Chapter #4—Emergency

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

A/N:

"If you thought I'd leave, then you were wrong, cause I won't stop holding on"—Paramore (Emergency

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Falling into the arms of her parents seemed to comfort her at times like these. Though she had assumed that she would never see them again when she sent them into hiding five years ago, she was still dependent on the memories they created with her. Now nestled deeply in the bends of her father's shoulder she could feel what she could have lost. Her father backed away, tears splashed gently against his complexion. She smiled at his compassion, something she hoped that Jack would inherit. Harry stood behind her, face as though it was carved difficultly in stone. His eyes hadn't twinkled, his mouth hadn't twitched and he hadn't looked at her. Mr. Granger frequently glanced over to him, standing so aloof in the corner. He searched absently for Ron; his absence wasn't a surprise. They sat silently at the kitchen table for a while. The tea had turned cold and the sun began to fall when Hermione hugged her goodbyes, her mother held her close; whispering in her ear.

"Honey, it'll be fine." She smiled and pushed Hermione away. Slowly exiting the door followed by Harry brought a feeling of remorse. She knew Ron and Jack were fine, but not knowing where they were left an unsettled digging in the corners of her thoughts.

"Harry," She grasped his hand as they walked down the sidewalk.

"Hermione," He said lightly.

"I just—"

"Don't think."

He squeezed her hand and walked with her though the streets of London, shadowed by the city. The sun was on the verge of leaving for the night when he turned to her, as if expecting a plea to go home, but she said nothing. He took her silence as a sign of comfort. Whether it meant that or not he needed to know she felt safe with him.

"You and Ron," He broke the silence; cutting it emotionlessly with a sharp blade of words. "You married him."

"I know," She smiled hesitantly.

"Hermione, why not leave him?"

"Leave him? He has done nothing to deserve this."

"But what about us?"

"Harry, I married him. It's a vow for life, a contract."

"A contract? You look at your marriage to Ron as a contract?" He snickered slightly; sending his hand through his hair.

"Isn't that was it is?" She shook her head, "I promised him to stay with him until he dies."

"You've promised me that too," A look of satisfaction lined his face; drenched in the utter most compassion and sincerity.

"With what?" She was confused, searching his eyes for an answer.

"With Jack."

She smiled, not letting go of his hand; and not sending any sign of wanting to leave.

"Hermione, I've waited for you. I think I'm done waiting." Silence swept over them as she searched for the right words. She stumbled through her thoughts, grinning before turning to him. Seriousness captured her features as she stared right into his eyes and straight to his heart.

"Harry, I made a mistake," She saw his face fall, as if he knew what she was going to say next, expecting the words that had crushed him so heavily last time. "Ron was a mistake." Her words were slightly hesitant, just to see how he would react. He wanted to hold her and he wanted to kiss her; but there was still Ron.

And with that they left for home.

- - - - - - - - -

Ron waited eagerly for her. He had set flowers out on the table and cooked a fantastic meal. But it was cold before she returned. He greeted her with a bear-hug, holding her close. Harry hadn't come in; he had just dropped her off and left. Ron played with her hair as she stared absently over his shoulder.

"Ron,"

"Hermione, can I talk for a bit?" He nodded and then began, "We were together when you slept with him. I need to know who he is; I need to know who could be the father of Jack."

Silence.

"Hermione tell me. I have a right to know. Jack is my son, and if there is the slightest chance that he is some other guy's son, I need to know. I have spent the first two years of Jack's life with him, I have been his father. Not this other guy." His eyes were starting to tear as he leaned lightly on the counter.

Her eyes traveled thoughtfully through their kitchen. They fell upon the photographs all framed, moving happily. Ron, her and Jack smiled and laughed together. The memories from those days were her life. Had she been too kept up in waiting for Harry to return to realize what she and Ron had? She didn't speak for she didn't know if Harry was ready for Ron to know he could be the father.

"Tell me," He took her hands in his and pulled her close. He held her close as she cried. The thought of a happy family was thrown gently into her head. What was best for Jack?

"Harry." The word circled around the room, dancing in the silence. But Ron didn't get mad and Ron didn't throw a fit. He just embraced her; loving how she fell into his arms.

'Was Ron a mistake?' Her thoughts rearranged themselves several times; trying to calculate some sort of outcome to this mess. She struggled to understand what the mistake was. Obviously cheating on Ron was wrong, and should their relationship suffer for that one night? All she knew right now was that she felt awfully comfortable in Ron's arms. She had felt that way for the past five years.

- - - - - - - - -

That night she laid in bed staring silently out the window. Her eyes concentrated only on the moon and how its light fell almost flawlessly on the scenery. She wished her life could fall as peacefully and without doubt as the moonlight. Ron slept next to her, his snores echoing into the night. Though obnoxious and annoying they may seem to others, they were what had put her to sleep every night for so many years. As she drowned into slumber her thoughts wandered to Harry. Where was he? Did he expect her to tell Ron that it was over? Who was the mistake?

- - - - - - - - -

With dew plastered freshly on the grass and the fog lifting slowly Hermione confronted Ron. He didn't seem to understand, "The muggle way?"

"Yes, Ron, the muggle way, paternity testing is the muggle way,"

"But I'm sure magic could—"

"RON."

"Fine, but when?"

"Tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll see you later. I'm already late." He smiled; pecking her lightly on the lips. Jack was still asleep. The air was still, engrossed with the quiet until an unsteady knock came at the door. Curiously, Hermione opened the door, revealing a distraught face.

"Ginny!" She exclaimed hugging her friend tightly before beckoning her into the house. She sat down on the couch as Hermione smiled. She noticed Ginny's features were unusually tight, and her eyes were extremely dull. "How have you been?"

"Fine," She snapped, as if to hide what was really going on.

Hermione didn't know if it was rude to ask such a question, but an explanation was necessary, "Why are you here Ginny?"

"I didn't have anywhere else to go, not a house, or a home,"

"Well, you can stay here for as long as you like," Hermione forced a smile with fake hospitality. But Ginny didn't seem to notice, or she didn't want to care.

"Oh, thank you Hermione, I have missed you so much." She hugged Hermione before excusing herself to magically gather her things from wherever she had returned from.

- - - - - - - - -

Ron's thoughts couldn't concentrate at all. He thought about the muggle terms; DNA. It didn't sound normal to him, he was sure there was a magic way to make sure that Jack was his child. But he would let Hermione do it like this; he would let her have her way. It was fine with him. He just wanted to make sure Jack was his child. When he was done at work he hurried home. He wanted to prove to Hermione they could work. He knew how much doubt lined her thoughts. When he arrived home, opening the door with a grin, he came face to face with his sister.

"Ginny?" His lips curled into a skeptical look.

"Ronald?" She retorted, "I'm staying with you for a while, I made you guys dinner. Hermione isn't home yet" She paused, "I watched Jack while you two were at work."

Ron followed her into the kitchen, not bothering to change out of his work cloths.

"I hope you don't mind, I invited Harry over, he had sent an owl, so I just sent it back with an invitation." She beamed, excitement dancing all over her expression. A thought that she knew what was going on flashed through Ron's mind, but he ignored it, knowing the malicious Ginny he had known so long ago must have matured by now.

Ron sat down at the table across from Harry. He didn't frown or make a scene; he just sat there; loving the awkward silence. "Ginny invited me," Harry mumbled, not changing his expression, "I hope I'm not intruding."

"You're welcome here all the time." Ron replied, showing his best and only manners. Hermione arrived shortly, surprised at Harry and Ron sitting together in a civilized manner. She took a seat next to Ron and across from Ginny.

The meal was nice. Hermione was surprised Ginny could actually cook. She always seemed a bit dependent on magic. There wasn't much conversation and much to Ginny's dismay, she was asked several times why she was back. She failed to retort with some foul remark, all she did was skillfully work around the question, changing the subject frequently, not that there was much of a conversation to carry anyway. Right now they stared silently at each other, all their plates were empty and Harry had begun to clear them. Ginny and Hermione hurried into the other room.

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" Ron asked.

"Don't know, girl stuff?"

"Yeah, most likely," He concluded as he helped Harry clear the table. "Hermione's making me take some DNA thing for Jack."

"There isn't a magic way?"

"That's what I said." Ron added almost too quickly. It was silent almost instantly as they could hear the short words of bickering from the other room. Both Harry and Ron stood near the door, hoping to hear the conversation.

"You ran away from him? The Malfoys are dangerous and you just ran away without explaining anything?"

"No, I left him, it's not like we were married."

"Is he going to come after you?"

"No," She said doubtfully as if calculating the possibility that he would chase after her.

"Good,"

"Good?"

"The drama of Romeo and Juliet isn't needed in this house. Commotion seems to follow you around wherever you go and the four of us here already have our fair share." There was quiet. Their inhales and exhales rang deeply into the air until Ginny started again.

"Is Harry single?"

"GINNY!" Hermione threw her hands up in the air and stormed upstairs to check on Jack; who had been napping.

Ron's face had skewed into a deformed look of displeasure, "She dated a Malfoy? That's disgusting. To think, she left her whole family behind for a guy."

"A wretched one at that."

"We shouldn't have saved his life."

"Well it seems they're over now."

"Good,"

"Good?"

"We don't need the drama." Ron exclaimed. "I have to get some sleep, tomorrow's Saturday; I've got loads to do. You know the way out mate." He left and headed upstairs. Once again Harry was left alone, abandoned, though on a smaller scale today, to think to himself. He heard a pattern of squeaks coming from above him. One by one, a small noise traveled downwards. The small bare feet moved down the steps and into the kitchen.

"Hey Harry!" His bare feet slapped loudly against the floor.

"Hey Jack," His voice fell at the child's presence. Harry didn't know if he should even talk to Jack. He didn't know if it was the right thing to do.

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AN: I know, Ron is oddly calm. But he is trying hard to make sure Hermione has nothing to use against him now that he knows Harry is involved in this. :) What did you think? Feedback? R&R? Thank you for reading!