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Shell Cottage—August 15—5:49 p.m.

"Do we have to, love? I'll meet them…soon."

Hermione laughed at Bill's expression and just shook her head as she handed his daughter over to him. "Bill, the sooner, the better. Now, are you sure it isn't showing?" she asked, indicating the mark on her neck.

Bill nodded. "Positive. Glamour charms are amazing, aren't they?"

"That they are. Now, come on. Let's go, or we're going to be late." The three apparated to Hermione's parents' home in Surrey, arriving just as Philip Granger's clock struck six.


Surrey—August 15—6:01 p.m.

"They're here, Emily!" Hermione's father called out as he heard the knock on the door. He liked Ron; he truly did. However, he did not think that the boy loved his little girl like he should, and he didn't think that Hermione loved Ron. Maybe he could talk to her alone tonight…

"Dad!" Hermione smiled as her father opened the door. He grinned, pulling his little girl into his arms; however, a frown overtook his face as he noticed the man standing behind her.

"Mia?" He pointed toward the additional guest.

"Oh! Come on Bill." She pulled the redhead in, and Phil was surprised to see a very pretty blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl in his arms. "Dad, this is Bill." Hermione purposefully left off his last name. "Bill, my father, Philip Granger."

Bill stuck out his free hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Same here," Phil said, still confused. "Your mum is in the kitchen, love," he told his daughter.

Hermione turned to Bill. "Let me go talk to Mum. Will you be okay out here for a few minutes?"

At Bill's nod, Hermione took Victoire from her fiancé and entered the kitchen. Phil indicated that the younger man should take a seat.

"So, Bill." Bill's head jerked up to look at Hermione's father. "Is that your little girl in there?"


"Mum! I'm here!"

Emily Granger turned at her daughter's voice to encounter not only her little girl, but also her little girl holding her own little girl.

"Hermione?"

The younger Granger looked at Victoire shyly. "Mum, meet Victoire Weasley."

Emily looked at the little girl, trying to figure out a puzzle. "Weasley? Whose…?"

"Can you come to the sitting room a minute? I think Dad is a bit confused."

The two women walked into the room, Victoire holding tight to her "Miney." Emily took a seat next to Phil, and Hermione sat down next to Bill, who was looking slightly green.

"You okay?" she whispered.

"Think so," the usually intimidating man beside her whispered back.

"Hermione, love, is this one of the Weasley boys? Where's Ron?" Emily looked over at Bill curiously.

"Mum, Dad, this is Bill Weasley, Ron's oldest brother. This right here," she said, adjusting Victoire in her lap, "is his daughter Victoire. She just turned one." Hermione smiled as the little girl snuggled more deeply into her lap.

Emily nodded. "Nice to meet you, Bill." Looking back at Hermione, she continued, "Not to be rude, but I'm a tad confused."

Hermione sat back. "Mum, Dad, this is going to be a long story."

Dan leaned forward. "We have time. Dinner can wait."

The young brunette nodded and looked over at Bill. "Ron and I broke up almost two months ago. We mutually decided that we weren't right for each other, and Ron was actually in love with someone else. This came not long after my conversation with you, Mum," she said, looking pointedly at her mother.

"Anyway, going back, Bill's wife Fleur died not long after Victoire was born. Bill fell into a deep depression, leaving Victoire's care to his parents and, by default, anyone staying at the Burrow during that year."

"You," Emily Granger guessed.

Hermione nodded. "I took a special liking to this little girl, and you can see that she returns the feeling. Because I was dating Ron, I spent a good bit of time at the Weasleys', and even after our breakup, we were still friends, and I couldn't just leave Tori behind."

Bill chose to break in at that moment. "I finally, about a month ago, decided to get my head on my shoulders and step up to the plate. I went to the Burrow and pretty much demanded my daughter back, even though I was the one who had given her up to begin with. Hermione here fought me on it, had even offered to adopt Bluebell, ah, Victoire. I finally backed down and consented to let Hermione visit whenever she wanted."

"Which he did for about a week. Apparently," Hermione took a deep breath; she had promised to be completely honest with her parents, but this was hard, "at one of the Weasley dinners, Bill felt threatened for reasons unknown to him at the time. He quickly realized that his younger brother Charlie was the reason."

Philip looked confused. "Why would his brother…?"

Bill bluntly answered for Hermione, "He was shagging Hermione."

The two elder Grangers' eyes widened. Emily recovered first. "Wait…Hermione, you broke up with Ron and then began an affair with this Charlie fellow immediately after, all the while taking care of this man's child? What is your explanation?"

Hermione refused to be intimidated. "Ron and I were better off as friends. I, ah, wasn't his type. He's with the one he loves now, and I'm happy for them. Charlie and I went into our relationship knowing that it wasn't long-term or for anything more than physical release. Bill quickly nixed that relationship in the bud."

Philip turned the redhead in front of him. "What claim do you have on my daughter? It seems as if you've begun dictating whom she sees and when she sees them."

Bill shook his head. "Not at all. You see, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, a few years ago while Hermione was still in school, there was a battle during her sixth year. During that battle, I was attacked by a very well-known werewolf named Greyback. Luckily, my wounds were shallow, so the strangest craving I have is for raw meat." He chuckled a bit at Hermione's grimace at that. Even after countless meals at the Weasleys', Hermione still got faint at his request for an extra rare steak.

"Even though most of the traits missed me, I need a mate. Fleur was the one for me until she died, fulfilling her vows. However, once I began to see Hermione with Bluebell, my wolf saw her as perfect wife material and somehow linked myself to her. At dinner one Sunday, my wolf picked up that she and Charlie had been…um…close, and it felt threatened. I had to restrain myself from ripping Charlie to shreds."

Hermione inserted, "He decided then that, to keep from getting between Charlie and me, he'd run back to Shell Cottage and hide himself and his daughter away from both me and Charlie for as long as possible. However, the problem was that the longer Bill remained un-bonded from his mate, the weaker he would get. He told Charlie that I was his mate, making Charlie promise not to tell me. Worrying for his brother, he went back on that promise, however."

"So Hermione came to my office and proclaimed that she was there to help not only me, but my daughter. Bluebell here couldn't grow up without a father, and Hermione could assure that, at least in this way."

The Grangers looked baffled. Philip ran a hand through his hair.

"So, Mia, you don't love the man? You're just stuck with him?"

Emily slapped his arm. "Phil!" Looking between the two, she asked, "I do have to ask though, what feelings are there? I'm not lying to myself and saying you two aren't sleeping together. But do you have to get married, or what?"

Bill took this question. "Mrs. Granger, I don't think I could have picked a better mate myself than Hermione Granger. We work well together, even after just a few days of being with each other, and Victoire already loves her deeply. She's made me feel again, and while I may not have that deep, abiding love that comes with couples who have been together for years, I assure you that I do love Hermione." He looked at the young woman sitting beside him. "I love her for many reasons: as the mother of my child, the one who warms my bed, the one who puts me in my place when I need it, the one who knows already what I'm thinking before I do. She," he said, looking back to the elder Grangers, "completes me already. I do love her, but until I love her like I think I should, there won't be a wedding. We decided that together."

Hermione nodded. "I agree. The love we have for each other is deep, but everything happened too quickly for it to be complete or full. I can go ahead and begin planning a wedding, but nothing set on any particular date. We have no timeline."

Emily nodded. "Okay, you guys. I think we can move this discussion to dinner. Come on, Philip, help me set the table." The two Grangers left the room, leaving Bill, Hermione, and Victoire sitting on the couch.

"So…how did that go?" Bill asked hesitantly.

Hermione sat back heavily, and Victoire squealed in laughter as Hermione made faces at her. "Honestly? That couldn't have gone better. However, don't expect it's over. They are my parents, after all."


Shell Cottage—August 15—9:23 p.m.

That night, after multitudes of questions from Hermione's parents over dinner, Bill and Hermione collapsed into bed, putting Victoire to bed just moments before.

"Merlin, Hermione! I can see where you get your inquisitive nature!" Bill joked with the woman lying beside him.

Hermione turned and nuzzled up to Bill. "What can I say? I warned you, love."

Bill ran his hand through her long, brown tresses, enjoying just holding her for now. "So, my parents are slowly accepting us, your parents have analyzed everything, my siblings, excluding George, are aware of it all and approve." He looked down at Hermione. "Anyone we're missing?"

"Just Harry, and I'm sure Ron will find a chance to mention it to him. If all goes to Ron's plan, the two should be back here soon."

Bill stiffened. "Here, as in Shell Cottage?"

"I don't know; you did offer Ron a vacation here, Bill," she replied, looking up at him.

"While that may be true, I was trying to help him out. Harry has multiple houses they can go shag in, Hermione!"

Hermione was quiet for a moment. "You know, somehow I neglected to form that image in my mind." A shudder flowed through her body. "Thanks, Bill. I really needed to see my two best friends going at it like rabbits. Ugh."

Bill laughed and rolled over, covering Hermione with his body. "Anytime, love. Now, as reprimand for tying me up yesterday, I think I need to punish you, my dear."

"Oh, my, what on earth you do to me?" Hermione looked at Bill with false alarm in her eyes.

"Just lie back, honey, and wait."


Nashville, TN—August 15—3:24 p.m.

A half a world away, Harry and Ron were sitting in Seamus's pub, laughing at something the Irishman had told them about a patron that had come in the night before.

"I swear, mates, the bloke walked up to the lass, and promptly spilled the last o' his drink right in her lap. The poor lass could only sit there and stare at the bloke as he stumbled through some sort o' apology, but finally he just left. I went over and brought her to the back, and Leah back here cleaned her up. Didn't charge her anythin' for her drinks."

Harry shook his head. "You're a good man, Seamus. Just don't let the ladies know you're a softie when it comes to damsels in distress."

Ron laughed. "You'll have women spilling drinks all over themselves every night!"

Seamus nodded. "Oh, I know. I think Haley will keep my secret."

"Haley, is it?" Harry's eyebrows lifted.

"Yeah, she gave me her number. Wanted to buy me a cup o' coffee in thanks."

"Alright, Seamus!" Ron grinned at his friend.

Seamus looked between the two men. "So, what's the final word on you two? You've been pretty busy today."

Ron and Harry looked at each other. Ron spoke up. "I love him, Seamus, and I'm dragging him back home as soon as he'll pack up his shite and go with me."

Harry smiled a bit. "I'll go back, Ron. The only reason I left was because I wanted to roll in my self-pity in the name of self-discovery. Also, while you seem a bit slow sometimes, Hermione would have seen it soon enough."

"Hey! I'm not slow!"

"Two fucking years, Ron?" Harry's eyebrow cocked up.

Ron turned red. "Okay, maybe a little slow. But Hermione didn't catch it either, and she was around both of us just as long as I was."

"She was too focused on you, and, okay, you were pretty focused on her, and fine, we were all focused on Voldemort…Who cares now, though, right? We're here now." Harry smiled.

Seamus grinned at his two friends. "You two…Normally I'd invite you to stick around, but I think Hermione needs to hear about this. Harry, go get your shite and get out of my apartment. I'm kicking you out. Just promise to come back and visit."

"You've got it, mate."


Shell Cottage—August 16—1:42 a.m.

It didn't take Ron and Harry long at all to gather their things and arrange for a portkey to Shell Cottage. All the American Department of Magic had to do was reverse Ron's last portkey and send the two men back to where they came from.

Ron unlocked the front door and went in, looking around. "I guess they've gone to bed."

"I'm sure; it's almost two a.m. We don't want to wake Bill and…" However, a sound from upstairs stopped Harry mid-sentence.

"Gods, Bill! Right there; that's it! Fuck yes!"

A growl traveled down to the two men standing in the living room. Ron looked slightly sick; Harry just gaped.

"Ron…"

"Yeah, mate?"

"Is that…?"

"Yeah. I think you'd hear it best from her, okay?"

Harry nodded. "What happened to Fleur?"

Ron waved him behind him. "Follow me." Harry followed the redhead down the hall to a bedroom just off the kitchen. Opening it quietly, Ron went in and stood beside a crib.

"Fleur died a few weeks after this one was born. Her Veela body just wouldn't let her recover after her birth; no one knows why." He ran a finger over Victoire's blonde hair. "This one loves Hermione like she's her own mother; took to her immediately, no questions asked." Ron turned to look at Harry. "Bill took a little longer, but the feelings are just as strong. You'll see."

Harry nodded, looking over the edge of the crib at the sleeping baby. "She looks like her mum." After a few moments, he reached out and took Ron's hand. "Come on, where's your room? Everyone will be up before long."

Ron led Harry down the hall to his room. "Just so you know, I've never done anything like this, Harry."

"At least you've been with someone," Harry whispered back as they entered Ron's room and cast silencing charms. "I've had offers," he admitted, "but I couldn't. From neither the men nor women."

With a smirk, Ron sidled up to Harry. "I'm touched. Now, come here." He pulled Harry close, kissing him with the same passion he'd shown earlier, and Harry's legs almost buckled. Pulling back, he looked in Harry's eyes. "Fuck me, Harry."

Harry had wondered for a long time how this would play out, but now that the time had arrived, it seemed almost, well, thoughtless. He began pulling at Ron's shirt quickly, kissing his stomach as he lifted the shirt up. Finally getting rid of the offending article of clothing, Harry pushed Ron back onto the bed, taking the initiative and becoming the dominant party, nibbling on his partner's neck, loving the sounds coming from Ron as he began to travel south, letting his tongue make a path down the trail of hair leading into his redheaded lover's pants.

When he reached the top of Ron's jeans, he unbuckled them quickly, already hard in expectation of what was to come. Harry gulped as he saw Ron's hard member through the outline of his tight underwear. He had felt it that morning as the two had shared Harry's bed at Seamus's, but nothing had happened. Feeling Ron's erection through multiple layers of clothing and seeing it were two totally different things, however.

Ron saw Harry's hesitation and spared him the decision by pulling his own underwear down, releasing his hard-on from its constraints.

"Gods, Ron…I saw in the locker rooms, but…"

Ron pulled Harry down in a kiss. "I've never had a reason to be this hard before, Harry. Come on, love. Show me your body." Ron rolled Harry over and undressed him much more quickly than Harry had done him, groaning when he saw Harry's hardened cock glistening already. "You'd better go ahead and get that in me, Harry; I don't know how long either of us is going to last this time."

Harry nodded as he sat up, kissing Ron again. Then he stopped. "Shite, we don't have any lube, love."

With a grin, Ron raised his wand. "You're such a muggle, Harry. Relax." With a whispered incantation, Ron's opening was glistening, ready for his lover. "How do you want me, love?"

"On your back, Ron. I want you to look at me." Harry watched as Ron laid down, and he was quickly on top of his best friend, nuzzling his neck. "Gods, Ron. I love you so much. You know that, right?"

Ron felt Harry's cock at his opening. "I love you too, Harry, but you're driving me crazy here. I need you inside me…now." He barely got that last word in before he felt Harry push in, stretching him more than he thought possible. "Fuck, Harry!"

Harry grinned down. "You insisted." However, Harry quickly got serious, focusing on driving his cock in and out of Ron's virgin ass, as he was just as inexperienced at everything. The whole situation was a learning opportunity, and Harry wanted to feel everything possible. He grabbed Ron's legs and put them on his shoulders, driving his cock deeper into his best friend.

"Shite, Harry! Right there; I don't know what that is, but that fucking feels amazing!" Ron threw his head back, lost in the feelings he was experiencing.

"Look at me, mate. I want to see you cum." Ron cut his eyes back to Harry. The raven-haired wizard was working hard, sweating as he filled Ron, hitting that mysterious spot that was driving Ron crazy.

"Bloody hell, Harry. I'm coming!" Ron jerked back, shooting spurts of cum onto his stomach. Seeing his lover lose control like that must have sent something off in Harry, because he suddenly tensed, his own orgasm imminent.

Ron felt Harry shoot into him, and he knew then that he'd never feel more complete than he did right then. As Harry pulled out of him and collapsed beside him, Ron wrapped his arms around his lover. "I do love you. You know that too, right?"

"I do. Always have, Ron." Ron knew they'd have a lot to talk about in the morning, but he was determined to enjoy Harry while he had him to himself for now.