All I Have To Give
A Harry Potter Tale
Disclaimer: I don't own it. I just like making the characters dance for my amusement, mwahahaha!
Last Chapter: Tonight she would slip under the covers of his bed and just sleep with him. No nakedness, no sweaty bodies, just them with nothing to worry about.
This chapter is titled after: The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy
10. The Boys Are Back In Town
She walked into the bathroom and stripped. She stepped into the warm water and ran her fingers through her hair under the water. She knew it wasn't the best idea, she wasn't stupid. Tonight was almost perfect, like they were a real couple – excluding Ginny coming in and her hiding in the bathroom – and sleeping in the bed, just sleeping, together would cement the night in. But, they weren't a couple. They were just friends, friends who were having sex to save her life (as lame as that sounds), and they shouldn't be acting this way. He showed her how well he knew her, telling her all the things that no one knew, even Draco. Cocoa the Teddy was a present her dad had given her when he went to Belize when she was four. He was in the Peace Corps, and he'd been gone for three months, but he'd bought her the bear so that whenever he left again, she would have him near her. The bubble-gum bath suds was her favorite as a little girl, whenever she used it – especially throughout last year – it helped take her mind off of her problems and bring her back to a time when life was simple. Vanilla had always been her favorite scent and reminded her of sugar cookies. Hell, one of the things that attracted her to Bill was the fact that he smelt like a glorious mix of Vanilla and Leather.
Casablanca Lilies were her favorite, it reminded her of her family trips to the Bahamas and the French Riviera that they made every year. This past summer was the first time that they had gone since her father died, but this time they went with Remus and Emmeline. She kept them in her room at her parents' house with an Everlasting Charm on them. No one knew that but her family. The roses were an easy guess, every one likes roses, though most don't enjoy white roses. It was her own favorite because they were unique. The orchids...the only way that he would know that she loved vanilla orchids was if he had seen her reaction to the ones that had bloomed outside the Shell Cottage safe house last year. She wasn't sure what that meant. How had she not noticed that he knew all those things about her? Most of what she knew about him came from living in the same area as him for the last three weeks. The picture of her father, she kept in A Tale of Two Cities, was one of her closest guarded secrets. She had woken up one night last week from a dream about him, and she had crawled out of bed to pull out the book from her trunk. She had gotten back in and read it, looking at the picture and remembering when she was five and she wanted her dad to read it to her. He must have woken up when she moved out of his arms and watched her, without her knowing it.
All those things, endeared him to her in such a way that she couldn't describe or desire. She couldn't fall for him more than she already was. When he played that song for her, dancing with her in the living room, he'd made it perfectly clear that he was perfect in every way. Every way but the part where he was engaged to a close friend. He made her feel so good, comforting her the way Ron never could or would bother to do. She knew that these feelings were dangerous. Why did he have to be so amazing?
She finished her shower and dressed in her pajamas. A pair of cotton bottoms and a button up almost over-sized top, in light blue with different types of sushi all over it. She dried her hair and walked back into the living room. Bill was already back, with two plates of pizza and a jug of pumpkin juice. He smiled at her and began to chuckle lightly.
She put her hands on her hips. "What?" she asked.
"Cute pajamas." he chuckled. She crossed her arms and pouted. "Oh, come on, I'm just teasing. They really are cute." He set down the plates and walked over to her. "Don't pout," he said. He then bent down and kissed her gently. "We have pizza."
Unable to resist his charms, she walked back over to the couch and sat down with him. They ate, him cracking jokes and her laughing at how ridiculous he was acting. When they finished, they began to do their separate work, her on homework and studying for an Arithmancy quiz and him grading papers. By the time they were done, both of them were practically falling asleep on the couch. He led the way to the bedroom, stopping only to take off his trousers and shirt. She crawled into the bed and he followed her. She felt him spoon against her, holding her against his body and nuzzling her neck. She laced her fingers in his after laying her hand atop his and felt him squeeze them gently.
Breathing gently in her ear, he whispered, "Goodnight, love."
When they woke up the next morning, Hermione felt well rested and considerably more relaxed. She'd dreamed of the little boy again, only he was clearer than he had been ever before. She could feel some tears drip down her cheek and wiped them quickly before it could land on Bill's hand that lay under her. She started to sit up but felt him pull her closer and nuzzle her neck again. He kissed along her neck and bit gently on the sensitive skin along her jugular, which he knew drove her nuts. She moaned and could hear and feel his chuckle against her skin. She shifted, laying down on her back to look up at him. He was smiling cheekily at her and she just gave him an exasperated smile.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she said back. "I thought you were asleep."
He shook his head and went down to her neck again, making her release another moan of pleasure. He kissed up her jaw before he landed on her mouth. She stopped him before he coaxed her mouth open.
"What?" he asked, still smirking.
"I have morning breath." she complained.
"I really could care less." And he swooped down for another kiss, this time deepening it before she could stop him. She kissed him back, enjoying his kisses and the feel of his hands in her hair. She could feel his hands playing with the buttons on her shirt and before she knew it, they were naked and playing in the sheets.
The next two days, Bill had gotten them to spend every possible moment in their apartment, almost exhausting them both so much that they couldn't concentrate on their classes. They remembered the Fertility Potion every time except for that morning. On Saturday, she woke up feeling the worst kind of nausea that she had ever felt since the time she got the flu when she was ten. She sneaked out of bed, Bill just rolled onto his side facing the opposite wall from the bathroom and letting out a gentle snore. Once she threw up, she felt loads better. It made her wonder if the poison was taking effect already. When she entered the bedroom again and saw the sleeping man on the bed, she prayed that that wasn't the case. She wasn't sure if he would survive losing her, after trying so desperately to save her. She wasn't sure that she was ready to say goodbye to him.
She dressed in a pair of light wash blue jeans and a white one sleeve top. The sleeve was only three quarters in length and the material floated lightly over the top of the jeans. She put on a pair of black boots and let the jeans rest over top of them. She put her hair up in a high ponytail, letting the curls gather at the ends. Her make up was light and simple, with just pink lipstick and hues of light browns and just a touch of mascara. She went to the kitchenette and made some Earl Grey, feeling the need for something different from her usual peppermint tea, and made Bill a cup. She took his back into the bedroom and sat down on his side of the bed beside him.
"Bill?" She said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder and gently shaking him. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled at her gently.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"Almost eight." she told him, smiling back. "I brought you some tea."
He sat up and took the cup gently. "A bloke could get used to waking up like this." He said, smirking and taking a sip of the tea. She just blushed and rolled her eyes. "When are we supposed to meet up with them?"
"Ginny told everyone nine, so we could get in some shopping and lunch before the 'surprise' gets here." She said making air quotes over 'surprise'.
"Okay then. I guess we should – " he paused, looking at her clothing, " – I should get dressed and we should head down to breakfast." he corrected.
"Alright, I'll just head down now and I'll see you when you get down there." She said, standing up and straightening out her shirt. She turned, but he caught her hand. She turned back and he gently pulled her towards him and he lifted up to kiss her carefully, but passionately. He pulled back and smiled at her.
"Good morning." He told her breathlessly.
Blushing, she said, "Good morning." When she turned away again, he let her walk out. Grabbing her purse and wand, she left the apartment and made her way to the Great Hall. The moment the conflicting smells reached her nose though, she had to run to the nearest Girl's Loo and empty her stomach again. Definitely the poison, it had to be. Once she washed her face and reapplied her make up, she rushed back to the Great Hall, thankful that this time she didn't feel the need to retch. She found Ginny at the Gryffindor table and sat beside her, helping herself to breakfast and doing her best to ignore the pit of worry bubbling in her stomach that thought she had run out of time.
Bill came in not too long after her, and Ginny smiled mischievously up at him, thinking that Hermione wasn't paying attention. She saw the grin and felt the almost overwhelming urge to slap her. Suppressing it, Hermione returned to her meal and once she finished it, she had to once again run to the loo. Groaning against the toilet, she heard the door open up behind her.
"Hermione?" Draco's voice asked. She felt him lift her up and he leaned around her to flush to toilet. "What's wrong?"
"You mean besides the fact that you're in the girl's bathroom?" she asked, walking around him to the sink, rinsing out her mouth and once again reapplying her lipstick. She looked at his reflection in the mirror, giving her a concerned but stern look. She bent her head down and said, "I think the poison has started to take effect. I've thrown up twice already."
"It can't have reacted this quickly." He said, his eyes alarmed and terrified. "Maybe you're just sick?"
"Draco," she said turning around to face him. "What are the chances of me getting sick at the same time that I've been poisoned with a deadly toxin?"
"You can't have run out of time. I thought it was supposed to take longer." He panicked.
"Me too." she said, shrugging but then she felt her knees buckle and she sat down hard on the floor, her eyes tearing up without warning.
"Hermione," he said, his voice laden with despair, and he joined her, pulling her against him. "Maybe its something else. You could be pregnant."
"I don't think morning sickness attacks this fast, Draco." she said, feeling her heart ache at the thought that she'd failed.
"But, I thought you said Professor Slughorn told Bill that when you conceived that the poison would start to drain out of your body like morning sickness." He reminded her. Her hands went immediately to her lower abdomen.
"I forgot," she said in astonishment. "Could it be possible?"
"Lets go get the test done," he suggested.
She shook her head. "We can't," she told him. "Its nearly nine and by the time we get to the Entrance Hall, everyone will be waiting on us. Either way, I have to go through with this today. I don't want to have Ronald Weasley hanging over my head every day."
For a moment, it looked as if he was going to argue, but he decided against it, instead standing up and helping her to her feet. "Let's go," he said, holding out a hand for her. She took it and together they walked to the entrance of the castle, immediately meeting up with Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Prudence.
"Well, we just have to wait for Bill, then we can go." Ginny said, giving Hermione a bright smile. Draco went over to Prue and gave her a kiss on the temple, they cuddled close together while they waited, Neville and Luna doing the same. Bill came out a few minutes later, wearing dark jeans and a black tee-shirt under a dark green bomber jacket. They all walked out to the village, Bill keeping close to Hermione as they did almost automatically. Hermione had to stop herself from reaching out to grasp his hand more then once, forcing herself to cross her arms under her breasts as they walked. Whenever they entered a shop, he would hold the door open for her and lead her in with his hand at the small of her back, sending chills down her spin.
Hermione didn't feel nauseous again until about eleven, just before they went to the Broomsticks for lunch. She'd had to go into an alley and puke, leaving a very confused group behind her. Draco told everyone that she was sick, but she was being stubborn about going to the Hospital Wing. Everyone accepted his excuse because they knew her stubbornness on such matters. She loathed the Hospital Wing. Everyone but Bill, of course, who gave her a knowing look when she emerged from the alley. The air began to get colder as the day progressed and Hermione began shivering as they walked, the only one of them who was dumb enough to forget a jacket in the frosty fall air.
"Here," Bill said when he noticed, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around her. She noticed that his tee shirt was a long-sleeved one and chided herself for not wearing something more practical.
"Are you sure you won't be cold?" She asked, unsure about taking away anyone else's warmth.
"Sure, if I get cold I'll just cast a Warming Charm on myself." He told her smiling. Thanking the stars that they were behind everyone, she smiled back at him warmly, and slid her arms into the over-sized sleeves. The jacket was huge on her, but she was instantly warm and surrounded by his musky scent.
They caught up with the rest of the group and continued to explore as the sea of students began to thin out, as each year started returning to the castle at their designated times. Seventh and Eighth Years were permitted to remain until curfew, so by the time they were due to meet the boys at The Three Broomsticks, the crowds were pretty much gone. Neville and Luna left them to go off for dinner at Madame Puddifoot's, at the mention of this, Draco made lovey kissing noises at Neville, who just rolled his eyes and flipped him off. Blaise had disappeared after lunch and Prue announced that he'd caught sight of a Ravenclaw Fifth Year that he wanted to get to know better. Hermione didn't miss the way Ginny's eyes gleamed in jealousy or the way her ears went red.
At exactly seven, Ginny exclaimed, "Hermione, look at the doors, here comes your surprise!"
Hermione watched as a messy, dark headed man with glasses walked in quickly followed by a scowling red-headed man tipping a flask up to his lips and glaring at the whole pub. Pretending to be surprised, Hermione jumped from the table and ran over to Harry.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "Miss me?" he asked.
"Every day." She told him, kissing his cheek and hugging him again. She turned to Ron, who was glaring at them, and gave him a hug as well. He touched her lightly, just patting her back before backing away and scowling harder, a near murderous look in his eye. She backed away from him and led the way back to the table. Bill stood and shook Harry's hand.
"Welcome back, boys." He said happily.
"Thanks, Professor." Harry said, grinning at him. "I think I'll get us the first round. Fire-whiskey for all?"
"Not me, just water." Hermione reminded him.
"Nonsense, Hermione. You should get a drink, too." Ginny insisted.
"Not after how I've been feeling, Gin." She said a little harshly. She turned back to Harry, "Just water."
"Alright." Hermione scooted into the booth to sit beside Draco, Bill sitting down beside her immediately.
"Bill, why don't you let Hermione and Ron sit together?" Ginny said in a near-perfect imitation of Umbridge. That sickly sweet but threatening voice.
"Because I already sat down." He said, his hand under the table grabbed Hermione's and squeezed gently. He let it go and rested his elbows against the table.
Ignoring both his siblings, Ron just sat next to his sister, draining the contents of his flask. Hermione didn't know where he'd gotten it, she'd never seen him with it before. He looked at Hermione and glared at her. Sneering, he said, "Nice jacket."
Blushing, she stuttered, "Oh, um, Bill lent it to me. I forgot mine."
"Why bother?" he growled. "Now he'll have to get it cleaned."
"Watch it, Weaselby," Draco warned in a deadly voice.
She felt as if she'd been slapped. It sounded like a reverse of a fight that they had had in Third Year, only then it was Draco picking on her and Ron warning him off. She reached for Bill's leg and placed her hand on his thigh. He let one hand slide under the table unnoticed by the glaring duo or Ginny's shocked face. He gripped her hand and held it, lacing their fingers together. Her eyes were almost prickling with tears already and he'd been here less than five minutes.
"How was Germany, Ron?" Hermione asked, trying to act as though he hadn't bothered her.
"Better than here," he sneered, turning back to look at her.
"Drinks all round." Harry announced, carrying a bottle of fire-whiskey and six glasses in one arm and a glass of ice water in his other. "Here you go, 'Mione." he said handing her the water. Bill passed it to her and she took a long sip.
Ron immediately poured his glass nearly full with the whiskey as soon as Harry set the bottle down. He took a large drink and said, "Too good to drink with us?" to Hermione.
"I'm sick, Ronald. And you know I hate that stuff." She reminded him.
"Yeah, sure," he gulped another glass, "Virgin Mary Granger, completely without sin."
"Ron!" Bill barked angrily.
"Relax, Bill. She doesn't give a damn about what I say," Ron said, chuckling. "She's too bloody self righteous."
Hermione could feel the nausea swim to the surface again and wanted to escape. Squeezing Bill's hand, he looked away from his little brother and down into her eyes. "I have to use the loo." She said softly. He nodded and stood out of the seat, taking her hand to help her out.
"Aw, Bill, such a gentleman," Ron chided. "No use wasting it on her. She's a bloody waste of space, she is." He took another gulp and Hermione ran off to the bathroom before hearing Bill's reaction to his brother's flippant remarks. Leaning over the toilet, she emptied her stomach yet again, her tears pouring out freely and feeling every sting cut her like a knife. How was he the man that she had loved? She sat down on the floor in the stall and leaned her head against the door.
She needed to go to Madame Pomfrey. Draco was right, she could be pregnant. If she was, she needed to know and she needed to escape Ron for a while. Making her decision, she rinsed her mouth in the sink and walked back out into the bar. She made her way to the booth and Bill went to step out to let her in but she stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm going to go to the Hospital Wing and find out whats wrong with me." she told the group.
She heard Ron mutter something about 'dirty blood' but she ignored it. "Hermione, you can't leave. Harry and Ron just got here. You have to stay!" Ginny ordered with an angry glare.
"Ginny, if Hermione is sick then she should go to the Hospital Wing." Harry told her.
"I'll come back, I'm just gonna pop up there for a potion. It shouldn't take long." She told them.
Bill looked at her. "Do you want someone to come with you?" he asked, she knew he wanted to come, but she needed him to make sure that Ron remained here.
She shook her head. "Just enjoy your drinks and I'll be back soon." She said, turning from the group and walking out of the pub, clutching Bill's jacket around her tightly.
She walked up to the castle, thinking about Ron's words. He had actually said that her problem was dirty blood, just to wear she could hear it. When did he become a bigot against Muggleborns? Why would he say something like that? Pulling the jacket tighter, she sniffed in Bill's scent and calmed herself. It would all end tonight. One way or another, she wouldn't have to put up with Ron's ill treatment of her. The only thing that she worried about, was that if she were pregnant, then everything with Bill was over.
But, it was time. It needed to be over and she had to get out before it was too late. Here lately, he was treating her more like a girlfriend than a friend. It was getting out of hand and she doubted that he noticed his own actions. If he had, he would have stopped it immediately. Bill was in love with Fleur, and he would marry her. And if Hermione was pregnant, then she was leaving in June to go into hiding. It was how it was going to be. How it was supposed to be. Bill would marry Fleur and forget all about her and the baby. As long as he lived the life he was supposed to and was happy, Hermione could live with being a single mother.
She walked into the Hospital Wing and headed to Madame Pomfrey's office. The older witch was sitting at her desk, looking worried and tired. She knocked.
"Madame Pomfrey?" she said.
The nurse's head shot up to look at Hermione and some relief flashed in her eyes. "Miss Granger! I was concerned that something had happened."
She shook her head, "No, I was trapped into going to the village with my friends." she told her. Madame Pomfrey led her to the first bed near her door and immediately curtained it off. "I've been feeling sick all day and I've vomited countless times already. I'm worried that the poison is already taking hold."
To her surprise, Pomfrey smiled. "That is a good sign, dear. The toxins may be working their way out of your system. Now, lay back and lift your shirt." Hermione did as she asked, lifting her shirt to just at her bra line and Madame Pomfrey cast the spell. Waiting the two minutes, the witches watched anxiously as the golden light that hovered above her stomach changed into a light blue. Madame Pomfrey did another spell and then looked at Hermione with a smile. "You are pregnant. The conception was sometime early Thursday morning." She said, relief and happiness threading in her voice. Early Thursday morning? Then...that was when they had forgotten the Fertility Potion!
Attention: YAY! Hermione's pregnant! But what will that mean for her and Bill? And they still have Ronald to deal with...stay tuned!
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