Disclaimer: All characters, etc.. are the property of JKR, Bloomsbury, etc...
From Last time:
The Restaurant at The End of the Universe is, of course, from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Care of Magical Creatures teacher is named for Professor Robert Sullivan, who discovered and named the new dinosaur dracorex hogwartsia
Chapter Five: The Awful Truth
Severus rubbed at his temples, trying to will away the approaching migraine. Draco looked up at them again and when Madam Weasley sensed his gaze and looked up, he went back to staring at his hands. She would watch him until he looked up and then she would look away and ask her husband what time it was. This had occurred no less than a dozen times in the hour they'd been waiting. It had to stop.
"Mr. Weasley, come with me to fetch tea from the commissary."
"But, can't you just…" he looked at his former teacher and realized there would be no arguing… "Alright."
"Professor", Draco cut in, "I'll go with you."
"No, Draco. You two should wait here. You are, collectively, the next-of-kin. Any word or action will need to go through you."
Ron was about half-way down the hall before he came to a screeching halt upon the realization that he wasn't in school anymore and the war was over, therefore, he was no longer obligated to follow the Headmaster's instructions without question.
Severus, seeing that a full-scale revolt was about to unfold, grabbed the back of Ron's robes and pulled him along, saying "Don't hover Mister Weasley. There is a conversation going on, as we speak, that you will be grateful for not overhearing".
Ron looked at him and scowled. Surely, this lunatic didn't 1) know about Hermione's ….situation and 2) wasn't suggesting that Draco Malfoy had anything to do with it?
"Listen..." he started, but was interrupted by the appearance of Narcissa Malfoy, looking fresh as a daisy, coming out of the emergency ward and heading for the waiting area.
The two men made to catch up with her and just as they did the three of them were thrown gently back by an invisible shield surrounding the waiting area. Inside, they could see Hermione and Malfoy. She was talking; Ron recognized the tell-tale signs of a crying jag approaching by the way she scrunched up her face every few seconds and the ever-increasing brightness in her eyes. Malfoy had his back to her, arms folded over his chest, but there were rather bright spots of color beginning to appear on his cheeks. They couldn't hear the conversation, but Ron noticed that Narcissa looked just as confused as he did. The Headmaster, however, looked…well, smug. It was as though he'd orchestrated the entire thing himself. "What is this about, Severus?" Narcissa asked "Draco's not dressing her down because I was with Neville during the accident, I hope?"
"Narcissa, darling, one of these days you will learn that the world doesn't turn on its axis because you will it to do so. This has absolutely nothing to do with you, but if you and Mister Weasley here will just let it play out, we may all finally get a small respite from this little drama into which we've been drawn"
"Don't you know a way to listen in?" Ron asked
"Of course I do" he responded "but I'm not sure either of you are ready for the truth"
"I already know part of it" the two said simultaneously
"You do?" they each asked the other as they turned face to face.
"You two will have to save the Vaudeville act for later." Severus said as he muttered something under his breath and waved his hand, they could hear Hermione talking though she sounded very far away and her voice echoed slightly as though she were in a tunnel or down a well.
"….Please…just talk to me…"
"I have nothing to say."
Then, as if he knew someone was eavesdropping, Malfoy waved his hand and the sound was lost. Hermione didn't seem to notice any of this, but Ron's heart rate sped up at the lost, sad look upon her face. She began to speak again and her lips formed the unmistakable word…"Draco".
He turned to face her, but didn't speak.
"It's her." Narcissa whispered "He loves her"
"Don't be stupid... Ron started, but then recognizing the way the woman's son was looking at his wife, he knew that she might be right. "Alright, he may but that doesn't mean she loves hi…"
"I love you" Hermione mouthed
Malfoy was on her in a flash. Ron's stomach turned and he found it hard to breathe. He lurched forward to try and wrench her out of the tyrant's grasp, but encountered the barrier and was thrown back into Narcissa. He struggled furiously. Malfoy had a hold of Hermione's shoulders and was shaking her. He was yelling something at her, but Ron couldn't make it out.
"Severus, do something" Narcissa pleaded
The Headmaster, seeing that no closure would be found today, waved his wand causing the wards to fall just in time to hear Draco say "You're just like them! You killed him because he got in the way of your ambitions! No less than my father would've done. Only he'd have been honest about his motivation."
"Draco, there you are!" Narcissa breezed. They might have been able to make it look like they'd just come upon the scene, none the wiser, but Ron finally lost his legendary Weasley (nee Prewett) temper. He drew his wand and came to stand between the two of them.
"Don't you ever come near my wife again! If you so much as breathe in her general direction, I will kill you. Do you hear me, Malfoy?"
But Draco didn't seem to hear him. He was staring over his shoulder at Hermione, who had now dissolved into tears and sunk down on the sofa. Ron found himself roughly shoved out of the way. Malfoy made his way to the place where she sat. He crouched down in front of her and whispered "Please. I… that was out of order. Please don't cry"
Hermione looked up at him and said "I'm so sorry. I…. it was so hard for me… everyday I've thought of him, how he would look and…how …you were right. I was no better than Lucius, but I…I… Oh, I've ruined all our lives..."
"No. No" he whispered. "It's not your fault. .I …if I hadn't been who I was then. If it was Potter or Weasley or even Longbottom, you'd never have thought twice about it. You'd have gotten married and lived happily ever…"
"No, Draco, No. That's not why. Please…"
"Granger, listen. I…I've done something. You must… try to understand…. I was so…it was…Madame Pomfrey thought it would give me some…. I don't know, comfort. I… named him Orion, after my mum's grandfather and Leonidas, like you wanted. He…he was so small. Just fit in the palm of my hand." He sniffed. Severus let out a long breath and turned his back to keep from having to watch Draco cry. Ron and Narcissa each sank down on the sofa opposite Hermione's. Narcissa began to cry, quietly while Ron covered his ears with his hands, shaking his head. Draco continued "It hurt….it…I thought I might die from it… and I was so…angry. I just struck out and it was so easy then to blame you."
Hermione looked at him and the fierce expression on her face told them all she already knew what he was going to say and it wasn't good.
"Draco, what did you do?" They were all thinking it but it was Narcissa who asked.
"I…I'm sorry. I cursed the cup. You… didn't mess up the potion. You were in perfect health, but now..."
"No!" Ron yelled. Narcissa grasped his hand and Severus simply shook his head to let Ron know he must remain quiet. Hermione grabbed Malfoy's shoulders. "Draco, no, no….please, tell me there's a counter…please…"
"I made it after he was born. I thought if I couldn't have you, I wouldn't know how to live, how to carry on. I didn't want you to be with anyone else…I was jealous of Potter and… I… used some of the baby's…blood…and…I…. all you had to do was smash the cup… it was sealed with a…I knew you would break it. Your temper…There's… it's not a fertility curse…you…you're bound to Orion's blood, my blood."
They all sat in quiet horror. Hermione rose after a while and left. Ron followed her as she informed the mediwitch on staff to notify her by owl if Neville needed anything.
Meanwhile back in the waiting area, Draco remained crouching on the floor, staring at the empty spot where Hermione had been sitting. Narcissa approached him and pulled him to his feet. He dumbly followed. "Severus, please help me. I want to take Draco home, to the manor and then when he's settled; I'd like you to take me to my grandson's grave." The Headmaster nodded his agreement and together, they apparated Draco to the master suite in Wiltshire.