Hi everyone

Here's number 2, hope you like it Thanks so much for my faithful readers, you guys are awesome

Sirius xo as usual not J. just like playing in her world. :-)

Charlotte

Chapter 2

Hermione's suspicions were confirmed when Ginny came back with the drinks. She didn't find a need to chastise her as she was going through enough without any added wrath. Ginny explained that her and Harry had been seeing each other off and on, which deserved another roll of the eyes, for about six months. They were having a great time, Harry was living the high life and Ginny fell into his web of deceit. They then started seeing each other regularly for about three months when Ginny decided to surprise him one night. She had originally told him she was working but after a shift change at the Daily Prophet, she scored the evening off. Ginny went to the shop and bought a nice bottle of Champagne and then apparated straight over to Harry's home. She walked in and heard talking in the Dining room and as she approached she started to make out the words and when she heard her name, excitement made her stop and listen.

"Oh come on Jezebel, how could I ever choose that Ginny girl over you," Harry crooned. Then the unknown girl pouted and Harry continued.

"She's only a fling, plus you know I am only doing it to get that Ron Weasley off side. I can't stand him and plus you know you are my girl Jezebel, it evens rhymes sweetie, my girl Jezebel, my girl Jezebel."

The girl laughed and Harry stood her up and walked her over to the open fireplace and started to slowly remove her clothes. Ginny couldn't listen or watch anymore, her heart was breaking into a million pieces so she turned around and left. As she passed by the hall table she put the bottle of Champagne down and conjured a note that said, Thanks for nothing Harry, and then she apparated out.

Ginny was openly crying and Hermione was trying to comfort her.

"What did he say when you told him you were pregnant?" Ginny roughly wiped the tears away and proceeded to tell her about how her parents took it first.

"They demanded I get rid of it, they talked about my baby like it was a gnome in the garden that needed to be banished. It broke my heart and that was when I said it was me and my baby or nothing. Well no surprise what they chose." Ginny had a resolved look on her face and Hermione secretly admired her strength.

"Maybe once the baby is born then they might feel differently Gin, just give them some time." Ginny shook her head and then told Hermione some of the hurtful things they said to her, things like she was after his money, she was no better than a whore, she was carrying a demon child. It got worse and worse and truth be told Hermione couldn't really listen to it anymore. She hugged Ginny while she cried and then Ginny hugged her while she apologised for her horrible behaviour.

By the end of the trip, the two friends had decided they would try to do as much as they could together. Ginny had decided that she needed to continue working as long as she could and then try and find some freelance work. Hermione suggested she move into her ridiculously small unit but Ginny decided to stay where she was at least until the baby was born as that was where her work was.

Sad as it was, with everything that happened with her family Ginny had no other friends to depend on, all she had was Hermione.

The time flew by quickly and Hermione was getting used to flooing to London. She went to every doctors visit, every appointment at the hospital and was even there in September when Charlotte Lily Weasley-Potter was born. Ginny passed her daughter over to her best friend and said, "Meet your God daughter, Charlotte." Hermione cried tears of joy and hugged the precious little bundle in her arms. The three ladies moved in together to Hermione's flat and even though it was tight it was all they could do for the time being. Hermione spent many months convincing Ginny to send her parents an owl, and after some heavy persuasion, she finally gave in.

Not a good idea.

Ginny received the worst Howler she had ever received and the horrible hurtful words will never be forgotten by the two women. After witnessing the wrath of the Weasley family, Hermione asked what the real problem was. Ginny explained that during the war, Harry was indirectly responsible for the death of Arthur and George Weasley, Ginny's dad and one of her twin brothers. Even though many people witnessed the accident, they all agreed Harry was not responsible but you could not tell the Weasley Family that. It was completely set in their minds that Harry was a killer so when Ginny started fraternising with the enemy, it was completely unforgivable. Hermione never asked again and decided to not bring it up again.

Hermione enjoyed her job at the hospital and spent many hours working and studying to further her career. Ginny always apologised for intruding on her life but Hermione absolutely loved the company. She loved watching Charlotte grow everyday and each day she couldn't wait to get home for cuddles, Hermione also enjoyed seeing Ginny bloom as a successful mother. Life was good and the years passed by but then the unthinkable happened.

Charlotte was already three and spent her days running around after her mum and being the handful most three year olds are. Ginny felt a bit ill and started having time off work. She didn't want to worry Hermione so she kept it to herself and put it down to being tired trying to look after her daughter as well as work. Ginny finally went to a doctor and he discovered she had a rare form of cell mutation. The first question she asked was, is it hereditary and after hearing no definitely not, she was relieved for her daughter. Ginny's health deteriorated very quickly and even after trying every known spell, potion and even some trial potions and then as a desperate attempt, muggle medicine, Ginny lost her fight and died when Charlotte was three and a half years old.

Hermione and a handful of her work friends who had come to know Ginny through Hermione attended the funeral. Hermione sent her family the funeral notice with a note to inform them of their daughter's demise but no one showed up. A Professor from Hogwarts came to the funeral and even though Hermione was in no state, she did remember his name as Professor Dumbledore. The funeral started with a song that was one of Ginny's favourites and since green was her favourite colour, they dressed her in green as did Hermione and Charlotte. The coffin was white and in her hands she held a bunch of white lilies. After the service Charlotte walked up to the coffin and with tears running down her tiny cheeks she gently touched the glass cover where her mothers face was sleeping and said in her bravest voice, "Bye Mummy, I love you always, have sweet dreams mummy." The tears were streaming down everyone's face and Charlotte's bright green eyes also glistened with tears.

Hermione and Charlotte went back to the unit and the people who attended the funeral came back for drinks and finger foods. Hermione was preparing drinks in the kitchen when Professor Dumbledore approached her.

"Miss Granger, I am so very sorry for your loss," Hermione turned and thanked him while offering him some tea. Professor Dumbledore took a cup and motioned for her to stay with him for a moment.

"Miss Granger, are you aware of the Last Will and Testament from Miss Weasley?" Hermione huffed out a breath and spoke to him, "No Professor, Ginny and I own what you see in this flat and trust me its not that much. I work at the hospital and I had plenty of savings but her illness cost us quite a bit. I need to look after Charlotte now and I need to plan for our future." Professor Dumbledore nodded and then spoke again.

"Its not material possessions I am talking about Miss Granger, I am wondering whether Miss Weasley left you as Charlotte's guardian?" Hermione was shocked and then she got quite a bit angry.

"Look Professor, I don't know whether you know the Weasley's but they disowned Ginny years ago, we tried to reconcile but they wouldn't have it, so if they think they are getting Charlotte they have another thing coming. Trust me I will fight for that little girl till the day I die," Hermione was red and flustered.

"Your actions are noble Miss Granger but what about her father, I believe Mr Harry Potter is the biological father of Charlotte, is this correct?" Hermione's voice was lost and she couldn't form a single word let alone thought. That sleaze bag, good for nothing, man whore was going to take Charlotte, Hermione's knees fell weak and she collapsed on the kitchen floor.

Ginny and Hermione hadn't discussed him again after that Bahamas trip and he had almost been forgotten. Except for the fact that Charlotte had his emerald green eyes and beautiful straight black hair, they rarely talked of him. Hermione never questioned Ginny's choice to give Charlotte the Weasley-Potter name and quite honestly she didn't give it another thought. Although, the last thing that beautiful little girl needed was to become the centre of the media circus because of who her dad happened to be.

Hermione felt two strong arms lift her up and she thanked her boss Professor Riddock. Everyone put it down to all the stress of the last month and her boss gave her a month off to try and get herself and Charlotte back on track.

The next few weeks were horrible. Charlotte constantly woke up calling her mummy and Hermione just couldn't settle her down and they both ended up in tears. Many nights Hermione had dreams that Ginny was alive and well and then she woke up to her reality. She was very careful to not let Charlotte see her crying even though it was almost once a day in the beginning. Hermione was so worried about Charlotte she was neglecting herself and she was quickly running herself into the ground. One day the two girls went for a quick shopping trip and Hermione ran into her boss's wife who also worked with her and they had a quick chat.

"Hermione love, you look terrible, you've lost so much weight and your hair is stringy and your complexion is grey. Sweetie you have to start looking after yourself or the authorities will say you're unfit to look after Charlotte." This had not come into Hermione's mind before, she was so concerned with making sure Charlotte was ok, she didn't give herself a second thought.

There was way too much on the line, it was time for her to get back on track.

The next two months were actually quite good, Hermione went back to work part time and Charlotte attended the child care within the hospital. Charlotte was excited again and came home constantly chatting about her day with the other kids. The teachers were trained to teach the children basic magic skills and Charlotte absolutely loved it. They discovered she was a natural when it came to flying and Hermione told the school her mum once considered playing for the Chudley Cannons. They loved having their days together and Hermione always planned something special for her. One day it was a trip to the park, the next time it was ice cream by the bay. Charlotte quickly developed a love for books and Hermione found she was coming home with a new book every week. They were both happy.

Charlotte's fourth birthday was the biggest eye opener for Hermione. By the time she had organised the kids from child care and the mums too, the food, drinks, entertainment and games, Hermione was sure she would die of exhaustion.

It didn't matter though because when Charlotte blew out the candles of her cake, which Hermione tried cooking three times, she gave her own little speech.

"Thank yous everybody for coming to my party, I have the best aunty Minny in the whole world and I love her lots and lots." Everyone clapped and cheered but Hermione cried. She doubted her abilities as a mother figure to Charlotte every single day since Ginny died. She was sure Charlotte would run kicking and screaming some days but she didn't, Charlotte loved her and that was all the thanks she needed.

It took a couple of days to clean up the mess in their little unit, it was small but when there were twenty kids and their parents in there, it was quite surprising where they found food and rubbish. Hermione had on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with a scarf around her head and of course Charlotte had to dress the same. The two girls were busily cleaning and laughing at some of the things that happened at the party when a loud knock came at the door.

Hermione walked over with Charlotte in tow and she opened the door and in mid greeting she stopped. She knew that face any where.

"Hello, I am Harry Potter."

Ohh now it gets a bit exciting, harry has come into the picture.

As usual if you like, review

Sirius xoxo