A/N: Hey peeps! I have another chapter ready to go :) I have to get back to the grind tomorrow (Tuesday = my Monday) so I may not post for a few days or so...
Disclaimer: I own only my imagination.

Enjoy, and please review ;P

2005

Hermione Weasley had been working hard. She had climbed the proverbial ladder at a fast pace. She had made her mark within the Ministry by successfully instating new legislations awarding House Elves more rights thus fulfilling the mission she had started by creating S.P.E.W. in her formative years at Hogwarts. The department of Magical Law Enforcement had since poached her, which had been a hard move from a department Hermione was very passionate about. But it did mean she was closer to Harry, and there was a greater need for her skills and experience in her new role.

There was now talk of further promotion for Hermione, thanks to all the effort she had made, and the late nights she had spent in the office. After returning from her honeymoon, Hermione seemed more driven than ever. Most of her peers had wagered that she would be wanting to spend more time at home now that she and Ron were married, but since returning from their jaunt around Europe and Morroco, Ron had become obsessed with bringing the wonders of Weasleys' Wizard Wheeze to the magical children of these countries. He and George were now working on opening stores in the main magical hubs of Western Europe, with hope that this would only be the start of expansion.

Hermione was incredibly happy to see her husband flourish. The busier he was, the less time he had to dwell on the nightmarish memories that would still creep in from time to time. Their life was hectic, with his frequent trips away to attend to the growing business. But they seemed to make it work. She stretched as she rolled over to look at the clock. It was early, the time she would normally wake for work, but today she did not have to be up. The bright spring sunlight heralded what was to be a beautiful day, a stark contrast for the Day of Mourning recognised by the European Wizarding World. For today was May second, marking the seventh anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Ron grunted in his sleep behind Hermione. They would be heading to Godric's Hollow later that day to be with Harry and Ginny before joining the extended Weasley family and all their friends that had been involved with that day of horrors at the Burrow. She knew that it was hard for Ron to be around people on this day, but it was better to get him out of the house rather than letting him drink the day away with a bottle of fire whiskey. Despite the progress he was making and how well he was coping, each year the second of May still took a hefty toll on Ron's psyche.

Hermione's stomach churned with anxiety and hunger. She decided that tea and toast was a better idea than trying to lay still in bed. While waiting for the kettle to boil, Hermione looked down at the quiet street below her. The sizeable apartment that she owned with Ron was situated within what was once Knockturn Alley; after the war, the entire district had been cleaned out of the dark artefacts and the people that had once dealt them. Harry had thoroughly enjoyed his part in the process; the Auror office had played a crucial role in clearing out the leftover curses and dark magic in the area. Since then Knockturn Alley had been developed into a residential area for the magical community. With Ron's business headquarters within strolling distance, and the Ministry only a few streets away, it made perfect sense for the young couple to invest in the area.

The street was quiet, but the black ribbons of remembrance had already been draped all over. She looked down at the sea of black silk as her gut roiled uncomfortably. Hermione breathed deeply, trying to stop anxiety from taking over. The smell of burnt toast filled her nose and whilst not an overly unpleasant smell, today it did not agree with Hermione at all. She was hit with a sudden wave of nausea, barely making it to the guest bath in time to expel to contents of her stomach into the toilet. Between bout two and three Hermione searched within the draws for a hair tie, stopping when she found something disconcerting. She had a stash of unopened tampons here, but seeing them caused realisation to shoot through her.

Once there was nothing left in her system to purge, she cast a quick Scourgify over herself before throwing on some clothes and apparating to the alleyway beside the local day and night grocer. She ducked in trying to avoid the gaze of the other early morning shoppers. She quickly grabbed a bottle of apple juice and the items she needed, before slinking back into the alley to apparate home.

Sitting on the edge of the tub, Hermione skulled the juice. When she was full to the point of bursting, Hermione removed all four different plastic devices from their packaging and supplied them with the required sample.

Five nerve-rattling minutes later Hermione had the answer. She was pregnant. About two months along if the device claiming to be superiorly accurate was to be believed. Her mind had seized. She was at a very precarious time in her career and Ron was home less and less these days. Was this really the best time to bring a child into the mix?

They had not explicitly been attempting to conceive, but they had consciously ceased actively trying not to. Hermione's mind filled with thoughts of her young niblings, especially James, Fred II and Roxanne and how much she loved them. Seeing her friends-come-family with their young children did inspire a pang of maternal envy for Hermione.

But Hermione was not one to set off on a venture like this without thinking through all the details. Ron was a fantastic uncle and he did love children, but was he ready to be a father? Hermione sighed to herself as she thought that the news might very well distract Ron from falling into such a dark depression this year. Or at least she hoped it would.

Hermione crept back into the kitchen for a second attempt at tea, not wanting to risk the toast this time. She was met by a large pair of yellow eyes waiting for her at the kitchen window. She paid the delivery owl and unfurled the morning addition of the Daily Prophet. The front page was, for once, a well written piece remembering the lives that were lost seven years ago. She scoffed reading the by line; Neville Longbottom had penned the front page story. Of course none of the usual contributors would be able to produce something so accurate and beautiful. A tear rolled down her cheek thinking of Neville and the integral role he had played in the war. He was doing well for himself too, taking over the Herbology department at Hogwarts, sowing the passion for magical botanicals in the minds of the next generation.

Wiping her eyes, Hermione flicked through the tributes and memorials in search of the daily funny. However, on her way to that section of the paper, an article in the gossip section happened to catch her eye. A familiar dapper face stared back at her as he wound an arm around the woman beside him, before swooping her into a Clark Gable-esque kiss. Draco Malfoy was engaged. To Astoria Greengrass; a Slytherin Pure-Blood. Hermione could only imagine the glee felt by his parents at the match. Hermione's heart sank slightly, but she mentally slapped herself. There is no way that they would have ever worked. But she thought back to her wedding, only nine months ago; the flowers he had sent her and the hidden meaning that Luna had read from his choice in colour.

"Oh wow, the Ferret has finally convinced someone to marry him," said a voice over Hermione's shoulder, snapping her from her illicit thoughts. "Poor Astoria, I thought she was actually half-decent for a Slytherin. Dad said she was doing well at work, quite the aficionado with Muggle cameras and stuff." Ron placed a kiss on his wife's head before ambling into the kitchen to make himself some breakfast.

Hermione stared after him. He was in a better mood than expected this morning; perhaps he had turned a leaf and was able to cope. Or perhaps he just hadn't realised what the date was. She needed to tell him the news.

His sigh pierced her monologue. "I really wish they didn't make today such a sorrowful day. I know Fred would have wanted us to focus on the fact that we won the war."

"Ron, I have something to tell you," Hermione started, hoping to keep his mood positive. She left the table, heading to him and taking one of his large freckled hands in her delicate grasp.

"What is it 'Mione?" He looked puzzled.

She realised that her face was still creased with worry. She smoothed it, hopping her smile looked sincere. "You know how gorgeous little James is? And you know how we were talking about maybe starting our own family soon?" She said by way of testing the water.

His brow furrowed. He wasn't quite catching on with where she was going with this. She placed his palm over her abdomen. "Well, there's no time to do so like now, right?" She said, beaming as gleeful realisation rushed across Ron's face.

He gathered her into his arms, kissing her on the lips. "I can't wait to tell Harry!" He exclaimed.