Draco was holding Scorpius’ hand in one hand and holding their umbrella with the other. Scorpius was stone faced and silent, his eyes never leaving Rose Granger-Weasley. He suspected that Scorpius hoped they were more than friends but Draco knew through his best man’s husband, Neville, that the little Weasley only thought of Scorpius as a friend.
Draco watched as Neville finished speaking and launched himself into Theo’s arms, loudly sobbing.
Harry Potter stepped up to the podium and laid his hand on the golden casket.
His eyes never left his wife in the crowd, who was putting on a brave face but there was a constant river of tears streaming down both sides of her face. Her family surrounded her, all of them were touching each other is some small way. Potter cleared his throat.
“Ron is- was my best mate. He was my first friend. He protected me. He made me laugh. We made the most of things. We did brawl and fight when we were feeling low but that’s what brothers do. I am so thankful for the years I got with him.” Potter took his glasses off and swatted at his eyes. “I will never forget him. Ron isn’t truly gone because he is here in our hearts and here in the lives of his children.” He gestured to Hugo and Rose who were sheltered in the middle of the Weasley clan circle. Hermione Granger had her head bowed with both of them wrapped in opposite arms. “Hermione- would you like to say anything?”
Draco watched as Granger made the short walk to her dead husband’s closed casket. Potter had made it back to the jumble of red hair and took Granger’s place and put an arm around both of the Granger-Weasley children. Ginny rested her forehead on his back and consoled the Weasley-Potter brood quietly.
Granger bent and kissed the casket with her eyes tightly shut. Draco seen her lips move but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. This continued for a moment and then she straightened up and glared at the crowd.
“I have said what I needed to say to my husband. Our children have declined to publicly speak, as will I.”
Draco watched in his own silent grief as she ran to her children and they walked away from the whole thing. Molly Weasley had started sobbing uncontrollably.
“Okay,” George Weasley called out, “Show’s over, people. Go home.” His voice was gruff. He was almost growling.
Draco sighed and looked down at his son. “I don’t think they want to speak with others at this moment, Scorp. Maybe write a letter or wait a few weeks until the school season starts.”
Scorpius’ lips quivered but he nodded solemnly. They turned and waded through the deep puddles and mud to the nearby floo network. They turned at the same time at the sound of wet feet slapping the ground fast.
Albus Potter wrapped his arms around Scorpius and Draco quickly dropped his hand from his son’s. Scorpius wrapped his arms around the little Potter and they howled their pain together.
Draco shielded them from the rain and waited patiently, eyes downcast. A small hand slipped in between his fingers and he was shocked to find the one little female Potter. Lily looked up at him with clear green eyes. Draco felt his own eyes prick and he thought his heart just might burst from the pain etched in her tiny face.
Harry Potter found them like that. He smiled sadly at the children and collected his and walked back the way they came; no umbrella. The little one was crying and clutching her father’s robes and getting drenched. Draco cast a shielding charm and then used his wand to dry them all off. Potter looked up and nodded at Draco in thanks and then they turned the corner and were gone.
Draco took Scorpius’ hand once more and then led him to the floo.
“Malfoy Manor,” he struggled to say it clearly with the knot in his throat.
They landed in the main parlor and Draco wandlessly cleansed their robes.
“Father, may I go to my room?” Scorpius asked without looking at him.
“You may.” Draco was hurt by the unfamiliar way he was addressed but he hid it. He knew this was hard for his son, the Weasley and Potter children were his only friends. He had spent many nights at Ron Weasley’s home with them.
Scorpius jerked his hand out of Draco’s and ran through the hall. Draco didn’t even think to correct him of running indoors.
Draco sighed and went to his study to compose a letter to Granger.
His mother found him there, staring at an empty parchment with a quill clutched between his fingers.
“My dragon, are you alright? I just tried to speak with Scorpius and he wouldn’t have me.” She sighed.
“I’m fine, Mother, I’m only trying to put into words how sorry I am to…” He trailed off and lowered his eyes to the parchment.
Narcissa sat down across from him and folded her hands in her lap.
“We Malfoys are no strangers to grief. We have lost many people and it never hurts any less.” She reached across the desk and tapped his chin. “The Weasleys are no strangers either. Leave them be.” She got up and leaned over to kiss Draco’s cheek and swept out of the room.
Draco didn’t think he could leave them be forever. He turned in his chair and looked at his late wife’s portrait.
“Hello, darling.” Astoria smiled at him.
“Hello, Tori. What should I do?” He begged her.
“Leave them be. I know the real reason you want to reach out. Your mother knows why and so do you. It is not the time for that.” She scowled at him and raised her eyebrows.
“I wasn’t going to try anything!” Draco was startled at the accusation.
“Maybe not now. Leave her be. Let her heal. I know she loved you once and you love her still but her wounds are fresh.” Astoria frowned at him and crossed her arms.
Draco didn’t know how to respond. “Did I ever wound you?” He finally asked, softly.
“No. We didn’t marry for love. The love we shared was in our son. Hermione married Ron for love. Just leave her be.” She disappeared from the frame.
Ashamed and embarrassed, Draco left his study. Did everyone know how he felt? Did Scorpius? Merlin, he hoped not.
Draco made it to his rooms and flopped onto his chaise. Just as fast, he jumped up. Suddenly, he felt claustrophobic in his clothes. He grabbed at his neck to undo his tie and flung it across the room. He kicked his shoes off violently and ripped at his robes.
Draco grabbed a throw pillow and screamed into it. He pressed it hard to his face and screamed until his throat was bloody raw. He sank to his knees and cried into the pillow.
Draco finally curled up and wept laying on the floor. Granger’s face swam behind his eyelids. He finally rested there, hugging a pillow to his hollow chest.
An eleven year old Granger. Asking him of Neville’s toad.
A twelve year old Granger. Rolling her eyes at his bad joke.
A thirteen year old Granger. Furious and slapping him.
A fourteen year old Granger. Periwinkle dress and happy.
A fifteen year old Granger. Shyly passing notes with him.
A sixteen year old Granger. Sighing underneath him and terrified of war.
A seventeen year old Granger. No longer his and a solider.
An eighteen year old Granger. A champion and hero. Happy again with her hand attached to one with freckles.
A twenty-three year old Granger. Gazing happily at her new husband.
A twenty-five year old Granger. Arms wrapped around a baby in a pink blanket.
A twenty-six year old Granger. Forgiving him of all his past sins and hugging him.
A twenty-seven year old Granger. Hand in hand with a toddler and holding a baby in a blue blanket to her chest at Astoria’s funeral.
A thirty year old Granger. Smiling warmly at Scorpius and welcoming him into her home.
A thirty-four year old Granger. Floo calling him to inform him the children had climbed up a tree and refused to come down and laughing.
A thirty-five year old Granger. Having tea with Narcissa to discuss the next play date at the Manor.
A thirty-six year old Granger. Face distraught running away from her husband’s casket.
That was all he had of her. And he knew it was stupid that his heart still ached for her. Draco thought it must be a Malfoy curse, they all loved only one woman and could not get over her. He knew from all the journals kept in the library. Even in death, they never remarried. The Malfoy men never cheated. They never raised their hand in anger to their wives. They never said no to them. They gave them whatever they wished, even space if that is what they wanted.
Sighing, Draco pried his eyes open. He could give her space. He could wait until she needed him. He would leave her be.