AN - Not that anyone probably cares, but this chapter - chapter nine - was my favorite of all the chapters in this fic to write. The interactions between the characters here is some of the more poignant dialogue I've written. That being said, I think you'll really enjoy it. ;-)
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A Draught in Time:
Chapter 9
-dutchtulips-
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Moments after arriving, Harry and Ron found themselves stepping over the fireplace grate into the reception area of St. Mungo's Hospital. It being nighttime, the room wasn't nearly as crowded as usual, nor the line at the inquires desk as long. The two of them quickly asked the young witch at the desk what room Ginny Potter was in, and after quick look in her register, informed them that she was in room twenty-two, second floor, they rushed off towards the stairs.
When they finally reached the room, Ginny was there, sitting up in her bed, looking quite tired. Her hair was messy and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Sitting in the chair next to her, looking rather frazzled, was Hermione.
"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed, jumping forward, fusing himself to her bedside. "How are you doing, love?"
She looked up at him, extremely relieved to see him. "Oh, I'm all right," she said, smiling as he took her hand. "The pains are getting closer, though. I don't think it'll be too much longer, now."
Ron moved closer towards his sister, joining Hermione next to the bed, watching as Ginny and Harry conversed.
"I told you I had a feeling about today, didn't I?" He smiled, sitting down on the edge of her mattress.
"Yes, you did." Ginny laughed. "I really need to start listening to you more, for Merlin's sake. You sure do know what you're talking about."
Ron gave Hermione a nudge, and asked quietly, "Where're Fred and George?"
"They mentioned going up to the tea room," she replied, and then stood up, turning to Harry and Ginny. "Where Ron and I should be heading up now! After all, your parents are going to be here any minute, Gin, and soon you're going to be ready to deliver!"
"Okay," she replied, her eyes smiling. "Thanks for getting me here, Hermione."
"Of course! You take care, okay? And we'll see you afterwards," She said cheerfully, then took Ron's hand, leading him out of the room.
They walked down the hall side-by-side, towards the stairs. "I hope she'll be all right," Ron uttered, hoping the exit door for Hermione, and followed her though, starting up to the fifth floor together.
"Oh, she will be. Gin's strong, she won't have any problems," Hermione said affirmatively. "I just hope Harry doesn't fall all apart."
They both laughed. "Yeah," he agreed, "He's probably as jumpy as a peppermint toad right now."
"I'll bet your mum and dad are just as bad, though," she replied, hefting up the steps. "You know how bad your mum worries. She's probably nagging Ginny's ear off now, probably actually even telling her how to give birth."
Ron followed Hermione up the next flight. "I wouldn't be surprised, honestly," he chuckled. "Mum means well, but... she can never leave well enough alone."
"At least it beats the alternative," she said with a shrug.
They turned the corner together, to start up the next set of stairs, but instead found that they had reached the fifth floor. Ron opened the tea room door, and they both went in, finding themselves in a wide, high-ceiling room, full of cozy chintz armchairs and tables. They hadn't been standing in the doorway for very long before they spotted Fred and George, who were sitting at a table, waving them over.
"Sit down, have a cup," Fred said pleasantly as the couple approached. "It's been a trying day, hasn't it?"
Hermione let out a long breath and sank down into one of the chairs. "Stars, yes. When I got up this morning, I never thought we'd be here."
Ron followed suit. "No kidding," he agreed.
George passed the teapot and Hermione took it, filling her cup. "How's Gin doing?"
"Oh, she's doing fine, seems pretty calm," she replied. "Harry's with her now, but I'm sure he's anything but calm right now."
George grinned. "Hmm, probably not."
"But seeing as we're on the subject," Fred piped up, withdrawing a piece of parchment and a quill from his pocket, "Anyone want in on the baby pool? I've got boy, six pounds, at midnight."
Fred reached into his pocket for some galleons. "Yeah, I'll take boy at eight pounds, at twelve forty-five."
"You two are horrible." Hermione rolled her eyes amusedly. "If Ginny knew you were betting on her baby, she'd deck you." Pause. "But I think you're both wrong. It's going to be a six-pound girl at one-thirty AM."
"Care to make a wager on that one?" Fred grinned.
"I'm not betting!"
"Fine, fine... have it your way..." He replied, then turned to his brother. "Ron, old boy! Put down some gold and have a guess!"
He shook his head and chuckled. "No, that's all right. Why don't we just hope Gin's baby is healthy, eh?"
"Blimey, when did you turn into such a grown-up?" George smirked.
Glancing sideways at Hermione, Ron said, in a very equivocal way, "Oh, I dunno. 'Bout a week ago?"
---
Several hours had passed, and still there had been no word on Ginny and Harry's baby. Fred and George, still tired from their Canada trip, decided to head home, with a promise from Hermione that she would owl the minute anything happened. Hermione, obviously, had insisted on staying, refusing to leave until Ginny had given birth. And Ron, of course, stayed with her. They'd left the tea room though, and decided to go back downstairs to the reception ward where they could be closer to Ginny.
The room wasn't extremely comfortable, but Ron was managing to tough it out. He found an abandoned copy of Quidditch Weekly on one of the tables, and was sitting silently in one of the waiting room chairs, flipping through it. Hermione sat next to him, her head on his shoulder, warm and quiet. So much that he thought she was asleep, and it startled him when she suddenly spoke.
"Ron?"
"Er... yes?"
"How much longer do you think it will be?" She inquired.
"Oh, I don't know," he replied softly, and lowered his magazine. "If you're tired, maybe we should just go on home and wait."
"We - we can't -" Hermione said, stifling a yawn, "I promised Fred and George we'd give them the news when Ginny delivers."
Ron set Quidditch Weekly aside and wrapped an arm around her, stroking her long brown hair. "Are you sure?"
She nestled closer to him. "Yeah, I'm sure. I'm going to take the day off tomorrow. And there's nothing you need to be home for right away, is there?"
Momentarily Ron's mind flashed to the cauldron that was still simmering at home in the kitchen sink, and the fluxweed still in its jar on the counter. "Well, nothing that can't wait."
Hermione glanced at him, as if contemplating something. "Ron... I need to tell you something. It is something that can't wait."
He sat up a little straighter. "What is it?"
"It's just... I've been trying to tell you ever since your holidays started, because I knew we'd have a lot of time alone together..."
"Hermione, Hermione," Ron grabbed onto her shoulders. "You're a horrible bush beater! Just tell me what it is."
"It's just... Ron... I - I'm pregnant."
He suddenly couldn't breathe. "Wh-what?"
She turned in her chair, to face him. "I wasn't sure if I was at first, but... I saw the Healer about a week before you come home for your vacation. And... I am, I'm about two months along." Hermione reached for his hand. "Do you remember, back at the beginning of summer, when you came home from an assignment for that short weekend? Well..."
Ron could only stare at her. His mouth kept opening, but no words would come out.
"I know we had a big discussion about it a few months ago, you know, about waiting... But some things you just can't plan, you know?" She went on, her voice shaky. "I really hope you're not upset, because I love you so much, and I... I've wanted to be pregnant for a long time now..."
Abruptly Ron leaned forward and put his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "Oh, Hermione, just... forget what we talked about!" Whatever it had been, he thought. "I love you! If this is really what you wanted all along, you shouldn't have been afraid to tell me!"
"I know, but I just -"
"No," he interrupted, looking at her in the eyes. "You and me, Hermione, how long have we been friends? Since forever! As long as we've known each other! And truth be told, we've probably been in love with each other just as long."
She smiled knowingly. "Yeah..."
"So why should you be afraid to tell me anything important?" He continued. "Do you think I'll hate you, or reject you in some way? I could never do that, and I never will. We've been too close for ages for something like that to ever come between what we have..."
Stars, if I could hear myself now, he suddenly thought. Just a few days ago when she and I were still arguing over Snape's potion, with me standing there, too chicken to tell her how I really felt...
She wiped at her eyes. "So, does this mean you're happy that we're pregnant?"
He let out a long breath, attempting to calm his hammering heart, and embraced her again. "Of course... of course it does."
"Ron and Hermione Weasley?"
Ron turned around quickly, though his hands were still holding onto Hermione. A Healer in lime green robes was standing there, a radiant look on her face.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Your sister Ginny gave birth to a beautiful little girl." The mediwitch smiled.
Hermione got to her feet. "Really? She did? How is she feeling?"
"Yes," the Healer replied. "Mother and daughter are both doing fine."
"And Harry?" Ron quipped, grinning.
"Oh, I think he's finally calmed down now."
He and Hermione exchanged smiles. "Can we go see her now?" She asked the mediwitch.
"Of course. They're both asking for you two. Follow me."
Ron got to his feet and fell into step next to Hermione, and they walked up the corridor together along with the Healer. She led them upstairs to the second floor, and back to ward twenty-two, where they found Ginny, laying serenely in her bed, with Harry sitting the chair next to her, holding her hand.
"Hey, you two..." Hermione said gently, as they stepped inside. "How're you doing, Gin?"
She lifted her head to look at her brother and sister-in-law, and managed a grin for them. "Not bad... I'm just kind of tired."
"I'll bet you are," Hermione replied, sitting down in the other chair. Ron moved to stand next to her.
"She did great, she brought our daughter into the world..." Harry said, a dreamy tone in his voice as he stared lovingly at his wife.
"Well, Harry, I couldn't've really done it alone, could I?" She smiled at him.
"Are they going to bring the baby in?" Ron inquired.
"Yeah, they should be in a few minutes," Harry piped up. "I asked the mediwitch if she would. We kind of want to show her off."
Suddenly Ron felt Hermione tugging at his hand, an expectant look in her eyes. Understanding, he nodded and grinned, giving her a small nudge of encouragement.
"Gin... I told him."
Ginny turned quickly and abruptly to look at Hermione. "You did?" She asked, giving Hermione's hand a supportive squeeze.
"Yes, I did. If you'd like me to make the official announcement... you're going to see me in this bed next. I'm pregnant."
"Hermione, that's wonderful!" Harry said. "Only..." He shot a piercing, furtive look at Ron, which, luckily, the women didn't notice.
The redhead looked taken aback for a moment, but then he mouthed two months at his friend, and Harry seemed to relax after that.
"You're going to get plenty of practice during the next few months, Hermione," Ginny told her, beaming. "In fact, why don't we all start now?"
Ron and Hermione turned around, to see the same mediwitch that had greeted them in the reception ward now carrying Ginny and Harry's baby daughter, bundled in a pink blanket, into the room. She stepped over to Ginny's bedside, and carefully lowered the child into her mother's arms.
Ginny sat up so that everyone could see the baby, warm and wriggly, laying in her arms. Harry got out of his chair and sat down on the edge of the mattress, looking down at the baby. Ginny gently handed her over to Harry, who took her, cradling the baby close to him. He laughed a moment later and said, "Not even a day old, and look. She's already cursed with the same crazy hair as her dad."
Ron leaned closer and laughed, too, seeing the unruly patch of dark hair on the infant's head.
"Hey, Ron," Harry started to say, "Do you want to hold her?"
He glanced at Hermione, who smiled and gave him a nudge. He stepped forward and held out his arms, allowing Harry to lay the newborn in them. Ron nestled the baby tenderly, moving close to Hermione so that she could see, too. "Can you believe how little and warm she is?"
When Ron looked up at her, he noticed that she was nearly on the verge of tears, she looked so full of joy. Hermione held her pinky to the baby, who grasped it momentarily with her tiny fingers.
She let out a contented sigh. "I can't wait for this."
---
It was nearly three in the morning and Ron and Harry were strolling together up the second-floor hallway of St. Mungo's, passing Ginny's room every turn. Hermione was still inside with her, the two of them chatting together. Ron had stepped out of the room a little while ago, to get some air, and was surprised to see Harry come out of the room and join him a few minutes afterward.
"So, she told you she's pregnant," Harry mused, breaking the silence in the corridor and in between them.
"Yeah," Ron replied, looking at his feet. "I got her pregnant and I wasn't even there, so to speak." They both chuckled.
"Did it shock you?"
He shrugged. "Pretty much. But what do you expect?"
"Truthfully?" Harry inquired. "Nothing less. You'll probably find, that when you actually are this age, the announcement will probably surprise you just the same way. That's how it was for me when Ginny told me nine months ago. I felt the same sort of shock as I did about things when I was a teenager. Sometimes I think that part of you never really changes."
Ron stopped, glancing up at his friend. "Why - why are you telling me this?"
Harry lifted his shoulders and let them drop. "Oh, I don't know. Just because. I thought it might help you."
"With what?"
Harry returned his friend's stare. "Those internal thoughts are still nagging at you. Between wanting to stay and knowing you have to go. Am I right?"
Ron's gaze dropped down to his shoes again. "...Yeah, I guess so," he replied quietly. "I mean, Hermione and I are going to be going home in a few, and... the potion's still in the kitchen sink, waiting on me." Pause. "Something about it doesn't feel right, though. The thought of me just - leaving her."
"But you're not." Harry put a hand on his shoulder. "Look... there's something I should let you know about. The other night, after you dropped in on me late, I had this dream. It felt so real, like dreams usually do, but it was different. After I woke up, it felt as if it had actually happened, although I have no memory of living it. And tonight, before we came here to the hospital, it came to me."
"What did?" Ron asked, confused.
"The dream. You see, it came to me why it felt the way it did. Because it did really happen! When I was telling you about how you should tell Hermione how you feel about her as soon as you got back to your time, the dream just suddenly made so much sense. You see, you took my advice. You got back, and you told her."
"How can you be so sure?" The redhead blurted. "That it really happened? It was just a dream!"
"Because I do!" Harry said firmly. "Don't you see? It all makes sense. You were supposed to come forward. Then you were supposed to go back again. I mean, you are supposed to go back. That's the only way any of this can be explained."
Ron blinked, as the realization flooded into him. Nothing Harry was saying made any sense, but somehow, in a way he couldn't really explain... it did.
He wasn't sure how to reply, or if there was any reply to give at all, while he was still pondering everything Harry had told him. He turned around then, towards Ginny's room, and as he did, Hermione popped out of the doorway.
"Hey, Harry," she called softly. "Ginny's asking for you. She's looking kind of tired, I think she's going to be falling asleep soon. She's had quite a day." Hermione simpered.
"She definitely has," he replied, returning her beam.
"You might as well go ahead. I'm pretty tired, and I know Ginny needs her rest, so I think I'm going to drag Ron home now," she said, and let out a yawn.
Harry cast a furtive glance at Ron, but it was so quick the redhead wasn't sure if he'd seen it. He was already looking back at Hermione. "And you need your rest, too. You're going to be a mother in seven more months."
Despite her drowsiness, a grin broke out over Hermione's face. "Right you are, Harry. Ron," she turned to him, "you ready to go?"
"Sure," he replied, moving over to put his arm around her. To Harry, "Tell Ginny we'll talk to her soon, and... see you later, Harry."
The jet-haired man met eyes with his friend for a long moment, and then finally said, "Yeah, definitely. See you... really soon."
---
Hermione had fallen asleep almost immediately after they'd gone to bed, after arriving home from the hospital, but Ron - of course - still felt much to alert to fall asleep. And there was also a small matter down in the kitchen to be taking care of, he was all too aware of.
Slowly he climbed out of bed, and carefully draped the bedclothes back over Hermione, kissing her gently on the forehead. After the talk with Harry at the hospital, he no longer felt torn about what he had to do. Strangely he felt an odd sort of tranquillity. "See you soon, Hermione," he told her softly, and crossed the bedroom, slipping out the door and heading quickly downstairs.
In the darkness he walked through the front room, into the hallway, and then pushed open the kitchen door. Still sitting in the sink, with the blueball flames still licking its bottom, was the cauldron. Inside, the pale blue potion was still brewing, with an occasion bubble of heat bobbing to the surface. Ron let out a breath, and reached over for the fluxweed jar. Cramming his fingers under the seam, he pried the lid loose, and then grabbed the one-cup-amount measuring cup.
Carefully he emptied some of the jar's contents into the cup, shaking and rotating it gently to make sure he had just the precise amount. Finally the cup was full, and he swiftly dumped the fluxweed into the cauldron. The liquid hissed as the magical herb began its dissolve into the potion.
Ron replaced the lid on the jar and set it back to the counter. He didn't know how long he would have to wait before the fluxweed took effect. When it had happened the first time, almost immediately afterward he'd accidentally gulped it down. But now that he could actually wait, Ron had no idea what he was waiting for.
Pulling his wand out of his pocket, Ron reached inside the cauldron to give the contents a brief stir. But as he put his hand inside, he noticed that the fluxweed was already turning the potion into an even darker blue. As Ron swirled his wand through the liquid, the whole of it assimilated to the royal blue color. Hastily he withdrew the bit of wood, tossing it to the kitchen counter, replacing it in his hand with a glass tumbler.
His heart started to beat faster from his nervousness as Ron dipped the drinking glass into the potion. Shaking off the excess, he pulled it out of the cauldron, and raised it to his lips.
"Well..." He said anxiously, "Bottoms up."
Ron placed the tumbler to his mouth, tilted his head back, and drained the contents.
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To Be Continued...
