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“HOW DARE YOU, MOTHER?! YOU ARE THE BEST AT LEGILIMENCY AND YOU HURT HER! How could you? You did it on purpose,” Draco screamed.
Hermione felt as if she had been struck several times in the head; she heard voices in the background, distant and distorted.
“Don’t yell at your mother, Draco,” Narcissa drawled coldly.
“No! Don't you dare say that. I know you told her I should marry Cristine Carrow, that I have to fulfill my obligations as the sole heir, that Scorpius needs a mother... Don’t make me laugh; Astoria has been dead for two years. Let me be clear with you, 'mother': I will not marry Cristine Carrow, or any pureblood. I will not fulfill my role as your heir; I’d rather be left without a single Galleon than be miserable just so you can be happy,” Draco growled at Narcissa.
“You choose that witch? A woman with no class, no status... a witch so simple she already has two children,” Narcissa hissed, indignant.
“Don’t make me choose, because it will always be them: Scorpius, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo. I am intelligent; I have a Master's in Potions and Alchemy, and I have earned my own Galleons... so I will not lack money. Go to father and disinherit us at once; we don't want to belong to this 'family' anymore,” Draco replied, emphasizing the word family with pure irony.
Hermione was still on the floor, sobbing silently. Draco had chosen them. She didn't know how to feel; nearly seventeen years after the war had ended, someone still hated her for being a "Mudblood." She tried to stand, but she staggered; her body radiated anger and indignation.
“Her ex-husband will never allow it,” Narcissa said confidently, a malicious smile playing on her lips.
“Ronald has neither a voice nor a vote in our lives. He lives in the United States and only sees the children on weekends—something Draco already knows,” Hermione said, looking Narcissa straight in the eye.
“Get out of my house, Narcissa. Your ward privileges are revoked as of this moment; my home rejects you,” Draco murmured in pain.
“What will you tell my grandson?” Narcissa asked, suddenly nervous.
“When you want to see him, send me an owl and I will bring him to you,” Draco told her. “Now leave, please.”
“Mrs. Weasley, I hope you know what you’re doing, because you are putting the custody of your children at risk,” the woman threatened before heading for the door.
“I know exactly what I’m doing,” Hermione smiled.
They watched as Narcissa walked to the door and vanished into thin air. A heavy silence settled between them, charged with newly revealed truths.
“So... what does all this mean?” she asked, gesturing between the two of them.
“Granger... I... it means what I said... I...” Draco stammered over every word, losing all his usual arrogance.
“Do you like me?” she whispered, her cheeks flushing.
“No... I mean, YES! It’s just that, we’ve only been talking for a year and this is more than just a simple crush. I want to court you, if you’ll let me. I want to talk to Rose and Hugo to see if they’re comfortable with the idea of us, if they’ll accept me,” he choked out at the end, searching for air.
“Yes... I’m sure they’ll say yes. You spend more time with them than Ron does. This past year, you’ve been with us when they were sick, when they were crying... when I was crying. I feel more than just a simple crush too; we’ve stayed by each other's side through the most chaotic moments and the ones that gave us peace.”
Hermione's eyes sparkled as she spoke. Draco took a step toward her, closing the distance.
“We will do this right,” he declared, his gaze radiating love and hunger.