With you in my Arms

19. Who in their right mind would call their child Rusty?

A/N - A big THANKS to all of you who faned, voted and commented, especially   Nekohime.

 I hope you all will enjoy the next chapter.

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Hermione had spend the afternoon at Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley after having said good-bye to Ginny after lunch. She had been sitting in the small reading area upstairs for ages browsing through a dozen books trying to decide which one she would ultimately buy.

After a hard internal fight the book about potions used in advance medicine and the slim volume with names to give to your first child had won. She smiled happily as she got herself an ice cream cone on her way up the Alley. There were still a lot of shops empty. They were the hard reminders of the near past.

Olivander's had re-opened at the beginning of August and the new first years had been able to get their wands in the old fashioned and time honoured shop. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was also open and drawing a bigger crowd than ever. She had been to see George briefly. He looked okay, but nothing more. The bright sparkle that had always surrounded the twins wasn't there any longer. It had died with Fred during the final battle at Hogwarts.

She had wondered, if he had heard about her and Draco, but if he had, he didn't let on about it. She didn't mention it as she wasn't sure how he would react to the news.

When she apparated back to the Manor she found their room empty. Wondering, if Draco was somewhere else in the house, she called for Janas.

"Where is Draco?"

"He gone to town, Miss."

'To town? Which town?'

"Which town has he gone to?"

"I not to tell Miss. Master Draco want surprise Miss."

"Surprise me? Has he said, when he will be back?"

"No, Miss."

"Thank you."

The house elf bowed and was gone the next moment. Hermione went over to the windows and looked over the grounds below. She still held the book with names in her hand. Lost in thoughts she sat on the broad window sill and flicked through the pages.

Baxter, Thomas, Isaiah, Oliver, Kiefer, Peter, Wilfred, Nickel, Bronson, Florian, Peter, Merlow, Culver, Joseph, Ramon, Raymond, ,Orion, Steve, Braxton, Martin, Earl, Zachary, Kevin, Jules, Axel, Rusty, Zack, Hayden, Nicolas, Fabian, Alexander, James, Dean 

It was a rather odd assortment of possible names, but she didn't fancy any of them. Who in their right mind would call their child Rusty of all things? It reminded her of a large family dog. No way, her son would be having a ridiculous name like that.

There was a slight twinge in her stomach. Maybe she shouldn't have eaten that second sandwich after all? She had just been hungry. Which wasn't that surprising as she had been sick right after breakfast and hadn't been able to face any food before she had met with Ginny at lunch time.

She walked slowly over to the bed not wanting to get suddenly sick on the way. The twinge was getting worse. It seemed to be centred right in the middle of her pelvis. A rather strange feeling, like there was something within her pulling her muscles into a tight ball was spreading slowly. She lay down and tried to keep calm.

Easier said than done as the pain increased again. She started to feel the onset of fright wash over her. What was happening? Where did this pain come from? She yelped in surprise as the pain peaked in the feeling of a hot knife slicing right through her tummy. There was no subsidence of the gut wrenching feeling, it was getting worse.

Hermione screamed in agony. Her body seemed to be on fire. Every nerve ending was trying to process and transmit the sensations that were trying to rush her to the restful place of unconsciousness. She battled as hard as she could against it. She mustn't loose conciousness! She mustn't!

The pain was engulfing her being with an iron grasp. She knew it was only a matter of time before she wouldn't be able to keep her mind away from the feelings surrounding her any longer.

"Janas!"

It was more a cry than anything else. The house elf appeared.

"Miss?"

"St. Mungo's..."

The elf didn't loose any time. She got hold of Hermione's hand and they were gone that instant.