Forget Me Not (Draco/Hermione)

Chapter Sixteen- Space

One month later

‘Now, I want you all to relax back into your partner,’ the midwife called out, walking around the circle of couples. ‘Partners, I want you to support the mother; not only with your body but with your words.’ She raised her hands. ‘Tell her that she’s beautiful. Tell her that she’s strong…’

‘I am never going to anything else you suggest again!’ Hermione hissed through gritted teeth as she settled grumpily back into Draco’s chest. ‘Where did you find Trelawney the Second?’ she added, reproachfully watching the midwife as she floated past, loudly discussing the benefits of crystals.

‘A work friend suggested her. Apparently she’s great with birth technique,’ Draco whispered back, barely able to contain his amusement at Hermione’s annoyance. Since New Year, they had been growing much closer. Already they had been baby shopping. Draco had been insistent on selecting what appeared to be the shiniest yet most impractical pushchair ever. He had however eventually capitulated to Hermione’s request of not painting the nursery Slytherin green or Falcons blue.  

‘Now, class, I want you to practice your breathing techniques. Partners, feel free to join in.’ Hermione could feel Draco fidgeting excitedly underneath her.

‘Show-time,’ he whispered into her ear. ‘Oh, and you’re beautiful. You’re strong.’

At twenty-seven weeks pregnant, Hermione felt far from beautiful. Her ankles were swollen. Her bump was enormous. She was now at the point of struggling to see her own feet. How it could grow anymore she didn’t know. Everything exhausted her; she was half-asleep all of the time. And yet she couldn’t deny that she was more than just happy. That she enjoyed Draco’s company. Leaning back against his body, she inhaled along with him, trying to hold in a fit of giggles as he began to pant furiously into her ear.

‘Stop it,’ she snorted. ‘You’re going to make me laugh.’

‘Ms Granger,’ the midwife called out. Everyone in the class turned to look at them. ‘You really must concentrate.’ Hermione flushed bright red and quickly looked down.

‘You owe me big time for this,’ she muttered, pretending to pant as Draco muffled his laughter against her shoulder.

Mercifully, the class was lasted only for an hour. Just as they were about to discretely escape, the midwife called them over.

‘Mr Malfoy, your breathing was spot-on,’ she smiled brightly up at him. Draco smirked. ‘We may have some more work to do with you, Ms Granger, but some practice can help. Perhaps Mr Malfoy can help?’

‘I’ve always been good at making her breathless,’ said Draco, earning himself a tactful kick to the shins.

‘You said your due date was mid-April, right?’ The midwife continued as Draco winced. ‘Then you’re expecting an Aries baby? They can be quite stubborn-‘

‘Like mother, like son.’ Even in pain, Draco still managed to sass.

Hermione forced a smile. ‘I’m feeling a little dizzy,’ she said, through gritted teeth. ‘Thank you for a… lovely session. Draco, I’ll wait for you outside.’

It was a relief to slip away from the cloying scent of incense and into the fresh January air. Shivering slightly, she pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, silently willing him to hurry up. But she didn’t have long to wait. Draco soon reappeared, clutching a fistful of leaflets.

‘Ever considered a natural birth without magic?’ he asked, deeply absorbed in one of them as they began to walk down the street.

‘Hell, no! I’ll take whatever St Mungo’s has to offer.’