* ~ The Eighth Year Universe ~ *
Love Wins
I'll Find a Way, Whatever It Takes
The chapter title is from the song:
Call on Me – Angels Fall.
Ever since Harry had given him a slice of reality, Draco had been unable to shake the feeling that he was right.
It had been two weeks, he needed to talk to his wife.
Still, realising that and doing it were two very different things. He didn't know how to approach her after all the animosity that there had been between them. Every time Draco thought he'd worked up the courage, he gave himself another reason not to do it.
That was when Theo and Sadie took matters into their own hands. Theo lured him into the house, under the premise of helping out the Wonder Twins with some homework, then he had shoved him into a small, dark place…..with Hermione.
"Really, Theo?"
"Hey, I just had the idea to shove you in a cupboard," Theo's voice said from outside, "It was Sadie who came up with the tricky locking spell."
"You'll only get out if you make up or make out," Sadie's voice added.
"Take your pick," Theo said, and they could both tell that the bastard was smirking.
"Why a cleaning cupboard?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"Because you two did most of your bonding in broom cupboards and secret passageways at Hogwarts," Theo's voice replied, "We thought we'd recreate the scene."
Draco shook his head in disbelief, and Theo's cane clicked against the wooden floor outside, "We're going now, bye!"
"See you later!" Sadie added.
"If you aren't too stubborn, that is," Theo said, and his cane clicked again, the sound gradually fading away.
Draco turned to look at Hermione, who was looking sheepish in the dimly lit space.
She bit her lip, "This is awkward."
"Is it?" Draco asked dryly, "I hadn't noticed."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, then shut it again.
Draco ran a hand through his hair, and Hermione shifted slightly in the tight space, brushing up against Draco in the process. He jumped and moved further away from her, and she rolled her eyes.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Draco. We're not 18 anymore. We're adults who have done disgustingly graphic things in the bedroom," Hermione snapped.
"If you genuinely don't feel like you can put your hand on my waist in a broom cupboard, then maybe this is the end."
"Maybe I just don't want to put my hand on your waist, Granger."
Hermione looked at him in disbelief, "Granger? We've been married for 20 years, Malfoy!"
Draco scoffed, "Don't you dare call me Malfoy. Every Auror who has ever doubted me has called me that since you threw me under the bus. I made the name 'Black' mean something again, but the name 'Malfoy' will always mean sleazy and cowardly!"
Hermione actually backed away from him slightly. It wasn't that she hadn't seen him angry before, but it had been a while since she saw him this out of control.
"And that's on you!" Draco snapped, "Because of you, people are looking at me like I'm my father!"
"When are you going to grow up and get over that, Draco?" Hermione fumed.
"When we got together, it became abundantly clear that you ruined your life trying to make your father happy because you had some deep-rooted issues because of him! I thought, eventually, you had realised that he was worthless and, therefore, not your concern. It has been years, Draco. When are you going to let go of it?"
"Never," Draco said coolly, "Because when you grow up in an abusive situation, you don't get over it! It sticks with you forever, and it makes you who you are. It makes you get up and take your kids to Quidditch matches at 6 am on a Saturday because you know fine well he didn't. It makes you accept your kids regardless of what they do or who they love because you spent years repressing your own damn feelings! But pampered little princesses who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouths, don't get that!"
"You're accusing me of growing up with a silver spoon in my mouth?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"I had all the silver spoons in the world, Hermione, but I didn't have the unconditional love of a family," Draco said coldly.
"I didn't have a father who sang to me or read me bedtime stories. I had a father who terrified me, and that's where we differ. It's where we've always differed."
"So that's why I'm always on the outside," Hermione said coldly, "I had a happy childhood, so I don't understand you like Theo and Sadie do?"
"In this aspect, yes!" Draco snapped, "And Hermione, you've never been able to admit that you're wrong or that you don't know something, and there are just some things you can't know. I grew up being terrified of him, and then when I was old enough to understand everything he had done, I became terrified of being him. And now, that's who everyone thinks I am, because of you-"
"Draco-"
"Just let me finish," Draco said irritably, "You are the person who forgave me for things that shouldn't have been forgiven. You found me when I was broken and fucked up, and you told me that I could write my own story, that I could move on from my past. You are the girl I fell utterly in love with and who I've fallen more in love with through every passing year. You knew who I was, but you didn't try to change me. You just accepted me when nobody else would and when I didn't deserve it."
He swallowed and shook his head, "And then you threw me onto the street like I was nothing because I had served my purpose, and it was your career that mattered. If it had been anyone else, I would be angry, but I would get over it, but it wasn't anyone else; it was you."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"You betrayed my trust and my love. You demeaned my sacrifice," Draco finished, "And you made me feel like Draco Malfoy, the smarmy little boy who had daddy issues. You made me feel like that, and as mad as that makes me, it hurts more."
"But what you don't seem to think about, Draco is that I lost you," Hermione said, "You were gone, and I had to face a future without you. I didn't think about anything else. I didn't think about the consequences. Not when I ordered Sadie to save you, and not when I was trying to muddle through after that. I was reeling, and I was in shock."
Draco watched her sceptically.
"And you don't seem to care about the sacrifice I made for you," Hermione added angrily.
"When I lost control, I knew I could be throwing away my dream of being Minister for Magic because getting vengeance and then getting you back, it mattered more than anything else in the world. No dream was worth losing you, and it never will be."
"You still crossed a line," Draco argued.
"Yes, and I would do it again, a hundred times over!" Hermione snapped, "Because I'm not the pure, golden girl that you think I am, Draco. I'm selfish, and I make bad choices, and maybe I'm not as competent with this kind of power as I thought I would be, but I'm not perfect!"
"I never said you were perfect!" Draco snapped, subconsciously taking a step closer to her, "I don't want you to be perfect. I just want you to be sorry!"
"I am sorry!" Hermione bit back.
"But I don't regret it because I will always do anything in my power to save you. Because I love you more than I've ever loved another person in my entire life."
"Well, if loving me makes you so reckless and stupid, then maybe you should stop," Draco snapped.
"I can't!" Hermione yelled, her chest rising and falling rapidly with her quick breaths.
Draco stopped yelling and met her gaze. He held it for a second and then moved forward, his lips crashing against hers. She reached for him and pulled him closer, his hips pressing against hers and her back flush with the wall.
It was reminiscent of their first kisses, back in little hideaways just like this across Hogwarts. It was full of need and desire, every action laced with lust. From the small gasp that left Hermione's lips when he moved his hips, just enough to show her how aroused he was, down to the way his hands slid under her blouse and gripped her waist just a little too tightly. She bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, and he groaned, deepening the kiss as they both ignored the metallic taste.
Neither of them heard the soft click that told them the locking charm on the door had been removed, and they wouldn't have left it there anywhere, even if they had. There was too much unfinished business, too much that was yet to be said but couldn't quite be put into words yet.
Draco lifted Hermione with ease and pressed her up against the wall as she wrapped her legs around his waist, digging her ankles in and making Draco hiss.
It wasn't always like this. These days their sex life had been something close to boring. They didn't bicker or spar as much as they used to after all, but this was reminiscent of their early sex life. Back when everything had been a battle of wills, and Hermione had usually won.
Tonight, she felt like she owed the win to Draco.
"Do you think they're gonna be okay?"
"I think they're having sex in a broom cupboard in the basement, so yes, they're going to be just fine."
Theo snorted, "How do you know that?"
"Because the only people who are worse at resolving conflict in their relationship are Harry and Daphne," Sadie deadpanned.
Theo chuckled, "Do you think it will work, though?"
"If it doesn't, they're gonna be hungry in the morning," Sadie joked, shooting her husband an amused look.
Theo smiled, "I wonder if either of them has thought of the flaw in our plan."
Sadie raised an eyebrow, "The flaw being that they could just call a house-elf, and it would get them out?"
Theo nodded, a smile playing on his lips, "The princess must have thought of that."
Sadie shook her head, "She's angry, and when she's angry, it clouds her vision. She's a Gryffindor, Theo. That's why those two spar as much sexually as they do verbally."
Theo opened his mouth to say something, then grinned.
"What?" Sadie asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"They're having sex," Theo said with a snort, "In the broom cupboard, which is unlocked, but I don't think they've noticed."
Sadie chuckled, "Did Draco mind-link that image to you?"
"Yeah, I don't think he meant to," Theo said with a shake of his head, "But at least they're resolving the issue, I suppose. Even if this is just another method of fighting…."
Sadie shot him an amused look, "Whose winning?"
"Sadie Cauldwell," Theo scoffed, holding his hand to his chest.
"Are you asking me to tap into my best friend's brain at an incredibly intimate moment?"
Sadie gave him an amused look, "When have you minded before?"
Theo grinned, "Well, if you will twist my arm…."
He concentrated for a moment, then grinned, "Draco. Oh yeah, Draco's definitely winning."
"Hermione's probably letting him," Sadie said as she climbed into bed and turned off the light.
"Well, if it's an apology, it looks like a damn good one."
"Alright, Theo, that's enough now."
The usual light-hearted air that occurred after sex wasn't present in the broom cupboard in the basement of Blacknot Castle.
It felt like they were teenagers again – Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Princess and Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin Prince. One who had fought by Harry Potter's side and the other who had been branded by Voldemort.
As they caught their breath and tried to avoid looking at each other, it felt exactly like it had all of those years ago. Like what they were doing was wrong, but they kept coming back for more because of the inexplicable pull towards each other than they had both felt since they were 14-years-old.
"Draco," Hermione said, reaching out to grip his hand.
He froze but didn't pull away from her instantly.
"We shouldn't have done that," Draco said quietly.
Hermione frowned slightly, "Well, you obviously wanted to."
"That doesn't mean I should have," Draco said, unable to look her in the eye, "It doesn't mean it's the way to figure this out."
"What is the way, then?" Hermione asked, her voice breaking, "Giving me the papers you've got locked in your desk?"
Draco looked up in alarm, "What?"
"I'm not stupid, Draco," Hermione said coldly, "When you locked that drawer and took your wedding ring off, I knew. What I don't understand is why it's taking you this long to make a decision. You're not a coward, so it can't be that you're afraid of my reaction."
"Maybe it's just that I don't know what I want, Hermione," Draco said, his eyes meeting hers, "Since I was 17 years old, I thought it was you. I'm trying to rewrite over two decades of loving you and standing by you, and I can't do that overnight."
"Then don't do it!" Hermione snapped, "I'll go to see a mental health healer with you, and I'll work through whatever issues we need to. But I won't just give up, Draco. You need to work out what you want, but just to be clear, this isn't our eighth year when you can drag me into broom cupboards and make out with me, then ignore me or blatantly disrespect me hours later."
Her eyes burned into his, "We have children together, and we have to set an example for them. I don't want them to think that this is normal behaviour, this infuriating indecisiveness! You nearly lost me once because you couldn't figure out if I was what you wanted, and I won't stand around like a wallflower while you put me through that again!"
"I'll decide," Draco said coolly, "And to avoid us blurring the lines even further, I won't speak to you until I have."
Hermione opened her mouth to object, but Draco slipped out of the now unlocked broom cupboard before she could.
With a groan, Hermione let her head drop against the solid wooden door as a curse word fell from her lips.
Theo and Sadie were almost asleep when Hermione burst into the bedroom furiously.
Their reaction to this was vastly different. Theo groaned and pulled the covers over his head, and Sadie opened one eye to peer at Hermione.
"Why aren't you with Draco?" She asked through a yawn.
"Why am I not with Draco?" Hermione asked furiously, "Oh, I don't know, maybe because he had sex with me then disappeared back to the coach house!"
Theo looked out from the covers, "You didn't make up?"
"No!" Hermione snapped. "Well done for grasping that, Theodore!"
"Fuck me, you're a bitch when you're angry," Theo muttered under his breath.
"We did not make up. He shoved me against a wall and violated me-"
"You seemed to be enjoying it from the images he accidentally sent me," Theo remarked.
Sadie elbowed him under the covers, and Theo gritted his teeth, "Ouch?"
"Oh, he did, did he?" Hermione asked hotly, "He ignores me for two weeks, then he disrespects me, and he thinks it's okay to send you the mental images?"
Theo raised an eyebrow at her, "Hermione, are you forgetting that I've disrespected you quite a lot over the years too?"
Sadie rolled her eyes and threw her head back on the pillow.
"What is wrong with you? It's like you and Draco enjoy riling her up!"
Hermione continued to pace the room furiously, "Honestly, he's bloody unreal!"
Theo sighed and gave up on trying to get back to sleep. He pushed himself up a little more. But Sadie stayed where she was and contemplated trying to smother herself with a pillow.
"I just don't understand him!" Hermione exclaimed, "I thought I did. If I don't kill him before December, we will have been married for 21 years this year! I thought we had gotten past everything that we needed to, but no, he still has trust issues because of his father!"
"Those kinds of deep-rooted issues don't really go away," Sadie pointed out.
"Especially when you have them because you got abused by your own father and his psycho dark lord best friend," Theo added, rubbing his eyes.
Hermione glared at him, "So I'm the bad guy for expecting him to trust me after 20 years of marriage?"
Theo frowned, "Nobody said that."
"He did!" Hermione exclaimed. Tears pricked her eyes; she was torn between screaming out in rage and bursting into tears.
"He has divorce papers locked in the top drawer of his desk," Hermione said, the anger dissipating slightly, "Did either of you know that?"
From the looks on Theo and Sadie's faces, Hermione knew that they weren't lying when they shook their heads.
"He hasn't spoken to me," Sadie admitted.
"And he didn't tell me," Theo promised, "I knew he'd taken his wedding ring off…but he's actually had papers drawn up?"
"Yes," Hermione said tearfully, "And then he has the nerve to say that I'm blurring the lines? He blurred the lines! He blurred the lines when he had sex with me!"
Theo sighed and got to his feet, padding barefoot across the floor, wearing only boxers. When he reached Hermione and pulled her into a hug, she broke down.
"I don't understand him, Theo," Hermione sobbed.
Theo tightened his grip on her and mumbled through her hair, "I know, love."
Hermione pulled away and shook her head, opting to pace the floor more. Theo knew why she did it, part of it was to release the tension from her body, but it was also a nervous habit.
"I've apologised, and I don't know how much more I can do," Hermione said. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her cardigan, "I have one last card up my sleeve, one last chance to try and save my marriage. To…stop the man I love from walking away from me."
"Then whatever it is, now is the time to pull it out," Sadie said. She pulled the cover back slightly, "But you can't do it at midnight, can you?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, but I need to give a press conference so I can go to the study and write it up-"
Theo, who was still standing by the foot of the bed, reached out to grab her hand.
"Princess, you need sleep," Theo said, tugging her wrist to bring her a little closer.
She didn't fight it, and when Theo swept his wand over her face to remove her glamour charms, he sighed.
"You're exhausted."
Sadie got to her feet and left the room. Hermione and Theo both knew where she was going, even if they didn't say so.
Theo brushed a stray tear away and looked Hermione in the eye, "This job is going to kill you if you don't let us in."
Hermione scoffed, "Maybe that's not the worst thing. If Draco signs those papers, then…what's the point?"
"What's the point?" Theo asked, his voice breaking.
Hermione looked up and saw the hurt shining in his eyes.
"The point is us, Hermione," Theo said quietly, "I don't care how stupid Draco is being, I still love you, and if you worked yourself to death, it would destroy me."
Sadie stepped out of the bathroom with a vial in her hands.
"And I love you," She said, holding out the vial, "Enough to tell you that you need to drink this before you burn yourself out."
Hermione took the vial reluctantly, and Theo let his hand drop from her face, "No job is worth your life," he said hotly, "And I'm sure Draco feels the same, even if he can't say it."
Hermione looked away from him to hide the conflicting emotions in her eyes. She took a steadying breath and drank the sleeping draught.
Sadie grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bed.
"I'm sorry, Theo," Hermione mumbled when he climbed into bed next to her.
Theo draped an arm over her and sighed, "I know Draco is the epic love of your life, Hermione, but the world doesn't revolve around him."
As the sleeping draught began to claim her, Hermione felt him press a kiss against her forehead, and she sighed contently.
Theo wasn't wrong; she was exhausted.
When Draco walked into the kitchen of Greengrass House, he was in such a mood that he didn't realise it was otherwise occupied at first.
"What are you doing here?"
Draco looked up and saw Daphne making a pot of tea.
"I stayed in the guest room. That is okay with you, isn't it?" Draco retorted dryly, "My mother is the lady of the house after all."
Daphne quirked up an eyebrow at him.
"What are you doing here?" He added irritably.
"Spending time with my dying father," Daphne retorted, "He is the lord of the house. That is okay with you, isn't it?"
Her tone was calm, but she was giving Draco the icy gaze he had grown accustomed to in their sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts.
Draco grimaced and bowed his head, "Of course you are, sorry."
Daphne raised an eyebrow at him, "What has you so blindsided that you forgot your step-father was on his deathbed?"
Draco didn't need to tell her the truth. She was his friend and his step-sister, but he didn't owe her anything. Especially when he hadn't even been able to open up to Theo or Sadie about everything. Still, it was easier with Daphne because she was a little more removed from the situation.
"Hermione," Draco replied honestly.
"Still not speaking, then?" Daphne presumed.
Draco laughed bitterly and shook his head, "Not unless it's to argue. I had divorce papers written out, Daphne. They are locked in a drawer of my desk, along with my wedding ring."
Daphne froze with her hand hovering over the sugar tray, "Divorce papers?" she echoed.
Draco leaned against the kitchen counter and shook his head, "I was ready to give them to her. I mean, she went against my own ethical code and…honestly, I don't know if that's because she just didn't care about it, or because she didn't even know how I felt about death."
"You've never talked about it?" Daphne asked, cocking her head at him.
Draco shook his head, "We're still young. We didn't think it was a conversation that we needed to have. I thought she just knew that if I was on the brink of death and there was nothing she could do, the kind thing would be to let me go."
"But there was something she could do," Daphne pointed out.
Draco looked up and caught Daphne's eye, "No, there wasn't. She did something she never should have done. It wasn't like there was a potion or a counter-curse that could have saved my life."
Daphne nodded, blue eyes not leaving grey, "Draco, I love you – like a brother. We used to joke about Harry and Hermione, saying their love was a sibling-like love after what happened during the war. But when our parents got married, I got it. You and I, we work better as a family than we ever did as a couple."
Draco frowned, unsure where Daphne was going with this.
"When Harry told me what had happened, the first thing I felt was relief," Daphne admitted, "That you were okay. Then Harry told me the full story, and honestly, I understood what Hermione had done. If it were Harry and all I had to do was say 'okay' to have him back, then I would have done it."
Draco's frown deepened, and Daphne continued, "The person I can't believe…is Sadie. It was her idea. She executed it; she used an unforgivable curse and sent a man to his death. A man who was a Death Eater and a murderer, maybe, but I think in her grief she forgot that she loves a man who was a Death Eater and a murderer."
Draco swallowed and looked down at the ground.
"I'm not saying she ought to spend the rest of her life in Azkaban for what she did," Daphne said, jostling Draco's leg with her own to get him to look up at her.
"But I do think she needs to take a long hard look at herself and realise that maybe, she's spent too long straddling the line between light and dark magic down in the Department of Mysteries."
Draco sighed and nodded, "She has. She took leave from work to decide if she wants to go back or not."
Daphne nodded slightly, "Are you speaking to her?"
Draco shook his head, "No. I'm only on speaking terms with Theo right now. He made up with Sadie, of course."
Daphne gave him an exasperated look, "You don't need to sound so bitter about that, you know?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "I am bitter about it, though. Sadie did what she did, and Theo forgave her so quickly. Those two are unbreakable, but when it came to me? Theo never forgave me that fast, not after Pansy's death or…after what Lucia did to him."
Daphne sighed and pressed a cup of tea into Draco's hands, "It was always different with you and Theo. It was confusing and complicated. I think betrayal hurts more when it comes from someone you love but who doesn't know you love them."
Draco looked into his tea thoughtfully but didn't say anything.
"Theo and Sadie have always been so open with each other, though," Daphne added, "They've had to be, with everything that they went through – with the twins, then with what Lucia did."
"We all went through that," Draco said quietly, "It was just as hard on Hermione and me."
"I know," Daphne promised, "All I'm saying is that everything he went through makes Theo more forgiving. He nearly lost Sadie when she gave birth to Mina and Charlie, then he nearly died in that cell at Lucia's hands. He knows how fragile life is, Draco. He knows that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone."
Draco looked up at Daphne.
She smiled sadly, "And maybe he's not a Greengrass, but he does put family first. He always has done, and right now, between holding you up and trying not to isolate Hermione, I bet he probably feels like he's wearing thin."
"He always feels like that, Daph," Draco said quietly, "Every year, it gets worse."
"But every year, he gets through," Daphne said, stepping forward to grip Draco's shoulder.
Draco looked up at her, and she saw the uncertainty shining in his eyes.
"Theo is also half Crouch," Daphne pointed out, "And he lives by that family motto too. Deeds, Not Words; it's how he shows all of you that he loves you. He doesn't love you any less because he has forgiven Sadie."
Draco nodded, and Daphne let go of his shoulder.
"Thanks," He said quietly, sipping his tea and falling silent.
Daphne put the rest of the tea facilities on a tray and sent it up to her father with a click of her fingers. Then she turned to look at Draco once more.
"So, are you going to give Hermione those divorce papers?"
"I don't know," Draco replied honestly, "I was. Then Theo and Sadie locked us in a broom cupboard, and we argued, then…had sex…which, complicated things."
Daphne chuckled, "Sex usually does."
Draco smiled weakly, "Coming from the voice of experience, Daph?"
Daphne kicked him in the shin, and Draco chuckled.
"You and Hermione have always been volatile. You're like an unchecked magical fire; an ashwinder could erupt at any given moment."
"It did last night," Draco said, rubbing his eyes.
Daphne raised an eyebrow at him.
"And now…" Draco sighed, "I'm not so sure I want to give her the papers."
"Then don't," Daphne advised, "If I had handed Harry divorce papers every time things got bad, we would have split up a long time ago. I know everyone thinks we're perfect, Draco, but we aren't. Harry has been a workaholic, an alcoholic, a man who put work before everything, including his own children."
"I know that," Draco promised, "I've never thought you were perfect. Harry is one of my best friends, and his biggest regret is the way he treated you and the kids at times."
Daphne smiled slightly, "And the fact he regretted it and repented for it? That's why I stayed, why I forgave him."
Draco frowned over at her, "You think if she apologises, all of this will go away?"
"No," Daphne admitted. She shook her head, "No, I don't think any of it will just go away. But Hermione knows what she did was wrong, and at heart, she is a good person. I think soon, the weight of what she did is going to begin to weigh down on her, and when she breaks down, because she will, it will be you that she needs Draco."
Draco looked up at Daphne.
"It will be you who she wants," Daphne said softly, "And seeing her come undone like that? I think it will break your heart, and you will forgive her."
Draco cleared his throat, "Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think."
Daphne smiled slightly and slipped her wand into her back pocket, "Or maybe I know you better than you think," she said, raising an eyebrow and leaving the room.
When Theo woke up to find Hermione gone, with a note explaining that there was something important she had to do at the Ministry, he got worried.
He threw some clothes on, grabbed his cane and headed downstairs towards the kitchen where voices could be heard.
"Morning, Pops," Almina said, kissing him on the cheek when he stepped into the room.
Theo smiled and looked over at Sadie, "Where's Hermione?"
"The Ministry," Sadie replied, "She showered then left. Apparently, she has an important press statement to put out."
"Do you think she's resigning?" Theo asked, lowering his voice when he reached his wife.
Sadie shook her head, "No, I think she's going to make things right."
Theo frowned and leaned against the counter, "Have you seen Draco this morning?"
Sadie nodded and motioned at the half-window. Because the kitchen was in the basement, the windows started further up the walls and were half-moon shaped.
"He slunk back into the coach house around half an hour ago," She said in an undertone.
Theo looked at her in alarm, "He didn't sleep there last night?"
Sadie shook her head, "The elves said he left the grounds of the castle, and nobody saw him come back until this morning."
"Where the hell do you think he went?" Theo asked in an irritated undertone.
"Well, he didn't go to see a bloody lover, did he?" Charlus asked as he reached in-between his parents for the coffee pot, "If he's fighting with Mum, he's got you, Pops."
"And what am I, the bloody next-door neighbour?" Sadie asked, raising an eyebrow at her son.
Charlus shrugged, "It's just that Dad and Pops have a more profound bond, y'know?"
"To be fair, I'm not the one who's been making out with him in secret passageways recently," Theo said, smirking at Sadie.
"How do you know about that?" Sadie asked in surprise.
"He mind-linked with me when he was doing it," Theo said, pushing himself off the counter, "You know Draco, he doesn't like to keep secrets."
Charlus made a face, "I can't imagine you snogging dad," he said in disgust, "It's like thinking about Pops and Mum…."
Sadie nearly choked on her coffee.
"Yeah, cause that never happens," Theo said with an impeccable poker face.
Charlus looked at him in alarm, "But you're cousins."
"That's never stopped your father, Charlus," Sadie said, smirking at Theo.
He raised his hands as the kitchen fell into pandemonium at this revelation.
"What?" Charlus exclaimed
"Ugh, I thought we were beyond cousin-cest!" Ada agreed.
"That's not even a thing. Cousins can get married," Almina said matter of factly.
"We're purebloods; it's totally normal," Cas agreed.
"We're half-bloods, but it was obvious anyway," Ella said with a roll of her eyes, "Pops flirts with Mum all the time."
"But still!" Dora remarked in alarm, "They are cousins! Would you want to make out with Josie or Cora?"
"Josie isn't bad looking, to be fair-" Cas began to say.
"Ugh, Caspian!"
"You're so gross!"
Theo cocked his head at Sadie, who was enjoying the chaos she had created.
"Traitor," He mouthed.
"Payback," Sadie said, kissing him lightly as she pressed past him towards the pantry.
Theo shook his head and headed for the back door, "I'm gonna go over there and talk to him."
"Try talking some sense into him," Sadie called from the pantry.
"I will," Theo promised.
When Theo stepped into the kitchen of the Coach House, he could smell the alcohol.
"Please tell me you're not going to work today," Theo remarked dryly.
Draco turned around and sighed, "I've just taken a hangover potion, and Daphne pumped me full of tea this morning. Happy now?"
"No," Theo said darkly, his eyes fixed on Draco's.
"You spent the night at Potter Manor?" Theo asked, hurt creeping into his voice.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Harry was my Auror partner for a decade, Theo. I would go there in a time of need, but as I didn't want him to judge me and press his moral bullshit onto me, I went to Greengrass House."
"Where Daphne was because her father is sick," Theo realised.
Draco nodded, "Is the interrogation over now?"
"No. Because you are not the only person in this family who loves Hermione, and I had to talk her down from the ledge last night."
Draco froze, his grip tightening on the table.
"What?"
"I told her she had to stop before the job killed her," Theo said quietly, "And she basically said, so what? 'If Draco signs those papers, then what's the point?' those were her words."
Draco turned to look at him, "Theo-"
"No!" Theo snapped. He brought his cane down against the flagstones hard, and sparks shot from it, making Draco flinch.
"You need to get a grip and grow the hell up!" Theo exclaimed, "You're 41 years old, and you still flinch when I do this!"
He hit the cane across the ground again, and Draco flinched again.
"You need to get in therapy and deal with all the issues your father left you with," Theo barked.
"And you need to make that incredible woman realise that she has a hell of a lot to live for!
Draco looked up at Theo tearfully.
"Because right now, it's not Hermione who is threatening to rip this family apart; it's you," Theo finished.
"It's you with the trust issues you have never resolved because the rest of us? We're over it. We disagreed, but we're all alive, and that's all that matters."
Draco opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words, so he closed it and swallowed hard.
"And if Hermione dies, because of you," Theo continued, "If she gets killed on the job or burns herself out…I'm not sure I will be able to see past that."
Draco shook his head, "Why can't you see it, Theo? This isn't her. She's not cut out for this job, for this life. It's changing her. It's turning her into a person I'm not sure that I can love."
Theo raised an eyebrow at him, "Hm…here's the thing, Draco. Do you want her to stop because she's the Minister for Magic and she's not cut out to be, or because you can't love her if she is?"
Draco's eyes flashed, and he took a step closer to Theo, "She's not cut out to be this person….I don't want her to be."
Theo nodded and stepped away from Draco towards the door, "Yeah, and that's why I can't see this through your eyes, Draco."
Draco frowned slightly as Theo grabbed the handle and pulled open the backdoor.
Theo shrugged and looked his best friend in the eye, "Because I love her either way."
Without waiting for Draco to say anything, he shut the door loudly and made his way back into the castle.
"I'm glad we're not doing this in the atrium," Hermione whispered.
Harry shook his head, "It's too risky after what happened the last time."
"I don't think I'm an anxious person, but I think if I had to step out there again with a crowd of reporters…I'd have a panic attack," Hermione said.
Harry frowned over at her, "Nobody would blame you for that. You did just have an assassination attempt on your life."
They were standing in the corridor outside one of the larger interview rooms. It was where they would give the press conference to a select few reporters – with someone from the WWN recording it live.
Hermione shook her head and swallowed, "I'm fine."
Harry reached down and took her hand. It was clammy and sweaty, but he tightened his grip on it and looked her in the eye.
"You're not fine," Harry whispered, "You're spiralling, you're stressed, and I think you have PTSD."
Hermione frowned down at her feet.
"I haven't seen you like this since…." Harry hesitated, "Since everything that happened to you in Malfoy Manor."
"It wasn't what happened to me in Malfoy Manor that messed with my head, Harry," Hermione said quietly, "It was what almost happened."
"I know," Harry said. He glanced at the time and lowered his voice, "But you got through that because you were Hermione Granger, the smartest witch of your age and one of the strongest people I know."
Hermione looked up at him, "Don't be nice to me because you think I'm depressed."
"I don't think you're depressed; I know you're depressed," Harry corrected her.
"And I'm being nice to you because regardless of what's happened, you're my oldest friend, Hermione."
Hermione met his eye and nodded.
"You can do this," Harry promised her, "You can walk in there. You can hold your head high and be professional. You will make sure your emotions don't get out of hand because you will not let them win. The Hermione I knew would never let the bully win, and that's what those reporters are. Okay?"
"Okay," Hermione said. She took a breath, nodded and fixed her glamour charms, "You're right."
Harry dropped her hand and nodded, "Ready?"
Hermione took another steadying breath, then she nodded.
"Ready."
Harry rapped on the door twice and waited for it to open. He smoothed down his Auror robes and adjusted his newly polished badge. Then the door opened, and he motioned for Hermione to step inside first.
Once she had, he followed her in and shut the door behind him.
They sat down in front of the panel of reporters, and the man controlling the live broadcast held up a sign to say that they were on air. Then the questions began, and Hermione dealt with every single one calmly, like Harry knew she could.
"What measures will you be putting in place to protect us from the Statute Saboteurs?"
"Will you be sending aid to the ICW now that war has been declared?"
"What form does Mr Potter return to the force in?"
They kept coming, and Hermione answered each one without hesitation and with grace and dignity. Harry found it increasingly hard to be angry at her when he saw how strong she could make herself appear outside while breaking on the inside.
Draco stepped into the kitchen of Blacknot Castle to say goodbye to the kids. But when he opened his mouth and began to speak, a loud, "shoosh!" went around the room.
Draco frowned, then fell silent when he heard Hermione's voice coming out of the radio on the kitchen table.
"She's doing a press conference," Almina explained, from where she was holding up a hand to stop her father from speaking.
Draco didn't sit down to listen to it with them, but he did hover in the archway into the kitchen for a moment, which just happened to be long enough.
"Minister Black – will you address the rumours that a vote of no confidence is being put in place by the other heads of department to oust Draco Black as Head of the DMLE after he used a decoy to protect himself?"
"Yes," Hermione's voice said, crisp and sharp inside that little box.
"I will address those rumours, and I am glad that you asked about that. The truth is that I was not transparent about Draco Black's involvement in that plan."
Draco frowned and froze in the doorway.
"It is true that the Head of the DMLE had suggested that we use decoys for high profile targets when it was clear that there was a threat to them. However, on the day of the attempt on my life, my office had been made aware of a threat to Mr Black. I made the decision to use a decoy that day. Mr Black was stunned and was unaware of the plan. He discovered the truth when the danger had passed."
Draco breathed in shakily, and Almina got to her feet. She crossed the kitchen and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Draco let out the breath he had been holding and let his chin rest on top of Almina's head.
"If that were the case, why did you initially use Mr Black as a scapegoat?"
Hermione answered the reporter's question.
"My advisors were concerned that, had the truth come to light, it may inspire a vote of no confidence and, at the time, that was a risk we did not want to take. However, I cannot allow a vote of no confidence to be motioned against Draco Black. We are at war, and without him, we would most certainly lose. He is a former Auror with a brilliant mind for politics, and I do believe some people forget that he has a first-class order of Merlin to his name. That is why I had to set the record straight."
Draco drowned out whatever was said next. But he did hear Almina ask, "Are you okay, Dad?"
He nodded and pulled back, wiping his eyes hastily, "I'm fine, Mina," he promised with a tearful smile, "I just…I need to apologise to your mum."
Theo smiled slightly and nodded, "Yeah, you do."
"I owe all of you an apology," Draco admitted, looking at the kids, "I'm sorry for being so distant and…" his eyes skated over Sadie, "…for struggling so much to trust you."
"I understand why," Sadie promised quietly.
Finally, Draco's eyes fell on Theo, who had gotten to his feet. Draco crossed the room and pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you," he murmured into Theo's ear, "For keeping her together when I couldn't."
Theo brought his arms up to return the hug, "You know me," he murmured in response, "I've always had a soft spot for the Gryffindor princess."
Draco drew back enough to look at Theo, "I know you have," he said softly, "But I mean it, thank you."
Theo nodded and patted him on the shoulder, "I've kept her together, but now you need to do your part – go make her whole again."
"I will," Draco promised.
When the conference was over, Harry pulled Hermione into a hug.
"You did great," He promised her.
Hermione smiled weakly, "Thanks, Harry. I just hope it's enough."
"I think it will be," Harry said, giving her a hopeful smile, one she hadn't received from him in a while. It reminded her of the way he had looked at her after their fourth year when she had been terrified that everything was going to change.
He patted her on the shoulder, "I'm going to head down to the Auror department and chat to Ben about calling in the rest of the reserve Aurors. Are you going to be okay?"
Hermione nodded, "I'll be fine," she lied.
Harry didn't believe her, but he didn't want to push her either. He didn't feel like he had the right. After all, he hadn't been the most supportive friend recently.
So, they went their separate ways. Harry left for the Auror department, and Hermione went back to her office. She sat down, looked at the files on her desk and sighed, letting her head drop into her hands.
Somehow, the sleeping draught had only made her more tired, and now, all she wanted to do was fall asleep at her desk and not have to deal with the weight of the world for a few hours.
A feeble call of, "She's busy! You can't go in without an appointment!" made Hermione look up with a frown.
The door handle jiggled, and Hermione got to her feet. She reached down and gripped her wand, fully prepared to launch into a duel if the enemy walked through that door.
Naturally, when she saw Draco, she dropped the wand back onto the desk with a loud clatter.
He strode across the room with a more intense look in his eyes than Hermione had seen in a very long time. She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, but the moment he reached her, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her like his life depended on it.
He was impulsive and reckless, which reminded her of how their relationship had started in their eighth year. Usually, Hermione would have pushed him away and demanded that he use words rather than actions. But she was so tired, and the way his hands were gentle, while his lips were demanding, told her everything that she needed to know.
He used his hips to push her back slightly, just a few inches to ensure that her back pressed against the desk.
"Draco," Hermione gasped against his lips.
"I'm sorry," Draco murmured, his lips still brushing against hers.
"So am I," Hermione whispered.
Draco's breathing was a little shaky. He closed his eyes and moved his hand to the back of her neck, drawing her in for another kiss. This one was softer, his lips brushed over hers gently, and his thumb moved in a circle on the back of her neck.
Hermione sighed and broke the kiss, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye.
"I'm not going to sign them," Draco promised, opening his eyes to meet hers.
When she saw the tears in his eyes, Hermione believed him. She nodded, her voice barely a whisper as she croaked, "Thank you."
Draco swallowed and rested his forehead against hers, "I never wanted to sign them. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," Hermione said again. She raised her hand to touch his cheek, "I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to have them written up in the first place."
He let out a gentle sigh, and his eyes fluttered shut.
"Theo told me what you said last night," Draco confessed, opening his eyes to look at her, "Please never say anything like that again."
Hermione frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you have no idea how upset Theo was this morning," Draco said. He swallowed and moved back a little but kept his hands on Hermione.
"Your life is worth living, even if I'm not in it," Draco said firmly, "Theo and Sadie love you, and they would be heartbroken if anything happened to you. Don't act like burning yourself out or sacrificing yourself would be okay because it wouldn't be."
His voice cracked, and Hermione looked at him tearfully.
"Why does this sound like a goodbye?"
"Because it might be," Draco said quietly, "There's a prophecy about me and…if I'm right, it means that the universe will right itself, and I will die for good this time."
"No," Hermione said. She shook her head, "No, I won't let that happen."
"You might not have a choice," Draco said softly, "And if I do die, you need to know that you are loved by so many people. Your life is worth living. The point is that Theo and Sadie need you. The point is that our children need you. There is so much to live for even if I'm not here."
Hermione let the tears in her eyes fall, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "And I love them all, but a world without you in it is the worst thing I can imagine. Your mother told me about the prophecy, and it doesn't necessarily mean that you will die Draco."
Draco sighed, "We don't know that Hermione, so we have to be prepared for the possibility."
Hermione shook her head, "No," she said weakly, "I can't accept that."
"Then just promise me one thing," Draco said, his grey eyes looking into her hazel ones.
Hermione frowned slightly but nodded.
"If I do, don't give up on life," Draco said in a whisper, "Love Theo and Sadie with all of your heart. Travel, do things that you have always wanted to do. Live, don't just give up because I'm not there. Promise me that, okay?"
"I promise," Hermione said tearfully.
Draco gave her a slight nod and dipped his head slightly, capturing her lips in a messy, wet, somewhat salty kiss. Somehow, none of that mattered, though. They just clung to each other – Draco by gripping Hermione so tightly that it almost hurt, and Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and refused to let go.
She let out a shaky sigh and felt something press into the small of her back when Draco tightened his grip on her. With a frown, Hermione pulled away slightly and pried his hand off her back.
When she realised that Draco was wearing his wedding ring again, she felt a soft flutter in her chest. It took her a minute to realise what that feeling was – it was hope, the hope that maybe, somehow, it was all going to be okay.
- TBC -
