Word Count: 748


"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Hermione asks, brows raising as she folds her arms over her chest.

Ron doesn't even bother to look guilty or ashamed. More likely than not, he doesn't see anything strange about a slice of leftover cake at seven in the morning. "In this house," he tells her, grinning so brightly that the corners of his eyes crease, "we have chocolate cake for breakfast."

"We most certainly do not, Ronald! It's bad for your teeth."

"It's bad for your teeth at night," he counters, and he looks so pleased with himself.

Hermione thinks that maybe it's best not to argue with his logic. "Just a small slice," she says, and she promises herself it won't count if she stops by for a proper breakfast on her way to work.

Hermione puts the dishes away, and it breaks her heart. Three sets of dishes, one for her and each of her children. Only last month, there was a fourth.

"Mum!" Rose calls, appearing in the doorway. "Mum, Hugo took my lucky quill!"

"Did not!" Hugo yells, appearing behind his sister. He's already a head taller, gangly like his father.

It's just another stab of pain. "Hugo, give your sister her quill back."

"But I don't have it!"

"Yes, he does! Give it back, or I swear I will hurt you!"

"Hey! Do not threaten your brother," Hermione says firmly. "Both of you, to your rooms. Now!"

They know that tone. Neither argue. They just mutter their compliance under their breath and stalk off.

She sighs and closes her eyes. "What am I even doing?"

It's a windy day. The cool air feels good on her skin. Ordinarily, Hermione would be able to relax. But not today. Her mind is so cluttered, and she doesn't know how to process it all.

The words just fall out. "I'm pregnant."

She had planned to tell Ron over dinner, after she'd had plenty of time to get her words together. Now, it's out there, and she is shivering, and she knows it has nothing to do with the chill of the wind.

Ron wraps an arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm… Wow." He laughs. "We're having a baby."

"I'm scared," she admits.

Ron is better with kids than she is. She's seen the way he is with his nieces; it just comes so naturally to him. But Hermione? She knows how to look after children, but she is hardly maternal.

"You're gonna be brilliant," he assures her, kissing her nose. "You've never met a problem you couldn't solve."

Tears fall from Hermione's eyes, and she lets out anguished wail. Ron had always had so much faith in her. She hadn't deserved it at all. Look at her now. He's gone, and she has been left behind to pick up the pieces, but she keeps breaking.

She wonders if she will ever feel normal again. Everyone says she will, but she doubts it. Andromeda still hasn't quite recovered; she's simply learned to live with the pain.

With trembling hands, she wipes her eyes, sniffling. "Look at me," she whispers. "How useless."

Except Ron wouldn't have called her useless. He would have had the perfect solution, some silly little notion Hermione never would have considered.

When an Auror dies on the job, the Minister comes to visit. The day Kingsley appears at her door in the middle of the afternoon, Hermione knows her world is crashing.

He catches her when she collapses, making soothing sounds as she sobs and screams.

"I'm required to give you this," he tells her, pulling out a letter from his pocket. "I know it doesn't help, but your husband was a brave man."

"One of the bravest," Hernione agrees.

"I'll put the kettle on."

Hermione picks herself up. Ron wouldn't want her to break like this. He would find a way to bring a little joy back into the world.

"Kids!" she calls. "Kids, come here!"

A moment later, Hugo skids to a stop in the kitchen. Rose follows soon after, looking particularly irritated. Hermione hasn't been particularly attentive to their needs as well. That's one more thing to feel awful about.

Except that isn't the solution. She won't fix anything by moping around, feeling sorry for herself. If she wants to honor her husband's memory, the best thing she can do is carry on.

"How do you two feel about chocolate cake for lunch?" Hermione asks.