Hey guys! Sorry about the long hiatus. With my final semester in college and all, I've been a little busy. However, I want to thank all of you that have taken the time to read and especially to those of you who have favorited and subscribed to my story. The feedback has been amazing. We'll be back on schedule soon enough!
Harry Potter Fan Fiction
The First Frost
Chapter III
Hermione awoke to the sound of Rose shrieking in the other room. The paper-thin walls of her and Ron's modest flat in London did little to dull the sound. Early morning sunlight glittering off of the thin layer of ice on the window hurt her eyes. She shut them tight.
"Ron," she moaned sleepily. "Ron, it's your turn."
When she received no reply, she rolled over impatiently and found the covers on the other side of the bed thrown back in a tangle.
She wiped the sleep from her eyes and squinted at the clock.
7:08. Hermione sighed. Ron must have left for work 10 minutes ago. He didn't even say he was leaving.
Hermione felt a fresh wave of irritation wash over her as she rose from the bed and slipped her feet into her favorite pair of soft purple slippers. She grabbed her robe, draped on a chair in the corner of the cramped room and threw it around her. Hermione walked down the narrow hall stiffly, Rose's shrieks growing louder with each step.
Hermione picked Rose up from her crib.
"Shhhh, shhhh, its alright", Hermione cooed as she cradled Rose gently in her arms. She crossed to room to a wooden rocking chair next to the window, sat down and began to rock Rose slowly as she slid the shoulder of her robe down and offered her breast to the crying babe. Rose took it and began suckling eagerly. Quiet fell immediately. Hermione cringed as Rose bit down particularly hard. She had read all of the books she could get her hands on about pregnancy, breastfeeding and babies - even the Muggle ones. The books had however, downplayed how painful it was.
She sat there for a moment cradling Rose in awe, not for the first time. She had never truly imagined her life as a mother. She had imagined her O.W.L.s, her N.E.W.T.s, her career in non-human rights... But never had she imagined the moment she would hold her first child in her arms. It was an awesome feeling. She looked down at Rose, snuggled tightly to her chest.
She looks a lot more like Ron, though, Hermione reflected as she tenderly ran her fingers through rose's curly red hair.
Ron… That inconsiderate, self-absorbed git, Hermione thought venomously.
"Hermione!" A voice called from the other room. She jumped out of her reverie with a start.
"Hermione!"
"Ginny?" Hermione called uncertainly. She adjusted her nightgown and stood up. She walked across Rose's bedroom to the door and peered both ways down the hall.
Heeerrmiiiioooneeeeeeee!" Ginny's voice called. Hermione followed the voice down the hall, past the small dinky kitchen, and into the cramped living room that also served as Rose's play room.
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed. She rushed over to the small fireplace on the far side of the room that barely seemed to belong in such a small space at all. Ginny's head sat in the fireplace, engulfed in green flames.
"took you long enough," she replied cooly. "Listen, you and Rose should come over for breakfast. My treat."
"Ginny it sounds nice, really, but I-", Hermione started.
"Hermione, come on. It's just breakfast. And at least if you come over here you wont have to clean up afterwards.
"But, I always end up cleaning up when I come over for breakfast."
"Well…. Only if you wanna," answered Ginny with a grin. "Come on Hermione, I promise. Nothing too strenuous and nothing that would require you to be out in the sunlight."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ginny, I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me, I really do. But I just-"
"Just what? You've already eaten? Too tired? Oh come OFF it Hermione! You haven't left the house in over a week! As your best friend it is my job to make you. Now you can come over here or I can come over there."
Hermione sighed.
"Fine. Give me hour," she said finally.
Ginny broke out into a wide grin.
"See? You'll be glad to be out of that flat, I promise. See you in an hour."
And with that Ginny's head disappeared from the fireplace and the weird green flames along with her. Hermione sat there for a moment with a puzzled grin on her face. Would Ginny really pack up James and come all the way over here? Hermione supposed she would.
Ahh, well at least I won't have to do any of the dishes, She thought as she stood up from the couch and went off to find something to wear.
About an hour later, Hermione stood bundled in her long winter cloak and Rose safely bundled within her carrier hanging awkwardly at her side. Hermione hefted Rose's oversized diaper bag onto her left shoulder and set out through her doorway. After a quick flick of her wand, she heard the audible click of the lock. She turned left and walked down the hall and began walking down the narrow stairs of the historic building. She began her descent down 5 flights of stairs slowly, struggling under the weight of the heavy bags. Not for the first time Hermione found herself regretting leasing this flat. It was affordable, especially for small young families looking to live Downtown. And it was located near one of the best schools, nice well kempt parks, and near enough to Ron's work. But the apartment itself was small and cramped. Two bedrooms and one bathroom, a small kitchen and living room and a dinky "family room", if you could call it that, was hardly enough space for Ron and Hermione, let alone a baby.
And these stairs, Hermione thought through gritted teeth. Just another thing on an ever-mounting list of things she hated.
When she did finally reach the bottom, Hermione had to set Rose's carriage down to rest her arm and catch her breath. After a quick respite, Hermione buttoned up her coat, picked up Rose and walked across dimly lit hall, with cold, stone walls towards the front entrance. She stepped outside and immediately felt the cold bite of winter as the wind began battering her cheeks. She gripped Rose's carriage firmly in her hand and apparated with a loud crack.
In the blink of her eye, the howling in her ears stopped. But when she opened them again the howling had grown louder than ever.
Hermione stood in an alleyway, less than a block from number 12 Grimmauld Place. After making sure that Rose's carriage was still completely covered, Hermione set off at a brisk place down the newly shoveled sidewalk. As she got closer she saw number twelve jump into place between numbers eleven and thirteen. She pushed the doorbell, still half expecting to hear the loud racket that used to come with it. But the bell just chimed a pleasant tune, and moments later Ginny was opening the door.
"Hello, Hermione," said Ginny with a smile. "I knew you would make the smart choice."
Hermione stepped over the doorway and embraced her friend.
"Yes, well it's not like you gave me much choice," answered Hermione. She uncovered Rose's carriage and began taking off their cloaks. "It sure is quiet. Where's James?"
"He's upstairs playing," answered Ginny as she helped Hermione take off her coat. She leaned down to Rose's carriage.
"Hi sweetie, I see you're wide awake this morning!" She tapped Rose lightly on the tip of her nose.
After Hermione had taken off all of her outerwear, Ginny took them and laid them neatly across a chair in the first floor's sitting room.
"I've already started," she continued. She led the way from the sitting room into the kitchen. A huge fire going in the hearth licked the bottom of a bronze teakettle. Hermione decided that she very much wanted some tea. She needed to knock the winter chill from her bones. She sat Roses carriage down on the kitchen table and rolled up her sleeves. Slices of tomatoes, eggs, and fried bread were already on the table. Ginny hadn't lied, she was indeed almost finished. With not much left, Hermione sat down and began to help herself. Ginny removed the last of the sausages from the pan and sat it on the table.
"Ill be right back, I've got to get James," said Ginny as she whisked from the room.
Hermione took a bite of fried bread and savored it. What little cooking proficiency she had, had been hard earned. She had spent hours reading cook books, studying recipes and had burned her meals more times than Ron would admit. She admired Ginny's natural skill in the kitchen. Spending her early years being forcefully recruited and a few times threatened into kitchen duty under the wing of Ms. Weasley had paid off. Ginny had grown in to an effortless cook who's skill was second only to her mother's.
When Ginny returned she placed two-year-old James in his high chair next to her seat. She picked up Rose's carriage from the table and sat it onto the floor next to Hermione's feet, before finally sitting down to enjoy their breakfast.
"You should bring Rose around more, Hermione," said Ginny suddenly. "I think it'd be good for her and James to get to know each other better." She cut a small slice of tomato on her plate and attempted to feed it to James. He took it, chewed twice, and promptly spit it out.
Hermione sighed. She had known that this was coming. Rose was born only 8 months ago and, Ms. Weasley had been barraging her with tips, correcting her grip, the water temperature of Rose's bottles, and it seemed anything she could think of. At first, Hermione was grateful for her help; she found that no book on parenting and no amount of study, had truly prepared her for being a mother. But as she grew more comfortable and got to know Rose, she found Mrs. Weasley's constant barrage of tips became less welcome. Before, Hermione was able to grit her teeth and smile and thank Mrs. Weasley for her help, but after a couple of months of enduring never ending criticism, Hermione decided she couldn't take it anymore. She had told Mrs. Weasley off.
Well… not exactly, Hermione thought.
She had been Burping Rose after her lunch when Mrs. Weasley had commented loudly that she might do better to wait before burping Rose. It was the last straw. Hermione responded before she could stop herself.
"I think you'd do better to be quiet, thanks," she responded coolly. "I'd like to get Rose down for a nap."
She gaped at Hermione, mouth open. However she promptly composed herself, and Mrs. Weasley refused to speak to Hermione the rest of the night. Actually, Hermione reflected, they hadn't spoken directly since.
"Listen Ginny, I know your mum put you up to this. She doesn't have to worry so much…." started Hermione.
"Mum, didn't put me up to this. I'm pregnant. Harry and I are going to be having another baby. I just thought it would be great for the kids to spend more time together, that's all."
Hermione blushed. She had not however, been expecting that.
"OH… errr…. Congratulations, Ginny. That's Amazing," Hermione sputtered. "Does Harry know?"
Ginny sighed.
"Not yet. He's been so busy with the Ministry and they just put him and Ron on that huge case. I don't want to distract him."
"So what about your mum? Does she know yet?"
"Merlin, Hermione! If I tell her I might as well shout it from the rooftops!" Ginny chuckled. "Mum's no good with stuff like this. Plus she's already worried enough. She spends so much time staring at that clock that even she's noticed that Harry doesn't come home much anymore."
"Really? Where does he go?"
Hermione waited, but Ginny didn't answer.
"Ginny, Harry's not the type who would be unfaithful to his wife-"
"I know that!" Ginny snapped.
Hermione blushed.
"His clock hand is practically stuck on work! He comes home, showers and then he's off again. Sometimes he even sleeps at the Ministry."
Ginny took a breath. Guilt crept over her with one look at Hermione's beet red face.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I'm just… frustrated. I know how important Harry's job is. I get it. But James needs him here," said Ginny as she placed a hand over her growing belly. "I need him here."
"And that's perfectly understandable," said Hermione blustered.
They ate in silence for a moment, neither of them quite sure of what to say. It was Hermione who finally broke the silence.
"Ron came home late again last night," she said quietly.
"Again?" answered Ginny.
"Yeah, did your mum say anything about Ron's clock hand?"
"No…" Ginny's eyebrows furrowed as she chewed her last piece of tomato. "But he hasn't been at the Ministry with Harry."
"Oh," said Hermione. She played with the crumbs on her plate.
"Ron, wouldn't step out on your either, Hermione," said Ginny reassuringly.
"I know," Hermione acknowledged. "But if he's not with Harry, where is he?"
The First Frost
12