Here's Chapter 18. I hope you all enjoy it. Sadly, I'm back from my week in Florida, though I'm pretty sure my liver is feeling differently. I hope you enjoy it! I was overwhelmed with the comments from the last two chapters! You all are great :P
The altercation between George, Draco, Pansy, and Theodore was all anyone could chatter about - whether it was through hushed whispers and gossip at the Ministry or as people flipped through the pages of The Daily Prophet and Wizard Weekly while they meandered through shops. All sorts of rumors flew regarding what was said to make the usually jovial George Weasley pummel Theodore Nott with one punch. Some say Theodore made a swipe at Fred, the only logical thing anyone could come up with that would cause George to be violent. Others swear they heard Pansy say she was coming back for Draco so the mudblood better watch out. Every day was a new headline, a new rumor, with the same moving picture of George's fist connecting with Theodore's face while Draco and Pansy watched - her face etched in horror while his was twisted with rage.
Draco went on an organizing spree in his office, trying to channel his inner Hermione as he couldn't focus on his work. He needed Harry to get back from his mission so he could talk to him. There was no way he could keep this secret - knowing who killed her parents - from her. He knew there was nothing she could change if she did know, considering the elder Nott received the Kiss once his trial was over. It wasn't as if Hermione could break into Azkaban and do much worse. The Dementor's Kiss was a fate far worse than death. Draco didn't want to trigger any nightmares for her - nightmares that had been non-existent for months now - but he knew she would not react well to him knowing the truth she desperately wanted to know. Harry was probably right - her knowing wasn't the best idea. After all, he's clearly known the truth for years and hasn't said a word to her. How he kept it from her was unfathomable to Draco, considering how close the two of them are. Then again, maybe that was how he was able to do it. Maybe Harry knew that her not knowing outweighed the benefits of her knowing when everything was said and done.
He honestly didn't know what to do, other than to figure out how to not lose his sanity until Harry returned. Stacking files in order of importance on his desk, he smiled at the sight of the lone picture on his desk of him and Hermione at the New Year's Eve ball, dancing and laughing as if they were the only two in the room. One day, he knew he'd be able to look at that picture and realized that all the happiness trapped in that moment he deserved, but today, like every other day, wasn't that day. His mind was lost in thought as he filed away paperwork that he usually passed on to LuAnne to file when the door of his office flew open, startling him. It was Ginny, carrying Albus, completely beside herself.
"If I were to find Kingsley at this moment, where would he be," she asked in a demanding tone.
"Um, well, I wouldn't know. I'm not his secretary," he carefully replied. He walked over to her and took his fussy godson from her arms. "What's wrong? Is it Harry? Has something happened?"
"I don't know," Ginny spat. "I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling right now and he usually…Harry is never gone this long without sending me some kind of sign that he's ok. He just doesn't…" Draco watched as she blinked tears away. "I want to know where he is. I want to know where he is, what he's doing, and when he'll be back and I want to know now and if I have to bloody beat it out of him, believe me I will."
He rocked back and forth, a hand soothing Albus on his back as he started to fuss less, becoming increasingly interested in trying to put Draco's tie in his mouth. "You know Kingsley isn't going to tell you anything," Draco said calmly. "Regardless of what you do to him. Though I don't recommend assaulting the Minister of Magic. I'm certain it's frowned upon."
"Well I'm certain that I'm not leaving until I get answers. It's been nearly a week. This isn't normal, Draco."
"Do you want me to see if I can find something out?" he offered.
"Of course not. I'll get what I want. Kingsley knows not to mess with me."
Draco knew better than to argue with Ginny when she was this worked up. He looked down and saw his tie covered in drool. Trying his best not to be completely grossed out, he grabbed a handkerchief from his desk and did his best to wipe some of it away as Albus babbled, grabbing the tie to gnaw again the moment Draco had it somewhat cleaned. "Where's James?" he asked, handkerchief still in his hand.
"He's spending the day with Teddy at Andromeda's," Ginny replied. "That's another thing - even James thinks something is wrong. That kid worries and usually if I'm not worried, he doesn't worry, but I'm worried." He opened up his free arm and walked towards Ginny, giving her a hug as best as he could while holding Albus. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "It's just…it's too weird. Pansy and Nott are back, Harry is sent on a mission…"
He gave her arm a squeeze. "I'm sure it's merely coincidental."
"But you don't know that," Ginny argued. "I saw the look on your face when you told me what happened. I haven't seen that look in ages. It doesn't feel like it did last time, but I just can't - "
"Ginny," Draco said, looking right at her. "I'll keep Albus if you truly want to go find Kingsley. But you have to promise not to hex him if he doesn't give you the answer you're looking for."
She huffed, blowing loose strands of her red hair away from her face. "I don't know if I can make that promise."
"You cannot hex the Minister," he reiterated. "Go. Find me when you come back."
Ginny nodded, pulling at her blue v-neck sweater as if she was trying to look as appropriate as possible to enter the Minister's office in a sweater and jeans. "Draco…I just - "
"It's ok," he said. "Go. Grab Hermione on your way. I'm sure that between the two of you, Kingsley won't stand a chance."
She nodded, her fingers gripping the cuffs of her sleeve. "This is probably true." Ginny pressed a kiss to baby Albus and squeezed Draco's hand before leaving his office.
Draco grabbed the diaper bag from the floor and brought it to his desk. He sat down, propping his feet up on the desk as he reclined back a ways, staring at Albus who was making silly faces at him. "You're a drooling monster," he commented, grabbing his tie and flipping it over his shoulder as Albus began to suck on a fist. "I don't even understand how something so small makes so much saliva. Then again, growing teeth doesn't look like much fun, mister. Not much fun at all." Draco rubbed a hand on Albus' back and his little fist popped from his mouth as he let out a big yawn. There was something about Harry and Ginny's children that instantly relaxed him when he was feeling most stressed. As Albus was lulled to sleep by the consistent motion of Draco's light touch on his back, Draco could feel the tension he'd been carrying all week slip away.
He started to read through some briefing memos regarding an upcoming case of his, finding it easier to focus as Albus stayed perched upon his chest. He jotted some notes down with his free hand when he heard a knock on the door. He half expected it to be Ginny or Hermione, but instead it was Ron. Not bothering to move, he looked at Ron for a moment before motioning with his head for him to come inside. Ron shut the door behind him and Draco motioned to the chair in front of his desk, which after a brief hesitation, Ron sat down in, fidgeting with the wand in his hands.
Draco wanted to snap at him, but he didn't want to stress himself out or startle Albus. "Can I help you?" he finally asked.
Ron looked up at him. Draco noticed he was a bit more cleaned up than usual, his hair cut instead of a shaggy, unkempt red mop. "I uh, I've decided to become an auror, and I've been granted entrance into the training program."
Swallowing the remark Draco initially came up with, he nodded. "Interesting," he said instead.
"Yeah, I guess so. I'm trying to be less of a git…get my shit together so to speak. Harry, Ginny, Hermione…I don't know how to fix my relationships with them, but I figure this is a start."
He couldn't help but glare slightly at Ron. "What, might I ask, kind of relationship are you looking for with my fiancée?"
"Just friends," he quickly replied, somewhat nervously. "I mucked that up years ago. She says she doesn't know when we can be friends again…but I figured this was a step in the right direction." Albus began to fuss. Draco kicked his feet carefully off the desk and searched through the diaper bag before finding his yellow blanket and pacifier. Popping the plug in his mouth, Albus sighed contently as Draco wrapped his chubby arm around the blanket. "My nephews like you better than me," Ron mused.
"I'm around them more," Draco countered. "That's your fault."
"Right," Ron agreed, bowing his head slightly. "I just wanted to…I mean, I know you think I'm a right git, and I'll probably take awhile to stop thinking of you as a creepy bloke, but I figure if we both learn to be civil in each other's presence…it will be best for everyone."
As much as Draco wanted to disagree, he knew Ron was right. He was also glad Ron approached him first, because Draco didn't have it in him to start the conversation without decking him in the same regard Harry did at the hospital six months ago. "I'm sure we can manage," he finally stated. "We're both adults."
"Yeah," Ron said. Draco watched as Ron stared at his nephew. "I think Albus looks more like Harry than James did as a baby."
"I don't know - James is pretty much a dead ringer for his dad."
"True," Ron replied, relaxing a bit in the chair. "Why do you have him, anyway?"
"Your sister is hosting a shakedown in Kingsley's office for information on Harry's mission. She's worried."
"Eh…Harry can take care of himself. He's brilliant at that kind of stuff."
"Yes, well, once your sister puts her mind to something…"
"She's like Mum that way," Ron said.
Draco figured as long as he was sitting there, they might as well continue the small talk to see if civility between them could exist. "So…" he drawled out as casually as he could. "How are things with Lavender?"
"Pregnant," Ron blurted, slapping a hand over his mouth as soon as the word escaped his lips. "Fuck. I wasn't supposed to say that."
It took everything Draco had not to blurt out laughing. All he could think of when he looked at Ron was how Snape would tell him that the more things changed, the more often they stayed the same as a child. Ron Weasley was a perfect example. He was always going to be a mess of some sort. The entire universe could evolve, and Ron would stay exactly as he was. Nothing more, nothing less. Draco shifted Albus in his arms so he his head was resting higher up, more on his shoulder, so he could sit up a bit more. "Well…congratulations," he finally said, shocked that he could hear some sincerity in his own voice. "Are you getting married?"
"Probably," Ron said with a sigh. "It's the right thing to do and all. I haven't told anyone yet though. We're going to tell Mum and Dad tonight."
Draco nodded again. "Right." He rubbed Albus' back a bit. "You know…you probably shouldn't marry her just because you think it's the right thing to do."
Ron stood to his feet, jamming his wand into his pocket. "Probably not," he agreed. "But the only person I ever wanted to marry is taken." Draco and Ron's eyes met, Ron's lips pursed together in shame as Draco's stayed neutral. "I just wanted to say hello, considering we'll be seeing more of each other."
Carefully, Draco stood to his feet, firmly holding Albus. "Good luck with your training."
"Thanks," Ron said. He walked towards the door and reached for the knob, only to have the door shoved into him. He barely dodged the edge of the door meeting his face, but he didn't miss Hermione barreling into him. "Bloody hell, 'Mione!" Ron yelped, catching her before she fell.
Running into Ron inside of Draco's office wasn't exactly what Hermione had in mind. He was certainly stronger than she remembered, catching her arm with his hand and pulling her back to her feet in a single motion. She had about a million questions to ask, most importantly regarding what he was doing inside Draco's office and why his office still looked in tact, but with Ron in the room, it was one less person to find.
"Sorry," she muttered, straightening herself out as she brushed her hands down her green and white dress. Looking at Draco, she swallowed hard. "Arthur is taking Ginny to St. Mungo's. There was an accident…the Minister was just getting word when Ginny and I reached his office."
Draco and Ron's faces both fell. "But he's alright," Draco said.
"I honestly don't know details," Hermione said, feeling eerily calm. "Andromeda is keeping James - and isn't saying anything until we know something because he'll freak." Draco grabbed the diaper bag and threw the strap over his shoulder while Hermione reached for his coat off of the coat rack before grabbing hers. She always left her coat in his office, so that if he had to work late, she would be have to come by and see him before she went home. "Ron," Hermione said, looking at him. "Your sister wants you."
"Me?" Ron questioned.
"I didn't stutter," Hermione snapped. "Get your things and apparate to the hospital immediately."
Ron quickly disappeared from Draco's office and Hermione slipped her coat on. She took the baby from Draco so he could do the same. "What were you two doing in here?" she asked, doing her best not to disturb Albus as he slept.
"Chatting," Draco said evasively. "What in the hell is going on?"
"We literally walked into Kingsley's office when Harry's patronus appeared. There was an ambush or something - I don't know much else but everyone on Harry's team was injured in some sort of capacity."
"Bloody hell," Draco muttered, grabbing the diaper bag once again and opening the door, following Hermione out of his office.
They made their way to the Ministry lobby quickly; rumors of the accident spreading like wildfire through the entire office as eyes followed Draco and Hermione towards the hallway of floo networks. Hermione gave Albus to Draco, as he had a much stronger grasp and flooed to St. Mungo's first, Draco quickly following as he carefully held Albus to his chest. Walking through the lobby, they were immediately directed to the spell damage unit on the fourth floor. Ron was waiting with Arthur and a clearly distraught Ginny, Kingsley standing off to the side as he spoke with a few aurors that more than likely came with him to the hospital to assess the situation. Ginny immediately went to Draco, carefully taking Albus who was now awake, sucking away on his pacifier as he looked around the room. With Albus on her arm, she buried her face into Draco's chest. He stared at Arthur and Ron before reflexively wrapping an arm around her.
"He's going to be fine," Arthur said, reassuring Draco and Hermione.
"Going to implies something is wrong," Hermione said. "What happened?"
"They were raiding a meeting - some of Voldermort's followers are resurfacing and congregating," Ron stated. "There was an ambush. Harry's team faired better than those at the meeting. Several of them died and the ones that didn't are severely injured."
Draco turned his attention to Kingsley, who nodded, confirming Ron's words. "I saw Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson last week."
"Nott's dead," Kingsley said with little preamble.
He wanted to vomit but suppressed the urge. Despite everything, Draco grew up with Theodore, Blaise, and Pansy. They may not have shared the same beliefs anymore, but Kingsley's words felt like a punch to the gut. He swallowed hard as Ginny pulled away. "Pansy?" he asked.
"Wasn't there," said the auror standing next to Kingsley.
"What's wrong with Potter?" Draco asked.
"He's in a magically induced coma," Arthur said. "He has burns on him - he was hit with an out of control fiendfyre. He'll wake on his own once the healers are done healing his burns."
He couldn't suppress the urge any longer. Finding the nearest trashcan, he felt himself involuntarily empty the contents of his stomach. He felt Hermione's hands on his back as he hovered over the can. Digging a hand into his pocket, he found the wadded up handkerchief, spots of it still damp from Albus and his drool, dragging it across his face. "Sorry," he muttered, shoving the handkerchief back in his pocket.
"It's ok," Hermione said. Grabbing his hand, she held onto it tightly and looked back at Kingsley. "When can we see him?"
"The healer should be out any minute," Kingsley said. "They're loading him up with dittany so his burns heal with minimal scarring."
Ginny paled. "Where are - "
"Torso, left arm," Kingsley said.
Ginny walked over to Kingsley, toe to toe with the man. "You listen to me, Kingsley Shacklebolt - if you don't assign my husband - no - chain his ass to a desk where he cannot leave the moment he is better I swear to Merlin I will make it my sole purpose in life to ruin you. Are you understanding me!"
Kingsley remained calm, though Hermione could see a hint of concern across his face. "Ginny, Harry is one of my best - "
"I'm not hearing any of this!" she shouted. Albus began to fuss as she shifted him to her other hip. "My husband has sacrificed more for this bloody ministry and wizarding world than anyone else and I am done with it! If he wants to work for you then you best see that his job revolves around the hours of nine in the morning to five in the bloody afternoon or so help me - "
"I know you aren't threatening the Minister of Magic," the auror standing next to Kingsley said in an accusatory manner.
Ginny whipped out her wand and pointed it menacingly at the auror's face, the tip nearly touching his chin. "I'm sorry, we obviously haven't met yet. I'm Harry Potter's wife. Who in the hell are you?"
Kingsley chucked silently at the way his auror blanched. Apparently he thought the rumors about Ginny Weasley were just that. He put a hand on his auror's shoulder and he stepped back. "Ginny," Kingsley said in a paternal fashion. "We will figure this all out once Harry is better."
She reluctantly lowered her wand. "It is already figured out," she spat. "Make it happen."
A healer appeared, standing in the middle of the crowd near the nurse station. "Ginny Potter?" Ginny whipped her head around to see him. "I'm Healer Opperman. If you'd like, I can take you to see your husband now."
Ginny walked Albus over to her father, passing him off with a kiss to his cheek before following the healer down the hall. Arthur looked over at Kingsley and smiled sheepishly. "I apologize for my daughter," he said. "She's..a bit like her mother."
Kingsley barked out a laugh. "Molly did worse when you were attacked that Christmas. The Minister was practically shaking by the time she was done tearing into him."
"My Molly is a force to reckon with," Arthur stated with a small grin.
"Ginny comes by it honestly then," Kingsley replied. "I have to go check on the rest of the men. There's a waiting room down the hall. I'll check in with you guys later."
Everyone mumbled goodbyes and as Kingsley disappeared, Draco saw a familiar face appear, her face tearstained and distraught. Hermione felt Draco tense, and it didn't take long to see what he was staring at, or more appropriately, who. "Go," Hermione whispered, giving his hand a squeeze.
He fiercely shook his head no. "I'm staying with you. I can't…"
"Draco," Hermione whispered. "At one point in time, she was your best friend."
"At one point in time, I was a death eater," he said, his words sharp.
"Go," she said again. "I'm fine. I'll stay with Ron and Arthur."
Draco looked at Hermione before kissing her forehead. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you," she replied. She watched, her arms crossed against her chest as Draco approached Pansy, catching her before she collapsed to the ground in tears. She didn't like Pansy in the slightest, but if she and Theodore were together, she couldn't possibly imagine what she was going through right now. One of the few things she knew about Draco growing up was that his family and the Parkinsons were close. His parents were her godparents, and her parents were his, and there was a time in school that the two of them were a couple. "Come on," she said to Arthur and Ron, leading them away to the waiting room. She wanted Draco to do what he thought was right, and Hermione could see he felt like despite everything, he needed to help her somehow. That was the Draco she fell in love with. It didn't, however, mean she needed to stand and watch.
Hermione sat down next to Ron, Arthur sitting on the other side of her. Molly appeared a few minutes later, worried out of her mind for the man she raised as if he was one of her sons. She scolded Arthur for not sending for her sooner, but Arthur handed Molly the baby to distract her. Holding her grandson, she looked at Hermione and Ron and made a face. "You two aren't to get into it," she warned. "Not today."
"We're fine," Hermione promised. "Aren't we, Ronald?"
"We're good, Mum," Ron chimed in, his words quick. "Promise."
Molly eyed them again before sitting down on the couch on the other side of the waiting room to change Albus. Arthur moved, Hermione presumed, so he could fill in his wife on what was happening. Yawning, Hermione glanced at her watch. It was barely five in the evening. She stood up, shedding her coat and placing it on the empty seat next to her before sitting back down, crossing one leg over the other, her arms crossed against her chest.
"You still sure you want to be an auror?" Hermione asked Ron, looking at him.
Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Sure, yeah, I guess. Harry knew what the risks were. I do too."
"What does Lavender think?"
"Why do you say her name like that?" Ron asked.
"Like what?"
"Like it's a disease. If I have to accept you and Malfoy, then you need to stop sneering every time you utter my girlfriend's name."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Sighing, she recrossed her arms against her chest. He had a point, much to her chagrin. "What does Lavender think of you being an auror?" she asked, trying again with a new sense of civility.
Ron sighed. "She's fine with it." Fidgeting in his seat, Hermione stared at him with disdain. "Sorry," he muttered. "I um, actually have something to tell you, but you have to promise that you won't flip out."
"There isn't anything you could possibly say to me in all the years I've known you at this point that would shock me."
Ron grimaced. "Lavender's pregnant."
Except for that. Her jaw dropped slightly. "You're joking."
"Mum and Dad don't know," he hissed.
"Holy shit."
"That's what I said when she told me."
"Ronald!" she exclaimed quietly. "How on Earth did this even happen?"
His face turned red. "I thought…she was taking a potion or something. She wasn't."
Hermione could feel her eyes practically bugging out of her head. "You didn't ask?"
"I never asked with you!" he screeched under his breath.
"Well, I'm not a complete moron!" she hissed. The two of them caught a warning glare from Molly, sheepishly smiling for a moment before scowling the moment she looked away. "Are you going to marry her?" she asked softly.
Ron shrugged. "I don't know. I guess. Does that bother you?"
"There are any number of things about this entire scenario that bother me," she replied. Looking at Ron, she sat up a bit in her chair. "You're sure she's pregnant."
Bewildered, Ron shrugged her shoulders. "She says she is. I'm assuming girls don't say they're pregnant unless they are." Hermione went to say something snarky, but held it back. She told herself to give Lavender some credit until she was forced to do otherwise. She could see by the look on Ron's face he was terrified at the prospect of his girlfriend being pregnant, though he was trying his best to hide it. "Mum's going to freak," Ron said with a sigh.
She patted his arm reassuringly. "She'll get over it."
"Doubt it," Ron said with a sigh. "She's been disappointed with me for over four years now."
"She will get over it," Hermione said firmly, watching as she and Arthur cooed and fawned over Albus. "They love being grandparents. A new baby to spoil will trump anything your mother has to say at the end of it all."
Ron nervously scratched the back of his neck. "I hope you're right."
"Ronald," Hermione said with a sigh. "You know I'm always right." He chuckled, and after a moment, Hermione giggled as well. For a moment, the two of them were laughing as they had done dozens of times before the war changed everything. Collecting themselves, Hermione could still feel the awkwardness between them hanging in the air, albeit a little less dense. She could feel Ron looking at her as she fiddled with her hands. "I hope Harry's alright," she said softly.
Ron nodded. "He's Harry. It always works out somehow."
"I'm worried about him - your sister too."
"Gin will calm down once Harry wakes up," Ron said. "She'll go bonkers on Harry, he'll wait until she's done, he'll tell that he'll do whatever she wants, and it'll all be fine."
Hermione looked at Ron. "I guess." Her voice wasn't all too convinced.
Ron stared back at Hermione. "What would Harry do?"
"About…"
"When you're scared or worried," Ron nervously clarified. "What would Harry do?"
She shrugged, her hands tightly clasped together. "I don't know. I mean, I guess I'd just rest my head on his shoulder and he'd tell me everything will be fine."
With two arms of the two waiting room chairs they occupied between them, Hermione felt Ron gently tug at her arm until her head was leaning against his shoulder. Her arms crossed against her chest, she felt Ron gingerly drape a hand across her shoulders, as if not to touch her too much. "Everything will be fine," he said, his voice confident but soft.
A portrait of a fractured friendship, the two of them sat in the waiting room with Molly, Arthur, and Albus, continuing to wait for more information.
Draco sat in another waiting room on the other end of the floor, consoling Pansy as they sat on a couch, her tears soaked through his shirt as she continuously sobbed. He'd never seen Pansy cry in his entire lifetime of knowing her - she was a tough, bratty girl as they grew up together. Draco dragged his hands over the back of her jet black hair over and over again, trying to calm her down. Pansy was to him was Hermione was to Harry growing up, except they actually dated, beginning fourth year. He remembered the ride to Hogwarts a few weeks after he received his dark mark, how they sat in their compartment, his head in her lap as she dragged her fingers through his hair trying her best to console him as he did his best to suppress his fears - often times done by lashing out at others.
"Shh," he whispered, doing his best to calm her. "Pansy, it'll be ok."
"I - told - him - not - to - go," Pansy choked out between sobs.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, not knowing what else to say. He wasn't thrilled at the prospect of Theodore Nott dead, but at the same time, he didn't understand what he would have been doing there. Theodore never took the Dark Mark - neither did Blaise - they had the pureblood ideology instilled in them, but Draco was always the one sucked into the inner circle, the lone one of his friends branded. How did even Theodore get pulled into any of this? Draco didn't understand anything about this. "Pansy, you're going to make yourself sick," he said, his voice soft but firm as he hugged her tight, hoping it would force her to slow her breathing down. After a few minutes, it seemed to work, and he felt her relax against him.
Pansy pulled away from him, wiping the tears from her face quickly as if she needed to hide the evidence of emotion. "My father would be mortified if he could see me," she caustically joked.
"I'm going to marry a muggle - if anyone's father would be mortified - it'd be mine."
"Probably," Pansy agreed, sniffling still. "Merlin, Draco - how did we even get here?"
It was a question he asked himself every day. "I'm sorry about Theodore," he said, brushing her hair away from her face as he'd done thousands of times before growing up.
"I told him if he got into this nonsense he'd get himself bloody killed," Pansy spat.
"Nonsense?" Draco asked. "I saw you a week ago and you were practically cursing my name for not being involved - "
"You disappeared off the face of the planet after the war," Pansy spit out at him, cutting him off. "You disappeared, my father was dead, my mother's crazier than ever…Theodore, Blaise and I took off to his parents house in Italy, where Blaise lives like a playboy. It's foul, to be honest, but it's Blaise. Theodore and I were only together because no one else would want us."
Draco sighed. "That still doesn't make losing him hurt any less."
"I still think marrying Hermione Granger is the worst idea you could possibly have," Pansy said. "Your mother has got to be beside herself."
Draco leaned back into the couch and Pansy followed suit, resting her head on his shoulder. "My mother and Hermione actually get along…for the most part. It wasn't great at first, but it's much better now."
Pansy laughed. "Your father must really be rolling in his grave then."
"He can roll all he wants," Draco said. "My life is going to be better than his. I am happier now than he ever knew could be possible." He looked down at Pansy as silence settled between them, a hand rubbing her arm. "How serious we're you and Theodore?"
"Not as serious as you and Granger," Pansy sneered through another sniffle.
"Pans…"
She sighed abruptly. "Sorry. You could at least give me credit for using her name."
He let out a small, halfhearted chuckle. "Fair enough." Pansy suddenly sat up, pressing her hands into her knees for a moment before bolting upright to pace across the room. Draco watched her for a moment, until the pacing became irritating. "You're wearing a hole in the floor, Parkinson."
Pansy abruptly waved him off, continuing to pace. "I just need to think."
"Pansy."
"I'm sorry," she said, her shoulders straightening a bit. "I have to go. I need to find Blaise. I need to talk to my mother. I need to arrange a proper funeral. I need to go now. Blaise needs to know. I have to go and I have to talk to my mother and I have to find Blaise to plan a funeral and - "
Draco cut off her rambling by leaping to his feet and embracing her again. His hug caused her to sob again, but for not as long nor as hard. He shushed her softly once again, rocking her almost until she pulled away, wiping her eyes with her hands once again. "Go to your mother's," he instructed softly. "Owl for Blaise - he'll come, and he'll plan a proper funeral. You won't have to do it alone."
"What about you?" Pansy asked.
Draco sighed. "I…can probably attend the funeral."
Pansy sniffled. "Probably? He was your best mate for Merlin's sake!"
"I will attend the funeral," Draco quickly corrected, somewhat curtly. "And if you personally need anything, you know you can call me. Or call Mother. She adores you, and will help you with whatever you need. I'm sorry I cannot do more. I feel terrible for what has happened - believe me - I do -"
"But you can't do anything more," Pansy said, dejectedly. "It's fine. Blaise will take care of me."
"Don't say it like that."
"But that's how it is. Everything's changed. You're certainly proof of that."
Draco shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared at his childhood friend. "It's been a horrible day, Pansy. You're exhausted. Let me apparate you to your mother's house -"
"I can take care of myself," Pansy cut him off.
He wasn't going to argue with her for no other reason that it was pointless. "I'm sure Blaise can take care of whatever you need, if you need anything."
Pansy nodded. "Thank you, for, you know…"
"Don't mention it," Draco said, cracking a small smile. "Just so you know - I have missed you."
Pansy crossed her arms against her chest. "Really?"
He nodded. "I don't have a single childhood memory that doesn't involve you. Of course I miss you."
"Right. I have to go now." She chastely kissed his cheek and disapperated from the room before Draco could say goodbye.
Draco dragged his down his face. He couldn't decide if he was frustrated, conflicted, upset, worried, or all of them at once. Living a life where the need to suppress his feelings was no longer necessary was still incredibly overwhelming for him at times. Making his way towards the other waiting room, he couldn't keep his heart from flinching as he saw Hermione's head resting on Ron's shoulder. Andromeda was in the room now, holding Albus as she sat with Molly and Arthur. James was curled up in a chair next to Molly, his eyes red and puffy like his mother's had been earlier.
At the sight of Draco, James bolted out of the chair towards him. Draco knelt down just in time to scoop up the boy who had a death grip around his neck with his arms. "Hey now," he said, patting James' back. He felt his short legs wrap around his waist as James began to weep a little. "James," he whispered in his ear. "Everything will be fine."
"I want to see Daddy," he cried.
"I want to see your Daddy too," Draco replied. He looked over at Hermione, who sat up, giving him a reassuring look as she tapped a hand over her heart. "As soon as you can see him, I'll take you. I promise."
James looked up at Draco, his tear stained face angry. "No!" he shouted. "I want to see him now!" As he shouted, his fists swung up, slamming into Draco's shoulders, and all of the magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets on the large table in the room shuffled up into the air in a vicious circle before exploding into tiny pieces of confetti. The adults in the room stared in shock at one another. James, on the other hand, stared in complete awe as the confetti fluttered aimlessly in the air. "That…" he sniffled, "was awesome! Uncle Ron, did you do that?"
Ron shook his head no. "Uh…that was all you, James."
"No way," he whispered.
"What in the bloody hell?"
The last pieces of confetti streamed towards the floor as Ginny walked into the waiting room, looking confused until she saw James and his tear stained face. "That angry, huh?" she asked Draco.
"Apparently," Draco replied.
"You know," Arthur said, picking up a handful of confetti from the ground and tossing it in the air. "Fred once was so mad at your mum when she made the twins come inside when they were what, five or six -"
"Five," Molly interjected, smiling fondly.
"Five," Arthur continued. "And your brother was so furious he pounded his fists on the kitchen table and every fork flew straight out of the drawer and plunged straight into the table. Your mum was so furious…"
Molly laughed. "I was. Scarred the table to bits. But little ones…their magic is most potent when they're angry or upset."
Everyone smiled at the memory of the missing member of the Weasley family. Fred stories were always the best stories in Draco's opinion. As close as he was with George, he sometimes wished he would have had a chance to get to know Fred as well. Ginny walked over to Draco, plucking her son from his arms and hugging him tight. "He's awake," she said to the room. "The healer promises he'll make a full recovery."
Draco felt like the oxygen had been returned to the room as everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione walked over to him, hugging him tight. He knew she was probably worried out of her mind for Harry, but as conflicted as he was about leaving her earlier, he had to take care of Pansy. She hugged him as if she understood, which was one of the many reasons why he loved her.
Hermione looked up at Draco and smiled softly at him. "Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," he whispered back, dropping a light kiss on her lips. "Is Pansy ok?"
Draco shrugged. "As ok as she's going to get I guess. I honestly don't know."
"Draco?" Ginny said, interrupting the two. "Harry's asking for you. Both of you."
Nodding, Draco took Hermione's hand. "Can James come?"
Ginny bit her lip, before looking at her son who was practically pleading with his eyes. "Daddy has a big ouch on his belly and his arm," she explained. "So if you go in there, you have to be really gentle."
"Like when Albus was new and he didn't catch good?"
"Yes," Ginny said, ruffling his shaggy black hair. "But sweetheart, Albus still can't catch."
"Sometimes…Daddy puts a charm on Albus so when I throw the ball, it bounces back and it doesn't even hit him. But I wasn't supposed to tell you that," James said, his words rushed together towards the end.
Ginny scrunched her nose and let out a bitter chuckle. "Your daddy is in so much trouble," she muttered under her breath as the four of them made their way out of the waiting room.
Harry's room was at the very end of the hall with two aurors stationed by the door. One of them opened the door for Ginny and James, who walked in first. Draco and Hermione followed, Hermione's hand clutching Draco's a bit tighter as she saw Harry bandaged all around his torso and upper left arm. He had a few scrapes on his face, but overall, he was in tact, which was all Hermione and Draco cared about. Harry shot them both a weak, goofy grin. "You two look awful," he said. "Bad day at the office?"
Hermione shook her head as Draco swallowed a laugh. "You've been around George too much," Draco said with a smirk.
"Just trying to make it less awkward," Harry said, a hand sneaking up under his glasses as he rubbed his eyes. James stared at Harry incredibly concerned at his father's current state. "Come here, son," he said, holding his good arm up to James.
Ginny shook her head. "Harry I don't - "
"Ginny, give me James," Harry said, soft but stern. "This side isn't nearly as bad. It's all on the left side."
Carefully, Ginny cradled James across Harry and set him down on what Harry claimed to be the good side. James gently snuggled into his father's embrace, a hand resting softly on the bandages on his chest. "Daddy I'm scared," he whimpered.
"You have nothing to be scared about," Harry said, reassuringly. "Daddy is fine. I promise. Nothing a potion can't fix."
James didn't look too convinced, but Draco could see the small child begin to relax as Harry hugged him closer. "So…how long are you out of commission here?"
Harry shrugged. "A few weeks I guess until I'm properly healed."
"Harry," Hermione said, trying her best to keep her voice from breaking.
"Hermione Granger, I am fine," Harry emphatically said.
Hermione shook her head as a few tears escaped her eyelids. Draco let go of her hand and wrapped a comforting arm around her as she smiled at her friend. "You scared me."
"Do you want to cuddle too?" he teased. "Would it make you feel better?"
Laughing, Hermione wiped her tears away with the pad of her thumb. "Expect a thorough smack upside the head for that when you're better, Harry Potter."
"You may have to get in line behind this one," Harry teased motioning towards Ginny with a nod of the head. He nodded towards his wife again, who walked closer to his bed. She bent her head down, her long red hair falling in her face as Harry kissed her. "I'm sorry," Harry said. "I didn't mean to scare you. Any of you, really."
Draco smiled. "No worries, Potter. I knew you'd be perfectly fine."
"Don't listen to him," Ginny said, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed as she scratched her fingers through her husband's hair. "He vomited in the waiting room earlier when the healer came out and told us what happened."
Harry laughed, wincing a bit at the movement. "Nice, Malfoy. Way to keep it together in front of the women."
"Shut it, Potter," Draco snapped, a twinkle in his eye. "You should've seen Red here tear into the Minister. I thought one of your new aurors were going to take her down."
Harry eyed his wife, whose face showed no sign of remorse. "Lovely, Ginny."
"I make no apologies for my actions," Ginny stated, as the adults in the room laughed.
Harry yawned, and so did James, who showed no signs of retreating from his father. "We should go," Hermione said. "Ginny - do you want us to take the kids?"
She shook her head no. "Thanks, but I'm sure Mum will take the baby. I'm not leaving tonight."
"Me neither," James said.
"Good," Harry said, gingerly bending his body so he could kiss the top of his head. "I'll sleep better if you're here."
James grinned at his father, which filled Hermione's heart with joy. She'd never seen a child adore a parent more than James when it came to his father. Hermione loved hearing James talk about Harry as if he could do anything, and how no one could possibly do it better than his father. Harry could create a disaster and James would consider it a masterpiece.
"If you need anything," Draco said, kissing Ginny's cheek as he hugged her goodbye. "Call us."
"I will," Ginny promised, returning the kiss and the hug.
"We aren't allowed to scare each other anymore," Hermione whispered in Harry's ear as she carefully hugged him. "Remember?"
Harry nodded, kissing Hermione on the forehead. "Everything's going to change," he promised.
Draco gave Harry a nod, which Harry returned, both of them grinning slightly as Hermione and Ginny hugged each other fiercely before they left the room. Neither of them disturbed James, who was perfectly content with his father. It was eight o'clock on the nose as they apparated home, though both of them felt as if it was much later. Draco yanked at his tie as he made his way to the kitchen, pulling a beer from the fridge and snapping the top off. Hermione followed him into the kitchen, kicking her heels off by the kitchen island before perching herself up on the counter, resting the majority of her weight on her hands braced against the edge.
"I can hardly believe today," Hermione muttered, her legs kicking slowly.
Draco walked over to her, standing in front of her. She played with the end of his tie as he set his beer down on the counter next to her. "You think it will ever end?"
"What, exactly?"
"Death eater. Reviving the views of Voldermort. Harry attacked with fire in the middle of a raid."
Hermione sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe. Maybe not. I don't think it'll ever get as bad as it was, but I think there will always be people with those views. You can't choose what people think. You of all people know that."
"I guess," he admitted, taking another drink. "You looked friendly with Ron earlier."
Hermione arched an eyebrow. "I don't have time for a jealous fiancé today, considering you were consoling Pansy."
"I was just making a general statement," Draco said. "We actually kind of called a truce today."
"So that's why he was in your office, unharmed."
Draco nodded. "Yeah."
"Did he tell you he knocked up Lavender Brown?"
He nearly choked on his beer. "He told you?"
"He told you?"
Laughing, Draco nodded. "On accident, but yeah."
She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe - I mean, I can believe it, because of course this sort of thing would happen to Ronald, but honestly…"
Draco braced his hands on her shoulders. "You aren't…I mean…when you found out were you…"
Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck and pulled him close, attacking her lips with his as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She deepened the kiss as the tips of her fingers pressed into his scalp, ignoring the bitter taste of beer in his mouth. Draco let out a moan as his arms wrapped around her waist, leaning her back just a bit as they broke away. "Does it appear to you that I have a problem with Ron and Lavender?" Hermione breathlessly asked.
"Not in the slightest," Draco said. He kissed her again before pulling her back upright, pressing his forehead to hers.
"I don't have feelings for Ron," she whispered in his ear. "None. Zip. Nada."
"I know," Draco said, sighing as he moved his head to rest on her shoulder, seeking solace.
"You have had a horrible day," Hermione said, rubbing her hands up and down your back. He rarely opened himself up to her in a way that made her feel as if he needed her more than she needed him. She was vulnerable with him more often than she could control at times, but Draco rarely showed that side of him to Hermione. "What can I do for you?" she asked.
Draco sighed, relaxing with her touch. "We could watch a movie…one of those old black and white ones you like to watch."
"Yeah," Hermione said. "We could."
"I just want to be with you," Draco confessed, his voice hoarse. He pulled away and looked at her, closing his eyes as she cupped his face with her hands.
Hermione smiled as he opened his eyes again. She kissed him quickly before pushing him away, hopping off of the counter. He followed her upstairs and the two of them quietly went through nightly routine. She found herself in a pair of his boxer shorts and one of her old Gryffindor t-shirts. Draco eventually emerged from the closet wearing his flannel pants and a black t-shirt, every emotion he experienced today wearing on his face. She motioned for him to follow her downstairs, which he did as they made their way to the front staircase. Hermione made sure the front door was locked as they walked through the foyer while Draco went to pick out a movie.
"Does Sabrina work for you?"
"Audrey Hepburn always works for me," she replied.
Settling down on the couch, she put her wand on the coffee table and propped her feet up next to it. She placed one of the throw pillows in her lap and Draco popped in the movie before retreating back to the couch. Hermione patted a hand on the pillow and Draco laid down, his head in her lap. She draped the blanket Molly knitted for him across his body and relaxed her back into the leather cushions, her fingers playing with his scalp as the movie began to play.
She had an arm draped across his chest, and Draco laced a hand with hers. "I told Pansy I missed her today," he said out of the blue.
Hermione brushed her thumb softly against his exposed temple. "I'm sure you do," she said. "You've known her your entire life. Half the photos in your mother's house of you as a child have her in them."
"I'll have Mother take then down if they bother you," Draco said, rolling onto his back so he could look up her."
She shook her head, squeezing his hand. "They don't bother me."
He looked at her again before rolling back onto his side, still holding her hand. "What if this is as good as it gets?" Draco asked, midway through the movie.
"We have an entire lifetime waiting for us, sweetheart," Hermione said through a yawn. "I doubt this is as good as it gets."
"But what if it is?"
"It isn't."
"Hermione…"
She wiggled upright so she could bend down and kiss his head. "We are going to have great and amazing days, blah and mediocre days, and we're going to have horrible and miserable days. That's life. Today was a horrible day. But tomorrow has the potential to redeem itself. That's what Dad used to say, anyway."
Draco nodded. "Sounds like a sensible statement."
"Well, my father was a very sensible man."
"Indeed," Draco said through a yawn. "A sensible man with a sensible daughter."
"We Grangers are pretty brilliant like that," Hermione teased.
Draco laughed, rolling back onto his backside. "I cannot remember a day in recent months where you managed to keep yourself from reminding me of your brilliance."
Hermione gave him a wink. "I'd certainly hate for you to forget it."
"As if that was possible," he mocked, rolling his eyes as he turned back to the movie. "Hermione?" he asked, several minutes later.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Thank you," he whispered, hugging her hand to his heart with his hands.
"I didn't really do anything."
"You do millions of things," he said as the movie neared the end.
"That's only because I like you so much," Hermione teased.
"Of course it is," Draco replied with a hint of lighthearted sarcasm. Sighing, he burrowed under the warmth of the blanket, with a bare foot sticking out as his own personal temperature regulator. Hermione was right - today was a horrible today, and tomorrow always had the chance to redeem itself. As he lay on the couch, seeking comfort from her, he realized that she was right. Tomorrow did have the chance to redeem itself, and in fact, today already seemed as if it was trying to do just that.