In the waiting room, Harry and Ginny, along with the rest of the Weasley clan, sat anxiously, awaiting news of the new addition. Harry had been pacing the halls since he had arrived. His two best friends were in there, bringing their daughter into the world.
Harry and Ginny had already been through this twice. Thier oldest son, Noah, and the newest addition, James, had been a breeze, but then again, it had not been Harry who had given birth to either of them. At least Ron and Hermione's daughter would be James' age, they wouldn't have to go to school alone.
Suddenly the door swung open, and a dishevled Ron came through the door. In his arms he carried a pink bundle, wrapped in his dreaded maroon "R" sweater. Everyone rushed to see the baby and ask how Hermione had done.
"Ronnykins, let me see my precious grandaughter!" Shouted an excited Molly.
"Way to go Ron!" Cheered Fred and George.
"We're so proud son..." Exclaimed Arthur from the back of the group, silent tears sliding down his cheeks.
But only Harry and Ginny could see the absolute sadness behind Ron's tired eyes. His shoulders were stooped, and his pride seemed shattered, tears clinging to his red lashes.
"Ron, what's the matter, how's Hermione?!" whispered Harry, trying to be calm.
Ron's face slid into an even sadder expression, if possible. He was trying so hard to hold in the tears that seemed to be fighting to come out. His throat ached with the saddness he held inside.
"She's gone. She had some sort of a tumor, in her brain. The difficulty of the labor, it...Her brain swelled up and the..." It seemed as though the words were stuck in his throat, he didn't want to admit that she had died.
"Ron, oh Ron, it's alright, we're here for you," cried Ginny, as Molly cradeled the baby, tears pouring from her eyes. Ginny flung her arms around her big brother's neck. Hermione was Ginny's best and only girlfriend. They had done everything together; gone to school, gotten engaged, as well as married, and now, they had been pregnant together. But that was all over.
Fred, George, Arthur, and Harry stood there, shocked at what they had just heard. Hermione? Hermione Granger, dead? She had been one of the strongest young women that any of them had met. She had accompanied Harry and Ron in trying to defeat Voldemort, who was still on the loose, and she had risen to the top of her field as an Auror. The smartest witch of their age had died bringing her precious daughter into the world.
"Well, I expect they're letting you bring...Umm, what's her name, Ron?" Asked Arthur.
"Wha- oh, Abigale, Abigale Corynn Weasley. Hermione loved the name Corynn..." he whispered.
"It suits her. She's beautiful, looks just like her mother," Molly said.
Harry still stood, in shock, of what he had just been told. How could Ron ever look at his daughter again without seeing Hermione in her eyes. How could he go through life knowing that his daughter had been the reason for her death. He couldn't imagine losing Ginny, let alone raising the child responsible.
"How can you raise her without Hermione?" Harry had not meant to say it. He knew that he had to be careful about what he said around Ron, but the question was eating at him.
"Harry! What kind of a question is that!" Yelled Ginny.
"He will, of course have his family," Molly added.
"Yeah, I know that, but, she's the reason Hermione is gone, isn't she. How is Ron going to explain that to her? How is he going to live everyday, seeing the child that Hermione had wanted so badly, and not feel angry towards her? It isn't healthy, when you think about it." Now that he had started, he couldn't help but tell them how he felt.
While the family began to fight about Harry's remark, Ron started to wonder as well. What would he tell his daughter when she wanted to know why her mother wasn't there? That she was the reason her mother couldn't teach her how to ride a broom, or tuck her in at night? She was the only thing that had stood between her father and her mother still being happy together? He couldn't deal with telling a child that she was in fact, a murderer.
"Take her home, Mum, Dad. I'll- I'll be around later to get her." Ron said, walking towards the barrier, and out into the muggle filled street.
"Oh, Ronny... Do you think he will come back Arthur? She's already lost her mother, she can't lose him as well." Molly asked, staring lovingly into the little baby's deep brown eyes.
"Give him time, Mol. He needs to realize the responsibilities he has towards his daughter are more important than the sadness he feels right now. Let's go then..." He said, sounding older than ever before.
Harry didn't know whether Ron would come back or not, but as they headed back towards the burrow, he realized, things weren't ever going to be the same.