19 Weeks

"Thanks for bringing those caramels I like." Hermione sifted through the plastic bag and took account of all the sweets Ron brought.

Meanwhile, Ron spread out the food he bought for dinner. "Don't mention it," he said. "You said you've been wanting some over lunch today so I thought I'd find some."

She popped one into her mouth. "You're sweet, Ron."

He shrugged. "Alright, make sure you actually eat some food though. Don't fill up on junk."

"Okay, mum," she mumbled.

He poured them both some cranberry juice and sat down to eat.

Hermione sat down across from him and served herself a plate. "So, I've decided I'm going to take Harry to the Quidditch Museum in Cardiff for his birthday."

Ron's eyes widened slowly. He swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "that is definitely not something I was going to get him."

She laughed loudly.

"He has a muggle record player and noticed he doesn't have a magical one," he continued, "so I figured I'd get him one. I also thought about getting a record, but I think I'll settle for a gift certificate."

"That's a brilliant idea."

He nodded. "I get some every now and then." He looked at the large amount of food set out. "I'm surprised Harry isn't here."

Hermione shrugged, trying to make it look like it didn't bother her as much as it did. "He's been busy."

Ron's cheeks pinkened, either from his spicy food or his thoughts. "Don't you miss him?"

"Miss Harry?" Hermione stared at Ron.

"Well, yeah, because you and him are, you know." He waved his fork around.

Hermione shook her head. "Harry and I aren't anything."

Ron scoffed. "Only because you two don't do anything about it."

"Ron-"

He rolled his eyes. "You two confuse me, honestly." He gathered some food on his fork. "You've known each other for ages. You're friends. You've had sex for Godric's sake. Have neither of you honestly thought, 'Hell, I wonder if we should give a relationship a chance?'" He took a sip of his juice. "It's like you two are in denial."

Hermione sputtered. This conversation was turning out to be too similar to the one she had with Ginny only days ago. She did not want to think about it again. She didn't want to think about it anymore. It just made her chest ache. "I don't think we'd work out." There. That answer was better than nothing. She didn't want to spiral down that thought process. She wasn't ready. Wasn't ready for what she might discover.

"Why not?" Ron countered.

Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Forget it," Ron mumbled. He took a bite of his food.

Hermione stared down at her plate. When the questions first began, it sounded like they were teasing. Especially since either Hermione or Harry were in relationships with other people. But when did it stop being teasing and turn into honest inquiries? What was it that they saw?

"Anyway," Ron spoke again, "I thought Harry was going to be here, but it's okay." He took a deep breath. "I want you to officially meet Jenna."

Hermione squeaked. "Really?"

Ron blushed. "I want her to meet you and Harry. Have her get to know my best mates."

Hermione clapped her hands together. "Ron, I'd love too! What should we do? Should we go out to dinner?"

"That sounds good. Dinner and drinks, well not alcohol, but drinks. Tea or whatever."

Hermione's cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling so much. "Do you want me to find a place?"

He shook his head. "I'll ask her if she has something in mind. I know there's a restaurant I wouldn't mind going back too. We went there a few weeks ago."

He quickly changed the topic, asking Hermione when her next doctor's appointment was and if she thought of any names.

"I didn't realize how hard it was going to be," Hermione said as she and Ron put the food away.

She led him back up to the ground floor and into the sitting room.

"Well, I'd consider it an honor if you named the baby after me," he held a hand to his chest. "Ronald or Ronalda."

She smacked his arm. "That isn't even a name."

He laughed. Before he reached the fireplace, he knelt down in front of her and placed his hand on her growing belly. "Alright, little one. You be good for mummy. I'll still like you, even if your mum doesn't name you Ronalda."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Ron stood back up and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you."

# # #

"Shouldn't you be heading home?"

Harry jumped slightly, tensing his hands against his desk. He couldn't fight the quick glance he shot at the doorway.

Of course, there she was, leaning against the open doorway, one hand hitched against her hip and her long dark hair loose and flowing down her back.

"Probably," he shorted. He pushed his papers back into their respective folders and set them aside. He grabbed his cloak, shut the lights off with his wand, and strolled out of his office.

Lena trailed after him. "You know, some of us are meeting up at Mystic Brew. You should come."

Harry glanced at his watch. It wasn't seven yet. Damn, didn't Ron mention something about dinner?

"Come on, Potter. You ought to spend some time with your fellow Aurors outside of work."

Harry's jaw tensed. She had a point. He didn't talk or spend much time with people outside his usual team. "Are they meeting right now?"

She nodded. "I was on my way there myself. We might as well head there together."

Harry gave her a sideways glance but didn't oppose her reasoning. They were quiet as they entered the lift and reached muggle London. They stared at each other briefly before disapparating.

When Harry regained his footing, Lena was standing a few spaces away, leaning beside the front door to Mystic Brew.

He grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, motioning her forward.

"Thanks, Harry." She led them to the bar and was promptly tended to. "Two firewhiskys."

Harry started, "I don't drink -"

"Two firewhiskys coming up." The bartender grabbed two glasses and quickly poured out their drinks. The bartender winked at Lena before moving on to the next customer.

Lena took their glasses, passing one to Harry. She turned on her heel and began searching for their coworkers.

"Lockwood!" Overton waved his arm in the air. Sitting beside him at the table was Headley, Irving, and Roxanne, an Auror Harry went to the academy with.

Harry sat down and carefully set his glass on the table. Lena took the seat across from him.

"Good to see you out of the office, Potter," Roxanne said to him, holding up her bottle of butterbeer. She smiled softly when she noticed him eyeing her drink. "I don't like to drink the hard stuff."

He didn't know how to respond. He usually didn't either and longed for the same drink she was currently having. He took a tentative sip from his glass.

"Yeah, and did you see her?" Irving tossed back the rest of his drink. "She came by the office with Weasley."

"She looked so cute," Roxanne cooed.

Harry looked between them. Who were they talking about?

Headley held his glass of dark willow ale with his fingers. "A lucky bloke that is, catching her. She's bloody brilliant."

Roxanne rolled her eyes. "Have you even talked to her? Of course, she's brilliant, but she's awfully kind too. I was a few years ahead of her at Hogwarts, but she was always so nice to me. We had a sort of camaraderie, being muggle-borns and all." She sighed. "I bet it's one hell of a love story."

Headley scoffed. "Doubt it. Some blokes try to keep someone in their lives in whatever way possible."

Roxanne nudged his arm, making him spill some of his drink. "Don't say shit like that."

He shrugged. "That's just what I think."

"Who are you talking about?" Harry finally asked.

Roxanne shot him a smile. "Hermione. You're good friends, right? When is she due? Oh, I bet her baby is going to be so cute!"

Harry blanched. Did Hermione come to the office? "Uh, she's due in November."

Harry shifted in his seat. He didn't like the way this conversation was going. Who were they to talk about her and their baby like that? He certainly didn't entrap her and she didn't entrap him.

"You okay over there, Potter?" Lena cocked one eyebrow and sipped on her firewhisky.

Harry loosened his tightened hand. "Fine," he grumbled. He grabbed his glass and took a long gulp.

"You're just jealous, Headley," Roxanne said. "Anyway, were any of you invited to go to the IDL training conference? Robards said it's being hosted in Philadelphia this time."

Harry stared at the amber liquid. When was the last time he saw Hermione? His throat burned. Damn, it's been a few days.

Headley grimaced. "I wasn't invited for the one next month. But, I hear you can apply for the last one of the year. The one in October. I think it's going to be in Romania."

Harry downed the rest of his drink and stood up, stumbling over his chair.

Headley leaned away. "Geez, Potter."

"What's the hurry, Harry?" Lena piped up.

"I gotta go." He fumbled for his wallet and placed a couple of galleons on the table. "I'll buy this round of drinks. I'll see you all at work."

Hollers followed him out of the pub. He hurried down Diagon Alley until ventured out into muggle London and turned into a darkened alleyway.

Was it too late? Was Hermione already asleep?

He disapparated and stepped onto the front stoop of Grimmauld Place. He rested his forehead against the wooden door. He took out his cell phone and dialed her number.

"Harry!" She chirped over the phone. "How are you? Are you okay? Have you eaten? Ron was here for dinner and brought a ton of food." He heard a rustling. "And candy. I think I'm going to have some more."

"Are you home?" He asked.

"Yeah…?"

"I'm at the door."

"What?" She breathed into the phone. The line was silent until he heard the click of the front door echo into both ears.

Hermione pulled the door open and Harry's eyes immediately fell on the swell of her belly. She was still rather small, but it was more pronounced in her tank top.

She smiled brightly at him. "Harry."

A warmth settled over his chest. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, clutching her to him. Her arms reached up and wrapped around his torso.

He breathed deeply, taking in the faint scent of her favorite perfume. "Were you already in bed?"

She shrugged. "I was reading. Harry, have you been drinking?"

He rested his cheek on the side of her head. "I had a glass of firewhisky. It was disgusting."

Harry finally let her go. She motioned him to enter while she closed the door. "Do you want to eat?"

He shook his head.

"Do you want to watch something on the telly?"

He didn't want anything. He just wanted to be with her. "Can we go lay down?"

Hermione paused. "Sure."

Harry followed her upstairs to her bedroom. Once he walked through the doorway, he slipped off his cloak, kicked off his shoes, undid his belt, and flung himself onto the side of her bed.

He heard Hermione chuckle. "Goodness, Harry." She joined him a little more gracefully than him, stretching her legs beneath the covers and picking up her book. "Was it a long day?"

He shook his head. "What are you reading?" He scooted closer and reached his hand out, resting it over her belly.

She set her hand over his. "A fantasy I picked up while I was out with Sirius."

When did she and Sirius go out?

She looked away from her book. "Do you like short names or long names?"

"Hm?" He blinked, his attention was set on her belly and how it moved up and down as she breathed.

She set the book aside and tapped the top of her belly. "For the baby."

"I don't know," his voice was low, "I think it just depends on the name."

"I like the name Elizabeth. Lizzie or Eliza. But I feel like everyone has that name."

Harry nodded. "Because it's a beautiful name."

"This is hard." Suddenly, she gasped. "Did you feel that?"

He leaned up and rested on his elbow. "Feel what?"

She grabbed his hand and pulled it to the opposite side of her body, pressing his fingers firmly into her belly.

"Hermione?"

"Shh, just wait."

He closed his eyes and waited. Moments passed in silence. He probably missed - wait.

He couldn't feel anything.

Hermione's hand was soft against his. "They're probably getting comfortable for bed. Or maybe they're just waking up." She breathed out a sigh. "I can feel movement every now and then. I can't notice it most of the time."

Hermione shifted, fluffing her pillow, and laying down. She stared up at Harry, who was still leaning up on his elbow. "I'm tired."

Harry pushed his trousers off, and pulled his shirt off and flung them both aside as he slipped beneath the covers beside her. "Me too."

He relaxed and watched her hold back a laugh. She burrowed deeper into her pillow and close her eyes.

It was quiet for a few moments. Her bedroom dark, the sole source of light was the few waves of light from the streetlight across the street.

She moved slightly and muttered under her breath, "Is this what it's like?"

What was she talking about? He licked his chapped lips and stared at the curve of her cheeks and the slope of her neck. His hand hovered over her waist as he debated on whether or not he could pull her closer to him.

"Yes, Harry," she whispered.

His lips parted. "What?"

"Yes."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, snuggling up as close as they could without being overwhelming. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath, surrounding himself in the scent of her shampoo. He missed her. It had only been a few days, but a few days was too much. He never wanted to do that again.