The next six weeks flew by for everyone. Especially Hermione who was becoming more excited by the day. She had been shopping with Mrs Weasley to get some things for the baby and had finally decided on a name for the baby with Ginny. Everyone approved. If it was a boy it was going to be called Severus, for obvious reasons and if it was a girl, she was going to call it Ruth.
It was at 2 am on June the 23rd that everyone got the call that had been planned so faultlessly and had been waiting for for the past couple of weeks. Ginny had stayed in Hermione's rooms after Christmas so it was her who made the first calls. She flooed Minerva and Poppy. Minerva then flooed Mrs Weasley. While Mrs Weasley got dressed, Mr Weasley flooed Harry and Ron who lived together and then Mr Weasley flooed Remus and Tonks. They would all go to Hogwarts and wait in a classroom next to the infirmary which had had comfy chairs and pillows and blankets and such added when the house elves were alerted by Poppy. The only people allowed in the Infirmary were Minerva, Ginny and Mrs Weasley.
Harry and Ron were pacing the room like it was there own child being born, much to the Amusement of Mr Weasley and Remus. Every now and then they would hear Hermione screaming in pain and the odd curse about men that Ron and Harry would never think would have come from Hermione Granger. At seven O'clock just as the castle was stirring there had still been no word from any one in the hospital wing. Harry and Ron had played three games of chess. They had all talked about this and that until they started pacing again
"Why is it taking so bloody long? I didn't no it would be like this. I'm so nervous and it isn't even my kid." Stressed Ron
"Son, calm down. We are all on edge. Your mother was in Labour with you for 27 hours, now that was hell." Everyone laughed at the look on Ron's face as his dad said that. At that point Ginny came scurrying out the room, looking tired and sweaty. Everyone looked at her hopefully. She shook her head. She took a deep breath and said what she had been told to.
"There have been some complications" at the look of horror on everyone's face Ginny hurriedly carried on "Hermione is too tired to do the work. I have been sent to ask Tonks to come and help. Where is she?"
"She has just gone to tell the others what is happening." Remus said
"SHIT!" said Ginny then looked up and added "Sorry dad."
"It's ok Pumpkin. Stressful isn't it." He laughed
"Yes. And you Mr Potter must be joking if you think I am going to go through that even once never mind more than once." Mr Weasley and Lupin laughed at the look of disappointment on Harry's face.
"She was only joking Harry." Said Lupin
"Well, can someone like send for Tonks. Is there like anyway that we can get her to come back straightway. We need her urgently before things get worse-"
"What do you mean worse?" panted Tonks.
Ginny sighed in relief. "We need you in there to help. There aren't enough of us."
Both Ginny and Tonks left the room in a rush just as Hermione screamed loudly.
"I don't think I want to put Ginny through that anyway." Muttered Harry but they all still heard.
In the hospital, Hermione was lying on the bed tired, with very little strength and drowned in sweat. She could hardly move and her throat hurt from screaming when a contraction hit. Mrs Weasley was dabbing her forehead with a cold cloth trying to cool her down while Poppy kept performing spells to show Hermione's and the baby's stats.
"Tonks, could you please take over form Molly while I speak to her Minerva and Ginny?"
"Ye sure." Replied Tonks as the others gathered on the other side if the hospital wing.
"I need some advice on what to do. I may have to ask Lupin as he was her guardian otherwise I would ask Harry or Ron, but she can't survive much longer. The pain is too much and she doesn't have enough strength left, there is some severe damage. The baby is also struggling. It shows serious signs of distress. What should I do? If it came down to it, who do I save first? I have done everything I can for her. I have never been at a loss like this before and I don't know how to get past it."
Minerva and Mrs Weasley were close to tears at this point but Ginny looked strong and said "Talk to Harry, Ron and Lupin. I will explain to Tonks then if I go with Minerva to explain to the boys they can give us there opinion. I think Hermione is strong enough to pull through. She's a fighter and so is that baby of hers." They all nodded. Mrs Weasley went and took over from Tonks who went to Madame Pomfrey to explain the situation. Minerva waited by the door while Ginny went and spoke to a nearly unconscious Hermione.
"Mione, you are strong. Please fight. Fight for your baby, fight for Severus. Remember your Promise to me. I need you, Harry needs you and Ron needs you. Everyone needs you Hermione. You can't give up. If you give up you leave me and break your promise and I no that's not the person you are. You don't give up. Fight for us 'Mione." Ginny had tears running down her face as she looked up at her mum who smiled sadly at her. She turned and walked from the hospital wing with Minerva to the boys.
Harry and Ron were playing yet another Game of Wizards Chess while Arthur and Remus were discussing the ministry. They all looked up as they heard the door open. Minerva and Ginny walked in, both with very pale white faces and Ginny crying. Arthur and Remus immediately stood up knowing that it was not good news. Harry slowly stood up and hugged Ginny as he saw she was distressed.
"She's not, is she?" asked Harry, swallowing a large lump in his throat.
Ginny pulled away and looked up into Harry's eyes. She shook her head and started to explain. "As I said when I last came in, she's very weak. She's even weaker now and she can't push the baby out. She is in extreme pain and on the verge of unconsciousness. Madame Pomfrey doesn't know what else she can do. She has done everything Wizarding medicine has produced. She feels so helpless, we all do. I wouldn't ask you this but we have to know. 'Mione is in so much pain and she and the baby are very distressed and suffering. I need-"
"You want us to choose." Stated Lupin. Everyone looked at him and Ginny nodded. Harry and Ron looked shocked.
"You want us to choose whether to save the babies life of Hermione. How could you ask something like that of us?" asked Ron disbelievingly.
"Ron, you have to understand it took a lot of courage for Ginny to come and ask you this. It may come down to it. If Hermione doesn't improve with the next batch of potions Poppy gives her and we don't say which to save they both die. Both of them Ron." Minerva spoke. "In the end, Madame Pomfrey said it is down to Remus as he was her legal guardian and Severus is not here so he has to make the final decisions. I know it is a lot of pressure but please just give us an answer before we lose them both." She pleaded
"Dad, what do you think? Hermione or the baby?" Ginny asked her father.
"I cant choose but save whoever has the better chance of survival. Personally I don't think Hermione would survive if she lost the baby. She has lost too much already and it was this baby that brought her a life back."
"I agree on that dad." Replied Ginny "Remember what she has already lost, to lose the baby would be too much. I think we should save the baby."
"Save Hermione. You have to save Hermione. She has us. We need her." Said Ron who fell back onto a big beanbag that appeared where he fell.
Ginny looked at Harry. "If it comes to it, save Hermione. She can have other children. That child can't grow up without parents, it would be miserable. I know what its like." Ginny nodded and turned to Lupin.
"It lies with you Remus. Poppy says you have to make the decision. Tonks says she has faith in what you will chose." Said Minerva "We need to know. Soon. Or it will be too late for both of them."
Lupin looked at all the faces in the room. He had to decide if the girl he saw as a daughter should die or if her baby should die. He sighed deeply "Hermione once said to me, she would do anything and give anything for this baby. I believe she would want us to save the baby. I believe that Hermione would do what she said she would. If it comes to it and ONLY if it comes to it, save the baby. That's what she would want you to do. Save the baby."
As Harry and Ron started to argue with Lupin's decision, Ginny and Minerva ran back to the Infirmary. As they entered they were shocked at what they found.
"There you are. Hurry over here now and help. We are losing them." Screamed Mrs Weasley.
They both ran over and did as directed. Poppy asked them while they preformed different spells and kept checking the stats "What was the decision?"
Minerva looked at Ginny. "Harry and Ron want you to save Hermione, Dad and Remus said save the baby. Something Hermione said to Remus made his decision for him but dad said Hermione wouldn't survive if she lost someone else."
Poppy nodded "I thought as much. Right, well let's get this baby out and then try save Hermione. Tonks if you could do the spell for Hermione's charts and keep an eye on them, Minerva you come and stand with me and help with the baby and Ginny and Molly I need you to help Hermione push. If we can get her to push and then you push down on her stomach here with your hands we can get the baby further down the birth canal and I will try and pull it out. Ginny can you try awakening Hermione and getting her to push on your count."
"Hermione, it's Ginny. Can you hear me? 'Mione can you hear me?" Hermione's eyes fluttered open and the pain and despair Ginny saw in her eyes made her want to cry. "There you are. Can you push a little for us on my count of three? Mum and I are going to help so you wont be doing it all yourself. Please Hermione. You need to do this. Can you do it for me?"
Hermione nodded slightly and Ginny smiled at her. "On my count of three ok. One….Two….Three, push mione. Keep pushing" Everyone worked and poppy said she needs to push again. "Again 'Mione. Once more. On three. One….Two……Three, push." Mrs Weasley and Ginny pushed on Hermione's stomach as she pushed once more. "Well done 'Mione."
"I can see the head. Just once more than the head is clear."
"Once more 'mione then that's it. You can stop then just one more push ok?" Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Ginny and nodded. "Good girl 'Mione. On three. One…..Two…..Three and push." Cried Ginny
"We are there. The head and shoulders are clear. I think I can get the baby out from here I just need Minerva to come and be ready and maybe help. Ok? On three. One….Two…..Three." Poppy managed to get her hands on the baby and pull it gently and the baby was out. A loud cry filled the room moments later. As Minerva wrapped the baby in a blanket and performed the spells Poppy told her to perform Tonks cried "She's going Poppy. Do something."
The nurse ran over and performed spell after spell on Hermione. She healed all the damage caused by the birth, gave her a blood replenishing potion and performed yet more spells till there were no more she could do. "I can't do anything else. We just have to wait and see now." Everyone nodded and Mrs Weasley cleaned the sheets on Hermione bed with her wand while Ginny ran over to the baby.
"Is it ok?" Ginny pleaded with Minerva.
Minerva looked at her with tears in her eyes. "She is fine Ginny. She's perfect. Poppy says she needs watching but at the moment she is ok." Ginny cried.
"Can I hold her" Ginny asked Poppy who nodded and placed the baby girl in her arms. "Hello Ruth. I'm you're Aunty Ginny. I'm the cool one. You will meet Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry in a bit but they are stupid so you have to ignore them." Everyone laughed.
"So she decided on Ruth then did she?" asked Minerva who had just joined tonks looking over Ginny's shoulder at the baby.
"Hmmm. I think she said it was a family name, but I think it's better than some of the others she was coming up with." Everyone laughed at that having heard the several names Hermione thought would be nice for a baby.
They were all quiet for a few moments till they heard a knock at the door. "That'll be one of the boys wondering what's going on. You can hear quite a lot in that room. We should have cast a silencing spell." Said Ginny.
Mrs Weasley nodded "I will go see who it is, Poppy if its Remus or Arthur can they come in instead of explaining in a corridor, if its Ron or Harry I will send them back to wait" Poppy nodded and Mrs Weasley opened the door.
Arthur Weasley knocked tentatively on the door. He had drawn the short straw. After loud shouts and cries from the hospital there was silence and everyone became worried so they had, literally drawn straws to see who would go and see if everything was ok. His wife opened the door and he smiled at her. She let him past and shut the door behind him.
"I was sent to find out what was going on. We heard all of you shouting and then crying and then silence. So I drew the short straw. What's happened?"
"Well, with some help Hermione managed to deliver the baby, a healthy baby girl." Mr Weasley smiled but then it slipped of his face as he remembered Hermione. "The baby needs someone to keep an eye on her just to make sure there is no lasting damage of the distress and birth."
"What about Hermione?" he asked tentatively
"Well, just after the baby was born she deteriorated. We did all we could but were not sure if it's enough. Only time will tell." Mrs Weasley sighed. Arthur nodded.
"Can I see both of them?" he asked.
"Ginny has her at the moment with Hermione; I'm sure she won't mind. Minerva, Tonks and Poppy are getting cleaned up. I will to if you will look after Ginny. I'm worried about her."
"I will. She's my baby, of course I will." Mrs Weasley smiled at her husband as he walked of to be with his daughter. As he walked over to her he could hear her talking to someone. Realising it was Hermione he held back a bit but just so he could hear what she was saying.
"Well 'Mione. You did it. You finally did it. You have a beautiful little baby girl. She's just like Severus but without his nose, thank Merlin. I called her Ruth so she knows that's her name when you wake up. I'm keeping an eye on her for you. She is so beautiful Hermione and perfect. You just got to wake up. You have to wake. It's not just me who needs you; you have a daughter now who needs you. You got to show her how to be a proper young lady, teach her how to do her make-up and her hair or maybe in your case to read books. Please Hermione. I need you, you can't leave me. You're my best friend and sister. I can't survive without you. What about when I finally get married to Harry. You have to be there standing beside me and we have this beautiful little girl to be there now as well. Don't let her grow up without knowing how wonderful her mum was and the person she was. She shouldn't miss out on knowing you." Ginny broke down into tears. Leaving a wet trail along her dirty and bloody face. Arthur wanted to just run up to his little girl and hold her till she has finished crying and till she is ready to accept what is happening if she is ever ready. "Do you remember Hermione, just after the final battle when Harry and I got together and we were all so happy? That's how we should always be. I'm so proud of you for going through this birth. When I found out that you were going to have Ruth, I though, 'nope she wont go through with it.' But you did. If you could be strong then Hermione, you can be strong now. You have to wake. You must keep your promise. The Hermione Granger I know wouldn't break a promise. You have to wake up Dammit. WAKE UP HERMIONE!!" Ginny screamed, the baby started crying and Arthur ran over to his daughter to comfort her. He took the baby off of Ginny and put it in the cot next to her and then pulled his daughter into a hug. Watching her like this was breaking his heart. This was his little girl. She shouldn't have to go through this.
"Shhh, pumpkin, daddy's here. Shhh. Calm down. Hermione won't break her promise, if she does she doesn't mean to. Just give her time honey. Give her time to get some strength and she will be fine." Ginny looked at her dad and smiled. He wiped her tears away and put her arms around her shoulder. "I Love you pumpkin."
"Daddy, Love you more!" She smiled, went to pick up Ruth and as she gathered the baby comfortably in her arms she turned around and said "Now, shall we go see Harry and Ron before they make a hole in the floor?" Her father laughed and nodded. As they walked past the office Ginny stopped and walked in.
"I'm going to see Ron and Harry. I'm taking Ruth with me. Is that ok?"
The three elderly ladies and Tonks looked at her and smiled and Poppy said "Yes dear, that's fine. Just remember to keep an eye on her."