Chapter 3 - Back at the Burrow

Ron finished the inventory at WWW and strolled down Diagon Alley. He stopped briefly at Dougal's Biological Emporium and picked out some exotic flowers for Hermione. He almost didn't get out of the shop when a juvenile Venomous Tentacula decided it wanted to play. Thankfully, Dougal was nearby and extricated Ron while he also scolded his plant. Using the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, Ron made his way to St. Mungo's, hoping to catch Hermione as she ended her shift. The receptionist directed him to the third floor and sent word up to Junior Healer Granger that she had a visitor. Ron only had to wait a few minutes when a harried looking Hermione appeared. She exclaimed over the flowers, but apologized that several recent emergencies were going to keep her longer. Disappointed, Ron tried to be understanding and kissed her goodbye. Hermione softened the news when she deepened the kiss. By the time they broke apart, a small audience of patients and healers were grinning at them. Sighing, Ron turned and left to return home.

When he arrived back at the Burrow, Bill and Fleur had just arrived for dinner. Mrs. Weasley was holding their infant daughter, Victoire, and looked up at her youngest son with a grimace. Handing the baby back to her mother, Mrs. Weasley tried to drag Ron into the kitchen. Ron refused and told his mother that they could talk where they were. Mrs. Weasley immediately lit into him about why he hadn't come home last night. Ron replied firmly.

"I was at Hermione's. And I'm an adult so it's really my business mum."

Upon hearing this, Bill proceeded to choke on the butterbeer he was drinking and Fleur's face lit up. Mrs. Weasley was stunned silent and Ron took the opportunity to push past her and go to his room. A few minutes later, Bill knocked on the door and came in to talk to his little brother. He was happy for Ron and congratulated him. Then he began to ask Ron if he was being careful. Ron replied that it was none of his business either, but of course he was careful. Bill seemed happy with that, but as he left, he turned back to Ron with a last bit of advice.

"Just know that precautions don't always work."

With that, Bill left Ron sitting on his bed wondering what the hell had prompted that?

Before long, Mrs. Weasley called everyone to dinner, which was just the five of them for the evening. Victoire was too young to count. As dinner began, Mrs. Weasley proceeded to inform Mr. Weasley where his youngest son had spent his previous night. Looking up, Mr. Weasley just nodded.

"Well, he is an adult."

Then Mr. Weasley began to pay especial attention to his beans, but Ron thought that he might have seen a small smirk on his father's face. Mrs. Weasley was speechless for once and just sat there for a minute. Bill decided that this was a good time to make his announcement that he and Fleur were expecting again. Both of his parents were a bit shocked. Victoire was only three months old. Even Mrs. Weasley had given herself at least six months' break between pregnancies. Bill blushed a bit and then Fleur spoke up and explained very matter-of-factly that the usual precautions did not seem to work on veela. That said, she began eating again and the subject closed. Ron suppressed a smile as he realized now what Bill had meant earlier. He was glad Hermione was muggleborn and had no possibility of veela ancestry.