1,000 Days

Chapter 6

Hermione

Hermione woke that Saturday morning as the sun was coming up over the mountains in the distance. Ayden was due to arrive later that morning, then she would take the boy to meet his famous father for the first time in his life. She couldn't be more nervous.

Before it was time, Hermione saw the green flames just before her black haired, green eyed boy came tumbling through the fire place.

"Hey, Mum," he greeted brightly as she finished fastening her robes.

"You're early," Hermione noted, pulling Ayden into a motherly hug.

"I couldn't wait to come," Ayden replied hurriedly. "After we got your owl, I wanted to come right away, but gramma and grampa wouldn't let me. They said I had to wait for today, then, this morning, they said I had to wait a little longer because you could still be sleeping, and so I did, and AM I REALLY GONNA MEET MY DAD???????" he yelled

Hermione laughed. Ayden's speech had last only seconds, signifying his excitement, and reminded her of herself at his age.

"Let's go now," she said, smiling.

"YES!" Ayden cheered.

When they got to Harry's room, Ayden didn't even knock. He ran right in and caught Harry by surprise. (The clue being the "oof" from Harry as Ayden undoubtedly tackled him.)

Hermione stood in the door way as Harry kneeled down and looked at Ayden in person for the first time. He had a look of shock and amazement on his face, and tears in his shockingly green eyes. Then, suddenly, he held Ayden tightly to him.

When Harry finally let his son go, he was crying slightly. He looked up at Hermione disbelieving, and whispered, "I can't believe it." He looked back at Ayden and smiled, still bewildered.

"Dad," Ayden asked, "why are you crying?"

Harry chuckled, "Because I'm happy," he answered. "I'm really happy."

"But Mummy and Auntie Bridgett and Gramma only cry when they're sad," Ayden explained, confused. "Why do you cry when you're happy?"

"Sometimes," Harry explained, "people get so happy they cry. They don't always cry because they're sad or hurt. A lot of people cried tears of joy when I won a Quidditch match and even more when Gryffindor won the cup for the first time in years my third year. Do you like Quidditch?"

"Are you -kidding?" Ayden demanded.

"Ayden's going to be Seeker for Gryffindor when he comes to Hogwarts, aren't you, hon?" Hermione said proudly. "I can't wait to see him play."

"I'll bet he's a first-year player, like me."

"You bet I will!" Ayden yelled. "I'm gonna be just like you, Dad!"

Harry smiled brightly. "You are, are you?" he asked. "I'll bet you'll be better than me, what do you think, Hermione?"

"I think he'll be wonderful. And unlike you, he won't loose a match."

"I only lost one, and that was through no fault of my own."

"What happened to make you loose?" Ayden asked curious.

Harry smiled. "There was this really pretty girl in the crowd," he answered, looking at Hermione, "and I saw her, and I fell off my broom."

Hermione smiled at the lie. The truth was that the Dementors guarding Hogwarts from Sirius Black had come to the game, causing Harry to fall because of the memories they surfaced. But Ayden wasn't quite old enough to know that much. He didn't know the horrors of his father's past, and he wouldn't, for as long as Hermione could keep it from him. Maybe he'll learn the truth when he's thirty-five or something.

The morning was spent talking about Ayden's childhood, and Hermione's wondering why Harry quit the Auror business.

For lunch, the trio wondered outside the Hogwarts grounds, and found themselves at the Three Broomsticks.

Madam Rosmerta was gone from the pub, yet she still owned it. Now a new face took over for her. This new person wasn't much older than Rosmerta had been all those years ago, and her technique was superior to Rosmerta's. Rumor was that this was her daughter and Rosmerta had taught her everything, but Andy had picked up quite a few skills on her own.

"Hermione!" she said brightly as the three entered from the sunny street. "And--Harry bloody Potter, nice to meet you! Ayden!" she squealed, jumping over the bar to give the boy a hug and candy.

"Okay," she said, calming down. "Where do ya want to sit?"

"Anywhere's fine," Hermione answered.

They sat in the back, ordered their food, and got back to the talking.

"How is Ron?" Harry asked after a while. "I haven't talked to him in ages."

"Uncle Ron's fine," Ayden answered. "He said he's gonna take me to a game this year. I hope Gryffindor wins the cup again! We were so excited when they finally got the cup back from Slytherin four years ago. Even Mummy went to that game! She never goes. And they've kept the cup for four years now, and when I'm old enough, I'm gonna join the team and I'll be a Seeker, and Mummy will watch me play, and you'll watch me play, and I'll win the cup and I'll be really happy, and I might start crying like you did, Daddy."

Harry beamed. Here was his only child telling him how much he adored him, how much he needed him. Hermione could see right away that not telling Harry had been the worst thing she's ever done, but telling Harry was, so far, the best. She couldn't be happier now that Ayden knew his father.

Harry watched while Ayden ate, then looked up and caught Hermione's eye. "I love you," he mouthed.

Hermione could have cried. This time was different than all the other times. Maybe Harry was right; maybe things really do change in time. "I love you too," Hermione mouthed back.

Soon they went back to the castle grounds and wondered around a bit. They eventually settled on the grass somewhere between the forest and the lake. Harry pulled a tiny gold Snitch from his pocket and gave it to Ayden.

"I can keep it?" the boy asked, clearly amazed at such a gift.

"You can keep it," Harry promised.

Hermione rest her head against Harry's shoulder as they watched Ayden play with the Snitch by letting it go, nearly letting it out of his reach, and catching it again.

Harry chuckled and reached for her hand. Hermione sighed contentedly and looked over to the castle. Ginny and Malfoy were standing over there, watching them. Ginny looked up at Malfoy and nudged him. Malfoy looked back at her, smiled and they walked away, hand in hand. Hermione smiled. They were finally getting back together. Ginny had been so heartbroken when she'd left him, reasons left untold. She had known then that it wouldn't have been forever.

They sent Ayden off to Ron's house that night with the message that Harry knew now, so there was no need to hide anything anymore, and the promise that they would all go to the next Quidditch match together.

Hermione stood out on Harry's balcony an hour or so after they sent Ayden off. She felt as though a bag of bricks had been taken off her shoulders. Now if only Harry would let her in on his secrets....

She sighed and looked up at the starry sky.

"Hey," Harry said walking up behind her.

She smiled. "Hey," she answered.

"He's an amazing kid..." Harry remarked, thoughtful. "Truly amazing...."

"He takes after his father."

Harry smiled shyly. "I think it's more his mother he takes after."

"He looks so much like you...."

"I wonder if that's how people feel when they look at me and remember my father. I've seen his picture, and they're right, the only difference between us is our eyes...but I never really made the connection. Not until now...."

"It's amazing, isn't it?" she asked. "Did you ever think you'd have a child?"

"Honestly?" Harry asked. "No. I thought I'd be dead years ago."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought Voldemort was going to kill me eventually. During the battle, I thought we might just kill eachother. I never thought I'd live through any of this. But I knew I couldn't leave."

"Leave?"

"Die."

"Oh."

"Why do you ask, anyway?"

Hermione sighed. "It was just a thought that crossed my mind. You know, Harry, I've always loved you," she said softly. "Ever since I saw you on the train our first year. That's why it always hurt so badly when you and Ron would make fun of me."

"Then we saved your life and we all became friends. More or less living happily ever after."

"Not quite," she replied softly. "We're not all happy. Ron is, there's no doubt about that, but you're not, and I'm not. I need to know Harry, what happened in the last nine years to make you look at Draco Malfoy with longing and love? I know there is something there, and no one else will tell me. I need to know. Please."

"...Alright," Harry sighed. "Five years ago, we were partnered up in the Department. One thing led to another and another, and finally, after a long night of drinking at the Three Broomsticks, we kissed."

Hermione felt tears in her eyes. Here was the truth, being laid out in front of her, and suddenly she didn't want to hear it.

"We dated after that," Harry continued. "Three years ago, we were engaged. Two years ago, he left me....

"I never wanted you to know, Hermione. Everyone else knew, but I couldn't bear to tell you. There is a part of me that has always loved you...and always will. I couldn't hurt you, not knowing how you felt.

"But now you know, and now you are the second person to know that we're not getting married."

"Ginny knows, doesn't she?"

"She does," Harry nodded. "She's the only other one who knows. Not even Ron knows."

"You know, he let slip that you were engaged once. He quickly had to stop Bridgett from saying something about it while I was visiting with Ayden...."

Flash Back

"Hey, Ron," Hermione said walking in his house with Ayden in her arms.

Ron watched as they entered the living room. "You know, just looking at him, it's like looking back in time. They're so alike, looks and personality."

"It's insane, isn't it?" Hermione answered. "I can't believe it happened, even after seven years, I still can't believe I have a child, and that he's Harry's."

"If only Harry knew..."

"If only," Hermione sighed wistfully. "Maybe then I would feel like I was hiding from him."

"You're not. Anyway, Bridgett's just put dinner on the table, come on and eat."

"What is it?" Ayden asked.

"Your favorite," Ron answered.

Hermione put the child down and he raced into the kitchen. Ron's house was so much like the Burrow it wasn't even funny. Crooked and messy, they looked nearly the same. Differences lay in the photographs and the actual things lying around. That and the fact that Ron's house seemed more American to her. But Hermione would never let her house look like this...

"Any word from him?" Hermione asked as they gathered around the large dining room table.

"Yes, actually, he had some interesting news the other day," Bridgett answered happily.

"Bridgett," Ron said quietly, probably hoping Hermione wasn't listening. "You know Harry doesn't want her to know about the engagement."

"Engagement?" Hermione asked. "What engagement?"

"What?" Ron asked. "Engagement? I didn't say 'engagement', I said arrangement. He's got this surprise coming up, and you're not supposed to know about it yet."

"What's going on Ron? You're a terrible liar."

"Who said I was lying?"

End Flashback

"I knew then that you were involved with someone. I also knew that if I told you about Ayden then, you would never go through with your wedding. It would be against everything I knew you were. You'd never leave me alone with him if you'd known. I just don't know why you attempted suicide."

"I never wanted to be the one to save the world, Hermione, you know that. I was sick of it all. I was furious at the world for putting me up on the pedestal, furious at Dumbledore for all the secrets he was keeping from me, and fed up with it all. I had given up. Like I said, I'd expected Voldemort to kill me. I was helping him along with what I knew was inevitable.

"Revenge, Hermione. That's why. I wanted to prove that I had control over my own damn life. I wanted to prove that nothing, not even that bloody prophecy, had control over my life."

"You said you thought about us, just before?"

"Yeah. I had both of your pictures in my pocket. They were the last things I had seen before I woke up in the hospital."

"So that's why Malfoy couldn't let you die.... He loved you too much."

"He did. But apparently not enough."

"How did it end?"

"He was cursed. The Thousand Day Curse. Lucius cast it upon him the night I defeated Voldemort. As soon as I saw what he had done, I took his life. Yet Draco still suffers."

"How close is he to his cure?"

"He's not. He's no closer now than he was when he was cursed. Last Wednesday was the last time he had a finished potion to try. It failed, and he's still dying. Dying both physically and spiritually, I guess. He's lost all hope. And from what he said, without a good concealment charm, he's practically see through."

"So that's why you two fought so extremely last month," came Hermione's sudden realization.

"Not just that, it was how we knew what words were to come out of the other's mouth before the sentence was finished. How he knew I didn't want you to know, Hermione, and he respected that, even if he was through with me.

"I never wanted you to know of my attempt at cheating fate, and I, above all, never wanted you to know about him."

"Why not?" Hermione asked needing to know the answer to this question.

"Because I love you, Hermione. And as much as I loved him, I felt like I was betraying you every time I kissed him, looked at him, touched him, any time I did anything with him. I felt that I was betraying you because you didn't know. Because I couldn't tell you. ...Because I love you.

"And you're right, if I'd known about Ayden then, I would never have said yes to him. If you had told me nine years ago that you were pregnant and the child was mine--or even if he wasn't but you weren't sure--there would never have been a chance with him. I would have been right by your side the entire time. I would have done everything with you, been there for you.... I would never have let you go."

Hermione had tears in her eyes. here was the truth, and she was glad she knew now. Now there were no secrets. Now there were no lies. It was like they were teenagers again. It was bliss.

"So, why did you quit the Auror business?"

Harry chuckled. "I wondered when you'd be asking me that.

"I quit because I was tired of the work. I'd finished what I had intended to do. I really only became an Auror for the training and rights to be able to do what I did legally."

"Really?" Hermione asked, confused. "But you wanted to do it so badly when we were kids."

"I wanted to defeat Voldemort when we were kids, Hermione, not be an Auror. That seemed the most logical career choice for me, being that I was going to spend great chunk of my life fighting him.

"What I wanted was Quidditch. It was my passion after all. But once I got into the academy, I couldn't bring myself to get out. That's why I stayed after I killed him. Being an Auror was my destiny," he shrugged. "Who am I to tempt fate yet again?"

Hermione snorted. "You were game for killing yourself, I'd say that was tempting enough."

"And that's why it's not happening again."

Hermione left soon after that, running into Ginny on her way back to her room.

"He's a beautiful kid, Hermione," she said. "You're lucky."

"I know now," she said. "About Harry and Malfoy. And I know that you two are together again as well. I saw you earlier. I think I know why you left him in the first place."

"I left him so they could be together. Harry needed him, now he needs you. Trust me on this one, alright? They didn't tell you for good reason."

"I know. And I'm honestly glad they didn't tell me. I would have freaked."

"And now?"

"Now...now I don't need to. I think I know what's going on now."

"How much did he tell you?"

"He told me how they got together, he told me they'd been engaged, he told me how it ended."

"He didn't say anything else?"

"No, why?"

Ginny shook her head. "No reason. Don't worry about it."

"Okay," Hermione replied doubtfully. "If you say so."

"I'll see you later then."

"Yeah, see you."

Hermione lay awake that night, a picture of Harry in one hand, a picture of her and Ayden in the other. She put the two together, and watched Harry walk out of the left side of his picture to join her and Ayden in the other. She smiled and put the blank picture down as the photograph-Harry picked up his son and wrapped his free arm around her photographic clone, placing a kiss on her cheek.

She turned out the light and lay back on her soft, warm bed.

The photographic Hermione and Ayden waved as Hermione placed the picture on her pillow and fell asleep with that one image floating behind her eyes.