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Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing I tell you! All the characters, places etc. belong to JKR.
*** HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
*** Ginny met Eva just a few days later. Eva had arranged for them to meet in a rather exclusive club just outside of Glasgow. She had been slightly intimidated by the place, as it was a known hang out for celebrities, but when she had told the man at the door her name, he had instantly ushered her inside and taken her to a sort of booth on the second floor of the club where Eva was waiting for her. The club was painted black, with chrome table and chairs. Neon lights flashed on the dance floor from which the latest music could be heard. The Club, for that was its name, was the ultimate in cool places for young witches and wizards. The second floor wasn't really a floor, more of a platform. From the booth the bouncer led her too Ginny had a clear view of the dance floor. She was pretty sure she could see Parvati Patil and Trisha McLean down there, dancing with a couple of very good looking Wizards. She was slightly more dressed up than normal, and was sipping on an exotic cocktail. "Hi, Ginny," she said brightly. "How are you?" "Uh, I'm just fine, thanks," Ginny replied, albeit a little uneasily. Eva grinned at her. "That's good. Right. Down to business. My agent quit about a week ago. He wants to spend more time with his family. His daughter's just about to give birth and he wants to devote his time to his grandchildren. I need an agent and I thought of you." "You're offering me a job?" Ginny asked in amazement. Eva nodded. "Do you want a job?" "You want me to be your agent?" "Stop babbling, Ginny. I want you to be my agent. Are you up for it?" Ginny thought carefully for a minute or so. She then nodded confidently. "You bet." "Good," Eva said, reaching across the table to shake Ginny's hand. "You're my new agent," she declared. Amazed that she suddenly had a job, Ginny shook her hand. A huge grin formed on her freckled face and she sat back in her seat. This was definitely a turning point in her life. The next few months at the Cottage were pretty uneventful. September turned into October, bringing the full effect of autumn with it, including the trees losing their leaves and floods in several parts of the country. Luckily the Cottage wasn't flooded, nor was any of the surrounding area. October also brought shorter days and longer nights. Halloween came and went, bringing in November. On November the 5th the occupants of the Cottage held a huge party to celebrate Bonfire Night, to which they invited their other friends and relatives. There was a magnificent fireworks display which has been organised by Harry, Ron and Seamus. The papers called the party one of the social events of the year, as the guests not only included Harry, Ron and Hermione, but the entire England Quidditch team, Harry's team mates from the Montrose Magpies and several other celebrities and Quidditch stars, including Calista Lovejoy, the world renowned romance novelist (AKA Eva Greenaway). This party was followed by the revelation on Harry and Hermione's marriage. Apparently one of Hermione's 'colleagues' had sneaked into the party and had heard Harry and Hermione discussing it. For days afterwards the papers had been full of it (including yet more predictions from supposed Seers). There were even rumours that Hermione was pregnant, though these rumours were quickly quashed by Harry and Hermione. Midway through November, the weather began to change again, becoming more winter-like and cold. In the morning, the garden of the Cottage would more often than not, be covered in frost. It was also about that time when Hermione began to get ill. "You mean she hasn't eaten anything?" Harry asked Ginny worriedly. Ginny nodded. They were stood outside of the door of Harry and Hermione's bedroom. "I took some breakfast in for her a few hours ago, but she didn't touch it. Actually, Harry, I don't think she's moved at all in the last few hours." Ginny bit her lip. "There's something wrong, I'm sure of it." Harry sighed miserably. "I'd better go and see if I can get her to come downstairs." He pushed open the door and walked over to the bed where Hermione lay, curled up slightly looking pale and drawn. He sat on the bed beside her and brushed a strand of hair from his wife's eyes. "Hermione, honey, what's wrong." She looked at him slowly. "I'm exhausted," she told him. "I also have a really bad backache and my head feels like I've got hammers pounding at it. It's all making me feel sick to my stomach." "Why don't you come downstairs?" Harry suggested. "No," she said, turning slightly to look at him. "If I move, I think I'll throw up." She gulped. "Actually, I think I am going to throw up," she said, sitting up suddenly. She practically ran from the bedroom. A second later Harry heard the bathroom door be slammed shut on the floor below. Harry was starting to feel a little freaked out by all of this now. Hermione really wasn't well. He couldn't help but notice that Ginny had strung up various healing crystals around the bed and one of her special candles was almost completely burned out on the bedside table. At Hogwarts Ginny had become very interested in medicinal magicks. He had been quite surprised when she hadn't become a doctor or something similar. Hermione came back upstairs a few minutes later. She collapsed back onto the bed with a groan. "I shouldn't have done that," she mumbled. "What? Collapsed onto the bed?" Hermione nodded. "It's making my head spin." Resting her head against the cool pillows, she asked, "Can you close the curtains. I think maybe some sleep will make me feel better." Harry nodded and closed the heavy drape, blocking out the sunlight. Now the only light in the room came from the small stub of candle which was burning on the table beside Hermione. "Is that better?" he asked, turning around. He smiled slightly. She had already fallen asleep. He walked quietly over to the bed and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before quietly leaving. Before he closed the door, he stole one last glance at her. She looked so peaceful as she slept, Harry thought. In the kitchen he spoke with Ginny and Ron. Ron was taking some time off work and was busy cooking lunch for them and Ginny was sat at the table going through some paperwork, and arranging various book signings for Eva. "How is she?" Ron asked, looking up from the soup that was bubbling away in a cauldron on the stove. "Sleeping," Harry informed them. "I don't think she's doing any better. The healing crystals don't seem to be doing anything. Are you sure they're not making her worse?" Ginny shook her head, dipping her quill in a pot of violet ink. "Nah. They don't make people ill. They cure them." "They've been up for three days and they've done nothing," pointed out Ron. "They're obviously taking their time," said Ginny, folding a piece of parchment in half. She put it in an envelope and beckoned her owl, Demeter, who was perching on a chair, over. She attached the envelope to Demeter's leg and the owl flew off out the window. "I'm going down to Diagon Alley in a minute. Do you want me to pop into the Apothecary and see if there's anything I can find?" "Would you?" Harry asked, slightly relieved. Ginny nodded. She screwed the lid back on her pot of ink and stood, picking her cloak off the back of the chair. She picked up a few files and said, "I'll go now. I have to drop these papers off at Flourish and Blotts. See you later." Ginny Disapparated with a pop, appearing a second later in Diagon Alley. The street was bustling with people. Fighting her way through the crowds of people ('Obviously deciding to start their Christmas shopping early this year,' thought Ginny with a pang of guilt. She was one of those people who waited until the last moment for her shopping) to Flourish and Blotts. She spoke briefly with the manager, finalising some details for a book signing that Eva was doing in two weeks and then headed to the Apothecary at the other end of Diagon Alley. As she opened the door, a small bell rang and Ginny was greeted with the smell of many different potions ingredients. If there was anything to get rid of Hermione's complaints, it would be in here. The Apothecary smelled musty and even slightly putrid, though Ginny had to admit that she like the smell. There was something... magical about it. A wizened old lady appeared behind the counter. She wore lurid orange robes (reminding Ginny slightly of Ron when he went to see the Cannons play) and had short, grey hair. She looked about eighty and was smiling happily. She was a little eerie, Ginny decided. "How may I help you, dear?" she asked kindly. Ginny looked up from the display of powdered mandrake which had caught her eye and smiled uneasily. "Um, my friend is ill. I'm looking for something that might cure her." The old lady nodded in an understanding fashion. "Of course. What are her symptoms?" Closing her eyes, Ginny tried to remember what exactly was wrong with Hermione. "She has backaches, headaches and fatigue." Then she added, "I think she's been sick a few times as well." To Ginny's utmost surprise, the old lady behind the counter chuckled. "If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't say your friend was ill at all." "You wouldn't?" said Ginny. "No, dearie: she's pregnant." A/N: Ooh - cliffhanger! Being mean is fun! Is Hermione pregnant, or is she just ill? Whatever the outcome, you'll have to read the next chapter to find out... Here's a thanks section for Chapter Nine:
Review, Flame, Whatever. silverphoenix |
Happily Ever After?
By: silvernatasha
***COMPLETED*** The sequel to 'So What Now?'. After seven years at Hogwarts the gang are ready for the real world, but is the real world ready for them?
Rated: Fiction K+ - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P., Hermione G. - Chapters: 21 - Words: 50,369 - Reviews: 458 - Favs: 74 - Follows: 9 - Updated: Oct 31, 2002 - Published: Mar 20, 2002 - Status: Complete - id: 669417
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Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten
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