Chapter 18
Saturday May 26th
Hermione awoke the next morning to a strong smell of flowers. She sat up in bed to the sight of the bedroom that was wall-to-wall roses and daisies and gasped.
"What in the..." Hermione said.
Severus was standing outside the door and listened with interest at Hermione's statement. The door opened and a perplexed Hermione looked to Severus standing there.
"Severus, I..." she started but was cut off suddenly.
Severus had taken hold of her and dipped her dramatically with a breath-taking kiss. After a minute of that, Severus stood her back up and put a finger to her mouth when she started to speak again. He led her to the dining room where a breakfast feast of all her favorites was prepared. He pulled out a chair for her to sit in then took a knee on the floor by her. He took her face in his hands and said gently,
"Mione, I am more sorry than I can say for my abominable behavior last night. I don't know what got into me, I feel horrid for getting you so upset and I vow to try my best for it to not to happen again. Please forgive me," he said earnestly, kissing the palm of her hand.
"I forgive you love, please kiss me again, I missed it last night," Hermione whispered.
After breakfast (Hermione did not skip meals nowadays) they stood in the shower, lovingly lathering each other. Since Hermione was in no condition for the wild, seemingly violent make-up sex they had in the past, considering the row they had, and how amazingly forgiving Hermione had been, Severus gladly settled for this. Severus slowly washed her expanding stomach, bending over to kiss it every once in a while. That gesture melted Hermione's heart. As they were rinsing off, Hermione gasped and put her hands to her stomach with wide eyes.
"Severus! She kicked!" Hermione exclaimed.
Severus put his hands on her stomach and felt. Sure enough, he felt a soft kick. It was the most astounding thing he had ever felt.
"Does it hurt?" Severus asked.
"No," Hermione laughed as Emma kicked again.
As they were dressing, they discussed their plans for the day.
"I need to go to Diagon Alley to the apothecary for my new vitamin potion ingredients," Hermione said. "I would like to visit Flourish and Blotts as well."
Severus cleaned the kitchen and dining room breakfast clutter while Hermione played her piano. Mid-song, the wards on the house indicated a visitor.
"I'll get it," Hermione called out.
Hermione peeked through the peep-hole to see Ginny there.
"Ginny! Good morning!" Hermione said hugging the girl and pulling her in. "What brings you by?"
"I need some NEWT help," Ginny said sadly.
"Let's go to my office."
Hermione stopped at the dining room. "Sev, we will be in the basement."
"Take care going down those steps Mione," Severus said.
In the basement, they sat down in chairs. Ginny sighed and put her head back.
"Herms, everyone is having a fit over NEWTS. I had to get out that school. Can I study here awhile? You have some great books to use," Ginny said haltingly looking at Hermione's growing library. Hermione would let Ginny open up about what else was bothering her in her own time.
"I'll get some snacks," Hermione said.
"Can I brew a potion?" Ginny called from the basement.
"Go ahead," Hermione called back.
She got some crisps, cookies and juice then went back to the basement. Ginny was bent over a cauldron heating some water.
"May I ask what you are cooking up?" Hermione asked biting into a cookie.
"Something personal," Ginny answered absently.
Hermione didn't press her anymore. Ginny added some ingredients then looked at her watch. Hermione took a book from the shelf and glanced to a subdued Ginny, who was frowning while scribbling on a parchment.
Our usually talkative Ginny is quiet this morning, must have been some row, that's my guess. Hermione thought.
After a couple of hours, Hermione went back upstairs, leaving Ginny to brew (literally and emotionally). She shrugged her shoulders at Severus who was waiting at the top of the basemnent stairs.
Hermione went into the bedroom to change shoes while Severus started a movie. Hermione had many movies that Severus had enjoyed, and he was amazed that he had never watched movies before. The one he was continuing was a story about a teenaged boy called "Spiderman." The wards for the house signaled again ans this time Draco was standing at the door, looking distressed.
"Is she here?" Draco asked.
"If the she you are referring to is Miss Weasley, then yes, she's in the basement," Severus said.
"Sev, who is it?" Hermione called from the bedroom.
"Mr. Malfoy," Severus answered.
Hermione came from the bedroom. "She's down there," Hermione said pointing to the basement. Draco hurried down the stairs.
Hermione went to the piano. Severus and Hermione heard raised voices, then a shrill shout from Ginny. Another fight, or the continuation of one was starting. Of course they couldn't help but over hear.
"Gin, why are you doing this?" Draco shouted.
"Hah! Me, what about you? Didn't you say last night..." Ginny hissed back.
"Please listen to reason Gin," Draco pleaded.
"Whoa no, don't you start another lecture as if I was five years old, you prat!" Ginny yelled.
Severus joined Hermione at the piano bench chuckling.
"WELL MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T ACT FIVE YEARS OLD I WOULDN'T..." Draco shouted but stopped upon the sound of breaking glass. That made Hermione and Severus sit up straight.
"Gin, you don't have to throw things at me," Draco shouted.
"Good thing those vials are cheap," Hermione muttered.
At a pause in the fight, Hermione grinned and played a dramatic sounding chord.
"HERMS!" Ginny shouted.
"Why are you getting mad at her? You are breaking things in her basement that she is kindly letting you use. You are acting like a banshee in the Snape basement no less," Draco said.
Hermione had to put her hand over her mouth to avoid laughing. Suddenly the door to the basement slammed shut and the yelling was muffled.
"Shall we go to Diagon Alley now?" Severus asked kissing her cheek.
"Yes, they may be down there a while," Hermione said knowing Ginny's temper.
Hermione left a note on the basement door and put an ear to the door. She heard whispering, gasps and moans.
"Mione," Severus scolded lightly.
"What? They are making up, I think," Hermione grinned.
Hermione bought the ingredients she needed then perused the bookstore. After buying a new release of More Wonders of Wandless Magic they went to Wandwavers for lunch. Hermione was flipping through her new book munching on her fish-and-chips when she heard Severus greeting Ron and Kelly.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Freemantle," Severus said.
Hermione looked up. "Ron, Kelly, hi there! Join us," Hermione said waving to some chairs.
"Thanks Mione," Ron said.
"What are you two up to today?" Hermione asked.
"Eating lunch before the last quidditch match at Hogwarts," Ron said.
"I completely forgot," Hermione said.
"Why don't you and Severus come? As a former head girl, you get in automatically," Kelly said.
"Yeah, the Headmaster mentioned that," Hermione said. "Wait a minute, the last match is today and Ginny showed up at the house this morning?" Hermione wondered.
"Then shortly after Mr. Malfoy arrived," Severus said sipping his drink.
"They had a row in the basement," Hermione laughed.
"In the basement? How funny," Kelly said.
"I'm not surprised, NEWTS are really stressing her out, and so is Mum, so she might have just snapped," Ron said.
"They were there when we left, that was two hours ago," Severus said.
"Why do you say your mum is stressing her out?" Hermione asked.
"A couple of weeks ago she caught Gin and Draco upstairs in her room doing stuff," Ron said in a pained voice.
"Stuff?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, stuff Mione. In mum's words, "Activities that do not happen under this roof between an unmarried couple," Ron said mimicking Mrs. Weasley. Although he was friends with Draco, the thought of Ginny shagging anybody made him shudder.
"Oh," Hermione said then laughed seeing Ron's face. "And to think we left them alone!"
"Mum will never know, I hope," Ron said.
"What time is the match?" Severus asked.
"Two pm professor," Ron said.
"Let's go Sev, it will be fun," Hermione said.
"It should be, it's Slytherin versus Gryffindor," Severus said.
"It's one twenty right now, let's go, I walk a bit slower these days," Hermione said. She held her back as Severus assisted her to her feet.
At the stadium, Hermione was greeted by students, alumni and professors. She took a seat with Severus in the staff seats and chatted with Minerva and Poppy. The stadium erupted in clapping and cheers as the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams flew in. Ginny, team captain, was there, and Hermione scanned the Slytherin stands for Draco. He was there too, talking with some alumni as Ginny flew by. He stopped talking and Ginny winked at him as she flew by.
As expected, the game was hard-hitting and fast as befitting the two teams. As the game wore on, reserves had to be brought in to replace injured players. Ginny called the team together on a time out and Hermione saw her coach them in the same manner Ron had when he was captain. With the score 200-180 in favor of Slytherin, both teams were hot, tired and hurt. The seekers were desperately looking for the snitch. Will Byerley, the Gryffindor seeker this year, was seen taking off across the field like a bullet. Harry had bought the Gryffindor team the new Firebolt model brooms this year, and in the spirit of friendly competition, Draco had done the same for Slytherin. Now it was just a matter of who was the better flyer. Will was the reserve seeker behind Harry last term, so he had an expert mentor and was the better flyer. He was half a broom length ahead of the Skytherin seeker when his hand closed around the snitch. The stands erupted in celebration. The Gryffindors had won the cup again. The teams shook hands then the Gryffindors carried Will on their shoulders towards Professor McGonagall, where the trophy was presented to her, again.
Saturday June 25
Hermione was sitting in the doctor's waiting area with Ginny. Severus was required to attend a potions masters conference and insisted that Hermione go no where alone in her condition. You couldn't blame him, Hermione looked huge in her seventh month.
"I'm having an elephant, not a baby," Hermione quipped to Ginny about her back pain and large stomach. "And it's only going to get worse."
"Poor thing," Ginny said rubbing her back.
"It's our first anniversary today, Severus is at a potions conference, and all I can think about doing is sleeping or eating. We'll do something next year." Hermione stated.
Laying on the table a few minutes later, Hermione and Ginny saw the ultrasound of Emma. Ginny was enthralled.
At the end of the exam, Hermione listened to the doctor's review. "Hermione, this baby is a little bigger than most babies at this point. I have to warn you that at your petite size, these last couple of months will be hard on you. In fact, I'm thinking about putting you on bed rest the last month. Now don't worry, you and the baby are quite healthy, just keep doing what you are doing. I'll see you in a couple of weeks," he doctor said.
Walking down the corridor, Ginny asked,
"Hermione, want to come to the burrow? Mum would be thrilled to see you," Ginny said.
"That would be great Ginny let's go, I'm hungry," Hermione said and they took the hated floo to the burrow.
At the burrow, Hermione arrived with a stumble and sneeze to a twittering Mrs. Weasley.
"Goodness gracious Hermione, I haven't seen you in months, how far along are you?" she asked shocked.
"Seven months yesterday," Hermione said holding her back and sinking into a chair. Ginny handed her a glass of water.
"Are you hungry dear?" Molly asked.
"Famished," Hermione replied. She gulped down the glass of water then started on some food set in front of her.
Over lunch they talked about Ginny's medi-witch training at St. Mungo's that would start on Monday. "I have to intern at every department during the course of two years, in addition to all the studying that goes with it, then decide what I want to specialize in for two more years of training. I've had my heart set on magical accidents, but after today with Hermione at her appointment, obstetrics looks very rewarding," Ginny said.
"Ginny, that's wonderful," Molly said. Hermione handed Molly an ultrasound image of Emma.
"Amazing, why didn't they have this when I was pregnant?" Molly wondered.
"According to the doctor, they just got the ultrasound machine five years ago," Hermione said. "It's standard practice in the muggle world. I need a nap," Hermione continued. "The doctor said this baby is a little bigger than most, and I am tired more. Can you see me back home Ginny?"
"Hermione, nonsense. You can use a room upstairs if you'd like," Molly said.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Hermione said and was helped up the stairs by Ginny.
Hermione was asleep in minutes and Ginny went back downstairs.
"Hermione was quiet today," Molly remarked.
"Yeah, she's like that nowadays, but don't worry, she's perfectly happy," Ginny said. "You should have heard her earlier saying that she was having an elephant, not a baby," and ther two laughed.
"Molly!" was cried from upstairs from Hermione. She and Ginny rushed up there.
Hermione was curled up on the bed in pain. She gasped,
"Molly, when did you start having pains? This is too early!" Hermione grunted in discomfort.
"About my seventh month, don't worry dear, just false contractions, it's like the body is practicing," Molly reassured.
"This is going to be a long couple of months," Hermione said clenching her teeth as another pain shot through her abdomen.
Monday July 26
"Molly, I'm hot, huge and miserable, please don't tease and make it worse. And bored to boot, I still disagree with this bed rest shit," Hermione snarled.
"I see," Molly said lightly as she adjusted Hermione's pillows. She wasn't bothered in the least.
Severus grinned as he walked into the room carrying a tray of food to the bed. The doctor warned them of the moodiness that she would be experiencing towards the end. She was snarky some of the time, but Severus thought it adorable. When he looked at her, all he could see was his beautiful wife about to have their beautiful baby girl. He leaned to kiss her and leaned on her chest a little.
"Oww Sev, my boobs hurt! Watch it," Hermione wailed. Molly stifled her laugh.
"Yes dear," Severus said.
"Yes dear," Hermione mimicked.
"Molly, again, thank you for coming here. I will be taking a leave of absence starting Monday August ninth, but for now I have to get ready for the term and at least get through the first week. I only hope that Albus sticks to my lesson plans in my absence. Merlin knows what he might have them brew," Severus mused.
"I am happy to help and will be here as long as I am needed, babies are a joyous occasion," Molly gushed.
Hermione snorted. Severus and Molly rolled their eyes.
"I'll be back soon love," Severus said kissing her hand then went back to Hogwarts after lunch and Hermione attempted to nap. It was close to impossible to get comfortable. When Severus left, Molly sat on the bed and said,
"It's not much longer now, Hermione. Sooner than you know, you will be holding that precious baby in your arms. Believe me when I tell you that I know how miserable you feel, " Molly said patting Hermione's hand.
"I must seem like a mental case," Hermione said. "Severus is right, thank you for being here."
The next Monday on August 2nd, Molly accompanied Hermione to her last appointment before the baby. Molly was treated to the ultrasound picture and sounds of the baby's heartbeat.
"I have to tell Arthur of this," Molly said. Hermione laughed. Sitting in front of the doctor, he gave the last pre-natal instructions.
"There's not much more I can tell you Hermione. Your body will be dictating what is going to happen from here on out, and I expect the birth sometime next week according to calculations. Any questions?" the doctor asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"I know this is alot, first babies are, but I have no reason to think that there will be problems. The next time you will be here will be to deliver your baby. So go home and get some rest, because after the baby comes, it will be awhile before you get any," the doctor chuckled.
At dinner, Hermione called to Severus from the bedroom. Molly left when Severus got home.
"Can I at least come to the table for dinner? I don't want to eat spaghetti in bed," Hermione stated.
Severus appeared at the door. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt," Severus said.
Hermione swung her swollen feet over the edge of the bed and Severus helped her to her feet. She hunched slightly and seemed to waddle as she walked from the weight of her stomach.
"Sev, how can you stand to look at me? I'm huge and cranky," Hermione said leaning on him.
He put an arm around her shoulders. "Mione, you have never looked more beautiful," Severus said kissing her forehead.
"Ahh, here we are," Severus said helping her sit down. "Not much longer love, now eat up."
"How was the first day of term?" Hermione asked.
"The usual dunderheads," Severus said spearing a meatball.
"That bad?" Hermione said.
"I would be happy to have someone with half your talent in my classes. Last term there were a few that excelled, and I think there are a few in my sixth year class. This term's seventh years are acceptable at best. But it was just the first day, so time will tell," Severus said.
"Dinner is great, thanks Sev," Hermione said winking at him.
Thursday August 5th
Severus was lecturing the morning NEWT double-potions class when Albus hurried through the door and stopped at his desk.
"Severus you need to get home quickly, it's time. I'll take over here," Albus said with twinkling eyes.
Robes billowing, he ran from the class without a word.