Confessional

Three months had passed since Hermione had learned about her pregnancy. She still had yet to inform Harry of the news. It seemed that every opportunity she got to get close to confiding the truth in him, some teacher or problem would whisk him away. The night that she, Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna had gone to the Ministry of Magic in search of Sirius, Hermione had feared that Harry wouldn't survive the night. That night had been the first time she had seen the Dark Lord and it had frightened her. It really gave the girl pause, and she truly saw how brave Harry was.

Presently, the school term was ending and final exams were upon them. To Hermione and her friends' great delight, Professor Umbridge now had a deep-rooted fear of centaurs. However, with the year coming to a close, and not knowing how soon she would be able to see Harry, Hermione resolved to tell him everything before they left for the summer holiday.

This task would prove to be much more difficult than she had anticipated. After Sirius's death, Harry seemed to fall into a cavernous depression. In one way, Hermione could understand. She had cared for Sirius as well, but on so many other levels, Hermione was left dumbfounded. She had been fortunate in her life to have people who cared for her and had suffered very little loss. Sadly, Harry had not. Reflecting on her own childhood and what she knew of Harry's, Hermione surmised that they had grown up in complete antithesis of one another. Thus, Hermione could not bring herself to burden Harry with the news that in six months time, he was to be a father. So, with a heavy heart, and disappointed conscience, Hermione left Hogwarts, still bearing her secret.

That afternoon, as Stephen Granger drove his black 1995 Coupe down the winding streets to their modest home, Hermione toyed mentally with how exactly she was going to tell her parents of her current situation. It had been very unlike Hermione to keep this from her parents but she was frightened of what they would say or worse, do. That night at dinner, she decided she would simply tell them the truth flat out.

"Mum. Dad. I have to tell you something," Hermione began as the three Grangers sat in the sitting room just after having dessert.

"What is it darling?" Emily asked, looking at her daughter over the News section of the Muggle paper she had begun reading.

"Well um…" she began, looking everywhere but at her waiting parents.

"Are you ok?" Stephen asked as he came to sit beside his child on the beige sofa.

"I don't know how to say this but…I'm pregnant," the teenage girl blurted, her cheeks flushing a deep red.

The room was silent. Her mother had laid the paper down on her lap and was now gawking at her daughter, her jaw hanging open. The girl's father's complexion had paled to just within a few shades of Professor Snape. Hermione waited for someone to speak, glancing nervously down at her hands, clasped in her lap. Hermione looked up just in time to see the light in her mother's eyes go out.

"Hermione Anne Granger when did this happen? Whose the father?" Emily roared, completely bowled over at her offspring's news.

"About three months ago. Harry's the father," the chestnut haired female answered just loud enough for her maternal guardian to hear.

"Three months Hermione! Why didn't you tell us? It's almost too late to fix this," Stephen stated, looking very disappointed in his only child.

"Fix it? Daddy no! You can't make me! I won't!" Hermione shouted, leaping from her seat to stand in front of her father, utter defiance in her manner.

"You're just a child. You can't take care of a baby," her mother stated, suddenly seeming a bit calmer.

"Yes I can!" the girl cried, tears beginning to run down her flustered cheeks.

"Hermione while you live under this roof, you are going to listen to me," her father exploded, causing the girl to take several astonished steps backwards.

"Then I'm leaving! I'll go stay with the Weasleys," she bellowed and flew from the room in a rage of tears.

She rushed to her room and began tossing things in her school trunk. She shut and locked her door to make sure her parents could not stop her. Once she had her things gathered somewhat messily together, she took out a lighter and walked to her small fireplace. She was really very grateful that her room had come equipped with the stone structure. She quickly started a fire and returned the lighter to her desk drawer. Next she pulled a small black pouch from one of the sealed compartments in her trunk. She dragged the heavy case to within a few inches of the fireplace and pointed her wand at it.

"Diminutas," she muttered and her trunk instantly shrunk to fit in her pocket.

Hermione opened the pouch and flung some Floo powder into the crackling orange flames. The fire turned a rather fluorescent shade of green as the girl stepped towards it. Taking a deep breath and praying that traveling via the Floo Network wouldn't endanger the development of her child, Hermione stated her destination.

"The Burrow," she said and into the flames she stepped.

"Ronald would you please pass the---" Mrs. Weasley began but was interrupted by a loud crash in the sitting room.

Molly bolted from the table and into the other room. The two remaining Weasley children rushed in after their mother to see what was going on. The three redheads found Hermione struggling to pull her rather large trunk out of the entirely too small fireplace. Stifling a snicker, Ron went over and helped his friend hoist the oversized coffer onto the wood floor.

"Hermione dear. What are you doing here?" Molly questioned, her arms crossed over her voluptuous chest.

"My parents said I could come stay with you…I hope it's alright. I know I should have sent a letter first or something but—"'Mione mumbled.

"Of course you can stay!" Ginny squealed, sending a pleading look in her mother's direction.

"You are always welcome here Hermione. Come in, we're just sitting down to dinner," the older woman stated and headed back into the kitchen.

Once everyone was situated back at the table, Hermione between Ron and Ginny, they began to eat. Hermione surprised everyone by having seconds and then thirds of everything.

"'Mione you alright?" Ron asked after he swallowed his bite of beef.

"I'm fine. I was just hungry," the 16-year-old answered.

"Well, if I ate that much that fast I think I'd be massively ill," he added after receiving a questioning look from Molly.

"Ginny, why don't you go help Hermione bring her things up to your room. We're leaving for Order headquarters in two days so you two need to pack," Arthur instructed, nodding his head in his children's direction at the latter part of his statement.

The kids departed from the kitchen and went to their separate rooms. Once Hermione and Ginny had managed to drag her school trunk up the stairs and into the youngest Weasley's room, Hermione plopped down on her friend's bed.

"So who do you think Dumbledore will get to replace Umbridge?" Ginny asked as she sat on her floor.

"I hope it's not another Ministry nutcase," Ron muttered as he walked in and plopped down across from his sister.

"Maybe he'll finally let Snape have the job," Hermione mused, a wry grin on her face.

"Yeah right 'Mione. With You-Know-Who back, I doubt the Headmaster would risk that. Besides, I don't want to see that greasy git any more than I have to," Ron groused, promptly being pummeled with several pillows.

Ron through the pillows back at his friend of five years, eliciting a couple of giggles and huffs. The trio spent the rest of the night and the better part of the following day preparing themselves for the return to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

"When do you 'spose Harry will get there?" Ginny asked as the five wizards prepared to Floo to the headquarters.

"Well we'll see when we get there. Come on now," Mrs. Weasley replied, ushering her family and Hermione towards the fireplace.

It was a week before Harry arrived at Number 12, and Hermione was glad for it. It had given her time to gather her thoughts and calm herself down. She'd prayed every night since she'd run away, that her parents wouldn't try to come for her and so far her wish had come true. So, one week after she had arrived at the Weasleys, she sat in the living room, greedily shoving potato chips down her throat. Just as she reached a thoroughly greasy hand back into the now near-empty bag, Professor McGonagall came in, looking rather perplexed.

"Miss Granger this arrived for you this morning," the elderly witch stated, handing the young girl an envelope.

Hermione took the package and quickly wiped her hands on her shorts to remove some of the grease. She tore the envelope open and pulled out a piece of computer paper and read the typed text on it.

Hermione,

Please come home. I've talked to your father. Sweetheart, we want to help you. If you want to keep the baby, your father and I will support your decision.

Love,
Mum

A tear began to roll down Hermione's face as she read the short letter from her mother. A wave of guilt swept over her as she sat on the sofa; almost three and a half months pregnant and a runaway from her own parents. She didn't notice that her Transfiguration Professor had taken a seat next to her.

"Is everything alright Miss Granger?" she asked kindly.

All Hermione could do was shake her head in the negative. By now, tears had begun spilling over like waterfalls down her flush cheeks. The teenage girl leaned her head on the older woman's shoulder as she heaved several large sobs. Minerva patted her soothingly on the back.

Just then, Remus Lupin came in followed promptly by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks and Harry. Hermione looked up as the small group entered the room. Immediately she sat up and began wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She gave her friend a weak smile and stood up, making sure to pick up the letter from her mother. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the raven-haired boy.

"Long time no see Harry," she said giving him a hug.

"I need to talk to you right away," she whispered in his ear as she let go of his muscular frame.

Harry smiled briefly at the adults in the room before he turned and left in search of Hermione. He found her sitting in one of the large chairs in the library. He knocked lightly on the doorframe, not wanting to frighten her. He entered the room full of books and sat down across from her.

"So…what is it you needed to talk about 'Mione?" Harry queried.

"Um…well please don't get upset ok," the sixteen-year-old female began, trying not to make eye contact.

"Ok," Harry answered, a sense of confusion in his tone.

"I'm well…Oh god this seemed so much easier when you weren't actually here," she said, a sad smile on her lips.

"What is it?" Harry pressed, leaning forward to make sure he didn't' miss anything.

"I'm pregnant," she finally managed to blurt out.

She leaned back and let out a sigh of relief. She had done it. She had confessed to both her parents and Harry that she was with child and she had survived both times. Harry stared at her, a look on his face signaling that he was trying to comprehend the news that he had just been entrusted with.

"Who is the father?" he managed to choke out.

"You," she said, subconsciously gripping the arms of the chair.

"Oh god! Are you serious? How long?" he babbled jumping from his seat, beginning to pace.

"I'm serious Harry. I'm about three and a half months," Hermione answered, rising to meet him as he crossed in front of her.

"What are we going to do? Are you keeping the baby?" he asked, a seemingly endless stream of questions flying around in his mind.

"I'm keeping the baby. But I---," she began.

"You're not going through this alone. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you or our baby," he said, cutting her off.

Hermione was shocked. She stood still, looking at the father of her child in utter disbelief. She hadn't expected him to be that accepting and willing to be a part of their child's future. But then again, it was Harry and he was sometimes very unpredictable.

"I suppose we'll have to tell your parents then," he muttered, moving to hold her hand.

"They already know. I sort of ran away when my dad threatened to make me get an abortion," she replied, leaning into Harry's left shoulder.

"Well I know how my Aunt and Uncle would respond. They'd kick me out no matter what Professor Dumbledore said," Harry mused.

"I suppose we need to tell them, Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the staff," Hermione sighed, placing her right palm on her stomach.

She was just beginning to show and she had no doubt that the adults in the Order would soon figure out that something was out of the ordinary and would come confront her on it. So, the duo made their way downstairs, hands intertwined and went in search of the adults.

Harry and Hermione found the small group of Order members assembled in the kitchen. Tonks and Remus were helping Molly start the preparations for dinner. McGonagall sat at the table, her walking stick leaning up against the wall behind her. She was in deep conversation with Dumbledore. Finally, in the corner by the fire, Professor Snape stood, gazing out at the dying afternoon sky. All of the adults looked up as Harry held the door for Hermione. The two teens exchanged a quick smile before facing the Order.

"Dinner won't be ready for another hour," Molly said coolly, turning back to the food she had been preparing.

"Oh. Well, we have something we need to talk to Professor Dumbledore about," Harry replied, walking over to the table where the two older Professors sat.

"Yes Harry?" the blue eyed old man inquired.

Just then, Hermione pulled out the letter from her pocket and picked up the stray quill on the table and wrote hastily. Upon finishing, she passed it to the Headmaster. The aged wizard pushed his half-moon spectacles up higher on his nose and read the girl's scrawled note.

I'm three and a half months pregnant and Harry is the father.

"Is this true Mr. Potter?" the white-haired man questioned of the teenage boy.

"Yes sir," Harry replied, looking rather proud.

"Hermione, do you any idea when---," Albus began, addressing the pregnant teen.

"March. So if my math is correct it will be in December," she answered.

Just then, Professor Snape turned his gaze to the hushed conversation at the table. His eyes past over Harry, then Hermione and back again. A rather disgusted look flickered on his gaunt features, which slowly gave way to a look of amusement.

"Why doesn't someone explain all of this," Remus stated calmly, shooting a disappointed look in Severus's direction.

"Well um…god this really doesn't get any easier the more you say it," Hermione babbled.

"It's ok 'Mione. Just tell them," Harry whispered softly in her ear.

"Harry and I are going to have a baby in December," she said, her voice surprisingly calm.

All of the kitchen's inhabitants, minus Dumbledore, looked stunned. They'd all thought Hermione and Harry were relatively responsible people and to find out they'd just gone and done something as severe as start a family was mind boggling.

"Well, well. Look what Potter's gotten himself into this time. Not so easy to get yourself out of this one is it?" the Potions Master quipped nastily.

"Who said I'm getting out," Harry shot back angrily.

"Severus please, that doesn't help the situation," Albus retorted, casting a weary look in the double agent's vicinity.

"My parents already know," Hermione alleged softly.

"I don't think it's a smart idea to tell my Aunt and Uncle Professor," Harry piped.

"And why is that, Harry?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Well, they'd throw me out no matter what you said so let's just not go there," Harry answered matter-of-factly.

Dumbledore nodded, seeming to accept Harry's reasoning. Professor Snape continued to glare disapprovingly in the couple's direction. However, his glare was met with a rather nasty one from Hermione. She locked her russet gaze onto his onyx and gave him the nastiest look a pregnant girl could muster.

"Come on Hermione. We need to tell Ron and Ginny," the father of her child muttered, taking hold of her right forearm.

Hermione nodded and followed him out of the kitchen and into the cool hallway. Hermione sat down gracelessly on the bottom step and stretched out. Harry seated himself next to her and gazed lovingly at her abdomen.

"Can I…feel the baby?" he asked shyly, his gaze darting about.

"Sure," the impregnated teen murmured as she reached out her hand to take his.

She placed his hand palm down on her lower abdomen. He felt the slightest big of bulge there and a smile spread over his features. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever touched and he was going help this tiny, defenseless creature survive the big bad world.

That evening after dinner, Harry and Hermione cornered the two youngest Weasley children in the girl's bedroom. Ron and Ginny had begun playing chess when the couple had entered the room. Harry had promptly shut the door and sat down on Hermione's bed. Hermione soon joined him, resting her head on his shoulder. She half closed her eyes as she took in the feeling of his shoulder supporting her weight. A serene smile settled itself on her full lips.

"You feelin' alright 'Mione?" Ginny asked in a concerned tone, her attentions distracted from the game.

"Yeah. You do know that you look like you've just had a nice snog," Ron muttered, glancing uneasily at Harry.

"Ronald Weasley! Where do you get such rude ideas," Ginny snapped, smacking her brother on the arm.

"It's ok Gin. I haven't been snogging, Ron…" Hermione began.

"But I'm not sure I'd say you're feeling alright," Harry interjected, his right arm snaking around to rest on his companion's right shoulder.

"Alright you two. What's going on?" Ron demanded, still massaging the spot where his sister had hit him.

"I'm pregnant," the sixteen-year-old said, rather calmly.

"Wow, I think that's the fastest you've ever said it," Harry said jokingly.

"Yeah. I guess it was," 'Mione replied with a smirk.

"You're what!" Ginny screamed, shock overshadowing her features.

"Ginny shut your trap. I'm sure the adults heard you, and probably half of Muggle London as well," Ron spat.

"Ron calm down. The adults know, as do my parents," Hermione consoled.

"And who…oh, well congrats mate," Ron murmured, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at Harry and put two and two together.

"Thanks," the famous wizard stated, a goofy smile spreading from ear to ear.

"Harry, aren't you afraid that You-Know-Who might find out and try to hurt 'Mione?" Ginny questioned, shivering slightly at the mention of Lord Voldemort.

"If he even considers hurting her or the baby, I'm going to kill him," Harry seethed, anger suddenly filling every fiber of his being.

"And even if he doesn't, I might just kill him anyways," he added as an afterthought, his mind quickly jumping to the Prophecy.

"Let's not talk about it ok," Hermione begged as she rubbed her bulging abdomen.

That night and the rest of the summer was spent doing summer schoolwork, playing chess and tidying up the house. Kreacher had taken up permanent residence with the Malfoys. At least that was what Professor Dumbledore had implied.

The day finally came when the quartet headed off for their next year at Hogwarts. As they found a compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express, Hermione couldn't help but feel extremely nervous. Ron and Ginny had finally accepted the fact about two weeks ago but Hermione was very unsure of how the rest of her classmates would react. Halfway through the journey, Hermione would get her first taste of peer judgment.

The compartment door opened and the looming forms of none other than Draco Malfoy and his two flunkies, Crabbe and Goyle, filled the doorway. The group of Gryffindors groaned as the trio of Slytherins waltzed into the already crowded section.

"Well if it isn't Potter and his little lapdogs, Granger and the Weasels," Draco drawled in a superior tone.

"Bugger off Malfoy. You're not wanted," Harry growled.

"Manners Potter. Though growing up around those disgusting Muggles, its not hard to see that you don't have any," Malfoy spat back coolly.

"He said leave Malfoy, now get out!" Hermione bellowed standing and pointing her wand menacingly at him.

"My, my Granger. Put on a few pounds have we?" Draco sneered, while Crabbe and Goyle guffawed loudly behind him.

"I said get out you filthy, disgusting little rat," the pregnant teen seethed through clenched teeth.

With that, Harry rose and angled his wand in Draco's direction as well. His emerald eyes shot sparks of anger and daring, almost as if to say 'try and mess with her you little git'. After several tense moments, Malfoy spun around and glided out of the Gryffindor compartment, followed promptly by his cohorts.

"God I hate him!" Ginny muttered as Harry reached forward to close the compartment door.

"We all do Ginny," her older brother replied, his eyes glancing in Hermione's direction.

"Do you 'spose he figured it out?" the redhead continued, nodding at his friend's ever-growing stomach.

"I don't know. God I hope not. Just think of the rumors he'll spread," Hermione whined, sinking to the seat in-between the Weasleys.

"Well Hermione, people are bound to notice at some point," Harry stated, reseating himself.

"But when they ask questions, I want to answer them. I don't want them to be coming from him," the auburn haired- girl spat.

Hermione ended the conversation by gazing out the window as the train rushed past breath-taking landscapes. Within what seemed like a split-second, the train had arrived at Hogsmeade Station. The four friends grabbed a carriage and settled in for the short ride up to the castle.

'This is going to be a long year,' Harry thought to himself, a sense of hope coursing through his thoughts.