Chapter 10 – Juliet
Arriving back in London on the fifth of January, Hermione and Harry returned to Grimmauld and settled back into a comfortable pace of life. For others their age, it might have seemed boring, but they had seen enough excitement to last several lifetimes. Harry was busy with his businesses, while Hermione continued her NEWT studies, as well as a couple of rune projects. She found herself increasingly tired and usually took a short power nap in the morning and a longer nap in the afternoon. She would frequently meet Harry for lunch out somewhere and also enjoyed doing most of the shopping that they needed. They were always welcome at the Burrow and Molly usually tried to have all family meals twice a month. The Weasley matriarch was beyond exciting for her first grandchild and, as predicted, seemed to be knitting non-stop. A couple of times a week, Harry and Hermione would go out to dinner in the evenings and usually chose places with live music. Like any couple, they had their disagreements and would bicker on occasion, but it was all quite minor. They had known each other for so long that many issues were long since passed.
The weekend after they returned from Australia, Harry decided it was time to get busy working on the nursery. They had agreed to wait until after the holiday madness, but now they didn't have long and he was done waiting. He had brought up the idea of a better house with Hermione, but she had put him off until after the baby was born. They went shopping in both muggle and magical stores for nursery items and then a work party was arranged that Saturday. Although Hermione knew that all the Weasleys would be happy to help, the small bedroom to the side of the master on the second floor could only take so much. She sat in the rocking chair to provide supervision while Harry, George, and Angie eagerly began to transform the room. Hermione had shied away from the typical pink, instead picking a light cream yellow for the walls with touches of lavender throughout. The furniture was all white, with the crib and dresser displaying a slightly ornate scalloped detail. Other than a few toys and magical books, the most magical part of the room was an arrangement of pastel stuffed unicorns that hung in the air over the crib and would come alive and move when the baby was awake. They were also charmed to play music when needed and provided the final touch to the room. With the help of magic, the room took only a few hours and then it was complete and waiting for its small occupant.
On the eleventh of January, Hermione had a checkup at St. Mungo's and Vera declared that all looked good. Her due date was February 4th, although Vera warned that she was starting to show progression and she suspected that the baby may come a bit sooner. Harry, George, and Angie were at every one of the appointments and they were all getting excited to meet Juliet.
As each day progressed, Hermione grew more uncomfortable. Her intimacy with Harry had diminished, mainly by her choosing. Harry made it obvious that he still found her very tempting. Even getting out of bed was difficult though and sleep became more sporadic, which didn't lend to the mood. As the fourth week of January began, Hermione was beyond ready for Vera to be correct about an early arrival.
On Tuesday the 26th, Hermione ran a couple of errands in the morning and then returned home for lunch and a nap. Harry was in Birmingham for the day, looking into expanding one of his potions businesses. It was a typical day and Hermione felt no different as she carefully trodded up the stairs to the bedroom for her nap. When she woke a couple of hours later, Hermione came awake gradually, feeling a bit odd. She rolled over in the bed and hugged Harry's pillow. It smelled delightfully of him and the scent shot straight into her core. As she came more awake, she realized what the problem was. She may not have had much desire in the previous weeks, but now she was most definitely horny. She moaned and ached for Harry, but he was away and busy. Knowing she needed to distract herself, she went to the loo and then headed for the library.
Over the next hour she got a bit done, but she still found it terribly hard to focus. Shortly after four, she heard the back door open, indicating Harry was coming in after apparating to the back garden. She dropped her book and waddled as quickly as she could to the hallway. As soon as she saw him, she grabbed him and kissed him long and hard. He seemed surprised, but caught up quickly. When they pulled away for a moment, Harry quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Wow love. Good to see you too."
"Harry, thank the gods you're home! I need you so bad! I know I'm huge, but there has to be a way."
As she was talking, Hermione had pulled off his coat, thrown it on the floor, and then started working on the buttons of his shirt. Harry was smirking as he grabbed her hands in his.
"Whoa, alright, hold on a minute. Are you sure it's safe this late?"
"Yes! I NEED YOU!"
"Alright, but perhaps the bedroom and not the hall."
Hermione barely nodded as he gently led her upstairs. As they stepped into the bedroom, she started ripping at his clothes while her mouth met his, plunging her tongue into him. Harry had had a long day and had expected to come home for a bit of quiet, but he soon changed his mind as his hot and horny fiancé stripped him. He started to divest her of her clothing as well and soon they were both naked. They were snogging as Hermione ground herself against him, moaning and begging. Harry's fingers went between her legs, but her belly was getting in the way. With considerable effort, he pulled back for a moment, panting.
"Her…Hermione. We need to get creative. Let's get you on the bed. On all fours."
With his help, she climbed up and arranged herself, spreading her knees wide apart and leaning forward to bare herself to him. The view made Harry groan as his cock throbbed even more. She was wet and glistening as he climbed up behind her on his knees. He reached to finger her a bit, but she growled at him. Chuckling, he pulled his fingers back and instead drove his cock into her. He was still a bit scared about the baby, but then she was screaming and his pace gradually increased as he grasped her hips and worked her hard. When she came, he didn't think she had ever been so loud. She slumped forward more, creating a new and delightful angle as he kept moving, desperately seeking his release. His continued thrusts extended her orgasm as she kept crying out and gasping. When she felt him eject deep into her, she came fully again as she called his name. For Harry, he was equally lost in the incredible climax. It had been nearly two weeks since they had made love and he was overdue for release. Once they finished riding out their orgasms, Harry helped her to roll over and then curled up around her as they fell asleep.
Sometime later, Harry woke to the feeling of the bed moving around him. The windows were dark, so it had been at least a couple of hours. He looked up and saw that the movement was Hermione crawling over him. He had been half hard and now she was taking him in her mouth. He was surprised, but just grunted as his hips involuntarily thrust toward her. It didn't take long for her to have him fully worked up. Then she pulled off of him with a slight pop, followed by a groan of disappointment from Harry. He didn't have long to focus on the loss of her mouth as she crawled up over him and slowly lowered herself down. Still a bit stunned by her mood, Harry readily began to meet her downward plunges with his own thrusts as he watched in delighted awe as her breasts flew and her breathing quickened. As she started to make the familiar low moans that indicated she was close, Harry felt his balls begin to tighten as well. A minute later, she reached her peak and threw her head back to cry out. As she clamped down on him, Harry released himself. Once he had recovered a bit, he sat up to embrace her and then roll her to the side to rest.
They laid in each other's arms for a while longer before Hermione declared that the baby was hungry. Laughing, Harry got up and fetched their house robes before helping Hermione off the bed. They proceeded down to the kitchen, where he complied with her request of breakfast for dinner and began to make pancakes. After eating a prodigious stack of pancakes, as well as eggs, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms, Hermione finally seemed to be satisfied. Then she grabbed Harry away from the dishes and began to snog him with obvious intent.
"Really love, more? Are you alright?"
"No, I'm pregnant. I have NEEDS."
"Yes, I've seen that. Sex and pancakes specifically."
"Pleeeese Harry."
He shook his head at her whining and led her back upstairs. After two more rounds, they fell back to sleep and he hoped she was sated.
A few hours later, Harry was awakened by Hermione nuzzling his neck and then realized that her hand was wanking him to full hardness. He woke a bit more and looked to see faint dawn light coming through the curtains. Obviously Hermione had slept enough, although he could have wished for a couple more hours. Turning to the side, he captured her lips and began to snog her while starting to fondle her. Once he was fully awake, he sat up and helped her maneuver back onto all fours as they started yet another round. This time it took him a bit longer and she had two full orgasms before he finally released. As they fell back on the bed, wrapped up together, he ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her on the forehead.
"Hermione, you know I love you, but is this normal? I mean, your appetite?"
"Well, the books said that the hormones can cause different symptoms. Most women have some increased libido at different stages of the pregnancy. You saw that in the last couple of months. I thought it had passed. You know how I've been for the last couple of weeks. Some women also lose their libido entirely and can't even achieve orgasm if they try to satisfy their partner. It's a bit maddening to not have a way to know exactly."
Harry chuckled. Hermione would find it maddening that there was no book that could give her precise steps through a pregnancy. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar rumble that indicated that Hermione needed a different type of appetite satisfied.
"Alright, that's my cue. What do you want to eat?"
"Pancakes. Except not with syrup this time. Do we have strawberries and whipped cream?"
"Um, I don't think so."
Hermione looked at Harry with a begging look and he sighed as he separated from her and rolled out of bed.
"Alright, I guess a trip to the store is called for. I think I'll just cast cleaning charms. It doesn't sound like you want to wait long. Anything other than the pancakes?"
"Ooh, yes! Chorizo sausage. Can you get that in London? There was this butcher in Phoenix that made their own, oh I can taste it!"
Harry shook his head. This was definitely a different side to his friend and lover.
"I'll try. I'm not going to Phoenix though. I think it's still the middle of the night there."
Harry finished with the cleaning charms and dressed quickly as he left his gorgeous fiancé spread across the bed in a twisted mess of sheets and blankets. As he walked downstairs, he contemplated where to go and thought that a muggle grocery would offer more selection. There was one several kilometers away and it had an alley that ran down the side. He apparated from the back garden to the alley and was glad when he found the grocery had just opened as the clock struck seven. The store offered the strawberries and cream, but no chorizo. The clerk was sympathetic when he explained that he had a very pregnant woman asking for it, and the clerk suggested a gourmet specialty market two Tube stops away. Leaving the first grocery, Harry followed the directions and rode the Tube through a couple more neighborhoods. He found the specialty market and sighed with relief when he found two small packages of the sausage. It cost nine pounds for each package, but he didn't care. Once he left the market, he found a dark alcove not far away and apparated back home.
A half hour later, Harry had breakfast ready as he delivered a large plate of strawberries and cream pancakes to Hermione, as well as a side plate of the spicy sausage. She dove in eagerly and Harry took a moment to watch with amusement as she resembled a Weasley who had skipped a meal. Suppressing a laugh, he decided to focus back on his own plate. Once Hermione was finished, she yawned and declared she was tired. Harry sent her back upstairs to sleep some more while he cleaned up.
Although his night had been short, Harry was now well awake and decided to just let Hermione rest. He went to the library to find a book to read and lost track of time. A couple of hours later, Hermione appeared and came over to sit next to him. He told her a bit about what he was reading, but unusually she wasn't as interested as she would have been. He set the book aside and reached to pull her in for a snuggle, only to have her turn and start kissing as she crawled over him. Realizing that there was no use in commenting, Harry complied with her desire as both shed their robes and she stood up. He bent her over the couch carefully as he took her from behind and had to admit that it offered a unique angle as he lagged just a few seconds behind her before climaxing. Once she was satisfied, they both decided a shower was overdue and went to clean up together.
After the shower, Harry was drying Hermione when she declared she was hungry again. This time she wanted grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches. Then she remembered there was some leftover sausage and asked to have that crumbled into the sandwiches as well. Harry just nodded and went to start cooking. The sandwiches actually turned out quite tasty, but Hermione was still hungry after two, so Harry defaulted back and made her more pancakes, although she did only eat three.
The rest of the day passed lazily and Harry was glad that all of Hermione's appetites seemed to be satisfied temporarily. He was certainly getting a lesson in pregnancy. She had had some unusual cravings over the past months, but nothing like the previous couple of days. That evening they decided to order pizza and were sitting at the kitchen table discussing toppings when Hermione groaned and ran out of the room muttering 'loo'. Harry just nodded and waited for her to return. Two minutes later, Hermione's shout brought him running to the downstairs loo. She was standing in front of the sink and there was a large puddle on the floor. Harry's first thought was that she hadn't made it in time, but then he realized the puddle was clear. As his brain started to connect the clues, Hermione helped him along.
"Harry! My water broke!"
Water broke? 'Oh shit' Harry thought. Then his body caught up with his brain and he went to take hold of Hermione. She decided to strip off her wet pants and he helped her to sit and do that. Then he vanished the puddle just as another contraction hit. She groaned and he went to hold her hand. Once it passed, he ran upstairs for a clean pair of pants and the bag Hermione had prepared. On the way back, he made a quick floo call to a panicked George and then used Hermione's specially warded cell phone to call the Grangers. After riding out another contraction, Hermione dressed and they went to floo to the hospital.
As soon as they arrived in the St. Mungo's lobby, the welcome witch quickly got them escorted upstairs. The on call healer called for Vera while initiating the first pain block and relaxation spells. While the spells were being applied, George and Angie ran in the room. Before the pain block took effect, another contraction hit as Hermione screamed and squeezed Harry's hand. George was white, but took Angie's hint when she pushed him forward and he went and grabbed Hermione's other hand. Soon the spells were in place and the room relaxed a bit.
"Harry, did you call my parents?"
"Yes dear. Right after I floo'd George. That runework you put on the phone seems to be working. It hasn't shorted yet. They're waiting for word and I promised to keep them updated."
"And after Harry floo'd us, I called all of my family. They're probably out in a waiting room somewhere now. Angie, can you go update them please?"
Angie nodded and went to find the Weasleys while Harry and George settled into chairs on either side of Hermione's bed. A few minutes later, Vera arrived at the same time that Angie returned. Vera did a quick examination and found that Hermione was four centimeters dilated. Then she ordered her up out of the bed and insisted that walking would move things along quicker. Each of the guys stood by her sides as she shuffled along to make a well trod loop around the department. When contractions hit, she felt a slight cramping pain and would stop to lean on Harry. When she thought about her mother's stories of labor, Hermione was grateful for magic. As she finished her first loop, she came near the waiting room and said a quick hello to everyone before continuing to walk.
Two hours later, Hermione had alternated from walking to some bending exercises as she tried different methods to help with the pressure of the baby descending. Vera checked her again and the relaxation spell had helped to progress her to almost eight centimeters. Within another fifty minutes, she was complete and Vera arranged her back in the bed to begin pushing. With George and Harry on each side, Angie placed herself at the head of the bed and wiped her brow with a cool cloth. The spells helped with the delivery, but it was still hard work as Hermione pushed through several long contractions. Finally, five and a half hours into labor, the beautiful sound of a loud wail was heard in the room. Vera wiped the baby a bit and then placed her on Hermione's chest. All four of the other adults in the room stared at little Juliet and the tears started to flow.
While the afterbirth was delivered and Vera worked her spells to heal Hermione from the delivery, a healer came to take Juliet for a couple of minutes. She was cleaned and checked over thoroughly. When she was returned to Hermione's breast, she was declared a very healthy 3.1 kilograms. She suckled for a few minutes as Hermione stared at the perfect creation she had just birthed. Juliet was definitely a Weasley, but she saw herself in the baby as well. Her hair was plentiful, dark auburn curls. She had a pert little rosebud mouth and long fingers. Everyone in the room marveled over her as she finished her first meal.
Once Juliet was done, Hermione lifted her and looked between Harry and George, but Harry nodded to George on the other side and Hermione smiled as she handed Juliet to her father. George had already shed a couple of tears, but as the small bundle was handed to him, he sat down in the chair and let the tears flow. Then he looked up at Hermione and whispered a quiet 'thank you'. Once George had a few minutes, he passed Juliet on to Harry, who proceeded to make a fool of himself as he whispered and nuzzled the baby before relinquishing her to Angie.
Once everyone in the room had a chance to hold her, George left to deliver the news to the rest of the family. While he did, Harry made a quick call to the Grangers with the news. He had just finished the call when Molly, Arthur and Ginny came in the room. Molly was overly emotional as always and all three of them took a few minutes to hold Juliet before leaving to let the others come visit in groups of three. Hermione was surprised when not just Weasleys appeared, but also a number of their friends who had been summoned. She may have once been devastated by the news she was pregnant and worried about what everyone would think, but she now knew that her fears had been entirely misplaced. Juliet was welcomed and fussed over by everyone.
Eventually the visitors dwindled and Vera returned and declared that it was time for Hermione to rest. Harry decided to stay with her, while George left for a while to go post an official birth announcement in the Prophet. He was an ecstatic and proud papa who was ready for the world to know about the new arrival.
Hermione remained in the hospital another day before returning home to Grimmauld. She settled Juliet in the nursery next to their bedroom and her days revolved around her daughter's schedule. George and Angie visited several times a week, with other Weasleys visiting regularly as well.
When Juliet was a week old, Harry arranged for a portkey for the Grangers and traveled to Brisbane to help them with their first portkey trip. It was a long process to portkey halfway across the world and back again in one day, but his presence helped to ease their apprehension. They were all tired by the time they were back in London and Harry opted to have them floo to Grimmauld, quite correctly assessing that they were not ready for apparition in the same day. As soon as they arrived at the house, all trace of fatigue left as soon as Hermione handed them their granddaughter.
The Grangers spent the next nine days lavishing Juliet with attention, while also getting to meet all the Weasleys. George had been a bit nervous to meet them at first, but they warmed quickly and Jean's sharp wit was a match for the young prankster. The situation may not have been what they dreamed for their daughter, but they had never dreamed she would be a witch and fight in a magical war either. They were happy to see that he was actively involved and all of their family and friends were supportive.
While the Grangers were visiting, the initial plans also started for the wedding. All too soon though their time was up and they had to return to work in Brisbane. Although Harry offered to escort them again, they felt a bit more comfortable for the return trip and declined the offer. He and Hermione took them to the Ministry and stayed with them until the time for the portkey arrived and they disappeared.
Before Hermione realized it, Juliet was a month old and already seemed to have changed so much. Harry was a doting father who was never happier than when he was curled up with Juliet asleep on his bare chest. While George was involved, he had agreed that Harry would be her dad, although she would call George papa. Some children grew up with no father, but Juliet would have two.