SOUL PIECES 1

THIS CHAPTER WAS EDITED AND I ADDED SOME OTHER THINGS. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: This chapter is in honor of the Valentine's Day. Okay, here in Brazil we celebrate the 'valentine's ' day on June 12th (the day before Saint Anthony's day: people believe that Saint Anthony help single woman/ man to find a husband/ wife!). Well, that's it! I hope you like it!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Thanks to acoustics1220 for the beta.

Chapter 21: About Love

"Harry?" Hermione repeated.

"Yes, Mione. It's me. Oh, god, I missed you so much!"

Hermione gave him a small smile and absently put her hand on her belly. Noticing that it was flat, Hermione began to panic.

"Oh, god…oh, god…."

"Shhhh…" Harry said taking her hand "James is alright. He's sleeping."

"James?"

"Yes. James Ronald Potter, our son. He's so beautiful, Mione."

Hermione didn't know what to say. Hell, what could she say? Everything was so confused! The last thing she remembered was the Death Eaters...

Noticing her confused look, Harry stood up from the chair and picked James up from the cradle he was sleeping in nearby.

"Here. This is James," he said, giving the baby boy to Mione.

The young witch took her son in her arms with trembling hands.

He was so small…

"He's beautiful," she said. "He's just like you, Harry."

"Yep. Remus said that too," Harry agreed with a proud smile. "But he has your nose. Cute nose."

Hermione smiled shyly, nursing the baby. However, she couldn't understand-why-how she was alive?

"What happened, Harry?" she finally asked. "W-What happened in Hogsmeade? I can't re-oh god! Luna! Ginny! Are they alright?"

"Shh, calm down," Harry said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They're alright. You are the one who gave us a fright."

Hermione bit her bottom lip, still a little confused. Something wasn't right. They were still in April- it was too early! She looked down at the little baby in her arms and then at Harry. "I-I don't-"

"Madam Pomfrey had to do a cesarean," Harry answered the unspoken question.

"But-" Things still didn't make sense!

"Snape, Mione. Snape saved your life." And Harry told her everything that had happened.

"...and that was it," Harry finished his tale.

"Snape..." Hermione whispered almost to herself. Snape had saved her and Lily's lives. It was kind of ironic, if you thought about it.

When Harry told her about the things they saw in the Pensieve Hermione had a feeling that there was something else- not that Harry was lying- no! But maybe Snape hadn't revealed everything.

However, she didn't want to think about that now. She had other things to be concerned with.

James...her son. Her son-with Harry. Oh, god, what she was supposed to do? She had a son, for Merlin's Sake! She was eighteen-with no money-no parents-no boyfriend and with a son!

And Harry...oh my, Harry! He had hurt her so much- he had said such awful things. He had shagged another woman! But even with all these things, Hermione still loved him. She loved him so much that she was afraid to hear what he thought of James...of her.

She knew he didn't love her but what about James?

She looked at Harry with tears in her eyes and spoke, "I-I am sorry, Harry."

He was shocked. "Sorry for what?" It was him who had to say sorry!

"For messing up with your life. I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I swear. I – I won't be in your way. Neither James nor I. I will understand if you-"

"Hey! Hey! Hold on! What are you talking about?"

"I- I am talking about the pregnancy. You probably think that I did this on pur-"

"Oh MY GOD, Hermione! Why on heavens would I think that?" Harry exclaimed, running a hand nervously through his dark hair.

"I don't know. You're rich and famous and I-I…" she whispered in a small voice, eyes downcast.

"And you are the woman I love," he said firmly, smiling broadly at her.

"…am plain and- what did you say?" She looked up at him, eyes wide.

"And you are that woman I love. I love you, Hermione. I love you with all my heart. I was stupid to think that I could live without you," he whispered, looking straight into her eyes.

"Harry-"

"Please, Hermione let me finish."

She nodded.

"When we started our 'non- relationship' I thought it was only physical. But I think I was starting to fall for you. Remus said I loved you. Tonks said I loved you. Even the damn Sorting Hat said that I was in love with you! I was so confused! That wasn't supposed to happen. I- I couldn't fall in love! It was too dangerous!"

Hermione glanced at him, a small smile of hope starting to show on her lips. "That's why you-"

"Yes, that's why I said those horrible things to you. I am so sorry. That's why I had sex with that woman in the club. I thought- I thought that I could forget you. I was so wrong! That night I had decided to tell you the truth. But you-"

"I left. You hurt me, Harry. You can't imagine how much. You know, that night when you told me that you didn't want to be with me anymore? Do you remember that I wanted to say something to you?"

"Yes?"

"I was going to tell that I was pregnant," she replied, gazing at the little bundle in her arms.

"Oh, god, Hermione." Harry felt his heart sink, an uneasy sensation of disgust- disgust with himself.

"But then you said you didn't want to be with me anymore. You said it was only sex. Only sex. I felt like I was a nothing. A piece of crap. And then I saw you…I saw you with that woman. She was so beautiful, so much more than me, and you were having sex and-" Hermione couldn't continue. Her body was trembling and she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Harry drew closer to her. Without even realizing what he was doing, he began to place soft, gentle kisses on her face, starting at her cheek and slowly moving across.

Harry's lips brushed over Hermione's in the softest of kisses; her heart fluttered.

"I love you, Hermione. I love you. I love you."

"D-Do you?" she asked in a whisper, her eyes shining.

"More than anything in this world," he replied and then kissed her again.

The kiss was sweet but intense.

They stayed that way for the briefest of moments; two friends whose relationship had taken a sudden and unexpected turn; neither wanting to lose the moment, but neither knowing how to react.

Harry finally pulled away just far enough so their lips weren't touching. He stared at her; her lips parted slightly. Her breathing was irregular and her face was flushed.

"Harry-"

"Shhh...I want to be with you and James. He's so beautiful. I won't say that I'm not scored, because I am. Hell, I am only seventeen years old and I am already a father but I want to try. I want to give my son everything I didn't have, all the love I didn't receive."

And Harry captured her lips with his again.

Of course, all that "activity" made James wake up. Crying- hard.

Harry looked at Hermione apologetically. She gave him a shy smile and tried to calm down the little tiger.

They were 'saved' by Madam Pomfrey who had just entered the room.

"What-" was saying the old lady. "Miss Granger! You are awake! Thank Merlin! Please, let me examine you. Hmm, I also think you two need some lessons about how to act with a crying baby."

Harry and Hermione flushed.

Madam Pomfrey examined Hermione and little James. Both were all right.

After Madam Pomfrey departed, Harry and Hermione talked about the Horcruxes and Voldemort. Hermione told Harry about Luna and how the girl had helped her with the pregnancy.

However the talk brought another subject; a dreadful one: Hogsmeade and consequentially, Ginny.

"I want to know what happened in Hogsmeade, Mione. Not the attack but before. Snape said Ginny confronted you. He said she called you-"

"Harry, she was, well, she was upset. She didn't mean it," Hermione said, looking away.

"Hermione-" Harry's voice was stern.

"You have to understand-"

"Hermione-"

"Okay. She- she called me a Mudblood slut and that- that…"

"And what? What else did she say?"

"Please, Harry, she was angry-"

"What did she say, Hermione?" Harry knew Hermione too well- he knew that there was something else.

Hermione sighed, closing her eyes briefly.

"She said that I wanted your money. That I got pregnant on purpose."

"I can't believe her! How dare she!" Harry cried in anger.

"Please, Harry. You have to understand her. I was supposed to be her friend. I betrayed her," Hermione said in a pleading voice, trying to make Harry understand. Of course Ginny's words had hurt her but she couldn't blame her totally.

"But I wasn't with her anymore!"

"I know. But I- we- also know that she still loves you. Harry, I think you need to talk to her. She deserves it. We hurt her, Harry."

Room of Requirement

Harry was in the room of requirement waiting for Ginny. He had sent her a note asking to meet with him.

Ginny arrived about fifty minutes later. She was wearing a white blouse and a blue skirt- a very short blue skirt. Harry wondered if she had done that on purpose.

"Hi, Harry. I-" Ginny said with a small voice but was interrupted by Harry.

"Ginny, I want you to listen to me, okay?"

"Oh. Okay."

"First, I want to say that I am sorry. Hermione and I are sorry. We didn't mean to hurt you. But things happened and we fell in love. It wasn't Hermione's fault. Or mine. It wasn't anybody's fault. We can't control love. What we had, Ginny, was great but- I know it's hard to hear but that wasn't love. I liked you. A lot. I still care about you but it isn't in the same way I feel about Hermione. She and I have a son now. It's terrifying but also wonderful."

"I won't say I am all right, Harry. Because I'm not. Hermione hurt me, not you." Ginny looked hurt and just a little bit angry as she responded. "She was supposed to be my friend. I said terrible things to her and I'm very ashamed of that. I truly want you two to be happy together. Truth be told, I think I don't feel the same about you. I was just shocked. I'll not forgive you because I think there isn't anything to forgive. We aren't together. Now, Hermione- I need time. Maybe someday. But not now. I just want to ask you one thing."

"What?"

"Could we be friends?" she said opening her arms.

"Oh! Of course, I would love to be your friend, Ginny."

And he hugged her, without noticing her vicious smile.

Meanwhile

Hospital Wing

"B-But why he doesn't want my milk?" Hermione shuttered in a small voice. "I-Is there something wrong with him, Madam Pomfrey?"

The old Healer shook her head lightly. "No, Miss Granger. There is nothing wrong with James," she said patiently.

"Then-Then it must be me," Hermione concluded with a heavy sigh. "Is this because I'm a Muggleborn? A-After all, I wasn't even supposed to have children- maybe I'm not worth it and-" Madam Pomfrey held up a hand making the young witch stop.

"You being Muggleborn has nothing to do with it! Like I said before, the Muggleborn disease only occurs in the first pregnancy and it has nothing to do with being worthy or not! It's only a disease- a physical disease- nothing more. Do you think less of Mister Potter because he has to wear glasses?"

"O-Of course not!" Hermione exclaimed. "But then why is James-"

"James was born premature, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey explained kindly. "Sometimes a baby needs to learn how to suck. There's nothing wrong with your milk or something like that. And of course, your nervousness doesn't help either."

Hermione looked down, a little embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. Now, how about I explain to you how..."

AN: What did you think? Did you believe in Ginny's words?

Oh, yes, Hermione got pregnant on her birthday (September 19th) and James was born on April 29.

Thank you everyone who reviewed!

Kisses!