Two weeks had passed since Harry proposed to Hermione. Two weeks had passed since she had agreed to be his wife, and join him in wedded bliss. And it is no surprise that within those two weeks, just about every person at Hogwarts knew just what had transpired on that cold star-filled night.
For Ginny Weasley could not keep a secret to save her life.
When Harry and Hermione returned to the common room that evening, expecting to spend some nice quiet time together, they entered through the portrait of Gryffindor Tower to find that the tiny room was packed with every Gryffindor student cheering and congratulating the pair. Dobby, the house elf, was so touched that he baked a giant marble cake with lemon icing to celebrate their happiness. It was absolutely delicious, and Harry was truly grateful for the warm cocoa that accompanied the cake.
The teachers at Hogwarts eventually got whiff of the latest news as well.
When Hagrid learned of the engagement, he grabbed Hermione in a hug so tightly before breakfast one morning, she started gasping for air and begged to be put down. Madame Pomfrey noticed the sparkling ring one afternoon when Hermione went up to the hospital wing to ask for a potion to help her upset stomach. And Professor Snape made a snide remark one day during potions class - something along the lines of reminding Ms. Granger to keep her eye on her boiling pincap potion instead of fixating on her right hand.
One evening, after a day full of hard work, demanding 7th year classes, and massive loads of homework, Ron, Harry, and Hermione found themselves sitting in the common room by the fireplace. After a wonderfully filling supper, they had decided that homework was a priority, and set off to dig their heels into their work. Well, it was Hermione who made the decision, really. Harry and Ron had agreed with her, but only because she was an excellent resource when it came to proofreading their parchment.
Harry and Hermione were sitting on the plush red couch, about a foot or so away from each other, while Ron was sitting on the floor using the coffee table as a desk. The three were very much submerged in their work, not even noticing the students who came and went throughout the common room that evening. They even managed to block out games of wizard chess that were taking place over in the corner by one of the windows. It wasn't until around 9:00 that evening, when all of a sudden, Ronald Weasley picked his head up to address his best friends:
'I'm really hungry,' he said to the pair.
Hermione replied, without even a glance at Ron: 'Oh Ron, you're always hungry. Like a stomach on legs…' her voice trailed off. Harry laughed and looked at her with an amused facial expression.
'No I'm serious, guys,' Ron said a little more defiantly, sitting up a bit. 'I'm actually really hungry. It's all this studying, you see. Makes me really work up an appetite and all,' he said with conviction.
…And just then, someone else decided to join in on the conversation.
'Well, perhaps Mr. Weasley, you'd like to join us for a spot of tea and some refreshments. We are waiting for you, after all.' And just then, three sets of eyes looked into the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, and spotted the head of none other than Headmistress Minerva McGonagle. Harry quickly turned around, and lo-and-behold, the common room was quite deserted. It had actually been deserted for some time now. A split-second later, he turned his focus back to the fireplace.
'Professor McGonagle, we'll…we'll be right there….we just got so tied up with our home-' and before Harry could finish, Professor McGonagle put a hand up to silence him, and spoke: 'Quite alright Harry. I am pleased to see that you and Mr. Weasley are taking your studies seriously. You may floo from my office. I shall see you here in a few moments.' And with out another second, she was gone.
'Blimey,' Ron said, 'we forgot about the Order meeting tonight. Best be off, eh?' he said to Harry and Hermione.
'What was the password for the Headmistress' office?' asked Hermione, while attempting to collect her bits of parchment and books that had been strewn about the floor. Harry looked at her: 'Icicle,' he said.
The three retrieved their winter weather attire from their rooms and met again in the common room. Number 12 was always quite warm and toasty, but the professors and the trio usually left the meetings via broomstick, apparition, and even port key. After all, the ministry was still keeping tab on various transportation methods of witches and wizards. And as we all know so well, the ministry cannot be trusted.
The three made their way out of the common room, through the portrait of the fat lady, and finally they found themselves in the middle of the Headmistress' office. One by one they entered the Headmistress' fireplace and subsequently landed in the fireplace in the kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Ron went first, then Hermione, and finally Harry. Harry dusted himself off a bit before adjusting his glasses and taking a first glance around the kitchen. He was stunned at what he saw in front of him.
The room was packed. Absolutely packed.
Harry could have swore that there weren't this many members in the Order. He turned to Hermione, who was obviously having the same thoughts. She looked around the room with eyes as big as saucers. Ron, on the other hand, did not seemed phased a bit by the crowd of people in the tiny kitchen, for he had seen a pot of tea on the table, and helped himself to a nice cup of chamomile and remarked at how wonderful the cherry danish looked this evening.
'Wonderful for you three to join us this evening,' said Professor McGonagle, a toothless smile across her face.
'Sorry, we..we were-' and before Harry could finish, he was interrupted by Mr. Weasley, who strutted over to Harry, wearing a terribly mismatched muggle suit, and gave him a few swift pats on the back. He said with a smile, 'No matter, Harry, no matter! Glad you could make it before it got too late.'
Remus Lupin's wand flickered from the one corner of the room, and all of a sudden three wooden seats with pink and green flowered chair pads appeared at the head of the table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned around, and looked at the chairs for a moment before settling down in them ever so slowly. Hermione was paying a good bit of attention to keep her right hand covered, when Severus Snape spoke from the far end of the table:
'Well Potter, what is this I hear about you and Ms. Granger?' Snape said, and inkling of scarcasm in his voice as he looked smugly at the Boy-Who-Lived.
Hermione immediately closed her eyes, and opened them, looking down at her lap, as if trying to memorize a stain on the skirt of her school uniform. She started to blush, and prayed that no one was looking at her. Harry scanned the crowd. 'Uh…we…' he stammered.
'Well,' piped up Ron, addressing the crowd with a mouth full of cherry danish, '…which part do you want to know about?' said Ron to no one in particular, trying to gulp down an enormous mug of tea.
Harry looked at Ron with a bit of annoyance. He was sure Snape was getting a kick out of this. Harry looked at those gathered in the kitchen. He scooted to the edge of his seat, cleared his throat, and spoke: 'We…um…there…some things have happened within the past few weeks, and…'
'Go on…' Severus drawled, soaking in the sight of Harry's discomfort at being put on the spot.
'Well, we…Hermione…Hermione and I…' he stammered. Just then, Hermione, with her head still bent down, raised the back of her right hand to show off the sparkling solitaire diamond upon her ring finger. Nymphadora Tonks gasped and shouted, 'Hermione! Are you…you're getting married…oh Harry! Oh! Congratulations!' and her hair turned a soft salmon color as she rushed over and hugged Harry and Hermione, a huge grin on her face.
'Th…Thanks…' said Harry, a bit embarrassed, returning the hug. In the moments that followed in the tiny kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld place, there were echoes of 'congratulations' and plenty of hugs for the pair. Mrs. Weasley, one of the last people to congratulate Harry and Hermione, started to bawl, and grabbed the two students in a giant hug, muttering that she was so proud of them and how they would be wonderful parents one day.
And just then, Ron Weasley, who could not seem to keep his red-headed mouth shut this evening, snorted at his mother's comments and replied, '…well one day isn't that far in the future…'
At that, Mrs. Weasley stopped mid sentence, and looked at her son. 'Ronald, what are you talking about?' He replied, 'I…um…well Harry, I mean…well you were going to tell her…tell them eventually,' and as Ron continued to speak, the room became quieter and quieter, until one could hear a pin drop.
'Something else you'd like to share with us, Mr. Potter?' Snape interjected quietly, still seated in the far side of the room.
Harry gave the Potions Master a most distasteful look, and then focused on Hermione. She wrapped her arms around herself and sat down in the chair next to where Harry was now standing.
'We…we…' Harry began, 'Hermione and I…we wanted to tell you before…before you started to notice…' and before Harry could continue, Tonks looked at Hermione.
'Oh my god…it's…it's true isn't it?...I thought I overheard it from one of the other students in Hogsmede… but I wasn't sure…but…but look at you – I mean now…now that I'm looking at you…well…you can totally tell!' Remus looked at Nymphadora's excited face. 'Tell what? What the devil are you talking about?' said Remus in a somewhat annoyed tone.
And all of a sudden, Hermione put her face in her hands and began to sob. Quietly at first, and then a bit more forcefully. Harry dropped down to crouch next to her, whispering to her words of comfort.
'Oh dear, what's the matter?' said Mrs. Weasley, hurrying over to rub Hermione's back and trying to sooth the young witch. All of a sudden, Severus Snape spoke to the Order members in a somewhat bored voice.
'It appears that since both Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger are apparently at a loss for words…-' but he never got a chance to finish his sentence.
Hermione, between sobs and still with her head bent, uncupped her hands from her face for a brief second and forced out a simple sentence. With her voice cracking, she spoke in the quietest of voices:
'…I'm pregnant…'
The gasps around the room were unmistakable. Hermione began sobbing even harder and her breathing was becoming labored. Mrs. Weasley suddenly stopped patting her back. The 'why's' and 'how could they's' were heard throughout the room. Hermione wished that she had never, never set foot in Grimmauld Place this evening. She was so incredibly embarrassed, and had never felt so small in her life. She was a perfectionist. A perfectionist til the very end. Is this how a perfectionist behaves? How a perfectionist acts?
And then suddenly, Hermione shot up out of her seat.
Her face was tear stricken, eyes blood shot, and she looked awful. She wiped her nose on her sleeve haphazardly, and at the same time, spoke to everyone: 'I'm…I'm sorry…we're…it just happened…you are all so angry with us…I just…' and she looked at Harry, 'I just…I have…I have to go…' and she began to exit backwards slowly out of the room, eyes darting back and forth at everyone.
'No, NO, Hermione, wait…' Harry said to her, trying to follow her, his eyes wide with fright at what she might try to do.
'I'm …I'm sorry…I have to go…to think…' she stammered in a somewhat manic state, hands stiff in front of her, as if trying to protect herself.
'Ms. Granger, please sit down,' the Headmistress begged.
'Do not go out that door, Granger…' Snape said dangerously.
And just like that, Hermione, breathing heavily, eyes scanning the room at rapid speed, took one last look at Harry, choked back a sob and bolted through the kitchen door, down the hallway, and slammed the door to Number 12 as she made her exit, waking the portrait of Mrs. Black who began to scream unmercifully.
Harry stood there for a moment. All of a sudden, he quickly made his way to the kitchen door, past the Order members, but before he went through the door, he turned around and faced all the gaping mouths in Number 12 Grimmauld Place, who were in disbelief from what they had just heard and seen:
'Well, thanks. Thanks for that,' he said, his words directed especially to Professor Snape. Harry's voice grew louder, and his breathing became heavier. 'Don't you know she feels enough of guilt!? That WE feel guilt!? We don't NEED this…we don't need you're anger. ANY of you! We need support. SHE needs support for Christsake! I want to make one thing clear: We ARE having this baby! We ARE going to be a family!-'
And then he added in the most dangerous of tones…
'And GOD HELP US if ANYONE gets in the way!' And with his voice booming, and certainly not caring how many house points he would lose that evening, he exited through the kitchen, and ran out the door after Hermione.
'Well that went well,' said Ron, who picked up another cherry danish, not really phased by the evening's events. He knew that Harry would fix the situation at hand. He always did. Always does.
'Shouldn't someone go after her…after them…? I mean Hermione looked like she was going to jump off a cliff…I'm really worried about her-' said Lupin, concerned for the young woman.
And without a single word, Severus Snape quietly got up from his seat for the first time that evening, and exited the kitchen.