Disclaimer – can't think of anymore…
Chapter 26 – To Have or Not To Have
"Hermione," Ron started, "is carrying your child."
Harry didn't say anything. He leaned on the wall, his face full of shock. "Why now? Why must we have kids now when there is still so much chaos in our world?"
"Don't tell me that you didn't expect it, Harry." Ron said, his voice not in the usually taunting one that Harry both hated and loved. He couldn't bring himself to tease Harry now, especially with Hermione still unconscious, lying on the bed.
"Yeah I expected it." Harry said. "But I'm still in shock…"
"After all the times you two made out, it was going to be a matter of time, pal." Ron said.
Harry smiled. Ron had that uncanny ability to make any tense or heart-breaking situation go away in that split second. "That's why he's my best pal."
"So, what are you gonna do now?" Ron continued.
"I don't really have a clue." Harry said. "I think I'll stay here until she wakes up."
Harry sat down on the chair besides Hermione's bed and gazed at her. She still looked as beautiful as when he went with her for the Reunion Ball in Year Seven. Her face, although pale, never lost its smoothness one bit.
"Wake up." Harry whispered. "I can't afford to lose you."
Her face didn't stir one bit. Harry sighed at turned around and looked at Ron and Cho.
"So, when are you two going to have a kid?" Harry asked, more for fun then anything.
"Actually I already have one." Cho piped in.
"WHAT?" Ron shouted. Everyone in the whole hospital wing turned and looked at him.
"No shouting in here!" Madam Pomfrey shouted back. "This is a hospital!"
"Sorry…" Ron cowered. Everyone turned back to do whatever they were doing.
Harry smirked at Ron, who looked like a wreck now. He leaned back on the wall with his mouth wide open.
"When did you find out?" Harry said, knowing that Ron was incapable of saying anything now.
"At the post-match check after the final with the Wasps. The Tornadoes have given me a season off" Cho calmly answered.
"I see." Harry said. "Now he knows how I feel."
"I always thought that we took enough protection." Ron said, getting to his feet. "What a bloody waste of money."
"Ron, how many times have I told you that contraception is never 100 safe?" Cho said.
Harry smiled. "If only the two of us were as carefree as them" he whispered to Hermione.
"So what plans do the two of you have?" Harry said.
"What can I do?" Ron said. "I'll go back, tell my parents, let them go ga-ga."
"And we better start to plan the baby's room."
"How can I forget that?" Ron said. He gave Cho a kiss and continued, "Thanks for this kid."
"My pleasure" Cho responded in her cool self. "Guess all our wild nights paid off, eh?"
They laughed as they walked out of the room. "See you later, Harry." Ron turned around and said. "I'll get you some food."
"Thanks, guys." Harry said. "Are we fated never to enjoy happiness together?"
Two days had passed, and Harry was getting more and more worried. "Didn't she say that she'll be awake in two days?" Harry continuously thought to himself.
"Don't worry so much," Ron said, diverting Harry's attention away from Hermione's face. "She's mentally strong, surely she'll pull through."
"Yeah, you're right." Harry said, taking a piece of chicken from the big bucket that Ron had bought. "How many times has she been so snobbish and stubborn that it pissed both of us off?"
"Oh, many" Ron laughed. "Still remember the times?"
The two of them began to talk about the times the three of them had together. From the troll in Year One to them being Aurors together. It does take a hell lot of friendship to stick together for so long.
"I think I need to go to the toilet." Ron said abruptly. "Be back soon."
Harry smiled and turned around. He looked at Hermione's still face and sighed.
"Hermione, please wake up." Harry whimpered. "I really can't afford to lose you."
Whatever Harry said, it certainly had some sort of effect on her. Hermione started to open her eyes and looked straight, her eyes locked unto Harry's.
"Harry, is that you?" Hermione said weakly.
"Yes, it is." Harry said. He gave Hermione a kiss on her cheek and hugged her tight.
"Oh Harry, I thought I would never see you again!" Hermione replied, hugging Harry back tightly.
"Promise never to leave me again." Harry said. "For me, and our child."
"What child?" Hermione said, looking surprised.
"Yours, obviously" Ron's voice sounded from the door. "You're pregnant, didn't you feel it?"
"Actually, no" Hermione said. "I was unconscious, you idiot."
Ron laughed, and gave her a hug. "Glad you're back."
"Me too"
After Hermione left the hospital, the Potters had to plan for their child. Harry got congratulations from almost everyone he knew.
"What are you going to name the child?" Dean asked.
"Not too sure myself." Harry said.
Hermione and Cho also became sort of best friends suddenly. Two pregnant mothers sure have chemistry between them. Harry and Ron soon became the 'bell-boys' for their endless shopping sprees. Everything was fine, until…
"We're back!" Ron said, opening the door. "Ladies first…"
"Thank you, Ronald." Cho said, as she and Hermione passed through the door.
"How are we going to get all the stuff in?" Harry said.
"Beats me" Ron answered. "You go inside and I'll squeeze in the stuff."
It took quite a while to get all the stuff inside the house, which now had one room specially for maternal shopping stuff…
"I'm gonna take a bath." Ron said, wiping the sweat of his skin while walking away.
Harry turned around and saw Hermione standing in one corner of the room.
"Should we put the cot…"
Hermione never finished that sentence. Everything around her seemed to whirl and become blacker and blacker…
"Nurse, how's my wife?"
The medi-wizard looked up at Harry.
"You must be Harry Potter, right?"
Harry only managed a silent nod.
"I'll need to speak with you."
Harry followed the medi-wizard into a small room with all sorts of pictures and medical stuff.
"Well, Mr Potter," the bearded medi-wizard started, "It seems that your wife has a curse on her. One that keeps on sucking energy out of her."
"Voldermort…" Harry mumbled, his fist clenching and unclenching.
"There's only one way to cure it, and that is using some spell which has been lost for a long time. Even your good friend Albus Dumbledore doesn't know that spell."
"Is there any other way?" Harry said.
"If this goes on, your wife will surely die. There is only one way."
"What is it?" Harry felt his temper rising.
"Give up the baby."
Not bad, eh? Another choice to make. Please don't forget to review! Thanks!