Yours [REDACTED]
August 2006
Draco,
I actually have things to tell you for once, instead of sitting here rambling on about nothing. I’ll start with the most important.
Your mother is going into St Mungo’s for an operation. They found something wrong with her intestine, but apparently it’s a fairly minor thing to fix. Despite that, I took the opportunity to lay it on thick with the Wizengamot, and once she’s recovered, you will be able to come and see her. I also got permission for her to bring Scorp to the meeting, but I wanted to ask your opinion on that first. Do you want to wait to see him? It’ll be in the Ministry, not Azkaban, down in the depths of the Department of Mysteries somewhere to minimise the risk if you escape (as if you’d do that, but rules are rules). Nobody else knows about this yet, only me, so it’s entirely up to you. I suppose I’m just worried that it might confuse or scare him, and with only six months left to go, it might be better to hold off. He’d love to see you, though. I await your thoughts.
Secondly, Neville’s constant raving about how wonderful his job is has convinced Harry to leave the DMLE too. I always thought he’d make a great teacher, and McGonagall was all but falling over herself to offer him the role after he owled her to ask about it. It was only being filled by a roster of temporary professors anyway. Imagine being a child and finding out that your DADA teacher is Harry Potter? I daresay he’ll never have to worry about people zoning out in his lessons. Plus, the kids will have both Harry and Neville around once they start school, which I think is a comfort to us all. Maybe not to you so much, but you will have to put your bias aside one day. I hate to have to break it to you.
I really enjoyed your history lesson. Maybe when you’re back you can tell me more about your family? It’s rare that people know so much about their ancestors. Pipsy says there is a tapestry in the Manor somewhere, so she’s searching for that for me. I know you were joking about it, but I would like to see it all the same.
Minor updates - the Prophet reported that Ron’s had another child (him and Susan need to get a hobby), Daphne is dragging me to a spa with her this weekend (apparently I need to relax, who would’ve thought?), and the photos from Harry and Neville’s joint birthday train wreck have been added to your album, which is alarmingly large at this point and will take you significant time to work through.
Your guess for the Parkinson-Longbottom offspring is certainly bold, I’ll give you that. We both know, though, that if by some miracle you’re right, there isn’t a force on earth that could stop you from being smug.
Peacock Mia is about to become an aunt, actually. Sluggy and Apollo turned out to be friendlier with each other than we realised. Maybe Pans will get her namesake after all.
Six months until I get to see your face. I’m being horribly impatient about that.
Yours familially,
Hermione
***
August 2006
Hermione,
I’d love to see Scorp. When is the meeting? It’s nice to have something to look forward to in the short term for once. Please wish my mother well. I’m sure she’ll be fine if you say she will be.
The person in the cell next to me has started crying a lot lately. I suppose I can hardly blame them, but I’ve found it’s better not to draw unnecessary attention like that here. I hope they’ll be alright eventually, even if they are a serial killer or something. I forget that the other people here have actually committed proper crimes, and we aren’t all here to be made examples of like I was. I think that’s a good thing, in a way. I’m not sure I’d sleep at all if I acknowledged my company any more than I have.
I completely insist that one of the peacock babies is named after Pansy. It feels necessary. Too long has she gone unacknowledged with that particular honour.
I find I have little to write about this time. I think I find it easier when I’m feeling more morose than I am at the moment.
Let me know about the meeting.
If you’re impatient, then I’m not sure there’s a word for whatever the hell I am.
Yours in a way that is uncharacteristically upbeat,
Draco
***
2ND SEPTEMBER 2006
ONE DAY VISITATION PASS - FAMILIAL COMPASSIONATE LEAVE - D L MALFOY
AUROR E BECKETT SIGNS OFF FOR VISITATION IN [REDACTED LOCATION], DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES, FOR 1) NARCISSA L MALFOY, 2) SCORPIUS H MALFOY
VISITATION ENDED EARLY DUE TO DISTRESS OF SCORPIUS H MALFOY. NO ACTION NEEDED, D L MALFOY NOT AT FAULT. D L MALFOY RETURNED TO AZKABAN.
***
September 2006
Draco,
I’ve decided to be completely honest with you, as that is what I’d want if it were me in this situation.
Scorp still isn’t sleeping. He barely eats either, he just cries or sits quietly, staring out at the people in Diagon below us. I thought seeing you would be good for him. I should have thought this through more carefully.
Please don’t feel guilty. I hope you’re ok. It isn’t long until you will be able to see him again and everything will be alright.
Yours,
Hermione
***
September 2006
Hermione,
It was selfish of me to put Scorp in that situation. He didn’t need to be there, and would have been better off if I hadn’t asked for him to be. None of this is your fault, it is mine. I don’t know my son, and as such, I made the wrong call. I thought I’d learnt patience, being in here all this time, missing out on everything, but apparently, I haven’t.
I have so very much to learn.
Happy birthday Hermione.
Yours,
Draco
***
October 2006
Draco,
Scorp’s been much better this week. I think his birthday was the distraction we all needed. He helped me make his cake, but he was notably less enthusiastic about it.
He’s been spending a lot of time with Al lately, so I’m glad he’s got someone to talk to if he feels he can’t talk to me or Narcissa. He also helped Neville and Al in the Manor gardens yesterday. He hasn’t been inside yet - I didn’t want to take that first time away from you - but I didn’t want to stop him from going with them after he said he wanted to. He doesn’t want to do much of anything at the moment, so I’ll take what I can get.
It will get better, Draco. I know it will.
Yours,
Hermione
***
November 2006
Draco,
I’ve been missing hearing from you. Please reply to this letter and let me know you’re alright.
Scorpius is still improving. The sleeping thing is still a work in progress, as most nights he wakes up shouting for you, but he is slowly getting better. He just misses you as much as we all do. I remember you said once that you didn’t know him as a real person and so you couldn’t miss him properly. I suppose that’s all that’s changed, now he has memories of you to hang on to and an actual face to miss. Is that why you haven’t replied? If you’re struggling, I’m here to listen. I want to do that for you, too.
Yours,
Hermione
***
17TH NOVEMBER 2006
D L MALFOY REQUESTS ALTERATION TO APPROVED COMMUNICATIONS CORRESPONDENT. D L MALFOY SUGGESTS EITHER N L MALFOY OR T C NOTT JR AS A REPLACEMENT FOR H J GRANGER.
SIGNED AUROR E BECKETT
***
November 2006
What did I do? - H
***
November 2006
I’m giving you an out, Granger. Take it.
***
December 2006
How could you think that I’d ever consider turning my back on you now? Five years of my fucking life, Malfoy. What did you think I was going to do? ‘Hey Scorp, your dad’s back now so that’s me done, see you around.’ This is my family! You are my family! I don’t have anything to go back to. Why the hell would I take your oh-so-generous offer when I have nothing else but this. Scorpius is my son, I don’t give a shit about genetics or whatever you have to say about it because you haven’t been here. I raised him. He is who he is because of me, you don’t get to tell me to go just because of your sense of entitlement. You don’t want to write to me anymore, fine, but I will never take your bloody ‘out’ because this is my life now, whether you like it or not. I’m not Astoria. You can’t buy me off with pretty words or expensive gifts or poorly thought out bird metaphors. I am here because it was the right thing to do, and it has been the greatest experience of my life. You cannot make me give that up, not for anything.
I know this has been unfair on you. I have spent more hours than I care to admit harassing the Wizengamot to get your case heard again, to see if any time could be taken off your sentence. I have given this everything I have, even though we both know you are the last person that should ever deserve my kindness. It isn’t about what you deserve, though. You have me anyway, and I’m not going anywhere. Not now, and not once you’re home. In all these years of writing to each other, I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re a half decent person. I won’t let you prove me wrong at the last second.
You made a mistake with Scorpius. They happen, it wasn’t anybody’s fault. You will absolutely make more in the future, but he is fine, and he will be fine. He just misses his dad. It is not enough of a reason to try and blow up all the good things you have in your life. You have people waiting for you that love you, Draco. Just try and be a bit more bloody patient, would you?
I cannot begin to explain to you how much restraint I have shown in not breaking into Azkaban just so I could come and shout at you. I still might.
Yours, and I mean that, you incomparable arsehole,
Hermione