Now that everyone knows that someone is carrying a certain person's child, I guess I can finally point out that the double meaning of the title. The first was obvious, the dragon's blood that Hermione found but it also means the creation of this child Hermione will have. Get it? Dragon's Blood? Eh? EH? Arn't I clever? Well, at least I'd like to think so... ahem...
Enjoy!
Dragon's Blood
Chapter Twenty-five
ooo
Hermione and Ginny stumbled out of the fireplace and Ginny screamed out of Andromeda. Almost instantly, James shrill cry was heard. The echo of Hermione's screams verberated through out the house amplifying the pain she felt. Andromeda emerged from her Teddy's room with a boy with shiny black hair trailing not far behind. She cautiously approached Ginny who was trying her best to comfort her friend. Hermione, although in pain, began to unzip her navy blue dress off amost frantically. It pooled around her feet as Andromeda handed James to Ginny who instantly bounced him to sooth James.
Hermione let out a cry.
"Get it off me!" She shrieked, "It hurts!"
Andromeda looked at Hermione, who could feel her face stained with a trail hot tears flowing for her eyes. It wasn't the panick that Hermione was tearing over, it was the unusual pain that plagued her bottom torso. Still, with the debilitating pain, Hermione struggled to remove the girdle she had worn that night. Andromeda jumped at the job to take off the girdle, fumbling with the clasps and buckles. The moment it was ripped off from Hermione's waist Andromeda lifted the concealment charms and Hermione's stomach began to swell up. Ginny who was occupied with taming James was distracted as Astoria escorted Hermione to the staircase, sporting a round belly.
Ginny's jaw dropped and suddenly found herself jogging up the stairs after them. Her mind must be deceiving her. The firewhiskey, Ginny concluded, must have been a lot more stronger than she remembered it to be. By the time Ginny reached Hermione's room, Andromeda had Hermione slip into a night gown and was now lying on her side, curling up around her protuding stomach.
Andromeda glanced at Ginny.
"Dear, go get me a flask! It's in the herbs drawer in the kitchen," Andomeda instructed, "It's has a cork stopper."
Ginny shocked and horrified did as she was told as quickly as she could with James in her arms. As Ginny descended, thoughts of Ginny having a breif chat about pregnancies filled her mind. The thought consumed her almost entire that when Harry appeared at the bottom of the steps, it nearly startling the life out of Ginny.
"What's going on?" Harry urgently asked, "Is she okay? Is Hermione okay?"
Ginny couldn't find the words to say so she rushed into the kitchen to grab the flask she was order to get and had Harry follow her into Hermione's room, where the atmosphere was now calmer than it was before Ginny left. Andromeda was rubbing Hermione swollen belly as Hermione tried to stabilize her breathing. Teddy was in the corner playing with his chest set and upon seeing Harry he jumped to his feet and ran for Harry's leg.
"Harry!" Teddy exclaimed, "When will James be old enough to play chess with me? I know you always let me win and it's infuriating at times."
Teddy's hair turned a bright red. Harry let out a forced dry laugh, trying to be honest in his reaction to Teddy but it was near impossible to do when Harry stood there witnessing what seem unbelievable. Even if Teddy was pulling and hanging from his leg at the moment, he stood there, flabbergasted at the scene unfolding in front of him. Ginny seemed to regain herself faster than Harry and handed him James who was alert at this point. Ginny carefully approached Hermione and looked at Andromeda.
"Is she really…" Ginny trailed off.
"Yes dear," Andromeda smiled, "Did you bring the flask?"
Ginny cleared her throat and handed her the small flask.
"Drink this 'Mione," She instructed, "I made this last week. It should delay labor for a week or so. Can't have this little one come out too early, can we? I still haven't finished that quilt I've been making. Hopefully this helps. Plus it sooths the pains. Drink up."
And in a moment, a rush filled Harry's body and before he could understand what he was feeling, he clenched his fist
"Labor?" Harry said, trying to clam himself but the rest inclined as a shout, "As in pregnant labor?"
Ginny gave Hermione a stern look, "Why didn't you tell me? You said you weren't."
Hermione let out one last final cry before she drank a sip of the flask that Andromeda tipped up to her lips.
"Please." Hermione panted, "Please understand…"
"Understand? What's there to understand? How could this happen? Who could possibly…" Harry began but stop after coming to a quick realization on the one culprit that had been around Hermione. Harry began to stormed out.
"Harry no!" Hermione shouted, "Ginny, please!"
Ginny racedafter Harry and after a few minutes of trying to persuade him, Harry walked back into Hermione's room. Andromeda took the cue to leave them alone to talk and exited, taking Teddy along with her.
Harry stood next to Hermione who avoided his eyes.
"It was him wasn't it?" Harry asked, "Don't lie Hermione. We're in the beginning of September... Who, other than him, has been around you so often?"
"You have to understand Harry-"
"Just answer the DAMN question." Harry spat.
Ginny shoved Harry to the side and scolded him.
"Don't shout! You'll get James worked up again. Let her explain." Ginny cooed, "I'll be back, I'm going to set James down. If I hear any yelling… You know what's coming Harry."
Ginny swiftly left, bouncing a curious James with her.
Harry cleared his throat, "Spill then. Tell me about how you slept with him."
Hermione glared at Harry, "This is why I didn't want to tell a single soul about this because I knew the reaction would be as bad as this."
Harry remained quiet.
"I didn't expect things to turn out this way, Harry." Hermione assured, "I knew sleeping with... him would be vfrowned upon but the moment I knew I was pregnant, I couldn't let anyone know."
"Oh, I suppose you thought to take Ginny's idea a step further and tell the whole world this baby showed up in a basket at your doorsteps." Harry paced around, much like he did before, 9 months ago.
"Harry, I wasn't going to say anything because it deals with… it deals with what had happened. With the experiements." Hermione squeezed her eyes, "You saw me waste away… I had do to something for myself because although I couldn't feel anything, it concerned me the way everyone looked at me."
"Oh so shacking up with Draco was the only solution?" Harry shook his head, "'Mione you were doing so well… whatever he did to make you sleep with him was just manipulation."
"I was doing well? Listen to me!" Hermione insisted, "There was something very similar to the two experiments Harry. You would understand. You remember the fairy tale Snow White? When she bites the poisoned apple? Draco went through that with the first experiment, okay? Do you remember the solution to lift the spell in Snow White?"
Harry looked away, "A kiss."
"Exactly, so what do you think I would assume when two experiments are nearly identical?" Hermione asked, "I did what I had to and I'm sorry it escalated to this but it was the only way I could be back to myself. It couldn't be anybody else. It had to be Draco."
"What?" Ginny appeared at the door, "It had to be who?"
Harry and Hermione sights landed on Ginny who was standing at the door frame. Sweet Ginny suddenly did not seem so sweet anymore. Hermione propped herself up to a sitting position, hoping to explain the situation further with Ginny present. Instead, Ginny began to grab her things and lastly, James's baby bag.
"Come on Harry." Ginny ordered.
Confused, Hermione begged Ginny to stay.
"Stay? Stay?" Ginny scoffed, "To hear how you disgraced my brother's memory by sleeping with a Malfoy? Didn't know you could stoop so low 'Mione. Harry."
Ginny motioned Harry towards the door and in a matter of seconds they were gone, leaving Hermione completely and utterly alone.
ooo
Hermione didn't hear from anybody for the next week and the anxiety only worsened. Not only did she fear that she lost her friends forever but she feared that the word of her pregnancy might slip out and it was the last thing she needed: A controversy and an angry married women ready to kill her. Despite Andromeda's constant reassurances that although the entire Weasley Family has been informed on the subject, not a single soul outside the family knew about her.
Upon hearing this, Hermione should have been relieved but still she felt a worry build up in her chest it was nearly suffocating.
"They all know?" Hermione asked, looking out the window from her bed. She hadn't been able to move from that spot since she was force to bed rest until her child was born.
Andromeda nodded and pursed her lips together as she examine the last of the brilliant purple quilt she had made for the anticipated baby girl.
"They must hate me. All of them." Hermione bit her lip, feeling a wave of dull pain go through her entire body. It shocked Hermione but she quickly disregarded it.
"Oh, dear." Andromeda mused, "You know as well as I do, there is a fine line that separates hate and love."
Hermione sighed and rested her head back on her pillows. For the next fifteen minutes, she silently read a book when that dull pain reemerged. Without thinking, Hermione's hand flew to her stomach and she sat quiet still. Andromeda watched her.
"Feeling something my dear?" She asked.
Hermione bit her lip, "I'm not quiet sure..."
And within a couple of minutes the pain came back and Andromeda was fully sure that it was time. This time around the pain wasn't as shocking as it was before, still Hermione was finally in labor and the thought relieved her after all the drama that ensued over this pregnancy. In a short time, all of it would be over. Andromeda kept a close eye on her for the next couple of hours and Hermione kept experiencing the pain and kept an unusual calm composure.
"Don't you move, I need to go get some towels to clean the baby with. How's the potion working for you?" Andromeda asked,
Hermione smiled, "Like a charm. The pain is almost nonexistant."
Andromeda nodded, "I need to go check up on George, he's been baby sitting Teddy for two days now he must be tired. I'll be back."
Hermione closed her eyes, "George. George is here?"
"Yes."
"Can I see him?" Hermione asked hopefully, "If he wants to see me?"
Andromeda nodded and left. The mentioning of a Weasley member present in her own manor gave Hermione the hope that not all was lost, not all ties were broken. She clung onto that hope until Andromeda escorted a very pissed off looking George into the room. Hermione quickly abandon all thoughts that ties could be restored. This is not how she envisioned apologizing for doing what she did. It looked like George was forced to stand in the same room with her, his face looked uninterested and he kept on glancing towards the door.
"I didn't know you were taking care of Teddy." Hermione spoke up, after a contraction subsided.
George forced a smile that turned into a scowl soon after.
"Yeah well, everyone else was busy…" George muttered out.
Hermione gulped and wished she hadn't ask for his presence because the awkwardness was making her more uncomfortable.
"So what are you having?" George asked, trying not to be genuinely interested. Hermione made sure she didn't misread his intentions, he was clearly asking question to diffuse the tension not because he was concerned or interested. Why would George care for a child that should have been his niece?
"A girl." Hermione bit her lip, twisting her face, "Andromeda? I think it's time…"
"Ah, I forgot the towels! Let me go get them."
Andromeda left, much to Hermione's protest. She begged her to forget the towels due to the sudden, frightful, urge to push. Hermione's hands serached for something to hold on to as she yelled for Andromeda. George stood there, in shock. Hermione grasped on to the bed frame for support, yelling for Andromeda to hurry back. She needed her around for support.
And while Hermione was loosing her mind pushing and pushing, a hand reached out for her arm. Hermione's eyes flew open, watching George take her hand and cupping his own two hands around hers. Hermione erratic breathing slowed down as tears poured down form her face. She wasn't sure if she was glad someone was there to support her or because George's demeanor completely changed back to a concerned friend. He talked her through the pushing and when Andromeda came around, she arrived just in time to deliver the baby girl. Hermione let out a last cry before crumbling back into the stacks of pillows supporting her. Andromeda carefully cut the umbilical cord and swiftly wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed her over to Hermione who had her arms stretched out for her child.
Hermione began to cry silently. She looked at her baby in amazement who was wailing and withering around in her wrap. George took a look at her and softly smiled.
"Aww hell 'Mione she looks just like you. I still remember that face when you were a 1st year." George chuckled.
It wasn't long before the baby settled down and began observing her surroundings. Hermione was convinced that she was bald but upon further examination by George, he confirmed that she had a thick layer of crisp white hair. George seemed indifferent about the hints of Draco in the baby, in fact he crack a jokes about it through out the entire day he spent with her and Hermione.
"You sure can't say it's not his kid." George smirked, "She's got his cursed eyes too."
"Don't say that. Let me take a look at her." Hermione smiled, streching out her arms.
George moved out of Hermione reach, clearly offended that she was about to take the baby away from his arms.
"Hey there! Let her spend a couple of more moments with Uncle George, you'll have the rest of you life looking after her." George snapped.
"Let me feed her." Hermione insisted.
George slumped over and handed the baby over to the mother. Teddy came in running towards George, landing on his lap observing the bundle of joy that Hermione was smiling down at.
"Is she pretty?" Teddy asked.
"Very." George said winking.
"What's her name?" Teddy cocked his head, his electric blue hair faded into a platinum blonde as well.
George smiled, "Yeah what is her name, 'Mione? Hermione number two?"
Hermione looked down at her baby, who was looking up at her with the same amount of interest.
"I don't know, I didn't give it much thought. What do you think?"
At that moment George and Teddy brighten up.
Any guesses to the name?
Review?