Month 7: Complications

"Ron…there's only two months left, and I think I need to ask you something."

The couple was sitting on the couch, Hermione curled up in his lap while he played with her hair. Ron was a little nervous by the way she asked that.

"Ok, what is it?"

"I think it's about time to lay out some possible names for the baby."

"But we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet!"

"So we'll pick out some names for either gender. Are you ready?"

"Er—sure."

"Come here." She led him by the hand to the dining room table, where they sat down on opposite sides. Hermione waved her wand and two pieces of parchment appeared in front of them.

"Write down the names you like for both a boy and a girl. Take your time, okay? We don't need to rush this at all."

The two sat in silence for a while, once in a while scratching something down. They didn't make eye contact. Hermione's mind was in turmoil; what if Ron insisted on an absolutely ridiculous name? It'd be a lot like him to do that.

45 minutes later, Ron was done. Not wanting to take too much time after that, Hermione scribbled down two last names and then raised her head.

"Okay, let's exchange the papers."

RON'S LIST

Boys:

Oliver

Thomas

Peter

Girls:

Laura

Isabella

Olivia

HERMIONE' S LIST

Boys:

Callum

Jacob

Cameron

Archie

Alexander

Oscar

Girls:

Tia

Summer

Scarlett

Millie

Eleanor

Daisy

Poppy

Madison

"Ron, how did it take you almost an hour to write a total of six names?" Hermione demanded.

"Because I actually put some thought into those! We are sure as hell not naming our child Oscar or Daisy!"

"Why not?" She shot back.

"Because those names are stupid!" Ron shouted.

"Ron, calm down!" Hermione said, a bit alarmed.

"Sorry…" he muttered. "I just want the child to have an…agreeable name."

"And what is wrong with Daisy? I like daisies! They remind me of summer."

"And I notice you put down that name as well. Summer." He said the name like he said "vomit."

"Those are very pretty names, Ronald!" She said angrily.

"Well what do you think of my names?" Ron asked, trying to steer her back on track.

Hermione had to force herself to admit that they weren't that bad. "I rather like Isabella…I would definitely consider that."

Relaxing, Ron admitted, "I do like Madison. And Cameron."

Hermione smiled. "I don't know…I still think I want one of the summery names. You know, since I've been pregnant all through summer."

It was September, now. The weather had cooled down, and a chilly breeze was blowing through the neighborhood. No one was exactly missing the sweltering heat of the past two months, and Hermione couldn't help fantasizing about September in a little over ten years, sending her little girl or boy off to Hogwarts. But this summer had been truly memorable. The fights, the make-ups, the pregnancy appointments…she wanted something to help her remember it. And her child's name seemed like the perfect fit.

"I don't want a summery name. I want a name the child will like."

Hermione could feel her face coloring. I must look like a blowfish. She thought grimly. "And why wouldn't the baby like a summer or flower name?"

"Because it's name would be Daisy. Might as well name it Baby's Breath or Carnation or Lavend…." He stopped at the last one, his voice trailing off awkwardly.

"What?" Hermione demanded. "What was that last one?"

"Nothing, I only said two." He said uncomfortably. He should've known better. Lying didn't work with Hermione.

"No, you said 'Lavender.' Is that what you want to name the baby, Ron? Lavender?" Her voice rose in pitch.

"No, no, Hermione…I was just brainstorming flowers!"

She sat very still, breathing heavily for a few moments. Finally she calmed down. "Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry."

She cracked a small smile. "Ok, back on track." Ron let out an internal sigh. Crisis averted.

"Hermione, please, I really want the baby's name to be something that I like as much as you do. I also think it's going to be a boy."

"Me too…I think we should concentrate on boys names."

No less than three hours later, they had decided. If a boy, the baby's name would be Cameron William Weasley. The couple wasn't able to decide on a girl's name, so they left that on the table for the time being and focused on dinner.

"Ron, can you please cook tonight?" She pleaded, lying on the couch. "I don't feel so good."

"Sure, love." He kissed her forehead. Hermione closed her eyes. Just resting, not sleeping….

"Hermione."

"Wh-huh?" Hermione jerked awake.

"You fell asleep again." Ron chuckled. "Dinner is ready."

She groaned, lying back down and burying her face in the pillow. "Go away, Ron."

He swiftly scooped her up. She wondered how he did it anymore; she was so huge. "You have to eat, Hermione. For the baby and for you. Come on, I made turkey sandwiches."

Her eyes drooped as he carried her for the few long strides to the dinner table. He tried his best to place her in her chair without dropping her on the table. She looked so tired, so weak. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. Just exhausted, that's all. He reassured himself. There's nothing wrong with her.

They ate the meal in silence, Hermione taking only a few bites before her face nearly fell right on the plate.

"Hermione I think you need to go to bed now." He advised, getting up to help her.

"Yeah…yeah…" She mumbled sleepily. She waved him away. "I'm fine, you moron. I can walk upstairs."

He sat back down as she stumbled toward the stairs. Three seconds later he heard a big crash and heard Hermione say "Don't worry, I'm fine."

A little worried, he finished dinner quickly and hurried upstairs. The lights were on in the bedroom but Hermione was passed out on the bed, still in her pale blue house dress. It was obvious she had literally stumbled into the room, fallen on the bed, and gone to sleep. Ron smiled. There was something amusing about her when she acted just as lazily as he did.

He changed into his night clothes before crawling onto the bed beside her. He felt the fabric of her dress. It was coarse and seemed wholly uncomfortable. Padding over to her dresser, he pulled out one of her night dresses, a pale pink lace one, and edged back onto the bed. Rolling his wife over, he carefully lifted her dress off. Before sliding the new one on, though, he lowered his head over her and kissed her bulging belly. "Good night baby."

He fell asleep fairly easily, but his dreams were nightmarish. Popping colors and screams, candles flickering eerily, blood splattered floors. He awoke with a jolt.

"Ron? Ron are you okay?" Hermione was shaking him.

"Yeah…yeah I'm fine…why?"

"You were yelling."

"I was?" He rubbed his head, as if that would erase the bad dreams.

"Yeah." She leaned against his shoulder. "You didn't wake me up, though. It's four in the morning now, but I've been up since two. I fell asleep early last night but wasn't able to stay asleep. So I've just been reading. Then you started yelling, something about me and…Seamus Finnigan?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Funny, that's not what I was dreaming about." He said, trying to remember Seamus.

"So what were you dreaming about?"

As hard as he racked his brains, Ron could not remember. "I forget…I dunno just a nightmare I guess."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"What's with the interview, Hermione? I'm fine!"

She was silent, and he knew he had hurt her feelings. She was only trying to help. "I'm sorry Hermione. But how are you feeling? You've been up for hours!"

She smiled. "It's okay. I'm okay, I guess. Just a little cramped." She indicated her shoulders. "Lots of stress. Your mum is bringing me to two St. Mungo's appointments a month now, and all this baby shower nonsense Ginny is planning…so I'm a little on edge right now."

He smiled impishly. "Roll over."

"What? Why?"

"You'll see." He rolled her over onto her belly. "Is that comfortable? You know, with the baby bump and everything?"

She giggled. "It's fine, Ron." Her voice was muffled by the pillow.

Ron crawled over to her, sitting by her side. "Ok, just relax."

He worked his hands over her tense shoulders. He could see what she meant; she had a lot of knots. She sighed in happiness as he massaged her back, working down her spine. With a mischievous look in his eyes, he squeezed her bum. In a very un-Hermione-ish act, she actually giggled. He patted her bum again before leaning over and kissing her hair.

She sprang up, pushing him back down to the bed and straddling his hips. Her wild, nighttime hair, not yet completely tamed into frizz-free tendrils, almost crackled with electricity. She leaned over him, kissing him softly. He gently placed his hands on her hips as they continued their loving.

The next morning, Hermione woke up before Ron. She tiptoed downstairs and hurriedly ate some bread and butter. She had a big assignment at work today, and she wanted to be fully prepared. When she arrived back at the bedroom, Ron was still fast asleep. She picked out her clothes and was just bending down to retrieve a dropped item when she heard a chortle behind her.

"I like when you do that."

Hermione whirled around, scowling. Ron backtracked quickly. "Kidding, Hermione, kidding!"

She rolled her eyes at her hopeless husband and finished dressing in silence. They Apparated together to the Ministry. Upon their arrival, they walked through the Atrium hand in hand. In the lift, they stood at the back together, Ron occasionally pinching her bum cheekily. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before getting off at her stop and promised to see him at lunch.

While standing at her receptionist's desk, she felt another hand on her hips, its fingers dangerously close to lower down. "Ron, I thought I said I would—"

But it wasn't Ron. Hermione hand instantly whipped around to slap McLaggen in the face, but he caught her hand just inches from him. Hermione looked wildly over to Liv, her receptionist, but she was gone. Dammit!

"Let me go, you filthy bastard! How dare you touch me?" She snarled, breaking free from his hands.

He smiled a smile that she supposed would be very attractive to other people. She knew the sly cheating man underneath and she wanted nothing more than to slap him silly, just to wipe that smug smile off his hideous face.

"Relax, Hermione. I just wanted to talk to you. Come with me." He grabbed her wrist. She yanked it free.

"Come. With. Me." The look in his eyes was almost terrifying. She grudgingly obeyed his command. We're in the middle of the Ministry of Magic…he's not going to try anything.

In Hermione's private office, he backed her up against the wall, pressing her wrists by her sides. This was a terrible mistake…why did I agree? I'm stronger than that! Oh God this is awful! Hermione prayed for a miracle, something to save her. But as his wandering hands found her chest, she couldn't help whimpering. Hermione do something! You're strong! You're confident! You're not this person! Is this was pregnancy did? Weaken you? Defend yourself! She struggled against the bonds he had put upon her hands but her efforts were fruitless. His lips were inches away from hers when—

BAM!

"Hermione, you forgot your—What the hell?"

Hermione's invisible shackles fell from her hands and she raced out of the room sobbing, past Ron who was holding up a piece of parchment. Ron watched her go out of the corner of his eye, and by the tears and expression he could tell was just happened.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" He bellowed, pointing his wand at the towering McLaggen. A gash appeared and blood spurted all over Hermione's rug. Ron strode over in moments and punched his bleeding face. Ron's own face was boiling hot, red as a ripe tomato, and he shook with anger.

He crouched next to McLaggen who was nearly unconscious. His voice trembled. "I'm taking you out of here. I'm going to get you fired if it is the very last thing I do. If you ever even talk to my wife again, I swear you will pay for it even greater."

McLaggen's face twitched into a smile. "I don't think you should do that, Weasley."

"Why not?" He demanded, using all his power to refrain from punching the smirk off his face.

"Because I can tell her what happened at that bar during our mission, and I really doubt you want that. So, you will let me go, let me clean up, never mention this to anyone. Make sure that bitch wife of yours doesn't either. And, just for the trouble, I'll still let the information slip." He stood up, siphoning off the dried blood with his wand. "You've just made a big mistake, Weasley." He left.

Ron stood motionless in Hermione's empty office. What to do what to do what to do? I have to get him punished, NO ONE touches Hermione like that. She. Is. Mine. But there is no way Hermione can find out about that! Nothing even happened but that is definitely not the way Hermione will see it. I'm going to have to keep her cut off from the rest of the world, McLaggen can't get anywhere near her to tell her. Hermione's going to hate that, being cooped up. But it's for her own good…she'll understand…one day….

A/N: Hi readers! Sparkshine here. Sorry for the slow chapter, had a lot of tests this week BLAHHH. Spring is coming though, which put me in a good mood for writing. Granted, the end to this chapter wasn't very pleasant or cheerful… but it fits with the plot I'm creating for the story. Sorry for McLaggen's actions…they might seem inappropriate however, when I finish the story, you will see how that factors in. Only 2 or 3 more chapters, but I think I might do a Hugo sequel…thoughts? Ok, I'd like…umm…20 reviews before next chapter? I really think my AMAZING fans can manage that! Faster we reach that, faster the next chapter will be uploaded! Thoughts on this chapter? I'd LOVE to hear them! (No flames please, though…those can be private messaged to me if you have a complaint!) Alright, so…I hope y'all enjoyed, can't wait to see feedback!

XOXO, Love always,

Sparkshine