As Before this chapter has not been beta read.
I apologise for any potential errors I have missed

Alright so I dont totally hate it... but kinda do. sorry in advance.

XOXO

Natstar

SHATTER ME

Chapter 31

"I've got you Princess. I've got you," Sirius said over and over as she cried out in pain beside him. Neither noticed the world around them change from the familiar swirling distorted grey to a dull coloured alleyway. Hermione was crying as she held her stomach that now resembled her full term pregnancy. Sirius focused on trying to sooth and support her, not quite believing the changes himself.

"S-Sirius. I-I think my waters just broke," She croaked, hands rubbing her engorged and protruding stomach. It was still livid and bruised from her ordeal. Sirius for the first time looked up and around his settings. It seemed they were in a part of London, but unsure exactly where as everything around them all completely was different. Behind him seemed to proceed to a multitude of various laneways one would get lost, yet the other end showed some signs of life as cars seemed to move past and people hurrying about their business, not even glancing their way.

"Sweetheart, we are going to walk to the end of the alley and see about finding a muggle healer," He said soothingly. Hermione clung to his arm breathing slowly in and out as the pains subsided. They took two steps as she began taking in the details before stopping them both.

"Sirius, your clothes! Change your clothes."

With some difficulty, he pulled out his wand and transfigured his dress robes into something similar to what he wore on the times she had seen him wear in what seemed like an eternity of time ago. Sirius was now in jeans shirt and leather jacket. Shoving the wand in his back pocket, they continued their slow walk to the end of the street. Unused to the new proportions of her body Hermione felt completely off balance, and was grateful to her husband for support. Husband. That was also something she wasn't quite used to either. Especially as they both were only hours married.

At the end of the alley brought them out to the street. Cars passed but both seemed at a loss at where they were or which way to go. Another sharp pain wracked through Hermione. She cried out as she felt her legs weaken. Sirius strained slightly to keep them both upright, until another set of hands helped support her other side.

"You both look like you need some help, the hospital is just around the corner," Hermione stiffened at the eerily familiar voice. She barely had a moment to register who the stranger was as she helped lead them down the street. Hermione groaned as the pain settled at the base of her abdomen but kept moving.

"We're nearly there honey. The building is just ahead." The woman said encouragingly. Sirius looked over to the stranger helping them.

"Thank you," He began.

"Jean. Jean Granger. And it is no problem. I'm headed that way myself." She smiled over Hermione's shoulders back at Sirius. Hermione whimpered between them as they walked slowly up the drive. Paramedics off duty saw the situation and came running over with a wheelchair. Fresh tears leaked out as they got her into a chair and wheeled her to the emergency entrance. Jean Granger stayed with them, as they walked through, keeping an encouraging hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"It's going to be ok Honey. You won't even remember the pain as soon as you see your little baby." Hermione looked up to the woman that smiled down encouragingly at her. A face that smiled that way from the first time she could remember. She didn't get a chance to say a word as the Paramedics lifted her onto a hospital bed and began checking vitals on their new patients. Sirius and Jean moved back letting them do their job. He was handed a clipboard to fill in and stared at the questions blankly.

"You both look like it caught you both completely off guard." She said watching the pair.

"Something like that" he turned to look at the woman he knew as a younger version of Hermione's mother. She gave him a warm smile, and nodded at the clipboard.

"Want a hand with that? My Gary was in such a state when we came in to have our little Hermione the nurses had to come back to help him fill in the forms." Sirius handed the clipboard over; all he had managed were names.

"Unusual Name Sirius and Harmony Black." She began scribbling out the standard things as date, how and why they were being admitted to the hospital.

"When is Harmony's Birthday?"

"Uh, the nineteenth of September," Sirius answered distractedly. He didn't notice Jeans face light up.

"Oh, she shares the same birthday as my Hermione!" Sirius focused on the lady, about to correct her. "what year?"

"Nineteen sixty one" Hermione answered for Sirius.

"And your address?" Jean looked up and smiled again at Jean.

"Seventeen Pemberly Avenue Bedford." Hermione lied smoothly, hissing as another contraction began. Nurses and a doctor came forwards, taking the clipboard and began introducing them as the team that would be delivering her baby. Sirius had read all the books Hermione had found and had read herself on the subject and asked the appropriate questions. Seeming satisfied with her current progress said that they will prepare a birthing room and bring her through when they were ready, leaving Hermione and Sirius with Jean who had hung back in support.

"Do you need me to call your folks honey?" She asked kindly. This seemed to be too much as Hermione burst into tears. Sirius held her understanding keenly the pain she was going through.

"I'm sorry." Jean moved to Hermione's other side.

"It is just us to go through this." Sirius answered for Hermione as she tried to collect herself. Jean nodded, "I was the same. Just me and Gary to meet our daughter, the cutest little thing, she is going to be two in a few months, going on twenty-two if you ask me. She is already walking and talking and getting up to mischief. Just yesterday she found my red lipstick and made a mural all down the hallway with it, as well as her face."

She prattled on about the younger version of Hermione. Sirius smiled and asked a few more questions, coaxing further stories until his Hermione was calm enough to turn and face her mother.

"Thank you, Mrs Granger." She smiled weakly back at her.

"It is not a problem, honey." Jean patted Hermione's arm, "I have to go, but Ill pop back in so I can meet your bundle of joy. I'll bring in some name books, lord knows how many names we went through before we settled on Hermione."

"Thank you Mrs Granger. That would be lovely. It was a pleasure to meet you." Sirius moved around shaking her hand. With a wave Hermione watched her mother disappear down the corridor. She was rubbing her stomach as the contraction faded.

"You ok Princess?" Sirius settled in beside her watching the emotions flit across her face.

"No. Would you be ok seeing your mother like that, knowing her fate?" her voice was raw. Hermione's eyes widened as her hand stopped moving. She grabbed Sirius's and put it on her stomach, both feeling enthusiastic kicks.

"We are having a baby. We are really having a baby," Hermione smiled, looking into those grey eyes that were lit up with the same happiness. He leaned in kissing her gently.

"We are. I love you." He whispered against her lips, then kissing her forehead.

"Why Bedford?" He asked after a pause as they waited for the nurses.

"Oh, I looked up an address that wasn't near anywhere we may have been. I knew they would need to know an address." Hermione answered matter-of-factly, moving his hand as the baby's kicks moved. She wasn't as large as he recalled that Lily got in her pregnancy with Harry, though he largely suspected it was due to more the nature of Hermione's pregnancy than anything else.

"Harmony?" She asked him. "It was the closest name to yours I could come up with, so if I said your name, they wouldn't notice" He shrugged, nodding as the Midwife they met before reappeared.

"Ok, let's get you through and deliver that baby," She smiled warmly as she moved around the hospital bed and took the breaks off. Another nurse moved in to help forcing Sirius to let go and step away as they pushed the bed. He followed behind through the hospital in the sign posted directions to the maternity ward.

Once in the birthing suite the nurses made quick work of changing Hermione into a hospital gown and onto the birthing bed. Another nurse directed Sirius to a smaller closet room handing him disposable hospital scrubs to put over his own clothes before re-joining his wife. He felt ridiculous until he noted almost everyone in the room with the same style, the exceptions where Hermione and the doctor who had introduced himself as Doctor Whitfield.

The doctor was currently holding a stethoscope on Hermione's belly. He smiled at Sirius as he moved and took her hand.

"Your baby has a very healthy heartbeat." He said warmly.

"And there is only one heartbeat in there?" Hermione asked nervously, remembering Harry's question. The doctor chuckled, a question he was regularly asked.

"Yes Mrs Black. Just the one, if you can put your feet in the stirrups now, we can have a look at how close you are." The nurses guided Hermione's legs up to settle into the stirrups as the doctor moved away to be gowned and gloved.

"Is this supposed to happen?" Sirius growled softly. Hermione looked up at him sharply then giggled.

"Didn't you read up on how this works?" she asked gasping as another contraction hit. Dr Whitfield lifted the sheet covering her modesty.

"You mean he is supposed to be down there?" He asked, glaring at the man. Hermione squeezed his hand tight enough to draw his attention back.

"Sirius, how else is he supposed to help deliver our baby? Remember this is the muggle way." She groaned and shifted uncomfortable in the position.

"Are you sure?" Sirius asked doubtfully. Then it clicked. She knew he had read the books. But she realised that the books they had read were all from the wizarding world.

"Didn't Lily explain how it worked?" Hermione asked.

"Darling, twelve years in Azkaban, and I wasn't long out of Hogwarts. I am ashamed to admit my education is somewhat lacking." He grudgingly admitted.

"Well, I suppose we are dispensing the theory and jumping straight to practical." Hermione huffed. Sirius gave his wife a look. Of course she would turn it into a lesson. She listened as the doctor began to explain the process for the benefit of both of them. The doctor even commented that it helped the father especially.

So it was that Sirius became acquainted with how Muggle women gave birth, as well as discovering Hermione's own repertoire of language he had never heard from her ever before. Some he suspected was in Latin as well as French. After nearly three hours of struggle the room filled with a quailing cry. The doctor encouraging her to push once more and confirmed that they had a daughter.

Hermione lay exhausted as she watched on as the nurses cleaned, weighed and measured the infant. Sirius was invited to cut the cord. They then helped Hermione clean up and settled her back into a hospital bed with a fresh hospital gown wheeling her to a room to recover. They kindly yet firmly advised her to get some rest. Sirius stayed with her as she drifted to sleep, watching as a small smile lighted her face as she slept. Restless himself we waited until her breathing evened out to deep slumber before he moved away, walking down the corridor to where the nursery was for all the newborn infants.

He was a father! Something he had always envied James for with Harry. James had made him the next best thing as being Godfather to his son. And that desire and wish to start a family came again that night at the costume party seeing Hermione holding Harry. It was reinforced when she came back through helping him babysit Harry. She seemed to be a natural and more than anything wished that he had proposed to her that night.

Then as he was sent to prison, was glad that they never did get that far, not realising they had already created something special. He believed at that point that it would never happen. Even after Azkaban, everything that was going on it seemed completely inappropriate, not to mention the stigma that seemed to have attached itself in that Sirius was now considerably older than Hermione. He had doubts, always had knowing the age difference. But she made him feel like there was none there. He himself kept forgetting how young she really was. It was something that Remus as said to him shortly after she nearly died trying to return to Hogwarts too soon.

"As old as you think she is Sirius. She is still and always will be much younger than what she tries to be. For you. She is mature for her age, and incredibly smart. But she is still so young Sirius."

Sirius had shrugged it off. His strange, beautiful, almost fearless witch loved him, and he her and that was all that mattered. Even when adversity showed in people that he believed were friends and cared for both, reacted negatively. Hard truths in Molly's Howlers cut him deeply as he was reminded how young she was. Hermione was lucky he avoided to mention that those Howlers were not the only ones he had received. As it became more public, more howlers and hate mail showed. He had the sense to at least divert it so she would not have to read it.

He stared through the window quickly finding the crib labelled "Black" with a pink card. The infant was sleeping as soundly as her mother. He had seen her before red faced and squalling, and wet from birth. Now that she was cleaned up he noted that she had a black fuzz of hair on her head. Her lashes were dark and long resting against her cheek. Her little rosebud lips were pursed and brow frowning in such a way that reminded him of her mother. Her brow wrinkled and she blinked awake looking up at him through the glass with the most extraordinary eyes he had ever seen.

"Would you like to hold her?" The midwife that was in the nursery stood by the doorway smiling at him. She nodded and didn't wait as she went back in and watched as she lifted his daughter out soothing her and brought her out to him. In moments he had her in his arms, the two staring at each other in equal wonder.

He shifted enough so her tiny little hand wrapped around one of his long slender fingers, holding it tightly as a newborn hand could. He smiled as her little mouth stretched into a yawn and she blinked sleepily.

"How about you take her to introduce her to her Mumma and I will be along to help them both with feeding."

Sirius walked back to the room slowly, his eyes only on his tiny daughter. He entered and Hermione was still asleep. He moved into the room standing by the window. She made a little sound and Sirius's smile grew.

"Hello to you too little fairy" He said softly. Hermione blinked awake to see Sirius holding their child and smiled at the scene, listening as he introduced himself to his daughter.

"You are as beautiful as your mother, and I reckon will be as talented as her too. And daddy will be here to keep you safe, and hex any boy that ever hurts you."

Hermione sniggered alerting her wakened presence to him, "Speaking of Mumma little fairy, she is ready to say hello."

Hermione sat up as Sirius crossed and settled next to her so they could both see her perfect little face. The infant gurgled and blinked up at her father.

"She seems quite enamoured by you," She said softly, stroking her daughter's cheek marvelling at what she had just made.

"She is also nearly ready to have her first feed if her sucking sounds are anything to go by"

"Oh" Hermione blushed, looking down.

"The midwife will be here shortly my love," He soothed, now watching his wife; remembering again Remus's words and seeing her as young as she was.

"Would you like to hold your daughter?" Hermione's face lit up as he gently handed their little bundle to his wife's awaiting arms.

"Oh hello little one" Hermione grinned down at her daughter. "She is the most extraordinary and perfect thing."

"So are you Princess," Sirius leaned in kissing her on the cheek. A rattle of the crib brought the midwife. Sirius moved away as the midwife helped show Hermione how to feed her daughter, explaining not to keep her feeding on one breast. The midwife then helped show her how to burp her and invited Sirius to learn to change her nappy and wrap her back up, leaving them to watch as their daughter fell asleep on a full tummy. The nurses then brought in food for them. Sirius put her back into the crib so they both would eat.

A quick knock on the door brought them back to reality as Jean came in, holding a very young curly haired little girl. The little girl was clutching a book and looked at them all seriously until she saw the baby asleep in the crib.

"Bubby!" She announced.

"Hello again, I hope you don't mind, but Hermione insisted she come and see the baby and bring you the name book herself." Jean set the little girl down who ran over to the crib standing on tiptoes to see through the clear sides at their daughter.

"It's not a problem," Hermione smiled sadly at the woman.

Sirius stood and knelt down to the little girl. "Hi there, what do you have there?" He asked pointing at the book still clutched in her arms. The little girl set her big brown eyes on him and grinned at him.

"Book, for baby" She answered. Little Hermione tilted her head at Sirius, "What's your name?"

Sirius held out his hand to her, "My name is Sirius. What's yours?"

The little girl struggled to keep holding the book and take Sirius's hand shaking it. "Herminny" The little girl replied.

"Hermione, darling. Say Hermione" Her mother corrected.

"Herminownee" Little Hermione tried again. The older one chuckled at her very young self.

"She can say almost any other word, perfectly. Except her name" Jean shook her head. "How are you going Harmony?"

"A little sore," Hermione looked at her mother again. The younger version turned to look at the older version. Walking to the bed and held up the book.

"Book for baby"

The older Hermione looked at her younger self. Everything felt off, like she had lived this moment before. Somewhere in her mind whispered Déjà vu. She reached down to take the book but both cried out in shock. The younger one started to cry, Jean reached down picking up the little girl.

"What happened? Are you all right?" Sirius asked his wife. Hermione tried to smile but couldn't.

"It was like a static shock," The older Hermione said looking at her hand. The little Hermione's cries settled as she hugged her mother sucking her thumb.

"No harm done. You're alright Poppet." Jean soothed her daughter. Sirius leaned down, picking up the forgotten book.

"I better be off. Harmony, Sirius, it was lovely to meet you both." Jean smiled at them both, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you for the book Mrs Granger." Sirius nodded at them, waving at Hermione, who grinned and waved, thumb still in her mouth.

"Of course, I am sure you will find the perfect name. You both take care okay" She moved to the door, with a quick wave hurried back out of the room. Hermione frowned after them.

"Did your mother seem frightened, or was it just me?" Sirius frowned at the doorway.

"No she was frightened. Father told me after we found out what I was that I had from the moment when I was born would do strange things. He was never as scared of me as mother was. But I think it was because she saw more of the scarier things than dad." Hermione answered. She stared at the door almost like a final goodbye she had never gotten in her past, their future.

"Are you ok?" Sirius was now looking at her. She looked up at him, eyes shining, full of tears, shook her head. He was there in an instant holding as she felt the weight of grief again. He held her as she cried, stroking her hair, soothing her. He felt her sniff and take a deep breath.

"What are we going to call her?" She asked looking at her daughter who had been blissfully asleep for the entire event.

"Well, I know you wanted to name her, but I was thinking Lindsey."

Hermione pulled away crinkling her nose, "No. There was a girl that I knew called Lindsey that used to tease me incessantly at school."

"What were you thinking?" He asked. Hermione climbed out of the bed and went over to the crib, looking down at her daughter. . Pulling out a chain from her pocket, Hermione threaded it around her daughter's neck doing up the clasp. It was the fairy necklace Sirius had given her. The infant shifted, restless and little hands escaped clasping onto the fairy.

"Well, I had thought of Willow. But somehow that doesn't seem right anymore. Neither does Emma." Hermione combed her hand through the super fine hairs on her daughters head, soothing her as she made whimpering noises.

Sirius stretched out in Hermione's place and opened the name book. He already had the notepad and pen ready and drew up columns. He'd already added a couple of his own into the lists of 'maybe' and 'no'.

"Well at least you are safe that you have a daughter and we won't be naming her Gary." Sirius smirked. Hermione laughed as she picked up their babe and brought her over to the bed.

"Well let's start with the 'A's and work through from their till we find a name that we all agree on." She said as their little one blinked awake again.

VVWVV