Chapter 4: The Heat
And Harry did miss her. He missed her when she was in Egypt and sent him a photo of herself riding a camel in the desert. He missed her when she was on safari in South Africa and on that unexpected detour to Palestine and Israel on diplomatic business that made him a little uncomfortable. The whole family laughed at the post card she sent of the leaning tower of Pisa, she had charmed it to actually fall over.
Gradually he got used to not having her there to consult when things at work got a little overwhelming. He started to miss her a little less but still got a pang when he got an owl or a letter describing her negotiations with vampires in Mexico, her squabbles with the Ecuadorian Ministry, her week in an Ashram in India. It felt weird that she was having adventures without him and Ron but of course, everything was different now.
He wanted her back. He didn't want her to come back. Whatever he wanted, she would be back in time for Rose and Hugo.
She got in on the morning of the Hogwarts train and made it to the station, literally puffing with exertion in her haste.
It took her a moment to make out the others in the crowd. They had their backs to her.
Harry and Ginny and their smaller ones were there. So was Ron. She was relieved to see that he hadn't brought the girlfriend along. Not because she minded but because she knew the children would.
She swept up behind them, simultaneously tapping Harry and Ron on the shoulders.
They both jumped a little. She supposed she should have known better than to sneak up on trained Aurors.
"Constant vigilance!" she barked, cracking a broad smile.
She was swept up into her families embrace. Even Ron and it was only a little strange.
"You look amazing!" Ginny practically shrieked with sweet Lily concurring loudly.
She was one to talk. How the woman could pop out babies and still have the figure of a teenager was beyond Hermione's comprehension.
"Hermione, you really do," Ron told her, looking at her fondly.
She struck a sarcastic pose, uncomfortable with the attention.
"What do you think Harry?" Ginny said.
"I think you she looks younger, happier too," he said, sending Hermione a wink.
"I'll be happy when I see my children!" she informed them, "Hugo's barely written more than two legible sentences in months."
She and Ron exchange a look that confirmed her suspicions: he hadn't even been getting that.
"Never mind," Ginny soothed, "He'll get used to things. What's most important is that we are all going to have a lovely summer together."
A couple of weeks into that lovely, complicated summer she told Ginny over a glass of wine about the love affair she'd had with a beautiful Mexican man named Guillermo.
She finally admitted that she had married Ron too young. Had never had the certainty that Ginny had felt. Was just as much responsible for the disintegration of her marriage. She could finally admit now that she was even glad for it.
She hoped her children would forgive her soon. Forgive them both.
She confided in Ginny that sometimes, on lonely nights, in strange hotel rooms, in hot countries she would think about Nott and wonder whether he was somewhere near her.
During a particularly brutal heat wave she irrationally decided to do the shopping for the next school term. She dragged her heavy-limbed children to Diagon Alley, consoling them with the promise of ice cream.
They went through the motions, barely managing to distract themselves from their sweaty thoughts even to express interest in visiting their Uncle's joke shop. It was a long day.
Finally they descended on Fortescue's and even managed to secure a table in the shade outside to devour their sweet treat, books and supplies all safely in hand.
The children had actually been remarkably well behaved in the past couple of days. While their aggression had been more markedly directed at Ron it still made for a nice change that they were actually talking to her properly again. Maybe the heat had driven off the energy they required to stay angry. Not that she blamed them really.
She was enjoying the peaceful moment with her little family, catching an errant stream of melted chocolate ice-cream with her mouth as it dripped down her hand. That was when she noticed him staring at her from across the street.
Immediately she raised her hand, smiling and beckoned him over.
"Hello Granger," he greeted her warmly, ducking down to give her sticky cheek a kiss.
She could only hope that he would interpret the flush as due to the heat.
"Theodore, I'd like you to meet my children. This is Rose and this is Hugo."
Nott greeted them pleasantly, enquiring about their ice cream and then complimenting them on their choices.
Finding out that he had been a Slytherin in their mothers year at Hogwarts, Hugo immediately launched into a recount of Gryffindors latest quidditch victory over Slytherin house. Nott pulled up a chair, meeting Hermione's eyes over Hugo's head. He gave her a little smile.
"Hugo darling, I'm sure he doesn't want to hear about how bad Slytherin still is at quidditch."
He scoffed at her, "Really Granger, always a Gryffindor eh? I expected better from you."
"I'm in Ravenclaw," Rose interjected, "We didn't win the Quidditch cup but I think it's all rather stupid anyway."
Hugo poked out his tongue at her and they immediately began an argument about who was in the better house.
"I hear you've been gallivanting around the world Granger," Nott said softly while the children were distracted.
"I heard you were doing the same thing," she replied.
He shrugged, "For a couple of months, reading between the lines in the Prophet it looks like you've been more than making up for some lost time travel wise" he said that with a genuine and encouraging smile which she replied to in kind.
"Well I really have you to thank," she told him, "All those books you recommended really lit a fire in my belly"
She found herself blushing after that last sentence, reminded by his presence once again that Nott was capable of lighting a very different kind of fire in her belly too.
"Mom, I'm finished," Hugo whined a little rudely, "and I want to go home. It's hot".
Hermione shot Nott an apologetic look, "It's been a long day for the kids and I have to take them to their fathers now."
Both Rose and Hugo groaned at this which Hermione found a little embarrassing.
"Alright you two, let's get going. We've got to get you to your Dad's house"
The children both groaned and Hermione made another mental note to sit down and have a good chat with them about the situation with their dad. She only hoped Nott hadn't picked up on their reluctance to see Ron, for some reason the thought embarrassed her.
Nott stood up with them as they readied to leave.
"Nice to meet you Rose, Hugo" he said, nodding to each of the children in turn, "Enjoy the rest of your summer holidays".
The children responded politely and almost succeeded in concealing their sudden impatient desire to escape the oppressive heat now that all the ice-cream was gone.
"Are you back at Flourish and Blotts?" Hermione asked him, "It's only that we didn't see you in there when we were in earlier getting school supplies".
Theo shrugged, "I was on my lunch break probably but yes, I'm there for now. Actually, I'm working on another project at the moment as well".
That had certainly piqued Hermione's interest but one look at Hugo's face was enough to see that the children would not have the patience for her to prove any further.
"Actually Hermione," he continued and she could sense some hesitancy in his voice, he shot a furtive glance at the children before seemingly making up his mind to speak, "I was really hoping to get the chance to talk to you about the project. Preferably over dinner?"
Hermione felt herself colouring, "I'd like that" she replied softly.
A great smile broke its way across Theodore's face, "Tomorrow night?" he asked.
She nodded, "The kids are at their dad's so that should be fine."
"It's a date," he said and Hermione knew that he had meant to convey exactly what his intentions were. She felt her heartbeat speed up in her chest but even that didn't distract her from the way Rose's eyes had suddenly narrowed with realization.
"Bye Theodore," she said, "owl me with the details"
And then she was pushing her two kids by the shoulder in front of her in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. Suddenly she wanted to be far away from Diagon Alley.
But her embarrassment couldn't stop her from peeking over her shoulder.
Nott gave her a cheeky smile as he watched her walk away.
Her head snapped forward and she marched the children onwards.
"Mum," Rose wined, "I think that man just asked you out!" she said, her tone conveying all of the shock she clearly felt.
Hugo scoffed, "No he didn't Rosey," but then suddenly a strange look crossed his face and he turned on Hermione, "Did he mum?"
Hermione sighed deeply, "When we get to your fathers' house, I think the four of us need to talk about your dad and I dating other people" was all she would say on that matter.
"Oh my god it is a date, he wasn't just joking!" Rose squeaked and Hugo merely had the grace to look disgusted.
Hermione's stomach dropped, not only did she have to find a way to convince her kids that their parents were happier apart and dating other people but now she had 24 excruciating hours to agonize over her forthcoming date.