Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter written. I hope you all are still with me :) The next chapter will be full of baby shower surprises! Please review. Thanks!


Two weeks had passed since the wedding day. Life at the burrow resumed its normal pace, and a building sense of anticipation hung in the air as Hermione neared her due date. Harry and Ginny had been traveling around Eastern Europe for their honeymoon, and were expected to arrive back by port key later this morning. The next day the girls were throwing a baby shower for Hermione, and even though it meant the end of an amazing trip, Ginny couldn't wait to get home.

Hermione herself was busily engaged in what Mrs. Weasley called "nesting," which in Hermione's case took the form of a frantic cleaning and straightening of every inch of the burrow.

"I wos ze same way before Victoire wos born." remarked Fleur, who had arrived early to help prepare for the shower.

"I think it's brilliant!" exclaimed George, who was lounging with his feet up as Hermione hoovered up stray crisps from around the chair. "Are you trying to put Kreacher out of a job, Hermione?" he asked teasingly. She just snorted in response, not even pausing to look up. "Unfortunately, I can no longer take advantage of your hormone-driven services." George announced dramatically. "Ron and I have work to do!"

"What work?" Ron spluttered.

"You know…" urged George. "The super top-secret project for you-know-who who's having a you-know-what ?" He made a baby rocking motion with his arms.

"Wait," said Ron, densely. "You-Know-Who?" George rolled his eyes.

"Not that you know who, Ronald. That you know who…" he jerked his head towards Hermione, unsubtly. "Unless you're making something for the original you know who's baby shower as well…" George grinned.

"Ohhh." Ron said comprehendingly. "Right."

"George, that's nothing to joke about, and you know it." admonished Mrs. Weasley. "I'm surprised you of all people would laugh about he-who-must-not-be-named."

"Mum," argued George. "I don't think anyone's going to be offended by me joking about Voldemort having a baby shower! Besides, Fred would have wanted us to laugh at the nasty git anyway."

"Ah well," Mrs. Weasley had flinched at the name, but was smiling sadly at the memory of her son. "I suppose you're right. He was always a joker, our Fred." George nodded in solemn agreement, but then quickly resumed his jovial demeanor.

"So, shall we get to it, brother?" He jumped from his seat and extended a hand to Ron.

"Oh, right." Ron pulled himself up and turned to Hermione. "We've got, er, something to work on upstairs, Darling." He told her. "But call me straight away if you need anything."

"Alright, Ron." She nodded.

"And if you have even a twinge…" Ron began again.

"Don't worry!" she laughed. "I'll let you know if anything begins to happen." Hermione grinned at Ron's eagerness.

"Well, okay then." said Ron, and he kissed Hermione on the crown of her head. "See you in a bit."

The boys marched up the crooked staircase and could be heard working on the mysterious gift through the floor. There were several muffled curses and then a quite a loud crash from George's bedroom.

"I dread to think what they're doing up there…" Mr. Weasley commented from the couch. Molly shook her head.

"I've told them to do all their tinkering at the shop." she told her husband. "But Ron swore they just needed to put the finishing touches on whatever the thing is, and since it's for Hermione I told them to go ahead."

"I just hope it's nothing dangerous…" muttered Hermione darkly.

An hour passed in much the same way, with a few bangs intermittently breaking the peaceful silence of the parlor. Mr. Weasley was reading the daily prophet while Hermione looked for more things to organize, and Mrs. Weasley fussed over Hermione. Eventually the boys thundered back down the stairs, looking worse for wear, but triumphant. It looked as if some piece of their project had exploded, as George's eyebrow was scorched and smoking slightly.

"You've got soot on your nose, Ronald." Hermione said reprovingly, and proceeded to clean Ron's face with her dust rag.

"Oy, 'Mione! Gerroff…" Ron complained. "I think you've taken this cleaning lark too far."

"Are Harry and Ginny back yet?" asked George. Just as the words left his mouth there was a whoosh of a portkey in the yard and then the front door was thrown open by a beaming Ginny. Harry followed, hidden behind a rather large pile of suitcases.

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted upon seeing her very round friend. She held out her arms and ran towards Hermione to embrace her. Hermione did her best to waddle at top speed toward Ginny. "You look like you're about to burst!" exclaimed Ginny.

"I feel like it." said Hermione ruefully. "I keep telling this little one to hurry up, but so far no luck. The midwife is coming to check on me after lunch, so perhaps she'll be able to give us a better estimate. Ron's practically having kittens every time I sneeze." Ginny laughed at this description of her brother. Who would have thought he'd make such an attentive partner?

"But how was the honeymoon?" Hermione asked fervently. "Tell me all about it!"

"Oh it was lovely!" Ginny's face took on a faraway look. "We went everywhere, St. Petersburg, Prague… you should have seen the countryside, flower fields everywhere. We even got to see the Bulgarian national team play quidditch! Too bad you're old flame Viktor Krum was traded." Ginny said with a wink. Ron coughed loudly.

"Alright Harry?" he asked, changing the subject. Harry had finally found a spot to put the luggage, and was now visible once more.

"Cheers, mate." He said. "We've got loads of presents for all of you!" Harry gestured to the suitcases.

"Nice one!" said Ron appreciatively.

"'Cept you, Hermione." Harry amended. "We just couldn't find a thing for the baby anywhere. We definitely haven't brought back a whole load of teeny clothes that Ginny drug me around to look at and cooed over for half the trip." Harry told his friend sarcastically. Ginny whacked her new husband playfully on the arm. "Well it's true!" Harry insisted.

"Even so," said Ginny, "those were supposed to be a surprise for Hermione tomorrow." She turned to Hermione. "Men!" Ginny said scathingly. Hermione giggled and nodded knowingly.

"Well, how'd you like that, Harry?" Ron asked in mock offense.

"If that's what they're going to be like, I think we ought to go and get a butterbeer down at the pub!" Harry suggested, smiling. Ron looked concernedly at Hermione.

"Oh, go on!" she said. "The baby's not coming just yet."

"Well if you're sure…" Ron trailed off.

"Go!" yelled Hermione and Ginny at the same time.

"Alright, alright!" said Ron raising his hands in innocence. "You can't blame a bloke for being nervous…" Hermione grabbed Ron's face and kissed him.

"Go on." She told him more gently. "Have fun with Harry."

"C'mon, mate." Harry grabbed Ron by the sleeve and literally dragged him out the door.

"We won't be long!" Ron called back to Hermione. She and Ginny laughed and shut the door.