A/N: I just have to say that the enthusiasm that I've received over this story is amazing. I'm so appreciative of all you guys! Your reviews make my day!
9. "Small Bump" -Ed Sheeran
June 5, 1999
Hermione's parents reactions had been nothing more or less than what she had imagined them to be. Her father was disappointed, though supportive. Her mother was upset that Hermione couldn't give her the name of the father, but never the less, excited at the prospect of becoming a grandmother. They had both urged her to keep the baby, and upon further reflection, she had decided that that had really been the only choice for her all along.
It would have destroyed her to hand her baby off to a stranger, trusting that they would do a better job at raising him than she would. She had never even been able to do that with group assignments in school. How could she possibly do it with a baby? Her baby.
Hermione glanced over at her alarm clock. She had woken early, and had continued to laze about in bed, waiting for the shrill sound that indicated that it was time to get moving and start her day. It was a Saturday, and usually she would sleep in, but today was a day that had been marked on her calender from the moment she had decided that she was keeping the baby. Ginny was throwing her a baby shower.
Hermione was exceedingly nervous, because she would have to face her friends for the first time since realising that she was pregnant. The only two people she had seen regulary during her pregnancy had been Harry and Ginny. She didn't know who Ginny had invited to the shower, but she doubted she would be merciful enough for it to be just the two of them.
The alarm clock blared and she quickly snatched up her wand, flicking it to silence the jarring noise. She groaned as she rolled out of bed, her enormous belly making it difficult to stand without help. It was the fifth of June, her due date. The little bean in her stomach stretched, and suddenly she had a pressing need for the toilet. He was running out of space, his movements becoming jerky beneath the tightly stretched skin of her stomach.
"You'll be out of there soon, and you'll have lots of space." Hermione murmured, rubbing her belly gently. "And you are set on clothes until you go off to school, thanks to Aunt Ginny."
A knock sounded from downstairs. Hermione frowned, not expecting anyone. She hastily slid on her robe, fastening the tie as she clomped down the stairs. She opened the door to find Ginny standing on the porch. "I knew you wouldn't be ready. I knew it." Ginny said, pushing her way into the house.
"Ginny, the party isn't for another hour!" Hermione protested.
"I know, but that doesn't mean you can lay in bed until five minutes before!"
Hermione glared at her, "I was starting to get ready, thank you!"
"Oh. Well, that's... yeah. I'll help you pick something out." Ginny said, grinning now.
"You seem stressed, Gin." Hermione teased.
"Of course I am! I've poured my heart and soul into this shower! I won't have you mucking it up by arriving late to your own party." Ginny said.
"Ginny, have you ever known me to be late for anything?" Hermione asked, puffing as she arrived back at the upstairs landing.
Ginny laughed, "No. But I have also never known you to be breathless from climbing one set of stairs, nor have I ever had to tie your trainers for you until quite recently... So, I thought I'd best not chance it."
Hermione rolled her eyes, opening up her armoire and digging around for anything that still fit her. She pulled out a pair of sweat pants, and Ginny immediately took them away. "Move out of the way miss, before I lose it." Hermione obliged, stepping back as Ginny rifled through her clothes. Finally she pulled out a deep green sundress, holding the flowing material up in front of her to examine it. "Yes, this will do. I don't think I've ever seen you wear this before, 'Mione."
Hermione shrugged. "It was a gift from Mum. I haven't had an occasion to wear it."
Ginny grinned happily and shoved the dress into her hands. "Well, now you do. Put that on and... maybe try to do something to your hair. I'm going to make some tea while I wait." And with that, she disappeared out of the doorway, leaving Hermione alone to dress.
She slid off her robe and gown, kicking them aside and pulled the green dress over her head. It was a bit snug in the chest area, but otherwise fit quite nicely. A glance in the mirror told her that Ginny was on to something with her hair. It was a wreck. She brushed through it quickly, only succeeding in making it bushier. With the aide of her wand, she had it looking somewhat more presentable after about ten minutes of trying different spells.
She hurried down stairs, thinking that it would only be a matter of minutes before Ginny came looking for her. She was seated at the table, a cup of tea steaming in front of her as she looked over Hermione's latest ultrasound pictures, depicting a shaded little figure flopping about in a sea of black. "I can't believe these things aren't better quality. I want to see her little face exactly as it is. Not dark and distorted." Ginny complained.
"We'll see him soon enough, Gin." Hermione said, pouring herself a cup of tea.
"We'll see her soon enough, you mean." Ginny said, picking up her cup and taking a sip as she beamed at Hermione. "By the way, when are we going to finish the nursery? We're quickly running out of time here."
Hermione sighed. "Doctor Astrid said it's rare that first time mothers deliver on or before their due date. She said it's most likely that I could go a week over, maybe more. My maternity leave starts Monday, so I still have plenty of time."
Ginny raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Mum had each of us exactly on our due dates. Let's get it finished tonight, after the shower, just in case." She looked up at Hermione pleadingly.
Hermione sighed, "Oh, alright. But if I pass out in the corner, leave me be. I'm always tired, now. He's draining my energy."
Hermione heard Ginny muttered what sounded like, 'she' under her breath and smiled. Her friend was convinced it was a girl, where as she thought quite the opposite.
"Shall we get going then? Are you ready?" Ginny asked, this time loud enough for Hermione to hear.
Hermione sucked in a deep breath, steeling herself to face whatever awaited her at the Burrow. "As I'll ever be."
"Oh, don't be so bloody gloomy. You're going to have a fantastic time." Ginny grinned, stepping into the floo and tossing her powder, heading off to the Burrow.
Hermione lay her hand over her stomach and rubbed it soothingly. "Here we go, I suppose." She followed behind Ginny, stepping out into the unrecognisable sitting room of the Burrow. She glanced around in awe. All of the furniture had been removed, tables had been set up, one ladened with food, the other with gifts. There was pink everywhere. Pink and purple and white and silver and gold. Nothing blue in the bunch. Hermione shook her head at her friend's stubborness, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face. Everything was beautiful.
"Hermione, dear." Molly moved forward, tears glittering in her crinkly, blue eyes. "You look absolutely lovely." She pulled her in for a hug, kissing her cheeks. "I am sorry for not reaching out to you sooner." She said as she held her. "I love you, Hermione. I consider you one of my own children. And I was upset. With you and with Ron. But it's a blessing in disguise isn't it? You're bringing a precious life into the world and that's what's important now. You and Ron... well, you'll work something out. You've been friends for too long not to."
Tears were streaming down Hermione's face when she pulled back. "Oh, Merlin," Molly exclaimed, "I didn't mean to make you cry!"
Hermione shrugged, shaking her head. "It's n-not you, M-molly. It's the hor-m-mones." Hermione laughed and Molly joined in quickly.
"Everyone is out in the garden. I figured we could play some games first, before we eat, hm?"
"Okay," Hermione agreed, allowing herself to be led out of the door, to where a crowd of people had gathered to wait.
Hermione's eyes widened in suprise. There were way too many people here. She immediately clammed up, anxiety gripping her as she stepped out in front of the throng of people. There was Ginny (grinning maniacally), Luna Lovegood, Fleur and her little sister Gabrielle, Angelina Johnson (who was dating George), Her mother (which shocked her immensely, but when she thought about it, she had been dropping hints for weeks that she was coming), Auntie Muriel (Hermione internally cringed), Andromeda Tonks (sporting Teddy on her hip who was rocking a mop of purple locks), and Neville Longbottom's grandmother. Hermione wondered vaguely if Ginny had been drunk when she put together the guest list, but more likely she had been scraping for any one who might accept the invitation.
"So, which one has impregnated you? I don't know how many more you can fit in this house, Molly, honestly." Muriel said, her nose in the air.
"Erm..." Hermione said, uncomfortably.
"Muriel, Hermione is a familly friend. She's not having a Weasley baby." Molly sighed, exasperated.
"Well, what in the bloody hell am I doing here?" She demanded and Ginny cringed. "Enjoy the gift, dear, though I must say, if I had known, I wouldn't have bothered." And she turned, apparating on the spot.
Ginny scowled and Molly pressed her fists against her plump hips. "Well, I say good riddance!"
Hermione stood, unsure of how to proceed, but was saved by Ginny yelling, "Who wants to play some games? I'm going to smoke you all!"
Hermione grimaced. She wasn't really in the mood for games. Her stomach was cramping, the baby demanding to be fed.
"Uh, Gin? Molly? Would it be okay if we ate before we start the games? I'm starving and little guy isn't taking it very well." Hermione said, rubbing her belly to ease the ache.
"Of course, Hermione. Yes, I think that would be better any way." Molly smiled, leading the troops into the house.
Hermione's mother joined her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I've missed you, darling. Your father sends his love. How have you been? You don't call enough, you know that, don't you?"
Hermione opened her mouth and shut it again. "It's good to see you, too, Mum,"
she said with a grin.
Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm. "I'll fix you a plate. You sit down and put your feet up. What do you want?"
Hermione deliberated as they walked. Her eyes caught sight of the pink cake in the center of the table and her mouth watered. "The cake."
"Okay, I'll get you a slice. What else?"
"No, not a slice, the cake. That's it. Just the cake," Hermione said, lowering herself onto the couch.
Ginny looked at her in alarm. "Hermione... You can't possibly eat the the whole cake..."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "I can and I will. Don't tell me how to live my life, Ginevra!"
Her friend's alarmed expression turned into amusement. "I'll bring you two slices and if you want more, I'll happily oblige. Do you want anything else besides cake? Maybe some actual food, like-"
"No," Hermione said, quickly. "Just the cake."
Ginny smirked and turned around to head over to the table of food.
Hermione's mum sat down on her left and Luna joined them, sitting down on Hermione's other side, smiling serenely. "Hello, Hermione. Congratulations."
"Oh. Thank you, Luna." Hermione said, giving the girl a small smile. She hadn't seen her in months and she had missed her friend.
"May I?" The blonde asked, outstretching her hand tentatively.
"Sure, yeah." Hermione said. She wasn't the first person to ask. Strangers on the street had taken to stopping her and trying to touch her stomach. It was unnerving at first, but she had quickly grown used to it. People just loved babies. Even inutero.
Luna pressed her hand gently against her belly and Hermione felt the little bean moving, adjusting his position. It was a strange feeling, alien, even now that she had been experiencing it for several months.
"How strange," Luna mused.
"Mm.." Hermione murmured in agreement, wondering where Ginny was with her cake.
"She's due today?" Luna asked.
Hermione sighed, wincing as another hunger pang hit her. "Yes, but she may very well be a he. Ginny is incorrigible."
"What am I?" Ginny asked, appearing with an overladen plate of cake.
"The best friend in the entire world," Hermione said, reaching up to take the plate of cake from her. She shoved a bite into her mouth and moaned. "Omagaw, i's so good."
Ginny shot her a look that clearly showed how thoroughly repulsed she was. "If this baby weighs less than 25 lbs, I'll be suprised." She and Mrs. Granger laughed together at that.
The front door opened and George burst in. He stopped in his tracks, "Oh, is this still going on?" He asked, feigning suprise.
"George, you know full well. We told you no less than seven times just this morning alone!" Ginny exclaimed.
George winked at Angelina and crossed over to Hermione. "Well, it's unfair that you banish the males from all this fun." He pressed a hand against her belly and was rewarded with a sound kick. "Ah, would you look at that! My godson knows who I am!"
Hermione blushed and Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't even think about it. She's my goddaughter. You back off."
"I'll do no such thing. 'Mione, you know I would be better suited for parenthood than Ginny. I'm fun," he said emphasising the word and looking pointedly at his sister.
"Um..."
"Don't let him get to you Hermione. He would use her in all kinds of whacky pranks. She would probably be his new test subject for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
"How dare you suggest-... Well, actually that's not a half bad idea. We could have an entire baby section." His eyes glazed over as he became lost in his thoughts.
"Nope! No. Absolutely not. Ginny. It's Ginny." Hermione said, quickly, clutching her stomach as another cramp hit her. She stuffed another bit of cake in her mouth, wondering why food wasn't helping, when it usually worked like a charm. She scooted herself up, perching on the edge of the couch as she tried to get comfortable.
"Oi! That is utter rubbish. I say we put it to a vote." George said, indignantly.
Hermione was just about to protest that her child's well being was not being decided upon by a democracy, but a sudden gush from between her thighs silenced her thoughts.
"What... What is that?" George asked, horrified as his shoes were splattered.
Hermione's eyes widened with shock. "I think... I think my water just broke!"
There was a slight pause and then suddenly, everyone was moving. Her mother gripped her arm, a look of barely reigned in excitement glowing from her features. Molly came to stand beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Hermione." She murmured, seeing her mortified expression. "It's perfectly natural."
George looked a bit green, but he hadn't run for the hills screaming... yet.
"I- He can't come now! I haven't finished his nursery! What if I don't have everything I need? I thought I had at least a week! Doctor Astrid said new mothers go a week over, not on their due date exactly." Hermione rushed out, becoming light headed as her breathing became sharp and fast. Another cramp hit her and another gush of water came trickling down her legs.
"Breathe, 'Mione. We need to get to St. Mungo's and we can worry about the rest later," her mother said, and Ginny rushed on, "I can finish her nursey. If you're missing anything you need, we'll get it. Don't panic."
Easier said than done, Hermione thought. She wasn't the one about to push a human out of her. Hermione tried to calm her breathing, George was suddenly at her side. He grabbed her hand. "Squeeze if you need to, I can take it."
Another cramp and Hermione found herself following his advice as she rode it out.
He removed his hand as soon as her grip eased and shook it. "Okay, yeah. Didn't hurt a bit. Let's get you to Mungo's. I want to meet my godson."
"George!" Ginny snapped, grabbing Hermione's other hand. "C'mon, up you get."
Hermione complied and allowed them to lead her waddling frame over to the floo. They stopped in front of it, deliberating. "Think we can both fit?" Ginny asked, hesitantly.
"No." Hermione wailed, biting her lip against another cramp, trying not to register the splatter against her feet and the floor.
"Mum!" Ginny asked, her eyes unsure, "What do we do?"
"Apparate her there. I'll lift the wards for a moment." Molly said. "We'll follow right behind you, through the floo."
George nodded, looping his arm through Hermione's, as Ginny did the same on her other side. "Angie, see you in a minute, luv." George said, grinning over his shoulder, before they popped into darkness, and back into existence just in front of the shop front disguise of St. Mungo's front entrance.
They lugged her in, and were met by a very flustered nurse in reception. "Labor and Delivery," Ginny said quickly and the nurse nodded, grabbing up some paperwork and leading the way. They were about halfway there when George stopped. "What are we doing? Wingardium Leviosa," he muttered, flicking his wand as her. She was leviated off of her feet and they hurried along as a much quicker pace now.
Doctor Astrid met them as soon as they stepped into her department. "Miss Granger, right on time." She smiled, and motioned them into a close-by room.
Hermione groaned in response.
"Not ready," she murmured.
"Too late to worry about that now," Doctor Astrid said. "Are you daddy?" She asked, turning to George.
"Only to my girlfriend," he grinned, earning a stern look from the doctor.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave," Doctor Astrid said as a nurse bustled in with some supplies.
"But, I'm the godfather." He protested firmly.
"No, he's not!" Ginny said, shoving him towards the door.
George relented, letting himself be propelled out of the door as Doctor Astrid and the nurse helped Hermione into the bed. "Fine. But you had better fetch me as soon as he's born! I call dibs on him first!"
Ginny slammed the door in his face.
Doctor Astrid pulled Hermione's feet up into stirrups, reaching a gloved hand between her thighs as Hermione squirmed uncomfortably. "Oh, wow. You're already dilated to about a 6. This should progress quickly. Would you like a numbing potion?"
"Yesss," Hermione growled out, through gritted teeth. Another sharp pain hit and she cried out, "Fuuuuck me, son of a bitch- ughhh-"
"Oh, well. Who knew you had such colorful language?" Doctor Astrid blushed, grinning down at her. "Millie, grab a numbing potion for Miss Granger."
The nurse walked out, just as Mrs. Granger rushed in. "I'm here, love." She crooned, smoothing Hermione's hair back from her face. "Mummy's here."
Draco sat on the patio of his Amsterdam home with his mother. They were having tea in silence, just enjoying the breeze. Or at least that's what Draco thought they were doing. "I cannot believe that 19 years ago I gave birth to perfection."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Okay, Mother. I thought we had agreed not to discuss my birthday?"
"I'm only saying. Your father and I never wanted any other children because of you."
Draco gave a humorless chuckle. "Well, thank you for that sentiment."
"I meant, we never wanted another child, because you were so perfect. The most beautiful, well behaved child that any parent could want. We were afraid that any other children could never measure up to you."
Draco frowned, mildly touched, and unsure of what to say. He didn't have to say anything as it turns out, because his mother filled the silence for him.
"And yet, now you are grown. Still handsome, moderately well behaved, and stubborn as the day is long. You have been courting Astoria for six months now. Her schooling is finished and you are well on your way to owning your own business." Draco had been working for several months now on opening up an Apothecary. Potions had always been his favorite subject and he was quite excellent at them. "When are you going to propose to the poor girl, Draco?"
Draco, who had just taken a sip of his tea, choked, coughing profusely until Narcissa was forced to summon the liquid out of his windpipe. "Propose? Mother! I don't even know if I like the woman enough to... That's preposterous."
"Draco Lucius Malfoy. I'm not getting any younger. I want to see my son married and happy. I want grandchildren, for Salazar's sake!"
Draco paled at the thought. Children had never appealed to him. They were sticky, codependant little monsters that did nothing but scream and poop. He grimaced.
"Just think about it, hm? A Christmas proposal would be quite lovely, don't you think? 12 months since you began courting. Oooh, and you could have the wedding the following Christmas in the snow. Can't you just see it, Draco?"
He could. It just made him sick at the stomach to think about. "I suppose, I could consider it..."
"That's all I ask," Narcissa smiled at him warmly.