A/N: Well this is the last chapter. I'm not exactly pleased with it, but there is no other way that I can think of to end it. I want to thank each and everyone of you who read it and those who review it. Hope you enjoy!
"Hermione what is this about?" asked Harry.
Hermione leaned over and picked up a blindfold and covered his eyes. She grabbed one of his hands and helped him up the stairs. Harry stumbled a couple of times but eventually they reached the landing. They walked for what must have seemed like forever to him.
Hermione's smile simply grew as she continued the walk down the hallway until she stopped at the last room. It wasn't special or anything. The room was significantly smaller than the other ones and simply held a crib and a changing table.
Hermione let go of Harry's hands and leaned down picking Teddy Tonks out of the crib. He was a pretty good baby. Teddy was after all about three years of age. He didn't cry as she bounced him up and down on her shoulder.
"Hermione, you're starting to scare me a bit. What exactly is going on here? I figured that a nice photo album or a sweater would do for a gift. But I admit that you have peaked my interests."
She smirked.
"I want you to open your hands, and hold them strong," said Hermione. She carefully adjusted them judging if his grip would be strong enough to hold Teddy. Hermione finally decided that it was the right time and gently placed his godson into his arms."
"You're kidding," laughed Harry.
Hermione removed the blindfold and watched the scene unfold before her. She knew that he loved her, but this is what he had truly been missing in his life. Hermione had not known what he had been waiting for. Certainly he just needed a little bit of a push before he would communicate with his godson.
Harry took time out of his excitement to look at Hermione. She instantly knew that he was thanking her. Harry gave her a one armed hug, and Hermione couldn't help but feel as if she was intruding on a private moment.
"I'm just going to ask Kreacher how breakfast is coming along. Andromeda says he's on solid foods now."
Harry's face fell. Hermione looked at him and understood this sudden change of emotion. Her words had sparked the one thing that she had been thinking about. She let her hand rest on his cheek.
"Don't you dare think about it Harry. All that matters is that you're here now."
With that said and done Hermione walked out of the room and down the stairs leaving Harry with Teddy. Unfortunately he was pretty heavy so Harry put the boy back in his crib. He stared down at him his arms resting on the guard rails.
"I don't think Hermione realizes how much I've missed you. I don't have to tell her, and yet she knows exactly what's going through my head. Sometimes I don't even realize it. I know that you don't know me at all. The last time you saw me, you couldn't even talk…and I think I'm sorry for that. Actually I know I'm sorry for that. I know what it felt like to lose my godfather, and they can be your lifeline. Your parents entrusted me to take care of you, and I have failed you."
Hermione knocked on the open door, her head resting against it a look set on her face.
"Breakfast is ready," she told him. "Just bring him down whenever you're finished."
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Hermione and Harry collapsed on the couch after a tiresome afternoon. He had seemed peaceful but after a while turned out to be a handful. The house was a bit too big as he took off running through the rooms. There was no spell that Hermione could think of in which to track the little boy.
He was adventurous.
"This is the perfect time for me to mention that I volunteered us to watch him two days a week while Andromeda goes to her club meeting," sighed Hermione.
"You did what?" he asked. "Oh forget it."
"Sorry," she said. "Olivia told me it was a horrible idea. She knows how bad I am with kids, but for you I think I can tough it out. Besides Teddy's not the worst possible."
"Hermione you are not horrible with kids."
"There are plenty of stories, but that's for another day and for another time," she said.
Hermione took a short break from the kitchen coming back with a plate of cookies and two glasses of milk. She placed them down on the coffee table before Harry and picked them up.
"A cookbook comes in handy every once in a while."
"You're so right…" he agreed. "And they're not half bad."
"Thanks," she told him. "I had to do something. Gingerbread is after all a classic Christmas food, and it doesn't feel like Christmas to me at all. It's not as if today hasn't been a great day."
"Today has been a wonderful day. I can't think of the words to thank you."
"You don't have to," she said.
Hermione leaned closer to him closing the distance between the two. His hands magically seemed to thread in her hair. Regretfully the moment was interrupted by a knock at the front door. They instantly separated and both sighed in frustration.
The only true moment they had to be by themselves was interrupted.
"I think I'll just go get the door," said Hermione.
"Come on why don't you just ignore it? I think we were headed in a pretty good direction."
Hermione smiled.
"I'll be back in a minute," she said.
Hermione moved from the couch and headed towards the door. The person on the other end was obviously patient enough to have waited all this time. She finally undid the locks on the door, and stepped away. The smile slid from her face into a look of pure shock.
She couldn't believe that Ron stood before her. Hermione felt a tear forming in her eye and she couldn't help but reach out to touch him and wonder if perhaps he was real. She had dreamed of this moment, but never imagined it coming true.
"I was an idiot. I was a complete idiot, who didn't consider his best friends feelings. And I'm not expecting an apology here," he told her.
She sensed the remorse in his voice and she couldn't help but to launch herself into his arms. Despite everything that had happened she would always love him. She would always forgive him, and Hermione knew deep in her heart that he could very well do it again.
That for sure would never change.
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