Hermione's eyes fluttered open to the sound of footsteps. She was taken aback by her new surroundings and she started in her bed, disrupting Harry, who was leaning on her bed, head on his arms. He shrugged his shoulders unconsciously and settled back into his snoring. She gazed at him lovingly and put a hand to his rumpled hair. He was still here for her. She wondered if he knew. Knew about what she had found out last night. She took her hand from Harry's head and gently rested it on her stomach.

Inside her was a little baby. A baby her body didn't want to accept. This worried her to no end. Even if they could save the baby, how good a mother would she be if her body didn't want her to have it? She wanted to love her child with all her heart, but if this was somehow unnatural, was it meant to be? Was Mother Nature trying to persuade her not to have this child? Would something horrible happen if she did?

Hermione's thoughts flew to Harry after an obnoxiously loud snore from him. What would he think of it? Would he still love her if she was carrying someone else's child? Would he take care of her? And the baby was Lionel's. She thought that pretty much sealed the deal that he would never feel the same about her. She was carrying a piece of that excuse of a man around with her. She began crying at the thought of losing the man she loved so much and turned away from him.

Harry was awoken by the shift of weight on the bed. He also was surprised to find he was sleeping in a hospital room. He began to remember last night, but then he heard Hermione's sobs and turned all of his attention to her. He stood up and whispered her name, his hand on her shoulder. She stopped weeping but didn't turn over.

"Hermione," he said pleadingly. She rolled onto her back but didn't look at him. She seemed very intrigued with the stray thread on her blanket.

He kneeled next to her bed and looked at her until she finally met his gaze. His eyes were so full of worry and emotion that she began sobbing again.

"Oh, Harry. I'm so sorry," she said as she leaned up to wrap her arms around his neck. He let her bring him down and he sat on the bed. He pulled away and looked at her again.

"What for?" he asked. He was so sincere she didn't know how to answer.

"Wh—what for? Well, for letting that, that… thing give this to me. For ruining our evening. For making you sleep in a hospital chair," she said with a chuckle. But her face quickly turned grave and she looked away. "And for letting you think we would be together again. For letting you think you could love me again," she finished with a sigh and a few more tears.

"Hermione Granger. Don't you ever apologize for what that sorry bastard did. And first of all, I never stopped loving you. And I never will. Something like this would never break us apart. What I said at graduation is true. I will always be here for you. And I will always love you. And now I'll just have more of you to love," he said with a smile as he placed his hand on her belly. He leaned towards her and kissed her gently. She was so utterly relieved she breathed a sigh onto his lips and he smiled.

Harry began to pull away but Hermione would have none of that. She grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and deepened the kiss. Harry immediately complied and positioned himself a little more comfortably on the bed. But then he quickly pulled away and sat back.

"What?" she asked.

"Hermione, we can't do that. You're…with child. Plus, you're still weak and the Healers have more work to do," he said finally.

"You're right," she sighed. "But after I get home," she said slyly with a wink.

"No!" he said shocked. "Hermione, you're pregnant! None of that! Whatsoever. It could be dangerous. For you and the baby."

"Harry," she began. "It is perfectly normal for pregnant women to, er, do that."

"Well, I'm having none of it. It's just not right. And besides, wouldn't I poke the baby?" he asked embarrassedly.

She laughed and pulled him into an innocent hug. "Okay, Harry. None of that, then."

Hermione scooted over and Harry maneuvered into the bed next to her. "So, you're really okay with this?" she asked tentatively.

"Hermione, why wouldn't I be? I love you, and I will love this baby." He again patted her tummy. "More than anything," he finished solemnly as he brushed his lips on her forehead.

Hermione placed her hand on top of Harry's. "And he, or she, will be ours," she said, looking up at him. "As far as I'm concerned, you are the father. We will have no more talk of…him. We will raise this child, and he, or she, will only know of you as his or her dad. The only dad. Agreed?"

"Absolutely," he said with another smile and another kiss. They snuggled closer in the bed and took a little morning nap. (When in fact neither of them slept a wink. They just laid there amazed at how much they loved the other.)

A while later Hermione interrupted their respective romantic reveries. "Harry," she whispered inquisitively.

"Hmm?" he mumbled, rubbing her shoulder.

"Do you think the fact that my body doesn't accept this baby could be a sign?" Harry could hear the fear in her voice.

"A sign of what, Hermione?" He knew the answer, and he wished she wasn't thinking it.

"A sign that I shouldn't be having this child. That I'll be a horrible mother or that something terrible will happen if I do have it. What if…," but then she broke down again and turned into Harry, burying herself into his chest.

"Mione. Mione, shhh," he comforted, patting her head. "How can you say that? You would be the most amazing mother for any child. You should be having this baby, as you should have any baby. It's yours, not his. And as for the fact that something terrible might happen, well, there's nothing you can do about that, can you? Do you think if my mother had the same feelings you have, like this kid would change the world, she wouldn't have had me? And then where would we be? Living in a world run by Voldemort, that's where. Maybe something terrible will happen, but maybe something terribly wonderful could happen, too. Maybe this little person inside you will find a way to end hunger, or allow Muggles and wizards to coincide peacefully. Or maybe he'll just live a happy and normal life and grow up and fall in love and raise a family, just like we're about to do. You have nothing to worry about. At all. You will be a wonderful mother. There is no doubt in my mind." He kissed the top of her head and listened to her trying to steady her breaths in between hiccups.

"Oh, Harry. I really hope you're right." She snuggled in closer to him and finally fell asleep. But now Hermione had Harry all worked up. For the umpteenth time, horrible thoughts flew threw his head.

Maybe I'll be a horrible father. I won't know how to hold her right. Or I'll drop her. What if something happens and she hates me? Or if she finds out I'm not her real father. I'll probably just get in the way all the time. Hermione's so organized and smart, she would be much better at it alone, without me messing everything up. No. What am I saying? Hermione needs me, and I'll never leave her. No, I'll be a fine parent. Everything will be okay. Just chill out. Calm down. It'll be all right. I mean, you're not even the one having the baby, now are you?

He was rudely interrupted by a nurse barging in the room, muttering something about Harry had to get "out, out. The Healers had more to do and Hermione had an appointment." Hermione had quickly awoken and was attempting to get out of bed. Harry didn't realize just how weak she was. He jumped to her side and helped her into the wheelchair the nurse had brought in. He barely had time to give her some words of encouragement before she was wheeled into the hallway and Harry was once again left to worry endlessly.