"He's asked you what?!"

Ron looked at me, completely thunderstruck; his face matching the colour of his hair.

"Shhh," I immediately hushed him, looking around furtively at the busy platform. "I'm doing it for Scorpius - not him."

We were at Kings Cross, waiting for the Hogwarts Express to return our children home after their first completed year at school. After having wimped out of it over the last month, I finally plucked up the courage to inform Ron of Draco's request.

"Well, I don't like it," Ron said huffily, crossing his arms. "It's disgusting; guilting you into taking his kid off his hands for the summer. Oh sorry - his other kid."

"It's not like that," I hissed. "Scorpius needs a friend, and whether any of us likes it or not - that friend happens to be Albus. I'd do the same for anyone, just like your mother did for me. And besides, it's not for the entire summer, just a couple of weeks to give him a change of scene."

"And you're fine with the fact that you are being dumped with yet another one of his kids whilst he goes swanning off back to his wife?"

"His dying wife!" I fumed, resisting the temptation to stamp my foot like a toddler. I knew he was going to be like this. "He's hardly whisking her away on a romantic getaway, and even if he were, it wouldn't bother me because as I said, I'm doing this for the boys."

Ron's eyes were narrowed as he looked at me closely. "Don't let him get to you again, Etta," he warned darkly. "It's only going to end in tears."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said huffily, folding my arms across my chest as I glared up the track, praying for the pissing train to arrive.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Ron bellowed, not even bothering to keep his voice down. "You're falling for him again! I can see it all over your face."

"Nonsense."

"Look, Etta," Ron sighed, as he finally lowered his voice. "We've been best friends for nearly thirty years, and I can tell just by looking at you. It's a look you've reserved solely for him, and now, when I think about it, how could I have not guessed all those years ago that he was Albus's dad? Because in the months before he was conceived, you were walking around with that exact same look!"

"What look?!"

"Like you're in love!"

"Well, that is a mighty reach, Ron! And since when have you been so fucking observant?"

A loud whistle blasted into the air before Ron could respond. Everyone on the platform looked out to the distance where steam was billowing on the horizon.

My stomach gave a little squeeze at the anticipation of seeing my son again. I had no idea what to expect. I had not seen Albus in six months and he had barely written in that time. For the first time ever, he felt like a stranger to me.

Students began spilling out onto the platform before the train had even come to a stop. I looked anxiously up and down the carriages, desperate to catch a glimpse of that familiar face that I had missed so much.

"Dad!"

Ron and I turned towards the voice. No longer so little, Rose came running up to us, dragging her trunk behind her; face sweaty and beaming.

"Hogwarts was brilliant!"

"You'll be back before you know it," Ron chuckled, leaning down to scoop her into his arms.

Predictably, Albus was nowhere to be seen. I was just contemplating whether to go on in search for him myself, when I felt a slight pressure on the small of my back, making me startle in surprise.

"I think I see them further up ahead, Potter."

I twisted round in surprise and found myself looking up into a pair of hypnotic grey eyes.

The familiarity of him made my stomach somersault; his scent, his voice, his presence. I was unnerved by the reaction my body had to him and quickly stepped away, inwardly cursing myself as I felt my face grow hot.

"Malfoy," Ron spat.

I jumped, feeling caught out as I looked guiltily at my best friend. Ron's fingers were gripping tightly into Rose's shoulders as he glared at Draco, his eyes bulging savagely.

"Weasley," Draco nodded curtly, seemingly unfazed by Ron's obvious disdain towards him. "If you don't mind, Henrietta and I were just about to go and fetch our boys."

And, cupping a hand under my elbow, Draco ushered me away, leaving Ron glaring furiously after us.

"What's got Weasley's knickers in a twist?" he drawled in my ear as he navigated our way through the busy crowds.

"You." I replied, knowing no further explanation was needed.

A smirk twitched at his lips. "Always a good day when I manage to get under the skin of one of the golden trio."

And then, before I could register what was happening, his arm curled around my waist and he firmly pulled me to his side, lips creeping to my ear. "Especially yours."

Shocked at his shameless act, I pushed him angrily away from me so that he staggered backwards, narrowly missing a disgruntled looking station porter.

"Draco! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I hissed, looking around in horror, praying that nobody - especially our sons - just witnessed that.

But Draco simply chuckled, his eyes dancing in amusement. "Relax, Potter. I was just being friendly."

Ugh. I felt as though we were in fourth year all over again.

"Well, this is not acceptable," I said haughtily, straightening my clothes as I hurriedly strode on ahead of him; hating that he had sent my pulse rate rocketing sky high.

And then there he was, hopping off the train up ahead. My son. I found myself immediately stilling at the sight of him, watching as he chatted obliviously to Scorpius.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked softly, his voice full of concern as he drew up alongside me, evidently confused as to why I was not making myself known to them.

"He looks- he looks so much like James," I whispered, my voice almost a quiver.

"James?" Draco asked, frowning.

"My father." I gritted.

"Oh." He paused, cocking his head to one side as he regarded Albus himself. "Well, rather yours than mine, I suppose."

Raising an eyebrow, I looked up at him and had the strange desire to laugh. He grinned back down at me, his eyes flashing.

"Come on, Potter." He chuckled, draping an arm over my shoulders. "Let's go say hello to our sons."

This time, when I held out my arms to him, Albus did not decline my hug. My heart soared as his once soft body collided with mine and I could not get over how much he had grown - he was almost as tall as me.

"Is it true, Mum?" he asked, hurriedly pulling out of my embrace to look up at me with an eager expression. "Is Scorp really coming to stay?"

I smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Yes, Al. Scorpius's father will be dropping him over mid summer to stay with us for a couple of weeks. I hope that's alright with you?"

"Brilliant!" Albus yelled, delightedly pumping his fist into the air. "Summer's gonna be awesome! You're the best, Mum!"

I glanced up to see Draco observing our mother son reunion over the top of Scorpius's head, his expression soft. A smile twitched at his lips as our eyes met, and the fluttering in my heart was so intense that I had to look away before it could show on my face.

Damn it, I fucking hated it when Ronald Weasley was right.

*****