Chapter Six: A Little Bit of Hope
Hermione woke early the next morning and just stayed in bed. She didn't want to wake up and move, because getting up would mean that the day would begin. This was the day that Hermione and her children were going to Number 12 Grimmuald Place. It was the beginning of the rest of Hermione's life without Draco.
With a small sigh and a light groan, she finally got up out of bed. Hermione decided that she wasn't going to morn Draco's death anymore, but that she was going to celebrate the times that they had together. She placed an unsure smile on her face and went to wake her children.
Hermione slowly opened the door to her son's room. He was still sound a sleep. Hermione walked to his bed and gently shook him awake. He stirred slightly and rolled over to keep sleeping.
"Sep, come up you have to get up. We're leaving shortly to go to Grimmuald Place. Come up, get up." Hermione said shaking him some more. He groaned and opened his eyes to look at his mother.
"Why this early?" he groaned as he staggered out of bed. He walked to his closet and pulled out some clothes.
"Because we have to. Be downstairs in a half hour." Hermione said walking from his room toward her daughter's. She opened the door to find her daughter already up.
"Mommy, why did daddy have to leave us?" Gabrielle asked she clung tight to her stuffed hippogriff. Hermione sat on the edge of Gabrielle's bed and looked at her daugther.
"I don't know, baby, I don't know." She said.
"Didn't he love us?" Gabrielle said crawling into her mother's lap.
"Of course he did. He went to help save this world, so it would be a better place for you and your bother to grow up in. What would make you think he didn't love us?" Hermione said as she ran her hand over Gabrielle's hair.
"I don't know." She replied. Hermione smiled at her daughter and hugged her close.
"You'll always have me. I'm not going anywhere, but right now we have to get you dressed so we can leave soon." Hermione said as she set Gabrielle down on the bed while she went to get clothes for the small girl.
Within a half hour all three of the Malfoys were in the living room standing by the fireplace. With a few last checks at they were set and had everything, Hermione sent Septimus and Gabrielle through the fireplace to Number 12 Grimmuald Place. With a last look at the mantel above the fireplace, Hermione stepped in and headed toward Harry's home.
Hermione walked into the kitchen where Ron and Harry sat at the table eating breakfast. Gabrielle was playing with Hedwig who sat on one of the counters. Septimus sat in a chair at the table.
"Hermione, how are you?" Harry said standing up and giving her a hug.
"I've been better. When is everyone else arriving?" Hermione said breaking away from Harry to give Ron a hug.
"They should be here soon." Harry said, and with that there were a few pops around the kitchen.
Hermione was hugged by almost everyone who entered the room. Moody put a hand on Septimus's shoulder and told him to cheer up. Tonks picked up Gabrielle and swung her around. The small child laughed.With in a few minutes the whole kitchen was filled. People sat at the table, while other's stood around it. At the very front of the table Dumbledore stood. Everyone became quiet as he looked around the table.
"I'm sure you all know as to why we are here." Dumbledore started. Everyone around the room nodded their heads. "Two days ago, our attack on the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort went terrible wrong. We lost one of our members, and that is never easy. Draco Malfoy joined our side right before he and Hermione Granger married. Since his father is a Death Eater, it was a great plus to our side to have both him and Severus as spies for us. Unfortunately during our attack, Draco was captured by the Death Eaters and the last we ever saw was of him be dragged away screaming in pain from the Crusiartus curse. I regret—" but he was cut off.
"Wait!" Hermione yelled out, "are you telling me there is a chance that he's still alive?" she questioned.
Dumbledore shook his head and looked at her. "No, there is no way that he could. Lucius knew that Draco was not totally honest to the Death Eaters. He would have been killed as soon as Voldemort found out."
"But there is a chance?" Septimus said to the group of people around the room.
"There is no chance that your father is alive." Lupin said calmly to the young boy.
"He wouldn't have a chance against his father. Lucius is a vicious man and would kill his son if he ever got the chance." Severus Snape said as he looked at young Mister Malfoy.
"No, No I'm afraid that Mister Malfoy is dead." Minerva McGonagall said in the most caring voice she could come up with.
"But there has to be a chance!" Septimus yelled out. He looked around at the room. Most people had their heads down and weren't looking at him, but other stared at him.
"Sep, please." Hermione said looking at her son.
"But mum there has to be." Septimus yelled out again. This time he looked directly at his mother.
"Septimus Alexander Malfoy, I said drop it." Hermione said sternly to her son. Septimus looked down at the table as Dumbledore continued.
"I know this must be hard on a lot of people. I know that many of us…" he gave a look over at Septimus, "…didn't want to lose him. He was a good person. Draco did have faults, but then again everyone does. Hermione, you did a wonderful job bringing him to our side, I just wish there was something we could do to help you get through this hard time. I would like everyone to raise their glass…" with that Dumbledore waved his wand and glasses of Butterbeer and Fire Whiskey showed up in front of everyone, "…and say a toast to Draco Malfoy." Dumbledore raised his glass.
"To a good man." Lupin said.
"To a brave man." Snape added.
"To the white farret." Ron said with a small smile. Everyone gave a small laugh at that comment.
"To a good friend." McGonagall added as she tried to bring everyone back to the mater at hand.
"To his memory." Harry said smiling.
"To his life." Dumbledore added with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"And to my husband." Hermione finished. With that everyone else raised their glasses and drank to Draco Malfoy. Afterwards many people talked to each other and a few hugged and said good-bye.
When it was close to 9 at night Hermione decided it was time for her and her children to head home.
"It was good to see you again, Hermione." Ron said giving her a hug.
"You too, Ron." She said returning his hug.
"If you need anything, you know where to find me." Harry said now giving her a hug.
"Thank you, Harry, for everything." Hermione said. She walked over to the couch where Gabrielle was already sleeping. Septimus was sitting in a chair petting Hedwig. Hermione picked up the sleeping girl and turned to her son. "Come on, Sep. We're going home." Hermione said heading toward the fireplace.
Septimus got up to follow his mother, but he stopped in front of Harry. He looked up at Harry, who looked down at the young boy. Harry knelt down in front of Septimus so they were close to the same height.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Harry asked as he looked at the boy who looked just like Draco.
"I was wondering if you would be able to teach me how to fly a broom. If you can't that's okay." He said looking at Harry.
"I know you were looking forward to your father teaching you, but I would be glad to show you." Harry said. A smile spread across Septimus's face.
"Thank you." He said.
"No problem." Harry said standing up. Septimus walked over to Hermione and stood next to her. Hermione put her free hand on the back on Septimus's head and rubbed his hair. She smiled at her young son. He was turning out to be a Malfoy, with Hermione's caring personality.
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione said smiling. "I'm sure Draco would appreciate it, even though you two never got along that well."
"Anything for you and your family." Harry said. With one last nod and smile Hermione and her two children stepped into the fire and headed home.
Hermione and Septimus walked upstairs as Gabrielle slept on Hermione's shoulder. After putting Gabrielle in bed, Hermione went to go tuck her son in. Hermione walked into his room and sat on his bed.
"Mum, why is it that dad and Mr. Potter never got along." Septimus asked as he sat in bed while his knees up to his chin.
"I think your father would pass out from hearing you call him Mr. Potter." she smiled at her son."Well Harry and Draco always saw things differently in school. Harry and I were Gryffindors while your father was a Slytherin. The two houses never got along well and it didn't help much that Draco was always being a 'slimmy git' as Ron would call him. It also didn't help much that Harry was and is The-boy-who-lived." Hermione gave a sigh and looked at her son. "See, they never liked each other, but once Draco and I started to date Harry put their fighting aside and tried to get to know him. I was Harry's best friend and Draco was my boyfriend. Even after we married and you were born, the two never liked each other, but they put it aside."
"Then why did he act as if they were friends?" Septimus asked.
"I don't know. I really have no idea why Harry did." Hermione said. She smiled at her son and tucked him into bed. She kissed his forehead then headed toward the door. "Night my son." She said as she walked out and closed the door.
Hermione went to sleep that night thinking about how much Septimus was become his father. The main difference between the two was is that Draco was cold hearted in school and her son was as caring as she had been. That night Hermione dreamt about her wedding.
(Author's Note: Okay, so a few of you have been asking me to stay with the present and not flashback as much. Well I have a few more flashbacks before I stay with the 'now time'. I also have a few unexpected twists on the way. So just bare with me for a while longer and I'm sure I'll have this turn out how some of you want it to. :-D. Oh yeah… I never meant for this story to make people cry. I'm sorry.:-( , but it should be getting better and there shouldn't be anymore crying. Thanks for reading.)