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"
Disclaimer 2: Baby William belongs to me. There's no baby in the real story, only abortion and miscarriage.
To BeaumontRulz, my Beta Reader!
Thank you all for your reviews!
Chapter 15: Christmas Surprise
Harry and Hermione were sent back to Azkaban and oddly, since they were going to be hanged together anyway, the Ministry decided to place them together in one cell. Hermione thought that it was nice of the Ministry to do that.
Once they were alone in their cell, Hermione went into Harry's arms and started sobbing, something that she wanted to do ever since the trial started.
"Harry, this is awful…" she mumbled as Harry wrapped his arms around her.
"This is unfair." said Harry angrily. "I don't mind if they hanged me, I deserved it, but they can't hang you for adultery…"
"No," said Hermione, looking at Harry. "They can't hang both of us. We are innocent."
"You are innocent, Hermione but I'm not." said Harry flatly.
"No, you killed Ron by accident and that's manslaughter. They can't hang you for that…." said Hermione, shaking her head.
Suddenly, she grabbed Harry's arms. "And William, what will happen to him after we died? He will become an orphan, I don't want him to lose his parents!"
"Hermione…"
"I want to watch him grow up, I want him to be healthy and strong, I want to see him again, Harry! No, we must get out of here, we just have to!"
Hermione was getting agitated. Tears began to fill her eyes again. Harry had to catch hold of her shoulders to calm her. "Hermione, please!"
Hermione bit her lower lip and stared at Harry with a sorrowful look on her face.
Hermione closed her eyes and sniffled. Harry wrapped his arms around her once more and she cried again.
"All we can do now for William is to pray that he grows up to be a good, healthy boy." whispered Harry sadly.
Hermione suddenly untangled herself from Harry's embrace and headed to the window. She kneeled down and clasped her heads together.
"Hermione!"
Hermione ignored him. "Gods of the above, hear the prayer of one heart-sick mother. I pray for my son's health and safety…"
Harry went to Hermione and he was still for a while before he kneeled beside her. "And hear the prayer of one heart-sick father, who prays for his son's as well. I pray that he will be a good boy when he grows up…"
"Yes, we want him to have a heart of gold." said Hermione.
"And please give us a chance to see him again." said Harry.
Harry and Hermione said the last words of their prayers and got up.
"Let's get some sleep, Hermione, we have a long day tomorrow." said Harry quietly.
"Carry me to bed, Harry." requested Hermione, as there was only one bed in the cell.
Harry didn't need to be told twice. Immediately, he lifted Hermione up and brought her to the bed. He put her down and he lay down beside her. He put his arms around her and stroked her hair as Hermione drifted off to sleep.
Harry and Hermione were scheduled to be hanged on January 9, 2005. Hermione's parents came to see her once. All her mother did was crying and her father were too upset to get the words out. Hermione was sad to see them in this state and she ended up crying as well.
As December came, Hermione beginning to think that hers and Harry's prayers were not being heard by the Gods. She was starting to have nightmares, mostly about William being killed or taken away by the Ministry and she woke up, drenched with sweat.
Christmas came and Hermione woke up to see snow outside the window. Smiling slightly, she got up and went to watch the snow.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" said Harry, wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.
Hermione nodded. "This is probably the last time we get to see snow before we died."
Harry sighed and didn't say anything. "It's Christmas. I wish I could do something to make ourselves feel better."
"I feel good enough," said Hermione softly and placed her hands on Harry's arms. "Being with you is the best Christmas present I could have."
Harry kissed Hermione's cheek tenderly.
"Hey you two lovebirds." said the guard outside the cell.
Harry and Hermione turned.
"You got visitors."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other in puzzlement. Who would come to see them in this weather?
Harry and Hermione came into the visiting room and were surprised to see Ginny sitting on one of the chairs across the table. Strangely, Neville Longbottom was standing behind her and didn't sit down on the empty chair beside her.
"Sit down." said the guard.
Harry and Hermione slowly sat down on their chairs. Neville remained standing.
There was an awkward silence between them, especially for Harry and Ginny, since they were lovers before Harry decided to break up so that he could be with Hermione.
"Hello." said Ginny, breaking the silence and smiled slightly.
Seeing that Ginny had smiled, Hermione smiled back and said, "Hello," while Harry nodded. "How are you two?"
"Fine." said Ginny and Neville in unison.
"And your family, how are they?" asked Hermione.
"Oh they are fine, they are trying hard to live their lives normally." said Ginny.
"Harry, Hermione." said Neville quickly. "There's a petition out there for your reprieve. I started it and all of our friends are helping out. People are now signing for the petition, it bound to help."
"Why?" asked Harry. "I mean, why are they signing it?"
"Because you two are not guilty. Everyone could see that." said Neville.
"Except the Ministry." said Ginny bitterly. "Hermione, I didn't know my brother was such a jerk, I'm so sorry, I should have realised it sooner…"
Hermione smiled grimly. "Too late."
"No, they can't hang you for adultery and they can't hang Harry for manslaughter." said Ginny firmly. "It will come right."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak when she heard a noise, like a baby. "What's that?"
Ginny turned and lowered herself to the seat beside her. Harry leaned forward, trying to see what was on the chair but he failed.
Ginny got up from her seat, holding a baby in her arms as she did.
Hermione's eyes widened. Harry's mouth dropped open.
"I brought William to see you two." said Ginny to Hermione. "I searched your drawer and found the card of the orphanage, so I went to get him."
Hermione sprang up from her seat and Ginny handed the baby over to her. Immediately, Hermione recognized the necklace around her son's neck. William looked at her, curiously at first, but then he smiled, as if he recognized her.
"Oh my god, William…" whispered Hermione and she hugged and kissed him. Her son was a lot bigger and heavier the last time she had seen and carried him. "Look Harry, it's our son."
Harry looked at his baby and smiled. "Hey there, little guy, remember me?"
William slowly smiled back.
"Looks like he does." said Harry happily.
Neville and Ginny let the family of three to enjoy the happy moment of their reunion before the couple decided to sit down.
"Ginny…" said Hermione slowly.
"Hm?"
"Will you forgive me?" said Hermione quietly.
"For what?"
"Stealing Harry."
Harry looked away.
"I used to hate you for it, but not anymore." said Ginny. "He loves you."
It took Harry a minute to finally look back at his ex-girlfriend. "I hurt you, didn't I?" he said.
Ginny gave a short laugh and sniffled. "For a little while."
"I'm sorry." said Harry.
William started to cry in his mother's arms.
"Oh my, he hasn't drunk his milk yet." said Ginny and conjured a bottle of milk from nowhere.
"Here, let me feed him." said Harry and Hermione gave the baby to him before Ginny handed him the bottle.
Harry only fed his son a few drops when the guard said, "Time's up."
Harry looked at the guard in horror. "What?"
"Please, just a little longer." pleaded Hermione.
"No way." said the guard.
"Oh come on Sir…" said Neville and he took the guard to one side. Hermione couldn't hear what they were saying but she swore she saw Neville slipping three Galleons into the guard's hand.
"All right, five more minutes." said the guard.
Neville went back to join the others.
"Bribery, huh?" asked Hermione.
Neville shrugged. "Well, at least it works."
"Sorry." said Harry again.
"Pay me back when you two are out." said Neville, grinning.
"Will we be out?" asked Hermione uncertainly.
"Of course. Last time we count, there are overeight hundred thousandsignatures, the Ministry can't ignore that." said Neville.
"Dad said he will quit if they ignore the petition." said Ginny.
"He can't, he needs the job." said Harry in protest.
"He says he can't work in a place where its people have dung for brains." said Ginny. "He said he might go to work with Fred and George, because their muggle magic tricks products fascinated him."
William finished the drink and Harry tried to get him to sleep.
"Let me sing him to sleep, Harry. That method works all the time." said Hermione.
Harry smiled and gave William back to Hermione. She started to sing softly as she rocked her baby to sleep.
"Ginny, it's nice of you to bring William here." said Harry.
"It's Christmas and I think you two deserves to have a family reunion too." said Ginny. "We decided to keep him for the time-being, until you two get out."
"Thanks." said Harry. "I think he would need all the love and attention he could get."
William finally falls asleep and Hermione gently kissed him again. She pressed her cheek against his forehead and hugged him with affection.
"Hermione…" started Ginny.
Hermione looked up.
"Everything will be fine. I promise." said Ginny.
Hermione smiled.
"All right, time's up." said the guard impatiently.
"Oh no." groaned Harry.
"Five more minutes, please." said Hermione.
"No way." said the guard. "And don't you come near me." he said to Neville, who had his hand in his pocket. "I'm not going to give way this time."
Harry sighed and got up from his seat. Hermione got up as well. She looked longingly at her baby. She felt like crying again, having to be separated from her baby once more. She whispered, "Bye William. Be a good boy at the Weasleys."
Harry went to her and patted William gently. "Goodbye." he said quietly.
Hermione handed the baby unwillingly back to Ginny. Ginny got the baby and said, "Don't worry, Hermione, Harry. You three will be together again soon."
Hermione nodded and Harry placed his arm around her shoulders as they watched Ginny, Neville and William left.
Hermione blinked away her tears and Harry wiped them away from her face. "Hush now, Hermione, there's still hope for us. We still have a slight chance of seeing him again."
Hermione nodded again and leaned her head against Harry's shoulder as the guard led them out of the visitors' room.