Becoming

Scorpius had taken a while to settle that night. He had chattered until he fell asleep, full of requests to meet Hermione's nieces and nephews.

Draco was left to a fitful sleep, plagued by dreams of the media storm that would certainly come. He dreaded the Howlers that would surely arrive, and the impact any of it might have on Scorp. He woke up, fretful, at three in the morning on Friday. He gave up on sleep and arose to put in a few hours in his potions lab.

By the time Scorpius was awake, Draco had made several batches of his usual first aid salves -- burn ointments, bruise remedies, and the like. He stocked Padma Nott's school cupboards with these, as they knew that rowdy children were bound to injure themselves or others whilst tussling or with accidental bursts of magical energy. He hoped a peace offering would ease the shock of the news he would be sharing this morning.

After a quick breakfast of apple slices and porridge, Draco and Scorp stepped into the Floo together, Scorp holding onto Draco's trousers tightly. They stumbled out of the hearth at Theo and Padma Nott's home in Wiltshire, absurdly early for school.

Padma had poked her head into the room when she heard the Floo chime. She looked concerned to see them both here so early - Scorp's class didn't convene for another two hours.

"Hey there, Scorp," Padma said brightly, plastering a smile on her face. "Raf and Irma are in the kitchen having breakfast. Why don't you go join them while your dad and I unpack these supplies?"

Scorp nodded and scampered off across the house, eager to see his friends.

Padma took the box from Draco without a word and led him down the hall. She opened a door off the hall and ushered Draco inside the study.

"Theo? Draco has something he needs to talk to us about."

"Am I that obvious?" Draco muttered, rubbing a hand across his eyes.

"Yes," Theo said sharply. He sat back at his desk and slid his reading glasses from his nose. His sharp blue eyes pierced Draco's own grey ones as he raised his gaze to meet them.

"Good or bad?" Padma asked, settling herself into one of the chairs at Theo's desk.

"I think both? Can it be both?"

They both nodded in unison, and Draco couldn't help but quirk a smile at their synchronicity.

"There's not really a tactful way to say it, so… Hermione Granger is pregnant with my daughter, and I'm about to be the first Malfoy in eight generations to have more than one kid."

Silence reigned as Theo's icy gaze and Padma's chocolate one bore into him, and then a huff of surprised laughter came from Theo.

"That… was not what I was expecting you to say."

"I wasn't expecting it either, as I'm sure you can imagine."

"Draco, are you sure?" Theo trailed, a crease of confusion on his forehead.

Draco nodded. "I just found out last week. She's due in February."

"Blimey." Theo shook his head. "No wonder we've been meeting via Floo call. She said she'd been sick."

"Why would this be bad? I think it's wonderful news, Draco," Padma said in a calm voice, smiling brightly. "Scorp has been wanting siblings since he could talk. Is he excited?"

"We haven't told him yet. I've got to find a way to break it to the Greengrasses, as well, because they're going to be unhappy about it. And then Hermione's doing an interview with the Quibbler to try and head off the press. It's going to be a field day – she’s apparently still all over the Prophet and has something big coming up."

"How can we help?" Padma asked, a reassuring hand on his forearm.

"Scorp is welcome here anytime, if you need to work on something or do damage control with the press or the Greengrasses, whatever you need." Theo said, putting his glasses back on. "We'd be happy to give a quote to the Prophet to help with a backstory, if you're thinking that route. Hermione’s on retainer at Nott Corp. She has put up with a lot of shite during our legal dealings. She can handle a bit of bad press. But I need her to stay on her game if possible, we've got a couple of sticky situations we're dealing with right now and we’re hoping to have them resolved by the new year."

"I know she can handle it," Draco said miserably. "She's been very clear with me that she's not ashamed of our association. But I'm more worried that Scorp is going to catch the brunt of it. Kids can be right pricks to each other, and their parents can be even nastier."

"Scorp only has friends here," Padma declared firmly. "If anyone has anything to say, they can face us first. We have very strict rules on bullying and what is unacceptable conversation here, and it will be dealt with."

Padma had faced her own share of backlash with her head held high. Theo, while not a marked Death Eater himself, had been labelled a sympathiser during the war simply because of his family. His father, Nott Sr., was one of Voldemort's cruellest minions. Theo had worked hard, in the years since his father's death, to distance himself from his father's unsavoury dealings and public opinion. It had taken years to crawl out of that shadow, but Padma had been with him all the way. There were media attacks, Howlers, insults hurled across Diagon Alley as they did their shopping. When Padma had their daughter, Irma, there had been vandalism at the school.

But she had stuck it out, and the wizarding world slowly dropped it as the Notts had made a name for themselves. Padma's school, despite technically being on the grounds of an infamous Death Eater's home, was one of the best magical primary schools in the country -- it had a three-year wait list. Nott Corp was now investing most of its liquid assets in Muggle technology firms. Draco admired them both for overcoming public opinion.

But he still dreaded having to explain his past with Hermione to Scorpius. There were things he just wasn't ready for the young boy to know.

"I don't know what to do, frankly. I'm afraid that I’m going to have to explain to Scorp that I was a shite person when I was younger, and that he will probably hear some terrible things. There are medical complications with the baby, and I'm most afraid that something will happen to her, and then Scorp will be devastated. And I think I'm also going to have to explain to him where babies come from, and I am not prepared for that conversation." Draco said all of this in a rush before he even realised what he was saying. He heard the hysteria in his own voice and took a deep breath to calm himself.

"In my opinion," Padma said, "I think the conversation about your past is one that you and Hermione should both have with him, if he asks. Hermione is exceptional with children. Rolf and Luna's kids are all quite taken with her. Not to mention the Weasley children that have been through here that adore her. And the Potter boys were in our secondary program before they went to Hogwarts, you know. Hermione came and did a presentation for their classes about the castle and the history, including the war. I've never seen her balk at a single question a kid has asked her." Parvati smoothed the drape of her skirt and fixed him with a stare. "She'll be your best ally in that conversation. Has she met Scorpius yet?"

Draco nodded. "Last night. Scorp made her chocolate biscuits."

"The little traitor," Padma muttered with a wink. "He swore he'd only ever make biscuits for me."

"There's some in your box," Draco said dryly.

"There had better be."

"Granger and I are meeting over the weekend to get a statement pulled together for the Prophet. We're going to send it at the same time as the Quibbler article will be published. Do you think Parvati can spin it right for us?" Draco asked of Padma. Her sister, Parvati, was an editor for the social pages in the Daily Prophet.

Padma nodded. "I'll make sure she understands how important this is. And she knows not to underestimate Hermione's wrath, so I think it will be an easy sell to her editor. We're having tea on Thursday. Can you get me your statement by then?"

“Yes.”

It was after another fitful night of sleep that Draco found himself dropping Scorpius off at his grandparents' estate on Saturday morning. After giving Draco a big hug, he had immediately scampered off with two of his cousins. They were both older than Scorp -- six and eight, respectively -- but they tolerated his tagging along and were as close as cousins could be when they lived on the continent. Daphne's youngest, Francis, was only two and was likely being seen to by one of the elves.

The elder Greengrasses were nowhere to be found, though Draco eventually stumbled across Daphne in one of the sitting rooms. Where Astoria had brown hair and was quite petite, Daphne had fair hair and eyes, and stood nearly as tall as Draco himself.

"Hey Daph," Draco said casually as he leaned in the doorway.

Daphne looked up from her tea to smile gently at Draco. "Draco," she said in greeting. She patted the seat next to her on the sofa to indicate he should sit, and Draco followed her instruction with some trepidation. Daphne had never been overly warm to Draco in the past. They got on fine in school, but Draco's actions during the first years of the war had driven her -- among others -- away from his association.

Something was off.

"So, Draco," Daphne began conversationally. She waved her wand and silenced the room. "I’ll get right to the point. You know, of course, that Astoria had visions sometimes."

Draco nodded. He didn't put much stock in Seeing, as a rule, and Astoria's visions had often come while she was having a particularly difficult time in her sickness.

"Before my dear sister passed, she made me aware of a vision she had of Scorpius. A Scorpius just before his fifth birthday. Meeting his little sister for the first time, surrounded by all the love he could desire and so, so happy."

Draco was dumbstruck by this revelation. His mind raced. The panic surely showed on his face.

"I told her that it was probably just a fever dream. She was dying. And there was, after all, your family history that indicated Malfoys could only have a single, male heir. So imagine my further surprise when she told me that this daughter wasn't even hers, because she knew she was dying. This baby would, in fact, be Scorp's half-sister."

Draco gulped but could not tear his eyes away from Daphne's. Her eyes were a deep, calculating blue.

"Given that Scorp turns five in March and you have not announced you were courting anyone, I had all but forgotten this vision. However, my children tell me that Scorpius has been asking them how one goes about getting a sibling, because he wants one. And Astoria's visions were usually right, in one way or another. I thought, perhaps, it was time you and I had a chat."

"Go on then, Daph. Ask," Draco forced out, feeling his hands go clammy. He could feel the contract he signed with Hermione tingling in the back of his head, as they hadn't discussed telling Daphne yet.

"Are you courting someone?"

"Not in those terms, no," Draco hedged.

"But there is someone." It was a statement.

"Yes." Dread spread through Draco unexpectedly. Daphne knew.

"And she is becoming part of Scorpius' life?"

"They've met. With enough luck, yes, she will be. For a long time."

"And she's pregnant."

Draco drew a ragged breath. He knew it wouldn't go unnoticed.

"Yes."

Daphne's eyes searched his again. He didn't blink.

"Astoria's vision told her one thing more. Do you want to know what it was?"

Draco nodded.

"She knew that this half-sister also signalled the end of the Malfoy line as a pureblood stronghold. So, Draco," Daphne put her teacup down on the small table in front of them. She turned to face him, draping an arm over the back of the settee in a casual manner. Her eyes were kind as they searched his face, taking in his tension with a gentle smile.

"Tell me who this Muggle-born witch is that has captured your attention and is going to be making my nephew the happiest big brother I've ever known."

Draco swallowed again.

"We haven't gone public yet. For her safety, I'd appreciate it if you would keep this information to yourself for the time being."

"I don't harbour any hatred toward Muggle-borns, Draco, you know that." Daphne tossed this out flippantly, with an impatient wave of her hand.

"It's not really you I'm concerned about, Daph."

"She was a target, back then?" Draco wondered if Daphne also possessed some Sight. Neither of them had spoken of the war times with each other. It was a sensitive topic for Draco.

"Very much so."

"Well, it must be Granger then, mustn't it?"

"Yes." Relief and panic flooded him in equal measure as he got around the contractual magic.

"Good."

Draco wasn't entirely sure he'd heard correctly. "Pardon?" he said, dumbly.

"Granger is an excellent choice. She's brilliant, and kind. Pragmatic, but passionate about those she cares about. She’s made quite a name for herself doing what she feels is right. These things mattered to Astoria. She would have approved."

Draco was silent. His heart beat so hard he felt faint.

"I can take it from your response that this was unexpected?"

"On all fronts."

"Does my niece have a name?"

Draco didn't miss her familial claim. Something clicked, and he knew that they had a lifelong ally in Daphne, whatever form that took.

"Sage."

"Sage," Daphne rolled the name around in her mouth, a small smile playing at her lips. "Eschewing the family tradition, I see?"

"We considered others, but Granger felt the name most fitting. We have a celestial name for her middle name"

"When is she due?"

"Early February."

"Not much time at all," she mused

"You're telling me," Draco rasped out.

"Oh!" Understanding crossed Daphne's face. "She didn't tell you till recently, did she?"

"No."

"You're not even really seeing each other, are you?"

"No."

"But you want to."

"Merlin, yes." Draco felt the emotion wash over him at once. Desire. Affection. Guilt. All the emotions he had been warring with in private since she had walked out of the Manor six months ago. He dropped his head into his hands.

"Scorp has been talking about wanting a sibling for almost two years," Draco finally said. "We've had to have lots of conversations about the different types of families, and why they're all wonderful in their own ways. We talk a lot about 'chosen' family, as of late. Like calling Theo his uncle and Padma his aunt even though we aren't actually related. He wants to have a big family. And I've felt guilty that I can't give that to him. My parents are dead. We see Aunt Andromeda at the holidays sometimes, but it's still a little strained. All he has is you lot, really. And until two weeks ago, I never thought that it could possibly be any different."

"So you can see yourself making Granger part of your family?"

"Quite easily," Draco confessed. "Scorp seems to adore her, and they only just met. She's so good with him. Theo and Padma tell me that she's everybody's favourite aunt among her friends' kids. She'd be an excellent influence in his life. And hopefully he'll win over the Weasleys and he can have that huge family that he wants, because Morgana knows her chosen family is prolific."

"You'll be overrun with redheads," Daphne teased with a small smile.

"I'll take it. I'll make peace with every Weasley in Britain. Whatever it takes to make him and Sage happy, Daph."

"I'm quite happy for you, Draco. And of course I'll keep this to myself while you and Granger work through this. Will you be informing my parents?"

"I know I will need to. We're planning to send a statement to the press this coming week so that it will hopefully die down in the rush of holiday news. The timing is difficult for a number of reasons, and Hermione's still in the public eye. We need to get it over with as soon as possible, frankly."

"Mmm. Well, I suppose a letter will be sufficient. If you wish to send it to all of us here, you will have my support while they work through it. I will address their concerns for you."

"They won't be happy."

"No," Daphne sighed. She held his gaze again. "But you and I both know that it's long past time for them to pull this particular stick out from their prejudiced arses.

Draco choked out a laugh at Daphne's matter-of-fact tone. And when he stood to take his leave soon after, she reached out to him with a rare, heartfelt hug.