SECOND CHANCES 13

Author's Note: I don't own any of the characters.

The Burrow-Two Long Months Later

She couldn't believe that it was already two months since they had left Hogwarts. Two months since she and Ron had heard anything about the search for her parents and their son. They had both more than volunteered to help but given their status with the still at large Death Eaters they hadn't been given a choice of staying at the Burrow. A phalanx of aurors stood guard at the houses boundaries around the clock, leaving no chance for them to slip out to Australia to look for her parents. As she lay there in Ron's bed with the feeling of her bare back against his bare chest it gave her mind something to focus on outside of the growing level of anger that they weren't already in Australia looking. Ron's arms wrapped tightly around her made her feel warm and loved and left no doubt in her mind that whatever happened Ron had her back.

In fact she would happily chuckle at the thought that Ron had more than just her back, he had the entirety of her, though she had the entirety of him also so it was all good. The door to Ron's room had been magically sealed and muted all night and for that Hermione was very glad, as she had been much louder than usual, first with an argument with Ron that was more about both venting their frustrations than any actual anger towards the other and then a night together where they had both tried to forget about everything that but each other for a few minutes. Thankfully she and Ron had begun to fill out in the short amount of time that they had spent eating Mrs. Weasley's cooking, as she had become obsessed with taking care of those that she could. To her surprise Hermione had regularly eaten almost as much as Ron, with her hunger at times seeming bottomless. Ron had held his tongue at this and glared at Harry and Ginny when they had brought it up but she had just passed it off as wanting to regain her strength as fast as possible.

Though they been bombarded with questions about where they had been for almost the past year the loss of Fred had blunted much of the desire to talk very much about the recent past, and to that Hermione decided it was a bitter blessing. The only thing that threatened to break their peaceful bit of alone time was the fact that the sun was rising and in that she knew that Mrs. Weasley would soon shout up the stairs for everyone to come down for breakfast and it wouldn't be correct just yet for her to be seen leaving Ron's room that early in the morning looking like she'd just had a good shag, even though it would have been the complete and honest truth. They had been forced to work hard to keep their enthusiastic relationship a secret from everyone in the house and had after a month been forced by an irate Ginny to finally tell her everything, at least everything that had happened from when they left after the wedding until Voldemort had been defeated.

At learning that Ron had left the youngest Weasley had very nearly turned her older brother black and blue with her fists and forearms. Only Hermione's timely intervention had kept things from progressing any further as Ron really hadn't tried to defend himself, openly admitting his mistake. She had tried not to look at Ginny when Harry explained to her about what had happened when Ron had come back and saved him from the horcrux and its attempt to drown him or what had come next. Ginny had shed tears at that point and had thrown her arms around Hermione in a bone crushing hug at the revelation of the horrors of Malfoy Manor. By the end of it all off their eyes were wet with unshed tears and they were silent for several minutes, outside of the sounds of breathing and Ron hissing as silently as he could as he had noticed that Hermione had been digging her fingernails into his arm the entire time, going deep enough to draw blood.

"You okay luv, not still sick are you," Ron whispered softly under his breath to her as he pulled the two a bit closer together and felt bad that she was a bit cold to the touch.

"Thankfully no, I must have just had a touch of the flu or something, but I seem to be better lately," Hermione replied with no small amount of relief clearly evident in her voice as she did her best to scoot back up against Ron so that as much of her was touching as much of him as was physically possible.

"Good, I was beginning to think that you were uh…never mind," Ron nervously laughed off with a relaxed grin as he leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling, squinting at the early morning sunshine.

"That I was what Ron," Hermione wondered aloud with a hint of dread and concern in her words as she turned in his grasp enough to see him out of the corner of her eye before he spoke up.

"Pregnant Hermione, I thought that you might have been pregnant…that you being sick now was a lot like it was when your were pregnant with Henry and I just thought that maybe…," Ron admitted openly while looking very concerned as his hands both found their way to her stomach and came to rest one on top of the other.

"I can't be pregnant Ron, I would know wouldn't I, I mean it hasn't been that long since…," Hermione countered suddenly as she tried to convince herself that what she was saying was true and that she couldn't be pregnant, though the more that she thought about it everything would fall into place and make sense if she were.

"Shell cottage was like three months or so ago," Ron reminded her softly with a light squeeze of her stomach as he slid his left leg over hers and held the two together as Hermione didn't immediately react when Ron pulled one hand back and brushed her hair off of the back of her neck and placed a gentle kiss there, thanks in no small part to how much physically larger he was than she.

"Oh bloody hell," Hermione groaned with a scrunching up of her face as in her mind she came to the realization that she probably was pregnant and that now was definitely not a good time to be.

"We should probably see if Madam Pomfrey is free one of these afternoons," Ron suggested to her softly as she slid her hands down over top of his right hand on her stomach even though a small but growing part of her was doing cartwheels at the possibility of being pregnant again, even if it was terribly soon after Henry.

"But I can't be pregnant Ron, what if Professor McGonagall of Kingsley finds my parents and Henry, what then…am I supposed to stay here at the Burrow while you go and bring them back…hah, not bloody likely," Hermione rebuffed those thoughts as she answered him, more out of desperation and worry than having any actual evidence, as she tried to brush his hands away from her stomach but did so only weakly and therefore couldn't budge them, giving voice to very valid concerns and not liking the possible answers that she could think up.

"That idea never entered my mind luv, you wiped your parents memories to protect them and you'll be the one to bring them back, and I'll be there to help you the whole way," Ron argued quickly as he rushed to soothe her clearly frayed nerves before he leaned over again and placed a few quick kisses on the side and back of her neck just behind her ear, a sweet spot for her when they were together.

"Good…but what about Harry and Ginny, they'll want to come, besides Harry and Ginny already know what I did," Hermione forced herself to reply while smiling before she acknowledged the only two people in the world that knew enough to be dangerous while at the same time would kill them if they were left out of something as important as getting her parents back.

"But they don't know about Henry, and I'm not keen on telling them while my mum is within earshot," Ron sighed impatiently as he felt a slight thud in the pit of his stomach at even the idea of telling his mother anything at all about his son.

"But that would mean that we'd have to tell them after we get to Australia, and how are we supposed to even get there, the Ministry probably doesn't have a lot of money to spare, Australia is probably too far for a portkey, especially if I am pregnant, I almost wish that we had that damn tent, at least we could stay in it for free," Hermione bemoaned loudly their current circumstances as she wasn't really liking any of the possibilities that her mind was coming up with for how to get to Australia and then how to get back with what they had available to them just then.

"Then we're in luck, you see about a week after that day one of the aurors pulled me aside and told me something strange, they'd found the tent…our tent, apparently the Snatchers that hauled us off to Malfoy Manor just left it there because they were too excited to care, and so…," Ron chuckled back at her as he again used his superior size to manipulate her physically but this time he slid her off of him far enough so that he could then turn her until her head came to rest on his shoulder and she lay draped across him from the mid chest down with her free hand tracing small circles on his chest as she took a deep breath and reveled in their combined scent.

"Really…that's amazing, but…and so what…," Hermione blubbered out softly as she was truly surprised by Ron's revelation and was greatly relieved that she'd have the chance to end her time with their old tent in the manner in which she had always hoped rather than being dragged out of it by Snatchers as they had been months earlier.

"And so when we're ready we can use that same bloody tent and show Ginny how bad we really had it, though hopefully the kitchen will be better stocked this time," Ron stated sheepishly with a clear blush to his cheeks as he secretly hoped to one day put his little sister in her place about having any thoughts about the trio having things easy while they were on the horcrux hunt in the tent.

"I think that your mother will see to that, then again we'll be lucky if she even lets us go at all," Hermione laughed heartily at the sudden idea of all of the food that Mrs. Weasley would likely make them take even if they only planned to be in Australia for a few days, probably more than enough edibles to last them for several months.

"She will, once you tell them about what happened, sure she'll be angry at first but she'll come around and understand that you have to be the one to undo it all, and at least she'll know where we are this time," Ron explained slowly as Hermione gave him an odd look for his answer being so well thought out and detailed, a rarity most of the time for Ron.

"True, but I honestly do not look forward to that conversation at all," Hermione nervously admitted with a passing look of fear before she busied herself first a kiss on Ron's chest directly over his heart before another to his lips.

"Me either, at least it'll be easy compared to the one that we'll have to go through once we get back with Henry and your parents, we'll be lucky to make it out of that little chat in one piece," Ron sarcastically grinned through before he realized which of the upcoming conversations with his parents was the one that he really should be fearing, and it was on that he only knew would happen one day sometime in the future, whenever that turned out to be.

"Ya know, possibly being pregnant again is really starting to sound more appealing you know," Hermione snickered happily into Ron's ear as she leaned her head in closer to his before she then pulled back far enough to tease him with a good view of her.

"Really…why…," Ron returned softly with a rather glum expression as he wasn't sure that he liked what she had in mind about her maybe being pregnant.

"Easy, because as angry as your mum will be when she finds out about Henry I don't think that she'd dare lay a finger on me if I was expecting," Hermione pointed out merrily as she kept herself propped up away from him with a sly grin before she couldn't help but blush as his obvious discomfort and start to drop kisses on him starting with his chest, then his collarbone and jaw, and finally his forehead and lips as she lightly squirmed against him.

"Lucky you, that'd just mean that she'd take all of her anger out on me," Ron groaned out loud as he put a hand up to cover his face and tightly squeezed his eyes shut before Hermione caught him off guard with a hand that slid down his chest and past his stomach.

"Ah the things we do for love, but cheer up Ron at least once we know if I am pregnant or not then we'll know why I'm always so hungry lately, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it…until then…" Hermione commented softly into Ron's ear before the two had a little bit more fun before they had to hurry out of his room in time to get to breakfast before everyone else.

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The Burrow-One Week Later

Oddly enough Madam Pomfrey hadn't been surprised to see them in the least, and barely batted an eyelash when she'd administered the tests to find out if Hermione was pregnant or not. This time however Ron had been there the entire time and Hermione had been very grateful, however the tests turned out. They had somehow managed to sneak out of the house on the lie that Professor now Headmistress McGonagall needed to talk to them both about something important. They had indeed spoken with her for a few moments, if only so that they could later on say that they had and therefore not told an actual lie. Madam Pomfrey had somehow managed to clear the Hospital Wing that day just for the time period of their visit, though neither ever asked her how they just accepted it and eagerly awaited the results. Thankfully it hadn't taken days to get the result this time, though they were no less of a surprise. They had retreated to the spot within the magical protective boundaries of the Burrow from the house and told any nearby aurors that they needed their space for an undetermined amount of time.

"What are we going to do Ron, another baby is one thing but…but this…this…," Hermione demanded looking like she was at her wits end with wide eyes and quivering lips as she struggled to stay standing as her knees started to shake.

"Three of them…triplets, bloody hell," Ron groaned with equally wide eyes and his lower jaw threatening to fall off as he loudly dropped onto the ground near a tree and just stared straight ahead, his mind still reeling with the news.

"Bloody hell indeed…Ron…what are we going to do, we don't even know how to care for one baby…we didn't get much of a chance with Henry and who knows how old he'll be before we find him…and now more…three more, I can't do this Ron…I'm sorry but I can't, I don't know what I'm doing…you don't know what you're doing, we can't," Hermione continued with a fierce scowl and a determined walk as she shoved her hands into her pockets and began to angrily pace around the tree, her gaze never leaving the ground a couple of feet in front of her so that she didn't trip over Ron's legs.

"We will Hermione…we will," Ron started to answer shakily as he tried to get his arms and legs to get him back up to his feet but found that none of his limbs would answer the call before she stopped directly in front of him and spun on the spot to glare down at him, looking ready for a fight.

"NO RON, do not give me that…do not give me that we'll just handle it until you tell me how, so how Ron…HOW," Hermione screamed loudly at him at first before her voice calmed a bit and a clear sense of panic showed through with every word as tears welled up in her eyes. At the end she couldn't take it anymore and shouted at him again.

"I don't know alright, is that what you want me to say, I'm scared silly right now and don't have a clue what's going to happen or how we're going to handle this…I don't know much for certain but I do know that I love you more than I ever thought possible and that I am happy that Henry exists, every day that I'm away from him is driving me insane and you and your love for me are the only things that are keeping me from pulling my hair out every second of every day…but as much as this terrifies me I know that as soon as they're born I'll love them just as much and will do whatever I have to do for them…I'm scared about this but I'm also really excited and happy about having more children…aren't you," Ron let out with a sigh as he threw up his hands in defeat when he admitted the truth without tearing his gaze from hers once in his speech as he just let loose with everything that he had in his mind and heart at that moment.

"Of course Ron…of course I'm happy, I always knew that we'd have more children…I just didn't think that it'd be so soon…and so many, I just can't wrap my head around the logistics of it all, the diapers the feeding's…if they have the regular Weasley appetite they'll drain me dry in like two seconds flat," Hermione snapped sharply at him more out of frustration and fear than any actual anger with an intense glare sent his way before her expression softened in seconds and she looked more terrified than ever.

"Then you should do whatever you can to keep up your strength…you'll need it," Ron announced loudly as he managed to scramble up to a kneeling position in front of her and he took her hands in his with her looking very much like she welcomed the physical contact.

"I will, though if we don't get news of Henry and my parents soon this…these…babies won't be a secret for long, some of my clothes are already starting to get a little tight and soon the whole bloody world will know, including your mother," Hermione replied with a deliberate nodding of her head and a relieved smile to Ron as she pulled her hands from Ron's grasp and they both found their way to her stomach as she looked down at it and grimaced a bit at the view in her mind that she was already starting to show a little.

"And then we're really in trouble, not to mention Hogwarts," Ron acknowledged softly with a sarcastic chuckle as he slid one hand underneath Hermione's on her stomach with her hands then covering his and laid the other on her side with a worried look in his eyes.

"Hogwarts what…oh Lord…how are we supposed to finish school with…them, it'd be hard enough with Henry," Hermione started to ask back softly before he eyes and mouth went wide again in shock and momentary panic as a rush of thoughts of how either was going to continue their education with not one but four babies to take care of.

"We'll have to think of something, where are we going to stay, we can't stay here…I don't fancy Grimmauld Place as somewhere that either of us would want to raise children either," Ron commented hastily with a shaky laugh before he pulled Hermione down onto his lap with his arms around her and his back up against the tree, with the redhead being very relieved that she didn't fight him and went along willingly.

"Definitely not, it's too dark and dreary and…," Hermione gave voice to her opinions of the suitability of number twelve Grimmauld Place as a possible home for their upcoming family before Ron cut in.

"Kreacher," Ron spat out angrily, his voice full of disgust, as he couldn't bring himself to even look in Hermione's general direction as he said it as he knew the look that she'd be giving him.

"Oh come on, he's not that bad, especially after…," Hermione shot back sounding clearly disappointed in Ron for saying it that way even though she wasn't exactly a huge fan of the house elf before she tried to list his good points and found it hard to find one.

"It's nothing personal Hermione, it's that he and that place have far too much bad blood for me, we're better off free from the whole lot," Ron answered with a solemn expression as he turned back to her and they leaned against each other with their foreheads touching as she took a deep breath before speaking up again.

"I understand, and yeah that house is not the nice warm place that I want to raise our children in, and I can't see us living in some big city either, we're going to need a lot of space…and I'll be damned if we're going to be the house on the block that everyone just has to walk by to take pictures of at all odd hours of the nice, I will not have my children hounded by the press for their entire lives," Hermione relented with a weary sigh before in her mind she started to try to picture her ideal place to raise their children and one image popped up but she shook it off as the house was already occupied as she then gave voice to the type of location in which she would never live. The last thing that she wanted was to be surrounded by anyone that would have more of an interest in them than their own lives, be they muggle or magical.

"But the Burrow's the only place that fits all of that, and I think that us living there with the kids…would be a recipe for total chaos, you and my mum would constantly be arguing about the kids and…," Ron admitted with a sheepish and unsure frown before he cast his mismatched home an odd look before a scared shiver ran through his body and he had to turn away.

"I know, she means well…your mother, but you're right, we need a place of our own, and I will not live somewhere in which the home was vacated because the previous occupants were murdered by Death Eaters," Hermione cautiously answered with a warm smile as she put her hands on his chest so that she could proper herself back enough so that she could look him in the eye before she gave voice to her one rock solid restriction for any possible home.

"That kind of limits our options a bit luv, I'm not a rich man, and seeing as how I don't have a clue how to build a house and unless you do…," Ron stated glumly as he remembered that the only galleon that he had to his name was the one that she had given him as a member of Dumbledore's Army, and that galleon was useless in any attempt to buy anything with it.

"I'm not rich either Ron, but maybe there's a book at Hogwarts that'll have something to help us, or your parents," Hermione suggested with an optimistic look in her eyes before she couldn't help but lean in and give Ron a quick and gentle kiss on the lips.

"I guess, though the Burrow isn't exactly…," Ron remarked softly under his breath with an embarrassed smile as he leaned his head forward until he and Hermione were resting their foreheads against each other.

"I know that it's not the Taj Mahal or anything but it is a house, it's home for you and your family…that's no small feat," Hermione responded honestly as she pulled back a bit and turned her gaze towards the Burrow off in the distance and decided that it wasn't her perfect house but that it was the best that they had at the moment, though she still didn't like the idea of imposing on the Weasley's anymore than she absolutely had to, especially now after Fred's death and funeral.

"You're right, but now…who do we tell first, sorry but I just think that it'll be easier if we're not the only ones that know," Ron frowned through as he leaned his head back and then took a deep breath as Hermione stared down at her stomach and wondered how big she was going to get and suddenly found herself not liking her projection at all.

"I agree…we should tell Harry and Ginny first, we've lied to them for so long that they deserve to know the truth, but if we can help it I still think that we can't tell them until after we're in Australia and your mum can't overhear us," Hermione replied as she thought it all through and came to the easiest conclusion that was least likely to end with either she or Ron getting into a lot of trouble for not admitting the truth much earlier.

"Agreed…and I love you Hermione Granger, I love Henry, and I'll love these three whoever they turn out to be," Ron nodded slowly back with a very worried look to him as he tried to come up with a way to tell Harry the truth without making him angry and wasn't too pleased that he was having trouble coming up with any.

"I love you to Ronald Weasley, we'll get through this…together," Hermione whispered back so softly that had her lips not been so close to Ron's then he probably wouldn't have heard her. As a rumble of thunder boomed overhead the two leaned in for the first of many kisses that afternoon.

END OF CHAPTER 13

Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone for reading and reviewing this and the others chapters. As always reviews, questions, and comments are greatly appreciated. The first part is Ron and Hermione in bed together in Ron's room as they try to take their minds off of the search for Henry and her parents after two months. Ron and Hermione try to figure out if she's pregnant or not before we find out that she is and with triplets. Then comes all of the mess of them trying to decide what to do next. I just thought that things would turn out this way with all of the sex that they were having. Don't worry though they're not going to have kids every year, I'm not crazy. It was just that after Malfoy Manor and the final battle to me it made sense that they'd just go with their emotions and not remember to use the correct charms to keep them from getting pregnant, and this is pregnancy for Hermione is the result. Ron and Hermione's reunion with Henry will be in the next few chapters but a few surprises and such has to happen first. I'm still not sure the genders of the triplets, whether they should be three girls, two boys and a girl, two girls and a boy, but I'll figure it out. Ron and Hermione telling Harry and Ginny will be fun I'll say that. I know that the triplets thing is a shock but it just felt right at the time. Thank You.