It felt wrong to be here in the grounds of Malfoy Manor a place where she had been tortured, carved into, almost raped, mere months before this dreadful day, a day she would surely remember just as much as the day they had been captured. She'd remember this moment for the rest of her life, remember it and the events that led to it until the day she took her dying breath. It was her fault, she was the cause of this, the reason he was no more, the reason his body was getting lowered into the ground shrouded from her eyes by the dark coffin he was encased in. She was the reason dirt had been laid atop of him, why a marble headstone was erected, why the other attendants at this funeral either glared at her or looked at her with immense pity as they each paid their respects to the fallen heir before leaving, likely to attend the funeral of someone else they had lost during the final battle.
"Miss Granger," a voice spoke, Hermione wiped at her eyes though it did little to stop the flood of tears that had plagued her since the moment he'd stepped in front of that curse, his arms wrapping around her, shielding her from the purple flames that eviscerated his insides, killing him before she could save him.
"Mrs Mal-foy" she choked, what right did she have to react in such a way, when Narcissa Malfoy had lost a son. The woman before her looked poised, dressed in black mourning robes, her long hair held in a tight bun.
"Draco loved you," the woman stated, her eyes glassy and full of grief.
"How," Hermione whispered the word.
"How did I know," the blonde asked arching an eyebrow in a way that was so reminiscent of Draco, Hermione nodded.
"A mother always knows these things Miss Granger, come have tea with me," the older woman requested.
"Draco," Hermione took a step towards the place he had been buried, but a cold hand took her own stopping her in her tracks.
"Is gone," Mrs Malfoy whispered, her voice trembling.
"It's my fault," she confessed as the older witch led her towards the manor.
"Did you love him," Mrs Malfoy asked quietly, as she led her into a small sitting room, it was blue in colour, and a vase of fresh daffodils sat on a small table, alongside a tray of tea and biscuits.
"With all my heart," she confessed to the blonde as she sat down on a cream sofa.
"Then it is not your fault, my son died saving the woman he loved, a woman who loved him just as much. The only person to blame for this tragedy is Bellatrix for she is the one who cast the curse that killed him," Narcissa spoke her hands trembling as she set about making tea.
"A curse that was intended for me," Hermione spoke quietly, accepting a cup that Narcissa handed to her.
"A curse that was intended for your unborn child," the older woman spoke again.
"What, I'm not," Hermione gasped unable to find the words to finish her sentence.
"A few days before the final battle the Malfoy Family tree grew another branch, linking Draco and yourself, through the life you have created. Bellatrix and Lucius wanted to put an end to it before either yourself or Draco were aware of the life growing within you," Mrs Malfoy spoke calmly.
"It's not possible," Hermine shook her head, her mind whirling through dates and timelines, when was her last period, when did she last have sex, everything had been so messed up, weight loss, stress and prolonged starvation while on the run had left her cycles irregular. Even if she and Draco hadn't been careful after they had escaped Malfoy Manor there was no way she was pregnant, carrying his child while he was dead.
"I'm afraid you are," Mrs Malfoy whispered, waving her wand the older woman silently cast a charm, a gentle pink glow surrounding Hermione, confirming that she was with child.
"I can't be a mum, I'm all alone, my parents are gone, Draco is dead, I haven't finished school, I don't have a job, I have nightmares every night. I'm not prepared for this, I'm a mess," She confessed breaking down, sobbing as the older witch gathered her in her arms.
"I'm alone too child, I'll help you with anything you need," Narcissa Malfoy promised, and she did. Narcissa was there for Hermione throughout her pregnancy, she attended every healer's appointment, she stayed up comforting her after each nightmare and she supported her in remotely completing her final year of Hogwarts. When she graduated, Narcissa was there, when she gave birth to twins Scorpius Draco Malfoy and Cassiopeia Adaline Malfoy, it was Narcissa who held her hand telling her Draco would be so proud of her. Narcissa supported her in pursuing a career as a healer and was overjoyed to take care of her grandchildren who she doted on lovingly. Together her and Narcissa supported each other in their shared grief for Draco's loss, coming to view each other as mother and daughter as they watched Draco's children grow, each often reminding the pair of the father who died unknowingly saving their lives in addition the the woman he loved so much.
