A/N: Here's the penultimate chapter. Thanks to my beta Cecelia Everhart. ;)

4. Hermione

A few hours before

Hermione had fallen asleep, totally exhausted from her fight with Ron, but had woken up only a few hours later. She wouldn't call her dreams nightmares, but they weren't happy dreams either. They seldom were pure flashbacks but mostly a mix of present, past, and future. She had seen a grown up version of Rose together with a blond boy, but suddenly Bellatrix had appeared and … she shuddered automatically. After that she knew she couldn't fall asleep again, so she crossed the hallway to her daughter's room and cradled her on her lap. Ron hadn't been in the bed with her and no sounds came from downstairs. That meant he had left. She had driven him away.

The house always felt so incredibly cold and hostile to her on a night like this. Slowly she put some clothes on and decided to leave it. She knew where Ron had gone, but she didn't feel like facing him now. She probably had overreacted last night, but she was so exhausted from work and the lack of sleep and the pregnancy. She wished the morning sickness would stay a morning sickness like it had with Rose.

What if Ron would decide he had enough? He couldn't leave her again, like he had during the Horcrux hunt! Automatically fear washed through her veins and made her gasp for air. She desperately needed to talk to someone, but who would understand?

Her gaze fell on a photo of the Order of the Phoenix on the wall and pink hair caught her eye. How had Tonks managed everything – the pregnancy, the war, the death of her father, the disappearance of Remus? She had never had that strong of a connection to her, but Hermione suddenly felt that she needed to talk to her, because only she would have known what to do. Maybe there was some secret she could have revealed to her – how to be so strong, how to handle that little human growing inside your belly. Ginny wasn't the one she could go to, because the whole pregnancy thing had been easy for her. She didn't understand.

But she couldn't talk to Tonks either, because … Hermione closed her eyes and chased the image away. She didn't want to see any dead bodies today. But … who else could she talk to?

Andromeda! The thought flashed through her mind and suddenly she knew it was the right decision. The older woman would be up without doubt, since this was the day her daughter had died. Maybe she would have some wise words to share.

Without thinking, she grabbed Rose and flooed over to Andromeda's. The black haired woman looked startled when Hermione tumbled out of the fireplace.

"Hermione? Is something wrong?" she asked, her wand in her hand in seconds.

"No. No, Andromeda. I just … I just didn't know where to go," she tried to explain and grabbed a chair for support. The floo had made her feel a little dizzy.

The expression on Andromeda's face softened. "Come sit. Do you want some tea?"

"Yes, please. How's Teddy?"

"Sound asleep," the older witch mumbled and put a mug in front of her. "Tell me what's wrong."

Hermione sighed and fixated her gaze on the table. Something pink caught her eye. "I don't … I'm sorry …" She hadn't noticed the photos on the table before, now it was too late. "I didn't want to disturb …"

"You don't. It's nice to have some company. And you are here to talk obviously, so talk."

Hermione shook her head. "Just … tell me about her. How did she handle …you know, the pregnancy and … Remus … and everything?"

Andromeda's narrowed her eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I can't handle it … anything. I'm not strong enough. I just … suddenly missed her so badly." A hard sob escaped Hermione's lips. "This pregnancy is different. And I've been thinking that maybe this child is different. And I wanted to ask her … how …" Her voice trailed into nothing and she clutched the mug desperately.

"What's going on?" Andromeda asked gently and it was her soft voice that made all the barriers inside Hermione crack. She poured her whole heart out to the older woman, who indeed had some wise words to share.

"Don't be afraid, Hermione. You know you're strong and you know Ron loves you. Don't let those dreams make you doubt yourself," Andromeda advised warmly and refilled her mug with a wink of her wand. "You might be right that this child is different, special, but that's not a bad thing. Talk to Ron about it. He'll be there for you. Trust me." A sad smile flickered across her face. "That's what I told Dora and it worked out just fine."

"Thank you, Andromeda," Hermione whispered sincerely and took one of the pictures. "That's from the wedding, isn't it?"

The two women talked and reminisced until the silver light of a new morning illuminated the kitchen, but neither of them noticed. They were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

Surprised, Hermione looked up. "Let me get that," she offered quickly and hurried to the door. Who could that be? Harry maybe? But he would be at the Burrow. Curiously she turned the doorknob and opened the door.

In front of her stood Draco Malfoy.

Next chapter: Draco! (possibly the best chapter of this fic)

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