Hey everyone. I apologize for my sporadic updating; I'm a very busy college student who's trying to graduate in three years and balance two jobs. Thankfully, I had some time today, so I wrote this in two hours and am hoping you all enjoy! Don't forget to leave a review!
Responses to reviews from the last two chapters (since I didn't do them the last time I updated):
Chester99: I actually want their relationships to be different! Not necessarily an AU type of thing, but more like how things aren't always what they should seem to happen. Hermione doesn't have to have a good relationship with her children just because she's the protagonist, and vice versa for Draco. As for Ron and Rose, you'll get a small answer in this chapter.
MissesE: I'm the same way with my dad, too! I always felt Scorpius would be an insightful character, especially since he's growing up in a post-war era. I wanted Draco's ending gaze to either be interpreted one of two ways: calculating or warm. You'll see this chapter what Hermione does!
Brittany: Rose's behavior is essential to this entire storyline. I understand that reading about horrible children can be a bit heartbreaking, but we're also talking about the same series that included child soldiers and a sixteen-year-old plot the murder of a centuries-old man. The age doesn't necessarily matter. I hope that you can spot the part in this chapter that sort of explain's Rose's behavior. If you can't, let me know and I'll inform you next chapter!
Pepperfishh: There's a reason for Ron's terrible behavior! I do believe he's a wholly childish and immature person, and when you're upset about something as big as not being able to see one of your children, I can understand his actions. However, Ron isn't necessarily the bad guy in this story, even though he his acting of his own accord, and his actions are causing some serious problems!
Viktor Krum was well-known as a terrific sportsman. And, those who first met him often thought he was a bit of what the Americans had deemed a "meathead." However, his closest friends and family knew that he was actually a very knowledgeable man. Most of the problem stemmed from his low ability to speak English properly; being a native speaker of a Slavic language made it more difficult to do so.
Back in the day, he probably had been much more of a meathead than he was now. He was older, wiser. No longer a professional Quidditch player, but, instead, a sideline coach who helped develop strategies and practices. Most people were unaware of his ingenious analytic skills.
All except Hermione Granger.
The two had kept constant contact since he had left at the end of her fourth year. At first, he had wanted something more with her; however, she felt as though the slight three year age gap between the two of them would be a little too much for her. She was also heavily involved in saving the magical world with Harry Potter, and a long distance relationship was something neither of them had wanted to deal with.
And, being the gentleman that he had been raised to be, Viktor respected her wishes.
Then, after everything had calmed down and Voldemort had been defeated, Hermione had married Ron Weasley - whom Viktor had personally never liked - but, since he was more Hermione's friend, he'd supported them in everything. Viktor was the godfather to their two children, which had angered Ron immensely, but Hermione had persisted nonetheless. And, while Viktor never had the opportunity to see them often, he still enjoyed reading Hermione's letters or Skyping them.
Currently, he was sharing a hotel room with Hermione because all of her things had been taken.
Now, Hermione was too tired to deal with Ron at the moment, and Viktor understood that.
But that didn't mean that he couldn't.
"No, Viktor. That's not what is going to help me here," Hermione sighed, staring down into her mug of hot tea. "I just need to go buy new things. All that furniture reeked of him anyways."
"But it's the point, Hermione," he said, his voice thick.
"I know, Viktor. I just want some radio silence at the moment. Things are super stressful as it is. Kingsley is upset that I'm taking all this time off to help rebuild the field, when he had approved of it three weeks ago. And, Astoria has been constantly contacting me about how her son is doing, but how can I tell her any of that when my own daughter isn't talking to me? And, Hugo refuses to spend time with me anymore because of the things Ron has been feeding to him, and I really think Lavender's staying with him in his new place because Hugo keeps talking about there being Wolfsbane potion all over Ron's flat. Oh, and Hugo's also been getting these bruises which strangely remind me of Muggle cancer but I took him to see a Healer and she said nothing was wrong, but the poor boy is so pale and I don't know what to do and -"
Viktor leaned forward, placing a hand over Hermione's. "It's okay, Her-mi-o-ne." At her incessant shake of her head, he smiled softly. "Tell me why you wanted me here. We'll talk about that now."
Hermione nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'm sure you heard about the immense fire my child caused. Well, we have to rebuild it, and everything is up to us. Now, Draco Malfoy has given assurance to Minerva that we could use the Malfoy vaults for it. However, I'm unaware of what to do. Draco's only played in stadiums, but he's unaware of the mechanics behind it."
Viktor nodded. "You need someone that knows Quidditch. Me."
"You."
"Do you have blueprints?"
Hermione smiled widely. "Of course!" She grabbed her bag and pulled out a stack of small papers, which she tapped lightly with her wand, and they enlarged to include the dimensions of the field. "Our first get together allowed us to be able to figure all of this out. I was thinking that the students deserve something a bit more professional grade, something that will entice parental involvement and assurance that Hogwarts is doing better than ever. I'm afraid that people will pull their children out if they feel it'll be too dangerous again."
Viktor nodded, twisting the papers towards him. "I can work with this. Give me three days."
"Oh, thank you so much! Now, would you like to accompany me to the furniture store Astoria recommended for me? Or do you need to be getting anywhere?"
"I'll go with you. I'd love to see Hugo today, though."
"Definitely!" Hermione put the papers back in her bag and they left the hotel room to shop for furniture.
"So you talk with Astoria now?" Viktor asked as they perused the very high-end furniture scattered around the floors of the modern shop.
Hermione glanced up at the bright track lights hanging from the ceiling. "Yes, as weird as that is. I just hope she doesn't think she can have an opinion on my votes for Magical Creature laws."
Viktor snorted. "It's okay, Her-mi-o-ne, I'm sure she appreciates your help."
"I'm sure she does." Hermione smiled at a salesperson as he approached with a large black binder filled with custom furniture.
Three hours later, and Hermione had spent almost all of her fortune to refurnish her home. Thankfully, everything fit better with the character of the home more than the previous furniture had, but that was probably because she and Ron had been more focused on their children than what their home looked like.
Something Astoria probably never had to worry about.
As they left the furniture store, Hermione continuously thanking the salesperson for his tremendous help, her cell phone rang. When the heard the voice on the other end, she instantly paled.
"Viktor, we have to go to the hospital, now!" She grabbed his hand and apparated them instantly on the spot.
For someone who loved flying, Viktor hated apparition. It terrified him to no end that he couldn't really see where he was going, only hoping he was going to end up where he imagined. However, he was in an area where he just had to trust Hermione's locational abilities.
And, thankfully, she was spot on.
Viktor had never been into England's magical hospital before. It reminded him of the ones he would see on American television shows: bland and monotone. The walls were all white, and the ceiling was all tile. "What's wrong?" he asked as Hermione took his hand and led him through the halls.
"Hugo's in the emergency room. He passed out at school," she told him as she marched up to the information desk with him. "Hermione Granger here to see my son, Hugo Weasley. He was admitted five minutes ago."
"Ah, Ms. Granger. Healer Malfoy said to be expecting you. Here's the pass to get the elevator to work. I hope your son feels better. Should we contact Mr. Weasley about his son?"
Hermione paused. Would it be worth it? Ron would go in, guns blazing, especially if Draco was caring for Hugo at the moment. Sighing, she relented, despite her gut telling her otherwise. "Of course. However, please refrain from mentioning who is caring for him. Tell him that when he gets to the information desk, I will come down and escort him up. Thank you."
The nurse nodded, and Hermione and Viktor proceeded to find Hugo's room. After having another nurse escort them inside, Hermione had to stop herself from blanching at seeing her youngest child laying on a hospital bed.
It reminded her so much of seeing Ron after he'd been poisoned that she almost couldn't hold it together.
Viktor took a seat in the large arm chair that was up against the window on the far side of the room, watching his friend straighten herself out so that she could take care of her son. The sound of an identification card being swiped through the lock sounded through the room, and Malfoy walked in with a colleague of his, who startled when he noticed Viktor in the corner.
"I was unaware you knew young Mr. Weasley," he said, moving to shake the man's hand. "Dr. Ryan Wundee. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Krum."
"Yes, it is. However, I believe you have a patient to discuss," Viktor noted, nodding towards Hermione, who was sitting on the edge of the bed her son was sleeping in.
Ryan nodded. "Of course, sir. Ms. Granger?" Hermione turned towards him. "I'm Dr. Ryan Wundee. I'm an oncologist here at the hospital that bridges -"
"Muggle medicine with magical. I'm aware, Dr. Wundee. America is one of the countries that prides itself on an inclusive culture that I wish England would take on; however, that's not my department. It's a pleasure to meet you," she stuck out her hand and smiled grimly as Ryan shook it.
"I told you she talked a lot," Draco muttered, smirking at his former classmate.
Hermione smirked back, but it vanished when one of the monitors beeped. "So, he has leukemia or something similar?"
Ryan nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately, both the magical and Muggle worlds don't have very much in terms of treatment, but the outcomes do look better now than they did when we were his age."
She sighed. "I knew it was cancer. But Ronald never allowed me to have him seen by Muggle doctors."
"Mr. Weasley never appeared to be the type to undermine Muggle technology and treatment. I'm sorry he felt that way." Ryan dipped his head. "Thankfully, Healer Malfoy was on call in the emergency wing when your son came through. He knew to call the both of us. I can give you the treatment brochures if you'd like."
"Yes, please. Thank you."
"So there's no magical treatment?" Viktor spoke up from his place. All three adults turned to him, and the two men's faces looked grim.
"Unfortunately, no. Most members of magical society do not experience this phenomena unless they've been harmed consistently with a Cruciatus curse. However, it has been creeping up more recently with children of Muggle-borns that breed with Purebloods." Hermione and Draco stiffened, and Ryan sighed. "I know blood status isn't something people like to talk about here anymore, but where I come from it's never mentioned, either. Our outlook is completely different, though. It isn't because there's been discrimination; it's because we don't see that way. Blood is blood to us. But, we also know that because the magic manifests differently - is, in fact, stronger with two parents who have had magical blood running in their systems for generations - sometimes children will get sick faster than others. Half-blooded children tend to have more problems with their immune systems. It's completely contrary to Muggle inbreeding. In the magical world, inbreeding is good. Magical blood is different than Muggle blood. There is actually an extra chromosome in a magical person's blood."
"Then how can you explain the influx of Muggle-born children?" Viktor asked. Draco arched an eyebrow. He never recalled Krum posing such intelligent questions when he'd spent the school year at Hogwarts for the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Ryan went to speak, but Draco beat him to it. "The war. Magic is often explained with science - it's why we Healers exist - but it's also a connection with nature. This explains why Muggles are so much more advanced in science and physics than we are; nature has been able to provide for us. During the war, so many lives were lost because of someone who prided himself on blood status -" he paused, clearing his throat awkwardly "- that nature recognized we needed more magical beings. And so, in the eleven years since the war, there have been more magical men and women becoming part of our society. Unfortunately, it puts strain on the secrecy statute because more Muggle-borns means more Muggle parents aware of magic, and the chances they might let something slip becomes higher."
"So you still view Muggle-borns as a problem?" Viktor asked, attempting to trap Draco with his words.
Hermione sighed. "Viktor, stop. Malfoy is different now than he was back then. He's not diminishing Muggle-borns, just expressing the consequences of their existence." Her eyes darkened a bit. "I never denied the consequences of being a Muggle-born, I just thought I shouldn't be treated poorly because of it."
Draco shook his head. "And you shouldn't have. However, your condition has created a condition in your son. You won't have any issues because your blood is purely magical in an odd sense, but your children will. All sorts of issues from medical, like Hugo's, to physical to emotional to -"
"Mental," Hermione murmured, as if something had dawned in her head.
Draco felt his breath intake sharpen. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and, now that he thought about it, it made perfect sense. "Possibly, yes."
Hermione nodded. "Now, the nurse at the information desk was informing Ron of Hugo's condition. I'm supposed to be informed when Ron arrives, and, Draco, I'd appreciate it if you'd stay away and allow Dr. Wundee to take care of it and do the explaining."
"What, do they not like each other or something?" Ryan asked, looking between the two.
Viktor snorted. "He likes no man who takes Hermione's attention away from him."
Ryan's face developed a quizzical look as his eyes darted between the three adults, Hermione sporting a bright red blush on her face. Of course, she understood what Viktor was talking about, but Ryan didn't.
Draco grimaced as the phone in the room rang. "I'll come check on him later. I'll have one of my nurses phone and make sure Weasel - Weasley's gone." Hermione nodded, waving good-bye to him as she answered the phone.
Minutes later, Ronald Weasley came barging through the door and hugging his son.
"Mr. Weasley, please be careful! He's in a fragile condition!" Dr. Wundee begged, reaching forward to pull Ron away from his son.
"What happened?" he demanded, looking around the room. "What happened to my son?"
"He's got cancer, Ron. He passed out at school," Hermione explained, getting up to calm him. She rubbed a hand up and down his back, all while thinking that she was going crazy for doing so.
"How does he have cancer? I thought that was only a Muggle thing?"
"I can explain a bit about that," Ryan interjected, smiling softly. "I just finished explaining to your ex-wife, and I'd be happy to explain it to you as well."
Ron sighed, sitting down on the other side of the bed his wife was on. For the next twenty minutes, he conversed with Ryan about his son's condition, and when they were finished, Ron sighed heavily.
"I always knew getting involved with you would be a bad idea."
Hermione started. "Excuse me?"
"Us being together has led to our children being miscreants! Look at this, Hermione!" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have to go for a bit. I'll owl you later. If Hugo wakes, tell him I love him." Ron stood then, walking out of the hospital room, slamming the door behind him.
"Well that took a quick turn," Ryan noted, staring off at the door Ron disappeared behind for a while. "I guess it's good to let Draco back in now."
Hermione nodded and leaned into Viktor as he came forward to put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll see you back at the hotel?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I'm going to be here at the hospital from now on. I can transfigure the chair into a sofa bed. There's a shower and things in here. I'll be fine."
Viktor smiled softly. "I'll take those blueprints and have them owled to you, okay?"
"Thank you."
As Viktor left, Draco walked in. "I guess things didn't go so well with him?"
"I don't know what's wrong with him. Are you sure being a pureblood doesn't affect your brain?" Hermione muttered, grabbing her sons hand to hold.
"Honestly, it's not my research. But, I'm sure we're all a little bit crazy."
"Could the Half-blood theories explain why Riddle was so fucked up?" Hermione suddenly asked, turning her head to stare at the Healers.
Draco shrugged. "Probably. It makes sense to me."
Hermione sighed. "So he wasn't just evil. He gets to claim medical insanity, just like the rest of them."
"He may have been a lot like Hitler, but Hitler definitely wasn't crazy," Ryan noted, causing Hermione to smile a bit. "I can have someone send in an actual bed if you'd like, Ms. Granger."
"You're staying here?" Draco asked, arching an eyebrow at her.
Hermione sighed. "Well, I currently have no furniture in my house, so I was planning on staying with Viktor until my new things came in."
"Do you move or something?" Ryan asked.
She chuckled. "My crazy ex-husband decided to be a jerk and steal all my furniture. It sounds completely ridiculous, but he did it. Sometimes I wonder if he's acting of his own will, but he's always had a history of acting childish when he doesn't get his way."
Ryan nodded. "Well, I'm officially your son's doctor, so if you need anything, use the phone. My number's automatically programmed for number one. Draco's is number two."
"Thank you, gentlemen," she murmured.
Ryan smiled, walking out after clapping a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Good luck, mate."
Draco gave a slight nod and waited until after the door shut to speak. "I can run some tests on Rose during the winter break if you'd like me to."
"You're a psychiatrist?" Hermione's voice was cold.
"Did Weasel say anything to you when he was here? Because you sound like it."
"Oh, just how he never should have been with me in the first place."
"The asshole."
She laughed bitterly. "Well, that's Ronald for you."
"Look, Granger, I understand finding out you're basically the cause for your childrens' health problems can be a bit upsetting -"
"A bit?" she interrupted, snorting.
"- but, you have to remember that all of the information isn't something that you knew eleven years ago. It's just like someone with a disability - you're their mother, and you can't let what's inside of you define you. In other words, it may literally be your fault, but you shouldn't feel that way because you were unaware this would happen."
"Thank you, Mr. Eloquent."
He smirked. "One must not tell lies, ma'am."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I think she was crazier than Voldemort."
"She was. She threatened to do the same thing to me once when she thought I was lying that we couldn't find the door to your little club's meeting place."
"You almost have to write 'I must not tell lies' in your own blood?"
"Oh, yes. Snape was actually okay with it. Told me I deserved it for being such a prat. I always knew something was off about it. Now come to find out he was just a sucker for a girl."
Hermione sighed. "I love Harry, I do, but I think his life would've been a lot different if he'd been a Snape instead of a Potter."
Draco paused. "Has Harry been easy to get sick? I know he's been easy to get hurt; he spent more time in the infirmary than I did during Quidditch season."
Hermione thought for a moment. "Actually, yes."
Draco sighed. "Well, this just makes this Half-blood theory so much more reliable." He turned towards the door. "You need anything Granger, or you notice any changes in Hugo's monitors, then page me."
"Okay."
He paused with his hand wrapped around the handle, turning back to her with a slight smirk on his face. "Oh, and if you take the stairs all the way down the hall on your left, the lock to the roof is broken. It's a great place to avoid wandering cameras from spotting you relaxing. The sunset is wonderful from up there, too."
Hermione couldn't help herself from smiling as the door swished shut behind him.
