Run

Chapter 4: My Son.

Every time Draco saw Thomas from that day on a guilt filled him. He replayed Thomas's words in his head.

"Never knew him. Don't want to know him. He left my Mum when she was pregnant."

Draco was angry. With himself, Hermione, Astoria, his parents, everyone. The only one who couldn't be blamed was Thomas. Admittedly Draco was happy that Thomas had a 'Dad', even if it was McClaggen, but he still couldn't help but think that it should be he who Thomas called Dad, but instead all Thomas knew of him was that he was that his name was Draco Malfoy, he was thirty one, his birthday was the fifth of June, he knew Hermione and McClaggen and he was his potions master. Nothing else.

Thomas was easily the best in his year at potions, possibly the best potion maker in the first three years. Draco had gone to Hagrid about Thomas. Hagrid admitted that he saw a resemblance between Draco and his eldest son. The looks, the behaviours, mannerisms, but Thomas was easily a better person than Draco.

One day Draco apparated home from Hogsmeade. Astoria was at home with Scorpius and Astrid.  He went to the kitchens and asked the house elves for a glass of water.

He noticed Astoria was in a meeting in the living room, she often had meetings there. She owned a fast growing fashion company.

"It really has been a pleasure doing business with you Mr. McClaggen-"

Draco choked on the water.

"Ah please Mrs. Malfoy, it's Cormac and I really think have a new branch of your company in Vienna could really help both of our industries."

"Agreed and please it's Astoria."

Astrid ran into the livingroom.

"Astrid darling, why don't you go and play with Scorp. Mummy's in a meeting." Draco heard Astoria telling their daughter. "I'm so sorry Cormac." She apologised.

"Don't worry I have a little girl as well." Cormac said.

"Hello Astrid, I'm Cormack." He introduced himself in a very child friendly way.

Astrid giggled. "Hello." She said in her adorable three year old voice.

"How old are you Astrid?" Cormack asked.

Draco guessed that Astrid probably held up three fingers because he didn't hear her speak.

"Really? That's the same age as my Rosie." Cormac said in an over dramatic, exaggerated way.

"How old are you?" Astrid asked cheekily.

Astoria gasped. "Astrid!"

Cormac chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I'm really old! I'm thirty one!"

Astrid giggled. "That's the same age as my Daddy."

"Speaking of Daddy is he home yet?" Astoria asked.

Astrid must have nodded

"Go get him please darling." Draco heard Astoria say.

Draco ducked into the library. He heard Astrid come in.

"Daddy? Mummy wants you to meet Mr. Cormac." His little girl said.

Astrid had long, straight blonde hair and Draco's bluish-grey eyes. She was a beautiful child and she could melt Draco's heart.

"Ok, darling." Draco said scooping Astrid up and laughed as she giggled.

Astrid pointed her way towards the living room.

Draco walked in and forced himself to act somewhat of shock when seeing their visitor.

"Hello...McClaggen?" He greeted with a shy, polite, tight lipped grin.

"Hello Malfoy." Cormac replied equally polite, his eyes momentarily flicking to the floor.

They shook hands, firmly and started talking about work over a firewhiskey as all old peers would.

"So you're working in Vienna now?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, myself and my wife travel a lot for M.G. Industries." Cormac answered.

"Really. Astrid told me you have a little girl as well." Draco spontaneously lied.

"Yeah, Rosie. She's three and I have a son as well, Thomas. He just started at Hogwarts." Cormac answered sipping his drink.

"Really, I don't think I have a Thomas McClaggen in my class." Draco said.

Cormac visibly paled.

"Class?" He asked.

Draco nodded. "I'm the potions master."

"Yes, well, Thomas doesn't go by my name, he goes by his mothers." Cormac said shaking.

"I know," Draco said. "Thomas Granger."

Cormac gulped. He purposely never brought up Hermione or her name in his visit to Malfoy Manor.

"You know, he has a real talent for potions. Nice boy, good boy." Draco continued coldly.

"You know him?" Cormac whispered.

"I know everything." Draco hissed quietly.

Cormac grabbed his jacket and briefcase.

"Best be off. House to pack, places to move to." Cormac said quickly, shaking Draco's hand.

"Cormac?" Draco called.

Cormac stood still with his back turned.

"I'm not going to say anything to him. I wouldn't, I couldn't do that to him. He's told me about you. You raised him, you love him, you're his Dad. I just want to speak with Hermione. I want to apologise, to her, to you, and one day, when he's older I'll apologise to him too. Please just get Hermione to meet with me, you can come as well. I'll explain it to Astoria, but please I need to do this. It's what's right!"

Cormac turned and stood facing him for a couple of minutes, considering the options.

"You know, when I met up Hermione in Rome nearly seven years ago, she was a wreck." Cormac started.

Draco gulped.

"You broke her heart and from the second I met Thomas I knew he was yours. Hermione didn't have to tell me, the hair, the smirk, the laugh all you. But I didn't care because he was a good kid. I fell in love with that kid in the first two weeks of my and Hermione's relationship. Six months later he started calling me Dad. A year after that he asked me if I was going to marry his Mum, a year after that I did. Two years after that we had Rose. The four of us, we were happy. My wife, my daughter and my son!" Cormac spat. "I'll tell Hermione about what you said, but it's up to her if she wants to meet you, I won't stop her, but just know I'll be right there by her side to make sure you don't mess her around again. So take this as a warning, don't mess with my family Malfoy!" Cormac finished and apparated away.