Children of the Prophecy

With the proper charms in place everything was set and Hermione was protected under the Fidelius charm. Since the talk that Harry and Draco shared Harry went on observing Draco and could not be surprised at some of his actions. He seemed as normal as everyone else but could not get the feeling as if he were trying to hide something...

With the birth of the baby drawing ever closer Harry became more and more concerned. It was also during this time that the string of attacks began to become more frequent and powerful. Men were being called out into the battle field and Harry knew it was only a matter of time before he too would join them.

Time does not stand still and so the months few buy in daze. Before anyone realized Harry and Hermione had already had their first sonogram and the bedroom nearest theirs' was deemed the nursery.

They had spent the entire weak finding the color that would cover the room of the nursery and now Harry and Hermione were content with the mural that was painted around the room. When Dean Thomas had heard the Potter baby was due to arrive he offered his services. At the time Harry and Hermione had thanked him kindly but had no intention of ever collecting on his offer. Now that they had they were amazed. The entire room made you feel as if you were standing on the Hogwarts grounds. He spared no detail and everything made you feel as if you could walk right into the wall and find yourself there. To Harry's great amusement and delight he had charmed the quittich pitch to be occupied when games or practices were held and at the moment Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw seemed to be having a very intense game. The light in the library would stay on until the real library closed and Hermione's face blushed when they looked at her. "Honestly!" she huffed out at them, ignoring their snickers.

According to Dean the mural was a somewhat copy of the Great Hall's ceiling. The weather would resemble its' real counterpart but unlike at Hogwarts the mural could be 'paused' in case it frightened the baby.

***

With the second trimester sonogram in hand Hermione sat against the headboard of her bed. Harry was just slipping under the covers and smiled. Hermione had become obsessed with the baby and he had to admit he was too. Since they first found out about it the though of a baby never left either's mind. Hermione was never found out of the vicinity of her What to Expect when Expecting book and Harry was caught a few times looking through it himself. He was utterly amazed remotely queasy at what he read. But now Harry and Hermione both sat marveling at the black and white picture that held their future. To the untrained eye the picture didn't look like anything but to Harry and Hermione it was the one thing that both had wanted all their lives.

Neither had wanted to know the sex of the baby but Harry had his suspicions that it was a boy. Placing the picture on the nightstand Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry. Her extended stomach prevented them from getting any closer and Harry found himself gently stroking it. She smiled and leaned as best she could on Harry. "So Mione what names have you been thinking about?"

"There are a few I've been playing at," she said finding Harry's hand on her stomach. "For a boy I was thinking William."

Harry's eyes meet hers and he asked, "And for a girl?"

"I'm not sure on those but so far it's Emma or Catherine."

"I like them," he said kissing her forehead. "What do you think it is?" he asked after a few minutes.

"I've had this strange feeling it was a boy. What do you think?"

"I thought that too," he said honestly.

She smiled and brushed the hair away from his eyes, "A little boy with your bright green eyes."

***

Hermione was now well into the seventh month and the flowers of May finally begun to bloom. Hermione enjoyed sitting at her window gazing out into her garden. She longed to walk amongst her flowers once more but she knew she couldn't. So she sat there, watching them blow gently in the breeze. She turned suddenly when she heard a loud pop. Harry was home but something happened. She could tell. "What's happened Harry?" Hermione asked afraid of the answer.

Harry ran a hand through his hair and said, "It's Ron; he's gone missing."

***

Ron's disappearance baffled everyone. The last person to see him was Lavender when he went to see Albus. He never made it to Hogwarts and no one has heard from him since. Lavender has perhaps taken this the worst. She barely eats, sleeps, or talks anymore and locks herself in the flat she and Ron shared for days on end. The only reason she emerges from the room anymore is to use the loo and receive news about the baby Potter. Harry is afraid she will do something drastic soon. The search for Ron has been very hard and has hit everyone. Whoever planned this knew exactly how this would affect them.

As the days of May turned to June, there was news about Ron. A captured death eater told them that Ron had been captured and was soon to be killed. Harry immediately wanted to take action, but Dumbledore tried to reason with him...

"We do not know all the facts, Harry. We cannot be rash."

"But what if he was telling the truth? What if they are going to kill Ron?"

"He knew what he was getting into Harry. He is not a child. He knew the risks."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was Ron they were talking about; his best friend. "You can't honestly tell me that we're not even going to try?"

"Harry-"

"No! We are not going to let him die like this! How could you even think we're just going to stand by while Ron is-"

"We do not know for sure, Harry."

"Think of what this will do to Lavender. To the baby."

"What do you mean, Harry?"

"I mean that Lavender is pregnant with Ron's child."

Now, with two prominent witches pregnant Dumbledore began to worry. This was shaping up to be like twenty years ago. He could only hope it did not have the same ending.

***

In mid June, Hermione was confined to bed until the baby was born. It seemed that baby Potter was very high in the womb and was in danger. This added yet another worry to Harry's shoulders. Lavender had agreed to live with Hermione since she would one day be in Hermione's shoes. Harry felt a little more at ease knowing that Lavender was there to help Hermione if anything happened to him.

Even with Dumblore and Hermione forbidding him, Harry had a plan to rescue Ron from the clutches of death. He could only hope he would be there in time to save his friend.