(A/N) I know this chapter is extremely Ron/Hermione focussed, but I wanted to settle their storyline quickly so I could deal with the other character's struggles in more detail.
Hermione flicked around her wand as she gazed up at the ceiling, a few yellow sparks flew out the end and bounced off the walls. Finally ending by burning a whole in the wall two centimetres away from Rory's head as she read Emma by Jane Austen.
"Hermione, pay attention to where you point that thing," she snapped.
"Sorry, I'm just a little distracted," Hermione muttered.
"No duh," Rory muttered, she marked her page and put it on the bedside table. "So, have you got a speech prepared or something?" she asked Hermione, sitting up and crossing her legs, facing her.
"No, I'm trying to think one up though," Hermione replied, sitting up and facing Rory.
"You're meeting them in seven minutes! You have to have something planned!" Rory urged.
"I do," replied Hermione.
"Let's hear it then!" said Rory.
"Harry, Ron, I'm pregnant." Hermione replied, laughing nervously.
"Yeah, the blunt delivery probably isn't the best way to go," Rory said. "Please don't tell me you're going to try and wing it? That's so western movie!"
"I'm trying to get a speech together, but everything I think up just sounds stupid," Hermione moaned, thowing her head back on her pillow.
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you," Rory said with a half smile. "But the one you just told me... not so great!"
"Shut up, Rory," said Hermione, threatening Rory with her wand.
"Watch where you point that thing!" said Rory, swatting Hermione's hand away. She looked back at the clock and then with a sly smile added. "And now it's time for you to go."
"Oh no!" Hermione moanded, drawing herself up slowly.
"Just go with your heart, Hermione," Rory advised as Hermione got up and threw her coat around her shoulders. "Nothing you say counts unless you mean it."
"Wow, that's so after school special of you," Hermione remarked as she took one last look at herself in the mirror.
"Just don't blurt it out," Rory advised as Hermione walked towards the door.
"I won't," Hermione replied. She reached out and turned the door knob, opened the door and right before she closed it behind her Rory yelled out again.
"And no matter what happens, you have me and, no doubt, Ginny," Rory called, Hermione gave her a small smile before closing the door on the room.
She quickly sweapt down the spiral staircase, avoiding everyone's eyes as she subtly slipped through the crowded common room. The staircases were empty as she ran up the numerous flights of stairs that got her to the seventh floor. Her mind was racing to how Ron and Harry would take the news.
Would Ron still love her? Would she be forced to raise the child on her own? What about fighting, would she even be able to do any fighting or for her safety, and the baby's, will she have to run from the battle? What would others think of her once they learn she's pregnant out of wedlock? Would Mrs. Weasley be furious with Ron, or over joyed at the possibility of a grandchild?
She found herslef on the seventh floor, gazing out a large window out onto the sweeping grounds, the green leaves were falling to the ground as winter approached, promising holiday fun. She was going to bring a little baby into this world. But would Ron be next to her as their child took its first steps?
She turned from the window as fear clawed into her stomach, and she kept her eyes down as she walked past the blank wall and heard the door appear, she pushed it open and walked in. Harry and Ron were already there, sitting in the back row, laughing. Hermione would have liked them to be late, she needed more time to work on her speech.
"Hey there," Ron said, getting to his feet and walking to Hermione. He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth and when the two of them drew apart Harry stood next to Ron, smiling.
"What is it that you wanted to say, Hermione?" Harry asked. "Couldn't it wait till after the meeting?"
"Let's sit down," Hermione said quietly. Harry and Ron exchanged nervous looks but followed Hermione and sat down on the floor. "You see, I didn't know what you would be teaching today, because it might be too dangerous from me to do."
"Hermione," Ron began with a laugh. "You've been through a lot worse..." Hermione just ignored him as she stared into Harry's concerned eyes.
"We're doing levitation," Harry replied.
"Well then it's good I came to you before then, becuase I don't think I can do that..." Hermione said, she felt the confession crawling up from her throat and now sat on the edge of her tongue, waiting to be exposed.
"Why not, you've done it before..." Harry beagn, but Hermione shook her head, she felt her hands shake and her knees wobble, butterflies suddenly storming her stomach.
"That was uh b-before," Hermione began, Ron stretched out his hand and rubbed the back of her hand.
"Hermione, just tell us what's wrong, we're your best friends!" he said in a soothing voice.
"Yeah, Hermione, what's changed that you're now so cautious?" Harry joined in.
Hermione tapped her feet quickly on the ground as she crossed her fingers tigthly. Please stick with me Ron! Don't judge me Harry... except this child as the new beginning... her mind pleaded as she stared into their eyes.
"I'm kind of," Hermione cleared her throat. "Well not kind of, I really am..." her heart beat hard against her ribs. "Well, I'm two months pregnant with Ron's baby."
There was a silence that echoed across the walls and rang in Hermione's ears, Ron dropped his wand and it clattered to the floor, sounding like an explosion in the silence. Harry's mouth hung open as he gazed at Hermione, Ron not bothering to grab his wand as it rolled away, stared wide eyed at Hermione.
"So that's why," she began, she couldn't stand the silence any longer. "I'm keeping the baby and I can't endanger it any longer." The two boy still gaped at her as Hermione turned bright red, she turned to Ron who gawked at her, his face showed nothing but shock. "I do love you, Ron." she began. "And I do want you to help me raise this kid... but are you still with me? Through it all, are you going to stick with me?"
Ron got to his feet and walked across the room, bent over and picked up his wand, Hermione stood up too, and walked up behind him. Her breaths were fast and her heart felt as if it could explode at any moment, she didn't want to keep speaking. But she needed a straight forward answer before the meeting started.
"I know it's a lot to ask," Hermione began. "Seeing as we're only 20."
"My mom was 16," Harry interrupted, Hermione glanced back and shot him a glare.
"And I'm just as scared as you." she continued. "And of course I expect you to take care of the child, after all it is yours. But are we still together, do you still love me?" Ron took a deep breath and whipped around, he yelled out a spell and gold banners leapt from his wand. Hermione covered her face as a bright light blazed around the room.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room that appeared to have been painted in gold, the banners hung from the ceiling, in black lettering flashed 'Congratulations!'. White and yellow balloons floated around and from the ceiling fell glittering sparkles. A record player popped up and a light jazz tune played out. Harry smiled from his cusion on the floor as he tapped his feet to the beat.
"So... that's a yes?" Hermione clarified as she looked at Ron's beaming smile. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her for a hug, they both laughed as he twirled her around, her feet flying out from beneath her.
"Oh my god! Hermione, this is brillinat!" He laughed in her ear. "I can teach it to fly! And you can teach it to read! And we can get married and move into our own house and raise our own family!"
"I was so worried you wouldn't that kind of life," Hermione muttered once they drew apart.
"I've wanted this for a very long time now, but I didn't know how to ask you if you wanted it, and if you wanted to have it with me," Ron admitted.
"Well this isn't going to work if we can't talk about all the things that are on our mind." Hermioen said reasonably.
"Fine with me," said Ron, smiling from ear to ear. "From now on I swear to tell you everything I think."
"Good, I promise too," Hermione said with a smile. They joined in a short kiss.
"I'm hungry," Ron stated and a table appeared near them, filled with pumpkin juice and choclate frogs. "I love this room of requirement!"
"Ron, I don't have to hear your every thought..." Hermione commented.
"Now all you have to do is tell your parents," Harry cheered, he threw his arm around Ron who had gone pale.
"I forgot about them..." he muttered.
"Is this a party?" Ginny asked, she stood at the door, the other members filing in behind her. "Are we congratulating something?" Hermione spotted Rory to Ginny's right, hiding a knowing smirk.
"Everyone, sit!" Harry called with a beaming smile. They all rushed to their seats and plopped down onto their cusions. "Where's Luna and Draco?" He asked suddenly, surveying the crowd.
"Studying together," called Cho from the crowd. As if on cue the doors burst open Draco and Luan stumbled in.
"Sorry we're late," said Draco following Luna into the crowd, sitting down near Ginny in the middle row.
"Oh, a party," Luna called with a smile. "Gold is the best colour for defence against Floogles, blue would have been a disaster, it attracts them!" Everyone sniggered and Draco shot them a warning look. As much as he had turned into a trustworthy man, many students still feared him.
"What are we celebrating," Ginny called out again. Ron and Hermione stood at Harry's side. They beamed at down at the crowd, holding eachothers hand.
"Hermione and Ron have just found out some brilliant news," Harry began. "Hermione is pregnant with Ron's baby!"
There was a slight moment of suprised whispers follwed by an uproar of cheers. Ginny ran forward and wrapped her arms around Ron's neck, squeezing him tight. Luna had bounded up to Hermione and hugged her round the waist, almost lifting her from the ground.
The pair were dragged into the crowd, Hermione's back had been slapped so many times it throbbed and her hand lost circulation after the fifteenth tight handshake. Ron's neck had red marks from the numerous tight squeezes he had gotten.
An hour later, the party still went on strong, the pumpkin juice goblets refilled and choclate frog heads ripped from their bodies as people chewed them down happily. All chattering away as if they were at a sleep over and not a secret organisation.
"So, will you be staying iwth Ron's parants over the summer?" Cho asked Hermione.
"Well yes, my parents are off on an extended trip in India. But many trips to Harry's place have been planned." Hermione replied, Ginny stood next to her sipping her juice. Ron was across the room, being interrogated by Dean Thomas and Draco. "But that'll mainly be for Ginny's benefit." Cho giggled and walked away, Ginny fumed at Hermione.
"Why did you have to say that?" she snapped.
"I wanted to spice up the conversation, that Cho girl is dreadfully boring!" Hermione said back.
"I can't wait to see Mum's reaction when you two tell her," Ginny exclaimed. "I'll need to get a picture!"
"That's strangely not comforting," said Hermione, glaring at Ginny.
"She loves you, she loves Ron, she's loved the idea of you and Ron getting together since you first met," Ginny said. "I'm sure it'll be no problem."
"Oh, thank you Ginny!" Hermione said with a smile.
"Now I think George has a camera somewhere in his old room..." muttered Ginny, Hermione punched her playfully on the arm.
"Can I talk to you for a second," Rory asked Hermione, Ron stood behind her. Ginny waved goodbye and walked off to find Harry.
"How can we help you, Rory," Hermione asked, Ron moved to her side and they both looked at the blue eyed girl.
"Ever since Lane died," began Rory. "I've tried to find a thing to keep me going, a motivation to keep me giving this fight my all!" She reahed out and took both Ron and Hermione's hand. "I've now found my reason to keep fighting! The future, the hopes, the promises, everything you two, soon to be three, represent."
"Thank you, Rory," said Hermione, bringing Rory in for a hug. They drew apart and Ron gave Rory a small hug also.
"We won't let you down," he said, letting his hand slip into Hemrione's, Rory gave them a small smile, brushing away a small tear with the back of her forefinger. She then turned and walked over to Draco and Luna.
And in the midst of all the chatting DA members, the chewing of choclate, the gulping of juice. While the trumpets and base blasted form the record player, Hermione and Ron entwined in a kiss. It felt so right that it took some time for Hermione to let him go. She looked up at his face and in it she saw the new qualities he had possessed. No longer did she see the ignorant boy, the foolish friend, the fellow fighter he had once appeared to her. Now she saw the capable father, the supportive husband and her equal, in sense and in emotion.
Mrs. Hermione Ronald Weasley, she thought to herself. Yeah, it could work!
(A/N) In the next chapter Harry dwells in his momentary family bliss before two Hogwartians burst in...