May 2, 1999
Hermione sat alone on the platform reserved for her, Harry, and Ron. It was the first anniversary of Riddle's death and the entire Weasley family plus Harry was no where to be seen.
Festivities for the day would be held in the Great Hall. In the morning there was a memorial service, then an outline of what happened over the two reigns of Voldemort. Then there was a luncheon and a recognition ceremony for members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army.
After the recognition ceremony there were to be speeches given by the Minister, several key members of the Order, Neville, and Harry. But at 10 o'clock when the memorial service was due to start, the Weasley's were no where to be found.
"Attention, attention!" Kingsley said, his voice magically amplified, "Due to events beyond our control, the Weasley family and Harry Potter are unable to be here today, owing to the fact that Fleur went into labour early this morning." Everyone clapped, but Hermione looked stunned. Her first chance to see Ron and it was all blown away.
Four hours earlier
"Ow, ow. Bill, please get your mother, I zink I am going into labour!" Fleur called from the bedroom. Bill stuck his head in the fireplace and called, "Mum? Mum! Fleur's going to have the baby!"
Within moments Mrs. Weasley arrived to help Bill and Fleur get to St. Mungo's. The rest of the family would follow in a couple of hours.
At eight o'clock the entire Weasley family and Harry sat in the waiting room of the maternity ward of St. Mungo's. Charlie had been notified and had come in from Romania and Ginny had been fetched from Hogwarts. An owl had been sent to Kingsley telling him that no one would be able to come to the celebration at Hogwarts today. Harry knew it was hard for everyone, Fred having died today, but everyone was very excited for the newest edition to the Weasley family.
Inside the birthing room, Fleur lay on a bed and Bill sat worriedly beside her, stroking her hand. Fleur's family had been notified, but Madame Delacour was sick so she and Monsieur Delacour could not come. Charlie was to fetch Gabrielle from her school later that day.
Hermione floated through the morning. She spent lunch with the DA members ready to receive their awards. But she waited anxiously for news about Fleur.
Dear Hermione,
Please tell Kingsley we will not be there all day. Fleur is having a difficult time. Charlie has been sent to fetch Gabrielle. The baby is okay, it's just taking a long time. Say hello to everyone for me.
Love,
Harry
Hermione scanned the hastily scrawled letter before delivering the news to Kingsley.
At four o'clock in the afternoon Fleur had been in labour for almost fourteen hours. Gabrielle had arrived two hours previously and was now with her sister. Mrs. Weasley was also there, acting as Fleur's mother. Bill had come outside for a quick break and was pacing nervously before Gabrielle came to fetch him.
Kingsley hurried over to Hermione. "Hermione, Fleur wants you at the hospital. I've taken down the barriers so that you'll be able to Apparate directly to the waiting room. Go!" Kingsley said.
Hermione Disapparated and found herself in the waiting room. Harry and Ginny stood up to hug her and everyone else smiled.
"Hermione," Mr. Weasley said, "Fleur has asked you and Ginny to go back to the room. Hurry, the baby is about to be born."
Hermione and Ginny hurried down the short corridor and opened the door. Fleur looked worse than Hermione had ever seen her, but also looked very motherly. Her blonde Veela hair was spread out around her and her face was red. Bill sat beside her, holding her hand. Mrs. Weasley talked with the Healer and Gabrielle was giving her sister a drink. She flashed them a smile before turning her attention back to Fleur.
"'Ermione, Ginny. I'm glad you could come. It should not be long now," Fleur said, her French accent was noticeably fading, but still present.
Hermione smiled. As much as she once resented Fleur, she could tell she loved Bill very much.
Celebrations at Hogwarts and the birth of a new Weasley only made Lucius Malfoy angrier and angrier. Draco had left, leaving his father with a resentful wife and a group of restless Death Eaters. All he had planned was failing, overrun by Agatha Hart. She was there new target, not to say that Harry had left their minds.
Narcissa was very obviously done with the whole idea. Time and time again she pleaded with Lucius to stop his foolish ideas, but he did not listen.
Hermione took a short break, standing on a balcony to get some fresh air. She heard footsteps behind her and Ron appeared.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied.
Ron looked at her. Her face and hair were framed in a glow from the setting sun. She looked beautiful. He missed her so much.
"Ron," she began.
"Yes?"
"Can we just be friends?" she asked
"I think I want to be more than friends," he said.
"But I can't. Not right now. Maybe not ever. I used to love you, Ron, but I hate the fighting,"
"Yeah, we can be friends," Ron said.
Hermione turned to leave. "Wait," he said, "I'm going to wait for you."
"I don't want you wasting your life on me," Hermione replied, sadly.
"It's not a waste waiting for the only girl I'll ever love," Ron said firmly.
Hermione gave a sad smile and went back inside. Ron turned to the balcony and looked down at the busy Muggle street below. "Why did I ever let her go?" he lamented.
Harry and Ginny had stolen a few moments away from everyone else in a back hallway. "Harry," Ginny said, "Do you ever want children?"
"Yes," Harry replied, "And not just one or two. I don't want as many as your parents, but I want three to five."
Ginny smiled and he kissed her.
"When you're ready love, we can have all of the children we want," Harry said.
At ten o'clock on May 2nd, Kingsley announced the birth of Victorie Gabrielle Weasley to the few people still at Hogwarts. Everyone cheered.
Back at St. Mungo's, Fleur held her little daughter. Her eyes were blue like Bill's and Fleur's and her skin carried that unearthly Veela glow. Her hair was fine and blonde and to her parents she was the most beautiful baby in the whole world.
One by one the Weasley's and Harry entered. All in all, it had been a very good day.
Sorry for such a short chapter, but there wasn't much to write.
