Soul Pieces

Chapter 16: Hermione doesn't live here anymore.

When Tonks and Hermione arrived at Grimmauld Place, the young Auror began to talk, "Hermione...Are you okay?"

Hermione seemed to be deep in thought. "I don't want to live here anymore, Tonks."

Tonks looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"You heard me. I can't live here anymore. Not after...well, you know. I just need to find some place else."

"You can spend tonight at my parents' house if you want. I'm sure it won't be a problem and tomorrow, well, tomorrow we will see..."

"Thanks, Tonks."

"Hermione, what about the baby?"

"I don't know, Tonks. I feel so empty right now. The truth is this baby is the only thing that makes me feel alive. I know it's strange. After all, this baby is my sentence to... you know. I think he or she deserves to live more than me."

Tonks hugged her tightly after her statement. "No, Hermione. I know this is a very difficult situation but...you can't! I don't like the idea of aborting a baby but this is different. And you will be able to have another child."

"Yes, but not a Harry's child."

"Hermione! He was having sex with a stranger!"

"I know, Tonks. I will never forget what I saw. But the truth is he never promised me anything. I'm suffering more than you can imagine but that didn't make me stop loving him any less."

Tonks knew that was the end of the conversation and she hated that she couldn't do a thing to persuade Hermione otherwise.

⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂

With Winky's help, Hermione and Tonks gathered all of Hermione's belongings (Crookshanks included) and went to Tonks' parents' house.

Andromeda and Ted Tonks didn't refuse their daughter's plea; they were happy to help Hermione.

Tonks would tell the boys (and of course, Remus would know the truth) that Hermione had a family emergency and needed to be away for a while.

⌂⌂⌂

Hermione stayed at Tonks' childhood home for almost a week. She wasn't really happy, but she couldn't deny that Ted and Andromeda were trying everything to make her feel comfortable. They even took her to do some Christmas shopping. It was after they returned from their trip that Professor McGonagall arrived at the house and told Hermione that she would be leaving the Tonks residence. She would be living at Hogwarts for the remainder of her pregnancy.

Hermione thought that was a bit strange but the Headmistress explained that the fact that the pregnancy wouldn't be able to be hidden much longer, Hermione would be safer in Hogwarts.

Of course, no one except the Headmistress, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Madame Pomfrey and Dobby would know she was there.

Hermione's new room was located in the third floor and was even equipped with what looked like a small common room. It was beautiful, but very lonely without Harry and Ron.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Grimmauld Place.

First week of February

It had been almost two months since Hermione's departure and Harry missed her deeply. When Tonks had said that Hermione was gone, the first thing that came into his mind was that a terrible accident had occurred, but then he was told about that it was due to a family emergency.

When Christmas came, Harry knew that she would be spending the holiday with her family. Harry and Ron spent the day at the Burrow while Remus and Tonks went to the Tonks residence. Truth be told, Harry wasn't feeling very happy about that. After all, it would be the first time he would have met Mr. And Mrs. Weasley after the day he and Hermione had been caught in such a compromising position. Besides, he knew Ginny would be there to make the situation more uncomfortable.

The Weasley's didn't say a thing to him about that day but Harry noticed that his relationship with Ron's parents would never be the same. Ginny tried to talk to him but he managed to escape from her like she was the plague.

His holiday was going well, but what finally made him really upset (and sad) when they had opened their Christmas gifts. Harry was anxious to know what Hermione had gotten for him because he had given her the new and illustrated edition of 'Hogwarts, a History.' Tonks said she would give it to her the next time she visited the Grangers.

First, he sat observing what she had bought for the others. Mr. Weasley received a cellular battery and a Muggle pen. The man's eyes shined.

Mrs. Weasley received a book with recipes for some of the most popular Muggle meals. Ginny received a beautiful golden scarf while the twins got two books: one about potions and the other about charms. After sharing a disbelieving look between each other, the twins yelled out in shock.

"Bloody Hell!" Fred yelled when he saw the books.

"Bloody Hell indeed, dear brother!" said George.

"What? What's so amazing about these books?" asked Ron.

"Little Ron, these books..." started Fred.

".... are forbidden books," finished George.

"But, why?" Ron asked again.

"These books have potions and charms for tricks, hexes and other little things that wizards don't want to share in the regular textbooks," answered George.

When the commotion about the twins' books quieted down, it was the time for Ron to open his gift. To his great surprise, Hermione had given him an illustrated book about the Chuddley Cannons' keepers over the centuries.

After Ron, it was Harry's turn to open his presents. He had been feeling nervous doing it in front of everyone. She had given good and meaningful presents to everyone else and he had began to open his present with trembling hands until he saw what was inside. She had given him a Chocolate Frog Cards box. A Chocolate Frog Cards box and only that. He wanted to scream and cry, not because of the fact that he hadn't received an expensive gift, but because of how cold the gift was.

Harry was staring at the empty Chocolate Frog Cards box and he suddenly felt the need to know exactly where she was. She hadn't sent him a single letter in the time she had been gone, but she had kept in contact with Ron. Of course, the redhead had showed him the letters. For the most part, they had been about Rowena Ravenclaw and the Horcruxes. Hermione said that maybe what the hat had said about talking to the lady could be for them to research about the women of Ravenclaw's time.

"Ron," Harry started.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Don't you think Hermione should be back by now?"

Ron shook his head and gave a sad laugh.

"She won't be back, Harry."

"What?" he almost yelled. "What do you mean she won't be back? Why?"

"I think you already know the answer to that."

"What?" Harry asked incredulously.

"She left because of you."

"Sorry, Ron but I don't understand."

Ron closed his eyes. The moment of truth had come. "Before everything, tell me, did you do something at that dance club?"

"No! No...Oh!" Harry answered.

But nobody saw a thing!

"What did you do, Harry?"

A little ashamed, Harry told Ron about Claire. His best friend listened with rapt attention and then spoke. "She saw."

"What?" Harry was in panic. No! Hermione couldn't have seen that! Oh, no! "But, if she saw, what does this had to do with the fact she left?"

Ron lifted his arms in exasperation.

"Are you an idiot, Harry? She loves you! And I thought you loved her, but after that..."

Harry was speechless. "What are you talking about, Ron?"

"For Merlin's sakes, Harry! I'm not stupid, you know! Don't you think I never noticed every time you went to her room? Every glance, every look?"

First, Harry had thought about denying everything but what was the point? No more lies were needed.

"How long did you know?"

Ron took a deep breath. "After the wedding I began to suspect. I wasn't sure. I couldn't believe it. I can be a light head sometimes but I'm not stupid. I've always been a good chess player and you know what made a good chess player?"

"Observation," Harry whispered.

"Yeah," Ron continued. "Observation. Your eyes...the way you looked at each other, the hidden smiles. I thought I was out of my mind....that maybe it was just my imagination. You know, the famous Weasley jealousy. But then, at her birthday party I was certain. You liked her. I saw the sadness in your eyes when Wood gave her that little kiss. And as strange that this might seem, I didn't feel bad or betrayed. Of course, it hurt me a little. It's not easy to find out that your best friend likes the girl of your dreams. But I think I always knew it. It was like it was supposed to be. I don't know.

And then my mom asked me to spend that week with her. I thought a lot about the whole situation. I even talked to Bill. I had never talked to anyone like I talked to Bill those days. For the first time in my life, he spoke to me like as was an adult. He talked about the difference between like and love and most importantly, he made me understand the importance of our friendship, Harry. Of course I thought about confronting you, but then I had a better idea."

"The kiss," Harry said almost for himself.

Ron gave a little laugh and continued, "Yeah, the kiss. That's why I kissed her. I knew you would appear at the doorway. I wanted to know your reaction and you scared me, Harry. I thought you would be upset or something but I never thought you would try to kill me!"

"I didn't try to kill you, Ron!"

"Come on, Harry! If Lupin hadn't shown up I think you could have broken my bones."

"But you spoke with her," said Harry.

"Yes, I mean, I had to apologize. We talked a lot and she said she didn't love me. Of course that wasn't easy to hear that but somehow I was glad that she was being honest. If that had happened a year ago, I probably would have gone on a rampage but now things are different. I'm different. As I said before, I was hurt like hell, but I realized that there are so many more important things...you know, I was about to talk to both of you to tell you that I already knew but then you broke up..."

"How did you know?" Harry couldn't believe it.

"Merlin, Harry! Even Phineus Nigellus knew! You both looked like two zombies!"

"It was my fault, Ron. I said terrible things to her. Terrible lies." And Harry told Ron about his conversation with Hermione.

"Bloody hell, Harry! Even if it was true that everything was only sex you should have never said that to her! And now she saw you with that woman! How do you think Hermione's feeling right now?"

Harry felt so ashamed, and dirty. "But what can I do?"

"You could talk to Remus. I'm sure Tonks knows where Hermione is."

Suddenly, Harry had an idea. "Why didn't I think about this before! Kent! I need to go to Kent!"

"Kent? What the hell are you talking about?"

"It's where her parents live, Ron! She's with her parents, right?"

Ron shook his head. "No, she isn't with them."

"How do you know? Do you know where she is?"

"No, Harry, I don't know where she is but I do know that she isn't with her parents."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Harry, didn't you ever notice that Hermione didn't receive a single birthday present from her parents? Didn't you notice that she didn't receive or send a single letter to them?"

Harry didn't say a thing.

"Well," Ron continued, "it's because she doesn't speak to them anymore, Harry."

"But why?"

"After you visited her, she told her parents that she would not be returning to Hogwarts. In fact, they were happy about that but then she told them she would be involved in a mission with us. They didn't like that very much. They wanted her to attend a Muggle school to finish her studies because they didn't want her to be a part of any mission. Of course they had a huge argument and you can guess what happened. Her relationship with them was broken. Her mother managed to give her some money and opened an account under Hermione's name at Gringotts. Why do you think she didn't buy a single book the entire time we were here?"

"She doesn't have money. But how do you know that? Why didn't she tell me?"

"She was afraid that if you knew you would want her to go back to her parents' house. Or worse, she didn't want you to feel guilty about her decision."

Well, Ron I feel guilty about many things...