Life without you by my side is possible because I still feel your presence.
21st December 2004
Malfoy Manor
It was almost 9 pm and the hallways should have been empty, the moonlight streamed in through the open windows as the curtains blew in, painting eerie shadows on the floors as she moved.
Astoria approached the open door at the end of the corridor, smiling slightly as her suspicions were confirmed. She had only briefly gone to say goodnight to her little ward, but instead of a sleeping form, Astoria had found an empty bed.
Rose had been known to wander during the day, a source of infinite frustration for Draco and Narcissa and the source of most of the anger from her "father" but lately she had taken to wandering at night as well. Something Astoria liked to discourage, the manor was full of unscrupulous things and people and not somewhere she would want her own child wandering in the dead of night.
She stood in front of the Wall of Shame, watching the pictures move. Her pale skin looked translucent in the moonlight, her curly red hair fell well below her shoulders with a small section tied back with a black silk bow. She wore a simple black dress with a frill around the hem, off-white socks that were pulled up to her knees and shiny Maryjane shoes. She always looked as though she had been dressed for a funeral and her permanently sombre appearance completed her look.
With a small cough, she announced her presence, "Hello little petal,"
Rose jumped at the sound of her voice but relaxed seeing it was Astoria walking towards her "...sorry for startling you."
She smiled shyly, her gaze quickly returning to the wall of pictures. "Good evening, Lady Malfoy."
"I've told you before, Lady Malfoy is my Mother In Law. You, my little Rosebud, can call me Tori."
As she reached the girl she ran her fingers through her hair, it slid through like silk. The house elves must have been authorised to brush her hair again.
"Father gets angry when I call you that it's not respectful."
At 5 years old the little girl was wiser than her years should have dictated but Astoria knew this was only because she had been forced to learn quickly.
She lay a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder, she tensed immediately but didn't pull away. "What are you looking at here?"
The redhead dared a glance out of the corner of her eye, as though contemplating the consequences of revealing her actions. "Lady Malfoy, once told me that my real mother and father were on this wall…"
"Did she?" The statement surprised Astoria, she had always been of the impression that Rose's parentage was as Taboo as the Dark Lord's name. She had never dared to ask the full story of how the little girl came to be here, but Draco had given her a brief overview. Hermione had been captured, Ron had been unaware of the pregnancy and the Dark Lord had chosen to raise Rose as his own.
It didn't sit right but ultimately if you wanted to live, you didn't question him.
During her short arranged courtship with Draco, she had expressed her distaste at seeing such a small child be punished with unforgivable curses but when her family were threatened with death she had thought better of brooching the subject again. However, seeing the way the girl was treated she had taken it upon herself to add a little happiness to her little world.
"She had had too much wine at a meeting…"
That made sense, as the world had changed around them Narcissa had taken a liking for the sweet Elderflower wine which had become a staple at all meals, Astoria knew all too well that it helped to numb the pain of the situation they lived in, but Narcissa seemed to be gripped by the release the beverage gave her
"... she wouldn't tell me who they were though. She said it wasn't good to dwell on the past. Do you know who they are?"
Astoria hesitated for a moment, while she wanted to answer the question honestly, she couldn't help but fear the consequences. She put her arm around Rose and squatted beside her.
"Well, why don't you tell me who you think they are? I'll tell you if you are right."
Without hesitation, her finger landed on her mother. Astoria wasn't sure why she was surprised, Rose had her mother's brains afterall.
Hermione Granger. Undesirable Number 2.
The wanted poster bore a large red cross in the middle and the picture of the girl she remembered from school as being a "bossy know it all" stared back at her in black and white.
She met Rose's ocean blue eyes, his eyes, and with a sad nod, Astoria confirmed the girl was right.
Rose turned her attention back to the picture. She closed her eyes and stayed very still for a moment.
"Are you OK?"
"I'm just trying to remember her face so I can dream about her…"
It broke Astoria's heart.
"I used to go to school with her you know…"
Rose's eyes snapped open, staring at her as though she had two heads. "You knew my mother?"
She nodded running her fingers through the wild red curls on her head again. "And your father…"
Rose pointed to Undesirable Number 3. Ron Weasley. Astoria's stomach gave a little jump, though she would never admit it in civilised company she had developed a silly schoolgirl crush on Ron during her 4th year the remnants of which had apparently never left her.
As a nod confirmed Rose was right again, she twisted her hands together nervously, Astoria could feel an excited energy buzzing through her at the confirmation and the trace of a smile appeared on her face.
"What were they like?"
She thought for a moment, she couldn't risk her family's safety by giving too much away while being married to The Dark Lords Right Hand Man gave a certain level of protection no one was above his anger and disobeying his commands was a one-way ticket to watching your family being killed, cursed or worse.
"Kind… they were both very kind…"
"What is kind?"
She had a way of destroying a person with a few words.
"Kind is good…"
"Am I kind?"
"You are the kindest person I know."
A creak of floorboards broke their moment, they turned to find Draco standing watching the scene.
"It's rather late to be planning a raid don't you think."
Astoria chuckled feeling her heart flutter. "Well, my best ideas come in the dead of night."
He walked towards them, standing between them with his hand around Astoria's waist and Rose's shoulder. His eyes flickered over the photographs before him and Astoria watched a hard swallow occur as he saw the picture of Hermione.
Draco had told her the part he had played in her final moments.
"Well, I think it better that we all slip off to bed before we get in trouble."
She took the small girl's hand and led her back to her bedroom, before returning to her own chamber.
"I have asked you not to get too close to her…" Draco began as she closed the door quietly.
"She is a child Draco… she is just curious about who she really is…"
"It is forbidden to tell her anything, Tori"
"He has already taken everything from her, it is her right to know who her mother and father are… to know who she really is… I'm sorry Draco I couldn't tell her lies, I found myself thinking about how I would feel if my child was in her position…"
"Well we aren't going to be in that position are we?" He stood and walked to the drinks cabinet, pouring himself a tipple of whisky, and downing it immediately.
"I'm pregnant Draco"
Silence hung over them. He stared at her with his empty glass in hand. For once, she couldn't read his emotions.
"I confirmed it with the healer this morning. Around 5 weeks."
"No."
"What do you mean no …"
"I mean, no. Fucking NO!" Draco threw the glass into the fire, it exploded on impact.
"Shit!" Draco's hands raked his hair and he sat at the end of the bed.
"I know it's not what we planned but, Draco, it's expected that this would happen … that we would have a child one day… an heir…" She tried to rationalise the moment, her hands found their way to his shoulders.
"Don't give me that shit Tori." He pushed her hands from him. "... the blood curse… you know it will kill you Astoria and quite frankly I can't face this world without you. Not in this world… not here… Fuck, you've seen what He tries to teach her… she's 6 and she already knows how to do the Cruciatius curse. She blew a man's head up without a fucking wand… it will not be any different because he is our son…"
"... or daughter…" Astoria whispered.
"Even worse… you see the way the cretins look at her…"
From that moment, Astoria prayed to the mother that her child would be a son.
5th September 2005
The day had been long and exhausting, and as a soft knock came to the door as Astoria lay in bed with her newly born son there was only one face she hoped to see.
"Come in."
The door opened with hesitation and Rose entered the room. She had dirt on her nose and looked particularly unkempt which made Astoria's stomach drop.
She walked in silence to the edge of the bed and gave a shy smile to Astoria.
"Good evening Lady Malfoy, Lord Malfoy told me the baby had arrived and I wanted to say Congratulations."
Astoria smiled at the nervous little girl who stood before her. The labour had been long and tedious and several weeks of bedrest had meant Rose had been forbidden from seeing her.
"Thank you, sweetheart"
She combed her fingers through the girl's hair without thinking, the knots and matts made it impossible to get through.
Rose shifted uncomfortably, pulling her hair behind her shoulder and away from Astoria's reach. "I was sent to the dungeons… again … I was … bad… the house elves took my hairbrush again."
It was one of the more unusual punishments implemented on the girl when she was disobedient. After several days of lack of care, her hair would become so matted that when she was finally allowed to brush her hair the pain of the process was so immense that the girl would cry and scream, which ultimately led to further pain and punishment.
Astoria cupped the girl's cheek before inviting her to sit on the bed next to her, she obeyed, kneeling up to see the little bundle in Astoria's arms.
"He's very handsome Lady Malfoy, what's his name?"
"Scorpius, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy."
Rose smiled, "That's a very strong name."
Astoria chuckled, "Well I'm glad you think so…"
The door clicked, and Narcissa entered the room without knocking. She stopped suddenly seeing the redhead on the bed.
"You are not meant to be here Rose… return to your room immediately."
"Yes Lady Malfoy, sorry Lady Malfoy…" Rose scurried away closing the door gently behind her.
Astoria felt herself become agitated by the presence of her mother-in-law.
"He is perfect Astoria." Narcissa leaned over the boy admiring him from above. "He looks just like Draco as an infant."
She decided against commenting, merely smiling and looking down at her son.
"Is something the matter? You are awfully quiet."
Astoria would later blame her hormones for the outburst that followed.
"Yes, Narcissa, something is the matter. I do not like the way you speak to the poor child you have just banished from my quarters."
Narcissa looked taken aback.
"I do not know what you mean, she is not meant to be here and she is up on the bed irritating you and my newborn grandson."
"The only one irritating me is you Narcissa and your complete lack of care for your wardenship of that poor girl."
The older witch clutched her chest in horror. "How very dare you."
"Don't give me that, we both know that you promised Dumbledore you would look after her and look at the state of her being, she is unkempt, her hair hasn't been brushed for days and terrified of putting a toe out of line in case she is punished with some awful punishment. If nothing else surely he and you should ensure she at least LOOKS well cared for."
"I don't know what you are referring to… Dumbledore… he's dead…"
"We both know that is not true Narcissa, Draco told me all about your little agreement with the order..."
24th December 2005
It had been two days since Astoria's death and the halls of the manor were more sombre than usual. Every room was silent in unspoken mourning for the Lady of the house.
Rose wandered the marble hallways gazing at the paintings as she passed, they spat their usual insults but as usual, she ignored them. They were paintings after all, what could their opinions matter?
As she passed the door to Astoria's room she felt a sadness hit her chest with force. Lady Malfoy had always been kind to her and had always spoken to her as an equal, she had a lightness about her that reminded Rose of the feeling of being outside on a summer day, and now in the deepest winter, her passing made Rose feel the ice in her soul.
She was just about to walk on when Scorpius screamed loudly. For a moment she thought better of checking on him but upon hearing a faint sobbing accompanying the screaming she knew the pain of the person within was far greater than the pain any punishment would bring.
The door was ajar but she knocked anyway.
Draco had been bouncing Scorpius for the best part of 2 hours now. He wouldn't settle. Nothing Draco did could make him settle, it was almost as though he knew. He knew she was gone and she was never coming back
She was the glue that held him together. The one who made him a good person and now she was gone.
The illness had been so short and taken hold so quickly it had taken all of his strength to keep afloat.
His father had chastised him for showing his grief this morning. The dark lord had commented on the inconvenience it had caused his mission to lose his right-hand man in the middle of a raid in Poland.
But he couldn't leave Astoria to die alone and his newborn son to fend for himself
He loved his mother dearly but less than an hour after her death she had arranged a nanny elf to take over care of Scorpius.
It wasn't her place to do this.
"What!" He spat at her angrily.
"Can I do anything to help?"
A harsh "No" was his response.
She nodded, turning to leave but hesitated for a moment. Under the cot, she could see Artemis's green face peering at her. She scuttled under the cot and retrieved him, she handed him to his screaming owner. Artemis smelled of Astoria, of Lily of the valley and sunshine, and Rose took a deep sniff, closing her eyes and trying to cement the smell in her mind. The scent of "kind"
She wondered momentarily if her mother and father smelled this way too before thinking better of lingering for too long.
Immediately the tears stopped as Scorpius clung to the dragon as though he would disappear and fell asleep almost instantly.
"Lady Malfoy gives … gave him this before he's going to sleep. He won't sleep without it."
She turned to leave, giving a small sympathetic smile to Draco, he gripped her wrist, in the pale moonlight, she turned to him and once again he saw a glimpse of the woman he had robbed her of.
"Thank you…"
She was growing quickly, she was no longer the child he had taken from her mother, who had cried for months as Scorpius was now. She was becoming her own person and despite the hellscape she lived in it wasn't tainting her. She remained pure sunshine.
Malfoy Manor
1st February 2007
It had been a blur, another boring meeting.
She had been presented as his daughter. She hated when he called her his daughter. She wasn't his. She had a family, somewhere out there.
She had been tasked with killing a person. An innocent muggle called Jean.
She had begged to know where her daughter was, she just wanted information after 8 years in the compound she had been driven half mad.
She looked at Rose and screamed her daughter's name. Rose would never forget those screams. "Mia … Mia … is that you…"
"I won't hurt her." She had defied him. In front of all of them.
"What…"
"I said No Father"
He wasn't her father.
He got angry…
He shouted…
But Rose didn't care any more, and let him attack, she was used to the pain, used to the punishment now but he would no longer hurt innocent people, she felt the uncontrollable rage burning in her chest, suddenly the burning was not just in her chest, it seared her flesh, her head, her hair. The screaming registered seconds later, after the feel of the heat and the smell of sulphur. Her eyes snapped open and suddenly the room was on fire, green butterflies surrounded the woman and she fell to the ground, her eyes wide and watching… his death eaters burned.
The dungeon door flew open and Rose was thrown across the room landing in a heap.
Bellatrix Le Strange stormed into the room behind her.
"You will learn, one day, that you do not speak or act against your master. You need to remember your place in this world. An abomination is all you are and all you will ever be. If it wasn't for the prophecy you would have been killed alongside your filthy mudblood mother before you took your first breath."
A slap echoed through the darkness followed by a whimper.
"Even your blood traitor father is so disgusted by your existence that he hasn't bothered to come looking for you, he was glad to be shot off the both of you." Le Strange grabbed Rose by the hair pulling her from the floor.
"That's enough Bella. I'll take over from here."
She threw the girl back to the floor.
"You are too soft on the little cretin Cissa. She needs to learn manners and respect for her superiors."
Narcissa Malfoy waited until her sister had left before swiftly healing the girl's wounds and producing a bowl of porridge from under her cloak.
"You have to stop being so defiant Rose. You have your mother's spirit but you will not last long if you continue this way."
The blonde-haired witch ran her fingers through Rose's red curls. Rose ate her porridge ravenously, her eyes never leaving the bowl.
"You are such a pretty girl, darling, if you could behave properly you would have so much potential."
"I don't think she is telling the truth…" Rose whispered between mouthfuls. "How can my Dad hate me if he doesn't know I exist."
A small smile crept onto Narcissa's face, "You're very perceptive." she cupped the mark that had developed on Rose's cheek.
"What a touching scene," a snakelike voice appeared in the doorway. Narcissa snatched the bowl from Rose and hid it in her cape. The snake entered the room as it always did before him. Rose quickly stood up and backed away into the corner, "Narcissa, I was under the impression that I banned you from conversing with our little … thorn."
He waved his wand forcing the woman from the room before he entered the dungeon, a swish of his wand dragged Rose through the air towards him. Her legs dangled as she momentarily tried to get away from him before submitting to his will to have her in front of him.
"Did you enjoy your little outburst today, my child"
She shook her head frantically, her eyes filled with tears.
"Do not lie to me, my dear girl…" His hand cupped her terrified face, his nails gripping her cheeks, "...you remember my keeping you alive is a mere courtesy, and that without the prophecy you would be dead with your criminal mother"
"... do you remember that you are supposed to be my heir, to inherit my vast domain, loyal followers and infinite wealth, so tell me, how do you think it makes me feel when you disrespect my kindness and generosity, by killing my men and disobeying me… " He bellowed.
Rose shook as tears streamed down her face as his nails left angry marks on her pale cheeks.
He threw her into the darkness, missing Nagini by a centimetre.
"Crucio"
Her body convulsed.
When the attack ended, he walked over to her limp frame, "Next time you have the urge to defy me, remember that I will no longer hesitate to feed you to Nagini here."
"I have told you my lord… respectfully I was aware from the beginning she is too much of a liability she is unmoldable…"
The dark lord paced angrily "... And what would you propose we do with her… the prophecy…"
"The prophecy merely says she must live… it says nothing about the quality of life she will need to live. Respectfully, I could take her off your hands my lord, I have a project within The Compound, it caters to certain tastes… she would be most useful for and first use is always worth the … investment."
"I would be quite willing to part with her for her guaranteed survival… 11,000 Galleons should be a fair price."
"Absolutely my lord, consider her a VIP with my highest protection… I had always hoped she would find her way into my bed."
A sickening laugh caused Narcissa to stifle a gasp.
She couldn't bear the thought of the conversation any longer, the implications were too horrific to think of. Her husband… the father of her child…
She had let so many things slip these last few years, all to ensure her family's safety but this was a step too far.
She had heard whispers of her husband's project and the horrors it held. The girl would never survive, she shouldn't have to.
The dungeon door slid open slightly before shutting quickly. A small figure moved from the mattress on the floor to press herself as far into the darkness as possible.
"Rose" Narcissa Malfoy hissed into the darkness. "It's me"
"Cissa" the small girl stepped forward. "You have to go, you are going to get in trouble for being here."
The blonde witch gripped Rose's hand tightly. She pulled the girl into her chest and wrapped her cloak around them.
With a pop, they disapparated into the night. Narcissa knelt in, front of Rose whose eyes were wide and terrified. In her 8 years she had never been outside of the Manor, "I have a job for you my brave sweet girl, you need to take this letter …" She took an envelope from her pocket and placed it in her hand. From her other pocket, she pulled out a purple beaded bag, it shimmered in the moonlight, and the girl watched it with fear.
Narcissa put the strap over the girl's head and arm.
She squeezed the girl's arm, and continued "... and go over to the house just round the corner. Tell them you are looking for Ronald Weasley, tell them he is your father."
"Why wouldn't you …"
"We need to be fast, in this place, you will be safe… trust them … they are good people… go quickly…"
Her heart hammered in her chest as the girl rounded the corner.
The girl stopped suddenly, "But Cissa … the house … it's…"
Before the girl could finish her sentence, Narcissa whispered. "Be safe." As she disappeared into the night.
Wand in hand Molly approached the window.
A young girl surveyed the house. Following the fall of the ministry, the Burrow had been bewitched to look as though it was a crumbling ruin, burnt to the ground by death eaters many years ago. A guise that had served them well.
She was eternally grateful to Remus, Arthur, and Kingsley who together rebuilt the interior, and charmed the exterior. It was the perfect cover for one of the three remaining order headquarters.
"Molly, what is it?"
"Shh Arthur."
The girl twirled her hands nervously, "What am I meant to do now, Cissa?" She turned expectantly. "Wait no… come back…" she ran towards the wood she had just exited. Another small pop signified someone had left. The girl dropped to the ground on her knees, crying loudly.
Rose didn't know what she was going to do now, she had never been alone before and as much as she hated the manor it had been the only home she had known.
She held her legs tightly, the cold nipped at her hands and legs and the storm clouds above looked threatening. She sat in the silence of the night before muffled voices could be heard coming from the ruins.
She moved back, ghosts.
"Mollywobbles, I'm asking you to think about this logically…"
"Arthur, either you let me check what's going on or I will hex you into next week. I will not leave a child crying outside my home because you are scared of an ambush."
Suddenly the ruins before her shifted a bright light emitting from them, as the figures of two people appeared from nowhere.
Rose scooted further backwards on the floor as they approached her, wands raised.
"Don't be frightened dear."
Rose couldn't imagine anything other than feeling frightened at that moment, her heart rattled in her chest.
"Dear, are you lost," the red-haired woman said softly, sitting on the ground in front of her, lowering her wand.
"Erm … erm … …" Rose stuttered
"It's ok dear, We aren't going to hurt you."
"Molly we need to get back in the house, it is too dangerous to be outside." The red-haired woman who Rose deduced to be called Molly waved her hand to dismiss the man.
"You look just about frozen and it's going to pour down, would you like a cup of tea, a biscuit?"
Cissa had told her to trust the people, had gone as far as to say that they were good people…
She stood up looking between the two people before her, Molly mirrored her.
"I was brought here to find my… I'm looking for my dad, you don't happen to know him do you."
"What's his name, dear?"
"Erm … Ron ...ma'am … his name is Ron Weasley."
The slightest breeze at that moment would have knocked the pair off their feet. They turned to look at each other, unable to speak. Molly turned back to stare at the girl's face. She said nothing, surveying her before stroking a strand of hair out of her face.
"Hermione …"
"My mother…" Rose looked at the floor to avoid her gaze.
"Ron is our son…" Molly said attempting to compose herself.
"It's just, I need to give him a letter. " Rose took the letter Narcissa had given her, she scrunched it slightly in her hands.
The woman took a final glance at the man before she took Rose's shoulder.
"Come in, please, we can wait for Ron inside"
Rose followed them, watching in amazement as the crumbling ruin became a large multi story house.
The woman lit the candles and made a pot of tea as the man sat in a chair, quietly watching her.
"What is your name dear."
"Rose."
"Oh well that is a lovely name, my name is Molly… this is my husband Arthur. Well if you are Ron's daughter I suppose you would call us Granny and Grandpa."
She didn't know that meant but she smiled politely anyway.
As Molly offered the girl a cup of tea she gestured for Rose to take a seat before taking a seat herself.
"Oh I'm half" Rose informed Molly matter-of-factly and remained standing, taking the cup and a small sip of tea. "This is lovely though thank you"
"What do you mean you're "half","
"Oh my mum was a mudblood, so I'm half-blood, I'm not allowed to sit on the furniture, I'll get it dirty."
Molly gasped and Arthur looked horrified, both clearly taken aback both by the use of that word and how casually the young girl said it.
"In this house, we don't use that word, and in this house, you are treated like everyone else regardless of blood status so please sit," Arthur said sternly.
As the final word fell from his lips a sudden uneasiness took over Molly's face. She watched Rose take a seat, sitting on the edge of the chair.
"And your mother? Where is your mother."
"She died when I was born."
Molly felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her head. Confirmation of what she had always known, and the knowledge that Ron's entire world was about to collapse was a lot to take in.
"Did you know my mum" the girl's eyes pleaded for knowledge.
But as the question ended, 3 simultaneous cracks could be heard in the garden. Molly raced to the window to see Harry, Ginny and Ron appearing in the garden walking towards the house.
"Ok dear, I need you to let me talk just now keep drinking your tea and have a biscuit"
The door opened and the 3 entered, each one falling silent as they each noticed the small red-headed stranger. All 3 reached for their wands immediately.
"Now, this may come as a shock. I need you all to sit down and listen to me BEFORE you react."
"Mum, who is that," Ginny demanded, the fear in her voice overshadowed her usual politeness
"This is Rose.."
"So we are letting strangers in are we now mum," Ron said hot-headedly.
Rose felt her chest leap, there he was. In real life.
Her father.
He was older than the picture, he had a short beard, he had more freckles, and his hair was redder than she remembered. But it was him.
He felt the girl's eyes on him, she looked at him with pure adoration. It made him feel uneasy.
"She's not a stranger, Ronald. She's your daughter."
"What" echoed around the room.
"You've really lost your marbles now mum, I haven't got a daughter, I would know if I had a daughter." He laughed but as he watched the little girl's face drop he felt a pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry sweetie, it's just not possible, I haven't… not since Herm…" He heart left his body in a single glance at his mother. Her eyes filled with tears, unable to speak she gave a small nod of confirmation.
"Hermione Granger was my mum." The girl stated.
Hermione Granger was her mum
Who was her father… wait he was her father…
Hermione was a mum… and he was a dad …
But they had only … a few times
Hermione was a mum…
Was…
Where was she…
He felt himself grabbing the small girl's face, surveying her.
The face was her face,
The eyes… his
The hair … a perfect mix of her wild curls and his red.
His voice broke before he said the name.
"Rose"
The name they had agreed to call their first daughter. A life time ago. Back when he was happy.
A moment sparked in his memories "When is your birthday"
"1st March." responded the girl.
He dropped to squat next to her. His birthday…
"What year" He croaked.
"1998"
She was his daughter.
Ron felt himself sitting heavily on the floor, the room fell silent as everyone watched with bated breath.
Was …
Was…
The word taunted him. He didn't want to know.
He surveyed her small face, "Where is she."
It wasn't a question, it was a plea. A plea for the missing piece of his puzzle to be returned to him. A plea for a second chance to not screw it all up. A plea for closure after 8 years of waiting.
Rose looked at the floor, "She died just after I was born."
There was a silence, before his face contorted with anger, like the Boggarts and the Mimiks, and for a moment she worried she was about to wake up in the Compound, surrounded by creatures whose faces changed and became your worst nightmares.
Ron felt himself cycle the 5 stages in a microsecond.
He felt hands on his back.
People spoke.
"It will be ok."
She was gone.
When would it ever be ok.
Dead.
Rotting and decomposing… all this time…
The whole time.
He stared without seeing as reality smacked him like a rogue Bludger.
For 8 long years he had known there had been a possibility that she was gone.
But he had always had a feeling…
The sense of her presence still in the world.
But now it had been confirmed as lies, not only had it been confirmed but sat in front of him sat...
It should be her sitting in front of him.
Not this… thing.
She wasn't her.
He screamed "No" before she watched his world crumbling. He was no monster. He was sad, like Draco, like Astoria, like Scorpius.
A scream erupted from him, and fear filled her face.
Not her face… the face of a stranger taking her place in the world.
There were no words for what he experienced in that moment.
Ginny fell to her knees next to him she held her brother and rubbed his back.
She whispered things he didn't care to listen to.
She rubbed circles on his back. "She knew you loved her."
She didn't though.
She didn't know.
She couldn't know.
He left.
He left her.
He left them.
Ron felt his chest tighten, he couldn't breathe, the world both slowed and sped up.
He needed to get out, when did it get so hot.
He didn't recognise he was moving until he had reached the Old Quidditch enclosure. The rain had soaked him to his skin. The storm above appeared to mimic his emotions, thunder and lightening crashed over head and he let out another scream before falling to his knees.
Arms enveloped him. His father's arms.
"It's ok Ron … let it out."
And he did just that, 8 years of anguish released into screams and slamming of fists on mud and dirt.
He felt everything. There was no numbness anymore.
"I felt her Dad, all this time I could feel Hermione I could feel her… she was alive… the girl has to be lying…"
"What if it wasn't Hermione you could feel…"
"What…"
"What if it was her… That little girl is a part of both of you, Ron, and from what I've seen, she needs you as much as you need her."
As the rain battered the windows, a large mug of dark liquid was placed infront of her. It smelled sweet and bitter. Molly sat at the table across from her and the other Red haired woman sat next to her.
"He will be ok. He's just had a bit of a shock."
Rose wrapped her hands around the cup enjoying the feeling of warmth. Taking a swig she savoured the sweetness, the warmth that filled her very being. The little house gave her the same feeling as the drink she sipped. She couldn't put her finger on the word. It wasn't kind but the feeling of kind came a close second to this feeling.
The door clicked open and the red-haired man escorted her father back into the room. She stood, to be respectful. Maybe if she was good he would stay.
Ron watched as the girl stood, bowing her head to him and staring at her feet.
Everyone in the room watched them.
He knelt in front of her, his hands on her arms and she dared a sneaky glance at him.
"I'm sorry for how I acted there."
"It was my fault…"
"No, it wasn't…"
She stared at her feet and shifted uncomfortably. Ron had no idea what to do. If Hermione was here what would she have done?
"A hug, Ron." for the first time in years her voice whispered in the deepest recesses of his mind. "She needs a hug"
He wrapped his arms around the girl, she stiffened shaking, but he kept his grip. Closing his eyes he buried his face in her hair…
She had her hair.
He could smell her perfume, not on the girl, but surrounding him. She was here with them. She, after all these years had brought her back to him.
He let himself cry as a small pair of arms suddenly clenched around his torso.
She sniffed deeply and he momentarily felt self-conscious.
"Sorry if I smell sweaty. You might have seen I went for a bit of a run."
"No, you smell how I always imagined you would." She whispered.
He felt the laughter burst from his chest, the statement was so absurd, but so heart-felt. He pulled away from her to look into her eyes. His own glassy tear-filled eyes stared back at him. She had a streak of mud on her face… on her nose, he quickly wiped it away.
"You have dirt on your nose by the way… just there…"
"You always imagined I would smell sweaty and dirty, smudge?"
"No I always imagined you would smell like "kind"