Unexpected Surprises

Hermione and Fred wrote to each other every day. They told each other of their days and they both professed how much they missed each other and how much they loved each other.

"Hermione, who do you get owls from every day?" Ron asked her one morning after the mail had been delivered.

"Don't be silly Ronald, I don't get owls every day." She replied.

"I know you've been getting them every day. I see the owls delivering them."

"Maybe you've seen them every day this week, but I don't get them every day." She said as she got up to leave the table. "You had better hurry we're going to be late for Potions."

"Did you notice Hermione never answered my question?" Ron asked Harry as they got up to follow her.

"Yes, I did, but she'll tell us when she feels it's the right time. She doesn't keep secrets from us." Harry whispered back to Ron. "Not big ones, anyway."

'You're right. She'll tell us." Ron told Harry, but he didn't sound convinced.

They were getting closer to the NEWT tests and people were getting anxious. Hermione made a study guide so she would make sure to devote equal amount of time to each subject. Neville and Hermione studied more than Harry and Ron because they still had quidditch practice. Even with the extra study time she still felt like it wouldn't be enough.

"Hermione, you of all people will do great on the NEWT's. You're the only one who knows everything about every subject." Neville told her.

"I know you're right Neville. I know I'll be ok, and I'm only making myself sick worrying about this so much."

"I'll tell you what. Let's put our books away and go watch the team practice."

"I don't think we should, but let's do it anyway."

They bundled up since it was so cold outside and went out to the stands to watch the team. Hermione put a warming charm on them so they wouldn't freeze and Neville told her, "See, everything just comes to you. I would have sat here freezing to death."

"No, you wouldn't have. You're just saying that."

The four Gryffindor's were on their way to the common room after lunch. They had a free period and they were going to work on their Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment that was due in two days. They were in the middle of talking when Hermione fainted. Harry caught her just in time to keep her from landing on the floor. It was due to his quick seeker reflexes that he was able to do this. He carried her straight to the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey made them wait outside while she examined Hermione.

When Hermione woke up she asked what had happened and how she got to the infirmary.

"Lay down dear. I don't know if you know it or not, but you are with child." The nurse told her kindly.

"What? How can this be? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Dear. I am sure. I'd say you are about 6 weeks along."

"What am I going to do?" She asked.

"I'm sure it will work out. You have plenty of time to think about this. You don't need to make any decisions right now."

"Does anyone know about this?"

"No, only you and me. I will not say anything, but your friends are waiting in the corridor."

"Thank-you. I would appreciate it if you didn't say anything. Can you let them in?"

The three boys came over to Hermione to see what was wrong. Madam Pomfrey told them she was exhausted and she needed to get more rest, but that she was free to leave the infirmary.

'I'm going to have a baby. I'm going to have Fred's baby.' Hermione thought to herself. 'Should I write to Fred? Surely, he deserves to know, but I don't want to tell him in a letter. I need some advice, but who can I talk to? Ginny was the only one who came to her mind when she thought about who she could talk to.

As soon as she got to the common room she sought out Ginny. She asked Ginny if they could go somewhere private to talk Ginny suggested the room of requirement.

"Ginny, you have to promise me that what I am about to tell you is kept between us." Hermione started. "I need a friend right now and I need some advice."

"Hermione, you know you are my best friend and I would never betray your trust. What is it?"

"I don't know how to say this without shocking you, so I'm just going to say it. Ginny, I'm going to have a baby."

If Ginny was thinking about what Hermione would say to her, this was not it. She looked shocked, but she recovered quickly. "Are you sure?"

'Yes, Madam Pomfey confirmed it."

"Have you told Fred?"

"What?" She asked shocked. She didn't think anyone knew about her and Fred except for George.

"I asked if you've told Fred."

"Ginny, how do you know?"

"I've known for a long time, but one day I saw Fred looking at you with so much love in his eyes and I thought to myself I would love to have someone look at me with that look and I turned to you to mention it to you and you were looking right back at him with the same look. I didn't say anything because you were dating Seamus and Fred was seeing the girl from Diagon Alley. Then our entire break George kept spending the night at our house. It wasn't hard to figure out he was covering for Fred. All the mail you've been getting is a little telling, too. No one gets the amount of mail you do. I'm surprised no one has noticed. "

"Does anyone else know? Ron's noticed the mail, but I changed the subject when he asked about it."

'No, I don't think so, but I can't say for sure. All anyone had to do was look at you both. But have you told Fred?"

"No, I haven't. I didn't want to tell him in a letter."

"Are you ready for this?"

"I don't know, but this takes the decision of whether I'm ready or not away from me. In a little over seven months I am going to be a mother. A mother to a baby of Fred's." She said excitedly.

"I think you are going to have to see if you can get a weekend pass and go talk to Fred."

"What do you think Fred will say?"

"I don't know, but if he shows a portion of the excitement that you're showing you guys will be fine. I'm going to be an Aunt!" She finished excitedly.

"Do you think that they'll let me get a weekend pass?"

"I don't know, but you're of age, so you don't need your parent's permission. You just need to get permission from Professor Dumbledore."

"Oh, no! Parents. What will our parents say? Maybe I should talk to Professor McGonagall? She can talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Calm down. Our parents will come around. Merlin knows my parents have had plenty of babies. Don't worry about the parents. Do you want me to go with you to talk to Professor McGonagall?"

"Thank-you Ginny. I would love for you to come with me. I will tell her about the baby, but I will ask her not to share it with anyone."

"Excuse me, Professor. Do you have a minute?"

"Yes, come in girls. What can I help you with?"

Hermione looked at Ginny and then began. "Professor, I wanted to see if I could get a weekend pass."

"I don't know Miss Granger. We need to get permission from the Headmaster."

"I know, but I don't want to tell the Headmaster the reason and he may ask."

"Sit down girls and tell me what this is about."

"Well you see Professor I am going to have a baby and I wanted a pass to go talk to the father." She said quickly.

"Miss Granger, are you sure? Maybe we should get you checked first."

"I'm sure. I fainted this morning and Harry carried me to the hospital wing. I've only told Ginny and you about this. I don't want to let anyone else know right now."

"I think it would be a good idea to get you a pass. I will talk to the Headmaster. I won't tell him the reason. I will let you know his decision shortly. Now you to need to go get some rest. I hope to have an answer for you in the morning.

"Hermione, you can sleep in my dormitory tonight." Ginny told her as they walked back to the common room.

"Where have you two been?" Ron asked when they came in.

"We went for a walk." Ginny replied.

"Why?"

"We wanted a little time to ourselves." Ginny replied.

"It's just that Ginny and I haven't had a lot of time together and we just wanted to talk. Girl stuff." Hermione told the boys as she and Ginny went up the stairs.

"I think they're up to something." Ron told the boys.

"Even if they are- they won't tell us." One of them responded. Ron didn't even see who said it because he was watching the girls wondering what they were up to.

The next morning at breakfast Professor McGonagall went by and asked Hermione if she could see her after breakfast. Hermione assured her she would be in her office as soon as breakfast was over. However, her stomach was turning so she didn't stay for breakfast and made her way to the Professor's office right away.

"Miss Granger, I have permission for you to leave the grounds after your final class today and to return Sunday evening. I did not tell the Headmaster the reason for your pass, but he did tell me I must find out where you will be for the weekend."

"Thank-you Professor. I will be at the Weasley twin's store, and before you ask- Fred is the father of my baby."

Professor McGonagall looked like she was in shock at this statement and Hermione made a mental note to tell Ginny about it later.

"Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank-you Professor. This is huge for me."

At lunch Hermione told Ginny that she would be leaving after her last class.

"I will be waiting on Sunday for all the details." Ginny told her excitedly.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" George asked when she walked into the shop, while yelling over his shoulder, "Fred, come out here."

"What?" Fred said, but when he saw Hermione, he got a huge grin and ran up and lifted her off her feet and kissed her.

"What are you doing here, Honey?" He asked her.

"I needed to see you and I asked Professor McGonagall for a weekend pass and she made it happen."

"I guess being the brightest witch of the age comes with some perks." George complained. "I've never heard of anyone ever getting a weekend pass just to go get a weekend of shagging."

Fred grinned and Hermione said, "It isn't for a weekend of shagging. I needed to talk to Fred."

"But we can get some shagging in, right?" Fred asked.

Hermione's face got red and she didn't answer that question.

"Fred, can we go somewhere and talk for a few minutes?"

"George we'll be right back." He said as he led her to the back room.

As soon as he closed the door he turned to her and kissed her. She lost herself in the kiss and it was a few minutes before they broke apart.

"That's the kind of greeting I can get used to. Now what's so important that you needed to come see me?"

"Fred, I'm pregnant."

"What? How? Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. I didn't want to tell you in a letter, so professor McGonagall said I could come see you."

"Really? This is great. We're going to be parents. I am going to teach my son", "Or daughter", she cut in. "how to have so much fun." He continued without even noticing she had said or daughter. "Let's go tell George."

"Fred, I was worried about what you would say. You're taking this really well."

"Why wouldn't I? This is wonderful news."

When they told George, he was in shock. George took the news the way Hermione thought Fred would take it. It took a few minutes for him to get it together so Hermione helped Fred with the customers in the store. After he got over the shock of it he became as ecstatic as Fred. These two boys were so happy about the baby it was like the light was coming out from the inside of them. Hermione thought to herself that this was really going to work out and she couldn't help but join in their happiness.

"I can go stay at the Burrow if you two want to be alone tonight and tomorrow night." George told them.

Fred grinned and looked like he was going to take him up on the offer, but Hermione responded to George, "No that's all right. I can stay in Fred's room with him. I'll try not to get in your way."

George smiled at them and said, "You remember when you told me she was going to be the mother of your children, Fred?"

"Yes, why?"

"I was just thinking you really did it. How many more are you having?" He said jokingly.

"Did you tell him that? When?"

"Yes, I did. A few years ago. I've always known it would be you."

"Oh Fred, I love you."

"Ok, you two. Enough of that. When are you telling Mum? I want to be there for that."

"We haven't talked about that yet, but I suppose the sooner the better. We'll probably go Sunday to see both of our parents." Fred responded. "Are you coming with us to see Hermione's parents too?"

"No, Mum will be enough."

"I'm going to make dinner while you guys close up the shop." Hermione told them as she went upstairs to their flat.

The next day Hermione helped them in the shop and when they closed for the day Fred was going to Gringotts to deposit the week's profits. Hermione went with him and they were going to meet George in the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.

The three of them had a nice dinner then George left to go for a drink with Lee. Hermione knew he planned it so her and Fred could have some time alone, and she was grateful to him. She was going to join a good family. Every one of the Weasley's had a good heart and they cared for each other immensely, especially Fred and George.

Fred was un-doing the wards on the shop so they could go in and they heard a noise behind them. They both turned around and three Death Eaters were standing there with their wands out. Fred and Hermione's wands were taken before they even had a chance to react.

"What do you want?" Fred asked, while trying to push Hermione behind him.

"We just want a little fun. We saw the blood traitor with Potter's side-kick Mudblood, and thought we could have a bit of sport." Said one of the Death Eaters, who Hermione was sure was Vincent Crabbe's father. He looked like him, just as stupid looking, too.

"I think we'll take you along with us." Said another Death Eater, who they didn't know.

"I'll go with you, but leave the girl here. She doesn't need to be involved." Fred said forcefully.

"No, we'll take both of you. It will be more fun."

Hermione looked around to see if anyone was about that could help them, but the street was deserted.