*** For all those coming back to this fic after a long hiatus - Hi Welcome back -
I have edited this fic and rewritten it. If you are receiving a notification of a new chapter you may want to reread from the beginning as the story has changed though I would say it might take an hour or so for the changes to take effect as I have replaced the chapters in order. :)
Thanks for your support.
In the aftermath of war, the wounds may heal, but the scars remain forever.
2nd May 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Tom Marvolo Riddle took his final breath just after sunrise on the 2nd May 1998.
As he disintegrated into a writhing pile of blood and guts, a collective sigh of relief was breathed by the good. While his followers watched in horror as he dissolved into nothingness, and they remained trapped, tethered by their poor choices.
Ron had found it mildly entertaining to see just how fluid their loyalty was, how quickly they began to refute their ties to their so-called leader. The wild stories that sounded the crowd, pleas of innocence, of being forced to act under the imperious curse or threats to their families.
"Enough your lies will all come out in the end" Rose had shouted to the baying crowd. She had clicked her fingers producing a roll of parchment from thin air, the names appeared one by one and the scroll kept rolling. Faces dropped and silences stunned.
Ron watched as his father, brothers, former teachers and members of the order filtered forward, their first steps in this new world removing the masks of the death eaters who attempted to hide behind them. Ensuring their identities could be proven later should they escape.
Rose rolled the parchment up before handing it to Hermione to place in her bag with a whisper of "Keep it safe, please."
The resounding feeling of "What now" lay on their shoulders. Ron and Hermione found their way to Harry. Their trio reunited once more. Now safe on the other side of the war. It was an odd moment. Ron could feel many eyes watching as they clung to each other, each one in turn letting their emotions out but never letting go of each other, until they finally broke apart, wordless but happy. Others waited all around them with open happy arms. People Ron had never met began shaking his hand, kissing his cheek and thanking him and Hermione. Everyone wanted to touch Harry, to embrace the boy who lived, the one who had helped defeat the darkest wizard of their age.
Over the sea of people who crowded him, Ron watched as Rose attempted to hide behind his mother.
It was odd to watch the transformation in her. She had stood so proud and full of confidence a few moments before but had wilted under the expectation of people.
His mother touched Rose's face, shooing away people who stared at Rose in the same defensive way Ron had seen her do to those who stared at Harry. After a short whispered conversion, she had encouraged Rose to sit against a pile of debris. Several people danced around his mother, making a beeline for Rose, trying to shake her hand and embrace her the way they had Ron, Hermione and Harry. Seamus Finnegan got around her pseudo barrier first. Ron's mother had been distracted telling off an elderly witch who had made the grave mistake of making a little comment after being shooed away and received the full wrath of a protective Molly Weasley.
Seamus had meant no malice, he kissed her cheek, but Ron watched as Rose's eyes rolled back merging the timelines and causing tears to spring to her eyes, Seamus horrified at the impact his actions had quickly apologised whispering something in Rose's ear before walking away. Rose quickly drew her legs to her chest, white knuckle gripping her hair tightly. The gentle rocking appeared to be enough for the crowd around her to disappear.
The captured Death eaters were becoming desperate, Lucius Malfoy had whispered something in his father's ear. All pretence of higher standing in their society was gone, his eyes instead pleading for mercy. His father had instead smiled and clapped a hand on Lucius's shoulder before loudly saying, "To watch what is about to happen to you Lucius… there is no price I could put on it… and just when I thought your family could sink no lower…" Ron would later hear that Lucius had offered 10,000 Galleons for his release and the same for that of his son and wife.
The battle had ended so quickly no one really had time to process the win. On reflecting on the aftermath later that evening Ron would have just said it had been a blur.
The Aurors had arrived an hour after Tom Riddle's death, much to the disgust ofany people present, who all shared the thought how can something so important and time sensitive have such a slow response, the death eaters arrested one by one still in Rose's shackles and chains, transported to the various locations within the Ministry.
Ron's dad had mentioned that it had to be the biggest mass arrest in the history of the ministry.
Narcissa Malfoy threatened legal action against those who led her to her fate. Lucius' jaw twitched as he clenched it tightly but held his head high. Draco looked to Rose with tears in his eyes. "Rose, please… tell them… I didn't do anything wrong."
Ron couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. He had involved himself in things that were bigger than he was capable of dealing with. But the pang quickly disappated when he remembered there was a timeline that Ron was looking at the person who had killed the love of his life and stolen his child.
Rose however looked distraught as she watched him being pulled away in shackles before her eyes widened like a startled fox.
She shouted "protego" raising the elder wand in front of her. Ron felt the whoosh of a stunning spell being deflected into the sky.
"Why is no one securing her…" Someone had shouted from within a nearby group of Aurors. An angry man stomped forward, Ron stepped into his path. He pointed his wand in Ron's face digging the tip into his cheek before hissing "Get the fuck out of the way kid, don't you know who she is."
Ron grabbed the end of the wand removing it from his skin feeling the wood scratching a gash into it.
"She's the one who caught them…" Ron spat back. A fist impacted the side of Ron's face, suddenly there was a commotion as Ron was thrown to the ground. He heard shouting from somewhere within the crowd, his mother and Hermione's voices mingled together screaming "Leave her alone, she's pregnant"
Looking up he spotted Rose on the ground being helped up by Hermione and his mum and Fred and Bill pinning the man to the ground.
"Proudfoot, stand down." the booming voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt "She is one of us."
The man who Ron deduced to be Proudfoot stumbled to his feet, looking around angrily as Bill and Fred released their grip, "She was his whore…" he poked his finger into Kingsley's chest. There was a sudden influx of noises all around as the chains around the various remaining death eaters vanished and one by one the remaining Death Eaters chose their attempt at escape.
Some stupidly tried to grab a wand from the pile in the middle of the courtyard, receiving stunning charms to the face and chest as prizes.
Many chose to run without their wands; however, they were quickly rounded up and detained again, with a few body bind charms and stunning spells.
"See she was letting them go…" Proudfoot spat as his colleagues raced around him to undo the damage.
Kingsley grabbed the front of Proudfoot's robes. "Have you ever tried to focus on a spell when you've have just been tackled to the floor, pull yourself together man and stay away from her… I will be writing you up on this…"
"She's having his child" Proudfoot spat looking at Rose as though she was something he had stood in. "He isn't gone until that thing is dead…"
Kingsley had clearly lost his patience now. "She is the reason you aren't kneeling at his feet right now, pleading for your life, and that child is innocent. Regardless of who its father is. Like I said I will be writing you up for this so choose your next steps carefully." Kingsleys finger was planted firmly on Proudfoot's chest. He skulked away finding another of his colleagues and helping to arrest and process a small dark haired death eater.
Their whispered conversation and constant looks back at Rose made Ron uncomfortable.
As the Auror's filtered in and out of the castle, Healers from St Mungos had descended, healing the wounded and removing the dead.
Rose had shunned the offer to be taken to be checked over despite pleading from various members of the family but agreed instead to visit St Mungo's in the coming days. Harry had done the same, insisting he was fine despite having been declared dead mere hours earlier.
Parents arrived intermittently to take away the students who had remained in the battle and in a unanimous vote the members of the Order, the remaining teachers of Hogwarts, the Aurors and the available ministry officials appointed Kingsley Shacklebolt the acting Minister for Magic until an official vote could be done on the days following the battle.
The sun was reaching the highest point in the sky as the press arrived, demanding answers, and flurries of non-consenting candid pictures were taken.
The click of heels and the red nails on Rose's shoulders had been the final straw for Ron. Rita Skeeter with her horn-rimmed glasses appeared from nowhere "How do you feel knowing your husband is dead and rumour has it it was by your hand?"
"He was a murdering psychopath…" Ron had gotten out before Rose had dragged the beady-eyed bitches hand from her.
"He got what he deserved." Rose retorted with a chuckle at the blonde witch who was closely followed by her quick quotes quill. Rose quickly turned and walked away
"Oh dear, not very friendly for the supposed saviour of our world… tell me dear… what will you do when your child asks about his father…" Her voice elevated as Rose strode further from her.
Ron watched as Rose cracked, with a clenched fist, she turned on her heels making a beeline for Skeeter. "You know what Rita… I'll give you an exclusive story… Tom Riddle isn't her father… He was impotent as a mealworm, our marriage never consummated, and in case you are too fucking stupid to know what that means it means we never had sex… Feel free to put that in your rag… Lord fucking Voldemort… The Virgin… front fucking page if you wish… scum like you only care about shit like that, am I right. Not the people who died here today fighting for what was right… I'm sure your readers will be dying to know whose sperm made my child and not that the Dark Lord is actually dead with no risk of him ever coming back this time… you fucking cu…"
"Never in my life have I seen or heard such a disgusting display…"
Rita stood before Rose with her eyes gleaming, she itched to enquire further but the sudden arrival of a very angry Professor McGonagall stopped her in her tracks.
"I'm sorry Professor…" Rose stood her eyes towards the ground.
"Oh heavens, not you my dear, you have every right to be angry… but you…" McGonagall turned her anger to Skeeter, who appeared to be shrinking as the venom flowed from the newly appointed headmistress. "Have you no shame Rita… People have died here today, children have died here today. Not a single person stood before you is not mourning someone lost to this war and you come here asking for gossip for the embarrassment of a paper you serve like some worn out fishwife… where is your compassion, where is your respect for the fallen and those who have fought to bring justice for the good" McGonagall's eyes narrowed as she unleashed her fury and while it would have been entertaining to witness the group knew it was time to leave. The older woman placed a hand on Rose's arm. Whispering something in her ear before gently turning her towards Ron and Hermione.
They could still hear the Scottish twang as they escaped the chaos gathering as a four beside the black lake.
Hermione leaned against Ron's chest, feeling her gentle breathing, Ron allowed himself a moment of peace and tranquillity. They watched the calmness of the water, and the warm breeze on the air. Had it not been for the rubble and piles of broken castles around them they could have been forgiven for forgetting the events of the last 48 hours.
"What do we do now?" Harry asked the question that played on all their minds.
"Jean and Henry need to know we are all alive…" Rose whispered, staring ahead, she wrapped her arms around her legs. She was pale, her freckles the only colour on her face. "They will be worried…" She twitched slightly as she sat.
Ron felt the pit in his stomach reappear. She was right they would be worried, they would have had almost a day of no contact. He wondered if his mother or father would have thought to let them know what was going on.
"I would send word but I don't know where Muriel's is to send my Patronus." Hermione sat forward placing a hand on Rose's back. She jolted at the touch but remained stationary.
"I'll send it…" said Ron, and as the little terrier disappeared off into the horizon.
Rose sighed heavily again. Ron's mind followed the small dog into the distance before returning with a crash. Rose twisted the elder wand in her hands before abruptly turning to Harry, "Do you still have the bits of your wand?"
Harry reached into his pocket pulling the pieces out like a relic. He gestured to hand them to her, but with a swish of the Elder wand they returned to their proper places. As the pieces welded together, a white light surrounded Harry like the first time he had held the wand in Ollivanders. Ron watched as Harry smiled in thanks.
Rose then threw the Elder wand over with to Harry. He furrowed his brow opening his mouth to question her, "It will be safer with you…"
"But…" Harry began
"Trust me, and besides I don't need it... it will be safer with you."
Harry took it appearing to think for a moment before saying "I saw your Dad you know"
Ron felt his heart skip a beat.
Rose looked as though she was about to be sick. "What."
"When I "died" I saw him in the white room you were talking about and he was there."
There was an expectant silence, Ron's heart beat uncomfortably in his chest, Harry however returned to watching the lake with a peaceful expression.
"... and…" Ron pressed eventually.
"... and what…" Harry furrowed his brow.
"And what the hell happened?" Rose demanded.
"Oh, he told me that it wasn't my time, that I should look after you if we made it through then your mum came through one of the panels, they started…" Harry screwed up his face "well they were making up for lost time and told me to bugger off before they left and I woke up."
"What do you mean he left he was stuck…"
"Like I said your mum came through and brought him back through the door she came through." Harry spoke so nonchalantly it was obvious he didn't quite recognise the magnitude of what it was he was saying.
She stared looking for the lie, and Ron felt his heart soaring for the briefest moment he saw happiness on her face. "That's great right…" He said the words before he registered what her face was really saying. Grief filtered through like water in a parched lake, but nothing leaked through. The painted smile returned, a mask to hide what was really going on.
They heard footsteps approaching before another word was said. They turned to find Molly Weasley standing behind them. "I'm sorry to interrupt but there is a ministry official who wishes to speak with you, Rose."
Rose reabsorbed her grief as though she were a sponge, the threatened sadness was replaced by a small smile. It never left her eyes though, as she stood to follow her eyes were the bluest Ron had ever seen.
There is no time to grieve for my dad, I wish there was because I really only need a few minutes of peace just enough to say goodbye in my own way. Since the moment he took his last breath in my arms, I have never really felt alone, even when I have felt trapped I have always felt the presence of something there, after knowing he was in the white room, it is clear that he was there with me the whole time. But now despite being surrounded by more people than I have ever had before I feel more alone than I have ever felt.
I follow my grandmother closely as she leads me to a small classroom that I do not recognise. The bookshelves have fallen from the walls, and the desks and chairs are covered in a thin layer of dust and debris. Overall the room looks almost untouched by the battle that had raged moments before.
A man in a dark formal robe and a woman with straight blonde hair and an elegant pantsuit sit behind the desk. I know him. I don't know how but his presence sets me on edge. I feel my heart rate increasing rapidly. He reads his scroll not looking up as we enter or approach, the woman on the other hand smiles a genuine smile and raises from her seat as I approach, my grandmother standing behind me.
She offers her hand, I take it without thinking. A fragment of a possible timeline buzzes before my eyes, she runs from masked men, clutching a small boy to her chest. Terror and tears were her fate. He is ripped from her screaming for his mother. She lets go of my hand and her smile drops. She observes my face with confusion, she knows I have seen but says nothing.
The man ignores the interaction. Not offering his hand or looking up. He places his scroll the the side of the desk as he speaks, "Mrs Riddle… what a pleasure to finally meet you."
I clear my throat, "It's Weasley…"
He looks up now, one eyebrow raised. "But you are… sorry you were married to the Dark Lord himself. Tom Marvolo Riddle… is that correct?"
I feel my heart rate increasing again, the room feels smaller somehow. Stuffy and claustrophobic. He gestures for me to sit, summoning a chair for my grandmother who places her hand on my upper arm rubbing subconsciously. It takes my attention for a moment, she used to do it when I was small, we would sit together on the sofa, or on a picnic blanket in the orchard. She smiles at me, asking if I am ok, I can't help but watch her as the concern builds for me. I feel as though my voice has been stolen from me. I know consciously that she is not my grandmother but…
"Is that correct Mrs Riddle?" The man breaks my daze.
"Sorry," I respond. "Yes … I was … married to him, not by choice though."
"One doesn't often get married without wanting it…" The man's eyes flashed with a streak of something I couldn't quite read. I've seen them before.
"He can be very persuasive…" I say quietly. I feel my jaw clenching painfully as the man watches me with an arrogant smirk.
"I doubt that anyone can be that persuasive…" His eyes darken and his fist clenches very slightly.
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt" My grandmother interrupts. "But we haven't been given a lot of context behind this meeting, would you mind telling me who are you and what do you want with my granddaughter."
The word "granddaughter" caught me off guard. I let out a small squeak, she read my mind tears bubbling in her eyes. A hand gripped mine before I could stop it, and we were treated to a memory of baking Cherry Bakewells on mother's day with James and Albus. I feel the warmth of the laughter in my chest and as a pair of piercing green eyes smile at me I rip my hand from hers as guilt suddenly destroys the shred of happiness the memory held, he had looked at me the same as he took his final breath.
The man and woman look at us, I can feel them as she apologetically looks at my hand, a few tears escaping her eyes.
"Well that was weird…" The man chuckles. "... anyway I am Richard Themis and this is…" In my head I chuckle, Richard… Dick sounds about right.
"Jenny Lees." Jenny looks at Dick with utter disdain before continuing. "We work within the Department of Mysteries, we have actually been tracking you for a substantial amount of time now…"
"Yes… it's interesting to see the person behind all the anomalies in our timeline, you have no idea howuch paperwork you have caused me you little bit… sneak." Dick shuffled his paperwork before plonking his feet on the desk and pushing the legs of the chair backwards so he balanced precariously.
All my flags are waving, every alarm bell I hold is going off. I feel the pieces of the puzzle of how I know him fall into place. I know he is one of the thousands of faces that haunt my nightmares. But which one still evades me… it's like trying to catch fog.
"Let's keep this short Rosie… we aren't here for afternoon tea afterall" He slams himself back to earth with a clatter of the chair legs.
"Don't call me Rosie…" It slips out before I can stop it. He doesn't like the tone. He looks at me with a forced smile. He isn't accustomed to being spoken to like that by a woman, the look on his face says it all.
"Well Rosie, you aren't getting away with this scotfree." He takes the scroll and places it infront of me on the desk. "You are being charged with tampering with the timelines, various murders, being a filthy fucking death eater,"
Granny gasps in shock. "Excuse me, mind your tongue…"
Dickhead raises his eyebrows, "...not to mention all the people you have deleted from existence along the way… do you have any idea how many babies you have prevented being born… so much paperwork… and that is just the tip of a rather large iceberg for you little lady."
Eyes are the windows to the soul, his in this moment are black. They bore into me, trying to find my weakness, feeding on it like a dementor.
"Surely not…" I feel my grandmother's hand tighten on my leg. Her grip morphs from reassuring and gentle to tense and disbelieving. I knew this was going to happen, Dumbledore warned me all along they would come for me. I maybe should have warned them. "Rose… can't be charged with anything… she hasn't done anything wrong."
I look to my grandmother, as though to find the words to reassure her that I knew this was coming but I can't find the right way to say it. Before I can open my mouth, Dick has moved, like a viper ceasing his chance, he grabs my wrist and I hear the clink of metal as something shuts over them.
The world becomes deathly silent all around me and suddenly I'm back there again, I'm trapped in that room. I can't breathe. Metal cuffs. Thick and heavy with an ornate "M" over the clasp. They hiss as they connect to my skin. I can feel the magic in my veins bubbling against them.
"These bad boys are the equivalent of prison for you. We have limited cells at the minute while we process the rest of your lot." Richard has a sickening smile as he surveys me. I am trying to control my face, to not give him anything he can take pleasure from but I can't fucking breathe.
Jenny coughs pointedly before interrupting kindly. "We also have taken your situation into account, with regards to your pregnancy, neither the holding cells nor Azkaban is somewhere that is known for its maternity services. In any case, it was deemed that this was the best option, they are enchanted manacles, they suppress your magic, and track your movements they are merely a formality until your trial. From our intelligence we know you have done a lot of good for our cause… that will likely be taken into consideration by the Wizengamot. However, I would advise you to speak to a lawyer."
I want to answer her, I want to shout and scream but I can't move.
Jenny furrows her brows, "Ms Weasley, are you ok?"
I take a breath, it's deep and sharp and dramatic. But the cuffs gripping my wrists hurt they are tight and uncomfortable. I feel my magic being held to the point of pain. Granny rubs my back. "Deep breath Rose, it will be ok… just a formality." She is trying to convince herself as much as she is trying to convince me.
Richard smiles at me. Smiles in a way I have seen far too many times before. He strokes the metal that binds me checking the latch but his finger grazes my wrist, his eyes bring a memory to the front of my mind, of the dragon tattoo that snakes up his thigh, the feeling of his hands around my throat… his fist impacting with my chin… trying not to scream with a broken jaw, his knife on my skin... the bruises he left, the hundreds of times he visited me. I can feel the bile rising in my stomach finding a bin quickly. Romi senses my stress, she kicks frantically, as I feel a pop of water.
The smell of cinnamon is exactly what I need right now. Granny rubs my back as I dry heave into a nearby waste paper basket. She cleans up the water at my feet with a wave of her wand.
She senses my need to escape, "You will forgive us for taking leave so quickly, we need to have Rose seen at St Mungo's…" Her arm around me she ushers me from the room. As we leave the room, there's commotion around me but nothing else registers, she's far too small to come now. But in the noise, I hear my grandmother speak the confirmation of my worst fears. "Her water has broken…"
It's too soon, too much, everyone I love dies eventually. Why had I thought she was any different? Maybe I will die with her...
2nd May 18:00
Holding Cell Ministry For Magic
Sirius's fists hammered on the door. It had been hours since he had woken in the tiny cell. Alone with no news his mind raced, he had never felt more hopeless. A small part of his mind told him that no news had to be good news, no news could only mean that neither side had won yet. Or it could mean that everyone was dead and there was nothing left to fight for.
So he focused on what he did know. Rose was with Ron and Hermione, she was in the midst of the battle, and Pup was currently safe.
"OI is anyone there?" He screamed, his voice hoarse from shouting. Nothing came, not even a notion of movement. Maybe everyone was dead and he would be stuck here forever.
Sirius sat heavily on the hard bed, banging the back of his head against the wall behind him. He had been in this position before, and the circumstances then were just as heartbreaking, he had sworn he would never be back in this position, he would never let them catch him. But yet here he was.
The feeling of impending doom never changed no matter the circumstances. But it wasn't the thought of returning to Azkaban that scared Sirius most now. Remus had once spoken about a muggle scientist, who put a cat in a box and sealed it in with something that would eventually render it dead. At this moment for him Harry and Rose were both simultaneously dead and alive, the grief of their death, the grief that they may need him as they both had so many times since his death and the minute possibility that they may meet again, be a real family, was all-consuming.
Footsteps broke his thoughts, "HEY, HEY! Can you hear me?!" He ran to the door, banging and screaming. Dozens of footsteps filled the hallway, and cries of "Please you have to understand…" and "I'm innocent" followed. He watched through the thin slit in the door as hoards of known death eaters marched past his cell … in handcuffs.
A spark ignited within him. If they were being arrested then that could only mean one thing.
"Please have mercy… I didn't mean to… you have no idea the power he held…" The voice that haunted him echoed from the far end of the halls and Sirius watched as Peter Pettigrew was pulled past him.
"I thought you were dead Peter…" Sirius said loud enough for him to hear.
Peter and the Auror holding him stopped in search of where the voice came from, on meeting Sirius's eyes his pale rattish face sunk further. He stuttered in disbelief, "B-but b-but you w-were, you, w-w-w-were dead… Bellatrix she…"
"Do you honestly think my stupid cousin could kill me, Peter?"
Peter stammered and stuttered for a moment almost silent in his fear, before the Auror pulled the rat away.
Footsteps approached again, and a prisoner holding a black bag over his head was pushed in the direction of Sirius's cell.
"Move back, Black… don't make me tell you twice." A thick voice said loudly as the heavy door creaked open.
"Finally," said Sirius, "can someone tell me what is going on." He moved forward immediately before being bustled out of the way.
"I'm not here for you, you will need to wait a little longer. Unfortunately, you've got a new cellmate… Try not to kill each other, the amount of paperwork I've already got to do after this shit… I'll make sure you are scrubbing toilets for the next 6 months if you try any nonsense."
Another man was thrust into the cell in front of Sirius. The bag was removed from his head quickly and the door behind him slammed shut.
Sirius felt his blood run cold as the blonde man stood taking in his surroundings. If there was one person Sirius would both pay to be locked in a room with and at the same time want to avoid it at all costs it would be Lucius Malfoy. Yet here he was, living both a lucid dream and a waking nightmare.
"What are you staring at?" Lucius spat at Sirius.
A dickless cretin, was what Sirius had wanted to say, instead he changed his response just before it slipped from him. "Death Eater scum…"
"How dare you speak to me like that, do you know who I am?" He approached Sirius, almost reaching him before stopping suddenly. "Well, well, I did not expect to be seeing you again, Black."
Sirius felt his fist curling, the smirk that crept over his face was the same as all the times that Rose's screams had echoed in his mind, the sight of his hands on her, touching, tainting, invading her body in her darkest moments.
"Tightly wound tonight aren't we Black… wouldn't have anything to do with your Godson's death." The anger within Sirius was extinguished with the cold water of reality that Malfoy had poured over his head. Harry was dead… it wasn't possible, Sirius couldn't control his face, the grief consumed him in a way it had only done once before, when he had found his best friend, his chosen brother, lying lifeless on the stairs that Halloween night, so many years ago.
"Ahh, I see you haven't been informed…" A smug grin spread over Lucius Malfoy's face. "Well, I must say you would have been proud of the silly little boy, charged to his death like his simple father. Thinking he could right all the wrongs in the world."
The bile rose in Sirius's throat before he could stop it. As he found himself bringing up the nothingness that remained in his stomach he heard a tusking coming from behind him.
Malfoy walked over to the second bed that had appeared in the room and took a seat. "You would have thought being brought up in a prestigious house such as the house of Black you would have acquired some of the manners you were taught…"
"Shut the fuck up…" Sirius choked out, dry heaving the rest of his emotions.
"Oh dear, not very friendly are we?" Lucius spat back.
I'll show you not friendly. The little voice in Sirius' mind schemed. Visions of strangling him, filled his mind and he shook them away with ridiculous levels of control. He wanted nothing more but he needed more information.
"So why are you here then if Harry is… dead. Surely that would mean your lot had won." Sirius voice broke as he spoke the words.
"Wouldn't you like to know…" Lucius smirked.
Sirius's fists clenched and he tried to breathe the building hatred in his chest away.
"We were betrayed," Lucius offered. Sirius knew he shouldn't take the bait. But he had after all asked the question.
"Betrayed, by who…" Sirius demanded.
"The dark lord's whore…" Lucius answered with venom. Sirius stilled, he couldn't mean Rose. "His own wife murdered him in cold blood."
Pride swelled in Sirius'chest A smile crept onto his face. He quickly tried to cough it away."Really.." He tried to remain nonchalant. But the air changed.
"You know her?" A spark flashed in Lucius's eyes. Sirius felt his jaw clenching, he tried to hide it but Malfoy had seen. A malicious smile spread. "You do know her don't you, I can see it written on your face…"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Sirius imagined the feeling of his hands constricting the air flow to Malfoy's vile mouth. To bash his skull off the hard floor over and over until it cracked. If he wanted to get out of here, to see her again he couldn't react.
"Quite the screamer isn't she…" he inspected his nails. "Likes to play… rough… our little thorn." The red mist descended, and Sirius could feel his pulse in his neck. "She took it like a champ when I put that baby in her belly."
It played before Sirius like a photograph, her humiliation, her pain. Sirius found himself dragging the cretin to the floor allowing his fists to play out the fantasies his mind had conjured moments before. The sickening snap as Sirius broke one of the fingers that had caressed her. Exhilaration as he The blackened eyes that had viewed what was not his.
As Sirius' fist impacted with the pale smug face below him, a smile spread like the blood on his top lip, and Sirius realised he had played into Malfoy's plan.
"Guard… danger… help…"
The door burst open, and with an exasperated sigh "Petrificus Totalus" his arms snapping to their sides paralysing him.
"He attacked me… " Malfoy feigned fainting, his hand dramatically placed on his forehead before being escorted from the room.
"Silly move Black… Silly, silly move." The guard scoffed.
As the door shut once more the full body bind fell from him, and Sirius let out a scream of anguish.
The Burrow
2nd May 1998 - 18:30 pm.
Eleven months ago she had stumbled into his view on this dirt road path. Their lives had changed so much since that day, they had changed so much because of that day but as they landed hand in hand, Ron felt the summer breeze on his face, smelled the fresh country air and stood staring at his childhood home. They had done it.
Ron's father, Fred and Bill had returned home to check on the house before relieving Hermione's parents of Aunt Muriel's torment. The Patronus confirming they were all clear to head home was welcome at that point, there was nothing more they could do to help with the clean up of the castle and both Ron and Hermione were desperate to return home to their daughter.
Hermione's arm slid around Ron's middle as she held him close. "Welcome home…" she whispered. He felt a lump appear in his throat, shaking it away as he held her close they approached the little gate to the garden.
A streak of orange darted in front of them, stopping at Hermione's feet. The thing was the size of a small dog but had the bluest eyes either of them had ever seen.
It stared at Hermione intently, sniffing the air desperately before narrowing his eyes and darting off into the bushes.
"What the hell was that." Ron asked.
"I think that's Rose's cat."
"That was a cat? Bloody hell you could put a saddle on it and ride it across that field, come on. Let's get in"
With a few more steps they reached the door, Hermione dropped her arms from his waist and took Ron's hand tightly. They opened the door together and Ron basked in the familiar creak of the hinges, the smell of home baking permeated the air alongside a loud gasp
"You're home!" Arms flew from nowhere tangling both Ron and Hermione in a vice-like grip. Jean had raced to the door throwing herself at them. Ron smiled as they were pulled together by the sobbing woman between their shoulders. He struggled to keep his composure, patting the backs of the two women who clung to him, breathing deeply, pressing his face to Hermione's hair, that was until he recognised what Jean had been chanting… "You're safe… you're both safe."
That was the moment the magnitude of what they had been through hit. It hit Ron with a force that Ron could only compare to how it would be to fall from the tallest point of the Astronomy Tower. His breath left him, and despite how hard he was trying he couldn't bring himself back. Hermione pulled herself from him and he caught a glimpse of her face, pale white with red eyes she spoke but he heard nothing.
Every year for the last seven years it had been event after event, death after death, fear, panic, near-death experiences, pain upon pain, impossible tasks, more death and destruction, following orders blindly, hoping and praying for the best outcome all the while knowing one of the people who were his everything might die at any moment. It had built to a moment that had now been, gone and passed. They were in the after, but what does "After" entail?
They can't just return to normal because normal is what was before… now what were they supposed to do?
Ron felt himself sinking to the ground, his chest hurt, his heart constricting like the brains had on his arms, it wouldn't beat, he couldn't breathe, his mouth was dry as sand, his tongue felt huge in his mouth, he couldn't swallow… why couldn't he breathe.
Hermione's hands cupped his face, she was speaking to him but he couldn't hear the words… the world spun around him in a deafening silence.
Leaning his head back he caught her terrified look, "... can't…breathe" It had been too much, Riddle might be dead but there would surely be Deatheaters left, what if they came for Hermione and Rose… he had forgotten about Rose…
"Rose…"
Where was she… what if they had taken her? He felt the sickening slide of the knife on his throat, the warm blood on his neck, and the look on Lucius Malfoy's face. The fear…
He felt a strong hand on his shoulder, Henry was crouched beside him holding Rosie in his arms.
Henry spoke gentle words Ron couldn't hear. Hermione took their daughter in her arms, before moving to the spot in between Ron's knees, curling herself against his chest their daughter facing him Ron felt himself instinctively wrapping his arms around them both pulling her into him.
They were safe, they were all safe. Here and now. Releasing Hermione slightly, his hand found his way to the little girl all of this was for. Her fist clenched around his finger as he rubbed it and she watched him with an air of concern before bursting into the biggest smile.
Her brilliant laughter broke the silence of the world.
A smile broke on his face and with the laughter she always brought from him the smallest breath hit his lungs with the smell of cinnamon. Cinnamon was home. The home was safe. The home was happy. They were home.
The sound returned to the world and a wave of embarrassment came with it.
His muscles unclenched, his heart began to beat again and the intensity of the moment ebbed, leaving him feeling dizzy with the rapidly changing emotions within him.
"You ok now?" Hermione whispered her free hand rubbing his cheek.
Before he could answer a shrill meow echoed the room. Crookshanks made his presence known, the flat-faced ginger cat approached them with a distinct air of superiority, he was fatter than he had been before they left, he stopped just short of reaching them observing their trio with an air of "Where the fuck have you been." If he had a voice Ron would imagine Crookshanks' shrill tone would rival even that of Professor McGonagall.
Hermione let out a small squeal "Crookshanks come here." Ron took Rose from her as she motioned for the cat to approach her. He climbed under Ron's leg finding the new space in Hermione's arms accepting the tight embrace of his owner, his face softening slightly. Rose let out a squeal of excitement at the presence of something new.
"Oh Rosie, this is Crookshanks he's your cat." She blubbed bringing the ginger fluff ball towards Rose who immediately grabbed his ear. As Hermione gently tried to prise the little hand away with whispers of "gentle, gentle." Crookshanks looked at Ron. His face was one of an angry parent and for a moment Ron could hear him chastising "This is your fault…" It made Ron chuckle and as he reached to stroke the head of the grumpy cat he accepted the touch, the ill feeling between them dissipating.
"Still look like a pig with hair if you ask me."
St. Mungo's Hospital
Rose had been almost catatonic when they arrived at St. Mungos. Molly might as well have been speaking to the walls for all the good her company was doing to the girl.
Healer Jeanie had been Molly's maternity healer for most of her pregnancies, on arrival at St Mungo's Rose had been swamped by journalists. Jeanie had seen them, recognising Molly, pulled them into a side room, charmed the doors for privacy and took all the details needed.
Rose stared at the walls, answering questions only when prompted and Molly gave the little information she knew. On disclosing the circumstances behind how she became pregnant, and the hell scape where she had been held during her life further tests became necessary to ensure evidence was collected correctly.
A privacy screen was erected, around the bed. Molly had allowed herself a moment of that time to break silently as she heard the horrific details of her granddaughters' life. It was the numbers that really struck Molly and an unwarranted sob left her and a small hand reached through the curtain. "I survived Granny, don't be sad." Rose was comfirting her in a moment that she jerswlf needed the comfort. Molly took it, squeezing with all the force that she could muster. She should have protected her from that. Rose, as though reading her mind allowed a memory to filter through, the warmest hug and her own voice holding back tears. "Over my dead body will you ever go back there again." before the last moments of another life filled her mind. "You will not touch my grandchildren, you bitch." She had stared at Bellatrix Lestrange as she loomed in the doorway.
Rose pulled her hand away quickly, "Sorry"
Photographs were taken of old wounds and scars, before being squirrelled into a dark box. When the curtain was pulled back Molly gasped. The glamours removed left sitting before her a broken shell of a being. Scars littered her face, bruising encircled her eye, her eyeball red and trauma beaten. The notes Jeanie had taken were extensive and Rose had returned to her catatonia, not acknowledging Molly's presence.
"It's ok, she's in shock… she's been through a lot…" Jeanie whispered.
"Ok, so I'm going to do an ultrasound and run some diagnostic testing is that OK Rose?"
She didn't speak, merely nodding her head slightly.
With a whisper of the spells, a small face appeared in front of them. Molly placed her hand to her mouth. A precious face, round and plump, a thumb found her mouth. She felt her heart swell with love.
"Oh, beautiful… let me just take a few measurements." Jeanie smiled tapping her wand on the image. Her brow furrowed quickly "When did you say you became pregnant Rose."
"The 3rd December…"
With a few more taps, Jeanie sighed. "Rose, you are almost 8 and a half months pregnant… it's not possible for your date of conception to be December, is it possible that you have the dates wrong."
The statement snapped her from her daze, Rose's forehead furrowed. "No"
"No…?"
"You're wrong. I have only slept with one person …" She shook her head slightly… "two people in the last 6 months."
"And before that?"
"No"
"No..?"
"Rose," Molly spoke quietly. "If there is someone else no one will judge you…"
The look on her face was that of utter betrayal. "The last person I slept with before being made to sleep with Draco Malfoy was Sirius… and he died two years ago, Granny."
"Who was the second person?" Molly asked.
"Lucius Malfoy" Molly had tried to hide her horror. "It wasn't like it was my choice…"
Healer Jeanie placed her quill down on the small table at the end of Rose's bed. "You didn't tell me about that while I was doing the checks Rose… that's important information… we need to go over the details and make sure my report is full and correct for the Wizengamot"
"Look, as much as I appreciate the grilling you are giving me I came here to help my daughter," Rose demanded, "Are you going to help her or not?"
Jeanie crossed her arms, "You are past viability Rose, you need to be prepared that she may come any day in the next three weeks."
"Our test's aren't wrong Rose."
"Look I don't care what your test has to say, if I could do the diagnostic myself I would show you… but I can't." She brandished the bracelets on her arms wildly. "My water has broken, I'm 6 months pregnant and I need her to stay put for another 3 months. I'm not stupid I know there are risks to her water going so early… I can't have her die too…"
Molly squeezed her knee. "Calm down, stress isn't good for the baby…"
Rose laughed before placing her hands over her eyes. "Oh really, Stress isn't good for the baby…" She mocked reminding Molly of her father.
"Jeanie, could a time turner affect the baby by any chance, say for example if someone used it during pregnancy… could it make the baby grow faster."
"I haven't used the time turner since I've been pregnant." Rose was becoming distressed now. "Look can you help me or not…"
Jeanie stepped forward touching her arm, and Molly watched as Rose snapped "Don't touch me."
"Rose…" Molly chastised
"No, I've had enough of being prodded and poked. I just want to go…"
"But if I can just..." Jeanie stumbled for the words.
"No, I don't consent to anything else, if you won't help me I'll sort this myself. I just want to go, if you won't listen to me I will deal with it myself."
"Please …"
"How many times do I have to tell you. I want to go, I don't give a fuck where I just need to be away from here!" Her face was red now. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Jeanie nodded, "Can I have a quick word, Molly?"
They left the room closing the door behind them. Journalists still hovered but were quickly shooed away by Jeanie.
"Molly I have been with you through almost all of your pregnancies" Her hand touched Molly's arm. "At this point, I would consider you more of a friend than a patient and I would hope that you would trust my knowledge."
"Of course, I trust you…"
"That baby will arrive within the next two weeks…" Jeanie said bluntly.
"But…"
"Molly, there is no possibility she is only 6 months pregnant. I don't know what she is hiding..."
"I don't think she is lying though…"
"I hate to suggest this…" the healer momentarily looked away, "perhaps things have happened that she doesn't know about… she spoke about using sleeping potions previously."
"Surely you can just do the spell…" Molly huffed.
"She has withdrawn consent Molly… convincing her of what was right in front of her, to show her how far along she is, isn't worth my licence unfortunately."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Try to get more information, keep her calm… try to do the charm yourself?" Jeanie said with a raised eyebrow.
Walking down the corridor, I should have been breathing a sigh of relief to be out of there, but the reality was that my child was either coming or dying and no one cared. No one was taking it seriously and it hurt. After everything I have done for everyone else, the moment I ask for help I'm made to be a liar, the feeling of hopelessness was suffocating.
"Well hello my dear, so lovely to see you again."
His voice cut through my daze turning my reality into a nightmare. There he was… once again like a ghost, a demon… stalking towards me in the corridor. "Why are you…"
"You should know by now Little Thorn, Malfoy men always get what they want and I know who I want." He looked me up and down, his hand reaching for my stomach. Romi. He had had his fun with me, now he wanted her. Over my cold dead body.
"She is not a possession." My grandmother stood in front of me, shielding me from his touch. He inhaled through his nose and grimaced as though inhaling some terrible odour before withdrawing his hand.
"We are not talking about the same person… Molly is it." He looked down his nose at her, "In any case, I do not have time to chat, I have a wife and a son to get home to. We will meet again Little Thorn."
The Burrow
With a soft pop, they arrived outside the gate of the Burrow.
It had only been a few days since she had last crossed the threshold of her little home but Molly was grateful to be back. To be on the side of safety. The other side of a now-won war. Her hand reached for the door handle but she stopped at the sound of laughter within the house. It had been so long since there had been laughter.
"Can someone explain to me what this is?"
"That's a baby Charlie." Arthur chuckled.
"Well, how the hell did I end up with it."
"Ey, my daughter is not an IT, give her back if you don't want her" Ron said hot-headedly.
"Chill out little bro, I never said I didn't want her… just letting her get to know her favourite Uncle."
"I think you will find that's me." Molly smiled at the sound of Harry's voice.
The murmur of conversation continued as more people spoke. She turned with a smile to ready Rose for the rabble but stopped seeing Rose staring around the garden. Before she could breathe another breath a flash of orange darted from the bushes launching itself at Rose. She cupped her arms allowing smudge to climb onto her shoulders.
The smile returned to her face as she nuzzled the enormous cat.
"Ready?" Molly asked.
"As I'll ever be…"
The Burrow
3rd May 1998 3:30 am
After an afternoon and evening of much needed merriment and remembrance, the family had filtered away to their respective homes and beds at an unholy hour. Ron felt as though he had just closed his eyes when Rose stirred in her crib. Ron cracked an eye looking at the clock. Half past 3. He couldn't be mad, he had only been away from her 48 hours but he had missed her so much it was almost nice being woken before dawn. She grizzled and groaned as he sat up, upon seeing him her hands immediately found her mouth with what Ron was sure was a cheeky smile. Food. Always food. Hermione groaned as she roused from her sleep beside him. ".. m …so… tired…" She croaked.
Ron leaned over the bed kissing her forehead. "I've got her, go back to sleep. I'll settle her downstairs and be right back up."
"... my hero…" she croaked and smacked her lips before pulling their duvet around her tighter and falling asleep immediately.
Ron picked the little redhead up with her blanket. "Come on smudge let's sit in front of the fire…"
Illuminating the tip of his wand he opened the small cool box beside the bed that held the bottles of expressed milk, taking one and placing his wand between his teeth he left his room, softly closing the door behind him and descending the stairs.
It wasn't until now that Ron recognised just how much he had missed home. The creaky stairs, the noise of his father snoring as he passed his parent's door, hushed conversation coming from Ginny's room. He felt a pang of disgust as he realised the other voice would be that of his best friend, as happy as he was that they were back together and happy it felt weird to think his best friend was dating his little sister again.
Halfway down the passageway, Ron realised he was not going to be alone, the fire roared and a shadowy figure sat on the sofa in front of it.
The second to last stair creaked as it always did and she looked up. Rose sat in front of the fire with her bright orange cover around her shoulders. She smiled gently and whispered a quiet "hi" before returning to the fire.
"Mind if we join you?" Ron asked tentatively.
She shook her head, moving the blanket from the remaining seat.
Ron settled himself, summoning a footstool to rest his feet on to allow himself to rest baby Rose on his legs. Baby Rose watched her older counterpart with wide-staring eyes. Rose watched her with a sad aura of awe, smiling and whispering "Hello mini me."
Ron heated the bottle as he watched a smile appear on baby Rose's face. He felt himself smiling along with her. "I love when she does that." He placed the bottle in front of her face, trying to take her attention, instead, she continued watching the older version of herself. He wondered what she was thinking.
The two versions watched each other. "Do you want to hold her?" Ron asked.
Rose shook her head. "I can't touch her… I don't want her to see anything."
Ron felt his stomach drop a little, "Sorry, I forgot."
When Rose finally took her bottle, she almost immediately began to fall asleep. "Hey, you just woke me up for this, you're going to stay awake too monkey." He moved her without thinking, sitting her upright in the crook of his arm.
"You are such a good Dad…" Rose said sadly.
"Huh…"
"Never mind…" She pulled the blanket closer around her.
Ron stayed silent for a moment, this was the first time they had been alone. As he saw her for the first time it hit him just how broken she was. Despite the bravado, the bravery was a traumatised little girl who needed to be fixed.
She had various scars that littered her face, deliberate lines mingling and connecting freckles each white line illuminated in the firelight, the bags under her eyes hollow and haunting. If exhaustion had a face it would be hers.
He glanced down at the baby he held. Her face is plump, happy, innocent. She would have no idea what had happened in the last 48 hours. Even in the years to come she would never know the true reality of the war that was won. She would never in a million lifetimes see an ounce of the horror the girl who sat next to him had seen. But that was wrong, there was a lifetime that had led to her being the person Ron saw now.
"You know I'm here if you ever need to talk about anything don't you?" He broaches the subject gently and she smiled in response.
"I'm ok…" She was lying. She was the furthest thing from OK. She shrugged off the cover, her arms patterned with words, he tries to hide the sharp intake of breath as he realised what they said. "Mudblood" and "Blood Traitor" are The marks of a Blood Quill.
"Who…" The only word he can get out without the anger bubbling in his stomach.
"I did." She understands his question, but her response is defiant, like a petulant child.
He feels something building within him that he has only felt once before, and in a strict fatherly voice that surprises even him. "Who made you do that."
Her eyes darted from the fire to side-eye him. Ron saw the minute consideration of lying before she sighed again. "Umbridge… she was matron of the compound."
"What does that mean?" Ron avoided her eye, placing the bottle between his knees and rubbing Rosie's back. She immediately let out a huge burp that caused both of them to smile widely. "Well done Windypops." He whispered placing a kiss on her forehead before continuing rubbing.
"Matron kept the girls in check, no funny business, or backchat."
"What does that have to do with her scarring your arms…"
"When girls arrive she liked to find a way to break their spirits. I don't think she did it to all of the girls, but a couple of hours of this is a great way to break someone's will to live…" She was such a matter of fact it was cutting. Hours.
"Sounds painful," Ron said.
Rose stretched her arms in front of her, tracing the words. "It hurt at the time, I was pretty lucky after she did this to me, Lucius was pissed. "11,000 Galleons and you've disfigured her." She mocked Malfoy Senior's lofty tone. "... I only had a few interactions with her when I really fucked up, the girls in the main halls had her breathing down their necks all the time."
"Main halls…" Ron didn't want to know, but he had asked the question before he could stop himself.
"A big room where guys just grabbed the girl they wanted… I had a locked room, I don't know if I was the only one but Dray took me to it once, and it was horrific."
"Dray?!" Ron didn't mean to sound so disgusted.
"I meant Draco," she said shortly.
Ron felt his stomach drop. He hadn't meant to sound so disgusted, but hearing her refer to The Ferret with a pet name had taken him by surprise. "Sorry I didn't mean it that way I'm just surprised to hear you call him… well Dray …"
"I don't normally, sometimes I just slip into old habits… I didn't have a lot of company at… well you know."
"The Manor…" Ron finished lying Rosie back against his arm and placed the bottle once again against her mouth, she took it reluctantly her eyes lulling immediately.
"Oh no… I meant the compound. He was my bodyguard there… well four days a week…" She picked at the metal bands around her wrists.
"What happened the other three days?"
"Houseelf." She said sharply.
Ron's stomach jumped again, "Sorry… I don't mean to pry."
"Don't be sorry. It's not that I want to hide anything, I just think it's sometimes better to not know."
Rosie was out cold now, milk dripping down her chin, the teet of the bottle stuck uselessly between her lips. Ron had left the muslin cloth on the edge of the footstool and his wand with it. He gave a small sigh before attempting to reach the items, Rose watched him with a smile before handing him the piece of material and his wand.
"Thanks," He wiped the milk from her before scorgifying her fully clean. She smiled sweetly as the material swept over her face, soft and gentle she fell into a depth of sleep only found in genuine safety.
Ron caught Rose watching them. A hint of jealousy. He wished more than anything he could do something to comfort her.
Ron searched his mind for a change of conversation. "I didn't get a chance to ask how it went at St. Mungos today, is everything ok with the baby."
Rose appeared to once again consider lying, before shaking her head slightly. "No not really " She fiddled with her fingers, picking at the skin on the edge of her fingers. "The dates they were giving me don't add up, they seem to think she is due in a few weeks but I've still got at least 3 months left to go. My water broke when I was getting these things but they won't do anything about it because they think she… I don't know what the terminology is but I suppose they think she's baked enough. But… what if she isn't, she needs that fluid stuff to keep her safe and I'm just here doing nothing…"
She sighed, stroking her belly tenderly with her fingertips. Ron watched in wonder as a small lump appeared in the wake of her touch as though seeking more.
He took a moment to look at the heavy little girl in his arm, A glance at the tiny clenched fist left him wondering if Rose had ever done that to Hermione in an unnoticed moment. As Ron's gaze returned to her, their eyes met and an awkward smile was shared. "You wanna feel? It's bloody weird."
Ron hesitated for a moment, before reaching out his free hand, it came to rest on the exact spot the little lump had appeared moments before. It was still, almost peaceful for a moment, and just as the awkwardness kicked in between them and he went to remove his hand, he felt it. It was the most wondrous feeling, a small nudge followed by a sweep of a limb over the underneath of his hand, the tiniest "Hello" and for a moment a flash of something different, the white room again he saw her face as clear as if she were in front of him, he saw the black curls of hair that formed on her head. He watched as her eyes rolled behind closed lids as she slept. "Hey Pup" A voice that wasn't his own echoed in his mind… familiar yet he couldn't put his finger on whose voice it was.
He smiled, and cleared his throat before moving his hand away slowly. "You feeling ok about…" Ron nodded to her stomach.
She pulled her blanket around her tighter. Before shaking her head. "I know how I'm supposed to feel."
"But you don't?" Ron asked with a small raise of his eyebrow.
The impact of some unseen force battered her psyche, Ron watched as her mind broke her features contorted in unadulterated pain and anguish. She had been holding back a sob as it expelled from her body she broke, right there on the sofa, the shield she had been holding around herself shattered into a million china pieces. "I'm a horrible person." Her hands shook, and tears fell thick and fast.
"Hey hey hey." He wrapped his arm around her pulling her into his shoulder. "You are not a horrible person."
She tried to pull away but he kept a tight grip, shaking against his shoulder, he felt wetness on his pyjama shirt. "I am… I prayed to every deity I could think of that it wouldn't catch," each sentence was punctuated with a sharp in take of breath, "...that it wouldn't work, then when I found out she was in there…" she turned her head to wipe her face on the corner of her blanket, pulling her legs tight underneath her she curled into his side like a child, and Ron felt an air of awkwardness but something made him grip her tighter "...and when I knew she was a she and I knew what her life would be and I couldn't…" her voice hitched, he rubbed her shoulder leaning his head against her hair. "I tried everything I could to get rid of her Dad …" The word ignited something in Ron. "...I had Draco get the ingredients for a Potion to get rid of her… but he ended up dumping the batch so I couldn't use it…"
Anger flared in his chest, he knew Malfoy was a scumbag but even for him forcing her to have a child with him was a level Ron had never expected. "Why would he do that?"
"He changed his mind, said it was illegal, new law or some bullshit like that… As if anything they did was legal." She wiped her face once more, her emotions turned on a knife edge Ron could feel it in the air, without warning, no more tears fell now, but her body and breath still jumped and jittered with her hiccuping breath. He glanced down at her, her expression was hostile and angry but she remained tightly curled into his side.
"I have no idea what is going to happen next, for so many years I've followed Dumbledore, then I followed the book now what…" It wasn't a hypothetical question but she didn't look to him for the answer, Ron was glad he didn't have the answer. "...but the plan was always to die… I was supposed to die yesterday."
He gripped her arm shaking his head, the frog in his throat bobbed, "Don't say that… don't ever say that."
"Dumbledore's book told me I was supposed to die… but I didn't and now everything is a mess, I have no plan, no moves left to make and that's the thing, I'm her mother, I should have a plan for what will happen if anything happens to me… you did, even Mum did and she had no escape plan she gave me protection against the killing curse." Her hands shook once more and the tears began to spill again. "I'm going to jail and I haven't got a clue who will look after her…"
"You aren't going to jail, we will fight for you like you fought for us and besides you don't think we would leave her to fend for herself do you?"
"...I wish I could talk to him." It was just over a whisper.
"Who?" Ron asked
"It doesn't matter… he is disgusted with me too." Her fingers were bleeding now.
"Has he said that to you?"
"No…" She said with a shake of her head.
"Then how do you know?"
"He would have been…" She shifted uncomfortably, "it doesn't matter…" She shook her head angrily. "He doesn't want to know, he moved on…"
"Whoever he is, he wouldn't have anything to be disgusted about. You haven't done anything wrong. It's normal to feel the need to try to rectify scary situations. Merlin knows when she… well you were being born I considered running," she looked up at him with an expression of pure horror. "It was less than a second. But what I'm trying to say is it's natural. Look at everything you have done to protect her and Rosie from what life could have been. That's not nothing Smudge…" He didn't know where it came from, Smudge, but as soon as it left him it felt right, he felt the pull to nuzzle the top of her head, a flicker of a memory from a former life. The warmth of the fire, the feeling of her cuddled into his chest, she was so tiny then, terrified of the place she had been brought to but she found the smallest amount of comfort from him. In his other arm, the new version of her gripped his thumb like a tiny titan. He let out a breath before kissing the top of her head "That's someone who will be a bloody good mum."
He felt her shoulders shaking once more, "When my water broke today all I could think was, she is going to die and I couldn't bear to think of it. I didn't want to get attached to her…"
"You don't need to pretend anymore Smudge… if you want to get attached, get attached, if you need to fall apart then go right ahead, we will be here to put you back together. You deserve happiness baby girl, and if it kills me I will make sure you get it."
And she did just that, he felt her breaking in his arms, and she sobbed silently until she became still and silent, Ron refused to let go, clutching her to him using all of his strength to keep his word pulling the pieces of her back together, they would get through this night together as they did first time round.
As dawn broke Hermione stretched widely, she felt rested, she felt happy like everything in world was well. She opened her eyes, blinked widely and it took a moment to register where she was.
Ron's bedroom.
Ron's bedroom at the Burrow.
She was in Ron's bedroom, at the Burrow, in Ron's bed… and then it hit her, like the Hogwarts Express, the war is over. They were on the other side of the darkness.
Voldemort was dead.
It hadn't been a dream.
As she stretched, Hermione found Ron's side of the bed cold, his absence unsettled her and as she raised herself onto her elbows she found the tiny cot beside their bed also empty. She quickly remembered the few moments of interruption of her sleep last night. That had been in the very early hours of the morning, now it was just before 8 am and she would have expected him to come back before now.
Hermione swung her legs from the bed, pulling her dressing gown on. She descended the stairs pulling her dressing gown tightly around herself. Taking a moment to appreciate the little home she had come to love, the realisation this was the first time she had descended the stairs without getting dressed. She observed the pictures of the Weasley family through the years, a lifetime of memories were held in these walls and for the first time she felt privileged to be part of it.
Her search for Ron was short, reaching the bottom of the stairs she saw them on the sofa. Rose rested her head on Ron's shoulder
She stood behind them for a moment wondering how this had come to be, feeling a pang of jealousy at the secret time they had spent together as a three. But as she rounded the front of the sofa she felt her heart expanding rapidly. Ron smiled brightly the moment he saw her: his eyes dark with exhaustion but utterly joy-filled, "Good morning beautiful." He whispered.
Baby Rose slept in the crook of his arm her hand clasped firmly over his thumb, her rosebud lips gaping wide in comfortable sleep. With the other hand, Ron gripped Rose to him as though she might drift away her head resting on his shoulder, her face was red and puffy, she looked as though she had been crying but simultaneously was completely at peace sleeping soundly.
Hermione wished she had a camera to hand to capture the moment. She knelt in front of him, her hand rubbing his knee. He stared at her with a look of complete adoration that sent fire into her stomach. "Do you want me to take her?" She gestured to the baby.
"Nah go get some breakfast while you can, I would offer to make it for you but I'm needed at the minute."
Her heart grew a little more, as she rose she leaned in to kiss his forehead "You're always needed. I hope you know that."