Hermione had asked Ginny if it was okay to stop by for a visit. Ginny had an errand, but the others were delighted to see her. They had both been too ill to come to the memorial service or the wedding. Hermione hugged Arthur and George tightly, so happy to see them at last. "How wonderful to see you Hermione. You look radiant. When are you due?"

Hemione smiled but was near tears. She was worried they would reject her for being with Severus, considering what had happened between he and Ginny. She sat on the old couch without much grace. "Thank you Arthur. Severus and I are due in January." Hermione unconsciously twirled her wedding ring. "He said to give you and George his best, but he has school business to attend to and is out of town. You look well recovered. Ginny had been so worried about you both. It seemed like a miracle that you were alive, and we were so happy when we heard. How are you feeling?"

"I'm quite well, thank you. The house is very quiet after being at Grimmauld Place for so long. I miss Molly terribly, and Fred and Ron running about the place. Fleur moved in with us. It will be wonderful to have the baby here next month. George set up the nursery. Would you like to see it?"

Hermione nodded and smiled, unable to speak.

George took her to the back of the house. Fleur's room was on the first floor. They didn't want to risk a fall with her going up steps. Besides it was near the kitchen for late night munchies and heart to heart talks. The baby's room was beautifully decorated in lavender and mint green. The furniture was in maple and there were passages from Beedle the Bard on the walls along with stars and moons and fairies. The changing table already had diapers and powder and everything else a baby needs. Hermione thought the only thing missing was a bookcase. Her child will have every book she did as a child. She was just a bit more than slightly jealous. When would her child have a room of his own?

They came back to Arthur and he had a pot of hot tea and biscuits on the table. "So is it a boy or a girl Hermione?"

She blushed in embarrassment. "We haven't found out yet. Severus thinks it's a girl. I think it's a boy. I convinced him to wait, the muggle way. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Severus had a son with the same birthday as his. I'm determined to hold my knees together until January 9th."

Arthur laughed, "I'm shocked that he is even considering being a father. No… No. That didn't come out right. I'm sure he is very happy, I just meant after all those years scowling at students... Changing diapers is not something I can see him doing. I mean… You know what I mean Hermione."

George patted his father on the back. "It's okay dad. She knows what you mean."

Arthur seemed a bit befuddled and stood up and went to the kitchen. George looked at Hermione with sadness to explain her confusion. "His body went too long without oxygen love. When they pulled us out of the fight, we waited beneath a collapsed archway for several minutes. They went back for others you see. When they finally returned, he had stopped breathing. I was barely conscious. They grabbed us all in a side along and we landed at Grimmauld. I've never seen so many people transported that way before. Least without bein splinched. I never understood how powerful a wizard Snape and Kings were until then.

We all landed safely, but dad, he should be dead. He was covered in blood. Someone was there from the ministry and knew some basic life saving. Between that and the potions Snape had on him, they brought him back. When Poppy arrived, she managed to stabilize him, but it's been rough. They tell us at St Mungos he should recover, but it will be a slow process, and he gets impatient and walks away from a conversation. His wounds have healed and he is improving. Sometimes he's quite himself. Believe it or not he wants to get back to work."

Hermione had tears threaten but wouldn't allow them to fall. "What about you George? Are you recovered?"

George grinned and opened his shirt. A purple slash across his chest from his shoulder disappeared below his jeans. It was puffy and raised but healing. "Dolohov. When it hit, I fell backwards away from the worst of it, a two story drop. I was lucky there was vegetation at the bottom or I'd be gone too. It stung like hell for months. Poppy kept pushing potions down me. It's much better now."

Hermione could only stare at the scar on George. Then she looked into his eyes as she unbuttoned her own blouse. Lowering the collar so he could see an identical mark on her. "It looks like you have a new twin George. Not that I could ever replace Fred."

George sighed still grinning. "Well at least you have a better rack." He grabbed her and hugged the stuffing out of her.

She didn't want to, but she had to pull away to breathe. "George. Please don't think I'm prying, but how are you financially?"

George's sense of humor always came out in awkward situations. "Oh this place is a dump, but our winter home on the Riviera is just right."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't be a git! I'm serious. Have you heard of the Weasley Family Charitable Trust?"

George looked at her as if she had turned green.

"An anonymous doner gave a large sum of money to be administered by Sev and I to help those affected by the war. I think it only fair that the Weasley family get a share, as it's named for you."

"Thank you Hermione, but were doing fine. As many of us as there were, mum always managed to put some aside. Harry lent us the money to open the shop. It was doing very well before all hell broke loose. Speaking of which Hermione. I can't do it alone. I need help and you have the biggest brain I know of. Please come to work with me. Even if it's just temporary."

Hermione thought of all the things she had on her plate. "I'm sorry George. I'm kind of swamped with my work for the school and I'm getting bigger by the day."

"I know all that and I'm willing to work with you as far as anything you need. It'll be perfect. I'll run the store during the day, and you can help with the books a few hours in the evening, or make your own hours. I'll even bring everything to you. Once the baby's born you can bring the little tosser to work with you if you want. Look, you don't have to decide right now. It may be a while before I get my own act together. I just want to put it out there."

Hermione thought about it. She and Sev were going to leave Hogwarts after the school year opened anyway. He had finally talked her into the cottage by the sea. It would supplement their income and give her something to do to keep her mind agile. "I will try George. After we leave Hogwarts and are moved in properly. I can only give you a few hours a week to start. I'll have to let you know. Would that be okay?"

George beamed with happiness. "That sounds great Hermione. Whenever you're ready."