A/N: Hey everyone. Well I have decided that it is time to post the sequel to The Great Battle. Here is the first chapter. I hope you like it…I always say that don't I?
DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot.
Chapter 1: Engagement.
Hermione Granger walked around her lounge room cleaning up the scattered toys, left on the floor by her 2-year-old son, Thomas. She had just put him to bed and was cleaning up after another long day at work.
It had been 2 years since The Great Battle and Hermione was living in a two-bedroom apartment with her young son. She was working at St Mungo's in the Spell damage reversal department. Her life had taken the most unpleasant turn the day she had given birth to her son because shortly after, her then boyfriend had been hit with a curse that had left him in a coma for the past 2 years. Luckily for Hermione, the child she had thought was the heir of the most evil wizard of all time was not in fact Lord Voldemort's child but Draco Malfoy's child. They had all believed when Hermione had first fallen pregnant that the child she was carrying was Lord Voldemort's and they had done everything in their power to protect her and now she had lost the man who was her son's true father. Draco was lying in a hospital bed at St Mungo's and although Hermione was there everyday, she never once went to see him. She couldn't bear seeing him lying on the hospital bed, not moving, not talking and not making a sound. It had been almost unbearable to see Harry and the rest of the Order come back without Draco. She had cried herself to sleep every night since the day of the Great Battle and only just held herself together for her N.E.W.Ts which of course she had passed top of the year.
After she had finished cleaning, Hermione sat down on her sofa and switched on the television to watch her favourite show, The Biggest Loser. It was the Australian version and she enjoyed it. A cry from up the hall tore her away from the television and off into her son's room. She picked Thomas up from his cot and cuddled him.
"Shh…its ok baby." She comforted him. Thomas had been having nightmare's for the past year and always ended up in Hermione's bed.
"Mummy…you bed?" Thomas asked through his tears. Hermione smiled and pushed his blonde hair out of his grey eyes and carried him into the lounge room so he could sit with her until he fell asleep again. Hermione rocked him a little and he was soon fast asleep. She took him back to his room and placed him back in his bed. He rolled over and Hermione left the room quietly.
Hermione went and made herself a cup of coffee and just as she went to sit down to watch more television there was a knock at the door. She put her coffee on the table and went to answer the door. She opened it to see Harry standing there smiling. Next to him was another of her best friends, Ginny Weasley.
"Hey you two. What's up?" Hermione smiled stepping aside to allow them entry. They walked in and went into the living room. Hermione followed with a fresh pot of coffee and two extra cups. She poured them and passed one each to Harry and Ginny. She sat down next them and smiled.
"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Hermione asked sipping at her coffee.
"We came to tell you something." Ginny said excitedly. She put up her left hand and showed Hermione the diamond engagement ring on her finger. Hermione gasped.
"You're engaged? That's awesome news." Hermione cried jumping up to hug her friends. They sat back down and Hermione conjured a plate of choc chip cookies.
"So. When did you ask her Harry?"
"Yesterday. We haven't told Molly yet. We are on our way there now but Ginny wanted to stop in here and tell you." Harry grinned. Hermione hadn't seen him this happy since before the Great Battle.
"Well I'm really happy for the both of you. What do you think Ron will say?"
"He'll have the shits. He always has the shits ever since mum made Harry give him that Sleeping Draught. I mean fancy not talking to Harry for two years just because he…well saved his life I guess." Ginny said angrily. Ron hadn't talked to Harry and Hermione since the Great Battle. He was angry with them because they tricked him into drinking a potion that would put him to sleep for the entire battle. They had kept secrets from him all year. He was extra angry with Hermione for not telling him that she thought she was pregnant to Lord Voldemort. He had said that they had no right lying to him as they were meant to be his friends and friends don't lie no matter what the situation. As much as they all tried, Molly and Arthur included Ron just wouldn't listen. He talked to Ginny and his brother's but he wouldn't talk to any one else, including his parents.
"So he still wont speak to anyone?" Hermione asked.
"Only Fred, George, Bill, Charlie and me. He moved in with the twins a few weeks ago because mum and dad kept trying to get him to talk to them and he got really shitty, packed his stuff and left. Fred and George are keeping us informed of what he's up to so that's a bonus I guess. We are hoping he might be happy about Harry and I but I seriously don't think he will." Ginny sighed.
"He'll come around…don't worry Gin." Harry smiled lovingly at his new fiancé. Ginny smiled back and sipped at her coffee.
"So how's Thomas?" Harry asked Hermione.
"He's good. He's still having nightmares though and I don't know why or what they are about."
"Mum said all the boys had nightmares around this age. She says its normal in young wizards." Ginny smiled. Hermione didn't look so sure. She thought that it was something different but didn't know a way to find out.
"I dunno. He is starting to become really withdrawn and he's 2 years old. That can't be normal can it?" Hermione was really worried about her son. Molly was the only one she knew would be able to help seeing as though she had 7 children, 6 of them boys.
"I'll ask mum for you. Has Dumbledore been around to see you in your new place?"
"Yeah he came around about 2 days ago. He loves Thomas to bits. You should see him. He's like a teenager when that pair gets together and Thomas adores him just the same. It's really great."
"That's nice to hear. What about you? How have you been coping?" Ginny asked. Harry had switched Hermione's television over to the football while the two woman talked.
"I'm going ok so far I guess. I just wish I could get in contact with…with Narcissa. I'm sure she would like to see her grandson but every time I send her an owl, the letter comes back unopened. I even put a charm on it to see whether it gets opened then magically sealed but it doesn't."
"Are you sure she is still at the Malfoy manor?"
"Grandad says she is. I think she might be still morning. She lost her husband at the hand of her son and now she's…she's almost lost her son as well." Hermione told Ginny quietly. Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of Draco but she angrily pushed them away.
"Have you gone to see him yet?"
"I can't. It's too much. I have Thomas now and I am focusing on that. He looks so much like his father though I think about Draco everyday."
"You'll be ok though wont you? Your strong."
"Yeah I'll be ok. So are you moving in together any time soon?" Hermione asked trying to change the subject away from her.
"We are looking at a few places tomorrow. Nothing to big though." Ginny smiled. The two woman talked some more about apartments, wedding dresses and the hens night that would definitely be happening. After about half an hour, Harry and Ginny decided they best head off to inform the rest of the Weasley's about their engagement. Hermione saw them to the door and, after she closed it, leant on the back of it as tears fell down her cheeks. This was a usual thing for Hermione. Any mention of Draco bought her to tears. She was still in love with him and knew no other man would make her feel the same. If only she could find a way to bring him out of his coma. Her life would be complete and her son would have his father.
Wiping her eyes and yawning, Hermione decided to have a shower and go to bed. She had work in the morning and had to drop Thomas of at her parent's house. Hermione still called the Granger's her parents. They had raised her and it was their right. They loved her like their own child and Thomas was like their Grandchild. They would do anything for Hermione.