19 May, Saturday, 2230 BST
It had been a long eight weeks. Draco hadn't left Hermione's room the first week; receiving his own medical treatment sitting at her side. He returned to teaching the week after that. Head Mistress McGonagall recommended that he take another couple of weeks off; Professor Snape even offered to take some of his course load. Draco declined. He needed to get his mind off things; teaching afforded him the opportunity to do so.
He would teach his usual course load for the day and spend the rest of the evening up in Hermione's room. It was a secret that the former Gryffindor was in the Hospital Wing; therefore the whole school knew about the former war heroine. The students were quite respectful of this fact. The first-year potions students made sure they were on their best behavior for the former Slytherin seeker turned Potions professor.
Professor McGonagall excused him from having to dine with the staff at dinner. The kitchen elves sent meals up to the hospital wing.
His parents brought Drew to see her mother every afternoon. Drew would sit on her mother's hospital bed, watching her intently. She would fall asleep next to her mother before Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy would take her home late in the evening.
They spent a nice quiet Easter together six weeks ago. The Hogwarts staff created an Easter basket full of toys and chocolate eggs and other treats. Both Drew and Draco put on brave faces. The little child sat in Draco's lap through the night before her grandparents took her home for the evening.
o-o-o
19 May, Saturday, 2240 BST
Draco sat reclined on the chair that had been his usual resting place for the past two months. His parents had taken a reluctant, but sleepy Drew home to the manor almost an hour ago. He looked at the unconscious form of his wife who rested in the hospital bed. He shut his eyes saying a silent prayer. His eyes fluttered, betraying him to slumber.
o-o-o
For a moment, she wondered where she was as she walked down the long white washed corridor. She looked at the writing on the nearest door, Ministry of Magic Family Services, Room 7. She was in the Ministry of Magic. She took in a breath as she recognized the platinum blonde walking towards her. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickened her step.
She stopped in her tracks as she saw the familiar blonde witch catch up to him. She grabbed onto his fingers and he smiled back. The witch smirked playfully at the tall wizard. She tiptoed to pull the wizard's face to hers. They kissed. It was then that the brown-haired woman saw the light glisten through the large carat diamond ring on the blonde witch's ring finger.
Hermione looked down for a moment as the couple finally broke their lip lock. 'What was going on?' she asked herself as she wrung her hands together. She took in a breath as she noticed her naked ring finger on her left hand.
All heads turned as the door to suite 7 opened. The platinum blonde wizard finally noticed the brunette witch as the ginger haired mediwitch exited into the hallway.
"Hey," Ginny said to nobody in particular as she nonchalantly placed something into her satchel. She walked over to Hermione and placed her arm around the older witch's shoulder. "Draco, Roxanne, how are you this afternoon?"
"Fine," Draco said almost breathlessly as he looked at Hermione. "You're back in town?"
"I had some things I had to take care of," Hermione said softly as Roxanne tightened her grip on her beau's waist.
"Well, we'd better get a move on, Hermione," Ginny said trying to change the subject. "The kids will be waiting."
The Muggle-born witch nodded. "It was nice seeing … the both of you again," Hermione said as she allowed Ginny to lead her down the hallway.
Draco watched the pair turn towards the foyer and out of his line of sight. He had an inclination of going after the two but the blonde fashion model nudged him towards Mr. Norris's office so that they could get the marriage license and certificate signed.
o-o-o
Hermione and Ginny found themselves stepping out of the floo-network connected fireplace in the Potter family residence after Ginny had ushered her into the closest Ministry fireplace available. Hermione had to take in a deep breath, as she grabbed onto the mantel.
"What's going on, Ginny?" Hermione asked, taking a breath.
Ginny looked at her old friend, canting her head at her. Ginny opened her satchel and pulled out a stack of papers. The ginger haired mediwitch handed the official looking paperwork to her friend.
Hermione looked over the first page and whimpered. Ginny nodded. They both turned as the three children ran into the room followed by the scarred wizard.
Harry kissed both the women on their cheeks as the children wrapped their arms around their respective mother's legs. Hermione couldn't help but smile as she patted Drew on the top of her head.
"Why don't we go into the dining room for dinner," Harry said, nodding to his wife. The two women followed the Gryffindor.
o-o-o
Hermione kissed the grey-eyed brunette child on her head. Hermione took a breath as she turned off the lamplight on the nightstand in the small bedroom they shared. She walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind her as she entered the living room of her old apartment. She took a deep breath as she sat on her couch.
She asked herself what had happened. She fingered the Family Services document and couldn't stop a tear from falling as she remembered her conversation with Harry and Ginny during their after-dinner tea.
As Ginny explained to her, Hermione had called two months earlier, out of the blue. Hermione had been working at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center located in Baltimore, Maryland in the States. She had finally told her cancer story to the younger witch and that she was given six months to live. She had also told Ginny about the young two-year old and sworn the ginger-haired mediwitch to secrecy; that neither she nor Harry could tell a soul about the child. The reason was widely apparent once the pair finally saw the grey-eyed child.
Hermione shook herself out of her daze as she heard a knock at the door. She looked at her watch. 'Who would be calling at 11:45 p.m.,' she stood up but then hesitated. Another set of knocks were heard. She headed toward the door. She peeked through the peephole and took a breath. She hesitated before opening the door.
"Hi," she said as she looked up at the platinum blonde Slytherin.
"Granger," Draco said in greeting. Hermione's heart dropped as he addressed her so formally as he walked past her into the old apartment.
"What brings you by … Malfoy?" she asked as she shut the door.
"I just dropped off my fiancée after a quiet dinner," Draco said as he removed his dinner jacket and placed it on the coffee table covering up the adoption papers. Hermione gulped. "I was in the neighborhood."
The platinum blonde looked around the familiar surroundings. The small cozy living room brought back a few pleasant memories of their conversations, even eliciting a slight smile. He shook himself out of his daze. He turned to face Hermione who made sure to leave a good meter of personal space between them.
"It's been a hectic last few months with all the wedding planning going on," he said, as he looked straight into her face, unconsciously rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt. "The Wizarding press is hailing it as the Wedding of the Century, go figure; two Pure-Blood families coming together."
"Congratulations, Draco," she said looking down at her feet for a moment. She looked back up, not noticing he had closed the distance between the both of them. "I'm very happy for you … and Roxanne."
Draco narrowed his eyes at her. He gave her a smirk, "So why are you here?"
Hermione was a bit surprised at the question. She answered softly, "I live here."
"No!" Draco's voice escalated. "Why the hell did you come back into my life!
"Two years, Granger," he said sharply taking a step towards her. Hermione's heart fluttered. "You left suddenly. No floo, no owl, not even Muggle post. You took a piece of my heart with you when you left!"
Hermione pulled his face down and kissed him passionately, wanting him to remember her. He hesitated but then began to kiss her back. After a minute, though, he took a step back, realizing what was happening he pushed her off, a little roughly. Hermione took a deep breath.
"How dare you!" Draco said, wiping his lips with his left forearm as if wiping away any germs the Muggle-born witch could have left.
"Draco, listen," Hermione said almost crying. "This is a dream. In the world I know, we're together.
"We've been married for two years. We have a …"
"A what?!" Draco interrupted, glaring at her. "A home in a Muggle suburb? My parents would never sign off on such a merger. Imagine that, a Pure-blood and a … filthy little Mudblood.
"Your stupid fantasyland would never exist. Pure-bloods and Mudbloods should never mix!"
Hermione took a step back, trying to bite back tears. "Please keep your voice down," she said as a tear streamed down her cheek.
"Why? You're worried I'll wake your lover in there?" he said waving towards her bedroom.
Her eyes fluttered. She blew out a long breath. "You've said your peace, Draco. I think it's time for you to go."
"That's all you have to say?" he glowered.
"What else is there to say?" she asked, gulping. "You've made yourself very clear about how you feel about us, about me."
"You're impossible!" he yelled.
They both turned their heads towards the bedroom. The little child rubbed her eyes.
"Mommy, I had a nightmare," the little girl said sleepily as Hermione approached her, wanting to quickly usher the small child back into the room.
Hermione brought her into a hug. "Everything is okay, Drew. It was just a dream," Hermione said almost a little choked up before she stood up. She looked down at her child, taking a breath before turning to face the wizard.
"Drew," the young mother said putting her arm on the child's shoulder. "This is Mr. Malfoy, an old friend of mine. He and I used to go to the same school when we were little."
The little girl squinted her eyes up at her mother's friend. She canted her head to the side, studying him for a moment. She extended her hand out, "Nice to meet you, Sir."
"Nice to meet you, too," Draco said, almost breathlessly as he shook her hand. Draco's arm tingled as he saw the grey of her eyes.
"Why don't you go back into the room, Drew," Hermione said, stepping back with the child, breaking the connection. "I'll come to tuck you in, in a second. I just have to show Mr. Malfoy to the door."
Drew nodded at her. The little girl yawned and turned toward the bedroom. She stopped for a moment and turned. "Goodnight, Sir."
"Goodnight, Drew," he said, nodding at the little youngster as she closed the door behind her.
Draco quickly waved his wand hand. "What the fuck was that!"
"Keep your voice down," Hermione hissed back.
"Muffliato, remember," Draco yelled back. "How old is she?!"
Hermione wavered for a moment. She bit her lower lip, trying to compose herself.
"How old," he pressed.
"She's two," she said, looking into his eyes. She could tell he was doing the math in his head.
"It was the night of the rescue," he said, narrowing his eyes at her. He took a step towards her. "You kept this information from me!"
"What would you have done, had you known?" she asked. He hesitated. "Would you have asked me to abort her?"
"Fuck you, Hermione," the Pure-blood father yelled. "You had no right to keep her existence from me!"
"It doesn't matter anymore," she said. "You've moved on with your life. By this time Saturday, this conversation will just be a waning memory.
"Or you could have me Obliviate you," she said as she gently took hold of his wand. "You won't remember stopping by. You'll be able to marry Roxanne, with a clean slate."
Draco clenched his fists, his cheeks noticeably showing a sign of color. He took a step back. "I fucking hate you!" he said as he turned away from her. Then he charged back towards her. She stood her ground. "I will fight for custodial rights."
"Draco," Hermione started.
He put his palms up. "I will not allow my child to live in Muggle squalor raised by a fucking Mudblood."
"Finite Incantatum," she said, waving his wand, ending the silencing charm. She handed the wand back to him. "You should go."
He glowered at her, not wanting her to have the last word. He grabbed his wand back. He saw her face turn.
"Move, Draco," Hermione said, sensing something was amiss, pushing him away.
Draco watched as her body went backwards into the Muggle television, effectively breaking it. He landed on the ground right by the front door. He saw the two figures quickly make their way towards the fallen witch. Hershel Jankovic, a Slytherin two years ahead at Hogwarts grabbed a hold of the Muggle-born witch. Draco slowly got to his feet, his eyes widening.
"Kellen, Roxanne," the platinum blonde Slytherin said, almost incredulously. The other Slytherins looked his way.
Roxanne smirked at her fiancé. "Why am I not surprised to see you here?"
"What's going on?" Draco asked as he took a step forward. Kellen pinned Draco's arms behind his back.
Hermione struggled against Jankovic until he yanked down on her hair. She cried out in pain.
"Don't hurt her," Draco yelled. "Roxanne what the fuck is going on?"
She pulled out the Muggle handgun. Hermione whimpered.
"The stolen Muggle weapons," Draco said, realizing the severity of the situation.
"Right under the Ministry's nose," Kellen laughed.
"You see, I thought your return would have been a hindrance. Draco seems to think he's infatuated with you," the blonde fashion model said, as she pointed the nine millimeter at the brunette witch's chest. "But then I soon realized the up side of it.
"What is that Muggle saying of yours? Kill two birds with one stone," the former Slytherin said as she squeezed hard on the Muggle-born's chin. "We'll test our potion that we've based on the Dagger of Irses. An Everbleeder potion, whose inflicted wounds, even a small one, would cause excessive bleeding rendering the victim dead, with no hope of a remedy.
"See we're going to use these weapons to wipe Mudbloods and Half-breeds out of the Wizarding World."
"No," Hermione whimpered shaking her head.
"We'll start with you," the blonde witch said. "With your death, Draco will have to move on."
Hermione watched Roxanne cock the weapon. Suddenly all heads turned toward the bedroom door.
"Mommy?" the little girl said softly.
"Lock the door, Drew," Hermione yelled. Drew quickly followed directions. With that, Hermione acted quickly. She slammed the back of her head into the lower part of the taller man's face, wrenching herself from him as he checked his nose.
She pulled him into a headlock as Draco watched. She twisted, breaking the older man's neck. She pushed him into Roxanne, who was in shock and dropped the weapon as the two Slytherins fell to the ground.
Draco did the same exact thing himself, breaking his old friend's neck. Hermione stayed on one knee as Draco approached her. She struggled against him before realizing it was Draco. "Bedroom," she said weakly as Roxanne finally stirred. Draco apparated them quickly into the small bedroom.
"Mommy, Daddy," the little girl cried as she ran to her mother.
"Everything is going to be alright, Drew," Hermione said as she looked up at Draco. "Send her to Harry's. He'll know something has happened."
"I'm sending you too," Draco said as he aimed his wand.
"No," Hermione shook her head. "Roxanne can trace me."
Draco shook his head. Hermione looked at him, her face contorted. Draco yelled in frustration as he aimed his wand at the little girl just as they heard Bombarda cast. Drew disappeared from the bedroom. Both Draco and Hermione were lifted off their feet as the door was blasted to pieces.
The angry Slytherin entered the room. Draco had helped Hermione to her feet.
"It's over Roxanne. This has to stop," Draco said as he shielded the Muggle-born witch.
"You don't get it, do you Draco," Roxanne said as she drew the Muggle weapon in front of her. "This new revolution will occur with or without your concurrence."
"You're mad," Draco said, his eyes widening.
"I'll get rid of the Mudblood, Draco. Then I'll Obliviate you and you'll forget she even walked back into our lives. We'll marry in two days time and live happily ever after under the new Death Eater rule."
"Go to hell, Roxanne," Draco said.
"Then you serve no value to me anymore," Roxanne raised the weapon, aiming at Draco.
Draco braced himself. He heard the click of the trigger and saw the flash fire. He found himself on his back, looking upwards.
Draco heard the pop just as his fiancée pointed the gun at his head. She had heard the crackling of the apparition as well. She looked up to see the scarred wizard take a step toward the bedroom.
"Hermione," Harry yelled as he hopped over the former Slytherin Quidditch keeper.
"You're a blood traitor," Roxanne sneered as she looked back at the platinum blonde. She dropped the Muggle handgun and took her wand out of her robe. She lifted her wand hand. Draco took in a small gasp, expecting the worst. He watched her apparate out as he heard Harry yell for Hermione again.
"We're in here, Harry," Draco said in a strained voice. He had difficulty breathing for a moment before realizing that Hermione was lying on his chest.
Harry finally reached the pair. He took in a breath, as he looked slightly surprised to see the platinum blonde wizard there. He saw the crimson under them. "You two are pooling blood," Harry said as he helped to pull Hermione off Draco.
Draco coughed as he rolled over, slowly getting up on his knees. Harry looked at Hermione and noticed the two entrance wounds. He looked at the front of Draco's blood stained shirt. "Are you shot, Draco?" Harry asked, his eyes widening.
Draco looked down at his chest. He quickly tore his shirt open and ran his hands over his chest. He shook his head at Harry as he quickly went to Hermione's side. "It's not mine," he said as he applied pressure to Hermione's wounds.
"We need to get you to a hospital, Hermione," Harry said flashing his wand.
"Drew," Hermione said weakly.
"She's fine, Hermione. Ginny is watching the kids and the wards are up," Harry said as he knelt by her side. "We need to get you some medical attention."
Hermione groaned as she looked upwards. She first looked at Draco and then turned to Harry. "I'm alright, Harry," she said, looking up at her oldest friend. Harry almost had to do a double take. "You have to go after Roxanne. You have to stop her and the Death Eaters from using the Muggle weapons and the Everbleeder potion on Muggle-borns and Half-bloods like Drew," she said gulping, averting Draco's eyes. "I'll be okay, Harry."
Harry looked at Draco. His old nemesis nodded. Harry aimed his wand sending two messenger patronuses; one to Pansy having her warn the Ministry and the other to Greg advising him to send medical assistance to the Muggle apartment. Harry turned back to look at the pair.
"Medical staff should be here in ten minutes, Hermione," Harry said as he took in a breath. He addressed the former Slytherin, "Keep pressure on those wounds."
And with that, Harry disapparated. Draco turned to Hermione. He watched as the blood oozed through his fingers. "Hey, come on stay with me here. You heard Harry, ten minutes."
Hermione's eyes fluttered as she looked up at Draco. She shook her head. Draco took in a breath. "You're going to be alright, Hermione."
"Who's the doctor here?" Hermione said, whimpering.
"You told Harry you were fine," Draco raised his voice in frustration.
"It was more important for him to go after Roxanne without worrying about me, Draco," she gulped.
"That's so fucking stupid, Hermione," Draco whispered harshly in frustration. "Why the hell did you step in front of me? She was aiming at me!"
Hermione looked into his face and hesitated for a moment. She blinked back tears. "I couldn't let Drew lose both of her parents."
"You'll be alright, Hermione. We'll raise her together," Draco said, his eyes tearing. "We can be a family."
Hermione couldn't stifle a whimper. She gulped, "There was a reason why you saw Ginny and me in Family Services earlier today. We were finalizing paperwork. I asked Ginny and Harry to adopt Drew."
"I don't understand, Hermione. I can take care of her and you," Draco said searching her face.
Hermione hesitated. She shut her eyes, not being able to look into the same eyes as their daughter's. "My cancer … I've lost the battle."
"No, no," Draco said as a tear fell on her face.
"I could still Obliviate you, you know," she said trying to smile. "You could forget everything that's happened tonight. You could probably still marry Roxanne on Saturday."
Draco couldn't help but laugh. She hesitated for a moment. She brought her left hand up to his face, touching his cheek as she studied his face for perhaps the last time.
"You were right, Draco," she said pulling her hand slowly down, leaving a streak of her blood on his pale cheek, allowing it to fall onto her chest. "This is probably the true reality. It was just a silly fantasy; you, me and Drew, together, living happily ever after. Pure-bloods and Mudbloods don't mix."
"Don't say that," Draco said as tears fell from his cheeks.
"Drew's a good kid, Draco. She's smart like you," Hermione smiled. "I'm sure Harry and Ginny won't mind you being a part of her life."
"I love you, Hermione," Draco said, kissing her on the lips.
Her eyes fluttered as they broke their lip lock. She looked up at him as she took one last breath. "I love you more."
Draco watched as her eyes shut. His chest clenched. "No!" he let out a guttural scream.
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