Perfect With Me Chapter Eight
Title: Perfect With Me
Author: Violet Luckless
Rating: T for sexual themes and language
Pairing: Dramione / Heron
Synopsis: It wasn’t that Hugo thought his mother was a liar, it was just something inside of himself he couldn’t explain. So one day he decides to follow Hermione out to her annual Research Society Meetings in France only to learn the secret that could destroy their family.
Now that Hugo had gotten the courage to find his mother he had never wanted to do anything so quickly, however the youth found himself trapped at the entrance of the Ball when he ran into Madame Dubois and her husband again. She called out to him and he was glad to say hello, except she then seemed to run into every acquaintance he was supposed to remember and felt compelled to reintroduce them, and point out that he was wearing “the suit.” This would then lead to the conversation that his mother’s wedding dress was also held at their shop, and so on and so forth. Something was happening in the ballroom as for some reason people started to applaud, and at last Madame Dubois gasped loudly.
“Oh the ceremony! How could I forget?! Come mon chére! Come!” she grabbed Hugo’s wrist and yanked him into the ballroom.
It was absolutely beautiful, decorated in purple, white and yellow. The flowers of the evening and tiny candles twinkled on every table and a massive silver chandelier hung above the dance floor. The band was stationed on the stage against the far wall but there were standing silent as a woman who looked like a dressed up librarian was speaking. Hugo’s eyes scanned the room at once, everyone on the dance floor and at the tables were watching the woman speak but he was trying to find-
“Mum?” his voice was low and pathetic when he found her. He’d never seen her look so stunning. Hermione’s hair was braided, she wore diamonds on her neck, wrist, fingers and her gown, Merlin’s beard she looked like an entirely different person. As soon as he saw her he saw the man, he had his hand on the small of her back and was whispering into her ear. The woman on stage said something else and the room applauded politely once more forcing Hugo to turn his attention. She was speaking in French, Hugo’s brow furrowed as he tried desperately to recall some of this blasted language so that he may understand her, he felt someone lean in close to him and Madame Dubois’ voice whispered:
“She says: though she hates to put a damper on the evening with such bad news … she must also make this announcement to pay honors to someone who means so much to our community. This will be the last year … The Malfoys join us … and we the Village would like to honor Hermione … who brought her husband here … and with his financial contributions turned us into a thriving town once again.” The room broke into applause again, this time considerably more enthusiastically so Hugo’s eyes jumped to Hermione again. She tossed her had back and laughed, the man next to her motioned for her to go onto the stage, she shook her head no, the man kissed her cheek and motioned for her again and the crowd went wild.
Hermione climbed the stairs and hugged the woman on stage, the crowd got louder. A man cried out and Madame whispered to Hugo “speech!” another voice called out the same word, and another, and another until Hermione blushed and shook her head. She put her hand in front of her mouth and he saw the tears glisten in her eyes. She put her head back and took a deep breath. She began to speak, and Madame was there to translate.
“Words cannot express how touched I am … for years this place has been a sanctuary for Draco and I … and you’ve all made us feel so welcome from the beginning. We’re so sad to be going away … but you all and this place will always be in our hearts.” Hermione stopped to cry and Draco Malfoy emerged from the crowd. He put his arms around her and smiled.
“Baiser!” someone cried, and somehow Hugo knew this word. All it took was this one person and the entire room began to chant. Hermione laughed between her tears, she and Draco locked eyes for a moment and with practiced ease she kissed him.
Hugo watched as Draco’s arms wrapped around his mother, as she leaned into him and they kissed as if…as if…
He felt as if he were floating. He wanted to turn around and run away but instead he was going forward. People didn’t realize he was there until he bumped into them and when they saw him either recognized him, or thought he was a rude boy and moved out of the way. Either way before he could stop himself Hugo was standing right in front of the stage when they pulled away. Hermione was still glowing for another moment until her eyes fell on him, and then she turned deathly pale. Draco’s eyes fell on her and then followed her gaze at once. He leaned in and whispered to her, she smiled once more to the crowd before allowing Draco to lead her off the stage. The librarian woman once again took the microphone.
Hugo didn’t need to be told and neither did the two of them say a word to him. Instead Hermione rushed down and threw her arms around her son, he held her tighter than he could remember in his life and when they parted he took her hand. Draco led the way out of the room out a side door Hugo hadn’t noticed before. The cool night breeze brushed his hair and the smell of flowers danced in the air.
“Is it true?” Hugo finally asked he released Hermione’s hand. He suddenly didn’t want to be near her, he stepped away from her.
“Hugo-“ she began as she stepped toward him.
“Is it?!” Hugo cried. “Is he my father?!” he pointed an accusing finger at Draco.
“Hugo you have to understand-“ Draco began as he placed a hand on Hugo’s shoulder.
“Shut up!” he screamed as he turned on the older man and slapped his hand away. He turned back to his mother and towered over her, she was weeping and his heart was breaking but he’d had enough! No more lies, no more secrets! “Answer me!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Hey!”
It all happened so fast Hermione couldn’t believe how she’d reacted. Draco had grabbed Hugo and yanked him away hard, Hugo threw out his fist blindly, Draco drew his wand and pointed it at Hugo, Hermione drew her wand and smashed Draco’s nose. He bent over double as his blood spilled through his fingers and onto the ground. He could fix his nose and get the blood off his hands but not his suit.
“That’s enough!” she cried resolutely. Hugo gaped at her with his mouth hanging open, was he really so surprised? Draco may have been the love of her life but Hugo was still her son, and therefore took priority over him. If Hugo was unsure of that she had no one but to blame but herself. “Alright Hugo, if you’ve gotten into your head that you’re so grown up that you deserve answers you’re going to get them. I at least owe you that. Come on, it’s not a short story.” Hermione sighed as she strode past Hugo and started toward a dark gazebo sitting in the middle of the garden.
Hugo watched Draco who took a handkerchief from his coat pocket and put it on his nose to stop the bleeding. He recognized it, mum had a small batch of them in her drawer. She had never let anyone use them as her grandmother had hand stitched them for her before she passed away. The one in Draco’s hand looked old and handled, as if it sat in every pocket of every jacket he’d ever worn.
The two men followed Hermione and found her waiting inside the gazebo sitting on a bench in the center. Hugo watched as Draco and his mother had a wordless exchange. They met eyes, she reached into her tiny handbag and handed him a mirror, Draco angled it just so and fixed his own nose, he didn’t even have a bruise.
“Hugo.” Hermione’s voice was soft as his attention turned. She sighed very deeply before asking, “what do you know? Or think you know?”
“Madame Dubois said you and him came here during the war. You were running away from it and eloped in this town. They think you ran away from the war completely.”
“Obviously that’s not entirely true.” Hermione nodded.
“You said you’ve loved Da since you were in school!”
“I have!” Hermione cried. “And I know that he loved me, of course I know that now! But you have to understand Hugo there was a time in your father’s life when I was…when he acted as if I was the last thing on his mind! And…I did the same.” She sighed. “In that time Draco and I fell in love-“
“Yeah that stupid girl in sixth year I know all about that! But you’ve been lying to da all these years.” Hugo snarled.
“Yes.” she replied sadly as she turned her eyes down.
There was a terrible silence that seemed to drag on forever, until Hugo dared to speak again.
“I can understand at first mum, but … why? Aren’t you happy? I saw you in there and I’ve never seen you smile like that-“
“Of course I am!” Hermione yelled as she jumped up. “I love your father, and I love you!”
“You love me better than Rose. Is it because I’m not Ron’s son?” Hugo had meant to be cold and angry and cursed himself as the tears spilled out from his eyes when he jumped up to meet her. He wiped them away angrily with his sleeve.
“That has nothing to do with it! Oh god.” Hermione covered her face and sobbed. She wanted Draco to come close to her and hold her, but he wouldn’t. It would only make matters worse. How could she explain to Hugo how she loved Draco? How this had always been the life they had wanted? How on earth could she say that without throwing away everything she and Ron built? The life she was choosing to have. The life she had already chosen.
“Why him? I know what he was! A Death Eater! He killed muggles and muggle borns! He’s the reason Dumbledore died! My father told me all of the stories when you were all young.” Hugo stared accusingly at Draco.
“I loved her.” Draco replied in a low voice which caught Hugo completely off guard. “I will always love your mother Hugo. You can’t blame her entirely, I was there too. I fought for her and nagged her, and begged her, and pleaded.” Draco closed the gap between he and Hermione now, reaching for her hand she slipped it gently into his as she stared deep into his eyes. “We didn’t want to hurt anyone we just…couldn’t let go.” He finished with a shrug as if it was supposed to explain it all.
Hugo had never been in love, or even close to it in his entire life. Sure he’d had some girlfriends here and there but they parted ways, as teenagers seemed to do. At least that’s what he was told. Everyone he knew had been sweethearts since school. But in all the things he had learned about love it was worth risking everything. Life and limb, body and soul, isn’t that what they did?
Mum was part of the Order of the Phoenix, a rogue army that would go down in history for vanquishing the evil Lord Voldemort. Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater, evil incarnate he helped Lord Voldemort kill innocent people. He would have killed his mother. According to Da, didn’t his family torture her? And they’d loved each other, and risked their lives to be together for just a few days every year? And Hugo, the product of these secret getaways, the constant reminder of a life she would never have.
If his mother had married Draco instead of his own Da she would be like this all the time. Decked out in silk dresses and diamonds, shimmering and beautiful and glowing. What about Hugo? Would he have his own massive room in Malfoy Manor? Draco would buy him any and everything his heart desired. But he was just thinking about money, that’s all Hugo knew about Draco was money. Mother was never superficial, she didn’t care about money. Did she?
Hugo sat down and wrapped his arms around himself. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to navigate this?
“Hugo.” Draco sighed as he stepped forward. Hermione was once again sitting at the middle bench holding herself much like Hugo, she was lost in her own thoughts. “We never said this was a right or ok thing to do. We know that. You know I have a wife and two children of my own. But I think you’ll agree with us that this has gone on far too long and it’s time to end it now. It should have been ended long ago.”
“Then why didn’t it?” Hugo was staring at Draco now, at his exact eyes staring right back at him, and his nose, and his stare. That intense stare that scared others, it made a chill run down Hugo’s spine.
“Selfishness.” Draco shrugged. “That was my reason. I can only speak for myself as we both know your mother is hardly a selfish person. I think she came for me, because I wasn’t ready to let her go-“
“Are you now?”
“No.” Draco chuckled. “No, neither will I ever be. But I knew once your mother made the decision to marry your father she would never really come away with me, and never really be mine.”
“You would have left your wife?” Hugo scoffed.
“Yes. At first. Before Scorpius was born. But once he came into the world…my son needed me.”
“What about me? Aren’t I your son?”
This seemed to stab Draco, he flinched a little before he sighed deeply.
Didn’t mother used to bring him on these trips with her? Why was he so surprised when he saw Draco here, he remembered him being here from his youth. No it wasn’t that he was here, it was that they were here together. Draco used to play with him as a child, and write to him, and send him money and presents. Never in those letters had Draco mentioned his mother, he seemed entirely interested in Hugo. What his grades were, if he liked quidditch, his favourite foods, if he liked to read or draw or paint. And then they stopped. Did Hermione have something to do with that?
“I-I’m sorry.” Hugo mumbled as he turned down to his feet.
“You’re not wrong.” Draco sighed as he turned away from the youth. “But tell me, would you want me for your father with Ron there?”
Okay so Ron didn’t like Hugo being in Slytherin House, sure. Didn’t he teach him how to ride a broomstick? Didn’t he teach him shortcuts in Charms, and how to make breakfast in bed for mother just the way she liked? Didn’t he tell him all those amazing stories about the war and what really happened? Didn’t he check under the bed and in the closet for years before Hugo went to bed to make sure there weren’t Death Eaters there? And stay awake with him all night when he had nightmares? Ron who took his pictures and put them on his desk at work and would point at them and say: “yep that’s my boy Hugo. Smart as his mother, but strong as me.” His da who taught him about girls and love, real love and that it was worth everything? Ron had done those things, not Draco.
Draco had always seemed fond of Hugo, and seemed very attached to his son, but wondering for one moment if Draco were a better father than Ron made Hugo feel as if he were betraying Ron. For all his faults Ron loved him so much, and would do so much for him, and Hugo would do the same.
“No. I love my da.” he whispered as he shook his head.
“How did you find out about us Hugo?” Draco asked as if it had suddenly occurred to him.
“Watching you two make out on stage hardly left much to the imagination.” Hugo scoffed.
“I mean what made you come all the way here to begin with?”
Hermione perked up then, suddenly snapped out of whatever space she was caught in.
“I just…I’ve been feeling different. I dunno I can’t describe it. I just knew something was different inside of me that I couldn’t change and I wanted to ask you about it.” Hugo replied as he got up from his seat and sat next to his mother.
“Of course you’re different.” Hermione smiled as she brushed back his hair. “You’re my son, and that makes you different from all others in every way.”
Hugo wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned into the wall of her chest and could hear her heart beating. The same heart he’d always heard when she would scoop him onto her lap when he hurt himself as a child.
“I’m sorry I screamed at you.” He whispered.
“I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“You do look so beautiful.” Hugo smiled as he pulled away from his mother.
“Monsieur Dubois does know his way around a suit.” Hermione smiled as she straightened his lapels.
“So now what?” Hugo sighed as he turned his eyes down.
“What do you want to do Hugo?” Hermione sighed. “We can get our things and go home right now. This was our last weekend here-“
“No.” Hugo blurted. What was he doing? He just caught his mother in an affair that had been going on since before he was born, before Rose was born! If his father found out about this it would break his heart, his family would crumble and fall apart, his mother would never be the same. She would lose Ron and Rose and Draco. All she would have left was Hugo and he wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to get her through this. “It’s only Friday.” Hugo nodded.
“Hugo this isn’t right, it never was-“ Draco sighed as he stepped forward.
“I know, that’s why it’s really ending right? So, this is the last time. I have my own room I’ll leave in the morning and go back.”
“But-“ Hermione started.
“No mum.” Hugo sighed as he shook his head. “I found out what I wanted to find out, and it didn’t change much. Finish your weekend and come back to us, don’t leave anything behind this time.”
“How’d you get so wise?” Hermione smiled as tears threatened her eyes again.
“I love you mum.”
After another round of tearful hugs Hugo left his parents at the hotel and went down the road. The chapel in this town was so small it was very easily passed but he knew where to find it. Where the road curved to the left, just before a person entered the “residential” area, a tiny one story shack with two stained glass windows on each side sat quietly in the night. It didn’t even have a bell. Hugo tried the door and found it unlocked. Five pews on each side gave way to the altar where he imagined his mother marrying Draco Malfoy. He imagined how she cried and smiled, how she kissed him and held him. He imagined he should like to get married here someday.
Author: Violet Luckless
Rating: T for sexual themes and language
Pairing: Dramione / Heron
Synopsis: It wasn’t that Hugo thought his mother was a liar, it was just something inside of himself he couldn’t explain. So one day he decides to follow Hermione out to her annual Research Society Meetings in France only to learn the secret that could destroy their family.
Now that Hugo had gotten the courage to find his mother he had never wanted to do anything so quickly, however the youth found himself trapped at the entrance of the Ball when he ran into Madame Dubois and her husband again. She called out to him and he was glad to say hello, except she then seemed to run into every acquaintance he was supposed to remember and felt compelled to reintroduce them, and point out that he was wearing “the suit.” This would then lead to the conversation that his mother’s wedding dress was also held at their shop, and so on and so forth. Something was happening in the ballroom as for some reason people started to applaud, and at last Madame Dubois gasped loudly.
“Oh the ceremony! How could I forget?! Come mon chére! Come!” she grabbed Hugo’s wrist and yanked him into the ballroom.
It was absolutely beautiful, decorated in purple, white and yellow. The flowers of the evening and tiny candles twinkled on every table and a massive silver chandelier hung above the dance floor. The band was stationed on the stage against the far wall but there were standing silent as a woman who looked like a dressed up librarian was speaking. Hugo’s eyes scanned the room at once, everyone on the dance floor and at the tables were watching the woman speak but he was trying to find-
“Mum?” his voice was low and pathetic when he found her. He’d never seen her look so stunning. Hermione’s hair was braided, she wore diamonds on her neck, wrist, fingers and her gown, Merlin’s beard she looked like an entirely different person. As soon as he saw her he saw the man, he had his hand on the small of her back and was whispering into her ear. The woman on stage said something else and the room applauded politely once more forcing Hugo to turn his attention. She was speaking in French, Hugo’s brow furrowed as he tried desperately to recall some of this blasted language so that he may understand her, he felt someone lean in close to him and Madame Dubois’ voice whispered:
“She says: though she hates to put a damper on the evening with such bad news … she must also make this announcement to pay honors to someone who means so much to our community. This will be the last year … The Malfoys join us … and we the Village would like to honor Hermione … who brought her husband here … and with his financial contributions turned us into a thriving town once again.” The room broke into applause again, this time considerably more enthusiastically so Hugo’s eyes jumped to Hermione again. She tossed her had back and laughed, the man next to her motioned for her to go onto the stage, she shook her head no, the man kissed her cheek and motioned for her again and the crowd went wild.
Hermione climbed the stairs and hugged the woman on stage, the crowd got louder. A man cried out and Madame whispered to Hugo “speech!” another voice called out the same word, and another, and another until Hermione blushed and shook her head. She put her hand in front of her mouth and he saw the tears glisten in her eyes. She put her head back and took a deep breath. She began to speak, and Madame was there to translate.
“Words cannot express how touched I am … for years this place has been a sanctuary for Draco and I … and you’ve all made us feel so welcome from the beginning. We’re so sad to be going away … but you all and this place will always be in our hearts.” Hermione stopped to cry and Draco Malfoy emerged from the crowd. He put his arms around her and smiled.
“Baiser!” someone cried, and somehow Hugo knew this word. All it took was this one person and the entire room began to chant. Hermione laughed between her tears, she and Draco locked eyes for a moment and with practiced ease she kissed him.
Hugo watched as Draco’s arms wrapped around his mother, as she leaned into him and they kissed as if…as if…
He felt as if he were floating. He wanted to turn around and run away but instead he was going forward. People didn’t realize he was there until he bumped into them and when they saw him either recognized him, or thought he was a rude boy and moved out of the way. Either way before he could stop himself Hugo was standing right in front of the stage when they pulled away. Hermione was still glowing for another moment until her eyes fell on him, and then she turned deathly pale. Draco’s eyes fell on her and then followed her gaze at once. He leaned in and whispered to her, she smiled once more to the crowd before allowing Draco to lead her off the stage. The librarian woman once again took the microphone.
Hugo didn’t need to be told and neither did the two of them say a word to him. Instead Hermione rushed down and threw her arms around her son, he held her tighter than he could remember in his life and when they parted he took her hand. Draco led the way out of the room out a side door Hugo hadn’t noticed before. The cool night breeze brushed his hair and the smell of flowers danced in the air.
“Is it true?” Hugo finally asked he released Hermione’s hand. He suddenly didn’t want to be near her, he stepped away from her.
“Hugo-“ she began as she stepped toward him.
“Is it?!” Hugo cried. “Is he my father?!” he pointed an accusing finger at Draco.
“Hugo you have to understand-“ Draco began as he placed a hand on Hugo’s shoulder.
“Shut up!” he screamed as he turned on the older man and slapped his hand away. He turned back to his mother and towered over her, she was weeping and his heart was breaking but he’d had enough! No more lies, no more secrets! “Answer me!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Hey!”
It all happened so fast Hermione couldn’t believe how she’d reacted. Draco had grabbed Hugo and yanked him away hard, Hugo threw out his fist blindly, Draco drew his wand and pointed it at Hugo, Hermione drew her wand and smashed Draco’s nose. He bent over double as his blood spilled through his fingers and onto the ground. He could fix his nose and get the blood off his hands but not his suit.
“That’s enough!” she cried resolutely. Hugo gaped at her with his mouth hanging open, was he really so surprised? Draco may have been the love of her life but Hugo was still her son, and therefore took priority over him. If Hugo was unsure of that she had no one but to blame but herself. “Alright Hugo, if you’ve gotten into your head that you’re so grown up that you deserve answers you’re going to get them. I at least owe you that. Come on, it’s not a short story.” Hermione sighed as she strode past Hugo and started toward a dark gazebo sitting in the middle of the garden.
Hugo watched Draco who took a handkerchief from his coat pocket and put it on his nose to stop the bleeding. He recognized it, mum had a small batch of them in her drawer. She had never let anyone use them as her grandmother had hand stitched them for her before she passed away. The one in Draco’s hand looked old and handled, as if it sat in every pocket of every jacket he’d ever worn.
The two men followed Hermione and found her waiting inside the gazebo sitting on a bench in the center. Hugo watched as Draco and his mother had a wordless exchange. They met eyes, she reached into her tiny handbag and handed him a mirror, Draco angled it just so and fixed his own nose, he didn’t even have a bruise.
“Hugo.” Hermione’s voice was soft as his attention turned. She sighed very deeply before asking, “what do you know? Or think you know?”
“Madame Dubois said you and him came here during the war. You were running away from it and eloped in this town. They think you ran away from the war completely.”
“Obviously that’s not entirely true.” Hermione nodded.
“You said you’ve loved Da since you were in school!”
“I have!” Hermione cried. “And I know that he loved me, of course I know that now! But you have to understand Hugo there was a time in your father’s life when I was…when he acted as if I was the last thing on his mind! And…I did the same.” She sighed. “In that time Draco and I fell in love-“
“Yeah that stupid girl in sixth year I know all about that! But you’ve been lying to da all these years.” Hugo snarled.
“Yes.” she replied sadly as she turned her eyes down.
There was a terrible silence that seemed to drag on forever, until Hugo dared to speak again.
“I can understand at first mum, but … why? Aren’t you happy? I saw you in there and I’ve never seen you smile like that-“
“Of course I am!” Hermione yelled as she jumped up. “I love your father, and I love you!”
“You love me better than Rose. Is it because I’m not Ron’s son?” Hugo had meant to be cold and angry and cursed himself as the tears spilled out from his eyes when he jumped up to meet her. He wiped them away angrily with his sleeve.
“That has nothing to do with it! Oh god.” Hermione covered her face and sobbed. She wanted Draco to come close to her and hold her, but he wouldn’t. It would only make matters worse. How could she explain to Hugo how she loved Draco? How this had always been the life they had wanted? How on earth could she say that without throwing away everything she and Ron built? The life she was choosing to have. The life she had already chosen.
“Why him? I know what he was! A Death Eater! He killed muggles and muggle borns! He’s the reason Dumbledore died! My father told me all of the stories when you were all young.” Hugo stared accusingly at Draco.
“I loved her.” Draco replied in a low voice which caught Hugo completely off guard. “I will always love your mother Hugo. You can’t blame her entirely, I was there too. I fought for her and nagged her, and begged her, and pleaded.” Draco closed the gap between he and Hermione now, reaching for her hand she slipped it gently into his as she stared deep into his eyes. “We didn’t want to hurt anyone we just…couldn’t let go.” He finished with a shrug as if it was supposed to explain it all.
Hugo had never been in love, or even close to it in his entire life. Sure he’d had some girlfriends here and there but they parted ways, as teenagers seemed to do. At least that’s what he was told. Everyone he knew had been sweethearts since school. But in all the things he had learned about love it was worth risking everything. Life and limb, body and soul, isn’t that what they did?
Mum was part of the Order of the Phoenix, a rogue army that would go down in history for vanquishing the evil Lord Voldemort. Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater, evil incarnate he helped Lord Voldemort kill innocent people. He would have killed his mother. According to Da, didn’t his family torture her? And they’d loved each other, and risked their lives to be together for just a few days every year? And Hugo, the product of these secret getaways, the constant reminder of a life she would never have.
If his mother had married Draco instead of his own Da she would be like this all the time. Decked out in silk dresses and diamonds, shimmering and beautiful and glowing. What about Hugo? Would he have his own massive room in Malfoy Manor? Draco would buy him any and everything his heart desired. But he was just thinking about money, that’s all Hugo knew about Draco was money. Mother was never superficial, she didn’t care about money. Did she?
Hugo sat down and wrapped his arms around himself. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to navigate this?
“Hugo.” Draco sighed as he stepped forward. Hermione was once again sitting at the middle bench holding herself much like Hugo, she was lost in her own thoughts. “We never said this was a right or ok thing to do. We know that. You know I have a wife and two children of my own. But I think you’ll agree with us that this has gone on far too long and it’s time to end it now. It should have been ended long ago.”
“Then why didn’t it?” Hugo was staring at Draco now, at his exact eyes staring right back at him, and his nose, and his stare. That intense stare that scared others, it made a chill run down Hugo’s spine.
“Selfishness.” Draco shrugged. “That was my reason. I can only speak for myself as we both know your mother is hardly a selfish person. I think she came for me, because I wasn’t ready to let her go-“
“Are you now?”
“No.” Draco chuckled. “No, neither will I ever be. But I knew once your mother made the decision to marry your father she would never really come away with me, and never really be mine.”
“You would have left your wife?” Hugo scoffed.
“Yes. At first. Before Scorpius was born. But once he came into the world…my son needed me.”
“What about me? Aren’t I your son?”
This seemed to stab Draco, he flinched a little before he sighed deeply.
Didn’t mother used to bring him on these trips with her? Why was he so surprised when he saw Draco here, he remembered him being here from his youth. No it wasn’t that he was here, it was that they were here together. Draco used to play with him as a child, and write to him, and send him money and presents. Never in those letters had Draco mentioned his mother, he seemed entirely interested in Hugo. What his grades were, if he liked quidditch, his favourite foods, if he liked to read or draw or paint. And then they stopped. Did Hermione have something to do with that?
“I-I’m sorry.” Hugo mumbled as he turned down to his feet.
“You’re not wrong.” Draco sighed as he turned away from the youth. “But tell me, would you want me for your father with Ron there?”
Okay so Ron didn’t like Hugo being in Slytherin House, sure. Didn’t he teach him how to ride a broomstick? Didn’t he teach him shortcuts in Charms, and how to make breakfast in bed for mother just the way she liked? Didn’t he tell him all those amazing stories about the war and what really happened? Didn’t he check under the bed and in the closet for years before Hugo went to bed to make sure there weren’t Death Eaters there? And stay awake with him all night when he had nightmares? Ron who took his pictures and put them on his desk at work and would point at them and say: “yep that’s my boy Hugo. Smart as his mother, but strong as me.” His da who taught him about girls and love, real love and that it was worth everything? Ron had done those things, not Draco.
Draco had always seemed fond of Hugo, and seemed very attached to his son, but wondering for one moment if Draco were a better father than Ron made Hugo feel as if he were betraying Ron. For all his faults Ron loved him so much, and would do so much for him, and Hugo would do the same.
“No. I love my da.” he whispered as he shook his head.
“How did you find out about us Hugo?” Draco asked as if it had suddenly occurred to him.
“Watching you two make out on stage hardly left much to the imagination.” Hugo scoffed.
“I mean what made you come all the way here to begin with?”
Hermione perked up then, suddenly snapped out of whatever space she was caught in.
“I just…I’ve been feeling different. I dunno I can’t describe it. I just knew something was different inside of me that I couldn’t change and I wanted to ask you about it.” Hugo replied as he got up from his seat and sat next to his mother.
“Of course you’re different.” Hermione smiled as she brushed back his hair. “You’re my son, and that makes you different from all others in every way.”
Hugo wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned into the wall of her chest and could hear her heart beating. The same heart he’d always heard when she would scoop him onto her lap when he hurt himself as a child.
“I’m sorry I screamed at you.” He whispered.
“I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“You do look so beautiful.” Hugo smiled as he pulled away from his mother.
“Monsieur Dubois does know his way around a suit.” Hermione smiled as she straightened his lapels.
“So now what?” Hugo sighed as he turned his eyes down.
“What do you want to do Hugo?” Hermione sighed. “We can get our things and go home right now. This was our last weekend here-“
“No.” Hugo blurted. What was he doing? He just caught his mother in an affair that had been going on since before he was born, before Rose was born! If his father found out about this it would break his heart, his family would crumble and fall apart, his mother would never be the same. She would lose Ron and Rose and Draco. All she would have left was Hugo and he wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to get her through this. “It’s only Friday.” Hugo nodded.
“Hugo this isn’t right, it never was-“ Draco sighed as he stepped forward.
“I know, that’s why it’s really ending right? So, this is the last time. I have my own room I’ll leave in the morning and go back.”
“But-“ Hermione started.
“No mum.” Hugo sighed as he shook his head. “I found out what I wanted to find out, and it didn’t change much. Finish your weekend and come back to us, don’t leave anything behind this time.”
“How’d you get so wise?” Hermione smiled as tears threatened her eyes again.
“I love you mum.”
After another round of tearful hugs Hugo left his parents at the hotel and went down the road. The chapel in this town was so small it was very easily passed but he knew where to find it. Where the road curved to the left, just before a person entered the “residential” area, a tiny one story shack with two stained glass windows on each side sat quietly in the night. It didn’t even have a bell. Hugo tried the door and found it unlocked. Five pews on each side gave way to the altar where he imagined his mother marrying Draco Malfoy. He imagined how she cried and smiled, how she kissed him and held him. He imagined he should like to get married here someday.