The Potters meet Rose
It had been a few days since her unexpected tea with Malfoy, and she had settled into a new routine with Rose. She had asked everyone to give them some time to adjust, but she had eventually invited Ginny and Harry over this morning to meet Rose officially, and to reassure them she was okay.
The floo roared to life, and Harry and Ginny stepped out onto the hearth rug, their faces etched with a mixture of concern and barely contained fury. Ginny, in particular looked ready to hex something, her normally cheerful demeanour replaced by a scowl.
“Hermione!” Ginny exclaimed, rushing forward to envelope her best friend in a tight hug “ are you alright, is Rose okay?” her eyes flicked to the nursery “ can we see her?.” Hermione smiled, the warmth of her friends a welcome balm to the lingering ache, “of course” she said, “but I’ve just put her to sleep, so quietly” she warned them both.
Harry and Ginny followed her to the nursery, their expressions softening as they gazed at the baby. Rose, was a perfect combination of her parents, with unruly brown hair and bright inquisitive eyes. “oh Hermione, she’s absolutely perfect” Harry said softly, his eyes lingering on Rose’s tiny hand, which was gripped on the blanket. “She really is”, Ginny agreed, her voice thick with emotion. She looked up at Hermione, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger “how could he give all this up, he’s a fucking idiot, and with Lavender of all people, how fucking predictable.” Hermione sighed, the familiar knot tightening in her chest “I don’t know Ginny” she admitted, “I didn’t see it coming, I thought we were happy, but looking back he’s been off for a while, but I put it down to nerves at being a father.”
They all glanced back down at Rose, who was sleeping soundly. “We’re all not speaking to him, mum included, I thought she was going to hex him herself” Hermione snorted, holding back a laugh at the thought of Molly Weasley hexing her favourite son. “I’m not going to waste anymore energy on anger, this little girl needs me to stay positive, and build a new life for us.”
They spend the rest of the evening cooing over Rose, sharing stories, and offering Hermione their support. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the living room, Harry and Ginny prepared to leave. “Hermione” Harry said, his voice serious, “We’re here for you, we’re your family too you know?” Hermione smiled, “I know Harry” as they stepped into the floo, Ginny paused, “Oh and Hermione, don’t think I’m letting you away without telling us how Draco Malfoy ended up playing Doctors with you on the floor of Nott Manor” she winked as the floo sent them on their way.
The next morning, the window tapped with the arrival of Athena, Ron’s tawny owl shattering the peaceful quiet of the cottage. Hermione set the stack of nappies she was folding, Rose still asleep in her crib. With a sigh, Hermione crossed the room to read the note “Calling in five minutes. Love, Ron”.
Hermione’s heart raced, she wasn’t quite ready to face him but she had told him he could call by anytime to see Rose, and she didn’t want to turn him down. The floo roared to life behind her and she stilled “hello” she heard him call out behind her, his voice hesitant. "Ron," she acknowledged, her voice carefully neutral. Ron stood at the fireplace, looking awkward and unsure of himself. He held a small package in his hands “Hermione” he said, his voice low. She beckoned him in, allowing him to enter. He looked around the familiar living room, his eyes lingering on the empty spaces where his belongings used to be. “It feels strange here, being visitor in my own home”.
Hermione nodded, not yet trusting herself to speak. She led him to the nursery, where Rose had just wakened. Ron gazed at his daughter, his expression softening as he reached out a hesitant finger and gently stroked her cheek. “she’s so beautiful, I can’t believe we made her” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Hermione watched him, she wanted to hate him, to scream at him for what he had done but she just felt sad. They sat in silence for a while, the only sound Rose’s soft breaths. Then, Ron spoke, his voice low and filled with remorse. “Hermione, I need to tell you something.” She looked at him, before gesturing for him to follow her into the living room “let’s talk here, and let Rose sleep yeah?” she sunk down in the sofa, her eyes weary from a restless night with a newborn. She looked at Ron, who was stood awkwardly in the middle of the room “sit down Ronald, please, you’re making me tired”. Her eyebrows raised as she took his appearance in, he looked as tired as she felt, his hands trembling, hair a mess, more than usual. “Spit it out Ron”.
“The affair with Lavender” he said, his gaze fixed on the floor. “It wasn’t just a one-time thing. It’s been going on a while.” Hermione’s breath caught in her throat, she’d suspected as much, she knew that Ron and Lavender had unfinished business, she’d been a fool to think marrying her had put a stop to it. “How long” she asked, her voice coming out harsh. Ron hesitated, his face flushed “emm, a few months” he mumbled.
Hermione closed her eyes, tears pricking at her eyelids. Months. He’d been lying to her for months, while she had lay beside him in bed, planning their future, discussing baby names as Rose grew in her belly, planning a life together. The thought made her sick to her stomach. “Why, Ron?” she asked, her voice trembling “Was I not enough for you?”
Ron looked up, his eyes filled with shame and regret, “I don’t know, I don’t have an answer Hermione, you were working late all the time, busy with the Ministry and I was struggling with Auror training, and I started talking to Lav, telling her how I was feeling and then you got pregnant, and I put her out of my mind but then one day, we bumped into each other at the Leaky Cauldron, and well.. it just happened”.
"So, because I was trying to build a life for us, working on the career you knew I wanted. Becoming the youngest ever head of a department.." she trailed off, unsure how to continue without punching him in the face. "I need some time" she said, her voice firm. "Time to process this, to figure out how we co-parent successfully." Ron nodded, his expression resigned "I understand, and I'm sorry Hermione, truly." Hermione stared at him before she signed "I wont stop you seeing Rose, but we need to set boundaries in place. This is no longer your home and I'll need more than a five minute warning next time" Ron nodded, "I know I messed up. Badly. But I promise I'll be a good dad, for Rose." Standing, he left the small parcel he had been holding on the coffee table "Mum knitted her some mittens, she's dying to meet her but I'll let her know to reach out to you." Hermione didn't reply, simply watched him back to the Floo, and once he had left she lay on the sofa, and sobbed.
A tap tap tap at the window startled her, and she peeled herself from the sofa to see a large tawny owl perched on the sill, a rolled parchment attached to its legs. She didnt recognise the owl, and she hadn't been expecting any parcels. She opened the window, offering a treat to the owl as she removed the note.
'Dearest Hermione, I hope this finds you and my gorgeous Goddaughter well. I've been thinking of you both constantly, and dying to see you. Would you be up for joining me for Croissants and a chance for me to cuddle that beautiful baby? All my love, Theodore Nott. '
Hermione smiled, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. It would be wonderful to see Theo, and she was missing those chocolate croissants but perhaps an outing to muggle london would be better, no prying eyes of the press eager to snap a photo of Rose and her. She missed Theo and his ridiculous gossip. Grabbing a quill, she scribbled a response down 'Theo, Would tomorrow suit, meet you at 12pm at the Cosy Chair, Muggle London so on your best behaviour please. H.G x'