Broken

Twilight Zone

'Why do you have grass in your hair, Aunt Mione?'

'Yeah Hermione,' Ginny grinned mischievously as her eldest son plucked green blades from Hermione's curls. 'Why do you have grass in your hair?'

'I...fell...'

'Oh no!' James' brown eyes were worried. 'Did it hurt? Do you need a kiss better?'

'I think that's been taken care of,' Ginny teased, laughing as Hermione blushed.

'What?! I don't...um...'

'It's ok,' Ginny smiled as they walked through the castle. 'It's been a long time since I've seen you this...giddy!'

'Aunt Mione isn't giddy, mummy, she's happy,' James smiled sweetly at Hermione. 'I like it when you're not sad.' He slipped his hand in hers.

Hermione tweaked his nose, trying to hide her confusion.

'He's right. You were sad for so long, even before you guys officially split.' Ginny scowled, frustrated with her brother. 'You deserve to be happy, even if not everyone likes who gave your smile back. They'll come around. We love you, and if you're happy then so are we.'

'Thanks, Gin.' Hermione's voice was small, her face burning.

'But if he hurts or upsets you...I won't hold back,' she threatened. 'I don't have any family loyalty to this one...'

'Really, Ginny, you're taking this a bit too seriously! It was just a kiss!'

'Mmhmm, just a kiss, that has the pair of you mooning around like love-sick teenagers! Never mind the fact that he stayed at your house...'

'He was sick! I was being nice!'

'...and that your kids are joined at the hip, like long-lost twins...'

'They're friends, it does them both good...'

'I didn't say it was a bad thing, they're so sweet together,' Ginny stopped and smiled at Hermione. 'I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable, I'm just trying to tell you...Whatever it is you two have going on, you have my support. You're still my sister, and my best friend, and I want you to be happy. I never thought Draco Malfoy would be the one to do that but...if that's the case, whenever you figure it all out, I've got your back.'

'That means a lot, thank you.'

'Now. Tell me about the kiss.'

'Which one?'

'Hermione! You've been holding out on me! That's it, the boys are babysitting, I'm ordering a girl's night, stat!'

*****

Draco shifted uncomfortably, feeling out of place. Hugo gurgled in his sleep, curled up on Draco's lap. Teddy lounged nearby, beeping sounds emitting from a hand-held device. He had called it a "Gameboy" and said Harry bought it for him.

Draco's gaze drifted to the corner of the guest-room, where Harry, George, Bill and Oliver were hollering at the TV. They each held a small controller in their hand, and were racing oddly shaped cars along a twisty, multi-coloured road. Watching made Draco feel ill.

Charlie slipped into the room, quietly closing the door of the adjoining bedroom.

'They're all asleep,' he announced. 'No thanks to you lot, I had to cast a bunch of silencing charms on the room to block you all out!'

Scorpius had been invited to join his new-found friends for a sleepover, but was too shy to stay without his father. Draco was perturbed to be included with the Gryffindor men and their children, but couldn't resist his son's delight.