Only JK Rowlings owns the Harry Potter Characters, this is for fun.
Chapter 23, Harry Ronald Granger
The temple of the Holy Cross was the closest place to heaven on earth Harry and Ron had ever been. Both parts of it they had seen, thus far, had been beautiful. It was not so ordinate that they worshipped the temple rather than God, but it was glorious. The walls were ordained with Greek or Roman Crosses, in addition to replications of ancient, 2-dimensional Christian Icons depicting various biblical scenes, incense burned in both rooms they had been in, as could chants and hymns be heard in the background. Indeed all of the senses were engaged in worship when one prayed in this temple; not only so but one also felt a presence near to himself but outside of himself when in the temple and this presence caused Harry's and Ron's hearts to burn within them.
They had, however, thus far only seen the infirmary and the infirmary's waiting room, and paid little attention to the structure's beauty or their surroundings. Instead they, Reverend Ewls, and Father Bates, prayed with all of the strength of their hearts for the comfort and safety of Hermione, whose screams could be heard from inside the waiting room for the past two hours.
Harry, Ron, and Reverend Ewls could not stop crying, especially Ron, who was reminded every time he heard her of the fact that he wanted to be with her, that was he there with her, somehow her pain would be lessened. He could not, but be angry with his friends for taking him away from her. It would usually have taken every amount of energy to not express his anger with Harry and Reverend Ewls and to keep himself in prayer, were it not for the outside presence of spiritual nearness which caused his heart to, in spite of the situation, burn. Indeed this spirit was one of intense peace and comfort, a divine hand stroking his shoulder, assuring him that everything would be alright.
Hermione felt this too. It had been two hours since her arrival at the temple, her baby had not come. Using whatever counter-curses and spells they could, the two Nasserite healers in black robes, joined by a middle-aged female Nasserite nurse tried as hard as they could to reverse the spell damage to Hermione worked by Voldemort, a task which proved quite impossible. The last two hours had been excruciating, she had never experienced the cruciatus curse, but she reckoned it must be something like this, all of her nerves firing at the same time, an electrical fire raging throughout her body.
"RON!" she screamed. "PLEASE! I WANT RONNIE!"
"Everything will be alright Ms. Granger, just keep fighting!" said the male Nasserite nurse in a quick-paced, nervous tone as he struggled to take away her pain.
Hermione continued to scream in agony, she thought of her pride and how she would probably look back on this with embarrassment. She thought back to her childhood, how she was always hated it when her dentist parents cleaned her teeth, but she was brave enough not to cry or scream when they did it; she thought of how whenever she went to the doctor to get a shot, she was always brave, never screaming or crying when the needle went in. Now, however, her prideful inhibitions had been tossed from her, she could not help but scream at the top of her lungs, she had never in her life experienced pain to this degree.
"There's nothing we can do healers, this baby is coming!" said the nurse nervously.
"Alright, screw it," said the female healer. "Hermione, I need you to push, okay, I know it hurts, but I need you help us."
Hermione could not, her agony had stripped whatever strength she had left, she had resigned herself to death long ago, all she wanted right now was Ron to be with her as she died. She wanted to die, she wanted the pain to be over, she prayed for death, for forgiveness.
"PLEASE!" she cried. "JESUS, PLEASE TAKE ME! I'M SORRY!"
"It'll all be over soon, Hermione," said soft, soothing a voice she recognized but could not identify. "Your son is coming, you must fight, you must fight for him."
She had no clue from where this voice came, nor did she think that the healers could hear it, but she took comfort in it, and was reminded by it of the one reason she had to keep fighting. She still loved, still wanted her son. "For him," she thought, "I'll do it for him." Amidst her continued screaming, she took a deep breath as the female healer spread her legs and positioned herself in front of her vagina. She then pushed with everything she had left; when it felt like she could push no more, the same voice returned to her.
"Fight on, Hermione," it said. "Fight on, I'll be there soon, I'll be there soon."
"I'm sorry," she said to the voice, whether she said this aloud or in her heart she did not know. "I'm sorry for my…"
"I know," the voice replied. "I know, do not be afraid, I forgive you, I'll be there soon, fight on! I'm coming, my precious child, I'm coming."
A new voice was heard, the most soothing thing she had ever heard, a high pitched baby's scream. She took a deep breath and let go, her pain left her, she smiled. She wanted to hold the precious thing she had just delivered, she wanted to be near it, she tried to look in the direction of her son's crying but found it impossible to move. All her strength was gone, she could not move, it hurt to breath, but at last the worst of the pain was well over. In fact, this minor pain was nothing to her. She started to laugh.
Harry, Ron, and Reverend Ewls continued to wait. The waiting was becoming torture, especially to Ron who could not, in spite of the burning presence, continue to pray. He simply paced back and forth, all he could think of was Hermione, seeing her, holding her; he had almost forgotten the baby he had sworn to love. Harry sat next to Reverend Ewls who was meditating on the floor. Harry, however could not bring himself to meditate. He could not, also, stop himself from interrupting Ewls' meditation with a whisper so that Ron did not hear what he was saying.
"Do you think she'll make it?" he whispered as tears streaked down his face.
"She is in the hands of God now," said Ewls as his eyes remained closed.
"Reverend can I ask you something?" with his eyes still closed, Ewls nodded. "What is it about this Place, ever since I've come here it's like I've been overwhelmed with… love. I haven't stopped bawling since I arrived."
"You are in the presence of the Holy Cross Harry. You will find that this is probably the closest thing to heaven that you will ever experience," Ewls paused for a second and then opened his eyes. "Well, not the closest as you'll soon learn, but the most sustained one."
"How long has it been?" Ron asked as he continued pacing.
"Two hours or so," said Father Bates.
"I can't take it anymore, I have to know, I have to know if she's alright."
"She is in God's hands Ron, trust in him," Ewls comforted.
"I'm sorry Reverend, I'm trying to."
Ewls stood and walked to Ron taking him into his arms in a tight embrace. Ron let go and sobbed into his arms.
"God will take care of her Ron, you'll see."
At that moment the door to the infirmary opened, the male healer entered the waiting Room. Ron looked at him hopefully, hoping to hear some news either good or bad. The healer avoided Ron's gaze and instead fixed his eyes upon Reverend Ewls. The healer mouthed "reverend" and made a motion that Ewls was to enter the infirmary. Without hesitation, Ewls let go of Ron and, at a quick-pace, entered the infirmary walking toward Hermione's bedside. With a grave expression in his face, the healer approached Ron.
"Mr. Weasley…"
"Can I see her?" asked Ron.
"Yes, in a minute you will be with her," said the Healer. "She gave birth to a son fifteen minutes ago, the baby is alright, it went through almost as much pain as she did but we were able to save it."
Ron had almost forgotten about the child, but hearing this comforted him, he made the sign of the cross in gratitude.
"Mr. Weasley," the healer began, but paused. "Ron, your fiancé is bleeding internally all throughout her body, and our healing charms are not working."
Ron's expression suddenly became one of mixed fear and sadness as he understood immediately what this meant, though he did not want to understand, he shook his head as he felt Harry's comforting arm around his shoulder.
"No, what are you saying?" Ron asked.
"I'm so sorry," The healer said, tears forming in his eyes as well. "There's nothing we more we can do for her."
Ron's heart sank. Collapse! Everything within him collapsed! He felt like shutting down and falling to the floor, a part of his soul was being taken from him. Collapse! The better part of him was slowly losing energy and leaving him. Harry took him into an embrace, he sobbed into Harry's shoulder.
"No, no," he sobbed. "Oh God no! Please God no!"
Harry also could not help but break down. The two mutually cried into each other's shoulders. Hermione had been Harry's best friend as much as she had been Ron's. Collapse! Neither of them knew what they would do without her, a part of themselves was slowly dying. A part of themselves was being cruelly ripped from them.
Reverend Ewls was called in to Hermione's bedside at Hermione's own request. When he arrived, seeing Hermione laying upon the infirmary bed, her energy slowly draining from her, he could not help but bawl. He knelt beside her and took her hand, not saying anything. Hermione spoke for him.
"I have been a fool Reverend," she whispered, having not the strength to say anything above a whisper.
In tears, Ewls shook his head.
"No, save your strength," he said. "I'm sorry that I could not have gotten you here sooner."
Hermione's expression was one of pleading, begging, not for her life, but what?
"Reverend," she began. "I don't want you to think that I'm doing this because I'm afraid of death. If that was the case I would have done this a long time ago. I have been pondering this since we left Hogwarts, my best friends praying over me, the love that you all showed for me, for my baby, love so undeserved, and I remembered how you told me of God's love which we do not deserve." She paused as tears welded in her eyes, she longed for something, Ewls knew immediately what it was as his tears of sadness were replaced by ones of joy. "Reverend I want to believe, can I believe, or is it too late."
Ewls gave a smile through his tears, squeezing her hand, praying silently, thankfully, joyfully, "glory to God!"
"No," he said, nearly laughing, his smile was huge. "It's never too late to accept Christ's love."
Hermione's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude, what she wanted, she had obtained.
"Well then I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God," she said amidst sobs of joy. "But I have never been baptized."
"Reverend," came Father Bates' voice.
Father bates stood behind Reverend Ewls and was handing him a small bottle of water. Ewls took the bottle, noticing that Ron and Harry had now entered the Room and were standing beside Father Bates.
"Hermione Granger, are you sorry for the sins you have committed in your Life?" Ewls began joyfully through his tears. "And are there any you would like to confess before almighty God before we proceed?"
Hermione gave a quick nod.
"I'm sorry Ron, that I was angry with you, that I judged you a coward for waiting," she said. "I'm sorry for all the fights we've had. I'm sorry to both of you for being so bossy and arrogant, I'm sorry for all of the sins that I can't remember at the moment."
"Hermione, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God," said Ewls. "And do you believe that Christ rose physically from the dead on the third day after being Crucified for your sins."
"With all of my heart yes."
After she finished with this statement, Ewls held the bottle over Hermione's head.
"Then Hermione Jane Granger, I baptize you in the name of the father," he poured once, "and of the son" poured again, "and of the Holy Ghost," again. "Amen."
Ewls then turned to Father Bates who handed him a bible. Ewls opened the bible to the New Testament.
"A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Brother Luke, the twenty-third chapter, 'And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.'
"So Hermione, fear not, like the malefactor on the cross, crucified next to Jesus, you too have come to realize that you are a sinner, that without the blood of Christ you are lost, and like the malefactor on the Cross, have come to fear God, and have made confession before Christ that he is the son of God, thus Christ's promise is to you as well, 'truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,' so do not be afraid you are truly blessed, truly blessed, you will die in a state of Grace, and Christ's promise is unto you. Jesus tells us, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and he that liveth and believeth on me shall never die.' So fear not, for you go to paradise…" Ewls began to sob, as did Harry and Ron. "…where pain, and toil, and sorrow shall be forgotten, where joy will never end." From his pocket, Ewls took a vial similar to the one he had used to anoint Hermione in the Muslim mosque. He poured its contents onto her head, made the sign of the cross on her forehead with his thumb and then laid the hand not grasping hers on her forehead. Father Bates, beckoning Ron and Harry to join him, did the same, as did Harry and Ron. "In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Priesthood of God, which is granted to all who believe in the name of Christ, I anoint your head with sacred and consecrated oil, and bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Welcome Sister to the Body of Christ."
Hermione's tears were not of fear, but of joy.
"Thank you Reverend," she said.
Ewls stood, let go of her hands, and let Ron relieve him at her side. Ron knelt down to Hermione. Although he thought that he should be happy that Hermione had found Christ prior to death, he could not but consider the planned wedding, how happy they would have been together, and how much he was going to miss her.
"I'm so sorry that I couldn't stay with you," Ron said through his sobs.
"Ron, it's okay, I love you," Hermione replied, not above a whisper. "Our wedding would have been so beautiful. But do this for me."
"Anything my love,"
"Take care of Harry."
Ron looked back at Harry who smiled through his tears at this remark. Ron's face even nearly gave a grin. He looked back down to Hermione, slightly confused.
"I guess I can do that."
"I didn't mean Harry Potter," she clarified. "I meant Harry Granger, our son, Harry Ronald Granger," at this statement, Harry began to bawl uncontrollably. "Take care of him, be a father to him." Hermione's attention then turned to Harry. "Harry, you help Ron with this, you two raise him, make sure that he comes to believe in Christ, make sure that he is schooled and the like, make him into a good person."
"We will Hermione (sniff), I promise," said Harry through his sobs.
Hermione then turned to the male healer, who stood beside her, also sobbing.
"Can I hold my baby?"
The Healer nodded and left. Only a few seconds later he returned, holding a small bundle rapped in a blanket. He knelt beside the bed and handed the bundle to Hermione, revealing to her the small child rapped inside it. Hermione smiled uncontrollably as she took the baby joyfully into her arms. Ron, still at her side, felt with his finger gently, the baby's cheek.
"He's so beautiful," Ron said through his tears.
An expression of realization suddenly came over Hermione; she now realized that she had only a few moments.
"Harry," she began, speaking to the baby. "I'm your mum, and I'm so sorry that I won't get to be with you as you grow into the incredible man and wizard I know you're going to be. But you have an amazing dad, and an amazing uncle who will be there for you whenever you need them. Know this, that I love you with all of my heart, and I will always be with you. Your dad will remind you of what I told you here today, when your old enough to understand. I love you Harry, and God loves you too."
Hermione suddenly looked to the ceiling, her body began to shake. Ron suddenly took hold of the baby for fear of Hermione dropping it. Hermione's tears suddenly disappeared, she smiled.
"Oh my God," she said in a shaky voice. "I go to you with all of the joy that is in my heart."
Amidst her smiling, she suddenly stopped shaking, exhaled for the last time, and relaxed. Her baby, as if realizing that his mother had just died, started to cry loudly. Ron's tears fell freely from his eyes.
"Hermione?" he asked to the body. "Hermione? No! God no!"
Ron broke down into an uncontrollable fit of tears, Harry knelt beside him, holding his shoulders, crying as well. Father Bates took the child from Ron and handed it to the healer who took it from the room. Reverend Ewls took his hand to Hermione's eyes, which were still opened, and closed them.
"Go with God Hermione," he said.