Note: Someone asked in a review how long this fic was and I realized I never stated. It's 40 chapters long. The last chapter will be published mid-July.

The beginning of this chapter might give y'all a little anxiety BUT neither Hermione or Harry gets hurt in this chapter (or any chapter for that matter).

20 Weeks

Harry was tying his shoe when his cellphone rang. He snatched it from his side table and hurried down the stairs, and out the front door. "Hermione?"

"Harry," her voice warbled. She sniffled and took a deep breath. "I don't think we can go shopping today."

"What happened? Are you hurt?" He clutched at his hair.

"It's my dad," she wavered.

Howard? "Bloody hell, is he alright? What about your mom?"

"My mom is fine. He," she trailed away, continuing to sniffle over the line.

"Hermione," he sat down on the front steps and rubbed his eye, "I need you to take a deep breath. When you're ready, tell me what happened."

He heard her breathing deeply over the line. After a few moments of silence, Hermione began again. "This morning, my father was out working in the garden. He had a heart attack. I'm at the hospital right now, waiting to hear some news."

Harry hid his eyes from the sun. "What hospital are you at?"

"What?"

"Give me the address."

"Harry."

"Text me the address. I'll be there as quickly as I can."

"Okay," she said softly.

Harry hung up the phone and hurried back into the house. "Sirius! Hermione's dad is hurt. I'm going to the hospital."

Sirius stumbled in from the back, wiping away grease from his hands with a dirty towel. "What happened?"

"He had a heart attack. I'll let you know more when I get there." He grabbed a few bananas from the table and headed back to the front door.

"Give Hermione and Nicole a hug for me!" Sirius yelled after him.

# # #

Harry walked purposely through the hospital lobby and toward the waiting area. He found Hermione sitting by a window, slouching in a chair. He ran to her. "Hermione."

Hermione jumped. She stared at him, eyes watery. She slowly got to her feet.

He pulled her into his arms. "How are you? How is he?" He cradled the back of her head and relaxed once he felt her arms wind around him.

"My mom was just here. They've checked him in. The first round of tests says it's not a heart attack but he's in a lot of pain."

"Where's your mom?"

She sniffed against his chest. "She's in the room with him."

"Good, I'm glad he's not alone." He kissed the top of her head and helped her back to her chair. "Are you hungry? I brought this." He held out the bananas he had stuffed into his jacket pockets.

Hermione wiped her nose with a spare tissue. "Thanks."

Harry opened it before handing it over. "So, it's not a heart attack. That's good. That's good news."

She nodded solemnly.

Harry reached over and began rubbing her back.

"We were supposed to be shopping for a cot," Hermione said in between bites of her banana.

Harry brushed her hair aside. "We can do that another day, Hermione. Don't worry."

"I know," her voice was muffled. She set the banana peel on the empty chair beside her. She slouched back into her chair.

Harry looked around the lobby. The receptionists and nurses' aides were busy with other people. "Do you think they'll notice if I transfigure the chairs?"

She laughed lightly. "Only one way to find out."

Harry discreetly waved his wand and changed their chairs into a dual seat bench with plush cushions and backrest. "It's the same color. Maybe they won't notice."

He set his arm around her shoulders and she slowly curled into him, resting her head against his chest.

"I'm worried," she whispered.

He gripped her shoulder. "I am too."

He could feel how tense she was, she was quivering from the crying and anxiety. He rubbed his thumb over the slope of her shoulder. "Please try to relax, okay?"

"I know, I'm trying."

He stretched his legs out. "How about you tell me what you did yesterday."

She sat up slightly. "I moved the baby stuff I already have into the spare room next to mine."

"Why?"

"I thought I'd get a nursery all set up. I don't know where I'm going to live, but I thought I might as well get a room ready. Just in case."

"No, no, that sounds like a good idea. Are you feeling comfortable at Grimmauld Place?"

She leaned her head back, giving him a better view of her face. Her eyes were still red but the blotchiness of her skin was going away.

"Surprisingly, yes. It doesn't feel anything like it did before."

"Good. As long as you feel safe and comfortable there. You know, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to stay there even after you give birth."

She leaned away and stared at him with a questioning gaze. "Why? What is it?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. It's just, you were right. It's a good location. It'll be easy for your parents to see you, easy for me and Sirius and the others to see you. I think it'll be more important while you're recovering."

She pursed her lips. "That's true. I know I was right."

He scoffed under his breath.

"Anyway, once I moved everything I figured out what I wanted to get for the baby."

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"Other than a cot, I want to get a dresser and as cliche as it sounds, a rocking chair."

"A rocking chair sounds nice," he murmured.

"I haven't decided whether or not I want a changing table too. I feel like we won't need it. But probably some shelves for nappies and all those things. I think I should get a bassinet too," she gasped, grasping his thigh, "did Sirius tell you that I asked him about helping to take care of the baby?"

His stomach dropped. He totally forgot to ask Sirius. Merlin, how could he forget something like that? "No, he didn't. I'm sorry. I completely forgot. I meant to ask him."

She let out of his thigh and placed her hand over his, threading their fingers. "I know. I wonder what he would have done if you asked him because when I did, he started crying."

His chest tightened. "He cried?"

She looked down at the floor, her expression rather wistful. "I think he was overwhelmed. I think, sometimes, he can't believe the life he's living now. And now he's going to be a grandpa. For the longest time, he must have thought it was impossible."

He blinked hard, surprised to feel tears forming in his eyes. He tucked Hermione's head under his chin and hugged her firmly.

"He's going to spoil our kid," he mumbled.

She nodded her head against his chest.

"I don't know if I'll have the strength to fight him," he spoke into her hair.

He felt her laugh. "Good thing you have me."

"Harry, Hermione." Hermione's mom, Nicole, came upon them.

"Mum!" Hermione slowly stood up from Harry's grasp.

Harry took a deep breath and carefully wiped at his eyes before getting to his feet as well.

Nicole hugged Hermione and then pulled Harry into a warm hug. "Oh, Harry I'm so glad you were able to come and be with Hermione. I didn't want to leave her but she told me you were coming by."

Harry hugged her back firmly. "I had to. How's Mr. Granger?"

Nicole stepped back. "He just got some more tests done and we'll be meeting with the cardiologist later once he's gone over the tests." She looked between Harry and Hermione and smiled softly. "It's going to be a long while. You don't have to wait here in the lobby all day. We'll call you when we get news."

"I don't want to go," Hermione said.

"Sweetheart, it'll be uncomfortable and a long wait."

"Can we see him?" Harry asked.

Nicole smiled again. "Yes. Come, I'll take you to him."

Harry and Hermione followed Nicole through the lobby and down a corridor. Without thinking, Harry took Hermione's hand in his and didn't let go until Hermione had rushed to her father's bed.

"Daddy."

"Pumpkin," he caressed her hair, "I'm alright."

"Hermione," Nicole called, "here have some water. There are some apple slices too, eat some."

Howard patted Hermione's hand and urged her to go to her mother. Then his gaze fell on Harry. He held his hand out, "Harry, son, it's good to see you."

Harry pulled up a chair and sat down, taking Howard's hand. "You worried us, Mr. Granger." Harry glanced at Hermione, she was eyeing the food on the tray at the end of the hospital bed. He lowered his voice, "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"I was earlier, but they gave me something for it," Howard swallowed, "It's not a heart attack," he told him. "We'll learn more once the cardiologist comes. But you and Hermione should go."

"We can stay -"

Howard shook his head. "I'm alright. I am. You go on and take my little girl out. Have lunch or watch a movie. Something. It's not good for her or the baby to feel so stressed."

Hermione must have heard because she walked back to her father and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll go daddy, but promise you two will call once you get news."

"We will sweetheart," Nicole said.

Hermione hugged her father again, while Harry hugged Nicole and waited by the door.

"Alright, you two, go do something productive," Howard gave them a tired smile, "you take care of my little girl now, Harry."

Hermione shook her head, but Harry smiled back. "I got it covered, Mr. Granger."

# # #

Harry slurped down the rest of his drink as Hermione took the final bite of her hamburger and leaned back in her seat.

"Was it good?" He teased.

"The best," her voice was muffled.

He set his empty cup down. "We can still look for cots if you want too."

Her eyes met his. "Do you want to?"

He nodded. "Come on, I wouldn't have suggested if I didn't want too."

"Okay. It'll be good to walk around a bit. I'm stiff from sitting in those chairs."

"Shit," he hissed, his hands hovered over their trash, "I don't remember if I untransfigured those chairs."

She grinned. "Don't worry, I did."

He released a sigh. They gathered back into Hermione's car and drove to the first store they were going to visit. Once they arrived, Harry helped Hermione out of the car and they stepped into the light and airy store side by side.

A clerk greeted them, telling them to seek them out if they had any questions.

Harry could hardly form any thoughts. It felt like he had stepped into another world of soft white, pastels, and with the soundtrack of baby coos and gurgles.

Hermione squealed beside him. "Harry, look at this." She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the set up in front of the display window. A deep brown colored cot with a matching dresser and changing table. It also had a forest animal themed bed set. The mattress sheet and blanket, mobile, and stuffed animals were covered in little animals.

Hermione turned around, holding out a soft stuffed animal that looked exactly like Hedwig.

He smiled. "I need to get this."

She giggled, pushing the owl into his hands. She returned to the cot, pressing her fingers across the mattress. "This is the set I saw with my mum. Isn't it cute?"

"The cot?"

"The sheets," she told him. "The cot is nice, but I want something softer," she handled the sharp square pointed edges, "I don't know." She turned and walked further into the store.

"Do we have one of these yet?" Harry tapped one of the strollers with his foot.

"No, not yet. But I need to make sure I find one that actually fits in the boot of my car."

Hermione walked ahead of him and Harry tried to keep up but he kept getting distracted by all the merchandise.

"Hey, Hermione, look it's the baby carrier I wanted." He tucked the snowy owl under his arm. He skimmed over the details and looked over all the other carrier options. "There are so many options."

"This one is more like a sling," she pointed to the one in his hands. "This one is like a harness type thing."

"I'm gonna get both."

Hermione chuckled under her breath. "We should probably get a trolley to carry all this."

Harry zipped to the front of the store and grabbed a trolley, wheeling it back carefully to where Hermione was standing. She helped put their things in the trolley.

"This way, Harry," Hermione led the way to where the rest of the cots were displayed. They walked past one after another. Traditional sets. Modern. Ones with clean lines and sloped lines. They even passed one with intricate designs.

"Oh," Hermione's hand trailed the top of the last cot in the row. "I like this one," she said softly.

He glanced at the light brown features, the rounded edges. Not very fancy, like the one they just passed. The edges not too pointy. He could already imagine where they could set it up. "Yes," he said softly, "this one."

They asked a clerk to set aside the cot. After, they went around the rest of the store, writing down on a list of what they'd still like to buy.

They piled their purchases in Hermione's car as best they could and drove back to Grimmauld Place.

Harry floated the purchases up to the spare room on the second floor and then joined Hermione in the first-floor sitting room where she had set out some snacks and tea.

He sat down beside her and braced himself as she let herself fall beside him. He wrapped his arms around her.

She sighed and settled against his chest. "I'm tired," she murmured.

"We probably overdid it today." He rubbed the side of her arm.

"Thanks for being with me today," she said into his chest.

"Hermione, I wouldn't let you be alone on a day like this." She relaxed in his hold. He closed his eyes and hoped she couldn't feel how his heart raced. Instead, to distract himself, he kissed the top of her head.

Harry walked out of the lift and strode confidently toward Mrs. Fawley's desk. "Good morning," he greeted, "Is Hermione in her office?"

Mrs. Fawley nodded, "she's looking a little blue. I think those will cheer her up nicely."

He fingered the edge of one of the tulips from the small bouquet he brought. "Thank you, Mrs. Fawley." He walked down across the open office space and to Hermione's office.

He stepped through the open door. "Hey."

Hermione looked up from her paperwork, her eyes softening at the sight of Harry and the bright flowers he held. She pushed away from the desk and met him in front of her desk.

He walked up, brushing some loose strands of hair out of her face and behind her ear. He handed her the bouquet. "Any news on your dad?"

She smelled the flowers. "The doctor said his heart was overworking itself. Something about the muscle lining. He told my dad he needed to change his diet and he was missing and low on some vitamins and potassium."

Harry leaned against her desk. "Wow, that's," he sighed in relief. "I guess we really do need to take vitamins."

Hermione laughed. "They put him on some medication, for now, to help his heart."

"I'm glad he's alright." Howard's condition could have been much worse.

She tugged the end of his sleeve. He opened his hand and smiled when she threaded their fingers together.

"Thank you for being there for me," she whispered.

With his free hand, he cupped her cheek and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Anything for you, Hermione."

"Auror Potter!" Ainsworth exclaimed from the doorway. "You've graced us with your presence."

Hermione slowly moved out of Harry's hold. "Do you need something, Ainsworth?"

He grinned, leaning against the open doorway. "Nope, just here to annoy you."

"I'll talk to you later," Harry muttered into her ear. He stepped out of her office, gave Ainsworth a curt nod, and walked away.

"You two are cute together," he heard him say.

"Shut up, Ainsworth," was Hermione's snappy reply.

Harry returned to the Auror's office, a sheepish smile on his face.