Obliviate

SIX

        Hermione stumbled from the floo and into a chaos of laughter. Her stomach clenched. “Mione!” Ron yelled, his tone jovial. Before she could process, his arms were around her and his smell enveloped her comfortingly. “Ronald…” She responded stiffly, her eyes searching for Molly frantically. She caught her hovering in the doorway of the kitchen, wringing her hands nervously in her apron before glancing down at the small girl beside her who most certainly did NOT resemble her daughter with her brown eyes and sandy blonde hair. Gone were her distinguishing green eyes, the ones she shared with her grandmother and father, and the dark curls that centered somewhere between her mother’s dark brown and her father’s ebony locks. “Is that Hermione?” She heard Ginny call from the kitchen. Ron pulled her towards the kitchen, her body still numb as Molly tucked Rosalee close. “I’ve hidden her the best I could and haven’t told them anything. I’ll leave that up to you whether you want to bring them into this or not.” She whispered as she tugged her into a hasty hug.

       Hermione barely had a moment to taken in what Molly whispered before she was thrust into the kitchen. Standing before her was more Weasley’s than she had seen in a long time. Bill and Fleur stood off in the corner, their four-year-old daughter Victoire wrapped around her father’s legs while Fleur cradled their year and a half daughter, who Hermione could assume was Dominique, in her arms. Ron and Luna’s two-year-old twin boys Fred and Oliver let out squeals as enchanted feather dusters tickled them as they ran. The most surprising thing, besides the fact that she stood in the center of the chaos with none of them knowing the truth aside from Molly and Arthur, was Draco Malfoy standing behind a noticeably pregnant Ginny Weasley. Looking down at her with adoration rather than his usual scowl that she remembered from school.

       Her heart thundered nervously in her chest as their eyes trained on her. She smiled, hiding her trembling hands behind her back. “Hermione!” Ginny exclaimed, enveloping her in a tight hug. “Granger,” Malfoy grumbled with a nod of his head. “Hermione dear, I know you weren’t expecting all this, we can do supper another time if you’d like.” Molly suggested, giving her an out like the angel that she was. Before she could respond however, “Oh come off it mum, it’s been ages since we’ve gotten to catch up.” Ginny protested snatching her hand and ruining her plan of escape. “Besides Hermione, I don’t hold it against you that my ex-husband was head over heels in love with you.” Ginny laughed, but the sentiment made Hermione’s stomach sour. Things were going from bad to worse. “It’s not like she returned the feelings Ginny, give her a break.” Ron defended. Hermione’s mouth had gone startlingly dry as her eyes darting around the room. “I should go.” She croaked, pulling her hand from Ginny’s and rushing towards Molly. She grabbed Rosalee’s hand, silently praying they would let her leave. Ron blocked the living room and the floo, so without thinking she rushed towards the back door. “Hermione stop!” Ginny yelled, tension seeping into her tone. Hermione didn’t. She made it to the door and over the threshold as Ginny yelled out “Immobulus!”

       Her body locked into place as Rosalee let out a cry. Molly tried to rush outside but Ginny had made the door impassable. It seemed they were going to have this discussion whether Hermione wanted to or not. “You didn’t come to my wedding.” Ginny said softly as she came around before her. “Either one. You were my best friend just as much as Harry’s and Ron’s and you didn’t come to my wedding.” Hermione could hear the hurt as Ginny spoke. “Harry always compared me to you. It was our biggest downfall.” Ginny cried, tears streaking down her cheeks. “You weren’t even around, and you still somehow drove a wedge between us. Don’t get me wrong,” She declared, angrily swiping at her cheeks, “I love my husband, even if he is a wanker most of the time. I don’t regret the way things have gone, but I don’t think Harry and I were ever given an honest chance because of you.” Hermione trembled beneath Ginny’s spell. Her hand still clutching Rosalee’s. After a beat of silence, Ginny finally turned her attention to Rosalee. “The reason you disappeared I presume.” Hermione couldn’t respond, even if she could, what could she possibly say. “Revelio.” Ginny waved her wand over Rosalee, the blonde hair disappeared giving way to her dark curls. She peered up at Ginny, her bright green eyes shining beneath dark long lashes. Ginny laughed humorlessly. “Can’t say that I’m surprised. Some friend you turned out to be.” Ginny stalked off, the spell leaving Hermione’s body as she dropped to her knees, pulling Rosalee into her arms. This was bad, so very bad.

       Molly rushed out as Ginny shoved her way inside. “Oh merlin, I am so sorry Hermione.” Molly cried as she knelt beside Hermione and Rosalee. “I had no idea that they would be coming,” Hermione reached forward and squeezed Molly’s hand. “It’s not your fault. I have no one to blame but myself for the mess I’m in.” Molly said nothing, but her silence and the sad look on her face spoke volumes. This was Hermione’s fault, regardless of the reason she did it. “Hermione?” Ron’s voice came from somewhere behind them. Hermione couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. “Go on dear, I’ll make an excuse.” Molly suggested, once again giving her an out. This time however, Hermione sighed. “No, that’s all right. I owe him an explanation.” Molly nodded, lifting Rosalee into her arms and whispering, “Come little one, let's take a little walk with Grammy, shall we?” As she moved away. Hermione took a breath, stealing herself before facing one of her best friends.

        Ron stood by the house, his face void of any emotion other than sadness, his hands tucked in his pocket. “You’ve never lied to me Hermione, not like this.” Hermione swallowed and nodded shakily. “I know.” She admitted softly as Ron made his way to her side. “When Luna and I got together, I told her I still fancied you.” His lips curved into a nostalgic smile as he nodded towards a path in the garden. “You know what she told me?” Hermione shook her head, when Ron and Luna got together, she was already in hiding, ignoring the owls that came knocking on her window. “She said that was okay. I was allowed to feel the way I felt. She would love me regardless. She also said your heart belonged to someone else and had for a long time.” Hermione felt the hot tears trickle down her cheeks as the guilt rolled within her stomach. “I didn’t know what she meant back then, course she had said something about wackspurts being the cause,” He chuckled but continued, “She didn’t always make the most sense back then…or ever really, but her heart is pure. That’s what I fell in love with. When I felt that feeling…that’s when I knew I had never really had you to begin with.” Hermione looked up at him then, his face more angled then when they were children. His freckles a shade darker, a little stubble across his jawline. He was the same as much as he was different, perhaps in another life they could have been something. “Ron, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry if I ever hurt you.” Her voice wavered as she spoke.

        Ron reached forward, taking her hand and entwining their fingers. “The only thing you did to hurt me was push me away when you obviously needed a friend.” Hemione leaned into him, lying her head on his shoulder. “When did you become so wise?” Ron laughed this time, “Always the surprise. Probably when I got with Looney Lovegood.”

        The two of them walked in silence a little further. “So, are you going to tell me what was going on back there?” Hermione tensed. She worked so hard to keep her secret. She sighed, spotting the bench a short distance away, before making their way over to it and sitting down. “The forest of dean.” She admitted softly. Unable to look Ron in the eye, she continued, staring off across the fields. “I had been in love with Harry since I was eleven years old and fixed his glasses in the train. I hadn’t told anyone. I knew that Ginny loved him, I wanted to be a good friend.” A shaky sob slipped from her lips and Ron squeezed her hand. “I tried to be a good friend. It was just after you left. You were so angry.” She closed her eyes, memories taking her back to that moment as Ron yelled and left them. “Harry and I were so sad… days had gone by and we had to move. We went to the forest of dean. We danced that night, just to get out of our own heads. Escape the heaviness of war.” Hermione licked her lips, wondering if she should continue. “One thing led to another…” She said instead. “The next morning, I was so ashamed. I knew what happened would hurt so many people. You…Ginny…Harry, myself. I did the only thing I could think of.” She stated with a shrug, “Merlin, Hermione…tell me you didn’t.” She chewed her lip, unable to raise her head. “I told him how I felt, admitted everything. Then…I obliviated him.”

         Ron let go of her hand that time as he stood up, pacing the worn path before them. “You bloody obliviated him! Are you mental?” Hermione deserved his anger; this was nothing compared to how she was sure Harry would react once he found out…and he would find out. It was inevitable at this point. “Hermione…” Ron started but she held up her hand, pausing his words. This time she did look up; he deserved to see her face with what she had to say next. “Rosalee was born September 8th, 1998. 9 months from that day.” Ron’s face went red as realization washed over him. “You mean to tell me…that kid,” He jabbed a finger back towards the house, “Is Harry’s and he doesn’t have a bloody clue!” Hermione remained silent as she gave a single nod. “Merlin’s beard Hermione! This is bad. Like really bad!” She stood up, “Don’t you think I know that?” She asked, throwing her hands up. “Honestly, no I don’t think you do Hermione. I’m not sure Harry is ever going to forgive you for this. Bloody hell and you’ve gone and drug me and my family into this disaster. For fuck’s sake Hermione.” Ron shoved a hand angrily through his hair. “I’m going to tell him Ron. I swear it. I just am not sure how.” Ron stared at her, his face flush and his hands poised on his hips. “I’m not either Hermione.”

         Rosalee was quiet as she climbed into bed that night. Hermione chewed her lip nervously as they went through the bedtime routine. “Did you have fun today?” Hermione asked cautiously. “Yeah.” Rosalee pulled the covers up tight under her chin. “I like having grandparents.” She said finally as Hermione leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad darling.” That night, Hermione became more resolved to give back the moments she took from both Harry and her daughter. She just had to muster that Gryffindor bravery that was somewhere within her.