A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series or agree with her comments. This story is a product of my pure imagination.

Time breaks down your mind and body.
Don't you let it touch your soul.
It was like an age-old classic.
The first time that you saw me
The story started when you said, "Hello."

In a crowded room a few short years ago
And sometimes there's no proof, you just know.
You're always gonna be mine.
We're gonna be
I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray.
We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've made.
And you'll say, "Oh my, we really were timeless."

We're gonna be timeless, timeless.
You still would've been mine.
We would've been
Even if we'd met on a crowded street in 1944
You still would've been mine.
We would've been

~ Timeless by Taylor Swift

*~*~* November 3, 2007 (Two Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

It was surprisingly warm outside on a Saturday in early November as Hermione and Harry walked to the Mexican restaurant where they were going to meet Ron, Luna, and Ginny. Hermione had nearly grabbed Harry's hand multiple times as they walked from the apparition zone to the restaurant.

Harry was ultra-vigilant and swore he saw a reporter, so he walked five feet from her. Sighing, she opened the door to the restaurant and saw Ron and Luna had just beaten them there. "Hey guys, have you been here long?" Harry asked as he helped Hermione take her coat off.

"No, dropped the little monsters off with Mum and Dad, then came here. Where is Teddy tonight?" Ron asked them.

"With Mum," Hermione told him. "She came to the house to watch him. I hope that she and Sirius will get along. They seem to be avoiding each other."

Luna looked at Hermione and gasped.

Hermione looked over herself, concerned, "What?"

Luna threw her arms around Hermione's neck, "I'm just so happy to see you!" making Hermione laugh.

"I'm glad to see you too, Luna," Hermione told her.

Ron's name was finally called, and they were seated at their booth. After reviewing their menus, Ginny showed up, sliding into the booth next to Luna, "Sorry I'm late."

"Did you guys win?" Ron asked, not looking up from his menu.

"Slaughtered them; of course, we did," Ginny said as the waitress approached to order their drinks.

Ron leaned back and looked at Harry, "Mate, being a bonus Dad is harder than I thought. Why didn't you tell me it would be this tough?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know. We were lucky. Teddy is an easy kid," Harry told him, "He's been through a lot, but he's resilient. I guess we all just got used to it fast."

Ginny looked at Hermione, then grinned. She waited for the waiter to give them their drinks and take their orders, then leaned forward over the table. "You slept with that guy again, didn't you? You have another hickey!"

Ron and Harry, who had just taken drinks of their beverages, choked on their drinks as Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?" she exclaimed, irritated, glaring at Harry as she looked at him. "Where is it?"

Harry tried not to smile as he pointed at the curve of her neck where it met her shoulder, "It's less of a hickey and more of a… bite," he admitted.

Luna looked at Hermione, wondering, "Hermione, are you sure it wasn't a vampire?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "I'm sure, Luna." She groaned, "That means that Mum probably saw it!"

Ron grinned, "Don't worry, she's probably seen worse. My mum caught me and Luna in the backyard just the other day."

Luna smiled, "Gnome saliva is great for the skin."

Hermione bit her lip, trying not to laugh. Harry squeezed her knee under the table, making her want to laugh even more. As a waiter walked past their table carrying plates of food, Hermione inhaled deeply, and her eyes fluttered closed. "God, what was that? It smells amazing."

Harry glanced over their booth, "Looks like burritos to me."

Hermione frowned, "But I want a quesadilla."

When their food arrived, the conversation flowed easily as they told stories about the kids and work. Hermione devoured her quesadilla and even picked at Harry's plate, much to his amusement.

"God, I'm so full," Hermione said, rubbing her stomach.

Harry laughed, "No wonder. You ate all your food and some of mine."

Hermione glared at him, "Are you calling me fat?"

"Never," Harry told her, "You are so skinny that the wind could blow you over."

"Thank you," Hermione said with a smile.

As they walked back to Diagon Alley together, the night air cooled against her face. Hermione's mind wandered as she listened to Luna's chatter about some humdingers that Lysander supposedly found. It wasn't until she heard Ron's voice that she returned to the present.

"So, how long have you been in love with Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced behind her just in time to see Harry's reaction as he smiled at Ron, but she missed his response. Whatever Harry said, it made Ron smile. Ron and Harry caught up to them, and Ron put his arms over her and Harry's shoulders, "Could you imagine we'd be here almost ten years later? Still close as we are?" Ron asked them.

"Of course, we are close. We should have invited Neville and Hannah," Ginny suggested, "How about we go to the Leaky and see if he is there? Hannah said that he typically stays there. We can get dessert there."

"Sounds great to me!" Ron said, squeezing Hermione's shoulders.

Hermione looked at him suspiciously, "You seem to be in a good mood."

"I just am so happy," Ron told her.

"Glad to hear it," Hermione said, glancing over at Harry, who smiled at her.

*~*~* November 6, 2007 (Two Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Hermione was buried in her paperwork, her glasses perched on the edge of her nose as she focused on the latest report on the unicorn population in Scotland. The click of the door closing made her look up, and shesaw Opal standing at the door, looking concerned.

Hermione removed her glasses and set them on her desk, "What's wrong, Opal?"

Opal bit her lip, eyes darting around the room, "I just… are you and Harry…" Opal trailed off, making Hermione's heart race, "Look, it's just between you and me, but I have to ask."

Hermione frowned, "What do you mean, are Harry and I… what? I'm not sure I follow."

Opal sighed, "I know you two have been friends for a long time, and I'm worried that something might have gone wrong between you both."

Hermione looked confused, "There is nothing wrong with me and Harry. Why would you think that?"

"Then why hasn't he been around? It's just… weird," Opal stated as she sat at Hermione's desk.

Hermione leaned back in her chair, "What do you mean? He's been around."

Opal shook her head. "I mean, I haven't seen him in the office all week. He hasn't even stopped by. He always stops by, pulls out a flower for my desk, and comes here to see you or even bring you lunch. The flower on my desk is dying; it's been so long since he's been in our offices."

"He's been on a mission, Opal," Hermione explained.

Opal shook her head. "Not since Halloween. Look, I'm not trying to pry. I just went to the canteen and saw him sitting alone, looking lost. It's a Tuesday. You always have lunch together on Tuesdays."

Hermione groaned, rubbing her temples, "It's Tuesday? I didn't even realize what day it was, honestly."

Opal nodded, "And he hasn't stopped here once this week. He's always here, talking to you or sitting in here, bugging you when he has a spare moment." Opal seemed to hesitate, "I know you two have been friends forever, and I was just worried that something happened between you both and you were upset with each other. It's none of my business. I was just concerned."

Hermione sighed, feeling guilty, "No, Opal, I appreciate you watching out for me. I just honestly lost track of the day. I'm surprised that Harry didn't come in today either, but I can assure you there is nothing wrong between myself and Harry."

Opal seemed to relax a little, "That's good to hear. I was just worried. You and Harry are like the grandchildren I never had. It's nice to see you two so close. I didn't want to think of anything wrong between you."

"I understand. Thank you for caring. I'll make sure to check in with him. Maybe he just needed some time alone," Hermione told her.

Opal smiled, "Okay, as long as you are both all right."

Groaning as she shut the office door, she realized they were going too extreme to hide their relationship at work by avoiding each other.

Stepping out of the floo and into her office, Euphemia looked at her, surprised that Hermione had appeared. "Hermione! You're here!" She exclaimed, "You look so good and happy. Please tell me you and my grandson are finally together."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Euphemia's eagerness as she sat at her desk. "We are," she admitted, grinning. "I just came by to sign the teachers' paychecks and pick up Teddy."

Fleamont smiled from his portrait, "That is wonderful news! Tell Harry and Sirius that they need to stop by."

Hermione opened the large envelope with the stack of checks in front of her. As she worked, she thought, "Can you make a copy of portraits that stay animated?"

Euphemia nodded, "Definitely. It would be best if you asked Sirius, and I'm sure he can talk you through it. I'd love to be at your home to see Teddy grow."

Fleamont chuckled, "And now that you and Harry are together, maybe he'll stop avoiding us. We pestered him a bit after he figured out the bond. I must know, who made the first move, you or Harry?"

Hermione finished the last check and put them back in their envelope, "A little bit of both, honestly. There is this wizarding blind dating thing where you put on a glamour so no one knows who you are. Harry recognized my ink-stained fingers, and I felt the bond from him. We picked each other, and it was a mutual surprise. We've been together for almost two months now. Only Sirius knows now, though. Greyback, the werewolf that bit Remus, is on the loose, so Harry doesn't want me to be a target."

Fleamont's expression turned serious, "Greyback is still around?"

Hermione nodded, "He's been avoiding capture for over two months."

"Tell Harry there was a large werewolf population in Whinelatter Forest long ago. They had an underground lair there," Fleamont informed her.

"Thank you," Hermione said as she stood up and gathered her things. "I'll have him check it out. I've got to get Teddy now. I'll see you both later."

"Tell them hi from us!" Euphemia called out as Hermione opened the door.

"I will," Hermione promised as she left the office and went to the cafeteria, where the children were waiting for their guardians.

Greeting Teddy's teachers, she was pleased to hear that he was doing well. He was also one of the brightest students in his class. After a few more pleasantries with his teachers, she found Teddy, and they left by floo. Stepping out into Diagon Alley, she led him down the Alley to Florean's for a treat.

Sitting at a small table outside Florean Fortescue's, Teddy licked his spoon as he kicked his legs. Looking at Hermione, "Are you and Dadda together like a real Mumma and Dadda are?"

Hermione nearly choked on her ice cream, swallowing hard as she tried to compose herself, "Why do you say that?"

Teddy looked thoughtful for a moment, "I saw you two kissin' in the kitchen when you thought I was in bed. Why are you hiding your kissin'?" Teddy asked.

Hermione smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair, "It's kissing, and we aren't hiding it, sweetheart. With that werewolf that Dadda is still looking for, he wants to keep us safe. For years, everyone thought we were already together, so we're seeing who notices now. We've been together since my birthday, and only Grandpa Sirius, Draco, and now you have really said anything."

Teddy nodded, "You can kiss and stuff, but not a lot in front of me cause hearing it is gross."

Hermione laughed, "Good to know, but don't tell anyone for right now, okay? We don't want it in the newspaper."

Teddy tilted his head and looked at her, confused. "Why would it be in the newspaper? It's not like you're famous or anything like Aunt Ginny."

Hermione pulled him in for a hug, "Oh, Teddy, honey. Never change."

When Hermione and Teddy returned home after their ice cream date, they found Harry sitting on the couch, flipping through a Quidditch magazine. Teddy looked between them with a knowing grin, "Well, go ahead and kiss him. I'm going upstairs," Teddy said with a truly Marauder smile before dashing up the stairs.

Harry watched Teddy disappear, "What was that about?"

Hermione sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder with a soft sigh, "He saw us kissing in the kitchen last night when we were cleaning up after dinner. We thought he was in bed, but apparently, he wasn't. He's so pure and innocent, Harry. I told him not to tell anyone we're together for now because we don't want to end up in the papers. He asked why we'd be in the papers that it's not like we're famous like Aunt Ginny."

Harry chuckled, tilting her chin up so he could look into her eyes, "I don't think he realizes that our stories were real," He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a gentle kiss, "Hey."

"Hey," Hermione murmured, melting into his kiss before pulling back with a sigh, "Oh, by the way, we're being too good at avoiding each other."

Harry slowly blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Hermione sat back, crossing her legs on the couch, "Opal asked me today if something was wrong between us. She thinks we're hiding it too well. Opal noticed you haven't been stopping by the office like usual and have not brought her a flower. She wondered why we weren't having lunch together today. She even mentioned seeing you in the cafeteria alone, looking like a sad, lost puppy. So instead of being suspicious about us being together, she's suspicious that we are fighting."

Harry laughed, "I didn't want to bother you when you didn't meet me in the cafeteria, so I ended up having lunch with Draco. I've been avoiding your office because I didn't want to seem like I was always hovering around you and being annoying. I make her a flower for her desk whenever I come in. I don't want you to think that you are my dirty little secret. I never want you to think that."

"Don't worry, I don't think that. I know it started as a game to see who would notice we were together, but with Greyback, now it's a protection thing," Hermione told him, "Just come by the office like you used to. We'll keep the door open, and we won't be touchy. It's no big deal. We were practically dating without realizing it before; if people notice that something is off now when we are trying to be discreet."

She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, "Shit, I'm exhausted today for no reason."

Harry kissed her cheek. "Go upstairs and take a nap. I'll make dinner and come get you when it's ready."

"Sounds great to me," Hermione said as she stood up and stretched. Smiling down at him, she leaned down and kissed him. You're amazing, you know that?"

Harry grinned, leaning back into the couch, "I try."

*~*~* November 13, 2007 (Three Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Looking up as Harry entered her office, Hermione frowned as he closed the door behind him, "What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry walked over to her desk, resting his hands on the chair in front of her desk, "I need your help with a case. Someone reported a strip club in London with a succubus problem. She's seducing men, then coming to their houses at night to… continue her work."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "And you want me to come with you? What's the matter, Harry? Afraid she'll seduce you?"

Harry stared at her, "If Veelas don't work on me, I doubt she will."

Hermione laughed as she grabbed her Ministry cloak, "I've always wondered about that. Ron's always been susceptible to their allure, but you've always been able to fight it."

Harry shrugged, a smile forming on his lips, "I have a theory. The bond. I couldn't sleep the other day and ended up reading one of your books. It mentioned that the bond helps fight off spells of control, like the Imperius curse. I've always been able to fight that one too."

Hermione nodded, "But you fought against both back in our fourth year. They say the bond doesn't start until magical maturity."

Harry opened the door for her to her office, "But who knows when magical maturity hits? We can still grow even at maturity, right?"

"True," Hermione said as they made their way to the apparition zone on their floor. Pulling her into his arms, they disapparated with a soft pop. Appearing a short walk from the strip club, they quickly folded their robes and tucked them into Hermione's bag. Opening the strip club's door for her, Hermione stepped inside first and glanced around the dimly lit interior.

"I thought this place would be busier," Hermione remarked.

"It's noon," Harry pointed out with a chuckle, "I'm honestly surprised there are this many guys here."

Leading her to the table near the stage, they sat down, surveying the room. Hermione watched the dancers on the stage, "Did they give any clues about what she looks like?"

"Only one was alive after she was done with them. Aren't succubi supposed to be ugly?" Harry asked, keeping his voice low.

Hermione shook her head, "Not necessarily. They can be attractive. Appearance isn't a specific trait in their species."

As they spoke, a waitress approached their table, immediately focusing on Harry. She leaned in a little too close for Hermione's liking, her voice dripping with flirtation as she asked what drinks they wanted. Harry listened intently as if he was hanging onto her every word.

Narrowing her eyes at the woman, she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of iron handcuffs that she had brought around, just in case. Grabbing the woman's wrist, she snapped the cuff on.

"What the hell! That burns!" The woman gasped.

Harry looked at Hermione, surprised, and she smirked back at him, "Looks like succubi aren't immune to your irresistible will after all. The iron cuffs nullify her powers. Go ahead and arrest her. You're welcome."

Harry leaned over, kissing her lips hard, "I was just flirting with her for the case, honey."

Hermione pulled back, arching an eyebrow, "You do know we're in public, right?"

Harry grinned, stood up, and finished the job, cuffing the woman securely. "My life is amazing. It is. All right, let's get this over with."

Harry and Hermione were in the kitchen preparing dinner, working side by side. Hermione chopped vegetables for the stew on the stove while Harry stirred the pot.

As Hermione reached for a tomato, Harry leaned over and bumped her arm, causing the tomato to roll off the counter and onto the floor. Glaring at him as she picked it up and washed it again, "Really, Harry? That's how you help in the kitchen?"

Harry grinned, "Just keeping you on your toes, sweetheart."

Hermione shook her head with a smile, "You're incorrigible."

Harry turned back to the stove, "And you love it."

Hermione laughed, slicing the tomato, "You're lucky I do."

Focusing on her chopping, Harry snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Gasping in surprise, her lips curled into a smile as she felt his warmth. "Careful, Mr. Potter. I have a knife, and I know how to use it," she teased. "You don't want to get on my bad side."

Harry chuckled, helping her set the knife down and spinning her around to face him. "I'm not scared of your bad side. I am quite fond of all your sides."

Before she could reply, he lifted her effortlessly on the counter, his hands firm on her hips. He leaned in, his lips hovering over hers.

"Harry," She breathed out.

As their lips met, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. They both turned to see Sirius standing in the doorway, arms crossed and smirking.

"You know," He said, "If you are trying to hide this relationship, you might want to do a better job than sucking face in the kitchen."

Hermione blushed as she hopped down from the counter but didn't let go of Harry's hand, "We're not hiding it, Sirius. We want to see who noticed it before New Year's. You were the winner, then Draco. We think Ron and Luna are catching on too."

Sirius nodded, "Well, I'm off."

Hermione glanced at him, curious, "Going to see your girlfriend?"

Sirius froze mid-step and turned to face her, "What do you know?"

Hermione smirked knowingly, "That she wears Chanel perfume. You come home reeking of it, and most nights, you disappear. You know you can bring her here, right? You don't have to hide her."

Sirius rubbed the back of his neck, "There's a bit of an age difference between us."

Harry frowned, "As in, she is my age, or she is robbing the cradle?"

Sirius sighed, "Well, with my time in the veil, I'm only 36 now. She's much older than me."

"Still, you should bring her over. See when she is available. She can come over for Thanksgiving dinner!" Hermione suggested.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "You do realize that we're Brits, right?"

Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry laughed, "It's a tradition that we started when we were in New York for school, and we kept it up after moving back. Invite her, Sirius, see if she'll come. We're doing it 22nd of November."

Sirius nodded, "I'll ask her. Don't wait up!"

Hermione watched him head to the garage, and a short time later, they heard the roar of his motor as he took off.

Harry sighed, "Should I be worried? I wonder how big of an age gap there is."

Hermione rubbed his arm. "If it's someone he went to school with, there will be an age gap no matter what, especially with his years in the veil. But he'll be fine. We'll meet her at Thanksgiving, hopefully, and we'll be able to gauge whether she is good for him or not."

Harry nodded, "You are right, as always. Now, where were we before we were interrupted?"

Hermione laughed, pulling him down for a kiss.

*~*~* November 15, 2007 (Three Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Hermione smiled as Harry stood by Teddy's bed after tucking him in. "All right, Teddy bear. Are you reading tonight, or am I?"

Teddy's eyes fluttered shut, "You tell a story, Mumma. I'm tired."

"All right," Hermione said, smiling at Harry as he slipped out, "What year do you want to hear about?"

Teddy snuggled into her side, "Tell me about the nice werewolf."

Hermione ran her fingers through his curly hair, knowing that these moments would soon be few and far between the older he got. "Well… I know. Once upon a time, there was a young wizard named Harry. When Harry was in his third year at Hogwarts, he met a kind and wise professor named Professor Remus Lupin."

"That's my name," Teddy said sleepily.

"He was a great man, and you are lucky that he was your daddy," Hermione told him. "Anyways, Professor Lupin wasn't just any professor. He had once been best friends with Harry's Daddy, James, and another famous wizard named Sirius Black. They all went to Hogwarts together when they were young," Hermione told him.

"Grandpa Sirius is named Sirius, too," Teddy told her.

"That he is," Hermione told him, "One day after class, Professor Lupin sat down with Harry and told him a story. "Harry," He told him, "I want to tell you a story about your father and our adventures when we were kids here at Hogwarts. We were close friends, and we called ourselves the Marauders. You see, Harry, there was something very special about our friendship. When I was young, I had a secret. A werewolf bit me, and I became one myself. I was worried that no one would be friends with me, but your father and Sirius didn't abandon me when they found out. They decided to help me."

Looking down at Teddy to see if he was asleep, he seemed asleep. She moved out of his arms, and he held her close. "How?"

Smiling, Hermione kissed his forehead, "They did something amazing. They learned how to become Animagi, wizards who can turn into animals. James could turn into a stag called Prongs, Sirius would turn into a big black dog named Padfoot, and they had another friend at the time, a little rat called Wormtail. Together, on the night of the full moon, they would keep Remus company when he turned into a werewolf. For years, they ventured around Hogwarts at night, having adventures. They explored the castle, sneaking around and having fun, and even created a magical map called the Marauder's Map. They were brave boys, just like you are, Teddy, who loved each other and their families and would do anything to protect them."

A soft snore was her only answer this time, but Teddy's grip on her was still strong. With a sigh, she decided to lay next to him until he rolled over, and then she would help Harry clean up downstairs. Stroking Teddy's hair, she enjoyed the moment while it lasted.

Feeling someone gently touching her shoulder, "Hermione love," He murmured, brushing his fingers through her hair.

Hermione stirred, "I dozed off?"

Harry nodded with a smile, "You did. Come on, I got something for you."

Helping her sit up, he steadied her as she stood up, half asleep. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he led them out of Teddy's room and down the hall to the lavatory.

Walking inside, Hermione's eyes widened, surprised. Glowing candles dimly lit the room; the bathtub was filled with warm water, and inhaling, Hermione could smell the bubble bath that reminded her of Hogwarts.

"Harry…" Hermione trailed off, trying not to cry.

He smiled at her, "I thought you could use a bath."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat as he slowly started to undress her. Once she was undressed, he helped her step into the tub, the warm water easing the tension in her muscles. Sinking back into the bubbles, Hermione sighed as she rested her head against a small pillow, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

Harry knelt beside the tub, resting his chin on his folded arms, "You saved my neck so many times, I'll be forever paying you back. I'm forever indebted to you, my lady."

Hermione opened her eyes and looked at him, "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Only for you," Harry told her, kissing her forehead gently as he picked up her loofa and started cleaning her body.

"Gentle with my tummy, please. I'm feeling crampy today. Be prepared. I'll probably start soon," Hermione warned him.

"So, I'll buy lots of chocolate at the store tomorrow," he said with a smile. "I got it."

Hermione took his hand and kissed the back of it, "Thank you, Harry."

"For what?" he asked, brushing a damp curl off her face.

Hermione sighed, "For everything."

Setting her loofa to the side, he unplugged the tub, "Let's get you rinsed off and into bed. You are about to fall asleep in here. I already have your new book by your bed."

Taking his hand to stand up as he turned on the sprayer, she rinsed off the bubbles from her body and got into her robe. Sleepy, she climbed the steps with Harry, and he helped her dress in her pajamas.

Climbing into bed, Hope jumped up next to Crookshanks, who was already curled at the end of the bed. Grabbing her book as Harry got in on his side of the bed, Hermione fluffed her pillow and leaned against the headboard to read. Harry put his glasses on, and she put her own on and opened his book. Looking over at him, Hermione started giggling.

Harry looked at her, confused, "What?"

"Just…funny how things work out," Hermione told him, shaking her head, "It seems such a short time ago that I was venting to Luna that I just wanted a relationship that wasn't just sex, but romance, where I was comfortable just sitting in silence reading a book. An intellectual. I was talking about you but never thought I'd get it."

"Well, I can see why you said that; I mean, Ron and you just didn't work," Harry stated, "You both fought more than you didn't."

"Because that was the only time we could have satisfied sex," Hermione admitted.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Of course."

"But eventually, that didn't work anymore, and we both just refused to call it quits," Hermione sighed.

"Then Oliver and you seemed to go over well if he wasn't a scumbag," Harry stated, "Was the sex good?"

Hermione looked at him, surprised, "Wait, did you think I slept with Oliver?"

"Well, yeah," Harry said, "You didn't?"

Hermione laughed, "No, besides you, I've only been with Ron and Draco."

Harry dropped his book, "What?! Not even Viktor?"

"When I was 15?" Hermione asked, surprised, "Eww."

"Shite, Hermione," Harry rubbed his hand over his face, "I thought I would never compare to Viktor Krum all this time. I knew he got engaged after you went there-"

"Harry, he was already engaged, and I hung out with them the entire time. She is a sweet girl. Doesn't speak English very well," Hermione told him.

Harry stared at her, "Really? Only Ron and Draco and me?"

Hermione nodded, "Neville and I tried once, but my magic pushed him away. I stopped going for wizards after that. Then the whole drugging thing happened."

Harry groaned, "We were idiots. I assumed…" Harry trailed off as he looked at her, "We could have been together so much earlier."

Hermione bit her lip, "As soon as I found out that I couldn't conceive-"

"POSSIBLY can't," Harry interjected.

"Fine, possibly couldn't. I tried to move on. I know you want a family, and if I-"

"Hey, look at me," Harry said as he touched her face. "We have Teddy, and in the future, when it comes to trying after we get married, if we have trouble, there are so many ways we can try. We have the money. I know there is IVF and surrogacy, even adoption. Please think of how many magical kids we have found in orphanages. So now is not the time to worry about it, okay?"

Hermione burst into tears, sobbing into his chest, "Damnit, I must be starting soon. I'm so hormonal."

Harry laughed, holding her, "It's alright, but quit worrying about the future. We will figure it out then."

*~*~* November 20, 2007 (Four Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Hermione was in the middle of reviewing a stack of documents when her phone buzzed on her desk. As she glanced at the screen, she saw the school's number and answered it quickly. The school nurse informed her that Teddy had started vomiting, and it was his second bout, so he needed to be picked up. She gathered her things and informed Opal that she was leaving for the day. "Teddy is sick. Can you please reschedule any meetings for today and tomorrow on my calendar?" she asked.

"Of course. If you need anything, let me know, and I'll have food sent over," Opal informed her.

"Thank you, Opal," Hermione said, grabbing her briefcase before heading down the hall to Harry's office.

Greeting his assistant, Alyssa, she saw he was in a meeting with two Aurors when she reached his door. Knocking softly, Harry looked up and frowned as she stepped inside.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm leaving early. The school just called. Teddy is sick," Hermione explained.

Harry's frown deepened with concern, "Do you want me to go with you? What's wrong?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, you stay here. It's probably a stomach bug, but it's better if only one of us is exposed. I'll keep you updated, though."

She quickly waved at the Aurors, then smiled at Harry before leaving the Ministry. Flooing to the school, she hurried to the infirmary, where Teddy was lying on one of the beds, looking pale and miserable.

"Miss Granger, thank you for coming. There's a stomach virus going around, and it looks like Mr. Lupin has caught it," the matron, Ms. Frances, informed her.

Hermione sat on the edge of Teddy's bed and gently stroked his hair, "Ready to go home, Teddy bear?"

Teddy opened his eyes and looked up at her, his voice weak, "Yeah. I feel awful, Mumma."

"I know you do, honey," Hermione said, helping him sit up, "Thank you, Ms. Frances. We'll see you on Wednesday if he's feeling better."

After a quick trip through the floo, not without a minor mishap, Teddy got sick, and as soon as they stepped into the house, Hermione managed to take him upstairs to his room. Helping him change into his pajamas, she smoothed his sweaty hair back and placed a wastebasket by his bed, "I'm going to go downstairs. Do you want some soup or anything?"

Teddy shook his head, settling in on his pillow.

"Okay, if you need anything, just call me. Try to get some sleep, honey," Hermione told him.

Teddy nodded, his head sinking into the pillow as his eyes closed.

Once he was settled, Hermione went upstairs to her room and changed out of her work clothes into a pair of comfy sweat joggers. Making her way back downstairs with her current book, Eat, Pray, Love., she curled up on the couch with her book, hoping to catch up on a few chapters while keeping an ear out for Teddy.

Soon after, she heard a familiar voice, "Hermione, honey."

Slowly blinking awake, Hermione was surprised to see Molly Weasley standing in front of her, "Molly? What are you doing here?" she asked, rubbing her eyes, "I didn't hear you floo in."

"You were asleep, dear," Molly said gently as she sat at Hermione's feet, "You look exhausted. Are you feeling good, dear? Fleur mentioned that she had to pick Victoire up from school with the stomach flu, and she said Teddy left earlier in the day."

Hermione sighed, running a hand over her face. "I am just exhausted, but it's not the flu. It's just that time of the month. I'm always more tired and crabby around now."

Molly looked sympathetic. "I came because I had a suggestion. I know you're planning to host Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, but with Teddy being sick, you might not be able to prepare as you wanted. How about we do it at our house? We have the space, and you won't have to worry about getting everything ready while dealing with a sick child."

Hermione's bottom lip quivered, and suddenly, she burst into tears. "I don't know why I'm crying! I'd love that. Thank you, Molly."

Molly patted her knee, "It's very well, dear. You have so much on your plate, being the president of the school, managing a Ministry department, and being a mum. It's no wonder you are feeling overwhelmed."

Hermione yawned, nodding in agreement, "Thankfully, I have a lot of great people who help me out at the school and Opal, my assistant at work. Holly, Swift, Harry, and Sirius here," She yawned again, her jaw popping, "Ouch."

Molly stood up, "You should go get a nap too, Hermione. It's just now half past four. I'll stay down here in case Teddy needs someone."

"No, no, you should go home. I don't want you catching anything, too. Honestly, I think I'll crawl into bed with Teddy to take my nap," Hermione said as she stood up and stretched, "But thank you again, Molly. I'll take you up on the offer to host Thanksgiving at the Burrow."

Molly smiled reassuringly, "If you are sure."

"I am. I'd feel awful if you or Arthur got sick. I'll send Harry over later with the menu and everything I've already prepared," Hermione promised, walking Molly over to the floo.

"Get some rest, dear," Molly told her as she entered the fireplace.

With a heavy sigh, Hermione felt the full weight of her exhaustion. Making her way down the hall to Sirius' suite, she knocked on the door. When it opened, Sirius looked at her with a frown, "What are you doing home? And no offense, you look like shite."

"I'm not sick, just… tired," Hermione admitted with a yawn. "Teddy is sick, though. I just wanted to warn you to be careful so you don't catch it. I'm going upstairs with my hot water bottle and climbing into bed with him."

Sirius frowned, reaching to feel her forehead, "I thought you said you weren't sick."

"I'm not. It's just… woman stuff," Hermione explained, making Sirius chuckle.

"Got it. Well, if you need Padfoot for warmth, let me know. I successfully transformed for the first time again last week. Padfoot doesn't get sick, and he loves to cuddle," Sirius offered with a grin.

Hermione laughed, "Thanks, Sirius."

Climbing the stairs, Hermione entered Teddy's room. She was relieved to see he was still asleep. She vanished away the small bit of vomit in the waste bin beside his bed and climbed into his bed with him. Feeling his forehead, she noted he was warm but nothing too concerning.

Realizing she hadn't grabbed her hot water bottle, she held out her hand and summoned it with a quiet, "Accio hot water bottle." It flew through the door, hitting the doorframe and falling to the floor with a thud. Teddy snored loudly in his sleep, shifted, and then settled back. Frowning, she retrieved it, quickly filling it with warm water from her wand. Placing it on her abdomen, she hoped it would soothe her cramps.

Exhausted, Hermione laid down beside Teddy, who moved to lay on her chest. Closing her eyes, she was grateful for the quiet as she rubbed his back and quickly fell asleep.

*~*~* November 24, 2007 (Five Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

The Burrow was already bustling with activity as Hermione and Teddy stepped out of the floo. The delicious aromas of roasting turkey and freshly baked pies filled the air as Hermione stepped away from the floo as Harry came out behind her. Molly was in the kitchen moving around as dishes floated on the counter and spoons stirred in their pots.

Entering the kitchen, Hermione set her pudding on the counter. Smiling as she saw Teddy dart past her, his energy fully restored after being sick earlier in the week. Victoire was close behind him as little Dominique chased after them with shorter steps, yelling, "Wait! I have little legs!"

Molly turned to Hermione, "I assume Teddy is feeling better."

Hermione chuckled as she went over and shut the back door behind them, watching the children run outside, "He is back to full energy, as you can see."

"What about Mum?" Molly asked.

Hermione sighed, "I felt better after napping with him on Monday and took a half day to sleep in on Tuesday, but by Wednesday, the exhaustion hit me all over again."

Molly gave her a knowing look, "Perhaps it's time for you to step back a bit, Hermione. You've done a marvelous job with the school, but maybe let someone else handle the day-to-day operations? You can still be involved without wearing yourself out."

Hermione sighed, picking at the fruit tray and removing the stems from the grapes, "That's what Harry keeps telling me, but the school is my baby."

Fleur, who had been arranging the bread rolls, turned to Hermione with a thoughtful expression, "You know, you could still be part of it, just in a lezz hands-on way. I'd be happy to help if you need someone to take over."

Hermione looked at Fleur, surprised, "Seriously?"

Fleur smiled, "Of course! I cannot be a stay-at-home mum any longer. I am bored out of my mind. I'd love to be involved."

Hermione laughed, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders, "You don't even need to apply. The job is yours if you want it. We can meet next week to go over the details. Mostly, it's dealing with parent inquiries, meeting with Muggleborn families, and so on."

"This is exciting!" Fleur said, clasping her hands together in excitement.

Two blond blurs raced past them, and Molly flicked her wand and opened the door before they hit it, making Hermione laugh. "Looks like Luna and Ron have arrived."

Ron appeared in the kitchen doorway, slightly out of breath, "Have you seen the twins? They ran off through the floo before we even had a chance to go through with them."

Hermione laughed, nodding toward the garden, "They're already outside. Probably searching for gnomes."

"I better put the border up so they don't end up at Luna's Dad's," Ron said, shaking his head as he went to the back garden.

George entered the kitchen next, carrying a dish with Fred on his back, "Hey Mum, I have the green beans."

"Put them over there, George," Molly directed, walking over to them and receiving a loud smacking kiss on her cheek from Fred. She laughed, tousling his hair, "You little rascal. Where's Angelina and Roxy?"

"Perc and Audrey were right behind us. They are chatting with Dad and Harry in the living room," George told her as he turned to Hermione with a grin, "You look awful."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended, "Great to see you too, George."

"No, I mean…" George stammered and grinned sheepishly. "You look wonderful, but it's not your usual wonderful level."

Hermione laughed, shaking her head as she left the kitchen, "Nice backpedaling, George."

In the sitting room, Angelina was sitting with baby Roxanne in her arms. Seeing Hermione, she stood up and offered, "Would you like to hold her?"

"Of course," Hermione said, her face lighting up as she took the baby from Angelina's arms and sat on the couch.

Harry returned to the sitting room from the lavatory and sat down next to her as Audrey, Angelina, Percy, and Arthur entered the kitchen. He watched as Hermione cradled the baby, a smile on his lips, "You look good with a baby."

Hermione looked up at him, "One day."

Harry's smile grew, "Yes, one day."

The floo flared, and Charlie stepped through, brushing the soot off his clothes. Looking up and seeing them sitting on the couch, he stopped short as the floo flared again, and Theo stepped out behind Charlie.

Theo ran into his back and looked around him, "Oh, Hermione, Harry. This looks cozy."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise and delight, "No! It can't be!" Hermione said, "Take the baby, Harry."

Harry awkwardly took Roxanne as Hermione jumped up and embraced both men, "I'm so happy for you two!"

Molly, who had just entered the room, looked at the group in surprise, "Charlie, you've brought a friend. Hermione knows him. Who is this?"

Charlie took a deep breath as Arthur approached Molly, reaching for Theo's hand, "Mum, Dad, this is Theo, Theo Nott. Theo, these are my parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley."

Arthur smiled warmly and extended his hand, "It's great to meet you finally, Theo."

Charlie blinked, surprised, as his Dad shook Theo's hand, "Finally meet him? What do you mean?"

Arthur shared a knowing look with Molly, who smiled, "Charlie, dear, we've known about you two for a while. We saw you two together at Diagon Alley over six months ago."

Hermione gasped, swatting Theo, "Six months ago?!"

Charlie stared at his parents, stunned, "You mean you don't care that I'm gay?"

Molly cupped Charlie's face, "Of course not, sweetheart. If you are happy, that is all that matters to us."

Charlie's eyes welled with tears as he pulled Molly into a hug. Arthur hugged Theo, saying, "Welcome to the family."

Hermione fanned her face as her tears started.

"Well, you are here just in time; dinner is nearly ready," Molly told them as she went to the back door.

With hands on her hips, she looked around at the children running around as the adults watched them. "Dinner is nearly done!" Molly called out. "Everyone, come in and wash your hands!"

The kids' excited yells filtered into the room as they dashed towards the house. Lorcan and Lysander led the charge, followed closely by Teddy, Victoire, and Dominque.

As everyone washed their hands, Hermione stood at the doorway to the kitchen, staring at the fireplace. Frowning, she looked at Harry, "Sirius said he'd be coming with his guest."

Arthur looked up from where he was setting the table, "Sirius is bringing someone?"

Angelina came inside and took Roxanne from Harry, "I'll take her and change her nappy. Thank you, Harry."

As Angelina left the room, Hermione turned to Arthur, "He has a girlfriend. We tried to talk him into bringing her. We'll see if they come." She glanced around the room, "Where is Ginny?"

Molly wiped her hands on her apron, "Ginny will be late. They had a later game today."

"Oh right," Hermione said, nodding as she looked at Harry, "Who are the Harpies playing today?"

"The Wasps," Harry told her as the family lined up at the sink to wash their hands. He leaned close to Hermione and teased, "Better go wash your hands, love. Don't want you spreading germs."

As he swatted her bottom playfully, Hermione fake glared at him. "I have your germs," she shot back, waving her fist, making him laugh as he found his seat at the table.

It was finally Hermione's turn to wash her hands when the floo lit up behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, expecting to see Sirius and an unknown woman, the sight behind her made her heart jump into her throat. There was Sirius, but standing next to him was someone she wasn't expecting, her Mum.

The sink erupted, spraying water everywhere as Hermione's shock broke her concentration, "Mum?!" she gasped.

Arthur rushed over, turning the water off with a quick flick of his wand, then dried Hermione off as she stood frozen, staring at her mother and Sirius in disbelief.

Sirius cleared his throat, blushing, "So Juliet and I have been seeing each other. It's not that we were hiding it from you, Hermione. We just wanted to make sure things worked out between us before we told anyone."

Juliet walked over to Hermione, concern etched on her face, "Are you okay, honey? You're pale."

"She was pale before you showed up," George quipped, "Don't worry it's not shock."

Hermione glared at him before turning back to her mother, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Juliet sighed, glancing at Sirius before she spoke, "We didn't want to hide it, but there is a bit of an age difference between us. And after everything that happened to Sirius… we just wanted to be sure."

Hermione's eyes widened as she remembered, "That's why you smelled like Chanel! Mum uses Chanel! How long has this been going on?!"

Sirius cleared his throat, "Since June."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "June?!" She groaned, rubbing her temples. "I'm getting a headache."

Molly asked, "How about we sit down, eat, and talk more after dinner?"

Hermione sighed, feeling overwhelmed, "Fine."

Everyone moved to the expanded kitchen table, where Hermione was between Harry and Teddy. She couldn't help but glance down at her mother and Sirius as dishes started coming around the table.

Harry leaned in close, whispering, "Are you okay?"

Hermione sighed, "My head is killing me, I'm nauseous… I don't know if it's the news or I'm coming down with Teddy's flu," Hermione whispered back, accepting his green beans.

Sitting beside Bill, Fleur broke the tension by announcing, "Oh Bill, I have a new job," she told him, causing him to choke slightly on his food.

"In the last twenty minutes?" Bill asked, surprised.

Fleur nodded, smiling, "I'm going to help Hermione at ze school as ze new president. Look at poor Hermione. She ez overstressing herself."

Hermione looked up as everyone turned to her, "Hey, so the turkey is incredible," she said, trying to deflect the attention. She took a bite and immediately had to fight back the wave of nausea that hit her.

Sirius asked George, "Could you pass the gravy?" Taking the gravy boat, he looked at Molly, "These green beans are amazing, Molly."

Molly smiled, "It wasn't me. It was Harry."

"Hermione made them the southern way like our friend Josh does," Harry explained.

"Thanks, Lils," Sirius closed his eyes with a groan as he realized his lip, "I don't know why I just said that."

Hermione smiled, "It's okay."

"No," Sirius sighed, looking at them. "Sometimes I just look at the two of you and see how Lily and James looked at each other."

"We… we're not together," Harry stammered quickly as they both blushed.

Sirius gave them a knowing look, "Keep telling yourselves that."

Hermione quickly stuffed mashed potatoes in her mouth, trying to ignore the growing nausea. She managed to make it through most of the meal, but when Molly brought out the pies and the scent of pumpkin hit her nose, Hermione's stomach rebelled.

"Excuse me," She mumbled, rushing to the loo. Standing above the toilet, taking deep breaths, she tried to calm her churning stomach.

The door opened, and Harry walked in, concerned, "Are you okay? Should I get Mum or Molly?"

Hermione said, "I don't want you to see me sick. I should go home. I've caught Teddy's bug."

Harry gently pulled her into his arms, holding her close, "Are you sure you are okay?"

Hermione nodded, taking a deep breath, "It's passed. I think I'm good now, but I should go home. I don't want to spread it to everyone else.

Harry kissed her forehead, "I'll bring home some leftovers. Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, you stay," Hermione insisted as they left the loo together.

Molly was standing in the sitting room as they walked into it.

"I'm sorry, Molly. I'm going to head home," Hermione told her, "I think I've caught Teddy's bug. But Harry will stay here with Teddy. I'm just going to go climb into bed."

Molly nodded, "Take it easy, dear. If you need anything, just let us know."

"Thank you, Molly," Hermione said gratefully.

Poking her head into the kitchen, where everyone was still gathered, she told everyone, "I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to head home."

Juliet frowned as she stood up, walked over to Hermione, and felt her forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever," she said.

"Teddy had the flu earlier this week," Hermione explained, "I thought I avoided it, but…" She trailed off as Percy walked by with a piece of pumpkin pie, and she felt the nausea rise again.

Without a word, she bolted for the loo again.

*~*~* December 1, 2007 (Six Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Returning from the loo, Hermione gathered her things and noticed Opal looking at her through the door, "What is it, Opal?"

"Nothing, I just… nothing," Opal said, shaking her head, "Enjoy the rest of your day."

Hermione yawned, "Oh, I will; we're putting the Christmas tree up today. See you Monday."

With a nod, Opal smiled and watched Hermione leave her office. Shaking her head, Hermione left the Ministry and brushed it off as she disapparated to the car park where she parked her car.

After driving close to home, she picked up a pizza from their favorite shop and then drove home, appreciating the quiet of a Saturday.

Arriving home to an empty house, she put a warming charm on the pizza, went upstairs to change into something more comfortable, and laid down to rest her eyes. Exhaustion caught up to her, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Harry awoke her as he felt her forehead. "Are you still tired?" he asked, concerned.

Stretching, Hermione wiped the drool from her face, grimacing, "Gross. I didn't sleep well last night. I drank too much before bed and had to get up to use the loo twice. Then I took my potion this morning, and it made me gag and throw up. I'm not sure how much got into my system. We need to be sure we use the charm this month, just in case."

As she stood up, Hermione groaned, tugging at her bra as it cut into her, "Fuck it, it's coming off," she muttered, reaching behind her and unfastening it and pulling it off with a sigh of relief. Looking down, she frowned, "Are my breasts larger?"

Harry's eyes widened, unsure how to respond, "I don't know the right answer."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione smirked, "Then that means yes. I wonder why they're swollen. I'm not supposed to start yet."

Together, they headed downstairs, finding Teddy, Sirius, and Juliet busy setting up the Christmas tree. Holly and Swift were bringing up boxes of decorations from the basement while Harmony seemed to be decorating the rest of the house.

After enjoying their pizza, they started decorating the tree as a family. As they worked, Hermione shared stories about the different ornaments from her childhood with Juliet's help, including ones she had made herself. She added Teddy's handmade ornament from this year, proudly placing it on a lower branch.

As she bent over, she suddenly burped. Embarrassed as the boys laughed, she quickly covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry," Hermione apologized, "My stomach has been so wonky since I had the flu, and I swear I have indigestion in my old age."

"Old age, my ass!" Harry said, grabbing her, "You don't feel old at all to me."

"Ooh, Dadda said a bad word!" Teddy exclaimed with a grin, prompting Harry to scoop him up and tickle him until he giggled uncontrollably.

Heading to the loo, Hermione was coming out when she jumped, seeing Juliet, "Shit, Mum, don't do that."

Juliet looked at her, "How long have you and Harry been together?"

Hermione grinned, "Since around my birthday. Remember how I told you about the wizarding blind date with Ginny and how I liked the guy? It was Harry."

Juliet pulled her into a hug, "Finally! My goodness, Hermione, I was about to lock you two in a room together!"

Hermione laughed, "Mum, I don't know why we waited so long. We missed so much."

Juliet and Hermione walked down the stairs, and Hermione walked over to Harry, "Mum knows."

"Oh, thank god," Harry said as he grabbed and kissed her, making everyone laugh.

*~*~* December 8, 2007 (Seven Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Hermione stepped into the floo at their house and went to Girls' Night at Crave, "The Leaky Cauldron!"

Closing her eyes as she spun through the floo system, she stumbled out of the fireplace into the Leaky Cauldron. The pub was bustling, with witches and wizards chatting at the bar and families enjoying late dinners. Hermione had to close her eyes as a wave of nausea hit her like a brick wall. She barely had time to register what was happening before she doubled over, throwing up right in the middle of the pub.

She held her mouth as some people looked at her, shocked. The bartender rushed over, "Hermione, are you all right?"

Regaining her composure, Hermione whipped out her wand and vanished her vomit. "I'm fine. It's just a stomach bug my godson gave me," she said, forcing a smile.

She stepped back into the floo and went back home. Once there, she collapsed onto the couch. Placing her head between her knees, trying to calm the nausea from floo travel, she groaned in frustration, "Why won't this damn stomach bug go away!" she muttered to herself.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to the girls.

Hermione: Not feeling well, staying home tonight. Sorry to miss out.

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with a reply from Hannah.

Hannah: Well, since you're not coming, I'll just text everyone. Neville proposed!

Despite her queasy stomach, a smile appeared on Hermione's face. She quickly typed out a congratulatory message and sent it before tossing her phone to the side, letting it fall onto the cushion next to her.

She sighed, leaning back on the couch, hoping the dizziness and nausea would pass soon. Curling up on the couch, she closed her eyes, hoping that rest would finally help her shake off whatever bug had taken hold of her.

*~*~* December 10, 2007 (Seven Weeks Pregnant) *~*~*

Hermione went through her morning routine, brushing her teeth while her mind wandered to the busy day ahead. As she went to brush her tongue, the toothbrush hit the back of her throat, triggering her gag reflex. Without warning, she turned to the toilet just in time as her stomach rebelled and she threw up.

Breathing heavily, she flushed the toilet and looked at herself in the mirror. Her complexion was pale and drawn, "We are making an appointment with Alicia in the morning," she muttered to herself, rinsing her mouth and splashing cold water on her face. The persistent nausea had been going on for weeks now, and she was fed up.

She exited the loo and tried to shake off the uneasy feeling. Downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted her as she entered the kitchen, where Harry was chatting with Teddy while he was eating.

Harry looked up, concerned, when he saw her, "You okay?"

Hermione nodded, even though she felt far from it, "I just have to get to the office early today."

"Do you want me to bring you breakfast on my way in?" Harry offered.

Hermione grabbed a banana off the counter, not feeling like eating anything, "This is fine. I'm not hungry." She kissed Teddy's head, "Have a good day at school, honey."

Harry followed her into the sitting room, "Are you sure you are okay?"

Hermione slipped on her blazer, smiling, "Why wouldn't I be? See you later." Giving him a quick kiss, she headed to the floo. She stepped into the flames and called "the Ministry of Magic."

Emerging in the atrium, Hermione stumbled slightly, grabbing the wall as dizziness washed over her. Closing her eyes, she waited for the sensation to pass before taking a deep breath and continuing toward the lift. As she made her way to her office, she tried to push the discomfort to the back of her mind.

"Hermione! You're here early for a Monday," Opal said, spotting her as she walked by.

"I have a lot to get done before the Ministry holiday shutdown," Hermione replied with a smile. "Are there any messages?"

"Everything is on your desk," Opal informed her, trailing behind Hermione as she entered her office.

Sitting behind her desk, Hermione peeled the banana and took a small bite. She moaned softly as the sweetness hit her taste buds.

Opal watched her with a frown, "Are you sure you are okay?"

"Just feeling off," Hermione admitted, "I'm fine."

Opal shook her head and left Hermione to go back to her work. By lunchtime, Hermione was fighting off sleep. Her eyes drooped as she tried to focus on the paperwork before her. She had just drifted off when Opal walked in, shutting the door behind her and making Hermione jump.

"All right, this has been going on for too long," Opal said, crossing her arms, "Something is wrong with you, and if I didn't know better, I'd say you were pregnant."

Hermione scoffed, shaking her head, "I can't get pregnant. I have too much spell damage from the war."

"Whatever it is, it's been going on for too long. You need to get checked out," Opal told her, handing her a new file.

Hermione sighed, "Tomorrow, I'll make an appointment tomorrow."

"Good," Opal said firmly, "I'll give you the day off." With that, she left Hermione alone.

As the door closed, Hermione looked at her calendar. Her eyes narrowed in confusion. Her period was late, much later than she realized. Panic began to creep in, her mind racing with the thoughts she had long buried. Could it be more than just a lingering flu?

Unable to focus, she left the office early, telling Opal she needed to head home. Instead of going home, Hermione disapparated to downtown Cornwall and walked to the local grocery store. Her heart pounded as she stepped inside, the fluorescent lights glaring down at her, seeming overly bright to her sensitive eyes as she navigated the aisles, her heels clicking loudly on the tiled floor. Everyone and their mother appeared to be in the store today. She stopped at the end cap, her hands trembling slightly as she pulled her purse higher on her shoulder. Glancing at her watch, she saw Teddy would be getting out of school in two hours. Harry wouldn't be home until after that, so she grabbed a bag of her favourite salty crisps as comfort food, exited the aisle, and continued to the feminine care aisle. She felt eyes on her that weren't there, judged for not having a ring on her finger as she went to purchase her first pregnancy test.

The feminine care aisle felt overwhelming. Scanning the shelves, her eyes landed on the pregnancy tests. There were so many options, more than she had ever considered. Finally, she grabbed a two-pack, figuring she'd have a backup if she messed one up. Looking away from the tests, her heart skipped a beat as a woman watched her. When their eyes met, the woman looked away and sighed as she realized that the woman did not recognize her. She probably looked as crazed as she felt as she hid the tests behind her crisps. Glancing around nervously, feeling like every eye was on her, she knew it was only nerves. Not that any wizards were around in their muggle town, but the press always seemed to be around at her worst moments.

After paying for her items, Hermione hurried to the parking lot, her heart racing. Finding a secluded spot between two large vans, she disapparated. Landing in her backyard, she locked the wards in case a certain beetle tried to follow her home. Her nerves were frayed as she kicked off her shoes and pulled the pregnancy tests from the grocery bag. Tossing the bag with the crisps and a few chocolate bars she didn't remember even purchasing onto the decorative table by the door, she barely noticed as they slid to the floor.

Ignoring the bag on the floor, she ran upstairs, her heart pounding louder with each step. She carefully ripped open the first and second tests in the lavatory.

Five agonizing minutes later, after peeing on both sticks, she sat on the edge of the tub, her hands shaking as the timer on the phone went off. Swallowing back her nausea, she breathed in through her nose slowly and closed her eyes as she touched the buttons on her phone to silence it, knocking it into the sink.

Picking up one of the tests, it felt 100 times heavier than it was as she opened her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart dropped into her stomach as she saw the result: a large blue cross. With trembling hands, she checked the second test. They were identical.

A sob tore from her as her legs gave out, and she slid to the floor, burying her face in her knees.

A voice downstairs echoed up to the lavatory after she had been sitting on the floor, her mind racing. "Hermione?! I see your shoes. Are you home?"

Hermione quickly wiped her eyes and stood up, trying to steady herself. She flushed the toilet, removed her phone from the sink, washed her hands, and called, "In the loo! I'll be out in a moment!"

Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she wished she hadn't left her wand downstairs so that she could glamour away the puffiness in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to find Harry standing there.

"Hermione! You'll never guess who we just apprehended!" Harry said excitedly. His smile faded when he saw her face. "Hermione, have you been crying? Who made you upset?"

"Harry, it's..." Hermione's voice trailed off as she noticed him glance behind her, "Fuck," She cursed under her breath, realizing in her haste that she had left the pregnancy tests on the counter in plain view.

Harry's eyes widened in confusion, "Hermione?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she burst into tears again, "They're positive! I'm a 28-year-old unwed mother-to-be! How the fuck did I screw this all up?"

Harry stared at her for a moment, then, to her surprise, he laughed.

Hermione glared at him, "I'm glad you think this is funny!"

Harry hugged her tightly, "We did it! We didn't mean to, but we did it! Hermione," he said as he took her face gently into his hands, "We're having a baby!"

The reality of their situation hit her, and for the first time, she smiled, "Oh my God, Harry… we're having a baby!"

a/n: We have made it to the prologue! Sirius and Juliet are together, and more people are discovering Harry and Hermione, but Greyback is still on the loose. Now, with the baby, how will that affect things between them? Stay tuned for a new chapter next week, then no chapter on the 19th, as a heads-up.

Thanks to the new followers this week: Aallora, CannonFodder2.0, XxThe-Crest-of_anubisxX, SofiPCD. Welcome!

To the review (don't forget to read and review):

alix33: Here in Ohio, USA barn weddings are very common. They can be very romantic.

Preview of Chapter 40- I DId Something Bad (2007)

"You've been quiet. What's going on in your head?" Hermione asked, searching his face.

Harry picked up a chip and popped it into his mouth, chewing as he stared at her. "Did you know that the first hug I can remember was from you?" he finally said.

Hermione's heartstrings tightened. "I don't think you're trying to make me cry, but you're going to," she said, her voice slightly trembling.

Harry reached across the table and took her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, "The Dursleys were never my family. YOU were my family. The place I called home," he told her, "However many years we have left, I want to spend them all with you."

Hermione smiled as she wiped away a tear from her cheek. "Well, you're stuck with me."