Orpheus

• Meeting Him •

Hermione watched as her son and her waitress came out of the corner holding hands. She smiled, wiped her tears and stood up. Draco watched her every move.

Hermione walked to the door of the diner and he saw a little boy walk in. They hugged each other.

Then they started walking over to him. He didn't know what to do or say. He just sat there staring.

"Orpheus this is Mr. Malfoy, Draco this is Orpheus," Hermione introducing them.

Draco looked up at Hermione then down at the toddler that was standing in front of him.

Orpheus stood there not knowing what his mother wanted him to do. But he felt compelled to do something.

Orpheus walked up to Draco and touched his face. Orpheus studied it like it was a book. Like he was reading it page by page. Every line, every word. Draco didn't know what to do, he just stared.

"Mummy, he has eye wike mines," Orpheus said, looking up at his mother. He turned back around and then touched Dracos hand. Draco just followed the toddlers movements.

After a few moments, Hermione pulled Orpheus back and Draco just looked at Hermione.

"So," Hermione said, not knowing what to do or say. "We should probably go home," She said looking at her son, who smiled at her. "Orpheus has homework,"

Draco stood up quickly, "Can I walk with you?" he asked, making Hermione look at him shocked, she didn't expect that.

She smiled and nodded. She was happy that he didn't yell, or run away. It was weird finally telling him about Orpheus. But it felt like a weight had finally been lifted from her chest. She could finally breath.

Draco put some money on the table, "Hold on one second, I just need to grab my stuff from the back," Hermione said, then walked back.

When Hermione walked back to Orpheus and Draco, Orpheus grabbed Hermiones hand.

Hermione smiled down at her son, and then smiled at Draco. Draco didn't know what to do so he just looked forward and opened the door for them.

When they were walking Draco just stared at his son, who was walking in front of them. He wanted to say something but there was so much going on in his mind that he couldn't speak.

He looked at Hermione, who was just staring at Orpheus and smiling.

"I have a son?" Draco said, calmly. Hermione stopped smiling and looked down at the sidewalk. "I don't know if i'm angry, or happy," he said, not looking at Hermione. He didn't think he could look at her. He thought he might blow up at her.

"I know," She said. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have kept it from you. I just.."

"You just what Hermione?" Draco said, starting to get mad at the sound of her voice.

"I just thought that, you wouldn't want him," Hermione said, feeling guilty at the words she just said. She knew that he loved her, but at the time she didn't think he loved her that much.

Draco looked at her, "You thought I wouldn't want him?" Draco said, with worry and anger.

Hermione still looking away from Draco, "I just, at the time I didn't think that you would. We were just so young and we still had our lives ahead of us. I didn't want this to ruin yours. Not that Orpheus has ruined mine. He is lovely, and just like you in many ways," Hermione said, chuckling at the last part. But she knew that Draco wasn't in a chuckling mood.

Draco looked at his son. He had blonde hair like him, but it was curly and crazy like his mother's. Draco just started thinking.

"I know how much this changes your life," Hermione started, starring at her son. "You don't have to answer right now, but if you would like,"

"I wanna get to know him," Draco cut her off, already knowing what she was going to say. Draco didn't know what he was getting himself into, but that was his son. His only son and he wanted to get to know him.

Hermione looked at him stunned. She didn't know what to say. But she just smiled and nodded.

When they got closer to the house Orpheus slowed down so his mother could catch up. When Hermione did, Orpheus grabbed her hand.

When they got to the front door Hermione opened the door for Orpheus to walk in. Orpheus turned around to look at his mother, waiting for her to come in with him.

"I'll be in, in a minute sweetheart. Mummy needs to have grown up talk," Hermione said, her son nodding and starting to take his shoes off.

Hermione grabbed Dracos hand and pulled him away from the door so that Orpheus couldn't hear them. She looked at him.

"What are you gonna tell him?" Draco asked, gesturing to Orpheus.

"I don't know," Hermione said.

"Are you gonna tell him?"

"Yes, of course I am. I just don't know how yet,"

Draco looked at his son, watching him struggle to take his shoes off. "When are you gonna tell him?" Draco turned back to Hermione.

"I don't know," Hermione said again. It was true, she didn't know the answer to any of his questions. She didn't think this was going to happen. She didn't think that Draco would ever find out.

"Can we tell him together?" Draco asked. Hermione smiled and nodded. "When can I see him again?"

"I don't know," Hermione said once again, making Draco chuckle a little bit at how many times he made Hermione say I don't know. "We can start slow. You can come over for supper first, see how well that goes. Then we can go from there," Hermione suggested. Draco smiled and nodded.

"It's so weird," Draco said, looking at his son. "I have a son,"

Hermione looked at Orpheus as well. She smiled so wide. "It is crazy. He is so beautiful," Draco hummed in agreement. They looked back at each other. But only for a few seconds before Orpheus went to the door.

"Mummy, peas pwease!" Orpheus yelled trying to get his mother's attention. Draco looked at Hermione confused.

"He means peanuts please," Hermione said. "Give mummy two seconds please sweetheart," Hermione turned towards Draco. "I should probably go get those peanuts for him,"

"Yeah," Draco said, thinking about how similar him and his son were.

"Would you like to come over for dinner on Friday?" Hermione asked.

"Sure, what time?" Draco responded.

"How about six o'clock?"

"Okay, sounds good,"

Hermione smiled. "Mummy!" Orpheus yelled. Orpheus could feel how uncomfortable his mother was and wanted to get her out of the situation.

"I have to go," Hermione said to Draco. Draco nodded. "Goodbye," Hermione said, leaving Draco on her front porch yelling a coming to her son and then shutting the door on Draco.

Draco stood there staring at the door for a few minutes, before realizing that he should probably head to work now. He needed to meet someone of importance in the muggle world.

Hermione walked into her kitchen. Thinking about what just happened. She told Draco about Orpheus and Draco wanted to get to know Orpheus. It was weird, but a good kind of weird. She felt really good about telling him. Of course she still felt guilty for hiding it from him for years, but she felt good about telling him.