Chapter 16: Contractions
June 13th was a sunny, gorgeous day. It was also the last day of finals, so Hermione was slowly making her way down to Care of Magical Creatures with Ron and Harry. She still had another week and a half till her due date, but at the moment it seemed like she had been pregnant forever. It didn't help matters much that her back was killing her and there was this weird pressure on most of her upper body.
She was determined, however, to make it to all of her finals. She had never missed a final in all her years of school and she didn't plan to start now. Thankfully Care of Magical Creatures was the last one and then she'd be done.
Finally they made it down to Hagrid's hut where there were desks and chairs set up for the written portion. The majority of the class was already there and scribbling furiously on their tests.
"Sorry we're late, Hagrid." Hermione said as she sank tiredly into the closest chair.
"It's alrigh', Hermione," Hagrid reassured her then handed her the test. "There yeh go. Yeh have an hour."
"Thank you, Hagrid."
Hermione finished the test in record time and brought it over to where Hagrid was sitting. Suddenly the pressure that had been building up in her back all day released and the first contraction hit. She gasped in pain and had to grip the edge of the table to keep from falling over.
Harry and Ron noticed this and were by her side in an instant. "Hermione, what is it?"
She panted as the contraction subsided. "My water just broke. Seems this little guy wants out."
"But you're not due for another week and a half," Ron pointed out as if that would change anything.
"Really?" Hermione replied, a mite sarcastically. "Well, tell him that." She sat down on nearest seat and started issuing orders. "Harry, go get Draco please. And Ron, go get Madam Pomfrey."
The boys nodded and hurried off to do as she asked. When Harry returned a while later with Draco they found Hermione gripping the table so hard her knuckles were white.
Draco knelt in front of her and took her hand, the concern evident on his face. "Just breathe, love. It'll be all right," he said, as much to reassure himself as reassure her.
Hermione nodded as the contraction eased once again. Ron arrived then with Madam Pomfrey in tow. The nurse gave her a quick exam then said, "You should probably go to St. Mungo's soon, dear, though you could afford to wait awhile if you wish. You most likely have another few hours before you absolutely need to go."
"What would you suggest, Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione asked.
"Stay for a few hours. Try and eat something. Walk around a bit between contractions, but time them. When they get down to about six to eight minutes between, you and Draco should floo over to St. Mungo's."
"All right." Draco helped Hermione to her feet and she leaned heavily into his side. They started a very slow walk around the grounds with Hermione grabbing Draco's hand and squeezing her eyes closed every time a contraction hit.
Four hours later the contractions were still about ten minutes apart. Hermione managed to eat some dinner in that time and finally they decided to go to the hospital. Draco pulled out his pouch of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace alongside Hermione.
"Wait!" Hermione said, stopping him before he could drop it. "What about my parents?"
"Professor Dumbledore said he'd go get them," Draco reassured her. "They'll meet us there."
She nodded and he threw the floo powder down, being careful to enunciate very clearly, "St. Mungo's Hospital."
Many swirling grates later, they arrived at St. Mungo's.
"Maternity," Draco told the mediwitch that greeted them.
"Right this way please," the witch said as she conjured a wheelchair for Hermione. "How far apart are the contractions?"
Just then another one hit.
"About eight minutes," Hermione forced out through gritted teeth, gripping Draco's hand for support.
The mediwitch nodded and led them into an empty room. Once Hermione had changed into a hospital gown and gotten into the bed, the mediwitch cast several spells that would monitor both the vital signs of Hermione and the baby, as well as the contractions themselves. Then she left to get the healer.
When she was gone Draco leaned over and gave Hermione a tender kiss. "It'll be okay, love. You're doing great."
Hermione nodded and let her head fall back on the pillows. "You know, we haven't even discussed names for him yet. I feel so unprepared."
Draco gasped in mock surprise. "What, the great Hermione Granger not prepared for something? Shall I alert the media?"
"Oh shut up."
He laughed. "Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously though, what do you want to name him?"
"No idea. Evan, maybe?"
Draco wrinkled his nose. "Nah. Richard?"
"No, I knew a Richard in primary school. He was a total jerk." She was about to suggest another name when another contraction hit, causing her to hiss in pain. "Hang on a sec," she panted, gripping his hand again.
The contraction finally subsided and there was a knock at the door. A kind-looking middle-aged witch dressed in healer's robes walked in and made her way over to the bed.
"Hello, Hermione. I'm Gabrielle Sullivan. I'll be the one delivering you today. I'm just going to check out your progress, okay?"
Hermione nodded and waited for the healer to finish her examination. "How much longer do you think?"
The healer smiled. "You've only dilated about five centimeters so far so you still have a while yet. I'd say about another five or six hours."
Hermione groaned and her head fell back on the pillows. "I'm sorry I asked."
Healer Sullivan smiled again. "That's very common for a first child. My eldest took about eighteen hours and my second child only took five."
"Well, that's good to know if we have another one," Draco quipped, which earned him a glare from his girlfriend.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
The healer chuckled but didn't comment. Instead she handed Hermione a potion bottle with a swirling blue liquid inside. "This will help with the pain. You're doing great and I'll be back by to check on you a bit later. Just ring if you need anything," she said, indicating the bell on the nightstand.
"Thank you, Healer Sullivan."
"Not to worry, dear." And with that the Healer took her leave.
"So," Hermione said, turning back to Draco, "What about Dylan?"
"No."
And on and on the name search went though they seemed no closer to finding one.
a/n: hi all! sorry! I was supposed to update yesterday but I forgot. Were you all terribly distraught? I did have a rather full day though. I was learning how to ride my motorcycle. yay! but that's a different story altogether. anyway, enjoy!
