Never Give Up

Chapter Eleven

‘Congratulations!’

Hermione had just entered her home after enduring the hospital for a couple of days. She was met with a huge cheer as soon as Fred helped her through the front door of their apartment. Hermione gathered the little bundle – that held her baby girl fast asleep – closer to her as she surveyed who was in her home.

Harry and Ginny were at the front, looking lovely and tanned as they had just came back from their honeymoon. Harry had an arm around Ginny’s waist and she noticed that Ginny’s stomach was starting to show now. Beside them was Luna, clad in a rather strange yellow dress since it was absolutely freezing outside. Hermione was used to her strangeness. Neville waved at her and she smiled at him. Percy was also there and Ron was standing against the kitchen doorway with his hands deep in his pockets.

Mrs Weasley had already visited Hermione in the hospital with a bunch of baby gifts. Mr Weasley was still not too happy about Fred and Hermione being together so he never visited at all. Fred refused to talk about Charlie and Bill and Hermione guessed they were in the same boat as Mr Weasley. This upset Hermione but she tried not to show it - she had, after all, her own friends who were happy for her.

‘You’ll wake her up!’ Fred moaned but he was smiling as he stared down at his daughter. He smoothed her cheek and Hermione looked down to see that she scrunched up her nose a little. She smiled at Fred and could not believe that she ever thought Fred couldn't take responsibility. He seemed great with their daughter.

‘What’s her name?’

‘How much did she weigh?’

‘She better not be like Fred!’

‘She’s probably inherited her mother’s brains!’ Ginny stuck her tongue out at Fred as he mock glared at her.

Hermione handed her daughter over to Ginny who took her with a huge smile. Everyone crowded around her and they stared in awe at the baby as though they had never seen such a thing before. Harry whispered something in Ginny’s ear which made her blush and made Fred pretend to gag. Hermione grabbed Fred’s hand and he led him a little away from the crowd as they cooed over the baby.

‘Do you have any ideas for a name?’ she asked, watching Ginny rock the bundle in her arms gently. Fred turned her face around so that they were looking at each other.

‘Amelia,’ Fred whispered, ‘Amelia Granger. Sounds perfect for her, don’t you think?’

Hermione paused, feeling his hands snake around her waist. Amelia was such a beautiful name and she knew why Fred had picked it. A nickname for Amelia could be ‘Mia’. Hermione chuckled a little at that and Fred raised his eyebrows, waiting for her opinion.

‘Amelia is perfect, Fred, but...’ Hermione sighed and Fred’s face fell. She shook her head a little and then pressed her lips to his. Fred kissed her back briefly before pulling back and waiting for her to continue. Hermione paused and looked down at his chest, playing with the front of his shirt, ‘I want her to have Weasley as a surname.’

‘Are you sure?’ asked Fred, looking over at them. Harry had hold of their child now and Ginny was stating with a laugh at how good he was with babies. Fred turned back to Hermione, ‘Amelia Weasley?’

‘Amelia George Weasley,’ Hermione whispered. Fred froze around her and then in a swift motion he untangled his arms from her waist and sighed heavily.

‘You don’t need to do that, Hermione,’ he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest as he turned back to her, ‘I appreciate it but I know you don’t want my dead brother’s name as a middle name for our child.’