April melted into May, bringing flowers in accordance to the old adage, yet the showers continued to stay. Hermione fell into a sort of pattern with Malfoy. Work was tense, but they got along well enough to do their job effectively. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Draco would leave the office early to pick up Nathan from nursery school, keeping him until eight o'clock when he went right back to Hermione.

It was the first weekend in May, which fell in Draco's territory. Hermione was sitting at her desk, going over a letter from the Chinese government. She had to talk to Malfoy, but he had not returned from lunch yet. Finally, she heard him greet Trudy, then walked into his office. Hermione sucked in a long breath and stood up. The cross to his office was quick, too quick for her liking.

"Malfoy?" She knocked on the doorframe, since the actual door was ajar.

"Yes, Granger, can I help you?" barked Malfoy, rubbing his forehead irritably.

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to push her anxiety away. She had every right to ask what she was about to ask. "This weekend, Fleur and Bill are throwing a birthday party for Victorie, who is Nathans age. I had previously told them the pair of us would be in attendance so I want Nathan to stay with me this weekend..." She trailed off.

"It's my weekend, Granger, you'll simply have to tell them he can't make it. I figured someone as logical as yourself would have already figured that out," replied Draco snidely.

Hermione scowled. "Excuse me, Malfoy, but he's my son. I'm his mother and primary caretaker therefore what I say is what is going to happen. I'm willing to compromise even further than I already have for you. The party is at one o'clock on Saturday. I can bring him to your house at six, just before dinner."

She bit her tongue from saying something nasty. Their little arrangement had gone on so well for some time, and she hoped it would continue. Custody battles were nasty, after all. Malfoy finally looked up from his work. He sneered at Hermione, "Fucking fine. I'll do it but you owe me."

"I owe you absolutely nothing," Hermione snapped, spinning on her heel and exiting the room.

She flung herself into her office and onto her desk, seething with anger.

Being as it was Thursday, Hermione saw Malfoy leave his office at three to pick up Nathan. He did not say a word to her, she only heard the slam of his office door. At five o'clock, Hermione finished her paper work and left the office. She picked up a sandwich and soup from a deli on a street corner near her home for dinner.

When Hermione arrived to her home, she knew something was different. Her spine stiffened. The brownstone was dark, like the sky. A storm was rolling in, ready to bring thunder and rain to London. Hermione shuffled her things and pulled out her wand, gripping it tightly as she walked up to her home. She felt the wards of her house welcome her, but she also felt another presence. She bit her lip and walked through her front door.

The house was dark, except for a light seeping down the hallway from the kitchen. Hermione then knew there was an intruder. She silently dropped her things on the foyer table, pointing her wand out in front of her. Hermione stepped lightly, walking into the kitchen. Briefly, her arm dropped. On her counter was a bottle of wine, a glass with a small amount left in it, a wand, and a novel. She furrowed her brown, then heard the toilet flush from the bathroom just off the kitchen. Hermione spun around, her wand pointed back out. The door opened and Hermione held her breath.

"Merlin, put that thing down."

Hermione gasped, her arm falling immediately. "What the bloody hell-"

"Surprise!" shouted Cameron Harding, launching herself forward to hug Hermione.

She looked even more beautiful than before, her dark brown hair highlighted with blonde, and her blue eyes were fierce. She hugged Hermione tightly, kissing both her cheeks. "I've missed you and oh, wait, I have to kill you!"

Cam pulled herself away and put her hands on her hips. "I cannot believe you almost die and I have to hear about it from Steven. Of all people!"

Hermione stood up straighter. "Steven? How the hell did he hear about it?"

She walked over to the cupboard and pulled out another wine glass, filling hers and Cameron's. Cam took a seat across from her, sipping the wine. Hermione accioed her food, which she split with the brunette. "He's a magical attorney, of course he hears things."

Hermione took a big gulp of wine. "How...er, how is he?"

Cameron raised an eyebrow. "Steven is...well, he's Steven but overall doing well. Not seeing anyone." She added for Hermione's benefit. Hermione sighed.

"I'm sorry, Cam, it's just been rough." mumbled Hermione.

"Speaking of, where is the little rascal?"

Hermione pursed her lips and leaned back in her bar stool. "Oh you're going to love this. He's with his father."

Cameron choked on her liquid. "H-His father?"

Hermione launched into the entire story about working with Draco and their whole fiasco. Cameron nodded and listened, partially in disbelief. "I cannot believe he's in the picture now."

"I know, me neither. Actually, he should be dropping Nate off shortly." said Hermione, glancing at the clock. "So how long are you in town for?"

"See that's the thing. Jackson is back in the states, because I'm here on assignment for work. They are sending some people off to different parts of the world and I'm here looking at the London hospital."

Cameron was a healer, with a specialty in potion care. She was incredibly bright and talented. Hermione thought about what she said. "Wait, does that mean..."

"No, not yet it doesn't." Cam clarified. "But it could, you know in the future."

Hermione was about to say something when there was a knock on the door. Before she could stand up, Cameron shot forward toward the door. Hermione shouted after her, Cam was quick. She threw open the front door, a wide smile on her face.

"Auntie Cam!" shouted Nathan, dropping his backpack and launching himself into his "aunties" arms.

"Natie!" Cameron spun the four year old around in a circle.

Hermione poked her head around the corner, and saw Draco glowering at Cameron. "How was he?" She asked walking over to him. Cam was clutching Nathan's hand, her eyes piercing Draco.

"So you're him?" said Cameron bluntly. "Cameron Harding, Hermione's best friend."

Draco eyed her out stretched hand warily. "An American? I'm Draco Malfoy."

"Funny name," Cam commented. "Now come on Natie, lets leave the adults to play."

The pair disappeared up the stairs, leaving Hermione with Draco. She awkwardly shifted her weight from foot to foot. "Uh, she's visiting from the states. Her and Nathan were pretty close, she was my neighbor."

"Oh." Was all Draco offered. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Hermione shut the door and disappeared upstairs, finding Cam and Nathan playing on the floor in his bedroom. She flopped down on his bed, resting her hands in her palms. "How was your fathers, Nathan?"

He looked up from his toy dinosaurs. "It was good, mommy. Auntie Pansy brought me ice cream after dinner but Miss Astoria did not like the stickies."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. That twit told her son to call her Miss Astoria? What a bitch. And what was the Auntie Pansy nonsense. Hermione did not want the bug nosed b-witch anywhere near her son, merlin only knows what crazy ideas she would put in his impressionable brain.

On Saturday, Hermione woke up and made blueberry pancakes for Cameron and Nathan. The three lounged in the living room, watching the television, and eating lazily. It reminded Hermione of her old life, fond feelings flushing through her body. She had forgotten how much she missed Cam. Around one, she excused herself to shower and get dressed for the party. She pulled on a simple pale pink sundress, because the weather was unseasonably warm. Hermione was strapping on her white wedges.

"Cam, can you get Nathan dressed? His outfit is on top of his dresser." Hermione called over the stairwell balcony.

Hermione had invited Cam to the party, after asking Fleur who had cried, "Ze more ze merrier, yes?" Cam was wearing a similar dress, except in a pale celery. Her pouty lips were a pretty pink, instantly making Hermione jealous. The two women and Nathan flooed to the Burrow, where the party was being held.

"Nate!" A voice squealed the second the three arrived.

Victorie Weasley was wearing a fluffy blue dress and a princess tiara, her blonde hair curled and braided. She ran forward to hug Nathan, kissing both of his cheeks like only a french could. She took his hand pulled him away to find Teddy Lupin, who was with George Weasley with new products no doubt.

"Molly, so nice to see you. This is Cameron Harding, a friend from Chicago. Cam, this is Molly Weasley."

"I've heard only good things," said Cam sweetly, hugging the older woman. A brigade of other introductions followed.

They walked out to the garden, where tables were set up. Molly brought out several platters of food and everyone sat down for a late lunch. Hermione was sat between Nathan and Harry, across from Cam.

"Hows James?" asked Hermione, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

"He's great, lifting his head and everything. We're giving him baby food, in addition to his milk." Harry's green eyes lite up right away at the mention of his son. Hermione smiled brightly.

"So, Cameron, what's the states like?" asked Molly curiously.

Cameron, who had been deep in conversation with George, looked up. "Uh, it's well...it's a heck of a lot different without Hermione, that's for sure." She offered up and laugh and Hermione raised an eyebrow. Why was her best friend acting so odd.

"What do you do for a living?" Arthur inquired.

"I'm a healer," Cam perked up right away. "I have a specialty in potions. In Chicago I work at St. Anne's Hospital as a potion brewer. I'm the very best they have."

"Potion brewing, eh?" George chimed in. His arm was thrown around the shoulder of Angelina Johnson, his girlfriend.

"Yes, healing potions are much more difficult and advanced than regular potions. I was really good at math during school, so that's one of the reasons I chose healing and potions."

Hermione grinned. "It's true. Whenever Nate would get sick or something, she was my girl. Even I cannot brew as well she can."

Cameron giggled and shrugged. "I guess. But I might be moving to London if a job transfer sweeps through the office."

"Frankly, it would be of no disservice to me if you were transferred here." Hermione winked at her friend.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. Some of the adults rounded up enough people for a Qudditch match, including Cam who was quite talented. Hermione sat with Fleur and watched the children play in the yard. After Cam reappeared, sweaty and laughing, Hermione glanced at the clock and realized it was almost six.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to rush out but Nathan has to be at his fathers in about five minutes." Hermione said goodbye to everyone and left the yard, Cameron in tow with Nathan on her back, to the disapparation point. She clutched her wand and thought hard, the three disappearing in a loud crack.

They came out in front of a huge, imposing home on top of a hill. Hermione curled her lip in distaste. It was like Malfoy Manor in miniature. She hiked the hill with Cameron and Nathan.

"Mama, I'm tired." Nathan huffed as they walked. Hermione ignored him, but cursed Malfoy.

They approached the front door. Cam flicked her wand and the knocker sounded. They waited a few seconds, before it swung open. A beautiful woman, dressed to the nines with long, perfect black tresses opened the door.

"Granger, what a pleasant surprise." grinned Pansy Parkinson, her voice level.

Hermione's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. "Parkinson?" She couldn't help but gasp.

"Auntie Pansy!" Nathan shouted, his grin a mile wide. Pansy bent down and accepted a hug from the little boy. Hermione tried to mask her distaste.

"Is Malfoy here?" asked Hermione curtly.

"Which one, there's the missus and mister." Pansy quipped. Her placed a hand on her hip, and Hermione noticed her blood red nails matched the red belt on her black dress. Pansy caught Hermione staring at them.

"They change with my outfit, I bought the polish in Paris," offered Pansy. Hermione nodded.

"Malfoy?" She reminded.

"I can take him, don't worry. Draco is currently in an intense conversation with Astoria, and I don't want to interrupt." Pansy shrugged and stuck out her hand. "C'mon Nate, let's bring you out to the back. We'll see you tomorrow, Granger."

The massive doors shut after Hermione hugged Nathan and kissed his forehead. Hermione was a little baffled at the way Pansy had acted.


A/N: So I quite like Pansy, don't you? Next chapter, which I have written, includes the climax of Draco/Astoria, oh boy. And an old familiar shows up.

On another note, I stumbled onto an old Titanic Dramione, which I had apparently written alot of. Is that something you guys would be interested in, as readers?

Give me feedback! Thanks guys:)