The next morning, Hermione had shown Harry the letter, deciding not to hide Ministry matters from her husband. Harry was pissed.
"For the love of Merlin, they shouldn't be allowed to send this shit to people! Do they not think of how insensitive this is?" He spat, tossing the letter on the kitchen table. He paced back and forth, his hand running through his raven locks as he tried to find a solution. "They've got another thing coming if they think they're tossing you out on your arse. I swear, if they as much as try to lay a finger on you, I'll send them behind the veil myself."
Hermione nodded her head, unsure of what to say. Harry wrapped his arms around her, placing a tender kiss on her head. "Don't you worry, love. Everything will be alright."
Over the next few days, Hermione found herself pulling away from her husband, busying herself in her work at St. Mungo's, taking extra cases. She couldn't help but feel as if pieces of her were being torn from her as each day passed. The words from the letter plagued her mind, a reminder that her time in the Wizarding World was coming to an end in less than two years. Still, she continued to take her fertility potions, praying for a miracle each night before she went to sleep.
The week before the baby shower, Hermione found herself inside Baby Witch, the only baby shop in Diagon Alley. She browsed through the shop, in hopes of finding gifts for Ginny and Luna. She picked up a couple of cases of nappies, one for each of the soon-to-be-mothers, placing them in the trolley. As she walked onto the next aisle, she found sky blue flannels with baby duckies on them. "Luna would love these for the boys." Hermione smiled, placing them next to the nappies. She found a green baby blanket, etched with Golden Snitches for Ginny, knowing full well they'd be pleased since she and her husband were former Quidditch players. She began to make her way to the front of the store when she spied a walnut cot. She slowly made her way to it, knots forming in the pit of her stomach. She gripped the side of the cot, shutting her eyes as she kept her tears in check.
She slowly opened her eyes, staring at the white blanket, embroidered with broomsticks over its surface. In the upper right-hand corner of the cot sat a small, stuffed Snowy Owl. A small smile rested on the corner of her mouth, thoughts of Hedwig filling her mind. 'Oh, Harry would love this.'
Hermione forced herself away from the cot, feeling her heart shatter with each step she took, glancing one last time at the cot before pushing the trolley to the cash register, in hopes of escaping from this store before her tears broke free.
The day of the shower arrived. Harry stood in the doorway; his arms folded across his chest as he watched his wife conjure all the willpower within her as she began to get ready to head to the Burrow. She finished slipping into a green, strapless sundress when she stood in front of him, turning around as she lifted her hair from her back.
"Can you zip me up, please?"
"Sure." He told her softly, pulling up her white zipper. "You don't have to go today, you know."
Hermione sighed deeply, shutting her eyes for a mere moment before turning around to face him. "I promised Ginny and Luna I would be there, I'm going." She told him, rather abruptly. She walked over towards the bed, slipping on her white flip flops. Harry nodded his head in defeat, wishing she would change her mind about going. He knew today was going to be hard on her, but what could he do? He surely couldn't stop her from going.
They arrived at the Burrow fifteen minutes later, greeting everyone as they walked through the front door. The women gathered around the living room, watching as Ginny and Luna opened their gifts, whereas the men found themselves outside. Harry stood in the middle of the yard, feeling the cool breeze kiss his face as he sensed someone coming from behind him. He turned around, coming face to face with his best friend. "Didn't want your testosterone to drop anymore huh?"
"Piss off." Ron joked, shoving his friend playfully. "It's maddening, these bloody showers. Who knew women could get so emotional over silly things such as nappies and prams?"
"Be lucky that your wife can experience those things," Harry muttered. Ron kicked himself mentally, instantly regretting his words.
"I'm sorry, mate," Ron told him as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "How is Hermione doing?"
"She's... She's pulling herself away from me. She may not think I notice what she's doing but I'm not daft."
"How so?"
"She hardly speaks to me unless she's asking about work, I'll come home from work and she'll already be knackered out in our room. Hell, I can't even tell you the last time we had sex."
"Is she still taking her potions?"
Harry nodded his head. "Every week like clockwork. She's getting depressed, I know it."
"It must not be easy for her to be in there with the girls."
"I told her she didn't have to be here, but she's so damn stubborn."
"Sounds like someone else we know," Ron smirked. "Maybe you just have to give her time."
"I've been giving her plenty of time. Believe me, this is eating me alive just as much as her."
"Have you told her that?"
"No. I'm trying so fucking hard to stay strong for the both of us" Harry told him, shaking his head.
"Well, maybe you should tell her that. It might help her come to terms with it better if she knew you were struggling too."
Harry nodded once more. "Maybe you're right. Since when did you become sentimental?"
"What can I say? My wife is rubbing off on me."
Hermione found herself sitting next to her husband at the kitchen table as everyone gathered around Ron and Luna, who had surprised everyone with an announcement.
"Thank you for coming to the baby shower everyone." Luna began, her angelic voice lingering in the air. "There's nowhere else in the world where we would rather celebrate this joyous occasion. Also, a special thank you to Ginny for allowing me to share this day with her, not many pregnant ladies would do that." She smiled fondly at her sister-in-law who nodded graciously at her, before turning her attention to her husband.
"Luna has berated me for months about picking out names for the twins, seeing as Sprog One and Two are apparently unsuitable." Laughter echoed in the kitchen as Hermione rolled her eyes playfully at her best friend, thankful he had Luna to knock some sense into him. "So, we each picked out a name that would best suit them."
"The first name will be Sebastian Matthew Weasley," Luna said proudly, her face beaming with excitement.
"And the second will be named Benjamin Isaac Weasley," Ron announced. A round of applause filled the room, while tears of joy cascaded down Molly's face. "Such wonderful names!" The guests stood up from their seats, giving the parents-to-be hugs. Harry laced his fingers through Hermione's, bringing her hand up to his lips. He mouthed 'I love you'' in which she replied, 'I love you too.'
By the time they arrived home, Harry could still sense her demeanor hadn't changed. She had barely spoken at the party, let alone to him. "Hermione, can we talk?" he asked as they settled into the living room, kicking off their shoes.
"What about?" she asked, not looking up at him. Harry walked over to her, kneeling in front of her. "Hermione, look at me please."
She took a deep breath, her brown eyes looking up at her husband. "What is it you want to talk about, Harry?"
"Hermione, I know what you're doing. I'm begging you, please don't start pushing me away. You don't know how much it kills me to see you like this."
Her eyes darkened as she pursed her lips together. "It's killing you?" She barked. "Last time I checked it wasn't you who had to worry about conceiving a child, let alone worry about if you're going to be cast aside from the only place in this world that's accepted you for who you are."
"Of course, it's killing me! Do you think I like watching my wife pulling away from me? Not letting me help in the slightest. I'm going crazy with worry about you, Hermione!"
"I don't need you to help me! There's nothing you can do!"
"Let me at least try! Do you know how long it's been since you last let me touch you? Made love to you? Do you know how hard it is for me to know that I might lose you? You're the love of my life and I'm scared shitless at the fact there's nothing I can do!"
She winced slightly at his words. She knew deep down that pushing him away was the last thing she ever wanted to do. "Harry, you can't do anything that will help me. You can't save me." she sobbed, tears breaking free from their barrier.
"Whether you want to hear it or not, this is affecting me just as much as it is you. I'm trying so damn hard to stay strong for both of us sweetheart, but I can't. It's killing me inside to know how badly you want a child, and the fucking disgrace of a wizard stole that from you. I watch you everyday, burying yourself in your work so you don't have to come to terms with reality. But baby, you can't do that. Don't shut me out, please. I've had enough people do that in my life and the last person I expect to do that to me is you."
Hermione's body was trembling at his words. Harry stood up, only to sit next to her and hold her as she cried. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, love. I never wanted to push you away, but I didn't know what else to do. I'm so lost, Harry. More so than I've ever been in my life."
"I know, baby. But this is why you have to let me in. I made a vow to be there for you when times got tough and I'll be damned if I leave you to deal with this shit on your own. Plus, your father would murder me if I didn't stand by you." He told her, rubbing circles in the middle of her back.
"Don't leave me, please," she whispered against him, her tears subsiding as she lifted her face from his tear-stained shirt.
"Never in a million years." He told her, brushing the last of her tears off her solemn face. "We will have a baby, I promise you."