Disclaimer: Same as the first chapter. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter and all characters. I am in awe of how a franchise has kept me strong over the years.
This is the final instalment of this story and is a little happier than the last few. I felt I needed to end it on a positive.
Thank you to everyone who has read this story. For all the angel parents in the world, my heart is with you today and always.
I am dedicating this story however to my angels, whose life was far too short on this Earth.
14/08/2021
30/08/2022
Hermione Granger wondered through the empty corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had passed her first level of her mastery for Charms only the day before which allowed her to take over teaching years 1-4 from Filius Flitwick come September. Everyone had been so proud of the young woman, despite losing her baby and everything else, she had still managed to pass with flying colours.
School had finished 4 days ago and the teachers were now getting excited for the wedding of Minerva and Hermione which was due to take place in 9 days time, 28th July.
Minerva was tucked up in her office finishing off the school year and beginning to prepare for next year, primarily because they were taking a 3 week honeymoon and she didn't want to rush when they returned.
Thankfully Filius had told Hermione that he would prep next year and go through it with her when she returned, he knew she needed a proper break and to enjoy her wedding and honeymoon. The professor hadn't mentioned it but he was concerned for her health, she looked paler than normal and appeared more fatigued.
Unknowingly to Filius, Hermione had been worried about her health too, and knowing Poppy would never leave her precious school she ventured down to the hospital wing. Her period had been and gone only the week before and it had left her feeling drained. Minerva had constantly asked her if she was ok but she just said she was exhausted from working and doing her mastery alongside.
Hermione knocked on the office door in the hospital wing, it opened a few seconds later, Poppy looked surprised to see the young woman stood on the other side.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you were busy," she began apologetically seeing Rolanda sat on the sofa with a cuppa in her hand, "I'll come back later"
Sensing she wanted to see Poppy privately, Rolanda stood and shook her head, "not at all Hermione, I only popped in for a cuppa. I'll see you later Poppy, ok?" The flying instructor winked and patted Hermione's shoulder as she left.
"Come on in," Poppy smiled softly and gestured to the sofa before she shut her office door and cast charms to keep their privacy. She sat back down on her chair and eyed the young lady with concern, "how are you doing? You look rather pasty"
She nodded tiredly, "Poppy I'm worried something is wrong with me. I'm tired all the time. I don't feel like I have any energy at all right now. I had my period last week and it's just made those feelings worse. I stood up this morning and felt so dizzy, I'm amazed Min didn't notice! I know Filius did. Though Min does keep asking me if I'm okay, I just said I was tired with working and doing the mastery .. which is what I thought but .. now I'm not so sure. I went to bed at 9pm last night snd woke up at 8am, I should be ready to rule the world .. but I feel dead today"
"Does she know you're here?" Poppy asked softly but Hermione shook her head.
"She worries about me constantly, I didn't want to tell her I was worried I was sick! If it turns out I'm fine and I've just been overdoing it then it'll chew her up over nothing," she shrugged feeling nervous as Poppy squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Poppy stood and held out her hand to Hermione who took it and stood quickly, too quickly infact. The young woman swayed slightly as Poppy grabbed round the waist and kept tight hold of her, "alright, take some slow deep breaths Hermione, ok?"
"Sorry," she breathed less than a minute later as her equilibrium stabilised somewhat and the dizziness disappeared, "that was worse than this morning"
"Okay, let's get you into the side room and I'll check you out, ok?" she offered another reassuring smile as Hermione nodded nervously.
Both women walked into the room just for staff, Hermione got onto the bed and laid down as Poppy grabbed for her wand, "take some slow deep breaths, ok? I know you hate this bit"
Poppy quickly cast her diagnostics charm, she remained silent the whole time keeping her facial expression neutral to try and relax her patient.
A long 5 minutes passed before Poppy ended the spell, she helped Hermione up into a sitting position, "how are you feeling? Any dizziness?"
"No, none," Hermione admitted very relieved, "did you find anything?"
"I did," Poppy acknowledged immediately, "I have some questions for you though ok? Before I go into this"
Hermione nodded her anxiety climbing, "okay, do I need Min here?"
"Only if you want her to be, it's nothing seriously bad I promise," Poppy smiled trying to reassure her.
"Ok what questions?" Hermione took a deep breath as she asked, suddenly wishing she'd brought her lover with her.
"You're a little anaemic, which is partly why you feel tired. I know you'd have told me if your been vomiting blood or passing it rectally. How have your periods been recently?" she enquired professionally.
The young woman thought back, "no different than normal, regular as clockwork. They're still heavy and painful mostly. Well, I say that .. the last one was lighter than normal and earlier .. but I was thankful for that with doing my mastery! I assume it was just stress"
Poppy nodded, "any changes to diet?"
"None, I'm not eating as much because I'm so tired but that's all," Hermione responded quickly.
"Ok, no abdominal pain or chest pains? No migraines, collapsing or dizziness you haven't already told me about?" she reeled off but Hermione shook her head to each question, "ok so you are getting dizzy, pale and feeling so tired because your anaemic. Easily fixed with a blood replenishing potion and an increase of green vegetables and red meats"
"What's causing it?" Hermione bit her lip gently trying to keep herself from going into full panic mode.
"You're pregnant, Hermione," Poppy smiled happily, she knew they'd been trying but assumed nothing had happened yet when they didn't see her for any conformation or check ups.
Hermione looked surprised, "what? I can't be .. I've been getting my period!"
The medi witch chuckled, "you said the last one was lighter than normal?" she nodded, "I don't think the bleeding you've been having is your period, your 11 and a half weeks pregnant, healthy baby, very strong heartbeat"
"I .. are you sure?" Hermione muttered in total disbelief.
"I'm sure," Poppy nodded before sitting next to her, seeing Hermione's anxiety climbing, "take a deep breath okay? Let's try and bring this anxiety down a little"
Hermione closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths as the medi witch asked, only once she opened her eyes did she speak, "then why have I been bleeding?"
"That I don't know," Poppy admitted getting up to grab some parchment out of Hermione's file, "some people do bleed during the first trimester for a number of reasons. Implantation, maybe some clotting that's now dissolved, mostly it's due to a sensitive cervix and burst blood vessels. If you've been having regular sex but only doing deep penetration once a month to fall pregnant that could very well be it if the bleeding is worse at a particular time of the month"
"Okay," but Hermione still looked far from calm.
Poppy approached her young friend slowly and held her hands, "what are you thinking? Talk to me"
"I'm scared, actually no, I'm petrified," she admitted, deep chocolate brown eyes stared into Poppy's pale blue ones, tears filling up quickly, "are you sure the baby is okay?"
"I'm sure, I wouldn't lie to you on that," Poppy reminded her seriously, "you'll be 12 weeks on Friday. Do you want me to call Minerva?"
Hermione nodded, a small sob escaping her as Poppy took her in her arms and held her tightly.
"Shhhh, it's okay," she soothed rubbing her back with one hand, grabbing her wand and sending a Patronus off silently towards Minerva.
It was less than 10 minutes later when the doors to the hospital wing opened and Minerva's petrified voice rang through. Poppy smiled, patting an emotional Hermione's hand, before she opened the door and beckoned the woman in.
"I got your mess-" she stalled seeing her wife-to-be's tear stained face, "Hermione? Baby? What's wrong?" she made a bee line for her and quickly got onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her making Hermione cry harder, "what? I .. Poppy what's happened?" they could all hear the deep fear in her voice, something Poppy could also see on her slightly paling face.
Poppy sat on the other side of the Hermione rubbing her back soothingly before she looked at Minerva, "Hermione came to see me this morning, she was worried. At breakfast this morning she became really dizzy"
"What?" Minerva gulped anxiously looking down at her future wife, "you didn't tell me .. I .. what is it? What's wrong with her? She's been so tired recently but she thought it was working and doing her mastery! Oh I should have brought her down weeks ago!"
"Min breathe," Poppy instructed firmly knowing right now Hermione needed her love, reassurance and support, "she's anaemic. That's why she's pale, she's tired, she's constantly fatigued, dizzy even. But the cause of her anaemia is a good thing .. she's pregnant"
Minerva stalled letting the news wash over her, "pregnant?"
"Yes," Poppy nodded continuing to rub Hermione's back, glad to hear she'd calmed down now, "further along than you'll think too, she'll be 12 weeks on Friday"
"How? She's been getting her period?" Minerva stated incredulously, staring from one woman to another.
"It's not a period she's been getting," Poppy stated instantly watching Hermione sit herself back up again as Minerva pulled her between her legs wanting to hold her tightly just incase it was all a cruel joke, "she's been having on and off bleeds. I have no reason but if I were a guessing person I would imagine during sex to try to fall pregnant you've inadvertently been catching her cervix which has bled because of the increased blood flow it gets when a woman is expecting. It's quite common actually and is nothing to worry about"
"Is the baby okay?" Minerva asked nervously placing a hand on Hermione's abdomen where their baby was currently growing. An action that made Hermione smile through tear filled eyes.
Poppy nodded, "I tell you what, stay here whilst I go and get something and I'll show you"
The medi witch left as Minerva looked down at her lover, "how are you feeling about all this?"
"I'm shocked and scared .. and emotional," she chuckled wiping her eyes, "but .. I'm so happy Min, I'm having a baby .. I'm having your baby!" she threw herself into her fiancée's arms and sighed deeply, "are you ok with this?" she mumbled into her neck.
"It doesn't feel real right now," she admitted slowly, "but yes .. we're having a baby .. that's more than okay with me"
They held onto one another for the whole time Poppy was gone, they weren't sure how long it was or where she'd gone but they didn't care. Hermione had curled herself back into her partners arms placing both their hands on her lower abdomen, "hey baby, we love you, keep growing for us okay?"
Hermione jumped as the door opened again, "easy love," Minerva held her kissing her temple.
"I got this the other week because I knew another pregnancy would be stressful for you both after your loss," Poppy explained wheeling in a white box with cables hanging off it, "it's an ultrasound machine," she explained with a soft smile at Minerva's clear concern, "it's entirely safe and allows you to see the baby. I was going to get Ro to help me, I've been trained on it but I wanted some practice buuuut you've kinda put a spanner in that works!"
"Are you sure this is safe?" Minerva asked anxiously trying to use both her arms to protect her wife to be and unborn child.
"It's fine," Hermione spoke before Poppy could, "it's safe for me and the baby, they use these in the muggle world for lots of things including right the way through pregnancy"
The older woman relaxed seeing how happy Hermione currently was, "for me to use this you'll have to move Min, Hermione needs to be laid down"
Minerva moved careful not to jostle Hermione who laid straight down once the bed was clear. Both of them were clearly anxious and Poppy thoroughly understood why, after losing their son and the trauma of her miscarriage this baby was even more precious.
Poppy sat on one side of Hermione with Minerva on the other side holding her lovers hand tightly, kissing it as Hermione smiled nervously, "breathe love you're okay"
"I know, just so anxious," she admitted tearfully, "this baby already means so much"
"I know, I'm here ok? We do this together," she kissed her quickly on the lips before they both turned to Poppy.
"Cold jelly on you're tummy now, okay?" Poppy warned Hermione who nodded but still gasped at how cold it was, "sorry"
They both watched as Poppy turned the screen on, it looked like black and white snow as they peered at it. The medi witch grabbed a hand held wand that seemed to curve round into what looked like a smile, she pressed it into the gel on Hermione's abdomen and began moving it around slowly whilst watching the screen.
"Ah ha!" she said a few minutes later as she turned the screen more so they could both see, "there look, that's a leg, and another leg, there's the body, an arm, the head is there annnd another arm," she pointed each part of the baby out on a screen as both women smiled happily, tears filling their eyes upon seeing the little baby on the screen.
"Oh my god," Hermione sobbed happily as she stared at the screen, "oh my little one!"
"Quite active right now actually," Poppy admitted as they watched their baby moving around the screen quite happily, "and if I press this button," she did so and a sound very much like a horse galloping filled the air, "that's your baby's heartbeat"
Minerva gasped as tears slid silently down her cheeks, she kissed Hermione passionately on the lips, "I love you"
"I love you too," she wept happily watching the screen a little longer.
Once Poppy put the machine away 10 minutes later she was pleased to see both ladies had calmed down dramatically, "how are you both feeling now?"
"Better," Minerva admitted with a smile, her hand settled on Hermione's lower abdomen, "thank you so much Poppy, really"
"No problem," she smile reassuringly as she helped Hermione sit up, "lots of rest, ok? Sleep when you need to, eat regularly, drink plenty of fluids. Sex is also fine. Any concerns night or day then call me, ok? If not I'll see you the day before the wedding for a check up"
Hermione nodded, "thank you Poppy"
The two women walked hand in hand out of the hospital wing a few minutes later, "how are you doing love?"
"I'm okay, it's been a whirlwind of a day already .. I'm tired," she admitted quietly a hand resting on her lower abdomen. She knew it was stupid but she felt like it might protect the baby.
"Do you want to go home and sleep or do you want to go and have lunch with the rest of the staff?" she asked her softly watching her out of the corner of her eye, she was pleased to see how happy Hermione looked.
"No, let's go have lunch. I think .. after everything they've done for us and all the support we've had since losing Matthew .. they deserve to hear our news, don't you?" Hermione smiled up at her partner, her silk chocolate eyes lit up and it made Minerva's heart melt.
"Why not," she agreed before pulling her wife to be to a stop and cupping her cheeks lovingly, "I love you," she whispered before kissing her slowly and passionately.
Only once she pulled away did Hermione smile, "I love you too"
The noise in the staff room was crazy as Minerva opened the door and beckoned her partner in before her, all eyes turned to the couple as Filius and Rolanda looked alarmed, "are you okay?" Rolanda asked instantly feeling nervous on seeing the tear strained faces of her best friend and lover, the latter looking extremely pale.
Minerva nodded, "we're fine, we've just had some happy news is all .. Hermione and I are expecting a baby"
If they thought the noise before was loud it was nothing to the deafening roar that filled the room now. Hand after hand reached forward and hugged both women offering their heartfelt congratulations.
"How far along are you?" Filius asked in his usual squeaky voice but everyone could see the emotion on his face. He and Hermione had an extremely close relationship, she had admitted to more than one of them that he saw Hermione as a daughter, stating he would do anything for the young woman.
"I'll be 12 weeks on Friday," Hermione beamed at her mentor and friend who squeezed her hand.
"I'm so happy for you, Hermione!" he announced a tear sliding from his small eyes, "I was worried about you, you've not been yourself recently and then this morning when you had that dizzy spell at breakfast"
Everyone looked at him confused, "I was too that's why I detoured to see Poppy this morning"
"Wait, what dizzy spell?" Pomona asked confusion laced on her face.
Filius rolled his eyes, "she stood up and went really dizzy, I could see it in her face. I guess no one else noticed huh?"
"No, I guess not," Hermione chuckled as she felt Minerva's long arms wrap around her body lovingly, resting her hands against Hermione's abdomen before kissing her neck.
"I love you," she reminded her softly as everyone watched, excitement and peace on every face before them.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
