A/N: I was hit with inspiration yesterday. Just completely slammed into me. Plus, I had the afternoon pretty much freed up and that made for a nice change of pace. Now, why did I decide to make James be born on Halloween? Well, in my mind and experience, the hardest days of our lives always tend to overlap with some of the best. So, Halloween is still the end and the beginning for Harry.

Story wise, I've basically finished mapping out this story now and know exactly how it's going to end and such. Just have to finish writing it and then all the editing that goes along with it.

I guess I could tell you the story about how I got my cat, Kiki.

We had this old dog (16 years old to be exact), her name was Zoe, and in January 2020 we had to have her put down. It was awful and really upsetting. We had adopted her when she was 9, going on 10. So we knew that our time with her wasn't going to be long, but those 6 years that we had her were wonderful.

So, anyway, we have our other dog, Conway, and he became really depressed after Zoe died. At the time he was 12 going on 13. My husband got Conway when he was a puppy, so he's had him for a long time. I'm worrying that we're on the verge of losing Conway just because he got so depressed after Zoe died.

In April of 2020 we had our youngest (who's labor & delivery were my inspiration for James's birth) and obviously 2020 was a complete mess for everyone. Keep going through the year and I kept pointing out to my husband that I was so busy with our kids and that I was worried about the dog. I said, well I cannot handle the responsibility of another dog, so why don't we look at adopting a cat.

He tells me no; we aren't getting a cat. Well, I'm a bit dramatic and refuse to go down without a fight for getting me a cat. I keep pushing and complaining that I need a cat. A cat is all I want and it would be the perfect companion for me, the kids, and Conway.

Finally, right before Christmas (yes, it took almost a full year of me working my magic on this man) to convince him to let me adopt a cat. So, I start looking at the different rescues near me to see if I can find a cat that "speaks" to me.

I see my cat on a registry, and I knew the moment I saw her that she was my cat. I didn't even need to meet her; I just knew looking at her that she was the one. So, I call the rescue and let them know that I'd like to meet her and adopt her. They let me know that there's another family who are wanting to meet her.

My heart sinks, but okay fine, I guess. I take myself and my kids to go meet and greet with other cats at a different rescue and my kids fall in love instantly. I, however, did not. I just shook my head and said no, this isn't the cat for us. My kids were crying and told me that I was mean. I knew in my heart though that the cat I was waiting for wasn't this one.

I call the other rescue to make sure that she isn't adopted, and they let me know that the family passed up on her, so if I still liked her after I met her that she would be ours.

I drive to the rescue she was at the following day, and she's wearing this blue cone of her neck. I ask, hey what's wrong with her? The staff explain that she had some old injury because she used to be a stray that got picked up. Oh, okay, cool. She's a pure white cat and has just this one gray spot on the top of her head. As soon as I saw her, I knew. I let them know that I'd take her, because she's perfect.

$350 later in vet bills, turns out the spot on the back of her neck is NOT an injury, but she had an infection. She's been mine for almost a year now, and the fur never did grow back, but alas I don't mind. She's perfect.

As for my 14-year-old dog, well, the depression that he'd slipped into after the death of Zoe has eased. He runs around like he's a little puppy again, just happy and playful as can be.

Well, I guess you'd like so see what's coming next. Maybe it'll surprise you, maybe it won't. Let's see what Charlie's birthday brings….

Surprise

Six weeks had passed since James had come into the world. Twelve weeks since she had last seen Charlie. But today, she was getting to see him. They were going to get to celebrate his birthday. Charlie's birthday, his first day back living in England in almost twenty years.

Hermione kept glancing up at the clock on her desk and tapping her foot as it seemed that time had come to a stop. Maybe that clock was broken, she glanced down at her watch and let out a sigh as she realized that it said the same time as the clock on her desk.

"Hermione? Hello? Did you get that permit submitted with the Auror's office?" A man with bronze skin and short black hair was standing with his arms crossed in her doorway.

"Hi Rolf, yeah, I'm just waiting for Harry to sign off on it. It shouldn't take too long, he's pretty quick with the permits." Hermione glanced bac k down to her watch and groaned when only two minuets had passed since she'd last look at the time.

"Why don't you head out for the day? Amos started his holiday early, so I know he's not going to be looking for you. I can finish up with the rest of the permits and get them sent to the right departments and ready to present to the Wizengamot." Rolf had a smile playing at his lips.

Rolf had just returned this week from his paternity after Luna had their second son in the early part of October. Hermione had been working double duty covering for his work load and her own since he had been gone. Hermione assumed that Rolf was trying to make it up to her, but she was going to let him.

The workload she'd been under had all been detrimental to her health. She'd been sick nearly all day for weeks and so incredibly tired that she had been able to work, but as soon as she got home, she would fall asleep from exhaustion.

In just the last couple of weeks, however, she'd gotten her energy back. She couldn't believe how much better she had started feeling just from knowing that Rolf was coming back to work. She'd also gotten her appetite back and had been over indulging in her favorites.

"Are you sure? I could, I don't know, finish a few more permits." Hermione glanced down at the small stack that she just needed to finish proof reading and send off for their department and office heads approval.

"Positive. You had me so caught up with all my work that I'm actually already totally done for the day and need more stuff to do. Go, you look like you're bursting to get a move on." Rolf flashed her a bright smile and moved towards her desk, plucking the forms that were spread across her desk in front of her. Without another word, he turned and left her sitting and looking at her now empty desk.

With the realization that she was free for the day, Hermione jumped up from her chair and quickly gathered her things so that she could get home and get changed.

Hermione's head was so full of thoughts of getting to see Charlie sooner rather than later, she had to blink when she realized that she was already in her front room. With a squeal of joy, Hermione ran into her bedroom and began to take of the pencil skirt and jacket that she always wore into the office.

Hermione rummaged through her dresser and found the jeans that she knew would make her arse look incredible. Pulling out a red jumper, Hermione jumped into the shower to get cleaned up quickly so she could get to the burrow where Charlie would be living until the living quarters were set up at the sanctuary in Scotland.

"HERMIONE!" The yell came from her fireplace right as she stepped out of the shower. Throwing on a robe, Hermione ran to her sitting room and saw Ginny's head in her fireplace.

"Ginny! Hurry up and just come through." Hermione laughed, turning and running back towards her bedroom so she could finish getting dressed.

Hermione began doing a drying spell on her hair, but it was slow going because if she went too quickly then it would be totally unmanageable.

Walking into the room, Ginny was carrying two mugs of tea. On her chest she had a sleeping baby James nestled in a carrier. "Why did you leave work early? I had Harry looking for you and Rolf told him that you left early."

"I'm finally feeling better now that the stress from work is gone, and I was excited to start my weekend." Hermione said with a shrug as she dropped her robe and picked the jeans she had laid out onto the bed.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. Are you on your period, look how bloated you are?" Ginny's eyes rounded looking at Hermione's abdomen.

"Damn, thanks Gin. Eh, maybe starting soon. Fuck, could you grab me another pair of jeans. These ones aren't fitting." Hermione threw the jeans to the side and instead grabbed her jumper and tried putting it on.

"Hermione, your tits look huge in that! Isn't that the jumper mum gave you for Christmas just last year?" Ginny's eye wandered across Hermione's body.

"Yes, well. Rolf came back to work and I went from being sick to now I'm feeling good and have been slightly over eating the last week. I might have over done it a bit." Hermione added as another pair of jeans to the discard pile as well as the jumper.

Ginny sat down at Hermione's vanity and watched as Hermione continued to struggle through her closet to find something that fit comfortably, but also looked good.

Hermione and Charlie had decided that they were going to inform his family tonight that they were seeing each other. Between his birthday and moving back home, Molly had put together a huge party to celebrate Charlie, so it seemed only natural to include that they had been exclusively seeing each other since Ron's wedding.

Even though they hadn't discussed a label on what to call their relationship, she felt confident enough that they didn't need a label. At twenty-nine and thirty-six, it felt too juvenile to call each other girlfriend and boyfriend.

"Damnit." Hermione threw another outfit onto her bed and stormed into her closet. She found an oversized sweater dress and a pair of leggings that would have to do. She slipped into the outfit and inspected her reflection in her full-length mirror.

"Guess this will have to do." Slipping a belt around her waist she stepped back into her room in front of Ginny and held up her arms. "How does it look? Nothing else fits."

"Um, well you look pregnant." Ginny said looking at her.

"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny." Hermione replied turning to look at herself with the addition of the belt, she did look like she had a bit of a baby bump. Obviously, she knew she couldn't be pregnant because her the torture Bellatrix Lestrange had inflicted on her when she was eighteen had ensured that she would never have children. "Okay, no belt then." Taking the belt off made her look like she didn't have a waist, but she didn't want to walk around looking like she was pregnant.

She was wanting to look good for Charlie and from where she was standing that was not going to happen. Cursing herself, she was angry that she had indulged in so many extra snacks and bloating herself.

"Hermione? Are you feeling, okay?" Ginny asked her while Hermione stomped her foot.

"No, I'm not okay Ginny. Look at me. I look disgusting." Hermione stomped her foot on the ground, like she was eleven years old again.

"Hermione, it's really okay." Ginny stood, adjusting James in his carrier and looked at Hermione with soft eyes. The look, that should have been soothing just infuriated Hermione.

"No, easy for you to say. Six weeks out giving birth and you are back to your old size and looking fantastic. I'm just two weeks out after being sick as fuck since October and I can't fit into any of my damn clothes!" Hermione screeched the words out and threw her hands up.

"Wait, you've been sick since October?"

"Yes, keep up will you. Rolf was on paternity leave and I was covering his responsibilities as well as my own because Amos is about as cheap as they come and wouldn't make an interim position to help."

"You were sick for weeks. Anything else off while you were, sick."

"Well, I was bloody tired wasn't I. Amos caught me sleeping at my desk at least twice a week."

"You were sick and falling asleep at your desk."

"I was doing the duties of two people for over ten weeks Ginny. I don't bloody well know what else you would expect."

"And now your clothes aren't fitting you and you're bloated and wearing that belt with your dress makes you look pregnant and you're moody."

"I CAN'T GET PREGNANT GINNY, BLOODY HELL YOU TOOK ME TO ST. MUNGO'S AND YOU WERE SITTING THERE WHEN SHE TOLD US THE DAMAGE!" Hermione roared at her friend, forgetting the sleeping infant in the room causing his to stir in his slumber.

"Hermione, she said it was unlikely, not impossible. And calm your bloody tits before you wake the spawn of Satan. He hasn't slept in weeks."

"Shit, sorry." Hermione took a deep breath and squared her shoulders to face her friend. "She said it was highly unlikely because they removed one of my ovaries and fallopian tubes and that the one, they left had so much scar tissue that it wasn't able to function properly."

"Well, better safe than sorry. When was your last period?" Ginny stood swaying and patting the infant back to a calm slumber.

"Start of October, it was right after Luna had the baby. It was light and only a few days, but it was there." Hermione remembered being surprised that she'd had consecutive cycles when she was usually very irregular.

"Right, and when was the last time you had sex?" Ginny squinted her eyes causing Hermione to look down at her hands.

"Oh well, not since my period. You know, been busy at work." Hermione was still refusing to meet Ginny's gaze.

"When was the last time you were bumping uglies with someone Hermione Jean Granger." Ginny stalked closer to Hermione and she could feel the heat of the witch's stare.

"Oh well, you see I can't be sure, but perhaps it was on my birthday." Hermione was still looking down at the hands that she had clasped in front of her.

"Your birthday, you mean the last day you were in Romania." Hermione chanced a glance up at her best girlfriend and watched as the gears started turning.

"Ginny..." Hermione whispered to her friend.

"And you're fretting over how you look to go to dinner at my parent's house, when you've never thought twice about what you're wearing going over there before." The gears continued to turn in her friend's eyes.

"I just…"

"And Charlie, who you were working with while you were in Romania you know the last time you had sex, is home and it's his birthday that we're celebrating." The realization settled into Ginny's face as she finished putting the pieces together.

"It's not what you think, Ginny." Hermione could feel the nerves building in her stomach.

"Really, because what it sounds like to me is that you and my brother were shagging in Romania and have a bit of a thing going on now that he's moved back to England. Oh, and that you might be pregnant with my brother's baby." Ginny lifted her hands to hug James closer to her body. "Well, now we're doing a diagnostic."

The protests had hardly formed at Hermione's lips before Ginny had her wand out and flicked it at Hermione's abdomen. In front of Hermione glowed a bright gold orb, indicating a pregnancy.

Hermione felt the world shift beneath her feet. Over ten years, it had been over ten years since Hermione had bothered with a contraceptive charm or taking a potion. Over ten years since she had sat on that cold exam table in St. Mungo's holding Ginny's hand being told that to have children of her she would require fertility treatment and even that wouldn't guarantee she'd end up with a baby at the end.

Bellatrix's curse had wreaked havoc on her and she'd accepted that there was no reason to dwell on things that wouldn't be.

Dropping to sit on the edge of her bed, Hermione's head dropped into her hands as she now saw all the obvious symptoms. She'd been around enough pregnant women; how did she not realize. How did she just accept the word of that healer?

"Gin, what am I going to do?" Hermione hadn't felt the tears when they'd started, but lifting her head she could taste the salt from them in her mouth.

"You're going to have to tell Charlie." Ginny drew closer to Hermione and draped a soft hand rubbing circles on Hermione's back.

"I can't tell him, Gin. He's going to hate me. We've never talked about it, but I don't think he wanted children." Hermione's whole body began shaking. He had asked every time if they needed to use the contraceptive charm. He'd made it clear without saying it that he didn't want kids or an accidental pregnancy.

"Hermione, I love you and you're my best friend, but I can't keep this from my brother. I can't be in the middle of this. You have to tell him." Ginny's hand continued the soothing movement on her back, as Hermione dropped her head back into her hands and began to sob.

"Happy birthday, Charlie. I haven't seen you in twelve weeks and I know tonight we were going to tell your family we've been seeing each other since Ron's wedding, but why don't we also let them know that we're having a baby too. Oh, and I don't know how far along I am because I'm so thick it never occurred to me that being sick as fuck wasn't just the stress from working so much. How does that sound, Gin? Think he'll understand?"

"Okay, how's this instead. We'll make an appointment to see a healer on Monday and figure out how far along you are. You don't have to tell him tonight, but you need to tell him within the week. Now, let's get you fixed up so we can go tell my family that you're dating my brother. Oh, mum's going to flip you know."

Hermione looked up at her friend with tears still rolling down her face. "Okay, let's go to dinner."

Charlie's Birthday Dinner

Hermione and Ginny had taken a few extra moments to calm down at the newest revelation that was Hermione's pregnancy. Grabbing the birthday present that Hermione had carefully picked out for Charlie, she put her shoulders back and followed Ginny through the floo and into The Burrow.

They'd hardly stepped through when Molly was upon them.

"Ginny, where have you been? I've been waiting for much too long to see my grandson." Without waiting for Ginny to respond Molly had already began removing James from the comfort of his carrier and into her arms.

Without another word, Molly swept out of the room and back into the kitchen to continue with the dinner preparations. Hermione looked around and saw that the room was full of the red headed families, leaving little room to be able to maneuver in the limited space.

Hermione spotted the red head that she had been so desperate to see. His brown eyes lit up once they spotted her, making her want to reach out for him. As another thought crossed her mind, however, Hermione grabbed Ginny by her arm and dragged her out of a conversation that she was having with Audrey and up the stairs to Ginny's childhood bedroom.

"What if he wants to break things off with me and he tells your mother that we're together before I tell him that I'm pregnant? Ginny, what do I do? I can't tell him right now that I'm pregnant." Hermione was shaking as she realized just how awful both versions of this scenario were turning.

She tells him tonight that she's pregnant and ruins his birthday and their reunion. Option two, she doesn't tell him and they let everyone know that they're together and then next week after she sees a healer and he finds out she's pregnant they have to un-tell everyone that they're together because it's not going to work out.

"How about instead, you tell him that you want to enjoy a private week with just him and not my mother hounding you about when you're sending out wedding invitations." Ginny stood looking at her with her arms crossed and head cocked to the side. "You know, as soon as mum finds out she's going to start writing out a guest list for a wedding and frankly, he's living here and that's enough of a deterrent for Charlie to want to keep your relationship quiet for another couple weeks until he's moved out again."

The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Hermione, Ginny? You, okay?" Harry had opened the door a crack and was sticking his face inside. "I saw you guys' kind of just rush up here, and I don't know, you looked a bit panicked Hermione." His green eyes were filled with concern and worry, causing Hermione's heart to flutter a moment for her friend.

"Harry James Potter, you're truly the best and sweetest friend I could have ever gotten. I'm so lucky that you came looking for me that first Halloween at Hogwarts!" Hermione threw herself into her friend's arms and began sobbing against his chest letting the tears soak the cotton fabric.

"Um, yeah. Sure. Anything you say Hermione." He gently patted the top of her head when another figure entered the room, Hermione looked up to see Charlie standing in the doorway.

"Hey, Hermione. Um, everything alright? I was just heading to the loo and thought I heard crying." Charlie's eyes were filled with confusion and concern for the witch standing in front of him with tears streaming down her face clutching to her best friend's shirt.

"Charlie! Oh, I've missed you so much!" Hermione threw herself from Harry into Charlie's chest and took a long inhale of his familiar scent. Until she'd been able to touch him, she hadn't realized how much she craved his touch as he ran gentle circles across her back.

"Uh, yeah. Gin, you know what's wrong with her?" Charlie was asking his sister who Hermione could hear was attempting to muffle a laugh with her hand. Hermione whipped her head around to glare at her friend.

"No idea, you two take your time and… catch up a bit, before you come back down." Ginny took harry by the hand and began to lead Harry towards the door.

Hermione could hear Harry questioning Ginny what was going on for just a few moments, but she couldn't hear clearly what they were saying because she was quickly all consumed by the wizard, she had her arms wrapped around.

"Hermione, what's wrong? What are the tears for, love?" Charlie's voice was laced with concern, she knew that he wasn't used to seeing her crying, but she just couldn't will her tears to stop falling.

"Nothing, it's nothing. I just. I just missed you so much." Hermione let the lie slip from her lips. Sure, she was going to let Charlie know about the pregnancy, but she decided right then that she was going to need to know more information before she told him.

"I just, I thought maybe that we might want to wait to tell your family about, well, us." Hermione said as she let her eyes chance a look up to Charlie's face.

"Actually, I was going to suggest the same thing. Mum has been, well, a lot today." Charlie pulled back from her so that he could look down into her eyes. "I did tell Bill already though, he said that he already had a feeling that something was going on between us."

Hermione was reminded of Bill watching her and Charlie and had to laugh. Of course, the eldest Weasley had noticed chemistry between them. Even though they had tried to play innocence in front of everyone, there was only so much that they could do under the watchful and observant eye of Bill Weasley.

"Ginny actually figured it out when she came to my flat before we came here. She was making fun of me for fussing over my appearance and just put the pieces together." Hermione confessing to part of what had taken place before coming here.

"I'm shocked she didn't figure it out after Percy's wedding if I'm going to be completely honest." Charlie said with small laugh as he wrapped her into another tight hug.

"Ginny was so drunk at every wedding, and then at Ron's she was pregnant and moody. It was pretty easy to slip details by her. Then I was so busy with work and she had just had James, we haven't been able to see much of each other." Hermione pulled back from Charlie's chest and lifted herself onto her toes so that she could reach his lips and place a soft kiss on his lips.

Charlie let out a groan in the back of his throat as he deepened the kiss. Letting his tongue run across her lips, Hermione greedily opened her mouth inviting him to explore. Charlie moved into the bedroom more, pulling Hermione closer to his body. He let his hands roam around on her arse and began to knead the flesh, causing a moan to erupt from Hermione's lips.

"I need you, Hermione." Charlie whispered against her lips before he recaptured them with another kiss.

Hermione grabbed Charlie's shoulders, and pulled him back into the bedroom so that they could shut the door. Charlie flicked his wand and cast a silencing charm and locked the door.

Never breaking the kiss, Charlie pushed the fabric from the sweater dress up her thighs until he reached the waist band of her leggings. Hermione's hands roamed down towards his belt and worked on freeing him from his trousers. In one swift motion, Charlie had Hermione's leggings and knickers off her. Lifting her into his arms, Charlie pinned Hermione's back against the wall.

Hermione felt as Charlie's hand roamed between them and into her slick folds. Another moan was released from the back of his throat. "You're already so wet." Dipping a finger into her, Hermione let out a gasp as he curved his finger to hit her most sensitive spot.

"Fuck me, Charlie. Oh Gods, I need you to fuck me."

Charlie pulled his finger out of her core and ran the moister through her folds until he found her clit. Rubbing her nub with the pad of his finger he brought a gasp from her lips. Once he was satisfied that she was ready for him, Charlie plunged into her.

Hermione let out a scream as she felt Charlie stretch and fill her fully. Slowly, he pulled himself back out of her, before he gave a hard thrust of his hips, snapping himself back into her.

Hermione's fingers tore at Charlie's back as he continued to thrust into her mercilessly. Throwing her head back, revealing her neck, Hermione felt as Charlie's lips found the spot that he knew drove her wild. Biting down, Hermione felt herself clench around him and drawing him in deeper into her.

"Charlie, oh fuck. I'm going to cum." Hermione was panting, feeling the sweat dripping down her forehead. With each hard thrust, Hermione felt as his pelvis was brushing against her clit and from the angle, he was taking her, he was also hitting her sensitive spot inside her.

Hermione dug her nails deeper into Charlie's back, until she felt the damp fabric indicating that she had drawn blood from him.

"Fuck, FUCK!" Hermione screamed as her orgasm overcame her. Coming in waves, Hermione was left seeing white spots as her body clenched and spasmed around Charlie's cock that was still thrusting inside her.

"Gods Hermione, you're so perfect. I love you." Charlie grunted, with one last thrust, he was releasing his seed inside her. Feeling the pumping of his member inside her cause Hermione to tumble over the edge again, finding a second climax.

Setting her on the ground on wobbling legs, Charlie cast a quick wandless cleaning spell to clean up the fluid that was dripping down Hermione's leg. Hermione flushed with embarrassment as she quickly tried to find her kickers and leggings to put them back on.

Making a quick decision, Hermione slipped into her leggings while Charlie was busy adjusting his own trousers. "Happy birthday, Charlie. I love you." Hermione whispered in his ear as she slipped her still damp knickers into his pocket. Before he could say anything, Hermione slipped out the door and back down the stairs to the party.

She flittered over to where Ron and Padma were talking with George and Angelina, trying to not look like she had just been thoroughly shagged right above them. "Hermione, you might want to have a little of this." George said with a laugh bringing her full attention to the jar he was handing her.

Looking down at what he had just handed her, some of his famous bruise removal paste. Hermione's eyes snapped back up to meet his and gently touched the love bite that Charlie had just left on her neck. Dipping her fingers into the jar, she quickly dabbed a few drops on the spot and prayed to Merlin that no one else would notice the dark bruise on her neck.

"Who's the lucky bloke, Mione? I didn't know you were seeing anyone." Ron got a confused look on his face as he clearly was trying to think back to their last conversation to remember if she had mentioned dating anyone.

"Oh, well. It's recent so I'll tell you when it becomes something more permanent." Hermione replied to her friend trying to cover her neck so that no one else could see the mark.

"Good for you, Hermione. You deserve to be getting shagged like that regularly." Angelina interjected breaking Ron's train of though.

"Angelina, don't talk about Hermione shagging. I don't want to think about someone who's like my sister having sex. That would be like talking about Ginny and I don't want that imagine in my head!" Ron exclaimed quickly coming back to the conversation, causing Hermione to flush hot with a blush.

"Okay, and with that I'm going to move to play with the children. Thank you for the paste." Hermione nodded her head and went to settle in with all the Weasley cousins.

She had hardly settled herself with little Molly and Dominique when Molly appeared in the entrance, still holding James, and directed everyone outside to where they were to be having dinner in candlelight and a lot of warming charms. With a family of twenty-one gathering for dinner, it had to be a full event.

Hermione settled into her normal seat between Harry and Ron, Charlie managed to snag the seat across from her. As soon as he sat down, he shot her a wink, causing the blood to rush her face. He settled into an easy conversation with Bill.

Arthur stood at the head table and cleared his voice to draw everyone's attention to himself. Holding up his goblet he started, "I want to make a toast to my family. As you have all grown into the amazing adults you are, traveling down your own paths, I couldn't be prouder to call you all mine. Each of you have met each challenge that has presented itself to you and you've overcome more than you should have ever had to. I want to raise my goblet to Charlie and Hermione, as they embark on their newest adventure together."

Hermione thought she was going to throw up right on the table.

"The steps you're taking together to help creatures is a testament to both your determination and giant hearts. We're so proud to call you our son and our daughter."

Crisis adverted.

"To my beautiful family, especially Hermione and Charlie, and happiest of birthdays to Charlie as well. Cheers."

A chorus of cheers erupted as goblets were raised. Hermione raised her own, that she had filled with water, and took a small sip. Feeling the heat of Charlie's gaze, Hermione raised her eyes and found a questioning look on his face along with a soft smile as he had his head tilted towards Bill who was saying something in his ear.

Hermione looked back into her empty plate and could feel herself losing the color in her face. She knew she needed to tell him, and even if it meant a fall out from the people who had just toasted to her as a daughter, she had to be willing to accept the consequences.

"Hermione, you okay? You're looking a bit peaky." Harry said as he passed her a bowl with potatoes.

"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine." She was going to be fine. Everything was going to be fine.