Friday, October 9
After sending McGonagall and Astoria letters, Draco couldn't sleep and decided to send his mother a letter, asking for advice. He felt haunted by the mocha eyes that he loved so much. All he could see in them was pain despite the smile that had been on Hermione's lips when she had gone to bed.
He walked over and sat at the small writing desk. Exhaling, he began writing the letter, pleading with his mother for help.
After sending it to Malfoy Manor, he walked outside and took a long stroll in the dazzling light of the stars.
It was hours later when the sun was just barely coming up that he saw the owl flying back into the clearing of the trees. It landed nearby and he took the letter from it.
Draco,
I love you, son. Please, don't forget that when you read the rest of this letter.
Why the hell are you putting Miss Granger through all of this? I understand your desire to help Miss Greengrass and I will do whatever I can to assist with that. But did you not stop to think about what doing all of this would do to Hermione?
She's been through enough, Draco. She loves you and you love her. I know it, dear boy. I've seen the pain you've been in since your father forced you into the engagement.
I know Astoria is a nice young girl and she doesn't deserve to go through this, but sometimes you have to choose, and you must choose the one you love.
You are a good man, Draco. But if you put Hermione through this hell all over again, I'm afraid you won't be the man that you truly want to be.
Draco, I love you. You are my only child, and I will always love you, but in this moment, I am disappointed in you. Please change that. Please do the right thing.
Love,
Your Mother
Draco sighed and looked up at the sky that was slowly brightening into day.
Meanwhile, Hermione was lying in bed, looking up at the ceiling. She despised everything about the situation she was currently in, but she didn't feel like she could say anything.
Draco wanted to be a good man. She understood that. She loved him for that, but she couldn't understand why she had to suffer for him to be a good man.
Hermione didn't leave the bedroom until after breakfast. She needed time to think, but when she heard the knock on the door, she knew McGonagall and Astoria were there.
She exited the bedroom and found McGonagall sitting on the sofa but there was no sign of Draco or Astoria.
"Where…" She began, but the Headmistress cut her off.
"They stepped outside for a moment."
Hermione nodded and sat in her usual lounge chair. She and McGonagall both remained completely silent, neither knowing what to say.
When the other two came back into the cottage, Astoria sat beside McGonagall on the sofa while Draco sat in the lounge chair across from Hermione.
"So, why have you asked Miss Greengrass and myself to come out here today?" McGonagall asked.
Draco inhaled, not looking at Hermione, "We wanted to let you know that Astoria and I are calling off our engagement. We thought you should know because there will likely be quite a bit of drama from her father."
Hermione's head snapped in his direction, confusion covering her face.
"Oh, I see." McGonagall said. "I suppose that you are the Head of the Malfoy family now. Is Mister Greengrass aware of this decision yet?"
"Not yet. No." Astoria replied.
Th e Headmistress nodded, "I don't suppose he'll be too happy with this new arrangement."
"That doesn't matter." Astoria said. "Draco needs to live his life with the person he loves."
Her words caught McGonagall's attention, but the Headmistress didn't say anything.
Hermione swallowed and stood up to make herself a cup of tea, needing it desperately. She simply could not believe what was happening.
"I will help divert as much drama from you two as I can." McGonagall said. "Miss Greengrass, we need to return to the castle."
Astoria nodded and bid Draco goodbye.
Silence filled the cottage once they were gone. Hermione turned to face Draco but didn't look at him just yet. She didn't quite know what to say. She wondered what had changed his mind.
To her surprise, he spoke up.
"I'm a massively flawed person, Hermione." He said, causing her to turn and meet his eyes from across the room. "Sometimes I need a kick in the arse to get my head on straight. I've put you through hell. And I was nearly about to put you through it all again. I'm an arse and I couldn't blame you if you wanted nothing to do with me, but I love you. And I always will."
She inhaled deeply. "Who gave you the kick in the arse?"
"My mother." He replied.
She smirked and nodded, "Good."