The Consequences of Alcohol and Depression

The Consequences of Alcohol and Depression

Chapter 18: New Arrivals

"W-what?" Percy asked in a strangled voice.

Hermione took a steadying breath. "The baby is coming," she repeated, clenching her fists at her sides.

Percy jumped up, running a hand through his hair. "Oh, no, what do we do?!" he shrieked, pacing the floor. "I mean, what are we supposed to be doing!?!"

"Percy, come here!" Hermione said urgently; he was immediately beside her.

"What, Mione? Should I get you a towel? Or-" He was abruptly cut of as Hermione's open hand connected with his cheek. He shook his head, blinking heavily. "Thank you, Hermione, I needed that."

"Okay," she said, "Apparate to the Burrow and let your Mum know what's going on; tell her to inform everyone, then get your bum back here."

Percy quickly obliged her wishes. Hermione pulled herself up from the couch and walked over to the closet, pulling out her suitcases and setting them on the floor. She then pulled her wand from her pocket and uttered the incantation to alert St. Mungo's of her imminent arrival.

Standing beside her bags, she waited for Percy to return. It only took a few moments, as he appeared within ten more seconds. "Alright, now what?" he questioned.

"Now we need to get to St. Mungo's. Grab my things, please," she said, motioning to the luggage on the floor. They quickly moved to the fireplace, where they, and the suitcases, went through together. When they arrived at the hospital, there was already a nurse waiting with a wheelchair.

"Miss Granger?" she questioned. Hermione nodded, allowing Percy to help her sit down.

"And everything is taken care of already? All the paperwork, and such?" Percy asked. Hermione suddenly gripped the handles of the wheelchair and screwed up her face; Percy sank down beside her.

"Hermione, what?"

"I'm having a contraction," she said, drawing in a breath, anticipating the worst. But then it stopped. "Oh, that wasn't so bad," she said, relaxing.

"Alright, Miss Granger, let's get you to your room," the nurse said. Hermione looked back at Percy to ensure he was there. She knew she'd be needing him very soon.

Within just a few minutes, Hermione was lying back on starchy sheets in her new hospital gown, in her rather large room, doing her best to stay calm. Percy was standing right beside her bed (he'd waited outside while the nurse had helped Hermione change), and they were awaiting the doctor.

"How are you doing?" he asked anxiously, a nervous smile on his face.

"Fine so far, I guess," she replied. At that moment, Amelia knocked on the door. The doctor was already in her white coat, a clipboard in her hand.

"How are you doing, Hermione?" she asked kindly, bright smile aimed at the expectant parents.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Hermione replied, shrugging apologetically, though she didn’t feel she should have been so polite.

Amelia chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll check you over now." She then proceeded to prepare herself with the examination gloves. "Now, about how far apart are your contractions?"

Hermione bit her lip. "Um, about every twenty minutes, I think."

"Okay, good, good," Amelia said, "Let me just check you out, here." After a few moments, she declared that Hermione was doing fine, and everything was proceeding as it should. "And there are some people waiting outside to see you, if you feel up to them. Just a few at a time, though."

"Oh, would you go send someone in?" Hermione asked of Percy.

"Sure," he replied, kissing Hermione on the forehead and walking to the door with Amelia. "I'll be right back, okay?" he said as he paused before he left the room. Hermione nodded, smoothing out the bed sheet covering her. And as promised, Percy returned after a moment, Harry and Ginny very close behind.

Ginny rushed to the bed, taking her hand. "Oh, Mione, how are you?" she asked sweetly.

"The doctor says I'm doing good, and it's really not that bad yet," she said, giving a weak smile. "Did you get a letter off to Ron and Draco?"

Harry shook his head. "I Apparated to their hotel a few minutes ago, but they didn't answer their door. I left them a message at the desk, though, and they'll get it as soon as they check for it."

"Okay, good," Hermione said. After a moment, Ginny stepped back beside Harry, and he put his arm around her shoulders. "So who all is- oh, Percy!"

He quickly rushed back to her bed. "What, Mione?"

"Another contraction," she said, reaching for his hand. "This one's worse than before."

"It's alright, just breathe through it," Percy said, squeezing her hand gently. Hermione did just that, and it passed quickly. "Do you need anything?"

"A damp washcloth, please," she said, motioning to the stack of linens on the counter.

"Oh, I'll get it," Ginny volunteered, quickly marching to the pile and dampening it in the small basin in the corner. She handed it to Percy, who proceeded to gently press it to her forehead. Hermione felt very grateful for the action, smiling up at Percy.

After a few moments of visiting, Harry and Ginny left, Molly and Arthur coming in, followed by Charlie and George. Fred, Bill, and Fleur remained with Ron and Draco on the list of those yet to show up.

As the time went along, the contractions began to get worse for Hermione, and they came more frequently. She knew she must have almost been breaking Percy's hand, but when those moments of pain came, she forgot all about his feelings, remembering that he was the reason she was in this whole bloody mess in the first place! But the entire time, crushed bones or not, he was being very sweet and caring, reminding Hermione (not in moments of intense pain) why she'd fallen for him.

In between contractions, Hermione remembered something very important that she and Percy had neglected to do thus far. "Percy," she said, turning to him, "We forgot something."

"What?" he asked nervously. "Do you need me to go back home for anything?"

"No," Hermione said with a small laugh. "We forgot to pick out godparents."

Percy looked thoughtful for a few moments, most likely going over the past few months in his mind. "We didn't, did we?" he asked.

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "Now, it needs to be someone that we trust very much, that we know would take care of the baby if anything happened to both of us."

As Hermione thought, she watched Percy mouth several names, shaking his head after each. There were many choices, but Hermione knew she'd want someone in Percy's family. They were the most logical choices, after all. She knew Molly and Arthur would love to do it, but they had already raised seven children, and didn't need any more; this was the same reason Hermione had declined her parents. Ginny and Harry, while she trusted and loved them both, wouldn't be a great choice. They were young, and would probably start having children of their own soon. And Hermione knew that Ron and Draco both wanted to adopt a baby as soon as they could, and that also ruled them out, not to mention Bill and Fleur for the same reason as the previous two couples. And Fred and George, while Hermione knew they would both love the child, they weren't the most responsible. Therefore, the best choice would be Charlie.

Charlie was very good with children, Hermione knew. He had no plans to settle down and marry any time soon, but she also knew he would love to take care of a child. He had put out the idea of adopting a child to raise on his own a few years before, but had decided against the plan when most of his family had disapproved. He was responsible and loving, very mature, yet playful; Charlie would be a terrific choice.

Hermione then made up her mind. "Charlie," she said firmly.

"Charlie?" Percy asked, obviously trying to make sure Hermione was certain.

"Yes," she said. "I mean, he's obviously the best choice. He'd be a wonderful godfather to our baby."

"Alright, then" Percy agreed.

"Go get him, will you?" Percy smiled and walked to the door, returning a moment later with his older brother.

"Hi, Hermione, how are you doing now?" he asked gently.

Hermione snorted. "Well, apart from the tremendous pain from the child fighting it's way out of my body, I'm lovely; how 'bout you?" Hermione glared at Percy as she saw him cover a laugh very quickly with a coughing fit.

"Poor thing," Charlie said sympathetically. "I can only imagine what you're going through." He patted her arm, exchanging a glance with Percy. "So, what did you need me for?"

"Well, Charlie," she said, "Percy and I wanted to ask you something. I mean, its totally fine if you want to say no, but please think about it."

Percy took a deep breath. "Charlie, we want you to be the baby's godfather, and legal guardian should anything happen to us."

Hermione smiled sweetly at Charlie's awed expression. "Really?" he asked. "You would want me to do that?" Hermione and Percy both nodded, awaiting his answer; it didn't take long. "Of course I would! I'd love to."

"Thank you so much, Charlie," Hermione said happily, reaching her hands out to pull him into a hug. "You have no idea what this means to us."

"Yes, really, Charlie, thank you," Percy said.

"No problem, little brother," Charlie replied, reaching out and hugging him as well. There was then a knock on the door, and Amelia poked her head in.

"Sorry to break this up, but I need to examine the patient," she said apologetically. Charlie left the room with a last smile, and Amelia set to work on her task. "So, Hermione, are you going to be wanting the Pain-Relief Potion?"

Hermione shook her head. "Actually, I've decided that I'd rather not," she said, "I want to go through with natural bir-" Suddenly, she was hit with another contraction. She squeezed Percy's hand tightly, feeling the pain shooting through her. And when it subsided, she turned to the obstetrician. "Maybe I'd better have that potion."

******

Five hours later, seven hours into the labor, Hermione was very irritated. While the potion had helped with the pain, it couldn't catch it all. There was an intense pressure that Hermione felt the need to push against, she was sweaty and tired, and completely ready to have it over with so she could hold her baby in her arms, cry over it, and get some sleep.

Percy had been by her side the entire time, not saying one word about her moaning and complaining, or the constant pain she was now inflicting upon his hand. He was being absolutely wonderful about it all, and Hermione felt grateful that he was the one beside her.

"How much longer is this going to take?" she asked, her voice filled with irritation.

"Probably not much longer, sweetie, you were pretty far along fifteen minutes ago," Percy said, once again dabbing a wash cloth on her forehead.

In another two minutes, Amelia was back. "Alright, let's just check you out again, Hermione," she said, lifting the sheet. When she looked back up a few moments later, she was smiling brightly. "You're at nine centimeters. It's time to go to the delivery room." She then signaled for the nurses to assist her in Levitating the bed.

"Percy," Hermione cried, "Don't you leave me!"

"I won't, Mione," he promised, squeezing her hand tighter, "I promise I'll be there with you." As they passed by the waiting room, Hermione saw the anxious faces of all of the Weasleys (minus Ron), Harry, Angelina, and Fleur, each of them looking through the doors at them in nervous anticipation.

"We're going to the delivery room!" Percy announced brightly.

They entered the sterile white room a few moments later, where Hermione was transferred to the bed in the center of the room, Percy still by her side, holding her hand. She cried out as she was struck with another powerful contraction.

"Alright, Hermione," Amelia said as soon as she had prepared herself with surgical gloves and mask, already wearing a smock, "you'll need to need to push in just a moment. And Percy, you'll need to put one of these on." Hermione barely let go of Percy's hand long enough for him to put on the hospital gown; he immediately returned to her side.

"Can I push yet?" she asked wearily.

Amelia looked at the chart monitoring her progress, nodding as it indicated another contraction. "Alright, Hermione, push." She gripped Percy's hand tightly, pushing with all she had.

"Come on, Hermione, you're doing great," Percy said reassuringly. When the contraction ended, Amelia told Hermione to stop her activities.

"Now, remember, only push during a contraction," she said, patting Hermione's leg. "You are doing wonderful." Hermione simply nodded, to weak to talk.

Before long, Hermione had another contraction, followed by another, and another. "Come on, love, keep at it!" Percy said, grasping her hand between both of his. Amelia looked up at Hermione from her position at the end of the bed.

"Percy, would you like to take a look at this? The baby has crowned." Percy looked questioningly at Hermione, silently asking if she would mind him examining her so intimately. She simply shook her head, not willing to release his hand whether or not he'd need to move. Percy only extended his arm, still keeping his grip. When he looked up, his face was pure joy.

"Hermione, I can see its head!" he said excitedly, moving back to her side. "It's really coming!"

Mere seconds later, Amelia grinned. "Alright, Hermione, let's give it one more big push."

And Hermione did just that, a loud scream escaping her lungs, one that echoed all around the high-ceilinged room. "AGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!" Percy whimpered painfully at the force she exerted on his hand. When it was over, she collapsed against her pillows, her breathing ragged, body sweaty, and mind completely ready for sleep.

She looked up when she heard the first screeching cry of her newborn child. "It's a girl," Amelia announced; one of the nurses casting a Severing Charm on the umbilical cord and a Cleansing Charm to clean her, while the other wrapped the baby in a soft pink blanket. Amelia then handed her the wrapped bundle, and Hermione felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She was completely energized in that moment.

She gently supported the head, taking in the fine mop of red curls on top. Her little body was so tiny and small. Hermione sensed that Percy was hovering very closely over her, but she was only looking down at her newborn baby girl. And after a moment, her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the same chocolate brown eyes that Hermione had herself. The child calmed at the sight of her mother, her cries quieting slowly.

"She's beautiful…" Percy breathed, very slowly reaching a hand down and touching the soft hair.

"She sure is," Hermione agreed, a joyous laugh rising from her. She felt Percy gently kiss her cheek, the hand that wasn't still caressing the crimson locks of their daughter's hair reach up and wrap around her shoulders. Hermione leaned down and kissed her forehead very carefully.

Very cautiously, Amelia interrupted the tender moment. "And do we have a name for this little one?"

"Nicole Granger-Weasley," Percy replied, but Hermione shook her head in a sudden decision. "What, you don't like the name anymore?"

"No," she said quietly. Turning to the doctor, she amended Percy's statement. "Nicole Weasley."

Percy looked at her in shock. "Are- are you sure?"

"Very," Hermione replied, smiling down at her baby. "With hair like this, how could she be called anything else?"

******

A/N- Alright, hold on, just second before you kill me... 3... 2... 1... GO! Kill me now! *dies*

Feel better? I’m very sorry this took so long to get up, and I really don’t have a good excuse for the delay, but that’s my problem, not yours. Yes, I just went back to school, and all that, and I’ve been taking care of my nearly immobile sister, but the lateness of this is really from sheer laziness. I originally wrote CoAaD on Microsoft Word, and I got a new computer with Word Perfect, which doesn’t read my files properly. Therefore, every chapter has to be completely reformatted, and it irritates me beyond belief to do so. I’M SORRY!!! But...

YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! Baby Nicole has arrived! Now, I’m going to apologize for the inaccuracy of the birthing stuff (as I know that it was bad, as was most of the pregnancy stuff), as I have never gone through that stuff before. I get all of that info from Friends, other fics, and what I can get out of my family.

I know that there was some animosity towards the name Nicole, but I think it's sweet, and it has a special meaning to me, and it is my story, after all. I really hope that you guys like the little cutie in chapters to come, and that I get good reviews about her! And no, I didn't give her a middle name, after very much confusion on my part. So Little Nicky (heehee, that's one of my favorite movies) has NO middle name!

 

And, on the eye thing: Yes, I know babies aren’t born with any eye color other than blue, but this is something of my own idea. Nicole, and all babies born of magical parents, have the color set at birth. This is essentially because I wanted Nicole to have those two elements from her parents (hair and eyes) and I didn’t want to have to wait to put it in! Told you I’m lazy...

So, please review me, maybe it will inspire me to format things... Thanks to all my reviewers who have stuck through, and are still actually reading this. THANKS!!!