Chapter 26
Hermione's Woe's
Before Harry knew what had hit him, he had already served two of Snape's detentions and the latest full-moon was upon them. He had noticed several changes in his she-wolf since she had discovered she was pregnant.
She was more withdrawn from the other girls, refusing to engage with anyone, even him. Anytime anyone added cushions to the lounge area of their chambers, Hermione snaffled them away for her nest, a place where Harry would find her more and more frequently.
She was snappish with Ron, and other students who came to her for help, and with every day that brought the full-moon closer Hermione would become more and more hospitable to Daphne. The vampire, thanks to his aunt's suggestion had become more comfortable in her own pregnancy and was now able to stomach his blood as she had before she found herself pregnant.
Daphne for her part, had been doing her best to ignore the werewolves increasing temper towards her. She knew what Hermione was fearing, she couldn't bear the thought of what she herself would be like if she knew that there was a strong chance that she could lose her baby.
'Hermione you should eat something.' Daphne said gently, pushing some toast towards the girl.
'Go drain a blasted end shrew!' Hermione snapped throwing the plate at the vampire who neatly ducked and caught the plate before it hit the wall.
'Mione!' Ginny sighed, picking the toast up from the floor and putting it on the coffee table.
'Sod off Bird brain.' Hermione snapped, shoving herself up off the couch as much as her, six months looking bump would allow, and storming into her room, no doubt to huddle in her nest until the moon was rising.
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Harry sighed and stood following his irate she-wolf and softly closing the door behind him.
The floor was littered with pillows and torn book pages, and blankets, and he was sure he saw a few cushions from the divination tower, mixed in there as well.
Hermione was curled up in the corner and rubbing her face into…. was that his quidditch shirt?
'Hermione, have you been nicking my quidditch gear?' he asked with a chuckle as he sat beside her.
'It smells like you.' She said with a pout as she snuggled under his arm.
'I'm scared, Harry, what if I lose it?' she asked as she watched her mate rub his palm gently across her bump. It was something she never tired of, the way he looked at her with utter awe as if he couldn't quite believe there was a child growing within her, his child.
'Dumbledore doesn't seem to think you will.' Harry said softly, kissing the top of her head.
'He's been wrong before.' Hermione sniffled. 'I was talking to Bellatrix, she said that only one in a thousand female wolves carry to term. There aren't even a thousand werewolves in Britain Harry never mind female ones.' She said and Harry could feel wetness on his shoulder.
'Hey, shh, it'll be okay, we'll deal with whatever happens, yea.' He said in what he hoped was a comforting tone. But on the inside he was a terrified as his mate. What would the usually painful transformation do to his child. Would his child make the change as it's mother did? Like it was meant to? Or would it be too weakened by his wizard's blood to cope with it.
Hermione hadn't been the only one talking to people. His godfather and Remus had explain the history of Werewolf relationships to him. Traditionally, wolves would find a mate and turn them before, mating. But as muggles began to outnumber wizards, magical people were forced into hiding and werewolves, hunting for hidden mates, became beasts of fear and repulsion, meaning that if a wolf did find a human mate, they often refused to be turned. Which then meant that any children became half wolf and half wizard, the magic the child possessed within the womb becoming less and less with every passing generation.
Remus explain that there were less than 10 born wolves in a generation these days, and any that were born were usually male, meaning that their children survived the womb and were allowed to choose wither to be turned or remain wizards. Hermione was the first female wolf in over a century to be with child and no one was sure of what the outcome would be, but everyone was prepared for the worst.
'I wish I didn't have to change, I wish I was strong enough to resist the moon.' Hermione sobbed.
Harry pulled her close and rubbed her back. 'The moon gives you your strength Mione, I only hope that our child is a strong as it's mum, I don't know what will happen tonight, but I have to believe that our baby will get the best parts of us both.'
'Such as?' Hermione sniffled.
'Your determination to prove people wrong, and my inability to die.' Harry said with a cheeky grin and Hermione couldn't help but laugh through her tears. Her mate really did know just what to say.
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Hermione was pacing the lounge are of the potter chambers when Remus, knocked on the portrait, looking sullen and tight lipped.
'Mooney.' Harry said stiffly. Daphne and Pansy were sitting on the couch, the mermaid doing Daphne's hair whilst the vampire slurped on a goblet filled with Harry's blood.
Susan sat by the fire doing some homework, as Hermione paced by the corner of her vison. 'All will work out as it should Hermione.' She assured the girl which got her a glare in response.
'I'll do my best to keep her…them safe Harry.' Remus said sombrely and Harry nodded.
'Time to go love.' Harry said pressing a kiss to her forehead and Hermione found herself whimpering. She didn't want to go out to the forest, she wanted to stay here with her mate, should the worst happen. She didn't want Remus, he was wolf but he wasn't pack. She wanted Harry, she wanted her pack, she needed them all. She didn't think she could take the pain of miscarriage alone without them.
Ginny came out of her room a golden tipped feather in her hand as she stared worriedly at the she-wolf. 'I know you're scared Hermione, and it might not do anything, but I want you to have this.' She said thrusting the feather into the werewolf's hands. 'Adrianna, Fawkes that is, told me that witches often asked the phoenix for a feather to protect unborn children in the womb and in childbirth, it didn't actually do anything, except channel the child's magic of course. However My feather protects Harry as he's my mate, and you're his, so maybe it will protect you and your child.' She said in a rushed breath, not wanting to offend the other girl, particularly this close to the rising moon.
'Harry took a ribbon Pansy was holding and transfigured it into a leather cord, allowing the feather to wrap it's self around the cord, much like his own had done weeks before.
He clipped it round the she-wolf's neck and kissed her temple one last time. 'Off you go.' He said encouragingly and she nodded. Looking over Harry's shoulder and mouthing thank you to Ginny who smiled back with tears in her eyes.
Harry watched as Remus lead his mate out into the forest and when the portrait door swung closed Harry turned and made his way to the window waiting for the pair to come into view, sure enough not five minutes later he watch his mate and his godfather's walk into the forest and disappear into the cover of the trees where he couldn't follow.
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'You going to stand there all night?' Ginny asked wrapping her arms around his waist.
Harry shrugged, not taking his eyes off the tree line, the moon was full now and he was sure the pair had already transformed.
'Your torturing yourself Harry.' Pansy said gently as, she came to his left side her head on his shoulder.
Daphne flanked his right side and did the same. 'The professor will do his best to take care of her.'
'It should be me.' Harry sighed running a hand down his face.
'Come.' Daphne said, pulling on his hand, and taking him towards the couch.
'Daphne, not now, I…'
The vampire shook her head, 'Not for that silly boy. I felt the baby move today. Maybe it can comfort you in a way we mere women can't.' she said gently as she tugged him into a sitting position and place his hand on her own, now slightly rounded belly.
'You felt it move?' Harry said in awe.
Daphne nodded. 'I don't know if you'll be able to feel it yet, but to me it was like butterflies, or trapped wind, all bubbly and happy.' She said with a smiled as Harry's hand pressed to her stomach.
Ginny sat beside Harry, giving his shoulder's a massages as he attempted to feel his child move.
'May I finish you hair, darling?' Pansy asked in her usual obnoxious way and Daphne turned her head to allow the other girl to finish her work.
Susan looked over at the four of them and smiled wistfully.
'I feel, I shall retire for the night.' She said suddenly, standing up and collecting her things.
'Night Milady.' Harry said with a satisfied smile as he moved his hand and felt something move beneath Daphne's skin.
'Good night, milord.' She said tiredly, lacking all of the usual affection she had when she called him that.
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The Portrait door swung open and Harry yawned and starched, smiling to himself, he was nestled between, Daphne and Ginny, with Pansy on the other side of the vampire girl. They had fallen asleep, each of them feeling the small, bubbling movement of the child within Daphne.
'Mione.' He said blinking as he detached himself from the others and stood to face his mate.
'Would you come with me to see madam Pomphrey?' she said worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.
'How was….'Harry started to asked but found himself unable to say the words.
'It hurt more than usual, I don't know what that means, I don't even know if I want to find out.' Hermione said tear shinning in her eyes, as Daphne woke up.
'We can go with you as well.' She said holding the werewolf's hand. Pansy nodded and stood up as well.
Ginny smiled encouragingly. 'Come on lets go see if the little tyke is as strong as it's parents.'
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The five of them made their way to the hospital wing, where madam Pomfrey was surprised to see all five of them. 'I understand why Mr Potter and Mrs Granger-Potter are here, but why are the rest of you here.
'We're family.' Pansy said strongly, in a tone that dared the older woman to disagree.
'Of course, I assume you are here to check on your baby Mrs Granger-Potter?' The med which said strictly, her tone taking on a completely business approach.
'Yes, ma'am.' Hermione said and the med-witch directed her to sit on the bed. The matron waved her wand over the girls stomach and, mutter a few diagnostic spells. Harry gripped her hand tightly in hers and the other girls crowded round her, eagerly waiting to see wither they should squeal or weep with the she-wolf.
'Mrs Potter I am….' The med-Witch started to say before she blinked and did the spell again. 'Well, I'll be.' She said more to herself and beamed at the girl. 'Your…Pup is…just fine.' She said staring at the spell in awe. 'I have never seen anything quite like it.'
'What's going on?' Hermione said with a frown.
'Your baby made a full werewolf transformation inside the womb, and at first did not register as a pregnancy, I suppose that the transformation back took a little longer.' She said with an amazed chuckle. 'Simply amazing.'
'My cub is okay? It's alive?' Hermione said gripping Harry's hand so tightly that she was nearly cutting off blood supply to his hand.
'Yes dear, your both just fine.' The med-witch said and as if to emphasize this point all six of them saw a little foot poke out from Hermione's stomach.
Hermione laughed, loud and happy, that turned into a full out howl of glee, which startled the med-witch and she scurried away.
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'The child is okay then?' came a voice from behind the group and Harry turned to see Susan standing there looking regal and sublime.
'Yes, everything's fine.' Hermione grinned, her cheeks tinged read with excitement.
'Every good, I have classes to attend, I shall see you all later.' She said politely and turned on her heal, and left, her school robes, floating behind her.
'What on earth is up with her?' Pansy asked.
'Who knows?' Ginny said shaking her head, she often found the Hufflepuff girl, odd and exclusive, Ginny often wondered if the girl didn't wish she was in Avalon, rather than at Hogwarts.