Latrunculus--Part 4

Ginny glanced at the door and broke into a huge relieved smile when she saw her husband and her brother in the doorway. She moved as quickly as her pregnant body would allow. Her mother wasn’t far behind her.

She hugged Harry and gave him a through kiss. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ron grimace at them while their mother hugged him. She almost wanted to laugh. Even after all this time, Ron still had problems with the idea of his little sister being with a boy. It probably didn’t help that it was his best mate.

“Thank you, Harry,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “It was Shacklebolt.”

“Oh.”

“Any news?”

It was Ginny’s turn to shake her head. “They promise to let know us as soon as they learn something.”

She stepped away from her husband and turned to her brother. The siblings hugged. Ginny whispered something in his ear, and Ron hugged her tighter.

Mrs. Weasley ushered them all into chairs. When Ron took the one closest to Hermione, no one made any comment. Mrs. Weasley left them alone and went to find some tea.

Harry and Ginny tried to strike up a conversation but each attempt failed. They eventually just held hands, occasionally whispering to each other. Ron watched Hermione breathe.

They were still that way when Mrs. Weasley arrived with tea. Ron merely held a cup while the others conversed. He barely acknowledged his father when he arrived.

The hours ticked by. Various people dropped in, but thankfully it was mainly healers and various specialists. Apparently word of the attack hadn’t gotten out yet.

His parents were the first to leave. Harry and Ginny lingered though Ron realized that Ginny was exhausted. It couldn’t be good for the baby.

“You two go home,” Ron said, breaking the silence. “I’ll stay with her.”

Ginny exchanged a look with her husband. “Ron, are you sure?”

“Yeah,” he replied, forcing a smile. “It’s not like I have work in the morning since I’m on leave. If anything happens, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, mate.” Harry helped his wife out of her chair. Ginny gave her brother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then went to Hermione. Harry and Ron watched as she whispered something in the other woman’s ear.

“We’ll be back in the morning,” Ginny said, taking Harry’s hand.

Ron’s smile faded as soon as the couple left the room. It was just him with Hermione now. The only sound in the room was her even breathing.

He pulled his chair closer to her bed. She was dressed in a hospital robe, which made her seem smaller somehow. He never realized how small Hermione actually was compared to him.

Ron picked up her hand, cradling it gently in his. It looked so delicate. As he rubbed it, he noted the calluses. They were probably the result of her work for the Ministry. He realized he liked them.

Taking a deep breath, he studied her face. Her hair was still a bit wild. It was fanned out, forming a curly brown halo around her head. He ran his free hand through it. It was as soft as he had imagined.

Realizing what he was doing, he removed his hand from her hair. However, he couldn’t release her hand. He needed to keep some physical connection to her.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “If I had gotten there sooner, if I had realized what today was, if I had gone to the cemetery with you, this wouldn’t have happened to you.”

He sighed. “Why didn’t you remind me? Did you not want me there? Didn’t know that all you had to do was ask and I would be there? I’d do anything for you, Hermione.”

The admission startled him. But he knew it was true. Despite the years and distance between them, he still cared for her. He cared a lot more than he should.

He continued to talk to her but veered to safer topics. He discussed his family, particularly the twins’ continued success and Ginny’s baby. He mentioned classmates he had bumped into recently and what they were doing now. He told Seamus would likely propose to Lavender soon.

The mention of Seamus led him to work. He talked about how it was to be an Auror and a squad leader. How he loved to capture bad witches and wizards and how he hated the paperwork. The places he had visited in the course of his work.

He stayed away from his dating life. The main reason was that he didn’t have one. But also, he and Hermione avoided talking about this part of their lives, especially after the events of their sixth year at Hogwarts.

He quickly switched the topic to Quidditch. He again lamented the fact that Harry hadn’t been drafted by the Cannons. In fact, his mate had helped decimate the Cannons soundly at the last match. Ron joked that he almost felt betrayed.

He kept babbling. He didn’t know how long he talked or all of what he talked about. He just kept going, hoping that something he said would wake her up. He was still holding her hand when he surrendered to sleep.

* * * * *

There was a buzzing in her ear, annoying her as it pulled her towards consciousness. Her hand fumbled around for the clock. Then she realized that she hadn’t owned a Muggle alarm clock in years.

She opened her eyes to see the sleeping face of Ron Weasley. Hermione quickly withdrew her hand from the top of his head. Why on earth was he here?

Her movement must awaken him because she found herself becoming lost in his wonderful blue eyes. He whispered her name, reaching out to touch her. He pulled his hand back as if scalded and asked her how she was feeling.

She replied she was feeling fine. Ron gave her a relieved smile and announced he had to find a healer. A healer? But he was already gone.

As she sat up in bed, Hermione realized that she was dressed in a hospital robe. Dread curled in her stomach. She clutched the blankets to her chest, trying to control her breathing.

“Why in the blood hell am I in St. Mungo’s?” she wondered.


Part IV Ginny glanced at the door and broke into a huge relieved smile when she saw her husband and her brother in the doorway. She moved as quickly as her pregnant body would allow. Her mother wasn’t far behind her. She hugged Harry and gave him a through kiss. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ron grimace at them while their mother hugged him. She almost wanted to laugh. Even after all this time, Ron still had problems with the idea of his little sister being with a boy. It probably didn’t help that it was his best mate. “Thank you, Harry,” she whispered. He shook his head. “It was Shacklebolt.” “Oh.” “Any news?” It was Ginny’s turn to shake her head. “They promise to let know us as soon as they learn something.” She stepped away from her husband and turned to her brother. The siblings hugged. Ginny whispered something in his ear, and Ron hugged her tighter. Mrs. Weasley ushered them all into chairs. When Ron took the one closest to Hermione, no one made any comment. Mrs. Weasley left them alone and went to find some tea. Harry and Ginny tried to strike up a conversation but each attempt failed. They eventually just held hands, occasionally whispering to each other. Ron watched Hermione breathe. They were still that way when Mrs. Weasley arrived with tea. Ron merely held a cup while the others conversed. He barely acknowledged his father when he arrived. The hours ticked by. Various people dropped in, but thankfully it was mainly healers and various specialists. Apparently word of the attack hadn’t gotten out yet. His parents were the first to leave. Harry and Ginny lingered though Ron realized that Ginny was exhausted. It couldn’t be good for the baby. “You two go home,” Ron said, breaking the silence. “I’ll stay with her.” Ginny exchanged a look with her husband. “Ron, are you sure?” “Yeah,” he replied, forcing a smile. “It’s not like I have work in the morning since I’m on leave. If anything happens, I’ll let you know.” “Thanks, mate.” Harry helped his wife out of her chair. Ginny gave her brother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then went to Hermione. Harry and Ron watched as she whispered something in the other woman’s ear. “We’ll be back in the morning,” Ginny said, taking Harry’s hand. Ron’s smile faded as soon as the couple left the room. It was just him with Hermione now. The only sound in the room was her even breathing. He pulled his chair closer to her bed. She was dressed in a hospital robe, which made her seem smaller somehow. He never realized how small Hermione actually was compared to him. Ron picked up her hand, cradling it gently in his. It looked so delicate. As he rubbed it, he noted the calluses. They were probably the result of her work for the Ministry. He realized he liked them. Taking a deep breath, he studied her face. Her hair was still a bit wild. It was fanned out, forming a curly brown halo around her head. He ran his free hand through it. It was as soft as he had imagined. Realizing what he was doing, he removed his hand from her hair. However, he couldn’t release her hand. He needed to keep some physical connection to her. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “If I had gotten there sooner, if I had realized what today was, if I had gone to the cemetery with you, this wouldn’t have happened to you.” He sighed. “Why didn’t you remind me? Did you not want me there? Didn’t know that all you had to do was ask and I would be there? I’d do anything for you, Hermione.” The admission startled him. But he knew it was true. Despite the years and distance between them, he still cared for her. He cared a lot more than he should. He continued to talk to her but veered to safer topics. He discussed his family, particularly the twins’ continued success and Ginny’s baby. He mentioned classmates he had bumped into recently and what they were doing now. He told Seamus would likely propose to Lavender soon. The mention of Seamus led him to work. He talked about how it was to be an Auror and a squad leader. How he loved to capture bad witches and wizards and how he hated the paperwork. The places he had visited in the course of his work. He stayed away from his dating life. The main reason was that he didn’t have one. But also, he and Hermione avoided talking about this part of their lives, especially after the events of their sixth year at Hogwarts. He quickly switched the topic to Quidditch. He again lamented the fact that Harry hadn’t been drafted by the Cannons. In fact, his mate had helped decimate the Cannons soundly at the last match. Ron joked that he almost felt betrayed. He kept babbling. He didn’t know how long he talked or all of what he talked about. He just kept going, hoping that something he said would wake her up. He was still holding her hand when he surrendered to sleep. * * * * * There was a buzzing in her ear, annoying her as it pulled her towards consciousness. Her hand fumbled around for the clock. Then she realized that she hadn’t owned a Muggle alarm clock in years. She opened her eyes to see the sleeping face of Ron Weasley. Hermione quickly withdrew her hand from the top of his head. Why on earth was he here? Her movement must awaken him because she found herself becoming lost in his wonderful blue eyes. He whispered her name, reaching out to touch her. He pulled his hand back as if scalded and asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was feeling fine. Ron gave her a relieved smile and announced he had to find a healer. A healer? But he was already gone. As she sat up in bed, Hermione realized that she was dressed in a hospital robe. Dread curled in her stomach. She clutched the blankets to her chest, trying to control her breathing. “Why in the blood hell am I in St. Mungo’s?” she wondered.


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