Ron's Decision

Graduation was now a month away, and Ron was progressing perfectly, according to Madame Pomfrey. She had asked him if he wanted to be seen at St. Mungo’s but he trusted her, as did Severus, so he refused.

She told him the baby was nestled securely in the coils it had first attached too. It appeared comfortable and content. Ron wasn’t showing outwardly, as she had suggested, however he was feeling movement not only on his stomach but around his waist. Almost as if the baby was kicking his back. He had ceased wearing his belt, because it felt too tight. He also had to charm his jeans just a little bigger, but otherwise they still fit. He never tucked anything in anyway, but if he did he would have stopped.

Breathing became harder and several times he had to let his head fall back and pant with an open mouth. It seemed to be the only way to get enough air. The back ache he wasn’t looking forward to had occurred anyway, but he managed to deal with it.

He slipped his shirt back on as Madame Pomfrey finished her exam. After taking note of his next appointment, he walked with Severus back to his offices. Madame Pomfrey had long ago advised him to take neonatal vitamin potions similar to what witches took. Severus had supplied it after his first appointment and now he needed more.

He settled into a chair, leaning back and bracing his feet wide. Reaching behind him, he rubbed his lower back, willing the ache away. It dissipated when he laid on his side but he couldn’t do that at anytime of day.

“Still hurt?” He looked up at Severus, as he came back with the potion.

“More backache,” he gave a lazy smile, “just something I have to deal with I guess.”

“Sit forward.” When Ron slid up to the edge of the seat, he waved his wand and removed the back of the chair, lengthening the seat. He straddled the chair behind Ron and reached out, gently massaging where he had been rubbing.

Ron let his eyes close and his head drop forward but it soon became hard to breathe. He raised his head quickly and took several breathes.

“Here, put your head back.” Severus’s hands came forward and eased his head onto his shoulder. Ron let his mouth open and took breathes as Severus continued massaging him, easing the ache he was feeling. “Feel better?” The voice in his ear was seductive but Ron as just too comfortable and relaxed to react to it.

“Much.” He said, not moving from his position.

“I can do this more often if you need it.” He hadn’t moved and Severus wasn’t about to force him up.

“I may take you up on that.” Ron was joking but his chuckle died as Severus’s hand came around his waist and held him.

“Good.” For a moment he stayed still, in Severus’s embrace, not wanting to move. The baby however thought otherwise and gave a hard kick, right where the head of Slytherin house had his forearm.

“What on earth…..was that the baby?” He asked, flattening his hands on Ron’s waist.

“Yes,” he took both hands in his and repositioned them, “just wait.”

The baby kicked again. “Great Merlin! That was strong.”

“Yeah. She’s a healthy one.” He said, sitting up.

“She?” He turned and faced Severus, who had an eyebrow arched.

“I don’t know. It seems right. A little girl.” He said smiling.

“That’s what you want?” He asked as Ron stood.

“I want healthy and no problems. But a little girl wouldn’t be unwelcome.”

“No she wouldn’t.”

Ron turned to head back to his dorm. “Thanks for the rubdown, it really did help.”

“I’m glad. Anytime you need it, let me know.” He said.

“I may take you up on that, I wasn’t joking.” He teased.

“Neither was I.” Severus humor less face went right to his soul. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Alright.” He left the classroom. Madame Pomfrey had advised his visits to increase to every few days. Ron was due about a month after graduation which put him two months until showtime, and he could tell she was just as nervous as he was.

He had given her permission to consult with St. Mungo’s specialists and even let one of them be present during an appointment, but he was very judgmental and from how he talked, he was controlling as well, trying unsuccessfully to get Ron to agree to an appointment at St. Mungo‘s let alone the delivery. Ron and Severus told Poppy that they preferred her care to anybody else, but let her still consult as she needed to.

Ron had begun moving his belonging into Severus’s quarters so he wouldn’t have to worry about it later. The spare room he had was cleared out and ready. Severus added a new bed, and dresser. Since they wouldn’t be there too long, it was easily movable to his Spinner’s End home. He had already begun preparing that one too. He borrowed a few house elves from the castle to get things ready.

His library had been condensed and most of the books separated and added to a storage room or sent to his home. When Ron left the castle with the baby and moved in with him the books would be placed in the spare room in his castle quarters. Dumbledore said he would seal up his quarters for the year he would be away.

He had placed clothes and such in his quarters and many of Ron’s personal belonging were sent to his home. When the Weasley’s came to visit, they had packed up his room, as he had asked, and brought it to him. Severus sent it to Spinner’s End to wait for him.

Everything was ready, he thought as he walked to the great hall for lunch, all he had to do was have the baby. He entered the hall and was assailed with several voices calling out his name. The Gryffindor table had been decorated at one end, with blues and pinks, and several presents were piled high.

“Surprise Ron!” Hermione came over and hugged him. “We arranged a shower for you.”

Ron let out his laughter. “That’s brilliant!”

His friends, had congregated at the end of the table and a big cake was cut. Since he wanted a girl he took a section of the pink side. He set about opening his presents, getting clothes, blankets and nappies from several housemates. Neville gave him a fluffy blanket, that would charm either pink or blue when the baby was born. Hermione gave him a book of muggle fairy tales decorated with bright pictures to read to the baby. Harry had given him what was called a baby book. He would be able to mark down milestones for the baby’s first five years.

Professor McGonagall had given him a pram, black and shiny with a canopy and white linens inside. Dumbledore, have given him a set of globes, one for the baby’s crib and one that traveled with him. It would let him hear the baby when he was in another room. Hermione had called them magical baby monitors but he didn’t know what she meant.

Draco, Pansy and Blaize came over when there was more room, and less crowding. Pansy have given him bath supplies, baby bathing cloths and shampoos and soaps. Blaize had given him a dressing robe, saying everyone bought something for the baby so he wanted to give something to Ron. It was the softest cotton and warm. He could hardly wait to put it on after his shower.

Draco took a seat next to Ron. Severus was his godfather so he took extra care with his gift. Ron was floored when he opened it. It was a white, silken dedication gown. Complete with a matching cloak and blanket for when he was dedicated and named before Merlin. It was beautiful, and Ron eased it back into the box carefully. He handed it over to Severus who had shown up in the middle of the gift opening. He would hold it in his quarters until it was needed.

Harry and Hermione had written to his parents and he chuckled as he opened his mothers blanket. In typical Weasley jumper design, it was thick and warm, a deep burgundy that would match a boy or girl, with a huge W in gold. He laughed even harder as he opened his father’s rubber duck. He ventured into muggle London, following directions that Harry had sent him to find it.

By the time he opened all his gifts, Ron was given so many clothes for the baby that he wouldn’t need to do any shopping for some time. He was also given nappies to last him the first three months. They would need other things, but they planned to get what they needed after the birth, when they could chose colors.

The surprise party was just the pick me up Ron needed from feeling so physically drained. That night he had opened up the baby book and entered the presents on a specially designated page. Colin Creevey had been taking pictures and promised Ron a set as his own gift. He would stick one in the book when he got them. To Ron, things were looking very bright indeed.