Chapter 9
Heaven: Well thanks again for another wonderful round of reviews on the last chapter! Although I'm afraid I must pull my sarcastic face to one-
Michelle's Review: I think that you need to check out who the characters exactly are. First off, Blasie is a Slytherin boy not a girl. Hermione is NOT room mates with Pansy Parkinson shes also in Slytherin. Hannah Abbot is a Hufflepuff. Check before write.
Michelle, honey, I think you need to Check before Read. If you had taken time to notice the rather important AUTHOR'S NOTE, then you'd have realised that this is an AU fic, which means that we use the characters in a DIFFERENT way. With that in mind, Hannah and Pansy are Hermione's roommates, Blaise, which is a unisex name ANYWAYS, is a girl, and therefore, you should take your own advice!
*puts nice face back on*
Anyways! :) I hate to sound so mean, especially when I'm sure the reviewer isn't even going to read this, but it annoys me when people don't' read the authors notes and then complain that something is wrong in the story. The notes wouldn't be there unless they were important, and are worth reading in most cases!
I'll say it lots! AU! AU! AU! AU! AU! AU!
This is the last chapter of AoS *cries* we both really wish that it didn't have to come to an end but all things do at one point or another. However, there are a few deleted scenes from the fic that we both want to write that don't exactly fit in, so we're going to have those as well, hopefully soon!
So stay tuned, we promise they're really funny and you will all enjoy them much!
On with the show!!!
A Year or so Later….
"Set the bags where?" Harry called over his shoulder, carefully balancing three full paper sacks in his arms.
"On the counter!" Hermione replied, kicking the front door shut behind her. Harry gratefully dropped the bags near the sink and grinned as his girlfriend carried her own armload through the doorway. She dumped them down next to his and gave him a smile. "That's the last time I go Muggle grocery shopping!"
"I agree, that store was packed." Harry agreed, slipping his arms around her slim waist. "You would think Muggles have better things to do on a Saturday."
"Mmmhmm…." Hermione closed her eyes and leaned up against Harry's frame. She thought for a moment about the past year and a half.
About a month after leaving Hogwarts, Hermione had received an invitation to join a huge archaeological research company, which she immediately accepted. A few weeks after that, she found herself on the digs she had dreamed of since childhood.
Blaise had used her popularity and style to become one of the wizarding world's hottest fashion designers. She owned her own shop in Diagon Alley, with chains in Paris, New York, Chicago, Venice, Sydney and of course, Hogsmeade. Somehow, Hermione wasn't sure, she had convinced Ron to become one of her models for men's fashions, and he was also a huge hit.
The two girls shared a flat in Diagon Alley, close to both of their workplaces. It was roomy, with four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a large library (where Hermione housed her large set of Wizarding Encyclopaedias) a formal dining room, spacious kitchen, comfortable living room and a glassed in veranda in back.
Harry had joined the Magpie reserve team upon leaving Hogwarts. They had actually offered him a regular team position, but he had declined, wanting to have time to pursue another dream of his, becoming an artist. Not wanting his work bought due to his name, Harry had assumed the identity of James Evans, and his drawings and paintings were sold in a few small galleries, never making quite the profit it would should he have put them under his Potter name, but it didn't bother him. Almost everything he sketched was of Hermione, although most of those drawings never made it out of his sketchpad due to their nature. Harry owned his own place not too far away from Hermione, and they saw each other nearly every day.
Draco had the most surprising profession out of all of them; he worked with Ron's brother as a dragon tamer. The first six months of his job he spent training in Romania, but now worked closer to his flat in London. He and Ginny had parted ways not long after Hogwarts, and a little while after getting back from Romania he met his current girlfriend, a girl named Daniela who ran a flower shoppe next door to Blaise's. The three girls often met for lunch and had become extremely good friends.
"What are you thinking about?" Harry asked, running his fingers through her hair.
"Oh nothing." Hermione looked up at him. "Just that I think we should add some more of our special sketches to that book of yours."
Harry snorted with laughter. "I wish you'd let me sell those…. I'd change your face. Your body is just too gorgeous for words."
Hermione blushed red. "No, Harry… you're the only one I want to see my body." He grinned and bent down, pressing his lips against hers softly.
"You two are so lovey dovey, it makes me ill!" Blaise announced. She had been sitting at the kitchen table nursing a cup of tea for the past half hour, and it amused her to no end that Harry and Hermione had been standing there well over a few minutes and had yet to notice her. "Herms, doesn't it make you sick?" she teased.
"Honestly Blaise… I'm treated to more of you and Ron snogging than you ever see of Harry and me." Hermione replied. "And also-" suddenly she stopped talking, her face turning a light shade of green. "Oh not again." Hermione pulled away from Harry and ran from the room, covering her mouth with her hand.
Harry looked at Blaise with a worried expression and the two hurried out of the room after her. Hermione was bent over the toilet, heaving everything she'd had to eat earlier that day. Harry rushed over and rubbed his hand in circles on her back. Blaise wet one of the towels sitting on the counter top and filled a glass with water.
Hermione sat back, a fine sheen of sweat covering her brow. Silently, she took the towel and wiped her face off, then got up shakily and rinsed her mouth.
"Thanks you guys." She managed hoarsely after a few moments. Harry was still supporting her, his arm around her waist.
"Hermione how many times have you been sick this week?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. A couple times a day." Hermione waved her hand. "It's just the flu; it's been going around lately. I'll be all right."
"Perhaps you should go see a mediwizard." Blaise said.
Hermione shook her head. "No, guys, honestly. Give me a few days and I'll be all right."
However, when a few days later rolled around and Hermione still found herself sick a good deal of the day, she allowed Blaise to drag her into St. Mungos.
Hermione filled out the necessary form then sat down to wait the normal hour and a half before a mediwizard would come for her.
"I still don't think this is necessary." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and pouted like a young child.
"Hermione, you'd be on your deathbed before you would agree to see a mediwizard, so just sit back and be quiet." Blaise said. She reached for a magazine sitting on the table in front of them and started idly flipping through it. "Ooooh look how good Ron looks!" she squealed as she came upon a picture of her boyfriend dressed up in one of her fashions. Ron was leaning against the side of the photo, with a dress robe slung over one shoulder, winking roguishly.
Hermione smiled at Blaise's obvious delight. She was happy for her friend, that she had found someone she cared about as much as Hermione herself loved Harry. A slight wave of nausea passed over her, and she closed her eyes, resting her head on the back of the chair, hoping it would go on by without the usual act that came along with it.
It did, and she was grateful for it. Hermione kept her eyes closed, and dozed off eventually. Awaking to Blaise shaking her gently, the two girls went in to a smaller room, and waited some more.
"Pregnant!" The mediwizard, a Dr. Nicole Frederick announced. Hermione was sure her jaw drop mirrored the one on Blaise's face.
"What?" she asked weakly.
"You're two months pregnant. Congratulations!" the woman smiled at her.
"Oh… Merlin…" Hermione uttered, pressing a hand to her abdomen. Pregnant!
"Hermione!" Blaise hugged her. "I can't believe it, you and Harry are going to have a baby! I'm going to be an aunt!"
"I'm having a baby." Hermione repeated quietly. A sudden joy flowed through her. "OH MY GOD I'M HAVING A BABY!" she screamed, and the mediwizard and Blaise both started laughing.
Dr. Frederick gave her some directions and some spells to use for the nausea, along with instructions to come back monthly for check ups. Hermione left feeling extremely happy and excited, and looking forward to meeting up with Harry to share the news with him.
"Do you think he'll be excited about it?" Blaise asked as they arrived back at their flat.
"I should think so." Hermione replied, sinking into a chair. "I mean, he's always said he wants children, I just don't think he was expecting it so soon."
"Which of you forgot to take Orgus Root?" Blaise asked slyly.
Hermione blushed. "Probably me." She answered. "I've been so busy on the latest dig that I've forgotten to do lots of things."
Blaise feigned shock. "You, Hermione Granger, the one who plans her weeks a year ahead of schedule, forgot to take birth precautions?"
"Shut up." Hermione tried to glare but couldn't, she was in too good a mood.
"How are you going to tell him?" Blaise asked.
"I'm not sure yet." Hermione confessed. "Any ideas?"
"Make him a nice dinner." Blaise said immediately, "With all his favourite foods."
"Hmmm…" Hermione mused. "I think you're on to something…"
Two hours later she surveyed Harry's kitchen with a look of satisfaction. She had set the table first off, each plate sitting nicely, two candles in the middle waiting to be lit. Hermione set each dish aside with a warming spell. She had fixed special foods that night; hopefully it would get the message to Harry.
"Time for a quick shower." She said to herself. Harry would be home in about a half hour and Hermione wanted everything to be ready. Slipping into a pair of jeans, she pulled a (baby) tee shirt over her head, and quickly pulled her hair back into a low ponytail.
Hermione went into the front foyer and perched herself on the table, waiting for Harry to come through the door. She didn't have to wait long, about five minutes later a familiar pop was heard and Harry came through the front door.
"I didn't know you were coming over!" he said, grinning at his girlfriend.
"I wanted to surprise you." Hermione slid off the table. She was about to wrap her arms around him when she got a glance at his robes. "How on earth do you manage to get so many grass stains in one practice?"
"Luck?" Harry asked impishly, scratching the back of his head. "I think that's about right." Hermione laughed and kissed him.
"Go get yourself cleaned up. I made dinner for you." She said.
"You did?" he playfully grimaced and then laughed as she smacked his shoulder. "All right all right I was just teasing. I'm sure it's delicious."
"That's what I want to hear." Hermione said and after another quick hard kiss, Harry disappeared into his bathroom.
"What did you make?" Harry asked awhile later as he entered the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist.
"You'll see in a minute." She turned around and grinned at him. His hair was still slightly damp, falling into his eyes, and he wore a soft blue jumper that she liked to borrow from time to time. Harry leaned down and kissed her again, slowly and gently. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body up against his, wondering if he would feel anything different yet. She doubted it, she knew she wasn't showing or anything, but as close as their bodies had been since they had gotten together, Harry might see something.
"So what's for dinner?" Harry asked some time later when they finally broke apart.
"Sit down and see." Hermione replied. He moved and sat down at the table as she turned and levitated the dishes over. "First," she said as she lit the candles, "We have baby peas, mixed with baby corn and baby carrots. Then, we have baby back ribs for the main meal."
"Sounds great!" Harry said, digging in as Hermione set the full plate in front of him. She looked at him a second, then began to eat her own meal.
"Did you notice anything… special… about the food?" Hermione asked a few minutes later.
Harry looked up at her, swallowing. "Um…" he looked back down at his plate for a few seconds. "Finger foods?"
Hermione fought a smile. Men could be so daft sometimes. "Think harder Harry, just a little."
Harry looked back down at his half eaten meal again. "Baby peas, baby corn, baby…" Suddenly he looked up, shock written across his face. "Baby?"
Hermione could no longer keep back the large grin. "Yes Harry! We're going to have a baby!"
Harry stared at her in disbelief. "You're… we…. baby?"
Hermione started to laugh. "Yes! It's why I've been so sick these past few weeks."
A smile spread across his face. He was going to be a father. A father! "This is just fantastic!" he cried, pushing his chair back and rushing over to her.
A few tears escaped her eyes as Harry enveloped her in a large hug. "Blaise asked how you would react and I said you would be happy to hear about this."
"I'm more than happy!" Harry said. "God, Hermione… this is the best thing you could have ever told me!"
"I'm glad you're as excited as I am." Hermione pulled away, wiping at her eyes.
"How far along are you?" Harry asked, brushing away a few escaped locks of hair from her ponytail.
"Two months." She answered, smiling as Harry moved his hand along her stomach.
"Baby tee shirt." He grinned and Hermione laughed.
"I don't think you'll feel anything in there yet." She said. "Give it another three months." Harry straightened back up as Hermione wrapped her arms around him. "Then I'll be mood swinging with tons of awful cravings you'll have to fill."
"I've got a craving right now and it isn't for food." Harry said, running his eyes over her lustfully. He scooped her up and the meal was forgotten as Harry's bedroom door slammed behind them.
*** *** *** *** ***
Harry pulled at the bottom of his burgundy jumper as he went through the front door of Draco's flat. He was meeting up with his best friend and Daniela and then they were all heading over to meet Hermione, Blaise and Ron for dinner. He grinned to himself, thinking of his friends' reactions when he and Hermione shared their news.
"Draco?" he called, going through the hallway. "Hello?" Harry went into the living room and stopped short.
"And what happens if I put my hand up there?" Draco asked, sliding his fingers up and across his girlfriend's abdomen.
"Oh Merlin!" Daniela arched her back, her eyes closing as Draco leaned over and kissed her thoroughly.
"Ahem." Harry cleared his throat loudly and Draco and Daniela sprang apart.
"Harry." Draco gave his friend a devilish grin. "When did you get here?"
"A half hour ago." Harry replied, smirking.
"Voyeur." Daniela grinned. It amused Harry to no end to see that neither one of them was embarrassed about being caught in the middle of a snog fest.
"Are we meeting them at the restaurant?" Draco asked, tucking his white shirt into his black trousers.
"Yeah." Harry replied. The three of them went outside and apparated to Diagon Alley.
The restaurant was crowded that night, not surprising for a Friday evening. Harry looked around for a moment before he spotted Hermione's long brown locks next to Ron's fiery ones.
"Hello gorgeous." Hermione jumped as a pair of arms wound around her waist.
"Harry!" she scolded, but he had that mischievous twinkle in his eyes that made her forget everything else.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked quietly after he'd kissed her hello.
"Okay." Hermione replied. "Sick this morning, but all right this afternoon."
"Good." Harry kissed her again, letting his lips stay on hers awhile longer.
"OI you two!" Blaise shouted. "We've got a table ready if you guys can pull yourselves apart for a minute!"
Harry and Hermione pulled apart and she gave Blaise a look as Harry wrapped his arm back around her waist. They were seated at a round table near the back of the restaurant, Hermione, Harry, Draco and Daniela took the booth while Blaise and Ron opted for chairs.
"What does everyone want to drink?" Ron asked. "First round is on me." The men all agreed on Ogden's Firewhisky while Blaise asked for white wine, Daniela asked for red.
"Pumpkin juice, please." Hermione requested. Blaise grinned knowingly at her.
"No wine?" Ron asked in surprise.
"No, not tonight." Hermione answered. Ron shrugged and disappeared towards the bar. He was back moments later with drinks, setting them before everyone with a flourish.
"So what's the reason for the juice, Hermione?" Ron asked as she sipped her drink.
"Can't a girl just skip alcohol for an evening?" Hermione joked.
"No." they all replied. Harry laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"We'd better just tell them, love." He said.
"Tell us what?" Draco asked.
Harry and Hermione smiled at each other. "We're going to have a baby." Harry said.
The table was silent for a moment as the shock registered on everyone's (except Blaise) faces. Then what happened could only be explained as an explosion.
"Pregnant?" Daniela shrieked.
"You're going to be a father?" Ron's jaw dropped. Blaise laughed at her boyfriend.
"That poor kid." Draco joked. He reached across the table and patted Harry's shoulder. "Congratulations!"
"You knew about this?" Ron asked his girlfriend.
"I was there when she found out." Blaise said smugly. She extended her hand first to Hermione, then Daniela. "Come on, we need to use the bathroom." The three women walked off, leaving their respective men behind.
"Wow, Harry!" Ron said. "Now that you've knocked her up, when are you making an honest woman of her?"
Harry gave him a dirty look as Draco sat back and laughed.
"Come on, Harry, don't tell me the two of you haven't discussed marriage." He said, leaning forward.
"Well, since you two brought it up…" Harry reached into his pocket and drew out a small box. He flipped it open with his finger. "She doesn't know yet though."
"Nice." Ron said in approval. "You asking her tonight?"
"I planned on it." Harry replied. "Long as you two don't spoil it for me." He closed the box and put it back in his pocket. The three of them grinned at each other as the girls came back to the table.
"What are you three so happy about?" Daniela asked, kissing Draco as she slipped back in next to him.
"We're uh..." Ron looked to Harry. "We're just celebrating!"
"Right." Draco broke away from Daniela. "To you guys!" He held up his glass and they all did the same. "May your baby take after Hermione and not Harry, may it be spoiled by the rest of us and become the brattiest child in the world…" Everyone laughed and toasted to the future.
*** Later That Evening***
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked, a smile gracing her features.
"I told you before, it's a surprise." Harry said. When they were leaving the restaurant earlier, he had taken her aside and told her he had somewhere to take her. After blindfolding her, the couple had taken a portkey to Hogsmeade and then Harry had taken his broom and was now flying them towards a certain spot that held very fond memories.
"Here we are!" Harry announced a little while later. He helped Hermione off the broom. "Any guesses?"
"No." she answered, obviously curious.
"None?" Harry asked.
"No, none!" Hermione replied. "Come on Harry, take the blindfold off!"
"All right." He laughed as he untied the silk scarf from around her head. "Remember this place?"
"Of course I do." Hermione said, grinning as she remembered the clearing where Harry had taken her on their first date.
"I told you we'd be back." He murmured in her ear. "But who knew it'd be us plus one?"
She giggled softly. "I love you as much as I did that night, Harry. No, I take that back…" Hermione turned and pulled him close to her. "I love you more and more each day we're together."
"Me too." He echoed, resting his forehead on hers. They stood in silence for a few minutes until Harry leaned down and took her lips with his.
Hermione wound her arms around his neck as his went to her waist, his hands splayed across her back. Her tongue sought out his almost desperately as they explored each others mouths.
"So…" Hermione said as they drew apart slightly. "What's the occasion?"
"Well…" Harry said, moving his hand down to take hers. "I brought you here because I wanted to ask you something in the same place I realised I loved you."
Hermione looked at him pensively. Was he doing what she thought he might be?
Harry got down on one knee and her eyes widened. "Hermione, I love you, and I should have asked you this the second we got out of Hogwarts." He swallowed a bit nervously. "Will you marry me?" One shaky hand held out a small box.
Hermione's brown eyes were filled with tears as she took the box in her own trembling fingers. She pried it open and gasped at the beautifully carved golden band with a solitary diamond set in the middle. "It's… it's beautiful Harry." She breathed. A tear trickled down her cheek. "Yes… yes of course I'll marry you!"
A smile broke across his face as he got to his feet and gathered her back into his arms. "I love you… so much!" he whispered huskily. He took the ring from the box and slipped it over her finger.
Hermione shut her eyes tightly as Harry crushed her in his embrace again. She could scarcely believe it, that soon she would be his wife. Harry's wife. Harry Potter's wife. All of a sudden, she let out a loud squeal and started jumping up and down.
Harry laughed at her obvious joy as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him for another long kiss.
*** Seven Months and Two Weeks Later***
Hermione Potter smiled at her husband as he kissed the top of their daughter's head and gently set her in the small crib.
"I don't know how you get her to stop crying so fast." She spoke in a hushed tone as to not wake Luna.
"She's her daddy's girl." Harry grinned with obvious pride as Hermione came up next to him and they both gazed down at their new child. His arm wrapped around her waist as she reached in and brushed back the patch of dark hair on Luna's head. She had inherited the trademark messy Potter hair and emerald green eyes.
"Come on." Harry whispered. "Let's see if we can get out of here without waking her up." They tiptoed from the room, closing the door behind them without a sound. Once safely in the hallway, Hermione leaned up against the opposite wall as Harry captured her mouth with his.
"Mmmhmm…." Hermione opened her lips to his tongue and kissed him deeply. "Harry… are we trying for another child, because you're halfway there already."
Harry sniggered quietly. "I've got a date with my wife in bed…" his green eyes took on a dark desirable hue. "She promised someone once she was going to seduce me…."
A/N: *sniffles* wow… I can't believe this story is over WAHHH!!! I'm glad you guys have enjoyed it as much as we have!
Be on the lookout for the deleted scenes. No ETA on them yet, but it should probably be soon.
Be sure to also check out the independent works of Heaven and Ryoko Blue as well while you are waiting!