Thanks for all the kind reviews! If I had the time I would personally respond to all of you. As always it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.


The next four days did not get any better. Hugo ignored his parents completely. He only spoke to them when it was absolutely necessary. The rest of the time he spent in his room or at his Grandparents'.

Hermione had tried to talk to him but after the third time speaking to his bowed head, with no response, she gave up. Ron's solution was to beat him within an inch of his life. Hermione had vetoed that strategy.

They had had dinner with Kingsley and his wife and Hermione had formally accepted his request to run for Minister. He was thrilled and decided that his office would make a formal announcement on Monday afternoon. That way Hermione would be able to take her children to the train and be back to the Ministry in plenty of time for the press conference.

Monday morning dawned cloudless and cool. Hermione woke and glanced at the clock. It was five minutes to six. She laid there thinking about the decision she had made. There was a nagging voice at the back of her mind that told her that she might be sacrificing Hugo's happiness for her own political aspirations.

Was she putting her career in front of her child's needs? She had always thought she was putting Rose and Hugo first. She and Ron made every decision with their well-being at the forefront of the discussion. She sighed and ran her hands over her face. She wanted to run for Minister. She felt a strong need to serve the community. This had been her path from the beginning. From her early years working for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to her position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And through it all they had somehow found what she thought was a perfect balance of jobs and family. Now she was having her doubts.

"Hermione, it's early go back to sleep," Ron mumbled against her bare shoulder as he placed a kiss on the exposed skin.

She glanced at him. His eyes were still closed. "Sorry I woke you."

He kissed her shoulder again and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You could make it up to me." He slid his leg in between hers.

She could feel his erection against her thigh. A smile crossed her lips, "I can't imagine how."

Within a second he was on top of her, "I have a few ideas." He started to kiss her deeply as he slid a hand under her tank shirt. Her skin felt warm and soft. "Don't worry about Hugo. He'll be fine, love." He kissed her neck leading a trail of light kisses along her jaw and covering her mouth once again.

They made love slowly and passionately. Even after nearly twenty years of marriage Hermione still found this act exciting. She had never shared her body with anyone other than Ron and she had never wanted to.

By six-thirty Ron was snoring again. She carefully removed herself from their bed and went to the bathroom to shower and dress.

She found herself an hour later standing in Hugo's doorway. His room was in it's usual state of disarray. He was his father's son. His school trunk was in the middle of the floor it's lid open. She could see that his things had been thrown in every which way without any care. She smiled when she noticed his copy of the Complete Works of Shakespeare lying atop his school robes. That was definitely her influence. He, more than Rose, shared her love of books. She had introduced him to the best of Muggle literature as well as the wizarding ones.

A memory just then flooded her mind. Hugo only two curled up in her lap while she read from Shakespeare's Sonnets. She could remember so clearly the weight of his small body in her lap. How his head, still damp from his bath, rested against her shoulder. She remembered looking down at him and meeting his beautiful blue eyes and he had smiled at her and whispered, "I love you Mummy."

She had pulled him to her wrapping her arms tightly around him and burying her nose into his warm neck. How quickly he went from that loving, sweet toddler to this opinionated, strong willed young man. Where had the years gone?

Hugo rolled over and opened his eyes focusing on Hermione. They were still as blue and still just as beautiful. Slowly comprehension dawned on his face. He closed his eyes and rolled back towards the wall with a groan.

Hermione sighed and crossed the room stepping carefully over discarded books and clothes. She sat gingerly on the edge of his bed. "Hugo, you're going to have to talk to me eventually."

He nodded his head. His red hair was sticking up all over. "I know."

She smiled, she'd take whatever victory she could get. "You're dad's going to make pancakes this morning."

He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. "I'm sorry I got so angry mum."

Hermione nodded but stayed silent. Now that he was actually speaking she didn't want to say anything to ruin it.

Hugo put his arm behind his head. "Sometimes I just wish we weren't so well-known that's all."

"Sometimes I wish that too, Hugo. But sometimes we have to step up for the well-being of others." She reached out and pushed his bangs back off his forehead. "Uncle Harry, your father and I didn't choose this path. It was chosen for us and I personally wouldn't change a thing. I'm sorry if you've ever felt shoved aside for my career, I really am." She stopped as she felt tears fill her eyes.

Hugo glanced at her and immediately was filled with remorse. "It's alright mum."

She leaned down and hugged him, "I'm going to miss you." She kissed his cheek, "I love you."

He wrapped his arms around her neck, "I love you too, mum."

Hermione closed her eyes and smiled as she hugged her son. Things would be alright.


"Ron, you can't park here. It's a loading zone." They were pulling up in front of King's Cross Station and they were running late as usual.

Ron threw the car into park and turned off the ignition. "I'll set a disillusionment charm on it. It's quarter to eleven now. We're only going to be in there for fifteen minutes."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It's illegal."

Ron ignoring her got out and opened the boot pulling the trunks out. "Would stop worrying. It's fine." He smiled at her.

They loaded two trolleys and headed into the station. At Platform 9 ¾ Rose took the trolley from her mother and rushed through the barrier first. Within ten seconds of being on the other side she was accosted by photographers. This caught her completely off guard and she nearly ran her cart into a nervous first year and his parents.

"It's her daughter!"

It suddenly dawned on Rose that these were reporters. Obviously word had leaked out about her mother. As politely as possible she tried to shove through the crowd.

Suddenly they all turned back towards the barrier as Hugo and her mother came through.

"Mrs. Weasley is it true that you'll be running for Minister of Magic?"

"Do you think you're friendship with Harry Potter will help or hurt your campaign?"

"Mrs. Weasley can we get a picture of you and your family?"

Ron had now come through and was assessing the situation. He shouted as loud as possible, "Oi! That's enough! My wife and I are here to see our children off to school. We would appreciate it if you would give us these last few minutes to spend with them in peace. Thank you."

He wrapped his arm protectively around Hermione and led her and the children down the platform and away from the reporters. When the crowd made a move to follow them Ron turned and gave them a look that said "Back off" and amazingly they did.

Harry, Ginny and the rest of the Potter clan was up ahead. Rose rushed over to Albus and gave him a smile, "Hey Al."

He grinned at her his dark hair sticking up in few places, "Way to make an entrance Rose."

Harry shook Ron's hand, "Nice to see someone else getting the attention for a change."

Hermione smiled weakly as she bent down to give Lily a hug.

Hugo helped his father and Uncle to store the trunks and then joined Lily who was telling Hermione all about her new broomstick.

Hermione rested a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry about that Hugo."

He shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I might as well get use to it."

Ron glanced at his watch. "You guys better get going. You only have two minutes."

Everyone said their goodbyes and boarded the train. Hermione always felt a pang as she watched the scarlet steam engine depart. The house was always too quiet without the children around.

Ron put his arm around her waist and kissed her temple gently. "Ready to fight our way out."

Hermione looked at him. "As long as you're by my side."

He took her hand. "Always. Hopefully the car hasn't been towed."

He laughed as she playfully elbowed him. "It better still be there."

They said goodbye to Harry and Ginny and fought their way back through the reporters. It was going to be a very long day.