A/N: Thanks to those who have followed and/or left kind words. I was feeling stuck with this chapter, and knowing there are people waiting to read more really gave me motivation to continue.

Just a heads up that based on what I've planned out, I'd say the story is 3/4 finished.

Chapter Thirty Three

It had been exactly one week since Rose had been admitted to St. Mungo's, and exactly one week since Hermione's life had once again been turned upside down. By daylight she was a doting mother, determined to give as much love and attention as she possibly could to both her children. By night, however, she felt as though she'd become someone else entirely.

Her routine consisted of sitting next to Rose's hospital bed, watching the Healers tend to her while they scribbled notes on their clipboards. During the afternoons, Hermione would briefly leave to check in on Hugo, who had been staying at the Burrow with Arthur and Molly while Rose and Ron recovered. After providing an update to the Weasley family over a cup of tea, Hermione would return to St. Mungo's to be with Rose where they would watch Muggle sitcoms together on the tablet they'd borrow from her mother.

In the evenings, usually late at night, was when Hermione engaged in her new self indulgence. The moment Rose's eyelids closed, she would carefully stand from her chair and sneak out of the young girl's room. She'd head to the nearest exit, and after looking around to make sure no one was watching, she'd swiftly disapparate. She always appear in front of the same familiar doorsteps, and always fell into the same familiar arms.

Hermione and Harry had spent every night wrapped up with one another, sharing passionate moments and talking into the early hours of the mornings. They had an unspoken agreement that they wouldn't discuss their situation, not while Hermione's mind was preoccupied with Rose's recovery. Yet, after their last encounter, the gravity of the situation had crept back into Hermione's thoughts, and despite how much she'd taken pleasure in her impulsivity, she was starting to worry.

Hermione knew that the further she allowed herself to slip into bliss with Harry, the harder her fall would be when it had to end. She'd gone over it in her head so many times. As much as she wanted to be with him, she just couldn't see a way that the two of them could move forward.

It wasn't just that their relationship would rock their families. It was also that it had the potential to blow up their careers. She was Harry's boss, and she'd been foolish enough to overlook that. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd be having sex with an underling, especially one who was also technically still her brother-in-law.

Hermione was starting to panic, just like Harry said she would, and it was for this reason that she'd sent him an owl earlier in the day, letting him know that she wouldn't be coming by Grimmauld Place that night. She'd lied, writing succinctly on a piece of parchment that Rose was having a tough day and that she couldn't sneak away.

Once Rose had fallen asleep that evening, Hermione wasn't sure what to do with herself. She felt a twinge of sadness that she wouldn't be spending the night with Harry where should could escape reality and seek comfort in his safe embrace.

Hoping to clear her head, Hermione decided to venture outdoors, and she found herself sitting alone on a wooden bench just outside of the hospital. She sipped on a mug of hot tea while she gazed at the clear night sky and admired the stars, listening to crickets chirping from the nearby garden.

"What are you doing out here so late?"

Hermione turned her head towards the voice, and gave a small smile as Ron approached her, limping slightly on his injured leg. He was dressed in grey sweatpants and a thin navy jacket, rubbing his hands together to keep warm.

"Could ask you the same," she replied as he took a seat next to her.

"Been having trouble sleeping," Ron explained. "Thought I'd get some fresh air."

Hermione nodded, looking straight ahead at a small flower bed. She felt a bit guilty. She'd not once went by Ron's room to check on him.

"I'll be cleared to leave tomorrow," he offered. "Sounds like Rose won't need to stay much longer either."

"They told me two more days," Hermione answered with a small smile. "More so as a precaution."

"Right." Ron leaned forward slightly, a strange expression on his face. "I have an idea to run by you."

Hermione turned to look at him, her curiosity peaked.

"Alright, sure," she said, noting to herself that his ears were slightly red.

Ron swallowed hard, and shifted uncomfortably on the bench.

His odd behavior made Hermione feel nervous. What on earth was he going to say?

"With Rose out of the hospital, I... I think I should come home."

Hermione was at a loss for words. She was shocked to say the least.

"Well... I - uh - " she sputtered, as her heart rapidly drummed against her chest. "That's... umm, certainly a thought."

"It is," Ron agreed with a nod, looking at her expectantly.

"Why?" Hermione asked. She winced inwardly when she heard how sharp her voice had sounded.

"Rosie's just went through something really traumatic," he explained with a small frown, scratching the side of his head. "I want to be there for her and help in her recovery. I mean... I'm sure you've got loads to catch up on at the Ministry. I could take some time off from the shop and stay home with her. That way you wouldn't need to worry."

Hermione was floored. She knew Ron loved his children dearly, but there had been very few times in their marriage where he'd put their needs ahead of his own.

"That's... a very kind offer," she said slowly as she considered his plan. She hated to admit it, but it made sense. "Are you sure you're up for it? I could just work from home until Rose goes back to Hogwarts."

"I'm one-hundred percent sure," Ron answered with a reassuring smile. He placed his hand tenderly on her shoulder. "You've already done so much. Besides, it'll be nice to spend time with the kids before they head back to school."

"Alright... well thank you, Ron. You're right, I could use the help."

"Brilliant. I'll have George pack up all my things from the shop," he said, grinning ear to ear. "He'll be bloody happy to be rid of me."

Suddenly, Hermione felt panic stricken. He didn't think he was moving back for good, did he?

"This would just be temporary though, right?" she asked carefully, watching him closely. "Until Rose is well enough to head back to school?"

Ron flushed and cast his gaze down to his hands which were folded in his lap.

"Well... with everything that's happened... it's made me realize how important our family is. It's really put some things in perspective, you know? I realize now just how great it was what we had."

"Oh... "

"What I'm trying to say is... I want to come home."

Hermione couldn't believe it. He was telling her everything she'd wanted to hear, only it was a month too late.

"Ron... I don't know what to say... "

"You don't have to say anything," he said hurriedly. "We can take it step by step if you'd like. That way there's less pressure on all of us... and I don't mind sleeping in the guest room until we rebuild some trust with one another."

"I'm not sure it's a good idea," she said with a sigh. "I don't want to try only to have everything fall apart. The kids can't go through that again. I can't go through that again."

He took her hand in his, and looked at her with determination.

"What makes you think it will?"

The question made Hermione's stomach flip. She knew then that she should tell him. He deserved to know that she'd been with someone. After all, he'd had the decency to tell her about the muggle woman he'd kissed.

"I... " she faltered, unable to go on.

Slowly she pulled her hand away from his light grip. She exhaled loudly and cradled her face in her palms. She couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I'm just not ready, Ron. I'm not sure if I ever will be. I mean... we just announced our separation. Things between us are finally calm."

"Look, I'm moving in to help with Rose. I won't lie that I'm hopeful there's still an 'us' but there's no pressure, okay?"

"Ron... " Hermione began, shaking her head slightly.

She didn't have the energy to think about this. Their failed marriage had been the last thing on her mind during the past week. Rose was still in the hospital. She'd only just recovered.

"I promise I have no expectations," he said quickly, a pleading look on his face.

Feeling a sense of unease, Hermione sighed heavily, and against her better judgement, she agreed.

"Alright," she said. "As long as we're both clear... no expectations."

...

Scorpius stood in the long hallway outside of Room 148, his sweaty hands awkwardly at his side. He stared long and hard at the door, knowing that Rose, the person he desperately wanted to see but also desperately wanted to avoid, was on the other side. He'd gone back and forth about whether or not he should visit her. After all, sending an owl would be easier, though also cowardly. His father had eventually convinced him that he should visit Rose after several days of lame excuses.

To ease his anxiety, Scorpius had planned out exactly what he intended to say to her, but now that he was standing in front of her door, he felt sick. For a moment he held his breath and closed his eyes. He softly knocked on the door, and hearing a familiar murmur on the other side, he pushed it open. The second he stepped into her room, their eyes locked, and he stopped in his tracks.

Rose looked so small, dressed in her Cannon pajamas and lying down in the hospital bed situated in the center of the sterile room. Her red hair was loose and messy, and her freckled face was clear and pale. She offered him a small smile, which he hesitantly returned.

As Scorpius stepped further into the room, Rose breathed heavily, sitting up against her pillow and unconsciously running her hand through her red hair.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hey," Scorpius returned shyly. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she answered, and then with a slight smile added, "well, as fine as one can be after... you know."

"Yeah," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He didn't dare move closer.

"I'm glad you came," Rose said after an awkward beat. "I've been worried about you."

Scorpius shook his head and scoffed.

"Worried about me? I should be worried about you," he said, unable to mask his guilt. "You were tortured, Rose. Fucking tortured."

"I'm aware," she replied evenly.

Scorpius's grey eyes were filled with an emotion that Rose couldn't quite place.

"You've got to know," he said as calmly as he could manage. "I had no idea that my grandfather would ever pull something like that. If I had any inkling I bloody swear - "

"Scorpius, it's okay," she said hurriedly, hoping her words would comfort him.

"No, it's not," he replied firmly. "Rose... I'm so sorry."

"You've nothing to be sorry for," Rose said softly. She hated how tormented he looked.

"I have everything to be sorry for."

"You're too hard on yourself."

Scorpius gave her a pointed look.

"If it weren't for me, you'd never have been anywhere near Malfoy Manor or my family. It it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"You're a victim in all this too," she reasoned, sliding off her bed and taking a step towards him. "Your grandfather using the Imperius? I can't imagine what that's done to you."

"It's not the same," Scorpius said, shaking his head. "You could have died."

Rose continued to approach him, and once she reached him, she cautiously resting one of her hands on his upper arm.

"But everything's alright now," she soothed, looking into his sad eyes. "We're going back to school in a few weeks and we can just forget this awful summer ever happened. Go back to normal."

Scorpius shook his head.

"I don't think things can ever be normal," he whispered, a scratchiness in his voice.

He looked down at his shoes, unable to meet her questioning stare.

"What do you mean?"

Scorpius sighed, and a pained expression appeared on his face.

"Rose... he used me to get to you, to spy on your parents. I'm a danger to you and your family."

"Don't be silly."

"I'm not... " he said unwaveringly. He forced himself to look up at her. "This isn't easy to say... but we need to stay away from each other."

"What?" Rose gasped.

"I'm sorry... " he said quietly as tears started to well in the corner of his eyes. "You have no idea how much I wish there was another way."

"You want to end things?" She asked with disbelief.

"I... I have to."

Rose never had such a jarring sensation take hold of her. This type of pain was something she'd never experienced before, and it was entirely different than the physical pain she'd been through a week prior. It shot through her, and she felt as though she'd had the wind knocked out of her. It took several beats for her to recover, and suddenly she felt an overwhelming resentment and sense of betrayal take hold of her.

"So it was all because of the Imperius then?" She fired at him bitterly. "You never had any real feelings for me?"

"What?" Scorpius replied, his eyebrows shooting up and his mouth agape. "No! Of course that's not true."

Rose threw her hands up in anger.

"Then why are you doing this?"

"To protect you!"

"Liar!" Rose shouted at him as a stream of tears slid down her cheeks.

"I've never felt anything stronger than when I'm with you," Scorpius confessed, desperate to control his emotions. He couldn't fall apart, not here, not now.

"Stop trying to spare my feelings and tell me the truth," Rose choked out in a teary cry.

"The truth is I love you," he declared sorrowfully, a pang shooting through him at his admission.

For a moment Rose was shocked, but she recovered quickly, and her blue eyes widen with anguish.

"If you love me you won't leave."

Scorpius looked down, not able to face her intense grief.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

For a moment, silence took hold of the room as the two teens stood motionlessly. Tears continued to stream down Rose's face and Scorpius's eyes were red rimmed as he tried to suppress his own.

"Get out," Rose said suddenly, pointing to the door. The sharpness in her tone startled him. "Go!"

Scorpius didn't hesitate for a second. He knew he'd hurt her badly. He hurried out of the room, quickly closing the door behind him.

Once Rose was alone, she allowed herself to completely come undone. She collapsed onto her bed and broke into an unruly sob.

She felt sick as she went over everything in her head. Scorpius didn't want to be with her. That was the only logical explanation. He had to be lying to spare her feelings. After all, if it weren't for him being under the Imperius, they'd never have gotten together in the first place.

"Rosie? What's wrong?"

She lifted her head off her pillow to see her mum standing at the foot of her bed, a bewildered expression on her face. She didn't know why, but the sight of her made her cry even harder, and before she knew it, Hermione was rushing to her side.

"He - he doesn't want me," Rose managed to choke out just before she was wrapped into a hug.

Hermione held Rose tightly and gently rubbed her back. She didn't need to ask who 'he' was. She'd just seen Scorpius rush down the hallway, wiping away tears and he hurried towards the lift.

"Oh, sweetheart," she whispered into her daughter's ear. "I'm here, alright? You can let it all out."

Rose did just that. She cried on her mum's shoulder for what felt like hours until she eventually tired herself out and fell asleep.

Hermione continued to hold her, looking down at her small, peace face. Rose was still a child in her mind, and she hated that she was going through the heartache that inevitably came with growing up.

It was become clear to Hermione that the last few months had shaped Rose in more than one way. As she gently stroked the young girl's hair, she felt a twinge of sadness as she came to grips with the fact that her little girl was not so little anymore.