Hermione was scared. She woke up the morning of the first day of classes and while she had not had one of her dreams again, she was sick to her stomach. She clambered out of her bed and raced into the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she hurled the contents of her stomach. She was by the toilet for ten minutes before she managed to get to her feet and climb into the shower.
When she got out and dressed she shook her head. "What is going on? That flu went away weeks ago."
Harry saw her as he was coming out of his own prefect room. "Hermione, you look as pale as a ghost. Is there something wrong?"
Hermione nodded. "I think that flu bug that I had earlier is back or something. I was throwing up all morning."
Harry was worried and put his hand to her head. "I know you love school but should you not stay in bed for the day? I will tell Professor McGonagall for you."
Hermione shook her head and she assured him that she was doing fine but when she attempted to have some breakfast she had to stick to dried toast and after lunch she found herself back in the bathroom.
Hannah found her and came to her side. "Hermione, come with me. I think the two of us need to talk."
Hermione let herself be led into the room of requirements. "Hannah, what is going on? Like I told Harry this morning it is just the flu."
Hannah shook her head. "Hermione, after the dreams we both had this summer, did you ever look at your body or the sheets on your bed?"
Hermione nodded. "After the first dream when it seemed so real. But I was just delusional with fever. I mean I was fully dressed and there was nothing up."
From the look on Hannah's face Hermione's heart began to sink for she knew that something was wrong. Both Hannah and Dean had been having pretty much the same dreams as she had that summer.
Hannah was shaking. "Please don't tell Dean or my cousins. But I noticed spots on my bed a few days ago. I don't think these are just dreams."
Hermione stared at her and her stomach lurched and not from nausea. "Someone in that house was some how raping all three of us at night? This can't be happening."
Hannah pulled her down on the couch. "I can't remember who it was. I always seemed to be dreaming or in some kind of haze. I think we must have been drugged."
Their minds raced through everyone in the house and they knew other then the few people from their order, that there was a long list of people who could have done this and considering Molly had prepared all of their food, countless opportunities for something to have been snuck into it.
Realization struck Hermione. "You think I'm pregnant don't you? Oh God, what happens if you're right? This can't be happening Hannah. It can't."
Hannah pulled her into her arms. "I know but there is a chance. And with Poppy gone we can't even trust the new nurse. We don't know her loyalties lie."
Hermione was trembling. "There has to be some way we can find out. I need to know. But it is not like I can run off to a pharmacy or something."
"There are potions that work like a pregnancy test. It takes longer then the spell but I'm sure Severus could do it for you." Hannah reminded Hermione.
Not anxious to tell anyone that she had been raped or that she thought she was pregnant, the thought of telling the potions master was the last thing she wanted but she needed to know. Even if she could get at ingredients she had no idea how to brew the potion and she knew it had to be done proper for the right results.
Hannah put a hand on her arm. "You know he is a good friend of your parents. He won't tell anyone. And if you are, we need our order to know what is happening."
Hermione understood she thought. "If this has happened to the two of us and Dean, there is a risk to the rest of us. At least we are here at school and should be fine."
Neither of them wanted to even think about the chance that it had been the headmaster. Hermione had said that the person had called her Cassidy and surely Albus would not have risked her knowing her true identity, even if he thought she was too drugged to ever remember such a thing. Surely if the man was that perverted he would have done this in the past and someone would have reported it by now. He had after all been headmaster of a school for decades now.
Hannah helped her up. "We will go to Severus after dinner tonight and we will ask him to help us brew the potion. You know he will do anything to help us."
Hermione put her hand on her belly. "I don't know what I am going to do if I am. I was raised Catholic, I don't believe in abortion, but if I'm pregnant..."
Hannah stopped her. "You know we will all help Hermione and your real parents will help, you know they will. Let us just find out if there is a worry first."
Hermione reluctantly agreed to go with her after dinner to speak with Severus and have him brew the potion. As scared as she was by telling the man and about the prospect, she knew she had to find out one way or another. Not knowing was not going to change the outcome.
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Harry had to say at very least he was distracted through his classes and when it came time for DADA, he had to remind himself that Umbridge was on their side and just playing her part, or he would have hexed the woman for all of her comments about Sirius and his teaching. He could see the class was not impressed either especially when she said they would not be doing any practical magic in the class.
Ron turned to Harry when he thought the woman had her back turned. "The old toad is worse then all of our past teachers. We're never going to pass our OWLs."
Harry wasn't able to respond for Umbridge turned to look at them. "Talking in my class? The two of you will be serving detention all week."
Harry knew he was supposed to play along and not let on to anyone. "Professor, that is unfair. I didn't even say anything."
The woman shot him a nasty look. "You will be spending a week including this weekend in detentions with me Mr Potter. And to keep you from talking, Mr Weasley will spend every weeknight with Mr Filch."
Harry let out a groan that he tried to muffle for he knew it was expected of him. He knew he was lucky that there was no quidditch until next week for he knew Angelina would have killed him if he had missed the quidditch try outs but they were not scheduled until next week.
When class got out Ron turned to him. "I can't believe that toad. She gave us detention for talking in class. I say we go to the headmaster and get out of this."
Harry shook his head. "You know we are not getting out of these detentions. You at least only have them during the week. Thanks for getting me in trouble."
Ron turned bright red. "I have to clean the bathrooms or something with Filch so don't think you got off easy. And thanks for feeding me to the lions."
Harry watched as Ron stalked off. In the past he would have cared but after that summer he had no intention of even pretending he cared about Ron. The little jit wanted even in his disguise, to act like a spoiled brat, Harry was not about to stop him.
He was headed for dinner when he was stopped by Minerva. "I was told about your detentions. I should let you know Albus is suspending them."
Harry raised an eyebrow for the headmaster had never stepped in over detentions before now. He whispered. "I thought I was encouraged to have them."
Minerva nodded. "You were. But unfortunately Albus wants you as far from Dolores as possible. Please remember to keep your eyes open when with him."
Harry did not need to be warned twice. "I know. To think of all the times I used to be up in his office with that man. I used to think he was like a grandfather."
Minerva left him after one more warning and it made sense for of course as Dolores was a friend of the minister, even if Albus didn't know the man was involved with their group or that Harry knew the truth, he would want to keep Harry away from her influence. He at least knew the dangers.
After dinner the headmaster came to him. "Harry my boy I'd like you to accompany me to my office for a chat. I have of course spoken about your detentions."
Harry picked up his bag and shot his friends a look before he followed the man. "Thank you for getting rid of my detentions sir. I had not even spoken in the class."
Dumbledore turned to him as he was leading Harry to his gargoyle. "The woman has it out for anyone in our group. I will make sure she is kept under control."
Harry followed him into his office and was reminded of how many times he had been up there for tea or talks with the man and he had believed that he could trust to take care of him and guide him. He had never thought he would be scared to be in the man's office
Albus took out his usual bowl of lemon drops and offered Harry one. "Have one. I think after the day you had you could use something sweet."
Harry shrugged and took the candy for he knew he wasn't supposed to let the man suspect anything. "Thank you sir."
Albus watched him for a few moments as he sucked on the candy. "I think we need to discus the woman and make sure you keep on your toes around her Harry."
Harry's head was starting to feel a bit fuzzy. "Of course sir. I remember her speech and I mean she kept saying she doesn't think we need to know practical."
Harry was trying to focus on what the man was saying and keep his attention on him but his head was really starting to spin and with every passing moment he found it harder and harder to concentrate on the man and his words.
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Severus looked at Hermione and Hannah as he finished brewing the potion and ladled it out. He was sickened when he was told by them what they had been through. He had his definite suspicions about who it was but he had no proof even for their order, that it was Albus. He was grateful the girls had thought to come to him.
He handed the cool potion to Hermione. "Drink this down for me. If you're pregnant Hermione, there will be a small glow that will come from your stomach."
Hermione looked at the bottle and back at him. "What happens if I am?
Severus could hear the fear in her voice. "Then you will lay low for a bit and I will contact your parents. It is likely you will be smuggled out of the school and back."
Hermione had suspected there was a chance she was going to have to leave school if it proved true and part of her was relieved. The thought of trying to explain she was pregnant to anyone, scared her to death. Even more then that they had no idea who had been raping her and Hannah, and Dean.
Hermione drank down the potion and moments later a small light appeared. "Oh no. Please no."
Severus took the bottle. "From the small glimmer it seems you are probably only about a week pregnant. I will be in contact with your parents right away."
Hermione was in absolute shock so it was Hannah who spoke. "What about Dean and I? I mean we both had those dreams as well. Could either of us be pregnant?"
Severus nodded and he handed an extra bottle to her but luckily her test results came back negative. Severus told Hermione to take it as easy as possible and be careful, and that he would send word to her parents that night. She should be prepared to be smuggled out of the school and home to Bulgaria at any time. He asked Hannah to give the remainder of the potion to Dean as they were dating, and find out if he was pregnant.
He looked up at them as they were about to leave. "I want you guys to be careful and try your best to never be alone with the headmaster for now."
Hermione was even paler. "You think that there is a chance that he is the one who has done this? I mean would there not have been more cases in the past."
Severus sighed/ "the man knows memory potions and more. I have no proof but there is a good chance he may have. I just want you two to be as careful as possible."
Hannah blanched. "Professor, Harry has a meeting with him in his office tonight. He was suppose to have detention with Umbridge but Albus took it over."
Severus didn't want to panic the girls but his stomach lurched at the thought and he knew that he needed to speak to Harry as soon as possible. He hoped that since so many people knew that Harry was up in the office, nothing would happen. He sent the girls off to bed and he went to the headmaster's office, hoping he was not too late or that he was wrong about his suspicions that he was the man raping the kids.