Justin continued to come over nearly every afternoon. The next time he brought a pair of toy brooms for the twins and a few weeks later he brought a whistle for Benjy. After receiving her gift Rosie had presented him with a gift. A picture of a dragon.

Soon after he volunteered to help with the orphans' quarters and Hermione found herself enjoying his company. He was funny and charming. He seemed to be able to make the tedious work of constructing a living area for children who had been through so much as easy as tying a knot in a piece of wet string.

it wasn't for a month after he started coming that he brought a bouquet of roses for Hermione.

"Oh Justin they're beautiful… But I can't accept them right now or ever really." The boys face fell.

"Why not Hermione?"

"You know why, because of Harry. I am eternally faithful to him and I can't have someone trying to you know intrude on my family. I'm beginning to worry about the kids as it is."

"He's not here, I am." He said raising a blond eyebrow.  She sighed at his naivety.

"Justin I'm true to my husband, please don't make him being away any harder on me."

"Okay them. That's fine I won't pressure you Hermione. I just want you to know I'm here."

"I know that Justin and you're a great friend."

"Is that all I am to you?"

"Justin you're eighteen I'm twenty-three with three kids!"

"So?"

"So? So I'm married! Yes you are my friend Justin but that's all. Please be satisfied with that!"

His coming after that was less and less frequent, until he had stopped coming at all. Hermione wasn't sure whether to be grateful or not. One afternoon about two months after Harry left Benjy came home with a black eye and a scowl the sized of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

"What happened to you?" she had returned home late her clothes covered in bright paint and baby drool from helping with the children that had recently arrived.

"Nothin'. I'm supposed to give you this." He thrust an envelope at her. She grabbed it and he raced out the door. She flopped onto the couch and opened the letter.

Dear Mrs. Potter

            First of all I would like to say what a joy it is to have Benjy in my class oh boy not a good sign.  But I have to tell you that that joy has been tested this past month or so. Yup not good. Your son has become very withdrawn and not as outgoing as he was near the beginning of the year. I do not know if you have noticed but he seems to have dark circles under his eyes and some of the other students have commented that Benjy never seems to finish his lunch.

            Also I have noticed that he doesn't seem to play with the other children at recess. I know that phisical play is hard for him but once a week or so we have a "Quidditch Match" on toy brooms with slower balls. At the beginning of the year Benjy was exuberant and always begged to play seeker. Now he is more nonviolent only playing when asked to and playing what ever position her gets.

            Now nothing bad had come of this until about a week ago when I saw a direct decrease in the quality of his schoolwork. His usual good spelling and addition skills seemed to shrink and he hardly ever volunteers answers anymore. Today however something that I'm sure neither of us could have anticipated happened. On the way in from recess Benjy struck another boy for no reason that I could detect. Both boys fought until I could get to them to separate them. I would like you to please talk to your son and maybe get him into counseling.

            Once again I must reiterate I love having our son in my class and hope any problems can be worked out,

                        Yours truly,

                                    Sarah Ann Bennet

Oh how wonderful now her kid was going to be a playground bully what an impression the world would have of the Potters' now.

Hermione sat down on the couch and let the letter flutter down to the floor. What was she going to do about this? Before she could make up her mind there was a knock on the portrait. NOT NOW! She was planning not to open it but Dobby got there before she did.

"It is Master Justin Mistress."

"Coming. Dobby why didn't you tell me you were back. Bilbo feeling better now is he?"

"Yes Mistress but I won't be here long now poor Kinfg has the bug too." A houself flu had been going around the school and had, a month ago, started striking Dobby's brood. Kinfg was the last to catch it and they had all been hoping he (the baby) was immune.

"Hi Justin Look this isn't such a good time… bit of a crisis…"

"Please Hermione I need to talk to you." His face was twisted and he looked and sounded desperate so she led him to the couch.

"Alright what's up?"

"It's Illana. She-she-she- she broke up with me. We've been going out for nearly four years now. Even before her sister's died. And she's threw it out the window." He then burst out crying and she hugged him. After a few minutes a sudden voice rang in her ears.

"Well isn't this a pretty picture." They broke apart and there in the fireplace was Harry's head.

"So this is what you've been doing while I was gone eh Hermione? Loving on a boy who doesn't have nightmares all the time? Cheating on me again huh Hermione? After all these years? Oh wait I forget it hasn't been that long since you cheated on me has it?"

"Harry, stop this!"

"Oh why should I? I called to tell you I'm coming home tonight but I hate to break up your fun it's been two months and you've already turned your back on me. Tell me how many were there the past five years? How many besides the one you choose to tell me about? Or was there only one lasting relationship that you miss?

Tell me will you go back to him? Maybe on my way home I should pick up a scarlet "A"?

"Harry please!"

"Please do? Are you admitting it?"

"NO! I'm-"

"Save it. I'll be at Ron's." He disappeared with a pop and Hermione stood motionless in front of the fireplace. She stood there not saying anything not thinking anything just sitting there. After what seemed like an eternity Justin spoke.

"Oh Hermione I'm sorry but maybe it was for the best I mean." He smiled a bit "Harry hasn't exactly stood by you these past few years now had he?"

"Go." She whispered. His smile faded.

"But-"

"I said get out of here! And don't come back!" he stood.

"Sure whatever you want." His voice was snarly and she had a brief thought of how it resembled his brother. She heard the door slam and the portrait of Merlin shout,

"See here young man this frame is 1,000 years old if it breaks we're all in danger I say well only because it's heavy but…"

Hermione ignored this though; she curled up on the floor racked with endless sobs.