The Seventh Year Soap Opera

The Seventh Year Soap Opera

RECAP OF CHAPTER SEVENTEEN-: Ron wakes up the morning after the ball, not remembering his blowout with Hermione from the previous night. Ginny tells him and he confronts Hermione about marrying Viktor. He delivers a brilliant (if corny) speech--but Hermione doesn't listen. Ginny and Harry patch up their argument (cough, cough--it was a bit more than that!) and are friends again, Viktor and Hermione went flying, Ron and Eloise talk, and Viktor runs into the common room, saying Hermione's water broke.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF-

"It's Herm-own-ninny!"

"What about Hermione?" said Ron, standing up abruptly.

"She is leaking! I mean she broke! Break vater! Her vater broke!

Chapter Eighteen- The Birth

Hermione had lost sight of Viktor, so instead of heading to the Gryffindor common room, she hurried to Professor Dumbledore's office. Walking was beginning to tire her and she was thankful when she bumped into Professor McGonagall. "Professor," Hermione gasped, leaning up against a wall. "It's time!"

McGonagall looked slightly worried, but then set her jaw in determination, and grabbed Hermione's arm. "This way," she said, leading her down the corridor.

"Where are we going?" asked Hermione.

"I'm taking you to the closet hospital. The closest is St. Peter's, but it's Muggle and I--?"

"St. Peter's is fine," Hermione breathed. Hang on, what about Madam Pomfrey?"

"She has no experience in these matters," said Professor McGonagall, matter-of-factly. "We'll travel by Floo powder to the Three Broomsticks in. The hospital is directly outside Hogsmeade."

"Are Viktor and Harry allowed to come?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, of course. What about Mr. Weasley?"

Hermione pondered this for a moment, and decided that she couldn't bear it if Ron were there. All he had been doing lately was adding stress to her life, and stress was something she didn't need, especially while giving birth--that was stress in and of itself. "I don't want him there," Hermione said adamantly, trying to convince herself that she truly felt this way as they stepped through the Gryffindor portrait hole.

"Hermione, are you okay?" said Ron at once. He was flushing, nearly jumping up and down, stuffing his hands in his pockets and then taking them out quickly. His eyes were looking her up and down, and he gave her a very brief hug. She was thoroughly annoyed by this gesture, she didn't know exactly why, but she was. The mere sight of his face repulsed her.

"Peachy," she retorted nastily.

Ron looked hurt, but Hermione could care less. She wasn't one to hold grudges, but Ron had taken everything one step too far. One part of her mind told her that he loved her and wanted what was best for her. The other argued that he needed to get over his love for her because she didn't return it, and that he should do what's best for him. She could make her own decisions--she always had before.

Hermione turned to Viktor and Harry and stared at them pointedly. "Let's go," she said, walking over to the fireplace.

"Mr. Weasley, send an owl to Professor Dumbledore immediately, informing him of our whereabouts. We will be going to the Three Broomsticks and walk to St. Peter's hospital from there," said Professor McGonagall, picking up a tin of Floo powder from the mantle of the fireplace.

Ron was confused. "What?" he said. "I'm not going? That's my baby, that is!"

"Ms. Granger feels uncomfortable in your presence. You will do as I say."

"What?" said Ron, outraged. He turned to Hermione with a pleading look. "Hermione?"

She ignored him and took a bit of Floo powder.

"Hermione, you can't do this! It's my child! I have to go! Hermione!"

She blocked out the sound of his pleading voice; the sound of it made her want to just kiss him (had she just thought that?), but she ignored him.

He called her name out again, his voice filled with desperation.

It was too late. She had stepped into the fireplace and shouted, "Three Broomsticks!", without giving him a second glance. Harry gave Ron a sympathetic glance and he and Krum followed.

"Professor McGonagall, you have to let me go! I'm the father! Please, Professor!"

"You just make sure you send that owl," she instructed, and in an instant, she was gone.

Ron stared at the fireplace in dismay. He felt like crying, but no tears came. His whole world was falling apart. It was bad enough that Hermione didn't love him, but now she was trying to shut him out of his child's life...

He turned to Eloise, who stood up and gave him a hug. He didn't hug her back. The two of them stood there for a moment and Ron pulled away. He had an idea. "You know what, Eloise?" he said. "Screw that! I'm going, whether they like it or not!"

He dashed to the fireplace and grabbed some Floo powder, a stiff look on his face. "Make sure you send Dumbledore that owl," he said, throwing down the Floo powder and yelling, "Three Broomsticks!"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione, Harry, Viktor, and Professor McGonagall rushed out of the Three Broomsticks, ignoring the look of bewilderment on Madam Rosmerta's face. "I'll explain later," Professor McGonagall muttered to her on the way out.

The four of them ran down the roads of Hogsmeade and five minutes of exerting exercise later, they had reached the entrance to St. Peter's hospital. Viktor escorted Hermione inside through the revolving doors and up to the desk of the receptionist. "She's going into labor," Professor McGonagall explained to the woman behind the desk, a large woman with beady blue eyes behind large frames.

"Louise!" the large woman called behind her.

A skinny woman with straggly hair appeared behind her with a wheelchair for Hermione a couple of seconds later. "I don't think I really need--" Hermione started, glancing at the wheelchair, but bony hands pushed her into the chair and began to wheel her down the hallway. Viktor and Harry exchanged glances as Hermione was being quickly wheeled away from them; they dashed after the wheelchair.

"Ma'm, we need you to fill out some forms," the large woman said, pushing up her glasses. Professor McGonagall sighed as the woman presented her with a stack of papers. She assured Hermione (by yelling down the hallway, something she wouldn't have done in different circumstances) she would be along soon and that Harry and Viktor would take care of her.

Hermione's stomach twisted and turned as Louise strolled her along. Waves of emotions she had never felt before washed over and suddenly her whole body felt like it was on fire. She wiped beads of sweat from her face as Louise pushed her into a room.

Hermione could see a hospital bed, a bedpan, and a door that led into another room. The walls of this room were bright white and the only color in the entire room was a blue hospital gown lying on the bed. Louise told her to dress in it and she did, as Harry and Viktor politely averted their eyes. Then Louise helped her climb in bed. "I'll send the doctors in," said Louise, pushing her thin bangs from her face and leaving the room.

Hermione bit her lip and looked at Harry and Viktor, who had awkward expressions on their faces. Hermione smiled weakly as Viktor walked over to her right, took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. She could have died of happiness right then and there. He didn't care that she was pregnant, he didn't think any less of her, didn't shun her. He had accepted it and was willing to spend the rest of his life with her, give her support, raise a child that wasn't his, and love it like his own. Tiny tears glistened in Hermione's eyes as she stared up at him. He smiled down at her. Harry, not knowing what else to do, walked over to the other side of his best friend and also held her hand.

"This is going to hurt," she said half-heartedly. Harry laughed, but then realized she was serious. Dead serious. He looked down at his hand, which was clasped in hers, and stared at her in horror.

That was when Ron walked in, panting and out of breath. He looked over to the hospital bed, clapped his hand to his heart, and sighed in relief. She hadn't had the baby yet. Hermione's head jerked up from her pillow, her happy moment ruined. "What are you doing here?" she snapped.

Ron counted to ten and responded with a, "Hello to you too!"

"Get out," Hermione demanded.

"Hermione, you are about to have a child. Now is the time to stop acting like one," said Ron, waltzing over to her.

Hermione was outraged. "Excuse me?" she said angrily.

"You heard me. Grow up. Just because you're mad at me doesn't mean that you have any right to force me out of my child's life. I'm going to be here, and you're going to have to deal with it."

"I don't believe--" Her words slurred into a boodcurdling scream. She squeezed Harry and Viktor's hands as hard as possible. Viktor didn't seem to mind, but Harry moaned loudly.

Three doctors came in. "What's happening?" said Ron panicked.

"Contractions," Harry breathed in pain. Ron was wondering how Harry had come to know information pertaining to giving birth, until another screech from Hermione snapped him back into reality.

This went on for about a half an hour and Harry could take the pain no more. He begged Ron to hold her hand, fearing that his own hand might fall off. Hermione was in no condition to refuse. She was in pain, and soon Ron was too.

A doctor walked over to Hermione and lifted up her gown. Viktor, Harry, and Ron slowly lifted their heads and looked at him in anger. Ron was ready to punch him in the nose. "I have to do this guys," he explained. "To see if she's ten centimeters dialated, which she is." He put on a pair of gloves.

Ron had no idea what he meant by ten centimeters dialted, and, exchanging a look with Harry, he saw he didn't either. Viktor, however, did seem to know, and Ron narrowed his eyes, cursing him for it.

"Push Hermione!" encouraged Professor McGonagall, who had come in during the middle of contractions.

Hermione gritted her teeth and pushed as hard as he can. "Aargh!!!" she screamed as unbearable pain overwhelmed her. She went beet red and squeezed Viktor and Ron's hands as she sat up and pushed, gasping for breath, sweat licking her face.

Ron yelled too, and thought that all the bones in his hand was broken. "Aargh!!!" he shouted.

"Aaahhh!!!" came another scream, a much louder, high pitched scream. The scream of a baby boy. Hermione sunk back onto her bed and sighed. Viktor planted kisses all over her face.

Ron and Harry dashed over to where doctors were cleaning the baby, who was still crying. Ron took one look at the innocent face and was filled with such satisfaction and love for his child. At that moment, the only thing he wanted to do was hold his baby. "Can I?" he said eagerly, his hands outstretched.

The doctor who had delivered shook his head. "We have to run some tests first, and then you can have your baby," he said.

Ron reluctantly agreed and sighed. He waited anxiously for the tests to be complete--he was practically jumping up and down. Harry told him to sit down to calm his nerves. There were no chairs in the room, so he sat on the Floor, tapping his hands and humming a song, and cracking his knuckles, while everyone else was crowded around Hermione. "Where's my baby?" she whispered, more exhausted than she had ever felt in her life.

In answer to her questions, the doctors returned from the room, baby in hand. He handed the baby to Ron, who jumped up from the Floor like ants were in his pants. "The test results should be coming up soon," he told Ron, as he handed him his child. The tiny boy was not crying anymore and had an adorable expression on his face. He closed his eyes and yawned. Ron felt himself drown in love for his child. He was so light in Ron's arms...his fingers and toes were so small...

"Er, Ron?" said Harry. "Hermione would probably like to hold the baby too."

Ron looked up. "Oh," he said stupidly, handing his son to its mother.

Hermione didn't say anything, but as she rocked her son in her arms, tears of pride glistened in her eyes and a smile broke out across her face as she just stared into her son's light blue eyes...eyes that every single baby has. But with a very quick look at Ron, she realized that these beautiful eyes were probably there to stay. After about five minutes, she passed the baby to Viktor, who passed it to Harry, who passed it to Professor McGonagall.

"I always wanted to have children," said their professor, a look of longing in her eyes. Then, the stern expression she always wore came onto her face again, and she handed the boy back to his father. "We'll leave you and Ms. Granger alone, shall we?" she said, giving Viktor and Harry pointed looks. Harry and Viktor nodded and left the room.

Ron walked over to Hermione and handed her the baby. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "So, what do you want to name him?" he said.

Hermione looked up at Ron. "I-I don't know," she said weakly.

"How about Charlie, after my brother?"

"That's fine," mumbled Hermione, staring down at her child with worry.

Ron noticed something was the matter. "What's wrong, Hermione?" he asked. "You just gave birth to a healthy seven pound baby!" He sat on the edge of the hospital bed.

"Something's not right," said Hermione simply.

"What are you--"

"I can feel it!" said Hermione shrilly, tears shining in her eyes.

"Whoa Hermione, nothing's wrong, just calm down--"

But Hermione was sobbing heavily now. Ron awkwardly placed an arm around her shoulder. The doctors came in. "The test results are back," he said grimly.

"And?" Ron said, a boulder sized lump in his stomach, as Hermione whimpered, trying to hold back her tears.

"Your baby is deaf."

Ron stared down at the tiny bundle in Hermione's arms, now fast asleep. No, he thought. Deaf? No...that couldn't be. He had heard incorrectly. "W-What do you mean?" he said, feeling more depressed than ever.

The doctor's mouth twitched slightly. "Something must have gone wrong during times of pregnancy because your child does not seem to carry a gene for hearing deficiency. Can you think of anything that happened that would cause harm to your child?"

Ron looked down at Hermione who was staring at Charlie sadly, tears stained on her face. She slowly lifted her head and stared into his eyes, and at that moment, it hit them like a ton of bricks.

Ron's mind swirled as he remembered Hermione telling the story of how Malfoy had assaulted her and Madam Pomfrey telling Hermione not to move... Then Malfoy's voice filled his ears. "Crucio!" Ron's gaze turned to horror as Hermione bowed her head, weeping.

Ron clenched his fists.

"I'm going to kill him."