Author's Note #1: FYI, continuation of trigger topic/some depressive themes. Thanks :)

"How's Hermione?"

"A wreck," Draco said simply as he gently swirled a short glass of firewhiskey in his hand. It was almost midnight and he was sitting in Blaise's study –a new habit developed over the past week ever since the news dropped. As she had been for eight straight days, Hermione was sleeping under the effects of a mixture of Sleeping Draught and Dreamless Sleep. It was the only way that she could.

Blaise had nodded at his friend's response and sipped his water. It was better if at least one of them was sober.

"Did she at least get out of bed today?"

"If you count getting up to use the loo, then yes, she did."

No, Blaise didn't quite count that as such, but to avoid a backlash from the blond he decided it would do well to agree.

"It's unbelievable, Blaise." Draco said suddenly. "Here's a woman, who at the age of seventeen, scoured hell and back to find Horcruxes, battled Deatheaters and Snatchers, barely making it into adulthood and when she finally does, what happens? She's reduced to...to nothing."

"Mate," Blaise said tentatively. "She just found out, through no fault of her own, that she can't have children. She's earned the right to be a mess right now."

"I didn't say that she didn't. It's just...hard to watch."

"I get it."

Draco snapped his eyes to his so quickly it was downright scary. "No, you don't."

"Draco, I-"

"You don't get it, so don't say that you do. What could you possibly understand about my predicament when your life is so bloody perfect?" Draco stood on his feet and pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Who hates you? No one. How many death threats do you get? None. Top it all off, your wife is damn near ready to pop, so don't you ever say that you-"

"This is Liliana's third pregnancy."

That shut Draco's mouth in a second.

"What?"

Blaise sighed and leaned forward in his chair. "You heard me. Liliana had two miscarriages before this, so trust me when I say that I understand. That I know what it's like to watch your wife fall apart and no matter how hard you try nothing you do helps. It's hard and it's draining –especially when you're hurting too."

Draco sat down. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Blaise shrugged. "You were going through a lot. You didn't need my problems too."

"Your problems are my problems. We're friends and that's the rule."

"That's a pretty crappy rule."

"Bite me; I didn't make it up."

Blaise smirked while Draco looked down at this glass. He stared at it for countless minutes before standing and hurling it against the wall and letting it shatter to a dozen pieces.

"Feel better?"

"Hardly,"

Blaise finished off his water before rising to his feet and handing off his glass to Draco. "Break another one. I've got plenty of glasses, not to mention that's what Reparo is for."

Draco didn't take it. Instead he used his wand to fix his broken glass and summon it to him.

"Break glasses with me?" Draco asked.

Blaise agreed by going over and bringing his minibar within arm's reach between them. It was laden with glasses, each one having been broken at least thirty times over when he was alone. At least this time he had company.

Hermione shot up in bed breathing erratically and completely drenched in sweat. She wiped at her face to move her hair from it and then cried. Or maybe it was just more sweat? She didn't know. She sighed and looked over to her left for Draco, but he wasn't there. He was probably still with Blaise. Although she would love to have him here to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be alright, she understood. He needed to cope too and if being holed away with Blaise at one in the morning was his way of doing it, then she wouldn't stop him.

"Frizzle,"

The house elf came in with a pop and approached the bed. "Yes, Mistress Malfoy?"

"A glass of water, please?"

"Of course,"

"And more Sleeping Draught and Dreamless Sleep, please."

Frizzle frowned. "Mistress Malfoy, the mixture I prepared was enough to make you sleep for several hours. If you've woken up then it wouldn't be wise to-"

"To argue with me," Hermione finished with a heated glare. "Do as I asked, Frizzle."

"Yes, right away." Frizzle replied with obvious disappointment.

Hermione fell back onto the bed ungracefully once he was gone and stared at the ceiling. The painted sky glowed at night –a dull sensation that normally would've carried her away to dreamland. But ever since she found out about her curse-induced infertility sleep was impossible. She was agitated and depressed and the horrors of her husband's childhood home haunted her even more than they used to. Although she hadn't left the suite and it looked nothing like the room where her torture had been, it was like her body knew where she was. Like it was dead set in its efforts to betray her in other ways by telling her that she shouldn't be here. In this home. In this life. Life with her husband –not life in general. Despite her circumstances she wasn't on the cusp of offing herself. She just wanted to sleep and be dead to the world right now. It was close enough.

Frizzle came back with the water and the sleeping mixture Hermione had asked for. She drank the water hungrily and then turned her sights on the potion. However, before she could properly put her lips to it a hand shot out and grabbed it from her.

"Hey!"

"Be quiet." Narcissa admonished. "If you're going to abuse anything I'd rather it be alcohol, not sleeping potions. Next thing you know you're in an eternal sleep. Then where would Draco be? Without children and his wife. Absolutely terrible."

Hermione sneered. "Of course. I'll never have children because someone hated me enough to curse me, but yes, please only care about Draco and his life."

Narcissa tutted. "Silly girl. You and Draco are married. Your life is his life. Whatever happens to you happens to him. It's as simple as that. If I don't say anything directly about you, why should that matter?"

Hermione scoffed. "If that's your roundabout way of saying that you care about me then I'm insulted."

Narcissa smirked. "If that insults you then you'll need much thicker skin to survive in this family."

Hermione frowned and let her gaze fall to her lap. "Apparently so…"

Narcissa's smirk fell and an expression of true concern graced her features before she sighed.

"Come take a walk with me?"

Hermione looked up. "Was that a request or an order?"

"What do you think?"

An order. Definitely an order…

The brunette groaned before getting out of bed. Narcissa handed over her night robe and passed along her slippers and the two women left the suite to venture off into the dark castle illuminated by elegant torches along the walls.

"We won't be inside long." Narcissa reassured. "We're heading to the gardens. They look lovely at night."

Hermione would have to have faith in her on that one. Right now everything looked and felt dark despite the halls being well-illuminated at this time of night. After walking for about ten minutes, they exited the Manor through a back entrance Hermione had never seen and couldn't help but gasp once they had gone through the doors.

They had led to an enormous terrace, an expensive looking wood for the flooring with sturdy, marble-like pillars for rails. Beyond that and on the actual grounds were the gardens. Although Hermione's wedding had been at Malfoy Manor, it appeared to her now that it must've taken place on some other side of the home because this… This was just… Magnificent.

Brick pathways weaved this way and that, arches upon arches of flowers to walk under like a beautiful maze, all lit up to make it even more enchanting.

"My apologies for not having your wedding here." Narcissa said. "Lucius had this constructed and it would've hurt me terribly if the tranquility of it had been disturbed."

"I'm sorry," Hermione turned to her abruptly. "But did you say Lucius had this constructed?"

Narcissa smiled. "Yes. He designed every part of it from the bricks, to its layout, down to each flower and their colors and where they should go. It was his gift to me a year after we were married."

"That's… That's quite beautiful."

"Isn't it? Draco will simply have to forgive me. He was going to show you this himself, but I thought you could do with a walk-through tonight."

For the first time in eight days Hermione smiled. She allowed Narcissa to lead the way from the terrace and into the immaculate garden maze. It was then that she realized it must've been magically temperature controlled. It was the middle of January, she was in her nightgown, and she wasn't freezing.

"I do hope you don't regret marrying Draco after your...incident." Narcissa approached the subject delicately.

Hermione shook her head. "The situation is horrible, but I could never regret Draco. I'm just… I knew there would be a backlash, but I never expected this. A deliberate attempt to keep us from having a family is...cruel. Completely and utterly cruel."

"I agree, and that's coming from someone who knows enough evil curses to write ten books."

There went another smile from Hermione.

"There's always adoption." Narcissa suggested.

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "I haven't ruled that out. It just wouldn't be the same."

"No, perhaps not. However, the love for a child would be."

That she couldn't disagree with. A child was lovable no matter whose it was. With their chubby cheeks, that particular baby smell, that laugh…

Hermione felt tears in her eyes, but she blinked them back. "Draco told me that you wanted us to move here with you."

Narcissa stiffened a bit, but she didn't let her normal disposition change. "I might have said something of that nature, yes."

"I've been thinking about it, and honestly? If recent events hadn't happened I would have said yes."

Narcissa raised one brow. "And now?"

"I used to have nightmares about that parlor room." Hermione said. She didn't miss the draining of her mother-in-law's face. "And now I have nightmares about the family suite because it can never be used for its purpose. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, I… I understand."

"But I promise that Draco and I will visit often."

Crestfallen, Narcissa nodded. "Of course."

"And when your house arrest is over," Hermione continued with a deep breath. "I would appreciate it if you moved in with us."

Narcissa stopped walking and quickly (yet still in a refined manner) faced her. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm not opposed to living with you, Narcissa. I just can't do it here. I haven't talked to Draco about it just yet, but I'm sure he won't object to his own mother."

"I'm… I'm unsure of what to say."

"Don't say anything." Hermione shrugged. "Besides, I would much rather enjoy the rest of the gardens than talk."

Narcissa was poised on the outside, but it was a completely different story where her heart was concerned. Instead she cleared her throat and continued their walk.

By the time Draco got back to the Manor it was just after three a.m. He had expected to find Hermione asleep, not wide awake in bed. Her greeting had surprised him –not the fact that she did, but rather the amount of energy that was behind it.

"You're not sleeping."

Hermione smiled a little. "And you're not drunk."

Draco felt his cheeks flush a little as he rubbed the back of his neck. "If it makes any difference I was before. Blaise got me to sober up."

"Potion?"

"Smashing glasses,"

"Ah, yes. That would do it."

It certainly had… Draco thought to himself as he took off his shoes and changed into nightwear despite the fact that it was technically morning.

"You're in a particularly cheery mood." He commented as he crawled into bed.

"Oh, I'm far from cheery." Hermione chuckled. "But I can tell you that I won't be an overt, weeping mess anymore."

"So you'll be a covert one then?"

"Don't be cheeky."

Draco grinned. He climbed into Hermione's open arms, but he felt wrong about it. He should be comforting her, not the other way around. However, he didn't shy away. She seemed quite happy to be doing this and so he stayed where he was as she cuddled him.

"May I ask what brought on the attitude change?"

"Your mother took away my sleeping potions."

"And?"

"She made me hate her for about fifteen minutes."

"And then?"

"She showed me the gardens."

"Did she really?" Draco asked for confirmation. When she nodded he brooded. "I was going to show you those."

Hermione laughed. "She said that you'll have to forgive her. Apparently I needed it."

"I see that it worked." He chuckled. "Is that what you want me to do for you? Build you a massive garden so you can order Frizzle to keep it neat and tidy twenty-four hours a day? Or better yet a library. It'll be bigger than the one in this suite and I'll tailor it exactly as you want."

"That would be lovely." She told him as she caressed his cheek. "I would love to have that. In our own house. A big one. A big one with six bedrooms, maybe more. As long as it's enough for our family and friends when they visit. And for your mother, because I asked her to move in with us. And it...it has to have room yet still for the...for the children we adopt." She added with a choked voice. "We can do that, right? That would be okay?"

Draco looked up at her and saw the tears he knew would be there. He disentangled himself from her arms and used his thumbs to wipe them away.

"Yes," he told her, trying to keep his own emotions at bay. He swallowed. "Yes, that would be okay."

"I want three of them." Hermione continued as her crying increased. "Three and no less."

"Three it is, and more if you want them."

She didn't reply but just nodded before burying her face in his chest. Draco held her and let her cry as she had been doing for days. But at least he knew this time around that better times were coming, and so he cried too but for a whole different reason.

Author's note #2: I love this chapter for many reasons. There's such a level of understanding/comfort that goes on here. First with Blaise's revelation and them between Narcissa and Hermione. Sometimes you need a little tough love or just to break something.

-WP

Replies to Guests

KangBoRam: Well, I hope your heart came back. It probably flew away again with this one. Or is in tears. Either or.