21 Weeks

Harry had stayed the night again. They didn't talk about his hours at Azkaban. She didn't bring up how after his carefree evening, he had grown quiet and clung to her in bed. She was just there and she knew that's all Harry needed at this point.

They arrived at De Haven Medical Center and Hermione proceeded in filling out the appropriate paperwork and completing the necessary tests before she was seen by Madam Owen.

Harry flipped through a muggle parenting magazine. She held back a giggle at the sight he made.

Harry suddenly hissed sharply. He dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out what looked like a compact mirror. He flipped it open. "Bloody hell, Irving, this better be important."

"We need you to come in. There's been a spike in dark magic over the Isle of Man," Irving said coarsely. "All team leads are to meet in conference room six for immediate debrief and coordinate sites."

"I can't I'm -"

"All team leads," Irving repeated and cut the communication line.

Harry smacked his thigh. "Dammit." He turned sharply, meeting Hermione's eye. "Mai," he breathed out.

"It's okay," she said softly.

She watched him clench his jaw. "It's not okay," he seethed.

He stood and jammed his mirror back in his pocket. She got to her feet as well. She rested her hands on his arms. "Be careful."

"I'm sorry," he repeated. He brought his hands to her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry."

Hermione twisted the handle of her purse and watched him stalk out of the OBGYN wing.

"Ms. Granger?" Madam Owen walked up to her slowly.

She gave Madam Owen a small smile and followed her into the exam room. She motioned for Hermione to sit down on the exam table.

"Well, your weight and blood pressure are looking good. Nothing to worry about from what I can see of your urine and blood tests. So, what about you? How have you been feeling?" Madam Owen booted up her ultrasound machine.

"I'm alright. I experienced some leg cramping this week, but I just tried to drink more water and that helped a bit. My feet are starting to swell too." She pulled up her shirt and let Madam Owen spread some jelly over her belly. "And my hips are starting to hurt."

"Sounds about right. Be sure to call us right away if you're feeling lightheaded. Come right to the hospital if you're bleeding or feeling an enormous amount of pain. Starting in a month or so, you'll start experiencing severe hip and back pain as your uterus expands to accommodate that growing baby. Along with your pelvis, it'll start to open."

Hermione groaned aloud.

Madam Owen chuckled. "It's a doozy, there's no sugar-coating it. Now, will we be finding out the sex of the baby today?"

Hermione bit her lip. "We did plan on finding out today, but Harry had to go."

Madam Owen placed the wand on Hermione's belly and began taking the necessary observations and pictures.

What should she do? Her next appointment wouldn't be for another month. Should they wait? Or maybe there could be another way. "Can you see and write it down on paper and seal it?" Hermione grabbed the ends of her shirt. "I want to find out with Harry."

Madam Owen offered a kind smile. "That sounds like a great idea."

The image of their baby appeared on the screen. Baby's profile was more pronounced than ever. She could see the little roundness of their head and the point of their nose.

"They're about ten inches or so," Madam Owen said, "if you haven't felt them moving yet, you'll probably start feeling them move in the coming weeks if not days. They're big enough now that you can feel their movements."

Madam Owen froze a few more images. She removed the wand and gave Hermione a towel to clean off her belly.

Madam Owen grabbed a pen and wrote swiftly across a piece of paper and folded it up neatly, closing it with a paperclip. "Here you go. I'll prepare these images ready for you."

Hermione took the folded note and slipped it into her purse.

Madam Owen set pieces of paper into a rectangular pan holding a thin layer of liquid. She removed it and then replaced it with another and another. Each piece showed a different image. "I'll be seeing you in four weeks. Be sure to keep eating healthy, stay active, but don't overwork yourself. If there are any issues or you're experiencing pain, just come straight to the hospital."

"I will, Madam Owen, thank you."

# # #

Harry wasn't sure if he'd ever felt so angry. He threw an empty bottle against the wall and had to fight the urge to kick or punch something. Maybe that was an exaggeration as images of a certain ministry official came to mind.

But said ministry official didn't keep him from seeing his baby. Or hit him with a slicing hex or leave him with bruised knuckles after said hex.

Castle pulled him aside. "Deep breaths, Potter."

He listened to his mentor, grateful for her presence. She stood beside him as she took notes in her notepad. "What's got you on edge?"

Did Castle know about him and Hermione? About the baby? She should know. She was the only one within the department he actually cared about.

"My," he began but corrected himself, "I was going to find out the sex of my baby today."

Her eyes widened. "You're having a baby? Congratulations."

He slouched. "Thanks."

She sighed deeply. "It gets hard, Potter. I almost missed the birth of my first kid," she stared at the other Aurors and forensic team that was walking amongst the crime scene, "my wife had gone into early labor. I made it, thankfully, but she had already been in labor for a few hours. She understands and I hope to Godric your partner is just as understanding because it's tough."

He clenched his hands over his knees. Hermione disliked the fact that he was an Auror. She didn't like him, or Ron and even Neville and Tonks, being in such a dangerous profession. She'd never force them out of it. But she understood.

But, so what if she understood?

He didn't want to miss anything, period. He wanted to see his baby.

Castle gripped his shoulder before stepping back and returning to the others, leaving him alone to his thoughts.

# # #

Harry stood on the front step of Grimmauld Place. He wanted to bang his head against the wall. He sent out a silent prayer and tried the door, hoping it would open. When it did, his breath hitched in his throat. He entered the foyer and closed the door behind him. "Hermione?"

Crookshanks appeared before him, walking out of the ground floor sitting room as if he had been waiting for him to arrive. He simply stared.

"I'm fine if you were wondering," he told the half-kneazle, "where is she?"

Crookshanks blinked and walked up the stairs, his bottle brush tail high in the air. Harry followed him into the first-floor sitting room.

His eyes widened. Hermione had transfigured the sofa - adding length so she could stretch out as if it were a bed. She was laying down, her head turned to the telly, watching some period drama and eating a croissant.

"Hey," he said softly.

She gasped, sitting up. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay. I called Sirius and he said you weren't home and didn't receive any calls from the department so I figured you were still busy with work." She took a breath. "You look terrible."

Harry brushed his hand over his hair and face, suddenly thankful that Castle had reminded him to heal the cuts and bruises on his face and hands and passed him a healing potion for the slice against his chest. Hermione did not need to know or see that.

She scooted to the side, moving to stand up. "It's okay," Harry joined her on the transfigured couch. Fluffing a cushion behind him, he leaned back and let out a tired breath.

Hermione pushed herself backward and rested beside him. She took his hand and held it between her own.

Harry sighed. "I really wanted to be there, Hermione."

She threaded their fingers together. "I know, Harry." Crookshanks hopped onto the end of the sofa and curled up at Hermione's feet. "Was it bad?" Her voice was soft.

Harry closed his eyes and nodded. He didn't want to tell her about the destruction or the slaughter they had come across.

Merlin. The day had started on such a good note.

Hermione snuggled closer. "Baby is doing well.

Harry removed his hand from her and wrapped it around her shoulders, bringing her closer.

"Everything is still looking good." Hermione reached over to the side table and picked up her sonogram. She placed them on Harry's chest. "They're about ten inches. The book says they're around 10 oz, which is hard to wrap my mind around. They barely weigh anything, but my body has changed so much."

Harry held up the ultrasound and stared at their baby's profile. "Is that their leg?" He pointed to a curved line.

Hermione giggled. "Yes. Look at their nose."

Her laughter renewed some of his energy. He cleared his throat. "So, is it a boy or a girl?"

"I don't know."

He looked at her confused. "Weren't we going to find out today?"

She nodded. She reached over to the table again and picked up a folded up piece of paper. She placed it on his chest.

He set the ultrasound images on the sofa arm and picked up the paper closed with a paperclip. "What?"

"I wanted to find out with you so I had Madam Owen write it down. Come on, open it. I've been so restless I decided to watch Jennifer Ehle's Pride and Prejudice. It can only distract me for so long."

Did she wait all day to find out with him? He pulled off the paper clip. How was he going to make it up to her? He missed the appointment. He made her worry.

Her head rested on his shoulder. "Harry," she said, her voice tinged with impatience.

He took a deep breath and unfolded the paper.

Congratulations. It's a girl!

Harry's breath caught in his throat. A girl?

Hermione squeaked beside him. "We're having a girl!" She sat up, Harry's arm dropping to his side. She grabbed his shoulder and shook him hard. "It's a girl! Oh my god, Teddy was right. Do you think he can sense the future? No, probably not. I mean, it could happen. That'd be incredible. A metamorphmagus and a seer? Could that happen?"

Harry stared at the words. It's a girl. They were having a daughter. His chest tightened as a wave of warmth settled on his chest. His heart beat faster and faster. He felt dizzy despite his seated position on the sofa.

"Hermione, we're having a baby," he breathed out, "it's a girl."

He blinked at the gentle touch on his jaw. She turned his head slightly, making him face hers. Her thumb swiped across his cheek, a line of wetness spread across his face. Was he crying?

Hermione wrapped her arms around his shoulders, cradling him carefully and firmly, in the secure hug only she could give.

He nuzzled into her neck, taking in her familiar scent of roses. As his heart calmed down, he suddenly realized it wasn't a pinch of anxiety he felt.

It was something else. That feeling that settled closely around his anxiety, pushing and overpowering it at times and overwhelming him, taking hold inside of him - Merlin, it wasn't anxiety. It was pure and utter joy.

He was going to be a parent. A father. There was a little life growing inside Hermione. They were having a baby. A little bit of him. A little bit of her. A little life that was the best of both of them and who was going to fill them with worry and happiness, and love.

A baby. Their baby.