She took a bite of her pie, chewing and waiting for him to speak, her big brown eyes beckoning him to talk.

"You don't have to give me an answer today, but I was wondering if you would consider...moving here...living here. With me."

She swallowed and took a sip of tea. "That's a big step."

"Well, we've already taken a huge step, so why not take another one? I just thought that since we're together all the time anyway- I mean- when we're not at work, we're together, here or at your place..."

"You're babbling, love," she said. But it's terribly cute.

"Am I?"

She nodded and decided to tease him a bit to set him at ease. "However, your idea has merit, Mr. Potter."

"Why thank you, Miss Granger."

This was an easy decision for her. "Now, just one question. Should I sell my flat or put out a flat to let advert? Become a landlady or not?"


On Sunday night, she sat in a bath and washed away the smell of the hospital. Harry was in the lounge, already helping her pack her things for the move. She heard a thump and the sound of breaking glass.

"It's nothing!" was heard.

"Was that the Eiffel Tower snow globe from my desk?" she called out.

"Um...I can get you another!"

Tonight Harry would take a dozen or so boxes (of books) back to Grimmauld Place to the room he planned to make into an office for her, as a surprise. She had more books than anything else, so they planned on moving them first. After that, everything else would be a piece of cake, thanks to magic.

January 11, 2010

Hermione opened her paper and was interrupted by a knock on her door. It was Percy with a file.

"Good morning. Tea?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you."

She served him a cup first, then herself.

"Quite good cup of tea," he said. "This is for you, Crittendon's trial has been set for next Monday."

She took the file and flipped through it. "Thank goodness, I'm sick of him."

"Is he bothering you?"

"Regrettably, yes."

"That's unfortunate, for you. It's more trouble for him."

"At least the whole matter will be over with soon."

He cleared his throat. "Well, I must be going. Thank you for the excellent tea. I'll see you next Monday."

She sipped her tea and perused the front page. Nothing was of interest, not even the article about some witch she had never met who gave her opinion of her and Harry's engagement. She was about to flip to the back and see the advert she submitted to let her flat, but her attention was caught by page two. She saw "Product Recall" in a large flashing banner at the top of the page and read the accompanying article.

Geoffrey Stanwick, Chief Executive Wizard of the Every Witch brand of products, has announced a recall of one the company's line of anti-conception elixirs.

"We urge all witches who have used the once-monthly "Not Yet" line of anti-conception elixirs in the past four months to see their healer immediately. It has been discovered that an unintentional addition of a tainted ingredient has rendered the product ineffective, and may cause mild to severe allergic reactions in some witches. We have discontinued the "Not Yet" line of once-monthly elixirs whilst a full investigation is being conducted.

We wish to fervently assure our customers that the Every Witch brand of products is safe and that we have full confidence in the reliability and effectiveness of our products. We will double our efforts to ensure that this never happens again."

"And of course that's the one I use," she mumbled and massaged her temples.

"Problems?" Katie asked from the door.

"Yes and no," Hermione said. "Crittendon's trial is next Monday."

"That's good."

Hermione nodded and handed Katie the paper. "Read the paper yet?"

"No, I think my neighbor is taking mine."

"Read page two, at the top."

Katie read the paper and her lips twitched. "Let me guess, you take Not Yet? What an idiotic name."

"Right in one. Looks like I'm going to St. Mungo's."

She put on her cloak and left her office.

"Can I keep the paper?" Katie called after her.

At St. Mungo's, six Hit Wizards were standing outside of the main entrance to stem the tide of reporters clamoring to get inside the hospital. Some of them saw Hermione walking their way and rushed toward her with shouted questions and speculations. She answered "no comment" and shouldered her way through the reporters, wand in hand, wary that Crittendon could be in the crowd. In the lobby, she was met by an orderly.

"Are you here about the recall?" the witch asked.

"Yes," Hermione answered.

The witch gave her an sheet of paper. "Take this paper, fill out the information, and take it to the Third Floor. There's a ward arranged for those coming in about the product recall."

"Thank you for your help."

She took the lift to the Third Floor, Potion and Plant Poisoning, and sighed at the sight of dozens of witches in the waiting area. There goes a potentially productive morning!

Harry went to the Hermione's office when he heard of Crittendon's trial date. Katie intercepted him with a look of curious amusement in her eyes.

"She's not here, she went to St. Mungo's," she said.

"Is she sick?"

"Probably not."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

She handed him the paper. Harry read the article and shrugged.

"What does this have to do with-" he said, then stopped talking.

He again saw the rendered the product ineffective line of the article and forgot how to breath.

"All right there Harry?" Katie asked, gently nudging his arm. I don't want to startle him, he already looks like he's about to have some kind of fit!

He let out the breath he was holding and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm fine."

"Are you going to St. Mungo's?" she asked.

"I think I should...you know...just in case."

"Could you bring her handbag? She left in a rush and forgot it."

"Um...sure."

He's a keeper, Katie thought as Harry left the office. He didn't appear to think twice about carrying an obviously feminine handbag as he walked through the Ministry.


The clamoring of the reporters grew louder when Harry Apparated to the scene. Bloody hell, all the witches that came here had to run this gauntlet!

Behind him, the sound of Apparition was heard that heralded the arrival of three more witches. He drew his wand and pointed it at the middle of the crowd of reporters. A harmless charm separated the throng to clear a path, igniting shouts and comments of indignation. Cameras flashed and a piece of balled parchment hit him on the head.

"Ladies," he said with a courtly bow, and waved his hand to usher them forward.

The Hit Wizards opened the doors to let them through and resumed their positions. He followed the witches to the Third Floor, making polite conversation until he was stopped by an orderly at the door to the ward.

"I'm sorry, but only witches affected by the recall are to be allowed in. It's because there's so many, you see? There's just barely enough room for them. Besides, some of them are overwrought, and we don't want to add overwrought husbands and beaus to the mix. Down the hall there, to the left, there's a room for the wizards."

All activity stopped and the room grew quiet when he entered.

"Nice handbag, Potter," a voice called out.

The noise and activity resumed. Dozens of wizards were sitting or pacing, chewing their nails while staring blankly at some point on the floor or wall, or talking frantically into their mobiles.

"So you say that you've had an increased appetite and bouts of nausea?" the healer asked. "Anything else out of the ordinary relating to your health?"

"No, only eating more and nausea," Hermione said, tapping her foot and resisting the urge to chew on her nails.

A Mediwitch brought in a clipboard, smiled warmly at her, and gave it to the Healer.

"You have a Healer of record already, that's good. Hmm...your blood tests came back and there appears to be no negative effects from the elixir. Now, remain still so that I can perform a pregnancy detection charm. It'll only take seconds and you won't feel a thing," he said.

With a medical wand, he made slow rotations above her stomach, then gently swished and flicked. Her abdomen glowed briefly and he made notes on the clipboard. "I don't know whether to tell you congratulations or not, but you're approximately six weeks pregnant, give or take a few days," he said.

"Th-that's over a month!" she gasped, covering her face in horror. I was pregnant in jail!

The healer was patting her knee. "Do you need anything, Miss Granger? We have excellent counselors to help deal-"

She shook her head. "I'm just overwhelmed right now. Give me a moment."

He nodded in understanding and gave her a cup of water. All those years ago in Healer training, he never dreamed he'd be doing this. So many pregnant witches at one time! Hermione was his twenty-fourth patient that day, and he was only one of four Healers there! The door opened and her Healer came in.

"Luke Fletcher," he said, shaking hands with the emergency Healer.

"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" he asked, looking at her chart. "Is it alright to say good morning?"

"At least it's not giant, rabid rabbits that brought me here this time," she said.

"How are you, really?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Now I get to plan for a baby along with my wedding. I could have a fit, but what good would that do? The only thing I'm appalled about is the fact that I was pregnant in jail."

He chuckled. "You're doing better than many of the blokes in the waiting room. Many vials of calming draft have been used this morning."

She left her healer with informative pamphlets, a prenatal script for the chemist, and an appointment reminder for next month. She heard the talk from the waiting room and walked toward the room. She had no idea if Harry was in the room, and if he was there, what would he say? She slowed when she felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and she realized her knees were shaking. She stopped and leaned against the wall.

Harry looked at his watch again. Just how many are there? Has she even been seen yet? He looked out of the room, saw her leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, and took off at a run. She heard the sound of trainers squeak against the floor and opened her eyes.

"Love?" he asked.

She opened her eyes and walked into his arms.

Back in her office, she sank into her chair with a sigh. Harry watched her carefully, not knowing what to say. She had only said, "I need to get back to work" and they left the hospital earlier. Is she in shock?

"I was pregnant in jail," she said softly.

"What?" he asked.

"Harry, I'm six weeks along. I was pregnant in jail."

She dropped her hand to her stomach in a protective gesture. He rose from his seat, knelt next to her, and hugged her, resting his head on her stomach.

"I love you, and I already love the little wizard or witch in here," he said against her stomach.

She could no longer hold back any of the emotion she was feeling. He held her as she cried.

Grimmauld Place, suppertime

She hung up the telephone. "Mum said she's setting two extra places at the table."

"Will they be angry?" he asked.

"I don't think so. Surprised maybe, but not angry. This isn't a mistake, it's a baby."

He poured her a cup of pumpkin juice. She shook her head and pushed it away. "I think it's because of the pregnancy, but the smell of pumpkin juice makes me sick. Milk too, but that's why I have the prenatal draft, for nutritional needs."

He gave her shoulders a squeeze. "I'll get the car warmed up."

She sighed. Apparating and Port Keys were no longer permitted during the course of the pregnancy. Harry returned with Ron right behind him. He went straight for her and engulfed her in a hug.

"I heard from Katie. Congratulations," he said. "I know you weren't expecting this, but you're going to be a smashing mum."

Hermione was touched. Ron did have his moments.

"Thanks Ron," she said and wiped a tear that fell. God, am I going to be so weepy for the next eight months?

He handed her an apple from the table and chucked Harry on the arm before going upstairs.

Harry stopped the car in front of the Granger flat. The front curtain opened and the front stoop light came on.

"Bloody awful weather," Harry said.

"Just when we decide to get out in it, gale force winds and freezing rain appear," she commented.

Halfway to the door, she tripped and fell, and the umbrella Harry was holding was blown inside out. She also noted that the Impervious charm she applied before she got out of the car had faded. Harry helped her to her feet and Ian opened the front door.

"Good lord, you two got out in this?" he said.

Hermione shivered and dripped on the foyer floor. Harry cast warming charms on her, and Grace brought a towel.

"Luke said my magic would be off," she said and sneezed.

"A little off? That was a third year Impervious charm," Harry said.

"You couldn't just magic yourself here like you always do?" Grace asked.

Hermione shook her head and sneezed again. Harry gave her a handkerchief. "I dropped my apple," she groused.

When they were settled in front of the fireplace, Grace brought in tea.

"Now, what brings you two out in this horrid weather?" Ian asked.

"Oh, just some news I learned this morning," Hermione said. "Crittendon's trial starts Monday."

She took Harry's hand, took a deep breath, and spoke. "I also learned this morning that I'm pregnant. Come August, you'll be grandparents."