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 9

Three weeks had passed since Hermione thought she had seen Umbridge in the park, though those thoughts had hardly crossed her mind, especially that morning, as she lay tangled in Ron's arms as Ron's naked form snored softly.

But it wasn't Ron's snoring that was keeping Hermione up that night. Other things had crossed her mind, mostly Rose's party, which was only a week away. She wanted her daughter's First Birthday to be special and she had been spending every moment she wasn't working, with Rose, or enjoying her marriage with Ron, planning the party.

So far, Hermione had gotten all of the decorations and had invited everyone that she could think of but she knew there was plenty more to do and the idea of it was slightly overwhelming, though she tried her best to hide it. She did not want Ron to know she had so many different things keeping her up at night.

Ron's arm shifted on Hermione and she smiled down at her husband. When he was sleeping, he looked so innocent, so much like Rose, that it made Hermione fall more in love with him.

Hermione let out a soft sigh, realizing she needed to get some sleep. She had a long day ahead of her tomorrow with work and picking and dropping Rose off at her own mother's. She shifted in her bed, trying to get comfortable when suddenly her stomach turned.

Instantly, Hermione felt like she was going to be sick and so she quietly got out of bed and moved swiftly to the attached bathroom, where she did manage to get to the toilet before losing the contents of her stomach.

When she was done being sick, Hermione sighed, wiping her mouth and slowly standing to brush her teeth. She knew her nerves had been shot with everything going on, but she knew she had to get things in check. The last thing she needed was to get sick on top of things.

Once Hermione was certain she was not going to be sick again, she moved out of the bathroom and past a sleeping Ron, making her way down to Rose's nursery. She checked on her sleeping daughter, giving Rose a small kiss on the forehead before moving down the stairs and into the kitchen where she made herself a cup of tea.

Hermione had been sitting at the table, glancing out the window of the kitchen and slowly watching the sky turn a lighter color, for a good half hour before she heard the footsteps of someone else.

"Hermione?" Ron's voice was raspy with sleep as he entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. "What are you doing awake? It's the middle of the night…"

Hermione shrugged. "Didn't feel too well…thought some tea would settle my stomach…"

"Bloody hell…hope you aren't getting sick for Rose's birthday…" Ron said, moving forward and gently touching Hermione's head in the same manner he had checked Rose when she had her first and only fever, months earlier.

"Me too." Hermione admitted, smiling against the warmth of Ron's hand.

"Well…let's get you back to bed before we have to get up with Rosie…" Ron said, helping Hermione to her feet.

Hermione nodded and took the hand Ron extended to her, allowing him to lead her back up the stairs to their bedroom. She suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired and was looking forward to the few hours she had left to sleep before Rose would wake them up.

Ron sighed, rubbing his eyes as he sat at his desk, fighting a yawn. He had no idea that the half hour he had spent up in the middle of the night with Hermione could wear him out as much as it seemed to be. He knew he needed to get more sleep, between tracking down Death Eaters and worrying about Rose's birthday, but when he got home, and Hermione wanted to spend alone time with him, well, his male side kept telling his sensible side that sleep was hardly necessary. Now, however, he regretted that.

"Ron! Up!" Harry's voice bellowed in Ron's office.

Ron promptly glanced up to see Harry, clearly in a rush, at his door. "What is it?"

"Think we have a lead on Yaxley! Come on!" Harry said,

Instantly, Ron was on his feet, following Harry out of his office. Once in the hall, Kingsley and a team of two other aurors that Ron did not exactly recognize met him and Harry.

"Yaxley is moving toward Hogsmeade…we have sight of him but we don't know for how long." Kingsley handed Ron and Harry each a packet of information. "You two are going with Burns and Phelps."

Ron glanced over at the other Auror's and realized that must have been the new Auror's last names, feeling bad he had no idea what their first names were. He had never met them personally, though he had seen them around the office for weeks now. He silently wondered how oblivious he really was at work lately.

"I suggest you move in pairs…he is only one Death Eater but he is dangerous." Kingsley said.

"Right. Lets go." Harry nodded, glancing at Ron and the other two Auror's who all nodded before they disapparated to Hogsmeade.

A second later, Ron, Harry, Burns, and Phelps landed in Hogsmeade, crouching down behind the corner of a building. The sun was setting and Hogsmeade was empty; obviously the Ministry had warned the people of Hogsmeade of the danger.

"Where is he?" Harry glanced at Burns.

Burns looked down at his own map, which had Yaxley's location. "At the Three Broom Sticks. Looks like there are other people in there."

"Hostages." Ron said and Harry nodded.

"We need to be careful. You two…go to the back of the pub. Be ready to let people out once Yaxley is cornered." Harry pointed to Burns and Phelps.

"Yes, sir." Phelps nodded and he and Burns moved down one alley.

"Alright…round front?" Harry glanced at Ron.

Ron nodded for confirmation then moved out ahead of Harry, getting to the front door of the pub where he kicked the door in and allowed Harry to take lead.

Within seconds, spells were flying all around the pub.

"Ron! Down!" Harry yelled as Yaxley struck a curse at them.

Ron reflected correctly and managed to get to a group of bystanders who were huddled in a corner.

"All of you…that back door…its safe…get out of here!" Ron ordered and pointed to the door where Burns and Phelps were waiting for them.

The crowd moved out just as Harry and Yaxley squared off again. Harry was hiding behind one overturned table and Yaxley was behind another. Ron was a little more exposed, hiding only behind two chairs. He knew he had to get to the same cover Harry had.

Ron took a deep breath and shot a spell at Yaxley before standing and diving toward Harry. He was certain he was home free when suddenly he felt a sharp pain shoot through his right arm.

Instantly, Ron landed, next to Harry and in the protection of the overturned table, but he knew he had been hit. He glanced at his arm to see his sleeve had been blown to bits and his arm was mangled and bloody, flesh hanging off the bone.

"Bloody hell!" Ron groaned loudly.

Yaxley laughed, but it was in vain, as Harry shot a spell off the same moment Burns and Phelps came running in, also hitting Yaxley and rendering him unconscious.

"Auror Weasley!" Phelps yelled, seeing Ron's state.

"Get him!" Ron groaned through the pain and nodded his head toward Yaxley.

"Right! Right!" Phelps nodded and moved with Burns to take Yaxley in.

"Get him back to Kingsley. Tell him I took Ron to St. Mungo's." Harry ordered.

"Understood, sir." Burns said as he and Phelps gathered Yaxley and disapparated.

"Harry…how bad does it look?" Ron asked, grinding his teeth in pain.

Harry glanced over Ron's arm and sighed. "Well…I think Hermione's going to kill me for letting this happen…"

"She was lookin' for an excuse, mate…" Ron joked though his eyes glittered with pain.

"Lets get this fixed up." Harry said, offering Ron his hand.

"You think disapparating is smart?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, noticing the blood that had already pooled under Ron's arm. "No…but I think if we don't you might not make it."

"Promising…" Ron shook his head and closed his eyes, feeling a bit light headed as he took Harry's hand, allowing Harry to disapparate him to St. Mungo's despite the immense pain he felt through the entire ordeal.

Hermione sat in her office at Grimmauld Place with Rose in her lap. Rose was busy playing with a toy wand Ron had given her, and for once in her little life, was being quiet. Hermione finally had a chance to work from home, only there was a problem. She did not feel great.

Hermione was tired, and irritable, and felt small waves of nausea come over her every once in awhile. She could not concentrate on work at all, worried about Rose's party coming up, and if she would be sick for it, or worse, if she would get Rose sick for her own 1st Birthday.

Hermione sighed, placing Rose down on the floor.

"Ma?! No!" Rose pointed back to Hermione's lap.

Hermione sighed. "Rose, Mummy thinks she is getting sick. I don't want to make you feel yucky too, baby."

"NO!" Rose whined before slapping her little fists on the floor and beginning a tantrum.

Hermione sighed. "Rose, none of that…"

Rose continued crying.

"Alright, nap time then." Hermione was suddenly annoyed that Rose would not listen and quickly picked up her protesting daughter, carrying her up the stairs to her room.

"No! No! No!" Rose hollered the entire way up the stairs.

"Rose, please…" Hermione begged as Rose continued her tantrum, her face nearly as red as her brownish red locks.

Hermione finally managed to get Rose in her crib, only for Rose to stand up, grabbing the rails and rocking back and forth, grabbing for Hermione.

"Ma! No! No bed!" Rose was shouting, her entire little body tense as tears fell down her face.

Hermione's heart broke, but she had to remind herself Rose was throwing a fit over a nap that she clearly needed, and in all honestly, Hermione herself wanted to lay down. She just didn't feel right.

Hermione sighed, moving in and kissing Rose on the cheek, gently touching her hair. "Rose, its nap time. Stop crying…"

Rose continued to cry as Hermione scooped her back up and sat her in her crib. This time Rose did not stand again, though she continued to cry.

Hermione took a deep breath and closed the door to Rose's room, still hearing Rose's soft cries. She felt like an awful mother leaving Rose like that, but her mother had told her many times that sometimes a baby needed to cry herself out; and Hermione was going to let Rose do that.

Hermione then made her way across the hall to her and Ron's room where she instantly flopped down in the bed. She felt like she could sleep for days, though she knew with a toddler there was no way that was possible.

Hermione felt like she had hardly had her eyes closed for five minutes when she heard the door open downstairs signaling Ron was home. She sat up and glanced over a the nightstand to see that she had in fact been asleep for three hours and Ron was rather late coming home from work.

She quickly stood instantly feeling as if she had to sit down, nausea hitting her full swing. She stood there for a minute, bracing herself until it passed and then slowly moved into the hall, praying to herself that she wasn't getting sick for Rose's party.

Hermione then checked on Rose to see her daughter was wide awake but playing with two blocks in her crib, rather content now compared to the temper tantrum she had a few hours earlier.

Hermione moved into the room and Rose smiled up at her.

"Ma!" Rose pointed.

"Well, you seem in a better mood." Hermione commented at her daughter.

Rose smiled as if she understood her mother.

"Come on, lets go see Daddy…" Hermione said, scooping Rose up.

"Da?" Rose glanced around.

Hermione smiled at her daughter. "He is downstairs, Rose. Come on…"

Hermione carried Rose down the stairs and into the kitchen where she could hear Ron. To her surprised, however, both Harry and Ron were in the kitchen. Harry seemed to be making tea while Rose sat at the kitchen table looking a little weary.

"Did you just get home?" Hermione announced her presence.

Harry nearly jumped and Ron tried to swing his body a certain way so that his mangled arm was hidden from Hermione until he could explain what had happened.

"Daaaa!" Rose wailed.

"Hello, Rosie...and uh…yeah, just got home..." Ron nodded quickly, glancing at Harry.

Hermione's eyebrow cocked at Ron's nervousness and she glanced at Harry too, who was also nodding feverishly at her. She shook her head; they were obviously hiding something from her and neither of them had ever been good at that. She sighed.

"What happened?" Hermione asked. She was too tired to play a guessing game with them.

Ron looked to Harry hopefully, but Harry knew he did not want to see Hermione's over-worried reaction to Ron's arm and so he shrugged.

"I need to head home. See you all soon." Harry said, kissing Hermione on the cheek and moving quickly out the door leaving Hermione and Ron alone.

Hermione hitched Rose up higher on her hip and glared at Ron, waiting patiently for him to start talking now.

"Well…this…" Ron held up his wrapped up arm. The hospital had put him in a sling for a few days.

Instantly, the annoyance left Hermione's eyes and she was striding across the kitchen to get a better look at Ron's arm with Rose still on her hip, unusually silent for the baby. It was as if Rose knew Ron was about to be in trouble.

"Ron, what happened?" Hermione asked.

"Well…we caught Yaxley." Ron decided to start with the good news. "But…my arm got sort of mangled while catching him."

"Mangled?" Hermione scoffed, standing. For some reason, she felt her mood swing and she was angry. "This is exactly why I don't like you doing that job, Ron! You could have been killed!"

"Hermione, relax…nothing else happened…" Ron said with a sigh. He hated to see her worked up and worried like this.

"But it could have! And where would I be? Where would Rose be?" Hermione said, feeling her emotions take over her even more.

"Hermione…please…" Ron stood and quickly kissed Hermione, feeling her calm down against his lips. "My job is fine…I would never do anything to take me away from you or Rosie…"

Hermione sighed feeling slightly silly for her attitude. She knew how important Ron's job was to him and how good he really was at it. "I'm sorry…I just…haven't been feeling well today…"

"Still sick?" Ron asked, remembering she hadn't felt good that morning.

"Fighting it. I can't be sick for Rose's party…" Hermione said.

"Me!" Rose pointed to herself as Hermione spoke her name.

"That's right, Rose...that is you..." Hermione gave a tired smile.

Ron nodded, running his thumb down her arm. "Well, maybe you can relax a bit now knowing that we got Yaxley, yeah?"

Hermione nodded, that was good news. It certainly made her feel a bit safer. Now all they had to do was catch Umbridge, though that thought made her worry again. When she thought about it, she thought about the day in the park, where she swore she had seen her ex-teacher, though she couldn't tell Ron that.