Chapter 5
As we helped Molly get dinner ready, she was buzzing with joy over the new additions to the family. The smile she wore the whole time had me questioning whether that face of anger was real or a figment of my imagination. “Another set of twins. Amazing.” She said to herself when she thought no one was listening.
I went to the bathroom and for the first time I saw myself in a full-length mirror. My robes must have done a great job to hide that I was pregnant. There was a bump, though I can see that with my baggy jumpers no one would notice, and I wore those a lot. How I avoided a full mirror for this long is ridiculous.
I let out a small laugh because now there were three of us, and we were reliant on each other to get through all of this.
When I walked back out Molly had kicked Ginny and Charlie out of the kitchen.
“Did you both mess up somehow?”
“No, she said she no longer required our assistance, something about sending everyone else a Patronus to make sure they arrived on time.” Ginny told me. “Probably threatening them.”
I shrugged and made myself comfortable on the couch next to Charlie. He sat on one end, and I laid my head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe it, there are two little things inside of me.”
Charlie dragged his other hand through my hair, probably tangling up my curls even further. “Yes, and then there will be two little ones driving you crazy. I still remember all the mischief the twins did as babies.”
“Oi, don’t be talking about us.” Fred and George walked through the door.
“Yeah, what he said.” George agreed. “What are we all doing here by the way?”
Molly came from the kitchen. “Emergency family meeting, where we will ALL be talking about the future.”
“Yes mum.” They said in perfect unison. I’ve always wondered if they had some weird twin connection.
As molly left the living room Fred sat next to me and George sat in an armchair next to Ginny. Their eyes looked big, and surprised. “So, you told mum?”
“Did she freak?” Fred asked.
“No, she didn’t thank Merlin. I was already a mess when she got to Grimmauld.” I took a breath. “I had a minor freak out when I left the Healer’s appointment, and made Charlie send her and Gin a Patronus.”
They nodded. “Well, at least we won’t have to worry about accidentally spilling the beans.”
I nodded in agreement. “I feel much better.”
Charlie rubbed my arm with the arm that was now wrapped around me.
“So, did you find out the gender?” George asked.
“Yes, but I am going to wait to announce it. Harry would be mortified to be the last to find out.” He gave me a fake appalled look and I stuck my tongue out in response.
Ginny laughed at me, and George looked baffled. But he too started to laugh because this was the lightest mood in the last couple of days. It was like we could all feel the tension being erased.
“Okay, tell me the truth, how much is the bet for what I’m naming my child?” I raised an eyebrow to George.
“I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re walking about.” He said slyly. “But hypothetically it could be, say, 50 galleons.”
At this my mouth dropped. “My child is only worth 50 galleons?”
They all laughed. I could feel Charlie’s rumble and it was amazing. I chide myself for thinking about his laugh. I had no right too and it was so outrageous, I am literally having another man’s children.
“Who are you and what have you done to ‘Mione?” Ginny asked in between laughs.
“Nothing, jerks. I just think that my child’s name should be worth at least 75, if not 100 galleons.” I pondered. “Or maybe the losers stay with me for alternating weeks after I give birth?”
“Hmmmm…. Interesting proposition you got there Hermione. I agree.” Charlie said.
“We can make it interesting and say 25 galleons and alternating weeks.” Ginny said.
The twins and Charlie nodded in agreement. “You are all ridiculous, but I won’t say no to extra help.”
We fell into chat’s about how the shop was doing and Ginny’s training with the Harpies. Ginny was excited for the new season to come up, to travel a bit more.
Everyone pilled in after that. First Ron and Harry, both looking confused, but Molly told them not to worry. Then it was Bill, without his wife and children. Arthur and Percy walked in next. Molly said it was finally time to talk.
I sat silently between Harry and Charlie at the table. Listening as she filled in Bill, Percy, and Arthur to the situation. Arthur was furious, I had never seen him as anything but hopeful, so this was new. I felt nothing but love though, he loved me enough to get that furious at the situation.
There was yelling, lots of yelling about how they wanted to go after Draco. But Molly calmed the men in the family and Ginny, who was the most vocal of them. I would have never been able to calm all of them with the confidence she had. Maybe it was something that came with time.
I knew that of the guy’s, Bill and Arthur might oppose me keeping this from Draco, because they were fathers. But neither of them said anything on that subject and I was grateful. Because that was the one subject that I was not willing to budge on.
After Molly explained how my going to Romania was going to play out, she quickly got Arthur and Percy on board to make the portkey situation work. Bill agreed to set the wards at whatever my new accommodations were in Romania, making sure to keep people from finding me.
“And with that I believe there is one piece of information that Hermione would like to share with us.” Molly smiled and I thought she just might cry. But she was never one to cry in public.
I stood up. “Yes. I found out the gender today. And I’m having twins! A boy and a girl!”
Harry was the first to stand up and hug me. Soon after the room erupted into cheers, congratulations, and questions about who wins the gender bet. I rolled my eyes and told them no one. “Keep your money ready for when I name my son.”
“Enough of your betting. Harry, Ron help me get the food to the table and we can all eat.” No one said anything against it. The Weasley men and Ginny all thought with their stomachs. I chuckled at the thought, because with my pregnancy I was no better than them.
We all began to eat once the food was set down. I knew I was gathering looks because I was eating at least twice my normal amount of food. Fred said something along the lines of I was rivalling Ron with how much I was eating, which resulted in me sticking my tongue out at him.
“Leave her alone, she’s eating for three. I remember eating the oddest of things while pregnant with you two.” Molly chaste him.
“Thank you, Molly.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “It also doesn’t help that normally I can barely remember to eat. I will probably need to set reminders for myself.”
“Oh dear, yes.” Molly looked at me. “Charlie can be in charge of your meals out there.”
This caused Charlie to choke on his drink. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You’ll be the one out there with her. Someone has to make sure this poor girl doesn’t run herself to the ground.”
To this I couldn’t argue, there were too many times Harry or Ron would have to make me leave the office to make sure I ate enough food or slept. I gave Charlie an apologetic smile.
“You know, if I am in charge of keeping you alive, I should get naming rights.” He smirked.
“Pish posh. How can I have a Charlotte and a Charles?” I retorted. But the second it left my lips I thought it sounded nice. I let out a hmm.
“I think that has a nice ring to it.” This came from Bill.
Arthur and Molly agreed. The only one to complain were the ones who would lose the bet.
“That’s not fair.” Ginny wined. She was positive that I would name a son Liam.
“I hate to admit it, but it does sound kind of nice.” Harry relented.
“Well, it’s a good thing I have about 7 months to figure this out.” I breathed out.
Molly had an apologetic look to her face. “Sorry dear, most twins arrive early. At between 2-3 weeks early, sometimes a month early. But since their magical twins they will be fine.”
My jaw dropped at this information. For as much knowledge I have on the magical world, I know nothing of pregnancies. “Okay, so less time than I thought. But still, there will be time. Prove yourself worthy of my child being named after you Charlie.”
Everyone laughed and the conversation changed several times before people started to leave. Percy gave me a hug and said that he would help with whatever I need from him. I hugged him a little longer than normal and thanked him. We were never that close to one another, but we always had a silent understanding.
Bill was next to say goodbye. “I hope you know that we will always have your back Hermione.” He pulled me into a hug. “Just so you know we will get some revenge on Malfoy; you can’t really say anything against it.”
“Oh, how true you are dear brother.” Fred and George wrapped their arms around us.
“We have something of a plan going. Want in?”
Next thing I knew there were more arms around us, even Percy, who hadn’t left threw arms around us. “I want in.”
There were ‘me too’s coming from different places in the hug.
“Yeah, the ferret won’t know what hit him.” I was pretty sure that came from Ron.
“I love all of you. Thank you.” I refused to let the tears fall. “Just wait until I’m out of the country to do anything.”
They all groaned but agreed. I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for whatever was coming Draco’s way. In a way, he deserved it, he knew what he was doing, and he didn’t care that I got hurt in the process. He always thought that he knew best.
They all finally filed out of the burrow, leaving those who live here and me. Molly and Arthur went to bed first. Ron next, saying that he had to leave early for work. Leaving Charlie and I in the living room, sitting on the couch in a similar position from earlier.
“How’re you feeling?” He asked.
“Honestly much better. I wish that I wasn’t such an emotional mess. I really thought keeping this a secret from your mother would be a good idea. The woman has known me half of my life. I want to blame all of this emotion on my twins, and the hormones that come with them.” I smiled. “After we came to the burrow, I saw myself in the mirror in the bathroom and finally saw my bump. I hadn’t let myself had a moment to actually enjoy this.
“I’ve been so worked up about everyone else and trying to pass these last two weeks on my own that I didn’t even have a moment to feel happy about my babies. And now, I just feel so much love from everyone and for the babies.”
He moved his arm to wrap it around me and pull me closer to him. There was a light kiss on my forehead. “You will make a great mum. Just wait and see.”
“Thank you, Charlie. For being with me today, you helped to keep me grounded and it made all the difference. Ginny probably would have freaked out with me. I love her but she’s also a mess.” I looked up at him. His face showed signs of stubble, and his hair was in soft waves instead of curls. “You are comfy for cuddles, better than Harry, I mean he has some muscles but he’s more bone than anything.”
He laughed and I once again felt it through our hug. “I can occasionally give you hugs and cuddles. At least I’m better than the boy who lived.”
I laughed with him. And I thought I could stay here forever. I turned my face towards the window. And I saw the stars, I removed myself from his embrace to the windowsill. I looked up and found Polaris. He stood and followed me. “You know, when I was a child, my mother told me that if you make a wish on the first star that you see at night your wish will come true.”
“A star grant’s you a wish?” I turned to look at him, but his eyes were looking at the sky.
“Yes, I suppose it’s a muggle thing. But I would always do it, up until third year. After that I thought that even if they did hold that much power my struggles were more than they could handle.”
“Do you still think that?”
I looked back at him again and our eyes met. His blue eyes looked almost mystical in the moonlight. “No, I think my mother had a hint of the truth when she told me that. I hope that even though she is across the world looking at the same sky, she is still looking up that the stars and making wishes.”
A small smile crossed my lips. “Make a wish Charlie.”
I gave him a small hug and went up to Ginny’s old bedroom, leaving him to make his wish in peace.
That night I dreamed of a house with an open field behind it, a little boy and a little girl running through the grass. The boy had brown curls and blue eyes, the girl had the same curls, but they were red, her eyes the same shade of blue. Cheering and yelling, all of it joy, and there was Charlie chasing after them.