Everyone told her this should be the happiest moment of her life, right up there with her wedding. Instead she feels nothing. She doesn't want to fix it using potions, muggle support groups haven't been helping, and her friends just keep telling her it'll pass. The longer it went on, the more Ron distanced himself from her. Staying at work later and later, at this point Hermione didn't bother cooking dinner anymore. Didn't matter much to her, she hasn't had any motivation to eat in months. There wasn't even any motivation to read anymore. Her days were spent sitting on the ratty little chair in their living room, ignoring the owls from concerned friends and staring at the wall. Yet everyone told her that pregnancy was supposed to be the happiest moment of her life.

Chapter 1

To everyone on the outside, my life should be perfect. I married Ron shortly after finishing Hogwarts, he went to work with Harry as an auror and I went to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical creatures. After a few months of working in the Centaur Liaison office, I left to pursue writing after feeling like I was not longer making a difference. I became an award winning author for my book The Road to Voldemort, and had plans with my publisher about starting a line of children's books. That has only been plans so far, actually picking up a quill and getting started on a story no longer interests me. My publisher sent owls wondering what has been going on, but after a while he stopped. Eventually everyone did after their letters were being returned unopened. Of course a few stubborn friends refused to give up, and the loud pop from the kitchen was proof.

Barely after lunch, and someone was apparating into their house? It clearly wasn't Ron, my money is definitely on Ginny. Everyone else would be working, Ginny however had left the Holyhead Harpies when she and Harry found out they were having James. My headstrong best friend also didn't understand being ignored and wouldn't leave it alone like so many of our other school friends. With the opening and closing of cabinets and the refrigerator, I assumed she was making us something to eat, meaning Ron has probably said something about me not eating. He's tried to bring it up before with me, all I got was a few mumbled statements about how it's not healthy and something about telling his mum. Last thing I want is Molly Weasley coming over. After I refused to respond his ears turned red and he mumbled goodnight, to sleep in our marital bed alone, again. My whole life is spent in this chair.

Ginny walks out of the kitchen with sandwiches and tea. Not too heavy, but more than I've been eating lately. Shoving one sandwich in my hand she gets started on my tea. She picks up her sandwich and stares at me, taking small bites.

"Where's James?" I ask, after we sat in silence as she waited for me to speak.

"With my mother." She goes back into her silence, waiting for me to bring it up. To talk about this dark cloud that's been sitting over my head these past few months.

"I'm fine Ginny, really I am."

"Like hell you are." She puts down her sandwich and pours herself some tea before continuing. "Remember after I had James, I didn't want to talk to anyone or do anything? What did you tell me?" I frowned, knowing exactly where she was going with this.

"I told you to get off your ass and do something that made you happy." The smug look on Ginny's face was enough to tell me I wasn't going to enjoy what she was going to say next.

"I knew I could always count on your memory. Get dressed, we're going out. And if you try to argue I'll hex you. And I know for a fact that your wand is upstairs so you wouldn't be able to stop me." My look of defeat must have warmed her inside as she grabbed my arm and led me upstairs to my bedroom. I feel like I haven't been up here in months, but in reality it is getting close to that point. Ron has kept everything the way it was, and even managed to keep it clean.

Ginny sits me down on the bed as she starts going through the closet. Her angry mumbling shows she's not very happy with her choices.

"When was the last time you've bothered to buy new clothes?" That's a good question, I don't really remember. She settles on a long, loose maxi dress, probably one of the few things in my closet suitable for leaving the house that I can still fit. She all but strips me to get me into the dress, and struggled to put my unruly hair into a ponytail which is slightly more unruly than normal since I haven't bothered with a brush. After more threats of spells I sit quietly as she does my makeup. She turns me around to the mirror and I can see it. I see the glow pregnant women are rumored to have. I look, for the first time in a very long time, beautiful.

With a strict no questions asked policy about the day I follow Ginny to the fireplace. Only directions I was given is that we were going to Diagon Alley. With a pull I feel myself being dragged away from my home to be surrounded by strangers, with only Ginny at my side. Before I have a chance to panic, Ginny grabs my arm and leads me away.

Our first stop is at a new bookshop that opened. I will always love Florish and Blott's, but this takes a normal bookstore and combines it with a café. There are comfortable chairs all about, readers sipping from little cups with purple flowers all over them. Walking through the store we run into the owner, Lavender Brown.

"Ginny! Thank you for coming! And you brought Hermione! I was hoping you'd stop buy at some point!" Lavender gave me a quick up and down, same thing everyone has done since we made the pregnancy announcement. "Well you look amazing! Come sit over here." Lavender leads us over to a small coffee table surrounded by four chairs.

"This place looks amazing Lavender, how long has it been open? I haven't been paying much attention to the Daily Prophet lately." Well, it was true, I haven't bothered looking at a paper in about a month. I haven't tried paying attention to anything outside of my house.

"This is the first week, it seems like a pretty good start so far. I'm hoping to get a few book clubs started here. Maybe even events with certain authors that are in the public eye." Lavender quickly glances down, as if afraid to ask me outright.

"Hey, what if you gave that a shot Hermione! It would be great if it helps out the shop, and I'm sure Lavender would give you first pick of any new books that came in." Ginny broke the ice for Lavender, subtly was never her strong suit.

"Yeah, I that's not a bad idea, I'll have to look into some things to see when I'm free though." Lavender's face dropped, but her smile was still in place. She knew as well as I did that I had no intention of coming back on my own free will.

"Oh, I'm sure you're not horribly busy, Ron can take over a few things to free you up, he isn't completely useless." Ginny pauses as if considering something else. "On second thought, I'll watch over him. He may prove me wrong." This brings a smile to everyone's faces, even I laughed a little. I could tell right now that Ginny isn't letting me out of this, I wouldn't be surprised if she planned this whole thing from the beginning.

"Sure Lavender, how about next Friday. I'm sure anything I have planned already can be rescheduled and I have enough time to do so." Lavender jumps up from the chair and pulls Hermione into a hug.

"Oh thank you so much! After the event you can pick anything in the store you want, no charge. I don't care how many books you want!" Lavender goes on about plans for the event, a pre-registration that includes a signed copy of the book, charging others at the door, light snack in addition to the drinks sold at the café. "This should be a huge event, and hopefully it gets some other writers in here too after they hear you're doing it!" Lavender promised to send an owl later that night with all of the details, plus any more that she comes up with for Hermione to approve or deny, as well as give any suggestions. She runs off to leave the two women alone as she goes to greet new customers.

Ginny feigns surprise. "Hermione that's great! I think this will be great for you, getting you out of the house and around people. Such a great idea to have it next week too."

I give Ginny a look stolen from her mother. "Like I had much of a choice, you pretty much signed me up to it before I heard the whole plan. You probably would've dragged me down here next week even if I didn't agree to it."

Ginny puts her hand over her heart as if to pretend to be offended before laughing. "Are you thirsty? There's supposed to be amazing smoothies here, and I can definitely go for one right now." Without waiting for an answer, Ginny hops up and walks over to the bar. I pick up a piece of paper that way on the table. It lists all of the book favorites of the employees who work here, and of course mine is listed as Lavender's favorite. I'm starting to think this was a long planned out event between my friends.

"Well well, Granger in a bookshop. Now that's surprising." I look up to see the smug face of Draco Malfoy. We haven't actually spoken in a few years, although he and Harry are at least acquaintances from work. Ron still refuses to be civil with him.

"Malfoy, I assume you've been well." Just because my husband can't play nice doesn't mean I can't. Malfoy gives me the same up and down look everyone gives me, and his smile begins to look a little forced.

"About as well as I can hope. Have a nice day." Before I get a chance to say another word he turns on his heel and walks back out of the shop.