It's been a year and a half and I know that you all are very upset with me for not updating for such a long time. I truly apologise for that, but I swear I had my reasons for this delay which I won't bore you with.
I feel as if a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders! I have struggled for a year and a half to complete this story and finally here it is!
To all my readers who have kept faith in me till now, thank you!
Enjoy Reading n Please RnR!
It was the morning of August 20th, 2018. It was a special day at the Weasley household. It was the 15th wedding anniversary of Ron and Hermione Weasley. There had been innumerous number of letters, cards and flowers owled for the lucky couple. But, these things seemed to do very little to cheer up Mrs. Hermione Weasley's mood.
She sat propped up on her bed reading a muggle book, almost paralyzed because her enormous belly was literally weighing her down. She was miserable. She was feeling bloated, gloomy and tired! Under normal circumstances, such an important day of her married life would have been spent with her entire family and friends. But, that was certainly not possible for her now, in this condition when the healer had instructed her to spend as much time as possible on bed rest and get to her feet only when she had to visit the bathroom. She had most of her meals in bed too, courtesy of her paranoid husband. This was a caution against pre-mature labour which the healer suspected that Hermione might go into if she exerted herself too much.
Ron, Rose and Hugo were downstairs, listening to the commentary of the Quidditch World Cup on a wireless, a match between England and Russia was taking place that day. And also, Rose and Hugo were giving the final touches to the gift that they were making for Ron and Hermione. The three of them wanted to bring the wireless up to Ron and Hermione's bedroom so that she wouldn't be left out on all the "quidditch fun", but there was some problem with catching the frequency in their bedroom and so on Hermione's insistence, they went downstairs to hear the commentary.
There was another thing that was adding up to Hermione's distress. It was nearly the end of Rose's two month vacation and Hermione was dreading the moment when her daughter would go back to Hogwarts and then would not return for a freaking whole three months!. The only thing that was pulling her through this rough time was the fact that by the end of the month she would finally have her baby. She and Ron would finally get to hold their new baby and experience that moment of sheer bliss that they had last experienced ten years back.
There was a knock on the door and Ron stepped in their bedroom with a huge tray, laden with all sorts of breakfast items. There was beacon and eggs, pancakes, English toast and a jug of pumpkin juice. But all these items were nothing in comparison with that brilliant, radiant smile he gave his wife. Hermione took a deep breathe and affectionately smiled at her husband. This man was her life line. She could survive only on his adorable smile for days together.
"Happy Anniversary, love", Ron said placing the tray of food in front of her.
"Happy Anniversary", Hermione replied giving him a light kiss on the lips.
"Harry owled few minutes ago…he wanted to ask whether he, Ginny and the kids could come and visit us for some time, you know because it's our anniversary and all that…"
"Well tell them 'YES'! I would've loved for everyone to come, but…"
Ron silenced her by giving her a small peck on the lips. "Right now you don't have to worry about anything or anybody. You just have to keep yourself relaxed and I'm here at your service, Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at the cuteness that was her husband, but she felt guilty. Guilty because she had to be bedridden on such an important day of their lives.
"Ron, I'm sorry." She said in almost a whisper.
"What?"
"I said I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For ruining such an important day of our life."
"Will you stop that?!" Ron almost yelled at Hermione. She hadn't heard his voice raise like that in front of her in probably the past nine months.
"I was just…"
"No Hermione," Ron said in a softer voice "I can't take anymore of this guilt of yours. Day before, you cried just because you couldn't make an apple pie that Hugo felt like eating and last week you sulked for two days because you couldn't visit the Burrow for dad's 65th birthday! You can't blame yourself like that, Hermione. You're pregnant, no one expects you to be hopping around like you normally do".
Hermione glared at Ron, but he ignored it. "I know that you must hate to be bedridden all the time, but it's just a matter of another week. I can't see you so depressed all the time, 'Mione, I want to see you happy. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I'll never leave your side, and I'll sit here with you all the time. I'll just leave your side when I have to piss and..."
"Okay, okay," Hermione cut him off "I won't whine anymore." She said with a smile.
Ron was right; she was being a complete moron by acting like this. Her behavior not only affected her husband, but she knew it affected her children as well. They didn't expect her to do things for them all the time. They just wanted their mummy to be happy and healthy.
"That's like my girl." Ron replied, kissing her forehead.
"Ron, will you let me do one thing please, it's our anniversary…" Hermione said with the most pleading face that she could pull off.
"You have to tell me what it is that you want to do, love." Ron stated
Hermione gave a deep sigh "Can I please come downstairs and just sit there for sometime? I am really feeling suffocated lying here all day."
"But Hermione,"
"Yes I know Ron, that it's best for me to stay off my feet as much as possible, but just let me get downstairs and I won't get up from my seat for hours, I promise!"
Ron looked at her for a few seconds and finally nodded his head smiling. "Okay fine, you finish you're breakfast and I'll use the floo and tell Harry and Ginny to come over and then you can come down."
Hermione gave her husband a brilliant smile. She hugged him and whispered "thank you" in his ears.
After Ron had flooed and invited Harry and Ginny to come and he went to their bedroom and helped Hermione get up from the bed, walk up to the staircase and slowly descend the stairs while Ron's arm was securely wrapped around her waist.
Rose and Hugo were wrapping up a present each for their parents. The moment they saw their mum and dad enter the living room, the kids tried to hide the boxes they'd been wrapping.
"Hi mum!" both of them exclaimed once they had managed to push the two boxes behind a table.
"Hi!" Hermione replied hugging and kissing both of them. "So, we're listening to quidditch?"
"Yeah, it's a bloody brilliant match!" Hugo replied enthusiastically.
"Hugo, watch out," his mother warned him against using those words.
"Okay now can we can listen to what's going on in the match!" Rose reasoned.
Ron and the kids huddled up together around the wireless on the carpet while Hermione tried to make her as comfortable as her belly allowed on the sofa. Within no time Ron, Rose and Hugo were right into the game and would transform into animated manic clowns whenever England scored a goal or saved one against the opposing team. Whenever England would miss one or would be unable to block the goal, Ron would mutter swear words which made the children giggle and made Hermione swat his arm and shout, "RON!"
"What! These bas…" one glare from his wife made him change the word he was about to say "These idiots could not save Linkov's goal! He's like the world's worst beater!"
"That does not qualify you for using such unspeakable words in front of the children!" she whispered the last word, as if her children were unaware of what was going on.
Ron nodded at his wife, the usual thing he did after she scolded him. Of late, Ron had learned the technique of curling his hands into fists and counting numbers from one to ten to stop himself from back-answering to anything that his wife said. Because, Hermione seemed to think, it was a sin to swear in front of your kids but jinxing your husband in front of them was apparently not a big deal.
Ron sighed and gazed at his wife who seemed to have cooled off a bit already. She gave him a pointed look and started stroking her absolutely enormous belly. Ron couldn't help but smile at this sight, she looked so adorable. The match was proving to be a long one as no team was able to get a hold of the snitch.
"Shame on these so called 'world class' seekers" Ron said with a disgusted look, "If your Uncle Harry had been the seeker right now in this match, kids, I am telling you…"
"Yes the match would have ended two hours back, if I was the seeker." The four of them turned around to face the fire place as they saw Harry, Ginny, James, Albus and Lily enter the room from the fireplace.
Harry and Ginny came forward and hugged both Ron and Hermione. "Happy anniversary!" Ginny wished Hermione kissing her cheek and handing her a bunch of flowers and a card.
"Thanks Gin," Hermione said, extremely happy to see her best friend and sister-in-law.
"Fifteen years, so you two are now officially members of the old married couples' club. Welcome to the club mate!" Harry said patting Ron on the back. The four of them laughed. James, Albus and Lily wished their aunt and uncle and then joined their cousins in listening to the commentary.
"So what's the score?" Harry asked Ron and the two friends headed towards their kids to check out the scoreboard.
"How are you doing?" Ginny asked Hermione, stroking her belly.
"Don't ask. I don't even want to discuss it anymore; all I hope now is that this one here just comes out soon. That's the only thing that'll make me feel better!
Ginny smiled sympathetically at Hermione. "Just hang in there, I am sure you won't have to wait to long."
There was a sudden outburst from where Ron, Harry and the kids were sitting. Apparently Bleaker, England's seeker had spotted the snitch and was diving right at it.
"C'mon Bleaker!" the kids shouted jumping up and down. Ron and Harry were busy yelling words of encouragement at the transistor. Ginny who herself was extremely eager to go and join them as she herself had been a quidditch player that too a seeker once was trying her best to continue her conversation with Hermione. But her mind was already in the match.
"Gin, you can go and listen to the game!" Hermione said smiling at her sister-in-law.
Ginny hesitated a bit but finally agreed to go when Hermione insisted. Hermione chuckled looking at her family. She was the only one amongst them who wasn't a quidditch maniac.
"And Bleaker is inches apart from the snitch---AND HE"S GOT IT! BLEAKER'S GOT THE SNITCH! ENGLAND WINS THE MATCH!" came the commentator's excited voice from the wireless.
"There was uproar in the living room. The kids were doing a victory jig, Harry and Ron were punching the air and Ginny was just applauding happily.
Hermione laughed at the scene before her eyes and suddenly, her laughter died a she yelped in pain. They all heard Hermione's shriek and ran towards her.
"Hermione! What…what happened!!" Ron asked worriedly.
"I think I had a contraction Ron…it's time."
"Oh gosh, alright we'll…"
"Ron, I'll come with you and Hermione to . Harry can look after the kids and he'll inform mum and dad and Hermione's parents." Ginny stated.
"Okay that's sounds fine." Ron replied nodding his head.
"I want to come to the hospital." Rose demanded looking at her parents.
"Yeah, me too!" Hugo added.
Ron was about to say something but Hermione held his hand to stop him. "Rose, Hugo right now you have to stay here with Uncle Harry alright, but we promise as soon as your brother or sister is born we'll let you come to ." Hermione said in a soft voice.
Rose and Hugo nodded at their mother and Ron helped Hermione get up from the sofa and the two of them along with Ginny walked towards the fireplace. With a whoosh the three of them disappeared into the fire.
Hermione was rushed to the delivery room as soon as she and Ron got to St. Mungos. Seeing her condition and the fact that her contractions were as close as four minutes apart, the healer didn't wait for too long to start the delivery.
Ron went along with Hermione to the labour room while Ginny stayed outside in the waiting area.
The biggest difference between a muggle and a magical labour was that a spell was done on the woman which numbed her from the excruciating pain and somehow kept her calmer than she would be during a normal muggle delivery. For a muggle person, the scene of a magical delivery would be very weird. Hermione was trying to push very hard, but her face was not scrunched up in pain, it was more of an expression of deep concentration. She even smiled once or twice when Ron said something. Ron had managed to put up a confident face for his wife, but he was nervous as hell. He kept on saying encouraging words to Hermione, but his voice was a bit shaky.
"Alright Mrs. Weasley, you got to push really hard now," the healer instructed "the baby's head is almost crowning."
In spite of the healer saying that his baby's head was almost crowning, Ron stayed put in his place next to Hermione, holding her hand. He didn't consider himself brave enough to actually watch his baby pushing his way out of his wife's 'area'. Hermione kept on pushing until the room was filled with the wailing of a new born baby.
The healer held up the baby for the happy parents to see. "It's a girl." she announced.
Ron and Hermione wore those ecstatic smiles that parents have when they see their baby for the first time. The healer took the baby to clean her and wrap her in a cloth.
Ron kissed Hermione. They were just so thrilled, that neither of them could say anything. They just hugged and kissed each other with most eyes and those brilliant and grateful smiles that never left their lips. The birth of their daughter was the best anniversary gift they could've ever asked for.
The healer then brought their baby all bundles up in a pink mass of cloth and handed her over to Hermione. Hermione peered into her baby's beautiful face. There was a mop of reddish brown hair on her head. Her face was a perfect round with pink round lips and tiny little upturned nose. And then slowly, she opened her eyes. Hermione looked into her husband's baby blue eyes and then back at her daughter's. They matched perfectly, as if they had been painted with the same stroke of a brush. Ron kissed his daughter's forehead, he was weeping openly now. Hermione handed the bay girl to her father. Ron held her in his arms with a look of absolute awe on his face. "She's so beautiful." He whispered, gently touching his thumb on his baby's dimpled chin.
"I think she looks like you," Hermione stated simply.
"No she's a mixture of us. A perfect mixture." Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek and then held her daughter's tiny little arm and kissed it too.
Their moment was interrupted when the healer came and announced that Hermione had to be shifted out of the labour room into a private room. Just then, Ginny entered the room with a radiant smile.
"Congratulations!" She said as she bent down to give both Ron and Hermione a hug.
"Here, you want to hold her?" Ron handed over the baby to Ginny.
"She's so beautiful," Ginny said, admiring her niece's face. "I've informed Harry. He and the kids will be getting here soon."
Ron and Hermione nodded, they couldn't wait to see Rose and Hugo's reaction on the arrival of their new sister.
Hermione was soon wheeled to a private room. The baby was sleeping in her crib, next to her mother's bed. Hermione too was taking a nap as she was very tired. Ron was just sitting on a stool next to the crib and was gazing at his baby girl's face. He was so happy. After all the waiting and longing for a third child, they finally had one. And she was beautiful. Ron could just look at her sleeping peacefully for hours. His thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door. The door opened to reveal his two older children with wide-eyed excitement on their faces. Standing behind them were Harry, Arthur and Molly.
Rose and Hugo came running towards Ron and then their attention was diverted to the tiny sleeping form in the crib. Both of them looked at their baby sister with an expression of pure admiration.
"Are you two happy to meet your little sister?" Ron asked the two of them.
They shook their heads in a yes without tearing their eyes away from the baby.
"She's so cute, dad!" Rose exclaimed.
"Congratulations mate." Harry said hugging Ron.
Arthur and Molly came forward and hugged Ron too. Molly had tears streaming down her face.
"Oh Ron, I am so happy, my dear." Molly said between sobs
"Congratulations son!" Arthur said shaking Ron's hand.
They all surrounded the crib to admire the new little Weasley.
Hermione who had been sleeping so far, started stirring in her sleep and woke up completely when she heard her elder daughter and son's voice.
"Rose, Hugo! Everyone turned around to look at Hermione.
"Rose and Hugo rushed to their mother's side and hugged her.
"Did you see your sister?"
"Yes mum, she is very pretty." Hugo replied with a warm smile. Hermione ran her hand over his head and kissed him on the forehead. She then did the same to Rose.
"Congratulations Hermione," Harry said as he came forward and bent down to hug his sister-in-law.
"Thanks Harry. Did Ginny go home?"
"Yes. She's taken the kids home from your place, she'll bring them here later. And your parents will be getting here soon as well." Harry informed her.
Arthur and Molly congratulated their daughter-in-law. The smiles on their faces brought even more warmth to her heart. She was so glad that her and Ron's happiness was shared by so many people.
"So, have you thought of a name?" Molly asked looking affectionately at her youngest grandchild.
"Actually, we have." Ron replied a she stood next to Hermione's bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"We are going to call her Sarah Ginevra Weasley." Hermione announced. Everyone smiled at the name of their new family member.
"Ginny will be so happy." Harry said looking at his two best friends.
Just then Sarah Ginevra Weasley let out a soft whimper. Ron went to the crib and saw that his daughter was wide awake and was on the verge of letting out a storm from her eyes. Before the wail left her mouth, Ron picked her up. She cried for a few moments, but then as Ron rocked her a bit, she slowly stopped crying and just stared into her father's face. Ron brought her to Hermione and she took Sarah into her arms. Rose and Hugo were on either side of their mother. While Rose gently stroked her sister's head, Hugo held his baby sister's tiny foot and placed a soft kiss there. Hermione's eyes started welling up. She had always wondered whether her children would be able to accept another sibling easily. But looking at Rose and Hugo and their affection towards their sister, Hermione was so proud of them. She looked at Ron and he smiled at her nodding his head. He was having the same thoughts as her.
Ron leaned in and kissed Hermione. They stared into each other's eyes. They could read what was written in each other's eyes perfectly.
Both their eyes said the same thing. "Life is magical."
THE END
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That was the last chapter my dear readers. And I am thinking of writing an epilogue, but I am not going to promise anything. I don't want you to get upset like the last time. So for now, this is the end. Hope you enjoyed it! Please RnR
