Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my ideas. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: WOW. IT'S LITERALLY BEEN AN ENTIRE YEAR (almost) SINCE I LASTED POSTED. I CANNOT APOLOGIZE ENOUGH. I just lost my inspiration and school and life got in the way. But I promise, I intend to finish this story (and Misguided Ghosts, if anyone reads that). I hope I haven't lost my readers! This chapter isn't much, but it's something. and I will finish this story. Please read and review! xx

Chapter Twenty-Six: Run On Love

"Marley, you're being scary quiet."

Marley looked up at Roxanne, pulling her gaze away from the window. She shrugged, unsure of what to say. Roxanne reached across the compartment and squeezed her hand, Marley attempting a weak smile at her friend's effort. Roxanne didn't know what to say — and Marley didn't blame her.

There wasn't anything to say.

They were going back to Hogwarts and for the first time, Marley truly didn't want to. She didn't want to leave her family — most specifically Meredith — when they were all hurting. Meredith was still in a panic over Leo, as he hadn't woken up in the week since he'd first gotten to hospital. Her parents were still in a weird place involving Ron. Everything just didn't feel right in her house, and leaving made her fill with dread.

But, she had no choice. She had to go back to school, no matter how much she had protested.

"Can I take your mind off of anything?" Roxanne asked.

Marley shook her head slowly. She knew that Roxanne was tentative to go back to school as well, her parents having to deal with Ron's return as well. But she knew that they were dealing much better than the Malfoys — as well as the Potters.

As if on cue with her thoughts, James opened the compartment door and walked in, clad in his Gryffindor robes. He smiled at Marley and took his seat next to her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Roxanne made a gagging sound and Marley let herself truly laugh along with James.

"How are the lads?" Marley sighed, looking up at him as he pulled her close against his chest.

"The same as always." he explained, pressing his lips against her hair once more.

"So, assholes?" Marley joked.

James groaned, yet smiled all the same. "Watch it, Malfoy."

James usually bounced back and forth between Marley's compartment and his mates on the ride to Hogwarts, and this year was no different — though Marley noted that he had been spending far more time with her. Was it because they were together? Or was it because he was worried about her?

"What's going on in your head, M&M?" he whispered near her ear.

Marley closed her eyes and let herself become more comfortable next to James as he wrapped his arms around her waist. After a few moments of her saying nothing, she felt his lips against her head again before hearing him pick up conversation with Roxanne.

She was happy that he knew her so well — that he knew when not to push her on things and when to do exactly the opposite whether she liked it or not. She couldn't deny that she was worried about how their relationship was going to be at school — but not overly worried. They would just have to make adjustments, of course. She was already used to sleeping in the same bed as him every night, and she knew that they couldn't really do that at Hogwarts.

Over the last week, their parents hadn't really objected to them spending the night together — not after what had happened to Leo. Draco had been extremely quiet throughout the week, and Hermione had either been quiet, in tears or absent. Marley was never really sure where she was. They took turns spending time with Meredith, Astoria and Theo at the hospital when they could, of course. Meredith had hardly left the hospital at all — the Healers had lifted the visiting hours for her, as well as Astoria and Theo.

"Mar, you're shaking." James whispered in her ear.

She opened her eyes, realizing that she had been thinking a bit too hard. "Oh, shit. Sorry."

He pulled her upright and gently touched her cheek with his hand. She widened her eyes as he stared at her, feeling the familiar butterflies she was eternally grateful for. He calmed her with his eyes and she let herself smile before pressing her lips against his.

"Keep the snogging to a minimum around me, okay?" Roxanne said, clearing her throat with a laugh.

Marley blushed pulling away and resting herself back against James.

"Turn your head off, Marley. Everything's going to be fine." he whispered.

Marley nodded slowly, closing her eyes and hoping that he was right.

. . .

"Mummy, look!"

Hermione blinked her eyes and tried to force herself to focus on Lyra. She was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in her hands as she watched the twins eat. Well, she was trying to pay attention to them, but her mind was a million miles away.

"Mummy!"

Hermione looked at Lyra and let out a genuine smile when she saw her bowl of cereal floating above their heads. She clapped her hands, leaning down to kiss her daughter's head before grabbing the bowl and placing it back down. She watched Scorpius narrow his eyes at his bowl, frowning when nothing happened.

"Scorp, don't get upset, okay?" Hermione soothed. "You make the cookies fly off the shelf all the time."

He grinned at her before both of them went back to eating their cereal. Hermione sat back down, continuing to stare into her coffee. She was meant to be back at work at the Ministry, but had requested another week off so she could be there when Meredith needed her. Draco had already left for work about an hour prior, and Hermione was missing him already.

She always found it hard to get back into the swing of things after the holidays and getting to spend so much time together. Especially after this Christmas — for obvious reasons. Hermione rested her head down on the table and closed her eyes, thinking of how much she wished Draco was still home with her.

She thought of Meredith, sitting by Leo's bedside in the hospital. It took all of Hermione's strength to not be at the hospital with her daughter 24/7, but she knew she couldn't do that. Her other children needed her, too.

"Daddy!"

At her twins' cries, she sat up, smiling in disbelief as she saw Draco standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Instantly she was on her feet, stepping towards him and hugging him tightly.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

He pulled back and kissed her lips lightly. "I asked for one more day. I knew we needed one more day."

Hermione let out a sigh and hugged him tightly again, resting her head against his chest. She immediately felt better as he stroked her hair, holding her close. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax against him.

"Go relax, angel. I'll help the kids clean up breakfast, okay?" Draco said when they pulled away.

Hermione nodded at him as stared down into her eyes. She stepped on her toes and pressed his lips deeply against his — but not enough for the twins to be bothered. He sent her on her way to the living room where she sat down on the couch, pulling a blanket over herself.

She was already missing Jeremy and Marley, as she always did when they returned to school after the holidays — but this time was much more than usual. She felt stubborn tears spring to her eyes — again — and cursed.

She was so done with being upset. She hated it. She didn't want to be this frantic, frazzled and upset person anymore — not when her children needed her. She was so focused on Meredith and Ava and Leo and Ron that she hadn't really had an opportunity over the last week to talk to Marley about her new relationship with James, which was something that she really wanted to do.

But now Marley was on her way back to school and Hermione would have to wait.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up to the entrance of the kitchen, finding Draco walking in and sitting down next to her. He smiled softly before pulling her easily into his arms and pulling the blanket over the two of them.

"The twins okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. They said they'll yell when they've finished eating — which I'm sure they will." Draco said. "I'll check on them in a minute. I just needed to check on my beautiful wife first."

Hermione blushed and smirked, looking up at him. He kissed her nose and smiled before kissing her lips deeply. She let herself get lost in the kiss, taking advantage of the rare moment alone. When they pulled away, Hermione pressed her forehead against his.

"What is it, angel?" Draco whispered.

"Thank you for coming home." she whispered back. "We needed another day."

"I know we did. Unfortunately, I do have to go back tomorrow, though. But, if there's any change…"

"I know. I'll let you know."

They were silent, Hermione moving to rest her head against his chest as he held her close in his arms. She closed her eyes, thinking of all of her children. She already missed Marley and Jeremy, and had written to their headmistress, gaining permission for them to Floo home if there was any big change with Leo. That was mainly for Marley's benefit — Hermione knew that she wanted to be there for Meredith as much as she could.

"Stop it." Draco murmured.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"You're thinking far too hard, love. You need to remember to take care of yourself, too. I know you're worried about Meredith, but you need to take care of yourself." Draco whispered. "Have you eaten today?"

Hermione thought hard, realizing that she hadn't. She wasn't sure if she had even eaten dinner the night before. When she remained silent, she heard Draco sigh as he kissed her temple.

"Right, well. Let's make some breakfast, okay? Full English sound nice?" Draco said.

Hermione lifted her head up and looked at him, touching Draco's cheek. She wasn't hungry, but she knew that he was right. She needed to take care of herself so she could be strong for her children.

"Sounds lovely." she whispered, pressing her lips to his.

. . .

"Here you are."

Draco passed Teddy his glass of FireWhiskey and sat down across from him. Teddy nodded at him, taking a deep breath before taking a long gulp.

"You tell your mum I've given you alcohol this early in the day and there will be trouble, okay?" Draco said.

Teddy let out a halfhearted smirk at Draco before taking another long sip. Draco wished desperately that he had something comforting to say to Teddy, but he knew that nothing would do any good. He was too worried about Leo and Meredith — as was Draco. He was trying his best to be strong for his family, but it was hard. Hermione was trying her best, but Draco knew that she was dealing with her own demons as well as everyone else's.

"Have you been 'round to the hospital yet today?" Draco asked.

Teddy shook his head. "Not yet."

Draco nodded slowly, taking a sip of his own drink. He didn't usually drink this early in the day either, but he knew that he needed it as well. The twins were at the Potter's house playing with Lily under the supervision of Ginny, and Hermione was asleep upstairs — or at least, Draco hoped she was actually sleeping. She had hardly slept all week, much like Draco himself.

"Did Meredith come home last night at all?" Teddy asked.

Draco shook his head. "Not that I know of."

"I think she's starting to lose hope. Every time I go there… I can just see it written all over her face." Teddy sighed.

Draco said nothing. He didn't want to admit it, but he had seen it in Meredith's eyes, too. The hope that she had been desperately clinging to for the last week was beginning to fade away, and Draco could hardly blame her. Meredith had every reason to not be hopeful about things in her life.

"I don't know what will happen to her if he… if he…" Teddy started.

Draco closed his eyes, still remaining silent. He didn't even want to think about that possibility, but he knew that he had to at least consider it. The longer Leo went without waking up, the smaller the chance that he ever would.

"We can't think like that. Not yet." Draco said, shaking his head.

Teddy sighed. "I don't want to think about it. Leo's my mate. I just… I want to be prepared if he… for Meredith's sake. I want to be ready for what he needs."

Draco was incredibly grateful for Meredith to have someone in her life like Teddy, someone apart from her parents who cared about her no matter what and treated her like family. Draco nodded at him in appreciation before taking another sip of his drink.

"Thank you for being so good to my daughter." Draco said.

"She's Meredith. She's my best friend. I can't have it any other way."

. . .

As James sat in front of the roaring Gryffindor common room fireplace, he couldn't help but smile. Despite how many things had gone wrong over the last few weeks, he had to admit that a part of him was immensely happy.

He couldn't count how many times he'd imagined himself sitting in the Gryffindor common room in front of the fireplace with Marley in his arms — and now he finally was.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her hair and then to her cheek. He felt her face change and he knew she was smiling. He would do anything to make her smile at this point. He knew how hard of a time she was having, being unable to be there for her sister.

"James?" she whispered.

"Yes?" he whispered back.

He felt her take in a deep breath as she shifted herself to look up at him. He noted the serious expression on her face — the one she had often had over the last week or so.

"I think I need to go back." she said.

James sighed, shaking his head. "Marley, you know you can't do that. You need to be here."

"But —"

James had listened to Marley argue with her parents about staying home from school for a while for the majority of the week after Leo's initial incident. Of course, they had said no.

"Marley, you can't. You know that Meredith would just tell you to come back to school." James said.

"But, she's my sister! I can't just not support her." Marley said, her voice escalating.

He saw the fire in his eyes and felt it warm his heart. No matter how upset and concerned she had been over the last little while, Marley was still in there. The fire that James had seen for as long as he could remember.

"You are supporting her. Whether you're here, or there — you're supporting her. By being here, you're living your life, Mar. And that's what you need to do." James whispered, taking her face in his hands.

Marley's lip quivered and he saw tears in her eyes. Before she could say anything else, he pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. He let him lose himself in the kiss, feeling Marley do the same. When they finally pulled away, James pressed his forehead to hers.

"I love you, Marley." he whispered. "I love you and I am going to be here for you for as long as you need, and a bit after that, too. Meredith knows you're there for her, and she will tell you if she needs you. Until then, you're here. I'm here. We're together, and we'll manage."

Marley was quiet for a minute before pressing her lips back to his. James knew that she understood — whether she wanted to agree with him or not — and he was glad. He kissed her with as much passion as he could muster and silently thanked the world for letting this wonderful woman be apart of his life.