Ron spent another night on the armchair. He slept better than the previous night's knowing Guther was locked up but he wasn't over the shock of what happened. It had shaken him to his very core. He couldn't help but think his life would be over if he lost Hermione.
There were a few moments in his life when he genuinely thought she was gone from this world. It happened in second year when she'd been petrified. He remembered being distraught visiting her in hospital, longing for her to wake up, was it love he felt then? He didn't think so, Harry'd been the same, they'd both definitely missed her from the trio that year. The next time it happened had been on the hunt. When he heard her being tortured and seeing her lying limp below Bellatrix. Their first kiss had happened in the middle of a war zone and he honestly didn't think they'd both survive. He remembered thinking if only one of us can make it had to be her and he would do everything in his power to make sure she was safe. That all sounded very chivalrous and heroic but truth be told…he simply didn't want to outlive her.
Since they'd met at Hogwarts there had always been an underlying danger in their lives. That threat increased tenfold after the battle and their new found celebrity status. Death eaters who had escaped the battle even now…years later still sought revenge. Guther and his band of merry men being prime examples. On top of that Ron seemed to make powerful enemies on a weekly basis just doing his day job.
Hermione had not needed to raise her wand to duel since the 2nd May 1998. She had raised it ready to defend herself many many times, countless times, because that's what the trauma they experienced as teenagers did to a person. Living in a constant state of readiness. A loud bang, an unexpected visitor, an owl taping at the window any simple thing had Hermione, Ron and Harry reaching for their wands, hearts pounding. It took a few years before Hermione eventually felt safe living her life. Not afraid to be home alone or in a crowded place. The uneasy feeling, they all had since the war had subsided in her, she no longer walked into a room expecting the worst.
Ron had dedicated himself to protecting her, from their first kiss he thought. Actually no…it had been the moment he'd left them on the hunt. He'd known in that instant the mistake he'd made. He swore to himself if he ever found them…her…again he'd lay down his life to protect his best friends.
As he watched Hermione now, peaceful in suspension he flip flopped between emotions. Depressed thinking about how he'd become complacent and useless...how could he have let this happen to his wife and baby? Switching quickly to anger, he wasn't complacent…he was a bloody good, strong, Auror and he should feel safe walking through the bloody ministry of magic atrium.
There was too much time to think in here. He held Hermione's hand, rubbed her tummy, brushed her hair, wiped her face with a warm damp cloth. He checked in with the Alpha on shift. Paced around the room. Brushed his teeth and hair. Changed his clothes. Spoke to Monica for an update on the healing tests. There was so much time to think and worry. He cursed himself for ever complaining about her nagging. He'd love for her to be giving off about something stupid he'd said or done right now.
True to his word Harry arrived late morning. Ron was so relieved to see him, he jumped up and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Morning Harry! How's the ribs?"
"Morning, yeah much better thanks. Think they're well healed, just a bit achy. How's our patient?" Harry smiled.
"She's ok, healer's say the potions are working, she's getting stronger every dose. The tests with the baby show everything is progressing well too. Still to hear on the full 9-month prognosis but everything's been positive so far." Ron grinned.
"Great news mate! Now let me have some quality time with her while you get yourself sorted. Thought I'd read to her." Harry pulled out a large volume from his robes.
"Genius. Thanks mate, I'll be as quick as I can."
"No wait…hold on I'm here for a shift. Do not come back here for at least 5 hours. Get some sleep, take a shower. Oh and swing by The Burrow and see if your lovely mum's kept us dinner." Harry grinned then grabbed Ron by the shoulders and turned him around pushing him towards the door.
Ron who had been anxious to leave these four walls suddenly felt extremely anxious about actually leaving them. He moved towards the door under Harry's persuasion but didn't reach for the handle. "You promise you'll stay here…awake…alert?"
"Yes Ron, of course I will. What do you take me for?" Harry replied with an eye roll reaching for the handle himself.
"Ok, ok, 5 hours. Bye…Bye" he called over his shoulder towards Hermione.
Harry laughed as he closed the door behind him.
"Merlin Hermione, thought he was never going to leave. Can't believe he doesn't trust me…Oh no wait…there was that one time over putting my name in the goblet, didn't trust me then did he. Merlin that feels like a lifetime ago. He knows I can handle this. This is my kind of mission, inside, dry, comfy chair…could get used to shifts like these."
Harry sat down in Ron's armchair and leaned forward. He took Hermione's hand in his, it was warm and soft. "So you guys are having a baby. Congratulations. I'm really happy for you both. Imagine our kids heading off to Hogwarts together, think they'll be in the same school year…if I've worked out the dates right or thereabouts. Bloody hell I hope they don't get up to half as much as we did. What's the chances? Do you think they'll be in the same house? I mean any house would be fine but family should be in the same one. I was always so jealous how the Weasley's had each other. I'm sure these wee cousins will look out for one another." Harry paused, feeling stupid blathering on to someone in suspension. Usually Hermione would be the one doing all the talking. "Ginny is so excited by the way. Your news has really perked her up. Honestly Hermione, I can't wait for her to have the baby…not just to meet them, because I'm super excited to be a dad. But so I don't have to deal with pregnant Ginny any more. It'll be a wonder if she doesn't boot me out of the house before the baby arrives." Harry laughed, suddenly glad Hermione wouldn't have any recollection of this exchange. "One minute she's laughing, next she's crying then she's throwing herself at me. Shit I shouldn't have said that last bit. But yeah I honestly can't keep up." He chuckled.
"So umm I thought it was about time I actually read this. Hope it's still your favourite? Fancy hearing a chapter of Hogwarts: A History?...well of course you do. You're Hermione Granger Weasley and you read this book yearly so obviously this is a great idea. And it'll give me something to do instead of talking to myself." He gave her hand a squeeze before letting go and settled back into the chair to read.
"Hogwarts was founded in…"
…
The door opened and an enormous bouquet of pink flowers appeared followed by Ron. Harry was pleased to see he looked rested and refreshed.
"Alright mate, how's she been?" Ron asked enthusiastically.
"Well…err…she's exactly the same as you left her." Harry replied, rolling his eyes.
"Perfect."
"That's some bunch of flowers" Harry watched Ron place the bursting vase by the window.
"Yeah, I remember going to visit her aunt in a muggle hospital once. She'd slipped on ice and broken her arm, Hermione made us stop on the way to buy a bunch of flowers. Apparently that's what muggles do when they visit one another in hospital, bring flowers I mean." Ron looked very pleased with himself. "Wanted to brighten this place up for when she wakes tomorrow."
"Great idea, she'll love them." Harry smiled and nodded.
"Hope so. I cut them off that brush by our front porch steps. She planted it there the first spring after we'd moved in. Absolutely loves it, never done futtering and watering with the thing."
"Careful Ron, you're starting to sound jealous of a plant." Harry laughed.
"Stop if you git!" Ron chuckled, he was adjusting the flowers and turning the vase this way and that to get the best angle. "I just couldn't stop thinking about it after seeing the pink glow…these flowers are just the exact same colour." he said absentmindedly.
"Pink glow…?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Aw bloody fuck!" Ron spun round to look at Harry.
"Yous know you're having a girl?" Harry asked amazed.
"Err…yeah…I guess we do." Ron ran his hand around the back of his neck, ears red with embarrassment at being so stupid. "Merlin, I wasn't going to tell anyone…hope she'll not be mad."
"Promise I won't tell anyone…I'll even pretend I don't know if you want?"
"Nah, your rubbish at lying mate. I'm sure she won't mind. Wanna see?" he said excitedly.
"Yeah! Go on." Said Harry enthusiastically. Ron sat on the second chair and cast the gender reveal charm. A glowing blue orb floated into his own chest, a second blue light drifted into Harry, a third pink ball entered Hermione's chest and a final beautiful pink orb floated into Hermione's womb. "That's wonderful mate. I've never seen that cast before. Ginny didn't want to find out, I wanted to know but she was having none of it."
"Sure do what I do and wait for her to fall asleep." Ron joked.
"Aye right, then I accidentally say him or her and she'd 'avada kedavra' me for sure!" Both men laughed. "Did you really only find out after she was in suspension?"
"No, bloody hell, I'm not stupid! Just before, she was a bit scared, you know. She was thinking if we'd lost the baby in the attack we wouldn't have even known…if it would have been a boy or a girl. You know some people never wake up from suspension…but her case is different, healers have only placed her under to let her recuperate…you know?" He added quickly.
"Yeah definitely, she's going to be ok Ron. They both are. The healers were in here every hour today and everything is fine." he said assuredly.
Ron nodded and smiled gratefully. "She wanted to know before going under in case something happened."
"That's fair. Well I'm made up for you. A wee girl. Shit you're going to have some fun when those boyfriends start coming home from Hogwarts for the holidays!" Harry laughed.
Ron flushed red. "I can't begin to imagine. You'll have to come over and help me intimidate them."
"Sounds like fun! You're happy then?"
"Of course. Think I'll make a great girl dad. As long as she'll let me teach her Quidditch as well as playing dress up we'll be fine. Any clue what you're having?"
"No idea. Everyone seems to have an opinion though. Bumps high…it's a boy, eating figs…it's a girl. Even Hagrid was in there with a prediction…says Fang can always tell. I don't care as long as there is a baby soon. I was just telling Hermione there, your sister is a nightmare right now. Never know which Ginny I'm coming home to. She's either crying, cleaning like a machine, angry as a caged Hungarian Horntail or desperate for a…err…never mind."
"Ew…bloody hell Harry!"
"What!? It's not my fault!" Harry held his hands up surrendering.
"Merlin! Right enough of this…Mum sent two roast dinners. And I grabbed my chess set if you've got time?" Ron said hopefully.
"Yeah sure why not. I'll let you beat my ass once but then I'm off to see what mood your sister is in." Harry grinned mischievously.
"Err right" said Ron desperately wanting to avoid this subject. "Food first?"
"Of course. Oh and Ron."
"Yeah?"
"You're right, those roses are the exact colour of pink as the gender charm."