Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Count Your Blessings	By : LadyOfTheNight Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 39948 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own or make any money off of this fan fiction because Harry Potter belongs to a Ms J. K. Rowling and not me! ^_^

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Count Your Blessings

<><>{Chapter Eight: Freedom}<><>

Hermione was getting Benny ready for yet another Friday night sleep over with Harry. She had grown to look forward to Friday evenings off. She and Severus had worked out an arrangement when it came to dating and her son. They kept things professional in front of the boy and kept their romantic interludes restricted to naps, after bedtime and the few times the boy was visiting with family. Hermione decided to keep their relationship out of her son’s ever watchful gaze because she didn’t want any inconsistencies in his life; She was only just starting to date Severus and thought it might look a little too needy if she expected her new paramour to be the surrogate father of her child right away. Severus had only too easily agreed to her dating rules which both pleased and unsettled her. She pushed away the unhappy thoughts and resumed her packing.

After months of cleaning, discarding and redecorating Harry had decided to finally move into Grimmauld Place. He was living there all alone for about a week before he invited Charlie and George to move in with him. Charlie’s temporary stay in England was slowly turning into a permanent stay and he was tired of living with his Mum again. George was not going to be left there alone; needless to say they both agreed right away, much to Mrs. Weasley’s displeasure. Ginny had warned her brothers that their stay at Grimmauld Place was going to be temporary and promised to kick them all out once she became Mrs. Potter.

At first Harry had given each one of his Godsons their own room but after finding the boys magically together three Saturday mornings in a row Harry decided to take the hint and moved their stuff into a larger room for them to share.

She stopped her packing briefly to watch her son play on the floor in front of her. His gaze was fixed on the little stuffed dragon he had decided was his current favorite toy. He was shaking it around and examining it’s every stich. She couldn’t help but smile when she caught him sucking on the tail.

“Benny, No!” She told the boy firmly and pulled the toy out of his mouth. She already had to throw away two stuffed dragons due to a foul spit smell she just couldn’t shake and she didn’t want to endure the tears that came from separating the toys from her son. He frowned up at his mother and waited until she was packing again to put the toy back in his mouth. The fire in their fireplace turned a bright green and Harry appeared in the middle of it. Benny proceeded to clap and reach out for his Godfather and Harry was only too happy to oblige. He picked up Benny and swung him up in the air causing Hermione to gasp in fright and Benny to giggle.

“Well hello to you to Benny!” Harry called to his godson before giving him a tight hug and a peck on the forehead.

“Harry you’re early…” Hermione said in mock indignation as she tried to shove the last of her son’s stuff into the magically expanded bag. She watched as Harry put her son down on the carpet and came over to her giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

“Hermione, I need to tell you something…” Harry started and Hermione looked up at him with worry.

“I know that voice… that’s your serious voice. What’s happened is everyone alright?” She asked of her friend moving to sit down in one of the chairs.

“No, everyone is fine but this has to do with Ron…” Harry trailed off seeing her expression change from worry to annoyance in about two seconds.

“What about Ron? I am not ready to forgive him yet…” She told her friend icily.

“And after what I am about to tell you that might never happen… He has been going to visit the Malfoy’s in Azkaban.” Harry told her.

“Wait… What?” She asked of her friend very confused. She was try to process what Harry had just told her.

“He has been going to Azkaban to vent his frustrations physically.” Harry told her running his hands through his hair.

“You mean he has been beating them?” She clarified and watched in shock as Harry nodded.

“Bullocks, I hope he wasn’t doing that for me… How… horrible.” She said to herself more than anyone else.

“I’m pretty sure Ron wasn’t thinking about anyone but himself during that time.” Harry told her.

“He’s not still…” she trailed off and Harry shook his head.

“No I convinced him to stop.” Harry told her and they let the silence wash over them, each once processing what was said.

“You know it was Narcissa that lied to Voldemort.” Harry said breaking the silence. “She told him I was dead and that helped me wait for the right moment to surprise him. If it weren’t for her, things might have ended very differently. I know that I owe her a great debt so I spoke at her son and husband’s trials. I knew that really wasn’t enough and then I learned what happened to you and well… my debt is to her, not her relatives.” He told her quietly.

“Why are you telling me this Harry?” she asked him confusion all over her face.

“Ron showed me a memory with information in it about Narcissa and her final moments. She wanted to tell them something, the Malfoys I mean but in order to deliver her message I would have to tell them about Benny; that I will not do unless I have your consent.” He pulled out his portable pensive and placed a silvery strand into it. “I want you to see Ron’s memory and we can decide what to do about it after.” He told her seriously. He knew that any debt he owed Narcissa could be canceled out at his friend’s request. Hermione was his best friend and he would not do anything to hurt her or his godson.

She knew how honorable her friend was and she knew that if he felt this strongly, this memory must have really struck one of his nerves. She leaned over and let the silvery mist surround her face.

When she came up out of the pensive, tears were streaming down her face. “Oh Ron…” she murmured to herself and looked over at Harry. “Show them the memory.” She told her friend.

He was shocked and his mouth was hanging open slightly. “Are you sure? They will know about Benny…” Harry told her and Hermione just nodded her head as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“If it were my mother or spouse I would want to know and she left that message for them to see. Draco is going to be released in a couple of days anyways… They will find out soon enough. I just have one condition…”

<><>{Chapter Eight}<><>

It was Sunday, the night before Draco was set to be released and his father was going over what Draco was to say to the press. “What are you going to say to the Prophet and parole board…”His father asked him for what felt like the fiftieth time.

“I am successfully rehabilitated and now realize I was merely projecting your ideals and beliefs because I felt like I needed to please you. I now realize how wrong you were and am deeply sorry for my actions. I know that talk is cheap but I plan on showing the Wizarding World that my actions are genuine by volunteering and donating to various charities both war related and others that promote peaceful coexistence between both Muggles and Magic folk.” He recited mechanically. It wasn’t that the words were not genuine. He was just getting tired of reciting it to his father over and over again.

“So when you are released you must pick a residence so that they Auror’s can perform the spells to assure you don’t leave the premises. You will be on House arrest for two years… and won’t get your wand back till you are off probation.”

“I know father…”he called back, his tone resembled that of a petulant child. They let the silence that followed hang in the air before the elder Malfoy broke it.

“Did you pick a residence yet?” his father asked him a little more quietly. He knew where his father wanted him to pick, but he just couldn’t bring himself to live at the Manor for two years. He would be a prisoner in the very place so many horrible things happened but he would also be able to find a lot the answers they needed.

“I can’t stay there for two years…” he started shakily.

“I understand.” His father told him knowingly.

“I’ll find another way…” he started and heard his father sigh.

“I know you will try.” He heard from his father’s cell which only made him feel more ashamed. He wished he were a stronger man, but he wasn’t. He was broken and didn’t know how to fix himself but he did know Malfoy Manor was the last place to heal.

Draco heard footsteps coming down the hall and knew it was too early for dinner; was Weasley coming to say one last goodbye? He hadn’t visited since he let it slip that he was with Draco’s mother when she had died but both men had thought of him and that night constantly.

“Visitor maggots!” Their jailers announced to the men and moved them to the visitor’s room.

They sat there chained to the table waiting for what felt like hours until Draco heard a door open and then close. With their backs to the door they could not see their visitor but Draco could feel the eyes on his back.

“Come to flog my son one last time?” He heard his father call to the visitor but still no response came. When they heard the footsteps Draco couldn’t help but tense his muscles as he waited for the impending blows. Instead he heard the rustle of someone running their hands through their hair; their visitor gave a small sigh as he walked around in front on the two men to have a seat opposite of them.

Harry Potter sat there across from them trying to look anywhere but at the two prisoners. Draco however was watching his one-time peer very closely. Saint Potter wasn’t there to inflict harm. He was sure of that from his lack of eye contact. If Draco didn’t know any better he would say Harry was nervous. He glanced at his father and could tell he was thinking the same thing. Following his father’s lead he stayed quiet and waited for the other man to speak first. He called the meeting and he should announce his intent.

“I’m not going to hit you, first and foremost. I wanted to tell you I don’t agree with Ron’s actions. As soon as I found out what he was doing I made him stop.” He told the men, finally looking them in eyes. It wasn’t an apology, but they didn’t deserve apologies; neither prisoner was thanking him either.

“I’m sure you are wondering why I am here; I am still trying to comprehend what I am doing here.” Draco heard him say to himself. “I owe your mother and wife a debt. That is the only reason I am here.” He told them.

Draco watched his father nod his head slightly to indicate he understood what the young wizard was saying. Potter had no lost feelings for them. Draco didn’t care what the Saint Potter thought of him but he was interested in the reason behind the visit before his release.

“Ron recently disclosed information pertaining to your mother and wife’s death that I think she would want you both to know.” He pulled out of his robe a small flask that contained a memory. Draco was transfixed on the flask and instantly wanted to see what was in it. He had to know what happened to his mother.

He watched as the man was handed a large pensive and he emptied the flask into the basin. “There is some sensitive information in this memory and I had to get permission from another friend before I could show you. I am sure once you see it you will understand why…” Potter thought they didn’t know about Granger’s boy and that please Draco slightly; always one step behind Potter.

“If you are talking about your friend’s son then we already know. Weasley told us on his first visit.” His father disclosed to the younger man. Potter watched them carefully as he processed the fact that the elder Malfoy recognized his lack of involvement in the child’s life; only Draco saw the pain this caused his father. He had grown weary from being imprisoned and beaten and could no longer hide his emotions completely; his eyes gave him away, but he never noticed because their cells were adjacent and a wall separated them.

“Did he tell you who the father is?” He questioned trying to see how much the men knew about the boy.

“No he just said she had a boy.” Draco added not wanting to look like a wallflower during this important conversation.

Potter just nodded and stood up. “I’ll let you look at that alone. I’ll give you twenty minutes.”

As the young man passed his father he heard the patriarch stop him verbally. “Potter… Thank-you.” Was all the man said as Harry halted his exit; the silence was palpable.

“Like I said Malfoy, I am not doing this for you; your wife wanted you to know something and I figured you would rather see what it was for yourself.” Potter said coldly and he left the room.

When Draco surfaced from the pensive he couldn’t stop the tears that were running down his cheeks. He felt a weight lifted of his shoulders as he learned he had a brother instead of a son but he was also deeply ashamed to admit to himself that he had raped his brother’s mother.

What a way to start a relationship. His tears were from his guilt; he thought Weasley had killed his mother, but it turned out she did it because of their actions. Draco couldn’t blame his mother for opting out of the embarrassment he had caused her.

“Draco, I…” He heard his father start then stop his thought unsure of what to say or how to precede.

“So I guess I have a brother…” he interrupted and changed the subject, not really wanting to discuss his mother. He looked over at his father who had tensed at his last statement; he had never seen his father look so wounded and hurt before. It was very disconcerting.

“Draco, you know how it was for our family during The Dark Lord’s reign. I kept a lot from your mother out of shame but you were there and saw how he treated us. I hope you understand that everything I did during the war I did to protect your mother and you.” His father had never said it to him out loud; Draco understood completely how much the Dark Lord had terrorized, used and abused his father as he threatened their family.

“I know father.” They had never been good at expressing their love physically or verbally. His father had rarely hugged him and never kissed his boy good night when he had been growing up but Draco knew he was always loved.

“I want you to know that I would do anything for you son but I still have deep regrets about that night.” He told his son quietly. They knew that their semblance of privacy was just that. To the left was a window where a guard was watching them closely.

“I do too father.” He told him earnestly.

“I doubt there is little we could say to convince anyone our feelings on the matter.” He heard his father thinking out loud. Then in a moment of pure bravery on Draco’s part he dared to ask the question he had been thinking for months now.

“Do you want to protect him too. Like you do with me?” he inquired of his father; both of the men knew they were speaking of love but neither of them wanted to say it out loud.

He watched as his father gave a small very short nod of his head to indicate a yes. Draco felt a rush of emotions. He wasn’t sure if he wanted his father to accept the boy or to forsake him. He was naturally a competitive man and couldn’t help but feel a bit lacking. Like maybe his father only cared for the boy because he wasn’t enough… wasn’t good enough. But at the same time he felt proud that his father would not forsake one of his offspring just because of his heritage; maybe they really had changed. Losing everything you hold dear has a way of putting things into perspective. They sat there in silence for a few minutes before he heard his father speak again.

“Bennett, his name is Bennett.” His father told himself more than Draco. “I can’t explain it son, but that boy is a part of me. I created him, unintentional as it was but I can’t stop thinking about him; much like I couldn’t stop thinking about you after you were born. I kept awake till the early morning just watching you sleep. I wondered about who you would become, what kind of things you would be interested in until I probably thought of every scenario but the current one.” He told his son. “I can’t stop asking myself why? Why would she choose to have the child? Why would she not press charges? Why would she let Potter show us that memory? It just doesn’t make sense; what is there to gain?” He thought out loud and Draco could see that he was genuinely perplexed.

“Besides a baby that looks just like I did; I have no clue.” He told his father honestly and watched an odd smile break out on his father’s face.

“He did look just like you.” He admitted and they both fell silent again.

“I failed you greatly son and that is my biggest regret in life. My second is the method of Bennett’s conception. All I can offer you is advice and it has done you little good till now, but it’s all I have to offer.”

Draco thought over what his father had just disclosed to him. He was about to go out into the, now changed Wizarding World alone without a single person to depend on but his father. It didn’t count for much but it was better than nothing.

“Thank-you sir, I am sure I will need plenty of advice.”

Draco glanced over at his father and could see him deep in a thought. He knew his father and mother were not romantically involved. They had kept separate bedrooms but his father still cared for her; he even told Draco as much by admitting to trying to protect her during the war. He wondered if his father’s feelings towards Granger had changed but had yet to summon the courage to ask, mostly because he was afraid of the answer.

They heard a knock at the door; Potter must be on his way back in. Draco rubbed his cheeks on his sleeves to try and erase any signs of weakness and saw that his father had attempted to harden his appearance again just in time for him to sit down.

“So now you both know about the boy, you should know that Hermione doesn’t want you anywhere near her son. She is requesting that you both leave her and the child to live their lives out in peace. In exchange she will extend the same courtesy to the two of you.” Potter told them.

“That seems more than fair; I have but one small inquiry. Is she treating him well? Bennett I mean.” His father clarified asking about the welfare of his other child. Potter just stared at the older wizard trying to calculate his intent. He was trying to decide whether he should answer the question when Draco decided to interject.

“For Merlin’s sake! He just wants to know how his son is being treated…” This statement caused both men to stare at Draco in shock.

“He is loved; hence this arrangement.” Draco and his father had expected a longer answer but Potter had chosen to keep it simple. His father had his answer and Potter got up. Then he heard his father stop Potter’s movements with another question.

“What about Weasley?” He inquired and Draco looked over at Potter interested in the answer he would give.

“What about him? Do you think he should be punished for what he did to you? Because I think you should be punished for what you did to my friend.” Potter told them towering over the two prisoners. “I guess neither of us is going to get what they want.” Potter told them and the older man just laughed.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that Potter.” He said quietly as he watched the younger man collect his memory.

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” he inquired, calmly awaiting a response.

“No threat Potter; I suffer constantly.” He admitted tiredly as Potter stared the man down.

“Good.” Was all Potter said and disappear from sight.

<><>{Chapter Eight}<><>

Draco was released from Azkaban and chose the Family’s house in southern France to serve out his house arrest. He corresponded with his father via owl and kept busy running the Malfoy family business Superior Red Apothecaries, a string of apothecaries throughout France and England. Originally the business bared the Malfoy name but as of late that name had the opposite effect it used to, so the company had changed its name; Superior Red named after their most popular product, a wine that cures for over a thousand years. In the past his father had chosen to leave the company in the hands of a trustee but Draco was so bored he found that throwing himself into the business helped to pass the time and temporarily cure his boredom.

The months flew by and Draco tried to contact his Godfather many times but the man still refused to take his owls. His father told him to be patient with Severus and to work hard to prove he was a changed man. That was how he could earn his godfather’s forgiveness but Draco knew that wasn’t enough. He needed help and tried to reach out to his old mates but they were either in Azkaban or had figured out a way to assimilate into post war society and didn’t want an acquaintance that reminded folks of their dubious pasts.

So Draco’s only company was the trustee a Mr. Cyril Dobbson that came by to deliver the weekly paper work. He was a brisk old man of very few words. He would always try to keep their visits brief and to the point. Draco was constantly trying to prolong their visits because they were the most interesting part of his week. He found a few charities, with Dobbson’s help that suited his needs and began to donate money generously. The public at first had made a big ruckus about his release but after a while the headlines shifted to more pressing news.

After a few months of attempting to get Dobbson to stay late, Draco finally got him. He had asked the man to dinner multiple times, trying to tempt the man with different types of foods but that plan had not succeeded. Next he tried tea, books, artifacts, Quidditch and then he came to his answer. He finally succeeded in prolonging the older man’s visit by asking him for a game of wizard’s chess.

Draco quickly learned that the older man was a more than proficient player. Their first game was over embarrassingly quick. The older man had looked a little too pleased with himself and Draco had complained that he only lost because he hadn’t played the game years. He promised to practice for next week and the older man nodded in acceptance of his challenge.

They bonded over wizard’s chess and the older man soon found himself staying later and later during each visit until he eventually started staying for dinner too. He even offered Draco tips and tricks and complimented the younger man when his skill started to improve.

One day Dobbson offered to come over later on that week to help keep his skills sharp. It was on one of these extraneous visits that they began a very heavy conversation.

“Dobbson, do have any regrets?” Draco asked the older man quietly as he moved his knight to B-5.

“Regrets?” he heard the older man parrot. He watched as the Dobbson studied the board and thought about his next statement. “No, I can’t say that I have any regrets. It’s not good to dwell on things that can’t be changed. Everything that I have done and experienced has made me into what I am today. If I had done one thing differently who knows how that could affect the person I am now…” he told the younger man as he moved his bishop to B-5 effectively capturing the younger man’s knight.

Draco was quiet for a minute as he thought about what the man had said. It is easy to think like that when you like who you are now. He would give anything to be able to rewrite his history. He ran his hands through his hair and gave a loud sigh as he turned his attention back to the board.

“Must be nice…” Draco trailed off in response and moved a pawn up a space.

“What must be nice?” Dobbson inquired as he also moved a knight forward. “And Check.”

“To have no regrets.” Draco responded and deliberately moved his king directly into a soon to be check mate despite the animated piece’s protests. Dobbson studied the man sitting across from him and noticed his defeated pose. He was slumped over and had his head in his hands, the epitome of a broken man.

“You have paid for your crimes, in Azkaban.” Dobbson told the young man. “As long as you learn from your transgressions I don’t see what there is to regret.” He finished as he moved his knight away from the impending checkmate, not letting the boy give up the game so easily.

Draco gave another sigh. “I haven’t paid for all of them, just the ones they caught me doing. I have done horrible things… unforgivable things. I don’t think I can ever make up for the wickedness I have caused.” He admitted to his only companion while moving his king into harm’s way yet again.

“You will never know if you give up before you start.” Dobbson told the wizard ignoring his attempt to lose the game again. “We make our choices in life and then learn from the outcomes. If they are not desirable then don’t make that choice again. If your soul feels guilty you must think of a way to appease it.” He told the young man and Draco just looked at him with a mask of confusion.

“Have you tried to apologize?” Dobbson asked him.

“I don’t think I can say sorry and it will magically make things better.” Draco told the man quietly with his eyes trained on the chess board.

“There are more ways to apologize than just a verbal one. Maybe an act of contrition is a more applicable in your circumstance, whatever that may be.” Dobbson said as he moved a bishop away from Draco’s king.

“An act?” Draco questioned mostly to himself but he noticed Dobbson nodding.

“I would make a list of all the people who you feel you owe an apology to and then try to think of some way to apologize to each one. That’s what I would do anyways…” Dobbson said as he took a sip of his tea. He looked over at Draco and could see him lost in thought. “It’s your turn Mr. Malfoy…” Dobbson said indicating the game was still in progress.

Draco flashed the man his best smirk and moved his king away from danger causing the older man to smile. Dobbson had given him a great idea and it would be time consuming… Even if it did nothing for his guilty conscience at least it might distract the man from his lonely existence.

In the next year he managed to make a list and with Dobbson’s help created a private charity from which he would be able to anonymously work through his list. He didn’t want thanks or recognition; he just wanted to ease his burdened soul.

When the day finally came and his house arrest was over he couldn’t wait to get out of the house. He stood in front of the villa’s gates with Dobbson standing next to him, wand in hand. He missed his wand, over these last years he felt like an appendage had been severed from him but now that he was grasping the cool polished handle in his palm he felt whole again. He doubted he would ever let it go again.

The older man reached up to clasp the younger one’s back in affection and smiled at him. “We still have a little time before the meeting; where to then? I’m sure you have a destination in mind.” He told the younger man with a slight twinkle in his eye.

He didn’t want to rush his visit with his father so he decided on the next thing he wanted.“Books.” Was all he said. “I need more books. Having spent two years alone in that house I actually read all the books we have and I want new ones.” He told the man honestly.

“Books it is then.” The older man confirmed and the two stepped outside the gate and apparated to Diagon Alley.

At first Draco was completely overwhelmed by the amount of people out and about on the alley. He hadn’t thought of how it would suddenly feel to be on a crowded street after years of solitude. Luckily Dobbson noticed the panicked look on his face and grabbed the younger man’s shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie. He methodically steered Draco into the book store and out of the large crowd.

Draco quickly distracted himself from his moment of weakness by picking out about fifty new books and was reaching for yet another title when he heard Dobbson release a low groan.

Draco raised an eyebrow and glanced over at his chess partner. “You do know that you can come back every day for the rest of your life if you wanted…” He complained and looked pointedly at his watch. “If you really intend on making the staff meeting today we need to be moving along.” He reminded his boss pointedly.

Draco sighed and handed the book over to the clerk without even really looking at it. They were headed toward the front to pay for his purchases when he felt the small body of a child collide into his shins. He looked down to see a familiar shade of platinum blonde on the young child’s head and when he fell to the floor the child looked up at him in surprise and was met with a familiar silvery blue gaze.

He stood there and stared at the boy for a second and took in his every feature. His hair was curly, very long and thick for a child of his age. It was well passed his shoulders and was messily being tied back with a strap of leather. He had a few strands pulled loose from the tie and they were framing his high cheek bones. He looked every bit like a proud Malfoy; His eyes and hair color the obvious giveaways but it was that look of defiance that Draco recognized immediately, as if the boy blamed Draco himself for being in HIS way.

“Benny, where are you?” He heard the boy’s mother calling to him with fear present in her voice; Draco quickly looked to the door of the book shop and saw it was still empty before realizing that the little boy had done the same thing.

“Benny!” They heard the woman’s voice getting closer and Draco knew he only had a short time before the boy’s mother came into view; the two brothers turned to look at each other one last time and Draco jumped up to hide behind a nearby shelf.

Dobbson watched the whole exchange carefully. The little boy was still sitting on the floor but was now watching the bookcase Draco had disappeared behind interestedly.

He watched from behind the books as Hermione Granger herself strode into the bookstore franticly looking around for her lost son. When she spotted him Draco watched as all the tension seemed to leave her body. She scooped him up from behind.

“Severus, I found him!” He heard her call out and his godfather, Severus Snape strode into the bookstore with an annoyed look on his face. He stood in the doorway not fully entering the building and waiting expectantly.

“Yes, right where the boy always is when he runs off…” Draco’s godfather answered tiredly and crossed his arms.

“Benny no! That is very bad; I told you if you behaved we could come here after. You need to be patient and not run off. Mummy worries when you disappear.” She explained to the boy firmly. Draco watched as the boy turned in her arms to try and look at the bookcase he was still hiding behind.

“I’m sorry if he ran into you sir.” He heard Granger apologize to Dobbson as she tried to hold her now squirming son and Dobbson let out a chuckle.

“No apologizes necessary madam. Besides, something tells me that you have your hands full with that one.” He said indicating the still struggling toddler. He reached over and placed a hand gently on the small boy’s shoulder. “You are going to be a good boy for your Mum, right? To get those books later?” He asked of the boy who promptly ceased his movements, looked the man over and flashed him an all too familiar smirk accompanied by a nod of his head.

“That’s the ticket!” He told the toddler and his mother smiled gratefully back.

“Thank-you Mr…” she trailed off

“Dobbson.” He offered and then smiled back.

“Thank-you Mr. Dobbson.” She finished politely.

“You are most welcome Mrs…” he started as he extended his hand out in greeting to the younger witch.

“Miss.” She corrected quickly. “It’s Miss Granger.” She said confidently and placed her hand in his. Draco watched as Dobbson tried in vain to hide the shocked look on his face and quickly looked back at the bookcase where he knew Draco to be hiding before smiling and releasing the young mother’s hand.

“Pleasure to meet you,” he told the woman and then looked down at the young boy. “both.” He added and smiled at the younger wizard before watching the mother and son walk out of the shop.

Once the pair was safely out of sight Dobbson went to find his companion. He was sitting on the floor of the shop leaning against the shelves, with his shoulders hunched and head in his hands; the epitome of a broken down man.

When Draco noticed the older wizard’s presence he lifted his head and tried to sit a little taller. “Are they gone?” He asked quietly trying not to show the fear, longing and the overwhelming guilt he was currently feeling.

“Please don’t tell me that was your illegitimate son I just met.” Dobbson half joked but his eyes revealed the seriousness of his question.

Draco just shook his head and blushed in shame. He really didn’t need this on his first day out. “I think I am going to skip that meeting today Dobbson.” He told the man not answering his question as he headed to the front counter to purchase his books. He was already planning on seeing his father after the meeting but now he felt the need to expedite the visit.

<><>{End of Chapter Eight}<><>

A/N: please don’t be mad… I know it has been forever since my last update but May is a crazy month and it seemed like everyone I knew either graduated or had a baby last month… I am back and I hope this chapter was worth the wait! Not much Hermione in this one but tons of Draco which I know a lot of you have been waiting for! So don’t forget to leave me a comment and let me know how horrible I was for not posting sooner! Lol

Oh a lot of yall have asked me to e-mail you when I post a new chapter. That is easily done, just send me a message at:

Lady0fth3night@hotmail.com

Note that the o and e are a zero and a three. That totally rhymes… lol

Put the story title in the subject line and I will add you to my own alert list and let you know when I post a new chapter! Or you can just check and see manually! It’s up to you! ;)
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Count Your Blessings