Chapter 16: Are all Weasleys born with red hair?
Inside the house Ron pulled off his coat and hung it in the hall closet but as he made to close the door something made him pause. He closed the door, turned toward the main living quarters and stood there a moment or two as he contemplated what wasn't right. It was too quiet, he realized. Even though it was just his parents and Ginny who lived there at the moment the house was usually a bustle of activity as the rest of the Weasley's swept in and out on a daily bases. On top of that there wasn't the usual smell of his mother's delicious cooking wafting through the coridors.
"Mum! Dad! Gin!" He called into the eerily quiet house. "Is anyone home?"
"We're in here, Ronald." Mrs. Weasleys called from the living room. His face lit bright at the sound of her voice. For a moment he feared he was going to have to wait to tell his family the good news. Ron walked briskly into the living room with a smile planted firmly on his face. He stopped short and the smile disappeared when he saw that his entire family, including his married brothers, their wives and even Fred and George's girlfriends Angelina and Alicia were gathered there.
Ron's heart fell to the pit of his stomach in dread. "What's going on? What's happened?"
Molly Weasley rose from her seat and rushed forward to take her son's arm and pull him toward the group, pushing him onto the couch between Fleur and Ginny.
"We've called a family meeting, Ronald." Molly said as she retook her place next to her husband.
"A family meeting?" He asked, his confusion evident on his expressive face. "What about?"
"About you, Ron." Bill said turning away from the fire place. "We're worried about you." He said, getting right to the point.
"It's been almost two years since Hermione disappeared," Charlie said, the sorrow he felt for his brother clear in his voice, "and you're just not moving on."
Ron's mouth dropped open with disbelief. "You're staging an intervention? Now? You're staging an intervention now?"
"Yes, Ron. We are." George said. "I hate to admit it bro, but you got us all worried, even Fred and I."
"You don't have fun anymore." Fred dug his toe into the floor. "All your time is spent looking for Hermione and…" he sighed heavily. "And the truth is that if you haven't found her yet, you're probably never going to."
Ron let his head fall into his hands which were propped on his knees. His entire body shook. Worried, Ginny wrapped her arms around his shoulder and rested her head on his back. "I'm so sorry, Ron."
His body still shaking, he lifted his head up and his family tensed with worry when they realized he wasn't shaking with tears but with laughter. "Merlin. I can't believe you're doing this today."
"Ron, are you all right?" Charlie asked, taking a hesitant step forward.
"I'm fine, Charlie. I just…" Ron broke into silent laughter once again. After several minutes and many deep breaths he lifted his head to face his family, much calmer. Ron licked his dry lips and ran his fingers through his fiery locks before he began speaking. "I found this," he began by lifting the chain from around his neck so that his family could see the crystal suspended from it, "the night Aurelia was born. Hermione and I both have one. They work like our clock, mum. Mine tells me what is happening to her, while hers tells what is happening to me." He looked down at the necklace reverently. "I gave it to her the night before the last battle. In the chaos following it got lost and Madam Pompfrey only found it and returned it to me several months ago with the rest of my belongings from that day. To make a long story short, I didn't find it again until the night Aurelia was born. Finding this necklace again wouldn't have meant anything if it had been glowing red, but it wasn't."
"What does red mean?" Ginny asked both curious and anxious.
"If it was red it would have meant that she was dead." Ron said bluntly. "But it wasn't. It was a strange shade of grey and pink."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Molly asked with tearful eyes as Ron slipped the necklace back over her head. "Hermione's alive and you didn't even tell us."
Ron shrugged. "I know how worried you have all been about me. And I knew if I told you you would try and stop me from getting my hopes up, but I couldn't let you do that."
"Ron you're such a git." Fred said stepping forward. "If you would have told us, we would have helped you."
"You great prat." George agreed. "We could have been helping you these past months and maybe we would have found her by now."
Ron chuckled robustly worrying his family further. "Funny you should say that?"
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked scooting closer to her brother.
Ron shook his head, "It has to do with the irony of you choosing today to confront me on this issue."
"Ron," Ginny said in a lowered voice. "I don't understand. What exactly are you talking about"
Ron got up and walked around the sofa and stood behind it, placing his hands on the back so that he could put his weight against it.
"You don't have to worry about helping me anymore. Harry and I have been looking since that night." Ron took a steadying breath, "And today it paid off." Ron took a great pause for added suspense. "We found her this morning."
"What?" Everyone who was sitting bound to their feet and whirled to face him.
"You found her?" Tears sprang to Ginny's eyes.
"Is she all right?" Molly asked, her eyes welling with tears.
"Where did you find her?" Fred and George asked as one.
"Where is she?" Ginny asked loudly so that her voice carried over the swell of other voices in the room.
"She's outside. But before any of you rush out to greet her," Ron halted them in their tracks. "There's something you have to know first." He took a deep breath to bolster his resolve. "When Draco attacked her, Hermione lost her memory. She doesn't remember me or Harry or anybody. We've told her that she is witch, which she has finally come to accept, but she's still a little titchy about it. She's agreed to stay for the week and decide at the end whether or not she wants to remain here with us or return to the Muggle life she has now.."
"You haven't told her about Voldemort yet, have you?" his father asked with shrewd insight, breaking the silence that had hung in the air since Ron finished.
"No. I didn't think she could handle that today on top of everything else."
Arthur nodded his agreement as the rest of the room mumbled amongst themselves.
"Well," Ginny said going around the side of the sofa and giving Ron a push toward the door. "Bring her in. I'm aching to see her."
"I'll get her in a moment. But before I do, I need to tell you that Hermione is not the only surprise you are going to receive today. Think on that." And with that Ron left the room, leaving his family to ponder what exactly he meant by that last statement. Ten agonizing minutes later Ron came back into the tense room, towing a scared looking girl with bushy brown hair slightly behind him.
Hermia hid herself behind Ron's tall frame, peering around his arm at the room filled with red haired people. "It's all right, Mione." Ron said soothingly giving her hand an encouraging squeeze. "There's nothing to be scared of in this room."
Hermia nodded and took a hesitant step out from behind his back, plastering herself to the side of his body.
"Would you like me to introduce you to everyone?"
Growing tired of being scared, particularly in a room where all the people were smiling at her like they knew her and lover her, Hermia steeled her spine and stepped slightly away from Ron, jutting her chin out in determination. "Yes, Ron. That would be lovely."
Ron gave her hand another squeeze before directing her to the two oldest people in the room. "Hermione, this is my Mum and Dad, Molly and Arthur Weasley."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Hermia held out her hand which Mrs. Weasley ignored, choosing instead to wrap the frightened girl in a warm hug. "Handshakes are for acquaintances dear. Hugs are for family. Welcome home child."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Hermia's voice was muffled against the older woman's shoulder.
"Call me Molly." She said cupping Hermia's face like she would her own child's.
Hermia smiled her thanks before turning to the slightly balding man with horn rimmed glasses and the same blue eyes she saw in Ron.
"Welcome back, Hermione." Arthur said, surprising the entire room when he two wrapped the young girl in a fatherly hug. "We missed you."
"Thank you, sir."
Hermia looked at Ron with surprised eyes when she pulled away from his father. Ron had assured her that she would be welcomed with open arms, but she hadn't realized how much she had been loved and apparently missed by this family that technically wasn't even her own.
"Why don't we continue down the line?" Ron said pulling her to where Bill was waiting with his family. "This is Bill," he indicated the second tallest Weasley child just being a touch shorter than Ron himself, "his wife Fleur," he indicated the beautiful girl with opulent white skin and a sheet of silvery white hair, "and their daughter Aurelia."
"Velcome ome Ermione." Fleur cried as she wrapped Hermione in her slender arms. "I'm zorry." She said pulling away and dabbing at her eyes. "I am not usually zis emotionzal."
Bill grinned broadly as he wrapped Hermia in a tight hug. "Don't mind her she's expecting again."
"Congratulations." Hermia said pulling away and smiling happily at the couple who slid their arms around each other. "I wish you a happy, and healthy pregnancy."
"Zank you." Fleur pressed a kiss to her cheek before Hermia crouched down to the small girl nearly the same age as her own daughters hiding behind Fleur's leg. The little girl was the spitting image of her mother except her hair which differed from her mother's sheet of silver hair. It blazed bright and attractively in a smooth sheet of copper hair. With her father's fiery red her white skin look even more delicate and fair.
"Hello there, sweetheart." Hermia said softly. "What's your name?"
The little girl pulled her thumb out of her mouth long enough to say "Leea."
"Leea. That's a beautiful name."
"Fank you." The girl said again before hiding even further behind her mother's leg.
Hermia smiled warmly at the girl before stretching back to her full height and allowing Ron to pull her away for more introductions.
"This is my brother Charlie and his wife Sarah." The couple smiled invitingly at her. "And this little man," Ron said ruffling a mop of red hair, "is their son John."
Charlie too wrapped Hermia in a brotherly hug, but unlink Bill's wife Sarah held out her hand for Hermia to shake. "I'm sorry. I really only ever spoke to you once before you disappeared. But I've heard so much about you. It's truly an honor."
"Thank you." Hermia accepted her hand shake and returned it with a warm smile.
"Hello John." She turned her warm smile on the young boy. She held out her hand to the small boy tucked secure in his mother's arms. John looked at it for a moment before he took it excitedly and shook it emphatically.
Hermia's laugh trickled through the room like a bell. "That's quiet a handshake, John. You're going to be big like you're daddy someday aren't you?"
The small boy nodded excitedly, his entire face lit up with joy at the prospect of growing as big as his daddy.
Ron chuckled as he directed Hermia on to his next sibling in line. "This is Percy and his wife Penny." Ron gently stroked his finger along the cheek of the sleeping baby in Penny's arms, "And their new baby Edmund."
Percy instantly stuck out his hand to shake Hermia's stiffly but relented in the end and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Welcome home, Hermione." He said with all the conviction he could muster. "Things just haven't been the same without you."
"It's wonderful to see you again." Penny offered her hand. "I would hug you," she explained, "But I just got Edmund to fall asleep and I would hate to wake him up."
"Don't worry. I completely understand." Hermia assured her as she stroked the sleeping baby's soft cheek. "He's beautiful." The baby lifted a tiny fist near his hair drawing her attention to the shadow of red down sprouting there. She let her fingers graze the silky patch. "Are all Weasley's born with red hair?"
Penny snickered softly. "It appears that way, doesn't it?"
"Bloody hell, Hermione, stop cooing over the baby and come coo over us."
"George Weasley!" Molly snapped. "Watch your language with young ears around."
Hermia turned her attention away from the tiny baby and towards the two red headed men who were undoubtedly the twins Ron had told her about. "You must be Fred and George."
"Our name precedes us." The twin on the left said beaming.
"It's good to know ickle Roonie is good for something." said the twin on the right.
"I'm Fred." said the twin on the left.
"And I'm George." said the twin on the right.
"It really is a pleasure to meet you." Hermia said with a chuckle, offering them her hand.
Fred stared at her hand like it was something repugnant before he shook his head. "No. Mum's right."
"Hugs are for family." Said George agreeing with his brother. Before Hermia knew what was happening, the two men sandwiched her between them in a ferocious bear hug, squeezing her with enough strength to force the air right out of her lungs.
"Will you two stop fooling around?" Came a disgruntle female voice behind them. "I want to say hello to her."
Fred and George reluctantly released her with one last hug, allowing her to turn around and see a beautiful girl with smooth red hair that fell to her waist, and warm brown eyes. "You must be, Ginny."
"I am."
"I was told," Hermia took an awkward step forward, "you were my best girl friend."
The redhead nodded. "I was."
Hermia spoke hesitantly. "Maybe, someday, we could be that again."
"I would really like that." Ginny said, her eyes tearing up and spilling forth before she threw her arms around Hermia's neck and cried into her shoulder. "I've missed you so much, Hermione. You have no idea."
Hermia awkwardly returned the hug. "I think I do." A single tear slide down her own cheek. She whipped it quickly away when Ginny started to pull back.
"So that's it." Ginny said, swiping harshly at her eyes. "That's everyone."
"Not quiet." Ron stepped forward and retrieved Hermia's hand. "Hermione's met all of you. But you haven't met everyone yet." Ron turned towards the open doorway. "Harry, you can come in now." He called into the hallway before turning back around to face the room at large. Ron waited to make sure Harry was in the room before he spoke again. "Mum, dad, everyone I want you to meet Hero and Helena, Hermione and…my daughters."
