Hermione stirred from a deep sleep. She couldn't remember going to bed, in fact she couldn't remember anything. Everything felt sore and her throat was dry. She tried to open her eyes but they were too heavy. In the effort she gave a soft groan.
"Hermione…love, are…are you awake?" Ron was there, his voice was soft and he sounded nearby.
"Ron" she moaned slowly turning her head towards his sound. "Are…are you there?" Her head was aching, it felt like she was trying to wake from a coma.
"I'm right here love" she felt him squeeze her hand, she hadn't realised he'd been holding it.
"Is it…is it the weekend? Am I…am l…late?" She asked, not understanding how she could feel so exhausted.
"Huh? No love. You're at St Mungo's."
"St Mungo's?" She whispered confusedly. Taking all her effort she blinked her eyes open. Ron's face was close to her full of concern. His red hair bright in contrast to the white surroundings. His handsome features came into focus while the rest of her peripheral vision remained slightly blurred.
"Yeah love, take it easy. Do you remember what happened?"
"I…I…I have no idea. We were at work? We were going for lunch?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I can't…I can't think Ron…tell me."
Ron wasn't sure how to proceed. He'd expected her to wake up and panic, he was ready to calm her, console her. He didn't know what words to use to explain what had happened. She hadn't even mentioned the baby.
"Well we were leaving the office to get lunch before our appointment with Monica."
"Monica?" She interrupted, her voice becoming stronger. "Monica?" she repeated like she was trying to place the name. Ron could see her trying to think, her brow became furrowed and then suddenly a light ignited in her big brown eyes. As realisation dawned she wrenched her hand from his grasp and both her hands flew to her stomach. "Ron, I'm pregnant, I forgot I was pregnant, something bad happened…the baby! Is the baby ok? Am I still pregnant?". She shouted trying to struggle to sit up. Fear etched on her face.
"Yes, yes, yes. Stop Hermione, calm down, the baby is ok. Look watch" he urgently reassured her and immediately cast the confirmation charm.
At these words she settled back onto the bed. Her face shifted again as she watched the golden orbs moving between them and she started to sob. Ron jumped to his feet and leaned over her, pulling her a gentle hug. "Don't cry love, it's ok, everything's going to be ok."
"Ron, tell me what happened. I feel so lost." she asked desperately.
"Shh love. Keep calm. You're safe. The baby is safe. I'll tell you everything." He stroked her hair, kissed her forehead and cheeks trying to stop the tears from falling. "We left your office and took the lift down to the atrium. We were going out for lunch together before coming to see Monica. You were scheduled for a detailed conception assessment to check on the baby and pregnancy and everything." She nodded slowly, it seemed like the pieces were falling back into place for her so he went on. "As we stepped out of the lift we were attacked. It was the death eater that escaped last week. He only fired two curses before he reached the floo and disappeared. The bastard! I tried to protect you, but I just made it worse…Gods Hermione I'm so sorry." Then it was his turn to breakdown. He'd steeled himself before she woke, promising himself he wouldn't do this. He was wracked with guilt and didn't want her to feel like she'd to comfort him for his absolute failure as a husband and father never mind as a senior bloody Auror. It consumed him, ashamed he sat back down in the chair and buried his face on the bed beside her. She reached his head and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Ron, Ron…look at me." she demanded, almost panting with the effort of getting his attention. He lifted his head and looked in her eyes, knowing he needed to tell her the rest of the story. Time was limited.
"Hermione, Merlin, I'm so bloody sorry. For what happened and for this, I've been a complete mess."
"Don't be silly Ronald, tell me."
"We stepped out of the lift and Guther was waiting. He knew I was going to be there. He fired the first curse and I stepped in front of you thinking you'd be safe if you stayed in the elevator. But the second curse hit the top of the enclosure and it sort of reverberated around. You absorbed or were hit with dark magic but some of the magic had dissipated so it wasn't a full killing curse."
"The baby" she whispered eyes wide with shock.
He took a deep breath. "I picked you up and carried you to the Floo bringing you to Monica. She kicked me out for half an hour while they assessed you and the baby. Fuck that was the longest 30minutes of my life." He avoided telling her of his breakdown and Alpha meeting at The Burrow. That wasn't information she needed to know right this moment. "I didn't know if you or the baby were going to survive. When you'd collapsed at the ministry, I…I checked your pulse and tried to do the charm but it didn't work for me. I was panicking but also there were so many people so maybe too many heartbeats but anyway it didn't work…" the memory choked him up. He stopped talking for fear he'd start sobbing again.
"You thought it was over?" She asked sadly, moving her hands back to her tummy.
"Yes" He nodded solemnly.
"Gods Ron, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that alone."
He let out a strangled chuckle. "Merlin Hermione, you can't apologise for being unconscious. Don't be ridiculous." Another sob caught in his throat. "I was so lost without you. It was only a few hours ago but I've been so bloody lost."
"I love you Ron"
"I love you Hermione." He leaned forward and placed his forehead on hers, he pulled back to look in her eyes. This next bit was going to be hard, he took a deep breath. "You lost consciousness because the dark magic connected with the previous torture. Dark magic seeks itself out and reconnects apparently." He was disgusted at the thought, disgusted at how Malfoy Manor and that bitch Bellatrix was still affecting his wife after all these years. Pushing aside the rising rage he continued. "You know the theory of conceiving the baby via 'magicae viam invenient' well the healers think the magic found a way to protect the baby during the attack. A dark magic healer was working on you pretty quickly and whatever your body and your magic did during the attack protected the baby…our baby. You're…you're bloody incredible Hermione." He placed his hand on top of hers to rest on her stomach too.
She shook her head. "I didn't do anything Ron. It sounds like you got us here, you saved us." she moved to cradle his cheek.
"It took every ounce of your energy and magic to protect the baby, that's why you passed out, that's why you feel so weak right now. You and the baby are going to be ok but we need you to recover."
"Ok, I get it, I'll rest." she sighed and relaxed back into the pillow.
"I'm sorry Hermione. It's not that simple. Monica wants to place you in suspension…for four days." She looked at him with wide eyes.
"What?!"
"She thinks it's best for you both, they can help you recover properly, the dark magic specialist will continue their work and Monica will carry out the assessment that was scheduled for this week anyway."
"No Ron. I don't want to. I'm scared." she begged.
"I know, I am too. But I trust the healers and I want whatever's best for you and the baby."
She paused for a long moment searching his face for reassurance. "OK, I trust you." She conceded with silent tears leaking down her face. "When?"
"The sooner the better, you're as weak as a pygmy puff right now. Maybe half an hour? Monica will be coming in to see us soon."
She took a deep breath. "Who knows?"
"When you were being checked out I went to The Burrow. I called the Alpha squad to debrief them at the safe house. I kinda lost it before they arrived, had a bit of a meltdown. Think I scared mum."
"Oh Ron."
"She'll live" he smiled at her. "Harry talked me down…I'm sorry but he knows…about the baby."
She gave a tight smile. "What did he think?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. I'm guessing we were only at The Burrow together for about 10 minutes. As I said he talked me out of a fit of rage, I told him about the attack, told him you were pregnant, cried, then the team were there, we briefed them and he left to lead an emergency mission to track that git down. Oh he said he loves us both."
"Oh Ron, is he going to be ok? Do you need to help him? Promise me you'll check on him!"
"Of course I will, but I'm not leaving you Hermione. I'll be right here with you, Harry can handle this. They've put a second bed in here so I can stay with you." he seemed conflicted but smiled in relief.
"Thank you. I'm glad you'll be here. That feels less scary."
"Where else would I be?" He gave her his signature lopsided grin. "I love you so fucking much, both of you" he said rubbing his large hand over her hand and tummy.
A knock at the door interrupted the moment. Mrs Weasley appeared around the door.
"Knock, knock. May I?"
"Yes of course Molly" Hermione smiled.
"Oh darling girl, I can't believe everything that's happened. Are you ok?" she rushed over to the bed and leaned over to hug her daughter in law.
"Sounds like I will be" Hermione smiled nervously at Ron.
"I'm so sorry I don't mean to disturb you. Kingsley was just here and left this for you." Molly placed Hermione's beaded bag on the bed.
"Kingsley was here?" Hermione asked nervously.
"I guess when your second in command, who has a serious medical condition, is attacked on Ministry ground you gotta check in on them." Ron spat venomously, both Hermione and his mother stared at him. "Sorry, sorry, I just know someone on the inside helped that monster to do this. Someone must have helped him get inside the Ministry and shared my schedule."
Hermione gasped, "Ron…really?! How? Who?"
Molly shot Ron a warning glance from the other side of the bed.
"Sorry love, ignore me. The Auror office is investigating. I shouldn't have said that. We're safe, don't worry." he leaned over and kissed her again.
Molly didn't like the route that conversation was taking so interrupted. "I'm so glad you and the baby are safe darling girl. I'll leave you to it. Monica said she'll be with you in a few minutes." She leaned down and hugged Hermione, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you at The Burrow for Sunday lunch, or if you're not feeling up to it I'll bring food to feed you up at home. Love you dears." Then feeling like she might cry if she didn't leave quickly she hurried out of the room.
"Thanks Mum." Ron called after her. "How are you feeling?" turning his attention back to his wife as his mum closed the door quietly behind her.
"Exhausted, heavy, I feel like I'm encased in concrete, like I can't lift a limb. I have a throbbing headache, all down my left side. Otherwise, thankful" she gave him a feeble smile.
"Yes, sorry. I meant to say, when you passed out you hit your head. The tiredness is to be expected. You'll get to rest soon, love."
Hermione raised a hand to her left temple and felt the dry blood matting her hair. She winced. "Can you get me some clean clothes? Unpack some bits from my bag?"
"Of course." Ron jumped up and summoned clean pyjamas and her toiletries. There was another knock at the door and Monica entered the room.
"Hermione, good to see you awake. You gave us a bit of a scare. Now I'm sorry to rush you both. But if you're ready I'd like to go over the healing plan."
They both nodded. Ron took his seat again and Monica conjured another chair. She explained everything to Hermione, in a much more clinical manner than Ron had given. They both listened intently. Ron grew as pale as Hermione as he heard the details of the suspension and all the tests that would be performed.
"If neither of you have any questions I think we should get you out of the soiled robes and into something more comfortable. We'll get your hair washed and clean the head wound."
"Can I do it?" Ron interrupted. "I want to do it for her. That's if it's ok with you Hermione?"
"Yes, I'd like that." She could sense his need to help her in any way he could offer and knew he wanted to spend the last few minutes with her while she was still conscious.
"Of course. I'll give you some privacy. Ron, please come and get me when you're both ready."
Ron locked the door after Monica left.
"Ok?" he asked his wife tentatively, for some unknown reason he suddenly felt nervous.
"Ok" she smiled reassuringly.
Ron levitated Hermione off the bed which left her hair falling free beneath her.
"Comfortable?" he checked.
"Yes, very."
He conjured a large basin which floated below her and set to work very gently washing her hair being especially tender over the wound. Once the warm water from his wand was running clear into the basin, all the blood rinsed from her hair, he took a look at the gash. It was deep and nasty, shit it was no wonder she had a headache. He summoned dittany and dabbed it on, apologising when she winced. They barely spoke, just being in a comfortable silence, pensive about what was about to happen. By the time Ron had gently brushed and dried her hair, Hermione could hardly keep her eyes from closing. He magically removed her clothes, replacing them with her favourite pyjamas, lowered her to the bed and summoned the blankets over her. He leaned in to kiss her forehead and gently rouse her.
"Are you ready, love?"
"Yes, I think so. I'm so tired, Ron."
"Ok, I'll go get Monica."
"Wait. I was just thinking, if we'd lost the baby today…we wouldn't even have known if it was to be a boy or a girl."
"Yeah." he responded tentatively, not sure where she was going with this.
"I think…I think that I'd like to know now. In case something goes wrong. With me or the baby, I would like to know before going into susp…before going to sleep." She took a deep breath.
"You want to find out if we're having a boy or a girl?" he said excitedly, pushing down the anxiety he felt at the thought of her not waking up.
"Yes, I think I do. Would you like to?"
"Fuck yeah."
"Ronald!"
"Sorry, today has been so unbelievably shit. It would be bloody amazing to find out. I think it would make the next few days tolerable if I can imagine him or her rather than it." he beamed at her.
"Do you know the charm? I don't feel strong enough to cast it. It's the same as the confirmation charm but with revolo identicus at the end"
"I can do it." He was bubbling with excitement. "Are you ready?" She giggled and nodded. Fuck that sound was amazing.
"Wait" she stopped him. "What if it's not what you want? Maybe this isn't a good idea right now!?" she said suddenly doubtful.
"Bloody hell women…you're crazy sometimes. I don't care what it is…boy, girl, half hippogriff. It's our baby and I'm just so thankful that there even is a baby."
Another giggle. "You're right, I'm so sorry. Do it!"
"Merlin, I love you!" Ron dropped another kiss on her head.
He cast the charm. Instead of the usual golden glows a pink orb left his wand and drifted into Hermione's chest, a blue one followed and entered his chest where his heart was beating frantically. The final third glowing orb emerged from the end of his wand, beautiful and pink it floated slowly towards his wife's womb. He heard her gasp but he couldn't take his eyes off the soft pink glow. He followed it down to her belly, pulled back the blankets, lifted her pyjama top and tenderly placed kisses all over her skin. Her hands were in his hair again. She pulled his face up to kiss her. Both had tears in their eyes experiencing this special moment.
"It's a girl Hermione, we're having a baby girl." He choked.
"Ron, it's amazing! Our baby girl." They held each other for a long moment until Hermione broke the silence. "I'm ready, Ron. Will you go fetch Monica?" Breaking their embrace, he nodded sadly and headed to the door.
He held his wife's hand as Monica walked around the hospital bed casting the suspension spells. A silvery shimmer circled around them. She seemed to be fighting it so he stroked her hair and whispered "I love you" in her ear over and over. Finally, her eyes closed and she succumbed to the deep dreamless sleep. The shimmer settled into a cloud surrounding Hermione's body. Ron thought it looked beautiful.