Trapping The Parents

Chapter 4: Going Back To Hogwarts

Six Hours Ago

Granger Family Flat, Elstree, England

He held her tightly in his arms; it was the only place where she felt safe. His comforting body was the only thing that kept her strong. She always felt this way when she was with him.

"I almost lost you," he said holding her tighter. "both of you." He added pulling away to caress her lightly swollen stomach, where there child lay within her.

"It wasn't your fault." She whispered her voice fraught with sadness. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes yet again.

"I should have been there for you." He whispered back to her, his voice harsh. He had just endured quite a battle. A battle that could have ended badly for all three of them.

"You are here now, and that it is all that matters." She answered back, pulling his chin down so she could see into his eyes.

"I should have been here all along, I'm so sorry for ever leaving you." He pulled her against him even tighter, afraid she would break.

"It's all forgiven now-

"Mum!" Hermione shook her head as her daughter made her lose her place in the book she was reading. "It's time to get going; if we don't leave soon then we won't make it home until midnight."

Normally Hermione loved to spend an hour in bed after waking up to read and relax, guessing on her daughter's tone is sounded as if someone had woken up very early this morning. Sighing deeply, Hermione closed her book. She would have to finish reading about Lady Isabella and Lord Damon, the Duke. A forbidden romance between a destitute young woman and the black sheep of the London ton, it was cursed from the very beginning.

Yes, she was indeed reading a sappy romance novel. It was the only way she could live out her own romantic fantasies. The ones that she never got a chance to have. The ones she dreamed of since her teenage fantasies.

"Mum! Come on, get out of bed! Let's get going!" Rose called out once again, and Hermione could hear her daughter shuffling around in her room. Hermione turned to look at the clock; it was only 7:21 in the morning. This was not exactly how she wanted to wake up on her day off.

Stretching one last time in the warm comfort of her bed, Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself to get out of bed. It was time to make breakfast.

Present Time

Flourish & Blotts, Diagon Alley, London, England

"Oomph." She hit the floor with a thud, it didn't hurt but some of her things went flying out the bag. Clothes spilled onto the floor, as well as the bags of cat food and owl treats. Great, just great. Inwardly she cursed in her head.

"Granger, I wonder when I would see you here." A familiar voice teased before she looked up to see the man to whom the voice belonged to. "Sorry, about that. Here let me help you." He then offered his hand down to her to help her up. Once she was up, he helped her pick up the bags that had spilt on the floor.

"Malfoy, how nice to see you again." She responded, though she was curious why Malfoy was also here to begin with.

"I'm here to go book shopping, isn't that why you are here also?" He said with small smirk upon his face. Her face must have told him what she was thinking.

"Yes, that is exactly what I planned to do. Now if you excuse me," Hermione said fixing her skirt, trying to find a way around Malfoy who took up most of the aisle. She didn't really want be here right now, right after she made a fool of herself in front of him. It was quite embarrassing.

"I wouldn't if I were you, unless these are yours." Malfoy stopped her, holding out a piece of red frilly lace in his hand. It was the thong she had just bought today.

Hermione's face burned. This was so embarrassing, but she wasn't going to let him know that!

Why did he have her thong?

"Give me that!" Hermione cried out trying to reach for her underwear that was trapped in Malfoy's clutches.

"Uh, uh, uh!" Malfoy shook his finger at her, holding her underwear above reach of her hands. Hermione could have used a hex on him but instead she threatened to hit him where it mattered. Still, he clung to the scrap of lace in his clutches.

This situation was starting to sound just like the argument their children had last night.

"Malfoy, let go of my underwear!" Hermione hissed under her breath. This was getting worse by the minute. Why was he holding her underwear as hostage?

"Or what?" Malfoy taunted.

"I'll hex you." Hermione muttered, Malfoy's behavior was starting to piss her off. But she didn't want to lose her cool. Not right now, and especially not like this.

"You wouldn't dare!" Malfoy smirked at her, when she dove at the underwear with his hands he only held it above them, right out of her reach. She tried jumping, but he taunted her as bullfighter would taunt the bull.

"Give me my knickers!" Hermione hissed at him, when her jumping tactic seemed futile. Draco in turned smiled inwardly, so he had her attention now.

"I will, for a price. I don't work for free you know." Draco was going in for the kill.

"Anything, please. Just give me back my knickers!" Hermione choked out, this was highly humiliating. Even though this was blackmail, she didn't want her knickers getting into the wrong hands. Especially anyone else's.

"Then go on a date with me." Draco said simply. His words caught her off guard. Whatever it was she wasn't expecting. Hermione's eyes widened nearly to the point where they would fall right out of their sockets.

"Date?" Hermione asked, completely shocked. Her words seemed foreign as she echoed the words with her lips.

"Yes, a date. I'm sure you've heard of one, much less been on one." Draco Malfoy chuckled; his grey eyes met hers for a moment.

"But the kids-"Hermione started a bit speechless before Draco cut her off.

"We will be two kids less, next week. It would be just you and me, for the rest of day. How bad could it be?" Draco said, pointing out the obvious.

"But-"Hermione started once again, trying to find some argument that she could make that would make sense.

"But nothing," Draco amended, shaking his head briefly. "So, what do you say?"

Hermione nodded her head slightly, she was in shock. Shock that the Draco Malfoy, a very eligible bachelor had just asked her out, and also from the shock that she had just agreed.

"Great, see you then." Draco smiled pecking her cheek with a mere butterfly kiss. "I also, suggest that you wear the green ones." The last part he whispered into her ear, before walking off leaving Hermione slumped against the bookshelf.

It wasn't until a moment later that she realized that he still had her red knickers in his hand when he left.

~W~

Once she arrived the bookstore, Rose knew that she was home. At least it always felt like a second home when surrounded by so many books. Rose disappeared quickly into the shelves, somewhere among this store there was a book calling her name. More importantly, the new edition of The Association of Hunters, a book series about a group of time-travelling steam-punk teens who fought demons in order to find a magical and very mysterious key, had arrived the other day. Rose just had to have it; she had been waiting for the book for months. Maybe she could convince her mother to buy her a new copy of Hogwarts: A History, since the Malfoy boy had stolen hers yesterday.

Raven, the kitten, as if not to be forgotten, mewed quietly from her carrier. Rose spoke softly to the kitten, hoping to qualm its' fears. The kitten settled into sleep once again, allowing Rose to peruse through the aisles of books.

Then she found it the last copy of the new edition of The Association of Hunters, amidst the many books in an unorganized bookshelf. She could just envision the feeling of the book in her hands, the smell of crisp new paper. This was so exciting. She found herself just about to reach for the so sought after book, that another hand had snatched the book.

"Hey, I had that first!" Rose spoke turning to look to the owner of the hand.

There standing about two inches taller than her was none other than her blonde haired nemesis. Scorpius Malfoy.

"Actually, I believe that I had the book first. It looks very entertaining; perhaps I might actually read this one." Scorpius taunted her; (just as his father was teasing her mother at the moment) looking at the book that now was in his hands.

"You can't do that, besides from having the book first, which I certainly did. You have to read the first four in the series for anything to make sense." Rose pointed out the number on the side of the book, indicating that it was the fifth in the series. In the same try she also reached for the book, hoping to distract Scorpius for a bit.

It didn't for even still he held the book far above her grasp.

"Nope, I'll start here." Scorpius argued, moving her back a bit with a soft push.

"But it won't make sense." Rose said in response.

"Doesn't matter." Scorpius replied curtly. Inwardly he smiled, seeing Granger's face like that surely entertained him.

"It does, because I certainly had that book first." Rose said, coming around him and simply snatching back the book. She held it tightly in a death grip, while Raven, haven awoken from being jostled briefly mewed a complaint.

"What-" Scorpius spoke, surprised that the girl had even fought back.

"I believe you owe me, since you still have my Hogwarts: A History. Since you stole it from me yesterday!" Rose said tartly, she was still angry about that.

"I don't owe you anything," Scorpius said turning to face her with a glare and a mischievous look in his eyes.

"You do, unless you want your father to hear about what you, James and Andre Zabini did at the beach house." Rose answered looking smug. She had the upper hand now.

"How do you know about that?" Scorpius said angrily, how did this girl find out about that? If word got to his father then everything would be ruined!

"I have my ways," Rose said with a sickly-sweet smile on her face. "Now pay up, because you owe me two books now."

"But it's blackmail!" Scorpius whined, looking around the room for any sign of his father among the bookshelves. Unfortunately his father was dealing with his own Granger at the moment, on the second floor of the shop nowhere near the teen section of literature.

"Exactly." Rose nodded. This was what he deserved; she would have to thank Albus later for sharing that private tidbit of information with her.

~W~

September 1

Granger Family Flat, Elstree, England

Today was the day. It was all leering ahead of her. Today her daughter would be attending Hogwarts, and she would be on a date with Draco Malfoy. Hermione Granger should be happy, even ecstatic but instead she was quite nervous.

If someone had told her thirteen years ago, that she would be going on a date with Draco Malfoy and actually want to, then she would have laughed at their face. For there was no way back then that she would have gone on a date with the blond-headed ferret.

Yet here she was, trying to figure out an outfit. An out that went with the green underwear that Malfoy had suggested. The Slytherin green underwear. After staring at her clothes for nearly twenty minutes, Hermione finally decided on a nice, slimming summer dress that went well with her favorite pairs of platform heels. She put on a natural shade of makeup proceeded to do her hair, but she gave up once seeing how unruly it was today and simply left it as it was.

Today was Rose's day, not hers. So why was she feeling just a little bit excited to be seeing Draco Malfoy?

She wasn't she told herself, but yet her conscience seemed to be saying something else. If things kept going on like this, one might say she was crazy for starting to have an argument with herself. Shaking her head, Hermione did one last check in the mirror, making sure everything was in place.

"Rose, are you ready? Got everything you need?" Hermione called out to her daughter, whose trunks were packed for nearly a month. Grabbing her wand and her camera, she slipped them into her purse and proceeded to see her daughter off after hearing Rose's answer.

In some ways, today couldn't end fast enough. She thought to herself.

~W~

King's Cross Station, London, England

Platform 9 ¾

Draco Malfoy watched as his son greet his best mate at the train station. Meanwhile he too had a reunion of sorts with his own best mate, Blaise Zabini, Andre Zabini's father.

"Hey Drake," the Italian called out shaking hands with him. It had been a couple of weeks since he had last spoken with the Italian man at his villa.

"Hey Blaise," Draco greeted back. "How's Isabella doing?" he asked referring to Blaise's wife, who stood talking to Andre and Scorp at the moment, holding Marc, Andre's little brother in her hands.

"She's a blubbering mess, mate. I don't know if it's about sending her little bebe off to school or if it is just hormones." Blaise added looking at his wife's sixth month of pregnancy glow.

"Good luck with the third one man," Draco advised turning to also look at Blaise's loving wife. "How did you go from the Italian Stallion to a happily married man with three kids?"

Blaise shrugged and blamed it all on pure luck, and those enchanting eyes of hers.

"So are you going back after this?" Draco couldn't help but ask, after a few minutes of idle chitchat.

"I'm afraid so, Isabella has a doctor's appointment later today." Blaise replied slowly. "I'll see you soon, though, right?"

Before Draco could respond, a bunch of redheads filled his area of vision. He watched with amusement as the aging Weasley matriarch try to guide all of her grandchildren to the platform. Whenever he saw them, Draco thought it looked like the numbers always doubled.

Soon enough young James Potter joined Andre and Scorpius, and Draco caught a glimpse of Hermione Granger and her daughter speaking with the Boy-Who-lived. She looked absolutely stunning; personally he couldn't wait until they had that little date of theirs.

~W~

Hogwarts Express

With one last, hug and kiss, Rose boarded the train and promptly waved good bye to her mother. Inside, it had seemed as though every cabin had occupants. Teens and preteens were spread about everywhere. Even Dominique's cabin was full to the brim with people, leaving her to find a place of her own to claim. After fifteen minutes of walking across the cars, Rose found an empty compartment and proceeded to put her things down and read her book. She opened the cat carrier to let Raven explore, but it had seemed as though the little kitten was quite content with taking a nap instead.

It wasn't until twenty minutes had passed when reality sunk in. Here she was, a simple homeschooled girl about to embark on her adventure to Hogwarts. The very idea of going to such a prestigious school seemed very daunting. No longer would she have her little cousins to talk to nor her mother, she would have to make some new friends. This idea scared her a bit; she was all by herself now. Personally she didn't really like the idea of being by herself.

Trying to keep a stiff upper lip, Rose tried to get back to her book once more. But it had seemed as though the new book that Scorpius Malfoy had bought her, just wasn't enough.

It was good timing to, for just as she had set her book down then three boys come through the door. Her cousin James, who she assumed was Andre Zabini and of course Scorpius Malfoy.

"Rose? You're here? This is the only compartment left. What happened to sitting with Dominique or did you get left behind?" James teased her and thus continued to put his bags down. Sitting in the chair across from her.

The sting about Dominique did hurt a bit but she didn't want that to get to her, so she ignored her older cousin, rolled her eyes and continued where she left off in her book.

Scorpius too was surprised that brunette was sitting all alone, except for her cat that was still asleep in its' carrier. In fact it looked as though she would break out in tears any moment. Instead of saying something, he continued to put his things away and took a seat next James by the window. He already had the feeling that this was going to be a long train ride.

Rose had just settled back into her book, when a voice next to her made her jump. "I hope, you don't mind, bella." An Italian accented voice made her turn around.

She looked questionly at the darker skinned boy sitting next to her, with his bag in his hands. "It's fine-" Rose started in response but she didn't really know his name.

"Alexandre Zabini, but you can call me Andre." He said with a smile on his face. Out of all the people she had seen today so far, who would have guessed that this boy would be the kindest?

"It's fine, Andre. I really don't mind." Rose tried to smile back, maybe today wouldn't be so hard after all.

She could do this. Hogwarts here she comes.

~W~

King's Cross Station, London, England

Platform 9 ¾

Hermione cried when her daughter waved goodbye and the train rolled out of sight. She couldn't help it, but at least she wasn't the only one feeling sentimental about this moment. Out of the corner of her eye she could see all the Weasley women try to dab at their eyes, including Ginny. She would be going home to an empty house tonight; no longer would she have her daughter with her.

The idea of being alone by herself all of a sudden hit her. Rose was growing up; soon she would need her mother any more. Hermione was quite ready for that just yet; Rose was still her little baby.

"They grow up so fast, Harry." Hermione spoke through her sniffles as her best friend hugged his wife to his chest.

"That they do, Hermione that they do." Harry answered once Ginny let go of his hug to wipe her face. Albus too, looked around the station expectantly. Soon enough he would also be joining his brother at Hogwarts and then Ginny would only have one left to deal with.

"We'll see you Sunday for dinner at the Burrow right?" Ginny asked, holding Lily's little hand after a little while. It had seemed as though all the parents had congregated together and were now making idle chitchat before heading home.

Hermione looked through her schedule briefly and answered after making sure she had taken Sunday off. "Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll see you guys then." Hermione replied smiling, before waving good bye to the Potter family.

In some ways she was envious of Harry; at least he had a family to go home to. Not that she didn't like just her and Rose, but she had wanted a bigger family. At least she had dreamed of one in the beginning of her marriage to Ron, before things took a turn south.

A voice beside her nearly made her scream. "Hello Granger." Draco Malfoy suddenly appeared next to her. Already her heart was beating way too fast then it should have been.

"Malfoy, you scared me!" Hermione threw him an accusing glare.

"Never mind that, are you ready for our date?" Draco smiled back at her.

Oh, she was ready, she had been ready. Ready for what exactly?

Sorry, I've been late. School started, so blame that and I lost inspiration for a bit but I knew that I had to continued. So on with the story, yes things may be good for now but things will get dramatic once the kids get sorted. How about Hermione and Draco on a date? Sounds exciting, right?

Tell me what you think so far, please. This chapter is for all the favouriters and followers. Five reviews this time please?

I do not own anything, all rights belong to the proper owners.