A/N: Finally, I'm back. My other FanFic has been completed, which means I can now fully devote my time to 'Tainted...'
I hope you're all enjoying the piece so far, I want to thank you all for reading, and thank you to all the reviews, your support is greatly appreciated :)
I know, at the end of last chapter I promised an introduction to the infamous Richard Alden...but I got sidetracked with other things, and Richard has been pushed back to the next chapter. He will make it to the story eventually, but this chapter wasn't for him - I decided I needed to spend a little time on Hermione's relationship with her mother. Victoria Granger hasn't come off too good so far - I would like to stress, she does love her daughter, but she's just a little misguided about her, Hermione has kept a lot of secrets to keep her Mother happy, and this huge misunderstanding is the result of it. So we'll be seeing a bit of a softer side to Victoria in this chapter.
Also, after leaving the story a few weeks, I went back a re-read what I'd got so far, and I noticed a few minor mistakes, so I've edited all the chapters - nothing major has changed with regards to the plot, just a few spellings and a couple of extra words here and there :)
Now I'll be quiet and let you guys read & enjoy :)
xBx
~ Chapter 5: Another Bump in the Road ~
Hermione apparated back into the kitchen at her parents home in the middle of the afternoon, the resounding crack that accompanied her succeeded in giving her father a shock, almost dropping the kettle he was filling, into the sink. He whirled around in alarm, sending water everywhere, and breathed a sigh of relief, mingled with a sigh of exasperation when he saw his daughter.
"Jesus, Hermione. You scared the living daylights out of me." He scolded her.
Hermione giggled sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I've gotten so used to apparating everywhere now, I hardly give it a second thought. I forget it's not something you're used to."
Her father smiled, "I'm making a tea, would you like one?" He asked, topping up the kettle and placing it on to boil.
"Yes, please." Hermione nodded, placing the two paper bags she was carrying onto the worktop.
"So you went shopping did you?" Her father commented, noticing the bags, "After you stormed out on your mother," he finished.
"I didn't storm-" Hermione began defensively, but her father raised his eyebrows in disbelief and Hermione's shoulders slumped, "Fine, maybe I stormed a little," she conceded, "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't handle it well, but she just wouldn't listen." Hermione tried to explain, hopping onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
"What wouldn't she listen to?" Anthony asked calmly, it was Hermione's turn to raise her eyebrows.
"Are you kidding?" she asked, earning a frown.
Her father continued with the diplomatic calm he often employed when mediating between his wife and daughter, who were too much alike in their hardheaded stubbornness.
"I've heard your mother's account, and now I want to hear yours," he started as he made the tea. "What did you discuss? What did you say to your mother, and what was her response? And no embellishments," he added.
Hermione sighed, and taking the mug her father offered her, gave him a brief outline of the encounter. "I wanted to discuss my options for the next year, I told her about the employment opportunities I have at the Ministry, I told her about re-enrolling at Hogwarts for my final year. But she still insists that I marry, despite my other options."
"Did she reject your other options?" Anthony asked, already knowing the answer.
"No," Hermione answered quietly and a little reluctantly, knowing the reasoning technique he was employing with her, as she had used it plenty of times on Harry and Ron. "She thought they were both great for me. But she expects me do that and marry Richard." Hermione explained.
"And you don't feel you can do that," Her father clarified.
"No," Hermione said passionately, relieved that her father was listening and understood her, "But mum won't accept that."
"Have you explained to her why you feel you can't do both? And before you start -" he added hastily, holding up a hand, seeing that Hermione was about to heatedly interrupt, "I mean really thoroughly explained. Outlined your reasons clearly and calmly, like you did with your proposal this morning."
Hermione bit her lip; if she was honest with herself, she hadn't. Her father smiled; knowing he wouldn't need to continue further, that Hermione already knew the next step, he changed the subject,
"So what did you buy?" he asked, indicating the paper bags.
"I had lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, so I picked up some of their elf-made wine I know you and Mother like, and I also picked up a couple of bottles of Firewhiskey to add to our collection downstairs." Hermione said with a smile, "I remember I never bought some last year, before you left. I hadn't really drank it myself, but I've taken a liking to it, so I thought you should try it."
Anthony raised his eyebrows, "Not too much of a liking I hope." He accused, causing Hermione to laugh.
"No, but a small glass after dinner, is divine." She assured him.
"Then I shall certainly give it a go, but not now, I need to finish up in the office - you did a good job." He commended her, "So there isn't really much for me to do, I just wanted to make sure I know everything that's happened this year, get up to speed before Monday. Why don't you go put them down in the cellar, and then talk to your mother, please? She's busy with some emails at the moment, but when she's done, I'll send her to find you."
Hermione sighed, "I will try. I'll be up in my room."
"Thank you," Her father smiled, before leaving the kitchen. Hermione took her purchases downstairs and placed them away accordingly, before going up to her sitting room and deciding to dig out her course books from her sixth year – if she was returning to Hogwarts she may as well start re-acquainting herself with her lessons.
Half an hour later, Victoria entered her daughter's sitting room and found her curled on the sofa in front of the fire, her head buried in a book. She smiled fondly at the vision she had seen so often.
Hermione looked up when she felt the presence watching her, and smiled at her mother's smile.
"Hi. Dad said you be coming to find me." She said.
"Can I sit?" Victoria asked, Hermione laughed at the politeness that seemed so unnecessary.
"Of course," she said, moving round so she could face her mother as she took a seat on the sofa next to her.
"I feel I should apologise to you, for my manner of talking to you this morning." Victoria began, "I understand you think I'm forcing this marriage on you, that is not my intention you must believe me."
"Then, why are you so adamant about it?" Hermione asked.
"Because you haven't told me a reason why I shouldn't be. Hermione, you keep saying you're not going to marry him, but you are not telling me why? Before we left, the engagement seemed a settled thing, though it wasn't official, I'll admit. And you seemed happy at the time, with the prospect of marrying Richard. What has happened since then to change all this?" Victoria asked, genuinely confused at the apparent change in her daughter's feelings.
"Everything!" Hermione exclaimed, "Everything has changed, I've changed, my life has changed. I am not the same girl I was when the engagement was first talked of, I've done too much, and I've seen too much to go back to being that girl."
"You need to help me understand, Hermione." Her mother practically begged her calmly, "How can one year change you so drastically? You told us before we left that you would be going into hiding also, what happened while you were in hiding to change you so drastically in one year?"
Hermione sighed and looked at her mother sadly. "I wasn't in hiding." She admitted, "Well, I was, to a degree, but there was more to it than that. I was with Harry and Ron, all last year, and we, erm, we" Hermione struggled to find the right words to explain to her mother what she really got up to without alarming her too much. "We were finding the way to destroying Voldemort for good." She finished, somewhat lamely.
Victoria frowned, "Shouldn't that be the Ministry's job?" She asked, knowing enough of the Wizarding world that the Ministry seemed to house departments enough to deal with anything you could think of.
"It's complicated," Hermione started,
"I don't care," Victoria interrupted, "Tell me what you can – I won't say everything because I know there are things you don't want to talk about, I see it in your eyes. But tell me what you can so that I can understand. What was it that three teenagers had to do, that adults couldn't? And how has this changed your emotions so much?"
Hermione nodded, "Okay. Voldemort became extremely powerful, he took over the ministry, and anyone in open rebellion against him would not live to tell the tale, so the Ministry's power against him was pretty limited, practically non-existent. Even the Order had to retreat from working out in the open, they became an underground rebellion. Also, neither the Ministry nor the Order had the information about him that we three did." Hermione admitted, trying to keep her information to a bare minimum, so that she didn't overload her mother, but still telling her enough so that didn't become completely lost in the narrative.
"Dumbledore, before he passed away, shared a wealth of information with Harry, and in turn, Harry shared it with Ron and I. This information was the key to finding the way to finish Voldemort off for good. It was something Harry had to do. And so it was something Ron and I had to do as well. Harry was a little reluctant for us to join him; but we knew it would be hard, it would be long and it would be dangerous and we also knew he couldn't do it without us. We're the Golden Trio." She laughed, shaking her head at the term she had heard people use in reference to them.
Her mother couldn't help but laugh at her daughter, "You called yourselves 'The Golden Trio'?" Victoria asked incredulously, "Isn't that a little obnoxious, darling?"
Hermione frowned at her mother. "We didn't give ourselves the name." She defended herself, "Give some credit to our modesty, please. It's what we became known as at school. I mean, whenever anything happened it was always us three at the helm," Hermione explained, and smiled as she remembered with a feeling of nostalgia the things Harry Ron and she had managed to get away with.
"We'd break a hundred rules, get into some real sticky situations, sometimes quite possibly even breaking the law, but we usually came out shining," she said with a smile, which began to fade to sadness as she continued,
"And then further along, when it became about rebellion against oppressive teachers forced on us by a Ministry in denial, and leading the open fight against Voldemort, it was always us three at the head – people used to rally around us I guess," Hermione said.
"You did what, sorry?" Victoria was looking less than amused at her daughter's admission to apparent near-continual rule breaking. "I thought you were at school to learn? not cause continual trouble." Her mother frowned.
Hermione had the decency to look a little guilty, "Yeah, there's a lot of things that happened at school over the years that I may have failed to mention to you." Hermione admitted.
"But I was still always top of the class," Hermione defended quickly, "So I never neglected my learning, I kept my grades up," she assured her mother, hoping to lessen Victoria's disapproval.
Victoria still looked less than amused, so Hermione hurried on, explaining her rationale for past secrecy:
"Look, I knew you were a little reluctant to let me go to Hogwarts, and I knew that if you knew just how much trouble I could get into there, you would worry yourself senseless, and maybe even stop me attending." Hermione admitted,
"But I was always safe – well, mostly." She faltered, remembering being petrified in her second year, but she wasn't about to tell her mother that in a hurry. "But that's not the point, we don't need to go into too many details about what I got up to at school, but what I will tell you is that everything Harry, Ron and myself did over the years, we did as a team – if one of us hadn't been there we would never have pulled off half the things we did: We've been cemented as a trio ever since our first year, when we decided to try and get to the Philosopher's Stone before Voldemort could, and fighting him in the process."
Victoria frowned, "I thought Voldemort didn't return until a few years ago? At least that's what you told us," Victoria accused, then fully registering the full sentence her eyes widened, "And the philosophers stone? As in the legendary stone that -"
"Turns things to gold and produces the elixir of life, yeah that's the one." Hermione finished her mother's sentence, trying to move the conversation along. "It's not just a legend, well it wasn't, that was the only stone left and it's since been destroyed. And you're right, Voldemort didn't return until a few years ago, not properly at any rate. When he was trying to get the stone, he didn't have a body of his own, his soul simply existed, it had no host of it's own, so he would possess a host I believe, anything from animals to humans. So he possessed one of the teachers – ironically it was the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher whom he chose to possess." Hermione said with a chuckle, but catching her mothers less than amused expression at Hermione's apparent flippancy, Hermione continued her narrative,
"Not appreciating the irony right now, okay then. What was I saying? Oh right, anyway, in trying to get to the stone we had to get through a series of defences, like a magical obstacle course if you will. Alone, neither one of us would have done it: but together we accomplished the seemingly impossible – my memory and my logic, Harry's bravery and determination, Ron's tactics and sacrifice, when we combined, we were unstoppable – we fed off each other, supported each other and trusted each other. That was where our fate was sealed I think: we knew then we had to stick together, because together we could do anything. So last year, when Harry set out to find and destroy the objects that were binding Voldemort to life, Ron and I knew we had to go with him." Hermione explained, hoping her mother was following her thoughts.
"What we did was dangerous, so dangerous. But we knew it would be, and everything we'd gotten ourselves into at school over the years wasn't particularly safe, so on some levels we were a little prepared I guess. Most of the time it was exhausting, it was scary, it was hard – the hardest thing I've ever done but there were moments that were rather exhilarating – I rode on the back of a dragon, as an escape from one of the many predicaments we got ourselves into. A dragon! I have a large burn on the back of my shoulder to prove it, how many people can say that?!" Hermione asked her mother, the adrenaline that pumped through her system even remembering the event made her eyes shine and her skin glow for a moment before she became serious again.
"I'm not saying all of it was fun, God no! But the successes we had, and the relief of survival was such a rush, and I came through it, I survived the fight, and it's filled me with a passion, a drive that I never knew was fully in me – don't get me wrong I've always been determined and I know that, and I have drive, but I never realised it could be so intense. And I don't think it's been a completely sudden change, I think this change has been coming about ever since I started Hogwarts, but I was suppressing it to a degree, because I always believed that once I finished Hogwarts I would return here and live in the muggle world to a degree. Hogwarts was an unbelievable adventure, and last year has made me want to keep that adventure going forever, in it's entirety. It's reawakened all the passion for magic and I know now that I can't compromise, like I'd once considered doing. Even throughout Hogwarts, I still thought of having the life you picked out for me: That I would marry a man you approved of, a muggle who would help me continue your business. And as I grew up, and Richard and I grew closer, it all seemed to fit. Richard and I got on so well, it all seemed perfect, and I did fall for him, I did like him a lot. But now, I don't know, the past year was such an upheaval - I know I can never work at the Ministry then come home to a muggle life – I need to have magic surrounding me, at home as well as work.
"And even all this" – she gestured to the wealth around her, "This lifestyle I've been brought up in, that I thought I would never want to live without, even this can't hold me – I want happiness, true happiness, and that doesn't come with money, you've always told me that: I know money makes happiness easier, but it's not the be all and end all. The Weasleys have taken me in many times over the years, for Christmas and in the Summer, and they're not the wealthiest people in the world, in fact they rather struggle, but they are the happiest family unit I've ever seen." Hermione explained fondly,
"Seeing that different family dynamic, of open affection and chaos, it made me question what I really want in my future, and I don't know if that person that once fell for Richard is still me; I haven't seen him in a year. And when we said goodbye, it was rather final for me, mainly because I didn't expect to be back so soon, and I think it was rather final for him too - "
"Did you speak to him after we left?" Her mother asked curiously, and Hermione nodded.
"Yes, I told him I was going travelling, separately from you, but that I was leaving none the less. Going back to him, to the engagement, I don't know if I can do it. I'm a different person now, he'll know that, he'll see that."
Victoria sat in silence for a while then spoke hesitatingly, "I'm glad you opened up a little more, though you still haven't told me much of what you got up to last year. But I understand your feelings a little better, at least." Victoria paused as if to gather her thoughts then continued,
"I'm glad you're returning to Hogwarts to finish your education, you can use this year to find yourself again." She stated, "I believe postponing the wedding until next June is a very good idea now, and I apologise for trying to rush you into it this September. Now, you and Richard can take this year to get to know one another properly again: I will invite the Aldens to dinner next week, once you and Richard reacquaint you'll end up falling in love all over again."
Hermione wasn't quite sure who her mother was trying to convince, but she tried to remain calm.
"Mother, love is a strong word, I don't know if I ever truly loved him to begin with." Hermione could feel herself becoming exasperated again.
"You've had a rough year, a life-changing year, but you can not know your true feelings towards him until you see him again. So I will invite him for dinner, along with his parents. And you will get to know him again, while you get to know yourself. Take it one step at a time. Please Hermione," Victoria asked, "Put the engagement from your mind for now if you wish, but please try to get to know him again. Don't write this future off completely, that's all I'm asking for now."
The pair sat in silence for a while; Hermione could think of nothing to say to dissuade her mother – after all, there was a little truth in what she was saying. And the more she thought of it, the more she realised seeing Richard again could be a good thing – when her mother saw her and Richard together, and saw the truth of their less than romantic dynamic, she would have to finally accept what Hermione had been saying all along.
Victoria spoke again, quite suddenly, as if only just remembering what Hermione had mentioned earlier: "Now I have to ask. A dragon burn?"
Hermione couldn't help but grin, at her mother's expression of incredulity, disbelief and slight fear "Yes. I have a fair few battle scars from the past year, I didn't want to alarm you with them, which is why I've been wearing long sleeves even in this heat. Do you want to see it?"
Victoria shook her head, and then raised herself up, "I think that is enough for me to know about your escapades, for now. I don't need to see the proof just yet"
Hermione laughed, "Perhaps you're right, I wouldn't want to overload you and cause you a heart attack."
Victoria looked at her daughter and smiled, "You know, you are too much like your father sometimes: you are turning out to be just as reckless as him."
Hermione smiled, "Oh, I'm very much my mother's daughter also – I've certainly inherited your stubbornness."
"Determination, dear" Her mother corrected her with a sly smile, as she turned to leave, "Determination is far less grotesque in a woman."
###
Draco sat in his dining room facing his Aunt Andromeda, the pair in an awkward silence, and both conscious of the reasons they had never been permitted to meet until now. Andromeda Tonks was perhaps the more uncomfortable of the two, being in a house she was so unfamiliar with, and which oozed negativity from its very walls – or so she felt.
Draco had extended the invitation to dinner as soon as he had learnt that his mother's release from Azkaban would remain on the condition of Andromeda's supervision. Their meeting had been incredibly formal and uncomfortable, and while eating had proved to be a useful distraction from the necessity of talking it had not dispelled the awkward atmosphere that persisted.
Draco cleared his throat, and broke the silence. "I'm sorry about your daughter, Andromeda. Tonks was a great Auror." He acknowledged with sincerity.
Andromeda gave a small smile, "Thank you. Though she was no longer a Tonks. Dora married Remus Lupin a little over a year ago, I'm sure you will have heard."
Draco nodded, "Of course. My apologies. They had a son, didn't they?" he asked, suddenly remembering, "Where is he?"
Andromeda's eyes brightened at the mention of her Grandson, "Yes, Teddy. They named him after his grandfather. I have custody of him. But tonight he's with Harry. I thought our first meeting, and discussing plans, would go more smoothly without the distraction of a child." She explained with a smile.
"Harry, as in Potter?" Draco asked, with slight contempt. His aunt nodded, and Draco shook his head, "Is there anything that the Golden Boy doesn't interfere with?" he muttered.
Andromeda frowned, "Harry is Teddy's Godfather." She explained, "He and Teddy's Godmother have as much parental right over Teddy as I do. He is not interfering, he is doing what Remus and Dora asked him to do. And he will do it marvellously I'm sure." She added, her tone somewhat icy, and Draco shifted uncomfortably – it was bad enough his Aunt Andromeda looked almost identical to his Aunt Bella, but in that moment she had sounded too much like her deceased sibling for his comfort, and Draco knew he would have to watch his step with this one.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," he said hastily, then asked, unable to help himself: "Forgive me, but are you sure Potter can handle the responsibility alone?"
His aunt frowned, "I'm sure he'll manage perfectly well. But he isn't alone: Teddy has a responsible Godmother, who can even keep Harry in check; she's over at Grimmauld Place with them now. And the Weasley's are only a Floo away should they be needed. I have no qualms at all about their suitability to help raise my Grandson, their support network is the best available. Dora and Remus chose well."
"And just who did Dora and Remus choose as Godmother, to take on the task of Teddy and Harry?" Draco asked in genuine interest.
"Hermione Granger, of course. I believe you know her, from what I know of the pair they make an excellent team, and I believe Dora grew quite fond of her during their time in the Order."
Draco nodded, "Of course, how obvious, the Boy Wonder and the Gryffindor Princess. No doubt they'll make an excellent parenting team." He commented dryly, he noticed Andromeda's frown, but the pair lapsed back into silence until Draco broke it once again.
"So lets discuss arrangements." He said, deciding to get to business, "When my mother is released, I assume you will be moving in with us?" He asked.
Andromeda sighed, "I assume so. Though I will add it gives me little pleasure. This place doesn't exactly exude homely hospitality."
Draco snorted, "I can't disagree with you there. I'll admit, the comfort levels of the place have slipped remarkably over the last couple of years."
"And you didn't think to try and remedy this while you were home alone?" Andromeda retaliated.
This time it was Draco's turn to frown, "Interior decorating is hardly my forté, and besides I was rather preoccupied with trying to build some sort of legal defence for my Mother."
"Not your father, also?" Andromeda queried, forgetting her hostility in genuine surprise at this omission.
Draco sighed, picked up his goblet and leaned back in his chair, "In all honesty, I've seen a different side to my father in recent years – or rather I've begun to view him from a different perspective. He is not the man I used to think he was, nor the idol I once wished to emulate. I'm very interested to see how he presents himself at his trial, and curious to see how sincere he will be. But I don't believe for one second that he should escape a healthy stint in Azkaban. I think that would do him good, and I think it would be healthy for Mother and I to try and regain some semblance of normality back into our lives, without his influence. At least for the time being."
As Draco was speaking, Andromeda had also leaned back in her chair, with goblet in hand, to listen closely to her nephew's speech. She remained silent and thoughtful as Draco to a sip from his goblet.
Draco eventually spoke again: "I would like my mother to return here, to her home, so that we can begin to move on immediately, I think this will be best. I will be returning to Hogwarts in September, to retake my final year and it will be hard enough for my mother to try and move on alone, without with the added stress of not even being in her own home.
"I would also like you to move in with us, not just because the Wizengamot demand it, but also because I believe it will be good for us. This house needs a positive influence on it, we need a positive influence on our lives, and I think your influence would be good for us. How soon you wish to move in is up to you, I can have a bedroom ready for you in an instant, and of course I can prepare a suitable Nursery for your grandson."
Draco looked up into his Aunt Andromeda's face, so much like Bellatrix, but now he saw the real difference and smiled – Andromeda's features were softened by the expression of pure kindness, an expression (and quality) which was constantly missing from his Aunt Bella.
"And we can start redecorating the entire house to make you more comfortable, if you wish." He added, with a small smile.
Andromeda shrugged, "The colour scheme isn't particularly bad, it just needs brightening up. A few tricky little spells to lighten the tones and the place will be perfectly decent. You know, your mother and I were rather close when we were young. She was my favourite sister, and I believe I had a positive influence on her, to a degree. But when I married Ted and I was cast out of the family, Narcissa was unable to speak to me ever again, and Bellatrix got a firm hold on her. And then she married your father, and her fate was settled. I always wonder what would have happened if she had defied our parents and kept contact with me, I wonder if things would have turned out so bad if I had still been able to retain some slight influence over her."
Draco pondered for a while, and then shrugged, "I guess we'll never know. But at least we can have your positive influence now. Will Teddy be coming with you?" Draco asked.
"I honestly can not say." Said Andromeda sadly, "I would like to think he will be, but I'm afraid I can't take full responsibility for the decision – His Godparent's have an equal say in the matter. And considering the feelings between Harry, Hermione and yourself, I'm not sure how they would feel about Teddy being raised under your roof." She told him honestly, and Draco had the decency to shift uncomfortably and look a little ashamed.
###
Hermione sat in Harry's room in Grimmauld Place, in a rocking chair next to a large ornate crib that was placed next to the large four-poster. It was coming up to midnight, and Harry was lounging comfortably, stretched along the foot of the bed as Hermione gently rocked back and forth with Teddy in her arms, trying to get him back to sleep after he had woke up hungry.
"You're a natural with him," Harry complimented. Hermione smiled at the compliment.
"Of course I am, I'm his Godmother. And you're a natural with him as well." She assured him.
"Not like you," Harry countered, "You're much better at the soothing, I'm more fitted to the playing."
Hermione shrugged, "Maybe it's a woman thing, natural mothering instincts or something. But you'll get there, you can't hog all the playing to yourself, we're partners in this: that means an equal share of every aspect."
"I'm so glad Dora and Remus picked you as Godmother, you know. I don't think I could have handled this without you." He admitted, "I mean it's a huge responsibility, and I'm not the most responsible person, lets be honest. And at least I'm not competing with some unknown witch."
Hermione laughed, "You're more responsible than you think, you know. Not where yourself is concerned I'll admit, but when it comes to the welfare of the people around you. Well, you'll do anything to ensure their safety, even die to protect them, if I remember rightly." She said, a chill creeping into her voice, and hard glint in her eye, which made Harry squirm uncomfortably.
"You're not going to forgive me for that are you?" Harry asked quietly.
"No, I'm not." Hermione said with feeling, "And it's not the self sacrifice that I'm pissed about Harry, it's the fact you didn't even say goodbye." Harry looked up at Hermione, when he heard her voice start to break, and saw that her eyes had started to tear.
Harry got off the bed and went to sit at Hermione's feet, putting his hands onto her legs he looked into her eyes.
"I am so sorry Hermione. But once I knew I had to go to my death, I couldn't say my goodbyes to you. I knew that as soon as you saw me you would know what I was going to do, and leaving you would have been too hard. I don't think I would have had the strength to do it. One word from you, from any of you, would have made me stay. And I didn't think you would understand…" He trailed off helplessly.
"Harry James Potter, of course I would have understood. At least, I would have if you had told me, and I don't think I would have stopped you. But I certainly wouldn't have let you go alone. You shouldn't have had to face that alone, I would have been by your side - "
"Then you would have died also, that I could never allow. And what would have happened to Teddy?" Harry interrupted, looking down at the infant, then laughed.
Hermione frowned, and looked down too, to see what had caused Harry's sudden mirth. She laughed also when she saw Teddy's appearance had changed – he now bore Harry's emerald eyes, but his hair was the exact shade of Hermione's.
"He's definitely starting to bond with us" Hermione said, then looked back at Harry, and sighed.
"I know why you didn't tell me, I understand why you couldn't say goodbye. But it still huts when I think of it."
"Then don't think of it. Besides," Harry said grinning, "I always knew I was never really going to die."
Hermione frowned, "You did not." She accused, shoving him away with her leg, so that he fell back against the bed.
Harry shrugged, "Maybe I didn't, maybe I did. But at the end of the day, I'm here, I saved the day, we'll all lived happily ever after. Be happy I survived, and lets not dwell on that tiny fact that I died for ten minutes."
Hermione shook her head; "You are such an ass at times."
Harry laughed and hauled himself back to his feet, "Speaking of asses" he commented as he sat on the edge of his bed, "Did Andromeda tell you in her owl that she was having dinner with Malfoy this evening?"
Hermione frowned, "Yes, she did. Apparently they need to discuss living arrangements; do you know where Narcissa is planning to live when she leaves Azkaban? If she's under Andromeda's care, does that mean she'll be moving into Andromeda's place?"
Harry sighed, "Malfoy came to talk to me at the Ministry about it this morning. He wanted to be clear on the terms of her release: he knows she has to be under the custody of Andromeda, but he wanted to ascertain if that meant moving in with her, or whether it would be permissible for Narcissa to return home, and Andromeda move in with them. It's a valid option, as long as Andromeda and Narcissa are living under the same roof all is good."
"So you're telling me Andromeda is going to be moving in with her sister. Moving into Malfoy Manor." Hermione stated.
Harry nodded. "Possibly."
Hermione stared at him, then voiced the obvious, "You do realise that Teddy is currently being raised by his Grandmother. If Andromeda moves into Malfoy Manor, then so does Teddy. Are you seriously alright about that?"
Harry sighed, "Not particularly, no. Which is what we need to discuss. There is an alternative. When you've got your parents settled, you'll move back in here like we planned, and we could seriously consider having Teddy over here on a more permanent basis." He stated.
Hermione looked at him, "Are you serious? Do you really think we can?"
"It's a lot to take on, I know that, but we have the time to really think about it and prepare. Narcissa won't be leaving Azkaban until the end of August, that gives us…what?" He faltered, as he saw Hermione close her eyes, and her head and shoulders drop in defeat.
Hermione looked up, an apologetic look on her face "I answered Minerva's letter this morning. I'll be returning to Hogwarts September 1st. I'm not going to be here."
Harry couldn't help but look disappointed at the flaw in his plans. "Well, that changes things. I was so sure you'd go for the Ministry, why didn't you? And why didn't you tell me you'd made a decision?" he asked, slightly perturbed Hermione hadn't told him, when she usually told him everything.
"I'm sorry, it was such a sudden decision. I made the decision in the heat of the moment, I told my mother I would be going, we were arguing, then I apparated here and wrote the letter of acceptance within moments of shouting my decision in her face. I didn't think of the long-term consequences. And I never dreamed Andromeda would be moving into Malfoy Manor, never in a million years!" Hermione explained, somewhat distraught that everything seemed to be going so wrong.
"It's ok," Harry consoled her, "I didn't think of it either. But it looks like it's going to happen, so we need to discuss it, we need to decide what's best for Teddy."
"What's best for Teddy is stability." Hermione stated, "But that might mean him staying with Andromeda. If we did take him, I would be here for two days at the most, and then I'd be gone for four months. You're working everyday, he'd be bounced between here and the Burrow -"
"Not necessarily," Harry countered, "Most of my job is paperwork at the moment, and I can do a lot of it from home. I need to be in the ministry for trials, but we're aiming to have the majority of them done by September, we'll be down to a couple a week. And after that my hours can be flexible. I could be here with Teddy most of the time."
"But what about the other times? Harry you'd have to go into the office at some point. And what happens if you get called away? I know Molly would be more than happy to baby-sit, and Andromeda too. But Teddy can't keep being shifted around."
Harry sighed, slowly becoming defeated. "I know, I know. I knew it was a long shot, but the alternative-"
Hermione nodded, "I know. I don't like the idea anymore than you do. But, it's Andromeda that will still be raising him," She rationalised, "and her living with Narcissa isn't permanent after all – How long will it be for?" she asked, suddenly realising she didn't actually know.
"Two years." Harry stated grimly.
"Two years?!" Hermione almost shouted.
Harry nodded, "Complete house arrest for six months, then after that she has free reign to an extent – she has to be within her home between the hours of 8pm and 8am, still under the supervision of Andromeda. If she breaks these rules – without express permission from the Minister, she will be placed back in Azkaban to serve a sentence of ten years."
"Two years. Teddy will be living there for two years. He'll take his first steps in Malfoy's library, his first words will be heard by him not us. No. No I don't like that."
"I don't like it either, Hermione. But you just shot down my alternative, you can't have it both ways."
"I know, I know." Hermione conceded with a frustrated sigh, "I'm sorry."
"And the other day, you said yourself, he seems different now. When you told me about your conversation the night after the battle," He reminded her. "You said you didn't believe he was all bad, and I'm inclined to agree. I think Lucius was the real negative influence in his life, and once he's removed we could see a very different person." Harry pointed out.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I want him raising our Godchild!" Hermione hissed, trying to keep her voice quiet so as not to disturb Teddy, who was finally drifting off.
"Let's sleep on it," suggested Harry, knowing they would never reach a conclusion tonight. "We don't need to make this decision now. It can wait until the morning. Until we actually know what decision Andromeda and Malfoy have come to. We're both tired; we'll just keep going round in circles. And I don't want us to end up arguing." He added with a smile.
Hermione smiled back and nodded. "You're right, we need to think on it more. And like you said, we don't even know the final decision yet. Until we do, let's not worry too much."
A/N: Okay, so maybe Victoria is still a little bit deluded, and still seems a little bit cold, but her heart is in the right place...sort of.
Let me know what you think, I love to hear your feedback. The next chapter is already written, it just needs a final edit, so I will post it within a couple of hours :)
xBx