Hermione's Little Secret

He held on for six more hours, each of his family going in in turns to talk and say their good-byes. He made Harry promise to keep an eye his wife and children. Arthur stayed by his son’s side the entire time, the strength of his family, holding his youngest son’s hand as the pain became so unbearable he passed out long before he stopped breathing. Hermione went in every half hour, then returned to the grieving Weasleys, her parents having arrived with another Auror. They had gone in to see Ron and come out, looking more scared than they had when she’d returned from her battle at the Ministry in her fifth year. She knew when he died, knew when he breathed his last without looking at his ravaged face. He’d gone limp, peaceful at the end, the tension of fighting the curse and poison finally ending. She leaned down and kissed the corner of his lips, the only part left, then wailed her loss, her father-in-law pulling her away from Ron’s body.

She fought, but she was exhausted from the wait, from trying to be strong for her family. Ho
w was she going to explain to her little girl that Daddy wasn’t going to be tucking her in bed ever again? How was she going to stand in front of her pupils and not remember the fun she and Ron and Harry had had while students at the same school? How was she going to be able to sleep again without his long lean body cuddling next to her, warming her better than any quilt? How was she going to live now, without him?

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Her scream was heard throughout the hospital and the family knew that one of their own had died. Arthur whispered a sleep charm and carried his son’s widow out to the waiting area, laying her out on the couch.


He was buried near his grandparents in the Muggle village where the Weasleys lived. Hermione seemed to have shrunk, making her pregnancy more pronounced. She’d refused to leave her daughter with anyone; she kept little Adrianna with her during the funeral and burial. Ginny missed everything, having gone into labor with her first child, delivering a son. She figured Hermione would name her baby after Ron, so she’d chosen Brian, for their beloved late headmaster, Dumbledore. Harry was there, crying next to Hermione, unafraid to show his true feelings. The three of them had been together since their first year, friends since defeating the mountain troll together in the girls’ lavoratory. Hermione held Rianna’s hand as they lowered the casket into the ground.


“You have to eat something, Hermione. You’ll harm the baby.” Molly pushed the plate closer to her daughter in law, but Hermione just shook her head. She was now six months along, bigger than ever, but except for Adrianna, she didn’t care what happened around her. “I’ll tie you down and feed you if I have to! Ask any of the boys and they’ll tell you I’ll do it too!”

“Did you ever have to with Ron?” She whispered, a tear coursing down her cheek. Molly sat down heavily next to the girl, a woman in the eyes of everyone, but a woman who’d lost her husband just six weeks before. She was in need of some mothering.

“Yes. That boy hated corned beef. Hated it with a passion. He’d hide it in his trouser pockets, you know. Once I caught him sneaking away with it and I tied him right to that chair and had him eat what he’d hidden. He was eight. And he’d been in the garden earlier, forgetting that he’d caught a worm and pocketed it.” Molly was happy to hear the younger woman laugh, crying at the same time…but still laughing for the first time since seeing her husband die.

“I miss him so much, Molly.” Hermione whispered into the older woman’s shoulder.

“We all do. But we’ve loved him since birth, while you grew to love him, and that’s even more precious. I don’t know how you feel as a wife losing her husband, but I do know what it’s like to lose a son. And I’ve lost one before. Before we had Bill, we had a little boy. He was seven weeks old when I woke one morning to find him…gone in his sleep.”

“SIDS.” Hermione whispered and Molly nodded her head.

“His name was Michael. He’s been dead thirty-one years, but I think about him every day, especially now that Ginny’s had Brian. He looks just like my babe. But, Hermione, you need to live. You’ve got Adrianna and the new baby to think about. And you have to keep yourself healthy. Do you think that Ron would want you to starve yourself to death? Or lose the babe?”

“No, but I don’t have any strength. He wasn’t just my husband and lover. He was one of my best friends. Probably my closest friend, really.”

“I know. I’ve seen the three of you together since third year. Promise me you’ll take better care of yourself?” Molly stroked the girl’s hair as she snuffled and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her arm. She chuckled, remembering her sons doing that their entire lives.

“I will, Molly. I need to get back to the school and teach again, I think.”

“Excellent idea. Adrianna can stay here for a little while, until you get your bearing again.”

“Will you help me when I have little Ronald?” Hermione felt the tears gather again, but she refused to cry. She loved Ron, but Molly was right. She wasn’t helping her children by ignoring everything.

“Oh, yes, of course, Hermione. You didn’t even have to ask. Now, should we floo to the school and see about getting your classroom set up?”

Hermione smiled and nodded softly. Undoubtedly, she’d continue being sad, but she now had something to look forward to.


a/n thanks to everyone for the words of encouragement...


LadyLymm~~ sorry bout the nails. I was biting mine while rereading this story, so I can empathize. lol

more soon

Marti