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His Relinquishment	By : lexiatel Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 70413 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to Jk Rowling, I do not make any profit in writing this story what so ever. I am just having some fun.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
Draco backed away from the women, using his wand to block straying spells, shielding he and his daughter from harm.
They paid him no attention, intent on ending the battle with only one winner in mind. Draco had seen plenty of battles in his lifetime, but none that held such passion. Their form was spot on, their power was strong, and neither looked away from her opponent. Sweat formed right under their hairlines and slowly streaked down their faces; they didn't notice.
Draco didn't realize he had backed up to the door until he had bumped into it. He opened it up, making his escape, determined to keep his daughter safe from that horrible hag.
"Malfoy!"
Draco forced his eyes from the scene to see Bernice hurrying up, wand in her hand.
"Get out of here!" he demanded. "And take Rosie with you!" Draco shoved the baby into Bernice's arms, not permitting her to argue.
"Wait, what—"
"Just get the baby out of here! Jordan's about to kill Hermione!"
Draco didn't get to see the woman's eyes widen in horror. He flung a spell out, blocking a deadly attack aimed at Hermione.
Jordan went to retaliate, but Draco dodged the spell she sent flying at him.
He quickly found out that the hag was a tough opponent— quick and powerful. He was soon ripped backward right off his feet, and his head slammed into the ground. All he could hear was a ringing in his ears. His eyes grew droopy, but he willed himself not to go unconscious, knowing Hermione needed his help, knowing that if Jordan won, they'd all be dead.
Draco attempted to climb up to his knees but found that he couldn't move his legs at all. They hurt, they throbbed in absolute pain. Perhaps they were broken, whatever the reason for the pain, he did not know, he dared not to look at them, fearing the worst. He was afraid they weren't even there.
Draco breathed hard and deep, determined to end the hag's life. He was too weak though, and no matter how hard he tried, his wand would not erupt with a spell.
He lifted up his heavy head, suddenly feeling a rough vibration underneath him. What he saw confused him. Jordan was no longer fighting Hermione. Hermione was actually nowhere in sight. Instead, there was a fire-breathing dragon crashing toward a panicking Jordan whose spells appeared to have no effect on the it. Jordan was forced into a corner.
Red, orange, and yellow blurred into Draco's vision. The heat from the massive fire that the dragon discharged was unbearable. He screamed out in pain, though he could not hear himself doing it, still deaf from the blow to his head.
He was snapped up from his place at the ground and thrown over a man's shoulder. After that, Draco could no longer stay conscious, the agony being that severe.
*/*
"Where's Rosie?!" Hermione cried out frantically, setting Bobby down onto a bench in Malfoy Manor. "Where's my baby?!"
She had asked no one in particular, but there were several people there, having been in the process of rescuing others or being rescued.
"We can't go back," someone informed just after apparating in. "It's no longer a location, the fire has destroyed the building completely."
"Did everyone make it out?" another asked, as Hermione scanned the crowd feverishly, looking for her daughter. A group of house elves had formed around her, pestering her with questions and attempting to heal her of her wounds.
"I don't think so…"
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!" Hermione screamed hysterically, tears running down her face.
"She's here," a man announced. "I've got her. She's safe, Hermione."
He emerged from the crowd, and Hermione's breathing stopped all together, seeing Harry, her dead friend holding her child.
"Who— What—"
"It's really him," Draco's voice said. He was sitting on a bench, his lower legs wrapped in bandages, and a few elves were tending to him.
Hermione remembered the gory curse that Jordan had cut him with. She was surprised to learn that his legs were still attached to his body.
"We survived," Harry said flatly, approaching Hermione and hugging her. "We survived," he whispered, repeating it to ease her mind.
She wrung her arms around him, shuddering with emotion, not exactly knowing what she was currently feeling. Everything just seemed to flood in all at once: happiness, relief, confusion, and devastation. All of it.
She broke down, crying right into the arms of the friend who she believed to have been dead for years.
It was all she could possibly do at the moment, after everything that had happened.
*/*
"We had a deal."
"You're free, the vow hasn't been broken, else I would be dead."
"And what about my wife?!"
Potter sighed, running a hand down his face. "She needs some time to think. She's been through a lot the last few years, and this last one was likely her worst. The deal was you could continue to be her husband if she willingly agreed to it."
"Well, she's living with you!" Draco spat, frustrated that he hadn't seen his wife nor child for two days. He had been forbidden to see them. No one would tell him where they were! "You're probably brainwashing her!"
"I'm doing no such thing, and I haven't even thought to do it. She's not herself right now, many of us aren't. We're not like you, able to ignore grief like it's nothing."
"You think I don't grieve?" Draco seethed, speaking quietly through his teeth, his veins thrashing with anger. "You think I just turned my nose up when your bloody side murdered my parents in cold blood?!"
"The Rebels had nothing to do with your parents' death," Potter explained calmly.
"They were in your prison!"
"No, that's just what the papers said, it was actually Voldemort who set up their deaths. He knew you would fight for vengeance if you thought we had killed them."
"You're a bloody liar!"
"You think he wasn't capable of such a thing?" Potter retorted bluntly. "I was connected to his mind, Malfoy, I knew what he was planning every step of the way."
"So why did it take you three years to get rid of him?!"
"It nearly killed me to know what was going on with my friends and the other innocent people who were involved, but if we attacked too early, it would have been a waste. It took me a while to understand strategic thinking, and we should all be thankful that those who helped me didn't give up on me. Without their help, I would have never been able to kill him."
Draco said nothing, stewing on Potter's words. What he had said made sense, but the idea that the Dark Lord had orchestrated the death of his parents made him sick to his stomach. His knees began to wobble, and he sat down in a chair to avoid from losing his balance.
"All that I did was because of what they had wanted of me… My parents supported the Dark Lord's idealism, and he rewards them by murdering them… just to make me fight stronger?"
"You sound surprised."
"I've been… violated. Manipulated. I was made to believe that I was doing this all to follow the tradition of my family, only to have them taken from me by the very same side that I was on. So much for 'sticking together'."
I'm not surprised though, I'm just angry that I didn't see it… I'm angry that I don't have my family here with me anymore, and I'm upset that I chose that side to begin with." He quickly dabbed at the corner of his eye, not wanting Potter to see the tear that had slipped its way out.
"I know you love her."
Draco looked up, studying Potter. The man wasn't facing him, but his stance was rigid.
"You wouldn't have risked your life to help her if you didn't…"
"Is that why you saved me from the fire; I helped her?"
"Partially," he answered. "But you know me…" Potter turned around, meeting his eyes. "Saint Potter! Must save everyone! Even if they don't deserve to breathe!" He was mocking Draco, or at least he was trying to.
"I do not sound like that!"
Potter chuckled. "You most certainly do."
*/*
It had seemed like forever since Hermione had felt safe and comfortable, surrounded by people she knew as a teenager. Luna, Neville, the surviving Weasleys (Arthur, George, Charlie, and Ginny), and Harry himself.
They didn't talk much, most of the time they sat in silence, and occasionally, someone would say something lighthearted to bring up the mood.
It was incredibly difficult though, given all that they had been through.
But they didn't speak about the war, having some non-verbal agreement throughout the group not to talk about it. They all knew they would have to eventually, but for the time being, they wanted a few days of not having to.
No one questioned Hermione about anything, and she didn't question them.
But she was thinking of her future, and they were thinking of theirs. After living in terror for years, they were momentarily lost of what to do.
So they did nothing.
And they did nothing for a month except comfort one another's cries, because even the men would wake up in a hysteria.
But Hermione knew this couldn't go on forever. The world was going to keep turning with or without them, and now that they were all free, it would only make sense if they at least tried to enjoy it.
Their family and friends didn't die and sacrifice their lives just for them to mope around for the rest of their lives.
"I'm going to see Draco today," she announced to the group of people who showed up for breakfast (many were so depressed that they were hardly even eating).
She got all of their attention. A lot of those who were eating were mothers like herself who had been forced to have a Death Eater's child, and were only eating for the sole purpose of keeping their babies alive.
"Would you like someone to go with you?" Bernice asked.
Hermione shook her head. "He tried saving my life, I don't think he's going to harm me."
"Just the same—"
"I'll be fine," Hermione cut off Harry, sending him a smile. "I really appreciate your concern though."
She watched Harry and Snape exchange glances, and Snape got up from the table, excusing himself.
They all went back to their meals, struggling with swallowing down the nourishment.
Several hours later, after Rosie had been bathed, fed, changed, and they each had a nap, Hermione apparated she and the baby to Malfoy Manor.
Her insides were going wild, not knowing what to expect, having ignored letter after letter from Draco, each filled with promises that he loved her, and he would never hurt her again, and that her blood status didn't matter at all to him.
She wasn't even sure what she wanted, but Draco pleaded to see Rosie, and she couldn't come up with a reason why he shouldn't. He was her father after all.
"D-Draco?" she called out anxiously when she had landed. Several elves surrounded her, a thing she was accustomed to, having had to deal with it for the past year. Bobby was staying with her, insisting that she had been shunned from returning to the Manor after what she had done, but the rest felt like they belonged here at the Manor with Draco.
He appeared just as soon as her call for him ended, and they silently stared at each other.
"How are your injuries?"
Draco rubbed at his arms where there once had been severe burns. They looked untouched now.
"Gone," he answered. "Though, I know not to mess with the people you care about."
"I still don't know how that happened. I don't even remember… I mean… me transforming into a dragon? It's not illogical, but I never thought that I could ever let my magic overpower me."
"At least it had a great outcome."
"A few people died…! Innocent people… in a fire that I started! That's not a great thing!"
"With how insane she was, they were probably going to die anyway."
"That doesn't make it an excuse! I caused people to die!"
Draco's eyes fell down to his feet, and nodded slowly. "Right… well, like you said, you didn't even know what was happening…"
"Well, now I do, and I'm going to seek help, because I don't ever want to do something like that again…"
"I'm going to seek help too."
"You are?" Hermione asked. "What for?"
"I want to make sure that I never hurt another person for as long as I live. I don't want to be that kind of man, I honestly never did. Besides, I'm a father now, I have to set a good example… and I… well, I'm still your husband, if you'd allow me to be."
Hermione sucked in a breath. "I'm not— I can't…"
His lips twitched. "I don't blame you, I was an awful man..."
"I just don't… love you. And I believe in marrying the person you love."
He nodded slowly, looking crushed. Draco blinked, and his eyes fell down to the squirming bundle in Hermione's arms.
"Would you allow me to court you then?"
"Court? As in date?"
"You are the mother of my child, Hermione. Maybe… Well, I was thinking if we take it slow, and have a proper relationship, perhaps you'll change your mind later on down the road...?"
"I'll think about it," Hermione decided, not at all interested in making the decision at this moment.
"And I'll patiently wait for your answer." He slowly walked up to her, eyes on the baby. "Would you mind if I held my daughter?"
Hermione took no time at all to hold out the baby to him. "You're going to make a great father, Draco."
"I intend to do my best."
Hermione saw something black out of the corner of her eye, barely catching Snape's figure slip pass the door.
She smiled at the thought of him being sent by Harry to assure that she was safe. Though, she'd have to remind her friend that she liked her privacy.
*/*
"And you're sure Mr. Blaise is gone forever? We never have to worry about him again?"
"We're certain," Hermione assured Samuel. Unfortunate for him, he had not made it out of the fire.
Samuel smiled, tucking himself deeper in between the two women he considered his mothers. "Good, cause I like Harry Potter much better, and he even said I can call him my dad if I wanted, and I do!"
Bernice laughed softly. "We like him too!"
"And I'm still Franklin's big brother?" he asked about Bernice's son.
"You are, nothing will ever change that," Bernice said.
"Can I be Rosie's too?" he directed at Hermione.
"I would want none other."
"Do I have to decide who I live with...?"
"Not right now, no," Bernice said. "We just want to make sure you know that you get to choose when the time comes."
The boy frowned thoughtfully. "But I like you the same, and I want to live with you both."
"And for now, that is not a problem," Hermione explained. "But I can't live with Bernice and Harry forever, I'm going to get my own place eventually."
"Can I live with you both at different times; sometimes with Bernice, and sometimes with Hermione?"
Bernice hugged the boy and kissed his head. "I don't see a problem with that."
"Then it's settled!" he announced, kissing them each on their cheek. "I'll take turns!"
*/*
It was after Rosie had turned five before Hermione finally gave Draco a chance. Up until that day, she had been with a few men off and on. Men who Draco envied. Men who Draco hated seeing her with.
He and Hermione had gotten into fights over these men too. He would say something stupid, often letting his emotions escape, and it would make her angry.
"You don't own me, Draco!"
Her statement would instantly remind him that she was right, and he would hastily apologize for his behavior.
Draco didn't deserve Hermione, but he certainly wasn't comfortable with another man around his woman and daughter.
When Hermione had finally said it, Draco honestly thought he had misheard. He had been waiting five years for this, so he never expected her to say it anymore— though he still tried his best to 'woo' her, which was extremely challenging, since he had no idea how to do it— he never had to in his entire life.
"Excuse me; what?"
"I asked you if you still wanted to date me."
Even though he was in absolute shock, his heart began to pound with hope. "Well, yes, of course I do," he answered, trying to keep his cool. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it. "I would love to date you. I've been waiting years for you to ask me that."
"As long you take it slow," she told him firmly. "I'm not the type of girl who climbs into bed with men on the first date."
"I know," he said smiling. "We'll do everything at your pace."
She nodded and went to say something but was stopped by a high pitched squeal.
"Mumma said yes?!" Rosie had entered the room, seeing their hands linked. She ran up to them, a huge, excited smile on her face.
Draco swung Rosie up into his arms. "She did!"
The girl cheered, hugging him tightly. "No more pretend daddies!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I figured I had no chance with the two of you working against me!"
"We are the perfect team," Rosie said. "And now you're with us too, Mumma!"
Draco smiled, guilt written all over his face, and Hermione sighed, kissing the girl's cheek. "You're very much like your father, you don't give up on what you want."
"I know," Rosie said in a matter-of-fact.
"And she's proud of it," Draco chimed, making Rosie nod wildly.
"Yes, I am!"
*/*
It had been almost a decade since Hermione last set foot at this particular location. The work was unfinished. Draco had told her that he never so much as taken a peek at what Hermione had done, keeping his promise not to until it was completed.
Hermione eyed it over, thinking of a time when her life was stuck under a dark, stormy cloud. A time when she thought she'd never be happy again.
The marriage spell she had been on had no affect on her artistic work. It was a good thing that she hadn't finished her garden piece, Draco would have been displeased with it. Or at least Draco back ten years ago would have; Draco the Death Eater.
She honestly didn't remember crafting the holographic image of herself killing the holographic image of Draco in absolute cold blood, one brutal stabbing at a time as magical blood spurt out of his wounds.
Those days were over. Shadows of their past still haunted the both of them, but each had changed, and Draco was not who he used to be. She didn't recognize him anymore as the man in her past who she had an occasional nightmare of.
Sleeping beside him was still hard to do though. She'd wake up every so often, seeing his blonde hair, thinking the worst, confused by some recent nightmare. But then he would wake up during her fit, and she would see the kindness in his eyes, and Hermione would ask him to hold her close until she fell asleep again.
It took three years of dating before she realized that she had indeed fallen for him. Maybe it was because he tried and succeeded. Perhaps it was because he made a terrific father. It may have been his devotion to her, spending everyday of his life making it up to her, wanting nothing more than her happiness. It could have been everything combined.
Whatever it was, she felt, after all the mess they had been through, they deserved each other, and she asked him to marry her only just a month ago.
Hermione raised her wand, erasing the gruesome holographic scene and began making a new one, starting with roses. First of black, to indicate their horrific past, then of yellow, for their once blossoming friendship, pink for their childish romance after they had started dating, and finally red for the love that they had made.
She bordered her garden piece with assorted berry bushes— a favourite fruit of Rosie's— and set up a swing under a weeping willow. The small family would playfully fight over the one that Draco had made for Rosie in the immediate backyard of the Manor.
Finally, she added a small, crisp pond, adoring the aquatic sounds of the frogs, crickets, and the rare splash of a fish leaping up to catch an insect.
Her husband would cherish this garden piece, and she was happy to be able to start a tradition of happy lives in the Malfoy line.
Merlin knew there had been a bitter past in their ancestry, and thanks to both Draco and Hermione, that was going to change.

END

AN: I had planned on a much darker ending, but this is what came out instead. **shrugs** I had some 'deleted scenes' I wanted to include, and now I can't find them. **sigh** Oh, well!

Thanks for reading my story, I hope you enjoyed it!
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His Relinquishment