Chapter Nine

Echo

"There's something about the look in your eyes

Something I noticed when the light was just right

It reminded me twice that I was alive

And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight."

-Echo, Incubus

Hermione sat with her head in her lap, or rather the best that she could manage. She felt like she had ballooned into some sort of fat beast in the month and a half that Fred had been gone. He'd probably run away screaming if he saw her now, wondering what had happened to her.

She smiled despite herself. Fred would never do that, he loved her too much. He would probably just tell her that she was more beautiful than ever, and hold her for a while. That was if he ever came to see her. Ron had told her that he was here, to support him. It had kept everything Hermione had from sniggering at her husband.

She lay on her back for a while and sat up when she heard the door open. A flash of red came hurtling at her.



"Took you long enough," Hermione told him. Fred just grinned and began kissing her.

"Oh, I've missed you dearest," he told her between kisses. "Are you okay? How is the baby?" He looked deeply into her brown eyes. There was something a bit different in them, something motherly maybe. He stared into them until she looked away for a moment, and finally she began to speak.

"You mean the babies?" she asked. Fred's heart stopped. Surely she didn't say, what Fred had thought she said.

"Babies?"

"Yes, love, we're having twins," she replied. She was blinking back tears and looking at the ceiling. He held her tight, and let her sob into his shoulder, much like he had the day that he decided to leave. He rubbed her back.

"What, erm, are we going to do?" Fred finally asked, after Hermione had stopped sobbing.

"Pretend that it's a medical miracle or something," Hermione told him. "That's what the mediwitch told me to do. She knew immediately that I was lying about the Charm." Fred nodded. He hugged Hermione tighter and they stayed that way, until George managed to drag him away.

When they were in the safety of their room Fred dared to speak.

"We're having twins," he said flatly. George inhaled.

"Just when we think it can't get any worse, it does," George said, smiling despite himself.

"Tell me about it," Fred replied, looking at his twin. "But she's worth it. At least I think so. And you know me, if it wasn't worth it I would have backed out long ago." George nodded. "I really love her."



Draco knocked on the door. Butterflies were dancing very violently in his stomach. He took a deep breath. Hermione called for him to come in. She couldn't hide the look of disappointment when she saw that it was him.

"Expecting George were you?" he asked. Hermione looked at him confused. "I know about the two of you Hermione." Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"You've gone mental Malfoy, there's nothing going on between George and I."

"I overheard them talking, I heard George say he got you pregnant," he told her. Hermione just kept staring at him.

"You prat, you have not heard George say that, because he is not the father of my child. Now get out before I call him up here. He'd love nothing more than to beat the slime out of you," she hissed at him.

"You can lie all you want to Ron, Hermione, but remember this I know the truth," Draco said. He began walking out.

"Sod off Malfoy!" was the last thing he heard as he left the room.



Next Time: Hermione and Fred chat about Draco's visit

KUDOS: Evil*Fairy, thanks as always!/ Siognee, thank you very much, I hope that its not too sappy sweet/ Lila Righting, was it quick enough to escape your wrath, *cowers*