Chapter 11: Welcome Rose Anne Weasley!
Hermione: Your Pregnancy: Week 40
It's time! Oh...wait...maybe...huh. If the pain starts at the top of your uterus and spreads through your lower back and pelvis, getting longer, stronger, and more frequent, it's time to call the doc. If the pain starts in your front and eases if you shift positions, it might be false labor.
Baby's now the size of a watermelon!
As long as she's in your belly, baby's hair and nails will continue to grow, and her lungs will keep developing. She's anywhere from 5 to 11 pounds and is getting ready for a slightly gooey introduction any day now. (Upon arrival, baby will probably be covered in blood, vernix caseosa, lanugo, and amniotic fluid.)
[ tip ] Pass the time by researching restaurants with cheap and healthy takeout, and collect the menus by your phone. You'll thank yourself for this one in a month or two.
Hermione awoke with a start, and a groan. Her whole body ached, especially her lower back. She didn't know what was wrong, but she needed pain potion right away. As she made the decision to go get something to numb the pain, she felt something wet and sticky escape from her body and at first she thought she had wet the bed, before realization dawned on the bright witch; she was in labor.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Ron! Wake up!"
"Huh? What?" Ron's groggy, clueless voice floated through the air, though it only aggravated her.
"Ron! Wake the bloody crap up!" Hermione exclaimed as a sharp pain seared in her stomach.
"What?" At Hermione's urgent words, Ron slowly came to existence. "What's wrong?"
"I'm in labor!" Hermione shrieked out in pain.
"What?" Ron quickly sat up at this. "Really? Now?"
"No!" Hermione's voice was pained and sarcastic. "I just woke you up and peed in our bed for fun!"
"Ewe, Hermione, why'd you do that?" Ron's face was disgusted.
"Ronald Weasley! You thick prat!" Hermione shrieked out again. "I'm having our baby!"
"Right now?" Ron's voice was surprised, a bit skeptic, and even frantic.
"Yes, bloody right now!" Hermione snapped.
"Should we go to St. Mungo's?" Ron asked, and Hermione barely held back a sarcastic, smart retort.
"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Oh, okay!" Ron quickly sat up and climbed out of bed. "What do we do?"
"Ron!" Hermione moaned in pain and she quickly clutched her belly.
"What's wrong?" Ron's voice was frantic as he rushed to his wife's side.
"Get me to St. Mungo's. Now." Hermione ground out between her gritted teeth.
"Okay!" Ron exclaimed and he slowly eased Hermione out of bed. He wrapped a supporting arm around her waist and led her out of their bedroom, down the hall, and helped her down the stairs, slowly taking one step at a time. Hermione was able to do most of the stairs with no trouble, only stopping once in pain as she stood and squeezed Ron's hand tightly.
When they got down stairs, Ron walked her over to the fireplace.
"Ron! The bag!" Hermione turned to her husband.
"What bag?" Ron asked his wife.
"The bag that I packed for when I have to stay at St. Mungos!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's right by the closet door!"
"Okay, I'll go get it!" Ron assured her, and darted off.
"Hurry!" Hermione groaned in pain. "I can't wait much longer!"
Soon enough, Ron had come downstairs with the bag and they had flooed over to St. Mungos.
"We need help!" Ron exclaimed as they stood in the lobby of St. Mungo's. "She's having a baby here!"
"Ron, calm down!" Hermione tried to chide her husband, but he only kept trying to get some help.
"We need a room!" Ron exclaimed. "Now!"
"Ron, Hermione?" Padma Goldstein appeared from the hallway just then.
"Oh good!" Ron exclaimed. "Padma, Hermione's, having the baby!"
"Oh well, let's get her back in a delivery room." Padma said. "Come on, follow me."
Padma led Ron and Hermione back through the hallways, until they got to a room and Padma led them inside.
"Here change into this, Hermione." Padma gestured to a robe lying on the bed. "And then get onto the bed."
"Okay," Hermione said through her labored breathing.
Hermione quickly changed and then settled onto the bed.
"Wow," Padma smiled at her patient as she checked her over. "You've dilated quite quickly. Have you been having contractions for awhile?"
"Yeah," Hermione answered. "Well at least I think so."
"Well you should be able to push in a few hours," Padma told her.
"Hours?" Both Ron and Hermione exclaimed, though both for different reasons.
"Maybe Ron should step out for a minute," Padma suggested with her eyebrows raised.
"I think that'd be best," Hermione agreed.
"I can't leave you!" Ron exclaimed.
"Then calm down!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I am calm!" Ron exclaimed back.
"Just go call the family or something," Hermione told him. "I can't handle the stress right now."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked.
"Leave!" Hermione snapped and Ron quickly stood up.
"I'll call everyone and be right back," Ron told Hermione lovingly.
"Okay." Hermione said, and Ron rushed from the room.
"Mum! Dad!" Ron's head appeared in the fireplace of the Burrow. It was quite late at night, so Ron figured they were sleeping. "Mum! Dad!"
After a few minutes he heard someone walking down the stairs, and in no time, his parents appeared.
"Ron?" Molly mumbled sleepily. "What is it?"
"Hermione's in labor!" Ron exclaimed, half in stress, half in excitement.
"Oh!" This seemed to shock his mother into action. "Well, we need to get her to St. Mungo's-" Ron cut his mother off.
"She's already there," Ron told her.
"Oh good," Molly nodded. "Well, umm, why aren't you with her?"
"I came to get you guys," Ron explained. "And Hermione kinda kicked me out." Ron mumbled the last part, but Molly caught it.
"Kicked you out?" Molly furrowed her eyebrows, a slight glare in her eyes. "What did you do?"
"She said I was stressing her out," Ron mumbled.
"Ron, maybe your father needs to have the conversation with you that he had with your brothers, and Harry too." Molly suggested.
"Aw, the first time father talk, "Arthur smiled. "Maybe that's a good idea,"
"Well could you make it quick because I'm starting to lose feeling in my legs," Ron said and a grimace crossed his face.
"Oh, dear!" Molly seemed to remember what was going on. "Well your father will have to give you that talk later. We'll just notify all of your siblings and then be at St. Mungo's."
"Okay, thanks Mum," Ron smiled. "I'll see you both soon."
"Ron," Arthur spoke. "Just stay calm and love her."
"Okay," Ron nodded and he looked quite overwhelmed as he pulled his head out of the fireplace.
Once he was back in St. Mungo's, he slowly got to his feet and once he had regained the feeling of his legs, he rushed off to where he knew Hermione's room was.
"How is she?" As Ron approached Hermione's door, Padma was walking out.
"She just sent me to get you." Padma smiled. "But nothings really changed. Just contractions and pain."
"Oh, well I better get in there." Ron told her.
"And you're going to stay calm?" Padma asked with her eyebrows raised.
"I'll try," Ron said and he gave a little half smile.
"Okay, go on in there, then." Padma told him, and he slowly walked into the room and Padma followed.
"I'm back, love," Ron murmured as he walked over to her side.
"Finally!" Hermione exclaimed. "Why were you gone so long?" Her voice was slightly shrill, and Ron rushed to her side.
"I'm sorry, love!" Ron took her hand in his own and she gripped it tightly.
"You're so doing this next time," Hermione was able to grit out.
"I'm sorry," Ron cooed. "I'm here. It's okay."
"It's not okay!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm in so much bloody pain!"
"I'm sorry," Ron tried to correct. "What can I do to help?"
"Just shut up!" Hermione exclaimed and her hand clamped down on his tightly, as a rush of pain took her over. "Ugh!" Hermione moaned.
"You're doing great, Hermione." Padma told her as the contraction ended. "Is there anything we can get you?"
"Not right now," Hermione mumbled.
"The families here," A nurse had popped her head into the room. "All of them."
"Do you want any visitors?" Padma turned to Hermione.
"Ron, my parents!" Hermione exclaimed. "I want my mum!"
"Umm… I can't leave you again!"
"Ron!" Hermione whimpered.
"Uh, okay," Ron nodded. "I'll be right back, love."
"Hurry!"
Ron rushed off to the lobby, thoughts running through his head and he wondered what he was going to do. He didn't have time to go all the way to the other side of London, apparation or not.
"Ron!" Harry was the first to spot the father to be. "Is she here?"
"The baby?" Ron asked, and Harry chuckled and nodded. "No, not yet."
"Oh, okay." Harry nodded. "How's Hermione?"
"She's, well… she's okay, I guess." Ron answered.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Harry asked and Ron noticed his sister standing there with James sleeping in her arms.
"Actually, Harry you know where Hermione's parents live don't you?" Ron asked and Harry furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yeah. That summer after the war we went over all the time." Harry answered in confusion.
"Could you please go get them?" Ron asked urgently. "Hermione wants them here, but I can't leave her again!"
"Again?" Harry raised his eyebrows.
"I had to get Mum and Dad!" Ron defended.
"Oh sorry," Harry put his hands up in mock defense. "Sure, I guess we could go get them." Harry answered Ron's previous question.
"We aren't doing anything." Ginny said and she gave her husband a look.
"Me, I guess." Harry said.
"Thanks, mate!" Ron said excitedly. "I'll see you soon!" Ron seemed to say the last bit to his family at large as he ran off down the hall and back to his wife.
"Harry, I'm just not feeling good." Ginny moaned as she handed him James and slumped into a lobby chair. "My head is thumping and I feel like I'm gonna throw up."
"Aw, love, I'm sorry sweetie." Harry cooed sympathetically. "Is it…?" Harry let his voice trail off and Ginny just shrugged.
"Probably." Ginny answered miserably.
"I'm sorry, love. Do you want to go home and we can come get you when she's born?" Harry asked.
"No, I wanna stay." Ginny closed her eyes.
"Okay, well, I'm going to go get Hermione's parents with James, and we'll be right back." Harry told Ginny. She started to nod, but when she paled, she quickly stopped.
"Okay," Ginny murmured.
"I love you," Harry kissed the top of Ginny's head.
"Love you, too," She murmured.
"Here we are," Harry murmured to the still sleeping James, as they apparated and then walked to the Granger home.
Harry walked up to the door of the small home that he had only been to a handful of times. He walked onto the porch and then he freed one of his hands so as to knock on the door. He couldn't help but feel bad as it was quite a late hour in the night. The stars and moon twinkled in the night sky, basking everything in the midnight glow. The streets were free of all people and noise. The houses were still and the movement was the street light a little ways down flickering every few seconds.
Feeling guilt again, Harry rapped on the front door again. This time, Harry heard heavy steps on the stairs, and then the front door unlocked and opened and there stood a disgruntled, sleepy looking man.
"Hello, Mr. Granger." Harry greeted him.
"Harry?" His voice was surprised and he rubbed his eyes. "What in the world are you doing here?" Though Harry was unable to answer as Mrs. Granger appeared at the door.
"Harry, dear! What a pleasure," She smiled. "To what do we owe this late night visit?"
"Well, Ron sent me because Hermione's in labor," Harry decided to cut right to the chase.
"Oh!" Mrs. Granger's eyes got wide. "Well, we better get there. St. Mungo's, correct?" Harry nodded. "Alright. We'll be dressed and then ready to go. Do come in." Harry entered the house and stood in the entryway as both Mr. And Mrs. Granger rushed off.
Harry stood awkwardly, his arms getting tired with James' weight, as he waited for the Granger's to come back down.
Within a few more minutes, the couple came rushing down the stairs, Mrs. Granger still trying to get her jacket on.
"Will we be apparating?" Mr. Granger asked, a glint of excitement in his eyes. He was like the opposite of Arthur; a lover of all things magical. Arthur and Mr. Granger got along perfectly, sharing facts and ideas with the other.
"Yeah, we are." Harry nodded and he adjusted James in his arms, which brought two sets of eyes on the little, sleeping boy.
"Oh and this is little James?" Mrs. Granger clarified and Harry nodded with a smile. "My it's been sometime since we saw you last."
"Yeah, it has." Harry agreed. "Though we better get going. Hermione's waiting for us."
"Oh yes!" Mrs. Granger seemed to jump back into action. "Well let's go!"
"Jane! Hugo!" Molly jumped up from her seat when she saw the Grangers and Harry arrive.
"Molly!" Jane smiled at her in-law, as they hugged and Molly quickly rushed her off to the room of her daughter.
Hours later, Hermione was pushing, pain coursing through her body.
"Good job, honey." Jane smiled at her daughter from where she stood on one side; Ron was on the other side.
"How much bloody longer?" Hermione asked miserably.
"You're almost there," Padma told her and she smiled encouragingly.
"Within the next hour?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Most likely," Padma nodded. "It's hard to say exactly at the moment." Hermione groaned.
"It's been hours!"
"It'll be soon, Hermione." Padma promised her. "It looks like if you do a few more big pushes she should be here."
"Really?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"I think so," Padma nodded her head.
"Finally!" Hermione's voice held anxiety, excitement, and even desperation.
"You're doing great, dear." Jane smiled as she tried to encourage her daughter to keep going.
"Okay, Hermione," Padma glanced at one of her magical monitors and then back at her patient. "On the count of three. 1…2…3…"
The next several minutes, Hermione's face was contorted with pain, as she pushed with all her might. Her hand was clamped down hard on Ron's and she was groaning and whimpering with pain.
"Come on, Hermione!" Padma spoke encouragingly. "This could be it!"
"Ugh!" Hermione's voice was ragged and scruffy due to all of the screaming, groaning, moaning and shrieking she'd done the last few hours.
"Almost!" Padma continued to encourage, and she herself was getting quite excited. "I can see her head!"
The next few minutes were a blur to Hermione. A blur of pain, excitement, relief, and love. She remembered pushing and pushing, and the feeling she got when her baby girl was finally here. She remembered Padma having Ron, after Hermione had let go of his bruised hand, come over and cut their baby's umbilical cord. Then, she saw Padma hand her baby to a nurse and she left.
"Where's she-" Padma cut Hermione off.
"They're just going to wash her up, weigh her, things like that. Ron, you can go if you'd like." Ron looked to his wife and she nodded.
"Okay," Ron nodded.
"It's just down that hall," Padma pointed out, and Ron disappeared.
Ron couldn't believe that his little baby girl was here. The nine months of waiting, the miscarriage, everything was over. And Ron was a father. It didn't seem real. Sure he had seen her, but it was only for a moment. He was glad that Hermione had allowed him to leave and go see her again. What he was most looking forward to was holding her, studying her, and as weird as it sounded, taking care of her.
Ron soon arrived at the door Padma had pointed out. He slowly pushed the door open, and entered the room. It seemed to be a nursery of sorts, for there were more than one baby and nurse.
"Mr. Weasley," Ron looked up to the sound of his name, and saw the nurse that had been in the room earlier. Ron walked over to her, and saw his baby laying on the little table.
"She's a very good baby." The nurse commented. "Barely cries at all." Ron didn't know what to say as he gazed at his little girl. The rest of the world faded away, and he barely heard the nurse speak.
Her little eyes were brown, 'like her mum's', Ron thought, and there was a little glint of innocence and preciousness. Her head was sprinkled with a bit of bright red, curly hair. Her face was barely scrunched up as she whimpered and cooed. Ron felt an ache to lean down and pick her up, but knew he had to let the nurse finish.
"Does she have a name?" The nurse asked and this knocked Ron out of his reverie.
"Not yet."
The next little while went by quickly. Ron stayed with his little one the entire time, and when she was done and swaddled up, Ron carried her back to Hermione's room. They then cooed, and fawned over her, before they decided to let the family come see her. First, they invited Jane, Hugo, Molly and Arthur. They all took turns holding her, and gushing over her. It was Jane and Hugo's first grandbaby, and so they were very exited. And though she was Molly and Arthur's ninth, they were still so happy to have her.
When the parents left, Ron and Hermione told them to send in Harry and Ginny. A few minutes later, Harry and Ginny entered the hospital room.
"Congratulations!" Ginny told them as she entered the room, leaning most of her weight on her husband.
"Yeah," Harry smiled. "I'm so happy for you two."
"Thank you," Hermione said tiredly, and a beam lit up her face. "It's so good to have her."
"Her?" Ginny asked. "Do you guys have a name yet?"
"As a matter of fact, we do." Hermione beamed again, and they saw her eyes fill with tears. She exchanged a look with Ron, before she turned back to the couple, or it seemed, to Harry.
"Well, we wanted her name to mean something," Hermione started. "To have a significance. But, when we couldn't think of anything fitting, we sort of gave up. But, then I got this great idea." Hermione stopped her and reached up to wipe her eyes. "I'm sorry, hormones."
"Don't be sorry." Ginny told her. "Go on."
"Okay," Hermione took a deep breath. "So, I got this idea. I thought about the war. I thought about how we nearly died, nearly lost a numerous amount of times. But, it seemed we always came out alive. I then pondered why did we win all those times? What kept us alive? And I came to the conclusion that it was because of you, Harry." Harry tried to protest, just as Hermione knew he could, so she just gave him a pleading look. "Let me finish."
"Okay," Harry nodded, but he quickly got out, "It wasn't just me."
"I know," Hermione told him, and the tears collected again. "I thought about all the times you saved all of us, and I remembered what Dumbledore told you," Hermione couldn't' stop the tears from dripping down her cheeks, and Ron put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That it was your mother's love that protected you, protected us, protected the entire Wizarding World. Your mum, Harry," hermione was chocking over her words, and Ron too had tears in his eyes, as did Harry and Ginny. "Your mum mad a huge sacrifice for us, because of her love. She was brave." Hermione watched as Harry's eyes glazed, and a few tears fell from his eyes as did Ginny's.
"But, I couldn't use Lily, that's for you two," Hermione continued. "But I thought of how else I could honor her. And then I remembered the key was love. Dumbledore told you that love was the strongest magic. I thought of all the love in my life, and then the perfect name came to me. I knew her name." Hermione didn't want to bawl right now, but she just felt so much emotion. The tears seemed to fall of their own accord, and she was relieved to note that everyone was in the same state as she, besides the sleeping baby in her arms of course.
"Harry, Ginny, meet your goddaughter, Rose Anne Weasley." Hermione murmured.
"Hermione," Harry moved towards the hospital bed. "Ron, thank you both so much. My mum would be so honored." Harry smiled. "I'm honored.
"You're like a brother to me, Harry," Hermione murmured. "It only seemed fit." Hermione then bit her lower lip gently. "Are you sure you don't mind, thought?"
"I'm glad." Hermione smiled, a bit of relief evident on her face.
"Can I hold her?" Ginny asked, and Hermione looked up at her sister-in-law, and one of her best friends.
"Of course, Gin." Ginny walked over and leaned down to take Rose from Hermione.
"Oh hello, little one," Ginny cooed. "You've already got the Weasley hair,"
"And Hermione's eyes," Ron spoke up from where he stood beside his wife.
"And a little dash of freckles," Hermione added.
"She's beautiful, you guys," Harry told them.
"I know," Ron murmured, whilst Hermione answered, "Thank you."
The room was quiet as the friends who had become family stood around and passed the little baby. After a little while, Harry and Ginny left, promising that they'd be back to visit very soon, but that James needed to get home. Tomorrow they said that James could meet his new cousin, but he was kind of in a crazy mood tonight, and it wouldn't be good to bring the energetic three year old into a room with a new born baby.
After Harry and Ginny left, the rest of the family went in and met their new niece and cousin. Everyone congratulated Ron and Hermione for they felt that Ron and Hermione deserved this more than anyone. All the struggles they had been through, all the sadness, it was all over, and now they had what they had always wanted.
Dumbledore was right; love really was the strongest magic.
-READ THE AUTHORS NOTES PLEASE!-
A/N- Sorry. Life has been very mean to me lately, and thrown a lot of stuff in my path, but I think that things are going to start getting better, or so I hope. Anyway, all I can say is that I'm sorry this is late. I didn't want to take this long. I was just was busy, and sad, and life was crazy. So, I hope that updates will start to be more frequent. I'll try. Thank you to everyone who reads, reviews, and follows this story. You all mean an awful lot to me. Thank you.
One word: Tangled. Three words: Is FREAKIN amazing.
Um… don't really know what else to say! I guess check out dragondung2 on youtube, for a bunch of crazy fun videos by me and Halie!
And last, but certainly, not least, thank you, love! You're my bestest bestest friend, and I don't know what I'd do without you! Thank you for all the memories, and for sticking with me through everything! I love you soooo much, Halie, love!