My Son

Chapter6:

Ginny had entered the room and had greeted Draco and Hermione. She had approached the young teenager who was unknown to him, and who lowered his eyes.

"So he is your son, Draco, the one I held in my arms the day that ... where I escaped.

She did not know how to qualify that day. That of the victory, that of the death of his brother, the one she had believed that the only person who attached to the past, his friend Hermione was dead, after losing Luna a few days earlier. That day she had found freedom, hope, but not happiness. That one, she had never found it. He had died the same day as Harry. She had loved Harry more than anything, even though they did not always agree, even though their couple had gone through difficult times.

She put her hand on the teen's cheek and tried to lift her face. He must not be so shy.

Then came the moment when Gabriel could not do otherwise and when raising his head, his gaze crossed that of Ginny. Before she noticed the embarrassment, it was this emerald color that she noticed. This beautiful color that only one person of his acquaintance possessed. That painful, tender look that meant you could not make up for lost time was exactly the same as him.

This memory imposed on his memory. Harry's leaving one week before his death, telling him that he had made mistakes. Her husband confessing that he had cheated on him. The reassuring, adding that it did not really matter to him, that it was she that he loved more than anything.

And Ginny, who, as soon as he was gone, had resumed the pregnancy test and told her again, no, she was still not pregnant.

Now, in front of her eyes appeared the child conceived with another, with his best friend. Harry had not told him directly with whom he had cheated on her, but she understood him. Sometimes the smiles of men can not hide their biggest secrets.

- Ginny, I ... I, she heard Hermione stammer.

- Do not say anything Hermione, you do not have to justify yourself ...

She thought so. She knew the pains in the life of Hermione and her brother before she left on a whim at Drumstang, to join her friend Krum. These details she had never mentioned to Hermione in the last 17 years she came to see her every day. She just told him the smiles, the hopes, the good times. She did not have to judge Hermione.

- It's just weird to think that you had a child seeing you only a few times, while I tried for months ...

- You knew that ... that ... I ... with Harry?

- Yes

- But how ?

- He told me. Or rather, I guessed it. But I did not think that your departure for Drumstang was related to him. I thought it was because of Ron.

Ginny had completely forgotten the presence of this child and his adoptive father. She had not realized that Hermione had found the reason and that her happy little girl's smile had disappeared. She was talking to her friend, like the last day before Hermione left for Drumstang, except this time they had nothing to hide.

- I loved your brother but ...

- I know

Ginny was looking at Gabriel again and she felt deep inside her that strange and uncomfortable feeling that made her want to hurt people, so that they would understand that she was suffering too.

- But you cheated on Harry ... then with Malfoy ...

Ginny pretended not to feel the pain of Hermione's fingers hitting her in the face. She had achieved her goal. She was suffering more than she would have wanted from Hermione's betrayal, having entrusted Harry's son to Draco rather than her. It was Draco's voice that made him open his eyes again.

- Ginny, I've never ... been with Hermione

- So what are you doing here? why did you raise this child?

But she did not need an answer. God the smiles of men say more than their sentences. Draco was in love with Hermione and had always been and she used him to hide from Ginny that she had betrayed her friendship. And all the pity she had for Hermione for the last twenty years disappeared. She had been there for her when her marriage to Ron was bad. She had supported him when she had gone to Drumstang. She had not been there the day Voldemort had tortured her, but as soon as she saw Hermione back in the hospital, she came every week. She had helped him because she thought he was an unhappy woman, but now she understood that it was not that, that Hermione was just a manipulative and calculating woman.

- Why did you tell him then? And not your best friend?

Ginny could not help but glare at Hermione. Nothing was on her face. She was much better occlumens than men or maybe her face, which had expressed nothing but insanity for years, did not remember how to do it. Ginny saw nothing, nothing but the face of a liar.

- Because I wanted to protect you and Ron ...

- Because you wanted to protect us or protect yourself from us?

- I did not want you to know that your husband had cheated on you, I did not want Ron to suffer ...

- Damn it Hermione, Ginny cried angrily, we were 25 years old when it happened, not 15 years old, we were big enough to take our responsibilities and forgive us for that kind of mistake of one night, especially under the conditions of war in which we were. We were already suffering ... all ... you do not think that my brother had not already suffered from your departure in ...

- Weasley, that's enough

Ginny turned to Draco who had cut him off. It was not him that she wanted. He was in love with her Hermione and did not understand that she had used him. After all that was not her problem, she had already done so much for Draco by avoiding Azkaban, 17 years ago, trying to convince herself that Luna's death was the best way to save the phoenix's order. She could not do more.

- You really had to love her so much to accept raising her child when it was not yours ... but your worst enemy.

Ginny did not imagine how close she was to the truth.

She turned to Hermione and this time she saw the traces of makeup that covered her face, the last scars of her madness. She was conscious again. She did not need the help of her friend anymore.

- It looks like you do not need me anymore now. Before you were my friend, my sister-in-law, you were part of my family, but you decided to leave me alone. I'll leave you with your new family. Be happy !

Ginny came out of the room, under the mute gaze of the other three. Hermione tried to run after him but gave up for lack of strength but also courage. What could she have said to him anyway?

- You'll talk to him later.

Draco had approached Hermione to restrain her. Gabriel stayed in his corner, reciting Ginny's words. These biological parents never wanted it. He was the child of adultery. He was the cause of the end of friendship between two women. And his adoptive father cared for him only because he was the child of the woman he was in love with and he hoped to please her and she fell in love with him.

Tears began to flow down her cheeks. He left the room silently, not wanting to disturb the lovers again together. Hermione saw him and told Draco that his son was coming out of the room, so he went to look for him.

End of Chapter 6