AN I know that the last few chapters have dealt with some issues that invoke strong emotions, it's not my intention to judge, neither are these views necessarily my own, they are intended as a literary device to move the plot forward, not to upset anyone or make them feel like I'm making value judgements.

Life has once again caught up with me, so the regular updates won't be as regular, but I'm hoping to have the next chapter up pretty soon.

Thanks to LoveHGSS for her beta work and all round support and brilliance.

It was a distraught Hermione who Apparated back to the Burrow, tears pouring down her cheeks as she staggered down the path and pushed open the kitchen door.

"Hermione! Dear, what's happened? What's wrong?" Molly asked.

Hermione ran past her and into the arms of her two best friends, sobbing her heartbreak onto their shoulders as they held her, neither of them saying a word until her tears lessened. The Weasley family watched as Harry and Ron guided her into the living room and onto the worn but comfy couch, squishing in either side of her.

"Here," George said, handing her a glass of water.

"Thanks."

"You want to talk about it?" Harry asked.

Hermione smiled sadly. "I guess what it comes down to is that Charlie was right."

"First time for everything I guess," George said, earning himself a smack round the head from Ginny, along with instructions to shut up and be serious for once.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, puzzled.

"When you said earlier that Tonks was a bitch, you were right. I can't believe I defended her."

"Why, 'Mione, what's happened?" Ron asked.

"She turned up at Remus's just now. He told her about the law I found and how it gave him rights to the baby. Remus said that he would raise the child alone if she would let him, that she wouldn't have to do anything or pay anything. But she wouldn't agree to it, she said she wouldn't let Remus and I have a chance at a happy ending, especially not with her baby, if she couldn't have the fairy tale." Hermione began to cry again as she spoke. "She said... she's... she said that if Remus didn't end things with me she would get rid of the baby."

"What?" Molly cried, her hand covering her mouth.

"She gave Remus a choice, me or the baby." Hermione smiled sadly again. "Not much of a choice was it?"

"You mean he ended your relationship?" It was Percy who spoke.

"Of course he did. The baby is more important," Hermione replied.

Percy sighed and took his glasses off, polishing them on the edge of his robes.

"Oh, 'Mione. You poor thing," Ginny said, reaching over from her perch on the arm of the sofa to hug her.

"Man. It's insane. Who blackmails a person with the life of their own child? I mean, threatening to keep the baby away from him was one thing but this is mad," Charlie said.

"Yeah, sounds like a sure bet for a bed in St Mungo's to me," Ron added.

"So that's it? She makes nasty threats and he obviously chooses the baby and you're over?" George asked.

Hermione shrugged and nodded.

George moved from his spot on the floor to sit on Ron so he could hug her.

"Oi! Gerrof!" Ron shouted.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Percy exclaimed. "That's not it, not at all."

"What do you mean, Perce?" Charlie asked.

Percy turned to Hermione. "As far as you know, is the baby healthy?"

Hermione nodded.

"And Tonks, is she healthy?"

She nodded again, a puzzled frown gracing her features.

"Is there any reason Remus can't raise a child?"

"Apart from the lycanthropy?" She asked.

"Yes, any financial or other medical reasons why he couldn't raise a baby?"

"No, between his war reward and the legacy from Sirius he's pretty well off, and his consultancy work for the ministry brings in a bit."

"And he'll get a percentage profit from the products he's co-developed from the shop too," George added.

Percy nodded. "As far as the lycanthropy goes, is there anyone who could look after a baby on the night of the full moon?"

"Of course."

"Me."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind."

"I would."

"When I'm not in Romania, sure."

"We could."

"Sure, Angie wouldn't mind if I did."

Most of the room spoke together, making Hermione smile and Percy chuckle as his mum, girlfriend and siblings all volunteered to babysit.

"Well then. Under current legislation, a pregnancy can only be terminated if there is a threat to the health and well being of the mother or the child, if the child would be in danger of abuse or mistreatment, or if the financial or social circumstances of either parent, but most significantly the primary carer, would mean that the child would have a poor standard of living. None of that counts in this case, so Tonks would never be granted a termination by a Healer. And since Remus has the means and capability to raise the child, and has offered to, she wouldn't be able to put the baby up for adoption either."

Hermione just stared at Percy, an odd mixture of amazement and delight clear on her face.

"What about back street abortions, or going into the Muggle world and getting it done there?" Ginny asked.

Percy shook his head. "She would be knowingly acting in direct opposition to Magical Law, so she would still be risking losing her job at the very least, and a stint in Azkaban at worst."

Everyone grinned, it seemed that Percy had solved the problem, that Hermione and Remus would be ok.

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's not that easy. She said she will only agree to Remus having full custody if it includes a stipulation that we're not, and never will be, in a relationship."

Percy thought for a moment. "She would need some really good reasons for you not to be involved, especially if she isn't going to be around. You have a good job, no criminal record, and you're a hero of the second Voldemort war. Don't pull a face, I know you three hate the fame but it could really help here. I can't see any official letting a clause for your non-involvement stand, if I'm honest."

Hermione wriggled from between Harry and Ron and threw herself at Percy, hugging him tightly as she thanked him over and over. Percy blushed red as his hair as he assured her it was nothing.

"I have a question," a puzzled looking Harry announced once Hermione had returned to her seat next to him. "How do you know so much about the specifics of all this?"

Percy smiled. "It's one of the areas Kingsley is looking at as part of the new Muggle integration act. We're seeing whether any parts of Muggle law can be slotted into magical law to make it fairer or more up to date."

Harry nodded, his curiosity satisfied.

Hermione stood once more from between the boys.

"Where are you going?" George asked.

"I think it's time I spoke to Tonks. Thank you, all of you. You're the best family I could have. I'll let you know what happens with everything." She walked to the door of the living room before stopping. "Um, does anyone know where Tonks lives?"

"I think I overheard someone at the Auror department saying she was living in Andromeda and Ted's old place. I know she inherited it after the war," Harry said. "But I don't know where it is."

Arthur crossed to the bookcase and pulled a battered blue note book off a shelf. He flipped through until he found a scrawled address on a scrap of parchment.

"Here. And Hermione, do be careful."

She smiled at her surrogate father and nodded before heading for the door once more. It was time this was dealt with; she had her own personal happily ever after to fight for, and she intended to fight with all of the strength and courage she had. Percy had given her another lifeline, and she would be damned if she would let her chance at happiness slide through her fingers.