Date: April 21, 2006

Chapter 13: Joy

Hermione almost wished she were pregnant. Seeing everyone with their children made her want one so badly. Lately, though, she just hadn't been feeling up to trying.

But tonight, Hermione wanted Ron.

So she seduced him. She cooked his favourite meal and set the table with candles and flowers. Then she went upstairs and put on the sexiest dress she could find, a black lacy thing. As an afterthought, she went into the garden and picked some roses. Then she scattered the petals in a path up to the bedroom. She wrote a note and placed it next to the first flower petal near the dining table: Follow me if you dare...

And then Hermione headed upstairs and waited for her husband to come home. He finally arrived at seven. 'Hermione? Love, where are you?' She grinned to herself as she heard him stop in the dining room. Then she heard 'Oh that sly woman...' and he came bounding up the stairs. When he entered the room and saw Hermione lying on the bed with her legs curled up behind her and her hand propping up her head, he let out a low guttural noise. He threw the gathered rose petals on Hermione and locked the door, ready for the best night of his life.

Hermione felt fine. No headaches, nausea, or cramping. So why was she taking the potion again?

It's good to check, she reminded herself, reaching in the cabinet. Your period's never this late.

There was just enough in the bottle for one last test. Hermione drank it and went to do her paperwork. A while later, she headed for the loo. She went, pulled up her trousers, and looked.

Green.

Hermione almost jumped for joy. This was the one, she could feel it. Her baby was going to be born, perfectly healthy, and Hermione was going to do everything she could to make sure that happened.

When Ron came home, Hermione was sleeping on the couch. She had meant to stay awake and tell him the news, but she had been so tired that she had fallen asleep waiting. Ron smiled, hung up his cloak, and gently carried his wife to bed. Then he ate the meal she had laid out for him and joined Hermione upstairs.

Hermione woke up in the morning with sunlight streaming through the windows. She remembered what had happened the previous day, and sat up and gasped. She must have fallen asleep, and now Ron was at work and she had to wait another day to tell him. She sighed and went to take her shower.

At work, she sat at her desk drafting a new proposal for elfish rights. The fire made the room so warm...

'Hermione! Wake up!' Someone was whispering in her ear. 'Holt is going to kill you!'

Hermione's eyes snapped open. 'Oh good Lord, what've I done?'

'You must have fallen asleep,' whispered the intern, Ruby Ellis. 'I'd better leave before Holt-'

'What the bloody hell is going on in here?' thundered a third voice. Ruby and Hermione gulped.

Holt was the head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Needless to say, he was terrifying. 'I hope you're not wasting time,' he growled at them. Ruby let out a squeak. 'We've got a lot of work to do and you had better not slow us down!' With that, Holt stormed back out of the office. Hermione let out a sigh.

'I thought he was going to explode!' she said, putting her head on her desk.

'Well, you should work. It's lucky I saw you in here before he came. If he catches you sleeping on the job, who knows what he might do?' Ruby scurried out of the room, and Hermione groaned and leaned back in her chair.

'Hermione? Are you asleep again?' Ron called as he walked into the living room.

'Not really. I've just had a tough day,' she replied, getting up and leaning against his chest. He put his arms around her.

'What's happened? Are you alright?'

That simple question caused Hermione to crack. She pushed him away, leaving him stunned.

'Am I alright? Let me see, how about NO! I'm tired all the time, and my boss is nearly ready to fire me, and not to mention, I'm PREGNANT with your bloody baby, who seems to enjoy sitting on my bladder!' Hermione shouted, flopping back onto the couch.

Ron stood there, frozen. Then a smile grew on his face, and he picked Hermione up and twirled her around.

'Put me down or I might throw up on you,' Hermione said irritably. He set her down, still grinning.

'Are you really pregnant again?' he asked her hopefully.

'Yes,' she said, and was surprised to feel her eyes welling up with tears.

'Oh, love, what's wrong?' Ron asked, sitting beside her on the couch.

'I don't want to lose this one!' she sobbed, leaning on his shoulder. 'And I've really got to pee!' she added, suddenly giggling.

Ron laughed. 'Then go pee. But know this,' he added, grasping her wrist, 'I will do anything I can to make sure our baby is healthy. I promise.' He kissed her hand and let her run to the loo. He could've sworn he heard her say, 'Bloody hormones.'