AN: Thank you to my readers still keeping up with this story. Enjoy the next instalment!
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Chapter Forty Seven: Rolling with the Progress.
After that day, Hermione's recovery gained momentum. Within days, she was walking unaided around the bunker. Draco still remained by her side, as silent support, and with pain relieving potions in his pockets. Her movements were unstable and painful, but she knocked back every potion Malfoy offered and would stubbornly continue. It led to long nights of writhing in agony as the curse attempted to regain control of her body, but each morning, Hermione would climb out of her hospital bed and walk on. Everyone in the Order encouraged her progress, happy to see their princess amongst them once more.
It had been a week since she had begun walking alone and she was joining the Order for dinner for the first time since the skirmish at Malfoy Manor. Harry, Ron, and Ginny had been insisting she join them for meals since she started walking around the bunker, but she had refused. Since she had lost her sight, eating had become complicated. Being unable to see her plate or cup meant she spent many meal times with help from Draco or Luna, who would help her navigate the awkwardness of trying to find her food and utensils. But she could no longer withdraw to the Infirmary for meals; she had to face her fears. She didn't want anyone to see how dependent she was on others for such menial tasks, but she would not let her pride prevent her from living. She would not let Bellatrix's curse steal anything more than her sight from her.
Draco placed a reassuring hand on her back as she gripped the back of her seat. Her enhanced senses gave her greater awareness of her environment than most would presume. She could detect the general dimensions of the room and know the layout from her memories of spending many mealtimes in this dining area. But it was still a strain to navigate the area without some assistance.
As she sat, she smiled in thanks in Draco's direction, just as Harry and Ron came bursting into the room. They enthusiastically stated their joy at seeing her, talking animatedly as they took their seats. Harry sat beside Hermione, while Ron sat across from her, similar to how they used to sit in the Great Hall. Taking the seat on the other side of her, Draco subtly slid the nearest goblet of pumpkin juice, so it touched her fingertips. She carefully wrapped her fingers around the goblet and nodded gratefully in his direction, while still listening to Harry talk.
Once everyone had arrived, Mrs Weasley and Percy brought the food from the kitchen and laid it out for serving. Draco remained seated while the Wonder Duo hurried over to collect a heaped serving of what looked like beef stew, watching Hermione subtly mapping out her plate and cutlery with her careful fingertips. Once she had finished, she placed her hands on the table surface and pushed herself to standing, as if to go and gather her own food.
"Sit down, Granger, Potter's getting you yours." He wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her back down, "its beef stew."
"Oh." Was all she could reply, sitting back in her seat. Instead, she straightened her spine and sat primly, waiting. Draco could see she was aiming for composure, but he also see it was a pitiful pretence. Hermione hated not having control, her independence was gave her a great sense of pride and self, to be waited on was not a natural thing for her to submit to. But she poised convincingly for the Order, attempting to assure them she was completely at ease and in control.
"Here you are, Hermione." Harry placed a nearly brimming bowl before the Witch and began eating his own with fervour to nearly match Ron's enthusiastic eating opposite him.
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione smiled in his direction and took up her spoon. Slowly, she scooped up the stew and cautiously brought it to her mouth. After a few successful mouthfuls, she turned to Ron, "How's Lavender and the twins?"
"I'm fine." Lavender replied from Ron's left and Hermione startled, having not been aware of who was sat around her, "And so are the babies, though they keep using my bladder as a kicking post." She laughed, but there were telling creases around her eyes that expressed how painful it was for her.
"Have they moved off your back? We don't want them in a breached position when you go into labour. You'll be close now." Draco quickly rescued a dumpling threatening to roll off Granger's bowl with his spoon, much to her obliviousness. Setting it back in place, he pushed it towards her spoon, to make her aware of the larger elements in the dish.
"Yes, they moved about a week ago. The little rascals." Patting her extensive bump affectionately, she smiled adoringly downwards, before turning to Ron, "They must take after their father." She teased.
"You'll need a well-stocked kitchen then." Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I agree to that." Ron happily replied as he shovelled another spoonful into his mouth. Lavender rolled her eyes at him, but didn't mention his manners. Draco knew Granger would have tutted and reprimanded his behaviour, if she could see it.
"'Scuse me, I'm off to the little girls' room, again." Lavender struggled to stand, "And don't let Ron steal my dinner, I'm coming back for it." Squeezing his shoulder lovingly, she was barely a few steps away from the table when she let out a sharp gasp.
Mrs Weasley was the first to reach her, quickly wrapping her arm around the younger witch's waist to support her. Ron's eyes grew impossibly wide as he spotted the pool of liquid that was now gathered at her wet feet. Reaching a hand behind her, Lavender waited for her husband to reign in his shock and come to his wife's aid. With a nudge under the table from Harry, Ron leaped up and took up post on the other side of Lavender.
"Has your water just broken?" Ron asked and Draco rolled his eyes at the other man's idiocy.
"Yes, it's broken." Lavender looked terrified, holding onto her husband and mother-in-law desperately, "I'm in labour."
"Bloody hell." He mumbled in return, looking equally as scared.
"Fleur, go and get the room ready. Ginny, clean up here, then meet us there." Mrs Weasley quickly took charge, "Ron, you help me bring Lavender to her room."
Everyone suddenly took action; summoning a mop and bucket to clean up the amniotic fluid, gathering the now abandoned bowls of stew to dispose of, and chatting excitedly at this new development. Hermione remained the still point in the room, looking concerned, but unable to help. Draco pitied the witch; she had studied for months to prepare for this moment. She had a shelf of midwifery books in the Order's library and had been in charge of the medical side of the birth with Mrs Weasley, now she was left useless as everyone busied themselves. He knew she would be disappointed and still anxious to help, despite being more of a hindrance than a help now.
Watching her face smooth into a thoughtful expression, as she called Harry over to her, Draco's curiosity peaked. They whispered to one another in quick bursts, before Potter nodded. As Potter left, Hermione turned to Draco.
"Ask Pansy and Blaise to meet in the Infirmary in a hour." She instructed as she pushed herself to standing. He looked over at Pansy and Blaise, who nodded when he tapped his watch imperceptibly four times. Orders given, he hovered behind Hermione, as she exited the busy scene; untouched by the slightly chaotic tone the other Members gave the room. As he followed her back to the hospital wing, his inquisitive mind turned to what Granger had planned.