Disclaimer: If you recognize it from a J.K. Rowling book- it isn't mine. I've borrowed it.

There was silence for a moment as Sam looked at this man. Hermione bit her lip, wondering if this had been a bad idea. She nudged Sam's shoulder lightly, hoping her daughter would say something. And finally she did.

"…hello." Sam's voice was shaky, a little quieter than usual.

"Hi." Dean smiled at her, but Hermione could see that this was hard on him. There was another silence, but this time it was more awkward. Eventually she decided to intervene.

"So." She said. "…where do you live now, Dean?"

Sammy relaxed slightly, sensing that the adults would talk and all she'd need to do was stand there.

"Up in Manchester. We've got a flat there, but the magical community is nowhere near as big. I come back to get all the supplies and that." Dean replied.

"Manchester is nice. I used to go there to visit my aunt as a child. And we went once for Draco's work… you liked it, didn't you Sam?"

Sammy just nodded.

After a while more of small talk, Draco approached with Max and Aden and the bags of shopping. He said hello to Dean, as did Max.

"It was nice seeing you all… I think I'd better be going." Dean said finally.

"Good to see you, Dean." Hermione said. Draco echoed this sentiment, and with a final look at his daughter Dean strode away.

"Do you think that was a bad idea, for her to meet Dean?" Hermione asked. The children were all in bed, and she and Draco were enjoying a drink in the living room. Draco shook his head.

"No… I think it may have shocked her a little bit, but I don't think she's traumatized. It's better that she can picture him as a person and not an idea." Draco said.

"I suppose… but she was just so quiet; I'm worried."

"She's sleeping fine, or at least she was when I checked on her. I think she'd say something if she were upset."

"Yes, but-"

"You worry too much." He put a hand on her knee. "Just calm down, alright? Sam will be absolutely fine. I promise you. Okay?"

"Okay."

They had all driven to King's Cross together to see Max off on his first year at Hogwarts. The drive wasn't long, but by five minutes into it everyone's nerves were on edge. Max kept unpacking and repacking his rucksack to make sure he had everything. The owl they'd bought him, Oreal, was irritable and kept screeching. Aden was in a whiny, clingy mood and Sam was pouting because she wanted to go too.

"Ma, is Hogwarts fun?" Max asked for what had to be the tenth time that morning.

"Yes, darling." She replied. "I loved it there. I'm sure you'll like it too."

"Dad? Did you love it?"

Draco considered this for a moment, checking the rearview mirror.

"Yeah, boy. I think I liked it well enough. But watch out for the moving staircases. They're tricky."

Max grinned.

"Okay. I'll owl home whenever I can. I guess Oreal is a fast flyer, right?"

"They said so at the store, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see." Hermione said. There was quiet for a couple of minutes. Aden was falling asleep and kept mumbling half-words.

"Dad? What if I don't like it? What if the lessons are too hard or something?" Max asked.

"The lessons aren't too hard for you, but if you really hate it then you can come home at Christmas and we'll transfer you to Beauxbatons. Aright?"

Max nodded, satisfied.

"But don't worry about it." Draco continued. "I'm sure you'll have a good time. The moment you set foot on the train you'll forget all about us."

"I bet we won't even hear from you all year until you come home for the summer with some pretty girl on your arm-"

"Ma!" Max was turning red and she laughed.

"Sorry. But it's true."

They pulled into the parking lot at King's Cross a while later. Draco had put a silencing charm on the owl so the noise would stop annoying them all.

Sam continued to pout and sulk, but Hermione knew she was impressed by the barrier at platform 9 and ¾. They went through easily enough, and all of Max's fears turned to excitement as he spotted the huge red train. Draco loaded Max's trunk, which bore the initials MXM, into a compartment while Hermione chatted to Ginny and family who had come to see Jack off.

Max and Jack discussed Quidditch while Jack's sisters (Clair, 8, Conolly, 7, Evelyn, 5, and Madison, 3) squealed over the platform and the colour of the train.

Eventually, the conductor called for everyone to board the train. Hermione kissed Max goodbye with tears in her eyes. She didn't want him to go away for so long.

"Good luck, Max." She said.

"Love you Ma."

"Have fun, boy." Draco hugged his son.

"Love you."

Max kissed the top of Aden's head.

"Bye bye Aden."

She was sleeping, and didn't reply. He turned to Sam.

"Bye, Sam. Don't sulk- one day you'll get an owl too."

The little girl brightened at this piece of news and waved chirpily to her brother.

Max hugged his father once more before running to get on with Jack. As the train gathered speed, Max waved from a window until he was out of sight. Hermione wiped tears away from her face as Draco slid an arm around her and led her to the car. Sam skipped on ahead, delighted at the prospect of not having Max around for a while.

"God. Soon they'll all be grown up and gone." Hermione sighed. "I miss Max already."

"Me too." Draco agreed. "Me too."

That night at the dinner table, neither of them could eat much. Aden was in bed and Sam was watching a video next door. Thy could hear her laughing at something. Eventually Draco threw down his fork.

"It's not that the food's bad, love, I just can't eat tonight." He said, picking up his plate and going to the dustbin to scrape his food into it.

"It's alright. I'm not that hungry either." Hermione sighed. She came and stood behind him, slipping her arms around his middle. He turned around to embrace her.

"He'll be back soon." She reminded him, seeing the sorrow in his face.

"I know." Draco said. "It's just… he's our only son, you know? He's my boy. And I don't want him gone."

Hermione touched his cheek gently. She would never really be able to understand the strength of the bond between this man, this Draco that she loved, and his son. Her son. She loved them both, but they had something so deep… she couldn't really explain why, or how.

"He's a good boy. He'll write." She kissed him lightly. "He loves you. And it's good for him to be there, it's the safest place in the world and he'll learn more than anywhere else can teach him."

"You're right. I just wish he didn't have to go so soon."

Yeah. So, I'm sorry it's taken me so incredibly long but I haven't had the time. I've got so much work and I did nanowrimo this year (checkit out at … I wrote a 50,000 word novel in 28 days!) as well as the fact that the medication I'm on dampens my enthusiasm for just about everything. I will try to update as much as possible, and once again I'm very sorry for the long wait.

Pineappleskimo