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 17

Hermione sat in her hospital room; trying to understand the news Ron had left her alone with. He had not come in since he had told her she lost the baby nearly an hour ago and she had been crying ever since, though now she was numb, unsure she had any tears left at all.

And that's when she heard the yelling.

The voices were familiar. She heard her own mother first and then Mrs. Weasley. Her mother was blaming Ron for the loss of the baby, and Mrs. Weasley was blaming Hermione for not telling Ron about the baby.

The argument made Hermione want to cower under her sheets, though she was too numb to do anything but simply look away from the hall where the voices were coming from.

But they didn't stay in the hall and soon Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley were fighting their way into the room followed by their husbands. Hermione couldn't even focus on them all as they were still fighting amongst themselves but asking Hermione how she felt and trying to comfort her for the loss she still could not cope with.

Hermione's head spun from her mother to her father to Ron's parents. She was hardly able to hear anything anyone was saying to her, and it didn't take long before she was crying. She was losing control of everything in her life and she had just lost the baby she was hiding from her husband. Her husband who was nowhere to be found; who was angry with her.

Hermione could still hear her mother mumbling hurtful words about Ron as she tried to fix Hermione's pillow and Mrs. Weasley fighting back that her son was a good person. Hermione was too overwhelmed by it all and soon tears flowed freely down her face.

"Now she is crying…come on…let her be," Mr. Granger's words were the first clear thing Hermione heard.

"Of course she is! Think about what she has been through!" Mrs. Granger snapped back. "And no husband to comfort her!"

"Ron is just as hurt! HE WAS LIED TO!" Mrs. Weasley screamed back.

"YOUR SON—" Mrs. Granger started.

"Enough!" Ron's booming voice finally filled the room, causing everyone to stop moving and stop yelling. Even Hermione's cries were silenced by Ron's voice. It was obvious; Ron was not messing around.

All eyes were on Ron now, as he stood in the doorway with Rose in his hands.

Hermione's teary eyes immediately fell on her daughter. Her heart swelled and all she wanted was the comfort she knew her daughter could give her.

"MA!" Rose pointed to Hermione, breaking the silence.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears and only one thought invaded her mind. She just wanted to hold Rose. She just wanted to be close to her daughter. She reached her arms out and Ron, though he would not look Hermione in the eye, placed Rose in her arms.

Hermione pulled Rose close to her chest and cried into her daughter's beautiful hair as Rose clung to Hermione's neck, as if she was able to tell her mother was hurting.

The sight of Hermione clinging to Rose, crying silently into her daughter's hair while Rose held Hermione just as tight was enough to silence the room and get both the Weasley and Granger's to leave the grieving mother along with her daughter.

After a few minutes, only Ron remained in the room with Hermione and Rose.

"Ma…no cry," Rose said, running her hands over Hermione's cheeks. "Don't be sad."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Hermione managed out.

"Love you," Rose said very quietly.

Rose's words only made Hermione cry more and as she held Rose close and looked over her shoulder she could see Ron in the doorway, watching them both intensely with no expression on his face.

Hermione wanted to apologize. She wanted to hold Ron; she wanted them to mourn together.

"Ron…" Hermione managed out.

Ron put his hand up. "Please don't, Hermione."

"Ron, I want…" Hermione tried again.

Ron shook his head and the tears that were threatening his eyes were so apparent. "Please, Hermione…I don't want to talk about this now."

Hermione's brow furrowed but she had no idea what to say. She knew she had hurt Ron, and she had no idea where to begin to apologize, especially when he wouldn't stay in her presence long enough for her to apologize.

The next day, Hermione woke up to light trickling through her hospital window. It looked like a nice day outside but it felt like the end of the world to Hermione inside of her room.

Last night she had cried herself to sleep with Rose in her arms and she could only assume, since Rose was not there, that Ron had come back to get their daughter.

Their only daughter now.

Hermione had no idea how to handle losing the second baby, the baby she had hide because she was worried no one wanted it, worried even she didn't want it. Now it didn't matter, that baby was lost and the one person Hermione would lean on wouldn't even look at her.

Ron had not been back since the night before, at least not while Hermione was awake, and that morning was no different. She was alone.

Hermione sighed and closed her eyes, feeling tears forming. She wanted to crawl in a ball and shut the world out. It would be easier then dealing with the pan.

"Ready to go home?" A familiar voice caused Hermione to open her eyes.

Ginny was standing in the doorway, with a healer behind her.

"What?" Hermione asked. Her voice was surprisingly hoarse.

Ginny shuffled into the room and so did the healer.

"You will be heading home today, Mrs. Weasley. You need to relax and recover in your own home," The healer said.

Hermione heard his words but they seemed bizarre to her. She had just lost a child a mere few days ago and they were already sending her home and talking about recovering. How could she possibly recover?

Before Hermione could speak, however, Ron came in with Rose in his arms. He did not look at her but rather focused on the healer.

"Now, Mr. Weasley She will need attention…some rest…and we recommend you all do see a counselor at some point, once you feel up to it, Mrs. Weasley," The Healer looked between Ron and Hermione.

"Thank you," Ron said stiffly and shook the Healer's hand, though he did not look at Hermione.

The healer nodded his head and left the room.

"So…lets get you up and ready for home, shall we?" Ginny spoke first.

Hermione just sat there, unsure of what to do.

"Ron, get the wheelchair?" Ginny ordered.

Ron complied, handing Rose to Ginny who then handed Rose to Hermione. Ron returned a minute later and pushed a wheelchair up to Hermione's bedside, though he still did not make eye contact with his wife or bother to speak to her at all.

"I'll be outside," Ron told Ginny once he had the wheelchair in a good position.

"Ron…" Hermione tried but it was no use. Ron was already out the door.

"Lets just get you home, okay?" Ginny said quickly, not wanting to get in the middle of her brother and his wife but trying to be a good friend.

Hermione nodded and allowed Ginny to take Rose while the hospital staff got her situated in the wheelchair.

Ginny fluffed Hermione's pillow as Hermione rested in her bed at Grimmauld Place. Ron had Rose downstairs and, besides helping Hermione up the stairs, had not said a word to her since the hospital.

Ginny, however, was busy giving Hermione instructions and moving around the bedroom.

"Now the doctor said to rest a few days and then you could start taking little trips around the house. They want to see you again in a week or so. Please just try and relax and rest up, you had a lot happen—" Ginny was speaking quickly, trying to avoid a real conversation with Hermione.

"Ginny, what did happen?" Hermione finally asked. Everything seemed so surreal.

"Hermione…" Ginny started.

"I know I got attacked, I know I lost…I lost the…the baby…" Hermione's lip trembled at the last part of her sentence and she looked away, shedding tears for the child who was now gone because of her own stupid mistake.

"Hermione, its not your fault," Ginny seemed to be able to read the grieving mother.

"Of course it is, Ginny. I ran off, I knew the risks and I knew I was pregnant," Hermione said quickly. She knew she deserved to take the blame. It was her fault as far as she was concerned.

"Hermione, it isn't—" Ginny tried again.

"Ron hates me, doesn't her?" Hermione's voice was so much softer now as she looked out the window.

Ginny sighed. "He doesn't hate you, Hermione. He is just hurt…he needs time."

"I didn't mean to hurt him," Hermione said.

"Hermione, you didn't tell him you were pregnant. He had to find out from a Healer who thought he already knew and tried to console him for the lost baby. He didn't even know there was a baby…if you had seen him…" Ginny shook her head.

Hermione bit her lip and looked down at her hands. She had no idea what to say and suddenly felt disgusted with herself for keeping such a secret from Ron.

"He'll come around, Hermione. He just needs time…and probably some space, and I know that isn't going to be easy because you are hurting too but…" Ginny just shook her head.

"I deserve it…" Hermione whispered.

Ginny shook her head again, taking Hermione's hand. "No one deserves to go through this, Hermione. Just…please…understand Ron is hurting, and understand I will be there for both of you until you can be there for each other."

Ginny's words were enough to bring tears to Hermione's eyes and once the tears started, Hermione couldn't stop them.