Disclaimer: All HP characters don't belong to me. Some sentences are quoted from "Fred and Edie" by Jill Dawson and the movie "Another Life"

To BeaumontRulz, my Beta Reader!

Thank you all for your reviews!

The Lady Luthien, Esmerald Tears, Nicolas St-Michel : Read this chapter and find out

Debbie-Doll: Good job spotting that hint:)

J.E.A.R.K Potter: No, that's the next chapter

Chapter 9: The Short Pregnancy

Hermione figured that one day of her pregnancy meant a month for normal mothers. On the first 4 days of her pregnancy, Hermione did nothing but sleep. Sometimes she slept for almost 20 hours a day, then she spent 4 hours eating and talking to Harry, who tried to spend as much time with her.

"You're behaving like a lion," remarked Harry on Hermione's third day of pregnancy. "It sleeps for 20 hours and spends the 4 hours eating and chasing after its prey."

"Hope I have its strength when I give birth," said Hermione. "Now Harry, would you mind buying 2 containers of yoghurt for me?"

Harry looked at his watch. "Hermione, it's already 11pm."

"So?"

"So I doubt that any store would still be open at this time."

Hermione frowned deeply. "But I'm hungry, Harry."

"I can't just conjure two containers of yoghurts from thin air, I don't know the spell," said Harry helplessly.

Hermione scowled.

Thinking that Hermione was going to lose her temper, Harry quickly got up from his seat. "I think there's a 24 hour muggle store around the corner here, yeah, I'll go…"

Harry dashed off.

Hermione gave a smile of satisfaction and lay back on her bed.

"Here you go, Hermione. Two containers of delicious yoghurt," said Harry, placing the tubs of yogurt on Hermione's bedside table.

Hermione yawned, "Put them in the mini fridge, I will eat them tomorrow morning."

"I thought you want to eat them now," said Harry, confused.

"I'm sorry Harry, but I would rather sleep now," said Hermione sleepily.

If Harry was Ron, he would probably complain that about the wasted trip he had made, but lucky for Hermione, Harry was different.

"It's okay, you just sleep," said Harry gently and tucked Hermione into her bed. "Sleep well," he said gently and kissed Hermione's forehead.

Hermione smiled at him before she closed her eyes.

Ever since she was pregnant, Hermione would expect dramatic changes in her body. And sure enough, when Hermione woke up in the fifth morning and went to check herself in front of the mirror in the bathroom, she found that her breasts had gone, well, bigger than usual. And her stomach had grown in size.

As she watched herself in mirror, Hermione couldn't help smiling. She was amazed that a life was growing inside her and she would be bringing it to the world in just a few days. She couldn't wait for the baby to be born. She wondered whether the baby would look like her or Harry, in fact, she didn't know whether the baby was a boy or a girl. But Hermione was sure that she and Harry would love the baby, regardless the sex.

Hermione's question about the baby's sex would soon answer. The Healer gave her a check up again and told her that the baby she was carrying was a boy.

On the afternoon of her fifth day, Harry came for a visit and Hermione immediately brought him into a discussion of giving a name for the baby.

"Um, since it's a boy…" said Harry as he sat on the chair. He frowned. "Man, this is tough…"

Hermione tried to think of a name too. "What I want is a nice English name…"

The couple sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Mark?" suggested Harry slowly.

Hermione shook her head.

"Good, I don't like it either…" said Harry. "Charles?"

Hermione shook her head again.

"Edward?"

"Doesn't seem to go with your last name. I want the baby to have your last name," said Hermione.

The couple was silent again.

"Henry?" asked Hermione.

Harry shook his head.

Silence.

Then Hermione thought of a name and looked at Harry. Harry looked back, as if he had a name in mind too.

"You go first, Harry," said Hermione.

"You're the mother, you go first, Hermione," said Harry.

"Why don't we say it together then?" said Hermione.

"Fine," said Harry. "Ready, get set, go."

"William," said the both of them together.

Amused at they had the same thought, Hermione started to giggle. Harry grinned, "So? Are we going to name the baby William?"

Hermione nodded happily.

Suddenly Hermione felt something moving in her. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked down.

"What?" asked Harry.

Putting a finger on her lips, Hermione placed her hands on her stomach and waited. Sure enough, the baby was moving and Hermione could feel its movement under her hands.

"What?" asked Harry again, puzzled.

Excited, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and placed it tenderly on her stomach.

At first, Harry was completely confused by Hermione's actions, but when the baby moved again, Harry's eyes went as big as dinner plates.

"Is that our baby moving?" he asked slowly.

Hermione laughed, "What else would it be?"

Harry blushed slightly and suddenly he said in a low tone, "Hurry up and come out, William, Daddy will be waiting for you."

Hermione hit Harry on the head, "It's too early for him to come out, isn't that right, Willy?"

Harry and Hermione could feel the baby moving again.

"He doesn't like you to call him Willy," said Harry.

"How do you know?" asked Hermione, sticking her tongue out playfully at Harry.

Harry just laughed.

Harry simply doted on Hermione and his unborn son. When Hermione's sleeping habit had become normal again, he often brought Hermione out for a walk in the hospital's private garden, so that Hermione could have a bit of fresh air, which was good for the baby as well. He wouldn't let Hermione to go anywhere by herself, except the toilet. When he was free, Harry would read to Hermione (and to the baby at the same time).

Hermione was so glad to have Harry with her and when Harry had gone home (mostly being forced to go home by the Healers), she was often left wondering why she didn't marry Harry in the first place.

"Because you and Harry were madly in love with someone else back then, that's why," said her mind.

Hermione sighed. What a cruel joke that the gods were playing on her and Harry.

On the eighth day of her pregnancy, the Healer came in once every single hour to check on Hermione, which was important, because her baby was due the next day. Hermione couldn't believe that her pregnancy would last for only nine days. It was like only last week when her figure was perfect and now she had a stomach with a size of a basketball.

Hermione had difficulty moving about now, so she spent most of her time in bed, talking to Harry.

When evening came, Harry and Hermione came to a very important topic in their chatting: What to do with the baby after he was born.

"He can't stay with me. The Weasleys will ask a lot of questions," said Hermione. "What if he stays with you? I can come over and see him during weekends…"

"Hermione, how are you going to get away from the Weasleys every weekend then? You can lie once, but you can't lie forever. Besides, I'm too busy to look after him and I don't know a thing about parenting. He needs maternal care too," said Harry. "What about your parents?"

Hermione shook her head. "No way, they will kill me if I suddenly show up with your baby…"

"What if you lie to them and tell them that's he's Ron's?" suggested Harry weakly.

Hermione shook her head unwillingly. "Then they ask Ron about William and Ron will find out about everything."

Silence.

"The Dursleys?" asked Hermione timidly.

"No way. They treated me bad enough, I don't want my son to suffer." objected Harry strongly.

"Now one of the biggest problems we need to deal with is the press." said Hermione. "You're too famous, if any reporter sees you carrying a baby around…"

"I don't care. I think your problem is worse. How are you going to keep William away from your parents and the Weasleys?" asked Harry.

Silence again. Hermione wrapped her arms around her stomach, as if she was hugging her baby.

"The orphanage?" said Harry quietly.

Hermione looked at Harry in horror, but then she thought that maybe Harry's suggestion did have some advantages after all. If they put William in an orphanage, he could grow up peacefully, away from the press and the public. There would be people to take care of him, but then…

"No, I don't want William to grow up without his parents." said Hermione.

"What do you suggest then?" asked Harry solemnly. "We can't keep him with us, it's too dangerous. We can get him out of there, after you get a divorce."

"Will I ever get one? Will Ron ever let me go?" asked Hermione weakly.

Harry went quiet.

Hermione went lost in her thoughts. She didn't want their baby to be separated from his parents, but what else could she do? If Ron was so possessive of her, she doubted that she would be able to get away from him…

"So how about it?" asked Harry, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts.

Hermione sniffed and sighed. Putting William in the orphanage was not the best way, but at least he could grow up in peace…

"O-Orphanage it is." said Hermione and closed her eyes. She then buried her face in her hands. Harry sat closer to her and put his arms around her.

"I know it's not the best way, but we have no choice…" said Harry quietly.

Hermione began to cry. It was the saddest day she ever had during her stay in the hospital.