Chapter 12: Planning

It was another few hours before the familiar horse Patronus burst into the flat. Hermione had been in the kitchen cooking Leo dinner when she received Ginny's message. It was vague, only telling her that Harry was okay and that she should come to the Hospital tomorrow morning.

She though hearing that he was okay would set her mind at ease. Yet as she stood there in the kitchen over the hob, her brain wouldn't shut off. Why hadn't Ginny said more? Why hadn't the healers told the pair more when they were waiting in the corridor?

The kitchen door swung open, Hermione looked over her shoulder to see Draco slumping down into his seat at the table and placing his head in his hands. "Take out?" She asked placing the small pizza on a plate and taking it over to the table. After settling it in front of the little boy, she placed her hands on Draco's shoulders and started to massage him.

"Let's go on holiday." He suggested as his head tipped back, Hermione dropped her own so that her lips brushed over his blonde locks. "Somewhere sunny and far away, like California or Orlando."

Wrenching her eyes shut, fighting back her tears Hermione whispered the trip she'd been putting off since she got back from her last trip. "Australia." Since Draco came back into her life, she was ready to give up all hope on her parents, leave them to live out the rest of their lives with-out the burden of their daughter.

"We could do it the muggle way," She finished massaging his shoulders. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her cheek coming to rest against his. "No magic, somewhere no one will know us. How does that sound kiddo?"

Leo looked up at his parents with a cheesy grin, tomato sauce spread across his face. Hermione forced a smile back before detaching herself from Draco and leaving the kitchen. She found herself in her bedroom, collapsing on the bed she broke down in tears. Fears about the possibility of seeing her parents again and worries for her best friend combined, causing a flood of pent-up emotions.

Because her head was in her hands, she didn't see Draco come in. She didn't hear him make his way to the bed. Only did she notice his presents when the bed dipped next to her and his hand was on her shoulder. Neither of them said anything. Slowly Hermione began to warm to his touch, edging closer and closer to him until her head was on his lap, his hands lost in her hair as she began to calm down.

"Can you look after him tomorrow," She croaked without moving, her big brown eyes fixed on the bedroom door just in case Leo came looking for them. "I don't want to take him to see Harry until I know what's wrong."

Hermione could feel the vibration of Draco's laugh, "Of course I can look after him, he's my kid to Granger."

She sat up, taking a deep breath she kissed his cheek. "I'm going to have a bath and early night if that's okay." Draco gave her a peck back before informing her that was okay and he could make himself something to eat if she wasn't feeling up for takeaway or food at all for that matter.

He stood and didn't dally around, leaving the room straight away and closing the door behind him. It took a while for Hermione to summon up the courage to stand and make her way to the bathroom across the hall. As she walked, she could hear Leo in hysterics in the living room. The reason to why it upset her was unbeknown to her but she could guess that it was because for the last few years Harry had been the closest thing Leo had to a father. And while she got herself ready for a bath, while her son giggled in the other room, her best friend was lying in a hospital bed. No one had told her what happened, no one had told her what was wrong with him; and as selfish as it sounds no one had asked her how she was feeling.

Of course, she knew Draco cared. He just didn't particularly care about Harry. But Hermione thought he hadn't cared about her, that he would never care for Leo. Yet, the girl he now shared a bed with was the same girl he once called mudblood. Lived in the flat of the woman he used to go out of his way to bully. In the war he'd never helped her specifically. He did whatever he could to save himself.

But actions had consequences. Lucius wanted Hermione and Leo gone. No matter what happened that was never going to change. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but she could sure as hell try. Which was why the idea that next came to her head, was the worst she'd ever thought of but she had to try. For Draco. Or maybe it was for herself.

The hospital was empty as Hermione roamed the halls in search of Harry's room. She saw the occasional healer as she pondered but no more that 8 people on her way to the room. When she arrived at the door the first thing she noticed was Ginny fast asleep on a hospital bed in the corner of the room. It was a small privet room, Harry's bed was in the centre, pushed up against the right wall. There was a monitor either side of him, beeping away in a melancholy tune. The bed spear bed that Ginny was sleeping in, had been pushed against the opposite wall but vertical unlike her husbands.

Hermione pushed herself through the door way and into the seat next to Harry's bed. His eyes were shut and breathing light. She sat beside him and joined their hands above the white hospital bed covers. "I've forgotten how this felt."

"Liar." Hermione whispered as her best friend turned his head to look at her, squeezing her hand and smirking in response. "You love the attention."

Harry chuckled before wincing in pain. Hermione shot him a concerned look but he shook his head. "I'm fine, just a broken rib and bruising. You should have seen the other guy." The witched rolled her eyes.

"I didn't think I was going to see you again." Was her reply. The two shared a meaningful look, only breaking eye contact when they noticed Ginny stirring across the room. "I told Draco I loved him."

Harry looked shocked by her confession but after a few moments he just smiled. Letting his eyes shut again, it wasn't long before he was fast asleep. Hermione sat there, staring at the jet-black hair and pale skin of the boy who lived. His lighting scar, half hidden by his hair per usual.

Maybe she didn't need to fix her parents. Maybe she didn't need to put herself through the pain of knowing she won't get them back again. She had a bigger family than when she last saw them, explaining Leo and Draco would be hard. And as much as she missed them, she'd unknowingly replaced them. She considered Molly and Arthur her parents. Harry had been a brother figure to her since they were kids. And now she had her own child, what would she tell him? How would she explain the sudden reappearance of her parents to him? Hermione would always have her parents; she will always have her memories. But maybe that is the best way to keep it. Her parents as distant memories.

These thoughts didn't rip her heart in two like it once would have. No, instead it made her remember the reason she kept Leo from Draco. To stop her child getting hurt, and she would so this to keep herself getting hurt again. It might sound selfish, but she kept tabs on her parents lives over in Australia and they were living the life they'd always dreamt of.

But if Hermione was going live the rest of her life like this, she had to do one last thing. She had to do the impossible. She would have to make Lucius Malfoy like her. It would take a while and a lot of hard work, but this is Hermione Granger. Everyone loved her, everyone except Lucius Malfoy.

"Hermione?"

The witch lifted her head to see Ginny, moving to a sitting position on the bed. "Hey Gin," Was all she could muster as a reply. Hermione stood from her seat, letting her hand fall from Harry's. Perching on the edge of the other bed, she watched Harry sleeping. "He's gonna be okay."

"I know." Was all the other witch said. Resting her hand on her baby bump Ginny rested back against the pillows. The two of them sat in silence, a lot like yesterday, only this time they knew Harry was okay. They didn't speak again until a healer entered at twelve thirty to give Harry his lunch, at which time Hermione said her goodbyes and set off for Malfoy Manor.

A/N: Okay, okay, the next chapter will be longer I promise! I don't however know when it will be posted. I'm pretty busy at the moment will college and on top of that my family adopted a puppy last weekend which is why I haven't posted over the last week and a bit. So yeah, I'm a bit stressed which lead to a huge case of writer's block and didn't know how to get what I wanted to write on the page. Originally this would have been the last chapter! It's got a very different story line to my original draft of this story and I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for sticking with me over the last few months. In other news, I've just stared beta reading a new story- Hidden and Unknown by thedepressedwriter please check it out it's amazing! She also has an Instagram account where she posts story aesthetics- hogwartssslove I've posted on my profile my story plans from now until August next year, along with other ideas I have. I've also got the names of the stories I beta. Anyways I'm done rambling. Next chapter we reencounter Lucius!