Absolutely Fantastic Harry, Well Done!
Absolutely Fantastic Harry Well Done! Harry thought as he stood watching over Ginny. He'd caught her and placed her in the chair when she fainted – it was more out of instinct that he knew she'd fall. He glanced between her and Hermione and wasn't sure who he wanted to wake up first. Right Tea. Sort some Tea. Try to focus. Remember to breathe because when they both wake up you are going to be referee and it ain't gonna be pretty.
Hermione sat bolt upright on the settee and looked straight into the eyes of one of her best friends. He was calmly sipping tea, though he looked a little more than shocked. She closed her eyes, as if waiting to be sentenced. But when the judgement came it shocked her more than she thought possible.
"Hermione do you want some tea?" He said quietly, in a caring way that was so Harry she began to cry. He moved towards her and hugged her as she wept in his arms. A while later, his shirt was wet but she finally stopped crying and took some of the tea.
"I didn't plan it Harry. I didn't do it on purpose" was all she could manage, and he nodded.
"He doesn't know does he?" Harry said quietly, still in shock but wanting to know how and why Hermione would keep it from Ron.
She shook her head.
"Why don't you tell me what happened if you're feeling up to it." Harry said kindly, still enveloping her in a hug.
"Sounds like a great idea" came the voice from the corner, sounding more accusing than the owner meant it to.
Hermione's head whipped around and her eyes rested on Ginny. Ginny thought she saw disappointment, before the relief, and then the sadness as she continued to look at Hermione.
"I saw red h-hair" Hermione said by way of explanation "…I-"
"Thought I was Ron" Ginny said sadly in understanding. Hermione nodded as more tears cascaded down her face.
There was silence for a while and Harry couldn't believe he was sat in a room with Ginny and Hermione and felt awkward. He decided it was up to him.
"So erm-" he began – both women looked at him expectantly "…surprise!" he finished lamely.
Ginny couldn't help it she laughed out loud. Hermione smiled and Harry laughed. Warmth filled the air and everyone relaxed a little bit. Harry started pouring tea, a smile still evident on his face – "Why don't we have some tea, and a nice little chat eh?"
Hermione and Ginny simultaneously burst into laughter.
"-What?" Harry said, bewildered.
"You have got to stop spending so much time with my Father Harry – he's starting to rub off on you!" Ginny said still laughing.
He shot her a look of fake horror before returning to the tea, at least the atmosphere's gone he thought.
"So…" said Ginny. Maybe not quite gone Harry.
There were lots of tears from all concerned as Hermione told her story. She told them how she felt when her parents died, how she needed space and Ron couldn't give it to her, her decision to go anyway and then finding out she was pregnant. They listened intently, and before long were each holding her hand in support. When she told them about the baby, they couldn't understand how she hadn't come home. She explained that she couldn't bear the thought of what they'd think, what the family would think and more importantly what Ron would think. She made it sound like she thought Ron would hate her, and Ginny emphatically denied this telling her over and over how much he loved her, how he wouldn't have minded about the baby, but she didn't believe them and they knew it. If it had been anyone but Harry and Ginny sitting there listening they probably wouldn't have understood the full extent to which Hermione felt guilty about her actions but then they'd both been through bad situations that they still felt guilty about. They could empathise when she said she couldn't face anyone, but it didn't change the situation.
"How old is he?" Ginny asked gently, quite a while into the conversation.
"He's two" she replied, "He's definitely Ron's if that's what you were asking," she continued, looking away.
"Of course we know he's Ron's – look at him! I didn't mean I thought – well that he was anyone else's honestly." Ginny said, hurt.
"Sorry Gin." Hermione said, her eyes drifting to the photo she was holding.
Ginny and Harry exchanged glances, and Harry cleared his throat.
"So-" Harry said, "what's his name?"
Hermione smiled, a sad smile full of regret maybe, Ginny thought. "Ronald David" she said quietly. Ginny's mouth dropped. "But I call him Ronnie."
"Ronnie eh?" Harry said, smiling. "Ron'll-"
He stopped himself, and the smiles vanished. "I think Ron'll be pleased you named him after him" Harry said brightly, but the voice was forced and they could all tell.
"Actually I don't think he will be" Hermione said, the hurt evident to both Harry and Ginny.
xxx
Hours later Harry and Ginny left, hugging her and again promising they wouldn't tell anyone yet, least of all Ron, and Hermione repeating that she wouldn't run away. There wouldn't be any point after all they knew now and Hermione realised with painful clarity that she didn't want to run; she wanted to go home. No matter how hard that was going to be.
She collected Ronnie and hugged him a lot. He wasn't bothered; just looked at her the same way as always with a huge grin on his face that always reminded her of his father. They baked together, and he made her smile and she made him giggle and unsurprisingly quite a lot of flour ended up all over the kitchen. She bathed him, and put him to bed and spent a long time looking down at her sleeping boy, knowing that tonight would be the last night he spent with only her as his family.
xxx
They walked to the park and finding a safe spot, apparated home. When they arrived they stood for a long time, just hugging each other.
"She's been through so much on her own Harry – how's she coped?"
Harry sighed "I don't know sweetheart – but she's gonna have to cope with a lot more when Ron finds out. I don't know how he's going to handle it – honestly I don't. Part of me thinks that he'll be so happy she's back, but when he finds out he has a child – he's… Gods – it's really going to mess with his head."
He felt her sigh, "What can we do to help them?"
"I really don't know Ginny, I really don't".