—Harry POV—
"Hello Andromeda, I-" Draco tried to say, before Scorpius came running to him, engulfing him in a hug.
"Uncle Harry!" I turned to see Teddy running towards me. I knelt down to give him a hug, and he gave me a tight one.
"Why did you leave? Why did you leave me alone?" He wailed, burying his tiny face into my shoulder. I began to feel guilty. I am a horrible guardian.
"That was rather stupid of me, wasn't it..."
—Draco POV—
"Dada!" I saw Scorpius bolting towards me and I crouched down, taking him into my arms.
"Hello. How are you?" I asked, happy to see him again.
"Why did you leave me alone for so long?"
"I'm sorry. I had to go do adult things." Scorpius hugged me tight, wrapping his legs around my waist, clinging to me as I stood up.
"I thought you left forever, like mommy."
"No, no. Never. You don't ever have to worry about that Scor, We're a team!" I said, trying to raise his spirits. I don't think he ever fully understood that his mother is dead, just... gone.
I looked to my side and saw Harry and Teddy hugging, then, I looked ahead of me, and saw a soft smile on Andromeda's features.
"Thank you for watching them. I know it must have been a surprise, seeing me of all people, asking for such a big favor."
"You're right. Would the two of you like some tea?" She asked. I looked over at Harry, who shrugged.
"Okay."
We walked over to the table where, with a flick of her wand, Andromeda set up 3 cups of tea. We sat down.
"So, what occurred that caused this sudden visit?"
I took a deep breath, glancing at Harry.
"It's a long, complicated story." I replied.
"I assume the long complicated story involves why the two of you are being civil towards each other. And includes why Draco and Teddy were ever in the same room together?"
"I- yes."
"Well then I need to know... after all, when Harry left with Teddy 8 years ago, he was married to Ginny Weasley." My face turned in disgust hearing her name.
"I- I still... am." replied Harry. I swallowed hard, and retained a straight face, keeping my thoughts and expressions to myself.
—Hermione POV—
"We should check Hogsmeade." I suggested. Right now, the three of us were outside our home, discussing where to begin looking for Harry.
"We have to wait for Neville and Luna first." replied Ron. I had almost forgotten about that. But is it really wise to wait for them? I mean who knows what Harry is up to... My thoughts were interrupted by Draco muttering angrily.
"I can't believe those nosy bloody pricks at the prophet were there last night. So what? I'm walking around London. I've lived here all my life." He grumbled, walking with us. He exhaled, which was visible in this cold weather. Then, Ron replied harshly.
"You're a death eater Malfoy. They probably fear fo-"
"I'd watch my tongue if I were you, Weasley." Spat Malfoy dangerously. He sped up his pace, making sure to be ahead of us, and shoved his hands into his pockets. I nudged Ron.
"Ron, really you could think before you say something like that." I told him.
"Wh- Hermione tell me I'm wrong!" At this I became slightly cross.
"You are wrong. He'd be locked up in Azkaban right now not chasing Harry like a lovesick puppy!" I explained dumbly.
"Well don't think you're off the hook, Malfoy." He said turning to face him with a vile expression. "Just because you saved Harry's life doesn't undo the bloody shit you've made us go through, frankly I wonder if Harry's head is screwed on right for fancying someone like you." He spat
"Ron!" I scolded. Malfoy turned immediately, taking his wand out and looking ready to strike. I put my hand over my concealed wand for precaution.
"Shut up. Both of you. It's difficult enough wondering if we'll be organizing Harry's funeral before he even reaches his thirties. I can't take you two morons constantly bickering as if there's nothing better to do and worrying more about our past than this exact moment. " he said in a stern, quiet, angry voice.
Then, he turned around, apparating without us. I turned to Ron.
"Really, you couldn't have been more sensitive?!" I asked.
"Well I don't know how you are being so calm! He's a bloody death eater! And based on his recent behavior it seems he didn't change as much as we thought he did!"
"Well haven't you stopped and thought maybe he's just worried about Harry?!"
"Being worried about Harry has nothing to do with my sister!"
"He's not the one who fought Ginny, Ron!" I said, fuming.
"Maybe you both need to check your tempers! And you need to learn to respect Harry's decisions! The things you're saying don't really help, Ron! Haven't you gotten through your head that Harry, your best friend, could have died nothing short of two weeks ago if it weren't for Malfoy?!" Ron stayed silent.
"Honestly Ron." I stomped away, back towards the house.
"Well where are you going?" He asked.
"Well seeing as how you're acting maybe it's best we leave Harry and Malfoy alone. The two don't need more conflict." I said, before opening the door and slamming it closed. The stiff quiet of the house contrasting the volumes of my argument with Ron.
"You know, as much as I want Harry to be alright, I can't help but wonder if it's my fault he's like this." Said Ginny, who was still quietly sat at the table. I sat down by her side.
"No... Harry has had problems since before we knew him. I guess the immediate fear of getting killed by Voldemort every year just kept him from sorting through it all. Now that it's certain everything is over, it's all hitting him. The war, everything."
"He's had 10 years for that though. Most of us have, at least for the most part, gotten past the war... I mean, I understand, he was in the center of it all, but Merlin, I don't know..."
"I have a feeling he's dealing with more than just the War..."
"Well, yes. I know. His family... the Muggles... I've only heard a few things of course. He never spoke about it. But barring his window, and having 'good sense of when to duck'..."
"I know." I said, unsure of how to continue, wiping a few of my stray tears, before speaking.
"I think, realizing he has feelings for Malfoy is also making things worse... I don't think he ever imagined not being... I don't know. It's just the one part of him that was... ordinary." I said.
"And it's not like I never tried... I did." She said, sniffling. "And Malfoy, I mean, He- he's done... so, so much. To him, to us..."
"I know you tried. We all did." I replied. At this point, Ginny and I were both crying silently. She never cries. I took her hand and led us to the couch, for comfort. But not before noticing a flinch that she tried to hide.
"Why... out of all people... did he-" she couldn't finish her sentence, but I knew exactly what she was asking.
"I don't know... there's a lot of things about life we can't understand..."
"Every day since it happened I- I think 'what if Malfoy never showed up?' Would I have come home to see his body instead of-" she began to sob, and so did I.
"I don't know..." I responded. The thought of it made me feel weak.
"I'm sorry for fighting with you... I'm sorry about yesterday. I don't know what got into me..."
"I know... I know you. You aren't like that..." I heard the door open, and was faced with Ron, who looked to have been crying, like us. I got up, engulfing him in a hug, needing his comfort. We both cried. Ginny walked up to us, and we offered to add her to the hug, but she stood aside. After a while, I let go of Ron and sniffled.
*knock knock*
"I'll get it." I said, going to open the door.
"Neville! How are you?" I said, keeping myself together. I let him in, closing the door behind us.
"I'm good. How about you all? Hello Ginny, Ron. Well, we should get going now. right?" He asked, getting straight to the point.
"Actually Neville, I don't think going to find Harry is the best thing we should d-"
*knock knock*
"I'll get it." I said, opening the door to reveal Luna.
"Hello Hermione, Neville, Ron, Ginny. Oh. It seems Draco Malfoy's gone away." She said, scanning the room.
"He left to find Harry on his own?" She asked to no one in particular, I saw Ginny go upstairs, and then, Neville spoke again.
"Why don't you think going to find Harry is a good idea?" He asked.
"We-"
"Malfoy lost his temper." Ron grumbled.
"We all lost our tempers." I corrected, shooting a glare at Ron.
"I just think us being there will strain the situation more than it already is. And there weren't many more places to look. Malfoy's probably already found him. Besides, Harry definitely wouldn't go off wandering in unfamiliar places... Not since..." I sighed. "The War has changed him. He won't go anywhere unfamiliar. At least not on his own..." I swallowed, controlling my shaking self.
"Hermione seems to not want us here, Neville. I think it's best if we go-"
"No, Please. It's fine really. I'll fix us all some tea. Ron, go check on Rose please." I said, trying to hide my rising stress. Ron replied softly.
"Why don't you do that, and take a breather while you're at it. I'll fix the tea. He said. I offered what I hoped was a grateful smile, as I made my way upstairs to Rose's bedroom, my mind racing.
I keep doubting if I've made the right decision. I mean, yes. Mal-Draco, can probably manage. But what kind of friends don't make sure their best friend is found and in good hands? We could have left as soon as he was found, to give them their privacy... what if Harry questions why we aren't there for him? I opened Rose's room, and saw her peacefully sleeping. I heard the muffled voices of Ron, Neville, and Luna down stairs... It won't hurt for Rose to stay asleep a small bit longer. I thought, thanking God she had slept in today of all days.
Some moments it feels as though I'm the only one other than Malfoy wondering if Harry is okay wandering about. I thought selfishly. Don't be foolish. I told myself. Ron and Ginny just don't show their feelings much. They seem calm about everything. I reassured myself. Besides. I know they care, I thought, finally calmed down. I took a deep breath, making my way back downstairs.