A/N: Thank you for reading and please review
Ron was running next to the gurney, gripping Hermione's hand tightly. She was still unconscious, but at least he could see that she was breathing. The healers kept asking him questions, but he couldn't answer the most important one. What happened to her?
Just a few hours ago she was fine. It has been almost a week since she gave birth to their daughter, and it was the first time that she went outside. Her body was still very sore and she was still worn-out, as was expected.
*#*#*#*
Hermione and Rose were sitting on a blanket outside. It was still cold outside, but at least the sun was shining. Mr Granger had gone inside a few minutes earlier to go fetch another pillow, which left Hermione and her daughter outside alone.
Ron and Harry had gone to fetch more firewood, and Ginny was somewhere inside the tent playing with James and Daniel. Mr and Mrs Weasley were lying down for a kip. It was a rather nice day for January.
At first Hermione didn't think much of the footsteps she heard, but she realised something was wrong when nobody called out a greeting. She quickly rose to her unsteady feet, wand in hand.
She stood up just in time to react to the killing curse coming her way. It was Stuart Millard. Somehow he had found them. Hermione guessed that he must've paid someone off from the Ministry.
There was a fight between them, spells flying everywhere. Hermione turned her back when she stopped a jinx from hitting Rose. Stuart took this opportunity to cast a curse. It hit her right beneath her ribcage, for he never was good at aiming.
A gunshot sounded, echoing through the forest air. Before Stuart could finish the incantation, a bullet ripped through his skull and he fell to the floor. In her last moment of consciousness, Hermione saw her father lowering his firearm. "Not my daughter, arsehole" he said, repeating the words similar to those Mrs Weasley had said just before killing Bellatrix.
Mr Granger rushed over to his daughter, but Ron got to her before he did, moving like he was shot from a cannon. Everybody was standing outside the tent, Ginny covering the children's eyes so they wouldn't see. Mrs Weasley picked up the crying Rose, and Ron gently gathered his wife up in his arms.
"Do you know what incantation he used?" he asked. Mr Granger nodded.
"He didn't finish it" he said.
Ron stood up, holding his wife in his arms. "She's still breathing. I'm going to run to the edge and apparate to St Mungo's. I'll meet you guys there" she said to his mother. "Can you keep up?" he asked Mr Granger.
They took off in a sprint to the edge of the forest, Ron carrying his unconscious wife. The second they broke through the protective charms, Ron grabbed Mr Granger and turned on the spot. They landed in the Entrance Hall at St Mungo's. Ron fell to his knees, but he didn't care.
A few seconds later he was running beside his wife's gurney, holding her hand as if it was the only thing tying her to this world. They made him wait out in a corridor, and he sank down to the floor, tears streaming down his face. He held his head in his hands, praying to every deity that she would somehow be okay.
He sat like that for a long time, before finally he felt a hand on his shoulder. His sister sank down next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You're such a drama queen" she said. "You're wife is in the hospital right now, and somehow you still manage to look worse than she does."
Ron gave her a quick smile. "Where's Rosie?" he asked, lifting his head to look over her shoulder.
"Sleeping. Your father-in-law was the only one that could calm her. I'd keep him around if I were you. He seems to be a big hit with all the women in your life" Ginny answered.
"I can't lose her, Ginny. She's my whole world. I can't raise Rosie alone, I need her brains" Ron said, his body shaking with suppressed sobs.
"You're not going to lose her. The bastard never finished the incantation, and Hermione is to stubborn to die" Ginny said. "Look, your wife survived goodness knows how many curses before. She's got this. I know it looks bad, but she is so much stronger than we give her credit for. She lied to Bellatrix. After all those hours of unbearable pain, she still managed to lie. That took more strength than I believe I have" she continued.
"And if push comes to shove, you won't be alone. You'll never be alone. I mean, how many times in the past few weeks have you entered a room and found it empty? We will help you as much as we can- I'll even let you borrow my superior intellect . But we're not there yet, so don't give up hope" Ginny finished, smiling through her tears.
Even though she and Hermione don't always get along, especially not in the kitchen, she does love her sister-in-law. Hermione was the one person she could share all her secrets with while growing up, the first friend that wasn't a blood relative.
After a small eternity, a nurse called out Ron's name. He flew to his feet and pulled his sister up. "You can see her now" was all the nurse said. Ron swallowed and looked over his shoulder at Ginny.
"Well, go on then" was all she said before turning and walking down the hall.
Ron entered the small room and sat down on the chair next to her. Hermione's eyes were open, but they weren't really focusing on anything. His heart skipped a beat when she squeezed his hand, because she knew that he was there. Then her eyelids dropped again.
A healer came in and explained that the curse was supposed to stun her into a coma, but because the incantation was never finished, she was simply stunned with the equivalent of Professor McGonagall's four stunning spells. She would have to spend the next two weeks in the hospital so they could monitor her, but after that she could go home. Although she would be on bedrest for the next six weeks, Hermione would eventually be fine with no long-term problems.
Ron kissed her forehead, telling her to never scare her like that again. After the healer left, Mr Granger came in, carrying a now-awake Rose. "Congratulations. You are the proud father of a very healthy little girl" he said, carefully placing the child in her father's arms. "One of the healers took a look at her while you were waiting to come in" he explained.
Ron smiled down at his daughter. She stared back up at him with her big blue eyes. "They say she's going to be alright. She'll be sore for a few more weeks, trust the git to hit her in the stomach, but she'll make a full recovery" Ron said, looking up at Mr Granger. "Thank you for what you did" he added.
"I've killed people over less than my daughter's safety. That was nothing. I didn't even hesitate about pulling the trigger as I usually did" Mr Granger answered. It might have been a while since he left the navy to join the UN, but his reflexes and instincts were still spot on.
*#*#*#*
Hermione woke up early the next morning. She couldn't help smiling at the sight of her husband holding their daughter while snoring away peacefully beside the bed. Her body was aching and moving was painful, but she was alive.
