Once at the Healers, a very nervous group of people awaited a healer to come out and tell them what was going on. Hermione had been taken back quickly and no one was allowed in the room with her, not even Draco. He was quite a bit upset but he was more worried.
After what seemed like several hours wait, a healer came out and told them that Hermione was okay for the moment but was being very difficult.
"She is being very stubborn and requests that all of you join her in her room, but I have to advise that it wouldn't be wise for her to have so much excitement. So who here is the closest to her?"
Everyone looked around; no one wanted to speak up. Everyone wanted to go see her, and she was really close to all of them. Draco was upset that the healer was making them choose when Hermione apparently wanted them all back there.
"Well, we are all very close with her so I don't feel we should have to choose since she wants to see all of us," Draco said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I'm sorry sir, but I can't allow that. It's our policy for only one or two visitors at a time, and with her condition we prefer only one at a time."
"Her condition? What's wrong?" Molly asked with worry evident in her voice.
"That will be for her to tell you. Are you her mother?" The healer asked looking directly at Molly.
"As good as one, but if anyone goes back it should be Draco." Draco looked at her, quite stunned at her statement. He felt they would all be saying they deserved to see her first because they were all closer for a longer time, especially Harry and Ron.
"No, you all have known her so much longer and better than me," Draco tried to explain, hoping they disregarded what he was saying and let him go in first anyway.
"No Draco, she loves you and those are your babies. If anyone has a right to go, it's you." Draco's jaw dropped at hearing Ron say this. The healer looked at Draco, and then at Ron.
"Well, considering you are the father of the babies, you are allowed in, and we will allow one other of your choosing."
Draco looked around before speaking up, "Molly would you come with me?"
"Draco, are you sure you want me to go with you?" Molly almost cried, happy he would choose her.
"Yes, you have been like a mother to me over the past several weeks, and I could use the support when we find out what's going on. Also, Hermione loves you like a mother, I am sure she would want to see you as well. Then we can take turns visiting as I know she will want to see everyone." Draco explained. They all seemed impressed as Draco and Molly followed the healers out of the waiting room and down the bare white hall.
When they came upon Hermione's room, Draco slowly entered, followed closely by Molly. Hermione was in the bed, which had been raised to a sitting position. She was covered with a white sheet and blanket. She had a book in her hands, and looked up from it when she heard someone coming in. She was about yell at the healers that she wanted to see her family when she realized it was Draco and Molly that came in.
"Draco!" Hermione squealed, her eyes lighting up brightly. She reached her arms out to him, signaling that she wanted a hug. He walked quickly over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly.
When Draco pulled back, Molly came over and got a hug and they both took seats next to the bed.
"Hermione, what's wrong? They wouldn't tell us anything. Are you okay? Are our babies okay?" Draco was holding her hand and looking her in her eyes. She could see he was nearly in tears worrying about her and the babies.
"I'm fine, love. I just had a bit too much excitement today and I can't be doing that. It's just too hard on the babies. But as long as I rest and relax a bit, I'll be fine." Hermione smiled at Draco and Molly, unknowing that what she said would drastically impact the next few months of her life.
Two days later, Hermione was let out of St. Mungo's and was glad to be going home. Little did she know that she wouldn't be going home, but to the burrow instead. During her stay at St. Mungo's, Ginny's room had been set up for Hermione, George and Blaise had both temporarily moved into the burrow and Draco, Ron and Harry had put off signing up for Auror training until after the babies were born.
Also during her brief stay at St Mungo's, Hermione had started talking to Lavender Brown, who amazingly was a healer in the maternity ward. They had struck up a friendship, talking late into the night about Hogwarts, Ron, and Draco.
Once to the burrow, Hermione was bored. No one would allow her to do anything. If she wanted something to eat, they made it for her, if she wanted another blanket, it was brought to her. She was a very independent person and hated this type of treatment from one person, let alone a houseful. She was worried they would stop letting her go to the bathroom and shower on her own.
One afternoon, Hermione was lying about in the living room, when she decided to go for a walk outside. She had barely stood up when three people were at her side, helping her up and asking her what was wrong.
"I'm fine," Hermione replied, exasperated.
"Where are you going then?" Ron asked her, stepping back to assess anything that could be causing her discomfort.
"I'm just extremely bored and wanted to go for a walk outside."
"But you might tire yourself out. What if you start having pains again?" Harry was livid with worry.
"I'll be fine. I have my wand. If anything happens I'll send a patronus. And besides, I'm getting anxious and worried sitting around here, which isn't good. A walk outside will relax me." She hoped that reasoning with them that she needed to relax would set their minds at ease.
"Okay, but if you even start to get a bit tired, or thirsty, or have a single cramp or pain, I want you to come back or send for help." Draco was holding Hermione's face so she would look him in the eyes.
"Okay, I will, but I have to say this before I go. You guys are getting on my nerves and if you don't leave me be, I will set Ginny's famous bat bogey curse at all of you." With that last word Hermione turned and walked out the door with a book and a blanket.
She walked out to the pond, Ginny and her favorite place, and laid the blanket on the grass. She sat down and looked over the water. She felt it was time she had a talk with Ginny. She knew that if Ginny could hear her anywhere, it would be here.
"Ginny, I know most would think I was crazy for talking to you, but I needed to tell you so many things. I have hated being so happy without you here. I feel like I am betraying you. You are, I mean, you were my best friend. I love you so much. And I miss you. Ginny, I'm in love. I am madly in love with someone that we all hated so much. Well, not me, as only you knew. You were the only one throughout Hogwarts that knew about my crush on Draco. A few weeks after the war, he told me he loved me and that he always had. I knew he had, I don't know how, but I knew. We are engaged. And get this, I am pregnant with twins. One will be named after you and Narcissa, the other after Dumbledore and Fred."
At the mention of Fred, Hermione let go of the tears that had been threatening to fall. She didn't bother to wipe her eyes, but instead she kept talking.
"Ginny, I miss you so much. How could you leave me like this here? How could you leave me and not be here to share all of this with me. We swore we would be each others maid of honor and you swore to me you would be my kids god mother. Who is going to do that now? Who is going to be standing next to me at my wedding? Who is going to help me pick out a dress and fix my hair and make up? I have no one! Ginny, I am…."
Hermione took a minute to sob a bit and think about what she wanted to say but had been ashamed of feeling. She had to get it out. It would all be better if she just spoke out loud how she felt.
"Ginny, I am so mad at you! You promised you would always be there for me. You swore on Merlin that you would always be my best friend and be by my side for anything. You lied to me. You lied when you said you would always be there. You aren't here. You will never be here again and it hurts so badly. Ginny, I need you here and you left. You left me alone. And now, now I feel bad that I'm happy because I shouldn't be. I should never be happy because you aren't here to share it. Ginny, why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me you would be here?"
Hermione finally stopped yelling and tried to slow the tears that were slowly sliding down her face. Then she realized something. She realized why Ginny had to leave.
"Ginny, I miss you so much, but I realize why you lied to me. You knew I wouldn't let you fight if I thought you might not come out okay. You wanted to fight and help us win. And I have to thank you Ginny. If you hadn't been brave and fought, Ron and Harry would have never left. Then I would be married to Ron and not with Draco. I guess I owe you all of this happiness I have. Maybe I shouldn't be angry anymore, but thankful that you are where no one can hurt you and somewhere you can always look over me and our family. Ginny, you will forever be my sister and friend. I love you."
Hermione laid her head in her hands and started sobbing. She felt someone walk up behind her and sit down. She didn't care who it was at the moment, she just needed to cry. She wrapped her arms around the person and realized that it was a really small frame she was hugging. She opened her eyes and screamed. It was Ginny. She looked just as she did in the picture George gave her.
"Hermione, please don't cry over me." Ginny whispered.
"Gin, but, you died. How are you here?"
"Your tears brought me here. I can only stay for a minute, and then I will be gone. I had to tell you something, something that I never got to tell you before I died. I knew I was going to die in the war. I don't know how, but I knew and I let it happen. I had to be strong because if I didn't die, Harry would have. I seen it all happen in a dream, and I couldn't let him be sacrificed for me. I'm sorry I lied to you, but I will always be by your side. I love you Hermione. You were the sister I always wanted. Please tell the family that I love them and that I will always be with them. Tell Harry that I want him to be happy, no matter what it is that makes him so. And Hermione, tell your babies that their aunty Ginny was amazing." Ginny was glowing, despite the bright light from the afternoon sun.
"Ginny, how am I going to survive without you?" Hermione had tears in her eyes, but was grateful she was finally going to have the chance to say goodbye.
"You have Draco and so many others who will help you. Lean on George, he knows better than anyone what you are going through. And Hermione, please don't forget me."
Hermione sobbed at that statement.
"Ginny, I could never forget you." Ginny leaned in and hugged Hermione tightly to her.
"I will always be watching over you, except when you and Draco are having 'alone' time." Ginny and Hermione both laughed and held tighter to each other, knowing it was time to say goodbye. "Goodbye Hermione."
"Goodbye, Ginny, take good care of Fred and everyone else we lost." Within seconds, Hermione was alone sitting by the pond, or so she thought.
Hermione started sobbing again when she realized Ginny was really gone. George came from behind a tree and hugged Hermione to him.
"George, did you see her? Ginny was here! Did you see her too?"
"Yea, I saw her. The whole house did. They heard you screaming and crying and they looked outside. We seen Ginny appear and watched, not wanting to interrupt. Fred did the same with me after the war. I went to his grave and screamed and cried and told him I hated him for leaving me. He came back so I could tell him goodbye. Since I have been through it, I thought I should come out in case you needed me."
"Thank you George." George helped Hermione to her feet and they walked slowly inside. Everyone was quiet and tried to keep from saying anything to upset Hermione more.
Hermione went upstairs and took a nap. She woke up realizing that for once, she had good dreams. She dreamt about the past that she missed so much. She got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom to get a quick shower before dinner. She walked downstairs in a pair of sleep pants and a big t-shirt and sat at the kitchen table. It slowly filled up with everyone who was currently living at the burrow and some of the order.
People were no longer afraid to look at her. Now they were glaring at her. They looked as though they were trying to read her mind.
"I know what most of you saw this afternoon, and I want to thank you for giving me my peace for the day. I don't know how much you heard of our conversation, but you are welcome to ask anything you like. I will answer as best I can." Hermione said looking at the imploring eyes of her family that surrounded her. She was amazed at the questions that were flying at her, even from the order members who weren't there that day. After the incident, Molly contacted everyone to let them know of Ginny's appearance.
"Why did she come?" Ron asked, wishing he had gotten the chance to hug his sister.
"She came to tell me that she knew she was going to die in the war. She knew it was something I needed to know." Hermione smiled remembering getting to see her best friend again.
"She knew? Then why did she fight? Why didn't she tell us?" Harry was angry, knowing that if she had only told him, he might have been able to keep her safe and alive.
"She said that she seen the war before it happened and knew that if she didn't die that you would have. She said she couldn't let that happen." Hermione witnessed the tears form in Harry's eyes. She slowly went through and answered each person's questions. After the inquisitions were over, Hermione told them one last thing that brought tears to everyone's eyes.
"Ginny wanted me to tell you all something. She said to tell everyone that she loves them and she will always be with them. She asked that I tell Harry that she wants you to move on and be happy, no matter what it is that makes you happy, and she wanted me to tell the babies that their auntie Ginny was amazing. I told her I would be certain to tell everyone hello." Sniffles and sobs filled the room. Harry got up from the table and walked outside, followed by Ron, George, Draco and Blaise. Hermione walked over to the sobbing Mrs. Weasley and held her tightly allowing her to cry.
For the first time in a long time, Hermione was done crying. With having Ron and Harry back; being pregnant and in love; and getting the chance to see and say goodbye to Ginny was more than she could ask for.
Hermione Granger was content.
