Okay, I know the Fremione part of the story is not existing at this point, but it will start after this chapter. I wanted a solid background first.
"Hm, I think it would be best if you continue, Lavender, okay?" Nervous Hermione eyed Ron, who was too calm, and she wasn't even sure if he was still listening. Lavender nodded unsure and began to tell the Weasleys why it took almost three years for her and Hermione to come back.
Lavender had the terrible feeling that she would puke any minute and she wasn't sure if the reason for that was her pregnancy or the cold glares of her parents.
Two weeks ago, Lavender had started to feel ill, puke every morning and after some panicked calculations she had come to the conclusion that she might be pregnant. So Hermione had forced her to do a muggle test and after the blasted thing had been positive they went to a muggle doctor. The doctor had confirmed Lavender's pregnancy and stated that she was nearly three months along. Lavender had felt like an idiot for not recognising sooner that she hadn't had her period.
"Oh Merlin, I can't be pregnant with Ron's child!" Lavender marched through the living room at the Granger's home in Australia. Fortunately Hermione's parents where still at work. The girls hadn't told them the news yet.
"I mean, what should I do?"
"Don't look at me like that." Hermione was still shocked and truth to be told she really didn't knew how to feel about the situation. She was still a virgin, because she hadn't been ready so soon after the war. She had wanted to wait for her body to recover and to build a solid relationship with Ron beforehand. For her it proved to be a good decision. Lavender on the other hand had already lost her virginity to Ron during their sixth year and after the war they had continued their relationship also on the physical level.
"I think the first question is, do you want to have this child?" For minutes both were silent.
"I have no idea." Lavender gulped. She was afraid of both alternatives. She was afraid of having a child when she felt like one herself, but she was also afraid of making a decision that she might regret in the future. Really, for her it was like choosing between devil and hell. No matter what she chose, it would change her life forever and she was afraid of regretting it to have the baby and at the same time she was afraid to abort. It was a dilemma. It were Hermione's next words that helped her the most.
"Lavender, I can't make this decision for you but when you know what you want I will be there. If you want to I will help you get an appointment and accompany you. If not, I will be by your side when you tell Ron, your family, his family and everyone else. And then we will see. And I can't believe that it's me who is saying this, but you don't need to know everything right now. One step at a time." Maybe it was the hormones or the situation, but Lavender cried for hours after this and then fell asleep.
Hermione waited for her with breakfast the next day but thanks to the morning sickness Lavender didn't feel like eating.
"I will keep it," she said simply and waited for her friend's reaction. Hermione didn't even blink and just smiled.
"Okay, so what do you want to do first?"
"I need to tell my parents, then Ron."
And that was the reason why both Hermione and Lavender were seated at the Brown Mansion and had a formal tea with her parents. Her father had been polite to Hermione and her mother even a bit friendly, but towards Lavender they were cold and angry. She had send them an owl from Australia about her plans but obviously her parents weren't impressed with her decision to travel and party for nearly two months. It was simply no way for a witch of a pureblood family to behave.
"I'm pregnant," Lavender blurred out and instantly regretted it. But really, there was no subtle way to say something like that. Her mother froze in shock while her father began to shake with anger. He left the room immediately without a word.
"You know, who the father is or are there multiple candidates?"
"There is only one."
"Give us a minute." Politely Mrs Brown stood up and followed her husband. Now Lavender really felt like puking. Hermione stroked her back soothingly. After five long minutes her parents came back, and her mother continued in a business-like manner.
"Well, we talked about it and we think it is best to schedule the wedding as soon as possible. When will we meet the father?"
"I'm not marrying him," Lavender stated bluntly. She had expected her parents to say something like that. They were traditional and believed in the concept of marriage first and children after. And she was sure they had expected her to go into marriage as a virgin.
"He cheated on me and I don't think that he will be happy to marry me." Lavender was careful not to mention Ron. She didn't want her parents to attack him or force him to marry her before she had the chance to talk with him herself.
"Well, if that is the case then I think it would be best when you move in with us immediately. I think we could say your mother had a surprising pregnancy or that we adopted. We will find a solution. And after the child is born you can go wherever you want. Maybe back to Australia?" Her father's eyes were cold and dark with anger and Lavender felt like someone suddenly stole all oxygen out of the room. She got goose flesh and her heart felt like it could stop at any moment. She knew what her parents were suggesting but she needed to hear it. Yet she couldn't form words. Luckily Hermione did what she couldn't.
"So, do I understand you right, when I say that you want Lavender to vanish out of her child's life after the birth? She will have no part in it? Be like an older sister that never visits home?" There was a not so subtle anger in Hermione's voice that made it clear what she thought about this arrangement.
"Exactly, Miss Granger," but Lavender's father didn't look at Hermione, instead he fixated his gaze at Lavender.
"Lavender, I think you know what you did. You are a disgrace to the family and you no longer have a home with us. We will take the child to make sure that it doesn't repeat your... decisions. And to make it clear, I won't accept a No. If you don't accept our terms I will sue you for custody and as you are an 18-year-old teenager with no money and support the ministry will surely be on our side."
"You!" Hermione jumped out of her seat and before anyone could react, she had silently stunned Lavender's parents with a full body bind. Thank Merlin for Hermione's war-trained reflexes and masterful arsenal of curses. With wild fury in her eyes she looked at Lavender.
"Remember what I told you? I am on your side and you make all the decision. So, tell me, Lavender. What do you want to do?" Lavender nervously bit her lip. She had already made the decision, she just needed to say it out load and then her life would change forever.
"Let's get out of here." With a triumphant smile Hermione made sure that her hex would last for at least an hour to give them a head start.
Lavender had to give credit to her parents for their quick working. It had been only two hours since the two girls had left the mansion and there was already a private investigator after them. Lavender and Hermione had checked in at a muggle hotel in London and wanted to visit the Burrow the next day. But now they had to change locations because Lavender's parents and at least two ministry workers and the PI were at the lobby. It was sheer, dumb luck that Hermione had recognised them and shooed Lavender back into the lift.
They were also lucky that their belongings were still packed. Not a second to late they apparated out of the hotel room to Liverpool. Hermione had insisted on changing towns to make it harder to find them again.
The second time the PI found them when Hermione tried to send an owl to the Weasleys. The bird clearly never reached its goal, instead an hour later the PI was checking out the streets of Liverpool and asked at hotels for them. This time Hermione had been more cautious and was warned by a charm she had installed in the hotel lobby. Again, the two ran and booked a room in Manchester under the names of Pansy Parkinson and Hannah Abbott.
"I never thought I would need my experiences of running away from the ministry a second time." Hermione said, exhausted after the day.
"I can't believe their doing this. No, forget that. I absolutely can believe it! Hermione, what if they find us? They will take my baby away." Lavender felt defeated. Her parents were right. She was a child without money and of course the ministry would think her parents were more fit to raise their grandchild.
"Am I selfish for not giving the baby to them? For wanting to raise it myself? I know it would have a good life with my parents. They have money and time and I had a good childhood with them."
"Well, you could see it like that, but I don't think there is anything wrong with you wanting to be a mum. And you're not alone. You have me and my parents and the Weasleys will also be on your side." Never in her life was Lavender happier to have Hermione Granger by her side. Her cool logic and quick thinking was exactly what a pregnant, desperate woman needed in this kind of situation. Without her Lavender wouldn't even have left the mansion.
"Hermione, I know you say that I call the shots but your opinion matters. So would you think lesser of me if I want to delay meeting Ron? I think I want to go back to Australia and let things settle down a bit." Lavender knew that she wasn't behaving like a Gryffindor, but she desperately needed some space to think about her next steps without worrying about her parents.
"Whatever you want, Lav."
"So, I didn't really run away from you, Ron, but my own family. I was scared and panicked and after we were back to the Grangers I always delayed telling you. And the longer I waited the harder it was to finally do it. Not to forget the PI's my parents send after me. We were lucky that only one of them found us in Australia. Hermione had to obliviate him to protect us. After Rosie was born I decided to deal with my parents and the custody first before dragging you into this mess."
"I had contact with a lawyer in Britain the whole time to work on a strategy for Lavender and Rosie." Hermione filled in.
"First step was to get a job. We gained our NEWTs in mid-December when Lavender was still pregnant. I kind of asked Kingsley for a favour so we could do them at the ministry without anyone knowing. Then we started healer training at a magical hospital in Australia. But all of that wasn't enough because the British magical law states that Lavender must have a job in Great Britain in order to maintain her custody here. We finally achieved that with her employment at St. Mungo's."
"Yes, my parents no longer have a case against me. I'm financially independent and proved in the last years that I'm able to care for Rosie. So we came back, but to be honest I was, and still am, afraid as hell about telling you and Hermione nearly needed to force me through the floo today." Lavender tried a shy smile, but the situation was painfully similar to the tea with her parents. Everyone stared at her, Ron was clearly mad and would storm out any moment and Lavender also had the feeling of puking any time soon.
The greatest difference was that Hermione was equally nervous today. She was afraid of never being forgiven for abandoning her friends and breaking contact. She was sure that Lavender's doings were easier forgiven because it was relatable. But Hermione simply decided that Lavender needed her more and, that in order to protect her, contact with anyone from Hermione's old life was too dangerous. And now was the time of truth.
"Why didn't you write, Mione? There was no reason for you to vanish like that." It was Ginny who asked the question Hermione dreaded the most. While Mrs and Mr Weasley were still in deep thoughts and concentrated on Lavender and Ron seemed to be trapped in his own mind, Ginny was on the verge of tears. She had been the one to comfort Harry after Hermione left while she herself mourned the loss of her friend. Harry himself looked curious but mainly glad to see Hermione again. He probably was the one who would forgive her first. The twins seemed interested but at least not longer angry. Bill and Fleur meanwhile made the impression of rather being anywhere else right now instead of this drama.
"She had no other choice," Lavender fiercely interjected. She was determined to protect Hermione against all accusations. It was the least she could do.
"The one PI that found us in Australia had intercepted an owl Hermione send to you. After that we knew keeping contact would get them on our lead."
"I also promised Lavender to wait till she was ready for this. If I had been in contact I would have been forced to lie to you and that was worse in my book. I couldn't visit you or write you and pretend that I didn't knew about Rosie." Again, there was an uncomfortable silence like everyone was waiting for the inevitable eruption of Mount Ron, but he was still frozen in place. It was Mrs Weasley who finally diffused the tension.
"Okay, that was much, and I think we all need a bit time. I have a chocolate cake for dessert. Who wants some?"
While Mrs and Mr Weasley went to the kitchen with Bill and Fleur to prepare tea and dessert, and probably talk about everything in private, Lavender addressed Ron.
"Ron, do you want me to introduce you?" Ron looked at her like she was a crumple-horned snorkacks. "It's okay if not, I just wanted to offer."
"No, that would be really nice," Ron smiled weakly with a small voice. Immediately Lavender got up and brought Rose back to the table.
"Ron, this is Rose Jean Weasley. I wanted her to have a flower related name like mine and Jean is in honour of Hermione, who is also her godmother. And Harry is of course godfather."
"Oi, Potter, seems like you can start a collection." George laughed while Harry blushed.
"Yeah, a collection of children with colourful hair and a disposition for trouble making." Fred added grinning and Hermione, who remembered his promise, or better threat, narrowed her eyes at them. There was no way that she would let Rose be corrupted by those two. Only over her dead body.
"Rosie, this is Ron Weasley, your dad." Rose and Ron blinked at each other in a cautious way. Neither of them knew what to make of the other and eventually Rose stretched her hand towards Ron and murmured a small 'Hello'. Then both blushed the typical Weasley red up to the ears. It was adorable. The rest of the day at the Burrow went much better with easy conversation and laughter. It was still a bit awkward, but normality seemed to be in grasp.
For the guest who commented at the first chapter rather rudely: I thought long about it if I should answer that or not but it annoyed me too much to remain silent. I really don't care that you clearly misunderstood the story after reading the prologue and that you hated what you thought was happening. I can live with criticism on the story and your opinion of it. What I care about is that you accused me of having certain morals that you deem shit and because of that shit morals I had to be LGBT. What kind of logic is that?
1: Don't judge so fast, it really is unnecessary. I think the following chapters prove that you were absolutely wrong.
2: Talk to a few LGBT people and get over your prejudice. Maybe you will come to the conclusion that you were wrong about them as well.
3: Just for the fun of proving you wrong further, I'm straight so your stupid logic really was false on all levels.
All other readers are free to read the comment. I would be glad if you let me know whether I'm overreacting or not. And of course I'm glad to have feedback on the story in general.