Top of the Mountain

Top of the Mountain

Chapter 2- Trying

The first thing Ron noticed about Hermione was that she was pregnant. Panic filled his mind as she stared at her smiling face. So now, not only was he married but he was going to be a Dad!

"I can't believe you're actually awake!" she cried, launching herself at him. He patted her on the back uncertainly and muttered a small "Hello" into her shoulder. She laughed happily and kissed him gently on the mouth.

"Um, Hermione? Can I talk to you for a second?"

Hermione frowned as she turned to face Ginny. "Can't it wait, Gin?"

"It's important," Ginny insisted. "Come on, let's go for a walk!"

She stood up and took Hermione by the elbow firmly.

"I'll be back soon, Ron! I promise," Hermione said to him, grinning. "I have so much to say to you!"

"Yeah, sure..." he whispered breathlessly.

Hermione and Ginny walked out, Ginny quickly kissing Harry and hugging Ron good-bye as she swept past.

When the door was shut quietly behind them, Ron sat up straighter and glared at Harry.

"You didn't think to tell me?"

Harry had the decency to look ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, but I hardly had the time, did I?"

Ron shrugged and muttered under his breath. Harry couldn't look him in the eyes and focused on a spot just behind his right shoulder. "I'm sorry" he repeated.

"How far along is she?"

Harry gulped. "Four months."

"Four?!" yelped Ron.

"Yes, four. She told you the day before your accident," Harry explained.

Ron lay back against the pillow and closed his eyes briefly, processing this new information. "What the hell am I going to do?" he whispered softly, more to himself than Harry.

*

It was more than half an hour later when Ginny and Hermione re-entered. By this time, Ron was so restless that he was literally bouncing up and down. He soon stopped however, when he saw the look on Hermione's face.

"So..." said Harry, trying to break the tense atmosphere in the room. "This is awkward!"

Ginny shot him a look from the corner of her eye that said Shut up, moron! He closed his mouth obediently and coughed uncomfortably. "Shall we go, Gin?"

"I think that would be best," agreed Ginny.

"Bye!" muttered Ron. Hermione remained silent.

They left swiftly, leaving Ron with a distraught pregnant woman to deal with. Alone.

He swallowed a lump in his throat and stammered: "So... Ginny told you then?"

"Yes," Hermione replied, blinking back tears.

"Oh."

She approached him slowly and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. "The Healer said you can go home tomorrow."

Ron was at a loss for words. "Home?"

She nodded.

"The Burrow?"

"Oh. No. Our house."

Suddenly Ron felt very sick again.

"Oh... um... err..." he stammered, blinking. She watched him thoughtfully as he squirmed in his embarrassment.

"What are we going to do, Ron?"

He gaped at her. "I... I guess we... I mean...I guess I could stay with my parents?"

He regretted the words the minute he said them. Hermione's bottom lip trembled and Ron was astounded to see that her eyes had full of tears again.

"You d-don't w-want m-m-me to be with y-you?" she sniffed.

"Oh, no. I mean, yes. No! Wait," he mumbled. "It's me, not you?!" he said, hopefully.

Hermione burst into loud sobs. Ron didn't have the faintest ideas what to do, or say, so he patted her knee in what he felt was a reassuring gesture. It didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Eventually, Hermione sobered up. She clumsily kissed Ron's cheek and fled the room. Ron immediately relaxed into his pillows after her departure. He only had a moment of peace, however, as Ginny came bustling in.

"This really won't do, you know!" she said, plumping his pillows and smoothing his blankets. Ron watched, half amused, half irritated.

"What do you expect me to do?"

"I expect you to try," replied Ginny.

*

Ron took a few deep breaths. Today Hermione was coming to take him home. He was extremely nervous. He didn't think he could cope with any more crying. Thankfully, when Hermione arrived, she was cool and composed.

"Hello," she said politely. "Are you ready?"

"Hey," he responded. "I'm ready."

Hermione smiled tightly and gestured for the Healer to help Ron into the wheelchair. Once seated comfortably, Ron looked at Hermione expectantly. Hermione avoided looking him in the eye and muttered a charm under her breath. Ron soon found himself rolling along at a steady pace. Hermione brought up the rear, clutching his small bag to her chest.