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Hermione slowly opened her eyes, she was lying on her back staring directly at a ceiling she didn't recognise. Blinking slowly, she let her mind appraise her body. She felt like she was lying on a cloud, her limbs completely relaxed. She'd never felt so well rested, there was no pain, hunger, thirst…no anything. It was like all her physical needs were completely satisfied. As she regained consciousness she realised her mind was also completely at ease. There wasn't a single thing she felt the need to worry about, she wasn't groggy, her mind was clear but at peace. It was like awakening from total and complete meditation.

"Hermione?" Ron whispered softly beside her. "How are you love?" She smiled and looked to him, noticing how relief washed over his face.

"I'm…I feel wonderful. Would you help me sit?" she answered honestly and reached for him.

"Good! I'm so glad you're awake. I've missed you so much!" He looked positively thrilled to see her. He very gently helped pull her forward and placed some pillows behind her back.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"I am now!" he grinned.

"Is it Friday?" she asked him dreamily.

"Yes love, everything went as planned. They've been slowly bringing you round since this morning."

"And the baby?"

"Monica said she's fine. Hold on, I'll go tell her you're awake, one sec." Ron kissed her on the forehead and rushed out of the room, so obviously excited to have his wife back.

Hermione watched him leave then slowly took in the room. She noticed the other bed didn't seem to have been slept in, she doubted Ron could have made a bed so perfectly. Or maybe he'd learnt some impressive new skills while she was under suspension. His chess set was sitting on a counter which lined the side wall alongside their toiletries, a wireless radio and a stack of magazines. She felt a wave of affection for her husband, he'd obviously been here day and night…bored absolutely senseless. Hopefully the presence of his chess set meant he'd had some company over the past few days. The room was clean and tidy, she considered if it had looked this way all week or had he gone to the trouble of tidying before she woke. Finally, to her left, sitting in the deep windowsill was the most enormous bunch of beautiful pink roses Hermione had ever seen. She recognised the vase as her own and realised happily they'd been picked from her garden.

Ron returned with Monica a few moments later.

"Hello Hermione, I'm so glad to see you're awake and looking so well."

"Hi! I feel well. It's like I've been reset."

Monica chuckled. "Good, good, yes some patients report an intense feeling of tranquillity. If you're up to it, we can go over the assessments we've completed and I'll explain the results?"

"Yes please." she nodded eagerly.

"Ok. Ron, you know much of this already but I'll go through everything for Hermione's benefit. The immediate danger to the baby was resolved on the first day and we concentrated on replenishing you. The dark magic healer worked to neutralise the attacking force and isolate damage. The baby hasn't been harmed during the attack but in protecting them your body, energy, magic was completely drained. Now the historical scarring is still present but it isn't any worse than what we were already dealing with. We also found you were depleted of key nutrients and extremely dehydrated. We provided you with potions hourly for the first 24 hours to reinstate these into your system."

"I told them how sick you've been. You were hardly keeping anything down. Even water was making you throw up." Ron added and Hermione nodded looking between them.

"The following few days we did extensive testing on the baby. When I saw you last week I guessed you were only 4 weeks along based on the size of the foetus but now having thoroughly reviewed how developed it is, you're actually 8 weeks since conception. The baby is measuring smaller than I'd expect at this age but in all honesty she appears in good health. I have no cause for concern. The final assessments were all about trying to predict any complications you might endure throughout the rest of the pregnancy. I'm confident you can carry this baby to full term and deliver naturally. The dark magic scarring has rendered a portion of your womb unusable but the baby is happily embedded on the opposite side and there is plenty of space for it to grow. My main concern is for yourself Hermione. I told you before the suspension that you conceived via 'magicae viam invenient' which also acted to protect the baby during the attack. I believe this powerful magic will continue to grow your baby but it will be at great physical cost to yourself. You've already experienced extreme nausea, dizziness and witnessed its protection. However, it is clear to me that it is drawing on your own energy and magical core. You will continue to feel sick, tired, dizzy. It's imperative that you reduce your workload, rest, take anti-sickness potion regularly to keep food and drink down. I also want you to spend a 24-hour period here at the hospital once a month for replenishment potions and observation. Does that all make sense."

"Yes, it does. I will. I'll do everything I can for her." Hermione rubbed her still flat tummy smiling.

"It's really incredible what's happening here. I've spent my whole healer career in the family wing and I've only seen 3 cases of magicae viam invenient. But never have I witnessed it to overcome such a barrier, I believed the damage to your womb was too severe, or seen the magic intervene to protect a baby. This situation is really something special."

"Umm thanks…I don't really know what to say. Thank you for looking after us. I can't believe this is finally happening…after all this time. We could have done without the attack but I'm so thankful we're all going to be ok." She smiled at Ron.

"I'm so happy for you both. I'll be with you every step of the way until birth." Monica reached over and gave Hermione's hand a squeeze. "Now, I need to record your vitals and after dinner we'll see about getting you on your feet."

"Brilliant, do you mind if I nip out and Floo Mum? She's beside herself waiting for news."

"Yes, you go do that, I'm fine here." Ron leaned over and kissed her before leaving the room.

"That man really loves you, you know." Monica grinned as she walked around the bed casting charms. "He barely left your side. Between him and Harry Potter I don't think you had a moment's peace."

"Harry was here?" Hermione said surprised. She suddenly realised she hadn't heard a word about the mission or the death eater who had attacked her. If Harry was visiting he must have successfully completed the mission…of course he did, she thought.

"Oh yes. Showed up in the early hours of Wednesday morning, looking rough but refused to let anyone treat him."

"Oh yeah that sounds like him alright. Glad to hear he's ok."

"Yes he looked much better when he came back on Thursday. He was the only one who convinced Ron to leave the hospital for a few hours, even with the Auror on guard duty. Harry was reading to you when I popped in to do my assessments."

Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes at Ron's overprotectiveness. "Reading to me?"

"Yep, Hogwarts: A History, he said it was a favourite? I can see why you're called the golden trio. Those boys would do anything for you."

"It is! Yeah I'm very lucky." Hermione smiled. "Did you say Auror on duty? They didn't…"

"Oh they did. You had to be on the visitors list and know the password to enter. Honestly my team have never had such difficulty getting in to heal a patient." she laughed. "But I completely understand why it was necessary. Hermione…?" Monica stopped waving her wand and looked intently at her.

"Yes."

"Could I umm ask…"

"Yes." Hermione was intrigued by the sudden change in Monica's disposition. As a healer she was confident and articulate but she was suddenly looking a bit embarrassed, fidgeting with her wand in both hands.

"Umm…Gods this is so unprofessional…but…do you know…has umm Everlygotapartner?"

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"The Auror…Everly? Does he umm have a partner?"

"Oh! Josh? Umm no I don't think so. He's never brought a date to any of the work functions I've attended. He seems the quiet type but really lovely once you get to know him. He's an extremely competent Auror, I think he's been a bit overly focused on his career for dating."

"Yeah I…know the feeling. It's just we chatted a few times, briefly, in passing over the last few days. He seems nice and he's so handsome." Monica's cheeks blushed ruby red now. "I found myself looking forward to the hourly check-ins…once I even popped in for an extra call just to pass by him before his shift ended." Both women broke into giggles.

"Monica! I can't believe that! Here I'm thinking you were the most conscientious healer…and all this week you've been checking out my guard!"

"No stop…it wasn't like that." but tears were streaming down her cheeks as she tried to compose herself.

"Leave it with me." Hermione grinned mischievously and stopped the conversation as the door opened and Ron returned.

"What have I missed? Merlin it's good to see you smiling Hermione!"

"Oh nothing for you to worry about" she grinned.

"Ok that that's me done for now." Monica seemed keen to leave, still looking flushed. "I'll send in anti-sickness potion, please take it before dinner. Eat what you can and then we'll get you on your feet and into a nice warm bath before bed this evening. If you're well in the morning, I'll let you go home."

"Amazing, thanks so much again." Hermione smiled warmly at the healer as she left the room, still glowing with embarrassment.

"What was all that about?" Ron asked as soon as the door closed.

"Well it seems Monica has taken a fancy to Josh."

"Everly? What the hell…has he been chatting up healers instead of standing guard?!" Ron fumed.

"Oh Ron, stop it. There was no need to have an Auror stationed outside my door in the first place."

"Bloody hell Hermione…of course there was." Ron took a deep breath. "Please don't start an argument about this. I've missed you so much I don't want to fight."

"Fair enough, you're right. Thank you for protecting me. I do appreciate it. But we must work out how to set up Monica and Josh on a date. Maybe we can invite them round to the house for a dinner or something."

Ron groaned. "You've just been told to take it easy. I'll think about it."

Hermione smiled knowing she'd won. "And thank you dear husband for the lovely bouquet of flowers. That was so very thoughtful of you." She beamed and reached out for him.

He stood up and sat on the edge of the bed allowing her to pull him in for a tight hug. He sniffed her lovely hair and enjoyed feeling her arms wrapped around him. He'd missed her responding to his touch these last few days. Relief washed over him again, he was so glad his wife and child were going to be ok.

"I love you so much Hermione."

"I love you too Ron."

"I couldn't stop thinking about the gender reveal charm. The pink it made…it reminded me of your rose bush at Willow Cottage and I couldn't stop thinking about it." Ron leaned back and took out his wand. He cast the charm they'd watched on Tuesday afternoon. A blue ball of light left his wand and drifted into his chest, a pink light emerged and entered Hermione's heart centre leaving a warm glow and lastly the third soft pink orb drifted slowly down into her tummy between them. She placed her hand where it had disappeared, revealing the heartbeat of their little baby girl. Ron placed his hand on top of hers.

"You're right Ron, those roses are the exact shade of pink."