Dramione: Skills for life

15. Come home draco

Hermione sat beside Draco, her lips pursed as she listened to the man before them. Narcissa was weeping quietly on Draco's other side. Poor Olivia was playing quietly with a doll next to Hermione. Her Christmas had been dampened with the news of Lucius' death.

"What are you going to do with the body?" Draco asked coldly.

"He died in Azkaban. Unless you have a good reason not to, he will be buried on the grounds." The ministry official replied icily. He was extremely taken aback by seeing the great Hermione Granger with the ex Death Eater Draco Malfoy. Not to mention the child in tow.

"No objections." Draco said firmly. Narcissa began to cry harder, but she remained silent. Hermione squeezed Draco's hand, though the gesture wasn't returned. She moved her gaze to Olivia. Harry, upon hearing the news, had offered to taken Olivia but she couldn't burden them. They had sent word to Blaise and Luna who accepted it easily.

"You are allowed to attend the burial, if you wish." The official said. Draco shook his head.

"No. Do whatever. Mother, you may go-"

"I couldn't bear." She choked out, blowing her nose daintily into her handkerchief. Hermione kept quiet, though internally she scorned both of the Malfoys. How could they be so heartless? Lucius Malfoy was himself a heartless bastard, but he was also their husband and father, respectively. They wouldn't even give him a proper burial, let alone see him once more before he was buried six foot under for the rest of eternity on prison grounds.

"Very well. You are free to go, Mr. Malfoy's will is going through the Ministry now and should be cleared within fourteen days." He said. The man nodded and left. Narcissa turned to Draco.

"Dear, I'm going to go home and rest. Happy Christmas." She said to Draco. She nodded curtly to Hermione and Olivia, before disapprating.

"Now what?" Hermione mused. Draco shrugged, his gray eyes guarded and cold. She sensed he wanted to be alone. "I have an idea."

"Go on." He said indifferently.

"You go home. Get some rest, I'm going to take Olivia to Harry's for a few hours? Okay. Get some sleep honey." Hermione advised, smiling at him. It was late, almost eight o'clock. The majority of Christmas had been spent with Ministry officials, at the morgue identifying the body, and getting informed. The official cause of death was a suicide. Draco had bitterly stated, "Bastard couldn't even survive six months in Azkaban."

"Hermione, I know what you're trying to do." He replied sternly. She raised an eyebrow.

"And what might that be oh wise one?" She replied sarcastically.

"Give me time alone to," He used air quotes. "deal with my pain. Face it Hermione, I hated the guy. I'm not going to pretend to be greatly saddened by his death."

"He was still your father!" Hermione argued. Draco shrugged.

"So? I do not, and will not, ever care for him."

"Merlin, you're acting as cold as he was!" Hermione threw her arms up in frustration. After saying those words, she regretted them. Olivia watched the two nervously. She had seen plenty of grown ups fight before, but that didn't mean it ever got less scary.

"Is that how you feel?" Draco replied, his voice icy. "Good bye Granger."

He turned on his heel, aparating away. Hermione burst into tears, crumpling to the floor.

"Mommy?" Olivia whispered, moving close to Hermione. "Shh, don't cry Mommy."

Hermione looked up in the brown eyes of her adoptive daughter and not for the first time, felt a surge of love and gratitude towards the young child. "I'm sorry sweetheart. Daddy's just angry at his Daddy, and he accidentally made Mommy sad. Now come on. I think we have some Christmas ice cream left!"