The doorbell chimed around the house making Hermione, who was reading a book and lounging in bed, stop for a second. She sighed as she tried to stand up with some difficulty. Her stomach seemed to weigh more than her now, she thought with a chuckle and gave it an appreciative rub. She placed her book down onto the bed and then slowly, supporting her stomach and back at the same time, climbed down the stairs. Her feet were swollen to the size of balloons, as well as her hands. The perks of pregnancy, she thought unhappily. Hermione wondered who it could be at the door since she wasn’t really expecting anyone and Fred flitted through her mind but she knew, deep down, that it wasn’t Fred. He hadn’t talked to her in weeks and now it was a new year. They were making their way through the second week of January and Hermione was now eight months pregnant... a scary thought that daunted her and made her actually think of how her pregnancy was going to be.
‘Harry?’ Hermione grinned as she unlocked the door and opened it to reveal her best friend. He smiled beautifully and she eyes the box in his hands before pulling him in for an awkward side hug, ‘what... what are you doing here?’
‘Wow, you’ve gotten huge!’ stated Harry, earning a slap on the arm from Hermione but she laughed along with him, ‘I wanted to see you... I missed you.’
Harry was standing on her doorstep with a box full of tasty pizza which Hermione glanced at, her eyes glowing and she realised that she was really hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she wasn’t hungry! Harry came into the house and Hermione glanced outside as cold air blew into the house. The night was silent and the snow was starting to clear up and out of the streets much to Hermione’s disappointment. Although it was still, unsurprisingly, freezing outside. The scarves and gloves were not being packed away just yet. Hermione closed the door and locked it before she turned around to see Harry. Harry was wearing the clothes he usually wore for work but his tie hung loose around his neck, his shirt was unbuttoned from the top and he let his shirt out of his trousers. His green eyes were sparkling with happiness.
‘You could use some company, right?’ asked Harry with a little hope illuminating his voice. He obviously hoped he could spend some time with Hermione so she nodded enthusiastically, happy to have him over. Truth be told, she missed Harry a lot too especially since Ron had been acting a little weird after Christmas. Ron had loosened up a little now and wasn’t as hostile. Harry continued , ‘don’t make me go home to Ginny. She’s freaking out about the wedding and if I stay with her every night, I’ll end up cancelling my own wedding!’
Hermione knew he meant it as a joke but a part of her suspected that there was a bit of the truth lurking in the joke. She laughed alongside him and a part of her brain wondered where Ron was. He should have been home an hour ago but he hadn’t showed up, maybe he had decided to work late. Harry went into the living room and started to get settled down by turning the television on, lighting a fire in the fireplace and opening the pizza box. Hermione was sure she could smell the aroma as she went into the kitchen and grabbed two plates, two glasses and a jug of juice. She walked back into the living room and was glad as she was met by sudden warmth, feeling her back start to dully ache again.
‘Ron should be home soon,’ Hermione mused as she sat next to Harry on the sofa. He shrugged his shoulders a little but then that same smile came on his face and he handed Hermione pizza on a plate. She took it thankfully and took a bite, nearly moaning at the taste, ‘thank you. I’m starving.’
‘You are eating, aren’t you? And drinking lots of water, right?’ he asked, a little worried and Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded, reassuring him. Every time Harry came over, he would lecture her about her diet and her child. Harry glanced down at her stomach and a crease appeared on his forehead, ‘you’re getting big. Are you afraid... for when you go into labour?’
‘Like I haven’t noticed, Harry! How many times are you going to say that!’ Hermione muttered and then she looked down at her stomach as she ate her pizza. Hermione rubbed the bottom part of her huge bump, ‘I am afraid but I guess most women are.’
‘I guess so. What are your plans for the future, money wise?’ Harry asked, his voice adopting a serious tone. This was another thing that Harry felt obliged to mention to Hermione, as though reminding her that she only had a limited amount of money to her name. She didn’t want to talk to him about money since he would probably offer her some so she tried to ignore him and eat but Harry wasn’t taking it, ‘I want to help you.’
‘I will not take your money, Harry,’ she said, stubbornly. Harry sighed and opened his mouth to speak but Hermione shut him off by placing her empty plate on the table, wiping her hands and turning in her seat to face Harry, ‘it’s not your fault for everything I’ve been through, okay? I know you want to help me, Harry, but you are not the father of my child. The father of my child hasn’t spoken to me in... that doesn’t matter actually. This is about my child and I can do whatever I want. Raise it however I want.’
‘Do you need money from Fred because I can tell him-’
‘He doesn’t need to give me money, Harry!’ Hermione yelled and sighed as though he didn't understand what she was talking about. Harry just raised his eyebrows at her, knowing better than to argue with a very pregnant Hermione but he also knew he couldn't give up so easily. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head as she said, ‘he’s not associated with me anymore. Legally, he doesn’t have to give me anything since we were, thankfully, not married.’
‘But he slept with you, got your pregnant, lied to you by saying that he won’t leave you and then he left,’ Harry muttered, taking her hand, trying to soften her up but Hermione glanced down at their hands and then into the green eyes that held so many torturous memories of the past. She closed her eyes impatiently as Harry said, ‘believe me, he owes you.’
‘Harry, I don’t want his-’
‘Did you sleep with Malfoy?’ the question was so sudden that Hermione took her hands out of his and turned to face the television. She sighed, shook her head once, pursing her lips and furrowing her eyebrows. She obviously thought that this was not any of Harry’s business but she couldn’t say that to him, not after everything he’s done for her. Harry scooted closer to her and then sighed, ‘why did you cheat on Fred?’
‘Harry, I didn’t cheat... well... I did but... I had to do it! I had to so that he could make some money for us, so that he could get back on his feet. I told him not to do business with Malfoy but...’ Hermione shrugged and a tear fell out of her eye. One tear was all it took for Harry to wrap his arm tightly around her waist and try to comfort her. She was still upset over everything and that was not surprising at all, ‘Malfoy kissed me and I know I should have stopped it but... Harry... I...’
‘But...’ Harry paused, knowing he should stop asking her, knowing she was going to start crying but he had to know... why was she so embarrassed? Why was she blushing when she talked about Draco? Didn’t she blush when she talked about Fred... a blush just like the one right now, ‘but what, Hermione? You didn't... you didn’t like it, did you?’
‘Can we talk about something else? I don’t want to stress myself out by thinking of him, okay?’ Hermione muttered and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Harry quickly obliged although his curiosity peaked to a high extent. He had to know but he would start to stress Hermione out and he didn’t want to do that.
His mind was racing with thoughts that revolved around Hermione. He thought of nothing about his wedding and not even about Ginny who he was going to marry in about three weeks time. He was concerned about Hermione, his best friend and the person who probably knew more about a subject than the teacher teaching it did. The only thing she couldn't learn from a book was love. She had to experience that the hard way and he wished he could stop her from breaking her heart.
Could she really be in love with Fred and just not admitting it? She had hardly said his name and that was probably a bad sign. Was she just acting brave about everything? Did she need his help but was too scared to ask him? Was there a greater reason behind kissing Malfoy? Did she... like Malfoy? Harry’s head was starting to hurt and he was exploding with questions but he only ate his pizza and made small talk with Hermione. He didn't want to stress her out with talk of the things that she, herself, was probably confused about.
‘Harry, I have to tell you something,’ Hermione started as she walked into the room again. She had piled all the dishes in the kitchen and leaned against the counter, battling herself mentally about whether she should or shouldn’t. She decided she should before it was too late. She looked a little nervous and Harry was sure she was going to talk about Draco and Fred but she only sat down next to him, facing him, and said the one thing that broke his heart completely, ‘I’m not coming to your wedding.’
‘No, Hermione! You have to come to my wedding!’ Harry yelled after a moment of silent shock. After everything he had been through with Mr Weasley, all for Hermione and he had nearly jeopardised his relationship with Ginny! Hermione shook her head and looked down at her lap helplessly as Harry frowned at her angrily. They were silent for a second before Harry stood up and started to tug his cloak on with a huge frown hanging over his eyebrows.
‘Where are you going, Harry?’ asked Hermione and she stood up, grabbing the table for some help. Harry shook his had furiously at her and muttered under his breath, swinging his cloak around to put it on, ‘don’t leave me, Harry!’
‘I might as well tell Ginny I’m not going to marry her anymore. Not until you agree to come to my wedding,’ Harry said stubbornly as Hermione grabbed his cloak before he could wear it and clutched it to her chest. She shook her head at him and Harry made for the cloak but she threw it on the sofa across the room and caught Harry’s arm determinedly, ‘you are coming to my wedding, Hermione. After everything I’ve done for you... you can’t do me a small favour?’
‘He’ll will be there and I can’t face him without bursting into tears! The Weasley’s will start to fight about my presence and I’m going to look so huge in a dress! I am doing this for you! If I come, your wedding will be ruined,’ Hermione wailed, picturing how awkward it was going to be when she saw the Weasley’s and... him, ‘I can barely get off the sofa without help!’
‘Forget Fred. Forget the Weasley family. I need you to be there for me and it’ll do you good to see other people. You’ve been through everything with me, Hermione, so I need you there along with Ron. Will you come?’ he asked, he took Hermione’s hand and she pulled him into a hug, a few tears escaping her eyes as she nodded to tell him she was going to come, ‘thanks, Hermione. I wouldn’t be the same without you.’
---
The 21st of January bore a surprise for Hermione which was pleasant as the weather was quite bad. The thunder rolled across the sky in waves and Hermione felt like she would start crying since the thunder and lightning brought back too many memories. Memories she couldn't cope with right now.
Ron arrived home from drenched in rain. It was about 9 o’clock and he went to take a shower, telling Hermione he had ate out so don’t make any dinner for him. Hermione simply nodded and went back to reading her book. A half hour later Ron showed her the surprise that Hermione grew to love.
‘You bought me a... a dress?’ asked Hermione, getting off her chair as Ron unfurled a dress from a box. He threw the box on her bed and then offered his hand to Hermione. She took it gratefully and he helped her up, nearly straining a vein in his forehead, ‘this is amazing, Ronald!
Ron shrugged but looked happy as she grinned at the lovely dress. He watched Hermione admire the long dress that he had scraped up some money to buy her. It was indeed expensive but he wanted her to have it. His eye had caught sight of it and he had been working later than usual for the extra cash. Hermione lightly ran a hand over the silky cloth and then shook her head, her smile disappearing. Ron knew exactly what she was going to say next and he wasn’t surprised at all when she said it.
‘I can’t take this, Ronald... no matter how beautiful it is. It must have been really expensive,’ Hermione shook her head but her eyes roamed the dress. Ron knew how much she loved it but he also knew just how proud she could get, ‘I can’t.’
‘Hermione, you have to take it. What else will you wear to the wedding?’ Ron asked her and she even opened her mouth to answer but he shook his head, handed her the dress and made for the door, ‘try it on, I want to see how it looks.’
Hermione tried to stop him from leaving but he closed the door and was, no doubt, waiting for her to put the dress on. She held it up in front of her eyes and then grinned a little as she admitted to herself that the dress sure was beautiful but it looked really expensive... she bit her lip as she turned it around to see the back. She couldn’t waste her money on dresses so maybe it was a good thing that Ron had got her one... she realised just how cheap she sounded but she had a right to sound cheap. She had hardly no money!
‘We have a week until the wedding, Hermione. You have no choice but to wear it!’ Ron called out from the other side of the door. He was leaning against the door and waiting for her to dress up.
He was right and Hermione knew it. She started to undress herself and then happily yanked the dress on, zipping it up from the back. She was a little scared that it would be extremely tight around her waist and stomach but, surprisingly, it fitted perfectly. Hermione went to the mirror and stared at the dress, turning around. The gold colour caught the light and her smile lightened up the room, a severe contrast to the thumping rain outside. She heard the door open and Ron walked into the room, a smile playing on his lips as she admired herself.
The dress was a lovely red colour. A rich red that only some women would feel comfortable in. There was a gold ribbon just under her breasts and over her huge stomach. The gold would probably sparkle in the sunlight. The dress came down to her feet and she was glad. She was comfortable wearing the colour red but not so comfortable to show off her legs just yet. There was a split in the side of the dress and Hermione twirled around to face Ron. She thanked him and hugged him tightly.
‘I look so pregnant,’ Hermione muttered, staring into the blue eyes that were so transparent. Hermione turned back around and their eyes met in the mirror making Hermione blush as he looked her up and down.
‘It’s beautiful. You look amazing,’ he whispered softly and then added as an after thought and after a little hesitation. He bit his lip and then leaned in closer to her ear to whisper, ‘you always look beautiful.’
‘It really is a gorgeous dress and fits perfectly,’ Hermione said, avoiding his eyes. She realised she was blushing and had no doubt that Ron was probably smirking at her from behind her back. She could feel his breath on her neck and felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, ‘thank you again.’
‘Don’t thank me,’ Ron said and his hands found hers. He turned her around and Hermione looked up at him as he twisted their fingers together, ‘just wear it to the wedding, okay?’
Hermione nodded, of course she was going to wear it. Ron seemed to look happy and then he leaned forward. Hermione was sure he was about to kiss her and at that moment she seriously considered if she would stop him or not... she leaned on not. She probably wouldn’t stop him... it had been way too long to still be pining over Fred. But Ron didn't kiss her.
He swept from the room, leaving Hermione in a glorious dress and looking a little confused.