A/N: Okay, my editing thing is still broken, so please don't complain about this chapter. Thank you all SO much for your WONDERFUL reviews. I love you all very much, thank you very, very, very much!
Okay, most of you got yesterday's question of the day right. Today's is going to hopefully have very diverse answers, but we'll get to that later.
I AM GOING ON VACATION THIS WEEKEND. This means you won't get an update every day starting again untill probably Tuesday. I am very sorry about that. However, I may also have to change it to two or three updates a week, we'll see. Just bear with me, okay? I'm a very busy girl.
On with the show...
Chapter Three: England, Part One
Hermione was awake long before Sophia the next morning, preparing herself for the day ahead. She knew that it would be a long one, but she also knew that she could make it fun.
Hopefully, since they had decided just to go to Hogsmeade, they wouldn't run into very many Weasley's. Especially not Ron... Hermione didn't know if she was ready quite yet. Okay, she was ready, she was just scared.
They had planned to go shopping at Hogsmeade, and then to visit Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Hermione had a few things to discuss with him, concerning both her and Sophia.
After that, Hermione made a very important decision. She couldn't keep hiding forever. She would go and talk to Ginny, come clean, and then get some good old fashioned Weasley advise. Ginny had been famous for it at school, Hermione hoped she still had it.
"MOMMY! Are you ready yet?" Sophia Granger came bursting out of her room, fully clothed and ready to go, almost scaring Hermione out of her wits. She didn't even know Sophia was awake yet. Just like me, she thought, then smiled.
"Okay, squirt. Let's hit the Wizarding World. Think they'll be able to handle us?" asked Hermione, grinning.
"Mm-Hm!" said Sophia in reply.
Hermione walked over to the fire place holding a bag she had found in her trunk. It had a very scarce amount of floo powder in it, just enough to get Hermione and Sophia to London and back.
"Okay, Soph, now all you do is throw this into the fire, step in, and yell, "The Three Broomsticks!" You have to say it very clearly though."
"Got it," her eager daughter said.
"When we get there, I will take you to a bookshop called Flourish and Blotts. You will love it there. I got my favorite book there when I was younger. It's called Hogwarts, A History. I think when we go, I'll buy you a copy. Anyways, let's get going. I'll go first."
Hermione stepped up to the fire and yelled "The Three Broomsticks," before she disappeared.
Sophia did the same, and, amazingly, didn't get lost in the fire as Hermione worried she would. Hermione worried too much. Sophia told her this often.
When they arrived in the pub, Hermione was suddenly winded as so many memories came back to her from her younger self.
"Hermione! Ron wants you to meet him in the Three Broomsticks right now! Sorry, but I've got to run!" said Harry hurriedly to Hermione.
"WHAT does he want?" asked Hermione, exasperated.
Harry stopped and looked at her strangely. "I dunno, I think it might be important, though. Are you okay?" he asked her.
"Of course I am. I am just fine. Ronald Weasley has been acting very strange lately, though. I'll go talk to him now."
"'Kay, 'Mione, gotta run," Harry told her.
"Bye, have fun!"
She headed into The Three Broomsticks, where, to her surprise, Ron was sitting by himself at a two person table, wringing his hands nervously.
"Hermione! Hi- um, Hi. Th- thanks for coming!" said Ron, so enthusiastic that his words were jumbled.
She gave him a funny look, but then decided to let it pass.
"Did you want something important, Ronald?" asked Hermione, cooly.
He looked at her sharply. "Um, kinda. HermionewouldyoubemygirlfriendpleaseIreallylikeyou?" asked Ron.
"Excuse me? Could you say that again please? With a little more breath between your words?" asked Hermione, holding her own breath. If he had just said what she thought he had just said, she would be a very, very happy (and confused) girl.
He had. "Hermione would you be my girlfriend? I really like you."
"Oh, Ron. Of course I will!" she said eagerly.
"Mommy! Are you listening to me?" asked Sophia, tugging on Hermione's sleeve.
"I'm sorry. Could you please repeat that, Sophia?" asked Hermione, blushing slightly.
"I SAID, 'That girl over there looks like me.'" Hermione glanced up, startled.
Unfortunately, Ginny looked up at the same time as Hermione.
She did a double take. "Her- hermione?"
"You're right, Sophia. She does look like you. That's your aunt, Ginny."
"REALLY? Aunt Ginny!" Sophia yelled and ran over to her.
Hermione groaned inwardly. Her plans for the day had just been changed, but not really in a bad way.
Ginny stared at Sophia for five whole minutes. "Aunt Ginny? Hermione? Oh my God. Poor Ron."
Hermione looked at Ginny, her eyes filling with tears. "Yeah. I think so too. Ginny! I've missed you so much!"
Ginny was shocked, but her happiness leaked through. "Oh, 'Mione, I missed you, too!"
Hermione walked over and sat at the table across from Ginny. "Uh, Ginny. I know this is really confusing for you, but let me explain first, okay?"
"You don't have any other option," replied Ginny, her eyes sparkling, "I've finally got a niece!"
Hermione smiled. "Yes, you have. This is Sophia Lalaine Molly Weasley Granger. As you have probably figured out, Ron has no idea. Actually, nobody has any idea."
Hermione went on to tell her the whole painful story, and Ginny didn't interupt once. When she finished, Ginny looked at her, amazed.
"Hermione! How could you blame yourself for that? Hundreds of people died that day! Oh, no, Mum didn't DIE!" she said, hurriedly noticing the look on Hermione's face,"And you shouldn't blame yourself for that! Ron was just being a prick, what else is new? And, let me tell you, he hasn't been the same since you've been gone."
Hermione let out a huge breath of air and thought for a moment about what Ginny had just told her. Mrs. Weasley wasn't dead. Mrs. Wealsey wasn't dead! Hermione felt all of the guilt and sorrow and pain that had been on her chest for the past six years rise like evaporating water in the heat... Ron!
"Ginny, when you say he's been different- is that bad?" asked Hermione, worriedly.
Ginny considered her for a minute. "Not exactly. Just- quieter. More withdrawn. He barely talks to anyone anymore, just like Harry after- well, after Dumbledore's death."
Hermione bowed her head. She didn't think Ron was in great shape if he was acting like she was dead... of course, everyone probably thought she was dead.
Sophie tugged Hermione's arm. "Mommy, why didn't I ever meet aunt Ginny before?" she asked innocently.
Hermione grimanced painfully, and Ginny looked at her, face showing extreme pity.
"Sophia, I'm sure you're Mommy's been very busy. And so have I. When you come over you can meet all your cousins- God knows you have enough of them."
Hermione raised one eyebrow at Ginny. Ginny raised one in return.
"Hermione, I can't believe you're alive! Everyone- except Ron and Harry- gave up; said you were dead. So many people are," she added sadly. Hermione thought about that, and it made her sad, too. She hadn't even learned who all of the dead were- and was kind of afraid to ask.
"Well, I'm here. With a very fidgety six year old! And- Oh my God! Is that- Luna?" Hermione said.
A very pale and dreamy looking woman with longish blond hair had just wandered in, followed closely by none other than Neville Longbottom.
"Hermione?" Neville asked, looking astonished.
"Hello, Neville."
He stood there, looking dumbstruck.
"Hey, Hermione, I've got to go. Do you want to come? I have to get home before-" Here she broke off, blushing furiously.
Hermione grinned, "Sure, Gin, I'll go. So, who do we have to be home before?"
"Well, er, my husband," said Ginny, turning the Weasley red in her face.
"GINNY! Who?" asked Hermione
"Well,-"
DUH DUH DUH! QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHO IS GINNY'S HUSBAND? REALLY A FREEBIE, IF YOU'VE READ HALF BLOOD PRINCE!
Yes, I just finished the Half Blood Prince, and I'm so excited!
Sorry it took so long, guys. Please forgive, I've been very busy...