Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to a lovely woman named Joanne. However, all of the children belong to me. Wait. That came out wrong. Sounded better in my head... ;3
Rated: K+ for a ton of sadness. And cause I don't want to get in trouble since I'm not quite sure where to put this.
Summary: Harry and Ginny are happily married and are expecting their first child very, very soon. When Harry's at work, Ginny goes into labor and Luna rushes her to St. Mungo's. When Harry arrives to be with his wife, he's informed that he can't see her yet. When he can, things deteriorate very fast.
Soft, brown eyes snapped open early on a Sunday morning. Ginevra Molly Potter reached a hand down to comfort the baby inside of her. The due date was coming fast, and the anxious new parents were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Sirius Fred Potter.
Ginny turned to look at her husband. It had been a good night last night. No nightmares. Harry constantly blamed himself for all of the deaths. Especially Neville, Tonks, Fred, and Professor McGonagall. It had been tough on him.
Harry must've felt Ginny's eyes upon him, as she was suddenly looking into his bright green eyes that made so many people think of Lily Potter.
"Morning," he said with a smile. "How're you and Sirius doing?"
Ginny smiled softly. "Well, he's awake and kicking." She took Harry's hand and placed it on her stomach so he could feel their child move. When Sirius kicked again, Harry's face had an expression of awe.
Ginny laughed. "You're never going to get used to that, are you?"
Harry shook his head. "No," he admitted.
Ginny smiled and began to get up. "Bloody baby," she said, intending to be humorous. "Always pressing on my bladder and making me have to go to the bathroom every twenty-seven minutes."
Harry raised one eyebrow. "Twenty-seven minutes? Why not just thirty?"
Ginny struggled to keep a straight face. "I timed it." Harry burst into laughter, which caused Ginny to laugh also. But she abruptly began to cough severely. Harry rushed to help her sit up in bed, his face worried.
"You okay, Ginny?" She nodded, her eyes watering.
"Hmm," she said curiously, struggling to catch her breath. "Wonder where that came from." She shrugged. "No matter. Anyways, I simply must get to the bathroom."
Harry smiled just a bit, and helped her to stand up. When she insisted she could get to the bathroom on her own, he went to call Hermione.
A few months back, Harry had insisted that Ron and Hermione get a telephone, despite the redhead's protests. It had become cumbersome to send letters or Patronuses.
When Hermione picked up, her voice was gruff and snippy. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Harry. I needed to ask you something."
"Oh, hi, Harry. Is something wrong?" Harry could almost see her face change into a worried look. She was so concerned about Ginny, seeing as it was their first child and Hermione already had two.
"I don't think so, it's just that Ginny has been coughing a lot and it's hard for her to catch her breath. She's also spending an awful long time in the restroom. Figured I'd call and get the opinion of a veteran."
"It doesn't sound like anything serious," she said. "Though this close to the due date, be sure to take her into St. Mungo's if it gets any worse."
"Will do, Hermione. Thanks."
"No problem." They both said their goodbyes and hung up just as Ginny was coming out of the bathroom. She looked at him questioningly. "Ron?" She asked. Harry shook his head.
"Hermione."
"What'd she want?"
"Oh, she just wanted to know how you were doing."
Ginny smiled. "They've been so worried lately."
Around noon, a Patronus in the form of a lynx arrived. It spoke with the voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt, the current Minister of Magic.
"Mass attack on Muggle village. Need more Aurors."
Harry turned to Ginny. "Well," he said. "Looks like I'll be heading off to work today. Can you call someone to stay with you?"
Ginny nodded. Ever since she fell on the stairs three months ago, Harry didn't want her to be alone until Sirius was born. It was a tad bit annoying. "Ron and Hermione are visiting Lupin at St. Mungo's, but Luna should be home."
After quickly conjuring a Patronus, Ginny convinced Harry that she'd be fine until Luna got here. Harry reluctantly Disapparated and Ginny collapsed onto the sofa, glad for a break from her high-strung husband.
Luna arrived a few minutes later. Standing next to her was a young girl of the age of four, who looked amazingly like her mother. The same blonde hair. The same blue eyes. The same obsession with Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. Yep, little Nymphadora Hermione Finnigan was a spitting image of her mum. Of course, she got her sense of humor from her dad, Seamus.
Ginny smiled. "Hey, Luna."
Luna smiled. "Hello, Ginny," she said in her airy voice of hers. From beside her, Nymphadora chimed, " 'Ello!" She seemed to have gotten a bit of an Irish accent from her father.
At about three o'clock, Ginny had just gotten up to use the bathroom. She was in the hallway when she knew something was up.
"Luna!!" The former Ravenclaw student came rushing down the corridor, with her daughter right behind her. She came upon Ginny leaning against the wall, her pants and the carpet beneath her wet.
"Oh, dear, Ginny," she said. "Have you wet your knickers?"
Ginny, her face pale, shook her head no. "No, I think my water broke.
By three twenty, the two women and the one girl were at St. Mungo's, with Ginny hobbling along, and Luna leading her by the hand.
They came up to the desk, and Luna calmly said, "Excuse me, but my friend here is about to have a baby. Do you mind if we get a room, please?"
The Healers took Ginny into the Maternity ward, leaving Luna and Nymphadora in the waiting room.
Luna pulled out her wand to send a quick Patronus to Harry.
Harry was just starting his paperwork at the office when a silvery hare bounded into the room. Its mouth opened and Luna's voice said, "I'm with Ginny at St. Mungo's. She's giving birth. Congratulations!"
"Oh, in the name of Merlin, she couldn't wait five minutes?!" Harry quickly grabbed his coat and wand, sending a Patronus to Kingsley, telling him that he'll have to finish the papers later. He spun on the spot into the constricting darkness and appeared in the waiting room of St. Mungo's.
Upon seeing Luna and her daughter sitting calmly in the waiting room, Harry began to shout at them. "Where is she? Why aren't you with her? Take me to her!" Luna simply smiled and called a Healer over.
"I don't know where she is," she said, as Harry's face turned red in frustration. "They wouldn't let us in, but this nice lady will take you to her."
"Actually," The Healer, Betsey, as her nametag read, said, "It's policy for us not to allow anyone besides the Healers during the mother's labor."
"WHY NOT?!" A couple heads turned to look at the frantic man at this point.
"I told you, sir," now she was just being too nice for Harry's liking. "It's policy. I know how you feel," she said as she led him to a seat next to Luna. "I wasn't able to be in the room when my sister had her baby either."
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR NIECE! I WANT TO SEE MY WIFE AND CHILD!" Now everyone was staring at him now, but Harry took no notice.
Luna placed a hand on his arm, gently pulling him down into the seat. "She'll be fine, Harry," she said in her airy voice. "We'll just wait here until it's all done. Besides, you really don't want the life squeezed out of your hand during her contractions, do you?" Luna smiled as Harry fumed.