Hermione stood under a shaded tree and watched the two boys chase each other up and down a pirate ship half sunk into the ground. This place was brilliant and the Wizarding world had nothing like it. Here the boys could run and jump with other kids and hermione just tried to keep an eye on them. It was a handy reward and a good distraction. Teddy looked so different with his own light brown hair not flicking between colours but the charm worked and the little boy didn't mind.

The coin in her pocket vibrated and she looked down. 'Here.' Was All it said and she sent back 'ship.' A few minutes later she could see her friend walking toward her in jeans and long sleeve with his coat held in one hand and a smile on his face. It wasn't the easy smile she usually got though and Hermione tried to brace herself for the concern that was coming. Before he could speak to her she heard Teddy's little voice.

"Harry!" Then Soren called two and they looked up at the two in the crows nest. It was made for kids their age so it wasn't too high and the levels below it kept it from ever being a far fall. He waved at them and she noticed the smile was genuine. He wasn't upset then.

"Mione." She met his eyes then and could see the questions. Instead of the rapid fire interrogation she had expected he reached for her and hugged her tight. She squeezed him back and waited for him to release her.

"Let's sit down." He said and they walked to a bench close by. His hand flicked and she knew he had cast muffliatto around them.

"Everything alright then?" His voice was low and she knew he was looking at her. She watched the two boys enter the slide and then looked to the bottom of the plastic spiral and watched them tumble out together then run back to do it again. Knowing he wanted her to look at him, she did. The vibrant green eyes were scanning her as he did people at work. Looking for anything that might show. She smiled a bit and he made a face at her knowing what he was doing.

"Alright Harry. It was better than I had hoped. Soren is so happy and so is Finn. Last night was hard. It's so emotional and just so much. Don't look at me like that. I don't always have words to describe things." He scoffed at her good naturedly and then sobered again.

"For you too?" He asked and she shrugged a bit. Then made sure she could see the boys before looking back to her friend.

"It's all still there. Or more than it was before." She offered and knew he didn't know about before. She hadn't told him then.

"The way he looks at me or how I feel when I look in his eyes. It's embarrassing. He slept with me last night." She knew he didn't misunderstand and was thankful that he didn't make a flippant comment about it. "Soren came in early and climbed in. I couldn't fall asleep again after that. Just being there with them and how it felt. I'm scared Harry." He relaxed at that and she just looked her feelings at him. Harry flicked his eyes to the boys and she knew he didn't need her eye contact anymore. Understood enough. So the two sat for a few minutes and watched the boys.

"Aven was there too. He seemed apprehensive." He finally spoke and Hermione thought about that.

"He knows more about what it feels like to get out and more about Finn. About us than anyone else I think." She offered eventually.

"The look he shot me when Siggy told us his family needed rest was telling. What it said I don't know." The last was grumbled and she laughed.

"He isn't very easy to read. Finn hides less." She blushed a bit as she thought over the elf's words.

"Do you still want to have dinner Friday?" He asked and she considered that. Usually it was at the Tower and six to ten of them plus the boys.

"Sure. I think so anyways. I'll let you know this afternoon. I don't want to make plans for Soren or leave him out of mine. Not yet. Finn deserves, he should be able to have a say." She blushed further at the sideways look from Harry that she caught.

"For Christ's sake Mione. The number of disappointed wizards in Britain is going to be ridiculous. Relieved witches too." He didn't sound like he was joking and she scoffed at him. After a second she looked away from the two boys climbing the rope mast and at him. He was giving her a look she wasn't sure of and after failing to decipher it, she gave up and asked.

"What does that mean?" Her tone was curious and this time he scoffed.

"For a brilliant witch you are so blind about yourself. Do you think the guys that dote on you and seek your attention so frequently are not interested in more than friendship?" His tone made it clear that this wasn't a jibe and she didn't know what to say.

"I don't know. I mean I'm sure their invitations have been genuine. Most of them anyways. No one has ever said anything to me directly. Just invitations to dinner or events." She answered and felt uncomfortable at the direct look he was giving her.

"Malfoy maybe. He doesn't seem hopeful and likes baiting you." Harry said after a minute and she smiled a bit. Draco was fun and she hoped he didn't want to date her or whatever. He was good looking and she enjoyed spending time with him. Lunches with or without Soren were always fun and she enjoyed his interests in magic and other things. He talked to her about his business and that was unique. Having managed the Rowle finances for years it was nice to have someone speak to her as if she weren't a useless witch meddling with things that ought to be left to the more capable sex. It was common in dealings here.

"Terry and Theo too. Even Seamus and Micheal. None of them have ever done anything." She offered and felt a bit better as she said it.

"You Just ignore it Mione. The looks and you have even invited others around to dinners that were meant to be private." He looked a bit amused now and she frowned.

"I have bigger things to worry about then dating Harry." The words came out as if she had said them a thousand times. Perhaps it wasn't that many but it was alot and only the name of the person she was speaking to changed.

"Uh huh. Looks like they want to go somewhere else." The boys were heading toward them and Harry dropped the spell.

"Can we go to bugs now Min?" Soren asked and Teddy jumped once on the spot.

"Harry, you coming too? It's gross." The last was said in as excited a voice as the little body could muster and they laughed.

"Yeah Teddy. I took a long lunch and was hoping we could wheedle chips from Mione." With that three pairs of eyes turned to her with a pleading look to them and she pretended to be firm.

"I brought carrot sticks." She said as if that closed the deal and in a moment all three were protesting. She laughed and the two little boys jumped up and down hollering about chips and the red sauce. Harry just grinned at her.

The apparition alert chimed and he didn't have to move. Having given up waiting anywhere but right where they could come half an hour ago. Maks had left ten minutes ago and Thorfinn wasn't sure how he felt about that. It was fine but it was also easier to not overthink things when he was there. The look he had gotten told him that his friend knew something of that and this was part of why he was leaving. He understood but shot him the expected fuck off look and both of them grinned before he disappeared in the flames.

In those ten minutes or so he had thought over the book Soren had showed him as promised, right after breakfast. They had skipped to when it was Soren's name at the bottom of the paragraphs and she hadn't met his eyes until the boy started pointing out pictures he had coloured in there and narrating whatever it said. It was small things mostly. When he learned something or had wanted to tell him something. Then Hermione had spoken quietly about how she hadn't been able to write him but didn't want to forget things so had written in here. He could look through it later. He hadn't done that while they were gone. Hadn't felt ready to and the anticipation he felt now told him that had been a good call.

There they were. A boy holding tight to each leg as they had when she took them nearly three hours ago. They all looked the same except tousled and pink cheeked. He skimmed her face and the way her hair was more wind blown than before then looked down at his son who was grinning from behind her thigh.

"Dad!" He nearly shrieked and Hermione chuckled lowly.

"I'll take Teddy home. You stay with your dad alright?" Soren looked up at her and she ran a hand through his tousled waves then smiled gently. It was another moment he wanted to keep. The soft look on her face and the way the little boy looked up at her. As if she would only tell the truth. As if he trusted her totally. It was amazing and he felt his heart rate speed up.

"Okay Min. Comes back." She nodded and then the little body was hurtling toward him and he reached down to scoop him up.

"Did you have fun Sor?" He asked as the other two walked to the floo and she lifted the little boy up so he could grab the powder. Then he called out The Grange and the two stepped into the flames and were gone.

"So much Dad. More bugs this time and we sawed spiders. Min doesn't like the legs." He stood against the wall with his sons body relaxed against his and listened to the chatter about what they had seen and done. Had chips for lunch with carrot sticks and climbed a ship. He was amazed with what he said and wondered what kind of a place had ships for kids to climb and and big rope shapes. Potter had been there and it was clear that Soren likes him. He had done zip lines with him and Thorfinn couldn't imagine what that might be. His little cub would know though.

"We waiting for Min?" The question was tacked onto the end of a description of turning swings and he was surprised at its inclusion.

"Yeah bud. Waiting for Min." He answered and the smile he got was so bright and happy.

"I missed you guys." He said and hoped it was okay. To tell him that. The small arms wrapped around his neck and Soren buried his face in his neck. He just hugged him tightly and let the feelings roar and then lessen slowly.

"Min says so. That you were waiting. We missed you dad." He kept his eyes closed and breathed. He didn't like the uncertainty but every word had been so good. Every moment with them had been better than he had expected. Had hoped. The floo wooshed and the chime sounded. Both of them turned to see her, stood one step out of the fireplace and looking at them. He could see her emotion and wasn't surprised when she wiped her eyes quickly and then smiled at them. It was a bit wobbly but it looked real and he couldn't help his soft smile back. It was sappy and telling but he couldn't help it.

"We waited Min. For you." She did cry then. A few more tears but she was still smiling and he held his free hand out to her. Feeling as if it was a big gesture. Reaching for her when she might say no. Hadn't reached for him first or said she wanted to. Her first step was slow but she almost crashed into him. Her face against his shoulder and he could feel her breathe heavily. The warm puffs of air against his shirt covered shoulder. She hadn't taken his hand so he wrapped that arm around her and Soren wrapped a hand into her curls and she laughed softly against him.

After a quiet minute she looked up at Soren and then at him. He wanted to kiss her. Wanted so badly to close the distance and feel her skin against his lips. Deciding that her eyes were not warning him off and she wasn't tense he slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. It was short but when he pulled back her eyes were closed and she kept them that way for a few seconds. Then opened them and he knew. Knew he was going to fight for her. To keep her. He wanted her so badly. This. The three of them. Soren's little head leaned against his and he just held them. His family. Even if he should want her to do all the things she gave up, he couldn't help wanting her here with them. To be here, in his home, with his witch and his son. His.