Temptations #5

Chapter #5: Unexpected consequences.

Hermione has been experiencing a lot of problems lately, the investigation on which she was experimenting wasn’t giving enough results to keep it founding it, it was at risk to get funds canceled, and she didn’t know what else to do.

Add to that, the fact that she hadn’t seen her daughter the whole year, she hadn’t even been coming back home, and the problems with Harry were getting more and more common.

Harry James Potter, that name has a lot of weight in the wizarding world, his word is taken as some kind of message from the gods and people barely questioned it, he was their savior after all, and if anyone managed to threaten their idol, there will be sure some nasty consequences.

But Hermione wasn’t worried about the way people may think of them, actually, the people were happy about her relationship with the man with a golden heart. Hermione smirked as she remembered the day when she landed at his home after she left Ron, he wasn’t alone when she arrived at his mansion, there were some girls with him, but the moment she told him that she was in need, he quickly left out everything that he had been doing and even threw the women out of his home to let her and little Rose inside.

Harry, his first and best friend, and now husband was so kind to them, offering them to stay in his home as long as they wanted, Hermione and her daughter were supposed to stay just for a few weeks until she managed to get the life she used to have, the life that Ron almost killed.

With Harry’s help, she didn’t even manage to get her life back, she also found a safe place to stay with her daughter, little Rose really liked Harry, that’s why she was the happiest when their relationship evolved from friendship to marriage, yes, Harry had done a lot of things for them, that’s why she had always wanted to compensate his kind and selfless acts by giving him what he always wanted: a big family.

Harry never voiced it out loud, but Hermione knew that Harry envied the life that Ron had, even with the economic problems, Ron’s family had enough for their children and they were also happy as they knew that they had a lot of children that sometimes fought but in the end, they loved each other.

Even if things between Hermione and her ex-husband’s family weren’t that well as they blamed her for causing Ron to go insane, she still couldn’t deny that they had a life to envy and she also wanted to give that life to Harry, with all those children and the great atmosphere, of course, Hermione wasn’t Molly but she wanted to do her best to try and give him the family that he dreamed of having.

Sadly, destiny always has some kind of prank or different ideas about what we need, we don’t always get what we want, Hermione didn’t know why, but it was hard for her to get pregnant, Harry and Hermione both did some tests of fertility to see if there was a problem with them.

According to the doctor, both of them were healthy enough to produce another child, the thing here is that a pregnancy was dangerous and hard for Hermione, she didn’t know why, it was kind of an irony, the doctors told them that she was around a proper age and her physical state seemed enough to bear a child, the thing here it is that it seems like Hermione’s body has been killing all those embryos and the doctors didn’t know why her own body was protecting itself from her getting pregnant, and Hermione suspected that the muggle doctors would never be able to detect what's wrong with her, she thought that it was probably a magical disease.

Hermione’s theory is that it’s just one of the consequences of the thing that happened in Malfoy’s manor when they got captured, Bellatrix used some kind of rare magic to torture her, but still, she managed to bring Rose to the world, it seems like that pregnancy weakened her womb.

She has been trying a lot of different ways, ancient rituals, praying to ancient gods, she had even considered making a deal with some demon to grant her wish, she wanted to be a mother again and it seems like destiny wasn’t in the mod to give her what she wanted (As always).

It doesn’t matter how many professionals she sees, they always tell them the same, they can’t find why it is so hard for her to get pregnant, so, she ended up giving up on them and decided to continue trying in the traditional way, even if it costed her life, that’s why she’s been seeing an expert in fertility in Britain, her name’s Audrey and she’s an amazing doctor.

Hermione has been visiting her a lot lately, but she couldn’t tell Harry that she was doing that as he didn’t want her to get pregnant to not get her life in danger, but she knew that her last chance to become a mother again was becoming an impossible dream as time passed, the doctor always tried to motivate her and explain the procedures that she wanted to try on her but lately, she’s close to giving up with her too, she had even considered a weird choice, and that’s why we’re in this situation now with Harry and Rose both in the bed trying to cover their bodies and worried about the older woman in front of them,

- Mom… Look, this is a misunderstanding, I swear I initiated all, this isn’t Harry’s fault! – Rose tried to defend the older man.

But even if he drank some alcohol a few hours ago, he knew that he was still in full control of his capabilities, so, he stopped Rose and smiled at her.

- I guess we need to talk? – Asked Harry and Hermione nodded.

- Yes… Indeed we have – Said Hermione in a calm tone.

That surprised both Harry and Rose, that tone was used when she was already planning something, and they were a little scared by it, still, Harry didn’t back down and minutes later, he was already getting dressed, Rose did the same, she was about to get out of the room, she knew that she was the next in line for a talk that might end up her life after she finished with Harry.

- Don’t! – Her mother told her – Stay here, you need to hear what’s about to happen – Rose gulped after she heard that, but it was okay, at least she will have the chance to defend Harry in case things got ugly.

- Mom… Listen I—Rose tried to make her understand but, her mother wasn’t in the mood for listening to reasons.

- Get back with him! – She said trying to suppress her anger.

Once Rose and Harry were sitting on the edge of the bed, they looked at Hermione for a few moments, waiting for her to say something as she was just moving around the room, they expected screams, insults, and everything that they knew they deserved it, but instead, Hermione looked at them with a serious expression.

- I’m sorry for all of this… It’s just that… It’s shocking, you know? – Said the older woman – I knew that this was supposed to happen eventually… But it’s still shocking to see it – She said in a worried tone.

Harry and Rose looked at each other, confused about Hermione’s words.

- Wait… What do you mean mom? – Asked Rose confused.

- Oh please Rosie… Did you think I was too stupid to see what you've been going through since you started attending Hogwarts? – Hermione smirked at her – I was a teenager once too, dear – Rose felt a little embarrassed – You remember Lockhart, don’t you Harry? – Asked Hermione and Harry groaned.

- How can I forget him? He was an idiot! – He told her.

- Exactly, when you’re young you fall for someone attractive even if he's dumb – She mocked Harry.

The older man couldn’t help but roll his eyes while Rose and Hermione laughed, but still, the situation was too weird to do anything else, the least they could do was laugh.

- Hermione… What’s going on? Aren’t you going to scream at us and curse us!? Or even threaten to kill us? – Asked Harry and things got serious once again.

- Yes mom, I was expecting more drama, I was already planning to run away with Harry to South America so we could start a family there! – Rose told her.

Harry was surprised to hear that.

- South America? – He asked her surprised.

- I know it needs some polishing, but the plan was great trust me – Rose told him.

Hermione looked at them for a few seconds with a serious expression.

- Do you guys really want to know why I am not acting like the female incarnation of Voldemort? – Hermione asked and both of them nodded – The truth is that… You guys ended up falling into my trap… I’ve been planning this the whole year… For you to end up together – Hermione finally confessed.

The older woman sighed and stretched her body as she finally felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, meanwhile, Rose and Harry were astonished, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

- Hermione… Is that a joke? You know me well, I’m not too fond of pranks or stuff like that – Hermione laughed at her husband’s reaction.

- I’m not joking Harry, trust me, this plan had been traced for a long time – Once again she surprised them.

Harry facepalmed, it was still hard for him to understand why she was telling them that.

- But why Hermione? – Harry finally asked the question.

Hermione remained silent for a moment, she smiled softly at them.

- As I said before, I already know about Rose’s feelings towards you and I thought that it was time for a change for you Harry – She told him and he didn’t understand – With Rose, you can have a nice, young, beautiful woman… That could also give you lots of babies... Just like you've always wanted! – She confessed with some tears in her eyes.

Harry quickly ran to embrace her, they remained like that for a few moments until Harry decided to finally speak.

- Really, Hermione? All of this just because you can’t get pregnant? – He asked her.

Hermione couldn’t help but feel a little weird about this whole situation.

- Partly yes… But like I said before, Rose is in love with you… I also need to confess that, you’re too much for me Harry and I’m not talking about the usual, I’m not talking about your fame, your career, your abilities, or just yourself, no… I’m talking about when it comes to… Sex – She confessed embarrassed.

Rose looked at her parents a little weirded out about the situation, but still, she decided to watch carefully their interactions.

- It’s not enough for me Harry and also… I have feared that you would cheat on me with many of the women that are behind you – Once again Harry sighed, this conversation has happened many times before.

Harry was too popular with the ladies and Hermione was quite aware of the situation, she had reasons to feel jealous, Harry just needed to talk for a while in Diagon Alley to find a woman interested in him or a group of women throwing themselves at him.

- She’s right, Harry – Rose told them from the distance.

Harry and Hermione looked at her strangely.

- Even my cousins have crushes on you, Harry… But don’t worry I managed to get them out of your sight, that’s why they never come home! – She gave them her thumbs up.

Her parents sighed and Harry even sent a glare to Rose, she wasn’t helping at all right now, her mother’s insecurities were going to get worse after Rose said.

- You see? Even Rose knows that you could get any woman… That’s why I told myself… If Harry’s going to sleep around I prefer If you do it at least with a known woman who also's in love with you… My daughter – She said before she pointed at her Rose.

Rose was really surprised to hear her mother talking about her like that, so sacrifice her love for Harry just so the two of them could be happy, she felt guilty right now, as she planned to steal Harry from her, and run away with him far away, to a place where they couldn’t be found.

- Hermione… I don’t know how to feel about this situation, at first I was feeling so good enjoying my time with Rose, then I felt guilty and scared that I might die and then you reveal that you were planning this to happen? – He asked before he covered his face with his hands and laid on the ground.

Harry didn’t know what to do about this whole deal, he was staring at the ceiling as he rested on the floor.

- This was just a bad casualty, I was expecting you to hook up secretly without me knowing… But once I saw you I couldn’t help but get interested, a part of me wanted to stop you on your tracks and scream at you... I couldn’t stop you in the end – Hermione sighed – That’s why I have something in my mind… The plans have changed but I have a deal for you – Hemione sat on the edge of the bed.

The older woman caressed her daughter’s cheek, Rose was taken by surprise by her mother's touch, and the older woman even embraced her.

- You two can continue with this relationship as long as you stay with me, Harry… You can even have kids if you want, that would lift a weight off my shoulders... I'll remain in the background and you can love each other, I don't mind, I just want you both to be happy – She confessed with a smile on her face.

On the other hand, Rose was feeling embarrassed by her mother, she was already thinking too far ahead.

- Wait, mom aren’t we going too fast? What would people say? And when they ask about my baby’s father? – Rose was too worried about the way her mother was thinking.

- Don’t worry about that dear… There are two choices, you can say that it was an accident or… - Hermione bit her lip, she didn’t want to say the next words but the intense stare from her daughter made her get back to her senses – Or you could lend the baby to us… We could raise it as our own – Rose was shocked to hear that.

Rose remained silent for a few moments, she was waiting for her mother to say that this was just a prank and that she was mad actually.

- Of course, that’s just if things work out with the three of us… But if it comes to a point on which Harry and I no longer work out together then… I’ll promise you that I will leave Harry just for you, so you two can get married and act like a couple when you’re in public – Hermione was looking at the floor a little worried about this whole idea of hers.

Rose couldn’t believe this woman, at first she was scared of her, then she was stunned, later she surprised them with her plan, but now, she felt pity towards her mother, she was a broken and strong woman that knew how to hide the way she felt, she was desperate to get something on which she had no control over, her mother was like that, her mother rarely gave up, she always remained loyal to her ideals even if they were wrong.

Rose sighed before she embraced her mother who was sobbing, Rose wiped her mother’s tears and tried to calm her down and once she did that, Rose looked straight into her eyes.

- Mom… I’m not going to take Harry away from you – She told her – I want to share him with you but not as a background character… IF our relationship is going to change, I want you to participate with us too! – Rose said surprising both Harry and Hermione.

The younger woman always came with something to surprise both of them, Harry was curious to know how things will develop from here.