Chapter Text
“It’s okay Mum, please.” Lyra’s soft, calming voice reached Hermione’s ears. She took a deep, shaky breath in…. “We’ll be okay. I promise.”
A hand squeezed hers firmly. As Hermione let out the breath, she felt a soft kiss to their conjoined hands. A male voice whispered, “We love you. So much Mum. Just rest now… say hi to Father for us.”
Scorpius? Was he home? Perhaps it's a holiday. Then again, it’s difficult to hear clearly at the moment. Her children’s voices seemed a bit muffled. She thought she might hear laughter downstairs. Could it be that the whole family was here together? What a wonderful blessing this family it was… Though her eyelids felt too heavy to lift at the moment, Hermione’s whole being was light with contentment.
“Can she even hear us?” Lyra sniffed.
“I should have come back sooner.” Scorpius laid his head down to the bed beside their hands. “I- I didn’t want to believe we’d have to learn to live without them both. They’re too young, it’s just not fair.” His eyes were wet, despite being so tired of crying. He liked to think he wasn’t much of a crier, but Father had passed only months ago. He had been abroad for work, and still hadn’t come to forgive himself for it. Scorpius refused to make the same mistake this time. As soon as Lyra’s owl reached him, he packed their things and booked an international portkey to Wiltshire.
“You didn’t know Scorp.” Albus rubbed his shoulder in support. “No one could’ve predicted what happened to your father, it was an accident. But he knew how much you loved and cared for him. He’d forgive you, but there isn’t anything to forgive, Love. Your mum though, she’s still here for now. And so are we.
I don’t know for sure Lyra, but I think she can hear you. When Gran passed, we all gathered at the Burrow and told old stories. And if she wasn’t able to hear us, there’s no way she didn’t feel all the love we had for her in that room. Maybe we should let the kids join us?”
“No.” Lyra replied softly, “I appreciate the sentiment, Albus. Truly. But they said their goodbyes when she was awake, I’d rather them not see her like this. Darren will keep them occupied.”
Hermione gave another shaky breath, but it wasn’t quite as deep this time. Then she let out a slight shiver. Perhaps it would have gone unnoticed if this was any other day, but today her children barely blinked for fear of missing a thing.
“Oh Mum, here.” Lyra lifted an extra blanket onto her mother’s sleeping form, tucking her in the way she used to do for Lyra as a small child. What she wouldn’t give to have her mum wrap her up in that overwhelming feeling of love and protection once again. She’d make do with doing whatever she could to keep her mum comfortable now. It’s what she deserved.
Growing up, Lyra always knew that she had been blessed with the best parents. Her father was the strongest man she’d ever known, especially after he sat her down one day and told her his story. You’d never know from looking at him in his later years, that he’d been raised in such a harsh environment. That he’d had to struggle and re-learn how to be a good person or to show casual affection; that he had to re-invent his misplaced ideals. Her father consistently went out of his way to be sure she and Scorpius were given everything he never had. Including the model of a respectful and loving relationship – not a living soul could doubt the endless love he had for their mother.
Losing him so suddenly had been a shock. An average day at work gone wrong.
Father loved working with magical creatures, and Mum helped him with the legal casework through the years. That day started like any other, until one of the griffins was spooked by a mastery student wandering too close to its mate. Perhaps it was a deep scratch, but it was one he likely could’ve healed from in his younger days. He’d certainly had worse injuries before. But Father had weakened rapidly as he aged, faster than most wizards… due to the prolonged use of crucio on him during the war. He was gone by that evening.
And Mum had dimmed following his loss, almost as if a broken heart had the power of an avada. In actuality, she struggled to take care of herself without him to lean on and her weakened body allowed illness to take hold. She’s been in bed most of this week, but today seems like it may be the end. She hasn’t woken up since going to bed last night, and Lyra could have sworn she heard her calling out a weak “Draco,” in the safety of the moonlight.
She was grateful that her brother made it back in time. Lyra wasn’t entirely sure whether she should write to him about it at first, unsure if the outcome of her mother’s illness could really be so dire. However Mum encouraged her to write him, stating that she believed that this sickness wasn’t the common muggle cold and that she wanted both her babies home with her one more time. Part of Lyra was convinced that her mother welcomed the illness with open arms–consciously or not, that her mum took it as an opportunity to greet her lost love again. It broke her heart to write the letter, but Lyra knew she couldn’t allow Scorpius to feel the same pain he’d nearly drowned in when they lost Father.
Perhaps her brother-in-law had the right idea. There’s no correct way to mourn, but perhaps sharing stories wouldn’t be the worst idea.
“Mum, do you remember when I gave birth to Chloe? I had never been so scared in my life. I’m still not entirely sure how I didn’t recognize that I was in labor at first. It came on so quickly, and I would never have chosen to give birth at my parents’ home on purpose. No offense Mum.” Lyra laughed slightly and continued, “And of course it would have been in the middle of Father’s birthday breakfast.”
Scorpius rolled his eyes and added, “He was so excited about the possibility of his grandchild sharing his birthday.”
“Well, he got his wish. Giving birth in my childhood bed was certainly not on my bingo card. But the point of my story was that I couldn’t have done it without you, Mum. I was freaking out, and Darren wasn’t much of a help. I delivered Rachel and Adam at St. Mungo’s, we weren’t anticipating a home birth. Mum was a rock star, you would think she’d done it before. Surely she’s read books in the past, knowing her. Mum, you delivered my baby and kept both of us safe.” Lyra’s voice broke a little bit, “When Chloe came out with the cord wrapped around her neck, I would have completely lost my mind. But Mum stayed cool headed, didn’t even let on that there was an issue. She simply unwrapped it and performed a spell to help her recover a little bit faster. Some kind of bubble head charm to increase her oxygen.” She sniffed.
Albus showed his surprise, “I knew you had Chloe at home, but I didn’t realize your mum had done all that. That’s amazing.”
“Mum is amazing. Chloe has been perfectly healthy ever since. I don’t know what would have happened if Darren and I had been home all alone.”
They all took a pause, looking at Hermione in bed. Reflecting on the amazing witch and mother that she is.
Eventually, Albus turned his attention to Scorpius. He raised a brow at him, the mental question of a duo so long in sync was easily heard. Your turn.
“Um. When I was five, I thought my birthday was the most important day of my life. I was so excited Mum, because you agreed to finally let Father buy me a toy broom. Five years of waiting, even if I wasn’t quite able to remember the first few of them. It felt like a long time coming.
You looked at Father like he was the most ridiculous man you’d ever seen, he wore such a goofy smile on his face the whole time. You could see he was as excited as I was. He set up that miniature pitch for us in the garden while you sat on a picnic blanket feeding Lyra. Perhaps one of my most vivid childhood memories… It's actually the one I used when we learned to conjure a patronus back in school. Just us, our family…while Father taught me what-would-become my favorite pastime. He was so patient–teaching me how to grip the broom properly and steer it. I’d kick my legs on the broom while it only hovered about a foot or two in the air, and I felt like I was on top of the world. And Father just grinned at me, he seemed so proud.
And Mum, you grinned at him.
I know quidditch was never something you enjoyed much Mum, but I can’t thank you enough for how much you encouraged and supported me. When I made the Slytherin house team, I thought it would be Father who celebrated the most. Then you sent me a Howler at the breakfast table.
Not out of anger, of course. Just so that I could hear your voice when you sincerely told me how proud you were.” he laughed a little, “I mean, who does that? Love was never something I had to question, when it came to you Mum. You had an abundance of it and the most thoughtful ways to show it to everyone lucky enough to experience it.”
Lyra made a noise of agreement.
He continued, “You made the time to show up to every game that parents were allowed to visit Hogwarts for. And when I received my acceptance letter to join the Tornadoes, your smile could easily have lit up the whole sky. Besides, how many children can say that their mother would create natural disasters in excitement?” He grinned at Lyra. “Remember the mini tornado? That was one wild way to tell everyone her son made it into the pro quidditch league and now go home because the graduation party’s over.”
“And they say your father is the one with a flair for the dramatics.” Albus added, “My gran would still threaten to create a tornado that would sweep the kids away if they left their toys all over her living room at the end of a visit.”
They shared a few more moments of laughter before Lyra sobered and began again.
“I remember the first time you dropped me off at King’s Cross. It was unseasonably cold, so Father had his arms wrapped around you while we said our goodbyes. Father gave me a chocolate frog, and I opened it to see your card. It felt like a sign. A reminder that you’d be close to my heart no matter how far apart we were physically. But I needed a lot of encouragement to get on the train, even though I’d looked forward to school for so long. I honestly think I just needed the extra moments with you both. I’d have Scorpius, the Potters, the Notts. The whole Weasley crew. But what was I going to do without my Mum? Without my Father?”
She voice broke off and she sniffed again. “What will I do now?”
Scorpius chimed in softly, “You were going to grow and become your own person outside of the family, Sis. You did amazing things in school and continue to make strides in the Ministry. You created an amazing family; you and Darren have made me the proudest Uncle, and our parents love their grandchildren so fiercely. That love won’t wither even when they leave this earth. I don’t think anything could stop them from looking over us.”
Scorpius was still sitting beside the bed, holding his mother’s hand. After he scooted a bit to the side of the loveseat, Lyra joined him and he wrapped his free arm around her. They listened to the sound of their mother’s soft, raspy breaths. Scorpius noted that the breaths seemed to be spaced further apart than before.
“I’m going to go check on everybody. Give you two some privacy.” Albus kissed the top of Scorpius’ head, “I love you. Take your time.” He crossed the room and the door shut with a soft click.
The two siblings remained quiet a while longer.
“I think I should stay here in England.” His voice was soft like a secret, “I’ve been thinking about it for a few months now.”
Since their father had passed. The implication was not lost on Lyra. She hoped, almost selfishly, that their mother couldn’t hear them—if only so that she didn’t know how much regret her son lived with for something that he couldn’t have changed. Perhaps the father and son share more qualities than one might think.
“You love your job.” Lyra spoke in a similar, quiet tone. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I know. I do… but I love my family more. I- I suppose I was naive, thinking that our parents would live as long as everyone else’s. The average wizarding lifespan is over a hundred years… I thought that I had all the time in the world to travel and work. It doesn’t feel fair for people as amazing as they are to have their own lives cut so short, when they’ve lived to provide so much for others. Mum spent years pushing for the equal treatment of all wizards alike at the DMLE. Father dedicated his life to speaking for creatures who couldn’t speak for themselves. Our world is better for them being in it. Them not being here anymore… feels almost like a betrayal.”
“The war was tough on them Scorpius… they’ve both carried the physical scars from it. They knew it too. Between Dolohov’s curse and the crucio tortures, Mum told me when Father died, that it had almost felt like borrowed time. That they were happy with what they had, and their legacy… it’s us Scorp, not just their work.”
“I know. And right now, quidditch is my whole life. I love Albus, I do. But sometimes I feel like I’m letting him down. As if… we could do more.” Scorpius adjusted his body so that he was looking at her directly, “Our family is here. Not just mine, his too. If this year has taught me anything… it’s that time is precious. I think I’m ready to come home permanently. I don’t really know what that will look like, but I hope that I can create a legacy that’s more than my work too.”
Lyra brought a hand to cup her older brother’s cheek softly. She could see how much this year has aged him. His eyes were glistening with tears again. She wiped the one that fell away. “Well, if nothing else. I’ll be glad to spend more time with my brother.”
He nodded and moved his head, turning back to face their mother. Her breaths were sparse now, they were more shallow.
The two siblings sat together, a solid front.
And they waited.