Chapter Nine
"I'm sorry only her husband can go in at the moment, Mrs Malfoy is in a bad way and we are trying to keep stress to a minimum" The healer explained to Ron who was pacing the corridor,
"But I'm one of her best friends, ask her…I know she'll want to see me!" Ron snapped,
"I'm sorry Mr Weasley, you are not family,"
"Let him in" came Draco's voice, "He might as well be family" Ron stared at Draco for a second before nodding and following Draco to Hermione's room, "Hey beautiful" Draco said opening the door, "I brought a friend" he smiled moving aside to reveal the redhead,
"Hey, 'Mione" Ron smiled, Hermione didn't react, she didn't speak she just lay there staring up at the ceiling.
"She hasn't spoken since she got here" Draco sighed moving to the chair at her bedside,
"'Ermione?" Ron moved closer to the bed, reaching for her hand that lay on top of the blankets. "You're safe now, you and your baby" he said giving her hand a squeeze,
"Harry will come see you soon as well" Draco said gently stroking her hair, still Hermione remained still and silent. Ron took another chair and sat beside his friend the room remaining silent until the door opened and a healer entered,
"Still no change?" she asked Draco who shook his head, "Well I'm here to check on the baby, perhaps hearing that will bring her back"
The healer pulled out her wand moving to the bedside,
"NO!" Hermione cried out "Please don't hurt me" she scrambled falling from the bed into Draco's arms,
"shh, it's ok my love, she's a healer" he reassured her stroking at her hair, "She is just going to check on the baby" he said holding her to him, "you're safe" he whispered,
"Don't hurt my baby" she sobbed into his shoulder,
"No one will hurt you or the baby again" Draco looked to the healer who had backed away and Ron who sat frozen, "We're all here to keep you safe" he said,
"Yeah 'Mione, we will never let anyone hurt you again" Ron finally said, Draco felt Hermione turn slightly,
"Ron?" she asked,
"You betcha" he smiled, "If I'm not here then Harry will be" Ron smiled, "And Draco hasn't left the hospital since you got here so you know he'll protect you" Ron said, as Hermione turned back into Draco,
"Are you ready for me to see how the baby is doing" the healer asked quietly, Draco stroked Hermione's hair
"Ron and I will be right here, you won't be alone" Draco whispered to her and after a few moments she nodded, "That my girl" he smiled guiding her back to the hospital bed.
Hermione returned to the bed, Draco holding her hand the whole time, feeling how she trembled when the witch pointed her wand at her…the room filled with the heartbeat of their child.
"That is a lovely strong heart beat" the Healer smiled,
"Just like their mummy, a fighter" Ron smiled,
"Now Mrs Malfoy, I have some potions for you to take when you are ready, they are vitamins and supplements to keep both you and the baby healthy" the healer said placing the vials on the table,
"Thank you" Draco said, Hermione didn't answer but the healer left the room
"That's good news isn't it 'Mione," Ron smiled,
"I want to go home" she whispered,
"I know angel, just a little longer, we just need to be sure everything is ok with you and the baby" Draco said, "Now, take these for me" he said passing her a vial that she took and tipped into her mouth,
"Are you hungry?" Ron asked, "I can go in search of food for you"
"I…" she began to reply but her stomach gave a loud growl in response first.
"I'll go get you something, you want anything M…Draco?" Ron asked,
"Sandwich?" Draco asked, Ron nodded and left the room again, "How are you feeling love" Draco asked when the door closed,
"I…did they catch him…" she asked,
"My father is in Azkaban" He said,
"No…it wasn't him…it was Goyal" she said eyes wide and full of fear,
"So that's who he hired" Draco spat, "Now I know why Potter wouldn't tell me" he snarled, "I didn't know it was him but Harry told me that they got my father and the man her hired to…" the thought of what she had endured made him want to throw up.
"So I'm safe?" she asked,
"I will never let anyone touch you again" Draco swore, "You or our little one" he said taking her hand,
"I really want to go home" she said,
"We'll talk to the healers when they come back."
Hermione was kept in hospital for observation for a week before she was allowed to go home, under strict instructions to rest before the baby came along,
"Draco please, go…I'm fine, Ginny will be here in half an hour and you will be late for you exam" Hermione said from the sofa,
"Perhaps I should re schedule" he said,
"Draco…if you don't leave now I will hex your sexy arse" Hermione groaned, Draco stopped and looked at her, "Now" she smiled, "Good luck, I'll be fine" she said getting to her feet and kissing him goodbye
"Ok, I'm going" he sighed pulling from the kiss and stepping into the fireplace and disappearing through the green flames
Hermione smiled as she returned to the sofa. It had taken a few weeks but her confidence was returning and she hardly jumped at noises anymore. She sat with her legs tucked under her and pulled her book into her lap.
"Hermione?" she heard Ginny's voice through the open window, Hermione headed to the front door,
"Ginny?" she asked through the door, "What advise did I give you about Harry when we were at school?" she asked
"not to obsess and to treat Harry like a normal person" Ginny said, she had been surprised the first time Hermione had demanded proof of who they were but when she thought about it, she would be doing the same if she were Hermione,
"Hey" Hermione smiled unlocking the door and letting her friend into her home.
"How are you doing?" Ginny smiled kicking off her shoes, "And do you have ice cream?" she smiled,
"I'm fine…and I did ask Draco to pick some us yesterday so hopefully I do" Hermione laughed,
"God I'll be the size of a house when this one arrives," Ginny smiled following Hermione through to the kitchen,
"Nah you'll be fine" Hermione smiled, digging through the chest freezer, "Umm, we have chocolate or vanilla"
"Ohh Chocolate every time" Ginny smiled sitting at the kitchen table, "So, how many times did he leave and come back today…"
"Twice, new record for him" Hermione smiled,
"Aww who would have thought this would be your story?" Ginny smiled taking the spoon Hermione handed her and tucking into the frozen treat,
"Yeah I would have hexed you and hade you shipped off to St. Mungo's if you said this would be how my life would go" Hermione smiled, taking a spoonful of the ice cream.
"I this his last exam?" Ginny asked,
"Until his placement, yeah, but he's requested a sabbatical so he can be with me and this one" Hermione said resting her hand on her bump.