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Hermione was truly enjoying her date. It had been years since she had been out, since before Laykyn was born. After his trick with the flowers Edward told her he had dinner reservations for them.

"We need to get going pretty soon if we want to make it in time but.." his gaze was sheepish and his cheeks tinted slightly pink as his sentence trailed off.

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "But what?"

He looked up at her smiling slightly nervously, "I have never been very good at side along apparition. If I gave you the address could you do it?" He seemed more nervous with every word. The next sentence came out in a rush. "If-not-I-can-figure-out-a-muggle-way-to-get-us-there."

She couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up inside her. "I can get us there. I have only accidentally splinched somebody once." Her sentence trailed off as her mind went back many years ago. She felt sick. She saw it all again like it was happening right there. The terror, running for thier lives, never knowing where they were going next, not even knowing if they were gonna survive the night. She felt the death eater grab her ankle again, the smell of the blood as they landed. She and Harry were ok but Ron…

Hermione jumped slightly when she felt Edward wrap her hand in his giving it a light squeeze. "Hey," he caught her gaze pulling her out of her memories, "only once is a good enough track record for me. I trust you Hermione."

She watched his face for any flicker of doubt. His eyes were so soft and kind. A small smile played on the corners of his mouth. She watched for a moment longer before nodding. Edward's smile grew and he reached in his pocket pulling out a small slip of paper. "Here's the address." He handed her the piece of paper, never letting go of her hand.

Hermione glanced at the piece of paper memorizing the address. "Ready?" she asked looking back in to his eyes.

"Always," he looked down into her eyes smiling.

With as spin and a pop they arrived in front of...a bed and breakfast? Involuntarily Hermione shook her head. "Edward? I don't think...I only told Draco I would be gonna a few hours.."

Her words came out shaky with a hint of disbelief, surely he wasn't expecting her to be ok with this.

"What?" He sounded genuinely confused. Edward followed her line of sight and he gave a soft chuckle."No," he took her shoulders and gently turned her to the other side of the street a smile on his lips.

Across the street was a gorgeous old building that was with standing the tests of time well. They crossed the street and he opened the door and held it for her as she entered. Hermione looked around at the interior of the restaurant. It was elegant deep red carpet in the lobby area extending to a rich brown tile with gold veins running through it. The walls were a dark wood with candle sconces between every set of windows. The ceiling was vaulted with a golden chandelier in the center the crystals hanging from it reflecting the candle light.

"May I take your coat?"

The voice of the matradee made Hermione jump she had been so enthralled by the artistry of the place. Edward gave her a reassuring smile and helped her slip out of the light jacket she had worn. One man took thier coats as another led them to their table.

They were taken to a table for two in a secluded corner of the restaurant. There was a view of the night sky out the two windows beside the table. It was covered with a white table cloth a beautiful red runner going down the middle of the table. Crystal champagne glasses and gold silverware, everything was perfect. Edward gave her a gracious smile as he pulled her chair out for her. She smoothed the skirt of her dress as she sat in the offered chair. She muttered a soft "thank you" still mesmerized by the place. She snapped out of her reverey when she heard Edward order a bottle of wine for the table. She started to protest but bit her tongue not wanting to be ride or insulting.

Edward though was perceptive. "Maybe a couple of glasses of water as well" he told the waiter. Seeing Hermione relax he knew he had read her right. "Not much for wine?" He asked.

She gave a sheepish smile "Not much for any alcohol really."

"My brother was at a muggle university and he took me to a frat party on campus," Edward began, "after that adventure I still can't stomach beer. I think i had a hangover for a month." His story had the desired effect as she let out a small giggle and visibly relax a bit more. "So tell me a little bit more about yourself," he queried.

Hermione took a deep breath feeling self-conscious, "well I am muggleborn, my parents are both still alive. Not siblings, unless you count Harry and the Weasley's they kind of adopted me. I have one daughter, Laykyn, who you met earlier. Sometimes she is the biggest headache and just almost want to strangle her, but she is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Edward watched her face as she spoke it changed constantly. You could almost see the memories playing across the mind. They continued the conversation throughout dinner. Afterwards they took a quiet stroll in the nearby village. They were just turning to enter a small coffee shop before heading home when Hermione noticed in the distance what appeared to be an owl. As it flew closer she could see that the bird looked as if it had been flying for quite awhile, it seemed to waver in its direction and drop in altitude only to have to push itself to flap harder and rise again. Finally it landed a few feet in front of them and stumbled towards Hermione. She knelt down to read the name on the letter the bird was carrying and found it to be her own. Her heart dropped there were only a few reasons she would be getting an owl this late. She carefully untied the note. The owl had obviously been flying for quite a while. She unfolded the paper.

Hermione,

I hate to interrupt your evening but there has been an accident. Laykyn is okay but you need to get back to the school as quickly as possible. Hospital wing. Everything will be explained when you get here.

D. Wilde

D. Wilde? Who the heck is that? What is … No stop ok. Back to the school. Back to Hogwarts. Hermione turned and walked to find the nearest apperation point.

Edward stumbled after her. "Hermione what's wrong?"

She continued on her path not even pausing at his words. "Hermione," Edward reached out and grabbed her hand making her turn and face him, "What's wrong?" His voice was soft and full of compassion. His eyes seemed to plead with her to let him help.

She took a deep breath trying to refocus her thoughts. "Something happened at the school. Laykyn might be hurt and I have to go." She held the letter out to him. "I am sorry I shouldn't have just walked off like that but I have to go now. She needs me."

"Let me go with you I can help."

Hermione didn't have time to argue she only had one thought on her mind and that was getting to Laykyn. She looked up at Edward he seemed genuinely concerned. "Let's go." She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the nearest alley. Hermione never even broke stride as she turned and with a loud pop they both landed on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds.

Edward had a hard time keeping up with Hermione as they made their way up to the castle. Up several flights of stair and down at least a dozen hallways before her steps finally slowed. Edward could see outlined in front of the large door ahead a woman and two small children. Maybe one of them was Hermione's daughter what was her name again, Laura or something. As they approached the door the woman took a step forward, "Hermione, wait a minute." Hermione tried to push past but the woman put a hand on her shoulder to hold her in place. "Hermione it's my fault, not Draco's. Pansy followed me. "

"Parkinson?" Hermione asked. The other woman nodded. "So you are D.W.?"

"Daphne Wilde, I will explain the whole story later, but the long and short of it is. Pansy insulted you and Laykyn and Laykyn being very angry and upset accidently did magic. A lot of magic, Mrs. Longbottom said she is just exhausted. It took a lot out of her. She had a broken arm and a few cuts and scrapes easily healed. I have never seen Draco so devastated. He got her here as quickly as he could and never left her side."

Hermione listened to the whole story. Her mind still on getting into the hospital wing and to her daughter. As Daphne finished up, Hermione gave a curt nod and walked toward the door Edward on her heels. She looked up and down the nearly empty infirmary and spotted a distinctive head of blonde hair sitting by one of the beds. She took off in that direction, blood slightly boiling, but when she got close enough to make out the detail of Draco's face she stopped momentarily. He held one of Laykyn's small hands in his and his eyes were slightly red as if he had been crying. He hadn't noticed thier approach and she heard him mutter softly "I'm so sorry, Little Granger. Please wake up."

Please wake up? Hermione's blood froze in her veins. She practically ran the last dozen meters to Laykyn's side.

Hearing her footsteps Draco rose from the chair and moved a few steps back to give Hermione room. She slid into the chair and immediately grabbed Laykyn's hand with one of hers and used the other to check for the small heartbeat and breathing. He saw the terrified look on Hermione's face and felt his heart shatter again. He had done this. Granger, against her better judgement, had given him a second chance and he blew it. Little Granger had trusted him wholeheartedly, and his hesitation had nearly gotten her killed.

Draco was suddenly jolted from his thoughts of self loathing by someone grabbing his collar and slamming him against the stone wall.

"What the hell did you do? Hermione left you alone with the kid for just a few hours and this is what we come back to?" Edward's harsh whisper cut through Draco's misery and started a fire. Draco ripped the man hands off his shirt and sneered at him. "I don't have to answer to you."

Edward stepped forward again, Draco didn't back down. "You need to stay the hell away from them. You should have been sent to Azkaban like the rest of your kind." This last part he said under his breath so that even with Hermione so close only he and Draco heard the words.

Draco didn't break eye contact with the man; he didn't let the fear or anger cross his features. Edward blinked first and took and took an involuntary step back. Draco brushed past him. "What do you need from up stairs?" Draco asked gently touching Hermione's shoulder.

"Oh, um…" Hermione sniffled, "just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Thank you, Draco."

He gave a silent nod and left.

Edward paced to the other side of Laykyn's bed. Anger evident on his face. "He needs to go. He is dangerous. He should not be allowed to be near you or your daughter… or any child for that matter." He fumed as he paced up and down between Laykyn's bed and the next. "He should not even be allowed to walk free. He should be locked up…"

Hermione tuned him out; looking at her daughter instead. If not for the soft rise and fall of her chest… She refused to think that way. Losing her husband was bad enough whatever there was that held the universe together would not be cruel enough to take her daughter as well. She became lost in her thoughts.

The baby would not come soon enough. Two more weeks seemed an eternity. Hermione looked at her phone when it beep signaling a text.

It was from Jakob "Good Morning, Lovely."

"Good Morning. :)" She looked at the screen for a moment. She didn't actually know where he had been deployed to. It had been confidential. "Is it really morning where you are?"

"You just woke up. So my sun just rose, my world just got brighter, and my universe is working properly again. Flowers bloom and the sweet smells of springtime invade. So yeah it's morning."

Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile that tugged the corners of her lips upward. "When are you coming home?"

":) 2 days." "I gotta get to work. Have a truly amazing day, Beautiful. Take care of my little Athena Rose."

"For the hundredth time HIS name is Robert Hugo." "Be safe."

"Always. I love you Mione."

"I love you too."

Hermione crawled out of bed and prepared for another day. Her mother was staying with her while she was this close to her due date.

That day went just as every other, until the phone rang. Hermione had been reading a book at the bar in kitchen when she heard it go off. She very carefully slid off the chair and went to pick up her phone. "Hello" She hadn't recognized the number.

"Mrs. Laykyn?"

"Yes." The serious tone of the caller had her worried.

"I hate to have to tell you this over the phone…"

Hermione couldn't remember the exact wording of that conversation but her husband had died. Anti-aircraft missile. Nothing had been left of the Hornet he had been flying. A week later she had buried an empty coffin, not having any remains left to have been shipped home. She had been handed a folded American flag. The numb feeling that she had had during that time began to spread through her again. Tears slid down her cheeks unchecked as she softly ran a hand through Laykyn's curls.

A raised voice broke her thoughts. She looked up Edward had Draco slammed up against a wall. The words coming out of his mouth were distorted in her ears but she got the jist from a few key word: death eater, murderer. "You never cared about that little girl and I will see to it that you are thrown in Azkaban for good for this." He dug Draco's wand out of his pocket threw it across the room. What caught Hermione's eye was the toy lion Draco held protectively in his hand. She hadn't asked for that. Laykyn would want it of course but she hadn't been thinking about it. Draco shoved the other man off him with one hand keeping the stuffed animal tucked safely to his side. Edward drew his wand and tried to fire a curse at Draco, but Hermione was faster. "Protego!" The spell bounced off the shield harmlessly. She rose from beside her daughter's bed. "Edward. You need to leave." Her eyes shimmered tears shifting from sorrow to anger. He shot a glare her way and the turned back to Draco. "Prison is too good for you. Watch your back Malfoy. Your kind aren't the only ones that know how to torture and kill."

"Edward!" Hermione shouted knocking the wand out of his hand; stepping between him and Draco. "I said you need to go. I have been taking care of myself and my daughter for a long time and we have gotten along just fine. If this is how you handle problems I don't' want you around Laykyn. I don't think you and I will be seeing any more of each other. Now leave or I will have you escorted out."

Edward glared daggers at her. He seemed to debate is options for a moment. Hermione's fury didn't waver. FInally he turned on his heel and walked toward the door of the hospital wing. As he neared the doors he saw the bed that held Pansy Parkinson, he stopped for a moment and looked between Pansy and the distant bed that held Hermione's daughter. The magic it would have taken to do that kind of damage... He left quickly.

Hermione turned back to the bed sitting and taking Laykyn's hand in hers again. Draco leaned down a picked up the bag he had brought down with him and crossed the room to pick up his wand. He returned to Laykyn's bed. He carefully set the bag down on the foot of the bed and then lifted her left arm sliding the lion close to her. He stared down at the small girl. Hermione watch the waves of emotions play across his face. He was surprised when he looked up to meet Hermione's eyes. He swallowed hard fighting tears. "I'm sorry, Hermione." His voice came out strong and level but she could hear the undercurrents of emotion. He turned a walked out of the room pausing for only a second at the door to look back at the two Grangers.

The door to the bookstore opened and slammed. Edward made his way up to the small loft above the shop. As soon as he opened the door he heard the voice. "Don't be sad, Eddie. We have something so much more valuable than a one night stand."

"Not now Louis. I'm tired I need to sleep. We have tried everything. We can't do this. It is impossible. We are running out of magic, and I refuse to get more."

"You don't really have a choice in that." The voice finished the sentence with an evil cackle, "besides I do believe you just found the last key ingredient. Amazing power really. Now just to gather up the others. Seven in one go. Don't worry about getting any more blood on your hands I will handle all of that."

Psalm 3

Lord, bless all those that visit this site. Help me to show you in everything that I do. Amen