Lost Love

Dinner with the Weasleys

Two hours later, Hermione, Harry, Stephen, and the entire Weasley clan sat down to dinner. Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself. There was a huge roast beef, a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes and lots of gravy for both; salad; peas and carrots; warm, crusty bread; warm, gooey, Yorkshire pudding; even little bowls of sweet pickles in different spots along the table.

As the family dug in, Hermione just sat back and smiled. It had been so long since she'd felt at home with any large group of people, but the chattering, laughing group just made her feel like she belonged. She took the bowl of carrots that Harry shoved at her, took a spoonful from her plate, and was about to spoon some out for Stephen when she heard the front door slam.

"Mum! Guess who's come home for Christmas?" Charlie came into the room, and several of his siblings jumped up to greet him. But the whole room soon fell quiet when another red mop appeared over his shoulder.

Mrs. Weasley stood slowly. "Ron?" He grinned at her sheepishly. Everyone quickly got out of her way as she ran to hug her youngest son, who now towered over her, patting her back awkwardly as she cried into his chest.

Hermione was stunned. She wanted to take Stephen and run and hide. But it was already too late. "Ron?" she heard Harry say beside her.

Ron turned to see the two of them, and paled, then flushed angrily, and turned to storm from the room. Before he could leave, George grabbed Ron's arm. "Slow down little brother. You haven't been home for three years. What's the rush?"

"I can tell when I'm not wanted." He turned to glare at his brother. "Let go, George."

By then, Harry was there. "No. Ron, what is wrong with you? You leave with no note, and when you come back, you're immediately ready to leave again. Did I do something to upset you?" He reached out to touch his friend's shoulder, but Ron jerked away. "Damn you, Ron. This is your family! How can you think you're not wanted?"

Ron turned to face Harry. "It sure as hell looks to me like I've been replaced. You both look great with my family, Harry, don't let me intrude. I'm sure I'll get over it eventually," he spat. He jerked his arm from his brother's grip, but turned to find Hermione blocking the way.

"Ronald Weasley! Is that why you ran away? You thought..." Hermione looked at Harry, almost smiling, but still too angry at Ron to manage it. "...You thought we were...or wanted to be together?"

Ron scoffed. "Gee, Hermione. I didn't think you'd have a child with a man you hated."

Hermione paled. "I...didn't." She turned away.

Harry growled. "Look, you unbelievable wanker! You left her, not the other way around, and the only thing I wanted for Hermione was for her to be happy, and you took that away when you left!"

Ron looked from Harry's angry face to Hermione's desolate one, unbelieving. "You...you're not together?"

"No, you insensitive asshole! In fact, I'm not even attracted to girls!"

Now Ron was thunderstruck. "You? You're..."

"Yeah, Ron, I'm gay! What? Can't say it? Need proof, maybe?" He turned to George. "I guess we're doing this the hard way, love." George just grinned. He leaned down, and they kissed, to the amazement of all of the Weasleys.

Fred whistled under his breath. "George, you dog."

Hermione grinned. She should have known. Why else would Stephen have seemed so comfortable with Fred? Then she turned to look at Ron, who was still looking at his best friend and his brother, kissing in front of the entire Weasley clan.

Finally, Percy cleared his throat. "Excuse me. If you two are going to do that, could you at least take it outside? I'd rather my children didn't see this, at least." Harry and George broke apart, still staring at each other, both rather flushed. Harry looked pointedly at Ron, who simply stood there, speechless.

Arthur had made it to the doorway where they all stood, and clapped Harry and George on their shoulders. "Well, well. I guess that congratulations are in order?" he grinned. "Molly's always complaining that George never brings anyone home. Would this be why?"

"I'm afraid so, sir." Suddenly, Molly's arms were wrapped around Harry, and she was bawling once more. He looked as uncomfortable as Ron had.

Arthur took Molly by the hand and led her from the room. "Come on, Molly, let's get you a cup of tea, so you can calm down."

Harry and George left the room immediately after, and Hermione, about to talk to Ron, heard Stephen begin to whimper. "Oh, Stephen." She turned from Ron, not noticing how his ears began to redden once more as she moved to her son's side and pulled him into her arms. She began filling his small plate, and soon had him chewing away at a small piece of bread while she cut up his meat in cubes so he could pick them up easier.

Harry and George returned, chairs in tow, and two more place settings were set up for the new arrivals. George moved his plate to sit next to Harry, but Hermione was saddened to see that Ron chose to sit far down at the other end of the table by Neville and Ginny, so that Charlie ended up in the chair across from her. Arthur and Molly returned, and he set her in her chair, a steaming cup of tea in front of her, which she sipped at gingerly, grinning happily down the table at where George and Harry sat, heads close together.

Ron said little as dinner went on, but Hermione caught him staring at her frequently, particularly after she had helped Stephen with his dinner, or wiped his chin. And each time he caught her eyes, he glared. Hermione couldn't understand how he could still be so upset. What was it now? But then, when had what Ron was upset about ever made any sense to her at all?

After supper, Hermione pulled Stephen from his highchair, and was about to take him up to the room when Ron blocked the way. "You may not be with Harry, but you still seem to have gotten along fine without me."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" He looked pointedly at Stephen, and Hermione felt her arms tighten protectively around her son. Before she could say anything, she felt an arm around her. It was Fred. And Molly was close beside him.

"Ronald Allen Weasley! Are you saying what I think you're saying? Have you even looked at this boy?"

Ron glared at his mother. "I see him just fine, mother." He turned to Hermione. "Whose is he? Seamus's? Neville's? No, I'd know then, wouldn't I?" he smirked. "Draco's, maybe?"

This time it was Harry's voice she heard. It was the quiet voice she had often heard him use when he was trying desperately to keep his anger in check in Snape's class. "Ron, Draco and Pansy married right out of school. But you wouldn't know that, would you? Kind of difficult to keep track when you run away."

Ron spluttered. But Molly didn't give him a chance to respond. "Look at him, Ron! Doesn't he remind you of anyone?" She took Stephen from Hermione's arms and held him so that Ron could see his face.

At first Ron just glanced at him, as though he were unimportant, but then he took a closer look. And slowly, his expression changed. First to shock, then wonderment, and finally horror. He turned to Hermione, but said nothing. After all, there was nothing left to say. Hermione took Stephen from Molly, and ran for the staircase. There was a strangled "Hermione!" followed by Fred's "Let her go, Ron. You've done enough for the night."

By the time she reached her room, her face was drenched with tears.