The Marriage Decree

Chapter 160: It's a Long Story

Hermione sighs deeply. She knew this would happen. Whipping the covers off herself, she climbs out of bed and pulls on her dressing gown. Downstairs, the clock strikes twelve midnight. Draco had promised he wouldn't be long, yet here she was, an hour later, still waiting for him to come to bed. In the living room, she finds her husband in the same position she had left him, lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling with his phone resting on his chest.

"It's been five hours," he mumbles as she approaches and sits beside his legs on the couch. "Hyperion said he'd keep me updated."

"Then there isn't an update," Hermione tries to reassure him. "You're in no state to go to work tomorrow. Do you want me to contact Minerva to let her know?"

"No," he sits up abruptly, pushing his hair back out of his face; now, it has fallen out of its charmed style. "I can't mope around waiting for a call."

"You won't get any calls at Hogwarts. You need service in case Hyperion tries to call you," Hermione reminds him.

Draco's head drops. He hadn't wanted this to affect his work, but he knew Hermione was right and told her as much. "You're right. I'll send Minerva a floo message. My students can use the lesson to complete their homework."

Phone in hand, not wanting to leave it behind, just in case, Draco sends Minerva a quick floo message. Despite the late hour, the headmistress replies with condolences for his family. She assures him that she'll sort his classes out.

"Now." Hermione stands at the door. "Time for bed. You need some sleep," she orders, taking his hand and leading him upstairs.

In their bedroom, Hermione pushes him to sit on their bed before unbuttoning his shirt, slipping the soft fabric over his shoulders and throwing it into the laundry bin in the corner of their room. After doing the same with his trousers, Draco lies down, pulling the duvet over himself and Hermione as she joins him.

"You don't have to sleep," she tells him softly. "Just be comfortable." Hermione kisses his cheek, then settles down to sleep, needing to be up in less than six hours for work.

Hyperion stands in the corridor with Sarah's doctor, nodding as he takes in her words.

"There's nothing more we can do for your mother except make her comfortable and keep the pain away. If you have any family who'd like to say goodbye, you should call them now," Dr Moss explains softly.

"Thank you for trying," Hyperion sighs, leaning against the wall. "I've only known her thirty years, yet I wish I could've had double that. She's such an amazing woman," he tells the doctor.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought Mrs Malfoy was your mother." Dr Moss opens her file to check her notes.

"Sarah's my aunt, but she somewhat adopted me in my twenties. We've cared for each other ever since," he explains.

"Well, you're a good man in my books, Mr Malfoy." Dr Moss smiles as she tucks her file under her arm. "Make those calls," she reminds him, leaving for her next patient.

Returning to Sarah's side, Hyperion drops back into the chair beside her bed. He knew he would have to call them eventually, and now the time has come. With his phone in hand, Hyperion runs down his contact list, needing to get it over and done with. He pauses for a moment at James Malfoy's name before pressing the dial.

Evidently, Draco drifts off into a light sleep, where he's fully aware of his surroundings. He's immediately awoken by his phone ringing in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Before the first ring can end, Draco has the phone to his ear.

"Hyperion?" He answers, breathless despite being laid down.

"Draco," Hyperion sighs, and Draco's heart drops into his stomach.