Chapter 33

Discussions

"Are you sure you understand sweetheart?" Hermione asked soothingly.

"Yes Mummy I think so." Little Jamie Potter replied happily "You're going to have a baby and I'm going to get a new brother or sister."

She felt Harry smile even though she was facing her son; she couldn't help it and smiled as well; Harry's smile was always infectious.

"So do you have any questions?" Hermione said delicately, as Harry choked a little on his pumpkin juice. Jamie seemed to be thinking about that as his Father shifted uncomfortably in his seat; Hermione knew Harry was feeling nervous about possibly having to explain the 'birds and the bees' to his son.

Jamie cleared his throat "Well......."

Hermione tried not to laugh as she felt Harry gulp quietly "Yes sweetheart?"

"Are you gonna get fat?" Jamie asked, a confused look on his face.

Hermione looked a little shocked as she raised her eyebrows and replied, "Yes I suppose so why?"

"Well Uncle Ron told me that Auntie Luna got fat when she was having baby Arthur."

"Well women put a little weight on when they have a baby." Harry said, realising he should partake in the conversation.

"That's what Uncle Ron said, but Auntie Luna still hit him on the head when he said she was fat."

Hermione looked away and smiled, while Harry commented "Well sometimes Uncle Ron's not very sensitive and says things without thinking; Auntie Luna probably didn't like to hear that Uncle Ron thought she was fat."

"Even if she was fat?"

"Yes."

"Oh." Jamie said, pondering this information. "Uncle Ron also said that when Auntie Luna was pregnant she had lots of hormines that made her cross a lot. Will you get those Mummy?"

Hermione was really trying to bite back a smile when Harry spoke-

"They're called HormonesJamie, and your Mum might get some of those but if we're really supportive then hopefully she won't get too cross." He avoided looking at her so he couldn't see if she glared at him or not.

"Ok Dad" Jamie said and went to give his Mum a huge hug. Hermione held him tightly and smiled.

xxx

Jamie had been sworn to secrecy and Ginny obviously knew, but they waited until after Ginny's wedding to tell everyone; Hermione didn't want to upstage the bride after all. It seemed to be common knowledge that Harry and Hermione were back together, so they didn't try to hide that, but Hermione had to stop Harry telling them all about the baby on several occasions. Now that he knew she was happy enough about the baby, he went about with a huge grin on his face that wouldn't come off. She couldn't help but smile at him, feeling happier than ever before and extremely thankful for Ginny's intervention. They'd talked and talked about Hermione's insecurities and Harry'd reassured her so many times, she was actually starting to believe it was real.

He came home from work early, two days after the wedding and brought her flowers. A muggle tradition that Hermione liked, but was also suspicious of. He kissed her on the cheek and offered the flowers; she took them and looked right into his eyes since they were avoiding looking at her.

"Thank you." Hermione said and he kissed her on the cheek again. "But what are they for?" she asked him, noticing that he still wouldn't look right at her. He shifted a little uncomfortably in his own shoes, a sign of nervousness that she did not miss.

"... Erm..." was all he managed the first time. "...Let's sit at the table." He accomplished on his next attempt at speaking. They sat at the table, Hermione staring at him and he smiled a small smile at her.

"I kinda... erm... toldsomeone."

"What?" she said; he'd mumbled but she knew him well enough to know what he said.

He sighed in defeat and said "I kinda told someone about the baby." And then as an afterthought "sorry." He seemed to wait for some kind of explosion or at least a reaction, but none was forthcoming; Hermione seemed to be contemplating what to say. After a minute she took his hand-

"Who'd you tell?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"Ron." He said, still surprised she wasn't yelling; he'd promised they'd wait to tell everyone together. She moved to get up, and thinking she was leaving he made to follow her, but she pushed him back on the seat and sat in his lap. Her arms snaked around his neck and she kissed him deeply. Eventually she stopped it, a smile on both their faces and she hugged him tightly-

"You can tell whoever you like about the baby." She said softly, feeling his smile.

"I thought you wanted to wait 'til after Gin's wedding-"

She interrupted "-Harry – you know that big party we went to a few days ago – everyone dressed up, good band, lots to drink..." He smiled at her even more if that were possible, making a noise to indicate he remembered- "well that was Ginny's wedding... so now you can tell whoever you like." She kissed his nose and he held her really tightly, suddenly lifting her and carrying her up the stairs.

"Jamie's not home yet is he?" he enquired.

She smiled at him and shook her head. "Good" he said, kissing her and carrying her into their bedroom.

xxx

When she'd said he could tell everyone, she knew he would tell all their friends and family, she just didn't expect them all to arrive that very evening. They were all delighted, as was Jamie and especially Harry, and Hermione found herself watching them all in wonder; they were her family. It made her smile and a tear roll down the side of her cheek. Harry saw and was worried; he went to her side and enveloped her in a hug.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned. She smiled a tremendous smile at his, turning in his arms to face him and look into those beautiful eyes.

"Nothing." She said, another tear rolling down her smiling face "I'm just happy that's all." He smiled at her and kissed her deeply, knowing they were being watched by the crowd, but uncaring.

xxx

"I hate you Harry Potter!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, and not for the first time he felt a little more than anxious.

"It's normal." The healer said, reassuringly and he nodded, continuing to hold her hand and occasionally mop her brow. A few minutes later she grabbed hold of him, saying she was sorry and she didn't mean it; he reassured her, kissed her and told her he loved her; that he wasn't going anywhere. He felt like it had been going for days and he was worried; she seemed in so much pain.

"At the next one, push Hermione" the healer said, and Hermione gripped his hand tighter. He wondered if he'd done the right thing, by not talking her out of having the baby the 'muggle way'; but she'd insisted – that's how she'd had Jamie, that's how she was having this one. Harry felt physically sick at the thought of her doing this alone, as he brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. The pain started again and the healer told her to push; she did, and Harry felt her nails digging into his hand as he urged her to push as well.

To say it was like nothing he'd ever seen before was certainly an understatement. He couldn't form a coherent sentence for ages after the healer said the words "It's a girl." He was smiling and crying and felt totally exhilarated. He kissed Hermione in gratitude, their eyes meeting for a second, both filled with so much love, before they both returned them to their daughter.

The healer passed the little bundle, already marked by the unruly jet-black hair, to her mother. Hermione held her, while Harry stroked his daughter's hair, tears still streaming down both smiling faces. After a while Hermione kissed the top of her head, and looked at Harry. He was still beaming, but had a questioning look in his eyes when she looked at him.

"Do you need something sweetheart?" he asked, ready to run out and slay a dragon if she wanted him to.

"No – she does." Hermione said smiling. His brows drew together at her words, his insecurities at being a useless father, briefly returning to the surface.

"She wants a cuddle from her Dad." Hermione said smiling and watching as he took their child into his arms. He was so gentle with her, holding her as if she might break. Hermione lay back in the bed, watching them both with a smile on her face. Harry was staring at their little girl in pure wonder and amazement; he held her little fingers and stroked her cheek and marvelled that Hermione could give him something so precious. Her yawning voice broke him out of his reverie-

"Now all we have to do is decide what to call her..."