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How To Train Your Auror 2: Family Ties	By : Alcoholic_Rootbeer Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 7990 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I will not make a profit from this story

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
My amazing friend, waymay, always knows just what to say to make my day brighter. Thank you, way, for editing and believing in this story. You know what's to come, but I also haven't told you a secret... hehehe... ;D Can't wait for your oneshot!
As always, thank you to everyone who believes in this story. This is the final chapter with some downtime for a while, so enjoy it while you can. Next chapter? Oh. It's going to be a Hell of an adventure by the end of it.
~A.
So hard to sign my own surrender
So hard to do what I've intended
So hard to leave what I've defended
So hard to separate what's blended
If I could breathe, I'd be free
And I'd get high, I'd turn water to wine
If I could be, I'd breathe free at last
And I'd get high, I'd get so high
I'd get so high
"Repeat After Me" by KONGOS
Day One, Cont.
*(*)*
Hermione sat at the base of the fountain well after Dean left, her hand still clutching Diggle's letter as if it were the written word of God; she shouldn't have it, but she did, and she didn't know what to do with it. To throw it away would be to throw away Ron. She just couldn't bring herself to do that. Draco had been so furious with her for her words, and she could hardly blame him. It's why she sat here, now, wondering why she'd said it all.
"That's not fair! I don't even have the Resurrection Stone!"
"But you'd use it, wouldn't you!?"
"I don't know!"
The words echoed in her ears, over and over, repeating like a broken record meant to torture her. She wiped away some stray tears from her cheeks, solidifying her reasons as she sorted them out. To throw this letter away would mean to turn her back on not just Ron but his family. Harry. Everyone who ever loved him. If she brought him back, it wouldn't be for her. Hermione, no matter how much she loved Ron, couldn't just destroy her relationship with Draco. She loved him. Needed him like the Earth needed the Sun to create life. He was her constant, her best friend. But -and she hated to admit it – Ron had been all of those things, too. He'd also been her first love. A love like that… it never went away, even when the loved-one was long gone.
She knew the reason, if she decided to bring Ron back, would be for his family. For Molly, Arthur, Ginny, George… all of the Weasleys. And not just them. Harry. He wasn't the same, since Ron's passing. He threw himself into his work the moment he learned of Ron's murder and hadn't stopped since. She knew bringing Ron back would go against every earthly law; the dead were meant to stay dead. Would Ron even want to come back? Would he hold her in contempt for the rest of his new life if she did? Or would he thank her for giving him a second chance? Would he expect them to start where they left off? Would he concede to her love for Draco? No, Hermione thought dully, Ron would never do that. He'd fight for her; it would be his Gryffindor nature. Would Draco fight back? He was stronger, now, emotionally, than he had ever been, however… Draco was also timid. If he thought Hermione might have a chance to be happy with Ron again, he would bow out. Even if she chose Draco. He wouldn't allow her to; he felt so much guilt over creating the Pandora Box which took Ron's life in the first place.
There was so much she needed to get out into words, but she couldn't. If she could just talk to Ron. Just once. Ask him what he'd want.
If she found the Resurrection Stone, she could do just that. She could summon his image and… no, that would be a very dangerous temptation. She knew the story -one might go mad from seeing their loved ones but not being able to touch them. And Hell, she didn't even know where the damned stone was.
Angrily, she crumpled up Diggle's letter and threw it across the gardens into the rose bushes. Half a moment later, she crawled over to them, plucked it out, and smoothed out the edges. Tears ran down her face as she cradled the letter to her chest, and she sobbed quietly to herself, muttering, "What should I do, Ron? I don't want to hurt Draco… but if I give up on you…" She wiped her snot-filled nose against her arm and sighed, knees drawing to her chest. She rested her head against them and closed her eyes. "I loathe Gregory Diggle. If I ever see him again, I'll kill him."
Draco's heart slammed wildly in his chest as he shut the door to the library and leaned against the frame. It took everything in him not to break down after revealing to his father that he knew about Lucius's affair with Irma Crabbe. Even now, the thought sickened him to no end. Crabbe's mother wasn't nearly as ugly as her husband, but, when compared to Draco's mother, she could hold no candle to Narcissa's accolade. Why his father would stoop so low was beyond him, but, then again, War did crazy things to people. Got in their heads. Destroyed their resolves.
"You lie."
"Do I?" Abraxas shifted weight on his feet as he crossed his arms. "Dear me. I wasn't aware you were so stubborn to hearing truth."
"Father would never…" But even as Draco said the words, he knew them to be false. Just as Diggle told him about Lucius's involvement in Douglas B. Diggle's death, this, too, rang out with merit. Draco sat quietly for a time, before he finally asked the question that weighed heavily on his mind. "Why?"
"Why does anyone do anything? Selfish pleasures."
"How did you know? About Victoria?"
"I can sense my own. It's in my nature. Being an animagus came – comes naturally to me. And a wolf can always sense his pack."
"She doesn't look a thing like us," Draco muttered.
"No. But she does quite resemble your grandmother, no?" Abraxas offered.
Draco closed his eyes, trying to picture his grandmum. It'd been years since her passing as well. But he'd seen older photographs -he knew her to be pretty, with jet black hair and green eyes. Yes… it made sense. Especially since the Malfoys typically only conceived male children. Had for generations. Their dominant traits of white blonde hair and silver eyes might only be passed down to the men. Though, it was hard to tell. There weren't woman heirs. Why was that? Draco didn't want to dwell on it. It frightened him to think what might have become to the generations of female heirs, if they had been born before a male… His family lineage was not known for being kind.
"Why tell me?"
"You deserve to know. You have a sister, Draco. A sister you never knew about."
Draco flinched at the words. His heart hurt for his mother, whose heart would break at this news. She loved Father with every bit of her soul, the way Draco loved Hermione. He couldn't imagine ever ruining that. "Mother must never know," he said quietly.
Abraxas nodded. "I've always admired Narcissa. Such a strong woman, even when she married a coward like Lucius. She was brave, for the both of them. I've heard rumors it was her lie to the Dark Lord that brought his reign of terror to an end. That she lied about Potter's death to protect you. To find you again."
Yes, he remembered Potter's testimony at the trials. How Mother had lied and told Voldemort that Potter was truly dead, even when he wasn't. Draco would never been as brave. His mother, truly, was a formidable woman with amazing character. He now regretted the way he chewed her out at St. Mungo's. None of this was her fault. It was Lucius's. Not hers.
"So," Draco said finally, "That's why you came after Victoria. And Scorpius."
"Their lineage to the Sacred Twenty-Eight is poetic, is it not? To us? With my genetics coursing through their veins, they're naturally gifted to be animagi, like myself."
"And me?"
"Yes. You, too, carry the genes. However, I died before I could help you awaken the natural gift. It lies dormant within you. Children are much easier to teach. Like a second language -the older one gets, the more difficult it is to grasp."
"But I possess it, yes?" Draco turned his eyes up to Abraxas. "Yes?"
"Yes, Draco. You do."
"Then… use me. Instead of Scorpius. Use me in his place."
A demented smirk crossed Abraxas's lips. "I thought you'd never ask."
"Draco?"
A soft, feminine voice jerked Draco Malfoy out of his memories and back to reality -he twisted his face in the direction and met the serene eyes of his mother, who stood at the end of the hallway, perplexed as she stared at her son. Draco didn't know why until he looked down -his fists were shaking at his sides. He did his best to steady his trembling arms and ran his fingers through his hair like he did when he was nervous.
"Mother," he acknowledged her before kicking off of the wall and crossing the hallway to her. There, he scooped her into a vicious hug that nearly knocked the breath out of them both.
"Draco…" she said again, even more gentle than before as her arms folded around him. "My boy, what's wrong?"
Draco was a grown man -had been for a while now, but cradled in his mother's arms this way, he felt like he might be as old as Scorpius. He couldn't remember the last time he'd embraced her this way: full of love and respect. "I've missed you," he whispered into her hair.
Narcissa's arms tightened, and he heard her crack into a sob nearly instantly. "Oh, Draco. I've missed you, too. My boy…" She kissed his cheek and hugged him tighter still, until he nearly suffocated at the hold. He immediately pried himself away, embarrassed and angry with himself. He thought he could be stronger, but no. Narcissa neatly wiped the tears from her cheeks and patted Draco's face thoughtfully. "I always hoped you'd come back to me."
Draco's heart wretched at the secrets buried in him, and he shook his head. "No, Mother. Don't say that."
"Why ever not?"
He sighed, withdrawing himself. "I'm about to do something terrible. Something…" his voice trailed away. "Can we come back from it? From the terrible things we do?" He asked his question with sincerity, though he sounded miles away in his own mind as he spoke.
"Of course." Narcissa nodded. "But whatever it is you think you have to do, Draco, remember -you don't have to do it alone. Or at all. There's always another option."
Draco's right hand absentmindedly traced his left forearm, over his Dark Mark. "I'm not sure that's true."
"Of course it is. What is this about? You can tell me."
Draco shook his head and turned away from his mother. "Stay away from Father," he told her. "He puts the snake in the Slytherin mantra. -And… when it's all over with, take care of them." His fingers traced the wall beside him as he fully turned his back to her. "You were always the strong one in this family. -And whatever you do, listen to Hermione. Even if you don't like her, listen. She's the brightest witch I know."
"Draco-"
But he'd already taken off down the hallway, his boots clacking against the marble flooring as he went. 'I love you, Mother' he thought. 'I'm sorry it will come to this. You deserve so much more than the husband and son you were dealt.'
Dean inhaled a deep breath as he set Hermione's business case down on top of the desk and fished out her notes. His fingers trembled as he addressed the new recruits, but then his eyes settled on a post-it stuck to the top of the notes and he laughed.
'Team Trio! Go get them, Dean.' It was scribbled in Hermione's handwriting.
He smiled, bringing his eyes back to his new recruits, and said in his best impression of Auror Gregory Wallace Diggle: "Hello. I'm Fourth Ranking Commanding Officer, Dean Benjamin Thomas. I'll be training the sodding lot of you most days, and the days I'm gone, Aurors Malfoy or Granger will sub for me." He walked around his desk, leaned against it, and crossed his arms. "It took me three bloody years to become an Auror, so don't think for a second I'll go easy on any of you. You want this? You earn it." He flashed a set of pearly white teeth. "Let's get started, shall we?"
Draco's second loose end to tie up before shit hit the fan was found tucked away in the den, carrying a Quidditch action figure and shouting as he spun it around the room, "Go, go, go! Get snitch! Get it!"
"Scorpius," Draco called, trying his best to hold a pleasant tone as he addressed his two-year-old son from across the room. Auror Jameson sat in the corner, wand in his lap. Dark circles shrouded his eyes, and he looked as if he hadn't slept a wink the night before. His eyes stayed trained on the toddler, even when ran across the room and threw himself into Draco's arms.
"Daddy! Daddy! I caught snitch! I did! You see?"
"I did," Draco laughed, taking the Quidditch figure of Viktor Krum and flying it over Scorpius's head playfully. Scorpius reached up to grab it, and Draco let him. Still cradled in his arms, Scorpius kissed his father on the nose and grinned ear-to-ear.
"Mummy gonna take me Hon-ee-ducks!"
"Honeydukes? Again?"
"My idea," offered Jameson.
Draco nodded appreciatively to the man.
"You come, Daddy?" Scorpius asked.
This might be the last time he'd get to spend moments like these with his son. Draco smiled ear-to-ear, just like Scorpius, and said, "Yeah, Scorp. I'll tag along."
"Yay! Hermummy come too?"
"You want Hermione to come?"
"Yus! Both Mummies!"
His heart panged with guilt, and he set the toddler down to the floor. "Yeah… I'll ask Hermione if she wants to come, too." He ruffled Scorpius's hair and watched as the toddler bounded over to Jameson and sat on his lap with a 'plop'. Jameson looked thoroughly horrified, but kept perfectly still, even when Scorpius reached up and pulled both his ears. Stoic. That was the word to describe Jameson.
"Look, Daddy!" Scorpius laughed gleefully, tugging on Jameson's ears and pulling them outwards. "Monkey!"
Draco smirked. "Go on, Auror Jameson. Make the sounds. You're a monkey, after all."
Jameson narrowed his eyes. A man of few words, he gave a contemptible sigh, but still managed to mutter, "ooh ooh, ah ah."
"Monkey! Monkey! Again!" Scorpius shouted.
Draco left the den in hysterical laughter, relieved he could still find the will to laugh. Especially when he knew, after today, things would be much different for everyone in the Malfoy Manor.
Hermione wasn't aware she fell asleep until warm hands scooped under her legs and behind her back, cradling her as she was lifted from the ground. Her eyes darted open immediately, and her arms flung out, frightened -she made a fist and threw it out.
"OI!" Draco's voice hit her ears before her eyes focused, and she came face to face with him, her fist still connected against his cheek.
"Draco?" She stopped flailing about and rested in his arms, withdrawing her fist immediately. "Oh, God. I'm so sorry. I hit you, didn't I?"
"You think?" he sneered crossly, rubbing the side of his face on his shoulder. "Merlin's hat, Hermione. You've got some powerful fists, you know that?"
"I said I was sorry," she muttered, looking about the garden. "I fell asleep."
"Thank you, captain obvious. Anything else you'd like to point out? Did you know the sun is actually a star?" He stuck his tongue out childishly at her as he began to carry her down the garden path towards the Manor.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said at once.
"You've said that already."
"No. I mean… for earlier." She wrapped her arms around his neck, seeing Diggle's letter still clutched tight in her fingers. "I didn't mean to say it. I was frustrated, and tired, and I really didn't appreciate you going through my things…"
"Don't apologize," he said, kissing her cheek. "You had every right to be angry with me. -And…" His silver-blue eyes connected with hers, and his face softened. "I shouldn't have gone through your robes. I'm sorry for that. I wasn't thinking clearly."
Hermione rested her head against his chest. "You can set me down, you know. I'm capable of walking."
"Nonsense," he told her, "After all, I'll be carrying you across the threshold of our home one day. And you'll be my wife." He beamed down at her. "Scorpius wants us to go to Honeydukes with him and Astoria."
"He does?" She was glad to hear it, but also confused. "I don't want to fight with you."
"Nor I you. Which is why we won't." His foot hit a rock, and he stumbled as he cursed, "Ah! Fuck it all!"
"Set me down," she said at once as Draco caught his footing and fell back in step.
"No."
She rolled her eyes. "You'd rather us both fall?"
"We won't fall. It was just a rock." He continued to carry her. "We'll talk about it tonight. Over dinner. Alright? -Until then, let's enjoy the day off with Scorpius while we can…" his voice trailed off in a saddening way.
"Draco… what happened in the woods?"
Keeping stride, he fell silent.
"Draco." Hermione tried to reason with him. "I can tell when something's wrong with you. You're not telling me everything. What was in the woods?"
Draco stopped his brisk pace for a moment, turning his eyes down to her, pensive. He blinked.
"Hermione, please leave it alone. You want to know what's in those woods? Two frightening teenagers, Bolt's death, and a lot of bad memories for myself. You can read it all in Potter's report when you go back to the Ministry. But, please. Don't make me live it again." His face was challenging, as if he dared her to question him. Hermione knew that look -he'd worn it the first day in training. He was hiding something -something monumental. It frustrated her to no end, but she knew when to push and when to concede… for now. Nothing about his explanation gave her comfort. But if he was going to keep secrets from her, she'd play his game.
"Alright, Draco," she said evenly, making sure to conceal her doubts. "Whatever you say."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
The rest of the day was spent wandering through Hogsmeade. Draco bought his son nearly everything he begged for, even when Astoria scolded him for spoiling the boy. Draco didn't care. He wanted Scorpius to have the world, and he'd gladly give it to him. After all, this might be the last chance he'd get to.
He made sure to stay close to Hermione, an arm around her at all times, stealing kisses every chance he got, and even surprising her with a new quill and ink set from Flourish and Blotts that she had her eye on for a while. He bought Astoria a new coat, and Jameson a bowler hat Astoria picked out for him. His mother received new jewelry, but his father received nothing. He didn't want to bring the insufferable fool along at all, but, seeing as how Hermione was his personal detail, the choice was not up to Draco.
They spent the better part of the afternoon licking the wrappers clean off of the candy they bought, resting in the middle of the square on the benches.
"Who dis?" Scorpius asked, holding up the card he received in his chocolate frog pack.
"That's Dumbledore," Hermione grinned, picking up the card thoughtfully. "Your Daddy and I knew him. He was a good man."
Draco turned his eyes down to the ground, remembering Dumbledore's death as plain as day. How Snape took the moment so Draco wouldn't have to. He knew, now, that it was their plan from the beginning. But it still haunted him… How many terrible things would he need to endure in the name of his family before he was allowed to rest?
He curled his fingers around Hermione's hand and gripped it tightly. Tonight, he would be allowed one last hurrah of love and merriment. Tonight would be the final nail to his coffin of heroism.
Hermione gripped his hand back and smiled. "I love you," she whispered.
Draco nodded, the guilt eating at him. He loved her very much, too, but he couldn't bring himself to say it back. Instead, he leaned over and kissed her chastely on the lips. One last hurrah before the final countdown. One last hurrah before the descent into the abyss. He only hoped he could crawl back out, once it was all said and done. He never wanted to let his family down. Not then, not now, not ever.
A little more Dramione next chapter. Can't wait! XD OFF TO WRITE IT!
~A.
Please leave a review in your wake? Let me know your favorite part of this chap, if you could.
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How To Train Your Auror 2: Family Ties