A/N: Sorry this chapter's so short guys! Got a lot of stuff going on with uni atm but i promise i'll make it up to you with the next chapter! WARNING! Your feels may be harmed in this chapter... I know mine were writing it Dx
A week had passed since Ron and Hermione had brought Rose home. Ron had planned to go back to work whilst Hermione worked from home whilst looking after Rose.
"Are you sure you two are going to be alright? I can take more time off, you know", Ron fussed as he got ready for his first day back at work.
"You're needed at the Ministry!", she smirked handing him his wand. "Rose and I will be fine. Go", she smiled softly before kissing him full on the mouth.
"Mmm. Meet me for lunch?", Ron smiled down at her deviously.
"Yes. Now go!", she chuckled, shoving him playfully before going to check on Rose upstairs. Hermione looked down into Rose's cot, sighing lovingly as she did. Its as if Rose's hair had grown an extra inch over each night in the last week. It stuck out softly at different angles as if someone had rubbed a balloon against her head. She was fast asleep in her rose pink baby grow, sucking her tiny thumb whilst her eyes flickered from time to time. Hermione wondered what she was dreaming about. Making her way down the stairs, there was a sudden knock at the door. Hermione answered it to find Astoria Malfoy, smiling brightly and carrying a baby carrier. "Astoria! What a surprise", Hermione smiled, putting one arm around her for a friendly hug.
"I thought I'd stop by and see how you are", Astoria smiled, entering the house. "I thought you'd might like to meet my son as well".
"Oh, you had a boy? Congratulations, Astoria", Hermione smiled, sitting down on the sofa with Astoria.
"And congratulations to you too! How is Rose?", she asked.
"Absolutely wonderful", Hermione smiled softly. Astoria bent down to reach into the carrier, gently taking out a small, white haired baby boy. He was definitely Draco Malfoy's son. His hair was white-blonde as his father's and his grandfathers, his skin pale and his eyes a spectacular mixture of grey and misty blue. He was also sporting a Slytherin-green baby grow, which Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at.
"Draco dressed him this morning", Astoria rolled her eyes, laughing herself. "If that Sorting Hat's got any sense, it'll put my boy in Ravenclaw. Save him the hassle of living up to his grandfather's expectations", she continued.
"He's beautiful, Astoria", Hermione smiled as she cooed at the little boy. "What's his name?"
"Scorpius", Astoria smiled. All of a sudden, the sound of Rose crying upstairs could be heard.
"I think someone's feeling left out. I'll be back in a second", Hermione smiled before wandering upstairs to tend to Rose. A few moments later, Hermione returned to the living room with Rose held close to her chest.
"Merlin! Well, with that hair she cant not be a Weasley", Astoria grinned as Hermione sat down with Rose, sitting her up right on her lap so she could look around. "So, how's motherhood?", Astoria asked.
"Fantastic. Still a little strange, but fantastic non the less", Hermione smiled softly looking down at Rose. "Ron's been amazing", she told her.
"I wish I could say the same for Draco", Astoria sighed. Hermione raised her eyebrow in a concerned manner. "Not that he hasn't been brilliant with Scorpius. He's just very fussy. He's already talking about him being a Slytherin! He's two weeks old, Hogwarts is years away", Astoria sighed.
"I'm sure he'll calm down soon. It just takes some getting used to, I suppose", Hermione smiled.
"I hope you're right", Astoria smiled back.
An hour later, Astoria had left and Hermione had prepared everything for herself and Rose to go and visit Ron for lunch. As Hermione walked through the Ministry with Rose in her carrier, everyone they walked by stopped to coo over Rose.
"There are my girls", Ron smiled as he walked towards them. Hermione smiled as he kissed her softly. "Where do you want to go for lunch?", he asked, his face still mere inches away from hers.
"I don't mind", she smiled softly.
"I was thinking we could go to the Leaky Cauldron- we can say hi to Neville and Hannah", Ron smiled. As Ron finished his sentence, Rose gurgled loudly and happily.
"I think Rose would like that", Hermione chuckled softly as she joined hands with Ron and they left the Ministry. At the Leaky Cauldron, a very pregnant Hannah Longbottom smiled brightly on seeing Ron and Hermione.
"Hello, you three! How are we all?", she asked, making her way from behind the back of the bar to admire Rose.
"We're all good thanks, Hannah", Ron grinned, lacing his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Oh, she's so beautiful, you two", Hannah smiled softly.
"Thank you", Hermione smiled back.
"Whatever you want today is on the house. Call it my way of saying congratulations", Hannah smiled. "I'll just go and let Neville know you're here". Ron and Hermione sat down at a small round table in the corner of the room as Ron placed Rose's carrier carefully on top of the table, gently taking her out to give her a cuddle.
"Daddy missed you today", Ron cooed as he gave her a soft 'butterfly' kiss. Hermione smiled softly at Ron with their daughter before taking a look at the menu. Ron couldn't help but notice a difference in Hermione. "Are you alright, love?", he asked as he laid Rose down in his arms.
"Yes, I'm fine", Hermione looked up from her menu and smiled. Ron raised his eyebrow at her. "I've just been feeling a little strange is all. Nothing to worry about", she continued to scan the menu. Ron shook his head slightly before using his free hand to look at a menu for himself.
"Hullo", Neville made his way towards them.
"Hi, Neville", Ron smiled.
"Is this little Rose?", he smiled crouching down to Rose's eye level. Ron nodded whilst Neville cooed at Rose. "She's a little stunner, isn't she?", Neville smiled.
"Yeah", Ron sighed happily.
"How are you feeling, Hermione?", Neville asked as he pulled up a chair beside Ron.
"I'm fine! I'm so tired of hearing that sentence!", she raised her voice. Neville's cheeks suddenly flushed red whilst Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione. "You know what? I'm not that hungry anymore, I think we're just going to go home", Hermione said as she gathered her things.
"But, love-"
"We'll see you later", Hermione told him as she gave him a cold kiss on the cheek, taking Rose from his arms and heading home.
As Hermione and Rose returned home, Rose became restless and wouldn't stop crying. Hermione could feel herself becoming more angry and upset by the minute, but she couldn't understand why. Each day became a challenge and Hermione began to become more and more depressed and became more and more confused as to why. When Ron went to work it felt like Rose cried more than usual. Like she didn't like Hermione, and she couldn't take it. One day, Hermione stood rocking a restless Rose back and forth as she screamed. Rose was now three and a half weeks old and Hermione was finding it harder to cope. She found herself feeling all these different kinds of bad emotions, and although she tried to fight them with everything she had, she just couldn't.
"Why don't you like me, Rose? Why?", she began to sob hard as Rose continued to scream.
"Hermione?", Ron's voice came from the bedroom door. On seeing Hermione's tear stained face, he immediately rushed to her side. "Hermione, what's wrong?", he asked worryingly, taking her face in his hands and looking deep in her eyes. Hermione just looked back at him, continuing to sob as their daughter continued to cry. "Hermione! Talk to me, love", he told her with a concerned look on his face.
"I cant do this", she mumbled.
"What?", said Ron.
"I cant do this!", she spoke up, gritting her teeth.
"You cant do what?", he questioned.
"This!", she yelled at him. Ron took notice of their screaming daughter before looking at Hermione with a concerned expression.
"She's probably just tired, love. Here", he offered to take Rose. Hermione handed Rose over to him and within seconds Rose began to settle down. Hermione collapsed on the rocking chair behind her and continued to sob hysterically.
"She doesn't like me, Ron. She clearly prefers you! She hardly ever cries when you're here and when you're not its like I'm trying to kill her or something!", she told him. Ron couldn't help but look at her as if she'd gone mad. He continued to shush and rock Rose until she feel asleep and he placed her gently in her cot. He made his way over to Hermione and crouched down in front of her, placing his hand on her knee.
"Hermione, talk to me. What's going on?", he asked her.
"I have to go", she told him as she stared into space.
"Go? Go where?", Ron asked, gently caressing her knee.
"I'm not what she needs. I'm not what you need. I cant do this", she said as she stood to her feet and made her way out of the room and into their bedroom. Ron followed.
"You're more than what she needs! You're her mum, Hermione!", Ron raised his voice in a hushed tone, "I think you need help, love". Hermione ignored him as she took a large duffle bag out from under their bed and began to empty her wardrobe into it. "Hermione!", Ron raised his voice once more. Hermione stopped what she was doing to look up at him. His eyes were rimmed with tears as he stood there, never taking his eyes off of her. Hermione zipped up the duffle bag and made her way towards him, gently caressing his face with the palm of her hand before kissing him softly. She took one last look in his eyes before passing him to leave. "Hermione. Don't do this to me. Don't do this to us", Ron's voice broke. Hermione stopped in her tracks at the top of the stairs and turned to look back at him.
"I love you. I'm sorry", she all but whispered as a single tear rolled down her cheek. And with that, Hermione apparated, leaving Ron and Rose alone.