Hey Everyone! First, I'd like to thank spencefa and Anna for reviewing "Love Never Dies". Here's a sequel I've based off of Hermione's son, so while it's not necessary to read the first one, it might make more sense if you do. As per usual, J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter world. I only own Sirius, Evangeline and Arietta. Happy reading!
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Sirius Malfoy stared crossly out the window. He hated when he and Evangeline argued. But what he hated even more than that was that his father never responded. They could burn the house down and he wouldn’t even notice. As usual, most of the arguments stemmed at the fact that their mother was not there. It started something like this:
Evangeline would say, “Well, none of this would have happened if Mum had been here.”
Sirius would reply, “Don’t blame it on Mum!”
“I’m not,” Evangeline would hiss back.
“You just have to find something to blame problems on, don’t you?” Sirius would counter.
The siblings’ bickering would progress from there. Eventually Evangeline would storm out of the room, refusing to believe that her little brother could be right. Sirius would return to the haven of his room, sitting on the window seat his mum had built for him, and stare out into the bleak gray that seemed to always surround Malfoy Manor.
When his mother had been alive, the sky had been alive too. There were, of course, those numerous gray days. It was, after all, England. But there would be days were clouds would disappear. The sun’s rays would touch the cold ground, thawing out the frowns on Sirius’ face. He would drop whatever he was doing and race his mother to the door. He fancied himself like his mother: brunette, quiet, studious and unnoticed. His sister was more like their father. Tall, blonde and already statuesque, Evangeline Malfoy carried on the Malfoy genes that had been passed to her. Many likened her to Lucius in looks, and everyone knew Lucius had Veela blood way back in the family line. The few traits her mother passed on to her were her love of books, her tenacity in and out of the classroom, and her sheer brilliance.
But now, his mother was gone. She’d been gone for five years. Sirius was twelve now and just starting Hogwarts- he’d been told that was late for a first year, but he didn’t really mind. Evangeline had just turned seventeen. This year was an exciting one for her: she was an adult, off to her seventh year as Head Girl, and was busy combatting the loathsome James Potter II. Evangeline had no time for Sirius.
Ever since the death of his wife, Draco Malfoy had turned into a shadow. He was ever-present at his businesses, but he rarely made a public appearance. Evangeline represented the family now, which was fine by Sirius who preferred the shadows as well. It was also fine by the rest of the public, as Evangeline was much nicer to look at than a man who never smiled. Hermione’s death hit Draco like a bullet. He’d expected it, to be certain. But he never accepted it. The worst part was that he couldn’t avenge her death: she’d succumbed to leukemia. No one had cursed her, no one had murdered her…it made Draco sick to think that he couldn’t have stopped it. So he stayed alone and away from everyone. Occasionally Ginevra Weasley would stop by with her son, Albus, but Draco avoided her like the plague. Sirius was bidden to ‘entertain the guests’ while Draco fled.
Sirius hated Ginny. He would never vocalize it like his sister did, but he hated her nonetheless. Albus was his only friend, another reason why he couldn’t say he hated Ginny. He doubted Albus would be his friend if he said, “I hate your mum.” As it was, Albus only loved his mother- he himself hated his famous father, Harry Potter. But the hatred for Ginny was there. It was probably even stronger than his sister’s hatred. He hated the fact that this woman lived while his mother died. He hated that this woman loved his father and would have thrown his mother under a bus for the chance to marry Draco Malfoy. He hated, most of all, that his mother had given Ginny her permission to take care of the family she left behind. The realization struck Sirius that he actually hated his mother at that time, for leaving him behind.
A knock on his door interrupted Sirius from his reverie.
“Come in,” he said dully.
Ginny Weasley, aka she-Devil- strode in.
“Hello, Sirius,” she smiled.
“Hello,” he replied. He did not make eye contact.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go with me to Diagon Alley today,” she continued.
Sirius stared at her. When had he ever shown more than tolerance for Ginny Weasley? Certainly he’d never shown gratitude or love. Why would she want him to come along?
“I was thinking we could get your robes and school things. You must be excited to go to Hogwarts.”
He shrugged indifferently. Hogwarts, and the outdoor world, held no allure for him.
“I already went with Albus to get his things. He’s excited. He can’t stop talking about sitting with you on both of your first train ride. He wants you to be best friends, like Ron and Harry,” she beamed at him.
“And my mum,” he interjected quietly.
“Pardon?”
“You forgot my mum. You said, ‘like Ron and Harry’. But my mum was their best friend too.” Her pardon had given him the courage to speak up, something that he’d never done in Ginny Weasley’s presence.
Ginny looked taken aback, to say the least. She’d hardly thought of Hermione Granger, if she could. As it was, talking to her son was trouble enough- he was the spitting image of his mother, save for his eyes…they were Draco’s eyes…
“Yes, they were best friends,” she said through gritted teeth. She hardly got over the fact that her ex-husband preferred Hermione to her. “But they didn’t start out as best friends. Not on the train, at least.”
“Could…could you tell me the story?” he asked.
Sirius had heard it, of course, but for some reason, at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to be five again, cuddling with his mother and hearing about her adventures at Hogwarts.
Ginny stared at the boy. All she’d ever received from him were cold stares and scowls. Now he wanted her to tell him a story? She was about to say no when she saw his pleading eyes. They were Draco’s eyes. She could never say no.
“It was Halloween, many years ago…”
After the story, Ginny perceptibly warmed up to Sirius. She insisted they go to Hogsmeade first.
“We can get Butterbeers and I’ll take you to Honeydukes and Spintwitches. We can grab you some sweets and things for your broom. Of course, you’ll be taking it to Hogwarts, won’t you?” Ginny babbled.
Sirius nodded. He didn’t mind…at this moment, he felt loved again.
“And then we can go to Diagon Alley. We’ll have to get you an owl, of course, and a wand- Ollivanders, naturally. We can grab potion supplies and books, oh and Florean Fortescue will love to see you! If you’re lucky, he’ll invent you an ice cream flavor.”
She’d never forgotten how her older son, James, treated her like she was dead. He refused to have her come shop with him- he took Harry. He idolized Harry. Harry Sodding Potter. But here was a boy whose mother had died and whose father hid himself away from the world. Here was a boy who appreciated her efforts, more so than even her favorite, Albus. She almost forgot that it was Hermione Granger’s son- always Granger, never Malfoy! - whom she was coddling. His eyes, Draco’s eyes, stared longingly at her, absorbing the love she gave.
Again, Sirius nodded. Thrilled, Ginny left a note for Draco and Apparated them away to Hogsmeade Village. There was snow on the ground. There always was in Hogsmead though, for an eternal weather charm was held in place. The boy was shivering, so Ginny stopped in Gladrags Wizardwear to buy him a cloak. It was black velvet with silver fastenings. Ginny thought they brought out the mercury eyes. They looked so gentle on Sirius. On Draco, those eyes had always been hostile to her, but on Sirius, they were grateful.
So take that, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, she thought. Someone appreciates me.
The two unlikely companions then wandered towards the Three Broomsticks. As Ginny ordered butterbeers, Sirius accidentally bumped into someone…
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said in a small voice.
“It’s not a problem,” the man replied cheerily. He had messy black hair, and startling green eyes. He looked so much like Albus.
“Uncle Harry?” Sirius asked.
“Why, it can’t be! Sirius Malfoy! What are you doing here? Is your father with you?” Harry asked fondly. Sirius was like his own nephew, just as Hermione had been as close as a sister. The fact that Sirius resembled her only made Harry fonder of the boy.
“No, Father’s at home. Aunt Ginny brought me.”
Harry looked shocked. Ginny Weasley and a Malfoy on speaking terms? Impossible! He was about to mention this to the boy when someone came over to him.
“Harry, darling? Where are you?”
She had long, black hair and dark brown eyes. She was pretty, but for some reason, the sight of her arms around his uncle’s waist made Sirius cringe.
“Oh, Sirius, this is my girlfriend, Arietta Montblanc. Arietta, this is my nephew, Sirius Malfoy,” Harry introduced.
Steel eyes met wooden ones. They were the color of wood, and they looked as hard as wood. Arietta Montblanc did not like Sirius Malfoy one bit. Sirius looked at her in disgust.
“It was lovely bumping into you, Uncle Harry, but I must go find Aunt Ginny now. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to see you, though.” He directed his last sentence at Arietta. For some reason, although he still was not enamored of Ginny Weasley, he felt the need to protect her from this siren.
“Indeed she would be,” Ginny said drily. She’d appeared, with butterbeers, to find her new favorite nephew staring coldly at the woman with Harry. Previously, he’d reserved that stare for her alone. Now he directed it at a new target.
“Hello, Harry. I see you can never escape your fans,” she gestured at Arietta.
“I’m not his fan. I’m his girlfriend. And you are?” Arietta asked condescendingly.
“Me? Oh, you don’t know? I’m Harry’s ex-wife,” Ginny trilled. This child- well, she looked barely twenty- would not beat her at her own game. “Harry, you keep the most amusing little toys around!”
Harry looked affronted. He was about to speak when Arietta cut him off.
“Jealous, much?” she smirked.
“Really, you can’t even get a word in edgewise, can you Harry? Perhaps you ought to keep a muzzle around,” Ginny suggested. “I’d love to stay and chat, but Sirius and I have things to buy before he goes off to school. Albus already got his things. Have you seen him recently?”
“Albus?” Arietta asked.
“How forgetful of me, you seem to not know much. Albus is our second son. Surely you’ve already met James?”
Arietta threw Harry a hard look. Clearly, he hadn’t introduced her to the family. He looked at her helplessly.
“Ginny, what are you doing?” Harry asked coldly.
“Nothing. Just telling your sweetheart about the skeletons in your closet,” she smiled sweetly.
Sirius grabbed Ginny by the hand and led her away to a table on the side without saying goodbye to Harry.
“What was that for?” Ginny yelped. “I was just getting started.”
“We need to find you a date. Now. Harry will be so jealous,” he replied quietly. He scanned the room for eligible men. There was a tall man standing in the corner: it was Dean Thomas, Ginny’s ex-boyfriend. Ginny sent him a quick note, blowing it as the wind would blow a leaf. He caught the note, read it, and excused himself from his conversation to join Ginny. Sirius however had spotted something of more interest, leaving Ginny and Dean to talk.
“Fancy seeing you here, sister,” Sirius said calmly.
There, in the shadows, were Evangeline Malfoy and James Potter II. They sprung apart from each other.
“Are you spying on me?” she hissed.
“No. Aunt Ginny brought me here to get school supplies, since you obviously wouldn’t be bothered to help, and we ran into Uncle Harry and his new girlfriend,” Sirius relayed.
“What?” James yelped. “How could he?”
“I thought you didn’t care for your mum. I thought you avoided her at all costs,” Sirius murmured.
“Of course I care about her,” James snarled. “But she killed Lily. I couldn’t forgive her.”
“She didn’t kill Lily.”
“How would you know, Malfoy?” James sneered.
“My mum told me how it happened,” he answered simply. “And it wasn’t your mum’s fault.”
James broke down in tears. Evangeline looked uncomfortable in the given situation, so Sirius knew he’d have to handle it. As usual.
“Don’t cry, James.”
“I know it’s not manly, but…Lily was my baby sister! She loved me, she idolized me, and then one day, those idiots tortured and killed her. For what? She hadn’t done anything wrong except smile when they wanted her to sob. I should’ve died instead of her…I should’ve protected her. Instead, she died.”
“I know how you feel.”
“How could you know?” Evangeline interrupted.
“Do you think it was any easier for me, knowing that my mum’s dead. She’s never going to come back and I can’t do anything about that. At least you have a mum, and a damn good one too, I might add. My mum’s never going to tell me she loves me again. She can’t. I know you loved Lily. Love her, mourn her, but don’t hate the world for her. Don’t do what my father is doing,” Sirius finished.
“You know, for a twelve year old, you’re not too bad mate,” James hiccupped.
“Thanks. You should talk to your mum now. I’ll take Evangeline home.”
James nodded gratefully. Wiping his remaining tears, he walked towards his mother.
“When did you grow up so much, Siri?” Evangeline smiled.
“I dunno. I suppose I had to. Mum wasn’t around, Dad was moping, and you were busy managing the family appearance. I had to grow up I guess,” Sirius shrugged nonplussed. His sister never talked to him. She never smiled at him.
“Well, little brother, why don’t we get Dad to stop moping and have a fun, family day? We can go get your things later.”
Sirius nodded.
Draco Malfoy sat in his tower room, staring at a picture in his hands. Hermione had been beautiful, so full of life, and now she was gone. He barely ate anymore, and he probably saw his children a handful of times per week. His eyelids grew heavy. He needed to sleep…
“Draco…” a voice whispered.
“Hermione? Is it you?” he replied.
There she was, as if she hadn’t died. Her hair was just as frizzy as usual, and her honey eyes were angry. Hands on hips, he knew that wasn’t good…the pout was bad too…
“You broke your promise, Draco. I trusted you, I loved you ‘till the end, and you broke your promise,” she frowned.
“What promise, love?”
“Sirius and Evangeline aren’t the happiest children. My poor son cries himself to sleep, wishing someone loved him, every night. He’s happy that Ginny Weasley’s taken him under her wings, but she has a family of her own. You were supposed to love him, Draco. And my sweet daughter! She’s an adult now, but she’s utterly cold. She’s devoid of emotion, and you too have made her that way. She only knows how to hate now. Why, Draco, why?” Hermione wailed.
“I…I didn’t mean to…I just miss you,” he sobbed.
“I know, my love, I know,” she soothed, “but for me, I need you to take care of my babies. They have part of me, a part that is still alive. Love that if you must, but take care of them. Love them. Pamper them. Spoil them rotten. Please, Draco.”
“I promise. This time I shall keep that promise. Only, promise me something in return?”
“Yes?”
“Promise me you’ll visit me more often. I get so lonely.”
“Don’t be afraid to love again, Draco. There are so many women in the world that would kill for a husband like you.”
“Yes, but they’re not you, are they?” he smiled wryly.
“Oh, you are incorrigible!”
“You remembered…” tears sprung in Hermione’s eyes.
“Of course I did. Although, Julie Andrews would scare me more than you do, calling me that,” he teased.
“I’ve missed you too, Draco. I promise I’ll visit more. I love you always…”
Draco woke up with a start, his bones filled with a vigor he hadn’t felt in years.
“Kids!” he bellowed.
Evangeline and Sirius appeared, breathing heavily.
“Whatever it is…it’s his fault!”
“It’s her fault!”
“Nothing’s the matter. I’m not mad at you both. If I remembered correctly, today’s the day we ought to get your school things, Sirius,” Draco smiled.
Shocked, the child could only nod.
That day, the sun came out again, thawing the five-year frost on Malfoy Manor. When Draco Malfoy watched his kids disappear, only to become a trail of fog, he smiled. They were off to Hogwarts. They would be happy again. The sun was back at Malfoy Manor. Hermione was here once more.
Questions? Comments? Like it? Please review!! Oh, I've also got another one-shot sequel planned from another POV too...Thanks for reading!
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