A/N: Hello again. I'm sorry for the long wait, but I first had to figure a few things out. Then when it was finally finished, I forgot for two weeks to post it. I'm sorry, but here it is.
Chapter 9:
Hermione's cries were filling the hospital- room. Her breathing was kind of unsteady, and Ron who was holding her hand had a scared look upon his face. Whenever the pain was fading a bit away, the young woman was shouting at her husband.
"Ron, do you see what you did to me? How could you," she managed to say before the next contradiction took place.
Ron's skin colour had changed rather impressing between red and paper white. His mother, who was next to Madam Pomfrey and Hermione, the only woman in the room, patterned her son's arm and shook her head.
"Those are just mood swings, dear. Don't worry," she whispered calmingly.
"I know Mum. She had had them since months now, but my problem is: She really looks so in pain," Ron answered, looking as if he WAS actually sorry, for what happened.
"Okay Hermione, since I don't have any experience with births, this will be a bit complicated. But with your mother's help we'll manage it," Madam Pomfrey said, while she was searching frantically through the book in her hands. Mrs. Weasley looked rather amused at the nurse.
" Actually there is not much to know," Molly said. "She'll just have to push, breath and stay calm. And with a bit of luck, we'll be soon able to welcome the youngest Weasley."
Madam Pomfrey looked shocked at the older woman.
"Are there no spells, to bring this little one out of her? That would be much faster, wouldn't it?"
"Well Poppy, if we can manage to get pregnant in the Muggle way, we'll also be able to get our babies in their way. So no: no spells," Mrs Weasley answered laughing lightly.
Ron was smiling about his mother's light way to take this.
"What are you grinning at?" Hermione shouted rather annoyed. "And could you two stop discussing the best way of a birth and just help me to bring this ouuu…" Hermione's little speech was stopped by a very painful contradiction. The young woman was clutching Ron's hand, trying to get her breathing regular again.
"Okay Hermione, I think here we go," Mrs. Weasley said wisely. "When the next contradiction comes, you'll have to push, understood?"
Hermione just nodded, feeling too weak to say a word.
"Ron best thing will be when you seat yourself behind Hermione, stabilizing her back and letting her relax between the contradictions," the woman continued in a matter of fact tone. Ron has just taken his position when he heard a loud cry and his mother shouting at the same time "Push".
Minutes and many pushes later he heard Molly say to his wife: "I do see the little head. Hermione just one more time…"
"Ron I can't…I'm so tired."
"You have to. Just one more time Hermione," he answered her while he hugged her from behind. "We'll manage it together."
Just then a new contradiction took place, and Hermione did her best. She felt a part of her leave her body and she relaxed against Ron.
Hermione has read so many books about births and in every single book the cry of life was mentioned. Why didn't her baby cry? Why were Molly and Madam Pomfrey totally silent? What was wrong? Could that possible be, what Professor Dumbledore called the worst? Their baby couldn't be…their baby had to live. She had felt the little one, move inside of her for nine months.
When Molly was seconds later about to speak up, Hermione felt already tears in her eyes, her heart breaking. Suddenly a slight 'pop' was heard and Harry stood in the middle of the room. He was holding Ginny in his arms. In the same second, a loud cry was heard from the bottom of the bed. Their baby lived.
"Hermione, it's a girl," Molly said cheerfully while she blinked away the tears. "And she looks rather healthy." Then the older woman handed the child to a very happy looking Hermione.
Molly hasn't seen Harry and Ginny's arrive, but Madam Pomfrey had indeed seen it. The nurse had seen the blood and the dirt on the two people. Scared to death about them and worried about Hermione and the baby's health, she thought quickly. The nurse turned towards Ron, and tried to sound strict when she spoke again.
"Ron, take your family and bring them out from here to the other room," when Ron didn't move a little bit, she took a step towards him. "Quick" she added urgently.
Ron didn't understand. All he saw was his brother in law and his sister, who looked like dead. He wanted to ask what had happened, wanted to cry for her. Ron wanted to do everything, but he surely didn't want to leave. But something in Madam Pomfrey's eyes told him that he had no choice.
Ron took the end of the bed, and pulled it outside the room. Hermione who was very exhausted hasn't realized how her best friends had returned. She just saw that they were there, and she was relieved. The young woman closed her eyes, and let her husband bring her out of the room. Her little baby-girl was lying in her arms.
But Molly had seen them by now. She had also seen, how they looked like. Mrs Weasley looked shocked at the two grown-ups in front of her, ready to approach them as fast as possible.
"Molly, the birth was your thing. But now you can't do anything here. At least not for Ginny," Madam Pomfrey said while she stood firmly between them. "I'll handle this here. Go outside and try to calm the others. They'll be in shock."
Molly Weasley looked unsure for a moment but nodded briefly. Seconds later the door was closed for another time and Madam Pomfrey shifted her attention back to Harry and Ginny.
"What happened? Are you both hurt, or is it only her?" the woman asked Harry.
"Just her," Harry whispered. "She did get hurt by an arrow and after we apparated she broke down. I guess she lost to much energy with it," the young man managed to finish.
"That is impossible," the nurse answered. "You have to concentrate, but it never took that much energy. There must have been something else. Remember back: I can't help her probably otherwise. Were you with her when she got hurt?"
Harry shook his head violently. "If I would have been, nothing of that would have happen. She came to the lake already hurt. I washed her wound out and then…"
"Wait, you washed her wound?" Madam Pomfrey asked sounding alarmed. "With what did you wash it out? With lake water?" When Harry nodded Madam Pomfrey continued. " But you did clean the water with a spell, right?"
Harry looked puzzled. "No, there was no time for that."
"Do you know, how dirty the water was back then? She did probably get a bad infection from it. I'll have to act very fast. ... Harry be nice and clean yourself up. You'll only be in my way here. And I swear you, I'll do everything to save her…"
"Will she be okay?"
"I hope so, although…Yes Harry she'll be okay."
Harry didn't move. He was still looking at Ginny. He felt guiltier than ever. Whatever would happen to her now, he felt that it was his fault.
Madam Pomfrey didn't wait any longer. In a few seconds, she had cut through the clothes Ginny was wearing. Then the nurse turned the young woman to the side, and what she saw made her gasp. Harry didn't ask. He took a step forward to see what was wrong, and what he saw made his blood freeze in an instant. There on Ginny's back was a large dark red shadow, which looked very violent against Ginny's pale skin. It looked more awful then anything Harry had ever seen, and as an Auror he had seen many things. A second later he felt sick.
"What will you do now?" the young man asked, feeling how he trembled. Every word was harder to say.
"I need to heal it in the Muggle way. The wound is too bad infected. We won't get any results with a simple spell. Now please Harry, leave and clean yourself up. You can come back afterwards, but like you look now, you won't be any good for her."
"I was never good for her," Harry whispered before he closed the door to the hospital wing.
The young man had his eyes downcast, when he finally turned his eyes away from the heavy wooden door. Madam Pomfrey was right. Suddenly a small voice was bringing him out of his trance.
"Daddy?"
Harry's eyes lifted up. There on Sirius arm was Joshua, smiling towards him. His son looked so grown up by now. How could that be possible? They had only for seconds left, and why was the complete family here? Harry felt confused. He slightly remembered that he saw Hermione with a baby in her arms. There was just one possible explanation. The time-turner didn't work right and catapulted them more in the future. They had lost about six months to be exact. But when he saw his son, Harry pushed this unpleasant thought aside. He rushed forward and took the little boy from Sirius. Hugging his son tightly, he saw for the first time the worried faces of his family.
"Harry, how is she?" asked Arthur Weasley holding on his wife.
"Not very good," was Harry's short reply. He couldn't talk to them.
"I should probably wash myself," Harry started, his voice unsure. "I'll be back soon. Sirius would you take Joshua till I'm back?"
When his Godfather nodded, Harry handed his son to him, and turned around. He needed to clear his thoughts. Taking a shower while doing so wasn't a bad idea. Not a bit.
Minutes after the shower, the young man had put on clean clothes, and he felt more human in that way. His eyes did still hurt from crying, and Harry still felt the panic flowing his heart.
Totally exhausted he leaned against the cold stonewall. His hands were shivering badly. He felt that his legs weren't able to support his weight any longer. Slowly his body was touching the ground. He felt again like the ten year old, locked up into the bookshelf. He was helpless. On the one hand Harry wanted nothing more than to go back to Ginny, but on the other hand, he wasn't sure if he could even make it to the door. Harry inhaled deeply. His thoughts were still racing uncontrolled through his head, and he felt a kind of emptiness, he had never felt before. The blood was pounding through his ears, and his eyes were hurting. Closing his eyes, he finally drifted of into an unsteady sleep.
The young man was lying in the grass. The air around him was full of peace, love and happiness. He felt very safe here. Finally he sat up and started to look bewildered around him. Something- no somebody was definitely missing. His eyes finally settled on a person, running down the little hill in front of him. He slowly stood up, and made a step into her direction. Yes it was her. Ginny was running towards him, smiling broadly at her husband. Harry made a few steps towards her, and opened his arms, ready to catch his luck again. When she had finally reached him, he didn't hesitate a moment. In seconds Harry had wrapped his arms around her, leaving no space between them. He kissed her passionately, while he enjoyed the feeling of her body against his own. Harry had made peace with the world in this very second. He, the boy who lived, had gotten all his dreams come true.
But suddenly his girl- his wife, started to turn around to go away.
"Wait a second," he said while holding her back. "You can't just leave, Ginny. We swore each other to stay together. We promised to grow old with the other one. We never said anything of leaving the other behind," he whispered, feeling his tears welling up. He hold stronger on her, when she tried to escape his grip.
"Ginny, please, don't leave Joshua or me. We need you, like air." Harry was partly successful because the young woman came closer once again, hugging him tightly, while she gave him another kiss.
"Ginny, is this your way to say goodbye?" Harry was frightened. Suddenly her eyes lit up, and her lips switched into an incredible smile.
"Oh Harry, when will you ever stop worrying about everything? First you were worried about me, being you girlfriend while Voldemort was still in power. Then you had your doubts, if our marriage was safe for me. Years later, you were frightened to have a child, because you didn't know how to act as a father. And now you are scared of being alone…"Ginny gave him another kiss. "But Harry be sure: You'll never be alone. I'll always be by your side. It doesn't matter if you won't see me, or if you won't be able to touch me. I'll be there. Always," she sealed this promise with a last kiss. But Harry wasn't ready to let her go.
"Ginny, I love you. I need you here, right by my side," his voice was pleading.
"My love, I'll tell you what my prayer was, since we are together: If there is no equal love, please God, let me be the one who loves stronger. It's still my prayer. Harry, if I must leave Joshua and you behind, I want you to be happy."
With those words the young woman turned around, ready to storm off. Harry was too bewildered from her words. He stood there watching her go, without any movement. Soon she was out of sight.
"No," Harry said to nobody in particular. "It's not possible that you love me stronger, because Ginny: You mean everything to me. You are my universe. I'll love you forever and ever." Then Harry closed his eyes. He inhaled deeply, and suddenly the colours started to fade, and he left the place in the nowhere: The place between life and death.
Harry awoke seconds later with a desperate wish: He needed to see Ginny. Jumping up from the bathroom floor, he started to run for the hospital wing. He was hoping with his whole being, that it wasn't to late. When he rounded the last corner, he has to shove a few family members aside. He had no time for explanations. He opened the big door, without knocking. Every second was important to him.
What he saw made him catch his breath. There stood Madam Pomfrey ready to turn off some kind of machine, which reminds Harry at one of those monitors in Muggle hospitals. When the nurse heard the opening of the door, her eyes lit up and she let her hand drop.
"Harry, I'm sorry. I tried everything."
His mind was racing. Ginny was…no she couldn't be.. He went inside the room, when suddenly he heard another sound coming from the monitor.
"That is unbelievable…that can't happening…she was dead, and I couldn't help her," Madam Pomfrey spoke in surprise. Then her eyes focused on Harry again. They were shiny from tears. "Harry, I have no explanation, but she'll live."
He felt a heavy weight leave his heart, and the same second he could feels tears running down his checks while he laughed out in joy. The words still echoed in his minds. Harry's knees couldn't support him once more. He sank down next to her bed while he thanked all the saints for saving his angel.
The door had remained open till the whole scene, and outside the little room everybody cheered up. People hugged each other relieve floating their bodies.
"Fred, please go and tell Ron and Hermione the news. I'm sure they want to know," Arthur said to his son. "Oh and I guess we should sent one family member, to Harry and Ginny," the man added.
"Arthur, maybe they want to be alone," came the unsure reply of Sirius.
"We'll leave them alone. But I believe Joshua had to be long enough without his parents. Let him go inside," Mr. Weasley said.
Sirius nodded understandingly, before he let go of the little boy. Joshua was going into the room. His eyes were wide in surprise.
"Daddy?"
Harry turned around and saw his son in front of him.
"Come here," he said while he opened his arms. The little boy smiled a bit shyly before he ran as fast as his little legs would allow him, into his father's open arms.
"Is Mummy all ight?" he asked Harry while he eyed Ginny with growing interest.
"Yes, yes she is…"
With tears in her eyes, Molly closed the door to the hospital wing room.
"I guess, now that they are complete, we should leave them alone."
***
"Harry?" Ron asked while he gently opened the door. "May I come in?" The other man looked up, startled by the voice, and nodded slightly.
"Hermione and I are worried about you. We're not sure, how you are handling this situation. I hope you know that we'll always be here for you," Ron continued before he seated himself next to Harry, his gaze on his sister.
"Yes, I know," came the soft reply.
Ron's looked at his brother in law and his nephew.
"He missed you two, so much in the last months," he stated while pointing at Joshua.
"We ALL missed you. And Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for saving my child, and for bringing back my sister," Ron stood up, and made a step towards the second man. Then he hugged him, for the first time in years.
***
It had become night, and Ginny has still not opened her eyes, while Harry had never left her bedside again. Madam Pomfrey has changed Ginny's hair colour to the beautiful warm red Harry was used. Her hair was spread over a pillow. Harry's right hand was caressing Ginny's check, while he held Joshua in his left arm.
During the day the Weasleys and the family's friend had to change from time to time the rooms. In that way neither Hermione nor Ginny had to be alone.
They were all trying their best to comfort Harry, and he was grateful for their patience with him. The young man knew that he had not been easy the whole day, but whatever he had said and done, they had never minded.
Sometime Madam Pomfrey had agreed that it'd be easier for everybody if Hermione and Ginny would lie in the same room, and so she let Hermione and the newborn girl – who was still nameless- change the room again.
Harry was a bit playing with his son, but every now and then, his eyes would rest on Ginny. There was still no change, her face still emotionless, her breathing calm and her body hasn't moved at all. It was frustrating for them all.
"I guess it's rather late for all the children. I might as well return home and bring all of them to bed. In that way some of us can stay," Penelope said, while she shifted her one-year-old daughter from one knee to the other. "Think about it, I however, have to bring Lisa home, and the rest ours," she looked down to her three children, who were actually more asleep than awake. "And Weasley Mansion is big enough. I'll come back with them, tomorrow morning. That's okay for you? And despite that I'm sure the children would have more fun there."
The parents looked questioning at their children, who looked tired but still excited. A few minutes later they had agreed, and so Penelope Weasley went to the fireplace before she turned around another time.
"Just sent them through, I'll wait for them," she said before her final goodbye.
Soon most children had left the uncomfortable room. Ron and Hermione's baby was sleeping in Hermione's arms, her fists balled up, but looking very much in peace with the world. Joshua was still sitting on Harry's lap. His little head was leaning against his father's chest, while he was almost asleep.
"Harry, I can bring Joshua to Penelope and return afterwards. That wouldn't be a problem, not at all," Pansy tried as gently as possible.
"No, he'll stay. I already lost too much time." Harry protested.
"But look at him. He needs a bed. It was a long day for him. His real parents returned, and his aunt, who practically was his mum for the last months, has got a baby," Beatrice, Bill's wife stated while she felt a bit anger welling up inside.
"Ginny is his mother, and nobody else. Did I make myself clear," Harry shot back, while he felt helpless.
Bill studied Harry for seconds. He saw the hurt, and the sorrow in the eyes of the younger man. Harry's eyes looked so much older in that very second. His arms were protectively holding on Joshua, who looked frightened by the loud voices. Bill felt scared. He laid a hand on Beatrice shoulder, and silenced her with that gesture.
"Hey, it can't hurt if Joshua stays here. He can as well sleep in one of those beds. After all, there are no other patients in here," Bill said calmly. His wife looked up, confusing showing in her eyes. Then she looked at Harry, and she saw what minutes earlier her husband saw. Harry needed his son, he needed this innocent child, to think about happier things in life.
"I guess you are right," she agreed a bit embarrassed about her cold reaction first.
The other people in the room were just happy that the argument had ended before it had really begun. Harry and Bill's eyes met for seconds and both men nodded. Harry felt relieved and very thankful. Without any hesitation he handed Joshua to Pansy who lied him down into the third back. And then Pansy Malfoy started to sing a song:
Try not to get worried
Try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you
(oh) Don't you know
Everything's alright
Yes everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try
We'll get by
So forget all about us tonight
Everything's all right
Yes everything's all right yes
Harry felt how tears welt up. Pansy's words were calming him and he wished that Ginny would wake up. Suddenly he felt an arm around his shoulder. Startled by the touch he looked up, and met the gaze of Molly Weasley. He did get used to her hugging him a long time ago, and Harry let himself fall for the first time this day, while Pansy continued to sing:
Sleep and I shall soothe you
Calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead
(oh) Then you'll feel
Everything's all right
Yes everything's fine
And it's cool and the ointment's sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes
Close your eyes
And relax
Think of nothing tonight …
When Pansy's voice stopped, Harry felt a bit uncomfortable. He knew that everybody was watching his mother-in-law and him, and he wondered how he could possible escape their gazes.
"Hey Harry, I know that Pansy is not the best singer, but she's still very good," Draco said while he was smirking. His wife giggled before she answered.
"At least I can sing better then you. If I remember right, our son told YOU, never to sing again, while he is near."
Harry joined the other grown ups in their laughter. He always had known that he had good friends, but now he was sure he had the best.
Suddenly he thought to see a movement. He looked a second time, and he saw that he was right. Ginny has moved. Harry wasn't the only one who has seen that. In seconds everyone was standing next to the bed. Harry gently caressed Ginny's cheek while he felt a heavy weight falling from his shoulders. Her eyes opened, and she met his gaze. Ginny still looked very confused, and still awful tiered, but when she saw Harry she smiled a little bit.
"We're back, aren't we? We made it…Where is Joshua, I want to see him," her voice was soft and barely a whisper.
"Tomorrow Ginny, he's sleeping," Harry answered, while realization hit him: Ginny had no clue that the Time- Turner did not work completely right, and she didn't know that Joshua has grown up a bit further. But he didn't want to deal with it right now. "Just try to sleep a bit more," Harry said the first time, completely sure again that everything would go all right.
A/N: Okay, for once I'll end without a cliffhanger. In the next chapter, you'll hear what happened to Wardena, Mary-Ann and John. I'll also tell you, what happens to the Potters and the Weasleys. I really hope that you liked this story at least a bit, since the end to it is really near.
However: Thanks for all the lovely reviews, I'm glad you all liked it. Since I'm in a bit of Christmas stress, I won't write the Thank you section this time. – it'll be there with the next chapter. I'm very happy if you'd take your time to review this story. I'm trying very hard to finish a HP Christmas story, but I'm not sure if I can finish it in time. For this reason: Merry Christmas to you all.
If you have any questions, you can email me to: Carrie01@gmx.at
Disclaimer: Most character belongs to J.K. Rowling. But Joshua William is mine and Wardena /Mary Ann and John McGilbert are mine. I don't own them. The song that Pansy did sing during the chapter is taken from the Musical: "Jesus Christ Superstar." Ginny's prayer isn't from me either: I heard it in a television show called: *Felicity." If anybody knows by whom that poem is, please let me know.