CHAPTER FORTY TWO

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September 5th 2006

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With only a few weeks to go until the birth of her second child, Hermione found that her walk had turned into more of a slow waddle and the trip from the floo in the Leaky Cauldron to the cafe where she had planned to meet Lavender took twice as long as it would have done even a few weeks ago. By the time she finally arrived at her destination, Hermione was sweating, out of breath and Lavender, who was already there, gasped as she pulled out a chair for Hermione to sit down.

"My word," Lavender snorted, eyeing Hermione's stomach, "you look fit to burst! How far along are you?"

"Just over seven months," Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes, "though I feel as big as a house. How are you, Lavender?"

"Not too bad," the blonde girl shrugged, smiling over at Hermione, "I was surprised to get your owl. I'm assuming that you spoke to Ron?"

"I did," Hermione nodded, frowning as she leaned forward on the table, "he said that you were seeing each other, how's it going?"

"I thought it was going really well," Lavender sighed, cupping her tea with both hands and looking down into it, "but I don't think I'll be seeing him again."

"Why on earth not?" Hermione gasped, frowning at the other woman.

"Something George said," Lavender muttered, looking briefly up at Hermione before moving her gaze back to her tea, "I went to meet Ron at the shop and while he was out the back, George said…"

"Oh bloody hell," Hermione groaned, reaching out for Lavender's hand when the blonde girl sniffled, "what has the idiot said now?"

"It wasn't just what he said, Hermione," Lavender sniffled, wiping her eyes and looking around self consciously as another customer laughed at what their companion was saying, "the shop was full of customers and they all heard him say it. It was bloody mortifying!"

"Lavender…" Hermione sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "what did he say to you?"

"He said…" the other woman sighed, gesturing for Hermione to lean closer so she could whisper, "he said he could do me a great deal on scar paste."

If Hermione didn't have a baby growing inside of her that physically prevented her from bending far enough to do so, she would have slammed her head down on the table in frustration. George, ever the self proclaimed comedy genius, had obviously meant his words as nothing more than a joke, but it was an abysmally thought out one. Hermione could imagine how humiliating it must have been for Lavender, especially if a lot of people had heard it and turned to look at her.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Lavender had been attacked by Greyback and, for a while, everyone had feared her dead. It wasn't until after the Battle was over and the search for the fallen had begun that she had been found, horrifically injured but thankfully not bitten, under a pile of rubble. Her life had hung in the balance for weeks until she had awoken, changed forever from the giggly girl Hermione had always known her to be. Unfortunately, the worst of her scarring was on her face and neck, impossible to cover, which had made Lavender incredibly self conscious of her appearance. It was for this reason that George's words were so hurtful for her.

"He's such a bloody idiot," Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes, "you know he didn't mean it, not in the way it seemed, right?"

"I know," Lavender sniffled, nodding, "I know he probably meant it as a joke, but it really hurt! People were laughing at me and… I just ran."

"I probably would have too," Hermione nodded, squeezing Lavender's hand, "have you written to Ron? Or spoken to him since?"

"I don't want to cause any issues between him and George," Lavender muttered, shrugging, "it's not worth it."

"You should tell him what George said," Hermione told her and Lavender lifted her head, frowning, "Ron knows what George is like, Lavender, we all do. He'll probably have a go at him for being a prick, but then he'll move on from it. Please, Lavender, you and Ron are so great together, please don't let one thoughtless comment ruin what you have."

"Do you think we are?" Lavender asked shyly and Hermione snorted, nodding.

"Who else is going to put up with Ron's ridiculous eating habits while countering his temper, hmm?" She asked and Lavender shrugged, smiling slightly and Hermione smirked, "what was it you used to call him?"

"Please don't say It!" Lavender laughed and Hermione, still smirking, pretended to think.

"Oh, of course!" She laughed, grinning, "your won-won."

"You are a horrible human being," Lavender muttered, covering her blushing face with her hands, though when she dropped them into her lap, she was smiling slightly, "you think I should tell him?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded, rubbing her stomach as the baby shifted position, "he really does like you a lot, don't let George get in the way of whatever you two could be."

"Thank you, Hermione," Lavender smiled, leaning back in her chair, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the engagement ring Hermione was wearing, finally, "wait... You're engaged?!"

Hermione burst out laughing, rolling her eyes as she proceeded to update Lavender on all that had happened in the last year. Ron had told her some of It, of course, but Hermione wasn't surprised that he had missed out most of the important bits and enjoyed the plethora of reactions she got out of Lavender as she told her story. By the time they had properly caught up, the sun was beginning to set and the Alley had almost emptied without them even realising.

"I have to go and get Arty from the Burrow," Hermione sighed when she caught sight of the time, "do you swear you'll talk to Ron?"

"I will," Lavender agreed, "promise."

"Good," Hermione said, standing up as Lavender did and pulling her into a hug, "if you ever need to talk, just send an owl, ok? I know we've never really been close, but I'm here for you."

"The same for you," Lavender smiled as she pulled away, "congratulations on the baby and getting engaged, it's great to see you so happy."

"Thank you, Lavender," she grinned as she picked up her bag, "take care."