Shipping Bingo: B2 - Physical Touch

Trope Bingo: B3 - Presumed Dead

Spring Bingo: E3 - Birth

Team: Brilliant Snitch

Stacked With: ToS; FPC; Star; T3; BAON; Fence

Individual Challenge(s): In a Flash; Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Medic MC; Rian-Russo Inversion (Y); Etnic & Presentx2 (Yx1); Small Fry; Ship Sails; Zed Era; Gryffindor MC; Durmstrang MC; Old Shoes (Y); Not the Mama

Representations: Single Parent Viktor Krum

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Nightingale; tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Sneeze Weasel; Nontraditional; Not a Lamp); Chorus (Machismo; Wabi Sabi; Pear-Shaped)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenge(s): T3 (Terse; Tether)

Warning: Death, the horrors of childbirth, Major Character Death, Read at your own risk

~o0o~

Too soon.

The baby was being born too soon.

Viktor patted Hermione's damp forehead with a towel. She'd been sick. The stress probably caused her to go into premature labor. They'd been here for hours now and she had grown so weak, she could barely cling to his hand.

"Almost there. She just needs another push," said the Healer.

"I can't," Hermione croaked. "I can't do it."

"You can," said Viktor, stroking her hair back. "You have done so much. Faced Death Eaters, ended a war, changed the government for a free and fair society. You can get through this."

She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed before going limp with a shuddering sigh.

"Alright, work fast," said the Healer.

"Is there—" Viktor began.

"Stay there."

He didn't get to cut the cord. Viktor craned his neck trying to catch a glimpse of their baby, but saw and heard nothing except blood and medical jargon. There was a lot of blood, wasn't there?

"She's still bleeding," he said. "Is she supposed to be bleeding?!"

One of them cursed and two pulled away from the newborn to help. Viktor turned back to Hermione. She was ashen and still… so still.

"Hermione… please hold on!" He stroked her cheek. Her eyes weren't moving. Her breathing had been labored just a second ago. "No."

"Sir, we need you to step out."

"No, I promised I would be by her side," he said. "I'm not leaving her."

"Sir, you have to leave."

"I'm not leaving!" he spat and clung to Hermione. He refused to believe it. She was going to open her eyes and scold him for disturbing her well-deserved rest. She was going to ask about their baby. Why wasn't the baby crying? Somebody was. It might have been him.

After much fighting, he was removed from the room and pushed into the waiting area where all their friends were sitting with balloons and gifts for Hermione and the baby.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"Boy or girl?" said Ron. "Luna bet on both."

"Why not? I am," said Luna.

Viktor fell to his knees and tugged on his hair, gnashing his teeth. They just needed him out of the room so they could help her. A few blood replenishing potions and she'd be just fine. It was going to be fine, so why was he screaming so?

It was going to be fine.

Just fine.

Viktor only did two things now. Sat at home with his grief and visited his baby at the hospital. She was so tiny and frail. They were still waiting for her to be able to breathe on her own. Viktor could only stare. The tubes and magic spells made it impossible to go near her. He hadn't even held her yet.

Hermione would never get the chance.

Viktor was sure a piece of himself had died with her. Everything seemed grey. He hardly noticed any visitors and the food he could manage to choke down was flavorless. What was the point with her gone?

He couldn't process the days.

"Mr. Krum?"

"Zdravkov," he corrected numbly. "Krum was stage name."

"Yes sir, your daughter is doing just fine today. She's keeping down formula and can breathe just fine on her own. I think you can bring her home now."

"Okay."

He followed the Healer to the nursery.

"Things were so hectic, we never got the name," said the Healer. "If you can tell me, I'll write it on the certificate."

"Raya Paulina Granger-Zdravkov."

"Very good. Ah, here she is."

The crib was wheeled over and Raya was swaddled in a yellow blanket. They had taken classes on holding and swaddling, even changing diapers. Hermione had wanted this so much. She was so excited…

Viktor reached down, gingerly picking Raya up. She was so tiny. He cradled her in his arms. She fussed, scrunching her face up, then opened her eyes to look at them. He inhaled sharply, as if he'd been holding his breath. A spark lit in his chest and it seemed to beat again. It ached and cried, but it was moving.

Raya scowled at him as if demanding to know why he was just now holding her.

"She's a fighter, she is," said the Healer. "If she has any other troubles do not hesitate to bring her back in."

"I will, thank you." Viktor pressed his forehead to Raya's and nuzzled his nose against hers.

He was going to live. For her.