Chapter Two: When Doves Cry
What is... pain? Pain had been deemed physical, something must happen to you to feel pain. To be cut, burned, bruised etc. But pain is more of a psychological type thing. Men can withstand more pain, mainly because of ego. Some people are more sensitive to pain then others; it's like an adaptation process. The only problem was Hermione's pain wasn't physical, and she hadn't adapted... not one single bit. In those five months, Hermione died a little more every day; reliving the same scenes over in her head... tears fell at any given moment. When Ron smashed her vase, he also smashed her heart, shattering into millions of pieces all at once.
Standing from beneath the large Willow Tree in the City Park, Hermione wiped her tear-streaked face on her blouse, sighing as she walked out of the park, a little girl running past her joyously. Hermione's eyes followed the small child, a sad little smirk appearing on her lips. Then they landed on the girl's parents, smiling as her father lifted her into the air and swung her around, setting her down on a high limb, holding her to keep her from falling off. All the while the child just smiled, laughing with glee. A tiny tear ran down Hermione's cheek as she rubbed her stomach, in some way... trying to let her unborn child know everything was going to be all right.
"Well Ms. Granger... you'll be having a healthy, bouncy baby girl." Said Dr. Wills, smiling broadly at Hermione as she lay on the bed, the sonogram picture of her daughter in front of her, the baby's heart beating softly. In that single moment, Hermione was overcome with a feeling contentedness, wanting just to wrap her arms around the tiny child she could see on the screen, and make all the world go away – so it was just them. She was soon pulled from her reverie when the doctor addressed Harry, whom stood beside her.
"Are you the father?" He asked, peeking over his glasses at the tall, slightly tanned man beside the bed.
"Oh... uh... no. I'm just a family friend..." He replied, smiling and peeking over his own glasses in a mocking way.
"Well, Ms. Granger, I'll need to see you back in three weeks. Take this to the front desk and they'll take care of you. have a good day!" Dr. Wills said, finally leaving the room and heading to the staff table.
"Thank you... Harry." Hermione said, looking up to her best friend as she turned and put on her shoes and leave.
"For what?" Harry asked, assisting her with her ties, as she couldn't reach around her stomach anymore.
"For being here... for being with me." She replied, setting her feet on the cold tile and grabbing her coat. "You've no idea how much this means to me..." She said, opening the door and leaving the office, Harry silently following her. Once in the car, she smiled and leaned back, closing her eyes.
"Evelynn Rose," Hermione said, her eyes still shut tight, her head leaned against the seat-belt holster. "What do you think of Evelynn Rose?" She asked, this time opening her eyes to a shocked Harry.
"Uhm... That's really beautiful... but you name it what you want – it's your kid." He said, laughing nervously as he backed out, driving towards the highway to drop Hermione off at her flat.
"Actually... you're most likely going to be more of her father then anyone else will..." She replied softly, gazing out the window at the busy streets and angry people, happy for once.
"You know... this cake isn't so bad..." Came a stuffed mouth Harry from the other side of the sofa. His green eyes were focused on his fork, which was currently grabbing another piece of Run Fruit Cake, shoving it into his mouth as he chewed.
"Thanks... I had a hankering for it, and just decided to make some homemade" Replied Hermione, eating equally as fast. She had been having odd cravings for weeks now, and had craved everything from Anchovies to Water Chestnuts. Today it was fruitcake – so she made heaps and heaps of it. The only problem was... Hermione hated fruitcake.
Both of them finishing at roughly the same time, Harry stood up, taking both his plate and Hermione's towards the kitchen. He had barely placed the ceramic dishes in the sink when he heard a small scream. Running back to the living room, he found a smiling Hermione, hands to her stomach. "Wha-" Huff. "What Happened?" Huff huff.
"She kicked! Evelynn kicked!" Hermione screamed joyfully, signaling for Harry to come feel. "Hurry! Before she stops..." She said as Harry sat down, setting his large hand on her bare belly, warmth over come her middle section.
"I don't feel anything Herms..." He said, looking up to Hermione, his face amazingly close to her own.
"Just wait... any mome- there she went again!" She said, smiling as Harry jerked a bit, before leaning closer and setting his ear on her stomach. Hermione looked down, overcome with something she hadn't felt in a long time. Happiness. She sighed as Harry made funny noises, his warm breath felt against her milky skin.
"Wow." Harry said, looking up, resting his chin on Hermione obtuse stomach. "That's just... wow." He said, smiling as his green eyes met Hermione's own brown. A silence came over the room, Hermione not wanting to speak, and Harry just looking into her eyes. Slowly, her moved forwards, still speaking not a word. With the ease, he gently leaned towards her and kissed her lips, his own lingering on hers for a moment before backing away.
"Har-" Hermione began to say, before Harry Stopped her with a shushing noise, before leaning in again, this time kissing her a bit more fiercely, her lips parting to let him in. Kissing him back, her hands reached up, lingering at the nape of his neck – just where his hair met his skin. In that moment, Hermione would have liked to disappear, melt completely into Harry. Nothing would matter but Harry. Not her, not her daughter, not even Ron. Harry, that was all. It was a moment like when doves cry... one that never happens.
A thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one
I saw the world spin beneath you
And scatter like ice from the spoon
That was your womb – Black Balloon, Goo Goo Dolls
