Chapter #4—Nowhere

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters in the book, or anything else related to the book.

A/N: While writing this chapter I listened to song: "Always All Ways" by the Lostphrophets. I thought it suited the chapter. Also I do not know how the hospital works in terms of how and when you get to leave relative to your injuries so I just made it the way I wanted it; so I'm sorry if it is completely inaccurate.

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As the days went on and Hermione's condition stabilized Ron and Jack saw more and more of Harry. He seemed to always be around, helping or sitting. It had been a week since he had shown up. Jack had grown extremely attached to Harry, and Ron couldn't help but wish that Harry would disappear again.

"Harry, Harry, look at the picture I drew!" Jack exclaimed, throwing his hand up in the air grasping the drawing tightly.

"Lemme see," Harry smiled carefully removing the paper from Jack's destructive grip. "Wow, you're quite the artist," Harry beamed as a smile crept to the edges of his mouth.

"Nah," Jack whispered, unsure of what to do with Harry's complement. He looked back at room 401 where Ron sat at Hermione's side. The grin slipped from his face almost instantly with a glance at the absent look on Hermione's face. He turned to Harry, their green eyes locking. Harry picked him up in his arms, knocked on the door until Ron looked over to him. Harry then motioned down the hall and Ron just nodded before redirecting his attention to Hermione.

"Come on Jack," Harry uttered as he beckoned for the child to follow. They headed through the hospital, locked hand in hand. Harry didn't mind the sticky fingers, as long as they were safe and out of harm's way. "So," Harry desperately attempted to break the awkward silence he had accidentally created and Jack had barely noticed.

"When's she going to wake up?" His words weren't hesitant, his voice wasn't quivering and he didn't lose composer, not that a two year old would. But his words hit Harry right in the heart. If only he knew when she would wake up Jack would have answers. This was killing Harry; knowing there was a possibility of her never waking up, her last memory with him would be the back of him.

You were a mistake.

Her words echoed repeatedly through his thoughts as he forgot to comfort Jack with any words. The child then looked up at him, watching his face dearly. "What's wrong?"

"Erm— " How was a two year old to understand such issues that had happened. At first Harry had assumed that the simplest terms wouldn't explain this predicament, only long explanations could offer a rightful explanation of Harry's pain. But he had understood, right then, that only the simplest of words could give his emotions justice. "I love your mum," He sighed. But Jack had obviously asked what was wrong. Harry didn't think that loving Hermione was wrong at all. He considered it the one right thing he had done with his life, but he dare not tell anyone. There would only be confusion. "Say Jack, have you seen your grandparents lately?"

"Not really" He retorted with the upmost confidence.

Before he could respond he remembered, that of course, the boy had two sets of grandparents. Why had it come so easy to say no? Had he not seen either of them for a while? "Do you want to go see them?" He asked politely, and with Jack's nod he smiled. "And your Auntie Ginny?"

"Who?" A puzzled look was drawn intricately on his face, not hesitating at his lack of subtlety.

"Your Aunt, you know, red hair just like dad, you must not remember." Harry concluded, knowing that two year olds weren't very reliable sources. "Hold on tight," He whispered as he and Jack apparated to the Burrow. The front steps were all too familiar. As he knocked on the door he felt regret wash through his system, Ron, what if Ron didn't want Jack to come here? But the door opened to reveal a cheerful Mrs. Weasly.

"Harry!" She exclaimed, a grin spread quickly across her face, "Oh, my, I haven't seen you in the longest time," She bent over and hugged him tightly, "And who is this little boy?" She smiled once again.

"Erm—I—uh," Sheer panic flooded through his body replacing all his blood. Ron didn't talk to his family anymore. What had Harry done? "This is Jack." He smiled patting Jack on the head and plopping the boy onto the ground and out of his arms.

"Well, come in, come in, you're always welcome here," Her face was still lined with a smile as she led them farther into the Burrow. Harry remembered all the good times here during the summer. His mood was on the verge of turning pensive when Mrs. Weasly offered him tea. He gladly accepted. "So Harry, how old is Jack?"

"Uh—two,"

"Oh, two years," Sorrow crept across her face.

"What's wrong with two years?"

"Well, a lot of things happened two, two or three, years ago. Almost too many to remember, though, I haven't seen you for three."

"Yes, I know, it was just, I–"

"No need to explain, all that matters is that you're back now," Her smile was sincere, something Harry hadn't seen in a while.

"But would you mind telling me what happened?"

"Oh, not at all," He knew she loved telling tales, it looked as though she was lonely here and with the least bit of company brought total comfort. "Well about two and a half years ago Hermione was dating Ronald,"

Harry nodded, remembering that night all too well.

"And she came to me, in utter panic, confused out of her wits. She told me that she was expecting; something I was too happy to hear. But it crushed me when she told me that she wasn't sure of whose child it was."

Harry's heart raced.

"I had never thought of Hermione as a person to cheat, but she came to me, drowning in her tears. I could tell she loved him, and that she would rather it this mystery man's son then Ron's. But nonetheless, she married Ron. He never knew the child wasn't his, and I never saw the child."

"Why is that?"

"Oh, Ron, we, we had a falling out, um, it was about mutual things. He was furious with me when I told him that the child wasn't his. He had no doubts, he was sure it was his. But I repeated myself countless times, over and over, until Ron had enough. Hermione didn't help the matter, she didn't stop me, nor did she stop him. She just lived in a daze, lost helplessly, carrying the child."

"I don't understand. Why would Ron get so mad over this?"

"Because, he knew, that bringing me a grandchild was something so dear in this family, something that lines the rims of our smile with happiness. It makes the family what it was. He wanted to believe he was doing well to the family. He never confronted her about the issue, just left it be; he wanted her so much, he couldn't willingly lose her."

"Have you seen him since the falling out?"

"No, I haven't seen you, Hermione, him, or Ginny. I don't know; it's been so lonely around here."

"Where is Ginny?"

"No idea."She stated bluntly.

"How did the family fall apart like this?"

"When people slowly forget to answer owls, when they think what they have now is more important then what they left behind."

Harry was guilty, guilty of not making the effort and most definitely guilty of not answering the owls. Jack fidgeted in the seat as Harry's eyes perched solemnly on him.

"Who's the mum," she whispered, as if in search for confirmation of her theory.

"Hermione,"

"That's the child, isn't he?"

"Yeah, Hermione's in a muggle hospital, was in a car crash, Ron is with her now."

"Harry," Jack piped up, "I want to go see mum again,"

Harry turned to Mrs. Weasly. He knew what he needed to do. "I want you to come back with us." He remembered little Jack, probably only seen the Grangers once or twice. Hermione must have lifted the spell, if he knew one set of his grandparents.

"Dear, I don't think Ron will—"

"You have to." He walked over, grasping Mrs. Weasly's hand and Jack in his arms. With a pop they were back in the hospital and Mrs. Weasly hurried over to room 401 after Harry pointed silently in that direction. She opened the door hastily. Ron stood up turning to the visitor. His eyes widened, tears still plastered across his face. He embraced his mother; knowing this was how it was supposed to be. He pulled away, looking her gently in the eyes.

"I'm sorry mum," He exhaled, "I was stupid, I was more than stupid." He didn't know what to say, but it seemed she didn't care. Just the acceptance from her son was enough right now.

Now all four of their eyes darted to Hermione, her fingers flexed and her lips pursed. She slowly opened her eyes, and whispered a single word; "Harry" Her arms thrust upwards, as though she was searching for someone, "Harry," Her voice was like a faint, so distant in the present, "Harry?" The third time made Ron's face turn a fiery shade of red before he stormed out, followed hastily by his mother.

"Hermione, everything is fine," He uttered, but before he could comfort her anymore, a doctor rushed in, pushing Harry aside. He held Jack close in his arms, but he could hear him calling faintly for his mother.

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The waiting was never as bad as this. The tension in the room reached an all time high. Harry could tell that Ron didn't want to talk to him. Jack had found a corner to resort to when there was verbal arguments. Mrs. Weasly watched the boys intently, ready to stop the first glimpse of an argument. But they were tired; tired of yelling and wasting their energy when it could be used for more important things, such as thoughts. Their thoughts ranged from Hermione to what she had said as they stared intently at the door handle. As it moved both Harry and Ron jumped up, almost sprinting to the door. Out came a bandaged Hermione. Her left arm was in a cast and there was a white bandage placed evenly in her forehead.

"Hey," Her futile attempt at a smile was enough for Jack to come running over, hugging her leg tightly. Hermione fell right into Ron's embrace, not knowing that Harry had also been at the hospital, though she called out for him, she had no idea of his presence. Ron held her close, shooting a triumphant stare at Harry before letting Hermione breathe. As she went to sit down she saw Mrs. Weasly, "Oh, I missed you," She hugged her tightly as she sat down with relief.

"Hello Hermione,"

Her eyes darted upwards locking steadily into his. She rose out of her chair and threw herself into his arms. Nestled in the crook of his neck she murmured, "Harry you have no idea, I barely made it without you," He stroked her hair knowingly as Ron's face was painted with a mixture of jealousy and rage.

"My parents," She stated, "Are they here?"

"Oh—erm—I forgot to tell them, I'm sorry Hermione," Ron shrugged off the misfortune and turned to Jack who was still hovering near his mother. And then Ron saw it, he saw the whole picture. Hermione's right arm was still around Harry's waist, their thighs were touching and Harry held her shoulder. Jack leeching onto her leg, her casted arm resting on his shoulder, was the final straw. "I can't bloody take it," He yelled as he stormed away. Harry wasn't part of this family he was. It was his family, something he thought Harry could never take.

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A/N: I think the chapter was a decent length. Please tell me what you think of it so far. Thanks again for reading.