Chapter Twenty-One: A Day in Hogsmeade.
They left the hospital by floo powder after they'd had dinner and said goodbye to everyone. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny headed straight up to the common room, it was again empty so they sat by the fireplace. Hermione got out the book she was reading about pregnancy and parenting, Ginny did some homework and Harry and Ron had a game of wizard chess, no one talked much.
Harry didn't have much of a chance to try and destroy the cup or to look at the memories as he was busy, he was spending a lot less time with Ginny too, Ron and Hermione were just as busy as him, maybe even busier, as with three months to go until the arrival of the baby they'd started going to Madam Pomfrey twice a week for birthing and parenting lessons plus Ron had Quidditch (as did Harry) as well as all the normal things to do with school. Not much was said between the four of them at all these days because they were either to busy or too tired.
'Next weekend's a Hogsmeade weekend,' Ginny said late one night when they were all doing homework in the common room.
The other three looked up at her 'is it?' Hermione asked.
'Yeah, why don't we all go together and have some fun?' Ginny replied 'I know all of us have been really busy lately but I think we deserve some time off, what do you all reckon?' She asked.
'I think that'd be great Gin' Harry said smiling.
'Yeah, we deserve it' Ron said, everyone looked at Hermione.
'Well I've got a lot…' she started.
'C'mon hon, we're not going to get much of a chance to do anything much once the baby comes' Ron cut her off.
Hermione smiled 'I guess we won't, ok then let's do it.' She said.
'Great' Ginny said.
They all went up to bed soon afterwards, looking forward to the next weekend.
Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione met in the Gryffindor common room that Saturday before breakfast, they'd decided that if they were going to spend the day together they might as well start early.
When they'd all finished their breakfast they walked in to the town, it was cool but not freezing so they headed to the shrieking shack where they all sat down, talking, laughing and generally having fun. They decided on the Three Broomsticks for lunch, it was not as crowded as usual for a Hogsmeade weekend because so many of the older students hadn't come back.
When they had their drinks in front of them Hermione said 'Harry, Ginny. Ron and I have been talking lately' she looked at Ron who took her hand and nodded towards her.
'We were wondering if…' Ron said.
Hermione chuckled lightly 'what Ron is trying to say is that we'd like you two, to be… well… you don't have to of course…' She said.
'Would you please hurry up,' Ginny said.
'Ok… Will you and Harry be the baby's Godparents?' Hermione said smiling.
'Are you serious?' Ginny asked.
They nodded.
'Yes, yes, yes!' Ginny said, standing up to hug Ron and Hermione.
'Well Harry?' Ron asked.
'Are you kidding?' Harry replied. Ron looked crestfallen 'Ron, Hermione… I'm honoured… Of course, I'd love to' He said, standing up and hugging Hermione and clapping Ron on the shoulder.
'Really?' Hermione said tearing up.
'Yes' Harry and Ginny said together.
'That's great' Ron replied.
'I think this calls for a toast' Harry said, raising his butterbeer bottle 'to the baby, may it be happy and healthy' the other three raised their bottles and they clunked them together, taking a drink.
After that they openly discussed the baby for the first time, they'd only ever mentioned it in passing before.
'So what do you want it to be?' Ginny asked 'a boy or a girl' she added.
'Honestly, a girl but either would be fine as long as it's healthy' Ron replied.
'Really?' Hermione said.
Ron nodded 'daddy's little girl' he said as a glazed look came over his face.
'Well Hermione, what do you want?' Harry asked.
'I'd love a girl, but either would be fine so long as it's healthy. I can't wait to see it and hold it… and stop being pregnant' she replied.
'Shall we go and get more drinks? I sense girl talk on the horizon,' Ron said to Harry.
'I'll just have an orange juice,' Hermione said as they got up.
'So are you excited?' Harry asked Ron.
'More apprehensive than excited, I'm actually scared out of my wits but I really can't wait Harry, I know we're really young but I'm looking forward to it' Ron replied.
'I'm still getting used to you and Hermione you know' Harry said.
'Even I am Harry and I'm sure Hermione is too' Ron replied casting a look towards the girls, Ginny had her hand on Hermione's belly smiling and giggling every now and again.
The boys went back to the table with three butterbeers and an orange juice.
'I guess we'd better stop being girly then' Ginny said as the boys sat down, she removed her hand from Hermione's tummy.
'Have you thought of any names?' Harry asked.
'Yes.' Ron said.
'Well… c'mon what are they?' Ginny asked.
'Ok… for a boy, Saxon Arthur and for a girl… Isabella Mae' Hermione replied.
They talked until they'd finished their drinks, and then visited Honeydukes before heading back up to the school. While they were warming up in the common room Ron and Harry played chess while Hermione and Ginny talked about the baby some more.
They ate dinner together still chatting avidly, afterwards they returned to the common room. At half past ten Hermione said 'I'm going to go to bed, I'm tired and my feet and back hurt. I had a great day, see you all tomorrow' she yawned, stretched and kissed Ron who told her he'd be up in a minute and walked towards the staircase.
'I'd better go to, thanks for everything you two, goodnight' Ron said a few minuets later, getting up.
'No problem, 'night Ron' Harry said.
'Yeah, goodnight Ron' Ginny said, Ron left 'I had a great day today, did you?' she said climbing on to Harry's lap.
'I did babe, I wish we could all hang out like that more often' he replied wrapping his arms around Ginny's waist.
'Me too, I can't believe they want us as Godparents, it's so great' she said.
'Yeah, me neither I didn't even know they were thinking about that yet' Harry said.
'We should get them something, not just some ordinary present, something special' Ginny said.
'Like what?' Harry asked, he couldn't think of anything special.
'We don't have to buy it, what if we make them something?' Ginny said.
'Like what?' Harry said.
'I really like your baby blanket' Ginny said.
'But we don't even know what their having, how would a little boy look with a pink blanket with the name Isabella embroidered on it? What if they change their minds about the names?' Harry said sceptically.
'We make two, a blue one and pink one, when the baby's born we put the name on whichever colour they have, we can give it to them at the christening' Ginny said.
'Sounds all right but I can't sew' Harry said.
'I'll do it' Ginny said.
'Then it wouldn't be from us' Harry replied.
'Right, well I'll make the blanket, what if we also buy something together?' Ginny said.
'Ok, sounds good. That's the christening gift done. What about we get them something before it's born, maybe something just for them and something practical for the baby?' Harry replied.
'Ok then' Ginny said.
Neither of them had any ideas for presents so they decided to go and have a look when they were back at the Burrow for the Easter holidays. They said goodnight to one another and went their separate ways.