A/N: Thanks to all my readers and especially the following: vagrantben, monsterme, PapayaCrazy, nehimasgift, pottersgirl91, shadieladie, san01, tofuubeaver, adapot, melodicmoonstar89, Kari-Hermione, imakeeper, Kuroumo, his-lil-shortie, KayKay2007, Emi-Bum, bellalaluna, and CardboardCreative. -dances around- 122 reviews! You guys absolutely rock! Now on with the show...


Chapter 9 – The Team Visits

Hermione's week had began in a slow fashion, her plan to get things straightened around at home. The first day she spent cleaning and rearranging things. Finding many lost objects such as the television remote, ten dollars in the couch, her favorite shirt, and many of Kirsten's lost toys.

The second day was much more eventful for both mother and daughter as they went shopping, enjoying some ice cream and pie before coming back home and watching movies. The third day was rather fun as well seeing as Hermione went to visit her parents with Kirsten. By the fourth day, Hermione was wearing down and becoming lazy so they spent the day around the house just loafing.

On the fifth day, after a spending so much time together and partly due to Kristen's mess of toys in the clean house, Hermione and Kirsten fought. But by supper time things were better and Hermione even read to Kirsten before tucking her in. It was the sixth and seventh days that were the fastest to go by as Hermione gave Crookshanks a bath and then sat nursing the wounds from the task while watching movies and reading.

"Finally, back to work," Hermione sighed as she woke up on the eighth day.

She rolled out of bed and took a quick shower before dressing and rousing Kirsten from bed. Kirsten objected for at least an hour; she had gotten used to sleeping in by at least two hours during the week Hermione was suspended.

"Kirsten Amara Granger!" Hermione shouted from Kirsten's bedroom doorway. "Get up this instant! I've called you seven times now. Your breakfast has done gone cold, and I can't keep Crookshanks at bay too much longer. If you aren't downstairs in ten minutes, I'm going to let him eat it."

"Fine!" Kirsten shouted as she rolled over with a sound of disgust and kicked back the covers.

She got out of bed and went to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and combing her hair before dressing and marching downstairs angrily. She sat at the table munching on her cold oatmeal when Harry arrived with Ron not far behind.

"Hey 'Mione," Ron called as they entered the kitchen.

"How many times must I tell you that it's Hermione... not 'Mione, not Herm, not Hermy-"

"How about grouchy?" Kirsten grumbled.

"Eat your oatmeal," Hermione snapped.

Harry and Ron exchanged looks before turning to Kirsten.

"How would you like to play a little Quidditch today, hmm?" Ron asked.

"Okay!" Kirsten said excitedly. "Let's go now!"

She wasted no time in jumping down from her chair and rushing out to the living room, Hermione shouting goodbye as Kirsten waved from the fireplace. Harry and Ron joined her, heading to The Burrow while Hermione gathered her bag and the book she had been reading to Oliver before using the Floo to get to St. Mungo's.


After lunch at The Burrow, Kirsten could be found bounding her way across the yard toward the private makeshift Quidditch pitch that the Weasley children had used while growing up. Harry and Ron followed her, telling her to be careful not to get too near the garden for fear of getting bit by a gnome.

"I don't understand why Luna won't let you get rid of those things," Harry grumbled as he watched the overgrown garden plants shake with the quick movements of the evil little pests.

"She said something about her father wanting to do a documentary on them in The Quibbler," Ron mumbled. "Don't see why he can't just cage one up and-"

"Kirsten!" Harry bellowed as Kirsten stopped next to a rather fat and stumpy looking potato that was digging at the ground.

Harry and Ron raced at her as the thing stood up and spit at her before running toward her to kick her with its spiky little feet. She shrieked and grew wide eyed, drawing her broom back and hitting the little gnome hard with it. Its tiny, lumpy body went soaring through the air as it squealed, wailing its arms as it sailed over the garden wall and out into the field next to The Burrow.

"Nice toss," Ron merited as he looked from Kirsten to Harry and back again.

"I'd say that beat Fred's record of two hundred and eighteen feet," Harry said while nodding toward the field.

"Beat Fred's record?" Kirsten repeated.

"Yeah, forget it. C'mon to the pitch now," Harry laughed to Kirsten as Ron looked from his broom to the garden.

"If a broom would do that, I wonder what a yard rake or a garden hoe would do?" Ron pondered aloud.

They made it to the pitch and opened the old box that contained a set of Quidditch balls Harry had gotten as a graduation present from some friends. The set was a bit worn and the Snitch flew a bit slower than normal from being caught so many times. Harry had tried to repair it, but to no avail. Even the Bludgers wouldn't work from time to time, but they never played with those anyways because of Kirsten.

Kirsten watched as they let the Snitch out and it took to a shaky flight as Harry opened the little hatch that held it into the box. She stared curiously at the black balls in the crate as Ron messed with the worn Quaffle and Harry watched the Snitch fall to the ground.

"We need a new set of these," Harry sighed heavily as he went to get the Snitch as it struggled to get off the ground.

"Yeah," Ron replied as he sat the Quaffle down and went to close the crate. "Kirsten! No!"

Kirsten was now standing next to the crate with one of the black balls in her hand. It shook and she stared in wonder as Ron rushed over and grabbed the ball from her. It jumped to life in his hands and took off through the air causing Harry to drop on the ground on his stomach as it whizzed past.

Ron ran to the crate and fiddled with the strap holding one of the bats as the Bludger hit a tree and changed its course. He would have stunned it, but he and Harry both had left their wands in the house.

"Go get your wand," Ron yelled as he stood to his the Bludger, but his bat wasn't what found the black ball.

He had looked up just in time to see it smash into his face. Kirsten gasped and ran for Ron as the ball dropped to the ground, shaking wildly. Harry came running, scooping up the ball and locking it in the case while he had the chance. He turned to Ron to see him sitting on the ground with watering eyes and blood soaking the front of his shirt.

"Uncle Ron, are you okay?" Kirsten sobbed.

"Bry bose," Ron muttered through his hand that covered his slightly blood filled mouth.

Harry grimaced and helped his friend to his feet, helping to steady him as he reeled with dizziness. It was obvious that Ron's nose was broke by the way his eyes were turning red and slightly purple. His face looked to be swollen already and his seemed to be just a bit out of it.

"I'm sorry," Kirsten frowned as she looked up at Ron.

"C'mon," Harry sighed as he supported Ron back up to the house to be mended.

Kirsten followed, her head bowed as she felt guilt creep up. 'You can't do anything right' she scolded herself. 'First you get Mommy in trouble at work and now you break Uncle Ron's nose. You're so stupid.'

Tears flooded her eyes to the point of brimming and then spilled out over her cheeks. She hung back a moment before going to a rickety old bench and sitting down as Harry and Ron entered the house. She sat sobbing, her hair becoming wet and matted as her tears mingled into her slightly bushy curled locks. She brushed them from her face and wiped her cheeks only to have them soaked again seconds later by fresh tears.

"Kirsten!" Ginny called as she came outside and looked around. "There you are, honey," she sighed, spotting the child. "What's wrong?"

"I broke Uncle Ron's nose," Kirsten blubbered.

"No you didn't," Ginny assured her. "The Bludger did, not you."

"But it's my fault the B-Bludger did," she bawled as a new wave of tears overtook her.

Ginny frowned somewhat as she walked over and sat down next to the child. She pulled Kirsten onto her lap and combed Kirsten's matted locks with her thin, pale fingers. She began rocking as Kirsten buried her face in Ginny's chest, the child's tears quickly soaking the front of her threadbare old shirt.

"I-I'm so stu-stupid," Kirsten cried. "I got M-Mommy in tr-trouble at work and n-now I hurt U-Uncle Ron."

"No, no," Ginny cooed. "You're not stupid... certainly not. That's part of being your mother's daughter. You're one of the most brilliant children of your age and maybe even one of the most brilliant of those a little older than you."

"No, sir," Kirsten sniffled as she sat up away from Ginny's shoulders and wiped her rosy, damp cheeks with the back of her wrist. "No wonder I have no daddy... he wouldn't want someone stupid like me."

"Now, Kirsten," Ginny soothed. "You don't have a father because you're special. Your mum, Hermione, wanted you all to herself, that's why you don't have a daddy."

"But why would Mommy want me all to herself... she gets mad at me all the time," Kirsten sighed.

"She doesn't get mad at you," Ginny assured the little girl. "Just at the things you do," she added in an afterthought.

"Where is my daddy, though?" Kirsten asked solemnly. "Why didn't he fight with Mommy about keeping me?"

"Well, um-"

The truth was, Ginny was one of the few that really knew who Kirsten's father was. Only she, Ron, Harry, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and the Granger's knew that. At least that's all that Ginny knew of who knew about Hermione's situation. And as it was, it had taken Hermione five months into her pregnancy to tell Ginny what had happened. She was the first one Hermione told.

"Aunt Ginny?" Kirsten urge softly.

"Um... I think you had better ask your mum about that, okay?" Ginny suggested, getting a sad nod from Kirsten. "C'mere," Ginny spoke softly, pulling Kirsten close to her and hugging her tight.

Harry watched them from the kitchen window as he listened to Ron fussing with Luna about his nose. Harry smiled and watched Ginny kiss the top of Kirsten's head. She was so good with Hermione's daughter, he couldn't wait for the next seven months to pass so they could finally have their own child.


Hermione frowned as she gripped the sides of the food tray she was about to take to Oliver's room. It was around lunch time and Hermione had beat around the bush all she could about taking Oliver his meal.

She had gave everyone on the floor their food and potions and even went back through and picked up the empty trays in hopes that Padma would come. She wanted Padma to take the tray in to Oliver. Hermione had a feeling that facing him today after that awkward moment a week before would be kind of hard.

"It was a week ago," she whispered to herself. "He'll have forgotten about it... Hopefully."

She rose her head, holding it high as she shook her hair out of her face, and entered his room after knocking on the door frame. She looked over the room and saw Oliver sitting in a chair in front of the window. He had a distant gleam in his eye as though deep in thought. He had a book in his lap, one Hermione recognized very well.

"Here's your lunch, Mr. Wood," Hermione said softly as she sat the tray down onto the bedside table.

Oliver stirred a bit, looking back over his shoulder at her. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't look up at him in fear of making eye contact. She straightened his bed as he stood up from the chair, his footsteps the only other sound in the room besides the tick-tock of the clock and their breathing which was very heavy.

Hermione swallowed hard and was headed to the bathroom to grab the laundry when she found herself face to face with him. She had went to turn and leave and instead, had ran into him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she shook her head while pushing away from him. She maneuvered around him, but he mirrored her every move and she soon found herself being backed up against the wall.

'Oh Merlin!' her mind screamed, but deep down in her gut was a feeling that she had only felt for him once before in her life. She felt the onset of a slight flashback coming to her, so she shook it from her head and soon felt the wall touch her back. Trapped.

"I-I have- have to go g-get the laun-dry," Hermione stuttered as she closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"Hermione," Oliver whispered, his voice deep and chilling.

She shivered and felt a slight burning sensation prick her eyes. Tears. She looked up from hopes of stopping them from coming, but her eyes only met his. He saw the sparkling in her eyes and his heart softened instantly.

"Woo-Wood pl-please-se let me go-o," she breathed shakily.

"I did that once before and I'm not about to do it again," Oliver muttered as he leaned forward.

She closed her eyes and held her breath as panic race about her. He was starting to remember more. She didn't want him to remember his little escapade with her. 'Please let him be talking about how he let me go a week ago' Hermione thought desperately as she felt his breath tickle her lips. She shivered again and clutched at her skirt.

His lips were only centimeters from hers now. 'Almost there' he thought with excitement as he tilted his head to the side and closed his own eyes.

"Hermione?"

Oliver's eyes shot open and he stood up straight, his eyes darting to the doorway of his room. There was Padma looking half shocked, half confused.

"Padma, I just- I came in to- to get the laundry and-"

"Okay," Padma nodded as Hermione frantically searched for words for an explanation that might not make this situation so awkward. "I think it's time you got back into bed and ate your lunch, Mr. Wood."

With that, Padma ushered Oliver into bed, and Hermione quickly ran into the bathroom and grabbed the hamper of dirty laundry. She raced out of the room and down the corridor to put the clothes into a giant tub to be cleaned with the Cleaning Spell.

"Scourgify," Hermione sighed after pulling out her wand and waving it at the tub of dirty sheets and garments.

She let her arms fall limp at her sides as she leaned back against the wall. How awful. Her day couldn't get much worse she supposed. She leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling before heaving a great sigh.

"Hermione?"

The door to the room Hermione had been relaxing in opened and Padma entered, her eyebrows still in the middle of her forehead.

"What was- what happened... you know. Back there?" Padma inquired uncertainly.

"It wasn't me," Hermione said firmly. "Oliver... he- he's been trying to kiss me."

"Oh."

"He tried it a week ago while I was reading to him, and I almost let him. But the-"

"You almost let him?" Padma repeated.

"I was confused and-"

"Sounds to me like you just want to be back with him," Padma pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I don't," Hermione snapped. "All right? I just don't."

With that, Hermione stormed out of the room and down the corridor, only to stop outside of Wood's room when she noticed a group of six people inside. They were all trying to talk to a rather depressed looking Oliver. Each of them kept looking to another one with worry etched on their faces as Oliver sat with his head bowed, not answering a single question.

"Wood?" Amy said softly, stepping closer to the bed. "We have a surprise. Brian and I, that is."

"We're getting married next month," Brian chimed in, stepping up next to Amy.

"Wonderful," Wood mumbled.

"What's wrong with him?" asked brunette standing just behind the group.

"I don't know, Kels," answered a rather tall guy with black hair. "Side effect of the medicine maybe?"

"I don't think so," the girl he called Kels replied.

"Excuse me," Hermione called from the doorway. "Can I help you?"

"Oh! You're the Healer I talked to last time. I'm-"

"Amy," Hermione finished for her as she shook hands with her.

"This is Brian," Amy introduced, turning to the bulky, light brown haired man who had been standing next to her. "And this is Kaitlyn Donald."

Hermione shook hands with Brian and then turned to a dark red head with a thin, heart-shaped face. Suddenly she found herself shaking hands with another girl, the brunette called Kels.

"That's Kelly Safferson, and this is David Kent," Amy continued.

Hermione shook hands with the black haired man who had been speaking to Kelly Safferson, and then turned to the last person in the room. He was a blond haired guy, sort of chubby and rather smart looking with a pair of glasses on.

"And lastly, this is-"

"Sean Berkeley," the man finished for Amy.

"Nice to meet you all, but I'm afraid there can only be four visitors at a time," Hermione sighed. "I'm going to have to ask that two of you wait outside until you decide to switch with two others."

"That's fine," David Kent answered as he saw Padma pass by. "I'll wait out there."

He squeezed out of the room and walked off quickly down the hall after Padma.

"I'll go keep him under control," Kelly sighed as she too left the room with Hermione.

"I'll be back in an hour to check up on everyone," Hermione said to Kelly before going to walk away.

"Hey, doc, wait," Kelly called. "Wood... will he- is he getting any better? The team's just not right without him."

"He's improving," Hermione answered somewhat sadly at the upset expression on Kelly's face.

"I hope so," Kelly mumbled. "We all really miss him so much. Is there anything we can do?"

"Being here is more than enough... it'll jog his memory to see old faces," Hermione assured her.

"By the way," Kelly said as Hermione slowly turned away. "Thanks for doing such a good job with him. I'm sure he'll be back on the pitch guarding those posts and helping us win again in no time."

"I-I'll make sure h-he is," Hermione muttered before walking off down the corridor, guilt flooding her every thought. "I need to go to lunch," she sighed to herself before going to fold the laundry.