A/N: So here we are again! If anyone is still reading. Another sad (but necessary) chapter with a surprise ending! I hope you enjoy. To those of you who read and reviewed my one shot companion to this story, thank you! You people are LOVELY! If you haven't read it yet, please check it out.

Song recommendation for this chapter – which I don't normally do, but it fits the mood and is the chapter title. Sowing Season by Brand New.

Thank you to: weirdgiraffe, semantics, Alexybath, xenaz3, Dimitriluvrforeva, and whitestripes123 for reviewing.

Chapter 37: Sowing Season

Draco:

When I opened the door, I had still been smiling from something Zara had told me. It had been a funny joke or something of the sort. But all thoughts of laughter and happiness seeped from my mind when I saw two muggle police officers staring at me.

Scorpius, who had thought his mother had come back with his requested treat, had followed me excitedly to the door. I shooed him back inside, stepping out and shutting the door behind me. Whatever it was, no one else needed to be involved.

"What can I do for you?" I asked them.

"Do you have any relation to Mrs. Hermione Malfoy, sir?" the shorter, darker skinned officer asked.

Fear coursed through my veins. "I'm her husband. What's happened?"

"I'm very sorry to inform you that your wife has been in a severe accident and is no longer with us, Mr. Malfoy..."

My heart stopped. I fell to my knees. This couldn't be happening. No, she was just getting the groceries. She was alright. They'd just confused this house with another one. After all, there were many Hermione Malfoys out there, I'm sure. Many, many, many...

The man had been saying something when I abruptly pulled myself to my feet. "Take me to her," I interrupted him in mid sentence. "Take me to her now."

"What's going on?" asked a voice from behind me. It was Zara followed by Luna.

"Take care of Scorpius," I barked at her. She seemed taken aback, but when she noticed the tears in my eyes, she didn't comment. "Take me to her!" I shouted this time at the officers.

The ride to the hospital took about ten minutes and it couldn't have gone by slower. What were they playing at, driving so slow when my wife might be suffering? Not that she was. No. Of course she wasn't. They were obviously lying. She was just... playing games with me. She just wanted to scare me.

It was working. I was scared. But I knew she was okay. She'd always be okay in the end.

I didn't know how I'd managed to get in front of two white double doors. Was this where she was hiding from me? She should know not to do something as silly as that. She could catch a cold or something. And then I'd be up all night hearing her cough and sneeze.

Walking through, I found two muggle healers working over a body. The officer informed them of who I was and they stared sadly back at me. Coming closer, I realized the body wasn't a body. It was Hermione. She lay there, bloodied and so pitifully broken. What was this nonsense? Why would she do this to herself just to scare me?

I walked towards her and put my hand over her shoulder, shaking her slightly. "Come on, Hermione. Wake up now. Time to go home."

When she didn't answer, her arm just falling limply to her side, I started to panic again. Getting to my knees beside her I tried again. "This isn't funny, Hermione. Wake up!"

One of the healers came to my side, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Son, she's not going to wake up..." he said, his voice still sad.

"Get off of me," I snarled at him. "Hermione, let's go. Get up! Get up!"

The two officers came to help restrain me. I struggled as hard as I could but in the end, the four managed to pull me out of the room.

"Let me see my wife! What the hell are you doing! Let me go! Let me fucking go!"

"Please, calm down-"

But I'd managed to get out of their grasp and back through the doors. They didn't stop me. Sobbing now, I held her hand to my cheek, stroking her hair that was matted with blood. "Please, Hermione, please... please don't leave me like this. Please!"

No answer. Nothing. Not even a flutter of her eyelids. Not a sputtering heartbeat.

Nothing.

It was cold. So, so cold.

And then, they made me leave by force. Luna had come with her husband, and together, they had used magic to force me to leave her side. I'd hate them forever for doing it. How could they when she was so broken? How could they take me from her?

I ran from them before they could take me home, apparating to a point in the city.

And I wandered for hours.

I couldn't think. She had abandoned me. She had left me to suffer alone. How could I live without her? I couldn't breathe. I could barely think. I had her blood on my hands. This was the last of her... her blood. She had bled. I would never see her again...

I found myself in an empty, disused park. The same one she had found me in all those years ago. Sitting on the bench, I finally found it in myself to sob.

I screamed to a God I knew who didn't care. I yelled for fate to bring her back to me, but there was no answer.

No answer.

Just an image of a lifeless hand wearing a wedding ring I had spent all day looking for.

And just like that, I was dead inside too.

I didn't know how long it was before Luna finally found me sitting lifelessly on a bench in that dreadfully haunting park. When she touched my shoulder to rouse me from my stupor, I had been startled. I had thought Hermione had finally quit playing a joke on me and come to get me so we could go home. Back to our lives like she should be instead of waiting to be put into the ground.

I turned around instead to find Luna's pale hand on my shoulder. The look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. My heart froze and before she could open her mouth to say a thing, it was shattered to a million pieces.

Hermione was really gone. She had really left me.

I doubled over in pain. My body was wracked with tremors I couldn't stop. The tears didn't come. They had dried up. My body had nothing left to spare. I began to gasp for air... there wasn't enough oxygen in the world to sustain me...not now. Not after this.

I didn't fucking want to be sustained!

Suddenly, I felt a pair of tiny hands on my head. Looking up I found a pair of silvery grey eyes that matched my own and a terrified little face staring up at me. I forgot about my pain for a moment, then. I had been selfish in my mourning. I hadn't realized there were others who needed me.

Scorpius stood there, fearfully. He had never seen me like this before, I supposed. It was natural that he be afraid... It was okay for him to be afraid. I didn't know if he had been told. I didn't want to be the one to tell him of what was going on. The burden on my shoulders that had been temporarily forgotten with the shock of seeing my son returned full force.

Gravity was crushing me again.

So I did the only thing that came into my mind to do. I picked up the beautiful little child and held him close to me. This was all I had left in the world. This was the last living, breathing, flesh and blood reminder of Hermione Malfoy nee Granger. And he was my last life line.

As I held him, I knew I had to be strong. I had to take care of this angelic being. It was my imperative, my duty. I owed this much to Hermione. I would be strong.

I had to be strong...

Somewhere above me, the fates were rejoicing.

After all, their beloved prophecy was going right on track.

One Week Later:

It had been an absolutely atrocious week.

Not that I'd had to do much. Taking pity on me, Luna, Ralph, and Zara had scrambled to put together the preparations for Hermione's... funeral.

The word tasted bitter in my mouth.

The world had been a frantic rush around me, hustling and bustling. That was the thing about the city. It never stopped, not even when your world was falling apart inside your head slowly. Mine was crumbling, but the city still moved. It had its own pulse, and it sure as hell was not about to stop beating just because mine was on autopilot.

I would simply sit there day after day. Sit there, watching chaos unfold around me. I would not comment nor would I not take part in the activities. My world was simply different shades of grey. I could not go blank, but I couldn't lose control either.

I had to keep it together for Scorpius' sake.

As long as I was alive Scorpius would never have to suffer. I swore it to myself and to Hermione if she were to be watching from that other world of hers. Suddenly, I wished I had paid more attention. Were people able to return from that world? After all, she had travelled between them in her sleep. Surely...

I squashed the thought as quickly as it came.

I could not raise hope. I couldn't feel anything but sadness. I simply had to hold myself together. I had to keep Scorpius safe.

I had promised.

So, I simply sat there and blankly witnessed what friendship really is. Scorpius would not leave my side, and for that I was thankful. It had been difficult explaining where mummy had disappeared off to. It had been worse attempting to explain that she would never be coming back...

A tear slipped down my cheek and I knew it would be the last one for a very, very long time.

/

"We are gathered here today to honour the memory of Hermione Jean Malfoy..."

I tuned the man out.

Instead, I viewed the immense crowd that had appeared to the funeral of my wife. It was immense and altogether, completely unexpected. When I had walked through the large double doors, the hundreds of eyes that had swept over me roused the first feelings I'd had in a while.

I was glad that she had gotten recognition. After all, there were many faces here that she would have appreciated. Her friends, her family, her beloved ones...

And then there were the annoying fame seekers who had attempted to turn this into an event. I was grateful that Zara and Luna and managed to keep these... wretched creatures... towards the back. It was a task in itself, walking down the aisle, Scorpius clinging to my hand. I had sat down next to Potter and his wife, who had stared at me worriedly

I knew how I appeared to these people.

The poor Draco Malfoy, losing his lovely wife at such a young age. I had a feeling that a lot of them were simply here to watch me sob. I knew a lot of them really just wanted a story to tell. I knew I wouldn't be giving them anything.

My appearance was exactly helping. My hair was lank, my eyes blank and sunken. There were dark bags under them and I suppose I'd dropped weight in the past week from not eating. Or retching over a toilet bowl.

Basically, I looked like shit and everyone was too afraid to comment about it to my face.

I had heard rumours that I had probably returned to my Death Eater ways now that the only good influence in my life had died. They were obviously wrong, of course. I still had many positive influences in my life. There was Scorpius, there were Hermione's friends (I suppose my friends now...).

I hadn't been a Death Eater to begin with, just a scared boy who had no options.

I wouldn't let Scorpius suffer the same fate as myself. He'd have many options. He would never be faced with such...brutality. I shivered at the thought. I wanted to throw up again, even though there was nothing left in my stomach but bile. I didn't want to be here.

Being here just confirmed the fact that I was without my bushy haired book worm.

I felt a hand close around mine. It was warm and gripped me tightly. I didn't have to turn to know Potter was lending me whatever comfort he could. I didn't need to turn and face him to know that there were tears streaming down his face, his wife sobbing into his shirt.

I squeezed back and promised myself I wouldn't cry.

When it was all over and done, and all of the familiar faces had paid their respects and given me their condolences, I was exhausted. Yet, I was afraid that if the day ended, if I allowed myself to rest, then it would be official.

Tomorrow, I would have to begin the process of learning to adjust to life without Hermione. It was something that had to be done. It was something... that I couldn't avoid. Something I couldn't wish away.

But that was tomorrow.

Today, I could be empty and void of emotion. Today, I had no responsibilities.

Potter had decided to stay in New York for a while, for my sake. I wish he hadn't, but nonetheless, I was glad that he had been present to escort us away from the growing crowd that had come to say goodbye to my angel.

Travelling by car had been my idea. Anything muggle was a source of comfort. Hermione would have liked that I hadn't resorted to magic for every little thing... yes, she would have appreciated it.

Staring out the window, I stared at the clear blue sky painted with just a spattering of white. Fluffy cotton on a sea of silk, she had said once on a similar day.

Cotton, indeed.

"Are you sure it's alright that we're staying at your house, Draco?" asked Potter. His voice was tentative. He was afraid to speak to me, as if I would faint at any moment. I supposed I did look weak. That was the last thing on my mind, though. Couldn't he see I was in the middle of remembering my wife? How rude for interrupting.

"Yes," I said deadpanned, not bothering to look at him. I was still staring at the sky, Scorpius sleeping against me.

"I wouldn't want to be a bother –"

"Yes," I repeated in the same tone, not caring he had been in the middle of a sentence.

"Alright," replied Ginny, tactically. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

/

Dinner had been an awkward affair for everyone but me. I sat there, barely eating as had become a habit. Dobby had cooked, returning from the Hogwarts kitchens to take care of his "master". I hadn't objected. I'd barely said a word.

Speaking wasn't necessary, really.

Eventually, it was an acceptable time to excuse myself from my still nearly full plate. Scorpius still needed his bath after all. He complied with me willingly. He had been just as quiet as I had been all week.

I started to wonder if his spark had only been lit because Hermione had been around. I knew mine had.

It was well past midnight when I found myself back on that same dirty old bench in my deserted park. Scorpius was curled into my lap, huddled in my coat that I had draped over him when the temperature had fallen. For some reason, this was the only place that lent me any peace.

This is where it had all started, after all. I could almost feel her here.

"Papa?" a little voice called to me.

"Yes, my love."

"I miss mum. Where did she go?"

When I looked down at his innocent little face, guilt swept through me. There were tears in his bright silvery eyes, his hair a ruffled mess. I was reminded of a time where Hermione had soothed me into sleeping, staring at the sky. I had been remembering a lost child with brown hair, clinging to my trouser leg...

She had stroked my hair and kissed my cheeks. I copied the action without meaning to - wiping his tears, kissing each cheek, stroking his hair back into its neat place.

She had pointed to the sky. I took Scorpius into my lap, pointing to the sky myself. "You see that bright star that, sweetheart?" He nodded. "That's mum right there."

He stared up at the stars in wonder. His little arm reached a high as it could, his delicate finger pointing to a star. "That one?" he asked.

Kissing his forehead, I nodded. "That one, you see it?"

"Yes. Why is mummy up there?"

A ghost of a smile appeared onto my face. He was just as curious as Hermione. Yes, he was definitely her son. "She's waiting for us," I answered seriously. "When we've done everything we have to do here, we can go and be with mummy."

Scorpius considered this for a while, chewing his lip.

"But what do we have to do?" he finally asked. Damn, he really was mini Hermione. Too many difficult questions, way too hard to refuse.

"Well... you have to grow up, little man, be a good boy. You have to go to school and get really, really good marks. And then you have to do lots of great things and make mummy and I proud." I tickled him and he laughed. "You think you can do that?"

He nodded and I kissed him again. This was going to be my life now.

"Let's go home, buddy."

Watching him jump down from the bench and fold my coat just the way his mother had taught him, I felt a feeling grow in my chest. It was neither good nor bad. It was just there. And I think I knew somehow that I would just be from now on. Not here, not there. Just around.

Yes, indeed. This was my life now.

Hermione:

When I opened my eyes, I couldn't see a thing. The light was so damn bright! For a moment I thought the accident hadn't killed me, but instead had somehow left me blind.

Was that even possible? I was sure that my eyes had been fine before...

My eyes snapped open again and I was met with glaring light. It took a moment, but I realized I wasn't blind. No. I was just staring at... nothing. It was just bright white – nothing.

NOTHING.

How can you stare at nothing?

It was mind boggling. I couldn't really even explain it to myself. I wasn't in a room. I was definitely not outside. I was trapped somewhere though, definitely. Somewhere being a very broad definition. Was I asleep and someone had just put an optical illusion into my mind?

Because seriously, this was fucked up.

There were no ceilings, no walls, no floors... just white nothing. I couldn't see myself, I couldn't even move. I could just...think and see the white light I suppose.

Was this beyond?

I started to panic. This couldn't possibly be beyond. I mean... It could, I suppose. But that would suck like a bloody fucking...

"Bloody Merlin's soggy underpants, Granger! Calm down, you're disturbing everyone!" said a voice. It sounded exactly like Riddle.

"Riddle?" I said. No, I didn't say it. I don't have lips, really, so I couldn't have said anything. I thought it.

"Yes, that's me," he replied. "And you'd do well to control your mind like we talked about."

If I had eyes, they would have widened. So this wasn't beyond. This was purgatory. I was trapped for eternity like Riddle.

"You really are overdramatic, aren't you?" he questioned.

I was slightly embarrassed, but more shocked than anything. Then immediately, I set about the extremely difficult task of closing my mind. It was a similar concept to occulemecy, except...no one was really attempting to pry into my mind. It was already just open to whoever else was trapped here with me and Riddle.

Scary thought.

And then I realized there was a sea of voices in the background. If I concentrated, it became a huge bloody din that was painful to listen to. Were these all... souls? Was I just a consciousness? It was interesting, but more scary than anything I had ever encountered.

"What do you see?" Riddle finally asked me.

"It's all just white," I responded.

He seemed to be musing in silence. "That's very interesting," he finally responded.

"Why? What do you see?"

His tone was dejected. "Black."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, what now?" I asked. "I'm not gone to the beyond, or whatever. What happens now?"

"It seems," said a voice that resembled Dumbledore, "your purpose has not yet been completed. I do not believe you will be released until it has been finished."

I sighed. "Well, what do I have to do now?"

"Now," they said in unison, "we wait."

A/N: So how'd you like the ending? It's important! - which you've already figured out by now probably.

Unsigned Reviews:

Alexybath: Well, I'm glad I've lived another week! I hope your depression is cured... This chapter answered how Draco took it. : ) Hope you enjoyed it!