A/N - I'm trying to finish this story up before NaNoWriMo starts in November so I can concentrate on my original fiction. That may mean more frequent updates if the muse cooperates. Not promising anything, but I'm hopeful! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 23

"Adrian!" Tracey said sharply. He looked up at her in surprise, having been lost in his thoughts. She rolled her eyes. "She's been gone for half a day."

"Says the woman who pestered Marcus every day to find out where we were before we came here," Adrian said.

"Speaking of," Tracey said holding out a letter. "Mail for you."

"Thanks." Adrian took the note from her hand as she headed to the kitchen to find Daphne and Anna.

Adrian sighed but didn't open Marcus' letter. Hermione had gone back to Sweden, for good this time. Well, not for good, she'd be back at the weekend but still. His thoughts drifted back to their parting this morning.

"You don't really have to go," he said kissing her neck. "Not yet."

"I do," she said regretfully. "I want to have everything ready when Anders gets to the lab."

He pulled back and looked down at her. She gave him a half-smile and then wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pulling herself flush with his body. He tightened his hold on her and sighed. They stood in silence for a few minutes, her cheek pressed against his chest and his chin resting on top of her head.

"It's only for a few days," she finally said, looking up at him. "I'll be back on Friday."

"I know." He leaned down and kissed her.

"I've really got to go," she said when they parted.

"I love you." He stared down at her wanting to say more but knowing that he couldn't, not now with everything that was going on.

"I love you too," she replied, kissed him quickly and then turned and Disapparated. He stared at the spot where she'd been for quite some time after she'd left.

He tapped the letter against his thigh and sighed, then scrubbed a hand down his face. He was being ridiculous, it was only a few days. He'd gone much longer without seeing her before.

Adrian ripped open Marcus' letter and read through it, smile widening with each sentence. Lowe was now basically a social pariah. No one was inviting him to anything, he'd lost allies in the Wizengamot and his seat on another board and the fines from the Ministry for his vault contents were more substantial than Adrian had expected. While he had no idea of the man's net worth before, Marcus reported that he'd been selling off a few heirlooms, jewelry, silver and the like. It could only be because he had limited cash flow. And according to Marcus, the man was completely confused as to why he was having such a string of bad luck.

Adrian knew what he had to do now. If this went on much longer, Lowe might leave Britain altogether. It was time to get the Aurors involved. But before Marcus sent the files to the DMLE, Adrian had one last errand for him. He grabbed a piece of parchment and quill to write out his instructions, grinning the entire time.

Hermione's mind wandered as she chopped and diced ingredients for the new iteration of the potion she and Anders would attempt that afternoon. Adrian had looked just as upset as Hermione felt when she'd had to leave this morning. He had also looked like he wanted to say something to her but she'd left before he had the chance.

Neither of them ever talked about it and she knew it was because of the uncertainty of Adrian and Anna's situation but Hermione suspected that he wanted to make their relationship more permanent. Her heart stuttered at the thought. Because she wanted that as well.

But it was so soon, wasn't it? Less than six months since they'd met in Italy. How could she even be contemplating anything besides simply dating? But she was and, she thought, hoped, Adrian was too.

Her friends would think she was mad. She and Ron hadn't even been engaged and they'd been dating for over two years. To be thinking now of marrying Adrian when she'd only actually been dating him for less than two months? She shook her head, what was she thinking?

It didn't matter right now, anyway. She knew that Adrian would never even broach the topic while he was in hiding. And if they had to stay there until Anna turned seventeen, well, that was for the better part of a year. No reason to be contemplating all this now.

"Hermione?" Anders said as he walked into the lab. "I didn't expect you to be here already." He paused near her workstation. "And you've clearly been busy."

Hermione smiled. "I thought I would have everything ready to go before you got here. That way you can get home sooner."

"That was very thoughtful, thank you." He looked around at the various ingredients she had already prepared and nodded. "Shall we get started then?"

Hermione bit her lip as Anders added the last ingredient. This was their third attempt, as after the first two, they'd had to tweak a few measurements and stirring times. So far this time, things had gone as they'd expected but it was the armadillo bile that was the most volatile, as far as rendering the potion useless.

Anders frowned as he stirred it in, the potion changing to a light blue. The color was right, but the shade a bit off. They had expected it to be a bit darker in hue than it currently was. Which meant it likely wasn't potent enough. She sighed in disappointment.

"Let us not worry just yet," Anders said. "It still has to simmer for a few minutes. The color may change."

Hermione stood staring worriedly at the contents of the cauldron as Anders lowered the flame. He gave her a small smile. "Patience, Hermione. If this does not work, we still try again."

"I know, I just, I really want this to work."

"Anxious to get back to your beau, are you?" Anders asked with a smirk.

Hermione's cheeks colored. "It's not that."

He laughed. "Of course, it is. And I do not blame you. I have only been here a few hours and I already miss my family."

"All right, it is that. Partly. But it's more as well."

He looked at her questioningly. "Would this have something to do with our mystery assistant?"

"Well," Hermione paused. She hadn't told Anders much about Anna at all. It's not that she didn't trust him and knowing him as she did, Hermione thought he would be just as horrified at Anna's situation as Hermione was. But still, she couldn't reveal too much. Not without talking to Adrian and Anna about it first.

"Yes, it does," she finally said. "The young woman that's been helping us, if this potion is successful, it can only help her situation."

Anders' brows furrowed. "Is she in need of money?"

"No, well, yes, but not in the way you think. It's just, it would prove something to certain people."

"Ah," Anders said in understanding. "There are those that do not believe in her. In her abilities."

"Yes. And I feel like if we're successful with this, if we can put her name on the study, then, well, they might change their minds."

Anders smiled. "Then perhaps you should tell her that it worked."

"What?" Hermione asked in confusion. He pointed to the cauldron. The potion simmering inside was the exact shade of blue they had predicted. Hermione gasped and brought a hand to her mouth, looked to Anders then back to the cauldron. "It worked?"

"It worked." Anders smiled at her again. "Well, it worked in theory. We will have to test it of course to know for certain."

Hermione stared at him for another moment and then jumped up from her stool and hugged him. He chuckled and hugged her back. They were both grinning when Hermione released him. It had worked. It had turned out just as they expected. It hadn't been tested, true, but at least they had something to work with now. She couldn't wait to tell Anna.

They had just sat down to eat supper when Adrian heard the familiar ringing of Anna's mobile. She jumped up from the table and grabbed it from the side table in the other room.

"Hello?"

Adrian turned to watch his sister. She was listening intently and then her face paled. She reached for the table, gripping the edge as Adrian sprang from his chair and hurried toward her.

"Anna?" He gripped her arm to keep her upright and looked at her in concern. Her mouth was hanging open and she looked shocked. "What is it?"

She simply stared at him, unable to say anything. Adrian could hear Hermione calling Anna's name through the phone. He took it from his sister and put it to his ear. "Hermione?"

"Adrian," Hermione said in relief. "Is she all right?"

"She looks shocked," he said, trying to guide Anna to the sofa. But his sister shook her head and gripped his arm with both hands. "What's going on? Did the potion fail again?"

"No," Hermione said and there was a hitch in her voice. "No, Adrian. It worked."

It was Adrian's turn to be shocked. "What?"

"It worked."

"It worked?"

"Yes," Hermione said with a laugh, although it kind of sounded like she was crying and laughing at the same time. "We have to test it, of course. But the potion came together exactly as we thought it would."

"Merlin," he breathed. He looked at Anna, who had tears running down her face. She was still staring at him incredulously.

"You did it," Adrian said, both to his sister and Hermione.

"Anna did it," Hermione said. "Honestly, if it hadn't been for her ideas, I don't think Anders and I would be anywhere near where we are now. Can you, can she come back to the phone?"

"Yes," Adrian said, holding the mobile out to Anna. "Hermione wants to talk to you again."

Anna nodded and took the phone, putting it to her ear and saying a shaky 'hello'. She didn't say much as Hermione spoke but she nodded quite often and the tears didn't slow.

"All right," she finally said. "Yes, yes I will. Thank you, Hermione." Anna handed the phone back to Adrian.

"She wants to say good-bye."

"Hermione?" Adrian said into the phone.

"Adrian, please, please, make sure she knows how proud I am and how thankful we are for her help."

"I will," he said feeling tears prick at his own eyes.

"I'll call with any updates. We're going to start talking about testing tomorrow."

"All right."

"I'll see you Friday. I love you."

"I love you too."

And then Hermione ended the call. Adrian set the phone back on the table and pulled Anna into his arms. She began to cry quietly into his shirt. He kissed the top of her head. "I am so, so proud of you. You're amazing, Anna. Truly."

He glanced over and saw Tracey and Daphne standing in the doorway of the kitchen. They had obviously heard enough of the conversation to understand what had happened. Daphne was smiling, her cheeks wet with tears. And Tracey, usually stoic Tracey, had bright eyes that she swiped at when Adrian looked at her. Daphne wrapped an arm around her and they went back into the kitchen. Adrian squeezed Anna tighter, a wide grin splitting his face.

Hermione relaxed back on the bed, pillows propped behind her and grinned. A copy of the Daily Prophet lay in her lap, open to a particularly interesting article by none other than Rita Skeeter. While Hermione still thought the woman was vile, she had to admit, she knew how to sensationalize a column. The innuendo in this particular piece was all true, Hermione knew, but was written in such a way that readers would be suspicious and unsure. Until news of Lowe's arrest was made public, of course. Then everyone would say they had suspected all along.

Hermione picked up the note that had come with the newspaper and read it again.

Thought the article on page three might interest you. Information on the way to the DMLE as I write this.

Miss you – A

She was glad that Adrian had finally sent all of his evidence on Lowe's predatory using of young women to the Auror department. She only hoped that he would be arrested sooner rather than later.

The thick envelope had arrived this afternoon by owl post while she and Anders were in the middle of running tests on the potion with mice and rats. They weren't testing the efficacy, not yet. First, they needed to be sure that nothing in the potion would be toxic or cause other side effects. After that they would discuss a testing protocol to be sure it actually worked as they expected. She hadn't had a free moment to open the package until now.

Setting the paper aside, Hermione reclined further in her bed. She reached for the mobile on the nightstand and hit the speed dial with Anna's number. It was Adrian that answered, though.

"Hello?"

"Hey," she replied smiling at the sound of his voice.

"Anna's cooking. Do you want me to get her?"

"I was calling for you actually."

"You got it then?" he asked.

"Yeah. Has he been arrested yet?"

"No," Adrian replied. "I just had Marcus send off the information this morning."

"Anonymously, I assume."

"Of course," Adrian said and Hermione could picture the smirk on his face. "How is the testing going?"

"Well, so far," she replied. "Nothing notable but it's only the first day." She paused hating to tell him what she needed to.

"Something wrong?"

She sighed. "It's just, well, we have to observe for the next few days to make sure nothing goes wrong and-"

"And you can't come home Friday," he finished, sighing himself.

Her heart sped up a bit at the word 'home' but she admonished herself for being silly and sentimental. England was her home, of course he just meant it that way. "Unfortunately not. Anders has just been spending so much time in the lab, he needs to be home with his family this weekend. I can't ask him to stay. And his assistant is doing the overnight shifts so the only one left is me."

"I understand," Adrian said sounding disappointed. "I hate it, but I understand."

"I hate it too, just so you know."

They sat in silence for a few moments.

"Keep us updated? I'm sure Anna will be anxious to know how it goes."

"Of course," Hermione said. "And you do the same."

"I will."

"I miss you," she said.

"Miss you too."

She told him she loved him then they said their good-byes. Snapping the phone shut, Hermione sighed and looked up at the ceiling. She just had to remember how important this research was and how much it might help Anna get an apprenticeship with a Master. Hermione and Adrian had spent weeks apart before, they could handle another.

"He's been arrested," Tracey said as she walked into the cottage that night.

"Lowe?" Adrian asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Who else?"

"How do you know?" Daphne asked.

"You know how Ministry gossip is. It had run through every department by lunch."

"Good," Adrian said. "Too bad the Dementors got banished from Azkaban."

"You really think he's going to prison?" Tracey asked skeptically. "You know he's bound to just try to pay someone off."

"Not sure he has that kind of capital anymore," Adrian said. "Not after all the fines on his vault."

"Plenty of heirlooms though," Tracey said, accepting the glass of wine Daphne handed her. "Could sell them off."

"He won't have access to his vaults now that he's been arrested," Adrian countered.

"Has a kid doesn't he? One that's of age and can get in?"

"Yeah," Adrian said with a sigh. "I've met him, Gavin. He's got a younger son too, still at Hogwarts but he's a seventh year now so he's of age too."

"Do you think they'll side with their father?" Daphne asked.

Adrian shrugged. "No idea. I've never met the younger one and the older one just the once. Didn't impress me all that much but I have no idea what he thinks of his father. Or what he would do if he found all this out. I would hope they'd distance themselves but they've been raised by that sadistic bastard so who knows."

They all fell silent as Anna came into the room from the kitchen. She looked around at the three of them, eyes narrowing on Adrian.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, Sprite, just talking."

Anna crossed her arms over her chest. "You're lying. And don't call me that."

"Lowe's been arrested," Tracey said.

Adrian glared at Tracey. She rolled her eyes. "It's not as if she won't find out."

"Thank Merlin," Anna said. Adrian looked at his sister in surprise.

"You can't tell me you weren't waiting for this," Anna scoffed.

"Of course, I was, I just didn't know you were."

"After everything he did? He deserves worse than being arrested."

Daphne smirked behind her wine glass and Tracey tried to smother a laugh with a cough. Adrian just stared at his little sister in shock. Well, not so little anymore, he knew. She'd grown up so much these last couple of months. To be expected he supposed when she wasn't hidden away under their parents' constant supervision.

"You're right," Adrian finally said. "But I'll settle for him being arrested for now."

"I assume it took this long because of everything else you were doing to him?"

Adrian couldn't stop his surprise once more. "How did you know about that?"

Anna rolled her eyes, a habit she'd picked up from Tracey he was sure. "I'm not stupid, Adrian. What else were all those notes to Marcus for?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "No, you most certainly are not stupid. Guess I thought I was being more discreet than that."

Anna smirked. "You forget that I had sixteen years of practice sneaking around the manor and eavesdropping on Mother and Father. Now, supper is ready and you didn't answer my question."

"I'll tell you while we eat," Adrian said as he stood. He pulled his sister into his arms and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him with a grin and he laughed and put an arm around her shoulder, leading her into the kitchen.

Hermione landed in the Ministry, handing off her used Portkey and quickly leaving the office. She was glad to be back in England, even more so that she didn't have to be back in Sweden until Wednesday.

Things were going well with the rodents. It had been over a week and all was well, no apparent side effects. They still had more tests to run, of course, but so far everything looked promising. They'd try them on pregnant rats next to be sure there was no damage to the fetuses. Anders had taken a few pairs and given them their own cages to speed the process along. Hermione was glad that rats' gestation was only about three weeks. They wouldn't have to wait long to determine if there was anything wrong with the baby rats.

Since that process would take a bit, Anders had told Hermione to take a couple of extra days off after the weekend. He would stop into the lab from time to time over the next four days but his assistant, plus the Healing students he had hired, would do the bulk of the observing.

Hermione was just glad for the time. She'd gotten a note from Ginny, asking her to stop by when she was back in country. It sounded as if her friend wanted to talk to her about something. Hermione had also spoken to Tracey when she'd called Adrian the other night and apparently, Ms. Marchbanks wanted to meet with her as soon as possible. Hermione hoped that meant the older witch had news about the enrichment program. Hermione would have more time to do all of those things now, instead of trying to cram it all into one weekend. Which, of course, meant more time with Adrian.

But she did feel a bit guilty, leaving Anders to come in at the weekend when he was still supposed to be on his part-time leave. She had told him as much but he'd waved her off.

"Max has proven to be a much better sleeper than his older sister was. He has adjusted well to a schedule, as has Sara to having two children. And Hanna loves coming to the lab with me. As we are not currently working with anything volatile, I am happy to bring her along if necessary. I won't be here all that often, I'm leaving the bulk of it to the students. You deserve a bit of time off after last weekend, Hermione."

She'd accepted gratefully and now here she was. She had told Adrian she was coming and had sent a note back to Gin, setting up a lunch on Saturday. Harry was going to join them. Hermione hoped that nothing was wrong. She hadn't spoken to Tracey but Adrian had promised to get her a message to set a meeting with Ms. Marchbanks either on Monday or Tuesday.

Hermione hurried towards the Apparition point, wanting to get to the cottage in time for supper.

The moment she landed in Adrian's bedroom, arms were around her and he was pulling her into a kiss. They snogged for quite some time and Hermione felt herself being led towards the bed. Wanting him warred with the need for food. She'd neglected to eat lunch today, something she often forgot when she was working in the lab.

She had decided that she could always eat later when her stomach growled loudly. Breaking the kiss, Adrian looked down at her and chuckled.

"Sorry," Hermione said, blushing lightly.

"No, I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have just attacked you the moment you landed."

"I'm not complaining," she replied with a smile.

"Still," he said. "Anna has made quite a nice supper and she'd be very cross with me if I made you miss it."

Hermione sighed and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her cheek against his chest. "All right."

He kissed her temple and then released her, taking her hand and leading her from the room.

Hermione hummed as he kissed her neck. "I've got to get up. I have to meet Ginny and Harry in an hour."

They'd spent most of the morning in bed, Adrian not having to coax her overly much to do so. He knew that she was still sometimes self-conscious knowing that the other inhabitants of the cottage were there. They had made an appearance at breakfast, then made a show of taking a walk in the woods, although Adrian had Apparated them back into his bedroom right after they'd walked outside. He was positive that Daphne and Tracey knew what they were up to. He wasn't sure if Anna did, nor did he want to contemplate that for more than a few seconds. Still, Hermione hadn't complained and they had both thoroughly enjoyed the morning.

"You have a bit more time," he said now.

"Not if I want to shower and be presentable."

"Presentable is overrated," he said sucking the lobe of her ear into his mouth.

Hermione laughed and shoved at him lightly. "I don't fancy Ginny giving me that knowing grin while Harry tries to pretend he doesn't know that I have sex."

Adrian chuckled and rolled off her. He propped himself up on his elbow and watched appreciatively as she stood from the bed. "Shall I help? Wash your back?"

"I think we both know where that would lead," Hermione replied, glancing at him over her shoulder.

"That's what I was hoping for," he said with a cheeky grin.

She laughed and shook her head, then grabbed her bag and walked into the bathroom.

He sighed and flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. As much as he wished she would stay in the cottage for the next four days, he knew that seeing her friends was important to her. If he were honest, it made him miss spending time with Marcus. He hadn't seen his best friend for months and while they'd talked in letters here and there, it was nowhere near the same.

Tracey and Daphne had both told him to at least let Marcus visit. Adrian knew that Marcus had already been questioned, but there was a strong chance that Adrian's father was having Marcus followed. Adrian wouldn't put it past him. Until Adrian could be certain that his father wasn't doing anything of the sort, he couldn't tell Marcus where they were.

And now that the business with Lowe was finished, their contact, such as it had been, would be even less. Since finding out that Lowe was arrested, Tracey hadn't heard much else. Hermione was planning to ask Harry when she saw him this afternoon, but Adrian knew that with the investigation ongoing, there was only so much Harry could say.

While Adrian would never say it aloud, or even hint at it, he was tired of hiding. Now that his betrothal contract to Daphne was broken, he just wanted to move on with his life. He wanted to investigate the Quidditch coaching opportunities that Marcus had told him about, wanted Anna to be able to train with a Potions Master. And, more than all of that, he wanted to spend more time with Hermione and maybe even make things more permanent between them. He knew it was fast but she was what he wanted. He'd dated and slept with plenty of witches since he was sixteen and he didn't need to look any further.

But none of that could happen unless he could convince his father that Anna deserved to be more than just a Pureblood wife. Adrian didn't care if his father still disowned him, if Anna could live the life she wanted. Convincing his father was the problem.

If the man could only see Anna's talent in action like Adrian had over the past weeks. If his father could see just how much she had contributed to Hermione and Anders' project. Maybe then Adrian could convince him that he was doing the wizarding world a disservice by not allowing Anna to get her Mastery.

Adrian knew that both Hermione and Anders wanted to put Anna's name on their study. Adrian had been against it. Not because Anna didn't deserve the accolades, but because it put Hermione and Anders in danger. Once it was known that Hermione had been collaborating with his sister, she would be pulled in for questioning by the Aurors. And Harry might come under suspicion as well, given she was his best friend.

Not that Adrian thought his father would ever read the journal of his own accord. Reading in general was not one of his pursuits, unless it had something to do with his investments, scholarly journals even less so. Adrian had never seen one anywhere in the manor and while his mother would read in the library on occasion, his father never did.

That didn't mean that someone else wouldn't see the study, however, and tell his father about it. Or that someone in the DMLE wouldn't stumble across it and decide to bring Hermione in for questioning. Which is why Adrian had been against letting Anna have her name on it.

But what if Hermione could get an advanced copy, like she did of their study on premature birth? What if Adrian showed it to his father to try and convince him of Anna's talent? If Adrian made sure that no one else's names were attached to it, his father couldn't connect it to Hermione or Anders. If this potion worked, it was going to be a game-changer. The potion, coupled with Hermione and Anders' initial study, could solve the premature birth problem. Surely his father couldn't deny that.

It would be risky, confronting his father without somehow getting arrested himself. But it was a risk Adrian was willing to take if it would end their exile. He would just have to figure out the best way to go about it that would be as little risk for him as possible. And get a copy of the study, of course.

When Hermione came out of the bathroom, dressed but drying her hair with a towel, Adrian was still deep in thought.

"Something wrong?" Hermione asked with a frown. He looked up at her and smiled.

"No, I think I may have figured something out. But I'll need your help."

Hermione landed at Harry and Ginny's, her thoughts still swirling after what Adrian had proposed. She couldn't lie to herself, she was worried it would all blow up in their faces. Adrian could get arrested and Anna could get sent back to her parents and forced to marry someone even worse that Malcolm Lowe. The thought that Hermione herself might be implicated didn't really register. And she really couldn't talk about it to Harry and Ginny. While she was certain that Harry was aware that Hermione knew where Adrian and Anna were, actually confirming it was something different. She couldn't even let Ginny know, given she was Harry's wife.

Attempting to clear her head, Hermione began the walk towards the front door. She needed to put this out of her mind until after her lunch with her friends. She and Adrian could discuss it more later.

Harry opened the door before she reached it and he smiled broadly at her. Something was definitely going on. At least it appeared to be good news if Harry's expression was any indication.

"Hey, Hermione," he said as he hugged her.

"Harry," she said returning the embrace. She almost asked him what had him so giddy but decided to let him tell her in his own time.

They walked into the house making their way to the kitchen. Ginny was levitating a few things to the table.

"Hi, Hermione," she said. "How's Sweden?"

Hermione could tell that Ginny was hiding something as well but again let it go. If they wanted to do this dance, she would let them. For now, anyway.

They spent lunch chatting about Hermione's project and Ginny's Quidditch schedule. Hermione asked Harry about Lowe but he couldn't really tell her much. Just that he'd been arrested, which she already knew, and that they were going through all the evidence they'd received, questioning him about it.

"Any idea where all that came from?" Harry asked, knowing glint in his eye.

"None at all," Hermione said innocently. Technically, she didn't know exactly where it had come from. Who had sent it in, yes, but she had no idea how it was all collected.

Harry snorted and shook his head but went back to his lunch.

When they had finished, Hermione sat back in her chair and eyed her two friends. "All right, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked but his eyes jumped to Ginny.

"It's obvious there's something the two of you are dying to tell me, so out with it already."

Harry looked at Ginny and gave her such a soft smile, that Hermione's heart stuttered a bit. He took Ginny's hand and kissed the back of it then looked to Hermione.

"Gin's pregnant."

Hermione's mouth dropped open. She'd had plenty of ideas about what they wanted to tell her but for some reason a baby never occurred to her. Likely because they had both said they were planning to wait a couple more years to start a family.

"Oh my god, really?" she asked.

Ginny nodded and there were instantly tears in Hermione's eyes. She stood from the table and nearly launched herself at the two of them. "I'm so happy for you."

Hermione looked at Harry. His grin was so wide, she thought it was going to split his face. He'd always wanted a family of his own and now he would have one. She honestly couldn't be happier for him.

"Oh, Harry," she said and let go of Ginny to hug her best friend. He squeezed her so tightly, she couldn't breathe for a second. When he released her, Hermione looked at Ginny whose eyes were bright. Hermione hugged her as well.

"This is so amazing, I'm just, I thought you were waiting a bit though."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, that was the plan but obviously this one didn't want to wait." She brought a hand to her still-flat belly.

"What are you going to do then? About Quidditch?"

"I'm going to finish out the season. It's only one more match."

Harry didn't look all that comfortable with that and Hermione couldn't exactly blame him. Quidditch could be a dangerous sport, although the way Ginny flew, she was rarely injured. And never more seriously than a broken wrist when she got hit by a Bludger once.

Ginny seeming to sense Harry's unease, put a hand over his and squeezed. "I'll be fine."

He took a breath and nodded, giving her a genuine smile.

"There's something else we want to ask you," Ginny said. She looked at Harry and nodded.

"We want you to be godmother," he said.

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth as the tears returned. "Really?"

"Of course, Hermione, you're my best friend. Gin's too. There's no one else we even considered."

"Of course, I will," she said and then hugged them again. "I'm honored."

"And just so you know, you're the only one we've told so far," Ginny said. "So, if you run into any of the family, keep it quiet."

"Wait, what?" Hermione asked in surprise. Shouldn't the grandparents be the first to know?

"Mum will just be unbearable about it if she knows I'm still playing Quidditch. We're not telling her until my last game is over. Besides, she's a bit preoccupied with George's elopement."

Hermione stared at them again, shocked once more.

"George and Angelina eloped?"

Ginny nodded with a laugh. "Last weekend."

"Why?"

"Looks like this one," Harry rubbed lightly at Ginny's abdomen, "is going to have a cousin in their year."

"No!" Hermione said, then laughed, imagining the look on Molly's face when she found out not only that one of her children had eloped but the reason why. "So was Molly angry that she didn't get to plan another wedding or excited about another grandbaby?"

"It was a toss-up," Harry said with a chuckle. "I might have seen a bit of steam coming out of her ears when George stood up at dinner last week and flashed his wedding band. But then a few seconds later she was crying when they announced the pregnancy."

"I figured I'd let George deal with her for a while," Ginny said. "Merlin knows what she's going to be like when we tell everyone." Ginny rolled her eyes and Hermione laughed.

"Well, I'm very happy that you told me."

Harry gave her one of those smiles again, full of pride and happiness and it almost made Hermione tear up.

When Hermione left an hour later, Harry walked her to the door.

"I'm so incredibly happy for you, Harry," she said as she hugged him. "You're going to be an amazing dad."

"I hope so," he said.

"I know so," Hermione said, releasing him. She smiled up at him.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"I should go."

Harry gave her a knowing smirk. "Enjoy yourself."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hermione said airily.

"Right," he said. "Of course not."

She grinned, pecked his cheek, and then turned to walk to the Apparition point. She waved as she reached it and then turned, Disapparating back to the cottage.