Author's Note: I don't think I'm ever going to write in first person again. Or if I do, I'm going to stick to just the perspective of one character. All this jumping around is scrambling my brain! Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 10: Little Kids Knows What's Best

-Ginny's POV-

When I get to the Leaky Cauldron Draco is fuming. He's sitting at the bar with a glass of Ogden's finest and behind him Harry and Ron are yelling at George, Dean Thomas, and Anthony Goldstein.

"Why are you defending him? He doesn't deserve it. Clearly he's done something to make Hermione leave him. I say good riddance. Why are you trying to get them back together, huh?" George all but shouts at them.

Draco is trying not to listen to what they say. His eyes are misty, you can tell he's holding back the tears. He asks Hannah for another drink.

Ron quickly jumps to Draco's defense, "we're helping him because Hermione loves him. If you cared about her as much as you claim you'd realize that he loves her and makes her happy. Its people like you who have made her unhappy."

The world has gone topsy-turvy. Ron is not only defending Draco, but he's sincere and speaking the truth. Harry is simply nodding with everything Ron has to say.

"Ron, how can you defend the slimy git? If he made her so happy why did she leave?" Dean stops Ron from continuing.

Draco quickly turns around. The nastiness in his eyes sends a shiver down my spine. "How can you say that I'm the one who made her leave? Who are you to say I don't make her happy. I had to console her the last time she left the Burrow because her beloved adopted family gave her tripe for being with me. She's been with me for years and I was going to ask her to marry me yesterday but no. Everyone just has to butt in where they don't belong. Hermione is a strong woman and for some reason everyone has decided to forget that fact and knock her down all at once and now she's out there, somewhere, and I don't know where she is or what she's doing. What if she's hurt? What if she isn't safe? And its everyone's – yours and my fault. All we seem to do is make her life worse. Maybe it's better that she left me. Because now everyone else can be happy and maybe that will be what it takes to make her happy –"

Draco can't continue. He's now openly crying – in front of everyone. This is a Draco Malfoy that only Hermione and Harry have seen. Hermione, in recent years, and Harry during their sixth year. Everyone is trying not to look at him in shock and awe.

Pansy quickly walks up to break up the tension, or add to it, I'm not sure really what to expect. She gives Draco a glass of fire whiskey and he looks at her like she's grown a second head.

"If you think I'm going to drink this from you, you're a lot dumber than I thought." Draco doesn't even take the glass.

"Hey, she had nothing to do with her sister's schemes! Don't take out your frustration on her! Be happy she was quick to get to us when she did!" Ron defends her. Wow, Ron is ever the knight in shining armor today. And what is this with him defending Pansy Parkinson? Clearly Earth's axis has shifted or we've entered a new dimension or something Muggle like that.

"My mother and sister wanted you and I to get together in hopes of regaining some prestige to our name. They figured with Granger out of the picture you'd have me to console you. They didn't realize that the potion would only make you resent me and my family. I may not be as smart as Granger, but I do think further ahead than the idiots that are related to me."

"And that's not all. It was more than just Iris and Mrs. Parkinson." Harry adds. "We followed the Greengrass sisters and apparently they had something to do with it as well. They apparently think long-term and figured that after Draco left Pansy in the dust that Astoria could charm him."

Draco is shaking his head. I really feel bad for him. He just can't catch a break and now the one person who could anchor him is nowhere to be found.

-Hermione's POV-

"I'm sorry for just showing up. I just. I just needed to get away for a while."

"Don't worry. It's good to see you. I'm sure Teddy will be happy to see a different face." Andromeda gives me a wary smile as she lets me into the house."

"What has my idiot son done now?" Narcissa gives me a tight hug. She's more of a mother to me than my own mum. Clearly, there's something wrong with the world.

"Nothing. I just needed some time apart so I could think. Is it all right if I play with Teddy?" A little kid is probably my best bet at getting away from the questions.

"Don't worry. He's in the yard." The two ladies give me sympathetic looks while I walk through the house to see Teddy.

"Auntie Minnie! Why are you here?"

"Well, hello to you too, Teddy. I wanted to get away for a little bit so I figured I'd come say hello to you."

"Ooo, ok, if you want to get away, why don't we play Space! Uncle Draco always plays the alien and he chases me. So you can be the Alien. You have to wait until I land on the moon," he points to the sandbox. "And then you have to try and attack me. And chase me around. Ok?" I nod at him. "Ready, set go!"

We play for almost an hour with me chasing him around the yard. When he finally tires, he lies down on the grass and pats on the ground next to him. I go and lay down next to him and stare into the sky.

"Auntie Minnie, what's wrong? You can tell me, it'll be our secret."

I turn to my side to look at the little boy. He's so lucky to be so young. There are no expectations on him. He can do and be whatever his heart desires. No one is there to stop him. I miss that.

"You're lucky Teddy."

"Why am I so lucky? You're lucky. You're big. You don't have to eat your vegetables if you don't want to. You don't have a bed time. That's lucky."

Woah. He's right. There are expectations on him even if they're miniscule. I may not have to eat my vegetables, but… "You're right. I am lucky. I get to make my own rules."

"Exactly. So why were you sad earlier?"

"I forgot something very important, but you just helped me remember." And that he did. I remember now that I'm the one in charge. I make the rules that I follow. The expectations people put on me are only their expectations, not my own. I should only do what I want to do and not blindly follow what others think is right.

"That's good. Can you help me hide until bedtime? I don't want to go into the house until bedtime."

"Sure kid, whatever you want. It's time to make a few of your own rules."