(This story is about love, loss, betrayal, and lies. It is by no means a humorous story. If you do not wish to read a story that may or may not have a happy ending, please exit now. This is rated M for a reason. Do not read if you are not of age! Thank you.)

Chapter 1

Time After Time

Some do not cope well with the loss of a loved one. Sadly, Hermione Granger fell into this category. Her breathing was labored, her chest tight, eyes wide as the Muggle police officer stood on her doorstep, informing her that never again would she see her parents. They had both been killed in a car accident.

Just last evening she had taken a seat in between her mother and father, reintroduced herself as their daughter, and explained why she had confunded them. She had been researching how to bring back their memories, but it all was in vain.

She could barely feel herself climbing the stairs to her bedroom, daftly fingering the doorknob before shuffling to her bed. She collapsed there, a fit of sobs wracking her small frame. Never again would she have a family.

Slowly she sat up, reaching for the little, elongated object on her bedside table that would determine her fate. As her eyes grazed over the double pink stripes she barely recognized the result.

"I'm pregnant," she whispered, her thumb running over the little window to the Muggle pregnancy test in her hand.

She set the test down and fell back on her bed, pulling the blankets over herself before crying until she was in a dreamless sleep.

HGHGHGHG

"I don't know what you're going on about, Harry," Ginny stirred her tea, pouring yet another dash of cream into the already milky liquid.

"I just think that someone should check on her. Where did she go? Do we know?" Harry inquired, taking a sip of his own coffee as Lily and James marveled at the new wands their mother and father had purchased just yesterday. They'd be starting school in a week as first years.

"No! She left for a reason, Harry Potter, and I think it best to leave her be," Ginny scolded him before looking over at James and Lily, "Don't you dare start casting spells. I am not going to bail you out of Azkaban for underage magic!"

The twins eyed their mother and tucked their wands away before running off upstairs.

"She's one of my best friends. Or she used to be," Harry sighed heavily.

"I know. I love Hermione. But she needs to do what she needs to do. And if that's living as a Muggle, then she needs to keep on with it. It's been fifteen years," Ginny ran her fingers absently over the baby bump under her housecoat. "She's not likely to change just because Harry Potter demands it."

"Yeah," Harry nodded, knowing that more than likely his wife was right.

Just before Harry could drain his tea and head for the Ministry, there was a loud thud at the door. He frowned, wrinkling his brow and stood.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Ginny asked.

"No," he shook his head and walked the few feet to the front door, swinging it open. There on the doorstep stood Hermione with duffel bags in her arms.

"Hi, Harry," Hermione murmured, offering a bit of a smile.

Harry's jaw dropped, "H-Hermione."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Come in. Please. Sit down."

The couple watched as Hermione walked forward, revealing a beautiful, long legged girl behind her. She was pale and slightly freckled, with waist-length honey curls and the most shocking, oceanic eyes. Hermione beckoned her forward.

"This is Minerva. My daughter," Hermione gave a nervous gesture toward the fourteen year old standing by the now-closed door.

Minerva set her bags down and stepped forward to stand beside her mother, "Hello. I've heard so many good things about you."

She had directed this at Harry. He stared silently for a few moments, thoughts tumbling wickedly in his already-full mind. This girl was fourteen years old. The last time he slept with Hermione was...

"I'm glad you got married," Hermione addressed Ginny, "I always thought you two were perfect for each other. Do you have children?" She was simply trying to make polite conversation but it seemed that Harry was too far away mentally to even register her question.

When he didn't answer, Ginny spoke up, "Well, I'm four months along," she patted her little baby bump, "And we have two ten year olds upstairs. Lily and James."

Hermione beamed, "That's wonderful."

"Harry?" Ginny ground out. He was still staring at Minerva.

His head jerked toward his wife as if he'd been yanked out of a trance, "Oh. Right. Two. One on the way. Ron's married, too."

"Harry!" Ginny hissed, her eyes forming angry slits, "Why did you tell her that?"

"It's fine," Hermione interjected, "I got over Ronald a long time ago."

Minerva looked lost, "Who is that, Mum?"

"An old boyfriend from high school," she explained.

Harry and Ginny exchanged odd glances. Ginny suddenly spoke, "Minerva, dear, why don't you run upstairs and meet Lily and James. They're in James' bedroom, I'm sure. First door on your left," she gave a subtle smile and gestured toward the stairs.

Minerva returned the smile and with a glance at her mother, headed up at a jog.

"You haven't told her about magic," it was more of a statement than a question. Harry frowned.

"She knows she's different. But she doesn't know why. Minerva- I mean Professor Minerva McGonagall- not my Minerva- keeps sending letters for Hogwarts. I couldn't keep ignoring it," she explained quietly.

"So after fifteen years you just show up here in my home and expect everything to be okay?" Harry turned pink, anger now boiling beneath his flesh. Ginny rested a hand on his shoulder to calm him but it didn't seem to help, "You think that's okay? While we were picking up the pieces you ran off to be a Muggle?"

Hermione was blushing furiously and had averted her gaze to her fidgeting feet, "I didn't know what else to do. My parents-"

"My entire family is gone! Ginny lost a brother and her father is dead! He had a heart attack while YOU were off hiding! We needed you! I needed you," the last sentence was more of a whisper than a yell, as the rest of his rant had been.

Hermione and Ginny were both silent, staring at Harry as if he were about to burst into flame.

"I had to leave. I couldn't take it anymore. I was broken," Hermione explained in a calm, collected, monotone voice.

"Fine. Are you over it? Can you come back and live your life like it's meant to be? Or are you going to scurry back to where you came from-"

"Harry!" Ginny chided.

"It's okay," Hermione forced a smile, "I deserved that. I'm staying. I need your help, though."

Ginny took a seat at the kitchen table, "Anything."

Hermione sighed heavily, wrinkling her brow in either concentration or heavy thought, Harry wasn't sure which. After a few moments she spoke, "I need help telling Minerva about our world."

Harry dragged a hand through his hair, nodding slowly, "Okay..." He parted his lips to ask a question, but thought better of it.

"What is it, Harry? I owe you any answers you need," Hermione asked caringly, reaching out to place a hand on his knee.

He shook his head a bit but soon decided to ask, "Who's child is she?"

All went deadly quiet. Ginny, who seemed to be curious at first, looked in between her husband and Hermione. After noticing the worried expression Harry wore, she clenched her fists and turned a ghastly shade of white.

"Hermione... It isn't..." Ginny choked out.

Hermione took a slow, steadying breath, "Can I speak with Harry alone? Please?"

Ginny drew her lips into an angry little line, reminding Hermione much of Mrs. Weasley. She slowly took a nod before storming out of the kitchen and slamming the door behind her.

Harry turned back to Hermione after watching his furious wife exit the room, "Who? She's mine, isn't she?" He seemed to want the answer, but at the same time wasn't exactly sure if he could handle it.

Hermione stayed quiet for a moment before gazing off in the other direction, "She could be."

He frowned, "You don't know?"

Suddenly, Hermione broke into wracking, guilty sobs. She hugged herself, doubling over and sinking to the floor.

Harry rushed to her side, kneeling down to put his arms around her, "Tell me, Hermione. Please."

"Minnie could be yours... She could be Ron's... I don't know. Two weeks before my parents... Passing... I slept with Ron," she choked out between sobs, "We didn't use protection. We were engaged."

This was the first Harry had heard about an engagement.

"After the accident, I just wasn't the same. I was waiting for my parents to get home that evening. I missed my monthly. So I took a test. I was going to surprise them with the news. A policeman came to our door and told me... Told me they were dead," she began to calm, wiping at the tears flooding her eyes and cheeks.

"Hermione.. I didn't know," he felt his own tears began to fall.

"But you and I had been having the affair for so long. No one knew.. You had just proposed to Ginny... I didn't know what to do or who to turn to. I knew she would leave you if she found out, and I knew Ron would hate me when the truth came out," she whimpered, her head hanging in utter shame.

"You're probably right. But we would have had each other. Even if it was Ron's baby, I would have married you, Hermione. I would have done the right thing, here," he assured her, "You didn't have to run away."

Hermione nodded, not quite believing him. After a few moments she spoke again, her voice unsure, "Who did Ron marry?"

Harry's frowned dropped into a scowl, "Don't do this to yourself."

"Who, Harry?"

He sighed, "Luna."

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