A/N Thank you so much to all of you who have stayed with me and this story. I am working very hard to finish it for you. But as you know time is limited for me. I hope you all like this chapter. Happy reading and please review...good or bad I'm always happy to read them.

All is not Well

Hermione waited patiently for Draco to return. Her stomach felt tight and her head was throbbing. She wondered what Draco was telling his parents. She wondered what Ron was saying about her. What Harry was thinking? It was all overwhelming. Then she thought of what she was going to say to Rose when she got to Hogwarts. All of Rose's classmates would know as well. And Draco's son, how would he react to the news about his mother? It was all such a mess. Hermione was used to being in control. Making all the decisions. And now that power was out of her hands. She honestly felt like packing up and running off with her kids for a long holiday. Maybe the states. Maybe Australia. She didn't know. Would Ron follow her? Would he fight her for custody of their children? She felt slightly relieved when Draco returned a moment later.

"Well?" she asked as she bit her nails down to nothing. "What did they say?"

"Well mum was more understanding. When I told her who you were she didn't curse me. She didn't congratulate me either but I wasn't expecting praise for my actions."

"And your father?" Hermione asked swallowing hard.

"Well that was a bit tricky. He started to remember but mum and I gave him a memory potion and they are going on holiday until this all blows over. I don't think he will ever remember now."

She nodded nervously.

"Did you send an owl to Hogwarts?"

She nodded.

"Any reply?"

"Not yet. But we are quite a distance. Might not hear back until tonight." she said.

"We will just have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst." he said taking a seat next to her on the couch.

She sniffed and nodded, looking out on the vast sea outside the window.

"What can I do Hermione? Name it. I will go and deny all of it. I will take out a full page ad and make sure Asteria is blasted for the tramp she is. Anything. Please just tell me how to make it right." he pleaded gripping her hands in his own.

"I don't think there is anything we can do. It's out. We will just have to work with the people we care for and hope for forgiveness and understanding." she said staring into his stormy eyes. They were full of pain and desperation. She hated seeing that.

"I have to go get Hugo." she said. "Ginny and Harry hate me. Ron might be there. But he can't stay there."

"You could bring him here." Draco suggested. "I can go home. You are welcome here as long as you like."

"No, I think my parent's house would be best. Out of the wizarding world."

"I'm going with you." he said firmly.

"No, that's not a great idea." she told him.

"After the way they attacked me earlier, two against one, and a sneak attack at that I don't want you walking into a trap. They both looked quite mental."

Hermione considered it.

"Alright, but only to keep peace. No drawing your wand unless we are threatened. And you should keep back so they don't see you unless Hugo or I are in trouble. Agreed?" she asked.

"Agreed." he replied. "Are we apperating?"

She nodded and took his hand. They left the villa in a swirl of color before arriving on a very normal looking street about 50 meters from the Potter home.

"Stay here." she warned. He nodded as she walked away towards Harry's house. Her stomach was filled with a million butterflies and she felt very nauseous.

As she stepped on the porch she looked back to make sure Draco was in her line of sight before she knocked at the door.

A moment later Ginny answered the door. Her face looked red and her eyes were swollen and blotchy. Ginny looked like she had been crying all day.

"I'm here to get Hugo." Hermione said. Though she felt like hugging Ginny and apologizing for everything.

"That's all you have to say?" Ginny asked. "No explanation, no reason? Just here to get Hugo then?"

Hermione nodded, there was so much more she wanted to say.

"Hugo, your mum is here." Ginny called. It was then that she saw Ron coming down the stairs. He froze when he saw Hermione in the doorway.

"I don't want any trouble." Hermione said. "I'm just getting Hugo." Ron was walking straight at her.

"YOU ARE NOT TAKING MY SON ANYWHERE!" he shouted.

"I most certainly am. He is my son too. And last time I checked I was responsible for him. We don't have any custody agreement so I can pick him up and take him anywhere I choose." Hermione said back firmly.

"DO YOU EVEN CARE WHAT WAS PRINTED IN THE PROPHET TODAY?" he screamed. His face was now so red he looked like he had gone mad.

"I'm not discussing it. Get Hugo." she replied.

"Oh?" he mocked. "You don't want to discuss it? Oh very well then. We will just put it up on a shelf for next time we have tea."

"Get my son."

"And with Malfoy? Draco fucking Malfoy? I can't even wrap my brain around that. I…"

At that moment Harry walked to the door. His eyes were hateful.

"I think you should leave Hermione." he said.

"Not without Hugo. So go get him." she replied.

"No." Ron said. "He is staying here. I won't have you running off with him and Malfoy."

"We are going to my parent's house Ronald. Not that it's any of your business." she replied harshly.

"Oh is your little ferret staying there with you? I would think that mum and dad wouldn't approve of that." Ron said mockingly.

"Just get Hugo." Hermione said ignoring his snide remark.

"NO!" Ron shouted, red-faced and as close to Hermione as he could stand. Hugo came running down the steps and past his father into Hermione's arms.

"We are leaving?" Hugo asked. His mother nodded.

"No, Hugo you are staying here." Ron said calming down and taking a step back.

"We're leaving Hugo, going to Grandmum's house. Say good-bye to your father." she said with no emotion whatsoever.

"Bye daddy," he said. "See you tomorrow. Bye Lily, Aunt Ginny, Uncle Harry." Hugo said waving and taking his mother's hand.

Ron's face shot death looks at Hermione. She didn't turn around again to look at him, but just kept walking down the street to where Draco was waiting.

"Everything alright?" he asked. Hugo regarded him with caution.

"Who is this mummy?" he whispered.

"Someone I work with Hugo. He's helping me get to Grandmum's safely."

"Is something wrong?"" Hugo asked.

"I will talk to you about it later." she said quietly.

Draco looked at the young boy. He saw a lot of his father in him, but mostly he saw Hermione. He saw her in the quizzical looks he gave his mother. He saw her in the untrusting glare Hugo was giving him. And he saw it in the deep brown eyes and sprinkling of freckles on his face.

When they got to a safe place they apparated to Hermione's parents house. She told Draco to wait across the street until Hugo was safely inside the house. She only stayed a moment. He saw her kiss Hugo and hug him tightly. He saw her wipe tears from here eyes and exchange a few words with her parents. They closed the door and she walked slowly towards him. She looked broken. Her posture was slumped and her head hung. He reached for her hand, not even sure she had the strength to apparate back to the villa. He led the way, swirling around until they hit the hardwood floors of their safe haven. She flopped down onto the sofa and stared out the window.

He didn't know what else to say. Sorry just didn't seem enough. Her whole life was ruined, she was an outcast, and her kids were separated from her and their father. She couldn't go back to her house without a swarm of scummy reporters torturing her with her every life detail. He made a pot of tea and brought her a cup. She took it with trembling hands but didn't sip it.

"Hermione…" he started to say. Should he offer to help her run off, start a new life? He didn't get a chance to say anything, she turned and buried her head into his chest and sobbed. She cried for what seemed like eternity. She cried until she had nothing left inside of her. His shirt was soaked with salty, warm tears. He stroked her hair and said nothing, which he thought was best.

"Sorry." she whispered, wiping her eyes.

"For what?" he asked incredulously. "This is all me. None of this was your fault. I kissed you first. I will never, for as long as I live, forgive myself for doing this to you." His eyes were welling up.

And then she kissed him. She kissed him with every fiber of herself. She dug her hands into his hair and pulled him as close to her as he could get. The teacups on the table fell to the floor. They broke apart panting and gasping for air. And for once he didn't know what to say.

"If this is anyone's fault…" she said in between breaths. "It's mine. I could have said no. I could have stayed away. I could have done a lot. Truth is I didn't want to. I wanted someone to relate to things I liked. I was selfish. And I wanted you."

He stared into her red-rimmed eyes.

"I love you Hermione. I have never felt so sure and strongly about anything in my life. Whatever you want to do, or not do, I am with you, for as long as you want me to be. If you want to grab the kids and run off, start a new life without me or Weasley, I can help you. Just let me know what you want me to do."

Tears still running down her face she took his hand in hers.

"I want you to carry me into that bedroom and show me."

He didn't need to be asked again. Scooping her up in a flash he took her into the bedroom and placed her gently onto the bed. Her hair fanned out behind her like a silken sheet. Her hands slowly unbuttoned his shirt and she ran circles over his chest with them. His steely eyes longed for her. She pulled him down towards her and ran her hands across his scarred back. He started to protest but she shut him up with a long kiss.

"I love you. All of you." she whispered. Draco buried his face in the crook of Hermione's neck and inhaled her sweet scent. He wished things could have started out differently for them. He pulled her towards the head of the bed as she slid off her shoes and skirt. His hands roamed her body, stroking her bare skin expertly. Hermione let her mind go blank for a while, enjoying his touch, his scent, and most of all his taste. He made her forget about things for a while. All the worry left her briefly. And she knew how selfish she was being. Hermione always put others first. Ron and Harry, her kids, her parents, her work. So she didn't feel bad for being selfish just for a little while. Draco was unbuttoning her blouse, slowly, feeling the goose bumps arise on her stomach. She wriggled out of it and tossed it onto the floor. Just as his hand made its way up her thigh to the warmness he do desperately craved, he heard a tapping at the window. An owl was trying to get his attention. Draco took a deep breath and walked over to the window. The owl flew in as he opened it. It sat on the end of the bed waiting for its message to be removed. Hermione sat up in bed and took the note, her hand shaking. It had the Hogwarts seal on the outside. Draco let the owl fly back out the window before sitting next to her and waiting for her to open the letter.

"I can't." she said, her voice cracking.

"We are not going to get into trouble Hermione." He said taking the letter from her. "We are adults, and Headmaster Flitwick is not going to take house points or give us detention. All we care about is our children's wellbeing right?"

She nodded and swallowed hard as he tore open the envelope. His grey eyes scanned the words on the heavy parchment. He nodded and handed the envelope to Hermione. She read it as fast as she could and then read it again more slowly. She sighed but her hand was still shaking.

Dear Mrs. Weasley and Mister Malfoy,

Thank you for your prompt attention regarding the article in today's Daily Prophet. It did cause quite a stir at breakfast this morning and one of the teachers ushered Rose and Scorpius out of the great hall before it got too out of hand. I would appreciate your prompt attention to this by coming up to Hogwarts as soon as you can. I think things would sound better coming from the two of you.

Sincerely,

Professor Flitwick

Headmaster Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Let's go." she said grabbing her clothes.

"Now?" he asked.

She nodded as she pulled on her discarded clothing. He agreed and got dressed himself.

"How will be get there?" he asked. We can't apparate to Hogsmeade and be seen. It will cause reporters to write more gossip."

"We could apparate to the shrieking shack." Hermione suggested. "Then take the tunnel onto the grounds."

"Then what, just walk up to the front door?" he said. "You read what Professor Flitwick said, the whole school read about it today. It's bound to cause more scandal."

"We can use a charm. Damn, I wish I had Harry's invisibility cloak." A sob caught in her throat at the thought of her best, make that ex-friend.

"Alright let's go then." He reached out for her hand and they disappeared, landing on a dark dusty floor.

The room smelled of mold and had at least an inch or more of dust on every surface.

"Lumos" she said as she pulled out her wand. The faint glow gave her just enough light to see the stairway that led to the tunnel. She tugged at his hand.

"Wait…" he said. "What about the disillusion charm?"

"Oh, right." She said flustered. "You do it, I'm too nervous."

Draco took out his wand, tapped her head and then his own. The dripping sensation ran down her entire body.

"Can you see me?" she asked.

"No." he replied.

"Let's go then, I don't want to put this off any longer, my stomach is in knots."

The walked along the tunnel ending at the narrow opening at the base of the whomping willow. It was a tighter squeeze then she remembered but they made it out. Dusk was breaking over the castle as they walked quietly to the front door. A very small first year was just entering the castle so they followed in behind her, being sure to make no noise whatsoever. They avoided students making their way into and out of the great hall and walked around others as they climbed the stairs. They had no idea whatsoever how they would get into the headmasters office without being seen. By the time they got to the statue at the entrance the charm had started to wear off. Hermione spoke to the statue.

"I am Rose Weasley's mother and I need to see the Headmaster immediately. This is Scorpius Malfoy's father; he needs to see the headmaster as well."

To her surprise the statue opened and they jumped onto the spiral staircase. When they got to the top the large wooden door was open.

"Come in" said a squeaky voice. "We have a lot to talk about." Professor Flitwick said.

"Yes we do." said a harsh voice that made Hermione's blood run cold.