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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎 *•. ┄┄
𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
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After having promptly accepted Fred's proposal on the condition that he would keep on living Hermione's energies had drained and she had spent the following couple of days in a deep slumber.
Fred and Sirius would take turns in staying with her because as soon as she was alone Hermione's body started trembling and trashing, and the blood-curling screams she let out were painful enough to fill the nightmares of every person in Shell Cottage. Hermione's body still jerked away from the touch of anyone who wasn't her father or Fred—or when given the chance her mother, who had already been properly introduced to Fred (though the latter passed out next to Hermione the first time she had appeared out of nowhere). The others in the Cottage could do nothing but stare helplessly at Hermione as she slept.
After talking with Fred, everyone aware of Hermione's possible pregnancy had agreed on waiting for her to wake up to see if she had in fact lost the baby—though in the meanwhile Fleur did her best to keep the witch's body as strong as she could after Madam Pomfrey had stopped by and healed her past Fleur's capacities.
When she woke up Hermione was momentarily lost but as every memory rushed into her she had fallen into quiet sobs into her father's chest, the latter who could only hold her close to him as though she was a baby again and he was trying to ease her in his arms—though Sirius would do anything to change the nightmare Hermione had gotten through and properly rip Bellatrix's head off her body, a part of him felt pleased he could still fill the role of a father in her life.
After having calmed down, Sirius had helped her to the chair in the corner of the room after Hermione insisted she was sick of laying in bed and turning into Padfoot he lay at her feet while Hermione flipped through a magazine she had somewhere in her bag.
Hours later, Fred knocked on the door, and Padfoot growled at him making Fred groan. "Sirius, mate, I already told you I was sorry," he said while entering the room and smiling lovingly at Hermione who looked up at him with a frown.
"Sorry for what?" asked Hermione.
In one instance, Sirius had turned back and was promptly glaring at Fred. He held up one finger, and scrunched up his nose as though the mere words he was about to say made him nauseous, "Giving me the possibility of being a grandfather at bloody thirty-eight years of age," he held up another finger as Hermione's eyes widened, "Not even bothering to ask before proposing to my bloody daughter."
Fred threw his head back in annoyance. He held up a finger mimicking Sirius, "As soon as you entered the room after she fell asleep I bloody asked you and you said yes!"—he held up another finger—"Why are you blaming me for making you a young grandfather? Mia and I aren't the only ones who got pregnant early." He sent Sirius a pointed look.
"I am right here," Hermione had said snappily before instinctively pulling one hand on her stomach. Quickly she wiped a tear from her eye before it even fell—she was sick of crying. "Dad, as much as I love you, Fred is right. You're being a bloody hypocrite."
"That you are," Annora said after gripping Sirius's hand and appearing on the spot and startling Fred—the latter, who had been told about the particular showing of dead people when he tried to ask Sirius for his daughter's hand and Annora had appeared out of nowhere to wack Sirius in the head when he began saying no, was still not quite used to meeting his witch's mother. "If I remember I was exactly Mia's age when I got pregnant. Quite funny if you ask me."
"No one did," Sirius grumbled but only smiled when she glared at him.
Hermione cleared her throat and continued her speech, "And Freddie thanks for asking my parents, that means a lot,"—Fred beamed at her—"though I really wouldn't have backed down if it had been a no."
Sirius grumbled under his breath again and was hit in the chest by Annora.
Hermione seemed to hesitate before saying, turning to her parents with a look of fear, "Do you really think the Taylors are cursed?"
Annora and Sirius shared a glance. Annora shrugged and Sirius chuckled. "It's three for three, Mia. I reckon they are."
Hermione sighed in relief though doubts still plagued her mind, the truth was everything didn't hurt as much anymore and if she was able to concentrate she thought she could feel a flicker of magic inside her. She would give everything for it not to be part of her imagination. She turned to look at Fred and held out a hand he didn't hesitate to take, he pulled her up, an arm around her waist to keep her standing. "Freddie, ready to find out about our little prankster?" she had asked and Fred nodded with a small smile.
That was how Hermione found herself laying back on the bed, her shirt rolled up to show her stomach, and Fleur's wand hovering over it. As she looked down at her stomach Hermione couldn't help to think it looked slightly swollen even if it was only her mind playing tricks on her. Everyone in Shell Cottage was standing outside the bedroom door—only Fred remained in the room, kneeling beside her while he whispered reassuring words in her ear and kissed her knuckles as he held her hand in his.
"Are you quite ready, Mia?" Fleur asked after having explained to Hermione that if she was indeed pregnant her wand should glow golden instead of white. Hermione looked at Fred and nodded.
A warmth filled her stomach as Fleur cast the encantation but Hermione did not look right away, only when she felt Fred's hand grips her tighter did she dare to look at the glow beaming off Fleur's wand. For a moment her heart dropped as white light filled her eyes; blinking, though, Hermione saw golden hues emitting through the light and looked up at Fleur to find her beaming at her. The silver-haired witch squealed, "I am so very 'appy for you!"
Hermione turned her head to find Fred staring at her stomach instead, eyes wide. "Freddie?"
As soon as his name left her lips Fred's gaze snapped to her and she saw in relief as the most handsome smile she had ever seen graced his face. He took her face into his hands and kissed her passionately. When they pulled away Hermione was grinning too, all her fears (most of them at least) left behind. "We're having a baby," Fred whispered and Hermione nodded just as loud banging came from the door.
"We heard a Veela squeal!" Sirius shouted from the door. "What happened?!"
Hermione let out a giggle as Fred squared his shoulders and moved to the door. "Sirius, if I open this door you have to promise me not to jinx, hex, charm, or kick my bloody arse!"
"Why?" Sirius asked though his voice sounded excited at the prospect of the reason he had to jinx, hex, charm, or kick Fred's bloody arse.
Fred opened the door only slightly and grinned at the black-haired man before him, "Because you'll make a rather young and dashing grandfather."
Sirius' mouth fell open and he burst through the door, not caring if he hit Fred in the face—which he had—and everyone gathered outside followed him with excited looks on their faces. Sirius kissed Hermione's head as she sat up on her head and crushed down next to her, a soft smile on his face, "Nini, had the same look on her face when she said she was pregnant with you," he said, as he looked at Hermione's look of excitement mixed with relief and anxiety. "I'm really happy for you, Mia."
"Thanks, dad," she muttered with a smile of her own as she looked down at her stomach.
"Dame? Care to explain why you let us risk your life when you knew you were pregnant?" Harry said from behind Sirius with a loud cough. Hermione winced.
"I didn't know. I had an inkling. Besides I had no idea we would be snatched and dragged to Malfoy Manor. I thought that wouldn't happen to be honest."
Harry flinched at the mention. But he smiled softly at her, "It's great news, though."
Hermione grinned.
"So, you're pregnant? With Fred's kid?" Ron asked her with a grimace and Fred laughed as he patted his shoulder before going over to Hermione on the bed and sitting down beside her, an arm around her shoulder and a hand on her stomach letting his thumb caress the soft skin.
"Why yes it is, Ronnikiens," he said proudly and Sirius growled at him.
Mila rolled her eyes. "You'll have to get over it, dad."
"I will not," Sirius said promptly.
"Pads, just be happy for them," Remus said from his place by the door looking at Hermione and Fred proudly. "Considering you passed out when Nora told you about her pregnancy, you should be quite pleased Fred is still conscious."
"You passed out?" Hermione and Harry asked incredulously and Sirius smiled sheepishly. Bill, Fleur, Ron, and Fred chuckled.
"Nini... She wasn't the best at giving me the news."
Just then George burst into the room and grinned happily at the sight of his twin and his witch on the bed. "So? Am I going to be an uncle or not?"
"No," Hermione replied promptly, and as George's face fell she looked up at Fred—the latter seemed to know where her head was going and grinned. Then Hermione turned to George, "We were actually hoping for you to be the godfather."
Harry and Ron gaped at her offended. She glared at them.
"Godfather?" George said breathily, "Merlin, the kid isn't even showing yet and I already have to be responsible."
"You had to grow up eventually," Bill quipped and George groaned before a smile he could no longer hold fell on his face and he jumped on top of the couple on the bed—given, he did try and land mostly on Fred as Hermione was still injured.
"Oh, God, you can see it!" Annora said excitingly as she pointed at Hermione's stomach.
Hermione looked up to see her mother, Lily, James, and Regulus smile at her as she stood in front of the mirror and tried to better see the little baby bump in her stomach. Lily and Annora immediately ran forward gushing over her as the two men stayed behind looking rather awkward.
"It's starting to show isn't it?" Hermione said softly as she looked down at her stomach and sat down in the bed. "Four months," she said with a sigh.
"It's the last day of April," her mother said in realization. Annora looked at her with sorrowful eyes, "You're still going to go, aren't you?"
Hermione could only sigh with a nod of her head as she ran a hand through her hair. "The Battle is in two days. The final Battle. I plan to be there and win it. But we need the cup first."
"Can we help?" James asked her.
He had been asking her that for a month and a couple of weeks now. Ever since they found out about her pregnancy.
During that month Hermione hadn't been able to do anything other than be coddled to health. Everyone had been treating her like she was glass and besides the nights at the Cottage with Fred by her side, Hermione had only two moments where she felt at peace—which really just meant normal (ish). One was when she had to explain to Harry everything about the Deathly Hallows and how they worked and what he should know; the other was when she came downstairs for a glass of water, Fred on her toes to try and see if she didn't hurt herself (which was starting to get old fast), and saw an overly excited Moony hugging Harry.
"Hermione!" he called as soon as he saw her and rushed to hug her. "It's a boy!"
Hermione had beamed up at him, "What did you call him?" she asked. In this reality, Dora's dad hadn't died (thankfully) so Hermione was curious as to what they had called the little metamorphmagus.
"Edward Remus Lupin," Remus said with the happiest smile, Hermione nodded in recognition, "Dora's dad nearly cried at the news."
"That's wonderful Remus I can't wait to meet Mini-Moony!"
"I was hoping that was the case," Remus had said as he stepped away from their hug. "Dora and I were wondering if you'd be Teddy's godmother."
Hermione had gaped at the werewolf but instantly nodded, her smile stretching out to her ears as she hugged the wizard again.
That was the last moment she had to pretend everything was slightly normal.
Being pregnant did not help didn't help anyone's protectiveness towards her on top of the mishap at Malfoy Manor. Most often than not Hermione felt quite suffocated by the attention. In fact, it took her one month to convince Ron and Harry that they would die if she didn't find the cup with them.
Hermione looked back at James as an idea popped into her mind and she grinned, "Actually, Prongs, you could help. Can you perhaps convince my father to take Polyjuice Potion and turn into his cousin?"
"Mia... Weren't you supposed to do that?" Annora asked though her lips tugged into a mischievous smirk.
"I'm bloody pregnant," Hermione stated matter-of-factly, "Polyjuice potion can't be good for me right now."
"But a bloody war is?" Regulus muttered and Hermione ignored him.
"I'll see what I can do," James said with a grin before vanishing.
Just then the door to her room opened slowly and Fred poked his head inside, though there was no one he could see he turned to Hermione with a small smile, "Am I interrupting?"
Hermione smiled as the others vanished too and shook her head, standing up to kiss Fred. The latter though closed the door behind him and fell on his knees before her, and kissed her stomach as he wrapped his arms around her waist, before looking at her with a smirk on his face. Hermione felt a blush grow on her cheeks and raised an amused eyebrow.
He placed his chin on her bare stomach as he looked at her, "You're leaving tomorrow, then."
"You're an eavesdropper, Fred Weasley," Hermione murmured with a loving smile as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"Can't help it."
"I promise I'll be fine."
"That doesn't help as much as you would like to think it does," Fred said with a sigh, "But I suppose if Sirius is going with you then I won't need to insist on my going too."
"You suppose right."
"Can I do anything for you, love?" Fred said as he pressed his lips to her stomach again, softly as his hands came to her hips.
"Well, might as well give me a parting gift if you're so willing to stay on your knees for me, love," Hermione teased with a smirk. Fred did not waste one second complying.
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