With all the commotion, Chris didn't even realise when her contraction had started. She felt the pain when she fell down on the ground. She just thought it was because she was hurt, but when Draco yelled, Chris looked down in horror and realised he was right. Her water broke, and the contractions had started. Isla tried to speak, but couldn't because of the silencing charm. She gestured at Ron wildly, and he immediately understood. He undid the silencing charm on both of them. Isla gulped a breath of fresh air.
"But it's not time yet," Chris breathed out, panic filling her voice as she stared at Draco, Ron and Isla. "I'm just eight months along. This shouldn't – I – I –"
"Bloody Hell!" Ron looked equally panicked. "What do we do? We have to call Harry!"
Draco glared at Ron.
"We are two grown men, we can figure it out, Weasley," Draco snapped at Ron before getting on Chris's eye level. "Alright, Chris, you can't panic right now. It's unhealthy for the baby. Just breathe in and out. C'mon."
"But the baby –" Chris tried, but the lack of air in her lungs had her choking.
"Chris, look at me, I know what I'm doing, ok? Ginny and I had our Cyrus four months ago, remember?" Draco said very calmly. "We are going to take you to St. Mungo's, and we are going to inform Harry. You just need to focus on breathing. We will handle the rest, ok?"
Chris nodded, focusing on breathing deeply, but then a contraction hit, and she cried out.
"Weasley, inform the Aurors, they can take care of Stormy; we need to take Chris," Draco practically ordered Ron. "Support her in the car. I will drive."
Ron, however, didn't get moody with Draco's attitude. He quickly nodded, sending a message to the Auror before offering Chris his arm for support. But then his eyes found Isla.
"Isla, I –" Ron looked guilty. "I'm sorry, but we have to take you to the Ministry. You are a Muggle who got caught up in the crossfire. We would need to wipe your memories so that you could lead a normal life. I'm so–"
"Are you crazy?" Isla almost shouted, staring at Ron in disbelief. "I just saw a bunch of crazy people trying to kill my pregnant boss. And now she is in labour. Forget about me right now. She needs to get to the hospital, not wherever this St. whatever is. I'm not leaving her alone with the two of you."
She grabs Chris's other arm, giving her support, and all three of them stare at her in shock.
"But –" Ron looked at Chris desperately, something she hadn't seen in his eyes for a long time. However, Chris didn't have time to understand that look because another contraction hit, and Chris squeezed Ron's arm, and she yelled in pain. Ron winced and yelped at Chris's strong squeeze.
"She saved my life. If she wants to stay, she stays," Chris huffed out, and Draco nodded.
"Let's go," Draco said, walking ahead. "And keep using Weasley's arm when the pain hits."
"I'm sorry, what?" Ron looked shocked.
"You will survive," Isla told Ron as she supported Chris and led her out.
Draco quickly got into the driver's seat of Chris's car as Ron and Isla helped Chris get settled in the back. Ron sat back with Chris, since Chris had his arm in an iron grip, while Isla got into the passenger seat.
"I think I know good hospitals around here," Isla told Draco.
"No, we can't take her into a Muggle hospital," Draco said, starting the car. "It's too dangerous for her."
"Why do you all keep saying that word?" Isla asked, looking back at Ron. "Muggle – what does it even mean, and where are you taking her if not to a hospital? What even are you all?"
Isla's voice rose a little bit; she was still in shock, clearly, but was keeping it together just for Chris's sake.
"It means people who don't have magic," Ron tried to explain.
"Magic? You mean you all are some sort of magicians?" Isla looked wildly around from Ron to Chris to Draco, then back to Ron.
"We use the term Wizards and Witches," Draco supplied.
"You are Witches?" Isla's eyes widened.
"Well, we are wizards," Ron gestured at Draco and himself. Then he pointed at Chris. "And she – used to be a Witch."
"Used to be?" Isla turned to Chris, confused.
"It's a long story," Chris said, trying to keep breathing deeply.
"Right, I'm so sorry, Christina," Isla apologised to Chris. "You are in labour, and I'm asking too many questions about this – I'm trying to put this in the back of my mind –"
"You are doing far better than I expected, Isla," Chris smiled softly despite the sweat on her brow. "You were extremely brave throughout the situation. Not only that, you saved my life despite knowing nothing about the situation. And you are now here with me in this car because you are worried about me. So please don't apologise. You have the complete right to freak out. And honestly, I need distractions!" Chris almost screamed out the last part as another contraction hit.
"Breathe," Draco said from the front seat.
"Oww!" Ron almost screamed again as Chris squeezed his arm. "My god, Chris, how are you this strong?"
Draco and Isla glared at Ron.
"It was meant as a compliment," Ron said quickly before turning to Isla. "Anyways, I actually thought you would run out screaming after that encounter you just had with those wizards."
"What?" Isla said, and Chris glared at Ron this time.
"I mean, they tried to kill you – sorry," Ron muttered.
"You weren't completely wrong. I did feel like freaking out; in fact, I feel it now, too. What were they? Some kind of evil villain wizard group?"
"More or less," Chris answered in between her long breaths before turning to Draco. She was trying very hard to distract herself. "You are driving surprisingly well. How did you learn to drive Muggle cars?"
"Weasleys aren't the only ones obsessed with unique muggle things, you know," Draco smiled side eyeing Ron, whose mouth fell open.
"Do you mean to tell me – Ah!" Ron began but Chris squeezed his arm again as another contraction hit. "We need to get her to St. Mungos. Now!"
Draco nodded and hit the accelerator. He speed through the road – way faster than other cars. Chris didn't even know how he could drive that fast without hitting anything.
"Distractions! Now!" Chris yelled.
"Right!" Ron scrambled looking around. His eyes landed on Isla quickly. "You know, Chris and Harry is most famous and powerful couple in the Wizarding World. She even has her own magical creations."
"How's telling me this helping Christina, Ron?" Isla muttered looking confused.
"I don't know!" Ron yelped in pain as another contraction hit Chris. "My brain is not working, ok? First, you were missing! Then it was Chris! Do you even know how much worried I was for you when I realized they have you! You could have died Isla and I wouldn't have –"
Ron's voice broke and Isla's eyes widened as she grabbed Ron's free hand.
"It wasn't your fault," Isla whispered. "If anything I should have listened to you. You told me to contact you if anything seemed out of place but I ignored your warnings."
"Because you didn't know what danger we were facing," Ron sighed and Chris and Draco traded glances, both surprised. "You weren't supposed to either. And now I have to take you to the Ministry to remove your memory. You would be able to go back to your normal life forgetting this horrible experience."
"What? You mean I would forget? No, I don't want to!" Isla said looking stressed.
"You don't? Why? It was a horrible experience, Isla. You should forget it. You shouldn't know, it's dangerous," Ron said looking worried.
"I don't care! I don't want to forget this. I don't want to forget what – who you really are," Isla declared loudly and Ron looked at her stunned.
Chris's mouth also fell open. How did she not see it? That her assistant was in love with Ron.
"We are here," Draco's calm voice broke the moment and Ron and Isla jumped looking like they completely forgot Chris and Draco was still there.
Draco swiftly got out of the car and opened the door to help Chris out of the car.
"That was one hell of a distraction," Chris muttered as Draco supported her.
"At least now I know why Weasley looked pissed when he found out your muggle assistant was in trouble," Draco whispered to Chris and Chris chuckled.
Ron and Isla got out of the car and followed Draco and Chris. Ron quickly took Chris's other arm. However, just before entering, Draco stopped and looked around. Chris was about to ask what was going on as she could feel another contraction was about to hit. Draco quickly pulled out his wand and mumble.
"Expecto Patronum. Potter, Chris is in St Mungos," Draco said and instantly a large horse Patronus burst out and galloped away, vanishing before the muggles could see.
"A horse?" Chris smiled at Draco despite the pain of another contraction. Her head spinned a bit.
"It's almost always been a horse," Draco said quietly, rolling his eyes as he and Ron helped her walk inside St Mungos. "Ginny is the reason I even have a Patronus, what else would it be?"
"I'm glad I'm surrounded by such sweet men," Chris laughed tiredly. Too tired.
Draco noticed her droopy eyes and looked panicked for the first time.
"Chris, don't lose consciousness," Draco instructed but Chris's vision was already dark.
Chris almost collapsed and Ron called the St Mungos nurses. The nurses quickly rushed her into the delivery room while Draco, Ron and Isla stayed put, looking worried.
***
Harry rushed through St Mungos looking for Chris. He was on the train with Teddy, so he didn't know what was happening at first, then when he got the message that Chris was missing, he wanted to Apparate but Hogwarts Express was enchanted to stop kids from Apparating and neither did the train stopped. Harry was going crazy trying to get back, he almost jumped off the train but Neville who was also travelling in the train, stopped him. He contacted Professor McGonagall to see if she could help Harry get off. Professor McGonagall finally managed to do something to stop the train and Harry got off in the middle of nowhere. That's when Draco's horse Patronus found him. He Apparated immideatly.
He was almost in tears when he found Draco, Ron and Isla sitting in the chairs in the Hallway.
"Where is Chris? What happened? I need to see her!" Harry yelled in panic. He was shaking with fear and worry.
"She is inside, Mate," Ron said instantly getting up and holding Harry's shoulder to calm him down. "She went into labour."
"What? How? When? She is not nine months along – what the fuck happened?" Harry looked around wildly.
"I talked to the healers," Ron explained. "They said sometimes wizards are born early and turn out fine."
"I'm asking about Chris, Ron! What happened to her?" Harry shouted.
"She would be fine, too," Draco said standing up. "The healers just need some time with her. You know she had survived worse."
Before Harry could shout at Draco too, Draco and Ron explained to him what happened with Stormy. Harry sat down hard on one of the chairs. His eyes filled with tears.
"I shouldn't have left her alone. Oh god, I shouldn't have –" Harry muttered to himself.
"You wouldn't have known," Draco said. "They planned it like this."
"Is she dead? Is that Stormy dead?" Harry asked, eyes filled with anger and a cruelty Draco had never seen in him.
"She would be," Ron promised darkly. "For now let's focus on Chris."
Harry buried his face in his hands waiting.
After almost an excruciating hour, the St Mungos healer stepped out. Harry immediately jumped up.
"How is she? Is she ok?" Harry asked.
The healer looked surprised for a moment but quickly smiled.
"She is doing much better, Mr. Potter, but she would need a lot more rest than any other new mother. She gave birth to a –"
"Can I see her?" Harry asked almost at the door and as soon as the nurse nodded, he ran in.
Harry entered the room, heart hammering, only to find Chris lying on the bed with a little baby in her arms.
Chris smiled brightly as she saw Harry.
"She looks just like you," Chris said as Harry came closer.
But Harry just glanced at the child before hugging Chris.
"You are ok, right? Please tell me you are ok. I'm so sorry Chris. I wasn't there. If something had happened to you, I –"
"Hey, hey, hey, shhh," Chris hugged him back. "I'm good. I'm ok. You don't get to blame yourself. Now stop crying and look at her."
Harry finally smiled through his tears before turning to look at the baby girl in Chris's arms.
"She is so little," Harry mumbled, looking at her.
"She had hazel green eyes," Chris smiles at their daughter. "Do you think it would become bright green like yours?"
"Who knows? But this eyes looks prettiest on her," Harry said gently taking the baby in his arms. "What do you wanna name her?"
"Hmm. . ." Chris thought, looking at Harry and the baby in his arms. "How about Hazel? Hazel Lily Potter?"
"Hazel Lily Potter. I like it," Harry grinned looking down at the baby. "You would be the sweetest baby in the world, wouldn't you?"
[To be continued]