Disclaimer: I do not own any original Harry Potter characters. Sniff sniff.
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Nicole ***************************************************************** At one, Hermione made her way to Beachside Barbecue with little difficulty. Lavender showed up a few minutes after, dressed in her flying robes, broom in hand. She was pin from the sun, and even more tanned than she had been yesterday.
"Hey Herms. Sorry I'm a bit late." She said, sitting down.
"It's fine. I just got here. So, how was your flight?" Hermione asked.
"Brilliant. I just went out over the ocean for miles and miles. Really gorgeous. And so peaceful too." Lavender replied. The waiter came over and they ordered two hot dogs with beers.
"Sounds nice. Which broom do you have again?" Hermione asked. She really wasn't interested in flying at all any more, but felt she should attempt to show some interest.
"The Concorde. New one." Lavender said through a mouthful of hot dog.
"Yeah." Hermione said nonchalantly.
"So..?" Lavender said, having finished her food already.
"So what?" Hermione asked.
"How was Dean?" Hermione should have known. Lavender just had to know everything every time Hermione went anywhere with anyone.
"Oh, he was fine. Happy."
"And?"
"What do you mean, 'and'?"
"Are you meeting him again?" Lavender asked eagerly.
"I dunno. We didn't talk about it." Hermione responded, taking the final swig from her bottle.
"Is he married? Or taken?"
"He didn't say. I don't think so."
"That's good then. What did you talk about?"
"People from Hogwarts, mainly. And their children."
"Wow. Romantic." Lavender grinned. She always had guys at her feet, fawning over her and treating her like gold. She managed to turn even a conversation with a guy into some kind of date, then imply that it was nothing compared to what she was used to.
"It wasn't a date, Lav. Just two old friends catching up." Hermione insisted.
"Uh-huh. Sure. Who'd you talk about then?" Lavender asked unbelievingly.
""Malfoy, mostly."
"I see. Slimy, conniving, pre-final battle Malfoy or quiet, barely-there, model-student, what-the-hell-happened-to-him post-final battle Malfoy?"
"Present day, parental, super-depressed Malfoy."
"Oh yeah. You think he's suicidal?"
"It didn't occur to me. I doubt it. He would've done it before if he was going to." Hermione said, thinking hard. Lavender looked faintly disappointed that there would be no suicide for her to gossip about. Lavender tended to take serious subjects very lightly. It annoyed Hermione how she could talk so lightly about people taking their own lives.
"Lav? How come you never told me that Padma had a baby?" She asked. Lavender froze. Parvati Patel, Lavender's best friend in the entire world, had been killed in the final battle. Lavender had been so distraught that she pretended that it had never happened at all, and did her best to avoid Parvati's twin sister.
Lavender's cell phone rang, preventing her from answering Hermione's question. She answered it quickly, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
"Hello? Oh, hey Gin. Okay, sure. Here she is." Lavender passed the phone to Hermione.
"Ginny? Hi, what's up?" Hermione asked.
"Herms?" Ginny's voice was tearful.
"What is it? Did something happen? Are you okay?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"No, everyone's fine." Ginny replied, sobbing slightly.
"Then what is it?" Hermione enquired.
"It's stupid, really. I just. I just miss Harry so badly and I want someone to talk to." Ginny wailed. She hardly ever allowed herself to break down and cry. She definitely lashed out at people, but she hardly ever cried. She was a proud, strong person and it took something huge to bring her down.
"Ginny, are you at home? Stay right there, I'll come and see you." Hermione said firmly.
"Oh, but you're on holiday and I can't ruin it, I just want to talk, that's all-" Ginny tried to make out that she wasn't crying, but Hermione had her heart setting on getting to Ginny's as soon as possible.
"Shush. I'll be there in a second." She said, hanging up. She handed the phone back to Lavender.
"I'm going to Ginny's. Coming?" She asked. Lavender shook her head.
"No, I need a shower. Tell her hi from me." Lavender replied. Hermione nodded and disapparated.
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Ginny was seated at her kitchen table, her head in her arms. She looked up as Hermione apparated neatly into the chair opposite hers.
"Hi." She whispered, her eyes red and puffy.
"How are you?" Hermione asked, taking in Ginny's appearance. She was dressed neatly in jeans and a fitted t-shirt, which was covered in tearstains. Her eye makeup was smudged, and her hair was held back in a messy ponytail.
"I'm fine- oh god. Who am I kidding? I'm awful. Seamus is still not back and I can't stop thinking about Harry." Ginny wailed. Hermione got up dutifully and put the kettle on.
"Where's Jack?" she asked, noticing the little boy's absence.
"Asleep. I gave him a Sleeping Draught." Ginny sniffed. Hermione was astounded.
"You gave your son a.?" she asked. Sleeping Draughts were potentially lethal to anyone under that age of eight or nine. To give one to a three- year-old? That was just asking for trouble. Jack could become ill or even die. Ginny saw the look on Hermione's face and burst into more tears.
"I know! I'm a terrible mother. I don't deserve children-"
"No, Ginny, I didn't mean it like that." Hermione said, pouring the water out of the mug and adding a teabag. "Er, how much of the Potion did you give him?"
"A teaspoon." Ginny hiccupped. Hermione handed her the mug of tea. Luckily a teaspoon of the Draught wouldn't do much harm, just knock him out for a few hours. "Oh god. What was I thinking? Mum would kill me. Social services would take him away on the ground that I'm unfit to have children in my care-"
"Ginny, you're a great mother. Really." Hermione assured her friend.
"No I'm not! I can't do this. I need Harry and no-one understands." Ginny was more upset than Hermione had seen her in a year. "I mean, I do love Seamus but my heart still belongs to Harry." She continued. "But Harry's gone- and some days I go to the graveyard or the Memorial and my heart breaks all over again." She cried. Hermione just sat and listened. "Seamus has been gone for two days now. Is he ever coming back? Will I have to raise Jack and this baby all by myself? I hate it enough that Harry is never coming back. We'll never have that white wedding, the one we planned by the lake that June." Ginny was crying so hard that her lap was soaked with tears.
"Oh, Gin. You shouldn't be alone so much. I'll hang around until you're feeling better." Hermione offered, hugging her tearstained friend.
"Look, Herms, I already feel bad enough that I made you come away from your holiday-" Ginny began. Even when she was devastated beyond belief, Ginny was worried about other people.
"Don't be idiotic. You need someone, and I'm here. Now go find something dry to put on while I check on your son." Hermione replied. Ginny replied, abandoning the mug of tea and shuffling into her closet. After clearing it away, Hermione crossed the hall into Jack's room.
Jack had a small, blue bedroom with windows that looked out onto little park. The floor was covered in toys and picture books. Hermione tidied it up with a simple Tidying Charm.
Jack himself was lying lifeless on the tiny bed. Hermione checked his pulse and determined that he was deeply asleep but still alive. She tucked the rocket-ship covers over the red-haired miniature-Harry and gazed up at the four large wizarding photos that adorned one wall of the room.
One showed Harry and a heavily pregnant Ginny cuddled up by the lake, their favourite place. The second one was a huge family portrait, of all the Weasleys. Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Harry and baby Jack. The third photo depicted Hermione and Ginny playing with tiny Jack in the Griffindor common room, while Harry and Ron looked on in amusement. And the final photo, which took pride of place above all the others, was a close up of Harry. He was on his broomstick, in his Griffindor robes, smiling at something out of the photo. The sun was shining and the sky was blue behind him. Colin Creevey had given them all to Ginny after the battle, and they had been put up in Jack's room ever since.
A sound in the kitchen brought Hermione back to life. She looked once more at Jack before going back to Ginny, who had washed her face and changed into tracksuit bottoms and one of her favourite maternity t-shirts.
"Ok, Gin. What do you want to do? If you want to go out, we can call the babysitter for Jack. Or we could rent a movie, or order pizza. You could come to the resort for a while, if you like." Hermione suggested, trying to think of things that might cheer her friend up. Ginny shook her head.
"I know usually I want to forget about Harry, but this time I want to remember him." She said quietly. "Let's just talk about the good old times."
"Whatever you want." Hermione agreed.
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Ok. I like this chapter. My head hurts after writing it all. Soon I will be able to update loads more, since I'll be getting my own laptop! I am SO psyched! I know tons of people won't think it a big deal, but I cannot tell you how fully sick I am of having to share with my sister. And by the way I ain't posting the next chapter until I have at least 15 reviews. 20 would be nice. I know, bribery is awful but pleeeeeeeeeeeease? I love reviews!!!!!
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Nicole ***************************************************************** At one, Hermione made her way to Beachside Barbecue with little difficulty. Lavender showed up a few minutes after, dressed in her flying robes, broom in hand. She was pin from the sun, and even more tanned than she had been yesterday.
"Hey Herms. Sorry I'm a bit late." She said, sitting down.
"It's fine. I just got here. So, how was your flight?" Hermione asked.
"Brilliant. I just went out over the ocean for miles and miles. Really gorgeous. And so peaceful too." Lavender replied. The waiter came over and they ordered two hot dogs with beers.
"Sounds nice. Which broom do you have again?" Hermione asked. She really wasn't interested in flying at all any more, but felt she should attempt to show some interest.
"The Concorde. New one." Lavender said through a mouthful of hot dog.
"Yeah." Hermione said nonchalantly.
"So..?" Lavender said, having finished her food already.
"So what?" Hermione asked.
"How was Dean?" Hermione should have known. Lavender just had to know everything every time Hermione went anywhere with anyone.
"Oh, he was fine. Happy."
"And?"
"What do you mean, 'and'?"
"Are you meeting him again?" Lavender asked eagerly.
"I dunno. We didn't talk about it." Hermione responded, taking the final swig from her bottle.
"Is he married? Or taken?"
"He didn't say. I don't think so."
"That's good then. What did you talk about?"
"People from Hogwarts, mainly. And their children."
"Wow. Romantic." Lavender grinned. She always had guys at her feet, fawning over her and treating her like gold. She managed to turn even a conversation with a guy into some kind of date, then imply that it was nothing compared to what she was used to.
"It wasn't a date, Lav. Just two old friends catching up." Hermione insisted.
"Uh-huh. Sure. Who'd you talk about then?" Lavender asked unbelievingly.
""Malfoy, mostly."
"I see. Slimy, conniving, pre-final battle Malfoy or quiet, barely-there, model-student, what-the-hell-happened-to-him post-final battle Malfoy?"
"Present day, parental, super-depressed Malfoy."
"Oh yeah. You think he's suicidal?"
"It didn't occur to me. I doubt it. He would've done it before if he was going to." Hermione said, thinking hard. Lavender looked faintly disappointed that there would be no suicide for her to gossip about. Lavender tended to take serious subjects very lightly. It annoyed Hermione how she could talk so lightly about people taking their own lives.
"Lav? How come you never told me that Padma had a baby?" She asked. Lavender froze. Parvati Patel, Lavender's best friend in the entire world, had been killed in the final battle. Lavender had been so distraught that she pretended that it had never happened at all, and did her best to avoid Parvati's twin sister.
Lavender's cell phone rang, preventing her from answering Hermione's question. She answered it quickly, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
"Hello? Oh, hey Gin. Okay, sure. Here she is." Lavender passed the phone to Hermione.
"Ginny? Hi, what's up?" Hermione asked.
"Herms?" Ginny's voice was tearful.
"What is it? Did something happen? Are you okay?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"No, everyone's fine." Ginny replied, sobbing slightly.
"Then what is it?" Hermione enquired.
"It's stupid, really. I just. I just miss Harry so badly and I want someone to talk to." Ginny wailed. She hardly ever allowed herself to break down and cry. She definitely lashed out at people, but she hardly ever cried. She was a proud, strong person and it took something huge to bring her down.
"Ginny, are you at home? Stay right there, I'll come and see you." Hermione said firmly.
"Oh, but you're on holiday and I can't ruin it, I just want to talk, that's all-" Ginny tried to make out that she wasn't crying, but Hermione had her heart setting on getting to Ginny's as soon as possible.
"Shush. I'll be there in a second." She said, hanging up. She handed the phone back to Lavender.
"I'm going to Ginny's. Coming?" She asked. Lavender shook her head.
"No, I need a shower. Tell her hi from me." Lavender replied. Hermione nodded and disapparated.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Ginny was seated at her kitchen table, her head in her arms. She looked up as Hermione apparated neatly into the chair opposite hers.
"Hi." She whispered, her eyes red and puffy.
"How are you?" Hermione asked, taking in Ginny's appearance. She was dressed neatly in jeans and a fitted t-shirt, which was covered in tearstains. Her eye makeup was smudged, and her hair was held back in a messy ponytail.
"I'm fine- oh god. Who am I kidding? I'm awful. Seamus is still not back and I can't stop thinking about Harry." Ginny wailed. Hermione got up dutifully and put the kettle on.
"Where's Jack?" she asked, noticing the little boy's absence.
"Asleep. I gave him a Sleeping Draught." Ginny sniffed. Hermione was astounded.
"You gave your son a.?" she asked. Sleeping Draughts were potentially lethal to anyone under that age of eight or nine. To give one to a three- year-old? That was just asking for trouble. Jack could become ill or even die. Ginny saw the look on Hermione's face and burst into more tears.
"I know! I'm a terrible mother. I don't deserve children-"
"No, Ginny, I didn't mean it like that." Hermione said, pouring the water out of the mug and adding a teabag. "Er, how much of the Potion did you give him?"
"A teaspoon." Ginny hiccupped. Hermione handed her the mug of tea. Luckily a teaspoon of the Draught wouldn't do much harm, just knock him out for a few hours. "Oh god. What was I thinking? Mum would kill me. Social services would take him away on the ground that I'm unfit to have children in my care-"
"Ginny, you're a great mother. Really." Hermione assured her friend.
"No I'm not! I can't do this. I need Harry and no-one understands." Ginny was more upset than Hermione had seen her in a year. "I mean, I do love Seamus but my heart still belongs to Harry." She continued. "But Harry's gone- and some days I go to the graveyard or the Memorial and my heart breaks all over again." She cried. Hermione just sat and listened. "Seamus has been gone for two days now. Is he ever coming back? Will I have to raise Jack and this baby all by myself? I hate it enough that Harry is never coming back. We'll never have that white wedding, the one we planned by the lake that June." Ginny was crying so hard that her lap was soaked with tears.
"Oh, Gin. You shouldn't be alone so much. I'll hang around until you're feeling better." Hermione offered, hugging her tearstained friend.
"Look, Herms, I already feel bad enough that I made you come away from your holiday-" Ginny began. Even when she was devastated beyond belief, Ginny was worried about other people.
"Don't be idiotic. You need someone, and I'm here. Now go find something dry to put on while I check on your son." Hermione replied. Ginny replied, abandoning the mug of tea and shuffling into her closet. After clearing it away, Hermione crossed the hall into Jack's room.
Jack had a small, blue bedroom with windows that looked out onto little park. The floor was covered in toys and picture books. Hermione tidied it up with a simple Tidying Charm.
Jack himself was lying lifeless on the tiny bed. Hermione checked his pulse and determined that he was deeply asleep but still alive. She tucked the rocket-ship covers over the red-haired miniature-Harry and gazed up at the four large wizarding photos that adorned one wall of the room.
One showed Harry and a heavily pregnant Ginny cuddled up by the lake, their favourite place. The second one was a huge family portrait, of all the Weasleys. Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Harry and baby Jack. The third photo depicted Hermione and Ginny playing with tiny Jack in the Griffindor common room, while Harry and Ron looked on in amusement. And the final photo, which took pride of place above all the others, was a close up of Harry. He was on his broomstick, in his Griffindor robes, smiling at something out of the photo. The sun was shining and the sky was blue behind him. Colin Creevey had given them all to Ginny after the battle, and they had been put up in Jack's room ever since.
A sound in the kitchen brought Hermione back to life. She looked once more at Jack before going back to Ginny, who had washed her face and changed into tracksuit bottoms and one of her favourite maternity t-shirts.
"Ok, Gin. What do you want to do? If you want to go out, we can call the babysitter for Jack. Or we could rent a movie, or order pizza. You could come to the resort for a while, if you like." Hermione suggested, trying to think of things that might cheer her friend up. Ginny shook her head.
"I know usually I want to forget about Harry, but this time I want to remember him." She said quietly. "Let's just talk about the good old times."
"Whatever you want." Hermione agreed.
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Ok. I like this chapter. My head hurts after writing it all. Soon I will be able to update loads more, since I'll be getting my own laptop! I am SO psyched! I know tons of people won't think it a big deal, but I cannot tell you how fully sick I am of having to share with my sister. And by the way I ain't posting the next chapter until I have at least 15 reviews. 20 would be nice. I know, bribery is awful but pleeeeeeeeeeeease? I love reviews!!!!!