"You…" She choked.
"What is it?" He dropped her hands and stood up. "I'm too late… I really messed…" He took a couple of steps backwards.
"Of course you're not too late. My feelings for you don't just go away like that." She reached for him. "I just wasn't expecting you to reciprocate my feelings so soon. If ever…"
"'If ever'?" He cocked his head to the side in confusion.
"It's been in my head for a very long time that you are who you are and I am who I am, and those two just wouldn't go. That there was no way Draco Malfoy would ever see me in that way, regardless of blood status." She explained as he pulled her up and into his arms.
"That might have been true when we were kids, but not now. You give yourself too little credit. How could someone like you fall for someone like me? Especially how I used to be?" He shook his head.
"Remember I saw you, not just the you everybody else saw." She placed a hand over his heart. "You never had to impress me and I wasn't about to let you get hurt doing so."
"But I was so cruel to you my sixth year." Draco shook his head. "I said awful…"
"Drake, you don't have to say anything about that. I understood. I knew there was something going on. You did what you had to do to protect me, right?" He nodded once. "We all have our faults and no one is perfect. I love you, Draco Lucious Malfoy, in spite of your faults and imperfections. Talk to Scorpius; get his blessing, acceptance, or whatever it is you need."
"I would feel wrong if I didn't talk to him about this. I don't want him to feel as though I am replacing his mother or forgetting about her. You're also his favorite professor, and I don't want to give him reason to change his opinion of you. I guess it is his blessing I'm looking for." He ran a thumb across her cheek.
"What if he doesn't give it?" She held his hand to her cheek and leaned into it. Worry flickered briefly in his eyes before smiling.
"I think he will, but even if he doesn't right away, I think he will in time. It's out of respect for him and the memory of Astoria that I am even going to discuss it with him first. That won't stop me from wanting us to be together. That won't stop us from being together." He kissed her forehead.
"Are you going to accept the professorship?" She changed the subject. "McGonagall wants me to take on Head of House for Hufflepuff next term. She wanted me to take it on this term but I thought it best to just focus on teaching first."
"I want to. I don't have to work… I don't need the money, but it would give me some purpose." He answered.
"I think you'd make a great DADA professor. You'd definitely make a great Head of House for Slytherin. Your experience will lend itself well to both." She smiled at him. "You are among many Slytherin who turned out okay. Yes, you were a Death Eater, but even then you did that out of love and concern for yourself and your family." She held up a hand to stop him from interrupting. "You wanted to prove yourself. You wanted to be someone. But there was still an underlying concern for the safety of your family. Traits of a Slytherin: pride, ambition, determination, self-preservation, cunning, resourcefulness, and shrewdness. Nearly every one of those you have exhibited at some point, especially back then… but even now; even yesterday pride tripped you up."
Very true." He chuckled lightly. "Loyal and just. Two Hufflepuff traits I've seen you portray time and again. I knew nothing would sway you from supporting Harry Potter and Dumbledore. When I planned the cursed necklace, I hoped that it would not fall to you."
"That's why the note you left at Honey Dukes said never to go to the bathroom at the Three Broomsticks along…" He nodded. "I had wondered about that until Katie Bell."
"That made me sick to my stomach. Same with Ron. Up until that point, I had never been more grateful for Harry. Dumbledore had been right in the end. I didn't have the heart to go through with it. Pride wouldn't have let me admit it then especially not in front of Dumbledore. Even more had I known Harry had been there at the time." Shame flooded his features as he thought about that horrible night. "After Scorpius and Albus changed the timeline a few times, we had to experience what life would have looked like if Voldemort had lived instead of Harry. I'm glad Voldemort it dead."
"The past is done. Forgive yourself." Amethyst smiled at him. "You are not that person anymore. We may never lose the traits that led to what house we were sorted into, but our experiences can add new traits. I've never considered myself brave like Gryffindor, but things have changed. After the Battle of Hogwarts, a lot of us discovered just how brave we really are. Then going into magizoology and being around some really dangerous beasts… our experiences change us in ways we never thought possible."
"You know, it makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. I feel as though my self-preservation is not as strong as it once was. Scorpius changed that. So have you. If it had been anyone else, I don't think I would have run back to a giant spider den; I would have let someone else do that. I didn't even think that night. Before I even realized what was happening, I was running towards your scream." He shook his head, not wanting to remember the thoughts that went through his mind that night - the thoughts that he might lose her.
"We should get some breakfast." Amethyst said, sensing his unease. They made their way into the kitchen. She cooked up some eggs and sausages while he made tea. After they ate, they got dressed for the day. They say in the parlor talking about nothing in particular for a couple of hours until Violet showed up around noon for lunch.
"Aunt Violet, what would you say if I said that I was thinking about selling this house?" Amethyst asked as they ate lunch. "I would offer it to family first."
"No one wants it." Violet stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, it's your house to do with as you wish."
"Draco has expressed interest if no one in family wants it." Amethyst explained.
"It would be a summer home. I've been offered a teaching position at Hogwarts, and if I accept, I will be at Hogwarts during school and only home for Christmas and Summer holidays." Draco said pointedly.
"What about Malfoy Manor?" Violet raised an eyebrow.
"We will maintain the residence, but I would prefer not to live there any longer." He answered.
"'We'?" Violet looked at her niece questioningly.
"My son, Scorpius, and I. The Manor would pass to him whenever he marries and he would be able to do with it what he wants. My parents reside in a cottage on the grounds but they are no longer allowed in the main house. Charms prevent it." Draco explained more.
"As long as they are not welcome here, I see no reason you shouldn't purchase this house if you are both in agreement." Violet knew Lucious and Narcissa Malfoy quite well. She knew there was little chance of them ever coming to Godric's Hollow, even if they had been invited. "Magic is still hidden here." Draco nodded. Amethyst had said as much the other day.
"I will still need to discuss things with Scorpius, but should I purchase this house, rest assured that my parents will never be permitted here… nor invited."
"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to Draco alone for a moment." Violet stood up. Amethyst looked at Draco and shrugged at his unspoken question. "Let's take a stroll outside. We won't be long." Violet led Draco out into the back garden. "You love my niece, don't you?"
"Yes." Draco didn't even hesitate. "Nothing will change that."
"Good." Violet nodded with a smile. "Do you see that tree?" She pointed upwards and all Draco could see was the very top of a tree that was barely visible behind buildings and houses. He nodded. "That tree is located in the center of town. Muggles don't know but they protect it all the same. It's an English Oak and it has a small colony of bowtruckles living in it." She paused as Draco realized what that meant. "Inside this box in a branch from that tree. Find a suitable core and have Ollivander make a wand for Amethyst."
"Why…?" Draco took the box but looked questioningly at her.
"It would mean a lot to her if it came from you. Much more than it would if it came from me. Besides, you'll probably have better luck finding a core than I would." Violet squeezed his hand. "Shall we?" They headed back to the house. Amethyst met them in the kitchen "When are you heading back?"
"I was thinking about taking the Knight Bus tonight. The owls won't do well apparating and they're still too injured to fly that distance." Amethyst answered. She hadn't discussed this with Draco yet and could see the question on his face.
"Tim would like you see you. He was hoping to swing by for supper on his way home from work." Violet mentioned. Amethyst hadn't seen her uncle since her father's funeral.
"I would like that." She smiled. She turned her attention to Draco. "You don't have to take the Knight Bus if you'd rather not."
"I'm certainly not going to let you travel alone, with two owl cages and a kneazle, Especially not wandless." Draco replied. Orion huffed at him. "Besides, I've always wondered about the Knight Bus."
"I'll send word to Tim about supper. Then I've got a few errands to run, but I'll be back in an hour or two." Violet kissed her niece on the cheek before seeing herself out.
"Harry and Ginny will be at Hogwarts this week. They were heading there today, according to Ginny." Amethyst answered one of Draco's unanswered questions. "I wanted to talk to them about all of this stuff."
"I texted Harry about what Dimitri said. He was going to have someone question Roberts about it." Draco said. "I may be able to talk to Scorpius about buying this house and about McGonagall's offer if we get in early enough tomorrow."
"That will be good." She looked away from him, pretending to be distracted by something outside.
"I will talk to him about us, but I think that will need more time than what I will have tomorrow. Next Saturday is a Hogsmeade weekend, I will definitely have lunch with him at the Three Broomsticks." He rested his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. "I'm not going to drop it all on him at one time."
"I know, and I wouldn't want you to." She smiled and rested her hands on his chest. "When you feel the time is right, that's when you should talk to him." She snaked her arms around his neck.
"Saturday." He smirked. "Not being able to do this openly is going to try my resolve. The sooner, the better." She laughed. "I want to take you to the Halloween Feast without worrying about how it would make Scorpius feel."
"I would like that." She rested her head on his chest. They stood there like that for what seemed hours. They both knew that once they headed back to Hogwarts, they wouldn't be able to be like again until Draco talked with Scorpius. They were reluctant to pull away from each other even as there came a knock at the door. Draco let Violet in and she headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner. As soon as it was ready, there came another knock at the door. Amethyst opened the door and a tall, slender man stood smiling at her. She stepped aside to let him in and then closed the door.