Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.
Summary: Set in the distant future. Hermione and Ron are about to get married, though Hermione isn't sure if Ron is ready. However, when she is given the chance to see all of her options, Hermione must choose the right path for herself.
CHAPTER 8
Hermione's eyes continued to stare at the pregnancy test on the floor while the somewhat older version of herself seemed to collapse to her knees, crying hysterically. Hermione couldn't believe this was one of her futures; even when she left Ron in this future, she would always be attached to him now.
Hermione turned to face Tonks. "What…what happens now?"
Tonks simply offered Hermione her hand and in a second, everything around them went dark.
A second later, the room began to focus and Hermione found herself standing next to Tonks in her own kitchen, watching the slightly older version of herself pace back in forth with a stomach that had seemed to round a bit.
"Your about three months pregnant now…" Tonks said.
Hermione watched herself, clearly the pregnant version of herself was distraught. "Why am I so upset?"
A knock on the door prevented Tonks from answering and the pregnant Hermione ran to the door, josting it open quickly.
"Bloody hell, Hermione, what happened?" Ron's voice filled the flat as he stepped in, glancing around. "Are you alright? The message you left me scared the crap out of me."
"I left it for you two weeks ago." The pregnant Hermione said.
"Right well…Auror training…doesn't let me get the messages…not to mention since you threw me out of here last time I saw you I wasn't exactly expecting to hear from you…" Ron finally stopped looking around and glanced back at Hermione, his blue eyes directly meeting her brown ones.
Ron's face furrowed in confusion and it was clear that he could tell something was wrong. "What's going on, Hermione?"
The pregnant version of Hermione said nothing but instead looked down at her swelling abdomen.
Ron followed the pregnant Hermione's gaze and then, suddenly, his eyes grew big and he took a step backwards.
"Hermione…are you…is…are…" Ron pointed a shaking finger at Hermione's stomach.
Pregnant Hermione nodded weakly. "I'm pregnant, Ron."
"You weren't exactly tactful in telling him…" Tonks whispered to Hermione.
Hermione nodded in shock, unable to believe the scene unfolding in front of her. Her mind began to race, wondering what Ron would do next. After all, in this future, she had clearly hurt him.
"Bloody hell…" Ron ran a hand through his red hair and shook his head. "When…"
Pregnant Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "You know exactly when…"
Ron just simply nodded. "So its mine then?"
Both Hermione's jaws fell open at the same time in shock at his obvious accusation.
"Of course its yours!" Pregnant Hermione snapped.
"Honest question…" Ron held his hands up in defense. "You did walk away from me…how the bloody hell do I know what you've been doing since then…"
"Ron, you know I'm not like that." Pregnant Hermione said.
Ron shrugged. "A lots changed, Hermione…"
"Is he serious?" Hermione hissed only causing Tonks to give a small smile.
Ron sighed after a moment. "What do you want to do?"
"What do you mean?" Pregnant Hermione asked.
"About it? I mean…are we keeping it…" Ron asked.
Pregnant Hermione nodded feverishly.
"You never contemplated anything else." Tonks whispered to Hermione.
"Of course I wouldn't. It's Ron's…" Hermione knew that much. Even if she and Ron didn't end up together, she could never take away a part of him.
Tonks just gave a small nod.
"Well, then I want to be here for you." Ron said simply, surprising both Hermione's.
Hermione seemed relieved. In this reality it looked like she and Ron would get a chance to fix the apparent mistake she made when leaving him. However, she was shocked when she saw the older version of herself's reaction to Ron's words.
The pregnant Hermione sighed, giving Ron a small smile. "I appreciate that, Ron…and I want you here…for the baby…"
Hermione felt her jaw hit the floor the same time Ron's eyes moved to his feet.
"Am I mental?" Hermione whispered to Tonks.
Tonks did not reply but only nodded her head toward Ron and the pregnant version of Hermione.
"Right…got ya…"Ron kicked imaginary dirt off his shoe.
"I just…I want you to know…" Pregnant Hermione said.
"Just wanted me to know…" Ron gave a nervous laugh as he seemed to whisper Hermione's words to himself.
"Ron, we know we can't work this out…" Pregnant Hermone said, though she did not exactly sound convincing.
Ron bit the inside of his lip and nodded, his head still down. "Right…so you say…"
"Ron, please don't do this…" Pregnant Hermione said.
Ron's eyes snapped up to meet hers and the pain of rejection was so clear in them. "Do what? Care?"
"Yes…" Pregnant Hermione seemed to breath.
"Fine. Just let me know when you need me then." Ron said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"I can let you know when I have an appointment with a healer…I want you there if you want to be there…" The pregnant Hermione said.
"Yeah, alright…that works…" Ron said, the bitterness in his voice seemingly replaced with sadness again.
Pregnant Hermione gave Ron a small nod.
"I'll…I'll head out then…call me when you have everything settled…" Ron said.
Pregnant Hermione nodded. "I'll owl…"
"No. No you can call…I finally figured out how to work that bloody muggle mobile…" Ron gave a weak smile clearly trying to hide his own pain.
Hermione's brow furrowed. It would take her leaving Ron for him to figure out how to use the mobile she had bought him over a year ago? Funny how things like that seemed to work.
"Oh…good…alright then…" Pregnant Hermione forced a fake smile and held the door open for Ron who slipped out without another word. The second she closed the door behind him, she collapsed to the floor, crying silently as her shoulders heaved.
"What is wrong with me? He offered to stay…clearly I wanted him to!" Hermione said, motioning to the pregnant version of herself on the floor in front of the door.
Tonks shrugged. "I think you would know better then I do what goes on in your head sometimes, Hermione…"
Hermione nodded, watching herself cry. She wouldn't go back to Ron simply because she had left him in the first place. Everyone she had seen so far had been right; sometimes she let pride and the need to be right overtake what she truly wanted. She had been like that with Ron for years; that was why it had taken them so long to get together in the first place, and in this future, it would be the reason they did not fix this.
"There's more to see…" Tonks told Hermione.
"I don't know if I want to." Hermione said.
"Well, it's not like you have a choice...but its not all bad, I promise." Tonks said, taking Hermione's hand.
Hermione nodded, reluctantly taking Tonk's outstretched hand as she closed her eyes and hoping that the deceased witch was right. Maybe this future could be redeemed.
Hermione opened her eyes to find herself and Tonks in a hospital room similar to the one Hermione remembered being in with Lupin in her future with Krum. She immediately glanced over to see herself in the middle of giving birth, the healer at the foot of her bed and Ron sitting next to her, holding her hand.
Hermione was in awe as she watched Ron, sooth down her hair as she continued to rant at him. IN this future, she seemed much more vocal while in labor then she had when she was with Viktor in her other option.
"Ron! You are so dead!" The Hermione in labor bellowed.
"I know, I know…" Ron seemed unfazed by her threats.
"Are we….am I…." Hermione asked, noticing how close she and Ron were in this future right now. Were they back together?
"You're not together, but Ron's been with you every step of the way through this pregnancy." Tonks told Hermione.
Hermione nodded, a little sad but pleased to know he had stayed by her side through all of it. If anything, she wasn't exactly shocked they were not back together at this point, but they did seem very close, that was something or maybe it would lead to something else.
The piercing sound of a baby's cries filled the room around them, and Hermione refocused on the picture in front of her, shocked to see tears of pride and joy streaming down Ron's face as the healer handed the baby to him.
"It's a girl, Hermione…" Ron seemed to laugh out between cries as he moved the baby to her head. The baby was beautiful with bright blue eyes and small traces of red hair.
Hermione felt her own tears rise as she watched the slightly older version of herself take the small baby in her arms, and suddenly both Hermione's and Ron seemed to be crying.
"She's perfect…" Ron whispered.
Hermione couldn't believe how differently Ron had reacted to the birth of his first daughter in comparison to Viktor, and he was not even married to Hermione in this reality.
"She is…" The older Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Rose…" Ron breathed.
"What?" The older Hermione glanced over at Ron.
"Her name. Rose…red…like her hair…" Ron whispered and then refocused on the older Hermione. "Unless you don't like it…I just thought…well they are your favorite flowers…"
The older Hermione nodded in agreement as the younger Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. She didn't have a favorite flower.
"I like Rose." The older Hermione nodded, focusing her attention back on the baby Ron had placed in her arms. "Hello, Rose…"
"I should go tell our parents she's finally here…" Ron said, gently kissing the baby on the forehead before rushing out of the room, leaving the older Hermione alone with the baby.
"Hi, Rosie…" The older Hermione cooed at the baby in her arms.
"She's beautiful…" Hermione whispered.
Tonks nodded in agreement. "You and Ron seem to make beautiful children…"
Hermione went to say something else when the older version of herself began speaking again.
"Your daddy is a brilliant wizard, Rosie…and he loves you very, very much…but sometimes mommy's and daddy's don't belong together. You just need to know that you are so loved…" The older Hermione whispered to the newborn.
"Why am I being so thick-headed. Ron still loves me and clearly I still love him…" Hermione motioned to herself.
"Maybe so…but in this reality you aren't quite sure…" Tonks said.
"Maybe not yet, but I don't believe I stay oblivious the whole time…" Hermione said, and then quickly thought of something that made her stomach drop. "Unless Ron doesn't stick around…"
"Oh, I assure you he does. He loves Rose and she has a brilliant childhood. Come, I'll show you…" Tonks offered Hermione her hand and for the first time in any of her futures, Hermione felt a little hopeful at what she would see next.
