a/n: Just a warning, this is going to be a VERY different fic from my two previous ones in quite a few ways. I still think it's worth a read though and I'll be adding some fluffies throughout. So to my faithful readers (all 25 of you out there) I hope you enjoy my first attempt at semi-serious stuff. oh, and just as a random sidenote, I wrote about half of this chapter last night at work on a piece of paper towel. It was the only paper I had on hand and I didn't want to loose the idea. So voila! the product of paper towel writing!

disclaimer: the usual. don't own it. blah blah blah.

Facing the Consequences

Hermione stared vacantly at her cauldron, her mind focused entirely on what she had found out that morning not on the lesson. Amazing how one mistake could change everything.

Ron and Harry noticed her odd behavior, but had given up trying to draw her out when she failed to respond to their numerous queries. She hadn't come down to breakfast that morning and had come stumbling into potions class and to her seat over ten minutes late. Both of these things led her friends to believe there was something very wrong with her. That and she looked like hell. Not even Snape taking off twenty points for her tardiness and her decidedly unkempt appearance seemed to phase her.

Finally Snape had had enough. He stalked over to her desk and practically had to shout her name to get her attention. "Ms. Granger!"

She started violently then looked up at him with bleary eyes.

"Is there a problem I should be aware of, Ms. Granger?"

It had all started about a month before, in late September. She had been named Head Girl and as such had been moved into the Head dormitories with this year's Head Boy. It had been a little awkward at first living in such close proximity to a boy, but they had made it work.

Then at the end of September she had walked into their common room to find him sitting on the window seat, his shoulders shaking in silent sobs. She went over to him and asked what was wrong. He silently handed her the note he had received that morning from an official looking Ministry owl. She read it quickly to herself then moved to hug him, hoping to offer some form of comfort. This soon turned to kissing and…

And now he was sitting only a few seats away, completely unaware of the consequences of their mistake.

She was snapped from her reverie when her name was shouted and struggled to focus on the livid professor in front of her. She knew he was saying something, but everything sounded so far away. Black spots danced in her vision then merged into one and she crumpled to the floor, her face going white as a sheet.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron cried out, rushing to her side.

"Ms. Granger!" Snape's voice changed from annoyance to that of concern. Students just didn't pass out in his class. He rushed forward and checked for a pulse then sighed in relief when he found one. "Potter, Weasley, take her to the hospital wing," he ordered as he stood.

They both nodded silently and Harry levitated the stretcher the professor had conjured with an unconscious Hermione on top of it. They were almost out the door when a soft voice spoke up. "Sir, may I go too?"

Snape stared in shock at Draco Malfoy, not sure if he'd heard him correctly. The eighteen-year-old hadn't said a word since he had gotten the letter from the Ministry the previous month saying that his father had murdered his mother.

"Please, sir?" Draco asked again quietly, his voice rusty from lack of use.

Snape nodded, still in shock, and watched as the Slytherin moved to join the other two boys at the door, both of whom were shooting him suspicious glances but moved to take Hermione to the hospital wing without a word.

Hermione slowly came to when a cool cloth was placed on her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open to see a very concerned Madam Pomfrey hovering over her. The concern soon turned to relief when the nurse saw that she was awake. She started bustling around beside the bed and readjusting the pillows behind Hermione's back so she could sit up a bit more. "You gave us quite a scare there, dear. No, no. Don't get up. We don't want you passing out again."

"Is that what happened?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. Those three boys brought you in, all looking worried sick. I sent them out in the hall till you woke up."

"Three?"

"Yes. Three. Now tell me, have you been feeling ill lately?"

"A little, but nothing terrible. Mostly this last week or so."

Madam Pomfrey frowned. "And I take it you know why you passed out?"

Hermione nodded reluctantly and the nurse sighed. "I'll be talking to you later about it then. And I will have to inform the Headmaster at some point."

The girl sighed in resignation, knowing the Headmaster would have to know sooner or later.

"But that can wait. Here, drink this. Don't worry, it's safe," Madam Pomfrey added upon seeing Hermione's hesitation. The girl drank the awful potion and instantly felt the dizziness subside. "There now. Feel better?"

Hermione nodded again and pushed herself up a little straighter.

"Good." The nurse adjusted the pillows once more then said, "I'll let your friends in now, shall I?"

Hermione agreed, hoping Harry and Ron hadn't been too worried about her. She leaned her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. How on Earth do I tell them?

"Hermione?" A soft voice at the end of the bed brought her head back up again. Harry and Ron were standing there, worry etched across their faces. Standing back a little ways and to the left stood Draco, looking very unsure about himself but concerned for her just the same. He was not someone she was expecting to see there and a startled gasp came out before she could stop it.

He nodded in resignation. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come. I'll go now."

The other two boys exchanged glances, thinking how un-Malfoy like he was being right now, when Hermione stopped him. "No, don't go. I was just surprised to see you."

He hesitated, still looking unsure of himself, then returned to stand at the side of the bed.

Hermione closed her eyes again briefly and drew a shuddery breath. He needs to know. When she opened her eyes again she looked directly at her two best friends. "Can you guys give me a few minutes?"

Harry nodded and headed for the door. "Just send out Madam Pomfrey when you want us to come back in."

Draco moved to go with them, thinking she had meant him too, but she grabbed his hand. "No. S-stay. There's something you need to know."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking intently at her with his silver gaze. "All right."

She looked away and fiddled with her bed sheet. Now that the time had actually come to tell him, she didn't know what to say. Granted, she had only just found out about it herself this morning, but that still didn't make matters any easier.

"Um, do you r-remember last month when we—I mean, of course you remember last month but—and I only found out this morning…" She stopped and took a deep breath then met his gaze straight on. "Draco, I'm pregnant."

phew. okay, so how'd I do? be honest. and I would love reviews :) hopefully I'll be getting the second chapter up soon but no guarantees. I've gotten 7 reviews so far and if I get an even 10 I'll post the second chapter. How's that? And I'm fully aware that Draco's totally OOC, but I figure him growing up and with his mom being murdered and all, her being the one person he was actually close to, would make him a lot more quiet and withdrawn, hence the changes. Hope it doesn't anger anyone too much. Anyway, toodles!

MenenTesa