Thanks for the lovely reviews everyone! We're coming very, very close to the end of Mystery of Marriage! We can't thank you enough for your readership. Please keep reading and reviewing up until the end! This chapter in particular is something we've all been waiting for!

Have a great weekend,

Marina & James

Ginny Weasley was not having a pleasant two weeks. Ever since that nasty business with the Twins mucking everything up for the Potters, Ginny had been running errands for Hermione, who was currently staying at Professor McGonagall's flat. Hermione was helping her out while the older witch was preparing for the next term at Hogwarts. The system of Ginny doing things for Hermione was working wonders for keeping the pregnant witch off of Harry's radar and hidden from the wizarding world. But on the down side, it was ruining Harry's life as he shut out everything and everyone else in order to focus on finding Hermione and his baby.

Ginny stopped on the doorstep to the flat and kicked on the bottom of the door to signal to Hermione to let her in. "Come on, 'Mione...this bag is extremely heavy!" Stupid new maternity robes, the whole bag of a new wardrobe because of an ever expanding waistline was very heavy. And then Ginny wanted to kick herself. Was she a witch or not? Why hadn't she shrunk and feather-light charmed the bag to carry in her pocket? Too late now, but she really needed to remember these things in the future.

The past two weeks had been brutal for Hermione. Not only had she lost three pounds the first week (which scared McGonagall and Ginny to death) but she'd also been miserably depressed. Harry didn't want her, he didn't love her...she had put all her eggs in one basket, and that little basket had a gaping hole in the bottom. This afternoon she was sitting at the table, the hazy July sunshine pouring through the windows as she gently rubbed her belly. Inside of her, Harry's son writhed and kicked...she didn't believe it at first, but it seemed like their son missed his father just as much as Hermione did. Either that or he was reacting to her depressed sate. Whichever way it went, Hermione lamented over it.

This morning, Minerva had all but ordered her to take a rest from compiling the student syllabi and required reading lists to be mailed out in the coming weeks. She had reread Hogwarts: A History, for the fifth time since she arrived (once in Italian, just for laughs), reorganized the pantry (without magic), and then went to cook herself a peach cobbler (with extra anchovies to satisfy the strange baby that occupied her womb). She was startled when Ginny banged on the door, "Just a minute!" She called and, with a grunt, lifted herself up and waddled over the door. "Really, Ginny, what kind of a witch decides to just carry the heavy shopping bags?" She teased and tried in vain to take the bags from her...Ginny wouldn't allow it. "Okay, okay, just set them on the table, I'll put everything away."

Ginny walked over to the table and set the bags down with a huff. "Well, I'd have remembered, but I've been a bit too busy trying to keep you off the public radar, because that's what you want." She sighed and sat down with a huff. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I just...why are you still hiding out? I agree you are justified in your anger, and he shouldn't have gotten you worked up if he couldn't follow through. Merlin knows guys get pissed about us doing that to them, so it's only fair." He fixed Hermione with an appraising stare. "You know he's going crazy, don't you? This is obviously hard on you, and it's horrible to him as well."

"I know," Hermione said quickly, "And thank you for helping me out. I know it's been hard on you too. Especially since I know Neville is trying to help Harry find me." She sat down again and looked over at Ginny. "It's just so complicated...he doesn't want me, Gin. I know I've told you this story about a hundred times but he's disgusted with how I look. I mean, the poor man was forced into marrying me..." She decided not to add 'by your brothers', "He's just upset because I have the baby inside me for now." Trying not to let the tears overtake her, Hermione looked down at the large swell to her belly and shook her head. "I'm not going to keep his child from him. It's just that this child is in me...and I'm not going to be a burden on him for the remainder of the pregnancy. I'll contact him for visitation hours after he's born."

Ginny sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "You're wrong, Hermione. He cares about you very much." She hated to relate to Hermione what she and Ron had been witness to...but it seemed the only way to get through to her. "He's slowly shutting everything and everyone out. He's too focused on trying to find you and work this all out." Ginny frowned as she looked down at her folded hands on the table top. "He got in trouble with Ministry. Ron and I were over to check on him and Unspeakables showed up. They said that he was an operative for them and that he's been neglecting his duties since you left him. He's refused to go to work and they openly threatened that he'd be sent to Azkaban if he continued to shirk his responsibilities." Ginny reached across to grab Hermione's hand. "He needs you, 'Mione...as much as you need him."

Hermione's head snapped up, "Harry is an Unspeakable?" She nearly shouted, which upset the owl that had perched on the windowsill with yet another letter from Harry, begging her to come home. She'd started throwing them out after the first day; it was just too painful. "This just goes to show you, he needs to stop worrying about me and get back to work. I'll owl him when the baby is going to be born...I told him that in the note I left him. He needs to just realize that we're better off apart." Now all Hermione had to do was convince HERSELF that they were better off apart. Because right now, it certainly didn't feel like the best option...it merely felt like a last resort.

Ginny shook her head. "Yes, he's an Unspeakable. You know how secretive they are, not allowed to tell anyone that they are part of the group. That just shows how worried he's been about you that they were willing to expose him to Ron and me in order to force him to come back." When Hermione tried to spout some bull about them being better off apart, Ginny wanted to laugh. "You'd rather have him out trying to catch the few remaining Death Eaters while his mind is occupied by worrying over you? What, do you have a death wish for him?" She wanted to shake the bushy haired witch in front of her. And she was supposed to be the smartest witch of the age? She sure wasn't acting like it. "You two are made for each other! You had one little fight over something stupid. I think you were right to get mad but I also think you need to sit down and talk this out like adults."

Sighing heavily, she shook her head, "The answer is still no, Ginny. I have enough to worry about with this baby coming. I mean, him having Merlin's is going to be difficult enough. I have to give birth at St. Mungo's now in case his magic goes off. I have to make sure I avoid stress or risk upsetting the baby and possibly hurting the both of us..." She looked up into Ginny's warm brown eyes, "And we both know that Harry gets me worked up."

Ginny shot Hermione a disappointed look. She couldn't believe how stubborn and proud Hermione was being. "You're worrying about Harry and you still love him. Your mouth can say anything, Hermione...but your eyes don't lie." She leaned forward a bit to make sure she had the slightly older witch's attention. "This isn't good for you. You've lost weight since you left Harry. That's not good for the baby. You're already stressed out, which as you just said isn't good. You need to work this thing out so that you won't be stressed anymore. And the only way that will happen is if you stuff your pride and allow Harry to try! Give the poor guy a chance. After all that's happened to him in his life, and all he's done for everyone it's the least that he deserves. Give him a second chance."

Trying to ride off Ginny's concerns with a laugh, Hermione smiled, "I was gaining too much weight as it was." She felt a tear trickle down her cheek, "Harry used to just get up and get me anything I asked for." She didn't know why she was crying; it was stupid to do so, there was no point in wishing that he was still sleeping beside her, his arm encircling her waist, rubbing her belly until both she and their son fell asleep. "Thanks for the advice Ginny but it's not going to happen. I love Harry...yes, I really do. And because I love him, I want him to be happy." She closed her eyes, "And I obviously don't make him happy."

Ginny shook her head as Hermione brushed off everything she said. "You do make Harry happy. Whether you believe it or not, you make him happy. But this..." she waved her hand about to indicate the general situation, "is not making him happy by any stretch of the word. Didn't you hear what I said? They are talking about sending him to Azkaban. Because he's been too messed up without you in his life! Hermione, you know better than anyone what Dementors do to Harry. Do you really want to subject him to that over your selfish pride?"

"Fine, I'll talk to him...but not now, not today. I have my prenatal appointment with Madame Pomfrey later and I need to eat or she's going to kill me." Whoops that had slipped out, "I mean, not that it's any big deal...but I lost another pound and a half." She bit her lip and looked down again, her voice quieter this time, "I will owl him...just not now."

Ginny gave Hermione a no nonsense glare. "Hermione Jane Potter! I mean Granger! You haven't been eating? I should skin you alive, nevermind Madame Pomfrey!" Ginny jumped to her feet and walked to the fridge to start pulling stuff out. "Since you obviously can't be trusted to eat by yourself, I'll make you food and you're going to eat every last bite, or so help me Merlin! If I have to I'll use a binding hex and force feed you." How could she be so inconsiderate of the baby? The baby was what should be most important to Hermione right now, the only thing ahead of Harry on the concern list. She was acting like she was five and needed a babysitter. She quickly whipped up a large batch of pancakes and placed them on the table. "After you eat you better go for your appointment."

Hermione nodded with a sigh, "I will, don't you worry." Nothing would stop her from making that appointment…not even raging thestrals or thrashing dragons.

Neville looked up from the newspaper he was scouring and sighed, "Harry, I don't mean to butt in here but I don't think Hermione is going to be in the paper. From what you've told me, she's been practically invisible. No one knows where she is..." Except his girlfriend. Ginny Weasley knew where Hermione was but she was keeping mum. Not even all the sexual favors in England had gotten her to open up about it...he could loosen her up in ways that weren't even legal but in this, her lips were sealed. Leaning back in his chair, he frowned at the pale, bespectacled boy before him. He looked gaunt, haunted. Neville knew for a fact he hadn't slept one minute since Hermione left. "Come on, mate. Take a break...at least do something about this Unspeakable thing. They're going to arrest you!"

Harry looked up from the portion of the paper he'd been rummaging through. No word...again! Harry's darkened eyes stared at Neville with hard glare. "Let them arrest me." His voice sounded almost defeated. "I don't care what happens to me, Neville. I need to know she's alright, that our son is alright." He shook his head and tossed down the paper. "Look at it from my point of view, Nev…we're in practically the same boat anyway. It took me years to work up the guts to say something to Hermione about my feelings for her. Then when I finally get the chance, we'd been drugged and whisked off to Rome. And then we find out we're married and expecting. Now, except for the whole drugged and not remembering what happened bit, this is what I wanted my life to be: married to the girl of my dreams and having a baby with her. And when we finally figure out what happened, who did this to us, it turns out we're not legally married because we were drugged, and she runs off thinking I don't love her anymore and that I want someone else." Harry stared hard at Neville. "Now put yourself in my place, and Ginny as Hermione. Can you honestly tell me you'd give a shit what the Unspeakables have to say about anything until she's found and you know she's alright?"

Looking down again, Neville shook his head, "No, I'd be doing the same thing you are." He looked up defiantly then, "But I wouldn't be a good friend if I merely let you piss away your future at the ministry. At least this way I can lay my head on my pillow at night and go to sleep." He smiled sadly, semi-believing what he spoke of in jest. "Listen, Hermione loves you...if she didn't, she wouldn't have been so hurt about what happened between you two. You know, when this one woman in the Herbology lab was pregnant, she left her husband four different times..." He shrugged, "And he just kept showing her that he loved her. And eventually, by the time the baby was born, she finally understood it. Hermione is stubborn; she needs a bit more convincing than most."

Harry picked up another lesser known paper and started to read. The prophet had nothing about Hermione in it, but he was holding out hope that someone might know something. "That's nice, Neville. It really is." He dropped the top of the paper to stare over it at his fellow Gryffindor. "But I can't SHOW her that I love her if I can't FIND her!" Harry might have been talented in many areas, but proving something to someone you can't find was not an area of his expertise. "Besides Neville, what can the Unspeakables do to me if I ever decided to fight back? I took down a Dark Lord they couldn't. And I was one of them, I know their spells and I know their tactics. And I live here, which is where they'd have to come for me. I have the advantage twice over on them. Let them try."

"Don't let them hear you say that," Neville said softly, "You know that's not something you mean but if they think you're a threat to international security then you're toast, Potter." And that was a serious as it got. "Have you tried contacting Hermione's other friends? Padma or Pavarti, they're both pregnant too you know, maybe Hermione went to them for advice. Or maybe Dumbledore can help you; he's pretty good at finding things."

Harry shook his head. "I've written to Padma and Parvati. Both of them say that they don't know anything, but they sound like they agree with her. So either they don't really know, or they aren't telling." Harry ran a hand through his hair as he set yet another empty paper down. "Still nothing," When Neville mentioned Dumbledore, Harry jumped to his feet. "I will not go to that old codger for help! He's partly to blame for all this! He might not have had a direct hand in what happened with the potion and the marriage, but he covered it up. He knew and could have done something, but he didn't! He and his blasted greater good!"

Neville sighed heavily. "Women, I'll never bloody understand them! From what you're telling me, it sounds like it would've made you uncomfortable to make love to her with the baby and everything going on." He threw his arms up, "But then, maybe there are things about pregnant women that we just don't bloody understand. Obviously if Padma and Parvati get it, Ginny and her mum seem to sympathize with her, and Hermione feels that way...there's something we men are missing." Suddenly, he was really glad that Ginny was on the potion.

Harry shook his head and sat back down. "It's the same with us guys, Nev. When something happens between a bloke and his girl, the guys tend to stick together. And the girls do the same. I think it's a left over from when we were all monkeys before we evolved. Some instincts just don't go away." He opened his mouth again only to find it assaulted by a letter being dropped from an owl." Harry spit the note out and ripped it open. "This is it! She has an appointment with Madame Pomfrey, and this is to remind her. Obviously she didn't tell Poppy she'd left me. I'll show up this afternoon and we'll settle this." He turned a triumphant look on Neville. "Sorry Nev, but I got to go. I need to plan out what I'm going to say. You and Ginny should come over for dinner sometime, Dobby sure misses you guys." Okay, so he was trying to rush Neville out of the house, but he had plans to make. And he didn't know if Neville would tell Ginny and get them back to Hermione somehow or not. All he knew was that he couldn't risk it.

Laughing, Neville nodded his head, "Good luck, Harry. I'm glad you finally got your lead." But Harry wasn't even paying attention. He was too busy scrambling to find a quill and parchment, press his best set of dress robes, and try not to swallow his own tongue. With a chuckle, Neville slipped out the door, praying for the best.

Harry quickly scribbled out several notes and called for Hedwig. When the snowy owl came down they were given to her with Harry apologies for the long flight she would be undertaking. As soon as Hedwig was gone, Harry grabbed his robes to get ready. The plan forming in his mind was treading a very, very thin line. But if it worked then he could have Hermione back and they could be one big happy family. Maybe it was time to quit the Unspeakables. They wanted him back or in prison, they'd have to settle for a resignation. Hermione was much more important to him than a clandestine group of super-wizards. Besides, they were doing fine without out him before he joined, they'd do fine after he left.

Hermione sighed as she lay back on the bed she normally occupied when having her prenatal appointments with Madame Pomfrey. The woman was in a right state, extremely distressed over the fact that Hermione had lost five pounds. On the other side of the bed, Hermione had her own distress to worry about...Harry. It ached that she was alone on the ward, that there wasn't even the sound of breathing. Just Madame Pomfrey's heavy steps on the cold linoleum floor as she sat back on her stool with a huff. "Hermione, I do not need to tell you why weight gain is vital to the child thriving outside the womb. Especially since he will be born with Merlin's, he needs every advantage here." She frowned markedly, "And where is Harry?"

Gazing down at the wise expanse of her belly, Hermione rubbed softly where the baby was kicking her. "I know, Madame Pomfrey...and I'm really sorry. I will try and eat more, I really will." She felt tears behind her eyes when Madame Pomfrey spoke of Harry, "Did you read the papers last week? Harry and I aren't married anymore..." her voice trailed off as Madame Pomfrey looked up from her charts, "That's not what I asked, Hermione. Just because Harry and you aren't married anymore doesn't mean he isn't the father of that baby. He should be there for you AND that baby boy." Hermione was silent then...who could argue with logic like that?

Harry Potter apparated right to the gates of Hogwarts and started the long trek to the great steps at a dead run. He never had been one for taking things slowly. He always just rushed in with no thought of the consequences. He had Hermione for worrying about the details. Well, he didn't have her anymore, but with any luck that would change soon. Harry burst into the entrance hall and made his way up two flights of stairs to the hospital wing. When he opened the doors he was breathing heavily. "Sorry I'm late."

Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of her head when Harry flew through the doors to the hospital wing. "Harry?" She asked, the unadulterated joy playing in her voice. But that quickly died as she remembered why they were separated in the first place, "What are you doing here? I thought you would've forgotten about this appointment already..." Yeah, or I would've changed it, Hermione added to herself. Still, she couldn't help but relish in his presence. She loved him, still, after all of this...she was hurt, but that didn't change how she felt. "We're just getting started, you know...if you wanted to stay for the rest."

Harry smiled and stopped a few feet from Hermione's bed. He very badly wanted to walk right over, take her in his arms, and snog the piss out of her. But with her running off, he wasn't sure if that would make her uncomfortable and demand he leave. He knew Poppy would follow through on Hermione's requests, and he stood no chance against the mediwitch when she wanted her way in her Hospital Wing. "Well, I was so busy trying to find you that I did forget. I've been looking everywhere since you left, and I never thought to wait for the appointment. I probably wouldn't be here if not for Poppy sending a reminder via owl about the appointment.

"But...I didn't get a reminder about this appointment," Hermione said suspiciously. She all but huffed when Madame Pomfrey looked away guiltily and busied herself with straightening the potions counter. "Anyway, it doesn't matter now, you're already here and, since this is your baby too, you have every right to be here." She sat up slightly and smiled, "Okay Madame Pomfrey, I think we're ready to begin."

Harry smiled and walked behind Hermione to watch over her shoulder. It had been the way he'd always stood for these things when he and Hermione were still together, old habits died hard. He couldn't help placing one hand on her shoulder while they waited for Madame Pomfrey. He wanted to lean over and kiss her, make her remember the passion they shared. But he couldn't, at least not yet. That would come later when they got to talking about things. He did lean over to whisper in her ear though, "We need to talk after this."

Madame Pomfrey was humming as she performed charms, did some general testing that even muggles knew how to use, according to Madame Rousseau's: A Witch's Guide to Pregnancy. She gritted her teeth as Harry spoke to her, "No we do not," She hissed, "I think you made yourself perfectly clear the last time we talked. I already told you I won't be keeping you from this child...so don't worry about that."

Harry stood up straight and said no more. He'd been hoping that this could be resolved like adults. That she would be willing to talk and work things out. She apparently wasn't, so his plans would have to be set in motion. He wasn't worried though. This would work out in the end. It had to. They would be a family again if it was the last thing he did on this Earth. He resigned himself watching Madame Pomfrey perform her charms and spells to make sure Hermione and the baby were alright.

Finally, after several minutes of very awkward silence, Madame Pomfrey smiled. "Well despite the fact that you lost five pounds this week," She paused just long enough to watch Harry wince and Hermione cringe, "Hermione and the baby are doing wonderfully. He's an active little one too! Everything looks great. I'll see you again in three weeks, I know it's sooner than usual but I need to make sure you're gaining weight properly." Turning away, she gave the two a look, "I'm going down to dinner in the Great Hall. You're welcome to join me...or if you stay, just don't break anything. You two have a nice evening."

Harry stared at Hermione as Madam Pomfrey left the Hospital Wing. He'd thought she was looking a little thin, but he hadn't imagined she'd actually lost weight. He'd figured she just hadn't gained any since she left. This was worse than he imagined. Before Hermione could get up to leave, Harry walked around the bed and stood in front of her. "We need to talk. Like adults, not children bickering over whose turn it is to play with a toy. Please, Hermione. Give me another chance. I was wrong and I know it. Let me make things right again." Last chance before the gloves came off.

It was a little tough getting up out of bed, especially being nearly six months pregnant. And Harry boxing her in didn't help the situation. "Listen, Harry, I think that everything that needs to be said, has already been discussed. I gave you a chance, it didn't work out...and the ministry took the liberty of dissolving our marriage. It's over..." She had to work very hard at keeping the tears from her eyes; she didn't even try to keep the tight sound out of her throat. There was no hiding it. "It'll be better this way. You can move on now..." Even if I never will, her brain whispered.

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll never move on. I've spent every waking minute trying to find you, and every sleepless night thinking of places I haven't looked yet. And now I've found you. I'm not giving up that easily." Harry fixed Hermione with a look of defiance. "I'm sorry...you give me no other choice." He reached out and grabbed her arm. Harry started to pull Hermione deeper into the hospital wing toward the Floo. "You won't give a chance when you can run away, so I'll just have to take you somewhere where we can work this out without distractions."

"You're KIDNAPPING me!?" She snapped at him, "Harry for the love of Merlin, I'm six months pregnant. I don't do any running at all! I just want to be left in peace; you've made it very clear about your feelings on all this." But he didn't stop. He wasn't overly rough with her and she wasn't protesting for fear that she'd hurt the baby (or...was it that she actually wanted to go with him?). Either way, she allowed him to lead her to the floo without hesitation. "Really, Harry, this is..." As they were whisked away by the green flames, she stepped out in a place that looked vaguely familiar to her, "...ridiculous."

"Ridiculous as it may be, I'm doing this because you won't give me a chance to show you that my feelings are genuine. I haven't been lying to you; I want no other but you!" He led her to a bed and sat her down on it. "This is all started when we woke up in a hotel room in Rome, so I think it should be resolved in the same hotel room. I've already made reservations and I'll check us in later." He smiled over his shoulder at her. "Oh and I asked for the floo to be shut off after we arrived. It won't reactivate for three weeks for us to go to your appointment, or until we work this out and both ask for it to be turned back on. Whichever comes first."

Letting out a huff, Hermione folded her arms over her chest. "Harry, this is a crime! Although, why should I be surprised? Ginny told me that the Unspeakables are breathing down your neck to get back to work." Worry filled her expressive brown eyes, "This is suicide, Harry. They're going to lock you up! You're not only resisting working with them here, you also abducted me AND left the country." She sighed and shook her head, "Love, you're screwed." Damn it and the 'love' had slipped out almost as if she'd never stopped saying it.

Harry smiled sadly to her and shrugged. "Then let them come." His wand was out in a flash. "I didn't stop fighting Voldemort even when the odds were stacked completely against me. Not even after people closest to me were killed to make me lose the will to fight on. I won't stop fighting to get you back either." He turned away and whispered, "Besides, without you in it...my life isn't worth living." He drew a little comfort from her calling him love, but it was only a very small step toward his ultimate goal.

Closing her eyes, she let out a soft sigh, "Please don't start that again. It hurt badly enough the first time you let me down." Tears slipped down her cheeks this time without her being able to stop them. "I opened my heart to you fully and without hesitation, even though I knew that it'd get crushed. And what do you know? I was right..."

Harry spun around and advanced on her. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her against his body. He raised one of her hands to his chest and placed it over his racing heart. "You were wrong. You feel that? Only you can make me feel that." He brought his lips down to her ear and whispered in it, "I love you. And yes, I wasn't feeling up to sleeping with you that one time. But it was only that one time. So much had happened to us that I wasn't feeling it. But it was only that one time. You took the situation and went with the worst possible reason for my inability to...perform."

A shiver went through her as he brought his lips close to her ear. "Please, Harry...just stop it." Already she knew that her body was reacting to him, the heat rising several notches as he told her how he loved her. "I saw how your affections waned as you got busier...and I got bigger. Really, it's fine; I shouldn't have expected anything more from a boy who can have any witch at the drop of a hat." Still, she couldn't deny that deep inside of her, the baby knew what was happening. She sighed and reached out to grasp Harry's hand, "Someone is dying to say hello."

Harry shook his head as she accused him of putting her on the back burner. "It happens, love. People get busy and life tries to intervene. It wouldn't have been permanent. I was hiring a general manager in a couple of days and he would have run the new store for me. And you'd have been the center of my universe again. You always were, even if my focus shifted slightly. It's just like the muggle astronomers. Just because they're exploring the moon doesn't mean the sun isn't the center of the solar system." He dropped to his knees in front of her and placed his head on her belly. "Hello, little guy. Daddy's missed you."

Several telltale kicks immediately ensued and Hermione couldn't help but feel the tears building behind her eyes. "He's missed you too," She whispered, her hand coming to rest on the side of her belly. "He's been kind of lethargic, not kicking as much...I thought it was me at first. I wasn't exactly doing cartwheels..." She decided not to elaborate on the fact that their 'breakup' had nearly killed her. "But he knows his daddy and I know he missed you." She continued to weep quietly throughout the speech, but it really hit a keynote when she managed to bite out, "Mommy missed you too." She didn't want to admit it, she didn't want to seem weak...but now that he was in front of her, she knew that she couldn't bear to live without him.

Harry placed a kiss to her swollen belly and rubbed his hand over the spot where their baby boy was making a fuss at finally being with his daddy again. He stood up and looked into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes and smiled. "Daddy missed mommy too." He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to her cheek before whispering in her ear, "If you want me...Daddy will show Mommy just how much he missed her." His hands rubbed up her belly and stopped just bellow her breasts. He grinned playfully at her and then captured her lips with his in a soft kiss, testing the waters of what she'd allow him to do when they weren't married anymore. Of course that was a problem he fully intended to rectify when they got back to England...if she still wanted him.

Sadness and confusion welled up behind Hermione's dark eyes. She wanted it so badly, she wanted to take him inside of her, hold him as close as she could...but she also didn't want to force him to do anything he didn't want to. Already her insides were heating up at the touch of his hands grazing unintentionally against her swollen nipples as he kissed her. "Please, Harry, don't tease me...I can't stand it. I know how you feel about me looking this way. But don't be cruel and get me worked up if you can't help me afterward."

Harry shook his head and sighed. He grabbed her hand and slowly brought it to the front of his trousers where she could feel the obvious sign of his arousal. "Does this feel like I'm disgusted by the sight of you? I told you Hermione, it's not you that made me unable to perform or unable to keep my attentions on you. I had a load of shite to do at work, and then finding out the twins were behind everything...it was all a bit much to take in. But my head is cleared now, and I gave the Flumes' permission to hire their friend without me meeting him. There are no distractions now." He leaned forward so his lips with a hair's breadth away from hers. "There's only you." With that he captured her lips in a searing kiss trying to put everything he felt into it.

Hermione blushed darkly as he grasped her fingers and brought them to brush across the front of his pants. His erection seemed to twitch under just the slightest pressure and she knew that he wanted her...even like this, even as big as Potter Manor, he wanted her. She was still hurt and still angry...but there were other needs that she needed sated. "I love you," She whispered, "I always have and I always will. Please, Harry...make love to me."

Harry nodded as he pushed her back onto the bed. He slowly pulled off her shoes then followed by disrobing her. He crawled his way up her up her body slowly undressing her and kissing the newly exposed flesh as he went. Harry's hands brushed over the soft folds of her entrance before traveling up to gently capture her nipples between his fingers. When he finally got back up to her lips, his eyes were half glazed with his need for her. Harry's lips captured hers once more for good measure as he allowed his hands to reacquaint themselves with her body.

Moaning loudly against his sensual onslaught, Hermione didn't let her hands stay idle either. She fought against writhing beneath him; she was so big it pushed him away from her if she moved around too much. Her hands ran down his back, her lips kissing every part of him that she could possibly reach. But her need was great and she couldn't wait much longer. "How are we going to do this, Harry?" She frowned markedly as her desire built higher. She groaned, "I'm too big, what's the use?"

Harry gave her a wicked grin and winked. "I'll think of something. Don't you worry your pretty little head. You just lay there and enjoy what I'm going to do to you." Harry quickly got up and undressed himself. He grinned as he crawled back between her legs but rather than lay down on top of her, he stayed on his knees and grabbed her legs. He lined himself up at her entrance and then pulled her flush against him, sliding into her deeply with a sigh. He'd missed this closeness with her. Harry then wrapped her legs around his waist to hold them both in position and slowly began to work himself back and forth inside of her.

In order to help him get more leverage, Hermione quickly charmed a pillow and put it up under her back. Already she felt the tightening of her orgasm; in the past few weeks she'd been celibate, but her needs were still as crazy as ever. She'd almost broken down and asked if any of the girls knew a good pleasuring charm that could at least get her some relief! But Harry was here now; he was seeing that she was well taken care of. Crying his name, she gripped onto him with all the force she had in her as she broke apart again and again under the slightest ministration. She was his, for all time...no matter what a piece of paper said.

Harry rode out her orgasm with a grin. He wasn't finished yet. He continued to move inside her, bringing her to a second orgasm before he felt the familiar tightening in his lower stomach. He leaned forward to capture her lips in a passionate kiss as he let go and spilled himself inside her. He loved this witch, and he was hurt by his own actions that had hurt her. But he would make it up to her. He vowed then and there to never again let anything come between himself and Hermione. When he broke from the kiss Harry smiled. "I love you."

It just wasn't logical for him to stay nestled there between her thighs. She was glad when he moved beside her and she was able to put her arms around him. "I want you to know that I'm not sorry I left...but I'm just so glad that you're back in my arms. I missed you terribly."

Harry nodded his head and wrapped his arms around her in turn. "I don't blame you. I was being a right arse about everything. I regret giving you cause to leave. I just wish you would have waited a few minutes before taking off. Then I would have caught you before you disappeared and we could have worked it all out without putting the little guy through all the stress." Harry's hand ran over her belly as he spoke. "I missed you too. Just promise me that from now on we'll talk everything out before jumping to conclusions and rushing off into the distance."

"It wasn't all your fault," She admitted reluctantly. "I know my hormones get the better of me sometimes and they were really raging that day. I needed to release that and being rejected after going through all we had that morning really left me shaking." She shrugged and kissed his lips again, "I promise that I'll talk to you, I can't promise I won't jump to conclusions or fly of the handle sometimes. Just know that I love you...that'll see us through."

Harry grinned and nodded while placing a kiss to the very tip of her nose. "Well in that case, I have a question to ask you. I don't want anyone to ever have to say that I was drugged into marrying you and that it wasn't my true feelings. I don't give a damn what the Ministry thinks, I was married to you for real, and they can stuff their rules up their arse." He held up a hand and wandlessly summoned a small black velvet box to him. He held it out the Hermione and smiled. "So, Hermione Jane Granger, will you marry me...again?" He opened the box to reveal a platinum ring with gold highlights in the shape of runes. A reasonably sized ruby sat upon the top of it in a square cut.

Her eyes watered as she looked over at him. The first time they had gotten married there had been no rings, no real ceremony to all of it. It had only been cheap...they couldn't even call it legal, because it hadn't been. But this time, she wanted to do this ring. Sniffling, she sat up and grasped his hands, "Let's do it, let's get married...right here in..." She looked around and laughed, "Rome. What better place? Maybe we could even Imperious the Pope to do the ceremony, Monsieur Unspeakable. What do you say?"

Harry chuckled and lunged at her to give her a tight hug and showered her with kisses. When he pulled back he took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. "This was my mother's. Dad had it specially made as the new official ring of Lady Potter. It's only fitting that you should be the one to wear it now." Harry almost fell over laughing at her idea. "Two problems with that. One the Pope is one of the most holy men in the world and will likely have guards. Not to mention we're a wizard and a witch and if they found out we'd be declared devil spawn and our marriage annulled as the officiator wasn't in his own state of mind. Second, I may be an Unspeakable, but I don't have jurisdiction here in Rome, only in Britain. I doubt they could catch me, but I'd rather not chance it and ruin the Honeymoon."

The ring slid on and fit a little snugly; it wasn't Hermione's fault that being pregnant made her fingers, feet, and, well, just about all of her, swell. Then again, from what she'd heard of Harry Potter, Lily had been pregnant right out of Hogwarts and had probably been pregnant putting this ring on for the first time. The Potter men were such fertile bastards...the Lucidem Fertility Potion had done nothing but make what was already strong, foolproof. "At least let's take a trip to the Italian Ministry. They can marry us."

Harry noticed the tightness of the ring and smirked. "Love, tap the ring with your wand. It takes no magic from you, so you don't need to worry about the little guy. The ring will automatically size itself to the person whose wand touches it." He grinned as she suggested seeing the Ministry. "Actually, I was thinking of a proper wedding, not some Ministry debacle like last time. I want us to have a wedding your parents would be proud of. We can get the Goblins at the Italian Wizarding Bank to make all the arrangements and send out invitations. We can invite key people from Britain to ascertain that the marriage is legally recognized there. I don't want anyone coming to us in another three months and saying we aren't legally married again. If they do, I might just use the killing curse on someone to get my point across."

Biting her lip gently, she looked down at the wide expanse of her belly that shone in the dim light of the hotel room, "A proper wedding...with me looking like a bloody hippogriff?" She asked, feeling very insecure at the moment. "I love you so much...and I'd love any wedding we have, as long as it's special to us. But I'm not getting any smaller and I'm not sure I'd want to add making wedding arrangements to my already full schedule of eating, napping, and peeing."

Harry chuckled and kissed the side of her head. "You know you're kinda cute when you get all insecure and bite your lip like that." He smirked at her and then kissed her fully on the lips. "Love, you're size has nothing to do with it. You're carrying my baby; we're having a baby together. If I could I'd run up to the roof and shout it out to the world, I would. I'd let them all know. I'm actually hoping that slag Rita Skeeter will show up to the wedding and take pictures so I can say, 'That's my wife and that's my baby in there. Anyone got a problem with it better have a wand on hand'." He tightened his grip on her just a little and rested his head next to hers. "Besides, I'm sure we can fit the wedding arrangements into your oh so busy schedule. Somewhere right between napping and peeing I'd imagine."

Snuggling up against him, "Whatever you want love, I'll be more than happy to do whatever you like. As long as I can be Mrs. Hermione Potter again very soon, it'll be perfect." She nuzzled his neck, bringing her hand to rest over his where he rubbed her belly. "Now, speaking of napping..." She let her voice trail off as she yawned.

Harry chuckled and snuggled in for the long haul. "Of course, a nap sounds brilliant. I don't know those muggle criminals do it...kidnapping is a very tiring endeavor." He grinned playfully at her and kissed her belly. "Night little man." He then came up to kiss Hermione once more. "Good night, love." With that Harry closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep with Hermione in his arms. The world was right again. Well, it would be as soon as they were properly married once more.

Letting out a content sigh, she giggled as he pressed his lips to her swollen womb and then to hers again. "Goodnight my love," She answered and closed her eyes, pulling the blankets up around them both as she rested against him. She fell asleep with his hand tracing light circles over her belly and the sound of his breathing.