Café Charmed

by Hermione92

Summary:

Three months after the war ended, Hermione Granger disappeared. Only Harry, Kingsley, and Ron know the truth.

Five years later, Diagon Alley is buzzing. A charming new café has opened, run by a young witch no one recognises, but everyone agrees her pastries are to die for. And just as curiosity peaks, a spellbook is released under the name Hermione Granger. But how could she have written it… when she hasn’t been seen in nearly five years?

Chapter 1

It had been three months since the Battle of Hogwarts, and Kingsley was tired. Exhausted. Completely and utterly worn out, in fact. Pick a word, any word from the thesaurus of sleepless despair, and it would probably suit. He hadn’t had a full night’s sleep since the end of the war.

The wizarding world lay in ruins, and it was up to him to gather the shattered pieces. To mend what had been broken, which, as it turned out, was nearly everything. The Ministry was in tatters, trust had all but vanished, and fear still clung to every corridor. He didn’t just have to lead; he had to rebuild, to reassure, to make people believe in peace again.

His thoughts drifted to Hermione. Only a week ago, she had come to him with an unusual request: to sit her NEWTs. Quietly and alone. Just her and the examiners. Of course, he had agreed without hesitation. s She was the reason they were all still standing. As much as he appreciated Harry’s bravery, and as vital as he’d been, Kingsley knew in his heart that without Hermione, none of it would have been possible. Harry wouldn’t have made it. Voldemort wouldn’t have been defeated. The war would have ended very differently.

He had personally requested the to expedite her results, an easy request to approve, given his position, and that very morning they had landed on his desk for signature. He hadn’t even opened the scroll before knowing. Still, he had smiled when he read the rows of perfect marks. All O’s. Of course. Just as he expected

He felt a warm swell of pride, but it was tinged with worry. She hadn’t seemed quite herself last week, well they were all not okay, espically the younger generation fighting a war barley of age, but last week she had looked worse. Something had been off. He had made up his mind to check in on her the next day. She ought to have received her results by now, and though he had far too much on his plate, he couldn't ignore the tug in his chest. A sort of paternal ache. He needed to make sure she was truly all right.

He hadn’t been able to go with her to Australia. He’d wanted to, but there were too many obligations here. Still, he had sent the best mind healer the Department of Magical Health had to offer, someone gentle, experienced, discreet. She had gone just a few days after the war ended, after the last of the funerals. Her parents, he knew, had been hidden away after she modified their memories. But even the best intentions sometimes came with a price. Even the best hadn’t been able to undo the spell she’d cast. It had been too powerful. Her parents no longer recognised her, and, heartbreakingly, they never would.

So he decided that he will take care of her, he will be the father she needs, and though they grew close in the last three months he never told her properly that she can always come to him.

So Kingsley had made a quiet vow to himself. He would look after her. If she needed someone, he would be there, he will take care of her, he will be the father she needs. Over the past three months, their bond had grown stronger, and though he hadn’t said it aloud, he meant to. Meant to tell her she could always come to him. That she wasn’t alone.

With that resolve, to visit her tomorrow and talk, he turned back to the stack of files on his desk. And there he stayed, pouring over report after report, until the ink on the parchments began to blur.

A few hours later, it was nearing midnight when a knock came at his door. His heart jumped, wand already in hand as he rose. He wasn’t expecting anyone, and unexpected visitors at this hour rarely brought good news.

“Enter,” he called firmly.

The door creaked open.

“Kings,” came the voice. Her voice. Even before she fully stepped inside, he recognised it. Hermione.

She looked... frail. Her frame was thinner than he remembered from last week if it was even possible. Her eyes were sunken, her face drawn with exhaustion and something more that he couldn't name. 

“Hermione,” he said gently, standing up, hand extended to greet her. But she didn’t take it.

She brushed past his outstretched arm and threw herself into his embrace, clinging to him as though he were the only solid thing left in the world. She cried, no, she wept. And it wasn’t the kind of polite crying people did in front of others. This was gut-wrenching. Silent at first, and then full of trembling sobs that rocked her entire body.

Kingsley, without hesitation, locked the door with a flick of his wand and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. Giving her something to lean on. Offering her strength, though his own was running low.

When her sobs finally slowed and she was left sniffling quietly against him, he led her to the leather couch beside the fireplace and tucked her close under his arm.

“Talk to me, Hermione,” he said softly, smoothing a hand over her hair like he might have done with a daughter. “I’m here for you.”

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured, her voice hoarse. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. You’re so busy, and you must be absolutely exhausted.”

“Hermione,” he said, turning slightly so she could see the sincerity in his face, “I’ll always have time for you. You’re like the daughter I never had.”

That made her lift her eyes to him. A shadow of a smile tugged at her lips. “You’re not that old, Kings. You might marry still. Have children of your own.”

He chuckled softly. “Then you’ll be their older sister. Now, out with it.”

He nudged her shoulder gently, coaxing her into speaking. She turned to face him fully then, expression serious now.

“I need you to make a vow,” she said. “Of secrecy. I trust you with my life, but this... this can never come out. With the vow in place, no one will be able to pull it from you. Not even with Veritaserum.”

He blinked, taken aback, but nodded. If she needed this, she’d have it. He reached for his wand and offered her his free hand. She took it.

Hermione started her part:

“By will and word, I summon binding trust.What I now reveal must never be spoken, nor written, nor passed beyond your soul. Will you take this vow, freely and fully?”

Then Kingsley:

“I, Kingsley Shacklebolt, swear upon my name, my wand, my will, and my word, her secret shall remain with me, untouched by time, temptation, or threat. Let magic witness, and let silence hold.”

It was Hermione’s turn again:

“Then let the vow be sealed.”

Together, their voices rang low and steady as they spoke the spell, wands weaving the binding magic between them.

“Pactum Silentii.”

Golden thread wrapped around their hands.

Hermione took a deep breath. “I’m leaving.”

He stared at her, brows drawing together. “What? No.”

“Please, Kingsley. Listen to me.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “I can’t stay here. I’ve been accepted into a Charms Mastery programme in the United States, under Master Elwin Hale. I want to go. No, I need to. But I can’t leave as Hermione Granger. I need a new identity. A clean start. No one can know who I am or where I am.” she squeezed his hand still in hers from the charm. "Hermione Granger needs to disappear".

He couldn’t speak. He was too stunned. His chest tightened. Hurt. Anger. Confusion. What had happened to her to make this the only option? who did something to her?

But he looked at her, really looked, and saw the broken edges behind her eyes. He saw the fear, the determination, and the last fragile sliver of hope she was holding onto.

So he nodded.

“I’ll help you. I’ll do anything you need, Hermione. I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood. But please, tell me why.”

He took both her hands gently, not pressuring, just waiting.

Her gaze dropped to their intertwined fingers. She was quiet for a long moment, gathering strength. Then she looked back up at him, and the tears were there again.

“I’m pregnant,” she said.

Chapter 2

“Pregnant?” Kingsley repeated, thousands of scenarios passed in his mind but none were good. 
“How? When? Who?” He asked her gently, trying to mask all the emotions passing through him. 

“The father is not at fault, he doesn’t know and I don’t want him to, not ever” Hermione told him. 

“Tell me” Kingsley encouraged her. 
”I don’t know if you knew this, but we were caught and brought to Malfoy manor“ 

“I heard a rumor at the time, didn’t know if it was true” he told her. 
“well it happened, I cast a stinging hex at Harry, when Greyback took us to the manor, Narcissa and Lucius called Draco who was home at the time to recognize Harry, he told her he wasn’t sure, though I know he recognized Ron and I. So he lied for us, I believe. Then Bellatrix came and she saw the sword of Gryffindor, she was furious and blamed us of stealing from her vault. I tried telling her it was fake, thought it wasn’t, she didn’t believe me. Harry and Ron were taken to the cells, she left me with her, she used the Cruciatus on me, several times. Then she used her knife”. Hermione lifted her sleeve and Kingsley gasped reaching his hand to touch the word but she flinched “Don’t, it hurts. She carved this to my arm. And I was losing consciousness when she lifted her body off me and I heard her call Draco, I saw him averting his eyes and not looking at me.” 

---

malfoy manor Easter 1998 

Hermiones screams had long since scraped her throat raw. Her jaw trembled now, not from sound, but from the shivering aftermath of too many Cruciatus Curses, too much blood lost, too little left.

Bellatrix was laughing again, standing above her.

“Such a pretty little thing,” the witch crooned, one finger trailing down Hermione’s arm, over torn skin. 

Hermione’s eyes fluttered. She was lying on her back, wrists bleeding, breath wet and shallow. A boot pressed against her ribs, pinning her down like a specimen.

“Draco,” Bellatrix called over her shoulder with a wicked smile. “Come closer” 

Her vision was blurry, she saw him coming closer.
“Fuck her” Hermione heard Bellatrix saying. 
“What” she heard Draco whisper. 

“Do as I say boy, show her where she belongs, underneath you, underneath all of us. Take from her what she owes us after stealing our magic.”
Hermione saw Bellatrix looking at her but her sight was fading.

“Ahh I see you can’t get it to work for an unconscious mudblood, well you’ll get used to it, next time you’ll be home I’ll arrange for a few muggles you can use. Now for her, I’ll help you, I will give her potion to wake her up.” She kicked her then. 

“No” Draco said, it was so low Hermione thought she was imagining it. 

“What do you mean no Draco? Are you a Malfoy of not, are you disobeying me? Your lord?”

Bellatrix wand was pointed at him now. “You need to be a man Draco, to be a Malfoy, a Black, what a bloody disgrace you are. No matter. I have just the spell to move this along.” 

Bellatrix lifted her leg from Hermione’s chest “lift her now” she commanded Draco. Hermione felt her body lifted gently and pressed into a warm firm chest. Her eyes closed but she listened to their surroundings, they entered a room When Bellatrix said “give me your wand, I don’t want any funny business from you. Now since you are a coward I will give you a boost with a lust spell” then she opened Hermione’s mouth forcefully and poured a bitter liquid inside, she almost chocked. But slowly the pain receded but it was still there, her vision was getting clearer. 

Bellatrix looked at her, then at Draco and laughed, and left the room locking the door behind her. 

Malfoy walked as further away from her as possible, as if trying to go through the walls and disappear from there.

”I’m so sorry” he tells her quietly, his all body shaking. “I’m so sorry, Granger. For everything. Since we were kids. For letting her torture you. For…” he swallowed hard, “for standing by while she carved that word into your skin. I’m so sorry” he was trembling badly, his hands clenched in fists, tears running down his cheeks. He was shaking his head, grunting, punching the wall.

“I’m sorry, I’m trying to fight this, I swear I won’t hurt you. I’m an idiot, a useless spineless man. I’m so sorry, I’m trying, Granger I’m sorry” 

He lifted his eyes then, and their gaze locked, she saw his pupils dilated. She read about lust spells once, in sixth year. Some were very simple, but others were dark, and if one didn’t follow he would be in great pain, even die. Hermione was sure Bellatrix would have used some kind that might harm him.

Infront of her was her school bully, the one who spat hateful word at her, who hexed her in fourth year.

Only it wasn't him, this was a boy in a young man's body, this was a frightened child thrown in a war just like her. Forced to do the bidding of mad people. Unable to choose, Unable to have a will of his own, until now.

She sees how he fights the spell, she sees his pain, she heard him tell Bellatrix no. She saw a boy become a man, and she knew this will be her end, she will die here in this manor, but she can prevent him from dying, she won't have him die on he account, she can show him that he can be a man worthy and fight the evil that's spreading in his house and heart. 

She took a step closer to him, “It’s okay Malfoy”. But he shakes his head no "No Granger, it's not, not okay, I won't do it, you don't deserve this."
She comes closer "you won't hurt me Malfoy, come here and let's get it over with before you are harmed".

She comes closer still until she is right in front of him and takes his clenched fist in her hands and pulls him towards the bed. She wonders what Bellatrix gave her, how it numbs the pain, how long it will last until she's in agony again, until she'll lose consciousness. 

They stand next to the bed and she releases his hand and starts taking off her clothes. He gulps "I'm sorry Granger, I'm so sorry, I won't hurt you, I promise. I am so sorry" he kept saying he's sorry, tears kept streaming down his eyes and he was shaking from the influence of the spell.

"It's okay" she said and started unbuttoning his shirt. And when they both stand in front of each other naked. She looks at him, and he looks at her. Then she goes back and lays on the bed, waiting for him.

He wiped his tears and looked at her. His eyes were darker now. Hunger flickered there, not his own, but something forced and hollow. It had to be the spell.

He come towards her, climbing the bed on his knees "I won't hurt you, I promise Granger". 

She had sex once before, with a muggle neighbor, in the summer between fifth and sixth year, it was painful and unpleasant and she didn't orgasm. She wondered if now it will be better, if she'll get to experience real pleasure before her death, before the pain that was sure to come. 

She opened her legs and waited for him to enter her, she felt herself tense. But then he put his hands on her thighs, and instead of coming closer, over her and pushing inside, he lowered his face towards her core, she started closing her legs and said "What are you doing Malfoy" but he stopped her legs with his firm hold, keeping them open and looked at her with hooded eyes.

"I promised I won't hurt you, now let me, please Granger". She nodded, and then he licked her, right there, and the feeling was like she had never felt before "oh" she whispered. 

He continued, licking and sucking her and then pushed a finger inside her, slowly pumping while his mouth did what she can only describe as bloody magic, she felt hot and her fingers curled. Her body arched. And in that moment, she forgot everything, the war, her imminent death, the pain in the back of her head. She clenched around his fingers and moaned. 

He lifted his head and she saw tears in his eyes "I'm so sorry Granger". Then he aligned his cock with her entrance and gently pushed inside, he groaned "I'm sorry", he then pulled out and pushed again "I'm sorry". He kept going like this, pumping in an out of her, and saying sorry every time he pushed inside. 

"It's okay" she told him, but he continued apologizing, not meeting her gaze, tears running down his face.

She had about enough, “Look at me, Malfoy.” He shook his head, refusing. She reached for his face, gently. “Please,” she whispered. “Look at me.” “No. I can’t.” he told her, still pushing in and out, his body still trembling from resisting the pull and urge of the spell.

"Draco look at me" she commanded and that snapped him, whether her use of his name or the command, he stilled, still inside her.

Their eyes locked "I'm okay, Draco" she still held his face, her finger wiping a tear, "I'm okay, Draco" she repeated.

Then she did something neither excepted, she pulled his face towards hers and kissed him, he was momentarily shocked but then kissed her back, all his inhibitions broke and he devoured her, and started moving properly, giving in to the spell, pouring all the pent up lust he denied since Bellatrix hit him with the spell. 

She felt the same tug again, the pleasure building up and she started clenching around him, moaning. Then he caught her in another kiss, lay his forehead against hers and whispered "Hermione" as he climaxed inside her.  

After a while, their breaths returned to normal and Hermione felt the pain beginning again, her hand, her back. He pulled out of her, but didn't let go, and neither did she.

"I don't know how to save you" he told her, his hands holding her close. She didn't know what to say, she didn't know either. But she knew she didn't want to be naked when the door will open.

"We should get dressed" she told him quietly. And when he removed his arms from her she suddenly felt cold and alone. 

They were now sitting on the bed, side by side not touching, not talking, just waiting, for what she wasn't sure, but it was going to be unpleasant. The pain was getting stronger now, but she fought it. 

When there was a pop in the room, they both jumped. Dobby stood there, wide-eyed and breathless.
“Dobby!” Hermione cried, already reaching for him.

“Dobby is here to take Miss Hermione,” the elf said urgently, holding out his hand. “Wait,” she said, turning to Draco. “Can you make it look like Draco was attacked?”

Dobby hesitated.  “No,” Draco said, weakly but with certainty. Hermione shook her head, fierce now. “I won’t let them think you helped me.” Then to Dobby: “Do it. Make it convincing.” Dobby nodded solemnly. He raised his hand, and with a shimmer of silent magic, Draco's eyes fluttered closed. His body went slack as if unconscious, gently lowered to the floor by Dobby’s magic. A cut to his head made a streak of red trickled from his temple. 

The door burst open. Bellatrix swept in, wand drawn, eyes already flaring with suspicion.
“What is going on in here” But Dobby was faster. A flash of elf magic disarmed her mid-sentence. Her wand flew across the room, Hermione caught it, fingers tight around the handle.

Bellatrix lunged, snarling. Hermione didn’t hesitate. She gripped Dobby’s arm tightly.
“Now,” she whispered. With a sharp pop, they vanished, leaving behind only a stunned Bellatrix and an unconscious Draco Malfoy.

---

Kingsley sat utterly still. His breath was slow, controlled, but his eyes betrayed him. They were wide with fury. He blinked once. Then again, as if forcing the images out of his mind.

“Merlin,” he whispered, voice rough. “Hermione…”

She didn’t cry. She wouldn’t. Not again. 
Instead, she nodded once, a stiff, small gesture. “That’s how it happened. I found out last week, that's why I asked to take the NEWT's early”

He looked down at their hands, then back at her, his face unreadable.

“I knew Bellatrix was sick, but I didn’t know... this. Not like this.”

Hermione swallowed thickly. “No one does. I never told Harry or Ron the full truth. Just about her torture. Enough to keep them from blaming Draco.”

He raised a brow slightly. “You protected him?”

She nodded again. “He didn’t hurt me. He tried to stop it. He fought the spell, Kingsley. He, he apologized. Over and over.” her voice cracked slightly before she forced it steady.

Kingsley exhaled slowly, his jaw tight. “I believe you. But... the child? You don't have to keep him”

“He's mine, I want him, and I told you,” she said, voice calm but guarded. “He doesn’t know. And I want it to stay that way. This is my story now. Mine and my child’s. I came to you because I trust you to keep it quiet.”

Kingsley leaned back slightly, rubbing a hand over his face. Then he nodded. Once. Solemn.

“You have my word.” Kingsley said and then added “His sentence… Draco’s sentence. It’s one year. He’ll be out in nine months”

Hermione's lips pressed into a thin line. “He doesn’t need to know,” she said quietly. “Not ever.” Kingsley’s brow furrowed. “Hermione”. “No.” Her voice was firmer now.

“He should live his life. He deserves that much. He’s already paying for crimes that weren’t his choice. They made him one of them, his father, his aunt, the Dark Lord himself. They branded him. He’s in prison because of them.”

Her eyes met Kingsley’s, steady and fierce. “I won’t be another chain around his neck.”

Kingsley looked at her a long moment. Then, finally, nodded. “I understand,” he said quietly. “Then let’s set you up with a new identity. Something fitting for a Charms master.”

He glanced toward her stomach, then smiled faintly. “I always wanted to be a grandfather.”

Chapter 3

Hermione sat across from Harry and Ron in the library at Grimmauld Place. She’s already told Kingsley, and now it's time. She won't tell them everything.

She knows they couldn’t bear the full story, not the way Kingsley could. She keeps the worst of it to herself.

What matters is that they understand Draco Malfoy didn’t want to hurt her. What matters is that she and the baby are safe. Since finding out and then telling Kingsley last night, she had rehearsed it a dozen times, but now that they were both looking at her with concern, and love, her words caught in her throat.

“I need to tell you something,” she began, and already Harry was leaning forward, brows knit. Ron looked worried. “It’s about Malfoy. About what happened at the Malfoy Manor.”

Ron stiffened. Harry frowned.

Hermione exhaled shakily. “After she used the Cruciatus and well you know" she lifts her arm for them to see "Bellatrix told him to... to rape me.". Both of them jumped to their feet yelling "HE DID WHAT? HE'S DEAD" Harry. "THAT BLODDY GIT I'M GONNA KILL HIM" Ron.

"STOP" they did and looked at her "let me finish talking, honestly. Bellatrix told him but he said no, he actully told her no to her face. I was barely conscious, she forced him to take me to room nearby, she gave me a potion to dull the pain, you remember how I was at the cottage, the effect was maybe an hour or two no more."

"You were asleep for two days" Harry said. "And you kept screaming" Ron added. she nodded at them and continued.

"I won’t share all the details... but, well, there is no easy way to say it, so, yeah, well" She mumbled

Harry leaned forward immediately, eyes searching her face. “Breath Hermione”

Ron looked even more worried. “You’re scaring me, Hermione.”

She inhaled slowly, then said carefully, “Before I say anything… I need you both to take a Secrecy Vow.”

There was a beat of stunned silence.

“A Secrecy Vow?” Harry echoed, sitting back slightly.

“Yes,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled. “Not just a promise. A magical vow. What I’m about to tell you can’t go further than this room. Not to Ginny, not to Neville, not to anyone. Please.”

Ron looked at Harry. “Bloody hell.”

Harry nodded slowly. “Alright. If it’s that serious.”

Hermione lifted her wand, and so did they.

Once the magic settled around them, silent and binding, she closed her eyes for just a second, then opened them again.

They both held her hand. 

"I'm pregnant"  

The silence was immediate and absolute.

Ron stood so quickly his chair scraped back. “You’re what?”

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated, firmer this time, though her hands trembled in her lap. “It’s his. I didn’t plan for this, but it happened. And I need you both to know.”

Harry was the first to speak. “Are you alright?”

Hermione nodded, a little too quickly. “Physically, yes. Emotionally… I don’t know. But I made a decision. I’m keeping the baby.”

Ron still looked thunderstruck. “You’re going to have Malfoy’s...”

“Don’t,” she cut in, and her voice was firm now. “Don’t make this harder than it is. He didn’t hurt me. He protected me. He’s paying for his part in the war, he’s in Azkaban. But this baby is mine too, and I’m not going to be ashamed of it.”

Harry’s voice was quieter. “Does he know?”

“No, and I don't want him to” she whispered. “I told Kingsley, and he agreed to give me a new identity. I want to raise this child without fear. Without it being dragged into politics or revenge.”

Ron sat down again, rubbing his face. “This is… a lot.”

“I know,” she said. “I know it’s hard to accept. But I need you to try. You’re my family.”

Harry reached across the table and took her hand. “We’ve been through hell and back together. That’s not going to change. If this is what you want, we’ll help.”

Ron exhaled, long and slow. “Yeah. Yeah, alright. You’re mental, but you’re ours. We’ve got your back.” Then, more quietly, as if the words finally registered “You’re really going to be a mum.”

"So I'll be leaving in two days time, I did my NEWT's last week" she saw their sad and shocked faces "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner I found out about the pregnancy just a week and a half ago and first thing I did was ask Kings to allow me to take them. I got accepted to a spell mastery at the united states. I will go under my alias and no one but you both, Kingsley and master Hale will know where I am or who I am." 

Ron starts saying, “Then we’re coming with...” but she stops him gently.

“You both have Auror training. You’re building your lives. I want you to come visit, but not to drop everything for me. This is something I need to do alone, for now. I’ll owl you as soon as I can,” she promised, reaching out to squeeze Harry’s arm and then Ron’s.

Harry’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. “We will visit,” he said firmly.

Hermione nodded, her voice soft. “I’d like that.”

They reluctantly agreed, though not without one last round of pleading looks and heavy sighs. Once it became clear Hermione wouldn’t be swayed, the three of them shifted into planning mode the way they always had, shoulder to shoulder, minds working in tandem.

“What about your identity?” Harry asked, furrowing his brow. “You’ll need more than just a new name.”

“We can work with Kingsley on the official records,” Ron said, already thinking it through. “But we’ll need powerful Disillusionment charms, maybe even a Muggle-repelling ward around wherever you settle.”

Hermione nodded, surprised and grateful for how quickly they fell into action. “I was thinking a Concealment charm layered with some Notice-Me-Not enchantments, especially once the baby’s here.”

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll come visit as soon as we can get time off. And we’ll keep an eye on anything back here. You’ll still be connected, even from far away.”

Hermione nodded. “Actually… we should get a Muggle phone. Something basic, nothing fancy. The Ministry can track floo calls and intercept owls, but not this.”

Harry’s eyebrows rose. “You think that'll work?”

“I’m sure of it,” she said. “We just need something off the shelf, not tied to anything magical.”

Ron squinted at her. “What exactly is a Muggle phone? Is that the telly-box thing people carry around?”

Hermione laughed softly despite herself. “No, Ron. That’s a television. A phone is for talking to people, from a distance. Like the mirrors, only with buttons.”

Ron gave a wary nod. “Right. Buttons. You’ll have to show me.”

“I will. I’ll make it as simple as I can. Just one number stored, mine. If it rings, pick it up.”

Harry smiled. “If you call, we’ll answer. Always.”

Ron tried to sound confident. “We’re not letting you do this alone, Hermione. Even if you're going halfway across the world.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll never really be gone. And this way, I get to choose who I am. Who we are.” her hand landed on her belly, she could already fell a tiny swell.

“And who’s the godfather?” Ron asked suddenly, trying for a smile but still sounding a little choked.

She looked between the two of them, her heart aching with affection. “You both are.”

They froze for a second but then Harry’s expression cracked into a grin and Ron wiped his eyes quickly, nodding.

“Poor kid doesn’t stand a chance,” Harry said with a soft laugh.

“Bloody hell,” Ron murmured. “We’re going to be uncles.”

And for the first time in weeks, Hermione let herself believe that maybe, everything might turn out alright.