Broken

Relax

Hermione and Ginny sat on the patio, huddled around a jar of blue fire, watching the three children play. Rose and Albus teamed up against James, slipping after him in the few inches of snow, pelting him with powdery clumps.

James ducked behind a bush, then leapt out at the two toddlers with a snowball in each hand. Rose skipped away, laughing delightedly, while Albus was caught in the chest.

'So, what's this I hear from mum about a long meeting at Hogwarts?' Ginny turned to Hermione, her eyebrow raised disapprovingly. Hermione kept quiet, a light blush creeping across her cheeks. 'Hermione! You are on maternity leave! You're supposed to be resting, not working!'

'I know, I know! But it was important, I'm so close to getting the Lycanthropy Anti-Discrimination Act passed through, I couldn't just leave it. You know that Hogwarts' support in accepting students affected by lycanthropy is absolutely key to its success...'

'Hermione, I know how important this Act is for you. It is for us too, but you've been working on it for years now. Taking a few months out surely wouldn't hurt?'

'I wanted to have it passed before Teddy started school,' Hermione whispered.

'I know, I get that. But you need to take care of you and the baby. You haven't had an easy pregnancy this time around, then there's everything that went on with you and Ron. Let us help you. We all loved Remus too...'

A tear trickled down Hermione's cheek as Ginny reached over and squeezed her hand. They sat in silence for a few moments, then Hermione gave herself a small shake and briskly wiped her cheeks.

'Is Teddy excited to start school next year? Only 10 more months to go! I bet Harry is absolutely freaking out?'

'Seriously, it's crazy,' Ginny said, rolling her eyes. 'He's already taken Teddy to Diagon Alley about a hundred times to buy him everything he needs. He's being the ultimate aeroplane dad right now!'

'...helicopter dad...'

'Whatever. Andromeda keeps trying to be all calm and aloof about the whole thing, but I think she's getting pretty emotional as well. We'll need to take umbrellas to King's Cross when we take him to the train, the amount of crying they're all going to be doing!'

'At least this means Harry might have calmed down about the whole thing by the time James heads off to school...?'

'Sure, because Harry is well-known for his calm and rational behaviour...'

The two women laughed, the tension floating away like a flurry of snowflakes.

'Speaking of Diagon Alley, why don't you go do some shopping for a bit and I'll look after Rose? Ron isn't there,' Ginny reassured Hermione quickly when she hesitated. 'He's up at Hogsmeade, him and George finally convinced old Zonko to sell so he's finalising the paperwork and drawing up the plans for their expansion. Go on, you know you want to go and get some more baby stuff!'

'I don't know, I've just been away from Rose for two days already...' Ginny fixed Hermione with a firm look. 'Ok, ok! I could do with a few more baby robes...'