Hey Guys! I hope that you all enjoy this Christmas One Shot a bit early!
Happy Holidays to all!
December 19th
The week of Christmas had arrived, and Hermione was in her flat in Aberdeen, Scotland that she had rented 8 months prior. It was early in the morning, and she was packing her belongings into a charmed bag to go home for the holidays. She hadn't spoken to her family or anyone else for that matter, the entire time she had been there.
Her older sister, Rhea, had attempted to contact her several times. Hermione couldn't lie to her, so she simply ignored her only sibling, not answering the numerous phone calls despite the disappointment she felt in herself.
Whenever Harry, Ron, or Ginny had sent owls, she never replied. Sometimes she had even needed to send an owl back with a blank letter as they had given the bird orders to remain there until she responded.
She understood everyone's desire to speak with her and get answers about her sudden disappearance. She had simply left England without a single word or explanation. Had any of her friends or family done that, she too would have been furious and full of questions, but she hoped that soon they'd understand.
While packing, she could feel more than the dozens of pixies in her stomach as the baby also moved within her womb. She hadn't told anyone about being pregnant. Not even the father of the baby. The very thought of him finding out caused even more pixies to flutter around inside her anxious stomach.
Draco deserved to know but she was still furious with him for breaking up with her and proposing to Astoria Greengrass with no warning. They had been together for 3 years and then one day, he simply ended it because of his parents' ruling. She had been in love with him…and, in all honesty, she still was. Three weeks after they broke up, she discovered that she was pregnant with his child. She had originally been distraught by the discovery and escaped from England to think everything over. However, she had always wanted a child, though perhaps not in that exact manner.
She finished packing her bag and headed to the Aberdeen Railway Station. Usually, she would simply Apparate to her parents' house and be there within a moment, however being nearly 9 months pregnant, she needed to be exceptionally cautious, for the baby's sake, so she traveled using muggle transportation rather than magical.
It took 9 hours to travel from Aberdeen, Scotland to London, England and by the time she arrived at Kings Cross Railway Station, she had gotten a bit of rest, though her anxiety had only gotten worse. When the train came to a halt, she looked out her window and could see her father and sister waiting on the platform. Her anxiety heightened significantly seeing their eager faces awaiting her return.
The pregnant witch inhaled deeply and grabbed her bag before walking down the train's corridor.
As she stepped onto the platform and made eye contact with her father, she saw how his eyes widened in complete shock and confusion.
"Hermione?" Lucas Granger said quietly, looking from her face to her swollen stomach.
She swallowed, "Hi Dad."
"You're…" he murmured, meeting her eyes.
"You're pregnant!" Rhea exclaimed looking at her younger sister with utter shock covering her features.
Hermione nodded, "I am." She replied nervously.
"How…how far along are you?" Her 27-year-old sister asked, "And who's the…?"
Hermione swallowed and shook her head, "Can we discuss it at home?"
Her father cleared his throat and nodded before taking her bag from her hand. The three of them made their way to his vehicle in silence and remained silent the entire ride to the Granger home.
When they arrived at the Granger house, Claire, Hermione's mother, rushed outside to greet her, only to be just as stunned by her daughter's appearance.
"Hermione…Darling, what erm…" She stuttered.
Hermione swallowed, "Mum, let's go inside. I'll explain everything in there."
Once the family of four gathered in the lounge, Hermione sat on the sofa and took a deep breath, about to speak before she was cut off.
"What in the world, Hermione?!" Rhea exclaimed, "Why would you ignore us for 8 months? Why would you keep this from us?" she asked, indicating to her sister's stomach as their father poured himself an ample glass of whiskey and sat down in his usual lounge chair.
Hermione sighed, "I just…I needed time for myself. I…after Draco and I broke up…well, I was heartbroken and..."
"So, it's Draco's then?" Claire asked, cutting her daughter off.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, but he doesn't know anything about it."
"Does anyone?" Rhea asked and her sister shook her head.
"No. I couldn't tell anyone. It took me a while to accept it myself." The 24-year-old witch said, "I understand that you are all upset with me, and I can't blame you at all, but I needed time to myself. I…I'm sorry."
Lucas continued to remain silent, not looking at his pregnant daughter as he sipped his glass of whiskey.
Hermione sighed and looked at her mother, "Mum, I'm keeping it. I'm keeping the baby and I'm not sure how to go about being a mother…especially a single mother. Honestly, I'm terrified."
Claire nodded and looked over at her husband. She swallowed and stood up, walking over to the sofa where Hermione was sitting alone. She sat down beside her pregnant daughter and placed a warm hand on her thigh. "It's okay, Darling. You're not alone. I'll help you." She comforted.
Hermione burst into sobs of relief and regret as she hugged her mother tightly.
Rhea was quick to rush over and join the hug, knowing her younger sister needed support even if she was still upset with the mother-to-be.
As the three women pulled back from the embrace, Hermione looked over at her father, "Dad?" she said quietly.
The man looked at his daughter…his little girl and swallowed. "I wish you had told us."
She nodded, "I know, Dad. I know and I am sorry."
He nodded and stood up. As he walked over, Hermione attempted to stand but couldn't due to her girth and low seat of the sofa. He helped her up and pulled her into a comforting, fatherly embrace.
"We're here for you, Darling." He said quietly, "As your mother said, you're not alone. We'll all help you navigate this new path."
Hermione cried against his shirt, having needed her father's forgiveness more than anyone else in her family. They had always been extremely close, and her biggest fear was disappointing him.
"I love you, Hermione." He muttered and kissed the top of her head. "Everything is going to be just fine."
December 24th
A few days had passed, and they continued to discuss the rapid upcoming arrival of a baby. They had begun to set up a crib in Hermione's room as she had decided to stay with her parents for a while until she found a new place to live in London.
Lucas had spent the entire day before Christmas Eve, putting the crib together and making sure it was secure. Afterwards, Hermione added a few magical buffers to ensure the baby's safety.
When Christmas Eve arrived, Hermione was sitting in the lounge with her sister and mother, explaining exactly why she must give birth at St. Mungo's rather than a muggle hospital. They had all been rather insistent on a muggle hospital, but Hermione knew that wasn't an actual option.
"During pregnancy, a witch's magic can strengthen significantly. And when in labor, her magic can be rather unpredictable due to the pain and the child's magic melding with her own. So, I cannot give birth in a muggle hospital because anything could happen. It wouldn't be safe for the muggles around me, including you lot, and it could reveal the magical world to them, which would be exceptionally bad. If that happened, the Ministry of Magic would have to get involved, erase memories and I would be reprimanded." She explained before continuing. "A while back, I purchased a specific kind of Floo Powder that makes it possible for muggles to travel via Floo. So, you lot can travel to St. Mungo's with me and be there during the birth…if you want to, of course."
"Of course, we want to be there!" Claire said enthusiastically, "You're my daughter and that's my grandchild. I need to be there. It's part of being a Mum and a Grandmum." She said with a smile, squeezing her daughter's hand lovingly.
Hermione smiled, relieved, "Okay. Good."
"Now, as for supplies, we'll need to go shopping as soon as possible." Claire said.
"Oh, St. Mungo's gives new parents some supplies, including clothing, cloth diapers and other materials needed for the first few days, so there's no need to worry too much. We've got a bit of time." Hermione said, "Also, I've already purchased a few things. I'm not sure if it's a boy or girl…I wanted it to be a surprise…so, I've purchased a few outfits for each gender."
Rhea smiled, "I'm so proud of my little sister."
Hermione rolled her eyes, before feeling her child move a bit. She grabbed her mother's hand and placed it on her stomach.
Claire looked as if she was going to cry, "That's my grandchild in there."
Hermione nodded as tears welled up in her own eyes and her sister reached over to feel as well.
As the day continued, they enjoyed baking cookies and shortbread. They spent time wrapping gifts and watching Christmas movies.
That evening, while the family of four sat together in the lounge and watched White Christmas, Hermione felt a few sharp pains. She thought them to be nothing more than regular pregnancy pains but a few moments later, when a significantly stronger one came, she groaned loudly, catching the attention of her family.
"Hermione, what is it?!" Lucas asked, concerned for his daughter.
Hermione furrowed her brow, her hand on her stomach, "I'm not sure." She replied, worriedly.
The others watched her, concerned. And when she groaned again as another pain came, Claire stood up, "We should go, Darling. I believe that you may be having contractions."
Hermione nodded, "Rhea, please go get the tin box inside my bag. It has a star stamped into the lid." She said to her sister as their father helped her stand up.
When Rhea came back with the box, Hermione explained once more how to use the special Floo Powder that was inside the tin box.
"I'll go first and then you all follow. Don't be afraid and speak clearly." She said before disappearing into green flames.
She waited for them, groaning in severe pain. When the others arrived, Lucas and Rhea helped Hermione to the front desk where she quickly explained that she was in labor, and that her family were muggles.
The witch behind the desk gave Lucas, Claire, and Rhea each a Muggle Labor Pass before retrieving a wheelchair for Hermione.
She cast a spell on the wheelchair and informed them that the wheelchair would escort them to Hermione's assigned labor room.
When they arrived at a room, they found a surprisingly nice space. It had a green gown and a pair of white slippers on the bed. While Hermione's mother and sister helped her change into the gown, Lucas remained out in the corridor tapping his foot impatiently, worried about his daughter.
Once she was in bed, Claire retrieved her husband from the corridor.
A moment later, a nurse, wearing lavender robes, entered the room with a kind smile. "Hello, Miss Granger. My name is Katherine and I'm going to be with you every step of the way through your labor and the birth. How are you feeling"
"Well…" Hermione said, "I'm hurting terribly, to be utterly honest." She replied with pained grimace.
The nurse nodded and grabbed a vial of light blue, sparkling potion from the potion cabinet in the room. "Here you are. This will ease your pain as well as help in controlling your magical outbursts throughout the labor."
Hermione nodded and drank the potion, immediately feeling the pain ease a bit.
"Now, your Healer will be in here momentarily to speak with all of you and perform an examination. I'm not sure which Healer has been assigned to your case, but they are all wonderful, so you will be in good hands." Katherine said.
Hermione nodded and Claire held her hand, letting her daughter squeeze whenever she was in pain.
Lucas paced the room while Rhea nearby.
Katherine noticed the anxiety that filled the room and spoke up, "I can see that all of you are nervous and also that this is a bit of an odd experience for the three of you since you have Muggle Passes." She said, "Would you like me to explain how a magical birth experience usually occurs?"
Claire nodded, "Yes. Please." She replied immediately as all three muggles turned and looked at the nurse.
Katherine nodded, "Mum-to-be should not feel too much pain. The Healer will come in and they will conduct a few diagnostic charms on her to see how she and the baby are doing. If all is well, then when her body is physically ready for birth, which does not take long at all due to the magic she and baby both have, she'll give birth the same way as a muggle woman would." The nurse explained. "The baby's magic will be palpable for a while after birth. So much so that we will need to give the baby a small amount of potion that will calm its magic but will not harm the baby whatsoever."
As Hermione's parents and sister nodded, Hermione felt a sharp pain and groaned, holding her stomach.
Katherine walked over and performed a few diagnostic charms on Hermione. The labor room doors opened, and Hermione stopped breathing for a moment. She could not believe her own eyes.
Standing there, wearing dark green Healer robes, and looking dashing as ever was Draco Lucius Malfoy. He was staring at her with a look of complete confusion as well as, if she deduced it properly, a bit of pain within his grey eyes.
"Hermione?" He croaked in confusion.
Hermione swallowed. She couldn't believe it. She had known that he was a Healer. He had been one since he was 20 years old, but he had always worked in the Trauma Department, not as an Accoucheur. She hadn't realized that he had switched departments.
"Draco?" She replied, unsure of what else to say.
Hermione's family stood in silence, unsure of what to do.
The nurse looked completely confused as she looked between the patient and the Healer. "Healer Malfoy…is everything all right?"
Before he could answer, Hermione felt a severe, sharp pain and groaned loudly, "Oh dear Merlin!" she screamed.
Draco and Katherine both rushed toward her, wands out. Draco began performing different diagnostic charms while Katherine informed him of everything she had found during her previous diagnostic charm tests.
He nodded, "Okay…Hermione, listen…your erm…your baby…it's in distress. If we don't forcibly take it out now, you could both die." He said, the strain in his voice scaring Lucas, Claire, and Rhea.
"Why?" Hermione asked before feeling another, stronger pain.
"There's no time. I'm going to give you a potion to put you to sleep. When you wake up, everything will be okay." Draco said in a tone that a Healer would normally never use with a patient.
Within a moment after drinking the potion, she was asleep. She didn't dream. She wasn't even aware of how much time had passed.
December 25th
When Hermione woke up, she could hear her mother's voice quietly speaking but couldn't quite make out what she was saying.
She slowly opened her eyes as they were sensitive to the light.
"Hermione?" She heard as her sister ran over and looked down at her with concern.
Hermione hummed and felt her stomach, her eyes widened in worry, "Where is…"
"Calm down." Lucas said quickly as he walked over, holding a yellow blanket bundled in his arms. "Meet your son, Darling." He said with a smile as he handed the baby over to the brunette witch.
Hermione eyes widened as she took the tiny bundle in her arms. She carefully moved the blanket a bit so that she could see her son's face. The baby had small, chestnut curls, a button nose, and soft, pink lips. His eyes were closed but as she held him, they slowly opened, causing her breath to catch in her throat. The eyes of her son's father stared up at her, grey and sparkling.
Nurse Katherine entered the room and smiled, "Brilliant! You're awake. I'll get Healer Malfoy." She said before exiting the room.
"That's the first time he's opened his eyes." Rhea said quietly before looking at Hermione. "Happy Christmas, little sister."
Hermione smiled, "It's Christmas?"
Claire nodded, "Yes. It's nearly 5 in the morning. He was born about 2 hours ago."
"He's a Christmas baby." Rhea said with a grin.
Hermione nodded and looked down at her son, the best Christmas present of all.
"He has his father's eyes." Claire admired with a smile.
Nodding, Hermione said, "Yes. He does."
They all heard footsteps and looked over to see Draco entering the room.
Hermione looked at her parents and sister. All three took the silent hint and left the room.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asked, not looking at the baby as he performed a few simple diagnostic charms on her.
"I'm actually hurting quite a lot." She replied, realizing that despite the love and happiness she felt holding her son, she was truly in a significant amount of pain.
Draco nodded, "Yes." He said, pulling out a vial of orange potion from his robes pocket. "Drink this. It'll help with the pain. We had to rush and get the…the baby out otherwise you were both going to die. The umbilical cord was tied in a knot, putting the baby in dire distress and the baby was leeching off of your magic, trying to survive."
Hermione inhaled shakily, "Thank you, Draco…for saving both of us."
He nodded, "Yes well, Healer Fraser looked the baby over and assured me that it's perfectly healthy."
Hermione smiled and looked down at her son, "He's perfect." She breathed, feeling immense relief.
Draco clenched his jaw, "Yes…well…"
Hermione swallowed and looked at the blond wizard, "How have you been?"
He huffed and nodded, "I've been…all right, I suppose. You seem to have been perfectly fine."
Furrowing her brow, Hermione asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Who's the father?" He asked bluntly, ignoring her question. His voice held obvious pain and anger.
"Draco…" She said, unsure of how to respond. She knew that she needed to tell him, but nothing was going as she had thought it would and his anger upset her significantly.
When she didn't answer him, Draco crossed his arms, "You know, I've been trying to contact you for months, but you just vanished, Hermione!" He said, pain evident in his tone. "I didn't marry Astoria. I ended our engagement and told my parents to shove it. Of course, you wouldn't know that because you vanished without a single word to me and got pregnant with some other bloke's child!" He exclaimed.
"Draco…" She said, swallowing. "I didn't…"
"How could you have another man's child, Hermione?" He asked, his voice breaking. "I am aware that I made a massive mistake, but for you to go out and do this…" He said waving his hand in the direction of the baby.
Hermione huffed, "Draco!" She hissed, finally getting his attention, "Look at my son."
"Absolutely not." He said, re-crossing his arms, "I can't…" He muttered, looking away.
"Draco, come look at my child!" She said firmly.
Draco huffed and walked closer. He took a deep, steadying breath before looking down to see a pair of matching grey eyes staring up at him from within the bundled, yellow blanket.
He swallowed, unsure of what to say as shock thrummed through his body.
"He is your son, Draco. He is our son." She said, watching the wizard's expression as she spoke.
Draco inhaled sharply, stunned by the revelation. He couldn't speak as his throat went dry.
Hermione looked down at the baby before looking back at Draco, "Would you like to hold him?"
Draco immediately nodded and reached out. She placed the child in his waiting arms and watched as he looked down at their son.
Draco swallowed, "He's…he's perfect." He whispered.
She nodded, smiling as a tear slipped from her eye. "I know."
Draco carefully sat down on the edge of Hermione's bed. He watched their baby as his shining grey eyes closed once more. Draco looked over at Hermione with his own shining grey eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked quietly, though his voice held no anger.
Hermione licked her lips and sighed, "Because, Draco, you broke my heart. I didn't know for some time that I was pregnant and then when I discovered that I was, I couldn't tell you or anyone. I left England. No one knew about it until five days ago." She said, "But I wasn't going to keep him from you. I just needed some time."
Draco nodded and sighed, "I'm so terribly sorry, Hermione. Please…please forgive me. I…I truly want us to be a family." He said, before looking at the baby, "The three of us."
More tears slipped from her eyes as she nodded, "Me too."
Draco sniffed and looked down at his son, "Have you chosen a name for him?"
She shook her head, "No. I thought we should do that together. Though…I do have a few ideas."
Draco huffed a quiet laugh, "Of course you do. What are your ideas?"
They discussed the name options for some time until Nurse Katherine came in to give Hermione some more Pain Potion.
After Hermione took the potion, she and the baby slept for some time while Draco continued working with his other patients.
It was nearing noon when he came back with a stuffed, light green dragon for his son. He sat on the edge of bed and watched as Hermione and the baby slept.
Hermione slowly woke up, as if sensing his presence. She smiled, seeing the wizard.
He reached over and brushed some of her hair from her face, "You look beautiful." He murmured.
She smiled, and looked down at the baby in her arms, "He sleeps so well."
Draco nodded, "I'm glad." He grinned. "Have you considered the name options anymore?"
Hermione shook her head, "I haven't. I've been sleeping. Have you?"
Draco nodded, "I was thinking. You really wanted to name him after your father and he was born on Christmas Day, so why not Lucas's middle name?"
Hermione beamed, suddenly realizing what a good idea that was, "Christopher!" She said happily, "Christopher Draco Malfoy." She said, "I think that's a marvelous idea."
Draco swallowed and grinned, "So…he'll have my last name then?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yes." She replied with a smile, reaching over to cup his jaw, "Of course."
Draco looked own at his son and placed the tiny dragon next to him, "Happy Christmas, Christopher." He said before looking at her. "Happy Christmas, Hermione.
"Happy Christmas, Draco." She smiled.