Chapter Two: Nightingales
"I don't see why we can't just have the house elves make the wedding cake Hermione. Or even just have a baker make one. Why do we need to make it, and on the eve of our wedding? We're getting married tomorrow for goodness sakes." I said as I was sifting through nine cups of flour. It started to puff up into my face and I could see white powder floating around the room. "This is such a mess! I don't even know how to bake a cake!"
"It's tradition, Draco. My family has always made the wedding cake. Besides, I've never seen you more pale." Hermione laughed. I loved seeing her laugh, it almost made this catastrophe worth it. Hermione was whipping up the cream, butter and sugar. She seemed to know what she was doing, because I'm sure my arm would be tired by now. I finished sifting through the flour, and put the strainer in the sink.
I turned towards Hermione with an idea. "Pale, huh?" I asked as I grabbed the remaining flour left in the bag and sprinkled it over her head. "Well, I've never seen your hair so gray, I think baking this cake is aging you. I say we just have someone else bake this cake." Hermione laughed. Oh, I loved that laugh.
"Draco, stop that! We're almost finished. We just have to combine all this together and then put it in the oven. Oh, and then bake about...8 more layers?" Hermione said and I groaned. A sound distracted me from my groaning. I could hear the song of birds out the kitchen window. Hermione heard them too. "Oh, I love the song of Nightingales, don't you Draco?" She asked.
"Right, yeah." I said unconvincingly. Hermione didn't notice. She paused her whisking and went to the window to open it. She stood there, listening. She told me that ever since she was a little girl, she loved waking up to the sound of the birds.
Hermione reached out for me, and I came to the window. I wrapped my arms around her, and she pleaded, "Draco, we should build some birdhouses and baths, and plant some beautiful flowers for the birds. That way we can hear them each morning when we wake up. I just love this sound." I held her closer and agreed.
I woke up from my dream, hearing the song of the Nightingale. I turned over, and Hermione wasn't there. She'll never be right here ever again. I thought. Why did I wake up? I don't want to be awake. I tried going back to sleep to dream about her again, but the song of the Nightingale's was too strong. I burst from bed in anger, "Those stupid, terrible, loud, ugly birds!" I voiced angrily. I put on my robe hanging from the bathroom door and made my way down the stairs.
"Konry!" I shouted, "Konry, bring me a bat." Konry popped in front of me, carrying an old, cracked baseball bat. I hadn't seen this bat since I was 9 and my uncle secretly taught me baseball against the wishes of my parents. He said it would teach me skills to hit a bludger in Quidditch. Well, I guess now it is giving me skills to hit a birdhouse.
"Sir?" Konry asked. "What do you need the bat for, sir?" Konry looked worried. I ignored him and made my way outside. Those stupid loud birds. I'll show them. I swung the bat and knocked down a birdhouse. I swung, and I swung and I swung until the birdhouse was all but pieces of broken, painted wood. I noticed there weren't any birds in the birdhouse. I could still hear them in the trees.
I started crying, shouting "shut up, shut up, shut up! She's gone! She's gone, so shut up!" The bird's songs didn't quieten. Instead, I heard their songs louder. I dropped to my knees and wept.
"Draco?" I female voice called out. I remained motionless in the garden. The Nightingale song has stopped by now. It's almost eerily quiet in the garden. "Draco, there you are. What are you.." my mother trailed off. "Draco, what did you do? Reparo," she spelled the birdhouse as it floated back up into the tree, brand new.
My mother knelt down beside me, which did little to comfort me.She's gone, I kept repeating to myself. Nothing is ever going to comfort me again. I didn't think I could cry any more, but I did.
"Draco, why don't you come to the hospital with me? You haven't come to see your daughters. They've been in the NICU this entire time. I've seen your friends come, and so have Hermione's parents. It's been 5 days. Have you thought of names?" My mother asked. I almost ignored her, but I have thought about it. Hermione wanted to name them Ivy and Vera. It means "Faithfulness and Truth" If only Hermione had told me about the prophecy. We could have changed it somehow. I wouldn't have let her leave the house, ever. Not that would have stopped Hermione. She was as stubborn as they come.
I nodded to my mother. "Yes, let me get ready and we'll go." I stood up and walked back into the house.
We walked into the Hospital and checked in. They handed me a robe, gloves and a hat to put on so I could enter the room and hold them. Luna and Ginny were already in the room, holding the babies. Luna handed the baby over to my mother and excused herself. She looked ready to have twins herself. Ginny turned toward me and handed me one of the girls.
Holding her, I started to cry again. I loved Hermione, and she would want nothing more than to be here holding them with me. I knew that the baby in my arms should be called Vera. I had an overwhelming feeling of peace and love, much more than I have felt these last few days. Vera opened her eyes and looked at me. She had her mothers eyes. I held her and thought of Hermione.
Ginny broke me from my thoughts. "Draco? Would you like me to go get the nurse so you can give them their names? They need it for the birth certificates. They've been asking for you for a few days, but none of us could get a hold of you." I nodded and told her I had asked Konry not to let anyone in. Konry probably didn't think it pertained to my mother. I noticed a chair in the other side of the room. I sat down and held Vera. My mother stayed silent, holding Ivy and whispering a nursery song to her. I recognized the song.
Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town!
We spoke with the doctor, and my mother came and put Ivy in my other arm. As I was holding both babies, Ginny and Luna came back into the room and offered to take a picture. The babies were still too weak, and needed to stay in the hospital where they could be taken care of. I would be able to bring them home next week. My mother, Ginny, and Luna all went home. I stayed holding the sleeping babies until the nurses came and took them away.
I didn't want to return home. I didn't want to hear the Nightingales, and I didn't want to see the home without her there. I decided to go into the office. If I had made the perfect medicine before, maybe this all wouldn't of happened. "Accio Letter," I pulled my wand out to retrieve Hermione's letter that had arrived on my lap that fateful day. I've read the letter a million times, wondering why she didn't tell me, why we couldn't stop it. She didn't believe in Trelawny's prophecies. Why didn't she just tell me about it?
I walked into my office, and someone was standing there pulling out a book from the bookshelf. "Albert?" I asked "What are you doing here?"
He turned toward me and scolded, "No, what are you doing here? You should be at home. Ginny called and told me everything that happened. Dahlia and I came to take care of the London office for you. How are you doing? Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" I exclaimed, "Hermione is gone. She's gone Albert!" I held back my tears. It's all my fault. I should have stayed home that day. I should have gone with her. "
"Draco, it's not your fault. It was a freak accident. Hermione wouldn't want you to blame yourself. Please, Dahlia and I are here for you. Please let us know what you need, and we'll take care of it. You should go home. Take some time off." Albert said calmly. I disagreed, but I didn't want to talk to anyone right now. I left the office and went home.