A/N: Trying my hand at something different. This story is NOT cannon, especially in regards to the epilogue. JK Rowling owns everything, I'm just having fun writing about her characters. Hope you like it!

Chapter 1
"News"

Hermione drummed her fingers on the countertop, willing herself not to look at the clock again. She did anyway and let out an impatient sigh.

"Where is he?" she mumbled to herself.

She started to pace the small living room that she and Ron shared in their cozy little townhome. She was used to him being late, it happened more often than not because of his work; being an Auror meant he didn't typically work regular hours as she did. She just wished that today, of all days, he'd be home on time.

She had something important to tell him and it was bubbling up inside her. She had found out earlier that morning and decided to wait until after they had both returned from work to tell him. She felt both excited and nervous about how he would take the news.

After glancing at the clock again and only seeing that one measly minute had passed, she resigned herself that he'd probably be another hour, or more, and she should just relax. She sat on the couch and picked up her newest book. She had bought it earlier that day on a whim. It was silly she knew, but she was excited to learn as much as she could about what was about to happen.

She glanced around the room and a warm smile spread on her face. So many memories already shared in the small home that they bought just the year before. It had taken some convincing, but eventually Ron had agreed to get a place in Muggle London. She had never been happier. She glanced at a nearby picture sitting on a small stand near the couch and picked it up, leaving the unopened book in its place. It was a simple, muggle type picture of the two them dressed in ski outfits, their faces red from the cold, but happiness in both of their eyes. He had asked her to take him skiing for New Years just a few short months ago. Try as he might, he just couldn't get the hang of staying up on those skis of his. She looked fondly at the picture as she recalled the time when she was helping him down a beginners slope and they ended up getting their skis tangled and both crashed to the ground.

"Oh Ron, maybe skiing just isn't for you," she said as she tried to untangle their skis.

"Hang on, let me help," he said, leaning over the same time she did and accidentally hitting his head with hers.

They laughed at the clumsiness, then Hermione picked up a handful of snow and tossed it at him, laughing harder as it landed on top of his head. Ron retaliated by grabbing a handful of his own snow and trying to stuff it down the back of her shirt.

"Ok, ok! Truce! Truce!" she said, as she tried to get the snow out from her clothes.

Her teeth were chattering from the cold but she didn't care. She was having a blast and wished the few shorts days of the trip would slow down just a bit.

When Ron saw how cold she was becoming, he scooted closer to her and pulled her close, stealing a kiss for the both of them. When they broke apart, all he saw was her eyes, looking right at him and it was so full of warmth and love. He never wanted anything else in his whole life.

"I love you Hermione," he said.

"I love you too, Ron," she replied, a smile on her face. It felt good to finally be with him. He made her laugh and feel loved like no ever had before.

He continued to look at her, wanting to say much more but couldn't find the words. Then, before he knew it, he asked, "Will you marry me?"

Hermione had just stared at him.

"What?" she finally asked breathlessly.

He fumbled around, trying to reach into his pocket, but his gloves were getting in the way. He impatiently took one off with his teeth and tossed it to the side. Finally able to get a hand inside his pocket, he pulled out a small, velvet box.

"Oh… Ronald…" she said, nerves and excitement bubbling up inside her.

"I've been carrying this around for almost a year… waiting for the right time to ask you," he opened the box and showed her the ring inside.

Hermione's breath was taken away. The band was made of white gold, her favorite. The top had a single, simple princess cut diamond. But what really took her breath away was the delicate carving of roses along the side of the band.

"It's beautiful," she said, not taking her eyes off the box in his hand.

"I saw it in one of those muggle jewelry shops. I know you love roses and when I saw this, I just had to get it."

"I love it," she said, looking up at him and smiling, warm, happy tears brimming in her eyes.

"So….. is that a 'yes'?" he asked, nervously.

"Yes. Most definitely a yes," she said, laughing, wiping away a happy tear from her cheek.

Ron took off his other glove, then removed hers so he could place the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly.

He leaned in to kiss her again, but in all of the shifting around trying to get the ring, he forgot how tangled up he was.

"Oh, bugger this," he said, taking out his wand from his back pocket. He looked around to make sure no muggles were around before apparating them back to their room at the cottage they were staying at.

Hermione had gone from looking at the picture to looking at the ring on her finger. They had been planning their wedding since they returned from their ski trip and she was excited to finally be Mrs. Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley in a few short weeks.

The knock on her front door pulled her out of her daydream about the wedding. She looked at the door curiously, wondering who it could be; most everyone she knew either used the floo or apparated into her living room. She placed the frame back on the table stand and used a simple transporter spell to move the book to her room, just in case.

She opened the door and was surprised to see one of her best friends, Harry Potter, at the door.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, "Why didn't you just floo over?"

She opened the door all the way, letting her friend in. She glanced behind him, "Where's Ron?" she asked.

"Hermione…" he started.

"Let me guess. He'll be home later," she said, shaking her head, still smiling though. She turned to head to the kitchen, "Want any tea?"

"Hermione..." Harry said again, following her. She didn't hear him, she was busy humming to herself as she set the tea kettle on the stove.

"Hermione…" he said, a little louder, as she turned around to grab two mugs from the cupboard.

She finally looked over at him and she realized he was filthy and his robes were torn in some places and burnt in others.

"Harry?" she said, "What happened to your robes?"

He looked down at his himself, cursing himself for not changing before coming over.

"Where's Ron?" she asked again.

"That's what I came here to tell you... "

"Where's Ron, Harry?" she asked, more urgently.

"Hermione… Ron… Ron's…." he couldn't bring himself to say it. But he needed to… she had to hear it from him. "Ron's dead, Hermione."

The ceramic mugs slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.

"What?" she asked in barely a whisper.

"He's… he's gone, Hermione," said Harry.

"No." she said sternly, "You're mistaken."

"I wish I was. But I saw-"

"Then you saw wrong. He can't…. he can't be... No, no I won't believe it," she said, her eyes brimming with hot, angry tears.

"Hermione," Harry said again, walking towards her.

She backed away, "Why are you doing to this me, Harry? This is a cruel joke," she said, hating herself for the sob that slipped out, "Where is he, Harry?"

"At the morgue…" he said softly.

"NO! I refuse to believe…" she couldn't get herself to say it. She looked around her place… their place… his presence everywhere. "We…. we're supposed to get married in a few weeks. He can't… He can't be… "

The words wouldn't come out. Harry, his own eyes swelling with tears, finally got close enough to pull Hermione against him, holding on to her as she clung to him. She shook as she sobbed into his chest.

"This isn't fair," she sobbed, "It's just not fair."

"I know," Harry said, holding her tighter.

"Today was supposed to be such a good day… I was going to tell him…. oh my God.." she said, pulling back from Harry.

"What?" he asked, looking at her terrified expression.

She looked down and placed a gentle, trembling hand on her stomach. Harry knew what she was about to say before she said it, and his heart broke for his two best friends all over again.

"I was going to tell him that… I'm pregnant."

A/N: And that's Chapter 1! Let me know what you think!