Thanks to all those who's following the story and those who reviewed. I really appreciated it. Just a quick note, 12 years is intentional. I didn't make any mistakes in the timeline. I don't want to spoil the story but I assure you it'll make sense later on in the story. I'm quite particular with the details (must be the engineer part of me) as you can see based from my other fanfic which remains to be in progress. Now, on with the story…
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Chapter 2:
Narcissa found it hard to breathe as she was saying those words. So, before she might feel faint she sat down on the sofa. She can't help but be swept away by her emotions. It's been a long time since she saw her son and having seen her grandson being such a dead ringer to when Draco was just a little boy brought those memories back to her. Though, how much she wanted to steer clear of having this embarrassing display of emotion in front of everyone, she was unable to do so as she found herself shedding more tears of joy.
Scorpius was baffled. It was his first time to see someone cry in front of him not that he never saw people cry before. Sure, he's seen movies with people crying at some certain point but there's something with the way this old woman suddenly burst into tears. Instinctively, it prompted him to draw near to Narcissa and envelop her in a comforting embrace wiping the tears that befall her eyes. "Nana Cissa, don't cry. Surely, Mom and Dad won't hesitate calling you Mother and Father. Right, Mom…Dad?"
Shock was an understatement with what Lucius felt at that very instant. He, being someone who was rarely moved by any useless emotion was overcome by it. He knelt down by Narcissa's side and pulled both the confused boy and his distraught wife in a tight hug.
Harry and the rest of his companions stood in awe as well. Who knew the Malfoys actually had feelings. From all his dealings with this family, all he got was a sense of indifference, arrogance and at most antagonism. The elder Malfoys before him was none of that at this very moment as they let loose this vulnerable side of themselves of what probably was a result of years of pent up emotions.
Drake and Jean were clueless of what just transpired. To them, the old couple must have missed their son badly that they welcome the strangers that they are as one of the family. "Father…Mother would you like some tea?" Okay, that felt weird. Drake thought. He hasn't addressed anyone like that but somehow it felt right. Natural even, the way he spoke out those words.
Looking directly at Draco, "We're sorry about this, son…uhm…Drake." Lucius apologized and immediately corrected himself when he slipped-up and acknowledged Draco as his son. "Narcissa, my wife; just terribly miss our son. He'll be just about your age if he were still with us today."
Minerva shifted slightly and with a bit of hesitation of interrupting the tender moment between the Malfoys, she mumbled, "Uhm…I dislike to break off this meeting short but it feels we're overstaying our welcome and since everything's been agreed upon, we shall look forward on your arrival tomorrow. Harry, Ginny, Kingsley let's be on our way. We can leave the Malfoys behind. I feel they need to finalize some additional matters with the Feltons." She nodded at Lucius and with that, they disapparate back to the Ministry.
"I think that's my queue to go upstairs. I have some packing to do. See you tomorrow Nana Cissa…Grandpa Lucius." Scorpius bade the Malfoys goodbye as he squeezed both the elders in a tight hug.
Jean sat down beside Narcissa and held her hand, "Narcissa, can I just call you Cissa? I'm quite uncomfortable addressing you as Mother. I hope you don't mind. It's hard to explain but I hope you don't take any offense in it. I'm absolutely grateful that Drake and I can have someone we can look up to as parents in the Wizarding World. It means a lot for us that our children will have someone as grandparents that will care about them."
"It's alright, dear. We understand. You can't force these things, you know. It's entirely hard to believe since we've only just met, but Lucius and I already regard you as family. We may have lost our son but we gained your family in return. For that I'll always be thankful." Narcissa sincerely remarked.
"Father, how long will we need to stay in the Wizarding World? Jean and I can only commit to a month since we're sort of in hiatus right now from our usual day-to-day activities." Drake inquired with due consideration.
"We can try and work with one month, though there's a lot to learn and things you need to get used to for Scorpius' sake, of course. I'm not certain one month will be able to do it." Lucius surmised. Lucius would have wanted to tell them that it will take longer but decided against it not wanting to set about any unnecessary apprehension from his son.
"Ah. We'll be sure to make it by a month's time. I'm not bragging but Jean's notably smart. She can catch on to whatever she wants to learn without any difficulty. And if it's for Scorpius' sake, you'll bet she'll learn it in half the time humanly possible." Drake proudly mentioned glancing lovingly at his wife.
Jean smiled back at him. "Enough of me, Drake on the other hand isn't far behind. He may not be as smart as what he claims to be but he's cleverly cunning and quick-witted. He totally charms everyone he meets. Well, not exactly everyone."
"What do you mean, dear?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"Well, we didn't particularly get along from the beginning. He torments me and calls me names. Can you imagine that? He's so inconsiderate that it pisses me off."
"But, you still fell in love with me." Drake continued winking at his wife.
"We weren't always like this. Hell, we still annoy each other sometimes. I guess it's got something to do with how we were brought up which coincidentally we don't actually remember. I'd rather think of myself first before I reach out to others. Self-preservation and all that, you know. Whereas, she supports too many causes; those people are just taking advantage of her compassion."
"That's rubbish! You're too suspicious for your own good. Just look what happened earlier. If you'd just let Harry and the others discuss matters then it would save you all that sulking and animosity."
"I'm not suspicious. I'm cautious which you obviously lack. You don't have to give your trust to people freely unless they prove they're worth your trust. It's so you to be reckless and undaunted with whatever challenge and those people know it, that's why they thrust those ludicrous causes at your doorstep." The younger man stated scowling teasingly at his wife.
Lucius intensely observed the younger couple. From the way they described themselves, and their past relationship; it would seem the Lovegood woman was right. Some parts of the old them do exist.
"See what I have to put up with?" Jean followed through the lighthearted bickering with her husband as she playfully hit his arm.
With that they laughed altogether joyously.
"I don't know about you but I'm wigged out about all this; though, in a good way. I've never felt at ease with anyone. Jean knows that. But, with both of you, I just do. It could be that I also long for my parents as much as you yearn to be with your son. It's rather fortunate that our son has magical abilities. If not for that, we wouldn't have met you folks." Drake told the elder Malfoys in earnest.
Jean leaned a little bit at Narcissa and conveyed softly, "By the way, we forgot to tell you that we have 4 kids. I'm not sure if that changes anything with the arrangements. But all our three sons can share one room and the baby rooms with us since it'll only be a month so that we won't take too much space in your house." Jean mentioned further discreetly somehow blushing when she chanced upon Lucius' eyebrow slant abruptly upwards. It's not that she's ashamed to say they have a lot of children at their young age, it's just she doesn't want people to snoop in on her private life. In this day and age, young married couples start a family at 30, not have 4 kids at 30 like they do. People always tend to be curious when she had all those children and being pregnant twice while still in college is hardly a bright topic for conversation.
"No worries dear. The Manor has many rooms. It's not called a Manor for nothing. Each child will have their own room. Speaking of your children, where are the rest of them?"
"Oh, that. Leo, he's 9 is at summer camp. He'll be returning tomorrow. Orion who's so independent though he's just 7 is at the neighbor's. He's having his first sleepover with his best friend and little Cassie, short for Cassiopeia is only 2; she's sleeping soundly upstairs."
"Were they named after constellations?" Narcissa inquired with a hint of glee.
"That they are. Drake here is fascinated with constellations. It was his idea to name the kids after them. I agreed as long as it's not something so far out like Cygnus or Nigellus. Though at first I'm against naming my son Scorpius but he was so persistent, It's either that or Draco. Having a Drake and a Draco at home would be confusing so we stuck with Scorpius." Hermione expounded enthusiastically.
As Hermione animatedly narrated the story behind naming her son, she didn't notice the sign of relief in Narcissa's face. Indeed, it would be awkward once Draco remembers everything if both he and his son have similar names.
Narcissa was cut off from her musing when Hermione spoke again. "I don't know what else to say except it's been a great pleasure meeting you and Lucius. We don't know how we can repay you for all this kindness you're bestowing upon us."
Narcissa held Hermione in her arms, "Nonsense dear, just being a family with us is a reward in itself. I suppose we'll have to go ahead now and leave you to your preparations. We'll return tomorrow before lunch to apparate you to the Manor."
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"How can you let this happen, Ginny? Harry and I are Hermione's best friends, we should be the ones to escort them back here in the Wizarding World", Ron ranted angrily.
"Really, Ron?! Listen to yourself! You're making too much out of this. There's no issue. The Malfoys have the right. The important thing is Hermione will be back here with us", Ginny scolded his brother.
"Come on, Ron. There's no need to make an issue of this. Hermione's back and that's all that matters." Harry seconded as he lightly patted Ron's shoulder.
"Fine. Just wait 'til I say I told you so when the Malfoys poison Hermione's mind." Ron spouted as he disapparated from Grimmauld Place.
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"Lucius, are you still awake?" Narcissa whispered in her husband's ear.
"Yes dear. Do you need something?"
"No, just checking if you can't sleep as well."
"I guess it's due to all the excitement for Draco's arrival tomorrow."
"…and his family." Narcissa rectified her husband.
"Right. I can't still grasp that he's a father already with all four kids. To me, he's still Draco." Lucius pointed out in reflection of his oversight.
"I know. He left us as a young man with the need to be on his own and he did it. I'm so proud of him."
"I couldn't agree more. Our home will finally be complete. I never thought I'll be a grandfather of four. I've been a terrible father to Draco so I'm feeling somehow overwhelmed with having four grandchildren."
Narcissa smiled, "I never thought I'll ever see my husband excited and overwhelmed at the same time."
"True. Malfoys don't express emotions that well but this; my dear wife is an exception."
"Indeed."
"No matter how I racked my brains out, I still couldn't figure how in Merlin we were blessed with this second chance to right the error of our ways with our son."
"I wouldn't dwell on that. What's essential is that for their family to enjoy their stay with us. Only then can we convince them to permanently reside in this part of the world because we don't know when their memories will return."
"I have made all last minute preparations to make their transition to our world as smooth as possible. I even bought that blasted Daily Prophet so they won't print anything there that I didn't approve of."
"That's so Slytherin of you my dear."
"Of course, we are still Malfoys are we not?"
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"I have a good feeling about this", Drake told his wife as they were packing their stuff. He then heard Jean burst into laughter. "Why are you laughing? Is there something funny with what I said?"
"Look at you…you were opposing the very idea of magic…earlier today… and now…now… you're all pleased about us… moving to their world." Hermione explained as she tried to contain her bouts of laughter.
"Cut that out. Why not, I'm human. I'm entitled to change my opinion." Drake drawled in defense.
"Yeah right, it's just…it's the first time I've seen you like this."
"Like what?"
"This. You're the skeptical one. You don't take someone's word that easily and yet …"
"I know. It did help though that they showed us that magic is real."
"I don't know. I just went along with you but I have this uneasiness in my gut. I just don't know how to explain it."
"Remind me, who's the suspicious one, again?" Drake playfully mocked at her in jest.
"I'm not joking. There's something about the Malfoy couple that I'm a bit wary of that's why I'm somehow reluctant in addressing them as what they would have preferred us calling them."
"They're just an old couple who miss their only child. Just leave those conspiracies in those books you're so fond of", Drake rationalized. "So, are you done with packing the children's things?"
"Why?"
"Because, we can engage in more productive activities than think of your apprehension over this matter", Drake wiggled his brows as he smirked.
"Drake…not now, Scorpius is just next door."
"Scorpius is next door most likely sleeping already since he can't wait for this night to end. Let's have a quick romp."
"You make it sound so racy.
"Really…so we're going to do something about it."
"…But Cassie's on the other room…"
"…Sleeping soundly like Scorpius, honey."
"…But the lights are on."
"Maybe we can learn some simple magic in their world like that spell "Nox" in the Boy Who Lived book series. It will be advantageous in nights like this."
"When did you last check to change the lights? It just turned off on us."
"Good for us then…we can continue with some rather more creative activities."
"Drake! "That tickles!" Jean giggled in the darkness that engulfed the room.