Chapter 32
I opened my eyes my vision slightly blurry. I closed my eyes again and reopened them, trying to adjust to my surroundings. I was half sat up in a hospital bed. I looked around the room and saw Theo and Draco sat to the left of the bed in chairs, both of them asleep. Harry was on my right also asleep. I think I was in a private hospital room, though it wasn't muggle. I could hear faint beeping and saw holographic diagnostics hovering above me, showing my heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and some other things I didn't understand. I sat up a little more and groaned at the pounding from my head bringing my hand up to it, only then noticing I had an IV in the back of my hand. I sat still for a while but then felt dizzy and was sick into a bowl next to me, the contents disappearing as soon as I was done.
Theo and Draco instantly woke at the noise, moving to stand either side of me. Theo passed me some water and I sipped on it lightly as he moved my hair out of my face with a gentle touch, his voice quiet.
“How are you feeling sweetheart?” My voice was really raspy, and my throat sore. I remember screaming a lot. What happened before the screaming?
“Achey. And my head hurts. How long have I been out?” Dracos voice was hoarse as he spoke.
“You're probably achey because they had to use a muscle relaxant, to calm you down. You've been asleep for just under a day, and you were really dehydrated, so that's what the IV is for." I was going through my mind trying to remember what had happened.
"I probably should have drank someth.." Theo interrupted me.
"No. It's good you didn't drink what he gave you." He... Ron.
"Why?"
"Sleeping draught." I frowned and gestured for him to continue. Theo sighed and looked to Draco who nodded. "Weasley put it in what he was trying to give you. From the sounds of it, his plan was to either wait until you were asleep, or force you asleep, and then.." He looked up at the ceiling and then back down to me trying to control his anger, or trying not to cry. I couldn't tell which. "And then obliviate you, to make you forget about me and Draco, making you believe you had never left him. You'd have forgotten about us and the baby." At the mention of her I jumped and put my hands on my stomach looking between them both frantically. It all came flooding back. I started to cry and they looked worried.
"Is she okay?" Theo held my hand.
"She's okay. She’s fine." Theo whispered. "Please, try and stay as calm as possible." He was probably worried they'd use another muscle relaxant. I nodded and let out a sigh of relief closing my eyes silently thanking whatever force it was that protected her. A few more tears fell and I relaxed my shoulders trying not to have another break down. I didn't want to be forced back to sleep. I opened my eyes and they both relaxed a little knowing I was calmer. "She's fine, thanks to you. You protected her sweetheart." I frowned and looked at him confused. I didn't feel like I had at all. "The healer said you had a constant, and very strong, protego around your stomach. That's why you couldn't feel her for those few hours. They couldn’t even do any sort of checks on the baby until they got you back here because your protection wouldn’t let them." I shook my head.
"I didn't do that. I didn't even have my wand that whole time I was in there.” I didn't even know how to do that. Cast a constant protego on a certain area, especially without a wand.
"You did. When Weasley... when he disarmed you, and locked you in the bathroom. Apparently Mothers can do it when they're under threat. You were protecting her the whole time, you just didn't know it." Dracos voice cracked a little and he frowned smoothing his thumb over my forehead. "I’m so sorry we didn’t get to you sooner. I'm sorry you had to go through that darling. I should have done more.” My heart sank a little bit, he blamed himself, and Theo probably did too.
“It's not your fault. I knew you'd find us. I knew you wouldn't have stopped until you did." I cleared my throat and looked down fiddling with my fingernails and remembered my ring was back at home. Draco must have noticed my disappointment because he put his hand in his pocket and brought it out placing it on my finger. "So where is he now? What happened to Ron?” They looked at each other then down to me.
"We'll tell you later okay? Just rest, please." Draco asked quietly, smoothing his hand over my cheek. I nodded and ran my hands over my face. Everything I had said to him in the park came into my mind and I felt awful.
“God I'm so sorry. I didn't want to say any of what I did in the park, I didn't mean any of..." He smoothed his hand over my cheek again.
"Shh it's okay. Calm down darling, please." Theo looked at the door anxiously then back to me.
"And I didn't mean what I said about her either, and you two, of.. of course I want her and I..I’d never.." I was hysterical as everything came flooding back to me at once. I knew I had to stay as calm as I could, but it was impossible. I couldn't help it. Theo ran to the door quickly pulling the blind then back to me. "I didn't want to ki..."
"Sweetheart we know, it's okay." Theo hushed and they both climbed onto the bed squishing on either side of me placing their hands on my bump and interlocking their fingers. Draco brought his arm underneath my neck and rest my head on his chest.
"Please stop crying darling." Draco whispered. "We're okay, you're okay, and so is she. Please relax. Deep breathes." I sniffed, wiping my tears away and tried to calm. "We love you so much, and I'm so proud of you. I don't know how hard that must have been, but you did the right thing." I'm so glad they were there to talk me off that ledge. A while longer passed and I had stopped crying. Theo spoke quietly.
"So Avery visited you earlier, but you were still asleep. He's actually outside, can't seem to shake the habit." I laughed a little and he pointed at a large envelope that most likely contained the will and vile of blood. "He left that for you, we haven't opened it."
"Did he tell you, what I had organised?"
"No. He said he wanted it to be up to you to tell us. We just had the letter." I nodded and thought how I was so thankful for him to have done that for me.
"You can open it, if you want. You might be confused at one of the things though." They both frowned and got off the bed standing either side of it as before. I gestured for Theo to go ahead. He looked in and pulled out the will looking sadly at it then handed it to Draco. He put his hand back in the envelope pulling out the blood, and as I predicted, they were both baffled. "I promised she'd be reunited with you, if I wasn't." Theo thought a while and his face showed the final understanding.
"Blood magic?" I nodded and Draco raised an eyebrow. Theo put it back down then went outside and brought Avery back in with him pointing at the blood. I couldn't tell if he was angry or not. "You were willing, to break the law, risk your job, and potentially go to jail for us?" I had no idea that would be a risk. He had never told me that.
"What?" Avery smiled at me and nodded. "You never mentioned that to me Avery?"
"Yeah, blood magic is a little bit illegal. Glad to see you're awake." He looked back to Theo. "But yes, I was willing to do that." Theo wrapped his arms around Averys shoulders and gave him a hug. Avery smiled hugging him back speaking gently. "I've seen, that you've been through enough. If I needed to get her back to you, I would have done so. You deserve to be happy, Theo." Draco cleared his throat like he was fighting back tears and they stayed in the hug longer. "Just do me a favor and don't tell Luke, I'd never hear the end of it." Theo laughed and peeled off of him nodding as Draco stepped forward and extended his hand which Avery shook strongly.
"Thank you, Avery. For everything you've done for Theo and Hermione, you have my eternal gratitude." He nodded and walked to the side of the bed and I hugged him in.
"You know you don't have to sit outside my door anymore right?" He laughed and stood back up.
"I know, but I just wanted to see you before I went home. It's been an honor to protect you, Hermione Granger." I scoffed and shook my head.
"No it hasn't don't lie. I was a pain in the ass and you know it. Plus I bet Luke will be glad to have you back full time, or at least more than what looking after me allowed. We'll have you both over soon okay?"
"You were lovely, at all times. But that sounds great. See you soon." He left and I sighed resting my head back. I can't believe he was willing to risk so much. Harry began to shuffle in his chair and stretched his arms up yawning. I forgot he was here. He could sleep through bloody anything.
"Oh hey. You're awake." He stood at the end of the bed.
"I have been for a while. How come you're not at home? You didn’t have to stay." He looked down sheepishly then back up to me.
"I uh, wasn't actually allowed home. Turns out Ginny doesn't like being lied to. Shocking I know." I gave him an apologetic look. "We'll be okay. She just needs time. It's not just me she's upset about, she needs to process what Ron did too."
"Does she know everything now?" Harry nodded and I sighed. Poor Ginny.
"She wants to visit you, when you're up for it. So let me know and I'll tell... actually Theo you can tell her. She'll talk to you." Harry ran his hands over his face and Theo nodded.
"She'll come round Harry. Don’t worry."
"You're calling each other by your actual names? When did this happen?" They all laughed a little and Draco shook his head.
"Not me babe. He'll always be Potter to me. But he's been calling us by our first names because we don't like to be associated with our family name anymore and Theo started calling him Harry after he helped me to stop occluding."
"Helped you?"
"Yeah.." He cleared his throat. "Long story that I'll tell you another day." I frowned and looked back to Harry who gave me a small smile as Theo made to leave the room.
"Wait Theo, could you tell Ginny to come today if she can?" He nodded and left the room to make the call. "Harry, I need you to stay too. You don't have to talk to her but I need you both in the same room." He looked to Draco who shrugged pretending he didn't know why and Harry sighed sitting back down.
“Fine but if she kicks off I’m telling her it's your fault.” I laughed and Draco walked over to sit next to Harry.
"So I know, we agreed not to talk about it. But I just wanted to say thank you, for doing what you did. I know I didn't make it easy for you." Harry smirked and shook his head.
"Well it wouldn't have been very Draco of you if you had now would it? Besides, no thanks needed. It helped us find her, and I'd do it again if I had to." Draco cringed a little.
"Let's hope not. I don't fancy you going through those memories again." Harry nodded and they both laughed. I watched the interaction completely confused yet warmed by it. I so desperately wanted to know what happened. Draco looked at me and smiled knowingly. "I promise, I will tell you when you are home."
"Oh I don't know if I can wait that long." I sighed and crossed my arms as Theo came back in.
"She will be here in a few hours. Harry I tried to fight your corner a little but she told me to tell you that 'you're lucky you still have your testicles'." Harry groaned and put his head in his hands and Theo huffed a laugh picking up his jacket. "I'm just going to head outside real quick." Draco gave him a look to which Theo replied with hostility. "It's not up for discussion Draco, I can't have this fight with you again." Draco let out a sigh of exasperation and Theo left.
"Is this the no smoking?" I know Draco really wanted him to have quit by the time the baby came, but I could see both sides.
"Yeah. I feel like it's all he does after we stopped occluding and found you. I mean more than before, which quite honestly I didn't think was possible. I argued with him about it a few hours ago, but he just got annoyed and if anything I feel like he's doing it more to annoy me." He slumped back in the chair and I scoffed shaking my head.
"Look I don't know what happened with that, but this is just his way of dealing with things. You need to give him time. He's smoked for years and it doesn't just stop overnight." Draco sat back up and looked reluctant. "You know that if you push it too much, he'll just do it more."
"Fine. I won't say anything more about it but I'm giving it a week and if it's still this bad, I will have to say something."
"Okay, and that's fine, but don't attack him. Talk to him. Actually find out where the struggle is and see if you can do anything to help." He nodded and rested back in the chair as a healer came in to check on me.
Theo and Draco were sat back in the chairs on the left of the bed chatting and Harry was still sat on the right. The door swung open aggressively making Theo jump and Ginny ran in coming to the side of the bed placing her hands on my arms.
"Oh my... look at you! Are you okay? I'm so sorry Hermione. I swear Ron is going to be so fucking sorry he ever even.." I laughed and shook my head.
"I'm fine Ginny. Really, I'm fine and the baby's fine. Thank you for coming." She nodded and looked over to Harry rolling her eyes.
"Why are you in here?" Draco cleared his throat as Theo stifled a laugh. Harry glared at them both before turning to Ginny.
"I was asked to stay. I wouldn't be here otherwise, trust me."
"And what is that supposed to mean!?" Ginny raised her voice making me cringe, Harry kept his a normal volume.
"It means that I can't believe that you are still this mad at me. I couldn't tell you Gin, you know I couldn't have."
"I understand that but he's my brother and Hermione is..."
"Alright, you two can continue this, outside, after I tell you why I forced you both in the same room. I have a headache, no more shouting." I brought my hands up to my temples as they stood slightly guilty looking. "Don't make me regret our decision." Ginny whipped her head back to me.
"What decision?" I looked to Theo who nodded and stood up.
"Well, we have all been talking, and were wondering if you two would like to be the Godparents to our child." Ginny's eyes widened and Harry smiled. They looked at each other then back to me.
"Really?" I nodded and she screamed and hugged me. "Yes of course!" I cringed again at the high pitch.
"Headache Ginny, headache. But I'm glad you're so excited about it." Ginny pulled back and Harry stood and took my hand in his.
"Of course I will." I smiled at him and Ginny went to Theo and Draco hugging them both. I looked back to Harry and lowered my voice speaking small.
"I've actually got another question for you." Theo and Draco didn't know about this. I had decided on it a while ago. "Now it's not going to be for a while yet. But will you walk me down the aisle, at the wedding? You're the closest thing I have to family, besides them. You've been by my side for as long as I've known you, and I'd really like it, if you would be by my side for that too." He started tearing up causing me to cry too.
"I'd be honored to, Hermione." He leaned down and I wrapped my hands around his back and squeezed him whispering.
"Thank you. For everything.” He pulled back and wiped his eyes under his glasses. I heard sniffing and we turned to face them all. Ginny and Theo were crying with stupid smiles on their faces. Ginny sighed dramatically, wiping at her face.
"Fuck Hermione. I can't be mad anymore now can I?" Ginny hugged Harry kissing him on the cheek and took his hand leading him out the room.
"Okay well we'll give you all some space. We'll see you soon, I want to see this new house of yours." I had forgotten about that. "Now I'm going to go and have some great make up..."
"Okay great see you soon Ginny!" I said quickly so she wouldn't finish that sentence. She winked at me and they left as Theo and Draco laughed at her honesty.
"Make up sex. Remind me to start an argument with you later babe." Theo said, nudging Draco in the arm.
"You know you don't need to start an argument, you could always just ask?" Theo frowned and shook his head looking at me socked with the craziness of his statement.
"That's no fun. It's so much better to get you all riled up" I said winking at Draco. "Theo you could just tell him about how it was you that gave me all the tips when I was acting terribly at the engagement party, I'm sure that will do the trick." Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Theo who shook his head and looked down at the floor whispering.
"Damn. Was kinda hoping that wouldn't get out." Draco continued to stare at Theo who still hadn't looked him in the eye.
"Oh, you know it was also his idea to get me dancing with him like that, and he even encouraged me to use another man, that wasn't him, to make you jealous if I needed to. Can you believe it? Such a bad influence." I was grinning and Theo gasped and looked at me with his eyes wide.
"Shoosh witch, shouldn't you be resting and not talking?" I laughed and Theo finally looked up meeting his eye, Dracos face stern. Theo grinned at him innocently and Draco shook his head. "Okay fine I did do that, but she asked for the help! Can't trust anyone anymore."
"I should have known it was all your little tips, it was classic bratty Theo behavior. But then I also would have thought you'd know by now, that these things always come out sooner or later." Draco winked at me.
"Ugh this is so unfair, you get to go home and have sex and I have to be stuck in here. When can I leave?"
"Not until tomorrow." I pouted at the thought of having to spend another night in here and Draco shook his head.
"Aw no you can't do that to me because I can't force them to let you leave any sooner." I continued to look sad and he bent down and picked up my laptop, placing it on my thighs. "This might help, I do have something for you to do while you're here so you don't get bored. Order whatever you want, for the new house. There's a floor plan and measurements of all the rooms in this folder so you know what the layout will be like, and the address is there too so it can be delivered." I smiled and looked at the floor plan. It had 4 bedrooms, an office, 2 bathrooms, a gym in the garage, and a huge back garden. The kitchen looked massive adjoining on to a dining area. In the master bedroom on the floor plan there was a large shape blocked out that divided into three sections. I pointed to it and looked at him.
"What's this?" He grinned and looked to Theo.
"I made good on my promise to you both to build you your own closets. I have one too to avoid taking up any room in yours seeing as you are both so precious about them." My eyes widened and Draco chuckled and kissed me on the head. "I told you both I will give you whatever you want to make you happy. We'll be back in a few hours okay? We need to go home get some stuff to stay here tonight, and we have to fill out some forms so you can leave tomorrow."
"Speaking of which Dray we also need to arrange the payment for her treatment." Draco shook his head.
"Already done." That was a good point.
"Where even am I?" Theo shrugged.
"Don't worry about it. You got the best medical treatment we could find, because that's what you deserve." I dread to think how much this hospital stay was costing, I went to ask but then thought better of it. "Also if it makes you feel any better, we won't be having sex because we need to get back to you."
"No! Please do, I'll be busy anyway. Plus Draco you need to teach Theo here a lesson." I winked at Theo who grinned and Draco leaned down to kiss me.
"If you insist darling." Theo picked up his jumper and also kissed me goodbye.
"Wait no, leave your jumper, I wanna wear it." Theo chuckled and turned round shaking his head handing it to me.
"You are so spoiled." I put it on and was comforted instantly by the smell. I just loved it. I brought it up sniffing the neckline.
"I'm going to miss the smell."
"I know. And don't worry, I will have quit before the baby arrives. Promise. We love you, we'll be back soon, and don't even think about looking at your work emails. I will know if you do." I nodded and they both left as I got to ordering some things for our forever home.