Hermione walked up the steps of her parent's house, taking in all the wonderful emotions she was feeling. It felt good to be home. Her mom opened the door and threw her arms around her, kissing her cheeks.
"I'm so glad you're home!" she exclaimed. "And oh my how big Katrina has gotten!"
Hermione smiled. She let go of Katrina's hand so that her mom could pick her up. Katrina giggled as Mrs. Granger planted kisses all over her face.
"Come inside, I'll get us some tea." She said, and Hermione followed her into the kitchen.
"Where's dad?" she asked, surprised that he wasn't there.
"He's at the store buying something Spanish for you guys to eat. After all, Katrina's never been to England before." Her mom said, setting Katrina down at the table.
"Oh, mom that wasn't necessary. Katrina eats just about anything." She said, taking a seat.
"Nonsense, I want my grandchild to be happy here, right pumpkin?" she said to Katrina. Katrina smiled. Mrs. Granger placed a kettle on the stove and looked at Katrina, a sad smile playing on her lips. "She looks so much like Ron."
Hermione felt a pang on her chest. She hadn't heard Ron's name in the longest time. She looked over at Katrina, whose bright red curls bounced around her freckle filled face. There was no mistaking a Weasley.
"I won't be staying long," Hermione said, feeling uncomfortable. She knew where this was going.
"Hermione, Ron needs to know. You can't have his daughter growing up without him. That is worse than what he did to you."
Hermione stood up. "I can't forgive Ron for what he did to me!"
Mrs. Granger frowned. "You may not be able to forgive Ron, but who says Katrina will forgive you from keeping her from her father? I am tired of that boy calling me every night, demanding to know where you are. For the past three years he has not stopped trying."
Hermione caught her breath. "He what?"
"I didn't want to tell you because I wanted you to heal, but he still loves you. I don't like the boy for what he did, but everyone makes mistakes. Don't let Katrina suffer because of this."
Hermione grabbed onto the chair to keep herself steady. Everything her mom was saying was true. She looked at her daughter, sitting quietly at the table, not ever having met her dad. Ron would be a great father, that much she knew.
"I don't know if I can see him again, mum." She said softly.
Ginny had said that she wouldn't have any visitors tonight.
Hermione walked down the hall of the hospital, Katrina in her arms. She had never mentioned anything about Katrina to anyone besides her parents, and as she got closer to Ginny's room she felt her anxiety kicking in. She held Katrina tight and walked into the room.
"Hermione!" Ginny said happily. Hermione smiled and walked over to her, her heart pounding. Ginny was sitting in bed, a magazine in her hand, her belly triple the size that she had once had it.
"Ginny, you look wonderful!" Hermione said, putting Katrina down and giving Ginny a hug. It felt good to see her best friend after so long. "When are you due?"
"Any time now, Neville's out getting some rest, but he'll be back soon. He knows you're coming. He's the only one that knows. Ah- who's this cutie?" asked Ginny, looking down at Katrina.
"Ginny, um, meet my daughter, Katrina." Said Hermione, patting her daughter's head. "Katrina Weasley."
Ginny had gone pale. She looked up at Hermione and back at Katrina. "What do you mean Weasley?"
Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand, scared of her reaction. "She's Ron's daughter too."
Ginny blinked several times, trying to absorb the information. "Hermione," She grabbed Katrina and hugged her, tears spilling down her cheek. Katrina began to cry and Hermione stood there, watching them. Katrina looked so much like them, her red curls blending in with Ginny's red hair. Katrina needed to be with her family. It was obvious now.
"I'm sorry, don't cry. I'm Auntie Ginny." She said, looking into Katrina's face. Katrina stopped crying, and was instead sniffling, listening to Ginny's words. "Wow, Hermione, she's beautiful. She has Ron's blue eyes."
Hermione couldn't help but shed a tear. It was wonderful seeing them interact. "I'm sorry I never told you. I should have said something earlier."
Ginny looked up at her. "Hermione, I understand. I'm not angry, but now I want this baby with me forever. I want my family to know about her. I can't imagine what you went through with Ron, but I don't want you to leave again."
Hermione took a seat on the chair by her bed. "I don't want to leave either, not if Katrina's future is here. I was selfish in keeping her to myself, and I want you in her life, but I don't know if I'm ready to face Ron. He might have things going for him, things might be working out with Lavender, I don't know. I don't want to throw this at him."
"It's his daughter too! And if he can't- ah- ah- Hermione- I – think the baby's coming!"
Ginny let go of Katrina and grabbed her stomach, her face in pain. Hermione quickly took Katrina off the bed and ran out of the room, yelling for the doctors. The nurse at the desk stood up, alarmed, grabbed the phone and dialed for backup. She then ran over to the room Ginny was in.
Hermione held Katrina tight, excited and worried at the same time. Ginny was about to give birth, and she couldn't be more happier. She turned around when she heard footsteps running down the hall, only to see the doctor and Neville coming her way. He quickly smiled at her and followed the doctor into the room.
The Weasley's will be here any moment, she thought, her stomach turning. She couldn't wait to see Mrs. Weasley and the rest, but Ron was the one she didn't want to see. No, she wasn't ready to see.
She could hear Ginny crying through the door, and she remembered how much pain she had gone through when she had Katrina. Her parents had been with her, but she remembered how much she wanted Ron there.