Chapter XXVI
A/N: So...I'm currently not dead. I know I took an awful lot of time, and I'm really sorry for it guys, really really sorry. I had to study and I even tried to do something, but I realized that it would be done just out of duty, and would end like crap, so I decided to wait until I got some time to think properly. Thank you for waiting and sorry again. Hope you like it!
After that little scene of Weasley, we all got back to work. Potter managed to contact the other Aurors, and wrote a letter to the Minister, explaining what we had in hand. He and the Weasel often had to go out to look at some report of a supposed witness that saw one of the Death Eaters, and Gin spend almost all the time with Hermione, so I really didn't had much to do.
George managed to get at the Burrow once a day, usually for dinner, but the other members of the family were too engaged in their works and family that we just received letters of them, asking if something have changed. Mrs. Weasley was currently in a hurry to finish a feast for the weekend, when Bill was to bring his daughter for the first time. She was so happy it made the tense atmosphere of the last few days since the attack subside.
That night we were all gathered in the living room, after eating dinner, when Potter started to talk about the news. Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen, and Mr. Weasley was outside trying to do something to make his new muggle project work. Ginny and Potter were on the couch, with George sitting on its arm. Weasley was leaning next to the fireplace, and Hermione was sat at one of the armchairs, trying to read a book and absentmindedly playing with my hair, while I was sitting on the ground next to her.
-I talked to Kingsley today. He said it's better if you stay here 'Mione. I know you like to have your own place, and will say that you're inconveniencing Molly, but we all know she doesn't mind. It's best for your safety, and that way we don't have to worry too much every time you get home alone. It seems like for some reason Crabble wants' revenge on you, and until we figure out why, or manage to get a hold on someone who does it's better for you to be with us.
I could feel her shift behind me, and she stopped running her hands in my hair. I could picture her frowning as clear as if she was in front of me. George smirked and straitened up so he could get a better view of us.
-Harry, although I understand what you're asking me, we don't really know how much time it would take for you and Ron and the Aurors to figure out where they disappeared to. And I can't possibly be here for Merlin knows how long. I know it's dangerous, but we all had gone through worse and we're here, alive and well. I'll manage fine, and I promise to be careful.
Potter signed and Weasley walked back next to him, probably to make a point on what had already been said.
-Harry's right Hermione, don't be stubborn. Those Death Eaters are trying to kill you, and you want to be home alone and make their job easier?
-Ron, you know I'm not dumb. I can make my place be more secured than the Ministry if I set my mind on it.
Ginny sighed and got up to put her cup of tea on the next available table.
-We all know you're brilliant 'Mione, but you have to understand that it's better for you to be here. I'm not saying you have to be in the place all the time, Harry and Ron, or George and Draco and me, we can all take turns to escort you out.
Hermione shifted again, and I knew they were going to begin arguing all night about it, and Weasley would manage to put the blame of all the problems in me, and Potter would end trying to stop us from cursing each other. So I stood and looked directly at Potter, he seemed to be the most rational at the moment.
-They're not just after Hermione, Potter. They want all of you dead. Most precisely you three.
He frowned. His shoulders seemed to drop tiredly, and I could see his eyes searching for every face in the room, like they could be gone at every moment. He got up and headed to where I was.
-But why? Well, aside from the fact that we killed Voldemort. But I thought they would be more inclined to hide. The entire Ministry is looking for them. They are in number disadvantage, and none of them can make the damage Voldemort could.
-It's not because of the war, not at all. They want revenge, but it seems like they're following Crabbe's orders now, as crazy as it may sound. And he thinks you three killed his son that night in the Room of Requirement.
Hermione almost jumped out off the chair, and started pacing. Ginny was staring at the fireplace, biting her lips so hard I thought they would bleed at any moment. I saw from the corner of my eyes Weasley walking to the nearest vacant chair in the room and dropping there unceremoniously. But George was the first to say something.
-Look, we fought in a war. Harry defeated the Dark Lord. They are just a bunch of crazy cornered puppets that need someone to think for them. And if they're following Crabbe's orders now, I don't think they will get far. Harry and Ron will keep looking for any clue they might find, I suggest you talk with Kingsley about this new information Harry. But don't say anything to mum for now. She's happy that Bill's coming, the anniversary of the end of the war just happened, and we were all worried about the Death Eaters. Keep searching, I will talk with Percy, Bill and Charlie, to let them know if something happens. But let's start making moves after the weekend, I don't think mum can take the news know, and I really want to meet my niece.
His brother, it almost slipped my mind that it was the anniversary of his death too. That explains why he was so quiet and Molly cried so often. Potter seemed to want to say something against it, but Gin stood and walked to where he was shaking her head before hugging him.
-Please Harry, just until after the weekend.
He sighed and kissed the top of her head.
-Right. But after that we will need to talk, all of us.
I looked at Hermione, she was glancing at the window, appearing lost in thoughts. But just when I moved to get closer to her, and try to say something to make her feel better, Molly walked into the room.
-What is it with all of you? I need help in the kitchen. Ron come here and grab some things for me. George, did you ask Bill what time he's arriving?
-Yes, mum. For the fifth time, he said he will be here for dinner.
-Good.
Bill and the french girl, whose name I think it's Fleur, arrived some days later. She still talks a little funny, and I had to force myself not to start laughing when Bill introduced us. First she looked at me up and down, then she narrowed her eyes and frowned muttering in French that I was one of the stupid kids that followed the Dark Lord. I smirked at that and proceeded to tell her, in French, that it "wasn't the best choice I had made in my life, probably the worse one as it is".
Her eyes widened and she blushed a little from surprise, excusing herself in English this time, telling Bill that she needed to see if their daughter wanted some feeding. Bill looked a little awkward to be left alone with me, we were in the kitchen and everyone else was in the living room kissing, hugging and making faces at the kid. I was trying to left for a more silent place, and let them have their family time, when the two parents arrived at the room looking for something for the little girl Molly had left there.
I knew Bill wanted to leave and get back to all the commotion; he never seemed to be comfortable when I was around. I can't really blame him, I'm not the most pleasurable person to be around, and my past doesn't help at all. He walked to the table, grabbed some bread and sat to put some jam in it. I was leaning on the sink, and finishing a cup of tea Hermione had just made before darting to the door when they arrived.
-I didn't know you spoke French.
I was in the middle of a sip, and his voice startled me, almost making me drop the cup. I glanced back at him, and realized that he wasn't looking at me.
-My father's family was originally from there, he insisted I learned from a young age. Mother made me take lessons since I was three.
-Interesting. Do you speak any other language?
I didn't know where he was going with it. I don't really think my education would be any more interesting for him than the peace of bread he was chewing at the moment. And from the way he looked at me when I didn't answer, it probably wasn't.
-Hum, a little of German from the times we visited some friends of the family in vacations, but that's it.
He nodded and got up, but when I thought he was finely leaving, he walked around the table to where I was, and from that close the scar on his face made he a little intimidated, which is exactly what I think he wanted from the way he was holding himself to look taller.
-So…I heard that you and Hermione are together?
-Well, news sure travel fast here.
He smirked and leaned next to me, crossing his arms and relaxing a little. He looked sideways at me, then to the door, almost as if wanting someone to walk in at that moment.
-We're a big family, too many mouths to talk. But I was surprised when I received an owl three days ago, from Ron, telling me that the 'stupid ferret did something to everyone, and the snake even managed to talk Harry into it' and that 'Hermione just pity him, and want to make him into a real person with feelings, not the heartless bastard that he is'. First I thought that Ron was overreacting, like he always do, so I tried to talk with George about it, and he said something about you charming the girls, and making sure I keep my eyes on Fleur when you were around. And then Gin send me a letter telling me that everyone was fine, that Harry had kept looking for any clues to find the Death Eaters, and telling me the news.
We were silent for a moment. I could hear the girls talking, Mrs. Weasley fussing over the kid and Potter laughing about some joke George had probably made. It was strange, but in a good way. I wasn't used to this kind of gathering. When I visited relatives with my parents it was always something boring, and mother insisted that I remembered my manners all the time. Here things felt so light, friendly and cozy, like I suppose real families must be.
-Tell me honestly Malfoy, do you even like her? Or is it just a way you found to thank her for everything she did?
I sighed, finished my tea and dropped the cup in the sink. He was patiently waiting for me to answer, staring at every move I made.
-I can't really make you understand it with words, wish I could but it's the kind of thing that you can't put in a sentence. I'm forever grateful for everything she did for me, and there's nothing I could ever do to change my past, as much as I wish I could. But I can assure you that it has nothing to do with how I feel about her.
-So you're saying that you like her?
I grinned at him and looked at the door when I heard Hermione talking with the baby. It's the same voice she makes sometimes when she's talking with the orange ball. It would be pathetic if her eyes weren't so bright and her goofy smile didn't make me feel so awkwardly happy.
-Yes, Weasley. I like her. And that's all you're getting for now.
-That's all I wanted to know, Malfoy.
He smirked and started heading to the door, but stopped and turned to look back at me in the middle of the kitchen.
-Are you going to stay here hiding in the kitchen the whole night?
-No, this place is too vulnerable, I think I'll go find an empty bedroom, or I might pay a visit to my mother.
He turned to face me completely, and to my surprise he was looking disapprovingly at me. He shifted from foot to foot before shaking his head and pointing in the general direction of the living room.
-You don't have to go, they don't mind.
-I think the Weasel might disagree.
He chuckled a little but before he could say anything Ginger walked in holding the little girl in her arms, and smiling down at her.
-Why is it that everyone needs to make voices and act like idiots when kids are around?
Ginny rolled her eyes and handled the baby to her father, before walking to the table and pouring some juice.
-It's called trying to be funny Malfoy, but you wouldn't know about it. Bill, Fleur asked you to change her.
He made a disgusted frown and walked out. Ginger drank slowly, and I was just reaching the back door to make my exit when she called me back.
-Going already?
-My mother frets if she doesn't get a word from me every now and then.
-Hermione was looking for you.
-Tell her it won't take long.
I opened the door when she didn't reply for a minute.
-Bill's right, you don't need to go.
I smirked and looked back at her.
-Didn't know you liked me so much, Ginger.
-Don't get so full of yourself, Blondie.
I found mother in her winter garden. She was dressed in her favorite dark green nightgown, drinking a glass of wine. Her hair was down and free, and it moved with the slow wind that chilled the night. It was sadly beautiful. She was the perfect picture of a lazy rich pureblood. Well, almost perfect. The look on her face was of someone broken, of a person that tries every morning to find a reason to keep going.
I stopped at the doorstep to appreciate the view. This was one of my favorite gardens. I used to come here a lot when I was younger, to hide from the house elfs and the tutors mother insisted I had, to prepare me for Hogwarts. There's a spot in the left corner, right next to the fountain, where I used to sit with a book or draw something I had dreamed the night before.
-Bring back some memories, doesn't it darling?
I was so startled that I jumped and almost managed to fall on my butt. I cursed so loudly that I thought mother would make one of her tirades about how she didn't raised me to speak like a common peasant, but I got another surprise when I heard some chuckling followed closely by a full laugh. When I managed to put myself together, I was just beginning to frown and start telling her that she shouldn't go scaring the daylights out of people, when I looked to her face.
The same face that held so much pain and sadness a moment ago, molded with a melancholic and strange lonely kind of beauty, was now so changed that it softened my anger. I almost forgot what she looked like when she smiled so openly like that. It made some lines appear next to her eyes, and in the corner of her mouth, you could see what time, fear and a life based to serve a man that lost his humanity, had done to her skin. But I don't remember the last time I have seen her so gorgeous.
It made her eyes shine with life, and all the imperfections that were supposed to make her less beautiful had the contrary effect, they made her glow. I stood there smiling and waiting for her to walk back to me. She kept smiling all the way. When she was by my side I noticed that she was shivering a little, and just as I started to pull off my coat she raised a hand to stop me.
-I like the cold, it makes me feel alive.
-You'll catch a cold mother.
-Nonsense, I'm perfectly fine son. Now tell me, why are you here all of a sudden in the middle of the night?
-A son can't miss his mother at night and pay her a visit?
-Not when he's over twelve, staying with his girlfriend and on a weekend night.
-You wound me mother.
-Don't even try Draco, I know you too much for that.
-That you do.
I looked back at the garden, the trees and the moon reflected in the water of the fountain. Mother sighed next to me, and I felt when she raised her arm in order to drink the rest of the glass.
-Bill and Fleur brought their daughter to The Burrow.
-The Delacour girl?
-Yes.
-Is she ginger too?
-Who?
-The baby.
-Thank Merlin, no. She's a lucky kid, got her mother's hair, but just a little darker.
The kid was actually pretty, or as prettier as infants can get. I couldn't get a closer look, but she looked a lot more like her mother. Must be the Veela in her, or pure luck.
-I know you're not particularly fond of babies, but you came here to hide just for that?
-For Salazar's sake, what is it with you people saying I'm hiding?
She gave me a pointed look and inclined her head a little to the left, in a gesture that screamed 'I'm your mother, I know better'. All I could do was sigh and lean against the door. I felt my shoulders dropping, and I couldn't look her in the face. When I managed to speak it was almost a whisper.
-It's still too much for me mother. They're so free with their feelings, and they made everything seem so familiar and warm that it makes me feel like I'm intruding, like I'm not supposed to be there. And I know that I don't deserve their kindness, Merlin I don't deserve even their forgiveness, but I want it. And it makes me vulnerable, because I'm not used to craving so much for feelings, to get down in the morning and help put the table, or get Molly some vegetables, or talking about the way I feel. And it makes me scared, because I like it mother. I really do.
I felt her cold hand touch my cheek, and the light caress before she nudged my head so I could look her in the eyes. She was crying, but this time she had a soft smile on her face, the one I recalled seeing when I was younger and told her about my first fly on my broom.
-It's fine sweetheart, I'm so proud of you. I know you're scared now, but Draco, you're allowed to be happy son. I wish you weren't so lonely when you were younger, and that you didn't have to see so much blood so early, or seen it at all. I wish I could have been a better mother-
-Don't say that, you did your best.
She smiled wider, and hugged me the next second. I don't remember being hugged frequently during my life, and the few time I was, were mostly by my mother.
-You're a good son Draco, the best I could have asked for, and don't forget it. I love you.
I hugged her tighter. That was the first time I recalled that she ever said that to me.
-Love you too, mum.
When I arrived at The Burrow I found a tired Fleur holding a sleepy baby. She was trying to get a small cup in one of the cabinets in the kitchen, but the little girl in her arms wasn't making things easy. I walked as quietly as I could, but making sure Fleur had seem me, not to startle her and wake the baby, and grabbed what she wanted.
-Merci.
I just nodded and looked down at the tiny girl. She was almost dozing off, but her eyes kept opening now and then. Blue eyes and a gorgeous shade it was. She really did look like her mother a lot, but the eyes were more like Bill's.
-Quel est son nom?
-Victoire.
It was the perfect name to a child born in a free world. And the moment her mother said it, the almost asleep girl opened her eyes, looked around for a moment, and started to scream so loud that my ears hurt. Fleur tried to calm her down, but it seemed like a fruitless thing. I was feeling a little guilty for wanting to know the name, so I asked if I couldn't do something. Witch was stupid, because the next thing I knew the kid was in my hands, and Fleur was explaining how to hold her properly, at the same time she tried to pour some coffee. She acted like it was the most normal thing in her life, to have a child screaming bloody murder next to you. I was starting to panic when I realized the kid wasn't stopping any time soon, and she would end waking the whole place.
That's when I remembered what Ginny said early and raised her closer to my face, so I could start making the stupid silly faces the others did. I was really desperate. But as soon as she looked at me the screaming stopped. I didn't know what to do, and was afraid she would start again if I moved, so I stared back at her almost unblinking. She raised her tiny little fists, and tried to touch my eyes.
I pulled her back impulsively, and almost instantly she made a frown that told me some screaming would come. So I brought her closer again, and she made a strange sound, similar to a chuckle when I let her touch my eyes. I heard some steps coming from the living room, before George appeared. He looked to me holding the baby, then to Fleur finishing her cup of coffee, and back to me again, with a slightly amused face.
-She stopped.
Now he looked even a little impressed. Fleur walked to us, and looked at the little girl, before smirking and glancing at George.
-She likes his eyes.
This time she spoke in English. George chuckled a little while shaking his head, and smirked at me.
-What is it with you, Malfoy? Going to charm all our girls?
I grinned back at him.
-It's not my fault they can't keep their hands off of me.
He laughed a little before returning to sleep in the couch. I had to stay some more, until Victorie slept again, before I returned her to her mother and headed to Hermione's room. I opened the door slowly, and changed into some pajamas pants before lying down next to her as quietly as I could. When I closed my eyes and was beginning to feel sleepy, Hermione moved closer to me, and dropped an arm on my chest.
-How was your mother?
I sighed and pulled her closer to my side, until she was snuggled comfortable and put her head in the crook of my neck. I could feel her calm breaths, and it brought chills down my body when she kissed me there.
-Ginny told you I was there?
-Not at all. Said you wouldn't take much time, and I figured you were there. You like to talk to her when you're feeling insecure. Molly kept asking why you left, said you even didn't eat.
-I wasn't hungry.
-Draco?
-Hum.
-You know I'm here, right?
-Of course.
-Good.
A/N: Sorry for any grammar mistakes. And sorry again for the ridiculously late update.