12 Weeks
Harry arrived two hours before Hermione's scheduled appointment. The front door had opened, with Crookshanks again standing in front of him. Hermione nowhere in sight. "Hermione?"
He stepped into her flat, arms full of groceries. He set the canvas bags on the kitchen counter.
Hermione strolled in, tying the end of her hair. Her eyes landed on the bags of food. "What is this?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I brought you some food and stuff. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, of course." She stopped at the table and peered into the bags. "What did you bring me?"
Harry started unloading the bags. "Fruit, biscuits, bread, some milk."
"Great, I ran out of milk." She started putting the food away, grateful for the multiple packs of biscuits. "I wanted to head over in half an hour. To get there early enough to fill out any more paperwork."
"How are you feeling today?" He rolled up the bags and stowed them away in Hermione's junk drawer.
"I couldn't get to sleep last night. I threw up and felt really bloated." She grabbed an orange and began to peel it.
Harry grimaced. He couldn't sleep last night, but that was nothing compared to what Hermione was going through. "Oh."
"Come on, Harry." She sat down at the table and popped an orange slice in her mouth. "It's just how it's going to be for a while. Might as well get used to it." She dropped her gaze to the orange in her hand.
"I know," he pulled out a chair and sat down. "It's just," he noted the way she began to gnaw at her lip. She bit her lip and stared hard at her hands. "Everything is going to change," he said softly.
She nodded.
"How do you feel about that?" Harry scratched the side of his head. No matter how he said it, he sounded like a tosspot.
Her warm brown eyes met his, a nervous smile on her face. "I thought we bonded over how scared we are."
He let out a small laugh. "I know, but this is something you're doing on your own. I mean. I'm here and I always will be, but you're the one," he gulped, "making the baby."
She scoffed. "Thanks for the reminder."
He sat back. "You know what I mean."
She lined up her orange slices. "This is going to be hard. I know it is. My life. Me. I'm never going to be the same. I'll be honest, I've been nervous and anxious just thinking about whether I really was pregnant. Even more so now that I know for sure, but I want to do this. You want to do this, right?"
"What?" He gaped, leaning forward. "Yes, of course. It's just so sudden because it's - unplanned."
"Yes and the thing is, I don't not want to have this baby. Does that make sense? I've always imagined having children. I'm sure any moment now, my parents were going to start badgering me about it." She rolled her eyes.
Harry choked.
"What is it?"
"How are we going to tell your parents?"
Hermione blinked.
# # #
Hermione and Harry sat in the waiting room of the OB-GYN ward of De Haven Medical Centre. Harry bounced his leg and stretched and unclenched his fingers. Hermione sat with a clipboard on her lap, ignoring Harry as best she could, and filling out the rest of the needed paperwork.
It was too much. She reached over and placed her hand on his knee. "Harry, please stop."
He took a deep breath and stilled. "Sorry."
Steady steps neared them. A woman with auburn hair coiled on top her head stopped before them. "Hermione Granger?"
Hermione jumped up. "Yes, that's me."
"Good morning," the woman held her hand out. "I'm Healer Angela Owen. It's nice to meet you. It's not every day I have a war hero come through here. Are you ready?
Hermione shook her hand. "As ready as I'll ever be. Harry, come on."
Harry stumbled to his feet. Healer Owen's attention moved to him. "Morning," she greeted happily, "family or friend?"
He stuttered, glancing at Hermione for help.
She squeezed his hand. "Both. He's the father."
Healer Owen smiled brightly. "It's wonderful that you've come together. I understand it's hard for couples to come in with work schedules and all that. Well, let's go. With any luck, we'll be able to see your little one."
Hermione and Harry followed Healer Owen out of the waiting room and down a cold hallway.
Harry looked between the Healer and Hermione. "See it? We'll be able to see them?"
Healer Owen led them into a spacious exam room. "Depends on how far along you are, but we should be able to see something. Either way, I'll need to take an ultrasound to get the expected due date."
She motioned for Hermione to sit upon the exam table and took the papers Hermione had filled out. "So, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
Harry shifted on his feet, taking a spot beside Hermione.
Healer Owen shrugged. "Not surprised, really."
"Not surprised?" Hermione asked.
Healer Owen added the papers to Hermione's file. "Yes, good friends getting together. I married my best friend." She lifted her stethoscope. "Alright, let's get started."
After an awkward question and answer session, taking Hermione's blood pressure, and going over her symptoms Healer Owen led Hermione and Harry into another room.
They were both surprised to see a murky mirror attached to what looked like a vanity table. Healer Owen patted her hand on the exam table. "Hop on here, Hermione. Unbutton the top of your jeans, please."
Hermione laid back, lifted her shirt and unbuttoned her jeans.
"How does that work here?" Harry stood beside the exam table.
"I'll spread this cream on her belly. This is a little cold," Healer Owen squeezed some gel onto Hermione's belly, making her jump. "I use a specific wand, like an ultrasound wand, that is tuned to this mirror and like it's muggle counterpart, it sends out soundwaves that will appear in the mirror. I think it provides a better picture than using charms. Especially since it reduces the possibility of human error."
She grabbed the thick wand and held it over Hermione. "Okay, time to see the little one." She pressed the wand onto her belly and moved it around, waiting for the image to appear in the mirror.
Hermione reached out for Harry's hand, slipping her fingers between his. They stared at the mirror and the white spaces interspersed with the black. Until finally something appeared.
"There's one baby, right there." Healer Owen pointed to a distinct line on the screen. "Let's try to get a clearer image."
"One baby?" Harry whispered.
"Yes, always have to make sure if there's one fetus or more. Don't want any surprises in the delivery room." Healer Owen moved the wand and pressed a little firmer. "There they are, see." Healer Owen pointed to an obvious head figure. "Their back right here. This curve here is one of their legs. And, here's the heartbeat."
Harry sucked in a breath. He could hear it. The rapid heartbeat of their baby. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was the heartbeat of their baby who was no bigger than a lemon.
"Alright, based on the size, estimated weight, and the information you've given us, your expected due date is November 21."
"November 21?" Hermione squeaked. She pulled on Harry's hand.
"That's right. Congratulations, you two. Would you like printouts?"
"Printouts?" Harry asked.
Healer Owen had a soft smile on her face. "Of the ultrasound."
"Oh, yes, please," he answered.
"Great. We're all set here. I want to see you again next month for a checkup. Keep taking those vitamins, stay active, eat and drink plenty of water. Since you're already twelve weeks, you're advised to no longer apparate, it's unsafe for you and your growing baby." Healer Owen stood up and washed her hands in a nearby sink. She handed Hermione a paper towel to clean off her abdomen. "The next 28 weeks are going to be a trying and tiring time. Give yourself a break," Healer Owen advised. "Rest when you need to rest. Eat when you need to eat."
She patted Harry on the shoulder. "Let me make those printouts and you'll be good to go." She stepped out of the examination room.
Hermione sat up. "Harry?"
He turned and saw her eyes were glassy. "This is really happening."
Harry wrapped his arms around her torso and kissed her hard on the cheek. It was really happening.
"That's our baby," he whispered.
Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand. "Our baby."
# # #
They stepped out of the small cafe they had lunch at, Hermione slurped on her lemonade.
The sonogram of their baby was tucked safely away in her purse, but Harry wanted to see it again and again.
"I've been meaning to ask," Harry began. "Do you have any baby books? Or parenting books, I don't know what they're called."
Hermione flushed. Of all the things she could have bought already, pregnancy and maternity books were not something that had crossed her mind. Everything seemed to happen too quickly, her mind jumping from thought to thought. "I don't, actually."
"Really?" He chuckled at her stricken expression. "Let's go buy some."
A smile came to her face. "Really?"
"Of course. Let's go." Harry took her hand as they crossed the street. "I saw a few when I came to the bookstore the other day."
"You went to a bookstore?" Hermione giggled. "That's hard to believe."
"Hey, I read." Harry wasn't going to admit he rushed in there because he was running away from the sight of some children. "It's where I found that rabbit."
He squeezed her hand and smiled when he felt her squeeze back. Her hand was warm in his and he enjoyed the way it felt having his hand envelop hers. It was one of those small things he missed when he wasn't dating someone. The comfort and touch of someone you cared about, and someone who cared about you in return.
They reached the bookstore and meandered through the store a little bit before reaching the parenting and child development section.
"There's a lot to choose from." Hermione picked up the closest book. She flipped through the pages. "So, I was thinking." She blew some hair out of her face. "About going to see my parents tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" His hands lingered on a baby name book. "Do you want me to come with you?"
She shrugged. She wasn't sure if she wanted him with her. What if her parents went into lecture mode? What if they got mad and threw her out of the house?
"They won't be mad," Harry said suddenly.
She searched his face. "How do you know?"
"They love you. Why would they be mad that you're having a baby?" He grabbed the baby name book and started flipping through the pages.
"They might be mad that I'm not married or have a boyfriend."
His chest constricted. "I suppose, but they'll still be happy that they're going to be grandparents. That their family is growing."
She set the book down. "I suppose. When are you going to tell Sirius?"
He dropped the book he was holding. When? Damn, how was he going to tell him? What was he going to say? Is Sirius going to be mad?
He shook his head. "Forget about Sirius. What are you going to do about your living arrangements?"
She narrowed her eyes. "What about my living arrangements? My flat is fine."
"Your flat only has one bedroom and you don't have a fireplace so you can't connect it to the floo network. How are you going to get anywhere now that you can't apparate?"
She blew out a puff of air. "I'll just have to find a new place then. I can take the tube or I'll drive to get to work for now."
He stared at her incredulously. "During morning rush hour? Really?"
"Why not?" She snapped back. "Other people do it. Besides, there's a parking garage near the entrance to the ministry. I can get in and out easily."
"I know that but I don't want you taking the tube or driving every day."
"Oh, really?" She put her hands on her waist. "What do you suggest then?"
He opened and closed his mouth. He didn't have a single idea. But, he didn't like the idea of her taking the tube or driving, which could be stressful on good days and dangerous. "Why don't you stay with Sirius and me?"
She let out a curt laugh, that wasn't really a laugh. "What? Stay in your country-side bachelor pad? No, thanks."
Harry shifted. "It's not a bachelor pad." He picked up a book. "Sirius and I don't bring people to the house. Just family and friends."
She laughed, poking him in the stomach. "Right, you spend your late-night escapades away from home."
He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. "Exactly."
She scoffed. "No, I'll find a place."
Harry frowned. What was so bad about staying with him and Sirius?
