Without Him

Lying on the couch in the Head Common Room Hermione had a book propped up in front of her eight month pregnant stomach. Amy and Blaise were with her in the room but Draco had gone off somewhere earlier that morning. It had been quiet all day and Hermione was growing steadily restless.

Sitting up she stretched and went over to the window. It was a beautiful day outside and ot looked like most of Hogwarts was outside. In an hour or so there would be a quidditch game. It was Gryffindor versus Slytherin and Draco would be playing against Harry, Ron, and Ginny. She and Amy would be sitting in the Slytherin stands with Blaise and they were wearing neutral colors, although Hermione planned on wearing her hair up in a green scrunchie just to prove her loyalty to Draco.

The next hour went by quickly and soon Hermione was making her way out to the quidditch pitch with Amy, Blaise, and Draco. Draco gave her a quick kiss on the lips and hurried into the Slytherin locker rooms. He seemed happy that morning and Hermione had noticed that he had noticed her green hair tie. Settling herself down in the she felt an odd wave of nervousness wash over her for an unknown reason. Blaise was sitting on her left and Amy was on his other side.

The game progressed slowly and about half-way through the score was tied and both boys were searching furiously for the snitch. Hermione felt a small pang in her abdomen but ignored it as Draco suddenly did an almost ninety degree nose-dive. Harry was at his tail and catching up quickly. They were neck and neck now. A much stronger pang of pain shot through Hermione's stomach and she seethed taking hold of her stomach. Blaise turned to her and his eyes grew wide.

"Hermione, are you alright?" He asked with a note of panic in his voice.

Hermione nodded and smiled. Back on the pitch Harry and Draco had both pulled back up. Both were unfortunately unsuccessful. Hermione could see Draco's frustrated face even down in the stands.

Amy had noticed as well and looked over. "Hermione do you think it's time."

She stood up and walked over to Hermione who had looked up and was breathing normally. "I've been feeling them every now and then for the past two hours." She mumbled.

Amy nodded and took her friends arm. "We have to get you to the Hospital Wing."
Blaise took her other side and they marched her out of the stadium with no more pain. Hermione seemed to be much better as they went back into the castle. The Hospital Wing door was open and Madame Promfrey was looking ready to help anybody with injuries from the game.

She saw them and nodded to a bed, knowing what was going on. "Okay Ms.Granger, how close were the last two contractions." She said pulling out some curtains and putting them around her bed.

"About forty-five minutes." She said as another contraction came on.

Amy gripped her hand tightly and Blaise stood next to her looking a bit nauseous. "Go get Draco, Blaise." She ordered him.

Blaise nodded and hurried out of the ward. He had been gone only five minutes when he rushed back in with the entire Slytherin team behind him. Hermione sat up and looked over, worried.

"Oh no." Amy whispered under her breath as they saw who was on the stretcher.

Hermione's stomach seemed to disappear and she felt hollow inside as she saw Draco being laid out on the bed, unconscious. Madame Promfrey rushed over to him with a potion and checked his body for bones. Waving her wand at him she slipped some potion through his lips. Draco groaned instantly and sat up as Hermione let out a scream, from behind the curtain that was now closed. His eyes shot open and Draco tried to jump out of the bed but Madame Promfrey pushed him back down.

"You have a concussion and until it is healed you are going to sit in that bed. I don't care who's going into labor." She snapped, handing him a potion and hurried behind the curtain to Hermione.

Out of the fire two Healers came and went straight to Hermione, ignoring the rest of them. Draco scowled furiously and drank the entire potion in one gulp. Behind the curtain Hermione was getting anxious about having to have the babies without him. Amy was with her and holding her hand but it just wasn't the same as Draco.

"Ok Hermione you have to relax. Think of something else." Amy coached her through it. "Think about Blaise naked or something."

"I want to be relaxed not nauseated." Hermione grinned at him.

"Alright Ms.Granger everything is going properly. You have probably been in labor for a while though. That walk down to the stands was very good for you." Madame Promfrey rambled on as Hermione had another contraction.

"Is Draco ok?" She asked once the pain had subsided.

"Mr.Malfoy." She said stiffly. "Will be fine."

"Can he be here with me?" Hermione begged hoping for a yes.
"As soon as his concussion has subsided he can come in." Madame Promfrey told her as the Healers pushed Amy away and helped her with her breathing exercises.

"I don't breath in think breath out I can do it without breath in Draco." She exhaled slowly, trying to relax.

Draco was hovering outside the curtains, not allowed to come in. He really wished he could be with Hermione at her time of need, since he'd failed her many times before. After Hermione screeched again Draco couldn't stand it anymore and burst through the curtains and saw Hermione lying on the bed with the Healers and Madame Promfrey standing around looking nervous. Ignoring everybody but Hermione he rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.

"It's ok 'Mione." He whispered into her ear softly.

A Healer came over to her, holding a clipboard with papers on it. "Well Ms.Granger I'm afraid that these babies are coming faster than we expected. A little too fast for you as well. You can't become wide enough to let through the first baby as of now but the second one should have an easier time."

Hermione groaned and gasped as pain befell her body. "It will also cause much more pain than it would usually do."

Draco winced as Hermione held his hand hard and seemed to crush it. "Come on 'Mione you have to relax." He breathed in her ear.

Hermione nodded and took deep breaths. Her grip on Draco's hand relented and Draco kissed her cheek. The Healers were bringing out towels and other things that would be needed after the babies were born. Hermione closed her eyes and breathed deeper than before. Draco braced himself as she squeezed his hand and screamed again.

"Ok Hermione...right? Well anyway your gonna have to push soon so brace yourself." one of the Healers told her.

Hermione licked her lips and turned her head to Draco. He bent over to her and kissed her lips, harder than before. Draco pulled back and put his ears on mute and tried not to listen as a screamed echoed through the room. Hermione, however couldn't ignore her own screams or the pain that was going through her body. She felt the pain increase and something moving.

"Okay Ms.Granger we need you to push." One of the Healers told her.

Hermione nodded. Much to her fortune one and a half hours later she gave birth to a baby girl and boy. The girl had been born first and was rushed away by the Healers. The boy however was much more healthy and Hermione got to hold him. Draco had moved over to her side and held her tightly as she kissed the baby boy on the head.
"We have to name them." She said softly up to Draco.

"I know but Hermione..." Draco began before Hermione cut him off.

"I like Dimitri, what about you?"

"It's ok but you really..." Draco tried again.

"And maybe Danielle for he girl. That would be cute. Dimitri and Danielle." Hermione rambled on.

"Hermione!" Draco snapped more irritably than he intended.

She looked at him with hurt eyes and he swooped down to kiss her. A Healer came over and interrupted them though by taking the baby. Draco smiled down at her sadly and stroked her hair.

" 'Mione, please listen." Draco said frowning. "The other baby, the girl, she, well she might not make it. She didn't look too good when she came out and they did hurry her away. I just.. don't want you getting your hopes up just yet."

Hermione looked down and her body racked with a silent sob. Draco wrapped his arms protectively around her.

"It's ok 'Mione. It's ok. We at least know one baby is ok." Draco comforted her until Madame Promfrey came over, with a scalding look.

"You out!" She snarled pointing to Draco and then at the door.

"Can't he stay for a bit longer." Hermione begged gripping onto the front os his quidditch robes.

"No! You need your rest." Promfrey shook her head stubbornly and Draco stood up.

"I'll see you later." He told Hermione with a kiss. "Get some rest."

Hermione nodded and leaned back against the pillows and watched him leave, knowing she couldn't have done it without him.