Harry knew he would have to tell her some time, but like Molly and Arthur, he could not seem to. With the couple he knew they would likely try to take care of him, and Merlin only knew how much worse things would be between them and Ron. Hermione was a different story, he was scared to hurt her, well more then he had. He should have told her the truth about Ron; she could have wound up married to him, if Bill had not confronted him. Harry had been so upset, consumed by grief for his dad as well as Tonks and the baby, and shattered from the betrayal of his best friend, he had not thought clear. The time in France had been good for him, it not only helped him relax for the baby, but he had found a family in Draco and Severus, and a home. He had no plans to move back to the UK, even when this was all out.
Harry knew he could have broken the wards easily enough, Hermione was not trying to prevent escape, simply make him stop and think. He knew she deserved the truth, and she would not tell the couple if he asked, but he was scared. She was his only best friend left, and he could not bring himself, to hurt her like that.
Hermione came to his side. "Harry you can tell me anything. I promise I will not hate you, or tell anyone else."
Harry refused to look at her, but he told her. "I'm pregnant."
He could hear her shock, not looking at her but he could imagine the look on her face, for he had known her for seven years now. He was worried he had been right, he should not have told her yet, for she was still dealing with the news about Ron.
Hermione pulled him into the den, breaking her own wards, and down on the couch. "How far?"
Harry was surprised to only hear compassion in her voice. "Almost four months, she is due at the start of March."
Looking at Harry, Hermione knew he was worried she would hate him, but she didn't even blame him. She blamed herself, for she had allowed Ron to convince her to go home, and to stage a break up, and she had seen them together before the final battle. She had seen how close they got, but had passed it off as they were always brothers, but there were the tears when Ron had proposed to her. And though she understood him going away to mourn, his lack of letters, had hurt.
Hermione made him look up. "You told Ron about the baby when you found out?"
Harry nodded. "I told him I suspected, and he said I was a whore and the baby was not his. No baby could survive battle. Then he proposed only an hour later."
She could remember it had been such a spur of the moment thing, not the romantic proposal she had dreamed of, but she understood. Ron had told her that after the funerals he had seen how short life could be, and he wanted to make sure to live life to the fullest. He had promised her a romantic wedding, and when they had bought the house a week later, they christened the bed, for she had waited till at least engaged. She now realized Ron had simply proposed then, to stick it to Harry.
Hermione remembered he called it a girl. "You know I would love her like a niece, you're still my best friend. There are so many people who love you, to help."
Harry squeezed her hand. "I know, and some like the twins and the Tonks know, but that is enough for now. I am living with Severus and Draco in France."
Now that was a shock, though she had guessed he was in France, since Bill had contact with him. Harry told her, about going for the test, and Severus taking him to France, and that the two former Slytherins had become a family support for him. Hermione ached for Harry when she heard he nearly lost the baby; for she knew what such a loss would have done to Harry, considering all he had lost, and what he went through.
Hermione smiled a bit. "I won't tell Molly till you're ready but I at least get to know where you are, right? Harry I want to be here for you and your daughter."
Harry was amazed. "I know you say you don't blame me for Ron, but I still lied. And she is the daughter of your fiancé."
Former, she reminded him, and Ron was no father, that was for sure. Hermione was sickened Ron would deny his own baby, both the day he proposed, and at the hospital the other day. Ron did not have to love Harry, or want a future with him, which was a good thing for Harry would never take him back. He had an obligation to his little girl, whether he a wanted her or not. He was the one who had fucked his best friend, and had not been safe, likely thinking with battle, it would not matter.
Harry shook his head when she said to take Ron to court."I have two massive estates. Besides he could claim visitation with her, and I don't want him near her."
She put a calming hand on him. "He won't, I doubt even if you wanted support, he would go near her, from what you said. I understand though."
She knew Harry was planning to return to France the next day, as Ted was out of the woods, and he was missing his life there. Hermione sill didn't fully understand how Harry had come to live with them, other then Severus' link to Lily, but she was happy. It was obvious they were taking care of Harry, and he needed that.
Harry gave her the address. "Keep to your word you will not tell Molly and Arthur till I am ready, and you can come and visit me down there."
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It turns out it was not Hermione, or the twins, he needed to worry about, when he returned back to France with Bill. Ron had never been good with a secret, he had a temper and when he lost it which was often, he blabbed things. He mixed alcohol in as well, and it had been an explosion waiting to happen. Ron had hit rock bottom since the news had come out, and he had been drinking a lot, and came into work one morning when he was drunk.
Arthur tried to avoid him as much as he could, not easy since they worked in the same department, but he had employees deal with Ron when he could. But when he was informed his son had come into work falling down drunk, there was nothing else to do, for he was head of the department
He could small the stench of bourbon even before Ron was in his office "Not enough you lost your fiancé and friend, you want to lose you job?"
Ron had sunk into a chair for his legs could not hold him much. "You can't fire me. This entire office knows we are having family problems."
Thanks to Ron it was true, for every time he got a job he thought was crap, he would throw a tantrum and say his dad was punishing him. Arthur had not wanted to fire his son and he could not transfer him, so he had put up with it until now. He knew if they had perhaps not babied Ron when he was younger, he may not be like this, and was simply happy their daughter who was the baby, was not like this. Ginny was so focussed on class and quidditch, and boys.
Ron sneered."You're trying to fire me because you are angry I slept with that little slut you try and pass off as your son."
Arthur glared and showed reports."I have had grounds to fire you ten times over already. You coming in her smelling like some cheap tavern, it the last straw."
Though he had thought the job was the black hole, Ron knew if he was fired, he would never get a job in the ministry. He was already living on a couch, and had drank and gambled is way through the money from the house. He was not dumb enough to believe he didn't need the job, at least for now.
Arthur shook his head when Ron asked him not to."This should have been done a long time ago. Ronald you are fired."
Ron stood and slammed his hand down on the able "You can't force me to apologize and claim Harry's bastard, by making it impossible for me to work."
With that Ron stumbled from the office, and Arthur would have gone and made sure someone saw him home, but he was reeling from his son's words. Both he and Molly ha been worried there was more, and Bill was so angry, but they had never imagined Harry was pregnant. He called it a short day, not able to focus, and he headed home where he told his surprised wife what happened, ending with the news, of the baby.
Molly had to be steered into a chair. "Ron denied his own child? Oh Merlin, we need to find Harry. He is out there alone, with our grandchild."
Arthur stopped her. "Harry obviously doesn't want us to know about the baby yet. Besides we know Bill is with him."
Assuring his wife hat Harry would of course tell them soon, he would not keep the baby from them, he convinced her not to head for France. He knew it was only a matter of time, and he was no less anxious, not only for the baby, but for Harry as well. He was just reminded Harry obviously needed and wanted some peace.
Arthur pointed to her knitting. "You have booties and blankets I am sure to make. And we know Harry; he will let us be a part of the baby's life."