The Consequences of Alcohol and Depression

The Consequences of Alcohol and Depression

Chapter 17: A Heavily Pregnant Pause

When the day of February tenth had approached, Hermione was completely prepared. Her bags had been packed and were sitting in the hall closet. The preparations for her arrival were already taken care of at St. Mungo's. The entire Weasley clan was on alert. The only thing not ready was the baby.

On Hermione's due date, she and Percy sat at their flat all day, tensely awaiting the arrival of their child. But as the seconds, minutes, and hours ticked by, not a sign of labor came around. Soon enough, the day had passed, and the baby was late. This put Hermione completely on edge.

The day after, she and Percy had gone to St. Mungo's to see Amelia, wanting to ensure that the baby was fine. "Don't worry," she'd said, "Babies are late all the time. It is perfectly natural. The little one will come out when it's ready."

As Hermione and Percy walked out of the office, he made a suggestion. "Why don't we go see my Mum? She knows about this stuff, quite obviously."

"Yes, lets," Hermione agreed, the prospect of Molly's food quite a good one. They quickly made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, to use the fireplace. One restriction Amelia had placed on Hermione from that point was that she not Apparate. At this late stage in her pregnancy, if Hermione Apparated, she could very well leave the baby behind!

"Come on, we'll go together, okay?" Percy said, taking Hermione's hand as they approached the fireplace. Although it irked Hermione that Percy was treating her like an invalid, she chose not to say anything.

Percy quickly threw in a pinch of Floo Powder, both he and Hermione saying, "The Burrow!" And a very dizzying ride later, they landed in the grate in the kitchen to find Molly and Arthur eating lunch.

"Is it time?" Molly asked urgently. Hermione shook her head, sighing.

"No," she said, sneering at nothing in particular. "But the doctor said it's perfectly natural for it to be late." She and Percy both took seats at the table.

"Yes, that's right," Molly said, nodding. "Three out of seven were late with me."

"Which ones?" Hermione asked.

"Percy, Charlie, and Ginny," Arthur said, smiling at Percy.

"Don't worry, dear," Molly said, placing her hand on Hermione's shoulder, "This is all just a part of nature. Often first children are late."

"I just wish this thing would get out of me already!" she sighed, putting her head down on the table.

Percy moved his chair closer and rubbed Hermione's back, something she was very grateful for. "Just look at it this way, Mione," he said, "Maybe you've just made such a good home for the baby for the past nine months that it doesn't want to leave." Hermione sniffed, tears filling her eyes.

"Thank you," she said tearfully. Percy smiled, moving even closer and taking Hermione into his arms.

"You're welcome, sweetie," he replied, softly kissing her hair. Hermione didn't notice the look that Molly and Arthur shared.

After Percy pulled back, Molly smiled. "Would you kids like some lunch?"

"Yes, please," Hermione said happily, her mood changing instantly.

Molly stood up and marched to the fridge, searching through it's contents. "Well, let's see… there's some leftover bacon from breakfast, I could make sandwiches."

"That sounds great," Hermione said enthusiastically. "Do you need any help?"

"Oh, no, you just relax," Molly replied kindly.

Arthur suddenly cleared his throat. "Percy, could I have a word, please? In the other room?" Percy nodded, squeezing Hermione's shoulder gently.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Hermione nodded and smiled. After a few moments, Molly sat down a plate on the table, one that was piled high with sandwiches. Hermione eagerly reached for one.

When she had taken just a few bites, talking with Molly about the last finishing touches (she'd already done them five times) on the nursery, an exasperated groan came from the other room. Hermione looked at the door strangely, but Molly didn't even bat an eyelash.

And as they continued to talk, Percy’s and Arthur's voices only got louder. After only a few more moments, Percy shouted. "Dad, I said no!" The younger Weasley arrived in the kitchen very shortly afterward, flinging himself into a chair beside Hermione.

Hermione reached over a put her hand on his arm. "Percy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" he said sharply. Hermione moved her hand back, tears welling in her eyes at his harsh tone. Percy noticed this, his face softening. "Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude." She nodded, a wet trail moving down her cheek.

"It's fine…" she breathed, a soft sob escaping her.

"Please, Mione, I'm so sorry!" Percy said urgently, taking her hands, "Please don't cry."

"Alright," she said, nodding.

He tilted her chin up with one finger, brushing away her tears with another. "Would you smile for me? Please?" Hermione turned the corners of her mouth upward so slightly that it was barely noticeable, but Percy accepted it; he hugged her tightly, and everything was lost to Hermione except for him. "Atta girl," he said softly.

"Maybe you two had better get home," Molly commented. Hermione snapped back into awareness of everything surrounding her, like the fact that Molly was in the room and that Arthur still wasn't.

"Er, yes, why don't we do that," she said, faking a yawn, "I'm rather tired."

"Alright," Percy said as he stood up, helping Hermione to her feet. "Besides, we have a few things to do."

"Thank you for lunch, Molly," Hermione said, bestowing a small smile.

"It was no trouble," she replied, also standing. "And remember, Hermione, get plenty of rest while you wait."

"I will," she replied, taking Percy by the hand.

"Bye, Mum," he called over his shoulder as Hermione grabbed the Floo Powder; after only a moment, they were going through the twirling maze of grates to their home.

They landed rather softly, as Hermione had recently placed a Cushioning Charm on the hearth. The duo stood and began to brush the soot off of their clothes, when Hermione decided to ask what Percy had argued with his father about. "So," she said, "What did you talk with Arthur about?"

Percy shook his head. "For the millionth time, he told me to ask you to marry me. Said he and Mum have figured out that the baby being late is some kind of an omen."

"Oh," Hermione said, nodding.

"I-I mean, what a ridiculous notion," Percy said with a nervous sounding laugh.

"Yeah," Hermione said awkwardly. She and Percy stood in the living room silently for several moments, shuffling their feet and wondering what to say. Suddenly, the silence getting to her, Hermione cleared her throat. "Well, um, I’m just going to go have a lie-down."

"Okay," Percy said, nodding. "I, uh,-" he cut himself off with a blush and small smile. Hermione blushed too, turning and heading into her bedroom.

Lying back against her pillows and turning out her lamp, her brow furrowed. 'What was that about?'

******

Six days later, there was still no sign of the baby. Hermione was slightly worried still. She'd talked to her own mother, who'd also assured her that it was perfectly normal, but it was a frightening fact nonetheless.

Sitting in a chair beside Ron and Draco's bed, she sighed heavily at her best friend. "Ron, stop being dumb and just go!"

Ron bit his lip, his gaze shifting between Hermione in the chair and Draco on the bed, and occasionally to Harry and Ginny who were standing by the door. For the past twenty minutes, the group had been unsuccessfully trying to convince Ron to go ahead with his and Draco's plans for their vacation. He originally hadn't wanted to leave too soon after the baby was born, but he was putting serious thought into postponing it altogether.

But all the bags were packed, the hotel room reserved, the events planned, and nobody wanted them to miss it. Even Ron wanted to go, but his devotion to his best friend was higher on the list.

"I don't know…" he said quietly, now raising a hand to his mouth and biting his fingernails, something he only did when a big decision was to be made.

"Ron, love," Draco said, pulling his hand back down to his side, "I want to be here for Hermione, too; you know I do. But we've already paid quite a lot of money for this trip- not that I mind it, you know," he added quickly.

"And Ron," Ginny added, "If you don't take this vacation now, you won't get another opportunity for quite some time.”

“Very true,” Harry said.

"Well, I suppose you're right," Ron conceded, "But what about Hermione?"

"Ron, it's not like you need to pace the waiting room. Remember, I've already got your entire family to do that. And Percy will be with me in the delivery room, holding my hand," Hermione said, barely controlling the glare she wanted to send him.

"B- but the baby will probably come, and I won't be there," he said, "And I'd feel so horrible if I wasn't."

"Ron, you've no need to feel horrible," Hermione told him firmly.

Suddenly, Draco looked struck with an idea. "Alright, Ron, how about this: if Hermione goes into labor while we're gone, somebody can send us an owl, and we'll Apparate as soon as we get it. How's that?"

Ron looked slightly appeased by this, but he was still hesitant. He turned to Hermione, kneeling down on the floor in front of her. "Would you really be okay if I went, Mione?"

"For the millionth time, Ron, yes!" she said, giving him a reassuring smile and resisting the urge to slap him. "And if you don't go right now, I'm going to kick you all the way to Greece!" Ron grinned, standing back up.

"Okay, I'm going!" he said, making the other four sigh in relief.

"Finally!" Draco moaned. He walked over to Ginny and Harry, hugging both of them, before going to Hermione. "I promise we'll get there as soon as we can if you go into labor, okay?"

"I know," Hermione said, nodding. She hugged Draco, watching as Ron gave his good-byes to Harry and Ginny before he came to her.

"Now, try to not have this thing until we're back, alright Mione?" he said, softly patting her belly.

"Yeah, right," she replied sarcastically, finally releasing the glare that had been dying to escape for ages. Ron simply smiled and hugged her.

"We'll hurry back," he said.

"You'd bloody well better not!" Hermione replied. "Now go!" Ron chuckled and stood beside Draco, both of them taking hold of their luggage.

"Bye!" they called simultaneously, Disapparating together. Hermione heaved herself to her feet, walking out the door after Harry and Ginny.

"Okay, I'm going to go home," she said, heading for the fireplace. Seeing that Ginny was about to speak, she cut her off. "And yes, I'll get you notified immediately when I go to St. Mungo's."

"You know me so well!" Ginny said, impressed.

"Yes, well, it's not that hard to figure you out," Hermione replied teasingly, she quickly Flooed home before Ginny could reply. A feeling of nausea hit her as she spun around and around, and she was very grateful to feel the ground beneath her feet as she arrived home. She quickly collapsed into a chair by the fire, rubbing her eyelids.

"They finally went, eh?" Hermione looked up to see Percy reading a copy of the Daily Prophet; she hadn't noticed him when she'd arrived. And the sight she received was a terrific one. Percy had his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose, the light from the fire reflecting off of the glass, his beautiful eyes, and the thick red locks on his head. He looked very mature and refined, and Hermione felt her heart skip.

But no matter the level of physical attraction she felt to Percy, she knew it wasn't simply a crush that she felt. The only word that could even come close was love, but it simply wasn't enough. And even though all wounds heal with time, Hermione knew that Percy and the love she felt for him would last all time.

"Oh, uh, yeah," she replied, kicking off her shoes. "Draco finally got him to go when he suggested the idea that someone send them a letter when the baby comes. I can't believe that they'd cut short such an expensive vacation just because of me, though."

"I'd believe it," Percy said, folding the Prophet and setting it on the coffee table. Hermione raised an eyebrow, but Percy did not look like he was willing to diverge any more on the subject. "Now, can I do anything for you? Anything at all?"

Hermione tentatively glanced down at her legs, smiling back up at Percy. "A foot rub?" she asked hopefully.

"Anything for you, Mione," he said quietly, abandoning his position on the couch and sitting at her feet on the floor. Once again, Hermione was puzzled. Anything…? Deciding not to comment, she sat back and let Percy work his magic on her aching feet.

******

Five days later, Hermione was feeling quite angry at the world. The baby was now twelve days late! At first, she'd been a bit peeved, but mainly worried. Now, the only emotion she was experiencing was the desire to have that thing out of her!

She walked slowly into the living room, a hand on her belly, the other pushing back the loose strands of hair that had slipped from her ponytail and were currently tickling her face. Percy was seated on the sofa, looking rather pensive. "What's up?" she asked as she sat down beside him.

Percy shook his head. "Just thinking through something," he replied quietly, staring into the fire. Hermione watched him for a moment as she fixed her hair back, wondering exactly what he was thinking about. His face, while thoughtful, also looked very intense and worried.

Hermione reached out a hand and placed it on his back, hoping to help relieve some of the tension. The effect was quite the contrary, as Percy looked decidedly nervous at that point.

"Percy, are you alright?" Hermione asked tentatively.

Percy shook his head. "Not really. I mean, physically, I'm fine, but there is something that is really bothering me right now."

After a moment, Hermione decided to press on. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I think I'd better, before it drives me crazy," he replied with a small laugh. He gently took Hermione's hand in his, shifting so that he faced her on the sofa. "Now, Hermione, before I tell you, you have to know that this is something I never planned on. It just… happened."

"What happened, Percy?" Hermione asked, quite bewildered by what he was saying. Percy wasn't making one lick of sense to her.

"Well, it's something that's also really hard for me to say," he said, a ghost of a smile on his face, a sad smile.

Hermione gave a different, encouraging smile, squeezing his hand. "You know you can always tell me anything, Percy." All of a sudden, she was hit with a strange feeling in her abdomen. It passed as soon as it came though, and Hermione decided that it was nothing.

"Well, Mione, you know how I told you that you've become my best friend over the last few months?"

"Yes…" she replied slowly.

Percy grinned, but it was still sad. "Well, you've really got no idea of exactly how special you are to me."

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion. And that strange feeling was back.

Percy took a deep breath, as did Hermione. "Hermione, I lo-"

"Oh!" she said, clutching her belly.

"I know," Percy said, shaking his head. "I mean, how awkward does this make things?"

Alarm began to set in as Hermione realized exactly what those strange feelings had been. "What are you talking about, Percy?" she asked.

"Well, Mione, I-" he began, stopping short at the look on her face. "Hermione, what's the matter?"

Hermione looked down at her stomach, then back up at Percy. "Percy, the baby is coming."

******