Disclaimer: Not mine…
Summary: Hermione gets some very bad news.
Author's notes: Ah, yes. Another chapter is here. It's pretty short. Most of them have been lately so please forgive me. And please review!
Ron sat in a chair next to Hermione's hospital bed. He'd been there, watching her sleep, for the past three hours. He wanted to be there when she woke up to tell her about the baby. He didn't know what to say, really. He just thought it would be better if family told her, rather than a Healer. Ron sighed as he studied Hermione. Her face was covered in bruises and scratches. Her left arm had been broken in three places and both of her legs as well. A wave of nausea swept over Ron as he thought about what the Hunters must have done to his family. He and Harry had found some knives and odd contraptions that Harry had called 'guns'. The scene had been a terrible thing to see. Ron even had to excuse himself for a moment while he and Harry were looking for survivors.
Ron sighed. He should have died right along with them. He shouldn't have run away like a coward. He'd known what was going on the moment he heard Hermione scream. But, instead of helping his family, he ran and hid in the forest. When he went back to the house a few hours later he found Harry there. That's when the two of them took Hermione and Fred into the living room and away from the gory kitchen.
Just then Hermione began to stir. Ron sat upright in his chair and grabbed hold of her hand. Hermione's eyes flickered open and she stared up at the ceiling, trying to focus her eyes. She then turned to Ron and smiled.
"Good morning," she said.
Ron furrowed his brow. "Hermione," He said slowly and cautiously. "Do you know where you are?"
Hermione frowned. "I'm not crazy Ron," she said. "We're at the Burrow, of course."
Ron sighed and squeezed Hermione's hand. "Look around you," He told her. "This isn't the Burrow. You're in St. Mungo's."
Hermione glanced around the room and her face became fearful as she began to take in her surroundings. She looked back at Ron with tears in her eyes.
"Why am I here?" She asked. "Is it my baby?"
"You don't remember what happened?"
"No, tell me."
"Hermione…five days ago, we were attacked by the Hunters. They threw you down the stairs…you almost died."
"What?" Tears were falling down Hermione's cheeks as she began to remember. "Harry…he saved me. He's alive. Ron, he's alive!"
"I know. But, some people didn't survive the attack."
"Who? Fred? Is Fred alright?"
"Fred's going to be okay. You, Fred, Ginny, and I are the only survivors."
Hermione let out a sob and covered her face with her hands. "And the baby…" Ron shook his head and looked down at his feet.
Ron stayed with Hermione for hours while she lay there crying. He held her hand and tried to stay strong for her. But inside he felt as though his soul was shattering into a million tiny pieces and he feared that it would never be whole again.
Ginny sat nervously across from Draco at the long wooden table of the Malfoy Manor's dining room. On it were placed all kinds of different foods. It was so much different from the meals that she had had at the Burrow. How they had managed to obtain so much food she had no idea. Everything was beautiful. The plates were made of solid gold, and the silver-ware sparkled with cleanliness. Lucius was seated at the head of the table and he sat very patiently, a look of intense calm on his face. Ginny quickly glanced at Draco only to find him in the same pose as Lucius. Ginny was quickly becoming frustrated. Did these people never talk to each other? Just then Lucius cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Well," he began, "tonight has been quite eventful, hasn't it?" Lucius glanced in Draco's direction.
"Um," Draco said, "Yes it has, father. I've been—"
"Draco," Lucius interrupted, "Where did you say you met this girl?"
Ginny caught her breath in her throat. She couldn't be discovered. Did he know? How could he know?
"We met in Knockturn Alley, Father," Draco answered calmly.
"It just seems a little strange to me," Lucius said as he looked Ginny up and down, "I've never heard of any Grangerford's. Why would you two choose to be engaged so soon?"
Draco shot a panicked look at Ginny. "Mr. Malfoy," Ginny began in a voice an octave lower than her actual one, "We've chosen to become engaged because we are very much in love. It was like love at first sight. I saw him there, buying a shrunken head and I knew that I would never be the same again."
"A shrunken head?" Lucius asked.
"It was for a friend," Draco responded.
"I see," Lucius seemed to be satisfied with this, "Well, dinner is getting cold. Let's eat!"