After lunch, the friends were relaxing in the living room.

" I think Neville and I should ask him out to drinks and catch up. See why he left and why he decided to come back now." Harry stated after the conversation once again turned to Ron.

"That's a good idea make a guys night out if it." Neville agreed both men were thinking they could use this time to discover if the redhead had any intentions of rekindling things with the woman they thought of as a sister.

"Of course you are more than welcome to join Malfoy," Harry added not wanting to leave him out but thinking they would have better luck if he didn't join them.

"Thanks, Potter, but I have plans to visit Blaize tonight," Draco replied.

"Well, if the boys are going out why don't we do a girls night in, We could even ask Luna and Pansy." Hannah's suggestion was quickly agreed upon by the other girls.

"Pansy will not be able to make it." Draco statted smoothly.

"and Luna is out of town," Hermione remembered.

The rest of the day passed calmly Draco was the first to leave around five kissing Harold on the top of his head before using the Longbottom's floo. Once he was gone Harry and Neville left saying they wanted to get some dinner before heading to the pub to meet Ron. When seven rolled around the kids, and their mothers had eaten dinner and were curled up on the couch in pajamas reading stories.

"the end" Hermione had been reading aloud to the others.

"Mummy" Harold yawned "I'm not sleepy yet, read another one" next to him James was asleep on his boppy pillow, Teddy was curled around his adopted brother quickly drifting, and Alice was using Harold's leg as a pillow quietly snoring away.

"I think your little friends disagree," Hermione said smiling from ear to ear. "It's time for our little witches and wizards to go to sleep." With that, the mothers picked up the children and went up the stairs to Alice's bedroom. After Harold and Alice were down Hermione and Hannah snuck out to let Ginny put her boys down. Hannah went the kitchen to make hot chocolate and popcorn. Hermione was patiently waiting in the living room for her friends to return when there was a knock on the front door. On the other side was a very red-faced Ronald.

" HE IS MINE, THAT CHILD SITTING ON MALFOY'S LAP THIS MORNING IS MY SON!" he screamed the accusation, but she didn't flinch she just replied.

"Yes, he is yours."

"HOW COULD YOU?"

"How could I what? Raise my son? Teach him right from wrong? Make sure he felt loved and had a good man to look up to even though I couldn't find his father or even his uncles anywhere."

"BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT HIM! WORSE THEN THAT YOU'VE LET HIM HANG OUT WITH A BLOODY DEATH EATER! "

A flash of red and a flowery sent flew in front of Hermione's eyes, and smack sounded through the room. Ginny was between them now her handprint evident on her brothers face.

"I've heard enough, how could she have told you no one could find you. You're the one that ran off breaking her heart and leaving her scared and pregnant. Leaving your sister to bury your father with two, TWO of her five living brothers. George and Percy at least had good reasons for leaving, but you why did you leave? She owes zero apologies all she did was raise your son and fix what you broke. Also so help me if you yell one more time and wake the children I'll hex you into oblivion." Ron turned on the spot disappearing leaving the house entirely silent for a moment. Hemione walked up to Ginny placing a hand on her shoulder. The redhead spun slowly and hugged her friend both slightly crying.

"How long did you know?" Hermione asked when the crying stopped. Ginny laughed before replying.

"Since he was born although I suspected before that. I remember the night he left" Ginny told her version of that night.

Ginny was wondering the halls of her childhood home she was crying but didn't want to go back to her room and disturb Hermione. Then she came across Percy's old room she knew he wasn't there he hadn't slept at the burrow since before the war and couldn't bring himself to rest there knowing Fred was not. She went inside expecting a cold, empty bed that smelled like one of her big brothers but found Harry asleep. The door closed behind her and Harry startled awake.

"What are you doing here?"She asked him softly

"Trying to sleep, after dinner Ron told me he wanted to have a private conversation with Hermione and asked if I'd mind sleeping in here. Why are you here?"

"I was crying and couldn't sleep and ironically didn't want to keep Hermione up so have been walking around and thought one of my brothers would be a good comfort but given they were all asleep or not here I went to next best thing would be something that smells like one of them. Leading me to the bed Percy used to sleep in."

"Well as much as I would hate to be on the same level as your brothers for you, I can be a good comfort, and I honestly wouldn't trust going back to either of our rooms right now." Ginny laughed and snuggled close to Harry; soon they were both asleep.

" Hannah joined her friends smiling.

"Now that we all know, can you tell us what happened?" Hannah asked. The rest of the night was spent talking and playing exploding snap, reminding the girls of Hogwarts.

The boy's part of the night

After reading the letter from Harry inviting him to drinks, Ron spent his day wondering how to answer the questions his old friends were going to ask. Now they would be here any minute, and he still didn't know. His mind wondered back as he waited.

Hermione was fast asleep next to him as he sat up and got dressed. He knew he was going to leave, that he needed to go but watching her sleep made him want to stay. His mother was buried, and he couldn't take it anymore he had watched Percy and George change, Watched Bill and Charlie move away, watched his mother and father deteriorate, and watched as his sister found her strength in his best friend. Simply put he couldn't watch any more death and destruction, couldn't stand anymore change. He looked around his childhood room, Hermione and Ginny were attending Hogwarts for their last year, but he and Harry didn't go back. The girls had been given a special break so the family could put Mrs. Weasley to rest they were set to return in two days. He kissed her temple softly causing her to wiggle awake she smiled at him but seeing the frown on his face her smile fell.

"What's wrong Ron?" worry evident in her voice.

"I'm leaving; I don't know when or if I'll be back all I know is I cant stay in London."

Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. "Okay" was all she could get out before her voice cracked.

"Please believe me that it isn't because of you, you're the only reason I would stay. I can't watch my family fall apart anymore, please understand and know that I love you and I always will."

She wiped her eyes before she spoke this time, "Okay, goodbye I hope you find what you're looking for I love you too."

A slap on his shoulder drew him from his memories; he looked up to see emerald eyes behind glass. He took a deep breath and drowned the fire whiskey in his hand before saying, "Hello Harry" Harry and Neville decided to ease into the hard questions.

"How are you Ron" Harry examined his former best friend as he spoke. The man in front of him had changed so much but still had the same freckles, same red hair, same blue eyes the same eyes he now realized he had seen in a younger face for the last five years.

"I'm great," his answer dripping with sarcasm. "I came home, and I don't recognize anything. The burrow is empty, and I have no clue where any of my brothers are. The girl I loved when I left is teaching partners with a Malfoy, Neville is a teacher, and I have a new nephew via my lovely sister and my best friend." he sighed before adding "I know that's not what you boys want to know so just ask."

"Why did you leave?" Neville asked as Harry ordered them a round of fire whiskey.

"Ironically enough because I couldn't stand the changes."

"Why did you come back now?" Harry asked this time.

"I got a letter from McGonagall saying they needed a flying instructor and it made me realize just how much I missed home." The old roommates soon got lost in stories of what they had done since the redhead left. After about an hour Ron took a sip of his fifth drink before asking "Do you have a picture of your children Harry? You too Neville?" Harry pulled out his billfold and produced a picture that was taken only two weeks prior in the backyard of Grimmauld place. Hermione holding Harold with Draco behind her was the farthest left, then Luna waving, next came Ginny holding a sleeping James with Harry holding Teddy behind her, Zamboni was after the Potter's his wife Parkinson standing in front of him holding a sleeping girl, the Longbottoms came last Hannah Holding Alice and Neville behind her. Since it was a wizard picture they all smiled waved and laughed as they stood there they looked so happy. "Where are the girls tonight?" the question was unexpected but Neville answered anyway.

"At my place with the kids they wanted to have a girls night."

"By the looks of this picture Hermione and Malfoy are together, but he said the kid wasn't his." Ron's voice was strange

"No" Harry answered softly, "that's the single side of the picture they are both single, and Harold isn't his, she was already pregnant when they became friends, it was during their last year at Hogwarts when McGonagle told them they had a job if they could teach together ."

"How old is Harold?" Ron asked as he looked closer at the picture. " Five" Harry answered and watched as his friend figured out in a matter of moments the detail they had all been overlooking for years, Ron finished his drink and stormed out of the pub his face already turning red.

Draco's version of the night

"Why am I so mad that he is back?" Draco asked again as he paced back and forth he had been ranting for a good hour. He had enjoyed dinner with the family and even a few games of chess before Pansy took her daughter Elsa to bed and retired herself. Draco and Blaise were in his guest house as to not disturb Pansy and their daughter.

"You're kidding, right? it's obvious that you don't like him moving in on your turf."

"What are you talking about?"

"You like Hermione and always have." Blaise walked up to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder as he spoke

" Don't be ridiculous she was my enemy for years then my coworker I've never had any romantic feelings for her."

"Really?" the dark-skinned Slytherin snickered. "because I remember this day on a train this bushy haired girl with bucked teeth came into my compartment and asked about a toad and when she left this scrawny blond kid sitting next to me turned to me his face in complete awe and said wow. I remember the kid teasing this girl because it was easier than admitting he wanted something he couldnt have. I watched my mate be worried when she was petrified, completely head over heels after she slapped him, star-struck when she came down the stairs in that blue dress; slightly sad when the papers said she was with a certain scar head even though he knew it wasnt true. Not wanting to complete his mission because it would put her in danger, and hating the year she was on the run. Lying to people to try and keep the girl safe, suffering as he was forced to watch her being tortured knowing if he stopped it they would both be killed. Then I watched his entire being light up when he told me he was offered a job with her, then my friend turned terrified when she told him she was pregnant, and now that boy has become a man and yet still wonders why he is upset the child's father has returned."

"I get your point."

"Then go get her before the weasel tries again!" and with that Draco went back to Hogwarts to start his plan.