Sisters of Life
Summary: In Order of the Phoenix, Hermione has a secret. And so does Cho Chang. The two girls become best friends, despite Cedric cheating on Cho with Hermione. What does he have to do with what they are hiding from the school? Ron and Harry know their secret. A baby! (Or 2?)
Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, obviously!
All summer, Hermione had been acting odd. Ron had been bugging her about since she arrived at Grimmuald Place, but she refused to talk about it. Not even Ginny or Harry knew what was wrong.
"Hermione? Please, come one. What's wrong?" Ron asked, gently.
"I'm not ready to tell you yet. She deserves to hear first. Oh, I hope she forgives me," Hermione continued talking, confusing both Ron and Harry immensely.
"Who deserves to hear first?" Harry asked.
"Cho," Hermione answered absentmindedly.
Harry and Ron looked at it other, surprised. "Will you tell us after you talk to Cho?"
"Sure, Harry." Hermione smiled, "I'll tell all three of you at the Welcoming Feast when we get to Hogwarts."
Harry and Ron exchanged another look, both thinking 'the feast can't come soon enough'.
"Hermione, Ginny, I need you two to set the table" Mrs. Weasley called upstairs. Ginny came out of her room and walked down the stairs, Hermione following her.
Ron and Harry sat on the Harry's bed in their room they were sharing.
"What should we do about Hermione?" Harry asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Wait for the Welcoming Feast I guess. Mum would go crazy if we told her something was wrong with Hermione," Ron answered.
"Okay. I just hope she is all right. Why was she talking about Cho?" Harry wondered aloud.
"No clue. She's sharing me though. Every time I get to close to her, she winces. Or I ask a questions that's too personal, she stops talking," Ron explained.
"Do you think someone hurt her?" Harry said.
"I don't think so. Hermione knows how to protect herself. It must be something really personal if she won't talk to us," Ron said.
"I know. I can't wait for school to start again, so we can figure out what's wrong."
The Great Hall, Welcoming Feast
Harry pointed to a toad-like woman sitting at the staff table, saying "She works for Fudge. What is she doing here?"
"What?" Hermione asked in alarm, trying to figure out who their DADA teacher would be.
"She was at my hearing," he explained.
Hermione muttered something under her breath that sounded like, "Another thing to worry about," as she marched off to the Ravenclaw. Most students stared as Hermione went over to Cho and tapped her on the shoulder. Cho stood and followed Hermione to the Gryffindor table by Harry and Ron.
Cho looked confused though the Sorting and the few words Dumbledore said. "Tuck in!" he announced to the Great Hall. Cho turned to Hermione, a questioning look on her face. Harry and Ron stared at Hermione too.
Hermione took at deep breath. "This is really hard for me to say. Cho, it's about Cedric. There was something he didn't tell you. I'm so sorry." She ducked her heard and they were all quite she had started crying.
"Hermione, it is okay. I promise. Nothing is as bad as it seems," Cho comforted her. "It is not like he cheated on me or anything is it?" She joked, laughing.
"Worse," Hermione muttered, still staring down at her empty plate.
"So much for Hufflepuff loyalty," Harry remarked. Cho and Hermione both glared. "Sorry," he muttered, as Ron started laughing.
"It was a one night stand," Hermione continued, more quietly, glancing around at her fellow Gryffindors to see if they overheard. Nobody did.
"What?" Ron asked, bemused. Harry whispered the definition in his ear and Ron turned a dark red. "Hermione," he gasped.
"Yes, Ron?" she asked meekly.
"HERMIONE! YOU HAD SEX WITH CEDRIC DIGGORY LAST YEAR?" Ron bellowed.
Hermione sunk down in her seat as everyone in the Great Hall swirled around to stare at her.
Draco Malfoy stood and leered, "Who would sleep with Mudblood Granger? I can't believe they made a girl like her prefect? Losing your virginity at 14? With Diggory?"
Professor McGongall stood looking stern. "Mr. Malfoy, please sit down. I want to hear no more outlandish rumors for you. Ms. Granger is a fine student. You should follow her example."
Once everyone resumed eating, Harry tried to calm down Ron. Cho and Hermione continued talking.
"When did it happen?" Cho asked.
"The night before the tournament," she admitted.
"That makes sense," Cho said, sounding extremely composed for the news she had just heard. "We were arguing then and I was going to apologize, but he said he was too nervous to talk. So I guess you are about three months along."
"Yes," Hermione answered. "I don't think anyone will be able to tell for a while. The robes are so loose, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Do any of the teachers know?" Cho asked.
"Just Madam Pomfrey, McGonagall, and Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"Well, you are a bit farther along than I am," Cho said nonchalantly.
"What?" Hermione gasped, looking shocked.
"Oh, I'm pregnant too."