School started in a week. Luc and Brynn were getting excited to go back, but they were also nervous about their little brother.
"Mom?" Brynn walked into the kitchen while Hermione was using her wand and some cleaning spells to tidy up the counters.
"Yes, dear." Hermione placed her wand in her pocket and turned around to speak to her daughter.
"I don't get it. Why doesn't Scorpius have his letter? Luc and I got ours before the summer even started."
Hermione sighed. "Maybe McGonagall is just late sending them out years." Hermione couldn't believe that was true but she wanted to believe it. After Dumbledore passed, dying in his sleep of old age, McGonagall became the new headmistress.
Brynn fidgeted a little, rocking back and forth on the kitchen tile. She always did this when she had more to say but didn't know how to say it.
"What is it, Brynn?"
"It's just there are things I need from Diagon Alley. I know we're waiting for Scorpius but I really need a new cauldron and my robes are too short."
"I know honey." Hermione placed her hand on Brynn's shoulder, feeling the weight of what was happening to Scorpius, but knowing she had to take care of her other kids. "We'll go today."
Luckily, Draco was out of the house and Scorpius was with him. Draco would not be happy about Hermione taking Luc and Brynn to Diagon Alley without Scorpius, but she didn't think she had another choice at this point. It was bring your child to work day at the Ministry of Magic and Scorpius had begged Draco to take him. They wouldn't be home for the rest of the day so it would be the perfect chance to get Brynn and Luc what they needed for school. Hermione didn't fancy lying to Draco, but she had no other choice.
Hermione, Brynn and Luc were experiencing the familiar sounds, smells and tastes of one of the most magical places in the world, but it didn't hold the same enjoyment as it usually did. All three of them kept absent-mindedly mentioning Scorpius.
"I wish Scor could be here," said Luc. "I really wanted to show him all the great books in Flourish and Botts."
Hermione patted Luc on the shoulder, feeling the same way. Hermione and Draco had never taken Scorpius into Diagon Alley because they made it a family tradition not to go until you received your Hogwarts Letter. Hermione decided that the next time she got a chance she would taken Scorpius here whether he had a letter or not.
Brynn ran into some friends from the Slytherin team and they were looking around Quality Qudditch Supplies. Luc, as could be suspected, was pouring over every book he could find in Flourish and Botts, as if Hermione didn't have enough books for him at home.
Hermione was walking across the street when she spotted Professor McGonagall sitting outside the ice cream parlor eating a banana split. This was Hermione's chance to ask about the letters. She jogged over to the Headmistress.
"Mrs. Malfoy, is that you?" McGonagall said smiling and wiping her chin free off chocolate syrup from the ice cream.
"Uh, yeah," said Hermione, suddenly feeling fourteen again and nervous that McGonagall was going to give her detention or something. "I was wondering if I could ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Well, I was wondering if you had um sent all the letters out for Hogwarts this year."
"Oh, yes dear. We sent them all out months ago. Why?"
Hermione's heart dropped. Scorpius wasn't going get a letter. He wasn't going to Hogwarts. How could that be? "Well..."
McGonagall must have realized what Hermione meant because she threw her hand over her mouth. "Oh your son, Scorpius. He is eleven this year isn't he?. He... wasn't on the list. I'm sorry."
Hermione's mouth was dry and she felt sick. She didn't know what to say to her old professor so she just muttered, "Thanks" and hurried away. She directly went to find Luc and Brynn and took them home regardless of their protests. Diagon Alley was the last place she wanted to be when she knew her son's dreams as well as hers and Draco were shattered.