Part Ten

A/N: Yes, I am still alive, and writing. I put up on my livejournal that I was going on hiatus where Harry Potter was concerned, because NOTHING was coming out. I don't know what is wrong with me, but writing wasn't HAPPENING. It still isn't for "Mudblood" but for some reason, late last night, I started writing on this and… LOOK! Two chapters! Part Eleven is still being worked on, but I'm pretty sure this part is DONE! I have had a lot of complaints about this fic, and I'm sorry that some people don't like it, but please, you could be NICE about it… and I feel like a broken record… but yes, I know it's very cliché… it's SUPPOSED TO BE. Okay, rant over. It's a bit shorter than what I usually want for a chapter, but… oh well. It moves along, so for me, at the moment, getting ANYTHING out, well, it's a miracle… I'm hoping that the words for this will just keep flowing… so far, it's working… I just don't know what IT is so I can keep doing it… Oh well, enjoy!

Hermione slowly opened her eyes; the late afternoon sun was peaking through the half-pulled curtains, bathing her face in a light warmth that chased away the horror that lingered in her mind.

It took her a moment to remember why she should be feeling horror then it all slammed back to her. Memories of the past weeks assailed her harshly, causing a cold weight to settle in her stomach.

She had royally screwed up. Her earlier freak out was completely pointless. She had no one to blame, had no right to be upset or angry with anyone but herself.

Hermione understood that she had brought this down upon herself. She had willingly gone along with Bill's insane plan, and it had worked. She was pregnant, or… probably pregnant. They had accomplished what they had set out to do… only problem was that Bill wasn't supposed to have said never mind and high tailed it back to Egypt with his wife in tow.

No, their plan had been for him to stay here, for him to take responsibility, for Bill and Fleur to raise this baby… not her… by herself.

No, their plan hadn't exactly gone as… well… planned.

Hermione sighed and pulled herself up out of the bed Charlie must have put her in after she had fallen asleep next to him on the couch. For the first time in two days she felt clear headed, sure of herself.

She knew what she had to do… or at least what path to start down. She didn't have to explain herself to anyone, not really. There were two people who were owed an explanation, but really, that was it.

She would go see the first person now. Ron deserved to know the truth. She had been entirely unfair to him and it was time for her to fess up.

Nodding to herself, Hermione made her way out to the living area to explain to Charlie where she was off to, but the sight she found caused her to pause.

Sitting at the dining table was a sight she never thought she'd see, one that made her laugh out loud, bringing the flat's occupants' attention to her.

Charlie and Harry were sitting amidst multi-colored cloth squares, pink and blue candies and… baby booties?

"Uhh…" she stuttered unintelligibly.

Charlie paused midway through stuffing two colored candies into a cloth lined baby bootie to glance up at her, a soft smile gracing his handsome face.

"Hey. We're just helping get ready for Katie's baby shower," he said by way of explanation.

"You look better," Harry commented laying down a half finished bootie.

"I feel better," she admitted, laughing at Harry and Charlie's attempts at creativity.

"Hey! Don't laugh! You try telling a hormonal, pregnant witch no," Harry muttered darkly.

"Right… anyway, I'm going over to Ron's. I think it's time he and I had a little chat," she told the two men.

Charlie immediately looked unsure.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? He was pretty pissed when he left. Maybe you should give him time to calm down," Charlie suggested.

"What exactly are you going to tell him?" Harry chimed in.

"The truth," was her simple answer.

Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You sure about that?"

"He deserves it," she answered.

Harry nodded, knowing that she was making the right decision.

"And what are you going to do when he tells the rest of his family?"

Hermione sighed at that.

"I don't know. I'm hoping I can appeal to the decent side of him and get him to let me tell everyone else, once I'm ready that is. Once I know what I want to tell them. It's really not anyone's business, save for mine, Bill's and Ron's," she told them, chewing on her bottom lip in nervousness.

"I guess that's true. Are you sure you want to go over there alone?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I think that's best. Ron may be a lot of things, but he isn't abusive. He wouldn't hurt me. It's fine, I promise."

"Okay, but floo us if anything goes wrong, and come back here when it's over. We'll be waiting," Charlie told her while Harry nodded in agreement.

"Thanks guys. I'll come back, promise, I just need to do this alone, it's time I own up to my mistakes."

Charlie got up and hugged her tightly before letting her go and getting back to stuffing his baby booties.

"Be careful," Harry told her while offering her a hug as well.

"When am I anything but careful?"

"The last few weeks?" he asked cheekily.

Hermione cringed.

"Okay, you made your point. I'll see you guys later."

It took Hermione longer than usual to make the short trip to Ron's flat, and that wasn't counting the ten minutes she stood outside his door trying to come up with the courage to knock on the door.

When she finally took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock, the door flew open to reveal a rather angry looking red head.

"What?" Ron bit out, eyes hard and red rimmed.

"Can I come in? I… I want to talk to you," Hermione asked quietly.

Ron sighed before stepping back and allowing her into his flat.

Hermione walked silently into the small living area but hesitated before taking her normal seat on the worn sofa. Ron walked past her and plopped down in an oversized chair he tended to favor.

"Okay, you want to talk, so talk," Ron told her, eyes still refusing to meet hers.

"I'm sorry."

That seemed to get his attention. His eyes flew up to meet hers, anger and disbelief evident in their depths.

"You're sorry? Seriously, that's all you have to say?" he scoffed.

"No, that's not all I have to say, but I thought it was the best place to start," she told him earnestly.

Ron rolled his eyes before looking away again, his shoulders tense and hunched.

Hermione watched her ex-fiancé and wondered if this was really the best idea. She came to the same decision she had this morning, yes, it was. It was the right thing to do.

Taking a deep breath, she blurted out the whole story, every last horrid detail. It didn't take long, when blurted out in a rush and by the end Ron was pale and had a sick look on his face.

"You did… what?" he demanded.

"I slept with you brother. I agreed to help him by getting pregnant since Fleur couldn't and… and I kept the truth from you."

Ron's mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.

"I honestly wanted to help him, but I know I went about it the wrong way. At the very least I should have spoken with you about it, been honest.

"And as for Charlie, I have never had sex with him. I swear. I know how I acted, but it was the potion, I swear. I went over the next morning to explain to him, to make sure that he and I were okay because he is my friend."

Ron was watching her, eyes wide and jaw slack.

"Well, say something," she mumbled.

"I don't even know where to begin. Do you expect me to just… just smile, say, 'Oh, okay. You're forgiven, let's get back together'?" he asked incredulously.

"No, Ron, I don't. Getting back together is the last thing I expect… or, to be honest, want.

"Ron… there was a time when we were friends, best friends. We should have left it at that. Think hard, Ron… were we ever really happy once we pushed it into something else?"

Ron seemed to be searching her eyes, she had no idea what he was looking for, but he seemed to find it. His eyes softened for a minute.

"Hermione, I really wish we could go back to that, I do… but…"

"I don't expect it any time soon. You need time, I understand that."

"I need a hell of a lot more than time, but I guess that's the best place to start," he muttered just loud enough for Hermione to make out the words.

"Ron, I… I know I'm not in a position to ask for anything, but… I know you love your family, so… please, if you won't do this for me, could you do this for them?"

"Do what?" he asked, suspicion evident in his eyes.

"Just… don't tell them anything. I will… eventually, when I know what I want to tell them… how I want to tell them."

"Don't tell them."

"What?"

"You heard me. Make up whatever excuse you have to, just… don't tell them it's Bill's. Tell them… hell, tell them you met some Muggle while at one of your bookstores. I don't care what you make up, but they have been through too much over the last few years. They don't need this too. Just… just disappear with your secrets. I sure as hell won't spill it."

Hermione just stared, unsure of what she was supposed to say to that.

"Harry and Charlie think I should say that Ginny's potion was too much and that I went ahead and slept with Charlie," she blurted out.

Ron's cold eyes narrowed.

"Well, that would be better on them than the truth, but they'd crucify Ginny. And, as pissed as I am at her, I'm not sure even she deserves that."

Hermione nodded.

"Just go. You'll think of something."

"Ron… I'm-"

"I know. Maybe… one day… you were my best friend," he told her, tears brimming in his eyes.

"I know," she whispered, turning to leave the flat.

"Bye, 'Mione," she heard just before the door closed and her tears finally fell.

She felt his presence before she saw him. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, forcing her back against a long, hard body.

She could feel his hard cock pressing against her back. Gently, he leaned over and nipped at her neck, right over the still tender mark he had left on her the last time they had been together.

"Mine," he growled quietly in her ear.

"Yours," she softly replied.

She couldn't remember taking off her clothes, but she stood naked in the middle of the clearing and from what she could feel, he was as well.

The full, ripe moon shone down on the pair, eerily lighting up the forest they stood in.

No more words were spoken as he pulled her down to the ground, covering her body with his own, thrusting into her wet warmth as her hands and knees dug into the wet earth.

She could feel her arousal growing, every inch of her body exploded with pleasure as he claimed her once again.

His thrusts became wild and untamed, his hair skittered across her shoulders, unbound and flowing free. As her orgasm grew ever closer, she yearned to see his face.

"Hermione!"

"Hermione! Wake up! Please!"

Hermione's eyes flew open as she gasped to fill her lungs with air. Her body sung in unsatisfied pleasure. She could feel her body clenching around a hardness that wasn't there.

In confusion, she glanced up at a red haired man, but not the one she hoped to find. Her body felt like it was going to explode, like it needed to explode.

Sobbing, she threw herself into Charlie's arms, begging him to make it go away.

She couldn't understand the words he murmured into her hair, but the hand he was rubbing up and down her back was soothing as her body ached for something it couldn't have.

She was shaking and sobbing in his arms and she had no idea how to make it better.

A/N: Thank you so much for the ones of you who have stuck with this fic for so long. If it makes you feel better, the end is in sight. There is still quite a bit to go, but… I know where it is going and can actually SEE the end now! I know I'm not that great about responding to reviews, things are just SO crazy! But I promise, I read EVERY single review, most three or four times, so please, continue leaving your thoughts and suggestions! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!