Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Set at end of HBP. As the ministry falls further under Voldemorts control a new law is passed, forcing Hermione into a life she wasn't ready for. How will it affect the horcrux hunt and the fight against Voldemort?

CHAPTER 53

A week had passed since Ron and Hermione had told their families they were moving out, Hermione's parents had begun to accept everything, and Ron had asked Hermione to remarry him, and that week had flown by, filled with moving boxes and cleaning supplies as Hermione and Ron got ready to move into Grimmauld Place.

As Ron opened his eyes to the sun just coming in the room, he realized, all that work had finally been for something. Today was the day he and Hermione were moving into Grimmauld Place. Today was the day they would finally live on their own.

Ron grinned at the idea as he felt Hermione snuggle closer to him. She was almost seven months pregnant now, and he could tell she was getting rather uncomfortable with the extra weight. She had woken him up three times the night before trying to get comfortable. He hoped a bigger bed at Grimmauld Place would make it easier for her.

"Hermione?" Ron whispered softly. He was too excited to go back to sleep and was hoping she was awake.

"Hmmm." Hermione mumbled dreamily, snuggled up closer to Ron's neck, her eyes still closed.

"Are you awake?" Ron whispered.

Hermione sighed, opening one eye. "Well, I am now…"

Ron sheepishly smiled down at her. "Sorry…I couldn't sleep anymore…too excited for today."

"Well, apparently you aren't alone there…" Hermione slowly flipped onto her back, rubbing her round stomach, which made the blank arch up like a tent. "Someone has been playing football on Mummy's insides all night…"

Ron grinned down, rubbing Hermione's pregnant belly affectionately. "That's my little keeper…tell Mummy that football is out…you're not playing some ruddy Muggle sport…kicking a bleedin' ball into a goal…"

"She will if she wants to." Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron.

"He won't want to." Ron retorted with a smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled, kissing Ron on the jaw. "Ready to move out today, Mr. Weasley?"

"Been ready…are you ready?" Ron asked her back, pulling her closely and kissing her square on the mouth, his tongue tracing her lips.

When they pulled apart, Hermione could not hide her blushing cheeks. Despite that they were alone, and married, and she was well on her way to having a baby in a few weeks, she still felt slightly naughty when she and Ron kissed like that.

"Of course…" Hermione's voice did not come out as steady as she had hoped. She couldn't help it. Ron took her breath away, even more recently when he seemed to want to hold her and be with her even when she was the size of a small continent, though he constantly told her she looked perfect, she knew there was no way that could be true.

Ron just grinned devilishly at her, knowing exactly what he had done to her. "Well…we could stay up here I guess…"

"Ron, we are not doing that in your parents house. At any rate, I am as big as a house and this bed is as small as a crib…" Hermione said, sitting up and struggling to get off the mattress.

"Oh, love, be reasonable…you're not as big as a house…maybe a small flat…" Ron joked.

Hermione turned, now on her feet, and glared at Ron, making him shrink back.

"I was only joking…" Ron said simply.

"Ha. Ha. So funny." Hermione snorted and moved into the bathroom, slamming the door loudly.

Ron sighed, realizing his joke might have gone too far, given Hermione's condition, and so within a second, he was on his feet, moving into the bathroom to apologize.

However, Ron stopped when he opened the door and saw Hermione, examining her large stomach with tears in her eyes.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Ron asked softly.

Hermione quickly lowered her shirt, or rather, his shirt and wiped up her tears. "Nothing."

"Hermione…I was just joking…" Ron had a feeling he knew why Hermione was crying. "You honestly look amazing…"

Hermione just smiled softly at Ron, a few tears still in her eyes and shook her head a bit.

"Oh, Hermione, come on now…" Ron moved forward, feeling awful. It was supposed to be an exciting morning for them, and he had ruined it. He kissed her softly on the head. "I swear, you look amazing…"

"Stop lying." Hermione said into his shoulder.

"I'm not. I swear it." Ron glanced down at her.

"Well, you haven't acted it much…" Hermione said with a sigh. This was not how she wanted to bring this specific topic up, though it had been bothering her recently. She wanted to settle into Grimmauld Place before putting it on the table for discussion.

Ron was shocked for a moment. That was the last thing he expected Hermione to say, though he knew it was true. The last time they had been together had been in the tent before they arrived at Hogwarts. He hadn't even realized that until now, things had gotten so crazy. "Bloody hell…"

Hermione pushed away, wiping her tears and moving to wash her face. "Its fine, Ron. I get it."

"No…no it's not fine. I just…we've been so busy…and you go to bed so early…and we are crammed on that little bed…" Ron stammered.

"I said it's fine. I don't need to hear your excuses…" Hermione told him, looking at him in the mirror.

"Its not excuses…its just…it's the truth…I'll fix it though." Ron told her, meaning every word.

"You don't have to fix anything. I understand. I wouldn't want to be with me right now either." Hermione said.

"Hermione, that's not it…" Ron started but Hermione was already walking past him, out of the bathroom.

"Come on, we've got to get ready." Hermione ignored him.

Ron, suddenly angered by her stubbornness grabbed her and pulled her around to face him. "Would you listen to me for a minute?"

Hermione was clearly caught off guard by Ron's roughness though she had to admit, the feeling of his hands on her like that caused her skin to ignite.

"Thank you." Ron smiled smugly at her lack of words and then dove in for the most passionate kiss the two had shared in weeks as Ron's hands traced down her breast and over her stomach.

After a long moment, they pulled apart, Hermione clearly shocked.

"See…I do still find you unbelievably beautiful. And I'll show you even more later." Ron smiled smugly, walking past a breathless Hermione and toward his dresser which held just one outfit for him to wear as they moved and a simple sundress for Hermione. He grabbed both and handed the dress to his wife, who could do nothing but smile at him, still obviously surprised by the kiss.


Ron rubbed the sweat from his brow as he and Harry attempted one last time to move Hermione's "small" bookshelf into the sitting room of Grimmauld Place while Hermione directed them from across the room on the couch Ginny and George had carried in, drinking a glass of lemonade while Mrs. Weasley busied herself cooking tons of food in the kitchen. While Mrs. Weasley loved Hermione dearly, she was convinced she would not be able to cook the amount of food Ron could consume in her present condition.

"A little more to the left." Hermione said.

"Bloody hell, woman…can't you just let us do this with magic?" Ron grumbled. For some reason, Hermione had insisted the move the objects in the Muggle way and Ron was over it, though given the near row they had early that morning, he was trying his best to keep his temper in check.

"Ron, I told you, not everything we do in this house is going to be done with magic. I want the baby to know its Muggle side too…" Hermione said, her feet up on the small coffee table.

"The baby doesn't even know if we are using magic." Ginny grumbled as she carried two lights in from the upstairs bedroom followed by George who was doing the same thing.

Hermione had been rearranging the place since Harry had told her he did not care what she did with it. Now, however, as Harry was positive he pulled a muscle, he wished he had told Hermione she couldn't touch anything.

"Is this good?" Harry wince, not sure how much longer he could hold the book shelf with Ron.

"Hmm…" Hermione twitched her nose as if trying to decide.

"Sometime today would be brilliant, before we toss our backs out!" Ron suddenly roared.

"Oh fine! Just put it down!" Hermione shot back, folding her arms over her chest.

"Thank you, Merlin!" Ron rolled his eyes and tossed his end down, nearly tossing Harry with it.

"We can always move it later." Hermione said simply.

"Yeah, if I can use my wand. You can't help me move it later." Ron said.

"Not like she's helping anyway…" Ginny commented, clearly annoyed that she was sweating and covered in dust from moving things around all morning.

Hermione's face screwed up at Ginny who moved out of the sitting room without another word.

"Err…she's just a bit tired." Harry made an excuse for his girlfriend.

"No, she isn't. She's just pointing out the fact that it is much easier to give the orders when you're sitting on your butt…" Ginny stuck her head back in and grinned playfully at Hermione, maybe not as mad as she originally thought.

"That's not fair, Gin. She can't help she's a bit useless right now…" George added with a laughed.

"No, I believe we can blame Ronnie for that one…" Ginny grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Ron.

"Oi! Don't be throwing things 'round! And don't call me that!" Ron roared at his sister.

"Yeah, ickle Ronnie may get bent out of shape…" George grabbed Ron and put him in a headlock before quickly releasing him.

"Oi! You little gits! The lot of you!" Ron went after George and Ginny.

Ginny and George in turn, sprinted out of sight, with Ron fast on their heels, leaving an annoyed Hermione and a sweating Harry alone.

"Sorry if I've been a bother today, Harry…" Hermione's mood had clearly changed from moments ago.

Harry shook his head, taking a seat next to his pregnant friend. "No…not at all…"

Hermione just shook her head, looking away from Harry. She hated feeling useless, and George and Ginny had made it clear she was, and worse yet, Ron had not even tried to defend her. Instead he went after his siblings like a teenage boy.

"Hermione, you alright?" Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Hormones…" She laughed a little.

Harry just nodded, not really understanding them, but not questioning her either.

"And…well…just crazy to think I'll be living here with Ron…on our own." Hermione admitted.

"Well, yeah, that's what you wanted. Right?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes…I mean I suppose. I just didn't think it would happen so quickly."

"Well, you didn't have to. I mean, you could have stayed at the Burrow—" Harry started.

Hermione made a face at Harry indicating he should know better.

"But yeah…I could see why you two didn't want to…but you will be fine here. It will be good for you." Harry said, patting Hermione's leg.

"You think?" Hermione genuinely asked.

"Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't it be?" Harry was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Just…sometimes I look at Ron…like that…like going after Ginny and George…and he seems like such a kid…" Hermione motioned to the hall Ron had taken off down which was now filled with the distant yells of screams and punches amongst Ron, Ginny, and George.

Harry, unlike Hermione, laughed at the noises. "So? He is a bit of a big kid…don't think that will ever change…"

"I need it to. I mean…I don't want to look after two kids." Hermione said suddenly.

Harry furrowed his brow, realizing Hermione was crossing into territory he did not need to discuss with her. "Hermione, I don't think that is something you should have to worry about…Ron's grown up a lot. I mean, if you are worried living alone, that's one thing, but you should talk to him 'bout it."

Hermione nodded. "You're right. And I don't even think that's it. I…I haven't even thought that until just now…its just…probably my hormones all messed up from all of this…" Hermione motioned to her pregnant stomach.

Harry gave a nervous smile, unsure of what to say and relieved when Mrs. Weasley's voiced filled the house.

"DINNER!" Mrs. Weasley roared.

Hermione and Harry stood, moving into the kitchen while the sound of a small stampede in the form of Ron, Ginny, and George came from down the long hall.


Mrs. Weasley had dragged dinner out for as long as she could, obviously not ready to leave Hermione and Ron alone in Grimmauld Place, but finally all the dishes were cleaned up and put away and she had nothing left to do.

"Mum, come on. Dad's probably starving at home…" Ginny reminded her mother from the front door.

"I told him to meet us here after work if he was." Mrs. Weasley reasoned, fusing over the idea that the refrigerator was slightly off center.

"Mum, come on…they will be fine…" George winked at Ron with a grin which earned him a gesture from Ron that made Hermione cringe.

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded.

George laughed and moved outside Grimmauld Place with Ginny on his heels.

"Well, I guess they are right. We should get going…" Mrs. Weasley kissed Ron and then moved to hug and kiss Hermione. "If you need anything…send an owl…or floo over…"

"We will, Mum." Ron said, trying not to roll his eyes.

"Alright…I'll speak with you tomorrow! Goodnight, dear!" Mrs. Weasley looked as if she were about to cry.

"Night, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione smiled.

Mrs. Weasley gave a nod and followed after George and Ginny, leaving Harry alone with his two best friends.

"Well…I'll see you two this week…maybe play some Quidditch, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Sure, mate. Let me know." Ron nodded.

"Thank you again, Harry." Hermione added.

"No problem." Harry nodded back and gave Hermione a nod before moving out of Grimmauld Place.

Once Harry closed the door, Ron stretched his arms out with a satisfied grin. "Finally!"

"Yes…finally…" Hermione said, sounding less then excited as she moved back into the kitchen, placing some of the dishes Mrs. Weasley had put away in easier places for her to access with her pregnant belly.

Ron instantly sensed something was wrong and followed after his wife. "Hermione? You alright?"

"Just fine, Ron!" Hermione's voice shrieked as she slammed a cabinet shut causing Ron to jump a bit.

"Bloody hell…I'll take that as sarcasm…" Ron said making a face of confusion at her behavior.

"Oh will you? Smart enough to hear that, I suppose? Only takes me nearly breaking the kitchen to get to you!" Hermione glared as she whirled around to face Ron, her arms crossed over her protruding belly.

"Alright, alright, what's wrong?" Ron put his hands up as if to surrender. The last thing he wanted was another row with Hermione, but he knew her hormones had been out of whack all day and he didn't think there was much he could do to avoid them at that point.

"Is that how its always going to be?" Hermione motioned around Grimmauld Place.

Ron swirled his head around, trying to figure out what she was talking about. He was at a complete loss.

Hermione glared at him as if he should be able to read her mind. "Your sister insults me, your brother calls me useless, and you chase them down like a ten year old!"

Ron blinked twice at Hermione's words. What in the bloody hell was she going on about?

"Were you not there when your sister was carrying in the lamps! Ginny basically called me lazy because I can't help, and George actually said I was useless! It's not my fault I can't move that much anymore! Its your damn fault!" Hermione threw a dishrag at Ron's head.

Ron dodged the dishrag. "Hermione, what the hell are you going on 'bout?"

Hermione shook her head as if she had not heard Ron, tears in her eyes. "I am talking about what went on early with your bloody family!"

Ron winced at Hermione's use of the word bloody. He knew she was upset when she spoke like that.

"And how it is your fault I am useless! You did this to me!" Hermione motioned to her pregnant stomach.

Again Ron winced, glancing away from her. "Well…sorry I did that to you…remind me next time you are forced to be with me to stop."

Hermione was left speechless by Ron's words. She had not expected him to respond like that and instantly she felt bad. She lowered her voice, calming herself down. "Ron…I…I didn't mean that…I'm not sorry you did this…"

Ron glanced up to see Hermione cradling her belly affectionately and gave a little smile.

"Yeah you are…a little…" Ron told her.

Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion.

"I think you would have liked to wait to have that baby…but its on its way, and we both love it already." Ron told her.

Hermione nodded, wiping up a tear. "Yeah…you're right about that…"

Ron smiled, moving forward and wrapping his arms around Hermione, kissing her forehead. "I am sorry I let my family say those things…and sorry that I acted like I was five…sometimes I forget I'm 'bout to be the dad…"

Hermione shook her head into Ron's shoulder. "No…no I am sorry I've been so crazy today…this morning and now…I am just…"

"Pregnant?" Ron finished her sentence with a smile.

Hermione laughed and nodded into his shoulder again before kissing his lips. "Right…"

"Listen…" Ron pulled away from her, keeping her hands in his. "Not sure if you are up for it…but…I thought it would be nice if we…well…broke our new bed in properly…" Ron wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.

Hermione giggled at Ron. "Oh do you?"

"I do…and I figure we best start now. You will need your sleep since your parents are coming by first thing tomorrow morning…" Ron told her, grabbing her and pulling her up into his arms, bride style.

Hermione giggled. "Ron, you don't have to carry me…honestly…"

"I want to. Need to do something properly." Ron told her, smiling at her as he moved down the hallway, toward their new bedroom, with Hermione in his arms.