On Saturday afternoon, Harry and I were in the sitting room with James and Sev. I was chasing them around and snatching them up whenever I could, tickling them and kissing their little faces. They were screeching and giggling, the happy sounds helping to lift my mood. Harry was laughing and joining in, though the boys seemed to be focusing most of their attention on me.

Pansy stormed down the stairs and glared at us. "Did you two happen to forget that there is a brand new baby in this fu—effing house?!" Our heads snapped up, looking at her. "I guess you did. Well, at the very least you could cast a Silencing Charm!"

"I'm sorry, dear," Harry said in a mocking voice, making me wince.

In a matter of seconds, Pansy's face reddened and sparks flew from her fingertips. "Oh, you think this is a joke?" she fumed. "How about this, Potter? Why don't you and Granger take the boys for—" she paused for dramatic effect "—ice cream! And then to play at the park!"

James and Sev immediately started clapping their little hands with glee. "Yes! Yes! Auntie Mi, you come with us!" James said, turning his sweetest expression on me.

Grinning at Pansy, Harry replied, "That sounds like fun. I don't know why you thought I'd mind going to Fortescue's and to the park."

"It's you and Hermione. You're going to be stalked by everyone in Diagon Alley," she stated. "You're going to be miserable, and I can't wait."

Harry walked up to his wife and hugged her. As she struggled against him, he just held her tighter and kissed her cheek. Although Harry couldn't see her, she was smiling, and I was jealous. They made it all look so easy.

"We'll be fine. You know the kids deter some people," I chimed in, picking Sev up. "We're usually left alone with these little human shields."

"Shall I bring something home for you, dear?" Harry taunted. "Maybe some of that chocolate chili shite you love?"

"It's fu—effing delicious and I won't hear another word about it," Pansy said, finally freeing herself from Harry's clutches and moving towards the door. "And yes, you'll bring some home for me if you know what's good for you."

Harry laughed and looked down at the boys. "Shall we go then? Ice cream and park?"

"Sceam!" Sev chirped, clapping again.

I felt a tug on the bottom of my t-shirt. James was looking up at me. "Can we swing at the park?"

"Of course, love," I replied. "Let's get some ice cream and then we'll go swing."

Harry took hold of his eldest son's hand and I carried Sev, knowing that it could be dangerous to put him down for Floo travel.

When we stepped out into the Leaky, there were stares, but no one approached us. I was thankful for that — I just wanted to have a pleasant afternoon with Harry and the boys. After the week we'd all had, between Lily's arrival and Draco's sudden remembrances, we needed to relax.

"Mimi!" Sev said, drawing my attention. "Sceam!"

Shifting him to my other hip, I tickled his thigh. "Yes, we're going to get ice cream!" His little giggles made me feel lighter. "I'm very excited, too!"

I noticed Harry watching me from the corner of his eye. Honestly, I thought he might be more wistful about me becoming a mother than I was. While I understood he was worried that I'd never fulfill my dream of being a parent, I was only twenty-seven. My uterus would more than likely be in working order for a few years to come.

As we walked to the ice cream parlour, James and Sev both babbled, and I tried to keep up with their little conversations. Sev wasn't talking a lot yet, but the odd recognisable word or phrase made it past his tiny lips. I loved watching both of them grow and learn.

"Auntie Mi, what kind are you getting?" James asked.

Automatically, I replied, "Chocolate raspberry. What about you?"

"Stawbewy."

When I realised he'd dropped the 'r', I laughed. "Well, you can try some of mine if you'd like."

Ordering took longer than it should've — Harry was indecisive and he had to order for the boys. When I looked in the case, I saw strawberry peanut butter. That had been my favourite at one time, and then Draco had introduced me to chocolate raspberry and I liked it better.

I couldn't believe that something as simple as an ice cream flavour still made me think of him. Though, he was in the forefront of my mind after the week's events.

After settling the bill, we went to the most secluded table we could find, hoping to stay out of the public eye as long as possible. It was a Saturday in June in Diagon Alley — ice cream was quite popular.

Sev was perched on my lap, making a mess of both himself and me as he attempted to eat his chocolate ice cream. Harry had conjured a booster seat for James so he could sit on his own and reach the table. I was surrounded by Potter men on all sides.

"Slow down, James," Harry scolded. "You'll end up with a headache if you eat ice cream that fast!"

I looked longingly at my own untouched dish of ice cream as I helped Sev take small spoonfuls of his. The damage had already been done, though — he was coated in a sticky, chocolate mess. I heard a familiar chuckle coming from the ordering line.

As soon as I looked up, I was met with two platinum blond heads — Draco was holding Scorpius and he waved to us. My stomach flipped at the sight of them and I found myself waiting for Astoria to appear, but she never did. Forcing a smile, I waved the hand holding my spoon.

Under his breath, Harry muttered, "Why is he suddenly everywhere?"

Turning to meet his eyes, I said, "I've no idea."

"Do you want to leave?" he asked. "We don't have to interact with him outside of work."

I shook my head. "I'll be fine. You're here and the boys will keep me busy."

Harry took another bite of his ice cream. "Just say the word and we'll go."

"Maybe he's not going to stay," I thought aloud. "Astoria's not with them. Maybe they're just picking something up." I heard him snort. "What?"

"He's not going anywhere now that he's seen you in your weekend clothes, coated in chocolate."

Glaring at him, I hissed, "You're not fu—effing helping."

But of course he was right. Draco and Scorpius took a seat at the next table, a large cup of chocolate raspberry ice cream in front of them. "Fancy meeting two-thirds of the Golden Trio here," he said with a smirk. "What are the chances?"

I rolled my eyes. "Like you don't see us nearly every bloody day now."

Eyes sparkling, he replied, "Ah, yes, how lucky for me."

"But you never came back yesterday," I stated, my words escaping before I could think better of it. "I waited for you."

He pursed his lips. "I thought you knew I'd be gone for the rest of the day. I'm sorry."

I waved him off. "Did you find us some books to go through?"

With a nod, he said, "I did, I'll bring them Monday."

"Great."

Gesturing to the toddler on his lap, he said, "This is Scorpius. I know he's the same age as the one getting all that chocolate ice cream in your hair."

Quickly, I turned my head to look at Sev. "Oh, for Merlin's sake," I groaned when I saw the spoon in my curls, strands of hair stuck to it.

Draco and Harry both laughed, making me want to scream. This scene was quickly becoming unbearable, despite the three little boys who were unnaturally adorable. Giving up on controlling Sev, I reached for my own ice cream, pulling it to the edge of the table so I could reach it and shoveling a spoonful into my mouth.

When I looked up, Draco's eyes were focused on my lips and I felt my skin heating under his gaze. I glared at him and he looked away, feeding a small bite to Scorpius and then taking one of his own. "I hope you're all enjoying your ice cream," he said. "I know we are."

It was so flirtatious — almost teasing — and made me want to laugh. And then I remembered that I didn't want him thinking about me or looking at me like that.

I hugged Sev to my chest and kissed the top of his head. He was the sweetest child, the complete antithesis of his namesake. He loved being held and cuddled. "We are enjoying it very much, even if we're making the biggest mess in the history of this ice cream shoppe."

Taking another bite of my ice cream, I hummed in pleasure. I felt Harry kick me under the table; he'd likely noticed how Draco was watching me. When I looked over at Harry, he had a 'what the fuck' expression on his face.

Laughing, I turned back to my ice cream.

"Chocolate raspberry?" Draco asked, his drawl lower than usual.

I felt my cheeks flush. "Yes. It's my favourite."

"Mine too," he replied.

"I remember," I repeated without thinking.

Malfoy arched a brow at me. "Did we used to eat ice cream together, Granger?"

Fuck. I was so stupid.

"No, of course not. You heard Harry offer to take me here after work one day and recommended it. I just remember everything," I covered quickly.

The last four words out of my mouth were so apt in this situation, just like when he had told me to let him go the first time I'd run into him after the Obliviation, but I didn't let myself dwell on it.

Instead, I focused on the boys, giving James a bite of ice cream from my spoon and keeping Sev's hands away from my hair. When I looked over at Scorpius, he was unsurprisingly clean, Draco not allowing him to get ice cream all over everything. In the background, I heard Harry and Draco chatting about some Quidditch match that had been highlighted in The Daily Prophet.

Scorpius started to writhe in Draco's lap, so he let him down, his eyes following his unsteady movements around our tables. As Scorpius toddled, I waved to him, prompting Sev to do the same. A smile crossed his little face and he waved back.

"Hi, Scorpius," I said, forcing happiness into my tone, even though I was barely holding it together. "You look just like your daddy!"

He looked to Draco and babbled. "Da-da-dada-da."

When his light eyes — Draco's eyes — focused on me again, I introduced myself. "I'm Hermione, but you can call me Mi. Can you say Mi?"

Sev laughed and started saying Mi over and over. Scorpius mimicked him, my shortened name coming from his little mouth. "Mi! Mi!"

As the two toddlers chattered, Scorpius moved closer, eventually trying to climb into my lap. I scooped him up, balancing him on one leg and Sev on the other. They were becoming fast friends and I wondered if Astoria would eventually be coming around Grimmauld Place.

My stomach turned at the thought of playdates between my godchildren and Scorpius, Astoria essentially in the place I had wanted for myself. Jealousy threatened to overtake me, but then a little hand tugged on my curls.

"Ouch!" I said, and Scorpius' eyes widened. "Let go."

Unfurling his tiny fist, he released my hair.

"He listened to you right away," Draco observed aloud. "You're a natural. You'll be a great mum someday."

Immediately, my brain tried to run away to other conversations — ones we'd had when we were still pretending that Draco would leave Astoria — but I didn't let it. I buried my emotions and looked at his son — the little person I had prioritised when I'd made my decision.

"Someday," I replied quietly. "But for now, I have James and Sev and little Lily."

As if he'd forgotten, Draco turned to Harry. "How are Pansy and the baby?"

"They're doing well," Harry stated. "It's been helpful having Hermione around this weekend."

Draco nodded. "I'm sure. Maybe Zabini should go to Italy more often."

At the mention of Blaise, my heart squeezed. I was sitting here with Draco's son on my lap, wishing the child was mine, while my boyfriend was away for work. Suddenly, everything felt wrong. I started to think about how Astoria would react if she saw me holding her son, of a potential picture in The Daily Prophet.

I knew I was playing with fire.

Clearing the lump that had formed in my throat, I said, "I need the loo. Can you two take your little ones?"

Draco stood and grabbed Sev first, passing him to Harry before he leaned down to grab Scorpius, taking him from me. I hoped he hadn't noticed the tears that had started filling my eyes.

Once I was childless, I rose and headed for the loo. I could feel both men watching me, and before the door closed, I heard Draco say, "What did I do wrong? Did she take me seriously when I said Blaise should go to Italy more often?"

What indeed, Malfoy. Of course you wouldn't know or understand. I took that all away from you, and now I'm crying because all I ever wanted was the chance to start a family with you and I just held your perfect son. What a fucking stupid girl I was! Or I am. I am bloody fucking stupid.

I went into a cubicle and sat on the toilet seat, covering my eyes as tears flowed freely. I felt utterly hopeless, like my whole world was crashing down around me. This week had been utter shite, and it seemed it wasn't going to get much better.

After a few minutes had passed, my tears finally stopped and I stood and exited the cubicle, heading for the mirror. Thankfully, magic could fix my red, swollen eyes and runny nose. I knew Malfoy would likely be gone when I exited the toilet, but I fixed myself up just in case.

To my surprise, he was still sitting there with Harry, all three boys cleaned up and the ice cream containers gone. Including my half-eaten one.

James screeched, "Auntie Mi!"

His outburst drew every eye in the ice cream parlour, and I noticed other patrons watching us. It wasn't every day that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had ice cream together. It was nearly newsworthy to those who had nothing better to talk about or little to no intelligence.

Trying to ignore the additional attention, I sat back down and Draco smiled at me, making my heart skip a beat.

"Guess what?" he asked, his excitement barely masked.

I shrugged my shoulders, gesturing for him to go on.

"I stopped by the apothecary on my way here and took more pictures," he said quietly. "I wasn't sure if anyone would be going over the weekend. I'll pop by tomorrow, too."

"That's great. When you get in Monday, I'll teach you the enhancement spells."

Clearing his throat, Harry said, "No more work talk. It's Saturday and I'm on leave."

Draco grimaced. "Sorry, Potter. I'm still getting back into the swing of things, so I'm excited."

"Quite alright. We were going to take James and Sev over to a playground by where Hermione grew up in London. Did you want to bring Scorpius along?"

Malfoy looked like he was considering it, and I froze.

When I snapped out of it, I noticed his grey eyes fixed on me again. He had Scorpius on his lap and was examining me closely, making me feel stripped bare.

"I think we should probably head home. Astoria will be home soon," Draco stated, reading me just as well as he always had. "I don't want to intrude on anything. I didn't mean to upset you earlier, Granger."

"I'm fine, really. Just a bit weepy when it comes to kids since I don't have any yet," I explained, and it sounded unconvincing to my own ears.

Draco smirked at me, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm sure Blaise would be willing to help you with that problem."

Forcing a laugh, I said, "Maybe. It's too soon to say for sure." I paused, wondering if he was declining the invitation because he thought I was upset with him. "Also, don't deny Scorpius the chance to play on my account. I promise I'm fine."

We all stood, Harry holding Sev and Draco settling Scorpius on his hip.

"We'll be seeing each other every day this week, Granger. I wouldn't want you to get sick of me before we even start the workweek."

Oh, Draco, I'll never be sick of you. That's half the problem.

Harry intervened, breaking the awkward silence since I hadn't responded. "Well, Malfoy, I'll see you when I get back to work. It sounds like you may have that case wrapped up by then, which is exciting."

Holding out his hand to shake Harry's, Draco replied, "Let's hope so. I'm sure Granger and I will figure it all out. Potions and runes are right up our alley."

Turning, he started to offer his hand to me, but I had started to reach for Sev at the same time. As I awkwardly accepted the toddler from Harry, Draco grinned.

"Sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to — I would've—"

"Granger, it's fine. I know you've got your hands full. Plenty of opportunity to shake hands another time." He looked at Scorpius. "Say goodbye to Hermione and the Potters."

Scorpius waved. "Bye!"

He smiled when I waved back, and my heart melted.

By some miracle, I managed to hold it together. Once Draco left, Disapparating with Scorpius securely in his arms, I let out a shaky exhale. Harry quickly linked his elbow with mine and managed to pick James up with his free arm.

Rather than heading into Muggle London, we walked down Diagon Alley to the small park. I set Severus in the swing and started to push him with small bursts of magic. Harry did the same with James.

"Are you okay, Hermione?"

"No, Harry. I can honestly say that I am not at all okay." I huffed and wiped at my eyes. "Since Blaise has been gone, Draco's been everywhere. And since he's remembered minor things… I've been to the Manor twice in one week, and I had to make a replica of the necklace he gave me to placate Lucius and Astoria."

The two boys laughed, apparently oblivious to my mood. I was happy about that. Pansy wouldn't be happy if she found out I was a wreck in front of the kids.

"Do you need to come off his case?" Harry asked. "I know I'm not working, but I can reassign it if needed."

I shook my head. "Honestly, he'd just get upset. He's doing a great job and has made connections that no one else has. And, as for me, I'm the only runes expert you've got at the moment, so I'll make it work. Blaise will be back on Monday and I'm sure everything will go back to normal. Draco won't want to hang out in my office."

"Oh, he'll want to, just won't be able to."

Slapping at his arm, I said, "Honestly, what is with you today?"

"He's always going to be around trying to get your attention. You just can't give in, Hermione," Harry said.

I focused my energy on pushing Sev's swing, stifling my emotions. "What Draco and I had… it was beautiful and wonderful, but I know it was wrong. He was married and I just disregarded that because it was an arranged marriage. I thought that since he hadn't married for love, it changed things. Now I'm wondering if he would've loved her if I'd just stayed away from him like any decent woman would have."

He shrugged. "It was wrong on both of your parts, but it happened. And I know you were in love. Love makes you do stupid things sometimes."

As I thought about what he'd said, I grew even more anxious.

If I still loved Draco, would I do the same stupid things all over again? Could I stop myself?

On Sunday, I kept my promise, meeting Blaise at his flat wearing nothing but a pair of black knickers and a smile. When he stepped into the bedroom, his face lit up, his eyes immediately heating as they raked over my body. I was laying on my stomach, my bare breasts pushing into the satin of the duvet, a book in front of me. The lacy knickers exposed more of my arse than they covered. I'd tied my hair back in a high ponytail, the long curls falling over one of my shoulders.

"Fuck," he groaned. "You're perfection."

Grinning at him, I picked my feet up off the mattress, bending my knees and crossing my ankles in the air. "Am I?"

In response, he moved to the end of the bed and grabbed my ponytail, tilting my head up so he could capture my lips. He kissed me hard, possessively, taking everything he wanted from me. My mind went blank, lost in the moment. When he finally broke away, he kept my head tilted up, looking at him.

"I missed you so much," he said.

Still dazed from this kiss, I just smiled at him.

"I didn't think you'd actually be waiting for me in just your knickers."

"Well, Mr. Zabini," I replied, pulling on his tie. "I always keep my word."

Our lips met again, devouring each other like we didn't have another second to spare. I felt him shifting, removing his shoes. My hand released his tie and reached for his belt, quickly undoing the buckle and then the fly of his trousers.

He broke the kiss, standing up straight and taking off his shirt and tie. I marked my place in the book and pushed it to the opposite side of the king bed. With a smirk, he stepped out of the trousers that had pooled around his ankles, leaving him only in his tight pants, his cock straining against the material. I could tell he was hard, that he wanted this more than he wanted his next breath.

Wanted me more than his next breath.

I started to roll over and he stopped me. "Oh no, Tesoro. You're going to stay just as you are now for me."

Blinking up at him, I watched as his hand slid into his pants, wrapping around his shaft and squeezing. "Don't you want—"

"Oh, I want. And I'll take what I want, but I'm going to come so fast," he stated. "I just want to look at you. I want you to watch me."

My lips parted in shock, but my eyes didn't leave him. Using his free hand, he pulled his shorts down, fully revealing himself to me. As I watched him, I found myself growing wet, dying to come. I shifted, twisting my hips so I was nearly laying on my side.

Blaise's eyes darkened when I started rubbing myself through my knickers, soft sighs and whimpers escaping my lips. I brought my other hand to my breast, squeezing and kneading, grazing my palm over my nipple.

Again, his strokes increased, and I felt my cunt starting to clench. My hips started shifting against my hand, a synchronized dance, and I moaned.

"Are you going to come with me?" he purred, his voice low and rumbling.

I nodded, my eyes squeezing shut. "I'm so close."

"Look at me," Blaise commanded. "Open those beautiful eyes."

I did, meeting his gaze, seeing the desire burning in their depths. The intensity of the moment was nearly more than I could bear.

"Ready?"

I started rolling my nipple between my thumb and forefinger, the added stimulation sending waves of pleasure down my spine to my core. I could feel how soaked my knickers were, how aroused I was. "Yes," I moaned, my fingers speeding up infinitesimally. "Yes, I'm coming!"

And then I was incoherent, quiet screams escaping me as I shuddered from my own touch. I saw the come flood over Blaise's hand and another wave hit me, knocking me over and sweeping me away. I landed on my back, body writhing.

When the bed dipped beside me, I moved closer and Blaise wrapped his arm around my waist, leaning over me and kissing me hard. As our tongues touched, he groaned, working his way on top of me. I opened my legs, allowing him to settle between them, and he took full advantage.

His lips moved down my neck to my chest, his hands roaming over my skin. Sucking a nipple into his mouth, he palmed the opposite breast. My hand settled against the back of his head, holding him to me, and my body arched, begging for more.

He slowly pulled back, gently tugging at my nipple with his teeth. I cried out, breaking the lust-filled silence that had fallen between us. When he finally let go of it, he said, "I think you missed me a lot." Dropping another kiss to my lips, his hand moved between us, sliding down my body and into my knickers. When he felt how wet I was, he hissed. "Fuck, Hermione."

"Please, Blaise," I begged. "I need—"

Silencing me with a hard stroke over my clit, he started moving back down again, his mouth bypassing my breasts this time. By the time he hit the lace covering me, I was squirming and desperate.

"Lift," he said, grabbing my knickers.

I arched my hips off the bed and then lifted my legs up, helping him to remove the barrier between us. His hands fell on my inner thighs, pressing my legs further apart and spreading me out for him. Wasting no time at all, he buried his face in my cunt, his tongue thrusting inside of me for just a second before sliding up to my clit.

Blaise draped an arm over my waist, holding me still. Fisting the duvet, I strained against him, wanting to move and participate. He didn't let me. He just devoured me and made me scream, my body shaking with pleasure more than once.

Just when I thought his tongue would never relent, he stopped and moved up my body, driving inside of me without warning.

"God, you're fucking tight," he groaned. "You feel so good."

My pussy spasmed, gripping him even tighter.

"Are you there already, Granger?"

I was so shocked, feeling like I had been doused with ice water, my eyes popping open.

Granger?

Blaise had never called me Granger — not in conversation, and certainly not during sex. My body was too far gone already and I came, but it wasn't Blaise's face I saw. As I looked over his shoulder, the grey eyes that I had looked into countless times while in this position stared back at me.

I knew they weren't there, that my brain was just manifesting the image, but I wanted to cry out his name, to feel his fringe tickling against my forehead, his long fingers gripping my thigh as he pulled it higher and wrapped it around his waist.

Forcing myself to refocus, I looked up at Blaise. He was smiling down at me and I felt like the worst person to have ever lived. "So that's what, four times?"

I nodded, leaning up to kiss him. I needed to immerse myself in him again. Breathing deeply, I focused on his cologne, on the way he felt moving against me. It was so different from the way Draco felt but just as intense.

"Are you okay?" he asked, breaking the kiss. "You're… quieter than usual."

"Fine. Overwhelmed."

It wasn't a lie, not technically. I was feeling overwhelmed.

Slowing his movements from thrusts to grinds, he captured my lips for a moment, his tongue barely teasing my lips. "We'll slow down," he murmured. "You tell me what you want, Tesoro."

"This is good," I sighed, reaching for his hands and lacing our fingers together.

As I stretched my arms over my head, he pressed down, pinning me to the mattress the way I'd wanted him to. Blaise leaned down, burying his face against my neck.

"So good," he agreed.

And that was how we stayed, moving slowly, our bodies sliding against each other as they grew damp with sweat, his lips against my neck. I knew I would have a love bite, and I knew why he was putting it there, but I didn't care. It was my fault that he was feeling insecure.

I let Blaise make love to me, claim me, because I needed him to. I needed him to remind me that this was right, that I was his.

Because, after he'd called me Granger, it had felt all wrong.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! I just wanted to let all of you know that I've posted a short snippet of Blaise's POV (which I'm working on in the background because he won't leave me alone) to Tumblr. It won't post til we reach a certain moment in this story, but I'm also hoping to give you guys that moment in Diagon that Harry and Pansy talked about in chapter 25 by the end of the weekend. I've been posting little Harry/Pansy moments on AO3.

As always, thank you so much for reading. I know this feels like it's moving slow week to week, but we are going day by day now. As we get further into June... you'll see. *wink*