Chapter 4
Harry, Ginny, and Charlie did most of the talking. I couldn’t find my voice to explain. So, I sat on one end of the couch, Harry holding me against his side. Ginny sat on the other side of him. The others scattered on the armchairs, Ron got the floor, grumbling about it at first. I was surprised when him and the twins sat through everything without interrupting.
Charlie had just finished saying about our encounter earlier with Draco. And the room was silent, Harry’s grip on me tightening. No one said anything for a long moment, it was Ron who broke the silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He looked so hurt, I almost started crying again.
“I-I didn’t know how. Harry was there when it happened and then we told Ginny because they’re married, and he couldn’t keep a secret from her to save his life. I told Charlie because I realized that I couldn’t keep it a secret from him, working with him and all. I just figured that if I had told you that day you would have went looking for Draco. And I was already just so hurt and wound-up, I couldn’t handle anything else.” I paused. “And I knew your mom would have wanted me to marry him, so I figured the least amount of people who could accidentally tell her the better.”
I gave a side eye look at Ginny, not meaning it because my lips curled. “I will have you make a vow if your lips stay loose.”
“I also didn’t tell anyone that I was seeing him because I wanted to see how it would play out. I thought he was on the same page, and I realize now that it was nothing more to him than a shag for convenience.”
Ron pondered what I said. “You were right I would have found him out that night. But just know if I see him on the street, I’m gettin’ my piece of him.” I started to speak but he held a hand up. “No taking me out of that one ‘Mione.”
“Fine, I can agree to that.”
“Include us in that as well” George said, Fred nodded. He was sitting on the arm of the chair George was sitting in.
I dropped my head into my hands. What was supposed to be a secret had now turned into a circus. “Fine. But none of you will breathe a word of this to your mother or father. Bill and Percy can know but if, and ONLY if absolutely necessary. Does everyone understand?”
They all nodded in agreement. “Okay, so the plan is that if the baby looks like me then I might come back to England. On the off chance that the baby looks like him, I might never come back.”
They all started to say something, but I cut them off. “No, I am serious. We all know that there are still Death Eater sympathizers out there. I would be in danger and so would the baby. And if Draco finds out then it would be a media circus, I would be brought into a long and extensive battle, not to mention the things they would say in the press.”
“I don’t want this anymore than you guys do, believe me. But I never thought I would have a child and I can’t risk anything happening. You all can come visit me in Romania while I’m pregnant, and if I have to leave after that you will know where I am.”
I gave them all a smile. “You are the best family I could ask for. And this baby will know that too.”
Harry hugged me tighter, and the others came to join crushing me with their weight. I wouldn’t have wanted anything different.
“We will do everything to help you love.” Fred said, everyone else in agreement.
“So, are you going to think of names soon?” Ginny asked. I laughed because of course that would be her first question.
“Yes, I think if it’s a girl, Charlotte, my grandmothers name. She was my favorite person when I was a child. I’m not too sure about if it’s a boy.” I answer. “The healer said I would find out this Friday the gender. I didn’t think it was possible since muggles usually didn’t know until later in the pregnancy.”
Ginny cheered with glee. “I can go with you!”
The conversation got into lighter topics, with Fred and George saying that they will teach my child all their tricks. Merlin help me if they do that. Ron and Ginny fighting over godparent rights. I basked in this, I would miss these little fights, the bickering.
“So, Hermione, where are you staying tonight? It’s not safe to stay at your place.” Charlie asked. Everyone turned to look at me.
“I’m not too sure. I would stay at the burrow, but with the amount that I’ve been throwing up it might not be such a good idea. Could I stay with you and Gin, Harry?”
“Of course, no need to even ask.” Harry said, nudging my side with his elbow.
“My hero.” I said as dramatically as possible.
“Oi, what about me? Aren’t I your hero as well?” Charlie mused. I rolled my eye and got up.
“Why yes. The self-proclaimed strongest Weasley, also my hero.” I walked over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. “My debt is paid.”
He chuckled. “For all the manual labor I did today? Well, I can’t complain I guess.”
“Hey, how is he the strongest Weasley?!” Fred chirped out.
“Yeah, obviously its me!” Ginny proclaimed.
“Gin, I think you win for the scariest Weasley sibling.” She shrugged her shoulders and nodded. The boys nodding in agreement.
As we were getting ready to leave, Charlie offered to take me back to my flat to get my things for the next couple of days. I agreed and the walk back to my flat was quiet until we reached muggle London. “For what it’s worth I don’t think you’re making the wrong decision by not telling Draco.”
“Is there another part that you don’t agree with?” I ask, hearing the caution in his tone.
“Well, I can’t tell you what to do, but I think you should reconsider telling mum.” I started to talk but he held up his hand. “It doesn’t have to be soon or even at all. I’m just saying it because she has the most experience. She might judge a little but if we tell her to keep it to herself, she would, because she would enjoy another grandchild more than anything.”
I thought about it as we kept walking. “I know your right. I am just being paranoid, but I can’t tell her before I leave, that is if I decide to tell her. Cause she would try any which way to keep me here. And I can’t risk visiting while pregnant. The second anyone knows I’m here it is going to be chaos.”
I should know better, look at where my secrecy has led to today. Half the Weasley family knows my secret. Maybe it would be better to come clean and face the music so to speak. They were family in every sense of the word, and I was already losing my mind. The me from 3 years ago would be appalled at how poorly this is going.
I leaned my head on his shoulder and gipped his arm tightly, as we continue to walk to my flat. “What should I do, Charlie? Everything is such a mess.”
“I don’t know love, but it’s your decision. I just think you should think it over.” He tightened his other hand over mine.
We reached my flat an got thought the door and I pulled him into another hug. Tears falling down my face.
“I know I have all of you and that I am not alone. But it feels like I’m alone, my parents aren’t here. I never thought I would have to do this without them.” I fell into hysterics. “My mum was supposed to tell me that she would question my choices and my dad would tell her that she was being too hard. It wasn’t supposed to be like this Charlie. They weren’t supposed to forget their daughter. I was the one who did that.”
Charlie pulled me into the couch on his lap and rubbed my back while I continued to cry. Whispering that everything will be okay.
After what felt like hours, I gathered myself again. Grabbing all my toiletries and clothes for the rest of the week. Charlie grabbed them from my arms before we went through the floo, moving in comfortable silence. He shouted the address, and we were gone.
. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
By the time Friday came around my mood was much better. I was either with Harry, Ginny, the twins, or Charlie. Never on my own, Ron worked more to cover for Harry to be gone. I saw him at night with everyone else. When Charlie was around I found myself sitting next to him, it was the most comforting, probably because of what happened on Wednesday. Ginny had laughed and said it was Hero syndrome, or something like that. I didn’t care. Even today, I sat next to him on the couch, head resting on his shoulder, he didn’t complain.
We had all come up with a few boy names. Harry thought Jackson was a good name, alternately ginny thought it was horrible. She liked Liam, but I thought it was too plain.
My favorite was Lucas, it was the closest one to my father’s name, Leo, but I didn’t want to name my child directly after him because that was also a constellation. The farther away from the Black family tradition the better. It was Fred who came up with that after looking in a book. Charlie decided that his name was the best, as it was a counter part for Charlotte.
“Yeah right. You just want someone named after you.” Ginny snorted at him.
“Well, yes. But you have to admit I have a point.” He sent a wink my way.
“Cocky much?” I laughed.
“I mean, I am the person who will be spending the most time with you during your pregnancy so…” He shrugged his shoulders.
“It can be a contender.” Ginny started to complain, and I held my hand up. “If you can prove to be worthy of naming my first child.”
He laughed and it warmed my heart, the same way it did all those years ago. When I had a schoolgirl crush on the dragon tamer. That was what felt like a lifetime ago, now I’m older and have more to think about that an old crush.
“Anyway, Gin, it’s time to go. We are flooing straight into the office. To avoid being seen.” She looked at me and her eyes went big.
“What’s wrong Gin?” I questioned her.
“I may have forgot and made plans with mum to meet her for lunch.” She said sheepishly, putting her hands up. Like I was going to throw something at her.
“Really Gin? You begged me to invite you.” This was not something I wanted to do alone. Harry was at work with Ron.
“Alright I guess I’ll go alone.” I got up to leave but Charlie grabbed my hand.
“I can go with you, if you would like?” He had hesitation in his voice. I might have said no, but my fear of going alone overrode everything else. I looked at Ginny who still had a pout to her lips.
“Okay, but you gotta be quiet, and no smart remarks, got it?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Yes ma’am.” I swotted his arm. Ginny let out a laugh.
“I’m like seven years younger than you Charlie.” I reached for his arm, taking note of how big his bicep was.
We flooed over to the healers with no issue. Healer Megan was understandable to the secrecy, she didn’t know the details, all I told her was that I did not want the media or stalkers to find out. For my safety and the babies. She was the person assigned to me from St. Mungo’s.
I thought showing up with Charlie probably sent the wrong idea. But I didn’t bother to correct her I just wanted to get to this over with quickly. The more time spent here meant the more time for someone to notice me.
“Okay, Ms. Granger. Please lie down on the table while I perform the charm.” Her hands moved in a complicated way. I realized now that I knew nothing of magical pregnancies and how they differed from non-magical ones. Perhaps Charlie was right, I should tell his mother.
I looked at his face and reached my hand out, motioning for him to give he his. He sat in the chair next to the bed. Giving my hand gentle squeezes, I relaxed under the contact.
I looked down again towards Healer Megan. She looked at me and smiled, just then there was a glow at the end of her wand. The color surprised me because it was pink and then blue. I looked at her in confusion.
“What does that mean? It is too early for me to know the gender?” I looked between her and Charlie. He looked just as confused as me. We focused out attention back to Healer Megan.
She looked shocked, not confused and then the grin got bigger. “Ms. Granger, do twins run in your family?”
I could feel my jaw drop. She didn’t just ask me that. No bloody way she just asked me if twins ran in my family. My jaw opened and closed several times before any words could form. I turned to Charlie; my mouth still open. It was Charlie who spoke. “She’s having twins?”
“Yes. Congratulations Ms. Granger, you will be having a boy and a girl.” Her face never faltered.
“Oh my gods. Charlie, I’m having twins. Like actual twins.” Still not recovered from the shock. He nodded. “I think I need to talk to your mother.”
His eyes got wide, but he didn’t say anything. He just nodded again, his hand still in mine. The healer continued some diagnostic spells.
“Everything looks good here.” She announced. “I can give you some readings for what to expect and you’ll be good to go.”
The next few minutes were a blur, Charlie did most of the talking for me. Next thing I knew we were back at Grimmauld. He guided me to sit in one of the bigger armchairs. Still in shock, my hands started to shake, and I could feel my chest squeeze a little. I knew a panic attack was coming.
“Charlie, can you please send a Patronus to your mother and Ginny for me. I think I’m going to have a break down.”
He did so quickly, within minutes, I could hear that Molly and Ginny apparate outside. They came through the door with worry on their faces. As soon as I saw Molly I started crying, everything was becoming too much. She held me, questioning her children why I was crying. To my surprise they told her nothing, just saying for her to wait for me.
“Molly… I’m pregnant. I’m so scared.” I managed to get out. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Shocked came across her face but quickly changed into a calmer tone.
“Oh, my dear girl. It’ll be okay.” She patted my back. “I’ve got you.”
After a few more minutes my tear stops. I swear to myself internally, this was the most that I had ever cried in my life. The las week was nothing but tears. Molly let me go and stood to look around the room.
“Someone tell me what’s going on.” Molly demanded.
It was asked a lot nicer that I thought. I looked to Ginny so she could explain the story. To my luck she understood my silent question. As she told the story Molly’s face changed, her anger was one that I had never knew before, I saw something similar as she stared down Bellatrix all those years ago. I don’t think Charlie and Ginny had seen it either because they looked equally as terrified.
Charlie finished the story by explaining why I was staying with Harry and Ginny. Molly schooled her features into calm and collected. “Okay, I understand what is going on.”
She took a deep breath before speaking again. “Stay at the burrow until you leave on Monday, and we can talk about all of the things you will need to know. We will be having a family meeting tonight, with everyone to talk about how we are proceeding about keeping your secret. I will talk to Percy about having a portkey set up for you whenever you need to come back home. I understand how you feel about them knowing dear, but it will make everything easier if we have help in different areas.”
We all nodded in agreement. I didn’t have a reason to oppose. I hated to say it, but things would be so much easier if Molly handled everyone instead of me. “Okay, everything else can be discussed tonight. Now a more important question. Do you know what the gender is, so I can start knitting?”
A smile spread across my face, Molly and Ginny looked at me waiting impatiently. “Well, it’s not just one baby.” Molly’s mouth widened, and Ginny’s eye got wider than before. “I’m having twins! A boy and a girl!”
Ginny practically jumped for joy and Molly let out a small shriek. I stood up and Molly’s arms were around me, holding me in a tight embrace.
I gave into the joy of this pregnancy for the first time. Ginny came up beside us and stole me for a hug.
“This is amazing! I get to have two god children!” She exclaimed. “Harry is going to freak out when we tell him.
“He will find out tonight, for now let’s get to the burrow and start dinner. We will have a full house tonight.” Molly walked with Ginny into the fireplace and left first, leaving me and Charlie to follow.
“I told you everything would be alright.” He bent down and kissed my forehead.
“Yes, I know you were right.” I sighed. “Thank you for being right.” I grabbed his arm and we walked into the fireplace and left for the burrow.