Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other recognizable work or character.
A/N: Some strong views about Charlie last chapter and also quite a few requests for a Charlie/Hermione story. I'll have to think about that for a while. Until then...
Four
"He's beautiful Gin." Hermione said as she sat on the bed, watching as Ginny nursed her newborn son.
"Thank you," Ginny smiled. She looked exhausted, her hair a sweaty mess of red but she also looked radiant as she held her child.
She pulled her son away from her breast and held him up on her shoulder to gently pat his back.
"You're a natural," Hermione smiled tightly.
Ginny shrugged, "All the practice with my brother's kids I guess… wait, what's wrong?"
Hermione shook her head, "Nothing, I-"
"No, don't nothing me. What's wrong?"
"I don't want to take away from this-"
"Cut the shite, what is it?" Ginny warned.
Hermione swallowed, "I—I think I'm pregnant."
Ginny's eyes widened, "Is it- is it Ron's?"
Hermione shrugged, "I don't- I don't even know if I am it's just I've been feeling ill and I'm late but that hasn't been unusual since-" she trailed off, thinking of the pain of the cruciatus curse as it had torn through her. The healers had said that any dark magic could harm her ability to produce children, it was why they had explained away the miscarriages and the problems with conceiving between her and Ron but now….
"Go get a test," Ginny hissed.
"I will-" Hermione assured her.
"Hey, everyone is gone except your mum and what's wrong?" Harry asked as he came into the room, "Is James alright?"
"He's fine—" Ginny said as Hermione gave her a pleading look. Ginny tilted her head, questioning before she finally said it anyway, "Hermione thinks she might be pregnant."
"What?" Harry asked, rounding on his friend, "Are you sure?"
"I don't know," Hermione said softly.
"Take her, go get a test." Ginny said as the baby let out a soft little squeal.
"No, I couldn't-"
Ginny reached out with her free hand, wrapping her fingers around Hermione's tightly, "Mum is here and Harry has been with us all day. Let us help you Hermione. Please."
Hermione breathed but finally nodded and Harry helped her up. They left soon after, walking down the street until they got to a darkened alley where Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and they apparated to the middle of London.
"I thought it might be better here, no one knows-" Harry started to explain.
"No, it's good," Hermione assured him, walking towards the apothecary on the corner.
She was no stranger to muggle pregnancy tests. After the first few times of disappointment at St. Mungo's it had been easier to buy one and take it at home. The clerk didn't even bat an eye as Hermione dropped three different boxes on the counter and Harry slipped her his muggle credit card. Within minutes they were back in Godric's Hollow and Hermione's hands were shaking.
The house was quiet when they returned, Molly having gone to bed in the guest bedroom and Hermione slipped easily inside the en suite attached to Harry and Ginny's room as her friends waited outside.
Ginny was in the room with her as soon as she opened the door, Harry standing outside with the baby on his shoulder as he rocked from side to side as the minutes ticked by.
"I don't know that I can look," Hermione started and Ginny nodded, picking up the closest one.
"It's- you're pregnant Hermione. All three of them are positive."
Hermione swore, moving to look at the three tests to see that they were positive as Ginny placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"I know this is big for you but we're here for you Hermione. You won't have to do this alone." Ginny assured her.
"'Mione?" Harry asked as the witches turned to look at him, "Is it Ron's?"
Hermione swallowed, looking down at the pregnancy tests once more before she shook her head, the tears coming hard and fast, "No."
Harry sat at the table in his kitchen with her, their teacups held between their hands as the silence stretched on.
Ginny had long since gone to bed, exhausted from her day and Hermione had found her way to the kitchen. Harry had been with her, letting her cry on his shoulder as he had so long ago for a very different reason.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione blinked, "I don't know-"
"Hermione if it's someone-"
"I don't- I don't know who he is," she lied carefully, "It was in New York, he was there and it was easy. I just- I thought I wanted to get over Ronald."
Harry nodded once, "You don't have to-"
"Harry," she said, interrupting him, "I have wanted nothing more for more than five years. I can't- I won't-"
"Okay," Harry said, setting his teacup down and reaching over to pull one of her hands free between his, "I understand. Are you going to try to find him? The father I mean?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, I think- I think it might be best if I didn't."
She didn't say anything more as she looked back down to her teacup, her hands shaking slightly. In all honesty she wasn't sure why she didn't tell Harry the truth, perhaps because he had a newborn son upstairs who didn't need a father going out to protect the virtue of his childhood best friend. Or perhaps because some part of her- no matter how small- wanted to protect the man she had met that night at the bar. The one so vastly different from their days at school. In any case the idea of telling Draco Malfoy that she was carrying his child made her want to vomit repeatedly and she was sure of one thing, she wouldn't let any child of hers be made to feel inferior. The thought of that alone made her blood start pumping as she imagined her child being cast aside, shunned, and she started to cry in earnest. Harry, for what it was worth, tried to console her before the kitchen lights flickered on and Molly Weasley walked in, crossing the room to meet the crying witch.
"What's all this?" Molly asked as Hermione swiped at her eyes and Harry barely concealed a grimace as his mother-in-law stared him down.
"I'm not sure, I-" Harry stammered.
"She's pregnant," Ginny said as she appeared in the doorway, setting down the moses basket that contained her son in it ever so gently, before crossing to the teapot, "And my husband isn't exactly the greatest at consoling people."
"Hey!" Harry started to protest.
Molly shushed Hermione, gently patting the witches back as she continued to sob. She let the woman mother her as she cried into her dressing gown the visions in her head becoming less and less horrifying as seconds ticked by. By the time her sobs had quieted to sniffles, Molly held her out at arm's length, "Is it Ronald's?"
Hermione shook her head, a few tears escaping again and Molly nodded, merely reaching up to wipe Hermione's tears away.
"You, my dear, are one of the strongest witches I know and if anyone can do this, it's you." Molly assuaged her and Hermione smiled a bit at that.
"Thank you Molly, that means a lot.. "
"Now, you mustn't get so upset, it isn't good for the baby, " Molly said, "And since we're all awake why don't I go ahead and make us some breakfast huh? You and Ginny need to eat. Harry dear, some help?"
Harry did grimace then as he quickly stood up and went to help his mother-in-law and Ginny took his seat reaching across the table to hold Hermione's hand in her own, "It's going to be okay Hermione. You'll never be alone in this."
And Hermione realized, as she watched Molly boss Harry around his own kitchen, that she believed her.
"Aunt 'Mione!" Roxie called as Hermione arrived at the front gates of the Burrow, her toothy grin and her pigtails bouncing as she hopped over to her, "Did you bring me a present?"
"Roxanne!" Angelina cried out, "It's not polite to ask that!"
Hermione laughed as she held up a bag and squatted down next to the little girl, "Your mum is right but just between you and me, I did."
Roxanne giggled and clapped happily before she bounced away and Hermione stood up to accept Angelina's hug. "I'm so glad you could make it. She's been asking about you."
Hermione frowned, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just stopped calling but-"
"But it was awkward, no need to apologize to me of all people. I'm the queen of awkward relationships." Angelina said offhandedly. It had been quite the scandal when George had announced he was seeing Angelina. It had been no secret that the woman had been head over heels for Fred but she and George had been together and in love ever since. "And besides you're happier now, it's easy to see, you're basically glowing. Oh Freddie, no!" Angelina hurried off after her mischievous son and Hermione was left to chuckle in her wake.
"Fancy seeing you here," A voice said behind her, a warm hand finding her upper arm and she turned to see Charlie smiling down at her. "Hello Hermione."
"Hi," she grinned, letting him take the gift from her and send them to the table she knew was waiting in the back garden. "How are you?"
She hadn't seen Charlie in a few days, the case they had been working on taking him away from the office.
"Fairly well actually, we made a break in the case. I'll have to come tell you about it on Monday," he explained.
"Please do!" she said genuinely.
"Or, well-" Charlie started, "I was wondering if maybe I could take you out for dinner sometime? I'm free tonight, we can go to this new sushi place I found…"
Hermione bit her lip, looking away from his soft blue eyes to look down at her shoes and then back up at him, "Can we talk… now?"
Charlie frowned but nodded and reached out to grab her hand, pulling her gently away from the group until he got to the garden shed and let her step inside.
He lit up his wand, shutting the door behind him.
"Look, Charlie-"
"You know, I've been broken up with many times Hermione but never before I've actually made it official."
Hermione laughed, "No, I mean- it's not-" she sighed, "I'm pregnant. It's not Ronalds," she added quickly, "But I thought you ought to know."
Charlie frowned, "Okay… so you don't want to eat sushi?"
"No, I mean, I'm pregnant with another man's child and-"
"Hermione, let me just stop you now. I don't really care…" he started, "You see, I like you. I have for a while I think but you know, you were dating my brother and all so… anyway, the point is that you could get spattergroit tomorrow and I'd still fancy you, a baby doesn't really change that."
Hermione blushed furiously, "I'm- I mean- I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll have dinner with me," Charlie supplied.
Hermione paused, contemplating, before she nodded, "Okay, yeah. I'll have dinner with you."
Charlie smiled as he turned back towards the door, "Good. Oh, this man is he…"
"He doesn't know… yet." Hermione said softly.
Charlie nodded, "Okay. Dinner it is," he leaned in for one moment, placing a soft kiss on Hermione's cheek before he stood back up and left the shed behind.
Hermione placed a hand over her cheek, biting her lip as she fought back a smile. It was only as she walked out of the shed, that she realized what she had said. Draco didn't know about the baby…yet. Which meant that some part of her, no matter how small wanted to tell him. As she looked around the garden, at Fred playing with his dad while Roxanne rode on his shoulders. At Harry smiling down at his sleeping infant in his arms and of Ron holding a protective hand over his new fiancé's stomach, she realized that despite how she felt about Draco he had a right to know. And she was going to tell him.
A/N: I promise Dramione action soon-ish. I'm setting the stage a bit.