Writing this chapter broke my heart - so please review to mend it.

Chapter 22:

Hermione imagined that returning to the manor would be the hardest thing about this project. They had been at the manor for three days and so far she had managed to avoid the drawing room where Bellatrix had tortured her. She often walked past its door but she was too scared to enter. Her room was amazing. It was right next to Draco's and across the hall from Aurora and Curtis' room. She'd hidden in there for the last hour, trying to do her homework when Curtis barged in. He was quickly followed by his sister and father. Draco ever the gentleman leant in the doorway. "Daddy says we have to go to bed!" Aurora complained.

Hermione looked at her watch, "gosh! Is that really the time? Your daddy is right." She left her unfinished essay and chased her children across the hall to the bathroom, "quickly clean your teeth and wash your faces!"

She then turned to Draco and smiled. He took her hand and touched it to her lips, "how's the homework coming?"

"Mh… ok I guess," she leant against his chest.

The children rushed out of the bathroom seconds later. Hermione sighed, "pjs!"

Curtis and Aurora went into their respective rooms and changed. Aurora shouted from her room, "mummy, can we have stories?"

"No princess," Hermione told her. She heard her daughter's groan, "It's too late. We'll have stories tomorrow night."

Hermione went into Aurora's room as Draco went into Curtis'. She kissed her daughter on the cheek and tucked her in. "I love you angel."

"I love you too mummy," Aurora replied.

Draco and Hermione swapped rooms, their fingertips brushing each other as they passed. "See you in the morning, you little tyke," Hermione told her son. He was already well on his way to falling asleep. "I love you."

"I love… you," Curtis replied through a yarn.

Hermione met Draco in the hallway, "what now?"

"Well… we could go downstairs for a bit," Draco suggested.

"Let me just go grab a book," Hermione nodded. She rushed into her room, picked up a book and returned to her fiancé in the hall. They walked hand in hand down the stairs. "Do you think your mum will ever drop the subject of the wedding?"

"You mean before it actually happens?" Draco laughed, "Unlikely."

Hermione sighed, "Okay." She mentally prepared herself for all the older witch's questions. They walked into the large sitting room where Narcissa and Lucius were waiting for them. Narcissa was sat reading a witch magazine – Hermione had a feeling that it was a bridal magazine if the cover was anything to go by. Lucius was sat comfortably next to his wife reading the evening paper.

"I take it our grandchildren are asleep?" Narcissa asked, looking up.

Hermione nodded. Draco laughed, "you've completely worn them out with all the games you've had them playing."

"That was the idea," Narcissa replied, "makes bedtime far easier."

Hermione and Draco laughed as they sat on the sofa opposite Draco's parents. Hermione leant into Draco's side and lifted her legs onto the sofa next to her. She went to open her book but Narcissa put an end to that thought. "Dears, I was wondering…"

"Narcissa," Lucius chastised. He was getting rather impatient with all the wedding talk. They hadn't even set a date and Narcissa was as ever getting out of hand.

"No Lucius – you don't even know what I'm about to say," she complained. "I want to know what happens to Aurora and Curtis at the end of the year?"

There was a sudden quiet. Hermione frowned. She didn't really know the answer but she had a feeling that it was bad. She looked at Draco, hoping he would answer so she didn't have to. Draco looked into her eyes sadly. He didn't look at his mother even though he was addressing her, "we don't really know. They haven't made it clear but I'm guessing we give them back."

"You don't think you'll be allowed to keep them?" Narcissa frowned.

"How can we?" Hermione asked, suddenly looking away from Draco, tears filling her eyes. "They will be turning ten in a couple of weeks… By the time we finish school they will be seventeen, they grow and develop because of magic. They aren't real children, as much as they feel like they are… as much as Aurora feels like my daughter and Curtis my son… they aren't. They aren't even children… I don't want to ever say goodbye to them but…"

"But we won't have a choice," Draco finished for her as she had given into the tears that had threatened to consume her. They didn't see the two pair of eyes watching them from the doorway and they didn't hear the sudden gasps of surprise when Aurora and Curtis realised that they wouldn't always have their mum and dad. What they did hear was the sound of thunder on the stairs, "shit!" Hermione was the first to realise what had happened. Draco was shocked by her language but jumped up and followed her out of the room. Narcissa and Lucius fell into step behind the young couple.

Hermione went straight into her daughter's room where she could hear her children crying. She really didn't know what to say to them. They looked up at her, "Is it true?"

Hermione desperately wanted to lie to them but she couldn't, "yes," she practically whispered.

"How?" Curtis asked.

"It's a project for school…." Draco tried. He sat on Aurora's bed next to his fiancé and their children. Narcissa and Lucius stood watching in the door way.

"We're not real?" Aurora asked.

Hermione felt a sob in her throat, "you are real! You came to us in the strangest way but you are real. I can touch you." She held her daughter's hand, "you can feel that, can't you?"

Aurora nodded, "but we'll leave you?"

"Eventually…" Hermione nodded, "but lovely girl everyone leaves eventually. One day grandma and grandpa won't be here… I won't be here… your father won't be here… none of us last forever…"

"But I don't want to leave you," Curtis cried.

"I know son," Draco frowned. He couldn't believe how much this hurt, "you don't have to. Not yet… we've got ages."

"I don't want to die," Aurora whispered. She was sitting in her mother's lap, tears falling freely down her cheeks. "Please mummy…"

"I'm so sorry lovely love. If I could prevent it I would. I'd die to save you… I'm so sorry."

After more tears the children finally fell asleep in their parent's arms. Hermione and Draco gently rocked them. Narcissa and Lucius had excused themselves over an hour ago to leave the family to their grief. Draco stood up and carried Curtis to his own room. When he returned Hermione was still rocking Aurora gently. "Come on love… put her down… you need to sleep as well…"

Hermione shook her head, "I can't leave her. I can't waste a moment more."

Draco gently took the sleeping girl from his fiancé and put her down on her bed. He kissed her gently on the forehead before turning to Hermione. He pulled her into his arms and carried her through to her room. She was sobbing freely now. He placed her on the bed and leant down in front of her. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began dabbing her tears away. He didn't speak as he worked; his eyes gazing into Hermione's eyes. He kissed her knee softly before helping her out of her clothes. He saw the despair in her eyes. He'd never seen her fiery eyes so dull. He helped her into a pair of pyjamas and then magicked his own clothes away so that he stood before her in just his boxers. He then picked her up once more so that he could lift the covers. He put her down and then pulled her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She rested her head on his chest as he kissed the top of her head. They didn't say a word as they clung to one another, feeling one another's despair, mourning together.

Also check out my story on FictionPress - Same Girl, Same Fears...