But it didn't. Hermione wasn't helping either. She regarded every moment not discussing my options with me a wasted moment, so I had taken to holing myself up in my dormitory to escape her threats of dragging me to Madam Pomfrey. I spent hours pouring over books from the library for any information on diseases that manifested with symptoms similiar to, er, child-bearing. The "p" word was not a spoken word in my vocabulary.
Even worse was my fear that people would find out. It seemed imminent that someone would notice my increased appetite or morning sickness. The idea of a gossip like Lavender Brown or Parvati catching wind of my predicament was even more repulsive. And my symptoms were becoming even more and more impossible to hide. It was only a matter of time before people started whispering about the reasons behind my excessive visits to the bathroom or third helpings at dinner.
One evening after a particularly grueling potions lesson, I was sitting in front of the common room fire. Hermione was "helping" me with my essay, which was due the next day and that I was too fatigued to put any real effort into. I think she had given up on urging me to consider the possibilities. She probably had accepted the fact that I was in denial, although I had a feeling she would pounce within the next few weeks.
Out of nowhere, reality hit me like freight train. I'm having a baby. I'm having a baby. I'm having a baby. I felt queasy and the room started to blur around me. I felt Hermione's hand on my shoulder as I started hyperventilating.
"Ginny, are you okay?" asked Hermione in a concerned voice. I shook my head as I stumbled up to my dormitory and fell onto my bed, breathing heavily. Before I knew it, tears were pouring down my face and my body shook with sobs. Reality hurt and I couldn't take it. Hermione rubbed my back soothingly while I cried rivers all over my pillow. My hand instinctively made its way to my flat stomach. I couldn't even feel a bump yet.
"You can't pretend this isn't happening Ginny. You can't pretend that this pregnancy is just going to magic itself away." I sobbed even harder.
"Hermione, what am I going to do?" I cried. "I can't have a baby, I'm 16. And people will find out, and oh, what will mum say?"
"First, we need to talk to someone to knows what to do. Ginny, you have to see Madam Pomfrey whether you want to or not," said Hermione calmly. Wasn't there some spell I could use to just make this baby go "poof"? Even if I was lucky enough to come across a spell that would do the job, things could go horribly wrong. And was that what I really wanted to do?
"Okay, Hermione," I choked out. It would have to happen sooner or later.
"Tomorrow morning then. No one will even know," said Hermione in a strange voice.
I looked up, and my eyes weren't the only ones filled with tears.
Hermione and I snuck out of the dormitory the next morning without making a sound. Our footsteps echoed ominously in the corridor as we made our way to the infirmary. I felt queasy with every step. Maybe it was a hysterical pregnancy with symptoms brought on by stress. I resorted to far-fetched possibilities to explain my symptoms. I could barely deal with the suspicion that I was with child; having that suspicion confirmed made me feel even sicker.
Thankfully, the infirmary was empty except for a 4th year who had suffered a bludger to the head at the last Quidditch game and seemed to be unconscious. Madam Pomfrey emerged from her office and bustled out to see us. I gulped.
"Can I help you girls?" she asked with a quizzical look on her face.
I could feel the contents of my stomach flipping over. Hermione graciously stepped in.
"Is there a place we can talk to you privately, Madam?" Madam Pomfrey looked even more confused.
"Of course girls, over here," she said, motioned us over to a private bed at the other end of the infirmary. My feet felt like lead as Hermione and I made our way over.
"So ladies, what is the problem? It musn't be good if you're this nervous," said Madam Pomfrey to. It showed that much?
"I, uh, I think that, um...," I choked. The suspicion was too terrifying.
"Yes dear?"
"Ithinimightbehavinababy."
"Can you repeat that dear, your words are jumbled together," she said. Hermione grasped my hand, and it gave me the strength to go on.
"I think I might be having a baby," I choked out. Madam Pomfrey looked alarmed.
"Are you having any symptoms, Miss?"
"Uh, I've been feeling really sick. And I'm really tired all the time," I said.
Madam Pomfrey looked very concerned. "How along would you be?" she asked slowly. It was obvious that she didn't deal with this issue very often. I was probably the only student to ever have this problem in Hogwarts. I would be known as Ginny Weasley, the girl whose pregnancy was the by-product of a one-night stand. I could almost imagine the whispers behind my back.
"About 5 weeks, give or take a few days."
"Ms. Weasley, you should have come to me weeks ago! Lie down now, I'll be right back," said Madam Pomfrey. I laid down on the uncomfortable bed and looked up at Hermione. She looked very anxious.
"It's going to be fine, Ginny. Everything is going to turn out okay."
I tried to make myself believe the lie. It would be a momentary comfort, at least. Madam Pomfrey came back with a medieval looking needle and a vial of some strange, bright blue potion. Before I knew it, she had unceremoniously jabbed the needle into my skin and began to draw blood.
"Ouch!" I exclaimed. "You could have warned me!"
"I need a blood sample for the test," she said, withdrawing the syringe and depositing the sample into the blue potion. I held my breathe as it turned a deep red. Madam Pomfrey stared at it for a moment and frowned.
"I'm sorry Ms. Weasley. You are indeed pregnant," said Madam Pomfrey, sounding as though she was delivering a eulogy. Hermione blanched.
The words hit me like an avalanche. The room in front of me dissolved into a whirl of color and I struggled for breath. I didn't even realize that I had started crying until I felt the all too familiar wetness on my face.
"Now Miss Weasley, you have options. You should take some time to think about this anyhow. If you choose, this pregnancy can be terminated as you are only a few weeks along. I wouldn't advise keeping this child, especially since you are still in school. I will give you a few days to think and then I want you back here to discuss everything."
I could make it go away. It would be all too easy. No, I would need to think about it first. Was it what I really wanted?
I just needed time.
Madam Pomfrey allowed me and Hermione to return back to the dorms after she had give me a detailed explanation of my options, none of which I listened too. We trudged back together, not climbed the steps to the girl's dormitories and I broke the heavy silence.
"Hermione, am I going to do?" I said in a shaky voice. Tears were already pooling in my eyes. She looked me in the eyes dead on.
"I don't know, Ginny. I really don't know."
I would have to tell Draco. He was the father, anyway. And oh Merlin, Mum. She would skin me alive and curse me into oblivion. How was I supposed to handle this situation? I could barely handle myself. Would I be able to handle a baby too? Thoughts zoomed through my head like a thousand golden snitches.
This is one problem that I can't easily magic away.
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Guys, thanks so much for reading! I have a better idea of where this story is going now, don't worry. I know that my earlier chapters were a bit choppy. I expect this story to have between 10 and 15 chapters so make sure to stay tuned for updates! Please review, constructive criticism is most appreciated. You guys are awesome!
Katie