He didn't show up. Amelia and Dominique waited for nearly an hour in the bitter cold for Scorpius to show up but he didn’t. One man walked past in that whole hour they stood there but there was no sign of Scorpius. Amelia tried to ignore Dominique as she kept on repeating that he wasn’t going to come but, in the end, Dominique got annoyed at her and nearly yelled that she couldn’t feel her legs anymore and that they had to go home.

They apparated back home without another word and Dominique sighed, her breath visible in the cold. She took Amelia’s arm and looped it with her own, ‘do you think he’s alright?’

‘I don’t know,’ Amelia sighed as they walked up to the Burrow, ‘he said to meet him there but... I don’t know what’s wrong.’

Dominique gave her a gentle squeeze and opened the door, walking into the house to hear Fred talking loudly over Mr Weasley. They all stopped once they heard the front door open. Amelia and Dominique walked to the living room.

‘Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!’ Fred said as soon as Amelia came into the house. He got up, along with Hermione and Harry, and came over, enveloping her in a hug.

‘Dominique, you were also with her? You didn’t tell anyone before you left! We were so worried!’ Bill said, frowning a little at his daughter. Fleur opened her arms and Dominique rolled her eyes a little before going to hug her mother.

‘Don’t worry about it, Dad,’ Amelia shook her head, still hugging her father. He smelt very fatherly today for some strange reason which made her want to keep hugging him, maybe it was a new cologne? He probably got it for Christmas from someone. Fred pulled back a little and took her face in his hands, looking into her eyes.

‘Where were you?’ he asked, his voice low and solemn. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, making no move to come forwards. She stood next to Harry and looked at Amelia’s boots which were drenched with snow.

‘I... Dominique and  I went out for a coffee,’ Amelia shrugged as if it was no big deal. Dominique turned to look at her but Amelia avoided her gaze, ‘we were just bored and thought we would get some coffee and, you know, bond for a while.’

‘Fred-’ Hermione started, about to say more but Fred held up a hand to silence her.

Hermione frowned at his back, thinking that Fred would  just let the situation slide like he always did when it came to Amelia. Like his daughter could do no wrong. Hermione knew that Fred knew perfectly well that every shop was closed on Christmas day, and that included coffee shops. But Hermione shut her mouth and, reluctantly, let Fred handle it. She hoped he would catch her out in the obvious lies she was telling.

‘I’m just glad you’re safe,’ Fred said after a painful waiting period where Amelia played with her hands behind her back and looked at her father straight at his eyes. Hermione’s frown deepened and her anger grew as she glared at Fred’s back. Fred hugged Amelia, ‘just tell us next time when you decide to leave.’

‘Same goes for you,’ Bill said to Dominique who was just nodded at her father.

Everyone slowly turned back to what they were doing and for a second it looked as though they were all one big happy family. Harry, Ginny, Bill and Fleur were conversing about Victoire’s pregnancy and the wedding and the engagement which was in a couple of days (the two women discussing what dresses they were going to wear); James and Teddy were playing a game of chess, sprawled on the floor on their stomachs, surrounded by Albus, Lily, and Louis; Victoire pulled Dominique over to tell her or maybe ask some advice about something to do with her engagement; Mr and Mrs Weasley were listening to Molly and Lucy tell a story, gesturing enthusiastically; and Audrey and Isabelle were discussing some shoes they had got for Christmas while Ron seemed to be resting his eyes for a few seconds and Percy was nose deep in a book as Charlie tried to keep a conversation going. It wasn’t perfect but it was family and they looked fairly happy. Expect for Hermione who walked over to where Fred was talking to Amelia in a low voice.

‘Fred,’ Hermione said, taking his arm, interrupting what he was telling Amelia. He looked at his wife and raised his eyebrows as Hermione said, ‘I want to go home.’

‘What? Why, love?’ Fred asked, taking her hand as Amelia raised her eyebrows too, looking remarkably like her father. Hermione just stared at him, as if to say ‘you know why’. Fred sighed and turned to Amelia, ‘why don’t you go talk to James or something?’

‘That’ll work out great,’ Amelia rolled her eyes but walked off towards Victoire, to give her parents some privacy.

‘What’s wrong?’ Fred asked, turning back to Hermione. She only grabbed his hand and led him out of the room and to the kitchen, closing the door behind her so no one would hear them. Fred frowned, leaning against a counter, ‘I have a bad feeling we’re going to fight about something. Whatever I’ve done, I’m sorry.’

‘You knew perfectly well that she was lying to you! Fred, you know her better than me and you can tell when she’s lying to you. True, she doesn’t lie to you but she did to me and you always caught her out on it. What about this time? She didn’t have a coffee with Dominique! The coffee shops and everything else are closed! It’s Christmas!’ Hermione tried to keep her voice down as she yelled at Fred. Fred glared at her angrily.

‘Keep your voice down,’ he frowned disapprovingly. Hermione opened her mouth but he held up a finger, shutting her up effectively. He walked over to the cupboard, pulled out a glass which made Hermione let out an exasperated sound.

‘Do not drink in front of me,’ she stressed as Fred opened the cupboards, trying to find some alcohol. It seemed his first resort when things were starting to look bad or even when something minor had happened.

‘Just one, promise,’ Fred muttered, pouring in a glass for himself and drinking it in one go. He let out a grumbling sound from the back of his throat that sounded quite satisfying to Hermione and she hated it. Fred turned back to her, pouring in another glass even though he had said one glass would do him. Before Hermione could yell about that, he spoke, ‘she was with Dominique, what could have happened? I know what you are thinking, that she was with Malfoy’s kid but... why would Dominique be with her? Surely, she’d go alone.’

‘She’s lying and you know it,’ Hermione argued, walking over, ‘I just want to go back home.’

She then proceeded to take the glass from Fred, glancing at him as if to dare him to speak up about it. Fred held his hands up, letting her take the glass, and watched her pour the drink down the sink. She let the water run and started to wash the glass as Fred wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his head against her shoulder.

‘Baby, we can’t leave yet, it’s Christmas and the engagement is coming up. We need to help with that, you know,’ Fred muttered, closing his eyes. Hermione just nodded and dried the glass. She put the glass down and turned to face him as Fred opened his eyes to look at her. Fred smiled, ‘also Mum and Dad are visiting family the entire day tomorrow and probably staying over at Aunt Muriel’s house so Harry suggested that the adults could go out to eat since we’re all just cooped up in the house.’

‘And who exactly would be looking after the kids?’ Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows. She held up fingers as she counted the kids, ‘Molly, Lucy, Louis, Lily, Albus, James, Amelia and Dominique. Eight kids in one house alone? I don’t think so, love.’

‘Actually, Molly and Lucy decided to go with Mum and Dad. I think they just want to get out of the house since Molly’s been fighting with Louis quite a bit,’ Fred waved his hand in a dismissive fashion, ‘so let’s count again. Louis, Albus, Lily, Dominique, James and of course Amelia. I’m sure James and Amelia and Dominique are old enough to be trusted. Anyway, it’s just one night and Teddy and Victoire want to go out before the engagement.’

‘Are you sure we can leave them in the house alone? What if something happens to Amelia or any of the others?’ Hermione worried, shaking her head, ‘I don’t think-’

‘Mia, Amelia and James can both disapparate if they need us and I’m sure they could use magic to defend themselves if need be,’ Fred said, ‘stop worrying, love. Can we just have a nice night out?’

‘Of course we can,’ Hermione nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck, ‘it’s been a while since we’ve went out, hasn’t it?’

‘Sure has, love,’ Fred smiled, leaning forward to kiss her.

Hermione smiled against his lips and pulled him closer. Fred deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist as his hands stayed at the bottom of her back. Hermione was happy enough as his hands travelled upwards, towards her hair, but Fred pulled back suddenly when the kitchen door opened and James walked in.

‘Oh... sorry... I didn’t know you were... um...’ James turned bright red and made to leave but Fred stopped him by inviting him in. Hermione hurriedly fixed her hair as James came in, ‘listen, Uncle Fred, I know this is none of my business but... Amelia is very stubborn.’

‘Oh, trust us, son, we know. She gets it from her mother obviously,’ Fred said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Hermione frowned a little but told him to carry on.

‘I don’t know about you but I know that Amelia was lying about having coffee with Dom. I could tell just by looking at her and it annoys me that she’s lying! Especially to you since, from what I know of her, she would never even think of lying to you,’ James shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at the open door and then lowered his voice, ‘she’s upset and I can’t bear to see her like that, alright? I just thought you should know.’

‘Thank you for telling us that but of course Fred, being as stubborn as he thinks I am, thinks that Amelia can do no wrong,’ Hermione shook her head and glared at Fred as he tried to take her hand, ‘you know what, I’m going to speak to Malfoy right now.’

‘Oh, no, you’re not,’ Fred’s face changed so suddenly that Hermione was taken aback by it, and he grabbed her arm. Even James made an excuse to leave as he saw that Hermione was glaring right back at Fred. James left the kitchen. As soon as the door was closed, Hermione yanked her arm free from Fred’s hand.

‘Fred, I can do whatever I want, don’t you forget that,’ Hermione frowned at him as he gritted his teeth. Hermione waved her wand and her coat came zooming from the other room. She started to put it on as Fred looked as though he was going to lose it.

‘I don’t want you near Malfoy. You leave this house and... I swear, I won’t forgive you,’ Fred said, his voice dropping. Hermione only raised her eyebrows and buttoned up her coat, ‘I’m being serious, Hermione.’

‘Goodbye, Fred. I’ll be back in a few,’ Hermione shook her head, leaving from the back door.

---

*Malfoy Manor*

Hermione stood outside the huge, black gates, feeling a little nervous despite the fact that she managed to walk out on her husband. Why was she here? What was she going to do anyway? Hermione shook her head to get rid of the snow that was falling off of her head. She waited as the black gates loomed over her ominously. Finally the manor doors opened and a figure stood by there, making no move to come forward.

‘Granger?’ the voice was low and... husky, coming from the intercom. It was a good and deep sort of husky that it took Hermione a minute to reply back. She pressed the button and said a simple ‘yes’ before the doors were opened for her.

Hermione walked up to the house, there was a boom as the gates shut closed behind her which made her slightly nervous. Draco was still standing there and as Hermione got closer, she saw him fully. He was wearing jogger trousers and a pull on shirt. His hair wasn’t styled at all which Hermione thought suited him better. The smirk completed his entire face.

‘Well, to what do I owe this pleasure?’ he asked, smirking as she came closer. Hermione stopped when she was on the porch, in front of him. Draco glanced behind him, a flicker of annoyance passed by on his face as he heard some music get louder upstairs, ‘I would ask you to come in but I don’t think you want to.’

‘Is that Scorpius?’ Hermione asked, gesturing to his house. The music seemed to be getting louder and louder which made Hermione wonder, ‘how can you live with that?’

‘Oh, it’s hard but whenever he gets in a mood about being grounded he plays his music like that. I just work out to the music so it all works out,’ Draco rolled his eyes, ‘I don’t know how I got stuck with the custody of him.’

‘It can’t be that bad,’ Hermione muttered, but inside she was thinking of how Amelia looked perfect compared to Scorpius but even she played her music aloud sometimes.

‘It is,’ Draco said simply and moved away from the door, gesturing for her to come in, ‘it’s really cold and you’ve got snow in your hair. Come on in.’

Hermione raised her eyebrows but Draco just gestured her into the house again. Warily, she entered the house and Draco came in right behind her, closing the door. He took her coat from her and then he sighed, shook his head, and waved his wand. Suddenly the music cut off.

‘That’s better,’ Draco sighed in bliss and then he gestured for Hermione to follow him into the kitchen. Hermione, smiling a little at Draco’s cheeriness, followed him into the kitchen. Despite not having his family and having a son who was playing music so loud just to annoy him, Draco was sort of happy. He turned around, ‘would you like a drink? I have tea, coffee, water, orange juice and... a whole lot of alcohol.’

‘Um... no, thank you. Listen, Malfoy, you said you grounded Scorpius? On Christmas?’ Hermione asked, watching his back as Draco took a glass and filled it with water for himself. He turned back to her and Hermione looked back up to his face suddenly.

‘Yes, I did. Funny story that, actually,’ he pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and Hermione sat. Draco pulled out the one next to hers and sat down too, facing her, ‘he tried to sneak out of the house when I told him Christmas was family time.’

‘Oh... did he... did he leave the house?’ Hermione asked, her voice getting higher since it looked like maybe Amelia was telling the truth. Maybe she hadn’t been to see Scorpius but why else would she lie about getting coffee when the shops were closed?

‘Nope, I didn’t let him leave,’ Draco answered her and Hermione let out a strangled breath, burying her face in her hands. Draco, looking a little alarmed, hesitated, ‘uh... why are you so interested anyway?’

‘I’m such a horrible mother,’ Hermione sighed, shaking her head. She looked up to see a very confused Draco and then explained everything. About how they were sure Amelia was lying but it turned out she wasn’t.

‘Oh, no, Scorpius definitely sent her a letter telling her to meet him there,’ Draco interrupted and Hermione narrowed her eyes, the bad mother feeling slowly disappearing, ‘but I told him not to since it was Christmas and family time. He snarled, said a few words that got him grounded and no magic and no sending letters anymore.’

‘That’s why Amelia must be upset because Scorpius isn’t sending letters to her after he basically stood her up,’ Hermione shook her head, standing up, as she pieced it together, ‘oh, so it wasn’t a whole lie.’

‘And that’s the reason you came here? Damn it, I thought you were finally leaving that traitor for me,’ Draco half joked and Hermione rolled her eyes. She stood up, getting ready to go and Draco sighed, ‘leaving so soon, Granger?’

‘I just left my husband when he explicitly told me not to come here. It seems like I’m constantly having to choose between my husband and my daughter,’ Hermione sighed, shaking her head.

‘Ah, rebel Granger, I like it. It’s like a... a turn on,’ Draco winked at her and Hermione blushed red as he leaned closer, brushing away a stray hair, ‘stay here a while longer?’

‘Draco, I think it’s about time you stopped flirting. I’m married now,’ Hermione held up her hand to show him the ring that had resided there for years and years now. Draco sighed and took her hand in his.

‘Yes, I can see that but... are you happy?’ Draco asked, the joking tone left his voice and he looked at her, frowning a little, ‘are you happy with him? Are you, as they so often say, happily married?’

‘As happy as I can be,’ Hermione whispered, staring into the grey eyes and gently freeing her hand from his, ‘why can’t we be friends? Why can’t you just show everyone how nice you are?’

‘Because I’m in love with you,’ Draco said simply, making Hermione’s eyebrows raise in surprise. She stared at him but he only laughed a laugh that held no humour, ‘I... am in love with you and I can’t just... be your friend. It won’t work and what makes this so much harder is that you are not just married but happily married with a kid that really loves you whereas I have a kid who wouldn’t spit on me if I was on fire and I have no wife and the only woman I love is taken. On top of all that, my kid loves your kid and it’s just... it’s not working out for anyone and I-’

‘Dad!’ Scorpius shouted from down the hall. Draco sighed and they waited for Scorpius to come into the kitchen. When he did, he saw Hermione and raised his eyebrows, ‘Mrs Weasley? What are you doing here? Is it Amelia? Is she okay?’

‘She’s perfectly fine. What are you doing out of your room? You’re grounded, remember?’ Draco said, exasperated by the interruption. Hermione sighed and reached for her coat as Scorpius ignored his father and continued to talk to Hermione.

‘Mrs Weasley-’ he started, watching her button her coat up, ‘can you please tell Amelia that I’m grounded and I couldn’t meet her today?’

‘I can but you shouldn’t be meeting her today anyway. It’s Christmas time and that means family time,’ Hermione said strictly, watching as Scorpius looked at his father as if he was trying to judge who said it better. Hermione turned to Draco, ‘I have to go back home to my husband before he comes here looking for me.’

‘Granger, whatever I said... it’s all true and-’ Draco said but Hermione shook her head and walked out of the kitchen, past Scorpius. Draco sighed impatiently and walked past his son, giving him a glare as though he had messed everything up.

‘I have to go,’ Hermione repeated again, getting ready to apparate straight from his house. Draco grabbed her hand and stared into her eyes while Hermione glared at him, ‘your 17 year old son who is in love with my daughter is standing right there and he can see you. Get off me.’

‘Dad, what are you-’ Scorpius started off but Draco groaned, making his son shut his mouth, and moved away from Hermione in a quick motion.

Hermione sighed, waving her wand, and apparated away without another word. Draco let out a frustrated groan and sank to his knees, the most un-Draco thing he could do. It all finally sunk into Scorpius, everything made sense now. Scorpius slowly walked forwards and for the first time in five years, he put his arms around his father’s shoulders.

‘It’s her,’ he said, frowning a little as Draco glared at him and moved away from his embrace. Draco got to his feet and made towards the room where he usually exercised but Scorpius followed him, ‘Mrs Weasley... or Granger, as you call her... she’s the one you’ve been in love with, all these years?’

‘Go to your room,’ Draco stared angrily at him as Scorpius was tailing behind him. Scorpius’ bought himself to his full height, which was nearly as tall as Draco himself.

‘That’s why you don’t want me to be with Amelia! For your own selfish reasons!’ Scorpius shook his head angrily, ‘I love Amelia and, once again, it’s your fault that I can’t get something I really want! You have NO chance with Amelia’s mother but why does that mean you have to ruin my chances with Amelia?’

‘Something you really want?! Ask me for anything and I’ll give it to you like I’ve done in the past! All you have to do is look into your room at everything I’ve paid for and then come back and tell me I’m the one who’s stopping you from having what you really want,’ Draco raged, towering over his son as Scorpius tried to stare him down, ‘Granger doesn’t want you near her child and that’s not my fault-’

‘Of course it’s your fault, like everything is! She just thinks that I’m like you! That I’ll hurt Amelia or do something stupid but the truth is that I would never hurt Amelia and I’m nothing like you and your alcoholic, one-night-stand life!’ Scorpius yelled back, taking a step forwards so that he could stare at his father, in a sort of intimidating way. Draco said nothing but he didn’t back down as Scorpius spoke, ‘I’m telling you, father, I will get Amelia and if you get in my way... I don’t want to hurt you but I will if I have to. I won’t give up on her.’

‘Just like how I haven’t given up on Granger... you’re right, you’re nothing like me,’ Draco said sarcastically, and firmly pushed his sons chest so that he wasn’t staring at him. Scorpius tried to shove Draco’s hands off him but the look on his fathers face made him stop. Draco shook his head, ‘get out of here. I don’t want to see you until dinner and you can eat that in your room.’

‘Have fun drinking alone on Christmas, father,’ Scorpius muttered before he went upstairs, banging the door shut behind him.

Draco muttered vulgarity under his breath, wondering once again why Astoria had left him with a son that seemed to pretty much hate him. Draco just sighed as he heard music playing from upstairs and getting gradually louder. He got onto the running machine and set it to sprint before it took off with him running as though someone was chasing him.