Thanks everyone! I am very happy to be back! I hated not being able to get on my computer, especially when I had 4 whole days off over Christmas and three off over New Years!
Here's more for ya!
Several months went by, and everyone had gotten back into the routine of their lives. Two potentially dark wizards had been caught and imprisoned by Aurors who included Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry and Neville, but most of the time, they were busy catching those who liked to Muggle bait, or those who had used their magic to cause great harm to someone through the three unforgivable curses.
What Hermione liked best was the travel required when checking into rumours of possible dark wizards that had fled to other countries. Ron liked it as well, and found that Romania was a popular spot for these evil types to try to hide. It gave him plenty of chances to visit his brother Charlie and the couple got to see many of the dragons he was working with. Hermione also loved traveling to France, especially when she and the rest of the group could stop to eat at one of the many great cafes in Paris. Once, a trip even took them to Bulgaria where she met Victor Krum and his wife, which made Ron feel a lot better about the idea.
It was soon after one of these trips that Hermione discovered something exciting, even if it was a bit scary!
She and Ron had been home only for about a week when she discovered this "something", but she waited another two weeks to tell Ron about her discovery.
That evening, Hermione waited until after they ate to talk to Ron, who was heading towards the couch. Hermione headed him off, and, with with a knowing smile on her face, said to Ron:
"Let's take a walk outside, it's a beautiful evening,"
Ron looked at Hermione's face as he took her hand.
"She's up to something," he thought, knowing how to read her expressions well. He let her lead him out the front door and down the path that led to a small creek that cut through the woods nearby. The evening was still warm, and the smells of the grasses and the greenery of the woods hung in the air, tickling the olfactory senses with their pleasant smell. The Sun was on its way down, but there was still plenty of light left as they sat down on the bank of the creek. Ron sighed and took his shoes and socks off so he could soak his feet in the cool water. Hermione followed suit. The two sat there, right on the edge of the woods on their one side, watching the Sun start to create those rich colors it makes as it decends into the horizon at the end of the great golden fields in front of them.
"What's up, Hermione?" Ron asked softly.
Hermione's eyes glittered as she gave him an impish smile.
"What makes you think somethings up?" she asked. "Can't a woman have some relaxing moments with her man?"
"I know this woman too well," Ron grinned. "I can recognize an alterior motive when I see one, my sweet!"
"Aha!" Hermione retorted. "I see that I have a mind reader on my hands. Alright, smart one, what am I thinking?"
Ron leaned back and closed his eyes, as if deep in concentration.
"I see that you are thinking that I had better not pick you up and throw you into the creek!" He laughed.
Hermione sat stunned for a second because that was precisely what she had been thinking, knowing Ron as well as she did. It would be just like him to pick her up and threaten to throw her into the water if she didn't tell him what she was holding back.
Ron, who was watching her expression closely, laughed.
"I was right! Wasn't I!" he exclaimed. "Does that mean I should do it?
He jumped up and made as if he was going to grab Hermione to do just that!
"No!" Hermione gasped. "I don't think I should risk that right now!"
Ron stopped in his tracks. He had heard desperation in her voice that hinted of something serious, not hidden fun.
"What IS it, Hermione, " her said gently as he faced her and put his hands on her cheeks and looked her deeply in the eyes.
"I don't want you to throw me into the creek because I'm going to have a baby!" she said, looking back into Ron's eyes to see his reaction.
Ron just stood there for a minute, but his hands never left her cheeks, although his eyes did take on a bit of a glazed look before his face split into a broad smile.
"I'm gonna be a father!" he said happily. His hands left Hermiones face to wrap around her body in a warm and loving embrace. She returned it, grateful that Ron's pleasure matched her own.
Ron sat his wife back down on the soft grass and then he took a seat next to her, but held her hand tightly.
"We have a lot to think about," Ron said. "I think you should tell Shacklebolt and Moody right away. They can have you take on the less dangerous cases for a while. What do you think?"
"Yeah, I probably should," Hermione said. "After all, I do have the baby to think about. But I hate to think about you all doing dangerous assignments without me. Not that you can't handle it, of course, but that I will feel guilty about not being there to help!"
"I understand," Hermione," Ron said. "But it would just be trading one guilt for another, really. You would feel guilty about risking our baby too!"
"That's for sure," Hermione said smiling at Ron. "I guess I had better prepare myself for a boring desk job for a while."
"When did you find out you were pregnant?" Ron asked.
"I have suspected it for about two weeks, but I wanted to be sure before I told you. I went to St. Mungos when you were off with Harry yesterday, and they confirmed it. We have eight months to wait before we meet our little one face to face."
"I can't wait!" Ron said. "Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"
"It doesn't matter," Hermione smiled as she leaned against Ron in the now rapidly disappearing daylight. "All that matters is that it will be ours!"
"I agree 100 percent!" Ron said, as he kissed her then placed his arms over and under his wife and gently lifted her up and carried her back into the soft flickering light of their home.