Hermione and Ginny stayed back after lunch to help Mrs Weasley with the dishes so that they would have an opportunity to speak to her alone. The boys were going to play quidditch for the afternoon and were surprised that Ginny did not want to join them but she just told them that she was going to have some girl time with Hermione and Mom. Her brothers shrugged it off but Harry gave her a piercing stare that clearly said he did not buy her story and he knew something was up but then sighed and said quietly to Ginny and Hermione "Have your time, but we will talk latter, I know something is up" then gave Ginny a kiss on the cheek and followed the Weasley boys outside.
"When did he become so observant?" asked Ginny.
"He surprised me too but then again he has been through so much and has always been more attentive then any of the other guys. But honestly he has been lied to and had things hidden from him all his life I think he just knows when someone is hiding something, especially you or me because we are so close to him, " Hermione explained.
"I hope he is not hurt" Ginny worried.
"He maybe a little but he and I have had a few talks over the years about how as much as I love him and Ron, there are somethings that really require a girl friend. He has been great at being there for me and telling me that he will get past any awkwardness about girl issues if I needed him, because I never really had any girl friends. He was even there for me during the WonWon/Lav/Lav debacle, that could not have been easy. But he knows that you and I have grown close over the years and I think he is happy for us to have each other, he will give us our girl time, but he will want to be read in at some point."
"Ok, lets go find mom before she finishes all the clean up on her own" Ginny said.
When they arrived in the kitchen Mrs Weasley already had the dishes washing them selves and was wiping down the counters. "Sorry we took so long mom, the boys were trying to get me to play, we really did want to help," Ginny apologized.
"No worries my dears I have been doing this for so long I can clean up ten times faster than you two could, this way we will have more time to talk about whatever is bothering the two of you" Mrs Weasley remarked. When both girls looked at her shocked she continued "please girls I have seven children do you not think I know when they are hiding something or need to talk, plus I could tell that both of you were crying and Hermione you have been acting strange for days. You haven't been the same since the war, none of us have but you poor dear had to face things no one ever should especially at your age. I know about what happened at Malfoy Manor, Fleur told me" at Hermione's twitch and look of pain Mrs Weasley rushed to explain "please do not be mad at her she did not want to break confidence, she just wanted me to know so that I could keep an eye on you and watch for lingering effects from prolonged exposure to the cruciatus."
"I am not upset about that, I understand, it is just that it brings back bad memories" Hermione faltered unable to bring herself to confess the truth.
"Of course dear, I am so sorry, I should not have mentioned it so callously" Mrs Weasley apologized again.
Ginny came up beside Hermione and took her hand and took a deep breath before saying "actually mom we have come to talk to you about what happened... there" she finished not wanting to say the dreadful name again.
Mrs Weasley reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to sit at the table, "I am always here for you my dear whatever you need you are like a second daughter to me, and I hope one day that my Ronald will make it official, whenever you need to talk or a shoulder to cry on I am here."
Hermione burst into tears which quickly escalated to full out sobs. Mrs Weasley rubbed her back comfortingly and Ginny took out her wand. When Mrs Weasley look at Ginny questioningly Ginny simply cast a muffliato and explained "in case one of the boys wonders in."
Hermione looked up as Ginny performed the spell and tried to calm herself enough to speak. "I don't think Ron will ever marry me Mrs Weasley, in fact he is going to hate me when he finds out."
"Finds out what dear? You two have been friends for years, I know your relationship is new but it is based on a strong foundation of friendship. I am sure you can get through anything" Mrs Weasley tried to comfort, while wondering what could possibly be so upsetting to Hermione that Ron wouldn't already know. Those three friends have been through everything together, she did not think they had secrets from each other. Nor could she fathom how three people so close could even have secrets, especially one as huge and upsetting as this one obviously was to Hermione.
Deciding that since ripping off the band aid worked with Ginny she mind as well give it a go she said "I'm pregnant."
Mrs Weasley froze, then her hands dropped from Hermione's back and she rose and took a turn around the kitchen, each movement was slow and seemed independent of the previous move, as if her brain was processing at half steam. Hermione suddenly jumped up and ran to the sink where she threw-up her lunch. Hermione's wrenching noises seemed to have jarred Mrs Weasley out of her shock and she walked back to Hermione and helped to pull her hair back and grabbed a class that she filled with water as soon as Hermione finished. "Here dear" she said handing the glass to Hermione.
Hermione swished and spat a few times then took a drink. "Thanks" she said timidly.
Mrs Weasley gave her a kind smile to let her know that she was not mad, upset a little, disappointed surly, but she still loved her. But as her mind settled she remembered that Hermione believed that this news would cause Ron to hate her, and Mrs Weasley's smile faded and a look of confused concern replaced it. "I do not understand why Ronald would hate you for this news, yes the timing is not ideal, but he will take responsibility for his actions, I raised him better than to turn away from the mother of his child" She explained comfortingly.
Hermione's head fell and she struggled to find the words, admitting that this baby was not Ron's was so much harder with Mrs Weasley than it had been with Ginny. In fact Hermione was sure that this was going to be the hardest confession, even worse than with Ron, because he would know the baby was not his, she wouldn't have to explain that, and Hermione loved and respected Mrs Weasley so much she didn't want to hurt her.
Hermione stammered but no words came out. Ginny came up and placed a arm around her shoulders and said "Mom you misunderstood, Ron is not the father."
"What?" Mrs Weasley shrieked. "I don't understand, who's is it?" Then a horrible thought entered her mind, "Is it Harry's, oh this will kill Ronald" Mrs Weasley exclaimed while plopping down into a chair.
"Why does everyone think it is Harry's?" Hermione questioned.
Mrs Weasley thought for a second, "well you two are very close and you were alone for months..."
"Well its not Harry's, we don't have that kinda relationship, plus he is madly in love with Ginny" Hermione said finally.
Mrs Wesley smiled at Hermione's mention of Harry and Ginny but this elimination left her puzzled as to who else could possibly be the father. Then a horrible thought struck her and she started to tremble, "Wait, you said you wanted to talk about what happened to you at Malfoy Manor," Mrs Weasley started to connect what the girls were trying to tell her and she felt sick at the implication. she stood, afraid she may need to relieve herself at the sink as well but continued "did this happen to you there?" she asked so softly even she barely heard her own words.
Hermione nodded as tears started to fall down her cheeks.
Mrs Weasley gasped and made a b-line for the sink where she was violently ill. When she finished she slumped to the floor sobbing and dry-heaving. "My poor girl" she kept saying over and over between sobs.
Hermione was so shocked at the intensity of Mrs Weasley's reaction that she just stood and watched unable to move even to wipe her own tears.
It was Ginny that went to comfort her mother. She got down on the floor with her and rubbed her back comfortingly, just as her mom had done for her countless times before.