Chapter Fourteen

Charlie was dozing in a chair near Hermione when he once again heard voices outside the door. He sat up straight and felt his heart in his throat when Draco came walking in with three healers. Draco didn't look happy.

Charlie could feel the tension in the air.

"What's going on Draco?" Draco sighed and looked him in the eyes.

"The antidote is ready." Charlie jumped up. "Charlie, once of the ingredients could possibly kill the baby."

Charlie sat back down. "So we have to wait longer right?"

Draco placed his hand on his shoulder. "That's what I would recommend Charlie. Hermione would never forgive me if I let anything happen to the baby. Especially if I could prevent it. As it is we are going to have to do it the muggle way and give her a cesarean birth, but six and a half months is a little early to deliver. The longer we wait, the better for the baby. I know its hard being this close to getting Hermione back and then having to wait."Charlie nodded slowly. "You're right, Draco, we will wait. Hermione would castrate me if I let anything happen to the baby. We will wait two months and then we will do it."

Two Months Later

A lot had happened in the last two months. Ginny and Draco were now the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy, Lancelot Arthur Malfoy, or Lance for short. Harry and Brianna announced that they were expecting a child seven months from now, the same time that Ron and Lavender were expecting their twins. Hermione was completely swollen with child and they monitored the baby's heartbeat and positioned her according to what gave them the strongest heartbeat. Draco waited for the word, and carried the antidote with him at all times.

Finally Charlie gave the word. The healers crowded around and before Charlie could believe it, a red, crying baby was being carried away. They healed Hermione and Draco administered the antidote. Charlie held her hand, waiting for the slightest movement. It seemed like eternity, but there it was, a flutter of eyelashes. The hand in his grew warmer and tightened. Hazel eyes finally met brown ones. She gave a weak smile.

"Wrong envelope eh?" A soft chuckle followed. Charlie wrapped her up in a tight hug, unabashedly crying. "I thought I lost you love." When he drew back her eyes were shining and there was more color in her cheeks.

Her voice was stronger, "I told you I don't take things laying down." She glanced down. "What have you guys been feeding me? Fish and chips? I told you Charlie, greasy food once a week."

Charlie and Draco exchanged looks. "Actually Hermione, there is someone you both need to meet."

Draco motioned for the healer to come forward. Wrapped in a fuzzy light yellow blanket, with a white hat, came forward a baby. Hermione immediately held out her arms, almost by instinct. "How long was I asleep Charlie?"

Charlie couldn't answer, he was staring at his child. Draco answered. "About eight and a half months."

"So she's mine?" Charlie looked at her, wondering how she knew it was a girl. They didn't tell him before taking the baby.

"She's yours. All twenty-one inches and six pounds, four ounces of her." the healer offered.

She looked at Charlie. "Did you know? Did you pick out a name?"

Charlie shook his head. "I couldn't without you."

Hermione snuggled her as the baby cooed. Charlie put his arm around his wife. "Hope," she whispered, "Her name is Hope." Charlie kissed the top of Hermione's head and kissed the sleeping baby on the nose.

"I think Hope is perfect."

Hermione looked up at him. "Thank you for not giving up on me. I'm sorry I was so careless."

Draco and the healer quietly slipped out of the room.

"Hermione, those people who did this to you, were prosecuted under your act. They will be in Azkaban for the rest of their lives. The was renamed the Hermione Granger Act. They put your maiden name instead of Weasley, because it was what your Muggle last name was."

She closed her eyes. "I suppose that is something good at least. I wish though it had stayed the name it was. It's supposed to be for all Muggleborns." Charlie laughed.

"Hermione, we have stacks of letter at home from Muggleborns who say that you inspire them to be more than their blood status. That they are equal to anyone else in this world. They were the ones that petitioned for the act to be renamed. It is for all Muggleborns, just like you are for them."

Hermione gave a watery smile. "I didn't think of it like that."

There was a light knock at the door. Molly Weasley poked her head in. "Can we come in?"

Hermione waved them in. Charlie muttered a charm, enlarging the room temporarily, knowing the amounts of people about to descend upon them.

Hermione's mother came running in and ran to the side of the bed, kissing her daughter, sobbing quietly. Hermione's dad gave her a watery smile. She offered Hope to her mother who took her, cooing. Molly and Arthur stood by Charlie and one by one the rest of the clan came marching in. Ginny was holding her own bundle, and Draco had his arm wrapped around her waist. Brianna was glowing, as was Lavender, and Hermione knew instantly that the family was going to have a boom in population.

Molly was now holding the baby. "What's the baby's name?"

Hermione smiled up at her husband as he brushed a kissed across the tip of her nose. "Hope."