Hermione finished getting dressed and sank down onto the sofa. He bags were all neatly packed for returning home in the morning, all she had to do now was attend the champions feast. Summoning the courage to attend the feast was proving harder than Hermione imagined, as the hours wore on she was becoming increasingly worried about facing Harry.
Glancing at the clock, Hermione realised the feast started in ten minutes and if she didn't leave soon she would be late. She had already heard her students leave for The Great Hall about ten minutes ago. Before she had gotten off the sofa, there was a knock on the door surprising Hermione.
Opening the door, Hermione was shocked to see her son standing there. "I thought you'd left for the feast." She said to Scorpius.
"No, the others have. I wanted to see you first." Scorpius said, entering the room and sitting down.
"Why? You'll see me at the feast." Hermione said, sitting down next to Scorpius.
"But I'll not be able to talk to you." Scorpius explained. "I wanted to see if you were alright after this afternoon."
"I'm fine, honey." Hermione said softly. "I always knew there was potential for the Weasley's to react badly."
"But it must hurt to have your old friends treat you so badly." Scorpius said. While he thought that Albus and especially Lily were great, Scorpius was distinctly unimpressed with the rest of their family.
"It's okay. I haven't seen any of them in so long, their opinion really isn't important." Hermione said.
As she spoke Hermione realised that what she was telling Scorpius was true and she didn't really care what people thought. She loved Draco and if people couldn't accept that than it was their problem not hers. Feeling much braver Hermione decided it was time to go to the feast and face Harry and if he didn't approve of her life then it didn't matter, she was happy and that was all that mattered.
"Let's go and celebrate your win." Hermione said standing up but noticing that Scorpius still looked pre-occupied. "Unless there's anything else."
"Actually there is." Scorpius said, also standing up. "I would appreciate it if you and dad didn't go around kissing in public. It's embarrassing and disgusting."
"You kissed Lily in public, was that not embarrassing and disgusting." Hermione laughed.
"That's different. Me and Lily are young." Scorpius said, blushing slightly as he remembered kissing Lily in public.
"Me and your dad are hardly ancient. Wait until you're our age, you won't think kissing is disgusting then." Hermione said, shaking her head at her son.
"Maybe not, but I'll try not to do it in public and embarrass my children." Scorpius said pointedly.
Hermione laughed and started to walk to the door. "Fine, we'll try to control ourselves in public."
"If only." Scorpius muttered following Hermione out of the door. He was well aware of the fact that he wouldn't be able to stop his parents showing affection for each other, they had been doing it far too long to change them now. But at least it proved his parents genuinely loved each other and were happy together.
Hermione and Scorpius walked down to the feast together, when they came to The Great Hall the pair separated and headed to their respective tables. Hermione headed to the top table where all the Professors were sitting while Scorpius headed to the Gryffindor table and to a seat in between Albus and Lily.
When Hermione arrived at the table, she was disappointed to notice Harry still wouldn't look at her. Instead he was engaged in conversation with Professor Polanski and didn't even glance at her as she sat down next to him. Hermione had barely taken her seat when Harry stood up to address the students before the start of the feast.
"Before I begin I would just like to thank the entire school for behaving so well throughout the Tournament." This was met by small giggles in some quarters as the only trouble in the tournament had actually came from Harry's family. Harry resolutely ignored the giggling and carried on talking.
"Tonight is the champions dinner, to celebrate the winner of The Triwizard Tournament. All three champions performed admirably and there was a great deal of magical ability on show by all, but there can only be one winner. Scorpius Malfoy." Harry paused as the Great Hall erupted in cheers for the blond boy who had become extremely popular during his short stay at Hogwarts. "Scorpius showed real skill and dedication to prevail and I think we can all agree he was a worthy winner. Now I think it's time we ate."
As Harry sat back down, the food appeared on the tables and noise erupted around the room as people began laughing and talking as they ate. Hermione wanted to thank Harry for the kind words he had said about Scorpius but the moment her former friend sat down he turned back to Professor Polanski. Sighing Hermione filled her goblet with wine and put a couple of things on her plate to eat.
"You must be very proud." Neville said from the other side of her.
Hermione turned and smiled at her former housemate, pleased he was being nice to her. "I am."
"He's a nice kid." Neville said, smiling at Hermione.
"Thanks. You say that like you were expecting a devil. Although with his surname you probably were." Hermione said, laughing as Neville got all panicked and flustered. "Relax Neville, I was joking. He's been on his best behaviour these last few months, sometimes he is a devil."
"I really didn't think anything of the sort. I would never judge him because of who is father is." Neville said sincerely. "Besides, Malfoy seems to have changed. He obviously loves you."
"Thank you Neville." Hermione replied, genuinely touched by the sentiments he had expressed. "I wish more people thought like you."
"Anyone who judges Scorpius on his name, without taking the time to find out who he really is, isn't worth bothering with." Neville said, wisely.
"When did you become so wise?" Hermione asked, laughing lightly.
"I once had a very clever friend called Hermione, she taught me a lot." Neville said.
Hermione blushed and looked down at her plate. Laughing at Hermione's awkwardness, Neville changed the subject and the two chatted merrily until the end of the feast.
When the feast was over and Harry had dismissed the students, Hermione went to leave but was stopped by a hand on her arm. Turning round she saw Harry standing holding onto her.
"Can we maybe take a walk." Harry asked. Hermione nodded and the pair left the Great Hall together.
Harry led Hermione down to the edge of the Black Lake where he sat on a large boulder and gestured for Hermione to join him.
"I understand why you didn't say anything. I wish I could have done something similar for Albus." Harry said, breaking the awkward silence that had descended between the pair.
"I never meant to deceive you Harry. Scorp entering the tournament was the only reason we kept quiet." Hermione said.
"How did it happen? You and Malfoy, it's quite unexpected." Harry said, still unable to see what his former friend could see in the blond.
"Maybe, but it works." Hermione said, she then proceeded to tell Harry about running into Narcissa and the events that led up to her relationship with Draco.
"Did you ever think about getting in touch?" Harry asked, once Hermione had finished her story.
"No." Hermione replied bluntly. "When I left I never had any intention of returning. But you knew that Harry."
"I know." Harry sighed. "I guess I've always hoped that someday you'd return home."
"France is my home, It has been for twenty years." Hermione said, gently. "Maybe we can keep in touch now?" Hermione suggested hopefully.
"I'm not sure." Harry said, looking uncomfortable. "I suppose it depends what happens with the family."
"It's okay, Harry. I understand." Hermione said. One of her reasons for not keeping in touch with Harry was so he wouldn't have to choose between her and his family, and she wasn't going to put him in that position now.
"I'm really happy for you. You're obviously happy and love Malfoy." Harry said, sighing. "In an ideal world, Scorpius' parentage shouldn't be a problem but with Molly it will be."
"Why? What's changed?" Hermione asked. While she had seen glimpses of Molly's harsh judgement towards people, like when Molly believed the lies Rita Skeeter was spreading about Hermione in fourth year and was pretty nasty towards her, it had never been as open as it was now.
"I don't think she's ever recovered from the war and losing Fred." Harry said, trying but finding it hard to defend his mother-in-law. "Maybe she would have coped better if she hadn't lost one of her own children. I don't think she can separate anyone from the dark side with what happened to Fred."
"So the whole family just go along with what she says." Hermione sighed sadly.
"Yes." Harry nodded, not sure how to explain. "She's made her mind up about anyone involved with the other side of the war, so for an easy life we don't argue with her. We don't want to upset her further."
"Is Scorpius' parentage a problem for you?" Hermione asked after digesting what Harry had said about Molly. She had witnessed herself that Harry was just as against Scorpius as the rest of his family, but she wanted to see if he would admit it now he knew about her relationship to Scorpius.
"I wish I could say it didn't matter. But every time I see him, I see Malfoy." Harry sighed. "I know it makes me as bad as Molly, but I can't help it."
"I should go. I've got to make sure the students are packed for tomorrow." Hermione said, standing up. She now knew where Harry stood and knew they could never regain their friendship.
"Right. I'll see you tomorrow then." Harry said, watching as Hermione walked back to the castle.
The next morning was hectic at Hogwarts with the two visiting schools ready to depart. Straight after breakfast, Professor Polanski and his students boarded their ship and disappeared into the Black Lake. The Beauxbatons students weren't leaving until mid-morning, so that they could all say goodbye to their new found friends.
Once Harry had discovered that Hermione was head of Beauxbatons, he wasn't surprised to discover that the contingent from the French school hadn't arrived in the flying carriage. Harry knew Hermione hated flying of any sort and clearly that hadn't changed, despite the many things about her that had. Instead of flying the group from Beauxbatons had flooed into the school and that was how they were leaving.
Harry had arranged to reconnect the fire in the room that Hermione had been staying in back to the floo network for easiness. Harry had personally came to see Hermione and her students home, along with Albus and Lily who had begged Harry to let them see Scorpius one final time. Harry had relented, half hoping that once the blond boy went back to France they would never see him again. Harry was still struggling with the fact that the boy was Hermione's son, every time he saw him all he could see was his father. Harry wanted to see Hermione in him, maybe then he could accept his friendship with his children, but so far he had failed to see any signs of Hermione in her son.
One by one Hermione sent her students through the floo network until only her and Scorpius remained. Albus had said goodbye to Imogen moments before and was now saying goodbye to the boy who had quickly become his best friend.
"Don't forget to write." Albus said. He was sad that Scorpius was going home, it only felt like yesterday that they had met.
"I won't. Maybe you could come and visit over summer." Scorpius said with a grin.
Harry visibly winced at Scorpius' offer, causing Hermione to lose any miniscule hope she had of staying in touch with her former friend.
After saying goodbye to his friend, Scorpius turned to Lily who was sniffing quietly trying hard not to cry. Harry turned away as Scorpius gently wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"I'll write all the time." Scorpius said softly to Lily, trying to ignore the fact they had an audience. "And I'll be back before you know it."
"Make sure you are." Lily whispered. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Scorpius replied, gently kissing Lily.
Stepping away from his girlfriend, Scorpius picked up his bag and headed to the fireplace. Grabbing a handful of floo powder he took one final look at Lily and Albus before heading into the fire and flooing back to Beauxbatons.
"I guess this is goodbye, again." Hermione said to Harry.
"I guess it is." Harry said. Having to say goodbye again was making Harry realise how much he had missed having Hermione in his life. He hoped that one day he could get over who she had married and re-form a friendship with her. "Goodbye, Hermione."
"Bye Harry." Hermione smiled, picked up her bag and headed into the fire. "Beauxbatons Academy of Magic." She called, disappearing into the green flames.
Harry looked at the fireplace where Hermione had vanished from for several minutes before turning to his two children.
"Come on, let's get back to normal." Harry said, ushering them out of the room.
Little did he realise that their lives would never go back to how they had been before. The Triwizard Tournament and more importantly The Malfoy family had changed their lives forever.
A/N - I will be posting the epilogue today as well so I can get this story finished with.
I am sorry if people didn't like the Weasley's attitude but that's the great thing with writing these stories, you can make them react differently in different stories. For this story I wanted them to have a bad reaction (Which I have hopefully explained a bit in this chapter) but in most of my stories they are actually quite supportive.
I hope the majority of people enjoyed the story and I would like to thank everyone for the great support I have received.