Chapter 22.
Ron flooed to the Potter mansion the next morning as promised. He was trying to tickle all 3
children at once. This was one of their many games.
'MUM! MUM! HELP! THE TICKLING MONSTER IS TRYING TO GET US! MUM
HELP!'
Ron was chasing them around the kitchen when his younger sister walked in with 3 other
children walking behind her. He raised his eyebrows at her, but she shrugged him off, 'Speak to
Harry.'
'Where is he?'
'Living room, usual place.'
Ron chuckled and went to find his best friend who was once again in the same chair Moony
had given him as a moving in present. He was nervous, even though he had already told him of
his daughter; it seemed strange now she was living with him and officially a Weasley.
'Harry, you got to come to the Bur –'
Ron stopped dead upon seeing the person he least wanted to see, excluding Malfoy.
'Hermione?'
He watched as she untangled herself from the arms of his brother-in-law, it felt like an eternity
for her to look up at him.
'Hello Ron.'
'What are you doing here – and when did you gain 3 extra kids?'
'Ron, sit down mate.'
He was too confused to argue and obeyed Harry and sat down.
'Those 3 other kids aren't mine.'
'They're mine.'
Ron turned to Hermione, she looked awful compared to the last time he had seen her, but well
going from 17 to 36 is rather a big change, he had just thought she wouldn't have changed so
much, she was almost a completely different person.
'Is it true?'
Now she looked confused. 'What?'
Ron took a deep breath, he didn't want to spell it out, he didn't want to make it real. He didn't
want to confront the fact that when their best friend needed them the most, they weren't there
for her, to protect her, to love her. The image of her in Harry's arms flooded his vision and he
suddenly wondered if she had never gone away, if she would be in Ginny's place, Ron certainly
thought so there had been something going on during 7th year.
'Isittrueyourhusbandbeatsyou?'
He said this very quickly, but Hermione understood. When he looked up he saw her silently
crying. He wanted to hate her, but he had grown up. He wanted to rant and rave, but he
needed to hear her side of the story.
Hermione stood up and walked to Ron who was watching her every move. She knelt in front of
him and began:
'When I found out I was pregnant, I was so scared, and I was barley 2 months out of
Hogwarts! I wanted to wait, until I was married, until I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of
my life with that person. I knew I wouldn't be able to love her, or give her anything a child
needs. I wouldn't go crawling back to my parents and I didn't want to burden you with this at
such a young age. I had to leave, at that point I never wanted you to find out, so I just told you
both I wanted to live as a muggle again after so long, and leave magic behind me for a few
months. But . . . with each passing week, each scan and maternity class, I started to think 'I can
do this.' I was slowing plucking up the curage to come and tell you.
Then I met Daniel and everything changed. He was 4 years above us, in Slytherin, but everyone
knew the golden trio. Thoughts to come back were suddenly gone as if wiped away; in its place
were trips to posh restaurants and the west end. He swept me off my feet, I felt free. He started
to brain wash me in a way. He told me he didn't want me to see you both again as he thought
you would be a bad influence on the baby, or bring Voldemort to our door. Then he was telling
me what I could or could not wear to please him. He controlled what I ate, when I ate, how
much I ate, everything. He told me it was all for the baby, and I believed him. Looking back, I
blame myself for not socialising more with other girls because I was so dependant on the both
of you being there, I'd been through so much with you I'd automatically thought that whatever
happened, whatever anyone did to me, you'd both always be there to protect me, just like I did
to you. But you weren't there to help me, to make me see who he really was, and it was my
entire fault, I didn't know what to do. I felt so lost without you both, even though it was my
fault, my world had always revolved around you both and then suddenly you weren't there so I
attached myself to the next available person. But it was the complete opposite to what I was
used to with you guys and there was nothing I could do about it, I was 6 months gone before I
really understood what was happening and it was too late, I was In no condition to be travelling
by magic and I couldn't drive, I had no way of contacting you. I caved in to his demands. He
convinced me to give up my baby. He was hateful towards me because I was pregnant. He
turned me against her, it was because of her I couldn't travel to you, to get out of the rut I had
thrown myself in. he told me I had lost my youth because of her, told me she would ruin the life
I had had before. So . . . I gave her up. I married him not long after. Then I was forbidden to
use magic. My wand and all my Hogwarts things were locked up in the attic. He had the key.
It was 2 years before I became pregnant again. It was then that the beatings started, but as I
got further into the pregnancy they stopped, but my self confidence was shattered, his only aim.
He forbad me to work, and when I said I wanted to contact you guys after Ben was born, he
told me he would torture him, then kill us both if I even thought about trying. So I didn't. After
he was born, the beatings started again, because Ben would cry, or start crawling, speaking or
walking and I wasn't stopping him, he was in the way, making too much noise, generally being a
pain that refused to go. He never hit Ben, always me. When I was pregnant with Amy, he hired
Clare. She was threatened with her life if she breathed a sound about what happened inside the
house. The beatings were the same as with Ben, and again with Jasper. My only confident was
Clare; she helped clean up the bruises and cuts I got from the beatings. As the children grew
up, the needed me more, I had to home school them, so they required my attention, so the
beatings got worse, daily at some points.
I was never allowed to eat with the family, only in the kitchen with Clare. She always got the
Daily Prophet for me. I kept up with your lives, but from afar. I became claustrophobic. I
hated the house, I cooked every meal with Clare, I did the house work with Clare, I played
with the children outside, I watched them ride broomsticks, which reminded me so much of the
past, of the young woman I had been, who was starting to crack and would soon break and
explode.
I never forgot my old life, not really; only when I was alone would I allow my mind to wonder,
others would say I had forgotten completely as if it had been from a past life hundreds of years
before. It was never the case, I never forgot my oldest daughter, my firstborn who I loved more
and more each day and missed greatly, who I thought was safe . . . well safer than with me.'
Hermione paused and as she had talked, she had moved away from Ron and was sitting loosing
herself in her memories in front of the fire. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped
her arms around them and carried on.
'When Dumbledore contacted Daniel telling him to send me to Hogwarts immediately I knew
something major had happened, something life changing. Call it mother's instinct or whatever. I
tried to keep up an image of not caring about what was happening in the outside world; Daniel
would have hurt the children otherwise. But inside I was desperate to find out what it was. I
was desperate to get out of the house full stop. I felt my old self coming back, the one who was
always looking for answers and calling out for 'adventure' to fill the time. I went and I was so
happy to be back. I was looking out for her; I knew she had to be there somewhere. I didn't
see her. It looked like there had been a Quidditch match as the Slytherins were as miserable as
usual. What Dumbledore had to say shocked me. He said she was in the hospital wing after
being attacked rapped and god knows what by Death Eaters. I panicked and fled. But I went
back. He went to get her. I couldn't keep still; I didn't want anything happening to her if she
came back into my life. When she saw me she called me mum. I couldn't let it feel right. I had
to act cold and heartless towards her. I could see the pain, the hurt, the anger all in her eyes, all
aimed at me. They may have been grey, she may have been short and looked like me, but I
knew she really looked like you Ron. Then I completely lost it.
I had told Daniel her father was dead. He resented your family, I can't remember why. He
couldn't find out you were her father! I told her she couldn't be part of my life. She said some
home truths and fled. I felt like I was dying. I wanted to run after her and tell her it would be ok
as she cried against my shoulders, I would comfort her and look after her. I made to run after
her, but the pain in my chest reminded me of the two broken ribs I had acquired that morning.
That reminded me he would kill her. I wouldn't let that happen. Dumbledore told me what had
happened since she was kidnapped. I drowned my sorrows in fire whiskey. I had seen her in
the arms of a red headed boy. I think it was Bill's son.
The next thing I know shed been reported missing after running away from the Burrow. I
thought you had been told about her. I can't remember what was going through my head. I
couldn't keep my food down, I couldn't rest. I floated around for 6 weeks, sick with worry. I
became ill and lost a lot of weight. I had to be force feed liquefied food for a few days.
When Ben and Clare came back and told me they had found her I fell to pieces in relief. Daniel
wasn't impressed when the reporters came round. Daniel was lovely but said Ben was too
young to be interviewed and they left. Ben was sent to his room. That was one of the worst
beatings ever.
It was in the paper the next day about her being found. That evening I was ordered to eat in the
dining room. The first time ever, more reporters were round. Another beating. The worst. As
Clare cleaned me up, I made up my mind; Hermione Granger was in control once again. The
letter I had received from Ginny was still in my pocket. I ordered everyone to pack while I
went to the attic and collected all my things. Daniel had long gone to the pub as usual. The next
morning I arrived here.'
Ron was frozen in shock and all 3 of them had tears falling down their faces. No-one noticed
the red headed girl and family behind them. The girl fell to her knees as the pieces all made
sense.
well there you go, my longest chapter ever! sorry it's taken me so long to update, but i wasnt allowed for a bit and also i have had my school prom this week and my exmas start next week so i am desperatly trying to revise. it wil take a while before the next chapter is up as i need to re writr the ending, but it is near and thank you to every one who has reviewed, it had been sooo helpful.
iblameteraspawn