Chapter 17: Family Dinner

The room went silent as all eyes traveled between Ron, Hermia and the twin girls being held in Harry's arms. The tension permeating the air was so heavy it was almost suffocating. Reacting to the tension Helena struggled against Harry's arms and reached towards her mother, calling her name. Hero also started wiggling violently, straining to be let down. Fearing that he was going to drop one or the other Harry set the twins on the floor. As soon as they gained their feet Hero rushed to Ron, holding up her arms to be picked up, while Helena ran straight into Hermia open arms.

As one Ron and Hermia scooped the girls up and turned back to their enraptured audience. The expressions on their faces varied in great degree from disbelief to astonishment. No one seemed to know what to say or how to react to the revelation that Ron was not only a father but the father of twins.

Finally breaking out of her shocked trance Ginny stepped forward, a genuine smile on her face. "Aren't they adorable?" She finally asked, breaking the silence gripping the room. She held out her hands to take the baby from Ron's arms. "Who is this adorable creature?" She asked as Ron handed her the toddler.

"This is Hero." He said with a proud smile on his face.

"Hero. What a beautiful name." She cooed as she pressed a kiss to the podgy cheek causing the baby to giggle. "I think you have got the prettiest hair out of all the Weasleys," she confided as she ran her fingers through the downy soft strands. "I would kill for some of your curls."

Ginny's bold acceptance of the girls snapped Molly out of her shock. She clapped her hands together and gave a short little hop before she rushed forward. "Can I see my grandbabies?" She asked with tears in her eyes. Hermia nodded, not sure if she could manage to speak just yet, and handed the child over to her grandmother. Instead of protesting like she feared she would, Helena settled right into her grandmother's arms and began to babble mostly nonsense as she set herself to examining her grandmother's clothing.

Harry smiled when he saw that Ron's arm slid around the waist of his bushy haired friend and she didn't stiffen or pull away. It eased his heart and his worry for both of his friends to see them interact this way. Sighing lightly, he was about to turn and slip out of the room when Ginny caught his eye. Passing the baby off to her father she joined Harry in the hall, throwing her arms around the neck and kissing him soundly.

"Where are you off to?" She asked, her lips grazing against his chin as she spoke.

Harry smiled down at Ginny, who was wrapped securely in his arms. "I thought I would apparate over to the Granger's and inform them of their daughters return. Then I thought I would go and let Dumbledore and the Ministry know the happy news."

"While I do agree you should go and fetch the Granger's, I don't think you should go and fetch Dumbledore or the Ministry." Ginny pressed herself closer to her fiancé. "You should be here with your family." She wound her fingers through his jet black hair and pulled his head down for another searing kiss. "Where you belong."

"So if we're family," Harry asked with a wicked grin on his face, "Doesn't that make you my sister?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Harry." She wound her arms tight around his neck and covered his lips with another soul devouring kiss. "Now you hurry to the Granger's," she said pushing him towards the door, "than come straight home. I mean it. Dumbledore and the Ministry can wait until tomorrow."

Harry halted at the door, stopping to look back at her with longing in his eyes. "I love you, Gin."

Ginny smiled contentedly. She never grew tired of hearing him say that. "I love you too, Harry. Now go get the Grangers."

Ginny watched him disappear before she turned back to the room and saw that the girls she knew as Hermione and Ron had been pushed onto the sofa closest to the fire and Hero and Helena were being handed around, becoming acquainted with their many aunts and uncles. At first the girls had been frightened by the added noise in the room and all the new faces, but like true Weasleys they adapted and soon were basking in the joy of having so much attention on them.

Hermia sat quietly on the sofa, pressed as close to Ron and the comfort he offered, as she could manage. She knew she shouldn't be frightened by the large group of people. They all seemed to genuinely care about her. But she just couldn't seem to make herself relax when they all were so comfortable with each other. It wouldn't be so horrible if she could remember them and how she had first met them, but at the moment she was having trouble just remembering their names.

"Ron," Hermia leaned in close to him when she realized that her black haired friend was gone, "Where did Harry go?"

Ron cast a quick glance around the room before answering. "He must have gone to get your parents."

"He went to get my parents? Tonight?"

"Of course." Ron looked at her like she had gone mental. "We wouldn't make your parents wait any longer than they had too to see you again. There was a time, but that has long past. As soon as they learner you were missing they began to move heaven and earth to find you. Besides, it's easier to bring them here then to bring you and the girls to them."

"Ron," Hermia clutched tightly at his arm with uncertainty, worry straining her voice, "are my parent's all right with me being a witch?"

Ron focused on her more closely. "That's a hard question to answer because I would have to say both yes and no." He stroked her hand gently. "I do know however that they are very proud of you."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled with tears.

"Yeah." Ron took her hand and wound his fingers through hers. "I know I haven't explained everything to you yet. But you should know that you helped save our world and the Muggle world."

Hermione's eyes rounded. "I did?"

Ron nodded and pressed a kiss to her fingers wound between his. "You did. You helped save the world than disappeared before anyone had the chance to thank you. So I'm going to do that now. Thank you."

Hermione blushed prettily before looking down at her and Ron's entwined fingers. "What do you think Harry is going to tell my parents?"

Ron paused a moment in thought. "I think Harry will explain everything to them so that there are no shocks when they get here. That way they can concentrate on welcoming you home."

"Mummy." Helena toddled over, her arms raised to her mother. "Mummy, eat."

Hermia glanced at her watch as she set the toddler on her lap. "Blast, it's past dinner time."

Molly, who had been bouncing Hero playfully on her lap, snapped into attention at the mention of food. "Don't worry about a thing, dear." Molly said as she set Hero on the ground, watching contentedly as she instantly rushed over to Ron, climbing into his lap. "I'll have dinner ready in a snap. Ginny would you mind helping me in the kitchen?"

"Of course, mum." Ginny said rising to her feet. "Hermione," Ginny said looking around the room with a calculating eye. "Do you want to help mum and me in the kitchen? It's a lot quieter in there."

"Yes, I would." Hermia said gratefully rising instantly to her feet. She tried to hand Helena to outstretched hands but the little girl refused to let go of her mother's neck. Hermia chuckled as she patted Helena's back gently. "I guess I'll just take you with me."

Ginny, who was waiting for Hermia at the door, wound her arm through hers and towed her towards the kitchen where Molly already had potatoes scrubbing in the sink and pots heating on the stove. "Thank you." Hermia whispered into Ginny's ear. "It was getting a bit overwhelming in there."

"Hermione," Molly greeted warmly when she spotted the two girls as they came through the door. "Why don't you sit down and relax. I'm sure today has been horribly stressful for you."

Hermia looked around the cluttered kitchen and felt instantly at home. "I was thinking I could help. I'm not the best cook but I can hold my own."

"Oh no, dear." Molly said leaving her work to push Hremia into a seat. "You just sit and relax and tell us what you've been doing with yourself."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Because I would love to help."

"Of course I'm sure." Molly said turning away and whisking out her wand. "I heard Ron say you were living with two friends. Why don't you tell us about them?"

"Lizzie and Nate?" Molly nodded encouragingly and Hermia settled into the chair as Molly waved her wand at the spice cabinet and different herbs hovered in the air over the pot, tipping their contents into the boiling water.

Hermia's and Helena's eyes both widened with delight as Molly and Ginny set about preparing food. "Lizzie and Nate are two nurses at the hospital I was brought to after I was found." Hermia smiled at the thought of her two friends. "Neither of them understood why, but when I came in they both claimed to feel a special connection with me. They felt like they couldn't turn their back on me. It was this connection that caused them to offer me the use of their home when I came out of my coma."

"Lizzie and Nate are married then?" Mrs. Weasley asked without turning from her pot.

"No." Hermia couldn't keep the laughter from her voice. "No. They're just very good friends. Practically brother and sister."

"I don't know. You and Ron use to be…" Mrs. Weasley broke off slightly stricken, unsure if talking about her and Ron's relationship would make the young girl uncomfortable.

"Yes well," Hermia continued to chuckle, ignoring Molly's words and keeping the mood light. "I don't think Lizzie and Nate will become a couple any time soon."

"Why is that dear?"

"Well," Hermia said hesitantly, unsure how Mrs. Weasley would react, "Nate is gay."

"Pardon me?" Mrs. Weasley turned to her, confusion furrowing her brow.

Ginny snickered and Hermia felt her face tinge red. "You know…" She urged, lowering her voice, "he fancies gents."

Molly's eyes widened with understanding. "Oh." Her mouth gapped for moment before she shrugged and turned back to the counter and began chopping the meat a magical gavel had been tenderizing. "Well as long as he's happy."

Hermia sighed with relief a second before an impish grin over came her features. "Actually, Nate was rather taken by Harry."

Ginny whirled around, her eyes sparkling. "Was he really?"

Hermia nodded, an impish smirk on her face. "He was very disappointed to discover that Harry was taken, let alone straight."

"Does Harry know that?"

Hermia chuckled girlishly with Ginny. "Harry spent three hours explaining the magical world to Nate's satisfaction. And if I know Nate, which I do, he definitely let Harry know what he was feeling."

Ginny laughed merrily. "And he didn't tell me." Ginny turned back to the cupboard where she was preparing salad. "I might just have to give him a little bit of a ribbing for that."

Suddenly a loud crack ripped the air and Harry appeared in front of the fire place.

"Oh." Hermia's mouth circled with surprise. "So that's apperating." Her eyes widened with delight as she finally understood the concept.

Harry smiled over at her. "Your parents will be here any second."

She rose to her feet, still holding Helena. "How are they com…"

Before she could finish her question there was a flash of green light in the empty grate and two bodies stumbled out. Harry caught them immediately, helping them gain their footing. The woman, who had brown bushy hair like Hermia's, immediately began to pat herself off.

"Let me get that for you." Molly said casting a quick cleaning spell over the Grangers.

"Thank you, Molly." The woman said, pushing her bushy hair out of her face. "Now, where is my daughter and grandchildren?" She performed a small, semi circle and stopped when she saw the image of her daughter standing near the table, a small red headed child in her arms.

Tears sprang to Jane Granger's eyes and she squealed with delight. "Hermione." She flung herself at her daughter and hugged her close, her eyes closing as she savored the feeling of having her daughter in her arms again. "Oh, how I've missed you, my darling girl." She pressed kisses all over her daughters face, not satisfied until she covered every inch of it. Mrs. Granger held her daughter close for several minutes, tears running unashamedly down her cheeks. "I love you." She murmured over and over again, never releasing her hold on her daughters face. When she finally pulled away she had a huge smile on her lips.

"Which one of my grandchildren is this?" She asked holding out her hands to take the small child. Helena hesitated for a moment before deciding, by help of her mother's encouragement, to go into the arms of the woman who looked so much like her mum.

"This is Helena." Hermia said, relinquishing her daughter with very little apprehension.

"Why hello, Helena." Mrs. Granger cooed as she stepped back allowing her husband to wrap his arms around their daughter.

"Hello, Moppet." Melvin Granger held out his arms to his daughter, tears glistening in his warm brown eyes. His arms circled around her as soon as she stepped into his embrace, and he squeezed her tight. "God, it's so good to hold you again."

Hermia smiled sadly but elected not to speak. These were her parents, the people who had given her life, and she didn't know them. She couldn't recognize them or remember them. She racked her brain desperately, hoping for some semblance of a memory, but there was nothing. Her mind was horrifically blank.

Mr. Granger pulled back and brushed stray curls from his daughter's eyes. "I'm so sorry this happened to you Moppet. I would give anything to take it all away."

"So would I." Her eyes pinched with tears. "It's not fair. You're my dad," she reached out and touched his cheek, "and I can't even remember you."

"It's all right." He said in a deep, melodic voice, pulling her into another tight hug. "We're going to get through this."

Hermione shook her head. "I haven't had my memory for almost two years. I don't think it's coming back."

"It doesn't matter, Moppet," he ran a hand over her bushy hair, "we still love you." Mr. Granger released her. "Things will be easier now that you have your family again."

Hermione nodded, fighting valiantly to stop the tears from falling. She had done far too much crying today, and feared she couldn't afford to do more.

Wiping a stray tear from her eye, Mrs. Weasley shoed Hermia and the new arrivals out of the kitchen and towards the living room. "Dinner's almost ready. Harry, why don't you set the table while Ginny and I finish preparing the food?"

"Wow," Harry whispered in Ginny's ear. "Your mother's giving me chores. I guess I really am a part of the family."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "She had better. After next week you officially will be." She pressed another kiss to her lips before awaiting him on his bum as she spent him to the task of setting the table, magicing extra chairs and lengthening the table to accommodate the extra people that needed to fit around it. When he was finished he helped Molly and Ginny transfer the food from the sideboard to the table. When everything was in place Molly called everyone into dinner, using her loud, clear authoritative voice.

Owing to the mammoth amount of people meant to fit around the kitchen table, seventeen places were set, allowing that the small children would eat from their parent's laps. Ron made sure, in the bustle that he found a seat next to Hermia. He felt sure that he could handle Hero for she hadn't given him any trouble so far, but just in case he wanted her near by so that she could give him a few pointers. She after all did know their daughters better then he did.

Besides that ready and viable excuse, he knew that he simply wanted to be as close to her as he could. A small part of him still couldn't believe that he had actually found her, and that small part of him feared that she would disappear without a trace again if he didn't keep her near to him.

Hermia smiled as Ron settled in next to her, Hero tucked safely in his arms, her head leaning against his chest. Hero smiled at her mother as she settled further into Ron's arms and at the sight Hermia's heart lifted. It was easy to tell that Hero was already a daddy's girl. She seemed to have instinctually recognized her father and Hermia could see that there was going to be a special bond between them. A bond like she vaguely recognized she shared with her own father.

Hermione smiled wistfully. She supposed it was a similar bond that she had with Ron. She couldn't remember him or what they had shared, but she felt more comfortable with him than she did with anyone else, including Lizzie and Nate. That was proof enough to her that she and Ron had shared something special. Something so special, in fact, she desperately wished she could remember it more than anything else from her past.

"All right everyone," came Molly's voice from the head of the table, "tuck in."

Almost instantaneously hands reached out to pile food onto plates. Hermia watched with amazement as the food began to literally disappear right in front of her eyes. "Here Mione," Ron reached over and began pilling food on her plate. "If you don't go for the food right away you'll starve. When this family gets together food has a tendency of disappearing before you have a chance to eat."

"Thank you." She smiled, tucking a stray curl behind her ear as Ron finished pilling food on her plate and began to fill his own. She watched him a bit longer, admiring how gentle he was with Hero, and how attentive he was to her needs. It wasn't until he glanced at her and then her plate with concern in his eyes that she picked up her knife and began cutting her food so that it was in small enough pieces that she could share with Helena.

The meal passed in happy camaraderie, the mood lighter than it had been in almost two years. Ron, who had grown silent and distant after Hermione's disappearance, was as loud and dynamic as the rest of the group, chiming in with his own stories and antidotes as the evening wore on. Molly seamed to beam with delight at the return of life to her youngest son while Arthur seemed content to just sit back and listen.

Harry, who sat with one arm firmly around Ginny, caught Ron's eye and smiled contentedly. For the first time in months the two boy's thoughts finally coincided. They were both glad Hermione was home. Granted they had missed her for different reasons, but they had missed her equally. And now with her return they could finally put the past behind them and move on with their lives. Harry would marry Ginny in the up coming week and hopefully, if everything worked out the way it was suppose to, Ron and Hermione would be announcing their intentions to do the same soon after.

As the night wore on the small children grew fussy as it had been a wild and exciting day for them all. Bill and Fleur left first, followed close by Charlie and Sarah. Percy and Penelope left directly after them. Fred and George however decided to stay and celebrate a bit longer with the family.

Unsure of where to put the girls and afraid to ask, Hermia sat timidly in her seat holding an increasingly irritated Helena in her arms. She glanced over at Ron and saw that Hero had finally fallen asleep in his arms, her head resting against his chest, her little mouth pursed open which Hermione knew as a sign that she was in a deep slumber.

"Hermione," Molly finally asked, "Why don't you go put the girls down for the night?"

Hermia stammered awkwardly. "Well I didn't know where I was staying, or what was going on and... I… I didn't know what to do."

Molly smiled her understanding. "Ron, why don't you go with Hermione? Put the girls in Fred and George's old room. That is," she gave her twin sons a pointed look, "as long as theirs nothing wrong with the beds."

Fred and George looked at each other than their mother with guilty looks on their identical faces.

"Why don't you wait a couple minutes, Hermione?" Fred said as he rose to his feet and rushed from the room.

"Yeah." George slowly backed towards the door. "Fred and I are going to go make sure the room is…presentable." George turned and followed quickly on his brother's heels.

"Those two." Molly rolled her eyes. "Willing to do anything for a joke. But don't you worry, Hermione, the boys will have the room cleaned out in a trice. They wouldn't dream of letting anything happen to those precious girls of yours."

Hermia glanced at Ron from the corner of her eye, waiting for his assuramce. "Don't worry, Mione." he said twining his fingers with hers once again. "Fred and George like to play tricks, but nothing serious. Even so, you don't have to worry about them doing anything to the twins." He leaned close so he could whisper in her ear. "Don't tell anyone, but they're still terrified of mum."

"As they should be." Molly glowered as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. If Hermia hadn't been paying close attention that evening she might have missed it, but she saw Molly's lips twitch at the corner, and knew that Molly was all bluster underneath. She loved those boys, and wouldn't change them for anything.

Mrs. Granger groaned as she got to her feet. "I hate to say this, but we really should be heading home. It's getting rather late."

Hermia rose to her feet to follow her parents to the fireplace in the kitchen where the floo powder flower pot was waiting on the mantle.

"We'll stop by to see you tomorrow." Mr. Granger said, wrapping his daughter in a tight hug. "Goodnight Moppet." He said pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Goodnight sweetheart." He said pressing a kiss to Helena's brow. "Say goodnight to Hero for me."

"I will." Hermione promised.

"Goodnight sweetheart." Mrs. Granger hugged her daughter tight, kissing her affectionately. "It's so good to have you home. Goodnight Helena." She said, giving her granddaughter a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep well tonight."

"Goodnight." Hermia echoed back.

"Before I forget." Mrs. Granger reached inside her purse and extracted a long switch of wood. "I thought you might need this, now that you're back." Hermia took the switch her mother handed her and with a start realized that this must be her wand.

Not knowing what to do with it, she stuffed it in her pocket as her parents threw some powder from a flower pot into the fire, causing it to flare green. They stepped into the fire, stopping Hermia's heart in her chest, and called out their address, disappearing in a flash of green flame.

After assuring herself that that was how her parents must had arrived at the Burrow and that she had seen them arrive in one piece, she was able to convince herself they would be alright going back in the other direction.

Hermia turned back to the living room to find Ron leaning against the door frame, a still sleeping Hero in his arms. "I'll show you where you and the girls are sleeping."

Hermia smiled her gratitude. Nodding his head towards the stairs Ron turned and walked away, expecting her to follow behind him. Scurrying to catch up, Ron had already mounted the steps by the time she reached the hallway. Stopping halfway up, Ron turned towards her and waited for her to catch him up.

Panting slightly from her scurry up the stairs, she fell in stride beside him as they continued. As Ron had learned to do in the past, he slowed his step as they so that the shorter legged girl could keep pace with him. Stopping at the second story Ron tapped his knuckle against a battered looking door that seemed to be held up by a single hinge. "Fred, George!" He called through the heavy panel, "Is everything cleaned up in there?"

There was one last sound of scraping as if something was being moved back into place before the door cracked open and one ginger haired head appeared around the door. The twin smiled. "Every things all set."

His twin joined him at the door and pulled it open to reveal a room that had not only been cleared of all signs the two men standing before them had ever inhabited the room, but they had taken the time and the effort to brighten it with stuffed animals and soft frilly sheets in light pinks and yellows that Fred and George must have transfigured for their twin nieces.

Hermione's eyes brightened with delight as a shocked gasp escaped her lips. "Thank you." Tears twinkled behind her chocolate orbs as she smiled her gratitude at the two men. "It's adorable."

"Glad you like it, Hermy." Fred said taking Helena from her arms. The little girl was so tired she didn't even protest, but let her head fall wearily on her uncle's shoulder. "Come on Princess. Let's get you into bed."

George took Hero gently from Ron's arms without waking her. "We'll put them down. You can show Hermy her room."

"Percy's?"

George nodded before turning away, walking gingerly so as not to wake the weary child.

Ron wrapped a supportive arm around Hermia's shoulders. "You must be tired." He pulled her toward the other end of the short hall. "Let's get you tucked in." He pushed open a door to a small room that was spotlessly clean and tidy with one bed pushed up against the wall closest to the window, a desk in the corner and a book shelf full of books and awards set near the door.

Reluctantly Hermia left the comfort of his arm and stepped into the room. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ron wave his wand and the candles in the room burst into a gentle blaze. Despite the feats of magic she had already seen today that far surpassed this small task, her eyes still widened with wonder. Even now she could hardly believe magic was real.

Unconsciously Hermia slid her hand into her pocket and gripped the wand she had placed there moments ago. Despite how foreign this all was to her the wand felt comforting and welcome in her hand, almost like an old friend.

"Could you teach me how to do that?"

Ron's eyes narrowed. "Do what?"

"Light a candle with a flick of a wand."

Ron stared at her a moment without moving before his lip twitched at the corner, a soft chuckle vibrating in his chest.

She released her wand so that she could press her hands to her hips. "What's so funny?"

Ron's eyes met hers again, staring deep into the chocolate brown color. "I never thought I would see the day that Hermione Granger would need me to teach her how to do a spell."

Hermia's eyes scrunched in confusion. "What do you mean? Surely..."

Ron sunk into the chair near the desk. "Hermione, there are very, very few charms or spells that you didn't master on the first try. As a matter of fact, most of the time it was you who was teaching Harry and me the finer points of wand movement or the proper annunciation of spells."

"Oh." Hermia sank down onto the mattress trying to hide her delight at his words but Ron saw the pride that flickered to life in her eyes and couldn't help but feed it.

"You're brilliant. You know that, Mione?" He scooted the chair closer to the bed. "You have read and memorized almost every book in the Hogwarts library. I don't remember a single question ever being asked that you didn't know the answer to." He smiled thoughtfully remembering his first ride on the Hogwarts express. "In fact the first day we met you came into the train car where Harry and I were sitting while I was trying to turn my pet rat yellow. Fred and George had given me the spell so obviously it didn't work. And when it didn't you had the audacity of telling me that it wasn't very good spell and that you had gotten other spells to work for you." Hermia could feel the heat radiating off her skin. Ron reached out his hand and gripped hers. "I didn't know it until years later, but that was the moment I first fell in love with you."

Hermia's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She squeezed his hand tight before releasing it so that she could scoot back on the bed, making herself more comfortable. "I want you to tell me everything."

"Mione…"

"Ron." She stopped him before he had a chance to protest. "I want to know everything."

"It's already been a trying day for you." He protested adamantly.

"Ron," she repeated, looking deep into his brilliant blue eyes, letting him know that she was serious. "I need to know what happened. I need to know how I helped save the world. What happened the day that I disappeared? I need to know everything. I won't be able to sleep unless I do."

Knowing his Hermione the way that he did he knew she wouldn't relent until she had her answers. Ron sighed and settled back into his chair, crossing his feet at the ankles and his arms comfortably in front of his broad chest. "Where should I start?"

Hermia bit her bottom lip a moment in thought. "I guess, from the beginning."