Nineteen
Nineteen
Harry sat at the burrow watching as Rosalee played with Victoire and Fred and Oliver. Hermione had dropped her off that morning with a small bag and barely a word to him. “Everything alright mate?” Ron asked after a long stretch of silence. “Hmm… Oh… yes, I think so. Just lost in my head, I think.” Harry responded. Ron sighed leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “Want to talk about it?” Harry pondered the question. Did he want to talk about it? Everything was so murky these days. “I just…I don’t know what to think. Part of me wants to forgive Hermione. I see everyone else doing it, so I think maybe I’m overexaggerating. The other part of me knows what she did is wrong, and I’m confused on how everyone just thinks this is okay.” Ron sighs, his eyes dropping to the ground before him. Harry watched as Rosalee squealed, a garden gnome popping up out of the ground and rushing away from the children while they chased it. “No one thinks this is okay Harry, but we’re family. Hermione included. We are simply navigating this the best we know how and right now we are adjusting and trying to support you both until the two of you find an understanding. Our anger will come later I think.” Harry glanced up at his old friend as he stood, placing his hands on his hips. Harry startled as Draco’s voice came from somewhere behind him. Ginny and he must have just arrived. “The weasel is right.” The Slytherin offered with a shrug. Ron scowled at the name but remained quiet. “If war taught us anything, is that we never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Everything else…is insignificant.” Ron shook his head, “I wouldn’t say all that mate.” He scoffed. It didn’t matter that Draco had done everything to earn forgiveness, or that he had married his sister, the two would always be like oil and water.
Draco moved closer, his eyes scanning the children with a sad smile. Nodding towards them he said, “That’s what we all suffered for. So, our children can play without worry.” Looking back at Ron he continued, “I’m not saying our choices were insignificant. I did things I’m not proud of, things that I still try to make up for even now. We were in a war Potter. I’m not saying what she did was right, I could understand hiding it from you until after V-Voldemort was dead,” He tumbled over his old master’s name, stuttering the slightest bit, “But six years…I won’t pretend to understand it. That being said, I think all Ron is saying is that, experiencing what we did…we don’t want to sever ties because of a poor choice. We can be supportive and angry at the same time.” Ron sighed, nodding his head while rolling his eyes. “Look at my mother and Andromeda. The first war took their relationship, the second took loved ones. Now they make a point to have tea every Sunday and work on mending their relationship. I’m sure Andromeda holds some anger towards my mother, but it is put aside for the greater good. In this instance,” He paused, tilting his head towards Rosalee, “That’s the greater good.” Harry watched his daughter as she twirled in the garden. The men turned, hearing Ginny as she approached, her arms circling her husband from behind, hugging him as he placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. “I try to put myself in her position. Young, scared, pregnant and facing the very real possibility that the man I love, the man tasked with saving the whole bloody world, could die at any moment if he loses focus. I would hide it from you too.” She shrugged. Harry sighed, “I can understand that part. I really can.” He conceded, “I can understand her taking the memory, hiding the pregnancy and making sure I stay focused. What I’m struggling to understand is why she hid it for so long. I missed out on so much because of that choice.” Harry said, his throat thick with emotion.
Ginny slid forward, moving to Draco’s side as she looped her arm through his. “Because of me I would guess.” Her cheeks flushed, but she held his eyes. “By the time the war was settled, you had agreed to give us a shot. Whether that be because you honestly wanted to, or because you felt you had no shot with Hermione, she didn’t know that.” Harry threw his hands up, frustrated, “Because she left! She didn’t give me the opportunity to say anything!” He yelled. Rosalee paused, glancing over towards them, her smile faltering. “Smile and wave Potter, smile and wave.” Draco mumbled under his breath. The group smiled at the children, waving awkwardly until her smile returned and she went back to playing. “It doesn’t matter Harry. What matters now is that little girl. What matters now is do you love her still?” Harry scanned her face, searching like she held the answers. “I’m angry.” He whispered. Ginny nodded, “You’re allowed to be. I’d be worried if you weren’t. That’s not what I asked.” Harry thought about last night. The feeling of her in his arms, kissing him. The sound of his name tumbling from her lips. “Yes.” He said finally. Glancing up apologetically, “I never truly stopped.” He waited for the hurt to flash across Ginny’s face, but it never did. Instead, she smiled, “I know.”
Harry rushed through Hogwarts, taking the moving staircases as quickly as he could until he found his way to Hermione’s door. It was time to end this back-and-forth game. He was still angry yes, he needed time to trust her and move past it, but he wanted it. He wanted time to do that with her. He pounded on her door and waited. Seconds ticked by but the door remained closed, “no…” He whispered, dread filling his body. She wouldn’t have left, not again, not without Rosalee.
He spun, taking off at a sprint and stumbling around the corner as he made his way to the Headmistress’s office. He whispered the password, “Acid Pops.” He stormed his way in, calling out for his old professor, “Minerva! Professor!” Minerva bustled from one of the bookcases, “Mr. Potter, calm yourself and explain what brings you” He cuts her off, his breath coming in gasps. “Hermione. Please where is she?” Minerva’s face dropped sadly, “She turned in her resignation this morning. Said she had an interview with Kingsley at the ministry. I believe she left nearly an hour ago.” Harry growled but turned, rushing towards the door. “Mr. Potter!” Minerva called, stilling him briefly. “Take my floo. It’ll be faster, shall I discard her resignation?” Harry smiled, nodding his head as he dashed for the floo. “Yes Professor.”
A moment later Harry tumbled into the Minister of Magic’s office, Kinglsey and Hermione looking at him, their mouths agape with surprise. “Harry!”, “Mr. Potter!” They exclaimed with confusion. “Hermione don’t do this. Please. I’ve already lost so much time.” He spit as he struggled to catch his breath. Hermione glanced between Harry and Kingsley, “I’ll just give you two a moment.” The minister said, excusing himself from the office. “Harry, I won’t take any more time from you. Rosalee is your daughter. I will always ensure you have a relationship with her.” She avoids his eyes and her voice is sad. “I meant you. I’ve lost so much time with you.” Hermione’s lips parted with surprise, her eyes finally looking into his own. “I’m mad Hermione…furious even. I’m not sure I can trust you right away... but I want that opportunity because despite all of it, despite everything I am truly, hopelessly, in love with you and have been since the moment you stepped on the train.” Hermione took in a shuddering breath as her tears spilled over her eyes.
Harry studied her, trying to read her. “Hermione?” She launched herself into his arms, sobbing as he clutched her to his chest. “Harry Potter…I will do anything to make it up to you, anything to earn your forgiveness.” She cried into his shirt. He reached down, tilted her chin to look up at him. “Stay.” He whispered, capturing her lips with his own.
October 31, 2004 (6 weeks later)
Harry held her hand as they watched Rosalee skip ahead. It struck him suddenly, watching his daughter that she, like himself, knew the way to his parent’s grave by heart. Hermione had brought her so often over the last six years that it was second nature. He looked down, catching her eyes as she watched him and gave her hand a gentle, grateful squeeze.
He and Hermione had been together for about six weeks now, since that day in Kingsley’s office while she turned down the position in the ministry, opting to keep the teaching position at Hogwarts. It wasn’t always easy, and they had to have a lot of conversations, but it was worth it to him.
They made their way to the grave and stood as Rosalee took her spot alongside the stone. Hermione pulled her wand from her pocket and conjured a wreath, this one with a little note attached. Harry smiled, kissing her forehead before leaning forward to read the inscription. ‘You are missed, with all our love, Harry, Hermione, Rosalee…and baby’. It took him a moment before he understood.
Harry snapped his gaze to Hermione’s. Her brown eyes filled with worry. “What?” He asked incredulously. Hermione nodded, her eyes scanning his face, looking for some kind of reassurance. “That night in your room…before I left for the ministry the next day. I’m sorry Harry, I know you didn’t plan it…” He cut her off, his lips landing on hers as he gripped her face in his hands. “I’m sorry.” She whispered against his mouth. “Shhh. I love you.” He said shaking his head. His heart pounded in his chest. How was it possible to be this damn happy?