Hermione was waiting at the station with Ginny, Harry and their kids for Teddy. So many things had happened that it would be nice to see him. Nice to be reminded that she was still the hero he thought she was to him. Missing Teddy had been worse than she ever thought it could be, but that wasn't everything was it? She told herself it was indeed.
The train hadn't arrived, and Ginny exhaled. "How are you feeling? Your medicine causing any side effects?" she asked, and Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"Nothing out of the ordinary that the doctors told me about. These hot flashes in a snowstorm are about near killing me," Hermione grumbled and fanned her face.
"You are going back when Teddy goes to school again?" Harry asked, and Hermione nodded.
"I will find out in the next week if the sample took. They had to treat it carefully due to the time," Hermione murmured, and the train whistled in the distance.
Hermione didn't see the couple standing next to her after a moment. A voice cleared, and she glanced over to see Marcus and Daphne. He smiled at her and Hermione tucked her hair behind her ear before turning to them.
"Hello Hermione," Marcus said, and she smiled.
"Hello, Marcus, Daphne. How is everything?" she asked gently.
Marcus shrugged his shoulders. "Pretty good. We have been helping Astoria with the Weasleys and her pregnancy. How was your New York trip?" he replied.
"Eventful. New Yorkers are very odd people," she murmured and fanned her face again.
The man smiled and touched her shoulder. "I am glad you enjoyed yourself. You are too smart to waste away, Granger."
"You really are wickedly brilliant, Hermione," Daphne agreed with a single nod.
Hermione smiled and wiped her brow with her jacket. "Well, I am glad I have fans. Regulus was impressed with me and plans to make better use of me now that we have returned."
Daphne leaned closer as the train approached. "Are you sweating? It is freezing," the blond remarked.
"Just hormones," Hermione murmured, and the train whistled.
Marcus thinned his lips. "Hermione, what do you mean better use of you?" he asked cautiously.
The woman shrugged her shoulders with a small smile. "I don't even know. He told me that on the flight home."
They ended their conversation as the kids started piling off the train. Hermione glanced around and saw the faded teal-haired child follow two blond girls off the train. She jumped up and waved excitedly as he tugged his trunk toward her.
"Mum!" he shouted and closed the gap, releasing his truck so he could jump into her arms.
Hermione started to cry as she held him tightly. "My Teddy Bear, I missed you too much!"
He squeezed her and kissed her cheek. "Mum, you are so pretty. I forgot how beautiful you are," he sighed as he touched her cheek. "How was America? Did you see the biggest apple?"
Hermione laughed then kissed his cheek. "The city is called the Big Apple, and I did. I saw the city and got to see Lady Liberty. I even got to see a show on Broadway." She told him, and he giggled.
"Wow, that sounds so fun! Are we going to go there sometime?" he inquired with big eyes.
"Maybe on a future holiday. I have so much to tell you," she whispered and pressed her cheek against his. "I missed you so much my bones hurt."
"I missed you so much my heart did," Teddy replied, and they embraced tighter.
"What am I, chopped liver?" Harry boomed, and the boy gasp.
"Uncle Harry!" Teddy exclaimed and pulled away from Hermione just to jump into Harry's arms.
"Hi, Teddy!" James said while waving.
"Teddy hi!" Albus repeated and jostled in Ginny's arms.
"Bye, Teddy, see you at our party!" Anna declared waving.
"Bye, see you around Christmas," Penny voiced as she joined her sister.
"Goodbye, Flint twins! See you later!" Teddy responded with a big wave.
Marcus and Daphne nodded at Hermione. "We will give you a call soon," he told her and took his girls' trucks with them as they walked away.
Hermione leaned down to grab his handle, but Ginny scoffed. "No, no, girl. You take your son, and Harry will take care of that. You are banned from heavy lifting for the next year of your life."
She groaned as Harry put Teddy down. "I am not any different than I was before."
Teddy walked up to her and took her hand. "Are we going to go to Uncle Harry's?" he asked, and Hermione nodded.
"Yes, we are going to have dinner."
"Wicked! Can we invite Aunt Cissa and Draco too?" Teddy inquired with a grin.
"Not tonight, love. You will see them soon," Hermione sighed with a polite smile.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
"Draco Lucius Malfoy! You put out that cigar now!" Narcissa shouted as she entered the pool room.
Draco groaned as he puffed on it a few times before putting it into his water glass. The gentlemen with him all were heard mimicking him and putting their very own out with audible hisses. They were in the spa and enjoying the evening. They could listen to the whistling of the storm outside but paid it no mind.
Narcissa was coming in to water her plants. Also known as keeping her son in line. Draco hated her overbearing attitude as of late for whatever reason. It was disruptive to his self-indulging. He stretched his elbows out to the ridge of the spa and sighed with a bright smile.
"Malfoy, I met this blond American at Nott's club and told her you were the man to see if she wanted a good time in the upper class," Zabini snickered, and Draco snorted.
"What are you pimping me out again, Blaise?" Draco retorted, and he heard his mother grumbling in the corner behind them. "As long as she is pretty with long legs and a pert set."
"He was better off with her," she breathed, and Draco tilted his head back.
"Yeah, well, she didn't want me, mother, don't forget that." He spat and reached for his ale.
He knew Marcus was exceptionally quiet because Fred was with them tonight. "You are doing a swell job at proving her right," the Weasley muttered, and Draco snapped his face toward the man.
"What do you want me to say? She is and always will believe that I cannot be redeemed. It's all wonderful, I don't mind this life either," He said holding up his ale.
"Okay, sure, keep telling yourself, mate," Fred grumbled.
Marcus sighed. "I saw her yesterday when she picked up Teddy. She looks good since New York."
"I am sure she does. My cousin probably introduced his new pet to her new life," Draco growled and tossed his hand in the air.
Narcissa's heels were heard nearby, and Draco felt a hand swipe his head in a smack. "Don't be foolish! Clean your arse up now, or I will go get Ramsey to pull you out of the spa for me," she hissed, and he heard her walk away in a swift stride. "Boys! Out of the pool room now! I need it cleaned before tomorrow; I have company," she snapped, and the door sounded.
"I have to admit, your mother is scary when she is angry," Blaise murmured, then splashing was heard, and the water shifted.
"Well, should probably do what she says. My mum is much like that as well," Fred declared.
Draco shifted and moved to climb out by a hand went to his shoulder. "Come on, mate, let me help you," Marcus said, and Draco grabbed his hand.
"This is ridiculous, you know? She expects me to cry and croon for someone who left me for a half-sound reason at best. I am not going to beg her to take me back when she clearly didn't want me in the first place," Draco hissed as he was hoisted from the water.
"Had a bit too much to drink?" Fred asked cautiously.
Draco growled and found his way to the bench. "No, this is me, goddamnit! I am allowed to be angry with her!" he spat as he found his cane across the stone.
"Hermione did say the things that were said to her, Malfoy. It sounded to me that she was just hurt that you wouldn't fight for her. You let it happen," Fred muttered.
"Zabini, you tell that blond she should come over tomorrow. I have a feeling my mother's guests would appreciate to see me in my element," Draco purred and reached for his towel. "Yes, that might be nice. Tell her to bring something- skimpy," he finished while wiping his face.
"He doesn't even hear anyone when he is like this, don't bother, Fred," Marcus growled. "He is well on his way to being his father at this rate. I am done for the evening; it was soured." Flint finished, and footfalls were heard crossing the room.
"Go on then. Don't forget to tell your wife about tomorrow," Draco snarled before the door slammed. "I don't need him to father me."
"Draco, mate, maybe you should get some rest," Blaise offered.
The Malfoy grew angry at yet another person telling him how to live his fucking life. "Go on, you too. Get the fuck out of here. Don't forget to send that blond my way tomorrow. I mean it Zabini," he snapped and started his trek across the room.
A hand landed on his shoulder after a moment. "Malfoy, you need to sober up some. It will only make the morning worse," Fred sighed, and the hand patted his shoulder. "Good night and try to sleep well."
The whole room grew quiet after the nearby sound of the door. Everyone left him. Waving the idea off, he grunted a sound of discontent and wrenched open the door. It wasn't hard to find; he was going to the library. When he was finally there, he sorted out his direction and found the large bottle waiting. There would be no need for a glass; he would have the whole thing.
It swayed in his hand as he marched up to his wing. A pang of sadness held him at his door for a fraction of a second. Fixing his grip, he twisted the knob and went inside. It was only in there that he could face it. He coveted the memories like a sacrilegious ritual. Sipping the bottle, he wriggled from his trunks throwing his cane and the wet suit on the ground. The last thing he would remember is a soft sound.
"That's if I ever want to again. Maybe once is enough."
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
A woman sat at the window in a small flat and looked out at the snow. Hermione had decorated the tree with Teddy that night and silently mused on things. It would be the last Christmas it would be just them. It would be the last time they would have only presents to each other under the tree. The final winter where she would worry for his loneliness on returning. She wouldn't fate him for the emptiness she had as an only child.
The snow was coming down in soft flakes now, and she smiled. Hermione loved it when it looked like feathers in the small breeze. The hour was later than she should be up, but she felt restless. Calm but all the same like her skin was ready for a moment's notice to start an adventure.
Was this contentment? Hermione would like to think so; but not in a way she felt at first. She was happy when Harry cried and begged her to do it, just for the honor that was Sirius. It even struck her as sweet when Regulus offered them a reasonable home for them to start the journey of a lifetime.
There was a piece missing; she would deny even to herself. She was so ready to lay it all aside for him. How could she have been so blinded by his changes? Can a man change his nature from an accident? Would he do that for her? No, that pain needed to remain in the box she put it in a month ago. When she saw him tonguing that disgusting woman. Yes, the pain was safer on the shelf than it was to miss someone she could never have.
The flakes drifted, and she pressed her hand to the cold glass. Cold. It was there that she saw him smirking back at her. Laughing at her ignorance once again. People don't change, only their ways to hurt you. She was relieved she didn't make it to him that day before he enveloped that other woman. She would have admitted to her mistake, but he saved her from it. He kept her from her own misery.
Hermione finally decided to climb into bed after she let loose a yawn. It was going to be a long day, but she would endure. After all, nothing had truly changed.