Remembering her own conversation with Dan, Emma was determined to help here. "Do you like the tent? You and your friends are going to be staying in them."
"Oh I think they are beautiful, just like everything here."
Putting Joan down onto her own feet, Hermione took the little witch by the hand. "What if we go a walk with my mum and dad while Jillian has her meeting?"
Joan wore a massive smile as she slipped her tiny hand into Hermione's. Emma offered to take Joan's other hand and the three of them stepped out of the tent, with Dan following on.
Jillian deliberately waited until they had left before speaking again. "I'm really sorry for imposing Joan on you like this but I've never seen her this animated before. When not doing an organised activity, she normally just sits somewhere by herself and quietly reads. Since meeting the people who visited the orphanage, the change in her has been remarkable. Her smile as she left here holding Hermione's hand is easily the widest I've ever seen on her face."
Through Harry, Hermione was still getting all of that. Knowing the feeling for Joan was mutual, Harry totally agreed with his betrothed's mental suggestion. "We already love having her here, she's not exactly any trouble, and we were wondering if she could stay tonight? Everyone else will be arriving tomorrow anyway so it will only be extending her holiday by one day."
Jillian had absolutely no problem with that suggestion and Harry was almost overwhelmed by the feeling of joy that returned from Hermione over their bond at hearing the good news. Bill left to meet with his family and Amelia set off to have a visit with Susan. She had already offered to sit in any meting the Weasley family had with the Italian Ministry. She was more than happy to speak with them on how the investigation was proceeding, and why the British Minister of Magic was blocking her department at every turn in order to protect Dumbledore.
Harry, Sirius and Remus proceeded to give Jillian a tour of the facilities they'd put in place, and run some of the activities planed past her for approval. She adored the tents, knowing the children would love them too. Tents opening onto a beach was a wonderful idea, though she had some safety concerns. Remus was able to ensure her that there would be at least one adult staying in each of the tents with the children, and that there were alarm wards on the tent flaps in case one of the children tried to wander off at night.
Simply watching as Joan interacted with the rest of the teens currently on the beach reaffirmed to Jillian that this was the best thing to ever happen to the orphanage. Sitting on a beautiful beach at tables under thatched parasols and drinking delicious chilled fruit juice was a very rare treat for her. Seeing Joan and Hermione share a large ice cream sundae would be an experience Jillian was sure the little witch would never forget. That this was being made available to all of the children currently in her care had Jillian thinking she was dreaming, except her dreams had never been as good as this before.
...
Draco was also thinking he was dreaming. He stared once more at his mother to ensure what he was hearing was actually true. Severus had insisted Draco's opinion on any union be considered before they proceeded further, not knowing this simply further endeared him to Cissi. Lucius had never thought of anyone but himself, apart from the man he had called master.
"Yes, Draco. If Severus and I married, you would have the option of no longer being a Malfoy. Severus would be more than happy to adopt you into his family."
Switching that stare to his former head of house, Draco's expression once more begged for confirmation of that fact.
"He actually has another option open to him as well. My mother was of the house of Prince but married beneath herself. That proud family is now reduced to one great aunt who only clings onto life in the desperate hope an heir can be found before she passes. I will never be considered but she would happily accept you as the answer to all her prayers. With your parents being a Malfoy and a Black, Great Aunt Ophelia would probably kiss your feet if you would consider continuing the Prince bloodline. You would probably have to blood adopt with her, though would still be our son. It would also see any legacy your mother and I leave go to any children we might have later."
Draco couldn't see any downside to this. He would be at Hogwarts with both his parents - both there as professors. No longer being considered a Malfoy would remove a massive weight from his shoulders. Even the thought of his mother possibly having more children with Severus was not a deal breaker for Draco. Dreams of teaching a younger sibling how to fly a broom were very pleasant ones. In the end, there really wasn't a decision for Draco to make.
"If you and Severus wish to get married, I would offer you both my full support on the matter. As to the Price or Snape thing, I'll happily trust your judgement on whatever you both think is best for me."
His mother then laying down the law that none of the men in her life would be involved in the war between the Dark Lord, Dumbledore and Potter was just the cherry on top as far as Draco was concerned. He'd seen what death looked like at the hands of Potter, and had no interest in any repeat lessons. changing his name would get Draco out from under this blood-feud, and no one could say anything about how he achieved that feat. His mother remarrying was a perfectly legitimate reason to lose the Malfoy name, without any accusations of cowardice being attached to the manoeuvre - or Draco himself. As discussions moved onto the 'when' his mother would marry Severus, Draco could only think that the sooner the better.
.....
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