Mending Hearts: Chapter 2
Dear Readers—
I'm sorry, I hope you don't hate me! I've decided to change this story up just a LITTLE from the first chapter. For example, it hasn't been three years since Stephanie went to Hogwarts, its been two. There was no epic "last battle" during the 7th year, Harry, Ron and Hermione went off on their little journey but there was no last battle. I feel like I wrote Maggie ((Stephanie's daughter)) a little too old sounding for being 15 months old. So I'm going to try and write it better. If I didn't tell you before, Stephanie is half native american and half white. Her mother was full blooded native while her father was white, she's also muggle born. Her mothers dead, which I said before and her father remarried. She has two brothers, neither which have magical abilities. I think that's the only misunderstandings I needed to clear up. Gosh, I havent written in this story for like a year, its good to be back guys :]
~PhantomXAngel
I arrived with a 'pop' outside the burrow where Ron and Hermione currently lived together for reasons that were too complicated to even think about. Smiling, I remembered some of the good times that Harry, Ron, Hermione and me had at this old place. It felt like a second home to me in ways that I didn't even know existed.
A pang of sadness erupted in my heart as I thought of Harry and what we had shared. Our daughter was growing up without him, without a father. The only time I heard about him was when Hermione called me or came to my house to catch up. She was the only one from my past who knew about my daughter, a fact I wished to remain the same. I felt no remorse for hiding the truth, only pity for my little girl who may never know a father in her life.
Knocking sharply on the doorway, I stood back and waited for an answer. Only a few moments later the dark wood door flew open with incredible speed, revealing Hermione on the other side. She looked older that I remembered and her features surprised me. Her cheeks were still the softly rosy color that I remember. The brown eyes that were so warm; so many other times I had seen were full of fear and anxiety. The brown locks that had only fallen to her shoulders were falling down past the bottom of her shoulder blades. In other words I hadn't seen her in awhile.
Walking into the doorway I threw my arms around the 5'1" girl (I'm about 5'2" if it matters) and squeezed her into a hug. I heard a soft intake of breath from her as she squeezed me back as hard as she could. Hermione shuttered lightly as the cold air hit them both and she retreated from me with a smile. "Let's go inside." She finally whispered, pushing the door open further and holding it for me. Smiling, I entered the familiar house that I had been in so many summers and Christmas during my school years.
"How did you find out?" I asked quietly, taking off my coat and placing it on the back of a chair that sat at the table in the kitchen. The house was cozy just as I remembered it had been. I've always envied the Weasley's large, tight knitted family; it was something I always wanted.
"I went to the doctor," she replied quietly, "I've been sick lately and Ron got worried. I told him it was probably just the usual virus I get around this time of year." I shook my head, Ron was always very naïve when it came to anything that related to women. "It was as much a shock to me as it is to you, I'm sure. Ron and I were always very careful, but I should have learned from you that that's not always enough." I felt no offense from what Hermione said; it was the simple, sad truth.
"A child is a blessing though, Hermione. You may not see that in this moment but you will. I wouldn't trade Maggie for anything in the world; she means everything to me." I tried to explain what the feelings in my heart were for my daughter but it seemed beyond words. I could see the smile on her face as she touched her still flat stomach with affection that I knew all too well. "You love Ron and he loves you. This is going to make you guys all the stronger; you're not just fighting for yourself anymore, your fight for your child now too."
"I don't know if I can handle this right now." Hermione muttered weakly. She sigh almost silently and sat down on one of the old wooden chairs, placing her head in her hands. I didn't know whether to comfort the girl or allow her to deal with the turmoil within her.
I drew in a ragged breath as the door flew open, revealing Ron, Ginny, the twins, Mrs. Weasley and of course... Harry. Standing and staring at the boy (who was no longer a boy by any means) I hadn't seen in three years. He had grown a bit, probably a good few inches, and his face was more mature. Harry and Ginny were the last two to come into the house; they were talking and laughing in a way that made my heart sting with jealousy.
He stopped talking though, the moment Mrs. Weasley said my name in surprise. Looking up startled, I saw a blur of raw emotions in his eyes; anger, hurt, betrayal, and most longing. His intense stare seemed to pierce my heart and filled a void that had remained empty since the last time I saw him. I felt the same love come back to me as strong as it had been when I had left almost four years ago. He was the only man I would ever truly love.
"What are you doing here dear?" Mrs. Weasley embraced me into one of her famous hugs, breaking the staring contest between Harry and myself.
"I came to visit with Hermione." It was the truth. The sensation in my eyes finally even but the emotion voice seemed to betray me. "She missed me and I missed her... and England." That part wasn't a lie, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself it was. "I won't be here long though, just to say hello." I could feel tears burning in my eyes. When had I become an outsider to my best friends? Probably since I had hidden Maggie from everyone except Hermione, though there was regret in my heart I knew it was the best thing to do. At least at the time it had been.
I saw both of the twins smile as they extended their arms to welcome me to the house. Smiling, I felt a stray tear escape the grasp I fought so hard to keep on it and walked into both of their arms. I squeezed my eyes shut, a few more tears escaping my eyes, as I held the boys close. They were like brothers to me, as my own two other brothers were. Pulling away, Fred cracked a joke about how much of a crier I had always been while George pushed the tears off my rosy cheeks. I thanked him silently with my eyes and he responded with a smile.
"Good to see you, Steph." Ron told me smiling; I hadn't seen him move towards to Hermione. I felt envious of them as he gave her a quick, soft kiss on the lips and smiled. They had always been perfect for each other, even if neither realized it at first.
Ginny had always liked Harry, which I was sure of. It was never for the right reason though, as many other girls felt. I didn't blame her much, Harry was amazingly gorgeous, he was famous and he had plenty of money. I still couldn't help but be angry with them. None had seen down as deep into his soul as I had. It was the person that mattered, not what they had.
I swallowed my self-pity and forced myself to look at Harry and Ginny, putting the best fake smile I had ever given on my face. "Nice seeing you two are doing well." I said, trying not to sound too melancholy about it. Ginny smiled, which was obviously fake (much like the one she gave me since she found out Harry liked me and I liked him). I began to think about how cruel fate was, and then decided not to go down the pity road.
"Steph" My heart stung when Harry said my name. "can I talk to you for a minute?" He took a step away from Ginny, causing her to frown. I felt myself hesitate to answer, but then decided that it couldn't hurt.
"Alright" I spoke softer than I meant to which surprised me. I had always been strong, but something about Harry made me feel safe. I didn't need all the defenses I usually had up. He took a few steps towards me and motioned me into the living room. In that moment I wished my baby was with me. Maggie gave me the strength to do almost anything and I needed strength right now. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I walked behind the man I had betrayed and left so long ago. It was almost unbearable to look at him, let alone talk to him without guilt filling up my entire body.
As we entered the living room Harry spun around, his mouth agape like he was going to say something when he stopped. His eyes, which were filled with anger and confusion a second ago, turned soft and warm when he looked at me. He lifted his hand and wiped a tear that was lingering on my cheek. I was crying? I hadn't even noticed it. I could feel my walls crumbling as I stared at those beautiful green eyes I fell in love with so long ago. Before I could even stop myself, I felt words I would probably regret later escape my once guarded lips. "What's going on with you and Ginny?" I flinched internally at how jealous my voice sounded. 'We aren't together anymore, so why did I care?' A voice screamed in my head, probably the most logical thing I've thought about all day.
"We're just friends." Harry stated, flushing a bit. I bit my lip in frustration trying to figure out if he was lying or if it was the truth. Regret began to fill my heart as I took a step back from him.
"I shouldn't have come back..." I whispered sadly. "I'm sorry for coming back, I need to leave." I turned around to start for a door when I felt Harry grab my wrist. Squeezing my tear-filled eyes shut I murmured, "Let me go Harry, you need to let me go."
"Steph..." I heard the heartache in his voice and it nearly killed me. "Please don't do this, not again." I cursed myself silently as a tear ran down my cheek and dropped off the side of my face.
"What do you want from me?" I spun around, the anger that had built up inside of my started to bubble over. "What the fucking hell do you want from me Harry? Did you expect me to come back running into your arms?" I narrowed my eyes at him feeling the intensity of my own heated stare. "I'm not the same person I used to be; in fact I'm very different. You don't know me anymore, so don't try to act like you do." Each word I spoke was dripping with venom. His eyes were hurt and it was my fault but I was too angry to care.
"Stephanie stop it." He sighed in frustration, running his long slender finger through his messy dark hair. I smiled on the inside, his hair had always been impossible and I loved that about it; impossible just like him. "Look at me." He said softly and compellingly. I didn't really have a choice but to look back into his emerald eyes. The last pieces of my defenses broke as soon as I saw his pained expression; he was on the verge of tears. "Why did you leave me?" he asked in a way that did break my heart more than it already was. He waited for an answer as I fought myself internally for an answer. Should I tell him about his daughter? Should I keep her a secret and lie like I had been for almost four years now?
"I didn't have a choice." I could hear everyone in the other room, probably listening to what was going on between the two of us.
"Don't play this game with me Steph, I'm tired of it." Harry growled, his patience snapping in two.
"You don't understand anything!" I snarled, turning and storming out of the room, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts and me alone with mine.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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