CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

xxxxxxxxxx

August 1st 2006

xxxxxxxxxx

Gazing out of the window of the hotel room in muggle London, Hermione smoothed her hands over her dress, bringing them to rest on her bump. Charlie had awoken her this morning, no earlier than 10am, after he himself woke up at 6am with Arty, telling her to pack an overnight bag because they were going away for the weekend. He had absolutely refused to tell her where they were going and when they had arrived at the hotel an hour ago, he had instructed her to get ready for dinner, leaving her slightly confused as it was only 1pm, before he left the hotel and hadn't returned. She frowned as she checked the clock and found it to be almost three, just beginning to get worried, when the door to their suite opened and he walked in.

"I thought you'd abandoned me," she smiled as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "where have you been?"

"Never you mind," he chuckled, kissing her gently before pulling away and spinning her around, "you look stunning."

Hermione smiled shyly, smoothing her hands over the sides of her dress. Now being almost halfway through her second pregnancy, her bump protruded quite noticeably from the side, though from the front or back you would never know, something for which she was very grateful. As she laid her hand on her stomach, she grinned when she felt a knock against it and beckoned for Charlie to lay his hand where hers had been, knowing he had been waiting for this moment.

"Wait." she said as he shrugged, moving to pull his hand away but almost as if their baby was messing with him, she felt a strong kick and Charlie's eyes snapped up to hers, his mouth open in shock.

"That's our baby?" He whispered and Hermione nodded, grinning as a slow smile spread over his face, "does it hurt?"

"Only when my bladder is involved," she snorted, shrugging, "it's actually wonderful. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the feeling."

"It's amazing," he grinned, laughing when they felt a series of kicks and he turned to look down at her stomach, "hey, little one, be nice to mummy."

"I'm not sure it can hear you," Hermione laughed, shaking her head before sighing, "I'm so looking forward to finding out the sex on Tuesday, so we can stop calling our child 'it'."

"I know," Charlie nodded, "are you ready?"

"I am," she nodded, picking up her handbag and taking his offered arm, "where are we going?"

"You'll find out soon enough," he chuckled, holding the door to their suite open and walking her to the lifts, pressing the button to call it, "although, can I just say, if you hate it then all the blame is on Harry."

"Oh god," Hermione groaned, "you let Harry plan our afternoon?"

"Just part of it," he laughed, stepping into the lift and pressing the button for the ground floor, "only because I'm not great with booking things that are completely muggle."

"So it's something you needed to book, hmm?" She asked, eyebrow raised and Charlie snorted.

"Alright Sherlock," he grinned, offering his arm again as they stepped out of the lift, "come on, it's not very far."

As they took a slow stroll, stopping every now and then when the baby let itself be known and Hermione made Charlie feel it, they discussed London and the differences between wizarding and muggle culture. Charlie was particularly interested in the Underground and Hermione chuckled as she promised him a trip on it over the next couple of days. As they approached Victoria station, Hermione grinned and squeezed Charlie's arm.

"I remember this place," she gasped excitedly, "there's a theatre around here somewhere that shows my favourite musical!"

"Yeah?" Charlie asked, keeping a straight face as he looked over to her.

"Yeah! It's called Wicked and it's about two witches, one of whom is really smart but misunderstood," Hermione smiled, shaking her head, "I came to see it a few years ago and I've been dying to go back."

"Now's your chance." Charlie grinned, pulling two front row tickets from his pocket and handing them to her, grimacing as she squealed, drawing the attention of the other people queuing for the show.

"Really?!" She shouted, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him before pulling away with a huge grin on her face, "remind me to thank Harry!"

"Hey, to be fair, he just booked it," Charlie grumbled, laughing, "this was my idea!"

"Well, remind me to thank you later, then," she winked, kissing him again before pulling him toward the line, "this is amazing! These are front row! What did I do to deserve you, huh?"

"You don't have to do anything," he smiled, wrapping his arm around her waist, "you deserve the world."

xxxxxxxxxx

The show had been amazing, more so than she had remembered it being from the first time she had seen it. As they walked, hand in hand, from the theatre, Hermione was full of excitement and babbling to Charlie about all of the bits she had enjoyed and all of the parts that were a little sad. Charlie agreed that it had been a very enjoyable show, but she couldn't help but notice that he had been quite quiet since they had entered the theatre and she frowned as they stepped back into their hotel room.

"Alright," she sighed, dropping her bag on the bed, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," he frowned, shaking his head, "why do you ask?"

"You've barely said two words since we went into the theatre," she explained and he raised his eyebrow, "you're being a bit… off."

"I'm fine, Hermione," he sighed, putting his hands on her hips and smiling at her, though she could see that something wasn't right, "we should get ready for dinner."

"I don't feel like dinner," She muttered sadly as she pulled away from him, shaking her head, "not if you're going to lie to me."

"What are you talking about?" Charlie frowned and Hermione glared at him.

"I can tell something isn't right with you!" She snapped, crossing her arms, "have I done something?"

"What? No!" Charlie gasped, sitting heavily on the edge of the bed and pulling her down next to him, "you make it very difficult to plan surprises, do you know that?"

"Wha-"

Hermiones eyes widened as he slipped off of the bed and onto one knee in front of her, her hand flying up to her mouth as he shrugged up at her.

"I had a plan, you know," he sighed, pulling a box from his pocket, opening it to show her the antique ring inside and Hermione squeaked, "but seeing as you know me far too well-"

"Yes!" She gasped and Charlie snorted.

"Can I ask the bloody question?!" He grinned and Hermione sniffed, nodding.

"You're impossible," he mumbled, clearing his throat, "will you marry me?"

"Of course I will." she whimpered, nodding frantically and wiping the tears from her eyes as he chuckled and slid the ring onto her finger before looking up at her shaking his head.

"I love you, Hermione." He said seriously and Hermione sniffled as she pulled him to her, kissing him.

"I love you too," she gasped, pulling him up and onto the bed, "what times dinner?"

"We've got time for this." Charlie said, his knee applying pressure between her legs and she gasped, nodding.