A/N: I am so so soooooooo freakin' sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I have my excuses, I've had about a billion non Harry Potter related words to write for Uni. If by some miracle you guys are still reading this then I hope you enjoy the update - and I shall try and make them more frequent! xD

9. Wondering

Harry looked up from marking his pile of essays when he heard tapping on his office window, he hurried to let the owl in and untied the letter from it's leg, unfolding it hastily;

Harry,

I will be in the Three Broomsticks today at 12 if you still want to talk,

Romilda

He stared at the short note, rereading it several times and suddenly felt incredibly nervous, he had no idea what he was going to say to Romilda. What did you say to the mother of your child after sixteen years of virtually no contact. He sighed, he would have plenty of time to work out what to say to her on the walk down to Hogsmede, right now he had to get back to his marking.

Amelia woke up with her head pounding, scrunching her eyes up at the morning sun that was streaming through the window. It took her a moment to realise that she wasn't in her own dormitory, she didn't recognise where she was at all. Once she was aware of this she quickly became aware of the fact that she was naked, she turned her head to the side and saw Jonas, in a similar state of undress next to her in the bed. She groaned inwardly as images from the night before flashed through her mind - she couldn't believe she had even kissed Jonas, let alone had sex with him! Oh my God she had actually had sex, she had lost her virginity to someone she generally couldn't stand, and even worse, could barely remember it. She could feel the shame rise up in her and tears start to sting her eyes, she had to get out of there before he woke up. As quietly as she could she slid out of the bed and pulled on her underwear and her dress before checking her watch, it was half past seven, hopefully she could get back and into her own bed before anyone else got up. Being a Saturday and the day after the ball it was likely that everyone would choose to sleep in, she just hoped that neither Roxanne or Lucretia had noticed her absence. Amelia managed to get to the Gryffindor tower without being seen and after muttering the password to a disapproving Fat Lady she dashed up the stairs to her dorm and undressed again, quickly throwing on her pyjamas and climbing into bed. She pulled the covers up over her head and finally let the tears fall.

"You're in a good mood this morning", said Lucretia suspiciously as she and Roxanne headed down to breakfast.

"It's a beautiful day", said Roxanne with a sly smile.

"Indeed it is, spill. Now."

"OK, OK, me and James kissed last night"

"Oh finally!"

"What?!"

"You two, you've been eyeing each other for weeks!"

"So! We're not nearly as bad as you and Danny!"

"What do you mean?"

"That it took you two years to figure it out!"

"Shut up, it did not!"

"Did too, anyway, who cares, where do you think Milly got to last night?"

"I don't know, but I think she's feeling it this morning", said Lucretia with a smile as they walked into the great hall, "amazing how they tidied up so quickly", she commented as she slid onto the bench. Once she had sat down she sent a smile to Danny who was sat further up the table with his friends, he smiled back and gave her a wink before turning back to his breakfast. For some reason she wanted to blush as she remembered just how steamy they had got after the ball and how they had finally spoken about taking their relationship further. In the cold light of day however, Lucretia felt embarrassed and was unsure that she would be able to talk to Danny about taking things further again. It was a strange feeling being unsure of how to talk to him about something, after all, ever since she could remember she had been able to tell him anything, even things that she couldn't tell Roxanne and Amelia. She had always known that no matter what that she would always be able to go to him - but how did she go to him when he was the one that was causing her to worry?

Harry was incredibly nervous as he walked into the Three Broomsticks, he hadn't see Romilda in years and he had no idea what her feelings towards him were, her letter had given virtually nothing away and held none of the warmth that he knew her to possess - he was not filled with confidence. He spotted her immediately, sat in a far corner away from the locals that had gathered around the bar, she already had a drink so he quickly ordered himself a pint of ale before heading over to join her. "Erm, Hi", he said, "thanks for coming to meet me".

"I came because you said you wanted to talk about Danny", she said eyeing him suspiciously.

"Of course", he said nodding, unsure of how to continue.

"He's not causing you any trouble is he?" Romilda looked worried now.

"No, no of course not, it's just I don't really know what I'm feeling"

"You mean you're feeling something for him?"

"I don't know, I think so. I can't explain it, but I expected him to hate me, and for a while I was convinced that he did, but then yesterday he … well he thanked me, for helping Lucie"

"He's not an ungrateful child!"

"I wasn't saying he was! It's just under the circumstances I didn't expect him to say anything"

"So, because of this - what?"

"Well, I don't know, I suppose I just … I'd like to know about him"

"Then why don't you ask him?"

"I wanted to ask you, I haven't forgotten what you said … about walking into his life"

"He's sixteen now, he can make the choice himself"

"But I want to know if you'd be comfortable with it?"

"I'm his mother, I'll support him in whatever choice he makes, and so will Seamus"

"I'm not trying to take anything away from Seamus, I need you to know that"

"You couldn't even if you tried. Danny loves Seamus and Seamus loves Danny, as far as everyone is concerned they are father and son, and that's how it will stay"

"I understand that"

"Really? Because I'm not convinced that you do"

"Look, it was because of Seamus that I didn't see Danny"

"What?"

"When he was born and you gave me the chance to see him, and I didn't. Part of me wanted to but then I heard how happy Seamus was and I realised that I couldn't just walk in and snatch his life away from him. I could have done but I didn't, for once I felt like I had done right by you"

"You did that?" Romilda whispered, she was speechless.

"Yes, but I can't just pretend that Danny doesn't exist, that he isn't my son when he's sat in my classes, right in front of me. I can't pretend I feel nothing"

"You would have to be made out of stone not to feel anything", Romilda said quietly, for the first time since they had started talking she actually looked sympathetic. Harry felt that he had made the right decision in writing to her, now that she understood perhaps she would be more willing to give him another chance.

"Draco?!"

Draco looked up from his paperwork and frowned, he thought that Ginny had already left for work. "Ginny?! Is that you?!"

"Yes it's me, get down here you've got a visitor!"

Draco frowned even more, he wasn't expecting anyone today, he got up from his desk and headed down the corridor to the living room where he assumed Ginny had showed the mystery guest. Just as he reached the room Ginny walked out of the door and smiled at him; "it's Seamus", she said quietly, "he seems a bit agitated, anyway, I'll leave you two to it, I have to get to work", she said giving him a kiss on the cheek and a quick squeeze on his upper arm before heading down the hallway and out the front door. Draco took a deep breath and walked into the living room, Seamus did indeed look agitated, he was fidgeting in his seat as though he wanted to be anywhere else in the world. "What's going on?" asked Draco, taking a seat opposite him. Seamus looked stricken; "she's gone to see Potter!"

"Ah", said Draco raising his wand and summoning a bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses. He poured them both a drink and pushed one of the glasses to Seamus who took a gulp immediately. "When did she go?" asked Draco.

"A few hours ago, I thought she'd be back by now, I couldn't stand being in the house alone"

"It's alright mate … why has she gone to see him?"

"He wrote to her, he wanted to talk about Danny"

"What?!"

"Yeah I know"

"And she went?!"

"I told her, she's too nice for her own good sometimes"

"Do you know what he wants?"

"No, but I'm terrified he's going to try and take Danny away from me"

"That's crazy, Danny hates him even more than you do"

"But how can you be sure?! Potter's his real father, he might want to get to know him!"

"I know because … because Danny told me"

"What?"

"I promised I wouldn't say anything"

"When?"

"A few weeks ago, he wrote to me about it"

"What did he say?"

"I don't want to betray his trust but … I can conclude that he feels very bitter towards Potter"

"Why couldn't he talk to me about it?"

"He didn't know how you would react, he didn't want to upset you or Romilda"

"I wish I knew how to talk to him about it … I mean I've tried but he always closes himself off"

"I guess he doesn't want to throw it in your face that you aren't his biological father"

"I may as well be"

"I know that, and so does Danny. You love him as much as any man loves his son, more so in some cases"

"Do you think Potter wants to be in his life?"

"Even if he does it doesn't mean he'll get what he wants"

"But if he does?"

"The you'll deal with it. You and Danny and Romilda, together, as a family. He can't take anything away from you unless you let him."

Danny stared out at the lake, it was starting to snow but he stayed sat on the ground underneath a tree just staring. He had so many things going around in his head, he had avoided Lucretia all day and he didn't even know why, he just felt there was an awkwardness that hadn't been there before and he couldn't talk to her about it. He was worried about embarrassing himself and her, then again its not like they could ignore what had happened after the ball forever. He would have to man up and talk to her, he just wasn't quite ready to. He wished he could talk to someone about it, not his mates, they would just tell him to hurry up and nail her, not Draco because he would strangle him. He really wanted to talk to his dad but he didn't think he could bring himself to write to him about his sex life, plus, he would be absolutely mortified if his mother read it by accident. No, he was alone with this one, there was no one to help him, no one that he wanted help from anyway. He could only talk to Lucretia about anything and yet she was the last person he felt like talking to. He sighed, enough was enough, he'd been avoiding it all day, it was about time he went and told his girlfriend exactly how he felt.

"So what do I do now?" asked Harry as Romilda stood up to leave. She considered him for a moment, pausing as she pulled on her cloak. "I don't know", she said, "I need to talk to Seamus, and to Danny, but … the ball's in your court Harry, I can't tell you how to make this right"

Harry nodded and she sent a slightly strained smile in his direction, "thank you", he said, "for seeing me I mean". It was her turn to nod, she flipped her hair over her shoulders, "goodbye Harry", she said and swept from the pub. He watched her go, his mind raging, the meeting had gone better than expected but he still had no idea what to do.

"Thanks for listening to me Draco", said Seamus as he followed Draco into the hallway.

"No problem, just talk to Romilda, you'll be fine", said Draco reassuringly.

"I will, thanks mate", said Seamus gripping his hand swiftly before opening the door.

"Seamus", Draco said as he was about to leave, "everything will be alright, you'll see". Seamus merely nodded before disappearing through the front door. Draco sighed as the door slammed, feet rooted to the spot. Something was troubling him, it wasn't the fact that Seamus was upset about Danny, that was completely expected, it was the fact that he hadn't confided in his wife. Draco and Ginny shared everything with one another, they didn't have any secrets, his stomach lurched slightly as he thought that, it wasn't entirely true, lately he had been keeping something from Ginny. It was nothing, he told himself, nothing to worry about, he didn't want to sound stupid, but then he realised that if he didn't talk to her it would eat away at him and he did not, under any circumstances want to end up as distraught as Seamus. As he thought that the front door opened and Ginny swept. "Winter's definitely coming, it's freezing out there", she said discarding her cloak, "what are you doing in the hall?"

"I was just seeing Seamus out"

"Oh, how is he?"

"Much better now, he made me realise I need to talk to you"

"About what?"

"Let's go in the sitting room", said Draco looking uncomfortable. Ginny frowned slightly but followed him non the less, taking her usual seat on the sofa as he sat in his armchair. "What is it?" she asked, slightly worried by the expression on his face.

"I've been worrying about Lucie", he said.

"Surprise, surprise", said Ginny, unable to stop herself.

"I know it's stupid but ever since she's been seeing Danny …"

"Yes?" Ginny pressed.

"Well it's like she doesn't need me as much anymore"

"Oh, Draco! She's just growing up, it doesn't mean she doesn't need you anymore!"

"I know, I know! But, she's my little girl and now she's all grown up and she's got Danny to rely on, it's like, I don't know, like she doesn't depend on me as much"

"Draco you're being completely irrational, Lucie loves you, she's a Daddy's girl, always has been and always will be, and as for Danny, well you've been competing with him since Lucie learned to crawl"

"I'm being stupid aren't I?" he said with a smile.

"Of course you are", said Ginny walking over to sit on his lap, "but that's why I love you so much", she added, kissing him.

"Lucie?" said Danny tentatively. She looked up from her Transfiguration essay that she had made no progress on and smiled at him. He noticed from her smile that she wasn't herself, he pulled a chair round so it was next to her and sat in it, his back to the rest of the common room. "Are you OK?" he asked, taking her hand. She nodded, and tried to smile again, but she wasn't fooling him. "No you're not", he sighed, "you look how I've been feeling all day, is it … is it about last night?" he asked, lowering his voice. She looked at him for a moment and then dropped her gaze to their intertwined hands and nodded again, "yes", she whispered. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I've been thinking about it too", he admitted.

"You have?" she said, looking up.

"Yeah, how could I not", he said, "it shouldn't have happened"

"You regret it?", she asked. It took him a second to realise that she sounded hurt.

"No!", he said, wanting to curse himself, "no, I really enjoyed myself but … that's not the point is it? We shouldn't have … not there you know, it's like you said, you want it to be special, the last thing I want to do is ruin it for you"

"Danny you could never ruin it for me", she breathed, relieved that he wasn't having second thoughts about them, "just the fact that it's you makes it special, I just didn't want us to get caught"

"So you're saying that if we hadn't been in the corridor …"

"Yes", she said, answering his question before he could finish. He smiled at her and she smiled back. "I was so worried that you would be mad at me", he admitted. She shook her head, and leant forward to kiss him, "never", she whispered before capturing his lips again.