If you guys are reading this, feel blessed. As much as I love this story I was thinking of quitting.
Disclaimer- I AM FED UP WITH DISCLAIMERS! ITS NOT MINE, BUT SUE ME IF YOU WANT TO!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WONT GET ANYTHING
Dedication-For the people who love this story. And for Majestic and CarmenEmilia. Much Love.
Chapter 7
*Well you know what they say.
Forgive and Forget,
Relive and Regret.
Forgive. Well that's a mighty big word
For such a small man
And I'm not sure I can.
Cause I don't even know now who I am
It's to soon for me to say forgive.*
~Forgive, Rebecca Lynn Howard~
*Lucky, you're a man that likes children,
That's an important thing
Lucky, I'm a woman with children
Small world isn't it...Funny isn't it...Small
And Funny….and Fine.*
~Small world, Gypsy~
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Some hallway inside Weasley manor, 3:15 pm
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Ron had stood there a long time after finding both Blancoeeb and Hermione gone. When he finally moved again it was in a daze. He managed to mail off his orders and finish his business for the day, but he seemed far removed from it all. Finally, around five or so he dropped into an overstuffed chair. Blancoeeb had not yet returned and the house was like it always was when Harry had gone to a game session. But where Ron had relished the silence before, after living in a house with eight other people at the least but, after only a few days of family life it now seem unbearable, mocking him. He missed the already dear sound or Rion's giggle and noisy feet, the quiet serious trusting companionship of Alex, and… Hermione.
Almost with out thinking he threw some shining green dust into the fire and mummered, almost sullenly, "Harry Potter"
Almost instantly Harry's torso appeared "Ron? What's the matter mate?"
"I messed up." Ron replied. "Big time. Hermione's left."
Harry just stared at him.
"Well? What should I do?" Demanded Ron.
Harry just rolled his eyes. "You go after her you idiot." And with that short statement Harry's head disappeared, with out so much as a pop as a goodbye.
Ron covered his head with his hands. "Don't get that look Harry." He muttered. "I hate that look. That look is nothing but trouble." Here he yelled at the now empty grate. "TROUBLE!" When this outburst yielded no response Ron sighed and arose from his chair to begin pacing aimlessly around his house. "Go after her."
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Parlor with Christmas tree, 7:00 pm
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Some how Ron found himself in the parlor that Hermione had worked so hard to decorate, gazing at the pile of presents she had made sure to buy. Presents she had bought. That was it. Since Harry Potter had caused the downfall of Lord Voldemort in there last year at Hogwarts, the Ministry had kept a close watch on large amounts of money being spent, to make sure that the small group of Dark Arts supporters that remained didn't start gaining enough currency to gain any sort of control. The department of mysteries, who worked closely with the Muggle Treasury Department, controlled this new monitoring job. If Hermione had gone and spent an unusually large amount of money on her presents, she could be traced.
Moments later Ron was on the phone. "Department of Mysteries please. (pause) What do you mean no one can talk to them? I need to talk to their treasury department." (Longer pause) "This is Ron Weasley." (Pause) "That's me. Owner of Quality Quidditch supplies and Harry Potter's friend." (Pause) well can I talk to my brother then? Percy Weasley." (Pause, in which Ron taps his foot, stands on his head, spins around in circles and begins sending bright orange bubbles out of his wand.) "Perce? I need you to find someone for me. You should be able to trace her on the new Treasury watch. (Pause) Oh who bloody cares?(muffled squawking noises can be heard coming from phone.) Thanks Percy."
When Ron finally got off the phone a few moments later it was with mixed emotions. Percy had finally agreed to look Hermione up for him, but it would take at least a day. He sighed, not knowing what to do with himself until Blancoeeb got back. Finally he went back in to his office to work, coming out in a little over an hour, to join Blancoeeb in a rich stew.
"Where is your lovely wife and children?" Blancoeeb asked pleasantly.
"Oh, Rion wasn't feeling well so Hermione took the kids to her mothers for a little while. She should be back soon."
Blancoeeb nodded thoughtfully, and the two gentlemen ate in silence for the rest of the meal.
"Would you like a lemon drop?" Blancoeeb asked Ron when the meal was finished and the dishes had been cleared. Ron took one and smiled. "I haven't eaten these since Dumbledore's funeral."
"Ah yes." Blancoeeb replied. "Albus Dumbledore. I met the fellow several times when he came over to America. Quite the Quadpot fan."
Ron's eyes widened a bit at this information.
"Well Ronnie boy!" Continued Blancoeeb. "I guess sooner or later we're going to have to start talking business, but tonight I'm rather tired."
Ron nodded. "You're not going to read tonight Sir?"
Blancoeeb made a big show of yawning and shook his head. "G'Night Ronnie boy."
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Master Bedroom, 10 pm
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Walking in to his bedroom without Hermione for the first time in several days Ron felt lost. He took a long and slightly sad look at his bed, then went into the dressing room and laid down on the floor.
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Hermione's apartment, 10 AM Wednesday (A\n I know, I skipped over Tuesday, but nothing happened on Tuesday.)
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Ron stood in the middle of an icy street in front of a small apartment building holding the receipt he had eventually used to find Hermione's house. As he stared at the smooth blue door the paper fell from his numb fingers and got caught under a decorative pot on Hermione's steps.
Ron walked up to Hermione's door with shaking legs. He knocked briskly on the door, and after a few minutes Hermione answered.
She was wearing the same clothing she had been wearing when she had left the manor on Tuesday, and there were bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. She stared at him hard for a moment before quiet suddenly slamming the door in his face.
Ron stood there looking at the again closed door, not sure of what to do now. Just as he was about
to leave he heard smaller feet approaching the door, and a moment later a pale looking Alex opened it. "Come in."
He showed Ron to a small living room in the middle of the Apartment. It was not very new looking, but was very clean with a well restored couch, (which, it appeared, had been slept on) and two armchairs. To his left he could see a small kitchenette, decorated with the same dark, creamy blue and beige decorating scheme, to his right there was a bathroom, and a hallway that appeared to lead to two bedrooms.
Ron sat down in one of the armchairs, Alex took the other. He looks so like Hermione. Ron thought.
"Mum might see you when Ri falls asleep." Alex told him solemnly. "You gotta talk to her though. I want us to be happy again."
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione's voice interrupted him. "Alex? Do we have company?"
"Yes Mummy." Replied the six year old.
"Is it Emma? She's supposed to come by."
Alex didn't answer, and Hermione came out of Rion's room. "You." She said coldly. "Who let you in." She did not expect an answer. "How did you find us?"
"Percy"
"Alex," she said, without taking her eyes off Ron. "Go to my room and color a picture please."
"But Mummy!"
"Now Alex."
Alex grudgingly left, and Hermione's eyes grew colder.
Ron fidgeted under her gaze. "How's Rion?" he whispered.
Hermione's shoulders slumped tiredly. "A little better." She whispered, the closest to tears Hermione had been in a long while. She sat heavily in the chair across from Ron. "He's sleeping again now. My poor baby. He hasn't been able to keep anything down." She took a deep breath that shuddered a bit. "I took him to the doctor yesterday. But they said to just let it run its course. He's so little though. And I'm worried about Alex. He's been awfully pale today. And he's had nightmares since we got back home."
Ron didn't say a word. He had a feeling that Hermione had forgotten she was talking to him.
"I shouldn't have moved him while he was so sick." Hermione continued.
A pause filled the room. Ron realized that Hermione was listening to the small sounds coming from the two bedrooms for any sign of a problem.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Ron said finally, his voice soft and his blue eyes ever so sincere.
Hermione seemed to be fighting an inner battle, so he continued. "I'm so sorry. My temper got the better of me. Again." He shook his head. "And I know that's no excuse. But it won't happen again. I miss you. And I miss the boys. I'd like to apologize to them as well." Ron felt he was babbling, so he paused, but after a moment when Hermione still didn't say anything, he picked up again.
"You're a great mother Hermione. Don't treat yourself like that."
Now Hermione spoke, but her voice was tight. "Stop Ron. I'm gonna cry. I don't cry. I don't have time to cry."
Almost forgetting that Hermione hated his guts, Ron rose to his feet walked over to her chair and held her. It seemed like the natural thing to do. And at that touch Hermione found herself allowed to cry. "Shhhh." Ron breathed into her hair. "Shhhh."
Hermione looked up at him through of big tear filled eyes. "When you yelled at Ri you reminded me of him. I promised I would never put us in that situation again. I had to get away." She shuddered involuntarily. "I stayed there six months even after the abuse started." She unknowingly rubbed at her neck and Ron caught a glimpse of a long scar. "He was still so sweet to the boys, and I wanted them to have a daddy. Alex adored him, though you probably wouldn't guess that now. Then one day I came home from the supermarket to find out Alex had broken something. He was four, and he's always been a little clumsy. So I walk in the door to find Alex cowering behind this big potted plant, (her tears increased here) our wedding present from his mother, a telescope in pieces on the floor. He had several contusions, most noticeably a black eye. I went right in there, got Rion out of his crib, and holding both of them apperated to the nearest shelter. Only my second bit of magic since my marriage, but it worked. We stayed on the Shelter for a while. I think I fell apart. If it hadn't been for Alex I don't know what I would have done. My little boy, so grown up. He was only four! Yet I relied on him." Hermione stopped talking, not so much because she was done as she couldn't get her words out from behind her tears.
Ron was stroking her hair by this time, still murmuring comfortingly. "Hermione, I still think you are a wonderful mother. Maybe Alex didn't have the perfect childhood. You're making up for it the best you can. I remember a little 11 year old witch, as grownup as you please. Being overly mature runs in your family."
"We'd only been at the shelter for a couple of months when he found us there. One of the attendants came to our room in the middle of the night and whispered that we had to leave. To go somewhere that I felt safe. So I apperated back to Diagon alley, rented a room in the leaky caldron and started looking in the paper for a job. Two weeks later I was an employee in the Polish and Presto room at QQS. Soon after that I found at my boss was you."
"And we know where it went from there." Ron whispered. "Did I mention I was sorry 'Mione?"
Hermione nodded, wiping her eyes, and rose to her feet. "I'm sorry as well. I don't know what came over me. I haven't had much sleep lately I guess. Stretched to the braking point and all that."
Another silence fell, broken by the sound of running feet and the slamming of a door. Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Alex." Hermione said, her voice full of motherly panic.
She went to her bedroom door and knocked softly. "Alex? Are you ok sweet heart?"
Alex's voice came back, a little muffled, a little teary, but absolute. "Yes Mummy."
Hermione looked like she wanted to press the matter, but couldn't because Rion's small voice began to scream for her. She looked hopelessly at Ron for a moment as she began to run for the other room. "I'll take care of Alex." Ron called to her back, once again in awe of everything Hermione had gone through.
He also knocked on the door, a bit harder than Hermione had. "Alex?"
There were more footsteps, and the door opened, ever so slightly. Alex's pale face peered out at him. "Did you talk to her?" He whispered. Ron nodded, using the opportunity to inch his way into the room. "Are we going back?" Alex asked him, sitting on the bed.
Ron shook his head slowly. "I don't know."
Alex had begun to look strange. "Are you OK?" Ron asked him.
Alex nodded slowly.
"You sure? Hermione says you've been having nightmares."
"I'm ok." Alex repeated, but he did not sound very convincing.
"Not sick or anything?" Ron probed, reaching for his wand and casting an antigerm spell on himself.
"No, I'm n-not sick." Just as he finished this statement he began to retch violently, and Ron did the only thing he could think of, which was summon a bucket and sit and wait till the fit had passed.
When he was finished Alex, crying and shaking, climbed into Ron's lap, trying to make himself as small as possible. "I want Mummy." Alex whimpered into Ron's shirt. Part of Ron wanted to pull away from the boy, in fear that he would be sick again, but he didn't. Instead he patted the boy's hair and sat there.
"Mummy'll be here soon I'm sure." Ron reassured him. Alex dared to lift his head a bit, and, apparently feeling a bit better, ventured to sit up.
"I thought you said you didn't like kids." Alex whispered.
"I thought you said you weren't sick." Countered Ron, just as softly.
Alex sighed. "I shouldn't trust you, but I do." He said finally. Ron looked at him a moment, taking in his pale gray green completion, and the furrow in his forehead. My that was a random statement. Thought Ron.
Or maybe not.
"Are you feeling better?" Ron asked him after a moment.
Alex nodded. "I'll be sick 'gain in a little while though." He sighed.
"And what makes you think that?" Ron asked him, concerned. Alex laid his head against Ron's shoulder and sighed again, looking troubled. "I don't know."
And Ron puzzled over that statement for a good half an hour, until Alex indeed did get sick again. Ron supposed he should have been a bit better prepared, but quiet suddenly Alex went from sitting with Ron, to throwing up all in his lap. "Eugh." Groaned both of them at the same time. Ron cleaned himself up quickly, trying not to think about the over all nastiness of the situation. He quickly turned Alex around, and held him till he was done, feeling his stomach turn over under his finger tips.
"Mummy?" Alex begged again, clutching at Ron.
"Hermione!" Ron called, trying not to move.
"I'm coming." Hermione called back, tiredly.
"Let's lay down till Mummy comes." Ron whispered to the boy, who nodded, and laid down on the bed, curling up in a ball and pulling Ron down next to him. When Hermione came in a few moments later she had to smile, despite the sickness that was filling her house. Ron and Alex were both on her bed, both fast asleep. "He can't be that bad then." She mummered, looking at Ron. Alex didn't trust many people. He had just gotten used to Neville.
She walked around her room, cleaning up the mess and tucked her son in kissing his hot forehead. He rolled over and moaned slightly, but thankfully didn't awaken. She was making her way back to the door when she head Ron calling her.
"Hermione. Come here. Relax. Take a nap or something. I'll listen for Rion."
Hermione, though doubtful, ended up giving in. She was out in a moment, and Ron smiled down at the two of them before walking into Rion's room.
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Rion's room 3pm
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He found that the three year old was awake, holding Delightful and staring at that picture on the wall. It was Hermione, Alex and a man, whom looked ever so vaguely familiar, but whom Rom couldn't place to save him.
"Mummy?" Rion asked softly when Ron walked into the room. When he saw Ron he tried to hide behind Delightful, his lip starting to tremble.
Ouch. Thought Ron. "Hey Ri." He said.
Rion ventured to look at him out of one eye.
"I'm really really sorry I yelled at you buddy." Ron told him.
"Reawly?"
"Yes."
Rion removed the dragon from his head.
"Are you feeling better?" Ron asked carefully
"Es! Betta."
Ron smiled. "Yay."
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Hermione's room, 3:45 pm
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After about a forty five minute nap, Hermione woke up, slowly opened her eyes and nearly jumped out of her skin. Alex was laying there staring at her, eyes open and obviously wide awake.
"Hey Alex."
"Mummy."
"How're you feeling sweetie?"
Alex frowned. "Icky."
"I'm sorry Alex. I wish it were me instead."
Alex didn't answer.
"Any more nightmares?" Hermione asked him gently, rubbing his stomach in soft circles.
"No new ones." Whispered Alex.
"What are they about baby? You can tell me."
"Daddy—Daddy comes back. And he takes you and Ri away Mummy." Alex's eyes filled with tears and a few spilled over. "I don't want you to go away Mummy. I love you." Hermione's heart broke for her oldest. His eyes were squeezed shut now, but he continued. "And he tries to take me too. But he can't get me. And I fall down. And Ron and the angel save me."
Hermione stared at him. "Ron?"
She quickly cuts off her question when Alex begins to gag again, still trying to talk.
"Calm down Alex. Relax. You'll be better soon."
Just after he'd stopped, still looking quite green and holding his stomach pitifully, Ron came in, holding some sort of brew."
"Rion's
alright." He told Hermione briefly. "He's
gone back to sleep anyway though. I imagine he needs to get his strength back
up."
He handed the brew, in a paper
cup to Alex. "Drink this. It'll help."
Alex took the cup in a shaking hand, but looked at it doubtfully and did not drink it.
"What is it?" Hermione asked Ron.
Ron looked at his feet. "It's a potion. Cures bugs like these. The doctors don't normally subscribe it though, cause it's…rather…expensive."
The backs of his ears turned bright red, and some part of Hermione found it quite amusing indeed that Ron seemed just as embarrassed about being rich as he had about being poor many years previous. "Go ahead." She said to Alex finally. "Drink it. It'll help."
Alex sipped the mixture, carefully at first, then with more enthusiasm. "It tastes like a chocolate frog!" He grinned finally. The affects of the potion seemed instantaneous, for now not only did Alex seem to feel better, he was actually quite hyper for him, and began bouncing slightly from his position on the bed.
"Good Stuff." Said Hermione finally, looking at Ron. Ron nodded slightly.
"Hermione…I was wondering…would you mind coming back now?"
Hermione looked at him. "Possibly."
"Hermione! What do I have to do?"
"Another thousand would be nice."
"Hermione!"
"I'm not kidding Ron. And the boys would have to agree to it as well."
"YES!" Alex declared venomentally. "Let's go."
Ron raised an eyebrow at Hermione, who went in to Alex and Rion's old room to ask Rion.
"Ri...wake up baby. Ri." Rion opened one eye tiredly.
"You wanna go back to Ron's house for a little while?"
Rion considered this prospect with deathly seriousness. "We can take picature?" He mumbled, gesturing childishly at the beloved photo on the wall.
Hermione studied the photograph with all seriousness. "I suppose so." She said finally, quickly casting a spell so that only Rion could see the picture, then handed the frame to him and picked him up.
They returned to Alex and Rion, who were waiting out in the hallway. "All right." Said Hermione finally. "It's only another week or so after all." Something in both the adults ached at those words, but neither showed it, and they walked slowly out of Hermione's house and back towards Ron's.
Just as the door shut behind them, with a kind of definite click, Hermione's phone rang, and the Answering charm she had cast on it picked up.
"Hey 'Mione. This is Emma. I hope you and the boys are doing better. I'm sorry I didn't get by today, I heard there might be some layoffs and QQS and I had to get some overtime in. I'll be over there tomorrow, defiantly. Bye!"
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Weasley Manor, 9:30 pm
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Over the past few hours, things had been quite nice in Weasley Manor. Blancoeeb had accepted their stories with no sign of doubt, only polite interest. The boys were both sleeping peacefully in there beds, Rion's picture hung on the wall directly outside his bed, and Alex had been asleep for about half an hour now with no sign of a nightmare.
Blancoeeb was once again reading in the library, meaning that Hermione and Ron were once again stuck in the same room.
"This is beginning to seem rather suspicious." Mused Hermione when they reached the bedroom. "I mean, what kind of man reads almost every single night?"
"Evidently him." Ron replied, "Miss. I borrowed a 34567 page book for a bit of light reading."
Hermione flushed ever so slightly, then burst out laughing at the site of the unslept in bed. "Ron, have you been sleeping in the dressing room even while I wasn't here?" Demanded Hermione.
Ron did not answer, infact he headed toward the dressing room with out a word. Even in the dim light of the bedroom however, you could tell the back of his ears were red.
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Weasley Manor, Parlor, 10 am
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It was a scene very reminiscent of a few days before. Alex had again begged for the twister board to be taken out, and Hermione was again popping popcorn. The only difference was, Rion, having gained all of his three yearold energy, (and possibly more, given Ron's chocolate frog potion) was more than willing to play with his brother, which left the two boys giggling and falling over the game board, while Blancoeeb looked on, his eyes sparkling and his shoulders shaking with repressed laughter. Ron was again in his office, but he came out towards the sound happiness. He stood there, watching the scene before him, which he thought looked like the best Christmas card photo ever for several minutes, before Alex glimpsed him as he made a magnificent fall, barely missing his brother.
"I WIN!" Giggled Rion
"Come play with us!" Called Alex, and Ron after a few minutes decided to accept the dare.
This time the boys and Blancoeeb insisted that Hermione play instead of them, and with in minutes Ron and Hermione were so pretzel like there faces were inches from one another.
"Right had red!" called Rion proudly, after some prompting from Alex and Blancoeeb.
Hermione looked around carefully. In order to manage this…she would have to lift her leg over Ron's head, the snake it under his arm. The sheer impossibleness of this task caused her to shake with laughter, and in trying to stay up she fell helplessly into Ron, causing them both to topple over with her landing on top of him. They stared at each other for a moment, then both flushing, looked quickly away.
"Yay!" called Rion. "Mummy won!"
Ron jumped up and started tickling him. "What'd you mean Mummy won!"
Rion giggled helplessly, wiggling, and just when Alex thought he was safe both Ron and Hermione turned on him.
"No!" shrieked Alex gleefully. "That tickles!!"
And so the parlor of Weasley manor was filled with family and laughter, and it didn't occur to any one that something might be amiss.
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Hermione's front steps, 10 am
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Emma rang the door bell yet again. "Hermione!" she called, "Hermione!"
When no one answered she began to walk slowly back down the stairs, but caught site of a small piece of paper. A receipt for a man's sweater…Perhaps Hermione had gone back to her husband for Christmas? They had been divorced over a year now…and a year was enough time for a man to get help. Nodding to herself, Emma quickly apperated to the address she remembered Hermione having mentioned her ex-husband lived. She couldn't wait to see the family.
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A\N-I hate this chapter. I need to rewrite the whole thing. I'll probably do it later, but a lot of important stuff happens in this chapter. Any thoughts? Let me know. Next chapter-Hermione hears about the business deal, QQS throws a Christmas Party, and Hermione's husband begins to hunt her down.
Click the button!
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