Au: So I recently went through and revised this story for a final project. So this is Mid-Sweet Darkness Revised. Enjoy!!

Chapter One: Little Boys

Hermione

Hogwarts was the best time of my life, but that part is over. Now the best times are those spent with my son, who will always come first. So five years ago when the war started and he was born, I made a vow to always protect him, no matter what.

"Darris, hurry up please! Mum is going to be late for work!" I called to my baby boy. He called out his reply and soon I heard his little feet on the stairs, a thunderous noise for one so small. Darris stole my heart the very moment I saw him. He has that effect on almost everyone he would meet.

"Where's Ron?" He asked grabbing my hand. Even though we were living together, Ron and I hadn't yet married because of the war. He told me that he wasn't marring me until it was over. There was also another reason that I had, but only Ginny knew what this reason was.

"Am I going to work with you today?" Darris asked as he slid across the kitchen floor. I picked him up and set him down on the kitchen counter and began putting his shoes on for him. Then I let him down and made him go grab his coat.

"Nope, today you're going to Ginny's house," I replied wrapping a scarf Molly made for him around his neck. He wiggled, as usual and I sighed. I already was ten minutes late for work. I gazed up at the clock and the family picture of Ginny and Harry next to it. When Darris was born Ginny and Harry really stepped up and helped me out, since Ron wouldn't. Thankfully he's now since gotten over the fact that he's not Darris's father and learned to live with it. But he won't tell Darris; because he's leaving that up to me.

"You're going to have to use Floo Powder by your self today okay? Just be careful and you won't end up in the neighbor's house again," I told him. He nodded and gave me a hug. Then he took a handful of Floo Powder and disappeared into the green flame. I followed him, heading to the Ministry of Magic. Since Ron and Harry wouldn't let me join them as Aurors I had to settle for the next best job, working with them at an office. When I got into the lobby I broke out into a run up to department seven.

"Hermione, slow down there isn't a fire," Mr. Weasley called as I passed him in the hall. I waved and kept running till I got to the department door. I stopped. Smoothing out my skirt and hair and then opened the door and slipped into my desk. My assistant Lily held in a giggle, and placed a few papers on my desk. For each war criminal caught, came paper work that made it legal to hold them captive and try them for their crimes. I looked over to the desk next to me and saw Draco smiling at me. My heart fluttered a bit and I blushed before turning to the paper work.

"It's okay I won't tell."

"He already knows."

"I meant I won't tell you were late," Lily said more giggles rising up in her voice. I flushed even more red and kept looking down. She walked away still giggling. Draco got up from his chair and took a seat on my desk. I regained my composure and looked up at him, a small smile on my face.

"So why were you so late today?"

"Well, your son was the main reason. I have to bribe him to do what I ask him. Oh don't give me that, I know you think it's funny," I began. Draco let out a laugh and a few new girls near by swooned. I rolled my eyes, but he ignored them. Draco had changed so much since his father died, he was a new person. And that's who I fell madly in love with my seventh year of Hogwarts. He even faked his own death to get away from Voldemort, and so he could be with me and our son.

"All right you caught me there, but it's not my fault he's taking after me. How have his fits been? Has he had any since that last one a year ago?"

"No, thankfully. I've been careful not to make him very mad or upset. That's what puts him in," I replied fixing the laughing picture of Darris and me on my desk. Draco's expression softened as he too looked at the photo. It is sometimes hard to believe that my baby has epilepsy. Draco patted my hand, the same thought running through his head. He smiled again and went back to his desk to finish his work. Lily came back over as soon as he left.

"So what's up between you two?"

"What do you mean Lily?" I asked pretending not to understand her question. She gave me that 'don't play stupid with me' look and I sighed. It was a lot of history to just say. It was a good rainy day story if anything. I promised Lily that I would tell her one day. She nodded and went back to work. The day went on as normal. I talked to other members working in the ministry and Aurors coming in to help me sort out the paper work on their criminals. Boring just like normal.

"Hey 'Mione, how are you?" Harry asked coming in just before closing. He was covered in dirt and his glasses were broken again. I smiled and fixed them for him, just like in our Hogwarts days.

"Thanks, I really need to remember that one."

"Catch any body today?" I asked him. He shook his head and sighed. He told me about the attack on St. Mungo's. He said that Ron would be here in a bit and then we'd be having dinner at my house. He also told me that Ginny wasn't going to bring the baby this time.

"Speaking of, here comes Ron," Harry said as Ron walked in. Ron joined Harry and the three of us began talking about the attack. It was just like old times.

"Sorry I wasn't there when you and Darris got up, we had an emergency call. Turns out that the St. Mungo's attack was just the first to come," Ron told me as we left. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled weakly at Draco. He gave me that sad smile and went back to his work. When I got home I quickly made dinner with the help of Ginny. Harry and Ron sat on the couch and listened to Darris explain his day to them. As he talked he rode about the living room on a toy broom stick Fred and George got him.

"And I got to use the Floo Powder all by myself today!!" Darris said getting off his broom and doing a cartwheel across the living room floor. After a fast dinner I put the rambling child to bed.

"Good night, darling."

"Good night mum," Darris replied closing his eyes and waiting for me to turn out the lights. Then I joined Harry, Ginny and Ron for drinks to help us all relax a little bit. Ginny told me how Darris reenacted a very macabre version of the war. I laughed as she told me everything he did. He certainly did take after me a fair amount.

"Hey I have a question Hermione, why was Ferret eyeing you as we left today?" Ron asked me. Ginny caught my eye and smiled into her glass. I improvised and made a quick lie to cover up the truth. I wanted to tell Ron the truth, but I had been living the lie to long.

"Well, we became really close our last year of Hogwarts, and since we work together we like to talk. I'd say that we're very close friends now."

"Some friend; just leaving you with his kid like that…." Ron mumbled. I choked on a piece of ice in the bottom of my glass. Ron and Harry exchanged dark words about Draco as I cleared my air way of the frozen water. Ginny shut them up for my sake.

"Mum, I had a nightmare," Darris called, relieving the tension in the room. I let him climb up into my lap and I stroked his white blonde hair.

"Why don't you tell me about it?" I asked him. He didn't say anything at first; instead he wound his tiny fingers in my hair, playing with the brown locks. We all waited for his answer.

"What was is son?"

"Burnt hamburgers," Darris replied a cocky smile on his face. In that instant I was looking at a five year old Draco in my lap. A knock on the door uprooted him from my lap as we raced to answer it.

"Hi Draco, what's shaking?" Darris said. I wished in the moment that Ron had never taught him that. I stood behind him at the door and ruffled his hair, smiling at my son's sense of humor. I could just see it on Draco's face how much it meant to see Darris again; it almost broke my heart.

"Hey little man, what are you doing up this late? Surely you're mum knows little boys should never stay up late, or they'll turn into a pumpkin?!"

"Oh I'm sure she's well aware of the risks, but I had a nightmare that a burnt hamburger was trying to eat me!" Leave it to Darris. Draco laughed, a sad smile painted on his face. I sent Darris to Harry so that Draco could tell me what he came here say.

"What's the matter? Has something happened?"

"There's been another attack."