FIC: The Counterfeit Life (Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger)
Title: The Counterfeit Life
Author: Anonymous
Characters: Hermione, Ron, Draco, Rose, Hugo and Scorpius
Prompt number: 47
Word Count: 7,000
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Your life will be forever changed… Not (Mod Note: [Spoilers]Incest, Character Death)
Summary: There was a reason they didn't want their children to marry: it would expose their own affair.
Disclaimer: If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I’m not forcing you. If you leave a review - thanks. If not, oh, well? I’m pretty sure my life will go on.
Author’s Notes: Thank you my wonderful beta!
The Counterfeit Life
Bing. Bing. Bing. A woman with frizzy, curly chestnut hair frowned in disapproval at the sounds her husband was making with his muggle device.
“Ronald! Stop fooling around with the apps. We’ve no time for it! Rose’s coming 'round in,” she checked the watch on her wrist, “fifteen minutes!”
The man stood up from his spot at the kitchen table to wrap his arms soothingly around his rattled wife.
“Relax, ‘Mione. She’s always late. You know that.”
“I know. It’s just… She said she had something important to announce. What if she’s pregnant with Merlin knows whose baby? To be honest, I’m surprised Hugo hasn’t brought a pregnant girl over yet.”
Her husband snorted at the thought.
“Not our Rosie. She’s smarter than that. She’s got your brains, no doubt about that. Rosie’s probably found a better job or something like that.” Ron said, quite pleased with the way their daughter had turned out.
“You think so?” The woman peered at her husband hopefully.
“Perhaps. You know, She could conquer the world if she wanted to and become another Dark Lord.”
She promptly swatted him. “Don’t even think about it. We don’t need another one of those.”
“Certainly not. I’m just saying that she’s capable, love.”
“Yes, she is. Rose wasn’t Head Girl for nothing. I just wish she’d put her smarts to better use. Imagine, working as a journalist like that Skeeter woman.” Hermione bristled.
“You can’t fault her for doing what she loves. There’s been no complaints from her so far. Besides, she’s not doing so poorly. Wasn’t she was promoted to foreign correspondent last year? That’s certainly nothing to sneeze about. Besides, we’re damn near lucky that Hugh was kind enough to put a good word in for her.”
Hermione pressed her lips as if to make another comment, but thought against it.
“Look, in another year or so, she’ll probably find someone and settle down into a more conventional career. Rosie is grown up, after all. You can’t expect her to remain a child forever!”
“I suppose.” She wasn’t all that convinced, but she supposed it didn’t matter.
Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley looked thoughtfully at her husband. He hadn’t aged so terribly, but he looked a far cry from the gangly teen she had fallen in love with. His ginger hair had thinned ever so slightly, and he had formed a pouch after too many good meals. All in all, they still had their ups and downs. Twenty-six years ago, she wasn’t even sure that they would still be together. Their tendency to bicker had turned into full-on fights. Then, she got pregnant with Rosie, and everything changed. Or, at least, some things at least changed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the eruption of the floo.
Hermione rushed over to the fireplace to greet her daughter, but was met with the sight of… Scorpius Malfoy? Wasn't that Albie's friend? What on earth? Another roar from the fireplace indicated her daughter’s presence. The girl in question smoothed over her floral dress and combed back a few stray light brunette curls with her fingers. A slight flush was spread on Rosie’s cheeks as she looked between the young Malfoy and her mother.
“Mum, you’ve heard of Scorpius Malfoy, right? He’s - “
“What in the ruddy hell is this about? Rose? Who is this Malfoy look-alike, and what in the blazes is he doing in our home?” Ron blasted at her.
“Dad!” Rose admonished. “This is Scorpius. He’s my fiancé.”
A murderous look arose upon Ron’s face. "Your fiancé?”
He turned over to Scorpius. “Aren’t you supposed to ask me first before you propose to her, let alone be introduced to us? When did you two even become a thing? Isn't he Albie's friend? ?”
“Ron, let Rose speak.” Hermione put a gentle hand on her husband’s shoulder.
"Uh...," she cleared her throat ever so slightly, "As I was saying. Yes. Scorpius is my fiancé. We fell in love six months ago when we were covering an article in Nigeria." Rose hesitated before sighing. "Mum... Dad... I love him." Her blonde companion wrapped a loving arm around her waist.
Her eyes shone with a brilliant honesty that could only be presented by one who was authentically, well, authentically in love.
"I forbid it." Hermione said abruptly, which caused Scorpius to Scorpius' head snapped up at that comment. snap his head up in full attention.
"Mrs Weasley?" Scorpius said incredulously. It seemed that he had finally found his voice. "After all Rose's said about you, I'd thought you'd understand. What do you have against us?"
Hermione's face paled at the comment. She hadn't thought all the way through her objection.
"Have you spoken to your father yet, Scorpius?" she inquired.
"No, of course not. He'd be even worse than you are."
Hermione groaned as she rubbed her temples. She should have known something bad was coming with all the trouble she'd had this week. "Rose, we can discuss this privately later, or rather as soon as possible."
She gave a meaningful look to Rose before she ushered her daughter and fiancé into the fireplace.
"What are you going to say to her 'Mione?" her husband asked once the pair was gone.
"What I probably should have told her years ago, Ron."
"And what would that be?"
"About life."
Like a mad woman, she scribbled out a short note in her office and owled it.
It's time we told them.
Within minutes, she had a response.
Can you withstand the fallout?
Hermione wasn't honestly certain if she could. There had been so many lies over the years that she had a hard time telling the lies from the truth. She knew that this truth had to eventually come out. Her lifelong luck as the third of the Golden Trio had officially worn out. Hermione only hoped that Harry and Ginny would forgive her in time. Merlin knew that Ron wouldn't.
She decided her answer in an instant. After all, this farce had gone on long enough.
Yes.
They met in a secluded area of a muggle café. No one would think to look for them there. To all the muggles surrounding them, they looked like an average middle aged married couple.
"We've been careless. I knew something like this would happen." The concern over her face made her appear older than she was. The sleepless nights since her daughter's revelation had taken their toll.
"Darling, you couldn't have possibly predicted this. Not even a brilliant person like you could have thought of a disastrous possibility such as the one we're in. Let's face it; Fate has royally screwed us over." A manly posh voice drawled as he gently rubbed circles on her palms the back of her hand.
"We both know that someone would have figured it out sooner or later. In fact, I'm surprised Harry never did."
"We both know Harry isn't as smart as you pretend him to be, dearest." That comment earned him a sour look.
"Perhaps, not. Yet, he is a heck of a lot less gormless than my husband."
Draco sniggered. "Remember the time he blew up the roast? Thought that he needed to add a lil' somethin' to make it cook faster when doing it the Muggle way. I nearly died from laughing at the remains of your kitchen after that one."
"All right, all right. Have your laugh. At least he managed to do an OK job at raising your children."
"I really can’t disagree with you on that one. He did do a bang up job. Though, I can’t believe he still thinks that you’re spending time with your parents who, by the way, have supported our lie one-hundred percent."
"I'm still surprised by that, actually." She commented as she took another gulp of her Earl Grey tea.
"I'm not." He stated flatly. "Your parents were so desperate to keep whatever they could of you after your... indiscretion that they were willing to support you through what was obviously a bad choice."
Hermione faltered somewhat as she stirred her spoon around. "I... I suppose you could be right."
"Ha! Twenty-six years and I finally get you to agree on this." He slapped his hand down on his lap as he spoke. She stuck her tongue out at him in response.
She took a moment to take in everything about Draco. His hair had receded a bit, but it looked refined on him. Even the crinkles at his eyes made him look glorious to her. Comparing her husband to this man wasn't even an option. The feeling of equality, understanding mutual respect, and love that emanated from Draco was worth every second she had spent lying and running around with him. Ron never even stood a chance. Why she had not simply divorced the ginger continued to plague her. It would happen soon enough once the truth came out.
"My love, would you still divorce your wife and marry me like you claimed all those years ago?" She whispered worriedly.
The hand in hers tightened. His eyes searched hers imploringly, as if they were looking at a mirage.
"You don't mean..." He began.
"Yes, I do."
Hermione looked quite vulnerable as she did all those years ago when she confessed her love to him in a Ministry cupboard. He adored her then as much as he did now. Nothing had changed for him.
"I would in a heartbeat." Draco's eyes never left hers. He leaned leant over to catch her in a scorching kiss that a few other patrons 'awed' about.
"Despite all these years, my love for you has never wavered, Hermione. I love you like Antony loved Cleopatra, like how the Sun loves the Moon. I love you so much that nothing else could ever extinguish the light from it."
There was a strained quality to his voice that grated at her heart. Never in any of the time she had been married to Ron had she felt quite so loved like she felt with this man before her. Hermione leaned leant in to whisper in his ear.
"I love you Draco Abraxas Malfoy." Her eyes crinkled with tears threatening to show how touched she truly was.
Draco leaned leant in to capture her lips once more. "And I, you."
Neither the couple nor the other patrons were aware that a person with narrowed eyes was staring out at them from underneath an infamous cloak.
"Albus, have you seen Dad's cloak?" James anxiously demanded the moment he stepped out of the floo.
Al looked perplexed. "No... You had it last, Jimmy. Unless... D'you reckon Lily took it for a spin?"
"I 's’pose. Regardless, Dad wants it for work." The older boy took a couple of steps towards the fireplace, before turning around. "Send me an owl if you find it, yeah?"
"Yeah. Yeah." Al muttered his practised reassurance as he heard his brother exit. He quickly returned to his perusal of the Daily Prophet.
Within seconds, the floo erupted once more.
"James, I just told you I would check for-" His words were muted once he looked up to see who it was.
"Oh, Rose. Thought you were Jimmy."
"So, I gathered. I just wanted to ask... Have your parents discussed why my Mum's so opposed to my marrying Scorp? I assumed she would have liked him well enough before! It's just so unlike her."
Used to dropping by, Rose sat herself opposite to Al and proceeded to start sipping his cuppa.
"Can't say that I do. Your guess is as good as mine. However,” he glanced across the table,“I can say that I don't approve of you swiping my tea." He scowled at her as she smirked. "You look like Scorpius when you do that."
"Yeah, well. I guess I've spent enough time around him to warrant that!" Al grimaced at the image that presented him. Rose giggled at his face-making before remembering the reason she had stormed over there in the first place.
"I just feel so alone in this. At least my Dad seems like he's warming up to Scorp. Maybe his dad did something recently to my mum? Do you think Uncle Hugh would like him?" She twirled her hair around her fingers. It was a nervous habit she had picked up during her first year at Hogwarts.
"Dunno. Could be possible. They seem to get on well enough. There aren't any huge arguments between them like there were between Mr. Malfoy and Uncle Ron. Besides, there's no one Uncle Hugh doesn't like. I don't think you'd have any problem with him."
"There has to be something she's not telling you."
"I know! I'll have to corner her one of these days while Dad's out. From what it looked like, I doubt he even knows why she doesn't want me to marry Scorp."
"You don't think that she has someone else in mind for you, do you?"
Her face scrunched up in concern. "No. After The last time she suggested someone, up a date for me me up to go out with someone, I made sure to make such a nuisance of myself that she would regret it forever. I hope she hasn't ideas of that nature anymore." She allowed herself to shudder at the memory of the disastrous meetings she had gone onto.
"Well, I hope you find out."
"Yeah, me too." She said, blowing on her hot tea before taking a sip.
Rose was waiting outside of her mother's office during lunch when she heard a moan. Alarmed, she took a step back. Weren't her parents a bit old to have impromptu encounters? Thankfully, the secretary was out, so the older woman was spared the indignity of hearing such disturbing noises. Disgusted, Rose promptly decided to visit her parents at a later time, when her breakfast wasn't going to make a second appearance. Her conversation with her mum could definitely wait.
As Rose strode down the hallway, Hermione opened the door. Her eyes became horror-struck as they attached themselves to her daughters retreating back. She swiftly closed the door, casting locking and muffling spells. Then, she turned her attention towards the other occupant of her office.
"What? What's the matter?" Draco queried, his voice still husky from their earlier activities.
"Our daughter almost caught us having sex. That's what's the matter." Hermione's voice was nearing nearly hysterical.
The blonde walked to her position by the door and began to rub her forearms.
"Don't!" She said frantically.
Draco dropped his hands in surrender. Hermione sighed.
"I didn't mean to snap at you, love. I'm simply frightened for what this means. I thought we had more time."
"Darling, they were always anyway going to find out, eventually." Draco stated calmly as he resumed massaging her. "We're simply going to have to be brave and tell our children the truth. There's no way around it."
Hermione looked searchingly into his eyes as if she were a scared child. "You'll be with me, won't you?"
As Draco kissed her temple, he slowly led her over to the chairs by her desk.
"Of course, dearest. We have always been in this together. You couldn't have made such attractive children without me, after all!" This earned him a glare.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." She said in a dry tone. After a moment of thought, Hermione spoke again. "I suppose we should arrange to speak with her as soon as possible."
"I agree. Though, Rose may not want anything to do with us for a while."
His lover's eyes looked downward and away from him with the intense grief of the thought of possibly being estranged from her child due to her own actions. They had been together so long that he knew when something was plaguing her.
Draco delicately raised up her chin so that her eyes were level with his.
"Hermione, we will all get through this. I promise you."
"I can only hope you're right. I think Ron suspects us. He's been rather terse with me lately. Do you think he knows?"
He regarded her seriously perhaps with what could be construed as guilt. "If he does, Hermione, then I give him kudos for finally realizing realising it."
"Mum, why are we at Uncle Hugh's?" Rose asked, clearly confused. They were sitting in the living room, waiting for him to return with tea.
The man, himself, answered for her mother. "You are here, Rosie, because there is a bit of information that we need to share with you."
"Did something happen with your Auntie Sissy?" She asked concernedly.
"No, dear. Nothing is wrong with my mother. However, there is something more pressing." He sat himself down on the armchair closest to the loveseat once he was done serving them.
"Your mother and I have something to tell you that we should have told you a long time ago."
Rose began to look anxiously between the pair. The way that Uncle Hugh was holding her mum's hand seemed awfully too familiar for two people who were just friends.
"Mum... You've been having an affair?" She squeaked out.
"It's somewhat more complicated than that, Rosie." Uncle Hugh stated rather cryptically.
The girl roared, "What could be more complicated than that? You betrayed Dad!"
"Rose Nymphadora Weasley, you will lower your voice! We will explain more, if only you would be silent." Each word was punctuated with silent guilt, which Hermione had perfected after years of marriage to Ron.
Her daughter pursed her lips in anger. It seemed as if Rose was aiming at making them bleed with the pressure she was applying.
"While it is true that I betrayed Ronald, it isn't exactly true that he is your father."
"What? You not only cheated on Dad, but you had a child with another man?! How could you? It was him in the office that day, wasn't it?" She sneered.
"Rose!" The rebuke from Uncle Hugh served its purpose.
"It's because of you're not being Ronald's daughter that makes it wrong to marry Scorpius" Hermione said gingerly, trying to calmly explain the situation. u cannot marry Scorpius."
"Why? What has that got to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it, Rosie, because my name is not really Hugh Dawkins."
With a wave of his wand, Uncle's Hugh's form changed. His once identifiable mousy brown hair lightened to a platinum blonde colour, with his hair receding ever so slightly. His chin sharpened and his stubby nose came to a refined aristocratic point. Steel eyes looked upon her own hazel ones nervously, as if searching for approval.
"You're... Mr Malfoy?" Her voice managed to rasp. She turned to her mother. "You cheated on Daddy with Mr Malfoy? That means..." A hand covered her mouth in shock and repulsion.
Hermione took her hands in hers as she leant over.
"You cannot marry Scorpius, Rose. If I had any inkling that you had felt that seriously towards him, I would have told you the truth sooner. We never meant to hurt you."
Tears were now streaming down Rose's face. "Never meant to hurt me? I'm sorry, but you did that the second you decided it was a good idea to lie to me my entire life." She turned to the man she now knew to be Draco Malfoy. "I trusted you. You were the reason I wanted to do well in Potions and got my job. How? Why? Does your wife know?"
"She does. Astoria has always known. The only reason why your mother stayed with Weasley was because she believed it would break his heart to find out she fell in love with someone else. He has been a good father to you, and I'm grateful he has been there for you when I couldn't be."
"You're right about that." A familiar voice bitterly commented.
Ronald Weasley slid off Harry's invisibility cloak off his shoulders.
"Ronald?" Hermione croaked. "How long have you known?"
"How unbelievably selfish of you to ask me that. You never cared about me, did you, Hermione?"
"Ronald, now is not the time to-"
"Now is the perfect time. You have been lying to me for our entire marriage. I saw the two of you at that Muggle café. You two figured I was some pathetic creature to use for your convenience. Not only that, but you, 'Mione," he pointed an accusing finger at her, "allowed me to become best mates with the man you were cheating with under the guise of a glamour charm!”
Ron turned his glower towards Draco. “You didn’t get Rosie that job as a favour to us. You got her that job because she’s your kid! Did you honestly think that meI was that stupid that I would never figure it out?"
"Ron, calm down." Draco urged the redhead.
Ronald rushed towards him, bombarding the other man with curses until he had his wand at Draco's throat.
"You don't get to say that to me, Hugh or ferret - whichever you prefer. You were my best mate, and you were sleeping with my wife!"
"That is quite enough! Stupefy!" With a blast of Harry's wand, Ron was unconscious.
Another unexpected visitor had entered the scene. Thankfully, this one was a wizened Head Auror.
"Harry, I can explain." Hermione sputtered out.
"There's no need to explain, 'Mione. Ron owled me to meet him here. I thought Hugh might have been having a get-together. Some party, eh?"
He turned to Rose. "Rosie, do you mind heading over to Al's while I talk with... Mr. Malfoy and your mother? Tell him that I found the cloak."
She nodded slowly before running over to the fireplace. Rose's face was completely tear-stained. Her nose was running, and she looked as if she was about to faint.
"I think that's a good idea. Thanks, Uncle Harry. Mum. Uncle - Mr Malfoy." In seconds, she was gone.
"What in heaven's name were you two thinking? How long did you think you could get away with it?" He demanded.
"We were in love." Hermione fiercely stated. She stepped in front of Draco, as if to protect him from her long-time friend.
"You are married to somebody else. Did you even love Ron, or were you just pretending?"
"I did love him in my own way, just not the way he needed to be loved. I did what I thought was best."
"You've got some nerve, 'Mione. What would have been best was if you had told the truth! He deserved better than that! He thought Rose was his. Is Hugo Draco's as well?"
The hasty look Draco shared with Hermione told Harry all that he needed to know.
"Neither of them were was his. Merlin, 'Mione! You couldn't even give him that! You don't know how many conversations everyone has had about their looks behind Ron's back. Did you know that he fiercely defended you whenever anyone brought it up?"
Remorse overtook her features. Though, it was probably too late to be feeling that now.
"We never meant for it to get this far. We just... We just didn't know how to stop,”." Draco said in a subdued voice.
"You! I don't know what to say to you. You became our friend, all the while backstabbing him. You even bought a home and paraded as a Muggle to keep up the charade!” He paused before saying, “You really sicken me!" Harry spat as his hands shook with anger.
"For my own sanity, I need to go check on Rose. I don't know if she'll ever forgive you, but I know you both certainly wouldn't deserve it! Thank Merlin it was me who discovered all of you here because Ginny wouldn't have been half as kind as I've been!"
By this point, the Man-Who-Lived was heaving with the effort of restraining himself. He hadn't been this angry since his godfather, Sirius Black, had died.
"I'm going to leave, but I trust you both know what you should do."
Harry gave the two sinners a stern look of reproach. The pair remained eerily silent as he dragged Ron's body into the floo, their eyes turned downcast in shame.
"He's right, you know. What we did was completely selfish." Draco murmured almost inaudibly once Harry was gone. She groaned in agreement.
"Draco, what are we going to do? I've lost my husband, my daughter, and my best friend. We'd be lucky if this didn't get leaked into the media."
"You've still got me, Hermione. I haven't left you, and I never will. Divorce Ron, and marry me." There was a small, strange smile of determination on his face, which appeared out of place in all of the chaos. He softly pushed back the hair hanging in front of her reddened eyes.
"You still want me after this?" She whispered incredulously.
His smile faltered slightly. "Only if you'd still have me, that is."
"Don't be ridiculous! Of course, I'd still have you, you nutter! I'd be mad if I tossed you after all of this!" Hermione exclaimed. "Don't you ever doubt my love for you!"
She took his face into her hands and kissed him, as if she were breathing life into him. They remained entangled in each other's embrace for some time until Draco broke for air.
"Let me show you how much I love you, yeah?" He told her as he scooped her into his arms.
"You'd better."
The majority of the Weasley-Potter clan, bar Hugo, had been avoiding Hermione since that fateful day at Draco's flat. Hugo had always been close to his Uncle Hughie, possibly more so than to his pseudo father, which explained his ready acceptance of the truth. That was not to say that he wholly agreed with the manner in which his parents executed their plan. He reckoned that they ought to apologize apologise or send some sign of goodwill towards the offended parties. After all, weren't they in the wrong?
Hugo’s actions were promptly viewed as betrayal in Ron’s eyes. So much so, that he even refused to speak to him. Rose, quite disappointed in the lack of righteous anger in her brother, decided she would be better off if she ignored Hugo as well. Needless to say, Hugo soon found himself living with Draco and Hermione. Not everyone agreed with Ron and Rose’s strategy. Though upset at them, Harry remained on civil speaking terms with the pair.
The press was ablaze with theories as to what possibly could have occurred that had caused the split within the glorious Golden Trio. It was a miracle that everyone in the family had kept tight-lipped about the entire situation. Still, Hermione received letter upon letter with some denouncing her as harlot and others snidely suggesting that she was never truly their equal to begin with. She scoffed at all of them. Really! Did no one have their own lives to lead instead of reading such rubbish?
Thankfully, the recent drama had affected neither her work environment nor her work ethic. If anything, she immersed herself even more into her casework. The past three weeks involved her constant, if not religious, attention towards her career. It was beginning to drive Draco up the wall. Even now, she had a parchment open as she reviewed her notes and wrote more commentary.
"Hermione, love, drenching yourself into your work isn't going to make anything go away. At least, we have Hugo to count on. Although, if we don't watch him, he'll eat us out of house and home!" Draco groused as he cut into one of his sausages.
"Oy! I get hungry from all the emotional work it takes to support you." Hugo whinged.
Draco raised a pale eyebrow.
"Fortunately enough for you, we're required to love you even if you gain three hundred kilos from all the food you've eaten." He quipped as he lowered his newspaper.
Hugo stuck his tongue out at his father.
"Oh, shush, you." She bopped the older man on the head. "He doesn't mean it Hugo. He's only joking."
The blonde rubbed his head. "Go a bit easier on the noggin, will you? My poor head might not recover from all the times you've abused it."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Besides, we all know Auntie Sissy would rush to your defence if she found out we were starving her little pumpkin."
She mussed up Hugo's light brown hair.
Hugo took a bit out of his eggs before saying, "By the way, I still can't believe that you and Auntie Sissy have your father completely in the dark about this."
"What my father doesn't know can't hurt him." Draco defended.
"Too right." Hermione agreed.
A light tapping on the window alerted them to the presence of an owl. In its claws was a letter from the Ministry. Hermione took the offered letter, handing over some treats to the salt and pepper coloured owl. She broke the seal, rapidly reading the letter's content. A semblance of relief washed over her features.
"It's done."
"What do you mean, 'It's done.'?" Her lover pressed her.
"I mean that Ronald and I are finally divorced. We were married in the Muggle world, which means that our marriage was easy to dissolve. The proceeds from our home will be equally divided between us.”
She turned to Hugo, “Thank Merlin you and Rose are of legal age. Who knows how long this would've been drawn out otherwise."
"Mum, are you ever going to talk to Dad, uh, I mean Mr Weasley-"
Draco interrupted him. "It's all right Hugo. He was a father to you even though he wasn't your biological one. I won't hurt Ron that way by taking that away from him. I'm grateful for everything he did for you."
It was Hugo's turn to raise a brow. "No offense, but mates don't sleep with each other's wives."
Draco looked gob smacked. Hugo was never the one to make such abrasive comments. That was, after all, Rose’s job.
"Hugo! Apologize Apologise this instant!" His mother admonished, scandalized scandalised that he would say something like that.
His father held up a hand to stop her. "It's all right. I deserved that one. Though, don't make it a habit. Do we understand each other?" He leant in to give his son a stern look.
Hugo had the grace to appear thoroughly repentant as he gulped.
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
A certain crackling sound swiftly disturbed their domestic peace. It was Scorpius, who looked to be the poster child of inebriation.
“Scorpius! What on earth are you doing!” barked out Draco.
“I had no idea that my life was a lie until last night.” he hiccupped. “All I knew before was that I couldn’t marry Rose because my Dad couldn’t keep it in his pants!” As he spoke, his wand was pointed at his father, swaying slightly.
“Scorpius, please calm down. We can talk about this sensibly if you just have a seat.” Hermione begged him as she was stealthily attempting to finger her wand and an old coin.
“There’s no more reason to be sensible, is there? I’ve lost the love of my life, who just happens to be my half-sister.” He paused to think of the implication. “I’ve been shagging my half-sister! Did you even love my mother, you sod, or was that all a lie too?” he slurred out in an accusing tone.
Hermione tried to edge her way towards him, in an effort to block and distract him from his father. “Scorpius - “
In an instant, he directed the killing curse at Hermione, who had not been quick enough.
“Mum!” Hugo cried as Draco rushed over to her prone form. Fuelled by rage, he tackled his half-brother to the ground.
Draco shook her slightly, refusing to believe that she was dead. Silent tears spilt down his face as he brushed out some of her bushy hair from her face. Remembering who had done this to her, he looked up to find his two sons beating the living daylights out of each other.
“Petrificus totalus!” he yelled, effectively stilling both boys. Draco surveyed the damage. Scorpius was sporting a black eye while Hugo had a burst lip.
“I know you’re upset, Hugo. I’m absolutely devastated, but your mum wouldn’t want you to behave this way. And you,” he gave a pained sigh, “Astoria is a wonderful person, but she is not the woman I love. It became overwhelmingly apparent to me that I wasn’t being fair to her. I had tried to be the attentive and loving husband she deserved, but I couldn’t pretend forever. Right before I made the decision to tell her, Astoria got pregnant with you.
“I met Hermione when we were under our pupillage to become barristers. Once we got over our past animosity, we became friends - excellent friends, in fact. I was completely smitten. Though, she was already taken at the time. I’m ashamed to say it, but I married Astoria because I couldn’t get what I wanted. I think it’s somewhat obvious that your mother shares some similarities to Hermione. That’s not to say that I didn’t care for her because I did. I just couldn’t love her the way I was supposed to. I’m so very sorry, Scorpius.”
For all intents and purposes, Draco did indeed look like he regretted his past actions. He let out another sigh before removing the jinxes.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too late for that? You’ve ruined my life.” Scorpius bit out.
Hugo, clearly enraged by this, exploded. “No, Scorpius. You’ve done that by yourself! You’ve just murdered my mum, a war heroine. Do you think Wizengamot is just going to let you off for that, you berk?”
Suddenly, the gravity of the situation began to dawn on the older boy. He had killed somebody. He was a murderer. Scorpius dropped the wand from his hand in utter shock.
“I… I didn’t mean to. I was so angry… I…”
“It doesn’t matter now. I can’t help you anymore. What you’ve done is beyond my power to help. I’m… I’m sorry I’ve failed you so miserably in being your father.” Draco’s voice was now full of anguish and sorrow for the lover he had lost and for the son he would probably soon lose as well.
The popping sounds of several apparitions flooded the room. Three to four former members of Dumbledore’s Army had hastened to Hermione’s side to no avail.
“Where’s Hermione? I got a distress signal from the coin. Is she - Oh, Merlin!” Harry covered his mouth in horror at the sight that greeted him. The others that had arrived subsequently had the same or similar reactions.
“Who did this?” demanded Dean Thomas. “Was it you, Malfoy Senior?”
Scorpius quietly interrupted. “No, Mr Thomas, it wasn’t.”
“Who was it then?” asked Hannah Abbott.
“It was me.” They looked at him in simultaneous interest and horror.
“You! Just as evil as you’re old man, eh?” sneered Seamus Finnegan.
“Get off it, Seamus.” Harry warned before turning to focus on Draco. “What happened, Malfoy?”
“Scorpius was, shall we say, a tad upset about what had happened between myself and Hermione.”
“A tad?!” Hugo roared. “He killed Mum!”
“Is that true, Draco?” asked Harry.
“Yes. He came in pissed up enough for an entire Quidditch team. He wasn’t thinking straight when he aimed his wand to kill me. Scorpius isn’t usually the kind to make rash decisions like this. He wasn’t in his right mind. She got in the way intending to deescalate the situation, but she got hit instead. Perhaps, he wasn’t aware of where his wand was pointed when he said the curse in his rage.? It was an accident on his part. I should be the one who’s dead.” he said morosely.
“Wasn’t aware of where his wand was pointed? He probably killed her in cold blood!” Dean taunted.
“Now, now. Let’s not be hasty to make judgements. I’ll need to call up some of the Aurors and question you three. You understand, of course, Draco?” the Head Auror asked searchingly.
Draco snuck a sideways glance at his erstwhile elder son. “Yeah.” He sighed in resignation.
There was no more to be done. All he could do for his son was testify and hope they agreed that it was an accident. He ambled over Hermione’s body and bent down to give it a soft, final kiss on the forehead before leaving for the Ministry.
The odds had always stacked against them, he thought with strange finality.
The funeral was well-attended by the who’s who in Wizarding Britain, some foreign dignitaries, friends, and family. Despite their differences, the vast members of the Weasley-Potter family came. Many of them expressed their shock and regret of Hermione’s untimely death.
Harry was instrumental in preventing the press from invading their privacy. Though they had been able to cover it up before, the whole of the truth was now exposed for the entire world to see. Draco couldn’t go anywhere without insults and people attacking him. All of the personal integrity and respect he had spent his adult life working for was gone within days. Hermione’s death gave him the impetus to finally file the divorce papers, to which Astoria obviously did not protest.
From start to finish, Draco felt catatonic. Each step, response, and handshake felt machine-like. Nearly everyone had gone when he heard someone clear his throat. The ruddy man didn’t even give him a chance to begin apologising. He just sat himself in the seat to his left, put a quick hand on his shoulder and started to speak.
“Hugh - can I still call you that?" Draco, or Hugh rather, nodded. "I was so determined to hate you, you know. Stole my wife, kids, and so forth. But I realised that in spite of it all, you both were still my friends. Must’ve been bloody weird to pretend to hate me when you were spending all that time idly with me and enjoyin’ it. You weren’t pretending to have fun with me, right?” he asked somewhat insecurely.
Draco, looked at him pointedly, as if to say he was mad.
“Anyway, remember that time when I told you I still felt jealous of Harry sometimes?”
“Yeah.”
“You told me that I had to stop thinking that way. Why? Because I was Ron Weasley - the man who figured out how to enter the Chamber of Secrets without a translator. Ronald Weasley - the man who got his job in the Auror department by working his way from the bottom without help.”
Draco snorted at that one, but Ron continued on as if he hadn't heard that.
“All right, I might have exaggerated that one. But the one that touched me the most? Ronald Weasley - the man who secretly arranged for his friends and friends of friends to adopt children who had been orphaned from the War. I helped those kids because I don’t believe a child should be without a parent. I didn’t do it for fame. I did it because it would have broken my heart if Rose and Hugo didn’t have anyone to raise them right. I didn’t realize realise it at the time, but those words gave me the courage to become my own person, independent of my seemingly more stellar friends and siblings.
“I hate what you did, but I kind of understand it. Hermione and I never really worked well together. We were great mates, but not the kind you should marry. Those last few years were rough. I think it was having the kids that kept us sane. The time apart from her allowed me to realise this.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “I know I shouldn’t have shut Hugo out, but it does tend to really hurt when the child you’ve raised chooses someone else over you.”
Now, it was Draco’s turn to apologise.
“Ron, I never meant to hurt you, really. You are such a good person. I was jealous of what you had. I know it was extremely selfish. What I… we did was wrong. I should have accepted my lot in life, but I couldn’t. Sometimes, it felt like an addiction. I wanted to stop at times, but just seeing her face made me go back in. What’s worse is that I lost a good friend. I’d like to think we were enemies at Hogwarts because we had the potential to be such brill mates!” he joked.
“Well, we did get there eventually. And you haven’t lost your mate yet.”
Ron looked upon him hopefully before his features morphed into something akin to pity. “I can’t say that I’m over what you both did, but I can say that I’d like to bury the hatchet for Hugo and Rose. At least you have them left. Scorpius…” he trailed off.
“Don’t.” He held out a hand to stop him from going further. “I went wrong so many places with him. You were a good father to Rose and Hugo, whereas I was a rubbish father to Scorpius. I didn’t see what I had with him before it was too late. I spent so much time focusing on everything I had with Hermione that I forgot the one good thing that came out of my relationship with Tori. Now, I’ve lost him for good.”
“Maybe not. They did rule it as accidental, so he’ll get out of there in a few years.” Ron suggested optimistically. “Let’s just hope he puts his past behind him.”
“One can only hope.”
“It’s not over until you’re dead, right?” he said, repeating the phrase they had often said to each other after a night of drinking.
“Right.” he agreed.
“Hogs Head?”
“Sounds about right.”
The two man stood up to leave the cemetery grounds. As he passed her grave, Draco could have sworn he saw her give him an encouraging smile and a wave goodbye.
A week later, Rose showed up at his door to talk.
Yes, he thought, as they later sat down to watch telly, it’s not over until you’re dead.
Author: Anonymous
Characters: Hermione, Ron, Draco, Rose, Hugo and Scorpius
Prompt number: 47
Word Count: 7,000
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Your life will be forever changed… Not (Mod Note: [Spoilers]Incest, Character Death)
Summary: There was a reason they didn't want their children to marry: it would expose their own affair.
Disclaimer: If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I’m not forcing you. If you leave a review - thanks. If not, oh, well? I’m pretty sure my life will go on.
Author’s Notes: Thank you my wonderful beta!
The Counterfeit Life
Bing. Bing. Bing. A woman with frizzy, curly chestnut hair frowned in disapproval at the sounds her husband was making with his muggle device.
“Ronald! Stop fooling around with the apps. We’ve no time for it! Rose’s coming 'round in,” she checked the watch on her wrist, “fifteen minutes!”
The man stood up from his spot at the kitchen table to wrap his arms soothingly around his rattled wife.
“Relax, ‘Mione. She’s always late. You know that.”
“I know. It’s just… She said she had something important to announce. What if she’s pregnant with Merlin knows whose baby? To be honest, I’m surprised Hugo hasn’t brought a pregnant girl over yet.”
Her husband snorted at the thought.
“Not our Rosie. She’s smarter than that. She’s got your brains, no doubt about that. Rosie’s probably found a better job or something like that.” Ron said, quite pleased with the way their daughter had turned out.
“You think so?” The woman peered at her husband hopefully.
“Perhaps. You know, She could conquer the world if she wanted to and become another Dark Lord.”
She promptly swatted him. “Don’t even think about it. We don’t need another one of those.”
“Certainly not. I’m just saying that she’s capable, love.”
“Yes, she is. Rose wasn’t Head Girl for nothing. I just wish she’d put her smarts to better use. Imagine, working as a journalist like that Skeeter woman.” Hermione bristled.
“You can’t fault her for doing what she loves. There’s been no complaints from her so far. Besides, she’s not doing so poorly. Wasn’t she was promoted to foreign correspondent last year? That’s certainly nothing to sneeze about. Besides, we’re damn near lucky that Hugh was kind enough to put a good word in for her.”
Hermione pressed her lips as if to make another comment, but thought against it.
“Look, in another year or so, she’ll probably find someone and settle down into a more conventional career. Rosie is grown up, after all. You can’t expect her to remain a child forever!”
“I suppose.” She wasn’t all that convinced, but she supposed it didn’t matter.
Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley looked thoughtfully at her husband. He hadn’t aged so terribly, but he looked a far cry from the gangly teen she had fallen in love with. His ginger hair had thinned ever so slightly, and he had formed a pouch after too many good meals. All in all, they still had their ups and downs. Twenty-six years ago, she wasn’t even sure that they would still be together. Their tendency to bicker had turned into full-on fights. Then, she got pregnant with Rosie, and everything changed. Or, at least, some things at least changed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the eruption of the floo.
Hermione rushed over to the fireplace to greet her daughter, but was met with the sight of… Scorpius Malfoy? Wasn't that Albie's friend? What on earth? Another roar from the fireplace indicated her daughter’s presence. The girl in question smoothed over her floral dress and combed back a few stray light brunette curls with her fingers. A slight flush was spread on Rosie’s cheeks as she looked between the young Malfoy and her mother.
“Mum, you’ve heard of Scorpius Malfoy, right? He’s - “
“What in the ruddy hell is this about? Rose? Who is this Malfoy look-alike, and what in the blazes is he doing in our home?” Ron blasted at her.
“Dad!” Rose admonished. “This is Scorpius. He’s my fiancé.”
A murderous look arose upon Ron’s face. "Your fiancé?”
He turned over to Scorpius. “Aren’t you supposed to ask me first before you propose to her, let alone be introduced to us? When did you two even become a thing? Isn't he Albie's friend? ?”
“Ron, let Rose speak.” Hermione put a gentle hand on her husband’s shoulder.
"Uh...," she cleared her throat ever so slightly, "As I was saying. Yes. Scorpius is my fiancé. We fell in love six months ago when we were covering an article in Nigeria." Rose hesitated before sighing. "Mum... Dad... I love him." Her blonde companion wrapped a loving arm around her waist.
Her eyes shone with a brilliant honesty that could only be presented by one who was authentically, well, authentically in love.
"I forbid it." Hermione said abruptly, which caused Scorpius to Scorpius' head snapped up at that comment. snap his head up in full attention.
"Mrs Weasley?" Scorpius said incredulously. It seemed that he had finally found his voice. "After all Rose's said about you, I'd thought you'd understand. What do you have against us?"
Hermione's face paled at the comment. She hadn't thought all the way through her objection.
"Have you spoken to your father yet, Scorpius?" she inquired.
"No, of course not. He'd be even worse than you are."
Hermione groaned as she rubbed her temples. She should have known something bad was coming with all the trouble she'd had this week. "Rose, we can discuss this privately later, or rather as soon as possible."
She gave a meaningful look to Rose before she ushered her daughter and fiancé into the fireplace.
"What are you going to say to her 'Mione?" her husband asked once the pair was gone.
"What I probably should have told her years ago, Ron."
"And what would that be?"
"About life."
Like a mad woman, she scribbled out a short note in her office and owled it.
It's time we told them.
Within minutes, she had a response.
Can you withstand the fallout?
Hermione wasn't honestly certain if she could. There had been so many lies over the years that she had a hard time telling the lies from the truth. She knew that this truth had to eventually come out. Her lifelong luck as the third of the Golden Trio had officially worn out. Hermione only hoped that Harry and Ginny would forgive her in time. Merlin knew that Ron wouldn't.
She decided her answer in an instant. After all, this farce had gone on long enough.
Yes.
They met in a secluded area of a muggle café. No one would think to look for them there. To all the muggles surrounding them, they looked like an average middle aged married couple.
"We've been careless. I knew something like this would happen." The concern over her face made her appear older than she was. The sleepless nights since her daughter's revelation had taken their toll.
"Darling, you couldn't have possibly predicted this. Not even a brilliant person like you could have thought of a disastrous possibility such as the one we're in. Let's face it; Fate has royally screwed us over." A manly posh voice drawled as he gently rubbed circles on her palms the back of her hand.
"We both know that someone would have figured it out sooner or later. In fact, I'm surprised Harry never did."
"We both know Harry isn't as smart as you pretend him to be, dearest." That comment earned him a sour look.
"Perhaps, not. Yet, he is a heck of a lot less gormless than my husband."
Draco sniggered. "Remember the time he blew up the roast? Thought that he needed to add a lil' somethin' to make it cook faster when doing it the Muggle way. I nearly died from laughing at the remains of your kitchen after that one."
"All right, all right. Have your laugh. At least he managed to do an OK job at raising your children."
"I really can’t disagree with you on that one. He did do a bang up job. Though, I can’t believe he still thinks that you’re spending time with your parents who, by the way, have supported our lie one-hundred percent."
"I'm still surprised by that, actually." She commented as she took another gulp of her Earl Grey tea.
"I'm not." He stated flatly. "Your parents were so desperate to keep whatever they could of you after your... indiscretion that they were willing to support you through what was obviously a bad choice."
Hermione faltered somewhat as she stirred her spoon around. "I... I suppose you could be right."
"Ha! Twenty-six years and I finally get you to agree on this." He slapped his hand down on his lap as he spoke. She stuck her tongue out at him in response.
She took a moment to take in everything about Draco. His hair had receded a bit, but it looked refined on him. Even the crinkles at his eyes made him look glorious to her. Comparing her husband to this man wasn't even an option. The feeling of equality, understanding mutual respect, and love that emanated from Draco was worth every second she had spent lying and running around with him. Ron never even stood a chance. Why she had not simply divorced the ginger continued to plague her. It would happen soon enough once the truth came out.
"My love, would you still divorce your wife and marry me like you claimed all those years ago?" She whispered worriedly.
The hand in hers tightened. His eyes searched hers imploringly, as if they were looking at a mirage.
"You don't mean..." He began.
"Yes, I do."
Hermione looked quite vulnerable as she did all those years ago when she confessed her love to him in a Ministry cupboard. He adored her then as much as he did now. Nothing had changed for him.
"I would in a heartbeat." Draco's eyes never left hers. He leaned leant over to catch her in a scorching kiss that a few other patrons 'awed' about.
"Despite all these years, my love for you has never wavered, Hermione. I love you like Antony loved Cleopatra, like how the Sun loves the Moon. I love you so much that nothing else could ever extinguish the light from it."
There was a strained quality to his voice that grated at her heart. Never in any of the time she had been married to Ron had she felt quite so loved like she felt with this man before her. Hermione leaned leant in to whisper in his ear.
"I love you Draco Abraxas Malfoy." Her eyes crinkled with tears threatening to show how touched she truly was.
Draco leaned leant in to capture her lips once more. "And I, you."
Neither the couple nor the other patrons were aware that a person with narrowed eyes was staring out at them from underneath an infamous cloak.
"Albus, have you seen Dad's cloak?" James anxiously demanded the moment he stepped out of the floo.
Al looked perplexed. "No... You had it last, Jimmy. Unless... D'you reckon Lily took it for a spin?"
"I 's’pose. Regardless, Dad wants it for work." The older boy took a couple of steps towards the fireplace, before turning around. "Send me an owl if you find it, yeah?"
"Yeah. Yeah." Al muttered his practised reassurance as he heard his brother exit. He quickly returned to his perusal of the Daily Prophet.
Within seconds, the floo erupted once more.
"James, I just told you I would check for-" His words were muted once he looked up to see who it was.
"Oh, Rose. Thought you were Jimmy."
"So, I gathered. I just wanted to ask... Have your parents discussed why my Mum's so opposed to my marrying Scorp? I assumed she would have liked him well enough before! It's just so unlike her."
Used to dropping by, Rose sat herself opposite to Al and proceeded to start sipping his cuppa.
"Can't say that I do. Your guess is as good as mine. However,” he glanced across the table,“I can say that I don't approve of you swiping my tea." He scowled at her as she smirked. "You look like Scorpius when you do that."
"Yeah, well. I guess I've spent enough time around him to warrant that!" Al grimaced at the image that presented him. Rose giggled at his face-making before remembering the reason she had stormed over there in the first place.
"I just feel so alone in this. At least my Dad seems like he's warming up to Scorp. Maybe his dad did something recently to my mum? Do you think Uncle Hugh would like him?" She twirled her hair around her fingers. It was a nervous habit she had picked up during her first year at Hogwarts.
"Dunno. Could be possible. They seem to get on well enough. There aren't any huge arguments between them like there were between Mr. Malfoy and Uncle Ron. Besides, there's no one Uncle Hugh doesn't like. I don't think you'd have any problem with him."
"There has to be something she's not telling you."
"I know! I'll have to corner her one of these days while Dad's out. From what it looked like, I doubt he even knows why she doesn't want me to marry Scorp."
"You don't think that she has someone else in mind for you, do you?"
Her face scrunched up in concern. "No. After The last time she suggested someone, up a date for me me up to go out with someone, I made sure to make such a nuisance of myself that she would regret it forever. I hope she hasn't ideas of that nature anymore." She allowed herself to shudder at the memory of the disastrous meetings she had gone onto.
"Well, I hope you find out."
"Yeah, me too." She said, blowing on her hot tea before taking a sip.
Rose was waiting outside of her mother's office during lunch when she heard a moan. Alarmed, she took a step back. Weren't her parents a bit old to have impromptu encounters? Thankfully, the secretary was out, so the older woman was spared the indignity of hearing such disturbing noises. Disgusted, Rose promptly decided to visit her parents at a later time, when her breakfast wasn't going to make a second appearance. Her conversation with her mum could definitely wait.
As Rose strode down the hallway, Hermione opened the door. Her eyes became horror-struck as they attached themselves to her daughters retreating back. She swiftly closed the door, casting locking and muffling spells. Then, she turned her attention towards the other occupant of her office.
"What? What's the matter?" Draco queried, his voice still husky from their earlier activities.
"Our daughter almost caught us having sex. That's what's the matter." Hermione's voice was nearing nearly hysterical.
The blonde walked to her position by the door and began to rub her forearms.
"Don't!" She said frantically.
Draco dropped his hands in surrender. Hermione sighed.
"I didn't mean to snap at you, love. I'm simply frightened for what this means. I thought we had more time."
"Darling, they were always anyway going to find out, eventually." Draco stated calmly as he resumed massaging her. "We're simply going to have to be brave and tell our children the truth. There's no way around it."
Hermione looked searchingly into his eyes as if she were a scared child. "You'll be with me, won't you?"
As Draco kissed her temple, he slowly led her over to the chairs by her desk.
"Of course, dearest. We have always been in this together. You couldn't have made such attractive children without me, after all!" This earned him a glare.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." She said in a dry tone. After a moment of thought, Hermione spoke again. "I suppose we should arrange to speak with her as soon as possible."
"I agree. Though, Rose may not want anything to do with us for a while."
His lover's eyes looked downward and away from him with the intense grief of the thought of possibly being estranged from her child due to her own actions. They had been together so long that he knew when something was plaguing her.
Draco delicately raised up her chin so that her eyes were level with his.
"Hermione, we will all get through this. I promise you."
"I can only hope you're right. I think Ron suspects us. He's been rather terse with me lately. Do you think he knows?"
He regarded her seriously perhaps with what could be construed as guilt. "If he does, Hermione, then I give him kudos for finally realizing realising it."
"Mum, why are we at Uncle Hugh's?" Rose asked, clearly confused. They were sitting in the living room, waiting for him to return with tea.
The man, himself, answered for her mother. "You are here, Rosie, because there is a bit of information that we need to share with you."
"Did something happen with your Auntie Sissy?" She asked concernedly.
"No, dear. Nothing is wrong with my mother. However, there is something more pressing." He sat himself down on the armchair closest to the loveseat once he was done serving them.
"Your mother and I have something to tell you that we should have told you a long time ago."
Rose began to look anxiously between the pair. The way that Uncle Hugh was holding her mum's hand seemed awfully too familiar for two people who were just friends.
"Mum... You've been having an affair?" She squeaked out.
"It's somewhat more complicated than that, Rosie." Uncle Hugh stated rather cryptically.
The girl roared, "What could be more complicated than that? You betrayed Dad!"
"Rose Nymphadora Weasley, you will lower your voice! We will explain more, if only you would be silent." Each word was punctuated with silent guilt, which Hermione had perfected after years of marriage to Ron.
Her daughter pursed her lips in anger. It seemed as if Rose was aiming at making them bleed with the pressure she was applying.
"While it is true that I betrayed Ronald, it isn't exactly true that he is your father."
"What? You not only cheated on Dad, but you had a child with another man?! How could you? It was him in the office that day, wasn't it?" She sneered.
"Rose!" The rebuke from Uncle Hugh served its purpose.
"It's because of you're not being Ronald's daughter that makes it wrong to marry Scorpius" Hermione said gingerly, trying to calmly explain the situation. u cannot marry Scorpius."
"Why? What has that got to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it, Rosie, because my name is not really Hugh Dawkins."
With a wave of his wand, Uncle's Hugh's form changed. His once identifiable mousy brown hair lightened to a platinum blonde colour, with his hair receding ever so slightly. His chin sharpened and his stubby nose came to a refined aristocratic point. Steel eyes looked upon her own hazel ones nervously, as if searching for approval.
"You're... Mr Malfoy?" Her voice managed to rasp. She turned to her mother. "You cheated on Daddy with Mr Malfoy? That means..." A hand covered her mouth in shock and repulsion.
Hermione took her hands in hers as she leant over.
"You cannot marry Scorpius, Rose. If I had any inkling that you had felt that seriously towards him, I would have told you the truth sooner. We never meant to hurt you."
Tears were now streaming down Rose's face. "Never meant to hurt me? I'm sorry, but you did that the second you decided it was a good idea to lie to me my entire life." She turned to the man she now knew to be Draco Malfoy. "I trusted you. You were the reason I wanted to do well in Potions and got my job. How? Why? Does your wife know?"
"She does. Astoria has always known. The only reason why your mother stayed with Weasley was because she believed it would break his heart to find out she fell in love with someone else. He has been a good father to you, and I'm grateful he has been there for you when I couldn't be."
"You're right about that." A familiar voice bitterly commented.
Ronald Weasley slid off Harry's invisibility cloak off his shoulders.
"Ronald?" Hermione croaked. "How long have you known?"
"How unbelievably selfish of you to ask me that. You never cared about me, did you, Hermione?"
"Ronald, now is not the time to-"
"Now is the perfect time. You have been lying to me for our entire marriage. I saw the two of you at that Muggle café. You two figured I was some pathetic creature to use for your convenience. Not only that, but you, 'Mione," he pointed an accusing finger at her, "allowed me to become best mates with the man you were cheating with under the guise of a glamour charm!”
Ron turned his glower towards Draco. “You didn’t get Rosie that job as a favour to us. You got her that job because she’s your kid! Did you honestly think that meI was that stupid that I would never figure it out?"
"Ron, calm down." Draco urged the redhead.
Ronald rushed towards him, bombarding the other man with curses until he had his wand at Draco's throat.
"You don't get to say that to me, Hugh or ferret - whichever you prefer. You were my best mate, and you were sleeping with my wife!"
"That is quite enough! Stupefy!" With a blast of Harry's wand, Ron was unconscious.
Another unexpected visitor had entered the scene. Thankfully, this one was a wizened Head Auror.
"Harry, I can explain." Hermione sputtered out.
"There's no need to explain, 'Mione. Ron owled me to meet him here. I thought Hugh might have been having a get-together. Some party, eh?"
He turned to Rose. "Rosie, do you mind heading over to Al's while I talk with... Mr. Malfoy and your mother? Tell him that I found the cloak."
She nodded slowly before running over to the fireplace. Rose's face was completely tear-stained. Her nose was running, and she looked as if she was about to faint.
"I think that's a good idea. Thanks, Uncle Harry. Mum. Uncle - Mr Malfoy." In seconds, she was gone.
"What in heaven's name were you two thinking? How long did you think you could get away with it?" He demanded.
"We were in love." Hermione fiercely stated. She stepped in front of Draco, as if to protect him from her long-time friend.
"You are married to somebody else. Did you even love Ron, or were you just pretending?"
"I did love him in my own way, just not the way he needed to be loved. I did what I thought was best."
"You've got some nerve, 'Mione. What would have been best was if you had told the truth! He deserved better than that! He thought Rose was his. Is Hugo Draco's as well?"
The hasty look Draco shared with Hermione told Harry all that he needed to know.
"Neither of them were was his. Merlin, 'Mione! You couldn't even give him that! You don't know how many conversations everyone has had about their looks behind Ron's back. Did you know that he fiercely defended you whenever anyone brought it up?"
Remorse overtook her features. Though, it was probably too late to be feeling that now.
"We never meant for it to get this far. We just... We just didn't know how to stop,”." Draco said in a subdued voice.
"You! I don't know what to say to you. You became our friend, all the while backstabbing him. You even bought a home and paraded as a Muggle to keep up the charade!” He paused before saying, “You really sicken me!" Harry spat as his hands shook with anger.
"For my own sanity, I need to go check on Rose. I don't know if she'll ever forgive you, but I know you both certainly wouldn't deserve it! Thank Merlin it was me who discovered all of you here because Ginny wouldn't have been half as kind as I've been!"
By this point, the Man-Who-Lived was heaving with the effort of restraining himself. He hadn't been this angry since his godfather, Sirius Black, had died.
"I'm going to leave, but I trust you both know what you should do."
Harry gave the two sinners a stern look of reproach. The pair remained eerily silent as he dragged Ron's body into the floo, their eyes turned downcast in shame.
"He's right, you know. What we did was completely selfish." Draco murmured almost inaudibly once Harry was gone. She groaned in agreement.
"Draco, what are we going to do? I've lost my husband, my daughter, and my best friend. We'd be lucky if this didn't get leaked into the media."
"You've still got me, Hermione. I haven't left you, and I never will. Divorce Ron, and marry me." There was a small, strange smile of determination on his face, which appeared out of place in all of the chaos. He softly pushed back the hair hanging in front of her reddened eyes.
"You still want me after this?" She whispered incredulously.
His smile faltered slightly. "Only if you'd still have me, that is."
"Don't be ridiculous! Of course, I'd still have you, you nutter! I'd be mad if I tossed you after all of this!" Hermione exclaimed. "Don't you ever doubt my love for you!"
She took his face into her hands and kissed him, as if she were breathing life into him. They remained entangled in each other's embrace for some time until Draco broke for air.
"Let me show you how much I love you, yeah?" He told her as he scooped her into his arms.
"You'd better."
The majority of the Weasley-Potter clan, bar Hugo, had been avoiding Hermione since that fateful day at Draco's flat. Hugo had always been close to his Uncle Hughie, possibly more so than to his pseudo father, which explained his ready acceptance of the truth. That was not to say that he wholly agreed with the manner in which his parents executed their plan. He reckoned that they ought to apologize apologise or send some sign of goodwill towards the offended parties. After all, weren't they in the wrong?
Hugo’s actions were promptly viewed as betrayal in Ron’s eyes. So much so, that he even refused to speak to him. Rose, quite disappointed in the lack of righteous anger in her brother, decided she would be better off if she ignored Hugo as well. Needless to say, Hugo soon found himself living with Draco and Hermione. Not everyone agreed with Ron and Rose’s strategy. Though upset at them, Harry remained on civil speaking terms with the pair.
The press was ablaze with theories as to what possibly could have occurred that had caused the split within the glorious Golden Trio. It was a miracle that everyone in the family had kept tight-lipped about the entire situation. Still, Hermione received letter upon letter with some denouncing her as harlot and others snidely suggesting that she was never truly their equal to begin with. She scoffed at all of them. Really! Did no one have their own lives to lead instead of reading such rubbish?
Thankfully, the recent drama had affected neither her work environment nor her work ethic. If anything, she immersed herself even more into her casework. The past three weeks involved her constant, if not religious, attention towards her career. It was beginning to drive Draco up the wall. Even now, she had a parchment open as she reviewed her notes and wrote more commentary.
"Hermione, love, drenching yourself into your work isn't going to make anything go away. At least, we have Hugo to count on. Although, if we don't watch him, he'll eat us out of house and home!" Draco groused as he cut into one of his sausages.
"Oy! I get hungry from all the emotional work it takes to support you." Hugo whinged.
Draco raised a pale eyebrow.
"Fortunately enough for you, we're required to love you even if you gain three hundred kilos from all the food you've eaten." He quipped as he lowered his newspaper.
Hugo stuck his tongue out at his father.
"Oh, shush, you." She bopped the older man on the head. "He doesn't mean it Hugo. He's only joking."
The blonde rubbed his head. "Go a bit easier on the noggin, will you? My poor head might not recover from all the times you've abused it."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Besides, we all know Auntie Sissy would rush to your defence if she found out we were starving her little pumpkin."
She mussed up Hugo's light brown hair.
Hugo took a bit out of his eggs before saying, "By the way, I still can't believe that you and Auntie Sissy have your father completely in the dark about this."
"What my father doesn't know can't hurt him." Draco defended.
"Too right." Hermione agreed.
A light tapping on the window alerted them to the presence of an owl. In its claws was a letter from the Ministry. Hermione took the offered letter, handing over some treats to the salt and pepper coloured owl. She broke the seal, rapidly reading the letter's content. A semblance of relief washed over her features.
"It's done."
"What do you mean, 'It's done.'?" Her lover pressed her.
"I mean that Ronald and I are finally divorced. We were married in the Muggle world, which means that our marriage was easy to dissolve. The proceeds from our home will be equally divided between us.”
She turned to Hugo, “Thank Merlin you and Rose are of legal age. Who knows how long this would've been drawn out otherwise."
"Mum, are you ever going to talk to Dad, uh, I mean Mr Weasley-"
Draco interrupted him. "It's all right Hugo. He was a father to you even though he wasn't your biological one. I won't hurt Ron that way by taking that away from him. I'm grateful for everything he did for you."
It was Hugo's turn to raise a brow. "No offense, but mates don't sleep with each other's wives."
Draco looked gob smacked. Hugo was never the one to make such abrasive comments. That was, after all, Rose’s job.
"Hugo! Apologize Apologise this instant!" His mother admonished, scandalized scandalised that he would say something like that.
His father held up a hand to stop her. "It's all right. I deserved that one. Though, don't make it a habit. Do we understand each other?" He leant in to give his son a stern look.
Hugo had the grace to appear thoroughly repentant as he gulped.
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
A certain crackling sound swiftly disturbed their domestic peace. It was Scorpius, who looked to be the poster child of inebriation.
“Scorpius! What on earth are you doing!” barked out Draco.
“I had no idea that my life was a lie until last night.” he hiccupped. “All I knew before was that I couldn’t marry Rose because my Dad couldn’t keep it in his pants!” As he spoke, his wand was pointed at his father, swaying slightly.
“Scorpius, please calm down. We can talk about this sensibly if you just have a seat.” Hermione begged him as she was stealthily attempting to finger her wand and an old coin.
“There’s no more reason to be sensible, is there? I’ve lost the love of my life, who just happens to be my half-sister.” He paused to think of the implication. “I’ve been shagging my half-sister! Did you even love my mother, you sod, or was that all a lie too?” he slurred out in an accusing tone.
Hermione tried to edge her way towards him, in an effort to block and distract him from his father. “Scorpius - “
In an instant, he directed the killing curse at Hermione, who had not been quick enough.
“Mum!” Hugo cried as Draco rushed over to her prone form. Fuelled by rage, he tackled his half-brother to the ground.
Draco shook her slightly, refusing to believe that she was dead. Silent tears spilt down his face as he brushed out some of her bushy hair from her face. Remembering who had done this to her, he looked up to find his two sons beating the living daylights out of each other.
“Petrificus totalus!” he yelled, effectively stilling both boys. Draco surveyed the damage. Scorpius was sporting a black eye while Hugo had a burst lip.
“I know you’re upset, Hugo. I’m absolutely devastated, but your mum wouldn’t want you to behave this way. And you,” he gave a pained sigh, “Astoria is a wonderful person, but she is not the woman I love. It became overwhelmingly apparent to me that I wasn’t being fair to her. I had tried to be the attentive and loving husband she deserved, but I couldn’t pretend forever. Right before I made the decision to tell her, Astoria got pregnant with you.
“I met Hermione when we were under our pupillage to become barristers. Once we got over our past animosity, we became friends - excellent friends, in fact. I was completely smitten. Though, she was already taken at the time. I’m ashamed to say it, but I married Astoria because I couldn’t get what I wanted. I think it’s somewhat obvious that your mother shares some similarities to Hermione. That’s not to say that I didn’t care for her because I did. I just couldn’t love her the way I was supposed to. I’m so very sorry, Scorpius.”
For all intents and purposes, Draco did indeed look like he regretted his past actions. He let out another sigh before removing the jinxes.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too late for that? You’ve ruined my life.” Scorpius bit out.
Hugo, clearly enraged by this, exploded. “No, Scorpius. You’ve done that by yourself! You’ve just murdered my mum, a war heroine. Do you think Wizengamot is just going to let you off for that, you berk?”
Suddenly, the gravity of the situation began to dawn on the older boy. He had killed somebody. He was a murderer. Scorpius dropped the wand from his hand in utter shock.
“I… I didn’t mean to. I was so angry… I…”
“It doesn’t matter now. I can’t help you anymore. What you’ve done is beyond my power to help. I’m… I’m sorry I’ve failed you so miserably in being your father.” Draco’s voice was now full of anguish and sorrow for the lover he had lost and for the son he would probably soon lose as well.
The popping sounds of several apparitions flooded the room. Three to four former members of Dumbledore’s Army had hastened to Hermione’s side to no avail.
“Where’s Hermione? I got a distress signal from the coin. Is she - Oh, Merlin!” Harry covered his mouth in horror at the sight that greeted him. The others that had arrived subsequently had the same or similar reactions.
“Who did this?” demanded Dean Thomas. “Was it you, Malfoy Senior?”
Scorpius quietly interrupted. “No, Mr Thomas, it wasn’t.”
“Who was it then?” asked Hannah Abbott.
“It was me.” They looked at him in simultaneous interest and horror.
“You! Just as evil as you’re old man, eh?” sneered Seamus Finnegan.
“Get off it, Seamus.” Harry warned before turning to focus on Draco. “What happened, Malfoy?”
“Scorpius was, shall we say, a tad upset about what had happened between myself and Hermione.”
“A tad?!” Hugo roared. “He killed Mum!”
“Is that true, Draco?” asked Harry.
“Yes. He came in pissed up enough for an entire Quidditch team. He wasn’t thinking straight when he aimed his wand to kill me. Scorpius isn’t usually the kind to make rash decisions like this. He wasn’t in his right mind. She got in the way intending to deescalate the situation, but she got hit instead. Perhaps, he wasn’t aware of where his wand was pointed when he said the curse in his rage.? It was an accident on his part. I should be the one who’s dead.” he said morosely.
“Wasn’t aware of where his wand was pointed? He probably killed her in cold blood!” Dean taunted.
“Now, now. Let’s not be hasty to make judgements. I’ll need to call up some of the Aurors and question you three. You understand, of course, Draco?” the Head Auror asked searchingly.
Draco snuck a sideways glance at his erstwhile elder son. “Yeah.” He sighed in resignation.
There was no more to be done. All he could do for his son was testify and hope they agreed that it was an accident. He ambled over Hermione’s body and bent down to give it a soft, final kiss on the forehead before leaving for the Ministry.
The odds had always stacked against them, he thought with strange finality.
The funeral was well-attended by the who’s who in Wizarding Britain, some foreign dignitaries, friends, and family. Despite their differences, the vast members of the Weasley-Potter family came. Many of them expressed their shock and regret of Hermione’s untimely death.
Harry was instrumental in preventing the press from invading their privacy. Though they had been able to cover it up before, the whole of the truth was now exposed for the entire world to see. Draco couldn’t go anywhere without insults and people attacking him. All of the personal integrity and respect he had spent his adult life working for was gone within days. Hermione’s death gave him the impetus to finally file the divorce papers, to which Astoria obviously did not protest.
From start to finish, Draco felt catatonic. Each step, response, and handshake felt machine-like. Nearly everyone had gone when he heard someone clear his throat. The ruddy man didn’t even give him a chance to begin apologising. He just sat himself in the seat to his left, put a quick hand on his shoulder and started to speak.
“Hugh - can I still call you that?" Draco, or Hugh rather, nodded. "I was so determined to hate you, you know. Stole my wife, kids, and so forth. But I realised that in spite of it all, you both were still my friends. Must’ve been bloody weird to pretend to hate me when you were spending all that time idly with me and enjoyin’ it. You weren’t pretending to have fun with me, right?” he asked somewhat insecurely.
Draco, looked at him pointedly, as if to say he was mad.
“Anyway, remember that time when I told you I still felt jealous of Harry sometimes?”
“Yeah.”
“You told me that I had to stop thinking that way. Why? Because I was Ron Weasley - the man who figured out how to enter the Chamber of Secrets without a translator. Ronald Weasley - the man who got his job in the Auror department by working his way from the bottom without help.”
Draco snorted at that one, but Ron continued on as if he hadn't heard that.
“All right, I might have exaggerated that one. But the one that touched me the most? Ronald Weasley - the man who secretly arranged for his friends and friends of friends to adopt children who had been orphaned from the War. I helped those kids because I don’t believe a child should be without a parent. I didn’t do it for fame. I did it because it would have broken my heart if Rose and Hugo didn’t have anyone to raise them right. I didn’t realize realise it at the time, but those words gave me the courage to become my own person, independent of my seemingly more stellar friends and siblings.
“I hate what you did, but I kind of understand it. Hermione and I never really worked well together. We were great mates, but not the kind you should marry. Those last few years were rough. I think it was having the kids that kept us sane. The time apart from her allowed me to realise this.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “I know I shouldn’t have shut Hugo out, but it does tend to really hurt when the child you’ve raised chooses someone else over you.”
Now, it was Draco’s turn to apologise.
“Ron, I never meant to hurt you, really. You are such a good person. I was jealous of what you had. I know it was extremely selfish. What I… we did was wrong. I should have accepted my lot in life, but I couldn’t. Sometimes, it felt like an addiction. I wanted to stop at times, but just seeing her face made me go back in. What’s worse is that I lost a good friend. I’d like to think we were enemies at Hogwarts because we had the potential to be such brill mates!” he joked.
“Well, we did get there eventually. And you haven’t lost your mate yet.”
Ron looked upon him hopefully before his features morphed into something akin to pity. “I can’t say that I’m over what you both did, but I can say that I’d like to bury the hatchet for Hugo and Rose. At least you have them left. Scorpius…” he trailed off.
“Don’t.” He held out a hand to stop him from going further. “I went wrong so many places with him. You were a good father to Rose and Hugo, whereas I was a rubbish father to Scorpius. I didn’t see what I had with him before it was too late. I spent so much time focusing on everything I had with Hermione that I forgot the one good thing that came out of my relationship with Tori. Now, I’ve lost him for good.”
“Maybe not. They did rule it as accidental, so he’ll get out of there in a few years.” Ron suggested optimistically. “Let’s just hope he puts his past behind him.”
“One can only hope.”
“It’s not over until you’re dead, right?” he said, repeating the phrase they had often said to each other after a night of drinking.
“Right.” he agreed.
“Hogs Head?”
“Sounds about right.”
The two man stood up to leave the cemetery grounds. As he passed her grave, Draco could have sworn he saw her give him an encouraging smile and a wave goodbye.
A week later, Rose showed up at his door to talk.
Yes, he thought, as they later sat down to watch telly, it’s not over until you’re dead.