Four
The weeks passed quickly, too quickly, Hermione thought. She and Charlie spent most of his free time together, out of his flat and in his bed. She hadn't thought she would enjoy herself quite so much, but she found herself saddening at the prospect of returning to England. There was something about Romania—and not only that Charlie was there—that called to Hermione, begging her to stay and explore the old towns, the wide expanses of open land, and the future with Charlie she swore to herself she didn't fantasize about.
But the day came for Hermione to leave. She packed her stuff in her bag, refusing to double-check that she'd gotten everything. She tried to convince herself that it wasn't out of any hope that if she'd left anything at his flat, she'd have an excuse to come back. Charlie held her hand as he walked her through the town to the Apparition Point. Once they were in the alley, hidden from the view of the street, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her softly, gently.
"I'll miss you," Hermione said softly when he pulled away, still holding her in his arms.
"I'll write," Charlie whispered against her ear. "Often."
She tried to convince herself to move away from his warm embrace. She tried to remind herself of all the reasons she needed to return to England. She tried telling herself that what had happened the last month didn't truly matter, that it had just been a fling, and that she should just go back to her life in England. It didn't work. Because more than anything in the world at that moment, all she wanted was to stay in Romania, in his arms.
"You better," she said with a little laugh as he pulled away from her.
"I will," Charlie insisted. He kissed her once more and then took a few steps back, away from her.
Back in England, Hermione quickly got back into her schedule with work and friends. They teased her about the fresh glow about her, commenting that she looked happier, healthier. Charlie wrote, as promised, and they easily fell back into their friendship with light teasing, easy conversation, and plenty of sexual tension. Though she missed Charlie and the time they'd spent together, she focused her energy on the present, something her parents had always taught her to do.
One month turned into two, then three, and Hermione found something completely different to worry about.
She'd missed her period.
Three months in a row.
Panicked, Hermione was looking into her schedule so to plan a trip to her Healer when an owl tapped insistently on her window. She opened the window, took the letter from the owl, and watched as the creature flew off into the sky, obviously not expecting a response.
Flipping the envelope over to open it, she noticed the familiar St. Mungo's seal. With her lip pulled between her teeth, she tore the envelope open, curious as to why the hospital would be writing her.
Dear Miss Granger,
After having received reports of a defective experimental contraceptive potion distributed between the dates of 6th June and 6th July of this year, we are requesting all witches who took said contraceptive to come to the hospital at their convenience for routine tests.
The letter fell to the floor.
Defective contraception potions, missing periods, random nausea and aches.
It all became clear to her, but she would not jump to those conclusions. She took the Floo to the hospital and demanded to see her healer at once. A short man dressed in Apprentice robes ushered her to her healer's office, shutting the door behind him as he left them alone.
"I'm pregnant," Hermione told the man sitting behind a large desk.
"Miss Granger," he said in greeting. "Please, sit down. You received the letter, then?"
"Yes, I received the letter." She resisted the desire to curse and scream and cry. "Defective contraception potions, how did that happen?"
The healer sighed, rubbed a weary hand over his face. "I'm terribly sorry, Miss Granger, but we have not discovered the cause of the defect. It was, if you recall, a three month experimental potion, and I'm obligated to remind you that you signed a waiver stating that any pregnancy would not be the responsibility of the hospital while on the experimental potion."
"I don't bloody care about legalities or any of that rubbish," she exclaimed, tears filling her eyes. "I'm here simply to get confirmation of my suspicions."
The healer nodded in understanding. "My apologies. I was under obligation to inform you, though. If you'll follow me, we'll do this in a room."
He moved past her and led her to an empty examination room, motioning for her to sit on the uncomfortable hospital bed.
"If you'll lie down and lift your shirt to show your abdomen." He turned around, affording her a small amount of unnecessary privacy.
"I'm ready," she said softly a moment later.
She watched as he moved his wand over her stomach in a complicated series of motions. He muttered a charm, and a moment later her stomach glowed brightly, pure white.
"Congratulations," he said softly, apology in his voice. "You are thirteen weeks and four days into your pregnancy."
Hermione nodded gravely and lowered her shirt back over her stomach, successfully covering the fading white glow.
She returned home in a fog after having scheduled prenatal appointments. She had booklets on nutrition and tips and all things pregnancy-related. Her mind couldn't seem to process what had happened, how her life had so completely deviated from what she knew. Sitting on her small couch, her eyes moved around her flat, taking in all the things that would have to change when she had the baby. Her entire life would change, had already begun changing, and she didn't feel prepared to keep up with it all.
Before long the panic started to settle in her, and she was forced to look at the bigger picture.
She was pregnant.
Charlie Weasley was the father.
As she sat on that small couch, she couldn't help but worry about how she would tell him, for she would never keep something so important from him. Would he want to be a part of their child's life? Would he want to be a part of her life? Would he marry her and move back to England? Or would they live in Romania?
What would everyone think when they found out? No one even knew that Charlie and Hermione had had an affair, so would they be able to forgive their indiscretion?
But, most importantly, was it possible for her and Charlie to find love with each other, to give their child the loving family it deserved? She hoped so; she desperately hoped so.
Hermione moved to her desk and pulled a fresh bit of parchment off her stack, and then dipped a quill in ink. Sitting, she penned an owl to Charlie.
Charlie,
I hope everything is going good with you! I miss you terribly.
There's something very important I need to talk to you about. In person, if that's all right? Please owl me when it would be a good time to Apparate.
Love from,
Hermione
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed Part Four! Reviews are like golden rays of sunshine on a cloudy day! Spread the warmth!
