Chapter 13: Everything
Hermione smiled at her two friends as she exited Emily's bakeshop. She inhaled deeply before setting off. It was such a beautiful day but Hermione had a feeling she wasn't going to be able to enjoy it. She saw kids running down the street with parents trailing behind them, she smiled sadly to herself.
How many times had she dreamed that Sophie, Ron and she were like that? And how she foolishly hoped, and was still foolishly hoping, that there was still a chance for them to be that picture perfect family. A chance that Ron would realize that she wanted to be here with them, with Sophie. But it was a fool's hope, still she couldn't help but hope. Because hope gave her that privilege to dream of happiness.
Hermione broke that train of thought and thought of instead of where she was going and more importantly why she was going there. She had a pretty good feeling it had something to do with Ginny and Harry's last visit.
Hermione had told them about the custody case Ron had filed for Sophie. As expected Ginny hadn't taken the news well. She had planned to tell the whole Weasley clan about Ron's appalling attitude. Harry had agreed, saying that it was the only way that Ron would stop harassing Hermione and to leave her and Sophie alone. Hermione pleaded with them not to tell anyone. She didn't think she could handle any more people knowing about Sophie. She wasn't ashamed that she had Sophie. No, that was one of the things she would never regret. What she didn't want was for them to come here and demand answers. Worse, not accept Sophie.
With much persuasion and reasoning, the couple reluctantly relented to her request.
"Mum's hasn't been feeling well all week. She's been stressing over the party. Ron had the gall to ask Mum to have a party after the reception. He won't admit it but he just wants Mum to fuss over him and Helen," Ginny said, a deep frown adorning her face. "If only she knew just what he did to you and Sophie. Ooh, I'd want a front row seat."
"What's the party for?" Hermione asked. It must have been something special since Molly seemed to be taking it quite seriously.
"You don't know? It's been in the Daily Prophet ever since the announcement," Harry said.
"If you haven't noticed, I've been living in France for five years," Hermione snapped, annoyed that something big was happening to the people she once called family and not know about it. Harry smiled sheepishly at her and mumbled an apology.
"So Ron hasn't told you yet?" Ginny asked, her blue eyes filled with anger.
"I wouldn't ask if I knew." Hermione grew confused. What was it that was such a big deal that Ron didn't tell her?
Ginny shot out of her seat. "Oh that stupid-"
"Sophie!" Sophie was with them in the living room, watching the telly. Even though Sophie forgot about the world when she watched her favourite shows, Hermione still didn't want to risk Sophie's innocent ears. From the look on the youngest Weasley's face, the words she would be using would not be pleasant. "It's time for your nap, darling."
Sophie started to protest but Hermione had already ushered her out of the room and into her bed. Sophie pouted and pulled of her puppy-dog eyes but Hermione looked away.
This is for your ears innocence, my child. You'll understand when you're older.
Hermione returned to the living room to find Harry and Ginny whispering to each other. Ginny was whispering furiously to Harry, who was trying to calm her down. As if sensing her presence, the two broke apart and looked at her. They both stood up.
"Hermione,-" Ginny started but Harry cut her off, earning him a glare from the red-head.
"We think that Ron should be the one to tell you about the party," Harry said seriously. "Or rather, what it's for."
Ginny snorted and mumbled, "Speak for yourself," but Harry ignored her and continued, "We think that it's best that you hear this from him."
"I don't think that will end well, Harry." Hermione couldn't stand the sight of her former bestfriend, much less talk to him. She would more likely hex him to oblivion before she uttered a word to him.
"I know, I know. But I just think that it'll be better if it comes from him," Harry insisted. Hermione was about to protest but Harry cut her off. "Please, Hermione. Trust me."
Hermione didn't know why Harry wouldn't just let her know. He knew she was angry, heck, angry didn't even begin to describe the amount of rage she had for Ron. The pleading look on Harry's face tugged at her heart, she could never say no to Harry; she relented. "Fine. But I will not be held responsible for any hexes I might possibly throw at him."
Hermione stopped before a cafe at the end of the street. It was small and isolated; it only had three to four people inside. The street was empty save for the occasional passerby. Hermione immediately knew why Ron chose this and her heart beat faster in anxiousness, anticipating a fight coming.
She chose to sit at a table outside the cafe, she needed the fresh air to calm herself and the stuffy looking cafe didn't look liked it would help. A waiter came out to take her order and she merely asked for a glass of water. Hermione waited for a couple more minutes before the Devil incarnate arrived. She barely kept her temper in check but her curiosity kept her from killing him before he had the chance to tell her what she came to know.
He looked sleep-deprived and Hermione could see a bruise forming on his left cheek. Hermione's felt bad at the sight of him but it was outweighed by the amount of indignation she felt. It was good to know that he felt an ounce of what she was feeling right now but can't help but think that whatever he and she were going through would never be the same.
Hermione stood up from her seat, not wanting to feel vulnerable with his massive height and build.
"Hi," he mumbled, not looking at her.
"Good afternoon, Ronald," Hermione greeted coldly.
He sat down and Hermione followed suit. They didn't talk and the long silence made the already thick tension nearly unbearable. Ron kept his gaze on the table and Hermione kept glaring at him, mentally screaming at him to just spit it out already. Not able to take much more of the silence, Hermione broke it. "What is it that I need to know?"
Ron flinched at her cold demand but she didn't care. He deserved that and so much more.
"Listen, 'Mione,-"
"Don't call me that," Hermione hissed. "You don't deserve to call me that anymore."
Ron didn't say anything for a while then weakly nodded his head. "I don't think we should talk about this right now. With the case and all, I don't think it's allowed. Besides, it's not that important."
"I get to decide if it's important or not. Ginny thought it was pretty important for me to know and Harry thought it was important that it came from you. So just spit it out." Hermione noticed Ron shudder at the mention of his sister's name and Hermione idly wondered what Ginny had done to him this time.
Ron didn't say anything and it was back to the silence again. Hermione was about to snap at him when he said it.
"I'm getting married."
Hermione's face drained of color.
Married.
He's getting married.
Ronald Bilius Weasley was getting married.
An image of the three of them, her, Ron and Sophie, walking down the street like a normal happy family popped into her mind.
And in an instant it shattered. Leaving nothing but pain. Her foolish hopes were crushed; the pain pierced her chest, slowly drawing out the pain.
"Her name's Helen. I proposed to her before I went to play here. Before I saw you again," Ron continued, ignorant to the pain he was causing her again. "I wanted you to be there, 'Mione. You're my best friend." He looked her in the eye, there as sincerity and pleading in his voice and blue eyes.
Suddenly, realization poured on Hermione like a bucket of ice-cold water and everything made sense. "How dare you," she harshly whispered. "You have some gall to call me your best friend. You don't want me there. You don't want to bring me back home. You just want to get rid of your guilt!" Hermione accused, her voice rising with every word she said. "You think that bringing me back to London would take away your guilt, wash away your wrong!"
Ron didn't answer her and still kept his eyes glued to the table, confirming all of her accusations. "That's it, isn't it? You didn't want to start a new family when you know you just left one! And when you found us you thought it was the chance to make it right, a chance to redeem yourself. News Flash, Ron, two wrongs don't make a right!"
Hermione shot out of her seat, disgust and rage evident on her face. A few people have gathered to see what the commotion was about but she ignored them. She pushed and shoved people out of the way, determined to get away from Ron, from London, from everything!
She walked furiously, roughly wiping away tears that fell on her face. How could he! How could he do something so selfish and so...so…evil! He made it seem like he still cared about her, like he truly wanted her to come home. And she was so stupid that she believed him! She should have known. The moment he said he didn't care about Sophie, she should have known! She had been so blind, foolishly grasping at false hopes of a happy ending for them.
Her legs protested at the fast-paced walking. From the corner of her eye Hermione saw something that might help her. Something that was sure to dull the pain, the misery, everything she was feeling and make her forget. She went inside the liquor store and bought two bottles of Firewhiskey.
Draco stood in front of a familiar house in the middle of nowhere. He furrowed his brow, trying to remember when he had seen it before. He turned to his mother. "Who am I supposed to check up on?"
"My friend, darling. Did I not mention before?" Narcissa retracted her hand from Draco's arm. "Thank you so much for indulging your mother's request, Draco." She smiled at him and placed some distance between them, getting ready to apparate.
"Wait, why don't you check up on her? You're already here. Besides, you're friend doesn't know me," Draco reasoned, holding onto his last chance of escape.
"Oh of course she knows you, it would be impossible not to. I cannot visit someone in this state, Draco!" His mother gestured to her luminous silk robe and blond hair in a messy bun. In all honesty, her mother still looked as elegant as ever.
"I don't think you're friend would mind. You're visit is in the middle of the night," Draco insisted.
"Nonesense. I will not visit a friend wearing such inappropriate clothing. Besides, my healer said I should be resting more and it's already so late." His mother put on her most sad and pleading look, something almost resembling a pouty puppy-dog look. Shit. No one could resist his mother when she used that look. Defeat was written all over his face when he sighed and mumbled an 'alright'. His mother smiled, almost victoriously, at him. He narrowed his eyes at his mother and saw a glint of mischief in them but before he could question her, she had gone.
Draco looked back at the house and sighed in annoyance. Better to get this over with. He walked up to the front door and knocked. He didn't hear anything and had hopefully assumed that the person was asleep. He was about to turn on his heel when the door opened, revealing a flushed looking bush-head. Draco's eyes widened. So that was why the house looked familiar!
Granger squinted at him before her eyes widened in recognition. "Malfoy! What are you doing here?"
Draco narrowed his eyes on her and that's when he caught a whiff of Firewhiskey. He cursed silently. Great, not only did he have to deal with Granger, he had to deal with a drunk Granger. Act like a personal nurse, the perfect way to end his evening! "You're drunk, Granger. Go to bed."
"What?! How dare you say I'm drunk!" Granger pointed a finger at something beside him then giggled. "Stop dancing, Malfoy!" She giggled again then went back inside. Draco sighed in annoyance and cursed some more before following her inside. He couldn't leave her in this state; his mother would have a fit if he did. Her earlier lecture about his activities had already permanently scarred him.
He found Granger in the dining room about to take another swig. He took the glass from her and poured the contents on a napkin, soaking it through. She protested loudly but he ignored her. He saw two glasses and two bottles of Firewhiskey, one full and the other still had about three-fourths in it. Who gets drunk that quickly? He heard Granger giggle about something again. Granger, apparently.
"Don't worry, Malfoy. There's plenty to share." She took the other glass and filled it with the bronze liquid. She slid it across to him and he easily caught it. Draco raised an eyebrow at her and she smirked in return, as if challenging him to drink it. Draco briefly contemplated if this was a wise thing to do, but seeing as how he would be spending his night, he chugged down the drink.
"Good, Malfoy! Now gimme my glass back." She tried to grab it from him but Draco merely moved it out of her reach. She pouted and crossed her arms across her chest. Draco raised an eyebrow at her childish behavior. He reached for the bottle of Firewhiskey but Granger took both bottles out of his reach, sticking her tongue out at him. "They're mine!"
Draco felt his lip twitch and wished dearly he had a camera to record her childish antics and use it for blackmail. He accio'd the two bottles from her grasp. She gasped in surprise. "Hey, you can't do that!"
Draco poured himself another drink. "I just did, Granger. Deal with it."
Granger glared at him but he just smirked at her. "So, what are you trying to wash away, Granger?"
"Wash away? Stupid, Malfoy! If I was washing away something I should be naked and wet." Granger gave him a duh look. Draco almost choked on his drink and laughed out loud. The prude and uptight Gryffindor Princess was very entertaining when drunk. "Nope, I, I mean, we are celebrating something!"
"Do tell," Draco encouraged.
"Are those chocolates?!" Granger went over to him and peered at the box he was holding. "They are! They are chocolates! Can I have some?" Granger looked up at him with her wide, chocolate-brown eyes, although they were glazed over because of the alcohol, they still held that same innocence and warmth. Draco saw the resemblance she had with her daughter. Draco handed her the box and she squealed in delight, like a child given her favorite treat.
"So, what are we celebrating Granger?" Draco sat at the chair nearest him and filled his glass again. Granger sat beside him, chocolates in her arms. Granger moaned, obviously enjoying her treat and forgetting him. Draco sighed in annoyance. He did not like being ignored. He was Draco Malfoy, no one ignored him. He took the box of chocolates from her.
"Malfoy! Give me those back! They're my chocolates! I need my chocolates!" Granger got up and tried to grab them from him. Draco stood up as well, bringing himself to his full height against her. Her head reached only up to his chin. Draco lifted it over his head, she tried to grab it from him, jumping up and down. In her intoxicated state, Granger swayed and was about to hit the table but Draco grabbed her arm to steady her, almost pulling her to him.
"My chocolates," she hissed, glaring daggers at him.
He smirked, looking down at her. "Tell me what we're celebrating and I'll give them to you."
Granger's eyes widened. "Oh yeah!" She grabbed her glass and filled it with Firewhiskey then filled his. "To my stupidity! Cheers!" Granger chugged down the drink and winced. When she noticed that he didn't drink his, she called him on it. "Malfoy! We're celebrating! Drink your Firewhiskey!"
Draco narrowed his eyes on her but drank the liquor. Granger giggled and took her glass and the unfinished bottle out of the room, swaying from side to side. She then started singing from the top of her lungs, "I am stupid! I am stupid! I am stuuuuuuuuupiiiiiiiiid-ah!" Then she giggled some more.
Draco rubbed his temples, the evening's events were giving him a headache but as a true green Slytherin, he saw a golden opportunity. He had drunk, mummy Granger under his mercy. He could ask her whatever he wanted and use it against her to get her to settle the case. This wasn't illegal per se, because this was first hand information handed to him on a silver platter. All he had to do was take it. And use it as he saw fit.
Draco left the room and walked in the direction Granger had. He saw an opened, light pink door. He approached it and nudged it his foot to open it a bit more. There he saw Granger, seated cross-legged at the bottom of a book case. She was leafing through a photo album. Draco slowly approached her and looked down at her.
Finally noticing his presence, Granger looked up at him and gave him a lazy grin. "Come sit with me."
"I don't sit on floors, Granger. Those are meant for my feet," he drawled. Unfazed, Granger pulled his arm and yanked him down. "Sit down. Sit down." She punctuated every demand with a yank. But her childish attempts at getting him to sit were doing nothing but annoy him. Irritated, Draco yanked his arm and pulled a small white chair, placed it beside her and sat down. "Happy?" he snapped, she gave him a grin. She returned to looking through the album, completely forgetting him and her drink. Draco took the opened bottle of liquor and poured himself another glass. Slowly, he felt himself become more relax and sleepy, feeling the day's events wear on him. A comfortable silence enveloped them; nothing was heard except Granger's pages being turned and her whispered comments.
Curious, Draco opened an eye and peered down at her. "Whose pictures are those?"
Granger gasped in surprise. She forgot he was here? Well that wasn't insulting.
She smiled dreamily up at him. Draco got slightly uncomfortable at this but she didn't notice. She lifted up the album and showed him the pictures.
There he saw a mix of moving and unmoving photos. In one of the moving photos, he saw a small baby, Granger's daughter, with short red hair on top of her little head. She was seated in the middle of the floor, playing with a white teddy bear with a bow, unaware of the picture being taken. In another moving picture, there was a toddler blowing the candles out of her cake. She looked up then and smiled happily at the camera. In a muggle photo, there was the little girl and a boy smiling, their arms around the other's shoulders.
Granger sighed deeply and pulled back down the album before he was done scanning the rest of the pictures. She ran a hand softly over the preserved memories. "Sophie. My little heroine. Did you know that she likes Quidditch?" She gave a small laugh. "Yes, my little darling girl, likes that horrid sport. I don't know why but she does. When I ask her why, she jumps up, arms in the air and says, "Because I want to fly, Mummy!"" Granger chuckled.
"It is a great sport," Draco offered quietly and looking up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure why she was telling him this, of all people. He sincerely hoped she wouldn't start crying like a crazy person. He had seen women who wailed like a newborn when drunk. Merlin help him, he was going to stun her if she did.
"She knows more about the ruddy sport than I do!" she exclaimed.
"The most ignorant person to the greatest sport ever. Such a disgrace!" Draco chuckled. Wow, how much Firewhiskey had he consumed? He was actually joking around with Granger, the most annoying and tiresome person to be around with.
"Greatest ever? Greater than books and knowledge? Greater than anything in the world, right?" She laughed sadly. "She likes chess too, wins in every game."
Draco was sure Granger hadn't noticed that she had just changed the topic but he didn't call her on it. She might have changed it for a reason and that reason might make her cry and if she cried he would have to stun her. He didn't think he was in the right mind to cast spells right then. "That's just because she hasn't played with me yet," Draco said arrogantly.
She snorted. "You wish you were half as good as my daughter." Her voice sounded so smug and filled with pride.
He remembered the times his mother used to boast about him at her parties. He had felt like he was the king of the world whenever she did. "She's a child, Granger. She cannot beat me."
"She's my child, Malfoy, and she will beat you." Draco couldn't help but smile a bit at her. She really believed in her daughter. "In fact, I recorded some of her wins. Come on, I'll show you."
Granger got up from her spot on the floor and went straight out of the room, leaving the discarded album and bottles of Firewhiskey. Draco didn't follow her. First, because he didn't want to and second, because he did not do what others tell him to, except his mother and Claudine, but that was going to change pretty soon. That's right. Pretty soon he wasn't going to take any orders anymore. Soon he would never have to answer to anyone else. He was going to be the one giving orders not taking them. He was done with that life and he would never ever go back.
"Malfoy! Get in here!" Draco's head turned to look at the open doorway, from which sounds were coming from. He was about to tell her to leave him alone but then he remembered the possible information he could gather from her that he could use against her. With his objective grasped in his hazy mind, he slowly got up from his seat and followed where the sounds were coming from. "Malfoy! Don't be a chicken and face your future foe!"
He got to where the sounds were coming from and saw Granger standing in the middle of her living room. "Mal-"
"Stop getting your blasted knickers in a twist, Granger, I'm right here," he snapped. All her banshee screaming was making his ears hurt.
"Ha! Here she is! The greatest chess player the world has ever seen! Sophie Clarisse Granger!" She pointed to the box where there were moving pictures. What was it called? Something-sion?
Draco sat on the sofa while Granger sat on the floor near the moving picture-box, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping them in her arms.
In the box, Draco saw Granger's daughter and a man playing chess, the girl was playing with the white pieces and the man with the black. The girl waved happily at the camera as the man concentrated on the game. Minutes ticked by and a few moves later, the girl was happily waving the black king in front of the camera. The screen went black and a new scene showed up. It showed Granger's kid twirling happily in front of a mirror. Draco recognized the dress from her birthday party last week. She stopped twirling and admiring her little self when she noticed her mum watching her. The scene stopped moving, as if it was discarded on a something, but he could hear them talking even though he couldn't see them. Then the scene moved again and it showed the two Grangers.
Granger, the mother, kissed her daughter's cheek before telling her to say something about her birthday. Granger got out of view and then the box focused solely on the little red-head. The fire-ball talked excitedly about her birthday. Then there was a voice in the background calling the little girl's name. The celebrant smiled up at the camera then the scene froze, capturing the little girl's smiling face and excited eyes.
Granger moved up to the box and touched her daughter's face as if caressing her. She then turned to him with eyes that were shining with unshed tears. "She's the greatest everything in my whole world. Greater than all the books and all the knowledge the world has to offer. Greater than Quidditch. Ron just can't see it and I pity him for it. She is the greatest, the absolute greatest everything in the whole world, Draco." Draco felt instantly unnerved when she had said his name. Granger stood up from her position near the picture-box and sat beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in the crook of his neck. Draco stiffened at the contact.
He felt every tear rolling down the side of his neck and ever breath that fanned over his chest. Draco didn't know what to do, what to think or what to feel.
He never comforted women before, except for his mother. Whenever his mother cried, he would embrace her until she finally let all of her tears out of her system. But this was different! She was Hermione freaking Granger for God's sake! She wasn't supposed to be crying on his shoulder! She was supposed to be insulting him! She was supposed to be this strong, clever, brave Gryffindor. She wasn't supposed to cry. She wasn't supposed to be weak.
But was else was he expecting? She was going to lose her child. She was just being human.
For a long while they remained just like that, her crying on his shoulder and him stiff as a statue. After what felt like a millennia, Granger lifted her head from is now soaked shoulder and looked at the side of his face. Draco didn't want to look at her tear stained face. Comforting a crying female wasn't part of the deal. He stiffened even more when she placed her two trembling hands on either sides of his face then turned his head to face her.
His grey eyes landed on her glistening brown eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears that were yet to fall, and filled with such sadness but also love. Love for her daughter.
"Don't take her away from me, Draco. I don't know what I would do without my little girl. I need her and she needs me. Don't take her away from me. She's my everything." She laid her head down his shoulder. Whispering those last three words until her breathing evened and she succumb to unconsciousness.
A/N: My heart is beating furiously right now. I am sorry it took so long but I am super excited and super nervous about posting this.
So? What do you think?
Please let me know in a review! Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Please! :)
