12 Jun. Sat. 0011 (12:11 a.m.) HST
Hermione sat up quickly and turned on the light next to her bed. Another set of soft taps sounded at her door. She quickly wiped at her cheeks. She knew her eyes were quite puffy already.
"Come in, Lois," the young mother said.
The little girl popped her head into her mother's room. "Hi, Mom," the little brown haired child said softly. She looked just like her mother when she was her age, everything except her large grey eyes.
"Come here," Hermione said, tapping the empty side of her bed. The young child ran and jumped up onto her mother's bed.
The young girl leaned into her mother's embrace. Hermione hugged her daughter and kissed her on the top of her head.
"All right, Mommy?" the two-year old looked upwards.
"I'm fine, Kiddo," her mother lied.
The young girl studied her mother's face, "You're crying about Daddy?"
Hermione smiled. She framed the young girl's face with her hands. She took a breath. "I love you, you know that."
The young girl nodded. "Mommy, Daddy's coming back."
Hermione pulled the child into her arms and cradled her there for a moment. She looked into the same eyes as her ex-husband. "What are you still doing up, Kiddo?" she asked, rocking the child.
The young girl yawned as it was after midnight. "I heard you crying."
Hermione held her tighter. She couldn't stop the tears that were welling up. Lois looked up into her mother's face. It was the girl's turn to frame her mother's face. She wiped her cheeks with her small palms.
"Lois, Daddy just came for a visit," she looked into her daughter's eyes. "He's getting married today."
The young girl canted her head a little confused. She looked into her mother's eyes.
"Daddy," Hermione paused as she tried to search for the right words. "You're going to have another mommy."
"Hmmph," the young girl said, crossing her arms in a huff before lying back into Hermione's arms. Hermione couldn't help smiling.
"He found someone that he loves. We should be happy for him. Grandpa Lucius likes your father's choice. Celeste Profesi is a blonde haired, blue eyed, beautiful witch from a wealthy Pureblood family."
"Just like Daddy," the young girl said softly.
"Kiddo, your Daddy and I love you very much."
"But not each other," the perceptive two year old said.
Hermione didn't know what to say at first. She took in a deep breath. "When you're older, and I mean much older, you'll understand how love works," the young mother looked at the confused child.
"Sometimes," Hermione paused, "It doesn't matter how you feel about someone; family plays a big part in decisions of the heart."
"Grandpa and Grandma Granger didn't like Daddy?" Lois asked innocently.
"Oh, baby. I'm sure if they were alive, they would have liked him," Hermione said sincerely, looking at her daughter.
"Grandpa Lucius and Grandma Narcissa didn't like you?"
"Lois," the brunette witch began. She looked away from the child for a moment. "You would like your Grandma Narcissa. She's a nice lady."
"But Grandpa?" Lois asked innocently.
"Your Grandpa Lucius is what we would call in the Muggle world, 'Old School'," Hermione began. "There was a time when some wizards and witches believed that . . . people like me didn't have the right to do magic. And they hated us for it."
"Grandpa's one of them?" the little girl asked softly.
Hermione gulped. She studied the little girl's face realizing what the young girl was thinking. "Grandpa would love you, no matter what."
"But I'm your daughter, Mom."
Hermione choked back a sob. She hugged the girl again. "Mommy, do you love Daddy?" the young girl asked.
Hermione gulped. Lois waited patiently as her grey eyes pierced through Hermione's chocolate ones. "Yes."
"Do I have to call her Mommy, too?" the little girl asked, yawning.
Hermione laughed shaking her head. She kissed the little child on the head. The little girl's eyes fluttered closed. She fell asleep as Hermione rocked her.
5
A.N. Okay, sorry that was short . . . only several more chapters left.
