Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters except those of my own creation. I claim no rights to these characters, nor do I imply any rights to these characters. This is for entertainment only and no money is being made and no copyright infringement intended.
A/N: With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy this story. Remember reviews and comments are always welcome because that is how we grow and people, story tellers, and authors. I am not sure where I got the idea for this story but it popped into my head. Enjoy.
As the sun broke though the window and assaulted her face, Hermione stirred and started to wake. A smile crept across her face to extend the slight euphoric feeling she was having. The kind of feeling that comes from releasing pent up emotions. But as quickly as that feeling came upon waking, it was torn even quicker away by the memories of the night previous. Today was the morning after the Final Battle. The memories that ripped Hermione's happiness away were of those that lost their time in this world; Remus, Tonks, Collen, and Ron. Ron, her beloved, her new world, her future that she had been wanting really since second year. They had finally professed to each other after the destruction of the Horcrux. He was there holding her when they saw Harry's body, then fought off that death eater while Hermione made her way back to the Great Hall.
After Voldemort fell, Hermione looked around for him but he was not in the Great Hall. Hermione ran back to the spot Ron had engaged the death eater, her heart sinking with every step. As she turned to corner, she saw the death eater sprawled face down in the middle of the hall with a large puddle of blood formed under him. Ron was sitting slumped against the wall, chin to chest, taking heavy breaths. Blood was covering most of front, his left hand lazily covered his stomach, his right holding a silver blade.
'I'm sorry,' was the last words of Ronald Weasley. Hermione's ear splitting scream had brought many people into the hallway. As Mrs. Weasley and Ginny broke through the crowd they also let out screams that could have almost woke the dead, unfortunately for the Weasley family, Ron didn't move.
Then the memory of what Hermione did after struck like a stunner to the heart. She slept with him. Not Ron him, but she wanted him to be Ron. She even called him Ron more than once. He had no illusion why he was there. He knew Hermione needed this release or she would explode. It didn't even bother him to be called Ron, at first. But the morning came too quickly for everyone. Today they would set the arrangements for funerals, memorials, speeches, and medals for those who fought and fallen. Thankfully, Hermione had woke alone and for a moment had hoped it was all a dream. That was until Ginny walked in with a sullen and sober look on her face and Hermione knew everything was real.
"After lunch," Ginny spoke softly. "They are going to discuss the funerals for those who..." She drew a deep breath and exhaled shakily. "For those who didn't make it. From what mom has said, many will be buried here, but those who want can take their family elsewhere. Mom says near the pond will be nice. Says he would like it there. I do too," Ginny turned and walked out, never really looking at Hermione, either afraid to make Hermione cry or herself or both.
Hermione slunk out of bed and into the shower. Only there would she be able to release the sorrow and pain. She cried hard. Harder than she could ever remember, harder than when Ron left during the hunt. So hard she had to sit, less risk the chance falling over. Knees clenched hard to her chest, tears running almost as fast as the hot water from the tap. After nearly an hour, Hermione made her way to the common room to find Harry and Ginny sitting on the large sofa. Just sitting and holding hands, waiting for Hermione. Alerted to her presence, Harry released Ginny's hand and silently stood and moved to Hermione and took her into a tight embrace. After a moment or two Ginny also hugged Hermione, and still without a word the three made their way to the Great Hall.
The rest of the day and next seemed to move by at a steady pace. The service was solemn and Harry gave a speech that wrenched at the heart, but time seem to still move. Not until the private service of Ronald Weasley did time seem to stop. Not just for Hermione, but for Harry and the rest of the family as well. The funeral was small, the remaining Weasleys, a few Order members, Harry and Hermione, and Neville, Seamus, and Dean. There was a large Feast followed by many rounds of butter beer and fire whiskey. Everyone drinking to Ron, telling stories, and even a jab or two at their fallen brother and friend. After everyone was well intoxicated, Bill, Fleur, and the twins apparated to their respective homes. Percy had left a earlier in the evening. Hermione was on her way to Ginny's room when she saw him again. This time he was coming out of the bathroom, headed toward Percy's room, his assign sleeping quarters.
"Hermione," He spoke softly and a little slurred. "What had happened at..." He tried to explain but was cut off by a surprising kiss from Hermione. She didn't know why but she had to have him again, maybe it was the fire whiskey. Surprisingly he returned the kiss and guided them both into the room.
Just like las time, Hermione woke alone. Unlike last time she woke in a bed she did not fall asleep in. When her eyes greeted the day and her brain greeted the inside of her skull, she found herself in Ginny's room. Not remembering much from the night previous and having a right nasty hangover, Hermione rolled out of bed to see a glass and a note. Thinking it was from him, she read. 'Drink Me', was all it said. It didn't taste like pumpkin juice, but it did make her headache and queasiness subside. Upon entering the kitchen, Hermione found the two Weasley women. One cooking breakfast, the other finishing hers.
"How you feeling, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked trying to sound chipper.
"Better, thanks to that drink on the nightstand," Hermione returned as she sat at the plate of food Mrs. Weasley set down.
"Your welcome. After what the boys looked like, I figured everyone might need a little something," Mrs. Weasley said returning to the sink to clean up the remnants of breakfast.
"Are they all outside?" Hermione asked, trying not to sound too interested.
"Harry is. He went for a fly. Neville, Seamus, and Dean when home. Charlie went with Dad to the Ministry and then is going back to Romania," Ginny said as she placed her plate in the sink.
This became their morning routine. After about a month, talk even returned about Hogwarts. It was pretty much understood that Harry was not returning. It was also pretty much understood that Ginny was. Hermione had read and pretty much did all the course work of a seventh year. It was the only way to keep her mind off Ron and crying. Though she still did both often. After a bought with what was though as a stomach bug and a talk with Mrs. Weasley, Hermione's mind was made up for her.
"You feeling ok dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked one particular morning.
"Fine. It just seems to be a bug or something. Maybe stress, thats all," Hermione replied while her and Mrs. Weasley cleaned alone in the Burrow, Ginny and Harry were out training so Ginny would be set as the next Quidditch captain.
"Alright, but if this continues tomorrow I want you to go to St. Mungo's straight away," Mrs. Weasley said.
As predicted, the following morning Hermione found herself in the bathroom relieving her stomach of it contents. So, per Mrs. Weasley's request, Hermione showered, dressed, and apparated to St. Mungo's. She met with a very nice female healer and explained her symptoms and they ran some tests.
"Huh, that interesting," said the Healer.
"What?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Well, good news is you don't have a bug. But I don't know how to tell you this. Hermione, your pregnant," said the Healer cautiously. "By the expression on you face, you don't look all that surprised. Was this planned?"
"No," Hermione started. "But I missed my last period and then morning sickness. I was hoping stress but I figured this was the case. I just didn't want it to be true."
"So, you don't like the father?" the Healer asked.
"No, I like him well enough. It's just that he isn't who I pictured the father of my child to be," Hermione said exhaling a large breath.
"That happens a lot. We don't end up with who we expect or want at first," the Healer said comfortingly.
"No, its just that the guy I loved for nearly six years finally confessed he loved me too. Then he was killed during the battle at Hogwarts," Hermione couldn't continue.
"I'm sorry," was all the Healer could say.
"And then," Hermione started sobbing lightly. "And then I slept with this other guy and even pretended him to be Ron. I know it was wrong, but it felt good. I felt horrible about it in the morning," Hermione started crying harder, not eve bothering to wipe the tears. "Then a couple of days later, I saw him again and we were drunk and I grabbed him and..." her sobs stopped any further telling of the story. The Healer stepped next to her and pulled her into a hug.
"Does anyone else know? Does the Father know?" the Healer asked. Hermione could only shake her head.
"I will give you a potion to help with the morning sickness. This should make people think your better till you're ready to tell them. Now we'll see about making an appointment with a med-witch." the Healer let go and helped Hermione off the table.
"That won't be necessary. See, I am going to Australia with my parents so I will get in with someone there," Hermione lied, well partially. She was going to Australia.
"Well here is the name of a good hospital in Sydney. They will help you find a med-witch where ever you end up. Good luck and take care of yourself." the Healer said.
"Thank you, Healer Wright," Hermione said.
"Please, call me Morgan." With that Hermione left St. Mungo's and apparated back to the Burrow.
After a couple of days with the potion, everyone thought Hermione was over the stomach bug. Hermione still felt nauseous, not from the baby so much, as from the secret she kept inside. She knew that the Weasleys and Harry would except her and the baby. These people brought her into their family and treated her as a daughter and sister. And she knew that they would be disappointed is was not Ron's. She decided that the time had come to embark on the adventure to find her parents. This day was coming but sooner than she had planned.
The dinner that evening was another magnificent creation of Molly Weasleys. Nearly the entire family was there, minus Charlie who was in Romania. The main course had just been cleared and desert was being passed out by Harry and Ginny. Hermione stood up and cleared her throat.
"Everyone," she paused as all eyes moved on to her. "I have and announcement. I am going to find my parents."
"Yeah, we know that," Harry said, flashing a quick smile.
"No, I mean now, well not right now, but in a couple of days. I am going tomorrow to get a port key and then pack. I will probably be in Sydney by weeks end," she said and sat down, awaiting the bombardment of questions and request to stay or them to come with. None come. Surprisingly Bill was the first one to speak.
"Is there anything we can do for you before you leave?" He asked simply.
"No, I pretty much have things covered. I have a contact in Sydney that I am meeting next week. I have been doing small inquiries all summer. At least I have a starting point at least," Hermione said.
"Well, we will have a party this Friday," Mrs. Weasley said. "And I won't hear a word against it. We don't know how long you will be gone, so we will send you off right."
Mrs. Weasley had out done herself on the food. It was some of the best Hermione had tasted. It rivaled that of Hogwarts itself. The crowd had been small. Bill and Fleur came with a gift, the twins were there as well as their new girlfriends, Angelina and Katie, and of course Harry, Ginny, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. After the dinner, fire whiskey was the drink of choice for most. Hermione was the one exception, claiming she had to get up early to make the port key and that she wanted to remember her last night at the Burrow. By midnight nearly all had turned in or gone home. Hermione was a wake drifting through the burrow, taking in all she could. She wanted to remember everything about this place. It was basically her second home. And for the past month and more it was her only home.
Hermione rose earlier than anyone, just has she planned. She did get a scratch of breakfast before walking out the front door of the Burrow for the last time. She walked toward the edge of the garden with her head down. She finally brought her eyes up when she reached the gate. Undoing the latch and stepping through she turned and shut the gate, taking in one last look at the burrow and wondering if she would ever see this place again. As the kitchen light came on, Hermione turned on the spot and vanished. Unbeknown to the Weasley's as they woke for breakfast, the night previous was the last night they would see Hermione Granger for a long time, a very long time.
"You alright, Harry," Ginny said softly as Harry sat down to breakfast.
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"You just seem a bit off. Like you not totally with us today," Ginny said as she laid a kiss on Harry's cheek.
"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well last nights all," Harry said. Unknown to the rest of the family, Harry didn't sleep well many nights, last night in particular. He had woken many times with visions of people dying and screaming. It usually helped if he would go stare off over the garden and think of what the world would be like from now on. This particular morning though, he happen to catch a sight he wish he hadn't. He did see Hermione's departure and the look on her face. He was quite curtain, as he was sure she was, that this would be the last he would see of his friend and it saddened him. He also knew that the abrupt need to find her parents wasn't the only reason she was leaving. He didn't know why exactly, but he had a feeling there was another reason behind her actions. And what ever they were and what ever else was going on in her life, he was sure she would figure it out and return when she did. After all, she is the brightest witch of their age.
