15 Weeks

The following Monday, Hermione comfortably used the floo to the ministry, checked in with Mrs. Fawley and got to work. But the good start to her day slowly unraveled as she panicked over a misplaced file, discovered she forgot to submit her redrafted werewolf bill testimonial, and now she was late for a meeting with Mr. Sterling and Madam Kane.

When she sat down before them, they both asked if she was alright. She was fine, technically. But how does she go about explaining her mind was whirring non-stop all the while feeling completely blank. She was having trouble concentrating, it felt like her pants were cutting into her waist, and she really wanted an orange.

Madam Kane looked at her skeptically. "Changes at home, Ms. Granger?"

She sighed. "Something like that, yes."

Madam Kane nodded. "When I find myself overwhelmed," she said delicately, "I make to-do lists. Physically writing out my tasks and seeing them helps me. I started doing that when I was pregnant with my first child."

Hermione sat up. "Really?"

"Oh yes." She slid her papers back into her folder. "My mind was all over the place. For lack of better words, I was frazzled. Completely frazzled. It wasn't as if I wasn't attempting to stay calm and stress-free, but it's just one of those side effects of pregnancy." She stood up. "Keep up the good work, Ms. Granger. I need to head out, I've got a meeting with the head of the DMLE and the minister."

Hermione and Mr. Sterling remained seated.

"You're a valuable member of our team, Ms. Granger," Mr. Sterling said after a few moments, "please let us know if there's anything we can do to accommodate you."

"I know, Mr. Sterling, thank you." She watched as he filed through the papers before him, his attention unusually concentrated on the work before him. He usually had more to say. "Do you have any techniques?"

"Pardon?"

"For clearing your head." She leaned forward slightly.

"Well, I use lists also," his eyes found a spot over her shoulder to concentrate on. "If I can I take a walk or go to the museum."

"Really? I didn't know you visited museums. Do you often go?"

She watched his Adam's apple bob up and down. "I go whenever I have downtime," he answered, "it's one of my favorite things to do."

She scooped up her papers and stood. "Do you have a favorite museum to go to?"

He followed suit, grabbing his papers hurriedly. "The Victoria and Albert Museum. It used to be my grandmother's favorite. We visited many times when I was a child and I find myself going back frequently."

"It's been ages since I've been to that museum. I ought to go back."

He held the office door open for her. "It is a great place for a relaxing day."

"I'll take your word for it, Mr. Sterling." Hermione strolled out of the office and back toward her own, feeling a renewed sense of vigor.


"Ginny!" Hermione wrapped the younger girl in a hug and pulled her into the foyer of Grimmauld Place.

"Wow, this place looks amazing." Ginny took a good look around. "Sirius went all out didn't he?"

Hermione led her into the ground floor sitting room where she had tea and a light lunch set up. "The house looks beautiful. I'm not quite sure whether or not I want to leave."

Ginny chuckled and took the seat beside Hermione, her eyes lingered on the tea and finger food. "Why did you move so suddenly? I thought you liked the flat you had before."

Hermione turned slightly. "It relates back to why I asked you over today." She took a deep breath. She and Harry had briefly gone over how they were going to tell the news to Ginny. They both knew she needed to be told personally and not by word of mouth. Harry also shared how reluctant he was to being there when Ginny found out. So, it was up to Hermione to share the good news. There was no point in delaying it.

"I'm having a baby," she announced.

Ginny spit out her tea. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "What?"

"I'm pregnant," Hermione said with a nervous smile.

Ginny's eyes widened and began to water. "Are you serious?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm about to be four months along."

Ginny screamed. She wiped at her eyes and screamed some more. "Oh my goodness, you're gonna be a mama! Hermione!" She threw her arms around her neck and squeezed. "This is amazing!"

"Ow, Ginny."

"Sorry." She dropped her arms. "I can't believe it. Wait, who is the father? Do I know him? Is he in the picture? Do I need to hex someone?"

"No." Hermione patted her knee. "No hexing. It's Harry," she mumbled.

"Who?"

"Harry. Harry is the father." She chanced a glance at her friend.

Ginny's eyes were wide. "Really?"

She clenched her hands together. "Yes."

"Wow." Ginny reached out and grabbed a muffin. "Your baby's hair is going to be completely wild."

"Really, Ginny?" Relieved, she chuckled lightly.

She shrugged, but a sly grin came to her face. "You and Harry, huh? Of course, it is."

Hermione sighed and picked up her tea. "There is no Harry and me." She was really getting tired of explaining. What was so wrong with her and Harry just being friends?

Ginny's eyes were narrowed, looking at her skeptically. "Sure. So, how did Harry take it? Is he happy?"

Hermione stared out the window. Harry had stormed out of her flat, but he was happy with this turn of events. Right? She remembered that evening in her bedroom when he cried over her suggestion of their baby having the Potter name. Harry was more than just happy. "Yes. I mean, we're both surprised and unprepared, but we're happy about it."

"Oh! Have you told Ron? What did he do?"

"I told him a little bit ago. He cried."

Ginny burst out laughing. "What a nutter."

"You cried too!"

"Did not," Ginny patted her cheek and grinned at her friend. "Are you excited?"

"I'm kind of scared," she admitted.

Ginny squeezed her forearm. "I can't even imagine what you're going through, Hermione. But, I'm here for you in any way I can. You've got family and friends who can help you."

"I know, Ginny. Thank you."

Ginny squealed under her breath. "Have you started thinking of names?"

Hermione covered her face with her hands. "Kind of, but I haven't found one I like."

Ginny scooted closer to her, resting her hand on Hermione's thigh. "Hermione, is everything alright?"

Hermione shrugged. "Technically, yes."

"Okay, but not technically. Are you alright?"

"I don't know, Ginny. I can't believe I'm four months pregnant already. Honestly, if I hadn't experienced all the nausea and dizziness, it'd be like I wasn't pregnant at all. But," she squeezed Ginny's hand, "I feel like time is going by too quickly. I lose my train of thought more often than I'm comfortable with and most days I just want to come home and lie down." Hermione blinked back tears. "Is that how it's always going to be?"

Ginny brought her arms around Hermione's torso and hugged her tightly. "Love, it's okay. Things are changing, you're changing, but you don't ever stop being Hermione. Alright? Let's take a deep breath and think, what would Hermione do?"

Hermione laughed into Ginny's shoulder. Ginny gave her a final squeeze and sat back. Ginny's eyes watered again and gave Hermione a watery smile. She blinked hard and took a deep breath. "My friend would," she reached out and wiped some tears away from Hermione's cheek, "gather up all the books she can, which I think she has already, and make a flexible plan. To-do lists. To buy lists. And lists of people who love and support her. We love you, Hermione."

Hermione nodded, sniffling.

"You can sleep your days away and we'll still love you."

Hermione let out a nervous laugh. "I don't want to do that."

Ginny giggled too. "Then, let's not. Let's get ready for that baby!"


Hermione looked between the letter in her hand and her calendar. Her doctor wanted her to come in this week for a check-up. She thought she didn't have to come in for another few weeks. She could go this weekend, but was Harry available?

She glanced at the glossy catalog on the table before her and deflated. She wanted to go browsing for baby stuff this weekend.

With twenty-five weeks until her due date, she had a lot of planning and preparation to do. Thanks to Ginny, who dragged her to the nearest store to look for a flexible planner with a monthly calendar and pages for lists, she had begun making a to-do list of all the things she needed to actually do. Like shopping for baby necessities.

She had to figure out how she was going to tell her supervisors at work that she was having a baby. She gave Harry, Ginny, and Ron the go-ahead to tell the rest of the Weasley's if they wanted to. She wasn't really up for it.

She grabbed her phone and called Harry. It went straight to voicemail as usual and she left him a quick message letting him know about the appointment and if he was available to go on Saturday.

She wrote out a response to the healer and set it aside to send it off later.

Now that that was done, she pulled the catalog back toward her and picked up her pen. Cot. Playard. She wasn't sure if she wanted a changing table. She reasoned that she might need a new set of furniture like a wardrobe for baby's clothes.

And a baby bathtub. Baby gates. Did Bill and Fleur use baby gates? Tonks and Remus?

She hadn't even thought about childcare. She didn't know about the work policies regarding maternity leave, how much time she was allowed. Was there a magic-friendly daycare? Should she find a nanny? She wrote that down on another paper.

A bell rang from the front room and Hermione stood up with a huff. She hurried out of the kitchen and saw the floo connection open.

"Hermione? You home?" Tonks' voice echoed into the room.

"Hey, Tonks. Come on over."

The fireplace roared up again and Tonks stepped out, stumbling over the low grate. "Wotcher, Mione."

"Hi, Tonks. I had a short day and came home to relax. Did you need something?"

Tonks shrugged. "Just came by to check on you."

"Oh? Thanks. Come into the kitchen. I have some tea set out if you'd like some." She led Tonks into the kitchen, summoned a cup from the cupboard and poured her some tea without missing a beat.

"Are you looking at baby stuff?" Tonks asked before slurping down some tea. "Gosh, I don't think Remus and I ever got a cot for Teddy."

"Really?" Hermione retook her seat and looked over the furniture pieces she had circled. Was she picking out too much?

Tonks shook her head. "We were in the middle of a war. I didn't go out to get much except for nappies and clothes for Teddy to wear when he finally came. I couldn't safely get more things until the war ended. And, Teddy slept in our bed until he was four and that's only because he said he wanted his own bed."

Hermione chuckled at that. "I haven't thought about co-sleeping. I do want to get a cot though."

"Definitely get one. You won't know how your baby will sleep until it's here. By the way," Tonks set her tea down, "Sirius is ecstatic that he and the baby are going to share a birthday month. Apparently, he's been telling Remus all the things he plans on doing together. Quidditch matches, football matches, flying kites, broom races. He's going mental."

Hermione giggled at that. "Sirius is so funny. I'm glad he's excited about the baby."

"We're all excited for the baby. So, when are you going to go shopping for this stuff?"

"Well, I did want to start looking tomorrow, but it looks like I need to see my doctor in the next five days and tomorrow is my only free day." She sighed. "Time is going by so quickly I feel like I won't be ready in time."

"I totally get what you're saying. Some days it feels like it's going so fast, while others you just want it to be over. How are your symptoms?"

"I'm not getting as nauseated as before, which is a relief. I wasn't able to keep anything down. Now, I'm just constantly tired and my mind is all over the place and my boobs hurt."

Tonks chuckled at that. "That's the worst. Then the hip and back pain."

Hermione groaned.

Tonks scooted her seat closer. "You're probably tired of hearing this, but don't hesitate to reach out. You can call Remus or Sirius at any time. They're always home anyway. We'll help in any way we can, even if it's only for food or company."

"I know, Tonks, thank you."

Tonks squeezed her hand. "I'll take out some of Teddy's old things and mine. Come over whenever you can and pick out something."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Tonks shrugged. "Yeah, why not? The stuff is just stored away. This way it'll be put to good use. Besides, this way I can see another baby wearing some of Teddy's old clothes. He had such cute things."

"He did!" Hermione rested her hands against her abdomen. There was still no noticeable bump. "I can't believe this is happening."

Tonks burst out laughing. "I can! I mean, you and Harry are going about it completely backward, but I can believe it."

"Tonks, what are you talking about?" Hermione shook her head and flipped the page of the catalog.

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Anyway, come by the house tomorrow. I'll tell Remus to make dinner."

Tonks hung out for a little while longer before heading home, leaving Hermione to continue making her lists. Once she was done, she opened one of her books and began reading about signs of early labor.