Harry Potter Universe belongs to JK Rowling. I am just a visitor.
I have read so many wonderful fan fictions that if this story in any way resembles one I apologize.
Please remember imitation is said to be the most sincere form of flattery.
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The summer heat was intense everyone's nerves were frayed. The air was stiflingly. Hermione only wanted to stay perfectly still in front of the open window of Bill's bedroom and wait for a breeze. She had been living with Charlie and Bill for four weeks and despite the close quarters, they were still getting along.
Bill had insisted on accompanying Hermione to her final visit to the healer.
"Mrs. Puffee, you are doing wonderfully, you are completely healed. Is the wee one at home doing as well?" the healer inquired politely.
Bill spoke for Hermione, "Everything is the same…so Coco is fine?"
Hermione still found it difficult to speak of the baby and was very thankful for Bill's protective nature.
The healer continued spelling out how well Hermione had improved and with a wink; she reassured Bill that it was perfectly fine to resume martial activities.
Bill did not miss a beat, "Did you hear that Coco…we can start on another wee one right away!"
He jumped up and vigorously shook the healer's hand, "Come on Coco, we need to get home we have some activities to catch up on!"
Hermione gasped and the healer chuckled, "You might want to wait until the wee one sleeps through the night laddie!"
Hermione could not take another minute, she shook the healer's hand and thanked her for all that she had done. With out a word to Bill she stormed out of the office and back to the apartment.
Bill had to run to catch up with her, "What's got you so worked up?" he hissed.
Hermione kept walking, "Not here!" and was silent until they reach the flat.
As the door to the flat closed behind them, Hermione rounded on Bill, with tears in her eyes she whispered, "How could you be so cruel? Activities? Another one? I can barely make myself wake up in the morning…I ache for everything and it's a big joke to you…I'm sorry if you think I'm not getting over losing all that mattered to fast enough to…I'm sorry.." her sobs racked her body.
Charlie had come running into the living room as soon as he heard the sobs, "Bill, what did you do?"
Bill was pale "I…" his heart was pounding, "Hermione, you haven't lost everything and everyone, you still have me…I care…I love you…so does Charlie."
Looking for his support from his brother Charlie strode over and put his arms around her. "I adore you…please know that…Coco!" Hermione's sobs lessened and she let out a small laugh as she let Charlie lead her over to the sofa and sat down.
Bill had followed them and sat next to Hermione on the sofa. His mind was racing, "You will have all the things you want out of life…everything and more… Hermione…I promise…a husband who adores you and enough rug rats to field a Qudditch team for England."
Hermione turned and glared at Bill, her anger needed a target, "Right, me the woman who so repulsed her fiancée he walked away…the woman who killed her own baby…yeah William, men will knock each over to get to me."
Charlie strengthened his grip on her shoulders, "No! That's not true…you are amazing!"
Hermione let out a long sigh, "I need a nap…thank you Charlie you are a dear!"
Bill watched as she walked away without looking at him. Charlie shook his head at his brother, "Way to go bro."
Bill sat staring his boots, "What should I do, say, anything?"
Charlie had gone into the kitchen and brought out two beers, handing one to his older brother he sat across from Bill. "Female dragons are always the worst after they hatch their broods. Being with their little one is the only way to keep them calm – hormones – I imagine it must be horrible for Hermione, all those hormones and no baby to love."
Bill looked at the fireplace and spoke into the air, "I'm worried about her…she keeps everything bottled up…do you think if she had some one to talk to – Mum, she a female."
Charlie rubbed his temple, "I guess I'll go and try to explain to Mum with out betraying Hermione's confidence."
He threw some floo powder into the fireplace and spoke the Burrow as he walked in to the flames.
Bill watched his brother leave, he felt horrible. For the past four weeks since Hermione had come to live with them he hadn't given much thought to how she was holding up emotionally. Physically she was much stronger but her heart was broken and Bill never gave it a thought.
As he sat staring into space, he could see her perspective, what did the future hold for her? Of course, she was having trouble looking past what had happened, how could it get any better?
Hermione's initial anger had subsided even before she left the room. Bill was a man doing what men do trying to fix the problem at this moment. Why should he think about any of it? She knew he did not mean any harm. The pain that she carried around was eating alive; she was sure one morning she would wake up to find it had killed her. She wanted peace, to relax, forget everything for a while.
The oppressive heat made every movement sticky torture. She wanted to go swimming. Hermione did not think Bill would appreciate a pool in his bedroom but a cool bath might work. Taking the old bathrobe of Charlie's that had been given to her, she headed toward the bathroom.
As she sank into the cool water of the full bathtub, Hermione remembered all of the summer vacations her family took to the beaches of Greece. The memory of floating face down in the water watching the schools of fish dashing across the coral reef came back to her. Hermione remembered how relaxing floating could be. She turned over in the tub she closed her eyes for a while she would pretend.
Bill heard the running water as he sat thinking on the sofa. He was very concerned about Hermione. If she thought, she had no future what was the point of the present. Maybe his mother could help her but the pain Bill had seen in those coco colored eyes haunted him. When he next looked up, he realized she had been in the bathroom for almost an hour. His was concerned what could she be doing?
Anxiety washed over him; there were sharp and potential lethal things in the bathroom, what if she had become despondent? His heart began to pound, what if she had harmed herself and he was just there.
He jumped up and raced to the door. It was locked. Bill called her name but there was no response, Bill's wand had destroyed the lock before he realized he had it in his had. His heart stopped, Hermione was floating face down in a tub full of water. She was motionless.
"NO!" Bill growled as he pulled the limp form up and out of the water. He was screaming her name as he held her close to his chest trying to will her to breathe.
Hermione was in heaven, the water was surrounding her, relaxing her mind. She never wanted to leave this tranquil universe. The sudden and brutal force that yanked her out of the tub left her gasping for air and disoriented. Someone was screaming her name. It took a minute for her to realize Bill was holding her.
Pushing the mass of wet tangled hair out of her face she looked up to find Bill's face covered with tears.
"Bill? What is going on?' she asked.
The frantic man froze. "You are not dead?"
Hermione was confused, "N..no, I 'm fine breathing and everything but why are you screaming?"
Bill dropped her on her feet and stepped back when he finally spoke his voice was deadly calm. "What are you playing at? Pretending to be dead?"
Hermione tilted her head back to try to look him in the eye, "What the hell are you playing at? I was taking a bath!"
Bill turned and stormed out of the bathroom with Hermione hot on his heels dripping wet.
"Do not walk away from me! I demand an explanation William." She ranted as they both stomped into the living room.
Bill turned slowly and looked her in the eye, "You mean to tell me this wasn't your way of getting back at me for the healer's visit? Floating motionless face down in tub full of water is relaxing. Right, seems more like a cruel joke to me."
Hermione snorted, "For your information Mr. Weasley, I was using a relaxation technique I learned years ago to calm down after your asinine comments!"
Bill's eyes narrowed with skepticism, "I thought you were despondent…I was worried that you might hurt yourself…" his voice got quite at the last part.
Comprehension softened Hermione's expression, "Oh Bill…you and Charlie have been wonderful to me I wouldn't betray your trust like that."
Bill walked up to her pulling her close to, "Coco…"
The sound of someone clearing their throat made Bill turn and look towards the kitchen. Charlie was completely red in the face as were his parents, Ron, and some woman he had never seen before. Bill glanced down at Hermione and together they realized she had not put on her bathrobe before coming into the living room. Hermione Granger was standing in the living room dripping wet, stark naked and in the arms of her ex-fiancée's oldest brother. This had all the makings of a first class nightmare.