Chapter Seven – Pray to god

By the time Saturday morning rolled around Hermione had barely got an hour sleep. Her mind had been racing with the events of the day. As she touched her cut and bruised cheek she remembered the look of longing in Ron's eyes as he was escorted out of the castle. It had been such a shock to her to see him so angry and upset attacking Blaise for the only reason that he was there.

Rolling out of bed she peered through the window beside her bed it was a clear day but she could not fathom enjoying it. Slipping into a pair of black jeans, scoop neck black t-shirt and throwing a black blazer she had found amongst her washing one day she took a quick look in the mirror. Coming closer the dark rings under eyes contrasted against her pale skin, yet the predominant feature now on her face was the large gash below her left eye. The skin around the red slice mark was pink and swollen; it was so tender and painful. She exhaled heavily and arranged her hair so that it swept across her face and partially covered the gash, although she had little success.

Walking down the stairs she caught a few third year girls, excited about their trip to Hogsmeade scrutinizing Hermione. She gave them a quick look and they turned back to their excited chatter and she continued walking stuffing her hands into her pockets. She shuffled down to the Great Hall not taking her eyes off the floor her mind buzzing with the possible outcomes of the day. As she arrived at the Gryffindor table she saw Ginny chatting happily to a few girl from her year and puzzled how she could be so happy on a day like this, a day where she would be finding out a result that could change her life forever. What Hermione didn't realise was that Ginny did not see the out come of today as a be all and end all, rather a huge step that she could overcome with great skill and grace. Well that is what she kept telling herself.

Hermione sat a little further down from Ginny who gave her a sympathetic look seeing the large cut across her face. Hermione turned away slightly embarrassed by the attention the gash was bringing her. All around there were whispers about what happened between Ron and Blaise and how Hermione had jumped in and was subsequently injured. She began to ignore their whispers and snatched an abandoned Daily Prophet and tried to munch down on some food yet all the while thought she was going to be sick from nerves.

As she unfolded the front page her past potions master's face stared blankly at her, his black eyes dull and lifeless his hair stringy and falling about his face. He looked like Hermione felt, a corpse lifeless, empty. She began to read the article it had come to the ministries attention that Snape killing Dumbledore was an act of compassion as the old headmaster was ill and dying. No one gave word of where this piece of explicit information had come from. Hermione pondered the thought in her mind, had Dumbledore been dying? There was no doubt in her mind he had been ill all through her sixth year. So had he confided in Snape trusting him with something that no one else knew? It was not impossible. The more Hermione read about the case for and against Snape the more she began to believe that he was honestly innocent.

Breaking her from her thoughts was a tap on her shoulder. Ginny was smiling at her, Hermione jumped slightly at the touch.

"Does it hurt?" Ginny asked sitting down and referring to the gash on Hermione's cheek. Subconsciously Hermione touched it lightly with her fingertips and shrugged in response.

"You ready for today?" She asked quietly not wanting to draw attention. Ginny nodded.

"I have to go into the post office first, but then I shall meet you at the Hogshead yeah?" Ginny confirmed.

"Sounds good," Hermione said fidgeting with the sleeves of her blazer. Ginny looked her up and down. All dark clothing, long hair acting as a curtain over her eyes and around her face she looked like the quintessential goth or emo. It was rather predictably tragic.

"Why are you wearing black it is such a lovely day?" Ginny said as cheerily as she could. Hermione looked at her as if she had muttered some blasphemous remark.

"On a day like today in times like this it is the only colour appropriate," Hermione muttered in response. Ginny just shook her head and took that as her cue to leave. Hermione watched as she walked down the table and out the doors. She walked alone to Hogsmeade and for the first time realized how ostracised she had become and on her own accord as well. However, it did not trouble her as much as it should or would on a normal basis she was more worried about apparating Ginny to and from London without getting caught.

The sun beat down on her black clad back and she felt rather warm, although did nothing to cool herself down not really seeing any point she was going to have to carry the jacket anyway. As she walked away from the giddy school children that entered the main street she saw the old creaky Hogshead just up the top of the lane. Looking over her shoulder she spied out for Ginny but she wasn't coming yet. Hermione found it so remarkable Ginny could be so happy and friendly on a day where her future would be laid out in black and white. Although Hermione was closed minded.

As Hermione brought her head back over her shoulder she jumped in fright her heart skipping a beat. Eirene was standing there in her long flowing robes with a kind smile on her face. They were the total opposite in everyway at that point in time.

"You need to give me some warning before you just turn up like that you know," Hermione said gruffly her heart rate slowing down. As she pushed past Eirene the goddess caught step and walked beside her.

"I thought you might like a little pick me up, I know what you and Ginny are doing today and after the events of yesterday I know you probably aren't feeling the best. Here have this it will brighten you mood and make you feel better," she said bringing out a small vial full of a golden liquid with rose pink streaks swirling throughout it. Hermione looked at it for a long time before taking it whilst Eirene gazed over the gash on her face.

"I still can't figure out why he would do something like that," Hermione said wistfully realising the woman was looking at the swollen cut on her face. "Not just to me but to anyone. Sure Ron was always a bit hot headed but he only would flare up if someone provoked him and the thing is no one has been provoking him," Eirene took a moment to construct her response.

"From what I can gather, this is just the way Ron is dealing with Harry's death. Many people become violent and aggressive when dealing with loss, don't get me wrong it is not healthy but sometimes common. Teenagers especially in my experience seem to go off the rails when someone really close to them has died," she said empathetically as they neared the pub.

"But Ginny and I and other boys all who loved Harry dearly didn't act like that, don't act like that," Hermione said confused and frustrated.

"Ginny is a remarkable woman who sees this positive in the situation rather than the negative and cherishes her memories of Harry. Notice what her answer is when she gets the pregnancy results," Eirene said, choosing not to assess Hermione's reaction to Harry's death. "Be strong Hermione, drink that vial, it will all turn out alright. And don't wear so much black," she added with a smile and disappeared leaving only a flicker of colour behind.

Hermione looked at the vial in her hand but stuffed it into her pocket and pushed open the ratty door of the Hogshead. Instantly she regretted arranging to meet there because she remembered this was the residence as well as workplace of Draco Malfoy. It had been nearly over a month since their last encounter and she wasn't entirely sure if she was up for another one. Nevertheless she entered the old tavern and took up a seat at a table hidden in the corner. Looking up at the bar she saw Draco going through the paces, he hadn't noticed her come in. He was skinnier than she remembered, is cheeks hollow. There was no emotion exuberating from his eyes just blank. She felt sorry for him he must be exhausted.

Then she saw her walking down the stairs; one of the prettiest girls Hermione had ever seen in her life. She was tall and blond with grey blue eyes to match Draco's and a pair of full red lips with the most seductive kiss in the corner. Her curly hair fell around her face and over her shoulders. She was lean wearing a polo shirt and skinny leg jeans. She was super model quality, yet would not smile. Then Hermione saw something that gave her quite a start the girl met Draco at the bottom of the starts and smiled as he placed a delicate kiss on her lips; and if you looked closely his blank eyes lit up with excitment.

Why on earth would a lovely looking girl see in a prosecuted criminal? It befuddled Hermione yet she kept her opinion to herself. As the girl walked out the front door she gave a passing glance over Hermione taking in her dark clothing, her brooding expression, long out of control hair and large gash across her face with her almond shaped eyes. Hermione watched her go yet was quickly brought back from reality when an eerily cheery Draco called her name.

"Granger! What are you doing here?" he asked coming over to her hiding place, a look of worry (much to Hermione's surprise) came across his face, "What happened?"

"I was the victim of a fight," she said not wanting him to read into it too much.

"Are you ok? It looks painful," he said craning his head to get a better look, yet Hermione just turned away.

"Your friend Blaise looks worse," she said roughly.

"Blaise? Blaise was hurt?"

"Yeah pretty bad, he is still in the Hospital Wing," she added. Draco look bewildered but before he could speak Hermione continued, "Who was she?" She felt as surprised as Draco looked with her question. Something about it didn't taste right.

"That is Anja, my girlfriend she works at the post office with my mother that is how I know her. She is alone, she ran away from her family in Russia you see. So mother started inviting her over and well we found comfort in the fact that we were both social outcasts," he said taking a seat opposite Hermione.

"Right," she said simply initiating a very pregnant silence.

"How are you? You know about Harry? I don't mean to pry but I have heard things," he said eventually but before Hermione could rudely retort Ginny opened the front door. Hermione quickly ran to her side brushing past Draco who was thrown off balance. He spun around to see whom Hermione had run to and found Ginny peering over Hermione's shoulder to get a look at Draco. He wondered what they were up to.

"Lets get out of here ASAP," Hermione said dragging Ginny back out the front door and down past the pub into a more inconspicuous area.

"Was that Malfoy? I didn't know he worked there," Ginny said curious, Hermione ignored her and quickly taking her hand the vacuum began and with a pop they were gone. Little did they know Malfoy peered out of the backroom window and saw them disappear.

Hermione hung outside the Planning Parenthood clinic after feeling suffocated inside it. She had walked the length of the street ten times nibbling on her nails even tempted to by a packet of cigarettes, even though she had never smoked before, because she was so nervous. She had discovered a church down the end of the street where she went and sat for a good half hour praying, confessing her own sins desperately hoping it would all turn out well.

They had been there for over two hours and she was anxious about getting back and the results. As she was about to turn around and do another lap of the street Ginny walked down the steps a blank look on her face. Hermione ran to her taking her shoulders expecting an answer yet she already knew the result. Ginny's face was drained of colour, her mouth dry. She tried to swallow but with little avail. Finally she found the voice to give Hermione some answer.

"I am going to be a mother," she simply said placing her hands protectively on her belly. Hermione's eyes wandered down to the girl's slender fingers and place one hand over them and tried to smile but worry was written across her face.

When they popped back outside the Hogshead it was starting to get dusky and the students began trailing back to Hogwarts laughing and chatting after a good day. The girls did not move or say anything until Ginny spoke.

"Turns out I am actually three months pregnant, I can't believe I didn't even noticed until now," She said chuckling and sighing loudly. Hermione drew her into a warm embrace.

"It will all be ok in the end," she whispered and Ginny nodded then walked away from Hermione. Before she got too far out of earshot she turned around.

"Thank you, for supporting me. I think I will be ok from here," she said smiling. Hermione nodded.

"Shall I keep it a secret?" Hermione quickly asked Ginny just shrugged and kept walking. Hermione bit her lip so hard it bled a little bit. Tasting the blood on her tongue she turned around and walked straight into the Hogshead.

(A/N:

Whoop whoop. Sorry it took so long have been busy. Anyway I want to finish this quick because I have the sequel planned and I want to write that a lot more haha this one is too angsty for me. Anyway hope you like it!)