Hermione and Harry carefully picked their way along the corridors to the children's room. Harry had thrown his cloak at Theo, pointing out that him and Hermione being together would hardly be unusual. Theo had gaped as he realised what he was holding before disappearing under it, acknowledging the truth of Harry's comment.
They entered the common room silently, Harry freezing at the sight of James.
"Dad?" the boy asked, confused.
"Uncle Harry!" the twins chorused.
"Um…oh hell… this is really fucking weird Mione," Harry responded, looking at her helplessly. "That's my kid….those…those are your kids! I….fuck how are you two so calm with all this?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "We've had a couple of days to come to terms with it. It's still strange." Turning to the kids, she tried to smile reassuringly, "Sirius is coming tomorrow, we thought he'd insist on….Harry's involvement, so we got there first. Prevents him from blowing up the Headmaster's office with his dramatics. And it means that when Sirius has a meltdown before listening, it's just him and not two of them"
"Oi!" Harry protested as the children giggled.
"She's not wrong, Dad." James grinned, " Only Uncle Sirius is more dramatic than you!" he paused for a moment, "And maybe Uncle Ron. Now come and sit down and stop being an idiot."
With wide eyes, Harry complied. "Tell me everything," he begged, his eyes never leaving his son's face. James and the twins grinned before launching into a convoluted story that focused on happier memories than the ones they'd originally shared with everyone else. Hermione smiled as she listened to them, watching Theo talking quietly with Scorpius, Cassius moved to sit beside her to give them some privacy.
"How are you doing?" she murmured.
The boy shrugged, "I…it's all really strange, to be honest. I mean it'll be a wonderful story to tell someday, assuming we remember. But." he paused, looking far younger than he had up until now. "Miss Granger? What's going to happen to Scorp?"
Hermione let out a long breath. "I don't know," she replied softly, refusing to insult him by pretending she didn't know what he meant. "I can't imagine your Uncle Draco not being willing to do anything possible to ensure he exists and I know what Scorpius has said about his mother but from what little I know of Astoria, I can't believe she started out that way."
Cassius hummed, "Can I ask…." he trailed off looking unsure.
"You can ask," she prompted.
He looked at her, his eyes sad, "They're all working to help you and Uncle Theo so that you don't have to live the way you did." he exhaled slowly, "He's my best friend. Can I ask that you help Scorp, not only to exist, but please make sure he doesn't have to live the way he did either?"
Moving on instinct, Hermione wrapped an arm around him. "I promise I'll do what I can." she murmured, "But Cassius, I can't imagine your Uncle Draco allowing things to play out the same way either."
Cassius nodded, sinking into her embrace. "Thanks….Aunt Hermione," he muttered with a slightly cheeky lilt, startling a laugh out of her.
"Hermione?"
"Hmmm?"
"Can we talk for a bit?"
Hermione glanced around the empty common room before casting a little bubble of spells. "We can now." she agreed.
"The kids….they're awesome." Harry began slowly, "But that life, Mione. Are you really sure it's not best just to…cut your losses?"
Hermione ran a hand through her curls before she could stop herself. "Look at me and tell me that you won't do whatever you can to ensure James exists now you've met him," she demanded.
"I….fuck, Mione." Harry groaned. "Fine. Fine. But…do you really think we can stop this?"
Hermione hesitated. "Theo will murder his father if we can't" She whispered.
Harry's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? Mione. Fuck. Are you actually serious?"
"If you had no other option, what would you do?"
"And you're just ok with it?" he asked pacing, "Fucking hell Hermione, we're discussing fucking murder!"
"I know," she whispered, looking close to tears. "And I really hope it doesn't come to that but….Harry, I can't live with the life the twins described. If you've any other suggestions, I'm all ears but, what if we have no other choice?"
He stopped pacing and pulled her into a hug. "Let's hope Sirius has something," he muttered. "I…fuck, Mione. I don't like it but I don't think I can live with you having that life either. I'll…help. I'll help if we have no other choice."
Sirius was waiting in the Headmaster's office when they arrived, Snape's eyes immediately zeroed in on Harry before they flew to Hermione's.
"Are you determined to kill us all?" he groaned, looking surprisingly resigned.
Hermione shrugged, "You know we'd end up here anyway." she rationalised.
"For fucks sake, all we need now is the Weasley twins and self-destruction is guaranteed," he muttered, not contradicting her. "No!" he barked when she went to open her mouth.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down primly with Harry and Theo flanking her.
"Going to give me an explanation, Kitten?" Sirius asked before she could greet him properly.
Severus rolled his eyes, "Once the Headmaster is here, Black, surely even you can wait until then."
Sirius sneered before turning back to Hermione. "Who's he?"
"Ah…Theo Nott." Hermione hedged as Sirius stared back in surprise.
"Thoros' Nott's son?"
"Yes."
Sirius nodded slowly. Right….right. I really hope this story's a good one, Kitten." he said finally, making no move to hide the appraising look he was giving Theo.
"Oh, it is," Harry muttered.