For A Greek, That's Not A Drink

As the sun sent her last rays over the sky before disappearing behind the horizon, making everything glow in orange light, Draco stood on the balcony of his hotel room, overviewing the beach and listening to the sounds of the party starting in the yard beneath his window.

Walking into Hermione so unexpectedly earlier in the afternoon had thrown him off balance, and it had taken all his will to remain civil in response to her harsh tone. All he wanted was a chance to explain himself, and for her to listen and maybe understand.

Nothing more, nothing less.

She still had the same fiery passion in her soul, yet her words were filled with bitterness towards him, a pain that had apparently never healed. Oh, how he longed to kiss the pain away, to tell her how much he still loved her, in the faintest of hopes that she might give him a second chance.

No, he'd be a fool to hope for that. It was too late now, except maybe for a talk between adults before he would leave the island again.

"Dad?" Scorpius entered the balcony, seemingly out of breath from running upstairs. "Why don't you come and join us? It's a great party–"

"Yes, I could hear you," Draco replied with a brief smirk, as he turned towards his son. "But I don't think it's such a good idea–"

"Come on, Dad. Is it because of Sofia's mum? I mean, you haven't talked much for the rest of the day..."

"What would you feel like if you walked into Marlena like this?" Draco fully turned around and leaned against the balcony railing.

"I don't... I wouldn't know."

"Yes, exactly." Draco nodded and then took a deep breath to calm his heart as it was still racing. "Emotions are hard to bear sometimes, and I've run from mine for the last twenty years. It's a lot to go through."

"I get that. I mean..." Scorpius sighed, apparently at a loss for words, but he then rubbed the back of his neck and put on a sheepish smile. "At least one drink? They said there was a band going to play soon."

After a few seconds, Draco nodded. One drink sounded like an agreeable compromise, and maybe there was even a spot where he would feel less like an intruder, all the way in the back.

..

A few minutes later, Draco had followed Scorpius down to the yard, only to find a stage in the front, and a buffet on one side, filled with variations of Greek snacks and small dishes. The drinks were on a table next to it, but it seemed that everyone had claimed a bottle and brought it to their table.

To his relief, he could only see younger people in the yard, with Sofia and Myles in their midst. Laughter and short toasts on the couple filled the air as he walked around the yard to find a free table before getting himself a drink. And maybe something from the buffet.

The crowd cheered when they noticed Scorpius' return, and he was immediately handed a beer even before he was seated. He exchanged a few words with Sofia before taking a generous gulp. Draco was glad that they got along so well.

He barely found a seat at an empty table in the back when Sofia already approached him, smiling as always. Tonight, however, she even seemed to glow in excitement and happiness; he wished he could have even just a tenth of that, but, above all, he was happy that she was having a good night.

"I see, Scorpius managed to get you to join us," she said with a friendly smile as she sat down next to him.

"One drink." He raised his glass to emphasise his words.

"For a Greek, that's not a drink." She laughed and got up to fetch a bottle of ouzo from the drinks table. "One drink means the bottle."

"Sofia!" He shook his head in disbelief, but then saw her smirk, and realised she was joking. "Although I could use some of that after that afternoon..."

With a sympathetic nod, she Summoned a couple of shot glasses to pour the ouzo. "I heard Mum and Pans talk about it... Mum often forgets to close her window, you know? And her room is next to mine. She sounded upset. And she thinks I don't know about you."

Draco chuckled bitterly before gulping down the beer he had chosen at the drinks table. It was refreshing, but it didn't really feel satisfying. "She told me to leave the island immediately. But I guess you still haven't told her about it."

Sofia handed him a full shot glass of ouzo before fiddling with hers. "How? I mean, she's been busy all day, and then Pans was with her for the rest of the afternoon, and I-I didn't have the courage to enter her room and... and tell her that I know. She was already so upset. And I didn't want to hurt her even more."

The full glass still in front of him, he leaned on his hand, studying her for a moment. "Look, if it makes things easier for both of you, I'll stay away from the wedding tomorrow. But I won't leave until I had a chance to speak with your mother–"

"No, please, come to the wedding! I-I don't care what she's going to say, it's my wedding... And I can invite whom I want."

He smiled at her defiant tone. "You have no idea how much you are like your mother; just as headstrong, you know?"

"Yeah, I hear that a lot," she replied, lifting her glass to her lips. "That and my hair."

"Oh yes. Your mother has the wildest mane of anyone I've ever met. And damn they were always so soft."

"It's more like a pain in this heat, to be honest. I mean, you and Scorpius have thin hair, I'd love to have that!" She placed the still full glass back on the table.

"I think we all get the hair that fits our personality in a way," he replied with a shrug and reached for the ouzo bottle to refill his glass. "And I think it fits you."

"Thanks."

With a nod, he placed the bottle on the table once more, noticing that she had only been playing with hers. "But I mean it when I say that I won't leave until I spoke to your mother. If you want me to be part of your life, then there's no way around that."

She nodded and finally emptied her glass. "I just imagined it'd be easier."

He refilled her glass before leaning on his hand again. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure–"

"Hey, are you two having a family talk?" Scorpius had discovered them on his walk back from the toilets. With a smirk on his face, he ran his hands through his hair, as an obstinate strand refused to stick with the rest. "And look who's hoarding the ouzo!"

Sofia had to move with her chair when he made to join them, even going as far as reaching for his father's full shot glass.

"Hey!" Draco grabbed it before Scorpius could reach it, only to scowl at him. "This is too strong for you anyway."

Shaking her head in amusement, Sofia Summoned another small shot glass but made sure to only fill it half before handing it to Scorpius.

She and Draco both laughed at Scorpius' surprised cough after he had downed the ouzo in his glass. It was a nice burn in the throat; Draco liked the roughness of it in contrast to the smoothness of the Firewhisky he had in storage at his home.

"Damn!" Scorpius let out after a few deep breaths. "And you two just drink it like water..."

"Hermione coughed just as much as you after her first ouzo," Draco said, still chuckling; feeling more relaxed, he leaned back, watching them for a moment—both his children—as they nudged each other. It was still weird to see Sofia next to him, showing so much of his family in her face, but then in the next second, she looked so much like her mother as well.

After a few more seconds, Sofia leaned forward on the table, her face turned towards Draco with a soft smile. "You wanted to ask me something, right?"

"I did?" Draco asked, moving the ouzo carefully out of Scorpius' reach as his son was already reaching for it again. "Yes..."

Sofia sighed, but her smile stayed as soft; if at all, only her cheeks started to blush from the alcohol. "I have so many questions too, you know?"

"Is that why you keep asking me all those things about my dad?" Scorpius threw in, mocking a scowl in Draco's direction for the removal of the ouzo bottle.

"Maybe," she replied, her blush deepening; yet, she kept looking at Draco, as if she was studying him, possibly trying to find similarities.

"I was wondering whether you had any dreams in your life? Like travelling the world maybe?"

Sofia just kept looking at him for a few more seconds before she finally answered with a nod and a deep sigh. "Pans told me so much about fashion, I'd love to go see all those cities and maybe get some internship somewhere. I mean, she helped me design my own wedding dress, and also how to quickly draw a style idea. But honestly, I can't really leave Mum alone. She needs someone who tells her to take a break once in a while, or let the staff do what they are paid for. I'm all she has left."

"Is that why you marry? To settle down?"

"Honestly, I don't know anymore. I want to see the world, but then I can't leave Mum here all alone." And in a quick move, she emptied her ouzo that had stood in front of her until now.

"I think you should take the chance and see the world before you settle down. Follow your heart, at least for a while–"

"I could stay here and take over," Scorpius added, his gaze briefly wandering back to the group at the front where that girl from yesterday, Andrea, was sitting. "I wouldn't mind. And Dad always says I need to learn what hard work is anyway..."

"Just because you had everything handed to you, my son. It would do you some good."

"Mum would never accept your help." Sofia sighed again. "And I don't even know whether I can actually afford such a trip anyway. I mean, the hotel earns enough for a living, but that's it. It's not like as if we were rich–"

Scorpius faked a cough. "You're a Malfoy, sister."

Draco nodded when Sofia looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. "He's right. If it's just money that's stopping you, then let that be my worry. No matter what your mother says, you are my daughter, and–"

"No!" Still looking shocked, she straightened her position, her eyes still wide. "No, I can't do that–"

"Sofia, I mean it." Draco leaned towards her with an earnest expression, glad that his son kept quiet for once. "I wish I had known earlier about you, so let me at least help you go after your dream before you settle down–"

"No, no, no!" She rose to her feet, almost knocking her chair over. "I... No!"

He let her go, as upset as she seemed right now. Instead, he reached for the ouzo bottle and filled his glass to the brim before downing it in one go. A hint of relaxing warmth now spread through his body, probably from the alcohol he just had.

"Wh-What just happened, Dad?" Scorpius asked, looking confused as he watched her run to the toilets, only to see Andrea join her seconds later.

"I wish I knew..."

..

An hour later, Draco was still in his spot at the back of the yard, silently nursing the bottle of ouzo Sofia had brought him; meanwhile, the band Scorpius had mentioned was playing while he, Sofia, and everyone around her were cheering and dancing to the music. It wasn't exactly his taste, but he still had to admit that they were rather good.

From his spot, however, he could also see Sofia and Myles repeatedly sharing looks that had him worried ever so slightly; apparently, he had managed to plant a thought in Sofia's mind that was strong enough to have her question a few things.

At least that was his interpretation of it all. Maybe he should try to talk to her again in the morning, to apologise for pressuring her as he didn't mean to upset her.

"Seriously, the guts you have."

Startled by the sudden company, Draco turned around to find Pansy next to him with a scowl on her face that he only remembered too well from their shared time in Hogwarts. "Did Hermione send you?"

"No. But I think I can speak in her name." Without even bothering to ask, she sat down next to him, placing one leg over the other as she studied him. "Have you any idea what your presence means? What it brought back?"

"Oh, I know what it brought back," he snapped at her. "Ever since I arrived here, I've been reminded of what I've let slip through my fingers all those years ago, just because I thought she'd wait for me. Have you any idea how long I had to beg Astoria for forgiveness and to take me back? So, please, spare me your contempt. The only person I'm going to talk about this with is Hermione."

"Ugh. You were always good at pitying yourself."

"Says the one who shags about every male model in the world... At least I loved my wife."

She punched his shoulder in response to his words. "Just leave Hermione alone, okay? She's been through enough..."

"She can tell me that herself–"

"She did that and you didn't listen. You're still here for heaven's sake!"

"I'm a paying guest, enjoying a nice little holiday with my son..."

"Whatever." With a huff, Pansy got up again; however, she didn't leave the table without throwing one last glare at him. "But if I see her cry again because of you..."

..

The night grew late, yet the young folk showed no sign of wanting it to end, as they now enjoyed doing karaoke with the most ridiculous stage performances they could do, given they now all had ingested a decent amount of alcohol.

Draco was still watching them from his spot, which was much more relaxed than from the balcony; he felt more included and less like an outsider looking in. He almost felt inclined to join them with a song, just to see their faces.

But he hadn't had enough alcohol for that yet, although he was still nursing the ouzo.

"Mama!" Suddenly, Sofia sprang up from her seat, only to run towards the yard entrance, stumbling over her own steps; thankfully, Hermione caught her just in time. They hugged for a long moment before Hermione finally let go again, only to wipe over Sofia's cheek tenderly.

Even from afar, Draco was stunned by her presence, and he cursed his treacherous heart for it. She wore a simple black jumpsuit that accentuated her tan perfectly, but it was her hair that compelled him utterly. His fingers itched from the longing to just dig in on the sides of her head, from the longing to feel its softness once more.

Having been burned once by her fire wasn't apparently enough.

After a deep breath, he shook his head, reaching for his wand. Leaving his spot was now out of question without causing another scene; so instead, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself in the hope she wouldn't notice him.

"Mama, please, sing it!" Sofia begged with a loud, begging voice. "You always do it best!"

Hermione conceded after the others around her joined Sofia in her begging; only Scorpius kept himself away, looking unsure what to do. "Fine. But only because it's your wedding tomorrow, my dear!"

As soon as the first notes of the song that Hermione was asked to sing, Draco immediately recognised the song—she had played it more than once during the summer they had spent together, always singing along.

His throat suddenly felt all tight and choking, and he tensed up completely. It was as if the song and her singing it finally cracked the last resistance, and every single emotion he had thought to have buried deep enough came back with full force.

He had never thought he would feel the loss of what they had had ever so acutely again. That woman on the stage—he was the fucking moth to her bloody light!

Without thinking twice, he rose to his feet, swaying for a moment until he found the balance. Slowly, he let his feet carry him towards the stage, following the need to see her closer, if not to hold her and just tell her how much she still meant to him.

He was still far away enough from the group to blend in with the background when she sang the last notes, staring straight past him; however, he thought she could still sense him in some way behind the Disillusionment Charm.

As soon as the song ended, Sofia jumped up to the stage and hugged her mother. "That was wonderful! Thank you!"

"Honey, how many drinks did you have already?" Hermione laughed at her daughter's apparent touchy behaviour.

"Don't worry, Mama, I'm feeling fine! I'm having fun!"

Myles came up as well, reaching for Sofia's hand, who grabbed for support walking down the few steps. "Maybe you should have some water, love–"

"I'm fine!"

Hermione climbed down the stairs after them, worry flickering over her face for the briefest of moments as she touched Myles' shoulder to get his attention. "Everything okay?"

Myles nodded, albeit hesitantly, before he added an appeasing smile. "Probably just the nerves..."

After a glance to her daughter, who was by now sitting at her table again, Hermione nodded briefly in acceptance of his answer. "Okay. Although she'll have the greatest hangover ever tomorrow morning..."

"She won't be the only one," Myles replied with a grin as he sat down next to Sofia who immediately leaned against him. "We all had quite a few drinks."

"Yeah, I can see that." With that, Hermione made to turn around to leave again but halted halfway through the move, the soft smile that had graced her face until now disappearing behind a scowl and darkening eyes.

Draco didn't move when she came running towards him with furious steps, only removed the Disillusionment Charm that he had cast on him. Nor did he protest when she dragged him out, only motioned Scorpius and everyone else springing to their feet to stay where they were.

Hermione pushed him against the next wall as soon as they were in the connecting hallway, alone and out of sight. "I told you to stay away from her! Yet here you are, sneaking around at her hen and stag party! Gods, why in Merlin's seven hells are you so stubborn? Why couldn't you just have stayed away instead of upsetting everyone–?"

"I told you we need to talk!" Draco retorted when he finally managed to catch up with her words. "But you don't even give me a chance to explain anything! And why the hell didn't you tell me that we had a daughter? You should have told me, for fuck's sake! Or did you think me so heartless? I would have moved heaven and fucking Earth to make sure you were okay and Sofia had everything she needed–"

"Sure you would have." Faster than he realised, she had her wand in her hand, pointing it at him; the grim look on her face made it clear that she was serious about hexing him right now.

"I mean it," he retorted, not in the least intimidated by her move. Instead, he reached for her wand hand. "You of all people should know how far I'd go for those I consider family."

"We're not your family, Draco." She pushed his hand away, only to poke him in the chest with her wand, stepping closer. "That boy and his mother are your family. We managed well enough without you, so don't you dare and take that away. She is my daughter! I raised her alone–"

"Just because you were too proud to let me know." Staring into those dark amber eyes that glinted so furiously, he grabbed her wand hand to stop her from leaving even more bruises on his chest. It was such a mesmerising fire, and he longed to be burned by it once more.

Surprised by his sudden and rather rough grabbing of her wrist, Hermione briefly lost her balance and stumbled before he managed to catch her. His face was now only inches away from hers, the moment taking them both by surprise.

He thought he could see her fury disappear into a questioning expression, full of insecurity.

And then she simply claimed his lips for a kiss. She didn't even beg for him to part his—no, she seemed too impatient and so pushed her tongue in.

After a heartbeat, Draco finally overcame his shock and responded just as fervently, forgetting everything between them, joyous to have her lips so ravenously claim his, her tongue swirling around his as if they had never been apart.

Back in an upright position, he framed her face, his fingers digging into those soft curls on each side, as he kept answering to her demanding kiss. His heart made a jump when she placed her free hand in his neck, the fingers softly playing with the hairs there, to pull him down.

"You have no idea how much I missed you," he murmured when he slowly trailed kisses from her mouth to her jaw and chin; he was breathing heavily from all the excitement and emotions running through him.

But Hermione's response to his words wasn't what he had expected after that passionate kiss they just shared—she pushed him away, her eyes wide in shock, a stark contrast to her ravished lips.

"You arse!" Her fury was taking over once more, she slapped him, hard enough to make his ear ringing for a moment. "Don't think you can win me back like this!"

He pulled her back as she was trying to get away from him. "The hell, Hermione! You kissed me! You can maybe fool yourself, but not me!"

"You better stay away from the wedding tomorrow, or you'll meet my Stinger Hex."

With that last warning, she managed to get out of his grip and run away, leaving him in the hallway all confused and upset.

..

Darling, can't you hear me SOS?