Chapter 4
As Summer faded into Fall and Fall faded in Winter Hermione’s stomach grew as well as her friendship with Blaise and Pansy. Matteo had been spending longer time at work so he was able to take time off once the baby arrived. It was the first week of December and Hermione was already 6 months along. Though her stomach wasn’t very big and you would only really notice if she wore tight clothing, she felt like a beached whale, though Matteo was sure she had never looked more beautiful. Her stomach swole with his child inside. As the months went on he was absolutely insatiable, if she wasn’t with Blaise or Pansy she was at his, no their, new home in their bed.
It was another late night for Matteo and Hermione was home alone, so she decided to order some takeout and put on her comfiest pajamas while she waited. She had just sat herself down on the couch with a book when the floo roared to life and out came a crying Pansy. Hermione rushed up to her as fast as she could given her current state and enveloped her best friend in a hug.
“Pansy what’s wrong honey?”
“Bl…Blaise” was all she choked out.
“Blaise what? So help me if he hurt you I swear to Godric I will rip his heart out through his throat!”
Pansy gave a watery chuckle and shook her head, all of a sudden Hermione was distracted by the ginormous glittering rock that was sitting on Pansy’s left ring finger. Hermione couldn’t help her squeal that came out of her.
“OH MY GOOD GODRIC YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED!”
“I KNOW!” She hugged Hermione again and both girls had tears running down their faces.
“Now we can be each other’s maid of honor!” Pansy said with excitement. “Oh and before I forget we already decided on a date for our engagement party. It will be here in Paris since you can’t travel the wizard way without getting sick and you absolutely have to be there, I insist!” Hermione knew no good would come from arguing with Pansy, once she gets her mind on something she will not change it.
“Well don’t keep a girl waiting future Mrs. Zabini, when is it?”
“It will be January 5th at Blaise’s family vineyard. I should warn you that one or maybe both your old boys will be in attendance.” Pansy said that last part quickly and it took Hermione completely by surprise. She honestly had not thought of Harry or Ron since her falling out with Ron. He had wanted to go ahead and start a family as soon as she finished school but she wanted to get into her career and be stable before she brought kids into the fold. She also wanted to go find her parents and when she asked Ron to join her he told her it was a waste of time. She had never been so hurt before. This was the man that she loved and who supposedly loved her yet didn’t care about her wants or needs. So instead of trying to do a long distance relationship she broke it off with him and left. Neither Harry or Ron had replied to the letter she sent them when she found her parents and she had never gotten a single letter from them either. She went on with her life without a single worry as to where they were and what they were doing. Until now.
“Why would they be there?” Hermione wondered. They had never gotten along while Hermione was still in Britain, so what changed?
“Well Longbottom is in a steady relationship with Daphne Greengrass and Lovegood and Theo actually just got married first of this month. Lovegood struck up a friendship with Daphne and since Lovegood is still such good friends with she Weasel and that Brown girl, they all sorta hang out together. Potter and Theo actually get on quite well, Potter was a groomsman in Theo and Lovegood's wedding. Though I heard that the wedding was absolute chaos since you could hear crying from Potters 2 month old and Weasleys 1 year old and practically newborn baby. But don’t worry, my engagement party will be a completely child free event.”
Hermione was honestly in shock about what she had just heard. She figured Harry would marry Ginny and she was honestly surprised they waited this long to have their first kid. What she was surprised about was the fact that Ron already had his second child. She knew he wanted a large family but was quite shocked to hear he married Lavender. He absolutely could not stand how clingy she was during their 6th year at school. Maybe she mellowed out some, but in honesty she really couldn’t care less. She now had two amazing friends and the best fiancé she could even begin to ask for. He was her everything and she would not let her past ruin her future.
“Well Pans, it doesn’t matter who is there for me because this is going to be your party and I will get along with whoever you need to for it to go smoothly.” Pansy smiled at her best friend knowing she was 100% telling the truth. Hermione was pure of heart and would do anything for anybody. Pansy sometimes worried that Hermione cared too much, but that’s what made her, well her and Pansy loved her for it just the same.
“I know you will, you really are the best friend a girl could ask for Hermione.” She brought Hermoine in for one last hug of the night. “Well I better head out, tell Teo the good news and I will see you this weekend for a girls spa day right?”
“Of course, wouldn’t miss it for the world Pans.”
And with that Pansy left and Hermione was alone for the second time that night. It was already getting close to 10 at night and Hermione was barely able to keep her eyes open. She closed her book and set it on the side table and decided to wait for Matteo in the bed. Not even 5 minutes of laying down she heard the floo and waited patiently for him to come to bed. He made his way into the bedroom and straight to the bathroom. She heard the shower start and only lasted for about 7 minutes before he came out in his boxers. He slid into bed, thinking Hermione was asleep, he rested his hand on her bump and stroked it lovingly.
“Hey little guy, or girl, it’s your daddy.” Hermione loved when he talked to her stomach when he thought she was asleep, it made her heart swell.
“I know whatever you are, you will be absolutely extraordinary like your mother, except for your hair. I'm sorry kiddo, I can already tell you it will be an absolute frizz ball.” Hermione couldn’t help but snort at his statement. As soon as it came out he shot his head up and captured her lips with his. “So you like eavesdropping on other people’s conversations now don’t you, you nosey little thing you.” He kissed her once more than wrapped his arm protectively around her stomach and shifted even closer to her in the bed.
“How was work today? Finish the newest potion?”
“Not even close. We found that instead of using Borage, which doesn’t have a ton of qualities and isn’t easily accessible, we can use Anjelica which is far easier to get and is better in potions.”
“Well that works out well”
“It would, except the Anjelica when mixed with Cowbane, which we need for the potion to shrink down the dark magic in the person, can easily blow up if the two aren’t mixed at the right time. And not just like a little blow up, like it would take the whole lab out.”
“Is there not anything else you can use?”
“I’ve tried to find a replacement for the Cowbane but there isn’t one. If I want to create a potion that effectively shrinks the dark magic in the witch or wizard without leaving and damage behind I need both ingredients, I just need to find a way to combine both without it exploding on me.”
“Promise me that you and the team, which means including me, research this before you start conducting any experiments in the lab?”
He kissed her cheek gently and rested his hand on the other side of her face, turning it so he was looking directly into her eyes. “Ma petite chérie, I promise you I will not do anything reckless.”
She leaned in and gave him a lazy kiss. “Good, because I would be absolutely lost without you.”
“And I would be lost without you, my sweet angel.” She rolled to her side and scooted back so her naked back rested against his muscular chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and let it rest against her bump, sleep finding both of them easily that night.