Author's Notes:
Here's Chapter 159 for you!
Happy National Novel Writing Month!
I've wrote this chapter over the past 10 days of NaNoWriMo. None of it was planned, I just started writing and went along with it.
I apologise in advance. I got a little emotional.
Love, DW
P.S. Enjoy x
The following morning, Hermione wakes up wrapped in Draco's arms. Smiling, she snuggles back against his chest.
"Don't go anywhere," Draco mutters into her hair.
"I'm not going anywhere. We still have twenty minutes," Hermione assures him.
"I missed you yesterday morning," he adds. "I never want to spend a night away from you again."
"I'm sorry for not trusting you," Hermione sighs, turning to face her gorgeous husband. "We usually tell each other everything, so I assumed the worst when you wouldn't tell me this one thing."
Draco pulls her close, pressing his cheek to hers. "I'm sorry; I could've told you some students needed my help."
"You're still an idiot, but I've forgiven you," she reminds him. Draco chuckles. "And I'd rather not hear anything else about it," she adds. "I need plausible deniability."
"I can do that," Draco agrees, kissing her cheek.
Hermione savours the relaxing moment before they prepare themselves and Scorpius for the day. Although, their day is sure to be less stressful than the previous one since they've already suffered through their observations. Today, all they would need to survive through the Department for Education Standards stalking through the castle and the student interviews with the Minister.
Across the corridor comes the call of "Dada" from Scorpius' room.
"I guess it's time to get up," Draco mutters, rolling away from his wife to climb out of bed. "I'll make a start on breakfast if you want to spend an extra few minutes in bed," he says, pulling on his dressing gown.
Hermione sits up in bed, grabbing the tie for Draco's gown and pulling him closer, where she presses a kiss on his mouth.
"What's that for?" Draco asks, kneeling on their bed. "Not that I'm complaining," he adds, leaning in for another.
"Scrambled eggs?" She asks with a coy smile.
Laughing, Draco goes in for another kiss when their son calls for him again.
"We'll continue this later," Hermione promises, lying back down for her promised five extra minutes in bed.
Entering Scorpius' room, Draco finds his son still in bed.
"Are you feeling okay, Scorpius?" He asks.
"Me p'ay now?"
Draco perches on the end of the toddler's bed. "We've talked about this Scorpius. You can play in your room after you've woken up. You don't have to ask. This is your room."
"' Kay." Scorpius crawls out of bed to grab his stuffed fox teddy that Uncle David had bought him over a year ago. Once upon a time, their son wouldn't have gone to bed without it. Now, he always slept with one of his bug figurines, only choosing the stuffed fox when upset.
"Come on, baby." Draco opens his arms to comfort his son, who runs straight into his embrace. "Let's cook some eggs, and you can tell Daddy all about it."
Draco sits Scorpius on the counter in the kitchen as he cracks eggs into a bowl.
"Are you happy, Scorpius?"
"S'orpus happy," the boy agrees.
"Do you sometimes feel sad?"
Scorpius squeezes his fox to his chest.
"What makes Scorpius feel sad?" Draco asks, trying to focus on adding cream to the bowl.
"Mama a' dada go."
Draco turns to face his son. "When mammy and I go where?"
Scorpius shrugs, staring at the fox's face.
"Where does Scorpius go every day?"
"Nurs'y," he answers, pleased to know the answer.
"Where do mammy and daddy go every day?"
Scorpius looks up at his father, confused.
"We go to work. Do you know what work is?"
His son nods emphatically. "Me do work at nurs'y. Me work wiv b'ocks, a' paint, a' f'owers."
"Well, every day, mammy and I go to work. We work in classrooms with lots of other children and teach them magic."
"Mama a' dada do work?"
"Yes, and we pick you up and bring you home when we're finished."
"Oh," Scorpius mutters, starting to understand more about his parents.
"Mammy and Daddy love Scorpius very much," Draco tells him.
"Me love mama a' dada."
Draco beams, pressing a kiss to the top of his son's head. He doesn't know how he became so lucky to have such a loving boy for a son, and he hopes Scorpius will stay young and innocent for as long as possible.
Hermione showers and dresses for the day before joining her husband and son in the kitchen, where they have just finished making breakfast. After kissing her boys on the cheek, she joins them at the dining table, ready to dig in.
"I was thinking about picking Scorpius up early from nursery and taking him to the park," Draco mentions, sending his son an amused smile.
"How early are we talking?" Hermione asks with confusion since they always pick their son up straight after work.
"I don't have any after-school duties tonight, so I'll pick him up after seventh period," he answers.
"Oh, okay." She smiles, looking at how excited their son is to be going to the park. "I hope you have lots of fun with Daddy after nursery."
"A'ter work?" Scorpius asks.
"Yes, after Daddy has finished work," Draco confirms.
Scorpius nods knowingly, returning to his breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs.
Once finished, Draco sets the dishes to wash themselves in the sink while Hermione takes Scorpius to his bedroom to get dressed for nursery. Draco quickly showers, dresses and grabs his bag for the day ahead.
Together, they floo to The Leaky Cauldron, where they then exit into Diagon Alley so they can apparate to Hermione's parents' house.
"How was yesterday?" Chris asks as they enter through the back door into the kitchen.
"We won't know until Friday," Hermione answers, hugging her dad.
"We're just glad it's over," Draco adds, leaning against the countertop.
"Draco, you mind helping me upstairs?" Chris asks, sending him a look of 'follow me, now'!
Draco sends an inquisitive look to Hermione, who shrugs in reply.
"Sure, Chris," Draco agrees, following his father-in-law upstairs into the twins' bedroom. "What's going on?"
"You tell me, son," Chris asks, packing the twins' nursery bags with spare clothes in case of accidents or having too much fun in the water tray.
"Excuse me?" Draco frowns, not having a clue what he's talking about.
"Yesterday, Hermione showed up here with Scorpius, and she couldn't wait to leave, which tells me one thing. She was upset and didn't want us to notice, but I'm her father, and I notice everything. So tell me what's going on," Chris asks again, his voice calm.
Draco straightens up under the firm gaze of his father-in-law. "I must admit that it was my fault, sir. I had been keeping something from Hermione, a secret from a group of students at wor that wasn't mine to tellk. I have since told her what is going on, and we have discussed everything," he explains.
Chris tilts his head at Draco. "You know, I'm not accusing you. I just want to make sure everything is okay between you two. I know it's a difficult time for you both, with work, the baby, and this plan of yours to overturn your government or whatever it is you're doing."
"Right," Draco mutters, embarrassed at having assumed he was being interrogated. "I guess we do have a lot going on. We've taken a step back from the overturning of the government act, but it seems we just attract everyone else's problems."
"And you find it difficult to turn people away?" Chris guesses.
"You know my background," he comments with a dismissive shrug, not wanting to remind Hermione's family how terrible of a person he used to be in case it suddenly dawns on them that their daughter shouldn't be married to a man like him.
"I certainly do," Chris agrees. "I know you were a child who was placed in an impossible position, and you made the choice to protect your family."
Draco shakes his head. "Other people who know me far better than you have tried telling me that my cruel, hurtful actions as a child and my decision to become a Death Eater were all a product of my upbringing, but I needed to take responsibility for my own actions, so I could become the person I am today, and I like the person I am now."
"We might not have known you before, but Sarah and I like the person you are now, too. You take care of our daughter, and you are a good father who would never allow your children to be put in the positions you were in," Chris says pointedly.
Draco nods, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him, but there's only so much one man can hear about being accepted for who he is by his in-laws.
"Come here, son." Chris pulls him into a hug. "I only knew my father for a short time, I was thirteen when he passed, but my mother told me stories about the man he was, and I continue to try my best to emulate him, to be the man I think he would be proud of. One day, you're going to realise that Scorpius is doing the same thing because you're setting him the example of what a good man should be. Don't ever forget that you are a good man, Draco."
"Oh, Merlin," Draco mutters as he can't keep his tears under control. Breaking their hug, Draco rushes to wipe his face. "Thank you, Chris. I'm forever grateful to you, Sarah, and your whole family for accepting me so willingly into your lives."
"You proved yourself to us, son, and continue to do so every day." Chris pats Draco's shoulder.
The moment is concluded by Hermione's voice calling up the stairs.
"Dad, Draco, what are you doing? We need to get going, or we're going to be late."
"Thanks again, Chris. I don't think I realised how much I needed to talk to someone removed from the situation," he mentions.
"Anytime," Chris says. "And I mean that. Call me anytime if you need to talk, but perhaps within waking hours."
Draco laughs as he descends the stairs, where his wife waits at the bottom.
"Have you been crying?" Hermione immediately whispers to him. "What did my dad say to you?"
As her dad appears behind them, he tells his daughter, "Nothing for you to worry about, Hermione. Just a man-to-man talk."
"That left my husband crying," Hermione frowns at her dad.
"It really was nothing, Hermione," Draco assures, taking her hand as they head out the back door. "Did you tell your mum that I'm picking Scorpius up early tonight?" He asks, not wanting Sarah to be confused when the nursery only hands over the twins.
"Yes, I did, but don't try to change the conversation. You don't cry over nothing."
Draco sighs as they step into the alleyway behind Hermione's parents' garden. "Your dad noticed you were upset yesterday and wanted to know what was going on. I told him it was my fault, but we talked it out. I thought he was accusing me, but he was checking to see if we were good."
"And that made you cry?" She asks, unconvinced.
"He told me that he and Sarah accept me for who I am and that I am a good father, and one day, Scorpius will look up to me because of the example I'm setting him."
"Oh, that's so sweet," Hermione says, welling up herself.
"Come on, we need to get to work before we're both crying again."
"Damned hormones," Hermione mutters as Draco guides her further down the alleyway to a more secluded spot, where he apparates them to the gates of Hogwarts.
Breakfast is just finishing as they enter through the Grand Doors, and with too many students around to give each other a proper goodbye, they settle for a quick hand squeeze before heading off to their respective classrooms.
During the break, Draco attempts to find Pansy so he can ask her to meet him at lunch, but with the stress and the emotions of the previous day, he has forgotten that Pansy's observation is just before lunch.
"Hey, Pans, I need to talk to you," Draco begins as he enters her classroom.
Pansy is rushing around, pointing her wand at various piles of dust and corners full of spiderwebs in an attempt to tidy the centuries-old classroom that had previously been occupied by a ghost.
"Seriously, Draco, now. If you're not going to help, get out!" She orders without so much as glancing in his direction.
"Not now," Draco says, removing his wand and casting one of the few cleaning charms he knows on the desks. "At lunch."
Pansy sighs, "Is this about the secret you're keeping from Hermione?"
"You heard about that?" He hadn't realised Hermione had been telling their friends about their arguments.
"You know me; I'm a pusher. I saw she was upset about something and assumed it was you," she jokes.
"Ha, thanks," Draco sarcastically mutters.
"Come on, Draco. You and Hermione are two of my best friends; I don't like it when you're arguing. Have you both dealt with whatever's going on?" She asks.
"Yeah, we're all good," he assures her. "I do want to talk to you about it, though. I need your help."
"Right, well, I can't think about that right now, so I'll meet you at lunch in my quarters," Pansy promises him.
"Thanks, Pans. Good luck."
Pansy rolls her eyes, "I don't need luck. I'm a bloody good professor, and I know it."
Draco leaves smiling, proud of how confident his friend is for her observation.
While Hermione heads to the Great Hall for lunch with their colleagues and students, Draco doesn't have far to go as he leaves his classroom for the staff quarters. Since he arrives before Pansy, Draco leans beside her door, waiting for his friend to arrive. After a few minutes, Pansy arrives with Jonathan Atkins, the stress of the past few days leaving them as they laugh together.
"Hey, Draco, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Pansy asks, tapping her wand against her door to unlock it.
Draco glances over his shoulder at Jonathan.
"It's fine, keep your secrets," he half-jokes. "I'm heading to lunch."
"See you later," Pansy calls, opening the door for Draco to enter.
"Wait!" Draco calls out to Jonathan as he's halfway through his door. "How good are you at secrets?"
Jonathan stares over Draco's shoulder at Pansy, who shrugs, letting him know she has no idea what he's on about either.
"Depends on the secret," Jonathan states curiously.
"That's good enough for me. Get in here," Draco orders, beckoning the man into Pansy's room.
In the living area, Pansy and Jonathan sit together on the couch while Draco sits opposite them in an armchair.
"So, what's going on?" Pansy asks.
"What I'm about to tell you is that I cannot leave this room, whether you agree to help me or not? Minerva cannot find out. Do you understand?" Draco asks seriously.
"As long as it's not to the detriment of the students, then sure," Jonathan agrees.
"It's the opposite. I'm helping them," he admits.
Jonathan frowns, tilting his head. "Helping them with what?"
"Right." Draco rubs his jaw. "This is going to be a lot of information for you. Ready?"
Jonathan nods.
"Hermione and I became aware through the grapevine that the Minister is planning another Marriage Decree," he begins.
"Are you serious?" Jonathan asks, frown deepening across his brow.
"Yes, and somehow, the seventh-year students found out."
"Shit," Pansy mutters. "Is that why they were so weird last week?"
"Yes, they came to me on the Friday with their plan. I've agreed to help them and have signed all the official documentation; all we need is two witnesses, which is where you two come in, hopefully," Draco continues, skirting around it without going into too much detail.
"You're going to have to actually tell us the plan if you want our help," Pansy tells him.
"I know. Hermione didn't react too well, so I'm just going to come out and say it." Draco stands, moving behind the armchair, needing something between them. "The students have paired themselves off and asked me to officiate their marriages. I need two witnesses to sign the marriage certificates."
"You're insane," Jonathan states. "Isn't the Minister already searching for any excuse to get you fired?"
"Yes, but it's not technically illegal; in fact, the head of the Department of Registrations assured me there were no laws against a professor of Hogwarts officiating a mass marriage," he tries to assure them. "Hermione pointed out that the Minister likely wouldn't take too well to the plan and would throw anything at me to get me sent to Azkaban."
"And you want to drag us down with you too?" Pansy asks. "If I was fine with spending time in Azkaban, I wouldn't have married Ron."
Jonathan glances at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, I forgot you weren't there for the Ceremony. I was very against being paired to Ron and refused, but once the Minister threatened to send me to Azkaban, I went along with it," she explains. "Still can't believe I fell in love with that idiot." She rolls her eyes with a fond smile.
"Look, you can have time to think about it, but I will take the blame for everything once caught. I'll tell the Minister I threatened you or whatever it takes to get you off," Draco promises. "And with Theo Nott on our side, you should be fine."
"Why us?" Jonathan asks.
"Well, they asked for Pansy to be one of the witnesses, and I needed a second person after Hermione declined to help. She doesn't want to risk it, with her being pregnant and everything," Draco lies, not wanting to admit that she fears they'd both be thrown in Azkaban.
Pansy sits taller, a soft, sincere smile across her face. "Did they really ask for me?"
"Yes, they said you don't give a shit about angering the Minister, so you'd probably be down for it," he admits.
Her face brightens as she places a hand on her chest. "Did they really say that?"
"Yes, you were their first choice."
"I'm so down to cause a little mayhem," Pansy agrees.
"You're both so weird," Jonathan says, slowly standing up.
"I guess you're not into it," Pansy says.
"Into what? Sneaking around behind Minerva's back to make the Minister look like a fool. I know you have some personal vendetta against him, I read the Daily Prophet, but I'm not going to risk my career so you can one-up him," Jonathan argues.
"This has nothing to do with the Minister and everything to do with helping our terrified seventh-year students. Pansy and I have been through the Marriage Decree and wouldn't wish it on anyone. The anxiety, the fear, the uncertainty; they've already got a lot going on with NEWTs; they don't need this too," Draco argues back.
Jonathan's head drops with a sigh as he realises he's been convinced. "You're right. I'll do it for the children."
"Thank you. The date of the Ceremony will be the 20th December. It's the Friday before we break up for the holidays. I'll take the certificates straight to the Department of Registration so they can be filed as soon as possible."
"We probably shouldn't talk about this outside of the staff quarters. We don't want Minerva or any other staff overhearing the plan," Pansy mentions.
"The Ceremony will be in the Boat House. The students are going to decorate for the occasion. All you two need to do is show up and sign the documents," Draco mentions, then remembers the secondary Ceremony. "Ah, I just remembered; we also need to go to Blaise and Benjamin's apartment to marry them, too."
"What!" Pansy stands, shocked. "They're getting married. When did this happen?"
"Well, when I put in the documentation, we need to write a name for whose marriage I am officiating, and I couldn't exactly write 'the entirety of Hogwarts' seventh-year cohort', so I asked Blaise and Benjamin if they would mind, and they didn't," he explains.
"I don't know these people, but the fact you asked them that cements how bloody insane you are, Draco," Jonathan sighs. "I can't believe I agreed to this. Is it too late to back out?" He half-jokes.
"Yes, it is. I really appreciate it. Thank you, both of you," Draco says, sighing in relief.
"Can I head to lunch now?" Jonathan asks. "I was only heading to my room to drop off some homework."
"I'm famished," Pansy admits, standing with him. "I couldn't eat this morning from nerves."
The three professors head to the Great Hall together, ready to eat anything after the past few days of nerves affecting their eating habits.
Over the course of the afternoon, students are pulled from their classes in small groups to speak with the Department for Educational Standards or the Minister for Magic. Sophie Adair and Joseph Hill are in Charms when they are excused from their lessons to join the Minister in one of the spare classrooms on the ground floor.
When they arrive, Sophie finds that they aren't the only first-year students meeting the Minister, as Mary Elwyn and Stephen Howard sit outside.
"Hey, Sophie," Stephen greets her.
"Why do you think we were chosen?" Joseph asks, sounding nervous.
"Don't worry! He'll just want to check our professors are teaching us properly and not acting for the observations," Sophie explains. "In the Muggle world, we have something similar."
"Do you think we'll be going in together or individually?" Mary asks, hiding her worry beneath her tone.
"Probably together," Stephen answers. "They don't have time to speak to everyone on our own."
With an eerie creak, the old classroom door opens and the Minister for Magic towers over the eleven-year-old students with a polite smile.
"Please come in."
Sophie is the first to stand, unnerved by the Minister after everything the adult wizards and witches in her life have told her about him. Mary's hand gently pushes her forward, forcing her to take the lead and enter the classroom ahead of the others.
"Tale a seat," the Minister gestures to four chairs in front of him. "Can I confirm that you are all first-year students?"
"Yes, sir," Joseph interjects, then shuffles back in his chair.
The Minister nods, making a note on his parchment. "Can I have your names and houses?"
"Stephen Howard, Hufflepuff."
"Mary Elwyn, Slytherin."
"Joseph Hill, Gryffindor."
"Sophie Adair, Ravenclaw," she introduces herself, hoping he doesn't recognise her surname as one of Hermione's relatives.
Whilst the Minister does pause upon hearing her name, he doesn't mention it and moves on to his next question.
"How are you settling into life at Hogwarts?"
"It's awesome," Joseph blurts out. "Sorry," he apologises.
"No, go ahead, Joseph."
"I love it here, like, I do miss home (I'm a muggleborn), but everything here is just so new and exciting. The castle is just- I can't believe I'm here, and this is all real, and the lessons are so cool."
The Minister chuckles, amused, "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
"Yeah, and I was worried I wouldn't make any friends because, on the train here, I sat with these older children who didn't really talk to me, but then I got sorted into Gryffindor and became friends with my dorm mates. Then we had the scavenger hunt, and I made friends with these guys. I don't think I've ever been this happy," he admits. "Sorry, I never talk this much."
"What's this about a scavenger hunt?"
"It was a healthy competition between the four houses to see who could find all of our classrooms first-" Stephen begins to explain.
"They won!" Joseph interrupts.
"Yeah, Hufflepuffs won, and the prize was all the leftover sweets from the trolley on the Hogwarts Express," Stephen finished.
"Some of us hung out afterwards," Sophie adds.
"You've been quiet, Miss Elwyn," the Minister mentions.
"I wasn't all that thrilled to 'hang out' with anyone from the other houses. My mother's instructions to build friendships within the Slytherins were clear, but what she doesn't know can't hurt her." Mary shrugs.
The Minister's brows raise in surprise.
Sophie frowns at the Minister's response. "You know, we don't actually care that much about the houses. It's just not a big deal. I was desperate to be a Ravenclaw before I came here, but now I'm here, I spend most of my time in the courtyards, the library or on the grounds with all my friends, a lot of whom aren't Ravenclaws."
"Since we can't play Quidditch until next year, the muggleborns have been teaching us how to play football, a muggle sport where you kick a ball," Stephen explains.
"They picked it up really well," Joseph adds.
"We tend to study while they play football," Mary mentions, not wanting the Minister to think she was playing.
"Well, I'm impressed with how well you've all settled in and are exhibiting house unity," the Minister says.
Mary rolls her eyes. "It's not about house unity; our friendship was not forced. Trust me, sir, if I don't like a person, I don't put up with them."
"I believe that," he mutters. "Now, let's talk about your lessons. How are you finding your professors and the class material?
"We all have our preferences, but there's no lesson or professor that I dislike or have found boring. As a first-year student who grew up in the Muggle World, I know I'm still finding every lesson interesting as everything is new to me, even Muggle Studies," Sophie explains.
"Oh, Muggle Studies is hilarious, watching the purebloods and half-bloods try to get their head around the simplest things," Joseph laughs. "I suppose they feel the same way about us in every other lesson."
"Nah, it got old quick," Mary monotonously states.
"Oh, sorry," Joseph mutters.
"She was joking, Joseph," Sophie assures him. "She does that thing with her voice when she's joking."
Mary halfheartedly rolls her eyes at the boy, who never picked up on her tone.
"Speaking of classes," Stephen gets back on track. "I'm really enjoying Defence and Charms. Professor Cain is kind of terrifying but in a cool, mysterious way."
The Minister quickly scribbles away at his parchment.
"When I was researching before starting Hogwarts, I thought I would love transfiguration the most, which I do love. Professor Granger is amazing, but surprisingly, I've been really enjoying Herbology. I hated gardening at home, but I guess that magical gardening is much more interesting," Sophie admits.
"My favourite lessons are potions and History of Magic, and before you ask, it's not because the professors are former Slytherins," Mary states with attitude. "Professor Malfoy loves potions and wants us to love it just as much, but Professor Parkinson is the best professor here. I heard horror stories about Professor Binns' boringness, so I'm glad we get a living professor who doesn't just drone on."
"I don't think I could pick a favourite; as I said, everything is still new and exciting," Joseph says.
"Thank you for your time," the Minister says, exhausted after spending fifteen minutes with the youngest students at Hogwarts. "You may return back to your lessons."
"Okay, thanks, sir," Stephen says, jumping to his feet.
The other three students follow him out, and as soon as the door closes behind them, they race towards the moving staircases.
"What's his problem?" Mary asks as they ride one of the staircases.
"That was so awkward, I couldn't stop talking," Joseph audibly cringes. "Why didn't you shut me up?"
"I mean, it was kind of funny." Mary shrugs.
"Ha, thanks." Joseph rolls his eyes.
"No, that was awkward," Sophie agrees. "Why was he so surprised that we're friends? It's like he wanted us to turn on each other so he could prove that the Headmistress isn't trying to 'foster house unity' or whatever," she suggests.
"We've got History," Stephen announces for him and Mary. "See you at dinner."
"Bye," Sophie calls as they leave.
Together, Sophie and Joseph wander towards Charms, quietly discussing their meeting with the Minister, until they reach Professor Flitwick's classroom, where they quietly enter and retake their seats.
By the end of the day, all professors were more than ready to return home or to their staff quarters, but the Headmistress had requested everyone show their face in the Great Hall for dinner. Hermione takes her seat beside Neville and Pansy as their students file in and sit at their house tables, as required for special occasions.
"Where's Draco?" Pansy leans over Neville to question her friend's absence.
"He promised Scorpius he'd pick him up early and go to the park," Hermione explains.
"Cute. I wish I had left after my last lesson so I don't have to sit through this," Pansy mutters.
"It's not so bad." Neville shrugs. "We so rarely get to eat together."
Before dinner is served, Headmistress McGonagall takes to the podium in front of the staff table.
"Students," she addresses the hall. "The past few days have not been easy for you or your professors. Here at Hogwarts, we set out to prove to the Minister and the Department for Educational Standards that we are hard-working, conscientious people who are not afraid to stand up for ourselves. While we will not find out any results until the end of the week, I want to take the opportunity to thank our students for being so exemplary over the past two days."
Professor McGonagall leads the staff in a round of applause for the students.
"I would also like to thank our professors for persevering through this stressful time and continuing to provide you with excellent lessons."
In return, the students applaud their professors.
"Enjoy your dinner."
Immediately, a feast appears across every table, and the students dig in, piling their plates high and filing their cups to the brim. However, most of the professors pick at their own plates. Despite knowing the Minister's inspection is over and they have a few days before their results, the past week's stress has caught up to them, and all they want to do now is catch up on sleep.
After half an hour, when it feels like they've hung around long enough, Hermione and Pansy sneak out of the staff entrance.
"Has Molly roped you into making anything for her Christmas Party?" Hermione asks.
Pansy rolls her eyes. "Yes, and she knows I can't cook, so I'm making toffee apples. I don't know how to melt toffee."
Hermione chuckles. "We're bringing gingerbread. Scorpius loves baking. They make all sorts at nursery."
"Well, maybe we can come round yours, and you can help us with the toffee apples?" Pansy suggests, subtly begging for help, holding the door to the dungeons open for Hermione.
"Sure, that'll be nice. We don't get to hang out much outside of here," Hermione agrees. "The party's not until Christmas Eve, so there's plenty of time to organise something. Do you know what Harry and Ginny are bringing?"
"No, I haven't seen them in a while, and Molly didn't say anything," Pansy mentions as they enter the staff quarters. "Well, I better floo home; Ron said he'll be home by six with the twins."
Hermione checks the time. It's just gone six o'clock. "Have a nice evening, see you tomorrow."
The two friends hug before heading into their own rooms, where they floo to their respective homes.
Hermione's home is empty when she arrives, with Draco and Scorpius still out, and Mitty will be in her little flat above the garage. Taking advantage of a quiet home, Hermione collects a book and runs herself a bath. Quickly, Hermione finds herself completely engrossed in her book and loses track of time until she hears the grandfather clock downstairs strike seven o'clock. She wonders where her husband and son could be.
Draco had left Hogwarts at quarter-past five, as soon as his fifth-year students had left. He had received a note from Minerva requesting all professors' presence at dinner tonight, but he had already promised to take Scorpius to the park after nursery, and he had his priorities straight.
At the nursery, Draco rings the bell, and within seconds, one of the nursery staff opens the door.
"Hi, Mr Malfoy," she greets him with a smile. "You've got a very excited little boy here."
"I wasn't sure if he would remember that I was picking him up early today."
"Oh, he certainly remembered. He's been sitting in the library watching the door for the past hour," she chuckles. "Any time someone's tried to redirect him, he's told them he's waiting for his Dada to take him to the park."
"Dada!" Scorpius screams, running towards him with his shoelaces untied.
"Sorry," another nursery practitioner calls. "He barely sat still enough for me to put them on his feet."
"It's fine," Draco assures them, lifting his son into his arms. "Are you ready for the park?"
Scorpius cheers, hugging his dad tightly around his neck.
"Thank you," Draco bids the nursery staff goodbye as they set off for the nearest park.
As soon as they are out of sight of the windows and security cameras, Draco taps his son's laces, and they tie themselves up. Then, he sets his son down so they can walk together.
"Have you had a good day at nursery?" Draco asks, holding Scorpius' hand.
"Yeah, me make b'ownies."
"Were they delicious?"
"Yeah, me 'ave two," Scorpius admits, holding up two fingers.
"Two!" Draco acts shocked. "Wow, that's a lot of brownies. Were there enough for everyone?"
"Yeah."
"Is there one for me?"
"No, me 'ave it."
Draco gasps dramatically, lifting his son into his arms to squeeze him tight as they reach the main road.
"No ice-cream for Scorpius then. Only Daddy."
"No!" Scorpius screams as Draco tickles his belly.
"This belly is full of brownies."
"No, me want ice-c'eam," Scorpius giggles.
"We'll see," Draco says as they enter the park.
Once inside the fenced-off play area, Draco placed Scorpius back on the ground, allowing him to run off. Draco watches from afar as Scorpius climbs up the platforms of a wooden ship that has a slide at the back. His son grabs a steering wheel at the front and pretends to steer the ship directly at his father.
"Hey, don't hit me with your ship, captain!" Draco jokes, tall enough to see over the toddler play area.
Scorpius squeals in delight as he runs along the ship to the slide, where he escapes and runs under the ship, where there are other interactive play stations.
A few other children are in the park, but Scorpius is more than content to play by himself and talk to his dad. Once the toddler swings become available, Scorpius grabs his dad's hand and drags him over. Draco places his son inside and continuously pushes the boy on the swing for almost ten minutes before he can convince him to go explore again.
As six o'clock approaches, and Scorpius has tired himself out, Draco suggests they grab an ice cream from the park's cafe before heading home. They walk over to the cafe is slow since Scorpius refuses to be carried but is too tired to walk very fast.
Within his inside pocket, Draco feels his phone vibrate as someone calls him. Assuming his wife is calling to ask when he and Scorpius will be home, Draco presses the green answer button without looking.
"Hey, are you home?"
"Draco, it's Hyperion," his uncle announces himself, tone solemn.
"Oh, sorry, I thought it was Hermione. Are you alright?" Draco asks, his heart beating increasingly faster as worry begins to creep in.
"No," Hyperion sighs. "I'm at the hospital with Sarah. She's had an accident, and it's not looking good."
"What?" Draco mutters. "What kind of accident? She never leaves the house."
"I can't get into it, Draco. I'd really appreciate it if you could come here. I know she'll want to see you," Hyperion states hopefully.
"Of course I will." Draco stops dead in his tracks, looking down at his son, who's staring back, confused. "How far away is the hospital from yours?"
"Apparate to mine, Neville is there and will drive you over."
"I'm on my way," Draco promises.
"Thanks, Draco."
After hanging up, Draco lifts his son into his arms, ignoring Scorpius' protests, and apparates straight to Uncle Hyperion's house, where Neville is waiting in his car.
Draco doesn't hesitate to buckle his son into Neville's daughter's car seat before climbing into the front.
"Thanks for this, Neville."
Neville had been staring at Draco uncomfortably after watching him suddenly appear, but as soon as he heard his name, he jumped into action and started the car. Within ten minutes, they're parking in the hospital car park. Draco unfastens Scorpius from the car seat, and they're racing through the hospital corridors to the correct ward.
After finding her name on the board outside, Draco finds Sarah lying in a bed tucked beneath numerous blankets to keep her warm, looking frailer than Draco has ever seen her. The ninety-eight year old woman looks to be sleeping, and Draco's eyes focus on her chest, where he is relieved to see it moving with each breath.
"Draco!" Hyperion immediately stands, pulling his nephew into a tight hug, slightly squishing Scorpius.
"I was at the park with Scorpius, I had to bring him," Draco mutters.
"Don't worry. I'm just glad you're here."
"Carol's in the cafeteria with our kids; I can take Scorpius down. She'll look after him," Neville suggests.
"Yes, thank you," Draco agrees, settling Scorpius on the ground. "You're going to get some ice cream with Carol, okay?"
Scorpius' brow is furrowed as he tries to understand his surroundings. His eyes flicker to the hospital bed. "Sawah?" He asks softly.
"Sarah's not very well, but she's in the best place. The healers are going to help her," Draco tells him.
Nodding, Scorpius reaches up to Neville for his hand. "Me get ice-cweam now."
As soon as Neville and his son have gone, Draco turns to Hyperion and asks, "What happened?"
"She fell down the stairs," he sighs, rubbing his face tiredly as he sits back in the chair.
"How? She had the chair that moves."
Hyperion laughs once. "The stairlift, yeah. It worked fine on the way up when she went to take her mid-afternoon nap, but when she tried to get back downstairs, it wouldn't work. I was gardening, so didn't hear her calling for me," his face falls as guilt fills his heart. "She had tried to walk down the stairs, but her legs were too weak, and she fell."
"It was an accident, Hyperion." Draco rests his hand on his uncle's shoulder. "Do not blame yourself. You can't be everywhere at once."
"I know. Realistically, I know it's not my fault, but I can't stop thinking 'what if'," he admits.
"What have the doctors said?" Draco tries to change the topic.
"It doesn't look good. She was already so frail. She's broken numerous bones and has more bruises than skin, and they run tests to see if she has any internal bleeding. She was unconscious when I found her, and she hasn't woken up since." Hyperion turns to his adoptive mother.
"Merlin! I'm so sorry, Hyperion," Draco says, squeezing his uncle's shoulder. "I remember Sarah telling us that she would outlive us all because of the curse."
Hyperion smiles. "I always told her not to talk about the curse, as it would scare the little ones, but it seems she was right," he sighs.
"She's still with us," Draco reminds him.
Hyperion shakes his head. "Not for long; she'll hold on for a bit, but she's lived sixty-one years without Arche. It's time for them to reunite."
By the door, they hear a sniff, and they both look over to see Arania standing watching them, her arms wrapped around herself.
"I got his as fast as I could, Dad," she mentions, entering the room. "How's Granny?"
"It's not looking good." Hyperion stands, arms open for his youngest daughter.
Suddenly, the question of Alarte's absence dawns on Draco. "Is Alarte on his way?" He asks.
"Abe's gone to get him."
"Why didn't you ask me? I could've been there and back before Abe even left the hospital," Draco questions.
"I found her at two o'clock, Draco. I called the ambulance and then everyone else. I knew you wouldn't get service until after work, so I waited until six to call you. Alarte wouldn't sit still until then; he wanted to be here," Hyperion explains.
"Sorry, that makes sense." Draco shakes his head.
"I know you just want to help, Draco. It's fine," Hyperion says.
"Does anyone want a coffee or tea?" Arania asks, digging around in her handbag for her purse.
"I could do with a coffee, actually," her dad agrees, pulling a fiver out of his back pocket.
"Dad!" She complains.
"Just take it," he tells her. "I'm popping to the bathroom. Are you alright staying here, Draco? I don't want her Sarah on her own."
"Of course," Draco agrees, and they both leave the room.
After sitting down, Draco takes in the figure of his great-aunt, lying in bed with the blankets pulled up to her chin, most likely to hide the bruises.
"What state have you gotten yourself into, Sarah?" He mutters, placing his hand over her hand, which is hidden beneath the blanket. "I hope you're not in pain. I hope you're comfortable," he adds. "I haven't known you for a long time, and you've lived a long life, but you've always made me, Hermione, and Scorpius feel welcome in your family. I'm glad Hyperion called me here, in case this is goodbye, so I can thank you for everything. I won't take too much of your time; as I said, you've only known me a few years, and there are more important people I'm sure you want to hear from, but I don't have much in the name of family, so I guess this is more for me than you," he admits.
Beneath his hand, he feels Sarah's twitch. Immediately, his eyes flicker to the woman's face, just as still as before, but her brow has a slight frown.
Draco smiles, holding back his laugh. "Okay, I know you're calling me an idiot for saying that. Every member of your family is important in their own way."
The frown smooths out just as Hyperion walks back into the room.
"You okay?"
"Yes, actually," Draco sighs, rubbing his tired face to find his cheeks wet, and he laughs. "We've just had a good chat."
Hyperion nods, patting his nephew on the shoulder.
"I should take Scorpius home. I'm sure Hermione is worried about our whereabouts. If you need me back here for anything, just call me, and I will be here within five minutes," Draco tells him.
"I will. I'll keep you updated," Hyperion promises, pulling him into a quick hug.
"Thanks."
Draco follows the signs for the cafeteria in the basement, where he finds Neville and Carol sitting with a collection of children. Scorpius is still devouring his ice cream, which is all over his face.
"Are you ready to go home?" He asks his son.
"Mama?"
"Yes, let's go see Mama," Draco agrees, picking his son up. "Thanks for looking after him."
Neville nods once at him, and they take their leave.
Once outside the hospital, Draco finds a narrow, secluded path between two tall buildings and apparates home. Opening the gate, Draco holds his son tight as he races down the driveway towards their house.
It's past seven o'clock when they burst inside the front door.
"Hermione!" Draco calls through the house.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asks in return, most likely hearing the emotion in his voice.
They meet in the kitchen, where Draco pulls her into a hug.
"Mama!" Scorpius cheers upon being squished in an embrace between his parents.
"Sarah's in hospital," he mutters into her hair.
"My mum!" Hermione backs away.
"No, Hyperion's Sarah," Draco clarifies. "Sorry."
"No, I should've known if it wasn't my mum." Hermione shakes her head, pulling him close again. "What happened?"
"She fell down the stairs. It's not good. She's broken bones and is bruised all over. The healers are running tests, but Hyperion and everyone have accepted that this is probably goodbye," Draco explains.
"Godric, that's awful. How are you? How is everyone?"
"I sat with her for a few minutes while everyone else was out. I said my peace with her, but I can't believe this is goodbye." Draco wipes his eyes. "Hyperion's going to keep me updated."
Hermione nods, comfortingly combing her fingers through his hair. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know."
"Go watch the television with Scorpius while I start making your dinner," Hermione suggests.
"I don't want to watch television."
"And you won't, but you can pretend that what you're doing while you're thinking."
As if on autopilot, Draco carries Scorpius through to the living room, where the television is already on. He flicks the channel to a children's programme and sits with his son cuddled against his side. As Hermione said, he doesn't watch the show, but comfort is all he needs to think about, as well as all his memories with Sarah and Hyperion's family.
Thank you for being here.
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