Chapter #5—Toothbrushes
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters in the book, or anything else related to the book.
A/N: You'll have to bear with me for this one because I have no idea how DNA testing works at all. And I don't know if you can even get DNA from a toothbrush; but it adds a twist to the story. I also do not know how long it takes to get the results…so I just made it a couple days. I hope you enjoy
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Harry had noticed that over the past week or so he had been spending more and more time and Hermione's and Ron's that it became a second home. He had slept on their couch last night, not bothering to leave. He was glad to finally be talking to them again. The couch had become more comfortable than his bed and the meals here had proved to taste better than his microwavable food at his place. He was forced to open his eyes when he heard the familiar bickering that usually accompanied his two best friends.
"Why not?"
"Shhh, keep your voice down, Harry stayed last night." She replied hastily before explaining her side to him, "Because, we already have Ginny and basically Harry every night."
"We have the room," He followed her as she hurried into the kitchen.
"But that has nothing to do with it, we barely have enough food to feed the five of us and—"
"I don't think she eats that much," He raised his eye brows before grabbing her arms, "Come on,"
"Fine, tell Ginny." She shook her head, "And you have to get ready, we're leaving soon, grab your toothbrush."
"Is Harry coming?"
"I hadn't thought of that," She whispered but hastily replied, "He isn't even up, it'd be better to let him sleep." Ron nodded and went back upstairs. She shrugged as he started to make Jack lunch, realizing almost instantly Ginny would be here so he didn't have to go to daycare. As if the fridge was the source of all her anger she whipped it open and threw the banana back into the fruit compartment not caring if it bruised. When she went to slam it a firm hand clasped its way around the door, startling her. "Oh, Harry, you scared me."
"I do that sometimes." He grinned.
"I've noticed," She retorted as she closed the fridge and turned to face him. "I have to leave soon, are you going to work or your house? Or are you staying here?"
"I'd like to say that this is my house now," He smiled, "But I am going to stay here today, it's Saturday, no work," He smiled before embracing her. He pushed his chin into her hair, taking in the scent.
"Harry," She backed away, "I have to get ready," She whispered as her eyes concentrated on the floor.
"Uh, okay, I guess I'll see you later."
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Hermione stood in the bathroom, staring at the mirror absently. She didn't try to tame her hair or put makeup on. She went to brush her teeth, when she saw that Ron's toothbrush was gone, it was to be used for the paternity test. Her thoughts wandered as she glanced back at the toothbrushes, her eyes landing on Harry's green one. She knew it was immoral, she knew it was completely wrong. She picked it up and stuffed it in a plastic bag, then storing it in her purse.
"Ron, I need your toothbrush, I'll keep it in my purse," She called to the other room. When he handed it to her with a grin, she waited impatiently for him to leave before putting the blue toothbrush in a separate bag, storing it nicely in her purse right next to Harry's toothbrush.
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The ride to the place was tense, Ron kept tapping his fingers on the glove compartment as Hermione drove. She could tell how horrid he felt. She knew that the outcome of this test would depict the future of their relationship. They pulled into the parking lot, wheels scraping against the dry pavement. The clicks of the doors rang out into the parking lot as they stepped out and headed for the door. They sat in silence in the waiting room. There were paintings on the wall that depicted such loneliness she had to stop looking at them.
"Hermione?"
"Yes," She quickly whipped her head around to face Ron. She appreciated the break in the silence, it was wearing at her confidence, letting the doubts gain control of her thoughts.
"Do you love me?" He asked, she didn't say anything. She felt the question was self explanatory, but he obviously craved an answer. "Do you love me?"
"Ron, what would ever make you think that I didn't—" She was cut off by the lively voice of a small woman, her hair was tied neatly in a bun behind her head.
"Hermione Granger-Weasly," A woman called as the pair stood up. They hastily followed her Ron attempting to catch up for the nurse was walking at a brisk pace. When they headed into the room, it was small, there were no pictures to create a welcoming mood, just the pasty white walls, capturing every feeling that circulated the room. They filled out forms and talked for a bit before Ron excused himself to use the bathroom.
"We brought a toothbrush," Hermione murmured as she opened her purse. She hesitated for a moment before hastily grabbing one and handing it over to the woman. "That's, um, Ron's toothbrush," She said weakly.
"Thanks, we'll have this tested, but you won't get it back. It's confiscated after the test." She smiled, "Are you sure he's okay, he's been gone a while," Hermione tried to suppress a laugh at the statement, but instead went to the bathroom to find Ron leaning over the toilet, vomiting. It wasn't a pleasant sight, so she instantaneously left with him.
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Harry, on the other hand was having a rather interesting day. Earlier, a familiar witch had shown up with two bags of luggage and a happy smile. He beckoned her in, realizing she was who Ron and Hermione were arguing about earlier that morning. When she came in, he noticed almost immediately that her hair was blonder than ever and her presence seemed to convince him to smile.
Right now, he sat on the couch, watching Luna Lovegood and Jack talk about crazy things. But the child seemed to find comfort in her, just as Harry had a long time ago. She didn't mind the difference between her and others, it came as a gift in her opinion. She seemed just the same, if anything had changed it was her knowledge. Though Hermione had often fought with her of their beliefs, he knew that Luna was a dear friend to them all.
"So Harry," She said as she sat next to him on the couch. "How have you been?"
The statement seemed so odd, he hadn't heard anything that normal in such a long time, "I've been, well I've been," He couldn't seem to think of a word to describe it so he feebly announced, "Fine, and how have you been?"
"Oh, same old same old; I haven't found any Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, but I don't mind. It seems life has just been so different since Hogwarts."
He was tempted to say that was a long time ago, that much had changed since then, especially in the last week or so. But he remained silent, smiling at her frank honesty in times where he thought there was none.
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"RON!" She exclaimed as they walked in the front door, "How can you be so wrong?"
"I'm not wrong, I just want to use magic to figure this out." He shouted before she stormed up the stairs, throwing her purse on the bed. "Hey Luna," Ron beamed, "I didn't know you were getting here this soon." He walked over and embraced her in a quick hug, an unusual shade of red spread rather quickly across his face, "Have you guys seen Ginny?" He snapped, as if to change the subject.
"She left a little earlier, seemed to be in a hurry,"
"She better not go to see that little ferret, I might as well kill 'em now."
"Ron," Harry shook his head, "There's no need for that," He stood up and faced Ron, there's already enough going on," Harry paused before prying, "What were you two fighting about?"
"I wanted to do it the magic way, I'm sure it would be better than any muggle thing."
"Are you talking about the thing with Jack?"
"OF COURSE I AM HARRY!" He yelled, on the bridge of losing his temper.
"There's no need to shout, mate."
"Yes there is, I almost lost my wife the other day. My wife. Everything was fine until you showed up. I really can't stand that Jack could be your child."
"Ron—"
"No, I have every right to be mad. I have tried so hard not to blow up, not to be irrational, but I can't take it anymore. You're going around acting like nothing's wrong, like nothing's happening. Do you understand that the outcome of this will affect more than just your life?"
"Ron—"
"Don't Harry, it's not worth it." He heard Hermione say as Ron opened the front door to take a walk.
"H-he's right. I don't u-understand," Harry stammered, realizing he wasn't ready to be a father, he wasn't ready to be anything right now. He headed upstairs, avoiding eye contact from Hermione and Luna.
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A few days past and the tension grew. Harry found himself spending more and more time at his apartment; distancing himself from his friends. His phone rang with a brutality he was unaware of before. He almost didn't pick it up as a sinking feeling sat heavily in his stomach, but his body disobeyed his instinct.
"Hello?"
"Harry."
"Hermione," He mocked teasingly.
"You should come to dinner tonight."
"Um, okay," He was confused, "Why?"
"T-the, um, results c-came in. I haven't o-opened them yet." She was stammering, catching her breath. He remembered the walk home some time ago, when she had told him that Ron was the mistake, not him. He wondered if those words were true anymore. He glanced quickly over at the clock '5:40'. "Should I come over now?"
"Sure," She muttered. He was there in a flash and before he knew it, it was dinner. They sat around, almost ignoring the awkwardness that accompanied Harry. Ginny sat next to him. She seemed rather interested in how he had been over the last couple years. When she first started talking to him, he had found it annoying, but now it was a comfort to the silence.
"So Harry," Ginny began after quiet had settled nicely into the room, "Do you want to help me clean up the plates?" She asked, noticing the unnerving stare Ron was holding tightly on Harry.
"Err-okay," He picked up the plates and helped clear the table while everyone else headed to the living room. "Thanks," He smiled at Ginny, "Thanks for getting rid of all that silence,"
She giggled a bit before nodding, "No problem," He noticed that the pace of how she was washing the dishes increased.
"Harry, come here," Hermione called from the other room, her voice drenched in worry.
"Coming," He threw his wash cloth on the counter and hurried into the other room, standing on the opposite side of the room. Hermione wanted to keep them separated. She knew the results, she didn't have to open it, and she knew what it would say. Her mind flashed to the toothbrush, the nurse's hand. Hermione looked at Harry, tears streaming down her face, she didn't want to do this.
"Hermione, open it, we don't have all day," Ron stated bluntly, his voice filled with anticipation.
With one broad motion, she opened it and revealed what tomorrow would be like. The paper scraped against her fingers, as she looked at Ron. She attempted to wipe away her tears, to show him she wasn't hurting.
"What does it say?" Ginny exclaimed, not able to take the hesitation; and ran over to Hermione, glancing over her shoulder and at the paper. Her eyes widened, as she glanced over at Harry and then to Ron. "Oh," You could hear the surprise; it lined her voice. Her eyes slowly wandered to Jack as she titled her head to the side, "I don't see how," She muttered so only Hermione could hear.
"It says, it says if Ron is his father,"
"Is it a yes or a no Hermione?" Harry was fed up, he needed to know.
"Yes." She said feebly, as Ron ran over to her and embraced her tightly and Harry left, knowing this wasn't his place anymore. "Harry," She pushed away from Ron to run after him, but as she opened the front door, her vision was obscured by tears with the absence of his figure.
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She could hear Ron in the bathroom from her bed. She had been asleep, but he had accidentally woken her. Light poured into the darkness as he cracked open the door, "Hermione, do you know where my toothbrush is?"
"Oh, yeah, I forgot, it's still in my purse."
"Thanks," He replied as he searched through her purse, "Found it," He said with a grin before going to brush his teeth. A few minutes later she felt the bed sink a bit when he got in, nestling up against her. His arm was wrapped tenderly around her waist as she fell asleep in his arms.
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AN: So…what did you think? Feedback? Thanks for reading.