Come Back To Me

Chapter 1

May 2002

Hermione sighed looking out at her new apartment. It was out of her budget but was the only one available at such short notice. It was in the perfect place, however. Right above her new job at Honeydukes sweets shop in Hogsmeade. The rent was alright if you thought about it.

She'd only taken clothes with her leaving the rest of her belongings, well they weren't hers anymore, at her old house. Their old house. Yep, she wasn't alone. Picking up the crying bundle, she soothed a 2 day old Scorpius. Looking at him was exceptionally hard however. His tuft of platinum blond hair and icy grey eyes were identical to his fathers. But then, that's why she took him instead of his twin sister.

Life would be hard for them. She was a missing witch with barely any money. When had her life gone so downhill she wondered. She knew exactly when however. It really was pathetic though. The Golden girl, best friends with The Chosen One, broke and living in a flat that was as sparse as a desert.

There was a sofa, a small table with three chairs, a rusty oven, a broken bookshelf and one bedroom. It would have to be enough, however. She couldn't have stayed however. Even if it broke her heart to walk away, she had to. She couldn't live with herself there. It was the right thing to do. He'd move on and live a happy, guilt free life. He deserved everything and more with gallons of happiness but that was what she could not give him.

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May 2005

"Happy Birthday to you, your Uncle loves you..."

"Eww, no love is gross." Scorpius groaned.

"Who told you that?" replied Fred Weasley

"Uncle Sirius," Scorpius stated proudly, his chubby toddler hands on his hips.

"If you're learning from Uncle Sirius, then I've raised you wrong," Hermione said with a smile, ruffling her three year olds snow white hair.

"Mummy! I missed you." Scorpius turned round and hugged her legs.

She had just come from her weekendly lunch with Professor McGonagall. She asked her not to tell anyone of her location and she agreed. When Scorpius was a baby, she took him with her but when he turned two and a half she started leaving him under the care of the portraits. There was a hall in Hogwarts full of paintings of people who'd died during the war. Among them included Sirius, Fred, Lupin, Tonks and surprisingly, Narcissa Malfoy.

She'd died after Voldemort discovered she'd lied to him. Her and Hermione were very close, surprisingly. She knew everything and loved her grandson to pieces. They were a very unconventional family all connected in some way. Narcissa was cousin to Sirius, Aunt to Tonks, who married Lupin, and Grandmother to Scorpius who was son to Hermione. Fred was a part of the Sacred 28 so probably had some relation to Narcissa.

Money was still tight and life wasn't easy but for a three year old, Sorpius was extremely well behaved. He could talk and walk and wasn't fussy at all. He did ask questions but stopped when he could see the pain in his mothers eyes. Hermione had most certainly raised him right.

She was still very much in love with Scorpius's father, so much that it hurt, but it made her feel better that, even though he was probably with another woman, a piece of him would always be with her in the form of her son.

For his birthday they were going to venture to Diagon Ally. Scorpius had bever been before and was so excited, so with the help of glamour charms, they were going. Her hair was charmed straight and short and she made her skin more tan. Scorp wouldn't be able to recognise her if she changed too much. They left Hogwarts grounds and apparated away.

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"Can I have this!"

"Wait, no. I want this!"

"This looks so cool! Can I get it?"

"Please can you buy this for me."

Scorpius wanted everything he laid eyes on. A packet of sweets, an owl, a book. Anything. She couldn't afford it. Some sweets and a book would be pushing it a bit. She had to laugh and tell him there'd be something better out there for him.

Hermione couldn't help but look for him. He could be there. Smiling with a new family. The jealousy would be there, unwelcome and unwanted, however seeing him happy would be enough for her. The tears would fall later the sadness infesting her like a plague but if he was happy it would be alright. Even if he was happier without her, he was happy and that's all she'd ever wanted for him.

In Quality Quidditch Supplies she came across a problem, however. Scorpius was set on getting a trainer broom for kids. First, he was not as there was nowhere to fly it, Second, it was quite dangerous and third, it was way too expensive. She hated letting him down but she couldn't get that for him. When telling him he had nowhere to fly it he said 'Gonny (his nickname for McGonagall) would let him use the Hogwarts grounds which was probably true and when telling him it was dangerous he said she could fix him which was also probably true.

She'd run out of excuses. She'd tried to keep the fact that they were quite tight for money a secret. Tried to raise him like a normal child. She'd have to tell him though. There was no getting out of this one. He was insistent. "It's...it's too much money, baby. I'm sorry but I can't afford it." Hermione winced at his disappointed expression.

"Can I have this instead?" Scorpius asked. It was a book about quidditch for kids but still was too expensive.

"Sorry baby. That's too much as well. We could go and get some sweets and save up for a few years for the broom though," Hermione suggested, disappointed in herself for not having enough money and making him sad on his birthday. A voice from behind her spoke.

"Miss, I couldn't help but overhear. It's my daughter's birthday too, so I'm feeling particularly generous. I could buy you the broom for nothing in return. I remember it being such an amazing experience when I was younger and my daughter isn't really the flying type." The voice was familiar.

Hermione turned around and there he was.