Chapter 12
"How about this one Hermione" said Ginny as her hand glided over the soft white fabric of a baby blanket.
"I like it. It is beautiful" Hermione said happily. "So has Harry gotten used to the idea that you are having a girl"
Giggling Ginny said"Yeah, I think so. When we get home I'm sure he will be covered in the many shades of pin paint he insisted on buying to paint the nursery. They are horrible, but he was so cute, I let him. I'll change it later, and blame it on my hormones or something. This"
"Oh no, not that! If Harry is insistent on surrounding her with pink we can't make her suffer with lace to." Hermione said laughing.
The two women went shopping weekly. At first, it had been Ginny's way of trying to keep Hermione's mind off the search for Ron. It worked and the weekly shopping trip quickly had become a source of joy in both of their lives.
"Ginny, I like these" Hermione said holding up some simple yellow gingham curtains"It will take away from all the pink in the room."
"They're perfect. You seem so happy today Hermione, why" Ginny asked as she went to the cashier to pay for the curtains.
"You promise you won't call me crazy and take me to St. Mungo's to be admitted"
"It must have to do with Ron. Yes, I promise, but tell me over lunch, I know a baby that needs feeding" replied Ginny as she finished paying for her purchase and rubbed her slightly rounded belly.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Ron sat on the third step his head still in his hands. He heard the clock from their living room chiming the time, noon. "Where the hell are you" Ron screamed to the empty house.
He wanted to tell her he was back first, wanted her to know before anyone else. She deserved to know first. But Ron also knew he had to tell the ministry so they could get to Lestrange and his cronies before they woke up and tried to come and find Ron. Sighing he stood and walked to the front room fireplace, took a handful of floo powder and went to alert the ministry.
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"No, no desserts, just coffee thank you. Now, Hermione, we have had our lunch, are you going to tell me why you are so happy and what it has to do with Ron"
"Yes. Well, oh thank you" she said taking a sip of the freshly poured coffee. She watched as the waitress walked away and turned back to Ginny. "It all started last night when I was out on my walk. I started out earlier than I usually do..."
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Ron quickly walked through the hallway at the ministry; he was on a mission to get to the office of the Head Auror as quickly as he could so he could get back home to be there when Hermione returned. He knocked on the door and entered when permission was granted.
"Ronald Weasley, is that really you? It can't be, we thought you were dead." a shocked Kinsley Shackbolt said as he stumbled back into his chair.
"Hi, Kinsley. Yes, it is really me. I came here to let you know where you can find Crusitux Lestrange and his fellow death eaters. Just promise me one thing though."
"Anything within reason Ron."
"Tell only the Aurors you need to; don't tell Harry or anyone else that doesn't need to know. I need to be sure I am the one to tell Hermione I'm back. She deserves to be told by me. She's waited far too long not to be."
"Ok, Ron. It's al deal. Now, where can I find Lestrange"
Ron smiled and handed him a piece of parchment which held all the information he needed.
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"...and then when I woke up this morning my hand was completely healed. It was as if nothing had happened to it, not so much as a scar left. And Ginny, I talked to his heart and he to mine. It was so strange, so intense. He's going to come back to me. I know he will."
