AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
"Thanks again for the coffee," Draco took a handful of floo powder.
"Think nothing of it." Hermione glanced back at Severus. His glow was a soft yellow, and his smile was wide.
"I'm sorry again for making this visit all about me. I came to speak with you, not start talking about my grief."
"There was nothing for me to say about Ron, whereas you had been holding in your grief for a long time."
"It comes and goes." Draco took a deep breath and turned around. "Some days I'm too distracted to give it much thought. Yet sometimes I'll read about a new potion in The Daily Prophet or see something which I think would make Uncle Severus laugh. It all comes back to me."
"I can only imagine," she whispered. "I miss him some days, but he wasn't my godfather. It must difficult for you."
"Like I said, some days are better than others. I'll be fine, but then Scorpius will do something. When I yell, 'Scorpius Severus Malfoy…'" His expression was distant as the powder slid from his hand.
Severus' glow brightened.
She rubbed his arm. "I know it's hard."
"I don't talk about it much. Ginevra and Dad have helped me through it, but they don't fully understand how I fell. I don't think anybody does, not really."
"I know."
Severus bowed his head, still wishing he could give his godson a sign of his presence.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Before you go I need something."
Draco cocked his head.
"I need to see pictures of my two favorite children."
"I knew I was forgetting something." Draco's face lit up. "I meant to bring some vacation photos, but it slipped my mind."
"You have pictures of them in your wallet, don't you?"
"I do," Draco drawled.
"That's good enough for me."
"Are you sure? You've seen them before."
"I know but just humor me."
"I guess if you can tolerate me going on about Uncle Severus I can do this for you." He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.
Severus crept towards Hermione, going through Crookshanks in the process. The half-kneazle growled and batted at the air. He glared at it. After growling, Crookshanks raised his tail and left the room.
"I need to update my photos of them." He opened the wallet. "They're growing up too fast to keep track of."
"Don't I know it! It seems like yesterday Scorpius was born."
"It really does."
Severus' glow intensified. On the right was a blond haired boy with Draco's mischievous grin, sitting upon a Persian rug in front of a roaring fire. On the left was a little girl with Ginevra's eyes holding a pink blanket. Still, she had Draco's blond hair, and his playful expression.
Between the two photos was one of Draco holding Ginevra. They gazed at each other as if the world only consisted of them. Severus had always wanted Draco to live long enough to look at a woman that way.
Perhaps Severus' sacrifice had been worth something after all.
"They are so beautiful," Hermione gushed.
"They're beautiful when they're asleep anyway."
Hermione laughed as Draco put his wallet away.
"Thank you again." Draco embraced her.
She returned the embrace. "The pleasure was all mine."
"It was a mutual pleasure." He released her but continued to look at Severus.
"Do you feel Severus again?" She asked with a soft smile.
"Yes," Draco blinked back tears.
"If you want to say anything to him, feel free to."
"But he isn't here."
"You never know." She shrugged. "He could hear us somehow."
"True," Draco's voice cracked. He inhaled. "I guess I would tell him thank you. Thank you for everything."
"There is no need to thank me. I would do it all again," Severus replied.
"I'm sorry I was such an arse at times. I didn't always appreciate you. I hope you know I love you."
"I love you too."
"He loves you too, Draco, don't ever forget that," she replied.
"I won't." Draco sighed. "I need to get going. Take care and if you need anything let me know."
"I will."
With that, Draco took the floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. "Malfoy Mansion."
Once the flames ignited, Draco stepped into them.
When the fire died, she turned to Severus. "How do you feel?"
"Honestly?"
"No, I want you to tack on some Purgatory time by lying to me."
Severus chucked.
"Seriously, what's on your mind?" The humor evaporated from her eyes.
"I wish I could cry," he turned blue.
She frowned.
"Everything is so overwhelming. I never thought I'd see Draco live to be an adult, much less be in love and have a family. I feel so much, yet I cannot express it adequately in this form."
"That must be frustrating."
"It is more frustrating than I could have imagined. All my life I avoided crying, yet now that I am going to a place with no tears, I wish I could cry."
She bit her lower lip.
"Enough about crying." His glow returned to its normal hue. "I am so pleased that Draco has a family."
"It's a little hard for me to believe he has such a wonderful family sometimes," she admitted. "When Ginny announced she was pregnant with Draco's son, all I could think of was him casting a densaugeo and my teeth growing so abnormally large. It was so hard to believe that boy I couldn't stand was about to be a proud father, and I couldn't have been happier for him."
"Yes, the densaugeo." He bowed his head. "That was not one of my finer moments."
"What do you mean? You weren't involved in the duel."
"Yes, but I told you that I didn't see any difference in your teeth. That was uncalled for."
"I'd almost forgotten you'd said that," she drawled.
"It was unnecessarily harsh," he turned blue again. "And I do apologize for it."
"You're forgiven."
His glow remained the same.
"I don't hold it against you. Even before you died I'd forgiven you," she continued.
"Truly?"
"Yes, truly."
He met her eyes. "You amaze me."
"Why?"
"Nobody has ever found it in their heart to forgive me. I never believed I was worthy of it."
"You are worthy of it."
His glow remained light blue.
"You are worthy of forgiveness, friendship, love, all of it. You never should've been told any differently."
"I think I'm beginning to believe that."
"You need to believe it with all your heart."
"You deserve a friend like Draco, and every good thing that's happened to you. I hope you believe that."
"I think I'm starting to believe that."
Severus' glow returned to its usual hue. His eyes fell on her lips. If he was alive he could envision himself leaning towards her, taking her in his arms, brushing her lips with his.
Her eyes sparkled. "You're pink again."
He looked down at his hand. Before it turned white, he noted that it had been pink.
"I'm sorry, but it's adorable when you turn pink." She giggled.
"It wouldn't be so adorable if it meant I was ill," he scowled.
"Do you feel ill?"
His glow lessened as horror rose within him. A few moments ago he had envisioned kissing Hermione. She was his former student, newest friend, and he wanted to kiss her!
What in heaven't name was happening to him?
"Are you okay?" She paled. "You look whiter than usual."
"I am well. Why would I not be? A spirit cannot fall ill, so I do not believe I can be sick in the traditional sense."
"Okay, I just wanted to make sure."
"I'm fine." Now he had not idea who he was trying to convince. Still, he forced himself to grin. "I am fine."
"I didn't mean to alarm you," she replied.
"No you are fine. I think it's everything that's happened. It has been a long night full of conflicting emotions. I would imagine my glow reflects that."
"Probably." She swallowed. "If seeing Draco was too much I apologize."
"No, I needed to see Draco. I needed to see for myself that he was thriving. Seeing him again has brought me peace."
"He's happier than I ever thought possible. If you had told me he'd be happy after my first year I would've been furious that someone like him could feel that way. Now I couldn't be happier for him."
"I am beyond thrilled that he has found joy in his life. After everything he'd been through, he deserves love."
"That he does."
Only the wind tapping on the window could be heard.
"Do you want to play some type of game before I leave?" He asked.
"What did you have in mind?"
"I have always been partial to Go Fish."
"Go Fish." She laughed.
"Yes."
She laughed louder.
He raised an eyebrow. "Why would you laugh at me?"
"I never envisioned you playing such a childish game."
"Go Fish is not childish. It takes quite a bit of skill."
"How?"
"If you know how to read people, and have a little bit of luck, it is quite easy to win."
"Are you telling me Go Fish is akin to spying?"
"Spying helps win the game."
"Sure," Hermione's eyes glistened in playfulness.
"If you are so convinced Go Fish takes no skill," he smirked. "Put your money where your mouth is. Get out some cards and play me."
"I will."
Severus watched as she strolled over to a desk across the room. She opened the drawer and coughed.
"Has it been that long since you've opened it?"
"I don't usually get many people playing cards." She sneezed.
"Pity. It's an enjoyable pass time."
"I suppose I could get back into solitaire." She pulled out the cards.
"No, you just need to get Draco and Potter out for a Poker night."
"Oh no!" Hermione strolled over to the kitchen table. "Draco is a high roller. He outbids everyone, and he always wins."
"He does?"
"Yes, the only time he occludes is when he plays Poker. Between that and the Malfoy luck he can make a fortune at almost any casino."
"Impressive." He followed her to the kitchen.
"He doesn't go to casinos much anymore, but before he and Ginevra had children, they enjoyed the occasional trip to Vegas. They took me a few times, but I settled for seeing the concerts."
"I'm sure those were a more enjoyable experience than sitting at a smoky table anyway."
"I enjoyed them anyway." She sat. "Though it was awkward going alone to some of them."
"Perhaps you will have someone to go with you soon enough."
The second the words left his mouth, he envisioned him in the seat beside her. The music would be blasting, but he wouldn't hear a word of the lyrics. His entire focus would be on the woman swaying to the music in the seat beside him.
Hermione stared at him as an image formed in her mind. She would be beside him at a concert, but she wouldn't hear a single note. Instead, her attention would be on the man beside her complaining that the music was too loud. The spark in his eyes would betray his true emotions though. During a slower song, they would meet each other's eyes. Their lips would draw closer…
She gasped.
Severus startled.
"Uh, how many cards do you deal?" Her eyes were wide.
"I deal seven."
"Great." She shuffled. "That's great."
His lips curled up as his glow became pink once more.