Keeping Babies:
"I'd Be Honoured"
An Outtake
By Kyizi
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, but the story they are used in, is
Rating: PG
Summary: Just a short out take from "Keeping Babies" – Lavender's response to what Hermione did for her.
This takes place right after Harry and Ginny leave the common room for their walk
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Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron spluttered, not quite sure whether or not she'd be needed to restrain him from running after Harry and Ginny. She smiled down at the child in her arms and couldn't help the pang in her chest as she wished that it were Ron's son, even if it wasn't for real.
"Hermione, can I have a word?"
Hermione turned to face Lavender and smiled. "Of course." She subconsciously handed her 'son' to Ron, telling herself it was due to the fact that George was preoccupied with his 'niece' and followed the girl to the other end of the common room.
"I…I just wanted to thank you."
Hermione smiled. "It's okay. It was Ginny who worked it out. That…I mean, that…"
"That I can't have children?" Hermione nodded, unsure what to say next and Lavender smiled. "But is was you that did, well, what you did. You could have left me up there, I mean I've never been particularly nice to you."
"No one deserves what happened to you, Lavender, but to have it flaunted in front of the entire senior school was horrible. If I could at least help you save face in front of the Slytherins, then all the better." Hermione smiled, in what she hoped was a reassuring way. "Us Gryffindors stick together, right?"
"Right." Lavender sighed. "But I want you to know…"
"I think I do know, Lavender. What you're trying to say, I mean, I'd never presume to…"
"It's okay, I know." Lavender smiled. "Parvati was the same, she tried to understand, but I don't really think anyone can…not unless they've had to go through it themselves. That's why I hope that no one here will ever understand how I feel."
Hermione tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she listened to Lavender. The girl was trying to keep herself together and, in Hermione's opinion, doing very well. She doubted she'd be able to do the same in Lavender's position.
"It's an awful thing, Hermione, and what you did…well, I don't think I could appreciate it more if you'd done it for real. Thank you."
Hermione felt a tear making its way down her cheek. "You're welcome."
"Look, Hermione, I know that we've never really been friends, and maybe we never will be great friends, but I respect you…a lot and what you did…well…" she paused as Neville approached behind them.
Hermione smiled and looked at the little girl he was holding. "She's lovely."
"I know," Lavender smiled, "and…well, we know that this isn't real, but…we would…we wondered if you…if you would be Hermione's Godmother."
"Hermione's?" she asked, not bothering to stop her tears this time.
Lavender nodded. "It seemed appropriate."
"I'd be honoured." She smiled and did something she never thought she would; she hugged Lavender tightly. Pulling back, she wiped her eyes and smiled. "Now, do I get to hold my Goddaughter?"
They laughed as Neville carefully handed over the child and Hermione looked down at the girl in her arms and smiled. Although the child would have biologically been hers and Neville's, she didn't think of it as such. This was Neville and Lavender's 'child' and her Goddaughter. She chuckled as the girl grabbed onto her finger and squeezed. Real or not, she had the feeling that being a Godmother was going to be a beautiful thing.
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Okay, it's sappy and short, but I felt that something needed to be said and I didn't want to include it in the main story as that focuses mainly on Harry and Ginny. Hope you liked it all the same :)
Disclaimer: I don't pretend to know what it would feel like to be in Lavender's position, but the thought brings tears to my eyes, and I can only hope that I did it justice.
Feedback would be appreciated.
