A/N: Still don't own Harry Potter.
Special thanks to Chmi-Kat for being the best alpha/beta/recovering comma addict that a writer could ever ask for!
Sorry this took so long to get up! I totally had chapters 1-6 prewritten but then I decided to go a totally different way. So now I'm playing catch up. The goal is always be a chapter ahead, we are working on accomplishing that this week.
Thank you to everyone who has followed this story and favorited and commented! I appreciate each and everyone one of you! I'm working on replying to comments as well!
Also, to reply to the guest comment from last chapter: Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you are frustrated with Hermione! I am, too! She is having a hard time walking away for a multitude of reasons but that doesn't mean they are good reasons! If you can comment without being a guest then I am more than happy to PM you and discuss!
Sorry for the long A/N. Now on to the story!
"Ow, Hermione, you couldn't have waited a minute before coming through? You landed right on my foot!"
Hermione shook the soot from her sweater and allowed her eyes to focus on her new surroundings. Ron was glaring at her from beside the fireplace as she stepped around him. "Sorry Ron, but I always tell you not to dawdle next to the network."
"I wasn't dawdling," he muttered, as he headed into the kitchen to find the rest of his family. Rose was nowhere to be seen; Hermione assumed she had already met up with her cousins and they were all playing somewhere.
Hermione loved Sunday breakfast at the Burrow. It felt cozy and warm, no matter the season. The scent of Molly's cooking wafted through the house and Hermione breathed deeply. Try as she might, she just couldn't master cooking the way Molly could.
Hermione walked into the kitchen and was met with the sight of George sitting at the table already, drinking a glass of orange juice. Molly left her spot at the stove and enveloped Hermione in a warm hug.
"Hello, dear, how are you?" her mother in law asked, giving Hermione an extra squeeze before releasing her and heading back to the cooking.
"I'm fine, Molly. Rose has some exciting news to tell you all though," Hermione said as she took a seat at the table. "Or did she spill the beans already when she breezed through here before I arrived?"
"No, but Harry and Ginny spilled the beans," George said with a wink, passing the jug of orange juice to Hermione, who helped herself to a glass. "Don't worry, we promise to act surprised when she announces it at breakfast.
"Oh, those two," Hermione said ruefully. "I should have known they would have said something." Hermione shrugged and took a sip of juice. "Oh well, as long as you all act surprised I'm sure Rose will never know."
"I'll never know what?" Hermione heard her daughter ask as she walked into the kitchen and nicked a slice of toast from a plate on the counter.
"How to be as cool as your Uncle George, that's what!" George teased as he ruffled Rose's hair and snatched a slice of toast for himself. Rose giggled and ducked out of the way to ran up the stairs, presumably back to where the rest of kids were.
"Where's Bill and Fleur?" Hermione inquired, noting the absence of the couple. They were usually the first to arrive-Fleur was near obsessive on punctuality.
"Oh, they couldn't make it this weekend, dear," Molly said over her shoulder as she placed some cooked sausages onto a plate and added some more to the stove to cook another batch. "Fleur's sister Gabrielle had her baby girl yesterday, so Fleur went to visit and Bill went with her."
Hermione smiled, albeit a bit sadly as she absorbed that news. Everyone around her was having babies, it seemed.
Yes, but you have a beautiful nine year old daughter playing upstairs, she reminded herself.
To Molly, she said, "How lovely. What name did she decide on? Last I spoke to Fleur, Gabrielle was having a heck of a time deciding."
"Genevieve, was it?" Molly replied, a thoughtful look on her face. "Or was it Evangeline? I can't seem to remember, either."
"Well, we'll find out for certain next time we see Fleur, I'm sure," George said with a laugh. "Even if we never meet the baby in person, Fleur will talk about her enough that it'll feel as though we've known her for a lifetime."
Everyone laughed in agreement as Arthur came in from the backyard, Harry and Ron in tow behind him.
All three were chatting together and when they saw the group sitting in the kitchen, Hermione noticed the slightly sheepish expressions on their faces. She knew that meant that they must have been fiddling with one of Arthur's muggle to magic contraptions again. Hermione couldn't really say anything about it, she had to admit Arthur was a genius to be able to convert muggle electronics to work well in the magical world.
"Dad," Hermione said, addressing Arthur with a warm smile, "do you think you could finagle one of those muggle televisions for us? I've been thinking on it, and sometimes when I just can't focus on reading it would be nice to have one of them to fall back on." Hermione tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced around at the crowd as more than one mouth was agape and most of her audience was looking at her incredulously.
Arthur, though, bless his heart, took it all in stride. "Right-O, Hermione. I actually have one I did up a few months back in case Harry decided he wanted one for the kiddos. You're welcome to it, if you'd like."
"I'd like that very much, thank you!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling her father-in-law into a tight hug as both a thanks and a belated greeting. He gave her a squeeze and let her go. Hermione observed the crowd in the room, noticing that they were still staring at her in surprise.
"What?" she asked no one in particular.
Ginny walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on Hermione's forehead. "You feeling well, Mione?" Ginny questioned, alternating between the palm of her hand and the back of her hand, simulating checking Hermione's temperature.
Hermione chuckled and stepped away from Ginny. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just haven't been able to find anything to keep my attention much these days. Even I want to just tune out of the world every now and then."
She noticed more than one eyebrow raise at that, but before anyone could comment further Molly came to her rescue by levitating all of the food onto the table and announcing to the room. "All right, enough blabbering, everyone. Round up the kids and wash up. Food's done."
She steered Harry and Ron towards the stairs. "That's right you two, let your wives sit down and you do the work for once."
Hermione and Ginny both smiled appreciatively at Molly as the men grumbled and groaned, but ascended the stairs. Even in their late 20s, they still wouldn't dare cross Molly Weasley.
Hermione took her seat at the table and helped herself to some sausages and toast. She then passed the plate to George, who was sitting next to her. She heard footsteps on the stairs and saw the kids and husbands enter the room and all take seats at the table. Hermione smiled to herself as they all tucked into their delicious breakfast.
This house, rickety and worn down as it was, was comfortable and warm. She breathed in deep the air that was thick with the scent of maple and warm conversations.
She never wanted to give this up.
Her smile faltered for just a second as she came to realization that if she ever decided to seek her happiness again then giving this all up might just need to happen.
After everyone had eaten, and talked, and eaten some more, Hermione excused herself and ducked into the shed in the back yard to slip the magical tv into her bag. It took some rearranging of her books and clothing. She found a cake she had under a stasis spell which she had purchased for Hannah months ago for her birthday and totally forgotten about. Too late to gift now, Hermione vanished the cake, stacked the books, folded the clothing, and then finally was able to fit the tv in.
She rejoined Molly in the kitchen as everyone else proceeded to the backyard for an impromptu game of quidditch. Hermione poured herself a cup of tea and offered one to Molly, who politely refused. Molly set about on household chores and Hermioine made her way to the yard to watch her daughter fly.
It was a wondrous sight.
Rose was fast, and skilled. She was playing seeker for this game and she whizzed about the sky like lightning, curls whipping in the wind behind her. She saw her daughter dart towards the ground and pull up about 5 feet from the grass, a look of pride on her face as she held the snitch in the air. Everyone cheered and applauded, before descending from the sky and regrouping to begin another match.
The afternoon continued on in much the same way. Molly served some light sandwiches for lunch and everyone just helped themselves as they felt the need. Around four in the afternoon, Rose was dead on her feet and Hermione took her hand and led her away from the yard, telling her it was time to head home and catch her portkey to school.
So Rose made the rounds, saying goodbye to everyone and then joining Hermione in the living room to step through the flames and back into their familiar cottage.
"Did you have fun, today Rosie?" Hermione asked as they brushed the soot from their clothes and sat together on the couch.
"Mmhmm," Rose mumbled, laying her head in her mother's lap and curling up on the couch. Hermione wound her fingers through her daughter's curls, still wild from the quidditch matches, and hummed a tune.
"Momma" Rose whispered, voice thick with sleep, "why didn't you and dad have another baby?"
Hermione's fingers froze in her daughter's hair and she took a breath to compose herself.
"Well, sweet girl," Hermione started, praying to the gods, Merlin, and anyone else listening to give her the strength to face this conversation, "I always wanted to have a big family, but Daddy preferred a smaller one. We agreed on having two, maybe three children. But then you were born, and you were just so perfect that we just never felt the need to add anyone else to the mix."
"Oh…" Rose sighed. "Sometimes, I get so lonely when I'm home from school. I know I have James and Al, but there aren't any girls in town for me to play with. It would be nice," her daughter said, rolling over and looking into Hermione's eyes, "to have a little brother or sister to play with."
Hermione felt a sharp pain in her chest, like a knife in her heart, but refused to let it show. Instead, she forced a smile and said to her wide-eyed daughter, "Well, let me talk to your father and I'll see what I can do about that."
Rose nodded and stood from the couch, "I'm going to grab my bag for school. Portkey in half an hour, right?"
Hermione smiled warmly and watched her daughter ascend the stairs. "Right you are. Let me know if you need help packing."
As soon as she heard Rose's door close, she swept to the other side of the cottage and into her office, shutting the door firmly behind her and casting a quick silencing spell. After taking three quick strides into the room, she collapsed onto the floor and wept.
She cried for her daughter, surrounded by love and comfort but still feeling alone. She cried for her childhood self, who struggled with the same feelings. She even cried for Ron, who would never understand the want for a sibling, the hollow feeling of loneliness that settles in deep and refuses to leave. And after she exhausted herself from crying for those around her, she finally, finally gave in and cried for herself.
She lay on the oriental rug for what felt like hours, but was actually no more than fifteen minutes. When she heard footsteps approach she wiped her tears and composed herself, placing a glamour on her face so no one would notice her red, swollen eyes. Grabbing a book and hooking it under her arm, she opened the door right as Rose raised her fist to knock.
"Portkey is almost ready. Can you tell Dad bye for me. He still isn't back from Gramma and Grandpa's yet."
Hermione followed Rose through the first floor of the cottage. Around the back of the stairs, past the kitchen, through the living room, and finally to the front door. She pulled Rose in close, breathing in her familiar scent of childhood and the rose-scented lotion she had been given for her birthday.
"Of course I'll tell him." She patted her daughter gently on the back and pulled away, placing her hands gently on Rose's shoulders and smiling down at her. "Now, do you have everything? Books? Broom? Homework?"
Rose nodded, gesturing towards the broom leaning against the door frame, just waiting to be grabbed before Rose vanished away to Southern England for the next week.
Rose reached into her bag and pulled out a tarnished old hair brush that had begun glowing blue. "Love you, Mum. See you next weekend!" Hermione opened the door and followed her daughter out to the yard and smiled. I love you too, Rosie. Have fun! Be safe!"
She stepped back and waved as the hairbrush blinked blue rapidly, warning that the portkey was about to depart. Rose lifted her hand to her mouth and blew her mother kiss right before the portkey activated and she was whisked away.
Hermione stood in the doorway and stared at the empty spot her daughter had just been before shaking herself out of her reverie and returning to her cottage.
She grabbed her bag and removed the television she had gotten from Arthur earlier and set it up in the living room. She observed the finished product before pulling out her wand and tapping the television gently. She watched the screen flicker and then come to life. Smiling to herself, she flicked her wand up, watching the channels change rapidly. She stopped when she saw what looked like a chick flick. Watching as a man professed his love to a woman in the pouring rain, she settled onto the couch.
She didn't feel like getting up to prepare herself some tea so she reached into her bag and summoned the spare pot she kept in there.
"Aguamenti" she muttered, watching as water poured from her wand into the pot.
She placed the lid on the pot and set it on the coffee table before waving her wand again and placing a warming charm on it. While she waited for the water to warm up she rummaged in her bag for the tea cup and tin of tea she knew had to be in there somewhere.
"Aha!" she said to herself as she pulled out the tea cup. Giving up on finding the tea by hand she said "Accio tea!" and felt the tin hit her hand. She grabbed it and pulled it out, smiling to herself. She just loved her beaded bag. She summoned herself the container of sugar she kept in there as well, before setting about preparing the tea.
Hermione drank deeply, feeling a level of relaxation she hadn't felt without the assistance of her rum and coke for quite some time. This television could be dangerous. She realized now why the obesity epidemic was running rampant in the muggle world. It was so easy to just sit on the couch and find anything to amuse yourself. Completely forgetting the world and everything in it.
The movie ended sometime later, the credits rolling while a love song played in the background. Hermione wiped the tears that had formed in her eyes at the end of the movie. She had forgotten how emotional tv could make her. She glanced at the time. It was nearly 8 and still no sign of Ron.
Irritation mounted somewhere deep inside of her.. She remembered when Rose first started school and Ron made the effort to take Hermione out for dinner those evenings, to keep her mind off her daughter's absence. It had been so nice to connect like that and she missed it. She decided she would give him another half hour and then she would find her own meal out somewhere.
Hermione cleaned up the mess she had made with her tea, washing the pot and the cup before placing everything back in her bag.
In an effort to kill time, Hermione refolded the throw blanket on the back of the couch, which had become ruffled during her muggle movie. She used the restroom, fixed her hair and then, when she could think of nothing else to keep her busy, checked the time.
"Time's up," she found herself saying out loud, somewhat sadly, as she shook her head. She felt disappointment mixed with a hint of something else that she couldn't quite place.
Reaching into her bag for a quill and some parchment, she wrote a quick note for Ron and threw on her coat before walking out the door and disapparating with a crack.
She hadn't really thought about where she would end up, she just pictured Hogsmeade in her head out of habit. Hermione shivered as the wind ripped around the building and wrapped around her. She hadn't noticed how cold it had become outside and reached her hand into her bag, pulling out her traveling cloak. Wrapping the expensive velvet cloak around her shoulders and tying it hastily, she felt the warmth spread through her body.
As the cloak did its work, she pushed off against the wind, making her way down High Street and towards Cambria Way. She turned the corner and felt her shoulders release a bit of their tension at the sight of her refuge. She hurried the rest of the way to the door and pushed in.
She smiled at the sound of conversation and merriment as she removed her cloak and folded it over once, twice, and pushed it into her bag. She raised her eyes and felt her heart sink a bit when she didn't see a shock of blonde hair sitting at the bar.
Stop that!, she thought to herself as she waved to a few of the regulars and sat in her usual seat at the bar. Hannah was working that evening and she waved happily at Hermione.
"What'll it be, Mione?" Hannah asked, making her way over to where Hermione sat at the bar. "The usual?"
Hermione smiled warmly at the witch and started to nod before stopping herself. "You know what, I'll just have a butterbeer tonight, Hannah. Thank you."
Hannah nodded and turned her back to pour the requested beverage.
Hermione glanced around the pub. She saw faces old and new. It was funny, she mused. She knew she was regular at the place and she knew who else frequented here as well, but she couldn't tell you their names, and chances were they couldn't tell you hers either. There was something comforting about the anonymity that made her feel secure instead of lonely.
Hannah plunked the mug of butterbeer in front of Hermione and asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"Actually, Hannah, do you have any food prepared?"
Hannah shook her head. "No, nothing. We've been so busy lately. With no steady cook on staff, we just have to prepare things as we have time and there hasn't been any time lately."
Hermione nodded and took a sip of butterbeer. "Of course. Figured I would ask."
Hannah nodded sadly. "Sorry. If we could find someone else to work as a barback I would have no problem cooking full time, but no such luck yet."
"I'll keep my ears open, for sure." Hermione said. Hannah thanked her and breezed away to prepare a drink for another patron.
Hermione took another sip of her butterbeer and sighed.
"Couldn't eat before you got here, Granger?"
A/N: Oooh, who do you think it is? I know, no Dramione in this chapter but I promise next chapter will focus solely on them. Be on the lookout soon!