A/N: Hey everyone! Welcome back! Well this is the second part to the Wedding Planner. I honestly hope you all enjoy it as much as the first one.

DISCLAIMER: I only own Merle, James, Rianna, Tracie, Ryan, Dakota and the plot, not The Wiggles or Harry Potter characters.

Always and Forever

Chapter One: Four Years

Hermione Granger, 26, ran down the flight of stairs yelling over to her shoulder at her young daughter of 3 and ½ to wait a few more seconds. She ran through the wooden hall, turning sharply at the entrance to the kitchen. She dashed over to the fridge, pulled it open and grabbed the butter and nutella. Hastily she buttered the bread and smeared a layer of nutella on top of the butter and sliced it in half to wrap in cling wrap.

"M-um!" cried her daughter from the top of the staircase, "I can't find my bear!"

"Hang on sweetie!" called back Hermione cutting up a carrot and sticking it into a small square container.

She grabbed a packet of Tiny Teddies and placed them in with the sandwich and carrots before grabbing her daughters pink water bottle. After checking everything was packed Hermione ran back towards the staircase passing Merle.

"Morning Herms," she called.

"Morning Merle. Could you bring the washing in from yesterday? I forgot."

Merle nodded and Hermione continued up the staircase, and over to her daughter's bedroom door. She walked in and smiled when she saw the grey eyed, brown haired girl sliding out from under her pink princess bed.

"Teddy went on an adventure under the bed," she grinned showing dimples.

Hermione chuckled and shook her head, "Dear me, Miss Dakota. What will I do with you?"

Dakota giggled and ran over to her dolly pram and placed him beside her baby born. Hermione walked over to the pale pink wardrobe and pulled the doors open.

"What would you like to wear to preschool today?" asked Hermione.

"My shirt from Nanny!"

Hermione pulled out the pale blue shirt with My Nan Loves Me written across the front in white letters. Hermione also grabbed a pair of ¾ jeans and her white sandals.

"Come on. Time to get dressed. I have to get to work soon," said Hermione sitting on the bed.

Dakota walked over and allowed Hermione to change her into her set of clothes and brush her hair and pull it into two pigtails.

"All dressed," announced Dakota, "Is Aunty Mel cooking waffles today?"

"I think she might be. Better go see."

Dakota ran out of the room leaving Hermione to clean up her pyjamas and make her bed. She exited the room and walked to hers, which was next door. She made her bed and dressed in her navy blue pleated knee length skirt and white fitted blouse, pinning her fringe to the side. No longer did she have long curling brown locks. It was now shoulder length, which flicked upwards at the shoulders. She slipped on her black heels and left her room, walking downstairs to the kitchen where Merle was cooking waffles with Dakota watching on.

"Look Mummy! She's making star ones!" squealed Dakota excitedly.

Hermione smiled, "Phew, the house is warming up fast today. It must be going to be a hot one."

"The muggle radio station said we were expecting it to be 37 degrees Celsius," replied Merle sliding the star waffle onto Dakota's plate and pouring some maple syrup over it.

"Dakota don't get messy," said Hermione, "Well I'll leave the air con on today. I don't fancy coming home to a hot house."

"Good idea."

Hermione walked across the hall into the living room and turned on the system before heading to her office to collect some files. Just as she was leaving to head back to the kitchen, the house phone rang.

Hermione sighed and walked over to answer it.

"Hello, Hermione Granger speaking."

"Hello sweetheart!"

"Mum! Hi, how are you going?"

"Oh I am okay," came her mother's croaky reply.

"You don't sound it. Is everything honestly okay?"

"Oh, just a head cold. You know how it is with the winter's over here."

"I can vaguely remember," joked Hermione.

Her mother laughed, before coughing a little.

"So how are my granddaughter and adopted daughter?"

"Dakota is doing great. In fact I have a painting of hers to send you. It's the tree near the dam. She loves going to Magical Tot's Day Care. At the moment she is eating star shaped waffles, which brings us to Merle… or Mel as Dakota calls her seeing as she can't pronounce her name properly yet. Merle is doing great. I know she loves it here in Australia. Moving here was the best thing for her."

"What about you?"

Hermione sighed, "I miss England… I miss London."

"Then come home,"

"I can't Mum… I just can't. Look I have to go. Work begins soon. Love you and miss you."

"You too sweetheart. Take care."

"You too. Bye."

"Bye."

Hermione sighed. She couldn't go home. Not yet.

O

Ginny sighed and placed James Sirius Potter back in his bed for the fifth time that night. James squirmed against his mother's grip and let out a pitiful cry.

"James, stop that! You'll wake up your sister," snapped Ginny in annoyance.

"But Mum! I wanna wait up for Daddy!" he whined.

"Your father is working late. I'll send him in when he gets home."

James flopped back against his pillow angrily. Ginny sighed and left the room, shutting the door behind her, but she still heard James angrily say one more thing a four should never say.

"Daddy is never home anymore."

Ginny walked down the hall towards her daughter's bedroom to check on her. She opened the door and walked over to the cot and smiled. Little Rianna Lily Potter was sound asleep. Ginny exited the room and headed to the lounge room to read the Job Ads in the Daily Prophet. Ginny had been fired in November due to not getting to work on time. She began scanning the page when Harry's voice called from the kitchen. Ginny stood and walked around the lounge, pushed the swinging door open and entered the kitchen.

"You're home," said Ginny walking to the oven and pulling Harry's dinner out she'd left in there to keep warm, "And it is nearly 9:30."

Harry looked at Ginny surprised, "I was closing a case with Ron."

Ginny sighed and handed him his plate angrily.

"Whoa, Ginny calm down!"

"Calm down?" snapped Ginny turning too Harry, her hands on her hips, "I have just spent two hours trying to get James to go to bed! In between that Ri-Ri was sick! You don't even care about us anymore, let alone know who your kids really are! James is so angry with you these days! Ever since you got that bloody promotion you have forgotten you have a family at home! I lost my job because I was constantly running late due to being left at home alone getting them ready… sometimes I wonder whether you will even be at the birth of our third child… or will work come first Harry?"

"Ginny, I'm working hard to give our family a comfortable life," said Harry slightly stunned.

"Why bother when you have an unhappy wife and kids? So much from promising to keep me happy."

Without another word Ginny stormed from the kitchen to the bedroom.

O

Draco stumbled out of the bar smiling at those he saw in there regularly. He entered an empty Digion Alley and towards the building where the woman who plagued his mind constantly once worked. He stopped in front of it and sat on the ground starring up at the dark window. No light had shone from their for four years. That was expected, considering the fact she'd been gone for that long. Sure, he saw pictures of her in the Daily Prophet and some other magazine's sometimes. In interviews she seemed to be the same person, only more guarded. Those things he could recognize, when he was sober.

Ever since Hermione left, Draco's life fell apart. To him she was the only thing living for. His need for alcohol and sex with other women became necessary when he was fired from his job for issuing the wrong potion to a patient nearly killing them. Madam Pompfrey, who took up Emery's old role, was shocked and told Draco she would never reconsider hiring him again until he sorted his life out completely.

Draco didn't take any notice of Pompfrey's words only telling her, "There is no life without her." Sure many saw him pathetic to mope so long about one woman, but Draco knew she had his heart and wasn't letting go.

He leant back on his arms, like he did most nights when he wasn't in the mood for sex.

"Some days… some days I hate you for leaving me… but then I hate myself all the time," he slurred, "I see your picture in the paper… you don't even know or care that I do… so tonight, I hate you."

Draco raised his drink in the air, as though making a toast and took a long swig of it before standing up and heading back to the pub.

O

"It was lovely seeing you again Pansy," smiled Lucius standing up from the seat he was in at the Zabini Manor, "I hope Samantha's cold clears up soon."

"Me too. Poor little girl… she hate's not being able to go visit her little friends," sighed Pansy speaking of her two year old daughter, "I'll let Blaise know you stopped by. He's working late at the Ministry tonight. Some new Aurour case him, Potter and Weasley are working on."

"Ah. He enjoys his job?"

Pansy nodded, smiling, "He always makes sure he has time for myself and Samantha… he adores her so much. It's just a pity we can't have anymore."

"Why not look into adopting?" suggested Lucius, "There are plenty of children in need of a loving family."

Pansy's eyes lit up, "Why didn't we think of that? Oh Lucius, thankyou!"

Lucius chuckled as Pansy hugged him briefly, "I'd best go."

"Please tell Draco I said hello."

Lucius nodded and said goodbye again before leaving. He knew the message would never be passed onto Draco, considering he hadn't spoken one sentence too his alcoholic son for three months at least. The last conversation they had turned out to be an argument after Draco had been fired. Narcissa rarely spoke to Lucius. In fact their morning conversations were the simple hello to good thankyou ones. Lucius did still love his wife very much, but their son's issues had built a wall between them that neither was attempting to break.

Lucius apperated home and walked into his and his wife's room. Narcissa was sitting at her dressing table combing her long blonde hair. Her eyes glanced up at her husband who merely focused on the door to his wardrobe. Narcissa sighed and began plating her hair.

"Is Draco home?" asked Lucius softly as he pulled off his robe.

"No," replied Narcissa, "He has gone out for tonight."

"Just like every other night."

"What is that meant to mean Lucius?"

"Never mind."

Narcissa stood up pulling on her dressing gown and turned to her husband, "Lucius, I know very well there is something you wish to say to me… so say it."

Lucius sighed, "You are right. Draco has a problem Narcissa. As much as you wish to deny it, you know it is true. He needs help before anything serious happens to him!"

"Draco is not an alcoholic, Lucius! He is simply sorting his life out!"

"Narcissa, he has had four years to do that! He is not a man anymore – he is nothing."

Narcissa stared at Lucius in shock, "How dare you speak of our son that way!"

"I am speaking the truth whether you wish to admit it or not."

"That is not the truth, Lucius. If you think of our only son that way, then I cannot stay in the same room as you."

Before Lucius could attempt to stop her, Narcissa ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Lucius sighed and sat down on the bed. Who knew the departure of Hermione Granger could lead to so many devastating things?

O

The day passed quickly for Hermione with a floo meeting with Luna, Hannah and Michael, wedding planning sessions and an interview with an international witches magazine doing a special on weddings. One of the questions Hermione was asked was about the recent sighting of her with her daughter; only Hermione told the magazine that it was a friend's child she was caring for. They believed her, hopefully.

Hermione packed away her things into her bag and exited her office, waving goodbye to the receptionist called Tracie. She exited the building and into the busy Merlin Alley. It was 5:30pm, time to collect her daughter from day care and head home for a relaxing night. She was looking forward too 11 o'clock that night when she would speak to Ron through floo powder, like they did once a week. Just as Hermione was about to walk past Whimsy's Whimsical Robe Shop, the last person she needed to see stepped out in front of her.

"Hello their Hermione," drawled the man with slicked back black hair and cool blue eyes.

"Hi Ryan," replied Hermione in an annoyed tone.

Every chance this guy had, he would talk to Hermione trying to beg her to go on a date with him. Hermione denied every time due to the stories she had heard about him and the fact she wasn't ready to date.

"So, busy tonight?" he asked.

"Yes I am, so if you'll excuse me I should get going."

Hermione stepped around Ryan, only to have him grab her arm.

"Hey don't leave just yet. We could at least have a chat… get to know one and other."

"I really," said Hermione firmly trying to pull her arm away from him, "Don't have any time spare to get to know you, Ryan. Please let me go."

"Oh come on… one drink."

"No Ryan. Let me go now!"

Ryan released her and stepped back, "Maybe another time."

"How about never?" snapped Hermione storming off down the alley.

"Fine then," shouted Ryan, "You can just go to hell!"

Hermione turned back around glaring at him, "I'll save you a seat!"

Hermione turned and entered the day care center, smiling at the people she saw on her way in, apologizing to the carer in the room.

"I got held up," said Hermione, "Sorry."

"Oh it's okay. You're not the last person to collect their child. A lot of them are in the bathroom. Little Dakota here insisted on waiting for you," smiled the woman.

Dakota nodded, "Can we go home now?"

"We sure can," grinned Hermione, "See you tomorrow Debbie."

"Bye Hermione. Bye, bye Dakota," replied Debbie.

"Bye," grinned Dakota clinging onto Hermione tightly as they hopped into the fireplace to floo home.

O

Merle smiled as Hermione and Dakota walked into the kitchen, where she was preparing that night's dinner of pork chops and mixed vegetables. Dakota dumped her bag on the ground and ran out of the room on her three year old legs to the lounge room to watch her Wiggles video. Soon Hermione and Merle could hear the tunes of "Wake Up Jeff!" playing with the mixed vocals of Dakota herself.

"So, how come you are later then normal?" asked Merle turning over the chops.

"Ryan… again! Sometimes I think I should just date him once to shut him up," sighed Hermione setting the table for three.

"Hermione, don't you dare!"

"I wouldn't Merle. He only wants one thing from me so he can boast to the papers that he screwed the Wedding Planner."

"Well that's putting it bluntly… but would you date him in hope of possibly finding something decent in him just so you can completely forget Draco?"

Hermione looked up at Merle in surprise, "Draco has nothing to do with this Merle. He is in the past. In fact he hasn't had anything to do with me for four years."

"How can he be in the past when everyday you look at something that also belongs to him?" asked Merle pointing her hand towards the lounge room where Dakota was singing to "Wags The Dog".

"Merle, I really am not in the mood to bring up the past," snapped Hermione walking towards the doorway.

"You can't run from it forever."

"I can try," replied Hermione walking down the hall towards the downstairs bathroom.

She ran Dakota a bath, putting in her favorite bubble bath, which created pink bubbles and her rubber duck's that all had names ranging from Star Duck to Dorothy the Dinosaur Duck.

"Dakota! Your bath is ready!" yelled Hermione into the hallway.

Instantly the Wiggle's music stopped and footsteps were heard running through the hallway into the bathroom.

"Oh! My pink bubbles!" squealed Dakota clapping her hands.

"Yes. Now let me take off your shoes."

Dakota allowed her Mum to undress her and help her into the bath where she began splashing around with her ducks. Hermione picked up her clothes and stuck them in the basket. Just as she was about to leave carrying her daughter's shoes and hair ties, Dakota stopped her.

"Mummy?" she said seriously.

"Yes sweetie?"

"Do I have a Daddy?"

Hermione looked at Dakota shocked, and moved to sit on the closed lid toilet, "Yes, you do. Everybody has a father,"

"How come I don't see mine?"

How could Hermione explain such a thing to a three year old? Yes Dakota was intelligent for her age; she was like her mother in that way. Yet telling her everything would be too much for her. Hermione finally came to a decision and let out a deep breath.

"He lives in another country."

"Where you lived?"

Hermione nodded.

"Does he love me?"

"Yes… very much."

"Does he love you?"

"Yes. And I love him a lot."

"Okay. Penny's daddy sees her all the time. He got her from pre-school today."

"Oh okay."

Dakota smiled and began pushing the duck called Wags the Dog Duck through the water, acting as if she never shocked her mother. Hermione stood up and left the bathroom. She walked over to the staircase and walked up them, returning Dakota's shoes and hair ties to her bedroom. She walked back down stairs and into the kitchen, looking slightly pale. Merle looked up at her and frowned, forgetting about their argument.

"You okay Herms?" she asked dishing the food onto plates, "You look pale."

"You would be too if your daughter asked if they had a father," muttered Hermione, running a hand through her hair.

"What? Dakota asked about Draco?"

Hermione nodded, "Out of the blue… then afterwards she acted like it was no big deal."

"But she is only three!"

"I know, but she is smarter then most three years olds. It is to be expected I guess."

"Well, I know that, but what did you say?"

"That she did, he loves her and me… apparently Penny's dad picked her up from day care today."

"Oh, well no wonder… I suppose when she's older you'll explain it all to her in greater detail?"

Hermione nodded, "I'll have too, but for now she is too young to understand."

Merle nodded, "Well dinner is ready."

"I'll go get Dakota."

O

Ginny glanced at the clock besides the painting of fruits on the kitchen wall. It was 7 in the morning, where was Harry? Ginny sighed and grabbed James from under the table and placed him back on the chair for the third time. She walked back over to Rianna and spooned some more porridge into her mouth.

"James! Honestly, please just eat your porridge!" cried Ginny as he ran around the table doing Indian cries, "Sit down now, or we are not visiting Granny!"

James took no heed to Ginny's order and continued to run around the table crying like an Indian. Ginny sighed and stood up. She caught James and sat him in his seat again and walked back over to Rianna. Just as she picked up the spoon James threw his bowl on the ground, smashing the bowl and splattering food everywhere.

Ginny snapped. Whatever patience she had remaining left her within that split second.

"That's it!" screamed Ginny throwing the spoon in her hand at the window, smashing it to pieces, "Can't you see you are hurting Mummy?"

James stared at his mother in shock, whilst Rianna burst into tears. At that moment Harry ran into the kitchen and took in the scene, before looking at Ginny.

"Ginny? What's going on?" asked Harry confused.

"Why don't you take care of your kids for once?" she screamed, "Maybe they'll behave because their father is home… for once!"

Harry didn't speak or move, even as Ginny apperated away directly in front of him. James looked up at his father, his brown eyes wide in shock. Rianna screamed from where she sat, urging Harry to walk over too his young daughter and hold her close for the first time in two weeks.

"Shh… it's okay," he whispered, "James… go clean your face. I'll clean this up."

James nodded and left the kitchen while Harry pulled his wand out and cleaned the mess and repaired the windows. He never knew his marriage was this bad… until know.

O

Ginny walked into her mother's kitchen, tears streaming down her cheeks causing Molly to cry out in shock and run over to her daughter from the stove. Molly led Ginny to a seat and sat beside her.

"Ginny, dear? What's the matter?" asked Molly calmly as she could, "Is it Harry or the kids?"

"I don't know! Everything is a complete mess," sobbed Ginny, "This kids misbehave and Harry's never home! I see Ron more then Harry… and Ron works with Harry!"

"I see."

"I can't control James. He's so angry with Harry for hardly ever being home, yet when he is… James treats him better then he treats me! Rianna is starting to copy her brother… and Harry and I fight constantly now. I mean I lost my job because I was left at home caring for the children, making me run late… and he doesn't even pretend to care! On our wedding day he promised I would always be happy… and as much as I love him, Mum… I'm not happy."

Molly sighed and hugged Ginny while she cried. Arthur walked in, but left seeing his wife and daughter having a private moment.

"Now… here is what I want you to do," said Molly seriously pulling away from Ginny, "Bring James and Ri-Ri here and force Harry to have a day off. If he asks why say it's to save your marriage."

Ginny nodded and wiped away her tears, "What if he still goes to work?"

"Follow him there. Pester him until he listens Ginny. But if he loves you, he will stay home."

Ginny nodded and stood up. She hugged her mother once more and apperated to her home on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. She walked into the kitchen to see Harry feeding Rianna and James eating quietly.

"Harry… can I please talk to you in the lounge room?" asked Ginny quietly, looking at the floor.

"Sure."

Harry stood and followed his wife to the lounge room, shutting the door behind him. She looked at him seriously and took a deep breath.

"I want you to take today off work," said Ginny firmly.

"Ginny… I have a case…" said Harry confused.

"If you love me and want this marriage to last till we die then you will take today off… if you don't then I know what your opinion about our marriage is," replied Ginny, "I'm taking the kids to my mothers for today."

A/N: Okay. This chapter was to mainly let you all know what was going in everyone's life's. I know Draco only had a small part but his role will be bigger in chapter two. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!