A/N: Hello my Blackians! It has been a while since I have updated my Dramione stories, as most of them are fluffy and I just haven't been in the mindset for that. If you've read my new story Through It All, I explain this. I had a rather massive dementor attack and I am only just now getting back to myself. Several well cast Patroni and lots of chocolate have helped.
While I am eager to return to writing Say You Won't Let Go and Soul Bound, I am scared to open them and write something I regret. And so, I chose to write on Fade to Black, because where the characters are at in the story is closest to where my muse is at. And without further adieu, I give you chapter 11.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, only the plot which deviates from the original story and the original characters.
XoXo,
Elle.
Chapter 11
Draco and George both exchanged a look of utter disbelief at Hermione's admission. But none of that mattered to her. She couldn't care less what thoughts were running through their brains right now. "How long have I been out again?" she asked in the same dead voice. Hermione couldn't help it -it was how she felt inside.
"Three days," Draco answered from his spot closest to her, his voice sounding worried. "Hermione, I really hate to ask, but have you had an appointment for the baby?"
Hermione sighed, the air that left her mouth forcing her hair to fly into the air. "Only one. To confirm the pregnancy. In April, my next appointment was set for the end of this month. I was seeing a muggle doctor, for obvious reasons."
She didn't lift her head to look at the two wizards; she simply laid there, lost in the nest of her hair, waiting for one of the two to speak. Hermione knew it would likely be Draco, as he was still, no doubt, assessing her medically. "I need to do a few charms to check the baby, Hermione. If you'd let me."
Hermione rolled onto her back once again, her eyes fixating on the elegant drapery around the bed. The Malfoys really knew how to decorate, didn't they? She could feel the warmth at her abdomen, but did her best to ignore it. If she dwelt too much on the thought of having a life growing inside of her, she became more unsure of what she wanted to do.
On the one hand, the baby was all she had left of Tad. But on the opposite side of the scale, the baby was a grisly reminder of all that she had lost. After all, the love of her life had been killed in war, just as many other she loved had been. Tears speared into her eyes and it surprised her that she still had tears left to cry.
"All is well with the baby." Draco said quietly. "We'll let you rest. Should you need anything, please just call for Fellie. Or let George know and he will call for Fellie. If you need me, Fellie can also come and fetch me. But I need to go and check on Scorpius." Hermione felt Draco stand and she opened her eyes to find a pair of molten silver eyes staring back into hers. "Please, don't hesitate to call. If George is sleeping and you don't want to call for Fellie, my rooms are the first to the right of this door in the hall. Come find me."
Hermione was shocked by the intensity in his stare. This Draco was so different from the boy she'd known in school. She gave him a nod. The shock in her eyes had already been replaced and the color had dulled back down. She felt his fingers come up and brush away the curl that was caught in her lashes.
Draco's hand lingered for a moment before he walked around the bed. George rose to meet him and together they walked to the door. Hermione turned back onto her side, watching the exchange through her hair. They talked quietly between themselves, an air of comfort surrounding them as if this was an everyday occurrence. But there was also an awkwardness shrouding them, affecting their body language, their gestures.
Finally, Draco nodded and George sighed softly, putting his hand on Draco's shoulder, his thumb stroking the blond's neck gently. That was an intimate gesture and after a moment, Draco leaned in and rested his forehead against George's. There was or had been something between the two wizards before, though Hermione would never have taken either of them for bisexuals.
George seemed to lean his mouth in closer for a moment, but remembered something and pulled back with a nod. Draco sighed softly, his voice finally loud enough for Hermione to just barely hear. "We can't, George. You know that."
Her first love gave a curt nod and released Draco, both wizards returning to their full height. "I know, Draco. It's just being here, so close. It's hard not to get sucked back in. Go check on Scorp. He's probably wondering where you are anyway. I'll try and talk to her, find out what happened. But if it's okay with her, I'm going back to the shop for a while. It's in a bit of a mess at the moment."
Draco nodded, his hand finding the door knob and turning it. "Alright, but if you do leave, drop by and let us know. So I can come check on her."
George gave Draco a nod and the blond left, shutting the door quietly behind him. Hermione heard George sigh heavily and then his footsteps echoed across the hardwood floors. The mattress gave way under his weight as he settled at Hermione's hip.
XxX
"What happened to you, Mi? And I'm not just talking about whatever put you in that coma, or whatever it was. That scared the shite out of me. But you just...disappeared, ran away. Left me when I needed you the most." George hadn't meant to go off on her like that, but he couldn't help himself. For five years, he'd wondered what had been going on with her life. Where she had gone, what she had been doing. Why she had left him when he was so broken.
He heard her sigh, the sound so quiet that he almost thought he imagined it, until she spoke, "I'm sorry, George, truly. I have no excuses that I could give you that would make up for why I ran. I just couldn't handle the grief and the guilt of surviving while so many I loved had died, and then fame that the entire wizarding world was thrusting upon Harry, Ron and I. I wasn't equipped for that. I never meant to leave you in your most dire time of need. But you had your entire family there with you, to help you grieve."
George knew that he couldn't blame her, couldn't hold a grudge against her. She had left for her own sanity. But he couldn't hold back the sob that ripped from his chest, nor the strangled words that fell from his lips. "I had my family, but I needed the girl that I was still in love with."
It was Hermione's turn to release a sob at his words. George knew it was wrong of him to bring all of this up now, especially just after she had woken up from a self-induced traumatic magical coma, but five years of pent up anger and frustration had bubbled to the surface. "You still loved me? That was two years after we'd broken up. You'd never said anything. But George, it would have been so hard for me to be there for you, when I wasn't even present for myself. When I escaped to the Muggle world, I barely ate or drank anything and I rarely left the bed. I was a living ghost, a phantom. There was no way I could have comforted you the way you needed. I'm sorry I left you, I am. But...I don't regret it."
George looked over at Hermione. She had tucked her hair behind her ear and was staring at her wedding bands. It was then that George knew that nothing sinister had happened to Hermione, at least not in the way he and Draco had been thinking. "Mi, sweetheart, what happened three days ago?"
Hermione's eyes were haunted, but never left the gold set on her finger. She was quiet for several minutes before she took a deep breath, "You know, I really fucking hate that day. I have lost so much to that day. Friends, family, loved ones and now, the love of my life. The father of our unborn child. Tad was an amazing man. He was a Captain in the British Army and in March he was called out to help American forces invade Iraq. You can't disobey direct orders like that. They had just started pulling out the British forces a couple of weeks before, so I hadn't heard from him. Which he had said might happen."
George was frowning as he listened to Hermione speak. He could feel the bed shaking from her frame trembling. "Then I was cleaning up the dishes from the day that evening when there was the doorbell and a knock. I answered the door to two uniformed officers. They told me that Tad had been killed in action. I hadn't really used my magic in five years, aside from keeping up my wards, so the news was a blow to my system and it overwhelmed me. I blew apart the front of my parents house and threw the officers across the yard. I'm pretty sure it also Obliviated them in the process. Then I apparated to the first person I thought of, and the place I'd hope you'd most likely be."
Hermione stopped talking, her jaw clenching shut tightly. There were large tears trailing down her cheek and pooling in the corner of her nose from the way she was laying. She wiped away the tears at her nose and sniffled. George summoned a tissue to him and offered it to her. She took it, dabbing at her eyes with it. "But why me, Mi? Why not Ron, or Harry?"
"Because you know what it's like to lose your other half, George."
XxX
Draco rested his back against the door he had just shut, George was right, being back in such a close setting with him, it was hard not to get sucked back into those previous feelings. But Draco couldn't let that happen, his mother was right on that subject. But dammit if he didn't need that kind of connection right now. He was drifting and there was nothing he could do about it. The only times he felt grounded were when he was looking in George's eyes and a few minutes earlier, when he'd locked gazes with a broken Hermione.
It was in that moment that he'd felt a kinship with her, whatever had happened in her life had connected them somehow. Draco hoped that George could suss out what happened, so they could discern what had triggered her coma. Quiet voices bled through the door behind him and Draco pushed off of it with a soft sigh. He really did need to go and check on Scorpius.
He felt bad for neglecting his mother and son for the last few days, but Hermione had been the priority. Draco went to his suite of rooms to wash his face first, his mind was still reeling from the way Hermione had woken up. Her scream had been bloodcurdling. With her being pregnant, it made him wonder if this Tad person hadn't raped her and she was running from him because he wouldn't leave her alone.
Draco sincerely hoped that wasn't the case. He left his and Scorpius' suite and went in search of his son and mother. At this time of day, they would likely be in the sun parlor getting tea, or in Scorpius' playroom adjacent to it. When they weren't in either room, Draco frowned. His mother hadn't mentioned taking Scorpius anywhere. "Welter."
The eldest elf in the house appeared before Draco, bowing low and addressing his master, "Yes, Master Draco?"
"Where are my mother and Scorpius?" Draco asked, looking around at the perfectly clean playroom, which was not the normal standard for this room during the day. Draco's heart was starting to beat erratically. He knew there was a logical explanation for them not being in the two places they occupied most, but Draco was still rattled from the experience with Hermione earlier.
"In the gazebo, Master Draco. Mistress said it was a beautiful day outside and wanted to have tea amongst the flowers and herbs in the garden. And young Master Scorpius wished to fly his little broom." Welter answered, pointing to the double glass doors that opened toward the direction of the gazebo.
Draco released the breath he'd been holding, the weight lifting from his shoulders as he gave a nod to Welter. "Thank you, Welter. Please, return to whatever you were doing previously. I know I don't say it enough, but without you and your staff this Manor would be in ruins. Thank you for all of your hard work."
Welter gave a deep bow and disappeared with a pop before he stood up again. Draco quickly crossed the playroom, opening one side of the double doors and walking out into the expansive gardens. His mother had been right. It was a beautiful day, of course, and the fresh air was already doing him wonders. It cleared his head immediately and allowed him to take a lungful of cleansing air into his body.
The walk over to the gazebo was a short one and he could see Scorpius flying around, just a short distance off the ground, his toes brushing the grass of the open space he was flying in. Draco stopped in his tracks, watching the joy on his little boy's face. He remembered that feeling well. He'd been around Scorpius' age when he'd gotten his first broom as well.
Draco pulled himself out of the trance he'd found himself in and finished the walk over to his mother, looking down at her with as much of a smile as he could muster. "You look terrible, darling."
"Thanks, mum. You look stunning, as always." Draco bent at his waist and placed a kiss on each of his mother's cheeks. He joined her at the small wrought iron table, a teacup in front of him, the kettle lifting of its own accord and pouring the steaming liquid in. His grey eyes followed the sugar as it lifted from the bowl and landed in his cup.
"What is bothering you, my son? I haven't seen you this troubled since the last time you were tangled up with George." That was Narcissa's way of prying, even though he'd told her not to.
Draco couldn't help but chuckle quietly as he stirred his tea, lifting the delicate china up to his lips and taking a sip, "Mother, you're fishing again. I promise, George and I are not renewing our romantic relationship. It has to do with a patient."
Those eagle like blue eyes of hers looked over at him, narrowing suspiciously, "Patient? Draco, you haven't left the house in three days. Haven't been into your office in a week. When you left here three days ago, it was to see George. Now, unless I am missing something here, you don't have any other patients right now besides him."
He knew he wouldn't be able to keep Hermione's presence here from his mother forever, especially not now that Hermione was awake. Draco lifted his teacup to his lips, blowing gently across the surface, his eyes locking onto Scorpius, still flying around and giggling. "It's Hermione Granger. She is in the room next to mine."
Narcissa had been lifting a spoon from the saucer to stir more honey into her tea, but Draco heard a clang when he said Hermione's name. His mother, the ever graceful and elegant Narcissa Malfoy had lost her composure at the mention of the Muggleborn's name. "But she hasn't been seen in the wizarding world since right after the war ended! Why in Merlin's name did she come back now?"
"I'm not for sure of the reasons, but she just apparated outside of George's shop and collapsed into an unconscious heap. She was in some kind of trauma-induced magical coma for three days. Nothing I did worked. So we just carefully poured broths and soups down her throat to keep her nutrition up. I finally got into her head and one of her memories was playing, like one of those Muggle movies Scorp watches. She would smile, sometimes mumble, but otherwise, laid as still as a corpse. My best guess is that she was reliving her life over the last few years. Up until whatever tragic event caused her to go into that state. She woke up shrieking a man's name, Tad." Draco sighed heavily, taking a sip of the still warm tea. The sky was still a clear blue, but it felt darker.
Narcissa was quiet for a few minutes, obviously soaking in what her son was saying. "George has been staying in the room with her?"
Draco nodded, setting the cup down. "Yes, I didn't want her left alone. Just in case she woke up. Which turned out to be a good thing, because she had a seizure yesterday while in the coma. I don't know what caused it, but all of her diagnostic spells came back fine. She woke up about an hour ago. I checked her over and she's fine. I left her with George, hoping she would talk to him because they've been friends for years and dated while we were in Hogwarts."
Silence fell between mother and son once again, Draco's eyes sought out Scorpius who had dismounted his broom and was walking along in the gardens, chasing a random garden gnome. It would be gone within the hour, once the elves got wind of a gnome in their mistress' garden. "I don't know what to do, mum."
"What do you mean, darling?" Narcissa asked.
"She is or was married, I don't know which. The rings are on her hand, like I said, I'm hoping George finds that out. But she's also pregnant. From my examination, she is about two months along. If she is running from her husband, what do I do?" Draco's eyes hadn't left his son. He knew what he would do if it were Scorpius, but this wasn't his child and Hermione was an adult, capable of making her own decisions.
A heavy sigh came from his mother's side of the table, "Draco, darling, you can't fix everything for everyone. You couldn't have saved Astoria and you can't keep Miss Granger from making whatever choice she wants to make regarding her situation. I love you, but you are not one of Scorpius' superheroes. You have a heart of gold, my darling boy. But sometimes it will get you into places that you cannot buy your way out of with it. But do tell Miss Granger that should she need some womanly advice, she is more than welcome to talk to me."
This woman in front of him was the epitome of compassion. To have been married to a man that made their lives a living hell, not just with his words but with his actions and beliefs, and for her to push all of those aside to care for a woman in distress, it amazed Draco. "I'll let her know, Mum. Thank you for offering. I'm going to go and play with Scorpius for a bit now. George may leave for the evening, so I might have to stay with Hermione until bedtime. I hate pushing Scorp off on you so much, I feel like I'm neglecting him too. But I don't want to leave her alone just yet, especially not until I know what happened."
"May I make another suggestion, darling?" Narcissa asked, pushing away her teacup and saucer.
His mother was one of the people he looked up to the most, of course he was going to take any advice she had to give. "Absolutely, mum."
Narcissa nodded, her eyes latching onto her grandson who was now holding the gnome by his bald head, pulling on one of it's arms. An intense and studious look on his face, one that reminded Draco of himself. "After a few days, if she is still here, take Scorpius in to see her. He saved you, he's been the light in your life, perhaps he can be hers for a while."
Draco tilted his head, his brow furrowed at the idea his mother had put forth. She again, had a point. "Thanks, mum. You're the best." He rose and kissed her cheeks once again before moving over to where Scorpius was in the garden, still examining the garden gnome.
Even at his young age, he was careful to hold it so that it didn't bite him. Draco had a quick flashback to his second year when the mandrake had clamped down on his finger. Granted, he probably shouldn't have stuck his finger in its mouth. "Hey buddy. Why don't we call for one of the elves to take care of that? Gammy doesn't like gnomes in her garden. They tear up the pretty flowers."
Scorpius' mouth turned down into a pout but his clear little voice called out for his favorite elf. "Milty."
The little garden elf showed up in her dirty apron, trow in hand, smiling at Scorpius with her wide eyes. It was clear which Malfoy was her favorite as well. "I get it, Scorpy. I get it. Nasty Gnomsies." She leaned in to take the gnome, giving Scorpius a kiss on the forehead, which was a chore for her, as Scorpius was just a little taller than she was. She then disappeared with a pop to dispose of the gnome.
"Why don't we go swimming, buddy? For just a little bit?" Draco knew if there was one thing his son loved just as much as animals, it was swimming. Sure enough, those blue eyes looked up at him and lit up, for a moment, Draco was transported back to his first Christmas with Astoria. Her eyes had sparkled just the same at the earrings he had gotten her.
"Let's go, Daddy!" Scorpius immediately started running toward the glass encased pool that was attached to the manor. Draco chuckled and followed after him, his long strides even having trouble keeping up with his son.
Scorpius had reached the doors and was jumping on his tiptoes, trying to reach the doorknob. His efforts would have been in vain; Draco and Narcissa had these doors warded so that Scorpius couldn't get in without an adult. "Hang on, buddy. I'll get it."
Draco pulled his wand free and took down the wards, turning the knob to open the doors, Draco left them open, letting the fresh air in. The humidity in the pool room hit him in the face and he quickly set a cooling charm in the room.
When Draco looked around, Scorpius had shed his clothes and was standing in his nappy, waiting for Draco to change him into his swimming trousers. "C'mon, Daddy! Hurry!" Draco chuckled quietly and turned around to grab the trunks from their hook. They had little cartoon dragons on them and Draco grinned as he helped Scorpius into them.
After placing a flotation charm on Scorpius' arms, he tickled the little toddler's stomach. "Alright, buddy, jump in while Daddy changes." Draco turned to grab his own trunks, a deep green color and went over to the partition in the corner. His head just stuck up over the top, allowing him to keep an eye on Scorp as he splashed in the water.
Draco tied up his trunks and walked toward the pool with a grin. He made his way to the deep in and gave his son a wicked look. "Hey Scorp!" When Scorpius looked up, they both said in unison, "CANNONBALL!" Draco jumped in the air, grabbing both his legs, and plummeted into the pool, making a large splash. When he surfaced, he could hear Scorpius' giggles echoing around the room.
They had been swimming for about an hour when George walked into the cavernous room, a smile on his face when he heard Scorpius' laughter. "Uncle Georgie! You gonna swim?"
"Not today, buddy. Maybe tomorrow. Uncle George has to go check on the joke shop." The smile George was giving Scorpius was forced and Draco frowned, giving George a nod.
Draco swam to the shallow end of the pool, walking up the steps and summoning a towel to him. "Just keep swimming, Scorp. Daddy needs to talk to Uncle George for a minute." He wiped his face as he followed George over to a bench by one of the windows. "Did she say anything to you?" Draco asked, his eyes remaining on Scorpius.
George recounted what Hermione had told him about what happened, and Draco's heart broke for her. "Draco, she gave me the fucking chills. The last thing she said to me, before she clammed back up, when I asked her why she came to me. She told me she came to me because I knew what it was like to lose my other half."
Fate, it had to be fucking fate that she had come to not just George, but Draco as well. It was just too much of a coincidence.
"Draco, I really do have to go. I need to get the shop back into shape. She's not right. I left Fellie with her, but it won't be long before she dismisses the poor elf. She doesn't need to be alone." George said, his eyes pleading.
Draco gave George a nod. "Mum is in the gazebo. I told her about Hermione. Go and let her know to come in and look after Scorp while I change. Then you can apparate from the gardens. I'll watch over her tonight if you need to stay gone."
"Thanks, Draco. I'll probably be back though. I don't know if I can leave her overnight just yet." George looked as if he wanted to kiss Draco, and in that moment, Draco longed to. But he couldn't.
Scorpius gave a shriek and splashed in the pool. Draco's head jerked back around to look at his son. "You don't have to thank me, George. Now go, you need to get to the shop and I need to get to Hermione."
George left quickly, disappearing through the open doors into the garden and Draco went behind the changing partition once again, putting his clothes back on. When he came back out fully dressed, Scorpius saw him and frowned, "Time to get out, Daddy?"
"No, buddy. Grammy is going to come watch you swim. I've got to go and do some work myself." Scorpius gave a nod, and returned to playing with a few of the toys that were in the water with him.
Narcissa showed up just a few moments later and gave Draco a silent nod to shoo him off and Draco left through the doors into the house. Once they were shut behind him, his strides became long and purposeful. Then he was jogging, and before long he was full out running. His rooms and the room Hermione was in were on the opposite side of the manor. For the first time in his life, he forgot that he was a wizard who could Apparate. He was terrified of what he might find if he didn't make it to Hermione fast enough.