From Venice with Love

Things calmed down quickly, almost too quickly for Hermione. The Slytherins settled for merely glaring at her and had not tried anything against her that she knew of. The worst was Pansy; she glared like it could peel the skin off Hermione’s face. The Gryffindors seemed to take the news fairly well, even those who were angry at Hermione seemed to keep silent. Hermione assumed it was because she was pregnant, or maybe because Harry had said something, but either way she was glad.

“Still no news from your father?” she asked Draco one night in mid-May as they walked back to their room after class.

“No, I got a note from my mother, but she didn’t say anything,” he replied as they stood in front of the portrait.

“Mind that you let us know if he does contact you,” Snape said, abruptly turning as they walked into their room.

“He doesn’t like walking us much, does he?” Hermione said.

“I hate it too. Nothing has happened, it’s ridiculous we can’t walk alone,” Draco complained, dropping both their bags into a chair.

“It’s not for much longer,” Hermione said, walking into the bathroom. “NEWTS are in 2 more weeks and-oh!”

Draco heard her shout and barged into the bathroom. Hermione stood by the sink, eyes wide and scared.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, walking towards her but stopped short as his feet hit a large puddle of water. “Is the sink broken?”

“No, Draco, I think… I think my water broke,” she said quietly.

He stared at her, not understanding. “I’ll get you more water,” he said, frowning.

“No, not that. My bag of waters- do you ever listen when I tell you about the baby?”

“You talk a lot,” he said simply. “What does it mean?”

“It means that the baby is ready to be born.” She told him.

“It can’t,” he responded. “You’re not due until July.”

“Do you want to tell it that?” Hermione snapped at him. “I’m telling you that it’s time!”

Draco backed away from her, looking at his shoes. “You mean this came from inside you?” he said, realisation dawning on his face.

“Yes,” she said calmly. “On the dresser is a mirror. Talk into the mirror and Madame Pomfrey will answer you. Let her know that my bag of waters broke, will you?”

“Alright,” Draco took his shoes off as he left the bathroom and went over to the dresser. From there he picked up the small hand mirror on top of it. “Hello?” he said, feeling silly.

“Mr. Malfoy?” He jumped as Madame Pomfrey’s face filled the mirror.”Is something the matter?”

“Yes, Hermione said to tell you she dropped her water.” He said.

“Her water has broken?” Madame Pomfrey repeated.

“Er, yes? In the bathroom.” Draco told her.


“Is she having any contractions?”


“What? Hold on,” he leaned towards the bathroom. “She wants to know if you are having contractions.”


“I don’t think so,” Hermione yelled back.

Madame Pomfrey apparently heard her. “Let her know I’ll be there in a moment. I’m going to notify St. Mungo’s and Professor Dumbledore first.” She disappeared out of the mirror, so Draco put it down and went to the bathroom door.

“Do you want a change of clothes?” he asked, not looking into the bathroom.

“I suppose,” Hermione’s voice wafted out.

Draco busied himself with finding her new clothes, underwear and socks. “Here,” he said, throwing them in.

Hermione was silent for a moment. “I won’t bite you,” she said.

“You come out here,” he said.

“Alright,” she appeared before him, freshly changed and looking nervous.

“So, now what?” he asked.

“We wait for Madame Pomfrey to tell us,” Hermione said, sitting gingerly down on the bed.

They sat in silence for a moment. “Is it okay that the baby will be early?” Draco asked. “I mean, is it done?”

“It’s not a loaf of bread, Draco,” Hermione said. “I think it’ll be okay. I’ll ask Madame Pomfrey, of course.”

There was a knock at the door and Draco got up to open it. Madame Pomfrey came in with Professor Dumbledore.

Madame Pomfrey went to examine Hermione as Dumbledore talked to them. “We were planning on having the birth at Headquarters with a medi-witch,” he said. “But as the baby is early, we’ll have to go to St. Mungo’s. I’m sending you there under assumed names, of course, and a member of the Order will be with you at all times. Assuming the baby is healthy, we will escort you both to Headquarters. I will have the elves pack your things.”

“What about my N.E.W.T.S.?” Hermione asked.

“We’ll see Mrs. Malfoy. You may study at Headquarters and hopefully be able to take them in June as planned. We’ll bring you out for the day. The baby, of course, will stay.”

“What about Ginny? Can she come to St. Mungo’s? What about Harry and Ron?”

“For right now, it will just be you, your husband and an Order member. I will go with you to St. Mungo’s and they will take over there. Are you ready? We’ll travel by Floo from my office.”

“I guess so,” Hermione said, and Draco nodded. The group walked quickly to Professor Dumbledore’s office and flooed to St. Mungo’s. They were immediately whisked into a room where Professor Dumbledore and Draco were shooed out so that Hermione could be examined thoroughly.

“Will you let her parents know? “ Draco asked.

Dumbledore nodded. “Of course. I will let her friends know as well. Ah, here’s Molly,” Dumbledore smiled as Molly Weasley came up to them. “Draco, you know Mrs. Weasley?” Draco nodded at her. “She will be taking the first shift. I will get updates and arrange for a portkey to be used as soon as the baby is born. I’ll see you soon,” he walked quickly away as Molly Weasley smiled at Draco.

“Ready to be a father, dear?” she asked.

His eyes widened. “No,” he whispered, but Mrs. Weasley laughed.

“That’s how my husband felt when we had our first. I was the almost the same age as Hermione when Bill was born. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

Draco nodded, but he was far from convinced. The medi-witch came out then and told Draco he could go back in. She began to speak to Mrs. Weasley as Draco went back into the room. Hermione was in a bed now, the sheets pulled up to her waist.


She smiled at him.”Hello.”

“Hello,” he replied awkwardly. “So, everything’s okay?”

“Oh, yes, fine. The baby may be a little small, but it’s fully grown, they checked. It could be that the original date was off some as well.”

“So now what?” he asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

“They’ve given me a pain potion and now we just wait until it’s time. They said I’m already 5 centimetres dialated-“

“You’re what?” he asked.

“Never mind, just that the baby should be here by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” he repeated.

Hermione sighed. “Did you read any of the books I gave you?”

“No,” he admitted.

Hermione tried to keep the annoyance from her voice. “So you really have no idea what is going to happen?”

He shook his head. “I know a little,” He looked more insecure than Hermione had ever seen him, a mere shadow of his normal self and she couldn’t stay angry.

“Here,” she took a book out of her bag and handed it to him. “Try and read some of it,”

She sat silently as Draco read “Labour and Delivery” She watched his eyes go wide with panic until he finally slammed the book shut and looked at her. “I cannot watch that,” he said, grimacing.

“Yes, you can.”

“You can’t make me,” he said in a panicked voice. “I’d never be able to touch you again.”

“Then maybe you’ll wait a while before having another one,” Mrs. Weasley’s voice carried to them.

“Mrs. Weasley!” Hermione said, grinning. “I’m so glad it’s you.”

“Hello, dear,” she hugged Hermione tightly. “I’ve sent for Ginny, she should be here shortly. Ron and Harry will visit just as soon as you’re settled at Headquarters. It’s safer, dear,” she said as Hermione began to protest. “Every one will recognise Harry if he comes here, it’ll cause questions to be asked.”

“Alright,” Hermione said quietly. “As long as Ginny can come,”

“Soon,” Mrs. Weasley promised.