–He's our grandson. Ron's son. A Weasley. Am I wrong Hermione?
She just looked at them, unable to say something. This wasn't the way she wanted them to find out.
Chapter 4: Brilliant Mistake.
The minutes passed and the kitchen stayed silent, a silence that had spoken by itself, giving away the truth. Hermione moved her hand to her face to wipe off the tears that were coursing down her cheeks
-Why did you leave? - Mrs. Weasley suddenly asked, breaking the silence as she looked at Hermione directly at the eyes.
Hermione took a deep breath and sat down on the table, facing Mrs. Weasley.
-I had to find my parents. I went to Australia. – Hermione said as calmed as she could. She was not telling her why she left, but she was telling them the truth of what had happened after she did. They deserved to know - I guess I did a good work modifying their memories because a month passed and I still couldn't find them.
The Weasleys looked at each other. When Hermione disappeared, Harry had told them that she was probably looking for her parents, but they didn't know it had taken her so long to find them.
-The ministry of Australia offered their help and I decided to come back, after all I wasn't helping at all with the search.
-But you didn't come back. Why? - Mr. Weasley asked. He was finally able to talk.
Hermione stared at him for a moment and then shook her head.
-I don't know- she really didn't know why, but thought that maybe was because she was afraid of Ron's reaction when he saw her again. - Without even knowing why, I ended up knocking at Viktor's house door. I told him I needed time to think.
-Think about what? – Mrs. Weasley asked inquisitively.
-About everything- Hermione simply said, looking down at her hands- Viktor was very nice to me, he didn't make questions, and neither his parents.
She took another deep breath and looked up. This was the part of the story they wanted to hear.
-One day I was helping Mrs. Krum to hang up a new painting she had made and suddenly I passed out – her eyes sparkled as she remembered the moment that had surely changed her life -When I woke up in my bed, surrounded by the Krums, I found out that Artie was coming to my life.
Hermione looked at the Weasleys, but they didn't say anything.
-I didn't know what to do or say. I wanted to come back to Hogwarts, a career, a job. I definitely didn't want a baby. But the Krums changed my mind. Though Artie wasn't blood related to them they were as happy as he was a Krum.
-He's a Weasley- Mrs. Weasley said bluntly.
-And they knew it from the very beginning, but they didn't care at all. Viktor was the last born in their family and for them my baby, a stranger's baby, was a blessing.
-He would've been a blessing to all of us as well, Hermione- Mr. Weasley was using his soft tone again. She turned her head to him and gave him an apologetic look.
-I was sure of that, Mr. Weasley. And I swear I wanted to come back- she evaded the man's look to add - I just didn't feel ready.
-Ready for what?
She hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
-Ron- she muttered, but it was loud enough for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to hear- I didn't want to face him, not after what happened. But at the same time I wanted to talk to him, to clear things up and of course tell him about Artie.
Mrs. Weasley sighed.
-And then again, you didn't. What happened?
-A few days later I was preparing everything to come back. I still didn't have news about my parents, but talking to Ron and of course with all of you was something I couldn't put back.
They both gave her questioning looks as she looked for the right words for what she was going to tell.
-Viktor's father was an auror, one of the best. He was after a group of death eaters, but they were four and he couldn't fight them all- Hermione took a deep breath, trying to fight the tears back. Though she had barely met him, she held a special affection for the man who offered her his house to raise her unborn child. She looked up at Mrs. Weasley, who was staring at her blankly and decided to continue- Viktor and Darina, Viktor's mother, were devastated and after all they had done for me I just couldn't leave them alone.
She stared into Mrs. Weasley's eyes again. She had tears in them, but Hermione recognized the understanding look she used to give her years ago.
-I stayed with them for another month. As soon as the Australian minister informed me they had found my parents I made sure that Viktor and his mother were fine and came back. It wasn't easy, my parents weren't my parents anymore and I had to work hard to bring them back to their normal lives and make them remember everything.
Mrs. Weasley took her hand and she sighed in relief.
-You should've come to us for help, you weren't alone- she said I a low, calmed voice. Hermione tensed.
-I tried. I went to the minister to talk to you, Mr. Weasley- in that moment she looked away and swallowed hard as she moved her hand away from Mrs. Weasley. The mere thought of that moment of her life caused her to shudder- And that's when I found out that Ron was getting married to Lavender.
Mr. Weasley made a sound with his tongue that Hermione couldn't interpret.
-You should've come and talk to me anyways. You should've talked to Ron.
She immediately stood up and faced Mr. Weasley like she had never done before.
- I couldn't just come to him and tell him that I was pregnant with his baby, that he should marry me!- she decided to low her voice when she saw Mr. Weasley's terrified expression. Looking at Mrs. Weasley she sat down again and took a deep breath-I didn't want his pity.
-This is such a ridiculous situation- Mrs. Weasley said as she took Hermione's hands in his again – What did you do after that?
-My parents didn't know I was pregnant, so once again I asked Viktor for help- by the way her expression had changed when she mentioned Viktor, Hermione could tell that Mrs. Weasley didn't like him at all -He and his mother came to my house. They asked me to come back with them. Viktor had talked to Drumstrang's headmaster and he was willing to accept me so I could finish my studies, even though he knew I was in the state I was. I thought it was the craziest idea ever, but next day everything changed. There was a big picture of me and Viktor at the Yule Ball in the papers and magazines. They talked about our supposed marriage with scandalous and fake details, and obviously they talked about my pregnancy. That's when everybody thought I was married to Viktor and pregnant with his baby.
-But that was a lie.
Hermione nodded.
- Viktor's lie. In order to get a vacant for me at Drumstrang he had told the headmaster that I was married to him and that he was the father of my child.
-And you didn't say anything about it- Mrs. Weasley's voice was cold again and she immediately removed her hands. She stood up and started to walk in circles, waiting for Hermione to finish her story.
-I was almost four month pregnant by then and the maternal instincts kicked. Viktor's mother talked to me about to hard would it be for my baby to be the child of someone married to a woman who wasn't his or her mother. She told me that my baby deserved a last name and a father.
-Ron was all that. And we were your family, his family. Viktor Krum stole you away from us!
Hermione stood up too to face Mrs. Weasley, her face was red with anger.
-No he didn't! Viktor is a great man. He didn't leave me alone for a minute and was always there for me- she was raising her voice for the first time –But even though Viktor was great with me, every moment, every second I knew that once Artie was born I had to tell Ron.
-Artie is two years old and we never knew anything about you two- Mrs. Weasley reproached her.
She took a seat again, looking down at the table and playing with her hands. That was something she couldn't explain. The maternity had transformed her into someone she could barely recognize and it was even harder to explain it after the mistake she had made.
-When I first saw Artie all my standards and moral senses disappeared. He was a part of me, the most important, and I had to protect him. Viktor's mother was right; he deserved the best and I would do anything for him to have it - She stopped for a moment, her eyes still on the table - When he was born I also started to be afraid. It scared me to death that someone would come a take him away from me. And that's why I stayed away and didn't say anything. I didn't want to share him with anyone, not even with you- she let out a sad smile as she added, looking back at Mrs. Weasley - How selfish of me.
Mrs. Weasley sighed and smiled too as Mr. Weasley came right behind her and put an arm over her shoulder.
-That's what people call becoming a mother- Mr. Weasley affirmed, squeezing his wife's shoulder.
Hermione shrugged and looked down again.
-Viktor was the best father I could ever imagine for Artie. Darina was happy too. It was like Artie had come in the exact moment they both needed him the most, after what happned to Viktor's father and all those years without a kid in the family. I thought that they needed him more than you or Ron did, and with that excuse I eased my soul for two years.
Mrs. Weasley was totally furious now, red with anger and clenching her fists.
-Then why did you come back?! If you got a new family for our grandson and made him believe he was the son of a famous Quidditch player. Is this a way of torturing us?! To revenge for whatever Ronald did to you?!
Hermione opened her eyes wide and simply said.
-I just want to do the right thing.
-You should've thought about that before you lied to us all!- Mrs. Weasley crossed her arms over her chest as Mr. Weasley tried to calm her down.
-I don't want Artie to hate me or Ron for what happened- Hermione snapped back -I want him to know the truth, to know he's loved for a lot of people. Even though he's just a little kid, he understands what's going on, or at least has a slight idea of it. And if someday he asks me, I want to tell him that I tried, that I did everything in my hands for him to be happy.
Mrs. Weasley wiped the tears off of her face and looked at Hermione blankly. She opened her mouth to say something, but the noise coming from the living room interrupted her. The three in the room looked at each other and immediately Mrs. Weasley opened the door and walked towards the room, with Hermione and Mr. Weasley behind her.
The scene was almost catastrophic. Viktor and Ron were both totally red, screaming at each other with all the Weasleys and Harry trying to keep them apart. Ron's lip was bleeding and Viktor hair was all messed up.
-It is not my fault at all! You lost your chance with her, all I did vas helping her while you vere marrying with another woman!
Ron completely ignored him as he tried to pull away from Bill's strong grip. Lavender cried hysterically and Fleur tried to calm her down with a strange expression on her face.
-I always knew you didn't want just to be her friend. And here is the proof! - Ronald said, pointing at Artie, who was about to cry in Charlie's arms. The way he looked at her son made Hermione shudder – I don't know what you did, but you convinced her!
Hermione stepped up to Ron with both hands on her hips, glaring at him.
-Convinced me of what?! Tell me Ronald, I would like to know! What did Viktor convince me of?
Both men realized of Hermione's presence and their expressions immediately changed. Viktor walked towards Charlie and took Artie in his hands and Ron, redder than ever, backed down and looked away from Hermione.
There was an uncomfortable silence. The Weasleys looked at each other wondering if they had to hold Hermione now, but she didn't move.
-You're a complete git, Ronald Weasley- she said with a trembling voice as she shook her head, fighting the tears back –if you only opened your eyes for a moment you'd know the truth, but you're so thick…
-Lavender, Fleur go upstairs- Mrs. Weasley suddenly ordered, glaring at both women. They looked at each other, totally puzzled.
-I'm not going anywhere Molly…-Lavender started, but the look of the old woman became severer, if it was possible.
Fleur looked at Bill, who simply nodded at his wife. Lavender did the same, but Ron didn't look back at her and she had no choice. Sobbing and giving death looks at Hermione and Mrs. Weasley, the woman followed Fleur upstairs.
Charlie, Bill, Percy and George looked at each other, completely puzzled by Mrs. Weasley sudden reaction but Harry and Ginny simply sat down and waited for someone to open the deathly silence. Ron didn't know what to do, his eyes were still on the floor and he was shaking.
Hermione looked at Mrs. Weasley, who simply nodded at her and motioned to talk. She looked at Artie and talking a deep breath looked back at Ron.
-I think all of you need to know, and I'm tired of pretending – Hermione waited for Ron to look at her, but he didn't. She sighed before continuing – Three years ago I left because I was pregnant.
Everybody looked at her, not knowing what to say.
-Of course you were pregnant- Ron suddenly said derogatorily, pointing at Artie but not looking at him- with Viktor's kid.
Viktor rolled his eyes and sighed. Hermione took her hands to her face and shook her head once again.
-Oh please Ron look at him for a moment! – She screamed, full of pain and contained anger.
As is she had ordered all the people in the room to look at Artie, all the eyes went from her to him, including Ron's. At first he looked at the little kid puzzled, even with a bit of resentment, but after a few seconds his jaw dropped and his big blue eyes opened wide in realization. He had to notice, Hermione thought. Because his own eyes were looking back at him, smiling lazily as he yawned in Viktor's arms.
I'm sorry for the long, boring chapter but I wanted you to know Hermione's reasons. I know I made her a little bit stupid, but she's just like every insecure girl that didn't want to be rejected.