Meanwhile, Harry Potter sat in his wheelchair in his office at his desk grading papers. Eight years he had been a teacher and he still hated grading essays and tests. It was boring. He'd rather be teaching his students how to block spells and such.

There was a pop outside his door, a pause, and then a knock. "Come in," Harry said, keeping his eyes on his papers.

The door opened and Ronald Weasley came in, immediately moving to the couch Harry kept in his office. He laid down, his hands over his eyes. "I'm being replaced, Harry," he said.

Harry set down his quill, turning his wheelchair towards Ron. "What are you on about?"

"I'm being replaced, Harry. By Malfoy."

Harry sighed. He knew this was going to come. But he hadn't realized that it was going to come so soon. Ginny had wrote him yesterday after Draco had left their house, looking fit to kill. She had said prepare for a storm. A day later and he seriously needed a jacket.

"Ron," he started, "you have to understand that –"

"I was always there for those boys," Ron said, getting up and pacing. "Everytime Hermione got caught up with work and training, I was there. I fixed dinner, I made sure they get there worksheets done, I tucked them in and read them bedtime stories. . . ."

"Are you through?"

"And what has Malfoy done? Nothing! I bet he doesn't even know that Ayden's favorite color is Red? Or that Damien hates green beans? Or that Ayden will only eat macaroni and chees for dinner on Tuesdays? Or that Damien tugs his right ear when he reads? No! I don't think so!

"Ron –"

"I've known Hermione since we were eleven, close to nineteen years! I know her favorite color, food, muggle music, book, and everything else!"

"Ron, wait –"

"I've been a great friend to her! I've watched over her! I helped her when she didn't think she was going to be able to take care of the boys! I cooked for her, cleaned for her, cared for her!"

"I thought this was about the boys."

"It is!"

"Then why did you just go off on a tangent about Hermione?"

"I –" Ron stopped pacing, sitting back down on the couch, his head in his hands. "What's wrong with me, Harry? I mean, did I tell you I pretty much proposed to her earlier today? What the hell is wrong with me?"

"You love her is all. We're twenty-nine, thirty now Ron. That's nineteen years of friendship and feelings. You and Hermione have always been short of . . . awkward. And you've always kind of like her."

"But she doesn't like me."

Harry sighed again, rolling his chair closer to Ron and placing his hand on his shoulder. "Listen . . . right now is a crazy time for all of us. Draco found out he was a dad, the boys met him, and Hermione was probably not prepared for all this. She may seem cool, calm, and collected at the moment but she's probably freaking out. All we can do, all you can do is let all this settle down and see what happens. If you're really meant to end up with Hermione, it'll happen. But for right now, just . . . let it go . . . k?"

Ron nodded and Harry rolled back towards his desk.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

Harry looked back towards his old friend to see his eyes open wide with realization.

"I love her."