CHAPTER 3
As the friendship goes, the resentment grows
We will walk our different ways
Althea stirred from her sleep to see that she was still in Diagon Alley, and more than that she was in her father's arm. What she couldn't understand was why they were standing in the middle of the street. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked up to her father and saw him looking scarily at the raven-haired men in front of them.
"H-Hermione…" she heard the older man say, "What… when?" he stammered out. Althea looked down at her mother and saw that she was equally shocked.
Before she could say anything to either of her parents, she heard the younger man mutter the bad word and suddenly all eyes were on him.
Althea looked to the black haired boy wore swore and giggled softly. Her giggles stirred Draco away from the Potter's for a moment to notice that his daughter was awake. He ran his hand over her blonde curls kissing her hair softly before looking back at the Potters.
She looked up to her father but he was scowling deeply at the young boy. Instantly the laughter died as she saw that everyone was looking at him with great interest. He looked a lot like the man who had just called out to her mother. While everyone was looking between the two raven-haired men Althea saw that the young man was looking beyond her father's shoulders. Turning around in Draco's arms she saw her brother and sister standing not too far behind them. Rhaella seemed to be playing hide and seek behind Scorpius and every time she came back around, the young man seemed to appear more shocked.
The silence that had settled over the group was quickly becoming uncomfortable. Both her parents seemed to be angry and she didn't want that. Her mummy never got angry and she didn't like the mean look on her daddy's face. Being the sweet little nymph that she was, Althea decided to break the silence for everyone.
"Daddy," she said gaining the attention of her family, especially her father, "Why is that boy looking at Ly like you look at mummy?" she asked pointing at the young man.
Draco's eyes widened in shock and turned to the youngest Potter, immediately drawing a scowl. Rhaella squeaked in surprise and stayed put behind Scorpius, who looked down at her with great interest. He looked back at the boy recognising the look Althea spoke of. Immediately he turned and acted as a full body shield between the boy and Rhaella.
They all knew the look Althea was talking about. It was that indescribable way in which Draco looked at his wife; as if she were made of glass and he couldn't believe she had chosen him. It was the look he gave to her every time she told him she looked fat during her pregnancy with all three of their children and it was the look that reminded her, that regardless of what she thought, Draco knew she was beautiful. It was the look that still managed to bring Hermione to a blush, almost twenty years later. It was a look of appreciation, gratitude and more than just love.
Hearing such a thing from the little blonde, Albus looked petrified as all eyes focused their attention on him. Now with frightening new regard. Not knowing what to say, he thought it best to shut his mouth and chose to look down at his feet. Althea looked back over her father's shoulders to her sister. Rhaella looked up at her and placed a finger to her lips hoping she would understand. Althea nodded, smiling broadly at her sister as she mimicked her and placed a tiny finger over her lips.
"Daddy?" Althea called again softly, "Who is that?" she asked pointing at the raven-haired man still staring at her mum.
Her question seemed to drag Hermione from her shock, "It's not polite to point bug." Hermione told her daughter taking her daughter's little hand in hers.
"But who is he mum?" her sweet little voice persistent.
"He's…. uh…." Hermione stopped trying to figure out just what her relationship with this man was. She couldn't say, friend, because he hadn't been that for a very long time and if they weren't friends then they most certainly weren't family, like she had once believed.
"No one," the man answered for her mum. His face now set in a furious glare as he took in the family before him. He seemed to be deeply contemplating whether or not to voice his thoughts. "I thought you said you wanted to be alone. This doesn't look very alone to me." He finally spat giving into his angry thoughts.
Her mum gasped in shock dropping her hand and stepping forward. "That was almost twenty- years ago Harry! And when I said I wanted to be alone, I didn't mean for you to cut me out of your life forever."
"You disappeared for twenty- years… without a word." Harry said coldly. "What are you doing here now?" he asked as if she hadn't spoken.
"I have my reasons," Hermione replied not impressed with his tone. Before she could say anything more, a voice in the crowd called out for Harry. They all turned to see a red-haired woman walking towards them with two children by her side.
"Harry what on earth is taking you so long?" the woman said not noticing the small group before her. "We still have to go back to the Burrow and I promised Lucy that Lily wo –"
"Gin," Harry said softly interrupting her rant as he placed a hand on her arm. She stopped and looked at him confused. Unsure of what to say next, he simply looked ahead to the Malfoy's and then back at his wife.
Ginny followed his path and almost dropped the bags in her hand as she recognised the people in front of her. James kindly freed his mother's hands as she stepped forward to get a better look.
"You!" Ginny cried angrily. "What the hell are you doing back here?" she asked her voice filled hatred. Her children looked at her with shock. They had never heard their mother take this sort of tone with anyone.
"Like I told your husband," Hermione said slowly, "I have my reasons." As she spoke Draco reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Harry seemed to be watching them exceptionally close and it infuriated him even further when he saw Malfoy offer comfort to Hermione.
"You have some nerve showing your face here," Harry said. "What game are you playing at?"
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked feeling her temper rise ever so slightly.
"Not a word in twenty years… and suddenly you're in Diagon Alley… with Malfoy and children!" he cried outraged.
Draco growled slightly but stopped when he heard Althea whimper in his arms. For a moment he worried that he had scared but when he looked down he saw that his daughter was looking at Potter with fear in her sweet silver eyes. This angered Draco further but he didn't get a chance to say anything as Potter continued speaking.
"You… you really married him?" "You seriously did it?" Harry said looking down and noticing the very fancy wedding band on her finger. "After everything we told you! I begged you to stay and you left… Left me, Ginny… and Ron for this ferret! Gods! Hermione! This truly takes your stubbornness to a completely new level!" He said looking angrily at her.
"Potter!" Draco growled taking a step forward, but Hermione grabbed his elbow. As if she were gently reminding him that he still had Althea in his arms. Draco shifted her slightly, holding his precious nymph closer to him. She held onto her father tighter as the adults argued around her.
Hermione looked back to Harry and Ginny trying her best not to appear to upset by his words, "Yes Harry. I really did. Did you really think just because you told me not to do something that I would accept it?"
Ginny scowled at her words, "We were your friend Hermione! Our word should have been good enough! You broke Ron's heart for him!" Ginny continued her angry rant ignoring her husband beside her, "Ron was supposed to be your best friend. He was supposed to be your husband! Not bloody Malfoy. After everything we've been through how could you choose him over your family Hermione?"
"You were asking me to choose between two halves of what made me happy Ginny. And then you turned your back on me when I couldn't. How was that being a friend?" Hermione asked slowly losing her cool. Draco gently took hold of her hand once more in an attempt to calm her down. Blaise looked less than impressed as he regarded the Saviour of the wizarding world and his wife, with nothing short of contempt in front of him.
"No, but you clearly did choose. Didn't you Hermione?" Harry said looking down at their intertwined hands. Albus attempted to gently pull his father away before they gained the attention in the alley, but Harry shook his son's hands of him. His only thought was the family in front of him.
Hermione looked up to her husband and smiled gently, "Yes, I did choose… because he didn't make me choose Harry."
This only elicited a deep scowl from Harry. "Is that how you reasoned it to yourself back then? After all these years, that's what you're going to tell yourself after walking out on your family with a word."
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked now angry, "I sent letters Harry. I sent hundreds of them and not once did you reply!"
Harry looked at her with disgust, "You really are a Malfoy now aren't you. You've perfected the art of lying all too well."
"Enough!" Draco called; his voice cold and angry as Althea had never heard it before. She clutched to his shirt and hid her face into the crook of Draco's neck. He winced realising he had unintentionally scared his daughter. He readjusted Althea in his arms, running soothing circles on her back.
Deciding it was time to intervene; Draco transferred his daughter into Hermione's surprised arms as he stepped forward ignoring her objections. "I don't appreciate the tone you've taken with my wife Potter. Now I suggest you move and let us be on our way." He said menacingly.
Harry squared his shoulders and looked at Draco, "I care little for what you want Malfoy," he all but spat his name.
"I would suggest we take this reunion somewhere a little more private," came the calm voice of Lucius Malfoy interrupting the bickering adults. He stood not far from the group with Narcissa at his side, watching the Saviour with some dislike. "You're drawing quite the crowd," he said gesturing around them. Sure enough, people were walking past, looking at the group with immense interest.
"That won't be necessary." Harry said quickly, "I have nothing more to say too. Come on Gin." He said throwing one last glare at Hermione and Draco, before taking his wife's hand and walking away from the group. James and Lily rushed after their parents but Albus lingered only for a moment, casting a final look to his mystery lady. She was looking at him too, though now her silver eyes regarded him with great apprehension. His heart broke a little when he saw that she scowled slightly before turning towards the tall blonde beside her, promptly ignoring Albus. Not sure what to say to this group of strangers Albus nodded a quick goodbye towards the Zabini's, the only familiar faces before following his family through the thick crowd.
Twenty Years Ago:
"Hermione?" Harry called as he walked into her apartment. Looking around he saw, much to his dismay that most of her things had been packed up. He noticed movement across the loft and saw Hermione packing her books into a box. "Mione what are you doing?" Harry asked worriedly.
Hermione looked up at her best friend. It was obvious that she had been crying but now she stood red-eyed silently packing up her life into boxes. "Oh Harry, I didn't hear you come in."
"Hermione," Harry said calmly, "Ron said that you two had a row… and now the engagement is called off?" he asked hoping that it was all some misunderstanding. "Mione, what happened?" he asked after she didn't say anything. "Come on you can tell me."
"I… I can't marry Ron," she said slowly taking more books in her hand. Harry reached out and took them from her trembling hands.
"Why not? You love him and he loves you." Harry reasoned. "I know that getting married seems like a scary thing but it's not worth throwing your future away just because you're scared, Hermione."
"It's not just about the wedding Harry," Hermione said sighing.
"Oh yes, the apprenticeship," Harry said tight-lipped after a moment.
"Ron told you about that?" Hermione asked uncertainly. Harry nodded. "What… what did he say?"
"Not much," Harry said not looking pleased. "Only that you were calling off your engagement because you got a letter from some mystery Wizard offering you a 'once –in –a –lifetime' opportunity to become his apprentice." Hermione sighed running her fingers through her unruly hair. "Hermione, what is going on?" Harry begged.
"I can't marry Ron," Hermione started. She held her hand up when it looked like Harry was going to interrupt, "I can't marry him because I don't love him enough to want the same things he wants."
"What are you talking about Hermione?" Harry asked confused, "Ron wants you to be happy. He loves you."
"I know Harry!" Hermione cried exasperated, "I know he loved me… and that only makes this more difficult. I know he wants me to be happy, but Harry its happiness as he sees it. He wants me to be a stay at home mom, and that's not me. Not only is it too early to even be thinking about kids but I want to have a career too!"
"Mione, I'm sure if you speak to Ron about this he'll understand," Harry said trying to soothe his friend.
"Obviously I spoke to Ron about this!" Hermione said scowling at that particular memory.
"And?"
"And he said that if his mother and Fleur can do it and be happy about it he doesn't see why I should have a problem with it." Harry remained quiet as Hermione seethed beside him. "Don't you see Harry? If I don't take this apprenticeship, if I marry Ron instead; I will wake up every day regretting my decision and eventually hating Ron." Hermione explained.
"But Hermione if you take this apprenticeship, you will lose all your friends and family. You're going to be moving away for Merlin knows how long doing Merlin knows what!" Harry argued. "How can you leave now? We've just won the war! We need you here."
"Maybe that's it, Harry," Hermione said softly, "I'm tired, Harry. I just need time… alone." Closing her eyes she took a deep breath as she felt Harry stiffen next to her, "I need time… to know what it feels like to just be me. I want to know what it feels like to not be needed all the time because I'm clever or because I'm the best friend to Harry Potter. I have to know what it feels like to be just me… without all this chaos."
"Hermione I don't understand," Harry said looking at her with apprehension.
"I don't want to be seen as just 'Hermione Granger – war heroine- fiancé to Ron Weasley'. I want to be known as more just the brains behind the Golden Trio, As more than just a wife or mother. This apprenticeship is exactly what I need." Hermione explained and slowly saw the anger seep into Harry's green eyes.
"So you're running away?" he asked angrily, "After everything you and I have been through; you're just going to walk out on me know?!"
"I don't really have a choice, Harry! Please try and understand."
"How do you expect me to understand this?" Harry asked harshly. "We're supposed to be family Hermione! You don't turn your back on family."
"We are family Harry. I'm not turning my back on you… I just need time alone. Too much has happened and I can't… I can't find peace here Harry." Hermione cried with tears running down her cheeks.
"So it's my fault then?" he asked furiously.
"No! I didn't say that. I'm not blaming you, Harry. How could you ever think that?" She asked reaching out to him, but he moved away.
"I don't know what to think Hermione." He said honestly. "You break your engagement with Ron and now you're leaving and you won't tell us with who or where too."
"I'm sorry Harry. It really is not my intention to hurt anyone." Hermione said. "But this is something I have to do."
"Why do you have to leave?" he asked desperately, "There will be plenty of people offering apprenticeship here at home. They would accept you without question!"
"It wouldn't be the same, Harry. They would accept me because I'm Hermione Granger – War Heroine, not because I actually deserve it. This apprenticeship is only offered once every fifty years." She said reaching out again to Harry. This time he didn't move away and Hermione took his hand in hers.
"Hermione, you're going to leave your friends and family for some job! I –"
"Let her go, Harry," a voice called across the loft. Looking up they saw Ginny standing near the floo looking at them with a calculated expression.
"What? Gin have you lost your mind?" Harry asked angrily.
Ginny's eyes narrowed in on their intertwined hands but she didn't say anything on that. Instead, she said very simply, "No Harry. She broke my brother's heart. Let her go. Obviously, she doesn't care very much for him… or us. If she did then she wouldn't be leaving." She crossed the room and walked towards them.
"Ginny that's not true, I care very much for you, for all of you," Hermione said but Ginny paid her no attention.
The red-haired reached out and took Harry's hand in hers effectively breaking the grasp Hermione previously hand on his, "Harry, you and I know that once Hermione makes up her mind, there's no changing it. If she wants to do the apprenticeship, let her do it. After all, she deserves her own happiness right?" Harry reluctantly nodded. Hermione gave a relieved sigh and flashed Ginny a grateful smile. But it was not returned. Rather Ginny looked at her with little emotion, "I didn't do it for you, Hermione. I've come back to ask for the ring my brother gave you." she said plainly, "If you're not going to marry him then you have no use for it."
Hermione gasped but when Ginny didn't say anything further she fiddled the ring from around her finger and held it out for Ginny to take. Instead, Harry reached forward and took the ring from her.
"Good luck Hermione," he said sadly, "I hope you find what it is you're looking for."
Before she could say anything further, he stood and stepped through the floo network. Ginny turned to Hermione with a hard stare, "Look, Hermione, I don't know what exactly went down between you and my brother. He's really upset about it all… so I think it's best if you don't come by the Burrow for a while. Until you know what it is you want. And… if you do choose this apprenticeship over my brother then… don't come back. He doesn't deserve to be reminded that he was bested by a job." She snapped and then turned and disappeared through the floo like Harry had done moments earlier.
"How could he?!" Hermione yelled as she paced the length of their room in Malfoy Manor. 'It's been twenty bloody years! And it's not like I didn't try to keep in contact!" she reasoned angrily.
Draco leaned against the door that led onto their balcony, watching his wife intently. Every so often he's watch would flicker to their bed, where Althea lay sleeping again. Luckily Draco had thought to place a silencing charm around his sleeping daughter so his wife's rant would not disturb her. He didn't dare disturb Hermione now. He knew she needed time to vent before he could bring her back to reason. Right now she was too angry and Draco had given her the space she needed.
"Merlin knows I sent letters!" she continued her rant as she paced. "And it's not like I could leave whenever I wanted to. I was working. The apprenticeship was important to me," Hermione groaned running her fingers through her hair. Draco took a moment to marvel at how beautiful his wife looked in that moment; hair all messed up, shoes kicked off and eyes ablaze with a fiery passion that he loved so much. "How dare he say those things to me!" she cried, drawing his attention back to the moment, "To say that I'm a liar! … And Ginny! Oh, gods, I don't understand what I've done for her to hate me so much." She said tearfully.
And just when it looked like she was about to break, Draco pushed himself off the wall and was at her side in an instant. "Mione,' he said softly taking her face gently into his hands, "Their hate is unjustified, yes, but until Potter and his wife are willing to listen to the truth, there really is no reason you should be getting so upset by this." He said pushing away her unruly hair, "Look, we knew that returning wouldn't be easy. So it's understandable that he is upset – " Hermione opened her mouth to object but Draco continued quickly, "Remember I'm still Draco – Malfoy – The Death- Eater to him and the last time he saw you, you were still Hermione Granger. The bookworm that saved his pathetic arse countless times in school and the war heroine who helped defeat Voldemort… and fiancé to Weasley. This is probably all a little too much for him to handle." He said softly running his hands soothingly up and down her back, "Give him some time to get used to the idea." He offered. "He doesn't know you as the Hermione that you are today. The incredible mother, and wonderful friend, and my - oh - so beautiful wife," he teased a little at the end, "He just needs time. They all do."
Hermione bit her lip in a nervous habit, "I don't know Draco… I don't know if he can forgive me for this," And then as if hearing her words she frowned, "Not that I need his apologies. I won't apologise for the life I made." She said firmly.
Draco smirked and on instinct leaned down and captured her lips. It was sweet and tender as he ran his fingers gently through her hair and pulled her by the waist closer to him. He reluctantly pulled away and smiled as he saw the slightly frazzled look on Hermione's face.
"Good." He said firmly and then leaned up and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Hermione sighed contently, "Thank you Draco."
"For what?"
"For being so bloody amazing all these years." She said simply, "I love you."
He smiled and looked deep in her chocolate orbs and she could almost feel the sincerity and heart seep into her as he spoke the next words, "I love you too." Hermione felt herself being jarred from their warm embrace as she took note of Draco's expression. He wore that heart-stopping, blush-inducing, all comforting look that Althea had earlier mentioned. Thinking back to it, Hermione furrowed her brows as the memory resurfaced vividly.
"What is it, love?" Draco asked seeing the anxious look growing on her face as she stared at the sleeping form on the bed.
"I was just thinking about what Thea said about Harry's son… and Rhaella."
As expected Draco stiffened at the mention of the Potter boy and his daughter's name in the same sentence. "I… I honestly don't know what to make of that." He sighed in great defeat. "I didn't know that she knew the Potter boy."
"She doesn't" Hermione countered easily.
"Well the way he was looking at her said something different." Draco answered scowling at the mental picture of the boy, "It had to be a bloody Potter," he muttered under his breath.
"You think we should be worried?" Hermione asked.
"Well it is Potter's son," Draco answered sarcastically. Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn't hide back her smile. "But it's unlikely that those two will be meeting up again anytime soon, so I don't think we have to be worried." He answered soothing Hermione's worries.
"Come on love," Draco said a moment later reaching for Hermione's hand and pulling her towards the door, "I heard my father had some amazing renovations done to the gardens."
Hermione noticed his gleeful smile and tugged at his hand before he could all but drag her out the room, "Draco Malfoy what do you have planned in that devious little mind of yours?" she asked smirking slightly as her husband avoided her eyes.
"Nothing," he said, "I just want to take a stroll through the gardens with my beautiful wife. Is that such a crime?" he asked innocently, but Hermione didn't miss the mischievous glint in his silver eyes.
She narrowed her brown orbs at him as she wondered if she should go along with whatever he was planning. Draco smirked and raised an eyebrow playfully as he thought of just the right spot he wanted to take his wife. As if she could read his thoughts she gasped and swatted his arm, "Draco! Are you insane?! In the bloody gardens! What if someone sees?" she hissed.
Draco laughed and couldn't help but run his fingers over her cheeks as her blush grew, "I promise no one is going to see… I have a feeling that's why my father built it as such. I think he learnt his lesson the first time."
Hermione chuckled but her blush grew deeper as the distant memory rose. "You're completely ins –" but Draco had heard enough and captured her lips in a fiery kiss. He pulled her close and her tight as his lips worked mercilessly over hers. "Draco…." She murmured as he moved down to her neck, "This… oh, Merlin! ... is really not a … a good idea…"
His lips left her skin and Hermione scowled at the sudden loss. Draco chuckled as he saw his wife's pouting face, "I know… but that's what makes it such fun love. Besides, you did promise to finish what you started this morning" He said cheekily and before she could squeak another word, he picked her up bridal style and apparated them to the gardens.
"Albus – Freaking – Potter!" Selene all but shouted at her best friend. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Never mind that, what are you going to do now?"
"What do you mean?" Rhaella asked.
"Well now that you know who he is, what are you going to do?"
"Nothing." She answered easily. "It was a small meaningless encounter in a bookstore. I probably won't see him after this and thank Merlin for that because of his family's treatment of my mother is completely unforgivable!" Anger burned through her as she thought back to the famous Harry Potter. "Besides it's not like he's going to be seeking me out, especially now that he knows I'm a Malfoy.
"Oh," Selene muttered as she realised the truth in what her friend said. Both girls were lounging on the bed that had been allocated to Rhaella in Malfoy Manor. After they had all apparated back to the Manor, everyone went their separate ways to try and wind down after the trip. Her father had quickly disappeared with her distraught and angry mother. Rhaella had grabbed Selene's hand and run up to her bedroom before spilling out that it was indeed Albus Potter that she had met in the bookstore.
"Oh, but what I would give for a guy to look at me like Albus Potter looked at you," Selene sighed dreamily.
"What do you mean?" Rhaella asked puzzled.
"Ly, Thea was spot on when she noticed those looks Potter was giving you," Selene said as if it were the most obvious thing. "Don't tell me you didn't notice!"
Rhaella blushed and didn't answer. She hadn't been willing to admit it, but her heart broke a little when she realised just who he was. Her father openly disliked the Potter's and rightly so. After all, they had caused her mother a lot of heartaches. But try as much as she could, Rhaella couldn't forget the feel of his eyes as he drank in her presence or the touch of his tentative hand on her. It was best she didn't dwell on such things. It would only cause problems later.
"So it's because your mum married your dad that the Saviour is so upset?" Selene asked curiously. The kids were never privy to any of the details mainly because the adults felt they were protecting them from keeping them out of the loop.
"Yeah, apparently mum and dad fell in love. But Harry Potter wasn't too happy about it because mum was supposed to marry their best friend Ronald Weasley," Rhaella stopped talking as she noticed the face Selene was making. "What?" she asked.
"Ooh, nothing… just trying to imagine what it would be like if you were a Weasley." Selene joked. "All red-haired and freckly," she teased. Rhaella threw a pillow at her laughing.
"So how did your parents meet then?" Selene asked curiously. Rhaella smiled because it was one of her favourite stories of her parents. "I don't recall you ever telling me that story."
"Well soon after the war ended mum left London because she got this offer from The Wizard." Rhaella began her story, "The apprenticeships are offered once every fifty years or so. And just after the war, mum got her offer."
"Wait… who is this Wizard?" Selene asked intrigued.
"No one knows exactly. Because the apprenticeship is so coveted, The Wizard has kept his identity a secret from those who are truly desperate for a chance." Rhaella explained.
"So what does this have to do with your parents?"
"Well it is custom that a boy and girl be chosen for the apprenticeships and obviously mum was chosen and so was dad." She said with a fond smile, "They met and fell in love while doing the apprenticeship."
"Oh! That sounds so romantic," Selene gushed. Rhaella good-naturedly rolled her eyes at her best friend. "But your parents went to school together right? And your mum was a Gryffindor and your dad a Slytherin… so it couldn't have been love at first sight right?" Selene asked using her knowledge of the Hogwarts house dynamics.
Rhaella laughed but before she could answer another voice called from the door, "It was anything but that." Scorpius said with a slight snort. He walked into the room with Damien and both boys took a seat on the couches nearest to the windows.
"Really?" Selene asked.
"Yeah, mum and dad were enemies of sorts." He answered laughing. "They hated each other rather fiercely during their time at Hogwarts."
"But… now … How can that be?" Selene asked looking utterly gobsmacked. "I've never heard your father utter a single bad word to your mother… so how could he have hated her that much?!"
The Malfoy kids laughed at this, "Well their animosity didn't last very long; especially when their first task from The Wizard involved an enchanted map hell bound on getting them lost, a dubious leprechaun, a thousand stairs, the Cave of Tears and no magic!" They all burst out laughing as images of what Scorpius was describing came to mind.
"How come we've never heard this story before?" Damien questioned. Scorpius could only shrug, "Well there's no time like the present. Get on with it mate, tell us the story!" he said excitedly.
Scorpius ever so slightly nodded to his sister, silently asking her if he should continue or if she would like the honour. She merely smiled, and reach for a pillow before settling herself more comfortably on the bed, facing her brother with keen eyes.
"Right," he said running his fingers through his blonde hair as he began his story…
XXX
"Hurry up Granger!" Draco called as he marched on ahead, "We haven't got all day."
"I'm going as fast as I can Malfoy!" Hermione snapped, "We've been hiking all day and still haven't found anything! Are you sure you're reading the map correctly?"
"I know how to read a bloody map!" he called back angrily; "It must be around here somewhere…" he had stopped to look around him and hadn't noticed that Hermione had finally caught up to him.
"Let me have a look," she said from beside him, startling Draco. When he didn't respond she rolled her eyes and took the map from his reluctant hands. She frowned as she regarded the map. "None of this makes sense! We've been walking for hours… surely we would have passed the Fairies Yard at this point?" she questioned looking at the man beside her, but his stoic expression gave her nothing. "How are we suppose to find the cave?"
Draco sighed dramatically, "Think Granger… you're a witch!"
"Malfoy, we're not allowed to use magic," she said deadpan, "And might I remind you that The Wizard took our wands."
Draco scoffed, "Don't tell me a brilliant witch like yourself can't perform wandless magic."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, easily understanding the game he was playing, "Of course I can, but that's not the point. It would be cheating! Besides if you're so eager to use magic then maybe you should perform some wandless magic yourself… or is the problem that you cant?" she smirked.
"Of course I can bloody well perform wandless magic." He glared at her.
"Well now that we have our priorities sorted out perhaps we could get back to the mission at hand?" she suggests waving the map in his face. She didn't wait for his reply but simply marched ahead focusing on the map as she did so.
"Sweet Merlin! Just fucking kill me now," Draco muttered under his breath as he begrudgingly followed her.
"Uuugh! How Can this be?" Hermione cried out twenty minutes later. "We should be deep within the Moors right now." As Hermione looked up, scanning the area around her, she didn't notice the map shifting. Draco however did.
Grinning in victory, he reached forward and snatched the map from Hermione's fingers.
"Hey!" she objected but was immediately shushed by her blonde counterpart.
"I told you, Granger, the answer was magic." He said looking down at the map keenly.
"And I've already told you that we can't use magic," she replied exasperated.
"We can't… but the map can." Draco said simply. Hermione's brows furrowed in confusion and then her chocolate orbs grew in size as realisation dawned on her.
"The map's shifting!" she almost cried, "We feel like we're walking in circles… because we are!"
"Exactly! That soddy old bastard gave us a magical map without telling us!" Draco exclaimed.
Both Draco and Hermione stood silent for a moment as they realised they had both agreed to something without the other losing their head.
"So… now what?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"How the bloody hell should I know?" Draco questioned back.
Hermione sighed and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Well, we can't use magic to break the map… which means we'll have to use logic instead."
"Tell me, Granger, how do you plan on breaking a magically enchanted map using logic?" he asked sarcastically.
"I haven't figured that part out yet!" she shouted highly annoyed, "But it would help if you stopped your whining and focused on actually being useful!" Hermione looked back to the map but then frowned as she looked to the sky.
"Oh crap!" she swore biting her bottom lip with worry, "Look Malfoy it's going to rain soon, and I have no intentions of getting caught in it. So either help me solve this bloody thing or sod off!"
Draco had a snappy come back ready but as the heavy clouds rolled around and strong clap of thunder rang through the air, he knew Hermione was right. "Fine," he muttered. "Come on we need to move." He said taking the lead once more, "Put that away before it gets washed away." Draco said indicating to the map in Hermione's hand. She safely tucked the magical map into her jacket pocket and followed the blonde. It didn't take them long to find a cave that would provide them with sufficient cover until the storm passed. They had managed to start a decent enough fire, just as the rain descended on them. Thankful for the coverage Hermione pulled out the map once more inspecting the changes that had now occurred. Silence settled on them as Draco shuffled beside her as he too inspected the changes.
"Maybe it needs an incentive to reveal itself?" Draco offered quietly. Hermione was shocked at the gentleness of his tone but didn't comment on it.
"The map needs an incentive?" she questioned, "How would that work?"
"Depends on the creator I guess." Draco answered nonchalantly, "Some maps require promises of spoken words and writing, others jewels and the more… uh, darker ones require blood."
"Blood," Hermione murmured under her breath and then looked keenly at the map. "What do you think this map requires?"
Draco looked surprised that she had asked his opinion so easily, "I… I can't say. Depends what The Wizard's end game was when he created this blasted thing."
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at the pouting look Draco supported as he regarded his current situation. "Well, I don't fancy getting lost again so let's give it a try?"
Draco numbly nodded as Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out a quill and ink. Uncapping the bottle she gently dipped the quill inside and hovered over the parchment. The ink splashed onto the page and both Draco and Hermione held their breaths for a moment as they watched the ink slowly disappear. Taking that as a good sign Hermione began to neatly scrawl various sentences over the middle of the map. But nothing happened. She tried again and then handed the quill over to Draco who tried but still nothing. Not one to give up she used the pointy end of the quill to prick her finger. A small drop of blood formed at the tip.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked with wide eyes.
"Trying to solve the map," she answered then handed the quill to Draco.
"No!" he objected, "You have no idea what you could be agreeing to! Blood magic is a very dangerous thing, Granger!"
Hermione thought about it for a moment but reasoned that The Wizard would not have set anything too drastic for them to agree to… well, anymore drastic than their current situation that is.
"Oh hush Malfoy, it can't be anything too serious," she soothed before taking the quill and pricking his finger.
"Ow!" he squealed.
"Oh don't be such a pansy," Hermione teased.
Slowly she turned her finger the other way and watched as the blood fell onto the page. Draco immediately followed suit. They both waited with bated breath hoping and praying that they had solved the map. The droplets of blood seeped through the parchment and red veins grew from the centre of the page. Hermione grew excited at having solved the puzzle but Draco watched with apprehension. The veins spread to the end of the parchment as more and more started appearing. Eventually, the entire map was covered in red veins, but it didn't last for very long as the entire thing glowed red and then the parchment went blank.
Hermione gasped waiting to see if the next bit would be revealed but as the seconds ticked by it was clear that it had not worked. "Oh! No! No! No!" she cried clutching the map in her shaking hands. "No! that was supposed to work!"
Draco frowned; he should have guessed this would happen. It had all seemed to easy now. He couldn't help but feel bad for the witch beside him as he watched her tearful eyes imploringly scan the map.
"I don't believe this!" she groaned, "I can't solve a bloody map! Some witch I am!"
Draco opened his mouth to retort but the desolate look on her face stole away the harsh words. For some reason, he couldn't hurt her any further now knowing that she was already hurting. It didn't help that he was doing nothing to help their situation.
"What happens if we can't solve it?" she asked fearfully, "Will we be stuck here forever?
"We're not going to be stuck here forever Granger," Malfoy answered easily, "And we're going to solve it. There's a reason he chose us." he said firmly though only half believing his words.
"Malfoy before we had an enchanted map that seemed pretty hell-bent on keeping us off the right path… now we have no map!" she cried exasperatedly. "Maybe Harry was right. Maybe it was too early for me to leave?" she muttered under her breath, but Draco had heard her.
"Look, Granger," he started, "Whether I want to admit it or not, and whether you choose to believe it or not but the truth remains such that if we're going to solve this thing, we need to work together," Draco said barely believing the words leaving his mouth. Shut up! Shut up! He cried to himself, "So don't worry about what Saint Potter had to say because that's not going to help us in any way." He finished trying to sound more like himself.
Hermione begrudgingly accepted that there was truth behind what Draco had said. Draco took hold of one end of the parchment as Hermione held the other, "You're right," she said but didn't look at him knowing he was smirking like an idiot, "And no I will not repeat that. If we're going to solve thing… we need to work together." The moment the words left her mouth the map burned under their fingers, earning a shocked gasp from both apprentices.
"What the…" Draco started as he saw words write itself onto the parchment.
Night has fallen and now darkness looms,
To seek the answers beyond your shadows,
Look to the starry sky,
For happiness can be found even in the darkest
Of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle, "It's a riddle," she said more to herself.
"Of course it had to be a bloody riddle," Draco muttered. "How is this funny?" he asked the witch beside him puzzled.
"It's The Wizard, Malfoy." she said simply, "How could we not have seen this?"
"But… how did you break the enchantment?" He asked looking between her and the parchment.
Hermione thought about it for a moment and then a small smile formed on her lips, "Not I…We broke the enchantment." She said earning a surprised look from the blonde, "We broke it the minute we agreed that we needed to work together, and when we actually did…the map opened itself up to us."
"So this was some weird teamwork lesson?" Draco asked scowling. To his surprise, Hermione laughed again.
"I guess so." Looking down at the parchment she frowned again, "Now we have to solve the riddle."
"Right so…" Draco started reading the riddle again, "To seek the answers beyond you shadows, Look to the starry night." He frowned and then looked outside the cave as the rain continued to descend upon them hard. "We're not going to see much in this weather."
"And it's not something we'd find during the day either…" Hermione stated. "For happiness can be found even in the darkest of times… Where have I heard that before?" she asked herself. She got up and let the words of the riddle run around in her mind. Draco took the map from her fingers and studied it further as she paced before the fire, repeating the last two lines from the riddle.
"If only one remembers to turn on the light…" Draco finished for her. The realisation hit him hard as the familiarity of the words came back to him, "No… It's not possible," he said in shock, "It can't be."
"What?" Hermione asked eagerly, Malfoy what is it?"
"I know where I've heard this before," he answered dazed.
"What? Where?" She asked quickly, "Malfoy!" she called a little impatiently when he didn't answer.
"D-Dumbledore." Was all he said as he looked at her with wide eyes.
She stared at him with equally shocked eyes, racking her brain to try and remember if that was the truth. Memories of Professor Dumbledore came to mind, and she searched her mind for what she was looking for. It hit her like a train, when she realised Draco was right; because now she remembered where she had heard those words.
"Pro-Professor Dumbledore…" She muttered retaking her seat beside Draco. She looked back to the riddle hoping the rest would make sense now… but all she could do was stare into the fire as a heavy silence filled the cave…
XXX
"Are you saying The Wizard was Dumbledore?" Selene asked confused, "That's not possible though.'
"He died in their sixth year at Hogwarts. He was dead long before the second war started," Damien clarified, "There's no way The Wizard was Dumbledore…"
"Damien" Pansy called gently from the door interrupting her son, "Selene come on, it's time to go."
"Oh, mum!" Selene moaned, "Scorpius was just getting to the good part."
"Oh? And what would that be?" she inquired.
"He's telling us the story of how Aunt Mione and Uncle Draco fell in love." She said dramatically, "It's quite the story!"
Pansy laughed and the truth behind her daughter's words. "It is indeed. But it will have to wait for another time I'm afraid." She sighed then seeing the despondent look on her daughter's face she said, "Don't worry you'll see them soon enough. After all, your father has tickets for some upcoming Quidditch game." Pansy said rolling her eyes at her husband's obsession with the game.
"Awesome!" Damien said then stood. He stuck out his hand for Scorpius to shake and said goodbye before walking over to the bed. He gave Rhaella a small hug as Selene said her goodbyes to Scorpius.
"I look forward to hearing the end of this story Scorp!" She said smiling. He only laughed but nodded as he hugged her goodbye.
With more goodbyes, the Zabini's stepped into the fireplace and disappeared for the night.
In her room once again, Rhaella sat on the window seat watching the peacocks move gracefully about the Malfoy gardens.
"You okay Ly?" Scorpius called from the door.
She looked at him with a sad smile, "Yeah. I'm fine." She didn't want to worry her brother unnecessarily while they were supposed to be on holiday. But the day's events had left her feeling tired and slightly bothered.
"Come on Ly, you don't ever lie to me," he said taking a seat beside her at the window.
Rhaella flushed slightly. He was right of course. She had never lied to her brother before, but something stopped her from telling Scorpius about Albus Potter and their encounter at the bookstore. She was probably making a bigger deal out of it than need be. So instead she told him half a truth.
"He hated us so easily Scorp," she said softly. She drew her knees closer to her and placed her head on her elbows. Rhaella looked at her brother with deep hurt in her silver eyes. "He doesn't even know us and he already hates us."
Scorpius sighed, "That's only because he doesn't know us." sensing that he was going to have to be a little more reassuring he continued, "This is going to be difficult for a lot of people to accept…. We're going to be difficult for people to accept. But as mum always says there's no shame in being a Malfoy." he said wisely but frowned slightly when all his sister did was nod. "Are you sure that's what's bothering you?" he asked concerned.
She panicked for a moment wondering if she should tell me. But it wouldn't be worth all the drama. Like she had told Selene, she probably wouldn't be seeing Albus Potter again. "Yes," she lied. "I didn't like the way they treated mum. They were supposed to be her friends."
Scorpius looked at her closely, "I know. I didn't like it either," he said solemnly, "But maybe with time, they will be able to make peace with the life mum chose… and maybe they'll even be friends again." He had no idea why he said the last part, perhaps as a small reassurance to himself that things would work itself out; at least for the sake of their mother. Rhaella seemed to sense an uncertainty on the matter though.
"Yeah, maybe." She sighed disheartened. Scorpius didn't say anything further but shuffled closer to his sister and put his arm around her as they both watched the peacocks dancing through the gardens.
He groaned inwardly, what a long trip this was going to be, he thought as he felt Rhaella place her head on his shoulder. He knew that when more people found out the reception would only get worse. Right now, only the Potter's knew about their arrival; but he was no fool. Many people had recognised his father and mother walking down Diagon Alley today. He had to prepare himself for the onslaught that would soon descend upon him and his family.
His sisters meant the world to him, and he treasured them every day. His grandmother had told him how lucky he was that he got to share his childhood with them. For centuries Malfoy's were only allowed one male heir born into the family hence allowing the name to continue. But his father had gone against pureblood traditions and married his mother, thus effectively breaking the enchantment. Scorpius had tried to think of his life without his sisters, and it frightened him when he couldn't. Being in London with so many people against the strong Malfoy name, it made him a little anxious for their safety.
But nevertheless he promised his mother that he would protect the girls, and that was exactly what he was going to do. After all; Malfoy's always protected their own.
A/N: Hello dears! I apologise for another late update; this took a little time mostly because there was so much I wanted to add.
Thank you to everyone who has favourited or is following this story! And a special big thank you to those who have reviewed. I really look forward to hearing your thoughts on this particular chapter as it is one of my favourites so far.
A special super thanks to Katy; who practically wrote this chapter for me with all her wonderful ideas!
The chapter title was taken from the song Bad Blood by Bastille.
xoxo
Immortal Dragon Empress