10. "Isn't She Lovely" -Stevie Wonder
"PUSH!"
Hermione groaned, straining with all her might, her face scrunched up in concentration. Ginny squeezed her hand reassuringly and her mother smoothed her hair back, murmuring encouragments in her ear.
"ONCE MORE... PUSH!"
Hermione did as she was bid and she felt a sudden relief of pressure and heard a frail little cry.
Doctor Astrid held up the baby, covered in mucous and blood, and still somehow utterly beautiful. Hermione felt a tear streak down her cheek, the first of many, and the doctor called out, "It's a girl!"
"Yes!" Ginny hissed, and Hermione looked up to see that her friend was crying, too.
The nurse was busy with the baby, weighing and measuring and cleaning her up. "Hermione, I'm so proud of you. You did so well." Mrs. Granger murmured through her tears.
Hermione smiled gratefully at her mother before turning to the nurse to ask, "Can I hold her?"
"Of course, honey. I'm almost done. Just taking her vitals." She finished scribbling on the chart she held, setting it aside and wrapping the baby in a pink recieving blanket before gently placing her in Hermione's waiting arms. "3.765 kg, 21 inches long."
She had never seen such perfection. A thick mess of matted brown curls covered her head, Hermione ran her fingers over them tentatively. The baby stirred, shoving her tiny fist into her mouth and letting out a small whimper. Thick, dark lashes fluttered across her cheeks as her eyes opened, revealing silvery orbs that fixed so intently on Hermione's that it sent new tears streaking down her already salty cheeks. "You are so perfect, Kaida," she murmured, brushing her fingers over her plump little cheek.
"Kaida?" Her mother asked, quietly beside her.
"I found it in one of the baby books. Do you like it?" Hermione asked, worried that she had made a poor choice.
"I love it," Her mother assured her, at the same time Ginny said, "It's perfect. Just like her," leaning over to get a better look at her. She touched her little button nose and Kaida's eyes fluttered open again. "Wow, look at those eyes. They're gorgeous."
Hermione nodded, fixated on them. "Must get them from her dad..."
Her mother frowned, but Ginny smiled, "They're like two moons..."
A vague memory floated to the surface of her mind, toying with her before disappearing completely. "Two moons. Yes."
"I'd better go and tell the others she's here," Ginny grinned. "I'll be back," she said, dashing out of the room.
Hermione snuggled Kaida closer to her chest, amazed at the amount of love that had suddenly been ushered into her heart. She couldn't begin to fathom how she loved this tiny person more than anyone or anything else in the world already. How she was wrapped around her tiny finger so entirely in a matter of seconds.
"It's a feeling unlike any other isn't it? Going from just being a woman, to being a mother." Her mother whispered, settling beside her on the bed as she reached out to stroke the baby's soft curls.
"It's intimidating." Hermione admitted.
"I have no doubt that you will excel at this, just as you have at everything else you've ever put your mind to, honey." She kissed the top of Hermione's head. "I had better go phone your dad. He'll need to catch a plane."
The door creaked open and George forced his way past Ginny and Angelina, beating them both to her beside. He thrust his hands out immediately, "Let me see him." Mrs. Granger slipped out behind them.
"Her." Hermione corrected, laughing at his eagerness. "Kaida," she said, reluctantly handing her over to him.
"She's lighter than a bowtruckle." George said, and Hermione rolled her eyes at his exaggeration.
"I'd say she's a bit heavier than that."
"A niffler, then." George said, still studying the infant's sleeping face. "She sure is cute. Must have a gorgeous dad."
Hermione snorted, too used to George's antics to take offense.
"Okay, George. Hand her over." Ginny demanded. "I want to cuddle my goddaughter."
"Hermione, you're not seriously considering naming Ginny godmother are you?" George asked, handing the baby off to Ginny with long final glance at Kaida.
"Well, yes," Hermione said, feeling a bit awkward at being put on the spot, "Ginny is the closest thing I have to a sister. Harry, the closest thing I have to a brother. Naturally, they're my first choice as godparents."
George looked highly put out. Ginny tore her eyes away from the baby long enough to look up and meet Hermione's eyes. "They're on their way. Harry and Ron."
Hermione bit her lip. "Ron's coming?"
"I was suprised, too, to be honest." Ginny said.
"Congratulations, Hermione." Angelina said, smiling at her. "She really is beautiful. We have to get going. George left Seamus in charge of the shop to crash your baby shower, and I have doubts about whether or not it's still standing."
Hermione smiled at her, "Okay. Thank you both for coming."
"I think you ought to reconsider the whole godfather thing, honestly Hermione. Just sleep on it, ya know? A kid could never have too many godparents." He grinned at her.
Doctor Astrid, who had been all but forgotten as she stood in the corner, marking and scribbling and arranging papers spoke, "You'll need to decide quickly. I have all of your paper work set up here. Fill it out when you feel up to it. I'll be back to check on you in just a little bit."
Hermione nodded in answer and watched as the doctor exited the room, followed by a dejected looking George and a highly amused Angelina. Mrs. Weasley and Luna came in after them. "Sorry, dear, they would only allow 3 in at a time and George just wouldn't hear of anyone going before him. Give her up, Ginny, it's my turn."
"Aw, Mum, I just got her," Ginny complained.
Mrs. Weasley shot her a stern look and Ginny reluctantly handed her over.
"Oh, my! She's precious," Molly said, tears immediately falling from her eyes, dotting the pink blanket. "Look at me blubbering. But it's just so much to take in. I've watched you grow from a child into a brilliant, independent young woman."
Her sobs shook her and Kaida stirred, watching her intently with her light, intelligent eyes. "Merlin, what pretty eyes you have... What have you decided to call her, Hermione?"
"Kaida." Hermione said, and Mrs. Weasley nodded appreciatively.
"That's absolutely lovely. Kaida, sweet little dragon."
Hermione was nearly asleep, when the door creaked open. Kaida stirred gently and then settled back into the crook of her arm. She had just finished a bottle and dozed off, her belly full and warm. Hermione turned tired eyes on the door and wasn't entirely suprised to find Ron standing there. He was the only one who had yet to be in to see her.
She had assumed everyone had gone home. It was late after all. She wasn't sure of the exact time, but the sky was inky black. She had insisted her mom stay at her house, ignoring her protests that she could sleep comfortably in the hard guest chair in the corner of the room.
Her stomach clenched as Ron stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. She didn't want a row with Ron to spoil this day for her. "Hello, 'Mione." He said, slowly making his way over to her bed.
"Hi." She said, warily.
He stood awkwardly, crossing his arms over his chest and then uncrossing them and stuffing his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
"Motherhood suits you. You look beautiful..."
That caught her offguard. "Erm, thank you, Ron."
"Yeah. So, this is Kyra?"
"Kaida," Hermione corrected. "Kaida Sage Granger."
"That's... pretty." Ron said, reaching up to rub the back of his neck as he took a step closer to get a better look at the sleeping babe in her arms. Hermione watched as his eyes moistened, wishing there was something she could say that would take away the pain she had caused him.
"Ron-" She started, but he shook his head, rubbing his eyes.
"Hermione, I'm sorry. For the way I've acted for the past seven months. I needed time you know, and I think you understood that, to process everything. I always thought, I mean I had hoped, that one day, I'd be looking at you like this, but you would be holding my baby." He held his hand up as she started to interupt him. "I was upset. When you told me you were keeping the baby, all of my dreams for us were thrown out the window. It hurt, but I've processed it. I understand why you kept her. I understand why you're keeping her now, instead of giving her up for adoption. She's perfect, 'Mione, truly. And even though I don't think there will ever be hope of us rekindling a romantic relationship, I want us to be friends. Like we used to be. I want to be in your life. And Kaida's. As like, Uncle Ron, or something. I'm sorry, Hermione, for everything."
"I'm the one who's sorry," Hermione whispered through her tears. "I did this to us. I ruined us." She had been holding on to a tiny strand of hope, throughout her pregnancy, that maybe, just maybe Ron could forgive her and move past her mistake. That they could pick up where they left off and the three of them could have a life... But he'd snipped that hope like the string of a kite and her inner blockades against all emotion she'd fixed so firmly in place during her pregnancy, were suddenly crashing down.
"Maybe this was the universe's way of telling us that it wasn't meant to be. Not in the way we were trying to force it. Maybe we were always meant to be friends, 'Mione. I love you. I want to be your friend again. Do you want that?"
"Yes." She whispered, unable to muster much more. Her tears fell fast and thick, but silent.
Ron sat down on the edge of her bed and wrapped his arms around her. She sniffled into his chest and her pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She didn't know how long they stayed that way, but eventually her tears dried up and with one last parting look, Ron left, and she and Kaida were alone.
"You and me against the world, little dragon." She whispered to the sleeping babe, feeling the full weight that she now carried settle onto her shoulders.
December 25, 1999
Draco was nervous. He wiped his sweaty palms on the pants of his suit. He had only been back at Malfoy manor for two weeks and it was starting to wear on him already. He hated it, but Astoria had refused to stay at his apartment, or 'crash pad' as she referred to it. Theo was rather relieved. He hated her with a passion. She was terrible to him, even Draco had to admit.
Draco patted his pocket, double checking that the ring his mother had picked out was still there. It was. He checked his watch. Dammit, they were late. She took bloody three hours to get ready, curling her hair and painting on makeup and deliberating on outfit after outfit.
He cast a quick Sonorus charm on his throat. "Astoria!" Draco shouted, using every once ounce of his patience to keep his temper under control. "We're late. Get your arse down here."
She apparated in front of him. "Don't get your knickers in a twist I'm ready," she snapped, fastening a necklace around her slim, pale throat.
"Finally." He smirked, turning and heading for the door.
"Aren't you going to tell me I look pretty?" Astoria asked, sounding wounded.
"You look pretty." Draco said, monotone. Truthfully, he had grown quite bored with this relationship. It was only with his mother's encouragement to continue the Malfoy line with such pure blood lineage that he had relented to her request.
"You're an arse tonight, aren't you?"
"I'm an arse every night, why should tonight be any different?" He snapped.
"I don't know... I just thought tonight might be... special." She said, and he spun around to face her, studying her closely. It was in that moment, that he knew she was in on his plan. His mother must have told her, or told her mother who had told her. Either way, the cat was out of the bag.
He glared at her. "If you already know, why are we going through the motions?"
She shrugged. "To make me happy."
"Not something I care very much about," he said coldly.
"To make our mothers happy then," Astoria amended, hurt flashing through her eyes.
"Right... Well, let's get going then." He said, striding out of the house. They couldn't apparate until they were past the main gate.
"Can I see the ring?" She asked, catching up with him quickly and looping her arm through his.
"No."
"Aw, Draco, don't be such a sour puss." She whined. "I'll be a fantastic Mrs. Malfoy." She said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. He bit his lip against his snarky retort. He didn't want to be a complete dick to his future bride. It wasn't her fault after all. She had no idea of the true reason for his sour mood. Even after all this time, Hermione Granger was still plaguing his thoughts. She was like a fucking disease, invading him, ensnaring him and he couldn't get rid of her.
He leaned over and planted a kiss on top of Astoria's head. "I'm sorry. Let's make this a good night, shall we?"