A/N I am super excited about this chapter, I've had it planned since day one. Hopefully ya'll enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing.

Lots of love and hufflehugs!

Ron ran into Paddy's pub frantically searching for Hermione. Bryony had tripped going up the stairs when going to bed. She hit her head hard and Ron had flooed her to St. Mungo's. After his terrier patronus told Harry and Ginny what was going on and brought them to the hospital Ron left to find Hermione. He knew a patronus would be fastest but being around muggles made it too risky. He knew the pub she went to every Tuesday night so he quickly apparaited to the nearest spot and went running in. He glanced around and quickly found her sitting at a table away from the bar. As he ran past the bar he thought he saw something familiar about the blond standing there but he didn't pause to look back at him.

At that moment Hermione looked up and saw Ron, her face draining of all color. She knew he would only come here for an emergency. "What's the matter? What happened? "

"Bryony fell down the stairs and hit her head, I took her to Mungo's. "

As they run past Draco and Sean at the bar Hermione says just one word, "Bryony"

-

"Whoa, what's that about?" Sean asks watching the door slam behind them. "Any idea who that was or who 'Bryony' is?" He says looking at Draco.

"Her husband and her kid." He replies throwing back the scotch he had just been handed in one gulp. This wasn't good. The only reason the weasel didn't recognize Draco was because of his panic, that's the only thing he can come up with. If he had realized who he had seen the weasel would have flipped out. Also what could have happened to their little girl this late at night?

"Wait, wait , wait! Your telling me that she's married with a kid?" Draco nods, pointing to his empty glass, signaling for another.
"She's been coming here well over a year now. I've never once seen a ring or heard mention of either. So is she stepping out on him?" Sean is confused and he dosen't like it. It's his job to read people and hes usually very good at it, that's why he is a successful bar owner. Making drinks is only half of it. "I read her all wrong. I would have never guessed she was stepping out on her old man leaving a kid at home."

Draco was caught up in his mind for a minute but then it registered what Sean was saying. He could feel his anger raising as he took his drink from Sean. He didn't like the idea of anyone thinking that way of Granger.

"Hey, you ever see her leave with a bloke? She isn't stepping out. Her husband knew exactly where to find her. She just comes here to get a night to herself!" Draco explodes throwing back his new drink then storming out.

Draco stormed to the nearest apparation point but then couldn't decide where he wanted to go. He almost wanted to try and find Granger to see what had happened but thinking of the weasel stopped him from even trying. All he could do was hope Bryony was ok.

After rushing to Mungo's and getting the diagnosis from the healer all that was left was to wait. Bryony had lost some blood and normal blood replenishing potions weren't given to small children. They were holding her overnight for observation and hopefully she could go home in the morning. Hermione hated St. Mungo's with a passion. She had awful memories here. She had been multiple times over the years for Ron and Harry. Being aurors and Harry's knack for finding trouble they had been injured more often than she cared for.

St. Mungo's was also where Bryony had been born. Sitting next to her bed looking at her little girl sleeping peacefully with a bandage over her right eye, Hermione thought back on that experience. The physical pain she barely remembers, it was the emotional pain that hurt so bad.

They had been having a quiet dinner at home when the contractions started. At the healer appointment the day before they had told her it would still be a few weeks. After trying to ignore it for an hour she couldn't anymore and Ron quickly realized what was going on. Hermione had been in denial about how close she was and hadn't even set anything up or packed anything yet. He sent a patronus to Harry and started frantically packing a bag. Hermione just sat at the table in shock hyperventilating through the contractions. As soon as Harry and Ginny showed up they all flooed to Mungo's.

"I can't, I won't! It's to soon!" Hermione screamed deliriously after she was settled into her room. She had went back and forth between demanding Fred stop joking around and come to her and being absolutely devastated because she knew he was gone. Nothing Ron, Harry or Ginny did would calm her and she was putting extra stress on her baby. The healers told them that if they couldn't calm her down they would have to do a cesarean. As a last ditch effort they brought George in hoping she would mistake him for Fred. The fact it worked for a few minutes proved to everyone just how delirious she was, she had ALWAYS been able to tell them apart.

Once she realized it was George and not Fred she went into true hysteria and she had to be heavily sedated before they could deliver the baby by cesarean. She woke up 5 hours later and once she learned what had happened she became hysterical again. The healers wound up keeping her heavily sedated for 6 days before she could be safely released. She then had immense guilt because she didn't remember the first week of her daughter's life.

Mungo's was not a place she wanted to be if she could help it but for her daughter's sake she kept herself calm and tried to push away all the awful memories. Knowing how she felt about the hospital her friends never left her alone. Ginny and Ron went to the cafeteria to get tea for everyone leaving Harry to try and distract Hermione.

"So Ron told me you've met someone?" Harry asks running a hand through his signature messy black hair with a sly smile on his face.

"OH really? And you believe him?"

"I do. You seem much happier the last month or so. Something had to have changed. So, tell me about him."

Ginny and Ron come back in in that moment interrupting Hermione. "Oh, are we learning about this new mystery guy?" Ginny asks handing her husband his tea while Ron hands Hermione hers.

"There is nothing to learn. I promise. We are just talking." Hermione sputters feeling like her friends are ganging up on her.

Ginny looked at her in disbelief and then turned to Ron, "Was he there? Did you get to see him?"

"If he was he wasn't talking to her yet."

"Was he? Tell us about him! Is he handsome, got a nice bum? Funny, charming, what? I need details!" Ginny asks grabing Hermiones hand and pulling her towards herself.

"What on earth is up with you? You never act like this!" Hermione asked shocked. Ginny was acting like her dorm mates at Hogwarts, all gossipy and well, girly.

"I'm going nuts at home! I'm so boooored, I need something to distract me. Coach said Im affecting moral, that I'm being too mean to the other players and my replacement so she kicked me off the field for practice." Ginny pouts, "I can only do so much to get ready for this little guy. And George said I'm not allowed to visit with Angelina anymore because I get her all worked up. I need something to do!"

"Then screw your husband or something and leave me alone woman." At this Ginny grinned lewdly and started to say something Hermione was certain she didn't want to learn about her best friend and her brother. So she added, "He is charming. And he has a nice bum. A very nice bum. Happy?"

"Thats a bit better. So was he there?" Ginny replies, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"He had just walked in, he was at the bar getting his drink when Ron came to get me."

-‐-

"Hey, guys, wake up!" Ron yells as he barges into Harry and Ginny's bedroom the following night. Harry jumps up and out of bed, wand in hand as Ron opens the door.

"Dammit Ron, I could have killed you! What the hell do you think your doing here?" Harry yells as he trys to find his underwater.

"Whoa mate, when did you start sleeping in the buff!" Ron said turning around covering his eyes.

"I don't fool. I fell asleep after shagging my wife. Do you need details, positions? " Harry snapped finally finding his sleep pants.

"You wanna die? What could possibly be so important for you to come here this time of night?" Mumbles Ginny sitting up from the bed.

"I know who she's talking to!" Ron says turning back around. "Its Malfoy!" He shouts in his excitement.

"What? Why on earth would you think its Malfoy?" Harry sputtered.

"It all fits!"

"He does have a really nice arse." Ginny comments as she throws a pillow at Harry and rolls back over, "now get the fuck out of here, both of you."

"Thanks for getting me sent to the couch arsehole." Harry says grabbing his glasses and a shirt. "Why do you think its Malfoy?"

"I'm telling you it all fits, wizard, last person expected to be seen in a muggle bar, old acquaintance." Harry shakes his head doubtfully as Ron is holding up his hand counting on each finger as they head back towards the living room, "recent widower? I would have never have thought its him but she said he was at the bar when I came in. I remember seeing the back of a familiar looking blonde at the bar as we left the bar. It has to be him."

"Whoa, man. This changes things a bit then. I know she keeps saying their just friends but I was hoping it would become more for her sake. Now we know its Malfoy?" Harry shakes his head. "I know he's changed since school, and I know he's no Death Eater. I wouldn't have spoken for him if he was."

"But its still Malfoy..."

"Exactly. I trust him enough to be a free man but do I trust him with Hermione? I'm not sure."

"Right, I say we investigate this further." Ron says decisively.

"You mean spy on her? " Harry corrects.

"Absolutely." Ron nods.

"She can't find out."

"Of course not. I still want to have another kid or two one day."

Harry laughs nervously as he settles onto the couch, "me to. Now go home, we can talk more tomorrow. "