Chapter 7

"I think it is time we took this show on the road." Hermione announced one night over dinner.

Draco was rather surprised "What did you have in mind?"

"Bulgaria is in the play offs, if they win this game they will be in the World Cup. Viktor sent me a personal invitation to come and watch the game and I think it would be a good step in your recovery to go. As well as a nice treat for Scorpius. You are ready for this."

He looked nervous about the prospect. "I … don't know about that."

"I know it is not easy, but I will be there every step of the way and we can start small. The game is in two weeks. A shopping trip, just me and you to test the waters. To a muggle place so you won't run into anyone you know. If that goes well a longer trip, still in muggle places. Then to Diagon Alley. I everything is still going well, we go to the game." She waited to see his reaction. This was a turning point. He had to learn that it was OK to start living again.

"OK. When do we start?"

She let out a breath she had not known she had been holding. "Tomorrow. I need to pick up a few things and this will be a great trial."

He nodded. "OK, tomorrow then."

The next day, dressed in muggle clothing, she refused to think about how good he looked in muggle slacks and a turtleneck, they went to a small shopping center. He did reach for her hand a few times to steady himself but all in all the trip was successful.

The next night she took him to dinner and a movie. The movie was a great distraction. He was familiar with the concept but had never seen a 3D movie and was amazed that muggles did this without magic.

She praised him for his success without making a huge deal about it. The big test was in a few days when they went to Diagon Alley. They had decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink take a stroll up the street and then go home. He was frustrated that she made him stick to butterbeer. She did not want him turning to alcohol as a crutch to get out of stressful situations and it did not mix well with his medications. The trip was tense for him, but not as dreadful as he had anticipated and in the end they had ended up laughing several times and by the time they got home he was much calmer.

"Well, how do you feel our week went?" she asked him.

Like we went on three dates and this should be the sex one, he wanted to respond, but instead said "Really good, I feel like I can go to this game next week."

"Great, I will let you be the one to tell Scorpius when you are certain and ready."

He appreciated that she let him set the pace for this. It took an additional two days for him to feel 100% confident. He told him over breakfast. The boy was overjoyed to say the least.

"I haven't even told you the best part yet." Said Draco, "Healer Granger knows the members of the team and she is going to let you meet them, including Viktor Krum."

Scorpius' eyes grew really round and he turned to her "Really?!"

"Really" Hermione grinned at his enthusiasm "Viktor and I were very good friends and he wants me to come watch his team play."

Hermione could not understand the sudden change in the child. He went from excited to horrified and sobbing into her chest the next. "I don't want to go to the game. I want to stay here. Please don't go."

Hermione looked at Draco confused. Draco looked as confused as she was.

Patting his back she asked him "what is wrong lovebug? Why don't you want to go?"

"Because then you might leave with him and I won't see you again." She closed her eyes and waited until he stopped sobbing. When he finally quieted down she pulled him back from her so she could look into his eyes. "Scorpius Malfoy where is my ring?" Draco looked confused, but Scorpius pulled the chain from around his neck "Do you remember the vow I made on that ring?" he sniffled and nodded. "I won't always live here. I have my own home. But I will always be your friend. Nothing is going to change that. When I take back that ring I will give you something to replace it. I promise. Deal?"

"But I want you to live here forever. I want to keep you."

"I am glad you feel that way. And you get to keep me. As a friend. But I get to keep my own home."

"Ok. Deal." He agreed, but he didn't sound happy about it.

"OK, now go get cleaned up for your dinner."

Draco looked at her. "That was a wedding ring, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

His brow furrowed. He wasn't sure how he felt about the Weasels ring hanging around his son's neck but since it seemed to bring him comfort he decided to let it go. "I could kill Astoria for what she has done to our son. To avoid me is one thing, but to hurt Scorpius."

"Has she shown no interest at all?"

"None. She has made no contact."

"I am so sorry." She reached out and took his hand.

The day of the game was very exciting for father and son. Scorpius seemed to have gotten over his fears that she would abandon him. When they arrived Viktor was on hand to greet them. "Hermionee! Eet haf been too long! And who haf you brought wif you?" She introduced them around. Scorpius was shy at first but got over it quickly when Viktor got down at his level and discussed Quidditch with him like two old friends. Scorpius told him all about catching the spelled nut, Viktor pulled a practice snitch from his pocket. "Here my friend, use thees, ees much better! You must come back to locker room after game and meet team. They will be glad to haf future player to show off for!" he kissed Hermione on the cheek shook Draco and Scorpius' hands and bounded off.

"Wow" said Scorpius "He is so cool!

"Maybe I have to worry about You running off with him" laughed Hermione, Scorpius grinned.

"Hermione! Viktor said he had a surprise for me in his box! I never in a million years expected you … or … Draco Malfoy…?"

Hermione spun around coming face to face with Ginny Potter.

"When you said you were going on vacation I thought you were going alone." She said with a cheeky grin "But if I had the choice to bring a hot guy I would have chosen that instead too."

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ginny I…"

"Don't worry, I won't say anything and I certainly won't print it do you think I want to have Ron and Harry freak out on me for knowing? No thank you! And who is this?" She smiled down at Scorpius who was looking up at her with something like hero worship.

"This is my son Scorpius" Draco was grinning at Hermione's discomfort. He also did not mind being seen as her date.

Ginny kneeled down "Hi Scorpius I'm Ginny"

He nodded "Ginny Weasley of the Hollyhead Harpies, I have your poster!"

She laughed "It is Ginny Potter now, but I am glad I still have fans!"

"You are the best chaser ever and Healer Granger says you are better Quidditch player than even my dad was."

"Well, I don't know, your dad was pretty good…"

His eyes got really round "Wow!"

The rest of the game was spent quite amicably. There was one tense moment when Scorpius explained how ermione was making his dad feel better by sleeping in his rooms all Ginny said was "I'm sure she is sweetheart" causing Draco to laugh and Hermione to blush fiercely. She couldn't explain and having only that information it certainly sounded damning.

To get over her embarrassment Hermione had a few glasses of wine. And that certainly made everything better. Until she caught Draco looking at her with a sort of hungry look that she wish she did not know what it meant. She wish it did not make her feel tingly. This was a part of his treatment. Nothing else. Wasn't it? It didn't help when Ginny whispered that she gets to be maid of honor. It really didn't help when he pulled her against him to keep her warm when she shivered as they were watching the end of game show alone after Bulgaria won because Ginny had taken Scorpius to meet the Bulgarian team. She couldn't tell him it was not the cold that was making her shiver.

And her objectivity may have been stretched even thinner when they got home and she and Draco shared firewhiskey while curled up on the couch listening to Scorpius drink his hot cocoa and give a play by play recount of the game.

She should have put an end to the night then. And if not then when Cubby came to take a sleeping Scorpius to his own bed. Certainly before She let Draco kiss her. Or she kissed him. She wasn't certain who started that one.

And well before She wound up with her clothes on his bedroom floor.

And certainly before he woke her up in the middle of the night for round two. Or four depending on how you were counting.

She should have stopped it because she knew when she woke up in the morning there was only one thing she could do.