Second Chances

Molly and Arthur Weasley sat by their fire at the Burrow, Arthur taking apart yet another plug and Molly eyeing it with disagreement. She reached over and picked up her tea cup her eyes never leaving the offending plug.

“Where’s Ginny?” Arthur asked, putting down his screwdriver, bowing to Molly’s unspoken will.

“In the living room. She’s not been herself today, not since breakfast.”

“Whys that?” Arthur asked, sweeping the plug to the side with his wand.

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Come now, Molly,” He said, smiling at her in a knowing way. “You have some idea, I know you do.”

“She got a letter in the post this morning and she’s been funny since she read it and that all I know,” Molly replied, turning away and poking the fire with a passion as though it were part of the problem too.

“I see,” Arthur said in a wise-old-owl fashion. Molly turned a look on him and as if on cue a knock came on the kitchen door. “I wonder who that could be,” He said, thankful for the interruption. He got to his feet and scurried over, opening the door wide and beaming at the pair that greeted him.

“Hermione! And Barty too, how nice to see you. Come in, come in.” Arthur stepped back and held out an inviting hand. Hermione stepped through the door first followed closely by Barty.

“Hello, dear.” Molly said, standing and reaching out to hug Hermione. “What brings you two to our door?”

“I actually have some news but that can wait, is Ginny here?” Hermione asked, looking around.

“Yes, she’s in the living room.” Molly replied, obviously curious.

“Is it okay if I just…” Hermione asked, pointing to the living room doorway.

“Yes go ahead,” Molly said, her interest obviously peaked, she look at Barty, “Sit down dear, would you like a cup of tea?”

“That would be great Molly,” Barty replied sitting at the table, his eyes drawn to the plug in pieces beside his arm, “Still trying to learn the muggle secrets Arthur?”

Hermione walked to the living room doorway and turned back to see Arthur was now in an animated conversation about a breakthrough he’d just had. She smiled and walked through, resting a hand on the back of Ginny’s chair and leaning over, “Hey you, how are you?”

Ginny slowly turned her face to Hermione, it was bereft of expression, “So, so.”

“I take it you got your letter then?”

“Yes,” Ginny whispered in response, “Did he send you one too?”

“Yes,” Hermione fished in her bag and held it out to Ginny, “Read it.”

Ginny took it slowly and read the contents before handing it back with a smile, “I do trust you Hermione, but thanks anyway.”

“That’s what we agreed right? Full disclosure about everything?” Hermione slid the letter back in her bag and perched on the chair opposite Ginny. “Did he say what you needed to hear? I won’t read it, that’s personal to you.”

“In a way,” Ginny replied, her eyes back on the fire. “I know I shouldn’t want to forgive him, I certainly shouldn’t still love him but…”

“You do,” Hermione replied, leaning forward a little more, “And that’s okay. You remember who he used to be. He may not get back to being that but it’ll be as close as one can get under the circumstances. If you want to write back, Gin, that’s up to you. No one has the right to question you about it. If you feel you may be able to work through this with him then you should give it a try.”

“I’ll think about it,” Ginny replied, looking round at Hermione. “So what brings you to my side apart from this?”

“Well, I came because I wanted to tell you first.” Hermione got down on her knees and moved closer to Ginny’s chair, her hands resting on the arm. “The thing is I fainted this morning and that’s when I found out. I’m-”

She was cut off by a squeal of delight from the kitchen followed by Arthur saying, “Imagine that Molly! Hermione’s having a baby!”

“…Pregnant.” Hermione finished, looking like she might kill Barty any moment.

“That’s great!” Ginny said, falling off her chair and dragging Hermione into a hug that toppled them both over and onto the rug. “A baby! Ooh, when’re you due? Do you want a boy or a girl?”

“Whoa,” Hermione gasped, sitting up and pulling Ginny with her, “I’m about six weeks according to my working out and I don’t mind about whether it’s a boy or girl. It’ll be mine and Barty’s anyhow.”

Barty’s head poked around the door, an apologetic smile on his face, “Sorry, couldn’t stop myself, Molly can be persuasive when there’s something she wants to know.”

“You’re telling me.” Ginny replied, climbing up and helping Hermione to her feet. She peered around Barty into the kitchen and laughed, “Oh dear, dad’s breaking out the fire whiskey, that means everyone will be trollied in oh,” she raised her wrist to look at her watch, “Thirty minutes?”

“Not me,” Hermione said, smiling as Barty pulled her into a hug, the apologetic smile still on his face, “I have a baby Crouch to think about.”

“That won’t stop dad from drinking yours for you,” Ginny said, still leaning against the doorway, “Hope you didn’t have plans tonight, you won’t get away for a while yet.”

“No plans that can’t wait a few hours,” Barty said as Ginny entered the kitchen, leaning in his whispered into Hermione’s ear, “When I get you home I’m going to show you exactly how much I love you and how happy I am about this.” His hand rested between them on her stomach. “It may take several hours.”

“Are you ready?” Hermione asked, leaning back with her arms around his neck, “Morning sickness and mood swings, then the nappies and baby sick?”

“If I have you with me, I’ll be ready for anything.” He said, leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. Slowly he turned until she was leaning back in his arms. “Including baby sick.”