Ah, one glorious month later: Hermione was still pregnant, getting bigger and bigger by day. She had this amazing glow around her, and she had barely any stretch marks. Her hair was beautiful, soft and long. She always had a shy, happy smile on her face whenever I found her rubbing her stomach. She'd been sleeping a lot lately, but that was to be expected; she was getting really big. Not fat, but her belly seemed to get bigger every ten minutes. We'd been to the Muggle doctors a few times, since Hermione thought they knew what they were doing. I just rolled my eyes and went with it. But of course, there were some downs to the ups. Her feet had swollen so badly, all she could wear were slippers. Her backed killed her with every movement, and she could barely sleep at night; she was very uncomfortable.
A good thing about the baby being due soon was the Hermione was now very happy. Not so snappy and sarcastic; more loving, more caring; more maternal, I suppose. It was her first baby, and I guess I was the practice baby until the real one arrived. It was all good, until she tried to tuck me into bed. Didn't work as well as she thought.
"Sweetie?"
I mumbled something unintelligent back.
"Sweetheart?"
I pulled the pillow over my head.
"Draco!"
I opened a bleary eye and glanced at the clock. It was 1:10 in the morning. "Yes, baby?"
"Er...somethings happening."
"'Something's happening.' With what?" I mumbled.
"The baby."
That fully woke me up.
I sat up, and muttered Lumos. My wand lit up, as did the lights in the room. Yeah, I was good.
"Okay...so what exactly is happening?" I asked, turning to face Hermione and her big belly. Her face was white, which alarmed me. She didn't say anything, just took my hand and pressed it to her stomach. I felt a sudden tightening. All the blood rushed out of my face.
"Are you...are you having contractions?" I whispered, my hand still on her belly.
I heard her swallow, and she nodded, quietly saying, "Yes, I think so."
We stayed still for about fifteen more seconds, and then it sunk in: my baby's ready to come out. I jumped up.
"Hermione, can you stand? Wait, no, don't stand," I said, changing my mind quickly; there were so many thoughts jumping around, it was impossible to figure one thing out. St. Mungo's. She has to go to St. Mungo's. "I can Floo us there. NO! Don't move! Just...just wait. Let me get some clothes on!" I was partially talking to her, partially gibbering to myself.
"Don't yell at me! I'm about to have a baby!"
"I'M SORRY!" I yelled back to her, trying to find a clean shirt and some pants. "Here," I added, tossing a sweater to her. I saw her carefully get to her feet, leaning against the bed, and shrug into the sweater, buttoning the only button that would reach the other side.
"Wait," Something dawned on me. "Has your water broke yet?"
"Uh...should it have?" She too looked puzzled. I tried to figure it out; she was having contractions, yet they didn't look to be painful. Her water hasn't broke yet. So was the baby coming or not?
"I'll Floo us there anyway..." I muttered to myself, hoisting Hermione into my arms, bridal style, and slowly walking out the bedroom door, down the hall, to the parlor, and onward to the fireplace. I grabbed some green powder, flung it into the empty grate, and yelled, "St. Mungo's, Maternity Ward!", my voice shooting up a few octaves as the importance of the situation slammed into me, just as we started to spin around in the swirling green flames.
--
My gods, this chair couldn't possibly be anymore disgusting, not uncomfortable, was my first thought as I opened my eyes after a bit of a rest. The Healers in the Maternity Ward had taken one look at Hermione, in her very pregnant state, and ushered us down a corridor, into a pale yellow hospital suite. Hermione was currently sleeping, her face troubled. The Healer-in-Charge, Digby Lorwe, had reassured both Hermione and I that she was not going into labor now, she was just having Braxton-Hicks contractions, nothing to worry about. But we weren't going to take chances; we booked an extended stay, wanting to be near in case anything did happen.
And, it meant I didn't have to get her food; some one else did. Ha.
Rolling my shoulders, I pondered going to sleep in the other bed, in the next room. But what if Hermione woke up, what if she panicked, not knowing where I was, scared herself into labor? Nah. I'll stay in this room. Just in case.
--
Two hours later, Hermione was sitting up in bed, doing what else but reading a book. I opened the curtains a bit, to let a little more light into the room, and flipped on the radio, sitting down in a nice cozy recliner, shaking open the Daily Prophet that had been dropped off while we were both sleeping. About five minutes later, I heard Hermione yawn, and looked over the paper to see her stretch. Healer Lorwe had ordered Hermione to be kept on bed rest, no walking around, only for bathroom visits.
"Draco? Could you help me up please?" I rolled my eyes, and folded my paper, walked over to her bed and sat on the side. My hand gently carressed her cheek, and she leaned into my touch. "What do you need baby?"
"I think a bubble bath would be nice," she murmured, her eyes closed.
"I think we can do that," I whispered, and pulled my hand away. She looked a bit disappointed as I helped her up, and I realized we really hadn't touched each other, in a comforting, loving way, for months. It was just little touches to her belly, rubbing her feet. Nothing with any compassion, really.
Hermione waddled to the bathroom, waiting for me to start running the taps. I turned, and helped her out of her nightdress she had started wearing. My eyes roamed her body. Her breasts were bigger than usual, filled with milk and the extra weight she had gained. Her belly protruded out so far, I couldn't wrap my arms fully around her. Her hips were a bit fuller than usual, but she still looked wonderful. Oh dear, her poor ankles; what had once been tiny little joints connecting her leg and foot was now a swollen mass of tight skin. "Oh, baby," I whispered, as I helped her into the tub and added some bubbles, grabbing a few folded towels and placing them under her ankles, trying to elevate them to help the swelling.
She leaned back against the tub as the basin filled, bubbles slowly covering her up. I saw her eyes close, and decided to stay near in case she fell asleep.
"Sweetie?" She murmured, reaching out her hand.
"I'm right here baby," I whispered, taking her hand. She guided my hand toward her swollen stomach, surrounded by pink and blue bubbles. I closed my eyes as I felt her relax, then we both suddenly stiffened; the baby had kicked. It hadn't kicked until now.
Our faces were mirrored in awe, staring at the mass that kept our baby safe. "It's really in there," she whispered, tears shining in her eyes.
"Yeah," I said, just as quietly, "Our baby really is in there. And soon it'll be out here, in our arms."
--
I left Hermione for a second, walking to the spare room with the bed, wanting to grab some food off the Room Service cart.
I dropped the plate as I heard her scream.
--
It was a scream of pain, total pain; I sprinted back to the bathroom to find Hermione clutching at her stomach, her teeth clenched together so as to not scream again.
"Baby, what's wrong?" My voice was worried, and I knew it.
"Con...Contractions. B-b-bad ones," She whimpered, grabbing my hand. Oh gods, oh gods, OH GODS, NO. She was a month early!
"Uh, baby I'll be right back," I hurriedly finished, her look of fear evident, "I have to get a Healer. Baby, you'll be fine. Don't worry, it's going to be fine," I babbled on, running to the door, out in the corridor, and to the Healer's Station. A petite blond witch smiled at me.
"How can I help you, sir?"
"My..my...baby...contractions...coming..."
"Sir?"
"MY BABY IS COMING!"
"Oh! Oh, well now, let me see..." She ran with me back to our suite, kneeling down by the tub Hermione was currently clutching.
"Ma'am, how far along are you? Ma'am?" Her voice was high with fear; she was obviously new to this.
"Uh...um...OUCH!...OH GODS, oh no, ohhh..." Hermione's voice faded off.
"She's only eight months along! It's too early!"
"Sir, she'll be fine, please calm down,"
"IT'S TOO EARLY!"
"SIR!" The little witch screamed at me, pointing her wand, "If this baby wants to come, it's going to come. And if it wants to come now, it's gonna come now." She wiped the sweat off her brow. "Okay...I need the Healer-in-Charge...some potions...can she stand?" She barked at me, and continued muttering when I shook my head no. She ran out the door, hopefully to get some help.
"Sweetie? D-draco?"
"Yes, yes, my ba--lover?" I couldn't call her baby, not when she was about to have one.
"It hurts," She whimpered again, holding onto my hand tight. I leaned forward, brushed her hair back from her forehead, and kissed her head shakily. "It's okay, shh, it's okay honey," I bit my lip as she closed her eyes; she just started having contractions about seven minutes ago. If it hurt that bad, then something was definitely wrong.