"Duty? It was my duty?" Hermione shrilly bit out.

Before Ron could even try to explain, she lost it. Pulling her arm back, she swung it forward and landed a hard punch into the shell-shocked red-head's face. Cringing at the ache that spread through her arm and ignoring the throbbing in her hand, she grabbed his shoulders and brought up her knee into his crotch.

Ron's wail and crumpled form clutching the front of his pant were lost to her as her emotions flew out of control and her magic angrily crackled in the air. The room shook, and several objects flew off their perch atop different surfaces around her flat.

As the man who had once been her best friends and lover tried sitting up, and pleading with her to calm down, she narrowed her eyes and random objects flew in his direction with every sentence she yelled out.

"I didn't need you to coddle me you piece of scum!" Thwack. A book hit him in the shoulder.

"I didn't need you to proclaim me a martyr or a saint!" Thwack. A couch cushion thumped into his side.

"I didn't need you to whisper fake words of comfort!" Thwack. A plush toy Scorpius had left behind flew at his head.

"I didn't need you to pretend you were ok and put your own pain aside!" Thwack. A glass figurine nicked his ear as he tried to dodge it as it crashed into the wall behind him.

"I didn't need you to express any gratitude you vile bastard!" Thwack. A picture frame boomeranged his way and just missed his torso.

"And I most definitely did not have a duty to do anything because of my relationship with you!" Thwack. A porcelain vase flew straight for his head and stopped just inches from his face. Looking around for the person stopping her rampage, Hermione spotted a lone figure standing near the door.

Mouth open in disbelief, Hermione stared at the ghostly image of her former Headmaster looking at her; eyes twinkling just as they did when he was alive. Ron's head snapped in his direction when he spoke up gently.

"I don't believe you want to do that, Ms. Granger. As angry as you are, I'm sure you don't want to really hurt Mr. Weasley," his voice cut through the tension and immediately, the objects circulating around the room, ready to be hurled at the cowering Weasley, dropped to the floor.

Albus Dumbledore chuckled as his former pupils stared at him dumbly. His smile grew at the tremendous display of magic the young witch had demonstrated..

While keeping Harry safe and training him to be ready to face the dangers of war had been his main priority, he knew that it was having Hermione by his side that had helped Harry to defeat Voldemort much more than anyone would ever know. He was very fond of Hermione and knew she'd been destined for greatness.

"Pr-rofes-sor D-dd-umb-ledore?" the red-headed man stuttered, catching his breath from having to move around and dodge what Hermione had flung his way.

"Good girl. That's it, deep breaths Miss Granger," he

"I must say, my dear, I am very proud of how much your magic has grown. But remember, you must be in control of your magic even when your emotions are not. Remember, you should be keeping yourself calm so you don't harm the little one."

"Professor...how did you- what did you- it is so great to see you!" and with that, Hermione burst out crying.

"Little one? What are you talking about Professor?" a bemused Ron squeaked out, still not believing what he was seeing.

Dumbledore only gave the two a small smile and, eyes still twinkling, he disappeared without another word. Before shifting completely out of view, he sent a small, almost unnoticeable wink towards Hermione. That only made her bawl harder.

Before she could get herself together, a series of things happened all at once. The door burst open and an enraged George and waddling Ginny made their way inside and pointed their wands at their brother. Within seconds, a huffing Draco apparated right into her living room and growled loudly at the sight of tears glistening on her cheeks. Ron, seeing the three wands pointed at him, stumbled to reach for his own to defend himself but was interrupted by a loud expelliarmus sent his way.

Hermione's surprised protests were drowned out by a series of spells sent towards the defenceless red-head. Furious that no one was listening to her, Hermione let out a loud "EVRYONE, FREEZE!" and everyone complied.

Blinking rapidly, she turned towards the window and took a few calming breaths. Looking back when she felt she was clam enough, she was startled when no one had actually moved since her outburst.

Chuckling wearily, she spoke up. "Ok, you made your point. I'm bossy and demanding. You don't have to go this far to let me know that."

Still, no one moved an inch. After a few seconds of trying to snap them out of their tableau, Hermione came to a realization. She'd actually made them freeze!

A bubble of panic rose within her and she wracked her brain trying to undo what she's unconsciously done. Taking a few steps to reach her wand, she performed several spells but had no luck reversing their condition. Luckily, after a few more tries, she succeeded.

"Thank Merlin. Ok, before you all continue, hear me out first...and please, put your wands down!"

The unhappy trio did as she asked and Ron moved to cower slightly behind her but, seeing her dark face, decided sinking as far into the wall as possible would be a better idea.

Draco was the first to break the tension and came up to hug her and left his arm hanging around her waist. Seeing her cradling her hand, he grabbed it gently and healed the fractured bones. She sent him a smile of gratitude which he returned with a soft one of his own, before his arm was back around her.

"What happened, love? What did he do to you?" he asked, as he glared in Ron's direction. His glare faltered for a second, seeing the blood on the red-head's face and clearly broken nose.

Ginny and George had also noticed their brother's dishevelled and bloody state but Ginny, with a nonverbal command from Hermione, rushed forward as best she could to clean him up.

"We...we had a disagreement and I lost control of my magic." Turning to address Draco, she stressed, "everything's ok Draco."

George spoke up for the first time. "It doesn't look so good from where I'm standing, 'Mione. Why are you crying? And why is he having to have his nose cracked back into place if everything is 'ok'?"

Ginny, already having finished her job, deftly smacked her brother upside the head. "What happened 'Mione?"

"Nothing happened! We had a few words, I got angry and so I hit him. And then, well...Dumbledorecamestoppedmefromd oinganyhtingstupidandthenIst artedcrying."

All she got in response were three sets of eyes blinking back at her. Sighing, she repeated, as a slower pace.

"Dumbledore was here, and he stopped me from doing something I would regret. He talked some sense back into me so I didn't end up with a dead body in my living room. And then I just started crying, ok?"

"Dumbledore? As in the former headmaster? Tall guy, long beard, liked to pretend he didn't like causing trouble but eyes told you differentlu? That Dumbledore?" George questioned in disbelief.

"Love, do you need to lie down? Here, let's move over to the couch."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake Draco, I'm just fine! Don't baby me around; you know I can take care of myself! And yes, George, that Dumbledore. If you don't believe me, just ask your brother. He saw him too."

Hermione's anger was resurfacing, and the two men in front of her were doing nothing but making that anger grow tenfold second by second. Ron's attempts to help by explaining their former headmaster's presence while trying to defend himself were not helping at all.

Ginny, who had been quiet and scrutinizing Hermione, told everyone she'd make some tea and made her way into the kitchen as fast as her pregnant belly would allow. She'd seen Hermione get angry enough to recognize the rage building up in her friend and didn't feel like she wanted to be around when she went off on the morons in the living room.

Besides, she had some snooping to do. She had a sneaking suspicion as to why her normally rational, level-headed, friend was acting as she was but needed proof and outright asking Hermione would not be so wise at the moment.

Back in the living room, Hermione was fuming. George and Draco trying to coddle her and Ron's snivelling in the corner was really grating on her nerves and giving her a headache.

Less than an hour ago, she'd been excited for Draco's surprise dinner and felt like jumping about like a little girl. Now, sitting on the couch as two of the most important men in her life tried their best to one-up each other by switching between threatening Ron and making sure she "was not going mad" (George's poor attempt to get her to laugh), and the man who's once been included in that category tried to defend himself, she started plotting how she could get away with hiding three bodies and claiming she was obliviated to avoid a stint in Azkaban.

Draco must have sensed the dangerous shift in her thoughts because he sighed almost inaudibly and motioned to George to look at her as well. Both men fell quiet. Ginny, having heard the commotion die down, decided she would leave snooping for another time and headed back out into the living room. If she were lucky, she'd maybe even get another hex or two in secretly if a fight broke out. Silently, she set the tray levitating behind her on the table in front of the couch, and settled herself down beside Hermione.

Hermione, drained of her fight, began to recall what had happened after Draco had left at Ginny's insistence; leaving out major details. As angry as she was at Ron, the situation was theirs to handle. She didn't need to involve the rest of them just yet. When she began talking about Dumbledore, she saw Ron's face screw up in contemplation. Ignoring him, she finished catching the trio up.

Draco, having taken hold of her hand, began rubbing his thumb in circles to lend his silent support as he sat on the arm of the couch. She knew he'd want to discuss the details later but the action told her he was giving her space until she decided to tell him. Giving him a smile, she turned to assure Ginny and George that she'd handled everything herself and everything was over.

Looking like he'd bitten into a lemon, George let out a gruff "fine," before flopping down on the armchair next to the couch. His eyes remained narrowed on his youngest brother; almost daring him to try something.

Ron, however, was oblivious to the looks his brother sent his way. He was replaying the words Dumbledore had spoken over and over; trying to decipher their meaning.

'You should be keeping yourself calm so you don't harm the little one?'

"What the bloody hell did he mean by 'little one?'" he accidentally muttered aloud.

Unfortunately, it wasn't quiet enough as George demanded to know what he was going on about.

Bravely facing the group who he knew wouldn't hesitate to attack, he squared his shoulders and addressed his ex-girlfriend directly.

"What did Dumbledore mean by 'little one' Hermione? It obviously wasn't meant to address me, so why did he tell you to calm down for the 'little one'?"

The few seconds of tense silence were broken by a loud "I knew it!" coming from Ginny. She began squealing and clapping her hands, talking a mile a minute about best friendships, mood swings, matching outfits, Hogwarts and marriage.

George, having learned to tune out his sister's inane pregnant ramblings, began contemplating what his brother had just revealed.

Draco and Hermione, meanwhile, stared at each other wearily. This was not the way Hermione had wanted to acknowledge her secret out loud. She hadn't even had a chance to speak with Draco about it.

Having seen the look of understanding in his eyes as soon as Ron spoke, she knew he had definitely seen what she left him. He squeezed her hand in assurance and his eyes told her he was as happy as she was with the revelation; promising they'd celebrate in private later.

Giving her an encouraging smile, Draco's thumb resumed its motion on her hand, and she knew it was his way of telling her it was up to her to let her friends, and Ron, in on their secret or not.

Even though she had wanted to do it in a better setting, and in front of everyone all together, she made her decision.

Ron's unhappy "well, what did he mean?" and tapping foot had her glowering at him from her seat.

"First of all, don't take that tone with me Ronald! I'd have thought you had learned by now that you've no right to order me about and demand anything from me."

Turning to Ginny and George, she spoke. "But, Draco and I do have something to tell you. We...we're expecting a baby in seven months."

Ginny's squeals doubled in effort, and she turned her body as best she could to hug the brunette witch beside her. George whistled and grinned at Draco then moved to engulf the pair in a congratulatory hug.

While this was going on, Ron's eyes closed and his heart broke a little more. He couldn't believe it. His witch, his Hermione, was pregnant with the ferret's baby. He cursed himself for being so stupid; knowing it had been his entire fault for driving her into his arms.

Looking at the smiling pair being teased by his brother and fawned over by his sister, he wished it were he in Malfoy's place. He should have been the one snuggling with her and cradling her, knowing that it was their baby, a part of them, growing inside her.

It was foolish, but he had to try one last time. Maybe he could talk some sense into her, get her to see that Malfoy was all wrong for her. He'd make her remember just how cruel he and his family had been to her and who had been there all that time to cheer her up. If he'd have to, he was even willing to raise Malfoy's spawn with her. He just needed to make sure she saw the light and reconsidered her sham of a relationship with Malfoy.

"A baby; with him? The death eater who made your life a living hell all throughout your childhood? Whose deranged aunt tortured you and carved into your arm like it she was carving a piece of meat? Whose father nearly killed us? Who thought you were no better than scum at the bottom of his shoe? How could you?"

Turning to his siblings, he continued. "And how can you two sit there and support their relationship? He's only going to break her heart when he leaves her for his next conquest. You both know well enough the trouble that the Malfoys have caused. But instead of telling them where they can go and stuff their fake apologies and reformed ways, you make friends with them? What is wrong with you?"

And just like that, the good mood was ruined. Before Draco, George or Ginny could do get a word in, Hermione put up a hand and motioned for them to not speak.

Facing him and mustering her coldest, no nonsense, voice, she addressed her ex-boyfriend.

"You don't know anything about me or how I've lived my life for the past six years Ronald. That being said, you know nothing about Draco or our relationship either. You left on your own Ron, after you cheated on me. Chose to cheat on me!"

"And I said I was sorry. Merlin, Hermione, how many times do I have to say I was an absolute git to you? That I regret every sleeping with those bints? But I promise, I swear on everything I hold dear, it won't happen again. Let me make you happy. Let me be the one to take care of you. I'm ready for us to be a family; and that includes this baby too, if you'd let m–.

"ENOUGH!" Hermione roared. "I'm tired of your excuses and promises and justifications. Our relationship was dead the second you took your first bimbo to bed. So no, I won't give you another chance. I won't raise my baby with you, and I most certainly will not let you anywhere near me or my family."

Taking a deep breath, she finished. "I always hoped that one day, you'd come back and we'd be able to patch up our friendship again. I miss the old Ron, the one that was my best friend for over a decade. But I see now that you're not even close to being the same Ron I grew up with.

"But, 'Mion–"

"Maybe when you come to your senses and you get over your childish perceptions of the world, we can try talking again. When you're ready to talk like sensible adults, I'll be here. But from what I saw tonight, you're nowhere near ready to do that. You speak of Draco like he's a lesser man, but the truth is that he's more of a man than you'll ever be. Right now, I want you out of my house and away from me and m family."

Pointing him towards the door, she ended with "goodbye, Ronald."

Staring at her for a few moments, Ron knew he wouldn't win if he continued to fight back. Dragging his feet, he made his way to the door and slowly shut it. He was back to staring at the golden number 8 hanging from the middle, only now, it was no longer glowing like it was when he first arrived. His hand shook slightly as he raised it to trace the curve of the number, before lowering it to brush away the tears rolling down his cheek. With one last glance, he whispered a soft 'goodbye 'Mione' as he disappeared.