Hermione was now eighteen weeks pregnant and finally had her hormones under control. Well, some of the time anyway. Ron and Hermione were preparing for their 18-20 week scan and once again had trouble containing their excitement. This time, Hermione actually needed help putting on her coat before heading to the hospital as her bump had grown in size in the last three weeks. On arriving at the hospital they were greeted by their friendly midwife Jennifer who had them in straight away.
"And how are we all?", Jennifer smiled brightly as she invited Hermione to sit on the examination couch.
"Well, I've been feeling a bit under the weather but all fine now", Ron joked as Hermione nudged him in the ribs. Jennifer chuckled.
"The morning sickness has almost completely gone, but I still feel a little nauseous at times", Hermione told her. She laid back on to the bed and lifted her top above her large bump, prepared for the scan.
"That's fantastic to hear, perfectly normal at this stage", Jennifer continued to smile. "Bethany should be here in a moment". All of a sudden, as if her ears had been burning, Bethany entered the room smiling as brightly as Jennifer.
"Hello, Hermione. Ron. All ready?", Bethany asked. The couple nodded as Bethany began preparing for the scan. She pulled out the same 'lady-shaver' looking wand from a nearby drawer.
"Transducer", Ron mumbled to himself.
"What did you say?", Hermione asked him.
"Transducer. That's what that thing's called", Ron smiled proudly. Hermione looked impressed.
"How did you-"
"I read one of your baby books", he cut her off. Hermione smiled at him proudly before Bethany took her by surprise, putting the cold clear gel on her skin. The couple watched the screen, eagerly awaiting to catch sight of their unborn child, when all of a sudden they saw it. An unmistakable head, a body beneath it that resembled a tiny bean bag. With his or her legs comfortably hugged to their stomach. Hermione's hand immediately found Ron's as they watched the screen in awe. "Definitely looks like a baby now", Ron sniffed happily, re-adjusting his grip on Hermione's hand as he got a closer look.
"Would you like to know the sex?", Bethany asked.
"What? Do- do you know?", Ron asked. Bethany nodded. Ron and Hermione looked at each other deep in the eyes.
~a week earlier~
"So what do we want? Boy or girl?", Ron asked excitedly as he massaged Hermione's swollen feet.
"Well- What do you want?", Hermione returned the question.
"I don't mind. Although I think I'd be better if we had a boy", he told her.
"You think you'd be better? How so?", Hermione raised her eyebrow.
"Well I'd be protective either way. But if we had a girl, I think I'd lose my mind!", he exaggerated. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle. "If I had it my way, she would never know what a boy was!", he laughed along with her, kissing the tips of her toes. "But, you never answered the question, anyway", he raised his eyebrow at her. Hermione sighed happily as she sat up to reach his face, cupping it with both hands.
"Having your son or daughter is enough for me. I'm just happy to finally be in this position", she smiled softly before kissing him full on the mouth.
Ron winked at Hermione as she smiled softly at him.
"We're happy keeping it a surprise", he told Bethany. Bethany smiled softly before beginning to print off their scan and checking everything that needed to be checked.
"Well, you have a very healthy baby, I can tell you that much. You should be able to feel them kick any day now", she smiled, handing Ron the scan photo.
"Mum's going to go mad", Ron's smile beamed as he looked at the picture of his unborn child. Hermione stroked his upper arm softly as she sat up from the bed.
"The next twenty two weeks are going to fly by, Hermione", Jennifer smiled.
Ron and Hermione left the hospital and made their way straight to the Burrow to show Molly and Arthur the latest picture of their unborn grandchild. Molly took the picture from Ron straight away, holding it mere inches away from her face as if she was having trouble seeing.
"Oh, I still can't believe it! My Ronnie and his Hermione are having a baby!", she wept happily, throwing her arms around Ron as Arthur took a look at the picture. Hermione smiled at her in-laws proudly as Ron winked at her from over his mother's shoulder. "Come here, sweetheart!", Molly rushed over to Hermione, giving her a tight, yet gentle, hug. Hermione smiled at her as she rubbed her cheeks in a mother to child like manner.
"Would you like to sit down, love?", Arthur asked her.
"Oh, I've done enough sitting to last me a life time!", Hermione chuckled as Ron snaked his arm around her waist.
"You say that now but once the little one comes, you'll be wishing you had the time to sit!", Molly chuckled.
"I thought I could hear you", a voice came from the front door. Ron and Hermione turned to see Harry and Ginny with young James.
"Nana!", James squealed happily as he ran towards Molly, wrapping his arms around her knees.
"Hello my little poppet!", Molly smiled, lifting her grandson up for a hug. Harry and Ron exchanged a manly hug as Hermione and Ginny tried to get past their large bumps to do the same.
"How are you feeling?", Ginny asked.
"Absolutely splendid", Hermione smiled. "Would you like to see the scan?". Ginny nodded eagerly as Hermione passed her the small photograph.
"Aw, Hermione! Did you find out the sex?", Ginny asked. Hermione shook her head. "We'll all be surprised then! Actually, there's a reason Harry and I are here". The family turned to face Ginny as she spoke. Harry returned to her side and snaked his arm around her waist proudly, as he always did when he and Ginny were about to announce something. "We're having another boy", Ginny smiled.
"Oh, sweetheart! That's fantastic news!", Molly's smile beamed as she draped her arms around Harry and Ginny.
"Congratulations, you two", Ron smiled, giving Ginny a peck on the cheek.
"Aunt Hermione?", James tugged on the bottom of Hermione's maternity dress.
"Yes, sweetheart?", Hermione smiled down at him.
"Will you come and play with me?", he asked, his eyes shining innocently.
"Oh, James, Aunt Hermione's probably too tired to play right now, little man", Ron told him.
"No, its okay. I want to", Hermione smiled at him before kissing him on the cheek and joining James in the living room. Hermione struggled to kneel down beside her nephew as he began to rummage through his toy box. As James became more and more excited whilst having fun playing, Hermione became dizzier by the second.
"Hermione, love? Are you alright? You look awfully pale", Molly asked. Hermione stood to her feet.
"I'm fine, just feeling a little dizzy, I-", Hermione stopped as she stumbled a little on to a nearby lounge chair. As if he had seen and heard everything, Ron raced to her side.
"Hermione, are you alright?", he panicked.
"I'm- I'm just so- tired", said Hermione weakly. Ron lifted Hermione and held her close to him as he carried her upstairs to his childhood bedroom. He laid her gently on his old bed as he laid down beside her, propping her head up on his chest.
Hermione woke up a few hours later, still laid in Ron's arms as he played with her hair.
"Hey, you're up. How are you feeling?", Ron asked soothingly.
"Thirsty", Hermione croaked. Ron pulled his wand out from his pocket and pointed it at a cup that sat on his bedside table.
"Aguamenti", he spoke clearly, passing the cup to Hermione. "I think you should have sat down when dad asked you to", he chuckled lightly as she drank the water.
"I had honestly had enough of sitting. I felt fine", she told him.
"That's perfectly normal. The book I've been reading says that its natural for a woman at your stage to feel fine one moment and faint the next", said Ron. Hermione smiled at him softly.
"I love you", she said, kissing him gently.
"What was that for?", he smirked.
"I'm so proud of you for reading those books. I just- Ooo", Hermione gasped.
"What? What is it? What's wrong?", Ron panicked, taking her hand tightly within his own. Hermione giggled.
"I'm fine", she told him.
"Then what is it?", he raised his eyebrow at her.
"I just felt the baby move", she smiled.
"What? You did?", Ron grinned. Hermione nodded happily before taking his hand and pressing it against her stomach for him to feel their baby kick. "Wow", Ron smiled in amazement, looking deep into her eyes as he felt their child move inside her. "That's- that's incredible", he told her before kissing her passionately. "I love you". Ron held her close by his side as he continued to play with her hair. "Hermione?".
"Mmm?", she replied happily.
"If we do have a boy. Can we name him Hugo?", he asked.
"Hugo? Why Hugo?", Hermione asked.
"Well, since I got into reading your baby books, I've been reading some of your other books too. I read in one that Hugo means 'intelligent' and- well- I just thought it'd be perfect considering you're his mum", he smiled down at her. Hermione smiled softly before reaching up and kissing Ron softly.
"Hugo sounds perfect", she told him.