Part 11
When at the middle of May Hermione's menses did come the witch was truly disappointed. She knew that even ley-lines and ritual cercles did not guarantee a pregnancy and that couples sometimes tried for a long time to conceive but in her heart she had felt the magic of that night take. Hermione tried not to make much of it and thankfully work was insanely busy. Corban was Portkeying all around Europe on errands for international law enforcement cooperations. He was quite sure that Amelia Bones was still upset about his actions during the war and retaliated thus, sending him from one boring meeting to the next. The couple usually managed short Floo conversations before falling into their respective beds. Hermione joked that at least that way they missed the worst of her mother's wedding planning. Corban tested the waters about her thoughts on him retiring from the MLE and was reliefed that his fiancée agreed with his reasoning. But first she wanted to try a reconciliation between her love and his boss and that was the reason she invited Amelia Bones personally to their wedding. The head of the MLE was surprised and invited her into her office for tea.
"Ms Granger, I had no idea that Corban and you were dating!"
"Well, yes. We both felt that there was no need to wait. Ms Bones, may I be open with you?"
The woman frowned, "Yes?"
"Corban does not talk a lot about the years before the war and even lesser about the time during Voldemort's second coming but from what he inferred I got the impression that he misses you. As a comrade and as a friend. Please don't let me be misunderstood – he is perfectly content with you being his boss. But I feel he still hurts due to losing your friendship."
Bones did not answer for a long time and Hermione started to fear that she had been too forward. Then her opposite rubbed her hands across her face in a tired gesture and spoke.
"I miss him as well, Ms Granger. And I understand his reasoning – I would not have lain low and I was definitely a high profile target. I would not have seen Susan grow up to be the lovely woman she is now, I would likely be dead now if not for Corban. I know this but understand, Ms Granger, I trusted him and he broke that trust. He was one of three people in the world near whom I let my guard down, Susan and Kingsley being the other ones."
"Ms Bones, you trusted him with your life and he saved your life. Wouldn't you have done the same with Susan if you knew her to be in mortal danger? Why punish Corban for managing the impossible in a very difficult situation? Why punish yourself?"
The cups on the table began to rattle and Hermione got an inkling just how powerful a witch the head of the MLE was. Thankfully Bones got control over her magic quickly.
"I won't make promises, Ms Granger, but I will attend your wedding and see where we go from there. And I will find someone else to finagle all those details of wizarding europol, a new husband should be near his wife."
Hermione thanked the witch and left with a lighter heart. The following weekend Corban and her kept free of any commitment to have some time to themselves. Mrs Granger was a tad miffed but her daughter promised her an extended luncheon on Wednesday for finalising the last details for the wedding.
Saturday morning Corban let himself fall back against the headboard. He had woken up his witch in a most pleasant manner. Seeing her lay there, rosy-cheeked and exhausted he belied his age with wishing for another go right now.
"Aye, woman, I did not think that making love to you could get any better but today you've blown my mind. Have you ever come before just by a man paying attention to your breasts?"
"Fishing for compliments, love? But you're right, it was spectacular. And no, that has been a first for me. They're awfully tender since a few days. I had to buy a new soft bra lest I am driven to distraction during work."
Corban's mien grew puzzled.
"Hermione, isn't tender breasts an early sign for expecting?"
"I've read so, yes. But then I had my period last week."
"Should we check, just in case?"
"Do you know the charm?"
"No, I haven't ever needed it. But you have read up on it, haven't you?"
She had indeed.
"Shall I teach you? I had to learn it when Ginny got pregnant the first time, as a witch cannot cast it on herself."
His voice had gotten a throaty quality.
"Aye."
Corban was a fast learner. Before casting the spell he drew his fiancée into an embrace and kissed her.
"Whatever the result, we are in this together, forever, if you'll have me."
"Forever, until we're old and grey and many times great-grandparents. Onto it, call up your inner Gryffindor and cast!"
The wizard drew a figure eight with a slight swish at the end while whispering `Gravidas Accertere´. Hermione felt a slight tingle in her belly and Corban's wand radiated a leafy green. He drew her into an impossibly tight hug.
"We did it, love, we did it. Come Imbolc we will be parents."
In Hermione's heart there were several conflicting emotions. One part of her tried to be cautious, as it was early days yet. Another wanted to start researching immediately. But feeling the wetness on her neck of Corban's happy tears she tightened their embrace even further and relished the moment. She vowed to herself not to fall back in patterns of her youth, but rather to rely on what her instincts, her body, her magic tried to tell her. She may read more books about pregnancy and child-rearing than the average witch but otherwise would approach this new adventure with calm confidence and Corban on her side for every step.
"Love, we do not tell anyone until after the wedding, do we? I fear what your mother might plan if she knows of her grandchild."
"Yes, I agree. Luna will notice, but she is very discrete. Come to think of it she said something cryptical when we last met. I guess she knew before us."
"That's Luna, all right. She will keep Tony and Finn on their toes."
Her eyes got distant while a tremulous smile was on her lips.
"Love?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I have no inclination towards divination but right now I saw a Scottish moor and some children running around, one with white-blond curls, a quiet boy with a book and two toddlers crawling on a blanket."
Corban tightened his embrace again, hiding his wet eyes in her curls.
Epilogue
Thankfully Hermione had already decided on a dress with an empire waist, so Mrs Granger had no complaint. The wedding was moving, beautiful, boisterous – Thorfinn and George Weasley – and full of magic. Amelia Bones attended and she and Corban eventually mended their friendship. The elder Grangers learned about their grandchild during a family trip to the coast. Mrs Granger immediately started to plan a baby-shower.
Callen Corban Granger Yaxley was born at Yaxley Manor during the witching hour on Imbolc the following year, his brother Struan Alastair two years later. Hermione had originally planned to work more after Struans birth but her husband and she had underestimated the power of the Yaxley stone circle. Flora Jean came into their lives nine months after Struan's naming ceremony.
Luna, Antonin and Thorfinn had a bonding ceremony at Corban's circle, their first child of seven was born only a week after Callen.
All was well.
Fin
