A/N: I'm so, SO glad you all loved the surprise addition to this fic! I mean...honestly...it was bound to happen :) And I PROMISE that Tom Riddle is a nothing character in this lol. No upcoming drama will be his doing.

Alpha love to honeysweetcutie

Forever unbeta'd

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TWENTY-FIVE

The Secret's Out

The numbness had remained present as the days slowly crept by, but as the day of the ultrasound approached, Hermione felt better about the whole thing. It was still hard to wrap her mind around; something she was sure would change once she was able to see it for herself. And keeping it a secret wasn't helping either. She was so used to telling Ginny immediately, but she wanted that visual confirmation from the doctor's office before she did.

Only two things were certain; Harry was doing a very good job at keeping his lips sealed because her conversations with Ginny were nothing out of the norm. And that Theo and Draco were very good at keeping their happiness at bay for her sake. She could tell they were far more excited about being parents and that they kept their feelings hidden when she was around. But they never made a big fuss or pushed her to accept something she wasn't ready to.

The only person she told was her boss, mostly because restoring books put her around some dangerous chemicals and she wanted him to be aware of her condition going forward. Riddle congratulated her, told her that so long as she used the protective equipment properly she shouldn't have an issue, but she was free to take as much time off or pass on a project if she needed to. Working with him was the complete opposite of a corporate job that she almost didn't know how to handle that either.

All three of them had taken off from work for her ultrasound and after taking their turns getting showered and dressed for the day, they decided to go out for breakfast. She had stared longingly at the morning drink list and sighed heavily when both of them reminded her that she was done drinking for at least a year, if not longer depending on if she chose to breast feed. Not willing to go down that road of conversation, mostly because she didn't want to think that far ahead, she changed the topic to a rare book Riddle had found that Lucius might be interested in.

Her nerves were completely frazzled by the time they got to the doctor's office. She was glad to be one of the first patients of the morning so that they didn't have to wait long. Once they were ushered into the ultrasound room, Theo and Draco took a stand on either side of her head while she reclined in the chair. After pushing her bottoms off enough for the technician's liking, the gel was applied, making Hermione hiss at how cold it was.

"Is it really that cold?" Draco asked.

She tipped her head back to glare at him, but smiled as she saw Theo shooting him a look. "I promise we don't keep it chilled on purpose," the tech said, offering Hermione a smile while she prepared her machine. When she applied the wand to Hermione's skin, she glanced up at the boys and then smiled again. "I don't mean to stare, but-"

"It's unusual," Hermione supplied with a warm smile in return. "I've been told I'm lucky." Saying that earned a hand on each of her shoulders from both of them.

Hermione watched in utter fascination as the tech pressed buttons and wondered what part of the black and white images was the life growing inside of her. After one particular image was taken, the tech hummed in self-approval and tapped the screen. "I know it doesn't look like much, but that's your baby. Eight weeks along is what I can tell, but I will consult with Doctor McIntyre before I say that definitively. We won't be able to hear a heartbeat until after twelve weeks, so potentially your next appointment."

She removed the wand from Hermione and wiped it off before cleaning up her belly.

"I'll leave the screen on so you can take a look, but go ahead and finish cleaning up. I'll be right back with the doctor and some print outs you can take with you," she added and then left.

"I hope they circle the damn thing, because I can't remember where she pointed to," Theo stated as he stepped closer to the screen.

"My thoughts exactly," Draco said, clapping him on the shoulder.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the both of them as she wiped off the rest of the gel and readjusted her clothes. She sat forward and leaned over the edge of the chair to point at the screen. "Here."

There was a moment of silence that passed as she sat there, staring at the screen with both of them by her side. For just a moment, the numbness began to fade away and her heart skipped a beat. Just as tears began to form in her eyes, the door opened again and Doctor McIntrye returned with the tech.

"I think it's safe to say it's confirmed. Everything looks good; I agree you're about eight weeks along. I'd like you to have a follow up ultrasound in a month from now so we can make sure everything is continuing to develop correctly. The reading material I sent you home with last time is what I would still recommend reading as well as whatever parenting books that catch your eye. Any questions?" she asked, looking at all three of them.

"I've read about the possibility of paternity tests before giving birth," Hermione said.

"Typically done around twenty-five to thirty weeks of development. I would be happy to discuss that when we get closer," she said, making a note in her chart.

"What about gender?" Theo asked.

"About the same time, though that procedure is far easier than paternity. We can have that answer the same time we test for paternity, though those results will be immediate whereas paternity will take a few weeks to get back."

"She can still have sex, right?" Draco asked. Hermione's entire body flamed as both her and Theo shot him a wide-eyed look of disbelief. He shrugged at both of them. "What? It's a valid question."

Doctor McIntyre laughed and nodded her head. "We encourage women to keep up their normal lives. There is nothing that proves sex does any harm. Most women tend to see an increase in pheromones and libido in their second trimester."

Hermione gave a nod and smiled. "Thank you, Doctor."

She nodded back. "Go ahead and make your appointment and I'll see you three in a month. If you have any questions, feel free to call us or make an additional appointment," she said before taking her leave.

The technician handed them an envelope with the sonogram photos and led them to the reception desk to make the follow up appointment. It was at Theo's car that they paused to look at her to make sure she was okay. She waved them both off and gave them a soft smile before reaching out to take their hands in hers.

"It's sinking in," she admitted.

"Maybe if you tell Ginny it'll become more real?" Theo suggested.

"Can we invite her and Harry over for dinner tonight?"

"Absolutely. Let's get you home and then I can head back out to the store to get something for tonight," Theo said, pulling her into a hug.

"I love you," she said to both of them as she felt Draco wrapping his arms around the both of them too.

When they broke away, Draco held the door open for her and she climbed into the back seat. As she listened to them argue over what to cook that night based on the wine they had at home, she pulled out the sonogram photos and stared at them. Her fingers brushed over the spot the technician had circled and for the first time, a rush of excitement coursed through her at the thought of bringing a new life into the world.

Ginny was one step away from throwing manners to the side and licking her plate clean. Hermione had only seen her do something like that once or twice when they were far younger, but she recognized the signs. It made her laugh to see it now as she sat back in her chair with her hands on her stomach, staring at her plate.

"Bloody hell, Theo. You can cook for us anytime."

Theo inclined his head as he sipped at his wine. "I hope you left room for dessert."

"I'll find room," she assured him and then looked at Hermione. "Seriously, I think it's time you locked them both in."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sipped at her water. "How's married life treating you?" Draco asked, changing the subject just enough. Hermione mouthed her thanks to him and Theo reached under the table to place a comforting hand on her knee.

After Ginny launched into how becoming a Potter had made her life both better and worse, mostly where the legalities of changing her name were concerned, she and Hermione moved into the living room while Harry helped Theo and Draco clean up. "Have you told your parents yet?" Ginny asked.

It took Hermione a moment to realize she was referring to the relationship and not the announcement she was close to making. "Not yet. I know I should, I'm just not ready for the outburst."

Ginny nodded and leaned back into the spot on the couch where Hermione usually sat. "But once they see how happy you are, they'll come around."

Hermione shrugged, not really ready to have that conversation. For whatever reason, it seemed harder to think about that than it was being pregnant. "Speaking of happy, there's something I have to tell you."

Ginny perked up immediately and turned to face her by criss-crossing her legs beneath her. "Did you lose your new job already?"

"No," Hermione said, giving her a look. "Why would you think that?"

She shrugged. "Did you-"

"Can you not guess?" Hermione interrupted. "Just give me a second, okay." Ginny sobered at that and gave a nod while Hermione took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

There was a brief moment of nothing before Ginny's face morphed from impassive to pure delight. And then came the shriek of pure joy Hermione knew she would hear. The next thing she knew, Ginny was launching herself forward and barreling into Hermione, wrapping her in a fierce hug. It took a moment for them both to calm down, but once the mix of happy tears began to subside, she went to grab the sonograms. They huddled together on the couch as they fawned over the photos until the boys persuaded them to swap them for dessert.

It wasn't long after that that Ginny and Harry took their leave for the night and Hermione found herself lying in bed between Theo and Draco; a huge grin on her face and the weight of the world gone from her shoulders.

"That went well," Theo said.

"Of all the people we eventually have to tell, her reaction was never the one I was worried about."

"If you want, we can tell my parents next. I'll tell them about the three of us too. That way we can see how they react before we tell yours," Draco suggested.

"Only if-"

"I'm sure," he interrupted, turning to place his hand on her stomach. "I've never been more sure of anything than this, Granger."

Theo mimicked him and Hermione smiled as they linked their fingers over her stomach. Ever since they had told her of their time together while she was away, they had been more affectionate towards each other both physically and emotionally. It was breathtaking to witness and she quite enjoyed walking in on them making out every once in awhile. Though she was always left wanting more because when they noticed her, they brought her in immediately; never just lettering her sit back and enjoy the show.

But nothing was better than quiet, intimate moments like this. And as the emotional highs of the day took their toll on her, she drifted to sleep with a smile on her face and their hands still intertwined on her belly.