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Counting Fingers, Counting Toes	By : ssdawn Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Cedric Views: 3797 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter, it's characters, nor make money from writing this.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Thanks to everyone who has been reading this story! This is a very long chapter for all of you!
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Counting Fingers Counting Toes: Chapter 6
The gathering of friends and family were now surrounding Harry and the medi-witch.
"You said that there were complications; what is happening in there with Hermione and the baby?" Harry now raised his voice in concern that was emanating from his soul.
"Please, we need to know," Jean Granger spoke up, with tears now falling freely down her face, "This is my daughter and my grandchild," she ended, breaking down into sobs, while her husband wrapped his arms protectively around her.
With hesitation the witch looked at the faces staring at her, "You see, the baby is ready to be born, but Hermione's body is not cooperating." The medi-witch once again paused as she felt stifled by all of the anxious faces that were locked on her. "Um…the baby…" her voice broke and she swallowed hard, "its heart rate has been erratic and unstable. If the baby is not born soon, it may be too late." The nurse was pained to have to share this news with people that loved the little mother and her unborn baby so much.
"Too late for what, may I ask?" Ron said in confusion shaking his head, "Please tell me that you are not saying what I think you are saying?" Ron and Harry looked anxiously at one another as muscles tensed with apprehension.
Jean Granger spoke up, "Too late for whom; the baby, Hermione or…both?" The question ended in a broken whisper.
The nurse could not take her eyes off of the worried Mum, "I am sorry to say, it is both of them, so we need to get the baby out immediately or both of their lives will be in danger."
Harry, always quick to anger, jumped in with a fury, "Then why are you not getting the baby out now?" His red face and pulsing fists spoke volumes as he paced back and forth. Ginny stepped forward to try and calm her irate husband. "Are you waiting until one of them dies?" Harry's voice could be heard all down the hallway.
"Mr. Potter, I am so sorry." The young witch, close to tears, looked ready to run out the door. It was never easy to be on the receiving end of Harry Potter's anger. "I will go and get one of the Healers immediately. She turned and ran back down the hallway. Everyone stood there silently as the nurse made her quick retreat to locate a Healer.
Harry finally looked around, glancing at the worried faces of Hermione and Cedric's parent's, along with Ron's fearful pout. He bent his head down as disquiet spread throughout the room. After everything they had been through together, fighting the troll, the basilisk, Death Eaters and Voldemort; they couldn't lose her now. Ginny took Harry's hand and led him to the sofa, rubbing his back to calm him. Fred and George, who usually had something to say to lighten a mood, stared soberly at Harry and Ginny, speechless. Even Mrs. Weasley, who always had an encouraging word to say to everyone, sat clutching onto her husband's hand like it was going to fall off. No one present could offer any comforting words to calm their fears. Mortality was rearing its ugly head and there wasn't a damn thing any of them could do about it.

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Cedric stood soundlessly looking down at his pregnant wife. He had never been this frightened in all of his life. Even with all of the challenges that had been presented to him during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, this level of terror had never entered his soul until now. Without any of the medical staff uttering a word, he knew deep inside that Hermione and their baby was in severe jeopardy. Cedric was ready to jump out of his skin, as he looked at their faces and heard their quiet whispers amongst themselves. Finally, Cedric's patience broke and he blurted out, "We need to know now…what is happening?" Cedric's voice boomed across the room causing every head to turn towards him with wide eyes. They could not help staring at the outburst from the normally friendly man. All present knew of Cedric Diggory being a former Hogwarts champion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Even though he was a pleasant person most times, they also knew that it was important to stay on his good side. The startled faces were glued on Cedric and dared not move.
The soft voice of Hermione Diggory pulled them out of their stupor, "Please, it took us a long time to get pregnant." Her voice broke, as she lay, feeling the tears trickle down the sides of her face. "Is our baby going to live? Please tell us; we need to be prepared if the baby is going to…die." Cedric grasped Hermione's hand tightly as his eyes welled up with tears.
The head Healer stepped up, rubbing his hand across his forward and down his face, "Mr. & Mrs. Diggory, the baby is having a hard time being born." Hermione looked at Cedric with a "Hello? What a bright man you are; we couldn't figure this out" look, as she rolled her eyes. Cedric could not hold back the sarcasm, "We had already guessed that since Hermione is not holding a living, screaming baby at the moment. Oh, yes, she also is still very pregnant!" His red face only emphasized how upset he was at the moment. Hermione smirked at Cedric's boldness, but the Healer was not amused at the cynicism Cedric was dishing out to him.
"Mr. Diggory, your wife's body is not allowing the labor to progress. We are aware of your frustration, but we don't have time for this kind of mockery of our actions this day." Cedric was taken aback at the reprimand by the Healer. He pressed his lips together as he stared angrily at him. The Healer continued his speech, "We need to take measures to get this baby out quickly before your wife and child are endangered more."
Hermione tried to control her breathing as she listened to the Healer speak of the dangers threatening her and their unborn child. Cedric's eyes met Hermione's and she nodded her head. Cedric nodded back and rubbed her shoulder in agreement. "Please do what you must to bring our child safely here." Hermione could hear the humility now coming from him. She tried to relax, taking some deep breaths, now that Cedric wasn't so upset.
"We will do everything in our power to get your baby out alive." The gentle assurances from the Healer calmed their fears for the moment, but they both knew the anxiety and fear was far from being over.
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"Do you remember the time that Hermione slapped Draco Malfoy across the face?" Ron laughed remembering Hermione's gusto in their third year.
"She has always been so resilient, despite what was happening to us. Hermione never would let us give up," Harry added with a smile.
"If it weren't for Hermione's cleverness, we would never have found and destroyed all of the Horcruxes." Ron looked down the hallway towards the rooms where Hermione was in labor, "Oh, bloody hell," Ron cursed, "What are we doing; writing her eulogy?"
Harry bit his lip, stood up and walked towards the elevator. Ginny stood to follow him and Ron motioned for Ginny to stay put, walking quickly, Ron hurried after Harry. He saw Harry as he kicked the door leading out to the alleyway.
As Ron went through the door he saw Harry whip out his wand, "She is so strong!" He cast a curse blowing up a dustbin sitting nearby. "She has defeated many evil wizards and witches!" Harry next sent out a curse at an empty cardboard box obliterating it. "She never gives up!" The next curse blasted against a wall shattering the bricks of St. Mungo's. "Gods, she can't die now!" Harry screamed as he tensely turned towards a very shocked Ron. As he held his wand pointed at Ron his hand trembled.
"Harry, what are you doing? It's me, your best friend." Ron looked at Harry's crazed face trying to get through to his distraught friend. Harry had the look of someone who was possessed. He knew that his friend still carried demons, hidden deep inside, from his years of battling Voldemort. It had been many years since he had seen Harry dominated by his fears.
As Harry came out of his stupor, recognition hit him as he looked at Ron. His mouth dropped into a frown as he dropped his wand arm. It clattered to the concrete, echoing through the alleyway. "We can't let her die, Ron." Harry dropped to his knees, "She needs to fight through this like she always does."
Ron dropped down next to him pulling him into a hug, "I know, Harry; even though we are married and grown up, we will always stay "The Trio". The silence in the alleyway was marred only by the sobs of the two friends trying to comfort each other.
"I wish that we could at least go in and tell her to stay strong." Harry began to throw out an insane chortle. "Even after all we have been through; defeating the greatest evil the Wizarding World has ever seen…"Harry shook his head helplessly in defeat. He looked over at Ron who was sitting with his head in his hands. He looked tired and ready to give up. "Why is it that I still feel as vulnerable as the day I stood in front of Voldemort?"
Ron looked wearily over to Harry, "This one is not our challenge, Harry. This one belongs to Hermione and Cedric." Ron slapped Harry on the back. "You are Harry James Potter. You have always been a leader." With a grimace on his face, Harry rolled his eyes at Ron."Let's get back in there and help the others in supporting Cedric and Hermione through this."
Ron stood up and reached down grabbing Harry's hand to hoist him up, "When did you get to be such a philosopher, Won Won?"
Ron slugged Harry on his arm, "I always hated when she called me that." Ron made a disgusted face, thinking about the nick name Lavender had used during their 6th year at Hogwarts.
"Ron, she still does call you that!" Harry teased him and ran off before Ron could get another punch in.
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"What is going on?" the Healer asked with irritation, staring at the medi-witch.
"Healer Smithson, I…I really don't know? All I did was cast a charm to numb her." Her face turned a pale color and she felt sick to her stomach. She did not think she had done anything different than she had ever done before.
The Healer looked at her with worry, "What charm did you use?" The medi-witch stood there scared of something that she may have done incorrectly. She was not new to the profession, but apparently, something had gone wrong.
"What's going on, Cedric? What is happening?" Hermione was now screaming, as she could not feel anything below her neck. Cedric was panicked as he listened to Hermione shrieking. He wanted to run out of the room. Cedric's eyes darted over to the door. It was so close and would only take a few steps and he could escape this craziness.
"Cedric," Hermione called out to in a frightened voice, "please…promise me if anything happens to me that you will raise this baby around our family and friends." The fleeing instinct vanished as he sensed Hermione's distress. "Let our child know how much we wanted him or her." Hermione glanced up at Cedric, almost begging him, "Please, Ced, let this child know how much I wanted to raise a child and teach him and…"
"Hermione, don't say anything else." He rubbed her arm in comfort. Cedric bent down to look into her eyes, "Everything is going to be fine. You will get to raise this baby." Cedric clasped Hermione's hand and gave it a big squeeze. In one movement, Cedric showed Hermione his confidence in her and their future life together as a family. Words were not needed at the moment; just a look in his eyes reassuring her she would make it through this. The whole room was quiet as they witnessed the tender moment between husband and wife.
Breaking the calming spell, the Healer interrupted, "We need to get this baby out now!" Hermione gave a nod and the Healer and the medi-witch gathered around Hermione's protruding stomach.
Once again, Hermione looked up at Cedric with her tear filled brown eyes, "I love you, Cedric".
"I love you too, Hermione,"
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Ginny had fallen asleep with her head in Harry's lap. He struggled to stay awake as he stroked Ginny's long, red hair. Ron's loud snores were blasting by their side, as Lavender groggily nursed her baby daughter. She looked up and gave a small smile and Harry smiled back. Another three hours had passed since his breakdown in the alleyway and he was exhausted. He looked down at his new baby son Albus, who was sleeping quietly in his baby carrier.
Across the waiting room, Molly and Arthur Weasley were snoozing, their arms wrapped around each other. It was comforting to see two people who had lived through so much pain, were still so devoted and in love. Hermione and Cedric's parents sat close together, whispering softly. Harry could not hear what they were saying to each other, while in another area, every once in awhile Mr. Granger would reach up to rub his wife's back. She would then lean over to pat her husband's knee. The small displays of comfort were the only thing bringing them solace at the moment.
George and Angelina were curled up on the floor, with a well placed cushioning charm, helping them sleep easy. It would be nice to be able to relax enough right now to get some sleep. His worries for Hermione and the baby would not allow it. Just having the people he loved surrounding him was enough. Fred and Katie were draped over each other in the corner, as they passionately kissed. The couple was totally oblivious to the many people in the room. He sniggered, as he saw Fred glance over at him and wink. Harry shook his head at Fred's mischievous nature.
Harry glanced once again at his Muggle watch he faithfully wore. He just could not give it up. Only fifteen minutes had passed since the last time he had checked. He stood and stretched, shaking out the kinks in his legs. He felt a lot older than he really was. But most people his age hadn't lived through as much excitement as he had in their early years. Harry wandered off down the hall. He stood with his hands in his pockets as he tried to peek in the room where Hermione and Cedric were. Barely missing his face, the doors swung open as a junior Healer ran down the hallway. The door burst open again as two medi- witches came out next to run into the room next door. What in the name of Merlin was going on in that room? As the two witches ran back out of the small room with bundles in their arms Harry grabbed the small witch and jerked her to a stop.
"What is going on in there? Is everything fine?" This could either be a good or a bad sign with all of the scurrying that was going on.
"Yes, sir, everything is just fine. The Diggory baby is just about ready to be born."
"So does that mean Hermione is out of danger?" Harry was almost worried to hear the answer from the med-witch.
"Oh yes! Things are going well now and I must get back with these supplies. Excuse me, Mr. Potter." The witch smiled up politely at him and rushed back into the main room. Harry shook his head. When had he grown old and turned into "Sir" and "Mr. Potter?"
Feeling happier than he had felt for the last 24 hours, Harry turned to go deliver the good news about Hermione and the baby to the rest of the family.
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"Cedric, tell me what is happening? I can't see anything but I can tell they are rushing to get the baby out." Hermione still could not feel a thing below her neck, but she figured that was probably a good thing. The main things that she could see were the medi-witches and the Healers bustling about in preparation for their baby's birth.
She also watched Cedric as he looked at all of the St. Mungo's workers hastening to get things prepared. It was like watching someone that was observing a tennis match. Back and forth went Cedric's head as he saw people running in and out of the room. His eyes darted back and forth as they organized the things that would be needed once the baby was born. Hermione felt a little cheated as she was missing the whole show laying flat on her back. She was never one to be left out of something intellectually stimulating. To her, the birth of their child was exactly that, something to be studied and analyzed. She was rather disappointed because she had wanted to give birth to their child naturally, just like Ginny had with her boys. Lavender had opted to be numbed because why bother with the pain if you didn't have to. Hermione knew that this might be her only chance to give birth and she had never dreamt that it would turn out this way. She tried to let the disappointment go and grasp onto the fact her baby was almost here. Hermione wanted to feel this little life safely in her arms, regardless how it got here.
Hearing the incantation of a spell, she supposed they were cutting her to get the baby out. She had seen other women who had this procedure done. The amazing part was that none of them had any scars, unlike the Muggle surgery that delivered babies through a c-section. It was so hard to just lie there waiting for the baby to get out. Hermione started to recite potion ingredients in her mind to focus on something other than the baby.
Cedric's voice once again startled her at the urgency in his voice, "What's wrong with the baby? Why is it that color?" Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she heard Cedric's question. What now was threatening their child?
"Slice the cord…do it now!" The voice of the Healer could be heard down the hallway with how loud he was yelling. "Now come on, baby girl, let's hear you scream." Hermione saw the healer patting something. Then it struck her, he had said baby girl.
"Cedric, did he really say it is a girl? What does she look like? Why is she not breathing yet? What are they doing?" Hermione wanted to jump off the table and grab her daughter, but she still could not move. Hermione's questioning was interrupted by the most wonderful sound in the world; the sound of a baby giving it's first, lusty cry.
"Do you hear her, Hermione? She has a good set of lungs." Hermione looked up to see Cedric smiling with tears rolling down his face. Now at least the tears were tears of joy, not sorrow. At the sight of her husband so emotional, Hermione lost all composure and burst into tears.
"I want to see her. Will someone please hold her up?" Hermione felt so frustrated that everyone else was feasting in the joy of her newborn daughter except her.
"I can do better than that." Cedric went around to the side of the table. He scooped something up in his arms and came back around to her. The breath left her lungs as she viewed her daughter for the first time. She had a little, puckered face, which was now pinking up, and bright red lips.
"Oh, Gods she is so beautiful! I have never seen anything more lovely in my whole life." The small baby opened up her eyes at hearing Hermione's voice. "Look, she recognizes her Mum's voice." Hermione started giggling at the look on her baby girl's face. The baby was trying so hard to focus on Hermione. Cedric brought her closer and Hermione was able to give their daughter a kiss on her forehead.
"See what we did, Hermione? This, I would say, is the most exquisite thing that either one of us has ever created." Cedric looked down with admiration at both his wife and his daughter.
"That is because we created her together, love." Hermione smiled up at Cedric. He leaned down to press his lips gently on hers. He lingered there, making sure to express to her exactly how he felt at the moment.
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Harry was almost hit by the swinging doors once more. This time it was Cedric coming out, with something bundled and cradled carefully in his arms. Cedric looked a little awkward holding the small cooing bundle. "Please tell me that the little baby you are holding belongs to you and Hermione?"
Beaming with pride, Cedric grunted in the affirmative, "Right, mate; this is baby Diggory I am finally holding. Isn't she the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?"
Harry just grinned; remembering how he had felt after James had been born. He had felt like no other baby alive was as wonderful as their son. "She is definitely lovely just like her Mum. But, I think you better make your way into the waiting room. There are many people that have been waiting all night to meet your little princess." Cedric smiled and nodded his head as he carefully walked down the hallway. Harry followed him quickly; not wanting to miss the reactions of the others when they saw the baby for the first time.
Just as he had left them, most of the waiting room occupants were soundly asleep. The only difference was that Ron was snoring even louder than before; it that was even possible. Harry looked over to Cedric who was looking around at everyone trying to decide what to do. Harry decided to help him by taking charge, "Hey you lot! Wake up and meet the newest member of the family!" People started waking up; falling out of chairs, jumping up off of the floor and giving little screams of excitement. Jean Granger had bounded right over Fred and Katie who had not gotten off of the floor yet. "Oh, let me see…is it a boy or a girl?" Giving another huge grin Cedric loudly proclaimed, "It's a girl!" The cheers went up and all gathered around to get a glimpse at the new baby.
"Look at that shock of dark hair!" Lavender felt a little jealous, as her baby daughter had been born almost bald.
"Hermione had hair exactly like that when she was born. As you all know, it's never changed." Jean got much laughter from the group sharing about Hermione as a baby. Jean then turned to Cedric, "How is Hermione doing? What happened in that operating room?" Both of Hermione's parents still showed great concern not having seen their daughter yet.
"She is recovering. It was so grueling for her when she was in labor for so long." Cedric tried explaining everything that had happened. The many women listening all shook their heads in understanding. Having a baby, even when there were no problems, always was a taxing experience.
"The Healers finally had to open her up and take the baby out."
"You mean she had a c-section? How do they do that at this hospital? Will she have a hard time recovering like we do in our world?" Jean was asking so many questions so quickly all Cedric could do was stand there with his mouth hanging open.
Molly Weasley came to his rescue, "Jean dear, in the Wizarding World, we have potions that heal the skin almost instantly. Hermione will not have a long recovery time. Why when I had the twins I was up and about a few hours later even though I had been cut wide open."
The look of relief crossed Jean and Andrew's faces. With Hermione being their only child, they always seemed to be more worried than most parents about their child; especially since she had received her letter from Hogwarts when she was 11 years old.
Andrew turned back to Cedric, "When can we see her?"
"Any time now the Healer said. But he wanted it to be only a few people at a time. I also need to take, um…her back to the nursery."
Harry started laughing, "Does 'Her' have a name yet?" Cedric looked a little uncomfortable at the question finally being asked. This was one of the areas they had not been able to come to an agreement on. They had gone back and forth constantly on possible names for either a boy or a girl.
"Well…I think that we are still in the deciding stage." Cedric continued to look sheepishly at the audience enjoying his discomfort.
Fred spoke up, "How about calling her Hermedric?" Ron snorted at hearing the play on Hermione and Cedric's names.
George then joined in the fun, "Better yet, why not call her Cedmione?" Everyone seemed to be sniggering now; except for Jean and Andrew Granger who thought the Weasley twins were being serious.
"Thanks anyhow you two, but I am sure that Hermione and I will be able to find something suiting to fit this little beauty." Cedric smiled down at his new daughter while the infant looked up at him with keen interest. Speaking only to her he said softly, "You need to head back to your Mum, I know that she will want to see you again."
A huge sigh of relief seemed to go up in the room as Cedric walked away with the new baby. It had been a long, stressful night waiting for her to be born. Now that both Hermione and the baby were out of danger, the anxiety could be left behind.
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Cedric pushed the door open quietly with his shoulder. Hermione was lying down and was sound asleep. If anyone had been stressed all night long, it had been her. Cedric knew that she had been thinking that she would die and had longed to at least hold and love her child for a few moments. Would it be cruel to wake her up to hold the baby? No, he would not wake her now, she needed to rest.
"So, my little one," he said with a whisper, "Should we count your fingers and count your toes to make sure they are all there?" Hermione was woken up by the quiet chatter taking place between her handsome husband and her newborn baby girl. She peeked open an eye to see Cedric holding the baby awkwardly in his large arms.
She quickly shut her eye when Cedric looked over at her and smiled, "Sweet baby girl," he said gently to the cooing, petite babe in his arms, "I hope that you are going to grow up to be just like your Mum." He bent down to plant a kiss on her tiny little forehead. The baby responded by making more of her cute baby sounds.
"If you keep talking like that," Cedric leaned down to touch noses with his firstborn, "you will wake your Mum for sure."
Little did Cedric know, but Hermione had been awake listening and watching her handsome and devoted husband interacting with their child. It was just as she had always known it would be, Cedric was a wonderful father. She was so happy and couldn't ask for more happiness in her life.
"Hey you two, I want to join in all of the fun," Hermione smiled sweetly at Cedric and the baby. "I would really like to hold her if you can let her go for a minute."
Cedric stood up and brought the baby over to her Mum. Hermione held open her arms and gave a great sigh as Cedric placed their daughter in her arms. Hermione could not hold back as the tears started cascading down her face. "Could anything be more precious than her? Did we really do this, Cedric?" Hermione ran her finger down the soft cheek of her little one. The baby sent out more cooing noises as her Mum stroked her.
"So, my love, what are we going to call her? Now that we have seen her face, I think she needs a name." Cedric looked inquiringly at Hermione for her input.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "I still am not sure what name would suit her."
"Let's just decide quickly before Fred and George give her any more nicknames." Cedric shook his head and laughed.
Hermione grinned at Cedric, "So, what did those two clowns call my sweet baby?"
Cedric chortled again, "Fred liked Hermedric and George wanted us to go with Cedmione".
"Oh sweet Merlin above, those are heinous names for such a lovely baby. If I catch either one of them calling my baby by either name, I will hex their bollocks off."
"I will make sure and warn them." Cedric climbed into bed with Hermione and his daughter and put his arms around them. He kissed Hermione's head and protectively gave his little family a big hug. "You know, Cedmione is really not that awful."
Hermione jabbed Cedric in the ribs while giggling the whole time. Looking up at him she said, "I truly hope that you are joking." Cedric answered her by leaning down and kissing her deeply, reassuring her that he was teasing.
"One thing that I will not joke about is this, I love you with all of my heart. " Once again his lips captured hers as they pressed together in a long, spine tingling kiss.
"I like that answer. My heart will always belong to you…and her." Hermione lovingly looked down at their daughter, who had fallen asleep, nestled in her arms.

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PLEASE leave a review if you're reading and liking this story. It means so much to me to hear from my readers. I hope someone surprises me with a little review love!! The epilougue is next where Baby Doggory's name will be revealed!
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Counting Fingers, Counting Toes