Disclaimer:- I do not own any HP characters etc
" I don't understand! Why is it not working?" Narcissa wails pushing the buttons on the phone
Hermione had messaged he mother in-law just as she had asked that morning, but not getting a reply she made a floo call. Blaise and Hermione was standing there as Narcissa arrives waving her phone around in frustration. It appears that the older Malfoy had received a message but hadn't been able to look at it. They were trying to hold in laughter of the sight of the woman in front of them bashing the buttons furiously.
" Let me see" Hermione says taking the phone off her before she could destroy the device
" Cissa, you've locked it! You need to put in the pass code" Hermione says
" What's that?" Narcissa asks
" It's a password for the phone, what did you set it as?" Hermione looks at the woman
" A password? I didn't set a password" She huffs folding her arms
" Yes you did, what were you doing to it earlier?" The brunette questions
" I was trying to call you because you hadn't messaged me" The woman whines, making the other two giggle
" Fratello, fix this while I go find Storie and the kids" Hermione smiles and tosses the phone at Blaise who catches it with one hand smoothly
" Why do I have to fix it, you're the muggle born here" He replies
" Because you're the genius with phones" She smiles not looking back, she wasn't lying and he knew it, grinning to himself he turns back to Narcissa who was eyeing the phone in his hands, wanting to play with it still.
" All right Cissa, lets get this fixed" He smiles at the lady sitting down on the couch
Hermione wasn't lying when she said he was a genius with phones, ever since she introduced the piece of technology to them during University, Blaise had been the first to fall in love with technology, phones were his expertise out of them all. He had studied them immensely when he first got one and even opened one up dissecting the thing, finding out how what every piece did. He had managed to jail break many of their phones in the past, manually, not magically. When Hermione first tried to get them to use phones because it was a quicker way to contact instead of using owls all the time, they had been sceptical, Draco and Pansy were both adamant that they didn't need such thing in their lives, but it didn't take long for to convert him as Blaise was forever playing random games and phone. Soon enough he found his love for muggle technology in computer gaming. Pansy was the last person to give in and try it, only because she had felt left out since the rest of the group was using it constantly, but now you never see her without hers. Theo and Astoria both loved it since the pair of them were in England and they could contact the others easily.
Making their way through Diagon Alley to the Weasley shop, Hermione could feel the stares from random strangers. She was walking in between her friends while her mother in-law was walking holding onto Cassie's hand in front of them, the two boys next to them, both nearly jumping with excitement. Sighing at as they pass a couple who was whispering to one another and glaring at them.
" Remember what Cissa said, ' head held high because we've got nothing to be ashamed of'" Astoria whispers to her noticing the couple, nodding in agreement she links onto Astoria who gives her a smile and carries on walking. She didn't want to show it but was a nervous wreck inside, knowing that she would be seeing another person from the past.
Stepping inside the shop, it was just as she had remembered it. A wave of nostalgia hits her as she walks through the shop, the children had already ran off looking at random objects, Parker pulling his mother with him and her two young ones pulling Narcissa. Blaise didn't leave her her side as she walk towards the counter where they see the behind of a tall red headed man.
Sensing someone behind him he turns around to see her smiling at him.
" Hermione Granger! I beg your pardon, Hermione Malfoy!" He beams surprising her by pulling her into a hug.
" George!" She replies as they pull apart.
" Wow, it's been a long time. How the bloody hell are you?" He asks her still smiling patting her on the arm
" Good, I'm doing great. I'm here with the kids" She replies
" Ahh! Well don't worry you'll get anything for half price here" He waves his arm round
" That's very kind of you, how are you?" She felt relieved that he wasn't angry or throwing them out.
" Great! Angelina is home with the little one, and Freddie is in his last year of Hogwarts" He grins with pride
" That's great George. I'm glad things are going well with you" Hermione said, she knew that they had gotten married not long after the war.
" Well, you don't look like Malfoy" George looks at the man next to Hermione, but was still smiling
" No, thank god! Blaise Zabini" He replies with a chuckle, holding out his hand as George shakes it without hesitating
" Mr. Zabini, nice to meet you. I hope you're treating my favourite Malfoy well" George jokes
" Of course, Mia is my sorellina" He states, putting an arm around Hermione, who smiles at his reply
" Your what?" George looks at him puzzled
" Sister, I'm his sister George" She explains to the man as Astoria walks over to them
" This is Astoria, she went to Hogwarts too, she was a year younger than me and Blaise" Hermione says as Astoria smiles at the red headed man
" Yes, I remember, Miss Greengrass" He holds out his hand
" It's Mrs. Nott now" She shakes the man's hand giving him a warm smile
" My apologies Mrs. Nott" George replies
" God, Theo is going to kill me when we get back, Parker's already got a load of stuff yesterday with him" Astoria sighs, before anyone could reply to her, they hear someone calling.
" Mum, mum! Can I get this?" Scorpius runs over, the three adults look down at the boy who was holding a telescope
" No! I don't want you playing with that, pick something else" Hermione replies, recognising it
" Awww, but whyyy?" He whines
" That my friend is because your mother was a victim of that telescope" George replies chuckling at the memory, crouching down to the same height as the boy
" Really?" Scorpius says in shock
" Yes, please pick something else Scorp" His mother replies
" Okay..." He sighs and walks off
" What was that thing?" Blaise raises an eyebrow
" When it's squeezed it gives someone a black eye, Mione ended up with one from it" George explains
" It took forever to get rid of black eye" Hermione huffs making the others laugh.
They were in the shop for nearly an hour before the adults could drag the children out, Hermione was relieved that George was so friendly with everyone, including Narcissa. He didn't seem to care what the paper said, and managed to make the children laugh with his jokes. It felt good that there was at least one Weasley that didn't judge her or think ill of her because of the past, and seemed to have accepted her friends. He had given Hermione and her family an open invitation to dinner with his wife and children, one that she will have to talk to Draco about. The children had taken a liking towards him, probably boosted it as he slipped in a few freebies in their bags. George made Hermione promise that she would keep in touch before leaving.
Narcissa decided to head back to the Manor making an excuse of wanting to go through decorating plans, but they all knew that she was going back to catch a tv soap that was due to air. Hermione told her that she would drop of the kids for bed later after dinner before going back to Nott Manor with the others. As soon as they arrive, the children had ran up to Parkers room to go through their bag of goodies, while Blaise floos to Pansy. Astoria and Hermione sat in the lounge talking over cups of tea, waiting for their husbands, unaware that their children wasn't really upstairs.
Harry had just decided to call it a day as he starts to pack up, Ron had disappeared after leaving his office, leaving a load of paper work untouched, he made a mental note to give him an earful later about it. He stands up and stretches before grabbing his cloak when he hears a ring from his fireplace. Turning round he sees a blond haired boy land in followed by a shaggy brown haired boy. The blond looked familiar to him but couldn't remember where he had seen him but he had never seen the other boy before.
" Mr. Potter?" The blond says politely
" Yes? Who are you and what are you's doing in my office?" He asks them
" I'm Scorpius Malfoy and this is Parker Nott" He replies, his eyes glared at him giving him a slight chill
Hermione's son, he remembers seeing him at the cafe now, but what were they doing in his office? How did they even know how to get to his office?
" What can I do for you two?" He questions
" This! We want you to fix this!" Scorpius says throwing the paper towards him that lands by his feet. Picking up the daily prophet, he sighs, he had read it this morning and knew what the boys meant. He never thought that Rita Skeeter would blow things so much out of proportion, as much as he wasn't happy with Hermione, he didn't think she deserved what Rita had written about her, he saw that Hermione loved her children. Harry had his assumptions on how Hermione had joined with the Slytherins, but the paper had clearly favoured him and Ron, and on top of that Ron had to go and make a comment.
" Look boys, I can't make the paper retract the article, it's already published" He sighs rubbing his temple with his free hand
" But you and your friend started it!" Parker says angrily, he was not happy on what was written about his god mother
" We had our reasons for coming over yesterday but the paper just made it look worse" Harry says trying not to argue with the two young boys
" My godmother is a good person, and my family love her, you and your friend had no right to be horrible to her" Parker yells, Scorpius pulls Parker aside to stop him from lashing out more
" Your godmother?" Harry looks at the boy questioningly
" My parents is Parker's godparents, my godparents are the Zabini's and the Nott's are Trenton Zabini's godparents" Scorpius explains
Harry was shocked to hear that Hermione was Theodore Nott's son's godmother, they seemed to have rotated on being god parents, just how close where they?
" Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Nott. What the paper writes is out of my hands, I'm an Auror, I only deal with crimes and dark wizards" He replies, trying to make the boys understand.
" You're the boy-who-lived, I'm sure you can say something to that wretched woman, it's quite clear that they would take your word over anyone else's." Scorpus says pointing at the paper in his Harry's hands.
He was surprised at the words that came out of the young Malfoy, he was understandably smart, he must have gotten the intelligence from Hermione he thinks to himself.
" As I mentioned before, it's already done, there's nothing I can do. Do your parents know you're here?" He asks them
" No, mum would never let me come on my own" Parker says quietly who was standing behind his friend.
" How did you find out how to get to my office?" He wanted them to leave so that he could go home but he was really curious how the boys were able to get in.
" Simple really, I had gone through the directory and cross referenced each floor of the building to what department you would be in" Scorpius shrugs
This really is Hermione's child, he knew that her son was starting Hogwarts this year which would mean he's the same age as Albus. He couldn't stop his expression from being amazed by the boys intelligence, but also noticing the boy had a smug look on his face and was smirking just like his father, still a Malfoy after all.
" I'm about to lock up, you boys should go home before you get into trouble, there's nothing I can do for you." Harry sighs putting his cloak on.
" Come on Scorp, I told you he wouldn't help" Parker says pulling on his friends arm
" My mother had told me that you was a brave and kind man, and that you protect the innocent. All I see is a coward and a bully, stay away from my family and friends, my mother has cried enough already for you and that Ron" Scorpius snarls at the man before taking the floo, Parker gives Harry a glare and follows through.
Standing there shocked, a kid had told him off like he was a child himself. He called him a bully, never in his life had he had someone call him that, let a lone a child. What had Hermione said about him? She cried over him and Ron? Does she still cry now? Did the article make her cry? He had so many more questions that he wanted to know the answer to. Feeling slightly ashamed that he had been told off by a child he lets out a loud sigh, taking one look at the paper in his hands he groans and tosses it in the bin. Maybe Ginny was right, maybe Hermione shouldn't have came back, shaking his head he locks the floo before leaving his office.
A ring is heard throughout Nott's Manor as the two boys stumble out of the floo, they see their parents standing there with their arms folded glaring at them, Cassie was standing behind her dad peering round with worrying eyes. Scorpius looks and sees that both sets of parents were extremely angry, he almost felt bad for dragging his friend into going along with him.
" Cassie, go back to Parkers room for now" Hermione says to her daughter, who walks out with her head down, mouthing a 'sorry' to her brother as she leaves.
" Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy! Come with us!" Draco says angrily at his son, turning round to leave the room, his wife follows with their son trailing behind them.
Draco leads them to the meeting room that he had left earlier, Hermione closes the door behind them and takes a seat while Draco stands leaning on the table. Scorpius shifts uncomfortably in front of them.
" Explain what you were thinking when you decided to gallant off like that with Parker?" Draco scolds
Scorpius looks between at his parents worriedly, his father was leaning his hands on the table glaring at him while his mother was sitting with her legs crossed, arms folded and leaning back into the chair.
" I...was going to see Mr. Potter at his office" He replies in quietly
" Yes, Cassie told us. What were you thinking? Why did you decide to run off?" His father asks sternly
" I wanted him to fix the article, I don't like what they said. The paper was horrible to us" He said looking away
Draco looks at his wife who was looking back him, they didn't realise that their son had gotten hold of the paper, they knew that in time he would have probably came across since he liked to read the old news paper articles, but both of them were hoping that he would have been too distracted with Parker to have seen it. Hermione gets up and walks over to her son, crouching down to look at him.
" Scorpius, you know that the news papers are mostly lies. They're always making stuff up. We know that the paper had said some things about us, but we know what's real, the paper is just a story that they made up." Hermione says softly to the boy
" But its lies about us, they made dad sound evil" He mumbles
" Yes they did. I'm not going to lie, it is difficult and yes it does hurt, but that doesn't mean you can run off and try and handle things yourself. What if you got in danger? What if it wasn't Mr. Potter that was there?" Draco says walking up to his son
" I know...but it made me so angry, I don't like what the paper said" Scorpius clenches his fist
" Scorpy, remember what we've told you, just because we don't like a situation, doesn't give us a reason to act out upon it." His mum reminds him, hearing her call him his nickname from her he doesn't feel as worried as he first came into the room, only his mum had ever called him Scorpy.
" I remember mum...I'm sorry mum, dad." He replies looking at them both
" We know you are champ, we're just glad that you're okay, you had us very worried" Draco says pulling his son into a hug, then his mother gives him a hug.
As Hermione lets go her son, both adults stand back up.
" That doesn't mean that you get away with this young man!" Draco voice hardens again making Scorpius wince
" You are not to play with any of the toys this from Weasley Wizard Wheezes this week, and you are grounded until for the next three days Mr." Hermione says strictly.
" Yes mum" He nods
" And no quidditch either" His dad adds making Scorpius sigh
" Okay" He replies in defeat
" From now on, let us deal with stuff like this, you just worry about starting Hogwarts okay?" His mother said, not saying anything but nodding in reply.
" How did you know how to get to Mr. Potters office and get to the floo without us knowing?" Draco asks, he had wanted to know when they found them missing.
" I looked through the directory, and cross-referenced each floor of the building to each department, minus the top floor floo's as that's usually the minister's office, minus the bottom floor floos because it's the lobby, and only the head's of departments have their own floo I was able to calculate which number room his office would be. When mum and Aunt Storie left the sitting room, I knew we couldn't get pass, so we went to the floo room and was able to unlock it with Aunt Stories wand. We put her wand back though!" He explains to his parents. Both were actually proud that their son was so smart, but they didn't want to show it as he was in the wrong.
" Okay, lets go, it's nearly dinner time" Draco says opening the door for them. Scorpius runs off to find Parker, happy to get away from his parents. They never really yelled at him, when it came to discipline, the most they had done was raise their voice slightly, but he never liked to make them angry or worried.
" Damn that kid is smart.." Draco whispers slinging an arm around her as they make their way back to the sitting room
" ..and cunning" she smiles at him
" A little Slytherin" He smirks
" He could be a Gryffindor you know, he's brave to sneak out like that" Hermione retorts
" Nope, definitely a Slytherin" He shakes his head
Stepping into the living room, he hears his children happily chattering in the kitchen. Putting his cloak on the stand he heads towards the noise. Leaning against the door way he smiles as he sees his wife finishing off dinner and his children all sitting there talking over what sounded like quidditch. None of them had notice that he had arrived home. He watches his wife glide around the kitchen getting everything ready, suddenly he finds himself frowning as he notices his wife was wearing a gold necklace that he hadn't seen before. He swears he sees her wearing a new piece of jewellery every other week.
" DAD!" Snapping out of his thoughts, he sees his children all smiling up at him, and his wife looks up at him giving him a big smile.
" Hey, how is everyone?" He smiles walking over to his wife kissing her on the cheek before taking a seat at the table.
As the Potters, one on the outside would say that they seemed like the perfect family, all smiling happily enjoying each others company. Ginny however could see that her husband was wanting to speak to her, from the way he kept glancing at her over the table. He didn't look happy, maybe she should buy him something tomorrow, that would make him happy again she thought. Deciding that, that was what she was going to do, she carries on eating with a smile, listening to her children natter on about their day.
After they finished dinner, the children had gone into the sitting room as the two clear the table, neither of them saying anything. As she sets the dishes to wash itself she turns around to find her husband standing closely in front of her, wrapping his arms around her waist she smiles putting her arms around his neck.
" Gin..?" He says quietly looking into her eyes
" Yes baby?" She whispers back, leaning in closing her eyes waiting for him
" Where did you get this?" He asks, snapping her out of the trance, she looks down and sees that his hand had moved holding up the diamond necklace
" I bought it" She snaps moving out of his arms, making coffee
" When?" He questions leaning on the counter
" I don't know Harry, what's the big deal?" She sighs out loud, she sounded irritated
" I haven't seen it before, it looks expensive" Harry said still watching her
" I don't know, I'm just good at saving" She shrugs with her back to him
" Are those new robes?" He says eyeing her outfit properly
" No, I got them a while ago" She snaps at him again
" Gin, what was Parkinson talking about yesterday?" He asks, carefully watching her reaction
" What do you mean?" She questions, still with her back to him, he could see that she had tensed up
" You know what I mean, she mentioned about you doing something, and then something about Hogwarts" Harry said frustratedly, his instincts were telling him that she was hiding something from him, Ginny didn't respond for a minute, then turning around with two coffees, she plasters a fake smile on her face
" Harry, you know what that pug face is like, she's just making stuff up, and I already told you what I did in Hogwarts, I went out with a few guys, okay maybe one of them was a Slytherin but that's it, it's hardly anything big" He doesn't take the coffee from her hands but eyeing her to explain, she sighs and puts the cup on the counter.
" Okay, I slept with Marcus Flint in my final year" She confesses
" Your final year? We were already together then!" Harry growls
" Yes, I know, and it was a mistake that was never repeated, that's what Parkinson meant!" Ginny says with a straight face
" How could she find know when she didn't even go back to Hogwarts?" He questions her folding his arms, damn him and his quick mind Ginny thought.
" How do you know she didn't?" She snips at him
" Because only four other people went back after the war, Neville Longbottom, Terry Boot, Ernie Macmillan and Tracey Davis" He says trying not to raise his voice
" Well...he must have told her or Tracey Davis" She says feebly
" I don't believe you Gin" He says grinding his teeth
" Well that's the truth! And even if you don't believe me, it happened years ago, we're married now, what's the big deal!" Gin cries
" There's a lot that I don't ask you about but I'm starting to wonder what you hide from me." He replies
" What? What would I be hiding from you? First you ask about my necklace, then my clothes now you're believing that pug face bitch over me!" She yells
" I never said I believe her over you, I'm just asking Gin. I need to go floo call Ron" He says storming away, leaving the cup of coffee behind. He knew she was lying, she reacted too angry at the questions, not wanting to argue in ear shot of their children, Harry thought it was best to ask her again when they weren't around.
Ginny was furious that Harry was questioning her, he can't know what happened in Italy, there's a possibility of him leaving if he knew, no! He wouldn't do that, we have kids!-Ginny thought, But still, if he found out, things would get really bad, the snakes doesn't seem to be saying anything, I just need to make sure they don't interact with Harry alone-she says to herself. Ginny didn't tell him about Hogwarts, it wasn't a lie that she got with Marcus Flint, she just neglected to tell him the others. It was a close call she thought, will definitely have to get him something tomorrow to take his mind of things. Looking at the cup that she just made for him, she throws it in the sink in a huff and heads out into the sitting room, picking up a fashion magazine from the side table and seating herself onto their couch.
He wanted to know what Ginny was hiding from him, but he didn't want to ask Parkinson, that would mean actually talking to the woman, he wanted Ginny to tell him herself, it can't be that bad right? Then again, she just confessed she cheated on him with Flint, was that all? Or was there more to the story that she hadn't said? Harry had been wondering where Ginny had been getting the money to buy so many things lately, everyday she seemed to have a new outfit and then she buys the boys new brooms each season, and he wasn't stupid to not notice the suits that she buys him were high street brands. He wouldn't have thought about it if it wasn't for the warning from the minister earlier that day, it had hit him that if he didn't have a job, how would Ginny afford all the things, but then again, how had she been affording all the things, his job paid well but half the stuff that he had seen cost more than his monthly pay check, like the necklace that she was wearing for instance. Yes he had been rewarded with a pretty nice sum after the war for defeating voldemort but that was decades ago, and they had spent a lot of it on holidays and re-doing the house. He'll have to pay a visit to Gringotts bank at some point.
" Ron, what's all this?" Molly asks holding the paper up, it was just him and his parents at the burrow, Lacey would sometimes stay over, but she had her own place and as much as he likes bedding her, he couldn't really stand to be with her for a long amount of time, plus she can't even boil an egg. They had finished dinner, well, nearly finished, Ron was on second helpings. Looking up his plate, he sees his mother standing on the other side of the table holding a dish cloth in one hand and the daily prophet in the other.
" The paper" He replies with a mouth full of food
" Don't be smart with me. Is this true? Is Hermione back?" She asks putting the paper on the table in front of them.
" Yes she's back" He frowns taking another bite of his mothers cooking
" And is the rest of it true? Is she being controlled by them lot?" She questions him
" I believe so" He says swallowing the mouthful of food
" Oh my! How horrible, poor girl" She says clasping her hand to her chest
" Don't worry mum, I'll get her back" He smiles, finally standing up, at least his mum was on his side he thought
" I'm sure you will dear, Hermione must be terrified, what are you going to do?" She asks, her voice full of concern
" I'm working on it mum, don't worry" He says again reassuring her, just as Molly opens her mouth, they hear Harry's voice calling from the fireplace.
The group of friends sat comfortably in Nott Manor's secondary sitting room, Hermione and Draco had taken a love seat with Hermione's head on her husbands lap facing outwards with her legs draped over the end of the seat, while Blaise sat in an arm chair side ways with his legs hanging over the arm rest, with Pansy in front of him near the center sprawled on her front with a pillow under her and her elbows propped up holding head. Theo and was sitting on the bigger couch with Astoria leaning on the arm of it with her legs in her husbands lap. They guys all had a glass of fire whiskey while the women had a glass of wine. The scene looked like it was from a sitcom, anyone who saw would know how comfortable they were all with each other.
Hermione and Draco had dropped off their kids back at Malfoy Manor, after they had made sure the children had gone to sleep, they spoke to the elder Malfoys and instructed the elves to contact them if their children needed anything, they then both changed into casual clothing and gone back to Nott Manor. Trenton was sleeping in Parkers room while Clayton was in Trenton's old nursery, which hadn't been cleared out as the Nott's were thinking of having more children.
Draco was absent mindedly running his hand through his wife's hair as they all relaxed.
" I want to scream and shout and yell but I just don't have the energy in me. I just don't get why people have to be the way they are. It's been how many years and they still live in the past! It makes me sick. I should have kept that bitch in the jar. You know why Scorp went to see Harry?!" Hermione starts ranting
" Parker told us, they went to pretty much went to confront the man" Theo says
" Yeah, and you know what, I probably would have done the same if I was him. This doesn't just affect us, it's affecting our kids, what will the other kids say when they go to Hogwarts? Will they get picked on? What if the teachers aren't over the past either? I don't want them to suffer because of something they have no control over." Hermione carries on ranting, suddenly getting up from her position she starts waving her hands
"That woman had the nerve to say basically say I didn't want my children! Scorpius is smart but Cassie is so innocent, what if she hears things, people are going to say she's an unwanted child." She was angry now, and letting everything out.
" She makes out that everyone of you to be evil, what the fuck is that? Who the fuck does she think she is to judge people like that" They all listen as she carries on ranting, she's swearing now, she must be really pissed, which is good Draco thought, she's letting it all out, so they kept quiet and let her continue.
"Why is she even still working for that damn paper, she should have been fired years ago, she's never published anything other than crap, what is the editor thinking." She huffs,
" That Weasley! Where in his mind does he think that he can just swoop in and expect me to run back to him, did you see his comment. He's absolutely out of his bloody mind! It's been years and he still thinks of me as a feeble girl, that bastard" She stops to take a breather, the boys all raise an eyebrow hearing her call Ron by his last name as the girls sit patiently waiting for their friend to finish ranting.
" I swear I'm gonna bust into her office and hex that bloody beetle to smithereens" She finishes of by picking up her glass and taking a large gulp of wine
" As much as I would love to see that happen, how about we send her a lawsuit, all of us! That's six lawsuits, for making serious accusations and printing false information, also we didn't actually consent in having our pictures printed, especially with the children either." Astoria says
" We can't, she doesn't actually accuse anything, she just puts assumptions. Skeeter is actually quite smart and would find loopholes." Blaise says taking a sip from his glass
" The woman still needs to learn a lesson" Pansy said rolling to her side
" What we're you thinking Pans?" Theo asks
" I don't think we should do anything really" Hermione says shaking her head
" I don't mean threaten her anything, come on, give me a little credit" Pansy says rolling her eyes
" Sorry, I didn't mean it like that" Hermione replies leaning on Draco's shoulder who automatically puts his arms around her
" I mean we give her a taste of her own medicine" Pansy grins, they all look at her to continue
" Well, I am a fashion designer, I have some connections to certain magazines" Pansy says with a twinkle in her eye
" Pansy...what are you thinking?" Draco asks warily
" Don't worry, it won't be anything too bad, just something that will make people gossip about her." She says not giving any information out.
" You know sorellina, the boys will all be together at Hogwarts, they can handle themselves. Scorp is a smart kid, he knows what to do and what not to do. Don't worry so much about their time in school. Scorp knows you love him, and from what I heard he was upset that they written about you, not that he believed anything in the paper" Blaise says changing the subject
" Yeah, and Cassie may be innocent but she understands, she's not one to be pushed around. She doesn't attend Hogwarts till next year, by then the news will be forgotten." Theo said putting down his empty glass on the floor
" This piece of shite of an article is nothing. We've been through worse before" Draco says leaning his head on top of hers, rubbing his hand on her arm. He was half right, they had been through some tough times in Italy, however Hermione still feels this time will hurt them more if it carries on.
" And Mia, we're all in this together. We have nothing to hide, and we've done nothing wrong, we don't have to tiptoe around anyone." Astoria says with enthusiasm
" Exactly! Why should we let the article dictate how we should act, we don't have anything to be afraid of. We're all successful if I do say so myself and we're all happy, it'll be stupid to let a piece of news get to us" Pansy nods, sitting up leaning on the arm chair where her husband is sitting.
" Remember when we we're in Italy, and the local paper was accusing me of abuse on some girl I hadn't even met. You said that whatever people print in the paper is because they have nothing else to say and so they resort to making up shit. We got through that together, and you and Blaise even helped on the case with my lawyer, you guys hadn't even graduated at the time!" Theo says looking at Hermione
" We can let them put us down or we can fight it by showing them that it doesn't affect us, that's what they want, they want to see us cower." Draco says bringing her face up to look at him in his eyes.
They were all looking at her now, all giving her emotional strength. She felt a rush of determination, she wasn't going to let people get to her, they can glare and point all they want but she was not going to let it bother her, just like the rest of her friends and her husband. She will not be the one to bring the group down when they were all so strong, she is strong, and she can get past this along with her family. Looking back into her husbands eyes, she sees how much he loved her, giving him a passionate kiss in surprise she hears Blaise in the background " Knock it off! Save it for the bedroom", breaking from the kiss she grins at Draco who gives her a smile back, Hermione turns back to face the others.
" You're right, you're all right! We've been through a lot of shit, why let this bring us down. We're better than that, and our kids are strong, my son even managed to get himself to Harry's office! We have nothing to be ashamed off, we've done nothing wrong." Hermione says standing up
" That's our Mia!" Blaise grins standing up with her
" And here I thought we lost you to darkness" Draco jokes putting his arm around her waist, she instantly leans into him
" Like I said, we don't stray from one each other" Pansy grins stranding up next to her husband
" And nothing will tear us apart" Theo says as he and his wife joins them standing together
" That's so cheesy Theo" Hermione laughs
" It's cheesy but true" Astoria smiles
" I love you guys!" Hermione laughs again
" Love you guys!" They all say, getting into a group hug together.
Settling back down in their seats, Hermione felt so much better. Scanning the room looking at each one of them, while listening to her husband explain how their son managed to get into Harry's office, she felt content. She felt lucky to have them, and she vowed again that she would do anything for them, because she knew they would do the same for her. They spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing and making random conversation. Whatever happens ahead, Hermione was sure that they will all be able to take it.
So this chapter was a little mushy, and no pretty much no action in it, my apologies, hopefully the next chapter will make it up to you all.