CHAPTER FORTY ONE

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September 1st 2006

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As per Charlie's suggestion, Hermione had spoken to Molly about taking him a few days a week to do some of his home schooling and her almost mother-in-law had jumped at the chance, actually thanking Hermione for allowing her to play such a part. Hermione had waved it off, saying her own thanks for giving her a break from the physically demanding six year old while her ever expanding stomach continued to get in the way of normal movement. Hermione used these days, usually, to go into the Ministry with Charlie, assisting him with his huge backlog of paperwork, which is exactly what she was doing today, though she was distracted by her aching back and inability to get comfortable.

"What's up?" Charlie asked, looking up from his papers when she sighed yet again, "you've been sighing all morning."

"I'm uncomfortable!" She groaned, rubbing her stomach and wincing when the baby kicked her hard, "my back hurts, I can't remember what my feet look like and I think he's bruised my ribs."

"I'm sorry that I can't help." Charlie sighed and Hermione snorted, grinning at him.

"If I Transfigure you into a giant Seahorse, you could carry the baby for me," she said and Charlie's eyes widened, "I don't quite know how we'd get him out though, you'd probably have to push him out of your-"

"Lalala!" Charlie shouted, jumping up from the chair as his face paled at the thought and Hermione burst out laughing, watching as he paced the office, "that's horrific. Any other ways I could help?"

"A massage tonight?" Hermione said, pleading with his eyes as he chuckled, crossing to his desk and perching on the edge of it in front of her, "please?"

"As if I'm going to say no," he smirked, poking her in the forehead and making her glare up at him, "would a bit of a walk help? I've got to go and see Kingsley, if you feel up to it?"

"Anything is better than these awful chairs," Hermione huffed, standing and stretching her arms above her head, "quite why there are anti spell wards on these offices, I will never understand."

"It does seem ironic, banning magic in a part of a magic building," Charlie frowned, kissing her forehead as he stepped around her and pulled open his door, offering his arm.

As they walked, Hermione noted the ratio of women who seemed to go out of their way to greet him as they saw him approach and she couldn't help but smirk at their disappointed expressions when they saw her on his arm. It always amused her and, if she were to be completely honest, boosted her ego when girls would moon over her fiance while he very clearly barely noticed, focusing on her or their destination. She snorted at a particularly blatant glare and Charlie turned, frowning as he pressed the button to call the lift.

"What's funny?" He asked and Hermione chuckled, running her stomach when their little boy kicked particularly strongly.

"A woman actually just glared at me," she smirked, shaking her head, "you do realise that you are probably the second most lusted after man within the ministry?"

"Hey!" Charlie exclaimed as they stepped into the lift, "how come I'm only second?!"

"No matter how unbelievably attractive you are," Hermione smirked, placing her hand on his chest to steady herself as the lift suddenly moved and her lack of balance became apparent, "you are, nor will you ever be, the boy who lived."

"Yeah, Harry is pretty good looking." Charlie nodded as the doors opened, though not on their floor and he groaned, dropping his head against the wall when Harry appeared, grinning.

"Why Charlie, I never would have known," Harry laughed, winking and Hermione laughed as Charlie covered his eyes with one hand, his other holding her waist, "I am married to your sister, but you know, whatever floats your boat."

"Oh shut it, you twat," Charlie laughed, punching Harry in the arm, "Hermione was just explaining why I'm only the second most attractive man in the building."

"No, I said lusted after," Hermione said, poking him in the sternum, "I will never be able to look at Harry as an attractive man."

"Oh, well thank you very much." Harry muttered and Charlie laughed.

"You know what I mean," Hermione said, rolling her eyes as the lift reached their floor and they all, including Harry, stepped out, "where are you going?"

"To see Kingsley," he shrugged, frowning at them, "you?"

"Us too," Charlie snorted, shaking his head, "want to go in first?"

"It's nothing confidential, so we can all go in together if you want?" Harry offered and Charlie nodded as they walked towards the ministers office, Harry knocking as they stood outside the door.

"Hello, you three," Kingsley smiled as he pulled open the door, "what are you all doing here?"

"I don't know about these two, but I just needed to get you to sign off on the investigation results from the reserve." Harry shrugged, handing over a file and Kingsley nodded, turning to Charlie.

"Just paternity leave," Charlie smiled, handing over his form and turning to Harry, "any questionable findings?"

"Nothing really," Harry sighed, gesturing to the file, "I've got no problem with you reading that over, I'm sure you know what discrepancies to look out for a lot better than I do."

"You'd need to look at it anyway," Kingsley nodded, handing Charlie the file, "part of your job description, I'm afraid."

"That's fine," Charlie nodded, tucking it under his arm, "I was interested to read it anyway."

"As for paternity leave, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement to let you work from home for a couple of months," Kingsley shrugged and Hermione grinned happily, "provided there aren't any emergencies that require your presence here, of course."

"That's perfect," Charlie nodded, "just let me know what's worked out and I'll abide by it."

With that sorted, Hermione decided that she would head home and Charlie agreed that it was probably for the best, considering that she had been fighting the urge to yawn since they stepped into Kingsley's office. After kissing Charlie goodbye at the floos, Hermione went directly to their house and up to their bedroom, where she collapsed awkwardly down on the bed and closed her eyes. Despite her exhaustion, the movement of their second son and the thought of her planned meeting with Lavender in a few days played on her mind and it took her a while to nod off, but she was fast asleep before too long, dreaming of a houseful of children to keep her occupied.