Chapter 14
Pansy walked through the halls of St. Mungo's nervously. Even though she had briefly had a run in with Draco the other day, she hadn't actually gotten a chance to talk much to him in the recent years after the war. Granted, they were barely close in school, only having a brief relationship due to the pushing of both their parents. She had run off to Paris after the war. Her father had been rounded up and taken in, and her mother remained behind so she could try and keep her family's status alive; like that would work. Anyone who used to be someone but had a hidden Death Eater agenda had lost any standing they once may have had. They still had the majority of their wealth, but Pansy didn't need it anymore; she was doing fine on her own.
Once she had gotten back on her two feet, she had studied at a wizarding hospital in Paris. She hadn't needed to pull as many strings as she thought she would have to, seeing that her grades were half decent from school. She wasn't sure what made her decide to going into psychology, but she would reckon that it had to do with the mental trouble she had after the war. She had seen so many horrible things; done so many things that she probably would never be able to forget.
It had taken her a year to complete her studies. By that time, she realized she wouldn't be able to hide away from the rest of the wizarding population of England any longer. She went back, and she mended the bridges she had burnt with her mother, but made it very clear that she would no longer abide by the standards set to a pureblood society girl. She would not go through with the arranged marriage that had been put into place for her with some Russian wizard she had never met, nor would she be an object meant to better her family's image. And if that meant being cut off by her family, so be it. Her mother had begged and pleaded, but eventually gave in and told her that if it was what she needed to do to be in Pansy's life, she would abide by it.
She had missed her life here though. It had gotten crazy at times, that was for sure, but it was hers. She wanted to be able to live it to her own standards, but she wanted it back. So she decided she would have to make the rounds to make amends for those she had wronged and cut off so suddenly.
Her first stop after getting a job at in the psych ward at St. Mungo's was to visit Draco. He had announced his engagement to Astoria Greengrass. And while she had been in their lives through seeing them in the odd social gathering, she never got to regain their friendship. It didn't help that Astoria basically threatened that if Pansy so much as looked at Draco the wrong way, she would publically ruin her. She wasn't scared of the girl, she just didn't care enough to try and interfere. Besides, Draco deserved a chance of happiness, and if Astoria was it for him, then who was she to get in that?
She talked to him from time to time, and knew him well enough to see behind the charade of their marriage as the years passed on. She could tell he was unhappy, and that she was cheating on him. But it wasn't her place to say anything, so she left it alone. She wished she didn't though. A part of her wished that she tried harder. But Astoria was always around whenever she tried to talk to Draco, so she had no choice but to let him go.
She had also gone right after to see Harry Potter. She felt the need to apologise for what she had done in the Great Battle. Pansy had been scared out of her mind but it didn't justify her actions. And she knew to be able to let go of what happened completely, she needed to make up for it, the best she could. Potter was a bit stunned by her visit, but had told her that he understood.
Blaise and Theo had welcomed her back with open arms; however she had never been super close to either, much to her chagrin. Even now, she barely got to see either one as often as she would have liked.
Pansy knocked on the door to Draco's office, hoping he would be in there. Less than a few seconds later the door opened.
"Pansy?" he asked, a bit surprised to see her. He had aged slightly, but still looked pretty good. Especially in the white jacket he was wearing.
"I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to talk to you," she explained. "If you're busy, I can come back later though."
"No, come in," he said, inviting her into his office. "I'm on a break right now anyways."
When they had sat down, he gave her a smile, "So not that I'm objecting to your visit, but what prompted you to come in and see me?"
"I wanted to catch up with you," she said softly. "We were friends when we were younger, drama aside. And when I left to Paris, I cut off ties with pretty much everyone. But when I came back, Astoria told me to stay away from you. I respected you and your marriage so I did."
"Funny, she told me that you said you didn't want anything to do with me," he said with a sigh as he rubbed his temples. "Somehow, I keep finding out ways that she screwed me over, even though we're divorced. The only good thing that came out of that marriage was Scorpius."
"How is he?" she asked, her voice softening. "I remember seeing his picture in the paper a few times now and then."
"He's growing up so fast," Draco said, as he looked wistfully at the picture of his son on his desk. In it, Scorpius was playing with a toy quaffle, and had the largest smile on his face. "I'm sorry for my ex-wife. She had no right to tell you to stay away. You were my friend, not hers. But I do hope I can see you around more frequently now. I know I've seen you here and there, but I want to be able to have you back in my life."
"I would like that," she said with a smile. "So how's Hermione doing? I know you mentioned you were seeing her when I ran into you the other day."
"She's brilliant. Honestly, I've never known anyone like her before. I actually just owled her about having dinner with me and Scorpius tomorrow night. She loves him so much; I don't know how I got so lucky with her," Draco said, his eyes lighting up at the mention of her.
"I'm glad," Pansy told him genuinely. "You deserve to be happy. And even in school I could tell you had a thing for her."
"What? How?" he sputtered.
"Draco, you always went on and on about her. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Besides, it was your business, so I never said anything about it," Pansy told him with a look. "I know you, remember?"
"That you do," he said with a chuckle. "So how are you doing? Are you seeing anybody?"
"I have a date tonight actually," she said, shyly. It was unlike her, but thinking about it made her queasy.
"With who?" Draco asked interestedly.
"Theo," she said. She fancied him slightly in school, but she grew up, and she had learned to put her feelings aside while pretending to be the good pureblood she was supposed to be. And when she had left the country, she had given up on being able to have him. But seeing him the other day had brought back all the feelings, as if a floodgate had been opened.
"Nott?!" Draco asked with a yelp. "That bugger never mentioned it when I saw him! I swear I'm going to go and have a talk with him about that. But are you excited for it? You did have feelings for him."
She looked up at him startled, but he merely laughed.
"I know you too, Parkinson, just as well as you know me. Have fun on your date. You deserve happiness as well," he said, as he gripped her hand. "I know we were expected to get married at one point, but I've always cared for you as a sister. Thankfully, that whole marriage phase between us didn't last long."
She laughed, "I know. As good looking as you are, I dreaded having to do anything with you. It was always so weird to me."
Draco looked at the clock on his desk, and saw the time. "I hate to do this, but I need to get back to work. You work here too right? You should stop by more often; we can take our breaks together and catch up on lost time."
She smiled, "I would love that. Besides, my break is nearly over as well. I just decided it was time I stopped letting Astoria tell me who I could and couldn't have in my life. And maybe you can introduce me to Scorpius, officially. I would love to meet him as well."
"Sure thing, Pansy," he said, as he placed a kiss on her cheek.
Ron Weasley looked at the news article in the Daily Prophet. He had been displeased to wake up to find none other than a huge picture of Hermione and Malfoy plastered all over the front of the paper. Taking a sip of his coffee, he proceeded to read, knowing very well he would not be happy with what he found.
Golden Girl Heats It Up With Malfoy Heir
Parvati Patil
Seems like only yesterday I was writing about Hermione Granger's blooming romance with Draco Malfoy. They were so mysterious about it, that the question in everyone's mind was simple: were they, or weren't they a thing? But if you remember, dear readers, I never swayed from my thoughts that they were together.
Sources confirm that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger have already been on a double date with Granger's close friends, the Potters. Seems to me like Miss Granger, and Mr Malfoy seem to be fitting well into each other's lives already!
I even heard that the couple are rumoured to be house shopping together for their family of the two of them and Malfoy's son, Scorpius (aged 2). Neither Malfoy or Granger were available for commenting on this, however, never fear dear readers, I will get the scoop for you soon.
Part of me does wonder, what does Ron Weasley and Astoria Greengrass (formerly known as Astoria Malfoy) think about this? While both are rumoured to have been having flings up and down the English Isles, do they feel upset that their former lovers have moved on to happier times? Especially Weasley, who was known for his raging jealously while he and Granger were together. Between the two of us, he was always jealous, even in school of anyone with Granger.
Well this reporter is eager to hear what he has to say on the matter. Merlin knows Weasley has always loved to speak his mind and voice his opinions to the public
Until next time dear readers.
Ron crumpled the paper into a ball and set it on fire with his wand. When he had first found out about Hermione and Malfoy, he was absolutely furious. How on earth could she be with him? He was a no good Death Eater, and to be quite frank, he didn't know how he wasn't thrown in Azkaban for his crimes against the rest of the wizarding populating. Malfoy was a good for nothing son of a bitch, and it infuriated him beyond measure that Hermione wanted to be with him.
He hated to admit it, but Harry was right. He had wanted to fool around with other girls until she came to her senses and dressed the way that he wished for her to. Was he really asking for so much? All he wanted was an attractive witch on his arm that would have a hot meal ready for him when he came home from a hard day's work? He expected her to be like his mother. After all, was that not what a married witch was supposed to do for him?
He expected for her to wait, yet that bloody witch had decided that she didn't need him. Well he would just have to show her wouldn't he? Death Eaters like Malfoy were the reason that people like his brother had died. And it wasn't fair that he got to go free because of a technicality. He would get his revenge on Malfoy, one way or another. And if that also got him Hermione back, then that would just be like shooting a quaffle through two hoops, now wouldn't it?
Pansy arrived at the coffee shop slightly early. Granted, their date was more of a coffee break together, but she didn't really mind. Before arriving, she had dropped off the files on Denis Creevey that the Auror's insisted upon, as well as a write up on her personal opinion on his possible involvement in the case. While she knew that Denis had the potential to be the murderer, she wasn't quite sure that it made him guilty. However, she was only involved for the mental aspects of the case, but otherwise it was based on evidence and facts.
She had heard of the murders of the purebloods, and honestly, it slightly frightened her. She didn't really know of a connection between them, other than running around as Death Eaters together. And while she wasn't actually a serious Death Eater, she had more than enough affiliations with them. So it was fair to say that Pansy was slightly worried that she could be next.
"Sorry I'm late," Theo said with a smile as he walked up from behind her. He placed a kiss on her cheek, and took a seat in the chair opposite from her. The pair began to catch up with her on the lost time. She couldn't stop smiling as he made her laugh or listen to him interestedly as he told her about his life since they had seen each other last.
Hermione sat in Jamie's bed as he slept. She had spent the last few hours with the boy, talking to him, and telling him tales from her school days; at least the ones which didn't involve the violence of the war. She told him how she met Harry and Ron and how they saved her from the troll in the bathroom. And then she told him about meeting with Victor Krum. Hermione enjoyed talking to the boy more than anything, and was starting to feel him grow on her.
She had just finished reading him a bed time story from the book that Dumbledore had given her in his will. She had read one of the simpler tales, one which would not plague him with horrid nightmares, which she was sure most of them would.
She hated that they still hadn't found a cure for him. All Jamie wanted was a family to love him, yet there was no hope for adoption for him while he was still sick. Did he not at least deserve know that someone out there loved him more than anything? So she wanted to be there for him, so he would know that he at least had her.
She wished she could find him someone who would want to adopt him. She made a note to talk to the adoption centre which Jamie had stayed at prior to his hospitalization. Maybe she would be able to find him someone for when he was cured. That way he wouldn't feel as alone as he probably did.
She had an idea just then, but she wasn't completely sure about it. It was something that was beginning to root in her mind, but she couldn't let herself grow attached to it, not without doing some serious thinking about it first. She needed to know that she would be able to afford it and that it would be something that would benefit all parties involved. So she would do what she always did when there was a decision to be made; she would think about all the pros and cons involved and then use that to help her come to an informed decision based on what her heart said.
"Hermione?" she heard Draco's voice call out from the door. "I didn't know you would be here tonight." He was wearing his white healer robes, and she could tell that he was on his rounds. He came in and checked quickly all his vitals to make sure that Jamie was doing okay, before turning his attention back to her.
"I was just going to come see you," she said, as she rose from the bed. She didn't want to wake Jamie, so she walked into the hallway. "I wanted to check in on Jamie; I wanted to make sure he was okay first."
He kissed her lightly on the forehead, "I know he loves having you here, so don't worry about it. How are you doing?"
"Good," she said with a smile. "Did you get my owl with a response?"
He nodded. "I'm looking forward to having you over."
When he had asked her to have dinner with him and Scorpius alone, she had felt her heart flutter. She wanted to be a part of their lives; both of them, and that he trusted her enough to introduce her to his son, as his romantic partner, made her feel so happy.