TEN
On Sunday morning, Ginny, Luna and Hermione were having breakfast in the kitchen. Luna was telling them all about the wonderful week she and Ron had enjoyed in Morocco.
Now that Luna had arrived, Hermione said she'd be sleeping in the couch. She didn't want to take over Luna's room. Luna, however, did not agree. She insisted Hermione should stay in the room. Being Ginny's bed big enough for two people, she and Luna had shared it.
"I need to find a place to move in to," said Hermione. She appreciated the girls' hospitality, but felt terrible about putting them in such an uncomfortable situation. This was after all their apartment.
"C'mon, Hermione," said Luna. "I told you not to worry about it, okay?"
"I can't kick you out of your own bedroom Luna," Hermione said. Then, looking from one girl to the other she said, "I appreciate your help, really, but I have to find my own place."
"Okay," said Ginny. "But how are you going to pay for it? You're not working."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I have some gold saved up," she said not looking up. "Besides, I've been thinking about getting a part-time job."
Luna and Ginny looked at her. "You can't work now. You're pregnant!" said Ginny.
"Yeah," said Hermione defiantly. "I'm pregnant, not disabled! I could take just any part time job for now. I haven't graduated yet, you know. I can't work as a healer, yet. I'll have to wait to do that later."
All three girls had been so distracted talking, none of them heard Harry apparating into their living room. Without meaning to eavesdrop, Harry had heard their conversation. A while later, he walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning girls!" he greeted innocently.
Ginny and Luna greeted Harry back. Hermione, however, remained silent wondering how much of their conversation he had heard.
"You care for some breakfast?" asked Ginny in a way that resembled Mrs. Weasley.
"Thanks Ginny," said Harry. "I already had some. Actually, I came to see if you would like to go take a walk with me," he said talking to Hermione.
"Sure." Hermione replied. "Let me just run to the loo. Seems I have to do that every hour lately."
Harry chuckled.
Twenty minutes later, they were walking down the street on their way to the park. Hermione had been quiet most of the way there.
"Hermione… I heard what you girls were talking about." Hermione quickly looked at him, her fear confirmed. Harry added quickly, "I didn't mean to. I just apparated into the living room and well… it's not like you were whispering, you know. I easily heard the whole thing."
Hermione looked down. She didn't want him to know about her money problems. They had arrived at the park, and Harry led her to a stone bench right under a tree. After they sat down, Harry turned to face her.
"Hermione, I know you don't want to marry me. I'm not going to force you into something you don't want, but I was thinking about this and… I think you should come live with me, well I mean, not with me as in… you know, but in my house."
Harry took one of her hands in his and continued. "I have a spare bedroom which, with a little work, basically some cleaning, would be great for you. Later on, we could add another room to the house so we can prepare a nursery for the baby."
"Harry…" Hermione interrupted him. "I… I can't do that."
"Why not?" he asked. "We're friends, aren't we? And friends help each other, don't they? Besides," he said placing a hand in Hermione's belly. "You're the mother of my baby and I'm not going to let you struggle alone. Oh, and forget about that nonsense of getting a job. You're not going to work right now, okay? All you'll do is take care of yourself and enjoy your pregnancy."
Hermione looked at his green eyes. "Harry, I understand that you want to take care of the baby, but I'm no your responsibility. I wouldn't feel good about it."
"Hermione, please. You know I don't care about that." He was gently caressing her hand, which still remained in his. "And I am a little responsible for what's happening to you."
Hermione thought about it. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to move in with him. She knew that having him around all day, knowing he'd be sleeping in a room next to hers, would be torture. Still, she couldn't deny she needed his help.
"C'mon, Hermione. Let me take care of you," he pleaded.
Finally, Hermione agreed.
--- * --- * --- * ---
That same day, Hermione moved in with Harry. Being Sunday, everyone - Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville and the twins - helped to get the room ready. With a few handy spells, the room was clean and spotless in no time. By the end of the day, Hermione had a room of her own.
Harry bought her a whole new set of white bedclothes. The walls were painted a soft shade of pink. Lacy curtains were placed on the window that led to the backyard, allowing light into the room.
Compared to Grimmauld Place, which had been destroyed during the Second War, this house was much smaller. To Hermione, however, this one-story house felt cozy, warm and inviting.
The gang helped to get Hermione's room ready during most of the day. None of them let Hermione move even a finger to do anything. In fact, Neville kept her entertained most of the time. He kept asking Hermione about the research study she had been a part of. He was very interested in hearing all about the plants they had worked with and some of the results they had obtained.
Harry finally got to hear about the arrangement Professor Fanizza made for Hermione. He had been so focused on his being a soon-to-be father, he had forgotten to ask her about that.
Later that evening, once everyone had left, Harry went to his room to take a shower. Hermione was in hers putting away some clothes she still had in her trunk and placing them into a wooden dresser - one of the only tasks she had been allowed to do. She was so distracted, she didn't hear Harry coming in.
The door of the room was wide open. Harry leaned against the doorframe watching her. Hermione grabbed a sweater, but didn't notice that when she pulled it out another garment fell to the floor.
Harry quickly walked in and picked it up. The fabric felt very soft in his hands. Curious to know what it was, he unfolded it and looked at it with an open mouth.
"Hermione!"
Just then, Hermione turned to see him. He was holding up a pair of tiny knickers. To Harry, they looked more as something a little girl would wear. Hermione, who was beginning to blush, took the garment away from Harry's hands with a quick movement.
"Give me those!"
Harry looked at her, a mischievous smile on his face. "Are those yours?" he asked even though he already knew they were. Hermione didn't respond. She was trying to avoid his eyes.
"Aren't they a little too small?" asked Harry softly.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him and let out a sigh. Finally she spoke. "If you must know…" she said looking away. "I need them this small." Harry looked questioningly at her.
"So they can go under my belly," she explained quickly. "I can't stand anything over it. It bothers me, okay? Not that I should be giving you any explanations."
Harry chuckled. He loved to see her blushing.
"Can you just go and let me finish what I'm doing," said Hermione trying to sound exasperated, but also trying to stifle a nervous laugh.
Harry, still smiling, turned to leave the room but stopped as he reached the door.
"Actually, I came to ask you if you cared for ice cream."
"Sure, thanks." Then seeing that he was still standing there, she added, "I'll be there in a minute."
Minutes later, she walked into the kitchen to find Harry pouring ice cream into a couple of bowls. She went to one of the drawers and took out two spoons. Harry turned to pass a bowl to her, still wearing that same goofy smile on his face
"Would you take that stupid grin off your face," she said a little annoyed. Harry just looked at her. "You're such a prat!"
She turned to walk towards the living room. Harry, looking at her retrieving figure, couldn't help but focus his eyes on Hermione's behind. He could easily remember how soft her skin, that part of her body in particular, had felt in his hands. He wondered if he'd ever be able to touch it again.
"Stop that, Potter!" he told himself. "She's pregnant!"
Trying hard to take those naughty thoughts out of his mind, he followed her to the couch.
"Could I borrow Hedwig?" asked Hermione minutes later.
"Sure. Mind if I ask who you're writing to?" curiosity in his voice.
Hermione smiled at him. "To the one person that supported me while I was away from home, who was at my side since the moment I found out I was pregnant."
Harry fell silent. "Shit!" he thought, remembering what Ron had said about another guy taking her away from him. Trying to make his voice sound normal, he asked, "And who may that be?"
"Damara of course!"
All of his muscles relaxed after hearing those words.
--- * --- * --- * ---
The following morning, Hermione woke up later than she usually did. When she turned to see the clock placed on her night table, she saw it was almost ten o'clock. She got up, put on a pair of jersey shorts and a maternity top, and went to the kitchen.
Harry was already there. He had prepared breakfast for her. There were eggs, toast, fruit, and juice placed on the table waiting for her. When she walked in, Harry went to her. Before even saying good morning, he leaned and kissed her pregnant belly.
"How's my baby today?" he said talking to her belly.
Hermione laughed. It was great to see him like this, so excited about their baby.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" she asked sitting at the table after he finally let go of her stomach.
"You needed to rest!" he said sitting down as well. "It was a long day yesterday. Now, eat! We're going out today."
Harry was glad to be off for the summer. That allowed him to stay home with Hermione all day long.
Hermione looked curiously at him. "Where are we going?" she said while enjoying her breakfast. Since she reached her fourth month, the nausea had stopped and now she was again able to enjoy eating.
"We're going shopping!" Harry announced. "I noticed yesterday that you already have some things for the baby, but we still need to get some more stuff, you know… all those little things babies need."
Hermione looked at him with a shy smile on her face.
"Don't even say anything," he quickly said, guessing she was about to complain. "It's my baby and I want to buy some things for him, okay?"
Hermione smiled. "Oh gosh!" she thought. "How I love this man."
--- * --- * --- * ---
Harry and Hermione spent all day long in Diagon Alley. Harry acted like a little boy with a new toy. He was all excited going from shop to shop, buying anything he laid his eyes on from bottles and bibs to even a tiny set of quiddith robes.
Hermione told him it might not be a good idea to buy them since they didn't know the sex of the baby, but finally let him buy them after he gave her his own version of the puppy face.
People looked curiously at them as they walked around the Alley. Harry, proud to be with her, took Hermione by her hand twining his fingers with hers, causing several eyebrows to raise.
When they finally got home, Hermione was so tired she decided to take a shower. She knew the hot water would help her muscles relax. Even after she had already finished washing her body, she remained under the shower enjoying the soothing sensation of the water hitting her skin.
Then, she felt the baby move in a stronger way than before. She quickly placed her hands over her belly and massaged it. "You must be tired too," she said talking to her baby. Seconds later, she felt a sharp pain. She placed one hand over her stomach while trying to hold on to the tile wall with the other.
She started breathing rapidly, not knowing what was happening. Once again, she felt the pain, but this time it was much stronger. Not able to hold her weight any longer, she slipped to the floor.
"Harry!" she called out, not sure if he'd be able to hear her with the noise from the shower. "Harry!"
The bathroom door flew open and Harry walked in. As soon as he saw her through the glass shower door, kneeling on the floor, he knew something was wrong. He quickly grabbed a big towel and stepped in the shower.
Not caring about the water wetting him, he wrapped her body with the towel. "Hermione? Are you okay?" He pulled away the wet strains of hair that stuck to her face, only to see that she had lost consciousness.