Nine Long Months

a muggle named Caity

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 01/08/2005
Last Updated: 23/07/2006
Status: in_progress

Harry and Hermione are, as of right now, a happily married couple, but what would make them even happier would be a baby to share their life with. After many miscarriages, they finally conceive healthily, but there’s one problem… there‘s more then one! See the trials and tribulations Harry and Hermione will have to go through during this wild and scary pregnancy. Inspired by the movies “A Half a Dozen Babies” and “Quints” with my own Harry Potter twists. Please R & R!! I'm well aware that I didn't win the competition, but it's cool. I'd like to thank all you guys who voted for my story in the competition anyway.

Chapters

1. Before

2. The Fertility Clinic

3. Unexpected

4. A Scare

5. Author's Note

6. At St. Mungo's

7. Kidnapped

1. Before

Title: Nine Long Months

Author: a muggle named Caity

Ships: H/Hr, D/G*, R/L* (*Later chapters)

Rating: PG-13

Words: 2,778

Summary: Harry and Hermione are a happily married couple, but what would make them even happier would be a baby to share their life with. After many miscarriages, they finally conceive, but there’s one problem… there‘s more then one! See the trials and tribulations Harry and Hermione will have to go through during this wild and crazy pregnancy. Inspired by the movies “A Half a Dozen Babies” and “Quints”. Please R & R!!

Disclaimer: You know the drill: This is not mine, it is not yours, it is not Portkey.org's, neither any other fan fiction site’s, it all belongs to the wonderful and talented J.K. Rowling (even though she thinks we're delusional). So please don’t sue (I don’t have any money anyway)!

***

Chapter One: Before

“Well, Mrs. Potter, I believe that a congratulations is in order!” The healer stated happily to Hermione.

“A congratulations? For what?” Hermione asked cautiously, a smile creeping onto her face.

“You’re pregnant!” The healer announced excitedly.

At those words, her smile grew to almost the length of her face.

“I’m preg-pregnant? Again?” She asked softly.

“Yes, Mrs. Potter, I’m sure your husband will be thrilled, won’t he?” He questioned her enthusiastically.

“Oh, yes, he most definitely will be!” She squealed excitingly, hopping off the examination table.

Hermione and her best friend of the past twelve years, who also happened to be her husband and the love of her life, Harry Potter, had been trying for the better part of three years to have children. It had been a dream of the both of them ever since they were children themselves. Six years previously, Harry had finally defeated the world known dark lord Voldemort and was finally able to make one of his biggest dreams come true; getting married to the woman he loved. But the having kids bit was a little more difficult as they had come to find out. Hermione had some conceiving problems and when ever she had gotten pregnant, she miscarried, and then other times, she simply didn’t conceive at all. This had disheartened them so much that they had stopped using protection altogether, but still to no avail… until now.

“Now, remember to come back and see me in a month, I’ll owl you the precise date. Now, take care,” her healer kindly instructed her.

“Thank you so much Healer Zeller! I can’t wait to tell Harry!” She quickly said good-bye and practically skipped out the door.

She quickly stepped into the lift that would take her from the newly added sixth floor of St. Mungos; the new Woman’s Ward; Pregnancy complications, Delivery Room, Gynecology office, etc. To the floor down on the lowest level of the magical hospital. From there she would apparate home.

As the lift went down, Hermione started contemplating how she would tell Harry the exciting news. ‘Oh! I’ll surprise him with his favorite dinner! Yeah, he’ll be SO excited when I tell him that I’m pregnant again.’ As she continued thinking of a way to tell her husband of three years, the lift slowly came to a stop on the ground floor and she breezily walked out of it. Then with a loud CRACK, she apparated back to their modest home in Godric’s Hollow.

* * *

Harry was beat. He had had another long day at work. He and his team of highly trained Aurors had been out yet again today on their desperate search for Lucius Malfoy. And it really pissed him off that every time they had almost had him; he slipped out between their fingers undetected. All he wanted to do was grab a sandwich and fall asleep on his and Hermione’s soft comfortable bed.

As he apparated into their living room, he noticed that the lights in the dining room were dimmed. He slowly walked into the darkened room and noticed several candles; some floating weightlessly in midair, others on the table, and the rest on the shelves next to him. Looking at the site before him, a small smile came to his lips, but then faltered when he realized who wasn’t in the room with him.

“Hermione?! Hermione are you here?” He called out loudly.

“Surprise!” She said softly from behind him.

He turned around to face her and took in the gorgeous site before him. There was Hermione; she was wearing a tight-fitting, silk, black, spaghetti-strapped dress that showed off her curves so well, that he wanted to devour her right there.

“Hey, you look really great tonight, but what’s the occasion?” He asked suspiciously.

“Well, I just wanted to surprise you with a nice dinner and I also have some news for you,” She told him.

“What’s the news?” He asked casually, coming up to give her a hug and a kiss.

“Oh, never you mind right now, let’s have dinner first,” she told him playfully, returning his hug and kiss happily.

“O-K,” he replied slowly, “well, what’s for dinner?”

“Well… baby peas, baby corn, and baby back ribs*, do you notice a pattern going on here?” She asked hopefully.

“You made my favorites! Thanks Hermione!” He said, digging into his dinner.

Hermione rolled her eyes at how slow her husband actually was, but she still loved him for it. She was also just thankful that he was at least a little quicker on these type of things then her other best friend Ron. As she was about to go sit down and eat her own dinner, she heard Harry crank his neck and groan.

“What’s wrong, love?” Hermione asked, walking back over to him.

“Oh, it’s just my neck, back, and shoulders. Another long stressful day at work,” He answered, trying to massage his shoulders.

“Would you like a rub down?” She asked sweetly.

Harry eyed her suspiciously, “Since when do you give me ‘rub downs’?”

“Look, can’t a wife just do something nice for her husband?” She asked him in return, looking down at him, trying to look innocent.

“No,” he answered flatly.

“Now, what was this ‘news’ you were going to tell me?” He added.

“How about we go up to bed now?” She asked, trying to change the subject.

“Hermione!” Harry said in a warning tone.

“Ok, ok, this is really big news and I really hope that you are happy about it, like I think you will be,” she started.

“Go on,” Harry urged her.

“Harry, I’m… I’m pregnant again,” she finished softly.

Harry stared wide-eyed at her for a few moments. She didn’t know if he wanted this or not. They had been trying for awhile to get pregnant, two years in fact. But, they had always either miscarried or not even conceived at all and she started to wonder if he even wanted this now, with the possibility of her miscarrying again. Then all of a sudden, he started jumping up enthusiastically and pulled her into his arms for a very Mrs. Weasley-like hug.

“I take it you like the news?” Hermione chuckled, silently thanking the lord that he was happy about this.

He answered her by giving her one of the most passionate kisses she had ever received. Harry couldn’t even begin to tell her how happy he was, all he could do was dance around holding her and plant several kisses all over her beautiful, newly impregnated body.

“’Mione, you make me so happy!” he said softly in her ear before embracing her again, silently sobbing tears of joy.

“I love you so much Hermoine!” he added, his tears now soaking into her dress.

“I love you too Harry,” she said softly as she also started to cry from utter happiness.

“Let’s go upstairs now!” Harry suddenly demanded eagerly.

All Hermione could do was she smile and laugh as the love of her life scooped her up into his strong arms and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom to make the most passionate love they had ever made.

* * *

Hermione was so excited. She had just gotten her pregnancy test and ultrasound. She was fourteen weeks along and couldn’t wait to hear what the healer had to say about her baby.

Just as she was about to ask her husband what was taking their healer so long, he strode back into the room, but with a less then happy expression on his face.

“So, how’s our baby doing?” Hermione asked her healer eagerly.

“Well, you are perfectly healthy,” the healer started out hesitantly, emphasizing the word ‘you’.

“And the baby?” Harry asked impatiently.

“Well… the baby is still alive, but there are some problems,” he continued on.

“What sort of problems?” Hermione asked him, her smile starting to falter.

“Well, the egg inside you has the wrong number of chromosomes, and is starting to develop abnormally. This usually happens when you have a family history of it, and by looking at your family’s record, Mrs. Potter, it seems that your mother and grandmother has this as well,” he finished.

“Well, what about Harry, a-and his family?” Hermione questioned, in just a little higher than a whisper.

“Mr. Potter here’s family is just fine, I think that with his good sperm, yours could possibly survive,” Healer Zeller told her.

“Possibly?” She asked him quietly.

“I’m afraid so Mrs. Potter and also some more even graver news is that it’s only about 12%,” the healer replied sadly.

“So, you’re saying that she has a possible 88% chance of miscarrying? Again?” Harry questioned the healer darkly.

All the healer could do was nod sadly; he wished that he could do more for this couple. This was after all most likely her second miscarriage in 15 months. Just as the healer was about to walk out of the room, another thought came to his mind.

“I might have a solution for you couple, it’s called a Cerclage, and this procedure is where we sew up your cervix and it will give you a much more likely chance of this baby surviving,” the healer told them hopefully.

“Really?” Hermione asked, the smile reappearing on her face. “It will save our baby?”

“It possibly could, but there is a major risk involved,” he told her gravely.

“What sort of risk?” Harry asked wide-eyed.

“We could lose Hermione,” Healer Zeller said flat out.

Harry didn’t even have to think twice about this. As soon as the words came out of the healer’s mouth, Harry was up and out of his seat.

“We won’t do it,” he said, just as flatly.

“But, Harry…” Hermione started, her eyes starting to fill up with tears.

“No Hermione,” he told his wife firmly, “I will not lose you. You are the most important person in the world to me. I will not take this risk, I mean, losing the baby would be hard and depressing, but it’s something that over time we can get over, but losing you as well… no, we aren’t doing it,” Harry ended just as firmly as he began, but his tone mildly softer.

“Thank you Healer Zeller, but we can’t, I can’t take this risk,” he added politely to the healer.

“Alright,” the healer said as he directed his attention to Hermione. “Mrs. Potter, you know what the symptoms for miscarriage are right?” Hermione nodded, “Then come and see me right away if it happens.”

“Take care, both of you,” he added before he walked swiftly from the room.

The drive home was a quiet affair. The only sounds that could be heard were the wind rushing past the car and the light hic-cupping from Hermione as she silently cried in her seat on the passenger side. Harry wished, looking over at his very depressed wife, that he could do something to make her feel better. Sure he would be very upset if they lost the baby again, but he wouldn’t risk losing Hermione on anyone’s life, not even his own.

When they pulled into their driveway, Hermione got instantly out of the car and ran into the house. Harry quickly followed and found her rolled up in a ball, sobbing silently (but more clearly) under the covers of their bed, in their bedroom on the second floor of their spacious home. As quietly as he could, he kicked off his shoes, dropped his cloak to the floor and easily slipped under the covers next to her and pulled her into his strong warm arms. He could feel her trembling as they laid there the rest of the night, then no sooner than later, she stopped and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

* * *

Harry was in a very good mood. It had been over two weeks since that pregnancy visit and Hermione had yet to miscarry. It was also the last day of her regular monthly menstruation cycle and he knew it would be very rare for her to miscarry after that. He hadn’t seen her since the night before and couldn’t wait to see how she and the baby were holding up. He started hoping beyond hope that their baby would actually live this time.

As he apparated into their living room, he noticed that no lights were on any where he could see.

“Hermione!” He called out, “Hermione, you home?!”

When he didn’t get an answer, he thought of the night when Hermione had first told him that she had become pregnant again. That brought a smile to his face as he instantly thought of her doing that again, but then it faded away when he saw nothing but darkness in the dining room and no food cooking in the equally dark kitchen.

He called out to her once more, but again, got no answer. He was starting to get worried. He quickly checked the whole first floor and thought maybe she was upstairs and didn’t hear him. But ever since he defeated Voldemort in the final battle six years ago, the death eaters had been lurking around, still trying to seek revenge on him. Then when he married Hermione, she was thrown into the picture and he would get constantly worried and terrified when she wouldn’t answer to his calls.

He entered their bedroom and let out a quick sigh of relief as he had finally found her and she was safe. But there was something wrong; she was sitting off in the corner of their room with her slender arms wrapped around her knees, just staring off into space in front of her. He noticed that she also had tear streaks all down her face and his mood suddenly went from that natural high he had been feeling all day to as low as you could possibly go. He knew instantly what was wrong just by looking closely at her, but he couldn’t help asking.

“Hermione,” he said quietly, “what’s wrong, love?” He dreaded the answer he knew was sure to come.

She looked up at him from her trance, he had a very concerned and pained look on his face that she simply couldn’t take. She had only finally stopped crying mere minutes before Harry’s arrival and now she started feeling the wetness return to her eyes as it turned into a full out sob once again.

He held out his arms to her and motioned for her to come. She quickly got up and ran into them as she said in between sobs, “Oh, Ha-Harry… I-I got m-my period to-today!”

Harry couldn’t help the tears that started to fall from his eyes. He had wanted a full out family for as long as he could remember with many, many children and he didn’t know how he could be so unlucky in his life, did God and/or Merlin not want him to be happy? This was what he had always wanted, and every time it had been taken away from him. Then soon enough, Harry’s tears turned into a sob much like Hermione’s. And they just sat there the rest of the day, wrapped in each other’s arms, trying to make all the pain of that day go away.

* * *

A/N: Hey guys!! I’m glad if you like my story so far! Please leave me a review, I don’t care how long. If you were wondering how Hermione ends up with babies when she just had this miscarriage, well, you’ll find out in the next chapter. Anyway I’ll upload the next chapter once I get 15 reads and 10 reviews, so people if you like my story, R&R for more!!

*: This was a line from the hit TV show ‘Full House’ when Becky was telling Jesse that she was pregnant. She made a dinner the same dinner (And Jesse didn't get it, lol, typical men).

2. The Fertility Clinic

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.

3. Unexpected

Title: Nine Long Months

Author: a muggle named Caity

Words: 2, 385

Disclaimer: You know the drill… so I don’t have to repeat it for you.

A/N: Hey guys! I’m sorry it took a while for me to update, I’ve been a little busy. I’m happy; I got 26 reviews for the second chapter (thanks to all who did review) and I have 653 reads, that means a lot!! But, it also disappoints me because in the first chapter, I got 1261 reads and 33 reviews. Was my second chapter that bad? Ok, in this chapter, we finally get to see Ron!! And you’ll learn something that you might not have expected. Read and review when finished!!

***

Chapter: Unexpected

“What?” Hermione asked her Healer, a wide smile spreading from ear to ear.

“You’re pregnant!” Healer Madley repeated excitedly.

“I am!?” Hermione shrieked enthusiastically.

All it took was one nod from the Healer before Hermione jumped off the examination table, screamed out of sheer joy and enveloped her husband in a bone-crushing hug.

“Harry, we’re pregnant again! I love you so much!” she exclaimed, giving him a warm, passionate kiss.

“I can’t believe we’re pregnant again, let’s just hope it lasts this time.” Harry said in-between planting little kisses over her face.

Healer Madley stood back as he watched the young couple successfully. This was one of the things he loved most about his job; making people happy. He could remember back to a time many years ago when he and his wife were expecting. That was one of the happiest times in his life and he hoped this young couple would be able to experience it as well; full-term.

He watched the man and woman before him exchange loving glances and kisses for a few minutes before making himself present.

“I’ll get to the even greater news when you two finish with your intidimacy,” At that, Harry and Hermione broke apart, blushing wildly.

The Healer laughed good-naturedly before continuing, “anyway, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, remember a few months ago when you first came to me with your problem?”

Harry and Hermione nodded.

“Well, remember when I said that you could end up with more than one child?”

Hermione’s eyes widened. “Yeah.”

“Well….” Their Healer trailed off, smiling, hoping they’d get the hint.

“Are we going to have more than one child?” Harry asked, gaping at the Healer.

Healer Madley nodded.

“Oh my God ‘Mione! We’re going to have more than one child!” Harry shouted. He couldn’t even begin to express how happy he was at that particular moment. All he could do was grab Hermione and spin her around happily. The couple both laughed and cried like school children.

As soon as Hermione’s feet hit the white, marble floor, she eagerly asked, “How many more? Are we having twins?” Hermione very much desired having triplets, but the fact that she was indeed pregnant again; she could care less if it was two kids or fifty kids.

“No, you’re not having twins.” replied the Healer, chuckling silently to himself.

“Triplets?” Hermione asked, hoping this to be the limit.

Healer Madley shook his head no.

Harry’s eyes began to widen as well. “Quads?”

The Healer shook his head once again.

Harry’s eyes were practically bugging out of his sockets by now. “Quints?”

Healer Madley slowly nodded yes.

At this news, Harry fainted. Hermione caught him before he hit the hard, cold floor. ‘Men.’ she thought, inwardly rolling her eyes. Hermione couldn’t believe how lucky she was. Here she was, praying to have multiple children; she had really had her heart set on triplets, but quints were even better. And she actually got her prayer answered.

She, and with some much needed help from the Healer, was placing Harry in a chair next to tall examination table, when he began to stir.

As he opened his eyes, he immediately took in the sight of his wife and their Healer looking worriedly back to at him.

“What happened?” He asked, holding his head as he sat up straight in his chair.

“You fainted. Are you alright?” Hermione asked, amusement evident in her tone.

“Yeah, I just had the weirdest dream though. Healer Madley said we were having quints.” He laughed, but stopped when no one joined in.

“Harry…” Hermione began cautiously, “we are having quints.”

Harry stared open-mouthed at his wife, “We’re having quints?”

Hermione genuinely smiled, holding back her tears of utter joy, “Yeah,” she continued shaking her head up and down. “We are really having five babies.”

Before Hermione had any indication of what was happening, Harry pulled her into a large hug and then screamed, “I’m gonna be a father!! We’re having quints!”

Harry let go of his very surprised wife, dashed across the room and hugged their Healer tightly. Hermione watched bemusedly as Harry’s hand turned the knob on the door handle and threw it open, sprinting out of the room at breakneck speed, screaming “I’m going to be a father! I’m having quints!” to anyone he met as he ran down the corridors.

Healer Madley calmly turned to face Hermione. “Well, be back in two weeks for your usual check-up.”

‘Isn’t he surprised at what Harry just did?’ she thought curiously to herself.

Almost as if reading her mind, her Healer smiled and said, “This happens quite often, nothing unusual.”

“Oh, I should have expected as much.” She and Healer Madley laughed.

“Take good care now. Remember, any sign of miscarriage and let me know right away.”

Hermione nodded. She waved good-bye and started down the corridor, chuckling as she chased after her husband, totally unaware that she had been being watched the entire time.

***

“Harry do you have the food ready?” Hermione asked, checking to make sure their house was completely spotless.

“Yeah, but like it matters, Ron will just eat it all anyway.” Harry chuckled, setting the plates and silverware on their kitchen table.

Their best friend Ron Weasley and his wife, Luna, were coming over for lunch. They hadn’t seen them in a while; Luna having only delivered their triplets four months ago. Then, with them having twins that are only two and a half years old, they had a lot on their hands. So Harry and Hermione thought it would be good for them to all get together.

“Ok, the house is clean and the food is ready; everything’s ready.”

Just then, the doorbell rang and Hermione ran forward quickly to answer it.

“Hey!” In the doorway stood Ron and two of his children; his twin daughters, Catherine and Charlotte.

“Hi Hermione!” Ron said, stepping into their modest home and giving her a hug.

“Hi girls!” Hermione greeted the little girls warmly.

“Aunt Hermione!” they both said simultaneously, each stepping up to give their “aunt” a hug.

“You girls are getting so big and so cute!” Hermione gushed.

“Thank,” Catherine began.

“You!” Charlotte finished.

“Oh Ron, they so polite for such little girls, but I think they take after their Uncles Fred and George.” Hermione joked.

“Yeah, well… at least they are polite when they do it.” Ron laughed, beaming at his well-mannered daughters.

“Gee, I wonder where they learned that?” said a sarcastic voice from the stairs.

“Sod off Harry,” Ron shot back good-naturedly, coming forward to share a manly hug with his best friend.

“So,” Harry began, looking around Ron, “where’s Luna? Isn’t she coming?”

“No, she had a deadline tonight and she wasn’t even close to being finished,” replied the redhead sadly.

“Wait, she just got off of maternity leave and the Quibbler already has a deadline for her?” Hermione asked, completely surprised.

Ron looked downcast. “Yeah, I swear we are going to go broke. I can’t work right now, not with Brandon, Brian, and Brady to look after and we can’t keep paying for someone to watch them.”

“Ron, well we could loan you some money,” Harry offered, looking sadly at his best friend of the past 12 years.

“Nah, we have to work it out on our own, but thanks anyway guys.” Ron graciously thanked his friends. He truly felt lucky to have such great friends.

“Anyway, we’re here to catch up a bit and have fun, so let’s get off this topic,” Harry stated. Ron gave him a grateful look.

They spent their lunch talking about their Hogwarts days, how their lives were so far, and how their marriages were. When they came upon the subject of how Ron’s boys were, he suddenly remembered something Luna had told him earlier.

“Hey girls,” Ron addressed his daughters, “why don’t you guys go and watch the telly, I know you like watching it whenever we come over.”

Both of the girl’s eyes lightened up at that. “We can!! Can we pa-wease Uncle Harry?”

“Sure, knock yourselves out!” the three adults chuckled as the twins practically raced out of the room and could be heard fighting over who got the remote first.

“They are such sweet, adorable kids, and they are so smart for their age!” Hermione praised.

“And speaking of kids… how about you guys? Any luck?” Ron filtered in.

Harry and Hermione shared a bemused glance. “Yeah, we’ve had some luck….”

“Some good luck.” Hermione continued where Harry trailed off.

“Great, so are you pregnant Hermione?” Ron asked his friend hopefully. He knew how much they wanted children; Harry especially. It just didn’t seem fair that that was one of the things Harry had always dreamed about having, and his dreams seemed to be falling apart. Then Hermione would always blame the whole thing on herself and cry because she couldn’t give him the one thing he wanted. And he hated seeing his friends that way; he really hoped that they would one day become pregnant and stay pregnant until delivery.

“Well?” Ron questioned the couple impatiently after a couple minutes of silence.

Hermione talked first. “Yes Ron, we are pregnant….” she trailed off as Ron jumped out of his chair and gave her a fierce hug.

“I’m so happy for you guys!” Ron couldn’t contain his happiness for them, they had gotten another chance and he hoped they would come through with it.

“Ron…” Harry began cautiously, “we are really, really, really, really,” Harry blow out a breath, “really pregnant.”

“Huh?” Ron said stupidly, obviously not getting the point.

Hermione giggled. “Harry and I are having quints Ron.”

Ron’s eyes grew to the size off saucers, “You mean,” he gulped, “as in five children? At one time?”

“That’s generally how it works,” Harry smirked.

“Well,” Ron began, his expression unreadable, “CONGRATULATIONS!” he shouted happily.

“You’re happy for us?” Hermione asked, looking relieved.

“Of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?” Ron asked, slightly confused.

“Well,” Harry said, “Hermione has miscarried quite a few times.”

“Just look at it this way. You have another chance at a family and this time, if you come out successful, you will be gaining quite a bit.” Ron told them matter-of-factly.

“That’s a nice way of seeing it Ron.” Hermione looked thoughtfully at him.

“Yeah well….” Ron murmured, trying to look superior.

“But,” Harry interjected sadly, “it’s a lot to lose if we, once again, miscarry.” Harry slumped in his chair, looking defeated.

Ro pulled up a chair in front of him, while Hermione moved to sit on her husband’s lap. “You know mate, I have a feeling that this one will work out.”

“You sure?” Harry asked, trying to have faith in what his longtime friend was saying.

“Yeah, I do,” Ron assured him.

***

A short, stubby-looking man walked through the cold, dark corridors in silence, slowly approaching his master’s door. Upon arriving at the tall, cold, metal door, he stated the password (“power”) and stepped briefly over the threshold.

Entering the room, he noticed it was unusually dark. Unknown to him if he was alone or not he called out to his master, “Milord, are you here?”

“Yes, you idiot I’m always here,” came a cold, menacing voice from in front of him. “Did you bring any good news for me Wormtail?”

“Yes milord, I think you’ll find it quite interesting.” the man named Wormtail replied nervously.

“Then get on with it!” the dark-hooded figure before him spoke viciously.

“Yes milord, it’s about Harry Potter.” Wormtail hoped that this bit of news would please his new master.

“Go on,” the dark figure encouraged, his voice softening, but still menacing.

“He and his mudblood wife are pregnant again, milord.” Before Wormtail could react, he dropped to the floor, withering in pain from the effects of the Cruciatus curse.

“That’s what you’ve been giving me for the last three years! I need something valuable about Potter, not something that the filthy mudblood can’t achieve!” the dark cloaked figure raised his wand to lift the curse from his servant, but was very agitated with the news he brought, every single time.

“Milord,” Wormtail began again, rubbing his leg; that of which he fell on. “Potter and the mudblood are pregnant with five children.”

This seemed to please his master, for he turned around quickly, an interested look on his cold, pale face. “Five?”

“Yes milord,” Wormtail quickly replied.

“This you shall be rewarded for finding out Wormtail.”

“Thank you milord, thank you,” Wormtail gratefully crawled over to his master and kissed the hems of his robes, thankful that his master was pleased with the news, as he himself had hoped he’d be.

“This is very valuable, very valuable indeed.” For the first time in six years, Severus Snape smiled.

***

A/N: Hello everyone!! I’m so sorry that I haven’t updated anytime I said I would; I’ve been really busy. I’m going back to school a week from Monday, on August 15th, and I’ve been trying to get my school stuff ready and my friend just got back from the east coast, so I had to spend some time with her. Also, I found this chapter a little tricky to write. Like, I didn’t know what to have them talk to Ron about, so that took a little while to get down on paper. Anyway, this time I can’t promise when I’ll update next (I’ll probably end up breaking the promise), so all I can say is that it’ll be soon!!

I’m glad if you guys like my story so far!! Please leave me a review, the more reviews, the more motivated I am to getting the next chapters done.

4. A Scare

Title: Nine Long Months

Author: a muggle named Caity

Words: 2,969

Disclaimer: You all know the drill… so I don’t have to repeat it for you.

Author’s Note: Sorry for the late update! I had writer’s block and issues with my computer. My neighbor, who is really good with computers, had to strip my computer clean. So, I’m sorry about that.

Also, I’m stuck on names for two of Harry and Hermione’s children, if anyone has any suggestions, I’ll happily look them over and consider them. They would be preferably boys’ names and maybe hold some meaning to them.

Anyway, here’s chapter four; it’s pretty much a filler, but needed nonetheless. Enjoy! R & R and don’t forget to rate it for the competition when finished.

Chapter Four: A Scare

Hermione had been pregnant now for four months. She was happy that she hadn’t miscarried, and now it seems that it’s too late in her pregnancy for her to miscarry at all; that’s what she was most happy about. ‘I can’t believe I’ll finally get to bear Harry’s children,’ she thought happily to herself, ‘but,’ she began to think darkly, ‘I look like a bus!’

This was indeed the topic Hermione was not happy about involving her pregnancy: her appearance. As said before, she is only four months pregnant and already looks and feels as if she’ll burst.

As she looked at herself in the mirror hanging in the couple’s elegant bathroom, she couldn’t help feeling slightly insecure. She never had to worry about her appearance; she was always slender and petite. But, now? Now, she worried over it constantly. It’s not like she’s fat, she wasn’t, she’s pregnant, or as Harry told her all the time.

Still looking in the mirror, she slowly lifted her large, maternity shirt up to her breast line and ran her fingers softly over her large stretch marks that surrounded her overlarge abdomen. In many ways, she was overjoyed at having the stretch marks, like she earned them. But, then in other ways, she was still as insecure about them as ever.

As she continued to look at her colossal form in the mirror, she heard the distant sound of a door opening; it was Harry.

“Hermione?” he called out.

“In here, love,” she called out her reply.

“Hey,” Harry greeted her warmly, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her and her enormous belly, and beginning to caress it gently. “What are you doing?”

Hermione placed her hands over her husband’s on her stomach. “Nothing, just admiring my lovely body,” she replied sarcastically.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Hermione, how many times do I have to tell you? You’re not fat, you’re-”

Hermione cut him off, finishing his sentence for him, “pregnant.”

“Yes, and you are still as beautiful as ever, even more so now I think.” He opinionated.

Hermione couldn’t help smiling. “Harry, I love you for trying, but let’s face it, I’m four months pregnant with five babies and look like whale! Most women are only just beginning to show now, I however look as if I‘ll go into labor any minute!”

Harry chuckled. “Yes, but a very beautiful whale at that,” he remarked cheekily.

Hermione turned around in his arms and glared at him.

Harry put his hands up in defense. “Ok, I’m sorry, that was uncalled for,” Hermione huffed. “But, Hermione, try, please try to look at it from this perspective: you are having our children; the lives we made together, truly out of our complete and utter love for one another. And consider this: you are finally making my biggest dream come true. And I love you so god damn much for it. So, please stop thinking of yourself as fat, because you aren’t, it’s just the effect that our children are growing healthily and will be able to make it. And remember, we wanted many kids right? So, please stop thinking that way and please consider this ok?”

Hermione began to cry, and stepped back into Harry’s warm embrace. “I’m sorry Harry! You’re right and that’s a beautiful way of looking at it, I guess I’m just insecure about my appearance, I mean, I never have been before!” She cried into his hard chest.

“It’s ok ‘Mione, I understand. And I’ve never been pregnant,” Hermione let out a giggle, “and I don’t know what it’s like, so I won’t argue, but I want you to at least consider it in that context from now on.” Harry looked hopefully down at her.

Hermione smiled. “I will try Harry, I promise.”

“I love you,” Harry said softly.

“I love you too,” Hermione replied, standing on her tiptoes to give her husband a kiss.

“You know ‘Mione,” Harry started after a few minutes silence. “I kind of like these stretch marks. They make you look all the more sexy.” He turned Hermione around in his arms, and replaced his warm hands on her swollen belly, gently tracing the large stretch marks leading down from the top of her abdomen to her sides.

Hermione got a look of mischievousness in her eyes. “You think so, do you?”

“Oh yeah…” Harry purred seductively in her ear.

“Too bad you’ll have to wait another six or seven months before you can have your way with me.” she smirked.

Harry pouted. “Oh, come on Hermione! Just one shag, that’s all I ask!”

“No Harry,” Hermione chuckled at the sour look that became of his ever-so-happy face. “You heard what Healer Madley said. From now on, no sexual interludes, namely intercourse. I’m too pregnant and too at risk. You can wait? For me right?” She gave him her most innocent look.

“Of course I can,” Harry said, lightly kissing the back of her neck.

Harry knelt down and slowly began to kiss his way up her belly. When he reached a certain spot, he stopped. “Thanks a lot guys,” he added quietly, mock-angrily, speaking directly to Hermione’s huge abdomen, hoping she wouldn’t hear him.

“Harry James Potter!” she said defensively.

“What?” Harry asked his obviously upset wife, trying to look innocent. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Those are our children in there Harry! And you cannot go blaming them for your lack of sex!” she shouted at him.

Harry was taken aback. He seriously didn’t mean it, he was just joking around. As he backed away from his wife, he was about to apologize when he saw Hermione’s lips curl up and she burst into a fit of laughter.

“You should have seen your face!” she had to clutch tightly to her stomach as her body shook with laughter.

Harry frowned at her. “Ha ha, very funny.”

“I’m sorry, but I had to say it!” Hermione said, still shaking with laughter.

Harry’s frown turned upside down and he smiled. “It’s ok. I really don’t blame them; I love them too much to do that.”

Hermione’s laughter subsided as she smiled warmly back at her husband. “I know… me too.”

Harry again pulled Hermione back into his arms and gently rubbed her stomach as they rocked back and forth silently, each enjoying just being in each other’s arms during this wonderful time in their lives.

***

“Mornin’ Harry!” the Auror Division guard greeted the raven-haired man brightly.

“Morning Lorrie!” Harry replied tiredly as he instinctively handed over his wand for checking. The guard handed Harry back his wand when the checking over was complete. They exchanged good-byes as Harry headed off for his office.

Upon entering, he was greeted by Kingsley Shacklebolt; his boss. “Morning Harry. I trust you slept well.” he added half jokingly.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Hermione made me get up four times last night, four for her nightly cravings and they are bloody nasty ones. The first one was pickles and Oreo ice cream, the second was nachos, hot nachos with blue cheese and fish oil, third were bon bons and hot sauce, then at 3:30 in the morning, she woke me up to get her American French fries, and she wouldn’t let me summon them either, I had to Apparate to America to get them, then when I got back, she made me get her something called A.1. Sauce for them. I swear, the whole having quints business is making her cravings go up majorly in quantity, and double in disgusting.”

Kingsley chuckled. “Well, there’s pregnancy for you son.” He patted Harry fatherly on the arm.

Harry yawned. “I didn’t know it was so damn tiring… especially before the babies where born.”

Kingsley continued to laugh. “Well, I’ve never had quints, but again, that’s still pregnancy for you.”

“Yeah…” Harry yawned again.

“Need a nap son?” Kingsley jokingly asked.

Harry shook his head. “Nah, let’s just get down to business. So, have you any leads on Lucius Malfoy?”

Kingsley sadly shook his head. “No, nothing; hasn’t been heard from or seen since the last mission we were on in Sweden.”

“I thought as much.” Harry sighed. “Can we start up that one again?”

“Nope. He’ll be long gone from there. I don’t know what else to do, it’s like he’s irretraceable.” Kingsley looked defeated.

“No, we can’t give up. This man I want dead, and it’s going to end that way.” Harry demanded darkly.

“Harry,” Kingsley began exasperatedly, “We’ve been looking for this guy for years and then every time we think we have him, he disappears again.”

“Come on, we’re Aurors, we’ve got to get them all, we can’t just give up when it gets too tough.” Harry stared incredulously at his leader.

Kingsley nodded. “I know Harry, but this guy is good, too good for my taste…”

“Well,” Harry began, “Do we have any leads on the other remaining Death Eaters?”

“Actually, yes. While you were gone these past couple of days, we got the Senior Crabbe and Goyle. But, we can’t find the younger ones on the Death Eater database.” Kingsley told him.

“That’s because they weren’t Death Eaters,” Harry said matter-of-factly. “As you should know, they weren’t the brightest blokes on the street. I don’t think Voldemort even considered them for it.”

Kingsley nodded his understanding. “Also, we have a direct lead on Dolohov, you know, the man that attacked Hermione back in your 5th year.”

Harry’s look turned dark. “How could I forget?”

“Well, we found out where he’s been hiding… he’s been living as a muggle on your old street in Surrey; Privet Drive. I sent out some of our men earlier to retrieve him. His trial will be on the 17th, we need you there as one of the guards.”

Harry nodded. “So, I suppose-”

He was cut by a shrieking redheaded girl popping into the fireplace. “Ginny?” he asked uncertainly.

“Harry!” she began frantically. “Harry, you’ve got to get to Diagon Alley, quick!”

“What’s wrong?” Harry concernedly asked.

Harry heard a blood-chilling scream as Ginny breathlessly continued, “It’s Hermione.”

Before anyone knew what was going on, Harry had Apparated away.

***

Earlier….

“Here Hermione, try this on, it’ll look so cute!” Luna gushed; pushing a long, pink maternity shirt into Hermione’s already overstuffed hands.

Ginny and Luna had planned out an entire day of baby/maternity clothes shopping for Hermione. They had both taken off work, found sitters, and planned out the whole day. And, no guys, just a girl’s day out.

When both women had told her of their plan, Hermione cried. She was so happy to have such nice, good friends that would do this kind of stuff for her. She also hadn’t gotten to do this kind of thing in a while, seeing as Ginny and Luna’s lives were pretty preoccupied nowadays. They both had their jobs to do, and young children to take care of. So, she jumped at the opportunity to do this with them. It also let her get out and about before being on bed rest and gave her time to do her maternity and baby shopping.

“Luna,” Hermione laughed. “I can’t see anything.”

Luna turned around to face Hermione and winced at all the clothes she’d stuffed into Hermione’s arms. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized sheepishly, grabbing about half the clothes.

Hermione just laughed. “It’s ok. I can’t see anything anymore really anyway.”

Ginny shook her head. “Geez Hermione, you look like you’re about to give birth in the next five seconds instead of the next five months.”

Hermione scrunched up her face. “Do I really look that large?”

“No!” Ginny quickly assured her. “It’s just that that’s what I looked like right before I went into labor.”

Hermione grimaced. “And I’m only going to get bigger.”

“What does Harry say when you tell him you look too big? When I was pregnant with the boys, I used to ask Ron all the time and he’d say that I wasn’t fat, I was pregnant and to get over it.” Luna told the other two women, rolling her eyes at the memory.

“That’s so sensitive of him,” Hermione said, revolted.

“Remind me to have a nice little chat with my brother involving a thing or two about pregnancy!” Ginny remarked angrily.

Luna shrugged it off. “Don’t worry, I gave him a piece of my mind in the Delivery Room.” she smirked.

“Anyway, what does Harry say?” Luna added, addressing the question to Hermione as she looked through a couple racks of motherhood clothing.

“Well,” Hermione began, “he tells me to stop thinking of myself in that way. He wants me to consider my being so large as the result of our babies growing healthily and that they will actually make it this time.”

“And he thinks I look more beautiful then ever,” she added in as she concluded.

Both women looked teary eyed. “Aww!!” they both said simultaneously. “Harry is so sweet!”

“I should have expected as much,” Ginny said. “He was always the sweet, sensitive type. When we were dating back at Hogwarts, he would always ask if I was cold and needed a jacket, or if I was hungry and wanted something from the kitchens. And when I wasn’t feeling well, he’d always sit with me and hold my hand until I felt better… you sure are lucky Hermione.”

Hermione smiled wide. “I know.”

After a few moments of silence, Luna left the group to see over any other clothes in the shop.

“So,” Ginny started out, “do you guys know the babies genders yet?”

Hermione shook her head. “No, Harry wants it to be a surprise.”

“Do you want to know?” Ginny asked, shuffling through the shirts on the rack closest to her.

Hermione thought about that for a moment. “Well, in one way, yes, because then we can paint certain colors in the nursery and I can pick out certain clothes for them now. But, in another way, no, I don’t. I would like to be surprised.”

Ginny nodded her understanding as she moved on to the rack next to her.

Soon, Luna returned with an armful of maternity shirts and pants. She had picked out many weird ones; one was yellow with polka dots, another was mixture of strange colors, and the pants looked as thought they were from the 1960‘s…. ‘Some things never change,’ Hermione thought bemusedly, shaking her head.

“Here Hermione, I found these and I thought they looked interesting, care to try them on?”

Hermione chuckled. “I guess-” she stopped mid-sentence and winced, tightly grabbing a hold to her huge midsection.

Ginny and Luna’s eyes widened. “Are you ok?” They both rushed to her side as she sank to the floor of the shop, still holding her stomach tightly and beginning to cry.

“It hurts,” she cried out as another pain shot through her abdomen and her muscles tightened.

“What’s going on here?” the manager of the shop asked, coming over to see what was happening.

“I think she’s going into premature labor,” Ginny said thoughtfully.

Hermione continued to roll around on the cold, hard floor, clutching her swollen belly tightly to herself, tears streaming down her face. “I need Harry… someone get Harry….” she ragged out in-between jolts of unbearable pain.

Ginny looked around at the already crowded room forming a circle around her best friend. Ginny’s eyes widened in disbelief as everyone just stood there, watching.

“Is anyone going to call for help?” When no one answered, frustrated, Ginny yelled, “Where’s the fireplace here?!”

The shocked shop manager pointed her towards the back. Ginny got up in a flash and ran into the back of the shop. When she entered the back room, she saw the fireplace right in the very back, up against the wall.

Moving boxes out of her way, she sprinted towards the pile of bricks, grabbed a handful of floo powder and quickly tossed it in the fireplace. As she stuck her head in, she shouted urgently, “Auror Headquarters, Ministry of Magic!”

When the room came into focus, she spotted two men; one she recognized as Kingsley Shacklebolt, and the other-

“Harry!” she began frantically. “Harry, you’ve got to come to Diagon Alley, quick!”

“What’s wrong?” he concernedly asked her.

Suddenly, Ginny heard Hermione scream painfully and knew that there was no time to waste. “It’s Hermione.”

***

A/N: Ok, I know this wasn’t my best chapter, but like I said, it was basically a filler chapter. But, I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.

Also, remember about the names; give me your suggestions, I could really use them.

And just so you all know, if I get my next chapter out this week, it won’t be until Saturday or Sunday because I start school again tomorrow. And (this sucks!) I’ll probably get homework the first day, so I’ll be trying really hard to get both done, so please bear with me!

Until next time… Oh, and don’t forget to vote for my story in the FFF competition!

5. Author's Note

Author’s Note

Hello everyone!

Ok, now, I know this isn’t an update, and of that, I’m about to tell you why this is replacing it. As I said before, I started school a few days ago and I’m starting to get massive homework. That is taking up a lot of my time. And, as you all should understand, school work will always have to come first.

Then, the other reason is that I had a long tennis practice tonight. I’m trying out for a higher spot on my school’s tennis team (I prefer #2) and that takes a lot of practice. Plus, my friends, Jessica and Chanda, came with and they aren’t all that great, so my dad tried to show them a thing or two… or a ton, lol.

So, I’m sorry that I won’t be able to update tomorrow. Right now, I have about ¼ of chapter 5 done, and this chapter takes research, so I have to do some of that as well. Anyway, I can’t promise when the next update will be, but I can promise you it will be by this weekend, or during it. Trust me, I’m using up all my free time to write this chapter and get it out for you guys.

So, again, I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to update tomorrow. Please don’t be upset. I <3 all you guys, especially the ones that have stuck with me since the start of it -- S.P.E.W., SweetMemories, blueshoe06, Patty, rodrigo, snowqueen87, etc. (sorry if I didn’t name you.) -- You guys are awesome! And I just hope that you’ll be able to patiently wait a little while longer.

LOVE,

Caity

PS: If any of you guys still have any name suggestions, I’ll still gladly take and consider them!

And don’t forget to rate my story in the FFF competition!

6. At St. Mungo's

Title: Nine Long Months

Author: a muggle named Caity

Words: 2,172

Disclaimer: You know the drill, so I shouldn’t have to repeat it for you.

Author’s Note: Hey everyone! Ok, I’m going to promise you all right here and now that I’m never going to promise you an update time again, for I’ll probably never keep it. I finally have this chapter out after how long, three weeks? My homework is finally starting to die down a bit and our tennis try-outs will be over shortly, so I hope to have chapter six out for you guys sooner then it took me with this chapter. Enjoy!

I dedicate this chapter to one of my old elementary school friends, who committed suicide a few nights ago.

***

Chapter Five: At St. Mungo’s

“It’s Hermione.”

As soon as the words left Ginny’s mouth, Harry was gone in a flash. His job; his duties; his expectations could all wait until later. Right now, the important thing was to get to Hermione.

As soon as his feet hit the familiar rock hard cobblestone path of Diagon Alley, he took off at a run towards the maternity shops. Upon arriving, Harry followed his gut instinct and sprinted into the first one within his eye sight. When he jumped over the threshold, he immediately spotted a very familiar head of red hair.

“Ginny!” Upon hearing her name, she whipped around and ran over to him.

“Ginny,” Harry began frantically, “where’s Hermione?!”

Ginny tightly grabbed a hold of his forearm and yanked him in the direction of his wife. “Get out of the way you vultures!” she screamed angrily at the crowd ahead of them, pushing them roughly out of the way. When they emerged through the crowd, Harry spotted Hermione; he quickly threw off Ginny’s grip and ran to his very pregnant wife.

“Hermione….”

Hermione looked up at her husband and relief swept across her flushed face. “Harry….” she winced. “What‘s happening…?”

“I don’t know,” Harry truthfully replied.

“I think she’s going into premature labor,” Ginny opinionated from behind him.

“Are you sure?” Harry asked the redhead seriously.

“Pretty positive, you’d better get her to St. Mungo’s and fast,” she told bespectacled man.

Harry gingerly picked up his hurting wife. “Ok, how do we get there?”

Ginny thought about that for a moment. “Well, I guess the Floo Network is the best option. I mean, Apparating is definitely out of the question and there is no way we are calling the Knight Bus.”

“Guys, this really hurts here….” Hermione screamed again as another painful contraction swept through her large abdomen.

“So, the Floo Network is best?” Harry questioned his redheaded friend desperately.

Ginny vigorously shook her head. “Yes, now I’ll show you where it is.” She took off at a run towards the back of the shop, pushing anonymous people out of her way; Harry right on her heels.

When she reached the fireplace, she stopped and turned around to face her raven-haired friend. “Ok Harry, you remember how to land now right?”

Harry nodded.

When he and Hermione where safely standing in the fireplace, Ginny tossed in the floo powder as Harry shouted, “St. Mungo’s; Sixth Floor!”

As Harry jumped out of the fireplace, he didn’t even take notice to the fact that he had finally landed perfectly, but quickly conjured a stretcher, placed Hermione onto it, and ran to the front desk.

“Next!” the Welcome Witch called out boredly.

“Please help my wife! I think she’s going into premature labor!” Harry told her frantically.

“Mr. Potter?” someone called out from behind him.

Harry whipped around and was quite relieved to find that their St. Mungo’s Healer, Healer Zeller, was there.

“Healer Zeller, you’ve got to help Hermione!” Harry frantically ordered the Healer.

Healer Zeller began to get worried. “What’s the problem?” He heard Hermione wince and cry out and instantly rushed over to her.

“What’s the problem dear?” he asked the pained female.

Hermione’s breaths were now becoming ragged and fast. “I think I’m going into premature labor. I’ve had back pains frequently throughout the day and my -abdomen has been cramping up and-” she stopped mid-sentence.

“What?” both men asked the woman concernedly when she tightly grabbed a hold of her overlarge stomach.

“And I think my water just broke.”

The Healer’s eyes widened. He immediately took a hold of the stretcher and raced down the long, white corridor. Harry followed, completely in the dark about it all.

Healer Zeller stopped at a white door, pushed it open, and rushed Hermione inside.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked as soon as the Healer slowed down.

“She’s right; she is going into premature labor. All the things she said she felt today were warning signs, but her water braking is a major danger sign and we need to get her to the OR immediately.” The Healer replied.

“What about Healer Madley?” Harry asked. “Should we contact him?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be right back.” Healer Zeller rushed back out of the room to contact the other Healer.

Harry rushed over to Hermione’s bedside and gently took her hand. “It’ll be ok ‘Mione, we’ll make it through whatever they’ll have to do.”

Hermione cried out. “Oh Harry, it hurts so much.”

Harry gently placed a kiss on her forehead and held her hand tightly as another rough contraction swept through her.

***

A tall man wearing a blue hospital suit was entering the waiting room of the Sixth Floor at St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, seated around him were four anxious people: two redheads and two blonds.

As he closed the door quietly behind him, the male redhead immediately stood up. “How’s Hermione?! Is she ok?!”

Healer Madley gingerly removed his hospital mask and showed the eager, frightened occupants of the room a genuine smile. “Yes Mr. Weasley, she is ok.”

“She didn’t give birth prematurely did she?” Ginny asked from her seat next to her husband.

Healer Madley shook his head. “No. We were able to stop it before she gave birth.” Draco, Ginny, Ron, and Luna all let out a sigh of relief. “It’s a good thing too,” the Healer continued, “If she had given birth, then they all would have died.”

They all looked wide-eyed at the Healer standing before them. “You can’t be serious?” Draco let out.

Sadly, the Healer nodded. “Mrs. Potter is only at seventeen weeks. She would still need to carry them for at least another twenty weeks for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. They have no vital or any sign of organs developing yet - that doesn’t begin until after twenty weeks, but the babies would all still die unless she got to, at the least, thirty weeks.”

“So,” Luna began, “How long do you think she’ll be able to carry them out?”

The Healer thought about that for a moment. “Well, considering the fact that she is carrying five fetuses and the other fact that her body has already reached it’s limit and has already tried to deliver… I don’t think she’d make it past twenty-eight weeks. For her to even make it to thirty weeks would be a miracle.”

“So, she has to make it to thirty weeks and then she and the babies will be ok?” Ron asked hopefully.

Healer Madley nodded. “Yes, but the babies, or at least a fair few of them will have problems or dysfunctions so to speak.”

“Oh.” Was Ron’s reply.

The five some sat in silence for a few minutes, each pondering what was happening and what was to come.

“Healer Madley,” Ginny suddenly spoke up. “How did you guys manage to stop the premature labor anyway?”

The Healer crossed his arms and gently rested his back against the wall. “We administered a potion specifically for this purpose, and this purpose only. It knocks out the woman it’s given to and magically relaxes her abdominal muscles. Then, an incantation is said and it stops the premature labor by putting up a wall so to speak between the birth canal and the fetuses. It will be magically held there until it can not withstand the weight any longer.”

“So, this wall, it will be able to get her to thirty weeks?” Luna asked.

“Hopefully,” Healer Madley replied honestly, “it will.”

“But,” Draco started out, “how will babies continue to grow and whatnot if her water has broken?”

“This wall is very much like the water-filled sack the fetuses were just in. They are still connected to their mother, so they will still get their food and energy and whatnot. But, this will support them and help them continue to grow, and as I said, it will brake exactly like the sack when delivery is evident.”

***

A bushy-haired woman began to stir under the covers of the hospital bed she was lying on. Hermione felt something warm on her protruding stomach and looked up to see her husband; fast asleep sitting in the hard, straight-backed wooden chair next to her, his hands draped gently over her large midsection.

“Harry,” Hermione said, softly rubbing her hand atop of his.

Harry woke with a start at the mention of his name. His eyes clouded over with relief when he saw his wife wide awake smiling over at him. “Hey…” he said as he took her hands and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Hey,” Hermione mirrored her husband.

“How do you feel?” Harry concernedly asked her.

“A little numb and somewhat sore around my lower stomach, but I guess I’m ok nonetheless.”

“Hermione, you scared me to death back there. I thought you and the babies were going to die.”

Hermione gently grabbed a hold of the front of his shirt and slowly pulled him down to claim his lips in a soft, yet passionate kiss. “As I said, I’m ok and I know the babies are as well.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”

“A mother knows,” she simply stated.

There was a brief knock on the door. “Aw, I see you and Mr. Potter are finally up.” Healer Zeller said brightly as he closed the door behind him.

“Are you feeling alright this afternoon Mrs. Potter?” he asked as he sat down opposite Harry on the other side of the narrow hospital bed.

“I’m fine I guess,” Hermione replied with a yawn.

“Wait,” Hermione added, “did you just say afternoon?”

The Healer chuckled. “Yes Mrs. Potter, afternoon. The potion Healer Madley gave you to stop the premature labor let you sleep for twenty-four hours, just to make sure that you get enough rest.”

Hermione looked puzzled. “Well, then why was Harry still sleeping?”

Harry smiled sheepishly at her. “Well, I kind of didn’t get any sleep last night because I was worried about you and I didn’t really fall asleep until like practically noon.”

“Oh Harry….”

“Well,” Healer Zeller began, “I know you’d like to get out of here, so Mrs. Potter we’ll just have to run a few quick tests and you are free to go. But, on Healer Madley’s orders you are to be on bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy, understood?”

Hermione nodded. “I knew I’d have to sometime or another.”

“Good. Now, let’s get those tests done so you can be on your way.”

***

The man called Wormtail dashed quickly down the darkened hallway towards his master’s quarters. He had some more news about the Potters that might greatly interest his master. When he reached the door, he immediately threw it open and ran inside, stopping when he reached the front of his master’s desk.

“Milord! I have wonderful news!”

“What ‘wonderful news’ could be so fantastic as for you to come barging into my private quarters for?” drawled Severus Snape in his usual menacing voice.

“It’s about the Potters milord,” Wormtail replied nervously.

Snape seemed to perk up a bit at this. “And…?”

“The mud blood went into premature labor, milord.”

“What?!” Snape yelled. Wormtail took quite a few nervous steps backward. “That won’t help with the plan at all! I need the mud blood to still be pregnant!”

“Milord, the premature labor was stopped.” Snape calmed down a bit at this. “The mud blood is still pregnant. But, that’s not even the good news….”

Snape glared down at his minion. “And what is that?”

“The mud blood is on bed rest,” Womtail replied simply.

Snape smirked. “That will certainly help with the plan-”

“That’s not all,” Wormtail interrupted him. “Potter is still on the hunt for Lucius.”

“That will help quite a bit as well, seeing as good ‘ol Lucius is dead and gone.”

There were a few moments of silence as Snape looked on in thought. “Come Wormtail, we have much to plan.”

A/N: I hope that was well worth the wait! Trust me people; the story will definitely get more exciting as we get nearer the climax. Be on the lookout for chapter six soon. And don’t forget to review! You know, in the box right under this author’s note. \/

7. Kidnapped

Title: Nine Long Months

Author: a muggle named Caity

Words: 1,689

Disclaimer: You know the drill, so I shouldn’t have to repeat it for you.

A/N: Well, Chapter Six is finally here for us guys, so please enjoy. Oh, and please read my author’s note at the end of the chapter. Thanks.

***

Chapter Six:

“Harry, I hate this.” Hermione complained to her husband for the millionth time.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Look, sweetheart, I know you hate being on bed rest, you’ve only told me so a billion times.” Hermione glared at him. “But, remember, it’s for the-”

Hermione interrupted him. “Good of the babies. Yes, I know. But, it still doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Hermione Potter had been on bed rest for the past four months. And she did not like it. Not one little bit. But she knew, in her heart, that Harry was right. After her pregnancy scare a few months back, she did not want to risk that happening again. Ever. The upcoming life of her children was one of the most important things in the world to her. She wanted them to have a chance to live full, healthy lives more than anything. But that still did not mean she liked being on bed rest.

Harry quietly chuckled. The bespectacled man knew that his cranky wife was not having the time of her life. Personally, he was glad that it was not him, and was tired of her constant bitching, but knew that it was no picnic to have to stay in bed for five months straight.

Harry grabbed his irritable wife’s hand. “I’m sorry you have to go through this Hermione.” Harry softly caressed her cheek with his other hand. “But, I’m happy that you are. Thanks to you, we are finally going to have the big family we always dreamed of.”

Hermione softly began to cry, hearing her husband’s kind words of thoughtfulness. “Oh Harry, I’m so sorry. I mean, here I am, constantly complaining about such a stupid thing, when I should be thinking about how we are finally going to have that perfect family that we’ve always wanted.” She placed her hand tenderly on her overly large belly.

The raven-haired man gently lifted his hand from Hermione’s cheek to brush away her tears. “’Mione, I understand. I know this isn’t easy for you. I mean, yes, you do sometimes make me want to straggle you.” Hermione let out a soft giggle. “But, I don’t blame you for complaining. What kind of overly pregnant woman would you be if you didn’t?” He asked her, trying to make her laugh.

It worked. Hermione let out a genuine laugh for the first time in weeks. “Thank you Harry.” She silently kissed him. “I love you.”

Harry looked lovingly at his wife of four years. “And I love you.” He lightly took a hold of her tear-stained face, and tenderly began to kiss her.

“Oh!” Hermione suddenly jumped, placing both her hands on her round midsection.

“What? What happened?” Harry frantically asked her.

“One of them kicked me.” Hermione laughed. “It just surprised me is all.”

Harry nodded. “I think I know why…”

Hermione looked strangely at her husband for a moment. “Because…they’re babies…?”

Harry smiled, all the while shaking his head. “No.” He told his wife. “Because I forgot to tell them something.”

Hermione smiled knowingly.

“I love you guys too.” Harry whispered to Hermione’s excessively abundant stomach. “And I hope you never forget that.”

***

The man called Wormtail watched silently as his master paced in front of him. “Milord, when are we going to kidnap the mudblood?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, you idiot!” Severus Snape spat at his unworthy minion. “The timing has to be perfect.”

Wormtail shrugged. “Well, we have everything ready. Shouldn’t we go tonight? Before its too late and everything.”

Snape discontinued his pacing and glared at his former classmate.

“Or maybe not.” Wormtail squeaked, sheepishly bowing his head.

The former Potions Master resumed his pacing, only to stop again, and pondered the suggestion thoughtfully. “Actually Wormtail, that’s not a bad idea…”

“Really?” The stubby man piped up.

Snape nodded his head. “That’s not a bad idea at all.” The greasy-haired man gave Wormtail a sickly smile before ushering him into the next room to prepare.

***

“…Hermione, I’ll be home soon, I promise.” The head of Harry Potter spoke through the bright red and yellow flames.

“Harry, that’s what you’ve said the last two times I flooed you.” His worried wife stated.

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. Kingsley has me wrapped up in this Lucius Malfoy hunt.” Hermione stared point-blankly at her husband. “Well, okay, I have myself wrapped up in it, but, Hermione, we’re so close. It’s been over four years now since Voldemort’s downfall. Don’t you want Lucius locked up in Azkaban where he rightfully belongs?” Harry asked her, seriously.

Hermione tiredly sighed. “Harry…of course I do, but, like you said, it’s been over four years since he escaped. You aren’t going to catch him in one night. And you’ve been working on this since you got to work this morning.”

Harry shrugged his shoulders. “So? It’s my job.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, on the verge of exasperation. “I know Harry. I mean, you got to work this morning at seven.” Harry shrugged again. “Its now midnight. You’ve been working on this for seventeen hours straight. Don’t you think its time to come home now?”

Harry sighed. “I promise I’ll be home shortly.”

Hermione stared at her husband for a moment, before sighing.

“’Mione, just go to bed and I promise I’ll make it up to you in the morning. I’ll even pick up some of that Oreo ice cream that you like so much to have tomorrow for dessert.” Harry offered.

Hermione smirked. “With pickles?”

Harry made a gag-face and responded, “Fine, but I’m not eating it with you.”

Hermione laughed. “Okay. But, Harry, promise me you won’t work like this everyday?”

Harry shook his head. “I won’t, I promise. I just feel like I’m getting really close. I just want this guy locked up Hermione. For what he‘s done to everyone; you, me, Draco…”

Hermione smiled at her stubborn husband. “I know you do Harry. And I hope you find him. I just don’t want you working like this all the time. Especially since these little monsters will be making their debut soon.” She fondly smiled as she looked down, and rubbed, her enormous midsection.

Harry returned her smile. “I’ll be home soon. I promise. Now get some rest.”

Hermione irritably rolled her eyes. “I’ve been getting nothing but.”

Harry chuckled. He knew this mood of hers would show up sometime in their conversation. “I love you Hermione. And tell those “little monsters” that I love them too.”

Hermione giggled. “I love you too Harry. And, don’t worry, I will.”

“And I expect that ice cream tomorrow.” She added expectantly.

Harry playfully rolled his eyes. “Your wish is my command, milady. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” Hermione stepped away from the fireplace, grabbed her current book she had been reading, and carefully got into bed.

At half past twelve, Hermione decided to go to sleep. She anticipated Harry probably would not be home for a little while longer, so gave up waiting for him.

The bushy-haired woman turned off the light as she exited her bathroom. She pulled back the covers of her and Harry’s king size bed, and made herself comfortable, well, as comfortable as an overly pregnant woman could get. As she began to drift off to sleep, she heard the sound of a door opening. Harry? She sat up in bed, and called out her husband’s name. “Harry? Is that you?”

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared by her bedside…and it was not Harry. “Honey, I’m home.”

Hermione screamed, but before she could attempt to try and get away, the figure grabbed her by the forearm, and with a CRACK they were gone.

***

Harry arrived back home at around three in the morning. He did not get any farther with the hunt for Lucius Malfoy, but knew that tomorrow was another day. When he apparated into his living room of his modest home, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The house seemed eerier, and darker, than it usually did. Harry suspicions grew when he walked into the kitchen, to put the ice cream away, and noticed the back door of their home was slightly ajar. Fearing the worst, Harry raced up the stairs to his and Hermione’s bedroom.

Once he stepped over the threshold, saw that their bed was empty. Harry’s heart began to beat faster as he immediately began checking every room in the house for Hermione. When he came upon the last room in the whole house, and saw that Hermione was not there, he fell to his knees and put his head in his hands.

“What have I done?” He asked himself quietly. “I just had to stay at the office tonight. The one night my wife was kidnapped…” Harry rolled on his side, and began to sob uncontrollably. After a couple minutes, he wiped his eyes, got up and apparated back to his office. If he was going to find his wife, he was going to need a plan.

A/N: Okay, I know this chapter was lame; you don’t have to tell me twice, but know that I’m just getting back into writing this story. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make the next chapter better, and a little longer than this one.

You guys now have what you’ve all wanted for the last year, so please show some appreciation by leaving me a quick review. It doesn’t have to be long or anything, just something that tells me what you thought.

Also, I’ll try to get the next chapter out soon. I go back to school in less than a month and I probably won’t have time to write then. So, I’m going to try to have this finished, or close to finished, by the middle of August. But, we’ll see.

Thanks for reading. :]]