Chapter 9: Life's Hard; When Everyone Else Is Happy

For the two weeks Hermione was in Saint Mongos no-one spoke a word to Ron nor did he talk to anyone else. He and Harry were silent to each other during work hours even though they were working on the same case. Ron felt as if he was going in circles with the Death Eater case as did Harry.

Ginny spent the following couple of weeks visiting Hermione. Telling Hermione about how her and Harry's date on the Friday night had been so romantic. That Harry had taken her to a lovely restaurant and then for a midnight fly.

Hermione tried to be happy for Ginny, she was happy for Ginny, but she was still upset over her date with Ron. It had been so great until they were at Madam Parishes shop. Why did he get so violent? Hermione knew of friends whose boyfriends got all aggressive and hit them but Ron wasn't like that! Was he? No, he couldn't be. Not her Ronald. There had to be something seriously wrong... There just had to be.


5th October 2002

Harry sat on the sofa of the Weasley's crowded lounge/ dining room. He had not heard from nor seen Anika in about two weeks. He somehow found himself sitting there wondering where she had gone, if she had found a place to stay. Had she gone back to her aunt, who treated her so badly? He decided he didn't care and pushed her out of his mind as Ginny sat down and snuggled close to him. He rested his chin on her head.

Merlin, she smells nice he thought to himself.

Harry just sat there in silence, no words said; he didn't know how he ever lived without this girl.


16th November 2002

The weeks went by in a daze. Hermione's wounds were healing and she was home from the hospital. She stayed away from Ron and tried to convince herself that she was OK. However, all she really wanted to do was run up to him and wrap her arms around him. Telling him about the baby and how horrible it was. But he had done nothing to be rid of his problem. How could he be so calm and silent when he had just killed his child? He did not know this, but he had hurt her, how could she forgive him? Their baby was dead because of it... She had contemplated going back to the appartment but the silence would drive her insane.

She kept herself busy and went back to work but the harder she tried not to think about Ron, the more miserable she felt. Hermione often wondered what Ron did these days. He didn't talk to anyone, didn't go out. Went to work on time and got home on time. She could tell that Ginny tried to make her as comfortable as possible but Hermione couldn't help but get jealous when she saw Ginny and Harry snuggling up on the couch.

Hermione knew it was wrong to be mad at Harry and Ginny. After all Harry had gone his whole life in darkness. He had been looking for the answers all through life. It was like trying to find the light switch in the dark. Harry had gone through so much to be happy but so had Hermione, hadn't she? Didn't she deserve happiness as well? Ginny decided to take the rest of the year off from Hogwarts. Penelope – Percy's wife – took over for her. Hermione was so jealous of everyone…

Fleur and Bill; who were married and had three-year-old Victoire.

Percy and Penelope; who weren't married but had their beautiful three-month-old daughter Paige, whom they raised at Hogwarts during the school year.

Everyone seemed to be settling down and having families.

Dennis Creevy's first son, Macorbious, had just been born a week earlier.

Ranessa Jordan; Lee Jordan's daughter had come a week before that.

Hermione remembered very clearly the christening of baby Samantha Chang. Cho Chang's daughter.

Even Blaise Zabini had found someone to start a family with. The birth of his son Lucas had been announced in the paper just the other day…

Everyone was happy but her…

She pulled some clean clothes on and headed out the door.

Walking down Hogsmede she saw couples holding hands and kissing in café's.

She sat on a brick hedge wall and ran things through her mind.

There was something she wanted to tell.

Something that was eating her alive.

But how could she tell anyone? How could she tell them that Ron had killed their child?

She found it out when she was I the hospital. The nurse had come in, a look of remorse on her face, and told Hermione.

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, we couldn't save your baby… We removed it when we removed the shad of glass…"

When Hermione said nothing the nurse continued.

"It is possible for you to have children in the future, but it may be a rocky road."

Hermione just nodded. How could she do anything else?

Ron had killed their child…

She had been pregnant…

Hermione realized she had begun to cry and once she's started, she couldn't stop…

"Are you ok Maam?" Hermione looked up into a face she hadn't seen since Fred's Funeral.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up, tears in her eyes, and before she could do anything else Oliver Wood scooped her up into his arms.

She found herself telling him everything…

About the war and the baby and Ron's mood swings.

She found herself crying and laughing at memories and crying some more. She found herself sitting in the bar across the road when it got too cold outside, Oliver telling her about his troubles.

And somehow, she found herself kissing with Oliver…

And somehow… one thing lead to another.


20th November 2002

Ron's headaches continued but he never told anyone. He was usually alone when they happened. They seemed to be getting worse and he had occasional dizzy spells. Ron had tried to visit Hermione in hospital. He went once but Hermione was asleep. He had decided to wait until she woke up, when Ginny showed up.

"Ronald what are you doing here?" She asked angrily.

"I want to talk to Hermione." Ron suddenly became exceedingly scared of his younger sister.

"I don't think she would want to talk to you… after what you did to her."

"I just wanted to tell her that I'm sorr…" Ginny cut him off.

"Don't you think you should just go Ronald…" This was not a question. It was an order.

So Ron turned around and left. He didn't visit Hermione again.

Ron knew he should see a healer about his headaches and anger outbursts but refused to as that would be taking orders… he had had enough of taking orders in his life.


8th December 2002

It was but a month later that Ginny sat snuggled up to Harry in front of the fire, wondering how she lived without him, when a crack was heard and something fell out of the fireplace. Ginny jumped and sat up straight.

Someone crawled out of the fireplace, having fallen over, and began to stand. Harry squinted to see who it was.

A cloaked figure began to rise in front of them.

"Who is it?" Harry called curiously, rushed to his feet to stand in front of where Ginny was sitting.

The cloaked stranger took a step away from the fireplace and towards Harry and Ginny. It was cloaked and the hood was pulled low so that Harry and Ginny could not see its face.

"I said; who are you?!" Harry pulled his wand out and pointed it at the intruder.

"Harry it's me…" The stranger didn't have to say anymore, Harry knew who it was.

The person slowly moved its hands to the hood of its cloak. The hood slowly fell away from the strangers face. Harry suddenly felt sick with rage as he saw Anika standing before him and Ginny.

Ginny let out a gasp, she stood up behind Harry. "Anika?" She asked curiously.

"What do you want Anika?" Harry's voice was threatening and he did not lower his wand.

"I have to talk to you…alone" Anika's voice was weak and scared. Her hair was messily sprawled across her face and she hugged herself tightly, as if she was… afraid?

"Anything you have to say to Harry you can say it to all of us." Everybody's heads shot to the top of the stairs where Hermione was slowly making her way down, healing cuts on her face and bandages on her arms. She made her way across the room and stood next to Ginny, one hand on her hip.

"It's ok Hermione what ever she has to say I don't want to hear it!" Harry put his wand away. He was sticking to this decision. What ever it was Anika wanted to tell him he DEFINANTLY didn't want to hear it.

"But Harry…"

"No Anika, just leave! I don't want to hear it!" Harry cut off.

Ginny stayed still and quiet behind Harry. But her happy bubble was collapsing, she knew that surely it was about to explode.

"Harry you WANT to hear this!" Anika looked as though she was going to cry.

"Anika I want you OUT of here, Last time I saw you I told you not to come back, I am sticking to my decision." Harry's face was contorted with rage and he stepped forward but Ginny grabbed his hand.

"FINE! IF YOU WON'T LISTEN TO ME I'LL JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU!" Ginny and Hermione were a bit stunned at Anika's outburst but Harry stood his ground.

Harry watched as Anika – tears streaming down her pretty face – untied the cloak and let it fall around her ankles.

All Harry saw was Anika dressed in trackies and a jumper. Ginny and Hermione seemed to noticed something horrible though because Harry heard gasps from behind him. Harry turned around and saw Ginny snap her hand over her mouth. Harry then turned to Hermione who was staring at Anika, mouth open. What was so devastated? Harry wondered. He looked back at Anika and it was when that he spotted it. The bump in Anika's stomach…

The BABY bump.

"Anika?" Ginny questioned.

Anika put a hand on her stomach and looked up, a tear slowly rolled down her cheek. She slowly nodded.

"Harry, I'm pregnant."