Ron and Hermione were now seven months pregnant with their second child. Hermione was less moody than she had been with her first pregnancy, and Ron was thankful for that. Nevertheless, he was constantly making sure Hermione was comfortable.
Rose was enthralled that she was to receive a younger sibling. She had always been quite jealous of her cousins because they had the siblings she longed for. Now she would have one of her own.
Harry and Ginny were pregnant with their third child, only a few months behind Ron and Hermione. The foursome still got to see each other many times during the week.
It wasn't until a so-called normal day at the Ministry, did the trouble begin.
Hermione was in her office when she heard a voice out in the corridor that she hadn't heard in many years.
She opened the door to see Lavender Brown talking with her boss. Lavender caught her gaze and Hermione ducked back in her office.
This could not be happening. No way could Lavender Brown be working at the Ministry…could she?
Hermione heard a knock on the door. Just as she was about to let them in, the door opened and Lavender Brown was standing there; proud, long, blonde hair and all.
"Hermione Granger," Lavender said knowingly. "I thought you might be working here."
Hermione wasn't sure what her tone implied, but she didn't like it. "It's Hermione Weasley now, actually."
She watched Lavender's face fall as she realized who Hermione was married to. Hermione couldn't help but let a victorious smile spread across her face.
"Oh," Lavender said lightly. "Married my ex, have you? That's quite alright; I mean, until he finds someone new."
"What are you on about?" Hermione said and instantly regretting it; whatever Lavender's trap was, she had fallen into it.
"Hermione, let me tell you something about men. They get bored with things fast; including people. And it's the women who are too clever for their own good whom they get bored with the fastest. Let me put it this way: It's only a matter of time before Ron gets tired of you and your drawling facts and books, and comes back to me."
Lavender gave her a small smug smile that stung Hermione, along with her words. She opened her mouth to shoot an insult back, but she found she was speechless. Lavender left without another word, leaving Hermione to wander through her own thoughts.
The rest of the day, Hermione barely got any work done. The words that Lavender had said had left a gaping hole in her heart. What if she was right? What if Ron was tiring of her? But this couldn't be possible, Ron loved her more than anything, he had told her on countless occasions. Hermione decided to forget about it, but she still could hear Lavender's voice echo throughout her head the rest of the day.
When Hermione arrived home, Ron had decided to cook dinner for the family. He was taking a break from his job as an Auror to take care of Hermione and Rose.
Ron grinned at her in greeting and kissed her softly on the lips. "Hello, my love. Dinner will be ready in a half an hour."
"Alright," Hermione said absently, unable to hide her misery. She picked Rose up, who had been looking at her books on the floor, and carried her upstairs, leaving Ron alone downstairs.
She walked into Rose's nursery and sat with her in the rocking chair until Rose fell asleep in her arms. Hermione clutched the sleeping child to her chest, her only connection she had to Ron.
Finally, she put Rose in her crib and left the room. She walked into her own room and collapsed on her bed, finally allowing herself to cry.
She eventually heard Ron walk into their room, but she didn't dare face him, for fear she would sob harder. She felt his strong arms wrap around her own swollen torso. "What's wrong, love?"
She allowed herself to finally face him. His face was etched with worry and Hermione was thankful for that. "R–Ron, do you think you would ever grow t-tired of me?"
"What?" Ron's tone was full of surprise, and he didn't seem to understand why she was feeling like this. "No, Hermione, I love you! Why would you think that?"
So the story came pouring out. Every word Lavender had said came bitterly out of Hermione's mouth. By the time she was finished, Ron looked absolutely speechless.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "Well, say something! I knew she was right, why would you want me when you can have her? And I tricked myself into thinking you wanted me. Now we have a family and I have no idea what to do –"
She gave a yelp of surprise when she was cut off by Ron's lips on hers. He held the kiss for what felt like an eternity, and when he broke away, he looked deep into her eyes, making sure she didn't look away.
"Hermione, you listen to me. This is really important. I need you to know that I love you. I really regret dating Lavender at all, alright? She was a huge mistake, and I didn't even like her at all. I just can't believe she said that to you. It's not true at all."
He pushed himself against the headboard of the bed, and she sat against him. She heard him whisper in her ear as she leaned her head in the crook of his neck. "Maybe other blokes get tired of their wives fast, but not me. I love everything about you, Hermione. I don't want a dumb girl who can't fight for herself. I need a clever wife who knows everything and will be right next to me in a battle, even if I want her to go home where it's safe." He gave her a look that clearly told her that she scared him to no end when she jumped in on battles with him.
"But I still don't care, as long as I can protect her," Ron continued. "I'm yours, Hermione, and I'm going to love you till the end of time."
Hermione smiled as he whispered two last words in her hair, knowing that Lavender had been completely wrong: "And beyond."
