Since I posted two chapters yesterday, I don't want you to miss either of them!

Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen are essential to the plot.

Thanks to J.K. Rowling and Camnz.

Chapter Fifteen- Truth

Hermione awoke with a splitting headache. Her limbs were heavy and she felt like she still needed to sleep. It might take months to get over everything that happened yesterday. Meeting Molly, Suzette the surprise secretary, the unexpected publishing of Magical Parenting Today, the party at the Nott's, and then a blowout fight with Draco last night. Could things possibly get worse? Her mind was foggy from lack of sleep and the stupid headache, but she rushed into the nursery to gather her screaming infant. Gemini shrieked all the way back to the Malfoy suite and Hermione began nursing her while sitting on the bed.

Hermione used her wand to remove her headache, then switched the baby to the other breast. She rested on her pillow and thought carefully about what was said the night before. She missed Draco so much. She missed how they worked together. Was she right? Was Draco right? How should she move forward? She should not jeopardize her relationship with Draco, Hermione believed. They desperately needed to work this out. They both wanted the best for the family, for the children. Draco must fire his secretary. And should she shut down Magical Parenting Today? No! She couldn't. Keeping the magazine going was essential right now. She believed that it was wrong for the Ministry to dictate journalistic content, but she also recognized that Draco was right about putting their children first. Draco always thought that it had to be one or the other, for example, either the family or the magazine; she believed it was possible to do it all. If Draco forced her to shut the magazine down, she would. Without being resentful. The marriage and the children should come first. She would be Astoria and lay Hermione to rest.

Today. So much to do. Her brain was still foggy. Priorities. First, she needed to take Gemini to the healer at St. Mungo as Molly had suggested. Second, she needed to talk to her team at MPT. Third, she needed to pack for their stay at her parents' house. Last, she needed to get her hair done and buy a new dress for the party tonight. The dress she wore last night had been uncomfortably tight, but if money was going to be an issue for the family, maybe she should skip the gown. It would be a relief to not have to shop today anyway. She'd tackle everything in order of importance. Gemmie was first. Hermione called in Penny and the children.

"'Morning, sweethearts. We might be taking a trip soon, so could you pack your things for me? Let's make a list: jeans, trousers, jumpers, t-shirts, pajamas, swim suit, socks, shoes, underwear, hair brush, tooth brush, favorite toy and book. Gemmie and I are going to see a healer today, but I will check your packing when we return."

The children agreed and ran to their rooms to pack. Hermione gave the baby to Penny and headed toward the shower. Scorpius stayed behind and gazed quietly at his mother. She turned around and sat back down on the bed.

"What is it, Scorpius?" she asked gently.

"I woke up last night. I heard you tell dad to leave. Are you mad at him, Mum? Is he going to come back?" Scorpius' voice trembled.

"Of course, he is coming back, Scorpius. I'm sorry you heard me yell at your papa. We are just not seeing eye to eye right now, but we'll work things out. We always do." Yes, Hermione did believe this to be true.

"Is it about the magazine?" Scorpius asked. Now, how did he know about that? Oh yes, one of their discussions had taken place in the nursery near the blanket fort. Blast! She had wanted to keep the children out of this.

"The magazine is part of it," admitted Hermione.

"I read through it, Mum. I thought you sounded really smart."

"Oh, Scorpius. Some people are angry about it because not everyone sees things the same way. I must try to respect other views even if I disagree."

"Mum, is Papa a bad man?"

"Why ever would you think that? Of course, he isn't a bad man!" Hermione looked alarmed.

"Albus Potter told me that Papa was a Death Eater in the last war. Death Eaters are evil."

Hermione remembered the Dark Mark tattooed on Draco's arm and glanced down at her own arm, searching for the word Mudblood that Bellatrix had carved into her flesh. Sadly, she realized that Hermione's body was gone and along with it, the Mudblood tattoo. It was very strange to miss it. Astoria's arm was without blemish. Then Hermione looked into Scorpius' serious eyes.

"Scorpius, this is something you should really talk to your father about. I'm certain that he has important things to tell you about that time of his life. But here's what I can tell you-at a very young age, your father made a decision he later regretted to be a follower of Voldemort. He did it because he thought it would please his father and protect his mother. Your father is not a bad man. He is a very good man, and his life is different now."

Hermione desperately hoped that history wasn't repeating itself and that her words rang true.

"Any more questions, Scorpius?"

"Are you friends with Harry Potter?"

"Yes, of course, I am. Ginny Potter and Molly Weasley too. Why do you ask?"

"Because of the stories you tell us about Harry Potter. Mum, sometimes you tell them like you were there too. Were you?"

"Oh. I suppose I was around. Anyway, the stories are all true, so if you ever need anything and Papa or Mummy are not around, you can always go to Harry Potter."

"Mum, are you really Hermione Granger?"

Hermione's eyes grew large. She didn't know what to say. "Oh, Scorpius," was all she could manage.

"Mum. Tell me the truth. Dad calls you Hermione, and you know all the stories about Harry Potter. I know it's true. You are Hermione Granger."

"I am totally astonished, Scorpius. You are a very smart boy. Yes, it's true."

"So you aren't really Astoria Greengrass?"

"I guess you could say that I'm Astoria on the outside and Hermione on the inside. This body belongs to Astoria, but she died, and somehow Hermione's spirit landed here when Hermione was killed. It's not something we talk about because it's rather unbelievable, don't you think? I think we won't tell your brothers and sisters until they are older."

Scorpius nodded.

"When you attend Hogwarts, Scorpius, it could very well happen that someone gives you a bad time about your father being a former Death Eater. A person could even hate you because of it. Or a person could say bad things about Astoria Greengrass or Hermione Granger. Scorpius, I don't want you to hate them back, okay? I want you to make peace if you can. Just remember how much your father and I love you; during the war, we may have done some bad things, but we are not bad people and neither are you."

Scorpius was silent. He hugged his mother, and she hugged him back very hard. He was tall and thin. A sweet, observant boy. Thoughtful, just like his father.