Chapter 11
"Nope, can't do that. It's time to bring this baby into the world." the Healer said, coming into the room. Hermione went back on her pillow, groaning and looking at Ron with a pink, sweaty face. "Oh Ron, we haven't even thought of a name for this baby yet!" she said. "How about Gracie Ginerva Weasley." Ron said. "But we're not married! Why would you give her your last name?" she said. Ron shrugged, as another contraction came, causing Hermione to grip his shirt while groaning. "Alright, Gracie Ginerva Granger Weasley." he said. Hermione nodded, as Healer Mayer came back in, ready for the delivery. Harry came up by Ron to help Hermione. Katie, Fred and George came in, too. "You two, hold her legs back, and Katie, go over to help Ginny." Ron said. Healer Mayer sat down in front of Hermione. "Alright now, Hermione. What I want you to do is take a deep breath in, and then let it out slowly. Then, take in another one, but hold for a count of 10. Ron, you can count." Healer Mayer said, nodding towards Ron. She nodded her head for Hermione to start pushing. Hermione leaned forward, Harry, Ron, Katie and Ginny supporting her back. "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10." Ron said, as Hermione exhaled. "Aaaaand, go!" Mayer said. "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10." Hermione exhaled while groaning. "Hold it, hold it. The baby's head's coming. Go!" Mayer said again. "Ahhhhhhhh, hoo, hoo, mmmmmmmmmph!!" "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10! Keep it goin' come on, come on, keep it comin!" Ron said. "Ah, and here is your baby girl!" Healer Mayer said, wrapping the baby in a blanket and handing her to Hermione. "Oh! Oh Ron, look at her." Hermione sobbed. The rest of the kids quietly left the room. Ron sat on the edge of the bed next to his girlfriend, stroking his daughter's head. "She's beautiful, 'Mione. Absolutely beautiful!" he said, as Hemione sobbed. "And she's got red hair! How odd! Hi Gracie, I'm your mother." Hermione said, stroking Gracie's cheek. "And I'm your father." Ron chooed, stroking Gracie's head, and kissing Hermione on the cheek. Hermione handed Gracie to Ron, as she needed to get cleaned up. Ron held his newborn daughter, Gracie Ginerva Granger Weasley, for the first time. "You are the most adorable little girl I have ever seen, aside from Hermione and Ginny, of course." Ron said with a snort. He brought his daughter out into the waiting room, where everyone, including Hermione's parents, was waiting. "Everyone, I'd like you all to meet Gracie Ginerva Granger Weasley." Ron said. He brought her over so everyone could see her. "Awww, she's so adorable!" Ginny said. Ron handed the baby to his younger sister, looking over at his and Hermione's parents, who all looked concerned. "Until Hermione and I are married, Gracie will have two last names, Granger and Weasley. And she'll have to be taken care of once we go back to school." Ron said, looking his mother in the eye. "No problem, as long as it's okay with Hermione." "How is she, anyway?" Mrs. Granger asked. "Well, the contractions and labor weren't all we expected. Hermione made me attend a muggle birthing class with her, but I don't think it did much. But she got through everything with the help of all my pals and friends. I'll bring her out in a minute." Ron said. He took Gracie and went back into Hermione's room. Hermione was dressed and sitting on her made-up hospital bed. Ron handed Gracie to her, kissing her very hard on the lips, four times. "What a beautiful daughter we have." Hermione said. "I'm actually very happy you made me pregnant, Ron. If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't have this gorgeous bundle of joy right now." Hermione said. The assistant Healer brought a wheelchair and Hermione's bag into the room. Hermione got down into the wheelchair, Gracie still in her arms, and Ron picked up her bag and wheeled her out into the waiting area. When Mr. and Mrs. Granger saw their daughter, they lept up and went over to hug her. "Hi mum, dad. I didn't know you were here." she said. "What did you think, we were just gonna ignore the birth of our first granddaughter. No!" Mrs. Granger said, giving Hermione another hug. "She's beautiful, Herm'." Mr. Granger said. "Thanks, dad. Well, Bill's gonna take us back to the Burrow. See you all later." she said, Ron pushing her out the door, Bill following behind with her bag.
ONE MONTH LATER
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had decided not to back to school until the end of the year. They wanted to stay home and care for Gracie, who was now a month old, had red hair on her head and a skinny body. Hermione was sitting on the couch in the den, feeding Gracie her bottle, while Ron slept on her shoulder. Gracie suddenly fell asleep in Hermione's arms, as she removed the bottle from Gracie's lips and Ron awoke. "Our little angel's asleep, I see." he said, kissing Gracie's forhead. She went into the kitchen, where Ginny, Harry and Mrs. Weasley were making lunch. Everyone else had gone back to school, and Charlie and Bill had returned to their homes and families. Hermione began to sing. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird. If that mocking bird don't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don't shine, brotha's gonnna give you a valentine." she sang, kissing Gracie's forhead and rocking her. Ron came back into the den, putting his hand on her shoulder as she looked up. "I never knew you could sing." he said. Hermione smiled. "Well, I did take voice lessons from ages four to eight. But I was only doin' it for something to, well, do." Hermione said. Ron came over and sat on the edge of the couch by her. "Well, those voice lessons paid off." he said. He brought her close, as they began to kiss. Ginny came over and took Gracie out of Hermione's arms, as they were still kissing, and Ginny figured Hermione would eventually want to wrap her arms around Ron. Ginny took Gracie over to her new bassanet the Weasleys had bought for her. It was decorated with pink lace and a pink sleeping pillow. Ron pushed Hermione down onto the couch, the two of them kissing intently. Harry went and whispered. "Last night, I was getting ready for bed, when I saw a little red, velvet box on Ron's bedside table." Harry wispered, as Ginny came back over. "I think he's gonna propose to Hermione sometime soon." he said. Ginny squealed, hugging Harry.
Later on that evening, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were sitting at dinner. Ron had quickly taken the end seat, for a certain purpose. Hermione was sitting right by him. While no one was talking, Ron slipped his red box out of his pocket, and got down on one knee in front of Hermione. Ginny squealed. Hermione looked at Ron, happy tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. "Hermione Granger-" he said, opening the box, revealing a beautiful engagement ring. "-will you marry me?" he asked. "Yes! Oh Ron, yes!" she said, as Ron slipped the ring onto her finger. He embraced her in a long kiss, picking her up and hugging her tightly. Harry, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley began clapping. Hermione got back down, looking at the ring on her finger. "Oh Ron, where ever did you get the money for the ring?" she said. "Hey, why the hell do you think I got you pregnant in the first place! We can't have a baby and raise her without being married, so I worked for Percy for the last few weeks, and he payed me. I told him about wanting to propose to you, and said that I needed money for your engagement ring. He told me that if I worked for him, he'd pay me. So, that's how I got the most beautiful ring for the most beautiful woman." he said, taking Hermione's now ringed hand. Ron looked over at his sleeping daughter, pointing a happy finger at her. "And if it wasn't for the little bundle of joy over there, I wouldn't be the happiest man alive." Ron said. Everyone laughed, as he kissed Hermione on the lips.
Ron and Harry sat in Ron's room. "My God, I can't believe it! I'm an uncle!" Harry exclaimed with a laugh. "Hey, you're not Gracie's uncle, not yet, atleast. Not until you marry Ginny." Ron said. "True. But hey, I said uncle to-be!" Harry said, pushing Ron.
"Hermione, I can't believe it! You're getting married!" Ginny squealed. Hermione nodded. Tears were welling up in her eyes. "I'll go get Ron." Ginny said, disappearing. "Ron, I think Hermione needs you." Ginny said. Ron left the room, crossing into Ginny's, where Hermione was. "Hermione, darling, what's wrong?" he asked, sitting down by her and letting her head go into his chest. "Oh Ron, are you sure we're ready to be married? I mean, we're only going into fifth year." she said. "We can skip fifth year. Mum won't mind, since we're getting married and have a child." Ron said. "But what will my parents say to this. They don't expect me to just skip three years of my academic career. But we do have another life to care for, you're right, but we won't know as much as Ginny and Harry and everyone else." she said between sobs. "Look, Ginny and Harry will be glad to teach us, I'm sure." Ron said. Gracie began to cry. Hermione went over to her bassanet and picked the crying baby up. "Shh, shh, shh, Gracie, it's alright." Hermione whispered, although she was still crying. "Ron, what's wrong with this picture?" she sobbed, beginning to pace between hers and Ginny's bed with a crying Gracie in her arms. Ron shrugged. "We're too young to be married and have a child!" she exclaimed, pouring more tears. Ron stood up and took his duaghter from Hermione, beginning to bob her with his arms. Gracie fell asleep in his arms, looking peaceful. Ron got up and placed his daughter in her bed and pushed Hermione down into her bed, putting the covers over her. "We'll talk about this more in the morning, love. Right now, you need some sleep." he said, leaving the room and shutting off the lights.