"Oh Merlin, Hermione, Darling you're pregnant!"
Hermione was trying to process the words she'd just heard. It couldn't be. Not after all this time. This had to be some cruel joke. She couldn't get her hopes up again. She couldn't answer Molly who was seemingly waiting for her to do or say something. What could she do?
She lifted her wand again, she summoned the courage to repeat the charm and held her breath. As before the first golden orb drifted into Molly's chest, the second into her own. And sure enough a third golden orb of light appeared and floated from the end of her wand before disappearing into her tummy.
"Molly, I think I might be pregnant." Hermione stammered the obvious, she couldn't understand what was happening.
"I know darling! I know!" Molly laughed and pulled her into a warm hug. "Congratulations you precious girl! Oh Ron will be beside himself."
"Ron…oh gods…Ron. I shouldn't have done this without him. I should have waited. He'll be so disappointed" Hermione started to panic.
"Hermione, darling you've had quite a shock and I know it's a lot to take in. Take a few deep breaths. Ron will be absolutely delighted to hear you're in the family way. From what you've told me this baby couldn't be more wanted." Tears were spilling onto Molly's cheeks now she was beaming at Hermione with a huge smile.
"You're right, of course. I just meant he's missed this moment. After being there for hundreds of negative confirmations I would have loved to have seen his face. Gods not that I'm not happy that you're here with me. Oh Molly I'm sorry, I'm babbling. Bloody hell…and now swearing. I need to calm down."
"Shhh now dear, don't get yourself upset. This is wonderful news. I'm so glad I could be here with you and you can still have this moment with Ron. The charm always works to identify nearby heartbeats, you can perform it at any time. He'll be thrilled to see it. Also there's another spell, to find out if it's a girl or a boy. You can find out together if you wish."
"Amazing, let's do the golden one again" Hermione excitedly waved her wand and watched the orbs float to the three heart centres, she still couldn't believe it.
Molly couldn't believe how this morning had turned out. She couldn't believe what Hermione had shared and now she was going to have another grandbaby. She felt she could burst with happiness and marvelled how news of a baby could brighten her when only an hour ago she was sobbing from sadness and pain.
"Can I ask a favour." Hermione's thoughts were still with Ron and she was forming a plan.
"Anything my dear." Molly meant it, she'd do anything to help her youngest son and his wife usually but after this morning she felt she owed them a debt. She wished she'd been there for them after the Battle of Hogwarts and through this journey they've been on.
Hermione turned on the sofa so she was facing her mother in law. "Please don't tell anyone. Please don't tell Arthur. Ron might have missed seeing the first positive confirmation and he'll miss seeing your reaction but he should get to tell his dad that he's to be a father."
"Of course Hermione" Tears prickled Molly's eyes again and she pulled the younger women into another hug. "I've never kept a secret from Arthur, promise me you won't make me keep it too long?" She laughed.
"I promise. I'll tell Ron as soon as I get a moment alone with him and we'll be straight to the Burrow to share the news. And then Grimauld Place. And to my parents. Oh Gods this is real isn't it? This is really happening?" She was almost pleading with Molly. The initial shock was passing and Hermione could feel other emotions seeping in, disbelief was mixing uncomfortably with hope and happiness.
"Yes dear, I do believe this is real. Would you like to see again?" Molly was willing to sit on this sofa and watch those golden orbs float around until night fall if it pleased Hermione. "May I? It's been ever so long but I do believe I remember the spell."
Hermione smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Molly's wand also produced the 3 balls of lights confirming once again that there was a hidden heartbeat nearby. It was oddly reassuring that another wand had produced a positive confirmation, Hermione knew that to be silly but she wasn't capable of rational thought.
"Molly, I don't know what to do now." She knew she sounded vulnerable but she was being honest. They had spent so long trying to conceive she'd no clue what to do now they'd managed it. Doubt crept in, what if the damage in her womb wouldn't allow the baby to survive. She was suddenly gripped with fear and turned to the more experienced women for guidance.
"Well now I have a few ideas. Firstly, I will owl Kingsley and tell him you've worsened with a bug and need Friday off work also. You need to rest. Secondly, do you remember the name of the specialist at St Mungo's? I shall owl them and request an urgent appointment tomorrow. You've had…complications...and we need to know the baby is well and how to look after you both best." Molly didn't want to worry Hermione but she knew given the issues they'd had conceiving this wasn't likely to be a straightforward pregnancy.
"Yes that all sounds very sensible." Hermione felt Molly could read her mind. "Thank you so much for looking after me. I'm sorry to have shown up, been sick in your kitchen and derailed your day. I appreciate it so much, it has felt cathartic to share everything with you and I still can't believe the news."
"My dear, you are a daughter to me, I am here you always. Always. I'm so happy for you and Ron, I love you all so much." Molly sniffed, this was the most emotional day. "Now let me make you lunch, you'll be needing to keep your strength up. You're to lie down and rest while I prepare it and send the owls."
"Thank you. It was healer Monica Erik at St Mungo's who cared for us, she's a lovely woman."
Hermione laid back down on the sofa, Molly placed the blanket over her again. "Would you like a book, dear?"
"No thank you, I just want to think it all through. My mind feels too full."
"I understand, just rest and let it process. Please stay at the Burrow tonight Hermione, I don't want you going home alone. We'll tell Arthur the same story about the tummy bug. You can stay in Ron's room."
Hermione smiled and nodded, so glad to have such wonderful in laws. She watched Molly head into the kitchen. She was lying on her back on the sofa, she bent her knees and pulled the blanket up over her head creating a little tent. She needed a little private moment with her baby…Ron's baby…their baby. Was a little piece of Ron really growing inside her at this very minute? She whispered the incantation and watched the lights, she rolled up the front of her blouse and did it again, this time watching the last golden glow pass through her bare skin. She couldn't wait to tell Ron, couldn't wait to see his face when that third light would appear. She allowed herself to imagine a beautiful toddler with wild curly red hair. She wondered if they were a boy or a girl, would they do the other spell to find out? Wondered if Ron had a preference. Wondered what they would be named. Wondered what date they would arrive. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed since waking up this morning.