A Witch's Intuition

A/N: Once again, I want to thank my wonderful beta, RobisonRocket. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I moved quickly through the Harry/Ginny moments with this one, but that's because this is a Draco/Hermione story. And, thanks again for all the reviews. They are very encouraging.

A Witch's Intuition

Chapter 7

Once outside the gates of Hogwarts, Harry Apparated to number twelve, Grimmauld Place. He ran up the stairs two steps at a time. By the time he reached the bedroom door, he was clutching the stitch in his side. He opened the door with mixed feelings of fear and excitement.

Ginny was sitting up in the bed with Healer Roberts at her side. They were speaking quietly to one another, which confused Harry immensely. Wasn't Ginny supposed to be screaming her head off, sweating bullets, and calling him names? She looked fine.

"What's going on? Dobby said you were having the baby. Aren't you supposed to be yelling at everyone about how this is all my fault?" Harry took a tentative step inside and closed the door.

"Oh, believe me, Harry, I have been. I was having some pretty bad contractions earlier. Healer Roberts gave me a potion for the pain so the contractions wouldn't hurt so much." Ginny smiled at Healer Roberts, who smiled back.

"I thought you weren't supposed to take potions, Gin."

"Actually, Mr. Potter, the potion that your wife took is specifically made for contractions. She'll be alright. As a matter of fact, she should be starting another one in," the Healer consulted her watch, "about two minutes."

At that moment, the fireplace roared, and Harry drew his wand. Mrs. Weasley stepped out and waved her hand toward Harry, indicating him to put his wand away.

"Sorry, Molly," Harry muttered sheepishly. "Habit."

"It's alright, Harry, dear. I completely understand. Now, what's going on in here? Is my grandchild ready to greet the world yet?"

"Your grandchild is being right stubborn," replied Ginny. "I don't know what's taking so long. I was in quite a lot of pain. I had hoped this wouldn't take long."

Molly chortled. "Ginny, dear, you need to learn to have patience. These things take time. That precious grandchild of mine wants to make sure the timing is just right. Now, is there anything I can get you?"

"No, Mum. I'm Fiiiiiiine!" Ginny was suddenly hit with another contraction. Harry started for the door, but Ginny stopped him. "Oh, no... you don't... Harry... Potter. You got... me into... this mess... You will stay... where you... are." Ginny was panting hard at this point.

Half an hour later, Ginny was sitting up in her bed, holding a small bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. She was looking down at her daughter, tears in her eyes. Harry was sitting next to her, holding her hand. He had tears of joy in his eyes as well.

Ginny looked up at Harry and gestured for him to take the baby. Harry reached down and took his daughter from her mother's arms. She still hadn't opened her eyes, but she had a tuft of dark, auburn hair. Her little nose was slightly turned up, and her lips were pink.

"Gin," Harry ventured nervously. "You know what I have to do now, don't you?" He looked up from his daughter to his wife.

"Yes, Harry. But, I don't really want to talk about it right now."

"We have to, though. I will have to leave in a couple of days. And when I'm finished with him, I will have to go after Lucius Malfoy."

Ginny was puzzled. "Why would you have to go after Lucius? Is he a special Death Eater or something?"

Harry suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "No, it's because of Hermione." As Harry went into the story, Ginny paled.

"Is Draco alright? He wanted me to go with him, but I had to work a shift. Of course, as soon as I got to St. Mungo's, Healer Roberts dismissed me to bed rest."

Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His mind raced at the thought of Ginny being in the same predicament as Hermione. He fought the wave of nausea that was creeping into his throat. He needed to change the subject.

"So, what are we going to call our little princess?" Harry was once again entranced by his daughter.

"Harry, I don't want to name her. Not yet, anyway. You are going to come back to me... to us. We'll name her together -- when you return."

Harry just stared at her for a moment and looked at his baby again. "Gin, I may not come back for a while. I don't know how long this is going to take. I don't even know how we'll find him. She can't go without a name for so long. What will you call her?"

"I'll call her 'baby.' And you will come back, Harry. I know you will. I know it like I know my own name. Anyway, until then, you can be thinking of something."

"Alright, Gin." Harry thought for a moment. "I think everyone expects me to call her Lily. I love the name, but I want her to have her own name. From the photographs and the stories, I know that my mother was a beautiful and phenomenal witch. She was one of a kind. I know that she would want her granddaughter to be her own person as well. I don't know why; I just feel it. I think my mother would have been a wonderful grandmother." Harry was suddenly overwhelmed by sadness. He never even had a chance to mourn his parents the way a child should.

Ginny, noticing the change in his emotion, raked her fingers through his hair. "Harry, I think your mother would have been a terrific grandmother. I also agree with you about giving Baby her own name. We can always honor your mother in a different way."

Harry looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Lily can be her middle name. So all we have to think about is what we'll call her for her first name." Ginny smiled sweetly at Harry.

Harry grinned back, feeling much happier. "You're brilliant."

**********

Snape and Dumbledore shared a quick glance before they bolted toward the door to the bathroom. Draco was trying to get out of bed, but he was still pretty weak. He managed to slide off of the bed, and he followed Dumbledore and Snape toward the direction of the scream.

As Snape prepared to blast the door off the hinges, it creaked open. All three men watched as Hermione walked toward her bed. She was stone-faced and silent, not noticing anyone else in the room. When she started to pass Draco, he grabbed her wrist.

"Hermione?" Draco asked tentatively.

Hermione's defiant chin jutted upward. Not meeting Draco's eyes, she whispered, "I need to get to Ginny. Lucius... he... I need to get to Ginny."

Draco looked inquiringly to the other two. Dumbledore was frowning, and Snape was showing no emotion. Snape stepped forward, and Hermione looked at him.

"Miss Granger, Mrs. Potter can't help you right now, I'm afraid. She went into labor a while ago, so she is currently incapable of giving you an examination. We cannot risk taking you to St. Mungo's either. We will have to try to get Madam Pomfrey back here."

Hermione looked from Snape to Dumbledore, then back to Draco. "You'll have to do it then."

Draco felt a chill travel up his spine. "I c-can't."

Hermione's mind was made up. "You're a Healer, aren't you? You are the only one who can check for any damage. I need you to do this for me, Draco. I trust you. After everything that's happened in the past couple of days, I need you. Please, Draco."

Draco looked at Snape and Dumbledore, hoping they could come up with some brilliant plan to get him out of this. At Dumbledore's nod, Draco knew he'd lost. "But, Sir, this is highly unethical."

"Why?" Hermione asked, frowning. "You're a Healer. If you were working a shift at St. Mungo's and I came in for an examination, would you turn me away?

"Well, no. I would have to do it. But this is different."

"How is it different? Is it different because we are here? Is it different because we are bound? Or..." Hermione's voice cracked a tiny bit, but she continued. "Or is it different because it was your father who did this to me?"

Draco looked down at his feet and whispered, "Don't call him that. He's not my father. I don't want anything to do with him ever again." Then Draco looked Hermione right in the eyes. "Okay. I'll do it. I'll give you the examination. But how do you know he did what we all think he did? Neither one of us remember anything."

Hermione's eyes never left his. With unshed tears, she gritted her teeth as she spoke. "Chalk it up to a witch's intuition, but I think I'd know when my virginity has been taken."

Draco took a step back. "Oh, Merlin, Hermione, I didn't know."

"Well, now you do. So, are we going to get started then?"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I think I am going to head to Grimmauld Place and check on the progress there. Mr. Malfoy, I'm assuming you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Sir, I believe Madam Pomfrey has everything on hand. Give Ginny my best. Severus, are you going too, or are you staying?"

Before Snape could answer, Hermione looked up at him. "Please don't go, Professor. I would really like for you to stay."

Snape narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't know how I could be of assistance. I'm not a Healer, and Madam Pomfrey's cupboard is packed with all the potions you would need for pain or discomfort."

"It's just that, well, you've been with me since the beginning. You are the only one who doesn't treat me... who doesn't treat me like I'm... broken."

Snape gave a slight nod. "I will be right outside the door."

Hermione thanked him and turned back toward Draco. Draco handed her a hospital gown and pointed toward the bathroom door once again. "I'll need you to... to... change."

Hermione took the robe and went into the bathroom, returning seconds later. Draco motioned for her to lie on the bed. "Do you want me to give you a potion to calm your nerves or put you to sleep?"

Hermione just shook her head, unable to speak.

"Let's get started, then," Draco said as he sat in the chair at the foot of Hermione's bed. Once he was seated, Hermione took a deep breath and spread her knees apart.