AEB: Chapter 3

Chapter 2

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

- Gandhi

Long after their tears dried, Hermione and Draco sat pressed against each other on the sofa, Draco’s long arm around her shoulder molding her against him.

“We have a son,” she told him and looked up to gauge his reaction.

“A son!” he breathed, smiling broadly. “Merlin! I’m a father!”

She laughed lightly, taking his hand in hers and giving a gentle squeeze.

“What’s he like Hermione? He must be three now. When is his birthday? And-Circe’s tongue!-what’s his name?”

“One question at a time!” she chuckled, nevertheless happy that he was showing such an interest. “Let’s see…” she shifted against him, trying to get comfortable pressed to his bony side. “His birthday’s in November-Thanksgiving Day. Wouldn’t have picked a better day myself and  well, I waited for two months before naming him, hoping you’d turn up, but…I decided to call him Aiden.”

“Aiden Malfoy,” Draco whispered.

“I didn’t want anything too fancy, but not too plain either. i left the middle name for you. You’ve always been more creative anyways.”

“I like it,” he said and Hermione released a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding.

“Any suggestions for a middle name?” she asked.

“Mmm..” He chewed his lip thoughtfully, twirling a strand of her long hair about his thin finger. “Usually, pureblood tradition deems he gets my name, but I don’t want to restrict him to that, I want him to be his own man…How about Leander? Or Cassius?”

“I like Cassius. He was a great Roman tactician, did you know?”

He smirked. “I thought you would make the connection. I fancied him a bit when I began learning ancient philosophies. And knowing you’re his mother, we have to give the poor guy something to live up to.”

She snorted. “You don’t have to worry about that-he’ll outsmart both of us in no time.”

“Mischievous, is he?”

“You wouldn’t believe!” And Hermione went on to describe their son’s colorful antics, ending with the mud pie incident not few days ago. “I’m sure I use my wand more to clean him than for anything else.”

Draco paused to catch his breath, still laughing and Hermione appreciated the color tingeing his pale cheeks. 

“He has your smile,” she fondly noted and Draco’s smile broadened.

“Really?”

“And your eyes,” she nodded.

“And the hair?”

“Light blonde and wild-“

“Definitely a mix.”

“Yes,” she smiled, meeting his eyes and feeling an immense ache in her chest.

Draco seemed to read her thoughts for he wrapped his arms about her, almost pulling her in his lap as he held her close.

“I missed you,” she whispered, meekly accepting the kisses he planted on her forehead.

“I know. I missed you too. I never stopped thinking about you. I love you, Hermione. I love you so much that it hurts.”

She smiled slightly, thinking how odd it was to hear such emotion from him, but she clutched his sleeves, leaning into his embrace, feeling his chest fall and rise against her. “Just promise me one thing Draco.”

He stiffened slightly. “And what’s that?”

She looked at him with a smile. “Promise me you’ll never make my decisions for me.”

He gave her sheepish smile before nodding. “I promise.”

**

Dinner was an awfully slow affair that night. Hermione wished everyone would hurry up and eat so she had Draco all to herself again, but there were many things still to catch up on-many years to cover.

Draco seemed particularly keen in getting to know what Harry had been up to. Hermione never did 

understand Harry’s obsession with Draco and vice versa. Draco didn’t seem surprised to learn Harry was now the Head Auror.

“I knew it was only a matter of time,” he smirked, plucking a grape from the fruit plate in the middle of the table. “You think with your wand and not your head.”

“I’d rather spend my time in the field,” Harry admitted, taking his jibes with good humor. He was too happy to see the couple reunited to let Draco’s riling stir him up. Besides, he found he had missed the quick-silver tongue.

“Mrs. Malfoy told me you’ve taken up Potions,” he commented as Narcissa passed him a plate of sliced apples. Harry politely took one, wishing he didn’t dislike apples so, before passing the plate to Hermione.

“Just dabbling-“

“Don’t be modest, Dray,” Blaise cut in, “He’s been supplying the majority of the department for the past couple months. I wonder if there’s anything he can’t brew. Of course, he only brews to keep his mind off other things-“

“Shut it,” Draco admonished even as he smirked at Hermione’s glowing cheeks.

“Congratulations on your marriage, by the way,” Draco smoothly turned the subject back to Harry, “although I’m sure everyone saw it coming.”

Harry snorted. “Thanks.”

“Weasley’s expecting, isn’t she?” Blaise added and Harry couldn’t hide his embarrassment even as Narcissa admonished him for his rudeness.

“She’s five months along,” Hermione put in to give her friend a moment to collect himself.

“Boy or girl?” Draco asked next, thoroughly enjoying undoing the man.

“We’re not sure-we don’t want to find out. I’ll be happy either way.”

“You’re such a Gryffindor, Potter.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, remembering how sentimental Draco had been just moments ago.

“When will you be bringing my grandson?” Narcissa suddenly asked Hermione.

She met Draco’s anxious eyes and smiled slightly. “He can come here tomorrow if you like. He’s with Ginny right now.”

“I’d like that-to meet him, I mean,” Draco said a bit breathlessly.

“He’d love to meet you,” Harry put in, “He never stopped asking about you.”

Draco frowned slightly, “You told him about me?”

“He’s a bright boy,” Hermione replied, “Eventually he wondered where his Daddy was. So I told him that his 

Daddy was lost for now, but Mommy and Uncle Harry were going to find him and bring him back.”

Draco laughed. “Daddy?”

“He picked it up from Teddy,” Harry explained.

“Is that Nymphadora’s son?” Narcissa asked. Her sister never really talked about her daughter in front of her, knowing the morals Narcissa followed.

“Yes,” Hermione replied, holding her head up just a bit, “Tonks married Professor Lupin after the war. Teddy’s five now.”

“And a whirlwind of mischief,” Harry added, shaking his head when he remembered some of his godson’s antics. “He and Addie are a riot when they get together.”

“Really?” Draco smiled and Narcissa’s eyes softened.

“Well, perhaps you could bring both of them tomorrow,” she said, shocking all those present.

“Mother?” Draco didn’t hide his surprise.

“Andromeda will be here tomorrow as well,” she coolly said, “And this house is far too quiet…”

Hermione nodded, smiling now. “I think it’ll make Addie feel at ease, having Teddy by his side.”

The woman looked at each other and a quiet understanding seemed to pass between them. They might never see eye to eye, but they were still women who would go to any lengths to preserve the happiness of those they loved.

Harry cleared his throat, folding the napkin back on the table. “Guess I better get going. I’m sure Ginny’s waiting for good news.”

“I’m due back at the hospital too,” Blaise said, getting up.

“You should go home sometime,” Draco chided, “If you still remember where that is.”

“Ah, I’m married to my work Dray,” Blaise dramatically sighed, “Can’t very well leave my love alone.”

“You’re never going to get a wife this way,” Draco snorted.

“I’m a one night stand, mate. Not all of us are lucky in love-“ and Blaise winked at Hermione, making her blush.

They saw both Harry and Blaise off to the Floo. Harry promised to bring both Addie and his godson by 

afternoon.  Hermione waved them good night before the flames swallowed both men.

**

When Draco was in the shower that night, Hermione approached Narcissa who was in the kitchen of all places.

“Do you need help?” she asked as she watched her trim a platter of pasties with her wand.

“No,that’s alright,” Narcissa replied, giving her a small. She arranged the delicacies with a flick of her wand 

before noticing Hermione’s questioning gaze. “For the boys.”

“Ah, you might want to rethink that,” Hermione added, “Giving them sugar is only inviting a bigger riot.”

Narcissa laughed lightly. “Oh, I think I’ll be able to handle them. I’ve looked after Draco and he was a right menace-setting fires everywhere and disappearing for hours in his games.”

Hermione felt a spot of warmth when she thought of a young Draco who probably looked very much like their son.

“Is he asleep?”

Hermione shook her head. “Shower,” and bit her lip. “Mrs. Malfoy-“

“Please, call me Narcissa.”

Hermione smiled thinly, “Narcissa…I-I want to know how he’s doing. He told me he’ s not in pain anymore, but…”

Narcissa had gone still. She closed her eyes briefly before facing the young witch. She read the concern in her brown eyes and wondered how much to tell her. In the end, she decided not to hold back. She needed to know what was she was facing after all.

“Come, sit down,” she said, taking her hand and leading her to the breakfast table. Hermione let her steer her into a chair and waited anxiously as she took a seat next to her, laying her hands in her lap.

“It’s not good,” she finally said, her blue eyes gauging Hermione’s reaction. “He isn’t in constant pain due to the surgery, but the disease has begun to take its toll on him. He…has bruising. Anemia. They think his magic is weakening and he tires easily. They…they think he has neural damage-“

Hermione sucked in her breath. “N-neural damage?”

Narcissa nodded and Hermione saw the fear and pain plainly now that she wasn’t trying to be brave for her son. “He drops things,” she spoke quietly, “Sometimes, he has trouble holding utensils.”

“Is he undergoing therapy?” Hermione asked, feeling the dread pooling in her heart. She had had no idea it would be this bad when she asked.

Narcissa sighed. “I’ve been trying to convince him, but he’s had enough of hospital visits.  Perhaps you can persuade him-“ and she pinned Hermione with such a hopeful expression that Hermione’s heart twinged painfully for the woman. “It won’t cure him, but it will slow the symptoms down, give him time-“

She broke off and looked away when tears pricked her eyes. Hermione politely dropped her eyes, her own lips trembling. After a moment, Narcissa spoke in a subdued, almost defeated voice. “I didn’t want him to have anything do with you,” she admitted, “but I know-I know my son is dying and I-I loathe to see him suffer needlessly.” She took a shaky breath, raising a delicate hand to dab her eyes. When she looked up, her eyes looked at her pleadingly. “Promise me you won’t leave him, even if-even if he-“

But Hermione didn’t let her finish, catching her hand on the table and giving it a squeeze. “I won’t, I promise I won’t.”

Narcissa smiled then, a real smile that reached the crinkles around her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, taking Hermione’s hand in both hers. Maybe she had misjudged the girl and it was time to make amends. It was time to forgive and forget.