"Thank you for meeting with me, Arthur," Mrs. Granger said as they sat in a tea shop in Muggle London.

"It's not a problem, Nancy. But I must say, I'm a bit puzzled as to why you invited me. We're both married and have kids now, so you know there can be nothing more between us. Besides, that was nineteen years ago," Arthur replied, looking into her hazel eyes..

"No, it's nothing of that sort. You - you need to know something."

"Is everything alright?" he asked, concerned.

"Everything is fine, I suppose." Nancy stared into her teacup while unconsciously playing with a strand of hair. "It's about Hermione."

Arthur reached across the table and gently lifted her chin with his finger. She was forced to look into his warm, caring blue eyes. He softly asked, "What about her?"

He had suspected it was something about Ron and Hermione, but if that was the case, why wasn't Molly or Richard with them...There was only one other thing Arthur thought this meeting could possibly be about - but it couldn't be. Yes, it was possible, but not probable.

"It's time I told you this. I wouldn't even tell you if she hadn't gotten involved with one of your sons."

No. No, this can not be happening. She isn't about to say what I think she is. Well, if she does, I guess it's a good thing Molly isn't here. Wait. Molly. What would I tell Molly. Thoughts raced through Arthur's head, of what Nancy was about to say, of how Molly would react.

Nancy took a deep breath. "Hermione is - She's your daughter," she finished quickly. All color drained from Arthur's face, and he sat gaping at the brunette sitting across from him. This is exactly what he hoped Nancy wouldn't say.

"B-b-but how?" he asked once he was capable of forming words. "I-I thought we took precautions."

She placed her hand over his on the table, and whispered so only he could hear, "We did, but we had to use Muggle protection since I didn't know about the magical world and you couldn't use magicaround a Muggle. Condoms don't always work."

"Ahh, okay."

"I'm sorry about this -"

"- Don't be. I've always loved and thought of Hermione as a daughter...which I suppose is only appropriate since she is."

"I wouldn't have even told you this if she and Ron weren't getting so serious."

"Why didn't you tell me before now?"

"Well, you had your own family, and I let her stay with you during the holidays, so I thought that would be enough."

"Thank you, but I would've liked to have known. Does Richard know?"

"Sort of." Arthur gave her a questioning look, then she elaborated, "He knows she isn't his daughter, but he doesn't know whose she is."

He nodded. "Okay." Arthur thought for a moment, and continued slowly, "So, let me get this straight. Hermione is my daughter, product of the little fling you and I had nineteen years ago that, at the time, neither Molly nor Richard knew about. You've let her stay with us, so I could spend time with the daughter I never knew I had. And you're only telling me because of her relationship with my son."

Nancy nodded her head in affirmation. "Mmhmm."

Arthur leaned back in his seat and ran his hand through his hair in consternation. He let out a deep breath. "What are we going to do?"

"We have to tell them -"

"- We are not telling anyone this," Arthur interrupted. "There's no telling what Molly would do if she found out that I was unfaithful, even just for one night, let alone if I had an illegitimate child."

"What do you suggest we do then"? Nancy challenged.

"We split them up," was Arthur's quick response.

"And how exactly do we do that?"

This time Arthur wasn't quick to respond. He racked his brain for an idea, but failed. Besides, he couldn't do that to his son, or daughter. And what if they ended up getting back together? The truth would have to come out.

"Fine, you're right. You and Richard come to the Burrow for dinner tomorrow. The kids will already be there since school hasn't started back from the Christmas holidays."

He stood to leave when Nancy asked him, "What's your take on this situation? Are you mad, that I didn't tell you about this?"

"It's bittersweet," he replied as he pulled on his coat. "I just wish you would've told me sooner. I've spent all this time with my daughter without even knowing it." He thought for a moment, "What if I died in the war, and never knew she was my daughter? What if she died, would you have told me then...when it would've been too late?" He left Nancy to ponder these last words.

Neither of them got a wink of sleep that night, scenarios playing through their heads of how the conversation at dinner would go, how everyone would react, and, in Arthur's case, what this would mean for his marriage, and how this would affect his relationship with Hermione.

A/N: Thanks for reading chapter 1. Hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter is on its way. How will Ron, Molly, and Hermione react to this news? Or will Arthur back out at the last minute?

Also, I do not own Harry Potter.

Please review!