SECOND CHANCES 16

Author's Note: I don't own any of the characters.

Sydney-Australia-The Tent

She wasn't sure how she should feel. Ron had practically carried her back from the park to the tent despite her ongoing statements that she was fine. Harry looked like he had wanted to speak up in her defense but Ginny hadn't let him say anything as she was still marveling at the sight of Hermione and her brother being so affectionate with each other. Harry to had spent no small amount of time watching them and trying to recall how he could have missed the signs for so long between them. The fact that Harry and Ginny now knew about them had freed Ron and Hermione up to be more openly affectionate with each other, though the pair had not actually talking about any of it. For her part Hermione had locked herself in the bathroom for almost an hour upon them getting back to the tent, trying to sort her feelings out as best that she could, before she had walked out of the small room to find an anxious Ginny waiting for her.

"I still find it hard to believe," Ginny admitted with a look of disbelief as she looked up at Hermione from her spot on Harry's bunk, as it was directly across the tent from the bathroom door.

"What," Hermione asked back with a weary smile as she walked slowly across the tent and sat down next to Ginny before taking a deep breath and leaning back up against the wall of the tent.

"All of it, that you and Ron are together, that you had a baby, that you're pregnant right now," Ginny explained with a flourish of her hands as she scooted back in her seat and then leaned up against the wall of the tent next to Hermione.

"Well it's all true trust me, I've got the stretch marks to prove it…expect I'll have a few more after these three," Hermione nodded with a tired smile as both of her hands found their way to her stomach, which now that Ginny and Harry knew about was something that she wasn't even trying to hide the baby bump, and Hermione personally found it very freeing and fun.

"Wasn't it painful…with Henry I mean," Ginny nervously wondered as she looked more than a bit awkward as it was something that she was truly curious about but she didn't want to push things just yet.

"Oh yes…terribly, though I wouldn't change it for all the galleons in Gringotts or all the muggle money in the world," Hermione answered with an almost nostalgic grimace of pain as she remembered that day for a few seconds and then put that memory back into her deepest memories where she hoped that it would stay.

"Sounds lovely," Ginny quipped with a sly grin as she lightly elbowed Hermione in the side as she was careful to make sure that it wasn't anywhere near her stomach.

"It was very painful Ginny, though once Henry was born and I looked at that face and held him in my arms…I was hooked Ginny, it's true when they say that you don't know what real love is until you see it in the face of your child," Hermione continued with a worn out groan and a pained look that momentarily crossed her face before she banished those memories as well before she couldn't help but tear up at the memory of the first time that she had looked Henry in the face, and how long ago it was now.

"That's beautiful, almost makes me wish that I was pregnant," Ginny dreamily responded as she couldn't help but smile and think of what it would be like to have her own child and look at his face, ringed by a bunch of black hair.

"Don't rush it Ginny, I don't regret having Henry for a second but…sometimes I wish that we would have waited until after Voldemort was dead," Hermione cautioned with a nervous smile as she reached over and laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder before the two shared an anxious laugh.

"Maybe, but then at the time you two had no way of knowing if either of you would live to see that day…but wait, where are you going to live after we go home," Ginny reminded the brunette as she suddenly looked more than a bit worried and fearful at the thought of one or both of them having not made it through the fight of their lives and not being here to be with their families.

"Probably the Burrow…I've already imposed on my parents enough, though wherever we live I'll always feel like we're imposing, we certainly don't have enough money for a home of our own, and Hogwarts, who knows how we're going to make that work…especially once I give birth," Hermione shrugged as she hoped that they'd find a third option and not get stuck with having to force one or both of their parents to help them take care of the children but sadly guessing that it would come down to that one way or another.

"I'm sure that they'll think of something, after all they'd kill to have you two and Harry back at Hogwarts, the donations would be rolling in," Ginny cheekily replied as she lightly poked Hermione in the side again before the older girl crossed her arms in front of her chest and scowled heavily before answering.

"I'm done being anyone's political pawn Ginny, and I know that Harry and Ron feel the same way," Hermione declared with a less than pleased scowl as she had never liked playing the political game even in her attempts to help Harry over the years and she had no interest in continuing them at any time in the future, especially where she and Ron and their children were concerned.

"Fine, all of that will take care of itself…but you said that you and Ron started dating two years ago, I remember that he kissed you but slapped him, was all that just an act or…," Ginny pondered softly with a deep in thought expression as she copied Hermione and crossed her arms in front of her chest and thought back to her fourth year.

"It was real…I knew that I shouldn't have slapped him the moment that it happened, I don't even know why I did it, I loved him even then…nothing happened after that until your father was attacked by the snake, there I was at Grimmauld Place trying to comfort Ron and…it just…happened," Hermione nervously answered with a clearly regretful smile before her countenance changed noticeably as she spoke and by the end she couldn't help but grin happily.

"And ever since then…," Ginny snickered jokingly as she scooted a bit closer to Hermione and grinned a little wider and longer than anyone normally would without joking around.

"We've been together, we had that hick up when Ron left but…after what happened at Malfoy Manor…well it kind of…," Hermione sadly replied as her shoulders slumped noticeably at the mention of Ron's leaving while on the horcrux hunt before she moved on but even then was stuck with bad memories.

"Put things into perspective," Ginny nodded somberly as she silently shuddered at the thought of what Hermione had gone through at Malfoy Manor and how bad it must have been for Ron to hear her. She had asked Harry a few times about it but each time he had gone out of his way to avoid answering as it was obviously something that still haunted him. She had guessed by the look in his eyes that for much of the bad times during their hunt for the horcrux's Harry at least partially blamed himself and probably always would. The redhead hoped that he wouldn't internalize it all and one day let her help him as much as she could.

"Yeah, that and finding out what really happened with that bloody locket, we never should have worn that damn thing, then Ron would never have left," Hermione spat out angrily as she uncrossed her arms and balled her hands up into fists and looked very much like she wanted to hit something.

"Probably not, then again I think that dating my brother has done something to your brain," Ginny nervously grinned as she edged a bit further away from Hermione as she gave voice to something about the brunette that she had just realized.

"What…why," Hermione wondered aloud softly as the question had gotten through her momentary haze of anger and struck a curious and confused nerve.

"Because the Hermione Granger that I knew would never have cursed just now, he must be rubbing off on you," Ginny explained thoroughly with a curious frown as she leaned back towards Hermione so that it appeared as if she were studying her closely.

"In more ways than one, I just hope that I'm rubbing off on him a little as well," Hermione cautiously stated with a weak smile as she unclenched her fists and then set about smoothing out the wrinkles on her jeans before Ron and Harry came back into the tent and the four had lunch.

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Sydney-Australia-Outside The Home Of Wendell And Monika Wilkins

She had tried to prepare herself as best that she knew how for this and yet she to say that she was more than a bit nervous would be the understatement of the year. This time in seeing Henry and her parents she had something to prove, more to herself than to Ron as she could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn't blame her in the slightest for her breakdown back in the park. They had not really had a plan as to how to restore her parent's memories and so they had resorted to instead hiding behind a fence just around the corner. Harry had looked like he wanted to lead but no plan of attack had come to him. Ginny had appeared to be ready for anything but was definitely not the one that was going to come up with the plan. Hermione had plans coming out of her ears however each and every time one of them started to come together again Henry's smiling face would appear in her mind and said plan would vanish in an instant.

"I know what we're going to do," Ron announced proudly at first with a fist of triumph thrust into the air before he willowed a bit under the surprised and confused looks of the others.

"Really," Ginny replied with a skeptical expression as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and slid down the fence until she was sitting on the sidewalk and leaning back up against it.

"What," Ron exclaimed while looking more than a bit irritated as he whirled around on her and set his hands on his hips as he glared down at his little sister, who returned the glare with equal ferocity.

"No problem just…didn't think it possible, are you sure that you're feeling okay, maybe you should sit down before you hurt yourself," Ginny relented with a wave of her hands and a gentle smile as she looked to be trying to hold it a fit of laughter that was threatening to come out of her.

"That's my son in there dear sister and…," Ron started to growl back, as it was clear that he was forcing himself to remain calm, as he pointed over to the house with gusto and glared down at her.

"Thank you Ron…what is your plan," Hermione pleaded softly with a warm smile and a hand on his arm that seemed to calm him down noticeably before she slid him back so that she was physically in between the two siblings.

"Well since they're not going to just let us in the door I thought that maybe you and Ginny should keep an eye on them and once they're in say the kitchen Harry and I will pop into one of the other rooms and stun them before they know what hit them, then you do the reversal spell and it's over…what," Ron calmly explained as he forced his hands into his pockets to keep himself from doing anything with them as he began to pace back and forth on the sidewalk, trying to get his whole plan out before he lost it in his mind before he noticed Ginny giving him an odd look.

"Nothing…it's just," Ginny replied as she pushed herself back up to her feet and smiled over at Ron before she brushed her pants off and glanced around the neighborhood to make sure that no nosy neighbor was watching them.

"Just what," Ron countered while looking entirely unconvinced and cringing slightly at what he thought that his little sister might have in mind about his plan.

"Just a careful and well thought out plan…guess you're not a total loss after all," Ginny admitted with a somewhat sheepish shrug of her shoulders and blush to her cheeks before she leaned in and gave Ron a strong hug.

"Sod off," Ron commented back though Ginny could tell that he wasn't saying it as a verbal attack but more out of simple habit as he returned the hug equally.

"Not until we get Henry back and my parents are themselves again," Hermione said softly with a happy smile gracing her lips as she watched the two siblings hug before Harry spoke up just as she was about to join in the embrace.

"Ron's plan works for me, let's do it," Harry announced, partially to get things moving and partially so that he wasn't going to be left out, before he pulled his wand out of his back pocket and grinned.

"I hope this works Ron," Ginny mumbled softly to her big brother as they slowly pulled apart with a serious look in her eyes as she then did her best to smile.

"Heh…yeah Gin, me to," Ron nervously chuckled back, looking very anxious and uneasy, as he put his hands back into his pockets and turned towards the house, giving Hermione one last smile before he and Harry took a deep breath and then vanished. A few moments later the front door opened and an almost frantic looking Harry ushered them inside before shutting and locking the door behind them. Hermione raced into the living room to find both of her parents laying on the couch, with neither looking hurt.

"Are they…is Henry," Hermione demanded with barely a glance in her parents directions as she looked about ready to interrogate the lightning scarred wizard before he got a word in edgewise.

"He's fine Hermione, do the spell," Harry quickly declared with a hand on her shoulder as he kept himself physically in between Hermione and the hallway that lead to Henry's room.

"I'll get Henry," Ginny remarked with an odd amount of glee and a wave before she raced off down the hallway with Ron watching her go with an odd expression on his face before he turned back to Harry and Hermione.

"How will we know if the spell worked, I don't exactly fancy them waking up and finding us here if it doesn't pan out," Ron asked hastily as he began to look at anything and everything in the room but Hermione's parents as the whole thing was just getting a bit weird for him.

"When the spell works Ron there will be a little flash of light over their heads, kind of like a light bulb over their heads like in the old cartoons you know," Hermione answered as patiently as she could as she could feel her stomach twisting into knots and her hands were starting to get awfully clammy and her mouth was starting to go dry.

"Yeah," Harry quickly nodded with a small smile as he went around the room and pulled down the blinds so that no one could see inside while Hermione was casting the spell.

"What," Ron asked while looking confused as he scratched a spot by his ear with the tip of his wand before he realized that he was doing it and stuck it back into his pocket.

"Never mind, just be ready," Hermione replied as she rolled her eyes at Ron's question even though she understood why he had asked it before she took a deep breath and edged over until she was standing within six feet of her parents but not all that close, so that she could see them both at the same time without having to turn her head.

"We never are," Ron joked softly with a grim curling up of one corner of his lips before he gave Hermione a subtle nod of his head and supportive smile, one that she welcomingly returned with gusto and love in her eyes. Moving slowly and silently at first Hermione made carefully timed and rehearsed motions in the air with her way and almost imperceptible whispers of the incantation that she had to believe would restore her parents memories as she fought back against the fear that threatened to cripple her with every syllable spoke and every motion made. When she finished she couldn't open her eyes to even take a peek to see if it had all been a success or a total failure, and it the end she didn't need to.

"Yes, it worked Hermione…it worked," Harry's voice called out loudly with no effort being made to hide the joy and relief in it before he raced over to her side and pulled her into a strong hug.

"T…thank you Harry," Hermione weakly answered with an overwhelmed smile as she opened her eyes and her gaze met Ron's as he used the back of the couch to keep himself upright for a few moments before he turned away, his eyes wet.

"Did it work," Ginny called out from down the hallway as she poked her head out of Henry's room and awaited the answer on her tiptoes as she silently hoped that everything had gone according to plan.

"Like a charm Ginny, is Henry…," Harry replied happily as he pulled away from Hermione and walked around behind the coach before he gave Ron a strong pat on the back, making it almost look like Ron had been coughing and he had hoped to help his friend clear his throat.

"Good, because this handsome little man would really like to see his mum and dad now I think," Ginny proudly stated with tears in her eyes and a gob smacked smile as she slowly walked into the room carrying a happy looking Henry in footed pajamas with witches and wizards on them. Ron turned and took a sharp deep breath as he looked like he couldn't believe that he was really there with his son mere feet away, looking alive and well.

"Henry," Hermione screamed out as loudly as she could at that moment before she dropped her wand, rudely brushed by a startled Harry, before she pulled Henry into her arms and wrapped him up tight. Moments later she couldn't keep on her feet as the tears gushed out and she dropped to her knees, her son being the only important thing in her life at that moment. She couldn't hold back the sobs either as every second of fear and panic and dread that she had felt over the past year seemed to have to be manually forced out of her with every teardrop. Just when her strength seemed to fail her she was saved when she felt Ron's arms encircling them both and pulling their little family together. Harry and Ginny, her parents, and the entire world faded instantly into total obscurity as they surfaced the waves of their heartache and joy, finally together as they always should have been.

END OF CHAPTER 16

Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone for reading and reviewing this and the other chapters. As always reviews, comments, and questions are greatly appreciated. At the start I had to get a little bit more of Hermione and Ginny talking while Harry and Ron were outside the tent doing the same. I'm not sure if I heard the comment about seeing love in your child's face or whatever or read it somewhere so I won't take credit for it just yet. The last part was just more teasing between Ron and Ginny before they get inside Hermione's parents' house and return their memories even though they haven't woken up yet and then finally the reunion between Hermione and Ron and their son. It would have been longer except since Henry can't talk yet it wasn't going to be very long. Aside from that I always wondered about in the last book in the series how much if anything did Luna and Dean tell the Weasley family after they got moved to Aunt Muriel's along with Ollivander. Sorry if my usage of certain British phrases isn't quite right, I only get it through watching my local public television station and some of the old British comedies like Red Dwarf, Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances and such. I hope that you all will continue to love reading the chapters as much as I love writing them. Thank You.