Minerva and Albus sat in the library with Hermione. They knew she was nervous and scared about going to the Burrow, because she became close to all them and Severus was slowly healing along with her. Sarah was such a wonderful and loving woman that knew what Hermione was going through. The elderly couple were grateful for Sarah Snape. They too had grown found of the woman and grown close to Eileen and Tobias. They were turning into a strange but loving family.
Minerva pulled Hermione into her side silently comforting the young woman before she left for Christmas dinner. Hermione rested her head on her shoulder and closed her eyes enjoying their time together. The couple had been coming and going from Prince Manor to Hogwarts to keep an eye on the students. Sometimes they were gone days at a time, but they would leave if they had gotten word that she needed them.
"Everything is going to be all right Hermione." whispered Minerva sweetly. "You'll have Miss Weasely and Sarah there. I know Mr. Potter will be very understanding about everything. I know from what you've told us his like a brother to you."
Hermione nodded her head. "Ron has me worried. He always jumps to sudden and sometime mean conclusions. I don't know if I can handle his mean streaks."
Albus kissed Hermione on the top of her head and soothingly played with her brown curls. "If he does anything you go straight to Arthur. He'll handle Ron. He might not seem the type of man to take control of the household, but he will if has to. In the old wizarding customs it was the man of the house that had the final say in everything from the way the children are raised to whom their children were to marry, and if they didn't pass the father's approval they were cast aside. I know Arthur holds true to those customs. He wants his children happy with their matches for a husband and or wife."
Hermione lifted her head off of Minerva's shoulder and looked at Albus in shock. "I didn't know that."
Albus chuckled and looked over at his wife and smiled, "I'm lucky that Charles like me from the start, and he approved of our marriage." He sighed heavily, "But sadly we could never have children. So our students became our children."
Hermione looked down at her belly and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Minerva kissed Hermione's brow gently, "It's all right sweetheart. We have you in our lives," and she rested her hand on Hermione's belly, "and we'll soon have a little bouncing boy to chase after."
Hermione couldn't help but let a genuine smile cross her face. She stood up from couch and hugged the couple. "I love the both of you."
Minerva held Hermione a little tighter, "We love you too my dear girl. Now you better go meet Sarah in the entrance hall it's time for you to be leaving. If you need us we'll be at Hogwarts."
Hermione pulled back and nodded, "Ok," and left the library for the entrance hall.
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Tobias and Eileen stood at the door and pulled both girls into a tight loving hug. They kissed them on the forehead and told them to come home if they needed to.
"Now, you listen to me young ladies," said Eileen sternly but gently, "You can bring Ginny and Harry over if you wish. We have plenty of room. Because you might need them to be with you for awhile." She told Hermione.
Hermione back the tears that threaten to fall down her cheeks. She threw her arms around Eileen's neck. She whispered, "I don't know what I would have done without you."
Eileen pulled back, "You are part of this family Hermione. Now off you go."
"Where's Severus?" asked Sarah wanting to say bye to her brother.
"He's at Hogwarts. He thought it best until Hermione left to return. He knew she needed her space for awhile, because the Weasely household is rather crowded."
Sarah nodded and Tobias handed Hermione a portkey. "Don't worry it's very safe. I designed it many years ago for pregnant women so they could to travel without any harm done to the child."
The girls smiled, took the portkey and vanished from Prince Manor. Eileen rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Tobias if they hurt our girls I'll go over there and show them where Severus gets his temper from," and she gracefully swept from the room her robes blowing behind her much like her son's robes blew.
"Oh Merlin please don't let that happen." whispered Tobias and went down to potions lab.
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Arthur stood beyond the safety of wards of the Burrow waiting for Hermione and her friend to arrive. He found it best he meet the girls first knowing of Hermione's pregnancy from Ginny. She had gotten approval from her best friend to tell him if he would be need to handle any trouble from the family.
Hermione and Sarah appeared in front of Arthur, and he pulled Hermione into a gently loving hug. He pulled back, "How are you doing Hermione?"
"I'm doing better, but have some problems every so often." she told him. "Mr. Weasely this Sarah Snape. Sarah this Arthur Weasely."
Sarah smiled and shook Mr. Weasely hand. "It's nice to meet you sir. I've heard a lot about you from Mi."
"It's nice to meet you as well. Are you anyway related to Severus Snape?" he asked the young woman.
Sarah laughed slightly not surprised that no one knew Severus had a little sister. "Yes I am sir. I'm his little sister. My brother is a very private man."
"Well come along girls we have a walk ahead of, and I can learn a little bit about you Sarah."
She smiled, "Sounds great!" and they slowly made their way to Burrow.
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"This is interesting indeed. So you're not a witch." said Arthur as they reached the backdoor and he opened it allowing the women to enter the small crooked house.
"No sir. Let me explain why." said Sarah. "Well, here's the Snape and Prince family lines," said Sarah, hands slowly moved towards one and other, "then once our lines cross each other one in the family will not show magical abilities. The only way to unravel the twist," and she moved her hands apart, "one must bring new blood into the family such as a muggleborn or a muggle."
"So the entire time its us that are making non witches and wizard. I thought that the magic was just slowly dying out." said Arthur who had noticed that in his family. Because Ron's magic wasn't as strong as he's other children. "I'll keep that in mind dear. Thank you very much."
Sarah waved it off with a smile. "It's no problem."
All of sudden Arthur and Sarah's conversation was interrupted by happy shouts of, "Mione your here!"
Hermione jumped slightly and slightly hid behind Sarah. She took Hermione's hand and gently squeezed it. She whispered telling it would all right. Hermione stepped out from behind her dear friend.
"I've missed you." said Ginny pulling Hermione into a gentle hug. She pulled back and smiled. "Hello big guy," knowing she didn't want to be asked if she was ok. "Wow he's moving a lot."
Hermione smiled and laughed, "You have no idea how much John is moving. He keeps me bruised."
Harry stood in the back watching his best friend. He could she was starting to stiffen up from all the Weasely boys touching her too much. Ginny had told the boys not to ask questions, because they remembered that Hermione was all ready having a hard enough time with her parents being gone.
"If you upset Mi you'll regret it." hissed Sarah after she introduced herself to Ron. She pulled back from his ear and smiled friendly at the redhead.
Ron pulled Hermione into a hug. He stepped back not saying two words to his friend of seven years. Hermione didn't care at the moment.
Harry slowly walked up to the one person he saw as a sister. She was the one besides Ginny that truly understood him. Hermione walked up to Harry and threw herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him as possible.
"Wow, talk about kick." said Harry when felt the baby move. He stepped back and asked, "Can I?" Hermione smiled he was the only one that asked out of all them besides Ginny. She nodded her head. Harry gently rubbed her belly. "That's so neat." He looked over a Ginny winked.
Ginny blushed. She knew Harry wanted a big family, and she couldn't blame him. She had already put her foot down saying three was plenty, and if he wanted more he would have them himself.
Arthur saw Molly enter the room and he quickly pulled her aside and whispered sternly in her ear. "If you jump down Hermione's throat or hurt that girl so help me Molly I will make you leave this house and stay at Grimmauld Place until you see the era of your ways. Now I suggest you treat her normally as possible and don't you dare ask questions." he hissed.
Molly pulled back from her husband wide eyed. She couldn't believe that Arthur had threatened to kick her out of her own house. He had never done anything like it before. He had pulled rank on her. She was the one that took control of everything that went on in the house. He turned a total 180 on her all because of Hermione Granger had entered her own home. She wasn't even their daughter. He had made it clear as crystal not insult young woman.
Molly walked over to Hermione stunned at what she saw. Hermione Granger was heavily pregnant and stood in her house. It was unfit, not right for a woman to be pregnant and not married. She wondered who she had slept with during the school term. She knew it wasn't her Ron's baby. She would have to do something about that, but for now she had to put on a strong act in front of everyone.
"Hermione sweetheart." said Mrs. Weasely and pulled her into a motherly hug. "How have you been? And where have you been?"
"I've been ok." said Hermione and looked over at Mr. Weasely. He gave her a strong nodded, and she smiled at the man. "I've staying with Sarah. She's a friend of Dumbledore's."
Sarah threw Hermione a wink and said with a slight lie, "Sarah Prince."
Ginny covered her mouth to stop from giggling. She knew it was a slight lie, but she knew Sarah did it so that Mrs. Weasely wouldn't blow her lid. She turned to all her brothers and placed her finger over her lips telling not to tell the truth about a Sarah.
Arthur turned to her daughter in shock and walked over to her and whispered, "What's going on she introduced herself as Sarah Snape to everyone else."
"Dad she didn't completely lie. Sarah's mum maiden name was Prince. Hermione must had told her before hand that mum truly doesn't trust Professor Snape. Please keep it a secret for Hermione's sake. Please."
"I swear if that girl was a witch, she would have been placed in Slytherin. She's sly as her brother." said Arthur with a whole hearty laugh. Ginny couldn't help but laugh.
Ginny pulled Hermione and Sarah up the stairs, "You're rooming with me." She said joyfully.
"Ginny slow down girl. I can only climb the stairs so fast." said Hermione with a laugh. Sarah knew she'd like Ginny. She hadn't seen Hermione laugh this much before.
Ginny opened her bedroom door and they walked into the room. Mrs. Weasely had enlarged the bed to were it could hold a three of them. It took up most of the room, but she didn't care. The redhead jumped onto the bed and began to jump up and down.
"I can't believe you finally here!" she told them as she jumped up and down like a little girl. "It's been so boring! But at lest I'm able to spend a lot of time with Harry," and she bounced into a sitting position.
Sarah and Hermione sat down on the bed. Sarah got to know Hermione's best girl friend of six years. She knew that Hermione loved her dearly.
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Harry and Mr. Weasely sat outside in the backyard at the picnic table. Arthur had charmed the area to remain warm so they could speak. Harry had told him he wanted to speak in private.
"Mr. Weasely, you know I've known Ginny for a long time." said Harry.
Arthur sat waiting for the young man to rant out his nerves. He knew where the speech was going to lead to. He only smiled at the young man.
"Well, you know we've been seeing each since my third year at school. I love Ginny really I do. I guess it's a Potter thing that we all fall for redheads." Arthur chuckled at the statement because Harry's grandmother was a redhead. "May I have your permission to marry Ginny?"
Arthur leaned forward on the table. He knew that the couple were young, very young in fact, but he knew that the young man would wait until his daughter graduated from Hogwarts before they were married.
"Yes Harry you have permission to marry my daughter." said Arthur. He pulled out a piece of parament. "You know I hold strong to the old customs. You did right by asking me to marry my daughter. This is a betrothal contract." He smiled at the young man's shocked expression. "I've had a feeling for a very long time Harry that it would come to this." He only nodded dumbly. "This says that you will wait until Ginny has finished school before you are married. You will not be sexual active until you are wed."
"Yes sir just so you know I have told Ginny I wouldn't touch her in that way until she has a band on her hand." said Harry. He grabbed what he knew to be a blood quill from Arthur. "You have my word I will up hold your wishes," and he signed his name agreeing to the contract.
Arthur took the quill and signed is name to it as well. He got up from table and shook Harry's hand. He pulled him into a hug. He pulled back, "You're a good man Harry."
"Thank you sir." said Harry and watched his future father in law enter the house. He released a breathe he had been holding, and he entered the house with a bright smile on his face.
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Hermione sat with Harry on the steps while Sarah was kicking Ginny's ass in a game of chess. He pulled out a black box and handed it to his sister. She lifted the lid and her mouth dropped.
"I'm going to ask Ginny to marry me." said Harry.
She smiled brightly at her brother and wrapped an arm over his shoulders. "I know she'll say yes Harry. So don't worry. I'm so happy for you!" She looked at the ring. "She'll love the ring it's Ginny all over," and she handed him the closed black box. She kissed his cheek and when in search for the girls.
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Molly angrily made the dough for the bread. She couldn't believe that Hermione was pregnant. She was suppose to be with her Ronnie. But she had to go and sleep with first boy that pulled down her pants. Then to top it off she didn't trust that Sarah Prince girl. She remaindered too much of Snape.
She sighed heavily remembering that Hermione had seen her parents die right in front of her, but she wished that Hermione would confide in her some. She had known the child for years. She would have to sit down with her to understand what was going on.
Molly set the table with a flick of her wand and she called the family to the table. She smiled when she heard steps run down the stairs and redheads enter the room. They all sat down at the table ready to eat a good home cooked meal.
"Here you go dear. It's tea I use to drink when I was pregnant, and look how healthy my boys are." said Molly sitting down the cup in front of the young woman.
Arthur smiled at his wife pleased to see that she had taken his warning to heart. Molly sat down at the table with the family. The room was full of lively conversation and laughter.
Sarah was happy she came with Hermione. She really liked the Weasely family, but something just didn't sit right with her about Molly Weasely. It seemed to her that the woman was acting strange. She might not had been a witch but she could read cards like her mother. Reading cards didn't require magic. She sat back and studied the woman while keeping an eye on Hermione.
'She wouldn't do anything to Mi.' thought Sarah and returned back to her strange conversation with Fred.
Hermione sat back and picked up the cup of tea that sat before her and slowly sipped it. She smiled to herself when John settled down some, and he had finally moved his foot out of her right ribcage.
After dinner the boys cleared the table while Molly and the girls went and sat down in the livingroom.
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"Mrs. Weasely what was in that tea I had earlier?" asked Hermione.
"I'll give you the recipe so you can take it with you. What are you having dear?"
She smiled grateful Mrs. Weasely wasn't jumping down her throat. "A boy. He's name is John after my dad." Hermione pulled Sarah and Ginny close to her sides, "But these two I couldn't have made it through it."
"You're stronger then you give herself for dear." said Molly as she gently squeezed Hermione's leg.
"Presents!" yelled the boys who were carrying arm full of boxes.
"But I didn't bring you guys anything." said Hermione feeling slightly guilty.
The boys smiled and sat boxes in front of Hermione and Arthur came in carrying another handful of boxes. He sat them down and the boys dug through them grabbing which one belonged to whom.
"Here you go Sarah." said Mrs. Weasely holding out a long box.
"You-you didn't have to get me anything." She said now feeling really bad what she thought earlier.
Hermione sat back and laughed as Harry, Ron, Fred and George tore into their presents like it was a race to win a quidditch match. They all got a Weasely sweater with their first initial on it. Once everyone had finished they all looked over at Hermione and Sarah.
"You go first Sarah." said Hermione with a smile.
"Ok." She said and ripped into the paper and lifted the box. She pulled out a deep green and red scarf. "Oh wow. It's great." She wrapped it around her neck. "What do you think?"
"Looks great." said Ginny with a bright smile. "You're turn Mione."
"All right." she said and shifted through the boxes and stacked the ones from Mr. and Mrs. Weasely in pile, Ron, Fred and George in other. Harry and Ginny's in one. She saw that Ginny's pile was much bigger then others.
Hermione opened the one from Mr. and Mrs. Weasely and it was the same sweater and sweets she made. Fred and George gave her a diary that had never ending pages with her name engraved into the front. Ron had gotten her a book on potions. Harry gotten her a cookbook knowing she liked to cook.
"Ok Gin what's with all the boxes?" asked Hermione and she opened one by one only to find they were all hand made baby clothes for John. "Ginny, I don't know what to say. You must have been working on this for a long time."
She handed her one last box. "This one is special it took a long time to make it and to get it just right."
Hermione took it from the redhead with slightly shaky hands. She slowly opened the lid to find a beautiful light blue baby gown with teddy bears and John stitched into collar.
"It's for John to wear when he leaves the hospital." said Ginny with a smile.
"Ginny I-I" said Hermione speechless on what to say. She pulled the redhead into a tight hug. "I love you." she whispered.
Ginny pulled back and kissed her brow. "I love you too," and she returned to her seat.
"I have one more for you Ginny." said Harry handing over a small wrapped box.
The redhead took the box and slowly removed the wrapper and pulled out a small black box. She lifted the lid with two words written on it, 'Look down,' Ginny closed the box and looked down only to find Harry one knee.
"I will you marry me?" asked Harry.
Ginny smiled down at her boyfriend and nodded, "Yes."
He took her left hand and slowly slid a square shaped diamond ring with four small rubies that broader the sides that rested on a gold band. He leaned forward and kissed the redhead on her lips. He pulled back and smiled.
"Is every Christmas this eventual?" asked Sarah.
"Nah." said the twins with knowing smirks on their faces.
Sarah screamed when she heard booms from outside. The twins laughed.
"They're going off early." said George. "Well, come on fireworks!" and yanked Sarah from her seat and pulled her outside.
Hermione shook her head and followed the large family outside for the firework show the boys did every Christmas. She was grateful that no one noticed her diamond ring; except Ginny. She told her about that she was marrying Snape for John's protection.
It was after midnight when Sarah and Hermione said their farewells and they went back to Prince Manor, but Molly told the girls that Ron, Harry and Ginny could go over and spend New Years with them. The girls smiled and nodded their heads.
Molly wished that Hermione would have sat down and at lest spoke to her about what happened the night her parents died. But she knew it wasn't the time nor the place. She would only have to wait.
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Hit the button and tell me what you think.
HA fooled you Molly was nice! HA, HA,HA!