Chapter 2

7 weeks later (Herm. POV)

"So what seems to be the problem today?" I ask in my best Healer voice.

"I've been vomiting for the past two weeks, I've been emotional, and my feet and breasts have been swelling as well." The patient recited.

"Alright. I'm going to ask you some routine questions." I glance up from my clipboard and see her nod. "Have you been sexually active?"

"Yes." She says and blushes.

"Were you having protected sex at the time?" I drone in a clinical voice.

"Uh, n-no."

I immediately know what is wrong. "When was your last menstruation cycle?" I ask.

"Uh, I don't remember. Maybe two months ago?" She guesses. Her eyes go wide and she stares at me. "Why? I can't be pregnant. Can I?" She says in a panicked tone.

"I wont know for sure until we do some tests." I say in a calming voice. "I'm going to have the nurse give you a cup so you can give us a sample."

"I can't have a baby. I'm not ready. I'm only twenty. I can't be pregnant." She says panicking and starting to hyperventilate.

"You may not be. We don't know for sure yet. I need you to stay calm and breathe O.K.?" I say trying to get her to calm down. I am about ninety percent sure she is pregnant though.

She took a big breath in and out. "O.K." she says shakily.

"Good. Now, this wonderful nurse is going to give you a cup and send you to the restroom. I need you to fill it so we can send it down to lab."

"O.K." She says in a daze. "I only had unprotected sex once you know? I missed my period and chalked it up to stress from my job. I missed it again and thought I was just not getting it. I'm only twenty. I don't think I can raise a child." She whispers the last part.

I don't know how to respond, so I just nod. She walks toward the bathroom with the nurse. She didn't think anything of her missed period because she thought it was from stress. When was the last time I have gotten my period? Did I get it this month? Did I get it last month? I shift my clipboard to my other side and accidently brush my left breast.

"Ouch!" I hiss. That isn't supposed to hurt. I look down and notice that my bra is too small. 'Or your breasts are swollen and painful' is the thought that squeezes its way forward.

I stop dead in my tracks when I pass the calendar in the hall. September 13. 'Crap' I haven't gotten my period in seven weeks. 'Not good, not good, not good.' I internally chant to myself. I turn on my heel and race to the closest potion closet. I whip open the door and rush in.

"Skin regrowth, burn cream, gilly water," I mumble under my breath. "Ah! Pregnancy Potion!"

I take the potion and put it into my lab coat and head back to the patient room. I walk through the door and find her sitting on the bed. She looks sad and scared.

"You're doing great. It should only be a couple more minutes." I announce reassuringly.

"Thanks" Is the quiet reply I get back.

The phone rings and breaks our awkward silence. I rush over and pick up the receiver.

"Healer Granger speaking"

"Yes, I have the results for your patient, uh, Vanessa Taylor?"

"Yes. What are they?" I say professionally.

"The test cam back positive. Your patient is pregnant." 'Great'

"O.K., thank you." I reply back.

I turn back and face her. She looks at me with wide and misty eyes. 'Shite.'

"You're pregnant. Congratulations." I say in a small voice.

She starts sobbing and her whole body shakes in the violence of it. I stand there not knowing what to do. I move slowly over to her. I take her hand and hold it the best I can.

"I suggest you go out and buy some books. Research your options. Make a pros and cons list." The inner bookworm in me breaks out.

"It was just once!" Is all I hear from her. 'I know what you mean' I think morosely to my self. The potion in my pocket seems to burn a whole through my coat. 'I need to know.' I pat her on her back a few more times and head for the door.

When I walk out I send a nurse in there to help comfort her. I brusquely walk to the bathroom on this floor. I round the corner and barge into the ladies restroom. I rush over to the closest stall and fling open the door. I slam the door and lock it.

I turn around to slouch on the door. I take the potion out of my pocket and rip the instructions off. I open the paper and read it carefully.

"Consume the potion to know if you are with child! After consumption, wait for three minutes. Once your time is up, your lower abdomen will glow pink for positive, and blue for negative. Your abdomen will remain bright for thirty seconds. Once done, dispose of the vial in a proper manner."

I hurriedly swallow the potion in one gulp. I set my wand to go off in three minutes and close my eyes. I rest my head on the door and wait in anticipation. I don't know what to feel. My heart can't decide what to feel at this moment. I'm too young to be a parent. I don't know how to be a mum. My wand goes off with a ding that echo's in the bathroom.

I look down to my stomach. Pink. I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant at eighteen. I'm growing a fetus inside of my uterus. I can feel my stomach roll over itself. I rush forward and pull my hair back just in time for my lunch to come spewing out. I dry heave when I have nothing left in me.

I wipe my mouth and stand on shaky legs. I flush and turn around to unlock the door. I walk over the washbasin and turn on the water. I scrub my hands until they turn red. I lean on the basin and look in the mirror. I look pale and exhausted. I look away and grab a towel. I walk into the main hallway after I finish drying my hands.

I walk to the nurse's desk to update some files, when I bump into the last person I want to see today.

"Not paying attention to where we are going Healer Granger?" Came the frumpy voice of my head, Healer Herman.

"Uh, s-sorry Healer Herman." I ground out as a wave of dizziness hits me.

"Are you sick Healer Granger?" He barked out.

"Yes sir. I think I am coming down with a cold." I lie. I don't think I can be here and do anyone any good.

"Then go home! I don't need you getting staff and patients sick!" was the angry response I got.

"Yes sir." I say and dash off.

I don't even bother to grab my stuff from the locker room before leaving. I make it to the fireplace before a wave of nausea hits me as well. I grab some floo powder and step in. "The Burrow!" I shout.

I swirl away in flames of green. I feel like puking and then passing out. I land hard and stumble out of the fireplace. I rush into the kitchen and vomit again. This time, my puke comes out as just bile. I wipe my mouth with the back of hand. I grab my wand and mutter a cleaning and odor charm under my breath.

I head upstairs to my bedroom for a nap before dinner. I push open my door and kick off my shoes. I don't even bother to take off my scrubs before I collapse onto my bed. I try to think of ways to tell him that don't sound completely idiotic. I close my eyes and decide to think about it later. I drift into a deep slumber from my sheer exhaustion.

One week later

I still haven't told him. I haven't told him yet. I need to tell him. He deserves to know. I only just decided that I wanted to actually keep the child. I decided that the pros just barely outweighed the cons. Still, they ended up winning. I just need to tell him now.

I look up at the stars from my spot on the porch. I had to get out of there before I blurted out my secret to him in front of everyone. I'm actually rather surprised Harry, Ginny, or Molly haven't figured it out by now. Harry and Ginny caught me having my 'Morning sickness' yesterday at lunch. I can tell they have their suspicions though. I hear the door creak open behind me and turn my head.

I whip it back to where it was when I see who it is. 'Just the person I need to talk to' I think without humor.

"Hey." Fred says with a carefulness that shouldn't be necessary.

"Hey." I say back quietly. The guilt starts to eat at me quickly.

"Just wanted to make sure that you were doing O.K. You seemed tense in there. I know we said not to make it awkward, but I don-"

"I'm pregnant." I say cutting him off. 'Great. That's exactly how someone should find out they got someone pregnant.' I think in dry humor that is so inappropriate at this given moment.

His eyes go wide and his jaw slackens even more. He closes his mouth to just open it again a second later. He does this a few times and it reminds me of a fish. He finally closes it with a snap and looks at me with expressive eyes. He looks surprised, scared, uncertain, and something I can't quite identify.

"Y-you, preg-what? Ho-what? What?" Is what he settles for when all other words fail him.

"I'm pregnant." I say with my voice even and calm. I don't know how I manage to sound calm when I think I'm about to explode.

"And I," He trails off.

"And you are the father." I say with a roll of my eyes.

"Sorry, I juts, can't even think straight at the moment. Dumb question." He says gazing off.

"You don't have to be involved. I can do it by myself." I say quietly.

"No! I-I just need to think. I just need to wrap my head around it. I will not let you raise our child by yourself." He says firmly.

"O.K." I say with a small smile.

We sit in silence for what seems like hours. We sit there until we hear Molly call us in from outside. He's about to open the door when I grab his elbow.

"Can we keep this between us?" I ask. "You can tell George, just, can you not tell anyone else? I want to tell them all next week."

He nods and gives me a small smile that only seems slightly forced. He opens the door and walks in. I head in as well and don't bother to say goodbye to anyone. I head to my room to get ready for bed.

I get into bed when I finish my nightly routine. I turn off all the lights and lay in darkness. 'Well, I told him.' I think with only a slight sourness. I roll onto my side and curl up. I gently place my hand on my stomach. I rub small circles on my flat stomach.

I think about the coming months, the months that won't have be ridden with morning sickness, the first kicks, my eventual expanding stomach, and of course, the actual labour part.

I pull up my shirt and stare at my stomach. From my angle, I can still count my ribs, I can still see my jutting hips, and I fear that I am too small to carry a child. 'I'll put on weight.' I chant to myself.

After the battle at Hogwarts, I had never been able to put on more than 8 pounds. After living in the woods for all those months, I had grown use to the feeling of hunger, and eventually, I stopped becoming hungry. 'I need to eat more. I have to remember that it isn't just me anymore.' I say to myself.

I push my shirt back down and wrap my arms around my stomach. I close my eyes and fall into a blissful sleep. I dream of bushy orange hair, blue eyes, freckles, and tan complexions.

I open my eyes and turn to my clock. It's almost noon. I don't have to work today and am glad for it. I feel a sudden a wave of nausea and leap out of bed. I quickly make it out of my room and into the bathroom. I empty the contents of my stomach. I stand up and flush in disgust when I'm done.

I wash my hands and dry them. I head back into my room and sit at my desk. I pull out a quill and parchment. I dip my quill and start my letter.

Fred and or George,

I have an appointment at St. Mungo's for Saturday of this week. I know, it's only Monday, but I wanted you to know in advance. I don't expect you to come. Just keeping you in the loop. I was thinking we could tell everyone on Wednesday? It seems early, I know, but I just want to get it out there. Owl me back when you get this.

XHermione

P.S. I have books if you want to read them. I have finished all of them and am about to buy more.

I seal the parchment and set it on the table. I walk upstairs to Ron's room to borrow his owl. I knock on the door and go in when I hear him shout 'open.' I close the door and walk over to Pig.

"Can I borrow him? I just have to send a letter." I ask.

"Sure. He's being extra crazy today." He answered.

"Thanks." I mutter and walk out.

I head back down to my room and over to my desk. I tie the scroll to his leg and send him on his way. I walk to my closet and pull out a tank top and shorts for today. I head over to the bathroom and set my stuff on the counter. I turn the water on and hop into the shower.

I step out and dry myself. I tug on my tank and pull up my shorts. I look down in confusion when I feel that they feel a tad snug. My stomach is still flat. I must have tied them to tight the last time. I retie the strings and head back to my room.

I walk in and see Pig standing on my dresser. I walk over and untie the parchment.

Hermione,

I would love to come to the appointment if I'm welcome. As for Wednesday, that's fine with me. I know that Bill and Fleur will be there. Perce might even show up. I don't mind telling them then. And I would love to read some books. I should have known that you would already have books. See you Wednesday!

XFred. And Geor

I laugh when I see half of George's signature. The other half is a line that just runs across the parchment. I put the letter into my desk and got up. I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. I grab some eggs, bacon, toast, and a small pancake. I sit down with the rest of the clan when I plate all of my food. Harry looks at me with surprise and a small smile. He goes back to spreading mayonnaise on his bread when I give him a pointed look.

I eye the mayonnaise longingly when I catch a whiff of it. Eggs, bacon, and mayonnaise sounds really good. 'With ketchup.' I thought. When Harry puts down the mayonnaise, I grab it smother my bacon, toast, and eggs in the stuff. I then reach for the ketchup and squirt some on my pancake.

I look up to see half of them looking at me with horror written on their faces. I look at the sheepishly and smile.

"What, in Merlin's name did you just do to your food 'Mione?" Ginny asks in disgust.

"Uh, I made it better?" I answer with a question.

"But, you-you just covered your food in mayonnaise and ketchup." She splutters.

"Ginny, let her be." Molly reprimanded from the sink.

I sigh in relief. I hadn't been thinking when I did that. I look at my food and pick up my fork. I eat every last bite. I feel stuffed. I think I may start to waddle sooner than expected. I look up to all the faces of my loving family. I feel so guilty not telling them. I feel dirty almost. 'It's going to be a long two days.' I think solemnly to myself.

Author's Note- Hi guys! Thank you so much to the lovely people who reviewed and favourited my story! It means so much to me that you guys spent time to read my story. You guys are truly amazing! Don't forget to review. Reviews make me go faster.

Author's note 2- Let me know if you guys think I'm going too fast paced or something. I was thinking of doing each chapter after this next one as a week. This is a slow burn Fremione fic. They will have more interaction in this next chapter. Thank you!

Also, (sorry, lol) I will be going on a vacation to Virginia from Wed.- late Sun. I will try to get as much done as I can. I will be very busy those days. My Colonel has us doing everything you can imagine. I may not be able to post again until Thursday or Friday of next week.