"The baby...she's here," she whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder as he took the baby from her arms.
"Such a beauty she is," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "Tis a beauty."
She blushed as he brushed a kiss over her lips, and Zipphorah came besides them.
"Mama, what will you name her?" Zipporah asked anxiously, and they all looked up to the midwife.
"Suzanna?" he asked her anxiously, stroking her hair away from her face.
"Susan?" Cormac repeated, looking at her with concern. "What do you want to name her?"
She looked between Zipphorah and David and Cormac and their new baby girl.
A beautiful baby girl.
"Dominique," she smiled.
"Why?" David asked, taking her hand.
"Because Dominique indeed is a gift from God," Susan smiled, feeling her eyes become blurry.
"Of course," David smiled. "And a nearly-alike namesake for me?" He laughed as he saw Susan smiled drowsily at him.
"I love you," David smiled, handing her a note in her hands and kissing her on the forehead. "Come on, Zipphorah - no, leave Dominique here."
"Iloveyoutoo," Susan murmured drowsily as Zipporah squeezed her mother's hand and followed after her dad. Susan's eyes shut after that, leaving no trace of life after that.
-----
"Here, here, Nikka," Cormac teased her baby, making Dominique burst into a little bubbles of laughter.
"Oh Cormac," Susan complained, rocking the baby quietly. "You're going to give her a case of hiccups."
"My mother did that to me," Cormac declared.
"Really?" Susan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but that was when I was still in her stomach," Cormac pronounced, and Susan hit him playfully on the arm.
"What did David say?" Cormac asked.
"He said that if we could meet him outside tonight by the tree, he can bring all of us to get Dominique here Christened."
"Really?" Cormac asked, his eyes lighting in excitement.
"Yes," Susan nodded. Then she looked at Cormac shyly, and said softly, "David and I want you to be her Godfather."
"Me?" Cormac asked, his eyes wide in disbelief. Susan nodded, and he clutched his forehead.
"But..what if we..you know...have to take...well...."
"Either way, you will always be in Nikka's life," she smiled, touching his cheek briefly. He blushed and looked away.
"I would be honored to, Mrs. Suzanna Bones."
"I would be honored as well, Mr. Cormac McLaggen."
"Susan?" Harry's voice rang, and Susan clutched Dominique close to her chest as Harry approached. His eyes were lighted up in excitement.
"How are you?" Harry asked breathlessly, and Susan simply smiled and looked down at the baby, who was cooing and outstretching her arms so Harry or Cormac could take her.
"I'm well," Susan said simply, jiggling the baby up and down. "Shh Nikka...there we go...my good girl..." she cooed as Dominique's face began to scrunch up into tears.
"Susan?" Harry asked. "Is she...yours?"
Susan looked up immediately at such an insulting comment as this. "Yes, this is Dominique, my baby," she said coldly. She saw Harry flinch at the sound of her tone, and she looked away.
"Susan, we better get going," Cormac said hurriedly, nodding his head towards the clock.
"I suppose you're right," Susan said tiredly and took the baby into her arms. "Shh...Nikka...oh goodness." Dominique began crying helplessly, clearly hungry.
"Here..." Cormac said, digging through her knapsack and handing her a bottle. Susan took it and coaxed Nikka to begin to suck at it, drawing milk inch by inch.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she said, flustered. "But we need to go."
"All right," Harry said, looking down. He looked at Cormac and said, "Could we have a word?"
"Very quickly," Cormac said, and Susan watched as Harry and Cormac walked off and began to converse.
"I can't tell you," Cormac's voice rang, and Harry looked angry at whatever that they were discussing. Cormac's, however, looked infuriated.
The clock began to ding, six dongs were heard.
"Come on," she said tiredly, walking up to the two Gryffindors and taking Cormac's arm. "I'm sorry, Harry."
And without looking back, they walked down the hallway, away from a devastated harry.
