A/N: Looking for suggestions on how DM/HG meet! Also fair warning I know nothing of childbirth apart from Call the Midwife...

Disclaimer: I obviously own none of the rights to the Harry Potter universe or the cover image, but the plot is mine

"PUSH!"

Marta grunts and strains, her body rigid with the effort of bringing this baby into the world.

"Once more Marta, breathe with me. We've made it through the worst." I encourage. Sweat gathers on my brow and the fine hair of my upper lip. Outward calm is ingrained and it is the only thing keeping my hands from trembling. We can do this.

Minerva is attentive, hovering nearby. This birth has been mine, though she advises and has been calmly moving around the room, gathering clean cloths and preparing a basin of warm water. She glances at me now, wordlessly conveying that we have come this far but we're not safe yet. Years of reading her expressions tell me how quickly this could get worse.

Marta has had a hard labour and she is fading fast. After several pregnancies years ago, I was surprised to learn she was expecting again. She and Julius were older but I suppose mother nature had no care for the wants or desires of couples. Marta's husband Julius has been banished from the room and their oldest daughter Trudy, has long since left, she could not stomach her mother's pain.

According to Minerva, none of Marta's previous pregnancies had been as hard as this. Thankfully the child is turned the right way but the pain is only increasing.

Now Marta is failing, her energy waning.

"PUSH! Again Marta!" Exhausted, she wails and keens. Twisting in the sweaty sheets, her hair is plastered to her forehead and Minerva appears with a cool cloth, looking back at me with a significant expression. We are quickly approaching very dangerous territory and both the mother and child will suffer more if this labour continues.

"Please Marta, be strong for your children … and for this child." I am at the bargaining stage. Hours of labour have worn us all down. When her waters broke in the night they sent their oldest child for Minerva and I, but Marta has been slow to progress and the child has been in distress for too long. Marta has laboured since yesterday and we are now well past the witching hour. The village is part of our resigned wakefulness, kept awake with the suspense of a long labour. The stillness of the night split by her cries.

I am beyond the comforting stage.

I reach for the blade and nod to Minerva, who braces herself across Marta's upper body as I apply a numbing oil to her vaginal opening.

"Marta we have to make a small incision to free the child. Marta stay with us! Marta?" She is nearly collapsed against the headboard and her eyelids flutter without understanding or acknowledgment.

I brace my arms and mutter a quick prayer.

"AHHHHH MOTHER OF – " Marta is suddenly alive again, her body springing from the bed and struggling in Minerva's grip as I cut down. Her muscles contract and she bears down as she returns to wakefulness.

"We're helping baby Marta. One more push, almost there!"

The child's head is clear of the birth canal but I can already see that the face is slightly blue under the mucus and other assorted fluids. We have to do this fast or the babe will not live.

I ease the child out and clamp the cord quickly cutting their physical connection and moving to the edge of the bed. Minerva moves quickly into the space I have left and works to stem the bleeding and have Marta deliver the afterbirth. Her needles are nearby for sewing up the incision and the herbal smell of healing balms can be detected under the bloody smell of the birthing chamber.

I check the baby quickly for apparent weakness or injury before leaning forward and placing my mouth over his nostrils. I suck the mucus and blockage from his nostrils and spit it into a bowl nearby and hook a finger into his mouth to clear any obstructions. His body hangs limply in my arms as I rub his chest softly trying to massage some air into his lungs. I blow another soft breath into his lungs now I've cleared his airways.

"Come on baby," I coax, "you're going to be okay. Please be okay."

He sputters. His face pinches together in the beginning of a wail.

"Yes … yes!" and then softer, "hello baby." His tiny fists clench and he really screams. A shrill sound I have never been so happy to hear. The blush of blood returns to his skin and his face goes beet red with the injustice of this rude delivery into the world.

I wipe him down briskly checking him over again with less speed and swaddle him tightly with a nearby blanket. I turn back to Minerva who is giving a small sip of alcohol laced water to Marta. She is stabilized and sitting primly in bed still looking exhausted but more awake.

"Here mama, here's your sweet baby." I hand the grizzling baby to his mother who pulls apart her shift and cuddles him to her breast.

"A good latch," Minerva says approvingly as the baby clamps onto the nipple and suckles greedily. "And a good appetite," she laughs softly.

A hard rap comes from the door. I open it slowly, letting a rush of cooler night air into the room, revealing a quaking Julius on the other side.

"And?" His face is harried but hopeful.

"A healthy child, and your wife will recover in time."

He looks expectantly into the room, clearly, I haven't given him the right information.

Marta spares her husband a look.

"You have a son," she supplies tiredly.

Julius exhales with relief. After four daughters he hadn't wanted to hope.

"A - a son! An heir to continue my hard work and to inherit!"

I roll my eyes at Minerva behind his back. All this effort and he is most interested in the childs gender.

The babies mouth hangs open in a milk stupor, finally sated and Minerva takes him gently from Marta and hands the baby over to Julius.

"Look at that strong chin!"

I take a moment to observe the baby, the same large forehead and pinched face as his father but he has a generous mouth and some soft auburn fuzz that might be hair like his mothers. Poor thing, there may be hope for him to grow into his features I suppose.

Julius moves towards his wife and drops a kiss to her forehead but only has eyes for the baby.

The aches and pains of a hard night begin to creep into my bones and I take the reprieve and step out of the room, skirting the hallway and quickly out of the home into the night air.

The dawn is only a suggestion along the horizon but I'm willing to accept this small sign. Another day that mother and the baby would live. I pull a small pipe from my pocket and light it quickly, inhaling the fumes and feeling the smoke fill my lungs.

"It will be your turn for children soon enough."

I cringe and take another fortifying lungful of smoke turning with resignation towards the voice.

Oh please, not him.

A/N: Still hashing this all out, but looking for suggestions on how DM/HG meet! A lake bathing scene has been suggested ;) Thoughts?