Hermione walked up and down the tables in the Transfiguration class, adjusting the students' arms and pronunciations of the spell they were learning as needed. They all looked so young, so carefree. She couldn't believe that she was about the same age when she, Ron, and Harry had gone through that trapdoor. They had been babies. The bell rang and she glanced up at the clock.
"Miss. Granger," Headmistress McGonagall called from the front of the class. She walked over and McGonagall gave her some papers to correct from her NEWT students' assignments. "Please have these done by Friday."
"Yes, Professor." Hermione replied, happy to be given the distraction.
After the war, many professors left Hogwarts and it was difficult to find replacements for the positions. That's when McGonagall started the fellowship program that Hermione was in. Never, in Hogwarts history, had a Headmaster or Headmistress had to keep their professor role while also being in charge of the school. Hermione was happy to get the first hand experience from one of the most brilliant witches she'd ever met. The next school year, as long as she got all of her assignments done and McGonagall was happy with her teaching, she'd be taking over as the Transfiguration professor and McGonagall would be able to just solely be the Headmistress.
Hermione walked back to her room. If one were to walk by the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room there was a small door that looked as though it would be a small custodian closet. If someone other than Hermione and Professor McGonagall tried to get in it would look like there were just cleaning supplies. The door handle was bewitched so that it had to be tapped three times with either Hermione or McGonagall's wands to open into a small studio apartment styled room. There was a small kitchenette and sitting area but the best part of her room would have to be her sleep/study area. She had a loft style bed with a desk underneath it. The ceiling above her bed had the same starry effect that the Great Hall had. There had been many nights in the short time that she'd been back at Hogwarts where she'd spent hours awake just looking at the stars and thinking about everything that was happening in her life.
Ron hadn't spoken to her much since she'd started this more intensive part of the program. She knew that he assumed she was very busy, and she assumed that he was busy as well but it hurt her that he wasn't even trying to reach out to her. But, of course, she would keep reminding herself angrily, Ron had never been one to think like that. Maybe it was bothering her more than usual because of the pregnancy hormones, she was chalking it up to that. Deep down, however, she knew that this wasn't the case. Charlie had been owling her once or twice a week regularly ever since they had slept together.
Why couldn't Ron be putting the effort into their relationship the way that Charlie was? She and Charlie weren't even together! Hermione hadn't answered any of his owls. She had no idea what to even say to him. Even though she wasn't answering his owls and trying to pretend he didn't exist, she couldn't keep her mind off of Charlie. She kept thinking about how it had felt being with him. When they were just sitting and talking at the Leaky Cauldron they were able to talk to each other like they were best friends, even though they had barely known each other. When they had made love it had felt as though they had been together hundreds of times before. She had felt so right with Charlie, and it made her feel so guilty because she was with Ron. Now they were expecting a child together and she didn't even know what to do.
It made the most sense to stay with Ron, they'd been together for so long, but at the same time Hermione's heart sank at the thought. She wasn't happy nor in love with Ron. Not to mention Ron wasn't the father of this baby. Charlie was. After seeing how much effort Charlie was putting in to trying to speak with her, she was starting to put more and more thought into being with him instead and being able to raise their baby together as a family. Her heart sank even further when she thought of taking Charlie away from his passion of working with dragons in Romania. She could never do that to him. At least with Ron they'd be a family.
Hermione sat down at her desk and got to work grading some of the papers McGonagall had asked her to grade, very thankful at having them to distract her. Her hand automatically went to her belly, which was beginning to swell with her son or daughter. The only people at Hogwarts who knew about her pregnancy were McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey. The baby was developing perfectly and she was approximately 16 weeks. Thankfully, most of her first trimester symptoms had gone away. She would be able to find out the next week if the baby was a boy or a girl. Hermione was planning on telling Ron about their pregnancy when she went home for Christmas (in about two weeks). She kept telling herself she had waited to tell him because she thought it would be a nice Christmas present for him. In the back of her mind she knew that in reality it was because of her anxiety about telling the biggest lie of her entire life.
Hermione laid down on Madam Pomfrey's exam table while the nurse put the goopy gel on her belly. She shuddered involuntarily from how cold it felt on her skin. Pomfrey moved the medical wand all over her belly muttering to herself.
"Everything looks great! Would you like to know the gender of the baby?" She asked her. Hermione nodded, a smile on her face.
"It's a girl." Hermione finished the remainder of her appointment with the same smile on her face. As she walked up to her room, she thought of the baby girl that was going inside of her. She could start buying baby clothes and coming up with girl names. Then, as she walked into her apartment, her heart sank a little. Ron was sitting on her bed, looking at the pregnancy book that she had left out.
"Ron what are you doing-" She started.
"Is there something you've forgotten to tell me?" He said, sounding anxious, hurt, and distant.
"Ron, I wanted to wait until Christmas so I could tell you face to face!" She replied. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."
"But you're almost halfway through!" He replied. "I've missed half of this pregnancy. It's not like you just wanted to wait until after your first trimester. That I could have understood, I mean I'm sure McGonagall would have let you come home for a date or something so we could talk. It's not like you're under house arrest. We could have even met in Hogsmeade or something. How could you have not told me?!"
"Ron do we ever talk?! You haven't spoken to me since I've been here! Not to mention when's the last time we went on a date?!" Hermione retorted back angrily after a few moments. "Would you honestly have been excited?! Besides, it's not like we planned this." Ron looked at his knees, ignoring Hermione's outburst.
"Do you know what the baby is?" He said quietly.
"A girl." Hermione replied, feeling her anger ebb away. He stood up and gave her a hug.
"I'm sorry for everything that's happened between us. I'm sorry I've been pushing you away. But I want us to be able to work. Especially for our daughter. Even though it might not seem like it sometimes I do love you, Hermione."
Hermione hugged him back and gave him a small smile.
"I'm sorry I kept it from you. I promise, I was planning on telling you at Christmas, I was just afraid of how you were going to take it." She told him.
"I love you, Hermione." Ron replied, although he still sounded distant.
"I love you too, are you okay?" Hermione wanted to kick herself for asking such a stupid question. Of course he wasn't okay, he was upset. She'd be upset too if he'd kept something as big as this from her.
"I'm afraid I'm not going to be a good dad." He answered quickly. A little too quickly, but Hermione wasn't going to push him any further.
"You're going to be an excellent father." Hermione smiled back at him. She reached into her bag and took out some of the ultrasound pictures that Madame Pomfrey had given to her. They sat on her couch as they looked at them together. After seeing the pictures of their baby Ron looked a lot more calm and relaxed.
"Hermione, I'm sorry for getting so angry and for just showing up without letting you know. It would have been an awesome Christmas surprise. I had originally wanted to surprise you and tell you I got the promotion!" He told her with a big smile.
"That's amazing, Ron!" Hermione replied and gave him another hug. "Do you want to go to Hogsmeade and celebrate? I'm sure McGonagall will understand, she knew I was finding out the gender today."
Ron's face sank a little bit.
"Does anyone else know about the baby?" He asked her, she shook her head.
"Only me, you, McGonagall, and Pomfrey." She replied.
"Not even Harry or Ginny?"
"Nope." He relaxed as he stood up and offered her his arm.
"What are you in the mood for?" He questioned, his belly grumbling. Hermione laughed.
"Do you want to go out or do you want me to whip something up here really quick?"
"Would you want some chicken parm?" Ron looked hopeful as he asked and Hermione nodded.
"That sounds great!"
She cooked dinner while Ron was talking about his promotion. He was going to be Head of the Department of International Safety, it was his job to make sure Voldemort was actually dead and to keep an eye on followers that were still alive and trying to bring the Deatheaters back together. He sounded so excited, the most excited that Hermione had ever seen him. They ate dinner and dessert together (Hermione had made some lava cakes) and Ron stood up to give her a huge hug and kiss on the cheek when he finished.
"I loved spending time with you today." He murmured into her hair. "I've missed you. I promise I'll do everything I can to make you and our baby girl happy. I'm sorry I haven't been there for much moral support but I promise I will turn this around. For us."
"I loved seeing you too." Hermione replied, returning the hug. "We love you. But we should probably get to bed. Would you like to stay or do you have to go back?"
"Sadly I have to go back, but I promise I'll be back to visit you soon and we'll have the whole Christmas break together." Ron smiled at her and gave her another kiss on the cheek. Then, he walked to the fire place and left using Floo Powder.
