Four
"Hermi!" Harry shouted as she boarded the Hogwarts Express. He ran towards her, he was holding a bag. "Hermi, wait!"
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione said, wondering what he wanted.
"Hermione, I don't know what to do!" Hermione looked at Harry with great concern.
"Calm down. Right get on the train and tell Ron and I al about it."
"I can't tell Ron, he'll kill me!" Harry hissed. Hermione climbed aboard the train, Harry followed. They sat down.
"What is it?"
"Hermione, this morning I got a letter from the Chudley Cannons."
"That's good right?"
"Yes, and no. They want me to start training in two months!"
"Harry, I don't understand why this would make Ron mad."
"Well, the Chudley Cannons are his favourite Quidditch team."
"So he would be looking, oh!"
"Exactly, you know how well jealous he can get, I know it's not my fault."
"Harry, I'm sure it'll be alright. I'll sort of try and get into the subject, casually, and find out."
"Hermi, did you patch things up with him then?"
"Of course! Where were you at the Ball anyway?"
"Never mind."
"Harry? Where were you? Because me and Ron were dancing the night away, and you would of known!"
"Look never mind eh!"
"Harry, something's happened!"
"Hermione, just leave it!" Harry got up and drabbed his trunk out of the compartment, just as Ron came sliding in.
"What's up with Harry?" Ron said, gloomily.
"He won't tell me, I think that it has something to do with Ginny." Hermione said in a high-pitched voice.
"Oh, his girlfriend!"
"Ron don't be so mean. I mean they are in love, I suspect, I hope!"
"Yeah, weird if they got married though, my best friend would by my brother-in-law."
"And mine by marriage!" Ron put a arm around her.
"I don't know what to tell Mum and Dad."
"What shall my parents think?" Hermione sat bolt upright. "They'll kill me!"
"Hermi, don't worry, for all you know they'll be really happy!"
"Ron, they won't! They went mad when my cousin Mayetta got pregnant when she was twenty! Dad went mad, he didn't want anything to do with his brother and his family, and oh it was terrible!"
"Hermi, this doesn't sound good." Hermione hugged her fiancé, hoping nothing would separate them.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The train arrived at Kings Cross at 6PM. It was a sunny evening, and commuters were rushing about the place, like ants. She saw her parents as she emerged from platform 9 and 3/4. She ran over to them, letting go of Ron's hand.
"Hermione how was school?" Her mother asked her, smiling at her.
"It was great. This year me, Harry and Ron killed a dark wizard!" Hermione said cheekily.
"Hermione Granger! Why must you hang around with boys?" Her father, Thomas said, eying Harry and Ron in the distance.
"Daddy, they're good fun. Ginny is a bit weird, I don't really like her."
"Any news?"
"Erm, no." Hermione felt that she looked guilty. "Well, sort of." Hermione smiled at her parents. "Mother, Daddy, meet Ron, again!" Hermione dragged her parents over to the Weasleys. Mrs Weasley was hugging Ginny, and Ron was telling a joke to Harry.
Hermione had to nudge Ron to get his attention. "Hermi?" Ron whispered, looking a bit dazed.
"Mother, and Daddy, meet Ron!" Her mother, Charlotte shook Ron's hand.
"Hermione, why are you introducing me to a friend I've already met?" Charlotte said, turning to look at Hermione.
"Mother, Ron and I are engaged!" Hermione smiled, Ron stared at her, Harry smiled, Mrs Weasley screamed, and Hermione's parents started to shout at her.
"Hermione Granger! Your eighteen!" Thomas screamed, people started to stare at them. "Hermione you've never even had a boyfriend!"
"Daddy, I've had loads!"
"Now I've got a little slut for a daughter!" Thomas roared, pulling Hermione by the arm. "Now what? Next your gonna tell me your pregnant with his baby?"
"Daddy, let go!" But her father tugged at her more.
"Let go of her!" Ron shouted, pushing Thomas away from Hermione.
"You're marrying my daughter! A stupid red haired wizard!"
"Ron's not stupid!" Hermione screamed, finally getting free from her father's grasp. "I love him and you cant stop me from loving him!" Hermione started to cry. "You were in love, and I hope you still are!"
"Hermione don't speak like that to me!"
"I'm nearly nineteen, just leave me alone!"
"Shut up! Harry, did you know about this?"
"No Dr Granger." Harry smiled at Hermione and Ron. "I really never knew!" Hermione smiled at Harry.
"Ron, are you really marrying Hermione!" Mrs Weasley asked, not looking as angry as the Grangers.
"Yes Mum, we got engaged last night."
"Well I think it's wonderful! I've known Hermione a long time, and she is a lovely girl, Ron made a good choice!"
"She is a lovely girl, APART FORM WHEN SHE GETS ENGAGED!" Charlotte shouted. The Dursley's had just come over and heard Dr Granger shout.
"Who's engaged?" Mr Dursley asked, eying Hermione and Harry.
"I am Mr Dursley." Hermione replied in a small voice.
"To whom, it better not be Harry, or I'll kill HIM!"
"Well it's not, it's Ron!" Hermione piped, hugging Ron. Mr Dursley stood there, looking at Hermione and Ron's parents' suspiciously.
"Hermione who is this man?" Charlotte whispered.
"It's Mr Dursley, Harry's Muggle uncle, he hates witches and wizards."
"Pleased to meet you Mr Dursley, I'm Dr Charlotte Granger." Charlotte held out her hand to shake Mr Dursley, hesitated, but took it. "I'm Hermione's mother."
"What do you work as Dr Granger?" Mr Dursley said, carefully.
"I'm a private Dentist, I work with my husband Thomas." Charlotte nodded her head over to Thomas who was chatting to Ron seriously.
"So your not a witch or a wizard?"
"No, Hermione is Muggle Born, rather fascinating, I mean Hermione was the best witch in her school, then she left!"
"Yes, Harry is my nephew, I'm not a blood relation."
"Well Hermione is marrying a pure blood wizard." Mr Dursley looked over at Ron and his family, void of Ginny.
A long silence followed. Everyone looked at each other uneasily, and then Ron spoke. "So, where is Ginny?" He said, looking around the train station.
"I dunno, she said she would talk to me." Harry said, uneasily.
"GINNY WEASLEY!" Mrs Weasley screamed, her voice bombed across Kings Cross station. After about five minutes Ginny came over, looking annoyed.
"What?" Ginny said, annoyed.
"Where have you been?"
"I was talking to Billie Piper, she wants a Muggle singing career."
"For an hour! Ginny what has got into you?"
"Everybody, I'd like to treat us all to dinner, uncle Vernon, you may choose." Harry said, breaking up the argument between Mrs Weasley and Ginny.
"What has got into you Harry?" Mr Dursley asked, eyeing Harry. "Why are you acting like this?"
"No reason." Harry smiled, but then gestured Ron and Hermione over for a private word.
"What is it Harry?" Hermione said once they were out of earshot.
"I'm only doing this so you can tell your parents that you're pregnant Hermi."
"Harry, no!" Ron said shakily.
"Ron just get all your family, they're a decent lot, and they may not get mad." Harry said, still smiling.
"Please Harry, I cant! You know what my Dad said!"
"What did he say?"
"He said 'Next your gonna tell me your pregnant with his baby?' Harry I cant tell them!" Hermione said, tears streaming into her eyes.
"Your gonna have to, if it all goes pear shaped I'll pay for you and Ron to stay in a really posh hotel."
"Harry I can't!"
"Come on Harry, my parents will kill me!" Ron said, tugging Harry's sweater. "Harry you cant do this to us!" Ron started to shake with fright and anger. "I mean it Harry!" Ron's eyes were fixed intensively on Harry's eyes. "Please Harry!"
"Ron you have to tell them."
"Seriously Harry, Hermione's parents would kill her! They'd be furious!" A tear formed in Ron's eye.
"Ron are you OK?" Hermione asked, trying not to let it get into a fight.
"Oh I'm fine Hermi, I JUST WANT TO FINISH HARRY OFF FIRST!" Ron roared. He pushed Harry on to a wall and started to punch him in the stomach.
"Ron Weasley!" Mrs Weasley shouted, watching the two boys fight. Ron didn't appear to listen and started to kick Harry in his lower body. (How else was I gonna describe it?) Harry moaned in agony, he couldn't fight back, he was smaller then Ron, and couldn't hit him, let alone kick him there!
"Ron, please stop!" Harry moaned.
"No, you're not TELLING THEM!"
"Telling me what?" Mrs Weasley ordered, coming back over. "Tell me Ron!" The Dursleys, Grangers and rest of the Weasleys then joined Mrs Weasley.
"I'm sure Ron and Hermi would love to tell you!" Harry whispered, giving Ron very dirty looks.
"Hermione Granger, now what have you done?" Thomas said, rounding on her like a lion to a dead antelope. Hermione looked at Ron for support, but his head was hung, either in shame, depression or dread, Hermione couldn't tell.
"Daddy Mother, I can't tell you now, not in a train station. We'll go out o dinner like Harry said then I'll tell you!" Hermione forced a smile.
The Weasleys, Dursleys and Grangers all pilled into Mrs Weasley's new car. Hermione cried in to Ron's shoulder, while Harry spoke to Mr Dursley about his school year, Mr Dursley had some how changed over the year, he had become friendlier to Harry.
They ate at the Cutty Sark restaurant in Greenwich, in southeast London. They had a lovely view of the river form their seats, they didn't speak of Harry and Ron's fight at all until desserts. "So, why were you fighting?" Mr Dursley asked Harry.
"Um, ask Ron." Harry said, swallowing some strawberry mousse.
"Yes Ron, why were you trying to kill your best friend?" Mrs Weasley asked him. Hermi knew the time had come, she had to tell them.
"I'd better let Hermi explain with me." Ron said grimly. Hermione took a deep breath and finished her chocolate sundae.
"Mother, Daddy, Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley I'd like to inform you that I've fallen pregnant." Hermione said, every word slow and shaky.
"WHAT! NO DAUGHTER OF MINE IS A PREGNANT TART!" Thomas roared, everyone was looking over at them, listening to every word. Hermione sank back into her chair and wept, with Ron, hugging her gently. Now everyone knew, all thanks to a quick visit to the Quidditch pitch.
"Hermi!" Harry shouted as she boarded the Hogwarts Express. He ran towards her, he was holding a bag. "Hermi, wait!"
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione said, wondering what he wanted.
"Hermione, I don't know what to do!" Hermione looked at Harry with great concern.
"Calm down. Right get on the train and tell Ron and I al about it."
"I can't tell Ron, he'll kill me!" Harry hissed. Hermione climbed aboard the train, Harry followed. They sat down.
"What is it?"
"Hermione, this morning I got a letter from the Chudley Cannons."
"That's good right?"
"Yes, and no. They want me to start training in two months!"
"Harry, I don't understand why this would make Ron mad."
"Well, the Chudley Cannons are his favourite Quidditch team."
"So he would be looking, oh!"
"Exactly, you know how well jealous he can get, I know it's not my fault."
"Harry, I'm sure it'll be alright. I'll sort of try and get into the subject, casually, and find out."
"Hermi, did you patch things up with him then?"
"Of course! Where were you at the Ball anyway?"
"Never mind."
"Harry? Where were you? Because me and Ron were dancing the night away, and you would of known!"
"Look never mind eh!"
"Harry, something's happened!"
"Hermione, just leave it!" Harry got up and drabbed his trunk out of the compartment, just as Ron came sliding in.
"What's up with Harry?" Ron said, gloomily.
"He won't tell me, I think that it has something to do with Ginny." Hermione said in a high-pitched voice.
"Oh, his girlfriend!"
"Ron don't be so mean. I mean they are in love, I suspect, I hope!"
"Yeah, weird if they got married though, my best friend would by my brother-in-law."
"And mine by marriage!" Ron put a arm around her.
"I don't know what to tell Mum and Dad."
"What shall my parents think?" Hermione sat bolt upright. "They'll kill me!"
"Hermi, don't worry, for all you know they'll be really happy!"
"Ron, they won't! They went mad when my cousin Mayetta got pregnant when she was twenty! Dad went mad, he didn't want anything to do with his brother and his family, and oh it was terrible!"
"Hermi, this doesn't sound good." Hermione hugged her fiancé, hoping nothing would separate them.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The train arrived at Kings Cross at 6PM. It was a sunny evening, and commuters were rushing about the place, like ants. She saw her parents as she emerged from platform 9 and 3/4. She ran over to them, letting go of Ron's hand.
"Hermione how was school?" Her mother asked her, smiling at her.
"It was great. This year me, Harry and Ron killed a dark wizard!" Hermione said cheekily.
"Hermione Granger! Why must you hang around with boys?" Her father, Thomas said, eying Harry and Ron in the distance.
"Daddy, they're good fun. Ginny is a bit weird, I don't really like her."
"Any news?"
"Erm, no." Hermione felt that she looked guilty. "Well, sort of." Hermione smiled at her parents. "Mother, Daddy, meet Ron, again!" Hermione dragged her parents over to the Weasleys. Mrs Weasley was hugging Ginny, and Ron was telling a joke to Harry.
Hermione had to nudge Ron to get his attention. "Hermi?" Ron whispered, looking a bit dazed.
"Mother, and Daddy, meet Ron!" Her mother, Charlotte shook Ron's hand.
"Hermione, why are you introducing me to a friend I've already met?" Charlotte said, turning to look at Hermione.
"Mother, Ron and I are engaged!" Hermione smiled, Ron stared at her, Harry smiled, Mrs Weasley screamed, and Hermione's parents started to shout at her.
"Hermione Granger! Your eighteen!" Thomas screamed, people started to stare at them. "Hermione you've never even had a boyfriend!"
"Daddy, I've had loads!"
"Now I've got a little slut for a daughter!" Thomas roared, pulling Hermione by the arm. "Now what? Next your gonna tell me your pregnant with his baby?"
"Daddy, let go!" But her father tugged at her more.
"Let go of her!" Ron shouted, pushing Thomas away from Hermione.
"You're marrying my daughter! A stupid red haired wizard!"
"Ron's not stupid!" Hermione screamed, finally getting free from her father's grasp. "I love him and you cant stop me from loving him!" Hermione started to cry. "You were in love, and I hope you still are!"
"Hermione don't speak like that to me!"
"I'm nearly nineteen, just leave me alone!"
"Shut up! Harry, did you know about this?"
"No Dr Granger." Harry smiled at Hermione and Ron. "I really never knew!" Hermione smiled at Harry.
"Ron, are you really marrying Hermione!" Mrs Weasley asked, not looking as angry as the Grangers.
"Yes Mum, we got engaged last night."
"Well I think it's wonderful! I've known Hermione a long time, and she is a lovely girl, Ron made a good choice!"
"She is a lovely girl, APART FORM WHEN SHE GETS ENGAGED!" Charlotte shouted. The Dursley's had just come over and heard Dr Granger shout.
"Who's engaged?" Mr Dursley asked, eying Hermione and Harry.
"I am Mr Dursley." Hermione replied in a small voice.
"To whom, it better not be Harry, or I'll kill HIM!"
"Well it's not, it's Ron!" Hermione piped, hugging Ron. Mr Dursley stood there, looking at Hermione and Ron's parents' suspiciously.
"Hermione who is this man?" Charlotte whispered.
"It's Mr Dursley, Harry's Muggle uncle, he hates witches and wizards."
"Pleased to meet you Mr Dursley, I'm Dr Charlotte Granger." Charlotte held out her hand to shake Mr Dursley, hesitated, but took it. "I'm Hermione's mother."
"What do you work as Dr Granger?" Mr Dursley said, carefully.
"I'm a private Dentist, I work with my husband Thomas." Charlotte nodded her head over to Thomas who was chatting to Ron seriously.
"So your not a witch or a wizard?"
"No, Hermione is Muggle Born, rather fascinating, I mean Hermione was the best witch in her school, then she left!"
"Yes, Harry is my nephew, I'm not a blood relation."
"Well Hermione is marrying a pure blood wizard." Mr Dursley looked over at Ron and his family, void of Ginny.
A long silence followed. Everyone looked at each other uneasily, and then Ron spoke. "So, where is Ginny?" He said, looking around the train station.
"I dunno, she said she would talk to me." Harry said, uneasily.
"GINNY WEASLEY!" Mrs Weasley screamed, her voice bombed across Kings Cross station. After about five minutes Ginny came over, looking annoyed.
"What?" Ginny said, annoyed.
"Where have you been?"
"I was talking to Billie Piper, she wants a Muggle singing career."
"For an hour! Ginny what has got into you?"
"Everybody, I'd like to treat us all to dinner, uncle Vernon, you may choose." Harry said, breaking up the argument between Mrs Weasley and Ginny.
"What has got into you Harry?" Mr Dursley asked, eyeing Harry. "Why are you acting like this?"
"No reason." Harry smiled, but then gestured Ron and Hermione over for a private word.
"What is it Harry?" Hermione said once they were out of earshot.
"I'm only doing this so you can tell your parents that you're pregnant Hermi."
"Harry, no!" Ron said shakily.
"Ron just get all your family, they're a decent lot, and they may not get mad." Harry said, still smiling.
"Please Harry, I cant! You know what my Dad said!"
"What did he say?"
"He said 'Next your gonna tell me your pregnant with his baby?' Harry I cant tell them!" Hermione said, tears streaming into her eyes.
"Your gonna have to, if it all goes pear shaped I'll pay for you and Ron to stay in a really posh hotel."
"Harry I can't!"
"Come on Harry, my parents will kill me!" Ron said, tugging Harry's sweater. "Harry you cant do this to us!" Ron started to shake with fright and anger. "I mean it Harry!" Ron's eyes were fixed intensively on Harry's eyes. "Please Harry!"
"Ron you have to tell them."
"Seriously Harry, Hermione's parents would kill her! They'd be furious!" A tear formed in Ron's eye.
"Ron are you OK?" Hermione asked, trying not to let it get into a fight.
"Oh I'm fine Hermi, I JUST WANT TO FINISH HARRY OFF FIRST!" Ron roared. He pushed Harry on to a wall and started to punch him in the stomach.
"Ron Weasley!" Mrs Weasley shouted, watching the two boys fight. Ron didn't appear to listen and started to kick Harry in his lower body. (How else was I gonna describe it?) Harry moaned in agony, he couldn't fight back, he was smaller then Ron, and couldn't hit him, let alone kick him there!
"Ron, please stop!" Harry moaned.
"No, you're not TELLING THEM!"
"Telling me what?" Mrs Weasley ordered, coming back over. "Tell me Ron!" The Dursleys, Grangers and rest of the Weasleys then joined Mrs Weasley.
"I'm sure Ron and Hermi would love to tell you!" Harry whispered, giving Ron very dirty looks.
"Hermione Granger, now what have you done?" Thomas said, rounding on her like a lion to a dead antelope. Hermione looked at Ron for support, but his head was hung, either in shame, depression or dread, Hermione couldn't tell.
"Daddy Mother, I can't tell you now, not in a train station. We'll go out o dinner like Harry said then I'll tell you!" Hermione forced a smile.
The Weasleys, Dursleys and Grangers all pilled into Mrs Weasley's new car. Hermione cried in to Ron's shoulder, while Harry spoke to Mr Dursley about his school year, Mr Dursley had some how changed over the year, he had become friendlier to Harry.
They ate at the Cutty Sark restaurant in Greenwich, in southeast London. They had a lovely view of the river form their seats, they didn't speak of Harry and Ron's fight at all until desserts. "So, why were you fighting?" Mr Dursley asked Harry.
"Um, ask Ron." Harry said, swallowing some strawberry mousse.
"Yes Ron, why were you trying to kill your best friend?" Mrs Weasley asked him. Hermi knew the time had come, she had to tell them.
"I'd better let Hermi explain with me." Ron said grimly. Hermione took a deep breath and finished her chocolate sundae.
"Mother, Daddy, Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley I'd like to inform you that I've fallen pregnant." Hermione said, every word slow and shaky.
"WHAT! NO DAUGHTER OF MINE IS A PREGNANT TART!" Thomas roared, everyone was looking over at them, listening to every word. Hermione sank back into her chair and wept, with Ron, hugging her gently. Now everyone knew, all thanks to a quick visit to the Quidditch pitch.