A/N- Okay, so I'm not going to say anything up here, except, please please please, promise that you will read the chapter through, even if you would like to kill me for what's going on. It will all explain itself in the end, I promise.

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-Chapter Fifteen-

Hermione rolled over on her comfortable bed and sighed contently. She knew that she had to get up, so she rose carefully from the bed and almost skipped to the bathroom, her mood great. She walked over to the shower and turned the knob, blasting the hot water so that the room imediately began to fill with steam. She hummed softly to herself as she stripped off her shirt and threw it across the room. She then proceeded to take off the rest of her clothes and stepped carefully into the shower, trying not to slip as she had done at least five times before. She lathered soap on her body, letting the steaming hot water relax the muscles in her back as she began to sing a familiar muggle song.

When she was done she grabbed a fuzzy pink towel from the towel wrack next to her and wrapped it around her tiny frame. Hermione picked another smaller towel and started to towel dry her hair so that it wasn't dripping anymore. She dropped it on the ground when she was done and wrapped the towel around her body more tightly around her. Hermione walked over to the shiny white scale in the corner of the room, stepping on gingerly.

Seventy-nine.

"Good job, Hermione," she whispered to herself, a smiling lighting up her features.

She walked quickly into her room, still humming, and pulled on a tight pair of jeans and a tiny pink T-shirt. She grabbed her wand from her bedside table and muttered a spell to instantly dry her hair straight. Hermione smiled at her reflection, dabbing on a bit of lipgloss. Happy with how she looked, she decided to go find her boyfriend. She jogged to the door of her bedroom, and then down the stairs, jumping the last one. She didn't see her favorite blonde in the common room, so she headed into the kitchen, where she spotted him standing at the counter.

"Hey, babe," Hermione called out to him.

"Hey," Draco said, walking over to her and planting a kiss on her lips. "I just made some breakfast, do you want any?"

"No. Remember, I told you how I was going on a three day fast? I'm down to seventy-nine now, I just need to drop these last nine pounds," she smiled.

He carried his plate over to the table and sat down. "Oh yeah, I remember now," Draco said. "Oh well, more for me, I guess."

Hermione smiled and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down across from him at the small table. "So, I was thinking, since it's a Hogsmeade weekend, we could go together, maybe meet up with Ginny and Harry..."

"No," he said quickly, "I can't. The team has practice today, and I can't miss it."

"Oh, okay," Hermione sighed, her mood dampened slightly. "Well, I guess I could just go with Ginny, then. I'm sure she would love to get out of the castle and away from Harry's overprotective watch."

"No, that's probably not the greatest idea, Hermione. She is pregnant after all. She should stay off her feet," Draco told her sternly, not looking up to meet his girlfriend's eyes. "Why don't you just stay here and study? You might be falling behind."

"Yes, I suppose I should spend some time studying. There will be other Hogsmeade trips," Hermione sighed. "Maybe I could come down and watch a bit of your practice after I get some studying done."

"No!" Draco said, too quickly. Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I mean, it will be boring, and I know how much you hate quidditch."

"Not when it's you playing," Hermione smiled.

"You'll be bored. It would be better to spend your time doing something productive," Draco said.

"If you say so," she sighed.

"I do. I should get going, though. Practice starts in twenty minutes." He got up and walked over to Hermione's chair and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll see you when I get back, it probably won't be until late."

"Okay," she said as he walked towards the door. "I love you."

He looked at her for a long moment with a pained expression. "You too, " he said finally.

"Bye."

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Hermione only studied for one hour before she decided that she wasn't in any danger of falling behind, and closed her textbooks. Before she even knew what she was doing, she rose from the kitchen table and walked through the portrait hole, following the familiar path to the Gryffindor common room, so that she could visit Ginny.

"Pig snout," she told the portrait of the Fat Lady, who immediatly admitted her entrance to the large common room.

"Hey, Gin," she called out to the redhead who was seated on the couch. Hermione walked over to her best friend and sat down next to her. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine. I'm always fine! I wish everyone would stop asking me that! I've barely begun to show, why wouldn't I be fine? It's only the morning sickness that sucks, but I am fine!" the moody girl said.

"Ok-aay. Where's Harry?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"Out. He's always out! Training with Ron, or Dumbledore, or 'going for a walk'! He'd do anything to get away from me, I swear!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing her arms up in anger.

"Oh, well I'm sure he's just trying to make sure he's ready to face Voldemort, Gin. It probably has nothing to do with you," Hermione said, putting a hand on the younger girl's knee.

"Well, it should! I'm his bloody fiancée, for Merlin's sake! Shouldn't I be involved?" she shouted.

"He's just trying to keep you safe, Ginny. You may be his fiancée, but you're his pregnant fiancée. He won't let you be put into the line of fire, we both know that, so the sooner you get over it, the better."

"Fine, but I still don't like it," she muttered, casting her eyes down towards her feet. "What will I do if I lose him, Hermione? I can't lose him," Ginny whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"You won't," Hermione said gently, pulling Ginny into a tight hug.

"Thanks, Hermione. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit moody, I guess it comes with the territory. Being pregnant sucks," she declared, pulling away.

"But just think about afterwards, when you're holding it in your arms, and you know that it's yours. Yours to love, yours to take care of, yours to teach right and wrong. It'll be worth it, Gin, I know it will," Hermione said softly.

"Maybe, but oh gods, Hermione. It's going to be my responsibility...what if I do something wrong and it turns out to be a druggie or something, acting like a muggle and buying drugs from those...what are they called? What if it turns out to be a squib? What would I do?" Ginny gushed desperately, frantically searching Hermione's eyes for answers.

"Well, you would still love it. I know you would. But I highly doubt that Harry Potter's child is going to turn out a squib. I also know that you and Harry will be great parents to it. And finally, I know we have to start calling it something other than 'it'", Hermione laughed.

"Hmm, I think so too. But we can't really, we don't know its gender yet."

"Well, we can pick a name that could be for either gender. Or would could just call it Harry Jr., I'm sure Harry would get a kick out of that."

Ginny laughed. "No way, one Harry is quite enough for me. 'It' is fine until we find out if it's a girl or boy, I suppose."

Hermione frowned. "Okay. Well, what do you want to do? I'm bored out of my skull."

"We could go into Hogsmeade I suppose, I need to get a new quill and something to read, seeing as Harry keeps me off my feet whenever he is here. I'm only a few months along! Shouldn't he be saving this for later on?" she exclaimed.

"He's just being protective. You know Harry... But, yes, Hogsmeade sounds good. Let's go," Hermione said, jumping to her feet and extending a hand to Ginny, to pull her up.

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Hermione and Ginny casually strolled through the streets of Hogsmeade, the warm sun shining down their necks.

"Come on, Hermione. There's a bookstore straight ahead. Gods, you walk even slower than me, and I'm pregnant!" Ginny shouted, grabbing Hermione's tiny hand and dragging her forward. "You have to move faster if we plan on getting there before ten o'clock tonight!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Hermione moaned. All this walking was making her very tired and she was finding it hard to keep her bony body standing.

Finally, they reached the bookstore and Ginny ripped the door open, a bell giving a little 'ting' as the hinge hit it. Ginny immediately strode over to the large section of books that wasn't about spellwork, and picked up a rather heavy paperback, flipping casually through the pages. She tutted and put it back, repeating the process on another novel.

After what felt like hours to Hermione- who had picked out three lengthy books long before- Ginny had finally decided on a book, and they paid at the register.

"Have a great day," the plump witch behing the counter said as they left the small store.

"Where to now?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks for a drink," Hermione suggested, realizing how thirsty she was. She knew she had to be careful to drink lots of fluids when she was on a fast, or she would get dehydrated and pass out.

"All right," the redhead agreed.

The two took a left and walked down a narrow street that led to the Three Broomsticks. They found the small pub quickly and went inside, taking their seats at a small table for two. Ginny glanced around the pub, looking for the waitress so that they could order their drinks, but instead saw a familiar face across the room.

"Hermione, where did you say Draco was going to be today?" she asked, glancing carefully at her best friend.

"Quiditch practice. He said it would probably last until later tonight," Hermione said, looking at Ginny suspiscously. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. Come on," Ginny said, standing up quickly. "I'm not so thirsty, we can just get drinks back at the castle. I want to talk to you anyways."

Hermione stared at the younger girl. "We can talk here. What's going on, Gin?" she asked, looking around the room to find the source of her friend's distress.

She found it quickly. It wasn't exactly difficult, as the pub wasn't exactly big. She saw Draco Malfoy -her boyfriend Draco Malfoy- sitting across the room, in a darkened corner, also at a table that sat two. But he was not alone. No, because why on earth would her boyfriend, who happened to be a very handsome boy, be alone at the Three Broomsticks when he was supposed to be at quidditch practice? Well, Hermione didn't have to try to answer this question, because Draco Malfoy was not alone. Next to her boyfriend, yes that's right next to, at a table meant for two people to sit across from each other, sat a very beautiful blonde. Said blonde was currently laughing at something Hermione's boyfriend had said.

Maybe it's not what it looks like, Hermione thought to herself. Maybe they're just friends that went out for a drink after quidditch practice.

Hermione was able to convince herself of this for a moment, and was about to stand up and go join them, when Draco leaned over to the blonde and whispered something in her ear and the girl giggled again. That giggle had to be the most annoying sound Hermione had ever heard. Still having convinced herself that nothing was going on, Hermione got to her feet and began to take a step toward the table, when she stopped in her tracks.

Draco -her boyfriend Draco- had leaned in and began passionately kissing the girl who Hermione was now sure she wanted dead. Shaking with furry, Hermione began to stride over to the table.

"Hermione!" she heard Ginny call out from somewhere behind her, but she paid the girl no attention, her only goal was to get to that table as fast as she could.

She actually surprised herself when she reached it. The two had at least stopped kissing, and Draco had noticed her approaching, immediately jumping out of his seat and rushing towards her.

"Hermione-" he began.

Hermione assumed he would have said more, but he didn't get the chance to before her hand came hurling at his face, making contact loudly.

"You bastard," she snarled, before running out of the pub and onto the street.

Hermione waited outside the pub for what felt like ages, waiting for Draco to come after her. He would, right? Draco would come out to talk to her, to set this right. The more time passed, though, the less she began to believe he would.

"Hermione, right?"

Hermione jumped, and looked around for the person the voice belonged to.

"Blaise Zambini," the boy introduced himself, as he stepped in front of her. "Draco's my best friend, remember?"

"Oh," Hermione said, shaking her head to try to clear her thoughts, "yes, I remember. How are you?"

"I'm alright, just getting some new books. How are you?" the handsome boy asked politely.

Hermione laughed shakily, tears filling her eyes. "I've definitely been better."

"I hope things with you and Draco are all right."

"No, they're not, actually. We're through."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Blaise said, taking a step closer and putting an awkward hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not. The stupid bastard," Hermione muttered under her breath.

"Ughh," Blaise groaned. "What did he do now to deserve such language?"

"I don't want to bore you," Hermione said, frowning.

"It's not easy to bore me. Go ahead, try it."

"Er-"

"You don't have to, I guess. I'm just a good listener, even if I am from Slytherin."

"Fine. He cheated on me," she said simply.

Zambini didn't bat an eyelash. "When?"

"Just now. I just caught him, in there," Hermione motioned to the club behind them. "But who knows how long it's been going on.."

"Is he still in there?" he asked, his facial expression still not changing.

"I think so. He hasn't come out..." Hermione told him.

"I'll be right back," Blaise said, turning towards the pub door.

"Wait, where are you going?" Hermione asked him, following close behind.

"I'll be right back," he repeated. "Stay here."

"No-" she began.

"Stay. Here." Blaise said firmly.

"Fine."

Blaise strode into the pub, the door swinging shut behind him. Hermione couldn't hear much, seeing as she was outside and everyone else was inside, but she did hear a few yells and what sounded like a glass smashing to the floor. Five minutes later, Zambini had finally returned, his right hand looking slighty red.

"Come on," he told Hermione, and began to walk down the street.

"What happened?" Hermione asked him, jogging to catch up. He ignored her. "What did you do?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter."

"Of course it does! What did you do?" she insisted.

"Nothing. Let's get you back, you look frozen," Blaise observed. Then, without a moments hesitation, he pulled off the heavy black coat he was wearing and draped it over her shoulders.

Hermione smiled slightly and slid her arms through. "Thanks," she mumbled.

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The two eventually made their way up to the castle, and Blaise walked Hermione to her portrait hole.

"Love conquers," Hermione said to the picture, her voice full of sarcasm. She turned to Blaise. "Do you want to come in?"

The boy stared at her for a moment. "Sure," he finally said.

Hermione nodded and led him into the common room, sitting down on her favorite couch and indicating for Blaise to sit beside her.

"So, I guess I should...thank you?" She asked, staring into the boy's eyes.

"No, you shouldn't. I didn't do anything," Blaise said, staring back.

"Yes, you did...You just won't tell me what it is," Hermione whispered.

"That's because it's not important."

"You guys and your secrets."

Blaise laughed, breaking the stare that connected them. "It's just not a big deal, that's all."

"Whatever you say..."

The couple stared at each other, like they were staring at each other's souls. Before either of them knew what was happening, they were full on making out on the couch they sat on. Hermione leaned back so that they were laying horizontally, pulling Blaise with her and tugging at his shirt to indicate that she wanted it off.

"Hermione..."

Hermione interupted him with a kiss. "Just take it off, Zambini."

He stared into her eyes for one more intense moment, and then pulled his shirt over his head and leaned down again to kiss her. She made the kisses more heated, more passionate, as he began to unbutton her shirt and slide her out of it. Hermione reached down for the hem of her tank top and pulled it over her head.

"Your...room?" Blaise asked between kisses.

"It's upstairs, let's go," Hermione said, breathing heavily as she sat up and pulled herself to her feet.

"No need," Blaise said, and scooped her up from where she stood and carried her up the stairs and into her room.

Blaise placed her onto the bed, and placed himself on top of her, again beginning to kiss her. He let his hands wander towards her bra clasp, letting them linger there, gauging Hermione's reaction. When she nodded, he unclasped it, and she slid her arms out.

Hermione felt herself drifting closer and closer to sex with Blaise. This was as far as she and Draco had ever gone, Hermione not ready for more just yet. But as she felt his hands on the button of her jeans, she knew what this was leading to, and knew that she didn't care. She let herself melt into Zambini, her boyfriend's -or was he her ex? They had never offcially broken up- best friend's arms, letting passion take her. She thought with her body, not her mind, or her heart for once. Tonight, Zambini was her escape. Her escape from what had happened with Draco. Her escape from what was going on within herself. Her escape from reality. She welcomed Zambini with open arms.

It was right at the moment when Blaise was slipping off his boxers that Hermione jerked awake, shaking and panting heavily.

"Hermione?" a voice to her left asked woriedly. "Shhh, it's okay, come here."

The person pulled Hermione into their arms, craddling her against their shoulder as if she were a child and began to rock slowly. It was only then that Hermione realized that she was crying. No, not crying, bawling, hard sobs wracking her body as she clung to the person for dear life.

"It was just a dream, it's all right, I've got you," Draco said into her hair.

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A/N- I know, I didn't answer any of your questions from the last chapter, but I will in the next one. I promise. But, for now, review please! And I'm very sorry about how long the wait was for this horrible chapter. My computer has been broken, so the only time I could work on this was at my sister's house, but then my sister's boyfriend's sister would always be on it so I could only write bits and pieces. I know, no excuse, but there will never be that long of a wait again, I swear. Schools out and Summers here!

So, review? I greatly appriciate all of you that did review last chapter. I was surprised by how many did.