Moments of Love

Author's note: This is the final chapter of Moments of Love! I'm sorry it took so long, but I had a case of writer's block and I started studying, too. But the fic is finished now, and little Rosie has arrived. :-) Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed the story!
-Caro
PS. I have one chapter I never posted, and I might post it as an extra at some point after I clean it up a bit. :-)

Chapter 17: The Princess Is Born - Part 2

You are the sunshine of my life,
that's why I'll always be around.
You are the apple of my eye,
forever you'll stay in my heart.
-Stevie Wonder

Gwendolyn Trelawney walked to Hermione's bedside like a spindly spider, eyeing the Grangers and the Weasleys blankly in passing.

'My dearest wombette, fear not. I trust you know my book inside out by now and thus are ripe to expel the seed of flesh -' She stopped abruptly as she placed her hand on Hermione's belly. 'Why, the canals are still blocked. I can sense the constipation like a hard nugget, blocking the passageway to the pulsating cosmos. Have you taken enough plum?'

'I, er, not really,' Hermione said and shot a helpless look at Ron. 'Ron, would you...?'

Ron cleared his throat and swept in-between Hermione and Trelawney, who looked up at him as though he were a mildly interesting insect.

'We're expecting a mediwizard to examine my wife, so if you'd step aside.'

'But my dear boy.' Trelawney pushed his face almost to Ron chest. 'The child can't find its way out if the mother is hard like a shrivelled apricot.'

'I'm not hard,' Hermione said peevishly and tapped Ron's behind. 'Get rid of her!'

'Yes, well, as you can see, we're about to have a baby here, and the mediwizard should arrive soon. I'm sure you'll find unblocked canals further down the corridor.' Ron steered Trelawney towards the door.

'Dear boy, I am your mediwizard.' Trelawney straightened herself and threw her glittering scarf over her shoulder. 'I've been volunteering here even since I found out about the brutal, non-cosmic methods the mediwizards use for childbirth.' She rolled up her sleeves and curved her index finger. 'Now, if you'd open your legs, wombette, and I'll -'

'No!' Hermione drew herself up on the bed. 'Ron - oh!' She grabbed at her belly.

'Contraction!' Molly cried and bumped Ron out of the way. 'Breathe!'

Ron tried to fight his way back to the bedside past Mrs Granger, who had taken Hermione's hand, but Gwendolyn Trelawney leaped forward and shoved him aside.

'Away man, the quest for superior wombness has begun! Open your legs, wombette, and let fresh air into the dark, clogged sewers that long for light and freedom from the chains of mind constraints - for the ultimate wombness!'

'Ron!' Hermione half-panted, half-wailed.

'We need a warming spell,' Molly said and threw her cloak away like a magician. 'Warming spells are great for relaxing the mother. Arthur used to be quite a whiz with them, didn't you, dear? Thermae!'

A pale yellow gush of air spurred from her wand and circled Hermione's belly like a string of fire.

'Stop such nonsense!' Gwendolyn Trelawney tried to force Molly's hand away. 'Warming spells teach the wombettes to rely on outside forces, artificial forces, instead of their inner womb!' She knocked Molly down with her high-heeled boot and started weaving Hermione's belly like a lump of dough, singing a high-pitched song. 'Stretch, o' flesh! Yearn, o' womb! Tear, o' canal!'

'Ron!' Hermione wailed, ripping the mattress with both hands.

'I'm here, muffin!' Ron slammed onto Molly, who was tussling with Gwendolyn Trelawney, but she swept him away like a feather.

'Ah, found it!' Arthur said happily and raised his hand high. 'A rubber duck for the baby to celebrate his or her Muggle ancestry! I went to three different shops in Muggle London to find this. What fascinating places they were! I bought myself a commuter game. I suspect it's something you play in trains, yes?'

Hermione pushed Trelawney aside and wobbled up. She grabbed Ron's shirt by the chest, her eyes flashing with fire.

'GET HER OUT OF HERE, OR MR WIZARD WILL NEVER GET TO VISIT THE ENCHANTED FOREST AGAIN!'

'Why, Hermione,' Arthur said, blushing.

'Good, excellent, keep moving!' Trelawney followed Hermione, making elaborate movements around her with her wand. 'You need to give in to the cosmos, yield your hard, withered centre to it. When you do, the child will slip out like the morning star.'

'Of course, muffin, I'll see what I can do. Why don't you go back to bed now...' Ron backed away from Hermione, who was still holding to his shirt, steaming.

'Here wombette, we must continue. Ignore the man, for they are but seed-bearers and have no part in true wombness.' Trelawney turned Hermione around. 'Close your eyes, feel the cosmos rippling around you, quivering with anticipation for its newest member-to-be. Open yourself like a budding flower reaching for the sun!'

'Nonsense,' Molly said and seized Hermione's hand. 'You come back to bed, and I'll do a long-lasting warming spell. They always helped me.'

Ron turned around hesitantly and made for the door, but Hermione's scream made him spin around.

'Oh, contraction!' Hermione collapsed on her knees, holding to the bedpost. 'Ron! I think the baby's coming!'

'Sweetheart, I'm sure it's not coming so soon,' Mrs Granger said calmly and lifted Hermione up with Mr Granger. 'First-time mothers are often confused and insecure about labour, and the pain takes most by surprise even if they've read extensively about it. But remember that when you put your mind to it, you can do anything, and you can get through this, too.'

'No, no, I really think something's comiiiinnnnnggg!'

'Don't scrunch yourself, wombette, you're blocking the canal.' Trelawney grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and heaved her backwards. 'There, raise your arms and spread your legs like spring's first flower, so in tune with the pulsating orb of the cosmos. Be the womb!'

'Quiet, hack!' Molly pulled up the hem of Hermione's dress and stuck her wand between her legs. 'Let's aim one where it helps the most. Thermae!'

'Let go, old woman!' Gwendolyn Trelawney pulled the hem back down so that Hermione lurched forward. 'You and your medieval methods!'

'Do you think I should get a mini bathtub for the duck?' Arthur asked, examining the toy in his hand. 'Wouldn't it be lovely?'

'STOP IT!'

Everybody halted and turned to Ron. He was standing at the door, his cheeks crimson and his eyes burning. With one swift movement, he flung open the door and grabbed Molly by the arm.

'Mum, Dad, thanks for coming, but you will wait in the reception now. Same for you, Mr and Mrs Granger. And Miss Trelawney, you will leave, too. My wife is about to have a baby and she needs peace and quietness. Our baby will not be born into this sort of madness!'

Molly and Gwendolyn Trelawney stared at Ron, both panting and looking doubtful, and Arthur dropped the duck. Hermione crawled towards the bed, holding her belly and sniffling.

'Yes, you're right, Ron. We should go and leave you in peace.' Mr Granger coughed and ushered the flummoxed Weasleys and the struggling Gwendolyn Trelawney firmly out. 'We'll be in the reception if you need us. Good luck, sweetheart.'

The door clicked, and Hermione climbed on the bed, breathing heavily. Her cheeks were wet with tears.

'L-look,' she said and pointed at red specks on the duvet. 'The baby's coming and we have n-no m-mediwizard-d!'

Ron knelt by the bed and hugged her tightly, kissing her sweaty forehead. He puffed the pillow behind her back and took her face in his hands.

'Hermione, you'll be fine. Just keep breathing and try to stay calm. I'm going to get someone to help you. Can you manage alone for a short while?'

Hermione nodded with a hiccough and a sniff. The cupboard creaked and opened as if it had heard her, and an orange handkerchief fluttered to the bed. Hermione blew her nose noisily in it.

'Please hurry.'

'I will. Just press the emergency button and scream if you need help,' Ron said and patted Hermione's belly. 'I'll be right back!'

He ran out of the door. The corridor was empty, but ear-piercing screams echoed from behind several doors. A short, plump wizard in a blue top hat came out of a green door, jumping up and down and conjuring fireworks from his wand.

'It's a wizard! A little wizard! I knew it!'

He blew Ron a kiss and danced down the corridor. Ron shook his head and continued to the reception. The corner of Gwendolyn Trelawney's dress flashed in the large plant-decorated area, and Ron backed quickly away and turned to another corridor. A blond young man in a white cloak was hurrying towards him, and Ron's eyes immediately latched onto the round "M" sign on his chest.

'You! Are you a mediwizard?'

The man nodded with a puzzled smile.

'I'm from St Mungo's. We just brought a patient here.'

'Can you handle childbirth?'

'Er, well, I've done a few emergency ones and I did take labour basics in Ye Olde Medicine Academie, but -'

'Great! My wife's in labour, and these people try to pass a loony for a mediwizard. She needs help.' Ron started dragging the man towards room number 72 1/6. 'Quickly now, she's in a lot of pain!'

'But I'm not staff here!'

'Never mind, you're better than a lunatic chanting about pulsating orbs! I'll pay you whatever you want.'

Ron threw the door open and thrust the man in. Hermione didn't look at them; she was on all fours on the bed, and her face was twisted with pain.

'Hermione!' Ron rushed to the bed. 'Are you all right?'

'C-con-tra-ction-n...'

'Okay, breathe...' Ron stroked Hermione's back and gathered her loose curls on a bun on her neck. 'Everything's going to be fine; I brought you a mediwizard who at least looks normal.'

Hermione grimaced horribly, her face tomato red, and Ron continued caressing her back.

'Keep breathing...think of pretty flowers...and butterflies...and a cool breeze in the back garden...and, um, chocolate pudding with caramel sauce...'

'Uhh!' Hermione collapsed on her face, hugging a pillow. 'That was a bad one. Thanks, Ron.'

'Wait a minute, are you Ron and Hermione?' The blond man's face lit up with a delighted smile. 'Friends of Harry Potter?'

Ron nodded.

'This is a co-incidence!' The man swept over, his hand outstretched. 'I'm Henry Hodge. My wife went to Hogwarts with you, and she has told me so much about you. Parvati Patil?'

'Oh yes, Parvati.' Hermione's muffled voice came from the folds of the pillow. 'We met her some months ago. How is she?'

'She's fine. In fact, we're pregnant, too, and we just passed the three-month mark.' Henry took off his cloak and went to the wash basin. 'You look like you're ready to pop.'

'I am popping,' Hermione said weakly. 'And this is the last child I'm ever going to have.'

'Now, now, what about those plans we had of our very own Quidditch team?' Ron said and helped Hermione on her back. Hermione gave him a murderous look.

'One more word, and it's snip-snip for Mr Wizard.'

Ron grinned wickedly.

'Don't try that with me, muffin. You love Mr Wizard.'

Hermione blushed and shushed furiously as Henry came closer, drying his hands.

'Let's see how you are, then. Open your legs.'

Ron went rigid as Hermione obeyed and Henry disappeared behind the hem of Hermione's dress. Hermione couldn't help smiling at Ron's tightened mouth and his eyes flicking angrily from a tuft of Henry's hair to her knees. He huffed and puffed and changed his position several times during the examination.

'That took long,' he said tartly when Henry finally straightened himself.

'This won't.' Henry gestured at Hermione's belly. 'The baby's coming, and we have to start doing some active pushing. Are you ready?'

x--x--x

'Come on, Hermione, one good push!'

'I...can't,' Hermione sobbed, sweat flowing from her forehead down to her neck in a constant stream. 'It's...too...h-hard.'

Ron squeezed her hand and wiped her face with an icy cloth.

'Yes, you can. Remember what Lovely Labour said? Think of each push as a step closer to your baby. One more push, and we'll meet little Rommy.'

'Uhm.' Hermione took a deep breath and fixed her eyes on the picture of a tap-dancing baby on the ceiling.

'Ready?' Henry's voice echoed from behind Hermione's dress. 'One...two...three!'

And Hermione pushed, pushed like she had never pushed before. Ron's voice was a distant echo in the cloud of pain, and Henry's figure had disappeared from her fuzzy sight. A piercing cry, and a strange feeling of emptiness encompassed her. The bed below her vanished; she was floating on the softest cotton. Something violently orange came closer, and something soft touched her lips. It tasted and smelled familiar, but salty.

Ron's blue eyes watched her, smiling and full of tears. His voice had never been so shaky, so heavy with emotion.

'Hermione, we have a daughter.'

x--x--x

A swirl of chestnut hair peeked out from under the pink hat. The tiny eyes were tightly shut, but the lips were pursing and the little hands and feet moved inside the blanket.

'What are you thinking of, dumpling?'

Ron touched the baby's cheek with his pinky. The little mouth puckered again.

'It's just you and me now. Yes, because Mummy's sleeping. See?' Ron turned carefully in the rocking chair. Hermione's even breathing rose from the bed, but only a tangle of brown hair was visible on the pillow. 'That's her. You gave her a bit of a hard time so she's tired, but it's okay. She said she'd do it again in a heartbeat. And I'm Daddy. I'm the one you should come to when Mommy says you can't have sweets or that you can't play Quidditch before you do your homework. Actually, whenever you need something, just come to me and I'll make things better. Okay?'

Ron moved the blanket aside and shook the little hand very, very softly.

'Let's shake on it. There. Don't tell Mommy, though, it'll be our secret. Do we have a deal? Good. Let's see...you don't have siblings yet, but you've already met your grandparents. They're the loud people who kissed you all over and didn't want to go home at all. They'll come again tonight, so you better prepare yourself. Although, you seemed to quite like Grandma Granger, didn't you? She's the quiet one. And these here...' Ron turned to the table that was full of flowers and gifts. 'See, these are from people you haven't met yet. This rattle is from your Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur...and this squeaky monkey is from your Uncle George and Aunt Angelina...and here's a basket of plush fruit toys from Uncle Neville...and some flowers and a nice colour-changing hat from Professor McGonagall...oh, and look, a miniature model of the cosmos from Miss Trelawney. And this amazing Quidditch uniform and these roses are from your Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny...look what pretty pink flowers they are...' Ron touched a silky blossom and lapsed into silence.

Hermione opened her eyes.

'Are you two conspiring something?'

'Of course,' Ron said and kissed the warm little forehead. 'And I'm never going to let her go. You'll get the next one, but this one's all mine.'

Hermione laughed softly.

'I'll fight you for her. Come, I want to hold her.'

Ron rose slowly, never letting his eyes off the baby, and lay her carefully on Hermione's arms.

'This is no doubt the most wonderful and perfect baby on earth. And I have a name for her.'

Hermione looked up.

'Please don't tell me it's Snugglypie or Cuddlytoes? I heard you call her both.'

Ron shook his head and put his arm around Hermione.

'No, Cuddlytoes will be her middle name. But her first name...' He pointed at the bouquet of pink flowers on the table. 'Rose.'

As if she had heard him, the baby pursed her mouth into an almost smile, and her little fingers curled as though she were reaching for unseen stardust. Hermione pressed her cheek against the baby's head and smiled, tears blurring her sight.

'Ron, it's perfect.'

Ron smiled and rested his head on Hermione's shoulder. The sun smiled low in the bleak winter sky and slipped a ray of light on the little family. A new soul had arrived and two had become three; new adventures rose in the horizon, new joys, and new wonders. How delightful!