Chapter Thirty Five

It had been several days since Rose had been released from the hospital and returned home. With her dad staying in the guest room, cooking all of their meals and fussing over her almost as much as her mum, it felt as though everything had returned to normal and that the entire summer had been an odd dream. Often Rose found herself wishing it was.

She was still experience pain, both physical and emotional. Most days the after burns and electric-like shocks were more bearable than her constant heartache over Scorpius. She couldn't get him out of her head, no matter how hard she tried.

Albus had come by the house the previous afternoon to check on her. They'd discussed Scorpius's sudden absence from both their lives while sharing a box of Bertie Botts Beans from one of the many 'get well' baskets she'd received from her friends and extended family. Albus explained that Scorpius wasn't answering any of his letters and that he hadn't seen him since before Rose had been kidnapped. He too was feeling broken over the sudden loss of contact with their close friend. It had been cathartic for her to have someone to commiserate with.

It was late in the morning and Rose was still in her bed, lazily skimming the first few pages of Goshawk's Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 in preparation for the upcoming school year. With everything that had happened, she'd just started the pre-reading required for the beginning of the term, though she didn't really care. Doing well in class hardly seemed important anymore.

Rose peaked her head up when she heard a knock at her bedroom door. It slowly opened, revealing her mother dressed in jeans and a white jumper, her hair tied up in a loose pony.

"Morning," Hermione greeted her. "How are you feeling?"

"The same," Rose grumbled, her eyes returning to the words in her book she'd been staring at for the last half hour.

Her mother sighed heavily and leaned against the door frame, sadly looking down at the young girl who was still in her pajamas.

"Rosie... sweetheart... I really wish you would talk to me."

"About what?" Rose asked, though she knew exactly what her mum wanted to discuss.

"Anything."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Liar," she said, closing her book and sitting up straight. "You want to talk about Malfoy Manor."

Hermione frowned. She didn't want to pressure Rose, but it was true. She did want her to share what had happened. In fact, she'd been dying to know. The sooner she told her, the sooner she could try to make it better.

"I just worry that you're keeping everything bottled up," Hermione explained softly, placing her hand on the young girl's knee. "Talking might help."

"Fine," Rose snipped, staring at her mum intently. "Let's start with what happened with you during the war."

"Rose... " Hermione's heartbeat quickened.

"You wanted me to talk," Rose argued with a hint of defiance. "This is what I want to talk about."

Hermione paused for a moment before leaving the doorway and moving to sit on the edge of Rose's bed. She wanted to be honest, but she wasn't sure how much she was willing to share with her daughter. Even though she'd gone through her own horrific experience, she would always be her child. She wanted to protect her from the ugliness of the past.

"I don't know where to begin."

"You were tortured at Malfoy Manor," Rose said matter-of-factly. "Belatrix Lestrange use the Cruciatus Curse on you."

"Yes," Hermione said with a small nod.

"It's how you got your scar?"

"Yes."

"It caused your miscarriage?"

Hermione was surprised by the question. She hadn't expected Rose to put that together so quickly.

"Yes," she answered, hoping her tone came across calm despite her heart rapidly drumming against her chest.

"Can you say anything other than 'yes'?" Rose asked with annoyance.

Hermione sighed, giving her daughter an anguished look.

"I - I don't know what to say," she confessed quietly. "I still can't think about it without..."

Rose looked at her mother curiously.

"Without what?"

"Feeling pain."

Rose considered this for a moment, reflecting on everything that had come to light over the summer. She'd pieced together a fair bit, and it had become apparent that her mother's experience with the Cruciatus Curse had been severe.

"She tortured you for a long time," she said quietly, feeling a twinge of guilt for making her talk about it.

"She did," Hermione nodded, forcing herself to look Rose in the eyes. She wanted to appear strong. "I've never fully recovered. I still have phantom pains occasionally... burning sensations. I used to have terrible nightmares too... those have mostly gone away."

Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought about her own symptoms.

"Will I fully recover?"

"The healers seem to think so," Hermione said with a forced smile, though Rose could tell she seemed worried. "We're lucky that you got medical attention so quickly."

"And that Uncle Harry saved me," Rose said timidly, still feeling rather pathetic that she'd been tricked by Lucius so easily. "It wasn't very long, was it?"

"The healers guessed a few minutes."

"It felt like eternity," Rose said. She looked down at her duvet cover, unable to withstand seeing the pity in her mum's eyes. "I've never felt anything so... I don't even know."

"Like you wished you would die?" Hermione offered gently.

"Yeah," she admitted, casting her head down further in shame.

"I begged Bellatrix to kill me," Hermione said plainly, hoping the confession would ease Rose's discomfort. "I'm obviously very glad she didn't, but at the time, I'd have given anything to end it."

"Why did she single you out?"

"Oh... well... " Hermione shifted uncomfortably and gave Rose a sad frown. "I imagine because I'm Muggleborn."

"Right," Rose answered, her eyes drifting to the jagged scar on her mum's arm. She finally knew how she'd gotten it, and it was just as awful as she'd imagined.

"Bellatrix was Scorpius's Aunt?"

"Great Aunt."

"Was Scorpius's dad there?" Rose asked curiously. She noticed her mum stiffen slightly.

"Yes," Hermione answered, watching her daughter process the information.

"That's why everyone hates him."

"A small part of the reason," she conceded honestly. "But Draco didn't do anything wrong at the Manor. He was just a boy himself."

"Dad still can't stand him," Rose frowned. "And he's never liked Scorpius."

"Have you heard from him?" Hermione asked, not wanting to go into the dozens of reasons why Ron hated Malfoy.

"No."

"He'll come around."

"He told me he loved me," Rose whispered. "And then he broke up with me."

"Oh, sweetheart..."

Hermione's heart broke for her, but a small part of her also felt relief. They were just kids after all, too young to really understand the complexity of romantic love. She certainly didn't want them to stop being friends, but she was glad they were no longer engaging in physical intimacy.

"He said he was too dangerous," Rose continued with glossy eyes. "That his existence is a threat to our family."

"He's hurting a lot right now too," Hermione said softly. She couldn't help but think of how much Scorpius's actions resembled a young Harry. "Give him some time."

"What if he realizes that he never liked me and that his feelings were all just because of that stupid curse?"

It made sense to Hermione now. Rose wasn't just dealing with her first heartbreak, she was also dealing with the possibility that the entire relationship had been one big lie.

"He told you he loved you. Scorpius isn't the sort of person who would say that if he didn't mean it," she reasoned. "But, either way... you'll be okay. You're only fifteen. I know this hurts now, but you're going to meet loads of other boys."

Rose scoffed.

"You met Dad when you were eleven and you married him," she pointed out.

"Yeah, well... " Hermione looked at her daughter soberly. "Look how well that's turning out."

They were quiet for a moment, both deep in thought. Hermione was thinking of her own marriage, and the agonizing fact that she'd finally given up just when Ron was ready to try again.

At the same time, Rose was thinking of their family too and just how nice it'd been having her dad back in their home. She wasn't naive. She knew it was all about to blow up again. She just hoped she wasn't around when it did.

"Mum?"

"Hmm?"

"If you don't want him to catch on, you're going to have to do better," Rose said seriously.

"Catch on to what?" Hermione asked, tilting her head with genuine confusion.

"You're seeing someone."

Her eyes widened.

How on earth did she figure it out? She'd been careful, or at least she thought she'd been.

"W-what makes you think that?"

Rose gave her mum a pointed look. Did she really think she was that stupid?

"You're not exactly discreet. You've been using perfume, there's lacy underwear in the wash that I didn't even know you owned, you've been disappearing at weird hours, and I found an empty potion bottle in the rubbish that isn't mine."

Hermione cursed herself silently. She'd underestimated Rose's curiosity and had failed to recognize that she was no longer a gullible ten year old.

"None of that means I'm dating," she said unwaveringly, a last ditch attempt to refute her daughter's claim.

Rose sighed. She was really hoping not to mention what else she'd observed.

"No, but the marks I saw on your collarbone do."

Hermione blushed furiously, feeling as though she could pass out from the embarrassment. She couldn't believe she failed to immediately cast a concealment charm after the last night she'd spent with Harry. She hadn't noticed them until mid morning the following day, and she naively thought she'd gotten away with no one seeing.

"Trying to think of a believable excuse?" Rose asked, looking at her expectantly.

Hermione was certain her face was now entirely red and she recoiled under the intense scrutiny from her daughter. It was mortifying, but there was no point denying it.

"I'm not getting into this with you," she said finally. There was authority in her tone as she tried to regain control of the situation. "You're my fourteen year old daughter."

"As if I want to talk about any of this with you either," Rose said with a hint of disgust. "I just thought you should know. Dad's a bit daft, but he's not blind."

Hermione knew she was right. If she was able to piece it together so quickly, it was only a matter of time before Ron did too.

"Let's say I was... seeing someone," Hermione said slowly, eyeing her daughter carefully. "What would you think about that?"

Rose knew the question was as close as her mum would get to admitting it.

"I'd think it was gross and weird," she answered with a crinkled nose. "You're my mum, you're not supposed to date."

"Right," said Hermione, feeling her stomach drop.

"I wish you and Dad were together," Rose continued after a beat. "But I suppose if that's not going to happen then I want you to be happy. Are you? Happy?"

"Yeah." Hermione gave her daughter a hesitant glance. "I am."

"Good," she said, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable. Emotions had never been her strong point.

"Hugo... does he know?" Hermione asked with a worried expression.

Rose shook her head and Hermione exhaled with relief.

"You can tell me if you're not okay with this... you know that, right?" Hermione asked, noticing her daughter's change in demeanor.

"I'm fine," Rose said as casually as she could muster, hoping she was convincing enough to shutdown any further probing. They'd shared enough for one day. "Do you think it would be okay if I went back to sleep? I was up half the night."

Hermione frowned, casting Rose an apprehensive glance.

"Alright, another hour in bed and then we have some back to school shopping to do."

"Thanks," Rose said with a small smile.

"Sweet dreams," Hermione said before turning off the light and leaving the bedroom.

Rose laid her head in the middle of her pillow, her wide blue eyes staring up at the ceiling. She thought of how her mum's budding relationship would shift everything, especially given who she suspected it was with. It was strange, picturing her mum with someone other than her dad, but no stranger than anything else that had happened over the last few months. Strange was starting to become familiar to her.

Rose exhaled loudly and turned on her side. She pulled her blankets up close to her neck and slowly closed her eyes, hoping she could turn off her mind long enough to sleep.

...

Hermione rushed to the front entrance, having just gotten out of the shower when she heard the doorbell ring. Her hair was damp and it bounced on her shoulders as she hurried down the stairs. When she opened the door, she felt the air sucked from her lungs.

"Ginny," she gasped with wide eyes. "Hi."

Ginny awkwardly stood on the front step with pursed lips, holding a tray of homemade treats. She looked tired, her red hair uncharacteristically pulled up into a tight bun and her normally bright face appeared dull and worn.

"I brought some baking for Rosie," she said rigidly.

"I see that." Hermione smiled weakly. "Come in."

As the two witches entered the kitchen, Hermione thought of how odd it felt to greet her sister in law at the door. Ginny normally would just Floo directly in whenever she visited. She wondered if Ginny had contemplated doing so before coming over.

"Rose is still sleeping," Hermione said, standing near the island. "I figured with all she's been through she's allowed to stay in bed until noon for these last few days of summer."

Ginny placed the treat basket on the marble countertop and stood fidgeting near the stove.

"Will she be well enough to go back to Hogwarts on September 1st?" she asked after a beat.

"It's still a bit up in the air, but it's looking promising," Hermione replied.

"Good."

An uncomfortable silence overtook the kitchen, and neither witch seemed to know what to say or do. Hermione was sure they were both thinking of same thing, that is, Harry.

"I should have check with you guys before coming," Ginny said after a moment. "I just figured Ron was going to be home and that you'd be at the Ministry."

Hermione grimaced. Had Ginny hoped she wouldn't have to see her at all?

"He had some errands to run so I'm home today," she explained.

"Right," Ginny said with a curt nod. "Well... I suppose I should go."

Hermione's heart sank. She didn't want things to be like this. She'd at least hoped they could remain friendly with one another. They had a lifetime of history after all.

"Wait," Hermione said quickly before Ginny could move to leave. "Would you like a cup of tea? Coffee?"

Ginny stared at her hard, her brows narrowed and her eyes piercing sharply at her.

"No," she said with pursed lips. "Thank you."

Hermione sighed.

"Can we just talk?" she asked, almost pleadingly.

"About what?"

"You know what about."

"Hermione," Ginny began with a low shaking voice. "You slept with my husband. From what I gather, you're still sleeping with him. There's nothing to talk about."

"I'm - "

"Do not say you're sorry," Ginny snapped viciously, her nostrils flaring. "Look, I came to see Rosie in the hospital because I'm her Aunt and I supported you because you're her mum. Our lives will always be connected because of the kids, and I will always put them first. I know you'll do the same. But you and I? We're done."

"Ginny - "

"What did you think, Hermione? That because Rose got hurt all would be forgiven? Everything that's happened this summer? You and Harry have no one to blame but yourselves. "

"You're right," Hermione agreed meekly, a wave of nausea suddenly striking her. She was losing Ginny for good, just as she feared.

Ginny sighed, and a glimmer near the corner of her eyes revealed several tears forming.

"It doesn't mean I hate you," she said in a softer tone. "You are annoyingly unhateable."

A sad smile appeared on Hermione's face.

"But it means we aren't friends?"

Ginny shrugged with a slight frown.

"I don't see how we can be, do you?"

"No, I don't," Hermione admitted.

"Ron's back home, I hear," Ginny said after a beat. "Mum's hopeful you'll reconcile."

Hermione could read between the lines. Ginny wanted to know if there was any chance she and Ron would get back together and that she'd end things with Harry.

"He's here for Rose, not me," she answered honestly.

Ginny raised her brow and gave Hermione a curious look.

"Does he know?" she asked. "About - "

"No," Hermione said quickly, not wanting to think about how Ron would react if and when he found out.

"Do us all a favor," Ginny said with gravity in her tone. "If it's just a fling... a midlife crisis you're getting out of your system. Don't tell him."

Hermione nodded slightly. Was it a fling?

"I should really go," Ginny said.

"I'm really going to miss you," Hermione whispered, her voice hitched.

"I'm going to miss you too," Ginny replied.

The fact that she sounded sincere shattered Hermione, and just like that, an almost thirty year friendship came to an end. It was painful, not as painful as the end of her marriage, but still enough to cut deep.

Hermione didn't move to escort Ginny to the door and when she heard it click shut, she allowed herself to slump over onto the counter. She stayed like that until she heard footsteps upstairs, signally that Rose was finally awake.

Hermione quickly wiped away her tears and stood up straight. She grabbed the tray of goodies that Ginny had brought over and placed them in the middle of the island. When Rose came downstairs she'd likely be hungry. Hermione, however, had lost her appetite.