Chapter 7.
Hermione had had a long night. After Ron had left last night, Lavender went on making snide comments, until Molly asked her to leave. Lavender acted insulted and then popped off. Hermione didn't know how Ron could put up with her. She just wasn't what she expected Ron to be with.
How could Ron be with someone who doesn't want children. Well she isn't really sure Ron wants children. She would find that out later this week. Right now she had to plan Melody's 3rd birthday, her first with the rest of her family. It wouldn't be like the first 2. They were just Melody and Hermione, with a small cake and some ice cream. This would be big. All of Melody's uncles and aunts would be here. Molly had written a letter to the rest of her children explaining there was a new Weasley in the family, and that they were invited to celebrate her birthday.
" I can't believe you are going to be 3 this week Melody." Hermione said brushing her hair. Unlike the rest of the Weasley clan, Melody had bushy hair, like her mommy. Melody loved her hair, and loved when her mommy put it in braids. It didn't bush out so much and was always somewhat manageable.
Just as Hermione was finishing her hair, an owl flew in. This was the first owl Melody had seen deliver mail since she had been at the Weasley's. So she was quite surprised when her mommy acted as if it was a normal day occurrence. Hermione took the letter off of the owl's leg and told it to go. She opened the letter and saw Ron's hand writing. That was one thing that certainly hadn't changed in the last 3 years.
Hermione
Can we please meet to talk about the situation with Melody and Lavender? Meet me at the village square at 3.
Ron
She caught herself smiling as she thought of meeting Ron. It was a good thing of course. They will be discussing their daughter, hopefully this time with no yelling or freaking out, she thought. She took her daughter's hand and walked to the kitchen, where Molly was making breakfast.
"I've got to meet Ron in the village at 3. We have some things to discuss. Would you mind if I left Mel here. Im sure she would love to see some magic." Melody smiled as her Grandma nodded. "Oh yes please Grandma, can you teach me?" Molly chuckled " Oh no dear. You will one day go to Hogwarts and have some of the same teachers that your Mommy and Dadd..oh that your Mommy had." Molly slipped up as she tried to change the subject. " Do you know how to knit? I can teach you that without magic." Melody and Molly sat down in the sitting room as Molly tried to teach the young girl how to make a stich.
Hermione sat down in a chair and watched the pair work together. Molly had a natural talent for knitting. Hermione had never seen Molly knit without magic, but could now see that she was a real artist when it came to those needles. Slowly but surely, Melody was getting the hang of it too. " Look what I did Mommy." Melody said excitedly as she showed off her work. " Very good honey," Hermione said as she got up. " I've got to go get ready for my meeting. Keep working on that, ask Grandma to help you make a scarf for your bear." She kissed her daughter and headed to their room.
Hermione took a shower and got ready. Before she knew it, it was already 2 pm. Hermione had gotten a ride to the Burrow, so she didn't have a car. She put on her coat, and kissed her daughter. " I'll see you later okay baby? Be good for Grandma and I'll bring you a treat." Melody smiled and nodded. " Okay Mommy, have fun. I'll be good. I Promise."
About a half an hour later, Hermione had finally arrived at the village. She sat on a bench close to the square and waited. As she waited, a small girl was playing in one of the fountains near the square. Hermione smiled as she watched the girl laugh as she ran through the water. Her father soon found her playing. He picked her up and threw her in the air. The air filled with the little girl's laughter. Maybe one day, that could be Ron and Melody. Hermione was hopeful. Maybe they could make it work. Not Ron and Hermione of course, but Ron and Melody. Maybe just maybe Melody could have her father, just as Hermione had always hoped for.
Ron saw her walk up to the square and look around. He didn't want to seem too eager to talk to her, so he held back and waited. He saw her look at the children playing. He watched a mother and father hold their child's hand and swing them back and forth. He smiled. This was something he had enjoyed as a child. When he was still the baby, before Ginny, the family would go on walks, and Mom and Dad would always hold his hands and count to three. He would jump up and they would swing him along. It was one of his favorite memories. Ron heard the clock strike three. He took a deep breath and walked over to where she was sitting.
" Is this seat taken?" he asked as he arrived at her bench. " Hey Ron, no of course not." She smiled. Ron had always loved her smile. He smiled back, with his goofy grin. " Ron, are you gonna stand there all day?" Hermione asked. " Or are you gonna sit down?" Ron shook his head and snapped out of her trance.
Ron sat next to Hermione, " Okay, lets talk." Hermione said as she waited for him to start talking. Ron stared at her. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to be Melody's father, but doing that while married to Lavender was going to be difficult.
" She hates kids, you know." Ron started. " She told me that when we first got together. Her mother had a large family like we do, and Lavender has been raising them since she was 9. Of course she got a break when we were at school, but as soon as she was home, it was back to taking care of her siblings. Lavender never wanted to have kids. I agreed to that, but now that I've seen her, my daughter, I do want kids. Well I want Melody at least."
Hermione wasn't sure where this was going. His future wife doesn't want kids, but he does. Where does that leave them? It really wasn't any of her business, it was between them. As long as Melody was taken care of, she really didn't care what Ron and his wife had going on.
" So you want to be involved then? You want to be her Dad?" Hermione asked unsure of the answer she really wanted. Of course she wanted her daughter to know her daddy, but she didn't know what that meant for her time with her daughter. She had never had to share. Melody had spent every night with Hermione, as there were no Grandparents, until now. Would Ron want custody?
" Yes, Hermione, I would like to be her daddy. I know it's a little late, but that isn't my fault." Hermione looked to the ground and shifted dirt with her foot. " Do you live in New York, or was that part of the lie as well?"
"Melody and I do live in New York, it was the first place I thought of that was out of the country, so I went there. I worked a crappy job, until I had Melody, then I got a job as a Journalist. It pays well, and we love our apartment." Hermione took a deep breath before continuing. " What about your wife, Ron? She has made it clear."
"Lavender will have to deal with it. I mean we can start slow. I don't want to rush Melody. It may take time, but I will make it work. How long are you guys staying? What are your plans from here?" Ron asked
" Melody turns 3 on May 12th, next Saturday." Hermione answered. " We are having the party at your parents house. Your mum wasn't sure you'd like to come. I'm sure it would mean a lot to Melody if you came. Especially once we introduce as her daddy."
