"Wait you're joking right?" Hermione said incredulously.

The expression on Ron's face said otherwise. "I truly wish this was a joke, but Luna isn't one for making jokes."

Hermione took a seat on the bed, stunned by the news of Luna's pregnancy.

"Well… how do you feel about it?" Hermione was certain that he felt conflicted and was dealing with a lot of mixed emotions. Children were no joke, and she was quite familiar with the Wizarding World's views on children born out of wedlock.

Ron ran his fingers through his auburn locks, a huff escaping his lips. "I dunno what to feel; I mean I'm not ready for kids. And you, what do you think about this?"

"Ron I think it's great that she's pregnant." She confessed. "I mean children are a blessing-" Ron scoffed. And she could understand where that reaction stemmed from; for most children were the equivalent of leeches, sucking the life, money, and resources out of you only to eventually mature into petulant, ill mannered adolescents and then into desolate adults. "And you're an adult. If you love her then you have to be willing to man up and take responsibility for this child that you both played a part in creating."

"I know, it's just… scary. I'm going to be responsible for another human being. How am I supposed to do that if I can't even be responsible for myself?" He said, worry evident on his face.

"Look Ron, I can't give you much advice on the matter seeing as I have no children of my own, and I'm almost certain that I won't be having any in the future." A deep sadness rose in her chest like a sudden gust of wind as soon as those words had left her mouth. The thought of never having children to share her abundant knowledge and love was certainly depressing. Was she doomed to walk the Earth alone for eternity. These thoughts deeply troubled her.

But Scorpius is like a son to me. She shook the thoughts out of her head.

"Have you spoken to Luna? Maybe told her how you feel about her being pregnant?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah. We had a terrible row. I never thought I'd see her that upset, she's always so mellow."

"Look Ron, this is all I'm going to say: you love her don't you?"

"With all my heart Mione." He muttered wistfully.

"Okay then if you really do love her like you say you do then the baby shouldn't change anything. In fact it should strengthen your bond. This baby is a product of your love for her. I'm aware that having a baby is quite frightening, probably as frightening as Aragog-" Ron shuddered. "But just like you have done many times before you're going to push that fear to the side; minimise it so it no longer rules over you. You're not going to let this fear have the upper hand. Do you understand?"

Ron gave a long sigh, his hands clasped together on his lap as he nodded. "Thanks for the motivation, Hermione. Merlin, how did Harry and Ginny ever do it? One kid already seems like a handful but now they're having a second. I mean-" He stopped once he noticed Hermione's discomfort. "Sorry mate."

"I-It's alright." She sighed, before forcing a smile onto her face. "How's Harry?"

Ron shrugged. "He's fine I guess. Hasn't said anything about you lately if you're wondering."

"I-I wasn't even wondering about that!" She spluttered, glaring at him.

"R-right! It's like I forget that you've moved on!" Ron said, chuckling nervously. "But you have moved on, right?"

Has she moved on? Hermione remained silent as she wracked her brain for the appropriate answer.

Well for starters, her heart ached less when she saw him so she could consider that a step towards fully recovering from her heartbreak.

Then there was the fact that her heart was taking a new route when it came to love. And the destination was in the form of a certain blonde haired, grey eyed Slytherin.

All these thoughts were processed into a single response: a sigh.

"Hermione?"

"Healing is a process Ron." Hermione muttered.

"Why do I feel like you're intentionally slowing down this process?" Ron questioned. "I mean it's been five years, if you wanted you would've already fully recovered!

Hermione you're a smart, beautiful, witch with a great personality. Why punish yourself for the mistakes of someone else? Hell, why remain attached to someone that clearly betrayed your trust? If they told you that your arm was infected and the infection was spreading to your entire body would you sit idly and allow your body to be infected of would you have it amputated?"

Ron was right (for once). There was no use remaining emotionally attached to Harry, especially if seeing him with his new significant other made her hurt. He needed to be cut off, so she could finally be free from the deathly effect it had on her.


Ron's words were still active in her mind even after she returned to the manor. She kicked off her shoes, her toes aching from being confined within the tight shoes, and proceeded to walk back to her room barefooted, her heels held in her hand.

As she walked past Draco's study, the noise of chatter and laughter caught her attention, along with the strong smell of firewhiskey.

The door was slightly ajar, so Hermione took a peek inside.

She spotted Draco sitting on one of the armchairs by the fire, a glass of whiskey clutched in his pale hand. His demeanour seemed much relaxed than usual, his shirt unbuttoned and his sleeves folded, and in his eyes lingered genuine happiness and comfort, one he seldom showed around her.

He was sitting with someone else. A dark skinned, short haired male, who just like Draco, had a glass of whiskey in his hand. She couldn't recognise the man since she could only see the back of his head.

Just as she was about to silently slip away, she made eye contact with Draco, his grey irises clashing with her hazel eyes. Hermione cringed internally, as a smirk began to dominate his facial features. She shook her head frantically.

His smirk widened. Then, in the loudest voice ever, he said, "Granger, I wasn't expecting you back so early!" Hermione cursed under her breath; she swore nothing amused Draco more than watching her grow frustrated and flustered.

Draco's guest turned, a smile plastered on his face. "Well, well, well… What do we have here? If it isn't the brightest witch of her age!"

Hermione squinted, as realisation slowly dawned on her. "Blaise…? Blaise Zabini?"

She hadn't seen the Italian since the Battle of Hogwarts, where he had abandoned Voldemort's side, and fled the battle with his mother. He hadn't returned to complete his seventh year either. She wasn't able to consider him an ally back in their schooling days due to the fact that despite him not being verbal on his views on bloody purity, he still hung around the same crowd of people that were prone to mocking and bullying her.

Another factor that contributed to them not forming a relationship in the past was the fact that they were in rival houses and inter-house friendships between Gryffindors and Slytherins were practically regarded as blasphemy and high treason.

But now that she was far away from all that toxicity of house rivalry she might as well try to form a relationship with her former foe. She was already doing it with Draco anyway.

"Its been a while hasn't it? Haven't seen you since Hogwarts." Blaise said, standing up to greet her. "I know right!" Hermione laughed.

"So how's the rest of the Golden Trio? I see the brain is here, what about the rest of the body? And what even are you doing here Granger? Don't tell me that you've finally hooked up with Draco! Honestly, I saw it coming, I'm pretty shocked that it took you this long!" Hermione and Draco threw glances at each other, as Blaise fired question upon question at her.

"Where to begin, where to begin? Well for starters, Ron is okay, and Harry's fine… I guess. And I'm here because I work here. I'm Scorpius' tutor. And no, I most certainly did not hook up with Draco." The final answer brought heat to her face because in actual fact she wanted to hook up with him.

What?! No I don't!

"Interesting. Another tutor." Blaise shared a look with Draco before taking a sip of his drink. "And you, what brings you here?" Hermione asked.

"Blaise will be staying with us for the next few weeks, since Zabini manor is undergoing renovation." Draco answered.

"Looks like you're going to have to endure my presence for the next few weeks Granger." He joked.

"Right, I um, I'm just gonna go and see Scorpius. He must have missed me while I was gone." And with that, she left. Both men watched her retreating form in silence, only speaking again after she was out of earshot.

Blaise's smile fell. "Draco, another tutor?" Blaise questioned, eyebrows raised.

Draco sighed, setting his glass down on the table.

"Look Draco, I'm glad that you're investing in your son's future, that's great, but when will you tell her your true intentions? Intentions that you never shared with the women before her. Because you and I both know that Scorpius doesn't need a tutor."

Draco sighed. "I don't know how she'll react to the truth Blaise. It's not like I can get rid of her, Scorpius adores her, and unlike the previous women, she isn't here with the intention of getting into my trousers."

"There's another reason behind you refusing to sack her." Blaise said, a smirk forming on his lips. "You like her don't you?"

Draco poured himself more firewhiskey, filling the glass to the point of it being in danger if overflowing ."I'm afraid that at this point 'like' is an understatement."


The next morning Hermione went down to breakfast to find that once again, Draco wasn't at the table. Blaise and Scorpius had already began without her, the former drinking a cup of coffee while reading the prophet.

"Uncle Blaise why can't I have coffee like you? It's isn't fair, I think children should be able to drink it too!" Scorpius whined, clasping his spoon tightly as he looked up at Blaise with his big grey eyes.

"Well listen you little wiseacre, I'm smart, you're dumb, I'm big, you're little, I'm right, you're wrong and there isn't nothing you can do about it!" Blaise said.

"Ah I see what you did there." Hermione said, causing both males to turn to her direction. "Hermione! Uncle Blaise called me dumb!" Scorpius yelled.

"Don't pay him any mind; he was joking. And I bet you're a million times smarter than Uncle Blaise could ever be." Hermione said, placing a kiss on Scorpius' forehead.

"And you Blaise, I wasn't aware that you were familiar with that particular movie. Although I have to say that I prefer the book to the movie. I should read it to you one day Scorpius." Hermione seated herself right next to Blaise.

"Pfft. Nerd." Blaise teased.

"And I'm proud of being one." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Hermione is being a nerd a bad thing?" Scorpius asked, his eyes glistening with curiosity. What Hermione admired about Scorpius was that he was keen to learn new things, which made teaching him a delight.

"No Love. It means that you're really smart. But Uncle Blaise wouldn't know that since he's a dummy."

"Hey!"

Hermione reaches for the jug of orange juice. "Where's Draco?"

"Oh he has work to do." Blaise answered, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Oh…" The light that shone brightly within her was put out in a matter of seconds.

Why does this even bother me so much?

Maybe because you like him?

No!

Immediately after breakfast she went straight to Draco's study while Blaise went down to the gardens and Scorpius to his room to play with his toys a bit before his lessons began.

"Enter." Draco called, a knowing smile on his face. "Granger." He said without looking away from his paperwork. "I truly hope you didn't bring me breakfast."

"No it isn't that." Hermione said, walking further into the room. "Just wanted to check on you."

"Well isn't that sweet of you." Draco cooed. "I'm okay Granger." He looked up at her, a smile on his usually frigid face.

Hermione reciprocated this smile with an awkward grin. Draco stood up from his chair, and approached her. Hermione's heart beat quickened to the point that it felt like it would jump right out of her chest and continue thumping on the floor.

"A-Are you sure?" She asked stupidly. Draco chuckled; he was so close that the scent of his intoxicating smell wafted into her nose, momentarily rendering her brain useless. She bit her lips, as a supernova of feelings burst within her.

Her breath shortened as she felt his large hand on her arm, his soft fingers awakening a million goose bumps on her skin.

"I'm quite sure Granger." He muttered.

"I thought we were on first name basis now."

"Force of habit." His cool breath fanned her face, unfortunately doing little to minimise the heat of her face.

Merlin, how did he never notice how spectacular her eyes looked? They were like pools of hot cocoa, warm and inviting. And she had the cutest fucking nose. And her lips, plump and pink. And she smelled like paradise. And her hair… he resisted the urge to reach out and touch it.

Retreat. Now, A voice in his mind urged.

Draco broke free from the trance that her presence had ensnared him in. He removed his hand from her arm, his guise falling back into place.

"I need to get back to work. And if I'm not mistaken you have a job to attend to as well? One I'm paying you lots of money to do?"

He swore he hadn't meant to sound like an arse, the had just spilled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

He just wanted the floor to open up and swallow him when he saw the way the warmth in her eyes vanished. "Oh. I-I'll just… go." With that, she left, slamming the door in the process. Draco hid his face in his hands, a yell of frustration leaving his mouth. "Merlin, I'm such a fucking idiot!"

Why was he so prone to pushing people out of his life?


Author's Note

Among all the chapters I've written for my fic this has to be my favourite. Do not worry my faithful readers, we shall soon be getting to the romance *crackles evilly*

Queenie