The next day, Hermione was reading one of the books from Muriel's library and making notes on a long sheet of parchment, while Harry, Ron, and Ginny were all working on potions.

Ron looked in Harry's cauldron. "Is it supposed to be that pink? Mine is more a sort of mauve."

"No, I'm pretty sure this is right. Hermione?"

She looked up just as a silver weasel entered the room. It spoke in Arthur Weasley's voice. "Come to Saint Mungo's at once."

Harry pulled his wand out and doused all the fires under the cauldrons. Ginny ran for the Floo. The other three Apparated.

Arthur was there to meet them in the lobby. "What's happened?" Ron barked as Ginny stepped out of one of the lobby fireplaces.

"Fleur went into labor."

"It's too soon," Hermione said. "She's not due for two months."

"No," Authur said. "It's not looking good."

Ginny pressed a hand to her forehead. "Oh, no."

"We're having trouble locating Bill. He's away on Gringott's business. Your mother is in with her and the healer now."

"Has anyone contacted her parents?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. They're on their way."

"How about Gabrielle?" Harry asked.

Arthur nodded. "She should be here any minute. She was only in Edinburgh."

Percy stepped out of the fireplace. "What's going on?" His father explained again.

George popped into the lobby and looked around. He hurried over to the rest of the family.

Gabrielle was right behind him.

As Arthur started to explain again, Molly came into the lobby. She was pale and drawn and she'd obviously been crying.

"Oh, no," Hermione whispered.

"Mum," Ginny said, and went to her mother.

"She lost the baby," Molly said, shaking her head sadly. "Nothing the healer could do. Fleur's very weak. We need you girls. Ginny and Gabrielle followed Molly. Hermione turned to look at Ron. "Go on," he whispered and gave her a little nudge. She followed the other girls but looked back at him one more time before walking down the hall.

He gave her a nod of encouragement. She was surprised to find that they weren't going to the elevators but going to the first floor for Creature-Induced Injuries. "Isn't she in the maternity ward?" Hermione whispered to Ginny.

"In the what?"

"The…never mind…did something bite Fleur? Why are we going to Creature-Induced Injuries?"

Ginny shushed her.

Before, they reached the doors to the ward, a howl could be heard coming from the lobby. Molly stopped. "Oh, Bill," she said softly. Then she pushed the door open.

"Aren't we—?" Hermione asked.

"Then men will take care of him," Ginny said, irritated. She took Hermione's arm and pulled her along.

When they got to Fleur's room the healer was waiting. "Is this everyone?" she asked.

"We're waiting on her mother." Molly said.

"Isn't her mother half Veela?" the healer asked.

"Yes," Molly answered.

"Then we should go ahead. A Veela's magic is quite different. As only a quarter Veela, she'd be better off if we start now."

Fleur lay very small and grey in the bed. They filed into the room around her.

The other women held hands, Ginny reached for Hermione's.

"What are we meant to be doing?" Hermione whispered.

"Just pull up your magic. We're making a sharing circle for Fleur. Take her hand."

On the other side of the bed, Gabrielle took her other hand. When everyone was holding hands, the healer began to sing in what Hermione was pretty sure was the spoken version of ancient runes. As she had when she taught Ron the wandless shield charm, she pulled up her magic and let it flow through her. She could feel the magic of everyone in the circle flowing and weaving together. When the healer had finished the song, Fleur's color was much better. Everyone let go of each other's hands.

"I'll sit with her," Gabrielle said. Everyone hugged her before leaving the room.

Hermione held her tongue, but she had so many questions.

When they reached the lobby Monsieur and Madam Delacour had arrived. Their anguished expressions made it clear that they'd heard the bad news. Bill stood next to them looking exceptionally grim.

"We've just come from the circle," Molly said. "It went well," she glanced at Hermione, "It was a very powerful circle, Bill. I think she'll be fine. Gabrielle is with her now. You all should go back."

Charlie was there now too and when the other three went to be with Fleur he stepped in to hug his mother, Ginny, and Hermione in turn. Ron noticed Hermione's hand twitch, so when she came out of the hug with Charlie, Ron put his arm around her. She gave him a grateful smile and leaned into him. He kissed the top of her head. She whispered in his ear, "I have so many questions."

"Just wait," he whispered back.

They all migrated over to take seats in the waiting room.

"Oh," Molly said, as she took a seat. "I've never been so grateful to have such strong witches and wizards in the family. I think Fleur will be fine. I really do."

"I hope so, Mum," Ginny said.

Molly gripped her hand. "She will, she will. Fleur is strong."

"Yeah," Harry said. "She was a Tri-Wizard Champion. They don't go down easy."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It was two hours before Bill came out to the lobby. "They're releasing her. I'm going to take her home. Her parents and Gabrielle are coming with us. I don't think she's up for seeing anyone else tonight, but she's so grateful for the circle and the support. She sends her love to all of you, and we'll see you soon."

"Alright, Bill," his father said standing. "Give her our love as well. You know if you need anything—"

"I know, Dad."

"I'll send some food over in the morning," Molly said.

"Thanks, Mum," Bill said and hugged them both.

He went back to collect Fleur and her family. Arthur and Molly turned back to the rest of the family. "Go home," Arthur said.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," Molly added. "We couldn't be prouder of all of you."

"Mum, I'm going to spend the night, if that's okay." Charlie said.

"You know it is, dear." Molly said.

Everyone headed back to the Floo. They were all too sad and too tired to Apparate.

xxx

When they arrived back in Heathgate, Ginny made straight for the kitchen.

Ron flopped down on one of the sofas. "Poor Bill and Fleur. I knew this was going to be tricky, but they were so close."

Ginny came back into the parlor with four glasses and a bottle of Ogden's Fire Whiskey. She sat down on the sofa and began pouring.

Harry sat next to her. "I don't understand," he said.

Hermione was still standing. "Neither do I. What happened?"

Ron looked pleadingly at Ginny.

She sighed. "Good grief, Hermione, has no one given you the talk?"

"The talk, you mean the sex talk? My mother, ages ago, what does that have to do with this?"

Confused, Ginny looked at Ron.

"Well," Ron said awkwardly, "that is how babies are made, luv."

Hermione glared at him. "I'm well aware of that. What am I missing?"

"I don't know," Harry said, "but I'm missing it too. I don't recall this being covered in the book."

"Well, no," Ron said, looking to Ginny again. "Uh…"

"Oh, bloody hell," Ginny said, handing everyone a glass of whiskey. "She's not quite human, is she?"

"What?" Hermione said. "What difference does that make?"

"Well, a quarter Veela is still a lot of Veela," Ron said.

"And Bill was mauled by Greyback," Ginny said. "He wasn't bitten, so he's not a werewolf, but he is, well…" she looked at Ron.

"Wolfish," Ron said.

"So, what are you saying?" Harry asked.

"That's a lot of different kinds of magic competing to produce a baby, as if it's not hard enough without all that."

"What?" Hermione asked.

Ron sighed looking from Harry to Hermione. "Haven't you two ever noticed that something about you that is totally normal at Hogwarts is that you're each an only child?"

Harry looked at Hermione.

Ginny began listing, "Luna, Neville, Lee, Michael, Lavender, Cho, Draco—"

"Okay, I get it," Harry said.

"Babies aren't common in magical families," Ron said. "Which is most of the reason there are so many more Muggles than us. That's why people used to pick on us about our big family. They're pretty rare, although not among Weasleys."

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "Why have I never heard this?"

Ginny shrugged. "It's not really talked about, and of course, in our family, it hasn't been much of an issue. Although, Mum did lose a baby between Charlie and Percy."

"I had no idea," Hermione said, her brow wrinkled with concern.

"It's alright," Ron said. "Eventually, Bill and Fleur will have children. Weasley men are notoriously fertile. It just might take a bit."

"So why wasn't she in a maternity ward, why put her in with Creature-Induced Injuries?"

"What is a maternity ward?" Ginny asked.

"You know," Hermione said, "The part of the hospital where babies are born."

Ron looked at her. "Why would babies be born in the hospital unless something is wrong?"

"Well, I mean," she looked at Harry. "Help me out here."

"Most Muggle babies are born in hospitals, at least in England."

"Really?" Ron said. "Why? We were all born at home."

Harry scratched his nose. "I don't know. It's just how it's done."

"That still doesn't explain the ward she was on," Hermione said, exasperated.

"Probably because Veelas and werewolves are classed as creatures," Ginny said.

Hermione leaned back against the sofa and drank some of her whiskey. "And the circle?" she asked.

"What about it?" Ginny said.

"I've never done that before. What were we doing exactly?"

"Oh," Ginny said. "Never?"

"Of course not," Harry said, frustrated. "She's Muggleborn. I'm raised by Muggles. Why do you two keep forgetting that?"

"Sorry," Ginny said. "A healing circle is for people who've lost magic. Losing the baby drained Fleur's magic. We did the circle to restore it, which by the way, damn Hermione."

"What?" Hermione said, looking alarmed. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Something very right, I'd say. That circle was loads stronger than the one I was in before."

Hermione's cheeks went pink. "Oh. Good then."

Harry stood and set his empty whiskey glass on the coffee table. "I'm going to bed."

Ginny set her glass down too. "That sounds good."

Ron and Hermione watched them go. "Are you alright?" Ron asked.

She nodded, but he could tell by the look on her face that she was troubled.

"What?" he said.

"Nothing. It's stupid. Premature at the very least."

He smiled. "Say it," he said. "Tell me. You'll feel better."

She looked at him. "I just…I thought we'd have children. I mean I didn't want seven, but I wanted some. I didn't know that there might be an issue."

He took her hands in his. "There won't be. Don't worry about it. I'm a Weasley. I'll give you as many children as you like." He winked at her.

She chuckled. "Alright, alright."