* Not from a book *
It was the first time in all her life that she didn't rely entirely on books. For some reason, she didn't feel like she needed one in that moment. And honestly, she hadn't had the time to actually get one while they were on the run. Of course, books had saved her life and her friends' lives multiple times, and she was always the one who would go to the library and grab a whole bookshelf of a certain subject to be prepared. But yet, this time was different. They had given her little hope that things were going to improve, so she didn't bother to go and read. However, she decided to rely on pure instinct when she realized that what she was doing was actually working, and when she was in doubt, she asked a healer or a nurse or even Mrs. Weasley. She couldn't explain it, but as soon as she heard the cry, she knew exactly what to do.
It was four years later in a summer night after dinner, when Harry decided talk to Hermione. He really needed her and he was sure that she could help him, considering that she had gone through this before and that things had turned out pretty well for her. So, he was more than sure that she had a book somewhere that had helped her get through it.
"So... how are you feeling with all this?" she asked as he handed her plates to put in the kitchen sink.
"Terrified, if I'm being honest." he confessed. "By the way, can you lend me the book?" he asked. She looked at him, confused.
"Sure, I can lend you a book. Which one do you need?" she asked as she put plates and glasses in the dish washer. She then lead him to one of the rooms of the house that her and Ron had turned into a Library/office.
"You know, the one you used some years ago." he said. Hermione still looked at him with confusion in her eyes.
"You'll have to be more specific, Harry. I've read many books over the past few years." she answered. She turned on the lights in the room. Harry looked at her, annoyed. How come she didn't know what type of book he was talking about?
"You know the one, Mione! The one you read while you were pregnant with Belle." he finally said. She looked at him, confused.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard?" she asked. Harry shook his head vigorously. "Well, certainly, you don't want to read about horcruxes, so... wait, you mean a pregnancy book?" she asked. Harry sighed, relieved, and nodded. "I'm so sorry, Harry, but I can't lend you any." she said apologetically. Harry looked at her, shocked. He knew Hermione was very cautious about who she lent her books to, but the fact that she actually didn't want to lend him one really hurt him.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because... I didn't read any." she said, kinda ashamed by it. Harry couldn't believe it. Hermione not reading a book to know more about something? That was more improbable than the Cannons actually winning the Quidditch cup.
"how... how come... I mean, you were reading books..." he said.
"But not books about babies, Harry. We were on the run, remember? Having a baby at the time was unimaginable for me until I fell pregnant. I did want to know about how to take care of her once she was born, but I wasn't sure if neither or all of us were going to survive to see that day coming. Besides, it's not like I had the opportunity to get a book on the subject." she explained. Harry looked at her, kinda shocked by her revelation.
"So... how did you know what to do when she arrived?" he asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Instinct, I guess. The first night, I asked Madame Pomfrey about feeding her or changing her. Then, when we were in St. Mungo's, I asked healers and nurses, or Mrs. Weasley. Just the basics. After that and most of the times, I relied on what I felt was right at the moment. If she cried after half hour that I had fed her, then she probably needed a nappy change or just wanted to be held." she explained. Harry sighed, and Hermione could see he still was worried. She placed a hand on his shoulders. "You'll know what to do the minute you have your baby in your arms, Harry. And you'll see you'll do just fine." she said later.
"What if I mess it up?" Harry asked.
"Nothing guarantees that you won't mess up from time to time. Ron and I are still figuring things out as days goes by. Sometimes we feel we know what we're doing. Other times, we have no idea what Belle actually wants or needs. We just try to do what we feel is right for her and hope for the best." she said reassuringly. Harry sighed. "What I've learned in the past years is that, sometimes, you have to trust in yourself rather than in a piece of paper." she said as Harry looked at her with wide eyes. She laughed. "yeah, I can't believe I said that either, but it's true. You can read all you want, but sometimes what you feel is more right." she said. Harry nodded as he heard Belle laughing from the living room. If bookworm Hermione could raise her 5-year-old child without a book, then he was more than sure he could raise his own as well as she and Ron did.