Disclaimer: Still not mine, you'll be the first to know when I make any progress!!

A/N: Thank you so much for the fabulous reviews!!! You guys rock!! Ok this chapter is shorter than I would have liked, but I hereby promise that the next one will be more decent and updated sooner.

Also a huge thank you to the amazing xXxSecretdesirexXx for the quick beta, you're utterly wonderful dear!!

Um...enjoy!!

"I don't know why I didn't notice before," Mrs Weasley commented, "you are positively glowing"

I wanted to roll my eyes. Glowing? That wasn't exactly the word I would use. I'd spent most of the morning with my head down the toilet; I'd just about managed to keep down the breakfast that Mrs. Weasley had insisted on and traipsing around Diagon Alley had made me so tired. I was thrilled when Mrs. Weasley decided that it was time for a break from shopping. Instead of replying to this compliment, I just smiled back at Mrs Weasley and took a sip of my tea.

"Forgive me for asking dear," she continued, "but have you told the father yet?"

Unconsciously, I folded my arms. "I will"

"Just make sure you do, he deserves to know" she said seriously.

I just nodded.

"So who is he?" Ginny asked bluntly.

Mrs Weasley threw Ginny her infamous 'don't-ask-inappropriate-questions-this-is-none-of-your-business' look, which her daughter ignored.

"No-one you know" I replied, trying not to sound too defensive.

"But you do know, right?" Ginny pressed, still ignoring her mother.

"It's......complicated" I sighed, looking into my cup of tea.

"One night stand?"Ginny sounded so understanding I couldn't help but laugh. The idea of me, Hermione Granger, having meaningless sex with a total stranger was pretty amusing.

"I think that's enough" Mrs Weasley insisted, apparently not liking the direction of this conversation. "If Hermione wants to tell us who the father of her child is, we will listen, of course. But otherwise, we do not pry!" she gave Ginny a pointed look before turning back to me, "Now dear, I really think we need to get you a potion for morning sickness. I had a fabulous one when I was pregnant with Ginny. Let me see if I can remember what it was called..." she continued talking as she gathered up the shopping bags and left the teashop.

Ginny and I exchanged an amused glance and wandered after her, barely hearing a word of her monologue.

"Why is there a Gilderoy Lockhart book on the booklist?" Harry demanded.

"Haven't a clue" Ron muttered, looking through the rest of the list, "he's still in St. Mungo's isn't he?"

"He can't be coming back, right?" Harry continued, staring at the offending book title in disbelief.

The Hogwarts letters had arrived while we were shopping. Mine still lay unopened beside me. I couldn't bear to open it; it would totally depress me to read the letter and list while knowing that I couldn't go back. It was hard enough listening to the boys without adding to the heartbreak.

"Ewww" Ron exclaimed. "They're staring an advanced Transfiguration Club this year. Could you imagine?!"

I sighed. Yes, I could imagine. My name would have been first on the list and would have loved it.

"You okay, Hermione?" Harry asked, apparently noticing my obvious dejection.

"Fine, fine" I muttered. "I think I'm going to get something to eat"

"I'll get it for you" Ron offered, practically jumping out of his seat.

"I'm pregnant, not sick" I snapped. I knew he only meant well but I was too fed up to care.

I wandered down to the kitchen, leaving the poor boys looking utterly stunned.

Sirius and Remus were sitting at the kitchen table when I entered. With a vague smile, I went to raid the fridge.

"Did I see the Hogwarts letters this morning?" Sirius enquired idly.

"Yeah"

"Anything interesting?"

"Don't know, didn't open it" I replied, leaving the fridge with the ingredients for one hell of a sandwich. I proceeded to hunt for bread.

"You didn't open it?" Remus clarified, confused.

"Well no, I'm not going back so it would be pretty pointless. Have you seen the bread?"

"You're not going back?" Sirius echoed.

I sighed, why did they keep repeating everything I said? It really was annoying. "I can't"

"Because you're pregnant?"

I nodded dolefully.

"I'm sure we can sort something out Hermione" Remus soothed. "We can talk to Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey can look after you. You don't have to give up school. You love school."

"I can't go back" I said firmly, finally locating the bread. "I have to do what's best for the baby. I can't just do what I love anymore. There are more important things.

Both men surveyed me for a moment, apparently not quite believing their ears.

"So you're going back to your parents?" Remus asked gently.

I stared at the bread in front of me, blinking back tears. How was I going to tell them that I'd pretty much packed my bags and left home without explaining a word to my poor parents? I hadn't been able to tell them I was pregnant; I simply couldn't have them knowing what had happened. So I'd up and left.

"Um...probably not" I replied, my voice thick with unshed tears.

"So, where are you going?" Sirius asked, concern colouring his voice.

"You do have somewhere to go, right?" Remus persisted.

A tear escaped, followed by another and another, until the bread in front of me was a mere blur. I tried to wipe them away but they were falling too thick and too fast. Everything that I'd been holding in since that night was flooding out and I was falling apart pretty rapidly.

A strong pair of hands gripped my shoulders and turned me around before gripping me in a tight hug. I lay my head against a firm chest and clung to whoever was holding me.

Once the tears subsided, I pulled away to find myself gazing into the worried eyes of Sirius Black.

"You're going to stay here with me" he informed me.

I opened my mouth to protest, I really didn't want to intrude on him with all my pregnancy stuff. No guy needed that!

"Nothing you say will change my mind, Hermione. Now, you go sit with Remus and I'll bring you some tea."

"Thank you" I muttered, as more tears threatened.

He gave me one quick hug before sending me in the direction of the table and turning toward the teapot.

Hope you liked!!

Thanks for reading!!

xxx