A/N: Credits go to JKR. I just fiddle with her world. Also, this is a bit of a tearjerker. Have tissues handy if you are a sap like me.


Saturday morning was neither bright and sunny, nor wet and rainy. It was just that normal London day, when clouds float across the sky, sometimes showing a glimpse of blue, and then it is gone in just a blink. Hermione looked out her window as the latest owl left. It was almost time for her lunch, and she had much to think about over her soup and sandwich. The news was not good, at least to her. Of 18 owls sent out to the most respected, or at least, knowledgeable, specialists in her field, 14 had returned with one name, and one name only.

Ivan Sprodorov.

Hermione knew him of course. He was her mentor at the Bulgarian Conservatory when she studied there. At that time, he was just the professor of Language Arts and History. Now, he was the dean of the entire antiquities department. His title was not what dismayed her. It was his location that bothered her. Bulgaria. A place that held both good and bad memories for her, painful memories. Some of the most painful ones she has experienced so far in her young life, and there have been quite a few. A member of the trio was certain to experience heartbreak and sadness at some point along the line. But the ones that scarred her soul and built her walls inside happened when she wasn't with her best friends. It was achingly poetic that they occurred while she was alone, without them there to keep her spirits up. Hermione was shocked when she thought this, for it had never occurred to her before. It felt almost like a betrayal on her part to think that way about her best friends. She swept those thoughts aside to think on later, yet again. She never seemed to be able to focus on them for any significant time, because to do so would paralyze her for a time, and she had much to do, papers to write, books to find, books to put away. Just entirely too much to do.

She internally shook herself and sat up. The report on Mr. Idlewilde's text was finished yesterday. Evan pronounced it top notch and consented to her continuing the research for Oliver. He had a warmth about him when he agreed and Hermione could tell that this was a personal, as well as, professional courtesy Evan extended towards Oliver. Hermione smiled slightly, thinking it was just one more facet of Oliver's personality she never would have thought of. The professional aspect of it was obvious. If the authentication department at F & B's could take credit for this major find, even through a customer, it would mean major attention on the international scene. Evan's motives there were not a surprise at all.

What did surprise Hermione was that as much as she was excited about the book and the chance to perhaps discover one of the magical world's greatest treasures, she was more excited about seeing Oliver at their appointment on Tuesday. Since their lunch meeting earlier in the week, she was constantly bombarded at the oddest times by the memories of his touch, his smile, and his eyes most of all. She had been walking to her flat yesterday afternoon, on her way home from the market. She took a shortcut through the park and she seen a couple sitting on a bench. The way the gentleman was looking at his companion, with such deep love and compassion present in his eyes, struck her deep in her core and reminded her of when she first looked into Oliver's eyes in her office. The openness conveyed in them and spark of heat she had felt made her face flush again and she had to look away, lest she embarrass herself and the couple on the bench. She practically floated to her flat after that.

She was quite embarrassed even now. 'This is a working relationship,' she thought to herself sternly, 'not some whirlwind Muggle romance novel.' She laughed mockingly to herself. "A man like Oliver Wood is NOT, and WOULD not be interested in you in that way, Hermione Granger," she chided softly. Hearing bells ring throughout the city of London, Hermione realized that it was indeed lunchtime and she rose to take her meal to the nearby park and enjoy a pleasant day outdoors, even if it was cloudy. She had other things to think on besides. Ginny had swung by the other day with Chelsea in tow, and had asked Hermione if she was interested in a Girls Day, with complete pampering included. Hermione normally wasn't, but for some reason, she agreed. The talk they had almost had the other day couldn't be put off forever, and Hermione knew it. Ginny was like a pit bull that way, she wouldn't let it rest. Sunday afternoon at 1 Ginny and Hermione would be pampering toes, nails, faces, and hair. Hermione hoped she survived it.

OoOoOoOoO

The door to Hermione's flat was opened with a flourish and on the other side stood Ginny with bags of goodies and a big grin.

"I am so glad you agreed to this, hun," Ginny said as she breezed in, placing her things on Hermione's kitchen table. "I brought just about everything we should need, and," she stalled, "a few things we don't." She pulled out a small cake with cocoa sprinkled on the top and cream layers throughout.

"Tiramisu?" Hermione exclaimed. "Oh, my. I haven't had that is ages. I have missed it so much since I left Italy. You just can't find it made right here anywhere."

Ginny placed it in Hermione's fridge, inspecting the inside as she did. Fruits, veggies, not spoilt milk? She thought. Hmm, someone went to the store. She closed the fridge door.

"Yes, I went shopping. I knew you would harass me about it if my fridge only contained left over take out and nasty cheese," Hermione said laughing.

"I just worry about you. Is that a crime?" Ginny asked, pretending to be all hurt.

"No, I am glad you do. It gives me hope," Hermione said, and clapped her hands together once. "So, what else do you have for us today?"

Two hours later, with their hair in foil to add highlights, the two girls were painting each other's toes, having already done their nails. Music filtered through the flat from the wireless and laughter rang out as they discussed boys, teachers, and changes at Hogwarts.

Ginny laughed and said, "So then, he tells them to kick off, and one girl shoots up so high, he had to retrieve her before she fell. He said he was terrified the entire time that one of them would be his 'Neville'."

Hermione laughed hard when she heard that. "Neville had even less luck on a broom than me, and that is saying something." They both giggled as they thought of their friend. "So, how is Ron doing otherwise?"

Ginny sighed. "Well, his classes take up a lot of his time, so he keeps busy. And with the final Quidditch match done with, he will be able to get his exams out of the way more easily. I swear, he frets more over giving them than he did taking them. He asks about you sometimes," Ginny offered.

"Yeah, right," Hermione scoffed.

"No really. He wonders how you are doing and whether you are, uh…well he asks about you," Ginny said.

"He wonders if I am dating anyone, right?"

"Are you?" Ginny asked pointedly.

"Not at present, but that doesn't mean I want to get back with Ron. We are just too different. I adore him to death, same as Harry. They are a part of me. I just don't think I can give Ron what he needs," Hermione said with a trace of sadness in her voice. She sighed and looked down to Ginny's toes in her lap. "Okay, you now have the most beautiful toes in London."

"Just London eh?" Ginny joked, as she twiddled and admired her pink digits on her feet.

"Well, yeah. Who else matters?" Hermione replied deadpan.

Laughter rang through the flat again.

After they had rinsed out the foils from their hair and put it up in towels, they sat in the kitchen to enjoy their dessert with tea. A soft breeze played through the window curtains to the side of the table.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"Hmm?" she replied as she cut a forkful of her cake.

"What ever happened with Viktor?" Ginny asked.

Hermione stopped chewing and swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, we all knew you two were dating again when you were studying in Bulgaria. So, what happened?" Ginny prodded.

"Same thing that always happens, Gin. We broke up," Hermione hedged. She fiddled with her fork and finally set it down and picked up her cup of tea. "I had my studies, he had his Quidditch. We grew apart. It happens."

"But what happened to cause the break?"

Hermione set her cup back down without taking a drink. She concentrated on her napkin, folding it into a fan and then letting it pop back open from its accordion shape. "Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Because, up until that point, you were this brilliant ball of energy. Your mind raced ahead of everyone else's to see the final conclusion before anyone even knew there was an issue. You laughed more; talked more…you were just more before that time in Bulgaria. We all thought you two would announce your engagement at any time, and then the owl came, saying you were on your way to Egypt," Ginny stated in a rush.

"I just figured it was a break from each other and I knew how important your education was to you. But, when you came back for Chelsea's 4th birthday, you were here and gone so fast, Harry and Ron were shocked. Even though I was focused on my baby's special day, I still saw how you didn't laugh as much. You barely smiled, except when Chelsea would talk to you, and you were so thin, a stiff breeze would've blown you over. They didn't see those things. But I did. And then I knew. I knew it was when you were with Victor that something happened to change you. I just would like to know what," Ginny finished softly, tears building in her eyes.

Hermione fought back her own tears as she took a deep breath.

"You really want to know what happened?" Hermione said quietly.

"Yes, please tell me. Let me help if I can," Ginny said, reaching across to take Hermione's hand.

"Well, I don't know about helping me, but I will tell you," Hermione said, squeezing Ginny's hand, a lone tear escaping down her cheek.

"Viktor and I met again while I was studying at the Bulgarian Conservatory. He was surprised to see me again, pleasantly I like to think," Hermione stopped and took a sip of her tea. She continued, "We only saw each other sporadically, as he was busy with Quidditch and I was engrossed in my studies. Once Quidditch season was over, he sought me out at the Conservatory. His family had been major contributors for many generations and he knew most of the faculty. We started to spend more and more free time together, and I will be honest with you, I was starting to fall in love with him."

Ginny gasped. "Did he feel the same?"

"I thought so at the time. Our worlds were so different, still are, really. His family is very prominent, much like the Malfoys, only without the Death Eater stigma attached. But, they all made me feel so welcome and at home. We would dine with his parents occasionally, and they were a very formal, but loving family. My studies were flying along and so were we." At this point, Hermione blushed. "We became intimate and it was beautiful, everything I had hoped it would be. He was required to travel for the team, promotional stuff. I missed him so while he was gone, but when he returned, it was like falling all over again," Hermione said in a rush, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"So why in heaven's name did you two break it off?" Ginny said, wiping her own tears from her face.

"Well, the promotional trips took up a lot of his free time in the off season. And then the new season was to start soon, so he began practicing more and more. He wasn't around and I missed him so much. But, I knew that this was the life he led when we started seeing each other again. I couldn't blame him, and I still don't, not really. Then I missed," Hermione took a deep breath, "I missed my monthly."

Ginny's eyes widened. Hermione looked up at Ginny to see the realization on her face.

"You were pregnant?" she asked.

"Yup."

"And what did Viktor say?" Ginny asked cautiously.

"He was happy, at first. I was only like 6 weeks along, so I was getting terrible sick. I had a hard time keeping up with my studies, because I spent quite a few morning lectures in the ladies room. I also was totally put off by the idea of sex at that point. Everything seemed to set off my stomach and I was sick any time Viktor would make an attempt to be intimate. I lost quite a bit of weight, and didn't get much sleep, as I was trying to make up for missing so many lectures and panel discussions by doing more research, writing more essays," Hermione said with a hitch in her voice. "He had a match in France the day I lost the baby." Tears flowed down her face freely.

"Oh sweet Merlin, Mione. Why didn't you come home?" Ginny pleaded.

Hermione stood up and grabbed the box of tissues from the box by the fridge. She walked back to the table and sat down. She blew her nose gently and said, "What for, Ginny? The baby was gone, Viktor wasn't there when I needed him most, and I honestly just wanted to die."

"But, Mione, we would have taken care of you. You know that," Ginny said.

"Yes, I do know that. Now. At that point in my life, Gin, all I wanted was to do it on my own. I wanted to succeed or fail, on my own. It was foolish and childish, but it was my mindset at the time. When Viktor returned from his match, I was still in the infirmary at the Conservatory. He came in and looked at me with such," Hermione's forehead wrinkled, "such, pity and disgust in his eyes. It occurred to me that night, for those two emotions to be present, he had to have been feeling quite differently than I had for some time. I came to find out that he had been having an affair with one of the promotional staff members during the off season; even before I found out I was pregnant. I was devastated. I wanted to die more than anything, but I didn't. I lived through it, and I continued on with my studies and moved on. There was no big bang to our break up. More like a whimper really," Hermione said, with a bad taste in her mouth. She took another sip of her tea.

Looking up at Ginny, Hermione saw not pity, not disgust, but deep sorrow and compassion from her best friend. Hermione's eyes filled again and she dabbed at them with her tissues.

"So, that is the story of what happened in Bulgaria. The End," Hermione finished.

"And now?" Ginny inquired.

Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"What are you doing about it now?" Ginny said.

Hermione thought on this. 'What am I doing about it now,' she said to herself. She shrugged.

"Just as I thought. You are still blaming yourself for it, aren't you?"

Hermione's eyes flashed. "Blaming myself for what, Gin? That he cheated on me? No, I know for a fact that it was all his, and partly that little tart he was seeing, fault. I did nothing to deserve that and I don't feel responsible for it one iota. The only things I will take blame for are letting my education falter like it did, and-, and-," Hermione sobbed. She covered her face with her hands.

Ginny got up and rushed over to Hermione to gather her in her arms. Hermione wrapped herself around Ginny's belly as best she could, and cried. She had never really let herself mourn her child. It would make it too real for her. She could cope if she just buried the hurt and the pain of that one loss deep in her heart. She cried her very heart out that afternoon. Ginny held her, with her own tears falling off her chin onto the towel covering Hermione's hair. She whispered and shushed her just like her mother did when she was a little girl and would come in the house with her heart broken by her brother's little antics.

Hermione was now to the point of sniffling and deep breathing, trying to regain control once more.

Ginny felt her take a deep breath and muttered, "Men are such gits sometimes, eh?"

Hermione laughed and squeezed Ginny's around her back. At that moment, the baby kicked and Hermione felt it on her cheek. She pulled back quickly and looked at Ginny's face.

"I am so sorry, Ginny. I didn't hurt you, did I?" Hermione asked with fear in her voice.

"Nah. He does that a lot now. Want to feel him?" She said smiling.

"Can I?"

"Sure, just place your hand where he kicked last. He usually goes for a few minutes and then moves," Ginny said with pride.

Hermione timidly placed her hand on Ginny's round belly and waited for another little kick. This time she felt it and laughed lightly, a single tear coming free. "Boy, he has a right tough little leg there, eh?"

"That isn't the half of it. He likes to get me right under my ribcage sometimes. I almost lose my breath when he does that," Ginny said, as she rubbed her hand over her distended stomach.

"Does it hurt much?" Hermione asked.

"No, at least not until the last two months. By that time, he will be so big, that any stretch he does will feel like my entire insides are trying to get out," she chuckled.

"I missed so much when you were pregnant with Chelsea. I am so sorry I wasn't there for you," Hermione said with a trace of regret in her voice.

"Well, you did get to see her birth, so that was important."

"I will never forget Harry's face when you called him everything but a man in the birthing room," Hermione laughed.

"Well, I was quite peeved with my darling husband at that point. Labor is just what they say it is, work," Ginny said with a trace of heat.

Hermione took her hand off of Ginny's belly, and stood up. "You are the most amazing wife, mother, and best friend I know. I am so thankful that you have Harry to love you. You are the best for each other and that is what you both deserve." She enveloped Ginny in a long hug.

Ginny started crying again and when Hermione pulled away, Ginny fluttered her hands in front of her. "Oh I need more tissue." She wiped her eyes and nose. "I am so glad we still have facials to do. Harry wouldn't understand-" she began.

"Wouldn't understand what, babe?" Harry asked as he and Ron, with Chelsea in tow, stood in the living room. They had just Apparated in without a sound.

"Aunt Mione!" Chelsea cried as she raced into the kitchen. She leapt into Hermione's arms and flung her arms around her neck. "I have a new secret for you," she whispered in Hermione's ear.

"Really? Well, let's just wait until we are alone, okay?" Hermione whispered back. She hugged Chelsea tight and looked at Ginny rubbing her daughter's back. 'Thank you,' she mouthed to her.

'Your welcome,' Ginny mouthed back. She blew her nose loudly and started out of the kitchen just as Ron complained, "Mione, you don't have a TV?"

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A/N: Ok, I need a tissue now.

Please just read and review.