All things related to the Harry Potter fandom were developed by and belong to JK Rowling. I haven't received any money or gratuities for this story. Thank you JKR for your characters. OC's were developed in my mind.
A/N: Warning: This story contains the death of a character. Please do not proceed if this type of storyline upsets you. Thanks.
Previously on A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 1
Hermione silently wondered what Louis was going on about, and for a moment she was speechless. Finding her voice as well as her memory, Hermione replied to Louis. "Matt will be taking over the Malfoy legacy. He won't be taking over me and Scorpius. No one will replace Draco in our lives, so be careful of the words you use in your misery. I came in here to discuss arrangements and services for Draco. My life can wait. If you have suggestions, speak now. Otherwise, I have friends and family in the next room waiting to hear what I plan to do."
Louis opened his eyes as wide as he ever had to gaze at Hermione. "You are overwrought Hermione. I meant no disrespect, and I certainly didn't mean what you think. Perhaps you should go have your discussion with the others." Closing his eyes, Louis made one last comment. "We'll speak at another time."
"Louis, I…."
Cutting across her, Louis repeated himself. "We'll speak at another time."
For several minutes, Hermione stood with her forehead leaned against the door letting the tears slide down her face. When she felt able, Hermione spoke a few soft words before opening the door.
"I do value your opinion Louis. We will speak at another time."
As the door closed, the portrait of Louis Adrian Malfoy whispered, "Thank you Hermione."
A Tale Of Two Wizards Full Circle: Chapter 2
When Hermione emerged from the den after speaking with Louis, Kim, Matt and Sal immediately noticed her red eyes.
"You seem a bit beat up Hermione. You were in there for ages. Did you get things sorted with Louis?" Kim asked cautiously.
Hermione gazed at Kim for a few seconds before replying to her comment. "I was in there for a long time. Sorry. How long am I supposed to take trying to sort out the best way to get Draco in the ground? I don't know, because my husband hasn't ever died before. I will try to speed things up. To answer your question, Louis and I never even got near the subject."
A bright red Kim glanced at Matt before standing to pull Hermione into a hug. "Hermione love. You must know that's not what I meant. No one, especially me, is trying to rush you into anything. I apologize if it sounded that way. Why don't you come through to the kitchen. I'll fix you a spot of breakfast."
Hermione gave Kim a dismal smile. "No apology necessary Kim. I'm getting very good at misunderstanding the words coming out of peoples mouths. I don't think I could eat a thing. My stomach is in total flux. However, if you don't mind, I would like a cup of tea."
"Good. One cup of tea coming right up."
"Has anyone seen my mobile?" Asked Hermione looking around. "I'd like to call Harry and Hannah to check on Scorp. He must be wondering where his mum and dad have gone."
With those words, Hermione wrapped her arms around herself and broke into heart wrenching sobs. "What will I tell Scorp? What will I tell Draco's son?"
Sal jumped up to encircle Hermione in his arms while Matt conjured a wet cloth without wand or word and handed it to Hermione. Sal stepped back to allow Hermione space to move as she took the cloth from Matt.
Thanking Matt for the cloth, Hermione offered a sad bit of cheek. "Still practicing that non verbal, wandless magic then Matt? Draco was so proud of you."
Matt smiled. "Are you sure he was proud? I seem to remember him taunting me on numerous occasions for being a complete show off."
Hermione smiled her first smile in twenty four hours. "Yes, that too. He was at his happiest when he was bantering with his cousins and his mates. I expect you to share those thoughts when you stand for Draco. He would have liked that."
Giving Hermione a quick hug, Matt assured her he would absolutely share.
/*/
"It's nice to see you smile," said Kim who had come through holding a cup of tea. "I hope we get to see more of them in the coming days. Carmela went home to lie down, but she sent information about services and internment in case you wanted to preview your choices."
"Thanks Kim. I'll look over the information to get some ideas, but I intend to hold Draco's service in London."
The others remained silent. Whether they agreed, or disagreed, Draco was Hermione's husband. It was her choice.
Carmela who had stepped quietly out of the floo didn't feel the need to remain silent. "I decided to take a pepper up potion. So here I am, relaxed and ready to go forward."
"Carmela!" Hermione exclaimed in surprise.
"I heard what you said about Draco's service Hermione, and I understand you wanting it to be held in London. As you and Draco's adopted mum, may I suggest you also have some kind of service here as well? Perhaps a memorial service, so we Italians can pay our respects to a wonderful wizard."
With a nod, Hermione hurried over to hug Carmela. "Thank you mum. I was stuck. Even though the path to what I need to do is clear, I couldn't bring myself to take the first step. You've set me on the right path. Even my stomach has somewhat settled in the last few minutes. Thank you."
"That's my job now and since I first laid eyes on you."
Matt and Kim smiled at Carmela who often acted as mum to all of them.
/*/
When Hermione spoke again, it was in a firm voice filled with conviction. "I'm going to step away to call Hannah. I want to speak to my son. After which, I will shower then go sit with my husband for a bit. When I get back, I'm hoping my family will sit with me to suss out details of how we can give an amazing man a proper send off. Two proper send offs actually. I'll see you all in a few minutes."
"Thanks mum," said Sal giving Carmela a hug and a kiss.
"Yes. Thank you so much Carmela," echoed Kim and Matt. "Your daughter simply needed a jump start."
"Glad to be of service," Carmela replied crisply. "Before we meet, may I suggest we get Harry, Blaise and Theo here as well. It would be silly to have to plan twice. We should plan to set parameters that can be used in Italy as well as England. One outline which can be used for two countries. We'll see what Hermione thinks."
/*/
While Hermione was off talking to Scorpius, Matt called Blaise to let him know he and Theo were needed in Italy later that afternoon.
Blaise told Matt that he and Theo would be there and were prepared to kip out with his relatives for the next week in case they were needed.
Matt also called Harry.
Sal prepared to call Gas, but was surprised when Gas and Seana stepped out of the floo explaining they had just come from sitting up with Draco. Sal hugged Seana then clapped his brother on the back without saying a word.
"Fausto and I want to sit with Draco for a few minutes as well," added Carmela. "If Hermione doesn't mind, we'll go with her."
"If I don't mind what," asked Hermione returning from the other room. "I've just spoken to Scorp. At this moment, I don't mind anything."
"Good, because Fausto and I want to sit Draco for a bit, but don't want to intrude on your time with him."
"No problem. I'm glad for the company. Most of the guys have gone in pairs or threes. No one has offered to go with me before now. This is one of the times I need them beside me most, but they think they will be intruding. After all this time, they don't know me as well as I thought they did. I'm ready when you are."
A surprised Carmela gave Sal, Matt and Gas a quick glance before stepping through the floo to get Fausto. She hadn't thought about it like that either.
/*/
Emilio was tired, and hadn't been able to think straight since he'd looked into Hermione's sorrow filled eyes. He had seen his mother home planning to spend some time at the estate, but she and his father had been so obnoxious he'd stayed less than an hour. He had tried to remain staid and stoic, but their ramblings, especially those of his mother, bordered on blasphemy.
"I'll take my leave now mother, father. I'm tired. This has been a stressful day for many."
"Stay a bit longer Milio. Your father and I didn't mean any harm."
"You didn't mean any harm?" He shouted at them both. "You didn't mean any harm? You are both talking bull shite and I will not listen to your schemes. A good man is dead."
Emiliano Lozier stood up so rapidly the chair he had been sitting in fell over. "How dare you talk to your mother like that? You'd better watch that mouth of yours, or I'll watch it for you."
Ilaria reached out to touch her husband on the arm hoping to calm him down. "Em," she whispered. "Milio didn't mean anything. He's just stressed. Stay and have tea with us son."
"Oh, don't side with him mother. The poor excuse for a thief had better watch his tone and timbre when he addresses me, because unlike him, I have enough clout to get his sorry arse thrown back in prison."
"Emilio! Stop it right now. He is still your father."
"Don't remind me," snapped Emilio wrenching off his cloak and sitting in the chair opposite his mother. Running his hand through his thick, black hair, Emilio let out an exasperated sigh. "I apologize for my thoughtless words. I am not myself. No matter what, you are my parents and I should treat you as such. I just need for you to keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself. This is not the time for spurious comments to fall on the wrong ears, no matter how well intentioned you purport them to be. I am begging you to refrain from commenting on anything to do with Hermione Granger….. Hermione Malfoy. Please."
"Of course Milio. It was just us talking here. We would never…"
"Please make sure you don't," Emilio replied, getting up from the chair. "Hermione and her family and friends are devastated. The last thing anyone wants to hear is that my parents think Draco stole her away from me. Thank you for understanding, and thank you Mother for accompanying me to see Hermione. I'll see you soon."
/*/
Emilio reached his own home in a sour mood. The anger over his parents remarks had settled in his stomach and were wreaking havoc on him. Emilio grabbed a drink then turned on his phone. Normally, having his phone turned off during a business day was frowned upon. In fact, it was one of his rules. Phones on at all times. This, however, hadn't been a normal day.
Evidently, his Assistant had handled everything. The only message he'd received was from a lovely witch who was beginning to annoy him with all her messages and phone calls. Emilio quickly turned the phone off. He wasn't up to defending himself over why he hadn't called.
When Matt called to give him the news about Draco, he had been dumbfounded. Draco Malfoy had everything to live for, a lovely wife, a handsome son, and a fantastic life laid out before him. Then this. Emilio shook his head. He and Draco weren't the best of friends, but after the blood feud madness had been straightened out, they had come to terms.
Over the past few years, he had run into Draco and Hermione at a number of functions. They looked radiantly happy. It wasn't that he coveted another man's wife, but there were still stirrings deep inside him whenever he saw Hermione. He had learned to live with the fact that the woman he loved would never be his. It was hard, but he managed.
"Now…. Now. Now what Emilio?" He growled out loud. "Nothing has changed. Hermione Malfoy will always remain Hermione Malfoy whether her husband is living or dead."
Drinking his second brandy down in one, Emilio closed his eyes, and sat very still as he had learned to do long ago. The closed eyes and stillness always helped him regain his balance and reduce his stress.
When Emilio opened his eyes, he let out a shrill laugh. "What I wouldn't give to have James Wooley here to carry a personal, sympathy message to Hermione. You are a good man who did right by me James. Spain was lucky to get you."
Emilio kicked off his shoes then stretched out on the couch. It didn't matter where he laid his head. He wasn't going to get much sleep.
Lying there, Emilio admitted to himself the reason he had gotten so angry with his parents. They had said exactly what he'd never admit thinking. Hermione was free again. At a time like this, the thought was vulgar, crass and offensive, but he had thought it and was ashamed of himself.
The last thought before Emilio drifted off pertained to the annoying witch. Perhaps he should call her more frequently. It would probably be better if he had a witch on his arm than not.
/*/
While Hermione, Carmela and Fausto were gone, Seth returned from wherever he'd gone bringing strange news.
"Louis asked me to check on something for him. I have done so and found out several interesting things. One, living portraits can travel great distances to visit another version of the portrait. Two, even though the subjects can travel great distances, they cannot pass from country to country. Three, a living portrait will not suffer any damage if taken through a floo, even an international floo. There you have it."
The room remained silent until Matt spoke up. "Well brother, those are some very interesting facts. The question is, why are you sharing them with us?"
"One guess," Seth answered softly, checking if the door to the den was firmly closed. "Louis insisted I research the information because he wants either a portrait of himself set up in London so he can watch over Hermione and Scorpius, or he wants to be moved there permanently. It looks like you'll be losing Elder Malfoy when Hermione leaves."
Matt, Kim and Sal were speechless. "What does Hermione think about this?" Asked Kim.
"I haven't spoken to her yet," Seth replied sheepishly. "Her answer will solve the problem. If she declines to have the portrait in her home, the matter is closed. I've done my bit."
Matt offered his opinion on the matter. "I for one hope Hermione declines to have the portrait in her home. I've gotten used to seeing Louis' face sitting on the mantel.
"We'll see," Seth said in rebuttal. "Hermione's wishes trump all."
Sal and Matt nodded their heads in agreement. Seth was speaking the truth. Nothing mattered except what Hermione wanted.
/*/
As the men sat talking quietly among themselves, Sal mentioned Hermione's remark about sitting Draco alone. The general consensus was they all owed Hermione an apology, because they all had thought the same thing. Their presence would be an intrusion on time between a wife and her husband.
Sal made a decision. "According to Italian rules and regulations, tomorrow is the last day Draco's body is allowed to remain in the hospital chamber. Draco will have to be moved to either the medical examiner's office or a funeral home. I'll take off work to sit with Hermione tomorrow."
"Should we all sit with her as a family?"
Matt offered up the brutal truth. "We may have missed our chance. I'm certain Blaise, Theo and Harry will want to sit with Hermione on the last day. If Hannah brings Scorpius through…"
Seth cut his brother off in mid sentence. "Are you mad Matt? Hermione won't want Scorp…"
Matt jumped up surprising everyone. "If you'll let me finish my bloody sentence Seth, my meaning will be clear. May I finish?"
"We're all under a strain brother." Seth replied softly. "There's no need to be insulting."
"You're right. There isn't any need to be insulting. I apologize Seth. All I meant to say was Hannah would probably want to sit with Hermione as well. Unlike sitting in a public service, sitting up with Draco before he is moved to be prepared is personal time. Everybody wants some."
Both Kim and Seth recognized at the same time that Matt was falling apart and approached him together. Seeing his brother's watery eyes, Seth hugged him then stepped back. Kim wrapped her arms around Matt's waist and led him out of the main rooms.
Adult, male wizards didn't often break down. On the rare occasion it happened, it was in private. Knowing this, Kim made sure to get Matt away from prying eyes even though no one would ever comment. He was a sitting Minister. If her husband was going to break down, she would ensure it was in private.
/*/
Once in the privacy of their bedroom, Kim cast a silencing spell when Matt fell completely apart in her arms.
"I was arguing with my brother," he said. The words coming out as a sob. "The wizard who has had my back and been at my side since we were toddlers. I'm a bleeding idiot. I think Draco's death is killing me. I just can't reconcile in my mind the fact he is gone. He was twenty eight years old Kim. He had another eighty plus years of life. Seth and I owe Draco our lives. Literally. If it wasn't for him, Seth and I would be working at some manual labor job wondering if we would be able to make the monthly bills. Look at Seth. Look at me. Draco was our savior. What will Hermione do without him? What the hell will any of us do without him? He was our glue."
Kim had remained silent running her fingers through Matt's silky hair while he had his emotional vomit, but now she was ready to set him straight.
"I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life Matt Lozio, so please take what I'm about to say in the spirit it is intended. Draco gave you and Seth what you deserved. It wasn't some gift. It was your heritage. He told you both that more than once. What you and Seth have done with what you were given makes all the difference. Neither of you ran out to spend your inheritance wildly. Well. Seth did go a bit crazy."
Matt gave Kim a smile and a kiss before letting her proceed.
"It is not my intent to take anything away from Draco, but everything you have now is due to your ethics, intelligence and perseverance, so stop feeling guilty. I hate that your cousin is dead, but you'll do exactly what you've been doing for the last five years, knocking it out of the Quidditch pitch. And just for propriety sake, I'll tell you this. Skiing is out for you, and should be out for Seth as well. I don't want to be a Hermione, crying over the body of my husband. Let's set our backs and get back to the living room."
Pulling Kim into his arms, Matt gave her a bruising kiss. "I love you. I'm fine now. Thank you for your sage advice. It helped."
/*/
When she and Matt returned to the living room, Kim announced that she had prepared a lovely meal.
"If you don't mind, we'll wait for mum, dad and Hermione to get back. Besides, Harry, Blaise and Theo should be coming through at any minute. If we all eat at the same time, we'll be able to get down to business all the sooner."
"Good idea. I'll just pop into the kitchen to set some warming spells. I'll be right back."
/*/
Harry, Hannah with Scorpius, Blaise and Theo came through the floo one after the other calling out their greetings.
Kim immediately took Scorpius from Hannah listening gleefully as the baby started repeating over and over, "aunty, aunty, aunty."
"You are such a sweetheart," she said nuzzling Scorpius' neck.
Peeking around Kim, Scorpius saw Seana and Gas and held his hands up to Seana. "Sayna up. Sayna up."
Seana walked over to take Scorpius from Kim. With tears forming in her eyes, she hugged him. "My little man. My brave, little man."
Scorpius gave Seana a puzzled look as he awkwardly tried to wipe her eyes with his tiny hands. To everyone's surprise, he began to cry.
Hannah rushed over to take him from Seana asking Kim if she could use one of the bedrooms to let Scorpius nap.
Kim showed Hannah to the bedroom Hermione was currently using.
Scorpius' tears, the worst tears of all had cast an even greater pall over everyone, bringing home the fact that a son had lost his father. Knowing the little wizard would never see his father again, had made everyone more emotional. It was a solemn group of wizards who migrated to the dining room to console each other while the witches remained in the living room to give their men space.
/*/
In the dining room, Harry was being a loud, emotional beast. "Draco was being a dick. I can't tell you the number of times Hermione asked, no begged him to be careful. To stay away from shite like skiing and motorboat racing. What was he thinking? He had a wife and child to think about. He was being an arsehole. Just look how that turned out."
"Pipe down Harry," said Seth irritably.
Blaise walked over and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "We're all emotional, but shouting and calling our mate out of his name won't change anything, and Hermione doesn't need to hear it. We all knew Draco. When he set his mind on something, that was it. No one was going to change his mind. It even seemed he had gotten worse over the past year. It was Draco being Draco. It may sound crass now, but Theo and I had taken to calling him Daredevil Draco. He loved the name. Let's just be cognizant of others around us."
Harry remained sullen and angry. They all knew he wasn't angry with them, so they let him sit quietly and stew while they discussed other things.
/*/
About thirty minutes later, a tired and drawn looking Hermione stuck her head in the door. "I'm back lads. Shall we talk first, or eat? Kim has put together a lovely meal. Your choice."
Jumping up to pull his sister into a tight hug, Harry spoke first. "You look like you are falling off your feet. Why don't we sit down to eat as a family? When that's done, we can sort out arrangements and such."
"Sounds like a plan," replied Hermione hugging Harry back and kissing him on the cheek. "My brother. My champion," she whispered. "Always there for me."
"Always will be love. Always will be."
The others watched the poignant scene before them realizing that if there was ever an unbreakable bond between two people, it was there between Harry Potter and Hermione Granger Malfoy.
"Alright," Hermione said looking around the dining room. "One of you enterprising wizards enlarge the table and round up a few more chairs."
"I'll do it," said everyone at once. Matt was quickest. He drew his wand and did what needed to be done while the others were trying to decide who should do it.
/*/
Scorpius sat in his baby chair between Hermione and Hannah, but he kept glancing over at Matt and Seth. After one extremely long look at Matt, Scorpius began to chant, "Dada, dada, daddy."
Hermione broke. Grabbing Scorpius out of his chair, she excused herself from the table and quickly left the room.
Hannah excused herself as well, explaining that Scorpius had never said the word daddy before. It had always only been dada.
About ten minutes later, Hannah, Hermione and Scorpius returned to the table.
"My apologies everyone," she remarked wearily. "As Hannah mentioned, Draco never got to hear Scorp call him daddy. This is the first time the whole word has come out his mouth. I do realize I won't be able to run out of the room over every a missed milestone. Please bear with me."
Fausto spoke up before anyone else could. "You don't owe any of us here an apology Hermione. You don't owe us any explanation at all. You are grieving. Things will come up and you will deal with them as best you can. Walking away from a table isn't worth mentioning. I don't think you'll find one among us who thinks differently. We love you and Scorp. Any of us would jump at the chance to be able to take your pain away. That not being possible, we will be here to catch you when or if you fall."
Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She had scared Scorpius enough with her wailing. She had to be strong for her son.
Hermione didn't speak much throughout the rest of dinner. At one point, Harry covered her hand with his and asked if she was alright. Hermione quietly replied that she was fine.
/*/
When dinner was over, Hermione told them all to have a stretch then join her in the dining room. After the loo break, the subdued group took seats around the table then looked to Hermione to begin the discussion.
A wave of restlessness went through the British wizards when Hermione made her first statement.
Looking slowly around the table at all Draco's cousins and mates, Hermione told them in a choked voice that according to Italian Regulations regarding the deaths of a non citizen, tomorrow would be the last day anyone would be able to sit with Draco's body. He would have to be moved to a funeral home of their choosing before midnight.
"Sal explained that rule before Harry, Blaise, Theo and Hannah arrived," offered Seth. "We know the Brits will want to sit with you on the last night, but we're hoping you will allow us to sit with you as well. I'm not a spokesperson, but I will say how sorry we are for not sitting with you before this. We should have known you wouldn't take our presence as an intrusion."
"I don't think that will be a problem Seth. We'll all take some personal time with Draco. I know he's gone, and I knew he'd have to be moved at some point," she whispered tearfully. "But cutting us off from him almost feels as final as interring him. Lying there, Draco looks like he's sleeping. He looks like he did every night lying beside me. I appreciate the time the hospital took in preparing him for the sittings. I was told he was a bloody mess. That was how it was put to me, his wife. My husband was a bloody mess when they brought him in."
As she spoke, the tears began running down her face and dripping from her chin, but she didn't bother wiping them away. They were tears for Draco. They belonged on her face.
Hermione's last comments infuriated everyone around the table, but again, Matt spoke first.
"I know this is not the time," growled Matt savagely. "But I want a name. Who is the bloody fuck that would address a widow in that manner? Especially a widow who had come on her own. I want a bloody name. I don't have time for any member of any staff who is so insulated, he or she cannot act with a modicum of propriety. That person will lose the position and perhaps learn a lesson."
Kim reached over to take Matt's hand in hers.
With tears still dripping from her chin, Hermione gave Matt a small smile. "You sound just like Draco….. and Harry," she said, turning to look at her faux brother. "The words were unfortunate Matt, but please don't worry about that. I need assistance with bigger things."
Matt was incensed. "I'll put it aside until we have everything settled Hermione, but I intend to deal with it first chance I get. Just like Draco would do. May we start before I lose my shite altogether?"
Kim shook her head. Her normally gentle husband had been in a state since learning about Draco's untimely death. She feared it would only get worse from here.