Well, this chapter will be in both Ron and Hermione's POV. What will happen in this chapter? Read on and find out

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Ron's POV

About five minutes after Hermione gave birth was when the Healer arrived. Harry told him he was too late, so the Healer left. Meanwhile, I was sitting in the lounge room, staring at the flames, thoughts crossing my mind about Hermione and this child of hers. I mean, she gave birth to Malfoy's child and he's not even here. How much of a git is that, not to be there at his daughter's birth. And why did Hermione sleep with him in the first place, if he was going to be like this?

To me, I see no major difference with Malfoy. But he hasn't been here for about six months, so that was good for me. At least I didn't have to see him at all. But now Hermione's had his child, so little Elizabeth would remind me of Malfoy every time I saw her. It just wasn't right at all! I had loved Hermione with all of my heart and she had turned me down for some rich, stuck-up Slytherin bastard!

"You alright?"

I turned around and saw my sister behind me. I nodded and turned back to the flames. I felt the weight of Ginny sitting down next to me

"What do you want?" I asked

"Oh nothing, I was just wondering why you would be sitting here, staring at the fresh flames, since it's like six o'clock in the morning"

"Is that what the time is?" I asked

"Yeah, Hermione had the baby about an hour ago"

"Oh right"

Surprising how time flies when you're staring at the fireplace, lost inside your own thoughts. Ginny left the room and I sighed, glad to be alone again. I just still couldn't get over the fact that Hermione, one of my best friends and former crush, gave birth to the child of my most hated enemy. It was just so unbelievable

I got up from the lounge and headed back to my room, eager for some sleep after that harrowing ordeal. I had just rested my head on my pillow, when I heard small, soft cries coming from Hermione's room. The cries intensified and I grumbled under my breath, placing my pillow over my ears, hoping to drown out the crying. Didn't exactly work, but I was too tired to care and very quickly, I fell asleep, dreaming of Dark Marks, darkness and torture…

I shot upright, scared out of my mind. I couldn't believe I was dreaming about Dark Marks and committing torture. It was crazy and yet it seemed so real. I realized I was sweating from the dreams and laid back down, hoping to turn my mind from that dream, but as soon as I closed my eyes, they came back again

And I couldn't wake up, not this time

End POV

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Hermione's POV

I woke up and looked over at the crib on the left side of my bed. Harry had set it up last night and I was thankful for that. I still couldn't get over the fact I was now a mother, a parent to the beautiful girl sleeping in the crib

"Yeah and I'm a single parent," I thought bitterly

There had been no word on Draco ever since he disappeared six months ago. Absolutely nothing, not even a word about his father, who I presumed, was still on the run

"But where can someone like Lucius Malfoy hide? And why haven't the Ministry captured him yet?"

Elizabeth kicked again. I yawned and got up, taking her out and patting her back. I returned to the bed and laid down with her snuggled close to my chest with a hand on her back protectively. Elizabeth opened her eyes slightly, but I saw her chocolate brown eyes, just like mine! I was surprised at this, because despite being only a day old, I could see some resemblance between her and Draco; the small, sleek face and the faint blonde curls on her head. Elizabeth's fact contorted and I knew she was about to cry. So as soon as she opened her mouth, I rubbed her back, while saying soothing words to her

There came a knock on the door and I looked up

"Come in"

The door opened and Ginny came in, looking all excited as she sat down on the end of the bed, looking down at my daughter

"So, are you ready to come out, now?" she asked

"Yeah, I should be," I smiled

I got out of bed and picked Elizabeth up, before leaving the room with Ginny

"You want to go for a shower and get dressed?" she asked, "I've got your clothes in the bathroom. Harry and I will look after her"

"Oh, thanks"

I handed Liz to Ginny and headed for the shower. Once I was in the shower and turned the water on, I checked my body. I had some baby fat around my stomach, but that was normal as far as I knew and my pelvis was sore, but not painful enough so I couldn't do much while looking after Elizabeth

I quickly had my shower, got out and dried myself off, carefully on the tender areas, before getting dressed in loose, red T-shirt and faded jeans. Once dressed and checking my hair (I had finally made it smooth and slick), I went downstairs where I found Harry and Ginny cooing at Liz, while their breakfast (or at least Harry's) went cold

"Enjoying yourselves?" I asked

Harry and Ginny looked up, saw me and smiled

"Can't wait for the time when you're parents?" I continued, sitting down

"Yeah, well, see, we can wait, unlike someone," said Harry

"Now that's just mean"

Harry handed Liz to me, before returning to his cold breakfast and making a face

"That's what you get for playing around," I said

"Yeah, right"

I looked down at Elizabeth and saw her sleeping contently in my arms. I held her close to my chest and kissed her forehead. She moved slightly, but I think she would rather be asleep. I got up and headed to the lounge room, where I fed and changed Elizabeth, before taking her back up to her crib and putting her to sleep. I returned to the kitchen and saw that Harry still hadn't moved his spoon

"Are you going to sit there and stare at it all day?" asked Ginny

"Yep"

Ginny rolled her eyes and looked at me, shaking her head. I stifled a laugh, sat down and kicked him in the legs

"Hey, what was that for?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, faking innocence

Harry mumbled under his breath and picked up his spoon, realized his breakfast was too soggy and put the spoon back down

"Honestly, Harry, you can so immature sometimes," I said

"Why thank you," he grinned, "And you're not"

"No, I'm the sensible one"

Then I realized I shouldn't have said that. I was an eighteen-year-old single mother (okay, I'm seventeen, but I'll be turning eighteen later this year)! How can I say that I'm sensible? But Harry didn't press the matter and I was thankful for that

"So, what are you going to be doing today, Hermione?" asked Ginny

"I don't know, I thought I could spend some time with Elizabeth"

"Ah, because Ginny and I are heading out to Diagon Alley," said Harry

"What for?"

"Shop around and all that, you know, just for the day"

"Well, I could do that"

"Excellent, we're leaving in about an hour," continued Harry

"Let me get my things together," I said

"Take your time"

I left the kitchen and rushed upstairs to my room, only to see Ron standing over Elizabeth's crib

"Hey, Ron," I said, trying to be cheerful

He turned his body, but kept his eyes on my daughter

"Ron, are you okay?" I asked, moving closer

He turned away and looked at me. And I saw in his eyes a mixture of sadness, hurt and anger. Wary of these emotions, I edged around him and picked Liz up

"Are you fine?"

"I'm okay, I'll be fine, don't worry about me"

"Want to come with us to Diagon Alley?"

Ron took his head, ruffling his shaggy mane of long, red hair

"Don't bother, I'm okay"

I nodded, grabbed a bag of Liz's belongings and left the room, leaving Ron behind

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