Granger's Café

Pairing: Draco/Harry.

Other pairings: Ron/Hermione. Sirius/Remus. Lucius/Astoria. Lucius/Ginny [implied]. Teddy/James.

Disclaimer: Hermione decides that the drama in the wizarding world is growing too much. She decides to open up a café in the muggle world, so as to enjoy simplicity during the day. Little does she know that one of the applicants for a job there, will cause a whole new circle of drama for her. And how exactly will her little café benefit Harry and Draco's lives, and how will it banish the drama from both worlds they live in? You know what they say, about Granger's café; her food is like magic, that's what they say, because it keeps all your problems and troubles at bay.

Chapter Forty-Six:

Goodbye

The weeks that followed Astoria's quiet death had taken it's toll on everybody.

It had been especially distressing for Draco who had gone into her room to ask if she wanted any of the Chinese take away he'd ordered, only to find her looking as beautiful as she had on their wedding day, in her elegant unicorn-silk gown and lying on her bed with a soft smile still ghosting on her lips and her skin as cool and hued grey as marble. He had tried shaking her awake gently and then more viciously when she didn't respond. Tears ran down his cheeks as he cradled her limp body to her chest and let rip the most mournful sounds anyone had ever heard as he rocked her back and forth, completely oblivious to the wailing infant behind him.

When Harry had rushed in his heart had skipped several beats at the scene before him. He shook his head, erasing the imagery of Severus and his mother, before hurrying to floo the healer's at St. Mungo's. Astoria's body was moved as quickly and safely as possible, despite the hysterical anger that seemed to be rolling off of Draco in waves. Harry had even taken the baby to Narcissa, explaining to her everything that had happened and how distraught Draco was. She hadn't questioned him as he hurried back to their flat, where he found the healer's sedating Draco as he slumped to the floor beside the now empty bed. Harry had shivered as he'd looked into the now empty room. It still looked the same but now it was tainted with the fresh shadow of Death. He couldn't look at it. He closed the door to the room, before turning his attention to Draco.

The blonde had taken three hours to calm down and run out of tears. Finally, red-eyed, red-faced and sore all over, he let Harry approach him on the sofa where he sat down beside the blonde with a mug of tea resting on his lap, watching Draco for a reaction as he sat pensively staring into space. "Draco?" he finally breathed, placing the mug of hot tea on the coffee table. The blonde looked at him and suddenly his voice wouldn't work. What could he say? If he asked if the blonde was okay with losing his estranged wife who had just bestowed them with a new member of the family rather selflessly, he thought the blonde man might snap and punch his face through the wall.

But he had to say something.

He swallowed and opened his arms out. Draco looked at him as though he was an alien from another planet. Harry felt his heart plummet and was about to lower his arms when Draco shifted along the sofa, and then laid down against Harry's chest, curling his legs under Harry's and burying his face against the folds of Harry's t-shirt, before letting out a shuddering sob. Relieved to some extent, Harry wrapped his arms around his lover's shoulders and gave a light squeeze.

Half an hour later found them in much the same position, pointless muggle TV programs humming in the background, both of them staring through the TV as though it wasn't really there. The tea was cold. They hadn't eaten since the Chinese the evening before, not that Draco could stomach any food anyway. The only time Harry had moved was when the phone had rung. It was one of the healer's who had collected Astoria's body. According to them, she had died peacefully with no additional trauma, and her body was now being moved to the funeral home they had agreed upon by the end of the call. It had left him feeling a little hollow and weightless at the same time.

It was an ugly feeling.

He just felt so useless. He didn't know what to say or what to do. Although, he reasoned, Draco probably just appreciated the company more than anything else. He could do that. He could be there for Draco, if really it was the company that he needed.

During the rest of the week Draco mainly spent his days curled up on the sofa with a thin blanket thrown over his legs whilst Harry invited one of their family friends over to watch over the blonde. He hated leaving him alone, but he needed to be with their daughter and Narcissa in equal parts to help with the funeral arrangements. It wasn't exactly thrilling for him to participate in, but he knew that were Draco able, he'd be there too. He even spent an evening with Teddy so that his godson could bond with the new baby. Despite Teddy's questions, no names came to mind for the little one. He explained he didn't feel right naming her without Draco's input, and at the mention of his other-half, Teddy clamped his mouth shut.

Harry had frowned, "Look Teddy, I know this is a lot for you to accept. I'm sorry that I've had to be strict with you and James about seeing one another. But his sixteenth birthday is soon. I'm not condoning anything -sexual -between you two, but I trust that whatever happens you will be the most responsible."

Teddy sighed heavily and nodded as he stroked a finger down the babies cheek, "I'd never hurt him, Harry. I love him. More than anything. I don't mind waiting for him, and I told him that. If anything we'll just -start from scratch under supervision if you like. I just don't want to miss out on anything with him."

Harry gave a soft smile, "I know, Teddy. I know." He reached over and squeezed Teddy's shoulder. "So, you'll come to the funeral, right?"

Teddy nodded with a stiff smile, "Yeah I suppose I should, even if it's just for support. I'll let Dad and Sirius know."

Harry smiled and gave the blue-haired teen a one-armed hug, "I appreciate it." With an affectionate kiss to the blue-haired boys' head, he stood up and took his daughter from the young mans arms and with a sad smile, left to go home.

~0~

The morning of the funeral Harry felt a heavy weight cement itself within his chest where his heart used to be.

His apartment was filled with more black than he'd seen since the funerals of those who had fallen at the Battle of Hogwarts. He had requested permission for all of his and Draco's children out of classes for the day to attend, although he'd requested the entire weekend for Scorpius, thinking that the young blonde boy would need some alone time with his father.

They all looked so tragically smart in their dark robes.

A lump formed in his throat as he fidgeted with his cuff-links. Draco simply sat like a statue on the end of the sofa, and arm propped stiffly on the arm of the sofa and his eyes were blank and staring straight ahead. He looked as pristine as ever.

They'd had a moment, earlier in their bedroom, when Harry had been changing into his own funeral clothes. His tie wasn't going right and his hands kept shaking as he tried to straighten it. He'd ground his teeth together. The damned thing just wouldn't straighten! He'd been about to rip the tie from around his neck and toss it aside when a pair of white hands tugged the black silk straight, and started to wind it in a simple knot. Harry watched, still as a statue, as a small crease of concentration appeared between the blonde's eyebrows and instantly disappeared when the tie was fixed into place. He smoothed his hand down the length of Harry's torso before his flat silver eyes flickered up to look at the brunette man.

Harry found himself swallowing thickly, his skin on fire like if he were a teenager, "Th-thank you Draco."

The blonde inclined his head, "You look good like this. But I think I prefer you in t-shirts and jeans."

Harry quirked a stiff smile that faded instantly. "You look rather handsome yourself," he breathed softly, drinking in the sight before him. It seemed wrong to say such a thing, especially at a funeral. He reached out and ran a hand down the dark grey tie clasped around Draco's throat. He watched those cool, flat grey eyes and took a deep breath, "How are you holding up?" he asked softly.

Draco's eyes flattened that little bit more but he swallowed, "I'm not sure. I'm glad Scorpius is here. He's keeping me a little bit more stable." At the crestfallen look in the brunettes eyes, he offered a twitch of his lips that seemed empty and painful at the same time, "You are helping, Harry. It's only that ... I don't know, Scorpius is blood. He's mine. He knew Astoria first hand for all those years, too. I think to an extent, he is the only other one who can share exactly how I feel."

Harry nodded. He understood Draco's reasoning. He stroked his thumb along Draco's wrist before drawing the blonde closer and pressing a tender kiss to his jawline. "I'm here for you when you need me," he murmured softly.

Draco smiled sadly as he watched his lover leave the confinement of their bedroom. He let out a soft sigh. He would always be able to find his way to Harry, he just needed to be 'lost' for a little while longer.

A tentative knock sounded on the door. He turned around and his gaze dropped down to see his forlorn looking son, "Yes Scorpius?" he asked cautiously. "What is is?"

"I think everyone's getting ready to leave now, Father," his son mumbled softly. Draco could only nod and watch as a comforting hand belonging to young Albus Potter rested on his sons rigid shoulder and guided him back over to the sofa, with a soft smile up at Draco. He felt his stomach knot as he watched his son slump elegantly onto the cushions. He was just glad that Scorpius wasn't as lost as he felt.

He checked himself in the mirror one last time, gave a short nod, and then turned to leave with everyone else.

It was a beautifully sunny day, filled with bright blossoming flowers and the scent of warm, freshly cut grass. Draco tried to appreciate it all from inside his bubble but a part of him felt the tugging of his heart as he watched Astoria's sleek coffin being driven up the driveway to Malfoy Manor. She was to be buried in the family crypt at the very end of the grounds, with all the other Malfoy's. It was only fitting for her to have a beautiful final resting place. They had ordered a ministry official to get Lucius to sign his permission for such an event. Surprisingly, he had done so without hesitating.

He didn't attend the service though. Not that he was missed.

They were all dressed in variants of black, navy blue and charcoal grey. Even Lily had her silky red hair combed back into a ponytail and a straight black dress tugged on over a white shirt. The young Potter boys had come to pay their respects and support their father. Even Teddy Lupin had come along, mostly in support of James. It was obvious in the way he reached out and gave James' wrist a soft squeeze, before turning both his hands to the front.

Draco stood at the front with his mother and Harry. The words from the officiate were dull and muffled against his ears. He watched with a strange emptiness inside him as the sleek coffin was carried into the family crypt and placed into one of the vacant marble tombs. Before they slid the marble stone back over to conceal the coffin, Draco edged forward feeling like a shadow. In his hand he clasped a white rose. He leaned up and slid the rose onto the top of the coffin before pressing a kiss to the wood, "I love you," he breathed before a wave of weakness rushed through him and the world blurred.

A pair of strong arms caught him and he felt himself float back along the grass to sit in a nearby chair. He hadn't realized until then that he was shaking violently.

He glanced up as the marble tomb was sealed shut and an elaborate spell was cast to etch the golden words into the tombstone. He smiled as they gleamed in the sun.

Astoria Seraphina Greengrass Malfoy

5 July 1982 - 14th June 2018

Much beloved Wife, Mother and Daughter

A shadow passed over the sun and Draco sighed softly as a hand pressed onto his shoulder. He looked up to see Daphne, Astoria's older sister, looking sympathetically down at him. He was shocked to say the least. "Despite what's happened, you were a good husband to her Draco. Don't forget that. She would want you to be happy," she said softly, her bright eyes flickering up at Harry who was stationed behind Draco's chair.

With a final nod, she left.

~0~

The rest of the day was just a blur. Slowly people trickled out of the apartment and went back to their lives out in the real world. Draco barely shifted from the sofa. Scorpius hugged him tightly with teary eyes and promised to write before he and Albus went next door to the other apartment to sleep. James, Lily and Teddy followed soon after, the eldest boy insisting that he would sleep on the sofa. Harry had been grateful to have another adult around. He'd hugged Teddy and told him where the extra blankets and pillows were.

Once everything was silent and still, Harry went into the kitchen to brew some tea.

Draco mentally noted that he had changed out of his dark suit and into a pair of work jeans and a baggy shirt. He suddenly felt stiff and itchy in his own suit. Feeling the tie start to choke him, he forced himself off of the sofa and trudged to their bedroom where he stripped out of his suit and laid it over the back of a chair before digging out some flannel bottoms and a baggy shirt. At least he felt a little bit more comfortable. When he came back out there was a cup of tea waiting for him on the coffee table. "Thanks," he called out to Harry who was still fiddling around with something in the kitchen. Draco didn't know. He didn't care. He sipped at his tea and felt a pang of surprise when Harry came in from the kitchen carrying two bowls of something steamy.

"You haven't eaten all day. I don't know about you but I can't stomach much so I thought this would be better than nothing," he mumbled softly, as he placed both bowls of soup on the tabletop.

Draco felt his mouth smile slightly of its own accord. He felt so weak and pathetic. But he adored the way Harry would look after him so selflessly. He turned to the brunette man as he was ladling some soup to his mouth, "I love you, Harry. I'm sorry I haven't acted like it, but I do. I don't know what would have happened to me if it weren't for you."

Harry blinked in surprise before placing his bowl on the table. He tucked some hair behind Draco's ear and pressed a warm lingering kiss to his forehead. "I love you too," he breathed softly, "This is a difficult time for you. I can't imagine how it feels. But I promise I will be there for you for as long as you can stand me," he gave a weak smile before touching their lips together. "Now eat your soup and get to bed. You've had a really long day. You need your rest."

Draco gave a content sigh as he pressed his cheek to the fiery warmth of Harry's hand. "Thank you," he murmured, and he wasn't just referring to the bowl of soup that he pulled onto his lap and started to eat.

He went to bed ahead of Harry as instructed. He felt so lost and alone but Harry's tenderness had seemed like the beacon of light through the darkness. He wanted to walk towards the warmth and love the light promise, but he knew it would take time.

For now, he was just so glad that there was some light at all.

Whilst Draco rested, Harry dialed a number on the muggle phone in the kitchen and waited for the dial tone to end and someone to pick up. It took a couple of rings but finally someone did. "Hello?"

"Hi Ellen, it's Harry Potter. I know it's a little late but I was wondering if we'd be able to meet this weekend?"

"Oh yes Mister Potter! Of course that would be perfect! How about next Saturday at 2pm? Is that alright for you?"

"That's perfect Ellen, thank you."

With a small smile on his lips, Harry ended the call and placed the phone on its hook. He turned the lights off and then went to bed.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The next one will be a lot longer, however it is gets longer than a certain point -say 6K words -it'll be a two part chapter. R&R!