First of all, I'd like to thank all my reviewers - I'm glad you liked the beginning of my fic... well, I'll try to update every few days, but I can't promise with homework and exams coming up...
Disclaimer: as always, I own nothing...
Chapter 2
Harry had already expected to see Hermione at the graveyard. After all it was Ron's birthday - and he also knew that she had something very important to tell Ron.
"Hermione?"
Hermione turned around, surprised to hear the familiar voice of the closest friend she now had left. This thought always pained her, she had not only lost her lover, but also one of her best friends, and she knew that no one would ever be able to fill up the empty space Ron had left in her heart. But of course she was happy to see Harry.
The two of them had spent a lot of time together lately, most of the time talking about their school days, reminding themselves of the fun they had together, in the attempt to bring back a little of the cheerfulness in their lifes. Both had the feeling that, with Ron gone forever, they were the more depending on the others mutual help and support. So, this was why Harry was the only person who already knew about Hermione's little secret. She had told him not to tell anyone about it, not even the Weasleys.
"Oh.... Harry. How long have you been standing there?" Hermione gave Harry a quick peck on the cheek and turned back to Ron's grave. The tombstone was very plain, with an inscription on it reading:
beloved child, brother and friend
"....and father, Ron... Can you hear me, Ron?? You are going to be a father ...." Hermione spoke in a barely audible wisper, her voice sounded strange and when Harry placed his hand gently on her shoulder, he could feel that she was shaking with the effort of suppression her sobs. Tears were streaming down her face again.
It hurt Harry in the heart to see Hermione like this.
"No....no, Hermione. Please stop crying." Harry tried comforting her, but although he had seen her crying a lot in the last few weeks, he still couldn't bare watching her face with all those tears running down her cheeks. He felt awkwardly helpless when this happened, and never knew what to say. What are you supposed to tell a girl who has just lost her boyfriend and was sobbing into her robes? Harry had the feeling that he would never know the answer to this question.
Luckily, Hermione quickly composed herself again.
"I'm really sorry, Harry. I...I sometimes just...I often have the feeling that I am falling into pieces, Harry...I don't know how I can go on without Ron....I would...if it wasn't for the baby... I think I would just..." Hermione sighed heavily, "I feel like I'm not the same person anymore - without Ron..."
"I know what you mean," Harry interrupted her, "but we have to go on. We have to live our lives. Ron would be very unhappy, if he could see you like this, you know?"
Hermione nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Harry thought hard about a way to distract her mind from those dark feelings. Checking his watch, he said "Look, it's getting late already, we should go, the Weasleys are awaiting us."
From the scared look in Hermiones eyes, he could immediately see, that this was probably not the right thing to say to calm her down.
"Hmm.... well, you go. It's okay, I wanna stay here with Ron a little longer." Hermione wouldn't look at him.
"What is wrong, Hermione?"
"Nothing....really, I just want to be with Ron... I'm really fine, I already sent an owl to Mrs. Weasley to tell her that I'm not coming. Well... you should just tell her I don't feel well, okay? Please?"
"You want me to tell the Weasleys that you are ill? Why do you want me to lie to them? Tell me what's wrong with you."
"They wouldn't want to have me there anyways..."
Harry was utterly confused, Hermione had always been so fond of the Weasley family, and they had been equally fond of her - even before she became Ron's girlfriend. He watched Hermione biting her lip nervously, and found that she looked very young at that moment, very young and vulnerable - how could anyone not be fond of her anyways??
"What am I doing here?", Harry thought to himself, he was shocked about his own thoughts, "she is Ron's girlfriend." He shook his head to rid himself of this strange motion he felt.
"Of course they want you there. Why do you think they wouldn't?" was what he said out loud to Hermione, who still wore that pained expression.
And suddenly Harry seemed to understand what troubled her. Molly and Arthur Weasley had invited Hermione and himself to join them today for a dinner with the whole family. It was Ron's birthday, and they wanted the whole family to gather around the table to commemorate their youngest son. But it would also be the first time since the funeral that Harry and Hermione met Ron's parents. He had lost a good friend, but Molly and Arthur Weasley had lost their son. It must have been a terrible blow to them. Hermione just didn't know how to face them...
"Oh, Hermione. I know what you think, but Mr. and Mrs Weasley really want you to come. And they know that you are really sad and that you grieve for Ron. They won't blame you..."
"I know they won't blame me. They are too nice to blame me.... But....but, even if they don't, I still can't forgive myself...It was my fault, Harry. It was my fault, that Ron died."
End of chapter 2
so, here you go, the second chapter is up!!! Again, I hope you enjoyed reading the fic as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I know this one is again ending just as the story gets interesting (*winks at lord of the potters*), but I promise there is more coming soon!! In the next chapter you are going to hear how Ron died - and you will have to decide if it really is Hermione's fault...
Please review, so I feel more motivated to keep on writing ;-)
No, seriously I really want to know how you like the fic and how I can improve it.
