A/N - okay, so this chapter grew to have a mind of its own, but I hope you like it. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, they really make we try and get this out at least weekly (which means the housework and gardening doesn't get done, but, hey - what can you do?). I really appreciate all you comments. This story seems to hit you guys in different ways, which I'm finding really interesting, and I think the same will be for this chapter - some will think its all too easy, and some will think its just right. Excellent. Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 6
Harry's breath had a regular rhythm as it gently tickled her shoulder, telling Hermione he had fallen asleep. She grinned contently as she snuggled herself more tightly into his body. Their lovemaking had been as incredible as it was five years before and for the first time in so long, Hermione was happy.
After a while, she was ready to get up though how to do that without waking Harry was another story altogether. She gently unwound his arm from her and moved it from its spot around her waist, laying it instead on his thigh. She then slowly edged her way from his embrace, quickly feeling the loss of his heat and comfort the further away from him she got. When she reached the edge of the bed, Hermione turned around to look at him, smiling once more.
Harry was still far too pale, the smudges under his eyes even more pronounced than ever. But there was a healthiness now that she was sure hadn't been there before. He looked adorable - his dark lashes resting on his cheeks, his hair mussed up more than usual, his lips red and curled slightly in a peaceful smile of his own. The need to reach out and kiss him was intense but Hermione knew she shouldn't. He had fallen asleep pretty much as soon as they had finished and she realised that he needed the rest.
For a moment, Hermione's smile turned to a frown. She knew something was wrong with him, something he wasn't sharing, and it concerned her. But she also knew she had no right to demand the information out of him, Harry had to tell her in his own time. She would have to be patient.
With a final glance, she began to dress as quietly as she could. Not wanting to leave him without saying goodbye, she got her bag and made her way to the small desk that sat in the corner of the room. Getting out the prospectuses she had been looking at earlier that day, Hermione made herself comfortable and began to once more ponder over the various courses at various universities all over Britain - though there was a new debate that had begun in her head.
Harry needed her and her involvement with him would bring her squarely back into the wizarding world. University belonged to the Muggle world. Though she kept looking through the glossy course guides and kept on making notes, every now and then she would stop and think it was all for nothing, that there was a good chance she wouldn't be taking this particular path.
It was during one of these pauses when she heard the pained groans from the bed.
She had been so engrossed in what she was doing, content to let Harry catch up on the sleep she knew he had missed, that she had tried to give him some privacy and not sat and watched him - though the temptation to do just that was strong.
When she heard his strangled cry, she looked over to where he lay and saw that he had begun to writhe in fear, his face no longer peaceful and serene. His nightmare had taken hold, twisting and tangling him up in his sheets. Hermione left the desk and kneeled down at the side of the bed, taking his outstretched hand in her own.
"Harry," she breathed, trying to ignore her own fear, "Harry, wake up. You're fine, you're okay - I'm here. Wake up sweetie."
"Hermione…" he groaned, his eyes still shut tight, though she could see them frantically moving under the skin of his lids.
"Yeah, it's me, Hermione," she continued firmly, but calmly, "I'm here with you Harry. Everything is going to be okay…"
"No…dead…" he cried, frowning.
"No, no, I'm not dead," she tried to convince him, trying desperately not to let the tears that had begun to flow sound in her voice, "I'm not dead, Harry. I'm right here."
"No…" he gasped.
Hermione wiped away her tears with a harsh swipe of her sleeve, not trusting her voice to say anything else. She watched helplessly as his mind replayed one of the many horrors he had witnessed in his life, his face betraying what he usually hides when he's awake.
Without warning, his eyes snapped open as he took in a huge gulp of air. He glanced around him in confusion, until his eyes rested on Hermione.
"Hey," she soothed, gently moving a clump of hair from his sweating brow, "you were having a bad dream."
"Right," he said dismissively, closing his eyes wearily before taking a deep breath then opening them again, looking at Hermione, "what's the time?"
"Er, six thirty," she answered, slightly confused.
"Really?" he exclaimed with a weak smile, sitting up - seemingly all fear and confusion gone, "six-thirty! That's the longest I've slept without a potion since I came back!"
Hermione leant back on her haunches, frowning as Harry reached for his clothes and began to dress, his hand still shaking from his abrupt wakening.
"Would…would you like to talk about your nightmare?" she asked, watching him put on his shirt as if he didn't have a care in the world. He looked at her from his seat on the bed, put on his glasses (that had been sitting on the bedside cabinet) then gently ran his finger down the side of her face.
"Hermione, I'm sorry you witnessed what you did," he said solemnly, "and I will tell you about the dreams…one day. Just not yet, not now. Are you hungry?"
"Hungry?" she repeated, startled by the shift in subject.
"Yeah, hungry," he carried on, standing up and going to the desk to get the room service menu, pausing when he saw the various prospectuses scattered over the desk top, "hey, what's all this?"
In a flash, Hermione got to her feet and desperately tried to gather all the course guides together, not wanting Harry to know she had been planning a future without him in it.
"Nothing," she said quickly, "they're just…"
"University courses," Harry grinned, reading the one he was holding out of reach from Hermione's grasp, "are you going to go to university?"
"I…I was thinking about it," she admitted, giving up trying to hide the evidence, "but I'm not really sure yet."
"Why?" Harry asked earnestly, putting the prospectus back on the desk before reaching for the room service menu, "it's so perfect for you. I mean, no one loves to learn more than you do. I think it's a brilliant idea."
"You do?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?"
Hermione blushed under his scrutiny and stayed at her spot by the desk as he made his way back to the bed, where he sat wearily.
"It's just that," Hermione started, thinking about what she wanted to say, "well, they're Muggle universities. It seemed like a good idea while I was living as a Muggle. But…I mean…it's just that, things have…"
She paused and looked at Harry who was looking intently back.
"…changed," he finished for her - she nodded.
"I've just found you," she tried to explain, still standing next to the desk, "and, well, you're not well and I want to help…"
"Hermione," Harry interrupted, putting the menu down and holding out his hands to her which, after a moments hesitation, she took and let herself be led to the bed, sitting down at his side. She looked down at their entwined fingers, taking a deep breath when she saw his fingers leave hers. Seconds later, she felt his touch on either side of her face as he gently tilted it upwards, making her look into his wonderful green eyes, "I need you to listen to me, really listen to me," he continued firmly, "I'm not one hundred per cent right and there are still quite a few things wrong with me but I'm not dying…"
"But…" she cut in - Harry put a finger to her lips to stop her words.
"I'm going to be fine," he stated with a stern look, "I can look after myself - I don't need a nurse…" he paused as he gently ran the pad of his thumb over her cheek, then smiled, "but I would really like a girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Hermione repeated, pulling her face out of his hands and staring at him in shock, "girlfriend? Me?"
"Yes, you," Harry chuckled, taking her hands once more in his own, "how can you still doubt how special you are in my life Hermione? There is no one in this world I want by my side than you. Five years ago I made a promise to you that when it was all over, when Voldemort was gone, I would break up with Ginny and be with you. Fate has already done the breaking up thing for me and now that I've found you, there's no reason why we can't give us a go and see where we lead."
"Do you really mean that?"
"Yes," he confirmed, showing her just how much by kissing her gently on the mouth, "I know you love me, that you still love me, and there are things we need to sort out and work on…"
"The whole 'getting lost in each other' issue, you mean?" Hermione piped up, a grin touching her lips.
"Exactly," Harry smiled, "and a great way for you to find out who you are, is to do something you love. Like learning. Everything else, well, we can just see how we go. All I know is the person I want to get through my problems with is you."
"Same here," Hermione agreed, then added after a moments pause, "thank you Harry."
"What for?"
"For forgiving me, for understanding," she told him softly, "for giving me a chance."
"There was nothing to forgive," he breathed, "and I will only give you a chance if you do the same for me. Deal?"
"Deal," she laughed.
"Great, now what do you want to eat?" he asked cheerfully, retrieving the menu, "or would you prefer to eat out?"
"No, here would be fine," Hermione stated as she got up, "just let me get my glasses…"
"Glasses?" Harry quizzed, then grinned broadly when she turned back to him, her round rimmed frames in place.
"Don't laugh!" she pouted, returning to the bed.
"I guess all those years of reading finally took its toll," he joked, handing her the menu.
"Exactly," she said with an air of finality, scanning the menu for something that took her fancy, definitely feeling hungry now, "I think I'll have the vegetarian quiche…"
"Quiche?" Harry repeated, taking the menu back so he could make his choice, "are you sure? I mean, what about the steak and kidney pie? You always liked that at Hogwarts."
"I haven't really eaten meat for the last year," Hermione explained, taking her glasses off and returning them to the desk.
"Really? Why?"
"Maybe I'll tell you after dinner," she said evasively, "what are you going to have?"
It was forty-five minutes later when Hermione leaned back against the bed head, her stomach full and her mind floating in a blissful mush. Harry had gone to the bathroom and as she waited for his return, she closed her eyes and thought about everything that had happened. It was all so incredible.
"So, tell me about your life since I saw you on the grounds of Hogwarts."
Hermione jumped in surprise as Harry grinned at her reaction, making his way slowly back to the bed, sitting next to her and draping his arm over her shoulders, allowing her to snuggle into his side.
"Oh, I don't know Harry," she said, looking at him, "you look pretty tired."
"Believe it or not, I always look tired lately," he shrugged, "so spill. You know what I've been doing for the last five years - what about you?"
"You want to hear about everything?" she asked, "it'll be pretty boring."
"Maybe, maybe not," he smiled, "but I think it will be a lot more exciting than my last five years, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess," she admitted before snuggling in closer, "well, we thought you were dead when we found you after you got rid of Voldemort, but you weren't. From memory, I think I went a bit hysterical when I saw you laying there…"
"Ron did say you went a bit mental," Harry interjected with a grin.
"Did he now?" Hermione said thoughtfully, wondering what else Ron had told him, then carried on with her story, "anyway, both Ron and I were hurt, not too badly, but we both refused to leave you so Remus and Mr Weasley pulled some strings and they let us stay with you at St Mungo's.
"When it became clear that you weren't going to wake in a hurry, Ron started saying we should begin to move on, carry on what was our poor excuse for a relationship - we had a huge row, he shifted out of the hospital room and turned to Luna."
"That must have been hard for you," Harry suggested, but Hermione shook her head.
"No, it wasn't really," she said, "I could see straight away that Luna was a lot better for him than I could ever have been. When Ron finally talked to me about how he felt about Luna, I gave him my blessing - not that he needed it, but I think it made him feel better.
"So, I finally got kicked out of St Mungo's after about two months of living there. I found a flat not far from the hospital and a job in a Muggle library that required little thought and allowed me to visit you every day."
"Which you did."
"Which I did," Hermione confirmed with a nod, "Ginny did too, for the longest time but after a year, she decided she couldn't do it any more and started coming only once a week. It was kind of accepted that I would be the one that took care of you."
"Like you always have," he said tenderly, kissing the side of her head.
"Um, yes," she muttered, slightly embarrassed, "anyway, I quickly got into a routine - wake up, go to work, come home, change and then visit you, tell you of my day and any gossip, then go home, fall asleep and do it all again the next day."
"So you didn't go out? Date? Have fun?" Harry quizzed.
"After about a year, everyone kept pressuring me to move on," Hermione recalled sadly, "so I relented and went on these blind dates that Ginny, Mrs Weasley, even Luna set me up with. They usually only lasted one outing and eventually they all realised that it wasn't a happening thing and gave up. I went out with the others from time to time but no, I didn't really go out that much."
"No wonder you left," Harry said after a moment, "and you did this for three years?"
"Yes," she confirmed with a nod, "at first I could handle it, I told myself that at any moment you would wake. I made sure that you would be ready when you did - I kept you hair trimmed, cut your nails, even shaved you…"
"Healer Stephens told me about that," Harry interrupted with a frown, "that you'd shave me the Muggle way. You know," he pulled back from her slightly so he could look at her, "it really annoyed me that I didn't need to shave, that I was supposed to get rid of this powerful, evil wizard and I couldn't even grow facial hair - Ron used to tease me relentlessly about it. It was weird, at first, to think that my first ever shave was done by someone else but when I thought about it, I was glad it was you. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Hermione replied softly, glad when Harry returned to his original position and no longer looking at her.
"So then you left," he prompted.
"Yes, I left. I had begun to realise the only way I could carry on without you is if I was far, far away. When the Healers told us that they thought the chances of you waking were next to zero, I knew I had to go…"
"Where?"
"Well, I started off in Paris, found a backpackers and basically just followed the work around Europe. There would always be a job notice board or something similar that would list work specifically for travellers and I just found jobs that I thought would help me stop thinking about you and what I had left behind…"
"That's sounds pretty dangerous Hermione."
"I had a few run ins, but lets just say that unscrupulous Muggles are nothing compared with fighting Death Eaters and I could take care of myself. I hardly used magic though, wanting to get out of the wizarding world completely.
"Anyway, nowhere seemed to work until I found myself in India…"
"India?"
"Yep. I meet this woman there, Mother Rose, who ran a convent…"
"You became a nun?"
"No, Harry, I did not become a nun."
"Well, I bloody well hope not because what happened this afternoon would have been, well, a major sin!"
"I think your soul is safe," Hermione joked dryly, "now, do you want to hear my story or not?"
"Sorry," Harry apologised, "it's just that…a convent in India - never saw that one coming. Please, carry on."
"So," she continued after a brief pause, "I stayed with Mother Rose and the girls for over a year just helping out with whatever they needed - cooking, cleaning, gardening, whatever. The convent was well known as a refuge for women who had been tortured or abused…"
"Tortured? What kind of place was this?"
"A place where honour often meant more than human life," Hermione answered harshly, "women meant nothing; often they are just another possession to the men in her family. If it was felt she dishonoured the family in anyway, she would be punished, sometimes quite severely."
"I don't understand," Harry asked, confused, "women are just bought and sold? And how could someone dishonour the family?"
"There is a strong caste system in India and many of the abuses come if a couple try to breach the boundaries of their particular caste…"
"I still don't understand."
Hermione paused and thought of how she would explain this to Harry, smiling when she had an idea.
"Okay, lets say Draco and Ginny fell in love…"
"As if that would happen," Harry scoffed, "Ron would kill the ferret."
"Exactly," Hermione agreed, "both the Weasley's and the Malfoy's are pure blood wizarding families yet the thought of them intermingling is disgusting. What we were dealing with at the convent would be the equivalent of Mrs Malfoy perhaps being 'punished' for letting her son marry a family that is below hers. Or Ginny being 'punished' because she seduced a man beyond her station…"
"But Draco wouldn't be blamed at all."
"No, it is very rare that the men get punished but there are occasions when they do. It's all very complex and of course not all of India believe in honour crimes. But it is accepted, generally…"
"How can they do that though," Harry exclaimed, "I mean, that's just horrific!"
"You're right, it is. It took me a long time to stop getting angry - I mean, it's such a harsh existence and one I still can't really comprehend. Mother Rose tried to help me see that I was seeing it all through Western eyes, and what I saw as barbaric wasn't seen the same way by the people in the society we served - which is why a blind eye is turned so often, or the abuse is just accepted."
"That's just wrong."
"Yes, but the Western world has its own demons that perhaps aren't as accepted but are no less horrific. We have human trading, child prostitution and pornography, slavery…"
"We do?"
"Yes, we do. And sure, those who are caught doing these things are punished but is a fine and a couple of years in jail justice to a child who has had their life ruined?"
"You've thought about this stuff a bit, haven't you?" Harry asked softly.
"I'm sorry," Hermione sighed, breathing deeply, trying to calm down, "it's just that, I guess I've seen so much now. Before, my world revolved around Hogwarts, you and Ron and Voldemort. I soon found out there were a lot more monsters out there, and the world can be a pretty harsh place.
"Mother Rose helped me see it as a beautiful place as well. She helped me see that the poverty that surrounded the convent had its own miracles and that what the people in our village had, they treasured because it actually meant something, it wasn't just a possession."
"She sounds like a remarkable woman, this Mother Rose."
"She is," Hermione agreed fondly, "and she wants to meet you."
"Me?" Harry exclaimed, "how does she know about me?"
"Because I told her about you," Hermione smiled, "and if it wasn't for Madam Rose, I wouldn't be here."
"Well, then, I definitely need to see her and say thanks."
She leaned back and looked at Harry, amazed. She kissed him gently, loving the way his arm easily snaked around her waist and pulled her in closer. After a moment, she broke away, grinning.
"I should go," she said somewhat breathlessly, "let you get some sleep."
"Stay," he pleaded, holding her tighter.
"If I stay, I'm not sure how much sleeping would be going on," she smiled, "we could meet up again tomorrow if you like?"
"I would like but, actually, I'm off to the Burrow for lunch."
"Oh."
"Hermione," Harry carried on, catching her eye, "you need to see Ron and the others, they've been worried sick about you."
"I…I know I should see them, but…"
"Ron's picking me up at eleven. I could ask him to come earlier if you like, and you could meet him here?"
"I…I don't know…"
"Or you could meet me at the Burrow," he suggested gently, "met them all in one foul swoop. I would be by your side at all times, protecting you from the mammoth Molly hugs and the tortuous twin's teasing." Hermione couldn't help smiling.
"Did you just make that up?" she grinned.
"Yes," Harry admitted, "the twins won't even be there. Pretty shocking wasn't it?"
"Just a tad."
"So, will you come?" he persisted.
"You promise you won't leave me?" she asked after a moments pause.
"I promise."
"And you won't tell Ron or anyone else before hand? That I'll be a surprise?"
"If that's what you want."
"Okay," she finally said, "I'll meet you at the Burrow just after eleven, then."
"Brilliant."
Hermione didn't feel so brilliant the following day. Even with Harry's reassurances that Ron didn't hate her and her own reasoning that she should've visited the Weasley family as soon as she had returned to England - she was still petrified.
Sleep hadn't been easy what with her mind going over the events of the day, the prospect of what was going to happen at the Burrow and that her room mates had spent the night on the town and were not too concerned about keeping quiet on their return to bed (one of the pitfalls of the backpackers life).
At eleven fifteen, she knew it was now or never, that if she waited any longer her nerve would give out. Taking a couple of deep, calming breaths, she thought about the place that she once called home and departed her empty room with a crack.
Her landing spot was behind a cluster of trees a little distance from the back of the house, giving her a chance to look at the Burrow before making her entrance. She smiled in relief as it looked exactly how it did when she left.
She watched Ron and Harry appear in the back garden, laughing about something. In seconds the backdoor flew open and a couple of children ran out - the older looking boy Hermione guessed was Bill and Fleur's son, Jacob, while the smaller boy must be Ron and Luna's. Harry picked the little boy up in his arms and hugged him tightly, while ruffling Jacob's hair fondly, both children obviously pleased to see him.
The sight was so precious that Hermione couldn't help the tears forming in her eyes and realised it was time.
Stepping away from her tree, she began to walk to the Burrow. Harry saw her first and quickly passed the squirming child in his arms to Ron before making his way to her. They met about half way and Hermione was greeted with a smile.
"You came," he said, taking her hands in his.
"I said I would," Hermione replied, glancing over Harry's shoulder to see a bewildered looking Ron before looking back at Harry, "are you sure…?"
"I'm sure," he interrupted, "everything will be fine, you'll see. And I'll be right here with you."
Hermione just nodded, gripping his hand tightly as they made their way towards the house. Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Ginny, Neville and a very pregnant Luna had all joined Ron, all watching Harry and Hermione with confusion. Hermione ran a self-conscious hand over her short hair, knowing it was the reason they hadn't recognised her.
They were only meters away now and Hermione found herself watching Ron, waiting for him to show some flicker of recognition, but none came.
"Harry, dear," Mrs Weasley said from her spot on the back stair, "you didn't tell us you'd be bringing a guest."
"Actually Molly," Harry grinned, "this isn't just any guest, it's…"
"Hermione?" Ginny finished, taking a few steps closer as if to get a better look.
"I found her wandering around Oxford," Harry announced proudly, squeezing Hermione's hand.
"Hi everybody," she said tentatively, unsure what was going to happen next.
Mrs Weasley let out a shriek of delight and practically ran to Hermione, engulfing her in a bone crushing hug. Ginny wasn't far behind, taking over from her mother, who had been pried off a shocked Hermione by a beaming Mr Weasley.
Hermione, however, kept her eyes on Ron, who hadn't moved though Luna had come to his side, smiling serenely. Ginny paused in her million questions she had been firing at Hermione - Hermione hadn't really heard them anyway - as everyone stood back and let the two old friends make their peace.
As if in slow motion, Luna took her son from her husband's arms letting Ron make his way to where Hermione was standing with Harry directly behind her.
"Is it really you?" Ron asked, looking at her intently.
"Yes," she said softly, her eyes never leaving his.
"I…I thought you were dead," he whispered as tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"No. No, it's me who should be apologising," Ron exclaimed, taking her hands in his, "I was such an idiot, you know, emotional range of a teaspoon and all that," Hermione smiled, "and when I realised what a prat I'd been you were gone. I…I tried to find you, but it was like you vanished off the face of the earth! Hermione, I'm so, so sorry!"
Ron pulled her into a hug, his tears wetting the top of her head, reminding her of the last time he had held her like this; a thousand years ago at Dumbledore's funeral.
"I should never had said what I did," Ron continued, his voice muffled from crying, "I had no right," he broke the hug and looked down at her, his blue eyes still swimming, "we weren't together, not really. And we definitely didn't have what you have with Harry. It took me a while to see that, but I did…I do now. And I lost you because of my stupid insecurities!"
"I never meant to hurt you, Ron…" she said earnestly, her own tears falling.
"We never meant to hurt you," Harry interjected, standing by Hermione's side and looking at his best friend.
"I know," Ron sighed, wiping his face with his sleeve, "I'm such a berk. It's just that, when you told me," he indicated to Hermione, "I felt that you had won again," this time to Harry, "even though I was happily married with a family of my own and you," Harry, "were on your death bed, and you," Hermione, "had spent three years taking care of him. I mean, how pathetic could I be?"
"Any more pathetic than someone who was afraid to come home, ignoring the fact that there were people there that loved her, that she would've found that out if she had only taken the chance?" Hermione asked rhetorically, "Ron, you're not the only idiot here."
"You must just hide it better then," Ron smiled slightly, "I am sorry, though, really, really sorry."
"So am I," Hermione replied quietly before hugging Ron once more.
"Hey, hey, hey," Harry said gruffly, though laughter hid in his words as he pried Ron and Hermione apart, "hands off my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Ron repeated, looking between the two as Harry draped his arm across Hermione's shoulders, "how long have you been back, Hermione?"
"Um, a little while," Hermione answered, somewhat evasively, "but Harry and I only caught up last night."
"Hence Harry looking the best he has done since he woke," Ginny said with a smirk, making Hermione blush terribly.
"So Harry did see you at Diagon Alley," Ron deduced proudly, looking at Harry.
"They all thought I was mental," Harry told Hermione in a loud whisper.
"No, it was when you decided to live in Oxford that we thought you were mental," Ginny added dryly before turning to Hermione, "so, how did he find you?"
"I…I don't know," Hermione answered, looking up at Harry, "how did you find me?"
"Well, Dumbledore suggested looking for you at places that you love," Harry began.
"Dumbledore?" Ginny questioned, puzzled.
"We went to the portrait after Harry Potter Day," Ron informed her knowingly.
"I still can't believe you have a day named after you," Hermione chuckled.
"Stupid bloody day…" Harry grumbled darkly.
"You should've heard the ribbing he got from the twins," Neville piped up, looking over Ginny's shoulder, "it was hilarious!"
"Anyway," Ron cut in, "Dumbledore's portrait told you to go to the places Hermione loved, right Harry?"
"Right," Harry confirmed, glad to get back onto his story, "so I told Minerva to tell me if Hermione showed at the school and I thought I'd have a look around Oxford, Hermione's home town."
"That's it?" Ron asked.
"Well, no," Harry admitted after a bit, "I did do some snooping…"
"Snooping," Hermione repeated with a frown, "what type of snooping, Mr Potter?"
"Oh, you know," he said with a smirk, "pretending to want to rent your parents house so I could see whether you'd been in contact or not, talking to some of your family friends, that sort of thing. And it worked - I found you!"
"Yes you did," Mrs Weasley finally spoke, making everyone turn to her, "and thank Merlin for that! But now, it's time for lunch - you are joining us for lunch, aren't you Hermione dear?"
"Yes, thank you Mrs Weasley," Hermione replied, leaning back into Harry's chest as he hugged her from behind.
"Oh tosh," Mrs Weasley as she drew Hermione into another hug, pulling her from Harry's embrace, "no more of this Mrs Weasley nonsense. You're old enough to call me Molly. Oh child, it's so good to have you home."
Hermione thanked Molly and joined the other couples as they made their way into the house. Over the meal it was like she had never left, re-telling her story for the Weasley clan who listened intently. She noticed, however, that Luna remained silent, watching Hermione with her large blue eyes. When the meal ended and she was shooed from the kitchen, Hermione made her way over to where the blond was standing; her hand resting contently on her pregnant belly as she looked over the fields at the back of the Burrow.
"Congratulations Luna," Hermione said as way of greeting, standing along side her old friend, "baby number two - wow."
"Thank you," Luna replied, turning to Hermione with a sense of calm, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Hermione replied truthfully, "I can't believe I've been so stupid. I was so scared coming here today, sure that everyone would turn their back…"
"It was a lesson you had to learn, Hermione," Luna stated surely, "if you had stayed, things wouldn't be as they are. Your leaving changed more than just you, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Ron finally let go of the past," Luna carried on, "Harry woke, Ginny found happiness with a man who truly loves her and you - you found the answers you were looking for."
"And you?"
"I learnt to have hope…and faith."
"You're an incredible person, you know that?" Hermione said with a smile.
"I am me, and that's all that matters," was the reply.
The two women hugged, Hermione feeling the movements of the little one inside Luna's protruding belly as she did so, stirring a maternal feeling within her she didn't even know she had.
"There you two are," Ron interjected, sticking his head out of the door, "hey Hermione, want to play with your godson?"
"Godson?" she said, shocked.
"Yeah," Ron confirmed with a shrug, "always said you and Harry would be the godparents of our first child. Just because you weren't around doesn't mean you got out of it."
"Really?"
"Yep. Artie is dying to try out his finger painting prowess with his Auntie Hermy."
Hermione just smiled, took Luna's hand and followed Ron back into the familiar walls of the Burrow.