Chapter 28
Rose smiled widely as she opened the large wooden case and saw what it held. This art set was even better than the one she had seen when she was in London with Granny Jean! "Dad, look at what Mum got me!"
Ron, however, didn't show any interest. Rose's face fell at her father's lack of response. Ginny, seated beside her brother, noticed and shared a look with Harry, who nodded barely perceptibly. "Who's up for a game?" he announced, and at once all the children lifted their gazes, interest piqued, curious at what he would suggest. He then got up from his seat and winked at Hermione before setting off to the cornfield that belonged to the Weasley family. In response, the children got up from their seats as well and ran after him, Hugo first, and very soon there were no children left at the long table. Bill and Fleur smiled after them with mirth.
When Harry and the children weren't within earshot anymore, Ginny turned to Ron angrily. "Could you act like you care for one damn moment?" she hissed. "She's your daughter, and this is for her birthday. You could show some interest, instead of guzzling down whiskey after whiskey."
The red-headed wizard cast his sour gaze towards his sister. "What I do and don't do is none of your business, Ginny!" Ron bellowed so loud that his mother, seated at the other end of the table, was certain that the children could hear.
"Oh, Ron, don't be so childish," Ginny said in a tone that sounded a great deal like her mother's when she used to lecture them.
Ron's eyes fell on his ex-wife, and Hermione felt the knot in her stomach tighten. She knew that her hope for him to act like an adult had been in vain and that all his anger, combined with the alcohol he had had, would result in an explosion. She felt the tears burn in her eyes.
Ron's fingers tightened on the half-full whiskey glass for a moment before he picked the bell-shaped object up and propelled it at the back wall, full force. Shards of glass flew everywhere, and the alcohol that had still been in his glass slowly streaked down the old paint. Molly's rapid intervention kept anyone from getting hurt as she Vanished the glass shards. This, however, only seemed to make Ron angrier. His ears turned scarlet as he fumed at his sister, whose gaze didn't waver.
"Ron..." Arthur tried in a calm tone as he slowly rose from his chair.
"Ron..." Molly said warningly as she saw him reach for his old, willow wand. Molly's hand had remained on hers after the glass burst. The anger that played in her son's eyes and the way that they stayed focused solely on his sister, made it seem like Ronald would hex her. Then he turned to Hermione; then his gaze travelled to his mother and father as if he didn't know whom to hex first. He seemed very disoriented and downright dangerous, undoubtedly fueled and driven by alcohol.
The redhead's eyes slanted when he turned back to his sister. "She's not much of a hero for Rose and Hugo at the end of the day, either," Ron said and nodded at Hermione meaningfully, "Hermione here left her job at the Ministry without any mention at all to me or our children. She'll teach Transfiguration at Hogwarts from now on. No word to the kids about the fact there's a new baby on the way, either. She's got no intention of getting back together with its father still, though. She would rather manage it on her own. Rather than be a little sensible about it, she wants to be the bullheaded one. It is in her benefit, not theirs."
Tears formed in Hermione's eyes. "I do most of it alone, already, and have for years, Ron! Due to my job at the Ministry, I haven't had as much time for Rose and Hugo as I wanted of late. I love the children a great deal, and I don't want to be the kind of parent who is never really there. I have wanted a change for a long time, and the professor position fell into my lap at the right time."
A cold and humorless laugh escaped Ron's mouth.
Hermione sighed. "Listen, Ron... I wasn't not going to tell them. In fact, I really wanted to inform them today, after Rose's birthday party, and have a conversation with them about the upcoming changes for both of them. I want to move my things to Hogwarts tomorrow, with them if possible. All of that depends on how they'll take it." Hermione's tone was full of hurt, clearly audible. "I guess I knew I shouldn't have expected for you to show any discretion, even if I really needed for you to act like an adult about this."
Without words, Ronald Weasley shot to his feet and pointed his wand in Hermione's direction. Anger flared in the man's gaze, a hex already forming on his lips.
"Ron!" Molly screeched, unnaturally high.
Hermione only just managed to deflect the hex. As she did so, the witch stumbled backwards from the energy she needed to produce the shield, especially that unprepared. As her wand arm lowered and the shield fell immediately away, she reached for her lower belly. Her eyes fell shut as she shakily exhaled. Nausea washed over her as her abdomen painfully contracted.
Ginny, forgetting Ron entirely for now, rushed to the brunette's side and tried her best to support her.
Hermione, heavy breaths coming from her, tried to gather herself. Silence overtook ── even Ron didn't say a word. Several moments later, the pain less acute, Hermione straightened, and she pierced Ron's shocked eyes. It seemed as if the man had surprised himself by being so aggressive. "I don't know what has happened to the man you were, Ronald, but I can't be with the man you've become, influenced by alcohol or not."
"'Mione, I'm──"
"Enough," she interrupted. She slowly turned to Molly, who still seemed astonished by her son's behavior. "Please, tell Rosie I am sorry that I couldn't stay. Tell her that I'll answer all of her questions tomorrow." Tears blurred Hermione's vision. She hated that she had to lie to her children. "I'll answer yours as well, but I can't deal with all this just now."
Molly quietly nodded in response.
She turned back to Ron again. "I'll come get Rose and Hugo tomorrow, at nine. Please make sure they're ready."
Without looking at her former sister-in-law, she squeezed her hand with all of the apologies and gratefulness she could muster. Despite the unanticipated news, Ginny was still by her side, as always. With a wave of her wand, Hermione summoned her belongings. Without another word, the Gryffindor walked to the perimeter and past it so that she could Apparate.
As she did, she heard her daughter's familiar laughter, coming from the field nearby; she closed her eyes. She couldn't stay there a moment longer, like she couldn't have stayed in her marriage.
