Hola, everyone. This chapter is a bridge into the next chapter. It's a build up, SO, I've decided that I will post next chapter early, since not much happens in this chapter. I'm so glad everyone enjoyed the last chapter. I know I've been crap with replying to reviews, so I'm going to reply to all the ones sitting in my inbox right now! Sidenote: I'm convince I've poisoned myself because I was half asleep today and went to gargle with Listerine and ended up using my Mario Badescu zit cream with is like pure chemicals and spit it out/rinse my mouth/brushed my teeth because I was terrified. I didn't ingest it but the bottle says to call poison control if ingested. Since I was able to not swallow am I fine?

"I told him," said Hermione as she lay in bed with Harry and CeCe.

"How did he take it?" asked CeCe.

"I think he's okay with it. He said he would take care of us."

"Did you tell him about you and I?" asked Harry. "It's okay. I told CeCe about us."

Hermione let out a great sigh of relief, "I was terrified you hadn't told her. Do you hate me now?" whimpered Hermione, "I could understand if you hated me, CeCe. I hate me."

"I don't hate you, Hermione. And I am not upset about what has happened between you and Harry. From what I heard, you both were under a lot of stress and this was your way of coping. I can't be upset that you took care of him. And stop saying that you hate yourself, please."

"But I do hate myself," insisted Hermione, "If you only knew all of the things that I did."

"Did you murder puppies and kick babies around, Mia? Because if not, I don't see what could be so evil."

"It's my fault!" exclaimed Hermione, "It's my fault that Myrtle is dead. She died because of me. Because I wasn't fast enough and couldn't get her out. I should have known better. I knew that this was going to happen. I knew!"

"So did Harry," CeCe pointed out, "Is it his fault as well?"

Hermione looked horrified, "Absolutely not. Harry couldn't have done anything."

"Why do you hold yourself to such an impossibly high standard?" CeCe asked, "Why can you be at fault but not Harry? Harry knew that Myrtle would die too. Why isn't it his fault?"

"Harry- he-…" But Hermione couldn't answer. It was Harry. How could it be his fault?

"Exactly," said CeCe. "Now sleep. We have a lot of studying for exams to do this week."

"I never thought you had it in you, Hermione," said Walburga as she flipped her thick, raven hair behind her shoulder.

"I always thought Olive Hornby would be the one to graduate pregnant. Unmarried, of course," said Charis, "Because she's a massive slag."

Hermione's ears began to turn red. Is that what I am? A slag?

"But you've caught the ultimate prize," said Walburga, "Abraxas Malfoy? I can't believe you kept this from us for months. Though I would too with people like Charis around."

Charis glared daggers at Walburga and opened her mouth before Cedrella jumped in. "Are you going to have another ceremony this summer?"

"Uh – no. I'm due in November, so, we weren't planning on doing anything."

"Is it a boy?" asked Cassiopeia, "You'd better hope it's a boy."

"Er-"

"Why is he looking over here?" cut in Dorea in confusion.

"What?" asked CeCe, looking up from her homework. Lo and behold, Tom Riddle was staring deeply at Hermione. "What the bloody-" she began.

"He's probably very displeased with Abraxas," gossiped Charis, "Weren't you dating Tom before, Hermione? How did he take it when you married Abraxas?"

"Hermione never dated Tom," insisted CeCe, "They only went on the one date to Yule Ball and that's it."

"So why's he staring? Is that why he hasn't been around much?" asked Cedrella, "I swear he was always hanging around before you and Abraxas-"

"He's probably jealous," said Walburga with a sniff. "He may have the blood of Slytherin but he's still a filthy half-blood."

Dorea winced, "Be careful, Wally. You know about his Knights, don't you?"

Walburga huffed, "Unfortunately, Orion's decided it's in his best interest to join them! Licking a half-blood's boots!" she said in annoyance, "He's embarrassing the Black name, isn't he?"

"Isn't Harry in the Knights?" asked Cassiopeia to CeCe.

CeCe narrowed her eyes, "Perhaps he is. What's it to you?"

Cassiopeia gave CeCe a hard look, "Do you have a problem, Rosier?"

Dorea sighed inwardly before trying to change the topic, "How long until N.E.W.T.s again?"

Walburga groaned, "Don't remind me, 'Rea! I'm going to fail History of Magic."

"Isn't Orion doing famously in that course? Why don't you ask him to tutor you?" asked Cedrella.

"When Orion and I are together we don't study," Walburga enunciated with a smirk.

Cedrella gasped, "Wally!"

"Well, he can't get rid of me now, can he?" Walburga asked.

"Well," Charis said, "Caspar Crouch has petitioned for my hand."

Cassiopeia choked. "Don't you have standards?"

Charis gave an offended look, "Who are you to be high and mighty?"

"He's ten years older than us!"

"So? He's got plenty of gold."

"He's disgusting!" insisted Cassiopeia, "Didn't he try to have sex with a third year when he was in his seventh?"

"That's a rumor!" insisted Charis, "Well, you haven't gotten any offers, have you?"

"So? I have no desire to get married," Cassiopeia said, "Especially not to trolls like Crouch."

Charis was about to bite out a reply when Cedrella cut in, "Hermione, have you done the charms homework yet?"

"Um," said Hermione, "The twenty-five inches on the Protean Charm? I finished it last night."

"Do you mind looking at mine? Want to go to the Library? 'Rea, CeCe?"

Subtle, Cedrella.

"Oi!" exclaimed Walburga, "What about the rest of us?"

"You're all arguing," said Dorea primly, "That can't be good for Hermione's baby. Hearing you all is stressing me out, so I can't imagine how Hermione feels. Ergo; you're not invited."

He still hadn't come to her. He hadn't gone near her at all, hadn't spoken or even met her gaze. Hermione didn't trust him, and didn't trust his behavior. The sooner that they left Hogwarts, the better. Then she could avoid him as best as she could. Unluckily, Abraxas still had to see Tom, since Tom was calling his Knights regularly to meetings. Harry and Abraxas usually went together for protection, both knowing that Tom was dangerous and unpredictable.

"So this is your last N.E.W.T. then?" asked Abraxas, "You'll be fine."

"I know I failed the practical portion of Charms," said Hermione sadly, "The examiner didn't look impressed at all."

"Didn't you show him your Patronus?" asked Harry, "He couldn't have not been impressed by that."

"Well, he wasn't," said Hermione firmly.

Both Harry and Abraxas laughed inwardly.

Graduation came and went. Hermione had graduated with the most N.E.W.T.s in the history of Hogwarts, taking only one more than Tom (Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures had been his demise, since he hadn't bothered to take either at the N.E.W.T. level and although Hermione hadn't taken Divination, she'd taken the other two). She spoke at graduation and had taken a photo with the Minister for Magic to congratulate her on the highest scores.

Tom had glowered the whole time.

Abraxas had noticed that Hermione had been doing a lot better. She was far from healed, both mentally and physically from the attack but she was starting to mend. The unwavering support that he, Harry and CeCe had been giving her definitely helped her start to move towards the right direction. She was still sad, and still had nightmares, and she still didn't like it when people touched her without her permission or if she didn't initiate touch. But, she was allowing touch, which had been a big step.

They had finally gotten off the Hogwarts express, and were getting ready to arrive at Malfoy Manor when Hermione realized that Harry and CeCe were following them.

"What are you two doing, then?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" asked CeCe playfully.

"I thought the two of you were staying in Godric's Hollow?"

"Well we were going to," said CeCe, "But we have a little niece or nephew about to be born! So, instead Abraxas has invited us to live with you at Malfoy Manor. It's better this way anyway."

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, "You mean… We get to stay together?" she asked her mouth going dry, before whooping and hugging Abraxas tightly. "Thank you. Thank you for being the kindest man I've known."

"Oi, what about me, then?" asked Harry playfully as the four filed to the floo point.

"You're my brother. You don't count."

The two fake glared at each other and hugged tightly and looked at Abraxas and CeCe who were watching in amusement.

"Act happy," Harry said. They both smiled.

"Sad," Hermione said. They both pouted.

"Constipated," Harry suggested and they both cringed.

"Are they normally this… ridiculous together?" asked Abraxas dryly.

"Only about a quarter of the time. The other three-fourths they're busy arguing in the morning over who the bed belongs to."

"It's my bed!" Hermione insisted.

"Bed?" Abraxas questioned.

"But I spent more time in it, didn't I?" said Harry as the four exited the floo into Malfoy Manor.

"But it was in my room. Therefore – my bed."

"Except I slept in it. And my sister slept in it. And my girlfriend slept it in. Therefore – my bed."

Hermione threw her hands in the air, "It was my room; my bed!"

"My sister, my girlfriend; my bed!" Harry countered, knowing he was irritating her.

Hermione glared and turned to Abraxas. "I take it back. If he lives here, he'll drive me batty."

By the time July was ending, Hermione was more than halfway to having the baby and more than a whole way terrified.

"How can I love him?" she asked, "After what happened?"

"The sins of the father…" began Harry.

Hermione sighed. "I should hate him, I should love him. But I don't think I feel anything."

"Aside from fear?" CeCe asked.

"Aside from fear," Hermione confirmed.

"It's okay to be sad, and to be afraid, Hermione," Abraxas supplied, "Because we are with you each step of the way."

"The Gospel of John 11:35," Harry said.

"Jesus wept."

"Jesus wept."

Yay! Please leave reviews, and expect another chapter in half a week!