When Hermione left the girls room, Remus had already gone into the bedroom. She slid into bed next to him as she did every night. She lay still, listening to his breathing. A tear fell down Hermione's cheek. Then another, until soon her face was layered with salty tears. She could tell that Remus wasn't asleep by the way he was breathing. Hermione reached for her cheek with her hand and brushed the tears away. Before long, she had drifted to sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, she found herself alone. She took a shower and dressed quickly to get the girls ready for the day. They were already awake and playing with their dolls when she walked into the room.

"Morning girls," Hermione greeted.

"Morning Mommy!" Estelle replied.

"Did you take your baths last night?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, yes! Mrs. Weasley gave us baths before putting us all to bed!" Brianna eagerly answered.

"That's good. "Now Brianna, pick our some robes for you and Estelle to wear. When the little hand is on the 8, and the big hand is on the 12, go to the Great Hall for breakfast."

"Ok mommy," Brianna responded obediently as she walked to the closet to pick out her robes for the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Remus was not at breakfast when Hermione went down. She spotted Estelle sitting with Amethyst at the Slytherin table and Brianna sitting with Sapphire at the Gryffindor table. After breakfast Hermione rushed to get to her first class. By lunch time she still hadn't seen Remus anywhere.

"Hermione!" called a voice. Hermione turned around to see Ginny running up to her.

"Hey Ginny," Hermione greeted.

"Where's Remus?"

"I couldn't tell you. I've yet to find him myself."

"Severus and I have been looking for him all morning."

"I haven't seen him since last night. We had an argument."

"Well, when you do see him could you please tell him that Severus needs to speak with him?"

"I'll try."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cho sat in her shop waiting for another customer. That day had been slow for business. It was quiet around Hogsmedge and she needed something to do. Then the door opened and Cho was open for business.

"Welcome to Madame Chang's. Feel free to browse around and come to me if you need help!" Cho called out.

"I need help!" called a voice.

"Sure I'd be glad to he. . ." Then she stopped as Ron walked up holding a red rose.

"Hello beautiful." Ron smiled before giving her a kiss.

"Hi." Cho blushed and her cheeks were as red as the rose, "...I've been waiting for you to come."

"You have?"

"Yes, I was thinking that we could go to dinner tonight."

"Tonight. I'm so sorry, but I have business in London tonight. Umm maybe. . ."

"Well do you have a baby sitter?"

"Not yet. My mom can't tonight and I was hoping that Hermione or Ginny might keep them."

"How about I keep them. I mean we are dating. Shouldn't I get to know your kids?"

"That'd be a great idea!" Ron grinned. He was glad his girlfriend was so willing to be around his kids.

"Great! What time will you be bringing them?"

"Around 6 or 7."

"All right, I'll be at home waiting."

"Perfect," Ron replied, giving Cho a kiss before leaving.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The day passed quickly. Before she knew it, Hermione had finished her classes and dinner was over. She decided to take a walk by the lake with the girls.

"Mommy, can I get a broom?" Brianna asked.

"Maybe, but we'll have to ask daddy first."

"Cool because James has a broom and Lily is getting one for her birthday next week."

"Then I want one!" Estelle announced.

"You are way too young! Maybe when you're older." Hermione smiled.

As they passed they could see the tentacles of the giant squid.

"Princess is swimming." Estelle stated.

"Princess?" questioned Hermione.

"That is what Elle calls the giant squid." Brianna replied knowingly.

"Interesting..." Hermione responded.

"Brianna, Brianna!" yelled the voice of Sapphire Snape.

"Sapphire!" Brianna shouted as they turned to see Sapphire running up to them. Sapphire was followed by her parents and sisters.

"Hello Hermione," Severus greeted as he held a squalling Emerald in his arms.

"Oh Severus, just put her down," Ginny tutted as she sat Amethyst on the grass.

"Have you seen your husband?" Severus asked.

"Not once all day." Hermione replied in a worried tone.

"Well I have some news on Draco... or shall I say Dragon?" Severus stated, amused. "Dragon? That must be a joke." Ginny laughed as she stood in her husbands arms.

"Of course, he is a nut head." Hermione grinned.

"Who's a nut head mommy?" Estelle asked.

"Your daddy." Hermione replied.

"Hermione!" exclaimed Ginny.

"I'm just kidding!" Hermione laughed.

"We are taking the girls to America for a few days." Severus informed her.

"Would Brianna and Estelle like to go?" Ginny asked.

"That'd be wonderful." Hermione gushed.

"Well we are getting ready to leave now. No need to get clothes as we are all getting brand new clothes when we get there." Severus said.

"Wow. Elle and Bri-Bri, you are going to go with Aunt Ginny and Uncle Sev to America, okay? I want you to behave yourselves."

"Yeah!" Brianna and Estelle cheered.

"Give your mommy a hug, are leaving now." Ginny urged.

Brianna and Estelle cried, "Bye Mommy, I love you!" as they hugged Hermione.

"I love you, too! Have a good time!" Hermione replied as she watched them walk out toward the Hogwarts gates.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cho was in her first hour of babysitting Jasmine and Justin. Jasmine was the quiet one. She had blonde hair, brown eyes, and tons of freckles. Justin had red hair and brown eyes, but no freckles. Jasmine sat playing with Cho's cat while Justin kept bothering Jasmine.

"Justin don't mess with your sister." Cho scolded.

"Yeah Justin." Jasmine taunted, sticking her tongue out at her brother.

"I want to go to my daddy!" Justin whined.

"Your daddy will be coming back in a few hours." Cho replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione sat, reading a book. It was around 1 in the morning when Remus came staggering though the door.

"Oh Remus where have you been?" Hermione cried out, as she dropped her book to the floor and rose from her chair.

"That, my dear, is none of your business." Remus replied as he walked over to Hermione to give her a kiss. Hermione could smell the aroma of bitter alcohol in his breath.

"Remus, are you drunk?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"No." Remus replied as he sat on the couch.

"Yes, you are." Hermione decided.

"I'M NOT!" yelled Remus.

"Okay, you're not," Hermione responded hastily, as she moved to go to their bed.

"No, you're staying here." Remus demanded as he held a grip on Hermione's arm.

"No, Remus I want to go to bed!" Hermione cried out, feeling the sting of Remus' grip on her skin.

"Well, you're not."

"I am, now let me go."

"Shut your. . .mouth."

"I don't have to, now let me go!"

"I'm sick of this crap!" yelled Remus as he stood up. He was much taller than Hermione. He raised his arm and slapped his wife. Hermione could feel the sting as it surged from her cheek through her body. Her knees buckled, but his arm was still gripped on hers, and she balanced herself. She looked into his eyes and tears fell from her own.

"How dare you!" yelled Hermione as she went to go to bed, but Remus held on and pushed her to the ground. Then he kicked her in the mouth. Blood spilled from Hermione's mouth. He continued to kick her. She looked up to see him grab a glass vase. She covered her head just as he threw it at her. When he was satisfied with what he'd done, he walked toward his bed and lay down.

Tears rolled down Hermione's cheeks as she tried to sit up, but the pain was too much. "Ahh!" she screamed as she moved her leg to sit up. She felt a pain in her stomach, remembering that he had kicked her there and then fear spread throughout her. Fear that their baby was dead. She lifted herself up and staggered to the fireplace where she threw in some floo powder and yelled, "Libby Potter!". Suddenly she could see the Potter's common room.

"Hello," greeted a sleepy Libby as she wiped her eyes. When they opened, they immediately widened at the sight of Hermione.

"Hermione, what happened?" Libby rushed over to the fireplace, eyes clouded with concern.

"Long story. Is Harry there?"

"No, he left for-"

"Good, can I come over?"

"Yes, of course you can." Libby answered, slightly flustered. Then Hermione stepped into the fireplace. Everything around her was swirling and moving. Then she was in the Potter's common room.

"What happened?" Libby questioned.

"Remus came home drunk and . . .and. . ." Hermione burst into tears. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Libby rubbed Hermione's hand in comfort.

"Shh, it's okay."

"I mean, he is never like this. He is the most loving person in the world and then... I don't know, he just snapped or something tonight."

"Are the girls home?"

"No, they went to America with Severus and Ginny."

"That's good."

"I can't go home until morning."

"You can stay here because Harry won't be home until tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you." Hermione replied gratuitously, as she took out her wand and began healing herself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ron walked up to Cho's house and knocked on the door. Justin opened the door.

"Justin why did you open the door?" Ron asked, suspicious.

"Because." Justin replied innocently.

"Because why?" Ron questioned as he walked into Cho's house, which was completely demolished.

He heard screaming coming from the closet. He opened the closet door to find Cho tied up. Frantically, Ron untied Cho's bindings.

"Your. . .your. . .your. . .son and daughter . . . tied. . . me. . . tied. . .me up and. . .and. . .and. .." Cho could not finish her sentence. She was breathing heavily.

Ron found Jasmine in the living room with Cho's wand.

"Jasmine Lunar Weasley, what are you doing?" he yelled.

"Nothing, just playing." Jasmine replied innocently, looking up at her father with big, puppy dog eyes.

"Give me the wand." Ron demanded as he snatched it from Jasmine and handed it back to Cho.

"Justin get here NOW!" thundered Ron.