She didn't know what got into her — all she knew was that she was terrified. In her life, there had been moments where she thought she couldn't get any more scared. That those moments were the most terrifying events of her life. She had felt the fear crippled her while facing the Basilisk, while fighting for her life in the Department of The Mysteries when she was a teenager, while getting tortured by Bellatrix, while seeing Harry's dead body in Hagrid's arm. But no moment in her life neared the fear she was feeling at that moment, while losing everything a year ago. It was irrational — Draco would never forbid her from seeing Scorpius permanently, he'd never take their son away — but Hermione couldn't help the way everything blurred when she thought of the fact that Scorpius wasn't with her. It was painful — killing her — and she couldn't stop feeling irrational and afraid.

That was why she apparated in the Malfoy Manor after she left Harry's place and kept an eye on her son. At that moment, it was all she wanted to do. She had no ulterior motive. She didn't want to do what she did but once Adrian left and Scorpius was alone in the garden, playing the soft grass of late spring, she couldn't help the insane plan that formed in her mind. She wanted Scorp and no one could take him away from her. It was stupid — Draco would find them out in a heartbeat — it would never work but she didn't care. Not that at that moment. All she wanted to do was press Scorpius against her chest and go somewhere no one could find them — the Ministry and Draco be damned.

That was why she leapt out of her hiding place, walking to Scorpius carefully. "Mummy!" he exclaimed when he saw her, his face breaking into a smile that made her heart ache. She shushed him kindly, hugging her tightly, careful to cast a wordless Disillusionment Charm on both of them, followed by a Muffliato. "Daddy said I wouldn't see you for some days," Scorp pouted, pressing his chin against her chest.

"Change of plans, darling," Hermione assured her, pressing him against her chest as if she wanted to absorb him, make him part of herself and never have to let go again. "We're going to go to a very special place, okay? You just have to hang on to Mummy."

"Where?"

"Somewhere lovely," she promised. "Will you be a brave boy for me and let us go away together?" Scorpius puffed out his chest, fixing his mouth in a straight line and nodded determinedly. She smiled at the small boy next to her — he looked like Draco when he tried to be brave. She sighed. She couldn't think about that. "Very brave, darling," she cooed at him, before holding him closer and activating her emergency portkey to the Muggle London.

—

He knew where they'd be. Not because he'd had a Tracker Spell placed on his own son — that was the thing about being an arsehole; you didn't have to do all the arsehole-ish things. People believed you had done them — but because he knew Hermione and he knew where she went when she felt scared. And she was. Scared.

It was two years into their marriage when she bought the place — her childhood house. Approximately six months after they started dating, she had shared a very personal piece of information with Draco; she had obliviated her parents before the start of Seventh Year to protect them, in the hope of retrieving their lost memories after the War was over. But she had never succeeded as they had both passed away in a car accident before she had the chance to. Since then, she had admitted, she was saving money to buy her childhood house only to have a piece of them to herself. Draco had offered money to buy the house for her, but she had refused — she wanted it to be hers . Solely and unconditionally. She had gathered the needed fee before their wedding but the place hadn't gone up for sale until two years after their wedding when she was pregnant with Scorpius. They found out about her pregnancy on the same day as she bought the house eventually. She had insisted on keeping it furnished the way her parents had done and even though they didn't live in it, on the days that she felt down, scared or depressed, she resided in it until she was feeling better.

A year ago, when the incident happened, she spent a month there before buying her own flat and moving there. She had told Weaselette — who had told Potter, who had told him — that it made her feel safe and protected. Draco was fairly certain it would be the place she was hiding in now, feeling scared and alone.

He apparated on the porch of the house, heaving a sigh as his eyes tracked over the wooden texture of the door. His heart aches at the familiar thought. The last time he was there — years ago — he was happy. Now, he was a shell of that man — a shadow — and broken in the ugliest way possible. Heaving a sigh, he tried knocking on the door but the door flung open. It wasn't even close. Hermione must've known he would be coming and had hurried in trying to cast spells to hide them other than locking up. He sighed. What the fuck kind of monster had he turned into, scaring his wife and child like that?

"Hermione," he called out, trying to keep the edge off his voice, sounding softer than he felt. "Hermione, it's Draco. I don't want to fight — or scold you — I just want to talk and make sure Scorpius is okay." His voice sounded strange, the words coming out of his mouth so far from what he felt. He hated himself for coming here — for tainting the good memories of this place by replacing them with the horror his life was for the time being. Maybe he shouldn't have come. Maybe he should've disappeared from their lives. Maybe that way, they'd actually have a better one. But he was selfish. He couldn't do that — he needed them. Both — both of them. "Please, Hermione. I don't wish to cause a scene."

It was one of the only times he'd called her 'Hermione' after their separation. He couldn't help the way the name rolled off his tongue like they weren't just strangers who knew each other very well right now. Like they weren't broken beyond fixing. Like. Like. He couldn't think. He couldn't even breathe. He tried to listen — to find any sloppiness in her spell casting that could give them away.

"It's Daddy," a hushed voice whispered, making his senses heighten as he turned around. It was Scorpius' voice. He had heard it coming from the closet in the hallway. He carefully walked towards it, swinging the doors open as his wand lifted the simple charm, seeing Hermione and Scorpius huddled up together. Their son's cheeks were flushed, apparently enjoying this little game of hide-and-seek whilst his mother looked like she'd get sick any second. "You found us!" Scorpius exclaimed, wiggling himself out of Hermione's grip to curl himself around Draco in a hug. Draco was quick to return the gesture, picking him up but his eyes were fixed on Hermione.

She looked at him like she had never seen him before — like he was a demon coming down from hell to torture her and make her pay for her sins. Like they weren't bound together by marriage — like they didn't share a son, like they didn't use to share a fucking life. Draco's insides went cold at the sight. It was maddening, almost heartbreaking. He found himself swallowing hard, not able to look away from Hermione who was still pressed against the corner of the closet, looking like she was made of glass, livid and invisible at the same time. Draco cleared his throat, putting Scorpius down.

"Scorpius, will you do me a favour?"

"What, Dad?" he asked, pushing his chest out, making Draco smile lightly.

"Will you go to your mother's old room and stay there while your Mother and I talk?" Draco asked, looking at Scorpius as he debated the offer, adding, "We can catch ice cream after this, then. If you want to." With that Scorpius eagerly nodded as he took off, leaving them alone in the corridor of the small house.

Draco stood up, turning to look at Hermione who looked sickly pale. His insides churned at the thought. I made her look like this, he thought, hating himself. "Granger," he greeted dryly, putting his walls up as he offered his hand to her to help her stand up. "Fancy walking out of the closet?" Hermione looked at his hand, debating his offer not in a different manner than Scorpius had earlier. He might've looked like Draco for the most part but his expressions were pure Hermione. He almost smiled at the sight — almost, being the keyword.

After a few seconds, Hermione carefully placed her small palm in his hand as he helped her stand up. There wasn't more than a few inches between them, making his heart tighten at the proximity. He could've leaned in and captured her lips. One more step and their chests would be touching and he would have felt the fabric of her clothes. Just a slip-up and he could've brushed his knuckles against her hips. So close. He could feel her breath hitching in her throat. So beautiful. So mesmerizing. So agonizing.

Instead of doing any of the scenarios going through his head, he took a deep breath and stepped back, giving her space to slip out of the closet and walk to the living room, Draco following her dutifully. "Why — how did you know we were here?" Hermione asked, sitting in a loveseat in the corner of the room, tucking her leg under him. She looked so tired. He had never noticed the soft wrinkles around her eyes but from this distance, they were almost too visible in the dim lighting. His heart broke all over again at the sight.

"You don't give my tracking skills enough credit, Granger," he drawled, knowing what she'd think of it. She'd think it was because of Scorpius' so-called — and non-existent — Tracking Spell. Her face went pale, hugging herself tightly.

"Are you here to take him away?" she asked, fear dripping off her every word despite her efforts to stay brave and unwavering. Such Gryffindor, she was. Draco didn't answer. The logical answer would be 'yes'. He was there to take Scorpius away because he was his legal guardian. But the illogical — and painfully true — answer was that he didn't know why he was there. Perhaps because he was worried — and not just about Scorpius. About her. Always about her. He swallowed, staying silent. He wasn't sure if you could lie to her here — where she had first told him that she was pregnant with their firstborn. And then, their second-born. He swallowed. He couldn't allow himself to think of that. He just — couldn't. "You are, aren't you? You want to take him away. Like you did before. And the time after that!" her panicked tone was putting Draco on edge as he noticed the glistening tears in her eyes.

"Granger —"

"You can't!" she interrupted him, traitorous tears of hers spilling out of her eyes as she fisted her hair, sending it into a frenzy. His heart sank at the sight — she looked almost manic with a flustered face and untidy look. She looked mad with grief. "You can't take him away like you took them away! You can't! I won't let you!"

Draco froze in his place, her voice ringing in his ears as she hugged herself, placing her forehead against her knees and sobbing painfully.

You can't take him away like you did them.

Them. They hadn't talked about them since the incident. They hadn't so much as mentioned them since they started living apart — since a year ago. The mention of them ripped him open, making it hard for him to breathe, harder to even swallow. Her sobs were loud and painful and from the corner of his eyes, he saw Scorpius' worried head peeking at them, his eyes darting between Draco and Hermione. He willed himself to walk — he had to. A step. Another one and he was standing in front of his son. "Scorpius, it's nothing," he assured the younger boy. "Mummy and I are just talking. I need you to go to your room, buddy."

"But Mummy —"

"She's fine, I promise," he kissed Scorpius' forehead before he nodded sceptically, walking away. Draco cast a Muffliato over them before he allowed his gaze to slip to Hermione again. She hadn't noticed their little interaction, still curled up in herself and crying. He hadn't seen her cry like this since them . The twins. They had such beautiful twins, didn't they? His eyes went out of focus as the memories sucked him into themselves. Memories he had tried to seal and put away and yet had come to bite him in the fucking arse. It came in flashbacks and echoes, leaving him numb and yet in pain. Mad. Mental. Fucking crazy.

—

"Congratulations, you are having twins!"

"It hurts, Draco." "I know." "I'm tired of pushing!" "I know, love." "I think I'm going to die!" "You won't!" "It HURTS!"

"Everyone, meet Antlia Narcissa Malfoy and Aquila Elizabeth Malfoy." "Oh Merlin's tits, they are beautiful." "Honestly, Theo, remind me why I'm friends with you again?" "I'm the Godfather to your firstborn, Malfoy. Hush!" "They look like Hermione but they definitely have Malfoy's eyes!" "You can't tell what colour their eyes would be, Ronald. They are only infants!" "Bugger off, Gin!" "Language in front of the kids, Weasel." "I'm going to call shotgun on being the Godfather to this pair — I swear to Merlin if I lose Godfather-ship to a Slytherin another time!" "Hush, Harry. You'll wake them up." "They are beautiful, love. You are beautiful."

"I will protect them — and you — and our little family, Hermione. I swear."

"Find Draco and tell him that I'm taking the twins to St. Mungo's. Their fever isn't subsiding and I don't know what to do."

"Where were you?" "What happened, Hermione?" "Where the fuck were you? I sent patronuses, I sent people to look for you. Where were you?" "I — Hermione what happened?" "You weren't here! They cried and they cried and I cried and you weren't here! And then they stopped crying. Draco, they stopped crying and you weren't here! Where were you? How could you not be here? They aren't crying anymore, Draco. They aren't crying! Why aren't they crying?"

"How is she?" "Mister Malfoy, I'm sorry for your loss —" "How is she?" "She's suffering through shock — her body gave out when the news… got to her."

"Get off me, Potter!" "Calm the hell down, Malfoy. You can't do anything about it. Punching your way into the room isn't going to make it any better!" "They are my children! CHILDREN, Potter! Would you stand aside if it were Albus and James in there? Would you?" "You can do nothing. It's done — Malfoy, they're gone." "SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK —" "— Stupify!"

"Hermione…" "Hermione, love, please answer." "Darling, Scorpius is getting scared. He needs his mother. Don't talk to me but please, see him." "I'm so sorry, Hermione." "The service was beautiful. We buried them in the Malfoy tombstones." "Hermione." "Love."

"Do you think you can ever forgive me?" "I don't want to talk to you, Draco." "Hermione —" "No. I said I don't want to talk to you. You weren't there — the only time I really needed you and you weren't there. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to think about forgiving you. I just — I just want to be with Scorpius." "I'll — I'll be at Theo's if you need me."

"I can't do this anymore." "Do what?" "This — us. Every time — every time I look at you, I see them. I can't keep seeing them." "What are you saying, Hermione?" "I — I want a break. From us." "I — I see. How long?" "I don't know — until we are better. Until we aren't both walking messes who can't stand the sight of each other." "Hermione —" "Please, Draco. I can't do this. If I want to survive, I can't do this with you." "I — I understand."

—

Another sob from Hermione made him snap out of his thoughts as she cried like her life depended on it. His heart bubbled with worry as he leapt forwards, kneeling in front of her. "Hermione — Hermione, it's alright." No answer came. She kept hyperventilating, hiccups leaving her throat as she struggled to breathe.

Panic was clawing at his edges but he tried to push it down, put wards around it as his hands rested around her neck, his index finger rubbing circles on the nape of her neck as his thumps grabbed her chin. "Hermione, love, look at me." He hadn't meant to let the pet word slip but it did — the force of habit, he supposed — as he held on to her, trying to find her anxious golden eyes. "I'm not taking him away. He's yours. I'm not taking him away."

Her eyes were worried, glistening with tears she was shedding, her chest moving rapidly in sobs that were leaving her half-parted lips. It made Draco's chest ache as he looked at her, feeling tears spring at his own eyes. He felt so exhausted — so tired of being the bad guy, of not being able to mourn, of being so close to her and yet to be so far. He should've taken his hands off. He should've stopped touching her but she was shaking and he wanted to keep her steady. He wanted to be her anchor — one last time — and to hold her. She looked so small, curling into herself while crying, her eyes red and her face flushed. He wanted to lean in and kiss her. He wanted to kiss every corner of her face until she was swallowed in nothing but the sensation of his lips against her skin. He wanted to — but he didn't. Instead, he kept his hands where they were and looked into her eyes. Her sobbing had calmed down only slightly and large tears were slipping through her eyes.

"It's alright, Hermione," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. He tried to empty his head and only focus on bringing her down. "I'm sorry — he's staying with you, alright? Scorpius is in your old room and I'm not taking him away. I'm not doing anything." She nodded, her eyes glassy as her delicate palms rested on his wrists, looking utterly sad. It made Draco flinch, the moment her skin rested against his but he didn't pull away. He should've but he didn't. "You are safe. Everything is fine."

She nodded, biting her lower lip as the tears kept coming down. Her sobs had subsided to almost nothing, an occasional whimper the only thing disrupting the silence in the room. Her eyes hadn't left his silver ones as she tried to even out her breathing, her golden iris searching for something in his silver eyes. A shiver ran down his spine. "Draco," she whispered, looking like she was about to burst into violent sobs once again.

"Yes?" he whispered, not sounding nearly as harsh as he was aiming for. It came out more like a moan, a mumbling of soft love between them. He despised himself for it and yet revelled in the feeling it ignited in his soul.

"I'm so tired," she whispered. "It's — it's too hard."

Was being near him too hard? Was she tired of their life — their little back and forth? Her words pulled him back to reality as he let her go, pulling back. Of course, his little dream world wasn't real. She was tired of them — of the back and forth, of Draco. She had said that she couldn't forgive him, after all. She hadn't led him on, had she? She had been loud and clear about it the moment she demanded that people use her old surname. He snapped out of the bliss of the last few minutes — however heartbreaking they had been, he had revelled in being close to her — returning to their harsh reality. "Scorpius can — stay. With you. For the night. I'll come to pick him up tomorrow evening after work," he said, standing up and lifting the Muflliato before clearing his throat.

She was still hugging herself, looking like grief was the only feeling she knew. Draco wanted to stay behind, to hold her until she wasn't sad anymore, to mutter lullabies under his breath, to kiss her temples and take care of her. But he couldn't. He was no longer allowed to do that. Instead, he walked to the door, not caring about the Statute of Secrecy and apparated away.

—

She wasn't sure how long she sat there, reliving the past few moments with Draco, before Scorpius walked into the room with his big, worried eyes — so much like Draco's — and snuggled to her side in the loveseat. Hermione lifted her arm, allowing him to get comfortable next to her before sinking back in the chair.

"Mummy?" he whispered, looking up at her with glistening eyes.

"Yes, darling?" her voice was strange — hoarse and inhumane from all the sobbing — it made her flinch. She tried to put on a smile, looking down at her ridiculously smart son with a heart bigger than any bloody ocean.

"Why were you crying?" he asked with a small voice as if he was afraid she'd break further. "Did Daddy make you sad?"

"No," she breathed the words. Draco never made her sad, did he? Desperate, yes. Hopeless, yes. Exhausted, absolutely. Angry, mad, furious, yes to all of them. But sad? No. She was always the one making herself sad. Wallowing in memories she didn't fancy recalling, thinking about all the ways everything in her life went wrong. It was draining. "He was trying to help me, sweetheart. You see, sometimes, adults have bad days — remember when you had the flu and you cried and I cried and Daddy was strong for both of us? Today was one of those days. I cried and Daddy was strong for me."

Draco was always strong for her — her anchor. When she lost them, he was strong for her. He didn't break down, he didn't cry, he didn't stop living. He silently mourned, took care of the funeral, took care of Scorpius, took care of her and then let her go anywhere she wanted because he was so bloody strong for both of them.

He was tired of being strong, she supposed. Maybe that was why he was closing all the doors. Maybe Hermione drove him to close all the doors, to stand aside, resigned and tired. She signed, pulling Scorpius closer before closing her eyes. "I'm so sleepy, Scorpius."

"Me, too," he mumbled.

"Do you want to take a nap? Just the two of us?" she asked as her excited little boy nodded eagerly, tucking himself in her side. She conjured a thin blanket suitable for the weather, covering them carefully. The seat wasn't that large but somehow, these small moments were her peace during the day. "Good?"

"Mm-hmm," was the only thing Scorpius said before both of them drifted off.

—

She woke up the next morning to the sound of an owl — Ron's owl — that invited her to lunch at her favourite Muggle Restaurant. Ron had been in Ireland since he signed a contract with Irish counterparts to expand his and George's joke business. Being too busy with her recent drama, she hadn't exactly had time to keep track of Ron but his note said that he had been back in England for a few days to have a meeting with his brother and would love to see Hermione and Scorpius for a meal.

"Scorp?"

"Yes, Mummy?"

"Would you like us to go out with Uncle Ron?" she asked, already knowing what the boy was going to say. Unlike Draco — and much to Draco's distaste, too — Scorpius adored Ron and his little jokes. His face flushed as he jumped into the air, almost spilling all of his milk on the table which made Hermione scold him.

"Yes! Please!" he exclaimed, starting about how he had missed his 'fun Uncle Ron' and how unfair it was that Padma and little Fred lived in Ireland and he couldn't visit them at all except on special occasions. Then, he started talking about how much he loved their products and how Draco was unfair to tell him that they were a waste of time. Hermione always scolded Draco for bashing Ron but Ronald didn't mind it in the least, returning the sentiment with enough bashing for Draco. After Hermione and Draco got into a relationship, it was hard for Ron to come to terms with it but soon, he and Draco settled in some mutually insulting and yet trusting-to-some-extent-but-not-one-too-comfortable sort of relationship that used to make all of them laugh when they all gathered together. They had never gotten, per se, friendly but after Scorpius, Ron had gotten along so much better with Draco, earning a mutual courtesy from her husband as well. Her husband.

She sighed, noticing that she had lost several minutes of Scorpius' endearing rambling while she was lost in her thoughts. She didn't dwell on it too hard, filling his plate with pancakes, and ruffling his hair. Sending an owl to the Ministry that she was taking a day off — again — and replying to Ron's owl with some excitement, she finally settled behind the kitchen table, trying to sip her tea while Scorpius retreated to grabbing his legos and splashing them on the ground to play while she read the newspaper. One particular article grabs her attention as she gasps at the details.

HARRY POTTER AND WIFE; EXPECTING THE THIRD CHILD!
Written by Rita Skeeter for Daily Prophet
Date: 18th May 2014

It was more than nine years ago when Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley tied the knot — although both of them were young at the time — and got married. Since then, the life of the pair, as the Saviour of the Wizarding World and wife, has been under close observation. Six years ago, they had their first child, James Sirius Potter and two years later came Albus Severus Potter. Since then, many had debated on the fact that would the golden pair have another child or would they stop trying? Today, we have an answer!

Although not confirmed by either party, an anonymous source today saw Ginny Weasley-Potter leaving St Mungo's, apparently just having visited the gynecologists' and leaving the office with a big smile. The said source confirms that the two are having another child. Of course, nothing is certain until the pair confirms it but we are already excited for the arrival of the third Potter child!

Hermione didn't know how she got through the details. She had only seen Ginny yesterday — why hadn't she told him? She didn't think Hermione could be happy that her best friends were having another child? Disappointed and hurt, she stood up, floo-calling Ginny instantly. Ginny was quick to answer with a sigh before Hermione could say anything. "Let me guess, you just read the article."

"Yes," Hermione sighed. "Is it true?"

"Yeah," Ginny admitted, sighing with exhaustion. "Since morning, about a dozen people have called to confirm. Mum even popped up here with anger as to why we had kept her in the dark. It was a whole mess, I tell you. I just sent Mum back to The Burrow and got rid of Harry and Ron to take a breather."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione abruptly asked, making Ginny let out a surprised squeal. "Yesterday. Why didn't you tell me that you were — pregnant?"

"I wasn't sure, then," Ginny argued weakly. "And Mione, you had a whole lot of shit to deal with and I — I just —"

"You thought I couldn't handle it — after the incident," she said in a clipped tone, making Ginny gulp on the other side of the call. Her heart skipped a beat, drumming against her chest as she dared a glance at Scorpius. It's alright — you have him .

"No, it's not that —"

"Don't lie to me, Gin," she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "But you don't have to hide your happiness from me just because I don't have enough of my own. I'm happy for you and Harry — you should've told me." Even Hermione was surprised at the way she calmly delivered the words and by the end of it, she realized she meant it. She was happy for them and they deserved to have happiness. Big family — as Harry wanted it.

"I — thank you, Hermione," she sighed. "I was — I'm sorry we didn't tell you."

"I understand," she sighed. She did — her heart ached when someone talked about their infants when she had lost the pair of them. She wanted to scream at the world for taking them away from her. But it wasn't Ginny's fault — it wasn't anyone's fault — and she could, finally, accept that. "Ginny, I'll pop in this evening after Draco picks up Scorpius so we can chat properly about it. For now, Scorp is making a mess of the floor with his crayons and I got to pick them up."

"Of course," Ginny sighed on the other side of the line. "Go ahead, Mione. We'll talk later."

"Bye," she said, disconnecting the floo before sighing. Scorpius wasn't doing anything. She just needed a moment — or several — to herself. Being happy for them didn't make the stinge of her own failure at being a mother for the second — and third, considering they were twins — any less harsh. She just — needed a minute before standing up and carrying on with her day.

—

Meeting Ron was an absolute delight. From the moment they entered the restaurant, Ron had been nothing but charming, never once mentioning her dysfunctional marriage or his sister's pregnancy. He had brought Scorpius a gift from the Joke Shop — a fake broom that lasted a week only to keep him occupied — and a lovely scarf that Padma had picked up for Hermione. They had started chatting about anything and everything before the meals arrived and rightfully so, they delved into some deeper topics that they both knew they were pushing aside.

"So, Hermione," Ron sighed, looking a little flushed. "How are you? Really? " She sighed. She supposed she should've seen it coming and yet, it took her by surprise.

"Not well, Ron," she admitted, glancing at Scorpius who was busy trying to figure out why the fork didn't float above the ground before hitting the ground in this particular restaurant, not being used to the Muggle environment all that much. "It's all been a mess since Draco found out — or was rather told by Harry — about Albert.

"Yeah, figure as much. Hope you don't mind but Harry's been fillin' me in, you know. A bit of this and that," Ron said, a hint of Irish in his accent. He must've picked it up because of his long stay there. "What has he done, though, Mione?"

She sighed, shaking her head. The past few days had been a nightmare with all the emotional ups and downs. "He — he tried to take Scorpius away from me. Well, not away but like — I don't know, Ron. he was so angry and then he wasn't just angry — he was hurt and he was acting strange. It was all a big bloody mess," she said, blushing slightly at the use of bloody in front of her son but shrugged when she realized Scorpius was still busy playing with non-magical forks.

"He did what?"

"He — he was angry. He took it back yesterday, I guess. I mean Scorpius is with me now, isn't he?" Hermione said, shrugging. "It's just all very unclear — one moment he's fuming and the other, well, he's just distant and then he does something else and — Ron, I'm so exhausted and honestly, I'm really tired of talking about it — or thinking about it."

He nodded his head sympathetically, taking her hand and squeezing it kindly. "Of course, Hermione. We don't have to talk if you don't want to." With that, a mutual understanding formed between them as they went on having light-hearted conversations which occasionally involved Scorpius bursting into laughter about what Ron had said. It was a lovely lunch, accompanied by wine for the adults and juice for Scorpius. "Can we have the check?" Hermione asked at the end of the email, taking it on herself to pay since Ron still wasn't all that familiar with Muggle currency. "It was so lovely, Ron. Thank you for —"

But a scream interrupted her sentence as both of their eyes snapped up only to see Scorpius falling off his chair, hitting the floor harshly. Hermione was quick to get out of her place, kneeling next to her son, calling out his name hysterically. The whole restaurant turned to look at them wondering what had happened to them. "Someone call 911!" someone said, several people taking their phones out, trying to call an ambulance as Hermione and Ron tried to bring the boy back to consciousness.

Her heart was beating harshly, drumming in her ears as she called out her son's name over and over again and got no answers. Tears were spilling out of her eyes as her shrieks went unanswered. She wasn't sure how long it took until the paramedics reached them, ripping Scorpius out of her arms and putting him in an ambulance, allowing Hermione to follow them into the vehicle. With her last functioning brain cell, she called out to Ron before the doors fell closed. "Get Draco, alright? Ron, for God's sake, get Draco!"

A/N: OMG, I am going to confess something and please don't hate me. I had forgotten that this existed. Like I hadn't think to update ffn as well! I'm so sorry. I'll finish updating the rest of this asap. sorry again. Reviews are appreciated, though. had it not been for CzarAnne's review, I wouldn't have remembered to update anything, so thanks, bestie x