Disclaimer: See Prologue

Thank you all for your reviews! You guys are so awesome, despite the laziness of me- I'm afraid I don't want to take the time at this point to list you all. I love you all, though!

Okay...I have a few things that need to be said in the continuation of this story and the story By the Blood, I commend you. Neither of them are going to be altered to fit HBP...I'm simply too far into the plot lines to alter either story. Now...the countdown continues! One more chapter and the epilogue! I played, to tell you the truth, with the idea of just posting one long chapter since this one was so short...but since it's been so long since I've updated...well you get the basic idea.

Kisses!

Allison

Chapter 8

Severus stared miserably at the spot down the table that Crystal had occupied for the past week. It was the fourth day that she hadn't been around to occupy it and he felt like his heart broke anew each time he saw that she wasn't there. He found himself admitting the possible. He missed the woman that Hermione had become...the fiery, dominating, confident woman that was the mother of his son. Being Severus, however, he said nothing,...did nothing...to ease his pain. As usual, he had only seen what was right in front of him when he'd already passed it by...and this time there could be no return to get it as there had been during the war.

Or so he thought.

Draco Malfoy was in a similar fix...whining constantly to anyone and everyone who would listen that he'd blown the best thing in his life by being so mean to his best friend. Unfortunately, the only people who would listen were the whiner's own bed-partner, Harry Potter, and his best friend Ronald Weasley. And the forementioned supposed friends were completely unsympathetic. They may have drifted apart from the young woman they considered their sister during their last year at Hogwarts due to Harry's budding homosexuality, Ron's family problems, and Hermione's own apprenticeship to 'That Greasey Git,' but they still trusted her brains and her judgement over all others. If she was shunning Draco- and she was, indeed, shunning him- then who were they to stop her? Indeed, if it hadn't been for Harry's firm relationship with 'That Stupid, Insufferable, Slimey Little Bouncing FERRET,' the two men may have followed their friend's example. As it was, they continued to be friendly- if a bit cold- to Draco.

That did not, however, mean that they weren't constantly in New York catching up with one of their oldest friends. And they knew that she missed the dominating Potions Professor and the Insufferable Git that had both driven her out not only three years previous, but this time as well. Which gave them a reason to put Plan Reconciliation into effect.

Simply put, the plan was meant to force Crystal to meet Draco and Severus once more. The plan itself consisted of so many complicated hooks and maneuvers, however, that it was doomed to fail from the time it was constructed. Which meant that it was a very good thing that the two steadfast friends had not only Anne's help, but Cody's as well.

Cody missed his daddy.

There was nothing else to really say about that...he was constantly asking about "Sevus," and it was beginning to drive Crystal crazy. One day, it got so bad that Cody's normally patient mother slammed down his juice cup, turned around, and walked out of the room...leaving the four people still in there to stare after her silently. She had gotten a job at a diner not too far from there, waiting tables, and Harry and Ron were trying to convince her to audition for a band that was fairly well-known.

It was at the diner that Tiff found her. Crystal was behind the bar cleaning it silently as she walked in, sunglasses covering her bright blue eyes. "Can I sit here?"

Crys paused. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes...check under Arrogant and Foolish." Tiff said with a wry smile.

Crys paused and matched it with a smile of her own. "Might it also be under Pigheaded and Stubborn?"

Tiff pretended to think it over before nodding. "I think that's it..." She pushed her sunglasses up on her head and peered at Crys. "It looks like you're doing well."

"Yeah...I am." Crys said as she poured the older woman some coffee.

"Somehow, I knew you would." Tiff smiled. "I was going to come and offer you your spot as a Coyote back...but I can see that that's obviously not needed. Just know...that you have a place there if you want one."

"Thanks, Tiff." Crys smiled at the older woman, who smiled in return.

It wasn't long after that that Crys finally agreed to audition for the band, just to shut Ron and Harry up. She was standing behind the stage taking deep breaths and concentrating on keeping her cool when she heard a familiar voice shout something and a platinum blonde man stepped through the curtain separating stage from backstage and froze. Crystal stared at him, and he slowly let the curtain fall.

"Crystal..." He whispered, taking a step towards her.

"Malfoy..." She felt like crying at the dark circles under his eyes...the obvious signs that he wasn't taking care of himself, even with Harry breathing down his neck...but she forced herself not to feel anything.

"Crystal...I'm so sorry..." He whispered.

"I have an audition to record." She said, brushing past him and moving out onto the stage where the auditions were being recorded by an emissary for the band. Ten minutes later, she was walking towards the door with Harry and Ron when they met Draco. Crys was holding Cody, and she frowned darkly at Draco.

"Dako!" Cody cooed, giggling.

Draco looked at Crystal, anguish written on his every feature. "Crystal...I shouldn't have said that. I apologize...forgive me? I'll go down on my knees if you wish..." He whispered, tears in his eyes.

Crystal saw the tears and felt something inside of her melt. She turned slowly and handed Cody to his "Nuncle On" before turning and looking hard at Draco for several moments before literally flinging herself into his arms. He fell backwards to the carpeted floor of the entrance, his arms wrapping around her even as her own arms came around the back of his neck hard, clinging to him. Turning his face into her sweet-smelling hair, Draco held her as she sobbed.

"You stupid, stupid man! I've missed you so much!" She choked out. Draco managed a smile, pressing his lips to her temple. Later, they were all sitting in Bill's Diner, eating dinner together, and Cody was sitting happily between his mom and Draco, smearing ketchup all over his face and looking quite content...except for one thing.

"Mama! Sevus! I want Sevus!" Cody tugged on his mom's sleeve. She looked down at him and smiled sadly, kissing his forehead.

"I know, Cody. So do I." She said, softly. Glancing at the clock, she sadly slid out of the booth and left the money for her part of the meal on the table, using one of Cody's wipes to clean his hands and face, leaving the wipe on the table with her napkin, picking the three-year-old up. "I'll see you all later, okay? We're still on for dinner in a week?" She looked at the three men, who nodded.

"We'll talk to you later, Crys." Harry said with a smile...trying to ignore the tension that had stolen over the four adults at the mention of Severus Snape. They watched her as she settled Cody into his stroller and headed off to her apartment, her head bowed.

"Are the lot of you thinking what I'm thinking?" Draco asked.

"If you're thinking that we need to grind Severus into tiny pieces and blast him into oblivion, yes." Ron said. "If you're thinking that we should get Hermione and Snape back together because they love each other..." He sighed and shook his head. "I'd still rather grind him into pieces and blast him."