"Y-you're pregnant!"
gasped
Hermione, completely stunned and staring at her mother's lower belly. "What?... How?... I thought..."
Ant stepped forward and took Hermione by the shoulders from behind. "Sit, love! Before you faint." And guided her into the nearest chair next to her mother.
"I'm sure you know, since you three have finalised the bonds, how babies are made, love," her mother said gently. "As for how..."
Ant went to the refrigerator and lifted down off the top of it a greeting card, before handing it to Hermione.
It was a simple style of bi-fold card similar to a cheap birthday card. However, it was of high quality stock. The image on the front was of a watercolour of three angels with wings and haloes. Inside, in perfect calligraphy, was a short message: 'As we promised, you have been rewarded. Congratulations Anthony Michael and Celeste Marie.'
Indicating the card, Ant said, "That was sitting on the kitchen table when we returned from visiting the doctor to find out why your mother was, apparently, suffering from morning sickness. The doctor confirmed your mother was pregnant."
"Wh-when's it due?" asked Hermione, still a little shaken.
"Late October," said Cele. "And, no, we do not know the sex yet."
"I'm going to have a little brother or sister," Hermione softly said.
Harry and Daphne both rose from their own chairs and, walking a little around the table, both wrapped Hermione in a hug.
Pulling back and looking around at the adults, Harry said to Matthias, Deece and Sirius, "You knew." He wasn't being accusatory, just stating a simple fact.
"Yes," said Matthias, grinning, as the other two just grinned back.
"It wasn't our news to tell," said Deece.
"You could have written!" Hermione said to her parents, clearly a little hurt.
"Yes," confirmed Cele, with a little nod of her head back. "However, there was always a risk with the first trimester. Once that was past, it was only a couple of weeks before you'd be on your Easter break. And we decided it was something we wanted to tell you in person." Hermione looked a little conflicted by that. Quickly, though, she settled on acceptance and recognition of the validity of their argument. She gave a little nod back.
That made both Granger adults visibly sag in relief.
"So; accommodations," said Harry. He looked to both Grangers and said, "I hope you both now accept we sleep together?"
"Yes," sighed Ant. "I would have preferred you waited a lot longer... a lot longer... but I now know magic pushed you to finalise the bond earlier than even you anticipated."
"Please tell me we won't be going through pregnancy together," begged Cele.
"We won't," smiled Hermione. "Unless, of course, you plan on giving a second sibling. Then, no promises."
me
That had the adults grinning and Sirius snorting in amusement.
"Come on," said Cele, putting her tea cup down and rising. "Let's get your sleeping arrangements sorted."
"Oh... ummm... Dad can do that..." started Hermione.
Her mother rode over her and almost snapped, "Don't you start. I've only just broken your father of, again, attempting to wrap me in cotton wool to protect me. I'm pregnant; not dying of brittle bone disease."
"Errr... sorry," said Hermione, a little meekly. Her mother just patted her on the cheek and said, "I appreciate the concern. However, being pregnant is a natural state for women; as I hope you will experience, one day. We do not suddenly become fragile when we conceive."
Again, Hermione gave a sheepish nod back.
Following Cele, the three headed up the stairs to the guest room. Inside, they found a queen-sized bed, built-in wardrobe and small dresser all crammed into the room.
"Sorry about the cramped conditions," said Cele. "But, it's the best we could do."
Hermione just smiled and said, "You forgot about magic, Mum."
She turned slightly and called, "Dobby." With a muted crack the little elf appeared. "Yes Mistress Hermy-knee?"
Hermione looked back for a few moments as Harry and Daphne snickered a little.
"Close enough," she huffed. "Can you, please, throw up a semi-permanent space expansion charm in here, and make it so the only muggles who see it are my parents?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" said Dobby. He quickly spun on the spot and caused the room to stretch in both lateral directions until the room was about twice as large as it was.
"Thank you, Dobby." she said.
The little elf grinned and popped away again.
"Harry, you take the bed while I work on the wardrobe," she said as she stepped further into the room and raised her wand to the wardrobe.
Harry chuckled as he widened the bed to the same width and length as the one they had in their apartment.
"That's... amazing," said Cele, looking around in awe. "It's a pity we can't keep it."
Hermione giggled and said, "It would confuse the Hell out of future muggle guests if they were to experience it. They can't see it; but, if they were to enter, they'd get confused about how long it took them to move about the room. That's why it's only temporary. Dobby'll have to return it to its normal dimensions after the weekend."
"So, if they were to walk past the door and look in?" asked Cele. "They'd see the room, as it was, before we made the magical changes to it," said Hermione. "It's only entering and walking across it they'd get confused."
Cele gave her head a bit of shake and said, "As long as you're not going to get into trouble with that secrecy law thing."
"We won't," smiled Hermione. "Nor for underaged magic. Finalising the bond saw both Daphne and I recognised as emancipated minors in the magical world."
"It would have to, seeing as magic now considers you married," said Cele.
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