Unexpected

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the Harry Potter franchise. I am just an overly obsessed fan who likes to borrow the characters for my own little thrills. The rights belong to the very talented J.K. Rowling, who is responsible for the literacy of a generation with the creation of Harry Potter. I will put back the characters when I am done with them, perhaps even use an obliviate charm for good measure.

Chapter 14: Six Feet Under The Stars

Silence. Except for the creaking as the casket was being lowered into the ground. Hermione stood silent and still as the tears kept coming from her eyes. Since that day in the hospital, she had done nothing but cry. Chloe was standing beside Hermione, tightlipped and pale. Scorpius was next to Chloe, grasping her little hand tightly. Hermione looked down to the two children, and her heart sunk again. All of the wizarding community had turned out for the funeral.

"Dear Friends, today we are gathered to bury one of the greatest wizards ever known. He was detrimental in the downfall of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Without this young man, none of us would be here. Today, we are saying goodbye to Harry Potter. He sacrificed so much in his life, and he should be remembered for the wizard he was and the great accomplishments he had achieved in his young years. He was-" the ordaining official was saying, but he was cut off by the shrill screams of two small children. Lily and James ripped themselves from Ginny and Mrs. Weasley's grasps and ran to the lowering coffin.

"DADDY!" James cried. "Don't leave us! Come back!"

"Daddy! No! You can't die. Please don't leave! I promise I'll brush my teeth more! And I'll even get along with James. Please don't leave, daddy!" Lily sobbed. Ginny rushed forward to get her children, but she too collapsed from the grief. Hermione ran to them, and Hermione managed to get Ginny and the children back to Mrs. Weasley. The whole attending friends and family were silent as Ginny fell apart.

"Gin, it's okay. I miss him too, but it'll be alright," Hermione whispered. Somehow her words had the opposite affect, instead of calming and soothing Ginny, Ginny turned viciously on Hermione.

"It's your fault! It's ALL your fault! If you had slutted around with Draco, then Ron wouldn't have been angry, and he wouldn't have tried to kill you, and then Harry, who always has to play the hero, heroically rescues you, yet he gets himself killed! If you hadn't fucked Draco Malfoy, Ron would not be rotting in Azkaban, awaiting trial for an accidental murder! It's all your fault! Ron was right, you are nothing but a slag!" Ginny screamed. A hush fell over the crowd as a shocked and bewildered silence took a hold and did not let go.

"Ginny," Hermione said sadly. As much as the words stung, Hermione did blame herself.

"Ginevra Weasley! Don't you dare talk to her like that! Her personal affairs are none of your concern. And this is by no means her fault! She didn't cast that curse, your broth…brother…bro," Mrs. Weasley reprimanded before she too burst into tears. A symphony of sobs and tears began. The ordaining official sat stock still. Grief was not meant to be bottled up. A solemn still vibrated through the grim, dreary day. Even the heavens above cried for the fallen Harry Potter. Hermione gave Mrs. Weasley a fierce hug.

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Weasely, so very, very sorry," Hermione muttered through her renewed tears.

"I know deary. But I meant what I said. You are not at fault. Ronald did it. No matter the circumstances, he performed an Unforgivable Curse, and he killed Harry, and tried to kill you. He will pay for his crime, but you won't. Yes, you might have had some indiscretions and had an affair, but I know fidelity is not highly rated among you young ones. Fidelity is something that is very hard to keep. Arthur has had his share of affairs, and so has Ron and Ginny. My family isn't perfect, and I can't expect anyone else to be. I wish things could have been different, oh how I wish they were. But that is the way the wand falls. Go to young Scorpius and Chloe. Embrace them, love them," Mrs. Weasley responded.

"Thank you so much," Hermione said. With one last glance, Hermione made her way over to Scorpius and Chloe. Draco had finally showed up, and he was standing there by his children.

"Hermione," Draco said. He held open his arms, and Hermione fell into him, sobbing harder. Her throat was raw with the sheer strength of her sobs. They were forcing themselves out of her small voice with loud, thundering crashes. Draco held on tightly as she cried.

"I'm so glad it wasn't you. I know that isn't right to say, and Harry died protecting me, but I thank Merlin every second of every minute since Ron cast that curse that you weren't the one hit. I couldn't have lived without you, Draco. I love you so, so much," Hermione said so only Draco could hear. Draco smoothed down her sleek hair.

"I know my love. I also thank Merlin that Ron didn't hit you. I would have died there with you, I can't imagine anything without you. Five years without you was long enough, a lifetime would have been impossible to deal with. We have our lives to be thankful for, and that is thanks to Harry. As much as I hated him when we were young, I'm so proud to say that I knew the greatest wizard in the history of magic, Harry Potter," Draco said with a slight hint of tears in his voice. They were quiet as the funeral continued on.

After Harry was buried right beside Dumbledore at Hogwarts, Hermione and Draco opted not to go to the Burrow for the dinner Mrs. Weasley had prepared for the funeral. Ginny was too volatile in her grief, and Hermione did not want to be the cause of any more pain for the Weasley family. They had lost two sons. One the murdered, one the murderer.

"So, how did it go?" Hermione asked as they were returning to Hermione's home.

"The lawyer said that if the child is Ron's, since he is a convicted murderer, his rights are terminated. And since you were the intended target of his curse, he definitely will have no legal right to see the baby. And he's not getting out of Azkaban. Trial is set for Monday, and they are all set on the Dementor's Kiss. He killed Harry Potter, the salvation and savior to the whole wizard community at large. The courts may even seek harsher punishment, but legally and ethically, they can't do it. Ronald Weasley will never step foot outside of Azkaban, at least not alive," Draco said confidently. Hermione's heart still buzzed at the fact that she was seconds from death, and by the hand of a man who claimed he loved her. Draco and Hermione ushered the kids inside, and the house air was stale and untouched. Hermione felt voided and dead inside. Her best friend, self proclaimed brother, was dead. Her other best friend, almost lover, was the killer and in jail for murder. Hermione was a whirlwind of emotions.

"Chloe, take Scorpius upstairs and play for a little bit," Hermione said softly.

"Okay mommy," Chloe hugged Hermione, and whispered softly, "don't worry mommy. I miss Uncle Harry too, but he's watching us. I know he is."

Hermione hugged Chloe tighter and opened her arm for Scorpius. The little boy fell into the hug and Hermione hugged the two children with all her might. Draco watched the scene, and he fell more in love with Hermione in that minute.

"Go on upstairs children," Draco said. With a rush of brown frizzy hair and blonde hair and a frenzied patter of feet, they were gone.

"I miss him so much," Hermione said sadly. Her tears were leaking out slowly, and Draco led her to the couch. They sat in silence and watched the rain stream down the window's glass surface. The silence was palpable, but neither said a word.

And then a loud popping broke the quiet calm that Hermione had just entered in. She snapped her head to her kitchen where Lily and James ran to her, scared and bloodied, with wild looks in their bright eyes. Mrs. Weasley staggered in behind them. She was covered in blood. Some wounds were on her hands, and her eye was blackened, but there was not enough cuts for the blood to be hers. She was soaked and dripping riveting red rivers as she collapsed on the floor. Hermione fell onto her knees beside her.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Hermione nearly screamed.

Mrs. Weasely gagged on a cough and a sob. Her plump frame was shaking with terror and a tiding of tears as she looked with horrified eyes to Hermione.

"Ginny's dead. Arthur's dead. And Ron's escaped from Azkaban," was all she managed to wheeze out before passing out.

--A/N--

Oooh! The twists and turns never cease! I felt bad for leaving such a dramatic cliffy last chapter, so I updated as soon as I could. Hopefully time will be on my side and I can throw out another chapter tomorrow. I know I said only two or so more chapters, but I think I may keep going. I like the twist this just had! I don't know when or how I will end this. My muse just kicked me and said "Write, now!" lol. Anyways, thanks for all the reviews! There was a bunch! Thank you thank you! Keep the reviews coming, and I may be motivated to update sooner! Well, either way, I will update as soon as I can. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! More to come, stay tuned!

--xx, starburst rocker--