Chapter 7
Snapping into the white walls of St Mungo's hospital...
Alex clutched Draco's arm tightly after apparating, cursing his laziness and rusty apparation technique. She took a few minutes to get her bearings, fighting the urge to throw up.
"Draco, you really need to brush up on your apparation technique. I remember that you were the best in silent apparation of the four of us, any you used to do it without making it so nauseating!" Alex complained.
"Do we really have to talk about this now? We aren't in a bloody war, in case you couldn't tell. You're not throwing up, so I'd call it an overall success."
"Drac-" Alex began, but was cut off by him throwing a silencing charm her way. She glared at him, wordlessly disabling the charm, but respected his wishes for her to be quiet. He snatched her arm and dragged her over to the lift, arriving at the fourth floor.
"You have arrived at the fourth floor at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Spell damage," a voice announced overhead. As soon as the doors opened, Draco was walking briskly to the right, passing a sign that directed them towards the Unknown Curses ward.
They passed several doors until they arrived at the room with Astoria Malfoy on the door. Draco was shaking slightly, and Alex gripped his hand to steady him. He shot her a bittersweet smile, and then entered the room. Astoria lay in the bed, eyes shut as if she were sleeping. Several monitors kept track of her heart rate and blood oxygen levels, as well as other vitals. Alex smiled softly.
"I'm glad to see they've taken a page or two out of the Muggle's books," she whispered. Draco ignored her and sat down in the chair next to Astoria's bed. "Who's Astoria's healer?" Alex asked him.
He furrowed his brows in concentration. "I think it was... something Davies. Helen? Harriet? Something with an H. Roger Davies' wife, that Ravenclaw bloke."
"Hannah?" Alex exclaimed excitedly. "Draco, your wife is in the best of hands, in that case. Hannah Davies is an excellent healer and is one of the best ranked researchers in the world, too."
"Well thank you, Mrs. Zabini," Hannah laughed as she entered the room. "Mr. Malfoy, and Mrs. Zabini, it's a pleasure to meet you both. Did you have any questions regarding Astoria's health, or are you just visiting?"
"We're doing both, actually. Have you figured out what curse hit Astoria, or how to wake her up somehow?" asked Draco.
"Like I said last night, Mr. Malfoy, it's not a known curse, or else we would have figured it out by now. Since it was wordless, as you had explained yesterday, there's no exact wording that created this spell. It wasn't a normal spell, rather it was the thoughts going through Mr. Flint's mind that eventually channeled his magic and ended up hitting your wife. It was intended to be malicious, and this is the result of such magic. Until we can decipher the nature of the curse, and what the thoughts were when Mr. Flint attacked Astoria, there's not much we can do to help her," Hannah explained patiently.
"Have you attempted to wake her up with the basic reawakening spells?" Alex asked.
"Our first nurses tried Ennervate, Finite Incantatum, and Relashio, but nothing seems to have had an effect so far."
"Have you brought in any curse breakers?"
"We've contacted Gringotts to see if they could spare anyone, but you know how goblins are. They just weren't cooperative, refusing to contact any of their employees. The best curse breakers are working for Gringotts, and they wouldn't give us a list of curse breakers either."
"Well, my husband has contacted Bill Weasley, who is a curse breaker who works for Gringotts, as well as Professor Natasha Pucey, whose initial career was curse breaking. I thought they might take a look over, if that's okay?"
"Normally, my answer would be no. In order to bring outside people to aid in the healing, there is a huge legal process we'd have to go through, with liabilities and all that wonderful stuff. However, this not really a normal circumstance. I'll still have to speak with our Department Head Council, but hopefully we can get them approved relatively quickly."
"How quick is 'relatively quick'?" Alex asked concernedly.
"The soonest I can guarantee is two weeks," Hannah sighed.
"Two weeks?" Draco exclaimed frustratedly, jumping up out of his seat. "And that's just legal proceedings? What if you were to contact Weasley and Pucey, as a St Mungo's employee?"
"I'd still have to go through the same process, which thankfully has already been partially started."
"Is there any way we can speed up the process?" Alex asked, frowning slightly.
"I can't guarantee anything. If Mr. Malfoy here is willing to sign off on St Mungo's liability with these two curse breakers, we might stand a better chance of getting them in within a week."
"What if we were to get a lawyer to draft up a liability form that Draco can sign so that St Mungo's is in no way responsible for any of the repercussions that may result from the curse breakers? If we could do that by the end of today, would it be possible to bring them in tomorrow? Or sometime sooner than a week?" Alex suggested, thinking of Hermione as the first go-to lawyer.
"Granger is a Defense of Magical Creatures lawyer. She doesn't deal with liability cases," Draco stated before Hannah could answer, clearly understanding what Alex was thinking.
"Yeah she does, all the time. Witches and wizards who own various magical creatures have to sign various contracts, liability waivers, etcetera. She knows the language that goes into one," Alex explained her train of thought, and Draco shrugged.
"Would it work?" he asked Hannah.
"It might work. Again, Mr. Malfoy, there's no guarantee, but it most certainly doesn't hurt, and it will probably help," she answered. Glancing at her watch, her eyes widened and she began doing a few check ups on Astoria's vitals.
"Any other questions? I'll be back around... nine-ish at night, so you can hand off the liability waiver to me if you visit later tonight."
"I think we're good for now. We'll try our best to get that to you soon. Did you need anything else, Draco?" Alex turned to him as he sat back down heavily into his chair.
"No, I think that's all for now," he sighed.
"Well, don't hesitate to send me an owl if you do. See you later tonight!" Hannah called over her shoulder as she bustled into the next room.
"I think we need to interrogate a certain Marcus Flint," Alex stated after Hannah had left the room.
"Most definitely agreed. Maybe we can figure out what his thoughts were, and then use that to break the curse on Astoria," Draco sighed heavily. "Alex, what happens if she doesn't wake up?"
"Hey there, that's no way to think. Even if she doesn't, you just have to heal and move on." Alex sat down next to Draco in the chair next to the monitors, placing her hand on his right forearm.
"How can you heal when something that is so important dies? When you feel so guilty? When you don't and will never have any closure with that person?"
"Why do you feel guilty? What do you have to feel guilty for? "
"I mean, she deserved to find true love. Of all the people from Slytherin, if anyone deserved to find true love, it would be her. And look at how many people found true love. I mean, look at Parkinson and Flint. If anyone didn't deserve love, it would be them, and yet they found it. And even if I she couldn't provide it for me, oh I don't know, maybe I could have tried to love her."
"Do you really think that even if you tried, you would have been able to love her like you do Hermione?"
"No, never."
"So then what makes you think that if you did attempt to, that you could be successful at it? It would never be the same as her receiving the affection from Ron."
"Ugh. I don't know, all right? She just deserves more than she got... and I don't know how I'd manage without her. We were never really in love, but I still care about her and we've grown dependent on each other! I'd feel guilty taking up her entire life when I couldn't give her that love, and she couldn't give me my love. How did you do it, Alex? How did you heal with so much guilt?"
Alex leaned back a little and sighed. "For a few years, I didn't heal. The wound just festered and dragged me deep down into depression, to the point where I was reduced to crying every night when no one could see. But time really does heal all wounds. After four or so years, I was through. I had paid my time in the dark, and then I could move on. You eventually realize what tomorrow signifies, and that the person who has passed away wouldn't wish that depression on you. Instead, you begin to find it as a source of strength, or a reason for all that you do.
"They become your reason, your motivation for doing things that you might not have done otherwise. You change for the better, sometimes, because of them and their passing. You eventually find closure, even though they may always be in your thoughts. But the point is, you find hope in their death, and use that hope to help others and yourself. There never goes a year where their absence isn't noted, but you know that you'll always be forever devoted."
"I just hope that she eventually gets better, but I don't know if she will even try. With Ron gone, what's the point of her living? She and I only live for Scorpius and the rare times we can see the people we truly love. She believes in destiny, despite the fact that I don't. Maybe she thinks that since Ron died, it's her fate to die, too, in order for her to be with him."
"Draco, you are not making one bit of sense. Whatever happens, happens. Don't bother worrying about what will happen, because it will just make you crazy. Stop worrying, and we just have to be optimistic, okay?"
Draco sighed, and put his head on Alex's shoulder. "You know what? You're right. I'm just sick with worry."
That was how Daphne and Theo found the two when they walked in moments later. Daphne knocked on the door, and Draco and Alex turned to look at the couple.
"Hey Daphne, Theo," Alex acknowledged. "How are you holding up?"
"It's been a rough night," Daphne replied. "I heard that Ara and Scorp made it into Slytherin with Emelda."
"Yup, let Emelda know we give our congratulations and love," Alex responded.
"How is Tori doing?" Theo asked, walking closer to the hospital bed.
"There hasn't been any change in her unconscious state, and we are trying to bring in some curse breakers to see if they can figure anything out," Draco stated tonelessly.
"Is there nothing anyone can do for her?" Daphne asked sadly, joining Theo on the side of Astoria's bed.
"We are also going to interrogate Marcus Flint to see if by knowing what thoughts he had when he casted the curse, we can attempt to create or find some sort of counter curse," Alex added.
"Oh and Draco, just a warning, but our in-laws will be walking in any time, now," Theo informed Draco with a small chuckle. Draco immediately stiffened, holding on to the chair arm tightly.
"Griffith and Emma? I haven't spoken to either of my in-laws for... well years. Since Scorpius was born, we have not had any real contact. I mean, every year they send Scorpius a birthday present, but we have successfully avoided them otherwise. For good reason, too," Draco muttered.
"Well, speak of the devil," Alex mumbled as the elder Greengrass couple walked in the doorway.
"Draco! Darling boy, we haven't seen you for years!" Emma Greengrass gushed, enveloping a very unwilling Draco in a tight embrace. He grunted as she squeezed him, gasping for breath as she released him. She turned to Theo, her grand smile fading slightly. "Theodore," she acknowleged stiffly.
"Still a prejudiced bigot then, Mrs. Greengrass?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, no, Mr. Nott, I just give respect to tthose who deserve it," she replied icily.
"So basically, people who have a large inheritance sum or who have married into one, yes?"
"I can sit here debating all day those who have class... and those who do not," she looked down her nose at Theo. "Alas, I am here to inquire on my daughter's behalf, although I must congratulate Emelda's entrance into Slytherin. Apparently your incompetency as a suitable husband and father was not so horrible as to influnce your daughter's placement into a lesser house."
"I am glad that you think so highly of your grandchild," Theo fired back.
"Which reminds me, Draco dearest. Congratulations on Scorpius's entrance into Slytherin. Obviously you and Astoria have the right mindset in parenting." Draco merely nodded meakly.
The other occupants in the room had been shifting uncomfortably, especially Draco. Mr. Griffith Greengrass sighed heavily, having long given up trying to persuade his wife to take a more open-minded approach to lower class society. Alex and Theo were bristling at Mrs. Greengrass's blatant prejudice, whereas Draco composed himself. Despite his calm outward appearance, his anger was apparent in his stormy grey eyes.
"I appreciate your congratulations. I will pass them onto Scorpius when I next owl him."
Daphne looked down, disappointed that her mother continued to ignore her presence despite the fact that it had been years since her marriage and her daughter's birth. She caught Alex's sympathetic gaze, and blushed, ashamed that the Asian girl seemed to know exactly what,she was thinking.
"Mother..." Daphne began, but her mother whirled on her, fury igniting her eyes.
"You haven't been my daughter since you married that fool! No daughter of mine would degrade herself to such a lowly husband!"
Daphne shook her head, eyes watering, and left the room. Griffith sighed, following Daphne out of the room, despite Emma's shrill protests.
"Griffith! Come back here this instant! Do not condone her ridiculous actions!" she shrilly called, stomping her foot down. Draco and Alex shared a miserable glance.
"That's it. I'm out of here," Theo announced.
"Good," Emma spat as he brushed past her. "There's a good reason that you weren't blessed with a male heir!"
"Are you seriously that old-fashioned?" Alex asked, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Old-fashioned?" She rounded then on Alex, who squirmed ever so slightly under her appraising gaze. "You clearly haven't been raised properly, you uncivilized American. You just don't understand the importance of bearing a male heir," Emma spat disdainfully.
"That's enough!" Draco roared. "You need to wake up and take a look around, Mrs. Greengrass. The world doesn't work like that anymore, and you'll just be making more and more enemies if you continue on like this. There is a reason why we haven't had contact in years, and until you change your perspective on things like this, we won't have any contact!" he shouted at a stunned Emma Greengrass.
"Goodbye Mrs. Greengrass. And please, hesitate to ever enter our lives again," Draco grit out, pulling on Alex's arm and disapparating them to the Manor.
"I cannot believe she had the audacity to do that to Daphne and Theo. What kind of mother would do that?" Alex exclaimed clearly disturbed.
"I hope you two are talking about Mrs. Emma Greengrass, as opposed to me or Theodore's mother," Narcissa Malfoy commented airily from one of the arm chairs in the living room that Draco had apparated into.
"Yes, mother, we were discussing my mother in-law," Draco confirmed, giving Narcissa a kiss on the cheek.
"That woman is a rather dreadful old witch," she nodded. "Alex my dearest, it has been simply too long!"
"It has," Alex agreed, accepting the embrace Narcissa offered her.
"I trust all is well with your family? I heard that Ara as well as our mischievous Scorp have both been placed into Slytherin. Congratulations!" Narcissa exclaimed cheerfully.
"Yes, Zayden has been doing well at his elementary school, and Blaise is his old, cheeky self still. Mommy and Daddy are currently in St Petersburg; my mom finally convinced my dad to go see the Hermitage and other various Russian attractions," Alex informed Narcissa.
Narcissa nudged Draco. "Are you regretting yet that you didn't marry Alex? Her parents are just angels!"
"Albeit a bit weird," Alex chuckled.
"Anyways, Mother, I just wanted to update you on Astoria's health. There has not been any changes, but we are trying to bring in a few curse breakers to see if they can get anywhere, and we are also going to interrogate Flint to get an idea of what he was thinking when he hit Astoria with that spell."
"Well, all we can do is hope for the best," Narcissa stated with a tone of finality. "Now, Alex, will you stay for lunch?"
"Sorry Narcissa, but I promised Blaise that I'd meet him for lunch. We have to get prepped for a conference call with Italy, and I wanted to double check that everything's all set to go. Actually Narcissa, I should go right about now," Alex said, looking at her watch.
"All right love. We should go out for coffee sometime soon, we have not had the chance to really have a nice talk for years!"
"I will owl you, and we can schedule something. Life always gets in the way. See you later, you two!" Alex hugged both of the Malfoys and apparated to work.
"You should be insanely jealous of Blaise and Ron, my dear," Narcissa sighed, standing up and walking to the dining room.
"You know that Alex has always been a good friend of mine, mother!" Draco called after retreating figure before following after her. His mother jokingly said something about his obsession with a certain bushy haired bookworm, but he was too far away to catch it.
"Besides," he mumbled under his breath, "I have always been jealous of the Weasel."
As Alex and Draco apparated into St Mungo's hospital, Hermione was getting up early to get Hugo ready for school and to go to work. She and Hugo tumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen, where Ginny was making breakfast.
"Hermione, what on Earth are you doing up so early?"
"Well Hugo needs to get to primary school and I need to go to work."
"Are you mad? I get that you are feeling bad, but Merlin girl, you are acting insane!"
"What is so insane about going to school and to work?" Hermione asked sharply.
"Your husband just bloody died!"
"Well thank you for reminding me so kindly!" Hermione shouted right back. Hugo's eyes were beginning to water slightly, but neither woman paid him any attention as they took their grief out on each other. Harry barged into the kitchen, carrying a sleepy Lily.
"What is the matter with you two?" Harry hissed, his eyes moving between Lily and Hugo. The two women caught on, and looked ashamed. That, however, did not quell Ginny's hideous temper at the moment.
"Hermione is going to drag poor little Hugo off to school and send her bloody arse to work-" Ginny began to explain, but was cut off by Harry's harsh admonishment.
"Language!" Harry gasped out, deciding to take the children outside of the room. He kneeled down, setting Lily on the floor and facing her eye to eye. "Lily, why don't you show Hugo some of your new toys you recently got for your birthday?"
"Ok," she said sleepily, stumbling a bit before she grabbed Hugo's hand. "Come on Hugo, there's this really cool mini wizarding chess game that Grandma just got me," she said as she led Hugo out of the kitchen and up into her room.
"Ok," Harry began, breathing deeply in attempt to calm himself. "Will someone please explain calmly what happened?"
"I was just minding my own bloody business when I ran into Ginny this morning when I was getting Hugo ready for school. It's a Monday, for Merlin's sake! I have to go to work this morning as well, because again, it's a Monday! But for some reason, Ginny has a huge problem with this, and we got into a mighty row over it," Hermione explained, teeth clenched.
"I don't really see a problem with that," Harry replied, looking at Ginny.
"My brother just fucking died and she's just going to go back to work and send Hugo to school? Is that how little he means to you?" Ginny screamed.
"For Merlin's sake Ginny, calm down!" Harry exclaimed.
"Ginny, Hugo's young enough so that school will be a distraction. What, I let him sit at home all day or even worse, bring him over to Molly, where there's a constant reminder that Ron's not here? School is a perfectly good distraction for Hugo, and I can't stand him being so sad! As for me, work is a distraction! What are you suggesting, that I don't love him? I fucking married your brother, Ginevra Weasley! If that wasn't proof enough to you, then I don't know what is!" Hermione ended her tirade by slouching into a chair and sobbing her heart out.
"Hermione..." Ginny sighed, having lost all of her anger. She sat down next to Hermione, and began stroking Hermione's back. "I'm sorry, I just didn't think of it that way."
"That's the problem with you Weasley's," Hermione chuckled through her sobs. "You don't think at all."
"They don't," Harry agreed softly.
"Hermione, it's okay to take the day off you know," Harry said, sitting down across from both women. "If you really think it's a good distraction, then go ahead. But Molly owled us late last night that she was gathering everyone at the Burrow later tonight, and I think you want to be there for that."
Hermione shook her head. "I'm definitely going to work, especially now that we're not going to be having Ron's income anymore."
"Hermione, money's not a problem at all. You've got countless in Gringotts as your war hero reward, and you know that the Auror Department will help you out, even if you were dependent on Ron's salary. Even without any of that, you'd still have your friends and family to help get you back on your feet!" Ginny reminded Hermione, who sighed.
"I know, I know, I'm just... oh nevermind. I'll be at the Burrow later Harry, but right now Hugo and I have to go. Thanks for letting us stay last night," Hermione walked out of the kitchen before either could say anything. Moments later, she and Hugo were gone.
Later that day, all of the Weasley's had gathered at the Burrow to comfort each other. As Hermione entered the Burrow with Hugo, she took a moment to observe the Weasleys that had gathered. Molly and Arthur were desperately holding onto each other, and Hermione felt a pang of anguish just seeing two parents lose another one of their children. Kaelyn and Charlie Weasley were no longer living in Romania since their daughter, Amy, had become old enough to attend Hogwarts. Bill and Fleur were cradling their youngest, Louis, and Fleur was whispering comforting words in that French lilt of hers. Audrey and Percy were speaking with Angelina and George quietly in one corner, and Harry, Ginny, and Lily walked over to join the conversation. Molly was the first to notice Ron's immediate family.
"Oh! Dear, dear Hermione!" she bawled, rushing forward to grip her and Hugo in a tight hug. "It's hard enough to lose your child... but your husband!" she wailed. Hermione hugged Molly right back, not caring for the wrinkles and tear stains that were bound to be strewn all over her suit and working clothes.
"Oh Molly, I do miss him terribly." Hermione's voice shook, her chocolate brown eyes beginning to water and overflow.
"Grandma, you're squishing me," Hugo rasped, inhaling deeply when Molly released him.
"Hey, little squirt. Come here," George said playfully, and Hugo bounded off to the prankster.
Without Hugo, Hermione lost the need to stay strong, and broke down completely in Molly's arms. Arthur came up behind them to comfort both mourning women, but his own silent tears were running down his face.
After a while, when everyone had calmed down, the rest of the Weasley clan wanted to hear the full story. Many tissues and sobs later, Hermione began their story, explaining Draco's significance in her life, much to the dismay of all of the Weasley men besides, surprisingly, Charlie and George, as well as the time turner accident with Marcus Flint that ultimately led to Ron's death. Hermione was sobbing at the end of her tale, as well as Harry and Ginny. Lily, Hugo, and Louis were upstairs with some distracting new gizmo that George had recently invented. The rest of the Weasleys were too preoccupied to guarantee that it wouldn't blow something up.
"Merlin Hermione, I just can't wrap my head around your friendship with Draco Malfoy. He was horrible to you for all of those years, and it almost seems as you just forgot about it entirely! Are you sure he didn't, oh I don't know, imperio Flint to attack you and Ron?" Arthur Weasley suggested, running his fingers through his gray hair.
"No!" Hermione immediately came to Draco's defense. "He would never! If he really wanted to attack me, he could have done it all of those years that I was with him in Australia!"
"But you vere also attackeed zhere een Australia, no?" Fleur pointed out. "Perhapz 'e did not vant to be direectly leenked to your death."
"No-" Hermione began shakily, but was cut off.
"They do have a point, Hermione," Audrey added. "Maybe he gave the Lestrange brothers your location in Australia, so that they could attack you without getting his hands dirty, and maybe, since it seems like he spent some quality time with Marcus Flint, he managed to either imperio Flint or even train him to attack you. If Ron hadn't pushed you out of the way..."
"But he fought the Lestrange brothers when they found us!" Hermione shouted desperately.
"If only to keep up appearances," Bill scoffed.
"Guys," Ginny piped up. "I can vouch for Hermione. He has really changed. There's a lot of good in him now that he didn't have before. I wouldn't jump to all of these assumptions and accusations. Remember, when you assume, you make an arse out of you and me."
Most of the Weasley's looked at her questioningly.
"Nevermind, it's a muggle saying," Ginny sighed defeatedly. "The point still stands. That Malfoy boy has changed, and I have faith in Hermione's judgment. Don't you?"
"I for one have learned that if we don't trust Hermione, we'll end up looking rather stupid later," Harry added.
"It's not that we don't trust Hermione, we just don't trust Malfoy," Angelina explained frustratingly.
"But by making the assumptions about Malfoy, you're ignoring Hermione and her judgment. Which is in and of itself not trusting Hermione," Charlie spoke up.
"Thank you for voicing my thoughts exactly, Charlie," Hermione said.
"Does it even matter?" Kaelyn asked from her corner of the room. "We aren't here to fight over Malfoy's goodness or badness, we need to begin planning funeral preparations for Ron."
Molly sobbed louder, and Arthur sighed. "My baby, my baby!" Mrs. Weasley blubbered.
"Molly dear, you know it is true. We do need to give Ron the respect he deserves. Hush Molly, it will all be okay," Arthur comforted.
"Thank you for keeping us on track, Kaelyn," Hermione stated a little sullenly.
Kaelyn nodded in response. "I try. It's not an easy time to live in right now."
"You could say that again," Hermione sighed dejectedly.
"Well, why don't we set a date for Ron's funeral?" Audrey suggested, being the ever practical wife of Percy.
"Hermione, did you have anything particular in mind?" Harry asked.
"Well, if it is at all possible, I would like it to happen this weekend."
"Sweet Circe, this weekend? Isn't that a little soon? That doesn't leave us much time to plan at all. What about invitations? Flowers? A proper venue even?" Kaelyn listed the various things that needed to be straightened out.
"I know it sounds very early, but I don't want Rose or Hugo lingering on this for too long. If I can give them closure sooner, the better it is for all of us. I would be so pleased that our children could move on, that they can go back to being children," Hermione spoke wistfully. "I can't stand seeing Hugo like this. It destroys me. And Rose was a mess."
"I think doing this next weekend is plausible. I don't think we have to send anyone any invitations that aren't very close to us. We can rely on Hermione with the coordination with the same place that Fred is at, right Hermione?" Charlie turned to her. She nodded.
"I'm slightly worried about how public it will be..." Hermione began, but trailed off, seeming to struggle a little with her words. "I know that since he's one of the major heroes of the Second Wizarding War, that a lot of people are going to want to pay their respects. Should we isolate the ceremony? I don't want to overlook anyone for invitations, though. Should we just leave it open to the public? I'd hate for any reporters or anyone to get in and bother us, though."
"I think that's a perfectly valid concern," sniffed Molly. "And it's also dangerous, for the rest of you. Who knows if some old Death Eater will come in when all of us have gathered? They could easily take a lot of us out, if we're not careful."
"Valid point, Molly," Arthur supported. "We should have it be closed again, like for Fred. The same security reasons apply, even if it is fifteen years later."
At that point in the conversation, Hugo and Lily tumbled down the stairs, screaming as Louis had turned into a giant, radioactive green monster, breaking up the seriousness in the room. As Hermione, Harry, and Ginny comforted their respective offspring, Fleur was screaming in George's face to change Louis back to his proper appearance. Hermione had a nasty headache already from relating her story to the Weasley family, and Fleur's yelling wasn't helping at all.
"Oh shut up already, Fleur! George has told you repeatedly that it won't wear off for another twenty-four hours!" Hermione snapped. Kaelyn shook her head.
"Hermione, why don't you go home and rest, you've had a long day," Kaelyn suggested over Fleur's indignant French.
"All right," Hermione conceded. "Goodnight everyone. Hugo, let's go home."
AN: Sorry for not updating a long chapter. I have had pneumonia for the past week and had to be hospitalized. It was pretty terrible, but I'm back now and am writing furiously! I don't think I'll be making NaNoWriMo, unfortunately, because of it, but that's okay because I'm still writing this! More is coming soon, and please review! If you review, I might contact you for ideas or input on the next few chapters, so hopefully that would be incentive! Review guys!