Chapter Text
She and Teddy walked along the streets of a home that was once hers. She had lived with her aunt and uncle when she got her Hogwarts Letter, but when the war came she sent them away. Her parents were already dead by that point. The Mystic Grill was up ahead, and Hermione clutched to Teddys hand as he skipped beside her, tripping occasionally. It was such a Tonks thing to do, that her heart swelled with emotion. The bell chimed above the door, signaling their arrival. The hostess sat then at a booth, planing a booster seat next to Hermione for Teddy to sit in.
"What do you want to eat, Teddy?" She asked, opening the kids menu that was decorated with pictures of food.
"Mac N Cheese!" He said excitedly.
Chuckling, she gave him the crayons to color the pictures on his menu before scanning through hers. It's been a while since she was last here, and she couldn't remember what they served. She was startled out of her thoughts by the attention of their server. Only for her to stand and pull him into a crushing hug.
"Matt Donovan." She stated, pulling back to look him over.
"Hermione Gilbert. How are you?" He asked with a chuckle.
"I'm ok. This is my godson, Teddy. Teddy, this is an old friend of mine, Matt."
"Hi!!" He waved excitedly, but a soft blush coated his cheeks in embarrassment.
"Hi, Teddy. I didn't know you were babysitting now. When did you get back into town?"
"We just got into town, arrived a few hours ago. And Teddy lives with me." She whispered the last part. She and Teddy had talked about it, but she still blamed herself for not saving them.
"No no, Mione. No no blaming." Teddy interjected before Matt could respond.
Hermione smiled, reclaiming her seat and pressing a soft kiss to Teddys cheek, his cheeks puffed up with anger.
"How old is he?" Matt asked instead of the question he wanted to.
"Four. How are you doing? And do you know where Elena and Jer are?"
"They were in earlier. They should be at your place." He paused before continuing. "They're not very happy with you, for staying away for so long. And not coming to the funeral."
She nodded. She got several angry phone calls and letters from them both. "A lot happened while I was gone. It was safer for them to be angry at me than for me to keep in contact."
After that was said, Matt took their order and left. And then they walked in.
Two people she had been running from. She couldn't do magic, it's too much attention they would be drawn to them. "Teddy, we have to leave."
"Did they-?"
She nodded. "I'm going to pick you up, and then we will be leaving out the back door. Keep your head down, and stay quiet. Just like last time." Teddy nodded, and in a quick motion, they were moving. Then he shouted, and she was sprinting. She couldn't draw her wand, to many people. So she ran. She could hear their cloaks billowing behind her, and she ducked into an alley. Pulling her wand, she threw a hex behind her before stashing it at the end of the alley and turning right.
"Mione?"
"Almost, Teddy."
When they got to the edge of the woods, Hermione continued to sprint. Once deep enough, she turned and casted a bombarda just in front of their feet and continued to run.
"Ready, Teddy?"
She felt him nod, before she pictured the clearing in the woods that the schools would go and party at before apparating.
She twisted and fell on her back, Teddy cradled in her arms and out of harms way. She sucked in deep breaths and cursed under her breath. How did they find them?
She conjured her patronus, "Take this to Harry. They found us. We're safe for now, but they know. Come as soon as you can." Her otter disappeared in a blue shimmer.
"You ok, Teddy?" She whispered.
"How did they find us?" He whispered miserably.
She sighed, refusing the tears that gathered at his words.
"I don't know, kiddo." She sat up and checked him over. His hair was now a dull blue, sadness and misery, instead of his natural dirty blonde that was just like his fathers. "Do you want to help me pitch the tent?"
Teddy nodded and Hermione shuffled him off her lap. Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out the tent that has been using for the past year. It was quick work, and once Teddy was settled, she placed her wards around the tent. She cooked some Mac n cheese, relieved to see a smile return to his face. That night, she curled around him and listened to his breathing. Unable to sleep as worry and fear gripped her tightly.