The Plan
Disclaimer: NOT MINE!!
Chapter 9 – To Make An Announcement.
Two weeks after the wedding Hermione dragged an unsuspecting Ron from bed and to The Burrow. Hermione had been looking forward to getting the announcement over and done with the entire time they had visited Edinburgh (Scotland) on their honeymoon. And, she reflected, they really didn't have a lot of choice; the evening dresses she'd adorned, showed quite clearly that she hadn't just gained weight due to an obsession with cream cheese.
A good thing to come out of everything Hermione decided, was that she had learned never to tell a serious lie to the people she loved. Not only did it take far too much energy, and it wasn't the fact that she felt guiltily every time she had to fabricate some new excuse, but it hurt to lie to someone you loved.
So, on a drizzly day towards to the end of October, Mr and Mrs Weasley sat in the living looking expectantly at their son and newly acquired daughter-in-law (whom once again sported baggy robes). Everyone else crammed in to the room to, but had to resort to sitting on cushions or lying on the floor and Bill was even sat on an ironing board that was starting to groan dangerously under his weight.
"Well… erm, you see…," said Ron. One of his hands was interlaced tightly with Hermione's and he was squeezing it a little desperately, which was beginning to make it ache.
"Didn't you have a nice time?" queried Ginny, her brow furrowing as she looked anxiously at her brother, who now pale-faced with his freckles standing out.
"No, no, we had a wonderful time. Oh Gin, you should've seen the hills, they're beautiful – just like Hogwarts! If you go to the Lochs while the sun is just setting across the water, it's… awesome! Oh and Nessy, you know that damned beast followed us around the whole lake because someone," he gave Hermione a look that, just in case anyone wasn't sure, indicated that he was talking about her, "kept feeding him."
"Her Ron, her. Nessy is female," Hermione said shaking her head.
"What? Oh right. But that's not the point, we don't have one bloody photograph without a head or a tail or a claw in it!"
"Photos! Let's see them!" chirped Ginny happily, looking expectantly at the small bag at Hermione's feet.
"Oh, erm…well you see before you look at them," started Ron, his ears starting to turn a little pink as he played with the tattered fabric of the sitting chair, "what I mean is, actually, what we mean is…"
"Oh for Merlin's sake Ron! It'll be born before you get around to telling them." Hermione looked at the assembled group. "I'm expecting a baby."
A calm silence filled the room at the surprising news. Bill's earring jangled as he smiled happily and gave her a nod of encouragement.
"That's wonderful dear!" cried Miss Weasley, patting her husband on the arm a little harder than was probably necessary. "Arthur, grandchildren! We're going to have our first grandchild!"
"Yes dear, I heard," answered Mr Weasley, rubbing his arm but grinning like a mad man. Bill and Charlie gave each other hesitant looks at the 'first' but nevertheless were happier that the burden was removed from them.
"Oh Hermione that's wonderful!" said Ginny, looking surprised at the news. Harry, who had been watching Ginny intently, was now giving them a quizzical look mixed with obvious surprise but also of suspicion. Hermione knew in an instant that Harry knew her to well and had immediately realised all was not as it seemed. She could practically see him putting the gigantic baby coloured pieces together.
"Didn't take you long did it?" laughed George, slapping his brother on the back. Bill laughed quietly at George's comment and overbalanced on the ironing board. It went crashing to the ground, and Bill's dragon hide boots dangled in the air as the iron landed on his hand.
As Mrs Weasley bandaged Bill's hand, she smiled happily. "When is it due?"
Hermione looked at Ron nervously, but he was busy fending off Ginny's attempt to get at the honeymoon pictures.
"February," Hermione said in a small voice.
"February? That can't be right dear," smiled Mrs Weasley, obviously puzzled.
With spectacular timing, a sharp intake of breath from across the room rescued Hermione from having to answer Mrs Weasley. Ginny was sat on Ron's back, having won the struggle with her brother and was looking at the photographs.
Damn.
"But… but… you're huge!" announced Charlie, peering over Ginny's shoulder.
"Charlie Weasley, don't you say such a horrible thing about your sister-in-law!" scolded Mrs Weasley. Charlie actually cowered. It was somewhat amusing to watch over six-foot of full-grown wizard look hesitant of such a short plump witch.
"Sorry mum," mumbled Charlie, "but look, she must be about six months there." He pointed at the picture and Mrs Weasley looked as if she was about to launch in to a tirade before she stopped, looking agape.
Almost as one, the family looked at Hermione in surprise, all obviously trying to work out what was going on. Ron pushed Ginny off his back where she unceremoniously landed on the floor, and rubbed his bruised side. He pulled Hermione up from her chair and kissed her once on the cheek before taking her hand in his own.
"We're having a baby in February," he said, "we wanted to be married before anyone knew about Hermione's pregnancy."
"But why didn't you tell us?" asked Ginny, eyeing her brother from the floor.
"I wanted to be married first," Ron said and he looked at his father, who had a very uncharacteristically stern face.
"How about a cup of tea?" asked Mrs Weasley, actively shooing everyone in to the kitchen. Mr Weasley and Ron however, made there way outside. Hermione was deadly curious to this strange behaviour, but she didn't have time to dwell on it, as she had table full of curious in-laws to sate.
Hermione sensed a moment's hesitance from everyone, before she barraged with questions and it was a while before she had explained to everyone what had been going on the past few months.
"Personally I think Fred is a wonderful name for a baby," announced George.
"No, no, dear brother! George is a simply marvellous name!" proclaimed Fred.
"And if it's a girl?" asked Harry, smiling.
"How about Percy?" suggested George innocently, which got him a reproving look from Mrs Weasley and a sour look from Percy.
"Percy is a fine name, there is nothing feminine about it," argued Percy and Hermione patted his arm in a supportive manner.
Harry was hiding a grin, when he suddenly looked curious, "have you had a sonogram?"
"A what?" queried Bill, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to Ginny.
"It's like a picture of the baby," said Harry.
Hermione started looking around, "they're in my bag," she said. Bill got up and went to get it from the living room just as Mr Weasley and Ron returned, both smiling. Hermione shoot him a curious look, but he just kissed her on the forehead and squeezed her shoulder.
Once her bag had been retrieved, she handed over the sonograms and everyone peered down at them.
Charlie looked hesitant, "erm… why is that white blob hiding the picture?"
"It's not moving!" exclaimed Mr Weasley excitedly.
"Did you find out whether it was a boy or a girl?" asked Harry, his eyes flashing excitedly as he looked at the sonogram.
"No, I didn't."
"I bet it's a boy," declared Ginny.
"Care to make a wager little sister?" queried Fred, grinning.
"Fred!" cried Mrs Weasley.
Ginny gave a grin equally as crafty and they both start haggling.
"Ginny!" said Mrs Weasley in a reproving tone, but gave up because soon everyone was involved; Bill, Harry and Ginny were betting it was a boy, while Charlie, Fred and George were betting their money it was a girl.
Hermione smiled knowingly and decided, that all in all, it had been a very good day.
* * *
"Shhh, she's sleeping," whispered Ginny.
"Wish I was sleeping," said George, giving a small yawn.
"Are you any nearer to finishing the house yet?" asked Ginny, handing George a plate of sandwiches.
"We'll be lucky if they can move in before she…"
"He."
"…is born and that's if the weather holds out," he replied, sneaking a look in to the living room were Hermione slept on a chair.
"I don't know how much more of Mum Hermione can take, especially now that she's home at The Burrow all day."
"Can't they stay with you for a while?" he asked between bites.
"There is barely enough room for me and Harry. How am I supposed to fit in Ron and Hermione as well?"
"Just a thought."
"Poor Hermione, I can't believe they fired her," said Ginny, "how was she supposed to know you had to give the library so much notice for maternity leave?"
"I'd like to get my hands on the bloke that wrote that rule, I'd wring his neck."
"At least she's relaxing now."
"Yeah, suppose."
"It's funny in a way…" mused Ginny.
"Wha? How?" asked George.
"Well, I don't think life is going the way she planned it," said Ginny.
"Ugh!" cried George.
"What?
"You put corned beef in my sandwich, you know I hate corned beef!"
"Sorry, make your bloody own next time," she said and went to make a cup of tea while George Disapparated, muttering under his breath.
Author's note – okay no throwing stones, I'm sorry it's taken so long, but I have been having writers block! I hope the chapter isn't a disappointment!
So what do you all think? Boy or Girl? Will The Hovel be ready in time?
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I was unbelievably chuffed when I reached a hundred reviews!! Reviews keep me motivated to write new chapters, so I'm not sure why I had so much trouble. (There is a chapter that occurs between 8 and 9 that I have decided not to post if anyone wants to read it.)
Special thanks to my usual reviewers and to Lensei for listening to me moan.
