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: Sequel to "Law Change Lives". Hermione and Ron are settling into their new roles as parents, but nothing is ever as easy as it seems.
CHAPTER 2
Hermione and Ron arrived back at Grimmauld Place later that night, Ron struggling up the stairs with leftovers from his mother and Rose's diaper bag, as Hermione carefully carried a sleeping Rose into the house.
Hermione silently moved up the stairs and into Rose's nursery. She had changed Rose into her pajamas at the Burrow and was grateful for it, because Rose was always hard to get back to sleep after she was woken up.
Hermione gently placed Rose down in her crib and ran a hand over Rose's head, watching the baby snuggle into her hand. Hermione smiled down at her daughter. Despite everything that had come along with Rose, Hermione was so grateful for her daughter. She didn't think it was possible to love someone as much as she loved Rose.
Hermione gently kissed her daughter and then moved out of the nursery, softly closing the door behind her before heading back down the stairs to find Ron busy making himself a sandwich in the kitchen.
"How can you possibly be hungry again? We just ate…" Hermione gave a small tired smile at Ron as he looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"What?" Ron shrugged, swallowing a huge piece of the sandwich. "I'm always hungry."
"So I've noticed." Hermione sighed, hoping up onto the small kitchen counter and tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"You look tired." Ron said, moving and placing himself between Hermione's too legs, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"I am." Hermione admitted.
"Well…we can sleep in tomorrow. Its Sunday." Ron reminded her.
"If your mother doesn't decide to show up and bash Rose a bit more…" Hermione mumbled under her breath.
Ron stopped rubbing Hermione's legs, and went rather still, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"
"Didn't you hear her tonight, Ron? She thinks now Rose should be walking and talking and whatever else…" Hermione shook her head.
"Yeah…but we also know the healer said Rose is already ahead of schedule with the crawling and everything. She's already standing." Ron reasoned.
"Well…according to your mother that's not good enough." Hermione said.
"That's not what my Mum said…" Ron replied.
"She might as well have. I don't get why she is all over Rose all the time." Hermione sighed.
"Its her only grandchild…she just gives her a lot of attention." Ron reasoned.
"Right…well she made it perfectly clear she thinks that's a mistake too." Hermione sighed, jumping down of the counter and away from Ron's grasp as she now leaned on the counter with her arms.
Ron, in turn, crossed his own arms and leaned back against the opposite counter. "What's a mistake?"
"That we aren't giving Rose a sibling." Hermione said.
"A sibling? Hermione, what are you going off about…" Ron shook his head.
"You heard your Mum tonight, Ron. How she wishes Rose wasn't an only child…" Hermione reminded him, trying to keep her voice down so she wouldn't wake Rose.
"Yeah? So…she's not the one who would be having or taking care of another kid. We talked about it, Hermione…we are happy with Rose now, and so what if she is a bit older then the rest of our kids? We will have more when we are good and ready, and I am not ready, are you?" Ron asked, really confused now.
"No. Of course not…Rose is quite enough." Hermione said quickly.
"Exactly. We couldn't take another one if we wanted to." Ron shook his head motioning to Rose as if she were the biggest handful of his life.
Hermione, for some reason, was angered by this. "Why not? Are we not capable, or is it because you want to run off with Harry and Ginny to France?"
Ron shook his head in disbelief "What? What's Harry and Ginny got to do with this?"
"I saw how envious you were at dinner. That they get to run off and be a normal couple and you are stuck here with Rose and myself." Hermione snapped, though she knew she was being irrational. Ron had never said that.
"Hermione…what in the bleeding hell…I'm not stuck with you and Rose. I love being with you two. Yeah, maybe I was a little jealous that Harry and Ginny can just run off but we are at a different point in our life then they are, aren't we?" Ron said.
"Of course we are." Hermione said simply.
Ron shook his head, trying to sort it all out before speaking. He had learned, over a few sleepless nights when Rose was first born, he needed to think sometimes before he spoke to Hermione, and he was getting better about it.
"Hermione…what's this really about? Do you want another kid? Is that what this is…a test?" Ron asked, needing to make sure.
Hermione sighed and shook her head. "No…no I don't. And…you are right…there's nothing wrong with wanting what Harry and Ginny have. I just…your mother…she means well, Ron, but sometimes she can be a bit much."
Ron nodded and decided to venture across the kitchen to Hermione, wrapping his arms around her. "I know she can be…and I don't want what Harry and Ginny have. I love you and Rose very much…even when you are being mental."
Hermione glared up at Ron. "I'm not being mental."
"A little bit…yeah…" Ron nodded at her, kissing her forehead. "Just…forget what my Mum said about Rose. She's perfect, and we know it…and forget about what Harry and Ginny are doing or another baby. We are happy as we are, right?"
Hermione nodded into Ron's chest.
"Good. Then…lets finish this row the proper way, yeah?" Ron smirked down at her and lifted Hermione off her feet, carrying her up the stairs toward their bedroom before she could really object, not that she wanted to.
Monday morning came far too early for Hermione, as she rushed to finish getting ready before her mother showed up to take care of Rose while Hermione took the first of her N.E.W.T.'s at Hogwarts. So far, she was running late, and Rose had spilled cereal all over Ron's pants.
"Bloody hell, Rosie…" Ron groaned, using his wand to wipe the milk off of him.
"Ron! Mouth!" Hermione called from the downstairs bathroom.
"Right…sorry!" Ron called back down the hall.
"What happened, anyway?" Hermione asked, moving into the kitchen to see the scene Rose had managed to make.
"Ron! Watch her!" Hermione called, noticing that Rose was busy splashing her hands in the spilled milk while Ron was too concerned with his pants.
"Sorry…I…" Ron sighed as he watched Hermione quickly move toward Rose, cleaning the milk up with a swipe of her wand before lifting Rose out of the highchair and placing her on her hip.
"Just…clean the rest of this up for me. I don't want to leave my Mum a dirty kitchen…" Hermione motioned to the coffee mess on the counter.
"Sure…on it." Ron gave Hermione a fake salute, causing her to roll her eyes and produce a small smile as she moved back to the bathroom, with Rose, to finish getting ready.
A few minutes later, Hermione heard the front door open and Ron ushering her mother in, and she realized she was really running late.
"Hermione…I've got to head to work." Ron called down the hall.
Hermione again emerged from the bathroom; still holding Rose on her hip and smiled a tired smile at her mother and Ron. She quickly moved up to Ron and kissed him and then allowed him to kiss Rose's head. "Have a good day…I love you."
"Love you too…" Ron smiled down at her, and ran a hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind Hermione's ear. "And relax…you will be brilliant on your tests today."
Hermione smiled and nodded against Ron's hand. He did have a way of making her feel slightly calmer.
"Have a good day, Ron." Mrs. Granger gave Ron a pat on the shoulder.
"See ya later." Ron smiled at his mother-in-law and headed out the door, leaving Hermione alone with her mother and daughter.
Hermione sighed and handed Rose off to her mother. "I am sorry I didn't have time to dress her. I was running a little late this morning."
"She's fine…aren't you, little Rosie?" Mrs. Granger cooed at her granddaughter who laughed and grabbed at Mrs. Granger's nose.
Hermione sighed. She still hated that nickname for Rose, but everyone except her seemed to use it.
"Hermione, are you alright? Other then the obvious nerves over your test?" Mrs. Granger asked her daughter, able to sense when something was bothering Hermione.
"I just…had a long weekend…with Ron's mother…" Hermione admitted.
"What happened?" Mrs. Granger asked carefully. She did not try to butt into the relationship Hermione had with Mrs. Weasley because Mrs. Granger knew that it was something she would never fully understand, not being part of the magical world.
"She just…is constantly on Rose's development…" Hermione admitted.
"Her development? I would say she is quite advanced…" Mrs. Granger seemed surprised and glanced at Rose who was now intrigued with a button on Mrs. Granger's coat.
"She is. Well advanced…" Hermione repeated what the healers had said to both Ron and herself multiple times.
"So then, what is the problem?" Mrs. Granger was confused.
"Nothing per say…she just is constantly comparing Rose to her children…and dropping not so subtle hints about how she thinks Ron and I should give Rose a sibling close to her age." Hermione sighed as she packed her school bag.
"Is that something you and Ron are discussing?" Mrs. Granger could not hide the surprise in her voice.
"Not at all." Hermione shook her head.
"Well…you know how Molly gets…just excited is all. She means well…" Mrs. Granger said. She had met Mrs. Weasley a number of times now and really did believe her heart was in the right place when it came to her kids.
"I know that. I just…don't need more pressure then necessary right now." Hermione admitted.
"So just focus on yourself. Focus on your test today, alright dear?" Mrs. Granger said in a soothing voice.
Hermione nodded, placing the last of her belongings in her bag and taking a deep breath before smiling up at her daughter who was reaching for Hermione now.
"Mm…m…mmmm…" Rose mumbled grabbing for Hermione.
"Mummy has to go, sweetheart." Hermione took Rose from her mother and gave her a good hug and kiss before handing her bad to Mrs. Granger. "But be good for Grammy, okay?"
Rose let out a subtle cry and reached for Hermione again.
"I'm sorry, sweetie…Mummy will be back soon." Hermione gave Rose another kiss on the forehead before giving her mother a grateful smile and moving toward the fireplace where she flooed to Hogwarts.
Ron sighed, running his hand over his eyes as he pushed himself away from his desk and a pile of paperwork. He was exhausted, and not just because Rose had woken him and Hermione up before the sun had come out. The weekend had been long, and he had been feeling awful about how his mother had made Hermione feel on Saturday. He knew his mother had not meant it, but she had stressed Hermione out even more, and that was something he was trying his hardest not to do with everything else going on.
"Need a break, Ron?" Harry's voice caused Ron to glance up and see his best friend in the door.
"A long bloody one…" Ron gave a small laugh and motioned for Harry to sit down across from him.
"Rose have you up last night?" Harry guessed, sinking into the chair across from Ron.
"Well…no more then usual. Just…long weekend, I suppose…and Hermione was rushing about this morning…getting ready for her N.E.W.T.'s." Ron explained.
Harry just nodded. "Yeah…I could tell something was wrong at the Burrow. Hermione didn't seem like herself."
"Yeah…she just…she's sort of been stressed out." Ron decided not to divulge too much to Harry. He had learned better then to do that anymore, as his and Hermione's marriage had gone on, he realized certain things needed to stay between himself and Hermione.
"Well…maybe you can take a break from everything when it's all done…like Ginny and I are." Harry offered.
Ron shrugged. "Would be nice…but…we have Rose. We can't just pick up and go to France."
"I didn't say that…just…something might be nice to do. Even if you take Rose with you." Harry suggested.
"Wouldn't be much of a break then..." Ron admitted. He loved Rose to pieces and he couldn't imagine his life without her, but she was a lot of work.
"So just the two of you. I am sure your parents wouldn't mind watching Rose…or Hermione's parents for that matter." Harry said.
"Its just a lot to ask of someone. Rose is a lot of work…I love her…but she is a handful…and only getting worse…" Ron sighed, rubbing his hand through his red locks. "Honestly, Harry…sometimes I don't think I'm ready for fatherhood…"
"Well…it's a little late for that, isn't it?" Harry laughed.
Ron sighed and cracked a smile of his own. "I suppose."
"Well…if anything you two made the rest of us realize we aren't ready for that sort of responsibility yet…" Harry said.
Harry then stood, patting Ron on the back and all Ron could do was smile back at Harry, knowing that Harry had a point; people their age weren't supposed to have that sort of responsibility, yet Hermione and Ron had it, and they would continue to as long as Rose lived.
Hermione sighed, pushing her test away from her just as McGonagall signaled for the N.E.W.T.'s to be over. She was happy the test was over, but she couldn't help but feel she could have done a bit better with a little more studying time, and a little more sleep, both of which were scarce around Grimmauld Place.
Hermione closed her eyes, rubbing the exhaustion from them. When she opened them again, Professor McGonagall was smiling down at her, and Hermione realized the classroom was empty.
"Happy to be finished, Mrs. Weasley?" McGonagall asked with a smile.
Hermione gave a small nod and smile. It was still strange that people addressed her as Mrs. Weasley. To her, that would always be Ron's mother.
"And I assume you are ready for the Ministry? I'm told they are elated for you to begin working." McGonagall continued to smile.
"Yes…actually…more then ready." Hermione admitted.
"Good. I trust you will do great things there. I am excited to witness them." McGonagall said, taking Hermione's test and staking it on top of the rest. "And how are Rose and Mr. Weasley doing?"
"Well…" Hermione said with a small sigh. "Rose is crawling everywhere and Ron's work has really picked up."
"I've heard the Auror Department has been rather busy conducted some raids over in Europe." McGonagall nodded.
"Yes…finishing up with some Death Eater's I suppose…Ron hasn't been over there much yet." Hermione said, standing and stretching.
"Well, I can't imagine them making him go away for weeks on end…not with little Rose at home." McGonagall said.
"Well…eventually I am sure they will…once I get settled in work, and my schedule with Rose." Hermione admitted, though she was certainly not looking forward to those long days where she would be home alone with Rose. It wasn't that she minded being by herself with Rose, but it was unsettling being home without Ron. Hermione knew it was silly, but she still slept with her wand next to her bed, as if someone was going to attack her. When Ron wasn't home, she was extra nervous.
"They are going to let you work from home though, aren't they?" McGonagall asked.
Hermione nodded. "Yes…it was part of the negotiations for me to work. I wanted to have some time with Rose. I hate leaving her with my Mum or Ron's mum all day."
"Well, they should accommodate a witch like you. It's funny…when the Ministry wants someone, what they are willing to do. Do you think you will be okay handling work from home?" McGonagall asked.
Hermione nodded more feverishly now. "It will be a different set of responsibilities, but I am ready for them."
McGonagall cracked a small smile at Hermione. "Its enlightening to see how you have grown into such a woman, Hermione. Motherhood suits you."
Hermione couldn't help but smile back. It was encouraging to hear she was doing a good job with Rose every once and while, especially when it came from someone other then her mother or Ron.