Interlude: This Empty Bedroom Won't make Anything Right

Interlude: This Empty Bedroom Won't make Anything Right

Hermione sat with her knees up to her chest withand her eyes shut. Her chest was heaving with furious sobs. Being alone in the world was impossible, especially in the Burrow, but she had never felt so solitary in her whole life. Tears slipped out from under her lidded eyes, and she rubbed her swollen belly semi-subconsciously. Her lip quivered, and her chin dimpled as she, recallinged every word she wished she could speak.

If I am lost for a day, try and find me

But if I don't come back, then I won't look behind me

She let her rib cage fold back as the sobs wracked her body once more. She couldn’t find him, even if she tried. All she had to remember him by was this strange fragment of parchment she had held next to her heart for a month. She let out a soft ghost of a laugh, recalling her former determination to be strong.

All of the things that I thought were so easy

Just got harder and harder each day

She waited, alone in that room, knowing full well he couldn’t come to her to awkwardly comfort her and kiss away each tear. She let the silence consume her. She knew talking would ease her pain; normality and the hustle and bustle of the real world could pull her from her grieving. But yet… she wanted to suffer and drown in her pain, but this was always followed by her idea of having two lives hanging in the balance.

December is the darkest and June is the light

But this empty bedroom won't make anything right.

A knock came at the door, followed by a soft voice. “Hermione? Are you ready for dinner?”

While out on the landing, a friend I forgot to send home

Who waits up for me all through the night

“No, Ginny,” she replied coldly. “I don’t want dinner just now.”

The redhead worried for her friend; she just wanted to tell her all would be okay, but Ginny had a hard time believing that for herself.

Calendar Girl who is lost to the world, stay alive.

Calendar Girl who is lost to the world, stay alive…

When she no longer sensed a presence lurking behind the door, Hermione strode to the window to tempt in a breeze that could carry news of her beloved. The roses that climbed the back of the house seemed almost tragic enough for her to contemplate. She recalled over and over that he was lost to her;, forever lost. He would never lay eyes upon his child, and would never hold Hermione again. She felt the cold hands of fate closing over her heart.

I dreamed I was dying as I so often do

And when I awoke I was sure it was true

She let her scream escape her into the sunset. Fate clutched her, and if she wasn’t hadn’t been weighed down with child, she would have jumped. She turned her head to the sky, pleading, “Keep me from hurting my baby.”

I ran to the window, threw my head to the sky

And said whoever is up there, please don't let me die

She sighed again. Looking down at the garden, she felt humbled by the fact that things like photosynthesis could continue in a world with so much pain.

But I can't live forever; I can't always breathe.

One day I'll be sand on a beach by a sea.

She entertained the idea of his homecoming for a moment, drawing parallels to The Odyssey. She placed her hand on her stomach, imagining for that sweet, indulgent moment that all would be fine for her baby.

The pages keep turning; I'll mark off each day with a cross

And I'll laugh about all that we've lost.

Some of her old strength flooded her. A radiant smile crossed her face as the sun sank into its daily journey about her planet.

Calendar girl who’s in love with the world, stay alive.

Calendar Girl who’s in love with the world, stay alive…

All the world had an amazing appeal as that well-missed smile crossed her features. Her tears still ran, oh, yes, but that smile dawned a new day.

January, February, March, April, May, I'm alive…

She saw every moment of her child’s life pass before her eyes as she staggered to sit on her bed.

June, July, August, September, October, I'm alive…

She rubbed her stomach, singing a lullaby to her sweet baby Juliet.

November, December, yeah, all through the winter, I'm alive…

She appeared in the dining room and smiled broadly, wiping her tears and apologizing for being so late. Everyone made room for her at the table.

I'm alive.

Author’s Note: The song is Calendar Girl by Stars. I took the liberty of switching the two choruses, since they made more sense that way.

And that's right everybody, I'm back!!! So sorry for the wait; real life got a bit insane for everybody involved in this story. But we're back on track! I hope there are some of you left!