Seeing how it seemed to light her up Harry and Ginny made a habit of bringing Teddy with them to visit at least twice a week. The blond-haired scamp always bringing a new story for his Aunty Mione. Although the visits were a huge boost for Hermione, they were not without their challenges for Harry and Ginny. They had thought that the three year old would take their explanation of a 'brain illness' and not ask anymore questions, but unfortunately the kid was proving smarter than they thought.

'How did Aunty Mione get her brain illness'

'Is it contagious?'

'Why is she so skinny?'

'What is wrong with her wrists?'

'When can she come home?'

The only mercy was that Teddy had had the tact not to ask any of these questions around Hermione, Harry could only imagine the damage that could do.

Someone else who was finding Teddy's visits hard was Draco. After the initial meeting and hug, Draco found that he never knew what to say to the kid. Not only was he not used to being around children but his presence was a constant reminder of what the regime he had once supported had cost. Had Draco murdered Teddy's parents personally? No. But that did not mean he could pretend to himself that he hadn't played a large part in their deaths.

Why wasn't he angry at him? Well of course Teddy was too young to know what had happened and didn't know to be angry with his cousin; but why weren't Harry and Ginny angry with him? He had forced them into becoming parents, he had taken their youth and freedom, why were they looking at him like that? With understanding, kindness, they should be angry, he didn't deserve this false kindness.

It was with this thought that he suddenly stood up from his little chair. Everyone turned to stare at him, Hermione in her bed, Teddy sat on her lap, Harry and Ginny in their seats.

'I-I-I'm just going to run to the café' he managed to splutter out, sweat coursing down his back as his breath quickened. Hermione looked at him as if she was about to say something but before she could speak, he was out the door.

He strode down the halls, with no clue where he was going but knowing he needed to get as far away from that room as possible. Finally, he found an empty stairwell and sat on the lowest steps, head in his hands, trying to control his breathing. It was because of this that he didn't notice the tiny person sitting down next to him.

'Why are you sad Mister Draco?', the little voice startled him, he had been quite sure he was alone

'T-Teddy did you follow me? Do mummy and daddy know where you are?' The cheeky look on the boys face told him everything he needed to know. Looking at him closely Draco realised how similar their features were, same white, blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Teddy was probably exactly how Draco would have looked with a bit of love and a decent meal every now and again.

It was clear Teddy was still waiting for an answer to his question and, knowing that the real answer was far too traumatising, Draco opted to lie instead.

'I'm not sad Teddy, I'm happy, your Aunty Mione is getting better'

Teddy tilted his head sideways, examining Draco, a disbelieving look on his little face

'If Aunty Mione is getting better, then why can't she come home? And why are you sad on the stairs?'

'Aunty Mione is getting better Teddy, her-her- what's wrong with her just takes a long time to fix, that's all'

'Then why are you so sad Draco?', looking again at the boy he saw something in his eyes, that reminded him of his mother, he could have imagined it but it made him feel safe with the kid

'I'm not sad Teddy really, it's just – well it's – I wasn't very nice to your mummy, daddy and Aunty Mione when we were at school, I was very mean. But your family have forgiven me, even though I was very bad and sometimes – well sometimes, that makes me feel extra bad, because your family are so kind and I was so mean. Sometimes you-you do thinks and you don't realise that you are being mean, you think you are right but you are wrong and-and I wish, I just wish I hadn't been wrong'

Draco immediately blushed, he couldn't believe he was trying to use a three-year-old as a therapist right now, a new low had definitely just been reached. But Teddy didn't seem disturbed by Draco's confession, in fact he was looking at him oddly, with a little smile on his tiny face.

'Draco, Aunty Mione told me that you saved her life. I don't know how but I know that Aunty Mione has never lied to me before. Aunty Mione is the best aunty and she is my mummy and daddy's best friend. It doesn't matter if you were mean before, everyone will forget, you let me keep my Aunty Mione'

Draco couldn't believe the word coming out of the child's mouth, obviously he didn't really understand, he was too young, he didn't know what had really happened, but before Draco could respond Harry and Ginny Potter walk round the corner.

'Teddy! Don't run away like that! Come back to Mione's room now and leave Draco alone' Ginny admonished, throwing Draco an apologetic look. She looked at her husband, clearly expecting him to follow her and they shared a look. Seeming to understand she picked up Teddy and left, Teddy arguing every step of the way.

Potter took a seat on the step next to him awkwardly

'The kids right you know' Draco looked up horrified, how much of that odd exchange had his former nemesis heard. 'Ok so you were a dick in the past, we can agree on that but we were kids and if I had had your father I guess I probably would have been a dick too. It wasn't your fault Draco and we all know you have been punished enough'

Draco had no idea what to say, this was potentially the most awkward exchange he had ever had in his life, not seeming to notice his discomfort, Harry continued

'And even then, you just saved my best friends life. Without you, we wouldn't have her. You noticed, you knew, when I didn't. I mean – what the fuck kind of friend am I? Who doesn't notice when their best friend of over ten years is that broken? I mean – what' Harry was broken off in shock as Draco placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Neither of them said anymore, they just sat their, like that in silence until blaring alarms startled them alert.

Looking at each other in panic they both took off, holding their wands out as they ran towards Hermione's room. Bile rose in Draco's throat, he had a bad feeling.

As they approached the room they could hear the sound of screaming and ran faster. They arrived just in time to see an unconscious figure being levitated out of the room. A thin, garishly dressed woman wearing ugly embellished spectacles clutching a green quill. Rita Skeeter.

Looking past her floating body they could see the source of the screaming, Hermione was being forcibly restrained by three healers, while Teddy clung to Ginny in the corner, his tiny grin gone as he stared at his aunt in pure horror.

Staring at the scene only one thought echoed through Draco's mind

SHIT