A/N Umm, so slower update than I thought, sorry!
This chapter is dedicated to LoveHGSS and Clover Bay for their encouragement and support – you're both amazing!
As always, especial thanks to the wonderful LoveHGSS for the beta, it's so very appreciated!
Hermione smiled as she Apparated to just outside the back yard of the Burrow. It had been a painfully emotional week and she was glad to be back in the warmth and safety of the Weasley family home. Even from the gate she could hear Molly's voice floating through the window, scolding George for something as Charlie laughed. She basked in the love as people called greetings to each other and she followed Percy and Audrey, who must have arrived a few moments before her, into the house.
Hermione was barely through the door before Molly pulled her into one of her famous hugs, almost squeezing the life out of her.
"Hello, dear, I'm so glad you came!" The Weasley matriarch pulled back and looked over the younger woman with a critical eye. "Are you sleeping properly? You look rather tired, dear."
Hermione smiled. "I'm fine, Molly, really."
"Yeah," George said from behind them, "I'm sure 'Mione is spending lots of time in bed, just not sleeping."
Hermione blushed as she crossed the kitchen and hugged him.
"No Angelina today?" she asked.
"Nah, she's at a family party, it's her muggle aunt's 90th birthday so she thought it wasn't the best time to introduce me to the Johnson clan."
"If I were her, I'd never introduce you," a new voice added. Hermione laughed at Charlie's comment and went to hug him too.
"Oy!" George shouted. "First you insult me then you steal Hermione off me." He pulled his wand from his jeans and chased Charlie through the winding rooms of the Burrow, their laughter echoing back.
Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her into the cosy den at the front of the house, pushing her into the squishy sofa before dropping down next to her.
"Right, tell me everything."
"About what?"
"Remus, obviously," Ginny replied.
Hermione eyed the redhead warily. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, mostly, how you went from pissed we set you up on a date to spilling darkest secrets to fights to sex to tears on my sofa to all loved up all in the space of a week and a half." It was George that spoke from the door. Hermione looked round to see Charlie, Harry and Ron behind him, all looking like they wanted to hear her explanation.
She sighed and gestured them all in, knowing she wasn't going to get away without explaining at least some of the last ten days to her friends.
"First, I'm only telling you this because I know you care, but I don't need your permission or approval to do anything."
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"I know it seems crazy, to go from telling you all that Remus and I were just friends to this, whatever this is. I suppose the easiest place to start is that I've had a crush on him for years, since Hogwarts I guess. Obviously it faded away, what with the war, then he had Tonks and I had Kyle. Then we were both single and I couldn't help but notice all the things that had attracted me to start with, but multiplied tenfold now I'm older."
"Like what?" Ginny asked.
"Well, his eyes are gorgeous; I love the way he brushes his hair out of his face when it's that bit longer; I love the way he pauses before he speaks, as if he's really thinking about what he's going to say. I've always got on well with him, always been able to talk to him about the things that bore you guys senseless." She held up a hand to stop the protests that came from her friends. "No, it's ok, I don't want to hear endless Quidditch discussion, and you don't care about Arithmancy. I'm not judging, just highlighting the things that make Remus and I good."
"'Mione, I'm not denying any of this, but it still doesn't explain why you seem to have rushed into things. I mean, all of that was true when you were friends, or with other people," Harry said, frowning slightly.
"What I'm trying to say is that there was something there to start with, it's not like this is a stranger we're talking about; we've known each other for years. I admit I was cross when Gin and George set us up, but not because I wasn't attracted, but because I knew I was attracted to Remus was and I didn't know how he felt. I don't suppose I'll ever know why I spilt my heart to him about Kyle, but I don't regret it for a heartbeat. And yes, this week has been odd, because we both have issues to deal with, and that's going to make things rocky from time to time, especially with Tonks showing back up and being such a cow. But all I really know is that when I'm with him I feel safe, and when he holds me I feel like the most beautiful, special, wonderful woman in the world. And I hope that I make him feel something similar, because to me he is all that and more."
Her friends looked at her for a moment before Harry and Ron pulled her into a hug which the other three Weasleys quickly joined.
"Now we know 'Mione's ok, can we eat?" Ron asked.
The others laughed and followed him to the kitchen and Mrs Weasley's famous roast dinner.
"Hermione, dear, is Remus joining us?" Molly asked.
Hermione blushed at the assumption she would know, but was pleased Molly seemed to be so accepting of their relationship.
"I'm not sure, he went to speak to Bill so I suppose it depends how that goes."
"Why did Remus want to see Bill?" George asked.
"About the baby; he wants to know if Tonks is telling the truth for once about Remus being the father."
Molly smiled sadly. "Oh, it's Remus' baby, dear."
Hermione looked at Ginny. "How does she know? I feel like I've missed something."
"Bill came to see mum and dad last week. Turns out he can't have kids, which is why Fleur left, but he hadn't told Tonks and when she found out she went mad at him and left. At least, that's the short version," Ginny replied.
"Wow, poor Bill."
"I'd say there's going to be a fair amount of poor Remus before all's said and done too," George said.
"There's one thing I don't get in all this," Charlie said as they sat down to lunch, a space left between Hermione and George for Remus if he arrived. "When did Tonks become such a first class bitch?"
"I'm not sure she is," Hermione said.
Everyone stared at her like she'd gone mad.
"Um, you do remember the part where she's blackmailing Remus with his own child to get her own way, right?" Harry asked.
"Yes. But I think all she wanted was the perfect family, husband, kids, nice house. And then she realised that Remus isn't the typical prince charming and ran to Bill, but he couldn't give her the fairytale either."
"So now she's losing everything she wanted, except the child, which she might have to have alone, which is still rare and quite frowned upon in the wizarding world," Ginny said. "And she's fighting desperately to regain some of what she lost, no matter what."
"That's about it, yeah. So it's not bitchy as much as desperate."
Ron snorted. "Sounds like she's a bitch to me."
"Yes, but we all know how much emotional depth and empathetic ability you have Ron." Ginny laughed.
"Empa what?" Ron asked, confused.
Harry snorted at the look on his friend's face, and changed the conversation for Ron's sake, deciding it wasn't fair for him to have to endure another period of abuse from the girls at his lack of understanding.
An hour later, as everyone but Ron sat thinking they would never need to eat again, and Ron tackled his third helping of pudding, there was a quiet knock on the door. George opened it to show Remus stood there.
"Hello, mate, come on in."
"Hello, Remus, dear," Molly said, crossing the kitchen to hug him.
Remus returned her embrace with a smile. "Hello, Molly. Sorry I missed lunch."
"Oh, not at all, I saved you a plate. Sit down, sit down."
Remus chuckled as Molly conjured a chair next to Hermione and placed a plate of roast in front of him.
"You ok?" Hermione asked softly from next to him.
Remus reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm fine. I'm guessing you've been filled in more or less about Bill?"
Hermione nodded. "At least you know exactly what's happening now."
"Yes. I know the baby's mine, and I know I want to try and make something of you and me, and that means I can deal with anything Dora tries."
Hermione smiled at him and leant her head against his shoulder.
"Aww, they're so cute," George said, pretending to dab at his eyes.
"I know," Charlie sobbed back, "such a beautiful sight."
Hermione and Remus blushed as the Weasleys laughed.
"Stop it you two, I think it's lovely," Molly stated. "And if you ever need anyone to babysit the little one, Remus, you just let me know."
Remus smiled. "You're the first person I'd ask."
Molly beamed at him and Remus couldn't help but grin back. He was with friends, he was going to be a father, and right by his side was a woman he could easily love. Even with Tonks hovering as a cloud overhead, in that moment Remus Lupin was content.