The Seventh Year Soap Opera

RECAP OF CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT- The Chapter with no Name: Charlie and Katarina move in with Harry and Ginny, Ron does as well, and has a job as assistant manager to the Cannons. He muses about being welcomed back into the wizarding world, and about Hermione, then goes on tour with the Cannons. While he's gone, Hermione wakes up from her coma. She finds out that Viktor and her unborn baby are both dead, and breaks down. We have a flashback of Viktor asking her to the Yule Ball, Hermione observes Raven talking in her sleep, then we have another flashback; this time it's one of her and Ron. Ron receives the owl telling him Hermione's awake during the Cannons match, Hermione and Ginny go house hunting for Hermione, and Hermione goes into a rage at Harry.

Chapter Twenty-Nine-

Two days later, Harry and Ginny had moved Hermione into her new home. Katarina and Charlie were excited to be living in a new home, but Hermione had not spoken a word since her outbursts in the kitchen. She had simply gone back to her routine of locking herself in the guest bedroom. Now that she was in her new home, she had locked herself in her new bedroom. Harry and Ginny were still there; they were outside playing with the children.

Hermione looked around her room. It was certainly spacious enough, but lacked something; Hermione couldn't put her finger on it. She had lived in three bedrooms in her life. The first was the bedroom in her parent's house, which had been her sanctuary. Whenever she felt pressured by them or was feeling low, she'd go to her room and hide under the covers of her bed, and read a book. Her soft beige walls had been covered with pictures of her family (mainly of her baby cousin Sally) and posters of famous authors. She had five bookshelves and a small television in that room, but it changed when she had redecorated when she came home from her seventh year at Hogwarts. The second room she had lived in was in the girl's dormitories. If she ever needed to talk with someone, Parvati and Lavender had always been there, even if Hermione had thought them as annoying at the time. The third had been with Viktor, a small bedroom with white lace curtains and soft, violet sheets and comforters. Large dressers, an oak nightstand and hovering candles...

This room was different. It was sort of confining, despite how big it was. No light seemed to stream in through the two windows on the opposite walls, there was nothing. Her room was polluted with unfamiliar things. There was a little desk in the corner, newly bought. A dresser, also newly bought. A mirror, and for the record, newly bought. Not one item was there to comfort her, not one. She felt empty and desolate as she lay back on her bed, her bed that was most certainly not in the right position.

It came to her. This stupid room wasn't filled with warmth. Not the type of warmth that comes from heat, but soothing warmth. Something to lighten her mood, put her in a state of bliss. It wasn't there.

A fresh of wave of anger washed over Hermione and she jumped out of the bed and headed over to the bay window to her left. A tiny part of her wanted to leave this room, but she was still shaken from all those horrible things she had said to Harry. Of course, he had deserved it, prying into her emotions like that, sticking his nose where it didn't belong...

She sighed and looked down, and saw her kids playing. At the moment, Raven was flying on a toy broomstick, her curly hair blowing in the wind. Charlie was chasing Katarina, Ginny was chasing Charlie, and Harry was chasing Ginny. Hermione watched, as a lump swelled in her throat. A lump of jealousy. Katarina stumbled and let out a shriek, and Charlie dropped to the ground and began to tickle her; Harry raced past Ginny and picked a startled Charlie up with both hands and started swinging him in the air, a look of happiness on both their faces. Katarina stood up and tried to sneak up on Ginny, but Ginny spun around and began tickling her. Raven had now come off her broomstick, and, looking sulky, made her way inside the house.

The lump inside Hermione's throat seemed to grow. She let out a choked sob and ripped a tissue from her Kleenex box so violently it ripped in half. She dropped the ruined tissue to the floor and picked up a new one, trying to take her thoughts from what she had seen. For some reason, she felt angry. She also felt a longing to push Harry and Ginny out of the way and play with her children herself.

They're probably afraid I'll neglect my kids, she thought bitterly, as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue and sat on her bed. Who can blame them? I'm a horrible mother. I was a horrible wife as well. Everything I do is rubbish. Hermione looked up at the ceiling, tears forming in her eyes.

Hermione looked at her book, then at her husband's retreating form. She sighed as she picked up the book and dashed up the stairs after him. "Viktor, wait!" she said, but just as she reached their bedroom door, it slammed in her face. She jumped, startled, then caught her breath. She hadn't meant to make Viktor angry. Why couldn't he see that? Still, she knew she had hurt him. She opened the door softly. "Viktor, I-I'm sorry..." she started, staring at him from behind. He refused to look at her. "I just..."

"Just vat?" he said dejectedly, still not turning to face her.

"I'm not ready," she said, aware that there was a pleading note in her voice. She and Viktor had been married for a month now, and she still hadn't brought herself to sleep with him. He had been very understanding about it...until now.

"Ven vill you be ready?" he demanded, now facing her. Hermione's heart sank slightly at the look on his face. "You are my vife! Doesn't that mean something?"

"Of course it does!"

"How long are you going to deny me Herm-own-ninny?" His tone was frustrated for the first time in a month.

She was tired of him asking. She didn't know when she would be ready. The last time she had had sex, her life had been turned upside down. In a surge of frustration to match her husband's, Hermione threw her book across the room. It hit the wall with a loud thump and fell to the floor. Viktor looked surprised. "You think I deny you? I married you! And I'm only eighteen!"

Viktor's face softened a bit. He said quietly, "We could have waited longer..."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, because then that would disappoint you. It would ruin your perfect little life, wouldn't it, Viktor?"

"Vat are you trying to say?"

Hermione felt ashamed instantly at the crestfallen gleam in his eyes. She felt unworthy, lower than dirt. "You know, I don't know Viktor! I'm just...I guess I was just mad because you're perfect and I'm not." She shrugged and gave her husband a forced smile. "I-I'm sorry..." She looked down at the floor.

Viktor closed the space between them and lifted her chin with his finger, and looked into her eyes. "I am not perfect. You are not perfect. No one is. But I love you anyway, and that's vy I married you. Because I wanted to spend my whole life vith you. I vanted to be vith you Herm-own-ninny, but I cannot help feeling that you do not love me in return, that you--you harbor feelings for another."

Hermione sighed again and bit her lip. "Viktor, I love you."

"Do you love Ron Weasley?" he said, eyes boring into hers.

"Ron's my friend," Hermione choked, her eyes blurring. She turned her gaze to the book she had thrown across the floor. "Of course I love him--but it's not the same..."

Viktor pulled his hand away from her face and turned away, looking extremely hurt. Hermione, feeling she had said something wrong, walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He sighed, "Herm-own-ninny, I love you, but sometimes love is not enough. You need dedication, trust...all of those things and sometimes I--"

Hermione cut him off by covering his mouth with her hand. He turned around and faced her, and their eyes locked. "Viktor, I am your wife. I love you. I will be here for you. Ron Weasley--he--he's a memory. He's gone."

Viktor nodded and hugged her, and she hugged him back, closing her eyes. Viktor's next whispered words made her skin tingle, "And if he comes back?"

"He won't, and even if he does, I'm not going to ruin what we have." Hermione opened her eyes and drawed away from him slightly, and stared up at him. Instinctively, she raised a hand to caress his cheek; he sighed and kissed her hand, then pressed it back to his cheek lovingly, as though he didn't want to let it go.

Hermione breathed softly, and whispered, "I'm ready."

Nine months later, Katarina Kathleen Krum was born.

Hermione cried some more and dabbed her eyes with the tissue again. She missed Viktor with all her heart, but she wanted to see Ron even more. She was betraying Viktor's memory; a part of her was glad that he was dead. She would be free to have Ron. She had denied him too long.

I am such a skank, she thought. I have run through men, like...like...why am I such a horrible person?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Harry, I'm fine, I'll come out in a minute, you--you and Ginny can leave now," she said, and the door opened anyway.

Fred and George walked into her room, shut the door, and plopped themselves on her bed, forcing her to move backwards. "What are you doing?" she snapped.

They exchanged a look. "We have come to talk to you, what do you think?" said George.

"Yes, you're reminding us of our Aunt Gwen, and you know that she died from being bitter?" said Fred, giving a small shudder.

"You have no Aunt Gwen," said Hermione, dabbing her nose, "and I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much."

"Oh did you hear that George? Her husband has been killed and she lost a baby, not to mention the fact that in six hours, the man she truly loves will be coming back from being on tour. And she hasn't seen him in five years..."

"Well, actually, it's more like six--that encounter at the Burrow during the wedding reception doesn't count."

"You're right, and she's perfectly fine with all of this?"

"I don't think so Fred."

"Me neither."

"Well, great minds think alike."

"What's your point?" Hermione snapped again.

"Hermione, you have to let Viktor go--just like George had to let that Muggle go."

"What Muggle?"

"Well, you see, George fell in love with a Muggle, but she got killed in a car accident. He was heartbroken, even though he had never spoken to her, just stalked her...and then he fell in love with Katie, whom he had known for forever! He felt guilty for giving up that Muggle so quickly, but he got over it, didn't you George?" Fred turned to his twin.

George looked grim. "Of course I did, after I found out that she was a prostitute..."

"A true scarlet woman!"

"So..." Hermione prompted.

"It's okay to go for our little brother," said Fred. "Viktor's dead, and there's nothing you can do about that."

"Except move on," added George. "Viktor would have wanted you to, and with Ron! He's your best friend and he loves you more than the Chudley Cannons!"

"And that's saying something, but the thing is...you love him too! Don't you Hermione?"

Both twins wore identical grins and Hermione heaved a sigh. They expected her to say it out loud. She had never said it out loud before, even though it had been true for a long, long time. She opened her mouth several times before finally getting the words past her throat "Yes, I love him."

Fred let out a cheer and punched the air. George grinned. "Good, because Charlie and Katarina need a father, and I'm sure you could come up with a couple of useful things to do with him yourself," said George. Fred looked at his twin in mild disgust. Hermione didn't fight the smile that touched her lips, her first true smile since Viktor had died.

"Georgio, why oh why did you say that? Vivid mental images are scarring my brain!"

"Yeah, sort of like I got when I walked in on you and Angelina doing--"

"STOP!" yelled Fred and Hermione at the same time, and Fred leapt behind Hermione, shielding her ears. "There are children present, George!" Hermione rolled her eyes, and Fred, who had put on an act of being scandalized, started to laugh. George's grin widened, and he stood up.

"Well, think about what we've said, okay Hermione?" George said, looking as serious as Hermione had ever seen him. "The whole Weasley family was heartbroken when you married Viktor and Ron's love was staring you right in the face. But all of us accepted that, and I personally think that you marrying Viktor was important for your growth. Now you know what it was like to be with someone other than Ron, and you know that, well, you can't really live without Ron. So...yeah. Fred, let's go." He turned away and walked out the door.

Fred hopped off the bed and did something no other Weasley had done to her before except Ron and Mrs. Weasley. He kissed her on the cheek, then winked at her. "You're a part of our family, Herm," he said, and he dug something out of his pocket. "New product," he added, tossing it to her. "Gummy Scares! See you later," and he walked out too.

Hermione smiled and a feeling of warmth spread throughout her body. She stared at the bedroom door for a couple of seconds, then around the room. It seemed...brighter than before; she let out a very soft chuckle, and wiped away at the joyous tears forming in her eyes. Hermione lowered her gaze to the blue wrapped candy in her hand and read: Gums everywhere, beware, for this candy will give you a scare! Not for those who like to talk or else do not favor their gums sticking together for three hours. She placed the candy in her dresser drawer, and chuckled again.

Fred and George were right. She loved Ron--she always had. Viktor had loved her and she had made him happy when he was alive, but now he was dead. He was gone forever and would want her to be happy. With Ron.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione got out of bed, her muscles feeling sore, and looked at herself in her full length mirror. Her hair was like tangled wire, and her cheeks were puffy, and her eyes were dry, even though now they held a bit of her old sparkle. She noticed that she was dressed in a huge, shabby, white nightgown made of cotton. What a wreck she had been--what a wreck. She also observed that something else was missing from her attire.

Her golden book pendant.

She searched frantically for an hour, but she couldn't find it. Giving up, and feeling only a tad miserable, she grasped the doorknob to her bedroom and opened it.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ron Weasley woke with a start and looked at his alarm clock. It was noon, and he would be at home in six hours. He looked around his hotel room and saw that the beds were empty. "Where the hell is Kennington?" he said. "And Seamus?"

He got out of bed, an image of Hermione in his head, and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. A hand thumped him on the back. "Seamus, don't do that!" he said. The Irishman grinned at him. "Where is everybody else?"

"Left," said Seamus.

"Left?" said Ron confused. "But we're not scheduled to head out until three. Are you taking the mickey?"

"Nope. I stayed behind to tell you. Thought you might want your sleep, you know, because you're seeing Hermione today. I bet you didn't sleep a wink." Seamus headed out of the bathroom and Ron could hear him throwing items into his duffel bag.

"I didn't," Ron muttered. Thinking of Hermione had kept him up most of the night. He had felt excited to see her, to talk to her, but then he remembered Harry's most recent letter:

Dear Ron,

Hermione is the worst I've ever seen her. She refuses to come out of the guest room except to eat, and even then she doesn't say anything. She looks blank and lifeless. I asked her to tell me how she felt, and Ron, she totally blew up. I've never seen anyone so bitter, and that's saying something. Ron, she broke a teacup, and threw her engagement ring and the book pendant across the room. She hasn't spoken to me since. We moved her into her new house yesterday, and she looked around, nodded, and locked herself in the guest bedroom. The children miss her, and Ginny and I miss her. She's not Hermione anymore--she's just there. Hopefully, your arrival will pull her out of her slumber.

Harry

What if Hermione refused to speak to him? After all, he had made her life miserable. He told Seamus this and Seamus walked back into the bathroom with a grin on his face. "What?" Ron snapped. "You think this is funny?"

"You're worrying about nothing," he said lightly. "I know Hermione, and I've seen her ups and her downs just like you have. The happiest I've ever seen her was when she was with you. When she was Harry's girlfriend, at first they were all hot and heavy, but that was only because they had no concept of love at all. And then he left and you were the only one who could comfort her. When she and Harry broke up, she immediately went to Viktor. Do you want to know why?"

"Why?" said Ron curiously.

"Because she was afraid of true love. She saw someone who could support her and be there for her through thick and thin. She never loved him Ron--she lied to herself because she didn't want to admit that she was in love with you."

"But why? Why couldn't she admit it?"

"Can you honestly tell me you don't know?"

"She didn't want to admit she was in love with her best friend," said Ron catching on. "Because she had thought she had been in love with Harry when she wasn't and she didn't want to hurt our friendship like she had hurt theirs. She didn't even know if she knew exactly what love was, and she didn't want to make a fool of herself." It all made sense now, he mused. Everything had seemed to complicated, but it was really so simple. Why hadn't he seen it before? Ron sat on the edge of the bed, lost in his thoughts.

"Some soap opera, isn't it?" interrupted Seamus.

"What?"

"Never mind."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny and Harry were now sitting outside on the porch swing, watching Raven, Charlie, and Katarina play in the backyard. Charlie was sitting cross-legged on the ground, watching Katarina on her toy broomstick, and even though it was only a foot from the ground, he seemed tense. Raven was walking around picking wildflowers to make jewelry.

"I've been meaning to tell you something," Harry said, and Ginny smiled and reached over for his hand. She held it, and felt the familiar tingling sensation shoot through her arm. She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his chest.

"Yes?" But then, she noticed Hermione coming out of her bedroom. "Harry!" she said, sitting up immediately, tugging his arm and indicating Hermione. She was standing by the screen door with a small smile on her lips, watching Charlie and Katarina. Ginny waved her arm at Hermione, who noticed, and she walked outside, shielding her eyes from the sunlight.

"Feeling better?" Harry asked timidly. Ginny knew he didn't want to make Hermione blow up at him; Harry had been very distraught that night.

Hermione nodded and they made room for her on the porch swing between the two of them. She looked like she wanted to talk and she opened her mouth, then closed it. "Maybe it would be better if we didn't talk," she said, having changed her mind, "at least not now."

Ginny saw Harry nod, and she did too. "You know, Raven is a very interesting girl," Hermione said after several minutes of silence. Ginny wondered where this conversation was leading. Hermione wasn't one to make such vague statements.

"She is," said Harry immediately and Ginny tensed. She hoped that Harry would not degrade their daughter again. "That's what I wanted to talk about," he said to Ginny. Ginny raised her eyebrows and gave him a calculating look. Harry seemed anxious.

"Speak," said Ginny shortly.

Harry looked relieved. "Well, the day that we found out about the attack and you were at your meeting with the editor of Witch Weekly, something very strange happened. After Raven caused the ketchup to go everywhere, I sent her to her room and I locked her in--"

"Harry, I thought we agreed not to do that anymore!" Ginny said shrilly, beginning to feel angry.

"Just listen," said Harry briskly, and Hermione looked bewildered, but very interested in what Harry had to say. "I locked her in there, and she threw a fit. She banged on the door, and she was yelling 'Blood' over and over, saying, 'Rid me of this blood' and it scared me to death and I didn't know what to do, and I was about to open the door, when it burst open magically, and she toppled out. She looked really weak and pale and for a moment I thought she was--I thought she was...and then she asked me if I was scared and I said yes, and she told me she was too. And all the ketchup had gone from her clothes and hair."

He paused, and Ginny knew he was done speaking. She bit her lip angrily, and stared at the ground, ready to lash out at her husband. "You're telling me this now?"

"I only just remembered," he said hurriedly. "Don't get upset--"

Ginny stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't want me to get upset? From what you're saying, something was hurting her, and you're telling me this now? Now?"

"But she seemed fine," Harry went on, "when she came out of that room. Maybe she doesn't like being enclosed in a space, maybe she's claustrophobic. I was wondering how she did the magic, how she got rid of all the ketchup."

Ginny was disgusted. Her daughter had been put in danger and all her husband was concerned about was her magical ability. "Well, Harry, did you think that maybe it's because she was born to a particularly powerful wizard?" she snapped, taking her hand from his and crossing her arms over her chest.

Harry looked a little sheepish, but that didn't cover the doubt written all over his face. "Now, Ginny, this isn't about--"

"You just don't like her!" said Ginny. "You've always been like this, ever since she was born! You're always holding something over Raven's head. What, Harry, do you think she's a dark wizard or something?" She laughed harshly.

"No," said Harry coldly, "She's a Potter. But that doesn't mean that there isn't something unsettling about her."

"Unsettling?" said Ginny, waving her arms. "Is that any way to speak about your child?"

"Talking about me?" said a calm voice, and the three adults turned their attention to Raven, whom had just climbed the porch steps. She was wearing a light green dress, and holding a basket full of flower jewelry. Her blue eyes were impassive, but the smallest of smiles curled her lips.

Ginny felt foolish for yelling so loudly. "No, honey, we weren't talking about you," she said quickly.

"Yes you were," said Raven, shaking her head softly. "I heard you. Daddy wanted to know how I got rid of the blood."

"The blood? No honey, daddy was talking about the ketchup...how you got rid of the ketchup."

Raven looked puzzled and she dropped the basket to the ground. Then her face set in determination. "It was blood. It was his blood." she said softly.

"Whose blood?" asked Hermione sharply.

"He didn't tell me his name."

Ginny was concerned. Who was Raven talking about? Had someone been with her in her room? What had happened in that room? "Honey, who? What did he look like?"

"He looked like..." She scratched the top of her black head, as though trying to remember. Then she let out a little shriek.

"Raven, what did he look like?" asked Harry, somewhat impatiently, pulling his daughter toward him. Raven screamed as he touched her, then picked up her basket of flowers and dashed away.

Harry looked extremely confused. Ginny felt the same way, and she was sure that Hermione was as well. Raven was looking hard in Harry's direction, almost glaring at him. Ginny looked at Harry, whose face was stony. He tore his gaze away from Raven, and stood up abruptly.

"Unsettling, the way she looks at me," Harry said darkly as he walked away. Ginny reached out as though to grab his shirt but he just quickened his pace, then slammed the screen door.

"Is there anything you'd like to do before the party?" Ginny asked, changing the topic.

"Party?" said Hermione and she looked confused.

"Harry and I decided to throw you a little house warming party. It starts at four. We talked about it yesterday, don't you remember?" Ginny raised her eyebrows.

Hermione looked confused, but said, "Er, who's coming?"

Ginny grinned. "Well, my whole family of course, and then 'The Crowd', and Ron of course, when he gets back." Ginny waited to see if a reaction would follow these words and one did. Hermione's hand went immediately to the collar of her nightgown, as though grasping something.

"I can't find it anywhere," she said hoarsely. "Do you think it's at--at your house or something?"

"Well, you threw it across the room, but after you left, we couldn't find it anywhere," Ginny answered softly.

"Alright then," Hermione said softly, and she stood up. "I think I'll go change, and I'll make cookies for the party."

"Great!" said Ginny. "Mum offered to make most of the food."

"Oh, well then perhaps I won't make the cookies..."

"No, make them!" said Ginny. She felt that Hermione needed to do something constructive to keep busy. Hermione agreed and then went back into the house again. "I think it is so great that she's almost back to normal."

I wonder what's going to happen when she sees Ron? Ginny thought, sighing, and she looked at the children. Charlie was riding the toy broomstick now, and Katarina was braiding Raven's hair, even though Raven seemed very disgruntled.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

When Ron Apparated to Harry and Ginny's, they weren't there. "Well, where are they?" said Seamus.

"They're probably at Hermione's house, setting up for her house warming party," said Ron dryly, feeling increasingly nervous about seeing Hermione. "They think I'll be here at six, and it's three thirty."

"Do you know the Apparition address?" said Seamus, examining a picture of Raven with interest. "Interesting looking," he added.

Ron rolled his eyes. "No, I don't know the address. Does Lav?"

Seamus looked up from the picture and appeared to be thinking hard. "I think so--yes, yes she does! Do you want to come to our house for a bit? You could meet Sam."

"Sam," said Ron, "your baby son, right?"

"He's only two months old," said Seamus proudly. "The address is The Four Clovers."

"Okay," said Ron, and he concentrated hard on that name, and in a swirl of colors and a faint 'pop', he found himself in front of a tiny house, that actually looked like a shack.

"It's nothing much, but it's home," said Seamus, walking up the stone walkway and knocking on the door three times. Someone raced to the door, and opened it in a hurry.

"Seamus!" said Lavender, giving her husband a hug and planting so many kisses on his face that Ron had to turn away. "What are you doing back so early? I thought you were coming back at six!"

"So did I," he said, "but the manager let us all off early. Where's Sam?"

But Lavender had taken notice of Ron, and she was now hugging him too. "I was just getting ready for the house warming party," she told them, ushering them into the house, which smelled of lavender and jasmine. Lavender cleared a pile of clothes from an armchair and told Ron to sit, so he did.

She left the room as a cry broke the silence, and came back five minutes later with a bundle of blankets in her arms. "This," she started in a superior tone, "is Sam." She handed the baby boy to Ron, and he felt a wave of homsickness for his own son. Sam had sandy hair, like Seamus, and bright blue eyes. His hands and feet were tiny, and Ron thought he must be going soft if he kept thinking about how adorable babies were. He handed Sam to Seamus.

"Do you have the Apparition address for Hermione's place?" he asked Lavender, who was cooing over Seamus and Sam.

She turned him with little tears in her eyes. "Harry and Ginny named it," she sniffed, "because Hermione is so depressed--"

"She's still depressed?" said Ron, feeling his heart sink.

"Well, I only went over a week ago, and Harry and Ginny haven't owled me, so I suppose she is. Hopefully, this party will cheer her up some, you know? Anyway, the Apparition address is The Library." She sniffed again, and turned away.

"You go on ahead," said Seamus, looking at his son proudly.

Ron merely nodded, and Apparated, nearly Splinching himself because he wasn't concentrating. He appeared outside a large house that had a cobblestone walkway. Gardens surrounded the house, giving it color. The windows were a beige color, but the outside was a pale blue. Looking around, he saw that it was by the water, and he whistled admiringly, trying to ignore the knots in his stomach.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

At three o'clock Hermione had finished baking four batches of cookies, the Muggle way, and was a bit disappointed at how they had turned out. She could do everything else, but she couldn't cook for the life of her. Sighing, she placed the cookies in a very large bowl and set it on the kitchen table.

"Katarina!" she called. "Come in here so you and Charlie can test this batch!" Seating herself in a chair, she waited until her two children entered the room, and she gestured to the bowl.

Katarina pouted and Charlie had a blank look on his face, but he bravely took a cookie from the bowl and stuffed it in his mouth as fast as he could, as though wishing for it to be over with quickly. Katarina took a cookie from the bowl as well, and ate it slowly. When she was done, she frowned. "They--they're okay."

"Will people eat them at least?" Hermione asked her daughter hopefully. She nodded unconvincingly. Hermione sighed again.

"Mummy, is Ron coming back today?" Katarina asked, a smile on her face.

Hermione smiled nervously back. "Yes--yes he is."

"Mummy, I was wondering...Raven told me...she said that..."

"What, sweetie? What did Raven say?"

"She said she thinks that Ron is Charlie's daddy. But, I told her that my daddy is Charlie's daddy...I'm right, aren't I?"

Hermione was taken aback. A five year old was asking her this. "R-Raven said that?" Katarina nodded.

"And Charlie looks like Ron!"

"Er, he does. Raven's right, Ron is Charlie's father," Hermione said quickly, glancing at her son. Katarina turned to Charlie and nodded to him. His eyes went wide and he ran out of the room. Hermione jumped up hurriedly, ready to chase after him, but Katarina shook her head.

"Charlie likes Ron," said Katarina, and Hermione listened, because she knew that Katarina and Charlie were closer than anything. She knew that whatever Katarina said about him was true, and vice versa. "He really likes Ron, and he's just surprised, because he thought that my daddy was his daddy. He'll be okay soon." Hermione merely nodded, and Katarina skipped out of the room.

Hermione walked up to her bedroom just as she heard two 'pops'. "We're back!" she heard Ginny say. "I'm upstairs," she called back, and she sat on her bed, twisting her fingers. A part of her still felt miserable about Viktor, despite what Fred and George had said.

"Hermione, you should probably come downstairs, now," said Harry, followed by two high pitched shrieks of laughter.

Hermione sighed and was a little angry now. She really wanted to be left alone! Oh no you don't, she thought. You want to stop being depressed and angry. Viktor's dead--move on with your life.

And she descended down the stairs.