Especially For You

CHAPTER TEN: THE MEETING

`Oh hello, Cheska,´ said Draco affectionately and sleepily to the little girl. They looked absolutely adorable in their summer dresses and hats. But his eyes widened when the situation hit him. He was now awake. `Cheska?!´ He looked up. `Jackie?!´

`Draco?´ said Hermione while carrying the sleeping Jackie, frowning. `What´s---´

`HERMIONE?!´ he said faintly and then immediately slammed the door shut. He closed his eyes.

`Bloody hell, Malfoy,´ mumbled Ron, shifting his position on the couch. `What the hell are you doing there? Keep it down!´ He went back to sleep again, turning against the sunlight. Draco just winced and then immediately opened the door again when he heard fast knocking.

`Oh, Hermione,´ whispered Draco, looking down at Cheska before looking at the annoyed Hermione, `you see---´

`What is going on?´ she asked with gritted teeth. `Let me in.´

`You see, the house is very messy. I just spent the night here and we were up all night drinking---´

Hermione cut him off. `I see---´ she said, shaking her head in disapproval.

`Mind if we clean up for a little while?´ and without waiting for her reply, he immediately slammed the door shut.

`Hurry up,´ called Hermione, `can´t you just call Harry, so that the girls and I can greet him and then we can---´

`No,´ said Draco and then immediately closed the door again. He took a deep breath and then quietly but quickly ran to Harry´s side. `For the love of God, Harry, wake up---´ he hissed, shaking him wildly.

`Why the bloody hell are you waking Harry up?´ said Ron, removing the blankets on his face and frowning at him.

`Just go back to sleep,´ snapped Draco, hoping that he would. `Harry---´

Ron began to sit down and just stare at him. `You know very well that Harry do not appreciate sleeping disturbances, especially on a Saturday morning?´

`Great Merlin, Weasley,´ pleaded Draco, `I told you, go back to sleep!´ He continued shaking Harry desperately.

`I can´t anymore,´ mumbled Ron, standing up and walking to the kitchen. He looked at the door. `Someone´s knocking--´

*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*

Draco´s mouth was all of a sudden all dry. `Harry,´ he begged and then shouted, `Harry!´ before pushing him off the couch.

Harry just scratched his head and then curled on the carpet, much to Draco´s dismay.

`What´s the problem, Draco?´ asked Ron, looking intrigued but he just ignored him.

*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK*

`Harry,´ he yelled once again. Ron just frowned and then shook his head. `HARRY!!!´ This time it worked.

`Damn it, Malfoy,´ mumbled Harry, shoving Draco´s face away. `What the hell is your problem and what am I doing here on the floor?´

`Hermione´s here,´ hissed Draco, taking a sideway glance at Ron who was checking the fridge.

`What?´ asked Harry, sitting up and looking very worried. He was now awake. `Why?´

`Do you want me to get the door?´ said Ron, sarcastically, `even though you two are closer than me? Harry? Don´t you have any milk? All you have are tons of chocolate milks--´

`The other fridge in the storeroom,´ said Harry quickly, standing up.

`Mind if I spread the curtains? It´s a bit bright in here,´ said Ron, spreading the navy blue curtains before walking towards the storeroom which made the flat really dark. Harry and Draco were very distracted to listen to him that all they could do is nod.

`Feel free to do so,´ replied Draco, looking at Harry.

`What is she doing here?´ hissed Harry, looking for his wand on the couch. `What---Bloody wand, where is it?!´

`I don´t know,´ exclaimed Draco. `What should we do? She´s---´ *******

`What is taking them so bloody long to clean up,´ she muttered to herself while waiting outside. She waited for a few more minutes but she had to leave soon. She just wanted to greet Harry and then she´ll go. She has to bring Cheska and Jackie to their doctor.

`Alohomora,´ she said and the door clicked. She opened the door and then made her way in. She saw Harry and Draco talking and they looked a bit tense. `Hap---´

`Hermione,´ gasped Harry, keeping his voice as low as possible. `What the bloody hell---´

`I told you to wait outside,´ scolded Draco. `Hermione?!´

`What is going on?´ she said impatiently. `Are you OK? I have been waiting for a long time! I still have to bring them to the doctor if you must know. I just stopped here to greet you.´

`Thank you---´ said Harry quickly, carrying Cheska and leading them to the door. `You have to---´

`Just go, Hermione,´ said Draco quickly.

`So, I´m not welcome here anymore?´ said Hermione playfully.

`No, no, no,´ said Harry and Draco defensively. `It´s not that, Hermione---´

`I know,´ gasped Hermione, chuckling a little. `I was only joking.´ Draco and Harry faked a laugh while thinking, Oh God!

`Hermione, you´ll be---,´ said Harry but his eyes widened when Ron suddenly apparated to the sitting room with a glass of milk on his left hand. He did not know what Ron was thinking that very moment, upon realizing that Hermione was there. But he looked very calm and his eyes were fixed on only one person... Hermione. `I--I--I--I--´

`Fine, fine,´ said Hermione, giving Harry a peck on the cheeks. `Happy birthday. I´m going. I´m going. We are---´

She was wearing a white dress with red flowers; a denim jacket over it, red slip ons and her hair was tied up in a very tight bun. Ron just stared at her, thinking that she is still the most beautiful girl on earth. He wanted to walk up to her and put his arms around her so bad just like the old times. But he stopped himself even though it took all his energy to do so. He´s not going to appear excited or happy at the sight of her. She left him, he reminded himself. She left him.

`Hello,´ greeted Ron coolly, `Hermione.´ Hermione immediately turned around and then swallowed hard upon seeing a very relaxed Ron. He was sort of behaving like Draco.

`Oh God,´ said Draco to himself. `I shouldn´t be here. I should have went home last night---´

`Hello Ron,´ said Hermione nervously. She cleared her throat and then raised her face, trying to hide the fear that she was feeling. `How have you been?´

`Great,´ said Ron nonchalantly. He bent down to put on his shoes. `And you.´ It was more of a statement than a question.

`Great,´ she replied, swallowing hard. `I--´

`HAPPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY!´ greeted Ginny as soon as she apparated into Harry´s apartment. She flung her arms around him. `Happy birthday Harry! Let´s sing! Lumos.´

A few second later, the whole Weasley, Malfoy and Zabini clan apparated into his house as well.

`Happy birthday Harry,´ they all sang, holding balloons and blowing party horns but stopped when they saw Hermione. Everybody could now feel the tension going on between the ex-lovers, Ron and Hermione.

`Now, Ron,´ said Harry with gritted teeth, handing Cheska to Draco, `will you listen to me?´

`No, Harry,´ said Ron, walking towards the door. `I have more important things to do.´

`Ron, you---´

`We´ll talk later, Harry,´ he said, smirking. He had to leave. He can´t be here... not when she´s in here as well! He´d look like a total prat. `And you too, Draco.´

`Ron---´

`Belinda is expecting me,´ he lied. He had to show Hermione that he´s not after her anymore and that there are a lot of girls running after him. He wanted to make her realize that leaving him was a stupid move. `I promised her that I´d come and visit as soon as I can, which happens to be today.´ He walked over to give his mother a kiss on the cheek and his father a hug. `It was nice seeing you again, Hermione.´

`You two have to talk---´

`Harry, we have nothing to talk about. She made it absolutely clear when she left---´

`Do you want to know why I left, Ron?´ said Hermione, raising her face and trying to look very brave even though she was so scared deep inside. She handed Jackie to Harry. `Do you?´

`Should we leave, Dad?´ asked Ron´s brothers, wincing.

`No,´ whispered Bill´s wife, Fleur Delacour-Weasley.

`I´m married to a nosy woman,´ muttered Bill.

`I think that we should stay as well,´ added Fred´s wife, Angelina Johnson-Weasley, moving beside Fleur.

`Don´t worry,´ said Fred, `you are not alone.´

Ron looked at her and then snorted. He walked towards her. `What? Now, all of a sudden you wanted to let me know the reason why you left? Isn´t it a little too late?´ said Ron calmly. `I have moved on, Hermione, and as what I can see, you have as well.´ He was lying about himself and he felt hurt upon seeing Hermione´s children.

`Well, you know what?´ she said, trembling a little. `I think that it´s time for you to meet someone... my daughters.´

`Time for me to meet your daughters? What do they have to do with me?´ All the Weasleys looked at each other.

`What´s going on, Harry,´ said Ginny, looking at him. `They are Hermione´s? Hermione´s married?´ Harry just looked at her and then to Ron and Hermione.

`Yes, my daughters that I carried for nine months who got nothing from my side of the family,´ she continued, `Apparently, your blood is very strong---´

`My what?´ asked Ron, blinking his eyes. He couldn´t believe his ears. For the first time in his life, he immediately understood what Hermione was trying to say. He looked at Harry and Draco for verification on the matter and then fixed his eyes on the two little girls in their arms. The other one is wearing a pink dress while the other one wore a violet dress and matching white doll shoes and hats. `My what?´

`Your blood, Ron, is the exact same one that runs through their veins.´

`My what?´ he exclaimed, stepping closer to Hermione. `My what?´ He didn´t mean to appear deaf or stupid.

`Don´t shout,´ she said, moving her head even higher to show him that she´s not afraid of him at all. She needs to take control of the situation. She needs too... She has too... `They might get scared.´

`My what?´ he asked again, softly this time and stepping backwards. `My--my--my what?´

`Ah, Ron,´ interrupted Draco, `Hermione said that your blood is the exact same one that´s running through their veins---´

`Except that, well,´ added Harry, `Hermione´s blood is running through their veins as well...´

Ron´s eyes widened in shock. He began to breath deeply and then collapsed on the small table near him. He looked at his parents and then to the two girls in Draco´s and Harry´s arms and then to Hermione and then to his daughters again and then back to Hermione with a questioning look. He looked so tensed, confused and furious.

`You have no right to be angry with me,´ said Hermione, breaking the silence, `because--because you never heard anything from me! Did I bother you? No. Did I ever ask help from you? No. Just like what you wanted! What was I suppose to do? You said very clearly that you didn´t want another burden and that you are still young and there´s so much more that you wanted to see and do. Well, guess what? So was I, but did I ever bother you? No!´

`Just like what I wanted?!´ he hissed, looking outraged. `I don´t bloody know what you are talking about! I don´t remember any conversation that we had about this matter---And for heaven´s sake, I was 17! What was I suppose to say?!´

`Don´t shout,´ she said. `You have no right to shout at me because---because---´

`Because I wasn´t there for you?! How can I bloody be there for you if I didn´t even know about it,´ he snapped, now looking back at her but taking a glimpse of the two girls once in a while. He stood up. `I didn´t know about it. God, Hermione. You didn´t tell me about it! You didn´t tell me about it!´ He walked towards her until their faces was two feet apart. `You--didn´t--tell--me--about--it!´

Hermione was so shocked and scared. She thought that she could take charge in this conversation but she failed. She swallowed hard and then she began to breath really quickly. She placed her palms on her face and began to cry like a little girl.

`Oh God,´ said Ron, looking very confused, because he has no idea on what he should do, and mentally slapping himself for making her cry. He placed his hand on her shoulders. `I´m so sorry. I´m so sorry. I didn´t---´

`Please don´t get angry with me,´ she whimpered, `I just didn´t know what to do after hearing you say that you didn´t want children. I was so confused and scared and I just didn´t want to hear you say No... Please don´t get angry with me.´

`I´m so sorry,´ said Ron, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back soothingly. `I didn´t mean to shout and act like that---´

`Please don´t be angry with me,´ she whimpered again, her palms still on her face. `Please---´

`No, no, no,´ said Ron, moving her palms away from her face and raising her face to his, while wiping the tears on her face. `I´m not angry. Look I´m not angry. I´m just surprised. You know me. I overreact a lot of times. Please stop---´

`Mummy cwy,´ said the little girl in Harry´s arms, Jackie, her arms around Harry´s neck and looking at the two of them.

`No, no,´ said Hermione, pulling away from the very astonished Ron. `Ron---´ she said and then smiled at the sight of Ron staring at their daughters with a hint of smile on his lips. `Ron?´

`Yes, yes,´ he said, blinking his eyes before looking at her. `Yes?´ Hermione smiled, took his hand and then lead him to the little girls. `Where---´ He couldn´t believe his eyes.

`This is Jackie,´ she said, taking her daughter´s hat off which revealed tiny strikingly red pigtails. He couldn´t believe his eyes.

`They got my hair,´ he gasped.

`Oh not just that,´ said Hermione, rubbing the cheek of her daughter. `They have green eyes too. They have freckles, too, but not too much, just enough to make them cute.´ They all chuckled. Everybody began to step closer to them, taking a look on the two babies who snuggled closer to Harry and Draco. `This is Cheska.´

`Hello,´ gasped Ron, not taking his eyes off of them.

`Mummy, mowk,´ said Cheska, hugging Draco. `Mowk.´

`What´s that?´ asked Ron.

`Oh, milk,´ said Hermione, smiling. `She must be hungry. She easily gets hungry, you know.´ She was about to walk away and get her milk bottle when Ron held her arm. `Yes?´

`Will you tell them who I am?´ he asked shyly. Hermione just smiled.

`Of course,´ said Hermione softly. She looked at her daughters. `Jackie and Cheska, I want you to meet someone.´ The babies just looked at her. He pointed at Ron. `Look, you see this tall man? He is daddy.´

`Daddy,´ said the little girl.

`Daddy,´ said the other one as well.

`Yes,´ said Ron, `it´s me, daddy.´

`Daddy,´ said the little girls brightly, as Harry and Draco handed him the two girls, who willingly went into his arms. Ron just stared at them, focusing on their red hair, their tiny freckled nose and then to their eyes that were identical to his. He thought that they looked absolutely beautiful. He managed to smile despite his shock.

`I didn´t know. I´m---´ said Ron but he shut up when Cheska snuggled closer to him while Jackie placed her small chubby palms on his face. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. Only one word could ever be used to describe what he is feeling right now. GOOD. Extremely good. But he suddenly opened his eyes when one of them said, `Mowk.´ This made Ron chuckle and then look at Hermione. `Hermione, they are hungry.´

`Oh yes,´ said Hermione, walking towards their baby bags and preparing their milk bottles while staring at Ron as he introduced them to all the Malfoys, Zabinis and most of all the Weasleys.

`Mum, Dad,´ said Ron, proudly, `I would like you to meet my daughters, your first granddaughters. This is Cheska and Jackie.´ *******