Mist crept over the grass as Draco sulked into the cemetery. It was May and the sun sat behind the clouds. He really hated coming out here, he always felt worse afterwards.
He kicked rocks as he stalked down the aisles of gravestones. Head down just in case someone saw him. Not that what he was doing was any type of secret, he just hadn't ever talked about it to really anyone other than Pansy and his mother. He sighed stopping at one particular stone.
Severus Snape
Brilliant Potions Master
Hogwarts Headmaster
1960-1998
The grave still adorned the flowers that he and Pansy left only 2 weeks previously. The birds chirped as Draco stood silently. Somewhere in the distance a crow cawed loudly.
"Severus." Draco said.
"Tell Bella to calm herself, I'll be seeing her next." he chuckled.
Draco conjured a chair and placed it to face the grave. He plopped down into it, allowing himself to sink into it. He'd also been caring a bottle of firewhisky. Unscrewing the cap he took a long much needed drink from the bottle.
"Shit, well.." he began to trail off.
"I guess shit's been hard lately with the anniversary and all. 5 fucking years who would've thought." Draco said taking another swig of whiskey.
The sun that had been hiding behind the thick clouds started to peak through them. Draco knew that was his sign. He immediately felt slightly better but not by much.
"Right..er well. Speaking of anniversaries..I know Pansy and I were just round a bit ago but damn it I miss you. Mum says I'll drive myself insane If I think too much about it." He said staring up at the sun as it pin pricked it's way through the clouds.
Draco went silent again. Thinking about how Severus tried his damnest to protect him from Voldemort, from his Aunt Bellatrix from the other death eaters who took him for a nothing but weak and insignificant.
He shivered as he sipped his whisky. The wind blew through the early morning sky. The anniversary of The Battle of Hogwarts and Severus' death was mere days away.
"You remember after Yule ball? Catching me with Pansy in the charms classroom? We were going to hook up and she tried to say that she was just pulling a prank on me by charming my pants to fall down anytime I tried to move!. You obviously didn't believe her but you just gave me a look and hurried off." Draco said with a slight laugh.
He sat quietly for a few minutes, getting up from he chair and pacing back and forth. He sipped the whiskey. He was going to finish the bottle, he was certain of that. His visits always left him feeling cold and numb. He blamed himself for Severus' death even though it was not really his fault.
Finally, Draco placed the almost empty bottle on the top of the tombstone and squatted down to face it. He let out a deep sigh.
"If you were here I'm not quite sure you'd approve..but Granger..her and Weasley have called it quits and we'll I've been seeing her. I'd ment to tell you last time but Pansy doesn't quite approve. She's got Blaise and all but she's definitely still a tad jealous." he said running his fingers through his shiny blonde hair.
The flowers planted around Snapes grave danced as the sun broke free from behind the clouds.
Draco continued stammering on about Hermione.
"She's brilliant, and mother doesn't quite mind her. But I'm pretty sure that's only because Hermione doesn't annoy her even nearly enough as Astoria ever did. She's happy for me, Astoria. She knew her and I would never actually be married. I guess she's taken up an interest in Pansys older brother. You taught him, just as smart as Pans. Oh and Pans, yeah the day after we were here last she found out that's she pregnant and Blaise wants me to be godfather." He said dusting dirt from the grave.
He felt a chill come over him and he looked up, scanning the graveyard. The crow that had loudly cawed earlier was now sitting on a gravestone further down the aisle of stones.
"Dearst Bella, are you jealous that my time is spent with Severus or is it the rage of knowing I'm attending to Miss. Granger in your absence." he said talking to the crow.
The bird sat watching him. It flapped it's wings quickly as Draco just rolled his eyes.
"Father said he'd disown me but I don't care and I know he's only bluffing. Man I wish you were here. You're the only one who could ever give me the advice I truly needed to hear." he said standing back up and going back to the chair.
He sat back down and did nothing and just focused on the grave as time ticked by slowly. Draco felt terrible. He'd been to see Severus 15 times in the last month and half. Every year when the anniversary crept closer, Draco would slip into the most unfortunate bout of depression.
The minutes rolled by and Draco took a joint from his coat pocket. He lit it and inhaled sharply, blue smoke escaping from the end of of it. He could hear others in the graveyard now. He knew he couldn't stay much longer. With the anniversary days away he knew it wouldn't be long before the graveyard was crawling with people paying their respects.
He smoked the joint allowing the blue smoke to engluf him.
"Ya know Severus..I'll always be grateful for everything you did for me..for mum..I just wish it all could of been so different." he said taking the last hit of the joint, tears welling up in his eyes.
He could feel someone close, watching him. His eyes glanced down the row to find Hermione staring at him. He turned to face her and she gave him a sweet smile. He got up and walked over to her.
"You wern't home and your mother said I might find you here." She said sweetly.
"Hermione..I didn't..we'll it's not a secret but it's also not your problem to bare." Draco said looking at her feet.
Hermione reached for him, lifting his chin so that she could look at him. He looked so small so sad and like he wanted to be wrapped up and just cry.
"Draco, darling, I understand. Never feel like you have to hide this from me." she said kindly.
Dracos eyes glistened and he gave a small smile. She was too sweet to him. He loved her. He brought her into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Hermione. For your kindness and understanding. Please come say hello." he said breaking the hug and taking her by the hand over to the gravestone.
The pair stood for a few minutes hand in hand saying nothing. The sun was now free from the clouds and warming the earth around them. They could hear laughter filling the cemetery. Hermione bent down moving her wand over the the tombstone, allowing for the flowers to grow bigger and dance. She placed a hand to the greying stone, quietly saying a prayer and promising to take care of Draco.
She stood up and walked back to Draco. He took her hand and kissed her softly. They turned to go.They briefly walked to Bellas grave before walking out of the cemetery hand and hand with a smile finally on Dracos face.
The air felt different, lighter. A feeling as if all would be well. And it was.