Disclaimer: I would like to buy the rights to Harry Potter off J.K. Rowling. That proves I do not own him, sadly enough.

Author's Note: Hey guys. This chapter was supposed to be up much earlier but I was busy with school, and then I had a three day, two night camp. I am SO sorry bows continuously I love you guys anyway.

This chapter is dedicated to Whitelight72, Stary, MiKaYGiRl, FayeLibra2317, amrawo, harry'n'mione4ever, APRIL26, and of course, pstibbons. You guys make my gloomy little life brighter with a few words.

harry'n'mione4ever: Well, there are lots of dads in this world. Some are like mine, some are like yours and a precious few are like chem prof. (I really wish he'll adopt me :) )

pstibbons: OMG, I think you're right. I'll fix the problem in this chapter, thanks for pointing it out!

Harry ran his hand through his hair with infinite slowness. He wished he could suddenly wake up from this horrible nightmare or that Hermione would withdraw her words. Perhaps she didn't realise, he thought savagely, how much suffering I went through, how much guilt I experienced.

Sneaking a sideways glance at her, Harry was taken aback at her apparent impassivity. Hermione was looking elsewhere, out the window at the golden glow of the streetlamps, her face as blank as a mask. In fact, the only indication of her emotions was the barely perceptible tightening of her jaw, evidenced by the lines around her mouth.

Though there was no sign of it on her face, there was a raging whirlpool of emotions swirling inside Hermione's heart. She was still utterly, totally, completely in love with Harry and knew she always would be. Yet her rational mind kept replaying that horrible scene, continuously analysing each moment to the everlasting agony of her heart.

When Harry had shown up on her doorstep, she had been initially overjoyed to see him again. That euphoria had then given way to the anger and resentment harboured inside, which she had unleashed on him.

At this juncture, all of her pent-up feelings had already been released and she felt like an empty shell. Hermione was ready to start afresh except for one tiny snag: her venom had lashed out in the spiteful statement that she could not trust Harry. She knew that that barb would hit home, given the dangerous situations they had faced together during their years at Hogwarts. It was impossible for someone not to forge an unshakable bond of trust and loyalty with him.

Harry screwed his eyes shut and opened them again abruptly, exhaling sharply as he did so.

'I have to go, Hermione. It's late.'

Every fibre of her being screamed at her to say something, to stop him from leaving but she nodded mutely. Harry walked away, brushing past her as he left but suddenly halting in the doorway.

'I'll come back tomorrow to get to know Jessie, if that's alright with you. She is also my daughter, after all.' He said the last sentence with a bitterness which plainly told Hermione that he deeply resented being shut out of the first five years of Jessie's life.

Jessie was nodding off in a plush armchair by the fire but lifted her head when she heard her name. Harry smiled warmly and impulsively strode over to her.

'Goodnight, Jessie,' he whispered tenderly as he scooped her up into his arms and planting a kiss on her forehead. 'Daddy will come back tomorrow, OK?'

The little girl nodded sleepily. Harry held her close for a minute before carefully transferring the sleeping Jessie into her mother's arms.

For the second time, he walked to the threshold and paused, as if lost in thought. Hermione watched him intently, stroking Jessie's hair and Harry turned his head to her. For a split second, she glimpsed a flash of some emotion she could not immediately identify. Longing? Anger? Or even as she fervently hoped – acceptance?

Once she was absolutely certain that Harry had really left, Hermione climbed the staircase with Jessie in her arms. As she tucked the little girl into bed, she heard a muffled 'Goodnight Mummy.'

'Jessie? Are you still awake?'

Jessie nodded sleepily and stretched her mouth in a massive yawn which made her mother smile.

'Goodnight sweetie,' whispered Hermione, getting up and walking over to the light switch. However, Jessie wasn't quite finished yet.

'Mummy, you know what? Daddy's exactly how I imagined him to be.'

Hermione stopped short and her motherly smile was replaced with one that could only be described as bitter.

'You mean he shouts and breaks down doors?' she said spitefully.

Jessie merely smiled that captivating, angelic smile of hers.

'No, Mummy, I meant that he gives great cuddles, like Roseanna's daddy and he swings me up high like Michael's daddy and he's really, really tall like Tommy's daddy,' she said innocently. 'So he's the best daddy, 'cause he's three daddies in one.'

Hermione fought down the sudden lump in her throat as a tear trickled down her cheek. 'I think he's the best daddy too, sweetie.'

Harry trudged back to his lodgings like a man in a dream, lost in his own thoughts. He was both elated at finding Hermione again and crushed because she didn't want him back.

In the midst of his thoughts, he wasn't aware that it had started to rain heavily. On he walked, oblivious to his soaked clothes and face. The tears that had formed in his eyes mingled with the rainwater as they ran their course down Harry's cheeks.

'Landsakes, dear, what happened to you?' exclaimed Mrs. Thomas upon opening the door for him. Harry gave a start, gazing at her through bleary eyes, swollen from crying.

'Oh, it's nothing, Mrs. Thomas,' he muttered roughly, swiping at his eyes. 'I…I was caught in the rain and it irritated my eyes…'

'Now, you know you can't fool me, young man,' the sprightly lady scolded as she vigorously towelled him dry. 'Problems with a woman, isn't it? Ronald mentioned something of the sort when he called me last week.'

Harry remained silent, allowing Mrs. Thomas to lead him to a plush armchair beside the roaring fire with a hot mug of cocoa between his numb hands.

'You should forget about her, dear. She sounds the dodgy type to me, abandoning you just like that!' She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

Harry said nothing. How do you forget someone whom you've known and cared about for most of your life?

'Now, you want to meet a nice girl,' prattled Mrs. Thomas enthusiastically as she poked the logs in the fireplace. 'Tomorrow, you dress up nicely and I'll introduce you to Jane Granger. Lovely girl, that Jane, always so cheerful and kind. And her little Jessie, such an adorable sweetheart. Jane certainly won't leave her man.'

Harry jerked out of the lull he was slipping into by the fireside when he heard the names mentioned. He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it. After a moment's contemplation, he abruptly burst into hearty laughter at the terrible irony of the situation, much to the astonishment of his landlady. More unusually, as he laughed, tears of sorrow and bitterness ran down his face.

Author's Note: Hope you liked that, people. Again, I most heartily apologise for the long delay in updating. The next chapter will be up next weekend, or, if worst comes to worst, the weekend after that. Love and kisses for everyone out there!