A visitor comes for tea
The silence of the cottage was deafening as Hermione arrived through the Floo, Rose safely tucked in her arms. It felt strange, a little unsettling to be back here, thoughts of Ron and Lavender burnt into her brain. She glanced around, noting the small changes that showed Ron has been true to his word and taken some of his things. The remnants of their life together were everywhere, a half-finished wizarding chess game on the table, the jumper he received from Molly last Christmas thrown over the armchair, a framed photo of them kissing on their honeymoon. Each, was a pinprick to her heart, a reminder of the life she thought she was going to have. Hermione still had so many questions, but right now, her only focus was on Rose.
Hermione smiled, her eyes focused on the tiny baby in her arms, her bright blue eyes staring at up her, with soft brown curls on her head and those deliciously chubby cheeks, she placed a gentle kiss on each one. She thought about Rose growing up here, the room gradually filling with toys, teddies, maybe a kitten when she got older. Hermione’s heart panged at the reminder of the loss of Crookshanks last year, she missed him so much. The cottage was a blank canvas, somewhere to build a new life on her own terms, just her and Rose.
She set Rose down into the Moses basket that Theo had sent along with Marge, who had been very efficient at getting the cottage ready for their arrival. While Hermione didn’t enjoy that a house-elf was still working, she knew Theo treated her with kindness. A knock at the front door roused her from her thoughts, and she walked over to peek out the window, surprised to see Draco Malfoy waiting for her to answer, a gift basket in his hand.
Hermione swung the heavy brown door open “Hello Malfoy, what are you doing here?,” She had caught him off guard, and he looked nervous “I, erm, brought some things,” he said, gesturing towards the basket. “Nott told me you were moving back home, and I was out at Hogwarts, so I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to you both.” Hermione nodded “come on in then, you can make a cup of tea for me while I feed this little one.”
Malfoy followed her into the living room, his eyes glancing around at the shelves, where some of Ron's things were evidentially missing from. “It must be difficult, being here without him” he said, his voice low. Hermione nodded, a flicker of sadness crossing her face “it is,” she admitted “but it’s the right decision, he lost my trust”. Malfoy placed the basket on the table, beginning to unpack sandwiches and a flask of tea for them both. As he summoned a cup from the bench, he poured the tea out stirring as he listened “Nott informed me that you plan to divorce the Weasel?” Hermione nodded again, her jaw tightening “yes, but we haven’t filed yet, I’ve been a little busy” she looked down at Rose, Malfoys gaze following hers softening as he took in the sight of the baby.
A comfortable silence settled between them both, broken only by the crackling of the fire “How is she?” he asked his voice hesitant. “She’s wonderful” Hermione said, her face lighting up “I can’t believe how perfect she is, apart from her need to be awake at 3am” she laughed, and set the baby bottle down on the table, as she picked Rose up to burp her. They both laughed at the loud burp Rose gave and Hermione looked at Malfoy “Do you want to hold her while I have my tea?."
Malfoy’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I’d love to” Hermione handed him the baby, settling back into the sofa, with her tea in hand. She took the moment to really look at him, he was wearing his usual black shirt and tailored trousers, for the first time she realised his dark mark was missing, and she wondered if he had glamoured it.She noted how different he seemed from the idea of him she had in her head. She knew the last few years had been challenging for him, as he faced up to his part in the war. But she noted how much softer he seemed, especially as he held her child in his arms. “She’s perfect Granger” he was smiling down at the baby, her hand wrapped around his finger.
Hermione faintly remembered that Malfoy had been married for a brief time to Astoria Greengrass but she had died. “Do you want kids Malfoy” she asked, her voice curious. He paused, his body stiffening slightly “I do, Astoria and I, we had a son but she died in childbirth and him not longer after.” Hermione gasped, reaching her hand out to touch his arm “I’m so sorry Draco, I didn’t know” her eyes glistened as she looked at him. “We kept it from the press” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I wasn’t ready to have people blame me for being a death eater, that it was what I deserved."
Hermione felt devastated for him, his part in the war was well documented but he had served his time, community service to Hogwarts and it was still ongoing for the next few years. He was monitored weekly by the ministry, and he was scrutinised continuously in the press, but he didn’t deserve the sadness that plagued him, to lose his wife and his child, she couldn’t imagine. Rose let out a soft cry, and Malfoy shushed her softly “I got you Rosie” he smiled down at her and Hermione’s heart fluttered at the nickname.
Malfoy seeming at ease holding Rose, like it made it easier for him to talk to Hermione. “She’s… beautiful, Granger,” he said softly. “She looks just like you. “Hermione smiled, startled at the somewhat compliment coming from him, her heart swelling. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m surprised she’s not got Ron's red hair, the only non-ginger Weasley” she laughed. Malfoy stayed for a while longer, holding Rose while Hermione drank tea and ate sandwiches, but eventually he stood, passing Rose to her mother. “Granger, I have to get back to work but, if you need anything, anything at all, please just let me know." Hermione nodded, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you Draco” she said.
As she closed the door behind him, Hermione leaned against it, a thoughtful expression on her face. This Draco Malfoy was one she wanted to get to know, someone she could consider a friend if he let her and she could recognise the sadness in him now as the grief for the family he had lost. He was so young, to be only twenty one, a widow and lost a child. She held Rose tighter, grateful to have her safe in her arms, despite everything that was going on.
Hermione resolved to try and make more effort to speak to Malfoy, to get to know this new version of him she didn't recognise. Her thoughts turned to the last time she had seen him as he stood trial at the Ministry, pleading guilty with his mother by his side. He had been seventeen years old, it felt like both a lifetime and just yesterday to her as she had felt her heart ache even then. His crimes had been in part because he wanted to protect his family, she could understand that, after all hadn't she done the same? Sent her own parents away for their protection, using spells she shouldn't. As she thought about Rose, she realised with a start, there was nothing she wouldn't do to protect her daughter, and for the first time she thought she could understand Malfoy, just a little.