A/N: Not edited. Point out if you see any mistakes! Enjoy!


Chapter 9: Dinner and Tea

To say that that night was tense would be the biggest understatement. Ever. She didn't think there was a word that could describe it. The tension was so thick she was surprised no one had choked on it. Everyone was silent before Anton broke it, offering for them to leave but Emily snapped at him.

"No," she said. "We have prepared dinner here and will have dinner here."

Anton could do nothing but nod his head and he wisely remained silent the rest of the night. If the glares Emily sent him were any indication, Anton would surely be sleeping on the couch for a week, at the very least.

Hermione thanked all of her stars for Emily. She didn't know what she would do without her friend. Emily played the host and Hermione excused herself to gather her wits and the strength she needed to get through the long night ahead. When she reached the bathroom, she splashed her face with cold water. She dried her face with a towel and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was so pale, like she had just seen a ghost. If one considered Ron as a ghost. She took deep calming breaths to steady the frantic beating heart. This was not how she planned her evening would go.

How had Ron found her? Why was he with Anton? What was he doing in France? Questions whirled around in her head making her dizzy. She clutched her head and willed her thoughts to stop. Fainting a second time wouldn't get her any answers. She glanced at her reflection again. There was panic and confusion written all over her face. She looked like a small, scared cat hiding in her small hole. She did not look at all like a brave lioness from Gryffindor everyone thought her to be. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and raised her chin. There, much better. Well, at least on the outside she looked more like herself even if inside she was a mess.

When she returned everyone was already seated in the dining table. She took her seat beside Emily. Emily took Hermione's hand under the table and squeezed her hand reassuringly, telling her that she was there for her. Hermione smiled at her and squeezed back her gratitude.

The obliviousness of children was also a blessing. The two fired question after question at Ron. The senseless ramblings of the children filled up the silence that the grown-ups had made. Ron answered the questions of the children as best as he could, given his limited experience with interacting with a child. His ears were beat red, redder that his hair. He didn't even touch his food; he merely kept pushing them around his plate, which was a shock to say the least. But given the situation, only the children had the appetite that particular night.

After the children finished their dinner, their pulled their fathers into the living room, begging their daddies to tell them all about the Quidditch match. Anton looked at Emily for permission and was met with an icy glare but she gave him a curt nod. When the four finally left, Emily had pulled out her wand and charmed the plates to clear themselves. Emily turned to Hermione and grasped both her hands.

"Hermione?"

Her name was the only thing that Emily said but that was enough to make her break down. Emily wrapped her arms around Hermione, making shushing sound and rubbing Hermione's back. For a long time, Hermione just sat there, holding onto her best friend for dear life. All night she had held back her emotions, trying hard not to let them show how much of a mess she was inside. But in the comfort of her friend's arms she let everything out.

"What am I going to do, Em?" Hermione said when her sobbing had died down. "I…I… I don't know what I'm going to do."

"What do you want do, Hermione?" Emily asked.

"I…I want Sophie to have a father. She deserves to have a father," Hermione said. She did want Sophie to have a father; it was just that she didn't think Ron was ready, or deserving, to have a daughter.

"And I want us to become a family, Em. I want to give Sophie the family she always wanted," Hermione continued. "Like you and Anton."

"Trust me, after tonight, you wouldn't want to be anything like me and Anton. He will pay. I will make him wish he was never born," Emily said with so much conviction Hermione couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips.

"Take it easy on him. I'm sure he didn't know," Hermione said as she pulled away from her friend's embrace.

"Uh, uh, don't you dare defend him, Hermione Jean Granger. He will get what's coming to him. How dare he bring that selfish, idiotic, broom-loving, Quidditch-obsessed, Quidditch player in my house!" Emily exclaimed.

"Actually, Em, it's my house," Hermione reminded. She wiped at her tears, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Darling, what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine, remember?" Emily said, as a mother would to a child.

Hermione couldn't help it but laugh at her friend. She really was lucky to have her.

"Oh, Em, what am I going to do without you." Hermione hugged Emily once more.

"That's too horrific to even think about, so don't. I'm here and I always will be," Emily said hugging Hermione.

Hermione relished in the comfort brought by her best friends embrace but when she pulled back reality sunk back in. Hermione's face fell once more.

"What am I going to do?" Hermione said, placing her head in her hands.

"Well, I'll tell you what you won't do," Emily said, grasping Hermione's shoulders and making her sit up straight. "You're not going let him see you like this. You're going to show him that you're strong and not the little girlfriend he didn't choose."

Hermione slowly nodded her head, Emily's conviction and determination seeping through her, steadying her. "You're right. I'm going to show him that Sophie and I survived without him and that I don't need him."

"Exactement! (Exactly!)" Emily smiled at her and hugged her friend once more before going out into the living room. Hermione took a big breath and fixed herself up using her wand, doing the best she can to hide the puffiness in her eyes and the tears that had fallen.

"Hermione, were going home now," Emily called out.

Hermione made her way to her living room to see Emily and her family off. Adrien was complaining on why he couldn't stay, practically tugging Anton's arm off, but one look from his mum and he was silenced at once.

"Thank you for having us, Hermione." Emily hugged Hermione and whispered, "S'il fait quoi que ce soit de stupide, il pourra aller retrouver le précieux balai qu'il a entre les jambes à Londres (If he does anything stupid, I will hex that precious broomstick between his legs back to London)," before pulling away and giving Hermione a warm smile.

"Yes, Hermione, thank you for having us," Anton said and gave her a hug as well but before he pulled away he whispered, "I am so sorry."

Hermione smiled sincerely at him, silently telling him she wasn't mad at him. His wife would cover that nicely.

"Good night, Auntie 'Mione!" Adrien said before hugging Hermione as well. "Please tell mum to let me stay," Adrien whispered and gave Hermione his best puppy-dog eyes. Unfortunately for Adrien, Sophie's puppy-dog eyes were the only ones that worked on Hermione. She smiled sadly at Adrien.

"Sorry, Adrien," Hermione said and kissed the little boy's forehead. "Good night, Darling."

Adrien pouted but didn't argue anymore. He knew his mum would have his butt if he protested again, so he wisely kept his whinings to himself.

The moment Emily and her family disappeared in the green flames the tension in the room grew worse, if that was even possible. Hermione kept her eyes on the fireplace, not ready to confront the man from her past. Sophie, being an innocent, and thankfully oblivious, child that she is, pulled her father after her as she dragged him toward her room. That scene reminded Hermione of the time when it had been Malfoy that Sophie was dragging after her. Hermione smiled at the memory. She had felt a strange kind of joy at seeing Malfoy being dragged around by her daughter. Not the kind of joy that you felt when you see your enemy awkward and uncomfortable. It was different. She had felt warm and happy at the sight. But now, seeing Ron in the same predicament where Malfoy had once been, it felt different. She couldn't explain it but somehow with Ron, it felt… wrong. She felt, in a sort of instinct or intuition that she couldn't explain, Malfoy belonged being dragged by her daughter and not Ron. She shook her head to clear her wayward and disturbing thoughts. Malfoy? Really?

She followed the two redheads into Sophie's room. There she saw Sophie explaining extensively to Ron all of the things in her room. Ron looked incredibly uncomfortable but Sophie didn't seem to notice. Hermione was glad for the distraction though. She didn't want to be alone and talk to him. Her emotions were still waging a war inside her. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to hug him. She wanted them to be a family. She wanted to kick his sorry butt.

In the middle of explaining why Marie is the name of her favorite white teddy bear with a pink bow, Sophie yawned loudly. Hermione's maternal instinct took over.

"Sophie, I think it's time to get ready for bed," Hermione said.

"But I'm not sleepy, Mummy!" Sophie protested but contradicted it by yawning again.

"Yes, you are. Come on, let's get you ready for bed," Hermione said, holding Sophie's hand and pulling her toward the bathroom.

"Could you wait in the living room?" Hermione asked Ron, to which he silently nodded.

"But I don't want to sleep, Mummy! I want to show daddy alls my toys, my books and my drawings!" Sophie protested again. Once they reached the bathroom, Sophie stomped her little foot and crossed her little arms across her chest, pouting angrily at her mum. Hermione sighed, when Sophie assumed the I-don't-want-to-do-what-you-want-me-to position that meant there would be some scolding, a lot of whining and a two-way silent treatment. Hermione swore Sophie got her stubbornness from Ron's side of the family.

"Sophie, it is way past your bed time. You can show your toys to your daddy tomorrow," Hermione said, crossing her arms as well. She internally winced when she said daddy.

"But I want to now," Sophie whined.

"No, Sophie. Now, you get into the tub and then you will go to bed," Hermione said sternly.

"But Mummy—" Sophie pleaded.

"No buts, Sophie. Get in the tub. Now," Hermione said firmly.

Sophie pouted again but did as Hermione said. She took off her clothes and stomped to the bathtub. Hermione turned on the hot water, placed Sophie's bath toys in the tub and gave Sophie her bath. While Hermione washed Sophie's hair she heard the little girl sniffle. She turned Sophie to face her and saw the tears streaming down her little brown eyes.

"Sophie, why are you crying?" Hermione rinsed her hands and wiped the tears on her daughter's cheeks.

"I want to shows daddy my stuffs," Sophie said sadly and sniffled again.

"Oh, Sophie, you can show daddy your things tomorrow," Hermione said soothingly.

"But daddy will go away!" Sophie exclaimed. "Daddy will go away and he won't see my stuffs and he won't play with me and he won't read me stories and–and–and…."

Hermione hugged her daughter, not caring about getting wet or about the bubbles that might sting her eyes. She shushed her crying daughter. Sophie didn't want to go sleep, not because she didn't want to, but because she was afraid of losing her father. She was afraid that if she went to sleep she might never see her daddy again. Hermione's heart clenched painfully in her chest at the emotional turmoil Ron was causing her daughter. She ought to hex him for making her daughter cry. A very subtle, very painful hex. Yes, that should do it.

"Ssshhhh, it's okay, you don't have to cry, Sophie," Hermione said reassuringly.

"Daddy will live with us?" Sophie asked, looking up at Hermione with big, hopeful eyes.

"I don't think so, Darling. But your daddy will always visit you," Hermione amended, hoping her child would see the positive side of her answer.

"He will?" A small smile formed on Sophie's face. Thank the Heavens.

"He will." Hermione nodded.

Because there will be hell to pay if Ron didn't keep that smile on Sophie's face. A lot of hell.

Sophie turned back to her toys and started splashing them around again, and Hermione went back to washing her daughter's hair. After a while, Sophie turned back to Hermione.

"Sorry, Mummy," Sophie said softly, guilt plain on her face.

"It's alright, Sophie, Mummy understands," Hermione said, cupping her daughter's cheek.

Sophie smiled happily at her and leaned forward to kiss her mummy, getting bubbles on Hermione's face in the process. Sophie laughed cheerfully. After Sophie's bath, Hermione changed Sophie into her pink night dress.

"I want daddy to tuck me in!" Sophie exclaimed when Hermione was about to do just that.

Hermione wanted to say no but found that she couldn't. The hopeful look on Sophie's face was just too much to turn down.

"I, uh, I'll go ask daddy, okay?" Hermione said and she exited her daughter's room. She closed the door but didn't go to do what she said she would. Instead she just stood there and leaned her forehead on the cool wood of the door. She was so tired. She didn't think she could handle any more of this daddy thing. She just wanted to go to her room, curl up in bed and pretend this whole night was just a horrible nightmare. She sighed; she knew that wouldn't be happening any time soon but the sooner she got this over with, the sooner she could pretend.

Hermione pulled her heavy feet into the living room and peeked in to find Ron sitting on her couch. He had his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. He looked stressed and as tired as she felt. Hermione resisted the urge to comfort him and instead cleared her throat. Ron looked up instantly.

"Sophie asked if you could tuck her in," Hermione said hesitantly.

Ron blinked. "What?"

Hermione sighed. Typical Ron.

"Sophie asked if you could tuck her in," she repeated.

Understanding finally reached Ron and he slowly stood. "Uhmm, okay."

The two found Sophie whispering to Marie. Hermione kissed Sophie good night and stepped aside to let Ron tuck her in. She stood by the door and watched as Ron nervously tucked her daughter in. She heard him mumble a good night and Sophie answered him with a hug, a kiss on the cheek and a very sweet, "Good night, Daddy."

And he didn't deserve any of those.

Hermione slightly closed Sophie's door, living just a crack so she could hear her daughter if she called for her mum. The two made their way back into the living room. Hermione crossed her arms as they stood awkwardly and looked anywhere but each other. Hermione had a million questions going through her head but not one of them escaped her lips, so the silence went on. Ron shuffled from foot to foot before sighing. Hermione knew Ron couldn't stand silence and sure enough he broke it.

"It's nice to see you, 'Mione," Ron finally said.

Hermione's heart clenched again. It had been so long since she'd heard his voice say her nickname and it felt so nice to hear it again. Even if she was mad as hell at him, she couldn't deny the absolute fact that she missed him.

"Yeah," Hermione whispered, not knowing what else to say without giving away her emotions.

Silence swallowed them again.

"How have you been?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed. "What are you doing here, Ron?"

She desperately wanted to get this over with.

"I miss you, 'Mione. We all miss you. Harry, Ginny, Mum and Dad, everyone," Ron stated.

"I miss them too," Hermione replied. Thinking about the people she loved but had to leave behind made her eyes water. She missed them too.

"Why didn't you tell us where you were? Harry went mad looking for you. Hell, we all looked for you!" Ron exclaimed.

"I know." And she did. She knew the letter she left Harry and the Weasleys wouldn't be enough of an explanation to them but she couldn't stomach saying good bye to them. She thought that if she said good bye face-to-face with them she wouldn't be able to go through with it and an endless line of questions would have been asked. She thought they must have hated her for being a coward and not facing them. But it was a sacrifice she had to make for her daughter.

"How did you know I was here?" Hermione asked when Ron didn't say anything else.

"After our game, I heard two guys talking. They were talking in French but I heard them say your name. I didn't think it was you at first but then I thought how many girls could have been named Hermione, right? It's not a really common name you know." Ron chuckled.

Hermione's brows furrowed. "Your game?"

"Yeah, our team fought against France's home team for the Cup," Ron smiled proudly. "And we won!"

Hermione smiled sadly at him. "Congratulations. I guess you finally got what you wanted, eh Ron. You became a famous Quidditch Player, just like you dreamed."

Ron's smile instantly fell from his face and he took one step closer to her. "'Mione I—"

"I'm very happy for you, Ron," Hermione cut him off. "You're living your dream."

Ron fell silent and looked down.

"'Mione—" Ron began but Hermione cut him off again.

"It was really nice of you to visit, Ron, but I think it's time for you to leave," Hermione said, barely managing to keep her voice from shaking.

Ron looked up at her as if to protest but looked away again. He nodded his head and made his way toward her fireplace. Hermione stayed where she was. Ron turned back to her and his mouth was opening and closing, clearly debating on whether or not to tell her something. But he shook his head and turned back to the fireplace.

"Visit Sophie," Hermione said. "Visit your daughter, Ron. She loves you."

Ron nodded before grabbing a handful of Floo powder.

"Good night, 'Mione," he said over his shoulder to her and then he was gone.

"Yeah, Sophie loves you. Even if you don't love her," Hermione whispered.

She collapsed on her couch. The evening was finally over. Her emotions had been rioting inside her all night and she felt utterly exhausted. As if another being took over her body, she found herself walking to her room. She readied herself for bed as was routine, without even being aware of it.

Hermione lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling of her room, replaying the night over and over again. Despite being exhausted, sleep kept evading her and her thoughts kept her awake. Thoughts of Sophie. Of Ron. Of the future.

Would Ron tell the Weasleys and Harry? Would they all come here? What would they all say? What if they hated her for leaving and in turn hate Sophie as well? Would Ron really visit Sophie? What would happen to Sophie if he didn't? Why didn't it feel right when Ron was with Sophie? Why did Malfoy feel right?

Hermione groaned. All this thinking made her head hurt. But sleep still evaded her. She sighed.

Only when the first rays of the morning peeked through her window did sleep finally claim her.

Sophie woke up to Sebastian licking her all over her face. Sophie giggled at the good morning of her new best friend. She got up and hugged Sebastian to her chest. Sophie struggled to get off her bed while carrying Sebastian, but the little dog was growing fat now and he was getting really heavy. So, she let him go and he jumped down onto the floor. Sophie, Marie still in hand, chased the little dog. When the two reached the kitchen, she didn't see her mummy. She walked behind the counter to check if her mum was hiding behind it. The counter was really tall and that was where her mum put the foods so that Sophie wouldn't be able to reach it, especially Mrs. Malfoy's cookies. But her mum wasn't there. Sophie frowned and opened the door to the dining room to see if her mum was already eating. Still no mummy. Humph.

Usually her mummy would be here making that icky smelling black water she likes to drink or cooking pancakes. Pancakes! Sophie's stomach grumbled loudly. She heard Sebastian barking and scratching on a door and saw that it was her mummy's room's door. Sophie went over to it and opened her mummy's door. There she saw her mummy still asleep in bed. Sophie stifled her laugh behind her fisted hand. It was really funny because it was always her mummy that woke her up but this was the number two times she woke up her mum. Like she was her mummy's mummy! She laughed again.

Sophie straightened her back and tried to look like a grown-up. But her composure only lasted two steps before she squealed and jumped on her mummy's bed.

"Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!" Sophie screamed while shaking her mummy.

She heard her mummy make a sound like the sound her stomach makes before she saw one of her mummy's eyes open. She smiled happily at her mum. "Goo'morning, Mummy!"

Sophie's loud greeting sent a stab of pain through Hermione's head and she groaned again. It was still early! Why was Sophie up so early?!

Hermione pulled her daughter down beside her, mentally commanding her to go back to sleep. For a while, Sophie was silent and Hermione thought her daughter got the hint. Suddenly, she heard Sophie's stomach gurgle. Her sleep deprived brain was still registering this phenomenon when Sophie whispered to her. "Mummy, gumbled! I'm hungry, Mummy! Can you make pancakes please?"

Hermione sighed. It looked like her morning was off to an un-Godly early start. She rolled over and checked the watch on her bedside table. 9:48. Ok, maybe not so un-Godly early.

She grudgingly left the warmth of her bad and trudged after a skipping Sophie. Although Hermione wasn't the best of cooks, she could cook a few decent meals and one of them was pancakes, Sophie's favorite food. Besides Narcissa's cookies. Today, however, due to sleep deprivation, Hermione wasn't up to making her daughter's favorite pancakes.

She turned on her coffee-maker, took out her mug and glared at the coffee-making machine. Faster, you stupid machine! Hermione felt eyes watching her and she turned around. Sophie was looking up at her expectantly. The question 'where's my pancakes?' written all over her face. Hermione sighed. She could not handle telling her daughter 'no', because a lot of why not's would be asked and she couldn't answer them with sleep still clouding her brain. That damn coffee-machine better be done making her coffee! But when she turned back to it, alas, it still wasn't done. She glared at it. Stupid machine! She turned back to Sophie.

"Sophie, mummy's not feeling well today. Why don't you have cereal today and tomorrow mummy will make you pancakes okay?" Hermione asked.

Sophie pouted and looked like she was about to complain but her growling stomach interrupted her. Hermione raised her eyebrows at her and Sophie nodded in defeat. Hermione waved her hand around the kitchen. The box of cereal and a bowl came from the cabinets, a spoon from the drawer and milk from the fridge. The breakfast necessities flew from their designated places and landed softly on the dinner table. Hermione smiled at her daughter and Sophie walked to the dining room, after she gave her mum a disappointed pout. The beeping sound from the coffee-machine was one of the most beautiful sounds to ever reach Hermione's ears. Caffeine!

Hermione was curled up on the couch with a new book and a cup of tea. After putting Sophie down for her afternoon nap, Hermione had decided to spend the rest of her day relaxing. She had a very eventful week and the damage that had been caused to her peace of mind was in need of immediate attention. Her recommendation: a day of relaxation. And what said relaxation better than a quiet house, a very stimulating book and a warm cup of tea? Not a bloody thing.

Hermione wasn't expecting anyone and was therefore surprised by the knock on her door. She placed a bookmark on the page she was reading and put the book on her now vacant seat. She opened the door and the warm smile on her face fell when she saw who was on the other side. Rather, who were on the other side. There were two males, one with red hair and one with jet black, and a red-haired woman.

Ron Weasley.

Harry Potter.

Ginny Weasley.

There goes her day of relaxation. Oh, bother.


A/N: Gosh, it took me a really long time to get this on word. Writer's block is claiming me! Darn it! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think! Leave a REVIEW! Pretty pretty please? (insert Sophie's puppy-dog eyes)