Chapter 2

Draco was miserable. His detention was the entire term taking care of the four students his little prank had effected. He didn't realize that the spell he wrote down was really a spell. He had heard his parents talking about it years ago. But didn't remember the circumstances behind the conversations he heard. Unfortunately it was all coming back to him again. All to late it was too late for those memories to do any good. He sighed as he walked up to Harry and asked if he needed anything. Harry said no miserably. Ron bit his tongue knowing that he could no longer jump to a fight.

The four students had yet to show any signs of pregnancy. Yet every day they waited. There studies were going well. Although Harry was starting to have trouble concentrating. He had stopped arguing with Umbridge. Soon the ministry was sure that the uprising they suspected was coming was no longer a threat the Minister of Magic himself came to tell her the news. She had been promoted to the head of the Department of international welfare of refugee witches and wizards. He then warned Dumbledore that it had best remain as quiet as it was now. Or he would not hesitate to take actions to have him removed.

Dumbledore and the order however still was working towards thwarting Voldemorts plans. However given the current events of the past week he had quieted down a bit for Harry and the three other's safety. He knew that Voldemort was after that prophecy. He decided to talk to the contacts of the department of ministry all unknown to Fudge about some how trying to move the prophecy to Hogwarts. He knew that only the one who it was about could touch it and find out what it was. He was busy trying to figure out what spells might have been placed on it.

The next day the contact he had decided to contact did in fact know how to do just that. He knew how to remove the prophecy. A week later the prophecy was placed in Hogwarts under special spells to protect it. Dumbledore did not tell Harry about the prophecy yet. The boy in his current state was much to fragile to do so. Right now all four teens were in quite a fragile state. They were all in their first trimester and could end up losing their babies. It was the most precarious part of their pregnancy.

Hermione and Ginny started to read up on pregnancy and learned that soon morning sickness would start. They had talked to Madame Pomfrey about it and she said she had a potion for that. They shared the information with the boys. Harry and Ron was scared when they were told what it was like. But they put on a brave face for the girls. They all discussed when they should tell their families. It was decided that if Dumbledore would ok it that they would have their families come for Christmas break and they could tell them with Dumbledore. Hermione asked him before classes the next day and it was arranged. Harry decided that he would not be telling the Dursley's. They would all be into their second trimester by then. The babies were all due in middle June. Hermione was so afraid of what her parents would say. She was afraid that they wouldn't believe her when she told them what happened.

Meanwhile Ron and Ginny were having their own worries. They knew that their parents would be upset but they also knew that they had five brothers who would be very angry and not believe that it was an accident. They were also worried about Harry because he had no one he could turn to. Harry however wasn't worried about what he was going to do. He knew he could always go to 12 grimwald place with Sirius. But he was worried about going to happen to his friends.

Snape was being nice to them for a change and he would always ask if they were alright. He hated the position he was in because of Malfoy's stupidity. He felt almost responsible for it happening since he did nothing to stop the boy's feuds. He had in fact encouraged it by not saying a word or punishing Malfoy when he was wrong.

A couple weeks later Harry woke up instantly running to the bathroom. He barely made it to the bathroom before he started his first experience of Morning Sickness. Ron hearing it came in and checked up on him. Ron handed him a glass of water before it started again. Ron shook his head. "We better get down to the hospital wing. Do you think you can make it?"

"I think so. Just grab that bin there and I'll carry it just in case."

Mean while Ginny was experiencing her own bout with morning sickness. She leaned against the toilet in between being sick. Hermione did with her just like Ron did with Harry except for she held her hair back for her. She finally asked Ginny if she could make it to the Hospital wing and was told yes.

The four met in the common room which was empty. They slipped out of the portrait and started down the stairs for there destination. When they were half way there McGonagall ran into them. Seeing Harry and Ginny's white face she looked with more concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Morning Sickness Ma'am" Ron said quickly.

"Follow me." as McGonagall led them to Madame Pomfrey. The healer quickly got them the potion to stop it and told them to come before bed each night and they would be given the potion so that the next morning They wouldn't be ill. She told Ron and Hermione to do the same when their sickness began. They thanked her very much and started down to the dining hall for breakfast before remembering that they were still in pajama's. The four went up to their dorms and quickly changed. They finally entered the dining hall as the rest of the classes were starting to eat. They all sat down next to each other and ate quickly.

Hermione and Ron started having their sickness a few days later. Soon after starting the potions they began to feel much more like themselves. Halloween that year passed without much problem. The four students were now a little over two months pregnant. None of them really showed. Ron and Harry needed extra potions so that their bodies would accept the growing baby inside them. Every day they went to take their potion. It was very uneventful. Draco had taken to coming with them to their weekly checkups and also walking with them when they had classes together. Crabbe and Coyle had noticed but said nothing they thought that it had to do something with Draco's prank. They had heard a rumor that it didn't go exactly as planned however none of their sources seemed to know what had went wrong.

Sirius had wrote to Harry asking if everything was ok. But Harry had wrote back saying everything was fine. He didn't want to tell him that no not everything was fine that he a boy was pregnant. He didn't even want anyone else to know either. Harry knew that it would be only one more thing that would cause every one to stare at him. Since he discovered his background just five years before he had not yet become accustomed to the stairs he always received.

The four students sat in the Gryffindor common room again doing homework. Neville was sitting not to far away when Seamus walked up to Harry. Seamus was angry. He must have read the message board announcing that the team was looking for a new seeker. Harry had known that he would half to quit soon enough so he had decided to do it sooner rather than later.

"We could have won this year." Seamus accused Harry.

"Look mate, I had to quit. I can't explain but I can't play for quite a while." Harry countered.

"If we lose this year it is all your fault." Seamus said walking away.

"Harry don't worry about him mate. He'll get over it." Ron said sympathetically.

"I hope so."

Hermione finished her work and decided to go for a walk. Ginny decided to go along. She spoke to Hermione as they walked about her fears of how their families would take their news.

"Ginny I'm sure your family will understand. They know more about magic than any other family I know."

"I hope you are right. It's not so much my parents because I know that they will understand. It's my brother's I worry about. Even if George and Fred believe the story they will be unmerciful to Ron. I wish it was only me it happened to. But I guess you can't change the past."

"I know I'm worried about how my parents will take this. They won't understand and I doubt that even Dumbledore will convince them. Plus I worry about Harry. He really has no one he can really turn to outside of us."

"I know. Hermione where will he go?"

"I don't know He has said he wished to go to Grimwald Place but I don't think that is a very good idea. I hope that maybe your Mum and Dad will invite him to the Burrow."

"We will have to see. It'll depend on how they take the news I suppose."

"Are you two alright?" Draco said coming up behind the two girls.

"Oh Draco yes we are just fine. Thank you for asking." Hermione said trying to be polite.

"Do you need anything?"

"No we are just out for a bit of fresh air." Ginny replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice. Draco was starting to get on all their nerves. Every where they went he was there. Always asking if they needed something never allowing them to pick up anything. He treated them as if they were going to break. But what irritated them the most is they couldn't tell whether it was really remorse or because of his detention that made him behave in such a way.

Draco quickly left them when he saw Crabbe and Coyle coming out unto the yard. He walked briskly towards them and left the girls again to talk. When the girls got up to the common room they found Neville sitting alone. He looked quite upset. He looked up and saw Hermione and Ginny standing above him.

"You got to go to the hospital wing. Harry started to have pains in his stomach. Ron went with him and asked me to stay here to wait for you two. We got to go now!"

Hermione and Ginny hurried out the portrait with Neville struggling to keep up right behind. They arrived at the wing of the school out of breath and completely distraught. They found Ron pacing back and forth waiting for Madame Pomfrey. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived just as she came out from behind the curtain.

Before anyone could ask she answered the unspoken questions.

"Harry and the baby is fine. He is sleeping now. He was just stressing himself out too much. It put some stress on the baby. I gave him a potion to calm his nerves."

"We should have known. He isn't the type to openly talk about what he is feeling until it boils up inside him. We should have done something to get him talking." Hermione cried out.

"Miss Granger you have know blame in this. We teachers should have been more involved in speaking with you all about what was going to happen next. We have been terribly amiss at leaving you four to figure things out. I apologize for my negligence in this matter. From now on you all will have counseling sessions with Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey."

The three nodded in understanding. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat before she spoke.

"I would like to speak to each of you alone today. I will start with you Miss Granger follow me." she said leading her to a small curtained area.

"Miss Granger I am sorry that I haven't taken the time to talk with you all. It was my mistake as well. Now may I ask Why did you decide to keep the baby?"

"Professor I don't know why I immediately chose to keep this baby. I do know that I don't believe in terminating a pregnancy. I just felt that it was something I was supposed to do."

"you do realize you can still chose to give the baby up for adoption."

"Yes I realize that I have been thinking about it and to tell the truth I will likely continue thinking about it. But I still feel that there is a reason that this baby is here. And it's not just because of a cruel prank. It's like it's meant to be."

"Well you know I am here to help you in anyway possible. I know that you are scared. Can you talk about that for a while?"

"I am scared. I am scared that my parents won't understand what is happening. That they will think I've disgraced them and myself. I am scared about what will happen when they know. I'm scared for Harry because he really doesn't have anyone to lean on through this."

"All that is understandable. You do realize that if your parents are angry and they turn you out. We will find a place for you with another wizarding family. We will do everything in our power to help you achieve your goals while being a mother. But I don't really believe that will happen."

"Thank you Professor."

"could you please send Ron in?"

Ron sat down in front of her and silently stared at his hands. She first asked him what he was afraid of. He quickly told her about all his fears. His fears of his families reaction, of Harry having no one, Of the ridicule of others over his situation. She nodded as he spoke. She had never heard Ron be so open with his feelings with anyone. She talked with him about all his fears. She reassured him that if any family would understand it was his. And as for the other students They would be sure to give him and Harry a rough go but they would come around quickly. She then asked him why he chose to keep the baby?

Ron thought about it for a minute before he answered.

"I made the decision because I knew that this baby was my responsibility. I have thought about putting the baby up for adoption but when I actually think about it I can't do it. A part of me would be missing."

"you do realize how difficult it will be?"

"I know it won't be easy. But I also know that I can't live with the regret of giving the baby up."

She thanked him and asked for Ginny to come in. Her conversation with Ginny was much the same as it had been with Ron. Her reasons for keeping the baby was very similar to her brothers. As they ended the conversation McGonagall felt that these teens were much older than their years. She shook her head sadly. When did they get so old for their age. She suddenly realized how it happened. After everything these four students seen how could they not be more mature than others their ages.

Harry finally woke up an hour later. Professor McGonagall was sitting next to him reading a book about pregnancy. She looked up to find him gazing at her quietly.

"Mr. Potter. We need to talk. I am sorry that you have been dealing with this alone. It was oversight that has now been corrected. What has you so worried?"

"I don't know where I'm going to go. Voldemorts still out there. Ron, Ginny and Hermione are all in the same situation and they don't know what to do. I feel like I have to be the strong one. I'm worried about how everyone will react when they find out. I'm stressed out because of trying to keep our secret. It's all too much."

"Well how do we go about dealing with your stress?"

"Professor after we tell the other's families I believe that the rest of the school needs to find out. We can't keep this secret forever and I believe it would be less stressful if we didn't try."

"Ok have you spoke to the others?"

"No I don't want to burden them with it yet. We need to take care of our families first."

"I understand. We can talk to them after we tell the families then. Now maybe you could tell me why you chose to keep the baby?" She asked expecting to hear something like what she had heard before.

"Professor I doubt you'll understand."

"Try me. I may surprise you."

"I never knew my parents. I only know what others tell me about them. I wish I could remember them but I don't. I have been begrudgingly taken in by my Aunt and Uncle who do not even attempt to hide their contempt towards myself. I have never known what it was like to be loved. To know that no matter what they love me and will support me. I swore to myself that if ever I had children I would do everything I could to make them know they were loved. I also promised that I would never allow a child of mine to grow up not knowing me and how much I loved them. I know that type of pain. I live with that kind of pain. I refuse to inflict it on any one else. So when I was asked if I was going to keep the baby the decision wasn't all that hard."

McGonagall looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. A tear trailed down her face as a smile started to form. She reassured him that everything would be fine. With that she left him to rest again. How did it go unnoticed how hungry for love Harry was.