Chapter 8
After shutting the bathroom door, Harry put his elbows on the counter and lowered his head into his hands. He had wanted to be with Hermione for so long and he was thrilled they were together. But he felt horrid about Ginny. He was going to break her heart and they had been through loads of stuff together. Yet, he didn't love her. And he had a very strong feeling that she didn't love him. Just because you are comfortable in a relationship, doesn't mean it should stay that way.
Harry turned on the shower and started to undress. His guilt for Ginny was overwhelming but it still couldn't stifle the unbridled joy he felt for finally being able to hold Hermione in his arms. He looked in the mirror and smiled at his reflection. I can get through today, he thought, and everyone will eventually get over it. Then Hermione and I can live together in harmony. Harry turned around and got in the shower, unaware that Hermione was curled up in pain on the living room floor.
Hermione was laying on the floor, staring at the teacup that she had dropped when he collapsed. She moaned while her arms were clutched protectively around her stomach. She heard Harry get in the shower and hoped that he couldn't hear her soft cries of pain. What did I eat, she thought? This was karma for sleeping with Harry while he was still with Ginny. Hermione whimpered as she grabbed her wand. She started to do a full body scan on herself when her body was wracked with pain.
"Harry," she cried out loudly. She needed him to be there. Harry came running out of the bathroom, as naked as the day was long, with his wand out and at the ready. He looked around, confused when he didn't see anyone in Hermione's house, and then noticed her laying on the floor.
"Hermione!" he rushed towards her. "What's wrong?" Hermione might have laughed at a naked Harry Potter running around her house but the pain was too much. She could barely speak and Harry rushed to put on some clothes.
"Hang on, Hermione," he called from the bedroom. She heard him rummaging around for any little bit of masculine clothing that he could put together. He came back in with the same sweatpants from earlier and one of Hermione's pink muggle T-shirts that read "Charles Mulligan's Steakhouse: Not just for men". Harry sat down and took Hermione in his arms.
"I'm taking you to St. Mungo's," he said. He looked down at her, afraid of the pain she was experiencing.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "I think…. I think I…" she began to cry when Harry apparated both of them to the Apparation Area at St. Mungo's Hospital.
"Help," Harry screamed as a nurse came running towards them. "It's Hermione Granger, something is wrong with her." Harry stood up as none other than Nurse Beatrice levitated Hermione onto a stretcher. Her eyes widened when she saw Harry in muggle clothes and Hermione in her white bathrobe.
"Goodness, Harry, you weren't kidding when you said Hermione was sick!" With Harry's help, she began to wheel Hermione to the elevators. "Now, tell me exactly what happened," she said to Harry. He looked down at Hermione, who shook her head slightly. He took her hand and looked back up at Beatrice.
"Well, erm, I went to visit Hermione and uh… she seemed fine but then I went to the bathroom and when I uh… came out, she was on the ground," Harry realized to his own ears how ridiculous it sounded and Beatrice must have thought the same thing because she looked from Harry to Hermione a few times.
"Very well," she said when they reached the elevators. She looked down at Hermione. "I know you can't speak right now, dear, but can you answer yes or no questions?" Hermione let out a painful exhalation of breath, then nodded slowly. They were the only ones in the elevator.
"Are you taking any medications?" Hermione shook her head no.
"Are you allergic to anything?" Another no.
"Are you pregnant?" Hermione's eyed widened and she didn't answer. Harry's mouth dropped open as he looked from Hermione to Beatrice. He touched Hermione's face and when she finally turned to meet his eyes, she had tears running down her cheeks.
"Hermione…." he asked the silent question that he already knew the answer to. It was at that moment that the elevator doors opened and Beatrice pushed the gurney forward, taking a sharp right through the doors that said OB/GYN.
"Please stay behind those doors, Mr. Potter," Beatrice called over her shoulder. Harry stopped, seemingly grounded by the amount of information that had just been thrust upon him. Pregnant, he thought. But we had sex this morning. How could this happen… and why was she in so much pain? The last thing he heard before he turned to walk away was the sound of Hermione's screams down the hall.
When Hermione awoke in the hospital bed some time later, she knew two things for certain. The first, she was pregnant with Harry Potter's child. The second was that she was not alone. There was a solitary person sitting in a wooden chair across the room
"Hello, Hermione," Luna Lovegood said severely, looking at Hermione over her square shaped glasses. Since Hogwarts, Luna had lost most of that dreamy look she was famously known for. She graduated from Healer school shortly after Hermione but had gone into the field of gynecology. Luna was perfect around expectant mothers and their newborn children. Zen enough to keep them comfortable but hardened enough to maintain authority under stress. Hermione had the pleasure of working with Luna but never had the misfortune of being one of her patients.
"Hello, Luna," Hermione said with a sigh. Luna believed in waiting until commitment to have a child, whether that was marriage or even a hand fasting ceremony. Having a child outside of a committed relationship was detrimental to the child's well-being, thought Luna, probably because she grew up in a single family home and felt that a child needed two parents to thrive. Hermione knew she was in for a lecture and braced herself for the barrage.
Luna walked slowly to Hermione. They had become good friends over the years and not just because they were both Healers. When Hermione was dating Ron, she had constantly gone to Luna for advice, not because she was particularly good at dating, but because she was good at life. Luna had an outside perspective that was made unique because of her upbringing and Hermione could appreciate that. Recently, Luna had begun to talk an awful lot about Neville Longbottom and the two of them had actually gone out to the Leaping Lizard with Hermione and Harry a few times. Hermione valued her friendship with Luna and considered her to be one of the wisest people she knew.
When Luna reached Hermione's bedside, she bent down and slowly wrapped her arms around her best friend. Hermione, caught completely off guard, burst into tears and let Luna pat her back softly. Luna knew enough not to ask about the baby, knowing that Hermione would share her feelings when she was willing. Yet, Luna had seen Ron Weasly waiting at Hermione's office last night and she knew Harry Potter was currently in the waiting room. Hermione detached herself from Luna's embrace and laid back against the pillows.
"So," Hermione said, her voice taking on the detached, professional tone of a Healer. "I know I am pregnant, but how?" When Luna raised her eyebrows, Hermione quickly said, "I know HOW, Luna. What I meant to say is… I had sex this morning. Why was I in so much pain?" Hermione looked scared when Luna brought the chair close to Hermione's bed and sat down. She took her friend's hand in hers and met her eyes.
"Hermione, you are sterile," Luna began. "You cannot have a baby." Hermione began to protest when Luna interrupted her. "Against all odds, you became pregnant. There was a special type of magic at work here, one I cannot fully explain. I can only guess that you have an extraordinary love for a very powerful wizard. Only that combination could have produced the child growing within you." Hermione was overcome with emotions once more and Luna continued talking. "You don't have to tell me who it was as I can probably guess. But you need to be careful. Since you were sterile before today, your body was not equipped to produce a child so we will have to monitor your progress carefully." She stood up. "Harry is outside." Hermione glanced up sharply.
"Thank you Luna," Hermione said with a nod. Luna walked out and went to find Harry. What a predicament they were in. Ron could have never gotten Hermione pregnant, had they even tried. Her and Harry must have finally gotten together, but at what cost to those around them? She walked slowly down the hallway towards to waiting room. She had no doubt that Harry would take care of Hermione even on this long road ahead of them.
She found him pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath. Luna noticed his tight, grey sweatpants and pink shirt. He was obviously wearing Hermione's clothes and Luna knew that if Ginny saw him, there would be hell to pay. Luna walked towards Harry.
"Harry," he looked up expectantly at her. "Hermione is fine and you can see her but you have to come with me first." She motioned down the hallway.
"What for?" he asked suspiciously.
"Just come on!" Luna said, grabbing his elbow. She found an empty room and pushed him into it.
"Luna, what are you doing?" he asked, backing up when Luna brought out her wand. He knew that she was Hermione's closest acquaintance and he was afraid of physical retribution for impregnating her friend.
"Colovaria," she pointed her wand at Harry's chest. Immediately, his shirt turned a solid green color and his sweatpants turned black. "That is more respectable," Luna grinned as she put away her wand. "I am not very good when it comes to clothes." Harry laughed when he realized what she had done.
"Thank you, Luna. I had forgotten what I was wearing," he said. "Can I go see Hermione now?" he asked. Not waiting for an answer, Harry started to walk towards the door. But Luna smacked him over the head when he got near.
"Hey!" Harry yelled.
"Harry James Potter," Luna shouted back, "if you treat Hermione poorly, I will personally send an army of Heliopaths to run you over!" Harry and Luna glared at each other until Harry finally conceded.
"Luna, I have always loved her. We will get through this like we have gotten through anything else," he said. Luna nodded curtly and stepped aside so he could walk past her. Harry sprinted back down the hallway towards Hermione's room and stopped when he reached the opened door. Sitting down and talking with Hermione was Ron and he was shaking his head dejectedly. When Harry walked into the room, Ron stood up and blocked his way.
"Is it true, Harry?" Ron asked, his face turning a deep shade of red. Harry noticed that Ron's hands were balled into fists at his sides and Harry searched carefully for his wand.
"Ron, I'm sorry for how you are feeling," Harry said.
"THE HELL YOU ARE!" Ron screamed and took a swing at Harry. Harry let the blow land then stood up to face Ron again.
"I didn't want you to find out this way," said Harry sympathetically. He glanced over at Hermione, who was trying to get out of bed. Harry made a move towards her but Ron pushed him back against the wall.
"You fucked my ex-girlfriend while you're still dating my sister?" he all but growled in Harry's face. "And you have the nerve to show up here while Hermione is…. Pregnant with your bastard child?" Ron had his left forearm against Harry's throat and his right hand was back as if to take another swing. Harry tightened the grip on his wand.
"Ron," he said carefully, "back off and leave the room." Ron looked at Harry's face then back at Hermione who was standing on her feet a bit wobbly. Ron grunted and took a step back, releasing Harry.
"You two deserve each other," Ron spat out. He whipped around and left in a moment. Hermione started to sway and Harry rushed forward to catch her before she hit the ground. He carefully lowered her back into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
"Are you OK?" he asked gently. She looked into his brilliant green eyes and caressed his swollen eye.
"I am now," she said with a smile. She put her hand on the back of his neck and brought his face to meet hers. They kissed for a few breathless moments and didn't notice when someone else joined the room.
"This is fucking fantastic," said a voice behind them. Harry straightened and found himself staring into the angry face of Ginny Weasley.