Harry Potter and his pals...not mine.

Chapter 1: time to say the truth

-I have to do this. I have to- She repeated to herself.

Hermione Granger looked at the view in front of her, still not believing that she was back there. It was almost impossible to believe that she spent almost every summer there, since she was twelve. A nostalgic smile appeared across her face as she remembered those times, the old times when she was part of the most dynamic trio that Hogwarts had ever seen, the times when the problems seemed to have a solution, when she was not afraid. Because, though she had fought against Voldemort three years ago, she had never been as frightened as she was now.

As slow as her feet allowed her, she walked through the garden, full of muggle junk and gnomes running around. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea, maybe Viktor was right" she thought. But suddenly the flashes of the dream that had been tormenting her for three months came to her head. No, she couldn't let that happen. The bulge in her arms moved a little and she immediately stopped. She sighed in relief as she felt his chest moving in and out, steady. "Everything is fine" she said to herself as she looked at the big house in front of her. It wasn't as fancy or big as her own, but there was that happiness in the air, the feeling of shelter and that warmth she only could feel there. Because The Burrow was the only place, besides Hogwarts, that she could actually call home.

-Harry I told you to…- The old woman stopped abruptly as she saw Hermione standing in front of her. A smile appeared across her face as she walked towards the girl she considered her daughter- Hermione! Oh my…!

It had been just three years since Hermione had last saw Mrs. Weasley, but the woman was surely older. Maybe the pain for her lost son had caused the bags under her eyes, the messy hair and the paleness. But in the moment she hugged her, everything seemed to be fine again. Molly Weasley was hugging her…she was hugging him too. Maybe the woman read her thoughts, because she pulled away and her eyes went immediately from her to the bulge in her arms.

-You look amazingly good; Hermione – Mrs. Weasley said kindly, her eyes still on her arms – Is he asleep?

Hermione looked at her in surprise. How could she know?. But immediately the cover of Witch Weekly came to her head: "The happy Krum family"

-Yes, he fell asleep before I aparated here, a good thing because he always throws up when I do it.

Mrs. Weasley smiled at her and looked at the bulge with love.

-But please get in the house! It's freezing out here and the kid can get a cold.

Hermione got inside and immediately the warmth and the familiarity surrounded her. She looked around and realized that everything was in the same place, just like the day of the weeding, her last day at The Burrow.

-I cannot believe it! Hermione!- Harry, who was in the kitchen, ran to her and gave her the tightest hug she had received in three long years. And suddenly the time hasn't passed, and she was the eighteen year old girl again, the brightest witch of her age, the best friend of Harry Potter, the boy who lived. But again, the bulge in her arms moved, bringing her back to reality. Harry looked at it and smiled.

-I can't believe you didn't choose me to be the godfather!- He said, trying to sound offended.

-Give him to me, I'll put him on the couch – Mrs. Weasley extended her arms. Hermione doubted for a moment but then, making sure that he was fully covered, gave him to the ginger woman, who had a lovely expression on her face as she took the kid. Once she put him on the couch, she took the cloak's hood out of his head. The two years old boy was incredibly white and with fine features. His eyes were closed and his hair was covered by an blue wool cap, but Mrs. Weasley thought that his eyes and hair had to be as brown as Hermione's or the boy would just look weird. She looked at him again, trying to find something of Viktor Krum in him. But, though his face was familiar to her, she couldn't stop thinking that the little kid was nothing like his father.

-So this is little Viktor- Ginny said as she looked at him, just as curious as her mother.

Ginny and Mr. Weasley had joined them in the living room, all of them happy for Hermione's return. Neither of them knew exactly why she had left right after the battle against Voldemort, but it wasn't the time to ask. She was back and everything would be like it was, they thought. Hermione looked at her friend and trying to hide her nervousness swallowed hard.

-Arthur Viktor, actually- she corrected Ginny, looking down at the small, fragile boy who slept peacefully on the couch. Mr. Weasley looked at her and she realized that his face was as red as his hair. She laughed. That reminded her so much of him.

-It's a real honor, Hermione – He said solemnly, his eyes full of gratitude.

Mrs. Weasley stood up and hugged her again, with tears in her eyes.

-That was such a…- but she couldn't finish the sentence and broke in tears. Hermione gave her a few pats in the back as the woman sobbed, trying to control herself.

-It was nothing, Mr. Weasley- She affirmed, surer than ever – it was just the right thing to do. Besides the names suits him perfectly. Arthur means "as strong as a bear" and believe me, he is.

They all laughed.

-You should have come here when he was born, I could've helped you- Mrs. Weasley said kindly – Who knows, if you had stayed maybe this little boy would be my grandchild.

Hermione face went serious immediately. There was an uncomfortable silence.

-We were hoping to see you at our wedding, or at Ron's- Ginny said, breaking the silence and trying to see the expression on Hermione's face. But she just smiled and looked down.

-I was too busy finishing my last year at Durmstrangs and then Artie came to my life and…he's a piece of work, I must say- She could hear Mrs. Weasley's sobs when she said her son's nickname.

-Just amazing. You were the first muggleborn who was admitted in Durmstrangs since it was founded. But you might know that for sure- Mr. Weasley commented proudly, like he was talking about one of his children.

Hermione felt a punch in the guts. She had to tell them the truth.

-Well, the privileges of the brightest witch of our age – Harry said mockingly, but serious at the same time. Hermione looked at Ginny, who had her eyes on the little boy, with a estrange expression on her face.

-I almost had a heart attack when I read the article in Witch Weekly- Mrs. Weasley said, joining the conversation again – I couldn't believe that our Hermione was…

-Pregnant?

-Of course I'm not judging you, sweetheart. But you were so young to get married!- There was something in Mrs. Weasley's tone that made Hermione realize that the problem wasn't her marriage, but who she had married.

-Ron got married six months after she did, and you didn't think it was strange at all- Ginny said to her mother, noticing her tone too. Then she whispered to Hermione- Lavender couldn't get pregnant the first year of marriage and my mom was freaking out a little bit about it. Besides, she never liked Lavender.

-What can I say? We want grandchildren!- Mr. Weasley said happily, looking at his wife, who was totally embarrassed by her daughter's comment.

Hermione just looked at them, trying to hide the panic that suddenly overcame her.

-Bill and Fleur had a baby. Isabelle. She's two years old and she's a beauty!- Mrs. Weasley said with excitement, but then her smile faded a little –But we still don't have a little boy in the family, so it will be nice to have you here with little Arthur.

The moment had arrived. She had to tell them the truth. In a few minutes they would be looking at her with resentment, pain, maybe even with hate. She stared at her son again; she needed it to go on.

-I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley but I'm not staying here, I just came to see you and…- After she was done, everything would be different for the Weasleys, for her and especially for him. Artie, her two year old son, was the person she loved the most and she wouldn't let…no, she couldn't. She looked at the Weasleys, who seemed to be a little disappointed by Hermione's rejection to stay at The Burrow, and cleared her throat –I…I came here because I need to talk to you about something important.

-What is it about, Hermione? – Harry asked, totally serious.

She stayed silent for a minute.

- It's about Art…

But before she could finish the sentence she felt something like an explosion coming from the fireplace. Instinctively she stood up and took her son in her arms protectively, but before she could find her wand, a laugh, a very familiar laugh was heard.

-Oh Love that was so funny…- the laugh of Lavender Brown disappeared as her eyes met Hermione's. She was serious now, pale and shocked. Ron looked from his wife to Hermione, and immediately to the bulge in her arms.

As her eyes met his, her whole body tensed and there she was again, a 21 year old woman that didn't want to put her pride aside. She took a deep breath and looked back at the Weasleys.

-I have to go- she muttered, trying to sound as calm as she could – Thanks for receiving me, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

She looked at Harry and Ginny, who seemed to be as confused as the rest of the family, but she couldn't explain it to them. She would have to explain it someday, she though.

-Bye Harry, I guess I will see you as the ministry- Hermione never was good at lying, and this time wasn't the exception. Her happy tone was just a fake. – And Ginny, Viktor bought tickets for the game this Saturday, so I guess I'll see you then, even though you will be on the broom- she laughed, a fake laugh, and then walked toward the fireplace. Lavender was still looking at her as if she had just insulted her and Ron had the same face he had three years ago, the last time she saw him.

-I love you, Ron- she whispered into his ear, seconds after she climaxed. Immediately, the lips that had been roaming all over her whole body stopped.

She looked for his eyes, trying to find out what was wrong. But he was blank, pale and shaking. The boy, that now was a man, pulled away from her silently, his eyes never leaving hers.

-I….I- The words she expected to hear never came. He just stayed there, naked, looking at her in state of shock as if she had just said his mother had died. Before she could control it, a single tear rolled down her cheek, but immediately she got up. As fast as she could she get dressed and giving him a last look, she walked out of the room.

The weeping of the child she held in her arms brought her back to reality. She looked away from Ron to her kid, who was trying to get rid of the cap that covered his head. "No sweetheart…not yet" she said to him in the sweetest tone they all had ever heard from her and then turned around and walked towards the door.

-I forgot that Artie hates flu red- she commented, looking at her kid lovingly, and then turned around and taking a deep breath said – Congratulations Ron and Lavender. For the baby.

Lavender put her hands over her flat belly and stood there, frozen, as Hermione and her little boy walked out of the house. But there was something in that girl, in the boy she was holding that couldn't let her sleep that night. It was just her imagination or, when the kid tried to take his cap out, she saw something red coming out of his scalp?