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 16

Hermione woke up to a steady beeping. She tried to open her eyes but the room was far to bright and the sound she mistook for an alarm would not turn off. Hermione groaned and forced her eyes opened, expecting to be met by the warm beige color of her bedroom ceiling, but instead she saw a sterile white ceiling with florescent lights over her head.

Hermione tried to focus her eyes and sit up in bed, only to realize she wasn't in her own bed; she was in a hospital bed. Hermione quickly panicked and spun her head around just in time to see a nurse, dressed in a St. Mungo's uniform come in.

"Mrs. Weasley, you are awake…" The redheaded nurse, whose nametag read Mel smiled softly at Hermione.

"What happened?" Hermione tried her best to remember how she got here.

"You were lucky. Your husband found you in the park right after the first attack. Who knows what else Umbridge could have done with more time?" Mel said.

Suddenly, everything came rushing back to Hermione. The fight with Ron, leaving Grimmauld Place, going to the Park, the baby…

The baby.

Hermione's hands quickly moved to her stomach and she looked up at the nurse.

Mel looked down at Hermione for a long moment with a face that Hermione could not exactly read. Hermione wanted to ask if the baby was okay, to confirm that everything was fine, but before she could get any words out, Mel spoke.

"Let me go get Mr. Weasley," Mel moved quickly out of the room.

A few minutes later, Ron made his way into Hermione's room. He was quiet when he entered, with circles under his eyes, and Hermione was certain he hadn't slept in a few days. She knew she owed him an apology, but she didn't know where to start and from his silence, she was certain Ron wasn't going to start.

"Ron…" Hermione started slowly.

Ron said nothing in response. Instead, he sat down in the chair next to Hermione's bed, leaning far enough away from her that she could not touch him even if she reached out.

"Ron I am so sorry I left. I wasn't thinking straight, I know it was stupid, and I know you found me and I just…I wanted to apologize—" Hermione started.

"Why didn't you tell me, Hermione?" Ron cut Hermione off, and his voice was very cold.

Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. She had no idea what Ron was talking about. "Tell you what?"

Ron sighed and shook his head, looking away from Hermione as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Tell you what, Ron?" Hermione asked, able to tell something was really bothering him now.

Ron took a deep breath and scrubbed his eyes once more before speaking. "That you were pregnant…"

Instantly Hermione felt guilty. She should have known that Ron would have found out. After all, she was at a hospital and they had to have run some tests. Of course a pregnancy test would be one of them.

"Ron, I wanted to tell you. I just wanted to wait for a good time, and we have had so much going on. I am so sorry. I tried, but you never seemed too excited when I tried to bring it up…" Hermione bit her lip as she spoke.

Ron just sighed, running a hand over his face again.

"Honestly though, I feel better that you know. Obviously, I didn't want it to be like this but now at least we can talk about it," Hermione continued when Ron said nothing.

"There's nothing to talk about," Ron said, seeming angry as he suddenly stood.

Hermione was shocked by Ron's reaction. She realized now that maybe he really wasn't happy about the baby. Maybe this was the worst news he could have received after all. "Ron, please…I am sorry really. I just, I want to talk about this now. I mean, we're having a baby whether want to or not—"

"Wrong, Hermione," Ron snapped sharply. "We were having a baby. You were pregnant."

Hermione's brow furrowed. "What are you saying, Ron?"

"You were pregnant. You lost the baby when Umbridge attacked you," Ron motioned to Hermione though the anger was clear in his eyes.

The weight of Ron's words hit Hermione like a train. Her mouth fell open and then a hand quickly went over to cover it. Her other hand frantically fell to her stomach, the stomach that was supposed to be carrying the new life she and Ron were bringing into this world. The life that Ron had just told her was gone.

"What?" Hermione managed to finally whisper out once she found her voice, tears already flowing from her eyes.

But the room was empty; Ron had already left, leaving Hermione alone with the devastating news.