Edited 10/11/2023 Minor Grammar/Spelling I'll be updating today, even if I don't finish my back edits!

This week is a pretty big one for Hermione! We have baby shower planning AND a birthday, so today is a bit short and sweet for you.

Sunday, September 13, 1998

Sundays were always a day to spend with family. Unfortunately, Scorpius decided that today was the day to start Braxton Hicks contractions. Along with that Hermione had a bit of a runny nose and her feet were swollen beyond compare. All of these symptoms meant that, as usual, Draco and Theo hovered around her and wouldn't let her do anything herself. It was times like these that she most missed Ginny who would distract the boys with Quidditch.

Finally, Hermione banished the boys from the library, "Go outside and play Quidditch. It's one of the last nice days we'll have in ages. I'm totally fine and I'll call Lulu-"

With a crack Lulu appeared, "Mistress called!" she chirped, cheekily.

"See, she's at my beck and call," Hermione said dryly. When they'd finally left, she pulled out Draco's Potion notebook and started reviewing all things he'd been learning. She was delighted to find that he'd added notes to the original recipes a la Professor Snape. She continued to peruse his notes, adding questions of her own to the margins.

In the afternoon, Richard wandered in, beaming at her, "How are you feeling?" he asked, collapsing down next to her.

"I'm doing alright, these pregnancy symptoms are really getting to me today," she sniffed and wiped her nose on the handkerchief that Lulu had provided.

"You seem a lot lighter since the introduction of the school," he said conversationally.

"I definitely am, but…" she trailed off and looked at him thoughtfully.

"What is it?" he asked, crossing his legs.

"I haven't really gotten to speak to you about what happened with Theo and Kingsley," she said quietly.

He looked at her somberly for a few seconds then with a sigh began to speak. "Your mum and I were just sitting down for lunch when the doorbell rang. I popped up to grab it and the two of them were standing there. Something about Theo was familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. They made up some excuse to come into the house and after a moment, the world went dark. It was like a dream, slowly my memories started returning, then faster and faster."

Hermione chewed her lip as she listened. "I'm so sor-"

Richard held up his hand with a soft smile, "We understand why and we've forgiven you. Anyway, when I opened my eyes, Theo was just standing there looking concerned.

"I said, 'Theodore, what are you doing here? As a matter of fact, what am I doing here?' then he said, 'Well Doctor Granger, Hermione sent me to get you, there is a lot to tell you…' then he proceeded to tell me all sorts of things that had happened and why you all made the decision you did."

"I wish I'd been there," Hermione said, sadly.

"I'm glad you weren't," he said, patting her hand, "your mother and I were very upset and we did a fair bit of yelling, but eventually Kingsley and Theo talked us down. We packed up almost immediately, and came to you."

"I'm glad you're home, dad," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"I am to, afterall, I wouldn't want to miss your 19th birthday, it's been ages since we've been able to celebrate with you."

Hermione grinned at him, she summoned a book for him to read and let herself drift in and out of wakefulness at the sound of his voice reading her from Alice in Wonderland.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!