The next morning, Rose was the first to awake. She noticed the absence of the smell of breakfast and realized that her mother must still be asleep. She decided to go downstairs since there was really no point in trying to sleep anymore.

Downstairs Rose saw her parents still asleep. Ron's head was leaning on Hermione's, his arm around her and his other arm draped comfortably over the arm of the sofa. Hermione was sleeping soundly, her head on Ron's shoulder and her body turned towards Ron's so that she was snuggled up against him.

Rose smiled. It was rather sweet to see her parents, after years of marriage, still so in love. And she knew they were exhausted…so she decided she would make breakfast.

Rose wasn't very good at cooking, even at fourteen. Perhaps she'd gotten it from her father. But she at least wanted to try.

Rose began with something she deemed simple, which was bacon. She took out the pan and took out the pack of bacon. After putting two or three strips on the pan, she turned the dial on the stove.

It took only a few minutes for things to go rather badly wrong; the temperature was turned up way too high on the stove and the bacon suddenly caught fire.

In a panic, Rose seized the pitcher of water in the refrigerator and tossed some over the bacon. A large cloud of smoke caused her to cough and splutter as the fire went out. The bacon sat in black curls on the pan, still sizzling rather sickly.

"Rosie?"

Hermione came in, rubbing her eyes, looking wearily around at the hazy kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Mum," said Rose, so shaken she felt tears coming to her eyes. "I'm really sorry…"

"It's all right, sweetheart," said Hermione, waving her wand at the mess. The bacon strips vanished and the pan flew into the sink where a brush and soap began to scrub it cheerfully. Hermione waved her wand around at the smoke and it slowly thinned to where the air was clear again.

Then Hermione crossed the room to her shaking daughter.

"It's all right, dear," she said. "It's all right."

"I-I'm sorry," said Rose, wiping her eyes and hugging her mum, still trembling. "I th-thought I could make breakfast for you, so y-you could rest a bit more…"

"That's very sweet of you, Rose," said Hermione. "But we both know that you have inherited your father's cooking skills."

Hermione chuckled gently and Rose gave a shaky laugh.

"I can make breakfast, Rosie. I'm all right. You don't have to feel like you need to take care of me. I have your dad for that. And I'm not too tired to protect my children and Scorpius at all costs."

Rose smiled and Hermione hugged her.

"Why don't you go on back to bed, Rose. I'll make us breakfast."

Rose gave her mother a squeeze then went back up to her room to sleep.

Hermione smiled to herself as she started breakfast, which today was to consist of pancakes and sausage. As she waved her wand and these things began to assemble, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and a head lean on her shoulder.

"Good morning."

"Now I'd have thought you'd sleep for a bit longer," said Hermione, grinning at her husband and kissing him before going back to the food. Ron moved his face into her neck, his lips kissing it.

"Come back to bed with me," he mumbled drowsily, a smile playing around his mouth.

"I love you, but no," said Hermione. "I have to make us all breakfast."

"Mmm...you look incredibly attractive making breakfast…"

"Was I not attractive to you before?" grinned Hermione, gently nudging him away from her. "Go on, get dressed. We must plan what we're going to do today."

Ron gave her waist a squeeze, kissed her, and withdrew from the kitchen to go get dressed.

Hermione rolled her eyes, a slight blush painting her cheek.

Breakfast passed quietly and almost cautiously, with the children glancing frequently at the windows and doors as if something was going to burst through them and attack. Hermione noted this but said nothing as they were also jumping at every sound.

The skies had grown nearly permanently cloudy now, with a terrible haze spotting different areas around where they lived. According to the wireless, Streelers were slowly destroying all vegetation around Britain. They had let a Nundu loose, and all were to keep a close watch for it. Dementors would come by now and again, so Ron and Hermione had both permanently set their Patronuses to keep watch outside. Occasionally, in an act to show Ron and Hermione's love, the otter and the terrier would merge together and form a beautiful rose to ward off any particularly close Dementors. It was a lovely sight to behold, despite how serious their situation was.

The children had different ways to grasp the situation. Rose became exceedingly anxious, yet determined to find what the problem was and how to solve it. Hugo became quieter, but he behaved quite maturely for his age. He helped with anything his mother needed help with and he was able to stay calm. Scorpius developed a rather quiet demeanor as well, but his face held bitterness; some days pronounced, some days undetectable.

One afternoon, it seemed to be nearly unbearable. Dementors had been especially close that day, and the feeling in the air was one of despair. Ron and Hermione sat in the living room, arms around each other. Every so often a few tears would trickle down Hermione's face and Ron would wipe them away on his sleeve. Rose and Hugo stayed in their rooms. So did Scorpius.

Rose came out into the living room and walked toward the back door. Ron and Hermione looked up at their daughter questioningly.

"Rose?"

"I need to take a walk," she said. She opened the back door and closed it behind her.

"Rose Weasley!" said Ron, standing. "Rose, come back here!"

Hermione opened the back door and went after her daughter, who was already halfway down the sidewalk. Ron followed her, sounding angry and panicked at the darkness of the hazy clouds that had formed because of the Dementors.

"Hermione! Rose! Come back inside this house!"

Rose was crying as she turned around to look at her father. "Dad, I just need-"

"Rosie, come here," said Hermione. "Come back inside."

Rose cried. "I'll go mad!"

"Come on, honey," said Ron. "Come back inside the house."

Rose walked into her mother's arms and wept. Hermione and Rose got back inside the house and they closed the door. Hermione sat on the couch and held Rose as she sobbed in her mother's arms. Ron knelt next to them, his hand on Rose's shoulder.

"Merlin, you scared me…you mustn't leave the house, you know how dangerous it is."

"I'm sorry," Rose sobbed. "I'm sorry Dad, I'm sorry Mum, I'm sorry…"

"Shh," said Hermione, stroking Rose's hair. "It'll be all right. Mum's got you, it's okay."

It was almost as if Rose was reduced to a small child once again as she whimpered, "I'm scared, Mum."

"I know, sweetie," said Hermione.