Chapter 15: Dinner and Family
"Hermione, if we don't hurry we're going to be late." Harry called from the bottom of the stairs. It was Friday night, the night of the big dinner with the Weasleys. Hermione was up in her room changing for the millionth time.
"We won't be late, it only takes twenty minutes to get to the Burrow." Hermione called back.
"What are you doing? The Weasleys don't care how you look."
"I know that." Hermione said hurrying down the stairs. This time she was wearing a fitted white shirt and dark jeans. "I'm just nervous. I'm not dressing to impress them I just keep changing out of nerves."
"You keep telling yourself that." That comment earned him a slap on the arm. "Hey I was only teasing, besides you look great and that's what's important."
"Thanks, so where are Lily and James?"
"Waiting for us in the hall."
"We'll than we better be going or we'll be late." Hermione said walking past him and down to the front door.
"Isn't that what I just said?" Harry asked her retreating back. She didn't even respond she just pulled on her coat and held out Harry's to him. Harry shock his head, women did that kind of crap on purpose.
The twenty minute drive did nothing to settle Hermione's nerves. In fact with every passing moment she felt her stomach tighten. What were they going to say about all this? Would Molly and Arthur accept James and Lily? Would they judge Harry and her for being reckless teenagers? She tried to focus on anything other than her building dread. She looked out her car window to the clear night sky, the sun just meeting the horizon, bringing the sky to life with bright shades of orange and red. It was a great night - she only hoped it stayed that way.
"Well, we're here." Harry said as he turned off the car in front of the Burrow. The butterflies in Hermione's stomach doubled as he said that. "Hey are you alright?" Harry asked reaching across the car and taking her hand.
"I'm just so nervous." I like the feel of his hand on mine.
"Molly and Arthur will love them." Harry said squeezing her hand encouragingly.
"I'm more worried about how they'll treat us. I feel like I'm going to my parents knowing that I've misbehaved and expecting a punishment."
"They have kids; they know teenagers make impetuous decisions."
"Right." Hermione said nodding her head, but Harry knew she didn't believe him.
"Besides Hermione, look at what we got from our `impetuous decision'." Harry said nodding towards the backseat where Lily and James were sitting. They were both reading quietly, so wrapped up in the books they were reading that they hadn't even noticed the car was stopped.
"Yeah," Hermione said softly as she looked at her children. Molly and Arthur wouldn't get mad at them, not once they met James and Lily.
"Well come on than." Harry said, this time loud enough to get the attention of the twins. They looked up at him in unison. "We're here."
"Daddy, will you carry me?" Lily asked in a sweet voice as Harry opened her door for her.
"Of course I will." Harry said reaching out his arms to her. Lily settled on his hip and put her head on his shoulder. "Are you tired?" He asked her softly stroking her hair.
"No, I just want you to carry me."
"Be careful Harry or you'll spoil her." Hermione said taking James by the hand. Harry looked to her and winked, she smiled in return and the four of them walked across the front yard to the door.
The Burrow looked just as Hermione remembered it; friendly and welcoming. It was still a bit lopsided and if she hadn't know it was held up by magic she was sure it would fall over. The yard was still wild and unkempt thought there were no chickens. It felt good to be back where she had so many happy memories.
"Hey Harry, we're eating out back." George said pulling open the door after Harry knocked. He nodded his head towards the back door signaling that they should go through the kitchen. George waved to Lily as Harry walked through the door passed him and she waved back.
"Hermione, it's great to see you." George said wrapping her in a one armed hug. "You've been busy since we last saw you."
"Yeah well having twins will do that to you - just ask your mother."
"Come on out back, everyone is anxious to see you again."
"You didn't tell them did you?"
"About Lily and James? No we didn't tell them. Neither did Ron or Ginny."
"Why don't we go outside? That way you can explain to everyone all at once." George suggested holding open the back door for them. Harry went through first with Lily and then Hermione and James.
The back garden was just as Hermione remembered it; overgrown in places with lots of untamed plants and weeds. Sitting in the middle of the garden were three tables surrounded by people. Some Hermione knew some she didn't. Looking around Hermione saw that the garden was full of people, including five boys with violently red hair of various ages playing tag. There parents were sitting around the table talking to Luna who was as big as a house and looked like she was about to burst.
"Harry, Hermione." Ginny said stepping away from the table and calling everyone's attention to Harry and Hermione. "It's wonderful to see you."
"It's great to see you too." Harry said, he hadn't had many chances to see Ginny since her wedding two years ago. "How far are you now?"
"Five months." Ginny said patting her prominent belly. "And how are you little Lily?" Ginny asked stroking Lily's head lightly.
"I'm fine."
"You see those boys over there?" Ginny asked pointing towards her five nephews.
"Yeah."
"Those are my nephews. Would you like to go play tag with them?
"Okay." Lily said getting down out of her father's arms.
"Okay." Ginny echoed. "Should we ask your brother to come with us?"
"I guess." Lily said stubbornly and Ginny laughed.
"It is the nice thing to do." Ginny said offering her free hand to James. He took it and Ginny led the twins over to where her nephews were playing. Harry and Hermione turned to the table and found eight people looking at them in complete shock.
"Hi, we can explain." Hermione said and for what felt like the millionth time launched into an explanation of the choices she made ten years ago. The Weasley's listened intently thought none of them spoke Hermione could tell Percy was having a hard time avoiding giving them a lecture.
"So that's why you left so long ago?" Charlie asked seemingly unfazed by the news.
"Yeah at the time I didn't know what else to do."
"You could have come to us Hermione," Molly said somewhat stiffly rising from her seat at the table and hugging her.
"I see that now, I was just afraid."
"She could have come to me for that matter," Harry muttered.
"Yes then you two could have gotten married and your children would have a proper family." Percy said causing Hermione to glare at him.
"It's not our place to judge," Penelope, his wife, said patting his arm.
"Yes Percy I think we've all made decisions we regret." Hermione said coldly, referring to the year long separation between Percy and his family when he decided to chose his loyalty to his job over his loyalty to his family.
"Let's not get into any of this now," Arthur said softly causing everyone to look at him. "We haven't seen Hermione for ten years. Let's not pass judgment, let's just eat and catch up."
"That sounds good." Bill said moving over so that Harry and Hermione could sit down between him and Luna.
"Boys, Lily, James - it's time for dinner." Molly called over to the children. Her grandsons came running to the table and settled around their parents. They were followed shortly by Lily and James who seemed to realize already that Molly Weasley was not someone to disobey.
As they settled into their meal Hermione looked around the table thinking of all the things she had missed out on over the past ten years. All the Weasley children were married and starting families of their own and she had missed out on being a part of that.
She looked to Bill, the oldest Weasley brother, he had married the part-veela witch Fleur Delacour and they had two boys; a 5-year-old named Bryan and a 3-year-old named Kyle. Hermione noticed that upon closer inspection both boys had muted red hair, not nearly as fiery as the rest of the family, and looked remarkably like their mother. Hermione suspected that when they went to school they would be real heart breakers.
Then she looked to Charlie he was sitting with his muggle wife Miranda and their 6-year-old son Arthur. Little Arthur, as the family called him, was the eldest of the Weasley grandchildren and seemed to be smart like his father. He had the Weasley's red hair and brown eyes like his mother.
Percy, Hermione's least favorite Weasley brother was sitting directly across from her with his wife Penelope who had been his girlfriend at Hogwarts. They had 4-year-old twin boys named Geoffrey and Adam. It pleased Hermione greatly to see that Percy's boys were more like their uncles then their father. They laughed constantly and according to Ginny loved to play jokes.
Hermione looked over at Fred and his wife Angelina. Fred was whispering into her ear and she was laughing. Hermione searched the table for their two-month-old Olivia; she was in her Aunt Ginny's arms. Ginny was cooing over her and calling her the new princess of the family.
"At least I've been dethroned by a beautiful little girl." Ginny said softly and Hermione had to admit it was true. Olivia was very beautiful, like her mother. She stood out from her cousins with a startling contrast seeing as she was half black and didn't have red hair.
Just as Hermione was turning to survey George and his wife Lauren George stood to announce that he was going to be a father in about eight months. The entire table cheered. The cheering grew more intense as Bill stood up to announce that he and Fleur were expecting again as well.
"It will be a girl this time, I am sure of it." Fleur said proudly when the cheering and congratulations had died down.
"If it isn't we can always try again." Bill joked and his wife laughed childishly.
"She always laughs like that at his jokes," Luna whispered in Hermione's ear. "It's as if she thinks they're still dating and she has to find him funny. I think it's awfully childish. Hermione could I ask you something?"
"Of course Luna."
"How did you know when you were in labor?"
"Well it was the middle of the night and I was having these really intense cramps and then my water broke."
"And what did that feel like?"
"My water braking?"
"Yeah."
"A bit like I'd just peed myself. It took me completely by surprise and I wasn't sure that was what it was until I noticed the cramps were becoming more intense. Why?"
"Because I think my water has just broken." Hermione turned suddenly to her.
"You can't be serious." She whispered not to alert anyone if it wasn't necessary.
"I think so, I've been having contractions all day which is normal as far along as I am, but I think my water just broke."
"Well tell Ron."
"Right," Luna turned to her husband and whispered softly in his ear.
"What!" Ron said jumping up and managing to fall over at the same time.
"I was afraid he would react like that." Luna said calmly.
"You're in labor!" Ron said managing to pull himself up.
"Um," Luna said grimacing through a contraction, "yes I think I am."
"Oh dear, let's get you upstairs." Molly said standing up from the table. She had done this before, with seven children of her own and six grandchildren, she knew what to do. Luna nodded, she was ready for this.
"What a way to be welcomed back to the family." Harry muttered as they watched Molly help Luna into the house.
"Yeah," Hermione muttered back.
AN: one of my favorite lines in this story comes up in the next chapter - when you read it I'm sure you'll know why
Chapter 12 reviews: Jenna Kathleen - your just ganna have to take that up with portkey I can't control you getting your email updates - lol - anyway the problem with giving you chapter 21 is now I have to write chapter 22, dame it all - lol Mochie - : ) spaz141 - now see everyone suggests that I leave the kids with Harry for that time, but he's a new parents (as bad as that is) and I know that he would be all that comfortable taking care of these kids for an undetermined about of time by himself, but don't worry things aren't always going to be easy Chancellor - maybe Rosali - exactly mwood2182 - : )
Chapter 13 reviews: Spaz141 - : ) Chancellor - can I tell you that every time I write your name I think star wars, anyway yes they are KJ Bridgerton - I know how you feel Rosali - : ) mwood2182 - : )
Chapter 14 reviews: ginnymalfoy21 - : ) fairyp80 - not really she does what she did in book four acts like everything is fine while inside she's very upset div - Ginny and Draco doesn't happen until like chapter 28 `cause Draco doesn't even come into the story till chapter 27 so be patient spaz141 - I agree with them too izzieq - things wont always be easy for these two - just wait till we get to the first date Favo de Mal - : ) Reddy -I didn't really watch that show so I wouldn't know, but hey you are more then welcome to laugh I've never said you couldn't I in fact encourage people to laugh as often as possible Chancellor - I'll give you a big hint it's called chapter 16 - no they don't get together then, but…well just read and you'll see what I mean oh and this story is going to be 34 chapters long - though I am playing with the outline maybe it'll be 35 - I haven't decided abraxas - yeah it's not all that likely, but it makes for good story telling KJ Bridgerton - : ) Mani12191 - it does indeed star_hh5 - : ) sweetie513 - no one told him and he stayed away to let Hermione "live her life" so to speck Tomlove01 - : ) Rosali - you're not being annoying you have genuine questions and that is just fine - as this is portkey Harry and Hermione will end up together, but they will have some things happen between then and now that's aren't going to be so happy Alorkin - well he thought Hermione wasn't trusting him and that he wasn't going to be allowed to make decisions about them so he overreacted a bit, but I get where you're coming from mwood2182 - : ) JayaMioneDurron - : ) Tay - yeah it is dumbles - yeah my brain is a little weird like that for instance I used to mix up like and lick, but yeah I'm working on that no problem with the constructive criticism - it's always welcome, and I'm glad you're are liking the story Misadies1 - well I try sertad - : ) harrynmione - maybe they both do HHRLVR - I wont I promise paochi_cute - : )
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