A/N: This has got to be the hardest chapter for me to write yet. It is very short, shorter than I would like, but I can't really write anything else. I tried, I did. Next chapter will be longer, I promise I'll try.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot, nothing else.
Chapter 8: Happy Birthday, Hermione!
He put a hand on her cheek, watching as she closed her eyes at the contact. His other hand went around her waist, bringing her body flush against his. Her lips were so close to his he could feel them parting slightly…
Hermione swished her wand one last time against Fleur's unnoticeable baby bump. "As far as I can tell, the baby's alright. You'll have to wait a couple of months before finding out what it is, though."
"Oh, it iz a girl, I know." Her hand rested lightly on her stomach, her smile wide and contagious.
"Mother's intuition?"
Fleur snorted delicately. Hermione had found that the woman was far less arrogant than she had thought her to be. One had to get past the frosty exterior to know her, but she was really a very nice woman. "No, cherie, Veela heritage. All Veela firstborns are girls. Even being part Veela that still 'olds true. Eet will be much further down my line before a boy can be firstborn." Hermione smiled at her, remembering she had read something along those lines somewhere. Must have been when she had researched Veela after the World Cup.
"Well, then it is a very healthy baby girl." Both Bill and Fleur beamed at her. Hermione had run all the tests Madame Pomfrey had requested she do and had told them the results of each. Still, she had made a copy of all her findings to send to the Healer once she could. She was, after all, inexperienced and pretty much walking blind.
"Thanks so much for doing this for us, Hermione. On top of your training, your missions for the Order, your mission for Dumbledore…"
"Oh, Bill, it's my pleasure, really. There's no need to thank me." Both of them just smiled at her, not yet used to her modest personality.
"So, what iz this I 'ear about you and Frederick, eh?" Fleur smiled widely at her when she blushed.
"There's nothing going on, really! We're just… good friends."
"Fleur, leave the poor girl alone. Come on, let's get out of here before Mum makes us stay for dinner. We would stay, but I'm afraid I have to attend a work cocktail." He shuddered at the idea. She walked them to the fireplace, where Bill wrapped Fleur in his arms. Just before flooing, though, he turned to her and extended a hand which had a small, rectangular package. "Oh, before I forget. Happy Birthday, Hermione." Smiling, she took the box from him and watched as they flooed back to their place.
She had woken up that morning to be almost hugged to death by Mrs. Weasley. She was, in Hermione's opinion, making up for not having celebrated Hermione's birthday all the previous years—not that she could have, her being at school and all—by making today extra special. She was given her choice on breakfast and much to Harry and Ron's envy, given a free day from training. Fred and George were at the shop until almost dinnertime, but had left a surprise for her… her usual shampoo had turned her hair pink and blue. Once, she would have been mad, now she just took in stride. Also, she knew the counter-curse so it didn't last long. She knew, though, that that was their way of wishing her a happy birthday.
She was left in the library, not quite knowing what to do with her time. She usually would have used the extra time to research, or study, but she had always made a point to do something different for her birthday. She usually curled up with a good novel, not that many people would find that different, but she knew it was. She barely had time to read for pleasure during the school year. She was always studying or researching, and barely had time for anything else. This year, however, she didn't have access to any novels she hadn't read before and she wanted something new.
She walked between the shelves, her fingers barely brushing the spines of the books, swiftly reading the titles, looking for something of interest. Her search was interrupted by the door opening and Mrs. Weasley's voice calling out to her. "Hermione?"
"In here!" She made her way to the front, where the big tapestry of the Black Family Tree hung. "Was that the floo, dear? Bill and Fleur left, then?"
She nodded. "Bill said he had to attend a cocktail for Gringotts and couldn't make it to dinner here."
"Oh, yes, yes. He did mention something. I was hoping they would stay anyways. Oh well, what were you doing, in any case?"
"I was just looking for a good story."
Mrs. Weasley smiled. "I have one of those. Come here, child. See this?" She pointed to a burned out mark in the Black Family Tree. Barely legible under it, read the words Cedrella Black. "That was Cedrella Black, wonderful woman. She was Arthur's mother, you know."
"So Mr. Weasley is related to the Blacks?"
"Oh, yes. Dreadful family, the Blacks. Most of them, in any case. You've heard Walburga downstairs." Mrs. Weasley gave an uncharacteristic shiver at the mention of the disagreeable woman. "But back to my story. Cedrella had an arranged marriage to one Abraxas Malfoy. They had grown up together, and everyone expected them to get married, so their parents arranged for it to happen. Cedrella and Abraxas, however, had a third, well, let's suppose 'acquaintance' is an appropriate word. And Cedrella loved him. Abraxas wanted to hear nothing of it, though. He wanted Cedrella, to unite the mighty Houses of Malfoy and Black. He was much like Lucius is now, power-hungry and manipulative. When Cedrella told him she didn't want to marry him, that her heart belonged to another, he refused to listen. Instead, he kidnapped Cedrella in an effort to force her to marry him." Mrs. Weasley sighed, closing her eyes.
"She refused. You see, a magically binding marriage only works with the consent of both parties, so even if she was Imperiused, the marriage would not take until she freely said the words 'I do'. She never did tell me what happened during the month she was under Abraxas' 'care'. In any case, it wasn't pretty. Now, this 'acquaintance' as we have called him, also loved Cedrella, but had never had the courage to tell her. He did know, however, that Cedrella would never marry Abraxas, having heard more than once her opinion of the man he had become." She opened her eyes and looked sideways to Hermione, who had one hand tracing the burn mark where Cedrella's portrait would have been in the family tree.
"I was never good telling stories, so I'm afraid I'll cut this one short. Septimus Weasley, the man Cedrella was in love with, staged a rescue to get Cedrella out of Malfoy Manor, where she was being kept. He and his brothers, all six of them, stormed the Manor one sunny spring day to rescue Cedrella. She was being kept in one of the wings of the Manor, so Septimus and his brothers made their way there, destroying half the place in their mad dash to get to her. When they got to her, Septimus fell to his knees and asked her to marry him. Right there in the middle of the chaos." Mrs. Weasley wiped a tear from her eyes. "She always smiled when she told this part. She said that she would, but only if he promised her Always and Forever."
"Always and forever?" Hermione too had to brush a tear from her eyes.
"Mhmm. Always so she would know he loved her every minute of every day and Forever so she knew that they would be together eternally, beyond life and death. She was a very romantic woman, who believed that those who truly loved each other would eternally be together. That their souls would always find one another."
"So what happened?"
"He agreed and took her away from there. Just before leaving, Cedrella set fire to the room where she had been kept, essentially burning the whole west wing of Malfoy Manor. They were married soon after that." She had a small smile on her face. "It's what got her blown off the family tree and what started the feud between the Malfoys and the Weasleys. It seems as if it was much longer, the way the children talk about it, but it's barely been sixty years. Maybe not even that. So they got married and had three children, Arthur being one of them. They had the most wonderful marriage, full of joy and passion. They both died years ago, Cedrella fist, and Septimus followed not a week later. I like to think he was keeping his promise."
"That's a beautiful story, Mrs. Weasley, thank you."
"Oh, it's nothing dear. She always enjoyed telling this story, it was her favorite." She paused and made her way to the door. Just as she was leaving, she turned and addressed Hermione once more. "You know, it is Fred's favorite story, as well."
Hermione was lost in her thoughts, the story of Cedrella Black and Septimus Weasley, how they had found each other when it seemed that they wouldn't be able to be together, the only thing on her mind. She was startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Ron there, standing awkwardly behind her. She raised an eyebrow at him, bidding him to speak.
"Hermione, I… I'm really sorry. I've been an idiot." He paused, but she didn't speak, wanting to see what he said. "I… I guess I was jealous."
"You guess?" Despite his apology, her tone was cool. He had a lot to apologize for and she wouldn't make it easy for him.
"Alright, I was. It's just that… it was always supposed to be us, you know. You and me, everyone thought so! And then…" He couldn't bring himself to say it, but Hermione knew what he meant. "And now, it isn't. I lost you, didn't I?" His eyes were bright with unshed tears as he looked at her, but despite his words, there was still hope in his eyes.
She knew this would hurt him, but she had to make it clear. "No, Ron. You didn't lose me, because I was never yours. There was a time when we could've been together, but I don't think we would've been happy. I'm sorry, Ron." He nodded, understanding what she meant.
"Can we be friends again, then? I've missed you." He asked hopefully, his arms open for an embrace.
"I've missed you too, Ron." She stepped into his arms, hugging him tight. "Thank you, this is the best birthday present you could've given me."
"Oh, so I'll just keep the one I bought you, then?" He laughed and she was glad to see he was back to his lighthearted teasing. She knew that it would take time for him to get completely over his feelings, but she hoped he would find happiness in the end. Maybe Lavender would be that person.
She laughed with him. "Oh, you wouldn't!"
Later that night at dinner, everyone was pleased to see that Ron and Hermione had made up. No one was more pleased, though, than the Boy-Who-Lived himself. When he had heard he had engulfed both his friends in a Mrs.-Weasley-like hug, threatening to cut their air supply. They had enjoyed a delicious dinner, the twins loud and energetic as ever. Even Mrs. Weasley couldn't find it in her to reprimand them when Tonks had disappeared in an explosion of feathers and turned into a large canary.
Hermione had received a beautiful hand-knit scarf from Mrs. Weasley, while Harry and Ron had both gone for the safe choice and gotten her a book. The twins had given her a beautiful cloak, black embroidered with white flowers on the hem. Tonks and Lupin had gotten her a huge box of Honeyduke's best chocolate and she also received an engraved bookmark from Bill and Fleur.
After dinner, most occupants left to their respective homes, leaving only those who lived at Grimmauld Place and the twins playing a game of Exploding Snap in the library. Even so, that didn't last long and the twins bid them good night and went back to the Burrow. Harry, Ron and Lavender also went to sleep, and Hermione was pleased to see that Ron seemed to be making an effort with Lavender. She heard him offer to walk her to her bedroom.
Hermione, however, made her way to the tapestry. She was staring at the burn mark Mrs. Weasley had pointed out as Cedrella Black. Her last words came back to her "You know, it is Fred's favorite story, as well."
"I wish I could have what you had, Cedrella…" she said out loud.
"Mom told you that story?" She turned around sharply, wand in hand, her eyes falling on the man standing only a few paces behind her.
"Fr—Fred! Merlin, you scared me! I thought you had already gone back to the Burrow."
"I did. I came back." He took a few steps in her direction.
"Why?"
"I… forgot something." He took another step towards her. They were now no farther than an arm's length. He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "So, did she?" He motioned with his head to the tapestry. She nodded. They still held each other's eyes. Her breath was quickening and she could tell so was his.
"It's a beautiful story."
"Yes, it is. She used to tell it in every family reunion. I always loved it. And I, too, wish I could have what she and Grandpa Septimus did." He took half a step towards her. They were now so close their breath intermingled.
He put a hand on her cheek, watching as she closed her eyes at the contact. His other hand went around her waist, bringing her body flush against his. Her lips were so close to his he could feel them parting slightly. "Hermione…" he breathed and closed the gap between their lips, at first a mere brush that left his whole body tingling and wanting more. His hand moved from her cheek to the back of her head, his lips descending on hers again, softly nibbling hers. He felt her arms come around his neck, one of her hands running through his hair as he deepened the kiss. He ran the tip of his tongue over her lip, and darted in to taste her when she parted them.
It was heaven and time stood still. Neither of them could tell how long they had been like that when they finally ended their kiss. He pressed his forehead against hers, still barely believing he had kissed her, barely believing she had kissed him back and that it had been so perfect.
"Be my girlfriend, Hermione. Be mine." Instead of answering she brushed her lips against his once more, pressing her body against his. Again they parted and he brought her closer to him, burying his head on her neck taking in her scent, brushing soft kisses until he got to her ear.
"Happy birthday, Hermione." Happy birthday, love.
A/N: Well, there it is, what everyone has been waiting for! They are finally together! I hope the kiss scene didn't disappoint, I spent a lot of time on it. I was listening to 'Dancing' by Elisa when I wrote it. Beautiful song. To those of you who are here for the action, there's some coming soon. Please leave a review telling me whether you liked this chapter or not. I live for your reviews!