A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. My computer gave out on me and I just got a replacement!
Things hadn't been easy for Hermione, Draco and Apollo. The morning after the dance Hermione and Draco were called into the Headmaster's office.
"Hermione I'm very sorry" Dumbledore started as Hermione leaned heavily on Draco.
"Your parents passed away late last night" Dumbledore finished.
Hermione couldn't take the weight of what she had just been told and sunk to the floor, Draco along with her.
Hermione attempted to pull herself together to ask one question…. "How am I going to tell Apollo"
After she whispered her question she passed out from the grief and the weight this put on her shoulders.
While Hermione was passed out Draco sat by her side only once to owl his parents to let them know what was going on. As he sat there beside her many visitors had stopped by to bring Hermione well wishings, it had been a while since the last visitor and he was starting to get anxious about Hermione waking up when their group of friends walked in.
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Pansy immediately ran to check Hermione's condition and to see what they could do to wake her up while Blaise went to check on Draco.
"How are you holding up?" Blaise asked Draco.
"It doesn't look good Blaise. Madame Pomfrey said that its up to Hermione to determine when she is gonna wake up" Draco answered with a frown.
"SO" Pansy rounded on Draco "What happened when you two disappeared from the dance last night?" she asked
He group then turned to look at Draco for his answer.
"Well I don't know where she went but I had a nice moonlit walk with a beautiful woman" he answered with a smirk.
"If you're gonna tease them at least tell them the whole truth" Hermione said softly from her hospital bed.
"YAY! You're awake" Ginny said as she jumped on Hermione's bed.
"So what's the truth?" Pansy said hoping that she was right about what was going on.
"I went out with on the grounds with this charming gentleman" Hermione said with a sleepy smile on her face.
After she said this you could see the wheels turning in Pansy and Ginny's minds, but the guys on the other hand had disappointed looks on their faces.
"So Hermione what was this gentleman's name?" Ginny asked.
"His name was…Ashton" Hermione said quickly coming up with something.
"Uh huh" said Pansy "And what was the name of the beautiful girl you were with" she said as she turned to Draco.
"Um…..Her name was….Elizabeth" he replied hesitantly.
The girls laughed when they figured out what was going on and hugged Hermione, while the boys still sat confused.
Ginny walked up between Harry and Ron and smacked them on the backs of their heads "They went with each other you dunderheads"
"No they didn't" Ron defended "They went with Ashton and Elizabeth"
"Ashton is Draco's middle name" said Pansy
"And Elizabeth is Hermione's" Harry said finally understanding what was going on.
"So was it? Did you kiss? Was it good?" Ginny gushed and everyone groaned but Pansy.
The guys realized what was coming and left the girls to their gossip.
After the Pansy and Ginny left the hospital wing Hermione was left to think about the news she had received that morning.
"What am I going to do?" she asked herself
Silent tears rained down her cheeks as she went through her memories of her parents, all the laughs, holidays, special moments that she will never have again. Neither would Apollo. Then she thought of the things that her parents would never see, her graduation, grandkids, Apollo's first day of school (he's in a learning daycare but it's not the same).
Draco walked in while she was still thinking. He immediately went over to her and wrapped her in his arms, wiping her tears as they fell.
"Babe tell me what's going through your mind?" he asked softly in her ear.
"My parents" is all she had to say and he knew exactly what was wrong.
They sat there in silence Hermione cradled in Draco's arms as she cried for the loss of her parents, for Apollo no longer having a mom and dad, and lastly for herself.
Together that sat wrapped in each other's arms as Hermione's tears subsided.
"Draco what am I going to do? I'm not capable to take care of a child and I refuse to pawn him off on your parents" Hermione said having a conniption.
"We are going to get through this the same way we have been all year. Our friends and family are going to help us. I will not leave you and Apollo to deal with this yourselves. We will get through this" he reassured her kissing her lightly on her forehead.
Shortly after her break down, Hermione was released from the hospital wing with a clean bill of health. The two of them went down to dinner told everyone what had happened and the group told Hermione that they would be there for her and Apollo whenever they needed.
Hermione was called to Dumbledore's office again after dinner. This time Mrs. Lee was there with them.
"Hermione dear I am sorry for your loss" Mrs. Lee said as they all got settled into chairs.
"Hermione we do not intend to rush you by any means but with Apollo coming back from the Malfoy's tomorrow night we must know what your plan is." Dumbledore said.
"We will continue as normal with Apollo residing here with me. It that is alright with you Headmaster" Hermione started
"That is fine with me" Dumbledore interjected and Hermione nodded her thanks.
"As for when I plan on telling him…probably tomorrow night. There is no need to prolong the inevitable and I fear that if I wait too long he will resent me later on in life. I also feel that if I tell him tomorrow when he returns he will not only have me for support but the support of my friends as well, they have grown to love him as much as I do." Hermione finished.
When Hermione looked up from her hands that were in her lap she saw a look of awe on Dumbledore and Mrs. Lee's faces.
"I believe that you are correct in your thinking Hermione, and I will give you Monday off from classes for grieving purposes." Dumbledore said with a sad smile.
"Thank you Professor" was all Hermione said before she was dismissed to go back to her rooms.
When she arrived at her portrait Ginny and Pansy were waiting for her.
"What are you two doing here?" she asked with mild curiosity.
"Well our best friend has been through a tragedy and we believe that she needs a girls night" Ginny responded and Hermione inwardly groaned.
"This isn't going to be like every other girls night we had, where you insist that I need a makeover and I end u having to do a fashion show in the most audacious outfits is it?" Hermione said with a look just shy of horror on her face.
"No I would never let her do that" Pansy said concealing a smirk.
"Ok I guess we can have a girls night" Hermione said letting them into her portrait.
After about 4 butterbeers, a bottle of firewhiskey, and copious amounts of cookie dough Pansy and Ginny convinced Hermione that she indeed should put on a fashion show…but this time they would be picking lingerie for Hermione to model.
Countless of sets later the girls unanimously decided on a set that Hermione should wear on her next date with Draco.
It was nearing 3am when the girls started to settle down and watch a movie….they decided on the notebook, you can't have girls night with out a good cry movie especially with the day Hermione had had.
The Ginny and Pansy were asleep by the time the movie ended but Hermione was still wide awake with fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
Her thoughts clouded of memories that wouldn't leave her alone. She knew that getting over her parents murder was going to be a long road and this was just the beginning.
