"It's pouring, the trees are getting greener before my eyes,

I love you. I'm almost afraid of the intensity of this happiness."

— Vladimir Nabokov

"Granger, are you sure about this?" Draco grumbled, adjusting his muggle cap. Just ahead of them on the pier, colorful flags and tents pierced the horizon along with gigantic metallic structures that looped like iron ribbons.

"It'll be fun I promise," the witch said as she put on Scorpius' matching cap, completely ignoring Draco's scowl.

"It be fun, daddy!" Scorpius repeated, evident excitement in his voice at finally being somewhere that wasn't a safehouse.

A couple days after Scorpius was saved, Hermione was running errands in a muggle town nearby and had caught sight of flyers advertising a muggle fair. Draco wasn't sure how muggles could even have fairs without magic. The fairs he had visited with his parents as a child boasted exotic birds that could change the color of their feathers, snake charmers that made serpents dance, and flying paper dragons that breathed purple fire. He doubted the muggle version would be entertaining at all. But he had relented because he agreed with her that Scorpius needed a break from all the tension and stress of the war. His son needed something that would give him some semblance of a normal childhood. And Merlin knew Draco would try to give him that — even if it meant getting pulled around by a bright-eyed bushy-haired witch in her infernal muggle jean shorts all day.

And that's what Draco resigned himself to as they stepped onto the fair grounds. With Scorpius in his arms, they weaved through red and white striped tents while muggles wearing bright colors and painted faces contorted their bodies, one even juggling a set of silver knives. It put him off, especially when a man in a black hat was somehow able to guess the card he had picked. All day, Draco let himself be dragged along by the excited witch and his son while he dutifully glared at anyone suspicious, especially those blokes shamelessly ogling Hermione's bare legs. Heathens.

" — and dat one, Mini? What dat?"

"That's a ferris wheel! You ride and it takes you all the way up. We'll hop on during sunset." Hermione smiled. Her parents used to take her to fairs. Before she knew about magic — real magic — fairs had instilled in her a childlike wonder and excitement. It pained her that Scorpius did not have any of these experiences, that sometimes he was solemn, too behaved as if afraid something bad would happen. And bad things had happened. And as much as she wanted to keep him safe, she didn't want him to miss out on a normal childhood.

"Daddy! Look at dat one! They upside down!" Hermione bit her lip to suppress a smile at the utterly disturbed look on Draco's face as he watched the roller coaster loop round and round.

"Granger, are those things even safe?"

"Well, I suppose they are. I never went for those kinds of rides — the speed and the height isn't for me," she shuddered. "There are some kiddie rides that are perfectly safe. We'll go on those!"

Scorpius tugged on Hermione's sleeve, stretching his arms up expectantly. Hermione glanced hesitantly at Draco before taking the boy into her arms. Scorpius' eyes were wide with wonder, pure curiosity at the colorful lights that flickered, the acrobats in green shimmering outfits, and especially at the other little kids running about laughing.

Throughout the day they rode half a dozen kiddie rides. Despite Draco's muttering, Hermione could tell he was enjoying himself. When he thought she wasn't looking, she caught his lips twitch and his shoulders relax while the wind swept gently through his hair as they were lifted up into the air by the spaceship ride, the world blurring in rivulets of colors.

"Again! Again!" Scorpius bounced on his little legs after they got off the ride.

"How about we get some snacks first?"

The Malfoys followed her closely as they approached crowded tables.

"Why don't you and Scorpius find a seat and I'll grab some food." Hermione scanned the variety of food stalls. Before she could turn to the direction of one of them, a hand gripped her elbow.

"I don't think it's a good idea to go off on your own," Draco said firmly.

"You've got your cell phone right?" Hermione extracted her elbow with a light chuckle. "I'll message if anything goes wrong. You can even message me if you find a seat."

Before he could protest, she began lining up at one of the stalls. Moments later, with chips, sliders, and drinks bundled on a tray, her phone vibrated.

DM: Scorpius and I have found seats near the muddle selling stuffed animals.

DM: muggle

Hermione smiled to herself, making her way to the set of capped blond heads staring curiously at the people playing games at a stall nearby.

"Mini!"

"Hello, I hope you're hungry." Hermione grinned as she laid out the food. Scorpius patted the seat to his other side, waiting for her to settle down before he dug in.

"Tell me, Granger," Draco said halfway through their meal, "why are these muggles terrible at winning these games? Quite easy if you ask me."

Hermione bristled at the arrogant tone of his voice.

"Because they're rigged! They're meant to look easy but they usually set you up to fail. See over there," she pointed to where some boys were trying to throw tiny rings on glass bottles. "They usually grease the bottles so the rings slide off."

"Or they're just not very... skilled." He merely smirked at her glare.

"I reckon you think you could win one of the prizes then?"

"Granger, just pick out a prize and you know I'll win it for you." Arrogant bastard.

"Fine then," she replied coolly. "Over there, you see that gigantic stuffed ferret? Win it for me." A pleased smile plastered over her face at his scowl. "I'll maybe even name it Draco."

"You know, Granger, if you were that desperate to have me cuddled up in your bed, you could have just asked," he drawled. Hermione choked on her drink. "I assure you the real thing is better."

"Scowpius will cuddle you, Mini!" the tot offered up, grinning at her innocently.

"Aw thank you, Scorpius. I'll take you up on that offer when your father fails to get me my stuffed ferret." Scorpius shifted towards her and wrapped his arms around her neck tightly. Hermione smiled over the child's head, catching Draco staring at them intently with an unreadable expression on his face. Hermione blushed and pulled back.

"Are you still hungry, Scorp?" Scorpius shook his head, leaning into her touch when she gently wiped his face. When she was done, Scorpius settled himself on her lap. Hermione snuck a look at Draco and noticed he was looking at his phone with a triumphant look on his face as he typed excessively hard on the keys with his pointer finger. Out of curiosity, she leaned over to see what he was doing.

DM: Watch your back, Blaise. IMY —

Hermione yelped, then snatched the phone from his grasp and deleted the message he had been typing.

"What was that for?" Hermione shifted as she handed the phone back.

"Oh, I — I don't think Blaise would understand 'imy' so... "

"Hermione, what are you not telling me?" He narrowed his eyes at her. "I know that look."

Hermione huffed. "Well, 'imy' doesn't... mean what you think it means..." she trailed off, unable to hide her guilty expression.

"Well?"

"It means 'I miss you,' not 'I'll murder you'?" She winced.

Before he could get a word out, she jumped slightly and rummaged her beaded bag.

Draco blinked in surprise as Hermione discreetly removed a single layered cake from the bag along with a single candle that she lit with a wandless spell.

"Surpwise, daddy!"

The dark green frosting was uneven in places, swirls of silver fondant lining the sides that looked like Scorpius Malfoy's classic rendition of roses.

"Happy birthday, Draco," Hermione murmured, a pink tinge to her cheeks as she busied herself with placing the cake before him. "Scorpius and I baked a little something and I know it was last minute and a little roughly put together but I thought — "

"It's perfect."

Hermione blinked at the odd softness she thought she heard in his voice. She looked at him, only to find him staring at the haphazard cake with an expression she could not place.

"Make a wish daddy! I make da roses! Me and Mini make yummy cake with choclate for you."

Draco bent down, placed a kiss on his son's head, smiling into his hair. "Thank you," he murmured before glancing up at Hermione.

"Make a wish, Draco," she whispered, nodding to the cake.

Draco pulled back. From behind the warm glow of the single flame, his gaze was unwavering as he kept it trained on them and remained so even as he blew the candle out.

***

It was sunset by the time the ferris wheel slowed and swayed as it paused at the peak. The sky was streaked in vermillion, bruised with lilac clouds as the sun sank in the horizon. Draco watched as below them more lights winked into existence. He felt at ease being away from the crowds, no sounds except for the steady voice of Hermione explaining to Scorpius where the sun went when it disappeared and how the stars were always above them, even when they couldn't be seen. Draco watched as his son remained raptured by the witch, clinging to every word as he sat snug between them on the lift.

Even as the sun set brilliantly along the far distance and the stars began to awaken as if from a deep slumber, he could not keep his eyes away from the two people beside him. In that moment, Draco felt something of that Gryffindor bravery he had only heard about, that burning fire to do anything to protect whatever this was. He never truly understood it before — that willingness to walk into the flames without fear, not motivated by the promise of self-preservation. But something else. It was an extraordinary kind of power he felt smoldering deep within him, as if he could withstand anything, as if he could put himself together into some semblance of a decent human being that was deserving of what was before him.

"Look!" Hermione pointed as red and gold sparks exploded and sizzled in the distance. Fireworks. The witch and his son stared bright-eyed at the display of fireworks as Draco remained unmoving, afraid that if he blinked it would all disappear.

***

"No good luck for me, Granger?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes as he nonchalantly picked up another arrow. He had let her pick the game and she had decided on the stall where the aim was to pop three balloons with the toy crossbow. She knew the balloons were thicker than they seemed, the arrows blunted, and the toy crossbow intentionally weak which made it difficult to pierce the balloon. Draco Malfoy however had decided to forgo the crossbow. To the stall keeper's astonishment and Hermione's annoyance, he merely twirled the arrow with his fingers before throwing it with a sharp flick of his wrist, the arrow popping the balloon easily and embedding into the wooden board.

"Come on, Granger. This is for you after all."

Scorpius merely clapped as Hermione turned her nose up at him and sniffed.

"As you wish," he smirked, eyes not leaving hers as he sent another arrow flying, hitting the smallest balloon precisely. Git.

"Daddy you did it!" Scorpius cheered.

"Your prize sir?"

Draco grinned as Hermione crossed her arms. "The stuffed ferret, please."

They ended up walking around the pier, the ridiculously large stuffed ferret under Draco's arm as Hermione and Scorpius indulged in another round of candy floss. Hermione stopped abruptly, causing Draco to halt and reach for his wand.

"A photobooth!" Draco relaxed and trailed after Hermione and Scorpius.

"Hermione what — "

"My parents and I used to do this all the time," she rambled as she put coins into the slot then pulled him and Scorpius into the booth. "Here we get three shots, just look into the camera over there."

To Hermione's surprise Draco merely followed her instructions, pulling Scorpius onto his lap as he pressed himself to her side to try and fit into the shot.

"Say cheese!"

"What? Why would I — "

Click!

"Draco, smile!"

"Daddy, smile!"

"Granger, I don't — "

Click!

"— I am not doing a silly face just for the sake of — "

Click!

Draco blinked the brightness from his eyes and managed to leave the booth without dropping his son nor the stuffed ferret. Scorpius squirmed out of his arms to join Hermione as they waited for the machine to spit out the photos.

"Really Draco, not even one smile," Hermione admonished from where she knelt beside Scorpius as they inspected the photographs. Draco grunted, keeping a look out as he shifted the stuffed ferret in his arms.

"Granger, are we really going to apparate with this thing," Draco scowled, poking his head from the side of the gigantic fluffy animal. Hermione giggled, putting the photo in her beaded bag.

"Let's get closer to the apparition point and I'll shrink it."

The three of them walked further down the pier and away from the lights, Scorpius between them, babbling about his observations for the day until they finally reached a deserted area where the shops were closed. Finally with no muggles in sight, Hermione shrunk the stuffed toy and put it in her beaded bag.

"Do you mind?" Hermione extended out her beaded bag to Draco. Draco nodded, wordlessly taking the bag as she knelt to tie her shoelace.

The wind blew in Hermione's hair. The only sounds were the waves crashing along the pier and Scorpius humming the carnival tune from his perch in Draco's arms. Hermione made to stand up but then froze when the smell of sulfur invaded her senses and a clack sounded.

"Protego!" Hermione's wand whipped around just in time to block a spell. Draco cursed and Scorpius began to whimper as four dark figures unveiled themselves.

Hermione tried to hold up her shield while Draco sent curses towards the attackers but he was hindered by the child in his arms.

"Hello, my little mudblood." A familiar voice cackled from the shadows. Hermione trembled. "And my dear dear nephew."

"Bellatrix," Draco hissed.

The witch stepped closer, her hood falling back to reveal the wide smile on her face that was almost too wide. She looked thinner, her skin more pale and waxy as it stretched over her sharp bone structure. Hermione could always recall her face with perfect clarity, in every nightmare, in every face in the dark. But there was something different in her face now — not much of that manic wildness in her black eyes, but something else. Desperation.

"Stand down, Tisiphone," Bellatrix raised her hand, stopping a tall woman in dark robes that had lifted her wand. Hermione took the opportunity to notice the three cloaked figures behind her, large and imposing like sentries.

"The Fury Sisters," Draco exhaled behind her in recognition. She recognized them too. She had heard of the three triplets — immigrants from Morocco that settled in the U.K. They were gifted animagi. Tisiphone, Alekto, and Maeg. They had not always been Death Eaters, Kingsley himself had tried to recruit them into the True Order but it all went downhill when their parents were shot and killed by muggles in a racist attack a couple of years ago. They had turned to Voldemort's cause after the incident.

"What do you want, Bellatrix?" Draco snarled.

Bellatrix cackled. "Oh dear, is that the greeting you're giving your own Aunt? Not even an introduction to little Scorpius," she pouted, eyeing the boy who buried his face in his father's chest. "You and your little mudblood have been quite the pests with all your meddling. And those incompetant fools couldn't get at least one of you."

Bellatrix made a gesture that signaled two of the triplets to morph — one into a leopard and the other into a large hawk.

"But the thing is," Bellatrix continued twirling her wand in her hands, the remaining Fury sister, Tisiphone, lifting her wand, "you can't send a man to do a woman's work."

"Avada K —"

"Confringo!"

Chaos broke out as their spells clashed and collided. The leopard and the eagle swooped in but Draco hit one of them with an immobulus and the other with a well-timed acid curse. Hermione fired spell after spell at Bellatrix and Tisiphone trying to hold their ground.

"You wont fucking touch him," Hermione growled as she sent a wall of fire their way only for Tisiphone to redirect it back at them. Before Hermione could retaliate, Draco blocked the fire with a wave of ice using the water he summoned from the pier.

"Granger, we have to get out of here," Draco gritted out.

"I'll hold them back — go!" Hermione hissed from a slicing hex that grazed her cheek but continued to blast the leopard back.

"The fuck you are — "

"Draco go! Get Scorpius out of here!" Hermione commanded as she successfully stunned Tisiphone. Hermione stepped in front of Draco and Scorpius, putting up a shield just as Bellatrix sent another spell their way.

She looked over her shoulder for a moment, keeping her wand arm steady. She almost flinched at his expression, his eyes were livid as he hesitated between her and the child in his arms.

"Hermione — " he said dangerously.

"Draco, please! Save Scorpius!" More spells came their way as the other Fury sisters recovered, making her shield crack. "Draco! Now!"

Just as her shield exploded, Draco and Scorpius disapparated. Hermione's body sagged and her eyes shut in relief even as she was consumed by fire.

A/N: Okay I know another action attack scene but huhuhu I promise it will be somehow relevant to the plot and character development, not just action for the sake of action :( Also as we move towards the third half of the fic, there will be more focus on the internal conflict and Draco's past. Thank you for sticking by me and trusting me, it means sooo much. Also let's pretend the timing works out and it's Draco's birthday. Please don't ask me what month or time it is specifically - lets just say it all lines up bahhaahhahahah I'd also like to acknowledge this original fic I read on wattpad when I was literally in like 6th grade called Getting It Straight - that's where I got inspiration from for the scene where Draco does not understanding texting acronyms

Thank you all again and feel free to connect with me on instagram @cz_bl (fair warning, idk how but somehow my page has also turned into a Dramione meme page lmao)