The bricks parted and the girls gasped upon seeing their first sighting of the waizrd dwelling. Hermione smiled, remembering her first time seeing the place; she was in awe over it, much like her daughters were now. Lyra went to go running but, on instinct, Hermione grabbed her daughters arm before she could take off into the crowds.
"We stick together," Hermione said, "it's too easy to get lost."
"Get lost in Diagon Alley?" Draco smirked, "only an idiot would do that."
"A wrong turn could easily lead them into Knockturn Alley, Draco Malfoy," Hermione said, "I do not want my daughters in that dreadful place. The war may be over, and the dark times behind us, but you and I both know there are still dark wizards among us."
Draco swallowed at his wife's harsh tone and nodded, "I completely agree with you, love. Sorry."
"That's quite alright," she said taking a breath and forcing a smile, "c'mon girls. Robes first, I think, do you agree Draco?"
"Mm?" he asked, his attention else where. Hermione glanced over and saw Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Draco," she said, "we need to get Ara her things first."
"Why don't you take Ara, and I'll take Gemini and Lyra to look at brooms and Qudditch things? You know, the stuff you're not interested in."
"But I'm sure Ara would want to see that as well," Hermione said, "and she needs to be fitted for her robes, and only she can choose her wand."
"How about," Draco said thinking to himself, "I know, how about I take the girls to get Ara fitted and a wand, you can get the rest of her things and meet us at Quality Quidditch Supplies when you're finished. After that we can go for some ice cream."
Hermione bit her lip nervously before sighing, "Alright," she agreed, "but robes and wand first."
"Yes love," Draco said as their girls jumped up and down excitedly. "Alright girls, you heard your mother. Robes and wand first! Ready girls? Charge!" he said laughingly, pointing to the robe shop. He planted a quick kiss on Hermione's cheek before running after the girls. She smiled to herself, loving watching her husband with their children, before heading towards the book shop.
Diagon Alley hadn't changed a lot since the last time she'd been there; the shops were in the same spots as they always had been, crowds still walked the cobblestoned streets with excitement, and owls flew freely over heads. A few shops had closed down to be replaced with new ones, but all the old favourites were still around.
Hermione walked into Flourish and Blotts, taking in the smell of fresh books and the site of the floor to ceiling piles. She glanced around for help but saw the attendee busy with a small child and his parents. She shrugged and with a flick of her wand summoned the books she knew Ara would need, putting in a copy of Hogwarts: A History, one of her old favourite reads.
After that Hermione went to Scribbulus Writing Instruments and got parchment and a few quills, regular and colour changing, as well as a few ink bottles, and a box to organize everything in.
Hermione was feeling optimistic, it was a lot easier to get all of the necessary supplies without the girls begging for this and that, and to top it off no one had really bothered her about who she was yet.
She got Ara's cauldron, scales, telescope, and necessary potion ingredients before deciding to meet the rest of her family in Quality Qudditch Supplies. Shrinking her purchases down to a size that would fit in her pocket, Hermione walked into the busy store.
She spotted the three Malfoy girls and their father immediately.
"Daddy, please," Lyra was saying.
"We won't tell mum," Gemini pleaded.
"We swear!" Ara added.
"Now girls," Draco said shaking his head, "Your mother would have my hind if I got you that broom!"
"But it's better than the one I have," pouted Ara.
"And you said we deserve the best!" Gemini smirked.
"Yeah," Lyra said.
"I don't know," Draco said. The girls could see he was beginning to break and Hermione noticed it too, so she took the opportunity to make herself known.
"There is no way you girls are getting that broom," she said sternly, making the four Malfoy's jump.
"Mum!" the three girls said at the same time, sounding guilty.
"Mione, I didn't see you there," Draco said.
"Clearly," she said, "I thought we had an agreement."
"We did darling,"
"Then why were you considering buying them the broom?"
"They're very hard to resist sometimes," Draco admitted in a whisper, "just look at those faces." Hermione rolled her eyes as she saw the identical looks of beggary on their faces.
"No," Hermione said. "How about some ice cream?"
The girls nodded sullenly; it wasn't a broom, but it was a treat at least. They walked as a family over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and gathered around the sign listing the flavours.
"Lyra do you want strawberry or cauldron crunch?" Hermione asked her youngest.
"Cauldron crunch, cauldron crunch!" she said happily, jumping up and down. Hermione laughed and looked at Gemini.
"What about you sweetheart?"
"Pumpkin pastry is fine," she shrugged.
"Just like her father," Draco grinned.
"And you Ara?"
"Um," the girl said looking at the list, "I think I'll have…"
"Ara!" A voice shouted. The group turned to the door of the shop, which shut with a ding, to see Teddy Lupin coming out of it, ice cream in hand. "I thought that was you!"
"Hi Teddy," Ara said smiling.
"Have you tried the Chocolate Frog Fudge yet? It's so good!"
"Thanks," she said turning to her mum, "I'll try that."
Hermione nodded and turned to the boy, "Hello Teddy, are you here with Andromeda?"
Teddy shook his head, "she an appointment she had to go to."
"Oh," Hermione said getting a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, "then who are you here with? Surly you aren't alone."
"No," Teddy grinned, "I'm with Uncle Harry!"
Hermione froze, her worst fear coming true. The smile faded from her face and she looked quickly at her husband, an identical expression on his face.
"Mummy!" Lyra whined, "Ice cream!" She began to tug on her mother's skirt but Hermione hardly noticed.
"It's your call Mione," Draco said softly, "what do you want to do?"
Before she could respond the door sounded again. "Ted, you out here?" a familiar voice called, "I thought I told you to stay in my…" The voice trailed off suddenly and there was a silence, even the children had stopped talking. Hermione closed her eyes and took a breath before turning to the door of the shop to see Harry Potter standing there, same round glasses, same dark messy hair, and same old lightening bolt scar on his forehead.
"Uncle Harry, this is my friend Ara!" Teddy exclaimed excitedly, "you know I've told you about her," he added blushing slightly, hair turning red as well.
"Ara," Harry mumbled, "Ara Malfoy I take it."
"Well yeah," Teddy shrugged, "didn't I mention that before?"
"No," Harry said, eyes still on Hermione, "you never have."
"Hello Harry," Hermione whispered
A/N: Surprise! Another chapter! This is where some of it gets better! I know my chapters are short, and I apologize for that, but it's just the way I write my stories!
Anywho, hope you liked the new chapter! I'm almsot done writing chapter 7 now! Woot! It's starting to get good my friends! A lot of happening now! Hopefully it doesn't seemed rushed! If, at any point, it seems like I AM rushing it, let me know so I can make the changes before I update again!
As always, please review and keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter! (this weekend most likely!)
UPDATE: I realize I had made a mistake, in this chapter I had mentioned that "Andromeda had to take grandpa to an appointment", however Ted Tonks died in the 7th book. I have made the changes, the only difference is the line now says "she had an appointment she had to go to". Everything else in this chapter is the same.