A Song for Lonely Hill
A/N: This next chapter is a lot more eventful and interesting than the last, I think. I Hope you enjoy it! Oh- And please, please PLEASE review. I really appreciate feedback, as it helps me improve my stories. Thanks!
Familiarities and Nervous Breakdowns---
A few busy hours later, Hermione drew her wand and murmured various passwords to the Potter-Weasley's door while bracing herself for a large group of very happy people. She had grown far too accustomed to her lonely one-roomed flat and hadn't had much company apart from her rather unfriendly co-workers at the laboratory.
She currently worked at a company that experimented with the controversial mixing of magical potions and common muggle sciences. Her line of work was frowned upon, because wizards were arrogant and considered the mingling of two worlds unnatural and unjust.
Well, she thought, they'll see when we make a break-through that could change the world as we know it.
At the moment, they were striving to invent a more powerful and effective cure for werewolves than Wolfsbane Potion. Their ultimate goal was to not only heal the side effects of transformation, but to cease transformation in the first place. It was a tall order, but Hermione was passionate about what she did, feeling that if they looked in the right places, anything was possible.
The door swung open to a flurry of noise and color and happy faces, harshly interrupting her train of thought.
"Hermione! You came," Ginny exclaimed, throwing her arms around Hermione as far as her pregnancy of two children would allow her.
"Of course I did, I wouldn't miss this." Ginny positively beamed as she led her into the apartment.
The living room was full the brim with familiar faces who all jumped up enthusiastically to greet her. Lupin was there, with Tonks, the two of them looking not nearly as shabby as she had recalled. Molly and Arthur were also striding toward her, the happiest she had seen them since…
They embraced as she forced the pang of sorrow to the back of her mind for another time.
Percy, Charlie, Bill and Fleur all waved, and Hermione found her heart lightening considerably in spite of herself. This wasn't going to be so bad. This wasn't going to remind her of old times that she desperately wished she could return to. It was going to be fine, everything was healing. The wounds were healing. She was healing.
Suddenly, she realized who she hadn't seen yet.
"Ginny, where's Harry?"
"He'll be back very soon, I expect. He's picking someone up from the Apparition Port who doesn't really know his way around New York..." Something in Ginny's relaxed, airy tone was suspicious to Hermione... But she didn't ask.
"Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea?" offered Mrs. Weasley. "No, Ginny, I'll do it, you need your rest. You have to stop overexciting yourself."
"Alright, mum, alright," she rolled her eyes exasperatedly, lowering herself into the nearest arm chair. Hermione followed suit. "So. Tell us what you've been up to since we last saw you."
"Well, things are going pretty well for me, I'm still living in London, of course." As she prepared to launch herself into a well-practiced story, the door flew open. In the doorway stood two radically different men, one who she expected, and another who she had hoped to never see again.
"Harry, you're back!" Ginny rushed forward to hug her husband, who eagerly accepted her.
"How many people did you invite?" he asked, jokingly. The room was very crowded, and Harry was literally glowing with joy.
Everyone rushed forward to greet him, including Hermione, though she was still momentarily shocked to see Draco Malfoy, his hair returned to its usual vivid white-blonde, warily hanging back from the group. The others seemed to feel the same way, awkwardly teetering on the brink between downright ignoring him or awkwardly addressing him. Was it rude to ask what the hell he was doing here?
Harry finally reached Hermione in the mass of people, giving her a huge hug. "How've you been doing?"
"Fine," she assured him. He looked the same as ever, just taller and more grown up. He never did figure out how to get his hair to lie flat, and had stopped trying. She smiled as his brilliantly green eyes sparkled with a fire she hadn't seen there for a very long time.
"Harry," Mrs. Weasley pushed through the group with a stern, determined look about her, "Ginny has been refusing to tell me what you're naming your children. If someone doesn't tell me soon, I'll-"
"Really, Mum, I've just been waiting for him to get here so we could make the announcement together. Everyone sit down, make yourselves comfortable." They all did, except for Malfoy, who resolutely remained standing, looking very uncomfortable indeed.
"Well…?" Mrs. Weasley said impatiently.
"You tell them, Harry."
"Alright, then. So we've decided to name the girl Lily, for my mother."
There were several outbreaks of "Aaw," and "How wonderful," that greeted this news.
"And the boy…" He looked rather nervous suddenly. "We're going to name him Ronald."
A tense silence dropped through the room like ice. Emotion flooded through Hermione… She couldn't stand it… Couldn't take the pain… Didn't want to think about it…
Ron should be here, with us all, She thought. He should be laughing with Harry and smiling with his friends and family. He should be here, anticipating the births of his niece and nephew. He, more than anyone, deserves that.
She didn't think she could take the emptiness anymore, until-
"That's lovely, Harry. We're so happy for you two," choked Mrs. Weasley through mingled tears of joy and despair.
Hermione noticed with a painful jolt that Ginny had a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"It's nearing eleven o'clock now, I suppose everyone should be getting back to wherever you're staying," Harry said, regaining control. "Come as early as you can tomorrow."
One by one, or occasionally two by two, everyone said their goodbyes and left, leaving Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Malfoy.
"Harry, I haven't got anywhere to stay," admitted Hermione, "I don't really have much money to afford a hotel, I-"
"Don't be silly, you're staying here. We have two spare bedrooms for you," she swallowed, "and Draco."
"Oh. Thank you."
Malfoy shuffled off into his indicated room and closed the door.
Ginny yawned hugely. "I guess I should be getting to bed. Due date tomorrow, and all. Goodnight." She kissed Harry and retreated behind closed doors.
He was about to follow her when Hermione spoke.
"Wait."
He sighed. "I knew this was coming."
"What the hell is Malfoy doing in your house?"she practically scream-whispered.
"Shh! He'll hear you! We have a perfectly legitimate reason, Hermione. I don't
like it, but we don't have much of a choice right now."
"You better have a damned good reason."
"I do. So, he's been on the run from the law for the past seven years, as you know. The British Ministry still believes he's a death eater in hiding."
"So that's why he died his hair black…"
"What?"
"I recognized him at the London Apparition Port on the way here. How did he pass security?"
"He lied, of course. A little too good at it, if I might add… Anyway, the rest of the Order and I believe that it's our duty to clear his name."
"Why?" she demanded sharply, forgetting to whisper.
"Because he shouldn't have to live the rest of his life in hiding. He gave us some very useful information, Hermione. Don't forget. Without it, I wouldn't have succeeded. It's the least we can do to repay him."
"But he only did it for his own benefit! He has no sense of loyalty, only to himself. It benefited him to join our side!" she exclaimed, needing to make him understand.
"That doesn't matter! He did what he did, and we're just getting him out of a spot of trouble, here. I don't want to owe him anything."
"BUT HE KILLED RON, HARRY!" Hermione burst into tears and fell to the floor in a heap of racking sobs.
"No. Greyback did, you know that," Harry said softly, sinking to the floor next to her.
"He as good as killed him. Greyback would have never come to the battle if Malfoy hadn't called for him. Malfoy killed him, Harry, he did. And you let him into your house?"
"I know, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Hermione. But there's nothing we can do. Ron died for the good of this world. It was seven years ago. It's time to move on."
"I can't. I never will. Do you know what he said to me, Harry? You know what his last words were, as I leaned over his mangled body?"
Harry shook his head, slowly. He looked close to tears.
"He told me he loved me," she whispered. "Said he always had. And then he died before I could return the words."
Harry stared at her for a few moments, unsure of what to say. Then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"It'll be alright for you. One day, it will," he said. "You'll see."
Hermione closed her eyes to stop the tears. She had been waiting for that day for far too long. It was nice of him to say, but there was no such a day, and she knew it.