Chapter 23: Ice

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 22 and especially a great thanks to those people who have been very supportive following on from what I said in the last authors note. It's weird because I don't know any of you (or at least I think I don't) and I really appreciate your help. This was supposed to be extended into two chapters but I have no idea what I'd put into the next one if I were to do that. I've been debating this little thing in my head but I've decided that I'm just going to go with one. Here is chapter 23!

18th December 2005

"Ron?" Hermione asked into the darkness of their bedroom. She was sure she had not slept properly at all during the four hours since they had gone to bed. Perhaps she had drifted off once or twice but only a few minutes later she would wake up to a sudden start. She was also sure that Ron was completely unconscious by now, he hadn't woken up before now whilst she had multiple times. The only disadvantage of living with an incredibly heavy sleeper was that it was practically impossible to wake them up again. They had to wake up in their own time.

The response to her question was a rather quiet grunt and groan which came from her husband.

"Ron? Are you awake?" Hermione asked once again.

"Well, I am now at least." Ron said sleepily turning over to face her. "What's up? Are you okay?"

"I can't sleep...again. I have been nodding off every so often but in total I have probably only had about 10 minutes sleep. God, I feel like I am going mad with exhaustion."She sighed. Hermione knew that although she did not mind being pregnant, given that it was something they had wanted to happen for a very long time and when it had finally happened they were more than delighted, but there was just the tiny little fact that she had not slept properly in over a week that was starting to drive her around the bend.

"Why didn't you wake me, love?" Ron asked, "You know I wouldn't have minded if you had."

"Because I thought I would just drift off after a while. It has been happening every night since you and Dad painted the baby's bedroom, but normally after a couple of hours I will fall asleep. Following on from that I have woken up a couple of times before officially getting up but I feel so tired and I just can't get to sleep. I want to just go to sleep and then not wake up until I really have to. We have just over two weeks until she is born and after that it will just be nonstop getting up and down to calm her throughout the night. It would be ideal if before that happens, I could just get even the tiniest bit of sleep." She could feel her eyes stinging with tears of tiredness as she spoke.

"Have you tried reading? Doesn't that normally seem to work for you?" Ron replied his eyes bearing great concern that almost made Hermione want to smile at his kindness.

"I tried a couple of hours ago but it apparently there is only so much you can read before it just seems to wake your mind up again. Look, I am sorry about this. You go back to sleep if you want, I'll find another way."Hermione trailed feeling bad about the fact that whilst she didn't have to go into work in a few hours whilst being on maternity leave, Ron did and this wouldn't be helping him in any way at all.

"You are joking right?" Ron exclaimed and Hermione looked taken a back at his clear liveliness so early into the morning. "I am staying awake until you have fallen asleep. Why didn't you tell me about this?" He asked, both of them lying on their sides to face each other although given Hermione's situation there was quite a bit of distance between them.

"Because you need sleep, Ron! You still have to go to work for another few days and you can't be going in there like a comatose zombie. Not on my watch at least." She argued back and Ron laughed quietly.

"Well I have had more sleep than you have. Right now it is more important that you get some sleep than if I do. I will stay awake with you until you have fallen asleep and once you have, I will do the same. I'm not taking no for an answer either." He smiled, kissing her forehead before she closed her eyes . His arm was resting by her stomach and from where it was he felt a nudge.

"Is she kicking again?" Ron asked and Hermione nodded sleepily. "Is she meant to be kicking so much at this stage?" He went on to add and Hermione's eyebrows became knitted in confusion.

"I don't know... I never really asked. Perhaps we should ask at the appointment tomorrow."Hermione replied

"And that, my dear, is why you are the smart one." He whispered jokily before his wife slowly drifted off to sleep. He watched her as she lay their asleep. To Ron at this point the thought that he was going to become a Dad soon had become a lot less weird than it had originally seemed, but now as it got closer and closer to the due date he could feel himself becoming nervous. Nervous that he would do something wrong but knew they would be learning everything together. Nervous with excitement. To Ron, that was the best kind of that feeling.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So, is she okay?" Hermione asked as they sat in Healer Moon's office quietly. It was long since that late night conversation, many, many hours ago. Both Ron and Hermione now appeared to be far more awake than they had earlier on in the day. There was a strong smell of antiseptic and cleaning products and for once the top floor of St. Mungo's was surprisingly quiet.

"By the looks of it, your daughter appears to be doing rather well and seems very healthy. From what I can tell by the time she is born she will be around seven or eight pounds so not the smallest of babies, but not the biggest. Like I have said before she will probably get her height from you, Ron and be quite tall."Lily replied and Ron smiled.

"Is there anything more that you are able to tell us about her at this point?" Ron questioned and Healer Moon flicked through the pieces of parchment in front of her, spread across the desk that Ron and Hermione were sat on the opposite side of. The sound of the paper like material curling as its corners were flicked was like music to Hermione's ears.

"Well, there really isn't very much more than the estimated height and weight. Obviously as you get closer to the due date Hermione's appointments have increased and have become more frequent, but at this point around two weeks before your child is supposed to be born, we are obligated to have a bit more of a conversation. I just wanted to discuss with you both what will happen before your daughter arrives. Have either of you ever been around someone who has gone into labour?"Lily asked quietly and Ron and Hermione both shot a quick glance at one another.

"When my sister went into labour Hermione was with her. Harry and I were in the next room, and we all stayed with her until it was time to come here."Ron suggested

"And what exactly was that like from where you were, Hermione?" The questions went on. Hermione thought back to that day, the 17th of April. It had been a weird experience, but not just because their godson and nephew had been born, but she found out that she was pregnant. Thinking about it later on, she realised that she had blocked out the events at Harry and Ginny's house after just being so pleased about the discovery of the late evening.

"It wasn't and isn't how I imagined it to be. It wasn't like she was in any noticeable pain although she seemed a little tired. She just pointed out that her water had broken. Other than that there were no signs that it was going to happen, and Ginny appeared to be surprised by it as well." Hermione informed the healer.

"You were right in that that isn't how it normally is. Obviously it is different for everyone and anyone. It could be like Ginny's but more likely than not it probably won't be. You will probably feel some pain before it happens, which will be contractions starting. Again when your water breaks that might just feel like you have wet yourself or you might not even notice it. It is different in everyone. I know I am not exactly one to talk as I have not done any of this myself, but in the past four years I have delivered many babies and before that I spent three years studying to become a healer specialising in this area. When you do go into labour you will be in a lot of pain. I can't personally describe that to you but from what I can gather it is very different to other pain you might have felt before." Lily said becoming quiet as the room fell into silence. It was obvious at that point that she had remembered the Malfoy Manor incident.

The silence was then shattered by another question, "Anyway, have you both made a decision as to whether you want your daughter to be born at home or here in a hospital?"

Flashback

25th October 2005 10pm

Ron and Hermione stumbled up the stairs and into the bedroom that they shared. They had stayed a lot later than they had originally intended but both had agreed that given that most of the people who were attending the wedding they hardly ever saw, where as there had once been a time when they saw those people every day it wouldn't hurt to stay just a little longer than planned.

Gradually one by one their classmates had decided to head to their homes. Most of the people who had gone had children to tend to that they had left with parents, siblings or whoever else they could find. Before those people had been those who had brought any children that they had with them, those people being Seamus and Lavender, with their twin sons Aidan and Kieran and baby daughter – Jasmine and then also Neville and Hannah who's daughter had been born in June . She had been named Alice after his mother. Harry and Ginny had decided to remain a little longer as Molly and Arthur were looking after James for them.

Not many of the people in their year group actually did have children yet and so a lot of people were still at the wedding reception. These included Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny. Soon after it had struck half past nine Ron had decided it was best that they made a move as Hermione had begun to fall asleep on Harry's shoulder. That had brought them back to the present moment in this day.

Hermione stood and watched as Ron untied his shoe laces and took off his jacket. He didn't look as tired as she had imagined. She thought he would appear exhausted but perhaps not. He then gestured to the zip on her dress kindly and Hermione spun round so he could unzip it for her. One of the many things that were becoming more and more difficult to do herself.

"Did Ginny tell you what Lavender said about Jasmine?" Ron said diffusing the comfortable silence.

"What about Jasmine?" Hermione asked, turning her head over her shoulder as Ron unzipped the dress.

"Well I don't know why Ginny went on to tell me about the life of Seamus and Lavender but apparently they only just made it to the hospital before she was born. Imagine Seamus in that situation..."Ron chuckled and Hermione laughed.

"Yeah... imagine that..." She said climbing out of her dress and changing into pyjamas. She perched on the edge of their bed watching Ron as he to rummaged around for a pair of pyjamas to sleep in.

"Ron, can you promise me something?" Hermione questioned.

"Of course." Ron said, somewhat cheerily as he looked up from getting changed.

"Promise me that when the time comes you will try and get me to St. Mungo's." Hermione said, slightly more quietly thinking further ahead.

"I promise." Ron replied, smiling at her. "Besides, that's what we had originally planned anyway isn't it?"

"It is. It's just that at least if we are there if anything goes wrong with the baby, or either of us then there is a lot more help." Hermione spoke. She had grown very quiet as she spoke about her concerns. Ron sat down next to his wife and kissed her gently.

"I promise."

Flashback Ends.

"Definitely the hospital." Hermione confirmed and Lily nodded, writing it down on her notes. There were sets of notes everywhere, in piles and piles all over her desk. It vividly reminded Hermione of how her desk at the Ministry of Magic looked at times. As much as she loved her job, it was nice to have time away from it as well.

"That is fine by me." Healer Moon replied. "I suggest that about a week before your daughter's due date, pack a bag of everything you will need whilst you are here at St. Mungo's. Then if she does chose to arrive early then you will be ready. Ron if you are with Hermione at the time that this happens, whether this is earlier or later than planned, try to get her here as easily and as quickly as possible. I normally say to patients wait until the contractions are ten minutes apart so as quickly after that happens. Do you have any other questions?"

"No, I think we are both good." Hermione said and Ron nodded in agreement.

"Well then I will see you on Boxing Day. Merry Christmas." Lily smiled as they left.

XXXXXXXXXX

As Christmas approached them, as it did every other year, Diagon Alley became busy. Busy with bustling shoppers, excited children and the wizards and witches who would not rather be anywhere else at this time of year. The night was falling earlier and earlier as of recently. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon when the sight of the crisp sunset came rolling into London, making the painted shop windows on the little Wizarding street look evermore brighter and vivid than they would normally be.

As Ron placed the final few Skiving Snack boxes on a very high shelf before climbing down a long, narrow ladder, George entered the area where his younger brother was currently working. In the older Weasley's eyes, Ron looked tired. Tired but happy and moved with a spring in his step, like everything was perfect in the world. He was glad that his brother was so happy, as Ron had been when George and Angelina had gotten together. There had been a long patch where George had tried to cut himself off from everyone else after Fred had died and Ron and Hermione particularly had helped him through that. He knew that something had been going on between his brother and his wife before Hermione had gotten pregnant and although he didn't know what it was he was glad they had gotten things back together.

"Hey... how was it?" George asked making Ron jump in surprise. He stepped off the ladder and enchanted the love potions to float up to the next shelf and find a space near the top. They were best out of harm's way. He knew that better than a lot of people.

"It was fine, the healer just went over a final few things that we need to do before she comes. But she seems to be healthy and developing well so yes, everything is okay." Ron replied smiling.

"Do you reckon you will be ready in time?" George said.

"Knowing Hermione, we will be ready in two hours." Ron laughed and George grinned. Whenever Ron talked about his wife, his eyes seemed to light up on his face. As if expressing all the happiness his body could possibly contain. He had gotten used to it over the past eight years but it still felt weird. One of the main reasons being that Ron had disliked Hermione with a passion at first when he met her, and although their friendship had developed, more often than not they were fighting. There had been times when they had all suspected that maybe there was something of a connection between them, but then another argument would happen and that theory would go away. He knew how pleased Fred would be like he was if his twin could see where Ron and Hermione were now.

"When is the due date again?" George questioned as they walked down the stairs towards the main counter where the final few people of the day were being served, purple and orange paper bags with them as they left the shop.

"The 5th of January... why?" Ron narrowed his eyes questionably.

"I am just working out when you can start your paternity leave." George said as if talking to himself and Ron looked puzzled.

"What?" His younger brother replied.

"Well, Hermione started her maternity leave last month and you told me that she is going to be off work for at least a year and now it is your turn to join her and take a break too. It's not going to be much of a break once she's born but you know what I mean."George smiled

"When do you mean me to go and come back?" Ron asked

"If she is due on the 5th then how about as part of your Christmas present from Angelina and I – although we do have something else as well – you do a half day on Christmas Eve – so one o'clock - and then you are done. As for when you come back, take as long as you need. Normally it is a few weeks in the muggle world I hear but take a few months if you want. This is your daughter. Your first child, and I am not taking no for an answer."

"What about my shifts, what are you going to do about that?" Ron questioned

"Oh, don't you worry about that little brother." George grinned, "I'll move them around a little, we can all cover them between us, myself, Verity, Angelina, Louisa, Zack and anybody else who we can drag off Diagon Alley. We will work it out."

"Thanks, George. Really..." Ron smiled

"Yes of course you idiot, now go and stop that tower of puking pastilles from killing that child before I change my mind." George said and Ron walked away.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Well I hate to break it to you but you only have one week of peaceful happiness left." Ron said to Hermione as he walked into the kitchen where she was stood guiding something into the oven given that she couldn't reach down that far anymore.

"What? What do you mean?" Hermione questioned casting her eyes away from the oven confused.

"George said I can start my leave this time next week." Ron grinned and Hermione smiled

"That's great! And then at least we have a little while before she is born. I can't wait now." Hermione replied smiling

Ron returned the beam of sunshine. "Neither can I."

Authors Note: SORRY! I've been gone for a month and a day I know. I have just had three mock GCSE exams this week and so I needed to take a lot of time away from the laptop to revise and hopefully it all paid off! I don't know how long it will be until the next chapter is uploaded because next Thursday – Saturday I am going away to Belgium to see the World War One Battlefields. But after that and another week of school it is the Easter Holidays so I'll get a lot of writing done then. Anyway thank you and PLEASE REVIEW!