Did I Use Too Much Magic?

Chapter 19

Hermione's POV

I stumble in to The Burrow's living room coughing and spluttering. Willow has begun to whimper so I wipe the soot off her head and out of her thin wisps of hair that are breaking through. I give her a kiss on her forehead and make my way through to the kitchen where I can hear a lot of whispering.

"How many soups am I pouring out?" I hear Mrs Weasley ask as I walk through the doorway.

All of One Direction nod enthusiastically because they can smell the delicious aroma of Mrs Wealey's cuisine. Harry and Ginny also agree and so does Ron but in sight of me he asks, "Do you want some Hermione?"

Then everyone turns and stares including Mrs Weasley. She beams at the sight of me and then her eyes flicker down to my now non-existent bump and the baby in my arms. She starts forward a little and then remembers herself, clearing her throat she asks, "Is that my first grandchild?"

"Yes," I simply reply moving to close the space between us.

She holds her arms out and I settle Willow in to them. Harry then pulls a chair out at the kitchen table and Mrs Weasley sinks in to it. I can see the tears floating on the surface of her eyes as she takes in the sight of her first grandchild. She looks so at home with a baby in her arms, as if her own children haven't grown up at all and this is Fred or George.

Ginny then takes over her mother's job of serving the soup so she can have a moment with Willow.

"It's a girl," I state, as if Mrs Weasley didn't already know that.

She nods as if giving me permission to go on because emotion is stopping her from acknowledging the situation with words, "She's called Willow, kind of after the Whomping Willow, it was Ron's idea,"

Mrs Weasley smiled, and patted her son, who had sat down next to her at the table. Ginny had finished handing out the soup and we all sat down to eat whilst Mrs Weasley cradled the sleeping Willow. It was a silent meal but not an uncomfortable one.

Once we had finished Mrs Weasley seemed to remember herself, coming out of her reverie she said, "I imagine you're all tired now are you? I'll direct you to your rooms," she gave back Willow and dabbed at her eyes.

We follow her up the stairs of The Burrow, "Ginny you're in your normal room, with Hermione," Ginny beamed at me across the landing, "Ron, Harry and one of the other boys you go in Fred and George's room, just be careful of the boxes, who knows what's in them. The rest of you go right to the top of the house in to Ron's room, your things are there and ready, okay?" Everyone starts to move towards their directed rooms but Mrs Weasley nods at me to stay outside. Ginny moves in to the room ignoring what was going on on the landing.

"Is everything okay with you three then?"

"Oh, yes, Hogwarts has been excellent with everything," I smile reassuringly, she smiles too.

"Any news from your family?" she asks, her brow furrowing with worry and distress.

I remember that I did send a letter to my mother on the night of Willow's birth... I sent it with Draco, did he ever send it? "Well I did send my mother some mail but she hasn't replied, she might not have received it, you never know. In the letter I asked my mother whether she would come and visit over Christmas here, I hope that's okay?"

"Oh that's perfectly fine dear, there's so much space here," she takes my hand, her eyes brimming with tears again, "You do know I'm always here for you, don't you?"

"Of course I do Mrs Weasley, look at how much you've done for us already,"

She then pulls me in to a tight embrace - or as tight as you can with a baby between you - and says, "Well I have an old cot off my children in there for Willow,"