Chapter Nine – New Clothes, And A Surprise From The Headmistress
Hermione awoke at late that day. It was a Saturday, so she was allowed to sleep in.
Deciding she wanted to check with Madam Pomfrey about whether the matron had ordered her special robes or not, Hermione got up, took a quick shower, dressed, and went downstairs in search of breakfast.
Draco was up and sitting on the kitchen bench, munching on a piece of toast.
"Good morning sunshine." He said brightly to Hermione when she emerged from the stairs.
"Good morning." Hermione replied just as cheerfully, before grabbing a bagel and a goblet of pumpkin juice, "After I eat I'm going to go check with Madam Pomfrey to see if she has ordered those pregnancy concealment robes for me yet." She then informed Draco.
"Can I come with you?" Draco wondered, smiling.
"Of course!" Hermione replied.
In ten minutes the two were ready to go, and were out the door and at the Hospital Wing in less than five.
"Ah hello Miss Granger!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Hello Madam Pomfrey." Hermione replied politely, "I was just wondering if you had ordered those pregnancy concealment robes for me yet? I have the money with me."
"I actually already have them Miss Granger." Madam Pomfrey replied, before hurrying into her office, and coming back with a stack of robes.
"I took the liberty of getting a pair of dress robes, a pair of school robes, a pair of weekend or casual robes, and a few pairs of Muggle attire as well." Madam Pomfrey said, beaming.
"Oh thank you Madam Pomfrey!" Hermione cried, "Now, how much were they?"
"You actually do not owe me a single thing. As is my duty, I had to inform the Headmistress of this event, and she took some of the school funds to buy you the robes."
"Oh!" Hermione was slightly startled, "I will thank her next time I see her."
"That's good." Madam Pomfrey said, "Ah Mr. Malfoy, I only really just noticed you. What can I help you with?"
Draco shifted uncomfortably, "I am here with Hermione." He ended up saying shortly.
Madam Pomfrey cast a confused look at Hermione, and she filled the matron in by saying "Madam Pomfrey, Draco is the father of the baby."
"Oh!" Was all Madam Pomfrey managed to say, "Meaning no offence, but Mr. Malfoy was the last person I expected the father of the baby to be."
Hermione smiled at this comment, "I guess we decided to put our differences aside. I can assure you Matron, it was not a one-night fling or anything, Draco and I are together. But please don't tell anyone." Hermione then added quickly.
"I can't promise you that; I have to tell the Headmistress, but she will be the only one Miss Granger." Madam Pomfrey said, chuckling.
"Thank you Matron." Hermione replied, smiling, and then she took the stack of clothes and left, back towards the Heads Common Room.
"Let me see those clothes now please!" Draco demanded as soon as they were inside the Common Room.
Hermione shook her head with a slight smile on her face and handed them over.
"I hate to admit it, but McGonagall, or Pomfrey or whoever bought these, has good taste." Draco admitted, "These will look damn sexy on you Granger." He chuckled.
Hermione let out a snort of laughter, "They aren't that bad considering older women picked them. I was expecting lace, and frills, and horrible dull colours."
"Ah but it seems you got, on the contrary, the complete opposite my darling Hermione." Draco jokingly sneered.
"Ah but of course." Hermione winked at Draco, running over to him and giving him a peck on the lips, before trying to turn back around to get something from the kitchen.
"Oh no you don't." Draco laughed and he grabbed her wrist and pulled Hermione back to him.
"Draco!" Hermione giggled, "I'm hungry!" She tried to pull away but Draco kept his grip on her wrist.
"Oh you are not going to play hard to get with me missy." Draco laughed and pulled her onto him, before turning over so he was lying on top of her, but without any pressure to Hermione's stomach or anything.
"Haha you're trapped now." Draco smirked slightly, a look of triumph in his eyes.
Hermione put a fake pout on her face. Neither of the two noticed Ginny coming through the portrait hole.
"Ahem. Hate to interrupt..." Ginny was chuckling slightly at the position Draco and Hermione were in.
"Oh, Ginny!" Hermione squealed, and she pushed Draco off her, who reluctantly got up.
"Sorry for interrupting." Ginny snickered, "But the Headmistress would like to see you both."
"Both of us?" Draco asked, surprised.
"Yes, Malfoy, both of you." Ginny rolled her eyes in amusement, "Come on."
Hermione laughed and pulled Draco by the hand, leading him out of the room.
As soon as they were outside the safety of the Common Room, Hermione dropped his hand in fear of people discovering their relationship. No-one except the selected few knew.
It took a few minutes to get to McGonagall's office, and Ginny big them goodbye at the door.
Knock knock.
"Come in." Was McGonagall's curt reply.
Draco pushed opened the door and allowed Hermione to go in first.
Taking seats in front of McGonagall, the two Heads waiting for the Professor to speak.
"Madam Pomfrey informed me of your situation." The Headmistress said as she grabbed something from the drawers in her desk, "Biscuit?" She offered, extending the metal tray.
Draco and Hermione both took a Ginger Newt to be polite.
"I cannot deny it, I was a bit shocked. Especially since it was you Miss Granger, and that the father was Mr. Malfoy. I had thought you two to barely even be on civil terms." McGonagall continued.
"Times change Professor." Draco said with a genuine smile on his face.
"Yes Madam Pomfrey told me that the two of you are dating." McGonagall then said, a smile on her face, "I always knew that Gryffindor and Slytherin could become friends."
Hermione chuckled slightly at this comment. She had become more than friends with Draco Malfoy.
"You are two months along, correct Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked, eyeing the two of them.
"Yes Professor." Hermione replied.
"By my calculations, in about another two or three months, you will start to show. When you do, I expect you wouldn't really want to be at Hogwarts, for fear of people finding out, and harassment." McGonagall started to explain.
Hermione nodded slowly.
"I have arranged a small house in the mountains for you to live in when you start to show." The Headmistress explained.
Hermione was shocked speechless, "Oh thank you Professor!" She cried.
"It was not a problem Miss Granger." McGonagall smiled slightly, "So in about two months I think, you will be transported to the house, and every day a Healer will pop in to check on you and make sure everything is okay."
"But, Professor, will I be living there alone?" Hermione's face saddened.
"Yes Miss Granger." McGonagall replied.
"Professor, I can't do this alone. I need Draco with me." Hermione took a deep breath, and Draco nodded in agreement.
McGonagall pondered slightly on this proposal, "Very well. You will both be escorted to the house."
"Thank you!" Draco breathed a sigh of relief.
"Professor McGonagall, how will you explain both of our absences?" Hermione said, slightly worried.
"I will say that the Head Boy and Girl are on a special assignment for me." McGonagall said, as if she had planned it out.
"Ah okay." Draco said, nodding in agreement.
"I will send a note along to you when it is time for the move. As soon as you get the note, go pack. You may go now." McGonagall said, then she dismissed them.
The two stood up and left the room.
"Well isn't this exciting?" Draco said, "We get 5 months off school!" Draco laughed at Hermione's face.
"We also miss our NEWT's." She said rather huffily.
"Ah well, you can take them after the baby is born. I expect you'll have plenty of time to study at the house." Draco laughed again.
"Correction; we'll have plenty of time to study. I'm not gonna let you fail your NEWT's mister." Hermione said, and then she laughed at his face.
Draco mocked a pout, but said no more.
"Oh you are so silly Draco." Hermione giggled and punched him playfully on the arm.
Authors Note: This is gonna be a really boring authors note. All I'm gonna say is review please. Review please. =D =D =D You know you want to.
