Waiting. That was what they had now, but the waiting was a limbo where they floated between the present and future, what they had resigned to and what there could be. Scorpius was the most impatient of all. He wanted Hogwarts and he wanted it now.

He quit the debate team and stopped doing his homework. The pages of his notebooks no longer contained scribblings of muggles classes. Scorpius had returned to drawings of wands and broomsticks and wrackspurts.

Hermione considered confronting him, but how could she? They'd gotten a strange letter from Professor McGonagall saying that Scorpius was on the list for next year. He'd be a year behind Albus, but he was magical. There was no doubt, the letter said.

The dusty muggle books piled on the coffee table seemed dull and useless to Hermione. They would be going back to wizarding Britain, maybe even to their old home. They had been renting it to a young couple, but the couple was looking to buy a place. Things were falling into place. Returning to the way they should have been.

The phone rang.

"Hello," answered Hermione. "Are you sure?" She sighed. "I'll be right down. Thank you Principal Wiley- Jack. Goodbye."

Hermione arrived at the school and headed to the Principal's office. What had her son done to get him in so much trouble she had to come down to school in the middle of the day?

"Good afternoon," said Jack Wiley. "It's a pleasure to see you."

"Thanks but I'd rather I didn't have to be here." Hermione eyed her son.

Scorpius wasn't the only one in the room. Jessie and her mother were also there.

"What did you do?" Hermione grabbed Scorpius's ear.

"I-I-"

"It wasn't him," muttered Jessie. Hermione let go.

"What?" asked Hermione. A black and blue bruise blossomed under Scorpius's eye. "Somebody tell me what happened."

"Yeah. Jessie. Tell her." Scorpius rolled his eyes.

"Please Jessie," said Jack, his eyes flickering from his student to Hermione. She couldn't deal with Jack's awkwardness at the moment. The only thing that mattered was what happened to her son.

"I – I punched him." Jessie crossed her arms defiantly. "And I'd do it again."

Hannah's eyes widened. "Jessie!"

Hermione sighed and crouched down in front of the little girl. There had to be an explanation.

"Why did you hit Scorpius?" Hermione asked.

"He called me a muggle." She glared at him.

"A what? Is that some sort of new slang the kids are using?" Hannah asked Jack.

"Not that I know of-"

"It's just a British word that means American. Don't get all in a huff about it." Scorpius returned to the lie he'd used before.

"It does not. It means something awful."

Scorpius jumped up from his chair. "No it doesn't!" he shouted causing everyone to jump.

"Scor, calm down," said Hermione. "And you need to stop using that word," she whispered.

Her son huffed through his nose and then slumped back in the chair. The bickering between Jessie and Scorpius had gotten out of control.

"You two used to be friends. I don't understand what happened," said Jack.

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "It's because I kissed stupid Rose."

"No it isn't."

"What?" Scorpius looked just as confused as Hermione felt. They'd seen her run out of the house. They'd all assumed...

"It's because you called Albus your best friend."

Hermione did not see that coming. Not at all.

"People can have more than one best friend, Jessie," said Hannah.

Her little eyes appeared nearly as wide as the lenses on her binoculars. "Really?"

Scorpius smiled. "You're my best friend too, Jessie."

A smile ghosted across her lips. "Thanks."

"Is this all settled?" Jack asked, looking to Hermione.

"I think so."

Scorpius and Jessie both nodded and then shared a fleeting glance before returning their gazes to their feet.

Hannah grabbed Jessie's shoulder and walked her out of the office.

"Scorpius why don't you get back to class. There's something I'd like to discuss with your mother." Jack smirked, his bright eyes flashing. Scorpius shut the door behind him. The sound rattled Hermione.

Jack said nothing, just traced her body with his piercing gaze. Draco couldn't be right, could he?

"What did you want to say to me?" she stuttered.

Jack stood up from his desk, running his fingers through his bright ginger hair.

"I want you to reconsider."

"Reconsider what?"

"Leaving." His eyes were dark and hooded as he moved closer.

"It's not that this isn't a great school. It's just we think it's best for Scorpius to go home – back to England."

"I'd miss you if you left." His eyes were hooded and suddenly dark, just a breath away from Hermione. She eyed the door. Draco was not right. He was not. Repeating that wasn't helping.

"That's nice."

"I can change your mind. Just trust me."

She didn't have time to blink, to push him away. He grabbed her lips and shoved them roughly to Hermione's. Her eyes widened in shock. Her hands pushed on his chest but he wouldn't budge. She slipped her hand into her jacket and grabbed her wand. She pointed the tip at Jack Wiley.

"Stupefy!"

Jack flew across the room, crumpling into the desk. "What the hell?"

Anger boiled through Hermione. Draco was right. Jack Wiley was an absolute creep. He kissed her. The sticky spit of a stranger was all over her lips. Her stomach churned.

What would Draco do when she told him?