A divorce in the Burrow
The three days that followed were a blur of motherhood and quiet contemplation, Hermione had filled both Theo and Malfoy in on what she had discovered the night of Rose’s birth and then proceeded to have to ward them both into the dining room for hours to prevent them murdering Ron. Theo had kindly offered Hermione a room to stay, and ordered everything she could possibly need for both her and the baby. With the support of Marge, the ever-vigilant house-elf catering to every whim, she had settled nicely into the manor. The biggest surprise had been Malfoy, who proved to be a constant if not awkward presence. He’d taken to bringing her books and keeping the manor quiet during Rose’s nap times, often picking her up when she was unsettled to wander around the house while Hermione rested.
Theo had brought news of an angry and terrified Ron, who had come looking for Hermione when she hadn’t come home that night, concerned something had happened to her. Hermione wasn’t ready to face him just yet, so she had sent word by owl to let him know she was fine but taking some time to rest before the baby arrived.
As she sat on the leather sofa beside the warm fireplace, a snoozing but content Rose nestled in her arms, and a book in her hand, Hermione thoughtfully considered the situation she had found herself in. Never in a million years had she ever thought that she would give birth anywhere that wasn’t a hospital, never mind the home of one of Voldemorts biggest supporters, and though Theo had accepted ownership of the Manor and entirely renovated in the last two years, the dark magic still lingered.
Hermione set her book down, glancing in the doorway just in time for the arrival of Malfoy, bringing her the morning paper “Just leaving this here for you, but Theo has sent word that Ron is back at the office demanding to be told where his wife is.” He raised an eyebrow at this, and began to leave “Malfoy, thank you for, well for everything.” Hermione sighed, “I think however it might be time for me to face the music and go see Ron,” The phrase confused him, and he shrugged “I’d say never speak to the bastard again, but he is a father and he needs to do the right thing, just Granger, you deserve so much more.” He strode away on that statement, leaving her dumbfounded. The Malfoy she had witnessed over the last few days, was not the young boy she had grown up with.
Hermione glanced around the room, and back down at her daughter, “time to go meet your daddy little one” she said hesitantly. She was still hurt and angry, there had been a constant ache in her heart since the moment she saw Ron with Lavender but she needed to confront him, and most importantly, she needed to introduce him to his daughter. With that, she sent an owl to Ron, requesting he meet her at the Burrow in that afternoon.
A few hours later, Hermione flooed to the Burrow, the familiar warmth of the Weasley household doing little to thaw the ice in her veins. Ginny looked up from the kitchen table, her eyes widening in surprise “Hermione! There you are, we’ve all been so worried but Ron said you decided to take..” she faltered, noticing the bundle of blankets in Hermione’s arms. “I, I need to talk to Ron first Ginny,” Hermione said, her voice flat, devoid of emotion.
Ginny nodded, sensing now was not the time and went to fetch Ron as Hermione settled into a chair at the table, glancing at the Weasley clock, noting no one else was home thankfully. She wasn’t quite ready for the chaos that would bring when the truth came out. “Hermione!” Ron rushed into the room, stopping at the doorway, a look of confusion on his face “you had the baby? Why didn’t you let me know, are you okay, is the baby okay?” his words stumbling out of him as he moved to kneel in front of her. “Mione, what’s wrong,” his eyes darted around the room as Ginny appeared in the doorway, Harry by her side.
“We need to talk Ron,” she said, her voice cold and controlled. She had thought all morning about what she would say but found that now she was here, her brain had frozen. She pulled Rose in closer, needing that reminder of the baby between them before she spoke again. “We need to talk about you and Lavender.” Ron shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze as he stood. “I don’t know what your talking about Hermione.” He stepped back, away from her “Don’t lie to me Ron, please” Hermione raised her voice, “I saw you with her, in our spare room.” Ron paled, “Hermione, please it was a mistake, it was just a one time thing I promise.”
“A mistake” Hermione echoed, her voice low. “You slept with Lavender, in our house Ron. That doesn’t just ‘happen’.” Ron mumbled something unintelligible, his face flushed. From the corner of her eye she saw Harry move towards them, anger on his face and his wand raised, she lifted her hand to stop him, taking a deep breath. “This is your daughter” she said, tilting Rose so Ron could see her sleeping. Ron’s head snapped up, his eyes widening as he stared down at the baby wriggling in the pink blanket, his eyes tearing.
“We have a daughter?” he whispered, his voice trembling. Hermione nodded, her eyes fixed on him, watching his reaction. “Her name is Rose, after my Grandmother.” Ron approached cautiously, his gaze glued to the baby, he held out his arms “can I hold her.” For a moment, Hermione wanted to say no, to tell him he had no right to ask, not after he shattered their entire family but that wouldn’t be fair to Rose or to Ron. With a sigh she handed her over, gently placing her in Ron’s open arms. “She’s beautiful” his voice choked with emotion.
Hermione watched him, her heart aching. “This isn’t about us anymore Ron, but be assured, there is no more us. The silence in the Burrow’s kitchen was thick with unspoken tension. Ron, still kneeling beside them holding Rose in his arms, looked down at Hermione “Hermione, I..” he began but the words seemed to catch in his throat.
Before he could continue, Ginny finally let Harry move forward, his face etched with concern and anger. "Hermione?" Harry said, his voice laced with confusion. "What's going on?"
Hermione met his gaze, her expression a mixture of sadness and determination. “I finished work early on Monday afternoon and I arrived home a little earlier than Ron anticipated and walked in on him having sex with Lavender in our spare bedroom.” Her voice was steady as she glared at Ron who had turned bright red at her admission “I didn’t know you were there” he stuttered, her eyes narrowed “evidently”.
Harry’s eyes narrowed “Ron?” he said, his voice dangerously low. “What the fuck did you do?” Ron flinched his gaze dropping to the floor, “I messed up mate” he mumbled, his voice barely audible, he handed Rose back to Hermione as he turned to face his best friend, when out of the corner of her eye, Ginny raised her wand. “You fucking imbecile Ronald Weasley” Harry grabbed Ginny, as she made to move forward. They were both angry “not with the baby here Ginny, let’s wait till Hermione is home safely yeah?” he turned to Ron “messed up?” he growled, “you cheated on Hermione, while she was pregnant with your child?” Ron cringed, “I know, I know, I’m sorry okay, it was just a mistake”.
Harry looked at Hermione, turning his attention to her and Rose “Are you alright, is Rose, okay? You know you don’t have to put up with this” his face a picture of disgust. “You deserve better.” Hermione nodded, her gaze unwavering “I know Harry, that’s why I’m filing for divorce”. The words hung in the air, heavy and final. Ron’s head snapped up, his eyes widening “Hermione, no, please don’t do this”. Hermione met his gaze, her expression resolute. “I’m sorry Ron, but I can’t forgive this, what you did broke my heart and my trust, and I refuse to build a future with someone I can’t trust.”
Hermione met his gaze as she took Rose from him, her expression resolute. Ron’s voice crackled with emotion “but what about Rose?” Hermione looked down at her sleeping daughter, “Rose will always know you Ron, you’ll always be her father, but we can’t be a family.” She turned to Harry; her eyes filled with gratitude. “We’re going to head back to Nott Manor for now, but I plan to come back to the cottage this evening.” She turned to Ron “I expect you to have your stuff gone and when I’m ready, we can discuss custody, but your welcome to visit your daughter anytime.”
Harry nodded, his expression softening “me and Ginny will be there later, to get you both settled in” Ginny nodded, her eyes filled with tears, she didn’t trust herself to speak, not with Hermione there. Ron stared at her “what do you mean Nott Manor?, surely you aren’t bringing our daughter to that hellhole?”
Hermione smirked, “the hellhole she was born in with Draco Malfoy holding my hand, when it should have been you?” she laughed “you’ve no one to blame but yourself Ronald for this situation.” With that, she turned and stepped into the Floo, calling out for Nott Manor as she held her daughter close.