Chapter Nine

Ok a day early: quite proud of myself. Here it is guys the non-captured storyline again. Hope you are enjoying it so far more reviews please I would love to make a New Years mention in the next chapter.

Merry Christmas and enjoy love C.J.

'Ginny. Are you ok?" Harry asked rushing from his best friend to his wife.

"Yes I'm fine darling just the small matter of a human being trying to crawl out of my insides!" She cried sarcastically gripping his hand. "Ow, ow,ow,ow," she cried in quick succession "why didn't anyone tell me that it hurts." Harry looked over to Hermione as if asking her "what am I meant to do?"

"Ginny," Hermione said softly "you're going into labour ok? This is just the early stage it hurts a lot put I promise you the stronger you stay the easier the next bit will be. Harry and I are going to stay with you ok? We're not going anywhere."

"Promise?" Ginny asked in a slightly desperate voice.

"I promise Gin," Harry smiled taking her hand "I'm not going anywhere we'll be here every step of the way."

"Right next stage Ginny we are going to have to get you to St. Mungo's. We can't fly and we can't apparate so the easiest way there is by floo". It took another half an hour of coxing Ginny into the fireplace before she would agree to come with them and then she wouldn't let go of Harry's hand. Hermione was unsure of the protocol of two people arriving in the same fire but she also knew there was no other way that Ginny would be convinced to leave her home. Hermione arrived at St. Mungo's seconds behind the Potter's. Ginny had already emptied her stomach of the pasta she had eaten earlier in the night.

"Basement," Hermione shouted at the pair. She knew St. Mungo's like the back of her hand and had sometimes worked with healers on the maternity ward in the basement on extreme cases, particularly of blood loss. She wasn't however about to reveal that to Ginny.

When they reached the ward the healer took one look at Ginny and said "room four Healer Ward will be with you in a minute along with a mediwtich. Then he added "hi Hermione."

"Hi Nicholas," she shot back. Then to Ginny "Daisy Ward is very good Gin you're in the best hands."

"Good as long as she has something for the pain." Ginny replied through gritted teeth.

"Hi Daisy," Hermione smiled as the pair reached the ward.

"Hi Hermione," she replied "bringing your home to work?"

"Daisy this is my friends Ginny Potter and her husband Harry."

"Welcome Mr and Mrs. Potter today we are going to get that baby out."

"I bloody hope so," Ginny said in a low threatening voice. Hermione left Ginny and Harry with Daisy. She knew she couldn't do any further good here. She was a trauma healer not a maternity expert and although the two often felt very similar she knew from experience they were worlds apart. Hermione walked along the labour corridor often hearing screams and cries from various room. The sound however completely washed over her, she was more than used to it by now. Buying some parchment and pen from the little shop in St. Mungo's she dashed off a short letter to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before disapparating to Diagon Alley to post it at the street's Post Office. Hermione looked up and down the street most shops were closing up at 9 p.m. as the sun creeped behind the horizon on what had been a fine spring day she contemplated how much her world had changed in the last twelve hours. She continued walking along the street until the sun had well and truly disappeared.

Hermione apparated to her flat and was glad to see Ron wasn't there. She was too angry for snivelling apologies and if she was honest with herself she didn't want any. She was unsure if he'd heeded her words to not return or if he was at the birth of his newest niece or nephew. Hermione couldn't bring herself to care she simply knew she had sometime in her flat by herself. She began by emptying her drawers and wardrobe placing everything in a medium sized suitcase she had acquired a few years ago which could actually hold endless stuff. She looked around her flat for things she wanted to keep and found there was actually surprisingly little. She had designed, decorated and bought most of the furnishings of the flat but after Ron's affair they felt wrong and tainted somehow. After a quick sweep to ensure she hadn't left anything she truly wanted behind she disappeared with a loud pop.

Hermione found herself in front of a mediocre hotel in Cambridge, it was the first place she's thought of miles from were anyone would be looking but still affordable she checked in under the name 'Lavender Brown' and paid in cash. The room wasn't impressive but it was clean and it had a large bed. Hermione walked over to the bed with its clean crisp pillows and with only slipping her shoes off she fell asleep. The first thing she felt was as though she was trapped she opened her eyes and looked around her she was in a comfortable flat in an historic building she knew that much from the red brickwork visible behind curtains, tapestries and paintings. She was sat on a large double bed not dissimilar from the one she's slept in for six years at Hogwarts. She looked up and saw a figure standing over her. He was tall and blonde and Hermione knew immediately it was Malfoy. Something in his air and stance told her even though his face was in shadow. She stood up and tried to run away from him towards the door on reaching it she found it was locked, yanking harder and harder she was sure the door would give way but it seemed completely stuck. She could see Malfoy moving closer and closer.

"Try and run Granger," he smirked "and make my day." She tried to scream but no sound came out. He reached forward and grabbed her shoulder. Hermione's eyes flew open and she sat bolt upright. She was covered in sweat and her heart was racing. She looked at her watch it read 6.55 a.m. She flopped back onto the pillows and let her heart rate decrease. She looked to her left and saw for the first time a small barn owl perched on the bedside table next to her. It was holding out a letter. Hermione took it and the owl flew off curious she opened the envelope and read the letter inside which read.

Ginny and Harry Potter are happy to announce the birth of their son.

James Sirius Potter born at 4.19 a.m. this morning weighing 7lb and 2 oz

Both mother and baby are doing well.

Hermione smiled at the card she was happy for the couple after the war they deserved so much happiness that had been lost to them all growing up. Hermione curled up under the covers and tried to fall to sleep again.