Examination Room #13

Thanks again to Madbrilliant who did a wonderful job beta-ing.

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Chapter 3 - Examination Room #13

“Hello? Miss Granger?” came the soft voice of the receptionist she had met no more than ten minutes before.

Hermione turned in her seat and faced the lady, smiling kindly. “Sorry,” Hermione apologized for not having heard her before. “Is there something I can do for you?” she added hastily.

“Yes, miss. Your appointment is in examination room number thirteen and your Healer will be Healer Blake. He specializes in the care of witches,” the older woman said warmly. “Just step in whenever you are ready. And don't be afraid. The Healer is a nice man,” the woman reassured.

Hermione wasn't that nervous after hearing the surname Blake. Hadn't he been her Healer from after the war? He was the Healer that Severus had gotten when she first woke, and he was the one that had helped with her therapy when she had recovered. She rose from her seat gracefully and walked down the cold white linoleum hallway, feeling the unwelcoming chill of the institute and shivering. She reached the door with the number 13 on it and knocked gently.

“Come in!” came the call from within.

She opened the door slowly and peeked her head inside, looking around the plain examination room and shrinking back with anxiety until she saw the Healer. He beckoned her in, understanding that she had a slight phobia of hospitals, and it was quite understandable, considering her past ordeals.

“Welcome, Miss Granger. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Blake asked in a kind tone.

“I’ve been feeling ill of late and I thought I’d see a Healer about it before my wedding in a few days,” she replied nervously.

Healer Blake nodded in understanding and stood up from his chair, offering Hermione a seat before reseating himself. “Can you tell me some of the symptoms that you've been feeling?” he asked calmly, tapping his fingers in front of his face in thought.

“I have been getting nauseous, dizzy, and more recently, extremely emotional,” she recited, wondering what that could possibly mean. “Is that bad?”

“Not at all, Miss Granger,” Blake replied. “Can you please stand for me?” he asked, standing from his seat as well.

Hermione stood up gracefully and clasped her hands behind her back. The Healer whipped out his wand and went closer to her, making her step back involuntarily. “It's alright. I won’t hurt you,” the man reassured softly, let the tip of his wand run over her abdomen and hover above her southern region.

They both noticed the tip of the wand glow with a bluish light as it hovered above her abdomen, and the Healer stepped back with a smile on his face. “Just as I thought. Miss Granger, I am relieved to inform you that you are not ill, per se,” he chuckled.

Hermione looked at him curiously. “What is it then?”

“You're with child, ma'am,” he replied, holding a hand out to shake hers.

“I—I'm... You mean I’m pregnant?” Hermione stammered, shaking his hand with a look of mild shock plastered across her features. “There is a child inside me?”

“Exactly.”

Hermione dropped into her seat and felt her eyes grow wide. She was going to have a baby. She had a new life growing within her womb. A small bundle of joy like the one she had lost only a year before. She had been blessed with another child. And she was going to be married to the man of her dreams in just a few short days. Hermione's look of wonder caused Healer Blake to laugh.

“I never thought I'd see the day where a mother was more speechless than my wife,” he laughed softly, causing Hermione to look around at him with a bright smile. “You're five weeks along.”

“I'm going to have a baby,” she repeated softly.

Healer Blake nodded in confirmation. “That’s right.”

“I—well, thank goodness," she exclaimed, wondering how Severus would take the news. “I think that it would be best if this information stays in this room for now, though.”

“Why?”

“Let's just say that I do not want to worry my fiancé until he can handle the news,” she replied, hinting that she just didn't think that this was such a great time. “But I do thank you for your concern. I will be fine and I will tell him as soon as he’s ready.”

“Or maybe you are just waiting until you are ready to tell him?” Blake suggested.

“Perhaps,” Hermione answered, shaking Blake's hand. “In any case, I have to go plan a wedding.”

“Good luck with everything, and my blessings to you and Professor Snape,” Blake said warmly.

“Thank you,” she replied, leaving the room.

Hermione exited St. Mungo's as soon as she could and Apparated to the Burrow. She went to the kitchen and found Ginny and Molly sitting at the kitchen table. “Sorry I'm late. My appointment ran a little late,” she apologized, shrugging out of her coat and taking a seat.

“What appointment, dear?” Molly asked kindly.

Hermione mentally kicked herself for letting that one slip. What could she tell them? She couldn't just lie to Molly Weasley. Or even Ginny. They were like human lie detectors after living under a roof with Fred and George.

“Oh, well I just had to pop into St. Mungo's--” she began, but was interrupted.

Both redheaded women jumped out of their seats and exclaimed a loud “WHAT!” in unison.

“Calm down and I'll explain,” Hermione said evenly.

She waited until both of them were in their seats and looked like they were going to stay that way for a long time, or at least until she had finished. “Go on, 'Mione,” Ginny begged.

“Well, I was feeling a little sick during the week. I was emotional, dizzy, nauseous, and felt pretty terrible, so of course when I began throwing up at odd times during the day, I made an appointment at St. Mungo's without telling Severus,” she stated. “And you have to promise that you won’t tell him or anyone else this.”

Both of them nodded mutely.

“I saw the Healer and he told me that I am pregnant,” she said carefully.

Ginny's jaw dropped and Molly looked shocked. Hermione shook her head. She knew this would be their reaction. They couldn't honestly think that she hadn't been intimate with Severus after living with him for so long, could they? And then she had to voice that.

“Please don't tell me that you really thought I was a virgin,” Hermione sighed.

“Well, actually, 'Mione... I thought you were still ‘pure,’” Ginny admitted and Molly nodded in assent.

“Merlin,” Hermione muttered. “Of course I've slept with Severus! We've been together for over a year and I have been practically living with him, my things mingled with his, sleeping in the same bed. Didn’t that ever occur to any of you?” she asked, completely flustered at their naivety.

“Well...” Molly trailed off uncomfortably.

“Oh, for goodness sake! I, Hermione Jane Granger, am sleeping with and am having incredible, mind blowing sex with my fiancé, Severus Tobias Snape,” Hermione said, making Molly blush. “Oh, Molly, don't be juvenile. You know very well that your children didn't just fall out of the sky!”

At that, Ginny laughed initially and then cringed at the message Hermione had been meaning to deliver. Then, Hermione turned on her.

“And, Ginevra Weasley, you can’t honestly say that you’ve never shagged Harry. He's your husband, for Merlin's sake!” Hermione exclaimed, making Ginny turn red.

After a tense moment, Molly patted Hermione's hand. “Congratulations, dear. I'm glad to hear that you will be having a child with the man you love.”

“Me too,” Ginny added.

Hermione blew out the breath she had been holding and smiled. “Thank you both, and I’m sorry about embarrassing you all with the details of my personal life. Now, if you don't have any objections, could we finish the plans for my wedding?'

The redheads nodded, and they laughed their way through the Floo connection to Minerva's office.