LIFETIME MATE

Chapter One


Eight years later


“Mum, wake up.” Hermione’s shoulder was nudged while she lay on the couch in the living room by a small hand.

Hermione looked up and smiled groggily. “Hey there Kat, you’re up early.” She got up and stretched and rubbed her stiff neck.

“How long were you studying last night?” Kat asked.

“Not sure. But I think I’m ready to write my teaching exam at the Ministry.” She walked to the kitchen. “What do you want for breakfast munchkin?”

“Blueberry pancakes.” She answered happily. No surprise to Hermione, as this was Kat’s favorite breakfast.

Hermione got out the ingredients and began to whip up the batter for the pancakes. “So, what should we do for your eighth birthday today?” She smirked to her only daughter.

“Whatever you think. What time is everyone supposed to be coming over?” Kat asked as she got out the plates and the cutlery for breakfast.

“Not until this afternoon. After breakfast, we’ll clean up, then go for a quick swim before they get here.”

Hermione watched Kat eat her breakfast hungrily. She turns eight years old today. She looks so much like her father with her long blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione sighed to herself, ‘she still missed him,’ she thought to herself When she first found out she was pregnant with Kat, she wasn’t sure what she would do. For weeks, she was in a deep depression over Draco’s death. But when Ginny and Severus had told her she was pregnant, she realized she had another life to take care of, and a part of Draco still in her life. With the help of her friends and family, she was able to slowly come out of her depression and try to get on with her life. She still thinks about him constantly, she can’t really help it when she looks to her daughter. One day at a time, she repeats to herself every day.

Kat was born with the help of Ginny and a medi-witch on March 5. She was in labor for about two days. She was christened Katrina Dracilla Granger. She would do anything for Kat. After she was born she took the year off of school, and then with a gentle push from her friends and family she went to get her teachers degree to become a transfiguration professor. She also works at the Ministry twice a week, to keep an ear out for anything about Lizette for the Order. During the day, Kat spends her days with Mrs. Figg, who used to watch over Harry when he was younger while he stayed with the Dursleys.

“Hey mum..... earth to mum.” Kat said waving her hand across Hermione’s face.

Hermione looked at Kat and smiled warmly. “Sorry honey, I guess I was ‘in the zone’ again, huh?”

“That’s okay. Let’s clean up then go swimming.”

“You go change, I’ll clean up and meet you out there.” Hermione watched her run to change then waved her hand at the table and counters to clear them. Over the years, she has honed her magical abilities, so she finds most of the time she doesn’t need her wand much anymore.

They spent the morning swimming in the pool out back, Hermione continuing to teach Kat how to swim. “Hi there, can anyone join in?” A voice questioned at the edge of the pool.

Hermione looked up and smiled in greeting. “Harry, Ginny, come on in.” She swam to the shallow end and sat on the edge. “Braeden, want to swim?” She asked Harry’s seven year old son.

At Braeden’s nod and smile, Ginny transformed their street clothes to bathing suits and jumped into the pool. They swam for the next hour or two until they heard a screech from the sky above.

A large eagle circled in the air then descended to the edge of the pool where it slowly transformed to a 6\'3\" redheaded man. “Ron, I’m glad you could make it.” Hermione smiled and reached out her hand for Ron to take.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her up, enjoying the view of Hermione in her black two piece bikini. He wrapped the towel around her and drew her close for a hug and to kiss her cheek. “Wouldn’t have missed it.” He smiled as he went to sit down in a nearby lawn chair, while Hermione sat down beside him.

Katrina got out of the pool and ran to Ron who scooped her up in his arms, wet swimsuit and all. “Uncle Ron, I’m so glad you came.”

Ron hugged her back, “Wouldn’t miss it Kitty-Kat.” He leaned down to take Braeden on his lap, as the two talked Ron’s ears off.

“Well, let’s head inside, there’s some cold butterbeers waiting in the fridge. The kids can play some video games while we catch up.” Hermione said as she picked up the discarded towels and followed the others into the house. She stopped just short of the door and looked towards the forest. She closed her eyes and sniffed the air.

“Hermione, are you okay?” Harry asked worriedly as he looked towards the forest.

Hermione nodded her head, “Yeah, I think so, it’s just that sometimes......” she looked to Harry, and gave a sad smile and grabbed his hand, “Later, okay. I’ll try to explain later.”

“Sure, ‘Mione, anytime.” Harry said as he glanced to the forest again, then turned to walk into the house following Hermione.

After they all went in, the rest of the guests started to slowly arrive. First there was Hermione’s parents who came, loaded with presents for their only granddaughter. Then there was Blaise Zabini and his girlfriend of the month. Dumbledore, Professor McGonegall and Severus Snape also came to the birthday party. Katrina welcomed each one in turn. She paid particular attention to Severus, as he usually comes to visit and brings Hermione her potion to help her calm down her hormones when she goes ‘into heat’ twice a year. Over the years, they developed a close friendship, where she is able to talk to him about anything, be it school or Draco. She followed him as he sat down, with Kat chatting non-stop about this potion book her mum had given her. He looked to Hermione for help, where she smiled then walked away, knowing that he didn’t really want the help.

“It’s weird, isn’t it, seeing Snape smile.” Ron said as he watched the two of them.

“At first, it was, but over the years I see it more and more from him. Kat really looks up to him.” Hermione said smiling.

After the cake and ice cream were served, it was time for Katrina to open her gifts. She received clothes, games and books, lots of books. Like her mother, she loved to read and she thirsted for knowledge that she could learn about anything and everything. Severus had given her an ‘A-Z Potion Ingredients’ book. Harry and Ginny gave her a telescope. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall gave her a chemistry set and Ron gave her tickets to an upcoming quiddich game for her and himself to go to. Katrina had opened each gift and thanked the person who gave her the gift, loving everything that was given to her.

“I have something for you here, actually two things.” Hermione smiled handing her the bigger gift.

Katrina opened it, to reveal a book of tigers. She flipped through the pages, “What kind are you mum?”

“You tell me.” Hermione said as she slowly transformed into her tiger form. She walked to Katrina slowly, as to not scare her. Katrina smiled and started to laugh as the tiger licked her face.

Katrina giggled, then looked down in the book to find the picture, then looked to her ‘mum’. “An African tiger.” She said proudly. Hermione changed back and nodded. “What kind was father?”

Everyone grew silent as Hermione gave a sad smile. She flipped through a couple of pages until she came across the white tiger. “His animagi form was the white tiger.” Her voice hoarse with checked tears.

Katrina went to hug her mum. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you mum.”

Hermione hugged her back, “That’s okay, someday I’ll tell you more about him. Meanwhile....” She smiled “there’s one more gift which I know that you are now mature enough to take care of.”

She handed the gift to her daughter and watched her open it. Kat pulled out a gold chain with a ring dangling in the middle. She looked to her mum, unsure. “Is this the ring dad gave you?”

“Yes, he gave that to me the first Christmas he spent with me and your grandparents. It was one of the best Christmas’s for me. That was the first time he told me he loved me.” Hermione smiled from the fond memories, then helped Kat put it around her neck.

“Thanks mum, I’ll take care of it always.” Katrina said as she gave her mother another hug.

Danielle wiped the tear from her eye at the pain Hermione still felt for the loss of Draco. She smiled, “Well, what say you and Braeden challenge your old grandparents to a game of yahtzee.” She asked Katrina.

Hermione smiled her thanks, then went into the kitchen, where Harry, Ron, Ginny and the professors followed. They all sat around the table drinking their tea or butterbeers. “Are you okay Hermione?” McGonagall asked.

“Yes, I’m okay. It just feels like he’s still out there somewhere. I don’t feel that he is dead. And lately, I can sense his presence. Frankly, sometimes I think I might be losing my mind.” Hermione answered with a shaky laugh. “Has the Ministry found anything about Lizette? I’ve been keeping my ears open but haven’t heard anything.”

“We have been keeping tabs on Lizette, and know she is gathering some of the old loyal followers of her brother’s. But we can’t seem to find where she is mainly situated. It’s like she has someone on the inside, because when we go to stop her, she’s gone. Disappeared.” Ron said shaking his head in frustration, as Harry and him have been two of the people that have been tracking her, them being aurors for the Ministry.

They continued to talk on about Lizette, then switched to talking about Hogwarts and some of the antics that they pulled in school. By the end of the day, when she was seeing everyone off, she was exhausted. They all left with promises that they would keep in contact. Severus handed her a potion vial, “For your next cycle.” He said.

“Thanks Severus, I don’t know what I would do without you.” She smiled and hugged him goodbye.

Her parents were invited to stay the night before they made their way back to their home the next morning. After tucking in Katrina to bed and saying goodnight to her parents later, she made her way to her own bed. She took out the picture of Draco and herself from the nightstand drawer and ran her fingers over his face. “I miss you.” She whispered as she kissed the moving picture, then tucked it back away.