Chapter 10 – Papers of Doom or Happiness?

A few days later, Hermione put down the Daily Prophet and tapped her finger in a steady beat against the table. It was already all over the paper, that the Minister of Magic was missing important meetings. She had sent an owl calling in sick on her second day here in Hogwarts, right after she had found out about her job, but that wouldn't do for long. She had to cut herself loose from her old life. Taking a quill and a parchment, she started writing to the Wizengamot to resign, she had delayed dealing with the outcome long enough, fearing she could regret her decision.

Maybe she seemed impulsive to an outsider, but there was a plan in motion for her. She knew it wasn't the smartest one, but she hadn't forever to figure out what to do.

She had only picked up the Prophet to see if news of her divorce petition had made it into publical knowledge. The owl had delivered it to Ron and the Ministry yesterday, but it looked like nothing transpired. The divorce hadn't been something she had to mull over for long at any rate.

XxX

Ronald Weasley was an impulsive man, a strategist if he kept his mind calm, and a father who loved his children. He would do nearly everything possible for them. Hermione had been a good mother, but with the long working hours at the ministry and the strain her post had put on her, the children had always come to him with small problems and every day questions.

After the blowup at Hogwarts, he had taken out his anger on the new developments he and George had been working on for the joke shop until he'd felt something like normality again. Of course Hermione had had to send the papers right when he felt a bit better and was working on a strategy to show her how much her family needed her. It had nearly caused a second blowup, but this time he had been able to stop himself.

Maybe his daughter was right and they needed some time separated to look at their relationship like an outsider would, with an objective look. He could see now how the constant bickering would disturb the children. It was something he wanted to work on, his children deserved a good childhood and their parents were supposed to have that in mind.

It still didn't change the fact that he had divorce papers on his table at home, that he needed to explain his children their mother wouldn't be home in the winter break and that his mood was constantly bad for nearly a week. He still had work to do and a brooding man wasn't what a joke shop needed.

George took care of the costumers after he sent Ron back to theback of the store, where he was out of sight. He hadn't asked what was wrong the last few days nor had he been to goofy once he was around Ron and it was something Ron was more than grateful for. While storing the store, he had more than enough time to ponder his options.

XxX

Hermione met up with Harry at 12 Grimmauld Place after finishing her letter. He had sent an invitation the second day of her stay at Hogwarts. She knew she needed to take a few days to prepare meeting him mentally. Between stopping herself from hexing everything that upset her, her nightmares, her husband and her daughter, she had needed to calm down first. To settle into a life without war was her dream come true, but it was hard the way it happened. She had come to terms with the life in hiding, the loved ones she had lost and the joy of raising her children. To be thrown into a place were everything she knew and loved was out of her reach made her feel hamstrung. Only now that her plan was set in motion she felt like she could face Harry.

When she first entered the old house, she was in awe. It had changed a lot since the days of war and the time it was used as a headquarter for the Order of Phoenix. Harry and Ginny had successfully made it into a welcoming home. The walls were coloured in light orange, making the entry look bright and cosy. The old dark wood was freshly stained and there was no shouting upon her entry.

"How did you get rid of Mrs. Black?" She asked looking at a big family portrait of the Potters instead of the old curtains that had hidden the screaming lady.

"Don't ask. It was an odyssey. I had to ask someone from the Department of Mysteries for help in the end. When Ginny was pregnant the first time she had a screaming match with Mrs. Black, and I knew she had to go. Fast!" Harry remembered and shuddered. He drove her into the kitchen and offered tea when they sat down to talk. The kitchen was modern and Hermione saw some muggle inventions standing around like a mixer. The tiles were a muted white and harmonized with the wooden colours that continued from the hall to this room.

"There are so many things I want to ask you, but I fear to bring up bad memories. So please tell me if you are uncomfortable in any way Hermione." He started, looking at her. There was something he had to get of his chest, but it was for her ears alone, so he had asked Ginny to spend the day somewhere else. His beautiful wife had been furious at first but she understood him and was visiting her mother now, only a Floo call away should he need her afterwards.

"I'm sorry for dying and leaving you behind. And I'm even more sorry for my idiotic son to have messed up your life so badly. To hear your story frightened me to a degree, and made me thankful all the more. Voldemort must have been after you, if you planned all the coups and I know you being you, that you hit them hard."

I added the part with Ron last minute because I noticed he never got to voice his opinions. Maybe Harry is a bit to understanding? I reread HP8 the last few days to remember the dynamics and noticed he had a rather bad temper with Albus. Lets see...

Next week will most likely be early, because I'll spend a long weekend camping with friends.