Draco POV

A Photoshoot in your Honor (Song: Sexyback by Justin Timberlake www. youtube watch?v=3gOHvDP_vCs Also in Spotify)

It had been 5 months since I lost Apollo and Daphne. I had almost relapsed in the month that followed and moved in with Coco for the following months. Being in the house alone was too much to emotionally handle. Everywhere I looked Daphne came out to haunt me. Sometimes I thought I heard someone in the kitchen, cooking or hunting for desserts. I would hear a door close and wait for her to walk in. Honestly, my biggest problem was walking past the room we had set up for Apollo. My parents had given us my old bassinet and pram already and we had inherited a family heirloom rocking chair which sat in the corner next to the biggest window in the house. There were silver accents mixed with the green and white decor. Stuffed animals were piled in one corner and unopened gifts from well-wishers were nearby. I often found myself sitting in the rocking chair, staring aimlessly out onto the roads below and wondering what might have happened if we had gotten to the hospital that morning. I had been sitting in the chair when Coco came through my floo to check up on me. There was an unopened bottle of scotch on the mini bookshelf in front of me and a crystal glass. I had been fighting the urge all day. Needless to say, I wasn't left alone again. We packed up essentials and all of Morde's things before going back to her home. I had only recently, last week on October 2nd (Apollo's due date), moved back into the town home. Coco had hired someone to clear out everything and pack it up. All the boxes were labeled with the rooms they were found in and placed in the living room. It had been cleaned from top to bottom and looked like I was just moving in. She walked in with me and after a subtle wand wave the whole place smelled like Cedar and Sandalwood in comparison to the rose and honeysuckle scent Daphne had preferred. Coco levitated some large frames from the pile of boxes and hung them on the walls. One was of my mother taken years ago while she was out in her garden. Occasionally she would lean down and caress a flower before It was a new place and a fresh start, yet again. I had a lot of fresh starts recently.

Most of the boxes were donated to charity to see without being opened. (I asked for the heirlooms and family furniture to be taken back to Malfoy Manor.) Some decor and statues were kept and placed in different rooms. All the dishes and pots and pans and kitchen utensils were replaced. They had never been mine. All the furniture was replaced as well. I had a new sleek mahogany banister installed along with wood to replace the carpet on the stairs. With a few small adjustments, this place felt like it was mine alone and was just what I needed. It was nearly mid-October when everything was settled at home. Finally, I could be there alone and not panic or dredge up old memories. It was time to make new ones.

When I went into work Eddy approached before I made it to the stairs and the smile on his face worried me. He followed me to my office and asked about my morning as we went. He always checked on well beings before springing news on people. If you were having a rough day or appeared tired he would cushion blows or wait a few hours. Inside my office, he handed me an envelope and bounced on his toes as I opened it.

Mr. Draco Malfoy,

You are cordially requested for a magazine shoot recognizing the Achievement of Excellence Award you will be receiving at a press conference prior to the event.

Please be available the 27th of October between four and nine in the evening at Fashion Forward Couture Hall. We look forward to meeting your acquaintance.

~Fashion Forward Magazine

Last October I had been in the running for an "Up and Up" award for being a rising star in the industry. If rehab hadn't been necessary around the same time I probably would have won it too. There was obviously more to be said since Eddy was still leaning on my doorframe. "You know, this is the first time in ten years Brokes and Co has been able to boast both Achievement of Excellence in modeling and design!" He flipped the other envelope dramatically around to display the cursive name on it. Mione Granger. "I've stayed out of your school fued but I expect you both to play nice. This is a shoot you are both going to be in. Enjoy it, who knows, you may have better chemistry than you thought."

His withdrawing heels echoed back at me before it registered fully in my mind. Hermione and I would have a photoshoot (probably a sultry one) by the end of the month. We hadn't spoken, not unless forced by work, since I wiped her memory. That meltdown I had after loosing Apollo didn't count as conversation in my mind. I was still trying to forget it had happened! I knew our two styles matched and that the shoot director would incorperate both into their event. My bad boy look mixed well with the sexy darkness Bombarda Boroque often boasted. I had no doubt our chemistry "matched" as Eddy put it. We had spent too many endless nights talking, laughing, pillow fighting in the Head Tower at Hogwarts to doubt that. We could do this and do it well, no matter how much we had avoided each other. We had gotten better over the past few months. Sometimes I would start a conversation with her in the halls just to see how she would answer. After the second time I did this she started doing it back. I would ask her about upcoming shows and if she was involved. She would ask who I was wearing or modeling for recently. We avoided personal information. Alexander was a bit of a sore spot recently judging by the rumors and parties she went to alone. They were visibly together for about five months before a fight in May that brought him into the office the next day to attempt to mend things. He had only recently come around again in the past few weeks. Since I didn't ask about hers she didn't ask about mine either. There wasn't much to report anyway. I had a few dates now and then but wasn't really interested in relationships at the moment. It was nice just to focus on myself for a while.

Eddy would probably be delivering Hermione's envelope and explaining all this by now. I could only hope she was as good an actor as I believed her to be. In our 8th year she couldn't seem to hide anything from me. Since...graduating she seemed to be all smoke and no substance in her words towards me. I had asked her to coffee, to tea, to any random events and I either received no answers or a cool dismissal. This situation would require cunning and bravery to pull off well. Merlin only knew if we could do this. I decided to try to make peace with her before the shoot came. It was lunchtime when I crossed paths with her. "Hermione, a moment, please? I'm sure Eddy told you about the award ceremony in a few weeks. Would you like to go to lunch together and discuss a plan of attack for the shoot or prepared ahead of time for questions?"

She met my gaze with a blank stare and seemed to calculate unknown causes before the tips of her lips rose a fraction of an inch. It was not a smile nor a smirk but something in between. "I've got lunch dates with Alexander, Eddy, and other clients for the next two weeks. It's getting close to the winter line up and I don't really have the time to go out. Sorry." She seemed a bit remorseful. Maybe. It was hard to tell with her these days. I offered to walk with her to the floo point so we could talk a bit. After a huff, and probably thinking about my past stubbornness, she agreed. Our conversation was much like past ones: talking about what we were working on and new fashion inspirations. I offered to take her to dinner to further discuss the approaching shoot and award ceremony. I knew it was going to go over poorly when Hermione shoved her fingers into the hair around her messy bun and exhaled before facing me. Eddy started walking towards us from behind her and witnessed the whole thing.

"Draco, I appreciate your attempt to make this go over smoothly but it is unwanted. I can forgive you for your past mistakes but I can't forget them. Not now and not ever. It's too painful and still too fresh. Please, just leave. Just leave. You've done enough. Accept things as they are and move on from here. Everything has worked out for the better and you are in a great place. Don't risk it. Don't push your luck. I want you to succeed. Really, I do."

With that, she turned down a different hallway to take side stairs down to the main lobby. She also left me to deal with Eddy who wouldn't leave without details at this point. I needed to talk to someone and as much as he loved gossip he also held his model's stories and pasts in tightly. He was very confidential with things spoken to him. I spilled. Nearly everything. He knew about our developing relationship and about some nights in the tower. I lied at the end though and told him I had brutally dumped her so I could be free. It seemed too sensitive to tell him about her memories and my weak self-esteem. I think he knew there was something more nonetheless, we were too bitter with each other for that to be all of it. Eddy left the lie alone though after I pulled on my hair and kicked at the empty chair in his office. His only response was, "I knew there was some dark secret between you two. Too much angst to have just disliked each other at school."

Instead of prepping with Hermione I did it my own way. After practicing for questions, I'd look in the mirror to make sure all my signature faces looked crisp.

As with most events we'd rather not participate in, the press/shoot sped towards me and arrived faster than I was ready for. Hermione had shot me a few glances those first few run-ins after getting the invitation. There was no discussion about it or understanding reach before hand. Saturday the 27th found us in Broke's and Co. fitting rooms at 2:30 and sharing the make-up mirrors at 3pm. Luckily we would be meeting our escorts and arriving separately. Hermione would no doubt bring Alexander as her date. I planned on surprising them all with mine.

Hermione was picked up by a driver in a covered sports car about two minutes before my own car pulled up. A harrassed looking driver got out, glared, and opened the door for me. My date was already inside, buckled into the seat opposite me, and wrapped in a full shawl to keep outfits clean. "Hello Morde! How are you, friend?" My companion looked about as happy as our driver. When we rode together it was usually with the top down convertible and wind in our hair. Luckily the drive wasn't more than twenty minutes.

Cameras and their crew stood near the sidewalk. Those further up the line still flashed and hummed as Hermione and Alexander made it into the building. I exited the car and walked around to Morde's door. Most of the reporters hesitated as if expecting another grand entrance (like the one Alexander had probably put on) though the ones who began taking pictures right away would get better shots. Mordekizer exited the car with a grace even I couldn't manage. Morde looked more noble than any dog had a right to. (My mother had chosen him for that reason.) He was blacker than the devil, better trained than most Healers, and nicer than Helga Hufflepuff. His lead was made of braided leather and was no longer than a foot. Morde's head was so close to my elbow there really wasn't a need for a longer one. After removing his shawl and seat belt harness we walked the route towards our press meeting. Word of my escort had traveled ahead of us and by the time we reached the raised platform with our chairs there were only 4 and an open space next to mine. My chair was furthest to the left. Next to it sat Eddy with Hermione on his opposite. Alex sat on that end.

Once I sat and Morde occupied my open side the questions began. When asked about Morde and his story I realized this may be a great time to relax everyone before the shoot.

"Shortly after my rehab stint last year, I realized chasing girls and partying got me in more trouble than it was worth. My solution was to settle down, sell my party house, and settle into my townhome. My mother came to the same conclusion and her solution was a puppy. Morde is the most high maintenance relationship I've ever had, right boy?" He had been trained to let out one loud bark then look up and down with those two words. It had been taught to make my mom laugh. It worked here too. Hermione herself chuckled! Thankfully there weren't many more questions.

The shoot was awkward and Hermione openly shot down my attempt to apologize and start over. We were interrupted but she looked relieved and avoided any further discussions. There was an extremely humiliating moment when my zip caught in my pants and Eddy caught us in a compromising position trying to get them off. Alexander was trying to appear normal at dinner after the shoot but his acting -it was amazing he got paid for it- was poor and he was obviously seething. Eddy offered to drive Morde and I back to Brokes and Co after the shoot and there was no avoiding him. He wanted to talk about everything and if we got it over with now I wouldn't have to hear it when I came back to work on Monday.

When I got back to Brokes and Co that night Ed and I were still arguing over the pants. Hermione had been sitting alone in the atrium with her head in her hands and walked over as Eddy kept waving those stupid pants like a black flag. She was able to unzip them now and quickly looked away. Her eyes were watery and I knew it had something to do with Alexander Moore and his black attitude during dinner. Eddy handed her teasers from the shoot as she left. Once the floo went out he turned to me.

"I can't help but think you two were better for each other than Alex is. I could see you two getting back together in the years to come. Breakups heal easily and from what you've said your relationship sounded nice."

Damn Eddy. He was too nosy and I was too tired to listen to his mindless, sneaky prodding as he hunted for gossip. "No Eddy. This one will be more difficult. I lied to you earlier. Our break up was a bit brutal and I can't blame her for this treatment. I didn't just break up with her. I took all of our shared memories and anything indicating we had more than an academic relationship. All the nights getting to know each other, starting to see each other as more than classmates and friends, our romantic evenings, everything but homework in the Head Tower, everything. I thought the spell would fade in a few years. Either her mind found something that didn't fit and worked back from there or I did the spell wrong, which I doubt. I practiced first and am naturally talented with charms. She seemed to remember everything before she started here and that was hardly 3 months after."

"Everything makes sense. I can't blame her. I'd hate you too. You violated her mind and if she had pressed charges you would have been in with the Aurors instead of with the models. She must have cared for you a lot. Remnant feelings or honoring past ones are the only reason you are free to walk around like you are. Merlin! She is trying to heal and has to see your face at every turn. That must be near impossible. Perhaps you should give her space. I'll stop my meddling too. Things will calm down. I'd love to see both of you heal enough to collaborate. You do look delicious in sharp angles and black. Seeing you in Bombarda Baroque tonight has inspired me. Her creations look spectacular on you! I want more images like these!"

Eddy the sassy and quick witted designer had returned as he waved the teasers over his head. Our serious conversation was over. "Other designers do sharp angles and black. Also, she looked better than spectacular. Goodnight, Eddy."

"Goodnight Malfoy."

The next work day I decided to lay of Hermione but still make my presence known. If she were coming in a room behind me I would wait and hold the door open for everyone between my arrival and hers. When we passed in the halls I would send a respectful nod her direction. On the off chance we both were assigned to the same shoot room or ended up in the same location I would nod and ignore her unless spoken to first. She didn't respond with more than confused looks until a few days before I left for the winter holidays. "Malfoy, would you let Eddy know I will be a few minutes late to our one on one meeting this morning? I have a personal matter to handle first." I did my nod. She nodded in return. Finally, a reaction. It was a bit like a small Christmas gift come early. Later that day I was walking past a jewelry shop in Diagon Alley and saw an elegant necklace with a thin cursive G on the chain. It had small but bright white diamonds and sapphires on the loopy edges and fit Hermione's personality perfectly. It reminded me of a clunky version I had given her at Hogwarts. It was the holiday season and I could send her this and ask for forgiveness. It was a whim but I bought it. She wouldn't be getting me anything so it's not like I had to worry about her gift being better.

Hermione POV

P.S. It's with Malfoy (Song: Elastic Heart by Sia www. youtube watch?v=7xPls4pAIzI Also on Spotify)

Anyone who knew me would have realized I was nervous. Alex rubbed my knuckles as he held my hand, though he would think the stress was from press. This was nerves of a unique variety- Malfoy nerves. Only he could give them to me. All through our make-up sessions I had wanted to say something to ease tension but couldn't find anything that didn't sound forced or stupid. Instead I resisted the urge to bite my dark red lip. He was biting his. Alex gushed about work on the way to the Fashion Forward building which was a nice distraction while it lasted. For once, reporters were a plasant distraction as well. Inside I began to feel so nervous everything made me giggle. This was a new one for me. I hated it. A true laugh escaped me when a man sprinted passed and announced that Draco Malfoy had brought a dog instead of a girl. At first the lady being told said it could sit on the chair next to him, on his lap, or be tended to by her assistant. After hearing it was a great dane a chair was removed on the outside of the table and a chef was told prepare appropriately. (We were informed there would be a light appatizer before the shoot and dinner after.) I had wanted a great dane for nearly as long as I could remember. I had forgotten that both Draco and I had wanted one after school. We had planned on moving somewhere together and owning one.

I was jealous. Morde distracted me through the harder parts of the panel. While we, Draco with Morde and myself, waited to go into the room where the shoot would take place I started a conversation. "He's a lovely dog." Draco agreed then asked if I'd bought one yet. This was the first mention of our past- not counting that odd scene in my office. We had talked about plans after school and I said there was an internship or ministry job that probably had my name on it. The joke had been about me working long days then going home to a book and a great dane. When my response took too long Draco released Morde and told him to go say hi. Moments later his huge head was in my lap and those eyes seemed to make everything better (as Ryuu's, the reason I hadn't bought a dane of my own yet, often did) as he looked up at me.

"There's no need to be nervous. Life has grown me up and softened the edges. Hermione, I'm done being an ass. Nothing has made me as sorry as loosing you. If you'd like..."

A photographer and director came in at that moment and thank goodness too! Draco was being entirely too pleasant. He was going to ask if I wanted to catch up and try the acquaintance thing again. Last time we started over we ended up dating and bringing Ryuu into existence. I wouldn't mind having another kid in the future but I hoped the next one was with a husband and YEARS down the road. Hiding one pregnancy/child from Eddy and by extension everyone else was hard enough!

Speaking of Eddy, "Draco! How did you manage to hide this magnificent beast from me for so long? You've destroyed the "final touch" on so many shoots by hoarding this secret!"

"Eddy, you don't get to know every secret. Despite your best attempts. I'm sure you'd love to." Eddy smiled at me. "I've got Miss Granger figured out, at least." When one of my eyebrows rose against my will he exclaimed again. "Why, you must tell me, my dear. I'm dying to know!" There were some secrets he wouldn't know until the smirking blonde behind him did.

"I've always wanted one of these dogs. Bet you didn't know that!" He chuckled and let it drop though I knew he'd be curious for a while. Oddly, it was Draco who should be the inquisitive one. Hopefully, I had gotten my disinterest across enough and he wouldn't ask again. Turning down letters and offers for coffee was easy via owl. Things could get complicated quickly if he got past my defenses face to face. I was more stone faced than my Hogwarts years. Nothing I didn't want to be known was. There lay the problem. My mind and heart warred about Ryuu's secret existence. What if one beat out the other for just a moment and he realized I was hiding something huge from him. He was still a Malfoy, in that regard. He'd be irked until he found out. After he did only Merlin knew what his reaction would be.

Our set was themed red, black, and white. Both Draco and I were in black. His slacks hugged his hips and made all his muscles and butt look even better. A deep V-neck -in dark gray- clung tightly to his arms, shoulders, and abdomen. My black dress was a plunging V-neck, though it dropped much lower than his, with heavy gray pearls and onyx beading. Attached to the corset-like top was an asymmetrical skirt dripping with black feathers. It's high point touched my lower thigh and the lower edge brushed mid-calf. A sheer mesh material continued down to my studded red leather heels and trailed six inches behind.

A red stoned ring was slid onto the fourth finger of Draco's left hand (I noticed he switched it to his index finger immediately) and a similarly stoned chocker necklace was given to me. Eddy wanted Morde in the shots so after being brought some left over red material I charmed a thick collar and added studs, spikes, and a dangling red stone where a name tag would usually hang.

It was a typical cover shoot. A white studded chaise was use used as our main prop and we took a few standing shots. There were a few with chairs too until the couch returned.

"Alright! One last set up then we will shift to dinner. Mione, if you could sit here facing the edge for just a moment while we set up. For this one we are going to have you take off your shirt Draco. Please sit near the armed side of the chaise and put one leg under you. Perfect! The other leg should be wider and a bit to the side. Mione, you can lean back onto Draco's shoulder and arm then kick your feet off the edge a bit."

My hesitance was obvious. Eddy came to the rescue. "It's always a bit awkward modeling with someone the first time dear. Topless only makes it more so. Luckily you've seen him shirtless before." His pause made me wonder if he had correctly guessed one thing I'd hidden from him. "Draco has pictures from past shoots all over Brokes and Co. after all!" I made a joke about Alex' reaction to this set up then turned and leaned on Draco as I had so many years before. He smelled the same. That spicy, warm, late-nights-in-Head-Tower-with-legs-entwined-in-the-blankets-and-hands-on-each-other scent. Oddly, it still felt comforting. "Breathe. It's okay. We've been like this before. Forget about the cameras and lights and company. Pretend we are back in our tower." His lips brushed my ear as he whispered for only me to hear.

Ten minutes and multiple positions and sexy shots later we were led into the half height changing stalls to put on dinner clothes. I was almost into the short dress I'd brought when Draco started muttering spells under his breath. By the time my old outfit's jewelry was off and the new necklace and ring was on the grunting next door had me chuckling. At the click of my door unlocking there was a huff and hesitant question. "Hermione, umm, could you help me? If you thought posing earlier was terrible this is going to be horrid. At least there are no cameras..." His zip was stuck on a bit of fabric. A few minutes later found both of us out in the open. No spells would loosen the designer pants and we were reduced to Muggle tactics. "Hermione, I apologize in advance for any indecent exposure that may happen in the next few minutes." Before my mind thought about it words escaped me. "Nothing I have seen before." He froze. I froze. There was a silent moment before he laughed and made a remark about "how time flies".

Draco held his pants taut while I knelt down and fought the zipper out of the fabric. His new pants sat waiting on a nearby stool. It was pointless. Nothing had freed the fabric snagged in those metal teeth. Draco was still giving it his all when a solution hit me. (Dinner was waiting. As was everyone else.) I magicked the pants off of him and into a pile on the floor. His black underwear was more snug than was proper. The small hole in them where the zip had caught didn't help. The shock was clear on Draco Malfoy's face as he took the new skinny jeans from my outstretched hand. His eyes grew bigger and I turned to find Eddy with a brow raised as he filled the doorway.

"I'll just inform the others you are finished. You have two minutes to...finish this up!"

Draco stood in his tight briefs until the door closed. "I'm sure that looked wrong -or right- to him. I'll clear it up and ask him about new pants on the ride back to Brokes." He quickly pulled on his jeans and tugged on a flowy shirt. Without a pause a comb flew from his coat pocket. Draco fixed his own hair then offered to help me with mine. Now put back together we left the room. Eddy gave us both inquisitive but radiantly happy glances. Those were crushed as my counterpart huffed and began to piss on the designers who made tight pants with cheap zippers. He refused to wear them anymore. Apparently, this wasn't the first time the words "wardrobe malfunction" left his lips. Eddy thought we'd reconciled our differences. He'd had a whole three minutes to grow that dream before Draco crushed it.

Both the salmon and the salad were delicious but my favorite part of the evening was being dropped off at Brokes and Co. with Alex (who had been watching the shoot with some others from Fashion Forward in another room and had not approved. NOT APPROVED.) He was simmering with anger and was even more furious after I'd pointed out a few risque scenes of his own. I hadn't batted an eye at them. He was an actor. Sometimes he had sex on screen with other actors. Sometimes he kissed them. It was part of his job. He didn't see how modeling was like acting in that respect. Alex was being so petty about this. I kissed him goodbye like any other night before going inside to enjoy a few minutes alone. I had to fight off the tears before going home.

Eddy and Draco were back five minutes later and were arguing the merit of the pants Eddy held. For the second time that night I fought the zip. This time, I won! It was easier when they weren't on a body, particularly Draco's body. (Was it wrong to still want him, if only in the most carnal sense? It wasn't like we had a fight or unsuccessful relationship 8th year. We were very compatible and both my brain and body knew it. I couldn't follow through though. I'd get hurt again. I'd get too close or too committed. It was too soon. I had too many excuses. My solution was to never be alone with Draco. There would be time later to mend what we once had. If I wanted to. Eventually.) As I left Eddy handed me teasers from the shoot then returned to arguing about the pants' need to stay in Draco's wardrobe line up.

Ryuu was asleep on the couch near the fire when I stepped out. Ginny put down the book she held and began firing off questions. Instead of answering them I gave her the photos. We both knew it would be a draining shoot but looking at the sneak peaks almost made me glad to have done it. Getting a recognition dinner and award was worth it.

"Hermione, I never realized what great chemistry you have with him!"

"Yeah...No...No Ginny. No. It was hard enough to do the shoot I don't want to analyze it so soon after. We can talk about it later. How was Ryuu?"

He woke at the sound of his name on my lips and came to sit on my lap. I told him the shoot was with his daddy before I'd left. Ryuu thought Draco worked too hard. Saying he traveled for work was only going to be convincing for so long. Ginny gave the photos to Ry and he asked all about the night, thus forcing me to give in to Ginny's questions as well. Within a day those pictures would join the others on Ry's 'daddy wall'. He asked if Draco missed him. I knew Draco missed Ryuu more than he missed anything. He would be crushed once he knew he had a son.

After waking up the next day I realized Draco was a lingering in the corner of my mind. After all this time he still held sway in my mind, in my decisions, my life. It would be inhumane to not help where I could. With that in mind, a conclusion was reached. Ryuu's life would be documented in the Muggle fashion, cameras were already a part of my life and they would be a part of his too eventually. (You can't keep a child hidden forever.) It was time he got used to them eventually.

With camera recording, I walked through the house and found him playing in the grass with his international Quidditch toys. He had over 20 countries teams and watching all 140 miniatures strut, fly, and fight each other often entertained my little blonde for hours. He had trained them all to fly exclusively with their teams and to come to a whistle when he needed to clean them up quickly. "Ryuu," He blew the whistle and all 100+ raced to the carrying case," I've got a new game for us to play. What do you think about making something for Daddy? Don't you want him to see what games you play and tell him all about your day?"

He squealed before grabbing his Quidditch Pro's set and coming far too close to the camera. After quickly asking if we'd send this to daddy and if his hair looked alright (Truly Draco's child!) he began asking where his daddy had been on business for so long. That was my cover for Draco. He was away on business, always business, and would be back eventually.

"Hey daddy, watch what I do! See my roll? I can do so many before I get dizzy. Look this! It's my broom you sent for me! Mommy says you will teach me cool tricks and take me up high on your broom. She gets nervous if I go high but said you could protect me. Are you coming here? I miss you. Mommy shows me pictures because I forget how you look. She has so many pictures! It's a good thing you look pretty because mommy and I are pretty and we don't want to hurt your feelings by looking better than you. Sometimes I get to see the pictures of you in far places, like the jungle, and with coconuts! That's pretty cool but I want you to come home too. I'd let you play with my Quidditch players, any of them, even my favorites."

Our conversations with "Daddy" continued all night because every time I tried to put the camera down Ryuu would scream and cry that Draco was going to miss something. That night he fell asleep with the little blinking light of the camera facing him on his bed. Later, before I went to bed, the camera replayed the moments I had missed. Ryuu had shown the camera all his favorite toys, including thirty-five of the miniature players, his dragon stuffed animal, his broomstick, his pillow, and a charm on a chain. (The charm was a large green and silver gemmed M and had been a gift from Draco about a month before he ran. When I was given it the M was meant to represent Ms Malfoy, his promise that one day we would wed. Now in the hands of my little gent they meant Malfoy, like his daddy. Ryuu thought it was a gift from Draco to him and I hadn't told him otherwise.) Ryuu's final move of the night was to kiss daddy goodnight through the camera, tell Draco he loved him, and tuck himself back into bed. Through the lens his little eyes watched blinking red of the camera until the slowly drooped, despite his attempt to fight sleep, and closed with a sigh. Within two minutes he was asleep. I was in tears and knew if Draco cared enough to watch these he would be in love after day one of filming.

The next morning I woke up to an owl holding a specially enveloped missive. My parents didn't know where I lived and had sent this to Hogwarts via Muggle post hoping it got to me. (Years ago I had told them that confused Muggle parents sent mail that way sometimes and special undercover post workers removed it before giving it to post owls.) I received an invitation to my fathers birthday celebration as well as a short note asking me to attend. Our relationship had begun to crumble when I found them in Australia and restored their memories a month before returning for my 8th year. They had been less than thrilled with my decision to force them into hiding. They were even more concerned with the events that happened while there. I hadn't told them about most of my adventures at Hogwarts. It would have been hard to explain and harder for them to process. My life had been dangerous since joining the wizarding world. I had hoped to grow close again but with the unexpected arrival of Ryuu the strain of our relationship was too heavy and we had a falling out. Thinking about snippets of the conversation still made my blood pressure rise.

"We raised you with morals and values. Allowing you to go to Hogwarts has ruined everything for you...If you had stayed here in secondary school and gone on to Uni this wouldn't have happened... You spent so much time away from us it's like you're from a different family, a different culture...Hermione, we lost you. You chose the wizards over us...I hope that baby's dad shows up again. As long as you have it we will not be supporting you. There is always government support if things get tight. You are clever enough to figure out side jobs too if you need to...We disapprove of your choices...I'm sorry sweetie but this is too much to handle...We still love you but can't be around right now."

By 10 the morning on December 8th Ryuu and I were dressed in sweaters and boots appropriate for the season. I made sure I wore one of my own red and black peplum dresses and Ryuu wore his name brands (Fendi pants with his Dior cardigan topped with his Burbank jacket.) I hadn't intentionally dressed him to be vindictive. His cardigan was his favorite but it was too cold to wear alone in London which added the coat. Most of his pants weren't classy enough to match with the shirt so the designer pants were pulled out. By that point, I couldn't be out-dressed. My self-designed dress and clutch matched his nicely. He wanted his sapphire faced wizard watch so I added pearls to my neck and wrist. We looked like money by the time everything was in its place. At first, I worried, then I realized this might make them hold their tongues. It would certainly make them feel bad for claiming I couldn't take care of myself without my "baby daddy". (Though Draco probably made more and had more in the vaults than I did.)

Before heading to London we stopped at a famous pastry shop nearby and picked up tarts and cakes for my dad. (Ryuu insisted he get his own 4 pack of raspberry key lime cookie tarts.) I always bought him sweets on his birthday. He loved them but only ate them sparingly due to the sugar inside.

It was 11am when we knocked on my parent's door. My note had asked if we could come a few hours before the lunch at 1. To say it was awkward to stand there on their porch would be an understatement. My mother had reached for Ryuu immediately like any grandmother might but he screamed and clung to my legs. She was a stranger, after all. Few toddlers would allow that sort of contact. It hurt her feelings and she seemed to pull into herself before going to get tea. My father quickly ushered us into the living room and sat across from us. Sitting in the living room was nearly as bad. All growing up there were pictures on the mantle and walls. Now there was art as if the photos were tainted or no longer treasured. It was silent as I looked around, Ryuu stared at my father from my lap despite the open seat next to me, and the man in question waited for my mother. She sat next to him on the loveseat.

After a few of those pauses, those usually followed by speech, he said "It's good to see you dear. What have you been up to?"

"I've been busy with work and being a mom. How about you?"

It was my mother that sighed and tapped my leg. "Hermione. We are trying to make amends. It will be hard to do so with you giving short answers."

"It will be hard to make amends in two hours as well. You dropped me out of your lives for over two years and expect me to come back like nothing happened? Everything has changed. I am no one you know. No one you know is similar to me. We would have trouble relating these days. We run different social circles and lifestyles. You want to know what I do for work? I'm not climbing some corporate ladder for minister or president like you would guess. I'm a well-known fashion designer in the wizard world. I spend my days drinking lattes and dressing beautiful models and creating art out of fabric. I have a private corner office in a marble and glass building in a prestigious part of Magical London. After work I go home. My home in France is an old chateaus and more extravagant than any home I have ever thought to own. Ry is usually there flying on his broomstick, playing with toys that levitate, doing any sort of impossible thing in this world. We sit on our arch covered balcony and tell each other about our days before walking through the massive gardens I pay someone to keep tidy. You thought I was different because of the wizarding world? Now I am socially, economically, culturally, and magically different from you. How do you think we can ever mend things? I shouldn't have come."

When I rose with Ryuu on my hip I made it to the door before..."Stop. Please. I miss you. I want my daughter back. I want my grandbaby" Both of my parents still sat on the couch but my father was leaning forward and his eyes held nothing but sorrow and remorse and pleading. "This was part of my birthday present, inviting you here. Your mother is still bitter but I don't want to miss your adult life like we missed your teenage years. I want to take your boy out on the town and spoil him like granddads should. Please, Hermione. Stay and have some tea. Eat lunch with us before the others get here. Maybe you could come over for Christmas and we can have a proper family holiday."

I wanted my dad back as well. When we fought years ago it was my mother who fought with vindictive words and sharp words. My dad had agreed and blamed the wizarding world for my absence. He was right in that regard, though. I was away a lot. "I will stay for an hour. Why don't you come to my place for Christmas? Ryuu has too many gifts, and more coming, to move here and I've already got all the decorations up. Plus, there are some rooms I've still not hosted guests in. It will give me a chance to do so."