Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Chapter 20

.

3:33 PM…

“This is a start. We can pull these products from the shelves immediately and issue an emergency recall, but Jean Paul is the only official name on the business license for Ancient’s Apothecary. A board of directors has taken over the company, but they are protected by Law 3346 on the books, stating that a witch or wizard, can not be tried for crimes committed by previous owners, should something of a sinister nature come to light.”

“It’s Raspodin! He’s the silent partner, I just know it. Draco thought so.” Hermione challenged the chairman to see her way of thinking.

“Then bring me the evidence and I will lock him up and throw away the key.”

The chairman thanked Hermione and wished her luck with her investigation. As she left the chambers, she suddenly felt Draco behind her eyes. She could feel him, and she could even hear him breathing. He was gasping though. Something was wrong. She dropped to her knees and began to cry. Several wizards stopped to help her, but she just collapsed to all fours and sobbed. Something terrible had happened to Draco and there was nothing she could do. She had to get to Azkaban.

.

.

Nathaniel passed by Raspodin’s campaign office. He had taken to following the wizard at every chance. He knew that if something happened to Draco he would see it on Raspodin’s face first. For the dementors wrath, would be felt by the wicked man, as a part of the spell he cast over the dragon charm. When Raspodin fell to the ground and began seizing, Nathaniel knew he had to get to Hermione and to Draco. He ran through the halls towards a crowd and there on the ground was Hermione, sobbing, too petrified to move.

“Hermione! Come on, we have to get to Draco.”

.

.

4:06 PM…

“Hold very still,” Roman said to Draco, but Draco seemed out of it. It was almost as if he wasn’t in his body at all. The dementors had swooped on their cell and his cellmates were screaming out in pain and misery. Goron himself was crying as he lay in the fetal position. Roman watched as one of the dementors enveloped Goron’s body. There were a high pitched scream, and then Goron fell silent. When it was all over with, the wizard that was Goron, ceased to exist as he did before. He lay quiet and still, a mere shell of his former self.

Roman set to work on Draco. He pulled the shank from his belly and blood began to pour out of Draco’s wound. Roman lay his healing hands upon Draco and his eyes began to glow gold.

“You just stay wherever you are. I will mend you. This is going to hurt a lot. Just hold on,” Roman whispered to Draco amidst the torturous screams from the inmates inside Azkaban. When riots started, or an unruly prisoner got out of the hand the guards released the dementors into the cells as payback. They didn’t effect Roman like they did the others, but it was frightening nonetheless, listening to the screams of some of the toughest wizxards ever to walk the Earth. He continued to lay his healing hands over Draco, even when Hermione and Nathaniel forced their way to Draco’s cell. Hermione rattled the bars and called out to Draco. Nathaniel tried to stop her but she was wild and frantic as she watched Draco slipping away. When Roman was finished, he turned to Hermione and Nathaniel.

“He’s fine now. Ye shant be fearful. He’s just sleeping now.” His fingers were still clasped around the charm and she could still feel him behind her eyes. A peaceful serenity washed over her and she just knew she could trust the wizard before her.

“I think we can trust him. I don’t know why but I just feel like I should,” Nathaniel said to Hermione.

“Me too. Draco, baby , Scorpius is having a concert tonight to free you. I have to be there, otherwise I’d stay. You know that right?” Draco made no response. Hermione didn’t know what kind of healing magic this man possessed but it was strong, whatever it was. He peeled the blood soaked shirt away, to show Hermione where the wound had been. Satisfied when she saw only perfect, pale skin, she left with Nathaniel.

“I don’t want to leave him.”

“I know…I wish my father would hurry back. He holds the key to everything.”

.

.

6:10 PM….

Persephone rifled through box after box, handing out all of the shirts they had made and still more people flocked to the grounds of DPU. The shirts were silver and green, Slytherin colors of course, and Scorpius’s idea. On the front, it said ‘SAVE THE SQUIBS’ in silver letters and on the back it said ‘FREE DRACO’, with a picture of a Dragon behind bars. The dragon would move behind the bars, breathing fire. Everybody seemed to love the shirts.

She was hot and sweaty and she still needed to change clothes before the benefit. Scorpius had helped her pass out shirts, that is, until he was mobbed by a pack of Ravenclaws, along with a few college girls. He said he was going backstage to practice. She wandered through the sea of people to the stage and pushed through the line of girls standing at the backstage door. Her gown was in Scorpius’s dressing room and she needed to get back there, but she couldn’t push her way to the front. As soon as she would try, she would find herself on her arse, on the ground, with a snarling girl telling her to get in line and wait her turn. She had no other choice but to wait for her husband.

“Supposedly he’s married,” the homely girl behind Persephone said. The girl in front of Persephone turned around and curled a lip.

“Where you’d hear that?”

“I read it in Quidditch Today. They did a feature on Scorpius Malfoy last year when he played for Puddlemere United,” the mousy girl said.

“That’s so not true. It’s just a rumor he created to keep the girls at bay. Like, I intend to be his wife anyway,” the girl in front of her said. Persephone laughed. “You think it’s funny? He doesn’t like girls like you! I don’t even know why you’re in line!”

“Nor do I honestly,” Persephone said with a smirk.

“He likes blonde hair and green eyes and big boobs. That’s me!” The girl said jutting her chest out and pointing to her enormous chest.

“Where do you get your information?” Persephone asked the snotty girl.

“Look at the rest of us in line…Do you see any two girls that look as pathetic as the two of you? I mean, you’re nothing to special. Bollocks, you’re an embarrassment to the rest of us! And you! You look like a boy! Are those muscles? Go find some nice boy to play with and leave a real man like Scorpius Malfoy, to us.” The girl flipped her hair and it hit Persephone in the face. She turned around to see the girl behind her crying.

“Don’t listen to her. You don’t look like a boy. Do you play quidditch?” Persephone asked the girl.

“Yeah, I’m a Seeker. Dad couldn’t get us tickets, the last time Scorpius played in town, so I came here to see if he would autograph my Firebolt. I got one just like his. He’s my favorite player. How did you know I played quidditch though? You haven’t seen the Wiltshire White Elephants play, have you?”

Persephone laughed.

“No. I just know a few quidditch players, and I recognized the muscles that go along with playing the sport.” Persephone said and the girl frowned and looked down at her tight hard body in shame.

“I do look like a boy. I can crack a walnut with my knees, you know,” she gave a lopsided smile, but the tears still streamed down her face.

“That’s pretty impressive in itself! Look, there is nothing wrong with being a jock.”

“I don’t look like any of these girls. You’re beautiful and I look like a boy.”

“Fourth year?” Persephone asked.

“Yeah, Gryffindor.”

“You know…Scorpius has a friend named Jessica Starlett and she’s a chaser for Puddlemere. She is funny and smart and athletic. The way she can take that quaffle down the field and score. She’s threatening! She married Puddlemere’s Keeper. I’ve seen her in a dress and she is quite striking. Her body is toned, yet feminine. That’s going to happen to you too when you get a little older, and you will be fighting all the boys off.

“Stop lying to her!” The girl in front of her said. “She’s a toad!” Persephone took her wand out and was about to hit her with a nasty hex, when the door to the backstage swung open. Suddenly, shrieks sounded and a shirtless Scorpius stood in the doorway, talking to the bouncer security guard that was minding the line. He looked out over the sea of buxom blondes, and then he caught site of Persephone.

“Babe? You have to get dressed. I’ve been waiting for you. Why in the hell are you standing out here?” Scorpius swaggered down the steps of the stage and made his way through the crowd of screaming girls, who all pawed at his bare chest, while he shrugged them off. He stopped in front of Persephone and took her by the hand.

“Pick me, pick me!” The girl in front of Persephone called out.

“Thanks for coming to the show, but this is my wife, now make way please.” Scorpius wrapped his arm around Persephone’s waist and led her through the crowd.

“Wait, Scorps!” Persephone turned around and grabbed the quidditch players hand and led her with them.

“You’re really his wife?”

“Yeah. And I also feel a bit plain sometimes, what with all of them around throwing themselves at him.”

“I’m sorry,” the girl said blushing and putting her head down. Persephone could tell that she also had a crush on her husband. But this one was different. This one was respectful of the fact that he was married and Persephone didn’t seem to mind her.

“It’s okay. I had a crush on Eminem for a while there,” she laughed and then introduced Scorpius to the aspiring quidditch player. He sat with the girl and talked and then signed her broom. Persephone could see something come over Scorpius when he talked about quidditch. His eyes lit up and she suddenly realized, that Scorpius was more in his element when playing quidditch. That he didn’t have it all figured out either. That all the girls made him nervous too. She wasn’t the only one who had insecurities. He looked so natural sitting with the girl, talking about quidditch, but when he was around all the crazed fans, he was ridged and uncomfortable, even though he put on a smirk and pretended he enjoyed it. He really was a one woman man. Her man. She leaned down and laid a wet kiss on his lips and Scorpius pulled her down on his knee.

“Go get that dress on. I want to see you in it. I’m going to call you on stage tonight. So be prepared,” he said burying his head in her neck and kissing her tenderly. “Everybody’s going to know tonight, who Sapphire is.”

.

.

7:11 PM…

“Who’s your dad flirting up?” Luke said to Drew as they stood talking on the lawn of DPU, waiting for the show to begin.

“That’s my aunt Padma. She and Dad dated briefly back in school,” Drew said.

“They look smitten.”

“Yeah. I think they are. How weird will that be to call Auntie Padma mother,” Drew laughed.

“Drew…Are you happy with Damien? Are you really, really happy?”

“I am.” A peaceful smile came over Drew’s face. Damien and Lily decided to play a few pranks on the college girls who were swarming the backstage area. They returned in near hysterics.

“Did you use the spell I told you about?” Drew asked Lily.

“Yeah, Uncle Ron really did that?” Lily asked.

“Yeah, supposedly he did it to Luke’s Dad, back in their second year, but he spell backfired because his wand was broken. Did it work for you?”

“Oh yeah! I got one girl square in the chest and she is coughing out slugs now!”

“My Dad said that Draco Malfoy and his pals got a good laugh out of that spell.”

Luke laughed at hearing that. “That’s Dad for ya.” It was just then, he realized how much he missed his father. He was dying to talk to Draco about the potion breakthrough he had discovered. Nobody else could really understand him, when he talked about potions…nobody, but Draco, that is. His mother was mart and could understand the bigger picture, but potions weren't her specialized area of expertise and he longed for the fatherly companionship that Draco always gave him. They had worked for weeks on end together without ever arguing, when they had started the potion store together. Draco treated him as an equal in the lab, and Luke sorely missed him.

“Luke, I owe you an apology,” Damien said, pulling him aside. “For New Year’s Eve. I had no right to walk in on your date with Drew. I can’t say I’m sorry I did though, because I got a son out of it and like a billion galleons because of the actions of that night. But, the way it went down. I am sorry little Malfoy.”

“It’s okay. It all worked out in the end, and I couldn’t be happier for you,” Luke said smiling at Lily and reaching a hand out to her. He pulled her into his chest and kissed her longingly.

“Two second snog, no longer,” came a voice behind Luke.

“Hey Dad!” Lily said smiling up into Harry Potter’s spectacles.

“Classic!” Damien said laughing at the petrified look on Luke’s face. It wasn’t everyday you get caught snogging one of the most famous wizards’s in history’s only daughter.

.

.

7:30 PM…

The Weird Sisters took the stage and the benefit was in full swing. A mosh pit had formed at the front of the stage and kids were slamming into each other, dancing and singing and just horsing around with their friends. Many of the adult witches and wizards slow danced together by The Black Lake and reminisced over memories of their time at the school. Some hadn’t been back to these grounds since the war, and it was a bittersweet reunion of sorts.

Scorpius was warming up, when there was a knock at his dressing room door. He set his guitar down and went to answer it.

“What do you want!” Scorpius screamed as the wizard forced himself into the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Call this bloody concert off!”

“Are you fucking insane? Have you see the record crowds out there? I want my Dad out of Azkaban! We both know he doesn’t belong there.” Scorpius pushed back against the wizard.

“Then if you won’t call it off…Endorse me as next Minister. I’ll set you up with the cushy position of head of the Quidditch Leagues. Surely you want to follow your Dad into politics?”

“Okay, get your bribing arse out of my dressing room. I have to take stage in ten minutes and I don’t have time for this fucking bullshit.”

“Just listen to me…” Raspodin said in a calm voice.

“No! You just listen to me. You are a worthless, lying, racist, piece of shite! There is nothing you can promise me, that will make me stop loving my Father. Do you get that? Now get out, before I call the aurors to take you away!” Raspodin opened his mouth to speak again and Scorpius threw his hands in the air, as he left the dressing room to get one of the aurors. When he arrived back in the room with the auror, Raspodin was gone.

.

.

Scorpius waited backstage, nervously, with his guitar strung over his back. Persephone came out to wish him luck. When Scorpius saw her, he nearly fainted, she looked so beautiful in a strapless black dress and her hair pinned up with loose curls cascading down the creamy skin of her neck.

“Goodluck, baby. You don’t need it though. You’re a brilliant singer and songwriter. I…love you and I’m so proud.” Scorpius slid his arm around her waist as the announcer introduced him. He pressed his lips against hers and drank in her warm kisses.

“I love you too Sapphire. You look gorgeous. You and me, in my dressing room after the show!” He gave her another light peck on the cheek and walked briskly, with his band members, onto the stage. He started with a screeching guitar riff and then the bass and drums followed. A wicked light show of green and silver light and explosions of fire, above the stage, kicked the concert into high gear as the crowd went wild. Persephone stood, mesmerized, watching her husband perform for the multitudes. Screaming girls, lined the stage. The louder they became the louder he played in order to drown them out. At one point a pair of knickers was thrown on stage, landing on Scorpius’s shoulder as he continued to play.

“Can you believe some witches!” Persephone shouted from the side backstage area.

“You just have to know how to deal with them, that’s all.” Hermione waved her wand and all of the big mouth bimbos in the front row were silenced. Now, they could actually hear the music.

“Is that how you handle the women? I mean surely you know what I’m going through too, being married to Mr. Malfoy. He’s not exactly low profile and he is so HOT,” Persephone said to Hermione before covering her mouth. Hermione gave her a strangled look but hen her face softened.

“You’re a bright witch. I’m sure you can come with discreet ways of handling the flock of birds. Wedgies, a sudden broken stiletto heel, all seem to get the job done. Of course, since she threw her panties at my son, a wedgie would not quite work, would it?” Persephone grinned wickedly. It was as if a light bulb went off in her head. She was shocked, to find out that Mrs. Malfoy used revenge spells, on the hoards of women that surrounded Draco on a daily basis.

Just then, the knickerless witch, tried to get on stae. She managed to elude the security and when she made it all the way to Scorpius, who was playing guitar and singing and hadn’t noticed her, Persephone drew her wand. The girl was thrown off the stae with a stunning spell and suddenly her sprawled out body was being passed back over the hands of the crowd. Persephone smiled at a job well done.

“It gets better. As you grow together, you’ll become more confidant. I rarely have to resort to such drastic measures anymore,” Hermione said, placing a comforting hand on Persephone’s shoulder. She left a smiling Persephone on the stage, watching Scorpius was such love in her eyes that Hermione almost teared up. After all, isn’t it every mother’s wish that her child grows up and marries someone that is truly worthy?

.

.

“Lucius, where is your Mother?” Luke turned to see his Grandfather Lucius, standing next to him with an urgent expression, as the music blared on.

“Grandfather! Did you hear the news? The potions were tainted! The squibs were poisoned.”

“Yes, yes my boy, very good. I have the key piece of information your mother needs.” Luke pointed Lucius to where Hermione was standing with Narcissa and the Potter’s. He watched as Lucius kissed his grandmother and then eagerly pulled Hermione aside. A few moments later Hermione threw her arms around Lucius’s neck and hugged him, tears streaming down her face…and then they were both gone. Lucius apparrated out while Hermione went tearing through the crowds, banging into people as she disappeared into the sea of concert goers.

.

.

8:45 PM…

“Sir, would your daughter like to go backstage and meet Scorpius after the show?” Hermione cozied up to the chairman, who was there with his wife and teenage daughter.

“Daddy, can I!?”

“Of course Priscilla, as long as your mother accompanies you.” The chairman of the Wizengamot glared at Hermione. “Let me guess…You have the information tying Raspodin to Ancient’s Apothecary?” Hermione nearly jumped up and down waving the paper in her hands.

“Yes, sir! He was the silent partner of Jean Paul LaRoche. Furthermore, Lucius has a penseive with the memories of Raspodin himself, proving that he committed the murder in Paris of Jean Paul. This clears my sister in law Luna as well.” Hermione was beaming from ear to ear.

“There is still the matter of your husband attacking aurors, even if I do let the harboring squib charges go.” Hermione’s face dropped.

“No, there isn’t sir. Because I was the one who did that,” Harry said standing behind Hermione.

“Harry…” Hermione shot Harry an urgent look. She wanted Draco out, but not at the expense of Harry Potter.

“It’s okay Hermione. He won’t press the matter. I’m an auror. The Ministry won’t want a scandal. They’ll just sack me and give me a slap on the wrist.”

“Yes, I think for now, this matter should be kept quiet. Since nobody died I am going to ask that you meet me in my office first thing tomorrow morning Mr. Potter.”

“So does that mean you will release Draco?”

“I’ll owl right now. You shouldn’t be traveling at this late hour though,” the chairman said out of concern for Hermione.

“I won’t have to. Lucius already went to collect him,” Hermione said cringing.

“So sure of yourself aren’t you Mrs. Malfoy?”

“Not really, I just love my husband and would stop at nothing to get him out, Sir. Thank you Sir.” Hermione turned around and lunged at Harry Potter wrapping her arms around his neck in a death grip. He hugged her and told her how happy he was for her and Draco and their family. Hermione, was so happy she started dancing to Scorpius’s song. It was a razor sharp fast song, with a lot of heavy guitar and Scorpius on vocals. She was feeling joyous, as she watched her son on stage, holding his wand to the sky. He shot red and silver snakes into the sky at the end of the song. The crowd’s hands went into the air with ear deafening, thunderous applause.

.

.

9:30 PM…

“Father!” Draco ran to the bars of his cell.

“Draco…Ready to go, son? Young Scorpius is hogging all the limelight,” Lucius smiled as the prison guard opened the cell door. Draco choked up as he stepped forward to freedom.

“Roman? I’ll get you out of here, I promise you that and thank you. Thank you for saving my life. I don’t know how you did that without a wand, but I can never repay you.”

“Clear my name. Just clear my name…” Roman said as the cell door closed again leaving the strange bearded wizard behind.

“Malfoy…There is plenty of room in this cell for that torturer? Yes? We have much to talk about,” Roman said and Draco smirked.

“You bet.” Draco looked at his shirt. It was covered in his own blood and he tore it off.

“You don’t have any Armani or Versace shirts, do you?” Draco asked Lucius.

“No, son. Shopping for your designer shirts was not the first thing on mind, whilst on my journey. Besides, where we are going nobody will care that you are shirtless,” Lucius said smirking widely. His smirk turned into a grin and Draco raised an eyebrow at his father.

“I can’t wait to see Hermione and Scorpius and Luke and Jillian. Oh, how I miss holding my daughter in my arms. Thank you father! Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t be silly Draco. I’ll not let my son rot in that stinkhole. I remember how unpleasant it was and just being in there again, brought back too many memories. All your family and friends have been working to get you out.”

“I know, I know. I owe them all BIG. I truly am blessed with the family I have.”

.

.

10:00 PM…

“I’d like to dedicate this song to the lady of my heart. It’s a little song I wrote when I was recovering from an injury recently. I think, you’ll recognize it. Sapphire? Come on babe.” Scorpius motioned for Sapphire to join him on stage and with a deep blush she timidly made her way out on stage. Her knees were shaking, her hands trembling as she sat down on a stool next Scorpius and turned towards him. “This is my wife everyone! Persephone Black-Malfoy. You all don’t mind if I sing to her do you? “Most of the crowd cheered, while some of the girls in the front, had annoyed looks on their makeup-caked faces. Scorpius strummed on the acoustic guitar and the spotlight fell on him and his wife. As Persephone watched her man sing to her she felt more alive and in love, then she ever had before. In that moment, she couldn’t see or hear the screaming crowds, all she could see was her beautiful blond husband, who sang so sweetly about her and the love he held in his heart for her. She couldn’t imagine loving another human being more then she did at that moment. When the song was over, he stood and kissed her with all the passion that Scorpius was inside. She ran her fingers through his hair and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and then, with a deep breath, turned to see the crowds clapping wildly. They left the stage and all Scorpius could think about was getting Persephone back to his dressing room for a quick snog and grope, before he came back out for his encore song, the last song of the night. He was passing by the sound guys and the aurors, who were protecting the younger Malfoy, when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Scorpius had his arm around Persephone and he swung both of them around to see a shirtless Draco standing casually against the wall, clapping, with a proud smile on his face.

“That was bloody awesome, Scorpius.”

“Dad!” Scorpius hugged his father tightly and Draco kissed him on the forehead. “You’re out!”

“I am. I wanted to come back here and tell you that I’m sorry for everything you and the rest of the family, have been put though, and for missing your show. My biggest thanks though, goes to you, for what you’ve done here, bringing awareness to the squibs and also…”

“It’s okay, Dad, I know what you mean. You don’t have to say it. Mum and Luke are going to be so excited to see you! They both worked so hard for your release.”

“I know and I’ll go find them, but I just wanted to tell you how proud I am. Persephone, you look all grown up,” Draco shot her am approving glance, and Persephone blushed.

“Thank you Mr. Malfoy..Thank you for everything! I never properly thanked you for saving my life and getting us out of that dungeon. It seems you went from one jail to another and it isn’t fair how they’ve treated you. You’re such a great husband and father and I see so much of you in Scorpius, and I’m thankful.” Persephone looked into Scor-ius’s eyes and kissed him tenderly.

“I’ll see you after the show? I can’t wait to see your encore. Crowd is going crazy for more,” Draco said.

“Just wait here a second, Dad. I gotta go back on, but I need to grab something from my dressing room right quick.”

Scorpius swallowed the last of the potion Luke gave him. No sooner though had he tilted it back and gulped it down, did he notice that it tasted different. Luke always made potions that tasted mintie or fruity—good in other words, but this potion was sour and it—BURNED. It didn’t take long for him to realize what had happened. When he had gone to fetch the auror, in order to rid Raspodin from his dressing room Raspodin, must have switched his potion. Scorpius gagged and fell to his knees, choking on the potion.

“Scorpius! Mr. Malfoy come quick, something’s wrong with Scorpius!” Persephone rolled her husband over and assessed her husband’s condition.

“Scorpius, is your throat burning?” He nodded clutching his throat.

“Fire tonic potion. I read about it. It’s a medium level dark potion, that won’t cause any lasting harm but is mighty unpleasant. Someone must have slipped it into his dressing room. Scorpius has been clean for a good while now.” Persephone said to Draco who was leaning over his son, overcome with worry. Persephone lifted her wand and pointed it at Scorpius’s face. His eyes grew wide and he went cross eyed for a moment, staring at he tip of Persephone’s wand.

“Winter wind, renervate!” Scorpius stopped choking and sat up. His throat was now cool, the burning all but gone.

“Scorps, the crowd is getting restless! We gotta go man!” One of his band members said, running into his dressing room. He waved the band member off and stood up. He opened his mouth to sing, but nothing came out.

“Shit! I forgot that the spell takes a full hour to work and that you can’t talk for an hour. You’ll be fine in an hour though, with no lasting symptoms. I’m so sorry baby. What are you going to do?” Scorpius started throwing things around in his dressing room as if looking for something. He found a piece of paper and a quill and began to scribble words on the back of a piece of parchment. He handed it to Draco with urgency. Draco read it.

“Me? I can’t do that Scorpius. I don’t sing.” Scorpius ripped the paper form his hands and scrawled on the parchment again.

“You remember that? Scorpius you were just a baby…and that was so long ago that I used to sing to you before bed. You’re the musician Scorpius and this is your song. I’ll go talk to the crowds. It should be enough of a finale, seeing me out of jail, though they are surely being robbed. You’re really good son, but I can’t sing your song.” Scorpius put his hands out to Draco, as if pleading. Draco turned the parchment over and read the song. A tear came to his eye as he read the words his son wrote for he and Hermione. It was almost as if Scorpius had tapped into Draco’s mind, when he wrote the song, because the words were so raw and mimicked how he had been feeling while in Azkaban. He nodded to Scorpius and the two blond Malfoy’s made for the stage.

.

10:30 PM…

Scorpius took the stage with his guitar in hand. He waved to the crowd and then turned to look at Draco standing in the shadows. Draco slowly made his way out onto the stage. And reached for the microphone.

“Is everybody having a good time?” Draco addressed the crowds. A hush came over the crowd as everybody stared on in shock. “I know I am, because I’m out of Azkaban, thanks to all of you!” The crowd erupted in applause when he spoke. He briefly spoke about his platform, of ridding the wizarding world of the squib slavery laws. Some were crying in the crowd, others were cheering and chanting.

.

“Harry, that’s Draco! He’s on stage! Oh, I gotta get up there, so I can hear what he’s saying! I’m coming Dragon!” Hermione began pushing her way through the crowds as Draco spoke on the microphone.

“So, my son intended to sing you this song, but when he lost his voice because of the actions of a cowardly man, he asked me to sing the song instead. Does anybody actually want to hear me sing it?” The crowd clapped and cheered and encouraged, and Draco shook his head in disbelief. “Okay, you asked for it. Please don’t throw anything at me though,” Draco chuckled and the lights went down. He felt the spotlight hit him. What in the hell am I doing, he thought to himself. He sat down at he edge of the stage, his legs hanging over the platform the stage was built on. Scorpius was at his right, playing on the guitar and Draco sang, for the first time in his life, in public.

.

(Cheap Trick-The Flame, if you want to listen to it for the full effect)

.

Another night slowly closes in,
And I feel so… lonely.
Touching heat freezing on my skin,
I pretend you still… hold me.
I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep.
I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you.
I cant believe you’re gone.
You were the first, you’ll be the last.
The crowd slowly came forward and pat Draco on the back, welcoming their Minister of Magic back.
Wherever you go, Ill be with you.
Whatever you want, Ill give it to you.
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.
Remember, after the fire, after all the rain,
I will be the flame.
I will be the flame.

.

Watching shadows move across the wall,
I feel so frightened.
I wanna run to you, I wanna call,
But I’ve been hit by lightening.
Just cant stand up for falling apart.
Cant see through this veil across my heart, over you.
You’ll always be the one.
You were the first, you’ll be the last.

.
Hermione pushed through the crowd to see a witch standing in front of Draco staring at him with lust in her eyes. Draco looked up to see Hermione standing behind here. He jumped down on the stage and pushed past the witch, taking Hermione by the hand as he gazed into her eyes. Hermione could taste her own salty tears on her lips and it was then that she became aware that she was crying tears of joy.

.
Wherever you go, Ill be with you.
Whatever you want, Ill give it to you.
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.
Remember, after the fire, after all the rain,
I will be the flame.
I will be the flame.

.

She always knew that Scorpius got his voice from Draco, all those years listening to Draco sing in the shower, where he didn’t think anyone was listening. But now, everyone was hearing the voice of an angel, her angel. He was quite good, he and Scorpius’s voices nearly dead on exact, though Draco’s voice was slightly deeper and had the maturity of experience behind it. He put so much love in the song and Hermione was a sobbing mess, by the time he finished the song.

He took her around the waist as the song finished and pulled her roughly against him, wrapping both arms around her torso. Leaning down to whisper in her ear, Hermione shivered at hearing his husky voice in her ear.

“I love you. Now let’s go home and make up for lost time.” Hermione held his face in her hands and kissed his lips frantically and anxiously.

“I’m right behind you Dragon.” Neither even heard the crowds around them clapping as they began to disperse, the show now over. Draco moved in to kiss Hermione, his lips hovering over hers. As if teasing her. Silver pools, met chocolate swirls and Draco’s lips crashed down over hers, his tongue forcefully in her mouth.

Review!?

So, one more chapter and Epilogue if I decide to do a lead in to next story. I may just skip the lead in and put up Chapter 1 of the next story. Still thinking of a name for it, but I do have a fairly good idea what the last Broomsticks story will be about, and everyone’s storylines. So, I still have a pretty important scene left in this story. I won’t tell you what it is and ruin it though. Hehe Some loose ends to tie up and it should be exciting!