Chapter 4: Girls Day At Diagon Alley
Hermione sat silently through dinner with her parents, laughing when they made jokes and making enough contribution to the conversation not to warrant questions. She pushed her food around in her plate to make it look like she was eating. Both her mother and father had had long days at work so Hermione offered to clean the kitchen while they watched the late news. After stacking the dishwasher and wiping a damp cloth across the table, she kissed her parents goodnight and headed to bed early. Once alone in her room; she allowed herself to feel the fear that was pulsating throughout her body.
Pregnant.
The word was unfathomable to her. How could this have happened? How could she have let it happen? She was the smartest witch of her age, she'd been told that so many times by people she'd admired. This wasn't a mistake she was supposed to make.
It wasn't as though she knew she was going to do that with Malfoy when she'd discovered him so broken in the bathroom, but she had. And now she was paying the price.
What was the next step? She couldn't tell her parents; she was a pillar of virtue to them. Granted, they didn't know how horrible the Malfoy name was and therefore wouldn't understand the gravity of her situation. But still; a pregnant teenage daughter was not the highlight of any parents' life. And that was just in the muggle world. In the wizarding world...Hermione didn't even want to think about it.
She managed to calm down by telling herself that nothing was certain since she didn't have any concrete proof yet. There were of plenty of people who went through major issues after they had lost someone important in their lives. Maybe this was just due to that? Telling herself there was no point in worrying until she had definite proof; Hermione climbed into bed with Crookshanks and fell into a deep, yet troubled, sleep.
-x-
The next morning didn't start so well for Hermione. She made herself a nice breakfast of pancakes with strawberries on the side; but threw it up moments after it had settled in her stomach. Mariana fussed over her; worried her daughter may have caught the bug that most of her patients seemed to be suffering from. Managing to convince her overprotective mother she would be fine for the day, Hermione sent Mariana off to work and was left alone to dwell over her predicament.
As smart as she was, Hermione didn't know the first thing about pregnancy: muggle or otherwise. Well, of course she knew the basics but it wasn't one of her preferred subjects. From a young age, Hermione had been an avid reader and had already memorized every book in her home; so she knew she was going to find nothing of use.
Her upset stomach eased as the morning wore on and she felt almost completely better after she took a shower. And when she arrived back in her bedroom, she had a visitor.
"Pig!" She exclaimed happily as Ron's miniature owl fluttered around excitedly almost sinking to the floor under the weight of a couple of letters. Any contact with the magical world when she was at home always made Hermione's heart lift; although today it also made her stomach twinge. She relieved the bird of his load and fed him a couple of seeds she kept nearby her window for the owls while she read her mail.
Hermione,
Where having Harry's birthday party before the wedding here at The Burrow. Mum's making a big deal over it and says you have to be here if you can.
Hope you're enjoying being home,
Ron
PS – Harry just got here. He says hi.
Smiling, Hermione turned over the letter and scribbled a reply that she'd be there. Then she moved to the second parchment; recognizing Ginny's dainty handwriting.
Hey Hermione,
Mum and I are heading to Diagon Alley for some last minute things for the wedding. Care to join us? If you can, we'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow at lunch.
Love Ginny
Hermione took a moment before she scrawled back her acceptance; saying she'd be happy to join them. Diagon Alley wasn't the happiest place to be lately. Voldemort's return had scared the shop owners out of business and, while most of the stores in Knockturn Alley remained open, most of the Diagon Alley favourites had been boarded up and abandoned. Of course, always flying in the face of diversity, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was booming and lining Fred and George's pockets with more galleons than they had imagined. Thinking she could definitely use the distraction, Hermione happily wrote back she would meet Molly and Ginny there the next day. She then fastened her notes onto Pig's waiting twig-like foot and watched him eagerly, but awkwardly, flutter out her window.
-x-
When Hermione was younger, just after receiving her Hogwarts letter, arriving at Diagon Alley had been like a dream. So much life and colourful people bustling around, eye popping sights like self-stirring cauldrons and floating broomsticks flooded the streets. Now; it was like a storm had blown through and erased all colour and happiness from every inch of the street. It was just like wandering into Knockturn Alley; and Hermione found herself filled with a similar sense of dread as she passed through the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley.
"Hermione!" Ginny's voice called to her when she passed the Apothecary; its windows boarded up and spiders making webbed homes for themselves in every eave of the store frame.
Molly bustled over to her and greeted her with a warm hug before snatching up her right hand and tugging her along quickly muttering something about not wanting to be out in the open for too long. They ducked into one of the only shops that were still running, Flourish & Blotts. The old book store was definitely slower and quieter than normal, there were barely a handful of customers inside.
"Now, we don't want to be here long," Molly said her voice urgent as she was obviously uncomfortable about having to be there. "Girls, do not leave the store. I'll be back in five minutes." She flagged down a bored looking shopkeeper and left Ginny and Hermione to wander the shelves.
"She's looking for a cookbook," Ginny explained to Hermione. "For Fleur. Another wedding present."
Hermione nodded and tried to seem interested as Ginny regaled her with stories from The Burrow. Normally, she would have loved to hear it but her mind was elsewhere. Molly's harried voice hollered out for her daughter; wanting her opinion on which cookbook to purchase, so Ginny left Hermione to wander the shelves alone. In a way; she was thankful because there was no way she was going to look for what she wanted with Ginny trailing behind her.
If there was a store Hermione knew backwards, it was Flourish & Blotts. She had been obsessed with it since she'd stepped inside all those years ago. Once; she'd spent all day in there. So finding the medical selection of books was easy for her. What was difficult was trying to remain invisible to anyone who may see her. She sifted through books on removing boils, healing herbs and even a history book on St Mungos before she saw a book that she could use, The Magical Pregnancy: Volume 1 by Celina Moonstar. Hermione could already hear Molly ushering Ginny out the door so she hurried to the cash register and paid the galleon and four sickles for her book before trailing out behind Molly and Ginny. As she exited the store, Hermione quickly took out her wand and tapped the cover of the book muttered an inaudible charm.
"There you are dear," Molly grabbed her hand. "Thought I'd lost you." She giggled; but her laugh was strangled and very forced. "What's that you bought?" She read the title of Hermione's book. "Appreciating Ancient Runes...oh, yes, very good." Molly looked up and down the street; as if expecting something to explode or someone to appear. "We best get home then, hm?"
"You're not going to say hello to Fred and George?" Ginny asked; her mouth hanging open. "Come on, Mum, they'd love to see you."
"Those boys..." She shook her head and bit her tongue, though it was hard for her to stay mad at her sons for leaving school when they had built such a successful business. "Not today. I'll see them at Harry's party."
Hermione was only half-listening; her eyes had been diverted by a beautiful owl in the window of Eeylops Owl Emorium. She was a gorgeous, deep brown barn owl with wise, sparkling green eyes. From the instant she saw her, Hermione was in love. It turned out that the owner was moving his owls to safety for the time being whilst things in Diagon Alley were dim and he was so eager to get out of the store quickly; he let Hermione take the beautiful creature free of charge. She gave him a few sickles as he piled her arms with owl treats and a book for first time owners. Ginny happily took the caged owl as Molly ushered them quickly for the Leaky Cauldron.
-x-
Hermione was able to walk to her mother's dentist office from the Leaky Cauldron so she didn't have to take the train with her new hooting friend. Though Mariana was surprised to see her daughter clutching the owl; she wasn't concerned. Owls flew in and out of the Granger house every few nights; it was only a matter of time before Hermione had bought one for herself.
After they arrived home and Hermione politely at her way through another meal with her parents, she hurried off to bed early stating that she wanted her owl to be comfortable. She named her new pet Abby, after Abigail Quincy; a pioneering witch from the 1700's who Hermione admired for her steadfast beliefs that witches should educate themselves and not conform to the laws that wizards had laid out for them. She had also spoken out against the slavery of House Elves, claiming it as evil and a threat to magical democracy. Needless to say; Abigail Quincy was one of Hermione's heroes.
Abby seemed so happy to have a home and was calm and quiet, hooting contentedly as Hermione set up the cage with water and food. Apparently exhausted from the whole experience, Abby fell quietly to sleep as soon as Hermione covered the cage in a light sheet.
Hermione put off reading the book while she made sure Abby was comfortable. She put if off and instead took a long shower, washing each strand of her hair carefully. She put it off while she cleaned up her room and organized her cupboard. She put it off while she unpacked the remaining items in her trunk and then repacked it with all she'd need for her trip to The Burrow. She put it off until a quarter past midnight when she heard her parents' bedroom door close. Finally, she couldn't put it off anymore.
The Magical Pregnancy: Volume 1 was still visible to Hermione, but Appreciating Ancient Runes would still show up to whomever else laid eyes on the novel. It was a very useful charm. Hermione's heart started pounding as she traced her fingers over the red leather cover. The title was written in golden thread and, even though the book was new, it felt loving and warm; like a mother's hug. Hermione supposed that was the point of a pregnancy book. Taking a deep breath; she opened up the cover.
Chapter 1: Are you sure? Really sure?
Witches strengths in magic are tied to their emotions and pregnancy heightens these emotions; but some stronger witches might just be experiencing an abnormal surge of anger, loss or happiness that may be to blame. So before you discover the joys of this book, please make sure that you are, in fact, with child. All you need is your wand; your wand. The wand of another will work as well as a stick; you must use your own.
Step 1 – Take your wand and press it to your abdomen.
Step 2 – Say these words: "Infantia etiam necne"
Step 3 – Hold for 1 minute exactly and then remove the wand from your abdomen.
Step 4 – The tip of your wand will turn either bright blue or bright orange. If the tip turns
blue; it means a baby for you. If you see bright yellow; you have misspoken the spell
and should try again.
Hermione picked up her wand off her bedside table and twirled it in her fingers. She sat up cross legged on her bed with the book in her lap and tried to calm herself down. She had felt much better today and didn't even feel dizzy at all anymore. Maybe she was still suffering from the stress and shock of Dumbledore's death and the school's closure.
By the time Hermione had summoned up enough courage to point the wand to her abdomen, she was sure the tip of it would shine bright orange. "Infantia etiam necne." She spoke clearly, though with her eyes squinted tightly shut, and felt a warm feeling emit from her wand into her tummy. Counting had never been so concise; she was so intent on making sure she didn't lose focus.
"Sixty seconds..." Hermione breathed out as she finished counting.
With a confident smile, she removed the wand off her body and opened her eyes. She had known all along what she was going to see. Tears slipped out of her fragile pretty face as her terrified eyes stared at the tip of her wand, shining as blue as a cerulean ocean.
-x-