A/N: Hey all! I am back from my holiday. It was great to see friends and family and I miss them all already! Anyway thanks for the reviews. When I checked my inbox it was full! Took me an hour to go through it. Anyway onto the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: Not mine!
Chapter Eleven: A Parent's Nightmare.
Molly starred at Ron in shock. Her hand clung onto Arthur's with a death grip as the sudden news sunk in. Her son, her baby boy, was moving away to another continent. Away from her. Molly blinked back tears and nodded slowly as she began to accept the news.
"You are leaving tomorrow?" asked Arthur to make sure he even heard correctly.
"Yeah tomorrow," replied Ron, "Look I thought about it carefully. Merle is the right one I have been waiting for. Only she went away with Hermione when I was looking."
Merle smiled and brushed her thumb across Ron's knuckles affectionately.
"Well it is sudden," spoke Molly, "But I am so happy for you Ron!"
She let go of her husband's numb hand and embraced her son across from her before doing the same to Merle.
"How about a spot of something to eat?" suggested Molly smiling.
"We'd love too, but we have to break the news to Harry and Ginny… plus the rest," replied Ron, "But I swear to see you, Mum and you, Dad before we leave tomorrow afternoon."
Molly nodded tearfully and hugged the two once more before allowing Arthur to do the same.
O
"Night James. You sleep well," said Harry closing his son's bedroom door.
Ginny was humming in the lounge room as she started preparing to write the introductory article for the magazine. She smiled at Harry as he sat across from her watching her write the first line.
"You know I don't like it when you watch me Harry," smiled Ginny dipping the quill in the blue inkbottle.
"I know… so should we start packing?" replied Harry looking at Ginny smiling.
Ginny looked up at Harry in surprise, "You really want to move?"
"Well I thought about it some more and it seems to be a great idea… a fresh start for us all. More room for more babies. I know you want a big family. And the rooms are big enough if we have twins by chance."
"Twins?" cried Ginny laughing, "I grew up with one set, that was bad enough!"
Harry smiled, "I know. But look. I want to do this Gin. I love you and think of it as the first house we moved into as a married couple."
Ginny smiled and nodded, "That is true. And Hermione would want it to remain as a house for a family… right?"
"She would."
Ginny stood up and ran around the table to hug Harry and kiss him lovingly.
O
"No, Draco… no," said Hermione pushing her chair back away from Draco.
Draco leant back and watched Hermione walk over to the sink. She tipped the contents of her cup down the sink and turned around to look at him, her arms folded across her chest defensively. Draco sighed, why was she constantly sending him around in circles? It was getting beyond the joke – reel him in and throw him back out with the rest of the fish before sending out a new piece of bait.
"Why not?" snapped Draco standing up to look at her.
"I told you. It's too soon!"
"Too soon? Hermione, it's been four bloody, long years!"
"Four bloody, long years without seeing each other…"
Draco sighed and stepped closer to Hermione blocking her from escaping him… unless she apperated away.
"When I asked you too look at me and say you didn't want to give us another chance, you couldn't. You dropped your gaze at the last second. I know you want to give us another shot and I am not saying we have to take things fast. We can do this slowly."
Hermione looked at Draco and nodded. Draco smiled and stepped back.
"So," he said bursting with happiness, "How about we go out to dinner tomorrow night? Dakota can come… kind of a family night out."
"It's a family date then."
Draco nodded, "I should go. Good night Hermione."
"Night Draco."
After Draco left with a crack Hermione spun around in the kitchen laughing with sudden joy. She ran to the phone and began punching in her mothers number before coming back to earth and remembering her mother was no longer around to share her joy… who then? Who could she tell?
Ginny!
Harry had put a muggle phone in his house long ago to keep in contact with Hermione other then using the fireplace and owls.
Hermione dialed Harry's number and after three rings it was Ginny who answered.
"Hello, Potter residence," said Ginny politely.
"Ginny I gave him another chance," said Hermione happily.
"Hermione? Is that you?"
"No Ginny its your mother… of course its me!"
"You gave Draco another chance? I thought you were never going too."
"Well… we are taking it slowly. But… I just can't believe how happy I am! I'm bursting with joy."
"I'm happy for you. I knew if you said yes you wouldn't regret it. So he has met Dakota then?"
"Yes he has. And both fell instantly in love."
"That is beautiful. Listen, seeing has we are talking, Harry and I were wondering if we could… well rent your parents house."
"I see."
"There won't be enough room here once that Baby is born and Harry and I love your parents place and the suburb."
"Ginny, stop, stop! Of course you can. And it can be rent-free. I don't feel right earning money from something that belong to my parent's… just keep it clean and maintained."
"Thankyou so much Hermione!" cried Ginny into the phone, "I am so happy for you and Draco… wow… what a night!"
"A long one at that."
"Oh Ron and Merle are here. I'd better go. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
Hermione hung up the phone and grinned all the way to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
O
"Draco! How did everything go? Did you sort things out? Are you moving in with her soon?" asked Narcissa in a hurl of questions.
Draco laughed and hugged his mother with pure joy. Lucius walked in and nearly fell over at the show of affection from his only son. It certainly was a change from his depressive mood.
"Everything is great! My daughter is as beautiful as her mother! Hermione and I are taking things slow! Life is brilliant!" exclaimed Draco kissing his mother on the cheek, "Tomorrow night I am taking her and Dakota out for dinner… who knows? Maybe there will be wedding bells soon! Me, married to her… it's a dream come true!"
Narcissa cried out with joy and hugged her son again before looking at Lucius who was smiling.
"We are sorry too have kept on pulling you two apart," said Lucius clasping his son on the shoulder, "I also have wonderful news. I got the job I applied for. I am now a lawyer at the Ministry."
"Oh Lucius! That is wonderful!" cried Narcissa, "Perhaps sometime soon we should have a party here to celebrate the Malfoy's good fortune."
"That would be a wonderful idea," nodded Lucius, "Perhaps we can discuss this more in the morning. Draco, when do you work next?"
"I work from 4am to 5pm. So I should go get some sleep while I can. Night Mum, Father."
His parents returned the goodnight and looked at each other smiling. Everything was finally falling into place after a long run of bad luck.
"You know Narcissa, you look more beautiful now then you did when I first met you," smiled Lucius pulling her into his arms.
Narcissa laughed warmly, "That was because when you met me I had buck teeth and hair that wouldn't style for long."
"Yes but your eyes have always held the same intensity about them."
Narcissa smiled and kissed Lucius on the lips, "Come, lets go to bed."
O
"Dinner? Tonight?" cried Ginny standing in Hermione's office as they went over the building plans, "Wow! So when is the engagement party?"
"Ginny! We are not going that fast," laughed Hermione, "Now I have sent the building plans too the Ministry and got word they would be looked at today sometime. So have people applied to work for the magazine in some way?"
"Are you kidding? More then ten thousand applications have come through! It's like people got word you would be part of it and they sent in resumes and everything."
"Are any of them eligible?"
"Yeah… about half of them are. The ones who sent in marry me Hermione notes were destroyed."
"Yet Luna just had to give me the barely there lingerie."
"Well when I let slip about you and Draco… she thought… you know."
Hermione laughed, "You let slip… who knew Luna thought that way?"
"She was looking at Michael when she said it."
"Oh… right," chuckled Hermione, "I wish those two would get their act together."
"What do you think we were all saying about you and Draco? So anyway, when you get married I want to be a bridesmaid."
"Who said anything about getting married? We have just begun dating again."
"Yeah but you were sleeping with him before you fell in love…"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "I was 22. I've matured now."
Ginny nodded, "Well whatever will be, will be. Now I think the walls should be painted the colours of the magazine. I Do is written in maroon with a golden background. So I was thinking… maroon walls with golden yellow edgings. The floor could be polished wood like these ones. Lights hanging from the ceiling. Make it look welcoming to all who work there."
Hermione nodded. She was using her wand to draw Ginny's description on the paper, adding vases full of flowers and chairs outside oaks doors. In the distance of the drawing Ginny could see stairs leading upstairs and down.
"What are the stairs going up for?" frowned Ginny.
"To lead where the magazine gets printed."
"Hermione there is a letter from the Ministry here for you," said Luna entering the office.
Hermione took the letter and tore it open. She scanned over it and smiled at Ginny, "We have the go ahead! They will send someone tomorrow to extend the building upwards. It will be built like the drawing with the offices, staff room, everything! All we have to do is paint it and furnish it!"
Ginny screamed happily and hugged Hermione, then Luna. Life couldn't get any better.
O
Hermione arrived at the Burrow later that afternoon in time to see Ron hugging his crying mother. Then it hit her. Ron and Merle were leaving today.
"Hermione!" cried Merle, "I thought you would never come!"
"But I thought you would leave from my place… why didn't you tell me?" asked Hermione in shock.
"I was but you were in bed when I got home and left before I got up."
"So you are going now?"
Merle nodded sadly, "I already said bye to Dakota. She is in the sitting room with James."
"Why so soon?"
"We just want to get on with life. Don't worry I have all the paper work saying you made me the boss over there."
Hermione nodded swallowing a lump in her throat, "I have a date with Draco tonight. Well it's like a family thing with Dakota."
Merle smiled, "Where your black dress. He'll love it."
Hermione laughed a little before pulling Merle into a hug, "You take care okay? And you are coming back if I ever marry Draco."
"I know," sobbed Merle, "If Ron and I marry you are coming for that too."
"I wouldn't miss it."
They pulled away smiling and Hermione turned to Ron. He smiled at her before she hugged him.
"You be good and take care of yourself and Merle," cried Hermione, "You can always come back."
"I know Herms. I love you. I hope everything goes good for you and Draco."
Hermione nodded into his shoulder before pulling back. Merle waved one last time before picking up her suitcase and stepping into the green flames. She shouted the address and was soon followed by Ron, who waved one last time and was gone.
O
"Let me do the bow up at the back of the dress," said Hermione turning Dakota around.
Her daughter was dressed in a pink dress that had puffy sleeves and belled out from the waist a little. It came to her knees, from where her white stockings could be seen. Her shoes donned black shiny Mary Jane's. Hermione tied the bow and put the white cardigan on her, "Turn around Sweetie."
Dakota did as she was told and allowed Hermione to do up the white buttons.
"You look adorable."
Dakota smiled, "You look pretty too Mummy."
Hermione smiled. She was dressed in a simple black dress with spaghetti straps and a v neckline. It came to her knees and her shoes were slip-ons with a strap across her toes and the middle of her foot. She too had a black coat that came down to the length of her dress. She did it up and brushed a lock of hair from her face. For the evening she had curled her hair nicely and pinned one side of it back with a diamond clip. Dakota's hair was brushed neatly with a white headband.
"Hello?" came a voice from downstairs.
"Daddy is here!" cried Dakota running away from her mother downstairs, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!"
Hermione sighed, grabbed her purse from beside her and headed out of the room for the staircase. She walked quickly down the stairs, her shoes echoing as they hit the marble. In the lounge room she could hear Draco and Dakota talking happily about Dakota's day at Molly and Arthur's and how James is her bestfriend.
Hermione smiled to herself, knowing Dakota was slowly wrapping Draco around her finger. She walked into the lounge room and smiled warmly at Draco who stood up from the lounge when she entered.
"Hey," said Hermione smiling, "How are you?"
"Great thanks, and yourself?"
"Just perfect… so umm… where are we going tonight?"
"Well there is this nice family restaurant that opened up at Hogsmeade a year ago. It's next too Seamus's club. We can floo… or apperate."
"Apperate would be best. I don't want her dress to get dirty with soot," replied Hermione indicating their daughter.
"Well apperate to the main street of Hogsmeade and from there we can walk to the restaurant."
Hermione nodded and took hold of Dakota's hand tightly. With the thought of her location in mind, Hermione apperated holding onto Dakota.
O
Draco smiled as Hermione and Dakota appeared beside him. Music could be heard coming from the club and Hermione gave a small thought of the memories the sight of that place brought back. It was on the opening night that Hermione kissed Draco, even though she was drunk. Draco saw Hermione's smile and laughed.
"I remember. You were completely off your rocker that night," stirred Draco as he led them to the restaurant.
"Don't remind me anymore. But a good thing came from that single kiss," blushed Hermione.
"Very true."
They walked in silence past the club and down the street. Hermione glanced at The Three Broomsticks and smiled at the sight of its warm glow from inside. She didn't regret her decision to come back and maybe Ginny was right. Perhaps her and Draco would be married soon, or at least engaged.
"Here we are!" said Draco proudly.
Hermione's mouth fell open. She now felt extremely overdressed. The restaurant looked similar to muggle places, such as McDonald's! There was a fenced playground with children sliding down slippery dips, on seesaws, flying foxes, monkey bars and also using toy wands to make different coloured bubbles. Hermione glanced inside to see tables similar to those at Burger King; only the tables were a crème colour and the seats looked more comfortable.
"Don't you like it?" asked Draco frowning.
"You said we were going to a restaurant. I assumed a fancy one... look at what I am wearing!" cried Hermione undoing her coat and flashing him her fancy dress.
Draco's eyes widened appreciatively, "Very nice."
Hermione did up her coat, "I'm a bit over dressed."
"No one will care Hermione. Let's go and have dinner."
Hermione sighed and followed Draco and her daughter inside. Dakota tugged at Draco's hand causing him to lean down to hear her over the noise. Draco nodded to whatever she said and ran off.
"Where is Dakota going?" asked Hermione grabbing onto Draco's arm tightly.
"To play in the children's playground."
Hermione let out a calming breath and smiled at Draco. Draco slipped his arm around Hermione's waist, pulling her closer. He pecked her softly on the cheek and whispered to her not to worry. Hermione smiled at him just as a hand tapped her sharply on the shoulder.
Hermione pulled from Draco and spun around to see a woman her age with long black hair, blue eyes and a curvy figure. She was dressed in emerald green robes with gold chunky jewelry.
"Yes?" said Hermione with a frown.
"Hello Hermione Granger. Remember me?" she asked coldly narrowing her blue eyes.
"Sorry, but no I don't."
The woman laughed mockingly, "Yeah, wouldn't expect you too remember the ones you don't hire as they don't meet your standards. My name is Sharla Mink. Back when your business was just beginning I had an interview with you but apparently my standards weren't good enough."
Hermione's mouth fell open, "Wait… you own that Wedding Business in Knockturn Alley!"
Suddenly a camera flashed across from the two women. They both ignored it, knowing they would be front-page news for the Daily Prophet.
"That's right. Let me tell you this, Miss Perfect Granger, with her darling daughter, boyfriend, friends and expanding business… close it now!"
Hermione resisted the urge to laugh, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, close it, or your little darling daughter will be joining your muggle mother and father."
"Don't you dare threaten me with my daughter!" snapped Hermione stepping forward, "Perhaps if you'd been more positive during the interview you would have been hired!"
"No, you only hire those from the good side of the tracks."
"That's funny considering I have ten former Slytherin's working for me and five ex-Death Eaters."
Sharla seemed taken aback for a spilt second allowing Hermione the time to have her final say.
"Attitude has a lot to do with what potential employers think of you. Remember that."
Hermione turned away and pushed through the crowd followed by Draco, not seeing Sharla signal to certain people to head towards the playground.
O
Harry taped the box close and turned to Ginny looking exhausted, "How about we stop for tonight? We have as much time as we need. Besides you are pregnant and need rest."
Ginny nodded. She fell back onto hers and Harry's bed and smiled at him lovingly, "Our first family home."
Harry sat beside her and nodded smiling, "I think Rianna should have Hermione's old room seeing as it is painted that lavender colour. James can have the one beside it. We can paint it any colour he wants and you and I can have Anne and Edward's old room… does that seem right?"
"Harry I know you worry about what Hermione thinks but it is our home now. When we move in it won't look like her old house because it will have our family markings all over it. There won't be a TV, or any sort of muggle things, it will say the Potter Home."
Harry smiled and leant down to kiss Ginny affectionately on the lips just as James burst into the bedroom.
"Mummy I want to go see Dakota," cried James climbing up onto the bed, "Please?"
"Honey you will see her tomorrow," replied Ginny, "Where is Ri-Ri?"
"Playing with your paper."
"No!" cried Ginny sitting up. She slid off the bed and rushed out of the room to the lounge room where Rianna was occupying herself by scribbling all over Ginny's writing paper. Ink was spilt on the mats and paper was scattered around the two-year-old girl who smiled up at her mother.
"Pretty!" she cried enthusiastically.
Ginny sighed, "Rianna, this is naughty. You do not touch Mummy's work paper. Do you understand?"
Rianna looked down at her feet and nodded.
"Now, go find Daddy and tell him to run you a bath. You have ink all over you."
Rianna stood up and toddled off to find her father. Ginny sighed and pulled her wand out. She muttered the cleaning spell and the ruined paper became clean, as did the carpets. The inkbottles refilled and everything went back to looking how it should.
Ginny sighed and smiled when she heard Rianna's giggles with Harry making car noises as he carried the youngest one to have a bath.
Who could possibly give Ginny something else that would make her feel the way her children and husband do?
O
"I'll go get Dakota while you find us a table okay?" said Hermione to Draco as he carried their tray of hamburgers, fries and drinks.
"Sure," nodded Draco walking off towards the near spare table.
Hermione weaved her way through the crowd, saying hello to people who waved at her excitedly. She pushed the door open leading into the playground yard and looked around for Dakota. Seeing no sight of her Hermione assumed she was inside the tunnel leading upwards to the play equipment. She stepped to the side and waited for Dakota to come sliding down the slippery dip, but after two minutes of waiting panic began to start growing in her chest.
"Dakota?" called Hermione walking around the small playground, "Dakota honey? Dinner is ready. Daddy and I are waiting for you!"
None of the children looked to be Dakota. There were plenty of brown haired children but none were dressed like Dakota in anyway. Hermione ran over to the tunnel and leaned down to peer up it. No children were inside or going down the slide. Hermione stood up and spun around, screaming out her daughter's name. She ran inside over to Draco, who was still sitting alone.
"Where is Dakota?" asked Draco when he saw Hermione was alone.
"I don't know!" cried Hermione looking around her, "She wasn't out there!"
Draco stood up looking calm, "I'll look around here. You go and check the ladies toilets. Perhaps she went in there without telling you."
Hermione nodded and ran off to the ladies room, scanning around for her little daughter as she did so. Hermione pushed the door open and called for her daughter in a panic.
"Did you see a little girl come in here with brown hair dressed in a pink dress with a white coat over top. She also had on black shoes and white stockings," said Hermione to a woman washing her hands.
"No sorry," was the reply.
None of the toilets were occupied and Hermione had to grab hold of the sink just so her legs wouldn't give way.
"Are you okay Miss?" asked the woman, "Is it your daughter?"
"Yes and she is nearly four!"
"I'll go tell the manager and give him your description… what is her name?"
"Dakota May Granger."
The woman nodded realizing who Hermione was, but didn't mention it. She patted Hermione gently on the arm before leaving.
Hermione looked up at the mirror and realized what she was living. Her worst nightmare.
O
Draco ran a hand through his hair, realizing he had looked everywhere. Dakota was nowhere in sight. He took a deep breath when he saw Hermione exit the bathroom and looking horribly pale. She looked at him and shook her head in tears. Draco ran over to her and engulfed her into a hug.
"A woman is going to tell the manager for us," said Hermione, "What if she went out to the streets alone? I should have stayed with her!"
"I'll start looking through the streets. I want you to go into all the stores okay? Get help if you can," said Draco calmly, "We will find her. I promise."
Hermione nodded and followed Draco out of the restaurant. Draco started walking off in one direction and Hermione ran towards Seamus's club. She showed the bouncer her ID and ran in towards the bar, where Seamus stood taking an order from a customer.
"Seamus!" cried Hermione getting his attention, "Seamus!"
Seamus walked over to her smiling, "Hey! I heard you were back… is everything okay?"
"No. My daughter… she has gone missing. Draco and I were at the place next door. She went out to play and I don't know where she went!"
Seamus nodded. He bent down and soon the music stopped and the lights came on, blinding all used to the dullness of the disco lights.
"EVERYONE LISTEN UP!" shouted Seamus, "MY FRIEND'S DAUGHTER HAS GONE MISSING! LOOK AROUND YOU TO SEE IF A LITTLE GIRL IS NEAR YOU!"
Hermione looked around breathing heavily as the people searched around them for any sign of a child. But soon everyone was shaking their heads, even those who had gone into the bathrooms to see.
Seamus sighed, "Sorry Herms. I'll come help you look."
Seamus hit a button under the counter to get the music going again and spoke to the bartender working with him.
He then jumped over the counter and followed Hermione back out to the streets.
"She has brown hair that's straight with a white headband. Her eyes are a gray colour and she is dressed in a pink dress, white coat and stockings and black shoes. Her name is Dakota May Granger," said Hermione, "Can you help Draco search the streets?"
"Sure thing. I'll meet you back here in an hour okay?" said Seamus.
Hermione nodded and hurried off too the Three Broomsticks. But as soon as Hermione pushed the
doors open she knew Dakota was not to be seen. The place was nearly empty with only a few people. Rosemerta would have seen Dakota enter instantly, considering her eyes were on Hermione.
Hagrid turned to look at her also and smiled at her, "Ermione! How are yer?"
"Hagrid… my daughter. She's missing!" cried Hermione before telling him and Rosemerta the same story she told Seamus.
Instantly Hagrid stood up, nodding at Hermione's detailed description of Dakota. Rosemerta stood beside Hermione and led her too a seat as Hagrid was going to look in the stores.
"Everything will be okay, dear," said Rosemerta sitting beside her, "Be positive."
O
Two hours passed for Draco as he ran towards where he began. Hermione was nowhere insight as Draco turned around in a circle but was suddenly engulfed into a hug. Hermione cried into his chest as he held her. There was no sign of their daughter at all. Seamus had returned alone, as had Hagrid and both had searched every inch of Hogsmeade, from Hogwarts too the restaurant again.
"She's gone!" cried Hermione, "We have to get her back Draco!"
Draco nodded and looked at Hagrid, "Could you please send a letter to Potter? He'll know what to do."
"Sure thing," nodded Hagrid walking into the pub to get parchment, ink and borrow an owl.
Hermione pulled back, "Who took her Draco?" But Hermione's face dawned to realization, "Sharla…"
A/N: Well… a long chapter. 4556 words long. Anyway… the twist's keep on coming just when you all thought it would be all nice and calm. Anyway review! Happy New Year people!
Bye for now!
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