Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1: The Life Of Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy, a pureblood, former forced death eater, survivor of the last war, and now auror groaned as he fell forward in his chair. He was bored and with his recent outburst, was made to do desk work for the remainder of the year. His groaning continued, which was then cut off by an angry woman slamming his office door wide open.
A tiny wisp of a thing wrapping in a red and black cloak, white wool lining the sides. A scarf wrapped around her covering her mouth leaving her big bright beautiful brown eyes to glare directly at Draco, as she walked forward her curled brown hair bounced ever so softly.
“Well don’t mind me. Come in, the door’s wide open…now.” Draco muttered sarcastically.
The young woman glared at him and crossed her arms. “I can hear you groaning and moaning from down the hall!”
“Oh, My suffering, being forced to do desk work. Is my misery bothering you? ” He questioned his head still lying on his desk.
The young woman placed her forehead in her palm. “Really? Draco, stop acting like it's the end of the world. You did this to yourself.”
“Oh yes, please forgive me, we can’t all be the brightest witch of her age, Miss Granger-Weasley.”
“You don’t have to be that bright to know not to hex a child.” Hermione sighed, moving to sit at the other end of his desk. She tugged his tie so he was looking into her eyes. “Next time a child throws a rock at you…put up with it. Don’t fling him to the other side of the building.”
“But I hate children. Bothersome little brats. Their parents should have taught them manners. They're luckily I showed restraint.”
Hermione rolled her eyes and released him.
“Why are you here anyway? Christmas Eve is not a time to be in the office.”
“I could ask you the very same question. Shouldn’t you be with your husband and hundred children?” He teased leaning back and closing his eyes.
“I have two children and you know that.” He could hear her chuckle, which in turn made him smirk. “And I only came to get something for Harry, hiding Ginny's present in the burrow is not as easy as it looks. Now answer my question, Draco.”
“Someone has to be here, just in case. Make sure the paperwork doesn’t get backed up.”
“Yes, that is why we have other people who don’t have plans watching over, taking shifts,” Hermione explained.
“Yep, like me.” He admitted.
“You don’t have any plans?” Hermione asked, her voice growing soft.
“Well, I plan on getting drunk later. That’s a plan, isn't it?” He laughed, though it stopped as he peeked laying his eyes on a concerned-looking Hermione. “It’s fine, it's not like I have a child who will miss me or a partner. After my mother’s passing, I tend not to celebrate the holidays as much.”
“So you’ll be alone?”
“It’s not as bad as you are making it.”
He watched as she went around his desk and took his arm. Her gentle touch made his heart skip a beat, though Draco soon decided it had been a warning for the heart attack she was about to give him as she pulled him out of his chair and dragged him down the hall.
“What the- Granger let go!” He shouted, trying to free himself, learning that the girl’s grip was second to none.
“You are spending the Holidays with me and everyone at the burrow!”
“Merlin no! I will not be surrounded by Weasly children this entire holiday!”
“Then it’s too bad you don’t have a choice!”
Draco sat on the old Weasly couch, listening to the sounds of merriment and the screams of children.
"So this is what hell is like?"
"Stop being so dramatic." Hermione scolded before pulling her husband and pushing him to sit beside Draco.
Draco watched as they had a silent conversation with their eyes, before Hermione most likely succeeding placed a Santa's hat on his head and a kiss on his cheek before turning to face Draco.
"Draco, why do you and Ron chat about the last Quidditch game?"
"What an excellent idea," Ronald said with a sarcastic tone though he did turn to face Draco, rolling his eyes after Hermione left. "So....did you hear about the latest Quidditch game?"
Draco sighed before rolling his eyes at the taller man. His blue eye bore into Draco making him have to look away. "Not really. I been busy with other things."
"Oh?" A voice asked. Draco turned to see a smiling Harry Potter. "Drink."
He held three cups, offering one to Ronald and Draco. Ronald took his with such urgency but Draco shook his head. "I'm fine. I'll get drunk on my stuff when I get home."
Harry's emerald eyes rolled before sitting beside him. "Good luck with that. I overheard Hermione asking Arthur to make a bed for our guest."
"What? No. Damn it."
Harry's voice chuckled. "It's not that bad, we are happy you can join us."
"Speak for yourself." Ronald huffed, downing his drink.
"Ignore Ron he's much more fun after he has had a few more drinks." Harry sighed. Draco felt Harry's hand pat his leg, lingering only for a moment, before Ginny called him over. "Oh, be right back."
Draco nodded but soon discovered Ron had escaped. Draco leaned back and closed his eyes, tired of the noise of the burrow and just wanting to go home. He felt a tap on his leg. He peeked a saw a small redhead little staring at him along with a bunch of other ones behind her. As he began to sit up, apparently that was terrifying as all the children ran away screaming.
"Well, at least they aren't aggressive."
"Thank you...Miss Weasley." Draco thanked Molly as she brought him into a spare room.
The woman didn't say anything just nodded and walked off presumably to her room.
Draco got dressed in the night clothes provided for him and got into bed. Just one more day, not even...just the morning before he can escape and go back home.
He turned off the lights, only the moon shining in to give a little light. Draco began to shut his eyes, sleepily. And would have succeeded if not for the door creaking open. He sat up and was met by Hermione peeking into the room.
"Granger? Did you need something?"
He watched as the young woman shut the door behind her and trailed over to him. It was dark so he couldn't make out her expression. But he could smell it on her.
"You're drunk aren't you?"
The young woman suddenly moved and was sitting on his lap, the moonlight finally reaching her face, he could see tears. Her lip quivered as she dropped her head into the crook of his neck. He began to hear quiet sobs.
"Um...Granger, why don't I go get her husband for you? Let me just-" He attempted to get up, after all, if Ronald saw them in this position it was most likely that he would nearly get killed. Hermione kept him down though, sitting up once again.
"D-do you hate me?" She asked her voice was quiet, soft.
"No."
"You don't call me by my name." She muttered as she began playing with the drawstring of his night pants. "I call you by your name."
Draco didn't know what to say. "Um...well it's just normal for me, I have never said your first name. And I thought I should have your permission after all I was horrible to you as a child."
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
Draco felt as if he was trapped. Of course, Hermione was pretty but his fear was still Ronald coming in and choking him. He watched as tears began to welt up in her eyes again from a lack of his answer. "Yes, you are very pretty....Hermione. One of the most beautiful girls I have ever met."
She smiled before giving a drunken hiccup. "Truly?"
Draco nodded. "Truly. But now you have to get up. Okay?"
She nodded softly standing up, watching as Draco stood up as well. He took her hand and led her out of the room downstairs where a bunch of middle-aged drunken adults resided.
"Idiots." He mumbled before bringing Hermione over to Ronald, sitting her beside him. He was about to run away when Harry looped his arm around Draco's torso pulling him into his lap.
Harry smiled, obviously very drunk. "Hello, Draco."
Draco sighed staring at the boy-who-lived, as the man held him a bit too close. And as drunk as Ginny was he could feel her fury from across the room. "Hello, Potter. Can you let go please?"
"But then you'll leave and the party just started! The kids are upstairs asleep and we can have fun!" He shouted loudly, still not letting him go.
Draco felt something being placed on his head and looked up at Ronald softly patting the Santa's hat he had placed. "There, now you look more cheery." He smiled brightly, something Draco had never experienced before from him and sat down beside them
Draco rolled his eyes as Hermione moved to sit on the other side of Harry and Draco. Great! He was now stuck. He looked down to assess the struggle he would have to put up when he noticed Harry's hand. It was miscolored.
"Potter? What happened to your hand?"
Harry looked at it, and burst out laughing. "We were playing a game. just shooting off random spells at each other to see if we could deflect...guess I lost without noticing."
"What spell?"
He shrugged.
Draco watched as the discoloring began to move up his hand toward his arm. Whatever spell or spell it was causing a bad effect. Draco sighed. "Let me up. I'll make a healing potion, that will work on anything."
"No."
"What? Potter let me up right now!" He said in anger. Harry Potter was not going to die from an array spell shoot-off by a drunken idiot.
"Call me my name first, then I'll let you go." His emerald eyes peered up at him, his arms still snaked around Draco's waist not allowing the man to get up off his lap.
"What is with you all?....Drunken....fine! Harry, please let me get up so I can brew you a healing potion. " Draco sighed.
Harry hid his face in Draco's chest but nodded letting him go. Only after turning to whisper something into Hermione's ear, who giggled starting up at Harry.
"You are such children when you are drunk."
Draco moved over to the kitchen to begin to make the potion. Thankfully Miss Weasly had all the ingredients he needed but one. Draco glared at the pantry. It would have been fine if Draco knew what spell had hit Harry but be it as he didn't that final ingredient was necessary.
His pack. His pack was linked to his potion room in his home. He walked back into the living room to see Ronald going through his pack. "Weasley!"
Draco snatched the pack from the taller man's hands. Ronald frowned up at him. "I was just trying to help..."
Draco sighed. They were just like children while drunk. "It's fine."
Draco wandered back into the kitchen, he reached into his pack and pulled out unicorn horn shavings adding them to the potion. He began to stir clockwise, keeping his eyes on the clock to make sure he made it perfectly.
He suddenly felt a body behind him and two arms wrapped around his waist, and a head on his shoulder. Draco sighed as he saw a still frowning Ronald, his blue eyes staring down at the potion. "I'm sorry, Draco."
"I said it was fine, Weasley. Now let go. What is with you people and holding on to me."
Ronald mumbled something and him being a prat and buried his head in his neck. "Ronald....let go."
Ronald immediately let go, raising his head with a smile. "Okay...what are you making?"
"It's an Ever Healing Potion, very hard to make, but it's done and it will hopefully heal whatever your group of idiots did to Harry."
Draco poured it into a cup and walked over to Harry. "Drink this and go to bed...now. It will make you tired."
Harry sighed and drank it, handing it back to Draco. "Miss Potter, Please bring your husband to bed!" He called for Ginny who walked over, glaring at him before pulling Harry with her and bringing him upstairs.
Draco turned to Hermione and Ronald who had their foreheads together smiling at each other. "You two as well. Go to bed!"
Ronald looked a bit grumpy but took Hermione's hand a pulled her upstairs.
Draco turned to the rest of the Weasly children and their significant others and point up. They all frowned and followed suit. Draco had enough at this point, and not wanting to deal with the drunken people for the rest of the night, ending up grabbing his stuff and flooing back home.
When Draco Malfoy first heard the news, he couldn't believe it. Harry Potter, Golden Boy, Chosen One, dead. Draco at first thought it had been him, his potion maybe he brewed it wrong. He was shocked scared and confused. That was until he heard Harry's life had been taken by one Ginny Weasley. Why? Harry Potter was everything. He was the savior of the wizarding world, loved by all, he had true friends and a family who he loved more than anything. He loved her. Why would she do such a horrible thing?! He had only found out about it because Hermione had happened to enter the room the moment Ginny launched her spell. Ronald was said to have tackled her himself.
His friends were Hermione and Ronald Weasley, the two-thirds of the trio, now left alone to deal with his loss. The following months were hell, Draco would see them often after Harry's death, broken, and quiet. Hermione who often would have a quip to say, barely even looked up at his eyes at work. Her eyes were glued to the ground.
Once Draco found her huddled in a corner of her office crying. He had tried his best to calm her, but she just continued to cry into his shoulder. Any questions he asked would fall on deaf ears, not that he expected the two to tell him, he only wished to understand more to help.
Draco's questions were soon answered by Rita Skeeter of all people and the book she published not even a year after Harry's death. Titled: The Lives Of Lions: The Biography Of The Golden Trio.
Draco wished he had burned every bookstore before anyone had a chance to read it. He wondered how she even got ahold of such pieces of information. Things even Hermione and Ronald didn't even know. The book began speaking of the lives of Hermione, Ronald, and Harry. It was horrible and one of the two only things that happened to be true about that stupid book! Pasts, abuse, neglect, the disregard for their wellbeing, and the stories of what Dumbledore had put the trio through the trials and pain. It made Draco sick to his stomach. The things they had to endure from young ages, made him want to cry for them. It would have been enough if Rita had stopped there. She should of. She shouldn't have let her imagination get the better of her, cause she also included lies. Horrible lies, that made the two remaining of the trio as villains instead of the heroes they were. That vial woman made it so people actively tried to harm them in the streets, and their children were looked down upon and threatened. Draco tried his best to diminish such accusations but what good is the word of a former death eater?
The only other thing in that book that was proven to be true was the reason behind Ginny's attack on her husband. Before that during the long trials, she accused him of being crazy, trying to harm her. That it was an attack of self-defense. Draco didn't believe it, and neither did Hermione, or Ronald. Nevile, Luna, and George actively denied such a thing as well. Her defense was broken upon Rita's work when it mentioned a love potion issued by Ginny and Molly Weasley toward one Harry Potter. Ginny had wiped her memory of it, Molly, too. But upon scanning the memories of the late Harry Potter, the argument that happened before his death confirmed it. Ginny had killed him not wanting anyone to find out what she had done. She had thought everyone had left. Hermione and Ronald had come back just to ask Harry a question and had caught it right as it happened. The only thing Rita couldn't understand was how he found out. She assumed a strong healing potion...issued by the ministry from a curse of some sort from his time as an auror, though there was no proof to back that up. As no one from that night had such a memory as they had been very drunk it and it wasn't important to the trail at hand it was ignored and Draco never brought it up.
Draco blamed himself of course. He should have never made such a strong potion, maybe then Harry wouldn't have found out the truth and never would have confronted Ginny. Maybe he still would be there?
Ginny tried to counter the accusations but there was no winning after the truth was brought to light. In light of what happened to the boy who lived, love potions were banned, and made illegal. Ginny's children were taken and she was sent to Azkaban. However, since Molly hadn't technically done anything illegal she was let free. The trial resulted in the children having no home. The Weasleys weren't allowed to take them in as Ginny Potter nee Weasley their mother lost her rights to them. Neville was the second choice obviously, but be it that he now had his own family, they were put in the care of Harry Potter's next closest relative...Draco Malfoy. So the young Potters were left in his care.
At first, the young Potters were quite frightened of him, as they had been at every meeting they had before. Not that Draco blamed them. He never saw himself as a guardian let alone a father to any child but Draco owed it to Harry to raise these children as if they were his own.
It was his fault that this happened even if it was small. Harry had saved him, cleared his name, and let him live normally. He was kind to him and gave him a job when no one else would. He wanted to honor him by doing his best to care for his children.
Lily was the sweetest thing, a timid young child who soon warmed up to him. A little girl she would hold his hand whenever they were out, clinging to him as if she felt he would disappear too. She loved to sing and dance and would often drag Draco from whatever he was doing just so he could watch her. As she was only five years old after all when she was placed in his care after a while she seemed to see him as her father. Even so, he always made sure to talk about Harry and how much he loved her and her brothers. That timid girl grew to be a very wild child, her favorite thing was her garden which she loved growing the most beautiful and most likely dangerous flowers. A Hufflepuff with a fare with the dramatic. Draco was often owled by the headmistress about what things her plant consumed or about what she had dragged her cousin Hugo, a Ravenclaw into. She was never one for subtlety, many times being sent home, Hermione was the one to chew her out. He would often invite Hermione and Ronald over to his home, a familiar face went a long way in settling the nervous children down.
That helped out loads when it came to nine-year-old James and seven-year-old Albus. James was more defiant, he would often throw temper tantrums and scream, and he would often hit his young siblings in frustration. He missed his father and mother very much. Draco tried his best, talking to the boy as he was only nine he didn't want to tell him graphically what his mother had done but he deserved the truth. He told him his mother had done a horrible thing, and his father was gone, but he wanted Draco to care for him and would do it to the best of his ability. It took a while but he became gentler. Draco decided that his aggressive nature was better on a field: a sport, but be it he was only nine and a few years away from Hogwarts, he allowed Hermione to talk him into sending the boy into a contradictive muggle sport called Rugby. However, as soon as he came of age he was one of the best Quidditch Beater Gryffindor had ever seen.
Albus was quiet. The young boy stopped eating, and talking, he slept most of the day. Draco tried his best not to force him. Draco was never the best cook. Awful really but one day he tried to make Albus' favorite food, one his father would make for him. He burned it the first couple of times, but James and Lily helped him and the final result was at least edible. A shepherd's pie that didn't look half bad was placed in front of the child. He ate one bite, and nearly gagged but he did eat all of it. In the following weeks, months, and years, Albus began coming downstairs early to make breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner for everyone. On his way to his first day of Hogwarts, he had to remind Draco he had left a week's worth of food for him, and to not touch the oven while he was gone. Draco had tried, he wanted to practice to surprise him upon his return but it seemed that the Slytherin boy had taken a few things out of the muggle invention so as not to allow his father to harm himself while he was gone. Draco sent a very angry howler and was sent back a passive-aggressive owl in return.
Hermione and Ronald visited almost every day. After work, Hermione would walk home with Draco where Ronald would show up and they would chat while their children played. They seemed quiet, unlike his childhood enemies, they were meek and seemed to jump at every noise. They would smile every once and a while, and he couldn't help his heart go flutter. It was such a rare sight to see. As it seemed like a part of them was missing.
For seven years, everything seemed calm. Life went on. Even when the stupid, gross rumors of Harry being the new dark lord surfaced, of him still being around, ready to be the next tyrant, Hermione and Ronald being his followers, he didn't pay any mind to it. It was the same lies. He should have made sure they were okay. He should have. It had been a while since they had met up together. He had been busy with the three potter children and they had their two. Rose was quite a handful herself, the Gryffindor girl would often get into trouble for talking back. That was why he was surprised when Hermione showed up alone on his doorstep, frightened and looking paranoid-like. All he could do was hold her as she struggled to speak through tears.
"Someone was following me. I couldn't go home. I was so frightened. You were closer." Hermione cried. "I'm sorry for bothering you. I dropped my wand. I-I"
"Hermione, calm down. You're okay. You are not bothering me....stay here till the morning. I'll send an owl to Ronald that you are here."
"But what if they come in? What if they try to hurt you too?"
"They won't I'll put a ward up. Don't you worry." He kissed her head as she shivered in fright in his arms.
Draco did as he said he would but that didn't stop people from leaving...He had put her in a spare room, he didn't even leave the room he slept in the chair beside it afraid she would wake afraid if no one was there. The next morning he awoke to an empty bed with a single piece of parchment, a note Hermione had left saying she was going home early. She had been afraid that her children or Ronald would be the stalker's target after finding her safe behind wards. She was wrong. Or maybe she was right and found them but it didn't change the result. She was found dead laying in the street of diagon alley, the words: Follower Of The Next Dark Lord around alighted the sky above.
Draco went to her funeral, he hated himself for what happened. He should have locked her in. He was nervous approaching Ronald. Ronald and him had always fought, even now he thought the man despised him, especially after what happened to Hermione. Yet Draco was the one Ronald seemed to cling to the most during the service, he was the one Ronald sent owls to every day, and the one who was invited to his home many times over.
Ronald was a mess. Who could blame him? His wife, and his best friend, had both gone and left him behind. Draco tried his best to be there for him. He tried to be the friend he wished he had been in childhood. Ronald was strong. Draco knew it. Ronald had to be for his children, they were only in their first and third years when their mother was taken from them. Draco became the only person Ronald would talk to.
Even the rest of his family seemed to have been shunned by the man. George came by often to ask how his youngest brother was doing. Draco would try his best to highlight the bright points yet, there weren't many. Ronald was like a zombie, just going through the motions of the living.
This went on for years, until Hugo's marriage to Mary-Alice Longbottom.
A year later, Ronald appeared at his doorstep.
"Ronald, what are you doing out this late? You'll catch a cold." Draco sighed, motioning for the man to come in from the rain.
"Yes, well. I needed to see you." He explained walking in, rain dripped from his clothes. He was soaked from head to toe.
"See me? We were going to have tea, next week. You were very insistent." Draco chuckled. "Why don't I give you some warm clothes? The drying charm is great but, nothing beats some fresh clothes."
Ronald nodded and followed after him. He was quieter than usual. Not that Ronald was very talkative, but after Harry and Hermione's passing he was less than him. But still, Ronald seemed off.
After Ronald was in new, dry clothes, Draco sat him down on the couch beside him.
"Alright, now why are you here this late?"
"I-I needed to give you something. I found it while packing up Mione's things." Ronald shuttered, at her name, and reached into his robe pulling out two old notebooks.
"Packing?"
"I want you to have them. They belonged to them." Ronald continued as if not hearing or acknowledging Draco's question. "Mine is in my room, on my bed. I didn't want you to have it now....you can get it later. After. I was too scared to give it to you now, I'm a coward."
Draco watched as tears burned the redhead's eyes.
"You're not a coward, Ronald. You're a lion. One of the bravest." Draco whispered rubbing circles on the man's back.
"I'm going away." He muttered.
"Away?"
Ronald nodded. "I have to. Rose and Hugo, don't need me anymore. I stayed as long as I could. It hurts to look at them, all I see is her, and looking at James and Albus is no different. I-I can't go on anymore, Draco. Not without them."
"What do you mean by away?" Draco asked more sternly, standing up and looking down at him.
"I'm so sorry. People look at me like, I'm a monster, and though things they say about us...Hermione, Harry and I...It's not fair. I hate that they left me here. I hate that I am going to leave you as well. Being left behind is awful. You became my friend when I needed one the most. It makes me happy, that we became friends." Ronald gave a sad smile.
"Ronald."
Ronald stood up. Draco had forgotten how much taller he was than him. He was often the one above, consoling the poor man. Draco tried to take a step back before his hand was caught by Ronald and he was pulled towards him.
Draco felt soft lips touch his. He tried to force himself to push the man away. He was in distress, Draco couldn't take advantage of him in such a state. But he couldn't stop either. He simply melted into the kiss, as Ronald pulled him closer. Hearing himself moan into the kiss, maybe Draco's heart skip a beat. By the time it was over, Draco struggled to catch his breath as he looked up at Ronald. Ronald leaned down so their foreheads touched.
"I wish I could do more than that...but that wouldn't be fair. That was selfish of me anyway, kissing you when...when they wanted to just as much." His finger lingered on Draco's lips, as his blue eyes stared at him.
"Ronald. I-"
"Don't...please. I need to go."
"Go? Where are you going?" Draco felt it in his chest. He knew what the man was planning. "...I-I'll just stop you."
Ronald gave a small chuckle. "I don't want to hurt you, right after I just kissed you, Draco. You can't stop me. I just came to say goodbye. I know it's selfish but...I needed to say goodbye. Especially when they never had the chance to."
Draco was scared and he didn't know what to do. Ronald was right. Even though as a child Ronald was dreadful at magic, he had learned to harness it, in his teen and adulthood. He was part of the fucking golden trio, the last one after all! Draco knew any spell he threw at the man would be reflected and a stronger one would be shot at him. But he needed to try...
Draco reached for his wand in his robe. He watched as Ronald sighed. "I am sorry, Draco. Maybe we'll meet again in the next life? And you'll be my friend again. Be our friend."
Draco didn't even see when Ronald had taken his wand out but he was instantly hit with a sleeping hex. Falling into Ronald's arms, he struggled to stay awake as the man laid him on the couch. Blurred he looked up at the man, who gave him a sad smile once again.
"I know you needed to try. Thank you for trying, Draco."
When Draco woke up, he was in St mungo's hospital. He had been there asleep for ten days...Ronald was found dead ten days before, found by Neville who had gotten an Owl from him asking him to come over. Ronald had also sent an Owl to James making sure Draco was brought to the hospital after the very powerful sleeping hex he had placed on him. Draco was forced to stay at the hospital for three more days, just to make sure that the hex Ronald had placed on him was truly gone.
Draco locked himself away in his home. His children, the now grown Potter children often visited during those long weeks after, checking on the man who raised them. George visited often as well. He seemed to find comfort in Draco and Draco had to admit he felt comfort looking at a familiar face. After though...when it became quiet, he thumbed over the notebooks Ronald had left. But they weren't notebooks...they were diaries.
Hermione's diary was from her third year. Notes and scribbles, that made Draco smile. He missed her handwriting. While working together at the Ministry she would often have to write notes for him to understand what she wanted him to do, they often had a smile drawn in at the end. She never knew how happy it made him to read them.
The diary mostly talked of her time turner, and how she used it to go to additional classes and the events of the year, Sirus Black being the main one. But one page made him pause:
DRACO MALFOY IS A EVIL GIT! I swear! If it weren't for me and Harry, Draco would have gotten his wish. Buckbeak would have died. He is such a baby! Buckbeak barely left a scar! I punched him. I had to. He deserved it. It was quite fun to do as well. His head making against the rock made a funny sound. Though...
Draco had to read it a second time just to make sure he read it right.
When he whimpered it made my chest hurt. It made me want to comfort him. Maybe something is wrong with me? I hate him...I know I do. But it makes me sad when he says the things he says. When Crabbe or Goyle do it, it just makes me mad! But when Draco says those things to me. I just feel like I want to cry and ask him why he hates me so much. Even if he is cruel and evil! and such a prick! He makes me feel...I don't know. It's like when I am with Ron and Harry, if they ever said such things to me I would cry just as hard I think. My stomach flutters when he is close to me...Maybe he cursed me?!
Draco's face went red as he slammed the diary shut. He felt like he was reading something he shouldn't. Hermione was only thirteen when she wrote this after all. But it sounded like...she had a crush on him. No, not possible. That made no sense! Hermione loved Ronald. Ronald loved Hermione. The only reason Ronald even kissed him was because he was lonely and sad and Draco was there. Nothing more. Draco shook his head free of the thoughts of unrequited love as he picked up Harry's diary.
"Year One?"
This diary was from Harry's first year.
Why does he always want to pick a fight with me!? I did decline his friendship but he insulted Ron. Ron's my friend. Why can't we all just be friends? Draco is such an arse! I hate him! But whenever he's around I want to show off what I learned. I feel the need for him to be proud of me. Like Ron, and Hermione. Whenever I think about him face goes all red, and I can't tell if it's cause I'm angry or...I don't know what else it could be! When he says my name in that stupid tone, it's so cute weird. I don't want to ask Hermione or Ron. I just don't know what to do. I'll just try not to look into his eyes, they are too pretty, and I fear I could get lost in them. Yes, ill try not to look at him directly.
Draco physically threw the book away from him. No. Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived did not like him in that way.... it's not possible. Draco made life hell for both Hermione and Harry. Why- His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Upon opening it, he nearly had a heart attack.
Rose Weasley, stood on her porch holding Malcolm, her four-year old son in one hand and a package in another.
"Rose?"
"Draco. I apologize, after the funeral, I was so busy. I was going to come sooner but my father had so much stuff." Rose explained.
They were in his parlor drinking tea, he had made for the both of them as Malcolm played with some toys from the Potter children's younger years.
"It's quite alright, Rose. I didn't expect you or Hugo to be concerned over m-"
"Why wouldn't we? If not for you my father would have given up years ago." She sighed. "After my mother passed, it seemed she took most of him with her. You brought a bit of it back. He never even smiled at home. The only time he seemed to was when he was here around you."
"That's kind of you to say."
"Hugo said he'd visit soon. He's overseas, I think he's avoiding everyone. He was always the most like mother. I looked like her but he acted so much like her. He always felt like being around father made him sad. I fear he's punishing himself. Mary-Alice is almost due in a month or so, I pray he comes home before then."
"Hugo is just like your mother. Stubborn to a fault. But like her, he will be there when his family needs him." Draco smiled softly.
Rose smiled back. Her smile was identical to Hermione's. Right down to the favored smile cress on the right side of her mouth.
"How is Kimberly? Second year, correct?" Draco asked trying to change the subject.
Rose beamed. "Yes, and doing marvelously. Though she has been in the habit of sneaking off with Luca and goofing off."
"James really needs to get ahold of that boy. Then again with five children, it's quite hard to keep them all straight." Draco chuckled.
"Better than Albus, he only has the twins, and yet he struggles to keep them in check."
"Well, the terrible two's are a thing, and having twin boys with Weasley blood. Recipe for disaster." Draco smiled, enjoying their conversation.
"Yes, I remember having to deal with that when Malcolm was two. He's the reason Lily has sworn off children."
"Hmmm, she's never been one to share the spotlight anyway. She'd rather explore with her lover."
"Lover? Huff to that, you are missing the 'S' "
"Well as her fatherly figure, I'd rather not think of the lover(s) she is galavanting all over Europe with. And speaking of lovers, I forgot to ask about your lovely wife."
"Freya's fine. She was going to come with me but I wanted to see you alone. You know her, can't get a word in when she's on one of her tangents. Plus I said I'd take Malcolm to give her time to write. Her article is due tomorrow and she has not even started it."
Draco nodded looking down at the redheaded boy. Those Weasley genetics. The small boy smiled up at him, his freckled nose crinkling as he did so. "He looks like Ronald more and more."
"Yes, I'm grateful for that. It makes me feel like he is still here." She took a deep breath, blotting her fallen tears with a napkin. "Anyway, here."
Rose handed him the package she arrived with.
"For you. It was wrapped, and placed on my father's bed. For Draco. I didn't look at it. I swear."
His Diary...he said that was where he left it. "Thank you, Rose."
"Of course...um....I know that you don't like coming to Weasley family gatherings, but my grandmother won't be there, she is banned, Grandfather says it will be easier if he doesn't go as she will bitch if does. So it will just be everyone else, the broad so to say. I convinced James and Albus, Lily hasn't answered my owl yet but I would love it if you came. The young ones adore you, and well I want you there. As much as everyone else is my biological family, you are my family too. I love you, you're basically my other father." Rose explained getting a bit embarrassed at the end.
"I love you too...I'll think about it."
"Really?! Oh, you're truly the best." She smiled leaning over and giving him a hug.
"The best!" Malcolm shouted running over to get a hug too.
It had been a year since Rose had given him Ronald's diary and he was yet to open it. To be honest he was scared, anxious about what he would find. One day he decided to open it. Second Year Diary.
Damn that Malfoy! How dare he call Hermione that horrible name! I can't even write it. That prick! He's lucky my wand's broken! He's just like his father! But for some reason, I get sad each time he looks down on me. I should be mad, Pissed off!? But even then...He does have some redeeming qualities. He's great at quidditch, he's a natural. He might have bought his way in but when he's on his broom, it's hard to look away, it reminds me of when Harry flies. Even Hermione seems entranced by it.....THAT PISSES ME OFF! STUPID TALENTED IDIOT! I HATE HIM!
Again Draco slammed the book shut. He went to bed, and as he lay there his thoughts began to pile. He sighed.
"Even if they did have a crush on me...all of the dissipated during year 6. Ronald only felt that way cause he was alone, and wanted comfort in his final hour....doesn't matter anyway. Best leave it, what good is it to think upon the dead as if they are alive?"
As the years went on Draco did his best to be there for the Weasley and Potter children. He became a grandfather to their children, and as such that is what they called him.
"Grandpa!!!!"
"Leo, if you shout in my house again I will send you to your mother." Draco scolded the young boy.
"Now, now, don't be so harsh." Lily smiled walking in and picking up her fussy five-year-old. "Leo, be good for your grandfather. He has been kind enough to host Christmas at his house this year."
"Not like I had much of a choice. Rose threatened me. I saw her mother in those eyes and knew I hadn't a choice." Draco chuckled finding a soft place to sit.
As he went up in years, he felt himself enjoying more people's company.
"Grandpa we are here!" Voices shouted from his front door. All Draco could do was shake his head and ready so soft hexes he would place on his grandchildren for their loudness.
Years go, and time moves....
"One hundred and twenty, dare I say you are becoming an old man?" Hugo smirked as Draco blew out the candles and glared at him.
"Not old enough to not hex you, you little prat."
"Stop bickering, you are acting like two eight-year-olds." Rose chastised, picking up the cake. "Kimberly, can you get the presents from the back, while I cut the cake?"
"Sure, Mom. Just let me put Sophie down for her nap."
"I still can't believe you are a grandmother." Hugo chuckled.
"Let's not discuss it." Rose glared walking off. "Freya come help me please."
Freya smiled running after her wife.
Draco turned to Albus and James who rolled their eyes and turned to Draco with a smile. "So what's it like being older than dirt?" James chuckled.
"James!" Lily shouted smacking her brother.
"What?"
Albus laughed, earning him a smack as well.
"Ignore them, they are idiots," Lily said, giving Draco a kiss on his head. "Happy birthday Papa."
Draco smiled up at her.
His chest hurt. Breathing became harder and harder. He knew he was dying. But he wasn't scared, he was surrounded by loved ones.
Lily was clinging to her son, Leo. Leo tried his best to hold his mother, soothing her with his words. The teen tried his best not to show his tears. Rose sat at Draco's bedside holding his hand. Kimberly was beside her, and eleven-year-old Sophie next to her. Their eyes all three generations, were Hermione's. Hugo wasn't there. But he assumed he wouldn't be. He didn't blame him. He made sure to tell him how much he cared for him the last time they spoke. Albus and James stood on his other side with their wives and children. Even the cousin Weasleys were around, though Ronald's brothers had all passed on already, their children made it a point to stay close.
Draco chuckled. "So many read heads."
"Papa...no" Lily gave a sad laugh. "Those better not be your last words."
"Of course not. But really have nothing to say...I love you all. And I wish I didn't have to go." He fell tears fall on his face.
Rose wiped them from his far.
"No crying, you going to go see my mother. She'll be so upset if you leave this world crying." She smiled, and her lip quivered. "When you see them, you tell them about each and every one of us. Tell them about everything okay? And when we see each other again. You better be first to hug me."
Draco turned to his bookshelf. He stared at the diaries he had laid to rest and smiled. As an elderly man, he learned more about himself. His jealousy as a boy was truly rooted in his adoration for the trio. He had wished instead he would had tried to befriend them in his youth. Though he was there for their children and that was all he could do. He was happy he could at least give the people he grew to love so much that....
"Papa!" Lily sobs became louder as Draco's vision began to blur. "I love you so much!"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you"
Draco woke up in pitch blackness.
"Hello?" He called out, he sat up.
This couldn't be the afterlife...after all, he had been through, just to arrive in darkness. Not being able to see them again. Tears began to welt up in his eyes.
A noise...Footsteps...Draco looked up as a door swung open and a bright wand illuminated the room. At the other end of said wand was a woman he had not seen in years.
"Mother?"