Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: I'm in a really good mood as things seem to be falling together perfectly (though I could still use some good vibes sent my way!) and I made it to my goal number of 50 reviews before I posted again. (I really am trying to pace myself. ha.) However, it's finally here, the moment you've all been waiting for...kind of. Hope it doesn't disappoint!
Six
"You know, if you continue to scowl like that your face will get stuck that way," Hermione looked up from her desk to see Charlie leaning in her doorway, "Or, at least that's what my mother always told me."
"Your mother is a liar," Hermione laughed.
"Fair enough, I mean Father Christmas… enough said."
Hermione laughed at that and closed the file she was reading, "I thought you were out of the office today. Or am I just beginning to bore you with my company?"
"What? Never," Charlie laughed, "I mean, you've only fallen asleep on me…"
"That was one time," Hermione argued.
"And I've forgiven it," Charlie assured her with a smug grin. "However, I was supposed to be out of the office today helping the aurors on a case but apparently since Potter isn't back in yet things have gone to shite."
Hermione waved him off, "Mainly Harry keeps them from looking like shite to others, they're usually like that."
Charlie laughed and moved further into her office taking a seat in his favorite chair and putting his boots up on her desk. "In any case, I just so happened to be back in time for lunch but as I see you've already eaten…"
Hermione looked sheepishly to the two takeout bags in her rubbish bin, "I was hungry."
"You or the baby?"
"Both," Hermione assured him, "Definitely both."
Charlie chuckled and put his feet down, leaning forward in his chair, "Before I headed down here I was accosted by that bloody awful witch that wears too much perfume, Rosita or Belinda? No, that's not right…"
"Carmella?" Hermione supplied.
"That'll be her. Apparently she is the head of the commission for the benefit the ministry is putting on for our new Dragon Sanctuary and as she was so eager to do, she had to inform me that it's required that I bring a date. She nobly volunteered herself but I told her that I already had a date…"
Hermione raised a brow, "And who just might be the lucky lady?"
Charlie grinned, "Well, you of course."
Hermione shook her head, "No, no. Absolutely not."
"Oh, come on Herms. You owe me… you know, since you ate without me."
"First of all, never call me that again," she hissed as Charlie laughed, "And secondly I don't owe you. You weren't even supposed to be here." She leaned back in her chair, playing with the fuzz of her sweater on top of her already protruding stomach.
"Alright, what if I promise never to call you 'Herms' again and let you pick our next month of eateries…"
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Without complaint?"
"Yes, on my honor. No complaints." Charlie smiled as he held up a hand, "Want to make an unbreakable vow?"
"No," Hermione laughed, "Fine. I'll go but I'm not staying out all night. I can hardly keep my eyes open past eight o'clock anyway."
"I know."
She groaned, "it was one time."
"You look gorgeous," Ginny said as she finished her hair with a flourish of her wand. "And Charlie is a lucky lad."
"It's not like that," Hermione insisted once again as she had for the past few hours that Ginny had been working on her.
"Sure…" Ginny smiled, "You know, I always figured Charlie would end up being the fun gay uncle. I am pleasantly surprised."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend once more before she stood up and slipped out of the button up she had put on, "Just shut up and help me into my dress."
The dress she had chosen wasn't her first pick but it served it's purpose of hiding her ever protruding stomach. Of course she was sure most of the wizarding world had already begun to speculate and swirl rumors around but the longer she held off on making a formal announcement, the better. At least, that's what she told herself.
The calf length, navy blue dress was form fitting around her breasts, the long sleeves lace all the way down to her wrists. A deep blue satin ribbon was tied around the bottom of her bust and the tulle skirt was just fluffy enough- she hoped-to hide her burgeoning midsection.
"You look stunning," Ginny gasped as she swirled Hermione around to help her zip up the back and once Hermione caught sight of herself in the mirror she couldn't say that she disagreed.
"Thank you," she whispered to her friend and Ginny placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Not just for this but… for everything. If it weren't for you and Harry-"
"And Charlie," Ginny supplied, giving her friends shoulder a squeeze as she winked theatrically.
Hermione laughed, "Yes, and your mum and dad and your brothers… Ginny I don't know where I'd be."
"Well, certainly not about to knock out the entire wizarding world with your outstanding beauty. Now, don't cry you'll ruin your makeup. There's only so much smudge-proof spell can do."
Hermione laughed and wiped at her eyes with a nod.
"Now let's go."
The two witches walked arm and arm out of Hermione's room and into the living room where Harry and Charlie sat. Baby James was cradled in Charlie's arm reaching for the ever present earring in his uncle's ear as the man laughed at him. For a moment Hermione stopped, just watching the man. She was sure now that there was definitely not any spark between her and Charlie Weasley- or any other Weasley for that matter. Watching him with his nephew, however, made her think of the child growing in her belly and of all that someone like Charlie could offer him or her.
"Wow," Harry said as he finally saw the two women, "Hermione you clean up nice."
Charlie looked up then, his mouth gaping open as he stared at her and he quickly- but gently- handed the baby back to Harry as he stood up. "Hermione, you look…"
"She knows," Ginny replied smugly, bumping into her friend with her shoulder and a nudge towards the man. "You two have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Don't keep her out all night," Harry said as he stood up with the baby and walked over to Ginny.
"Harry-" Ginny argued as Charlie chuckled and reached out to grasp Hermione's hand in his. "She's already pregnant, there isn't much else to worry about."
Hermione groaned as Charlie and Ginny laughed out loud and Charlie pulled Hermione out the door and let it shut behind him before he finally turned and kissed her once more. She hoped, she really did, that something would happen. Some little spark would ignite and light the fire that she wanted, so badly, to burn for the man. It didn't and she was left breathless and winded as Charlie pulled away, searching deeply into her eyes before he finally gave one short nod, "Are you ready?"
She nodded and placed her hand into his as they side-along apparated.
When they landed, Hermione fought the urge to vomit that seemed to overtake her until she found her footing, Charlie's hand ever present on her back and her elbow until she straightened herself and he let go of her, offering her his arm instead as he turned them around.
It was then, as they turned on the stone pathway as more people began to arrive around them that she caught sight of the location for the gala that evening. Her breath caught in her throat and her feet stopped of their own accord as she looked up at the looming manor. She had been here only once before, trapped between her two best friends as they tried to figure out how to survive. It wouldn't have bothered her, she realized, to return to this place of so long ago, if the evidence of her torrid- however brief- love affair wasn't growing under her gown.
"Hermione?" Charlie asked worriedly and she looked up to meet his gaze.
She wanted to tell him then, to explain why she was about to beg off and leave him alone to Carmella or Bridget or whatever other witch from the ministry wanted to take a stab at the eldest Weasley. Instead she took a deep, shuddering breath and forced a smile onto her face, "Sorry, old habits."
Charlie didn't quite look convinced but before he could stop her she set off, her heels clipping against the stone beneath her as she reached the steps to the manor and took them one by one and she tried to control the shaking of her hands.
The man at the door smiled at her as he let her in, the expression hollow and vacant, and Hermione had to force herself on once more. She counted her breathing, feeling Charlie's hand on her lower back as he walked them through the halls and into the large banquet room where the festivities were being held. She bit her tongue as she forced a smile onto her face as Charlie introduced her to person after person and she tried to keep their names straight as her eyes flitted around the room.
It wasn't until she saw him that she realized she had been looking for him all along. His hair was kept short, his face as serious as it had been months ago and yet there was something else. Something just there that she couldn't quite put her finger on, his head swiveled then, his eyes roaming the crowd until they landed on her.
Her breath caught in her throat as a look of shock crossed his features, his eyes narrowing slightly. Hermione met his gaze, her own traveling over the length of his body until she forced herself to look away, a knot settling low in her gut.
"I'm sorry," she said suddenly as she turned to Charlie, "If you'll excuse me for a moment…"
"Hermione?" Charlie asked worriedly, his eyes dropping to her abdomen.
"I'm fine," she smiled tightly, "Just… need to use the restroom."
Charlie nodded and the man before him began speaking once more, giving her the opportunity as she turned on her heel and headed towards the nearest door, wandering until she found the lavatory and pushed herself inside. Once she was sure it was empty she used her hands to cup water from the sink, taking a long pull before splashing the rest on her face and thanking Ginny and the foresight to waterproof her makeup.
She breathed, "You can do this," she told herself sternly, "You can do this." She wondered just how much she would have to repeat it before she believed it.
"You know," the voice came, crisp and drawling. "People will start to wonder about your sanity if you continue talking to yourself…"
She turned then, her face paling as she came face to face with Draco Malfoy.
A/N: Dun dun dun. I really am in a good mood. I'll try to get back to everyone's reviews. You know I love hearing from you. Also, I didn't britpick this so I have no idea if mothers actually say "your face will get stuck that way" there but it worked and I couldn't not use it because I can definitely see Molly saying it and the twins making faces just to see...