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 55
Ron woke up to the sound of loud banging and he jumped up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes in a panic.
"Hermione?!" Ron called out, and then relaxed when he scanned the room and saw her standing in front of her dresser, her hands on her pregnant hips. He realized then, the banging was only the sound of drawers closing.
"What?" Hermione snapped, turning to glare at Ron.
Ron instantly could tell something was wrong and quickly got out of the bed, shaking his head. "N-nothing…what's wrong?"
Hermione threw her arms out and shook her head. "I've got nothing to wear to this disaster of a baby shower today…"
Ron tried to suppress a chuckle. Hermione had been stressing over the baby shower ever since her mother had brought up at breakfast a week earlier. He wrapped his arms around Hermione, resting them on her swollen stomach and kissing her ear softly. "Anything you wear will look good…"
"I am not in the mood right now, Ron." Hermione shrugged out of his grasp and moved to the closet.
"In the mood for what?" Ron followed after her, his brow furrowed.
"For you…being nice to me…" Hermione said, pulling some dresses off hangers.
"What?" Ron was definitely confused now.
"I don't know! I'm pregnant, Ron! I've got hormones that make no sense, and I am going to a baby shower that no one but our mothers, your sister, and Luna will be at!" Hermione said, moving past Ron and throwing the dresses on the bed to examine.
Ron smiled, knowing better then to laugh. He could tell Hermione was completely stressed out and part of him wanted to tell her that Ginny had worked on it all week, and there would be plenty of people there, but part of him wanted to make it a surprise.
"Hermione, it will all be fine, honest…" Ron moved up behind her and glanced down at the dresses on the bed. "And, if my opinion matters, I like the pink one…"
Hermione sighed, smiling softly after a minute. "That's the one I was picking…"
"Well, then we both have great taste…" Ron laughed, happy to see her smiling a bit.
Hermione sighed and nodded; pushing some curls behind her hear. "I'm sorry I snapped this morning…"
Ron shrugged. "You said it, you're pregnant…I reckon being a little crazy is part of it…"
Hermione scowled playfully at him and picked up a blue dress, teasingly smacking him with it.
"I am just worried that this is going to be awful. I just don't want to disappoint my mother…she always has had so many girl friends, I think she expects the same from me." Hermione confessed.
"Well, your Mum didn't spend a good part of her time savin' the world, and so what? You've got good friends, who cares if a lot of them aren't girls?" Ron told her.
Hermione chuckled a bit and nodded. "That's true."
"So relax. It will be a good day for you." Ron told her, taking her hand in his and twirling her around so that only her pregnant stomach was between them. He then leaned down and kissed her.
Hermione smiled up at him before changing the subject. "So what are you going to be doing for the day then?"
"Harry's coming over with Teddy actually…" Ron tells her.
"Merlin, I nearly forgot about Teddy…" Hermione said guiltily. She had been so wrapped up in her own life that she had nearly forgotten about Tonk and Remus' orphaned son.
"Well, I would imagine that's because we've been bloody busy…" Ron told her.
"I am glad Andromeda is letting Harry see him." Hermione admitted.
"I reckon she always liked Harry…plus Harry is the godfather…" Ron said.
Hermione sighed. "That's another thing we need to talk about! God parents!"
Ron laughed at Hermione's dramatics. "Don't act like you haven't already picked two people…"
"Well, I was thinking Harry and Ginny but, I didn't know if you wanted one of your brothers…" Hermione admitted.
Ron nodded. "Well, I was thinking about George but…I don't want to cause any issues with my brothers…so yeah, I agree…Harry and Ginny…"
"Are you sure, Ron? I think George would be great too…" Hermione admitted, knowing Ron was close to the twin and knowing it might be a good thing for George now, given that Fred was dead.
"Well…honestly…I thought Harry but…well…since Fred died…" Ron rubbed the back of his neck.
"I think George will be brilliant." Hermione said, kissing Ron quickly. "We can tell them later this week."
Ron smiled and nodded as he gave Hermione one more kiss and watched her disappear into the bathroom to get ready for the baby shower she was dreading and the shower he knew would certainly be a surprise.
Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and helped Mrs. Granger fix the stack of presents in the corner of the Granger's sitting room while Ginny, with the help of Luna and Parvati set the food on the table.
"You did a great job, Ginny…" Luna whispered to the redhead.
Ginny nodded, smiling smugly with herself as she glanced around the room. She, with the help of Luna, had worked their butts off to get as many people to the shower as possible, and, given the fact that Hermione had helped save a lot of lives, it hadn't been as hard as Ginny had thought.
The room was filled with people, including Fleur, Andromeda Tonks, Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomphrey, Angelina Johnson, Cho Chang, Parvati and Padma Patil, Katie Bell, Hannah Abbott, and surprisingly Lavender Brown, who owed Hermione her life.
'This looks just wonderful!" Mrs. Weasley squealed, grinning at Mrs. Granger. "Thank you so much for having us all…"
"Nonsense! We might as well get good and acquainted now…we will be sharing a grandchild soon…" Mrs. Granger smiled, fixing some strawberries on a plate.
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Still…I know with everything going on…I just am grateful we could be part of this for Hermione…"
"Well, despite all of that, I know we owe your family a great deal. You kept an eye on Hermione when we couldn't." Mrs. Granger said genuinely.
Mrs. Weasley nodded again. "Well, she is like a daughter to me."
Mrs. Granger just smiled wider.
"Do we know when she is coming?" Angelina asked.
"Ron's supposed to owl me but, I am not going to hold my breath…" Ginny said.
"Ginerva Weasley! Give your brother some credit!" Mrs. Weasley started, but as soon as she did, the familiar sound of someone flooing into the house cut her off.
Everyone turned their attention to the fireplace to see a visibly surprised Hermione standing there.
"She's here…" Ginny was the first to make a sound, moving up and hugging Hermione.
"Ginny, what is this?" Hermione breathed into her sister-in-law's ear.
"Your baby shower of course." Ginny said as if it were obvious.
"Yes but…all of these people…" Hermione stared around at the familiar faces, shocked to see so many people there. It was not what she had expected at all.
"Thank Ron for that." Luna said, coming up next and hugging Hermione as well.
Hermione felt her eyes swell with tears and tried to laugh them off, apologizing as everyone came up to her to congratulate her.
"Oh, sweetie, you are allowed to cry…part of being pregnant." Mrs. Granger said when Hermione finally reached the kitchen where her mother and Mrs. Weasley stood along with Professor McGonagall.
"Thank you so much for this, Mum." Hermione said, hugging her mother tightly. She had not realized just how much she had missed her mother until now.
"Of course, dear." Mrs. Granger nodded, releasing her daughter.
Hermione then turned to McGonagall. "And professor, thank you so much for coming! I know you must be busy getting Hogwarts ready for the fall…"
"Oh, I think Hagrid can handle that for a day…" McGonagall smiled warmly at her.
Hermione laughed at the idea of Hagrid running the reconstruction of Hogwarts. She knew he would be so proud to be given such a task.
"Speaking of school…Hermione, I was wondering if you plan on coming back?" McGonagall asked.
Hermione was surprised that McGonagall had called her by her first name. She rarely, if ever had done that while she had been at Hogwarts. "I…uh…honestly haven't thought much about it…the baby will only be two months old then…"
"Well, I did conclude that on my own. However, I want to see you finish, Hermione. You are by far one of the brightest students I have ever seen." McGonagall said.
"Thank you, professor…" Hermione blushed.
"So, I have been thinking…if you come part time, floo from home, a few classes a day…we can work it out so that the baby can either stay with someone, or come to the school, and one of us will keep an eye on it while you take classes. I am assuming Weasley will be working, so I wouldn't want to shorten his day either…" McGonagall said.
"Well, yes, Ron will be working with George, but professor, I couldn't ask you to do that for me—I mean, the rules—" Hermione started, knowing the clear rules at Hogwarts. Student's had to live on campus.
"Forget the rules. I make the rules, I am the Head Master now." McGonagall smiled and then motioned to Madam Pomphrey. "And at any rate, plenty of faculty have offered to help…"
"That's right!" Madam Pomphrey added.
"Nonsense. I can watch my grandbaby for a few hours a day!" Mrs. Weasley stepped in quickly.
"Absolutely. We could split the days if Hermione wants to go back to school." Mrs. Granger added.
Hermione glanced around at all the help she was suddenly being offered. It was a bit overwhelming. She honestly wasn't even sure she would be ready to go back to school by then. "Well, thank you all, but I will honestly have to think about it—"
"Hermione, come on! Everyone wants to see you!" Ginny seemed to come out o nowhere and grab Hermione, pulling her away form the older women and whispering in her ear. "You alright? You looked a bit green there…"
"Overwhelmed a bit…thanks for saving me…" Hermione whispered back.
"Sure." Ginny smiled at her sister-in-law and lead her into the sitting room where all of the younger girls were sitting around the huge stack of presents wrapped in baby themed wrapping paper.
Ron shoved a whole muffin in his mouth just as he heard knocking on the front door of Grimmauld Place. He knew it was Harry, and had no idea why his friend just didn't let himself in.
"Come in!" Ron yelled.
"I can't! It's locked!" Harry yelled through the door.
Ron rolled his eyes and moved into the hall, opening the door to find Harry pushing a carriage in one hand and holding Teddy in his arms with the other, standing there. "Sorry…Hermione's been on a weird kick of locking the door…dunno why. No one knows this place is here."
Harry just shrugged, moving past Ron and into the kitchen, where he set Teddy's carrier on the table and parked the carriage.
"What's that?" Ron pointed to the carriage.
"I picked it up…its my gift to you and Hermione…" Harry explained.
"Harry, you didn't need to. I mean, the house is enough…" Ron motioned around.
Harry just shrugged and glanced around the place. "I wanted to do it for you, and the place looks good."
"Yeah well…Hermione had me rearrange some more furniture…" Ron shrugged.
"I see that…" Harry laughed smugly and moved to the refrigerator, helping himself to a butterbeer.
Just then, Teddy started crying.
"Ron, grab him…" Harry said, since Ron was closer.
Ron made a nervous face and looked at Teddy as if he were a foreign object.
Harry laughed and moved, picking Teddy up. Instantly, Teddy settled down against Harry's chest. "Ron, you are going to have to get used to this…reckon you're gonna have one of your own in a few weeks…"
"I know that…" Ron snorted, but liked his nips in a nervous way. "I just…I mean…I haven't been 'round babies a lot…"
"Well…have a go…" Harry shoved Teddy in Ron's arms before Ron could object.
Ron's eyes grew wide as he grabbed Teddy as if he were a piece of glass, clearly unsure of how to hold him.
"Ron…hold his head, and relax a bit…he's not a porcelain doll…he's a person." Harry laughed.
"Since when did you become the baby expert?" Ron snapped, trying to concentrate on not dropping Teddy as he did what Harry said.
Harry shrugged. "I've been around him enough the last few weeks. Just…get used to it after awhile…"
"Hope that's true…'cause bloody hell…this isn't as easy as I thought…" Ron suddenly realized, all the sudden becoming slightly nervous about the idea of Hermione handing him a smaller version of Teddy in a few weeks. What had he gotten himself into?
Harry laughed. "Guess you should have thought 'bout that before you and Hermione…well…you know…I don't really like to think of it…"
"So funny…" Ron snorted, feeling really uncomfortable with Teddy in his arms and now panicking over the idea of having his own child there soon, he handed Teddy back to Harry.
Harry took Teddy back and gently put him in his carrier, not realizing just how much the arrival of Teddy had upset Ron. "So what else has been going on?"
Ron tried to think straight but he was struggling, his eyes glued to Teddy as he scrubbed the back of his neck. "Err…uh…nothing. We picked godparents…"
"Did you?" Harry was slightly intrigued.
"Yeah…Ginny…and…well George…" Ron said, looking half sorry at Harry though he was not exactly in the right mind frame to have the meaningful conversation he wanted to with Harry over this. Right now he was too fixated on the fact that Teddy had just showed him how completely unprepared he was to be a father.
"Brilliant." Harry sounded a little surprised.
"We were gonna pick you, mate…but since Fred…I just felt…" Ron managed out, still not having his thoughts where they should be.
Harry gave a soft laugh. "Its fine, Ron. I understand…and I agree…George will be brilliant."
"Right…good…" Ron nodded, glancing one last time at Teddy and sighing deeply. In everything that had gone on, Ron had been so focused on first horcruxes, then keeping Hermione safe, then defeating Voldemort, and finally getting Hermione's family back together that he had neglected to really think about taking care of the baby Hermione was going to have in a little over a month. He knew her pregnancy would result in a child; he just had not put the pieces together that he would have to hold it and it would be breathing and crying and have needs like Teddy. Up until that point, it all seemed so far off, and suddenly he realized that was not the case at all.
The babyshower was going well. Hermione couldn't believe all the people who had shown up, and just how well her mother and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be getting along. She had been dreading the party since her mother brought it up, but now she was actually having a great time.
"Alright…its getting late…so I think its time for presents!" Mrs. Granger announced once everyone had gotten dessert.
There were squels od delight among the crowd as everyone filed into the sitting room and Hermione eased down on a beautiful rocking chair she recognized from her parents attic. It had a pink and blue bow on it and she realized her father had refinished it for her. It was beautiful enough to make her eyes swell with tears.
"Sweetie, you can't start crying yet…" Mrs. Granger said softly in her daughter's ear.
"The chair is beautiful, Mum…" Hermione whispered back.
"I just wanted a piece of nursey in your babies…" Mrs. Granger said, helping Hermione down into the chair.
"My present first!" Ginny called out like a kid at a birthday party and then thrust two wrapped boxes into the very small part of Hermione's lap that her stomach didn't sit on when she sat down.
Hermione smiled warmly at Ginny and then slowly unwrapped the box to see a miniature broom.
"Ginny! I told you that was an awful gift! No baby can use that…" Mrs. Weasley scolded.
"Relax, it will grow into it…and trust me…it will need to start soon unless you want it to end up like Hermione on a broom…" Ginny joked.
Hermione scowled playfully at Ginny. She knew she couldn't argue; she was an awful flyer, and she thought the gift was brilliant. She knew Ron would love it, and the baby would grow into it.
"The other one is really the present…" Ginny motioned to the other box.
Hermione unwrapped it to see a crib mobile that was enchanted to light up like stars in the sky. Attached to the mobile were little brooms. "It's brilliant, Ginny!"
Ginny just nodded.
Hermione moved onto the rest of her presents. A diaper bag from Cho, a changing table from Mrs. Weasley that matched the crib the Weasley's had already given Ron and Hermione, a book case with children's books from Professor McGonagall, bottles and outfits from the Pavati twins, a baby sling from Madam Pomphrey, and a beautiful blanket from Lavender. The last present Hermione had to open was from Luna, and she was beyond curious to see what it was.
Luna's present a large square, though as thin as a two by four. Hermione picked it up and looked it over cautiously, knowing Luna could have given her anything. She unwrapped the present slowly and immediately felt tears form in her eyes.
Luna had painted a beautiful picture of the sun setting over the ocean. It was enchanted so that the waves crashed on the beach. Hermione looked it over and recognized it instantly. That was the view from her window when she stayed at Shell Cottage. It was what she had been looking at the first time she saw the baby kick.
"Oh, Luna…its beautiful…" Hermione managed out, trying feverishly to wipe her tears away.
"I thought it was a lovely view…and I thought it might be special for you…" Luna said, her voice airy as always.
Hermione just nodded, grinning widely at her friend.
Once the presents were over people slowly started leaving, which Hermione didn't mind as her feet were killing her and she was growing tired. She sat in the rocking chair as her mother, Ginny, Luna, Andromeda Tonks, and Mrs. Weasley cleaned up and the last remaining guest got ready to leave. Lavender Brown happened to be one of them.
"Thanks for having me, Hermione." Lavender said, walking over to Hermione as she slipped a jacket on.
"Oh, no…thanks for coming…" Hermione said as she tried to get resituated in the rocking chair. Lately, no matter how she sat, she was starting to feel uncomfortable from all the extra weight.
"I mean it. Thanks…for everything really…I owe you…" Lavender said.
"Thought we squared this out in the Room of Requirements." Hermione said with a soft smile.
"We did…I just...I wanted to say it again. Ron's really lucky to have you." Lavender smiled. "And you look great."
Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes, patting her stomach. "Thanks."
"Sure." Lavender nodded, waving goodbye before flooing out of the Grangers.
A second later, the sound of someone flooing in, caused Hermione to glance over. She saw Ron standing there with Harry, who was carrying a now sleeping Teddy.
"Happy shower!" Harry grinned stupidly.
Hermione smiled at her best friend, but it faded a bit when she saw Ron. Something on his face told her something wasn't right, and the way he hardly kissed her when he walked passed her only confirmed that.
Hermione slowly got up, following Ron and Harry into the kitchen where Ginny, Luna, Mrs. Weasley, Andromeda, and Mrs. Granger were.
"There's my Teddy!" Andromeda smiled and moved to take him from Harry. "Was he good?"
"Well behaved as always." Harry smiled and then moved to kiss Ginny quickly.
Ron, however, slumped down into a chair at the kitchen table, his eyes still on Teddy as he watched his own mother and Mrs. Granger fuss over the baby. Before Hermione moved as well, smiling over Teddy as Andromeda gently handed the baby to her.
Ron instantly noticed that Hermione was a natural with Teddy, a far cry from himself. She held the baby with such ease, as if she had done it her whole life, and didn't hesitate to shift him when he began to cry, even with her pregnant stomach making it a little more difficult for her then most.
"Oh, Hermione, such a natural…" Mrs. Weasley smiled.
Hermione smiled back up at Ron's mother and her own.
Ron felt sick to his stomach and pushed himself up from the table. How could he have gotten himself into this? How could he have done that to Hermione? She could handle being a mother, but could he really handle the logistics of being a father? The idea, he had down pat, but the actual act, he was not so sure of.
Hermione noticed Ron dismiss himself from the table and instantly handed Teddy back to Andromeda. She smiled at her mother. "I'm a bit tired…Ron? You ready to go home?"
Ron was snapped from his thoughts as he stood in the middle of the sitting room. He moved his attention to Hermione. "Huh?"
"I'm ready to go home. Are you?" Hermione asked carefully, trying to figure out what was wrong with Ron.
"Oh…yeah…ready." Ron nodded, giving a tight-lipped smile as Hermione waddled over to him.
Hermione silently put her hand into Ron's as everyone bid them farewell and moved Ron to the fireplace, ready to confront him on his weird behavior the second they arrived back at Grimmauld Place.
Ron stepped out of the fireplace first, instantly letting go of Hermione's hand and moving into the kitchen where he grabbed the bottle of firewhiskey that his father had left off the counter and pouring himself a tall glass.
"Alright, enough…" Hermione waddled in after Ron and grabbed the glass of alcohol from him.
"What?" Ron tried to shrug off his behavior, though he was aware Hermione could tell something was wrong.
"You show up to my parents, act completely weird, hardly talk to anyone, and now you are drinking? What's wrong, Ron?" Hermione asked, worried it was something she had done or had to do with the loss of Fred. The second one she had been waiting for. She figured it was only a matter of time before Ron broke down over the loss of one of his favorite brothers.
"Nothing's wrong." Ron said, moving away from the counter. He did not want to worry Hermione with his sudden realized fears of actually having a child. He didn't think it was fair to her, and she had enough to deal with.
"Don't lie to me, Ronald." Hermione said sternly, one hand resting on her back, the other on her stomach.
"Not lying…" Ron tried to laugh, though he knew it sounded forced. "Just…tired."
"I don't believe you." Hermione said, her voice full of concern.
"Of course you don't…" Ron snapped before he could control himself.
"What does that mean?" Hermione glared at him now.
"Nothing…" Ron sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. The last thing he wanted was to start a fight with her. He just wanted a minute alone, to gather his thoughts really and sort everything else out in his head before he spoke to her about it.
"It obviously meant something." Hermione snapped. "Do you think I never believe you, Ron? Is that what this is about?"
Ron snorted. Of course Hermione would make it about her, and bother him until he told her. He just wanted to be left alone, just for a bit.
"Well, then. I am sorry you feel that way…I guess your behavior doesn't always win you the honesty award." Hermione snapped.
Ron glanced up, furrowing his brow. "What in the bloody hell does that mean?"
"Oh, I don't know. You know, you did tell me you'd always stay with me and then you walked right out in the middle of a horcrux hunt!" Hermione said, her hands on her hips. She knew it was a low blow, and part of her felt awful for using it against Ron, but she wanted to know what was wrong.
Ron closed his eyes trying to calm his own nerves now. He had apologized a million times for walking out on her and Harry, but he knew she would never really forgive him. He just shook his head and turned his back on her, leaning against the counter.
Hermione could tell she had gone too far and instantly regretted it. She moved up, gently placing a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Ron, I'm sorry—"
"I need some air." Ron said, biting his own tongue before he really said something he regretted. He quickly pushed past Hermione, his own blood boiling now on how she had gone after him on top of his worry about his inability to be a father.
"Ron, wait, I—" Hermione waddled after him as fast as she could but she stood no match and within seconds, Ron was slamming the door to Grimmauld Place on her face. She hurried out onto the steps but only caught a glimpse of him hustling down the street, leaving her pregnant and alone on the front steps.
