1. Across the Universe

Across the Universe

Words are flying out like

endless rain into a paper cup

They slither while they pass

They slip away across the universe

Pools of sorrow waves of joy

are drifting thorough my open mind

Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om

Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which

dance before me like a million eyes

That call me on and on across the universe

Thoughts meander like a

restless wind inside a letter box

they tumble blindly as

they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om

Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life

are ringing through my open ears

exciting and inviting me

Limitless undying love which

shines around me like a million suns

It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om

Nothing's gonna change my world

Jai guru deva

-The Beatles

-~-~-~-~-

“Can’t one of you do something for her!” Harry yelled. “You’re wizards, and you can’t do anything to save her?” He hastily wiped at his eyes as tears began to well up.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Potter. We’re doing all that we can.”

“WELL, IT’S NOT ENOUGH!” he screamed, punching a wall. He grasped his hand in pain, he didn’t need any thing else to deal with, not now--- and then it was fine. Back to normal. “You can do that, fix my hand. Just like that, a wave of your wand. But you can’t save my wife,” stated Harry in simple disbelief.

“Mr. Potter, this is a rare occurrence; it’s only happened once before, with your former mentor, actually… but we’ve never been able to invent a spell to prevent this from happening, or to cure the person it is happening to.”

“W---what, you mean Dumbledore…?” What the hell. Dumbledore died of birth complications? That was news.

“Yes. Dumbledore’s mother died in giving birth to him---we’ve theorized it was his immense blood magic count; his mother’s body was too weak to handle it.” Oh, well. That made more sense. But, did that mean..?

“So…are you saying that Jaina is going to---” Harry swallowed, “Jaina’s going to be as powerful as Dumbledore?”

“More or less, yes,” replied the Healer with a small, almost sad smile.

“But…that still doesn’t solve the problem of Hermione…”

“Yes, well, you best go talk to her now. Make use of the time you do have with her.”

Harry nodded and numbly walked out of Healer Tyro’s office and into the maternity ward of Saint Mungo‘s. He saw Hermione sitting on a bed, hand on her stomach, her face clearly showing the pain she was going through.

“Harry,” she said without opening her eyes. They had grown close enough---fallen in love enough, to almost read each other’s minds. To be able to sense each other come into a room without even looking up. To know what the other was going to say before they said it. “Harry. I know.”

“No. No you bloody well don’t know, Hermione! You’re going to leave me here all alone and I’m going to have to raise a child more powerful than bloody Dumbledore on my own, and I…I just can’t do it! I can’t do it without you. I can’t live without you. I can‘t breathe without you.” He was now sitting down on the bed with her, her hands in his.

“Yes, you can. And you will. You have to. For yourself, and for our child. Harry---look at me,” she reached out and brushed his face gently with her hand, tilting his head up to look her in the eyes. “Harry. I do not want you to stop living just because I do---I need you to live. If not for Jaina, then for me. And you can do it. I know you can. You‘re strong.”

“H---how can you remain so calm? Hermione, you’re going to die. And I’m… I’m not. I was the one supposed to die. I’m the one who looked death straight in the eye dozens of times. My chances should be worn out by now! You haven’t--- having a baby isn’t supposed to be dangerous! You were supposed to be safe---I was supposed to keep you safe!”

Tears were streaming down his face, and he was breathing heavily. Hermione pulled his head closer to her and ran her fingers through his hair, quietly comforting him. “Harry. You did keep me safe. And what’s happening to me--- it is not your fault. It isn’t Jaina’s fault. It it's not anyone’s fault. It’s just something that happened, and you’re going to deal with it like you deal with everything else. You’re strong---you will go forward, you’ll keep living, and you’ll be a wonderful father. I know it---and I think you know it, too.”

-~-~-~-

“Harry!" she moaned as another contraction came.

“Owww, Hermione, you’re going to break my hand,” he smiled at her reassuringly. “Just a bit more..”

“There you go, Hermione," said Healer Tyro. "I think one more push will do it…” And it did. The screaming of a newborn child rang throughout the room, and both Harry and Hermione were beaming. The Healer muttered a quick spell, and set the crying child in her mother’s arms.

Tears gleamed in Hermione’s eyes. Life was too cruel---here was her perfect, beautiful baby girl…and she’d only be with her for a few moments. Her daughter would never know her; she’d never get to see Jaina walk, to hear her first words---she'd never get to teach her how to read...

Harry gently squeezed Hermione's hand, "She's so beautiful...Hermione, we made her. We brought her into this world." He was staring at his wife and daughter with a half-bemused, half-astonished expression on his face.

“Well, actually, I did most of that,” Hermione said with a shaky laugh. She had to be calm. Had to be brave.

Jaina Madeline Potter was born on September 4th, 2002, at 6:26pm.

Hermione Jane Potter died moments later.

-~-~-~-~-

A/N: yeah. So. First fic I've posted here. D: I'd appreciate comments/criticism and any other form of review. (don’t kill me ;-;)