A/n I know it has been a month since I updated. I have had an insane month. But here it is chapter 6 this chapter is a little longer than the others (4,000+ words) hopefully that makes up for the lateness a little. Please leave me a review let me know what you think. Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and my OC's. Without further ado, chapter 6
Draco awoke the next morning after dreams about wondering around a lollipop wood and having a run-in with a rather unsavory character that had an unhealthy obsession with licorice. He dressed for the day and walked down to the Great Hall. Today can't go as bad as yesterday. He thought. He ate breakfast quickly and disappeared to his classroom to prepare for the day.
5th year Ravenclaws first. When the students were all in their seats Draco began his speech about curses and their countercurses. Draco walked to the blackboard and grabbed a piece of chalk as he touched it, the chalk melted in his hand. It burned slightly but he ignored it and grabbed a second piece continuing as if nothing had happened. "If you are not sure what the exact curse or charm it is that has been used then we start with "Finite Incantatum". This Charm can be used to stop a curse on a person or an object…" Draco rolled his eyes as his legs started dancing uncontrollably. He pulled his wand and pointed it at his legs, "Finite Incantatum." He looked up at the kids. "Thank you for the example. We will start practical practice next week but for today you all need to read starting on page 143 and read through the remainder of the chapter. 24 inches for homework on the origins and history of counter curses." Draco went to sit behind his desk only to find the chair wasn't there. He hit the ground hard and the kids burst out laughing. He saw his chair shrunken to about 3 inches tall. He flicked his wand and it resumed its normal size. He sat and stared across the faces in the room. The students laughter quickly died down.
The rest of the week continued in the same track. The only silver lining he could find in the long days was getting back to common room at the end of the day. Laykyn would always have a story about the struggle of the life of a 4-year old. Then they would play a game or watch a cartoon or listen to a story. Every once in awhile he would say something or do something and Hermione would smile at him. No one had ever smiled at him like that. A pure, genuine expression of happiness. It had no hint of superiority or cockiness or pity. Just happiness pure and simple. He even found himself returning it more often than not. He enjoyed his evenings even if the rest of the day was hell.
On Friday morning as Draco and Laykyn had a rather heated discussion on the merits of being in Gryffindor versus all the other houses the mail owls swooped in bringing the day's mail. Draco was surprised that the delivery owl dropped not one but two letters in front of him. The first was a letter from Matt. It simply asked how he was doing and asked him to write back or call soon to let him and Ms. Esther know how he was.
"Who is that from?" Laykyn asked curiously. Her voice had a hint of jealousy to it.
Draco slide the letter over where she could see it. "You know the lady that makes all the sweets for us?"
She nodded, "Ms. Esther."
"Yeah. Well this letter is from her grandson Matt, my best mate."
A frown shadowed Laykyn's face. She was deep in thought but there was something else too.
Draco continued "Ms. Esther got on to me in this letter. She says I am eating too many sweets. I am afraid if I try and explain that I am sharing then she may not believe me. So I was wondering if maybe you could draw a picture or something to help convince her."
The little girl nodded a smile slowly working it's way across her face but not quite reaching her eyes, "I will work on it during art time today, we are using paint today."
"Laykyn!" Albus yelled across the Great Hall, "Come on, mum is walking us to class."
She scrambled down from her chair. "Momma can i go with Aunt Ginny? Pretty, pretty please." She bounced on the balls of her feet waiting for her mother's answer.
Hermione smiled down at her daughter and kissed her curls, "Of course, Thena. Have a great day and be good for Ms. Delacour."
Laykyn gave her mother an eskimo kiss. "I am always good, Momma. But if James starts it I will finish it."
Hermione let her eyes roll slightly as Laykyn ran around the table. She stopped across the table from Hermione. "What exactly is "it"?" She turned and ran down the hall, not waiting for an answer, between the two center tables and caught her aunt in a bone crushing hug. Ginny laughed and with Lily hanging onto one hand and Albus and Laykyn running ahead and James dragging behind they started off toward the elementary classroom.
Draco had watched the interaction between mother and daughter with a smile playing at the corner of his lips. He now turned his attention to the second letter he had received that morning. He recognized the handwriting immediately. He rose from the table crumpling the unopened letter in his hand as he left the hall.
As he walked down the hallway he made the letter burst into flames in the air in front of him. Just two classes today. Two long classes. This morning OWL prep and study hall with the fifth years and this afternoon NEWT prep and study hall with the seventh years. The very thought of being locked in a classroom all day increased his aggravation to a point where it was almost unbearable. No matter how many letters they sent he would not open them. He was done with all of them!
Draco wandered the halls until time for the class to start. When he did finally entered his classroom he slammed all the shutters closed. "First I want you to all take out your wands and set them on your desks."
The students grumbled but did as they were told. He summoned all of the wands to him and a general outcry of rage went up from the students. Draco whirled back around as he reached his desk. The look on his faces silenced them all. He gave his wand an agitated flick and a stack of skinny books began to pass themselves out among the students. "We will be doing a review of protection spells and shield charms today." He jabbed his wand at two stacks of papers and they began to pass themselves out as well. "Each of you will be receiving a book on protection charms and spells as well as my notes on the subject and a review sheet. You have the full 3 hours to fill in your review sheet. Be sure of your answers, any questions you miss because you are too lazy to look for the answers will mean 18 inches on the subject of that question. There will be no need to speak. I will return your wands when you leave for lunch."
When the bell finally rang to signal lunch Draco watched the line of disgruntled fifth years file up to his desk grab their wands and file out of the room. He grabbed up a stack of papers to grade and called one of the house elves. "I will be taking lunch in my room today." The elf nodded and with a pop was gone.
Draco walked to the common room no calmer now than when he had left breakfast. He knew he needed to be away from everyone now. Laykyn would be having lunch in her class and Granger would be in the Great Hall so the common room would be empty. He muttered the password and entered. He sat the stack of papers on the coffee table in front of the couch.
There sitting on the table, alongside the tomato soup and sandwich that the house elf had sent up for him, were no less than six more envelopes all with the same handwriting as the one from breakfast. Draco pulled his wand and incinerated the whole stack leaving a burn mark on the table. He collapsed onto the couch. One more class he thought one more class then I am going to McGonagall and telling her I am done. He couldn't let himself go back to that life. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Draco awoke with a start when the bell rang to signal the start of afternoon classes. He made his way back to his classroom to find the students in their seats already. He treated the seventh years much like he had the fifth years. The afternoon passed in silence.
Draco decided to take dinner in his room just as he had lunch and just as he had at lunch he found no less than half a dozen letters addressed to him in the same handwriting.
Aggravated he took one of the letters from the pile and slit it open. He fought back bile as he read the letter. It contained more pureblood superiority than he thought he could swallow, and how remaining to live amongst the muggles after he was released was beneath "a Malfoy". He called it a little rebellion. But what really got Draco's blood boiling was a line towards the end. "Come home," it read, "your mother needs you home and we all know you can't do this on you own. You need my help." He couldn't do this on his own? What was it he had been doing the last 10 years if not "doing this on his own?" He had survived just fine without his parents. Without their help. Without their money. If it hadn't been for ancient pureblood spells he would have been doing it without their name as well. He destroyed this letter just like the others. They were why he had chosen to stay in the muggle world. He continued to read the last of the letter. His heart skipped a beat and he felt his stomach drop. His mother was sick. It was unsure if she would recover. It could be a lie, of course, he thought, but what if it was true.
Laykyn look anxiously around the great hall. She tugged on Hermione's sleeve, "Where is he, momma?" Hermione looked at her daughter, "Mr. Draco," Laykyn said answering her mother's questioning gaze, "He hasn't been here all day."
Hermione looked around the Great Hall for the blonde but didn't see any sign of him. She thought back through the day "He was here at breakfast, Thena, remember the two of you were talking about his friend."
"But not lunch and now supper's almost over and he's still not here."
"I'm sure he is just up in his room."
Laykyn leapt from her chair. "I am done."
Hermione glanced at her daughter's plate. "No your not, there are still carrots and green beans on your plate. Make one or the other disappear." Laykyn plopped back in her chair and picked up her fork pushing the offending vegetables around on her plate. "Besides Lily's birthday party is tonight after dinner we are going to Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny's."
The four-year- old's jaw dropped. "But…"
"No "buts" we are going to spend time with family and that's it."
The fork clattered back to her plate. Laykyn sat back in her chair her arms crossed over her chest. She huffed, "Will Roxy be there?"
Ginny opened the door to Hermione and Laykyn. She smiled at them taking their jackets as they came inside. Laykyn drug her feet as she went off to find Albus and the rest of her cousins. "What's she so happy about?" Ginny asked sarcastically.
"Roxy," Hermione replied.
Laykyn rounded the corner into the living room and she heard a squeal of delight from Grandma Weasley. "You are so big now," she cooed. "All my grandbabies in one place." Molly Weasley smiled looking over the collection of children around her.
The party was underway and after glaring at each other for a half hour or so, as usual, Laykyn and Roxy decided to make friends and band together against the boys to beat them soundly in every game.
The small house was filled with laughter as all the Weasley's were gathered in one place. Percy and Charlie were comparing the perils of their jobs while their wives discussed their favorite recipes. Arthur and Bill were discussing changes at the ministry with Harry. Ginny and Fleur were busy in the kitchen. The kids all ran around the house closely watched by their grandmother. George and Angelina were listening to Hermione recount the first week of school and telling her about the latest success of the joke shop. Baby Freddie was the only one that was not running around with the other kids. He was clinging to his mother as if his life depended on it, looking terrified of his screaming cousins.
Cake, presents, and a few drinks later, as the kids were starting to crash one by one, Ron Weasley made his way across the room toward Hermione. He gave her a shy smile. She returned it awkwardly. "Can we talk?" He asked leaning close.
She followed him out into the back yard. "How have you been?" He was obviously nervous.
"Okay," she answered as truthfully as she could.
"Good," Ron nodded ringing his hands and wandering a few paces away. He turned back to her abruptly and grasped her hands in his. "Mione, I'm sorry. I was…" he looked around as if searching for the right word. "The point is I took you for granted. I had the most amazing woman in the world and we hit a little bump and I freaked out. It's been almost ten years. I shouldn't have waited this long to tell you. I have loved…"
"A little bump?" Hermione looked at him incredulously. "We didn't hit a little bump." Tears stung her eyes. "You don't love me. You never did. We were young and didn't know if we would live to see the next day. We never would have worked out. You proved that." She turned to go back in the house.
"Give me another chance. Please, Mione. I'll do anything. Let me prove it. I care about you and Laykyn. I want to try us again."
"You care about me? When my husband was killed everyone showed up for the funeral except you. When my daughter was born you didn't even send an owl. In ten years I have reached out to you and every time I have, I have ended up hurt. You want a chance to prove you care?" There was venom mixed with the heartache in her eyes. "Tell me Laykyn's middle name."
"What?" He stared at her.
"You want to prove you care about me. Then you will care about what I care about and that is Laykyn. So what is her middle name?"
"That doesn't…"
Hermione gave him an incredulous look and went back inside. She scooped Laykyn up off the couch where she was sleeping. She apologized for having to leave early gave hugs all around and disappeared out the door.
It was a long trip back to the castle but she finally slid Laykyn into bed careful not to wake her. Hermione wandered back into the common room. Her mind was spinning. How could he? A little bump. The tears stung her eyes again. She poured herself a glass of wine sat on the sofa in the common room staring at the fire. Hermione watch the flames dance replaying scenes from her past. She had no clue how long she sat that there lost in her thoughts the wine growing steadily warmer, but when a door slammed open into the common room she jumped. Draco stumbled out of his bedroom hair messy and t-shirt wrinkled a bottle of whiskey in his hand. Hermione hastily whipped her eyes but not without Malfoy noticing.
"Granger," there was concern laced in his voice "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Malfoy," her answer was barely a whisper.
He walked across to the couch and plopped down on the other end, "Bull."
Hermione set her glass on the coffee table and headed toward her room.
"Wait, Granger."
She continued toward her room.
"Hermione, please wait."
She stopped her hand on the door.
"Look it's none of my business. Sorry. This week has been hell and I don't wanna drink alone."
She snorted indignantly at his slightly slurred words but went back to the couch. "It looks like you have already been drinking alone."
He held his thumb and index finger up about and inch apart closing one eye and looking through the gap with the other, "just a little bit." He looked at her still full glass of wine on the table. "Not to your liking, Granger?" She looked at the glass he gesture to. He lifted the whiskey bottle in his hand, "Care for something a bit stronger?"
She sighed, "not really."
"Suit yourself." He pulled the lid off the whiskey bottle and took a swig.
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Malfoy," Hermione broke the silence, "do you ever wish you could go back and change the past?"
He looked over at her, "do you really need to ask?" Silence settled again.
"My father wrote today," Draco said taking another drink. "I haven't heard from him in ten years."
Hermione looked over at him but he didn't expound on what he said. When he noticed her looking at him he smirked and offered the bottle to her, "your turn."
She grabbed the bottle looking at him darkly. She took a sip and shuttered. "Ron is a complete and total a…" she glanced over at Laykyn's bedroom door, "idiot."
Draco pulled his wand and cast a charm on Laykyn's room so that she couldn't hear them.
"Don't do that. I need to be able to hear her if she needs me."
Draco smiled "I thought about that. I modified that spell years ago it works like a one way mirror in the muggle world. I got the idea from all those detective shows Matt likes to watch. We can hear her but she can't hear us, so go ahead Granger speak your mind."
Hermione was impressed but tried not to show it. She passed the bottle back to him.
He took a sip and continued his story "He says I can't make it without his help and his money."
"But isn't that exactly what you have been doing for ten years now," she replied looking confused.
"That was my thoughts exactly but if I were to point that out to my father he would say that that was all in the muggle world and anyone can do that." He passed back the bottle.
She snorted, "I'd like to see him try." She took a longer drink this time still not loving the taste. "He tried to tell me he still loves me. He has had nothing to do with me since we broke up. He didn't attend the funeral when my husband passed or come to see Laykyn when she was born. He didn't even send me an owl on either occasion. He says he cares about me and her but he doesn't even know her middle name."
"Athena" Draco replied without looking up.
"What?" Hermione whipped her head around to look at him.
He looked up. "Her middle name Athena. She has only told me a hundred times. It fits her."
She handed the bottle back to him. He sighed and took a long drink. "He says my mother is sick, but I don't know if she really is. He could be lying to trick me into coming home."
"Why would he do that?"
"I am the only heir to the Malfoy name. I haven't exactly lived up to his standards. He wouldn't kill me but torture is always an option."
"Torture!?"
"My father was never the loving nurturing type. Besides all parents discipline their children."
"Sure," Hermione replied her mind spinning in her wildest dreams she could never imagine purposefully hurting her daughter. She looked at him trying to see his eyes but he stared resolutely into the flames. "I have had to spank Laykyn on occasion but to intentionally hurt her… I could never do that."
He looked up at her for the briefest moment, "Not everyone is as lucky as Laykyn."
She opened her mouth to reply but he cut her off shoving the bottle into her hand and sinking further into the sofa. "What about her father?"
Hermione took a long drink. "They never got to meet. He died, two weeks before she was born."
Draco watched her eyes slide out of focus no doubt lost in memories. "At least he wanted her," she said so low he could barely hear her.
They sat in silence. Draco reached for the bottle. But she held it tight tears filled her eyes and began to roll down her cheeks. Draco sat stock still for a moment, scared, no clue what to do. Slowly he reached out and took hold of her hand. Hermione looked up at him. His eyes were full of concern. She broke down clinging to his hand for support and burying her face in the cushine on the back of the sofa. He slowly reached his other hand out and rubbed small circles on her back trying to comfort the witch.
When the sobs finally eased she sat up a bit straighter surprised at how close he had gotten, and that she didn't mind. She took a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Draco still looked terrified.
She looked up at him. She owed him an explanation. I have never told anyone other than Laykyn's father. She debated for a moment and then taking a deep breath she began. "You know of course that Ron and I began dating at the end of the war." Draco nodded. "After the war we went to find my parents. We had only been dating about six months but I thought he was the one we had been through so much we could handle anything. I had loved him for as long as I could remember. It was natural. After we returned home three weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant. Ron had always said he wanted a large family I figured he would be happy. But…" She looked up again and he tried to give her a reassuring smile. She took in a deep breath. "I told him and he said I needed to get rid of it. He called it a mistake." She looked at her hands.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea." Draco looked into the flames trying to wrap his slightly inebriated mind around the story she had just told him.
"No one knew," she said quietly. "I only ever told Laykyn's dad."
"Thank you, for trusting me," he gave a half hearted smile.
A slightly uncomfortable silence spread between them, neither knowing what to say.
Hermione stood and straighten her shirt. "I, uh, guess I should go now. I need to get some sleep, Laykyn is always hyper on saturdays. Keeping her entertained is, uh, a full time job."
He didn't respond so she turned toward her bedroom.
Draco stood quickly. "Uhm, Hermione," he stumbled a bit as he tried to follow her. "Thank you for telling me, and thanks for listening." His eyes drifted to the floor and he shuffled his feet, "I am going into Hogsmeade tomorrow. I hear that, uhm, ice cream helps sometime when you have a hard day so if you want, you and Laykyn can come with me and we can give it a try."
Hermione looked at Draco sizing him up. "I guess we could do that. If you don't mind the company."
He gave a crooked smile, "as long as you don't mind checking out the new bookstore in town."
She smiled back, "sounds like a good plan."