Ok, I was going to add in another chapter before this one but I decided against it, I will put it though (when it's written!).

Sorry for the delay in posting and thanks for the reviews :D

Quidditch Hair ;)

Chapter 3

Hermione was sat on the sofa, staring at the television screen. To look at her you'd think she was deeply engrossed by what she was watching, in truth she wasn't; she didn't have a clue what was happening in the programme she had flicked to.

Ron walked in from the snow and shook his head to get the snowflakes out of his hair. He stamped his feet on the doormat and kicked his boots off so they landed haphazardly on the floor. Knowing better than to leave them like that he straightened them and lined them next to the other shoes by the door. He hung up his cloak and walked through to the lounge.

'Hermione?' he called as he walked through the house.

'What?' she replied. She didn't normally answer questions from her husband in this rude fashion, but today she did, because today, she was unbelievably annoyed.

'Mum said to say she missed you today, you ought to have come, we had a laugh.'

'Good for you. How come you didn't apparate into the house?' she asked.

'I wanted to walk in the snow for a bit, you know how I like snow and it doesn't do it very often so much that it sticks.'

'Oh, ok.'

Ron scowled as he looked at Hermione's profile; she had yet to make eye contact with him, which instantly told him she was annoyed. He just had to find out why, without coming across as insensitive and of not knowing anything about his wife. He thought he had a good idea what this might be about though, but the question still needed to be answered; what about the pregnancy was bothering her now?

He moved and sat next to her on the sofa.

'What are you watching?' he asked casually.

'I have no idea.'

'Oh…is it any good? He asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

'Good is the last adjective I'd use to describe this drabble.'

'Oh…right.'

This is going well! He thought to himself. He decided it would be a hell of a lot quicker just to ask his wife what was wrong, regardless of the consequences.

'Hermione what's bothering you?'

'Nothing.'

'You're lying,' he argued, matter-of-factly.

She sighed, obviously irritated, but he continued, determined to get to the bottom of this.

'Hermione, you can either tell me what's wrong now, or we can go on pretending there's nothing wrong for the next few hours, until we get really annoyed with each other and end up fighting, which, believe me, is the last thing I want to do. So will you please just tell me what's wrong?'

Hermione hadn't moved through his speech and didn't for thirty seconds after he had finished. Finally she answered him.

'My jeans don't fit me anymore.'

It took every ounce of self control Ron had to stop himself from laughing out loud at what was bothering Hermione, he knew if he did he would be sleeping on the sofa tonight, outside on the sofa.

'I er…I thought you found that out about three weeks ago,' he asked his brow furrowed trying to look as confused as he could.

'That was the pair of jeans I wear to go out in, I'm talking about my baggy jeans, which, are supposed to be loose on me!'

'Oh, right,' Ron replied, vaguely recalling the pair Hermione was talking about, 'well, I mean, it was inevitable I suppose, you are getting bigger.'

As soon as he said those words he wished he could have taken them back, the last thing Hermione needed at the minute was a blatant reminder that she wasn't her usual shape and size.

'I am perfectly aware of that Ron, thank you. I DO NOT need reminding!'

Ron fell silent, feeling this was the best action to take. Hermione stood up and walked to the kitchen, she put her hands on either side of the kitchen sink and stood up on her tiptoes. She looked at the snow and tears filled her eyes, not for the first time that day. Merlin, she thought, I am sick of these hormones!

She heard Ron walk into the kitchen and felt his presence behind her. He shuffled towards her and wrapped his arm around her waist, his right hand coming to rest on her not too big, but ever growing bump, and his left on her right shoulder. She didn't move at his touch, but she felt comforted a little.

'Hermione, it doesn't matter if you can't fit into your jeans anymore, we'll get you some others that fit better if you want. I know this isn't how you're used to being, but remember why you're getting bigger; you're carrying our child. Our child Hermione, our beautiful baby boy or girl that will give us so much happiness and make us the proudest parents in the whole world.'

Hermione smiled, she knew Ron was right, of course he was and that was why she was so annoyed. She was annoyed with how much something as trivial and vain as this had bothered her. It wasn't like her at all, and that was something else that bothered her.

'I…I know that Ron, it's just hard being pregnant that's all! Things bother me that never would have before all because of my stupid hormones, and it's strange and it's different and it's…scary!'

'You don't normally get scared Hermione, you thrive on challenges!'

'No Ron, I thrive at doing well at challenge. My worst fear is failure at challenge and this is pretty damn challenging. What if I do something wrong that might harm the baby? What if I make the wrong decision when she's born which has a bad effect on her as she grows up? I don't think I could bare to fail as a mother.'

For the first time since she came into the kitchen she moved. She placed her hand above Ron's on the top of her bump. Ron let go of her and turned her round so she faced him. Hermione's hand didn't move.

'Hermione Jane Weasley listen to me. Any decision you, me or we make will be taken because it's what we think is best for our child. Everyone makes mistakes, but I can't see you making many of them, and as for doing something that might harm the baby, you're doing everything right and you're following the advice the Healers at the hospital gave you to the letter. You can't do more than you are doing. That…scan thing you insisted on having at the muggle hospital showed everything was normal too, so stop worrying. And as for failing as a mother, I don't think that's possible for you. You're ready and we're ready and I cannot wait to hold him or her in my arms.'

Hermione had managed to keep her composure throughout his reassurances, until he talked about holding their baby in his arms. Ron pulled her into a hug and she smiled.

'I'll ask you one thing though.'

'What?' she asked, pulling back from him.

'How come you referred to him or her as 'she' earlier?'

'Did I?'

'Yes, you did?'

'I didn't realise I was doing it. I don't know…I just have a feeling that it might be a girl. It's strange, I have absolutely nothing to base it on, but I just feel it.'

'Oh.'

'What does that 'oh' mean?' she asked.

'Erm…well, I kind of…have a…have a bet on with Harry…that it'll be a boy!'

Hermione laughed, 'well you better hope I'm wrong then hadn't you?'

Ron smiled; relieved Hermione didn't mind he had been betting.

'Yeah I suppose I had!'