Chapter 29
It is late when the George Weasleys get home. All three are tired from the events of the day. Between seeing the end of Bill's marriage, George giving Molly hell over her treatment of Hermione and Belle, Victoire's Dear John letter from Teddy and Molly blowing her top as Arthur blows out his candles. She had seen Ryan giving Charlie a hug. Arthurhad finally reached his limit. Heturned and gave her stern talking to.
"Molly, Charlie and Ryan have been together for over twenty years. Get over it. Bill, get your family straightened out. I'm glad for the kids, but Fleur was not for you, Son. George, you have every right to be protective of your family. Belle, my dear, don't let anyone,including Grandma,hold you back. I am very proud of your achievements." The man looks like a large weight has lifted from his shoulders.
George sighs as he closes the bedroom door. He sits on the bed and places his head in his hands. Hermione hasn't said a word since they left after giving Arthur a gift card to the large muggle home improvement store near the Burrow. George also passed along a gift card to the Gilded Feather. It was from both the Potter and Longbottom families.
George looks up with bloodshot eyes when Hermione comes back in from their en-suite.
"Oh Honey, let's just go downstairs and talk. I doubt we will get any sleep anytime soon."
Hermione leads her husband down to the living room. She waves her hand, on the table is some hot cocoa. She curls into his arms. George holds her tight.
"I'm so sorry, honey. I'm sorry you and Belle had to put up with that all these years. I love you, Baby. How are you doing?" He asks, rubbing her back.
"Mentally and emotionally, I'm fine. I am used to that. Physically, not so good. My mid-section is hurting like mad for some reason. I know it isn't something I ate as I didn't eat much." She tells him and moves like she is really in pain. This scares George. Hermione never complains of ailments, even when she has to go for check-ups to adjust her potions for her tremors. He stands and scoops her up. George leaves a note for Isabelle, just on the off chance that she gets up before they get back, and rushes Hermione to St. Mungo's.
The minute that the front desk girl catches sight of who is striding up to her, she makes out an emergency order for Hermione. Again, she is known for not complaining of anything. The girl magically attaches a wristband and directs George to E.R. "They're waiting for you." She calls.
George strides in, gently places his wife on a bed and waits for the healer. One appears in a matter of minutes.
The healer, luckily Ginny's husband, waves his wand over Hermione. "So I hear that I missed a battle royale at Arthur's party." He inquires as he waits for his wand to display the results from his scan.
"On many fronts, I'm afraid." Hermione gets out from between clenched teeth. The pain has now intensified.
Wayne takes a second look at the results. "Hermione, we are checking you in for a bit. Let's go upstairs. George, we are going to put her on a floating gurney." He waves the wand and Hermione is placed, gently, on a floating bed. They take a trip in the elevator to the Helga Parkinson maternity wing.
The minute they pass under the sign, George is of two minds. Could they be pregnant again after all these years? What is wrong with Hermione?
Wayne calls in a colleague for a second opinion before telling them what is up. The second healer, a housemate of Luna's, confirms Wayne's assessment. They turn to George and Hermione.
"Hermione, were you ever examined after Isabelle was born? The scan showed an ectopic pregnancy. If we don't remove the embryo, it could"
"Wayne, you can stop there. Remove it. I know the problems." Hermione cuts Wayne off. She places her hand on George's. "If they don't do the surgery, as the embryo grows, it could burst my fallopian tube, which would most likely kill me."
George's eyes widen at the news. He turns to Wayne. "Do what you need to, just as long as it doesn't injure Hermione." He urges his brother in law.
"Alright. You are going to scrub in, George. I want you up by Hermione's head, as we do the procedure." Wayne tells him. He sends George to change as some nurses come in to help Hermione prepare for the operation.
When George has donned some scrubs and washed and gloved up, Hermione was already prepped and in the operating suite. He sits by her head in a rolling seat. Hermione had been given some anesthetic and a epidural, so she wasn't feeling a thing, but was still conscious.
"Darling, how are you feeling?" George asks quietly. "I'm hanging in there, how about you?" She was concerned that he would be upset over losing the baby.
"Hermione, as proud as I would be to be a father again, I would never trade the life of a child over the life of my wife." George leans close and kisses her lips. "You are my world, Hermione."
Wayne gives them their moment, then clears his throat. "Hey lovebirds, we've entered, I'm glad we did. There is the beginning of a massive problem down here. I now know why you've never had more children. Hermione, your uterus is scarred beyond repair. There is no conceivable way you could ever carry to term again. Do I have your permission to remove it, along with your tubes. Your ovaries are in good shape, but I would also remove your cervix, to avoid any other problems down the line." Hermione looks to George. The red headed man kisses his wife. "If it means that I can have my girl for as long as I can, then remove it all." He tells them. Hermione nods and reaches for the forms to sign.
An hour later, Hermione is moved to a recovery room and told she can return home in a few hours. Once the nurse leaves, George is on the bed, holding his wife.
"Baby, we are going to cherish everyday we have together and with Belle. She is our miracle and I thank you for that. I love you, Hermione Jane Weasley." He tells her through his tears. He is so relieved to still have her with him.
The two of them fall asleep, until the nurse comes in with Wayne to go over her at home directions. "You two do know that you will be up to your noses in press, Susan, Ginny, Luna and Hannah once I get home, right?" Wayne jokes, but all three know the truth behind it.
"Look guys, I am sorry about the loss, but if we had waited any longer, we would be in there still trying to save our Heroine's life." He lays a hand on their shoulders.
He tells George and Hermione that she is to be on bed rest for at least a week and then she can return to regular people's "normal" activities. "I want you sitting for all you can over the next month, to heal. After that, you can return to "Wonder Woman"." He pats Hermione on the shoulder.
George scoops Hermione up after signing her out and takes her home. Once she is in their bed, George calls his in-laws in Australia, Harry, Remus and Sirius and Fred. The last is to tell his brother that he and Hermione are going to be out for a week.
Ten minutes after getting off his cell, George opens the door to their "family". Harry is frantic. All Sue told him was that Hermione was on bed rest. It was all that George told her. "What's wrong? What do you two need?" He cries out as he enters the house.
"Mostly, we need someone to fill in for us at the stores. Belle is still on the schedule, but we still will be short at both stores. Hermione will most likely do the books. She'll need something to do." He chuckles. This day has been way too long.
"What went on?" Sue asks, wanting to know what happened. George sighs.
"Hermione told me that she was having pelvic pain after we got home. I rushed her to St. Mungo's. Wayne scanned her and found an ectopic pregnancy." Seeing Harry's confusion he explains the term. A look of horror comes over both of the Potter's faces. "Oh poor Hermione, you too obviously, but that pain." Susan tears up.
"Don't worry Susie, I understand. While he was in there, Wayne asked what we wanted to do about the immense scarring to her reproductive organs. We decided that he should take the organs. She is on bed rest for a week, then as long as she stays seated as much as she can for a month, she can go back to work." He sighs again.
"I'll look after her store. She would do it for me." The newly arrived Luna says. "I'll help also." Susan agrees.
"I'll stop by after work to help out at Triple W." Harry pats George's shoulder. "Me too." Neville nods. "And, I'm sure Draco will also." He adds. George thanks the two couples and gets ready to make breakfast for Belle.
Susan hip checks George. "I'll do this. Go rest and spend some time with Hermione." She all but orders him from the room.
In the morning, Belle gets up from again dreaming of her date with Scorpius Malfoy. She hopes it is better than her last first date.
When Ricky brought her out for the first time, he took her to the Leaky and then to walk around the Alley. It was almost like he was parading her around in hopes of everyone seeing them together. That was the extent of their dates over the years. Belle was never able to convince Rick that the Muggle world had better restaurants and more entertainmentopportunities.
Belle greets her father, on his way upstairs, godparents and Aunt and Uncle Longbottom and eats her breakfast.
"Where is Mum?" She is worried by the fact that her godmother made breakfast. Ever since Belle has been little, her mother has made the morning meal.
"She is resting upstairs. Your father had to rush 'Mione to St. Mungo's last night. She had emergency surgery. Do you know what an ectopic" Harry tells her and starts to explain.
"Mum had an ectopic pregnancy?! Is that why she was so quiet yesterday?" Belle jumps up and runs to her parents. She finds them both awake and talking. She rushes to her mother. "I love you both so much. You get well, Mum. I will do my best to help out where I can."
Hermione pulls out of her daughter's arms. "Your father and I are going to deal with this. You worry about your life, Baby. I am still here. I will be here for many more years. Don't worry about me. Your father is able to take care of me and I'm a big pain in the butt as a patient." Hermione clasps Isabelle's hands. "Go to work, don't worry and have a good day. I want to hear about it all when you get home. Then, I want you to go out with Scorpius tonight and tell me all about it when you get up tomorrow morning. Besides, I'm sure this place is going to be hopping with your aunts and uncles all day."
Belle agrees to go work and keep her date with young Mr. Malfoy. She leaves and apperates to the Triple W. Her day was a double shift, at the joke store.
Hermione and George spend the morning trying to figure out why Molly was so against them being together. It was a thing that Hermione has tumbled around in her mind since her fourth year. She could never understand what could turn a woman who was so welcoming into a cold, manipulative bag. Over the years, Molly has tried every type of persuasion on George to leave Hermione. It has never worked. She went from absolutely hating Fleur to treating her and Victoire like they were sent from Merlin himself.
Right before Belle came down for breakfast, George decided to write to his mother.
"I will not have you or Belle be given the cold shoulder anymore. You have been by my side from day one and have never faltered in your love and loyalty. I love you and our daughter with everything in me. Mum has made her choice, now I am going to make mine." He gets up and goes to the study to write Molly.
Molly,
After what happened at Dad's party, I have decided that someone needs to bend. I have stood in silence too long, while you have walked over my wife and daughter. Hermione has always tried to help you even with your disdain for her being my wife.
As you are the one that cannot accept the idea of putting aside the anger for the sake of the family, I have decided to pull my family from anymore visits to the Burrow. My little girl told me even before I witnessed your treatment of her with my own eyes that she dreaded going to the Burrow as much as she loved seeing her uncles and cousins. She is sick of being seen as less than in your eyes. She has told me of your little names for her. The woman who raised me would not have called a child such things, much less her own grandchild, who she was begging each of us for at a young age.
I have no idea what either Hermione or I have actually done aside from falling in love with each other. Since the night that she was sorted, I have never looked at another girl. We have an amazing daughter that is not only an excellent student, which I am glad that she didn't follow in my footsteps, works in both of our stores during her school breaks and still makes time to help others with their schoolwork. She tutors and volunteers at both St. Mungo'sand an animal shelter in the Muggle world.
Hermione and I live in the house she grew up in. Looking back, I am wondering why you offered for us to live at the Burrow. Is it so you could lord over Hermione and interfere in our relationship and how we raised Isabelle? We have done a good job with her on our own. Hermione is a great mother and wife. I could not ask for a better one.
I am sorry if this is upsetting, but I need to protect my family, even if it is from my own mother. I love you Mum, but I can't stand by you mistreating my wife and child.
George