9.

Hermione fell to the sand, gasping for breath, and as Ron picked her up, they held each other tenderly, remembering the conversation they had just had with the family back at The Burrow.

Ron's eyes were full of sorrow, and Hermione stole a kiss, before tending to the others who had also been knocked down by the apparition.

Hermione passed Bill, who held Teddy close to his chest.

"It's alright, Teddy has just been sick," He said to her, "He's in shock, can you take him?"

"Sure," Hermione stuttered, never having held a baby before. But she took Teddy in her arms and held him the same way that Bill had done.

"Can you tell Fleur I've gone back?" He asked her, holding her shoulders, but before she could answer he paced along the sad and apparated into thin air.

George, Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione were left to take Teddy up the spindly footpath towards Shell Cottage, where Fleur was waiting for them.

"I z-aw you apar-hate onto zee beach," She said thickly, taking Teddy from Hermione's arms and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to mop him up, "Poor-h baby,"

She kissed them each on both cheeks and invited them in.

"What happened?" Ginny asked, once they were all inside, mainly aiming her question at Harry.

"Not all Death Eaters were killed off, obviously, and some people are going to try and finish what Voldemort started. They're after me still, wanting to kill me. I shouldn't have come back," Harry hung his head and sat down at the table in the kitchen.

"Don't talk like that," Hermione said, sitting down to his left and taking his hand.

"It's true, if I wasn't here then The Burrow wouldn't have been attacked," Harry replied, with his head in his hands.

"'Arry, eet cannot be 'elped," Fleur said kindly, "We ar' glad to 'ave you," She smiled.

"Thank you, Fleur," Harry replied, as Fleur bounced Teddy happily on her hip, "And congratulations too, on being pregnant,"

"Zank you, 'Arry," Fleur nodded, and the rest of the group chorused into a murmur of gratitude.

Suddenly, Bill and Charlie apparated back right into the centre of the kitchen making everyone jump. It seemed they had been away longer than the group had thought.

"Well," Harry, Ron and George said, practically together.

"Everything's fine, everyone is fine," And the group breathed a sigh of relief.

"There were only a few of them, backed right off after we sent a couple of killing curses near them. I'm sure they're after Harry, but I doubt they'd want to get themselves killed over him," Charlie grinned, "Sorry, Harry,"

"Not at all," Harry laughed jaggedly.

"So everyone is fine?" George asked, looking a little perturbed.

"Fine," Charlie replied,

"Are you sure? They've got no way of finding us here!"

"Not at all," Charlie turned to George and told him straight, "Bill and I have put radius enchantments over the house, some similar to Hogwarts, Aurors are watching us, you have the highest protection,"

"Are you sure?" George asked, looking like a lost child, "And Mum and Dad?"

"Yes," Charlie smiled, embracing his brother tentatively.

"Er, Hermione," Bill said, looking around Ron to where Hermione sat, "Mum wanted me to give you this… well actually, wanted Ron to give you this…"

Hermione stood up as Bill fumbled in his pocket and bought out a small box. Hermione stiffened, she wished that Ginny and Ron hadn't said anything now, she didn't want a fuss.

"Do the honours, Ron?" Bill grinned, handing the box to Ron.

Ron opened it, and Hermione saw over the lid a small ring with three small Ruby diamonds on top.

"This was Mum's engagement ring when Dad asked her to marry him," Bill said, "Mum wanted you to have it,"

"Oh Bill, I couldn't possibly!" Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth at the sheer beauty of the ring.

"She insists," Bill smiled and nodded, putting his hands behind his back as though he were a shop assistant in a jeweller's.

Ron looked up at her sheepishly and Hermione let out a little laugh, "Hermione, will you marry me?" He said defiantly.

Hermione was, at least, pleased that the truth was out, that Harry didn't feel left behind and that now everyone knew. She was also pleased she had gotten a ring, although she had never expected one. Ron's word was good enough for her, but now, a ring confirmed it all, in the eyes of her family in law and friends.

"Yes," She said, and she felt a pang of despair that it was a joy that she would never be able to share with her parents.

Ron slipped the ring onto Hermione's fourth finger and Bill waved his wand over their heads, allowing steams of gold confetti to blast from the end, over them.

They giggled and embraced, sharing a loving kiss while Ginny and Fleur squealed with joy and Teddy clapped his hands in amusement at the confetti.

As soon as the confetti hit the floor, it vanished, although the frivolities did not. Fleur put Teddy to bed and Charlie apparated to look after Molly and Arthur with Kingsley.

As George was handing out the Butterbeers, Hermione walked with him to the boundaries of the enchantments.

"Molly and Arthur aren't really pleased about mine and Ron's engagement, are they?" Hermione asked honestly, as she felt Charlie was the only one who would tell it to her straight.

Charlie gave a noise of protest, but knew he had to answer, "I think they feel it's a little hasty,"

"Well I can agree with them on that," Hermione chuckled bitterly, looking down at the newest edition on her left hand.

"I just think they were a bit shocked, they're happy for you, honestly," Charlie replied, seeing Hermione's sorrowful face, "Mum didn't give her engagement ring to Bill to give to Fleur if that's any consolation?"

"I suppose it is, but Fleur is perfectly amicable to me – it should really be hers," Hermione sighed.

"It's yours for a reason, Hermione, Ron loves you, he wants you to be part of the family, we all do,"

"What does that say about Fleur?" Hermione asked, but Charlie said nothing. Hermione, somehow, wasn't convinced. "I just can't shake that look, that look your mother gave me when we told her. And I know that Harry feels bad because we can't go back to The Burrow now, not now they're looking for him again,"

"It's not as serious as that," Charlie replied softly, "I promise, it's little boys trying to fill Voldemort's shoes, it will never happen. We just have to take precautions,"

"I guess," Hermione hung her head.

"Hey," Charlie smiled, "Little sis!" And they shared a laugh, "Don't get too worked up okay, you're engaged – go and enjoy yourself!"

Hermione smiled and nodded, letting him walk off into the darkness.

"And make an honest man out of my brother!" He called back, before disappearing into the night.