Title: Nine Long Months
Author: a muggle named Caity
Disclaimer: You guys know the drill, so I don't have to repeat it for you.
Also, the drug 'Clomid' does not belong to me, I'm just borrowing the title (I'm not making any money either).
A/N: Well, here's the second chapter, what you all have been waiting for. Also, I'd like to say thanks to you all who reviewed (you know who you are) and I can't believe how many hits and reviews I've gotten so far and this hasn't even been on here for 24 hours yet. Anyway, here's chapter 2, enjoy!!
Warning: Draco is OOC in this story.
***
Chapter: The Fertility Clinic
Hermione was doing ok, for the most part. It had been six months since her second miscarriage and during those six months, she had miscarried again! She just felt like giving up. 'I'll never make Harry a father.' she thought sadly.
But, to her surprise, that morning, her good friend Ginny had called her and asked her to meet her for lunch. Hermione knew that Ginny worked as a healer at the London Fertility Clinic and she wondered if this had anything to do with her many miscarriages.
As she walked into the restaurant, she spotted Ginny waving to her from the back. With her were her two month old twin girls, Lizzy and Danielle, and her husband of two years, Draco Malfoy, who also worked at the Fertility Clinic.
Hermione walked over to their table, gave them each a friendly hug and plopped down into the seat next to Draco. She had just looked up at them, when she saw the concerned looks on their faces.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Ginny asked, looking worriedly over at her friend of eleven years.
"Oh, yeah, I'm just fantastic!" Hermione replied sarcastically, putting her head in her hands. "All Harry's ever wanted was children to love and spoil and I can't give that to him!"
Draco looked sympathetically over at her, "Hermione, we are both really sorry about all your miscarriages. We know how much you guys want kids."
"Thanks Draco," she replied, giving the blond another hug. "When did you become so thoughtful?" she added teasingly.
"Well, you know me, I have a way with the ladies," he reassured her in a mock superior tone.
Ginny playfully rolled her eyes as she said, 'Yeah right! You were a complete bastard until you got to know me. I made you thoughtful."
"Whatever you say love," he laughed, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"Ok Hermione, we didn't invite you here today to help mock Draco-" Ginny started.
"But, its fun isn't it?" Hermione interjected, making a funny face at Draco, which he returned jokingly.
Ginny continued, "Yes, it is." She laughed. "But, we have some news that we think you and Harry will like."
"What is it?" Hermione asked her, suddenly very eager.
"Well, as you should know, Draco and myself work and the London Fertility Clinic," Hermione nodded. "And we heard that they have a new fertility drug that you could possibly use. Also, this one, they've been working on for years, and it's entirely safe.
The drug is called Clomid*, and it will help enhance your ovaries to produce healthy, mature eggs. You take it for three to five days during your monthly menstrual cycle and then for five days afterward. For most women, it takes about two months for the pills to take effect. Also, after you take the last pill, you usually start to ovulate five to twelve days afterward, so if your time is right, you could conceive healthy eggs."
At this, a wide smile appeared over Hermione's features.
"Also," Ginny added. "I'm not trying to be nosy or anything, but… how's Harry's you know, sperm history go? I'm only asking because if he has good sperm then you will have a better chance at conceiving."
After hearing this bit of news, Hermione's smile got even bigger.
"Yes!" she shrieked softly, throwing her head back in happiness.
"So, I take it Potter's are good, huh?" Draco asked his friend, laughing.
"Yes, oh yes they are! The healers said that it was my body's fault for the miscarriages. They actually said that because Harry has such healthy sperm that that was the reason why my miscarriages happened so far along. They said that if his sperm was poor, then my embryos would have died a lot earlier," Hermione told the couple she sat with happily.
"Well, that's great Hermione! I really think that you guys should do it!" Ginny urged her delightedly.
Suddenly, Hermione's face turned into an unhappy expression.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Ginny asked, her worried look from before returning.
"It's just that," Hermione began, "the healers said something about my cervix being short or something and even if I try this and get the results I want, they baby could still be miscarried again and this time even farther along. But, then I'll already be in the second trimester and I can't miscarry, so the baby will have tons of problems and then it could die and I could get sick and… I don't know, isn't that what would happen?"
"Well, that actually could happen," Draco informed her, "but, it's not certain. So, I would probably recommend going and seeing what the head healer has to say. Maybe it would work, but who knows. We aren't high enough in this field to know, so you'll have to ask Healer Madley."
"Yeah, I would recommend that too. I completely forgot that ovulation wasn't your only problem, I'm sorry," Ginny apologized.
"It's ok," Hermione reassured her redheaded friend. "But, I'll take your advice and still go see this guy. So, when can I go?"
"Well, I figured you'd want to, so I took the liberty of making the appointment for you," Ginny told her, smiling happily.
"Oh Ginny! Thank you! When is it?" Hermione eagerly asked her.
"It's tomorrow at 2:30 pm, does that work for you?" Hermione nodded. "Ok, just checking, oh and your welcome!" she added with a warm smile.
"Oh, yeah, can Harry come? Or is it just supposed to be me?" Hermione questioned conversationally.
"Yeah, of course Harry can come, I personally think its better if he comes, and then the healer can see from his point of view, you know?" Ginny replied.
Hermione nodded. "I'll have to see if he can get off work."
Draco chuckled. "For something that involves you and the possibility of him becoming a father, finally, I think he can take off for that."
Hermione smiled awkwardly. "It's just that he's been on the same mission since he defeated Voldemort, he's still looking for your dad."
Draco's look darkened, "and I hope they kill him, I hate my father." Ginny rubbed his arm supportingly.
Hermione really didn't want to get into this particular discussion at the moment and sensed that no one else did either, so she quickly changed the topic to a happier one.
"Oh," she started out, "in all the excitement about me, I forgot to ask about how Lizzy and Danny were doing. How are they?" She looked over at the little twin girls across from her and smiled.
Draco answered first, turning his dark gaze into a happy one at the mention of his daughters. "They are wonderful. They are so cute and they turned out so healthy, what more could a father want?"
Hermione couldn't even begin to believe how much he had changed. If someone told her ten years ago that Draco Malfoy would end up marrying a Weasley and having kids that he absolutely adored, she'd have told them they were crazy. She could still remember all the taunting and name-calling he used to do, she knew that he regretted it all now, but she also remembered what it all led up to ten years ago: she smacked him! She and Draco both knew he deserved it, but then after all he went through to show them he was actually good and left the Death Eaters, she really respected that. Just watching him look at his wife and children this way, made her really appreciate the man he had become and she knew he was going to be a great a father to his kids.
"Hermione?" Ginny snapped her fingers in the twenty three year old's face.
"What? Oh, sorry, I was just thinking of what a great family you guys are and I never thought in a million years that this would actually happen." She addressed to the two new parents.
"Well, it was kind of rocky at first, but we made it through," Ginny replied, smiling at her husband.
"That we did," Draco agreed, giving his wife a kiss.
"Anyway," Ginny started to change the subject, "you should see the happy family Ron has, he's been married two and a half years and he already has five children, five!" she commented about her twenty three year old brother.
"Well Ginny, you have to admit," Hermione smirked, "you Weasleys' are very fertile."
"Yeah, love, you guys are, didn't you last see how many children Bill has?" Draco humorously added.
"Don't even get me started on Bill…" she trailed off as Danielle started to cry.
"Oh, baby, come here…" Ginny gently lifted her daughter out of her carriage and rocked her back and forth, back and forth….
Hermione watched in awe at the family before her. 'No matter what happens, that will be me and Harry one day, hopefully one day soon.'
***
Hermione had been looking forward to this since yesterday when Ginny had first told her. The night before; she had told Harry and he was more then thrilled to give it a try.
This fertility clinic was the best in all of Europe and Hermione hoped beyond hope that this would work. Ginny had pretty much guaranteed that it would work, and Hermione had held her to that. As they were prepping to leave, Hermione felt very excited, but couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
As they apparated into the main room of the clinic, they first noticed a desk, much like the one at St. Mungo's. The Welcome Witch here was however bright and friendly, as the other… wasn't.
"Next!" she called out cheerfully.
"Hi, we're here for an appointment," Hermione stated with a large smile on her face.
"With which healer?" The Welcome With asked happily.
"We aren't sure," Harry answered shyly.
"But, I think it's with Healer Madley?" Hermione replied, looking apprehensive.
The woman smiled warmly at the young couple. "Are you Harry and Hermione Potter?"
"Yeah," Hermione replied, blushing bright red.
"Ok, great! Ginny Malfoy told me you'd both be here about now for a fertility drug appointment," the witch said warmly, walking around the desk to stand next to the couple. "And yes, your healer's name is Healer Madley. Really great guy! His office is just down that hall, take a left, and it's the first door on the right." She pointed with her fingers in the direction they had to go.
"Thank you!" Harry and Hermione both thanked the witch politely, walking in the direction she pointed for them.
"Your welcome! Have a great day!" she called merrily after them.
As they approached the door, Hermione was about to turn the knob when a tall, cheery-looking man in about his mid-forties quickly opened the door and politely ushered the couple inside.
"Hello!" he signaled with his hands for them to sit down. "I'm Healer Madley." He instinctively put his hands behind him on his desk and leaned backwards facing them.
"Hello, I'm Harry Potter and this is my wife Hermione," Harry politely stood up and shook the man's hand and then gracefully sat back down.
"It's an honor Mr. Potter, now what seems to be the problem?" he addressed the couple.
"Well Healer Madley," Hermione started to explain their situation. "I've had three miscarriages in a row in the past eleven months and a close friend of ours, Ginny Malfoy, prescribed that I come and see you to learn more about this new drug you are using."
"Mrs. Malfoy was very smart in prescribing that to you. By the way, she did explain what and how this drug works right?" the healer quizzed her.
"Yes, she did," Hermione answered.
"Wait, what drug? Could you explain to me how it works?" Harry asked, trying to gain some information.
The healer briefly explained how Clomid worked and how the treatment would go.
"Now, the side effects of this drug-" the healer began.
"Wait! There's side effects?!" Harry asked, standing up.
"Of course Mr. Potter, there's side effects for almost anything," Healer Madley told him matter-of-factly.
"Oh, go on," Harry said sheepishly, blushing bright red, he sat back down.
"Thank you, now, the side effects. There are the usual ones: swelling of the ovaries, stomach pain, breast tenderness, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, headaches, fatigue, irritability, depression, weight gain, and in the rare cases, ovarian cysts. So, the usual," the healer finished.
"You call those minor?!" Harry asked in awe, staring wide-eyed at the healer.
Hermione and Healer Madley laughed. "Yes, son, to a pregnant woman, those are very minor."
"Oh." Harry sank lower into his chair.
Hermione listened attentively. But, she couldn't believe the slowness and awe of her husband. 'Well, after all,' she thought to herself, 'he is a man.' She giggled at the thought.
"Anyways," the healer began again, "on a more happier note, taking Clomid will also give you a chance of conceiving two or more children at once. The percentage is below 10%, but it's still a chance."
Hermione smiled as she heard this. She would love to have triplets. She also wanted to conceive more than one because she felt that this would be too much money to do over and over again.
"So, we could possibly end up having twins or more if this all goes well?" Harry asked excitedly.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, but it's very unlikely, you'll probably only end up with one," the healer replied.
"I can live with that. So, how much does this cost?" Harry asked the man nervously.
"About one hundred and fifty galloens a cycle, and my guess would be about three cycles for your wife, if all goes well. Then there's the cost of check-ups and those occur every two weeks. Then every ultrasound we make during a check has its cost as well."
"Look, Harry, I know it's a lot of money, but-" Hermione began.
"We'll take it!" Harry told the healer briskly, but happily.
"We will?" Hermione asked, very surprised at her husband.
"Yes, look Hermione, we have more then enough money, remember the small fortunes Sirius and my parents left me? Well, they double every year in Gringott's and we'll just use some from Sirius', it's really no big deal."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Positive. Look, I want this baby as much as you do, I've never had any family and here's my chance to finally have a whole one. I want a family with you Hermione; I don't care how much this stuff will cost as long as it gives us a better chance at a healthy and full-term pregnancy. I'm more then willing to do this, but whatever you want Hermione, we'll do," he finished, kissing her softly on the lips.
"Oh Harry, of course I want this! Let's do it then!" she said enthusiastically, smiling as she turned to look at the healer.
"Wait!" Hermione suddenly blurted out.
"What?" both men asked at the same time.
"What about my other problem?"
"Huh?" Harry asked confusedly. "Oh! That problem," he remembered, the look of dawning comprehension spreading across his face.
"What problem?" the healer worriedly asked.
"Well," Hermione began to explain, "the healers at St. Mungo's said that my problem with delivering full-term was that, one, my eggs weren't very healthy and I didn't always ovulate properly."
"Yes, and that is what the Clomid is for," Healer Madley said matter-of-factly.
Hermione continued. "Then the other problem is that my cervix is short and that's why I miscarried some of the time."
"Oh, well, that's ok, a lot of women have short cervixes, your biggest problem was that you didn't ovulate properly most of the time, hence you not conceiving most of the time and the fact that you didn't have healthy eggs. Clomid will help greatly with that and if all works out, you will ovulate more properly and it will attract healthier eggs."
"Ok, I guess we will take this then," Hermione said, relief beginning to wash over her.
"One cycle of Clomid coming right up!" Healer Madley exclaimed happily, and with a swish of his wand, it was ready to go.
***
As two months passed, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Hermione went in for her regular two-week check-ups, and Healer Madley had nothing but good things to say.
Hermione was already on her third cycle of Clomid, and nothing had happened. "This normally takes around three to four months, so be patient." The healer told her every time she went in for a check-up. Well, she was tired of being patient, but she did know that if she kept it up, she could be holding her own little baby around this time next year.
Harry and Hermione had been planning the timing just right now; always seven, eight, or nine days before her 'friend' made her little monthly debut - or at least that's when the healer instructed was most provocative. Not that they could keep their hands off each other anyway.
Today was just your average Sunday. Harry was watching football on their muggle telly in their living room. Occasionally yelling or screaming 'Bloody Mary or Hell!' at it when his favorite team missed a goal, etc. He was even throwing popcorn at the telly.
Hermione was quietly reading a book, or at least trying to. Harry was making such a racket across the room that Hermione couldn't concentrate on anything. She was about to movie into the study for some quiet, when suddenly she felt sick to her stomach.
Before she could do anything about it, she retched all over the floor in front of her. Harry noticed this and was immediately at her side with a very concerned look on his face. He quickly got rid of the mess with a wave of his wand, before asking concerningly, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I-" but right as she was about to start again, another wave of nausea hit her and she quickly fled to the loo.
"This is odd," Harry said to himself, momentarily scratching his head in confusion.
A few minutes later, Hermione made her way back to the living room, and sat down on the nearest sofa.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked his wife very worriedly.
"Yeah," Hermione replied, after the nausea passed. "I just had a couple brief waves of nausea hit me," she dazedly said.
"Do you know what it could have been from?" Harry asked her, sitting down next to her.
"I would guess the Clomid, I mean, Healer Madley said that nausea and vomiting were two of the side effects," she said matter-of-factly.
"I guess, but I think we should go and see Healer Madley," Harry stated firmly.
"Harry, I'm fine now, I'm almost positive it's the Clomid. Besides, I have my next check-up in three days, we'll tell him about it then," she told him lightly.
"Hermione!" Harry said, in his most firm warning tone.
"No Harry!" Hermione retorted even more firmly. "I know my body better than you do and we'll tell him at my next check-up!" she strongly decided.
With that, Hermione grabbed her book from the cushion next to her and hurriedly walked into their study, closing the door firmly behind her with a loud thud. Leaving an awestruck, confused Harry behind on the living room couch.
***
As Hermione laid there on the cold, hard examination table; in the exam room of the London Fertility Clinic, she thought of many possibilities toward her recent nausea attacks. 'I hope it was just the Clomid, but I couldn't have possibly gotten sick. Or maybe… just maybe….' She trailed off as the healer began to speak. He was obviously done with her check-up, but having been so lost in thought, she hadn't noticed.
"Well Mrs. Potter," he began cheerily, "you aren't sick."
"See Harry, I told you it was the Clomid," Hermione directed at her husband, making a face his way that he teasingly returned.
"Actually Mrs. Potter, it wasn't the Clomid either," Healer Madley directed to Hermione.
"Well then," Harry made a very confused face, "what did it?"
"Well," the healer started, an enormous smile flashing across his round, cheery face, "you're pregnant."
A/N: Ok guys, I hope you liked this chapter!! You'll see Harry and Hermione's reactions in the next chapter, but you could probably guess what they will be, lol. Also, you'll finally get to see Ron in the next chapter, I've been holding him off until now, I'm sorry, I know y'all love him (if you don't then you should)! The next chapter will be updated as soon as I can get it, probably by Friday or Saturday, so hang tight! Oh, yeah, R & R!! I love y'all!!
*: Clomid was the same fertility drug used in the movie "Half a Dozen Babies" and it is a real drug.