Clara opened her mouth to argue, but instead, jumped to her feet as a particularly strong contraction took over Hermione, The lights behind the bed exploded, plunging the room into semi-darkness. Hermione may have wanted to put a pause to the baby’s birth, but her body was unable to stop the natural process taking effect. Tears ran down Hermione’s cheeks, the feeling of complete helplessness breaking her heart into pieces. She was going to die, and with her the baby she’d dreamed endlessly of having for most of her adult life. Loki would be devastated; she feared what would happen to him most of all. In the darkness of the room, the beeping was accompanied by the sobs wracking her body.