Chapter Five: Beginnings of beginnings
A week later Hermione got back on the train to return to London. As she said her good-byes she made sure to squeeze her mom extra tight.
"I'll see you guys soon!" she said as she lifted her suitcase and patted her large stomach.
When the train pulled into the station, Hermione saw Harry waiting next to the train. She got off and hugged him.
"Hey, how was your trip?" he asked as he carried her stuff to the car.
"Better than you could imagine. My mum gave me something I want to show you when we get back. I found some stuff you might want to see, too," she replied.
"Great," he said as he held the door open for her.
When they got home Harry put on the kettle for tea and Hermione pulled out the shoebox and the baby book.
"Is Ron home? I want him to see this too," Hermione said before she opened the box.
"I'll check," Harry said. He grabbed a pinch of floo powder and stuck his head in the fire. "Ron Weasley!" A minute later he pulled his head out of the fire and brushed the soot from his hair.
"He's just comi-" he started but just then Ron appeared at his side with a Pop .
"Hey, Hermione! Gosh look at you, when are you due?" Ron asked, sitting down next to the plump Hermione.
"December 16," she replied, proudly.
"Great! Pretty close to the big day, huh? So, what are we doing?" Ron asked as he saw the shoebox sitting on the table.
"I found some Hogwarts stuff in my old room. I thought you guys might want to see it. My mum also gave me my baby book, it's pretty cool," she replied.
Harry poured tea for him and Ron and got a glass of apple juice for Hermione because the doctor said that caffeine wasn't good for the baby. Hermione opened the box and on top was the picture. She picked it up and held it out for the guys to see.
"Remember this?" she asked.
"Remember, how could I forget!" Harry replied as he took the picture from her to get a better look.
"Yeah, of course we remember. What happened to that necklace, anyway?" Ron looked up from the photo. Hermione showed him the velvet box.
"I kept the necklace even after Viktor told me I couldn't. I figured that now he's gone, I can wear it again," she pulled the chain out from under her robes.
"Wow, this brings me back. What else do you have in there?" asked Harry, peeking into the box.
"Let's see. Here are old the old love letters," she giggled as she pulled them out.
"You uhh, kept those?" Ron asked, his facing turning a deep shade of magenta as Hermione unfolded one.
"Yep. 'Dear Hermione, I couldn't pay attention in class today because I was thinking of you. I can't believe I have to be apart from you for an agonizing hour ever Tuesdays and Thursdays...'" she folded the parchment back up.
Harry cracked up. "Man you were such a sop!" he was bent doubled next to the table where Ron was burning with embarrassment.
"Oh no, that was one of yours, Harry," she replied. Suddenly Harry stopped laughing and grabbed the letter.
"Give me that," he cleared his throat. "So, uhhh, what else?"
They spent the afternoon looking at Hermione favourite assignments (I can't believe you kept those, you looser!), pictures of the trio during their Hogwarts day (We look so young!) and other memorabilia from school. Hermione entertained them with baby pictures. The trio ended up going out to dinner together for the first time in months.
Hermione suddenly became very fidgety as December approached. She couldn't stay put for two seconds. The good part of this was not only did she wash all the dishes, do the laundry and clean the whole house, she also didn't seem to have time to let any major mood swings kick in. Harry figured it was best if he just left her to herself and let her do her thing.
Soon December 16th had come and gone and Hermione went into a whole new form of release: complete and utter hysteria. She worried every moment of everyday that something was wrong with the baby. Harry didn't know how to deal with this so he called in reinforcements. Mrs. Granger arrived on the 20th and sat Hermione down. They talked for a long while in the other room until they finally emerged around dinnertime. Hermione looked much calmer but still a little shaky.
"What on earth did you say to her to get her so mellow?" asked Harry who was staring in awe at Hermione as she set the table with Carrie.
Mrs. Granger smiled. "Woman's secret," and left it at that.
The Grangers stayed in the apartment in the days leading up to Christmas. On the 25th everyone gathered around the tree Harry had set up in the living room to exchange gifts. They all emptied their stockings and ate Christmas brunch before getting down to the big presents. Paper was torn and hugs were given until there was only one gift left.
"Here, Hermione, open it!" Harry handed the box to her and she read the tag. To: The luckiest baby in the world, From: Albus Dumbledore.
"I can't believe he got her something," Hermione said as she lifted the top off the present. Inside was a baby blanket made of sewn unicorn hair and a fringe of phoenix feathers. Hermione gasped as she ran it through her fingers.
"It's-"she gasped again but this time she dropped the clothe and grabbed her stomach.
"Honey?" her mom stood up.
"I don't think she likes it. Owww. She's kicking really hard! Owwwwww!" she screamed it this time.
"Hermione, she's not kicking. Those are contractions!" Her mom told her. Hermione's eyes widened.
"You mean?"
"Yes! It's time! Someone get the van started!"
Harry paced the waiting room nervously. They had been in the hospital for four hours already and there was still no baby.
"Harry," a voice behind him said. He turned to see Carrie looking at him. She smiled encouragingly. "Settle down. This always takes forever, all we can do is wait." She patted his knee.
"Forever? Like how long?" the idea of the labor taking longer than this freaked him out rather than calmed him down.
"I've known some people whose births lasted up to 16 hours plus!" she replied. His eyes widened at the thought.
"Actually," he heard a familiar voice say, "I think your mother holds the record. I believe we waited 36 hours for you! And to thinks he still kept you after that. I always knew she would make a good mother." His eyes twinkled.
"Dumbledore!" Harry quickly crossed the room to embrace the old man.
"Harry, so nice to see you. Hello, everyone," he smiled at all the people in the waiting room.
"I'm so glad you're here," Harry said.
"Ah, ahhh, ahhhhh! Ouch!" Hermione closed her eyes tight in a sad effort to lessen the pain.
"No one said it would be easy, dear," her mother smiled from her bedside. She was wearing the smock the doctors gave her and she was holding a cup of ice for Hermione.
"I know but they hurt so bad! And it's been forever! When is this thing going to come out?!" Hermione replied in an exasperated tone.
"Well, you took almost 36 hours if I remember correctly. I can't believe I kept you after what you put me through!" she smiled and Hermione gave a little laugh.
Just them the nurse came in holding a clipboard. "How are we doing, Hermione?" she asked brightly. Hermione shot her a look that clearly showed how she was doing. Hermione was sure she wouldn't be so happy if she were having these god-forsaken contractions.
Her mother answered for her, "We're doing fine, thank-you. Hermione would like to know how far along we are, though." Hermione couldn't believe how calm her mother was being.
After a minute the nurse scribbled a few things down on the clipboard. Hermione tried to see what she was writing down.
"You're about 5 cm. dilated, Ms. Granger. Halfway there! I'll be back to check on you in another hour or so. Remember to push the button if you need anything," she smiled again and left the room. Hermione made a face at her retreating back.
"Oh, honey. Don't act like you're the only one in the world who has ever done this! It'll be over before you know," Mrs. Granger patted her hand lightly.
Several hours later the number of people in the waiting room had doubled and everyone was getting anxious. At 6.00 Ron showed up out of breath.
"Hey I got here as fast as I could but I just got the message. I had to leave the tournament early. Did I miss anything?" he said this all very fast. His face was scarlet and it appeared as though he had run through the hospital to get there.
"No, you haven't missed anything. Apparently the labor takes as long as the gestation period. It's gonna be hours still. Wish I'd known that two meals ago," Harry replied irritably.
"There's a restaurant type thing at the other end of the hospital. I passed it on my way here. Didn't you know?" Ron replied.
Harry stared at the chocolate frog in his hand for a minute. Then he turned on Carrie and Ginny.
"That's where you guys went when you said you were going to the loo? I can't believe you let me live off chocolate frogs and canary creams all day-" Fred and George grinned from chairs on the other side of the room, "-I've burst into feather three times already just to stay conscious!" he said, annoyance showing in his voice.
"Whoops," was all Ginny said.
"It was quite funny, though," Carrie added, trying very hard not to giggle.
"C'mon, mate. Let's get you some food before you start to cry," Ron said, steering him down the hallway.
"Women," Harry muttered as he left with Ron.
"Ok, Ms. Granger, you're dilated 9 com. It's almost time. I'm going to get the doctor and you just hold tight!" the nurse exited leaving a red-faced Hermione panting heavily with her mother giving her tips and reminding her to breathe. The doctor walked in a few seconds later and checked the clipboard.
"Ms. Granger, I'm Dr. Murray and I'll be delivering your baby today," he said. He had dark black hair and a bright smile Hermione couldn't stand in her current condition.
"Who cares?! Am I ready to have this baby or not?!" she cried as another contraction hit and her mother stuffed some ice in her mouth.
"Well, let's see. Dilated to," pause "10 cm. Your contractions are very close together. I'd say we're ready. We will wheel you into another room for the actual birth. Will your mother be coming?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm coming, Doctor," Mrs. Granger replied.
"Terrific. Hold on, we're going for a ride!"
"Yumm, that was delicious. I can't believe they didn't tell me about that place," Harry said as they made their way back to the waiting room.
"Well, you know what they say about women," Ron replied, chuckling.
"That you can't get one?" Harry laughed and Ron hit him as they rounded the corner.
"Hey, where is my woman?" Harry asked the nearly empty waiting room. "Where is everyone?" Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the only ones left.
"They're down the hall dear! She had the baby!" Mrs. Weasley said as she came bustling over.
"She, she what?" asked Ron in a bit of shock.
"I leave them alone for just a minute and they sneak it out while I'm away! I'm never doing this again, never," Harry said, crossing his arms defiantly.
"She wants to see you dear. She asked for you especially," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Me?" Harry asked. She nodded and he made his way down the hallway.
Hermione heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said. The door opened and Harry walked in.
"Harry! Oh my gosh, can you believe it?" she said, grinning from ear to ear.
"It's amazing. She's beautiful, just like her mommy. Can I hold her?" he asked, holding out his hands.
"Sure. Be careful, though. They just gave her to me." Hermione handed him the bundle in her arms and he rocked the baby gently. He took the empty seat next to the bed and rubbed his finger across her cheek.
"So soft," he said. The baby stretched its hand and he held out his finger for her to grab. He smiled and looked up, his finger still in the baby's grip.
"So, what are you going to name her?" he asked as the baby closed it's eyes, it's tiny chest floating up and down.
"I decided to name her Lily," Hermione replied. Harry raised his eyes to meet Hermione's.
"Lily?" he asked, as if he hadn't heard. She nodded.
"Lily Kate Granger," she said, her smiled growing. He just shook his head in disbelief and she heard him say, "wow."
"What?" she asked him. Harry looked at the sleeping baby and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he whispered, "You have the best mom in the world."
Ok so that is the end and I hope you liked it and look for my fics in the future! Lots of reviews would be cool, I love you guys!!!
Jes