6 years later

Hermione wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks. She shoved the picture album back into her dresser and just sat there, bringing her hands to her face every few moments to wipe away the moisture.

She sighed loudly. "Hey, hey, are you okay?" asked the man lying on the other side of the bed. He wrapped his arms around her neck. "Yes, I'm all right," she said, placing one hand around his. She turned to face him and kissed him softly on the lips, hoping he wouldn't notice her puffy eyes in the dark.

"Listen, I have to go to work, but I love you," said Peyton Sines, kissing her once again. "No, no I don't want you to," said Hermione, trying to stop him. "Hermione, it's already 8, I'm going to be late," said Peyton, pointing to the clock. "I set them an hour forward last night," said Hermione, smiling at him.

Peyton smiled. He had brown, wavy hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and a very hot body. Hermione ran her hands over his arms as he smiled at her. "You," he began, running his hand over her cheek, "are the most amazing woman."

Hermione smiled. "I'm your amazing woman," she said, laughing as he placed his lips on hers.

Hermione rolled onto the bed next to him, both gasping for air. Hermione turned her head and smiled at him. "Maybe next time," he began, pulling on his boxers, "we could do it without the charm." He pushed the sheets off of him and stood up, pulling his boxers up. Hermione stayed on the bed, wrapped in the sheets, watching him dress.

She raised her eyebrows slightly and rested her head on her arm. "Peyton, I already have Tyler, I really don't think we need another little one running around," said Hermione, trying to pass the suggestion he had made off as a joke. This however, only made Peyton upset. "You've been saying that for 3 years, and honestly, I'm sick of it," he said, pulling his slacks on.

Hermione looked up at him, a pained expression on her face. "Peyton, you know that I--" she began. "Hermione, I want babies with you. And I want to put a ring on your finger, and I want to stand in front of a bunch of people we love and say 'I do'," said Peyton, getting on the bed and putting his face right next to hers.

Hermione placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm just not ready," she said, pushing her lips softly against his. He pulled away from her quickly and began pacing on his side of the bed, grabbing his hair in frustration. "I know you want to find a suitable father for Tyler, unlike his real asshole of a father who decided to get you drunk and use you one night. You know I'm that guy who can be there for you and him for the rest of your lives. Tyler loves me, you know he does, and I would like nothing more than to be his father and your wife," said Peyton, his voice getting louder with each word. Hermione looked at him, trying to keep the tears from coming.

"And I want that to," she said, putting her head down for a moment. "Just not right now," she said, tears sliding down her cheeks. She couldn't look at him. It was too painful. He sighed loudly, knowing he'd pushed her too far again and leaned down and kissed her on top of the head. "I'm sorry babe, you know I only push you because I want you so bad," he said, running his fingers through her hair.

"Don't be so afraid of losing me. Honestly, do you think someone's going to take me?" she said, kissing him firmly on the lips. He smiled. "If anyone ever tried to take you I'd take them out," he said jokingly, returning the kiss. He released her and quickly finished getting dressed. Hermione put her underwear, bra, and t-shirt back on. Peyton finished getting ready and kissed her again, saying his goodbyes and apparating to the Ministry.

Today was Hermione's day off, and she was taking full advantage of it. She had already planned a shopping day with Tyler, as his birthday was only two weeks away. He would be 6 years old, and already he was beginning to show signs of wizardry. She got a quick shower, knowing Tyler would be up very soon, and quickly dried her hair and put on a blouse, jean shorts, and sandals. She fixed her hair, getting rid of all the crazy curls that had been attached to her head for so long, and went into the kitchen to make breakfast for Tyler.

She searched the cabinets for a skillet and a pan, deciding she would make pancakes, bacon, and eggs, Tyler's favorite. Tyler came in a few minutes before breakfast was ready, still in his broomstick pajamas, his hair askew and 'sleepys' in his eyes. "Hi mommy!" he said, running forward and jumping into her arms. Hermione laughed and lifted her son in the air, fixing his ginger hair with one hand. "Hello my handsome little man. You ready to get some birthday presents?" she said, wiping his eyes with a wet paper towel. Tyler nodded and squirmed out of Hermione's arms. Hermione fixed his plate and set it down in front of him, and he began to eat quickly. He had certainly gotten his appetite from his father.

Just as Tyler finished his breakfast, Hermione heard the mail post came in through the slot in the door. "Oh, Tyler, honey, will you go get the mail for mommy?" she said, as she put the dirty dishes in the sink, clearing them away with a flick of her wand. Tyler was back as soon as she finished with the dishes and handed her the mail. "Go get dressed, we're leaving in 10 minutes," she said, rustling his hair as he bounced off and into his room. Hermione sat down at the table and looked through the mail, which was mainly bills.

However, at the very bottom of the pile, just under the edition of the Daily Prophet, was a small envelope addressed to Hermione from none other than Ginny Weasley. Hermione could only stare at the letter for a moment. She had not heard from Ginny in 2 years, perhaps because Ginny had gotten so wrapped in her relationship with Harry and helping to care for Bill and Fleur's children that she simply had no time to write. Or perhaps because Hermione's responses to Ginny's letters were usually dull and unemotional. Not that she meant them to be, but every time she thought of Ginny, she thought of him, and she was suddenly filled with hurt and anger.

She ripped open the letter, and once again stared at it, considering not even opening it and throwing it away. It was probably just a letter asking how she was, what she was doing, and how Tyler had been. Her eyes wondered to the trash can. It would be so easy to just rip it into pieces and throw it in the bin, never to think of it again. But Hermione knew she couldn't, not after 2 years she couldn't just ignore a letter from her best friend.

The letter seemed to be hundreds of pounds in her hands. She opened it, revealing 1 long paragraph.

Dearest Hermione,

Our lack of communication is not something I have enjoyed the past couple of years. It is very discomforting to know that we no longer speak. I have always thought of you not only as a best friend, but as a sister. However this is not the reason I am sending this letter. Harry has proposed. Actually he proposed a while ago. Nearly 5 months ago, and I've been so busy with the preparations I forgot to send a letter to you. I'm asking you to be my Maid of Honor. If not, I completely understand. It it rather short notice, I know, as the wedding is in three weeks. If you could, we're asking you, and Tyler, and Peyton to join us as soon as possible. It is my fault, so I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Please send a letter back as soon as possible. I would love you to be there for me and Harry. Thank you and once again I am sorry for the inconvenience.

With love, Ginny

Hermione read the letter over twice, surprised at Ginny's unusual forgetfulness. She was always on top of things. Three weeks seemed so close, and of course she'd have to call off work. And pack her and Tyler. And then there was Peyton, who would have to miss work as well. Hermione sighed and got a spare bit of parchment.

Ginny,

Yes, it has been long since we've spoken. I miss you and Harry, and my parents, and the entire Weasley family, it has been very hard on me all these years. Tyler and I will be there in a few days for the wedding, as I would love nothing more than to be your Maid of Honor. I believe Peyton has a few important business meetings in the next week or two, so it may be possible that he come for the wedding, just not beforehand. It is rather short notice, but don't be troubled. We all forget things sometimes. I will see you in a few days. We can meet at Burrow on Friday at 10 AM.

Love, Hermione

Hermione placed her letter inside an envelope and whistled for her and Peyton's owl, Snowy, to take the letter. Tyler had named the owl when they had gotten him 2 years ago. The first word out of his mouth when he saw the bird was "Snowy", so Hermione had decided that would be its name. Snowy flew to the window and out of sight, the letter attached to his leg.

"I think it's a great idea," said Peyton, opening up the fridge and grabbing a butterbeer. "Y-you do?" asked Hermione following him as he used his wand to heat up a cold slice of pizza he got from the fridge. "Well sure, Tyler will get to spend his birthday somewhere new, I mean, he's never been out of the state, much less the country," said Peyton, biting into the pepperoni pizza slice. Hermione looked into the distance for a moment, realizing he was right: Tyler had never been anywhere except there, not even out of the state. Hermione was very protective of him.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, well, I'll start packing then," she said. "Mind if I join you in a couple weeks, babe? I still have a few meetings I have to go to," Peyton said, finishing off his pizza. "Oh, um no, of course, I wouldn't want to keep you from work," she said, taking a sip of Peyton's butterbeer. Peyton smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. "I'm going to miss you and Tyler, so much," he said, kissing the top of her head. Hermione wrapped her arms around him, taking in the familiar scent that had radiated from Peyton ever since they had been together: mint. It was an odd scent to smell on a person every time you were around them, but Hermione had eventually gotten used to it. "I've got to go, babe, they want me back at office," he said, pulling away from her.

"Now? It's nearly midnight," said Hermione, placing a kiss on his lips. He kissed her back with enthusiasm. "Sorry babe, me and Ephram have to get this work done," he said, and with that he apparated, leaving Hermione standing alone in the kitchen. Hermione left the kitchen and went into her and Peyton's bedroom. She pulled her trunk out from under the bed and began packing. She missed packing the 'old fashioned way', taking the time to fold each shirt and pair of pants neatly and placing it in the suitcase or trunk by hand. Now her wand did all this for her. Hermione took out her wand from her pocket. She looked at it for a moment, and set it down on her bedside table.

She first decided to pack her underwear and bras. She took out each bra and each pair of underwear and folded them up neatly. She figured she'd be staying for atleast a month, so she needed mainly all of her bras and underwear. She pulled out each bra: some pink, some blue, some with fancy designs on them, some purple, and some old ones she didn't know she had that she threw into the trash can. And then she saw it. What he had bought her. He had bought it for her a few weeks before she left, and she had immediately washed it, put it on, and put it on to good use for him.

In the very back of the drawer, shoved in the corner, was the lingerie he had gotten her so many years before. She had shoved it in the back of the dresser the day they moved there and had never thought to take it out since. However she had thought of it, nearly every day since then, for it was the lingerie Hermione had had on minutes before Tyler was conceived. She took out the purple lacy bra and the matching purple underwear and held them up. They had only been worn once, that night, and they looked brand new.

Peyton had found it once, and insisted she put it on for him, but Hermione had insisted that they no longer fit her, using wandless magic to remove the tag before Peyton could check. But the truth was Hermione wanted to keep them, just to remember not him, but just a tiny piece of her past life, and of how Tyler had been conceived. She laid them down on the bed, deciding to deal with them later, and continued packing, eventually putting her last pair of jeans into her trunk. She was just about to close up the trunk when her door creaked open and Tyler appeared.

Without thinking, Hermione grabbed the lingerie and shoved it into an empty pocket on the inside of the lid of the trunk. "Mommy," said Tyler, walking towards her as Hermione zipped up the pocket. "What's wrong, Tyler?" she said, picking him up. He looked rather tired. "My throat's dry, can I have some water?" he asked, placing his hands on his mothers shoulders. Hermione smiled at him. "Of course," she said, exiting her room and walking to the kitchen, her trunk closing and latching tightly behind her.

Thank you so much for reading and sorry for the delay. I plan to have another chapter up soon, as I have gotten into writing a lot during my Christmas break. My break ends the 4th, so hopefully I'll have another chapter done by then. Once again thank you for reading and please review!