attacked. He found it would have been before Lucius was arrested so it could have been him. He also found that she had very little recollection of the actual event other than the fact that the man was wearing black and a silver mask, that he had blonde hair and carried a wand. It was definitely a death eater and he wondered how the woman had survived.
"I know this is the last thing you want to think about, but may I ask how you escaped your attacker?" Albus asked her quietly.
"He had just pulled this stick from his clothing and told me he was going to kill me," she remembered, "then he grabbed his left arm like he was in pain and disappeared. I thought it was just the stress of the situation that made me image that, that's what the police thought as well. But after seeing all of you maybe it was true."
They told her of the war that had just ended and of the death eaters and she agreed that was what her attacker looked like and when Severus showed her his wand she gasped and nodded that it was what the man had been pointing at her. Harry offered to let them stay until they could figure everything out and the twins went and picked up her things from the apartment building she was asked to leave because of Jake's magic.
"And I thought my life was hard," Hermione said to Severus when they were alone in the lab. "I can't image what she went through and now she has to deal with the magical world when she never would have been exposed to it."
"It is a good thing you noticed his powers and we were able to talk to her," he told her with a smile as they sat on his couch reading. "She may not have been able to handle him and had to give him up. I am surprised she kept him at all."
"She loves him even if she didn't ask for him she loves him," Hermione told him. "I imagine it is hard for her but he is a very loveable little boy."
"You just like him because he thinks your colors are pretty," Severus joked earning him a smack on the arm before she laughed and laid her head against his shoulder.
"I just hope that by the time he is old enough for Hogwarts that his being a half-blood will no longer be anything to be ashamed of. I hope that if nothing else my being royalty will help unite the wizarding world. Blood lines are not everything and I plan to prove that to everyone once I finish school. I might as well put my fame to use." She told him as she snuggled into his robes.
"I believe your parents had started some research into that subject before they went into hiding. It is one of the reasons they were so disliked by Voldemort and the death eaters who believed in all the pureblood propaganda. Look at Voldemort himself; he was from a dying line, namely Slytherin's line. It had inbred so much that it was in danger of dying out and when his mother married a muggle and introduced fresh blood into the line it spawned one of the most powerful wizards the world has ever seen." Severus told her. "I think it could be useful to see just how much blood and power have to do with each other. I mean look at some of the lines that just recently died out like Crabbe and Goyle they were almost squibs."
"Neville is another example of that; he is almost hopeless with a wand unless dueling. Ron and the Weasleys were lucky they have so many powerful children." Hermione told him.
"Molly was a Prewett and their line had never before mixed with the Weasley line, much as how Harry's parents' lines had never mixed." Severus reminded her. "There are very few families left that can say that."
"Has my family line ever mixed with yours?" She had to know.
"No, in fact my mother though that a match between our lines would strengthen them immensely." He told her with a soft smile. "Would you be opposed to such a thought?"
"Not at all," she told him with a smile of her own before kissing him. They spent the rest of the evening snuggling on the couch and not getting much reading done between kisses. They were each certain of the other's feelings but had yet to voice their love to each other.
It was determined by blood tests that Jacob was definitely the son of Lucius Malfoy. They explained to Abby that he was dead and could not stand trial for his crimes against her but that his other son would most likely help her however he could. They explained how Draco was on the good side during the war and would want to make it up to her and that he would most likely want to welcome his half brother into the family.
Draco and Gabrielle returned from their honeymoon a week before Bill and Fleur's wedding (2 weeks before Susan and Ron's). They had not been told of Jake while they were away, no one wanted to spoil their honeymoon. Gabrielle was stunningly beautiful to all the men once again but this time there was no chance for her to give off her Veela charms since she was married and bonded. They were telling all their friends about their trip when Abby and Jake came into the kitchen.
Draco paled immediately after taking one look at the boy who looked exactly like he did at that age. "Explain," he croaked out looking to Severus and Harry.
"Sorry Draco," Harry said. "We thought we would let you settle in before introducing you."
"It seems your father assaulted Miss Crowder here in your 5th year but was luckily called away before he was able to kill her." Severus told him slowly watching the boys face turn colors. "Jacob there is your half brother."
"We found them in the park the other day and have been explaining magic to Abby since. She had no idea why Jake could do the things he can." Hermione explained. "It wasn't until afterwards that we determined who his father was."
"So he's a wizard then?" Draco asked, eyes never leaving the face of the boy. "I have a brother?" Gabrielle stayed silent but squeezed his hand under the table in support.
"It was a shock to me as well," Abby spoke up finally. "You must be Draco, I'm Abby and this is Jacob Alexander Crowder." She told him with a small smile that showed her worry.
"You colors like mine!" Jake said walking over to get a better look at Draco.
"He can see auras?" Gabrielle asked surprised as it was a very rare trait.
"It seems so," Harry told them, worried about Draco's reaction to everything.
Draco and Jake were staring at each other. Jake because he liked Draco's colors and thought he looked like him and Draco because he was trying to process the fact that he had a brother, a very little brother at that. "How old are you?" He finally asked once he was able to speak again.
"I two!" Jake replied happily, showing his pudgy fingers to everyone. Draco smiled at the little guy.
"My name is Draco," he told him and held out his hand before realizing that a two year old doesn't understand shaking hands so he picked him up and set him in his lap.
The rest of the group let out a relieved sigh when Draco picked him up, as they knew he would be alright with it. "Congratulations on your wedding," Abby told him sitting in the chair next to him, ready to take Jake away if needed. "You seem so young to be married."
"We are young," Gabrielle told her with a smile. "But we are in love and done with school so we didn't see any point in waiting to marry. Draco is 18 and I am 16. I am Gabrielle, Draco's wife."
The two women shook hands, "I'm Abby and I'm only 23 but I feel older now that I've had Jake here. I had to quit university to take care of Jake so how can you both be done already?"
"There are not many who go on to university in the magical world," Hermione explained to her. "The only reason is to become a master in your field, otherwise it is not needed."
"I wish that was the case in my world. I barely make enough as a waitress to pay for rent and food for the two of us. My parents were not happy that I chose to keep Jake and have refused to help me. They think he ruined my life and don't understand that he is my life." Abby told them while smiling at her son.
"Where are you living at now?" Draco asked her, upset that she would have such a hard life due to his father's actions.
"Harry is letting us stay here for now," she told him. "We were kicked out of our apartment when Jake shattered the windows when he was upset. It's getting harder and harder to find a flat in a good neighborhood as well as a babysitter for him while I'm working."
Draco looked to Gabrielle who nodded, knowing what he wanted to ask. "You could stay with us," Draco offered Abby. "The house elves would love to look after Jake when you are busy and if you want to go back to school you can. My family is quite wealthy and I want to help you out. Besides, it's my responsibility to watch out for my brother."
"I don't want to impose on you two, you just go married I am sure you don't want us crowding up your house." She told them, she didn't want to impose on the newlyweds.
"Our manor is larger than this house. If we wanted to, we could go over a month without seeing each other most likely. You will not be an opposition." Gabrielle told her with a smile. "Besides it will be fun having a toddler in the house."
"Do you want to go with me to Bill and Fleur's wedding?" Hermione asked Severus later that week. She knew they had both been invited and would be going but she wanted them to go together.
"Of course," he purred to her, "I would go with no one else." They had been growing even closer over the last few weeks. They had been close before but now their relationship was bordering on intimate. They had not taken their physical relationship any farther than kissing as he refused to break her parents trust in him. But their emotional relationship was stronger than it ever had been. They were trying to spend as much time together as possible before she left for university and he had to go back to Hogwarts. There was also her betrothal that was constantly hanging over them.
"I heard Fleur tell you that you were not allowed to wear all black to her wedding," Hermione told him with a grin. "What color were you planning on?"
"I have deep green robes," he told her. "They are very dark but not black. I believe they will do."
"I guess that rules out my red robes since we don't want to look like Christmas decorations," she told him with a laugh.
"You look beautiful in anything," he told her and kissed her before getting up off the couch to choose another book. "Are you still interested in going to Les Miss? I have tickets for early next week."
"That sounds wonderful," she told him with a radiant smile. "We've been spending a lot of time here so it will be nice to get away."
"I have noticed that you are still avoiding your parents," he commented conversationally but really wanted to know if they had said anything about him.
"I am still so angry at them for lying to me and am keeping my distance. I just want them to come clean and tell me the truth. Ginny says that it's my dad's decision on when to tell me and that is why the rest of my family is so miserable. My mum hates keeping secrets; I can't believe she can hold this one for so long."
"Are you looking forward to your identity being revealed?" He asked as this was a topic he had steered away from until she had fully absorbed the implications of her title.
"Yes," she told him happily. "I have never really been able to decide what I want to do with my life. Everything was always so interesting and I think this is why. As princess and eventually Queen I will be involved in many aspects of wizarding life and have a chance to use everything I learned at Hogwarts. I am sure my parents will let me finish my mastery before I have to take on any family duties. I read that my mother has 3 masteries and my father has 2 as he was required to cut his schooling short to help out before the war. They both started their mastery programs when they were 15 since they were home schooled and they are so intelligent."
"Do you wish that you were home schooled instead?" He asked her curiously.
"No," she told him with a smile. "I love Hogwarts and all the friends I made there. I can't imagine being stuck at home all day and not being around others my age. Besides if I had been home schooled I may have never met you and my life would have been boring without all the adventures Harry and Ron pushed me into."
"I agree," he told her with a smile. "As much as my childhood was not as pleasant as yours I think everyone needs their schooling experience. It is a chance to grow into the person you were meant to be without your family's influence. Think of what Draco would have turned into if his father had tutored him instead of sending him to Hogwarts."
"I have already decided that if I ever have children that are able I will send them to Hogwarts or any of the schools they choose." She told him with a smile, envisioning what a child of theirs would look like. "I already promised my mother that if they force me into this betrothal there will be no heirs and the line will die out. I hope that gets them thinking."
"I have never thought of myself as the fatherly type but children between two people who care for each other would not be a bad thing." He told her softly.
"Have you ever thought of who you would want to have children with?" She asked him, still unsure of his feelings for her.
He could sense her unease and smiled gently, taking her hand in his. "I would only ever want to have a family with you." He told her and kissed her softly.
"And I you Severus," she told him, a tear of happiness escaping her control. "In fact I cannot picture my life with anyone other than you."
"I feel the same," he told her, pulling her into his arms. "That is why I asked your parents for your hand. They have yet to answer but allowed me to court you."
"Oh Sev why can't they see how we feel, why won't they let us be together?" She sobbed into his chest. She couldn't bear the thought of being without him and it was tearing her up inside. Knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him only made it sting worse. She had never been so angry and scared before, her future had always seemed so promising and now she was terrified of being without him.
"We will find a way," he told her rubbing circles on her back and kissing her hair. "I promise we'll find a way to be together."
Tori Granger glared at her husband as they watched the two in silence. He still didn't believe that the two were in love and wanted to see for himself. He had been shocked to see his baby crying at the thought of ending up with another man. He knew it was time that they tell her the truth once and for all. He hadn't realized he was hurting her even more by keeping it from her.
"Tomorrow," he told his wife. "Tomorrow we will tell her who she is." He left his wife standing there with a smile on her face that he hadn't seen since the beginning of the summer. Tori was glad everything would finally be out in the open and headed to bed to prepare herself for the fireworks the next day were sure to bring.