When Your Parents Tell You Bedtime Stories

12

"Hermione Granger was...raped?" Mirach asked, trying to swallow the story that had just been woven for him.

"Apparently. She wouldn't let Zabini apologize or let him see me. I guess my mother was as smart as everyone takes her to be. I was the fool."

"Persephone, you can't blame yourself in this," Mirach said scooting comfortably closer.

"You know a lot about Hermione Granger, right, Achernar?" Mirach nodded. "Will you tell me what you know about her?"

"She was a muggleborn," Mirach warned the Slytherin.

"I don't care. She was my mother, and she loved me enough to save me from my father and leave me in the care of Draco Malfoy." Persephone smiled. It was time to know the truth.

"Well, she came to Hogwarts having memorized every book and knowing nearly every basic spell we ever start off with. She was definitely the brightest witch Hogwarts has ever seen...."

********

Draco Malfoy paced in front of the Headmaster's desk, a whimpering, grown, Tonks sitting in a chair behind him. "You lost my daughter? Again?"

"And my son?" Tonks whispered, choking on her tears. Draco looked at her in pitiful disgust. Tears. What kind of emotion was that? One Malfoy's did not care to spend time exploring.

"Do you know who took them....or what they would want with them?" Malfoy asked calmly, his Auror instincts kicking in.

"I think you know, Malfoy. I think we both know," Harry Potter said quietly from his shadows to his partner.

"Potter, you didn't have to come along for this...."

"Of course I did!" Harry whispered harshly. "Persephone is Hermione's daughter, my best friend. At least I have enough decency to care for her."

"And you think I don't?" Malfoy growled to the corner, knowing Harry was lying hidden in the shadows somewhere.

"Alright," Malfoy could hear the defeat in his voice. "At least I care enough to cry," Harry said barely audible, pulling into the light, two lone tears streaking down his cheeks. "Zabini took her, Malfoy. We both know that. We both know what he's capable of. Think about what he did fifteen years ago. The question is; what is he going to do this time? And can we stop it?"

Malfoy's eyes widened uncharacteristically. "The slimy bastard won't touch her if I have it my way," Malfoy muttered, heading for the door. Harry rushed over and pulled Malfoy harshly from the door, throwing him into the corner.

"I think that we need to think about things before rushing into them."

"We thought last time, Potter. And look what happened."

"Nobody will be killed this time, Malfoy. Not on my watch. I promise you that, and I promise Hermione that; it's all I have."

"Words can't save my daughter."

"I know," Harry said, reaching an arm out friendly to Malfoy's arm. "But neither can rash action."

********

"Some stories tell of an epic battle, Death Eaters falling, spells roaring, glass shattering, ground shaking. But that's not the truth. Hermione Granger sought out Voldemort, blaming herself for recent deaths that couldn't have been helped. Potter and Weasley led teams of Aurors in, surprising the Death Eaters and trapping the Dark Lord. Some sources say your father was there, some people are too stubborn to believe it."

"Draco Malfoy, you mean?" Persephone asked, intrigued with Mirach's stories of her mother.

"Yes. I believe it. I believe he was there. I know it, actually. Hermione was trapped, being forced to give out information on the Order. Malfoy came in first, to rescue her, as was his only task, coming face to face with his father. Harry came next, Lucius took Hermione up, and threatened Potter to let him go or he'd kill her. It happened so fast that most aren't sure how it happened. Either way, the Dark Lord fell, Lucius fell, and so did Hermione Granger, dying slowly with a curse that, at the time, had no cure."

"But you said my mother was smart! She wouldn't do something so rash."

"She would for the love of her people; Muggle and Wizarding people," Mirach said. It was amazing how Persephone's eyes had lit up as Mirach had recapped the tales of Hermione Granger, one's Persephone had obviously never heard before.

"She left me, though."

"In the care of someone good."

"Draco Malfoy is the Slytherin. Are you even allowed to say that?" Persephone asked, smiling. "My mother was really something, huh? Reminds me of all those stories my dad used to tell me. The people in it were so brave, risking everything for love."

"Seems your father knew what he was talking about."

"Do you believe my father, Draco Malfoy, could have ever possibly loved someone like Hermione Granger?"

Mirach looked up at the sudden question. It only took him a moment of looking into the deep brown eyes before he knew his answer. "Yes, I believe it with ever fiber of my being. I think your father did love Hermione Granger."

"So do I. Disgusting, isn't it?" a loud booming voice said echoing through the room. "Come, Persephone, love; I'm ready for you."