Everyone looked up as Hermione and Ginny walked into the Auror's Offices. Hermione gave Moody a wink before heading back to Ron's office. The two were pleasently surprised to find Harry sitting there with Ron as they entered. Both men looked surprised to see their wives.
"Aren't you just a bit early today?" Harry said, eyes moving from Hermione to Ginny's faces and back again. "There is something different about them," Harry thought. "But what is it?"
For Ron, all it took was one look into his wife's eyes, and he knew. He jumped to his feet and yelled at Harry to move out of the chair. Harry, startled, did as Ron ordered. Ron then gently grabbed his wife and led her over to the now-vacant chair and sat her down gently.
"How long...." he began.
"The pains just started a little over an hour ago," Hermione answered him, smiling calmly. "We have a long way to go yet. I would have stayed until quitting time, but I think Rufus was too nervous to have me stay any longer."
She laughed. "I think he was afraid I might have the baby right there in the office!"
Harry had moved to stand by his wife. He now understood what was happening. He smiled broadly at his two best friends.
Moody knocked on the door and Ron beckoned him inside. Ron excitedly told Moody that Hermione's labor had begun.
"Aye," Moody said. "I thought that might have been the reason behind that wink Hermione gave me when they came in. Well, Ron, it looks like you are in fer a long night! Best get your wife on home and comfortable. I don't expect you to be in to the office tomorrow, but I do expect an owl when the baby is born, alright?"
Everyone noticed that Ron had begun to shake. The realization of what was happening was just beginning to sink in.
"Ginny and I are coming with you," Harry said as he took his friend by the arm, helping to steady him. Hermione stood and took Ron's other arm and Moody led the way over to the office's flue network. The Aurors that saw them noticed Ron's face had gone totally white and that his eyes were glazed.
"Ah, the look of a new father-to-be!" Kingsley Shacklebolt shouted. "I remember it well! You'll get through it alright, Ron! Take courage! In these circumstances, it is our wives who have the most bravery while we men quiver and wilt, all our bravado forgotten! It will pass with no shame! When we next see you, you will be a proud father, with more courage than you ever thought you could have!"
Gentle and encouraging chuckles surrounded the group as they prepared to climb into the purple flames.
A short time later, three of the four were sitting and relaxing at Ron and Hermione's home while they watched two red heads weave back and forth as Ron and his father paced up and down the path outside.
"It's best if he keeps busy," Hermione said as she inhaled the tantellizing aroma's of Molly's cooking wafting out of the kitchen.
Molly had insisted on coming early, wanting to be sure that Hermione got all the rest she could before her hard labor set in. Hermione was thankful. Her cramping was steadily becoming stronger and more painful. But they were not yet to the point where she would have to let on to her friends how strong they had become. She was grateful she would be able to enjoy the good meal Molly was preparing before the pains got to that level.
It was several hours later that Ginny and the others started noticing that Hermione would break into a sweat when a pain hit her, and her eyes would darken. It was time to call Ron inside again, but to Ron's surprise, Hermione and Ginny made their way outside. It was Hermione's turn to walk! Activity helps one get through the pain for a time, but when it came to the point where Hermione had to stop and curl over when a cramp hit her, Ginny led her back inside where Molly waited. Taking Hermione by the other arm, Molly helped Ginny get Hermione upstairs and into bed.
Those downstairs waited anxiously and time seemed to absolutely crawl by as Harry kept getting cold Pumpkin juice for Ron and Arthur, who was almost as nervous as his son.
Finally, Ginny came down the stairs.
Moving close to her brother she told him: "Hermione's time is near. Do you want to be with her and see that baby born? Do you think you can handle it?"
Ron looked at his father, who nodded, and got shakily to his feet, face whiter than it was at the office! Ginny supported him by his elbow as Ron shut his eyes and shook his head, then took a deep, rather shaky breath, then started moving toward the stairs.
Up in the bedroom, Molly was wiping the sweat from Hermione's brow as she rested between the now severe cramps. Ginny got Ron into a chair close to Hermione's side and saw him gently grasp his wife's hand. Hermione smiled at him. "You'll soon be a daddy!" They looked into each others eyes for a moment before Ron saw Hermione's eyes darken and narrow as another pain hit her. He heard Hermione moan as her head fell forward as if she was trying to push that pain right out of her. Her face turned quite red and beads of sweat began rolling down her temples and onto her cheeks. Ron suddenly realized that his hand was hurting. It was tight in Hermiones grasp, and Ron watched as if in suspended animation as his fingertips turned white. Then, suddenly, Hermione fell back again, panting a bit as Molly gave her a small sip of water and began wiping the seat away again. Ron noticed that the pain in his hand had eased and his fingertips were turning pink again. Hermione's eyes were back to normal as she slowly closed them for a few moments before reopening them to gaze at her husband. The sun was just beginning to rise, turning the fields and hills around them into hues of orange, red and gold.
The rest did not last long! Hermione was hit with another pain, but there was something different now...it was as if the pain had a real purpose, a goal that his wife was now struggling to meet. Then he saw it! His baby was coming, and quickly! Moments later, he heard the baby's first cry as his mother gathered the infant up and into soft blankets. It took a few momments for Molly's practiced eye to check the baby over, then, smiling widely, moved to hand the baby to Hermione. "Here's your son!" She announced happily, looking at both Hermione and her son, who was sitting there bug-eyed and stunned.
"I have a son!" Ron said softly, in wonder and awe. "I am a father!"