We had a long lunch today, so I'm posting a bit later than I usually do. Also, it is so cold out that, half an hour after being outside, I still have body parts that I can't feel.

Chapter 20
Blaise returned home following his trip back to the hospital. Pansy and the kids were asleep on the master bed, and he quietly climbed in to join them. The movement woke her. "You're home," she whispered, her voice devoid of any emotion. "Is Hermione okay? Draco ran out of here so quickly that I didn't get a chance to ask."

He nodded. "Yeah, she's on bed rest," he told her. "The baby's fine though. She'll be released tomorrow."

Pansy breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll stop by to see her then," she decided. "Are you home for good?"

He smiled. "If you'll let me," he replied.

She gingerly moved Isabella aside so she could get off the bed, and beckoned her husband to follow her to the hallway. "You walked out," she stated, arms crossed over her chest. "You left us because you were upset. You can't walk out on your family. Your children kept asking me if you were coming back, and I had no idea how to respond."

"I'm so sorry, love," he replied.

"Sorry isn't enough, Blaise," she said sadly. "What happens if I do something you don't like again? How do I know you won't leave again? I can't raise three children alone."

He stepped closer and placed his hands on her hips. "You don't have to," he assured her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Blaise leaned in to kiss her, but Pansy pulled back. "Someone should call Harry and let him know that Hermione's in the hospital," she stated. "Stay with the kids. I'll do it."

She made her way downstairs and sighed as she dropped to her knees in front of the fireplace. A friendship had hardly formed between the pair, but Hermione came first for now. Any past animosity would need to be forgotten. Pansy only hoped that Harry could put it behind him as well for the sake of a mutual friend.

Taking a deep breath, she tossed the floo powder in and called out his name. He soon appeared in the flames and smiled. "Hermione's in the hospital," she said so quickly that it sounded like one word. He asked her to repeat herself, and she did. "I also think there's something my husband isn't telling me. If you go to see her, will you let me know what it is?"

Harry's brows furrowed. "Do you think it's serious?" he asked. "Is the baby okay? She didn't lose it, right?"

Pansy shook her head. "As far as I know, the baby's fine," she replied.

"Okay, we'll head over now," he told her. "Draco's with her, I assume?"

"Of course. He's not that big of a git," she said.

Harry chuckled. "I would hope not," he replied. "I'll talk to you when we get home. Give you whatever updates I can."

Pansy smiled and thanked him before disconnecting the call. Harry pulled his head out of the hearth and glanced at Astoria. "We have to go," he told her.

She looked nervously at him as she asked, "Do you really think I should be there?"

Grabbing his shoes, he moved closer and kissed her. "Of course," he replied as he laced up his trainers. "You're their friend too. I'm not going to force you to go if you don't want to though."

Astoria shook her head and rose to slip on her own shoes. She would go because Harry asked but didn't pressure her. She had become friends with Draco and Hermione, going so far as to offer to babysit whenever they needed a night out. Proper etiquette dictated that she visit her friend in the hospital.

She marched over to the fireplace and took a handful of floo powder. "What are you waiting for?" she asked. "We have a friend to visit."

Smiling, he stepped in beside her. When they arrived in the hospital lobby, he helped her out and dusted the soot off his clothes. They found Hermione's room and knocked softly. Draco let them in, but warned them to keep their voices down. "She's sleeping," he whispered.

Harry nodded. "So, what's going on?" he asked. "Pansy seemed pretty worried when she called."

Rolling his eyes, Draco sat down beside Hermione's bed. "I told Blaise not to tell her," he muttered before divulging all they had learned earlier that day. "I'm trying to be strong for her because I know she's scared, but I can't help but be terrified that we might lose her."

Astoria rested her hand on Draco's shoulder while Harry turned his attention to his sleeping friend. It was easier to focus on her than watch Draco cry. "Is there anything we can do?" he heard Astoria ask. "Have you eaten? We could get you something. Maybe bring by some clean clothes if you're going to stay here the night."

Draco shook his head, but she insisted they be allowed to help. "Food might be good," he relented. "Hermione should eat when she wakes up. Blaise brought some clothes over before he went home."

Harry glanced at the unoccupied chair where Draco had left their belongings. "Why am I not surprised to find a book," he joked, picking up the book of baby names. "Pick one out yet?"

"Yeah, but it's a secret," Draco replied with a small smile.

Harry placed the book back on the chair. "So, um, would it be alright if I told Ron?" he asked. "I know they were making plans to get together before the baby was born, and-"

And they might not have as much time as Hermione had thought.

Everyone thought it.

No one said it out loud.

"Yeah, I don't see why not," Draco eventually replied. "She's got some downtime now. Seems like a good time for him to stop by."

Harry nodded and promised they would be back soon with food. Out in the hallway, Astoria asked, "Are you going to tell Pansy what Draco told you?"

He shrugged as he led her to the exit. "She asked me to," he replied. "I don't know why Draco doesn't want her to know, but it's Hermione. She has a right to know what's going on. Pansy has been one of her closest friends. It doesn't feel right to leave her out."

When they were alone, Draco held Hermione's hand and kissed her knuckles. Alone once more, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He flipped the box open with his thumb, removed the ring from its pillow, and slid it onto her finger. It was a simple diamond with a gold band, and had belonged to his mother. It was supposed to have gone to Astoria, but now it would be Hermione's. If she said yes.

"I hope you'll say yes," he whispered before removing it from her finger and slipping it back in the box.