Chapter 2- Molly and Arthur
Hermione's new home was a cute three-bedroom house. Harry and Ron helped her get everything in its place, then they went out to a Muggle restaurant for lunch. From there they went with Hermione to get her books that she would need for school. They did not want to leave her alone, but she assured them that she would be fine. She went with them to get a portkey back home and when she left the Ministry, she went into a little baby boutique. In a few months she would know if she were having a boy or girl and she would be able to start buying clothes for her baby. She put her hand on her belly, that was just starting to show her pregnancy, and promised her baby she would be the most loved baby in the world.
She had a week before school started, so she went to the Flammel's and took plenty of notes. They thought she had everything she needed to make a good start on the book. She assured them she would work on the book daily and would come regularly to show them her progress and take more notes. She hung some light-yellow curtains in the kitchen window, that she could open to look out at the birdbath in her back yard, and in her living room she transfigured the drapes to a more modern looking style. The witch she rented the house from was very friendly and Hermione thought she would like the changes to the little house but if she didn't like them, Hermione would change them back when she moved out. She put a cozy rug in front of the fireplace and was very satisfied with the finished product. Even though she tried to keep busy, she still had a lot on her mind. She thought a lot about Ron's question about his parents knowing the baby and decided they did have a right to know.
She was already four months along and she was starting to get a little thicker in the middle, so if she wanted to tell them, she should do it soon. Maybe after she got settled in at school, she would go home one weekend to see them.
After her second week of school, she decided she would go home, so she got a two-way portkey and after class ended on Friday she went home. She could have the entire weekend here if she wanted to stay that long. She got a room at the Leaky Cauldron and she sent an owl to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley telling them that she needed to see them. They came to her rented room immediately.
Molly ran up to her and gathered her in her arms. "Hermione, we've been so worried. Where have you been? You quit your job and disappeared. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It's a long, complicated story, but before I say anything, I want you to promise you won't say anything to anyone."
"Of course, Dear." Molly told her.
"No, really promise. It will be a hard promise to keep, and I know you will want to try to help me, but it is my secret and I need your solemn oath that you will not say anything unless I release you from your oath."
"Hermione, this sounds serious. What is it? Do you need our help?" Arthur asked.
"Not one word until you both promise me you won't say anything."
"Ok, we promise, don't we Molly?" Arthur said.
"Yes, we promise. Now come on, it can't be that serious."
"Ok, but don't hate me. I promise you that I will understand if you don't ever want to speak to me again."
"Hermione, you're scaring us. It can't be as bad as you think." Molly said. "Now let's sit down and talk." Molly sat on the bed and pulled Hermine down next to her. Arthur pulled the chair closer to them and sat down in it.
"I left England to take classes in Romania. I wanted to go somewhere where no one would recognize me."
"Why? Wouldn't you rather be closer to home?" Arthur asked. I know Kingsley had a position waiting for you after you finished your advance schooling. He was disappointed when you left."
"My position is not what I have to tell you about. This is so difficult to say." She told them. Then she took a deep breath and added, "The real thing I wanted to tell you is that I am pregnant."
They looked shocked, but Molly recovered first and pulled her into her arms. "Everything will be alright. We'll take care of you. You are not alone."
"Thank-you. That means a lot to me, but, oh, this is harder than I thought it would be." Hermione told them. She ran her hands along the tops of her legs to her knees and back, then she took another deep breath and said, "I'm going to tell you who the father is, but you have to promise not to tell him anything. I can't saddle him with a child he does not want or need."
"How can someone not want you or any baby you happen to have? You must be mistaken." Molly told her.
"Your son is the father of my baby." She said to them in a whisper.
"What? How could Ron do this and not take responsibility?" Arthur asked.
"It isn't Ron's baby. I told Ron and he offered to marry me and take care of my baby. He is such a good friend. But I had to tell him no."
Hermione was crying by then.
"Honey, it's ok. It's not the end of the world. Tell us everything and we'll help you." Molly told Hermione as she held her in her arms. She looked over Hermione's head at Arthur.
"Now remember, you promised." She said between hiccups.
"Hermione, let's go home. You can get a good night's sleep and we can talk in the morning." Molly suggested.
"No, I need to get this over with." She said, then she took a deep breather and said, "Fred is the father. He doesn't know about this and I don't want him to know."
"Hermione, you may feel differently later on." Arthur told her. "Fred would want to know. He'll do right by you."
"I know he would, but only because he would feel responsible. He would end up hating me and I can't take that. I don't want him to feel obligated. This was an accident. It was not planned and he told me he is not ready for any commitments. He said he is young and he has his whole life ahead of him. He wants to enjoy himself while he can."
"But Dear. If he knew…" Molly began.
"No. You promised. I told you because I thought you would like to know your grandchild. Please don't make me think I was wrong."
"We did promise that we wouldn't say anything and we will keep our promise. We will help you in any way we can, but I want you to know that I will nudge Fred a little if I can."
"Please don't." Hermione pleaded with Molly.
"Hermione, you told us why you don't want Fred to be held down, but what about you? How do you feel about this?" Molly asked her.
"I guess if I am being honest with myself, I would have to say that I have loved Fred for a very long time. Probably since back into our school days. But that doesn't matter. I am going to love this child, not only because it will be my child, but because he is the father of my child."
That was the hardest conversation she ever had to have and she ended up going to the Burrow and spending the night there. Molly pampered her and promised she would visit often and she would stay with her for a while after the baby was born. It made Hermione feel better knowing Molly would be there to help her when the baby was born.
Fred stayed away from family gatherings. If it wasn't for his Mum coming to the shop to check on him, the only family member he had seen since the night Ron punched him, was George. He knew if Ron felt that way then the rest of the family would feel the same way. Plus, he was hurting anyway. He knew now that he made a huge mistake. The minute Hermione came home he would make it up to her. In fact, the more he thought about it the more convinced he became. He would go to the Weasley family dinner on Sunday. Someone would tell him where Hermione was and he would go to her himself. He thought about sending her an owl, but he knew going to see her in person would be better.
All he thought about was Hermione. He lost weight and his inventions suffered. So much so, that George was getting worried.
Sunday couldn't come soon enough. When he and George arrived, everyone was already there. His Mum came over and gave him a huge hug.
"It's about time." She told him.
"I wasn't sure how everyone would feel about seeing me."
"I've told you a hundred time, they are your family, they love you. Nothing else matters. Now go out to the garden. We're eating outside because the weather is so nice today."
Reluctantly, Fred walked outside. He didn't even have time to get his bearings when Ginny plowed into him.
"Fred, I've missed you so much."
"Me too. How've you been? George tells me you are quitting your Quidditch team."
"Yes, as of now I am finished with that chapter of my life. I got a job at the Daily Prophet covering Quidditch, so I'll still be able to go to the games."
"What about you and Harry? Things still good?"
"Never better. He's putting in a lot of hours at the Ministry. Ron too. That's where they are today. I'm sorry to hear about you and Hermione."
"Thanks. I was thinking about going to see her. Check how's she's doing."
"I truly am sorry. I thought you and Hermione made a great couple. I thought everything was good, but you never know what is going on inside a relationship. Now let's go enjoy Mum's meal. I'm glad you're back, by the way."
"It's good to be back."
Everyone welcomed Fred back with open arms, and no one mentioned Hermione. The meal was delicious, but to Fred it was like eating cardboard. He needed to talk with Ron or Harry to find out where Hermione was.
Well, old buddy, I guess you did it this time. You really screwed up. You've lost the best thing that ever happened to you.
Fred looked over at Bill playing with his baby girl. He'd never have that. He lost him opportunity. There would never be someone that could take the place of Hermione. Why couldn't he see that when he had her?
Was it his imagination or did his parents look at him differently? They were probably concerned because he hadn't been around much.
Well, he may have lost the love of his life due to his own stupidity, but he still had his work and starting tomorrow he was going to dig into it like he never had before. He would work until he was so exhausted that Hermione could not invade his dreams anymore.