Chapter 24: The Final Promise

Authors Note: Hello! I'm currently writing this on Saturday 22nd March 2014 at 6pm but by the time this is published online it will probably be April meaning I'll have got my results for my mock exams and I'll have been to Belgium and back – something which I'm rather nervous about. I have a lot of ideas for this chapter and so I imagine that it will be pretty long so be prepared for a long read! Anyway, as you know I always set a chapter on my birthday and this is it for 2005. Anyway here is chapter 24!

Saturday 24th December 2005

"It is just five hours Ron, I will be fine." Hermione said as Ron tied his shoe laces. She was sat on the end of their bed watching as her husband got ready for work. It was finally his last day of work before he could take paternity leave before their daughter was born, and Ron was becoming increasingly reluctant to leave.

"Fine, but only if you are sure." Ron sighed, as with his help Hermione pulled herself off the bed. She was already dressed and had been for a few hours now. The insomnia had lessened over the past week, and gradually Hermione had managed to get a little more sleep. But the previous night, it had happened again. Over time Ron and Hermione had decided that when it happened that they would just lie there and talk as Ron didn't want her to be the only one awake in the middle of the night with nothing to do. At least if they were both awake together, then it wasn't so lonely.

"Of course I'm sure. Besides all I'm doing is going out with Harry. We won't be that long anyway." Hermione told him informatively.

"Okay, okay I believe you. As long as you both don't get caught in that weather. They forecasted heavy snow in the Daily Prophet last night. Just be careful." He said concerned and Hermione embraced him in the easiest way she could without her stomach getting in the way.

"You be careful too, okay?" Hermione said

"Okay." Ron replied, "I will see you later." He smiled pulling on a coat and disapparating.

XXXXXXXXXX

As it always was in the early winter, Godric's Hollow was blanketed with snow. So far it was only a thin layer and the snowflakes were falling at a rather slow speed but in both from where Hermione was stood, it was clear that the weather had no sign of stopping any time soon. Unlike a lot of other years though, the little Wizarding village was rather quiet. A few people stepped in and out of the pubs and the occasional passer by headed into small corners of the graveyard. For eleven o'clock, it felt like there should be far more people around, but there weren't and it was if the little location was dead.

This had become a tradition between Harry and Hermione after the war had ended. On the Christmas Eve of 1998, the year after they had been on the run and they had after extensive searching found James and Lily Potter's Graves, Harry had asked Hermione if she would come with him again. Hermione had been more than happy to and since then they had done this every year. Sometimes they would do this in the evening, when the carol singers in the church could be heard, but this year they had both agreed that it wouldn't be for the best given the current situation if Hermione slipped on the ice in the dark. So here they were in the late morning.

"Are you still sure about not bringing Ginny here on this day?" Hermione asked and Harry shook his head.

"We have come a few times, like on the anniversary of their deaths so always on our wedding anniversary. But I come more on my own. I can talk to them then. With Ginny, I love her to death and she is my wife but it just doesn't feel right bringing her here. Their deaths symbolise everything that formed the past that I had, and I don't want those memories to be brought back with Ginny." Harry said, taking Hermione's hand as they walked slowly towards the shared gravestone. It looked exactly the same as it did every year, except after the war ended, now that someone was able to regularly attend the grave, Harry took care of it.

"Hey, I know I haven't asked you this in a long, long time, years I think. But please could you-" Harry started and Hermione cut him off knowing what he was going to say.

"You want me to do one of those wreaths don't you?" Hermione smiled and Harry grinned

"Please." Hermione silently moved her wand in a circular motion and the white wreath with holly and mistletoe carefully fell into place.

"Thank you." Harry nodded. Hermione remained with him for a few minutes as they stood in a friendly silence before she had to go and sit down. It was now getting to a point where she could only stand for so long before she needed to take a seat. From where Hermione was sat, she could tell Harry was talking to them, his parents and it made her smile. She smiled because she knew that he would be talking about baby James or how Ginny was pregnant again. He probably wouldn't tell them about how Ginny still was unhappy about being pregnant and he couldn't tell whether she even wanted another child, but he would tell them all of the happy things. She could tell this from the animated expression on his face.

"You okay?" Harry asked and Hermione looked up as he sat down on the bench next to her, realising that her eyes had started to drift due to the lack of sleep and discomfort she had experienced in the past few weeks. Lily had just said that it was her body gradually preparing for the birth.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Hermione replied smiling, "Just tired that's all."

"How long have you got now?" Harry questioned and Hermione sighed

"One week, two days and counting." She answered and Harry laughed at how Hermione really was counting down the days. Silence fell upon the two friends once again as they sat in the snowy graveyard. It was blissful almost.

"Are you ready for this?" Harry said "You're going to be someone's Mum and Dad."

"I think so... I hope so..."Hermione told him, "We will be."

"You are going to be such great parents." Harry told her and Hermione smiled resting her head on Harry's shoulder.

"You look really pale. Are you alright?" Harry asked looking clearly concerned and Hermione lifted her head slightly so she could speak to him. She could tell that he was anxious as it was almost as if he was trying to scour right inside of her brain for answers. She felt fine, other than a little tired, but clearly that concerned Harry more than he let on.

"Harry, I assure you that I am absolutely fine. I would tell you if I wasn't." Hermione sighed.

"Come on." Harry said "I'm taking you home."

"What? Why?"Hermione exclaimed as with Harry's help, she slowly found her feet.

"Because you look exhausted and like you're not quite here in the moment. Besides, it's cold and we were done here anyway." Harry said, "I'm sorry, but I can't help but worry. You're like my sister, therefore I'm obligated to be concerned."

"Fine." Hermione sighed and they walked to the nearest place at which they could use the floo network. Once again, the graveyard was silent and empty.

XXXXXXXXXX

They sat in the living room as the snow continued to fall outside, getting thicker and deeper by the minute. Harry had a coffee in hand as Hermione sat with a glass of water. Once they had arrived back at 26 Snowberry Road, Harry insisted that he stay with her for a while to make sure she was alright, to which Hermione insisted that he have a coffee if he was staying a while. A blanket was draped over the two friends as like she had in the graveyard, Hermione sat resting her head on Harry's shoulder as he had an arm wrapped around her comfortingly. He hadn't been able to get much of an answer out of Hermione as to whether she was alright or not but knew she would tell him if something was wrong.

"Thanks for coming with me today." Harry said breaking the silence.

"No problem, you know I'll come with you any time you need me to, Harry." Hermione replied, smiling tiredly.

"Well, that will depend on the baby won't it?" Harry added

"We could always bring her with us if you didn't mind." Hermione said, "Ron would look after her if he wasn't working though."

"This is a weird question, but does your daughter actually have a name yet?" Harry laughed and Hermione smiled once again

"She does, we've chosen not to tell anybody until she makes an appearance though." Hermione chuckled. Silence fell once again and before long Harry noticed that Hermione had drifted off into a light sleep. Glancing at his watching, he grew suddenly alarmed and woke her up.

"Hermione," He said, gently shaking her awake, "Hermione it's one o'clock. Do you mind if I go and pick up James and take him home?"

"No, no it's fine. Honestly you go..." Hermione yawned, "I'll see you tomorrow." Slowly Hermione drifted back off to sleep again. Harry planted a brotherly kiss on her forehead; made sure she was covered with the blanket and left a note for Ron before disapparating home.

Hermione's sleep didn't last long. She continuously tossed and turned as sleep eluded her. Every so often she felt the pains that she believed she had been experiencing for the past few days, which Lily had told her were the body preparing for the birth, but were nothing to worry about. Whenever she moved, the pain disappeared. However, she was now getting to the point where sometimes it didn't just simply vanish and it hung around for a little longer. This was starting to worry her.

Not long after two o'clock, the fireplace lit up in a green, glimmering light. Ron stepped out looking happy and merry with a paper back in hand. He smiled as he realised Hermione was in the room and kissed her cheek as he headed into the kitchen, Hermione not far behind him.

"Have you seen the snow outside? People were about shin deep in it in Diagon Alley. That's why I flooed instead of apparating. How are you?" Ron asked unpacking a pack of tea bags and placing them in a cupboard above his head.

"Fine. How about you?" Hermione smiled and he grinned back at his wife.

"A little tired, but great. Did you go to Godric's Hollow with Harry?"

"Yeah we weren't out too long. Got back about two hours ago before the weather got any worse." Hermione lied, she had clearly avoided telling Ron anything surrounding the fact that Harry decided to bring her back because he was worried she wasn't well. She wasn't going to tell him that and worry him. Not yet at least. "So, you're off now too..."

"George said to take as long as necessary... but I've already told you that haven't –" A sudden rush of stinging surged through Hermione, causing her to double over in pain. Ron's sentence remained unfinished as Hermione gasped aloud.

"Hermione? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Ron said, his hand reaching for her arm gently as she returned to standing upright again. She was wincing and tears appeared to sting her eyes.

"I'm fine honestly, I'm fine." She replied, grimacing as she tried to catch her breath. Ron immediately felt like he had been drained of all contentment and fear consumed him. This hadn't been expected at all, and Hermione was in so much denial that she hadn't realised what was happening yet. But Ron had.

"Has that pain happened before?" Ron asked in the hope that he'd get Hermione on the right train of thought and make her realise what was happening.

Hermione recognised the pain. It was the same pain that had happened earlier on in the day. Except that pain had been a lot less... painful. It had been short and weak and went away rather quickly. This was the polar opposite of those pains, and they were getting worse. "It was happening before I went out, so about ten o'clock – that's when it first started. It happened a few times whilst I was out with Harry, I didn't say anything though because they went away quickly. But they just started to get worse then..."

Ron slowly worked it out. He had left Hermione at nine o'clock and two hours later at eleven, she had been experiencing these pains. Harry had brought her back at twelve and left an hour later to fetch James. He had got home ten minutes ago at quarter past two.

"So...four hours?"Ron calculated and Hermione's eyes widened as she realised what was going on.

"Is- is this labour?" Hermione said and Ron looked into her eyes, not knowing what to say. She started shaking her head, "No... no I'm not due for another week...no..."

"How did you not realise you were in labour?" Ron exclaimed, his ears going red as he spoke. Anxiety filled his voice as they stood face to face in their kitchen. Neither one of them had taken to notice the fact that as time went on, the snow was getting deeper.

"Oh! Well I'm sorry; we have never done this before! What are you thinking - this is our fifth child!" Hermione argued back.

"I don't know... I guess I just thought you'd know when it happened." Ron mumbled

"Well I didn't know. I've NEVER done this before Weasley!" Hermione shouted, she quickly grew quiet again and bit her lip, noticing the latest development.

"Alright I'm sorry I'm just panicking right now. So would you if you got home from work to find that your wife hasn't even realised that she has gone into labour! You've got that look on your face like something's wrong..." Ron trailed off reaching for one of her hands, which appeared to be shaking.

Hermione looked down and then lifted her head once again. "My water just broke." She whispered, hardly able to speak out of shock.

Ron glanced down and noticed the liquid on the floor and the dampness on the legs of Hermione's jeans. He smiled as he met her eyes once again, "So it has." He said simply, he could feel his heartbeat getting faster and faster, whether that was with excitement or fear Ron knew that this was both a good and bad feeling to be experiencing. "We need to get you to St. Mungo's."

"Send an owl to Lily and let her know what's going on." Hermione told him rather quickly.

"We can't. I sent Pig out to the Burrow this morning and he hasn't come back. I guess Mum and Dad kept him at the Burrow so he didn't get caught in the snow. Well, never mind, we can just go straight there. We can head over, and then I'll come back for the bag you packed." Ron took Hermione's hand and they hurriedly headed back into the living room where their fireplace that was connected to the floo network was located. They both stood in the fireplace, which had become rather cramped given the baby's increasing growth. Ron reached for the floo powder and called out "St. Mungo's!" before letting go of the sooty substance.

Normally, green flames would surround them and soon enough, they would be at their wanted destination. But this wasn't normal, and nothing happened. They simply remained there surprised at the fact that they were still standing in their living room at home.

"But it worked! It worked not even ten minutes ago!" Hermione sighed as she turned to see Ron stepping out and methodically banging his head on one of the walls. "Bloody snow."

"Hermione honestly, we're in a situation right now where I don't think I can cope with the word blood. Maybe later, but not now..." He trailed. "Okay, okay... don't panic," he stuttered, "What if I apparate?"

"I'm not the one panicking Ron." Hermione laughed nervously, "And there's no way that I'm letting you go out and disapparate in such a state. You'll end up splinching yourself. Look, I'll try calling Mum and Dad, maybe they could give us a lift, even if it's not to St. Mungo's then at least some sort of hospital." She added, picking up the phone. A dull, flat drone was all that appeared as soon as she put the device to her ear.

The look on Hermione's face told Ron exactly what was going on. "You have got to be kidding me." The look on his wife's face softened and Ron began to think exactly what Hermione was also thinking. They were alone, with no way of contacting anyone, and Hermione was clearly already quite far into labour (although that was something they'd only just discovered). They were in a position which they hadn't ever expected to be in, or ever thought it could possibly happen.

Ron sat down next to Hermione. He could see the worry on her face, as she stared endlessly straight ahead. He knew exactly what their next conversation would be and had a rough idea how this Christmas Eve would pan out as it was their only option left. "We only have one option," Ron whispered, "but I'm not going to lie, Hermione. I'm really scared I'll hurt you or the baby."

Hermione lifted Ron's hand and placed it on her heart, he could feel it pounding in her chest and at that moment he realised how terrified Hermione was as well. He had thought he was scared, they both were, but Hermione's fear was there for different reasons as well as his own.

"I trust you with my life, Ron." Hermione smiled shakily, "I trust you with hers too."

"Are you sure?" Ron said nervously.

"I can't do this without you." Hermione whispered and Ron nodded, confirming the role he'd play in this.

"Okay, so what do I do?"Ron asked, as he helped Hermione back up from the sofa. "How about we get you upstairs first?" They headed up the stairs rather slowly, having to stop once for a contraction. When they finally made it into their bedroom, Hermione carefully sat down on the bed as if trying to avoid any sort of discomfort being caused.

"Get some towels from the bathroom, and your wand too. I think you left it in the kitchen." Ron quickly hurried back, he didn't know whether it was nerves or adrenaline, but he was running on either one or the other. He couldn't believe that this was the situation they had ended up in and stared at himself in the mirror, trying to figure out if this was all real or not.

"Here." Ron said, handing Hermione two books. "I'm in this for the long haul but I need you and Horcrux hunting eighteen year old Hermione Granger right now. The Hermione Granger who read from a book and told me what to do and how to do something. I'll do whatever you say and worse comes to the worse I'll have a panic attack while you give birth. Now what do we do?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows at Ron as she sat on the edge of the end of the bed, looking at him as if he'd just spoken in Mandarin. This was the scared version of the Ron she knew and she could tell how terrified he was but also how much hope he had about wanting this to go well.

"I guess, now we just wait until the contractions get closer." Hermione sighed and Ron nodded.

For the next hour they remained in a somewhat monotonous pattern. Every so often, a contraction would hit Hermione, each one getting more painful each time. Within that time Hermione ended up in several positions, knelt on the floor leaning onto the bed, and walking around the room, hoping that would ease the pain. Ron had spent the majority of time trying to be encouraging and holding her hand. Surprisingly the time went rather quickly and the labour started to go quicker than they had imagined it to do so.

"Is it meant to go this quickly?" Ron asked

"I think it differs from person to per-." Hermione replied wincing

"Breathe, Hermione." Ron said rubbing her back as another shooting pain circulated through his wife.

"How far apart was that one?" Hermione gasped, trying to catch her breath.

"A minute, give or take a few seconds. "Ron responded. "Can this be the point from which we follow what the book says?" Hermione nodded in response. "I'll go and get some more towels." By the time Ron returned he noticed that Hermione's jeans and underwear had been discarded on the floor as she sat where she had been sat before in her navy flowing top, inhaling and exhaling quietly. He helped her to sit upright at a slant so she was lying down slightly and sat at the end of her feet.

"I have to do what?!" Ron exclaimed as he looked at the page of the book Hermione had handed to him. He suddenly felt far more nervous than he had before this moment, and he realised how involved he was going to be in their daughter's birth. Far more than either of them would have expected.

"It's not exactly a foreign land, Ron."Hermione giggled painfully whilst Ron raised his eyebrows at her anxiously and followed her instructions. He was terrified that he would do something wrong and hurt Hermione or the baby, but he went along with what he was doing and became rather surprised.

"Four fingers space, five if you count the fact that I could get my thumb in too. Does that work out to about nine centimetres? Maybe ten? I don't think you're going to be pushing for a long time though." Ron informed her, sitting back for a moment.

"Wh- why's – that?" Hermione stuttered, her heart pounding in her chest as she listened to Ron's surprisingly calm voice.

"Because I think I can feel her head."Ron smiled and Hermione grew paler, trying to acknowledge what he had just said. He couldn't be right. He couldn't possibly be right. But maybe he was.

"Are you sure?" Hermione stumbled. She suddenly grimaced, reaching for Ron's hand and squeezing it through the contraction before breathing out, "Oww...I need to push."

"Well, I definitely felt something. Hermione, if you want to push then go ahead."Ron said and slowly Hermione pushed, pain tearing through her as she did so. She had imagined that it would hurt, but perhaps not as much as this. For the next half an hour, Hermione continued to push, with each push becoming more and more painful. As time went by Hermione became more and more tired as she grew paler. Ron continued to guide her through what was going on, encouraging her along the way.

"You're doing brilliantly, Hermione." Ron smiled as Hermione pushed once again.

"I-I can't- do- this." She panted trying to catch her breath. Half an hour ago, Ron had told her he could feel their daughter's head, now here they were 30 minutes on, and in Hermione's eyes it felt like they weren't getting anywhere.

"Yes, yes, you can. Y-You're Hermione Granger. I've never believed that you can do anything more than now." Ron said kindly squeezing the hand of hers that he had been holding. "And besides, her head's out."

Hermione continued to push through the next few minutes until Ron finally said to her "One last push!" As she pushed for the final time, she cried out in pain, as sound that scarily reminded Ron of their encounter at Malfoy Manor. The pain suddenly dispersed as the baby slid out like it was the easiest process possible.

"That's it, Hermione! She's here!" Ron beamed as he carefully lifted the baby into his arms and cleaned the blood off her tiny body. With a wave of his wand, the afterbirth which had also been delivered vanished completely. He then went on to cut the umbilical cord with a severing charm.

"The baby, " Hermione's voice cracked "Is she okay?"

"She's more than okay, love. She's perfect." As he wrapped the baby up gently with a towel and held her properly for first time, a cry erupted from her. He looked her over slowly as she opened her eyes and looked back at him. Ginger hair, blue eyes. Just like him. But he could already see some of Hermione's features too. In his eyes, she truly was perfect. He moved towards Hermione, and sat next to her on the edge of the bed where she was propped up. Hermione's eyes landed on their daughter for the first time, and Ron steadily lay the baby in his wife's arms.

"Hello Rose." Hermione sniffed, tears starting to fall down her cheeks as she spoke to their daughter. "We have been waiting to meet you."

"We've loved you for so long," Ron smiled "And you're beautiful Rosie. You're so, so beautiful."

"Are you crying Ron?" Hermione beamed, turning her head to face him.

"Maybe a little." Ron said, tears streaming down his face. He gazed at his wife; her face was pale with a shiny sheen of sweat over it that had also dampened her hair considerably. He reached over and kissed her lovingly. "I'm so, so proud of you. I love you so much..."

"You were amazing Ron, thank you for being here. I love you too." Hermione replied.

Ron reached down and planted a kiss on Rose's forehead. "Welcome to the world, Rose."

Authors Note: So... ROSE'S HERE! I'm not sure whether you'll have seen that coming or not but I'd like to think that it was a bit unexpected. This has taken me nearly a month to write, given that I went away to Belgium (which was spectacular by the way) and I've had so much difficulty writing this chapter. I'm sorry I've kept you hanging but the fact is that I'm fifteen years old, I've never given birth myself and I don't have any children and without the embarrassment of asking people around me, I had to do A LOT of research. Anyway thank you so so much for reading this, happy Easter and hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. PLEASE REVIEW!