Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Chapter Fifteen

A Celebration Turns Sour

"Talk about bling! Ginny, let's see your finger!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Holy cow, Neville. You went all out! It's going to be a hard act for me to follow... er, someday," Ron said sheepishly, avoiding Hermione's glance.

"You won't have to worry about that, Ron..." said George, as Fred finished his sentence, "...now that you have that credit card."

"This calls for celebration," Molly cried. "Arthur, get the special bottle of Bumbus Bouchet's Bountiful Bubbly. It's the champagne that never runs out. We've been saving it for ages, and I think this is just the occasion- our little girl is getting married."

"And to a fine wizard indeed," added Arthur. "You know, Neville, Molly and I knew your parents well. I know that they would be quite pleased and proud of you today. Cheers, everyone!" he said, as they raised their glasses.

"You know, Ron, I think your big brothers are right. You should really heed their advice. Now that you have a credit card, you really have no reason to delay making your big purchase...assuming you have a girl in mind," teased Harry. Hermione turned pink from head to toe.

"Yeah, that is- if you can find a girl who will have you!" said George continuing the joke.

"But you better not wait too long little brother," added Fred, "cause I've got my eye on Hermione myself." The twins winked at Hermione in tandem, who was now a deep shade of crimson. Even Molly and Arthur couldn't help joining the good-natured laughter.

"Very funny, very funny. You're all a laugh-riot," chastised Ron, sneaking a quick glance at Hermione as if to say 'I would if I could'. "And you're one to talk, Potter," Ron continued in his best Snape imitation, "moving in so quickly on my Potions hottie." All of the Hogwarts students broke out in peals of laughter at Ron's dead-on impersonation.

"Oh, we've heard about her!" chimed in the twins.

"Potions hottie?" asked Mr. Weasley. "I don't believe we had Potions hotties when Molly and I attended Hogwarts. Only had scary Professor Slughorn! What's this? Has Snape got a girlfriend finally? Or has Harry?"

The twins, Hermione and Neville all started talking at once to fill in the Weasley's about the fascinating American witch. "She's way better looking than that 'Bewitched' girl on the telly." "Pre-tested out of her OWL's before she even came to Hogwarts." "Has relations who came from Salem." "She read Hogwarts: a History by the time she was ten." "Snape's protege." " Or rather, Snape's first brush with puppy love." "Enchanted every boy at Hogwarts already." "Only has eyes for Harry- of course." Everyone was so engaged with the breathless sharing of facts and innuendos that no one noticed Ginny's white face and sick expression.

"Ginny, my dear. What's wrong, my love?" Molly started to hover over Ginny like the mother hen she is. "Just a touch of morning sickness- midday, mind you. Probably shouldn't have given you any of the bubbly. Let's get you straight off to bed for a good rest. Neville, say your goodbyes," Mrs. Weasley directed.

Hermione volunteered to get Ginny up the 67, 594 stairs (the number of stairs in The Burrow magically change on a regular basis) after she'd said her weak farewells to everyone. Something about the topic of conversation before Ginny felt ill told Hermione that it had more to do with the onset of the illness than her pregnancy did.

"Ginny, do you think it's the baby- or something else- that's made you sick?" Hermione prodded. Ginny knew that although Hermione disdained the 'noble art of Divination', she was actually one of the most intuitive and psychic people Ginny had ever met. Hence, she didn't give her an inch!

"Hermione, I'm sure it's just the baby. What else could it be?" she asked, giving Hermione a challenging look.