Title: Don't You Need Me?
Author: piinkiice on ff.net, Harry_Hermione_Forever on PK.org
Rating:PG-13 for later chapters where there will be character death and cutting.
Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter or any of these characters except the one's you don't
recognize. (That means Nolan, Augusta, and Charlotte, for the most part...)
Author's notes: I wrote this story in parts...so I have the beginning finished,
but I wrote the middle before I wrote the beginning or the end. So there are still some gaps I need to fill in, and
then beta-ed, so updates will not be consistent. Thanks to my beta EMILY!
Summary: Futurefic. This is the story of Harry and Hermione's daughter, Augusta. She is a ballet
dancer, and Hogwarts is the last place she wants to be. There is no magic in the world of ballet.
Prologue
"Harry! Oh, Harry!" Hermione rushed into the study where her husband was doing some paperwork. "Yes, love?" Harry murmured without glancing up. Hermione was glowing. "Harry, I'm pregnant!" At this, Harry's head snapped up. "What? Are you sure?! Please tell me you're not joking!"
Harry and Hermione had been trying for almost three months to conceive but there had been nothing...until now. "You're not joking, are you, love?!" Hermione bit her lip to try and suppress her smile. She shook her head with glee and jumped into Harry's arms. He was planting kisses all over her face and they were laughing like school children.
"Do you know how far along you are?"
"Only about three weeks or so...oh, Harry! I'm so terribly happy."
"Me too, love. So terribly happy!" They laughed and laughed.
And so it was. And so it was...
~*~
It was about four weeks later. Harry decided to come home for lunch instead of eating at the office. Ever since Hermione's announcement of her pregnancy, he had been the happiest man alive. Finally, finally, he would have a true family of his own. He couldn't help but spoil her terribly. How could he not? The mother of his child? Harry also found himself rather aroused by Hermione's pregnancy. He couldn't keep his hands off her and found it quite interesting that they had never had better sex than they were having now.
Anyway, as Harry stepped through the fireplace, he couldn't help but notice how the house was unusually silent. The dim living room at noon made the home seem eerie. "H..Hermione?" There was no answer. "Hermione?!" Harry was near panic. Although he had vanquished the Dark Lord in his first year of Auror training, there were still quite a few Death Eaters about. And they were angry. Especially with Harry.
He tuned his Auror-trained ears and eyes for any noise or movement. There was...nothing. His common sense finally kicking in, Harry went to look for his beautiful wife.
He searched all over the house until finally, in a back bathroom that was hardly used, he found her. She sat with her knees hugged to her chest, eyes wide. He noticed there were dried tear stains on her cheeks. "'Mione? Hermione, love. What is it?" Harry tucked a loose strand of hair behind her left ear. She didn't answer at first. Then, without any emotion, she announced: "I got my period today."
The reality hit Harry like a ton of bricks. He felt his breath catch in his throat. "Oh, Merlin, Hermione." Though she was still frozen, Harry crouched down next to her and drew her into a hug...
He was the first to crack. Once the tears came, he couldn't stop. The tears were flowing free, and he couldn't help the choking sob that came from deep within his chest.
Then she cracked. Her tears trickled slowly, her lips turned red and chapped, and soon she was hiccupping. They sat there for a good long while until Harry stood up, Hermione still clinging to him. "Let's go to the living room. I'll make you some tea and I'll call in sick for the rest of the day. Does that sound okay to you, love?" Hermione just nodded.
Harry helped Hermione walk to the couch in the living room. He brought her a cup of tea and a warm blanket. After tucking her in, and kissing her forehead, he walked to the fireplace. Once he was connected, he asked to speak with Tonks.
"Wotcher Harry! You better hurry; your lunch break's almost over!" Tonks laughed and changed her hair color from purple to red.
"Uh, Tonks? I won't be coming in the rest of the day."
"Yes you will. You're in your second year of training. Every minute is more important than the last!" Tonks was getting irritated. Just because he was the Boy-Who-Lived and the Boy-Who-Defeated-Ol'-Voldie did not give him special privileges.
"You don't understand, Tonks. I need to stay here."
"Why." Tonks glared at Harry.
"Because Hermione needs me right now!"
"Wot do you mean, Harry? If you aren't coming in, at least give your trainer a full answer!"
"Hermione lost the baby." Harry muttered. He didn't want to tell her; if Tonks knew, everyone knew.
"Whats that? I can't hear you."
"Hermione lost the baby!" Harry screamed, eyes glimmering with unshed tears. After seeing how utterly sad Harry looked, she gave him the rest of the day as well as the next day off.
"Just come in on Thursday. Give Hermione my best." Harry nodded. Just as he was about to pull his head out of the fireplace, Tonks stopped him.
"Harry? I'm really, truly sorry. I know how badly you two want this....need this." Harry nodded grimly and pulled his head out of the fire.
~*~
The rest of the day passed by slowly. Harry forced Hermione to eat, and Hermione laid on the couch, unmoving. She was still in shock, and nothing Harry could do could bring her out of it. As night grew nearer, Harry suggested they go to bed. As they lay in bed, Harry pulled Hermione in close to him so they were spooning. Just as Harry was about to drift off, Hermione turned around so she was facing him.
He leaned down to plant a loving kiss on the crown of her head and she snuggled even closer to him. She clung to him, to his perfectly toned body, like she clung for her life. Lifting her chin up, she kissed Harry full on the mouth. Soon, they were snogging like they used to atop the Astronomy Tower, once upon a time.
"Harry....Harry, take me." Harry shook his head. "No, Hermione. You're just saying that because you know I want to." She giggled. "You always want to!" Harry laughed deeply. "So true, so true." Harry caressed his love's face gently. "Not tonight, 'Mione. You've been through a lot."
Hermione looked at him, pleading in her eyes. "Please. I need to take my mind off...things..."
And so they made love. Passionate, gentle, slow, and full of feelings, love.
~*~
Throughout the next few months, Hermione miscarried three times; each was more difficult than the last. Finally, Hermione was pregnant and in her sixth month. Harry and Hermione were beside themselves with happiness; this baby was going to live.
With a quick kiss, Harry Apparated to work, leaving Hermione. She worked at home; she was writing a book called S.P.E.W. Out of nowhere, Hermione felt the oh-so-familiar hot, sticky liquid. Quickly, Hermione ran to the bathroom.
She was bleeding. Bleeding everywhere! Why was there so much blood?! She had read enough to know that this wasn't good. Her mind was numb and her body was shaking. Her mouth was drier than cotton and she couldn't swallow. She couldn't breathe! She had miscarried before, but she knew she couldn't miscarry in her sixth month. Besides, this was more blood than she was used to. What was wrong with her?
No! This baby couldn't die! It had taken her and Harry the better part of a year to finally conceive and this baby could not die. Her and Harry....Harry! She had to get to Harry. He'd take good care of her. Clutching her swollen belly, she made her way to the fireplace, leaving a slight trail of blood behind her.
"HARRY!" Hermione choked out as her husbands face came into view. Harry's emerald eyes clouded with worry. "What is it, love?" Hermione felt Harry's hand reach out through the Floo and run his fingers through her hair. "I'm...I'm bleeding!" She had never been so scared...he had never been so scared.
Harry had never left his job so quickly. Grabbing his wand off the desk, he shouted to his partner, "Oi! There's an emergency at home. Cover for me!" Without even taking his things, Harry Apparated into the Potter's living room where he found Hermione crumpled on the ground, blood seeping through to the carpet. "Oh lord, 'Mione..." Harry had to bite back a sob as he gently scooped up his unconscious wife into his arms. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead which caused her eyelids to flutter. He knew he had to get her to St. Mungo's quickly. She had lost so much blood. He couldn't bear the thought of losing both his wife and his unborn baby...the baby that was supposed to live...
Swallowing deeply, Harry couldn't decide which way would be best to get her to the wizarding hospital. He wasn't about to Apparate her there. For one, he wasn't even sure Apparating another person was possible. Besides, he had the baby to think about. He also quickly dismissed the thought of walking. They were at least half an hour away and it could cost precious moments. Could he Floo her? It was easier than flying her on his broomstick; that was for sure.
Carefully shifting Hermione so he had a free hand, he grabbed some Floo powder, and within moments, found himself in the St. Mungo's waiting room for "Non-Magical Injuries and Other Health Related Issues". People had begun to stare at the man carrying his pregnant wife. Soon, people realized it was the Potter family, and they stopped to stare.
"Please! Someone help my wife!" Angered no one was coming to help, he started running around the room, frantically trying to find someone. "She's six months pregnant! She's bleeding! Help!" Still, no one approached. Harry began to break down. "Please...help me...help Hermione!" Through the double doors, Harry saw the famous Weasley red hair.
Without hesitation, Harry ran through the doors, even though it was prohibited. "Ginny! Ginny, it's Hermione!" Ginny had become a Healer at St. Mungo's after she graduated Hogwarts. "Oh, Merlin, Harry! Why is there so much blood?!" Harry couldn't answer. All he could do was cry. His Hermione...
Ginny, being the amazing woman that she was, found Hermione a wheelchair and a Healer experienced in child birth in a matter of seconds. Harry went to thank her but noticed her face was almost the color of her hair. She marched into the waiting room and announced: "WHAT IN BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON, HERE? A MAN RUSHES IN WITH HIS DYING PREGNANT WIFE AND ALL YOU EFFING FOOLS CAN DO IS GAPE AT THEM? WHO IN MERLIN'S NAME ARE YOU PEOPLE?" Before anyone had a chance to respond, she pulled Harry back through the double doors.
"What can I get you, Harry?" She smoothed back his damp hair as she looked on in horror as to just how shaken he looked. Harry slumped to the floor. "I need to see Hermione." Ginny nodded and helped Harry up. She seated him in a chair just inside the double doors and brought him a glass of iced pumpkin juice. "Ginny..."
Harry looked up. "Ginny, where's my Hermione?" Ginny had to blink back tears at how vulnerable Harry sounded. "Harry, be a dear and just sit here while I find her." Harry looked down again and nodded.
Ginny raced to the Healers station as quickly as she could. Behind the desk was a screen with all the patients' names, their reason for staying at the hospital, and their room number. Using her wand to continue scrolling through the names, she found GRANGER, HERMIONE JANE. PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS. ROOM 315. Without another breath, she ran back to Harry.
"Harry love, I have her room number. They--"
"What is it? I need it, Ginny!" Harry cut her off.
"They might not let you in!"
"I don't care. I need to see my wife."
Ginny swallowed. "Room 315." Without a backward glance, Harry dashed back through the double doors to the other side of the waiting room where there was a plaque that said ROOMS 300-329. ODD NUMBERS ONLY ïƒ .
Taking her first deep breath in minutes, Ginny came to the realization that Ron would want to be here. Especially if...if...something were to happen to Hermione. But Ginny would rather not think about that. She made her way to the staff room where she knew there was a fireplace to Floo Ron. Owls would take too long.
"Eh up, Gin!" Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad he had the day off from training. Straight out of Hogwarts, the Chudley Cannons had asked Ron to be their reserve Keeper. When Ron saw how disheveled Ginny looked, he asked nervously, "What's up with you? You've got a face like a wet weekend!"
"Ron. Come here as soon as you can. It's Hermione..."
"HERMIONE?! What's happened to Hermione?!" Ron shouted, voice cracking.
"They don't know yet. I've only gathered bits and pieces, but it appears that Hermione Flooed Harry
when she started bleeding. He took her here and they still won't tell us what is going on."
"Blimey. She's bleeding? And she's pregnant! Six months!" Ron seemed to be putting two and two
together on just how bad the situation was.
"Yes. Ron, you need to come down here soon. I don't know if...I don't know if the baby...if Hermione..." Ginny let out the sob she had been suppressing since she saw Harry.
"Luna and I are on our way."
~*~
Luckily, the mediwizards had been able to save Hermione and the baby. In fact, exactly three months later, the Potters found themselves back in St. Mungo's. As Hermione was rushed in to give birth, Harry had Flooed Ron to let him know a baby was on the way...
"RON!!" Harry tore down the hallways of the hospital. "Ron! I'm a dad!" Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, the Grangers, Luna Lovegood (who was engaged to Ron and pregnant with his baby) and the entire Weasley family sans Percy, Bill and Charlie were all waiting impatiently. Snape was in the corner of the waiting room, and as always, sneering. Somehow Dumbledore had coerced him into coming for the birth of Harry & Hermione's first child. Oh, joy. Hagrid had wanted to come but felt a bit out of place being a half-giant and all.
Harry seemed surprised that everyone had come. "Hi, everyone. I'm a father! The father of the most beautiful and healthy baby girl." Nobody had ever seen Harry so happy before in his life. Perhaps it was because he never truly had a family and was now able to start one of his own.
The news of the birth was greeted with many hugs and kisses (and a handshake with a forced "Congratulations" from Snape) Of course, everyone wanted to see the baby. "Mother and daughter are resting comfortably right now. Maybe in a bit I'll bring my little princess out." Harry just couldn't get the smile off his face!
"Harry, dear, what's the child's name?" Mrs. Granger inquired. Everyone agreed and wanted to know the baby's name. "Actually," Harry stated, "We haven't exactly decided yet..." Harry grinned sheepishly before turning around and practically skipped down the hall. The group chattered and laughed until Harry came back.
But he wasn't alone. In his arms there was a bundle of pink blankets. As he reached the group, he said, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Augusta Potter..." Harry thought he may have heard Professor Snape snort at the name, but he was too ecstatic to care. "Gus, I'd like you to meet...everyone!" The baby gurgled and (nearly) everyone laughed with mirth.
Harry walked around the room showing off his daughter. "Augusta, this is Uncle Ronnie." Ron laughed and wiggled his fingers in what was a supposed wave. "And this is Aunt Ginny. Say hi to Auntie!" Harry cooed to his baby. "Uncles Fred and George, and Grandma & Grandpa Weasley." Harry gestured as well as he could with one hand. Molly beamed at the thought that Harry considered them parents. "This is Almost Aunt Luna. Say hello to Almost Aunt Luna!" They all laughed. "Grandma & Grandpa Granger, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Snape."
They all looked on in awe at how much the little princess looked like such a perfect mixture of her parents. She had Hermione's face with Harry's coloring. Of course, she had inherited Harry's piercing eyes and had tufts of black hair. But, she had Hermione's nose and lips. Harry was quite glad she had gotten Hermione's lips because he liked them very much.
~*~
As Harry and Hermione laid their new baby girl down for her first night of sleep, the Potter home practically radiated with love. Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist and Hermione's head rested right below his shoulder. They could have stood there all night just watching their beautiful daughter. After about half an hour, Harry insisted they go to bed. Hermione had, after all, just given birth. As the couple lay down to sleep, Harry said with a smile as wide as ever, "I can't believe I'm a father...I love you, Hermione."
~*~
A few weeks after the birth of their daughter, Hermione and Harry decided it was time to take little Gussie to visit the Dursleys. Petunia and Vernon still lived at Number Four Privet Drive. Dudley still lived with them, though he was scarcely ever there. He decided to take a year off before going to university. It just so happened, that on this fateful day, Dudley was home.
As Harry and Hermione got out of the car (they decided to drive so as not to "freak out" his anti-magic relatives), Hermione squeezed Harry's hand. He managed a smile as she said, "Don't worry, love." Harry held Augusta in his arms and Hermione held the diaper bag.
What the Potters seemed to forget was that in the wizarding world, being married and having children by the age of 19 was normal. Seeing as they finished school at the age of 17, two years was quite enough time before settling down. In the Muggle world, the age of 19 was an age of partying, university, and seeing the world.
Unfortunately for Harry, he had not left the Dorsey's on the best of terms. In fact, they didn't even know Harry was married, let alone a father. His relatives had only seen Hermione from afar at Kings Cross!
The day was sunny and warm, for a Sunday in December. As Harry rang the doorbell, his stomach was a bundle of nerves. He gently kissed his daughters head to calm himself and Hermione rubbed his back lovingly.
When Petunia opened the door, her mouth dropped open. "Who is it?!" Vernon's voice rang through the house. Without taking her eyes off of Harry, she yelled back. "It's the boy. He has a child," She glanced down at Harry and Hermione's wedding bands. "And a wife."
Now this was something both Vernon and Dudley couldn't miss. "Hello, I'm Hermione...Harry's wife." They all said hello and introduced themselves. Harry lifted the baby girl up over his head and brought her down to him and covered her face in kisses. "And this little princess is Augusta Lily."
"Lily?" Petunia asked.
"For my mother. Augusta because Hermione and I fell in love in August." Hermione's giggle gave him courage. "How very typical of you, boy." Vernon spat.
"Typical?" Hermione asked. She would not tolerate someone speaking to Harry this way.
"Yes. Only you, boy would get a girl pregnant and then be forced to marry her."
Hermione's blood was boiling. "Excuse me, sir, but you have no right to speak to Harry this way. He didn't just get me pregnant and he wasn't forced to marry me. For your information, Harry and I are very much in love."
"Love? At the age of nineteen? How naive."
"Yes, Uncle Vernon. Love. The wizarding world (The Dursleys cringed in fear of the neighbors hearing the W word) works very different than the Muggle world. We graduated school when we were seventeen and got married the summer after. It's quite common for magical couples to marry at this age."
Hermione cut in, "I've been best friends with Harry since we were eleven years old. I've grown up with him and I've seen him change, and vice versa. He knows me better than anyone else."
"And why do you have a child already? Surely you didn't want to spend time alone, with your wife?" Petunia asked, nose in the air.
"Both of us have always wanted a nice, big family. With loads of children running around the house and a loving mother and father." Like the Weasleys they both thought. "Anyway, we figured, why not start now? We tried for several months to get pregnant..." Harry wiped away a tear of Hermione's.
"Finally, we did, but Hermione had a tough time. She miscarried quite a few times." He put his arm around her in a loving manner. "And then, with this little princess," Harry gazed at Augusta with such fierce love, even Vernon couldn't doubt how much he loved his family, "gave us quite the scare at six months!"
"Yes, but that's hardly important now, dear." Hermione said. She was awfully embarrassed. "Well, we just wanted to show you our daughter." Hermione was becoming uncomfortable under the gaze of the Dursleys. "I guess we'll be off then."
Hermione scooped up the baby into her arms and Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder. As they got to the door, Petunia said, "Come again, Harry and Hermione. I'd love to see the baby again."
Completely weirded out, Harry and Hermione shared the car ride home in silence, the witch and wizard holding
hands.
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