A/N: So I decided to post a chapter today, and I will post one tomorrow as well! This is because I won't be able to post the next until Thursday at the absolute earliest, and then likely not until the following Monday for the next. If you made sense of that, then kudos! Haha.
Chapter 3: Hermione's Story
Hermione and Shyla had not said a word to each other since they left Diagon Alley. Hermione felt obligated to still appear at the family dinner that was scheduled for after the shopping trip, and thought it might be as good a time as any to explain her side of the story involving Draco Malfoy.
Once at the Weasley's, Shyla raced to the backyard for a friendly game of Quidditch with her cousins. Shyla loved the sport and hoped to one day occupy a spot on the team. She took full advantage of her older cousins when they were home in the summer to teach her the rules and tricks. Fred and George began teaching Shyla about Quidditch when she was only 4 years old. Despite Hermione's wishes to keep her daughter's feet firmly on the ground, Shyla took a liking to flying. There was no stopping her when she was on a broom.
Hermione, glad to see that all of the children were playing outside, took this time to confront the adults. "There's something that I need to explain," she said nervously.
"Go ahead, Hermione," Arthur said, gesturing to an over-sized arm chair. He had an inkling that it was relevant to their encounter with Malfoy in the book shop.
Hermione sat nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear. She looked around the crowded room. All of the adults were socializing in the living room of the Burrow. The walls were busy with pictures of family and friends, and a section dedicated solely to Ron and even one to Harry. Hermione cringed and turned back to the family. She breathed heavily, and then began. "Draco Malfoy did not fight with Voldemort. He fought with Harry, myself and Ron." She paused for a moment to sort her thoughts and memories.
Twelve years ago. It was July and the air was hot and humid. Hermione was making her way to the stream hidden in the woods. Their camp was only a ten minute walk away, but it was quiet out here, and at times, as any girl would, Hermione liked to be alone.
She heard muttering as she reached the stream. It was a young Draco Malfoy. He had his wand to his arm, muttering "Incendio," allowing fire to sweep the Dark Mark that stained his skin. When Hermione realized what he was doing, she raced to his side and pulled his wand away.
"Leave me alone, Granger!" Malfoy shouted, fighting with her and pushing her away, causing Hermione to stumble into the stream. It was deep enough to soak her clothes, but shallow enough to not cause any danger of drowning.
"Stop it!" she shouted, standing up and swiping for the wand again. And again, resulting in failure. "You're just going to hurt yourself and it won't do you any good," she snapped.
Removing the bandana from her hair, she placed it in the cold water, allowing it to soak before applying it to Draco's arm. "Please... Stop," Hermione begged."Why would you care about what happened to me?" he said, removing the cloth and pushing Hermione's hands away.
"Look, we're fighting on the same team now," she said, ignoring his actions and reapplying the cloth to his arm. "And besides, you're not nearly as vile when you need someone to trust you," she teased. "And I do trust you, Draco," Hermione added softly, looking away.He stopped resisting and looked at her, his grey eyes gentle. "Thank you..."
"It was three months before the war that Draco came to Harry. His mother's life had been threatened and he no longer wanted to be under Voldemort's, or his father's control. He arrived while Ron was away, dealing with his own issues. Harry trusted Draco the quickest, he needed a friend on the inside, and he knew the love that a boy could have for his mother. Though Harry still did not trust Snape, even if he was the one to help Draco leave. Draco helped Harry begin to trust again. I quickly learned to accept Draco, for Harry's sake. Ron never did. He always thought that he was a spy for Voldemort. Draco and I even managed to become friends. After the war, we parted ways. It had been nearly twelve years since I had seen him last." Hermione sighed a breath of relief to share this information after so long.
Molly was crying, most everyone else was quiet, but Ginny was fuming. "If he fought on our side, why is he still alive, while Harry and Ron are dead? Besides! You are a Muggle born, Malfoy hates Muggles!"
"Ginny!" Fred yelled at his sister. "Why would Hermione lie?"
Hermione rose to her feet and faced Ginny. "I'm alive, and therefore Shyla is alive, because he saved me!" She began crying heavily, but still tried to make her words clear. "When the battle started, I thought I was prepared, I thought I was ready to fight. But I wasn't, Ginny! Something snapped and I went into shock. I couldn't breath, I couldn't move. People around me were dying! And there was nothing I could do. A Death Eater came towards me and I could do nothing. Harry couldn't keep track of me, he had his own battles, and he knew if I stayed there, I would be dead." She slumped back into the chair, wiping her eyes. "Harry ordered Ron to get me out of there. Ron refused, he thought that I had abandoned our friendship for one with Draco. He was stubborn and selfish. When Draco saw what was happening, he came for me. He fought around me until we had a moments break. Then we Apparated. He cared for me and when he knew I was safe, he went back to the battle and fought. If it wasn't for Draco Malfoy, I would be dead. As much as I cared for Ron, there was no getting past his stubborn ways."
"How do you know that Malfoy didn't go back to kill Ron?" Ginny accused.
Hermione stared at Ginny in horror, "Ginny! I cannot believe you. That is a horrible thing to say! Why would you say such a thing? Do you honestly think that he would save me, return to fight against Harry and Ron, and then come back to where he left me, to make sure I was okay? To heal the minor wounds I had sustained? I was ashamed of myself. I abandoned my best friends when they needed me the absolute most." She let out a soft sob and covered her mouth to steady her breath.
"Everyone thought you were dead, until you showed up on the door step over a year later, with your daughter," Molly finally said. "If Malfoy had saved you, why did you not return sooner?"
Hermione flushed. "I was devastated! I had learned of Harry and Ron's deaths and realized that I was a complete coward. It could have easily been my fault that both of them were dead! I couldn't go home knowing that I had failed them both!"
Katie moved to the arm of Hermione's chair and wrapped her arms around her. She held her close as Hermione continued to let her tears run down her face.
Ginny raised her wand at Hermione. "Malfoy should have died that day! Not Ron and NOT Harry! I agree with you, this could be all your fault!"
"Ginevra!" Arthur shouted.
Fred and George both stood, pointing their wands at their sister. "Ginny, lower your wand!" Fred yelled."Don't test us, Ginny!" George added.
"All of you! Lower your wands!" Bill said, standing and trying to calm his all of the commotion, the children began filing inside to see what was happening. Ginny turned her wand to Fred and George. "A Malfoy will never be accepted by this family!"
"Mum?" Ali cried out to Katie. Katie shot a warning look to Fred. Everything was happening so quickly. Hermione found the urge to leave and never return. Just as she had been tempted to so many years ago.
Hermione stared at Ginny. "This is why I never told you! It was complicated then and it is complicated now. I owe my life, and Shyla's life, to Draco Malfoy. I'm sorry if it is of any inconvenience to you! I will gladly leave!"
Shyla stared at her mum in shock. What else hadn't she told her?
"Did Ron even know you were pregnant?" Ginny demanded.
Hermione's eyes burned with fresh tears. "No. I never told him. I didn't even know myself until a couple months later. I didn't tell Draco either. I just left. I needed to face my burdens alone. Because that is what they were, mine alone."
Katie left Hermione's side and went to the kids. With the help of Alicia and Fleur, they began to shoo the kids back outside. Shyla ignored their wishes and ran to her mother, holding her hand for support. Hermione squeezed her daughter's hand and gave a half smile in thanks.
"My money's on Aunt Ginny!" Victor said to James.
James laughed, "Aunt Ginny may look mad, but Uncle Fred and Uncle George are the greatest wizards ever! They have their own shop! Aunt Ginny just stays home with Melody and Darius!"
Neville went to Ginny and put his arm around her. "Please, sit down."
"I will not sit down!" Ginny shouted. "I cannot allow her to defend him as if he has done no wrong! He was nothing but evil to this family and to Harry! He is a Death Eater! He was going to kill Dumbledore!"
Hermione cringed and held Shyla close, knowing the truth that Ginny did not. She knew that Draco had not wanted to hurt the former Headmaster of collapsed into a puddle of tears on the floor. "Harry wasn't supposed to die! I loved Harry! I loved him!"
"Mummy?" Seven year old Melody called out to Ginny.
Neville left his wife's side for his daughter and son, Darius, a four year old, to take them outside. Away from their mother's obvious emotional break. Molly replaced Neville's position in comforting Ginny. She held her daughter close and hushed Ginny, trying to get her to breath normally.
Arthur was embarrassed by his daughter's behavior. "Hermione, you and Shyla are both very important to me, and if Draco Malfoy saved you, I owe him my gratitude."
"Thank you, Arthur," Hermione said softly, wiping away a tear.
After an awkward dinner, Shyla sat outside in the dark, watching the stars. She briefly thought of the book her Grandfather had given her, and wondered what constellation she was staring at.
"You know, Malfoy isn't that bad of a guy..." Shyla overheard Neville saying softly. "He's grown up a lot since our school days. Butterbeer?"
"Thanks, Neville," Hermione replied, accepting the drink.
"You know, 'Mione, we're glad to have you and Shyla around," George laughed. "Shyla sure makes things more interesting around here. She can have quite the mouth on her."
Hermione laughed, not knowing of her daughter's presence. "Oh, I know... I tried, I really did. Shyla is definitely her own person. I worry about her going away to Hogwarts."
"Nah, don't be worried! George and I made it through just fine! Well, sort of," Fred pitched in. "But, you know, when she was 6, and was spending the night with Ali, they looked thru an old family album, and Shyla looked at Ron's picture and said, 'Ya know, I am so happy that I don't look like my dad in the least, he looks too dumb.' Katie and I knew then that it wouldn't matter who's child she was, she was going to live her life how she saw fit. But we knew we would love her anyhow."
Shyla smiled. She was glad to have uncles who cared so much about her, even if her horrid aunt wished her dead. Ali joined Shyla on the grass, laying beside her. "I've heard about Professor Malfoy from the older cousins. They say he is always trying to take points away from Gryffindor. But, you're my best friend, Shy. If I wasn't starting Hogwarts with you, I'd be totally lost."
Shyla turned her head and stared at Ali. "Shut up. You're so sappy... Seriously!"
"Admit, I'm your best friend too!" Ali teased. "We're best friends forever!"
"I admit no such thing!" Shyla insisted stubbornly. "But if it makes you feel better, I think you're okay."
Ali grinned. "This is going to be the best year ever! We're going to get into Gryffindor together. and we'll have all sorts of adventures!"
Shyla laughed. "Seriously, shut up. You're going to make me vomit."
A/N: So there it is! I really liked writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed it! ^_^ I will post the next chapter tomorrow evening. Thanks for reading! Oh, and please please please review! Thank you!
~PurplePygmypuff