A/N: Hello everyone! A thank you to szabo,alexandra1991, emjrabbitwolf, shaymars, takingflight4, PheonixGryfyndor, renowned-warrior, and the Guest who commented on my last chapter. Thank you all so much!

I also want to appologize for the lateness of this chapter, the new year had been hectic in both good and bad ways and I'm not trying to get my schedule back into some kind of order.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

As always, enjoy!

Chapter 19

Mid September

Hermione was uncomfortable. Her back hurt. Her head hurt. Her ankles were the size of pumpkins.

Oh, and her grandfather was glaring daggers at her rom across the breakfast table.

She was only lucky that Theodore and Molly had both decided to sit next to her, drawing her attention away from the older wizard with conversation.

That didnt work. Especially when Draco was missing form the table.

Had something happened? Did Riddle do something?

It had been a long few weeks from when Draco had his little outburst and even day that passed by became more and more unbearable.

What's worse, Harry and Ron hadn't showed up to the safe house yet, causing Hermione's anxiety to grow. What was taking them? She had asked Molly but the older witch only said that hey had been unable to leave where they were hiding, and that when they had the opportunity, they would come.

It felt like a lie and hope all at once.

She had even spent her birthday sitting in the foyer, staring ash the door in hopes that it was the day that they would come, that she would have the perfect birthday present after a shit few years.

She had hoped in vain.

"Hermione," Molly said, adding yet another spoon of eggs to her plate, "you need to eat. Keep your strength up."

Hermione sighed and took her fork, slowly but surly ate almost everything on her plate.

Molly beamed at her when she finally finished, demanding that she leave the kitchen when Hermione offered to help.

"Go straight to the library, young lady," Molly said when no one else was around, her fist on her hip, "you are to do nothing but relax."

Hermione sighed, "I'm fine."

"Hermione," Moly began, whispering when she saw someone walk past the door, "I won't tell anyone else about your condition, but you need to take it slow. I may be patient, but the baby and your body won't be."

Hermione stared at Molly, but the older witch didnt back down. The brunette stomped her foot, crossing her arms and walking out of the kitchen towards the library. She begrudgingly sat on the couch and opened a book she had been reading the night before.

Reading being the new definition of staring at the door intensely.

She must have looked insane.

Merlin she felt insane.

Hermione took in a deep breathe and tried to force herself to focus on the words on the page. After about ten minutes, Hermione chucked the book across the library, sending it flying. It was about to hit the closed door when the door opened and the book smacked Harry right in the face.

Hermione's hands flew to her mouth, and she tried, even with her ever growing bump, to stand up to see if he was okay.

Ron on the other hand, was too busy laughing at his best mate to even care.

"Merlin, 'Mione," Ron said between gasps, "you have a wicked arm."

"Oh, Ronald! I didnt mean it! Harry, I'm so sorry." Hermione said, walking up to her best friend. She pulled his hand away from his face to find a red spot in his forehead.

"I'm okay, Herms," Harry said, a smile growing on his face, "Ron is right though you do have an arm— you would would be great in quittage."

This time, Hermione smacked Harry on the arm.

Ron burst into another fit of laughter.

"Oh shut it, Ron," Harry muttered.

Harry walked father into the library, and Ron and Hermione followed. "What book was that anyway?" Harry asked.

Hermione huffed, "It's a biography on Dumbledore's life— I have a few ideas on what the horcrux could be."

Ron sank into the sofa and propped his feet up on a pile of books. Hermione almost had the energy to scold him, but it had been a long day, and she had missed her friends so much.

"Well," Harry began, following Ron's lead, "what are they?"

Hermione awkwardly bent down to snag a piece of paper from the floor. Harry cast a quick locking charm on the door and a silencing one to go along with it. The brunette witch helped it up and cleared her throat before reading.

"We already know that Fawkes is one—which means that we only need to know what one more is," Hermione began.

"We already know that, 'Mione," Ron said.

She sent him a glare.

He looked away.

"Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," Hermione said, "I think it might be his late sister's bracelet."

"That one was destroyed by Grindelwald— It was the first." Harry said.

"Oh…" Hermione whispered, "What about his first wand, the one before he got the elder wand?"

"Destroyed." Ron said.

Hermione looked at her list and started to read the possibilities out one by one, all were either destroyed or proven to not hold a piece of the mad headmaster's soul.

She dreaded the last thing on her list, electing to not even say it out loud. Hermione smashed the paper into a ball and tossed it into the fireplace where it was quickly destroyed.

"What?" Harry said, "No more ideas?"

Hermione shook her head, "One, but I need more research."

Ron rolled his eyes, "and we can't help?"

"No." Hermione siad sternly.

The red-head threw his arms in the air, "Fine," he said, exacerbated.

Hermione moved to the couch and made her self comfortable between her best friends, letting her head fall onto Harry's shoulder.

The silence suffocated them.

"Herms," Harry said, just as Hermione aloud herself to relax, "Ron and I are leaving to hunt for Fawkes as soon as we can."

Hermione sat up immediately, "you're what!" she shrieked, "where was I for this conversation!"

Ron shifted beside her and Harry turned to face her fully.

"I dont know if you've noticed, but you're pregnant, and we—" Harry motioned between himself and Ron, "— didnt want to harm you or the baby."

Hermione deflated a little, her shoulder's sagging. "I'm fine," she said, "and I want to come with you."

"I dont think it would be safe," Ron said from behind her.

Hermione shook her head and craned her head to look at Ron, "Your mum gave me a clean bill of health a few weeks ago, I'll be okay. I cant let you two just go off without me."

Harry and Ron shared a quiet moment, debating together though a single look.

"Fine," Harry said, "but the moment that anything goes south, you get sick, hell, if you even sneeze, youre coming right back here, understood?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Harry pulled Hermione in for a hug and Ron wrapped his long arms around both of them from behind. Emotion swelled in her chest and spilled down her eyes. The three stayed like that for a moment before breaking apart, Hermione sniffling when they did. Harry reached over and wiped her tear away, and smiled down at her sadly.

"Oi!" Ron said, ruining the silent moment, "I almost forgot!"

The wizard dug around his pockets and pulled out a small box. With the wave of his wand, the box grew. It was a beautifully wrapped box, a scarlet and gold bow sitting atop the crisp white wrapping paper.

"Happy Birthday, Hermione," Ron said, "Sorry we were late this year."

Hermione laughed and took the gift. She leaned back into the couch and slowly started to tear the paper, careful not to damage the bow.

She pulled offending paper away to reveal a photo-book. She looked up to Harry then Ron then ack to the book. She opened the cover gently, and was greeted with pictures from her past.

Ones of her parents.

Ones from over her years at Hogwarts.

And several empty pages for the happy memories to come.

"We wanted somewhere for you to keep all the happy things for the baby," Harry whispered, "somewhere only good things would touch."

Hermione's lip quivered and she nodded, gently touching a picture of Harry, Ron, and hereof all laughing and hugging in the Great Hall. No doubt it was Colin Creevey who had taken it.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered, "But I want another picture of us— one from now to add."

Harry nodded, "Once we can find a camera, we'll take one."

Ron nodded, "Yeah, 'Mione, it would be a great addition."

Hermione closed the book and threw her arms around Ron's neck, then after a moment, she let go and didi the dame to Harry, thanking them both quietly.

She sniffled for the last time and wiped her tears, again blaming the hormones. Both of the boys pretend to buy it.

"Well then," Hermione began, "Where do we begin with tracking down Fawkes?"