Broomsticks and the Big Apple

Broomsticks and The Big Apple

Chapter 13

(difficult scene in this chapter but it will be okay)

“Sit down, both of you!” An authoritative Draco said to Scorpius and Persephone. He picked Hermione up and laid her tenderly on the couch where he dabbed her face with a cool, wet towel. Draco scrawled a letter to Persephone’s parents and gave it to his owl to deliver. What they got back was a howler, telling Persephone to stay where she was, that they would be arriving shortly. This gave Draco and Hermione a few moments alone with the pair, and they intended to make the most of it.

“What is this about sixty-nine and getting married Scorpius?” Draco said in as calm a voice as he could muster.

“Married? What happened?” Hermione said dabbing the cool cloth on her face again. Draco clasped his hand in Hermione’s and addressed the nervous teens, who were looking anywhere but at Draco and Hermione.

“After you walked in on us, while we were getting dressed, we realized that we weren’t ashamed of what we had been caught doing.” Scorpius looked to Persephone to corroborate his statement and she nodded in agreement. “I mean, we didn’t like getting caught, but we aren’t sorry or ashamed that we did it, because we love each other Mum. That’s when I asked her to marry me. If we were married, then nobody could tell us that making love is wrong.” Draco looked at Hermione and he could see his wife boiling just under the surface.

“Scorpius you are fifteen! You can’t get married. Now, I understand first love, hormones, and all of that, but you just can’t push girls to do things like this! She’s innocent and you have to treat her like a precious flower,” Hermione said smiling at Persephone. She really liked the girl and she was sure that her son orchestrated the sex they were having. She knew Draco was a bit of a Dom (to put it mildly) and that he liked to control their love making, and while Hermione reveled in that aspect of her marriage, she didn’t want Persephone to be subjected to her oldest son’s kinks.

“Mrs. Malfoy…It was my idea,” Persephone said blushing a deep shade of rose. Hermione’s mouth fell open and Draco nudged her.

“There is nothing wrong with what you were doing. Your mother and I have a satisfying and full sexual relationship in our marriage.”

“Draco!” Hermione said and it was now her turn to nudge him.

“What? You think Scorpius and Luke don’t know?” He shot Hermione and incredulous gaze. “But your mother is right. You’re too young to marry. You have to finish school first. Let the relationship blossom. Get to know one another better first, then marriage can come later .”

“Oh, please Dad. You and Mum got married on a whim and look how happy you both are together. We love each other and we want to get married. We want to make love and we both want to wait for marriage before taking that step…and since we don’t want wait to make love, then we want to get married.”

“Do you hear what you just said? You want to get married so you can have sex,” Hermione pointed out.

“No.” Scorpius argued.

“Yes Scorpius! You just said it.”

“That’s not what I meant. We want to make love together as man and wife. There’s a difference.” Popping sounds startled the four, but none more then Persephone, who looked scared when she saw her mother and step father.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Dale Peppercorn said waving the letter from Draco in his hands.

“Why don’t the two of you have a seat. I apologize for meeting this way. Can I get you a drink?” Hermione said jumping to her feet and playing the dutiful host.

“Fracka Black, nice to meet you.” Draco chuckled under his breath at the name of his distant cousin. She extended her hand to Hermione and smiled. So this was Sirius Black’s daughter. She kept the name of Black, which means that she did not marry Serena and Persephone’s father. Draco was sizing up the parents of his son’s girlfriend, like he did with every new business contact. The mother looked passive, almost hippy-ish, while the father looked closed off and rigid. He immediately knew that the problem was going to be Dale, not Fracka.

“Mum, before you say anything I just want you to know that I love Scorpius with all of my heart and I want…we want..” she held Scorpius’s hand tightly, “To be married right away. I will still finish school, but I want to move out and in with him.” Hermione was serving drinks to the guests and she couldn’t help but feel a welling inside her heart, when she thought of her little boy experiencing his first love. Of course they were too young, but perhaps after they graduate, if they were still together, Persephone would make an honest man out of her son. Grandkids swam through her mind before she was brought back to reality.

“You little tart! How dare you let this perverted little punk touch you! He isn’t even American! You disgust me Persephone! And here I thought it was your sister that was the little whore.”

“Excuse me? You will not speak in that manner in my house!” Hermione said pointing a finger in Persephone’s, stepfather’s face. Draco held his wife back, but Hermione was fuming mad.

“I understand that you’re angry. I’m a father myself, so I do understand, but he kids are in love. Perhaps you could try to understand where they’re coming from? Weren’t you ever young and in love?” Draco tried to sooth the situation. Fracka was standing quietly letting Dale handle the situation.

“Is that what you fucking poms in Britain are calling it? Your son raped my daughter, so far as I’m concerned!” Scorpius stood up, balling up a fist, when Draco stood in front of him.

“You fucking moron! There is nothing wrong with loving each other and wanting that love to translate into the physical realm of love. Maybe you can’t get it up, I dunno, but I won’t let you tarnish my son’s name. They fell in love and had oral sex, big fucking deal! It’s the marriage part that has me worried. Should we try once again to sit down and talk to the kids in a civilized manner? Or do you intend to insult my son, family and heritage again? Because I’ll throw you out on your Yankee keister!” Draco stood in the man’s face, so close his nose was almost touching his. If he made one move, Draco was going to lay him out on the floor.

“Persephone will be going to live with my sister. If your son knows what’s good for him, he will stay away from the likes of my family. Persephone, Fracka? Let’s go!”

“No! Mr. Malfoy, please don’t make me go. He isn’t a nice person. He beats my mother and he yells at us and calls us horrible names. Please, I don’t want to leave with him.” Fracka was crying and apologizing to Persephone. Hermione hugged Persephone’s mother, while Persephone stood behind Scorpius.

“Remember the time you got a bad grade in Charms Persephone? That was nothing compared to what you are going to get this time!”

“Dad, I’ll kill him if he lays one finger on Persephone!” Scorpius stepped from behind Draco.

“No, you won’t son. Because I’m going to teach him a lesson right now!” Draco swung his fist but was stopped when he heard the curse from his wife.

“Petrificus Totalus!” Hermione said, wand pointing at Dale. His body became even more rigid then it already was and he fell against the marble floor with a resounding thud that echoed throughout the penthouse. Hermione’s expression was wild one second and then completely normal again in the very next second.

“Now, Ms. Black, shall we sit down and discuss this like rational adults, without your husband’s interference?” Hermione said as if nothing had happened and Draco laughed so loudly, doubling over and then Scorpius and Persephone were laughing and finally Fracka Black giggled under her breath.

“I’m sorry. One of the Foreign Ministers proposed some absurd law, freeing the squibs from forced and menial labor. Until the bill is shot down, the WWWA closed our business and Dale isn’t taking it too well.” Draco scratched his head, feeling a sudden sinking feeling. He had proposed the law to free the squibs. Squibs, or those born in magical families without magical abilities, were forced into janitorial jobs and other forms of menial labor. The hours were long, the pay poor and the conditions by which they worked under, were usually not fit for a dog let alone a human being. Draco had proposed this bill, with support from the Australian and Canadian Minister’s after receiving an onslaught of owls from squibs working in conditions that were undesirable or even detrimental to their health in some cases. The letter that broke the camels back so to speak, was from a seventeen year old girl who knew of Draco’s reputation and record in Human Rights. She spoke of her hardships, working as a sex slave for a prominent Pureblood family. The job description she listed made Draco’s stomach turn and right then and there, he wrote the bill to free the squibs. The Squib Shops were a dime a dozen. A person could literally walk into a store and order a squib, then pay for them and leave. Of course the squibs were paid, but Draco knew that it was just a clever way of exploiting the lowly and frowned upon, squibs. It was disguised slavery and it had to stop. Draco would not rest until the squibs were freed from their bondage.

As he listened to Fracka, he knew without a doubt that Dale Peppercorn ran a squib shop, probably in the red light district, which is where most of these unsavory shops were located.

“Hermione, I think we’re done here. That absurd law you spoke of, was proposed by me, and I will not rest until it IS passed into law! Your husband is a slave trader. Persephone, I’m sorry but selling squibs is wrong.” Draco was enraged and a little disgusted that one of the so called slave traders was laying on his floor, petrified like a block of wood.

“You are that Minister? I see. Well, I do apologize if I insulted you. Please though…Let the boy marry Persephone,” Fracka said and Hermione slammed her teacup down on the saucer.

“What did you say? You approve of your daughter marrying my son?”

“I don’t have the best marriage and Persephone is such a wonderful daughter. I want more for her. You all have a most beautiful home. You have nice things and good jobs. I want that for my daughter. I want that for both my daughters! Persephone you may marry Scorpius.” Persephone smiled and leaned into Scorpius who was now lost in his girlfriend’s eyes. It was clear the two were head over heels in love.

“Ms. Black. Wealth is not the only means of finding happiness. I feel insulted that you view my son only as good as his weight in galleons,” Draco replied flatly.

“Mr. Malfoy, I do love Scorpius with all that I am,” Persephone piped in.

“Father, I can work for you. I can earn the money to take care of Persephone, she won’t be a burden on you or mother.”

“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation! What will you do Scorpius? How will you take care of her? You haven’t finished school and your grades are not what they should be.”

“Quidditch, Dad. I’ll play quidditch. I tried out for the Park Avenue Poltergeists quidditch team. I’m sure I’ll make it. Nobody came close to beating me in tryouts.” Hermione cleared her throat at that but Draco ignored her.

“Scorpius, you are fifteen. None of the Professional American quidditch teams are going to take you on. Perhaps when you’re older. Now, you need to let go of this ridiculous idea of marrying your girlfriend. Teens fall in love everyday and its awesome Scorpius, I know, but you can’t just get married. It doesn’t work that way son.”

“Draco…” Hermione said dryly.

“I will help you and your mother though,” Draco said directing his attention to Fracka and Persephone. “I will help you get on your feet, and away from him,” Draco said turning his nose up at the man named Dale Peppercorn who laid still on the floor at his feet. “A man should never treat a woman as terribly as he treats the both of you. I can give you a room here at the hotel for as long as you need it, if you will leave this man. He’s a real arse.”

“Draco…” Hermione said again.

“I really like you Persephone, and I hope one day that you and Scorpius will marry, but finish school and take your time.”

“Draco!” Hermione finally tossed a rolled up piece of parchment at her husband and it hit him in the chin.

“This is what I was coming into Scorpius’s bedroom to tell him! Do you want to tell him or should I?” Draco unrolled the parchment and read. His hands were shaking as he read the letter. Scorpius was leaning forward eagerly now.

“It’s from the Poltergeist’s isn’t it! Mum?” Scorpius leaped from his seat. Hermione nodded, hiding a small smile.

“Dad? Did I make it or not?” Draco let the letter fall from his grasp, as it wafted through the air, finally landing on the floor next to his chair.

“I don’t believe it. You are now the starting Seeker for the Park Avenue Poltergeists. Did you lie about your age, Scorpius?” Draco couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that his fifteen year old son was offered a spot on one of the best quidditch teams on the eastern seaboard.

“No, I didn’t lie. They scouted me at my last game. The coach told me to come down, try out, and even let me cut Potions to go. Persephone, do you know what this means?” Persephone was holding both of his hands. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them allover, nibbling at her fingertips and rubbing her fingers against his face. “I love you so much baby! We can get married and I can take care of you while you finish school. I’m going to be making a lot of money. I won’t even need my Dad’s money!”

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Luke hid in the back of the Joke Shop amidst the garbage dumpsters and old cardboard boxes. He made a bed out of a box and a dirty blanket that he found at the top of the trash heap. He curled up, alone in the cold December night and wept. He didn’t want his mother and father to pity him. He didn’t want to be some noble charity case, just another of Hermione and Draco’s good deeds to the unfortunate. All of it was a lie. Making the potion with his father and quidditch. A rat crawled over Luke, but he remained still. He belonged here with the rats. He could never go home now. He would have to return to Westwitch again in the morning and start the invisibility potion allover again.

“With just three days ‘till Christmas, Hermione had a row, and Nathaniel prevented the final death blow.”

“I’m sorry, but Damien is failing. He just doesn’t have the aptitude for Arithmancy. Now, sir, if you will please leave my classroom. I have already spoken to the Headmaster and your son is being moved out of my class after Christmas.”

“You little bitch. This is all because of the feud I have with your husband at the Ministry, isn’t it?” Charles Stratton said, moving on Hermione. Hermione backed up against the blackboard and pulled her wand out, when she felt threatened by the handsome, but conceited wizard.

“I came in during the Christmas break because you requested a conference about your son’s performance in my class. I gave you the facts. His quiz grades, combined with homework,classwork and tests give him a failing grade. He would be best served by enrolling in a class that is more to his speed and liking.

“And what speed is that? Squib speed, maybe?” Hermione understood the disguised reference. That was Stratton’s way of intimidating Draco, as he knew it would get back to him.

“Sir, your son is out of my class. If you don’t back off from me, I will make you back up and you won’t like the means by which I accomplish that.” Charles Stratton grabbed Hermione’s wand and chucked it across the room. His enormous hands were on her throat now as he pushed her body hard against the blackboard. Hermione had posted final grades for the semester on the board, a practice that most Professors used in order to let students know before the final grades were sent to their parents via owl, what grade they had received. Damien Stratton, had failed, and his name was posted for all to see on the blackboard.

“I think I just found the perfect use for that dreadful and bushy hair of yours Miss Malfoy.” Damien Stratton’s father, with his hands still gripping her neck, swished her head around against the blackboard, erasing his son’s name from the blackboard, and a few other students names in the process. Hermione choked and gasped and pain ricocheted through her head as he dragged her along the hard blackboard. Dust from the chalk, fell in her hair and eyes and covered her clothes. His grip intensified and Hermione struggled. She kneed him in the groin and he released her, her body falling to the floor. She clutched at her throat trying to take a breath, but her deep gasps were met with pain. It felt like one of her vocal chords was crushed and she started to panic as she crawled on all fours to get away from the psychopath. She felt his hands on her ankles now and then she was sliding on the floor, backwards on her stomach.

“Ple-e-a-a-s-s-e,” Hermione said with a gravelly voice as she struggled to breathe. She felt her skirt being ripped from her body, and then he was between her legs. She struggled again. She would die before being raped. He struck her on the side of the face and she heard a crack. The crack was followed by stabbing pain in her jaw. She whimpered, still unable to catch her breath and now reeling from the intense pain. Her panties were torn away as she lay on a heap on the floor, with Charles Stratton unbuckling his pants.

“Tell your husband that this is what I do to squibs. Since I can’t fuck my squib anymore, I guess I’ll have to settle for a mudblood like yourself. You won’t tell anyone about this, will you Mrs. Malfoy? Not your husband and not the Aurors. Right?”

“Fuck you,” Hermione mouthed, her voice gone now.

“I’m going to fuck you and if you breathe a word of who did this to you, I’ll kill your star quidditch player of a son. Damien would like that. Now, you are going to take my big cock like a good girl and then you will keep quiet. Are you going to keep quiet Mrs. Malfoy?” Hermione ignored him. His weight was crushing her now as he laid his hard body down over hers.

“Are you wet for me Professor Malfoy? I like my squibs wet.” Hermione cried out but no sounds would come out. She was going to be raped by this prick and there was nothing she could do. She could see her wand several feet away and she tried in vain to call it to her with her mind, but it was of no use. It lay on the floor like a worthless stick. She closed her eyes and succumbed to the pain. His cock was against her bare leg now and he was stroking himself, no doubt to make himself hard so he could penetrate her. Hermione wished for death right at that moment.

“Avada Kedavra!” Hermione heard the killing curse and she saw the green light over her head and then she felt all of his weight over top of her. She closed her eyes so tightly, hoping when she opened them, this had all been just a bad dream.

“Merlin, what did he do to you? I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner. I’m going to get you help, Hermione. Everything is going to be alright.”

“Hold it right there! Drop your wand!”

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“What happened?! Where is she? I want to see her! Who did this to her?” Draco was frantic after receiving the emergency owl. He was combing the streets looking for Luke, when the owl dropped the letter on him, telling him to come to the hospital wing of Westwitch Academy, that his wife had been involved in an altercation.

“Try to calm down. The healer is with her now. Her wounds were extensive, so I can’t comment on her condition. What I can say is that we have apprehended one of the wizards involved in your wife’s attack. The other is unfortunately dead.”

“I need to see my wife right now! Please, just tell me who hurt her?” Draco was frantic.

“This has to be kept quiet barring an investigation, but the body of Charles Stratton, Minister of Magic of the New England territories, was found dead over top of your wife, sir. I’m sorry. It appears he is the one who caused the damage your wife sustained. From what we can tell, Professor Masterson, the History of Magic professor at Westwitch Academy, walked in on a possible rape and used the killing curse on Charles Stratton, perhaps in a chivalrous act to save your wife. It’s still unclear, and motives will have to be looked at and statements taken when your wife recovers.

“Can I see my wife?”

“As soon as the healer is finished. Best you stay out of the way.”

“Can I see Professor Masterson?” The Auror nodded and led Draco down a hall and into an empty classroom where the prisoner was being held. Nathaniel was sitting quietly in the chair, his arms cuffed around the back of the seat. He looked to be in an almost meditative state and Draco knelt down in front of him.

“Nathaniel…What happened? Tell me you didn’t do this to Hermione.”

“He was about to rape her. He beat the tar out of her Draco. I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner. He deserved what he got. I killed him. I did it for you.” Draco looked at the Auror, who was thumbing through crime scene reports and he leaned in to whisper into his brother’s ear.

“Thank you. I won’t let you fry for this, and…I’ve decided to attend counseling with you when this is all over with. Thank you for saving her.” Draco left at that. He was thankful for his actions and he himself would have done the same thing had he been the one who found another man raping his wife, but he couldn’t forget the things Nathaniel had done to his family, so he thanked him and left him in the custody of the American Aurors. He longed to be with his wife.

After what seemed like hours, the healer came out to talk to Draco, while he paced the corridor outside his wife’s room.

“She’s going to be alright.” Draco released his breath. Those words were music to his ears.

“Can I see her now?”

“Not just yet. Your wife was beaten, and while I was able to heal most of the contusions and the broken jaw, her vocal chords were severely damaged. We don’t have any healing agents to fix such an injury. I consulted with the top healers in the field and none of them know how to fix such a condition. I’m sorry.”

“What are you saying? She’s going to be alright, yes? You said she would be alright!” Draco felt flustered and angry and sad and worried all at the same moment.

“Will she walk Mr. Malfoy? The answer is …yes. Will she be capable of higher brain functions? Yes. Will she know you? Yes. She will be normal in almost every way,” the Healer said, but something in the way she said it seemed cryptic to Draco and he shuddered at the thought.

“Please just spit it out, so I can be with my wife.”

“Mr. Malfoy…Your wife will never speak again. When she was choked, the vocal chords were pressed in so badly that they were permanently damaged. She won’t be able to talk when she wakes up. I have called in a counselor who can help Hermione and yourself cope with the ramifications of such a condition. I know a very good witch who works with squibs who are deaf and mute. I owled her and she will be here tomorrow to start therapy.”

“Thank you,” Draco said. He opened the door of the room and nearly cried when he saw Hermione lying so pale and still on the bed in the hospital wing. He held her hand and stroked her hair out of her face. Leaning in to kiss her nose, a tear dropped formed in his eyes as it fell onto his Hermione’s face.

“I love you so much baby. This is my fault. I knew that prick was off, but I had no idea he would ever do this to you Sweet Pea. They say you won’t speak again. I just want you to know, that I can hear your heart and we don’t need words. What we have is more powerful then any words. We don’t need them Hermione. I love you forever.”

Draco pulled his chair up to his wife’s bedside and stroked her hand. He would not allow her to wake up, scared and frightened. He would be with her forever. He would resign form the Ministry to take care of his wife if it came to that. He would do anything and everything for his beloved Hermione. She had given up so much for him and their son’s and now it was time to repay the favor. Suddenly two boys bounded through the door. Draco was surprised to see that both of his son’s had come to see their mother. Scorpius’s eyes were full of tears, while Luke stood back, expressionless, behind the older boy.

“I’m sorry Mr. Malfoy. I told them only one visitor at a time,” a nurse scurried in, scolding the boys. Draco waved the nurse away as Scorpius knelt at his mother’s bedside.

“I love you Mum. I’m sorry for every awful thing I’ve said or done to you. Please get better and come home to us. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Scorpius hugged Hermione and kissed her on the cheek. Draco allowed Scorpoius to sit down in his chair. He walked to Luke and took his hand, pulling him over to Hermione’s bedside. Luke had been in the Potions classroom, gathering ingredients for his potions when the Aurors had popped in, after Nathaniel had used the killing curse on Charles Stratton. Luke had been the one who alerted the sleeping Scorpius, who was sleeping in this morning, with visions of Persephone in his head. Together, they made their way to the hospital wing. Suddenly all of Luke’s problems seemed so distant and so silly, with the prospect of his mother dying. Luke was forced to grow up, and grow up he did. No more was he afraid to face Draco.

“What’s wrong with her, Dad?” Luke said to Draco with a concerned look on his face.

“She’s gong to be okay Luke. She just…her vocal chords…the healers can’t fix …she won’t be able to speak again.” When Draco repeated this, a health wrenching thought struck him. He would never hear Hermione whisper how much she loved him again. He felt selfish feeling this way, yet the thought of it made him want to cry. He had Hermione to renew their vows and now she wouldn’t be able to do that. Luke knelt by Hermione and kissed his mother’s cheek. Hermione groggily opened her eyes, perhaps sensing Luke’s presence, the boy she had missed and needed for two months now, since he had run away. She opened her mouth to say his name, the recognition written allover her face.

“Baby, don’t speak. You need to rest Sweet pea,” Draco whispered, sliding into the bed next to her, on the other side from where Luke knelt. Draco curled his body around Hermione’s, holding her lovingly and stroking his hands through her hair. Hermione reached for Scorpius’s hand and squeezed it. With her right hand she reached up to stroke Luke’s face. He closed his eyes and leaned into his mother’s touch. Luke leaned down and kissed Hermione’s cheek and she wrapped a weak around his head, pressing her lips to Luke’s forehead.

“I love you Mum. When you get out of here, I’ll be back in my room again. I’m sorry I hurt you. I hope you can forgive me. I’m so sorry Mummy. I never meant to hurt you. I love you all, so very much, even you Scorpius.” Both Draco and Hermione had tears in their eyes upon hearing this. Scorpius was wiping his tears away with his sleeve.

They heard the nurse chastising someone and then the door to Hermione’s room swung open again. This time Lucius and Narcissa stood in the doorway. Draco moved so his mother and father could pay Hermione a quick visit and that is when Luke pulled Draco aside.

“Are you ready? We should get started right away.”

“What? What are you talking about Luke?” Draco asked, utterly perplexed.

“Her vocal chords. We are going to make a potion to heal her vocal chords. I love Mum’s voice, don’t you?” Draco nodded and it was then that the idea of making a potion to cure Hermione’s condition sprouted wings. Why couldn’t they fix her? Just because nobody in the wizarding world knew how to fix her, didn’t mean it wasn’t possible. Draco admired the way Luke thought. Nothing was too great a task for him to take on. He had lived on his own for over two months and now here he stood with the answer to Draco and Hermione;s problem. Yes, they would make a potion to heal Hermione, the woman they both loved more then life itself.

Review!?

Okay so Merlin’s Coven update coming tomorrow if I can find the time to write. I want it to be good, so I’m going to take my time with that chapter. (No Draco is NOT dead. I would never kill off my leading man. I love Draco too much to kill him off). If the last chapter seemed rushed (of this story) it’s because it was rushed lol I had to do it though, because Scorpius and Persephone figure prominently in my next Broomsticks fic, AS DO Draco and Hermione (Hermione will have a bigger role too in next fic) whereas this fic once I started writing it, I realized that Luke WAS the story, not Scorpius so much. I came up with a great idea for the fifth and last Broomsticks story, and it will have more of a plot than this one, which is a bit of a fluffy fic, but intentionally so, for building Scorpius and Luke’s characters.