Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Arithmancy - Task: Write about how "third time's the charm"
Warning: Mentions of Miscarriage and stillbirth
Word Count: 527
Disclaimer: Nope. Never Have, Never Will.
Life's Greatest Gift
I.
The first time it happened it absolutely wrecked her. She wasn't prepared for the liquid sensation of slick running down her thighs. At first, she had foolishly hoped it was one of those false alarms she had heard about. But then the wet sensation didn't stop and she felt the pain.
A pool of blood surrounded her, and she wasted no time in dragging herself towards the fire escape and grabbing a handful of floo powder.
She doesn't remember what happened after that. Everything passed like a blur, and she realized with despairing doom what occurred when the healer walked in with a somber face.
"I'm sorry to say this, but you've had a miscarriage."
She cried in Draco's arms for who knows how long. The little boy or girl she was creating inside of her was gone. She wanted the empty feeling to go away.
The healer explained just how damaging the torture she took from Bellatrix was. Her chances of having children were slim, but not impossible.
That bit of hope was what she clung onto.
ii.
The second time it happened she was further along than the first.
Jacob Gale Malfoy Granger.
It was a blessing when she discovered she was pregnant again. The extra care Draco and her put into making sure this baby remained safe was tremendous. She took care of herself extremely well, and she really believed this was the one. They had even gone out to buy baby's clothes and all the the necessities that the baby needed. There was a good feeling surrounding her second pregnancy.
However, her water had broken sooner than everyone had expected at just 6 months pregnant. She had been rushed to the hospital quickly, and she endured the tough labor that followed. It was too soon, the healers had said when she asked to hold her child, for the baby to be born.
The worst part was having to bury her beautiful baby boy.
Jacob hadn't taken a single breath.
iii.
With her third pregnancy, Hermione was tired but hopeful. She wasn't sure she would be able to survive if anything went wrong this time.
It had been tough for her and Draco to let go all of their sadness. Of course, letting go hadn't meant forgetting. It just meant they had learned to accept the harsh reality.
She didn't want to be disappointed. She was scared. Scared of losing yet another child, another gift. To her surprise, it seemed like everything was running smoothly. She didn't let that fool her since Jacob looked like smooth sailing, too. In her sixth month, she was always anxious and worried. It wasn't until her eighth month that she calmed down.
Eventually, halfway through the eighth month, her water broke one again, and she underwent the whole ordeal again. Except this time Scorpius Malfoy was welcomed into the world.
Her beautiful baby boy was alive and healthy in her arms.
Scorpius, Scorpius, Scorpius. Her mind repeated his name over and over. A miracle lay in her arms. She looked up to see the happiest expression on Draco's face, and she smiled through her tears of joy.