Thanks for the reviews/alerts. Enjoy Chapter 23 (revised).
Draco immediately apparated to Malfoy Manner. He wasn't sure what to think at that moment but one thing he was sure of is that he was going to kill his father. Draco had begun to believe that his relationship with his father was finally beginning to go on the right track. His parents had even accepted the fact that he had begun to date a Muggle born, or so he thought. How could his father do this to him? If she wouldn't have made it, he didn't know what he would have done. The mere thought made him shiver.
He marched through the doors of the large home furiously. "Father!" He called throughout the manner.
"Draco what's wrong?" His mother's sweet voice rang in his ears.
"Where is he? Where is father?"
"He's in the ballroom. Draco what is," but before she could finish he pushed past her. "Draco do not walk away from me." She followed after him but the next thing she heard was a curse being thrown.
"Avada Kedavra!" Draco pointed his wand straight to his father, however Lucius dodged it.
"Draco!" Narcissa screamed. "What are you doing?"
"He tortured her! He tortured her and left her for dead!" Draco screamed still pointing his wand high at his father. He could see his father grimace the tiniest bit.
"Son, I have no idea what you are talking about." Lucius spat.
"Don't call me your son. You are no father to me. It was a bloody brilliant plan. Drag her someone and torture her until she didn't even have the strength to scream anymore and then I imagine you let other people finish her off so that technically you didn't kill her. Breaking all her ribs was a pretty low blow and stealing her engagement ring was even lower but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It is you after all. You have no morals. So why don't you give me the ring back before I kill you?"
"Lucius what is he talking about?" Narcissa asked, slightly frightened.
"Oh he didn't tell you? He didn't include you in his plan, mother? That's really no surprise either. He treats you just like he does the House Elves. He tortured Hermione. He tried to kill her." He then directed his attention back to his father. "You were so sure she wouldn't make it. Well guess what you made the mistake of underestimating her. She's a better witch than you'll ever be wizard. I bet you're wondering how she got away. It's called love. Something you've never known. She thought about her son and me and the love between us all and that's how she was able to apparate away I'm sure of it."
"Draco, my dear boy, are you telling me you are believing this mudblood over me, your own father?" Lucius responded.
"Don't call her that!" Draco closed his eyes tight. "And yes. I would believe her over anyone especially you."
Lucius quickly made his way over to Draco and stood so close that Draco's wand was pressing into his father's chest.
"You will not marry her. You will see one day that I was only trying to do what's best for you. You deserve better. You don't have the nerve to kill me just like you didn't have the nerve to kill Dumbledore. You're a coward and you will run from me." Lucius spat.
Draco reached into his father's cloak pocket and pulled out the ring he had given Hermione. He sniggered then closed his eyes and whispered. "Sectumsempra."
His father fell to the floor shedding large amounts of blood.
"Draco what have you done?" Narcissa said as she began to kneel by her husband.
"Revenge." Draco answered before he apparated back to St. Mungo's.
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Harry was still sitting in a chair next to Hermione's bed. She and Draco Jr. were sleeping peacefully in her hospital bed.
Harry began to think of the life his best friend had led. He never wanted this life for her and he knew that part of it was his fault. Just by being his friend she put her life in danger and he would always be appreciative of that. He then began to feel guilty for how he had treated her for being with Draco. He understood now that she couldn't help how she felt about the bloke. He looked down at his nephew and smiled. The small boy reminded him so much of Ron. Harry never wanted Hermione to become a mother at seventeen but he was sure glad she had. Being with his nephew felt like he was with his best friend again.
His thoughts were interrupted by someone storming into the room. Harry sat up straighter and his expression immediately became frightened as Draco walked in. He didn't look well. In fact Harry observed that he was paler than normal.
Harry was hesitant to speak as Draco was staring at Hermione and her son sleeping. He walked over to her, took her left hand, and slipped a ring onto her finger. Then he placed her hand softly over the little boy.
Harry finally said something, "You didn't-"
"I don't know." Draco cut him off.
Harry spoke in a whisper. "What do you mean you don't know? Did you kill your father or not? I mean I really didn't expect you too but you look like a guilty man."
"I used Snape's spell on him and then I left so I don't know if he lived or not and I really don't care." Draco answered coldly.
"Draco if you killed him-" Harry stood.
"Then he got what he deserved." Draco said staring down at Hermione, stroking her hair.
"You'll go to Azkaban and no one will be able to help you." Harry finished.
"He tortured her Harry. He tried to kill her. I had to do something and I know you wanted to do the same."
"Yeah but I didn't." Harry loudly whispered.
"Someone had to."
"No they didn't, Draco."
"What the hell was I supposed to do?" Draco was crying now. He felt betrayed and worried.
"We could have taken it to trail. He used an unforgiveable like he has many other times. He would have gone straight to Azkaban and the dementors could've had him."
"I did it for her."
"No because if you were thinking about her then you would have thought about the consequences and you would have known you'd be thrown in Azkaban if he dies and you would know that she can't take that. It will destroy her. She can't live without you especially knowing you're slowly dying by a dementor."
Draco sat down in the nearest chair for he knew what Harry was saying was completely true but he couldn't take it back. Now he could only hope that his father wasn't dead.
He noticed little Draco was stirring and waking up. He took him in his arms and sat back down holding the small boy to his chest.
Harry gulped. It still made his heart clench when he saw the two together. What would Ron think if he saw Draco Malfoy holding his son? Harry knew he would hate it. He knew Ron would kill Draco for even touching Hermione or their son much less caring for them. However, when he started to think this way he tried to remember that Ron was no longer here and that he would only want Hermione to be happy.
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An hour or so later Hermione woke up and rolled over to see her two Draco's fast asleep in the chair next to her bed. Her bustling woke her fiancée up.
"Draco-" Hermione said worriedly, remembering where he had gone before she drifted off to sleep.
Draco didn't move for he didn't want to wake the small red haired-boy. He only closed his eyes. "Everything is fine. I promise. I'm sorry I worried you." He lied. He didn't know if everything was okay and he couldn't promise her that it would be okay. Before she could say anything in return he spoke again, "I want to get married."
She laughed but it was a tired laugh. "I know hence my ring." She held up her left hand which was limp and then her eyes sudden got wide. "My ring." She whispered and he could see tears building up in her eyes. "How-"
"Don't worry about it okay?" She looked at him as if to say that would be impossible. He reiterated his previous statement, "Let's get married."
"Draco-" She was then cut off.
"Tonight."
Her brow creased and she closed her eyes for she was too tired to keep them open. "Draco what are you going on about? We can't get married tonight. Nothing is planned. I don't have a dress. I'm in the bloody hospital. Why do you want to get married right now?"
He closed his eyes again, holding the little boy close, and taking her hand, "It'll just be me, you and, Draco plus Ginny and Harry and Blaise if you want. It's all we need. I mean neither of our parents are in the picture."
Hermione closed her eyes again remembering a painful memory.
"They didn't make it. They're dead." Hermione sat down on Harry and Ginny's couch with Draco's arm wrapped firmly around her shoulder still in shock. Two days ago her parents had been in a fatal car accident. Her mother died on the scene and her father was only hanging on by a thread. He had been alive the past two days in the hospital but his injuries were too severe for him to survive.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry." Harry whispered sitting on the other side of her taking her hands.
She leaned her head against his head. "If anyone can help me through this, it's you Harry. I need you. I don't know what to do." She sobbed.
"It's okay. I'm here for you. We'll get through it, together, like we have all our lives."
Draco continued, "I know you would do anything for me so please do this."
She looked at him but not like she was trying to make up her mind. She stared at him, adoringly and finally said, "Okay."
But before he could even smile at her she was back asleep. He stood, still holding little Draco who was fast asleep, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Then, with his soon to be step-son, he left for he had many things to retrieve and plan before tonight.
Thanks for reading.
