A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I hope this chapter was worth it. Please r/r
1 Chapter 10: 4th May 2007
For the longest time the hospital wing was filled with sighs of relief. It seemed as if everything would be all right again. Ginny was lying in her bed sleeping peaceful, while Hermione was hugging her daughter. Harry and Ron were sitting between the beds talking quietly, trying not to become too loud.
When Ginny had finally fallen asleep again, Harry had told their friends the whole story of their trip, and he had to admit they were the perfect audience, always ah-ing and oh-ing to the exact right moments. Sometimes, most family members decided to go home for a few hours of sleep. Professor Dumbledore had given Ron and Harry the permission to stay with their wives before he had left for his own chambers.
"But Harry," Hermione asked still curiously. "Did you find anything out about Wardena? Anything we didn't know by now? Maybe you have just forgotten to tell us?"
Harry shook his head 'no' in frustration. "Ginny and I had planned to find out more. In fact Ginny didn't want to leave before we had cleared a bit more of the mystery, but everything happened way too fast. We had no chance." His hand caressed Ginny's face. She was, - although definitely weakened by all events, - still the most wonderful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
He just hoped that Ginny wouldn't take it too hard that the time- turner didn't work correctly. It was already for him a big emotional shock, but Ginny was the mother. He sighed heavily, glancing over to the sleeping figure of his son. He could only hope that Joshua wasn't traumatised for life. When he heard a soft giggle from Hermione's bed, he turned around.
"So you two," Harry stated, glad to have some distraction. "Have you decided on a name by now?" Hermione smiled proudly down, at the little girl in her arms.
"In fact: yes, we have," she answered tenderly caressing the soft red hair of her girl. She looked at Ron, asking him silently to speak.
"We decided on Wardena Elizabeth Weasley," he said, while he watched his family in pure amazement.
"That's a wonderful name for her," Harry answered, while he smiled at his best friends. He remembered this special feeling all to well: totally happy and at the same time scared to death about the life of infant. He could remember how proud he felt when he first saw Ginny holding their son. It was the luckiest moment in his young life.
Hours passed and the sun started to rise again. By now, only Harry was still awake, stroking through Ginny's hair, hoping that she was sleeping peacefully.
"Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey looked shocked when she entered the room. "Why are you not sleeping like everybody else?" She pointed at the last empty bed.
"I'm really not a bit tired," Harry answered stubbornly. He wouldn't go to bed before, he hadn't figured out how to tell Ginny. The last days where for him exhausting too, but he had reached a point, by now that made sleeping impossible. Poppy looked at if she would argue more, when Ginny stirred. Harry looked pleadingly up to the nurse, begging her, to leave them alone. To his surprise, the nurse took the hint and turned around without questions.
"Hey," Ginny's weak voice filled the air around them.
"Good morning," Harry whispered while brining his face down to his beautiful wife.
"Have you slept well?" he asked, placing soft kisses, on her face. When Ginny giggled instead of answering, he stopped curiously. His eyes met hers' and Harry wondered for a second, how her eyes could be that deep and warming. Just looking into those pools made him feel secure and at the same time lost in eternity.
"What?" he snapped himself out of his trance. "Don't I get my answer?" he teased, wanting suddenly nothing more than seeing her blush because of him.
"Well, sorry Harry, but you woke me up as if you are feeling guilty…and since I don't see any reason, why you should feel guilty…well it was just fun- " Ginny stopped in mid- sentence when she saw Harry's eyes darken, and his smile fading.
"Harry? Tell me: What is wrong?" Ginny's hand reached up to his face, caressing his skin lovingly. Ginny's voice sounded alarmed, and her eyes searched him frantically.
"Well, the Time- Turner," Harry didn't want to tell her yet, but there was no other way. "The Time- Turner didn't bring us back correctly."
"But, where? Or when?…" Ginny's hand gripped his for support. "Is everything okay with everybody? Or are we in a complete other period than they? Harry tell me…Oh my God…Joshua," she started crying, her whole body shaking furiously. Harry couldn't bear to watch her like that. In seconds, he was sitting on the bed, hugging her tightly.
"Gin, shhhh everything will be fine…" he tried to sound calm, while his arms caressed her back, very gently afraid that he would hurt her with a single careless touch. "Everybody is fine…" Ginny looked up searchingly, her eyes still puffy, as if she wanted to ask 'what is it then?'
Harry wanted to answer that when Wardena started to cry. Obviously, the little girl had no intention to listen to her uncle. Startled from the cries, another person woke up: Joshua.
"Mummy? Daddy?" the voice of the little boy was demanding.
Ginny looked confused. Wardena was still crying, probably wanted to be feed. Hermione, had just managed to free her breast, and Ginny seemed to realize something. Her head turned into Joshua's direction, and Harry knew that it was time to show Ginny their son. He got up from her bed and hurried over to Joshua.
The little boy reached with his tiny arms after his father, smiling sweetly up at the grown- up. And somehow Harry's fears left: Ginny would handle the lost months of Joshua's childhood much better than he could have imagined. He stroked through Joshua's hair. The little boy shook his head and pointed with his little hands into Ginny's direction. Harry started to smile. Those two was ready for meeting. Slowly he turned around, unsure of what to say.
When he had fully turned around to Ginny, she let out a small cry.
"Josh, " she opened her arms, reaching for their son.
"Hey, I thought we are not calling Joshua any nicknames," Harry teased, eyes twinkling.
"Oh, shut up Harry and give me our son. NOW," she said laughing. As soon as the little child was sitting in her lap, she hugged and kissed him, with tears in her eyes. Joshua seemed not to mind a bit, according to his broad smile. Harry was watching the two, feeling tears welling up in his own eyes. His family was together again. Ginny suddenly looked up, and took his arm, drawing him down to them.
"I love you both," Ginny whispered against his neck, still hugging Joshua close.
Only a sob from the next bed let them break apart.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Ginny asked while turning around.
"I'm just so happy," she started to sob even harder, and Ron hugged her carefully. He smiled satisfied at his sister and Harry.
"Oh, I see," the other witch answered, while she started to laugh. In that moment Wardena started to cry again.
"Letd me," Joshua said, fighting his way out of Ginny's arms and out of the bed. He ran over to Hermione and Ron. The little boy looked up to Ron expectantly. Ron looked a bit unsure over at Hermione, but when she just smiled, he took the little boy up, and sat him in the bed, right next to Hermione.
Joshua just sat there for a second, watching the crying child fascinated, before he bent down, and gave her a short kiss on her cheek. A second later, Wardena stopped crying. She looked up into the brown eyes of her cousin, and he just smiled back.
"Well, it seems as if all Weasley women have a soft spot for Potters," Ron teased his sister.
"Would me useless, if those Potters wouldn't like us red- heads that much," Ginny answered, smiling at the two children.
"Harry, I think Joshua wants a sister," she added as an afterthought. When he didn't answer, she turned a bit and had to bite her tongue in order not to laugh. Harry had fallen asleep, while hugging her.
"I think somebody, is very tired here." Joshua shook his head violently protesting at this, and the grown-ups started laughing again.
*
A few days later, Professor Dumbledore did invite everybody to his office. He had let them known that he had news about Wardena McGilbert. So it was no surprise that everybody did follow his invitation. Soon the Headmaster announced that a change of rooms would be in order.
Minutes later the Table of Gryffindor in the Great Hall was full with former students of all Houses, and Professor Dumbledore, as well as a few others of the teachers were amongst them.
" Once again, I want to thank you for coming," Dumbledore started to speak. "Ever since Harry and Ginny have returned the other day, I was wondering what had happened to Wardena McGilbert, just like most of you. And I was surprised that I soon found an answer. Surely, I am just at the start of my studies and I can't tell you Wardena's biography, but we have a start." He stopped for a second, his eyes wandering over everybody.
"The biggest surprise is that Wardena herself, saved information about her. She has done a rather complicate charm, to tell us a bit of the circumstances that leaded to the events of the year 1607."
The crowd started to whisper. Everybody seemed confused and somehow shocked.
"Well, let me explain: Shortly before she died, Wardena had saved an illusion of her ten year old self. Just like Tom Riddle had done with his diary. Wardena, or the illusion of Wardena, knows everything that happened after Harry and Ginny left. She also knows the reasons, why everything happened. The only problem is that she won't tell everything, and she does not answer every question. But I wanted to share with you the bit of information that we already managed to translate. I hope that it'll answer a few of your questions. Now I guess Wardena should tell you the rest." Professor Dumbledore seated himself next to Molly Weasley, before he whispered something under his breath.
Hermione looked actually a bit frightened. She held her baby close, and it was clear that she was thankful that Ron had laid his arm around her. Her breathing was a bit unsteady, while she caressed her little girl. Hermione was watching the others close. They didn't look a bit more confident than what she felt. The fingers of her right hand were touching Ron's thigh, and she was glad for the contact to him. He would be strong for them both.
Ginny was sitting next to Harry, her head was leaned on his shoulder. She wasn't sure, how she would react when Wardena would stand in front of her again. She shivered instinctively. She had to admit that she was glad that Charlie's children had taken Joshua with them, when they decided to play a bit at the Grounds of Hogwarts. She didn't want Joshua to hear whatever Wardena would tell them. Not now that he actually could understand what was going on, and got connections. Ginny was also glad to have her family and friends close. She didn't want to face the whole situation alone. Her heart was beating fast, when smoke was starting to thicken in front of them. She caught her breathe, when suddenly the small figure of Wardena stood in the middle of the room. What would she tell them?
"I know pretty well that my life would have been over at the age of ten, without the help of you. Don't ask, why I do, just accept the fact…I want to let you know that I had a beautiful life. I visited Hogwarts, and did learn a lot for life there. However, I don't want to tell you, what exactly happened in all those years. Who knows, you or your children, might even read about me once…Just try, not to believe everything," suddenly Wardena sighed heavily.
"Well about my 'father'…I would like to tell you that he was a good man, loving and caring, or that he was at least sorry…but the truth is: He wasn't…even when he died, he was sure that I was the biggest mistake of his life… Maybe, you would like to know, why father reported us: well, he was a man who loved money more than everything. And when the money of my mother was not enough anymore, he started to search for a new wife. And he had found her… But now, he had had to get us out of the way. When mother and I would have died, all the money that my grandfather had given to mother, would have been my father's. His new wife would have accepted John and me, but she had told him that he too, had to bring money into the relationship. Well and so mother and I had to die, since mother had made sure that if anything would happen to her, I would get her money." Wardena looked sorry. Her little fists were shaking, and it almost looked as if she wanted to cry at these.
"About mother: When she found out that I REALLY was a witch, she did almost run away and left me behind. Obviously her love for me was strong, but not unquestioned. But don't worry, in the end, she knew that she was safer with me, and so she stayed."
Wardena didn't say one more word after that, and Dumbledore told them that he had to work a bit longer at the translation, so that she actually would understand their question. Seconds later, Wardena's illusion was gone again.
The room was still awkward silent. Nobody did know what to say or to do. Wardena had obviously made an impression on every single witch and wizard in the room.
It was Percy Weasley, who spoke up first. He was sitting next to his parents, when he stood up with a final sigh.
"Well, I can tell you that I'm very glad that you returned safe," he nodded in Ginny and Harry's direction. "While you were gone, I was very worried about you two. I didn't know what to do, with my feelings of guilt, but now that you have returned safe," he made a funny noise, and most people in the room, raised an eyebrow, wondering what Percy wanted to say next.
"Well, now that you returned safe, I'm sure everybody will agree with me when I say that all my decisions were correct. You know the saying: End good, all is good…" he couldn't say anything more. Most of the males in the room got up, ready to punch him, but one woman was faster.
Molly Weasley slapped him, while she looked very angry up at her son.
"Percy Weasley, say that again, and I'll make sure that you visit Fred and George's shop alone, without your children! This was your sister and her husband, you are talking about!! It was YOUR damn JOB to protect them in giving them proper work- material!!" Molly Weasley seemed to explode any second. By now, Percy looked younger than anyone could remember.
"Uhm, sorry?" he suggested.
"SORRY? You surely should feel sorry," Molly wanted to continue, but Arthur Weasley laid an arm around her shoulder.
" I really think that you have made your point clear. He'll surely remember it. And if not, we'll make sure that he won't forget it too fast." Arthur started to shake with laughter, and soon enough, he was joined by Molly and the others in the room.
*
It was already late, when they finally had arrived home. Harry had brought Joshua to bed, hoping that the little boy would be too exhausted for anything else but sleep. But it had seemed as if his son was perfectly awake. Harry had already started to wonder if he would ever see his own bed again, when Ginny entered Joshua's room.
"Hey, aren't you going to bed tonight?" she asked, looking questioning at their son, who was just grinning at his mum. Harry looked pleadingly up. He was dead-tired and just wished for time to rest.
"Hmm, let's see what we can do, shall we?" Ginny asked further, while starting to laugh at Harry's expression. Joshua got up to his tiny feet and ran up to Ginny.
"Okay, my sweetheart: You could take a bath, or you could watch me while I work a bit on a few papers? Or surely it would be fun…" Joshua looked more and more horrified, when Ginny went on with her list of things, they could do. After a few more minutes, the little boy turned around, with a small noise, actually sounding annoyed and went straight to bed. Seconds later, he said something that sounded like 'Good night' before he drifted off to sleep.
Harry looked amazed. "How did you know?" he asked, wondering how she had done this.
"Well, I have six brothers," Ginny whispered while closing the door behind her. "But the most important thing is probably that I asked Hermione, what they told him every night, just yesterday." She finished, just before she started to run, Harry very close on her heels.
They both felt asleep, shortly afterwards: Both grinning from ear to ear, both feeling safe in each other's arms, and both looking with hope into their future…
A/N: That was the last official chapter of Hermione's Baby. However there will be an Epilogue, IF you want one. Many thanks to everybody who were helping me through this year. This story, was everything else then easy, and it was more than once that I wished that I never had started this story.
At this point I have to thank a very good friend of me: Birgit. Without her, this story idea, would be forgotten by now. She spent many hours with me, talking about plot bunnies for that story and talked with me through the facts of witch hunting.
The next thank you goes to all those wonderful people, who listened to me, and read chapters more than once, just to give me advice. Thank you SOOO much.
Now last but not least: Thanks to all those wonderful people who reviewed:
Danielle: Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it, and I'm looking forward to hear your opinion of this chapter/ the Epilogue and the Sequel or Prequel….whatever I'll call it in the end. (lol)
wronski feint: Glad you like it. Thank you
Angel: Thank you.
Leesie778: I know I was slow again. But I hope you don't mind too much.
CW: Thanks for reading the whole story and always giving feedback.
Yolanda: Thank you very much for your review, which made me smile very broadly. Molly's statement was also one of mine favourite's.
Moony Lover: Here is more. Thank you, and hope you liked this chapter as well.
La2ur2a: Thank you…I know that three month are not exactly quick, well I got a bit distracted.
Now I'm almost at the end: If you'd like an Epilogue, let me know. Otherwise there won't be one. And last but not least: I have opened a Yahoo group for this story. Since I plan to write another story, based on this "universe", and I started to think that I want to be able to give more detailed answers to your questions. On the Yahoo group, there will also be posted the "Family Tree of Hermione Granger". Everybody who wants to join is very welcomed:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WardenaMcGilbert/?yguid=81600191
If you have any questions, feel free to email me: Carrie01@gmx.at
Disclaimer: All characters from the HP universe belong to JKR. I don't own them. The only persons who belong to me are: Joshua, Wardena Elizabeth, and the McGilberts.
Please: Leave a review.
1 Chapter 10: 4th May 2007
For the longest time the hospital wing was filled with sighs of relief. It seemed as if everything would be all right again. Ginny was lying in her bed sleeping peaceful, while Hermione was hugging her daughter. Harry and Ron were sitting between the beds talking quietly, trying not to become too loud.
When Ginny had finally fallen asleep again, Harry had told their friends the whole story of their trip, and he had to admit they were the perfect audience, always ah-ing and oh-ing to the exact right moments. Sometimes, most family members decided to go home for a few hours of sleep. Professor Dumbledore had given Ron and Harry the permission to stay with their wives before he had left for his own chambers.
"But Harry," Hermione asked still curiously. "Did you find anything out about Wardena? Anything we didn't know by now? Maybe you have just forgotten to tell us?"
Harry shook his head 'no' in frustration. "Ginny and I had planned to find out more. In fact Ginny didn't want to leave before we had cleared a bit more of the mystery, but everything happened way too fast. We had no chance." His hand caressed Ginny's face. She was, - although definitely weakened by all events, - still the most wonderful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
He just hoped that Ginny wouldn't take it too hard that the time- turner didn't work correctly. It was already for him a big emotional shock, but Ginny was the mother. He sighed heavily, glancing over to the sleeping figure of his son. He could only hope that Joshua wasn't traumatised for life. When he heard a soft giggle from Hermione's bed, he turned around.
"So you two," Harry stated, glad to have some distraction. "Have you decided on a name by now?" Hermione smiled proudly down, at the little girl in her arms.
"In fact: yes, we have," she answered tenderly caressing the soft red hair of her girl. She looked at Ron, asking him silently to speak.
"We decided on Wardena Elizabeth Weasley," he said, while he watched his family in pure amazement.
"That's a wonderful name for her," Harry answered, while he smiled at his best friends. He remembered this special feeling all to well: totally happy and at the same time scared to death about the life of infant. He could remember how proud he felt when he first saw Ginny holding their son. It was the luckiest moment in his young life.
Hours passed and the sun started to rise again. By now, only Harry was still awake, stroking through Ginny's hair, hoping that she was sleeping peacefully.
"Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey looked shocked when she entered the room. "Why are you not sleeping like everybody else?" She pointed at the last empty bed.
"I'm really not a bit tired," Harry answered stubbornly. He wouldn't go to bed before, he hadn't figured out how to tell Ginny. The last days where for him exhausting too, but he had reached a point, by now that made sleeping impossible. Poppy looked at if she would argue more, when Ginny stirred. Harry looked pleadingly up to the nurse, begging her, to leave them alone. To his surprise, the nurse took the hint and turned around without questions.
"Hey," Ginny's weak voice filled the air around them.
"Good morning," Harry whispered while brining his face down to his beautiful wife.
"Have you slept well?" he asked, placing soft kisses, on her face. When Ginny giggled instead of answering, he stopped curiously. His eyes met hers' and Harry wondered for a second, how her eyes could be that deep and warming. Just looking into those pools made him feel secure and at the same time lost in eternity.
"What?" he snapped himself out of his trance. "Don't I get my answer?" he teased, wanting suddenly nothing more than seeing her blush because of him.
"Well, sorry Harry, but you woke me up as if you are feeling guilty…and since I don't see any reason, why you should feel guilty…well it was just fun- " Ginny stopped in mid- sentence when she saw Harry's eyes darken, and his smile fading.
"Harry? Tell me: What is wrong?" Ginny's hand reached up to his face, caressing his skin lovingly. Ginny's voice sounded alarmed, and her eyes searched him frantically.
"Well, the Time- Turner," Harry didn't want to tell her yet, but there was no other way. "The Time- Turner didn't bring us back correctly."
"But, where? Or when?…" Ginny's hand gripped his for support. "Is everything okay with everybody? Or are we in a complete other period than they? Harry tell me…Oh my God…Joshua," she started crying, her whole body shaking furiously. Harry couldn't bear to watch her like that. In seconds, he was sitting on the bed, hugging her tightly.
"Gin, shhhh everything will be fine…" he tried to sound calm, while his arms caressed her back, very gently afraid that he would hurt her with a single careless touch. "Everybody is fine…" Ginny looked up searchingly, her eyes still puffy, as if she wanted to ask 'what is it then?'
Harry wanted to answer that when Wardena started to cry. Obviously, the little girl had no intention to listen to her uncle. Startled from the cries, another person woke up: Joshua.
"Mummy? Daddy?" the voice of the little boy was demanding.
Ginny looked confused. Wardena was still crying, probably wanted to be feed. Hermione, had just managed to free her breast, and Ginny seemed to realize something. Her head turned into Joshua's direction, and Harry knew that it was time to show Ginny their son. He got up from her bed and hurried over to Joshua.
The little boy reached with his tiny arms after his father, smiling sweetly up at the grown- up. And somehow Harry's fears left: Ginny would handle the lost months of Joshua's childhood much better than he could have imagined. He stroked through Joshua's hair. The little boy shook his head and pointed with his little hands into Ginny's direction. Harry started to smile. Those two was ready for meeting. Slowly he turned around, unsure of what to say.
When he had fully turned around to Ginny, she let out a small cry.
"Josh, " she opened her arms, reaching for their son.
"Hey, I thought we are not calling Joshua any nicknames," Harry teased, eyes twinkling.
"Oh, shut up Harry and give me our son. NOW," she said laughing. As soon as the little child was sitting in her lap, she hugged and kissed him, with tears in her eyes. Joshua seemed not to mind a bit, according to his broad smile. Harry was watching the two, feeling tears welling up in his own eyes. His family was together again. Ginny suddenly looked up, and took his arm, drawing him down to them.
"I love you both," Ginny whispered against his neck, still hugging Joshua close.
Only a sob from the next bed let them break apart.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Ginny asked while turning around.
"I'm just so happy," she started to sob even harder, and Ron hugged her carefully. He smiled satisfied at his sister and Harry.
"Oh, I see," the other witch answered, while she started to laugh. In that moment Wardena started to cry again.
"Letd me," Joshua said, fighting his way out of Ginny's arms and out of the bed. He ran over to Hermione and Ron. The little boy looked up to Ron expectantly. Ron looked a bit unsure over at Hermione, but when she just smiled, he took the little boy up, and sat him in the bed, right next to Hermione.
Joshua just sat there for a second, watching the crying child fascinated, before he bent down, and gave her a short kiss on her cheek. A second later, Wardena stopped crying. She looked up into the brown eyes of her cousin, and he just smiled back.
"Well, it seems as if all Weasley women have a soft spot for Potters," Ron teased his sister.
"Would me useless, if those Potters wouldn't like us red- heads that much," Ginny answered, smiling at the two children.
"Harry, I think Joshua wants a sister," she added as an afterthought. When he didn't answer, she turned a bit and had to bite her tongue in order not to laugh. Harry had fallen asleep, while hugging her.
"I think somebody, is very tired here." Joshua shook his head violently protesting at this, and the grown-ups started laughing again.
*
A few days later, Professor Dumbledore did invite everybody to his office. He had let them known that he had news about Wardena McGilbert. So it was no surprise that everybody did follow his invitation. Soon the Headmaster announced that a change of rooms would be in order.
Minutes later the Table of Gryffindor in the Great Hall was full with former students of all Houses, and Professor Dumbledore, as well as a few others of the teachers were amongst them.
" Once again, I want to thank you for coming," Dumbledore started to speak. "Ever since Harry and Ginny have returned the other day, I was wondering what had happened to Wardena McGilbert, just like most of you. And I was surprised that I soon found an answer. Surely, I am just at the start of my studies and I can't tell you Wardena's biography, but we have a start." He stopped for a second, his eyes wandering over everybody.
"The biggest surprise is that Wardena herself, saved information about her. She has done a rather complicate charm, to tell us a bit of the circumstances that leaded to the events of the year 1607."
The crowd started to whisper. Everybody seemed confused and somehow shocked.
"Well, let me explain: Shortly before she died, Wardena had saved an illusion of her ten year old self. Just like Tom Riddle had done with his diary. Wardena, or the illusion of Wardena, knows everything that happened after Harry and Ginny left. She also knows the reasons, why everything happened. The only problem is that she won't tell everything, and she does not answer every question. But I wanted to share with you the bit of information that we already managed to translate. I hope that it'll answer a few of your questions. Now I guess Wardena should tell you the rest." Professor Dumbledore seated himself next to Molly Weasley, before he whispered something under his breath.
Hermione looked actually a bit frightened. She held her baby close, and it was clear that she was thankful that Ron had laid his arm around her. Her breathing was a bit unsteady, while she caressed her little girl. Hermione was watching the others close. They didn't look a bit more confident than what she felt. The fingers of her right hand were touching Ron's thigh, and she was glad for the contact to him. He would be strong for them both.
Ginny was sitting next to Harry, her head was leaned on his shoulder. She wasn't sure, how she would react when Wardena would stand in front of her again. She shivered instinctively. She had to admit that she was glad that Charlie's children had taken Joshua with them, when they decided to play a bit at the Grounds of Hogwarts. She didn't want Joshua to hear whatever Wardena would tell them. Not now that he actually could understand what was going on, and got connections. Ginny was also glad to have her family and friends close. She didn't want to face the whole situation alone. Her heart was beating fast, when smoke was starting to thicken in front of them. She caught her breathe, when suddenly the small figure of Wardena stood in the middle of the room. What would she tell them?
"I know pretty well that my life would have been over at the age of ten, without the help of you. Don't ask, why I do, just accept the fact…I want to let you know that I had a beautiful life. I visited Hogwarts, and did learn a lot for life there. However, I don't want to tell you, what exactly happened in all those years. Who knows, you or your children, might even read about me once…Just try, not to believe everything," suddenly Wardena sighed heavily.
"Well about my 'father'…I would like to tell you that he was a good man, loving and caring, or that he was at least sorry…but the truth is: He wasn't…even when he died, he was sure that I was the biggest mistake of his life… Maybe, you would like to know, why father reported us: well, he was a man who loved money more than everything. And when the money of my mother was not enough anymore, he started to search for a new wife. And he had found her… But now, he had had to get us out of the way. When mother and I would have died, all the money that my grandfather had given to mother, would have been my father's. His new wife would have accepted John and me, but she had told him that he too, had to bring money into the relationship. Well and so mother and I had to die, since mother had made sure that if anything would happen to her, I would get her money." Wardena looked sorry. Her little fists were shaking, and it almost looked as if she wanted to cry at these.
"About mother: When she found out that I REALLY was a witch, she did almost run away and left me behind. Obviously her love for me was strong, but not unquestioned. But don't worry, in the end, she knew that she was safer with me, and so she stayed."
Wardena didn't say one more word after that, and Dumbledore told them that he had to work a bit longer at the translation, so that she actually would understand their question. Seconds later, Wardena's illusion was gone again.
The room was still awkward silent. Nobody did know what to say or to do. Wardena had obviously made an impression on every single witch and wizard in the room.
It was Percy Weasley, who spoke up first. He was sitting next to his parents, when he stood up with a final sigh.
"Well, I can tell you that I'm very glad that you returned safe," he nodded in Ginny and Harry's direction. "While you were gone, I was very worried about you two. I didn't know what to do, with my feelings of guilt, but now that you have returned safe," he made a funny noise, and most people in the room, raised an eyebrow, wondering what Percy wanted to say next.
"Well, now that you returned safe, I'm sure everybody will agree with me when I say that all my decisions were correct. You know the saying: End good, all is good…" he couldn't say anything more. Most of the males in the room got up, ready to punch him, but one woman was faster.
Molly Weasley slapped him, while she looked very angry up at her son.
"Percy Weasley, say that again, and I'll make sure that you visit Fred and George's shop alone, without your children! This was your sister and her husband, you are talking about!! It was YOUR damn JOB to protect them in giving them proper work- material!!" Molly Weasley seemed to explode any second. By now, Percy looked younger than anyone could remember.
"Uhm, sorry?" he suggested.
"SORRY? You surely should feel sorry," Molly wanted to continue, but Arthur Weasley laid an arm around her shoulder.
" I really think that you have made your point clear. He'll surely remember it. And if not, we'll make sure that he won't forget it too fast." Arthur started to shake with laughter, and soon enough, he was joined by Molly and the others in the room.
*
It was already late, when they finally had arrived home. Harry had brought Joshua to bed, hoping that the little boy would be too exhausted for anything else but sleep. But it had seemed as if his son was perfectly awake. Harry had already started to wonder if he would ever see his own bed again, when Ginny entered Joshua's room.
"Hey, aren't you going to bed tonight?" she asked, looking questioning at their son, who was just grinning at his mum. Harry looked pleadingly up. He was dead-tired and just wished for time to rest.
"Hmm, let's see what we can do, shall we?" Ginny asked further, while starting to laugh at Harry's expression. Joshua got up to his tiny feet and ran up to Ginny.
"Okay, my sweetheart: You could take a bath, or you could watch me while I work a bit on a few papers? Or surely it would be fun…" Joshua looked more and more horrified, when Ginny went on with her list of things, they could do. After a few more minutes, the little boy turned around, with a small noise, actually sounding annoyed and went straight to bed. Seconds later, he said something that sounded like 'Good night' before he drifted off to sleep.
Harry looked amazed. "How did you know?" he asked, wondering how she had done this.
"Well, I have six brothers," Ginny whispered while closing the door behind her. "But the most important thing is probably that I asked Hermione, what they told him every night, just yesterday." She finished, just before she started to run, Harry very close on her heels.
They both felt asleep, shortly afterwards: Both grinning from ear to ear, both feeling safe in each other's arms, and both looking with hope into their future…
A/N: That was the last official chapter of Hermione's Baby. However there will be an Epilogue, IF you want one. Many thanks to everybody who were helping me through this year. This story, was everything else then easy, and it was more than once that I wished that I never had started this story.
At this point I have to thank a very good friend of me: Birgit. Without her, this story idea, would be forgotten by now. She spent many hours with me, talking about plot bunnies for that story and talked with me through the facts of witch hunting.
The next thank you goes to all those wonderful people, who listened to me, and read chapters more than once, just to give me advice. Thank you SOOO much.
Now last but not least: Thanks to all those wonderful people who reviewed:
Danielle: Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it, and I'm looking forward to hear your opinion of this chapter/ the Epilogue and the Sequel or Prequel….whatever I'll call it in the end. (lol)
wronski feint: Glad you like it. Thank you
Angel: Thank you.
Leesie778: I know I was slow again. But I hope you don't mind too much.
CW: Thanks for reading the whole story and always giving feedback.
Yolanda: Thank you very much for your review, which made me smile very broadly. Molly's statement was also one of mine favourite's.
Moony Lover: Here is more. Thank you, and hope you liked this chapter as well.
La2ur2a: Thank you…I know that three month are not exactly quick, well I got a bit distracted.
Now I'm almost at the end: If you'd like an Epilogue, let me know. Otherwise there won't be one. And last but not least: I have opened a Yahoo group for this story. Since I plan to write another story, based on this "universe", and I started to think that I want to be able to give more detailed answers to your questions. On the Yahoo group, there will also be posted the "Family Tree of Hermione Granger". Everybody who wants to join is very welcomed:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WardenaMcGilbert/?yguid=81600191
If you have any questions, feel free to email me: Carrie01@gmx.at
Disclaimer: All characters from the HP universe belong to JKR. I don't own them. The only persons who belong to me are: Joshua, Wardena Elizabeth, and the McGilberts.
Please: Leave a review.