Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Summary: Harry and Hermione find comfort in one another as the war rages on and when trouble occurs at Hogwarts Harry is determined to set Hermione out on her own, but obstacles in his way bring Harry and Hermione together nonetheless. But can one part of the relationship survive?

AN: We're back to St. Mungos. Let's see what Ginny and (hopefully Neville, if he's awake, you'll never know) will think of these news! Thanks for everyone who reviewed last time and gave me name ideas. :D You guys are great.

Chapter 9:

"So?" Hermione asks. "Are you going to take me back?"

Harry looks at Hermione for a couple of seconds, and then his face splits into a large smile. His grip on her elbows lessens, and he leans downward, capturing her lips in the softest kiss she has ever felt. He moves back slightly.

"Is that good enough of an answer?"

Hermione is halfway between laughing and crying, and does both at the same time, launching forward and throwing her arms around his neck, her tears falling into his shoulder. He hugs her back with a tight, never-let-go grip, and Hermione feels perfectly safe.

"I'm so scared."

"Why?" Harry asks gently.

"Because I'm eighteen and I'm pregnant." Hermione says.

"Oh, Hermione, I'll take care of it. Don't worry." He sooths, and she nods.

"We need to go see Ginny and possibly Neville. They'll want to know."

Harry and Hermione's hands are linked by the time they reach the floo powder room in St. Mungos, Hermione still laughing-crying loudly.

"Oh my god," She says aloud. "What will Ginny think?" She's smiling as she's talking, running toward the stairs and hastening to the correct ward.

She bursts through the door, laughing and crying again, heading straight forward to Ginny's bed, her arms outstretched.

"Oh, Hermione – oh my god, what is wrong?" Ginny asks worriedly, moving her dinner tray away. Hermione simply walks forward farther, hugging her around the neck.

"Oh, Ginny, you'll have to hear this!" She sobs, patting her shoulder and pulling away.

"Hermione," Ginny says eagerly, her eyes shining with a somewhat excited grace. "Neville's fine. He's awake."

Hermione's eyes widen, and turns around from the bed, where Harry has just entered (obviously not running to the ward like Hermione had been). "Harry!" She squeals, rushing forward to him and grabbing his arm. "Neville–" She starts.

"What?" He interrupts sharply. "Neville? What's happened to him?"

"He's awake!" Hermione says enthusiastically, and drags him over to his curtained bed.

"Neville…" She says keenly, smiling at the curtain.

Neville rips open the curtain, grinning widely. "I knew you guys would be the first to see me." He whispers kindly, and leans forward to hug both of them.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asks anxiously, and Neville simply smiles.

"I'm fine." He reassures, and Harry sits down on the bed to talk to him. Hermione gives him a large smile and a stroke on the shoulder before going over to Ginny's bed.

"Ginny. Do I have something to tell you." She says carefully, leaning down on the bed. Suddenly this entire situation seemed so much funnier. Hermione laughs.

"What?"

"Harry and I got drunk last night," Hermione says quietly. "And – er, sort of–"

"Oh my god, did you?" Ginny asks, wide-eyed.

"Well, yes–" Ginny claps a hand onto her mouth. "–but the next day he took everything back and blamed it on the alcohol."

"That–" She began venomously.

"Yes, I called him the same thing basically. But I was kind of afraid about – er, being pregnant, uh – after I left the dormitory…"

"But–" Ginny splutters helplessly. "You can't be pregnant, because–"

"I am." She's crying and laughing again at the same time. Ginny claps two hands onto her mouth again.

"Oh my god, Hermione!"

"Well, then I was really nervous about Harry not wanting the child, so–"

"You got back together, didn't you?" Ginny suspects slyly. Hermione laughs, nodding at the same time.

"Oh, you must be brave, Hermione. Aren't you scared?"

The smile slides off of Hermione's face quickly, her hands prickling with sweat. "Not that much." She lies quickly. Ginny grins at her.

"Hermione," She says. "I know that you're not the one to worry that much, but you are only eighteen years old and pregnant with the Boy-Who-Lived's baby–"

"Ginny," Hermione says slowly, holding up a hand. "What are you trying to do?"

"Oh," She says. "Nothing, honestly. It's just that–"

"Hermione, we should get going." Harry's voice says sternly from the other bed. Hermione smiles to Ginny and gets up, entangled her arm in Harry's after giving Neville a small goodbye wave.

"We'll see you later." She whispers to the two, and exits the ward with Harry.

"We don't need to go to the tearoom again, do we?" Harry asks in an undertone to Hermione, who laughs and shakes her head.

"No. We can go back to Hogwarts if you insist." She says sweetly.

"Well, then lets skip the peppermint tea today and get back to school." He says firmly, and drags her along to the stairs.

"Are you sure you're pregnant?" Harry asks skeptically in the common room later that day. Hermione flashes him a look.

"I guess–"

"I mean, wasn't it right after that morning–" He examines observantly.

"You really don't want a child, do you?"

"No!" Harry says defensively. "That's not what I meant, I was just checking. I mean, I don't want to – er, get my hopes up…"

Hermione smiles at him and climbs over to the couch to sit next to him. She slips a hand around his waist and cuddles closer. "You're going to be a father," She says in a whisper. "No change in that, whether you like it or not."

"Yeah."

"Sorry." Hermione says carefully, stroking a loose hair stand out from his forehead.

"Don't apologize. I'm excited."

Hermione thinks that he is probably lying, but won't ask about it. Just to know that he's trying and being involved is enough for her. He doesn't need to be bold about it.

"I love you, you know." Hermione says in a low tone. Harry twitches next to her.

He hesitates. "I love you too."