"Could I have everyone's attention, please?" Professor Dumbledore said softly. Everyone ignored him and went about their conversations. Harry gently squeezed Hermione's hand as she continued to cry. Serenity had been missing for six hours straight. Ron and Ginny did everything they possibly could to soothe the young couple. Fred and George, Ron and Ginny's older brothers, even sent some pranks that would surely cheer Hermione up. Unfortunately, they didn't, as usual.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roared. The Great Hall fell silent at once. "Now that I've got your attention, a precious baby has gone missing. Her name is Serenity and she's just two months old. She has black hair and blue eyes. The last thing she was wearing was purple Muggle pyjamas with a yellow duck on the right breast pocket. If any of you have seen her, could you please let Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasly know as soon as possible. That is all." As soon as Dumbledore sat back down, the Hall was buzzing with chatting students.
"Whoever took your baby, Hermione, is definitely jealous of you," Dean Thomas told her.
"O ates yr gts," Ron mumbled, his mouth full of noodles.
"So rude," Hermione muttered as Ron swallowed his noodles.
"Who would be jealous of Hermione?" Harry asked. Dean shrugged his shoulders and helped himself to more noodles.
"There's only two people that hate my guts – yes Ronald I knew what you were saying – are Malfoy and Snape," Hermione said, squeezing Harry's hand.
"Are you suggesting that I took your baby, Granger? I wouldn't touch that thing with a ten – foot wand," Malfoy's voice sounded from behind her. Hermione turned around to see a grinning Malfoy flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, who were also grinning like the idiots they were.
"Go away Malfoy!" Harry growled.
"Oho! Defending the Mudblood are you, Potter?" Malfoy sneered. Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly, but stopped when Malfoy glared at them.
"Do you see this pin, Potter? It's the Head Boy pin. I could get you detention or expelled if I really wanted to, that way Mudblood here could raise that stupid baby on her own without your help," Malfoy taunted. Harry could see Hermione's eyes go wide with fear. She didn't want Draco to expel Harry.
"Mr Malfoy! Mr Crabbe! Mr Goyle! Get back to your table, NOW!" McGonagall called from the Head Table. Draco turned on his heel and headed back to the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.
After supper, Harry, Ron and Hermione worked on their homework together. Every so often, Hermione would look at Serenity's empty bassinet and tears would come to her eyes.
"I can't believe our N.E.W.Ts are just a month away! I've been taking care of Serenity all of this time! I have to buckle down and focus if I don't want to stay at Hogwarts another year!" Hermione muttered to herself. For her sake, she was relived that Harry and Ron didn't hear what Hermione was thinking.
Ron yawned loudly and looked at his watch. It was two o'clock in the morning, which meant that they had been doing homework for seven hours straight. Looking over at his friends, he saw that Hermione was scribbling something on a piece of parchment while Harry slept. Sighing, Ron gathered up his things and headed to the boy's dormitories. As he passed Harry's sleeping figure, he heard Harry mumbling something in his sleep that sounded like singing. Ron shook his head and continued on his way up the stairs.
The next morning at dawn, Harry heard something that sounded like crying. Sitting up, he put on his glasses and went down the staircase to find Hermione, slumped over in a squishy armchair near the fire, crying. Harry cautiously made his way over to Hermione's side and knelt down beside her. Placing a hand under her chin, he tilted her face so that it met his. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and her hair was a mess, making her look like the Bride of Frankenstein.
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked, taking one of her hands in his. She shook her head and continued her crying. Harry gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the boy's dormitories, being careful not to wake Ron, Dean, Neville or Seamus.
As they entered the dorm, Harry placed Hermione on his bed and sat next to her, rocking her back and forth, just listening to her cry.
"Hermione. . ." Harry whispered, being aware that he and Hermione weren't the only people in the room. "I know your upset about Serenity, so am I. Maybe she's with someone who really cares about her, just like we do. Maybe Ginny, Lavender or one of the other girls has her because they want a baby of their own and they just want to see what it's like," he told her, stroking her hair and continuing to rock her. Suddenly, Hermione pushed abruptly away from Harry – an angry look on her face.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU MEAN BY THAT, HARRY JAMES POTTER? I SPENT NINE BLOODY MONTHS CARRYING OUR CHILD AND YOU TELL ME THAT SOME OTHER GIRL HAS HER? DAMN YOU! I DON'T KNOW WHY WE BECAME FRIENDS IN THE FIRST PLACE! I SPENT NIGHTS CRYING OVER OUR DAUGHTER AND YOU ACT LIKE YOU JUST DON'T EVEN CARE!" and with that, Hermione stormed out of the room, not even bothering to look behind her.
Harry and Hermione didn't speak to each other at all that day. Hermione avoided Harry's face, and Harry did the same. Ron looked from one friend to the other, a confused look on his face.
"Okay, why aren't you two talking?" Ron asked Harry as they went to Divination.
"Hermione doesn't think that I don't care about our daughter – which I do," Harry snapped.
"Sorry, Harry. You don't have to bite my head off," Ron told him as they sat at a table near the back of the class.
The day dragged on at a snail's pace, and before Harry knew it, it was time for supper in the Great Hall. Harry walked quickly to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ginny on one side and Ron on the other (as soon as he caught up). Ginny looked tired – her usually combed red hair was in a messy bun at the base of her neck and her robes had yellow stains on them. Looking closer at Ginny's robes, Harry saw that the yellow stains were baby spit – up.
"Ginny, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get baby spit – up on you?" Harry inquired.
"None of your business, Harry," Ginny snapped, getting up from the table. Harry quickly got up and followed her, banging his knee hard on the bench as he attempted to stumble after Ginny.
"Wolfsbane," Ginny told the Fat Lady. The portrait swung open and Harry jumped inside.
"Ginny, wait!" Harry panted, resting against an armchair and catching his breath.
"For what?" Ginny inquired. She was on the third step of the girl's staircase.
"I just want to ask you a few questions, if that's okay with you," Harry told her as soon as he got his breath back.
"Okay," Ginny willingly sat down in an armchair near the fire. Harry sat in the one across from her and drew in a deep breath.
"Question number one: why do you have baby spit – up on you?" Harry asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"I'mwatchingababyforafriend," Ginny mumbled, avoiding Harry's eyes.
"Come again?" Harry questioned.
"I said," Ginny told him, tears coming to her eyes, "I'm watching a baby for a friend."
"Which brings me to my next two questions: what's the baby's name and what friend are you watching the baby for?" Harry inquired.
"Harry, you're going to be mad at me, I just know you will be. The baby's name is Serenity and I'm watching her for," she stopped to wipe the tears out of her eyes. "Hermione Granger."
--TBC--