I do not own Harry Potter, alas. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

AN: Here is some promised conflict and drama. All is not well in the land of chew and swallow, but have no fear. The issues will be resolved forthwith!

By the end of the work day I was in so much of a bother over Draco's visit that I didn't bother to go home, just flooed straight to Ginny and Harry's and proceeded to weep about my problems over a cup of very hot tea. Very hot because Ginny wasn't back from quidditch and Harry boiled the water without my help. I loved Harry, but he was good at two things in the kitchen, according to Ginny: toast, and her. But not even that thought brought a smile to my face and the sympathy I'd been hoping for was in low supply; especially as Harry didn't properly know about the baby yet.

Except he did and he finally said so.

"Hermione, my wife has already gone through one pregnancy and we're on the second. I recognize the symptoms."

I sniffed and pulled out my hanky, realized it was the one Ron had left me, and began to cry all over again.

"I wish you'd tell me what's really bothering you. Whatever we are, you're still the closest thing to a sister I'll ever have. I'm here for you, Hermione."

"Do you think an awful lot of people know?" I asked softly.

"About us being friends? Loads," he replied cheekily and poured some more tea.

"Harry!"

"Look," he said seriously, "I'm all for you and Ron. But I know why you've moved so quickly the last few days and it's because of this baby, isn't it?"

"That's not…I mean, I didn't think that was it," I mumbled. "We still really love one another, Harry," I insisted. "Nothing's changed just because I'm pregnant."

"No, everything's changed because you're pregnant," Harry said. "I know Ron, as well as I know you. He's scared of losing you again and he sees this as the perfect opportunity to grab hold of you and never let you go. Having a baby together will do that, and he thinks that if he makes himself indispensable and sweet and perfect that you won't want him gone again, no matter what happens. But you've got to take a step back," he finished. "You've got to breathe a little. Come to terms with things on your own first, then consider them as a couple. See?"

I nodded hesitantly, not wanting to believe him, but knowing he was right. I'd been thinking of the baby in the same manner, after all. I could imagine that was how Ron saw it perfectly well.

Harry noticed my pout and sighed. "That doesn't mean he doesn't really love you, Hermione. He does, trust me. But you can't rush into it. Let it settle. Go on dates. Let him put up a crib- in your flat. I don't know what else is going on, but that is my advice, regardless, okay?"

"Oy, what's going on in here?" came Ginny's voice. "Having a cozy chat?" she asked as she entered and gave Harry a kiss. He smiled down at her.

"Just telling Hermione not to rush into things. She seemed a bit upset."

"Oh," Ginny said, giving me a sharp look. "Regretting your decision already?"

"Not entirely," I said. "Or at least, not for the reasons you're imagining," I added.

"Enlighten me," Ginny said as she took off her coat and scarf. "Harry," she said, "mind giving us some privacy?"

"Not at all," he murmured with a smile and another kiss for her. Then he gave me a hug and left the kitchen. A few seconds later we could hear him cooing and laughing with James down the hall. Ginny turned back to me.

"What did he say?"

"Harry? Oh, just said that Ron and I shouldn't move too fast, even if we are together and love each other. That I should take some time for myself, to figure things out. But I feel like that's all I've been doing the last two weeks, anyway."

"Have you been figuring things out or just worrying unnecessarily?" Ginny asked, raising a brow. I thought seriously about her question and ended up with my head in my hands again.

"Worrying," I replied. "But you won't blame me after you hear what happened today," I added.

"Of course," she said. "But in that case, Harry's right. You need to stop worrying so much and just make a solid plan. There's nothing wrong with deciding what you need and want and then telling Ron that those are the rules, you know. If he's as mad about you as I think he is, he'll deal with it."

"That's just it, Ginny," I said. "Now that I am thinking about what I want I can't help wondering if it's what Ron will want. Or what he deserves. He doesn't need to raise another man's child. What if the baby is Draco's? I could never keep him from being involved in his child's life, if he wanted to be- and Ron is so proud…I know what he says and this weekend was wonderful, but how will he really feel when faced with the reality? Can he really handle it? I know he's changed, but isn't it wrong, what I'm asking him to do?"

"And him asking you to just forgive all the girls he was with in the interim isn't wrong, too?" Ginny snapped. "Come off it, Hermione. Just because you agreed to keep it casual doesn't mean there weren't still expectations. Did you think he would go around and date that many witches?"

I shook my head mutely.

"Well, then. And casual to you meant no shagging, so when it did happen, you assumed it meant something serious was going on, right?"

I nodded this time. "But, Ginny, I should have asked about him, should have known-"

"No buts," she said. "He should have let us tell you about his being in the hospital- I should have gone ahead and done it anyway- especially since it wasn't for quidditch at all," she added.

"What?" I cried.

Harry walked back into the kitchen, James in his arms. "Ginny, you know he wants it to be a surprise-"

"Well Hermione is trying to talk herself out of this entire thing, so pardon me for trying to point out how much of an equal idiot my brother is," she retorted.

"What is going on?" I asked.

Harry looked at Ginny sternly, who in turn busied herself with the stove. "Harry," I began, but at that moment we were interrupted by a fourth voice.

"Harry? Ginny? You seen Hermione? I was supposed to pick her up for dinner but-" He stopped short as he rounded the corner and saw me sitting in their kitchen amidst the stony silence which had developed.

"Hi, Ron," I said weakly. He took one look at my face and turned to Ginny.

"What's happened?"

"Ron, what's this about your accident not being quidditch related?" I asked.

He looked startled, directed a glare at Ginny, and turned back to me. "Well, er, it's just that….um…"

"Ron," I said, folding my arms. "I've had a terrible day. I'd appreciate it if there weren't anymore secrets between us."

He crossed his arms as well and looked somewhat belligerent. "It's meant to be a surprise."

"Well, I am surprised. Try me."

"Why don't you tell me about your terrible day, first, as you don't want anymore secrets? Or does everyone already know that Malfoy was in your office with the door closed today?"

My jaw dropped. "That's not what-"

"No? Decided you like him better? Decided to hear him out about the baby?"

"What are you-"

Ron grew more red in the face with every word. "Harry heard him, too, didn't you mate? At the ministry today? Made sure he stood right outside my office and talked about it loudly to anyone who'd listen about how Hermione Granger is having his baby and trying to pass it off as a Weasley. It was all I could do not to kill the bastard right there-"

"Ron!" I shouted. "Stop it! What's this about being at the ministry? About having an office? What are you-"

"Bloody hell," he murmured and rubbed his face a moment. "I've gone in for Auror, then, alright? I passed the test and I'm on probationary status. Happy?"

"Ron, that's- that's wonderful!" I said, clapping my hands together. "I didn't know you'd wanted to change jobs, even. Congratulations!"

He barely acknowledged my happiness and waved a hand. "That's nice, thanks. What I want to know is what the hell is going on with Malfoy? It's one thing to shag a bloke once because you're mad at me, but after everything we've talked about? Merlin, Hermione- I thought you were really sorry when we talked this weekend!"

"How dare you!" I yelled and James began to cry. Harry rolled his eyes and walked out of the kitchen. Ginny looked very much like she wanted to leave as well, but she stayed and put a hand on my arm.

"Hermione, you're both upset right now-"

"No," I said, "I'm upset. Ron is being a total git! I can't believe you'd say all that, after how upset you saw I was this weekend- do you think I want to be in this position? You think it's easy for me, not knowing who the father is? It's not!" I directed at Ron, my own face growing pink.

"Well then tell me, why the hell was Malfoy-"

"He was in my office demanding I get a paternity test and threatening to sue me for custody, that's what!" I shrieked. "After acting like he didn't care or remember- which is how I wanted it, by the way- he had the gall to come in my office and threaten me! That's why I had such an awful day! And he implied you'd act this way, told me I ought to-"

"He what?" Ron exploded. "Threatened to sue you for custody? That bastard! I'll bloody kill him!"

"That's enough!" Ginny yelled at us. "If you're going to go on like two teenagers and forget everything you've learned in the last six years, I wish you'd do it somewhere else! Why don't you go have dinner like you planned and discuss it like two civilized adults?"

I looked from Ginny to Ron, abashed, and was pleased to see he looked about as little as I felt.

Ron took several deep breaths. "Yeah, yeah. You're right, Ginny." He looked at me. "How about it?"

"I don't much feel like going out for dinner," I muttered glumly. I was still smarting from Ron's insinuations a few moments before. How could he just assume I would go running back to Draco, after everything we'd talked about that weekend? After only hearing Draco's lies? "I think I'll just go home," I said, sniffing.

Ron looked very, very sorry. "Alright. Well, let me take you home-"

"I can see myself out," I said quickly. I turned to Ginny. "Thanks for listening, Ginny. I'm sorry we upset James. I'll talk to you again soon- please give my apologies to Harry." I leaned forward and gave her a brief hug before I skirted around Ron and made my way to the floo, Ron trying to catch my eye the whole time.

I could hear Ginny ripping into him as I left.

"What was that?" she exclaimed. "You idiot!"

"What? Look, I'm sorry, it's just that Malfoy- he gets under my skin- I can't stand the thought that he, that she- she actually slept with him! How am I supposed to feel about that? I know we talked about it over the weekend and I'm trying to be understanding, I am, but with him going off about it at work that way-"

"Oh, I don't know, you could try talking to Hermione about it, before going off on an already pregnant and scared woman, how about that? You don't tell a woman you love her no matter what and then go and believe the first thing you hear from some ponce! Merlin, Ron, you are completely mental-"

I chose that moment to floo, having gathered no satisfaction from Ginny's words. The truth was, I sort of felt like Ron was right. The green flame engulfed me.