Chapter 37
Welcome Home, Rose
(Ron's PoV – May 16th, 2006 – 6:00PM)
Ron signed his name on the final announcement letter, and rolled up the piece of parchment, and put it in the backpack he had brought along for the hospital stay. It was already filled with other rolls of parchment, all announcement letters. There were too many for a lone owl to carry by themselves, so he had decided that in the next couple of days, when he had free time, he would go to the Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley and use different owls to send them out.
His muscles were rather tense having been in the same seat for a good hour and a half straight, so he stood up and stretched. As he looked at himself in the mirror on the wall nearby, he noticed that he had faint black circles under his eyes, the sign of very little sleep over the past few days. He had also gained a bit of weight ever since he had gone on paternity leave. He would need to get in a bit of exercise before he would return to the Auror department in a month or so.
He walked over to the crib, and smiled as he looked down at Rose, who was fast asleep. Behind him, he heard low murmuring, and turned around to see Hermione's eyes slowly open.
"Good evening, sleepyhead," Ron said, smiling.
"Mmm, how long have I been asleep?" Hermione asked, as she sat up.
"A few hours," Ron said, "It is a little after six in the evening."
Hermione stood up and stretched.
"How is she?" Hermione said, her eyes on the crib.
"Like mother, like daughter," Ron said, chuckling. "She's been asleep almost as long as you have. Do you want anything? I could go down to the cafeteria."
"Not hungry yet," Hermione said, shaking her head, "I could use some tea though. Something to help me stay up for a few hours."
"Good idea," Ron said, "If you fall asleep again, you might not sleep too much tonight. I think I have some Muggle money, I'll be right back."
"One moment," Hermione said, raising a hand.
"Something wrong?" Ron asked.
"No," Hermione said.
She smiled and walked over to Ron and put her arms around him, then kissed him softly.
"Just wanted to tell you how much I love you," she said.
Ron grinned against her lips and returned the kiss.
"I love you too," he said, backing up, "I'll be right back."
Hermione nodded. She walked over to the crib, and Ron left the room. He headed down the hall and over to a couple of machines that served drinks and snack food.
"Hey, mate," Ron heard Harry's voice say, as he was filling a couple foam cups of tea.
Ron turned and saw Harry and Ginny walking down the hallway.
"Back again?" Ron asked.
"I told you we'd visit tonight," Harry said.
"Is Hermione awake?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, she just woke up from a nap," Ron said, "Harry, can I talk to you for a moment? In private."
"Sure," Harry said.
"I'll go and see how Hermione and Rose are doing," Ginny said.
"Take these with you," Ron said, handing the cups of tea to Ginny.
Ginny took them and walked past Ron and down the hallway.
"Something wrong, mate?" Harry asked.
Ron looked around for any eavesdroppers. When he was sure the hall was empty, he looked back at Harry.
"I had a visitor a couple hours ago," Ron said, "From the Daily Prophet."
"Here in this hospital?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said. "He wanted to do an article on the arrival of Rose."
"And you didn't want to talk to him?" Harry asked.
"Nothing like that," Ron said, "I gave him the information he wanted. That wasn't the problem. I guess one of the security guards here spooked him, because the guard who was accompanying him was under the Confundus Charm."
"He used it on a Muggle?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said. "He also used a Quick-Quotes Quill, and it was writing by itself, right out here in the hallway. I told him it was a breach of the Statute, and he apologized, but -"
"You still think he's shady?" Harry asked.
"Well, maybe not in that sense," Ron said. "But you know how those Daily Prophet reporters are. I'm afraid he'll post some kind of rubbish in that article about Rose. Hermione doesn't know about the reporter yet. I'm wanting to wait for that. She doesn't need those problems right now. She's already going to be under enough stress over the next few days."
"I tell you what," Harry said. "After we finish up here and I take Ginny home and see how James is doing, I'll go to the Ministry and see what I can do about this bloke. What's his name?"
"Hank Dinkle," Ron said.
"I've heard of him," Harry said, nodding, "He's a rookie. Not even a year under his belt. Don't worry, mate. You just focus on your daughter. I'll take care of it."
"Thanks, mate," Ron said.
"How about we go see your wife before she gets too suspicious?" Harry said.
"Good idea," Ron said.
-
(Hermione's PoV – May 16th, 2006 – 6:10PM)
After Ron left the room...
Hermione leaned over the crib and gently picked Rose up. Rose immediately started to cry, as she opened her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Hermione cooed, as she cuddled Rose against her, "I didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to hold you."
As she stood there, cuddling Rose and trying to help her fall asleep again, she felt a wet spot on Rose's diaper.
"Someone needs a nappy change," Hermione said, chuckling.
With a bit of difficulty, she picked up a towel from the nearby sink then walked over to the bed. She laid the towel on the bed, then gently laid Rose down onto it. She walked back toward the sink, and opened the cupboard above it and took out the essentials needed to change Rose. As she walked back over to Rose and started taking off her dirty diaper, she heard a light knocking sound on the door. She looked around and smiled when she saw Ginny walking into the room, with two cups of tea in her hands.
"Ron and Harry will be in here soon," Ginny said, as she walked over and set the tea on the bedside table, "Ron said he wanted to talk to Harry about something. Can't figure out what, but you never know with those two. Looks like its changing time."
"Yeah," Hermione said, as she smiled at Rose and started to wash her, "Just woke up a minute ago all cranky, didn't you?"
"I hear she's not the only one who has been sleeping all day," Ginny said.
"Yeah," Hermione said, frowning, "Feeding her wears me out some."
"I think Mum may have a potion recipe to help with that," Ginny said. "I'll write to her tonight and see what she can do."
"That would be quite helpful," Hermione said, "Thank you."
"So how is my brother adjusting to fatherhood?" Ginny asked.
"Very well, I think," Hermione said. "I woke up this morning and he was holding Rose in his arms. It was such a beautiful sight to see. Though... he's not very happy about our arrangements when it comes to who calls on Rose when she needs one of us. He's always on me about how I will need my rest and I explained to him that I'm the only one who can feed Rose right now."
"Harry was the same way about James," Ginny said. "I'm guessing Ron's got those new-daddy worries. Believing he's not up to the whole task of being a father."
"He mentioned something like that," Hermione said, nodding.
"That will pass," Ginny said, "If you have to, do a compromise with him. You take care of Rose during the night, when she needs you, and while you are catching up on some rest during the day, Ron can look after her. At least until he goes back to work."
"That is basically what he's been doing today when I'm napping," Hermione said, "So I think he'll be up to that. And... there, all finished."
She gently picked up Rose and cuddled her in her arms.
"How's that?" she asked Rose, "You happy now?"
Rose moved her head to the sound of Hermione's voice and looked up at her.
"I'm guessing that is a yes," Ginny said, chuckling.
Ginny cleaned up the left-over diaper, as Hermione laid back down on the bed, with Rose cuddled in her arms. She heard another tapping sound on the door, and looked up to see Ron and Harry walk in.
"There you are," Ginny said, "What was that all about?"
"Ron just wanted some fatherly advice," Harry said.
"Ron's a wonderful father," Hermione said, smiling up at her husband.
Ron smiled back. He walked over to Hermione, and kissed her on the forehead, then sat down in the chair nearest her bed.
"So when does this little one get to go home?" Harry asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," Hermione said, "If everything checks out right."
"Bet you're excited about that," Ginny said.
"Yeah," Hermione said, "It'll feel good to sleep in my own bed again."
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny talked for a while about different things that were happening outside the hospital, while Hermione was cooped up in there. Soon, Hermione realized she was hungry. She wanted to eat something before she had to feed Rose again. Ron treated everyone to a dinner of cafeteria food, and after dinner, Harry and Ginny decided they needed to leave and relieve James' babysitter of her duties for the day.
(Ron's PoV – May 17th, 2006 – 7:00AM)
Early the following morning, Ron was awoken, in his hospital hotel room, by a light tapping sound on the window. He yawned, sleepily, and stood up then walked over to the window. An owl was on the windowsill carrying an issue of the Daily Prophet. Ron opened the window and the owl flew in, then dropped the newspaper on the bed. Ron was about to offer it payment, but the owl flew back out the window. Ron shrugged and walked back over to the bed. He picked up the paper and something fell out of it onto the floor. He found that it was a small strip of parchment and he picked it up. It read:
This is a free issue of the Daily Prophet, from myself, in hopes that this will make up for my rudeness yesterday during our meeting. I apologize for any inconvenience to you or your family that my unexpected arrival may have given you. The small article about your daughter is on the bottom of the front page of the paper. Once again, I give my congratulations to you and your family.
With regards,
Hank Dinkle, Reporter
Daily Prophet
Ron picked up the Daily Prophet and found the article about Rose, then started to read it:
Weasley Family Welcomes Little Girl
In the early hours on the evening of May 15th, the already large Weasley family grew in size by one, in the form of a healthy baby girl. Rose Marie Weasley was born to Ronald and Hermione Weasley, both 26, of London, England. Rose was born at the Kingston Hospital in South London. We only spoke to the new father, who did not say too much, but we believe that, because the new mother is Muggle-born it was decided that their daughter would be born at a Muggle hospital. For more information on the procedures of childbirth in Muggle hospitals, see Page 4.
Rose was born at seven minutes past the hour of seven in the evening, and was registered at a healthy nine-and-a-half pounds and twenty-one inches. This is the first child for the happy parents.
The father, Ron Weasley,was quoted with saying "Both myself and my wife are very happy. As is our family." He followed up with the small request that any well-wishers who wish to congratulate the happy parents on their new arrival send their owl post to the Auror department, in which Mr. Weasley is a respected member of the department and has been such since the beginning of the new millennium.
The new mother, who is the head of a department of the Ministry that focuses their work on assisting House-Elves in the community, was resting at the time of the interview. Mr. Weasley has promised that photos of, and more comments about, his new daughter, would come at a later date.
We here at the Daily Prophet and the Ministry of Magic wish to congratulate the new parents on the arrival of their daughter, and hope that she grows up to be a wonderful member of the wizarding world.
Ron folded up the paper, then proceeded to pack his clothes in the suitcase he had brought with him.
-
(Hermione's PoV – May 17th, 2006 – 7:15AM)
Hermione woke up that morning to the sound of Rose crying in her crib. She sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes, then headed over to the crib.
"Mummy's here, Rose," she said, as she gently picked her daughter up, "What's wrong? You're not wet. Hmm... did you have a bad dream?"
Hermione carefully rocked her daughter back and forth in her arms. After a moment, Rose quieted down again and her lips formed a small smile. Hermione smiled back at her daughter. then returned to her bed and laid down carefully. Rose's mouth opened and closed, and Hermione realized what she wanted. She proceeded to unbutton her gown and helped Rose get closer to her. She was surprised when she didn't wince any at the movement.
"Well, how about that?" she said, chuckling, "I'm getting used to this. Is that what you wanted? I guess so, since you slept through the night. I'm not going to get used to that though. I'm sure before too long you'll be up quite a bit in the middle of the night."
Hermione heard a knocking sound on the door, and it opened as Ron walked into the room, carrying his suitcase. Hermione smiled at him.
"Breakfast time, huh?" Ron said, quietly, as he waked over to them.
"She slept through the whole night again," Hermione said, "Woke me up a couple minutes ago, and this was the first thing she wanted. I guess she's a bit like you in that sense."
"What?" Ron asked, chuckling, "I don't recall ever being that close to you this early in the morning. At least not recently."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I meant that breakfast is almost always the first thing on your mind when you wake up," she said.
"Oh," Ron said, "Well, you got me there."
She smiled and beckoned him closer with a finger. He obeyed and kissed her softly, and she kissed him back.
"I wonder who she's going to be more like between us," Ron said, as he walked over to the chair and sat down.
"What?" Hermione said, grinning, "You don't think she'll be more like me since she's a girl."
"Well, I wasn't going to put it that way," Ron said.
"Oh, I know you, Ron," Hermione said, "You're going to try to make her the next great Quidditch captain at Hogwarts."
"Well, I don't know about that," Ron said. "Knowing she has your genes, she'll probably be scared out of her wits to get on a broom."
"I'd probably be scared out of my wits to watch her on a broom," Hermione said.
"She's already like you in some ways, you know," Ron said.
"Oh?" Hermione asked.
"Mmhmm," Ron said, "She's as beautiful as you are – maybe even a bit more, than you, if I may so - and she stole my heart just like you did."
Hermione grinned.
"You know," Ron said, "It's a good thing I'm an Auror."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"If she's as beautiful as you are," Ron said, "I'm going to have to use my Auror privileges to scare any boys away in about sixteen years or so."
Hermione rolled her eyes again, but chuckled anyway.
Around eleven that morning, Dr. Sterling checked up on Hermione and Rose and announced that they would be able to go home shortly. He requested that they stay for about another hour while he worked on the paperwork, and Hermione agreed, knowing it would give her enough time to pack and get ready to leave.
Ron left shortly after Dr. Sterling's visit, to call Hermione's mother. Helen arrived about a half-an-hour after the phone call, while Ron was helping Hermione pack up her things. When Helen walked in, she was carrying a large box with her.
"I went shopping yesterday," she said, "to pick up some diapers and things for Rose, and I found this cute little outfit for her. Thought she could wear it on her first day home."
Hermione took the box and opened it. Inside was full-bodied baby pyjama outfit. It was a dark pink and had a picture of a red-rose on the shirt. There were also some matching socks to go with it.
"Oh, it's adorable," Hermione said, grinning.
"I hope it fits her," Helen said, "I told the lady Rose's length, and she helped pick it out."
With a bit of assistance from Helen, Hermione proceeded to dress Rose in her new outfit.
"It looks great," Hermione said, when she finished. "She looks so cute in it. Thanks, Mum."
Helen smiled. A light tapping was heard on the door and Dr. Sterling walked in. He was carrying a note-board with some paper on it.
"I'll just take your suitcases and things out to the car," Helen said, "While you finish up."
"Thanks, Mum," Hermione said, "We'll be right out, I think."
Helen smiled and picked up the suitcase and duffle bag and walked past Dr. Sterling and out of the room. Dr. Sterling walked over to Hermione.
"Just have some final things for you to sign," he said, "Boring routine information and all of that. Also I have small packet here of information on what to expect for Rose's first year of life, as well as nutritious recipes and advice and tips to help you get your old body back, Hermione."
"I do miss my old body," Hermione said, chuckling, "That will be very helpful."
Hermione and Ron proceeded to fill out the information on the paper, then gave it back to Dr. Sterling.
"There is a wheelchair waiting for you just outside the door when you're ready to go," Dr. Sterling said. "Hospital policy, you know."
"I appreciate it," Hermione said, "Thank you for everything. I don't know what I'd do without you in these past few months."
"Happy to help," Dr. Sterling said.
"If we decide to have another child," Ron said, "We'll look you up."
Dr. Sterling smiled. He bowed his head in farewell and left the room.
"Already thinking about having another child?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes.
"Well, not for a while," Ron said, "I miss your old body just as much as you do."
Hermione shook her head, chuckling. When she picked up Rose, she started to cry again, but Hermione rocked her gently in her arms and Rose calmed down. Ron picked up his backpack and they left the room. The wheelchair Dr. Sterling had mentioned was sitting against the wall. Hermione carefully sat down in it, and Ron pushed them down the hall and toward the parking lot.
-
At half-past-noon, they arrived back at the house. Ron helped Hermione get out of the car. During her shopping trip, Helen had bought a child-seat, which Rose was now sleeping in. Hermione carefully unbuckled the belt from around Rose and gently picked up her daughter. Rose woke up and cried softly, and Hermione calmed her down as they walked inside the house.
While Ron brought in the suitcases and bags, Hermione walked around the house, giving Rose a tour of the rooms. This was more for Hermione's entertainment, then Rose's benefit, because Rose had fallen asleep half-way through the tour. Hermione ended up in her bedroom, and sat down on the bed, gently cuddling Rose against her.
Ron walked in, carrying a couple of bags, and Hermione watched him as he unpacked diapers and different things and stored them under the crib.
"Happy to be home?" Ron asked her.
"Thrilled," Hermione said, nodding, "Can't tell yet if Rose likes her room. She was asleep before I could show it to her."
"I'm sure she'll love it," Ron said, walking over to Hermione and Rose.
Ron gently stroked Rose's head, and Rose moved softly at his touch, though she remained asleep. Hermione beckoned Ron closer, and she kissed him softly on the lips.
"Hmm, Ron?" Hermione said, "Could you help me for a moment? I've been wanting to try this, but didn't want to do it until I was back in our own bed."
Ron nodded and walked over to Hermione. Hermione gently handed Rose to Ron, and he cuddled her against him. Hermione scooted into a comfortable laying position against her pillow.
"Lay her gently on her stomach," Hermione said, "On my tummy."
Ron raised his eyebrows, but he did as was told. Rose woke up again as Ron moved her, and she started to cry. Hermione motioned to her stomach, and Ron laid Rose gently on it. Rose calmed down instantly and laid her head down against Hermione's tummy. Hermione grinned when Rose closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.
"I was right," she said, "She likes this."
"She does," Ron said, as he gently rubbed his hand across Rose's back, "She's very comfortable with you."
"She knows I'm her mother," Hermione said, smiling. "You know... I could definitely get used to this."
"Being a mother?" Ron asked.
"Not just that," Hermione said, "I mean this... her laying on me. It's so peaceful just watching her sleep like this."
"You're going to have to stay like that for a while," Ron said.
"I'm perfectly comfortable at the moment," Hermione said, grinning.
"Are you hungry?" Ron asked.
"Yeah," Hermione said, "I could use some normal food again."
"What do you want?" Ron asked.
"Mmm, surprise me," Hermione said.
"I hoped you might say that," Ron said. "Been a while since I picked out our meal."
Hermione grinned. Ron leaned toward her and kissed her softly. He then left the room. As she lay there, watching her daughter sleep on her rising and lowering stomach, Hermione's head filled with thoughts about her future as Rose's mother. She smiled as she started wondering what kind of life Rose would have, and hoped that it wouldn't be nearly as exciting or dangerous as her own was.
-
As I was writing this, I realized I don't have too many more ideas for the story. I have enough for one more chapter, and it will be the epilogue of the story. It will happen in the not-so-distant future from when this chapter finishes. I'll leave you guessing on what day that will be for a short while, and I'll try to get the last chapter up soon!