Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the intellectual property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Of More Talks and Sad News

"I choose you, Hermione. I choose to be with Tony and you."

To be fair, at one point in time, Hermione had wanted to hear those words from Edward. A part of her had needed to hear those words from him. But, that time was long gone. Now, she loathed that part of her that she identified as a weakness.

"I know that I've been a royal class asshole -" he started.

"Yeah, that's the general consensus," Hermione whispered.

"And I'm more than sorry about that. But, you could have told me about Tony, Hermione," he continued, frustration evident from his tone of voice.

"And what? What would you have done about him?" she asked, surprised by her own calm tone of voice

"I would have come and ..." he began.

"And what? You would have done the rightful thing by Tony? You would have come rushing in to be the knight in shining armor? Then what?" She fired successive questions like spells from her wand, her temper rising gradually.

"We would have worked it out together," he replied, placing singular emphasis on the beginning and ending of his reply.

"It's too little, too late, Edward. I'm no damsel in distress and I have no need of a knight in shining armor," said Hermione, in turn.

"That's not how it seemed to me last night," countered Edward.

"It was a calculated strategy, Edward. I needed to make them talk so I could unveil the mystery behind what they were planning and for that to happen, I stayed behind. It would have been so easy to Apparate away with Tony," explained Hermione.

"And what would have happened if the plan had backfired. What if we had come too late and they had disappeared? Or if they just wanted to kill you? What would have happened to Tony?" Edward demanded.

"First case scenario: I reckon my friends would have gone searching for me. Second case scenario: Tony stayed here with you or with my parents," responded Hermione.

"That's it? You were ready to die just for your case? Did you not think what it would have done to Tony if you died?" Edward asked incredulously.

"He would understand that I would have died –" she hated herself for using those words "– for the greater good. Unlike me, he would be able to grow up in a safer world and if to achieve that I would have to die, then it was sacrifice that I was willing to make," she said, shrugging. "Anyway, Tony's been managing rather fine these last months in the absence of a father and he doesn't need any smothering," she added.

Hermione was quite furious at his acting like the scorned party in the whole affair and at his implied suggestion that Hermione hadn't placed Tony's wellbeing before her own. However, all further arguments were abruptly stopped when the characteristic pop of someone Apparating was heard from outside the house. She quickly retrieved her wand from under the pillow before jumping off the bed to look out the window. She recognised the three figures standing outside with Winky instantly but was still surprised by the third and smallest visitor. She rushed past Edward on her way out.

"Hello, how may I help you?" asked Esme, already at the door.

"Erm, hello. We're here to see Hermione," said Luna Lovegood, in a pleasant voice.

Hermione walked calmly and purposefully towards two of her best friends; Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. She pointed her wand at Luna and ignored Esme's gasp of surprise at the offensive display before she asked, "What was the last thing we talked about?"

"I told you how I broke up my engagement to Rolf Scamander because he said that I always chose my best friends before him. I told him that, any man I would be dating should understand that my first true friends will always have a special place in my heart and if he can't deal with it, he better get lost. That's what we talked about, Hermione," Luna replied, serenely.

It was true. Hermione had been discussing some work issues Neville had with his surprising new partner in the Red Squad—Draco Malfoy—when Luna had flooed in her apartment some two months ago. Luna was her normal aloof self and simply sat cross-legged on the floor before picking up the latest Quibbler edition on the coffee table.

It wasn't until Hermione asked the former Ravenclaw how the wedding arrangements were coming that Luna dropped the bomb.

"Oh, since we have broken up last night, I'm sorry to say that my wedding to Rolf is definitely off," Luna said, in a blasé voice.

"WHAT?" Neville and Hemione cried, in sync.

"Yes, we had a big row last night and we ended things not really on amicable terms," Luna replied, in her airy voice.

"I'm sure you can salvage your relationship if the two of you just sit down and discuss the issue," Hermione supplied, in a placating voice.

"Well, I made it clear that the issue he brought up was not open to discussion," shared Luna.

"What happened and what was the issue?" asked Neville, curious.

"I missed two important appointments yesterday concerning our wedding and also a lunch at his parents' because I did not want to miss Tony's first flying lesson," said Luna.

"What flying lesson?" Hermione asked, unaware of any lessons her son could have had.

"Oh, I shouldn't have said that since you weren't supposed to know. It was just a little flying lesson that Fred and George took Teddy to and since Tony was there, they thought that Tony could have one too," replied Luna,

"I'm going to kill them in the slowest, most gruesome and painful way possible," muttered Hermione.

Neville laughed before asking, "But what did Rolf say about it?"

"He said that I wasn't committing myself enough to our wedding. That he always came out second where it concerned my friends and him," Luna said, darkly.

She had finally looked up from the magazine and with an unfamiliar furious look on her usually placid face, Luna added, "That's what he'd dared say."

"I'm sorry to hear that but you can still work it out between the two of you," said Hermione, in a placating voice.

"After what I told him in return, I don't think it will be possible. Either way, I don't want it to happen," replied Luna.

"What did you exactly tell him?" asked Neville, in a low voice.

"I told him that, any man I would be dating should understand that my first true friends will always have a special place in my heart and if he can't deal with it, he better get lost. That's what we talked about, Neville," replied Luna.

Hermione remembered hugging the blond witch tightly after that and thinking that she had chosen wisely for Tony's godparents. Tuning back to the present, Hermione smiled at the three surprise visitors.

"Hello Luna," said Hermione, brightly before she hugged the blond witch. "Neville!" she exclaimed before the wizard was hugged in turn.

Her smile faded as she looked down at the youngest of the three. She knew instantly the look on his face. It was one of terrible sadness and grief. She felt no need to ask what had happened, she understood perfectly. She knelt down and enveloped the eight-year old Teddy Lupin in a fierce hug, the latter instantly started crying on her shoulder.

"Andromeda passed away last night from a rare and virulent strain of Spattergroin," whispered Neville.

"Oh," Hermione simply said, tightening her grip on her godson while the latter howled his despair.

A shadow moved in front of her and she glanced up to see that it was Jasper. The empath had a pained but imploring look on his face. Comprehension dawning on Hermione's face, she shook her head. Teddy needed to grieve properly and it would do him no good to alleviate her godson's pain. Plus, it would sound as a disrespect to Andromeda's memory.

Jasper moved away but a second later, Emmett stood at the empath's vacated place. The huge vampire squatted down and with surprising gentleness and tenderness, he coaxed Teddy out of her arms. The little boy latched onto Emmett who lifted him effortlessly before carrying him inside all the while whispering soothing words. Standing back up, she watched them as Emmett sat on one of the couches with Teddy still clinging onto him.

"Sadly," Neville continued, "this isn't the only bad news."

"Ginny?" she asked. Ginny's first pregnancy had been going very badly and the former Weasley—now Potter—had shared with Hermione her fear of a miscarriage.

Luna nodded and said, "When Ginny heard what had happened to you from your house-elf and with the combined news of Andromeda's passing away, she went into premature labour. Harry and all the Weasleys are still at St Mungo's and Teddy shouldn't be left alone at a time like this."

"We thought as you are his godmother that –" started Neville before he was interrupted by Esme.

"Of course, he can stay," she said, with a smile. "He needs a familiar figure with him in this time of grief."

"I wouldn't want to intrude, Mrs. Cullen," uttered Hermione.

"It's not a bother, Hermione. There's more than enough room here and even if the boy needs his space, he mostly needs a loving figure around him right now," responded the Cullen matriarch. "And, please call me Esme," she added.

Hermione nodded before quickly introducing Luna and Neville to the Cullens. She did not miss the curious looks of her two friends when she introduced Edward to them nor the intrigued one Edward shot them.

Glancing at Edward, she remembered the interrupted conversation and walked up to him.

"We'll finish what we started earlier at a later time, Edward. There are more pressing matters that require my attention for the time being," she whispered, in a low voice.

"I understand," he replied.

With that settled, she turned back to see that Emmett was smiling tenderly at the asleep Teddy on his shoulder.

End notes:

I know that it is short but it's still an update.

Yes, Fred is alive because I've decided to off another Weasley in his place: Charlie. Fred is more useful for my story.

Thanks to all reviewers and take care,

Ludo13