I felt bad leaving this on a cliff-hanger. Uploading this short chapter to satisfy the curiosity. Please let me know what you think :)
Ron arrived back at St Mungo's and hastily made his way to the room where he'd left Hermione, closely followed by his mother.
"OtterWatch. Update?" he said tersely to Everly who was standing guard outside the door.
"Healer's continue to tend to Mrs Weasley. No one has entered or left the room since I arrived and spoke with Erick."
Ron approached Everly and spoke in a low tone. "It goes without saying Everly, anything you hear about my wife's medical condition is strictly confidential".
"Yes Sir, goes without saying." Everly confirmed.
Ron seemed to soften and raised a hand to pat his colleague on the shoulder. "Thank you, I appreciate it." Everly nodded and resumed guard duty.
Ron paced back and forth in front of the door. Unsure what to do. Knock? Send in a patronus messenger? They were busy. Monica knew what she was doing, there wasn't anything Ron could do to help except stay out of the way. He checked his watch, she'd asked for 30 minutes. He'd wait. He hated this helpless feeling, the not knowing if Hermione and their baby were alive. He should be comforted that the healers were still in the room with them, at least there was still hope.
The comments his mum had made rolled about in his head. She was right, there was every chance he'd messed up doing the confirmation charm. He could hardly remember what happened after the second curse had been fired. It was a blur, a flash of green light, a surge of adrenaline and then suddenly he was out of control at The Burrow. There had been a lot of people around them, he remembered the noise, the screams and gasps, he couldn't count how many but remembered a claustrophobic feeling of being compressed by a crowd. It's reasonable to think the charm couldn't function with so many rapidly beating heart beats in the vicinity. It hadn't even shown a golden glow for his own heart and given the pain he'd felt in the moment, he'd definitely been alive.
"Ron" his mum pulled him from his thoughts. He'd hardly noticed that she was there with him. "Ron, what can I do dear?"
"I…I dunno. I left her bag at the ministry…I don't want you to go there but could you maybe owl her assistant, Keith? Ask him to search for a purple beaded bag in the Ministry atrium, near the lifts? Just get him to keep it safe at their office." Molly gave his hand a little squeeze and left to send the message.
Ron resumed his pacing. Looking longingly at the door, wishing for it to open. He wasn't sure how long it had been when Monica finally appeared in the corridor.
"Ron, shall we talk in my office?" she motioned across the hall to her office door. He hesitated, he wanted to go in and see Hermione not put distance between them. He looked at Everly who wordlessly understood the issue and stepped in front of the hospital room door, indicating he was on duty. Ron nodded to him and then to Monica. He followed her into the office and took a seat. Monica closed the door and sat in the second visitor's chair beside him.
"She's alive and so is the baby." Ron let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, relief washed over him in waves. He leant forward resting his elbows on his knees bowing his head to his clasped hands trying to prevent the tears that were prickling the back of his eyes. Monica gave him a second to let it sink in and compose himself. He straightened up, wiping his eyes with the heels of his hands and took a few deep breaths.
Sensing he couldn't speak right now she continued. "I'm sure Hermione shared with you that this pregnancy was considered high risk. This…attack…was the last thing either of them needed. They have survived, due to your fast reactions Ron, getting them here for help so quickly. We were able to stop the dark magic spreading further. At this stage we can only surmise that the killing curse must have reverberated around the metal cage of the lift, dissipating the dark magic but not completely. Hermione absorbed a portion and given her history…the residual scarring from the…torture…everything is magnified within her body. Dark magic seeks itself so to speak and reconnects. It's a wonder they have survived this. The bond you and Hermione have, to have conceived via 'magicae viam invenient', must be incredibly strong. It appears Hermione's body and magic expended massive energy to protect the baby."
"You're saying she took the curse but stopped it reaching the baby?" Ron said in shock.
"We believe so."
"How did she do that? That's incredible."
"It isn't something Hermione would consciously do. It appears the phenomenon of 'magicae viam invenient' isn't restricted to conception but also acted to protect the baby. Magic will find a way. However, the curse was attacking her and if you hadn't gotten them help so quickly from a dark specialist healer it would have undoubtedly broken through and harmed the baby. You saved their lives."
"Bloody hell."
"Yes. Quite. The magical conception has been strong enough to protect the baby but in doing so it has rendered Hermione incapacitated. They are both alive but her magic and energy are completely depleted which is why she fell unconscious. We've given her a potion to slowly bring her round. I still need to carry out the full assessment of Hermione and the baby as we'd planned this week. However, given the trauma she's suffered today I propose we place her in a suspended state for the next four days. I firmly believe it's in her and the baby's best interests. She'd be in a dreamless state and it will give her body and magic the opportunity to properly recover. I'm sorry Ron, I know this is a lot to take in."
"Is she awake yet?"
"Not at the minute, she should be in the next hour. If you agree with the proposed plan, I'll have her moved to a more comfortable room, with a second bed so you can stay with her."
Ron nodded. "I'll trust you, we've trusted you all these years. If you think this is best for them then of course you have my agreement."
Monica gave a tight smile. "Would you like to see her now? I need to warn you she's very pale and we haven't cleaned her up yet. Non urgent injuries haven't been treated."
"Yes"
"When she wakes Ron, she'll be panicked, it's important we keep her as calm as possible. It's imperative for her and the baby."
Ron nodded and followed Monica out of the office and into the corridor. Monica looked momentarily confused as the Auror in front of her blocked the way into the treatment room.
"OtterWatch" Ron said from behind her and he cleared their way.
Monica led Ron into the room. "Could we clear the room please." she asked of the other healers. "Ron, I'll be back in 10 minutes to move her."
Ron barely heard Monica or noticed the healers leaving the room. He was looking longingly at his beautiful wife. She was painfully pale like all the life had been drained from her body. He pulled a chair up beside the bed to get a closer look at her. He took her hand, it was so cold. She hated being cold, it reminded her of the cold months in that god forsaken tent. Reaching for his wand he cast a warming charm and then the confirmation charm. He was never so relieved to see the third little ball of golden light drift into his wife's tummy. He placed one hand where it had disappeared into her womb.
"You gave me a scare little one. Is this how it's going to be now? Me worrying about you for the next 8 months? 17 years?" Ron couldn't help but chuckle. "Who am I kidding…I'll be worrying about you…and your mother until my dying day. Turns out you're a tough little thing though. Not sure who you get that from. I'd like to say me. I'm supposed to be an Auror you know. But in all honesty your mums a badass. I'm so sorry I let this happen. I promise to do better for you both."
He turned his focus back to Hermione's face, for the first time he noticed a lot of dark blood on her robes. Standing he peered to the other side of her face and saw her hair flattened to her left temple, matted with blood, her ear, cheek and neck also covered in blood. How had he not realised she'd hit her head when she collapsed. They're alive, that's the only thing that matters right now. He conjured his patronus remembering to message Harry. Ron knew he'd be struggling in the field worrying about their best mate.
"Terrier to Stag.
Both alive."
"Hermione, I love you." he bent down to kiss her forehead and resumed staring at her, watching her chest rise and fall reassuring him that she was going to be ok.
There was a knock at the door and Monica entered.
"Merlin, I'm not used to having to pass the Auror test to reach a patient." she joked.
"Sorry. The bast…one who did this got away and since he's so desperate for revenge…I just can't take any chances." Ron flushed.
"I was only kidding, sorry, not the time. I do understand Ron. Try not to worry they are going to be ok." She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're in shock. Do you want to take a breather while we move her? You can use my office, I'll come get you once she's been changed and settled. We won't wake her until you're there."
"Yeah ok, thank you."
He left the treatment room and was glad to see his mum waiting in the corridor. He motioned for her to join him in Monica's office.
As soon as the door closed she pulled him in for a bone crushing hug. "They're alive mum. They're going to be ok." he managed to say despite her squeezing his middle.
"Oh Ron." Molly gasped.
"You were right. I fucked up the charm after the attack or it was confused by the crowds. I dunno but yeah the baby is alive."
"That perfectly understandable darling."
"Is it? I feel like a useless idiot. What kind of Auror am I anyway? Can't even protect my wife and baby from a lunatic who I should have had locked up in Azkaban a week ago. Can't perform a simple charm, which I've performed hundreds of times. Bloody useless."
"Don't do that Ron. You're a fantastic Auror, you've saved countless lives, it's likely the crowd that affected the charm. Hermione does not need your self-doubt right now. She needs her husband and his love. So straighten yourself up and no more of this chat."
"I thought they were gone mum." He said quietly.
"I know love." Molly sniffed.
"I don't know what I would have done if…" Ron felt a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach. He felt like he might be sick from the thought of a life without Hermione. He knew without a shadow of a doubt he couldn't survive in a world where she didn't exist. Thankfully he didn't need to consider that darkness and pushed the thoughts aside.
"Stop, stop, you don't need to think about that. You need to concentrate on getting her better and growing that little baby."
"You're right. Thank you."
She pulled him in for another hug. "I'm here for you son. I'm so glad they're ok."
Ron took a deep breath. He knew his mother was right. He needed to focus on the positives right now and thank his lucky stars that his wife and baby were going to survive this. How many times had he cried since Thursday, from happiness, fear, anger, relief...What a fucking week.