A/N: Sorry for the delay, exam week and writers block hit me all at once, but here it is, I hope you enjoy! Thanks for being such loyal and fabulous readers!

a few weeks later

For the most part the school had adjusted slightly to Hermione's pregnancy, though whispers still followed her in the hallways. Ron and Hermione had adjusted to living together, and had grown much cozier. Harry had adjusted to Hermione's ever growing belly, which was by now nearly impossible to hide being in her 6th month and had become accustomed to finding his clothing missing. Ron had become increasingly protective of Hermione, and She found it completely endearing, most of the time. It was the morning of their first trip to Hogsmeade, though Hermione was not permitted to go, so Harry and Ron were staying behind to keep her company.

Stirring awake around noon, Hermione rubs her eyes and stretches, finding herself in the room alone. Climbing out of bed, she ties her hair into a ponytail and pulls an oversized sweatshirt of Harry's over her head. Making her way downstairs, she finds Harry and Ron in the commons room.

"Good Morning, we brought breakfast up for you." Harry says from where he stretches out on the couch.

Hermione nods "Thanks." she says groggily and curls up in a chair nearby.

"Did you sleep well?" Ron asks over the top of the newspaper he's reading.

Hermione shrugs in response, "I've slept better…" resting her head against the side of the chair, "Any plans for today?" still sounding sleepy.

Both the boys shake their heads, "Not really." Harry says "Did you have something in mind?"

Hermione shakes her head lazily "No, I think I'm going to go bathe and then maybe get some studying done"

"No studying allowed today" Ron chimes in, setting down his paper "It's a rule."

Hermione rolls her eyes, and drapes her legs over the arm of the chair "So, Harry, are you coming to the Burrow with us over break?" she asks innocently

"Oh Hermione, you aren't going to make me go, are you!" Ron exclaims dramatically, "It'll be awful, completely horrible, especially since all my brother's be home."

Harry shrugs in response "I s'pose so."

"No, don't encourage her!" Ron says gesturing wildly to Harry "It can't be safe for you to travel by then, it could be putting the baby in danger, think of the baby!"

Chuckling Hermione picks the baby name book from off the table "Speaking of which, we really ought to settle on a name, we only have three months left." avoiding the subject skillfully.

Ron throws up his hands in defeat and slumps back in his chair, "Fine, we'll go, but I won't be happy about it."

Smiling, she responds "Well, maybe since everyone else is there, your parents will be distracted."

Ron shrugs, "Doubtful."

Hermione nods "It won't be that bad, Ronald, your parents like me .I have a feeling it's a girl"

"Yes, but they've never liked me much, and now we're both the screw-ups of the family." Ron responds, pouting and placing his chin grumpily in his hand.

Hermione shakes her head "Well they can't stay mad for long."

Ron nods "You've obviously never encountered the Weasley temper. And, so long as we don't name it after Fred or George, It's alright with me."

"Well,we're going anyways, what about Anna?"

"How do you know it's not a boy?" Ron asks, still rather perturbed about having to go home for Christmas. "Claire is pretty"

"I don't know, I just have a feeling" Hermione says, resting her head against the chair back "Clara Marie?"

Both the boys nod in response "I approve." Harry responds to the feminine name

"I like it, now do we really have to go home for Christmas?" Ron says in a desperate tone, his hands folded together. "There will be no end to the torture from brothers, parents and Ginny."

"We're going, and that's the end of it." Hermione replies sternly laying a hand across her bulging belly and dowzing off lazily.

Two Months Later

Rushing around madly, trying to pack all their things for the trip, the trio tosses things blindly into their respective trunks and prepares for the long journey.

Ron tosses his things rather frantically in his trunk, while Hermione folds all her things slowly. Placing her last few books on top she closes the trunk carefully and perches on the edge of her bed as Ron finishes his packing. Nearly 8 months pregnant, the petite witch is obviously heavily pregnant and is highly uncomfortable. Dressed in a pair of navy blue sweatpants, a white long-sleeve maternity shirt and her winter coat over the top she rests a hand across her stomach and sighs waiting for the boys to be ready to depart.

"Ronald, are you almost ready?" she asks impatiently as Harry enters the room.

"Almost, almost." he says distractedly, scanning the room for anything else he may need.

Taking the end handle of Hermione's trunk, Harry proceeds to drag it down the stairs, "I'll meet you down theres when you're ready."

Nodding, Hermione stands up slowly and tediously, "Ron? We're going to be late"

Ron closes his trunk, "I know, I know." he says impatiently, dragging it down the stairs and offering his spare arm to the rather precarious Hermione.

"Are you sure you want to go? It's an awfully long train ride" Ron asks as a last resort in getting out of the trip, as they slowly make their way downstairs.

"I'm sure, and it's really not wise to argue with me at the moment." she responds, leaning on him as she climbs down the stairs, awkwardly.

Taking the hint, Ron silently opens the tapestry and sets his trunk alongside the other two. Entrusting their luggage into the hands of Dobby, the trio heads down to the train station.

Joined by Ginny on their way down the moving staircases, "Are you ready for the wrath of Mum and Dad?" Ginny asks her brother quietly.

Ron shakes his head, "No. But there is no talking Hermione out of the trip. Is everyone coming home for this Christmas?"

Ginny responds " 'fraid so." as Harry and Hermione catch up to them on the stairs, "It'll be alright, probably." patting her brother on the back reassuringly.

Arriving at the train station in Hogsmeade a few minutes later, the four teenagers board and search for a comparment to share.Ambling down to the end of the train, and receiving stares and snickers from the students around them, they settle in a larger compartment near the back of the Hogwarts Express.

"Are you doing alright, Hermione?" Harry asks as he stows their bags in the luggage racks above them.

"Yes, I'm just fine." she says as she sits down next to the window. "You're looking a little pale, Ronald, is everything alright?"

Ron nods "Oh yeah, bloody perfect." he responds sarcastically, sitting down across from her, and next to Harry.

"I'm sorry, I was just asking," she says quietly, big tears welling in her eyes, due to the hormones and all.

"Oh, Hermione, he didn't mean it that way" Ginny says, comforting her friend and kicking Ron "Right, Ron?"

"Yeah." he replies curtly, then realizing the state of things, kneels near the window by Hermione, "I'm sorry, I'm just a bloody idiot, most of the time, don't cry, please."

Sniffling Hermione nods, as the train lurchs to a start. "I…just…wa..wa..wanted….to make s.s.s..su…sure…you were al..al…al…right, you di…di…didn't have to be m…m…me….meeeean about it" she manages to say between quiet sobs.

"I know, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." He responds, sitting down next to her as Ginny takes a seat next to Harry. "I'm just a little nervous about seeing my parents."

"I kn…ow." She sniffs, calming down a bit as he slides his arm around her shoulders, "How long until w…w…we're there?" she says resting her head on his shoulder as she looks out at the fast falling snowflakes.

"Two hours or more until we get to the train station, then another hour by car to the house" Ginny responds as she pulls knitting out of her bag and begins to work on what is supposed to be a scarf of some kind.

Hermione dozes off to sleep and Ginny works feverishly at her knitting while Harry reads a book about quidditch to pass the time. Jolted from their activities as the train pulls into King's Cross station, three hours later, they gather their things and slowly make their way off the train.

Met by Fred and George on the platform, whom as always tease Ron and Hermione mercilessly about the situation, the group makes their way towards the car.

"Jimeny, Hermione, you're huge!" George comments as he takes her bag, "I didn't think it was possible."

"Well, did you really think it was possible for Ron to reproduce?" Fred banters back.

George chuckles quietly as he loads the four trunks into the back of their magiced car, "This is true." he says climbing into the drivers seat.

Receiving a death glare from Ginny as she attempts to reassure Hermione and help her into the back of the car, the twins settle in the front seat and start off on their journey.

Traveling out of the city and through the dusty country roads to their destination, Hermione falls asleep, her head rested in Harry's lap, and Fred and George's cynical remarks persist.

"Really, Ron, I never thought you'd be able to out do us, but I think you might have actually done it with this one. I have never seen Mum so…disappointed" Fred says as George drives down the dirt road.

"Oh, brilliant, she's disappointed! That's even worse than completely steaming mad." Ron replies exasperated.

"Well, it'll be all right, mate. They're not that bad, probably gotten used to the fact that you knocked up Hermione." George remarks turning onto their street, bringing the Burrow into view.

"Now, you two, shut it will you, We don't need you upsetting Hermione." Ginny warns the twins before shaking Hermione awake.

"Yes Ma'am." Fred responds, faking a salute to his younger sister.

Harry nudges Hermione awake, and Ron begrudgingly climbs out of the car. Helping Hermione, he puts a protective arm around her as he leads her inside, where he prepares for the wrath of his parents.