Author's Note:

I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter series. The only character I own is Annika. If you have suggestions and whatnot.. don't be hesisatant to e-mail me about them.

Flashbacks or character's thoughts are in italics.

Evan-

Annika Chapter One

"Mommy!" The toddler jumped onto Hermione's bed. The three-year-old with bright red hair climbed onto Hermione back. "Mommy. Mommy up. Mommy up now, Mommy play."

Hermione got up, toting Annika at her waist. She set her down in the living room, and walked into the kitchen to make coffee.

"Harry come play?" Annika asked, waddling into the kitchen after her mother.

"Yes, Annika. Uncle Harry's coming today." Harry, thank Merlin for Harry. He helped Hermione raise Annika, from the very beginning. Hermione remembered the Harry's shock when she told him she was pregnant.

"Harry." Hermione said, her voice full of fear of what her best friend would think of her.

"Hermione, are you okay? Your face is awfully pale."

"Harry, I'm pregnant."

"You're what?"

"I'm going to have a baby, Harry."

"You can't do that by yourself! Do you know who the father is?"

"I believe so, yes." She wasn't going to tell him she was having Ron's child. He'd surely tell him, and she wasn't ready for that.

"Hermione, I am not letting you do this alone. I'm going to help you."

Ever since then, he's taken care of Annika when Hermione had to go into the Ministry at all hours of the night, or when Hermione was sick. Annika was playing with blocks Harry had bought her from a Muggle store while Hermione read The Daily Prophet in the kitchen. There was a loud CRACK! and she heard Annika squeal in delight. "Harry! Harry play!" The raven haired wizard ruffled her hair lovingly and walked to the kitchen.

"Ron's coming home." Harry said. Hermione dropped the cup of coffee, and the cup smashed into little pieces. The black liquid went everywhere.

"Coming home?" She asked, as she got out her wand and cleaned up the mess.

"Are you okay, Hermione?"

"When? I can't let him see Annika. Not yet." Harry gasped.

"Tomorrow. Annika.. She's Ron's, isn't she?" Hermione looked ashamed.

"Yes. I was afraid to tell him before he left for Auror Training. We had broken up by the time I found out. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was afraid you'd tell him. I was so afraid he'd want to stay with me."

"Why?"

"That would mean he would be throwing his life away."

"There's more to life than Ron being an Auror. He would have found something else."

"But he's wanted to be one for so long."

"So did I. But marrying Ginny, I don't regret. Deciding to forego it and stay with Ginny was the best decision I could have made. I like teaching at Hogwarts. I'm sure Ron would have stayed."

"I didn't want him to settle, Harry. He lived in his brothers' shadows for so long, and even in yours. This was something that could establish himself with. Move out of the shadows. I wanted him to be great." Harry pulled his friend into a hug.

"He would be a great father, you know that."

"I know, Harry. I know."

She dressed Annika in simple white dress, with little black Mary-Janes. She combed her hair, and styled it.

"You are so beautiful, Annika. Mommy's little angel." Hermione smiled at her daughter.

"Annika pretty! Annika Mommy's angel! Mommy angel too!" The toddler bounced excitedly.

Hermione dressed in a black pant-suit, one she wore many times when she had to work with Muggles.

Harry was on his way to pick Hermione and Annika up and take them to the Burrow. Ron had asked about Hermione, how she was doing. It broke Harry's heart not being able to tell him about his daughter. Harry knew he'd be furious, it'd been three years, and Hermione never told him.

"He asked about you, you know."

"He did?" Hermione asked, picking up the diaper bag and swinging it on her shoulder.

"Yeah. He misses you. I'm sure he'll love Annika. How could he not? She's so damn cute!" He cooed the child in his arms. She kissed his nose, "Annika thinks Harry is cute too!" She giggled.

"Now, Ron.. I don't want you to overwhelm Hermione, okay? She's had it hard the last few years since you left."

"Ginny, why won't you tell me what's going on with her?"

"You'll find out soon enough, okay? Just don't get upset at her, alright? Let her explain herself before you decide anything."

"What?"

"Just do it, okay, Ron? Please."

"Okay." Ron agreed, shifty uncomfortably on the couch in the living room of the Burrow. He still loved Hermione, he knew that. They had had such little contact in the last three years, him with Auror Training and her with work at the Ministry. Everyone around him, however, seemed to know something else about Hermione's hardships.

Lost in his reverie, he didn't notice Harry come out of the fireplace.

"Ron?" Harry said. Ron jumped.

"Oi! Harry, sorry mate. My mind was somewhere else there for a minute. Where's Hermione?" He asked eagerly.

"She's coming, she's got something she needs to get."

"She is coming, right?"

"Yes." Just as he said that, Hermione came out of the fireplace, followed closely by Annika.

"Hi, Ron." He was just as she remembered him. The same boy she fell in love with, only much leaner and filled out. This was her baby's father. Annika peaked around Hermione's legs, tugging on the leg of Harry's trousers.

"Harry?" She asked, as Harry picked her up.

"Ron," Hermione said quietly, "this is Annika."