Thanks everyone who reviewed. To know people care means a lot. Even for small things.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter.
In a huge swirl Hermione dropped. She was placed in her daughters room. When she looked around Grace was on the other side of the room playing with her dolls. She was so innocent, so pure, and so unaffected by the harsh world. Her darling angel. Hermione held back the tears that were daring to drown her again. She was only there for 8 years of her life. She would never see her become a witch. Or attend the rebuilt Hogwarts. She would never see her graduate, marry, or have children. Unless...yes. A little hope swelled in Hermione's chest as she thought of becoming a ghost to guide her daughter. If she couldn't be there physically she could be there mentally. And really that's what a mother is all about. To inspire, give advice, and to encourage.
As Hermione gazed at her beautiful daughter. She heard a sob outside her door. Curious Hermione passed through the door and saw a group of people in her living room. Telling by the eerie silence that filled the room they all just found out she was dead. Harry, her parents, Remus, Minerva, and sitting on the couch was Ginny rubbing Ron on the back as he stared blankly at the floor. The tears came before Hermione knew it. Poor Ron. With a glance at everyone's face she knew they were either crying, already did, or were trying to hold it together. Hermione walked closer to Ron and put a hand on his head. Yet she couldn't touch him. Not ever.
"Don't grieve for me Ron", Hermione said sadly
"I'm sure she's looking down on you and Grace right now.", Ginny whispered with her eyes red
Sweet Ginny who Hermione considered a sister even before Ron and her were married. She was always so strong. No wonder Harry was to marry such a beauty. With that Hermione looked over at Harry. He stood by the dinner table looking blankly at the floor. Hermione could see the pain etched on his face. Her hero. Her best friend. It hurt to see the sorrow in his eyes. The eyes that held passion and courage. This was the man who killed a wizard that threatened the whole world. But he stood there looking so defeated.
My dear Harry there wasn't a thing you could have done, Hermione thought to herself.
There wasn't a thing anyone could have done. It was fate. A could harsh fate that happened to people. And there wasn't any way to go around it.
The people she loved were gathered all in one room. She wanted to soothe them all. She wanted to let them all know it was okay. That she was okay. She wanted to tell every single one of them that she loved them and they all meant a lot to her.
Hermione noticed Ron get up and walk over to her parents. Who sat at the dinner table silently holding hands. Her father, a man who loved to talk, sat there and stared off silently. Her mother dabbed away tears and sat weakly. They both looked tired and aged about 10 years. And Hermione had only seen them 2 days earlier and they looked as healthy as ever. Funny what death can do to a person.
Ron came up and embraced my mother first. She clung on to him and a new brandish of tears surfaced in her eyes. She sobbed into his shoulder and Ron held on to her weakly.
Ron then offered his hand to her father. Her father looked at him for a moment and pushed away his hand and hugged him. Hermione smiled at the two. They never got along much. Her parents weren't up for the idea for her to marry a wizard. So Ron and her father never met eye to eye. But to see them embrace and put aside there differences touched her.
"Ron", my mother said weakly, "what about little Grace. Did you tell her yet?"
Ron looked at her faintly. Grief filled his eyes.
"Not yet. I'm afraid to tell her. But I know I must.", he said bleakly
"Would you like me to come with you?", asked Hermione's mother softly
"No. If anyone's going to tell her I will. Alone.", he said , "but thank you"
She smiled and sat down and watched as he walked across the room. As did everyone else. They all knew where he was going. To break a little girls heart. What a hard thing to do. But Hermione knew Ron was strong and could do it. He knocked lightly on Grace's door. She came running to the door and opened it. She looked past her father confused at all the people.
"Daddy why are all these people here?" she asked trying to walk past him to greet them all
"Grace we need to talk", he said and lead her back in and closed the door behind him.
"Are we having a birthday party? For mummy! But her birthday is in a few weeks." Grace said and sat on her bed where Ron joined her
"No Grace there isn't any party.", Ron said and closed his eyes for a moment.
Grace sat there confused and waited for him to explain.
"Daddy do you want some candy? You look sad and candy always makes me feel better.", Grace asked
"Grace", he started but trailed off
He didn't even know where to start. Hermione knew he was stalling.
How was he to tell his daughter her mother died? To lay such a burden of grief was so hard. He couldn't find the right words.
"Grace do you remember Gary?", Ron asked
"Gary the goldfish?", Grace asked
"Yes, remember he used to swim everyday with joy. But you woke up one day and he was floating at the top of the tank.", Ron said looking down at his daughter
"Yes. He's in fishy heaven", she said
Ron couldn't help the tear escape from his eyes. Poor Grace.
"Daddy don't be sad. Gary is swimming with the other fishes. He probably found a wife and has little baby's.", she said comforting her dad
After a long pause Ron took a deep breath.
"Princess what happened to Gary happened to mummy.", Ron said embracing himself for the pain that would soon come
Grace looked at him dumbfounded.
"But she's coming back right", Grace asked clinging to her daddy
Ron shut his eyes.
"No ", he whispered
"She has to!", Grace said tears falling from her eyes
Hermione looked on sobbing to herself. This is what she dreaded the most. To break her daughters heart.
Ron moved to hug his daughter but she pushed away and started to pound her small fists on his chest.
"She can't be! I want my mummy! Give her back!" she wailed and pounded on his chest with all her might
Ron sat there enduring it all. He felt so helpless. He could always fix things. Except a heart. And he could hear Grace's screaming and ripping.
"Please daddy! Mummy said she was coming back! She promised!", Grace said sobbing
Finally after Grace had all her energy drained with her struggles to pound on her father for her mother she clung to Ron. She soaked his entire shirt as she cried in it. Ron held her and cried himself. The two sat there for awhile and Ron held his daughter as they cried with each other.
"Grace", Ron said pulling her to face him, "I want you to always remember Mum loved you with all her heart and always will. She's in heaven and can watch down on you. So never feel alone my princess. And always know that mummy was a Super Hero. She was always fighting evil. And was always thinking of you."
"But if mum was a Super Hero why did she have to die?", Grace said wiping away some tears
"Things happen darling that I can't explain. But it's up to the rest of us to keep on living. No matter how hard it seems at times.", he said started to stroke her hair
"Daddy do you think mummy has wings?", Grace asked
"Of course. Plus a little halo that floats above her head. I'm sure she even has a harp." Ron said smiling at his daughter
"I want her back so much", Grace said her eyes fluttering shut "Me to, princess, me to", he whispered
The days exhaustion and news caught up to her and Ron knew she needed some rest. Slowly her eyes closed and she started to breath lightly. Ron gathered her up and tucked her in. He stared at her a moment and then kissed her on the forehead. He went to the door to look back at his princess.
"Goodnight my sweet angel", he said and closed the door behind him
Hermione sat there to watch her sleeping daughter. Finally after her torture she was at peace. Hermione hoped she could find solace in her dreams. Hermione laid herself next to her daughter. Could she really leave her own flesh and blood? She wouldn't have a mother to explain changes in her body, to discuss crushes, or to go to when she had problems.
Who would take care of Ron? Poor Ron all by himself to care for Grace. He had done something more courageous then taking down Voldemort. Explaining death. Bringing the burden of it to someone she knew he loved more then himself. To someone who was his world. Hermione was so proud of him.
And to think he was only several feet away but still millions of years away.
"I will be with you forever", Hermione whispered in her daughters ear
So Hermione lay there for several minutes at peace. It felt like old times.
"Now Hermione it is time for the future", said the voice shattering everything
Tis time to end the chapter here I suppose. I think the next chapter shall be the last. So please leave me a little something something (Haha and you know I mean a review). Oh and that fish part was inspired by Kill Bill vol. 2. Great movie.