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Disclaimer: None of the characters or the world created by JK Rowling belongs to me nor do I make any money off this story.

*****************HP******************

To say the Weasley household received a shock early Christmas morning was the understatement of the century to be sure. Molly's scream nearly brought the house down on their heads, people rushing from bedrooms in pajamas and robes, wands in hand. Not only did the others find Hermione and George in the same position Molly had, George found himself getting quite comfortable with the mischief he had caused and settled himself further onto the floor with Hermione.

Hermione however was shoving at him profusely, swearing and redder than a tomato. Her stomach was fully exposed to the room along with her Slytherin green panties and suddenly she was on the verge of tears. This was not how she had planned to tell the family. Hermione was able to bring her knee up and into George's stomach, forcing him to let go and allowing her to awkwardly wiggle across the floor while pulling her shirt down and robe closed.

Harry and Ron shoved their way through the crowd that had gathered and over to Hermione. Ron crouched to the floor and made sure Hermione's robed closed as much as it could and then he and Harry helped her up off the floor. Hermione's legs were wobbly, and her face hot from embarrassment while her tear ducts stung.

Molly's mouth seemed unable to function properly; she kept opening it and closing it like a fish gasping for oxygen. Suddenly she wavered and Arthur was there to grab her, settling her into and armchair. George lost his grin and scrambled off the floor, running over to the matriarch. Gripping her hand he looked concerned.

"Mum, are you alright?"

Everyone in the room remained quiet as a grave and Hermione gripped Harry's arm almost painfully. Ron stood just in front of the pair, shielding Hermione from the other's view. Molly slipped her eyes closed and appeared to take a deep breath before a sudden change came over her expression. The witch's eyes snapped open and held a fury all her children were distinctly familiar with. One small hand snaked out and gripped George's ear nimbly. George cried out at the pinch and twist method his mother employed before grinning awkwardly.

"Mum?"

"GEORGE WEASLEY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

*****************HP******************

Hermione fidgeted in her seat at the table between Ron and Harry, unable to raise her gaze to Molly's. Harry and Ron had both found shirts while a pair of sweatpants had been tossed at Hermione, the order clearly to wear them. Hermione hadn't been brave enough to argue.

This was not how she had planned on sharing the news of her pregnancy and when she got her hands on George he was going to wish she had killed him. Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly and Hermione finally raised her gaze to Molly. The older woman gazed at her quietly, the complete opposite of what everyone in the room had expected.

The five of them sat in the kitchen, presents under the tree forgotten for now while the rest of the home's occupants had been banished upstairs, despite nearly all of them being adults, two being married and one ready to deliver a child of her own. For all the good it did, Hermione knew damn well they were all camped out on the stairs trying to hear whatever they could.

Molly gripped her mug of tea tightly, knuckles white. There was no judgement in her eyes, no anger but instead something that looked like sadness.

"Why didn't you tell us Hermione?"

Hermione laughed, the sound coming out choked. The Gryffindor hadn't realized how close to tears she was until she opened her mouth.

"What was I supposed to say Molly? 'Dinner was great, I've gotten my apprenticeship all straightened out and oh by the way; I had intoxicated and apparently unprotected sex with a man because guess what? I'm pregnant.' "

Harry struggled to hold in a laugh then a wince of pain as Hermione pinched his thigh.

Arthur's eyes were wide as he adjusted his glasses.

"That's not how we would have liked to hear it of course Hermione, but I suppose we would have liked to find out differently than this as well."

Hermione sighed.

"I know Arthur, I'm sorry."

Molly let go the tea mug and looked Hermione dead in the eye, mouth set in a grim line.

"So which one of my idiot sons couldn't perform a contraception charm? I doubt it was George, he and Fred had that spell down pat before they even went to Hogwarts but he did look quite comfortable with you."

Hermione's mouth fell open.

Ron let out a cry of indignation.

"What the hell mum? How come it has to be my fault or George's? How come you're not suspicious of Harry?"

Molly glared at her youngest son and wisely he shut his mouth.

"Harry is just as much my son as you are Ronald Bilius Weasley."

The woman turned in Harry's direction.

"Is that baby yours Harry James Potter?"

Harry numbly shook his head, he honestly had no idea how to reply to that loaded question. It was one he never thought he'd hear actually, especially from anyone remotely like a mother to him.

Molly nodded.

"Not you then. So unless Hermione has been hanging out in Romania with Charlie the most like suspects are George and you Ron."

Hermione couldn't take it anymore.

"Molly, it wasn't Ron or George. As much as I like George he's not my type and Ron is one of my best friends. The baby isn't either of theirs and despite what people think I know plenty of other boys not named Weasley."

Arthur cleared his throat.

"Not to cast aspersions Hermione but you do know who the father is correct? You mentioned being intoxicated."

Hermione looked at the older man and smiled gently.

"I know who he is Arthur and he knows I'm pregnant. We're sort of at a standstill right now."

Molly stood from her chair and went to place her cup in the sink. She stared out the window for a moment before turning back to them, tightening her robe.

"Is this man going to do right by you? Will he support you, the child you carry and be a good man?"

Hermione was unsure how to answer.

"He'll be there for the baby, for our daughter. I already know he's a good man no matter what anybody else might think."

Arthur reached across the table and gripped one of her hands and Hermione hadn't realized until then that she had the cloth napkin she'd been toying with in knots.

"Will you be getting married?"

Hermione gripped the man's fingers briefly before pulling her hand away.

"No. Even if he offered the answer would be no. We hardly know each other, really know each other. We've interacted on many occasions over the last eight years but I won't pretend we could play happy little family together."

Molly came back to the table and stood behind her chair.

"Who is he?"

Hermione shook her head.

"I'm sorry Molly but that's our business right now."

Molly frowned, they could all see the wheels turning in her head.

"What about school, your career? Are you going to throw it all away?"

Hermione glanced at the woman once more, ire beginning to peak. What was it with people? First Severus and now Molly? Did they think being pregnant would addle her brain or make her weak?

"Things will go on as they have been, Headmistress McGonagall is aware and behind me one hundred percent. I'll finish my apprenticeship, get my certificate to teach and do everything I've always said I would. The only difference will be sharing it with a beautiful baby girl."

Molly had a stubborn set to her jaw and opened her mouth with what was no doubt to be a sharp retort but was cut off by Arthur.

"Enough Molly. Hermione has chosen and all we can do is back her up, especially now that she's so far along I doubt she can hide it any longer."

The tension immediately left Hermione's shoulders, she hadn't wanted to argue with Molly. Molly closed her mouth and nodded.

"Well then, since that's settled how about we start breakfast since we're all awake and then open presents? Maybe later or even tomorrow we can go up to the attic and go through some of the baby things I have from Ginny and the boys. "

Hermione stood up from her seat and as she came around the table the older woman pulled her into a tight hug. Hermione swallowed thickly, trying her best not to cry.

"Thanks Molly."

Harry and Ron headed into the living room first and it was probably a good thing seeing as the others had found their way downstairs and were trying to look busy. Ginny gazed at Hermione pensively as she passed and the bookworm saw a flash of hurt on her face. Hermione wanted to tell the younger girl, she really did but Ginny was a gossip and though she wouldn't have told anybody on purpose, she probably would have accidentally let something slip. Hermione would apologize later for leaving her out. Charlie smiled and winked at her from the couch as she walked by.

"Does this mean we can never be? How could you break my heart so?"

Hermione giggled and danced away from him when he tried to kiss her hand dramatically. George was nowhere to be seen and if he was as smart as Hermione knew him to be, he was hiding in the wilds of Russia by now. Bill stood by the stairs and gripped her arm lightly as she walked by.

"Congratulations Hermione."

Hermione smiled at the man and pulled him down to her level, kissing his cheek lightly.

"Thank you Bill."

*****************HP******************

Harry stood in the living room with Ron, Bill and Charlie; bewildered by all that had happened in the last two and a half hours. Running a hand through his hair Harry looked at Ron.

"Well, that was better than expected right?"

Ron shook his head ruefully.

"I thought we were going to die for sure."

Charlie laughed.

"Oh no little brother, if anyone dies a painful death it'll be George."

An indignant shout came from behind the couch before George peered over the back, carefully searching the room for danger.

Bill snickered.

"You can come out George, Hermione went up to get dressed and Mum went back to her bedroom with dad."

George grinned and nimbly hopped over the back of the couch and landed between both brothers.

"Good, that's good. I've still got time to pack before I flee the country then."

Ron glared at his brother.

"What the hell were you doing anyway?"

George held up his hands and smiled.

"Oh no, this isn't my fault. If anything I'm the victim. Hermione cornered me with her vivacious feminine charm and when she had me where she wanted me; she grabbed me. What was I supposed to do?"

Ron growled and stepped forward but any retaliation was cut off when Charlie stood and gripped Harry's shoulder.

"Settled down you two, the real occasion is Harry's initiation into the family."

Harry was confused and he was sure his face showed it. Ron had an odd look on his face but Charlie, Bill and George just shared a grin.

"Charlie, what are you talking about?"

Slinging his arm around Harry's shoulders he pulled the younger man closer to the couch and the others.

"It's simple Harry, you're not a true Weasley until you've been accused of fathering some poor girl's kid. Not that Hermione is a "poor girl" mind you but we Weasley's are known to breed like kneazles and every one of us has been accused more than once. Bill was particularly troublesome and mum about had a fit every time he started dating a new girl. No matter what anybody says, blood wills out in our family, that red hair is a life saver."

Bill waved a hand idly in Harry's direction.

"I was accused more than once, that's for sure. Dad made sure we could all do a contraception charm with ease before we left for Hogwarts."

Ron frowned at his brothers before speaking up.

"I've never been accused."

The redheaded brothers erupted into laughter and George nearly fell off the couch.

"I guess you're not a true Weasley then, eh Ron?"

Harry laughed just as Ron dived at George.

*****************HP******************

Hermione headed up the stairs and toward her room, pausing to use the loo. Closing her bedroom door on the noise downstairs Hermione turned but stopped in surprise at the blonde sitting on her bed in a royal purple sweater and black leggings. Fleur's hair hung elegantly around her face as always but the young woman's eyes were red. Standing she came over to Hermione and before the girl knew what happened Fleur was hugging her and crying so prettily it made Hermione sick with jealousy for a split second. Patting the other woman's back Hermione wasn't sure what to do.

"Fleur?"

Fleur pulled back from Hermione and gazed at her, studying her confused expression.

"I am 'o zorry Hermione."

Hermione looked at her quizzically and shook her head before leading Fleur over to the bed and taking a seat on the edge.

"What are you talking about?"

Fleur reached for Hermione's hands and held them tightly in her own dainty fingers.

"For ze past zree days all ve haf been talking about eez my bebe vile you haf had to keep 'uiet about yourz. Eet must haf been painful and 'ard, I regret eet all zo, now that I know you are pregnant too."

Hermione's eyes welled up with tears and they began falling down her face. She tried to stop them and couldn't figure out what had started them but once again found herself crushed into a tight but awkward hug because of their enlarged stomachs. Carefully Hermione extracted herself from Fleur's arms and began blotting at her face with the sleeve of her robe.

"I'm fine Fleur, really. I've had Harry and Ron supporting me the whole time and though they're not another woman they did their best."

Fleur began wiping up her own tears and reached across the bed where a lump of cloth lay. She held one of the items out to Hermione and waited until the younger woman took it and held it up before speaking.

"I haf brou't you a pair of my leggings, zey are 'uite warm and vork vell vith my enlarged stomac'. Zey are pretty muc' all I vear zees dayz."

Hermione smiled and set them in her lap, determined not to start crying again. Damn hormones.

"Thank you Fleur, I've bought a few things but will definitely need to get more. Maybe you, Molly, Ginny and I can do that sometime in the next few days before I head back to school."

Fleur nodded and held out another item, this bright red in color.

"Zees zocks are 'armed to 'elp vith zwollen feet and zey are very varm. I do 'ot vear zoes unlez I must zees dayz."

To emphasize the last statement the blonde held up a dainty foot that did not look swollen at all. The socks she wore matched the sweater in precisely the same shade of purple.

"How about I get dressed and then we can go down for breakfast. I'm starving."

Hermione helped Fleur to her feet and the other woman agreed as she pulled out her wand. With a quick wave it looked as if Fleur had never cried and judging by the refreshed feeling of her own eyes, Hermione imagined she didn't appear to have cried either.

"I vill vait outzide vile you 'ange and zen ve vill go eet."

Patting her stomach Fleur giggled.

"Bebe eez very 'ungry."

*****************HP******************

Hours later the family once again lounged in the living room and once again the topic of conversation was babies, specifically Hermione's. Presents had been exchanged shortly after breakfast and while the men did dishes and cleaned up the women had gone up to the attic and gone searching into all the many baby things Molly had held onto after all these years. Some items had already been given to Fleur for her little girl but after having seven kids there was still an abundance of baby things.

As they sorted and picked, 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over little onesies and tiny knitted cardigans Hermione apologized once again to Molly for not speaking up sooner. She also apologized to Ginny for not telling her though the other girl didn't appear to want to drop her resentment. Hermione had shrugged it off, either the youngest Weasley would forgive her or she wouldn't and Hermione wasn't about to worry about it. Several items had been set aside so be boxed up and owled to Hermione at school, the rest they were going to put away in the nursery at Grimmauld Place.

Snow fell lazily outside and much of the afternoon had been dedicated to dinner preparations, Christmas music and dodging the occasional stray snowball from the garden gnomes. A war had started just outside the kitchen garden between the Weasley household and gnomes who were supposed to be hibernating for winter.

Dinner had been wonderful and managed to still be pleasant when Percy and his girlfriend Penelope had showed up unexpectedly. Without question room had been made at the table, introductions meted out and though the other Weasley siblings had been far from happy they put on smiles for Molly.

A tap on the living room window had Arthur rising from his chair and opening it for the poor unfortunate owl that waited outside. The creature flew in and landed on the back of Arthur's chair, flapping its wings and shaking its feathers to shake off the snow.

"Ginny, grab some of the leftover ham for this poor bird."

Ginny hopped up from the floor and wandered into the kitchen, coming out a minute later with a slice of still warm ham. As Arthur untied the brown paper package from the bird's leg, Ginny fed it bit after bit of ham. After the package was removed the bird didn't appear to be in any hurry to leave. Ginny motioned it onto her arm and carried it into the kitchen alcove where Pig's stand stood.

Arthur walked over to Hermione and held out the box. The room was quiet, wondering who had sent the late gift and what was inside. Hermione accepted it hesitantly, there was no name or return address on it. Bill motioned for the box, wand held a lot and Hermione handed it over without question. The curse breaker performed a few charms with no effect before handing it back.

"It's harmless but we still can't be too careful."

Hermione grimaced, guilty she hadn't thought of it herself.

Arthur patted her on the head as he headed back to his chair.

"Don't worry too much about it Hermione, our wards are always but so if it was malicious in any way it wouldn't have made it through to begin with."

Pulling the ties on the box Hermione was excited and confused. She didn't know who had sent the gift but she was getting another present so did it really matter? Lifting the plain black box out of the brown paper Hermione removed the top and set it aside, unfolding tissue paper with her other hand. Inside the first layer of paper was a simple note.

Seeing it is Christmas time I am sure you'll be seeing these at the Weasley home. Though you are muggleborn and I only a halfblood, my mother believed until the day she died in the tradition of pureblood families. I hope you will accept this token in honor of her.

Hermione passed the note to Harry at her side before digging further into the box. Beneath all the white paper rested the item she searched for, resting on a bed of blue velvet. Hermione pulled her hand out and held the item farm above her head so the others could see it, unable to pull her eyes away.

An ornate silver rattle similar in design to the Weasley family's hung from her fingertips by a pristine white ribbon. There was no name engraved on the side but the year 2000 was there waiting below where the name would be placed. This rattle like the others she handled the day before tinkled prettily and seemed to have an ethereal glow in the light of the tree. Lowering the rattle Hermione cradled it in her hands, afraid to smudge the surface and looked at the reactions around the room.

Fleur smiled appreciatively.

"Zat eez an Amyx, beautiful vorkmanship. My family 'az alvayz bou't from zem for any 'pecial occanzionz."

George and Bill both appeared curious while Molly stared at it with tears in her eyes.

"Hermione, it is beautiful. Who sent it?"

Looking down at the rattle once more Hermione stroked a finger down the handle before bursting into tears.

*****************HP******************

Severus reclined in his leather armchair before the fire, sipping whiskey and reading the note once again. A few simple words from a girl, no woman, who didn't owe him anything.

It's tradition in my father's Scottish family for a father to give cufflinks to their son or son in law upon the coming of their first child. We're not married or even dating and my father is not here but soon you will have a daughter of his blood and I thought tradition should hold. These cuff links were my father's, one of the few items I allowed myself when I left. I hope you'll honor their tradition and significance even if you never wear them. Happy Christmas.

Severus glanced at the old wooden box that sat open on the table beside him. The velvet was worn both on the lid and where the cufflinks lays but the hinges on the box were in perfect working order along with the iron lock on the outside. Inside lay the silver cufflinks, glinting in the dying firelight. They were not overly fancy or ornate; engraved upon them was a longsword crossed with a rose that had yet to open. As with any other crest there were intricate swirls and starburst shapes of all kinds along the edges.

Severus forced himself to set the note inside the box and close it, the small key already hanging on a silver chain around his neck. The cufflinks were a gesture of tradition from Hermione just as the rattle had been from him, it didn't mean any more than it appeared.

If this was true, then why did his chest ache?