The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
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"Coco Weasley if you are not ready and out here in ten seconds I am going to come in there and drag you to the celebration in your knickers!" Bill yelled down the hallway. He had been ready for 45 minutes and was anxious to get this evening over.
"Okay William, just wait a minute I am almost ready!" Hermione shout back through the closed bedroom door. She rolled her eyes and continued to look for her shoes. Once she found them, she took one last glimpse in the mirror. She smiled at her reflection, the shimmering midnight blue of the empire-waist silk gown made her to appear to be floating. She felt beautiful.
A growl of "Coco" came toward her as she opened the door and walked toward her husband. Hermione blushed at the intense look Bill gave her. She could tell that he definitely approved of her outfit.
"You are going to be cold." Bill's hand lightly rubbed her exposed back. He went to the coat closet and found an old Macintosh. With a flick, he transformed it into a black velvet cape and placed it across Hermione's shoulders.
"Thank you," she said and she reached up to give him a quick kiss.
Bill took the opportunity to wrap his arms around his wife and begin to kiss her senseless. Neither of them heard the front door open and only pulled apart when Charlie exclaimed.
"Isn't this what you two were up to yesterday? Do not you ever come up for air? Give it a rest already." Charlie was closing the door behind Helen as they entered the flat.
Hermione seemed embarrassed but Bill just smiled. "Do not knock it bro! Marriage is great. Guilt free sex all of the time and somebody else to make your tea; it is perfect!"
Hermione groaned and slapped at Bill's shoulder. "You are so bad Weasley."
Helen and Charlie tried not to laugh. The doorbell rang and Hermione walked forward to open it. Ron Weasley was standing in the hall in dress robes. He realized that Hermione was startled by his presence and offered the explanation.
"I hope you do not mind but, we, the brothers I mean, discussed it and we decided it would be best to present a united front." Ron stammered through his speech.
"That is very thoughtful, thank you." Hermione smiled as reached to give Ron a hug.
Ron saw Charlie and entered the flat closing the door, while Hermione turned to Bill and handed him the cloak.
"I will be right back," she said and made a dash to the loo.
The group patiently waited for the expectant mother to emerge. The doorbell rang again as soon as Hermione had her fastened her cloak. This time the opened door revealed both Fred and George. The twins were wearing lurid green dress robes with large lapel buttons proclaiming, 'Proud Papa'.
Bill roared with laughter. "Whose idea was those?"
Charlie grinned. "We Weasleys stick together, but in all truth it was Ron's idea." Then Charlie turned to his younger brothers and said, "Those are perfect great job!"
Hermione had tears in her eyes and Helen quietly took her hand. "Aren't they grand?"
Hermione could only nod.
George cleared his throat and proceeded to pin a 'Proud Papa' button on everyone including Hermione and Helen. Once finished his task, he turned to the group and in military fashion ordered them "To give them hell!" as he opened the front door.
Looking at the size of the crowd and judging by the volume level, Hermione thought that perhaps the entire wizarding world was attending the Gringott's 500th Celebration. Bill took her hand and gave it a squeeze as together they entered the ballroom.
Hermione always thought the expression 'could hear a pin drop' was ridiculous, but that was the first thing that entered her mind. The entire assembly appeared to be frozen and everyone's attention was focused on her, her belly, and Bill. There was a collective gasp from the frozen masses when Ron walked up and stood next to her on the opposite side of his brother. Ron smiled and kissed the side of Hermione's head.
His low voice filled with laughter, he turned and whispered, "I think we have their attention."
Hermione was still fighting the urge to turn tail and run but she looked at Bill and he gave her strength. A small ripple of giggles started somewhere in the far left corner and began working its way forward. Hermione did not understand until she turned her head to the left then right. Charlie, Fred, George, and even Percy all wearing 'Proud Papa' buttons had stepped up to flank either side of them. The wave of laughter washed over her and she relaxed.
Bill leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Coco, my love, we Weasleys always stick together."
Harry and Ginny worked their way towards the new arrivals to escort them to the reserved Weasley table. When they finally managed to get to their table, Hermione looked at Ginny and laughed. Baby paraphernalia covered the entire table. Hermione saw bottles, nappies, rattles, miniature broomsticks and cauldrons floated around the basket centerpiece of stuffed toy dragons, hippogriffs, and unicorns. Hermione put her hands to her face as she sat down in a chair. She knew Ginny had to have been behind this it was perfect!
Hermione had to yell "Thank you" to her sister in law; the music and talking had resumed. Ginny nodded and Hermione knew that it must have been difficult for Ginny to put all of the baby things together when she and Harry wanted their own baby so badly.
Charlie was the first one to ask her dance. Bill was in a deep conservation with Percy and so Hermione agreed.
Once out on the dance floor, Hermione felt very self-conscious. When anyone would whisper in their direction, Charlie smiled broadly at the wizards and gave the witches a wink. Hermione soon relaxed and had a wonderful time. Bill cut in just as the band began a slow song. Hermione sighed as Bill wrapped his arms around her and they swayed to the music.
The rest of the evening was a blur of delicious food, dancing, and laughter. At one point, a photographer approached them about taking a family group photo. The Weasleys gathered around with Hermione in the center, Bill and Ron on either side. Some where in the back of her mind Hermione was sure that picture would be on the front page of tomorrow paper. Ron pulled the photographer to the side and had a very hushed conversation.
Sitting at the table alone everyone else was dancing. Bill watched his wife dance yet another dance with one of the twins. Her face was radiant, her eyes were sparkling and she looked happy. This evening was a success. Bill was ready to take his wife home and remind her how much he loved her. Standing up Bill felt a hand on the small of his back. Turning he saw Fleur smiling up at him.
"Bill did you save a dance for me?" Fleur purred and tried to cuddle up to him.
"Hell! No!" Bill pushed her hands off his arm.
Fleur push out her bottom lip in a pout. "Willy Billy you do not mean that."
Bill looked in horror. "Do not call me that! Are you sick? I AM MARRIED AND EXPECTING A CHILD WITH MY WIFE!" Loudly shouting the last part just as the music stopped and everyone in the room heard him.
Fleur blanched as Bill turned away from her and walked to Hermione. Fleur was left standing alone with every one pitying her.
The Weasley family left the celebration with plans to meet for brunch the next morning. Bill did not spare a backward glance to his ex-fiancée.
The only thing that marred the next three months of Hermione and Bill's life was the repeated reprint of the picture of Ron and them in the Daily Prophet. Various articles printed underneath had different themes ranging from multiple babies with multiple fathers to a false pregnancy rouse to garner publicity. The Weasley family ignored the gossip.
Charlie and Helen became engaged the week after Charlie started work at the Welsh Reserve and together they purchased Hermione's ruined flat. Bill spent his spare time on the weekends helping Charlie remodel the flat into a home for the engaged couple. Hermione contributed to the rebuilding effort by bring the laborers lunch or dinner when they were working.
Hermione no longer say that she did not have a baby belly. She raided Bill's closet for comfortable clothes and magically expanded her own items when she could. Charlie and Bill offered weekly to go with her to shop for maternity clothes but Hermione had resisted. She was not interested in spending time in public. The Daily Prophet was relentless.
Bill and Hermione spent the majority of their days working together on his difficult cases. Hermione seemed to be able to see patterns that no one else could detect. Gringott's had contacted her about accepting a full time curse breaker position but Hermione was very content with consignment work. After losing the opportunity to be a full time mum to baby Ronald, Hermione wanted to have a flexible schedule for when this little one made its appearance.
When Charlie and Helen's flat was finished, the engaged couple held a flat warming party for the family. Hermione was stunned at the difference in her old home. Bill and Charlie had moved walls, put in larger windows, and replaced carpet with hardwood floors. She was so glad her old flat would now be a home for people she loved.
The party was low key and Harry and Ginny had made their excuses and had left early. Hermione suspected that they had other more intimate plans for the evening. The best part of the evening being when all the brothers and their significant others started to share stories of their childhood mishaps and misdeeds. Percy was the only brother to come alone and he did not have many stories to share. Hermione tried to include him in the conversation but he seemed uncomfortable talking to her. During a lull, Percy cleared his throat blurted out, "They say a wizard should make sure to coat the inside of his expecting witch at least once a week…it helps to ensure a strong magical signature."
There was complete silence. Helen looked at Hermione and they both began to laugh uncontrollably.
Bill had just taken a mouthful of beer before Percy spoke and the surprise statement caused him to spray the coffee table. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Bill looked at Percy and said, "Go to know Percy. Thanks for the tip I guess I have some work to do.
With out skipping a beat Bill stood up and held out his hand to Hermione. "Coco time to go we want to ensure a strong magical signature."
Hermione batted his hand away and blushed furiously.
Hermione was remembering that evening the next week when she was getting ready for her monthly healer's appointment. Bill was going to meet her there just as he had last month. Bill accompanied Hermione to every healer visit. He had more questions than Hermione and Healer Ruiz was very patient with him.
"Hermione! Bill! Are you home?" Molly Weasley was calling from the fireplace.
"I am here Molly. What can I do for you?" Hermione had stepped back from the front door and walked toward the fireplace.
"Oh good I caught you in. I am planning a family dinner here at the Burrow for Sunday. I hope you and Bill can make it." Molly was smiling.
"I will have to check with your son but I do not think there will be a problem. What is the special occasion?" Hermione continued to try to button her jacket around her protruding belly.
"Nothing special Ginny just suggested we all get together." Molly answered.
"Oh okay then can I bring anything?" Hermione finally gave it up as a lost cause and left the jacket open.
"Just come that is all. Do not forget to let me know what the healer says. Take care. Bye!" Molly was gone.
Hermione sighed a year ago she would never have though that this would be her life. Life was exactly the way it was suppose to be and Hermione knew that it was too good to last.
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A/N: Thank you for sticking with my little story!