The Knife That Cuts

Here's another story that popped into my head. If the idea of a woman giving birth grosses you out, then this is not the story for you. It's actually not graphic, but I don't want to take any chances. Otherwise, I hope you'll enjoy it, but mind the title.

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Harry Potter ran along the side of the gurney as it went down the halls of the hospital. With sweat on his brow, he held on tightly to his wife's hand and whispered words of comfort into her ear. Hermione Granger-Potter had her eyes shut and was trying to breathe her way through the waves of contractions that passed over her body. To say that she was in pain was an understatement. She took in a shaky breath as the sharpness of another contraction attacked her. Finally, the healers pulled Hermione into the birthing room, and began sending off spells to help her pain.

"Don't worry, Hermione, the healers are going to help ease the pain", Harry said soothingly. Hermione looked at him with fire in her eyes.

"Don't talk down to me, Harry. I can see what they're doing!", Hermione snapped. Harry nodded his head, but inwardly smiled. He knew it was normal for women who were in labor to feel angry at their husbands. He went through it with Ginny. Harry sighed. It had been quite a few years since the divorce. At first it had been rather ugly, but as it progressed, Ginny came to realise that it was for the best. The same ideas didn't come as easily to the children. It got even worse when Hermione left Ron. Each child felt that the divorces were somehow their fault, and it took a great deal of time to convince them otherwise. Yet, throughout all the progress they had made, Harry was sure there was a small part of them that thought they were to blame. Things didn't get much easier when Harry and Hermione decided to get married. Not only did Ron and Ginny believe that their spouses had left them to be with each other, but the children felt that they had been lied to. Yet again, it took many years for Harry and Hermione to convince the kids that their original intentions were not to leave their spouses for each other, but that they had fallen in love. At the moment, there was mostly peace in the households of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. At times it could become awkward or stiff, but in the end, they would go back to being friends like they used to be.

A sharp pain on his hand brought Harry out of his reverie. He looked down to see Hermione's hand gripping his very tightly. He brushed his other hand over her damp forehead. Hermione closed her eyes and bit her lip as another contraction washed over her. The healers levitated Hermione off of the gurney and onto the more comfortable hospital bed. Harry held her hand the entire time. He looked at Hermione's contorted face and felt deeply for her.

"When is this baby going to come?", Harry asked the healer. She looked at Harry with kindness in her eyes.

"Very soon, Mr. Potter, very soon. Her contraction are getting closer together", the healer said. Harry looked back down at Hermione who was writhing in pain.

"Can't you cast any more charms to help her?", Harry asked.

"I'm afraid we can't", the healer said, "Too much magic might affect the birth, or worse, the baby. Even though this is a magical hospital, these aren't magical circumstances."

"There's nothing you can do?", Harry asked once more. The healer shook her head. Harry sighed and looked back down to Hermione. He had been present for the births of all of his children and for Hermione's, and yet he had never seen a woman in labor who was in as much pain as Hermione was now. Harry moved back to her side. Every time a contraction came, Harry kissed Hermione's forehead and let her squeeze his hand tightly. This went on for about ten minutes. Finally, the healers came back into the room to check on Hermione, and found that it was time for her to begin the birthing process.

Four hours later, Hermione was still in pain. The healers were talking her through labor while Harry was patting her forehead with a damp washcloth. She closed her eyes and followed the healers instructions to push. Hermione let out a loud cry as tears spilled down her cheeks. Harry looked from Hermione to the healer who no longer had kindness in her eyes, but instead looked very serious.

"Come on, Hermione, you can do this. Push!", the healer commanded. Hermione screamed in pain. The healer's eyes lit up.

"Okay, Hermione, I can see the baby's head. Push!", the healer said. Hermione panted and whimpered, but pushed once more.

"Almost there, almost there, just one more - and PUSH!", the healer yelled. Hermione clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and pushed one last time before relief overcame her and she passed out. Harry looked over Hermione in fear, but was calmed once he realized she was breathing. He watched as the healers tended to her, slowly waking her. Harry looked down to the healer who had delivered their baby. He tried to help wake Hermione, but the other healers pushed him away. Harry looked back to see his newborn child, but as he turned his head, he saw the look on the healer's face and fear covered his face. The healer's face was white, and he eyes were filled with tears. She waved her hand to another healer for help. As they began casting charms over the baby, Harry began to feel dizzy. He felt himself slide down the wall to the floor. He didn't want to comprehend what was happening.

Eventually, the charms and spells stopped. Harry looked up to Hermione, who was slowly waking up, but was still disoriented. He then looked towards the healer who was handing his baby to another healer. They took his child out of the room. Finally, thsi registered in Harry's mind. They were taking his child! Harry pulled himself up and raced out of the birthing room. He looked down one hall and saw nothing. He whipped his head around and saw the healer walking away with his baby in her arms. Harry raced down to the healer and stopped her.

"What are you doing? Give me my baby!", Harry shouted. They healer whispered something, but Harry didn't hear her.

"I said, give me my baby!', Harry yelled one again. The healer finally spoke up.

"Mr. Potter-"

"No!", Harry screamed. He didn't want to know.

"Mr. Potter!", the healer yelled, looking him straight in the eye," I'm so sorry. She's stillborn."

Harry felt the color drain from his face. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. He sank to his knees. His baby was dead. His baby was dead. The thought kept running through his mind. Tears trickled down his face, falling to the floor. The healer who had birthed the baby came out of the birthing room and walked over to Harry. She knealed down beside him.

"Mr. Potter, your wife is awake. I'm so sorry...would you like me to tell her?", the healer asked kindly. Harry looked to the floor and shook his head.

"N-no", he whispered,"I'll tell her. I'll tell her."