Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Black Market Mishap	By : SnuggleLove54 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 7236 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, magical/non-magical settings, etc. are the property of J.K. Rowling. I make no profit from this. No copyright infringement of the Harry Potter fandom is intended.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue
- 2-Chapter One
- 1
- 2
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." - Franklin P. Jones

Chapter One

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Every day in the Potter house was a new experience. Ginny Potter had been a mother long enough to know that she had to have her wits about her because if she didn't, then her two sons would have the house in an uproar.

And when she said sons she really only meant son. She knew that James was the mastermind behind all of the pranks and that Albus only followed his lead. Not that she didn't think Albus enjoyed being in cahoots with his brother, oh no, she knew he got a laugh out of it as well, but he was still just a babe. He was only almost four, but with James being seven, he knew what he was doing.

As Ginny gave each of her sons their respective breakfasts, she noticed that they were whispering back and forth. "What are you two-"

They suddenly sat up straight. "Morning, Dad!" James exclaimed as Harry walked in through the kitchen archway.

"Morning, Dad," Albus said, coping James and grabbing his fork.

"Good morning, boys," Harry said with a smile. He was just about to greet his wife when a "Hungry!" from his right sidetracked him. A small red-headed toddler was sitting in a highchair. "Well, hello, pumpkin, and how is my Lily this morning?"

His daughter smiled shyly back as Ginny walked over to them. "She was getting fussy waiting on her breakfast."

"Fussy? My Lily? Never," he said jokily. "She's much too like her mother to have a temper."

Ginny glared playfully at him. "For that comment, you get to help her eat." She then waved her wand and Lily's food floated over to him.

Harry happily accepted the plate, but before his wife could turn away he grabbed her around her waist and pulled her into a swift kiss. "Love, you know I adore everything about you, right? Even your fiery temper. It keeps me on my toes, if nothing else."

Smirking, Ginny pulled away from him. "Harry, your sweet words are coming quicker and quicker. I'm proud of how fast you came up with that. It was almost believable." With a saucy wink to show that she was joking, she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Chuckling, Harry began feeding Lily and Ginny turned back to her boys. James was pointing to his open mouth making gagging noises while Albus giggled at him. "James, stop making faces and eat your breakfast. And, Al, please stop encouraging your brother."

All was calm after that for a few minutes while everyone ate until a series of taps were heard from the window. Ginny turned toward the noise and recognized Hermione's tawny owl, Penthos, sitting on the sill.

"I'll get it!" James yelled and was about to get up, but his mother outsmarted him by summoning the letter over to her. She then proceeded to get Penthos some treats as a reward for his long journey. James sank back down in a pout and muttered something about wanting a wand himself.

"What's the news?" Harry asked as he cut up another pancake for Lily.

"Probably the usual weekly update," she replied as she broke the wax seal. While it was true that it wasn't unusual to get a letter from Hermione and that they usually heard from her at least once a week, the contents of this letter were quite different than the others. Ginny quickly looked up at her husband, startled, "She's moving back home!"

Harry stood up immediately and took the letter from Ginny's hands.

Dear Harry and Gin,

I hope this finds you both well and that it didn't disturb your breakfast too much. (I know how James and Albus can get.) I fear, however, that what I'm about to tell you might in fact cause a disturbance anyway.

I don't know how I could have overlooked the fact that my work visa needed renewing, but it seems that I've let it go and get expired. So, because of this I've been informed by the French Minister of Magic that while the French wizarding community appreciates and respects everything that I've accomplished while working here, they have no choice but to deport me until I apply for a new one.

Before either of you get yourselves too excited, I want to make it clear that I am not staying indefinitely. You both know the reasons why I left Britain in the first place and just because I have to come back doesn't mean they've changed. No amount of pleading or bargaining will change my mind about this either. (This especially holds true for Ron.)

I'll be arriving by Portkey at two o'clock this afternoon at The Leaky Cauldron, where I'll be staying until this whole mess is cleared up. So, I suppose I'll be seeing all of your lovely faces before you know it.

Sending all my love,

Hermione

P.S. Give the kids a kiss for me.

Harry looked up at Ginny wanting to see her reaction to this and saw that she was just as torn as he was about it. On one hand, he was elated to see Hermione coming home at last, but on the other he was concerned about his friend's healing process. It had only been four years since that tragic day when Hugo was kidnapped. Four years for Hermione to continue to hope that he would be found, four years for her to continually suffer when he went missing still.

"I don't know how to feel about this, Gin," he said confessing his inner struggle.

"I don't know either, Harry. It doesn't sound like she has much of a choice," Ginny answered after a pause.

"Does this mean Aunt 'Mione is coming over?" James asked excitedly as he jumped up and down in his seat. Albus copied his movements with only a short delay causing the dishes on the table to rattle. "Do you think she's going to bring me more of those chocolates?"

Both Harry and Ginny groaned. "I hope to Godric that she doesn't," Harry said as he remembered how his sons had ate all of the French chocolates in one sitting without his knowledge and as a result it had kept James and Albus up all night, bouncing off the walls. "For my sanity's sake, I pray that she got you something else."

"I don't know what sand-tity is," James said, butchering the word, "but I want the candy! They were the best candies ever!"

"I want candy, too, Mummy!" Albus exclaimed.

Ginny saw how excited her boys were and, although the last time they had had the chocolates was a nightmare, she didn't have the heart to cause their happy faces to melt away. So, she opted for a neutral answer. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, now won't we?"

James and Albus continued to reminisce about the delicious French chocolates while Ginny took over Harry's job of cutting up Lily's food. Harry looked down at the letter in silence. He wondered how Hermione was taking the news of having to come back. Her letter didn't offer any insight into her state of mind.

He contemplated for a little longer before turning to Ginny. "I think I'm going to head over to Ron's. I want to know if he received a letter, too. If he did, then maybe she wrote more about what's happening."

Ginny looked perplexed. "In the middle of breakfast? Why don't you wait till the boys are done and then we'll go with you-" But her breath was wasted because the next thing she knew he was going out the kitchen door. "Harry James Potter!" she shouted, but the sound of the Floo told her he was gone.

She rolled her eyes with a huff. "And he wonders why his sons have minds of their own." She was just about to rush them through the rest of the meal, when the kitchen was suddenly engulfed in darkness. Ginny slightly panicked when Lily started crying, but as soon as she heard laughter she knew there was no danger.

Her sons had just filled the room with Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. "James Sirius! You best hope that you are not here when this kitchen clears!" The laughter quickly faded with the sounds of retreating footsteps.

... ...

Things were just as perplexing at Ron's house as they were at Harry's. When Harry came through the Floo, the first thing he noticed was that the house was quiet. Harry had learned from experience that the house of a Weasley was never quiet, so to find Ron's in such a way disoriented him.

Walking farther into the living room, Harry called, "Hello?" It was then that he heard someone running down the stairs. Not a moment later did a little girl with strawberry blonde pigtails poke her head around the stair banister.

A wide grin broke across her face when she saw who it was. "Uncle Harry!" she yelled as she ran across the room to him.

Harry caught the girl as she jumped into his arms, then he situated her on his hip. "Well, hello there, Rose," he greeted with a smile. He pulled on one of the pigtails, noticing that they were lopsided. "You're hair's stylish today. Did you do it yourself?"

Rose nodded proudly. "Yep!" she said and then excitement flooded her face. "Uncle Harry, there's a monster in my woom!"

Harry gasped dramatically. "What! How did you survive the night then?"

"Daddy saved me! His sword killed it!" she explained wildly.

"Oh yeah, I killed it all right." Harry heard Ron say and looked over to find his best friend by the bottom of the stairs. He had a smug smile on his face. "I had to scare it out the window first, but the ruddy monster didn't get far."

Rose nodded. "It fell and died!" Harry laughed as he put Rose back on the ground. She then ran over to her father and hugged him. "Daddy's a knight!"

Ron chucked and kissed her on the forehead. "That's right, sweetie," he told her as she beamed up at him. "Why don't you play outside while Uncle Harry and I talk. We have to make sure no more monsters get in your room."

"Goodie!" she exclaimed and then ran toward the door. "I go play with the gnomes!"

"Don't forget to put your coat on! It's chilly outside!" Ron called after her

"Okay, Daddy!" she answered back.

Ron then shook his head as the door slammed shut a few minutes later. "Sorry about that. She's going through this exaggeration phase. Last night she levitated her bed to get away from the shadows in her room. I had to check every crevice to calm her down."

Harry nodded solemnly. "Well, it's a good thing you had a sword, then. How else would you have gotten rid of that monster."

Ron rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "She likes to pretend my wand is a sword," he informed him. He then scratched the back of his head. "So, I assume you got a letter from Hermione, too, then."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. What do you think of her having to come back?" he asked wanting to hear his opinion on this.

"Honestly, mate, I'm more happy than I am anything else," he said with a shrug. "I mean, I know why she moved away when she did, but I miss having her home. It's just not the same without Hermione around."

"I know, but-"

"That's why Luna and I have been sending out invitations all morning." Ron interrupted him. "When we got the letter, Luna said something about wanting to have a welcome home dinner when she got back, but then I suggested that we made it a surprise party at The Leaky Cauldron. She won't be here until two, so we've been contacting everyone to see if they're free. We've already got a few confirmations."

Blinking away his surprise, Harry stared at his friend. "Do you think she'll want that? I mean, it's a great thought, but she's not staying permanently. I just don't want to overwhelm her, what with it being January and everything. It's a rough month for her without all of this."

"I was afraid of that, too, Harry," said a dreamy voice from the stairs. Harry turned to see Ron's wife, Luna, walking down the stairs carrying a baby with bright red hair. Once on the bottom, she made her way over to Ron's side and Ron leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "But I think it'll be nice for her to know that everyone misses and loves her."

"Harry's just being overprotective of her," Ron said with a smile. "I thought you were putting him down for a nap?" He reached out an tapped his seven month old son, Lysander, on the nose. He was the perfect mix of Luna and Ron. He had his father's features and his mother's expressions.

Luna smiled lazily. "I was, but he decided he wasn't tired," she said and then turned her gaze to Harry. "Actually, Harry, since you're being overprotective you should know that we invited Adair to the party."

Harry blanched. "What? Don't you think that might open up old wounds?" he asked her.

She stared at him for a moment and then answered simply, "I don't think it'll be that bad. They formed a close friendship while she was here and the last I heard they were still in contact. I think she'll appreciate him being there."

Harry ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "I have misgivings about this whole thing, but if you've already got things in motion, it doesn't look like I'll be able to stop it," he conceded. "So, how many people exactly are going to be there?"

Luna smiled at him. "Rest assured, there won't be many there. This is short notice after all."

"Yeah, mate, just the family, her parents, and a few friends," Ron said nonchalantly. Harry eyed the both of them warily. The whole Weasley clan was a crowd by themselves and when a few friends plus her parents were added to the mix, it could get overcrowded very quickly. He was just about to ask what Ron meant by a few, when the emerald flash from the fireplace distracted him.

James came out of the fireplace and as soon as he laid eyes on his father, he said, "Mum's angry."

Harry watched in confusion as his son went to sit on the couch in a pout, but didn't have time to ask anything because Albus soon followed through the Floo. "Daddy, don't be mad!" Albus cried as he attached himself onto his father's leg.

"What happened? What did you two do?" he asked looking from one son to the other.

"I'll tell you what your sons did." His wife's voice floated in from the flame before she walked out carrying Lily. "Your sons flooded the kitchen with darkness powered and scared your daughter so much that she caused the kitchen sink to explode. It took me forever to calm her down and I won't even tell you what condition the kitchen's in. I tried to fix the sink, but whatever kind of magic she used, Repairo just isn't cutting it. I did however get the water to stop."

Harry could tell his wife was fuming. Her eyes were bright and her free hand was placed on her hip. He once again looked at his sons. James was still pouting and staring in the opposite direction, and Albus was looking up at him with tears in his eyes. He inwardly sighed knowing his wife wanted him to berate them, but seeing as they were guests at the moment he decided that if he could get an apology out of them, then maybe that would appease his wife. "Boys, of all the days to play this prank…" he said shaking his head.

"Daddy, no! James made me!" Albus cried, clutching to Harry's pant leg.

This statement caused James to stand up. "Don't listen to him! He wanted to do it! He threw the powder!" he accused, causing Albus to cry harder.

"No! You says Mummy would laugh!" he yelled.

James was just about to yell back, but Harry intervened. "All right, that's quite enough," he said firmly. "Now, did either one of you apologize to your mother?"

They were silent for moment as they shook their head. Albus sniffled a little as he turned to his mother. "Sorry I braked the kitchen, Mummy."

"Yeah, sorry, Mum," James offered as well. "I didn't mean to scare Lily either."

Some of the steam left Ginny's eyes as she listened to her sons apologize. With a sigh, she nodded. "You two put me at my wit's end, but I accept your apology."

Albus smiled and ran over to give his mother a hug and James looked marginally happier than he had moments before. "Well, I'm glad that's over with," Ron said awkwardly. "Gin, you look scarily like Mum when you're angry."

Ginny smiled at him while Luna told the boys that Rose was playing in the garden. They both scampered off to join her after their mother transfigured some warmer clothes from them. "Play too?" Lily asked as she timidly played with her mother's hair.

"Um, why don't you play on the floor, sweetie," Ginny told her daughter, she wasn't sure if Lily was ready to play with the older kids yet. "I'm sure Aunt Luna has some toys for you to play with."

"Oh course," she said, "I'm sure some of Rosie's toys will entertain her." She then went up the stairs to grab them.

Ginny turned to her husband and brother. "So, did you find anything more on Hermione?" she asked.

Harry shook his head. "No, but apparently Ron and Luna are throwing a surprise party for her when she arrives."

Ginny smiled brightly. "Really?" she asked as she set Lily on the ground. "She'll love that."

"See!" Ron interjected smugly.

Harry pursed his lips. "I just think that this might be a little too much for her, is all," he explained. "I don't want her leaving faster than she has too."

"Nonsense, Harry, she's not made of china," Ginny chided him. She then reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're worried about her, we all are, but remember 'happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.' She needs to know we're here for her and that we always will be, no matter how often she visits."

Hearing one of Dumbledore's quotes lightened Harry's worries immensely. He shouldn't be constantly worried about Hermione being reminded of all her sorrows. Instead he should be concentrating on bringing happiness and joy back into her life.

As Luna came back down stairs carrying a few dollies, Harry smiled. "You're right," he supplied. "Let's make Hermione's homecoming one she'll never forget."

... ...

Of all the pictures Hermione had to come across while packing, did it have to be this one? She tried to just glance at it and stuff it into one of the many boxes in her flat, but the glance soon turned into full out staring.

The picture was of three heavily pregnant woman standing in a line with their arms around each other. The first woman was herself. She was in her last month and she was glowing and laughing. Ginny stood beside her with her eight month belly rivaling her own in width. Luna was next in line, only seven months along.

This had been taken only three days before Hermione went into labor. She had been so happy then.

As she continued to gaze at the picture, tears slide down her cheeks. She zoned in on her pregnant belly. Her little Hugo was in there. Safe and warm and expecting to come into the world surrounded by love…

He was supposed to come home to her parents' house, to the little nursery that she had made up for him, but instead she returned alone and had to face a room full of baby stuff that never got to be used. Both of her friends had got to take their brand new baby home and she had had to watch them shower them with love while she teamed up with Officer Henderson and searched endlessly for her child.

The year that followed Hugo's kidnapping Hermione and Adair had followed countless leads and turned up with nothing each time. It got to the point where with every new clue Hermione had to talk herself into checking into it. It hurt so much to come to a dead end and then have to start from scratch. Still, she continued following all of the missing baby cases until one major stunt stopped her cold.

Adair had come up with a plan to try to buy a black market baby in disguise. He said it would give them an instant look into the workings of the baby business. They had planned for weeks and finally got in contact with the right people. However, that was when it all went wrong.

The man they met with was extremely skeptic of them. He asked them all kinds of questions and finally when they thought they had secured themselves enough information, the man booked. He had told them that he would make a quick Floo call to his people, but he never came back. After that every shady character knew of their search. They had officially exhausted their case.

It had devastated Hermione. That was when she knew she had to throw in the towel. She had to accept the harsh truth that she would never see her son again. She knew she couldn't stay in England. She couldn't bare to watch her friends with their growing families when all it reminded her of was how her son should be growing right along side them.

She had acquired a work permit and moved to Paris the month of her case's failure.

Of course this had all started over four years ago now, but it still amazed Hermione how painful it could still be to remember everything she had gone through.

Releasing a sigh, Hermione placed the picture into one of the boxes. She then took out her wand and shrunk them, and then levitated all of them into two duffel bags. She had placed Undetectable Extension Charms on them, which made it convenient while traveling quickly.

With a final glance around her French apartment, she felt a wave of nostalgia. It had been her home for the past three years, though she hoped that it wouldn't be long before she would be able to come back.

She hoisted the two bags onto her shoulders and made her way over to her Portkey. It was scheduled to activate any minute now. Hermione grabbed hold of the grungy pair of reading glasses and not thirty seconds later she felt the typical pull behind her navel.

As soon as her feet touched sturdy ground, her ears were assaulted with a chorus of "Surprise!" She faltered in her stance as her bags slid down her arms. To say she was surprised would have been an understatement. The usual disorganized Leaky Cauldron was packed full with smiling faces. Hermione smiled uncertainly as she took in all the familiar faces. "What's going on?" she asked, truly mystified.

Harry and Ron made their way over to her and took her bags for her. "It's your surprise, welcome home party, of course!" Ron told her as he gave her a one-armed hug.

"My what?" she asked, still reeling from such a warm welcome.

"Your welcome home party." Ron answered as they started walking toward the crowd. "You didn't think we'd let your return go on without a bang, did you?"

Hermione was amazed. "But I only gave you…" She quickly did the mental math in her head. "Five hours notice about when I'd be here. How did you get so many people to show up?"

Harry adjusted the bags on his shoulder. "Well, that little miracle is thanks to Ron and Luna," he said with a smile, happy to see that Hermione was pleasantly surprised. "They got to work on it as soon as they got your letter."

Hermione was about to say how shocked she was and that they shouldn't have gone through so much trouble, but was interrupted by Ginny's warm embrace. "Oh, Hermione, it's so wonderful to see you!" As she pulled away, she looked over to her husband and brother. "Why don't you both take her things up to her room. Hermione shouldn't keep her guests waiting."

"I wish I had known I had guests," Hermione said as Ginny started leading her. "I would have worn something for the occasion."

Ginny laughed. "You look just fine, Hermione," she answered. "And besides, if you had known to wear something nice, then it would have taken away from the surprise."

Silently, Hermione agreed.

As Hermione looked around the room, she noticed just who all was here. Her parents were smiling over from the back. She could see that despite their welcoming looks, they were slightly uncomfortable in a room full of relative strangers. She saw Hagrid's large frame over a the bar. He waved when they made eye contact. She also recognized Andromeda Tonks talking with George, so she assumed Teddy was around her somewhere as well. She even saw Neville running around trying to maintain the party with his wife, Hannah, who was the new landlady/barkeep of the pub.

However, the mass majority the guests were members of the Weasley clan. They all clustered around her as she made her way to the bar. Mrs. Weasley pulled her into an embrace just as warm as her daughter's had been. "Hermione, dear, it's so good to see you. I hope your trip was pleasant?" she asked as she pulled away.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, the instant commute was very accommodating," she teased and Mrs. Weasley patted her on the check. She then stepped back to let the next person talk to her. After a few short conversations with Bill and Fleur, her parents finally got to her.

Her mother gushed the usual greeting and pleasantries and her father hugged her. They talked about how long it would take before she could go back to France and she told them that she'd have to take it up the Minister. Hermione could tell by her mother's expression that she didn't like the idea of Hermione moving away again, but she didn't say anything and for that Hermione was grateful.

After the delay, Ginny and Hermione finally made it to the bar area. Ginny pulled her to the end farthest from Hagrid in an attempt to talk as privately as possible. It was then that Ginny sprung. "Now, tell me. How have you been?"

Hermione was slightly puzzled. She hadn't been cornered like this in years. "Um, I'm fine. I mean, I'm a bit upset that my visa expired, but it'll be easy to fix, I'm sure."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because it looks to me like you've had a crying fest recently," she inquired and Hermione instinctively brought her hand up to her face.

"I'm fine, really." she assured her after rubbing her cheeks. "I just came across a picture while packing and I got a bit misty eyed, is all."

Ginny surveyed her face and once she determined that Hermione was telling the truth, she smiled. "All right. What do you say we get Hannah to put together one of her famous lunches?"

Hermione was about to agree, but before she could she was bombarded by three children. "Aunt 'Mione!" Hermione staggered under their weight, but nonetheless hugged them back.

"Well, hello, you three," she said as James, Albus, and Rose pulled back from her. "And how is my favorite niece and nephews?"

Ginny laughed. "Now, Aunt 'Mione, you know you can't say that," she teased with her hands on her hips. "Not when you're surrounded by all of your other nieces and nephews."

"Oh," she said with a devious look in her eyes as she bent down closer to them. "Then it'll have to be our little secret, now won't it." She winked at them and they all giggled.

James was the first to launch in with the questions about his gifts. Ginny scalded him for being rude, but Hermione disputed saying that their gifts were upstairs and that they would have to wait until later to get them.

They were then joined by Harry and Ron. "Please tell me you're enjoying yourself," Harry said as he put an arm around his wife's shoulders.

"Yes, please put his worries to rest," Ron interjected. "He's been going barmy about your mental state."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "My mental state?"

Harry had the decency to look sheepish. "I just didn't want you to be overwhelmed when you got here," he said. "It is a hard time of the year for you, after all."

A warm feeling filled her heart. Harry had always been the big brother she never had and she appreciated that he still looked out for her even if she didn't visit as often as she should. "I love the party."

"See, told you, mate," Ron said proudly.

"Thank you for your concern though. It means a lot." She said as she kissed his cheek. "As for the state of my mind, I can assure you that I'm doing as well as to be expected. Like you said, it is that time of year, but I've learned to face my demons one day at a time."

"Glad to hear it," said a deep voice said from behind.

Whirling around Hermione saw the familiar, dark face of Adair Henderson. "Adair!" she exclaimed in surprise before rushing to give him a quick hug. "Wow, it's such a surprise to see you!"

Adair smiled. "And you as well," he said good-naturedly. "I know we're a bit late, but Krysten had a recital this morning and we hoped we'd have enough time to stop by."

It was then that a small woman with caramel skin color walked up beside Adair. "Adair," she said, making her presence known and grabbing his left arm.

"Hermione, you remember my wife, Nadia," Adair said, clasping his wife's hand in the crook of his elbow.

"Of course," Hermione said as she shook Nadia's free hand. "How are you, Nadia?"

A pleasant smile crossed her face. "I'm doing quite well," she answered. "Of course, my writing is suffering just a tad, what with being a full time mother to a teenager."

Hermione remember that Nadia was a novelist and back when she was in better contact with Adair, Nadia was always seen with a pen or quill in her hand. "I'm sorry to hear that," Hermione said sincerely. "But I'm sure motherhood has it's rewards as well. How old is Krysten now anyway."

"She turned thirteen last month," Adair replied as Nadia squeezed his arm.

"They grow up so fast," Nadia said with a sigh.

Hermione nodded solemnly. "It is peculiar how fast the years go by." A sad smile graced her lips, which Adair returned.

The clearing of Ginny's throat caused the attention to switch over to her observant friends. "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm starving and Hannah said the food was ready," Ginny stated. "You're welcome to sit at our table Adair, Nadia."

"That sounds lovely, but we really were only stopping in," Adair explained. "Tonight is a faculty dinner and it's been on the calendar for weeks."

"Oh, don't worry about it," Hermione said with a wave of her hand. "I'm glad you stopped by at all."

Adair nodded. "I'm glad I got to see you too, Hermione. We'll have to do lunch once before you leave again," he said and with another quick hug and a few farewells, the Henderson family made their leave.

Hermione then turned to the bar and waited for Hannah to hand her and her friends the lunch she had prepared. They then made their way over to a table to eat. They weren't alone for very long though, not when a party was in full swing with Hermione as the star.

She continued to make small talk with the people she hadn't see in months, but the more she chatted the more she found that she had very little to contribute to conversations. Everyone had stories of their children and families and while Hermione loved to hear about them, she didn't have any of her own stories to add. It was definitely weighing down on her and she found herself wishing for the afternoon to end.

... ...

A young boy's laughter filled the air as his father brought out a mini broom for him. It wouldn't be the first time that the boy had ridden one, but each time he saw it he became so giddy the could barely contain himself.

Draco joined in on his son's laughter. He loved seeing him so happy. "Here you go, son," he said as he passed him the toy broom, which he took quickly. "Now, do you remember what happened last time?"

Scorpius looked up at his father. "I falled off," he answered.

"And?"

Bringing up a finger to his chin, Scorpius thought more about the last time he flew. "And I hurted my knee."

"And why did that happen?" Draco asked seriously.

Scorpius was quiet for a moment. "I don't know," he said finally with a shrug of his shoulders.

Draco chuckled to himself, then kneeled down to his level. "Really? You don't know why you fell off your broom and hurt your knee?" Scorpius shook his head in reply as he tightened his grip on the broom. "Well, then I guess I'll have to refresh your memory, won't I? …Remember how I told you not to go too fast? Remember I told you if you did go too fast then you could get hurt? And what did you do anyway?"

"I went fast."

"That's right." Draco nodded. He looked his son in the eyes and said, "All right, now tell me what's not going to happened this time?"

"I won't fall," he stated and then started to mount his broom, but Draco halted him.

"Wait a minute! That's not what I wanted you to say," he said as Scorpius looked at him with an impatient expression. "Scor, I just want you to promise me that you won't go faster that I can walk, all right? Promise me."

"I pwomise, Daddy. I won't go fast," Scorpius recited and then started bouncing from one foot to the other. "Can I fly now?"

Laughing, Draco stood up. "Yes. Go ahead." With that, Scorpius kicked off the ground. The broom only allowed him to hover high enough that his feet were a couple inches off the ground, but it was enough for Scorpius. He laughed and laughed as the broom moved this way and that. Draco easily kept up with him, but as he walked slightly behind his son, he couldn't help but admire him.

Scorpius's hair had grown in curly and while his hair was still blonde, it wasn't the pale blonde he'd had during infancy because it had darken over the years. Consequently, his hair wasn't the only feature that darken on his son. His once grey eyes, that had once been important to his identity, had steadily turned brown. Draco had heard of infants' eyes changing color as they got older, but that still didn't stop the fear that someone would challenge Scorpius's paternity.

The fear turned out to be unnecessarily. When ever someone would bring it up, they merely pegged it as Astoria's darker features showing up in him. This soothed Draco immensely and soon he found that he didn't have to worry about someone figuring out his dark secret.

Watching and helping this young boy grow up had been easier than Draco had thought it would be. As Scorpius learned to crawl, Draco no longer saw him as just the baby he paid for. When Scorpius took his first steps, Draco boasted to everyone he met and when Scorpius said his first word, Draco knew that he would forever be wrapped around his son's little finger.

It was so easy to fall in love with this little boy. He was always smiling and laughing. Draco tried to make him want for nothing and also not be as spoiled as he was at his age, but it was proving difficult when all he wanted to do was give his son the world.

With every passing day, Draco found himself just a bit more in enraptured by his son, but he also found, to his disappointment, that with every step closer he grew to Scorpius, Astoria took a step back and grew colder to him.

A loud crack interrupted Draco's thoughts and was then followed by the raspy voice of a House-elf. "Master, the missus would like a word, sir."

Draco gave it a curt nod and it left with another crack. On the inside Draco was miffed by his wife's sudden request, but he kept his exterior cool for Scorpius. "Son, we're going to have to call it quits for the day," he said to him and Scorpius let out a whine. "None of that. Your mother wants to see us."

Grudgingly Scorpius dismounted his broom and then handed it to his father. "We play later?" he asked with pout.

"Perhaps, if there's time,." Draco replied as he took his son's hand. They then made their way to the back entrance. At the door, Draco set the toy down. One of the House-elves would get to it later.

Once inside they got rid of their hats and cloaks and then walked through the wide hall to the stairs that led to their side of the manor. Upon arriving at Draco's bedroom door, he slowly opened it and when he found the room void of light he turned to his son. "Why don't you go visit Mamie and Pépère? They should be in the drawing room."

Scorpius stared at his father for a moment. "What about Mummy?" he asked.

Draco sighed. "She's still in her room. Mummy just got up from her nap and you know how she gets," he tried to explain. Scorpius nodded slowly as he remembered his mother's crankiness. "Now, run along. You don't want to keep Mamie waiting, now do you?"

A big smile stretched across his little face. "She read to me?" he asked excitedly.

Smiling Draco replied, "Only if you ask nicely." His eyes widened happily and then he ran back down the stairs. He would have told him not to run, but the boy was fast and already out of ear shot. Shaking his head in wonder, Draco turned back to his bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open. "Astoria?" he asked.

A groan came from a lump on the bed. "Not so loud, Draco," she whined, pulling the covers closer around herself.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Astoria, I didn't even speak loudly," he said and she just whined more as if to say that he was doing it again. He then let out an agitated sigh, but nonetheless gave in and started whispering. "This is nonsense. It's time to get out of bed."

She was quiet for a moment. "I will as soon as you get me a headache potion," she whimpered.

Draco couldn't believe that she had another hangover. She had promised that she would try to stop this silly addiction. This was the third time this month that she had woken up with one. Although some say that that's not too bad and that she just might like the buzz it gives her, Draco knew that it wasn't just about the buzz. Astoria might not be hungover every morning, but that didn't mean she wasn't drunk most of the time. She was never without a drink in her hand and frankly Draco was getting tired of it.

He adored his wife, but sometimes he resented the fact that she wanted nothing to do with the life that he had given to them, their son being a big part of that life. Now he knew that she still had trouble coping with the fact that she couldn't have children, but becoming a drunk wasn't the answer. One, it was extremely unladylike and two, it was unhealthy.

Turning sharply, he walked over to the adjoining bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. After scanning the bottles and then moving some around when he didn't see it, he concluded that they were out of the potion needed. "Of course." he mumbled to himself and then pinched the bridge of his nose.

He walked back to the bedside and whispered, "We're out of potion, love," She let out a defeated groan and burrowed deeper into the mattress. "I'll make a quick run to the apothecary."

"Thank you," she muttered.

Draco watched her pathetic form for a moment and then asked, "Will you at least get out of bed while I'm gone? It's already past two in the afternoon. It's ridiculous that you're still in bed."

She was silent as she contemplated the pain that that request required. "Will you be quick?" she inquired.

"Yes," he answered. "Just be in the parlor waiting when I get back." He watched her nod and then headed to his study. He summoned his gloves and cloak before grabbing a pinch of Floo Powder. He stepped into his study's fireplace and then Flooed to Diagon Alley's apothecary in a sea of emerald flames.

At his stop, Draco walked swiftly through Ingram's Apothecary's grate. He looked around and was pleased to notice that it wasn't busy.

At his entrance the storekeeper, Boris Ingram, looked up. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, what might you be picking up today?" he asked.

Draco stared at him blankly. He hated the fact that the storekeeper could recognize him and it wasn't because he was a repented Death Eater, no, it was because he visited the shop quite frequently for Astoria. Headache potions were the usual, but occasionally it could be for something else. However, those few scenarios weren't very often, but it still happened.

"I just need three packs of headache potion,." he drawled. He quickly calculated in his head if that would be enough to keep him from here for at least a month. For every pack there was six phials, so if she took one once a day, then it would last him eighteen days. That didn't seem like a long enough gap between visits to him. "Make that four packs."

Mr. Ingram nodded and went to work gathering his large order. Draco waited impatiently, while tapping his foot. He wanted out of there as soon as possible.

The potions were packed and ready in fifteen minutes. Mr. Ingram handed the packages to Draco in exchange for the payment. "I'll be seeing you next month then, Mr. Malfoy?" he inquired with a smile.

Draco glared at the man violently and the storekeeper froze with fear. "Don't presume to know my schedule or my habits," he sneered. He scrutinized the man and knew that he was judging him for continually buying headache potion. Probably had a good laugh every time he left. With one final glare he swiftly walked out the door with his cloak billowing behind him.

He was halfway down the alley when he realized that he should have just Flooed back home, but he hadn't wanted to ask the storekeeper for a pinch of Floo Powder. He wasn't about to let his pride suffer to likes of a grungy apothecary anyway.

He assumed that he should be getting back. He did tell Astoria he'd be quick. However, upon looking at the time on an alley clock, Draco decided that since he was here he might as well pick up Scorpius a late lunch. They had been so preoccupied with playing outside today that they had skipped it entirely.

Draco made his way to the end of the alley and then into The Leaky Caldron. As soon as he walked in though, he regretted coming at all. The place was crammed packed. He almost turned around and left, thinking he could just get his son an ice cream instead, but he decided that his son's nutrition was more important.

However, the more Draco pushed through the crowd the more he began to realize that this wasn't just any ordinary throng of people. No, too many of them had red hair. He then began to regret his decision of staying.

He kept his head down as he pushed through the herd. Of course this would be the day the Weasley's throw a party. The same day he happened to be in Diagon Alley. Brilliant.

When he reached the bar area, he scanned around him and luckily no one was paying attention. He then turned his attention to the barkeeper. Hannah Longbottom was chatting with the oversized oaf at the far end of the bar, but it didn't take her long to feel his eyes upon her.

He watched as she quickly ended her conversation with the half-giant and made her way over to him. "Malfoy, I didn't know you were invited to the party?" she inquired bluntly.

Draco simply ignored her, but internally remarked how unprofessional it was not to address him as Mr. Malfoy. He was a paying customer after all. "I just want Scorpius's usual lunch order," he stated, hoping she get that he didn't want to make small talk.

Hannah studied him for a moment before hesitantly turning to prepare his order. Inwardly, Draco sighed with relief. The sooner she made it the faster he could get out of here without being seen.

Of course that would have been asking for a miracle. At that moment, a woman came up beside him and leaned over the bar. "Hannah, once you're free could you fix me a tonic and lime? It's getting hot in here," she said, while fanning herself.

Draco faintly recognized the voice, but didn't want to waste time in trying to place it. It was a Weasley family friend and he didn't care for anyone who associated with that lot.

The two of them stood there in silence as the party around them offered background noise. The woman next to him started to tap her fingers on the counter and after a minute it started to grate on Draco's nerves. He mentally urged his order to be done faster.

Finally a minute later, Hannah turned with a wrapped lunch in her hand. "Here you go, Malfoy. Tell Scorpius there's a bit of pudding in there for a snack later," she said with a smile.

Draco nodded curtly after taking the lunch and adding it to the other packages in his cloak. He was about to leave, but he felt the woman next to him staring intently. He rolled his eyes and then turned his sharp gaze towards her.

"Malfoy?" she asked incredulously.

Cursing his rotten luck, Draco turned his eyes to the person addressing him. He took in her appearance. Her bushy hair gave her identity away immediately. "Yes, Granger?" he replied curtly.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I was just shocked to see you here, is all. Carry on," she said, dismissing him and then faced forward again to wait for her drink.

For some reason this irked Draco. How dare she waste his time like that. "And why would it shock you to see me here? That last time I checked this was a open pub and I have just as much right to be here as you or any of your posse of friends," he sneered.

She turned slowly back to him with her eyebrows raised. "I never insinuated that you didn't, Malfoy," she said calmly. "I only meant that it surprised me to see you among so many Weasleys."

Draco scrutinized her. "Yes, it is odd, but believe me, if I had known that any of you would be here I wouldn't have stepped one foot into this facility," he drawled as he gave his cloak a cocky tug.

The corner of her lips twitched. "You haven't changed a bit, have you, Malfoy?" she asked. "You're still the same pompous, ferret you always were."

He stared at her in disdain. "I could say the same about you, Granger. You're still a insufferable bookworm, who thinks she knows it all," he said darkly.

He gave her a quick once-over. Her hair was more frizzy than he remembered it being and she had bags under her eyes. He then continued, "But unlike you, time's been kind to me. What, Granger, your life not all you wanted it be? Is it your job? Are you not helping enough people? …Or maybe it's your love life. I hear the wonder boys are already married. Did neither of them want you? I-" He was cut off when liquid was slung into his face.

He hadn't even noticed that she had gotten her drink, although even if he had he never would have predicted that she would have threw it in his face. He wiped the wetness from his eyes just in time to see her bushy hair disappear into the mass of people.

He decided that he himself had better leave before the dream team made an appearance. Either way, he'd stayed away from home long enough. Astoria was probably cursing him at that very moment.

With a flick of his wand his face was dry again, he then starting pushing his way toward the fireplace so that he could get back to his wife and son.

... ...

Agony. That's what the pain in her head was causing her and Draco had only been gone five minutes. She'd promised him that she'd get out of bed and here she was, sitting in the parlor waiting for her relief and he'd probably be gone for another ten minutes at the most. She leaned against the arm of the chair and placed her head on her hand. Groaning, she wished she could go back to bed. At least then she'd be able to deal with the pounding in her head with the comfort of a pillow.

She was just about to head back to he bed for another five minutes or so, when the door creaked open. She opened her eyes expecting to she her husband, but was unnerved to discover that instead of Draco it was Scorpius.

Astoria groaned again. She definitely wasn't in the mood to have him in here with her. Maybe if she ignored him, he'd leave. "Mummy?" he called, and she cursed her luck, but remained silent. "Are you awake now, Mummy?" Scorpius walked farther into the room with a smile on his face.

"Scorpius, go back downstairs," she told him firmly, but he ignored her.

"Guess what, Mummy?" he asked, and the volume of his voice made the pounding in Astoria's head worse. "Daddy let me wide my bwoom! And I got no boo-boos! Do you wide bwooms, Mummy?"

"Scorpius," she said warningly, but he didn't seem to hear her because he was now climbing up onto her chair with her. It was then that she notice that he had brought toys in with him.

"I got my toys. We can play now!" he said, but with his voice so close it felt like her head was about to split open. "You be this widditch player and I-"

Astoria gripped her head tighter before yelling, "For the love of Merlin, Scorpius, shut up!" The boy froze on her lap. "Get out. …Just go to your room." He stared up at her as his eyes filled up with confused tears. Astoria gently scooted him off her lap. "Don't start crying. Just go o your room like a good boy." She gestured toward that door. "Go on."

Scorpius clutched his toys and nodded before leaving the room. Astoria hated making the boy cry, but she also didn't like to be in the same room with him if she could help it. She knew it was horrible, considering she was his "mother", but Merlin help her if she felt nothing for him.

Draco had said that it would get easier once he grew older, but it just got worse. That boy was calling her mummy for Salazar's sake and as much as she wanted to assume that role for him, she'd long given up trying to find those motherly feelings.

This whole situation was screwed up and Draco didn't seem bothered by it at all! He treated the boy like he was his own flesh and blood with no feelings of resentment. How she wished she could deal with predicament with his outlook.

Her head was killing her and her being reminded of her lies again didn't help matters. She looked at the clock. Draco had only been gone fifteen minutes, but she couldn't wait anymore. She made her way over to the cabinet and brought out a bottle of Orgden's finest. She filled her old fashioned tumbler to the brim and downed it. That dulled her headache.

She brought the glass and bottle back over to her chair. She wanted everything to just stop for just a little while. She drank two more glasses which made the room hazy. Figuring one more glass couldn't hurt, she reached for the bottle, but passed into a stupor before she could lift the it.

Ten minutes later, Draco walked into the room with the packages of potions and saw his wife passed out in the chair. He was instantly furious. She couldn't wait a half hour without a drink? He dropped the potions on the table and then left. He wasn't going to waste his time waking her up and hearing her excusing.

As he strode down the hallway, he thought of his options. If he let her continue down this road, she was going to drink herself to death. So, that left him with getting her some professional help. He needed to get his wife back. This alcoholic wasn't the woman he married. He missed the way she used to be and he'd be damned if he let her get any worse.
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