A/N - Thanks to everyone for reading this story. I'm pleased people have enjoyed it and I hope you all like the last chapter.
After spending the morning in the garden with Lyra, Draco and Hermione spent a relaxing afternoon in the library. Part way through the afternoon they received an owl from Angelina asking if they wanted to go to dinner that night. Deciding it would be nice to see their friends, Draco owled back an acceptance and a time to meet was arranged.
When it was time to go to George and Angelina's, Lyra was already asleep as Hermione carried her through the floo network. When they arrived at George and Angelina's, Angelina and Hermione took Lyra upstairs, where they settled her in little Fred's cot. Once they were sure the two babies were sleeping and were alright, Hermione and Angelina returned to their husbands.
"I hear you two had quite an eventful weekend." George remarked, once everyone was sitting at the table and Angelina had served the food.
"Yes, fancy running off for a dirty weekend." Angelina joked.
"I take you've seen them then." Hermione said.
"Oh yes." George nodded. "Lavender and Ginny couldn't wait to break the news of your affair."
"You make it sound like they were having fun with the idea." Draco commented.
"They were." Angelina said. "Ginny and Lavender were gutted when they found out the truth."
"So were Harry and Ron." George added. "I think they rather liked having you in the role of the other woman."
"Nice to know they think so highly of me." Hermione muttered. "I just don't get why they would ever think I would do that. I know we haven't spoken in six years but I'm not the sort of person to have an affair with a married man."
"It wouldn't even have happened if they weren't so self-involved." George pointed out. "Honestly, these days all they think about is how famous they are and what sort of publicity they're getting. They're just not interested in anyone but themselves."
"What happened when they discovered the truth?" Draco asked.
"They were shocked but then Ron started accusing us of going behind his back by keeping in contact with you." George said. "He had a right go at me, but I told him a few home truths about his behaviour and attitude."
"You didn't have to do that, George." Hermione told her friend. "I don't want to cause even more problems with your family."
"It needed to be said." Angelina said. "To be honest he should have been yelled at long before now."
"It's not just Ron though, is it?" Hermione sighed. "Apart from you two and Charlie your whole family turned their backs on me and still hate me."
"They don't hate you, Hermione." George said. "In fact for the first time yesterday mum admitted she was wrong. She regrets the way in which she treated you."
"Really?" Hermione asked.
"Really." George nodded. "I think she's going to get in touch and try to apologise, that is if she doesn't lose her nerve and chicken out."
"What would you do if Molly apologised?" Angelina asked.
"I'd accept it." Hermione replied. She didn't even need to think about it to know she wouldn't hold a grudge against the woman she had once considered a second mother. "I'm not sure it would change anything but it would be nice to know she was sorry for what happened."
"I'll try and convince her to get in touch. I think it would be good for the pair of you to clear the air so you can move on." George said.
George knew that it was Molly's attitude that had hurt Hermione the most all those years ago. After the war Hermione had been unable to undo the memory charm on her parents, meaning she had lost them, and it was Molly who had helped her cope with the loss. Shortly after her split with Ron, George had witnessed Hermione break down after Molly told her she was no longer part of the family.
"Feel free to tell her I'll willingly meet her somewhere to talk." Hermione said.
"I will." George nodded and smiled at Hermione, pleased she was going to give Molly a chance to apologise.
"Enough about the family, I want to hear all about your weekend." Angelina said, deciding the atmosphere needed lightening somewhat. "Was it really a dirty weekend?"
"We were alone for the first time since Lyra was born, what do you think?" Draco asked with a wicked laugh.
"Nice." George exchanged smirks with Draco, remembering his and Angelina's first night away from little Fred after he had been born and what they had gotten up to.
As the two men laughed and made risqué jokes, Hermione and Angelina talked about the spa. While George was interested in the bedroom activity, Angelina wanted to know about the rest of the weekend.
A week after having dinner with George and Angelina, Hermione received an owl from Molly. Molly had apologised in her letter and begged Hermione to meet with her so they could talk. Hermione had wrote back and arranged to meet the older witch in a café in Diagon Alley.
On the day in question Hermione was at the café early, having a relaxing cup of coffee before she had to deal with Molly. Lyra was happily asleep in her pram, and Hermione kept checking her daughter was alright. When Molly arrived in the café, Hermione had just finished her coffee and was readjusting Lyra's blanket.
"Hello, Hermione." Molly smiled tentatively as she approached Hermione's table.
"Hello, Molly. Do you want a drink?"
"Let me." Molly quickly said. "What are you having?"
"Just another latte, please." Hermione replied.
Molly nodded and rushed off to get the drinks. When she returned she placed the cups on the table and sat down opposite Hermione. Just a glance at the older witch revealed how nervous she was and Hermione wondered if Molly was going to stay or if she was going to lose her bottle and flee.
"How's the family?" Hermione asked, trying to put Molly slightly at ease.
"Good, how are yours?"
"Good."
Molly sighed as the conversation ground to a halt, taking a deep breath she began to apologise. "Hermione, I need to apologise. What happened when you and Ron broke up is unforgivable, we were all so awful and I feel terrible about it. I've thought about apologising hundreds of times before but I was always so worried you would throw it back in my face. Not that I would blame you, after everything I said I would understand if you couldn't forgive me."
"I accept your apology, Molly." Hermione said. "I'm not going to lie and say everything can go back to the way it was but at least it's a start."
"After the way I've behaved I'll take anything." Molly replied. "I also just want you to know that it was Ron and I that made sure the family kept away from you. If it had been up to Arthur things wouldn't have escalated this far."
"Charlie and George had no problem with keeping in touch, if anyone had wanted to remain in contact with me they could have done so easily." Hermione replied.
"But still, I pushed them into disowning you and I really regret it." Molly sighed.
"It's in the past, let's try and forget it." Hermione said.
"I'm not sure I can." Molly admitted. "I need to make amends. I'll make sure all the family get in touch and apologise, especially Ron, Ginny and Harry. The three of them owe you a serious apology and I'll make sure you get one."
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I don't want an apology that you've just told people to make. If anyone wants to apologise then they know where to find me. And for the record I don't think Harry, Ron or Ginny will be making an apology."
"They will, give them time." Molly insisted.
"No offence Molly, but they've had time. They've had six years to come and speak to me and they haven't. I never left, I've been here all along." Hermione said sadly. She knew her friends had always had the opportunity to speak with her and make things right, they had just chosen not to do so. "Not to mention they could have apologised over the weekend. Instead Lavender was only bothered about showing off her perfect life, while Harry, Ron and Ginny readily believed I was sleeping with a married man."
"I'm sorry everything went so wrong. I should have acted better and ensured you remained in our life." Molly said. "My only consolation is that you've carved out a brilliant life for yourself and you seem very happy."
"I am happy." Hermione nodded. "I've got everything I could ever want; a loving husband, a gorgeous baby and great friends and family."
"I'm so pleased for you." Molly smiled. "For years I've followed your life as you got engaged, married, promoted and had a child. I only wish I'd been there to support you."
"We can't change the past, all we can do is try and move forward." Hermione replied.
"Maybe one day I can be a regular part in your life." Molly said hopefully.
Hermione smiled at the hope she could hear in the older witch's voice. "Maybe."
"Maybe one day I could even meet your daughter." Molly remarked, looking into the pram sitting beside Hermione.
As if on cue Lyra opened her eyes and began to cry. Hermione stood up and removed her whimpering daughter from her pram. The second she was in Hermione's arms Lyra's cries started to subside, although she was still whimpering slightly.
"Looks like maybe one day is today." Hermione remarked as she cradled her daughter. "Molly, meet Lyra."
"She's so beautiful." Molly cooed. "Her eyes are gorgeous, they're so expressive."
Hermione looked down into her daughter's sparkling grey eyes and was instantly reminded of her husband. "She gets them from Draco, his eyes are the exact same shade."
Hermione stayed with Molly for another half hour as the two women mainly spoke about Lyra. Molly seemed to sense that if she wanted to regain any sort of relationship that she would have to move slowly and mentioning her family, especially Ron, Ginny and Harry, wouldn't help her cause. By the time they parted Hermione agreed to another meeting and told Molly she would be in touch when she was ready.
After leaving the café, Hermione and Lyra wandered around the shops for a while before they headed to Draco's office. Draco quickly finished work when his wife and daughter arrived and together the family returned home, where Hermione filled Draco in on her meeting with Molly.
Hermione thought that in time she and Molly could regain some sort of relationship, although she knew their former closeness was long gone. Even so she was happy to have the older witch back in her life, even if it was only meeting for coffee every few weeks. As for Harry, Ron and Ginny, Hermione had written them off as a lost cause. Like she told Molly they'd had plenty of time to apologise and it was clear that they didn't want to know her any more. Hermione was saddened by that, but she'd long since accepted that her former friends were no longer part of her life.
Even without her former friends, Hermione had a great life and she was happy. In an ideal world Harry, Ron and Ginny would be part of her life, but she was more than satisfied with the life she did have. Draco and Lyra were the most important people in the world to Hermione and as long as she had them it didn't matter to her who else was in her life. Her husband and daughter came first and it was Draco and Lyra who truly mattered to Hermione, everyone else was just a bonus in her already happy existence.
The End.