September 1st

The first day of September arrived too soon. At least that's how Antonin and Hermione Dolohov felt about the day. Dreading the moment they would watch their son ride away on the Hogwarts Express, when it dawned, neither one of them was pleased. Relying on a truce to keep their son out of harm was one of the more difficult tasks they'd ever had to endure. While Antonin remained resolute and confident that the agreement would hold, his wife believed that he was simply putting on a brave front for her sake and to convince himself.

Breakfast was a muted affair. Though he wouldn't come right out and admit so where the boy could hear, Augustus was going to miss having Oliver in his home. Perhaps not his parents, but he enjoyed the experience of having one so young in his house again. Azkaban, and his poor decisions, robbed him of the chance of getting to really know his sons. When it was time for the Dolohovs to take their leave, Augustus almost cried when Oliver's arms wrapped around his middle. Knowing that he was about to return to a solitary existence without the bright light he'd enjoyed for a month couldn't have been easy. He was more composed when Hermione kissed his cheek and Antonin shook his hand.

"We can't thank you enough, Gus."

"Where will you go now?"

Antonin simply smiled at his bitter rival turned partner. He wasn't going to give up the secret of the next place he and Hermione were going to take refuge in so easily. The secret hadn't even been revealed yet to Hermione. She wondered if her husband was afraid that she would tell Augustus where they were going if she knew. Why was Antonin being so mysterious and untrusting? Hadn't Augustus proven himself as a good friend and an ally they could trust? Some jealousies and offenses would likely never be smoothed over.

Only Oliver was excited about the significance of the day. His mother envied him for his youth and innocence. She remembered what it felt like to go back to Hogwarts after a summer away. Though there might have been some uncertainty in him about what was up ahead, he was hiding it well. Hermione desperately hoped that he was more worried about his upcoming lessons than he was about his safety or the safety of his parents. He should be allowed to just be a child. Adult problems could wait for him for a few more years.

One step inside the chaotic barrier at Platform 9 3/4, Hermione was afraid she would suffocate. Over twenty years had come and gone since the last time she had reason to be in the station on September 1st. Had it always been so mad? She couldn't remember. Seeing the crush of people, Antonin tightened his grip on her hand. She couldn't even remember reaching for it in the first place. Caught up in the excitement and seemingly oblivious to the danger he was potentially in, Oliver practically hopped from foot to foot trying to see if the friends he'd made the year before were around.

"There seems to be more people here than last year."

Hermione ignored the choking emotion that appeared in her throat when Antonin's whisper reminded her that she'd not been a part of her son's first Hogwarts Express experience. So much of his life was missed because she was selfish and out of control. A tiny part of her resented Antonin for killing Lord Voldemort and robbing her of the chance to do it herself. At least Rodolphus and Rabastan were still alive. She might even get a chance to end their sorry existences. And Alecto's too. Her husband might worry that she was incapable of returning to the same cold-blooded killer she once made herself become, and she mostly agreed with him, but she believed she'd be able to summon up enough hatred to kill those three. Likely she'd even enjoy it.

"Maybe with the Dark Lord gone more parents feel safe sending their children to Hogwarts. There might be some from Wales or even the Resistance."

"Possibly. I just wish it wasn't so crowded."

Hermione couldn't disagree with Antonin about the crowd. With so many excited children and their parents milling around the platform, it was hard to see who was actually around them. Were they in danger? A truce might have been put in place, but she didn't care for some of the looks that were being sent their way. The Dolohovs weren't welcome. She only hoped that their son wouldn't be subject to cruelty and ignorance in the castle because of who his parents were. It wasn't as if he had any choice in the matter after all. Children could be awful to each other.

"Look! There's Hugo!"

Oliver pushed his way through the crush of people to a large group of redheads. Though some of their children had black hair like Romilda's, it was easy to tell they were all Weasleys. Antonin and Hermione had to hurry to keep up with their son. As much as Hermione would've rather chewed on glass than to be polite and socialize with Ron and his wife, especially in public, she put on a warm smile for her son's sake. Uncomfortable pleasantries and stiff handshakes were exchanged by the adults. Hermione almost envied Romilda for her ability to use her large brood of children as an excuse to keep interrupting their awkward small talk. With six children ranging in age from fourteen to just under two and another set to make its entrance into the world any day, Romilda had her hands full.

After only a couple of minutes of inane conversations between their husbands that seemed to last much longer, Ron scanned the immediate area. Lowering his voice, the Dolohov adults had to strain their ears to hear him speak over the noise.

"Remember what I told you in Diagon Alley, Hermione." He turned his full attention to Antonin. "I meant what I said. You would both be welcome."

Any further conversation was interrupted by the abrupt arrival of Thorfinn, Hannah, and their girls. Even Oliver was able to turn his attention away from Hugo to shyly greet an unimpressed Emmy Rowle. Hannah hugged Antonin tightly just as Hermione felt Thorfinn's arms wrap around her frame.

"We've been so worried about you, Princess."

He released her to shake Antonin's hand and clap him roughly on the back. Hannah's beautiful blue eyes were brimming with tears when she moved to hug Hermione. They hadn't seen each other since Oliver's eleventh birthday party. When Hermione returned to Hogsmeade, she isolated herself within their home and Hannah had never been one to pry into her privacy. Though the sweet Hufflepuff had always been willing to be her old classmate's friend, Hermione pushed her away. As she returned Hannah's embrace, she wondered why.

"I'm glad to see you doing so well, Hermione."

"Thank you."

Hannah released her grip. Before she stepped back, she held Hermione's hand long enough to slip a tiny slip of parchment inside. When Hermione moved to look at it, the other witch calmly touched her hand and urged her to read it later, after the train was gone. Confused by her odd behavior, she slipped it into her pocket and watched as the Rowles greeted their son. Antonin smiled. If he witnessed the secretive slip in her hand from Hannah, he didn't seem bothered. She hated that her curiosity was so overpowering at times. All she wanted to do was sate it and go against Hannah's wishes.

But the entrance of the Lestrange family consumed her thoughts instead. Quite without thinking about what she was doing, Hermione grabbed Antonin's hand again. She needed to feel his presence to keep her calm. When did that development happen? With the smug grin that he rarely took off of his face, Rabastan held the hand of his youngest daughter as he led his other three children and his wife through the barrier. Catching sight of them almost at once, the horrible man directed his steps to where they were standing.

"Hermione! Antonin! It has been a long time. How have you both been since we last saw each other?"

If Rabastan's five year old daughter Gwendoline wasn't still clutching his hand, Hermione would've had some colorful words for the horrible man. It was evident that he specifically sought them out simply to taunt and harass them, knowing that they wouldn't harm him because of both the truce and his innocent child. Evidently uncomfortable about approaching the Dolohovs, Gemma Lestrange didn't want to follow her husband's footsteps. Under the best of circumstances, she struggled to hold her tongue in Hermione's presence. The two women loathed the sight of the other. Knowing that she'd had an ongoing affair with her husband, Hermione hated the woman even more. Antonin cleared his throat, trying not to be rude but also not wishing to actually speak to his former mistress in front of his wife.

"Our department has been terribly lonely without you in it. When should we expect your return?"

"I don't really have the energy for this, Rabastan. Never. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

His laughter coupled with Gemma's pleased grin at the knowledge her husband would no longer be working in such close quarters with Hermione made her very angry. She wanted out of there. Glancing up at the large clock on the platform, she was pleased to see that it would only be another ten minutes before the train departed. As much as she wasn't ready to see Oliver go, she wasn't sure she would be able to stand much more of the torture.

Seeing Rodolphus pass through the barrier made it all more worse than she could've imagined. Feeling her chest tighten, she gripped Antonin's hand much harder than she intended. Worried about the sudden pressure in his hand, he started to ask if she was all right when his own eyes landed on the man responsible for so much heartache in their lives. Hermione could only imagine how much her husband desired to kill the man who murdered their unborn daughter and almost killed his wife in the process. He started to drop her hand, but she wouldn't let go. She was afraid of what he would do. Aware of the small struggle happening between the Dolohovs, Rodolphus burst out into his loud laughter.

"Nuh uh uh, Antonin. You were one of the most vocal proponents of the truce today. What sort of message would that send?"

Hermione didn't have the slightest doubt that Rodolphus was there only to try to provoke her husband into violence. He wasn't a stupid man. He understood the power that he possessed over them.

"What are you even doing here, Lestrange?"

"Can a proud uncle not come see his beloved niece and nephews off to Hogwarts? It's Julia's seventh year and I wouldn't miss my chance to wish her well."

Squeezing his hand even tighter, Hermione was afraid she might accidentally break some of the bones in Antonin's hand. He didn't seem to mind. Perhaps the pain was giving him something to focus on other than an Avada straight to the conman's chest. Seeming to grasp that he wouldn't get the reaction he wanted out of Antonin, Rodolphus turned his attention to Hermione instead.

"You are looking well today, my dear. Such a pity that we didn't get to spend much time together the other day in Hogsmeade. There was so much more I wished to discuss with you. Not to worry, I'm sure we will have plenty of opportunities very soon to catch up."

She had to remind herself to take a breath when Rodolphus walked away with the rest of the Lestrange family. Antonin squeezed her hand, gently encouraging her to release her grip. When she did, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side and kissing her temple. She could feel her hands trembling. How was it possible that she used to be able to be alone with that horrible man and actually enjoy his presence?

Oliver was blessedly oblivious to the tense situation his parents were in. When it was time to leave, he ran back to them to hug them tightly one last time. They stood together on the platform watching him wave from his compartment until they could no longer see the end of the train. Antonin kissed the top of her head again.

"All right, love. Take a look at the parchment Hannah gave you and let's get out of here."

Forgetting about the odd scrap of parchment she'd been given in the excitement of Rodolphus' entrance, Hermione pulled it out of her pocket. Unfolding it, she could see an address written in Hannah's tight, neat scrawl.

The Dolohov home is located at…

She was only just able to read the full address before Antonin Disapparated them both away from the station.