True Love Ways

12 Arrival

Hermione was sat listening to Severus' speech when she felt the first bolt of pain seer through her abdomen. It made her take a sharp intake of breath and cry out a little. Luna's father heard the slight sound and looking down at the small witch to his side, not really wanting to disturb the flow of Severus' monologue, mouthed an 'are you ok?' To which Hermione, with the initial sharpness of the pain receding nodded in the affirmative. When the second wave of pain attacked her, Hermione stood, whilst taking small breaths and trying to appear calm, took herself away from the table to the ladies lavatory outside of the wedding reception. By this time the pain in her stomach was increasing; a cramping that eventually brought her to her knees. It's the baby!! The baby's coming! Oh God! Oh NO!!! Panic rising in her she managed to find her wand in her small beaded bag and with her energy ebbing she was just about able to summon her patronus.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The Patronus - an otter dashed away from the stricken witch and appeared by Madame Pomfrey who was sat on one of the side tables in the reception "Madame" it spoke in Hermione's voice "please help me. I'm in the loo opposite the hall and I think the baby is coming....". It trailed off. Scraping back her chair the Mediwitch rose quickly from the table and went to find Hermione, grabbing her bag and Minerva who was, as luck would have it, sat near to the door.

Outside the hall, the two matriarchal witches could hear Hermione's cries for help. On entering the toilets they were met by the young girl on all fours, trying to breathe through the excruciating pain. "Poppy!" She cried, looking up with a tear stained face "I... think the baby's.....coming. It's too soon. Too...soon....". Any further words failed her as she lost consciousness. Quickly assessing the severity of the situation, Madame Pomfrey grabbed onto Hermione and disaparated back to the infirmary. "Get Severus!" She shouted at Minerva before disappearing.

Back at the wedding, Severus was getting uneasy that Hermione hadn't returned. By Now Neville was making his speech, regaling his audience with humorous stories and heartfelt sentiment. Whilst Severus was trying to give Neville his attention, an uneasy feeling settled within him. He knew his intuition wasn't wrong when he saw Minerva come back into the hall, motioning him to her, without trying to cause alarm to the whole hall. Severus, the colour draining from his face, excused himself quietly, and was soon at Minerva's side. "What is it?" He hissed as she took him out of the hall "Where's Hermione?"

"The baby would appear to be making it's entrance Severus. Hermione is in good hand's - she with Poppy in the infirmary. But we need to get there now"

They floo'd to the infirmary and found that Hermione was surrounded by Madame Pomfrey, a middle aged and raven haired Mid-Witch called Eleanor Tuke, and Mitsy the House Elf. All were working on the young ashen faced witch who was laying on the bed, barely conscious. Severus got as close as he could. "What's happening?" He demanded, his face a pallor of light grey, and tears burning his eyes "please....tell me".

Madame Pomfrey drew a small smile and placed her hand onto Severus' arm. "Your baby is delivered Severus" she said looking up at him. "He is very small, and is receiving extra care at this time to keep him stable. He was born at 31 weeks which means his birth is quite viable and he should make a full recovery. He appears to be quite a little fighter Severus. " Trying to take all this in Severus' legs weakened under him and he sat with a rather ungracious thump into the nearest chair.

"A boy? I have... a son?" She nodded, smiling at him "And what about Hermione?" he almost whispered, as if afraid to ask.

Madame Pomfrey looked at the young witch laying motionless on the bed "Hermione's body has gone into shock. She lost a lot of blood and her blood pressure fell dangerously low. She is picking up a bit now but we are keeping her sedated to aid her recovery. All we can do is wait." At this news, Severus took Hermione's hands and let his tears flow unabashed. She had never looked so small and vulnerable.

"Please Hermione" he begged her "Please stay with us. Our little boy needs you.... I need you." Hermione squeezed his hand slightly, giving him hope that she could hear his voice. He brought her hands up slightly so he could kiss them. He'd never felt so wretched as he did right now. Madame Pomfrey, returning to Hermione's bedside and using her wand to routinely check the young witch's vital signs, tried to offer Severus a look of encouragement.

"Keep chatting to her Severus" she said, raising Hermione's head a little so she could administer a potion "Would you like to see your son first?" Severus blinked. His son! The words still seemed alien to him.

"Y...yes" he stammered "I need to see him". Poppy nodded.

"Come on then. This way"

Severus, releasing Hermione's hands, bent down and kissed her forehead "I'm going to see our son" he said to her, whispering in her ear "I'll be back soon". Hermione's eyes flickered as he walked out of the room.