Chapter Seven

As soon as they returned to the party, Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm. "I need your help with Fleur's present," she said as they walked into one of the ground-level playrooms.

Ginny shut and locked the door, then cast a silencing spell. Then she turned to Hermione and said, with hands on her hips, "Hermione Granger! When on earth were you going to tell me that you're shagging Charlie?"

Hermione swallowed. "Oh, gods. How did you find out?"

"Aha!" Ginny threw her arms in the air. "Ginevra, once again, is bloody right. Harry AND George owe me fifty galleons a piece."

"What?" Hermione gasped. "You have a bet going? With Harry and George? And moreover, you just tricked me into admitting…" she trailed off, eyes accusatory.

"Good gods, Hermione, I knew. I've been trying to get you to tell me for a week now, if you haven't noticed! I just needed confirmation is all."

Hermione collapsed into an oversized bean bag and put her head in her hands. "I wasn't exactly happy about keeping it a secret, you know," she said. "I didn't see how I could blather to you about how fantastic your brother is in the sack."

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, you're right, I didn't need to know that in any capacity. But," she sat down in a toddler chair. "I do want some details. Like, are you dating? Is he courting you?"

"He lives in Romania," Hermione said. "Not exactly conducive to long-term commitments."

"I know, I know. I'm only wondering because, well. Charlie's never been one for bringing girls home to shag."

"It's not like he brought me home, though. I was just there, and he was there, and then I was on top—"

"Ah! Okay, that's enough of that." Ginny said. "So, it's just sex, then."

"Yeah, I suppose," Hermione said, thinking of how he'd just sought every freckle on her legs and feet to kiss.

"Well, I'm not going to high-five you for fucking my brother or anything, but damn woman, it's about time, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Hermione said, leaning back against the bean bag. "That's true enough." She put her hands on her head once more. "Bloody hell, Harry and George know?"

"Well, it's not like you two are being careful in anyway whatsoever. The way he just whisked you off! I had to do some damage control on how you were helping him work through his emotions, which Mum came and reaffirmed. But then later, I took Harry away and as we were discussing the terms of the bet, we noticed an Extendable Ear right there, and then George wanted in—"

"So they don't think I'm shagging him."

"Well, they know there's a chance. But George doesn't think Charlie'd be that bloody stupid—"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you are his brother's ex, general good friend of the family's, so much so that you are family. And Charlie's always been one to avoid drama of any sort. That's all. And Harry, well, he doesn't think you'd ever do that to Ron."

"What? But Ron was the one who broke up with me! And that was over three years ago and he's very happy with Aurora now and—"

"I know, Hermione, I know. And Harry knows that too, alright? Calm down, sister. Harry just thinks your guilt—your unnecessary guilt—would prevent you from sexcapading with Charlie. Which he's obviously wrong about. Which means I'm now one-hundred galleons richer." Ginny grinned. "And don't worry. They know if they tell anyone, I'll hang their bollocks over the fireplace."

Hermione looked up. "And Molly?"

"Oh, Mum's in such denial about it that the only way she'd even suspect it is if she walked in on you two. Even then, she may try to convince herself otherwise. 'Hermione's got such unusual, such physical methods to help Charlie's grief, but bless that wonderful woman's heart'." Ginny pantomimed her mother so perfectly that Hermione had to laugh.

Ginny put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Back to the party, then?"

"Sure."

Hermione settled into the rhythm of a Weasley birthday shindig. After a bit, she left for the kitchen to serve herself seconds from the cheese platter Fleur had brought, where she ran into George, who had much the same idea.

"Why, hello, Granger. Fancy seeing you here." He waggled his eyebrows.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Hi again, George."

He leaned back on the counter and popped a sliver of maroilles into his mouth. "You know, it's taken me long enough, but after a fascinating conversation with Ginny, it appears as though I've figured out your fetish."

Hermione dalloped some fig jam next to her wedge of brie. "I hope you're referring to my unhealthy obsession with muggle sci-fi films."

"Not at all." He lowered his voice. "You're amorously attracted to Weasley men."

Hermione huffed. "I've no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, not all, of course, but those of this generation. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Ron, and, of course," he ran his fingers through his hair with a flourish, "me."

"No offense, George, but I'd rather eat Every Flavor Beans for the rest of my life."

Angelina walked in and took George's munster chunk right out of his hand and ate a bite. "What are you taunting Hermione about?"

"Oh, darling," he put an arm around her. "Was just going to proposition her that if our marriage dropped the broom, I'd be more than willing to satisfy her desires of the flesh."

Hermione choked on her muster wedge while Angelina laughed. "Is that right? Well, if our marriage drops the broom, I get dibs on Charlie, assuming he and Hermione aren't hitched by then."

Hermione's coughs got so loud that Angelina grabbed a glass of water and handed it to her.

George put a hand to his heart. "Now, that hurts, love. What's everyone gone mental over Charlie for? What's he got that I don't?"

Angelina scoffed. "You mean besides three stone of pure muscle?"

"Hey, now. That one was below the belt."

"You couldn't even open a jar of pickles for me yesterday without magic."

"Yeah, well. Who eats pickles straight from the jar, anyway?"

"Hey, I can't help my new cravings anymore than—" Angelina paused, realizing she'd forgotten Hermione was in the room.

"Wait a minute," Hermione said, her voice strained from all the coughing. "You aren't. Are you?"

George and Angelina just looked at each other and grinned. "We were trying to wait 'til the second trimester to announce it."

"Oh my gods, this is the best news ever!" Hermione bounced into their arms, giving them a long group hug. "How far along are you?"

"Ten weeks."

"What's the best news ever?" Ginny asked as she walked into the kitchen.

George and Angelina looked at each other and shrugged. He put a hand on her belly and said, "Angelina's got a bun in the oven."

"NO. FUCKING. WAY!" Ginny's screams rivaled the volume of her mother's, and soon, everyone made their way to the kitchen to shriek (and, in Molly's case, burst into tears) and congratulate the couple. Eventually, the excitement died down, and Hermione felt something pull at her leg as she listened to Harry complain about newly implemented protocols for Auror report-writing.

She looked down at James. "Why, hello, sweet pea. What have we got here?" She pulled up the book he held out to her. "Domedorus and Dradle the Dragon."

"Mummy said you'd read it to me, 'Mione. She said it was Uncle Charlie's favorite when he was little like me." James wiped his nose on the skirt of her dress.

"Is that right," Hermione said slowly, spotting a smirking Ginny from across the room. Good one, Hermione mouthed. "Well, come along then. Let's find someplace cozy to read."

A few minutes later, Hermione was settled into the love seat with her lap overflowing with the children, as Victoir decided she, too, needed to hear the adventures of Domedorus and Dradle, and with Albus at the age of copying his brother and cousin every chance he got.

In the middle of the tale, she glanced up and instantly locked eyes with Charlie. She nearly blushed, not realizing he was watching her so intently with a look on his face she could barely read. As Molly neared him to whisper something in his ear, Hermione gave a quick smile and returned to reading, not wanting to be caught staring.

Before the story ended, Charlie approached. "Looks like I'm off, kids."

"Bye-bye, Cha," Albus said immediately, not taking his eyes off the book.

"Bye, Uncle Charlie," James and and Victoir said in unison.

Charlie squatted and gave them each a kiss on the head, then turned to Hermione and said, "George and Lina's 'bun in the oven' party. Two weeks."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I'll be there. Certainly."

He smiled and kissed her forehead before disappearing into the floo.