All characters belong to J.K. Rowling

Saddest Day

(Part Six)

Five Months…

It seemed that Ron had found his own calling in Hogwarts. He had a deep love for the school, and the people within it. McGonagall often found him with Neville walking along the grounds in conversation or sometime feeding the creatures in Hagrid's menagerie. He had also taken to teaching some of the younger kids to fly. Madam Hooch was just one of the fatalities of the war.

Yes indeed. Ron did seem like he belonged in Hogwarts.

Upon reflecting on it, McGonagall looked out the window and saw the person that was the subject of her thoughts. Ron walked alone however, his brows knitted in contemplation. His head was down, and he seemed to be dragging his feet. He often did this during the sunset. Ron would stand against the hill watching the sun sink into the moors. Sometimes, she swore she saw tears reflecting against his freckled face.

She was never one to pry and so she never owled or flooed the elder Weasleys. Ronald would tell them when he was ready. A knock sounded on the door. "Enter."

Neville walked in and she smiled fondly at him. The boy had indeed changed since he was student. There seemed to be a more confident swagger in his step. "Have a seat Neville." She sat at her desk. "How did it go?"

"Well the Ministry is granting us some time to open," he informed her. "The thing is, Minerva. They want us to have a Headmaster soon. I mean REALLY soon."

"How long do we have?"

"A month."

"Great Godric," she said in an exasperated voice. "You know that's not how Hogwarts works. We do not choose, the castle does! The vault access is in that room. If we can't get in than there will be no funding for the student supplies, and there will be no Hogwarts!"

"We need a miracle," Neville replied. "I'm sorry it didn't open for me, Minerva. Luna is sorry also."

Minerva sighed, and turned to catch a glimpse of Ron walking back as his hair glinted in the last light of the day. She realized how much he looked like Albus in his younger days though Albus' hair had been a more browner red.

If only…

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"And how are you Hermione?" Draco said as she laid back. Harry and Ginny sat tensely beside one another. Harry had been upset that Ginny had yet to give him an answer about his proposal while Ginny felt she needed time to recover.

It did not help that Dean had recently been spotted with Padma Patil. "He's over it Ginny, why can't you be?" Harry had reasoned petulantly. Ginny and Hermione wanted to strangle him.

She smiled at him. "Oh okay," she replied evenly. "Just resting, taking walks, eating, and of course—"Hermione nodded her head at the couple. "—taking care of the children."

They both glared at her.

"How is your bump?"

"The same as is was last week, Draco," she said with a grin. Draco had taken to coming to the Weasley's home to 'check' on Hermione. In actuality, he was there to see Hermione smile when he gave her the bouquet of daffodils. Mrs. Weasley invited him to stay for dinner and he enjoyed his first ever family meal.

Family meals were a cool affair at the Malfoy household. Conversation topics were usually about Death Eater meetings, recent raids, and the filthiness of mudbloods. The Weasley house was full of laughter, and comfort. He felt at ease, and had for the first time 'washed dishes' with Mrs. Weasley. After he had taken Hermione for an evening walk, she told him about the baby's progression, Harry and Ginny, and how she was (content, to a certain extent).

When she got quiet, Draco knew that she was thinking of Ron. Her eyes would glaze over, and she would caress her belly. He could tell that she was torn between her happiness for the baby, and the sadness that it wasn't his. Most of all, Draco knew that she mourned the friendship that her, Harry, and Ron once had.

It would never be the same.

"Now let's have a look, shall we?" Draco revealed her belly and placed both his hands gently on it. Hermione could feel the energy pulsating through her, and her baby moving in her belly. He pulled away, and then turned to Harry. "Potter, come here."

Harry walked over tentatively and Draco put his hand on Hermione's belly. Harry felt a slight push against his hand. "Meet your daughter, Harry." Harry grinned widely and looked at his best friend with happiness in his eyes.

"A girl?" Ginny said and approached Hermione. "Oh Mione! A girl!" She kissed her friend on the cheek. "Congratulations." Then she looked up at Harry. "Congratulations Harry," she said softly. He looked at her sadly.

"Ginny," Hermione began and took her friend's hand. "I've asked Harry to give up his parental rights and he's agreed."

Ginny looked up at him. "Why? Are you denying your daughter?"

"No," he said seriously. "It would give Hermione a chance to start again. Hermione and I looked up the laws of claiming parentage without marriage in the Wizarding World. Unless one of us gives up the parental rights, then the neither party can marry or bear any other children. It was one of the ways that the bloody Ministry made sure that there were no abandoned children."

"Really?" Draco said.

"Why do you think Tom Riddle was put in a Muggle orphanage?"

"Point taken."

"It's what I want," Hermione said and put Ginny's hand near Harry's on her belly. "It's what she wants for her Aunt Ginny, and Uncle Harry." Her eyes filled with tears, and she let them fall. "Harry's found his someone, and I'm happy. Both me and the baby will find our someone one day, won't we?"

Draco could only nod in hope with Harry and Ginny as they all wandered in their own thoughts.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

When the examination was over, Draco lingered for a moment when Harry and Ginny went outside to set Hermione's next appointment. "Hermione?" She turned to him and he brought the file he was holding to his chest.

"Yes Draco?"

"Would you like to go to dinner?"

"Sure, why not?" She said as she put her cardigan back on. "I'll let Harry and Ginny know so they can see if they're free." The four of them would usually go out for a casual lunch once in awhile. She had even had a burger with him that disastrous night that Dean proposed to Ginny.

"Wait—" Draco put a hand on her shoulder. "I actually meant just me and you…alone. Like on a date or something?" Hermione look at him for a moment. He put a hand behind his neck to cool it down.

"Why?"

"Because I like you, Hermione," he replied quickly. "Because you're smart and pretty. And I like your laugh…geez Granger. Would you just allow me to court you?!"

"I'm having another man's baby."

"Oh, I haven't noticed."

"Very funny, Draco," she said with a light smile. "I broke another guy's heart. Are you sure you want to try this out?"

"Just give me a chance to find out what horrid thing you might do to me," Draco said and lifted her chin so she was looking directly at him.

Her shoulders dropped in defeat. "Okay, let's go to dinner."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ron was pulling in the Quidditch equipment that had been used for the casual game he had just played with some of the older kids. Brenden Darby, a fifth year Hufflepuff now living in Hogwarts, was helping him out.

"Do you think I should even bother trying out?" Brenden was an avid Quidditch player, and Ron had encouraged his talent as a Keeper. Ron had heard that the Cannons would be soon be looking for reserve players, and he decided to owl their coach to endorse Brenden.

If Hogwarts ever got back to the way it was then they could have real games that the recruiters could watch. However, they had to find a Headmaster. The doors had remained closed though many had tried including Remus, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Moody.

"Why not? You're really talented Brenden. I have no doubt of your abilities and neither should you. Now let's get this stuff back in the cupboard. Aren't you going to meet Rebecca soon?" Rebecca Bolt was Brenden's sort of girlfriend. The boy blushed and nodded.

They quickly put away their things. "Thanks Mr. Weasley! I'll see you later!"

Ron waved to the boy. Ascending the stairs to his room, he contemplated how they could possibly save Hogwarts. For a moment, he thought about owling Harry and Hermione but decided against it. He would do this himself.

A light gust of wind brush passed him. Suddenly he felt a push in the opposite direction of his room. He felt powerless to stop it as if he was being carried. The wind was all around whispering incoherently until it was suddenly silent again and he stood directly in front of the Headmaster's office.

Ron found himself reaching to touch the statue in front of the office. He placed his hand softly on it and it suddenly lurch. The stairs leading up to the room were ascending and he watched in awe. When it had stopped, he walked up carefully.

Ron's eyes filled with tears as he reached the top. It looked exactly like Dumbledore had left it. He traced his finger on the Headmaster's desk, and Ron could feel the magic emanating from the room. The sound of footsteps pulled him from his trance, and he turned to see McGonagall and Neville staring at him with shocked eyes.

"I'm sorry!" Ron said in panicked voice. "I just touched the statue and the stairs…and please don't make me leave."

Minerva's eyes filled with tears and she pulled him into a tight hug. "You don't understand, my dear boy."

He looked at her with wide eyes.

"Ron," Neville said with seriousness in his eyes. "You're the new Headmaster of Hogwarts."

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END. I know it's been awhile but please review!