Chapter Two: Start

Hermione slowly trudged back up the stairs towards the Home and Parenting class room. This was the first time she didn't want to be early for class, and most of the other girls were already reaching the top. Then she remembered that her perfect attendance score that would be broken if she didn't arrive in the next two minutes. She sighed and put a little effort in climbing. She arrived with seconds to spare. She took a seat on the bleachers, trying to enjoy her last few pre-pregnancy moments. She was dreading this school project. Why were they forcing sixth years to become parents for four whole months? It was practically torture. Suddenly, the door banged open and in walk McGonagall and Snape. She groaned inwardly as they started talking.

' We will call you up one by one, you will receive the spell from McGonagall behind this curtain behind me, then you will go to your chambers. You have been excused from all classes today as this spell may cause cramps, sickness, fainting spells and dizziness,' Snape instructed.

'Tomorrow you will return to classes as normal. In the last few days, you will stop attending classes, similar to how you would stop working. Any questions?'

Everyone shook their head.

'Good. Now, please be quick coming down. Lavender.' Lavender popped up and bounced down towards the curtain. She seemed much to happy in Hermione's perspective. After a moment, a flash of light came from behind the curtain, followed by a small groan. Lavender stumbled out, looking miserable, clutching her stomach as she made her was towards the door. This happened again and again, some looking much like Lavender did, but some bounced out, glowing with happiness. Once again,Hermione was one of last people left in the room.

'Hermione,' Snape drawled, looking quite bored. She took a deep breath, stood up, and walked behind the curtain. There stood McGonagall who pointed Hermione to stand in front of her. She did as instructed, stiffened her muscles, and clenched her robe in her hands in a feeble attempt to stop shaking. McGonagall gave her a soft smile before muttering something under her breath and flicking her wrist. Then Hermione felt a sensation in er stomach, similar to the one she got whenever her parents took her on a roller coaster. Except this time it din't do away after a few seconds. In fact, it got worse. She doubled over and let out a small groan.

' Go lie down, Ms. Granger. I'll see you tomorrow in class.' Hermione nodded and stumbled out and over to the door. As she climbed down the stairs everything started blurring and blurring, making her very dizzy. She when she got to the bottom of the stairwell, she took a quick break before stumbling down the hallway towards her room. Thankfully, the hallways were empty because everyone was in class. She groaned again and nearly fell. Once she righted herself, began walking, but more carefully this time. After a few more steps, she was surprised to find herself in front of the painting that lead to her room. She squeaked out the password, ignoring the strange looks and worried comments the surrounding portraits gave her and was suddenly thankful her painting was an inanimate object. It sung open and she stumbled inside and over to the bedroom. She dragged herself over to the bed that sat behind her trunk and collapsed onto it. She curled up into a ball and cursed whoever came up with this bloody spell.

When Draco came back to the dorm in the small amount of time between class and dinner, her was surprised to find sprawled on the floor next to the bookshelf in a position that suggested she had collapsed there. He walked over to her cautiously, and poked her with the toe of his shoe.

'Granger,' He asked, prodding a little harder.

'Granger,' He repeated a little louder, getting a little annoyed when she didn't even flinch.

'GRANGER!'

'I'M UP! I'M UP,' She cried, sitting up quickly. She regretted it instantly, and doubling over in pain. Draco smirked at her.

'What are you looking at,' She snapped through gritted teeth.

'Well, its not everyday you see a mudblood passed out on the floor. Either way, I don't know why I even came here in the first place.' He walked briskly out of the room to go get dinner. Hermione sighed, regretted it as it caused her abdominal to cramp and hauled herself onto her feet. She didn't remember fall down next to the book case, but then again she had already blacked out three times. She grabbed the book she'd been reaching for before she passed out and slowly made her way towards a rocking chair by a window. Once she was settled in she began to read her favorite book: Hogwarts: A History.

It was almost ten thirty when Draco came back. Hermione was in her bed reading the last chapter. By then she had thrown up three times and blacked out four times. When he came into the bedroom, she glanced up and him, lost all the joy she had gained from the book, and went back to reading. Draco smirked at her reaction to seeing him, grabbed his pajamas and went to the bathroom to change. By the time he got back, Hermione had turned off the lights, which caused Draco to slam into may things on the way to his bed, and had fallen asleep. When he finally hound his beds he clambered in, expecting to fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. However, he didn't, instead he watched the silhouette of the sleeping Hermione rise and fall with each breath until he finally fell into sleep's waiting hands.

Draco and Hermione tried to go about their lives as if the other didn't exist. The ignored each other in classes and in their dorm, and the few words they did exchange were much needed snarky comments. That was until Draco woke up to the lovely sound of someone retching in the bathroom. He looked at the clock on the wall and groaned: it was only 6:30 and it was a Saturday. However, he slide out of his bed and peered into the bathroom. There was Hermione, slumped against the loo. Every few seconds, her chest heaved and she made a barfing noise. This went on for many minutes, Draco cringing and nearly barfing with every sound she made. After a while, it stopped and she stood up, wiping her mouth on the back the of her hand. As she turned to wash it off, she caught Draco standing in the doorway staring at her.

'What, Malfoy' she snapped, but blushing slightly, 'It's not like I want to be hurling last nights dinner.'

'Sorry, I just, ugh,' Draco started, not really sure why he even stayed to watch.

'Whatever, I'm going back to bed. I've been up since four 'cause of this stupid morning sickness,' With that she brushed past Draco into the bedroom, her slightly swollen stomach rubbing up against Draco's bare arm. He shivered; it was unnatural how quickly all the girls were growing. Pansy was already starting to waddle a little, but he figured she was just exaggerating. He heard Hermione switch the light off, and figured he might catch a few more winks before he had to wake up for Qudditch practice.

Ron and Harry found Hermione already eating breakfast when they came down in their Quidditch gear. She was sitting munching on a raisin muffin slathered in peanut butter, rereading a chapter for Potions class on Monday and didn't see the boys until they sat down across from her.

'Oh, hi! I didn't see you come in, ' she said.

'Well, you were reading. Wait haven't you already read this chapter,' Ron asked.

'This is my fourth reread. I want to make sure I know what I'm doing.' Harry gave a small laugh.

'Either way, why are you down here so early,' He asked. She pointed down to her stomach. They looked at her confused.

'Morning sickness woke me up at four and at six Malfoy walked in on me barfing my guts out, She explained.

'After, that I tried to go back to bed but I was too awake. I was hungry so I came down with my book and studied and ate. '

'Wait, rewind, Malfoy walked in on you throwing up,' Ron asked, beginning to look little angry.

'Yeah, and he just stood there, and watched me for Merlin knows how long.'

'Next time I see that prat, I'm going to put a dent in that head of his,' Ron snarled.

'Calm down, Ron. I'm over it. It's my fault I didn't lock the door.'

'What, now you're defending him, after being pissed off two seconds before. You're not making any sense, Mione, maybe pregnancy hormones are getting to your head,' Ron said, giving her a strange look. She laughed.

'Maybe Ron, just maybe.'

'Anyway, are we just going to overlook the fact that Mione is eating a raisin muffin covered in peanut butter. I mean she doesn't even like peanuts or raisins," cried Harry, making them all laugh and lighting the mood.

Once, the boys had gone to practice, Hermione retired to the library. This was the only place she could get sanctuary from life. However, when she made her way over to her usual table, she found it was already occupied. It was strange for two reasons: One) no one ever took her table, and two) it was Draco who had taken her spot, and Draco never came into the library because it was 'infected with nerd germs'.

After a moment, Draco noticed her standing there and snapped: "what do you want, mudblood.'

'I was wondering what you were doing at my table,' She replied.

'Well, its my table no, so, shoo,' He said treating the last word as if he was taking to a disobedient dog. She didn't move.

'Go on, find another table,' He snapped, getting annoyed. She shock her head.

'And why not? Are you sexually attracted to the table? Wouldn't be a big surprise, then, would it,' His annoyed frown turning into a vicious smirk.

'Say that again, and I'll hex you into oblivion,' She snapped back, drawing her wand from her pocket.

'Wow, I'm so scared now. A pregnant sixteen year old is going to flick her little wand and me,' Draco mocked.

'I'm warning you, Malfoy. Just go find another table or else I'll...I'll..'

'You'll what? What, mudblood. Are you going to turn me into a toad or something. Go find your own table.' Hermione threw up her hands in exasperation.

'You know what, I have better things to be doing with my time that bickering with you. And besides, Malfoy, I don't need a spell to turn you into a toad, you already are one,' and with that she stormed out of the library, leaving Draco standing in shock.

Hermione marched angrily back to her dorm and flopped down onto the couch. She was furious at Draco for winding her up like that, and at herself for being wound up. Knowing the only way to unwind was to read, she popped up and grabbed a random book of the self and settled down to read.

An hour later, Draco turned up, looking furious. He was not going to let Granger get the last word. He had worked up all the anger he could for he past hour and was ready to explode when he reached their dorm. However, all the anger dispersed when he walked in and saw Hermione sprawled on the floor. It was much like the first day when he had found her passed out by the bookshelf, except this time there was blood, and a lot of it. He hurried over to he and lent down beside her. There was a huge gash that started on her forehead and disappeared into her hair line. He felt his heart begin to raise; as much as he hated sometimes at Hermione there was too much blood to be safe and she seemed really pale. So, he ran to the bathroom, grabbed a towel and rapped it tightly around her head. Then, he hoisted her into her arms and started towards to Hospital Wing.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived,sweaty, despite her small figure, and covered in blood from her head. As soon as he entered, nurses rushed over, inspecting Hermione and, surprisingly, him too. They instructed him to lie her down on a nearby bed, then ushered him out pointing at the clock, saying something about Qudditch. As they shut the door behind him, he tried to get one last peek at her fragile figure, and wondered if she was going to be alright. Then, he stopped himself, shaking his head. Why did he care? The only reason her had found her was because he was furious at her and wanted to yell. Why did he now feel frantic about her well being. He sighed and blamed it on carrying her here and went to go get ready for Qudditch practice.