"And you're not going to tell me why you've dismissed my top Auror?" Harry's eyes narrowed from his seat on the other side of the desk; his suspicion rolled off him heavy waves and slapped against her skin.
If she could somehow go back in time and find her eleven-year-old self, she might seriously consider shaking the poor girl and telling her to befriend that messy-haired boy at her own risk, because not only was he was a walking trouble magnet and arch-nemesis to the darkest wizard in history, but he would also someday be Head Auror and a right pain in her arse.
"No."
"Did something—" He paused, shifting uncomfortably in his seat before grimacing. "Did he say something? Or do something? You know, he's always harboured this little crush on you, and it's harmless, but maybe he put his foot in his mouth or something…"
Tears pushed forward, and with a hard swallow, she banished them. "It's nothing like that, Harry, and I'm not answering any questions about it. I need him reassigned immediately. His pay remains the same, nothing changes."
Harry groaned loudly, head falling back dramatically. "You're really fucking killing me here, you know that? He's the best guy on my team. Rumor has it Jacobs is stepping down in the New Year; I was ready to offer Teddy the damn job!"
"I'm sorry, but my decision is final." Her gaze fell to the parchment under her fingers, the final itinerary for the summit for tomorrow, but she saw nothing. Numb. Endlessly numb. How much damage could a single heart take before it ceased working?
xXx
Grate after grate passed until finally hers. Rushing through the Floo, she hadn't even had a chance to set her bag down before she was bounding across the room, falling to her knees in front of her two, beautiful, fiery-haired children sitting quietly on the sofa and wrapping her arms around their necks. Merlin, she was already crying.
"Mum! Mum!" Hugo whined, squirming under the suffocation of her affections. "You're choking us!"
"Sorry, sorry." Pulling back, she cradled Hugo's cheeks in her palms, her head canting to the side as she stared at him. He was losing some of his childlike features; his cheeks were thinning, a sharp jaw just starting to form. He was growing up.
Rosie shifted uncomfortably, and Hermione lifted one palm from Hugo's face to rest it on her daughter's. "I love you both so much. You know that, don't you?"
"Of course, Mum," Rosie sighed. "We love you, too."
Seeing her children fortified her resolve to end things with Teddy. Sure, it hurt like hell, but for her kids, she could stand it. She would have to.
"What do you want for dinner tonight? Whatever you want!"
"Pizza!" they rushed in unison, eyes widening in anticipation.
With a small laugh, she nodded and pressed kisses to their foreheads. "Pizza it is. I have a bit of work in the morning, but you can go to your dad's if you'd like or just loaf around here. It shouldn't be long, and then maybe we can go to Picadilly Circus? It's been ages since we went to see the lights, and I've got some galleons burning a hole in my pocket we can spend. Yes?"
Rosie smiled, that bright, beautiful, beaming grin she saved for rare occasions these days. "Could Dad come?"
The innocent question was a stab in her heart. Was she not enough?
Despite the past few years and the tumultuous nature of their relationship, she and Ron had remained a strong, unified front for their children. They could have a row that lasted until the wee hours of the morning and forced Ron onto the chaise in their bedroom, but in the morning they were side by side in the kitchen.
Discovering this new normal and how two single parents who could barely stand to be around each other could function together was going to take a while to get used to.
"We'll ask him, of course." Hermione smiled weakly.
xXx
Hermione picked at her pizza, now having had it two nights in a row, while her children devoured every bite. Hugo had fallen asleep with a book splayed over his chest and his arm hanging off the couch. Rosie had sat just opposite of him, nose still buried in her Arithmancy book.
At the London flat, the kids' rooms were pretty sparse. They rarely all stayed there, and truth be told, it'd been purchased with an inevitable separation in mind.
But having them there, existing in the home that had so quickly come to feel like her exile, warmed the cold recesses of her heart.
She couldn't help but just stare at Rosie, at the women she was growing into. When they'd found out they were having a girl, Hermione had worried she'd muck it up. After all, she wasn't the most patient or understanding, things that mothers of daughters would benefit from.
Then she'd been born, all wild red curls and pink-cheeked, and Hermione had wondered how she could have ever thought she wasn't meant to be this girl's mother.
Looks certainly weren't the most important thing for a girl to possess, especially where Hermione Granger was concerned. But Merlin, she was beautiful.
"I can feel you staring at me, Mum," Rose scolded from the corner of her mouth, blue eyes flickering up a moment later to stare pointedly at her mother.
Pink coloured her cheeks. "Sorry, love. How's your schoolwork? Quidditch practice going well?"
In the most surprising event of Hermione's life, Rosie quietly closed her book and turned towards her. "Well enough. Exams are coming up, and Quidditch is done until the new year. Captain said I might make the starting lineup next year if I keep at it."
"That's wonderful, honey!" Sitting up, Hermione couldn't help the swell of pride filling her chest. "Have you thought about what you want for Christmas? You know I know nothing of brooms, but I eyed one in the shop the other day, and I started poking around—"
"I thought we were going to be with Dad for Christmas." Rosie's voice took on an edge that made Hermione bristle.
Swallowing a knot of nerves in her belly, Hermione fixed a weak smile on her lips. "You'll be with your dad the first week of holiday and then with me the second. You'll come here after Christmas at the Burrow, so I'll still see you. I wanted you to see your family."
A wrinkle formed between Rose's eyebrows. "Why can't you just come? Grandma Molly would still want you there. I know it!"
"I know, but—"
"It's not fair!" Tears welled in Rosie's blue eyes, her jaw quivering. "You keep saying we'll still be a family, but we're not! You won't be at Christmas? You'll just be sitting here by yourself?"
"Honey, of course not. I'll make myself busy somewhere; you need to have some semblance of normal…"
"It's not normal! How can it be normal if you and Dad aren't together? How could you let this happen?" Her voice cracked, and Hermione pained to see the ache on her daughter's face. Opening her arms, she never thought in a million years that her fifteen-year-old daughter would come, but she did, nearly tripping off the couch and into the space between Hermione and the sofa.
It was probably a little twisted, to feel some joy in this moment, but it was impossible not to. It'd been years since Hermione had been able to just hold her daughter in her arms. Smoothing her soft waves of ruby hair, Hermione shushed her daughter, crooning to her over and over again that things would be alright.
xXx
Hermione woke with a head on her chest, an arm stretched over her stomach and hair in her mouth. The sun had begun its slow, early rise, and the first light of day pushed through the wide windows of her flat. Rose shifted next to her mum, nestling her head into the crook of her arm and a sleepy smile pulled at her cheeks.
Damn this stupid summit. Damnit all to hell. She'd happily spend the entire day with her children, and if it weren't for the fact that it was the culmination of an entire life of work, she'd skive off without another thought.
Slipping from under her daughter's embrace, she chuckled as Rose grumbled in her sleep and turned over fitfully, just like her father in that regard. She dressed quickly, long black slacks and a red chiffon blouse. With all luck, she'd be home by lunch.
She quickly penned a note to Ronald, letting him know he could pop by to be with the kids if he wanted and informed him of the plans for the night, should he want to attend. Surely they could both behave for their children.
Tucking the letter in her brief, she endeavored to give it to Gwen first thing to have it owled off. She also wrote a quick note to the kids and dropped it on the coffee table, unable to wake them when looked so peaceful. Kissing her fingertips and waving goodbye, she was through the Floo and landing in her office at the Ministry.
"Thank Merlin, there you are!" Gwen rushed, shoving into her vision with Auror Jacobs looking tired and puffy-eyed behind her. "The delegates from Japan have arrived early; they miscalculated the time change. They're waiting for you already!"
"Damnit." Cursing under her breath, she smoothed her clothes and tossed her bag in the chair. "Coffee, Gwen? I'll head straight in."
"I'm on it, boss!" Gwen disappeared through her chamber doors, and Hermione quickly approached Jacobs and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks for coming back for this weekend, Jacobs. I promise I won't keep you long."
A genuine, albeit tired, smile formed and he nodded. "Anything for you, Minister."
xXx
"Gwen," Hermione said with a false smile, eyeing the clock now inching towards one-thirty. "Let's move this along, shall we? My kids are home, and I need to get these signatures and a photograph and get the hell out of here."
"Yes, Minister. They're all quite chatty, aren't they? Especially considering half of them don't speak the same language."
"Quite." Pinching the bridge of her nose, Hermione let out a long huff. "Would you just let the press in?"
Within moments, a dozen reporters from periodicals she didn't even recognize flooded the large conference room, and Hermione took her spot at the podium.
"I just wanted to say a personal thank you for attending this morning. The International Magical Coalition, and your involvement in it, means more to me then I could ever express. I was a child during Tom Riddle's reign of terror, and the repercussions have been my constant companion all these years. This coalition will herald a new age for the Wizarding World at large. Together we will secure our children's safety for generations to come. Thank you for being apart of it; thank you for making this dream of mine come true."
A soft round of applause sounded through the room, and with a polite smile, she moved to the parchment and signed her name—Hermione Granger. Her wrist almost flicked for the 'W' that had accompanied that name for so long, but she smiled down at it in its simplicity. This accomplishment was hers.
Stepping back, the delegates lined up, signing their names one by one as photographers snapped photo after photo.
A small witch with a camera that looked far too large for her stepped up, Harry just over her shoulder with an annoyed glare. "Minister? I was wondering if we could get a picture of you and Auror Potter?"
"Of course! I'm sure nothing would thrill Auror Potter more." Grumbling, Harry came to stand next to her, his hand resting on her lower back as he turned a flat smile for the photographer.
A laugh bubbled past Hermione's lips, and she nudged her friend sharp in the side until he smiled properly.
But then, startling her entirely, a warning chill inched down her spine. Both she and Harry froze, eyes widening at the familiar feeling.
Her wards.
They'd been breached. A violent flutter of nerves crashed in her chest, and Hermione snapped her gaze to Harry's.
"Did you feel that?" Harry asked in a low voice. "Your flat…"
She nodded, eyes darting around the room and the political guests here at her request. "It's… it's probably just Ron. I told him he could come be with the kids."
"He wouldn't trigger your wards, Hermione," Harry warned, nodding to the Aurors stationed around the room.
Brows furrowing, Hermione grappled at straws, desperate to make sense of it. "He would," she said firmly, "because of the divorce. Ron no longer owns it, so yes… it's just—" she paused, throat clenching. "Just Ron."
"And a group picture! Minister, can we get you here in front?" someone called, and with shaking legs, she worked herself towards the center of the room, parting from her friend and trying to ignore him giving instructions to his team in the back of the room.
It was just Ron.
Gwen fluttered by, and Hermione's hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her wrist as she pulled her to a stop. "Did you hear from Ron about the kids?"
Gwen's brow pinched. "No… I'm sorry, Minister. Were you expecting something?"
"You owled off the note to him though?" Panic pressed in on her, suffocating her as the foreboding feeling crushed the air from her lungs.
"What note?"
"The note I…" Realisation slammed painfully into her, and she let out a sharp exhale, fingers tightening on her assistant's wrist. The note still sitting her in her bag. "Fuck."
Adrenaline coursed through her blood, and Hermione sought out Harry, who was already pointing his Aurors through the door. They locked gazes, and without a word spoken, they both knew the same. Something was very, very wrong.
Gwen rushed off, and a few flashes rendered Hermione momentarily blinded. All she could hear was the shouting of photographers begging for her to look up and the sound of blood rushing in her ears.
xXx
Standing shoulder to shoulder at the private Floo in her office were two thick-necked Aurors with stern expressions.
"Move aside," she commanded, waving two fingers in the air as she made to enter her grate.
"Auror Potter's orders, Minister. You're not allowed through until your flat has been cleared."
The one on the left looked terrified, his jaw trembling and eyes locked on the ceiling.
"Auror Potter answers to me; you answer to me. Move aside—now—or I will have both of your dismissal papers signed and sent out before I've had my afternoon tea. Do you understand?"
"Minister... we really aren't—"
The Auror on the left caved, stepping quickly to the side, and with a resigned sigh, the other followed.
Pulling her wand out, she stepped through the grate, praying to see her children sitting there with their father.
But of course, she didn't. Harry was there, wild-eyed and worried, and when their stares met, she nearly fainted. He didn't have to say anything. She knew.
Her children were gone.
A/N: My wonderful beta, Ravenslight, has finished up the last two chapters! She is the most treasured gem, and if I weren't so excited to sing her prayers I would keep her name all to myself so no one else could have her lol
Make sure you are following her new WIP Scripted, inspired by the Ugly Truth! It's hilarious and so so fun.
Big thanks to my Alpha's, In Dreams and MCal, you guys have bolstered my confidence a hundred times over and I can't thank you enough.
And to my lovely readers! Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, kudos, and follows. I can't tell you how much they mean to me. I'm sorry I'm a dodo at responding but I read every one and squeal like a child when they are delivered to my inbox.
I'll work on these edits and have the final two chapters up for you as soon as possible! Last cliffie… I promise!
-LK