Chapter Twenty-One

Hermione was making small whimpering noises and her face was contorted in pain. Draco wanted nothing more than to take away the pain, to do everything for her. He had never been more proud of somebody in his entire life before. He was constantly leaning over to wipe the sweat from her face and to whisper small, comforting words in her ear.

"Hermione, love, you're doing brilliantly," He said, kissing her forehead. Hermione didn't respond but she shut her eyes tightly, her head falling back on the pillow.

Healer Smith came walking over to check on Hermione. "Everything seems to be alright, but she's very weak," He told Draco worriedly. "Now, are you sure you want to get married right now? I'm not sure if Hermione is really up to it."

"No," Hermione said suddenly. "Now."

Draco nodded his head, his grip on her hand tightening. "Now. I want to be married before the baby comes." He turned to face Hermione. "I want this child to have a proper family. "

"If you're positive you want to do this," Healer Smith said, still sounding unsure. "I'll bring in the minister then."

Healer Smith returned only seconds later with the tufty-haired old minister. He looked very uncomfortable being in the room but he smiled nonetheless as he opened his book "Ready?" He addressed Draco.

"Yes," Draco said fervently. "Now more than ever."

The minister stood beside Draco as Healer Smith went back to checking on Hermione's progress. The minister didn't bother with any formalities that you would see at a normal wedding. Instead, he just cut right down to it.

"Do you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, take Hermione Jean Granger to be your lawfully wedding wife?"

"I do," Draco said. "Of course I do. I love you more than anything else in this world, Hermione."

"And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do, I do," Hermione panted as another contraction took over her body. Draco stroked her hair as they both waited for it to pass.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," The minister announced happily as he shut his book. "You may kiss the bride."

Draco leaned over and kissed Hermione softly. "I love you," He said, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. Hermione's eyes were shut tight but he knew that she loved him just as much. "You can do this, Hermione. Just think about the baby. Our baby."

Hermione bit her lip and groaned loudly through the pain. "You're going to have to start pushing, Hermione," Healer Smith said suddenly.

Hermione squeezed Draco's hand so tightly that he almost let go. "Come on, Hermione, you can do this. I know you can." Hermione was looking incredibly weak and tired and as though she wanted nothing more than to give up.

"Hermione, I need you to push now," Healer Smith said sternly.

Hermione groaned and sat up slightly. "Good Hermione, keep pushing, that's it." More Healers and Healers-In-Training were streaming into the room, obviously preparing for a baby. The reality that Draco was going to see his baby soon after so long was finally sinking in.

"Hermione, just a little bit more now," Healer Smith said. "I can see the head, you're doing wonderfully."

"Hermione you're almost there, come on now," Draco said soothingly. She was looking weaker and weaker with each passing moment. Her face was pale and her hair was sweat-drenched. Draco kept trying to wipe her forehead and face as much as he could.

Sounds of pain were escaping from Hermione's lips but she didn't stop pushing. Draco didn't know how she was doing this but he was absolutely amazed.

"Just a little bit more, Hermione," Healer Smith urged her. "Don't give up now."

Hermione gave one final push, one final scream of pain, and collapsed backwards onto her pillows, breathing heavily. Healer Smith stood up, his arms wrapped around a tiny, squirming, wailing body.

"It's a girl," Healer Smith announced proudly.

Draco stood slowly and moved closer to his daughter but not letting go of Hermione's hand. "Hermione! We have a daughter!" Draco all but yelled joyously.

One of the older Healers came and took the baby and cleaned her up before handing the child over to her mother. Hermione looked down at the little bundle wrapped in her arms and suddenly felt like crying, though she wasn't sure why. Draco knelt down next to the bed and kissed Hermione on the top of her head. "I am so proud of you. Just look at our beautiful daughter."

Hermione looked down at her daughter again and smiled. Slowly, she placed a kiss on the top of the little girl's head and said so quietly that Draco didn't even hear her, "I love you, my beautiful little girl. Always remember that."

Then she passed the baby over gently for Draco to hold her. Draco beamed as he looked down at his perfect daughter. Only a couple of minutes old and already he loved her more than words could say.

Hermione smiled at Draco weakly. The sight of him holding their tiny baby girl made her so incredibly happy. Hermione's eyes were slowly closing again. She was struggling to keep them open.

"Draco…" She said softly. Draco looked up from his daughter, still smiling, to face his wife. God, how he loved to say that word. His wife.

However his grin instantly slid off his face at the sight of Hermione. She looked pale and clammy and when she spoke, she sounded so very weak.

"Draco," She said again. "I love you. And our little girl, more than anything. You know that, right?"

"Of course," said Draco. "Hermione, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

"Take care of her, okay?" Hermione attempted a smile.

"Hermione, what are—" Draco stopped talking at the look on Hermione's face; it was contorted in pain and even more pale than before. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she didn't open them again.

"Hermione!" Draco screamed. "No, God, please no!" He ran for the door, still protectively holding his daughter against him.

"Help!" He yelled down the corridor. "Please, anybody!"

A Healer came darting out from a nearby room. "What is it?" She said urgently.

"My wife! Please, help!" Draco seized the Healer and dragged her inside the room. The Healer took one look at Hermione and immediately called for more assistance. Healers came running into the room, pushing Draco out of the way. One Healer, a motherly-looking woman with a kind face, tried to take Draco away from the scene.

"Come along, dear," She said.

"No!" Draco yelled. He tried to fight his way over to Hermione. Draco thought that one of the Healers would stop him but they seemed to be moving out of the way.

Healer Smith came over to Draco, his expression un-readable. He clasped Draco on the shoulder. "I'm so sorry," He said quietly.

"No! No!" Draco screamed. He bent down over Hermione's immobile body. "Hermione. Please…"

Another Healer tried to take the baby from Draco's arms but he wouldn't let them. He faced the room of uncomfortable and sympathetic-looking Healers. "Please," Draco said to the room. "Just give me…a minute…to say—" He couldn't even finish his sentence.

The Healers all felt so horrible for the young man that nobody made any protest. They left the room silently, filing out one after the other. Draco turned to face Hermione. He reached for her hand, shifting his weight slightly to adjust the baby. Her hand was cold against his.

Draco leaned down to kiss Hermione on the forehead. "I love you too, Hermione," He whispered in his ear. He gave her hand a final squeeze and let go, her fingers dangling limply.

Draco turned his back on the only woman he ever truly loved. The only woman who ever understood him. Draco looked down in his arms at the pink bundle curled against his body. Draco's daughter opened her big brown eyes and stared up at her father. She made a soft gurgling noise and squirmed in her blankets. Draco closed his eyes and held his daughter against his chest as his tears slowly started to fall.