18 Weeks

Hermione practically dragged Ron back to the lift and to the DMLE.
She had to congratulate Neville in person while she had the chance.

Ron chatted beside her giving her details on how Neville had planned on asking Hannah for a while and how it took him forever to get the nerve to actually do it.

"Is this why he's leaving the force?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged. "One of the reasons, I think."

The lift opened and Ron led the way down the corridor to the Auror department. They went straight to the office Ron shared with Neville and Harry.

Lucky for them, Neville was at his desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. He glanced up and exclaimed, "Hermione, what are you doing here?"

She smiled brightly. "Neville, I wanted to congratulate you in person!"

"In person?" He smiled proudly as he realized what she meant. "You got the announcement?"

She nodded. "Neville, I'm so happy for you and Hannah. Congratulations."

He flushed. "Thanks, Hermione. We'll be seeing you at the wedding right?"

She held a hand to her chest. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is so exciting!"

A clock sounded loudly in the hallway. Hermione held back a groan. "I thought I had more time. I have to head back."

"I'll walk with you. I'm heading in that direction." Neville grabbed the papers he was working on and stuffed them into a folder.

Hermione hugged Ron quickly and kissed him on the cheek.

They walked quietly back toward the lift when Hermione noticed Harry standing by the records office. She was on the verge of calling out to him but held back when she noticed a woman with long dark hair stroll up to him and settle closely beside him.

The woman pulled her hair over one shoulder, baring her neck and resting her hand on her hip.

"Who is that talking with Harry?" She couldn't help asking.

"That's Lena Lockwood," Neville lowered his voice, "she's a combat specialist. They brought her in again to reinvigorate the training and work with the new Aurors."

Her brows furrowed. "Combat specialist?"

"Me, Harry, and Ron worked with her when we became Aurors."

Hermione couldn't tear her gaze away. "She looks rather young. Are you close with her?"

He shook his head. "Not really. She's worked with Harry a lot though."

They made it to the lift. "I see." She bit her lip.

Neville pulled it open and motioned for her to enter.

She stepped into the lift and cast one more look in the direction of Harry and Lena Lockwood. She shook her head and nudged Neville in the arm. "You're getting married!"

He grinned. "I'm getting married."

She threw her arms around him and hugged him. "So, have you made any plans yet? Color theme? The food?"

# # #

Hermione spent the rest of her workday writing reports, reading over new house-elf placement applications, walking around her desk, and casually writing down names she liked on a scrap piece of paper.

A soft knock sounded at her door.

"Come in!"

Mr. Sterling opened the door and walked in, closing it behind him softly. "Ms. Granger, I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all." She set aside her pen. "How can I help you?" This was the second time he came to her office today. He's never done that before. Was something the matter?

"I'm leaving you a list of our new hires and which sections they'll be working in."

That must explain it. The final list must have been finalized. "Thank you. I look forward to meeting them."

"What are you currently working on?" he asked suddenly.

She flattened her paperwork against her desk. "I was going over some applications. I want to finish before I move on to changing the handbook."

He peered over her desk. "And what's this?"

She followed his gaze to her scrap of paper with names. She felt her face heat up. "Oh, that's my, um -"

"They're names," he stated simply.

"Yes -"

"For your baby?" He said slowly.

She nodded.

He skimmed over the list. "Jane is a nice name. And Marie."

"Yes, those are my grandmother's names." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "I'm not sure if I want to use their names, though. I'll have to ask Harry anyway."

"Harry?" He said under his breath. He straightened up. "The father? Harry Potter?"

"Yes," she said, making it sound more like a question than an answer.

He cleared his throat. "Yes, of course. Well, if it isn't too forward I've always liked the name Lydia and Elinor."

She couldn't help smiling. "Well, those certainly go along with the theme I have here." She pointed at the names Jane and Elizabeth.

"They do indeed." Mr. Sterling stepped back toward the door. "I'll leave you to your work, Ms. Granger."

# # #

Hermione sat on the stoop to Grimmauld Place and stared at her cellphone. She just ended the third call that went straight to Harry's voicemail.

5:30 p.m.

He was still at work. He's probably working on a case. Or another meeting. His longer hours and days were making it so hard to see him.

She stared at the pair of children walking down the street toward their house. She was bored and restless and wanted to take a walk or go to the store. Something.

She licked her dry lips. Maybe she should ask Sirius. He did say to call him whenever she needed or wanted anything.

She shrugged. What the hell, why not? She dialed his number and waited.

"Mai!" He yelled over the line. "How are you?"

She couldn't help smiling. "I'm fine but I'm bored. Do you want to come over? We can go for a walk? Maybe reach a bookstore."

"Muggle London?" His voice crackled.

"Yes," she answered, "Do you want to come with me?"

"I'd love to. I'll be over in a few minutes alright?"

Sirius said goodbye and hung up. Hermione slowly stood and reentered Grimmauld Place. She was in the kitchen looking for her purse when she heard the fireplace roar.

"Hermione?"

"Coming!" She returned to the first floor and braced herself for Sirius's hug.

Once he let her go, he gently placed his hand on her belly. "Hello, little one. Have you been good for mummy?"

Hermione chuckled. "They have." She set her purse strap over her shoulder.

He held out his arm. "Let's go, mama."

Hermione wrapped her arm around his. They walked out and went down the road in the direction of the bookstore. "Did Harry come home at all today?"

Sirius sighed deeply. "He came home, but was called away within half an hour."

She sighed as well. "I see."

"His schedule should level out in a few months, Hermione. A few weeks maybe. There's nothing to worry about." He shook his head. "At least that's what I keep telling myself."

"His work worries you too," she stated.

"All day and every day, but I know he finds purpose in his work, despite how much I hate it. I don't understand how Remus does it? Dora is his wife."

She squeezed his arm. "I don't know how they do it either. I've had five years to get used to the idea and it's still a little hard. But, Harry, and Tonks too, are powerful and capable. I know they'll come home to us at the end of the day."

"Too right, love." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "So, are there some books you have in mind?"

Sirius's playful banter lightened the mood as they made their way to the bookstore that was a couple of blocks away from Grimmauld Place. She dragged him to the fiction section where she proceeded to pull titles off the shelves. He feigned boredom and pulled her to the romance section where he grabbed book after book and read lines from each haphazardly, making them both giggle and blush.

He ran off, leaving her to regain her composure. She picked up a few he had tossed to the side - a paranormal romance and what looked like a summery romance. After she picked up a fantasy novel about a long lost princess, she decided to go look for Sirius.

She walked through the store twice when she finally found him in the aisle dedicated to parenting books. He was leaning against a half-sized shelf, a large book opened in his hands.

"What do you have there?" She walked up to him.

"What do you think of the name Elizabeth? Or Emilia? Or how about Matilda? Tilly for short?" Sirius flipped through a couple of pages. "Girl names are so much easier to choose than boy names."

"Are you looking through a baby name book?" She peered over his arm.

"Of course, we can't have your kid going through life with a god-awful name like Sirius."

She pouted. "I like Sirius Orion Black."

He stuck his tongue out. "Try living with it, Hermione Jean Granger."

She harrumphed. "Anyway, those are nice names. Elizabeth. Matilda," she chuckled, "like the story."

"What story?"

She laughed aloud, thinking about the children's book about a little girl with powers. "I'll see if I can find my copy of the book or we can rent the movie. Come on, I'm hungry."

"Great." He set the baby name book aside and grabbed another he had set aside, a thick board book with a big red dog on the cover.

She chuckled. "Clifford?"

Sirius dropped his arm around her shoulders. "Yes, Clifford the Big Red dog. Apparently, he's the best, according to those kids over there and their mom who was flirting with me."

She sighed. "Really, Sirius? At the bookstore?"

He shrugged. He held up the book. "What do you think? You can never go wrong with a dog, right?"

Ginny left a message late the previous night, but Hermione knew she needed to see her friend. So, she arrived at Ginny's flat with a box of pizza. Once it was safe on the coffee table, she grabbed Ginny by the shoulders and shook her. "How was it?"

Ginny grinned, squealing under her breath. "Hermione, it's beautiful." She grabbed her hand and pulled her down onto the love seat. "Dortmund is beautiful and there's a wizarding village on the outskirts of the city so it's very safe and easy to access both the muggle and magical world. I'm going to share a flat with one of my new teammates. Just so I'm not so alone while I get used to my new city and surroundings."

Hermione clapped her hands together. "That's wonderful, Ginny."

Ginny opened the pizza box. "I'm sorry I left with such little notice and I didn't call or write."

"Ginny, you've been so busy. I understand." Hermione ripped off a piece and took a bite.

"I know, but I should try harder." Ginny took a few bites of her own slice before setting it down again. "So," she smiled again, "how are you? Do you know what you're having yet?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'll have my next prenatal exam soon and that's when I'll find out."

Ginny fiddled with her pizza.

Hermione watched her friend's nervous movements for a few moments. "What is it?"

Ginny gave her a cheesy grin. "How is it going with you and Harry?"

Hermione smoothed out the end of her skirt. "Fine. He's been busy with work. I haven't been able to see him all that much."

Her friend's eyes narrowed slightly. "Just fine? How do you feel about not being able to see him."

Hermione shrugged. It was difficult to express in words how odd it was to not see him as often as she was used too. It wasn't as if he needed to spend all his free time with her.

Ginny sighed deeply. "Have your feelings for him changed at all?"

"Ginny, what?" Hermione's face felt hot. "Of course not."

Ginny looked at her skeptically. "Hermione, your cheeks are red. It's okay if you have. There's nothing wrong if your feelings have changed."

"Well, good," Hermione stuttered, "but my feelings haven't changed. Besides, I'm pregnant and my hormones are all over the place who's to say whether or not what I'm feeling is, I don't know-"

"Really what you're feeling?" Ginny interrupted, "I think your feelings are just as valid." She bit into her pizza and said in between bites, "I wonder if his feelings have changed."

Hermione gasped. "What? That's impossible."

Ginny shrugged nonchalantly. "Why would that be impossible? He cares about you very much. Maybe he doesn't think of you as just a friend anymore. Have you ever thought of that? "

Hermione bit her lip. "Why do you keep pushing this?"

Ginny met her gaze. "Because two of my friends love each other, but they're too stubborn to do anything about it." She set their pizza slices on the coffee table and reached out and held Hermione's hand. "I don't know if you've realized, but you can be incredibly stubborn sometimes. You two care for each other. Share your lives together. The only thing one of you need to do is make that commitment to one another."

"Ginny," She turned, hitching her leg on the sofa, "I don't think we work that way."

"Oh, I think you do and the proof is right there." She poked Hermione's belly.

Hermione shook her head. "This was an accident. Accidents happen all the time."

Ginny squeezed her hand. "Yes, that's true. But, is it cheesy to say that some accidents were meant to happen?"

Hermione pulled her hands away. "How do I know if it's real or if it's hormones or I'm just lonely?" Her voice was soft.

Harry has been a constant presence in her life. They've been friends for over ten years. There was a familiarity there that she didn't find in other people. How was she supposed to know? Especially with him?

"You want him there when you wake up and when you go to sleep," Ginny replied softly, "you want all of him. Even the annoying parts. When he drives you mad. His day you want to hear about. His company you want. His hand to hold."

Hermione took a deep breath. "We were just friends…"

Ginny rubbed her shoulder. "Sometimes that changes and when it does, it's okay."

She sniffled. "Is it, though?"