Hermione let the hot water stream over her. She dipped her head under the water, wetting her hair. She grabbed the bottle of shampoo and squeezed a small amount into her hand before rubbing it through her hair, creating a thick foam. Then she stepped back under the shower head and rinsed the shampoo from her hair.
She stayed in the shower for a long time, trying to ease the tension from her body. Her body ached from stress. She hadn't been able to get the image she had seen in the Mirror of Erised out of her mind. Her brain had been running on overdrive ever since.
A knock at the bathroom door broke her reverie. She turned off the water. "Yes?"
"Hermione, are you okay in there?" called her husband. "You've been in there for over half an hour."
"I'm coming out," she replied. She took a deep cleansing breath and stepped out of the shower. She dried herself and dressed quickly, then exited the bathroom. Remus was waiting for her.
"I'm done," she said, feeling slightly annoyed. Then she moved toward their room. Remus followed her. "Don't you have to use the bathroom?" she asked him.
"No," he replied. "I was just worried about you."
She rolled her eyes.
He saw and tried not to let it bother him. "You've been so quiet lately," he said. They were in their room now and he shut the door, closing them in. "I wish you would talk to me."
"I'm fine," she said shortly.
"You're not," he countered.
She turned around and faced him. "You're going to drive me crazy with your incessant worrying," she snapped. "You're my husband, not my father."
He threw his hands in the air in frustration. "Fine," he said. "I get it. You're independent. You can take care of yourself. You obviously don't need me." He turned to leave the room, but Hermione stopped him.
"I'm sorry," she said contritely. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just so tired all the time. It's making me crabby."
He put one hand against her forehead. "Maybe you're getting sick," he suggested. "You don't feel warm." He caressed her cheek. "Maybe I just haven't been taking proper care of you." He dipped his head down and kissed her lightly. As they always did, his kiss soon became more passionate. He prodded her back to their bed and laid her down. His body covered hers as he began his sensuous assault. Hermione melted into his kisses, reveling in each one. Then his hands began their eager exploration, tracing a hot path over her body. When one hand settled over her breast though, she moaned in pain.
"What is it," he asked, removing his hand.
She closed her eyes tiredly. "I'm just a little sore," she said apologetically.
He flushed, wondering if he had been a little too demanding of her attention. He rolled off her and pulled her close to him. She cuddled against his side. "I'm so tired," she said quietly.
Remus kissed the top of her head. "Rest, honey. Just rest."
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Someone was pounding on the front door. Sirius groaned and pulled the sheet over his head. He waited, hoping whoever it was would go away. Of course, they didn't.
When it became apparent to Sirius that they weren't going away, he threw off the sheet, stomped out of bed and went to answer the door. He threw it open and glared.
"Hi," said Hermione softly. "Did I wake you?"
Sirius stared at her and took a deep breath. "What's the matter? What are you doing here?"
"You're not busy, are you?" she asked.
Sirius leaned heavily against the door. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" he asked.
"It's not that early," she argued. She bit her bottom lip. "I really need someone to talk to," she said.
"What about your husband?" asked Sirius. "Can't you talk to him?"
"Right," said Hermione, feeling incredibly foolish for coming. "I'll just go then."
"No, wait," said Sirius throwing open the door all the way. "Come in."
Hermione hesitated a few seconds before entering the apartment.
"Just let me get dressed," said Sirius. He disappeared into his room and quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. When he returned to Hermione, she was sitting on the sofa, toying with a rectangular box. "So, what's up?" he asked.
"Remus and I went to Hogwarts yesterday," she said. "We're going to be staying in town for a little while. Dumbledore wants us here for now."
"That's good, isn't it?" asked Sirius.
She nodded. "I do want Remus to reconnect with his family, especially since…" she trailed off.
"Especially since what?" asked Sirius, suddenly nervous. Hermione was acting strangely. She seemed on edge and she was playing convulsively with the small box in her hand.
She looked up at him with large wet brown eyes. "Sirius, I think I'm pregnant," she said.
Sirius sat next to her, unable to think of any kind of intelligent response.
"I'm really scared," she said.
"Why?" he asked, somewhat perplexed. "You're married. Isn't this what you want?"
"We weren't trying to get pregnant," said Hermione. "It was an accident."
Sirius patted her back awkwardly. "Do you think Remus will be mad?" he asked.
"No, it's not that," she said quickly. "I actually think he'll be happy."
"Oh, then you don't want a baby," said Sirius.
"No," shouted Hermione. "It's not that either."
"Then what?" asked Sirius. "He'll want the baby. You want the baby. What's the problem?"
"Decree 47," she half whispered.
Sirius felt like a world class jerk. He hadn't even thought about decree 47. He knew that Hermione had probably not been able to think about anything but decree 47 since it was passed. It nearly prevented her from getting married in the first place.
"Maybe I'm getting all worked up for nothing," said Hermione. "I don't know for sure I'm pregnant."
Sirius raised one eyebrow. "Wait a minute," he said. "You haven't been to a healer yet?"
"No," she replied. "I was afraid to go."
Sirius nodded. He could understand that. "Well, why do you think you're pregnant? Have you missed your… um…" he colored with embarrassment.
"I'm a few months late," she said. "But I've been late before. I thought it was just stress."
Sirius cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Maybe you should talk to Lily. Isn't this kind of a girl thing?"
"No," said Hermione immediately. "I can't talk to Lily. I really wanted my mother, but…" she wiped the moisture from her eyes.
"Well, why do you think you're pregnant?" Sirius rushed on, hoping to avoid full on crying. "If you've been late before."
She smiled sheepishly. "I kind of saw myself in a mirror," she said.
"A mirror?" he questioned. He looked her up and down. "Are you showing already? I don't think you're showing," he said.
"No, not that kind of mirror, Sirius," said Hermione. "It's a magical mirror, The Mirror of Erised."
"The Mirror of Erised," repeated Sirius slowly. "I've heard of that," he said. "I don't think it would show you that you were pregnant."
"It didn't," admitted Hermione. "But I did see a little boy and he was with Remus and then I saw James and he was holding his own son."
"You saw James holding his son and Remus with a little boy," repeated Sirius.
"It was our little boy," said Hermione. "I know it was. And I couldn't stop thinking about it and then I started remembering that I've been so tired lately and a few days ago I was sick, it wasn't in the morning, it was after dinner, but it happened a few days in a row and I've been sore everywhere, so I bought a test, but I've been too nervous to take it." She took a deep breath.
"So you came here?" asked Sirius.
She nodded. "Was it stupid of me?" she asked.
"Don't you think this is something you should discuss with Remus?" he asked.
"I don't want him to know, just in case I'm not," she said. "But I don't want to do this alone either." She held up the box she had been toying with. "I bought a pregnancy test," she said. "Its muggle, but it will work."
Sirius sighed and stood. "No," he said.
"No what?" questioned Hermione.
"No you can't take it here," said Sirius. "Go home and talk to Remus."
Hermione stood. "But Sirius…"
"No, Hermione," he insisted. "I can't do this with you."
She looked down at her feet. "Okay," she said softly. "I'll go then."
Sirius rubbed his head tiredly. "I'm sorry."
"No," she said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. "Forget it. You're right. I shouldn't have come." She gripped her box and moved toward the door. "I'll see you later."
Sirius watched her go and had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from calling her back. "Let her go, Sirius," he told himself once she was gone. "Let her go."
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Hermione sat on her bed holding the small pregnancy stick that was looking very blue. She tried to wait for Remus to return home, but not knowing was killing her so she took the test. The answer was too clear to deny. She was pregnant.
"Hey," said Remus in surprise, when he entered their room. "I didn't expect you to be back so soon."
"Umm, yeah," Hermione mumbled, discreetly hiding the pregnancy stick.
"Is something wrong, honey?" Remus asked.
Her shoulders sagged slightly. "I have to tell you something," she said softly.
"What's the matter?" he asked, kneeling in front of her. "Are you still feeling sick?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she said.
"Then what, what is it?"
Hermione looked into her husband's eyes. "I'm pregnant," she said pulling out the pregnancy stick. Remus sat heavily on the floor. Hermione watched him, waiting. After a few minutes, she said, "say something, please."
"A baby?" he questioned. "We're going to have a baby?"
She nodded.
"A baby?" he repeated.
Again she nodded. "What are you thinking?" she asked.
"I don't know," he said. "It's so…" he paused, searching for the right word. "Unexpected," he finished with a shrug.
"I know we didn't plan this," she said, almost apologetically.
"Are you sorry?" he asked.
"It's not that," she said. "It's just…" she trailed off.
"Just what?" he prompted.
"Decree 47," she replied simply.
"I won't let them come near you," said Remus fiercely. "You don't have to worry about that. I promised to love, honor, and protect you for the rest of my life. And I will. I'll protect you. So don't worry about the Ministry. I want to know if you're happy about being pregnant. Is this what you want?"
For a moment, Hermione let herself forget about the Ministry, Decree 47, and everything but her, Remus, and the baby. A tiny smile fell across her face. "I haven't really thought about it," she admitted.
Remus sat up again and put his arms lightly around his wife. "Think about it now," he said. He kissed her lightly and then settled one hand over her stomach. "What do you think about having a baby?"
"It's a little scary," she said.
"Yes," he acknowledged. "But also exciting."
"It would change everything," she said.
"I know," said Remus smiling and wrapping his arms tighter around her waist. "We'd get a house of our own, somewhere far from the city. We could go somewhere nobody knows us. We could leave England," he finished.
"You'd want to leave your friends and family?" questioned Hermione.
"You're my family. You and our son."
"Son?" laughed Hermione. "It's a boy, then."
Remus shrugged. "Or daughter," he said, then his eyes brightened. "Or one of both, maybe."
They laughed together and held each other tenderly. "So you're happy about this?" asked Hermione.
He nodded. "I am. I've always wanted a family of my own." He kissed her lightly. "We're going to have a baby," he said.
She nodded. "We're going to have a baby." They grinned at each other.
"Do you know what the best part of this is?" asked Remus.
Hermione shook her head. "What?"
"Our baby will grow up with James and Lily's baby," he replied.
Hermione smiled. Her baby would grow up with Harry. It was too wonderful to comprehend. For the first time all day she felt truly relaxed. She knew she'd done it. Lily and James were safe and they would stay safe. They would be there to raise Harry. They would all raise their children together.
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Hermione and Remus were cuddled together in the living room when Lily returned home. As soon as she saw them, she grinned. "What's going on, you two," she teased. They looked entirely too pleased with themselves.
"You want to tell her?" Remus asked Hermione.
Hermione smiled widely. "We're pregnant," she said.
Lily went pale and her jaw dropped. "Oh my God," she whispered.
Remus and Hermione laughed happily.
"You can't be," said Lily.
"That was my first reaction too," said Hermione. "But I am."
"No," continued Lily. "You don't understand. I'm pregnant."
Remus looked down at his wife and then back to Lily. "It is possible for two women to be pregnant at the same time," he teased.
The look of bewilderment was so amusing on her face that both Hermione and Remus jumped up and enveloped her in a hug. "We're so happy for you," said Hermione.
Lily hugged them back, then pulled away suddenly. "Did James tell you?" she asked. "Because we agreed to keep it a secret for a while and it seems like you already knew."
"No," reassured Hermione. "James didn't tell us. We're very surprised." She and Remus shared a private smile.
"What's going on in here?" asked an amused voice from across the room.
The three friends broke apart and saw James and Sirius were watching them. Lily smiled mischievously. "Do you remember how worried you were about having one pregnant woman in the house?" she asked her husband. "How do you feel about having two?"
"Who else is pregnant?" asked Sirius.
"Who else is pregnant?" asked James.
"Lily's pregnant?" shouted Sirius in astonishment.
"Hermione's pregnant," said Remus to James and Sirius.
"Hermione's pregnant too," laughed James.
"Wait, wait, wait," shouted Sirius. Everybody shut up and stared at him. "Who the hell is pregnant now?" he asked.
"Me," said Hermione and Lily at the same time.
"Are you really, Hermione?" asked James.
She nodded and James came over and hugged her. "Congratulations," he said.
"Thank you," she replied. "And to you too." Suddenly everybody was hugging and laughing.
Sirius disappeared and returned shortly afterward with three glasses and a bottle of Ogden's Fire Whiskey. "None for the mom's to be," he said, pouring James and Remus glasses of whiskey and then himself. They toasted the girl's and then they all decided to go out to eat. Hermione didn't think she'd ever been happier.
