A/N: This means the story is 1/4 complete... actually it was after the last chapter. There will be 20 chapters, and all but the last 5 have been written, so updates for this story at least will be somewhat regular as long as I have internet access! Enjoy & don't forget to review!

Chapter 6 - Surprise!

On Friday morning, Hermione picked at her food and ended up running out of the Great Hall feeling as though she was about to throw up. About thirty seconds after Hermione left the Hall, Draco Malfoy followed. Hermione hadn't closed the door of the stall she ran into in her rush, and she had pulled the sleeves of her robes up to her elbows. She heard the door to the bathroom close and sensed someone standing behind her holding her hair out of the way as she threw up again. She turned her head and saw Draco Malfoy, who immediately noted that Hermione looked vulnerable.

Hermione stood up and Draco stepped out of the way as she washed her hands and face and rinsed out her mouth. Then she pulled her hair back out of the way and straightened her robes.

"Come on Draco, we're going to be late for potions," Hermione stated and stepped out of the bathroom with Draco following.

"Yes, Hermione, we will be. You're going to the Hospital Wing."

"What? No, we have to get to class," Hermione said. The new potions professor was almost as strict and cruel as Professor Snape had been.

"Hermione, face it. This is the third or fourth day that you've been sick, you drift off during lessons and you picked a fight with a teacher, the Headmistress no less. That's not like you. Now either you come with me to the Hospital Wing or I'll get Madame Pomfrey to force you to go," Draco stated forcefully. He figured she'd go, but he was wrong.

"Fine, do what you want. Tell Madame Pomfrey, tell Professor McGonagall, tell Harry and Ginny. I don't care. I'm going to potions."

Draco grabbed the sleeve of her robe. He had seen the cuts on her arms and knew what she had been doing to herself. His grip caused her to stop, and he grabbed hold of her wrist.

"Hermione, you know I will. You need to go to the Hospital Wing. Please," he pleaded.

"Fine, but it's going to be your fault if we get detention for missing potions, and I expect you to get me the notes and help me catch up," Hermione snapped. Draco released his grip on her wrist and they walked to the Hospital Wing. Hermione sat down on a bed while Draco went to get Madame Pomfrey from her office. Hermione cast a glamour charm on herself to hide the cuts.

"Ahh, Miss Granger, what seems to be the trouble?"

"I'm fine, Malfoy dragged me in here."

"Hermione, you know as well as I that that's a lie," Draco said to her, and turning to Madame Pomfrey, he said, "She threw up in the bathroom this morning after eating next to nothing. It's happened on several other occasions."

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, if you would be so kind as to return to class, I will speak with Miss Granger." Draco left without complaint, but he didn't return to class. Instead, he headed to Professor McGonagall's office. Someone needed to know about Hermione, and Hermione didn't seem like she was about to talk to anyone anytime soon.

"Alright Miss Granger, Malfoy says you threw up?"

"Yes, I feel nauseous occasionally, usually in the morning, but after that it goes away on most days," Hermione said. She was actually glad that someone had noticed, although she would be the last one to admit it.

"Have you been late?"

"What?"

"Your period? Were you late?"

"Erm, yes. It's just stress though," Hermione said. Madame Pomfrey cast a spell and returned to her office for a minute or two.

"Miss Granger," Madame Pomfrey said, and Hermione looked up. "You're pregnant."

"What? That's –that's impossible, it can't be," Hermione shouted. Then she said in a quiet voice,

"Oh." It shouldn't have been a surprise, she thought. "Right. I must be, what, three and a half months?"

"More or less. I'd say about fourteen weeks. You may choose to keep it or not."

"Can I continue to study if I keep it?"

"You would have to speak with the Headmistress, but I would think so."

"I'll keep it," Hermione said flatly. The alternative wasn't really an option anyway. It wouldn't feel right.

Malfoy entered the Headmistress's office and was greeted by McGonagall who shot him a look of distrust, and maybe even disgust, before offering him a cup of tea. He accepted, mainly to be polite, as it was important that she believed him.

"I am here regarding the well being of Hermione," he stated.

"And?"

"She needs help."

"Mr. Malfoy, I am very busy and don't have time to deal with the insecurities of every student. Your head of house should be available to help you. As for Miss Granger, I believe I would notice if something was wrong."

"Professor, you believe wrongly then as Hermione has left the Great Hall during breakfast after eating next to nothing, and gone to the bathroom to throw up on at least two of these occasions. She drifts away during lessons. Something's wrong. I dragged her to the Hospital Wing today. That's where she is now."

"Mr. Malfoy, I appreciate your concern, but I expect Miss Granger is simply overworking herself. I shall speak to her about that."

"Professor, you don't understand. I'm going to try to talk to her, but I think she might have an easier time talking to you."

"Mr. Malfoy, as a student you are in no position to tell me what to do."

"However, with my being a student, you are supposed to listen to my concerns. Is it not your job to protect the students? Then talk to Hermione. Mind you, it won't be an easy task," Malfoy said, his voice becoming significantly louder as his irritation increased.

"Alright Malfoy, I will speak with Miss Granger. Now go," the Headmistress said coldly. She had had enough of Mr. Malfoy and his attitude. The nerve of the boy to tell her that she wasn't paying attention to her students; it was outrageous, especially when the student in question was a Gryffindor.

Malfoy left the office and headed to his next class. Hermione missed all of her classes that day, and Malfoy visited her room that evening to give her the homework.