Hermione POV.

"Hugo! Rose! Scorpius! Hurry up and get in here! You're keeping everyone waiting!"

My voice echoing through the narrow corridor, its walls covered in glistening green and silver painted swirls which in the dim candlelight, resembled the shape snakes intertwining with one another. The majority of the manor was decorated in this manner, and although I somewhat admired the royal appearance emerald green and silver gave the rooms of the house, I often felt uneasy at the rather realistic looking snakes scattered around. They reminded me too much of the war…of what we all lost. Draco had promised we would redecorate the manor as soon as we could, but with planning the wedding, Draco away at Hogwarts teaching Defence against the Dark Arts, and with me working overtime on cases at the Ministry of Magic, time hasn't been our friend.

I began to pace the corridor, edging myself closer to the living room where loud noises were emanating from. I wondered whether I ought to leave them in there to bond – something they hadn't really done a lot of since Draco and I got together. Of course, I knew that this was because everything had happened so fast, and Rose and Hugo had gone through a lot. What they saw happen to their father, well, it was far from easy for them to see him deteriorate so drastically…it was far from easy for any of us. Ron was once such a sweet and loving man, but then grief possessed him. Grief took away the sweet man I had loved for so many years of my life, stole away the man who saved my life and watched over me during the good times and the bad, but worst of all, grief stole my children's father away from them.

I heard Scorpius' laugh fill the room, my stomach fluttering. This was the first time I'd heard him laugh since I had moved in with the kids. Scorpius hadn't taken well to the change of living arrangements, Draco told me that living with other children his age was strange as he has only ever known what being an only child way like. Draco and Astoria's divorce was messy too, both fighting just as eagerly for the custody of Scorpius. After all that Scorpius has been put through, it's refreshing to hear him experience the better side to life.

I snapped out of my trailing thoughts and listened to their laughter for one more moment before cracking the door open enough to poke my head inside. The children were all staged around the room, Rose was under the table holding a pillow as a shield and her wand in the other hand, swishing it around in an unruly manner, whereas Hugo and Scorpius were standing on the sofas, both aiming their wands at Rose and yelling out gibberish. Rose cast her eyes away from the boys and saw me in the doorway, the excitement in her eyes fading a little.
"Hey" I said softly, trying not to brashly ruin the moment they were having, "It's time for tea."
They all looked at each other briefly, as if sharing a thought.
"Why can't we stay here?" whined Rose.
"Well you can" I replied, "If you want to starve and be rude by not seeing your family, Rose. I know how much you love seeing Harry, Ginny, Neville, Luna and the kids."
They all let out a groan and retreated from their places within the living room, their heads hung down slightly, their feet shuffling along the lusciously soft carpet. We moved back down the corridor towards the dining area where everyone was seated, the loud chatter of friends flooding into the hallway. I held the large oak door open for them as they all filed in, taking their seats among the other children whilst I made my way over to the reserved seat beside Draco.

"Apologies for the delay, the children were just having some fun." I said before seating myself, flashing a smile at Scorpius, Hugo and Rose. "Now then, shall we eat?"