*Again, apologies for the delay in posting. Things are not going well for me in New York and I have been battling the worst case of depression since I was sixteen. Sadly it caused a lack of motivation. However the muse is back and I am also co-writing a Harmony story with my dear friend Son of the Mourning. It's called, Ego Painted Grey. Without further a-do and please, leave a review*
*I also apologize for the short chapter. Trust me though, plunnies ;) The next will have even more going on.*

Three days passed since Phoenix arrived at Shell Cottage. He had been tasked with checking up on the Gringotts goblin, Griphook and Ollivander. That morning Phoenix decided to check on Hermione. He hoped she was awake as there was something on he needed to discuss with her. He knocked on the door and waited for a response. He entered the room when he heard her tell him to come in. She looked to be doing better and was sitting at and looking outside the bay window. Admiring the view of the beach. He was glad to see that Harry was not in the room.

Phoenix sat down on the chair next to the bay window as Hermione turned to face him.

"How are you feeling, Hermione?" he asked.

She gave him a soft smile. "I'm feeling better than I did the other day. I still am not feeling entirely better. I am sure I will in a few more days."

He nodded. "I am glad you are feeling better. I must admit I was worried when I checked your vitals the other day."

She sighed. "I would not doubt they were. I honestly felt like I was going to die. I was afraid of losing my life and Harry losing me."

Phoenix took a deep breath and looked her hard in the eye. "And of one other life being lost? I don't mean Harry either."

She looked at him confused. "What do you mean? Yes I was afraid for the others but when I was being tortured I was afraid of the exact thing I told you," she affirmed.

He exhaled. "When I checked your vitals I saw a reading that I was trained to look for in Auror Academy. I knew what it was when I saw it. I looked at it longer than I should have to be sure."

"What was it?" she asked in a concerned tone.

"Are you sure you do not know what I am talking about?" he asked accusingly.

"No I don't. What did you see?" she asked impatiently.

He stood up and took another deep breath. "Hermione, you're five weeks pregnant," he revealed.

Hermione's eyes widened as she almost fell back and put her hands on her stomach. Her breathing became erratic as she stared at him in disbelief. "That's not funny, Phoenix!"

He stared back at her. His expression unchanged. "I would never joke about something like that."

She shook her head as tears fell from her eyes. "You can't know for sure," she argued.

"My Auror training taught me to check vitals for just that when we do vitals on women but if you don't believe me, I can call in the one other person who can confirm."

"Please do. I want them to prove this is true."

With a sigh he opened the door to the room and got Fleur's attention. He indicated her presence was requested. She walked quietly passed the couch where Harry was still asleep so she would not wake him. Once in the room, Phoenix closed the door and looked between both women. Fleur looked as confused as Hermione.

"Vaht is it, Feenox?" she asked.

"Fleur, I need you to help me confirm for Hermione, her present condition," he answered. When Fleur looked away and shrugged, his posture stiffened. "I know you know what I am talking about. You probably knew right away when you checked on her. I found out when I checked her vitals on the beach. Please confirm for her that it is true. Hermione has requested the confirmation."

Fleur sighed defeated. "You a-our, correct."

"I won't believe either of you unless you prove it," Hermione responded with disbelief in her voice.

Fleur then pulled out her wand and walked over to her. She traced her wand over Hermione's stomach and pelvic region while muttering a spell in French. When Fleur was done, her wand and the areas she traced began to glow and then gathered into her wand and it shot out a repeated white spark.

Hermione let out a shaky breath and began to cry after she looked at her stomach and pressed her hands further into it. Fleur was quick to hug her while Phoenix put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Hermione sat and repeatedly whispered, "It was the one time."

Fleur kissed her on the cheek. "You'll be fine, 'Ermione. It vill turn out to be a blessing. You'll see."

As if without thinking, Hermione looked at them and told them more. "We were on the task for the, You-Know-What's, Phoenix. Snatchers almost caught us the first time and Padfoot ran off to get them to follow him. Which they surprisingly did. They chased a dog. Padfoot must have gotten lost or was unable to get through my wards and was unable to return.. A few nights later it was just me and Harry in the tent. I had had awful nightmares the prior two nights. He came to comfort me when I had another the third night. After expressing my gratitude, we confessed our feelings for each other. We kissed and... well you can figure it out. We foolishly didn't think to use any protection spells in the heat of the moment. What am I going to do?"

Phoenix gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. "You'll figure out in due time."

"Does 'Arry know?" Fleur asked.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Oh, Merlin. He doesn't. How could he though seeing as to how I I just found out," she answered frantically. She looked at them pleadingly. "Please, do not tell him. I must be the one to tell him."

Both of them reassured her that they would not say a word about it.

"Just please tell him sooner than later, Hermione. Don't wait too long on it," Phoenix advised and left the room. He sat down in the front room with his face in his hands and muttered, "Merlin's wiry, beard!"

Days later, Phoenix woke up later than normal. He stepped out of his room to see Harry and Hermione exiting Griphook's room. Both of them were noticeably still processing whatever it was they had been told. He met them halfway in the hallway to see if they would tell him anything about whatever the Goblin may have told them.

"I am glad to see you're both doing well. Especially glad to see you are back up and on your feet, Hermione."

"Thank you," Hermione replied. "Have you seen, Sirius? We need to speak with him."

"I believe he's outside with, Bill," Phoenix answered.

"Thank you, Phoenix. For everything so far. Sacrificing time with your family, especially away from Teddy can not be easy for you," Harry said.

"No thanks needed, Harry," Phoenix replied. "I detect a hint of urgency which means you're up to something. What is it?"

Harry sighed. "I'm sorry. I can't discuss the details of it but it involves one of the Horcrux's. We'll be leaving as soon as we're ready. We'll be as careful as we can. I'm sorry but the less you know about our plan the better. It's that dangerous," Harry answered and tracked down Sirius.

Hermione stayed back as she knew by the look on Phoenix's face that he had something to say.

"Whatever it is you're up to," he began in a whisper, "Either fill me in so I can help you or don't go, Hermione. You can not risk anything happening to the baby."

Hermione exhaled and leaned forward. "I have to go, Phoenix. I can't tell you what we're doing, only that to succeed, I have to be there," she answered and nodded to Harry. "To keep his trust I made an Unbreakable Oath that I wouldn't be the one to say anything about it." He looked at her concerned. "The baby will be okay. I promise. I found many protection spells that am and will be using."

"I don't like this," was all he could say.

"Sirius will be with us. He's helping by being dis... I've said too much," she replied and ran outside.

Moments later, Sirius came inside. "I know you have your concerns. The best I can assure is that I will keep them safe and do what I must to keep from being detected. Please, have Kreacher take you and go be with your family. There's little else that you can do here. Two weeks is long enough."

Before Phoenix could answer, Sirius stepped closer to him. "There is no room for discussion. I'm not making a suggestion. I will seek you out when we are done," he said and looked down and back at him. "Now go."

Phoenix felt something pull his arm, fingers snap and a popping sound. He looked around at the familiar setting that was not Shell Cottage and heard the popping sound again. The House Elf was gone. With that, he went inside to surprise his wife, children and mother in law. He had a lot to tell her about.