A few months had past and Hermione was in the swing of things at her new job. Every morning she went into the office, completed her daily work, came home, read the daily prophet, and prepared for the next day. Along the way, she went out to dinner with Ron a few times, but nothing romantic, just a quick bite to eat. She also renewed her friendship with Ginny, and together they helped prepare for the baby that was on its way. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Hermione was truly happy, though she still felt as though something was missing...

***

One night, after an incredibly long day at the office, Hermione was sitting on her couch catching up on the news and drinking a butterbeer, when an owl crashed into her window. Hermione glanced up from the page and saw it was Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon. Hermione rolled her eyes. She knew for a fact that Pigwidgon was way to old to be carrying letters, but she took the small piece of parchment in her hand and began reading:

Hermione-
Ginny's at St. Mungo's right now, giving birth. Please come as soon as you can.
Ron
P.S. Go to floor 1

Hermione reread the note again. It was hard to believe that she was giving birth already. It seemed as though it was just yesterday they spent an entire day laughing, painting the nursery and choosing baby names. And now she was about to have her first child....wow. After freezing for a minute, Hermione grabbed her cloak and apparated to the hospital, hoping she'd be there in time.

When she arrived at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, she looked around the entrance for someone she knew, one of the Weasely's perhaps. Hermione scoped the room and found George sitting in a corner glancing around at the people coming in and out of the doors.

"George!" Hermione yelled from across the room. As she made her way over to George, a few people gave her dirty looks, including a rather frightening man who seemed to have a large fang coming out of his forehead. Hermione shivered, but continued walking.

"Hey Hermione! We were wondering when you'd arrive." George said, grinning.

"Yea, well, your genius brother sent Pigwidgeon over with the note."

"That explains a lot. Anyway, Ginny just had the baby about 30 minutes ago. The potions they gave her are making her a little bit loopy, so she won't be able to chat with anyone for a while. But the baby's all clean. You can go see him if you want, Harry's got him.

"They had a boy!" Hermione knew that Harry had really wanted a son. With that she turned to run upstairs to greet the rest of the Weasley's, but turned around right before meeting the elevator.

"Wait, George. Aren't you coming?"

"I have to stay down here and wait for Percy. Although he's changed, he still can be a twit sometimes."

Hermione laughed. "Alrighty then, See ya soon."

She entered the elevator and took a look at Floor One where she was headed: Creature Induced Injuries. She was unable to tell if that was a sick joke or just an accident.

The elevator opened and Hermione ran out in the halls to find a more than happy Mrs. Weasley, was crying.

"O, Hello deary," She said to Hermione as she scurried down the hall. "Ginny's just in this room," then she added in a whisper, "I wouldn't go in yet if I were you, she can't talk to well on all those potions."

Hermione turned and glanced in the room and saw Harry sitting next to the bed, with Mr Weasley and Ron standing behind him. Bill and Fleur were sitting on a seat in the corner quietly talking.

"However, if you want to go to the Nursey and see the baby, he's sitting in there with the other newborns. I'll have Ron take you. Ron!" Mrs. Weasley called out. Ron appeared outside the door. "Take Hermione to see the baby, would you?"

"No problem, Mum." he said. Together he and Hermione headed down the hallway.

"How's she been holding up," Hermione asked Ron as they turned the corner.

"Oh, fine. Yea, they gave her the wrong potion at one point and Mum was completely flipping out. I thought she was going to have heart attack herself."

Hermione giggled as she imagined Mrs. Weasley screaming at a nurse. "As long as she's okay I guess. I am just really excited to see the baby though. What's his name?"

"James Sirius Potter."

"Really? That's so..." but Hermione couldn't find the right words to finish her sentence, because she looked up and saw all the babies lined up in a row and her heart just melted.

"Over here." Ron led her to the end where a tiny child was laying there, just sleeping, as if nothing could bother him. Tears began to form in the corners of her eye, but Hermione held them and hoped that she wouldn't let them go.

For a while they just stood there, saying nothing, and watching the new baby breath and sleep. All Hermione could think about was how lucky Ginny and Harry were, and with that her tears began to break free.

Ron glanced at Hermione. "Is everything okay?"

"Yea, it's fine, I'm just so happy," she responded, wiping her eyes.

"Sure?" Ron asked completely unconvinced.

"I am happy! It's...just...I don't want to sound selfish, I really don't, but Harry and Ginny are so lucky. I mean, they have this beautiful child, their extremely happy together, and I can't help thinking that it will never happen to me, ya know? That I am going to be stuck in my never changning life style for such a long time that I'll never have kids, I'll never fall in love, I'll never---"

Ron grabbed Hermione and lightly kissed her on the lips. Slowly, they parted. Hermione looked into his eyes and knew right away she had been wrong to complain about not falling in love. She knew she was in love with Ron. And right at that moment she knew Ron was in love with her.

"Sorry..." Ron got very tense all of the sudden, let go of Hermione and turned back to the babies, all without looking at her.

To Ron's surprise however, Hermione wrapped her arms around him and kissed him a lot harder than before. She pulled away and burried her head in his chest.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other, and both said, at the same time "I love you."

The two of them laughed and kissed once more.