Hermione was more excited than normal about the New Year's Eve party at Malfoy Manor, and she made an extra effort getting ready. She'd settled on a new ice blue dress, and teamed it with silver accessories and jewellery. Satisfied she looked pretty impressive, Hermione wandered along to her parents' room to see how her mother was getting along. Beth had been quiet all day, and with been so heavily pregnant, Hermione was worried all the stress of the last few weeks was catching up with her mother.
"Mum," Hermione called, pushing open the bedroom door when she got no response from knocking.
Hermione's eyes swept across the master bedroom and found no sign of her mother. However, she figured she was nearby as her dress was lying on the bed, ready for the evening. Wondering if her mother was downstairs, Hermione turned to leave. However, just as she did, she heard a noise from the bathroom.
"Mum?" She questioned, heading over to the door that led to the adjoining bathroom in her parent's room.
"Hermione," Beth called from the bathroom. "Get in here."
Not bothering to knock, Hermione flew into the bathroom and found her mother clinging onto the sink. She was wearing a fluffy green dressing gown, and was clearly in the middle of getting dressed as her hair and make-up was done. However, she was breathing heavily and looked to be in pain.
"It's time," Beth panted.
"The baby's coming?" Hermione questioned, taken aback by what she was seeing. Even though she knew her mother was due to give birth soon, it wasn't expected to be until after she'd gone back to school.
"It is," Beth answered with a moan. "Get your father."
"Where is he?" Hermione asked.
"His study," Beth gasped, clutching at her stomach as a wave of pain hit her.
"I can't leave you," Hermione stated, moving over to her mother's side and wrapping an arm around her.
Shouting for a house elf, Hermione dispatched it to go and inform Voldemort of the situation, while she stayed with her mother. A few minutes later she heard pounding feet on the stairs, and then a frantic looking Voldemort entered the bathroom. Hermione had never seen her father so flustered, and she had to chuckle at the panicked expression on his face when he set eyes on his wife.
"It's not time," He spluttered.
"You try telling the baby that," Beth replied with a slight snarl. "This baby is coming now."
"We best get going then," Voldemort said, shaking his head and snapping out of his shock. "Hermione, grab your mother's bag. It's ready waiting in the wardrobe."
"I need to change," Beth panted as Hermione went for her bag.
"It doesn't matter what you're wearing," Voldemort said to his wife as he helped her move from the bathroom into the bedroom.
"I'm not wearing anything but this dressing gown," Beth replied.
"I'll handle it," Voldemort said as he pulled out his wand. A couple of twirls later, Beth was magically dressed in a long flowing skirt and a loose top.
"I've got the bag," Hermione cried, bolting from the wardrobe clutching her mother's pre-prepared bag.
"Let's go then," Voldemort announced.
Instead of going all the way down to the floo room, Voldemort connected the fire in the bedroom to the floo network and the trio headed off to the private hospital the family used. Almost immediately they were surrounded by healers and medi-witches, and Beth was rushed off to the maternity ward. Hermione barely had time to pass her father Beth's bag before the pair was sequestered in a private room, and Hermione was left standing outside, not sure of what to do.
"There's a relative's room down the hall," one of the medi-witches said kindly. "I'll come and let you know what's going on once we've got your mother settled."
"Thank you," Hermione said as she set off to the room the medi-witch had directed her to.
Hermione thought about contacting Severus, but she didn't want to leave the room until she knew everything was okay with her mother. She knew with magic, it was easier for women to have children later in life, but her mother wasn't exactly a spring chicken. It had been eighteen years since she'd last given birth, and although it had been an easy pregnancy, she knew both her parents had been slightly worried about the actual birth.
Thankfully, Hermione didn't have to wait long for news and the very nice medi-witch returned to assure her that her mother was doing just fine. Beth was definitely in labour, and they were predicting the baby would arrive either later that evening or in the early hours of the following day.
"Your father asked if you could contact your brother," The medi-witch said.
"I will do," Hermione replied with a nod. "Do you have a floo connection I can use?"
"Of course, there's a connection at check-in that you can use," The medi-witch replied.
Hermione followed the medi-witch back through to the check-in area and was pointed to a floo connection that was free for public use. It was also a connection used purely for calls, so Hermione didn't have to worry about stopping someone else from using it if she was busy making a call.
Hermione's first call was to Severus, and she spoke to her brother for a few minutes as she filled him in on what was happening. Once she'd spoken to Severus, who promised her that he, Rosmerta and Harry would be there as soon as possible, Hermione placed a call to Malfoy Manor. Lucius was the one to answer the call and she quickly explained to her boyfriend's father than Beth was in labour, so they wouldn't be able to attend the party. Of course Lucius wasn't bothered by the party, and like Severus he'd promised Hermione that he and his family would be at the hospital as fast as they could manage.
Hermione had no sooner returned to the waiting room when Severus, Rosmerta and Harry arrived. The trio were clearly already dressed for the party, but partying was the last thing on their minds as they checked Beth was okay.
"They're expecting the baby sometime overnight," Hermione explained to her family.
"How can they be so sure?" Harry asked as he took a seat next to his niece. "I always thought giving birth was unpredictable, and how long it takes varies on woman to woman."
"It does," Rosmerta explained. "But with magic they can estimate how long it will take for a witch to give birth. The closer it gets, the more accurate they can be with the timing. By the end, they can pinpoint the birth to a matter of minutes."
"How do you know all that?" Harry asked his stepmother.
"I am expecting a baby of my own," Rosmerta replied with a low chuckle as she placed a hand on her slowly expanding stomach. "I've done a lot of reading so that I know what to expect."
"So by morning, we're going to have a new baby brother or sister?" Severus checked.
"Yep," Hermione answered with a nod. "Personally, I hope it's a girl. I'd like a little sister."
"They're more trouble then they're worth," Severus joked, flashing Hermione a teasing smile.
"A bit like big brothers, then," Hermione shot back. "Always nagging, and bossing you around."
"You've got room to talk with the nagging and bossing people around," Harry laughed. "You're the bossiest witch I've ever met. You've bossed me and Draco around from the start. And you're always nagging us, honestly, I don't know how we put up with you."
"It must be because you love me," Hermione replied with a sweet smile.
Harry rolled his eyes, but he didn't get a chance to reply as the door to the room opened and the three Malfoys appeared. Like everyone else they were dressed for the party, but they didn't seem overly concerned with missing the festivities.
"You really didn't have to come," Hermione said as she hugged Narcissa.
"Where else would we be?" Narcissa questioned. "My best friend is giving birth again, and I want to be here for her."
"What about the party?" Harry asked. "Did you cancel it?"
"No, it's going ahead," Lucius replied. "I spoke to Bernard and Ezra and explained the situation. They're going to hold the fort until we can get back. I'll probably flick between here and the party."
"If any of you three want to go to the party, we can let you know when there's news," Severus offered the trio.
"I'm staying here," Hermione replied with a stubborn shake of her head.
"And I'd rather stay with Hermione," Draco said, taking hold of his fiancée's hand.
"I might go and see Daphne later, but for now, I'm happy to stay here," Harry said.
"You can go if you want," Hermione whispered to Draco as the adults started chatting to each other. "I know you were looking forward to tonight."
"Because I was going to spend the evening with my lovely fiancée," Draco retorted, giving Hermione a wide smile. "I'd rather be with you. We can tell people our news and celebrate later."
"As long as you're sure," Hermione said.
"I'm sure," Draco reassured her as he gave her a quick kiss.
As the night progressed, Lucius kept to his word and he headed off to keep an eye on the party a couple of times. Harry also briefly went to see Daphne, and let her know that he hadn't stood her up. However, by midnight everyone was back in the waiting room and they quietly saw in the New Year just the seven of them.
Ten minutes after midnight, the doors burst open and Voldemort entered the room, a wide smile on his face.
"It's a girl," He proudly announced. "I've got another lovely daughter."
The group heartedly congratulated Voldemort, who told them they could visit Beth and the baby in small groups. Hermione and Severus went in to see her first and Hermione was overcome with emotion as she found her mother propped up in bed, cradling a tiny little bundle.
"She's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," Hermione said, welling up as she looked at her little sister.
"She's lovely, Beth," Severus added, gently stroking his new sister's head.
"Do you want to hold her?" Beth asked Hermione.
"Me?" Hermione bit her lower lip nervously. "What if I drop her?"
"You won't," Beth answered confidently.
"Okay then," Hermione said as she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
Hermione moved closer to her mother's bed, and ever so gently Beth passed her new little sister over to her. Despite her nerves, Hermione held her sister securely in her arms as she gazed down at her, overcome with love for the tiny person her mother had just given birth to.
"You're the luckiest little girl in the world," Hermione whispered to her new sister. "You couldn't ask for better parents, and you've got a big brother who is the best."
"And she's got a big sister who is also pretty great," Severus added, wrapping an arm around Hermione and dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Hermione asked as she gently handed her sister back to her mother.
"Not yet," Beth admitted. "We were hoping inspiration would strike when we met her."
"It will," Voldemort said, perching on the bed beside Beth. "Just look at Hermione. She had no name for two days because none of them seemed to suit her. Then one day we just looked at her and knew she was called Hermione. It'll be the same with this little one. She'll end up with the perfect name."
Hermione and Severus stayed with Beth for another five minutes, before they headed back into the waiting room and gave the rest of the family a chance to visit with the newest arrival. Rosmerta and Harry were next to visit, followed by Lucius, Narcissa and Draco. By the time the Malfoys had finished visiting with Beth, she was tired and the healers wanted her to rest for the remainder of the evening.
"You lot should go and enjoy the rest of the party," Voldemort urged. "Beth and the baby will be home tomorrow, so you can visit some more then."
"I can stay if you want," Hermione offered.
"No princess, you go and have some fun with Draco," Voldemort said, giving Hermione an affectionate peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, and you can help make sure everything is ready for your mother and sister coming home."
"And I will," Hermione vowed. "Everything will be perfect."
"With you in charge, I have no doubt it will be," Voldemort chuckled, urging his daughter to go and have some fun.
Doing as her father asked, Hermione headed to Malfoy Manor with the others. Despite it being after midnight the party was still going strong, and Hermione found herself celebrating with Draco, Harry and their friends. While most of the attention was on Beth, and the baby she'd just had, Harry managed to let it slip about Draco and Hermione's engagement, so that was celebrated as well. It may not have been the party that was planned for, or the one that anyone expected, but it was good party and Hermione was thrilled with the added bonus of getting a new sister. What better way was there to celebrate the New Year than to welcome a new member of the family?